The sound of swaying trees echoed throughout the night air, the darkened only illuminated by the full moon and the shining stars. He continued his walk on the dirt path that would eventually lead him to Konohas gate. 'This journey was to long but he should be a bit older now, at least….old enough to train him hmm I should arrive within the hour...…just a little longer.' The man cloaked in black robe with his face blackened by his hood looked forward never dwelling to deep within his thoughts only focused on his walk to the famed village of the leaves. He looked up at the beautiful night sky that shined on him, and in response, out of the darkness within the man's hood red eyes with three black tomoes shined back. He looked back on the road and stopped his walk in order to gaze at the ocean of forest that lay before him and in the distance the village of Konoha shined like a beacon. "Such a beautiful place no wonder he risked it all in order protect such a world, and yet there is still so much hate here will there ever be a time of peace? No matter it won't be for me to decide I must keep going." The hooded man seemed to speak with the very forest before continuing his walk.

The night still held its grasp on the land, and even then the hooded man could feel the ninjas of Konoha on full alert, as he finally approached the gate guarded by only a handful of chuunin. "Hold on their friend, any new travelers or foreigners are required to give a name and their purpose for being here, before I can let them in." The head ninja stated calmly. The hooded stranger stood in place nodding in agreement before speaking "My name is Asura, I'm here looking for a place to call home as all."

The gate guardians looked at each other all of them noticed the sharingan this stranger possessed, one finally spoke up "Your eyes are those of the Uchia clan, which only have a record of two surviving members, are you another?" Each ninja shifted their weights in uneasiness waiting for an answer from hooded man.

Asura stared at all of them his eyes read each their movements and in a natural response, read them through perfect detail. He stared their leader in the eyes before giving him his answer "In a way, yes I am an Uchia but I never held myself under that clan name I'm a stranger to this place" he stated calmly and walked past the guards who reacted quickly with kunai drawn. "I don't want to fight I would like to rest, please!" He knew he was meant to help them but he couldn't give out the real reason for his eyes or his purpose. "Take off the robe" a ninja asked, there was an edge to his voice. Asura didn't have time for this the long journey drained him, he had to rest so he never complied instead he activated his sharingan, the tomoes spun in full circle before coming to a stop. Silence was cast over them all until each chuunin collapsed unconscious, leaving only the stranger standing.

'They'll be awake in a few hours which is more than enough time for me to regain my strength' and with that last thought Asura ventured into the still quiet village until finding a comfortable spot by the side of a building. He crossed his legs and straightened his back before finally connecting his fists together and began his meditation to regain his strength. 'The night is still young and time is on my side it seems…but….for now I'll rest' Asura continued on with his meditation until the raise of dawn enveloped the village.

Konoha dawn

Naruto opened his eyes slowly and turn his head away from the morning raise that shined brightly from the lone window it had been only been days ago that he rid the leaf of the traitorous Mizuki and learned a forbidden jutsu. The whiskered blonde got up from his makeshift bed that lay scattered on the floor, with a couple stretches and cracking of his now loosened bones Naruto walked to his closet getting driest in his usual jumpsuit. Naruto gripped his now prized headband tightly proudly wrapping it around his forehead; he smiled into his reflection and spoke to it "For once things may finally be going my way! I'll show everyone how great of a ninja I am and earn their respects believe it!" Naruto was confident in himself once again, having promised his sensei he wouldn't disappoint him. The blonde turned his head towards his one window in the prison looking apartment; still dawn. Iruka had explained to him, over the celebration dinner that three manned teams would be formed in three months and that they would be led by a jounin. To say Naruto was exited would be an understatement he swore to himself that he'd grow strong and prove to his fellow ninja he wasn't a dead last.

The demon fox container walked out of his poor apartment after a quick breakfast-ramen and made his way towards a clearing outside the village where he'd begin his training. The villagers glared at Naruto each one was surprised to see a shinobi headband and looked on in disgust, but Naruto ignored them even though it still caused him pain. While continuing on with his morning walk a rock was thrown and smashed its self on the boys head, he turned to see early morning villages walk towards him; hate and anger shown in their eyes. A woman screamed for him to remove the headband and others soon joined her, still throwing rocks at the poor child who raised his arms as a weak shield. Naruto refused to fall for the villagers this time he wanted to show them he wasn't the monster they believed him be, but something within him roared with anger it roared for blood. The villagers lost themselves in the hate one even pulling out a kunai and charged at him, the living seal looked on in surprise as to see how far their hate would take them but he wouldn't attack back he wouldn't let them have an excuse to kill him so he stood ready for the attack.

