A/N: A quick note before I begin, the only difference between my time-line and the time line of the original Naruto time-line is that Orochimaru never interfered with the Chunnin Exams therefore the Sand's Attack on the village never happened and the result being that the Third Hokage was never assassinated. As well as some alternate character placement/development. For example Ino has taken Sakura's place on Squad Seven. With that being said enjoy my experimental AU story!)

Daylight Ch. 1: Origin of Power

(Italics: Thoughts / Flashbacks / Dream sequence. Bold: Title and Kyubi's / Demon's / Inner Characters's Speech. Underline: Time Skips)

Love… It's a word often spoken of. There are many varieties and variations of love, the love between family members, between close friends, and the most spoken of: The love shared between two lovers. Regardless of the many variations of this feeling known as love a young Shinobi by the name of Naruto Uzumaki never knew its meaning. His entire life he had been shunned because of the demonic animal spirit imprisoned within his very being, as well as never knowing the love of a mother or father. The prejudice had meaning to those with knowledge of the reasoning behind the shunning of the young boy but to their children it was merely blind hatred. Over the years Naruto had been able to forgive all those who have wronged him in the past…

However as he grew stronger his resolve to become Hokage steadily grew weaker… His motivation and refusal to give up regardless of the obstacles before him as well as the inhuman chakra reserves he had been born with gave him extraordinary strength and allowed a large arsenal of Jutsu at his fingertips. Yet at the same time the Naruto everyone knew in the Academy had became a completely different person. Naruto was fourteen years old now with exceptional skill as a shinobi for his young age. He had even been promoted to Chunin due to his power and level of strategic skill. His teammates Sasuke Uchiha and Ino Yamanaka were promoted as well and the result was that each member of Team Seven individually led a team of three Genin on routine missions most of the time and rarely gathered to participate in missions unless it was urgent and of the highest significance.

If Naruto could not become Hokage in the way he had anticipated his ultimate goal was to advance to a high enough level to take the Special Jonin Test, if passed it allowed him a single once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the ranks of the ANBU Black Ops. The test was more serious than any of the previous exams however. If you attempt the test and fail, attempt the test without proper preparations and/or your Exam Proctor felt you weren't serious you will not be able to join the ranks of ANBU in your entire lifetime and will not be allowed a second chance. They're professionals and don't take kindly to those who waste their time. Naruto had just returned to the village with his three Genin Subordinates and after confirming their identities with the guards at the front gate they all proceeded to enter the village.

The Genin under Naruto's command were average at best when it came to a balance of Taijutsu, Ninja Tools and Ninjutsu. In his professional opinion they were suited for low level missions and lacked any notable talent what-so-ever. They definitely were not suited for battle against enemy Ninja. "Naruto-san can we be dismissed? The mission's over right?" One of the Genin asked, snapping Naruto out of his thoughts. "What? Oh right yeah you're all dismissed I'll go give the report to the Old Man myself." Naruto replied in a distant tone. And with those last words Naruto vanished in a cloud of white smoke.

The Third Hokage sneezed suddenly, wiping his nose clean with a nearby tissue before discarding it. "Some beautiful woman somewhere must be gossiping about me…" Sarutobi said to himself with a confident grin on his face. A few moments later an audible knock sounded from the other side of Sarutobi's Office Door. "Come in." The Third Hokage called out as he took a long drag from his pipe, placing it on top of his desk as he slowly exhaled the stream of smoke through an open and nearby window. "I take it your mission was successful Naruto?" Sarutobi asked Naruto with his back turned to the young Jinchuuriki. "Yes but in all honesty I don't see any of those Genin advancing any further… Hold on a moment let me get you the report…" Naruto said as he pulled out a scroll from his Ninja Tools Pack and handed it to Sarutobi.

