Well, here is chapter 2. Fu will be introduced in this chapter. To be honest, I wanted to wait until chapter 3 and even that seemed a bit early to me, but I couldn't think of anything that wouldn't be filler and I didn't want to do a filler chapter so early in the story and with only Naruto and Jiraiya. Anyway, I thought this chapter was too short alone and, long story short, I ended up adding everything I planned for chapter 3 to this chapter.

Again, thanks to Naruhinasakufan1.

I don't own Naruto.


It's been four months since Jiraiya had begun to train Naruto seriously. Since then he had improved greatly. Naruto's taijutsu which was pretty decent for a Genin was now at an average Chunin's level. Naruto's charka control had also greatly improved; he was almost at the level where he could use the Rasengan with one hand. He also learned how to dispel genjustu and thanks to the Four Limbs Weighted Seal, Naruto was able to get a lot stronger and faster in just a short amount of time. Jiraiya decided to get chakra paper when they stopped off at a ninja village so he could find Naruto's affinity. In the mean time, Jiraiya taught him to manipulate earth and fire, his own elements. He had also bought Naruto some books on anatomy, herbs and poisons, chakra and theories, the villages, history and a dictionary and had his shadow clones read and re-read them until they understood and remembered them since the beginning of the second month. It took a lot to convince Naruto to do this, in some cases he had to be forced actually, but it was paying off. Naruto was gradually getting smarter, something Jiraiya was glad for. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to dumb things down for his pupil anymore.

Right now, the sun was about to set and they were near the end of the day's tortu- I mean training. Naruto's shadow clones were divided into groups of ten, training chakra control and taijutsu katas, reading the books or learning earth or fire jutsu and he had been training this way since the second month. Though he wanted to master fire jutsu as well as his own element one day, he didn't intend to learn more than a few earth jutsu, but those he had chosen to learn were extremely useful, namely, three jutsu for traveling underground.

Naruto had begun truly appreciate his healing abilities, because for the past few weeks Jiraiya had begun to train Naruto to plan on the fly and improve his reaction times and judgment by sparring with him, which more often than not led to Naruto being beaten into the ground.

The two were currently exchanging blows. Naruto managed to catch Jiraiya's arm with his elbow, throwing the toad sages punch off course and leaving him wide open, or so he thought. The blond went for a punch to the stomach, only to receive a knee to his own stomach which knocked the breath out of him followed by a kick to the chest that sent Naruto to the ground.

"Alright Naruto, that's enough for now." Jiraiya said as Naruto began to get up.

"Man, you're brutal, Pervy Sage." Naruto said as he got up.

"What's wrong? You're the one who wanted me to train you seriously. Besides, it's paying off isn't it?" Jiraiya said with a grin as Naruto glared at him. "Anyway, we'll be traveling for the next few days so take it easy, work with your clones on chakra control and hopefully, by the time we get where we're going, you'll be able to use the Rasengan with one hand." the Sannin said.

"So, where are we going next anyway?" asked Naruto curiously as he looked at the Sannin

"A minor village, we need some supplies for your training and I have something to discuss with the village's council." Jiraiya said "Now, dispel your clones so we can head back to town."

"You got it." Naruto said as he made a hand sign, the 50 clones dispelled and Naruto reeled for a moment as all they had learned was transferred back to him. After sealing all the books, scrolls and weapons, they walked to the next town and found a cheap hotel because Jiraiya didn't like spending too much on rooms and went to sleep.


That night as Naruto slept, he suddenly regained consciousness and found himself back in front of the Kyuubi's cage.

"What the… why am I here?" Naruto asked himself out loud.

"Because I called you here." A booming voice spoke. Naruto looked up at the cage and saw the Nine Tailed Demon Fox staring down at him. "Boy… it's time we talked." Kyuubi said as Naruto frowned in confusion.

"What would you want to talk to me about, you stupid fox? In case you forgot, last time I was here you said you wanted to eat me. And besides all your gonna do is say the same old thing like always." Naruto said as he looked at the Kyuubi.

"You should be more respectful, boy. You're still weak, still powerless; your failure to save the Uchiha should have taught you that." Naruto's eyes narrowed as he prepared to refute that. "Then again, considering your recent development, perhaps you have." Naruto seemed slightly surprised. "I suppose I should be thankful you're stronger than you were before." Naruto glared at the fox. 4 months ago, he wouldn't have recognized that backhanded compliment for the insult it was. "I see you're smarter than you were too…"

"Did you call me here just to insult me?"

"No, I called you here to offer you my aid, my power."

"Tch. Like I'm going to fall for that." Naruto said turning his back to the fox.

"It seems you have wised up since we last talked, but I'm not trying to deceive you." Kyuubi said, lowering his head to look more closely at the blond as Naruto turned to the Kyuubi. "Make no mistake, I despise the idea of this and would like nothing more than to kill you… but I am willing to lend you my aid."

