I own nothing


This chapter will be another short one, it'll probably introduce the Hokage, academy, Iruka... stuff. I always want to add some conflict to my chapters but maybe this'll only be development and introducing things.

thestorymaker2 asked if Naruto will kill. And even though Naruto is in a ninja world, he is only 8 at the moment. My morals disagree with 8 year olds killing, hell it disagrees with 12 year olds killing. I'm actually not sure if Naruto will kill, having Ashura in him will make Naruto very idealistic, maybe even more idealistic then in canon. He will do anything and everything to stop killing, and it will probably cause more trouble then necessary.


Transcending

Chapter 4


...

Naruto stirred awake, his conversation with Ashura just ended.

His advanced sense of smell could notice some very distinct scents, the scent of hospitals.

Joy. He was in the hospital.

Wait. If he was unconscious then was his conversation with Ashura fake? Was it all just a dream?

'No, I am real.'

Naruto sighed in relief, at least he wasn't loosing his mind.

He glanced out the window, it was night, but by the position of the moon it wasn't the same day he passed out in. The moon was too new.

'Amazing analysis, you have a very bright mind.'

'Well thank you', Naruto felt himself blush at the praise, he never really gets praised on things much.

The door opened, Naruto turned from the window to see who came in.

It was an small figure, not like a boy small, but an elderly small. But Naruto could see the highly refined movements the man had. The boy knew who it was, it was his surrogate parental figure, Sarutobi Hiruzen, otherwise known as the 'God of Shinobi'; 'The Professor'; or 'The Third and current Hokage'.

He was an important figure, actually beyond important. He led Konoha, everything happening in it was either instructed, or approved by him. Nothing happens in the village without him watching. H controlled the entire ninja force and could command them to do anything he pleased.

All that power was not something you expected in the hands of the old man smiling warmly at Naruto. At first glance he simply looked like a older man who was happy to see his grandchild.

"Naruto... what have you done this time?" The man sounded resigned, probably because Naruto had been hospitalized multiple times in the past, mostly because of his stupid actions.

"It... It was an accident! Yeah an accident!"

The Hokage sighed, and Naruto couldn't blame him. This room WAS called the 'Uzumaki Suite'. It was his own personal room the Hokage arranged. Whenever Naruto was injured, which was very often, he was sent here to be treated. The hassle of going through papers and trying to find a suitable room was too tiring for the Hokage and staff since the blonde came in WAY too much.

"Naruto, please don't lie to me." Naruto swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, was he already caught?

"Umm huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean that late last night yesterday, a member of the Hyuuga clan came saying that one of their heiress' was missing. And while we were tracking her in the forest she ran up to us saying she was kidnapped and someone was fighting her captor. And we found you there unconscious."

Naruto's eyes widened,"The sack had a girl in it!? I thought he stole money of something! That bag was pretty small... so a SMALL girl?! Holy crap I caught a pedo in the act! Oh shit!"

'So much for denying all action, smooth.'

'Oops?'

Hiruzen shook his head,"So you saw a man break into the Hyuuga compound and leave with a bag. You, thinking the man stole money, decided to follow the man and apprehend him. Then you got into a fight and got knocked unconscious right?"

'The Hokage is rather intelligent, being able to put together an accurate story from your mindless speakings.'

'He is rather smart', Naruto thought fondly.

A new voice rang out.

"Hanabi said that she woke up to the man fighting a smaller opponent before she ran away. The boys story matches up with hers."

Naruto looked at the new speaker, he was tall with long brown hair going to his mid back, fancy white clothing, and extremely pale eyes.

"Ah Hiashi, didn't see you coming." Hiruzen probably felt him coming though.

Hiashi? That name was familiar, Naruto was sure he heard it before.

"Hey... not to sound rude but, who are you?"

The man took a few steps forward and bowed slightly, "My name is Hyuuga Hiashi, leader of the Hyuuga clan."

Oh shit! He was THE leader of THE Hyuuga clan. That guy was a big deal; he had power, money, and respect of many.

'Calm down, if he is as powerful as you say try to get in his favor.'

Hiashi's pale eyes met Naruto's blue ones, "I owe you Uzumaki-san. My daughter is very dear to me and she could of been heavens knows where and could have been doing terrible things if did not intervene."

