Chapter 3: Information Gathering

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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(A/N: One thing I'd like to note is that the files Naruto got from the Hokage are actually a rather general copy. Most shinobi files are kept at the ANBU base, but the complete versions belong to the Hokage. Kushina's file originally had the information about who she was married too and a further explanation of Uzushiogakure but was blanked out for the general copy.

Also, it's been a while and the personality of certain characters is likely a bit off from last time, but I'm trying. The first conversation with the Hokage sparks a lot of improvement from Naruto and he changes somewhat overtime to be a little more serious.

This chapter is just to placate you dear readers while I write the rest.)

Naruto had asked Iruka the next day about ways to get stronger. The Chunin responded by asking what the blonde meant. Said blonde said he wanted to be a better ninja, throwing his catchphrase at the end for good measure.

He loved that catchphrase, no matter how cheesy it was.

Iruka had told him to spend time working on the basics like throwing and chakra control, then directed him to one of the training areas inside the Academy; one with a single wooden pillar with a target painted onto it.

Which was when the whiskered blonde began to throw kunai. He missed most of the time, and then realized how horrible his aim was. No wonder he couldn't pass all those other times! He couldn't beat most of the kids in a fight, he couldn't aim strait, and he couldn't do a Bunshin!

He tried throwing kunai with different amount of force and angle, but he just couldn't get the kunai to hit the target right. He quickly ran out of kunai in his pouch, then went and picked up the ones littering the floor. As he was picking them up, he noticed some that felt less . . . rugged. Foreign.

He tried throwing those, and they whisked through the air and made a thick gash in the wood. He gaped. "Wow!" He threw one of the ones he had, then noticed it went slower and that it sorta' wavered in the air.

He heard loud clattering footsteps, and looked up to see some kids run through the room. One of them slowed down and gave him an odd look before running off again. Naruto just realized he was holding the kunai in his hand very tightly, then sighed.

...

The blonde ignored most of class the next day, thinking about who his father has to be. Well, he has got to have blonde hair like me, since mom had red hair. Wait, didn't someone say they got their grandparents hair color or something? He paused, then frowned. But still, at least lighter colored hair. Her eyes were purple. . . I can kinda ignore that, since purple is so close to blue.

He realized how difficult this was.

"Naruto!" Iruka shouted. "Pay attention!"

He looked towards Iruka quickly. "I-I was paying attention."

Iruka raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then you can tell me what all the Hokages were known for?"

"Yes!" the blonde replied. He actually knew this. "The first and second Hokages were brothers and they founded the village together. They also fought Madara and the Kyuubi off. The third Hokage – Jiji-san! – is famous for knowing a lot of stuff and training the three Sannin. The fourth Hokage fought of Kyuubi again and died for the village." Naruto ended, somewhat confused with himself.

Iruka nodded, then continued the lesson.

...

"Hey Jiji?"

Sarutobi hummed and signed a paper. "Hm?"

"If the Shodaime Hokage beat Kyuubi, why did it show up again?"

There was a pause and a huff of smoke before Sarutobi met Naruto's gaze. "Naruto, the Kyuubi is a creature that can't truly die. If it does die, it just reforms after a while."

Naruto crossed his arms. "I heard that the Shodaime's wife sealed the Kyuubi into herself."

Sarutobi sighed. This was not how he wanted to get into this subject. "Mito held the Kyuubi with a very strong seal. It would die when she died."

A grunt followed. Naruto gave him a stare. "But…she died a long time before Kyuubi showed up again…it doesn't take that long to come back does it?"

"Mito was the Kyuubi's first jinchuriki. She was the first person to hold Kyuubi inside her body."

It took Naruto a minute to remember where he heard that term. And expression of understanding and confusion dawned on his face. "My mother was a jinchuriki! Kyuubi must have gotten out or something and attacked and killed my mother and father…" He frowned. "The teachers tell us that Kyuubi was killed, but it should come back, right?"

