Chapter 56: Chaotic Homecoming!

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Naruto's POV (Leaf Camp in Land of Iron)

Naruto stared at the bound Tayuya as she was carried off by the Leaf Anbu, likely to be questioned or interrogated based on her behavior. The woman had claimed to be on their side, having intended to flee her master. He knew nothing of her or why she had chosen to surrender to him. Or he hadn't before the woman had mouthed to him as she was taken away by "Cousin". Naruto was aware most Uzumaki were redheads but was unsure if he should trust her word. It would explain why she placed her faith in him, the Leaf by proxy of course. His mother had explained after the Uzumaki's homeland and main force was destroyed during the Third Great Shinobi War, they had spread throughout the elemental nations. Hiding from those who sought to destroy them and seeking new homes. So he supposed it could be true but how would he know? He would have to ask his mother once he arrived back in the Leaf.

For now, he watched as Kakashi and Gai drunkenly climbed down the roof. Both apparently forgot they could walk down sheer surfaces using chakra control. It was amusing in a pathetic kinda way he supposed. Before suddenly Kakashi seemed to gain control of his body again. Easily sliding down the wall. Gai, enraged by his apparent "coolness" attempted the same, unfortunately, he had not yet suddenly gained sobriety like his rival. Instead, he fell face first with a crash. Kakashi and Naruto flinched at the impact.

"Is he gonna be alright?" Naruto asked with pity. "It's supposed to be bad for you to land on your head like that, ya know?"

"He's the most thick-headed man I've ever met. I'm confident he's fine." Kakashi replied, still slightly slurring.

"Ha, my rivaw Iva surpassed you at last!" Gai brokenly said.

"Just fine see?" Kakashi said merrily as he led the blonde away from the broken man. "Now you should get some rest. I don't need you getting into any more trouble. Ne? Also, be ready by eight in the morning to head back to the Leaf."

"Huh, why?" Naruto asked, confused.

"I have special training for the three of you this month. It needs to be done there." Kakashi replied vaguely.

"Ok…" Naruto replied slightly annoyed but knowing better than to push the odd man once he had made up his mind. "Goodnight then?"

"Unless you need me to tuck you in." Kakashi taunted.

Naruto merely glared at him as he stomped back to the shared cabin for all of the Leaf Genin males. Most of whom were asleep. The large room was fitted with a roaring fireplace that seemed to have no fuel except a seal that seemed to smoke beneath it. And a litany of bunk beds on both sides. Naruto silently crept through the large room full of some of his only friends. Not wanting to disturb their rest. Painfully his bunk was at the end of the room as such he had to slowly tip-toe over. He silently climbed into his bunk. Noticing he happened to be bunked next to Shikamaru ,he slipped into the bed under the cover. He sighed in relief as he relaxed fully into the bed. It wasn't incredible but was undeniably comfortable after a hard day. His eyelids closed off the moonlight welcoming the warmth provided by his bed. It would be a comfortable sleep for the days to come as he yawned for a final time, his eyelids closing. He felt the need to open his eyes but as he opened them he saw a face upside down looking at him. It was only the practice of not disturbing his mother's sleep that stopped him from screaming in terror.

"You're rather loud even when trying to be stealthy. A trait of a poor ninja. Dickless." Sai said sweetly to the blonde.

Naruto blinked once, twice, three times to ensure he was seeing this correctly. Checked his ears to make sure he heard correctly. Lastly, he looked around the room. Ensuring he might not have been talking to anyone else. Once this was all decided he sighed a sigh of a weary elder before attempting to launch himself at the strange man Shikamaru had told him of. He had warned him he was odd and often unintentionally rude but he was downright trying to make him pissed!

"I'll kill you, creepy bastard!" Naruto screamed whispered. "Why the hell can't I move?"

"Shadow Possession -successful. Sorry, I was keeping an eye on him. He tends to make a poor first impression, and with you, I figured it might lead to a brawl."

Naruto glared at both. "You're lucky I'm tired. In the exams, I'll kick both your asses."

"Till then." Shikamaru sighed as he released his jutsu. "Sai please be silent. I want to discuss something with Naruto without him trying to kill you."

"Sure thing Pineapple."

"Troublesome." Shikamaru muttered with a frown. "Naruto… after what happened… I'm sorry it… must be a lot."

"Ya… I knew there was always a chance people would find out. I was kinda hoping by the time it did I'd be such a great shinobi they wouldn't even mind. Guess people will like me less." Naruto replied with a small frown.

"Naruto… I hate to say this but I've been asking Sai and Tenten a bit about jinchuriki."

"We're quite knowledgeable Dickless." Sai added with a friendly smile.

