DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto. Although I wish I did

AN: Here's to my 2nd Fanfic ever! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Well, not like you care. This idea came to me while I was studying for exams. I wanted to procrastinate for a bit and here it is. Unlike the 1st Fanfic I made, The Kyuubi's Vessal, I'm pretty sure this one will be completed. *Bows* I apologize, but when I was writing my 1st Fic, the chapter where Kurama's name and sex was confirmed came out. I expected the Kyuubi to be male, even before then, and I knew the name I came up with would probably be wrong. I knew that, but for some completely illogical reason it still upset me to the point where I couldn't write the story anymore. When I finally got over it, I had completely forgotten where I wanted to go with my story and I lost all my motivation. In a sense, I suppose you could call this story a replacement for The Kyuubi's Vessal. The plot is going to be completely different, (because I literally forgot everything I wanted to write) but still, I hope you guys enjoy this new fic. Expect updates to be erratic, especially since I'm going to be enlisted into the Army in May, but expect this story to be completed.

"That's right! That wellspring of power that you feel deep within yourself! Slowly… coax it out… And there!"

Haruno Sakura scrunched her eyes, fixated on the power she had slowly begun to sense over the past few lessons in academy. Squatting on the ground with a look of intense concentration, she slowly begun to access the energy used by all shinobi. Iruka-sensei watched on as he spurred her on with words of encouragement.

Chakra is a mixture of spiritual and physical energy found in all living beings - or so they were taught in the academy. All shinobi utilized this energy to utilize techniques not unlike miracles. Standing on water, summoning giant talking creatures, and even creating clones of oneself are all possible using this sacred energy. Although amazing, it takes decades of years of focus and training to use adequately. Sakura, was struggling through what all academy students eventually have to do- sensing and bringing out her chakra.

The academy was currently teaching their students to access their chakra. The speed with which the students managed to do so varied greatly, although all students usually managed to sense and use chakra within a month. It had been a week, and about half the class had managed to access it. The class was now split into two, those trying to use their chakra, and those who were sitting around bored with nothing to do. Uchiha Sasuke was currently sulking in a corner, wondering why he was wasting his time waiting for the untalented masses to catch up. Nara Shikamaru was sleeping, thankful that he could sleep in class without being bothered for once. Aburame Shino had been dragged off by Inuzuka Kiba to do God-knows-what, and Hyuuga Hinata was poking her fingers together and trying her very best not to stare at Naruto with a bright red face and failing. The object of her affections, Uzumaki Naruto watched on as the love of his six-year-old life struggled to do what he had managed to accomplish just an hour ago.

"Go Sakura-chan! You can do it! I believe in you dattebayo!" Naruto loudly cheered, much to the irritation of the class and his teacher.

"Shut up stupid Naruto! I almost had it you jerk! Now I'm gonna have to restart this exercise from scratch!" Naruto grimaced, just as Sakura punched him, sending him flying into the nearby wall. Iruka-sensei just sighed

"Naruto, if you promise to keep quiet while the other students try to access their chakra I promise to buy you some ramen later."

"Really!? It's a promise dattebayo!"

Iruka sighed once again, mentally saying goodbye to the precious money he had painstakingly saved up over the past few months. It had been a nice dream, of a week's holiday in some onsen, or perhaps a new television set to watch a couple of the movies he wanted to watch, completely shattered by Naruto's ever loving antics and stomach.

'Still…' Iruka thought, as he watched his cute student close his eyes and completely ignore the irritated glances of the class he disturbed, 'maybe it isn't that bad'. After all, Naruto had finally managed to get a grasp on his chakra, and get a step closer to his dream of being Hokage. That was worthy of some celebratory ramen.

Meanwhile, Naruto had been thinking of his recent exposure to chakra. It had taken him a week's worth of futile effort and sweat, before he finally got it. Closing his eyes, he remembered how he first managed to sense his chakra.