"You don't do anything for free. So what do you want in return?" Naruto asked.

"Smart boy… in return for my aid, there is someone I want you to kill… if you give me your word you will kill this person, I will help you control my power, so long as you do not squander it." Kyuubi told the Jinchuriki, who looked at him curiously.

"Why would you need my help? Why not just try to break out and do it yourself, and why now?" Naruto asked and Kyuubi's massive eyes narrowed.

"I will tell you more of him later and my reasons for wanting him dead if you earn my respect. There are reasons I can't simply kill him myself, even if I escape this accursed cage and I didn't make this offer before because you were helpless. I didn't believe you had the potential to kill him, even with my power, but things are different now." Kyuubi said, the way he spoke, his loathing of the situation was almost palpable. Naruto looked into Kyuubi's eye for a moment before turning and walking away.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter, I'm not gonna kill someone just to get stronger, come back with a better offer."

The Kyuubi stood up as his container walked away. "Boy, what if I told you that this person I want dead is most likely the leader of the Akatsuki and is responsible for the deaths of your parents." Kyuubi said asNaruto froze, eyes wide. A moment later he turned back to the Kyuubi.

"What did you say?" Naruto asked, barely above a whisper. Kyuubi chuckled as he looked at his container.

"That got your attention, I see." The Kyuubi grinned, sensing the negative emotions, mostly rage in the boy before him. Naruto had never been told anything about his parents and now, the first thing he hears about them is that their killer was still alive.

"Who is he?" Naruto asked.

"He is someone from my past, one whom I hold unfathomable hatred for and he is the reason why I was sealed inside you. That is all I will tell you for now, I will tell you more if you earn my respect and prove yourself worthy of this offer."

"Listen to me…"

"Do you believe you can threaten me whelp? Don't make me laugh. That pathetic sage you call a teacher likely knows something, you may even be able to figure out most of the truth from what he knows, he did know your parents after all." Naruto's eyes bulged and the Kyuubi's grin widened. "Ah, that's right… he didn't tell you did he?" The fox chuckled."You will get no more on that subject from me now. So boy, do you accept my deal or not?"

Naruto looked deep in thought, various emotions visible on his face. Before glaring at the Kyuubi "Fine… but I'll be watching you fox, don't think I'll just let you do as you wish."

"You would be a fool to trust me completely boy, now leave. Come back when you're ready to begin training with my power." Kyuubi replied and Naruto closed his eyes before fading from his mindscape. Kyuubi rested his head on his arms proceeded to return to his slumber. The Kyuubi truly hated the idea of helping Naruto, but he had little choice. He had no defense against the Sharingan's ability to control him. Freedom would mean nothing so long as Madara was alive. Besides, even if the boy somehow managed to gain full control of his power, although he didn't like it, the Kyuubi could be patient. No human lived forever, but the Kyuubi, he had all of eternity. He would be free one day, and if this paid off, in the best case when that day came, the cursed clan Uchiha would no longer be an issue.


That morning, Naruto woke up and immediately a scowl appeared on his face.

"Was Kyuubi telling the truth? Why wouldn't he tell me? Does Grandma Tsunade know? Or Kakashi-sensei? And if they do why didn't they tell me who they were?" Naruto asked himself before getting up, determined to get answers, He found Jiraiya sitting down in the cafeteria of the hotel, a room with long wooden tables and benches, no one was in the room with them.

"Hey kid, what's with that look, wake up on the wrong side of the bed or what?" Jiraiya asked, noticing Naruto's foul mood.

"Jiraiya…" Naruto said quietly and the old pervert frowned, wondering what could put the normally happy and energetic boy so angry with him that he would use his name. "Last night, I had a talk with the Kyuubi…"

"What?" Jiraiya exclaimed.

"Listen." Naruto said. "He wanted to make a deal with me, to help me use his power-"

"And you trust him?" Jiraiya asked, shocked the boy would make such a stupid mistake as trust the fox.

"Of course not! But that's not important right now!" Naruto yelled.

"What the hell do you mean brat, of course it's important!" Jiraiya yelled back, trying to get the boy to listen to him.

"Not to me right now, what I care about is that he told me you knew my parents!" Naruto roared at the sage and Jiraiya's eyes widened before he took on a serious expression.

"So that's it…"

"He was telling the truth, why wouldn't you tell me! And who else knew?"

"Calm down, Naruto" Jiraiya said firmly and with a glare that said Naruto better listen, Naruto's eyes narrowed and he sat down.

"You weren't told because it was feared it would go to your head or that you would tell someone, as a Jinchuriki, you would get enough attention from enemies as it was without knowledge of your parents adding to it. I had planned to tell you as soon as you mastered your father's jutsu." Jiraiya explained.

