Chapter 2

Naruto watched as three people fought on top of a large metal structure with a barrel attached, jutting out over the water below. What was this place? He had never seen anything like it. Granted, Naruto had never been outside of his village, Konoha, but where ever this place was it didn't look like it was anywhere inside of the Elemental Countries. Naruto continued to watch as a man with long silver hair fought against two others, one with short red hair and the other with short black hair.

He couldn't explain it, but somehow it felt as if he were fighting instead of the man with silver hair. It almost felt as if he was wielding the sword that looked like it was as long as Benitsune. He could feel every swing, every block, every move as if it was his own. He watched as the red-head and silver-head went one on one; watched as they took their duel into the air. He saw the red-head launch what appeared to be fireballs from his hand. Naruto didn't know what that jutsu was, or if it even was jutsu, but whatever it was, his eight-year-old mind wanted to learn it.

The man with silver hair was blocked from view as the balls of fire hit him. Naruto could have sworn he felt the impact, could have sworn it was he himself within the dust cloud. The fight continued, the silver-haired man unscratched by the last attack, the barrel of the structure falling apart as it was sliced into pieces by a light beam sent from the blade. The two charged at each other, only to have their weapons blocked by the black-haired man. The red-head gathered energy into his hand for another blast; however, it was deflected by the sword, and the world shattered around them like glass. The figures were left standing in a room, the black-haired male's sword in two different pieces. The red-head said something, Naruto couldn't hear all of it, but he did make out one thing that was said, "Nothing shall forestall... my return." and before he knew what was happening, he bolted awake, finding himself in his bed.

Naruto took several breaths to calm himself after the... well he didn't know what to call it. It wasn't a dream, and it couldn't be one of his memories since he couldn't remember anything like it. It wasn't the first time something like that had happened either, only this one was different. Usually these... memories, for a lack of a better term, would show him different stances to use when fighting with Benitsune and there was only one person, the male with the long silver hair. It was one of the reasons why he was getting so good with the odachi. He'd see the memory, then work on it with his adoptive father. Many of the stances took him weeks to master, but when he did, he'd see another one and the cycle would continue.

His ninja training with Itachi was going smoothly as well, under the ANBU Naruto was learning things that none of the academy teachers even bothered to show or explain to him. At first Itachi began with the lectures of what chakra is and how to apply it. Then he went on to teach about the different chakra exercises that would help him control the inner energy so that none would be wasted when doing jutsu. Itachi also went on to teach Naruto about taijutsu, or hand to hand combat. In order to do this, Itachi had Naruto wear weights on all of his limbs to help increase his strength, speed and endurance. Itachi had been clear that the weights were never to be taken off, though considering that these were gravity seals that would be impossible. The gravity seals were different from normal weights, in that the seals distributed the weight all over the body. The seals could also be increased or decreased with some chakra, this allowed the wearer to be able to decrease the weight discreetly without their opponent noticing.

After a quick shower, Naruto stared at himself in the mirror, still not believing the physical changes he had gone though. His hair was longer, reaching down to his shoulders, though still slightly spiky, along with several streaks of sliver running through it. The three whisker marks upon each cheek darkened, becoming more pronounced, but his eyes were the strangest thing. Naruto's eyes were a strange combination between a crystal blue and a cold green, the two colors swirling together yet never mixing. Though he had been told that there were times when one color was dominate, going from the soft and warm crystal blue to the cold piercing green.

After drying off, Naruto made his way to his walk in closet to get dressed. The eight-year-old now wore a black undershirt along with black pants. Over the pants he had the same knee-high boots that Lu Bu wore, only his were outlined in red instead of silver. Over all of this he wore a black long coat, clasping it at his waist and once above that as well. The final piece was the same helm that Lu Bu wore, and like the boots, had a red outline. More then once he had been teased by the other children because of it, but Naruto had decided to make it the Namikaze clan symbol and didn't really care what others thought about it. Gazing at the seal on his right wrist that held Benitsune, he sent some of his chakra into the seal, watching as the odachi appeared in his hand. Itachi had told him that the seal allowed him to summon the odachi whenever he needed and not worry about it being seen, or grow tired from wearing it on his back. Transferring some chakra to the seal caused the odachi to disappear back into the seal in a red mist.

