AN: I know I just shafted Kakashi from training Naruto to use the wind chakra, but don't worry, he will still learn the rasenshuriken. And yes, it's mostly from Itachi's perspective, but there will be changes. I am currently going through and editing all of the chapters one by one, brushing up on it.

Chapter 2

(Itachi's POV)

It took me hours, but finally I did it. The training ground was completely set, complete with tripwires, different chakra seal traps, and so forth. Not only that, but the location just behind the Hokage monument was the perfect training ground, hidden from view and in a place not many would venture to.

"Alright, lastly, I have some chakra paper, so I can teach Naruto to use his chakra nature later," I said to myself, taking a deep breath of cool fresh air, the smell of trees and grass tickling my nose, before making my way to the fourth hokage's head to wait for Naruto. Just then, he materialized in front of me in a blur of orange.

"Heh, you think that you could stall me with those stupid tricks? That's something only a novice prankster would come up with, Itachi," Naruto said with a grin. His eyes, steeled with confidence and excitement, told me everything I needed to know. The blonde shinobi was wearing the customary orange and blue attire.

I returned a smug grin. "Hn, then why are you standing there?" I asked. What an idiot, I guess Naruto doesn't value caution as much as he should. He was standing right on top of a seal, something that an activated sharingan would find immediately. Oh well.

Before the boy could react, I activated the seal, transporting me and Naruto in a puff of smoke. Naruto landed on a pressure plate, sending a kunai shooting out from the trees around him. As if by instinct, though, Naruto jumped in the air, using chakra to gain an extra four meters to the jump. The kunai slashed his pant leg and boots as the shinobi narrowly escaped, only to trip the next trap.

A water clone in a hood jumped out of nowhere and attacked Naruto with a gout of flame from the great fireball jutsu.

"Fuck, this is bad" I groaned, seeing my only student engulfed in the attack, perhaps cooking the boy to a crisp. I stiffened receiving the knowledge from the now dispelled water clone. I smirked in excitement. Naruto used a replacement jutsu with a log just before impact, having located the user. Just as soon as the jutsu ended, Naruto stabbed the clone in the leg and chest with two kunai.

"Good job, Naruto," I told him after he reappeared. "That was...unexpected. I didn't exactly know what to look for, so thank you." He leapt in front of me from the tree branch with a grin.

"So, what now?"

"I am going to show you how to activate the Sharingan. Use it sparingly as it takes a steady stream of chakra. Remember, use it wisely." The red eye freaked me out when compared to his left blue eye. It seemed so wierd and unnatural. Naruto's face lit up with excitement, ready to learn the Uchiha skill.

I chuckled at his excitement because he had no idea what it took to awaken it. The trauma that was required to unlock it quickly and utilize it perfectly. Immediately explaining the process to him, Naruto took some time to think. I told him the best way for him to awaken them is to call upon the the feelings of pain and the like while sparring with me.

"Come on, Naruto, is that all you've got?" I jeered at the boy, who was panting with exhaustion. We'd been sparring for thirty minutes, with Naruto using most of the jutsu at his disposal. I decided to keep the fight fair and utilize only the normal Sharingan.

Surprisingly, it took a lot more energy and chakra to avoid Naruto and overcome his attacks. The Rasengan and mastery of shadow clone jutsu made him exceptionally formidable. In addition, his chakra hadn't drained that far down, despite the length of the battle. I, on the other hand, had used up a considerable amount of chakra. To say the least, I was impressed. Nevertheless, Naruto still hadn't activated the Sharingan.

"Alright, Itachi, let's see you try to fight this," Naruto spat, angry that he hadn't been able to deliver any major attacks. I could see that if I pushed just a little more, the Sharingan would click. Brushing away the blood trickling from the sides of his mouth, he uttered, "Multi-shadow clone jutsu" flipping through the signs. Dozens of shadow clones appeared all around the clearing. I can't say I wasn't impressed: the sheer amount of chakra Naruto possessed naturally was very large.

"Naruto Barrage" he shouted. Almost as if on command, all the shadow clones flew at me in a formation that blocked my view of the sky. Not only that, but they flung kunai and shuriken all towards me. Seeing the movement, however, I leaped to the right mid-throw, chucking my own volley of shuriken at six shadow clones, dispelling them. Only I wasn't fast enough. A few shuriken cut and grazed my legs, a couple kunai even slashing at my chest. I couldn't counter this many clones with the handicaps I gave myself.

The formation looked like a wall of chakra except at the edges, thus so, it was hard to counter their moves. Almost as soon as I landed I caught sight of three different groups of ten clones rushing me from each side. Feigning being caught off-guard, I jumped into the air at the last minute.