Well that was an easy way into his good books.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed by the praise, "It was nothing Hyuuga-san. I just couldn't sleep and went for a small walk when I noticed the man. I couldn't just let him steal something from your house and walk away, it would've been completely against my morals."

'Did I say that right?' Naruto asked Ashura, who was feeding him words to say.

'Yes, you said it fine, hopefully the statement will also double as a good enough alibi."

'What is an alibi?

'A statement telling where, when, and what you were doing during a specific period of time. It is usually used when you are being questioned about something that you are suspected on doing.'

'Suspected on? I did nothing wrong!'

'You where somehow awake and near the Hyuuga compound around the time of the robbery, you then- for some strange reason- decided to follow the much larger thief. You may not of stolen the child, but that sounds highly suspicious.'

Crap, Ashura was right. And the look on the Hokage's face was mighty suspicious.

"But Naruto, what were you doing by the Hyuuga compound? Your apartment is on the other side of the village."

Shit, think think think... Yes!

"I was visiting Shokuryo, you know that store I always go to with the lady that gives me treats. Well I went to visit since my milk was bad and I was craving some. And that store isn't far away from the Hyuuga compound, you can actually see the house from inside the store."

Hook. Line. And sinker. That was THE Alibi, the best alibi ever.

'Great job!'

'I can make it better, watch.' Naruto was inwardly smirking.

"Crap! I left my milk somewhere to chase the thief! I don't even have enough money to buy a new one Jiji! What am I ever suppose to do?" Naruto had put on his acting hat and was being extremely over dramatic.

'A bit too much in my opinion, but I think that just secured our freedom, they seemed very convinced.'

'The old man is a sap. He'll let me go because he knows I'm not a threat to Konoha.'

Hiashi turned around and made his way to the door, "I will have some money sent to your home for some new milk, consider it a thank you for helping my daughter."

After he left Hiruzen shook his head again with a sigh, but Naruto could see his lips tug up into a small smile.

"Oh Naruto, you are a magnet for trouble, I'm glad you're alright. I have no idea how you managed to fight off a fully trained ninja, but I guess no one can predict Uzumaki Naruto huh?"

Actually Hiruzen knew how, his ninja on scene felt the Kyuubi's chakra. But he couldn't tell that to the boy, Naruto doesn't need to know about the Kyuubi yet.

"Damn straight old man! I'll keep surprising you until I get that hat from you! Or until my surprises give you a heart attack... then I'll take that hat anyways!"

Hiruzen's fist impacted the top of Naruto's head.

"Kids have no respect these days!"

"Fuck! That was so- OW!"

"What foul language! Must I wash your mouth with soap?"

"NO! You stupid, old, senile, perverted fart. Go peep on some girls with that crystal ball of your-OWW!"

'You were asking for that one.'


Naruto was not expecting the large package on his kitchen table.

He walked over to a small note and picked it up, the hand writing was neat beyond comparison and made Naruto's handwriting look like dog poop.


'Young Uzumaki Naruto,

We allowed ourselves into your home in the purest of ways, we merely thought that our package was too valuable to leave on the streets.

The Hyuuga clan will not forget the deeds you have done.

If you are ever in need of help the Hyuuga clan will assist you to the best of their abilities.

-Hyuuga Hiashi, Head of the Hyuuga Clan.'


Naruto looked at the large white box infront of him, he pushed it slightly to test the weight.

It didn't move at all, it was heavy then.

Naruto got ontop of the table and took the top off the box, the inside was small white packages that was about the length of Naruto's finger tips to his elbow with the width being around the size of both of his hands put side to side. Naruto picked one up, his hand dropping slightly from the weight.

He placed in on the table and started to tear on end off, when he did his jaw dropped.

It was packed full of money. MONEY.

Like an entire year of rent money, and that was one package.

Naruto looked in the box, there was so many packages!

Naruto's smile grew larger and larger, it was lighting up the entire room.

Finally the blonde couldn't hide his excitement anymore.

"HELL YES! YIPEE! I'M LOADED!"

'Well, at least you'll be well equipped for the future battles.'

"Equipment? What about the amount of Ramen I can buy with this!"


"See? The boy is a complete idiot."

"Don't be rude Kurama, he is still a child, he will mature as he gets older."

"IF he gets older, no doubt he will do something stupid and get killed."