The villager grinned as all the others cheered him on as he closed in on the still defending demon, he would be the one to kill and rid the village of the demon that tortured them for so long. His personal kunai raised high in the air ready to smite the monster, he was so close now….10ft….5ft…3ft….now! The villager brought down his kunai closing his eyes tightly, until the sound of steel among steel caused him to look up and gasp along with the mob.

Naruto looked on with wide eyes, before him was a man cloaked in a black robe who defended him. The whiskered boy looked to see the villager wet his pants before collapsing onto the dirt road completely blacked out 'This guy didn't even move he just stared at him and the phyco went down….how?' He turned his eyes at the frightened villagers before the hooded man's voice cut though the silence "You call him a demon and a monster, when the real monsters are right before me!" Naruto saw the man's red eyes shine in the light and the villagers all backed away and took off running into their homes or shops. He didn't know what to make of this guy so Naruto simply muttered a thank you and began to walk away fearing this man would also hate him later if he learned of the demon fox.

Asura observed the boy as he left before speaking "You seem so alone boy, and just by looking at you I can see it, your pain and sadness and how it hurts you inside. Yet despite all the rejection and hate you receive you get back up and move forward. Why?" Asura saw Narutos pain it was obvious by the way theses villagers treated him, and even shinobi were vulnerable to pain and the whiskered blonde felt pain all his life but there was something else to this boy that caught his attention, a sealed power that was immeasurable 'could he be…..'

Naruto turned around and met the man's piercing red eyes with his own sky blue. "It's because these are the people I'm honored to protect, I'm a leaf shinobi and I'll earn their respect by becoming Hokage then this whole village will acknowledge and respect me!" His whisker face held his trademark grin, confidence and hopes practically emanating off of him "And I'm not in pain, shinobi don't show pain!" he shouted with a cocky tone. Naruto looked at the hooded man who continued to stare at him those freaky eyes and at last his patience ended "Who are you any way weirdo?! And what's up with those eyes?!"

Asura let out a sigh before gripping the dark cloak and throwing off his body, into the wind "My name is Asura! These eyes of mine are known as the infamous sharingan! Now boy tell me your name."

Naruto stared in awe at Asura, his armor was so foreign, and the sun shimmered on the black armor, each ray falling into the octagon engravings that spread throughout the slick armor. His mask covered his whole head only allowing the famed sharingon to be seen, Naruto took notice of two small blades holstered on his lower back in an "x" shape. 'Whoever this guy is he's…no joke" Naruto thought seriously. "My name is N-Naruto Uzumaki!"The blonde said, his confidence somewhat faltered.

Asura nodded his head at the young blonde before walking towards him "You're strong I can see it Naruto Uzumaki, I would like to fight you, I want to see just how powerful the next Hokage is."

Naruto backed away in surprise but he was never one to decline a challenge and show what he was really made of "Alright you've asked for it! I just might go easy on you! There's a small field that I train at it has three logs, it's just outside the village meet me there." Naruto soon jumped onto the rooftops and began making his way towards the training ground.

Asura chuckled and began to follow the living seal 'He's definitely the one, bit of a brat but it's understandable…still I have to see just how strong this punk is.'

Third training ground

Naruto stood by the river, waiting for Asura to arrive he found himself staring at his own reflection. A ripple caused by a fallen leaf caused Naruto to see something else within the water, it was him with burning red eyes full of hate full of blood and suddenly a familiar roaring within him awakened. The blond fox fell to his knees in pain gripping his stomach until at last the pain left him and he was left to try and deal with the demon that coursed through his body 'am I really a monster….am I the demon fox?' he thought sadly. Naruto shook his head deciding to deal with his inner demon later and turned to the tree lines where he sensed Asura closing in, and with a smirk he got in a taijutsu stance.

He watched Asura land on the ground with his arm crossed before he simply chuckled and taunted him "Well come at me boy!" Naruto didn't have to be told twice he rushed the armor cladded ninja, throwing his fist only meeting another fist connecting with his own, wind and sheer force of power blasted off of them forcing the very trees to sway.

"That's right don't hold back show me what you can do!"

"I still have a lot more where that came from, believe it!"

