All was calm in Fire Country as a merchant caravan appeared on the horizon. Hopping out of the caravan a single person adjusted their cloak before tossing a small coin purse to the driver. "My thanks for allowing me passage Tatsuko-san, Amaya-san" the figure said before bowing their head.

The elder man and his wife smiled at the young man."Non-sense young man, such polite and well mannered company is more than welcome. I pray our paths cross again in the future" the man said as his wife tossed the coin purse back. "Keep safe you hear." He gave a shake of the reigns before the horses began to move once more.

The cloaked figure shook its head as he began down the road toward the large village ahead of him. He hadn't been there for years and yet here he was about to return to the place of his torment. A sigh escaped his lips as the village walls drew closer and closer. 'This is a mistake and I know I'm going to regret listening to Katsuro-dono on this' he thought to himself. If it wasn't for his Lord ordering him to return the young man would have been more than content to never return to the village only miles in front of him. As he drew closer and closer his muscles tensed under the cloak, his hand clasping the grip of his sword secured at his hip.

"Stop right there. Remove the hood and show us your papers" one of the chunin guards at the gate said stopping the cloaked figure.

The young man scowled and had to force himself to let go of his sword before he pushed back the hood of his cloak. Scarred pale skin, dark crimson hair and amethyst eyes were exposed to the sun as the young man reached for the pouch on his hips. Handing the papers over he had to part his cloak revealing the loose samurai style battle kimono top and hakama pants as well as his nodaichi to the two guards. For a moment the male waited irritatedly as the two men poured over his documents.

"Reason for your visit" the other chunin asked handing the papers with a wary glance to the young man.

"I am here on the orders of my Lord to speak with your Kage about becoming a shinobi for your village." The young man felt the need to puke just saying those dirty words but he didn't let it show. Even if it was a chance to see the two people he missed most in the world, the two people prior to Katsuro-dono that saw him as human, he didn't like the sour taste in his mouth. They were smart girls back then, they could only have gotten smarter and when they learned the truth of what happened he knew he was in trouble big time

"And who is your Lord?"

"Lord Katsuro-dono, sixth and current sitting Daimyo of Hi no Kuni." He almost smirked seeing the two chunin fall over in shock but kept an impassive look on his face. Before he could blink there was an armed escort squad of ANBU around him with weapons drawn and aimed at him. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked with an even tone though his eyes were narrowed dangerously, his hand clenching the grip of his sword.

"Stand down." A Dragon masked ANBU gave a signal and all the swords aimed at him were sheathed. "That is a big claim to make sir. Do you have any proof to back it up?" asked the man as he crossed his arms. The kid before him did not look like much but appearances were deceiving especially if the kid could use the sword with him effectively.

"I have a letter to back up my claim Katssuro-dono addressed to your sitting Kage in case little peons like you gave me a hard time." There was a biting tone to his words as he waved a sealed letter bearing the Daimyos seal. "I told Katsuro-dono to send word of my arrival ahead, I told him this would happen but nnnooooo... 'Wave this at them and demand an audience with the Hokage' he said. This is why I hate you villages." He said the last part to himself. "So are you going to let me in to speak to your figure head or do I have to go back to the Fire Capital and tell the Daimyo this was a waste of time like I told him it would b-"

From atop the arch a shadow cast down on the group of ninja and the young man. Minato Namikaze was a man most recognized on sight with his shock blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. If it wasn't his hair or eyes that gave him away it was his signature white coat with flames that did so. "A figure head am I young man? Big words for a little boy with a tooth pick sword" he said.

The young man bristled as his eyes narrowed to slits. Insult him, fine. Insult his sword, the reason for his living, and your life was forefeit. A sudden warmth and calmness flushed through him unfelt by the ninja around him. "Yes a figure head, a puppet." If this idiot wanted to grind him the wrong way then he would do so as well. "I don't understand why Katsuro-dono feels I should be a shinobi for you but my orders stand. Call off your pets and come down here, my Lord sent a letter to answer any questions or doubts you may have of both my skills and identity." He almost smirked seeing Minato bristle at being called a puppet and his ANBU, the best village in his village, called pets but he stamped it down jumping off the gatd arch. While the seal was authenticated with a jutsu and the contents read he took in the features of the blonde male before him. 'Seems hes aged decades in the last four years' the young man thought to himself. Indeed for a young Kage Minato had the frown lines and racoon bag eyes of a Kage at least twenty or thirty years into their reign.

