Gods and Legends

This chapter has been edited

Chapter 02: Graduation

Four years have pass since Naruto, Kyoko and Byakuya left with Genkai. While many in the academy have long forgotten about them, their return had suddenly spark an interesting set of topics. Byakuya and Kyoko had everyone believing had gotten a lot stronger. Naruto, who couldn't even pass the entrance exam was thought poorly of.

"Alright everyone sits down," Iruka said as he began the day's lessons. "Now, I'm sure you've all heard the news, but three of your classmates are coming back today. They will already be set as a team seeing how they've worked together for four years. It also wouldn't be fair to grade them as they haven't been here to be graded."

"The deadlast will need help the most!" Kiba shouted causing everyone to laugh.

The door slides open and silence filled the room as the Hokage came in followed by three kids. Kyoko and Byakuya were barely recognizable as their hair had gotten longer. The most surprising change was Naruto, instead of bright blond hair he had in the past, his hair was snowy white. It wasn't as long as the other two, but still, it was a surprising change.

Another surprising change was his two whisker marks were gone. Instead, Naruto looks like a serious shinobi. Before he looked gloomy and miserable. Now he was alert and headstrong.

The Third said nothing as he looks at Naruto and couldn't help but remember what Genkai told him.

Flashback

"What happened to Naruto?" The Third asked the moment he got over his shock at Naruto's new look.

"He was training in the middle of the snow, trying to control his chakra and sense his surroundings better when the snow began to change his hair. It didn't take long for him his entire appearance and chakra to change as well." Genkai said with a smile at the Third smug look.

"Saru, I have something to tell you," Genkai said in a serious tone of voice. The Third gave her his undivided attention. "Uzumaki Naruto will be more powerful than any shinobi in his age group. I predict within the next ten years, he'll become the strongest shinobi in the region. You should know, become strong so fast means making enemies. Both from other villages, and from within."

"He's that strong already?" The Third said in amazement.

"His growth is phenomenal. That's not what scares me. He is very adept at molding senjutsu chakra. When he was learning to tune in chakra around him, he was slowly starting to mold senjutsu chakra. His ability to utilize and adapt is beyond anything I've ever seen. His talent will make him the strongest shinobi since the days of the Shodaime Hokage."

The Third was taken back so much he didn't even realize his pipe fell out.

The power of the Shodaime Hokage was legendary. He was by himself, a one-man army. Yet his strength hasn't been seen since his death. If Naruto had that kind of strength.

Genkai was right before he could enter his prime Naruto will have many enemies. From other villages and from within. He could already see Danzō plotting against Naruto in case Naruto became too powerful to control. That meant he had to make backup plans in case Danzō ever did make a move against Naruto. That meant he had to warn Kakashi and put Naruto under Kakashi's care immediately.

Flashback Ends

"Alright, take your seats. Now I will announce your genin teams. Team 1…"

The Third said nothing as he watches everyone's reaction to the team listing.

"Team Seven, Uzumaki Naruto, Kuchiki Byakuya and Uchiha Kyoko."

There was no visible reaction from the trio who spent four years together. If anything, they didn't even look surprised they were going to be together.

"Team Eight, Hyūga Hinata. Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino. Team Nine, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura. You'll be joined by a season Genin who needs replacements." Sakura cheers at being on the same team as he crushes. Sasuke look like he was going to have a panic attack.

"Team Ten, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chōji," Iruka called out as he looks up and beams upon all of them.

"You're Jōnin-sensei's will pick you up after lunch. Until such time, you may choose to spend your time wisely. I suggest getting to know your teammates and you will face many journeys with them."

Everyone turns to Kyoko and Byakuya, but everyone suddenly realized they had vanished. Along with Naruto.

Naruto was eating an Onigiri, or more commonly known as a Rice Ball.

Genkai was a great teacher, harsh but effective. She truly taught him what it meant to be a shinobi. The most important thing she taught him was to always remember who he was. If the village failed, then fight for his friends. And whether or not he would admit it, Kyoko and Byakuya became good friends. Perhaps his only friends.

