First off, the OC Gale Uzumaki is property of Lockdown00, who gave me the idea for this story. Just a quick AN, I am aiming to have an actual long lasting team seven here so no bashing if you please. I think if things worked out better and they all relied on one another they could have lasted. Sakura is supposed to know a lot so her books smarts will help, Sasuke is very good adapting and has shown to work with Naruto well to get a plan across. Naruto in this will work well with Sasuke and Sakura but he will develop differently from canon as you can tell. We'll see together how this unfolds, so let's get this party started!
This chapter, along with chapter two has been edited, this one less than chapter two which had taken a few drastic changes towards the middle and end. Sorry for the late change but I planned to do that first before continuing with a third chapter.
Key:
"Naruto"-speaking of humans and demons in human form
'Naruto'-thoughts of humans and demons in human form
"Naruto"-demon/sentient talking in demon form
'Naruto'-demon/sentient thinking in demon form
"Naruto"-anyone speaking through mental link
'Fear. That is what we live with. And we live it every day. Only in death are we free of it' – Neji Hyuuga
Chapter 1
Ten year old Naruto stared at his paper, he could clearly read the grade. He got nothing right to the extent he wasn't allowed to take the second portion.
'H-how? I studied the entire week! I looked through books Jiji gave me! He wouldn't steer me wrong but why was every question so advanced!? The books never went over what to do when faced with a chakra sealing tag on you, surrounded by a squad of ninja and all of your team was injured. I….I…..maybe…..I'm just stupid…..I told Jiji I'd talk to him after this. Maybe he'll know what to do' thought Naruto. He stood, folding the paper up and pocketed it before leaving the academy. The walk was short, the academy was just within throwing distance of the kage tower. Naruto passed by everyone there like a ghost, they never bothered him. He knew they saw him but made no move to converse with him, they had their own work to attend to after all and he had nothing to do with it. Naruto slowly opened the door and walked in, instantly he noticed the new figure in the room.
'Never seen him before' thought Naruto as he examined the man. He was pretty tall, standing around 6'1" with shoulder length red hair and his build wasn't overly muscular, thin but powerful. He looked kind of old, late 40's if Naruto was to guess. His attire was certainly something Naruto hadn't seen in person before, only in those old history books. The older red head had on black pants, a black long sleeved shirt, closed toed black combat boots and over all of it was the original style red shinobi armor. Metal plated, multi layered and strung together with red string. On his back was a sword that looked nothing like a katana, a solid gold hilt with a small cross object sticking out of the end. The scabbard was totally white, even Naruto could feel the power that sword radiated.
"Is jiji here?" asked Naruto before the hokage stood from the turned chair and walked up to Naruto.
"What is it Naruto? Did something happen?" asked the hokage.
"I…uh….failed the test" said Naruto, handing him the test paper he wasn't supposed to take.
The kage looked over it and frowned "It seems we'll be going with your plan after all Gale." Naruto looked to the man who smiled briefly and nodded his head to Naruto who just waved in response.
"Thank you, Hiruzen. I know my reputation with everyone else is ugly but taking out of the blue instead of this manner with him of all people would make things complicated for the both of us" said Gale.
"Naruto, forget about this test" said his jiji, letting the paper burn in his hand as he stood up from his kneeled position.
"Would you mind going on a travel or sorts? This is an old friend of mine, Gale Uzumaki. He offered to train you, of course, while traveling for a while. You will come back and go through the last year of the academy, you can't skip that, but I will allow this trip."
Naruto didn't hesitate in his answer "Yes, I'd love to go! I'd get to see so many cool things! We can see the ocean, or that place full of sand, and the cloud place, maybe that place in the rocks or-"
"Haha, we'll get to what we can but we will be training. This isn't a run around the world here" said Gale in a gruff voice.
Naruto nodded his head excitedly "I know! We can just run really fast from place to place!" Gale let out a loud chuckle at that one, partially because he was pretty sure Naruto's definition of fast and how fast he could actually run were far off.