"Fire release: great fireball jutsu" I shouted, blasting all three groups with a large ball of flame. Yet another group jumped at me as I landed, forcing my hand. Without a thought, I launched a barrage of shuriken taking each in the head or chest. Curse you, Naruto, for negating my Sharingan. Or are you only negating it? Did he figure out the Sharingan?

"Fire release: great fireball jutsu!" three Narutos shouted simultaneously. All from behind. The sound was my only warning.

I jumped forwards, rotated, and countered with an overcharged water bullet, taking out the fire, the casters, and several other clones. The ground was pockmarked with craters, scorch marks, mud, and shuriken. Trees lay in ruins and a multitude of at least fifty clones plus Naruto stood before me. All with Sharingan. Shit, I am so screwed if he keeps this up. Almost as if by an answer to my silent prayer of Naruto maxing out, all the clones disappeared.

"Oh crap," Naruto shouted in alarm, presumably due to using most do his reserves of chakra. Just as I shifted my weight forward, Naruto launched two kunai paper bombs. Seeing the trajectory, I ducked and darted at him preparing a counter attack. I reached behind me, grabbing two chakra blades and channeling wind chakra through them. Confused as to the attack, Naruto charged while creating a Rasengan. I groaned as he had realized one of my weaknesses.

"Rasengan" Naruto shouted as the sphere completely formed three meters before collision. Seeing that he planned to charge straight ahead, I feigned to the right before slide tackling Naruto. The blonde boy flew head over heals slamming the blue Rasengan into the ground, it's pulsating rythm transformed into a thunderous eruption sending earth and rock flying halfway across the clearing. Naruto groaned, lifting his scratched and scraped face off the ground.

I smirked, somewhat disappointed that he still managed to stand despite the shockwave and blast from his own rasengan, never mind the very low levels of chakra he now possessed. Groaning, the genin pushed himself up, legs shaking and wobbling, almost collapsing on the ground as he windmilled for balance.

"Is that all you got Itachi?" He asked, a hint of defiance penetrating through his pants and groans. The blonde was just standing there, half-hunched over trying to catch his breath, never quite recovering.

"Heh, I see you haven't given up yet. Do you concede? For your sake, I suggest you do, Naruto," I responded, ice coating my words. Usually it was enough to deter people, but his grin proved otherwise.
"I have to congratulate you on your shear determination, but all that won't matter if you're completely outmatched." I smiled as I said this, proud to be training someone whose internal light shone so bright and true.

I released the genjutsu just as I channeled wind and fire chakra into the blades and struck Naruto from behind. The jinchuuriki screamed in pain as his nerves were both slashed, cauterized, and burned. The shinobi collapsed face first and faced-planted, unconscious.

Three hours later

Naruto POV

Groaning groggily, I slowly came to. My eyelids fluttered open to see a green canopy above me, supported large tree trunks and the soft mattress of grass and leaves. I lay on my chest. I tried to get up, but twin streaks of white pain lanced across my back. Muscles cramped, tensing from rips, tears, bruising, and fatigue; two bandages were on my face and I felt a large wrapping across my back; sores from scrapes, cuts, and bruises dotted my skin like a leopard's. 'God, Naruto, why the fuck did you take on Itachi like that. I understand that he is more powerful than me and was holding back by to at most thirty-five percent of his power, but that was too much. The Uchiha was prodigy, you were the last in your class.'

"So you are finally awake Naruto." The calm, steely baritone could only be from Itachi. "By the way, nice attacks. I see you were able to copy my great fireball justsu with your sharingan. I am surprised you were able to copy that, you clearly have at least fire chakra."

The fact the Uchiha actually commented and had calculated all of this was surprising and exciting, it's not every day that the best shinobi in Konoha complements you. "Thank you, Itachi. What about the Rasengan?" I asked eager to know exactly how my favorite and best jutsu was.

"Well first off, Uzumaki, you need to work on your speed and your replacement jutsu. By doing so, you may be able to out-maneuver the Sharingan and most shinobi. Not only that, but you can essentially teleport behind your opponent and deliver attacks and jutsu before they can react. That being said, work on your stealth. After accomplishing all these, your Rasengan will be used to it's maximum potential," Itachi commented, his eyes reflecting a steely concentration. It crushed my ego but bolstered my confidence because I knew Itachi could pull it off.

I looked up at the sky watching the clouds as I had done with Shikamaru, attempting to obtain peace within myself. Cerulean blue made up the dome of the sky and white puffy clouds breezed by sluggishly; such a beautiful scene with the warm and not too bright sun, while the birds chirped away. Before I realized it, I faded out into my mindscape.

The sewer and its slightly foul smell greeted me with open arms. And the sealed gate to the Kyuubi's lair lay in front of me. "Hey, Fox-"

Why are you disturbing my sleep, Runt? And, more importantly, stop calling me that, you're really annoying. The fox's head appeared from the shadows, seeming groggy and pissed. His red fur and eyes, combined with the immense size was still frightening.

