Hello, this is my first fan fiction so I'm not sure if it's any good. It's quite a long one and I haven't finished writing it yet but basically I just loved the Naruto world and it gave me so much inspiration that I wanted to write a story about it. There are a few familiar faces in here but the main characters are mostly my own because I know I could never do Naruto and co. justice in my writing. They're just too amazing so I left them and their enemies behind in the anime and started a generation that comes even after Boruto's. I hope it is still recognisably the Shinobi world and that it's not boring. If anyone does decide to review then thank you very much for your time and I really appreciate your advice. I think it might be rated T but I've never done this before so sorry if I'm wrong. I'll keep adding chapters as I go. Thank you for reading.

*prologue*

He fell down hard on the ground and nearly bit his tongue off at the sharp pain in his knee. He remained sitting to examine it. The skin around the deep jagged cut has gone strangely white, grey and lilac though it darkened quickly. Soon blood spilled over the thick crust of dirt that covered it and ran into his ripped trousers. He flexed his leg experimentally. The joint had suffered no damage itself though it did feel stiff and bruised already. He got to his feet. There was a piece of flint jutting out of the ground where he'd fallen. He prised it out of the mud and put it in his pocket. He'd suffered worse. He spotted a girl with a freckled face eyeing the cut queasily. There were a few titters as he walked to join the back of the line. He didn't look at whoever had pushed him. That way it would be like it had never happened. He wasn't going to start crying about it.

They studied the history of the Hidden Leaf all morning after introductions had been made. He followed as best he could from the back of the class whilst the thin trickle of blood dribbling into his shoe made his foot itch distractingly. This was why he hated wearing wet socks. He stayed inside at lunch time despite the bright sunshine and no one bothered him again, though his isolation did attract a few stares. He ignored them until the bell finally broke the class hubbub shrilly to signal home.

That afternoon he washed and sewed his bloody clothes and put a plaster over his knee just like mum would have done. He didn't kiss it though. He left the house to train and came back well after dark for supper. Dad would have made a rich autumn stew to celebrate the grand occasion of his first day at the academy and the house would have echoed loudly with his tuneless singing, but he had instant noodles instead. Then he went straight to sleep and fought with the demons that lurked in his dreams. When he woke, it was only three and he had to start the process all over again. A long hard day for a seven year old boy.

*four years later*

"Seventh, these are the academy graduates teams for this year." There was a soft thump on the desk as Sai placed the papers in front his boss.

There was a muffled "Uuugh!" from behind an enormous stack of scrolls. Sai could only here mutters of "...no time...still have so much work... where's my pen?... what does that say?... not another missing cat!..."

He gave the desk a hard whack as he had done a thousand times before and gradually a spiky blond head emerged from behind his work.

"What?" It was plain to see that he'd been up all night and having large quantities of ramen judging by the stacks of empty bowls either side if him and the dried soup around his mouth.

"New teams. From the academy. Your approval, please." Short sentences. It was the only way to get through to him when he was like this. He rubbed his eyes and wiped his mouth on his sleeve before giving him a much brighter look than he had a few moments before. Naruto's recovery time had always been astoundingly quick, even if it was just from admin.

"Right, right. How ...many?" He yawned loudly between the words. Sai fought down a yawn himself.

"Four teams this year." he said opening a window to let a cool draft through. Autumn was exceedingly hot this year and the breeze was welcome in the stuffy office. If everyone knew how very unglamorous being Hokage was then he was sure there would be a lot fewer eager replacements for Naruto knocking about than there were currently.

The Hokage nodded. "That's a good number. I have heard the students this year are bright but...head strong."

"Rowdy is more like it." Sai muttered.

"I wouldn't have them any other way. Enthusiasm isn't something that can be instilled easily in a student. Discipline however, can be learnt...most of the time."

"Shinobi are supposed to be disciplined all of the time. Focused. You and your son never learned that lesson." Sai grumbled.

"You sound like an old man." Naruto laughed.

"We are old men. Before long we'll have grand children." It was true. Both well into their late forties, their children were all ranked Jonin carrying out missions that befitted their elite skills and their hair had begun to turn grey a long time ago. Naruto's was lined with bright white streaks and he had formed deep lines around his eyes from when he smiled. He smiled nearly always. Sai didn't think in the history of any village there had been such a cheerful Hokage.

"I can scarcely wait for another bucket of paint to come sailing my way." Naruto sighed spinning ponderously in his chair to gaze out across the village. No doubt his grand children would be just as good at trouble making as he and his own son had been (and still was). Even his daughter had showed that same fierce will of fire from the moment she started her training. Another generation of Uzumakis running about would once again mean an end to peace in the Leaf Village.

"Tell me about the kids. What surprises to the next generation hold."

Sai took a seat on a stack of boxes and read out the first name. This was another part Naruto's ninja way he'd come to realise. He was a friend to nearly all the people in the village and knew each person's story almost as well as he knew his own. From the moment they left the academy Naruto had their names memorised, would speak to them each individually as often as he was able and do whatever he could to help them in and outside of training. Sai had told him time and again that this was what their own senseis and mentors were for but he'd always smiled and said "If I don't look out for all the little Kakashis, Gaaras and Sasukes, who will? I have an example to set. This is the most important time in their lives. If I can't even protect and support the children in their own home then I will have failed as a Hokage. Believe me, I know what it's like to be alone."