"We'll try to, promise." Gale have him a thumbs up and Naruto smiled back.
"You'll need to buy him clothes through the time you're gone so I'll send some money at different times. Do you need anything else besides that?"
"Just make sure your hunter nin stay off my back and we'll be golden" said Gale and the kage nodded his head, sitting back down.
"You know he'll send men after you, to take him and to kill you. Also, red clouds roam freely but some run closer to home than others. Now go, he is at his meeting now so you'll have more time to gain some distance before men are sent. Good luck, let me know if you need assistance" said the Sandaime Hokage.
Gale nodded his head "I will keep him safe, you have my word. Naruto, are you ready to go?"
Naruto nodded his head excitedly "Then jump on my shoulders, we need to get going quick." Naruto wasted no time, in less than a few seconds he was clinging to the man's back.
"Let's go mister!" shouted Naruto, holding his hand in the air. Gale chuckled then jumped out the window, landing softly on the ground before he froze. His leg muscles tensed then he took off, going faster than Naruto thought possible and he was enjoying it. Everything around him was a blur, people and buildings passed by faster than Naruto could recognize them. Before he knew it they had made it past the front gate and down the main road, still moving at break neck pace. It was nearly a whole two hours of this insane speed until Gale slowed down to a walk. What shocked Naruto was he was barely even breathing heavy.
"Wow, your super duper fast!" shouted Naruto and Gale chuckled.
"I have to be, I can't use chakra to enhance my movements" said Gale.
"What? Why not? I can use chakra but not well at all" said Naruto.
"I lost the use of chakra during the second shinobi war, I barely participated in the third because I was still recovering. I've learned many different ways to live without it, I've built a new fighting style, built my body and my mind to keep up with those who can use it. It does hinder some aspects, but it helped me better myself at the same time" said Gale.
"Wow, that's cool! You're amazing!" said Naruto in awe.
"Well thank you, that's very kind of you. Now, we'll be entering a small trading town just up head. I'll let you down but stay close to me, don't leave my side. Understand?" asked Gale, showing a much more serious and strict side of him Naruto had yet to see. However, the boy was undeterred by the quick change and knew he was just being protective.
"Don't worry, I will!" said Naruto who jumped down and walked next to Gale as they neared a small trading town. It wasn't anything special in Naruto's eyes, around a dozen small houses, only half of them actually looked like stores. Gale kept silent as they entered and walked into a small two-story building with a kunai and shuriken symbol sign above the door.
"Welcome to Zaki's weapons and apparel. How can I- Gale! Long time no see! Who's the runt with you?" asked a man near the counter. He looked…really like so many others around Konoha. Short brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, around 5'10" but what set him apart was the large scar running from his jaw to his forehead.
"Just passing through here, I needed to pick this kid up for someone. I'm showing him the ropes, getting him some hands-on experience and training before taking him back" said Gale. He couldn't reveal too much, not because he didn't trust Zaki but because he didn't want Naruto to hear that.
"Gotcha pal, say no more. I take it you're here for some supplies and clothes then? He doesn't look like he packed for anything unless he's all sealed up like you."
Gale nodded his head "Just getting him some basic gear and a new set of clothes for now. Naruto, pick out some clothes you like and get a few pairs of them." Naruto smiled brightly and nodded his head before running to the clothes and rummaging around for something he liked.
"I'll need about a dozen kunai and shuriken for now, just to get him started" said Gale.
"I've already got a scroll ready with that, it's a common order after all. Now, be straight with me, how did you get him out of the village? You and I both know who he is, hell, who is parent's were" said Zaki, leaning closer to Gale who sighed.
"He apparently failed the exam, not on his own folly but because…well, you know" Zaki nodded his head in understanding "I was already asking to train him when he got out of school and maybe take him to Suna and back. Once he failed the Sandaime figured it was best to let me take him for two years, train him with no outside intervention of the villagers. It would be dangerous but the Hokage agreed pay off hunter nin the village had sent out and try to desists Suna's using their shaky treaty."
"You still have Iwa, Kumo and Kiri to deal with" said Zaki.