"Naruto! Hurry or you'll be late for the academy!" His adoptive mother yelled from the first floor.

"Coming!" he yelled back, darting out of his room and down the stairs, only to be yanked to a stop as Diao Chan easily caught the collar of his coat. "Not funny, Kaa-san!" the eight-year-old whined, causing Diao Chan to giggle slightly at his antics.

"Alright let's go," Lu Bu said, coming up behind the two.

It was not that Lu Bu didn't trust his adoptive son to protect himself, however, there were still some drunken fools that acted against the boy. And even though Naruto had sworn that he would no longer take any beatings from the villagers, he couldn't hurt those that were intoxicated. And until someone else within the village could be found who didn't hate the boy, either Lu Bu, Diao Chan or both of them would make sure he got to the academy. But that wasn't the main reason for all three of them to head to the academy. Today was the Ninja Academy's introduction ceremony, where all ninja hopefuls, those from previous years and first years, though mostly for the first years, gathered and are introduced to their teachers and courses.

The ground in front of the academy was covered with chairs. All different families were gathering, though all of the parents were shooting Naruto glares and telling their children to stay away from him. The blonde boy, for his part, ignored them and tried to find someone within the sea of people. He had met her one day at the park last year. When he noticed she was being teased because of her shyness, being the kind boy that he was, he went over there to stop it. After chasing away the older kids, he turned to the girl, who he noticed had dark navy blue hair and pupil-less, lavender colored eyes. After that day, he and Hinata, who he learned was the girl's name, would play in the park as often as they could, quickly becoming friends. Though Naruto still never understood why Hinata would always blush when around him. When he asked his adoptive mother about it, Diao Chan's only response was to laugh softly and tell him he'd understand when he was older.

Spotting the young girl sitting with her family Naruto, ran forward to greet her and quickly claimed the seat next to her. "Hey, Hinata-chan!"

"H-hello, N-naruto-kun," the shy girl replied. As the two children talked to each other, oblivious to anything else, other children from important clans started to appear. There was the lazy brown-haired boy, Nara Shikamaru, his friend, the big-boned Akimichi Chouji. There was the young blonde girl, Yamanaka Ino, followed by the pink-haired Haruno Sakura, after her was the silent Aburame Shino. The next to appear was the dark haired Uchiha Sasuke, accompanied by his older brother, Uchiha Itachi and their mother, Uchiha Mikoto. The last to arrive was Inuzuka Kiba, who was hoping to sit next to Hinata himself only to be angered when he saw the young Namikaze sitting there.

A chuunin walked up to the podium and called for everyone's attention, "Hello and welcome, I am Umino Iruka, I and the other teachers at the academy will be teaching you children how to be proper shinobi." The speech went on to give a generalization of what the children would learn to become genin. Naruto wasn't paying attention, instead, he was more focused on training with his Angel's Wings. After reading the scroll his mother had left him, it said that the wings granted increased strength, speed and agility. The scroll also said that he'd be able to use ninjutsu without the aid of the hand signs. He'd have to ask Itachi if he would help him master his kekkei genkai.

Speaking of training, Naruto was getting restless, it was boring listening to the lectures of what they were going to learn, of what courses there would be, who the teachers would be and other dull stuff like that. His hand was itching to hold Benitsune and spar against Lu Bu, to continue to train and make his parents proud, both adoptive and biological. It was a trait that his adoptive father had praised him for, and it was something that his adoptive mother had warned him about.

As the children were led off to begin their schooling, Hiashi, Hinata's father, was talking to Lu Bu, "The clan elders are pushing Hinata too far, too fast. I fear what this may do to her personality."

"So what is it that you want me to do about it?" Lu Bu had never been one for formalities.

"I know my daughter is too much like her mother, therefore I'm asking either yourself, or Diao Chan-san to train her," Hiashi said. He didn't like what the Hyuga Elders were doing, they all were going over his head and trying to get Hinata into the side branch of the clan, which would make Hinata a slave to the main branch in all but name. neither Hiashi, nor his wife, could ever allow that to happen.

"As I told Naruto when I adopted him, if you wish Hinata to train with us, she'll need a blade."

"She can have mine," Hitome, Hiashi's wife, said, standing next to her husband, their three year old daughter, Hanabi, resting on her hip. "I'm a retired shinobi and don't need it anymore. Besides, I've been looking for a reason to give it to Hinata."

