Naruto stared at the iron cage ahead of him, face contorted in a way to show the inner decisions clouding his mind. Should he let his friend continue to sleep while he conducted his business? Or should he wake him up and enjoy the company? Choices….

Naruto just shrugged and sat on the ground and got to work. Before him, several sheets of paper and bottles of ink appeared out of thin air for his use. It was so nice to have a mindscape that provided limitless things. All you really need is a very vivid imagination.

Uzumaki Naruto was known to be unpredictable in his former village.

Taking the first sheet of paper and dipping a brush with ink, Naruto wrote careful and neat strokes. He calmed himself as he started to get creative in his craft. The endless possibilities of Fuinjutsu. Over the years, he made many seals that crashed and burned because he didn't write the proper kanji or missed a vital element. Hell, he couldn't count how many times he nearly died because of these mistakes!

If it wasn't for his best friend, he would've been dead many times over.

"You're in here already?" Speak of the devil…

"And a good morning to you too. Enjoyed your cat nap?"

A low growl echoed in the mindscape. "I'm a fox, dammit! The greatest demon in the-"

"Yeah, yeah. The world weeps with terror at the mention of your presence." He stared at the huge red eyes that were laid on him. "Can you transform into your female form again? I want something good to look at while I do this."

"EXCUSE ME?! How dare you talk to me like that, you-" The being stopped when he noticed Naruto focusing on the doodles forming on his papers. That brat. Maybe it wasn't a wise idea to inform the brat of the many…abilities that were in disposal.

Then again….it's not as if the being hated looking like some dame. So it didn't take long to transform and walk out the cage.

Naruto looked up once a shadow shrouded his form…and let back to work with a smile on his whiskered face. "That's better, Kyu-chan."

The now revealed Kyuubi scoffed at him and looked down at Naruto's progress before looking itself over. Hair that had the same color as its fur. Caramel skin covered with a blue and white kimono with flowing sleeves and fox insignia centered on it. Its legs were covered with thigh-high tabi socks.

Yup. This is what the great demon Kyuubi was reduced to. At least she looked like someone dangerous. If her container wanted less clothes to adorn her form, his head was going off.

Shaking her head, Kyuubi looked at Naruto again. "What seal are you aiming for this time?"

Naruto made a humming noise as he brought a hand to his chin. "Well….I'm trying to create one that disrupts chakra on touch. I've already made one that can go on paper but those have to stick onto someone for a least a good minute or two." He looked at his gloved hands. They were well made if he said so himself. He managed to buy them from a village on the edge of Hi no Kuni. The labor he had to perform to get these gloves was worth it. "If I can make a seal that can be created on my palm and have the pattern attach to an enemy…"

"You're trying to do the technique your father created."

Naruto paused for a moment. From the stories Kyuubi told him, his father always managed to stick some sort of seal on someone so he can instantly teleport to their location. He always thought that was cool. But…

"In a way. But I don't want to learn Hirashin(Flying Thunder God). That can remain in my dad's legend." He bore his blue eyes on Kyuubi. "I'll make my own trademark. My own legend." He went back to writing. "That won't be for a while though. I still have to travel this world. I've been staying in the same spot for years."

Kyuubi narrowed her slit eyes at Naruto. "You think you're ready for the world, Naruto? I can tell you from experience that it can be harsh and downright pitiful."

"That's because it's in your nature to look at the world like that." Naruto stood up from his spot on the ground. "Me…I want to see what it has to offer for myself." He smiled at Kyuubi. "Maybe you'll see what I see when the time comes."

Kyuubi stared at her host before walking towards him in a slow manner. She knew she had his attention when he stared at her like a dangerous predator who stalked towards their pray. She stopped when he was two meters from his face. "For your sake, you better not get yourself killed. I will be damned if my existence is erased because my host was incompetent."

Naruto stared back unflinchingly. Even if he was getting challenged and/or was a little intimidated at Kyuubi's demeanor, Naruto met it head on. This was something he wanted to do ever since he left Konoha years ago.

Left his home from the day he was born.

Left the few people that showed him genuine kindness.

Left behind Uzumaki Naruto of Konoha.

Now he was simply….Uzumaki Naruto the traveler. Just a boy who wanted to travel the world and broaden his skills.