"Team one, Elaine Minami, Irri Minami and Loxas Miyamoto. Elaine and Irri are the twins. You've probably seen them. Their team work is outstanding and I didn't think they would tolerate being separated. We're hoping their grounded nature will somewhat tame Loxas. He's a real wild card and one of the most arrogant little highborn bastards I've ever met, though perhaps he has cause to be. His grades are actually very good and he's already starting to tackle some pretty advanced jutsus."

"Team Two, Tobi Nakahara, Luce Oshiro and Aoi Kito. Tobi is the laziest student that has ever graced the academy with his presence but his natural talents have thus far got him through all his training, just. He passed the final exam by one mark, probably deliberately. If he actually tried I think he'd really excel. Luce can hopefully give him the kick up the arse he needs. She could be leader material but her temper is short and she has been known to be violent with her class mates. She is however fiercely protective of Aoi who has always had a calming influence on her since they were very little. Aoi's a hard working student but is easily frightened. Her jutsus work well in practice but she has yet to use them on anyone in combat. Hopefully she will gain more confidence as training progresses. The three combined should make a well rounded team."

"Team three, Saraya Hamasaki, Kai Samato and Grey Ulda. Saraya has been known not to play well with others. Team work has been an issue in the past and for a while we did not think she even wanted to become a Shinobi. She seems happy enough around Kai though so we thought this might at least settle her. Kai himself is... well to be quite honest he is our top student this year. His grades are quite exceptional and his classmates really respect him. He'll probably be ready for the next Chunin exam if the rest of the team are. Grey can be rather... sullen shall we say. Others would call it argumentative. He isn't good at receiving orders and because he's so sensitive, every criticism is an insult. We are hoping Kai will keep both of them focused but..."

"You worry their might be fireworks?" Naruto finished.

"More than just worry but it's Ino who's their Sensei so they had better be on their best behaviour."

"You should know."

"Ha ha, very funny."

"And team four?"

Sai searched through his notes. He paused a moment frowning slightly before continuing. "You might call them the mystery team. Daiki Fukui, Numa Himura and Fin Hayashi. Daiki's a joker. Class clown. Plays the fool. His results were surprisingly promising in the final exam considering his general lack of concentration and pretty dismal grades all year. Numa we hope will keep him in line. She's a very serious girl but strong. Her jutsus match even with Kai's. She'll go far. Another one with brilliant leadership skills. And finally Fin. Diligent, quiet... he's caused no problems except when comes to combat... Then he has been excused. I honestly don't know if he's fit to even graduate despite passing finals. I trust you remember what happened five years ago?"

Naruto nodded, his blue eyes darkening. "Just like Sasuke."

Sai knew how deeply this news had resonated with Naruto and he had to agree that the similarities between the two cases were startling. But unlike the Uchihas, the Hayashis murder had had no press in the hidden leaf other than amongst himself and the Hokage. Naruto himself had spoken to the boy about it and how it would be easier at least whilst he was at school to not draw too much attention to the circumstances under which he had been brought to the leaf. The boy had sat in silence but nodded enthusiastically. Questions would have only dredged up further pain Sai knew from his own past. People who said talking about the bad things would make you better, were unlikely to have experienced trauma themselves. Reliving the experiences again and again for analysis and assessments, could end up make you feel ten times worse if you weren't ready for it.

There was no need to discuss his qualities. Naruto had kept a careful eye on the boy from day one though he had tried not to interfere too much with his personal life. It was a fine line he was treading. Even a Hokage such as Naruto was not meant to be the one giving individual pastoral care to anyone in the Hidden Leaf, no matter what their circumstances may have been. So he had been forced to watch from a distance and grind his teeth as the boy remained as quiet and restrained as ever. Always polite but never... never quite connected. An even sorrier state than Sasuke had been in... though perhaps a little kinder. And not, as it turned out, hell bent on revenge...yet. This team would prove interesting and possibly be the one most likely to suffer a break down, though he hated to admit his doubts. One bad apple rotting one of his four barrels was hardly be fair on the other graduates. But after structuring the other teams so carefully, these three if he was honest had been thrown together and there wasn't much he could do about it. Some genin had to graduate this year.

"You worry too much Sai." Naruto said with back still to him. His eyes looked far away, as if they were reaching for the horizon. Perhaps thinking about the war. They all did that some times. He and Ino had broken enough ornaments and crockery between them to sink a ship thinking about old battles and long lost friends. "The teams have my approval. Who knows? They might actually surprise us if we have a little faith in them. I know I have."

"Yes Seventh." Sai said getting to his feet and heading for the door.

"Oh and Sai? Send in Eighth would you? He wanted to see me." Naruto has gotten into the habit of calling Konahomaru Eighth. There was no doubt in Sai's mind who would be the next face carved into the stone cliff behind them. Konahomaru would make a fine successor to the Seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.