"Of course, besides it'd do both of them some good to train with someone else," Diao Chan said.

Hiashi and Hitome bowed before saying, "Very well, we'll bring her over to the Namikaze estates when the classes are over."

--

Naruto's day at the academy was not going as well as he'd have liked it. The teachers were all ignoring him, and none of the other kids were talking to him. Not that it really bothered him that all of the teachers were ignoring him, all they were talking about was stuff that Itachi had already taught him. If this was all that the academy taught, then he'd be top of the class without any problems. Though there was one thing that was really starting to get on the eight year old's nerves, and that was the way Kiba was acting. The Inuzuka child was as loud and arrogant as an eight year old could get. And it was starting to drive him insane!

Naruto could deal with the fact that none of the teachers would answer his questions. He could deal with the fact that none of the other students were talking to him. That was nothing new to him and he was used to it by now. But trying to take away his only friend?! That was unacceptable! Naruto was sorely tempted to bring out Benitsune and teach the Inuzuka kid a lesson... but he knew that would displease his mother, and he had promised to be good. Of course, that didn't mean that he wouldn't do something later in the school year, just not today.

Hinata herself was starting to get agitated with Kiba's actions, and was immensely relieved when the day finally ended and their parents picked them up. Hinata was surprised to see that her mother was holding a katana in her hands. Not just any katana, but the one that the young Hyuga girl had seen her mother practice with once in awhile. The sheath was the purest white, the handle of the katana covered in light blue and pure white wrappings, a three foot white ribbon attached to the handle. Hitome knelt down in front of her daughter, the blade held out in front of her, "Hinata-chan, this is Yukihime. You'll be using her in your training with Lu Bu-san."

With trembling hands the Hyuga girl took the blade from her mother, holding it close to her chest. She followed her parents to where Naruto and his family were standing together. Hinata stepped forward, giving a small bow to the dark armored warrior, "I t-thank you f-for allowing m-me to t-train with y-you and N-naruto-k-kun."

Diao Chan smiled, turning to face Hiashi and Hitome, "We'll pick her up after classes and take over her training, if that is fine with you?"

Hiashi nodded, "That's fine. If she wishes she may remain for supper, however after that I expect Hinata to return to the clan compound."

"Understood, come children, there is much work to be done," Lu Bu said, walking away from the academy.

Naruto barely restrained himself from bouncing up and down in happiness. Finally, someone else that he could train with! Granted, Hinata did have a long way to go before she was at his current level, but that was nothing a little more training wouldn't fix. Perhaps Itachi-sensei could help teach Hinata and get her up to his level. Either way, this was going to be awesome! Not only could he spend more time with his friend, but he could also... alright, so there wasn't anything else. But that didn't matter to him, he could get to know Hinata more, that's all he cared about. And besides, he was getting tired of getting beaten constantly by his adoptive father and sensei.

Within his office, Sarutobi sighed, he was not having a good day. Many on the Konoha Council were calling to have Naruto killed... or at least have him expelled from the academy. The entire civilian side of the council, his old teammates, Koharu and Homura, along with the old war hawk of the council, Danzou, all feared that Naruto was in fact Kyuubi in human form. And no matter how many times Sarutobi had told them that the young blonde was no less human then them, they wouldn't hear it. How their fear clouded their judgment like the rest of the village.

What was worse, however, was the rumor that the Uchiha clan were planning a coup d'etat. Sarutobi had no way of knowing if it was just the clan, or if they were getting help; either way, he couldn't risk it. That was way he had assigned the one Uchiha who he knew was loyal to the village rather than the clan to act as a spy. The aged Hokage dreaded what could happen if the rumor proved to be true. It was a known fact that many of the Uchiha were arrogant, stubborn and self-centered, the only exceptions being Itachi himself, his mother, Mikoto, and his younger brother, Sasuke. Because of this, Sarutobi had the distinct feeling that any and all negotiations would fail... and that left only one thing to do that would preserve Konoha's future, but he would wait on that and see what happened first.

But first he had to deal with the stupidity of the council in trying to get Naruto out of the academy. Not that the civilian council could do anything officially, since it was a ninja academy and therefore fell under the rule of the shinobi half of the council. Normally this would worry him, however many on the shinobi council did not hate the boy for what he contains. They may not openly support the boy either, but at least they didn't do anything to cause the child harm. Sarutobi only prayed that it remained that way.