"You don't need to worry about anything." He even got closer. So close that they're noses were touching. "That's a promise."

Slit red eyes into shining blue eyes.

Then the stare was broken when Kyuubi turned around and returned to the cage. But not before looking over her shoulder at Naruto. "I'm still not convinced. But it's better than staying in one place." She looked forward again. "Don't screw up."

Naruto mock saluted before disappearing from his conscious. Kyuubi stared at the spot again before she fully retreated into the cage again.

Now back in reality, Naruto stood up from the rocky floor he sat on and stretched. His muscles felt stiff but it was nothing a bit of physical exercise could solve. Getting his clothes on and walking out of the cave, Naruto breathed in the fresh air and exhaled with a grin on his face. Deciding to wash up a bit, he walked to the nearest stream and rubbed his face with the water.

From the reflection painted on the stream, Naruto took a good look at himself. He wore a dark, short sleeved green hoodie with orange flames on the hems that stayed open to reveal an orange shirt underneath. On his lower half, he wore loose fitted black pants with matching flame patterns around the thighs and ankles. His hands were covered with blue gauntlets that were triangular around the knuckles and had two horn-like extensions on the paddings.

Other than that, his hair was still sunny blond and spiky(albeit a bit longer), eyes blue, whiskers that stood out on his tan skin and confident grin on his lips.

Yep. Let it be said that Uzumaki Naruto wanted to be badass and look badass.

'One does not wear that hideous color to look 'badass'. At all.'

'Oh screw you, fuzzy. I make the color look supreme, dattebayo!'

'….you actually said a big word. There's hope for you yet.'

Ignoring his partner, Naruto decided to head to the next village and get some supplies.

His grand adventure begins now!

"Team 7 passed, Hokage-sama."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sandaime Hokage of Konoha, stared outside of his window and at his village. He always loved staring at the home that he swore to protect ever since the responsibility of being its leader was passed onto him. The people were happy, the village prospered, and the new generation continued to shine even today.

Yet deep down, he cursed it. For because of the villagers who held such deep grudges that refused to go away, one of Konoha's shining natives left and never returned.

His grandson in all but blood.

"Did they, Kakashi?"

"Their teamwork still needs a bit of fine tuning. But I'm confident that it can still work out nicely."

Hiruzen stared outside the window for a bit longer before turning around and facing one of his strongest ninja still in service. Hatake Kakashi, no matter how many quirks he had, was always ready to serve Konoha to its fullest. The silver haired man was the epitome of shinobi that others wished they could rise to.

Yet Hiruzen knew deep down, this man was ashamed of himself. Ashamed for letting his sensei's legacy down and never making up for it.

"You know…Naruto was supposed to be on your squad eventually if he remained here and graduated from the academy."

At that, Kakashi's posture slacked a bit. "Hokage-sama, at your command, I can search for him again."

"I appreciate that but you're needed for the next generation. Especially for Uchiha Sayane

Uchiha Sayane. That young girl was a wild card if he didn't see one in a Genin. Survivor of the infamous 'Uchiha Massacre'. That was one of Konoha's dark days, indeed. How one shinobi managed to kill one of the Elemental Nations most revered clans in one night…its downright terrifying. Kami knows what kind of effect it left with young Sayane.

To know that her older brother was the one who ended her innocence.

"If you're certain, sir."

"I am." Hiruzen sat in his chair again and prepared his pipe with the finest tobacco around. "Do not worry, Kakashi. My student, Jiraiya, still searches for him till this day. And my closest shinobi keep an eye out while on their missions. Rest assured, we will find Naruto. Hopefully sooner rather than later."

Kakashi still didn't feel 100% convinced but said nothing more. He had a Genin team to care for now. "By your leave, Hokage-sama." Seeing his leader's nod, Kakashi walked out the door.

Alone once again, Hiruzen brought the pipe to his weathered face and took a long drab before breathing out the sweet smelling smoke into the air.

'Naruto….'

Well. This is an attempt I wanted to try out. I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter. And yes, those gloves are similar to the ones Jin Kazama wears. Naruto doesn't just wear them for fashion sense so look out for that later.

Criticism is gold. (Edit: Made small changes here and there. People still read this lame intro for some reason. XD) 7-20-2013