"My… father's jutsu?" Naruto asked, calming now that he was getting answers.

"Yes… the Rasengan."

"What… but you told me… that means…"

"That's right, your mother was Kushina Uzumaki and she was from the destroyed Uzushiogakure, and your father… was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage." Jiraiya explained to a stunned Naruto as he finally heard his parent's names.

"The Fourth… was my…" Naruto said in disbelief, countless emotions running through him and tears began to form in his eyes. He had always wondered who his parents were, always feared that they abandoned him for containing the Kyuubi, and now he finds out it was his own father who sealed it into him. "Why? Why would he seal the fucking Nine tailed Fox into his own son! Did he have any idea what I would go through! Did he even care!" Naruto shouted as the tears streamed down his face.

"Naruto!" Jiraiya slammed his fist on the table, enraged at Naruto's words. "Don't let me ever hear you say something like that again." Jiraiya said with a scowl. "I had never seen Minato happier than the say he found out he was going to be a father. He loved you very much, I have no doubt about that. I wasn't there so I don't know what exactly happened that night, but let me ask you, could you ask someone to sacrifice their child when you aren't willing to do the same?" Naruto looked at the table, eyes downcast and unwilling to make eye contact with the sage after his outburst, when he thought of what he knew about the Fourth, he realized he was a man willing to make any personal sacrifice for the greater good. After giving him a few moments to think on it, Jiraiya spoke again.

"I'm sorry I kept this from you Naruto and I swear I'll make it up to you, I'll tell you everything about them, but tell me, what else did the Kyuubi talk about. You know how dangerous and persuasive he can be."

Naruto paused for a moment before looking up at the hermit responding "He told me he wanted me to kill someone in exchange for his power." Jiraiya's eyes widened. "He said whoever it is was probably the leader of Akatsuki and responsible for my parents deaths… but I thought the Fourth… my dad, died sealing the Kyuubi." Naruto said quietly and Jiraiya leaned back and cupped his chin

"He did. Actually, both of your parents died fighting the Kyuubi. But… something never did quite add up about the whole thing."

"What do you mean, Pervy Sage?" Naruto asked, Jiraiya briefly looked glad to hear the blond use his nickname again, even if he didn't like it before turning serious again.

"Well, I was going to wait and tell you once we started talking about what your parents were like, but, your mother was the previous container of the Nine Tailed Demon Fox." Naruto's eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly at the revelation. "There is a moment when a female Jinchuriki's seal weakens."

"When?"

"When the Jinchuriki gives birth. A pregnancy in a Jinchuriki lasts 10 months because the chakra that normally nurtures the child is divided between it and the seal, and when she gives birth, so much chakra is directed to the child that the seal weakens, to the point that the Biju can break free, unless a seal master is present to constantly maintain it and repair it afterwards. The seal must have broken, freeing the Kyuubi. Your mother's clan, the Uzumaki, were renowned for two things, they were the greatest known seal masters to ever live and their longevity, it was the life force from that longevity allowed Kushina to survive the Kyuubi's escape, but the damage was killing her, she likely wouldn't have survived the night. She used the last of her strength to hold down the Kyuubi while your father sealed it."

"But… dad was supposed to be one of the greatest seal masters of all time, how could he have let that happen?" Naruto said with a slight scowl, beginning to work out the truth from all information they had gathered.

"Exactly, and that is what doesn't add up. I know your father was there when you were born and he would never have let that happen."

"So then, this guy the Kyuubi wants me to kill…" Naruto said, growling slightly, almost angry enough to channel the Kyuubi's chakra as he began to work out what situation. Jiraiya looked up with a slight glare at the prospect himself having come to the same conclusion as his apprentice.

"That's right, Naruto. Whoever this guy is, he must have attacked your parents when you were born, using you and Kushina's weakened state to his advantage, he separated Minato from Kushina and broke the seal, freeing the Kyuubi to attack Konoha." Jiraiya said before adopting a thoughtful expression. "But all this doesn't explain why the Kyuubi couldn't just kill this guy himself, or why he hates him so much."

"You have any idea's, Pervy Sage?"

"… just one, did the Kyuubi say anything else about him?"

"Just that it's someone from his past who he hates more than anything else." Jiraiya hums in thought. "Well?"

"…There is only one person I can think of… who could get through all the precautions and defenses that would have been used that night and been able to do such a thing…"

"Who?"

"The person I'm thinking of should have been dead since the days of the First Hokage. I'll look into this, but I doubt I'll be able to find anything. But I will say this, if it s him and he is the one behind the Akatsuki, then they are far more dangerous then we could have imagined." Jiraiya said grimly. "Anyway, the Kyuubi will eventually tell you anyway right?" Naruto nodded, they sat in silence for a moment thinking of everything they learned. Jiraiya lamented over not being there for his student when he needed him. He likely wouldn't have been a match the attacker if it was who he thought it was, but with him and Minato together, that night may have turned out differently.