Naruto had put himself into a trance, floating aimlessly in a dark and empty place. Deeper… He must venture deeper, as he had not yet found his core, the source of his chakra. Iruka-sensei had told him to find it, and that once he did, he would instinctively know the feel of his own chakra, and be able to use more and more of it easier and easier each time. He couldn't wait! Soon, he would be as awesome as the nice Jiji who came to visit him every now and then. Soon, he would be kicking ass and taking names, and everybody would acknowledge him!

But not yet… Deeper... Deeper still…

Naruto had never managed to venture this far before. He still couldn't feel anything different though. Damn it! How much further? Naruto was bad at things like this. Already, he could feel an itch on his physical hands that he wanted to scratch, and his boundless energy was screaming at him to stand up and run around and to do something. Anything! But still Naruto somehow managed to endure. Today, he would finally manage to get chakra and take another step towards his destiny to be Hokage.

Deeper…

A bead of sweat rolled down Naruto's face. He didn't notice it. He was too far gone to notice it. Iruka looked over at Naruto, beginning to sense some chakra stirring within him.

"Class! Look at Naruto, if you still haven't managed to use your chakra! I think he's about to get it!" A few students looked on, interested. More simply sneered and looked away. The Uchiha prodigy merely 'tsked' and grumbled something about moving on already and to stop waiting for useless students.

Deeper…

Naruto was finally beginning to sense something. A calm, smoothing power that was him. A trickle of something that was always there. A power that would allow him to touch the sky. Ah… So this is chakra… Indeed, with this energy, the miracles known as Jutsu could be accomplished. But it still wasn't enough. Uzumaki Naruto still had not reached his core.

Deeper…

Finally, after travelling in inky blackness for what seemed to be an eternity, Naruto had found something that seemed to be his Chakra core. It seemed to be a faint bluish light that grew brighter and more intense the closer he got to it. With a smile of success and satisfaction, Uzumaki Naruto allowed the light to envelop him.

Iruka cheered.

"You did it Naruto!" Naruto was giving off a strong blue ethereal energy. Iruka almost couldn't believe it. Based on the chakra he was producing now, Naruto currently had the chakra reserves of an average chunin. Not bad for a six year old. As expected of the last of the Uzumaki clan, famed for their seals and strong vitality.

Deeper…

What was this? Iruka said that there was only one core of chakra in each person! Yet, Naruto had found a second fountain of power within himself. This chakra source manifested itself as a bright yellow light and Naruto was wondering what the heck it could mean.

'Maybe…' Naruto thought to himself… ' I'm just that awesome!? Yeah! Take that old man! I Take that bastard Sasuke! I have so much awesome that I need twice the amount of cores to contain it dattebayo!'

Still… Something about this chakra source felt different. Touching it, Uzumaki Naruto instantly understood. Elation. Ecstasy. Unlimited power. This was what Naruto now held in his hands. This was something completely different from the chakra he was previously enveloped in. Could this even be called chakra at all? What was this?

With this power, Naruto could be anything. Why shoot for the sky, when you could reach out and grasp the moon? The sun itself would be at Naruto's beck and call. He could be stronger then the raging waves, more firm than the mountains, and his villagers would not only acknowledge him, but bow before him as if he were a god.

Intoxicated, Naruto decided to test this new potent chakra. Iruka had told him that the most basic usage of chakra was to use it to enhance his senses. Taking a tiny, tiny mote of the yellow chakra, Naruto spread it throughout his body, aiming it at his skin, eyes, ears, nose, and tongue.

Iruka was just about to clap Naruto on his back, congratulate him, and get back to the other students who were still unable to unlock their chakra when he felt Naruto's chakra suddenly spike. It lasted only for a brief instant, but Iruka's eyes widened with shock. Not a single one of the unskilled Academy Students had sensed it, but to a chunin like himself, it was obvious. Naruto's chakra had momentarily greatly eclipsed that of even the Hokage.