The Hokage gladly accepted the report and placed it on his desk beside his wooden pipe. "So tell me Naruto how long has it been since you've spoken with either Sasuke or Ino?" The Hokage asked Naruto with a genuine curiosity clearly present in his tone. "About once a week, I understand wanting to gauge my leadership skills but are all these lame missions really necessary?" Naruto asked in reply to the Hokage's question. In response to this the Hokage merely laughed. Naruto observed the Third Hokage's laughter with a look of confusion written across his facial expression. "I'm sorry Naruto, you've proven you have acquired the skill set required to lead Ninja into battle and effectively make use of every Ninja's specialty within your squad. However with accordance to your rank you are required to complete routine missions such as this at least once every two weeks. Understood?" The Third Hokage finished.

Naruto nodded his head and gave a short bow. "I take it that means I'm dismissed?" Naruto asked in a hopeful tone. Sarutobi laughed in response. "Yes you can go Naruto just don't do anything I wouldn't do." The Third Hokage said. Without needing to be told twice Naruto vanished in a cloud of smoke. Naruto had now officially finished the mission with his report being turned in and man was he hungry! Without hesitation the young Jinchuuriki made his way to the Market District to get some food!

Ino had just gotten back from the hot springs and she was so relieved. She had been on a week-long mission and had just now gotten the chance to wash her hair and take a nice, long bath. Lost in the bliss of the moment Ino wandered through the market district aimlessly. A moment later she collided with something or someone and she fell to the ground suddenly. "Ouch… That really hurt…" The blonde Kunoichi said aloud as she composed herself and began to get up. "I'm really sorry Ino are you okay?" a familiar voice said from the direction of whoever ran into her. "Yeah I'm fine but what was the big idea running into me like that Naruto?" Ino replied as she brushed herself off. "I'm really sorry about running into you like that Ino. Let me make it up to you by buying you lunch." Naruto offered in a carefree tone. Seeing no harm in the idea since he was about to go eat anyway.

Ino was slightly taken aback, she wasn't sure how to respond to the situation, was Naruto asking her out or just asking her to lunch out of compassion for running into her? Regardless she did admit she was hungry and not accepting a kind offer like this would be rude of her. "Sure Naruto, it's been a while since we caught up anyway, what did you feel like eating? I'll go for anything with the exception of ramen of course…" Ino finished with a sly grin spread across her facial expression as she spoke. Naruto masked his emotional response as he replied to her words. "No ramen? Kill me now and save me the unnecessary suffering." Naruto replied with a strong hint of sarcasm in his tone of voice. "How does that place sound?" Ino asked suddenly, pointing to a nearby barbeque restaurant.

"My friends Shikamaru and Choji come here all the time, it's actually very good I'll have to admit…" Ino said in a distant tone while looking away from Naruto. Without giving Naruto even a moment to respond Ino grabbed his hand and led him to the restaurant with a running start. "You just going to stand there all day or are we going to get some lunch?" Ino asked in a teasing tone, a gentle and playful look on her facial expression.

"Is it time?" A tall, shadowed figure asked another seemingly identical figure in a deep, masculine tone. "No, it is not time to strike yet… Wait for night fall and be cautious of enemy shinobi, especially the Jonnin…" The identical figure replied as he and the other figure gazed at the horizon, Konoha within sight. "Are the preparations complete?" the second figure asked as he gazed ahead into the darkness of the night. "Yes, now all that's left is to retrieve Minato's son, the Fourth Hokage's Legacy." The first figured replied in a tone of absolute seriousness.

Three Hours Later…

"Alright well you have a good night Ino!" Naruto said with a grin on his face, waving as he ran off toward the direction of his apartment complex. The sun had set and the streets were empty with the exception of the occasional drunk. Naruto took the shortcut through an alleyway and proceeded to jump a wall that led him directly to his apartment complex. After climbing a long, spiral staircase Naruto finally arrived at his apartment, reaching into his pocket and pulled out a key. Naruto then proceeded to effortlessly slide the metal key into the slot and turned it clockwise. The clicking sound of gears confirmed the door had unlocked and with that in mind Naruto turned the handle and opened the front door, closing and locking it behind him.

