I don't own any part of the Naruto Franchise.
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*Scene-Forrest Near The Hi-no-Kuni/Kusa-no-Kuni Boarder*
Naruto Uzumaki was running as quickly as he was able, he'd been running for nearly three hours without breaking. He needed to return to Konoha, or at the very least alert Konoha's forces that his team had been ambushed whilst performing a simple routine Boarder Patrol mission.
He'd been given a scroll containing an assistance request from his Team Leader-Chuunin Matsu Nara, he was considered the quickest runner on his team so it only made sense. It was only a few more minutes of running until he made contact with another Chuunin squad being led by a Special Jounin he knew was named Anko.
Appearing before the squad, he dropped to a knee, panting heavily as he placed the scroll on the ground. "Genin Uzumaki, attached with Chuunin Squad-17836 for routine Boarder Patrol on the Kusa Line, reporting squad ambushed and requesting reenforcements on behalf of Chuunin Team Leader-Matsu Nara, identification code 9897564!"
Naruto had spoken so quickly that it had taken a moment for Anko to decipher what the boy, who she knew wasn't even nine years old yet, had said. Not even two minutes later, her squad minus one that had been injured whilst completing the mission that they'd been returning from when Naruto had run across them. Before Anko and the rest of her squad left, she ordered Naruto to insure her Kohai was returned to the village safely, and to alert the Hokage of everything that had happened during the Patrol mission.
Tired as he was, Naruto still managed to Salute the superior ninja, before he began helping the wounded Konouchi, whom he would come to learn was a Chuunin by the name of Shichi Kurama, on her journey back to Konoha.
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It took nearly four more hours until they were able to return to the village, on behalf of the rather deep kunai wound that Shichi-Sempai had received during her own squad's mission.
By that time Naruto was barely able to contain himself from leaving his sempai at the check-in desk by the Main Gate, and just bolting for his Jiji's office, but he knew that he needed to at the very least ensure that Shichi-Sempai was admitted to the hospital before he could go administer his report.
After making sure that Shichi was admitted to the hospital, the young blond Shinobi ran full tilt for his adoptive grandfather's office, bypassing any administrative ninja that got in his way. Once he reached his Jiji's office door, he ignored the shouting of the elderly man's secretary, as well as all sense of professional etiquette and barged in unannounced, apparently interrupting a meeting his Jiji was having with an elderly man that had bandages which covered most of his visible body.
Whilst the bandaged elderly man, whom he would later learn to be name Danzo Shimura, seemed rather irritated with the interruption, his Jiji otherwise known as Hiruzen Sarutobi aka the Sandaime Hokage, seemed greatly concerned. Likely because ever since the boy that just barged in had become a Shinobi only a little over a year ago, he'd become nothing short of an utmost professional, in an attempt to portray himself to his peers and superiors as deserving of his rank. Something which he has actually had quite a bit of success with.
Seeing the situation for what it was, an emergency, he quickly straightened his arched back and demanded "Report."
That was all the boy needed to regain his composure, quickly taking a knee much like he'd done in the Forrest when reporting to Anko, he began his report "Gennin Uzumaki, attached with Chuunin Squad-17836 for routine Boarder Patrol on the Kusa Line, reporting squad ambushed and requesting reenforcements on behalf of Chuunin Team Leader-Matsu Nara, identification code 9897564. Note, Field Contact was established and Special Jounin Anko Mitirashi's squad, minus one Chuunin Shichi Kurama, has gone forward as a support unit and requests a Medical Division squad to be sent."
His subordinates report finished, Hiruzen turned his gaze towards his old rival, searching for any gives in the older (by two weeks) man's expression, finding nothing but greatly suppressed fury, the elderly Kage summons one of his ANBU with a brief and subtle burst of Chakra.
"Crane." Said ANBU member's immediate presence shocked the young blond.
"Uzumaki-Kun, Crane-San is an accomplished Field Medic and Sensor-Nin, give him your squad's last 8-Digit Grid and he will be able to find your Squad. Now, if you both would please step outside."
The not so subtle dismissal was not at all lost on the eight year old, responding immediately he bowed his head a bit further towards the floor. "Thy will be done, Hokage-Sama" before leaving the room as quickly as possible to give Crane-Sempai the information needed to potentially save his comrades.