"Iwa doesn't bother with me anymore, Kumo will send the occasional scout party to see if I've weakened but they've never attacked me. Kiri is in a civil war, every capable ninja is on one side or the other. Iwa may send some once in a blue moon but they mostly send cannon fodder to do what Kumo does" said Gale before he turned to see Naruto in new clothes while he set a few pairs down. The ones he had on weren't special, a plain black t-shirt with the kanji for strength on the back '力', some dark grey pants, a pair of black ninja sandals, a pair of black gloves and a white jacket. The rest was just the same thing in varying colors for different locations and situations.
"What's the gloves and jacket for?" asked Zaki. It wasn't cold by any means here, only at night did it get cold enough to even think about putting a long sleeves shirt on.
"If we go somewhere cold I'll need these but for now I can put them in a back pack" said Naruto and Zaki smiled.
"You're a smart kid, planning ahead like that" said Zaki, laughing at the end.
"How much?" asked Gale.
"24,556.60 yen($200)" said Zaki and Gale handed him some bills before Zaki handed him back .40 yen in difference along with a leather canvas sailor bag.
"Someone bartered me this a few days ago but I have no use for it and I don't think I'll have a sailor coming by to get one. You'll put it to good use kid" said Zaki.
Naruto smiled even wider "Thanks! This is awesome! I've never had a backpack before!" Zaki smiled back as he watched Naruto stuff the single strap backpack. Once he finished Naruto with the clothes on the counter Naruto stuffed the jacket and gloves inside before throwing it over his shoulder.
"Ready?" asked Gale and the young boy responded with a nod of his head.
"See you later Zaki" said Gale, tossing Naruto on his back.
"See you soon" said Zaki, waving back to Naruto as he left the shop.
Once the door closed Zaki spoke "Now, what do you need miss?"
An anbu appeared from the shadow's near the door "The same thing he got but some more gear please. A demon windmill shuriken, ninja wire, blank scrolls, the works."
"Figured so" said Zaki before he began to rummage through a box of scrolls.
With Gale- four hours later on the edge of Konoha and Ame
"We'll go through a small country to get to Suna then to Iwa and finally Kumo all while traveling through some smaller countries" said Gale, pointing out the route with a map.
"Oh, Suna had all that sand doesn't it?" asked Naruto and Gale nodded his head.
"It does, do you know what Ame has?"
"Tons of rain, some places its year round!" said Naruto excitedly and Gale nodded his head.
"Good job, now how well can you throw kunai and shuriken?" asked Gale.
"I can do really good with shuriken but I'm terrible with kunai" said Naruto as Gale got up and carved a center point target into a tree with his kunai. He walked back to Naruto and unsealed the dozen kunai he bought and handed Naruto one.
"How'd you do that?" asked Naruto.
"Well, usually you channel chakra to unseal them. I made a seal that takes my focus and allows me to unseal things without chakra. It basically takes the already present nature energy that is applied subconsciously to chakra and transfers it to chakra to unseal things" said Gale. Surprisingly Naruto nodded his head in understanding.
"You're super smart" was all Naruto said.
Gale stood and smiled a bit "Thank you, now let's down to business. Throw a kunai at the tree, I want to see your form and how far off you are." Naruto did just that, he threw it perfectly, it hit the target dead on but didn't stick.
"See! I can't ever get it to stick! I practiced and practiced but it never stays on the target" said Naruto.
"Do you use all your power when you swing you arm?"
"The instructor said to just swing my arm cause I don't need to rely on strength to get me through everything."
Gale sighed "Of course he did. Listen, you have to put power behind your throw or you're just swinging your arm around. Try that this time around." Naruto grabbed another kunai and added his power behind it, the projectile flew faster than ever and slammed into the tree but just hitting the outside ring of the target.
"Not bad, you'll have to practice using your strength to get your accuracy back." Gale stood patiently, watching as Naruto practiced, he had gotten closer and closer, the last two Naruto threw neared the center.