Flashback

"I want to know who I am!" Naruto shouted at Genkai.

It has been six months and the young seven-year-old had finally had enough and snap. He verbally attacks Genkai refusing to do anything else until he finally got answers.

He could see Genkai was regretting comparing Naruto to his parents. That told him she knew his parents.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you. Your name is real. However, your parents were very powerful and gifted shinobis. It's also because of this, they have made many enemies. Both outside of the village, and from within. To protect you and keep you safe, the Sandaime has kept all knowledge of your lineage a secret. Only a select few know the truth." Genkai finally said after several long moments of silence. "I know you want to know who they are. Believe me, when I tell, you are not yet ready. When you are older, able to defend yourself, you will know. Right now, if people found out who you really are, then your life would be in grave danger. For more so, than you're used to. Assassins would do anything to end your life, even at the cost of their own."

"Then why…" Naruto said as he looks down. Remember all the villager's looks and how they treated him. "Why am I treated like a…" Naruto stops as he was so angry he couldn't even finish or find the word to describe his treatment.

"The answer young Uzumaki is fear. Fear has clouded their judgments. This can happen, even to the greatest of shinobis. To show them they have nothing to fear, you must show them who you are. And your deeds and actions will speak more volumes than just words. That is why I took you away from the village. For things to cool down. I was well aware what was going on, and decide to act to save you."

"What do you mean save me?" Naruto asks.

Genkai sighs as he turns and looks at the setting sun.

"When you become as old as I am, you begin to sense things long before they happen. Six years ago, I felt the power of the Kyūbi, however, the Kyūbi attack left a lot of questions and very little answers. I suspect a deeper hand was involved. I fear what happened that night was only the beginning. Something else is coming. As such new battles will be fought, but the will to fight will remain the same. I want you three to remember this. There are many kinds of battles. The first is a fight for lives, the second is for pride. When you fight for lives, you do what you can to survive and save the lives of your comrades. In a fight for pride, they fight for the pride and dignity of themselves and others. In some cases, these fights can also lead to the person dying as a result or even losing sight of themselves. Which brings me to the next topic."

Genkai turns to look at her three students.

"This world is cursed. That is how I see it. It has been cursed for a very long time. Nations create peace, but this peace are nothing more than illusions. Everyone is just waiting for another conflict to happen. Another war to emerge. As such I have one final warning to you three. When you look in the reflection, ask yourself this question. Am I proud of who I am? Am I capable of living off what I've done? Do not justify your actions by saying 'but I was told but others to do so.' You and you alone are responsible for your actions. And your actions reflect your soul. That is why shinobi's fall into darkness so easily. They lose sight of themselves and begin to fall within the Curse of Hatred. A deadly curse, that has gripped countless shinobis. in many cases, it has caused them go to mad for power and strength, even vengeance on their love ones. Stay true to yourself, if you can stay strong in your hearts, you'll overcome many challenges." Genkai said.

Flashback Ends

Naruto was upset he couldn't learn who his parents were. He did, however, learn the Uzumaki's help create Konoha from the first day and have been close allies to Konoha. That was, until their destruction. There are survivors, but Genkai told him they have no clan leader, as such, they have scattered into the wind.

Naruto wanted to see his homeland, the land of his clan. However, Genkai told him it was too dangerous. He would need to be a Jōnin with a squad to enter the land of the Uzumaki's. There was a powerful barrier that kept the main island protected from any attempts to enter. And many nations have tried to enter the Main Island because the Uzumaki's had many treasures and secret Jutsu's that any nation would sacrifice a thousand men to have.

It was because of this, Naruto had to study the Uzumaki art of Fūin Jutsu's. Genkai wasn't surprised, but Naruto soon began to become really adept at the Art of Sealing. He was by no means a master, but he was skilled enough to use many versions of seals. Mostly storage and its different types.

Naruto's real interest was to use seals in combat.