"Hes fine. The Daimyo has indeed sent him though he did not state your name" Minato said with a scowl. The Daimyo said the young man before him was trained by the very best tutors of the ninja arts he could find and a certifiable genius on the level of the Fire Capitals strategist Nara Hioshi. Katsuro sung the boys praises six ways to Sunday though he warned Minato to make it be known to NEVER touch the boys sword or he would kill you. The letter explained the sword was special to an extent he could not understand and people had tried to steal it from the young man before they were killed for their crime, a crime Katsuro would not let the young man be persecuted for if any Konoha ninja or civilian got the big head to try taking it from the young man.

"Lucifer Morningstar, son of Jacob Morningstar head of Lord Katsuro-donos personal bodyguard detail." It was a cover that the Daimyo and his head of protection detail worked out until the plan was to be revealed. Even if Minato sent out feelers through Jiraiya there would be a full civilian file to be found. "So am I going to be tested or am I wasting mine and my Lords time?" Lucifer asked irritably.

Minato scowled more at the young mans tone. Such disrepect was a quick way to earn his ire but considering the journey the young man had to make on the Daimyos orders the irritation the young man felt wad understandable. "Dragon. Take him to the academy where the other graduates will be taking their test with Iruka" he ordered the masked shinobi.

Dragon nodded and motioned for Lucifer to follow him. Something felt off about the crimson haired kid. Something about him felt familiar yet what it was exactly was beyond reach at the moment. When the pair reached the academy he was shown to the room where the graduates were about to begin their graduation exam. "Iruka-san, do you happen to possess a spare test? There is a last minute addition to take the graduation exam" Dragon said pulling the chunin aside.

Iruka scowled at the ANBU agent. "I do have extra copies but I don't see the relevance of it. I already have the roster I was assigned accounted for sitting in their waiting for me to tell them to begin" the chunin said crossly.

"Dragon-san is speaking about me Iruka-san. Lord Katsuro-dono has personally sent me to become a ninja of this village for what reason I cannot figure out. Probably some bullshit about world experience before I take my fathers duties over when I am ready by my fathers standards" Lucifer said with a scoff.

"And who are you?"

"Lucifer Morningstar, son of Jacob Morningstar head of Lord Katsuro-donos personal security detail" he said.

Iruka was floundered for a moment before composing himself and ushering in the young man. The son of the head of the Daimyos personal security was sent to gain experience as a ninja in Konoha? Graduating with the strongest class of graduates since Itachi Uchiha? Oh boy, this was going to be a hell of a situation.

Once Lucifer had entered the classroom he felt his heart stop as his eyes landed on three people he knew he would recognize no matter how much they changed, two he held dear to his heart and one he despised with a passion. He didn't hear the whole bitching complaints from an Inzuka kid and was shaken from his internal freeze as he was directed to sit in the third row in an empty seat.

"You may begin your test now."

-in the Hokages office-

"Jiraiya I have a mission for you." Minato didn't particularly like being so business with his sensei but the business with that Lucifer kid had him uneasy. He felt like he should know him somow but couldn't place why.

Noticing his student was uneasy Jiraiya decided to be completely business. To make Minato uneasy was hard to do and could be bad for the village. "What is it?" he asked.

"I need you to find all the information you can on one Lucifer Morningstar. He claims to be the son of the Daimyos head personal guard Jacob Morningstar. Its probably nothing and Im being paranoid but.. I can't help feeling like I should know the kid. The vibes that come off him are eerily similar to..." Minato couldn't finish the sentence and flinched. He couldn't say his sons name, hell he didn't deserve to get to call Naruto his son after all they did him. Beat, starve, neglect- and for what reason? There was no justifiable reason.

His son only craved and tried to get his family to acknowledge his existence in a positive manner but that was too much. Then his corpse was found and their mistake was laid bear, the straw to break the camels back-Natsumi wasn't the child of prophecy. They played a vital role in killing the only saviour their world had.

"I know who the kid is" Jiraiya said grimacing. "Right pain in the ass but hes no threat. Hes like you only ten times smarter on the IQ scale. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't become a seal master in the future since hes so adept at it."

"How do you know that?" Minato asked leaning forward in his seat with his curiosity piqued.

"I taught him some last time I was in the Fire Capital."