"Last one, I'll make it count" said Naruto before he threw it. It sailed through the air but it never even hit the target it ricochet off another kunai that landed dead center on the target. Quicker than Naruto expected Gale was beside him as four figures fell from the trees, two men and two women. They all wore simple garb, brown t-shirt and pants and black ninja sandals with a short sword.
"Gale Uzumaki, strongest, and last of the Uzukage royal guard, left to tend to children" said a man that stood around ten feet away from Gale.
"No one lives forever, you have to pass down what you know" said Gale, keeping his cool as they made a semi-circle around them.
"Hahahaha that's rich coming from you! You've slaughtered quite a few his age, did you plan to teach him about that? All that killing you did to avenge the men and women of Uzushiogakure those villages slaughtered? Even your precious Uzukage fell, sending you away in his last moments to protect the heiress. She's probably dead to if you're watching this little snot, so what's left? Gonna try to fix your life for the better after all that? Not happening, you're the 'bane of the elemental nations' for what you've done. Nearly every kage would be pleased to see your head on a pike! I think I'll kill you, then kill that kid like you did those othe-" The man spoke no more, he couldn't now that his windpipe was crushed in Gale's hand. The man's calm demeanor never changed as his opponent fell to the ground, gasping for the air he would never again receive.
In the split second that happened one female shot off like a rocket, intent on slicing his head clean off. She would have easily done so if her wrist wasn't caught in Gale's own hand. Kai was dead, May could only watch her husband fall before she charged the man. Now, up close she didn't fear his demeanor but the way he never even looked up from Kai to stop her hand.
"He must have been someone close, brother, husband" Gale felt more force from the woman "Husband it is. Sad, you chose the wrong day to attack me." May let out a gasp when her wrist was cut off by Gale's kunai but she made no screaming noise when his kunai was shoved into her jaw and through her brain. Gale kept moving, holding the wrist of the woman tightly he threw it at the other man who sloppily deflected it before Gale shoved Kai's sword threw his heart. The Uzumaki let the man fall to the ground and turned to see the last woman laying flat on the ground, a konoha anbu standing from her now lifeless body.
Naruto's voice broke the silence "Ah….who's the lady?"
"Neko, I was your former protector before you left the village. I was tasked with making sure you were safe within the border of the land of fire" said the woman.
"I'm sorry you had to see that" said Gale, wiping his hands off with a rag and throwing it on the ground.
"I've seen it before" said Naruto, causing both Gale and Neko to pause.
"Where?" asked Neko. 'Has he already ventured outside when no one watched him?' was her thought.
"I lived in the red light district, it wasn't common but I know not to go out at night. Maki and Soba told me that after I watched their friend got stabbed by a group of guys. I haven't seen them after they told me to go home" said Naruto.
"Maki and Soba?" asked Gale.
"They used to watch over me sometimes, I'd let them sleep in my house and no one ever banged on my door or messed with my walls. Then, when they walked me around to get food their friend got beat up and stabbed over and over. Maki, she got really pissed and started fighting the guys then Soba jumped in and told me to go straight home. That was just last week, they'll probably wonder where I'm at so can you tell them for me Neko?"
"What do they look like?"
"Maki's really pretty, nice blonde hair, green eyes, kinda skinny, wears a white shirt and brown skirt with some black shoes. Soba's got short black hair and he's really big, he usually has a black button up shirt and white shorts with some sandals on. Just let them know I'll be back in a few years and they can use my apartment while I'm gone" said Naruto.
Neko nodded her head "No worries, I'll let them know. I'll clean this up, you guys go on ahead. Take this to, I bought some more supplies for you Naruto." The woman handed him a small scroll Naruto took and stuffed in his backpack before hugging her.
"Thanks for watching me Neko-chan! I'll see you when I get back all big and strong!" Yugao smiled behind her mask and kneeled down to hug him back before they separated.
"Stay safe" said the woman and Naruto nodded his head then jumped on Gale's back.
"Thank you, Neko. I'll find a way to thank you properly later" said Gale before he took off at speeds Neko was certainly impressed at.
