Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto - if I did, Sasuke would have been killed off long ago, Sakura would have been the one to do it, and Orochimaru would have cried like a little girl when he heard what happened.

This chapter's really short, like only 850 words or so. I wanted to put all of what I'm showing of Naruto's training in the next chapter, which will entail quite a bit of writing, so, while I'm sorry for the shortness of the chapter, I'm not going to apologize for it. It is, in my mind, necessary.

Phoenix: Catching Air

Chapter 2

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Naruto had never done so well in his studies. He really had to thank Sarutobi-jiji – it was somewhat thanks to him that Naruto now had a teacher who could help him understand things. One of the phoenixes he had summoned had taken to teaching Naruto when the boy told him of his trouble in his studies. The phoenix had even offered Naruto an apprenticeship.

Which is why Naruto was sitting in said Hokage's office, explaining that he'd really like to be apprenticed to his summon creature.

"Naruto, where on earth did you obtain a summoning contract?" Sarutobi said with disbelief.

"In the library!" Naruto beamed at him.

"What type of summon is it?" Sarutobi wasn't completely sure if he should believe Naruto or not.

"Here, I'll show you!" Naruto said, and before the Hokage could stop him, he had gone through the handseals and summoned his particular summon, Rivan. This wasn't the same bird who Naruto had first summoned – the previous one was gold, red, and silver. This one? Well, this one was blue and silver, with undercurrents and spots of white in the speckled plumage. Also, instead of red fired on the tips of the feathers, it was. . . purple. Yep. Purple fire. This is completely normal for phoenixes, apparently.

Sarutobi's pipe fell out of his mouth. A. . . a phoenix summon! Good Lord, I haven't seen or even heard of one of these in my entire shinobi career. And he found it in the library? Good grief. . . What are we going to do with you, Naruto? He almost missed it when the Phoenix started talking.

"The Phoenix Lord, River, wishes to teach Naruto things that would be vital to his shinobi career. There will be other things that we will teach him also. Would you be willing to part with him for us to teach him?"

"What exactly would you teach him?" Sarutobi asked, leaning back in his chair with his pipe in his mouth as he thought about the request.

"That would depend upon what he can and cannot do. We will, however, definitely be teaching him Gen-, Ken-, Tai-, Nin-, and Kagejutsu. Other than that, I do not know, but that definitely will not be the limit." Rivan looked patiently at the Hokage, its eyes deep and full of wisdom.

The Sandaime Hokage thought about this, before asking, "And what do you get out of all of this? Do not take this the wrong way, I just wish to be sure that your reasons for helping Naruto are good. He has been hurt many times in his life – and I do not want him hurt anymore."

"You need not worry. We wish to help him because in him we see the dawning of a new age for man. To be able to say that we helped him there would be an honor beyond anything else."

A new age for man? What does that mean, I wonder? "Well, I cannot see any reason why he shouldn't go with you, so I suppose that you may take him. Where will he go?"

"To the summon realm."

"That's a rare opportunity. . . Naruto, you do realize that this is something that will take a lot of commitment and determination, correct?"

"Yeah, I get that. Don't worry, Oji-san, I'll be fine!" Naruto smiled.

Sarutobi smiled. "Very well, I agree to this. When do you think Naruto will be able to return?"

"In three years, he will return."

"That's just in time for the Genin Exam."

"Indeed."

"...Thank you for this."

"Do not thank us - we do not deserve such a thing. We merely wish to help our summoner through the times to come. We care little for the rest of humanity. However, Naruto-kun... has something that most humans lack. And that interests us. We will help him. That is all."

"Nevertheless, thank you. Not many care for Naruto, and there are those that actually hate him with a passion."

"I cannot see why. He is a beautiful soul."

"I agree. But, some people cannot be reasoned with."

"...You will see him in three years. In the meantime, hopefully those people's opinions will change for the better."

"Perhaps."

"Come, little Naruto. We must go." The phoenix opened one of its wings for Naruto.

"Okay. See you later, Ji-chan!" Naruto quickly hugged Sarutobi, and then trotted over to the phoenix, who enveloped him in his wings, before they both vanished in a flash of fire and a gentle breeze.

Sarutobi sighed. What will I do now without Naruto to brighten my day? He returned to his paperwork. And will this paperwork never end?! He felt like growling, but refrained from it, and just kept working.

He missed Naruto's smile already.