The Forgotten Child of Heroes

Challenge given by "Shiroyasha Gin-San"

"Normal Speech"

"Demon Speech"

"Normal Thoughts"

"Demon Thoughts"

"Jutsu / Technique"

AN: Thank you so much for all of the reviews, follows and favorites! It's really nice so I'm happy to see them. About the story, it's my hobby. I forget sometimes and it takes me awhile to write chapters. I don't write often either so my chapters are short but hopefully they'll get longer with more experience. With that out of the way, on with the plot! This chapter has been rewritten to make the plot fall together a little bit more smoothly and for everything to be a little bit more secretive.

Ninjajon1031: I hope this is to your liking! (This is chapter 2)

- Flashback (Naruto meets Gai) -

Naruto had just ran out of his family's complex, having told Kushina that he was off to go and play with his friend. The civilian friends, the kids of his parents' friends that had decided to not to go on to become ninjas and instead wanted to be normal kids.

This didn't sit well with him, instead made him upset and angry. His parents thought he was so useless that he couldn't even make his own friends, let alone become a ninja. This frustrated him to no end but he decided to ignore it and left with this feeling and went, he knew if he was going to do this then he was going to have to do it alone and fight for it. Fight to reach his dream.

Naruto had snuck off to his personal "Training Ground" instead of going to hang out with the civilians. This "Training Ground" was a medium sized patch that gave him space and a multitude of objects that he could use to fight as dummies. He decided this would be perfect as his own area to make himself better and also at a spot that he could hide away from his family. Since Naruto didn't know what to do or how to train, he did similar to what he saw his brother doing with his father. So Naruto began with training with the basics. He started his day off with a run of the field, going up and down it 6 times, done over and over and over again. After this start, he'd do basic workouts, pushups, pull ups, sit ups; as well as getting to the point that he would lift large boulders and carry them across the field. This would conclude the beginning and he would move onto more fighting based training such as punching and fighting a dummy that he had mad of a fallen log. He would fight this, punching with the best form that he could and the very same with his kicks. It was around the end of his second month that he had felt something move through the bushes and trees, It was dead silent but it was there and he knew without a doubt it was a human but he couldn't tell if there were here to fight or as a friend. He wasn't sure how he knew. He didn't hear or see them but he knew they were there. He could feel them. Like an energy that wasn't there before.

Naruto was still wet behind the ears when it came to combat, he had never spared before and he didn't feel particularly strong yet so he stood concerned, not trusting that he could handle himself. Naruto wasn't sure what he was going to do except make himself look stronger and seem more confident so he tenses and faced this unknown. He spun quickly on his heel and stared straight at the being for a solid ten seconds, just hyping himself up before opening his mouth to speak.

"Hey! If you're gonna watch me then just come down here! Its rude to not introduce yourself!"

He stomped and stared at the tree line, and a rustle of leaves could be heard before and then It wasn't more than a few moments before the shady character flew out of the trees and went straight into the sky, as Naruto tracked him, he lost his line of sight as the man went through the sun's rays and landed on the ground with a shout.

"Dynamic entry!"

He slammed quickly into the ground before standing up stiff; arm extended and thumbs up as he struck a nice guy pose.

"My name is Might Gai! I have seen your young flames of youth and I would like to fuel your fire!"

His teeth glinted when they closed down and he kept in the pose and as Naruto continued to watch this crazy man, he cringed as he watched the speech unfold and was slightly confused as he offered to 'fuel his fire'. Naruto took a few steps back and stayed ready, like a coil ready to burst as he was confused by this 'Might Gai'.

"It's okay young Naruto! I am a ninja of the leaf! I've been watching your training ever since I figured out who you were. You have a strong spirit! Even without the use chakra, you still try your best and continue to fight, following your dreams. I would like to take you on as my student! Someone to pass on my flames of youth!"

He flashed his leaf headband just to prove that he was being honest to the young child in front of him and Naruto blanked for a moment. Not sure whether to be happy and excited or scared and tense, the headband had definitely helped, but Naruto wasn't stupid. He was the son of a hokage and he could be used, taken advantage. But Gai seemed different, the same feeling that he felt when he first sensed the man had only grown but he got warmer, like a glowing sun, it made Naruto feel same. He actually called him by his name. Not honorable son of the yellow flash or even the hokage's son. He called him Naruto and that made him proud. Proud that he had proven himself enough for Gai to both use his own name and for him to offer to teach him.

After a few moments of thinking, Naruto slowly relaxed and stared the man down, his face slowly lifting into a smile up at the much taller man.

"When do we get started Gai sensei!"