Ashura sighed, "Kurama, let the kid enjoy himself, he is already a very fast thinker, we have time."

"You've wasted ten thousand years, time?"

"Fate sent me here, there was no earlier time. And besides, what can we do inside of Naruto? It is not like he can go fight Zetsu."

"Yeah yeah, maybe I'm just upset of being trapped."

"You don't have to consider yourself trapped, how about part of a three person partnership?"

"I still have bars infront of me Ashura."

"Such a downer Kurama, lighten up."


Naruto woke up on the floor, his body wasn't fully healed when he had his little celebrations. And he ended up passing out due to exertion.

A few moments after he woke up he chuckled a little, he still had a belated case of happiness from last night.

Money was something Naruto never had, his limited diet of foods and clothing was a sign that he didn't have as many choices as other kids. Not like the blonde cared, Naruto was perfectly content living in poverty, as long as his life was happy money meant little.

'They say that money cannot buy happiness, but it can buy a comfortable way of living, which is technically happiness in your opinion.'

Naruto couldn't of agreed more, he wasn't some greedy person, he just wanted to live life without worrying about paying rent or eating.

As for the amount... well lets just say that the Hyuuga do not half-ass things, and that was just by looks. Naruto did not have the patience to count it all.

Suddenly the door barged open, Naruto instantly moved his eyes to the entrance way.

He felt the grogginess leave him, probably Ashura putting him in top shape for a fight, it was good to know he had someone else watching his back.

"NARUTO."

The blonde boy instantly recognized the voice, he relaxed as the figure made his way to him.

'Don't worry, it's a friend.' He reassured Ashura, who was still expecting combat.

"Naruto... you... you skipped school!" The figure yelled at him, obviously peeved.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head,"Sorry Iruka-sensei, I had some things come up."

"Come up? You missed yesterday and today! What could hold YOU of all people up?" Iruka knew that the blonde had little friends and things to do, if he wasn't pranking or at school he was...

Actually Iruka never thought about that. Those were two things that lost their luster very quickly, what did the blonde do when he wasn't pranking or learning?

Stop. He was getting distracted. Engage teacher mode.

Naruto started to bounce on his feet happily, "Oh Sensei, you don't even know! Look! Look at this." He gestured the scarred man to follow him to his dining table, Iruka eyed the white box as he approached. Naruto with gifts? That didn't seem very likely.

The blonde boy happily handed a white sack to him, Iruka eyed it carefully and slowly ripped off a side.

...And when he did his eyes widened to epic proportions, he stared at the currency at shock, before he looked at Naruto, then back to the currency, and back to Naruto before his eyes finally rested on the currency again.

"W-what is this?"

"Ok Sensei! OK okokokokokokokok!"

'Calm down, you'll give yourself a heart attack.'

Naruto took a deep breath.

"SoIwentforawalkandIfounda-" Iruka caught off the excited boy with an outstretched hand.

"I know you're excited, but slow down a little." Iruka chuckled slightly, "Ok then, lets sit down first, then you can explain it."


"But then he got the drop on me! But since I'm the ultimate badass I am, I managed to do something and hurt him! And before I could kick his ass the search party came! But trust me sensei, I was whupping him into next week!"

"Wow Naruto! Nice to know you are actually learning stuff in the academy. Told you that practicing Taijutsu would help you."

"I know! And when I woke up in the hospital the old man was there-"

Iruka sighed at Naruto's lack of respect for their leader.

"-And then this guy... I think his name was..." Naruto suddenly looked lost.

'Hiashi.'

"Yes! Hiashi, that was his name! He said he would pay me for helping his daughter. And look! He did!"

Iruka looked at the giant box of cash and nodded admirably, "Yes, the amount of money does seem like something the Hyuuga could just hand out."

"I wonder how rich they are? I'm not the kind of person to care about my bank but, how can the Hyuuga just hand out so much?"

"They are very noble and have very sharp business minds."

"Plus they have those cool eyes! Being able to see through walls much be so cool, maybe a bit confusing in the beginning. I wonder what it's like, having a Doujutsu(eye technique)."

"You can ask Hinata."

"Who?"

"She's in your class, she is actually Hiashi's oldest daughter and the clan heiress."

Naruto's eyes widened, "Really? Who has strange eyes... ummm."