"Pervy Sage…" Naruto said quietly.

"Hm?" Jiraiya snapped out of his depression and he looked to his apprentice.

"Could you tell me… what they were like?"

Jiraiya smiled "Sure kid."

They spent the rest of the morning and a lot of the first day of their journey, talking about Minato and Kushina.


It had been a week since Naruto had talked to the Kyuubi , he and Jiraiya were slowly traveling north using clones to train Naruto along the way. Naruto had come to respect, love and idolize his parents (even more in the Fourth's case, and in spite of sealing the Kyuubi into him) after hearing everything Jiraiya had to say about them, he had also expressed a wish to follow in the footsteps of his parents and his mother's clan as a seal master. Also, knowing that there was someone powerful enough to use the Kyuubi and fight evenly with his father who was after him and how complicated and difficult sealing jutsu were, he had begun training more intensely and with more focus, even in areas he didn't like such as his reading (though he still didn't do more of that than Jiraiya told him he had to). Although aside from his new found attentiveness, his personality had largely remained unchanged. He had doubled the amount of clones (and quickly decided not to dispel them all at once) and asked Jiraiya to increase the weights. Today, they were finally reaching their destination. They were walking through a forest and they see the light of a clearing.

"Okay kid, feast those eyes of yours on the sight before you because we have arrived!" Jiraiya said while striking a dramatic pose and pointing to the clearing.

"Jeez, Pervy Sage, you still act… like…whoa…" Naruto trailed off as he stepped into the clearing and saw an enormous waterfall.

"Yeah… amazing sight isn't it."

"Yeah the view from here is better than last time."

"Wait, last time? When were you here?" Jiraiya asked a bit surprised to hear that Naruto had actually been here before.

"It was with Kakashi-Sensei Sakura and….Sasuke" said Naruto as he looked down a bit. "We came to do a cleanup job but that changed when one of their Jonin tried to use the Hero's water to take over the village. But me and Sasuke stopped him."

"I se-"

"Stop right there." a female voice called out. Master and apprentice look up as a half dozen shinobi, all wearing black clothing and grey flak jackets land in front of them. "Please state your business with our village."

But before Jiraiya could give a reply one of the Taki Ninja recognized Naruto. And then put his hand on the women's shoulder and whispered in her ear. After a few second's the women put her weapon down and looked at the two. "Ah I'm sorry for that. But security has to be tight we don't want any unwanted visitors; It's a pleasure to see you again Naruto. And you as well lord Jiraiya. Please follow me." the women as she waved her hand and the other members of the Patrol were dismissed and returned to their posts and the Taki Kunoichi turned around and walked to the waterfall with Naruto and Jiraiya right behind her. After a few minutes Naruto decided to make idle conversation.

"So how's the village been since Suien was defeated?" asked Naruto

"The village has been fine, thanks to you and your team, Naruto. A lot of the village thinks' of you as a hero for what you did." said the woman.

"Is that why you didn't blindfold me" he asked

"Yes from what I heard you are a very trustworthy person. So there was no need for the blindfold." replied the woman as they passed a series of pools. "This way." She said, diving into the pool and the duo followed soon after

After several minutes the three emerged in the village, a beautiful village built around a lake, the lake having an island with a gargantuan tree, the leaves of said tree covering the entire village from above, rays of sunlight visibly shining through the leaves.

"Wow, it's more amazing then the last time." Naruto said taking in the sight of the village as they reached the shore.

"Thank you." the Kunoichi replied as they climbed out of the water. "This is where I take my leave. I hope you enjoy your stay Naruto, if you need anything please don't hesitate to ask." the kunoichi replied as she looked at him. Jiraiya's jaw slightly dropped in shock seeing how well respected his pupil was but he quickly snapped out of it.

"Okay, now, I have a meeting with a Taki council member and have to get some supplies. In the mean time, take a break and enjoy yourself OK. Once I get back, we'll train here for a while, then we'll move on. Have fun, maybe find yourself a girl to have some fun with." Jiraiya said. As he and the kunoichi walked towards a bridge leading to the island with the tree.

Naruto scoffed "That's something you would do, Pervy Sage." before looking around "Now where should I go." before stomach rumbled and he put a hand to it. "Ah, I know, I'll find a ramen shop." with that, he raced off in search of the nearest shop selling his favorite meal.

Jiraiya walked with his escort across the bridge to a four story building at the base of the tree that was far more elaborate than any other building in the village, the home of the village leader and meeting place of the council. They entered the building and walked to the second floor and to a room.

