Second Chances

Chapter Three: The first day of the rest of your life.

Disclaimer: Kishimoto's world, I'm just messing it up beyond recognition.

Summary: Konoha is finally avenged but the cost is too great. No one is left and even Naruto lies dieing after delivering the final blow, but Kyuubi isn't willing to let it end like that and Naruto is given a second chance to change their fate.

Konoha General Hospital: the next morning.

Naruto awoke to the sound of singing birds outside his hospital window. Yawing he sits up to begin his usual meditation, 'Hmm that's odd,' He thought 'whatever was disrupting my chakra flow is gone' Suddenly his thoughts where interrupted as Jiraiya entered through the window

"Ah good your awake, the Hokage tasked me with creating an identity for you" said Jiraiya "I have it all set up you just need a name and I need to know your skills"

Naruto looks up at him "Hmm, I've had to use a fake name before so ill just use it" He shrugged "Nazamaki Minoru, and as for skills, the rasengan, kage bunshin, shuriken kage bunshin, bunshin daibakuha, some assorted wind, fire and water jutsus, and my taijutsu is rather good"

Jiraiya blinks "Bunshin daibakuha? You can make your clones explode?"

Naruto looks at him "Oh yeah, that technique hasn't been invented yet, so yeah just forget you ever heard that."

Jiraiya just looks at him with an eyebrow raised "Ok….. whatever, from now on you are Nazamaki Minoru, graduated the academy with above average scores, passed the chunin exam with little fanfare two years after becoming a genin, achieved the rank of jounin three years later after which you where recruited into the anbu, and from there into the Hokage's private spy network which is classified to just about anyone, so don't tell anyone" says Jiraiya with a smile "you where discharged from that duty after receiving injuries just before the Kyuubi attack. The records will be put into the system by the time Tsunade releases you from the hospital later today, so I'll just leave you to read this over and get reacquainted with the Konoha general hospital's food." Jiraiya says with a smirk as he jumps back out the window leaving a copy of Naruto's new records.

Minoru was just finishing up the last of the report when Tsunade walked in carrying a bundle of clothes.

"I've replaced what I couldn't salvage of your gear" she says as she hands the clothes to him "and I got you this to cover the marks on your cheeks" she says as she hands him a mask like the ones the Hatake clan wears. "and last but not least a souvenir" she says pulling a shard of black metal out of her pocket and handing it to him. "found that in your eye socket while using a medical jutsu on you, it seams to absorb any and all chakra from whatever it comes into contact with."

"Hmm, so that's why my eye never regenerated, probably what was disrupting my chakra flow too" says Minoru, setting it aside and looking through the clothes. "Probably, anyway the Hokage wants to see you so get dressed fast, and leave the bandages over you left eye as your still supposed to be injured she instructed, "When your dressed come down to the main desk and I'll release you" she says as she leaves the room.

Minoru takes off the hospital gown and starts putting on his clothes which consist of standard ninja pants with shuriken holsters on both his left and right legs Currently empty and pouch for extra kunai and larger shuriken on his belt also empty, actual boots instead of the normal sandals, an armor mesh undershirt with a long-sleeved shirt over it, an anbu style flak jacket complete with sheath for ninja-to and two others for wakisashi along his lower back again all three empty, shin and arm guards, fingerless gloves with metal plates on the back of the hands, and a long coat lined with pockets and pouches on the inside, as well as the mask Tsunade gave him and his hitai-ite worn with the cloth covering the top of his head like a bandana.

Tsunade looks up as Minoru walks down the stairs "Ah good your ready, I just have to sign you out and then you can go" says Tsunade as she sifts through and then signs some papers "there you go all set, the Hokage is waiting for you in his office." Minoru nods and leaves the hospital on his way to the Hokage tower.

The Hokage's Tower: A short walk later.

Sarutobi was sitting in his office looking out the window having finally finishing his paperwork from yesterday, taking a short break before starting today's paperwork, when one of the chunin guarding his door opened it

"Hokage-sama, there is a ninja out here, he says he is expected" he says as he leans into room through the door.

"Ah good send him in" says Sarutobi looking at the chunin, who nods and disappears back through the door with a bark of "Hai Hokage-sama" before the door opens all the way allowing Minoru to enter.

Minoru closed the door behind him before sitting in front of the Hokage's desk.

"Alright first things first" says Sarutobi handing some keys and a piece of paper across the desk. "Here are the keys and directions to your new apartment, and here is some cash for food and other things you may need, like a new sword. Though there is already some food in the apartment." he says handing an envelope across the desk.

"Now you have a week to get reacquainted with the town, and get ready for the jounin exam coming up, officially this will be to make sure you are still combat effective after your injuries, unofficially this will be to make sure you are actually at the jounin level"

Minoru nods "Sounds fair since I never did get a chance to pass the chunin exam let alone take the jounin exam"

Sarutobi shrugs "Its all just a formality really, since I'm pretty sure if you can defeat the man that was responsible for the destruction of Konoha, then your at or above jounin level" says Sarutobi says handing over some more papers.