Naruto jumped back still clenching his already bruised hand and formed a hand sign and shouted his new jutsu "Shadow clone jutsu!" ten whiskered blondes stood by his side ready for another charger each taunting the impressed Asura "Not bad but….still not good enough!" Naruto watched his opponent form a string of hand signs before declaring his own justsu "Inferno style: Grand fireball jutsu!" Naruto jumped into the trees while his clones were completely destroyed by the black fire ball. "What the hell was that?! You could have killed me!" screamed an angry Naruto.

Asura sighed before crossing his arms again "Very well it appears you want answers so here, there are numerous stages to the sharingan eye, and each stage comes with its own ability. In my case these eyes of mine would be considered a Mangekyo sharingan these eyes call forth the power of amaterasu which are the black flames I just showed you, usually using this eye continually will blind the user and strain its body. But I don't suffer these affects for reasons that will be shared with you in time, furthermore the mangekyo would change the appearance of the sharingan but mine stays the same I just receive the gift of a vaster inferno style. Also in order for me to see your strength I'm going to push you but don't worry I'll go easy from now on since you can't handle it but I'm through speaking boy, it's time to fight!"

Naruto did his best to absorb all this information but in the end received a pounding headache, until he realized Asura practically called him weak although he too was sick of talking, he was craving this fight. He drew multiple kunai in rage and threw them towards Asura who merely dodged between them. Naruto pushed off the branch twisting his body to deliver an axe kick, which met Asuras armored forearm. Naruto felt his powerful hand grip his leg and slam him onto the ground, the living seal recovered quickly and somersaulted backwards creating distance before summoning his army of clones. The fox gave a confident smirk as he outnumbered Asura who stood silently watching the clones "This is impressive, solid clones is a difficult skill to master" Naruto watched him pull his two medium sized blades before Asura called forth another attack "Demon sword dance!"

Moving as a blur of shadows each clone fell as the blur crossed each one, even those who hid in the trees. Asura was moving at an unmatched speed cutting down each clone with slashes of a blade master, as the last clone fell he stood back in the middle of the army and holstered his blades; a click echoed through the air with the sounds of the clones' poofing away.

Naruto looked on in anger his rage boiling something kept fueling his wrath, something vast 'This guy….what is the deal with him! Is he even trying?!' Clenching his fists Naruto gave out a battle cry while charging head on towards the strange warrior.

Asura noticed the growing frustration and anger in the young boy, also sensing another chakra 'hmm there you are fox, alright just have to push you a little farther. Sorry kid but I need to see what it takes to draw that power out and maybe then I'll be of use to you.' The armored shinobi threw multiple kunai and shuriken followed by a string of hand sings muttering, "shuriken shadow clone." A large cloud of the deadly weapons flew through the air towards a surprised Naruto.

'This guy's insane! I'm going to die here…I'm going to die!' His inner voice screamed for his now frozen body to move, but just like that night he was beaten it wouldn't budge. His blue eyes widened in fear, but another pair awakened from the darkness within him burning red with rage. Narutos pupils turned to slits while the once blue ocean boiled the very color of blood, the demonic chakra circled around him in an orb; nine-tails of the raging chakra lashed out swatting the weapons away easily. Naruto growled at Asura before roaring to the sky "No, I will not die! I'm taking you down, I'll end you!"

Asura watched with fear and awe, he got his answers but he couldn't let Naruto stay in this form. He pushed himself forward delivering a solid jab into his stomach. The chakra that once lashed out and consumed Naruto vanished as he fell to the ground coughing out blood. "I'm sorry Naruto but you would have gone berserk I couldn't let that happen. I know you have questions about who I am and why I'm really here, and for the reasons I nearly killed you. To help you relax, no it wasn't because I hate the demon fox or actually wanted you dead."

Naruto wiped his mouth and turned to Asura, he was thinking of running any sane person would after all, this guy did try to kill him but something inside said he could trust him. Years of constant abuse made him a good judge of character, he knew when someone truly cared, and when others hid behind masks and lies in this case Naruto believed he should trust Asura he saw kindness in those eyes of his. He continued staring within those eyes of his before asking his first question "Why were you so bent on bringing out the nine-tails?"

"I was sent on a long journey Naruot the purpose was to find you, and train you to control the immeasurable power that dwells within you. I had to see if you had gotten far with it at all and see what triggers you to bring it out."

Naruto was still confused it didn't add up "Who sent you, why me?"