*Hokage's Office, After Naruto and Crane's Dismissal*
Danzo allowed himself a single moment to look at the door that the two ninja just exited. "The boy is still in need of improvement, Hiruzen."
With the slightest of grunts, Hiruzen responded "Perhaps, but he's still young Danzo. He'll be Chuunin by his Ninth Birthday, of this there's little doubt in my mind."
Danzo made a quiet 'hn' sound before he next spoke "My offer is still open Hiruzen, the boy would flourish under my guidance. You yourself have stated that the Uzumaki is aligned more to the Wind Element than the others."
"Indeed, he is. He'll also be quite adept at stealth as well, there's no doubt in mind about that. The only problem with him being tutored under you, would be the constant need for him to be immersed in the darkness. Which with him being a Jinchuuriki, it is much to early in his career for him to be subjected to the emotional turmoil that ROOT must endure. He'll be ready for Black-Ops in due time Danzo, until that point, just acknowledge the fact that Naruto-Kun is already Chuunin-Level in all but actual Rank before any of the rest of his generation are even near Gennin."
Danzo was forced to hide a scowl "Of this Village, Hiruzen. Iwa has three Shinobi and a single Konouchi of his generation that are estimated to be around his level, Kumo has an entire Squad from his generation that are all nearly Chuunin. Not even Jiraiya has been able to establish a member of his Network into Kiri or Ame. These times of peace are nearing their end Hiruzen, no matter how much either of us wish it wasn't true."
Hiruzen was unhappy with the man's response to his statement, but was unable to deny anything that his rival had just said.
"All those things might be true, but Konoha shall prevail, even in this coming lapse of peace, and that boy that just left this office will be the one to lead his generation and this village into the next era of peace… Victoriously."
Danzo, as much of a self proclaimed Patriot as he was, couldn't help the slight doubt of Hiruzen's proclamation.
"Very well, Hokage-Sama, but at the very least allow me to pass some of my wisdom onto the boy."
Both men knew what was meant by 'wisdom' Scrolls. Scrolls containing strategies, tactics, techniques that couldn't be tracked back to either man. Things such as advanced Chakra control exercises, nothing that couldn't be found in the Chuunin or Special Jounin levels of the library, just things that the current generations of Shinobi and Konouchi rarely took the time, or even had the knowledge to specifically search for. 'Wisdom' indeed.
With a sigh, Hiruzen gave his consent. "Very well, but be warned 'Old Friend', that my word is Law."
At this Danzo understood what was actually being said "Do It, but my influence Will Not Be Denied." And so, Danzo smirked, before nodding his head and, with the aid of his cane, walked out of his rival's office.
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*Street's of Konoha*
After giving his report to his Jiji, and giving Crane-Sempai all of the information that he could, Naruto began walking his exhausted body towards his small one room apartment, but as his mind continued drifting towards his teammates he kept walking past his apartment complex, towards the training grounds.
He'd been a Gennin for sixteen months, having graduated from the Academy two weeks before his seventh birthday, and in that time he's operated with four teams (his own Gennin squad having failed their test, with himself being the only Gennin that was recommended to stay in the Shinobi Corps), and of those teams, Nara-Taicho's was his favorite. Nara-Taicho never gave him the shit hours for watch while on overnight missions, Nara-Taicho was always fair, and when off missions was always willing to help his Kohai in whatever way he could. Nara-Taicho didn't even consider it 'Troublesome' to help him with his Chakra control! In fact, the Nara often suggested new ways on completing exercises that Naruto had already learned, and regularly encouraged the boy to think outside of the box. He even taught him how to play Shōgi, which while a somewhat boring game, was by far his favorite because someone had actually taken the time to teach him how to play it.
Naruto stopped in his absent minded walking, a sudden unexplainable pit forming in his stomach, feeling as though his day had just gotten worse.
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Alright, this is my first story that I'm posting on Fanfiction dot net, I've written a few stories in the past, but none other than this one felt like they were anywhere near ready to post.
I'm very much accepting of constructive criticism, if you see any issues with the story, then please just let me know and I'll try and fix the issues in future chapters.
Drop a review, or a PM if you'd like.
Also, anyone that might want to Beta, let me know!