- Flashback End -

The training had done wonders for Naruto. When he trained by himself, he had only been doing the physical part of gaining strength, he followed no taijutsu style and couldn't perform jutsu of any kind but Gai had learned through training Naruto that instead of having normal chakra pools, his body would passively absorb natural energy that would allow him access to superhuman strength at the most devastating levels, surpassing even that of the strongest demons, increased speed once this skill was fully developed. However it was this ability that prevented him from using Ninjutsu and genjutsu. For reasons unknown, it was his own strength that caused him his greatest pain. He used what he knew to teach Naruto in the ways of Taijutsu as well as how to access his power that he called One for All.

- Flashback (Hokage's office) -

Gai had took it upon himself to approach the Hokage about his sons ability to fight and learn on a level he had never even seen before. The young adult had already made a name for himself as he was the resident taijutsu specialist. It was the day after Naruto's seventh birthday that he had made his way into the Hokage tower and had his meeting with Minato. Which was something remarkably unknown for Gai as he would normally just let himself in or burst through today but today was not the day for that kind of attitude. He walked into the office and stared directly at the fourth Hokage, his face neutral and completely still.

"Hokage-sama. I come with the request to send Naruto to the ninja academy when he turns eight along with his brother."

Gai took a quiet breath, clenched his jaw and thought about what he was going to say next. Not wanting to anger the man that had complete and utter control over his rank and career.

"I know you will think that your son is in danger and would not make it as a ninja, but you severely underestimate him which is something no father should do to their son. Naruto has more potential than I've seen out of someone his age and even people many years above him. It's for these reasons that I have taken your son under my wing and have begun to train him."

Gai winced as he felt Minato's glare fall on upon him and bore deep down inside of him. The yellow flash mulled this over in his head for awhile before returning himself to the conversation "Gai. Why have you taken it upon yourself to train my son. I made it well aware to all of the Jonin that Naruto wasn't to be trained in the ways of a ninja. Why do you think you have the right to go against my direct orders?"

His voice rose, the anger seething from his tone and Gai gulped, shivered lightly before taking in a deep breath and doing his best to stand against the much more powerful man.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. I understand. However had I not intervened, your son would likely have had many visits to the hospital and would have already found his way into the academy regardless of having you know, he's a smart child and you know that. The both of us know that Naruto is much smarter than any other 7 year old kid should be."

He did his best to stay calm and diffuse the situation before it could evolve into something bigger.

"Naruto is already incredibly strong. He is also one of the greatest sensors I've ever seen. I know I'm not the greatest at stealth, but I know that a 5 year old shouldn't be able to detect a veteran Jonin. His sensing ability has only continued to grow as well. I believe that if you at least give him a chance, then he would be able to be one of the best ninja that this village has ever seen, maybe even the very best in the elemental nations."

His voice was chalked full of pride and passion as he spoke of his disciple and Minato was taken slightly aback by his heartfelt statement and he knew that Gai was telling him the truth. Gai didn't even know how to lie. He couldn't even if he wanted to and that was how Minato knew truly put his trust into him.

"Alright. Gai, I'm trusting you. You know there's not much that's more important to me than my family. I'd do anything to keep them safe. But we have to set rules. Before he's enrolled I want you to make sure he knows as much as possible about fighting. I'm trusting you with him. Please don't let me down." His voice got quieter as he spoke nodded to Gai.

Gai quickly stood up and smiled at the man that had managed to surprise him by letting him go through with the training. "Thank you Hokage-sama! I will not let you down!" He struck a nice guy pose and gave the fourth a thumbs up to which the young leader stared and cringed slightly before the Taijutsu master left the office.

- Flashback End (Naruto's room) -

Back with Naruto, he had been training in about every way that he thought could truly help him become a ninja. He started with his parents, what made them strong and everything came back to his clan. The Uzumaki were a phenomenal force to be reckoned with. They single handedly held off two countries with the use of seals when the combined forces of Kumogakure and Kumogakure came knocking at their door. Naruto had read that the Uzumaki had fought valiantly and didn't hold back one bit and even though they were such a small country, they were nearly able to overcome the power of two of the great nations. He had settled himself on it. He was going to completely master the art of fuinjutsu.

Naruto's mom knocked on the door and then walked in before smiling down at her son. "Sochi, lunch is ready. Come on down and join us." Kushina hummed out in a sweet tone as she stood in the doorway and watched as her eldest son hopped up from his bed and give her a quick hug as he headed out of his room and down to the dining hall. "Thank you Kaa-chan. I'll be down there in a sec. I've gotta go grab some stuff from the library." As he made his way past his mother, he barely even registered that his mother was there. Naruto was just going through the motions that he normally went through to maintain his guise of being very close to his family. He had a year left before he would be allowed to join the academy and he knew his father was going to have a extremely brutal test to prove that he was good enough to keep himself safe as a ninja.

