Hand Signs [A Deaf Naruto Fanfiction]

Naruto was known throughout his village for a couple things. Besides the hatred and disgust that seemed to follow him everywhere, Naruto was known for his pranks and his volume. This resulted in him getting yelled at. A lot. It wasn’t as if they helped him either, whenever he asked someone to repeat themselves they just got angry and yelled at him. Then the same Adults who would yell at him for being too loud would look at kids who were older than him and even louder and they only ever shook their heads fondly saying something like “Kids…” in a nostalgic tone.It wasn’t entirely his fault he was loud, though. It was just that everyone else was so quiet. Besides, how was he supposed to hear himself if he was as quiet as the rest of them? How was he supposed to hear them if they never spoke louder?

Obnoxiously Long Author's Note I Couldn't Condense No Matter How Hard I Tried That You're Welcome To Skip:This is heavily inspired by a Deaf Naruto AU on Ao3, but overall it's an idea I've had in mind for awhile and the only thing I was really inspired to do because of the AU I read is take it back to Naruto's academy days. Originally this was going to be a typical the villagers hurt Naruto and these are the consequences but I kind of like the idea of him not being able to hear well from the beginning (even though I'm sure Kurama would've prevented it in "reality"). Really the only things that will be similar are the beginning couple chapters with Iruka and Shikamaru and how they bond with Naruto early on. Kakashi won't be involved until Naruto's a genin and as much as I do like KakaIru I won't be including that in this story (If you guys really want it, I'll add it in later though).The only other things that are similar were already a part of this idea and really is a coincidence; those involving Shikamaru is really only there because I think that canonically Shikamaru would notice that kind of thing and, if he thought it was enough of a problem, he would go to someone, particularly Iruka and/or his father, about the issue. Even if the whole thing was troublesome (He also has the intelligence to put the pieces together on his own and is clearly aware of the prejudice against Naruto). As well as Naruto thinking that his issues with hearing were normal (given the lack of hearing impaired characters and how he's treated this would be understandable) and Naruto's early start to his relationship with Kurama (if you ever read my other Naruto fics (which are coming out soon) you'll how much I love exploring their relationship).Next, while I love ShikaNaru and can easily fit it into this story, I'm leaving Naruto's pairing mostly to you as readers. The poll will be available on my ff.net profile and will close when I think whichever pairing wins can be worked in. Any votes in the reviews won't be counted so please use the poll feature on my profile to vote!I want to make it clear that any romance in this story won't be the basis of it and I'd rather focus on how Naruto's hearing issues change his relationships with those around him. I also really want to focus on the Naruto/Iruka familial bond and a deeper bond between Naruto and Kakashi as well since, if Minato had survived, they likely would've grown up as something akin to brothers.I also want to create a deep bond between Naruto and Kurama that doesn't have the start they had in canon. Since Naruto has held contempt for the Kyuubi since finding out about him being sealed inside him I figured the best way to provide the building blocks for a mutually beneficial relationship early on was for Naruto to find out before Mizuki tells him and from Kurama himself.Also, a major reason for me writing this was that there aren't a lot of Deaf!Naruto fics out there to begin with, let alone realistic ones (Because Deaf!Blind!OP!Naruto is the opposite of that and really not what I'm going for here).Lastly, as I just mentioned, while Naruto won't be Godlike or Overpowered, he will be stronger and smarter than canon, mostly under the excuse that he just couldn't hear well enough to grasp concepts and was easily distracted as well as prejudice because of the Kyuubi but once he does get the help he needs and learns to work around his disability he'll be better off than in canon. It'll make sense when we get there, but that won't be for a few chapters.On that note, I'll talk to you next time (with a much shorter author's note, I swear)!Enjoy the chapter!~KoreanOreo~