"Can't decide if you creep me out or piss me off. Maybe both?" Naruto growled.

"Both of you shut up." Shikamaru replied with a frown. "Well from what we heard jinchuriki has a terrible rep. Often treated like something less than human. And the Leaf well… the Kyuubi attack wasn't that long ago. I'm fearful there may be significant pushback."

"So what?" Naruto replied with a roll of his eyes. "I've never been a popular guy anyway."

"This is different, they're going to be incredibly upset." Shikamaru explained.

"If they feel so upset they can take it up with me." Naruto said with a full-on scowl now.

"Despite your dumb pride I want you to know you can count on me, and by extension my annoying teammates." Shikamaru paused as Sai waved as if just being introduced. "Show him it, Sai." Sai quickly dropped from the bed head first landing on his hands with incredible grace and skill. He pushed up from this impressively and landed on his feet.

"This," Sai started as he pulled a seal from a nearby pouch of his. "Is a basic chakra flare seal. Commonly used for long-distance subtle communication. If you flare this at any time, our own corresponding seals will flare as well."

"Using this you can summon us for help if you need it." Shikamaru finished. "It may seem ridiculous bu-"

"Fine fine fine." Naruto said, confused. "Why would I need it though? Sure the beast might be inside me, but it isn't me. Why would people blame me?"

"Just take it, being your friend can be such a drag." Shikamaru said. At this quiet declaration, he rolled over to sleep. It was made clear he was done discussing it. Sai quickly leaped back into his bed, somehow he barely made a sound even when landing.

Naruto stared at the roof of his bottom bunk in silent consideration of this. While he felt Shikamaru was overreacting he had always trusted the slothful genius and figured it didn't hurt to be prepared. Though he must admit his words made him feel nervous to go home. Surely his people could see the true him?

With a smaller group and less important personnel, the travel back to the Leaf was done with relatively ease. The group traveled in loose formation towards the Leaf at the speed most Genin were comfortable with. Naruto had honestly appreciated the time to reflect on recent events a bit more. Subtly hiding from his friends at the front of the pack. Him having stamina levels to absurd degrees. But he wasn't surprised when Neji and Ino appeared, both looked somewhat frustrated.

"Blondie! Where the hell have you been? We haven't had a chance to talk about recent events!" Ino ranted jumping in front of the blonde traversing backwards to face him. She had come a long way since the beginning. Now easily able to somewhat rival Neji and Naruto.

"You're right about that, but that's how shinobi break their necks." Neji remarked joining them at Naruto's side. He was a genius and had grown shockingly quickly in the three months. "You really should've sought us out."

"You knew?" Naruto asked.

"I had an idea, you were powerful but no one should be able to tank my gentle fist, let alone somehow last against a S rank missing ninja while he casually smacked Ino and me down."

"I…" Naruto paused with an oddly pensive face. "I would've told you both in time."

"I am not one to judge someone else branded at birth without their consent." Neji reasoned darkly. "It certainly was shocking but it changes nothing. You single-handedly shouldered my wrath and showed me not to simply accept what life has given me. I will not shame myself by forgetting who offered to aid my clan."

"Thanks, man." Naruto said simply beaming at the Hyuga.

"Listen I really love to see you two get along, really it's adorable. But why the hell have you been avoiding us after the second exam?" Ino said sweetly. Naruto wasn't fooled by her kind demeanor. She was intelligent; her study of psychology had made her a lie detector of sorts. Well only with him, apparently he was full of "tells".

"Umm, I haven't been avoiding you two?" Naruto asked somewhat honestly, confused slightly on why she was upset.

"I'll kill you blondie." Ino promised darkly.

"You left the party unannounced last night, leading Gai and Kakashi to go searching." Neji announced. "Then didn't return until late into the night. I attempted to stay up to talk to you but fell asleep."

"My bad guys, seriously. Had a run-in with the sand creep again. Then we were attacked by two weirdos. Except for the lady weirdo who surrendered to us, she claimed to work for that damn Snake Bastard." Naruto explained.

"Interesting, I heard Sasuke and Yuno Uchiha were attacked as well." Neji added, pondering the recent events.

"Four Leaf shinobi targeted by Orochimaru once again?" Ino complained. "We have enough problems without some murderous creep trying to kill us."

"Hmph, if I see him I'll kill him for almost killing the Third Hokage." Naruto declared. "That old man needs to hold on till I can take his hat."

"Naruto, you must speak more elegantly when talking about the hokage ya know?" Neji mocked the blonde with a smirk.

"I'm just honest, ya know?...Hey! That's my line! Don't be a damn copier loser!" Naruto yelled.