'Then what would you like me to call you?" I responded, putting on a facade of bravery. Thing is, he still scared the crap out of me.

Hn, how about Master or Almighty One. The fox chuckled at this, only confusing me more. Was he joking and already new the answer? And more importantly, does he have a sense of humor that I could use to help become friends with him?

If you really want to know Naruto, call me Kurama. It is my real name and it not only has the best ring, but it's really been awhile since anyone called me that. I would appreciate it if you did, kid. The fox gave a half smile, showing his teeth and a quasi-hopeful expression that only scared the shit out of me. Had he actually just asked me nicely to use his name? Either he is using this as a tactic to gain my trust in order to free him eventually or just to become friends and have a symbiotic relationship.

'Seriously, Kurama? I am not dreaming that you were just kind to me? Do you want to be-I dunno-friends, maybe?" I asked, somewhat hopeful. If I could maybe Kurama would willingly share chakra without making me turn into a raging monster when I use too much of his chakra.

Don't push your luck. I just have a little more respect, now that Itachi has taken you under his wing. And by doing so, you may become the most powerful jinchuriki yet. As of now, you are the weakest and I can't stand for that.Kurama growled not entirely menacing, but reluctant to admit it.

I shifted out of my mindscape as the fox's head disappeared back in the shadows, realizing that there was nothing more to talk about.

"...Naruto," Itachi said, snapping his fingers in front of my face. I blinked and looked him in the eyes before remembering the genjutsu Kakashi and Sasuke sometimes talked about when they thought I wasn't paying attention. "Did you understand anything I said, dumbass? Tell me, how I will train you?"

I winced at the anger Itachi wore on his face and eyes which shifted into their sharingan three-coma pinwheel. "Umm...no, Itachi," I mustered lamely, feeling Kurama's conscious searing my own.

"I guess I can't really do anything about that, Naruto, after all you do have the Nine-Tails inside of you." Itachi let out a puff of air in mock defeat, calming down completely.

"Kurama," I murmured from the sheer shock of such emotional control. The raven-haired, palish prodigy looked powerful, like a panther: a deadly stealthy killer. His red eyes projected kindness, coldness, and danger simultaneously. His black silk undershirt and kevlar vest was hidden under a loose black cloak adorned by ravens.

It only took Itachi a raised eyebrow and an incredulous look to get me to repeat my mistake. "Kurama. The name of the Fox is Kurama. We talked a little. I guess you could say he is not being as angry now that he doesn't have to get exhausted to barely keep me alive."

The Uchiha looked at me, silent, for a long two seconds. Suddenly he burst out in a quiet laugh, "So Kurama finally told you his name, eh? I might actually be able to work with the fact that you are becoming less hostile. And by the way, being helpless doesn't exactly help matters when someone is being kept a prisoner inside of you. In any case, Naruto, if what you say is true, it's possible that Kurama will surrender more chakra for your use the more you show your power. Moreover, the sharingan can allow you to get control over him as well." Itachi said with an amused smile.

"No joke, huh," I said, tentatively standing up, feeling the pain on my back resurface though not as sharp. "So, what do we do now, Itachi?"

"First, I am going to do some major taijutsu, speed, and strength training with you, along with the learning of genjutsu and a few combat jutsus. In order to do this, you will make ten shadow clones for studying, ten to learn how to spot and stop genjutsus, twenty to learn and master the windbullet, and ten to learn shuriken and sword techniques. You and I will work on your taijutsu and physical training. Make sure to allow them a good chunk of chakra to complete these task accordingly, meaning the studying shadow clones should have minimal chakra."

"Wait, why would I do that, Itachi?" I asked completely confused. It didn't make sense that by using shadow clones I would master a jutsu.

"Trust me Naruto, you will gain information when they are dispelled. That is why sometimes you grow quickly in battle and seem to gather skill faster than many others. You are gathering experience subconsciously. This time you will learn it consciously. If you want to bring back Sasuke, you will need to expand every aspect and learn increasingly more difficult jutsus especially with the sharingan," Itachi lectured, exasperated and ready to start my training just after I barely had much time to heal. Besides, I was hungry.

"Alright, where to?" I asked, walking after my new and perplexing sensei, his raven hair flapping in the wind. His eyes were set straight on a far off mountain range.

"Patience, Naruto. Observe, concentrate, calm yourself," Itachi softly stated like a breeze, "and come up with your own answers. Once you learn to do so, you will find greater strength in yourself and your friends."

I nodded, agreeing with this perplexing and powerful Uchiha shinobi, not even daring to doubt him. He did become this powerful and smart on his own. For once in my life, I didn't retort back to my sensei, never mind hunger, thirst, or other discomforts.