"We've arrived, Lord Shibuki will see you now." said the Kunoichi as she took her leave. Jiraiya walked into the room and met Shibuki, the leader of Takigakure. A young man with black eyes and long, dark brown hair going just behind his neck, he wore grey pants and a green shirt.

"Ah, you're here. It's a pleasure to meet you, master Jiraiya." The village leader said.

"Nice to meet you too, Shibuki. It's nice to see someone so young take his position seriously." Jiraiya smirked and Shibuki chuckled and rubbed the back of his head at the compliment.

"Well, I have to live up to my father's legacy." said Shibuki, his father had been a hero who gave his life for the village. Drinking the hero's water to gain the strength necessary to protect the village, knowing the cost. "Anyway, let's get down to business, what is it you wish to tell me?"

"Well, according to my spy network, Taki is the only minor village with a Jinchuriki." Jiraiya said and Shibuki stiffened before narrowing his eyes.

"Yes… what of it?"

"Tell me, what do you know about an organization called Akatsuki?"


After ten minutes of searching Naruto had gotten tired of trying to find the ramen stand and soon asked for directions. After only a few minutes he had found a ramen stand and was currently on his fifth bowl it. "I have to say, this is a really nice place, the village I mean, I can see why you keep it hidden." Naruto said to the shop owner, a man in his early thirties.

"Thanks kid, most right us off because we're just a minor village and-"

"GET OUT AND STAY OUT, I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE YOU'RE DRIVING THE CUSTOMERS AWAY!" they suddenly heard someone yell from a nearby restaurant, Naruto and the shop owner snapped up at the disturbance to see a girl wearing white with green hair run by the shop and out of sight.

"What was that all about?" Naruto asked as he turned to the shop owner. When he did, he noticed a look he knew all too well, it was the same look everyone in his village had given to him throughout his childhood. A look of hatred, directed at the girl who had just ran by. His gaze lingered where she had been before he turned back to Naruto.

"Oh, nothing. That girl's a kunoichi, but she's trouble, she was probably trying to steal something." he said, not willing to reveal one of the villages secrets to an outsider.

Naruto could tell the man was lying. He didn't know why she was treated this way, but she had apparently lived through the same hell he had. Worse possibly, the old man, the Third Hokage had protected him throughout his childhood, considering what he just saw, she likely didn't have such protection from whatever caused her problems. It didn't take him a moment to make a decision.

"Hey, old man, can I get two orders to go?"

The young kunoichi ran through across the village, eventually finding herself at the giant tree at its core. The green haired genin had just been trying to get a decent meal from one of the stores that had, until now, allowed her to buy from it, but apparently, people didn't want to buy from a shop that let the 'demon' buy things, of course they would choose their business over helping her. There were few in the village that didn't see her as the Nanabi, and those who didn't were in were in no position to help her.

The 14 year old girl's life had been hell and what little kindness she had been shown was disappearing over the years. She was starting to become cynical about the world in general.

"Hey." A voice she didn't recognize called out. She turned to see a yellow haired boy with whisker marks standing on the side of the tree with his chakra.

Naruto looked down at the kunoichi as he finally he got a good look at the girl. She had spiky mint green hair, tanned skin and wore a short white shirt that showed her midriff with a white mini-skirt with bandages on her legs and under her shirt and white armlets, her forehead protector tied around her right arm and white shinobi sandals, reminding him of Ino Yamanaka, who wore almost the same thing but purple in color. What Naruto focused on however, were her eyes, first on the fact that they were orange, his favorite color and then on the fact that they held a look similar to the one his own eyes used to carry, a sad and lonely look, they also had a hint of distrust, showing she had likely been betrayed more than a few times, before they hardened.

She looked at the boy before her, noting his forehead protector.

"What do you want?" She said, scanning him for any signs of hostility or deceit.

"Hi, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I saw what happened and thought maybe you'd like some of this." Naruto said, holding up a cup of ramen. The kunoichi raised a brow.

"Naruto Uzumaki? You're the hero of our village. What is someone like you doing talking to me?" said the kunoichi as she looked down and saw the cup of ramen in his hands. "Why would you give me this?"

"Well like I said, I saw what happened and I don't think you should be treated like that, so I thought you might like some company." The kunoichi looked at the boy, debating whether or not to trust him, she decided to give it a shot, seeing as she was hungry and he was from another village and didn't know what she was and it might be nice to be treated normally, even if for a little while.

"Fine." she said, taking the cup, she did like ramen, even if it wasn't her favorite meal. She and Naruto ate together under the tree in silence before Naruto spoke up.

"So, you never told me your name." he said, trying to get the girl to open up.

"It's Fu, just Fu." said the green haired girl and they were silent for a few more moments. "So judging from your headband, you're from Konoha? What's it like?" Fu asked and Naruto smiled.