"Who, doesn't matter right now but he believes you're his successor to protect this world. Listen, Naruto don't worry about any of those things right now okay? You have other things to worry about, you're weak, you have so much power sealed within but you have no way of accessing it unless angered. You also seem to have one useful jutsu at your disposal and your taijutsu is lacking, but I will train you to become stronger, I'll train you so you can achieve your dream."

Naruto wanted to push the subject his stubbornness had no limits but he was used to having no straight answers right away at this point and he knew Asura was right he had to grow stronger but he'd do it for the right reasons, so he now focused on becoming strong under Asuras wing. The boy fox gave a nod and stood standing before his new master. "Naruto, there are some things I have to take care of head home and rest we'll start your training tomorrow at noon. I'll have some gifts as well don't worry kid all will be revealed in time, I promise." Asura said, his eyes expressing a smile. Naruto smiled at his mysterious sensei there was still so much mystery to him but any chance of someone willing to be by his side, and acknowledge him was more than enough for him; at least for now. He gave a nod before running back in the direction of the village determined to get answers somehow.

Konoha village

Asura watched his apprentice disappear in the distance before taking off towards the Hokage tower; he needed to explain his mysterious arrival among other things. The tower now in sight Asura focused chakra to his feet before running up the ancient walls aiming for the window of the Hokage's office. Finally reaching the top he crashed through the window causing quite a scene to the Hokage and the three jonin in the room. He watched the three pull out their kunai and form a defensive stance around the Hokage, who appeared older than he had expected. "Wait I can expl-"he never finished the sentence as he dodged the thrown kunai and the barrage of punches and kicks 'These guys are good' he thought in awe. Asura read every movement and twitch of muscle predicting attacks flawlessly but still the three jonin were more than a handful. He jumped back in the small office staring down a silver haired ninja, another with eyebrows bushier than anything he had ever seen, and finally a woman with beautiful eyes of red. Asura took a deep breath raising his hands high in the air "I'm here to speak with the Hokage about Naruto Uzumaki." Silence fell in the room until the peaceful voice of Sarutobi rang through the air "Very well, I shall speak with you, if you answer questions first and guarantee the safety of that young man."

Asura bowed his head in respect "I have not harmed the boy in any way; I just wish to train him, and become a member of this village."

Sarutobi stared down the dark ninja before him, taking a breath of his pipe before speaking "I see, so you're the one who caused that incident at the gate, noting those actions you'll understand why I'm wary of you stranger." He took another puff and continued "However you could have killed those men and cause quite a stir but you haven't so you maybe a spy. I must put the village first so before I past a judgment on you tell me, why are you here."

"I am Asura, the third son. I was sent by my own master to protect this village and give guidance to Naruto who is a successor to protect and change this world. I'm also to protect this village from the coming troubles and hardships. We all have lived in this world long enough to know this is a temporary peace, a calm before a tremendous storm. I'm here to prepare the young boy for the harsh winds and protect this village with all that I am, for he once called this home. I am forbidden to tell you who my master is but know his intentions are good and the last thing hed want is to see this beautiful world fall. However in time I shall reveal all, but for now, swear my life and loyalty to this village and you Hokage-sama."He knelt before the Saruto and waited for judgment.

Sarutobi let out a tired sigh contemplating on Asura's words trying to make sense of it all. 'He still maybe a spy but his clothing are other-worldly and his eyes are of the Uchia clan, yet he isn't apart of them otherwise he wouldn't have had to come in the way he did. Who was his master, I wonder. I guess I shall take a leap of faith but I won't be foolish he'll be watched until he's earned my trust.' Sarutobi stared at the strange warrior until clearing his throat "I shall allow you asylum here and you may train Naruto, however you will not become a leaf shinobi until you prove yourself to us, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt please do not let me regret it."

Asura stood up bowing once more before jumping through the window to watch over Naruto in case another mob decided to hurt him leaving the four shinobi behind. Sarutobi then summoned his ANBU squad assigning them to watch over Asura until further notice. 'The origin of this man will be discovered someway' he thought, taking another breath from his pipe he then turned to Kakashi, Gui, and Kurenai who stood watching the window. He dismissed them all to prepare for their upcoming teams in three months and without another word they all seemed vanish without a trace. "These are strange times, whoever you are Asura I truly hope that what you say is true, and if you're right about the end of peace then I hope you prepare Narutto." He sat back in his chair staring out the window admiring his home, his village and in this distance Sarutobi could make out a storm on its way.