Sarutobi was becoming used to surprises, however he never knew Naruto was this deductive. "The Yondaime sacrificed himself to seal the Kyuubi into another person. That is why it hasn't shown up yet."

Naruto looked curious. "Who? Who's the…the… jinchuriki?"

"You, Naruto."

It all made sense after he thought about it for long enough. It would explain why a lot of villagers didn't like him and why his kunai were messed up…or why food was so expensive. He was sorry that he freaked out in front of the Hokage so much, but Jiji had told him to come back the next day to be told about what the jinchuriki's powers. He was kinda looking forward to it.

He didn't have to go to the Academy today but he wanted to talk to Iruka, so he headed there anyways. Along the way, he saw Sakura. "Hi, Sakura-chan!" he greeted.

"Go away, Naruto."

"What're you doing today?" he asked.

Sakura looked at him, haughtily. "I'm going to find Sasuke."

Naruto frowned. He didn't like this. "Hey, Sakura-chan? I heard that Sasuke only dates girls that can beat him in a spar."

Sakura blinked. "W-Where did you hear that?"

He couldn't believe this was working. "I heard it from Ino when I was going home yesterday. She said she could beat him easily if she could get him with her jutsu." Of course, Naruto made this up, but he did know that the Yamanaka's were a clan so they must have a special awesome jutsu, right?

He watched with some interest as Sakura displayed anxiety, fear, rage, and determination all at once. She instantly turned around and went back to wherever she came from. Naruto grinned mischievously. Maybe now Sakura will get stronger and notice how mean and dumb Sasuke is. Grinning, he walked towards the Academy.

He quickly found his way in – the doors were normally unlocked and he did come here a few times a week – and headed for Iruka's classroom. It was empty.

Naruto felt stupid. Of course Iruka wouldn't be here, he didn't have to teach today! The clock still worked, so he checked how long he had until he had to go back to talk to Jiji-san. He had a few hours left.

What to do…

What was his name? There was Hayate…Oh, and then there was Genma. Maybe I can find one of them? Naruto headed out to aimlessly run into a ninja to pester for the information.

Elsewhere

Kakashi felt a sudden chill run through the area, reminding him that he has spent a few hours here yet and should be leaving. He cast one last guilty and sad look to the gravestone before heading back into town. The forest was quiet as usual – most animals preferred to be as far away from him as possible – and he took a quick look around before using Shunshin to appear right near a building.

As if nothing had happened, his pulled out his famed orange book took a brief look around, and walked out into the streets…

Only to be run right into. He sighed, then looked down at the nuisance. Naruto? Oh, great.

"Ow…oh, ninja-san, do you know where I can find Hayate or Genma? Jiji told me that they use swords."

Another sigh. He debated telling the boy that they were gone on a mission (even though they probably weren't) or that he didn't know (which was a lie), but, he decided to just give the information anyways. "Hayate would either be with Yugao or at home, Genma would be at the Mission Hall or at home. Or they could be on missions."

Naruto hummed, mumbled out a thanks, than ran off again. He should really learn some manners. He walked again, reading his book which even Naruto couldn't ruin, then, just as it was about to get good…Naruto came back, again. He sighed again, and grumbled a bit. "Um, where would they live?"

Kakashi kept his eyes on his book. "There are address records at the library."

"There are?" Naruto sounded bewildered. "Thanks again, guy."

Again, manners.

(A/N Again: So, I hope it's okay, Kakashi won't be relevant until later. Also, please point out grammar issues, misspelling, whatever, or just whine about how the characters are all the same or whatever you might do. I'm writing now, but the next chapter won't go up until I have at least the three after it are done.

I reposted the previous chapters with some stuff fixed in them, but nothing too major I don't think.

Also, yes, this story will end up with Naruto being a bit of a badass, so on that note, I have no idea what sort of pairing to use.

Finally, the plot on this story only really applies to the manga, but some anime stuff and only up to right after Naruto leaves the giant turtle in the War Arc. See you guys next time!)