A month had passes since Naruto had started the intensive training with Sarutobi. Not only had Naruto started to train physically but he had also completely changed his diet on recommendation from the Hokage. At first, getting Naruto to ditch his ramen habit was a bit problem but after a week it turned out that Naruto actually enjoyed the more healthy food. Ramen was now just a treat for the young boy. The combination of exercise and a proper diet had drastically transformed Naruto from an underweight malnourished seven year old to a healthy, averaged weight boy. However, the years of unhealthy eating and laziness had made a lasting effect and it would take a lot more training to get Naruto to his peak physical form for his age.

Even though Naruto was not yet at this peak physical form, Sarutobi decided that it was time to introduce ninjutsu into the training regime.

Now, even though Naruto was like a grandson to the Hokage, the Hokage could not be seen to be treating Naruto as a favourite professionally. He decided that he would be unable to train Naruto in the art of ninjutsu himself, so instead he decided to arrange to have a senior Anbu captain to come out of the Anbu and personally train Naruto himself. Sarutobi pondered to himself for a few moments, asking himself who he could assign to Naruto. Finally, like a light switch had been turned on he thought of the name Kakashi. Of course, this would be perfect choice for Naruto. Immediately he summoned for Kakashi to be called to his office.

Located in a secret part of the village, Kakashi was sat with other Anbu friends in the Anbu headquarters. Kakashi was minding his own business when suddenly an official Anbu appeared next to Kakashi, "Kakashi, the Hokage has requested for your attendance immediately. Please follow me." spoke the Anbu member, his voice bore no emotion it was laced with authority. Kakashi nodded to the Anbu member and they both disappeared from the room, minutes later Kakashi reappeared in the Hokages office.

Kakashi looked forward to see the Hokage with a relaxed expression smoking his pipe. Kakashi waited for the Hokage to tell him why he had been called to the office. "So Kakashi, I expect you are wondering why I have called you here." said the Hokage, with a small smile on his face. Kakashi nodded in response, "Yes Hokage-Sama" he replied. "Kakashi, I have asked you here to request that you train young Naruto Uzumaki in the art of ninjutsu. He has already completed a month of physical training with me to prepare himself." Kakashi was in shock, he assumed the Hokage was going to send him off on another mission not ask him to train someone, let alone Naruto. "But Hokage-Sama, I am in Anbu. I don't think I have time to train the boy." replied Kakashi, still with a confused expression.

The Hokage paused for a few moments. "I have already thought about this Kakashi and I have decided that it is about time that I relinquish you from your Anbu responsibilities. You will become a standard Jonin and will train Naruto. Is that understood?" asked the Hokage. Kakashi nodded in response to the Hokages question. "You are to meet Naruto in training ground 8 tomorrow morning at 4:30. You are dismissed" the Hokage informed Kakashi. Kakashi nodded and bid the Hokage his farewell.

Whilst walking back from the Hokage Tower to his house Kakashi's head was full of questions and thoughts. Never in a million years had he expected to be pulled from Anbu at this age, he was one of the best, if not the best, Anbu captains there was. Regardless, he knew there was no way that he could convince the Hokage otherwise. Dwelling on the situation for a few more moments, Kakashi decided that it might actually be quite a fun experience to train the child. Besides, it would be paying his old Sensei a favour. Something that Kakashi knew was only right.

A few hours earlier Naruto had been sent a telegram from the Hokage. It instructed Naruto to be at training ground 8 at the usual time of 4:30 to meet his new sensei. Naruto had been told that this new sensei would be teaching Naruto the art of ninjutsu. When Naruto had heard this he had been overjoyed, it was always his dream to become a ninja and even one day become a Hokage, even surpassing the great Forth Hokage. This was for Naruto, the start of a journey. A journey that would take him to foreign lands and beyond. Naruto simply couldn't wait for the next day, he set out to make sure all of his equipment was ready and in order for tomorrow so he could leave promptly.

A day had passed and it was now 4 o'clock in the morning. Naruto had woken up, showered, got changed and gathered his equipment. He then began to walk towards the training grounds, Naruto arrived there exactly on time at 4:30. The training ground was fairly basic, it consisted of a large field with a stream running through it. On either sides grew large trees and on one side stood 3 stumps of food sticking up from the ground, Naruto had no idea why these were here. He assumed that they might be for setting up targets, but there purpose wasn't important. He glanced around the training ground looking for his sensei but couldn't find him anywhere.

Naruto decided to start to train while he waited for his sensei to turn up. Naruto decided to build up his stamina by running laps around the training ground repeatedly. It had been an hour when Naruto stopped running and decided that his sensei wasn't probably going to turn up. Naruto was about to leave the training ground and head to the Hokage to ask where his sensei was when he suddenly saw a figure approaching him. From what he could see, the figure was fairly tall and had long silver hair. He also, oddly, had a mask covering his face and his ninja headband was covering one of his eyes.

Naruto didn't know what to make of character by just his appearance so he waited until he got close enough.

The man was now only just a meter away, Naruto greeted him "Hi there. Are you my new sensei?" he asked. The man seemed to smile, despite not being able to see his mouth the way his eye moved upwards seemed to give off a smile. "Hi there Naruto, I'm Kakashi and yes I am your new sensei" Kakashi informed Naruto. "Wait your Kakashi?! I've read so much about you, is it true you know over a thousand jutsu?!" Naruto asked in an excited manner. Kakashi chuckled, "It isn't about how many jutsu you now Naruto, it's about how you use them." Kakashi told Naruto.

Naruto nodded in agreement.

"So Naruto, let's start with the basics shall we." said Kakashi. Kakashi spent the next hour explaining to Naruto the basics of Chakra, what it was and how it works. They started off by practising basic chakra control. They continued the rest of the training period by continuing to train Naruto's chakra control. During this training, Naruto also started to talk to Kakashi about his experiences as a ninja. It was quite odd, they had only just met several hours ago and Kakashi had already found himself telling Naruto about missions he had hardly ever told anyone about. He felt a connection with the boy, like the connection he had with his old sensei. Kakashi had an idea why that connection might be there though, it was obvious if he thought about it.

After the training session was over, Kakashi gave Naruto various scrolls he had in his back pocket and told Naruto that he was to read these every night and increase his knowledge in ninjutsu. Naruto bid farewell to his new sensei and returned home. Once inside his house, the first thing Naruto did was open up the scroll and start to read. He continued to read for the next 3 hours. Naruto's determination to become the best was showing through already at this early age.

The adventure had started.