"It's great! It's a lot bigger than Taki and they have the best ramen stand in all the nations. Theirs also a huge monument to the Hokage, their faces carved into a mountain."

"That so?"

"Yeah, and one day, I'll have my face on the monument."

"You want to be Hokage? Why?" Fu asked and was surprised when Naruto briefly looked sad, the same look she often saw in her own reflection.

"When I was young, I was an orphan and hated by everyone, everywhere I would go, people would glare at me and insult me and I didn't know why until recently. Until then, I wanted to be Hokage so everyone would have to acknowledge me as the greatest ninja of the village. But some people acknowledged me and they rescued me from being alone. Now, I want to be Hokage to protect those who are precious to me." Naruto said, Fu looked at the ground, surprised and depressed at how similar his past was to her own.

"Well, I wish you luck, Naruto and thank you for the ramen." said Fu with a smile.

"Thanks and you're welcome. Hey, anything exciting happen since you became a ninja?"

Fu smiled "A few, what about you?"

"I got some good stories, like the time me and my team fought Zabuza Momochi."

With that, the two began trading stories about their time as ninja.

Jiraiya had finished his business with Shibuki and had gotten all the supplies he needed, he was currently looking for his apprentice. After about five minutes, he had finally found his student talking to a girl at the base of the sacred tree. "and he said he wasn't like me." The old pervert thought to himself with a chuckle before he noticed who the girl was. His spy network had informed him of Taki's Jinchuriki. After watching them from a perch on the tree for a moment, he jumped down as he landed, noticing how the girl reacted defensively and noting the look in her eyes.

"Naruto. I see you took my advice on finding some company." Jiraiya said as he landed.

"Pervy Sage. Finished your meeting with Shibuki?"

"Pervy Sage?" Fu asked with a raised brow.

"Don't be fooled by anything the brat might say, the man standing before you if none other than the Toad Sannin, the sage of Mt. Myouboku, the Gallant Jiraiya!" Jiraiya said as he struck one of his poses.

"… is he kidding?" Fu asked skeptically.

"I've seen him fight, he's as strong as he says he is, but he's just a pervert otherwise."

"How many times do I have to tell you brat, I'm not some pervert, I'm a super-pervert!" Jiraiya said proudly.

Naruto and Fu just stare at him in disbelief.

"…Is he really Jiraiya of the Sannin?" Fu asked, not believing that such a renowned ninja would act like this.

"Yeah, just ignore him when he gets like this." Naruto said and Jiraiya sulked for a moment before becoming serious.

"Ahem, anyway, I finished my business and got the chakra paper we needed, so we can start training."

"Okay. Hey, Pervy Sage, can Fu join us?" Naruto asked much to Fu's shock.

"Huh? Sure kid, if she wants to I don't see why not." Jiraiya replied

"Well how about it?" Naruto asked.

"Sure, I would be happy to train under Jiraiya of the Sannin and my team won't care." Fu replied.

"Okay, good thing they sell these cards in groups." Jiraiya said as he pulled out the small sheets of paper. "Have you used these before?" Jiraiya asked Fu, receiving a shake of her head in response. "Okay, listen up, this paper reacts to your chakra. If you have a lightning nature affinity, then the paper will crumble, wind and it'll split in half, fire and it will burn, water it will get wet and earth and it will turn to dust." Jiraiya said before he handed Naruto and Fu each a card. They channeled their chakra into the cards and Naruto's split in half. Fu's, on the other hand, crumbled before getting wet.

"Naruto, you have the wind affinity, where as you, Fu seem to have been born with both water and lightning. Now, we can begin training you in nature transformation."

"Great, can we get started…Ero-sensei?" Fu said with a smirk.

"Damn it brat, look what you did!" Jiraiya wailed and Naruto and Fu shared a laugh while Jiriaya grumbled how brats today showed not respect for their elders. A few moments later and Naruto was making a familiar cross shaped hand sign.

"Hold on Naruto." Jiraiya said.

"What is it?"

"Since your friend is joining us, maybe you should go easy and cut your clones back down to 50, until we leave anyway."

"Okay."

"Good, now listen closely, wind is the rarest of the five basic chakra natures, they can deal in blunt force or precise cutting and piercing attacks and is best suited for short and mid-range combat. To manipulate wind, you must imagine splitting your chakra in two, make those pieces as thin and sharp as possible and compress them together. While manipulating your chakra like this, use your chakra to split a leaf into two halves."

"Piece of cake, Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted as he created 50 shadow clones.

"Wow, you must have some large reserves to create this many just for training. Wait, what are they doing?" Fu said. She was sure she could do something similar, since Jinchuriki all have large reserves but was surprised when five of the clones get books from scrolls and began reading while the rest gathered leaves from the tree.

"Shadow clones have a special ability; they transfer all the experience they gain to the user when they dispel. So with one shadow clone you train twice as fast, with 50..." Naruto trailed off.