"These are the sign up sheets for the exam, you just have to sign them and then you can go"

Minoru nods taking the papers and signing them "Well if that's everything then I guess I'll see you later, old man Hokage" he says as he jumps out the window.

Sarutobi just sighs lowering his head to his desk 'Not another one, I can barely handle one Jiraiya just what am I supposed to do with two' he thought, before shaking his head and starting on the next stack of paperwork.

Apartment building near the west gate: half an hour later.

Minoru looks around the apartment as he closes the door behind him "Home, sweet home" he says as he walks into the living room dropping the keys, paper and cash on the coffee table "Not much but at least its bigger then my last one" he says looking into the bathroom "Oh, and I even got a bath tub. Lets see what's in the kitchen." He says looking in the cupboards "Hmm, not much, some bread and some rice in there" he says as he closes the cupboards and looks in the fridge. "And some milk and eggs in here, hmm not bad but I better go shopping anyway." He closes the fridge and walks back into the living room to retrieve the money and his keys off the table. He then proceeds back out the door locking it behind him. "Hmm let's see, I need some instant ramen, then some weapons, so grocery store first." He says to him self as he walks in the direction of the grocery store.

Minoru blinks in surprise as the grocery store clerk greats him with a friendly smile. He quickly smiles back and nods at him. 'Huh,' He thinks to himself 'I have to remember I'm not the village outcast anymore, can't go around ignoring everyone and expecting them to do the same' He then b-lines right for the instant ramen and grabs a weeks supply and takes it to the counter.

"Stocking up?" the clerk asks as he starts ringing it all up. Minoru looks at the ramen "I won't be able to do missions for a bit so I have to make the money I have last." Minoru says, paying for his ramen. He then thanks the clerk and leaves the store in the direction of the Yukari weapons shop. 'Hmm, lets see, I have enough money left for a new sword and about twenty-five kunai and shuriken each, I'll have to replace the wakisashi's and the rest of my stuff later….' He thinks, before getting knocked over by a guy running down the street.

"Hey watch where you're going asshole." said the guy, as he picked himself up off the floor and continued running down the street. Minoru just blinked "You where the one not watching where you where going, and you came up behind me too." Minoru muttered to himself as he watched some Uchihas in Konoha Military Police uniforms run after the guy.

Minoru smirks as he walks up to the weapon shop past the guy that ran him over, who is now being held down by two of the Uchihas as the third tells him he is under arrest. "Yukari Tenten you put that down this instant!" says a voice from inside the shop as Minoru opens the door. He walks inside then immediately dives to the left, as a kunai hits the wall where his head used to be.

Minoru looks up to see a little girl about one year old, with her arm held out from throwing the kunai.

"Nice shot kid" he says as he stands up and dusts himself off "though you should probably practice somewhere where you're not likely to accidentally hit a customer." The girl apologizes before getting dragged into the back room of the store by her mother.

"What part off "put that down" involves throwing it at a customer?! You are in serious trouble young lady!" drifts back out the door before it closes. The shopkeeper looks at Minoru as he brings his purchase to the counter, "I apologize for the disturbance, my daughter has her heart set on being a ninja, but my wife isn't exactly thrilled with the idea off her little girl running around with sharp objects."

Minoru nods "Most mothers aren't, well unless they where ninjas themselves."

The shopkeeper nods "Thought so, I was hoping she would be weapon smith like myself, and my ancestors before me, but she'll do what she wants to do."

Minoru smirks "Sounds like an old friend of mine, stubborn as a mule, and once she put her mind to something only death or incapacitation would keep her from doing it." He says as he walks back out the door.

Minoru yawns as he closes and locks his apartment door behind him "Accursed need for sleep, I'll sort out my stuff later right now I need to meditate, get my rhythm back." He says with a growl as he drops his groceries on the counter and walks into the bedroom. He discards his shoes before sitting on his bed and restarting his meditations that where interrupted back at the hospital.

Unknown location: some time later.

"Gentlemen we may have some problems" Says the gravely voiced conspirator.

"And just what may those problems be?" Asks the Shadowy conspirator.

"First off Sarutobi isn't falling for the framing of the Uchiha, but like I said before this doesn't really matter since I have a backup plan for that, what worries me is that the information my men managed to dig up on our mysterious shinobi has missing pieces that are classified Hokage's eyes only."

"He probably worked for the ANBU for a time." Dismisses the snakelike conspirator with a hiss.

"Ah but you see," says the gravely voiced conspirator passing folders across the table "his time in the ANBU is clearly listed, this is something else."

"Hmm, I am also un familiar with this name" hisses the snakelike conspirator.

"While this news is somewhat troubling, we will proceed as planned and if he does turn out to be trouble we kill him." Says the Shadowy conspirator.

"As you command." Say both the gravely voiced and the snakelike conspirators.