"I could say the same thing" said Neko before she shot a flare up to call her team.
One day later, in a small village just near the desert
"Are we going into the desert?" asked Naruto while he tried to walk up a tree using chakra like Gale said.
"Just a bit, so you can see it. After that we'll move to Grass country then briefly to Iwa before going to Waterfall" said Gale.
"Oh, so it's like a snake movement around the nation" said Naruto and Gale nodded his head.
"This way you'll get to see more of the nation" said Gale before Naruto ran up the tree again. This time he made it half way up before he slid back down.
"Walk up it, practice keeping a constant feel before you run" said Gale. Naruto slowly got back up and placed one foot then the other, this time he made it to the top of the tree before he walked back down.
"See? You kept running and didn't have enough practice finding the perfect balance. Now, try running up the tree" said the man. Naruto took off at a fast pace, running up the tree, tapping the top with his finger then running back down before slowing to a walk as he neared a branch and sat down.
"That….was…..awesome" said Naruto, already exhausted from using the small amount of chakra he had in his reserves.
"Practice makes perfect, let's take a break and you can try again tomorrow. We'll head out once you can jump from tree to tree" said Gale. Naruto nodded his head and jumped down then followed Gale to the inn room he was renting.
"What are you gonna teach me after that?" asked Naruto.
"First, it's academy stuff, the basics of fighting and all. After that we can find your affinity, learn a few small jutsu and teach you how to use a weapon of your choice" said Gale as he laid down on his bed, right next to Naruto's.
"Awesome" said the young Uzumaki tiredly before he was out like a light.
'Kushina-sama, I promised I would watch over him. I've finished the training I needed to do so I could ensure his safety, now I will watch over him. As long as I stand he will not fall, until my last breath, as I promised you' thought Gale before he too succumbed to sleep.
Naruto's Mindscape
Naruto opened his eyes and immediately noticed the change in surroundings. He assumed he was now in some dark room, extremely large seeing as he couldn't find a wall. The only thing he noticed was the cage in front of him, a tag on the gate that held it closed with the kanji for seal on it. Then Naruto felt the entire room rumble as the other side of the cage lit up, revealing what the cage held. The Nine Tailed fox, it…..was alive.
"Well hello, tiny human. What brings you all the way in the back corner of your mind?" asked the fox, keeping its head on its paws.
"I….uh….just appeared here" said Naruto, trying not to stutter.
"I see, so your mind decided it best to see me then. How interesting, the human subconscious is an astounding piece of work. Now, I guess some introductions are in order. I am the great Kyuubi No Kistune, or" the fox glowed bright red and shifted, shrinking down to the size of an adult female "You may also call me Hitome." Naruto never expected this, first off, meeting and seeing the Kyuubi but now SHE turned into a human, of sorts. She had a female human shape, blood red hair that reached the small of her back and creamy white skin then some….extra features. Nine long tails flowed behind her, a set of ear stood atop her head, her smirk showed off her elongated canine teeth and her blood red eyes had cat like slit pupils. All in all, she still resembled the form she was in previously, but now she was just more human.(This is my first time giving female Kyuubi a tail and ears so bear with me here. She will explain as to why she kept the tail and ears and it seems like something she would do, as the strongest of the nine bijuu and a very prideful being in the manga and anime.)
"W…wow…You-I didn't expect that! Why do you have tails and ears like a fox though?" asked Naruto.
"As beings of chakra we can alter our appearances at will but all of us usually stay in our original form. I keep my tails and ears because I am who I am, the Kyuubi No Kistune, and I am not going to hide that in any form. If someone wishes to complain they may after they've beaten me in battle, nothing more, nothing less. I am a proud being, I will not put away that of which shows my identity" said Hitome.
"I understand, you're really strong, well, confident I guess. I try to be when I can" said Naruto and Hitome's smirk shifted to a small smile.
"You can be, just be proud of who you are. You are Uzumaki Naruto, no one can change that. You may be my container but that is also who you are, embrace it, I will be here to help you do so but only if you can withstand the power I give you."