"Wow, that's incredible. You'll be able to learn new jutsu in no time like this." Fu said in awe, imagining how quickly one could learn with such an ability.

"Yeah, pretty amazing huh? I wish I had known about this earlier… there are some drawbacks though." Naruto said.

"Like what?" Fu asked.

"Well, most couldn't do this, takes too much chakra to create this many clones, let alone use them for long enough to actually learn anything. Plus, you get their stress too, and learning too much at once can give you a headache."

"I'd imagine so."

"Okay, you two, I'd like you two to spar while your clones get the basics of wind manipulation." Jiraiya said.

"I'm up for it. What about you Naruto? I'd like to see what the future Hokage can do." Fu said.

"Sure, a spar sounds like fun." Naruto replied.

"Alright, no clones okay you two?"

"Okay, ready Fu?" Naruto said as they got in position in the field and Jiraiya sat on one of the roots of the tree.

"Yeah. Let's go." Fu said before held her and forward. "Hidden Waterfall Style: Water Slicing Blade!" Fu said and suddenly, a blade of water formed in her hand and she rushed forward. Naruto drew a kunai and blocked a downward slash, kicking off an exchange of blows before Naruto suddenly jumped high, doing a backflip in mid-air before he threw his kunai and ran through hand signs. Fu dodged the kunai and looked up just in time for Naruto to finish his hand signs.

"Fire style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Naruto yelled before breathing out several small fireballs. Fu dodged three before rushing forward and cutting through a fourth with her water blade. She was half way to the boulder on which Naruto was going to land when he touched down and said boulder broke apart into a cloud of dust which revealed a hole in the ground when it cleared. 'He's underground… he could appear anywhere…' Fu thought before she closed her eyes to concentrate, much to Jiraiya's surprise, insects begin to crawl out from her back and cover the ground. Naruto popped out of the ground behind her and was covered with them.

With the insects having shocked him and sent his attack off course, Fu punched him in the stomach, only for him to be replaced with a log. She heard a splash and found Naruto had jumped into the lake to escape the chakra draining bugs.

'Damn, I need to train more with that jutsu, I should have sensed that.' Naruto thought as he swam to the surface. Fu meanwhile was waiting for him to resurface while her insects returned and they informed her of something shocking, they had sensed traces of Biju chakra in his chakra network.

'He's… a Jinchuriki… he really is just like me…' she thought, eyes wide open and mouth agape. A look Jiraiya didn't miss. Familiar with the Aburame clan's abilities, which seemed similar to hers, he had a good guess what she just found out.

Naruto finally jumped out of the water and made hand signs. "Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" Naruto spit out a large ball of fire which snaps Fu out of her shock and she prepared a counter.

"Water Style: Violent Water Wave!" A large amount of water gushes from Fu's mouth, washing away the fireball. When the jutsu ends and the water clears Naruto is nowhere in sight. Suddenly, hands reach out of the ground and grab her ankles, pulling her down and burying her up to her neck. Just afterwards, Naruto jumps out of the ground in front of her.

"Looks like I win Fu." Naruto said with a smirk.

"Yeah, yeah… now help me out." Fu replied.

"That was pretty good you two." Jiraiya said walking forward as Naruto got Fu out of the ground. "I'd say you two could take the average chunin without much problems. Now, Naruto, join your clones on learning wind manipulation, Fu, since you've obviously got water down already, I'll help you start on lightning." Jiraiya said.

"Okay, what do I need to do?" Fu asked.

"The lightning element is used to electrocute, paralyze and pierce its opponents, as well as increase the users speed, though that's rare. It uses more chakra than the other elements, but it pays off with the amount of damage it can cause. It is produced by increasing the high-frequency vibrations of your chakra. Got all that?"

"Yes, Ero-sensei." Fu said, smirking when she saw him twitch at the name.

For the rest of the day Fu trained with Naruto and Jiraiya. She had opened up to the two a little more by the end of the day. The next day Jiraiya told Naruto to take the day off and told Naruto to enjoy himself with his new friend, hoping he could get some… research material out of his apprentice.

As he walked through the village, Naruto was surprised to find that while he wasn't shunned, Taki wasn't as hospitable as it had been the day before, he didn't know it yet, but word had gotten around about him associating with Fu.

Naruto walked around the sacred tree, Fu having agreed to meet him their before they got back to training.

"Hey, Fu! How are you?… you alright?" Naruto said as he approached Fu and saw her looking out at the lake with a melancholy expression on her face.

"Sorry Naruto…" Fu said quietly.

"Sorry? For what?"

"The reason you're being treated differently, it's because of me. Because you've been talking to me."

"Huh? That's why their giving me the cold shoulder all of a sudden? Don't worry about it, I don't care what they think."