'Could this be… The Kyuubi?' This may be cause for a disaster. If the Yondaime's seal on the Kyuubi was weakening… Still, this may not be cause for worry yet. It was a short incident. For now, Iruka would simply keep an eye on Naruto. If an incident such as this were to happen again, he would report it to the Hokage, and see if he could get Naruto's seal tightened.

Naruto opened his eyes and twitched in his chair anxious for the day to get a move on already and for lessons to end. He could hardly wait to taste the food of the gods, the sweet promise of delicious noodles floating in miso soup, of succulent meat and sweet corn. Ramen! With his enhanced senses it would definitely be a treat to remember!

The chakra he had used was definitely amazing. Naruto stared at the room with his new eyes. Beautiful. It had been an hour since he had gained access to this new sight and he was still in doubt. Was the world he lived in really that beautiful? Swirling motes of dust reflected dazzling colours across the classroom, colours that he had never seen before and hadn't even known existed. A whole new spectrum of light was available to him now. Blinking, he was able to make out every single tiny word written in Yamanaka Ino's notebook across the room.

Breathing in, he also smelt many things that he had never before smelt. He could now smell everybody's unique odour that had been imperceptible to him before. Sakura smelt of something similar to cherries and lime. It was perfect. Such a nice scent… As to be expected of the girl of his dreams! He could also smell some oden from the store he was never allowed to eat at across the street, as well as the flowers in the garden outside. They smelt nice, in his opinion. He could also smell a fart, which he swore was coming from Iruka's direction. Eww.

With this much enhancement to his senses, Naruto was sure that Ramen would be at least a thousand times more epic than before. That chakra was definitely good. But Naruto was determined not to use it again. When he used the chakra, he had reaped amazing benefits. And yet, he could also remember a strange feeling of loss that came with the chakra.

Even now, Naruto was plagued with a feeling of emptiness. Or rather, he felt like he had lost something important by using the chakra. And that feeling scared him. Nothing comes without a price. Using normal chakra uses up your energy. If you use too much of it, you could even die. Even the most experienced of ninja was not immune to this rule. Naruto had heard that some Kage somewhere had died of it. This was the cost of using chakra.

However, this chakra had only revitalized him. Furthermore, the changes to his senses seemed to be permanent. That scared him. Naruto knew, with every fibre of his being that this change must have come with a high cost. Some instinct from within him screamed at him to stop using the chakra. If he used it, he would never be the same again. If he used it, there would be irrevocable change. If he used it, something bad would happen. With it, Naruto could be anything he wanted, could do anything he wanted. But it was too dangerous.

"Yes! Good job Sakura!" Iruka smiled, looking at Sakura. Startled out of his thoughts, Naruto looked over at Sakura, who had managed to bring up a blue, hazy light around herself. Grinning, Sakura smiled at Iruka, and managed a quick glance at Sasuke who was still sulking before she finally proceeded to faint. Iruka caught her, and slowly set her down onto a nearby chair.

"YES! I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT DATTEBAYO!" Iruka, and half the class turned around to glare at Naruto.

"Naruto! I thought I told you not to make any noise while the rest of the class concentrates on their chakra using exercises!"

"Oops! Sorry Iruka-sensei! I won't do it again!"

Naruto smiled. This atmosphere was just fine. He was content. For now, Naruto would leave that strange chakra the hell alone. He was the best ninja ever, destined to be the next Hokage! He would stake his life on that dream, and heartily pursue it with all his might, and he would do it without the use of that weird chakra. A wide foxy grin spread across his face. Believe it!

Iruka, sensing a chance to save his wallet continued on without a shred of remorse.

"Since you broke your part of the promise, you won't be receiving any ramen from me today."

"…"

"…"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOO!

Naruto's cry of despair could be heard all over Konoha.

AN: Incidentally, can anyone guess how the title is derived? I expect no one to get it honestly, as I derived the title in a really REALLY convoluted way. Seriously. If anyone can guess it, they get a cookie.