"Withstand? You're a sweet lady, what's there to withstand about you?" asked Naruto.
"You are an adorable child, but I mean my power. The power I have is strong but poisonous to humans, you are immune to it in small portions, like for healing but not large portions. It can damage your body physically but the larger the portion the harder it is to control without proper training and mental stability" said Hitome.
"Oh, ok….I think" said Naruto laughing a bit and Hitome laughed back.
"Oh, earlier you said this was my mind right?" asked Naruto and Hitome nodded her head.
"Then I should be able to do this" said Naruto and the world around them began to warp, bending and shifting to Naruto's will before settling down. What Hitome saw now astounded her, a being centuries old. She now sat in front of a low wooden table, inside a small two story traditional wooden house. A couch to her left, a plush chair behind her and in front of her. Behind the chair to her back was a large, fully stocked kitchen, to the left of the kitchen was the stairs leading to the second story. Up there she saw a single bedroom with a king sized mattress, already fitted with red sheets on a chestnut frame. In that room was a door that led to the large bathroom filled with any essentials.
Hitome walked down stairs and slid the door open to the back yard, seeing a full garden. A large assortment of flowers a small river flowed around the house and a stream was cut off that went through the garden. A tiny red bridge led over the stream in the garden and to a cherry blossom tree that was in full bloom. The bijuu closed that door and opened the front door to, greeted by a large field. She took a step out and noticed it was thick, but extremely soft(Look up Bermuda grass). Just a ways off from the house was a large pecan tree, also in full bloom. Looking to her right was a large lake, where the river had originated from she assumed. To her left was a massive forest, filled with towering redwood trees she'd only seen once before.
"I saw those tree's in an old book jiji gave me" said Naruto, somehow right next to her.
"How did you know to make all this?" asked Hitome.
"Well, if it's your mind then you just use your imagination. I imagined the perfect house I wanted, something jiji helped me draw a few months ago. It had that layout, a garden with a river, a lake nearby, a pecan tree outside with a big forest next to the large field. It's all just like the drawing he made with me" said Naruto, looking around at his handy work before turning to her.
"This is my dream but is it something you like?"
"Of course, it's beautiful" said Hitome and Naruto smiled before his body began to fade.
"It seems your body is waking up, I guess I should tell you this now. All the power I'm giving you for now is to heal yourself, nothing more until I feel you're ready to handle it. Once you are we'll go over how you can access it and what you can do with it" said Hitome.
"No problem! Have fun in here!" said Naruto, as he waved. Hitome smiled and waved back before he disappeared then she sighed and looked to the sky.
"He's just like I imagined, a mix of Kushina and Minato" said the woman, letting her mind wander before she stood abruptly.
"Alright, time to make some food. I wonder if I even need to, not needing to eat and all. Whatever, sweets still taste good" said Hitome, walking inside to the kitchen.
Gale's Minscape
"Do you think it's the right thing to do?" asked Gale. He sat alone on a tatami mat in the middle of a well light area. However, the shadows shifted and the walls fell, revealing a large green dragon curled up around him.(Chinese style, think avatar the last air bender for a moving example.)
"I think teaching the boy what you know to protect himself is a good idea. The traveling part is a bit daring but it will open his eyes to the world around him" said the dragon.
"I hope it is the right thing Shi, I can't fail the clan anymore."
"You've never failed them, you were told by those who you took orders from. The Uzukage told you to leave to protect the heiress, Miss Kushina. She told you to stay out of the fight and watch over Naruto after you completed your training. Now, you can do your job as you were instructed" said Shi.
"Thank you, old friend. I may need assistance if we have to quell the Kyuubi in his mindscape" said Gale.
"I will always be here, just say the word and I'll step in."
Six months later
"I can't believe we had to stay hidden in the land of mountains for two months cause of those hunter ninja! We couldn't even go to Grass country cause you just had to go to the land of mountains first" said Naruto.
"You still got to train, didn't you?" asked Gale.