"You must be used to it, right?"

"Huh?"

"You're a Jinchuriki aren't you?" Naruto stiffened. "So, I was right…" Fu said sadly.

"How?"

"My insects sensed a Biju's chakra in you when we sparred yesterday. I'm glad I met another Jinchuriki." Fu said an Naruto's eyes snapped up to her face.

"You're one too?" Naruto asked and Fu nods. "… My mom was the last Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi, the Nine Tailed Demon Fox…" Naruto said, surprising Fu. "You know a Jinchuriki's seal weakens when they give birth? When I was born, someone attacked and used that to break the seal, so the Kyuubi would destroy the village; my father sealed it into me to stop it."

"…Twelve years ago, the previous host of the Nanabi, the Seven Tailed Rhinoceros Beetle, lost control and went berserk while trying to master her power. She killed many of our shinobi and citizens before some of our ninja sacrificed themselves to subdue her by using the Hero's Water. But by then it was too late, the seal broke and it was sealed into me."

"And they blame you for the lives it took, don't they? They glare at you and whisper behind your back, they act like you're a monster, even though you haven't done anything. You feel like you're completely alone." Naruto said, having faced the same treatment in Konoha.

"We're all treated the same, aren't we?" Fu asked with a sad smile, able to tell Naruto was speaking from experience.

"Is there anyone who accepts you?"

"No, Naruto. I'm not as lucky as you. There isn't anyone here who thinks of me as a person, if there is, they don't do anything to help. There are some who… tolerate me, but that's it. I would leave this place if I could, but they would just drag me back…"

"You don't have any friend's? No one?" Fu shakes her head. "Well, you can count on me, Fu. I'll be here for you, I'll help you whenever I can and I never go back on my word." Naruto said with a toothy grin. Fu looks up at him and smiles warmly, a tear in her eye as she finally had someone who knew what she'd been through.

"Thank you." Fu said.


Later that day the village council was meeting. Shibuki had just revealed everything he had learned from Jiraiya the previous day to the council members, they had been shocked that there was an organization hunting the Biju, especially when they heard the names of the two known members and one former member. Who in the ninja world hadn't heard of Itachi Uchiha and Orochimaru? They were strong for a minor village, but they knew they couldn't fight such a group, especially considering how strong the leader must be to control such people.

"We can not let our Jinchuriki be stolen from us." a male member of the council, Saburo said.

"Why do you want to protect that monster? I say we just let them take her, the Nanabi has been nothing but trouble, most of the village would be glad to be rid of her." a woman named Akane said, Shibuki was about to speak out against her when someone else beat him to it.

"Are you insane? We can't let them take the Nanabi!" said a man named Shin.

"I'm surprised you would protect the demon after losing a son to it." Akane replied. Shin narrowed his eyes.

"Don't mistake my intent. Don't forget who were dealing with, one of the members of this Akatsuki is Itachi Uchiha, from the same clan as Madara, the only man to ever fully control the Kyuubi while it was unsealed. Think of how powerful their leader must be to control people like him, Kisame Hoshigaki and Orochimaru. While the chance is slim, they may have some method of controlling the Biju. If that's the case and monsters like that get one of the stronger Biju, let alone all nine, it would be nothing short of a complete disaster!" said Shin with conviction. The others, some hesitantly, nodded.

"We would lose too many shinobi defending her. But what if we gave her to another village, like Konoha for instance?" suggested a woman, Kyo. This suggestion was met with a lot of resistance. "What? Akane, you said yourself no one in the village would miss her, we would be rid of the demon, the Nanabi would be protected from the Akatsuki and we would get something in exchange for it and strengthen our alliance with Konoha. Besides, what good has the Nanabi done for us? None of its Jinchuriki have gotten far in controlling it and both eventually lost control, the last one lost control within the village." Kyo said, and the others debated internally, she did have a good point but they still didn't want to give away such a resource or strengthening another village, even an ally, but from the looks of things they would lose it anyway, at least this way they could get something out of it.

"Let's adjourn for today. Think about the situation tonight and we will decide tomorrow." Shibuki said. Personally, he hoped to go with Kyo's idea. Not just to protect Taki, but also so Fu would have a chance to be happy. He was one of the few who felt sorry for her, but his duties kept him from being there for her. He hoped that if she left, she could find happiness somewhere.


I honestly wanted to wait longer to introduce her into the story, but with Naruto and Jiraiya, alone and having already established that Jiraiya didn't have chakra paper as he hadn't planned on teaching him nature manipulation. Anything else I could do would just be filler and I didn't want that. Besides, I don't want Naruto to be too much stronger than her and with him training with shadow clones from the start, if I don't introduce her fairly soon, she will never really catch up.

Hope you liked it. If not, please tell me why, don't just say it sucks or something. Anyway, please review.