Kushina nodded and turned around, heading back downstairs to finish preparing the food. She was happy, today was one of the very rare days that Naruto was home during lunch time as he was normally out training hard. She wasn't stupid, he had been coming home beaten and sore every day for the last two years. But she knew he was happy and didn't mention anything until Minato had come home one day within the last half a year and talked to his beautiful red headed mistress. He was very surprised that she had known and yet refrained from telling him but she had only told him that 'When an Uzumaki that has their mind set, come hell or high water, there is nothing in this world that would stop them.' That was the end of it Minato know this was true, Kushina always had her way. That much was regardless of what the argument was, she had her way and she was definitely always right.

While the hot blooded habanero was reminiscing, Naruto had delved deep into his family library. He had found various books on the basics of seals. The very basics. He found three books that were all a part of the primary learning trilogy of seals. The 'Beginners Guide to Seals', 'Journeyman's Guide to Seals' and finally the 'Master's Guide to Seals'. Each book had 5 sub levels within them. This ensured that you wouldn't go too far too fast. You must be able to do what each sublevel states before moving lest you risk hurting yourself. Naruto took these books first and ran them to his room, setting them on the desk in his room and taking the Beginners guide downstairs to read it as he ate with his family.

He smiled as he bounded down the stairs and wrapped himself tightly around the corner before approaching the bar the separated the kitchen and the dining room. "Hey Kaa-chan! How's the food coming? It smells amazing." He finished what he said and took a peak at the food before popping open his book and starting to go over the theory behind seals and how they really work.

Kushina spun happily and gave her red headed child a cheeky and childish grin. "I'm making ramen of course! It's not often I get to see my boy home for lunch so it's gotta be special!" Her and Naruto laughed at the child like enthusiasm that radiated in her motherly voice but both settled down fairly quickly and Kushina quickly turned the stove off and started serving the food into everyone's bowl just as the legendary forth Hokage and his mini me entered through the traditional sliding doors of their Japanese-esque house.

"That was awesome dad! I finally got it down!" Both of the boys that had only just entered were grinning like fools, the father proud of his son and his son proud of the technique that he had just learned. Minato pushed softly on Menma's head and ruffled his hair as Menma continued on, unaware of the occupants of the room. "Dad? Do you think Onii-san would be proud of me if he knew what I learned?" He asked, still not having seen his brother sitting at the bar and also wanting his attention since Menma looked up to his brother for being so strong even though he couldn't use chakra.

It was here that both of the blondes stopped dead in their tracks as they caught Naruto's gaze as he was staring dead, straight at them. He turned around, got up and set his book down before coming to his younger brother with a soft smile as he flicked his forehead gently. "I'm always proud of you, you don't have to go out and do something amazing for me to love you" Naruto smiled proudly before making his way back to his seat and picking up his book and taking his bowl before starting to slurp it down with the same vigor as his twin brother.

They all ate together and gobbled down their food before Menma jumped up and cleaned the dishes. Naruto continued reading his book before getting up to go to his room but Menma stopped him quickly and said "Wait! Can you come out with me so I can show you what I can do? I promise it'll be cool!" Naruto looked over his shoulder and shrugged with a faint smile. "Of course." He set down the book and walked outside then stood a little bit away to give Menma space so he could see what his little brother could do.

Menma only took a few moments to come outside before he came out and looked at Naruto before making two clones. "Watch this!" He holds his hand out as the clones start to palm the air that stands just a small ways away from his hand until an orb of pure chakra develops and grows to its full size. He waited a moment and then dispelled the clones before running and burying the rasengan into the trunk of a tree, making a spiral shape in the front of the tree and the explosion blew out the back of the tree. He huffed for a moment and breathed as the tree toppled over.

"Not half bad. Pretty good considering how much you train with dad, but you've got a long way to go until you can protect all of your loved ones. I'll be sure to watch you along the way." Naruto laughed and watched the tree fall, proud of his twin. Menma stared Naruto down, unable to tell if Naruto was being sarcastic or completely genuine. "Thank you Naruto, that means a lot to me." Naruto looked back down at his twin brother, happy to have some level of bonding for the first time in a long time. Naruto stepped past the near copy of himself, he positioned himself in front of the nearest tree and drew his fist back and then charged up for a moment before slamming his fist into the tree while screaming "Smaaaash!" He didn't want his brother to know of his kekkai genkai so he just hit normally and this made the tree crack all the way though and then fell over like his brothers attack.

"I'm one hundred percent sure that you can do even something like that when you get a little bit stronger" He groaned stoically before turning and going inside, getting his book and going up into his room, starting his journey into becoming a master of fuinjutsu.

That's the end of that. I hope it's what you all like! I'm sorry its really slow, I need to work on my style and I'm not amazing at plot ideas. I'd like to have a bit of fun. If you have any ideas then make sure to message me so we can talk about it. Thank you all for looking into my story, I'll try to start making much longer chapters when I get more experience.