"I did but only in weapons and your Mui Thai style. I did want to learn some jutsu to."
"We will, after we buy some chakra paper. After we make a stop with the priestess of Demon country we'll move across Iwa and to the Land of Iron to get you a sword."
"Woah! Awesome!" shouted Naruto, pumping his fists in the air.
"It's just a half mile till we reach the priestess's temple, I want you to walk on your hands the entire way" said Gale. Enthusiastically, Naruto flipped onto his hands and began to keep pace with Gale at a leisure pace but as they neared the gates Gale had to slow down quite a bit to keep pace with Naruto. The second Naruto placed his hands past the gate he flipped on his legs and stood slowly.
"I…..can't….feel….my arms" wheezed Naruto.
"The blood will flow back in a minute, just follow me" said Gale. Naruto did just that, keeping behind Gale as he led them around the compound, all the guard either waving or ignoring him.
"How come they don't bother you?" asked Naruto, trying to ignore the pain in his nearly limp arms.
"I used to guard her long ago, they know me well" said Gale before he slid open a door and let Naruto walk in before closing the door behind him. Gale immediately bowed, Naruto followed suit soon after before the both raised their head and Naruto got a lay of the room. On an elegant mat was a long brown haired woman, she looked very calm, her light purple eyes reflected only kindness as what Naruto assumed to be her child played nearby. The young girl looked around his age, her blond hair and waved around as she looked at him with the same purple eyes as her mother.
"Well hello once more Gale, it's been some time" said the woman.
"Apologies, Miroku. I have been very busy since the day I left you. Have you been holding well?" asked Gale.
"I have been, however, I fear what lies on the horizon" said Miroku.
"Do you need my assistance?" asked Gale.
"No, this is a matter you have no use in. It is a matter a priestess must take care of, however, I may need you to make sure my child stay safe."
Gale now knew what she may have to do "Of course, I will visit as often as I can. We were only passing through to check on you and your daughter. How is she?"
"Shion, are you feeling well?" Miroku said. The blonde girl stopped playing with her toys and walked up to her mother.
"Yes ma'am! Who are those people?"
"Friends of mine, they came to say hi" said Miroku to Shion. The young girl turned to the two and examined them before waving and walking back to her toys.
"She seems very healthy, but does she know of her duties?"
Naruto noticed the brief frown on Miroku's face "No, I don't want her to if she doesn't need to. I will take care of things myself for now, do not mention anything to her."
Gale nodded his head "Yes ma'am."
"Now, before you go. Is that boy who I think it is?"
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, ma'am" said Naruto, bowing.
"My my, very well mannered" said Miroku with a small laugh.
"You've got pretty eyes" said Shion from her position by her toys.
"Thanks, you too" said Naruto, not sure what else to say to her. He felt awkward, the seal on him felt all weird too and his chakra was stirring a bit.
"Well, we do need to be going. We are a bit behind schedule, is there a date you need me to return?" asked Gale as he let Naruto walk out.
"You will know when you must return" said Miroku with a sad smile.
"Yes ma'am, take care."
"You too Gale, watch over the child well" and with her last words Gale closed the door before leaving the compound.
"Lady Miroku, we are detecting activity again within the shrine" said a guard from behind the door.
"Ignore it, the demon only wishes to attract me. Let me know when anything seems off in the seal" said Miroku, looking to Shion. 'I'm sorry dear, I won't be here much longer. Just know, mother loves you and she always will.'
With Gale and Naruto
"Now what? Run through Iwa as fast as possible?" asked Naruto.
"No, we have to take our time. Keep our tracks covered, and keep a low profile. It's a large nation but we'll pass near the main village to get to the land of Iron. They'll have chakra paper at a town we'll pass through so we can test your affinity and get you some scrolls to start your nature manipulation. Sound good?"
"That sounds amazing! I can't wait!" shouted Naruto in anticipation.
Well, that's chapter one of Uzushigakure's last heir. Review, tell me how it was a such. The next chapter will go through bits of the trip and maybe finish out Naruto's last year at the academy. See ya later!