--

(several months later)

The time was now, there was no other way for Konoha to remain as it was. Itachi dreaded what he was ordered to do, but he knew there was no other way. His father and leader of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku, was consumed by his lust for power... for his ambition to show that the Uchiha were the strongest. The entire clan must be destroyed if there was a chance to stop any future plans of a coup d'etat. But there were two Uchiha members that he wouldn't... couldn't kill, and that was his mother and younger brother. They, unlike the other Uchiha members were not arrogant or self-centered.

But he did fear what may happen to Sasuke's mentality when he found out what happened. He knew very well that Sasuke would be scarred... but he hoped his mother would be able to keep Sasuke from becoming like the other Uchiha members. Itachi knew that no one would be able to learn the real reason why he slaughtered the clan. As far as the world was concerned, Itachi had decided to test his skill level... and what better way then to take on an entire clan. And tonight was the perfect night to carry out his mission, the entire clan was gathered within the compound and Sasuke was still practicing at the academy.

Itachi jumped down, katana in hand, and sliced through the necks of the first two Uchiha that he came across. This, of course, alerted everyone, and they all came at him... and all of them were cut down. No jutsu were used, as that would alert other Konoha shinobi to what was happening... and that would ruin everything. So Itachi relied on his katana to kill off his clan, slicing through their necks or stabbing them through their hearts. He didn't like what was happening... but in order to make sure that the civil war and the sadness it would cause by the Uchiha's coup d'etat, it had to be done. Itachi wouldn't allow that, and he was willing to bear the blame of the entire Uchiha massacre. He was willing to become a traitor, all so that the village would remain intact.

Itachi walked into his own house, where he knew his coward of a father would be hiding, to find Fugaku using Mikoto as a human shield, "Itachi! What is the meaning of this!"

Itachi disappeared from sight, causing Fugaku who thought that Itachi had run away, to move Mikoto out of the way, though still close enough to use as a shield should he need it. However any thoughts of escaping alive were cut short when a katana appeared in his chest, "You were foolish... tou-san," Itachi said, ripping his katana out of the corpse.

Mikoto, afraid that she was next, backed away from her eldest son, "Itachi... why?"

Before Itachi could answer her, Sasuke burst into the room with a scream of "Tou-san! Kaa-san!" Itachi's eyes widened slightly, thinking quickly he drove his fist into his mother's stomach, "Forgive me... kaa-san," Itachi whispered before Mikoto lost consciousness. Turning to his younger brother, Itachi schooled his features into an emotionless mask... he couldn't have Sasuke find out the truth, that would only cause more harm to Sasuke's mentality.

Using his speed, Itachi punched Sasuke in the stomach, then lifting him up to eye level, the elder Uchiha's sharingan morphed, a three pointed shurikan pattern appearing in his eye. Activating the eye technique, Tsukuyomi(1), caused Sasuke to scream out in terror as he was forced to witness the slaughter of the entire Uchiha clan. "Pathetic, brother," Itachi whispered into Sasuke's ear, "Run, run and cling to life like the pathetic excuse of an Uchiha you are. If not, then hate me, despise me and when you have the same eyes as I have, seek me out." Itachi dropped Sasuke to the floor and made his way out.

"Itachi!" Sasuke yelled, charging forward. Itachi spun around and drove his fist into Sasuke's stomach, this time hard enough to force Sasuke into unconsciousness. And with that, Itachi disappeared, leaving behind two unconscious Uchiha among dozens of dead ones.


1) Tsukuyomi-- in this case is the technique that Itachi uses with his Mangekyou Sharingan, which is nothing more then an extremly powerful genjutsu. With it, Itachi can control whatever happens. It is said that it various between people, but perhaps it's more or less whatever Itachi feels like doing. On a side note, the technique is named after the moon goddess.

2) Yukihime-- I believe translates as Snow Princess. What it does, you'll have to wait and see.

Alright, so the second chapter is up... what do you people think? Of how I protrayed Itachi? Also, what of Hinata's new weapon? Well, I'll leave it at that... I think I've ranted enough. Please review, I'd like to know what you thought.