"Naruto Uzumaki I presume?" A deep and mysterious voice said from all around him. Naruto's eyes narrowed and he put himself into a basic defensive Taijutsu stance, a kunai ready in each hand. "Put away your weapons I have absolutely no intention of fighting you…" The mysterious voice said in reaction to Naruto's fully justifiable, cautious behavior. "If what you say is true, show yourself and prove to me your intentions aren't hostile." Naruto replied, his gaze drifting around his dark apartment. "Very well… I will meet your conditions." The mysterious voice said. Not more than a moment later a raven-haired, cloaked figure with notable crimson eyes appeared before Naruto. Naruto was taken aback at the shinobi's appearance. "You have the same eyes… As Sasuke…" Naruto said aloud as an immediate reaction.

With that statement the cloaked figure stepped forward, his pale face and facial features exposed in the bright twilight. "I see you've met my younger brother…" The cloaked figure said suddenly, a mixture of curiosity and interest written into his very facial expression. "I see so you're Itachi Uchiha… The one who eliminated the entire Uchiha Clan in a single night…" Naruto said in a distant tone of voice, his uneasiness clearly visible. "I know secrets of the Shinobi world that would make your skin crawl… Even darken your reality completely." Itachi said in a mysterious tone of voice of the upmost seriousness. Naruto wasn't entirely sure what Itachi was talking about nor could he find a reason to trust this stranger.

"So, you're not the bad guy?" Naruto asked hesitantly. Naruto's unawareness of Itachi's true purpose limited himself, needless to say he was cautious."Naruto… An organization called Akatsuki is after the power of the Jinchuuriki, in essence the Nine Tailed Fox imprisoned in your body. Eventually they will come for you and at the rate you're progressing you won't be able to defend yourself… This village has a strong bond between its shinobi but most of the ancient shinobi arts have either been sealed away or forgotten… Even if a Sannin or Hokage level shinobi instructed your training it would be incomplete… If you truly wish for the power to defend yourself and others then meet me underneath the great western bridge along the border of the Fire Country... I'll be waiting…"

And without even waiting for a response the form of Itachi scattered in a pack of swift crows, Naruto only then coming to the realization Itachi had spoken to him through a powerful Genjutsu and was never physically there to begin with. Naruto wasn't sure he could trust the word of who he assumed to be his enemy. Yet at the same time Naruto couldn't sense any form of deceit in Itachi's words, he knew it was illegal for a shinobi to leave the village they're assigned to without permission from the Hokage, but getting Sarutobi's permission to leave the village would be a mistake, he's quite sharp and would see through any illusion Naruto could create in an instant. If Itachi wanted to he could have killed Naruto effortlessly in a Genjutsu and Naruto would never known until it was too late…

Naruto made up his mind: He was going to accept Itachi's offer. If it labeled him a traitor so be it… If this training would allow him the strength to protect others he would fully accept the consequences without hesitation… Adamant in his resolve Naruto quickly packed enough food, medical and ninja supplies for a week's journey, collected his life savings he had been saving since his very first Genin Mission with Team Seven, and left his apartment. Naruto made a running start, gathering chakra in the soles of his feet as he launched himself upward and over the outer wall of Konoha, rolling to the ground to absorb most of the impact from the fall. He quickly gathered chakra in his feet again and with a burst of chakra-enhanced speed he sped off, keeping Itachi's directions in mind as he journeyed to the western border of the land of fire, his destination steadily getting closer with every movement.

A/N: Hey readers new and old, this is an idea for an AU based story I came up with, just a basic alternate time line scenario but effective none-the-less. I decided to change certain characteristics of the main characters but done in a way where the changes to their characters weren't too drastic. I hope you enjoy the results. If you liked what you've read so far I'd really appreciate a REVIEW. Also if you enjoyed this so far I urge you to explore some of my other works. If you enjoyed reading this even half as much as I enjoyed writing it I am fully satisfied.

P.S. I eventually have the intention of making this story a NaruIno pairing and putting it into its respective fan fiction section and will once there is more romantic suspense and angst thrown into the story.

Peace! – DemonicLove555