Genkai said no one really could use seals in combat. It has never been done before.

That is why he was already looking into ways to use seals in combat.

"Hey Naruto," Kyoko said.

Naruto looks at her with a blank expression on his face.

"Are you still seeking answers?" Kyoko asks.

Naruto face fell as he looks downward.

"I'm always looking. I, however, have accepted that I won't get the answers I want today. For the time being, I'll wait. In the meantime, we're about to go on missions and face the world."

Kyoko gives Naruto a soft smile before returning to her own meal.

3 Hours Later

Naruto, Kyoko, and Byakuya were the last one's left in the classroom. The three of them were trying to be patient but they were starting to become impatient.

Their Jōnin-sensei was late. By Two Hours!

Even though none of them were trying to show it, it was starting to really irritate them.

Finally, the door opens, and a Jōnin walks in with only his right eye visible.

Without warning, Byakuya, Kyoko, and Naruto launch their shuriken's at the Jōnin. He briefly appeared stunned before he steps aside to allow the shuriken's to pass and pierce into the wall.

"That was a rude way to say hello." The Jōnin as he looks at the three genin hopefuls.

"Meet me on the roof in ten minutes." He said as he disappeared in a whirl of leaves.

On the roof, the three Genin's were glaring at their Jōnin-sensei.

"Alright, let's start by introductions." The Jōnin said.

"What are we supposed to say?" Kyoko asks.

"State your names, hobbies, dreams for the futures, and things you hate." He said.

"Why don't you go first?" Naruto said.

"Me? I'm Hatake Kakashi. I have no intentions of telling you my likes and dislikes. As for my dream…" Kakashi looks up as if he was in deep thought. "I have many hobbies."

"So all we found out was your name," Byakuya said.

"Come on, let's go with you, whitey."

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I like training, learning new Jutsu's, and spending time with my friends. I dislike cowards and traitors. My dream is to become the greatest Hokage and reunite my clan and bring it back to its glory days." Naruto said.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

'His clan. That's right, he's an Uzumaki. It would make sense Genkai would have told him. It also makes sense, because, with the death of the clan leader Uzumaki Ashina-sama, as well as the death and destruction of their homeland, they drifted into the winds of other countries. If he seeks to reunite the clan, then any village they settle in will gain tremendous power."

"Okay, next."

"I'm Uchiha Kyoka, I like some things, with more things I hate. My dream is to avenge my clan and bring justice to the one who took my clan away from me."

'That's a dark path.'

"I'm Kuchiki Byakuya. My dream for the future is to bring honor to my clan and become its greatest clan leader."

'We got a one with social problems, a vengeful seeker, and a powerful and unstable kid. This could interesting.'

"Alright, now that we have done that, we're going to do something only the four of us can do."

"What's that?" Naruto said.

"Survival training."

Kakashi watches for their reaction and immediately could tell the three were suspicious of his words.

"This is not normal survival training. If I tell you, you're going to flip." Kakashi said begins to chuckle for a bit. He calms down and speaks in his serious tone of voice. "Out of all thirty graduates, only nine will have the chance to become Genin. Those that fail will return to the Academy. In other words, this is a test that has a sixty-nine percent failure rate."

All three got a visible reaction as their eyebrows twitches. Clearly, they were upset.

"See, I told you guys were going to flip," Kakashi said with his famous eye-smile.

"Then what was the point of the graduation?" Naruto shouted. Kakashi looks at him in surprise as he has never heard Naruto give an outburst or heard of him out bursting.

"Oh, that? That was to see the potential of those who had a shot at being Genin." Kakashi said.

Byakuya was starting to shake. He brings his hands up together and tries to calm himself down.

Kakashi gets up enjoying his little fun.

"Now then, the meeting is over. We meet tomorrow at training grounds seven. Oh yeah, before I leave let me give you one piece of advice. Don't eat breakfast, you're just going to throw it up."

Kakashi disappears in a swirl of leaves leaving behind the three dumb fold Genins.