"Honestly strange…" Ino grumbled.

"HEY!" Their group was interrupted as the leader of the group of returning shinobi waved his hand signaling their arrival at the Gate of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

The group shifted into a tight formation. Two Anbu and the Jounin sensei of students who were either returning to train or mourn their failure. The Genin were at the back. Watched by several Anbu hidden in the forest. A home defense core of Anbu had been formed, and the members' identities were hidden even more than most Anbu cores. They worked outside the walls being considered the first line of defense against any pursuer. The mysterious squad is being dubbed the "Phoenix Core".

As they walked in, the civilians cheered at their arrival. Such was tradition for exams held outside the safety of the walls. The odd custom being used as some measure of celebration for the survivors. 'Not that they would celebrate with me.' Naruto thought darkly to himself.

More subtlety is a way to mourn those who would never return. Even Naruto had heard there was always death during the Chunin Exams. This one had not been different. They cheered despite that, happy to see so few missing. The cheering continued even for the Genin….. Until Naruto, Ino, and Neji crossed through the gates. Their gaze landed on him studying and memorizing each and every eye catching detail painfully in their mind. The recollection and news of the nine tails seemed to echo within them reminding of who he was, eyes dilating and fixating upon his form. He felt like some object at the museum getting stared at by the people . Slowly the gazes became hostile, silent threats, narrowed eyes, snarls, recognition. They were all there, still he continued pretending not to notice them, almost feeling responsible for everything because of their gazes. There was a howl and some people just fainted upon remembering that night, realizing a breathing proof of that nightmare walked among them.

Naruto kept his walk steady. He raised his guard and did his best to ignore the tension. Soon the silence was broken, some glasses breaking, some people falling down. They spoke in whispers like speaking some secret in the ears, some worse than others seeping honeyed voices, poison subtly dripping from their words. Naruto felt his stomach tie in knots as the common folk of his home let their voices be heard.

"Demon." One whispered.

"Kyuubi was alive all this time… Lord Fourth lied?" Another asked, seemingly disturbed.

"The tailed filth survived! We sh-" There was an audible struggle as those most sensible silenced the man. Not out of morality, no they wished to avoid being associated with such.

"This damn trash!" Another screamed. Seemingly the first yell had set up something akin to a chain reaction.

"Kill it!" shards of glass were launched towards him, missing its mark by a million.

"I agree but we can't take the risk… my wife was killed by it." Another whimpered.

A mob was forming, a very…angry mob. People lost rationality overcome by feelings and a combined thought spreading across the people, surging across the area. The discussions grew louder and louder, the tension in the air became more and more unbearable.

Naruto flinched at the open discussion of him. Quickly it became frenzied screams. Most of them cried out in anger or anguish at his presence. Ino subtly grabbed his hand offering her support. Neji stepped closer as well, openly frowning at the unfolding events. But Naruto barely noticed. He had always known his secret was one to be kept but never imagined this level of hate would be water from the broken dam. He barely heard the whistling in the air turning to see a beer bottle thrown at him. So shocked was he that it nearly hit him in the face before Ino kicked it away. Just like with the screams once someone else did it, it was like an invitation had been given. Trash, shoes, knives, tools, and an assortment of random objects were thrown. Naruto was stunned by this level of hate. What did he do to deserve all of this? But Ino, Neji, Kakashi, and various other shinobi interfered. Deflecting the debris. Anbu appeared, wrangling the more rowdy villagers. But Naruto could only tremble as he realized many shinobi around him had not moved to defend him. He may not have known them but his comrades would've let the crowd pummel him…

Before any more pandemonium could kick off a large puff of smoke exploded next to Naruto, coating the area around him in smoke. Suddenly Naruto saw his mother who stood amongst the smoke. Ino and Neji were perplexed by her arrival.

"Naruto, with me, it's time to talk… things are changing sweety." Kushina said with a smile, almost reassuring him then and there. "Thank you two so much." Kushina offered to Ino and Neji who nodded hesitantly, still shocked by the hate directed at their teammate. With that, Kushina grabbed Naruto pulling him close and puffing away with another body flicker.

"I… why would they do this to him." Ino asked miserably looking at Neji.

"People always judge people for things they can't help. I know that better than anyone." Neji answered with a fierce scowl. "We need to help him somehow."

"Simply be there and respect his process." Kakashi chimed in, walking up to the two. He was covered in trash showing he had been active in the defense of Naruto. "He's gonna go through things, it will likely affect him greatly. We can only offer to be there and respect his boundaries." Kakashi said, his voice somber. "They never recognize the greats, do they Obito?" He asked sadly to himself.

He didn't notice Ino and Neji locking eyes and nodding.