Naruto looked generally confused, his face was scrunched up as thought hardly about the Hyuuga's eldest heir.

Suddenly the expression of realization came to his face.

"The creepy girl! The one who is always staring at me and follows me EVERYWHERE. She is really strange sensei! I'm scared that she is going to kill me while I sleep, I can't speak with a stalking killer!"

Iruka face palmed and sighed deeply, he thought that he could maybe get Naruto to befriend Hinata. Naruto would gain a new friend and Hinata's shy personality would hopefully gain more confidence due to Naruto's... eccentricity. But alas, Naruto doesn't understand her crush on hiim and finds its creepy.

'Well I doubt the heiress of THE Hyuuga clan would marry Naruto anyways.' Iruka thought, 'He's not the most noble person out there, and her crush will probably fade in a few years.'

Naruto suddenly smiled brightly and grabbed Iruka's sleeve.

"Hey hey hey Iruka-sensei! I can finally treat YOU to ramen! Hahaha YES!"

Iruka smiled, even though the beast that killed his parents is inside of the boy, he is just way too cute to hate.


Naruto went to sleep early, he worked himself into a food coma last night due to the amount of ramen he ate.

'I am thoroughly shocked at the amount you consumed. I think the stand owners, the Ichiraku family, received a small fortune last night.'

'I like ramen.'

'Apparently.'

Naruto groggily got up and made his way to his bathroom, today was a day off from school. So he was going to spend it buying new stuff for his apartment, and for himself of course.

'Do not spend too much. Even though you have a lot now it will fade faster then you think.'

'Did you see the amount? I'm fine.'

'Naruto. Everything WILL run out sooner or later, you can not get arrogant and throw money around, because it will drain fast and leave you without anything. That is the curse of multitudes of currency.'

Naruto nodded stiffly, 'Sorry.'

'It is ok.'

'But how am I suppose to spend it? What is the right amount?'

'There is no "right" amount to spend, another issue with having a lot of money is that you either spend it all to quickly, or do not spend it at all. Just buy what you deem necessary. Also one thing that needs no prejudice on price is clothing, you need new garbs.'

"What? I enjoy this. Orange is cool and I can already sneak away from ninja in these. If you can tail someone in bright orange then you can follow someone in anything!"

'Then let us test that, lets see your stealth abilities with darker colors then? Then gauge the improvement. Also your speaking out loud.'

Naruto blinked in surprise, he honestly thought he was having a real conversation.


Naruto slowly walked into a fairly large clothing store, it was the second largest in Konoha. The blonde was going to go into the largest store, but Ashura warned him not to. Naruto had no idea why, there was actually a charity drive giving clothes to those damaged in the Kyuubi attack, Naruto had lost his parents so he should be able to get free stuff right?

But Ashura was adamant about going somewhere else.

It didn't matter much, Naruto trusted Ashura's judgement, after all it did save his life. So if he wanted to go somewhere else, so be it.

Naruto actually felt very shy, he never went shopping alone before, the last time was with the Hokage a few years ago. And that experience was frightening too.

Naruto saw a lady manning the counter, she looked to be around her forties, was slightly over weight, and had the most frightening expression Naruto has ever seen

Her face was extremely serious, like beyond serious, in Naruto's opinion she looked like someone who ate a really hot pepper then got diarrhea. And while she was in the middle of the diarrhea she realized she had no toilet paper.

So basically... Furious. Stern. Pensive. Grim.

She was looking at him and walked closer to him.

"What do you want?"

"Huh?" Naruto's voice was weak. It was even scarier up close.

"You have been staring for a while now. Are you here to shop or what?" Her voice had the same heavy seriousness that her face had.

"C-can I?"

"Yes. I welcome any customer who can pay. Age, ethnicity, and baggage doesn't matter. Only what you get and how much it costs."

'Even though she absolutely terrifies me... she has a somewhat good heart.'

"Umm thank you Miss- uh- Mrs?" Naruto had no idea what 'baggage' meant. But he didn't want to ask this lady questions.

"Toransu. You can shop now, stop wasting my time."

Naruto didn't have it in him to argue, he rushed over to the section of clothes his size and hid among the clothing.


"So if I need to be more ninja-ish, then do I need to be in all black?"

'You're speaking out loud, people might think you are insane."

"Oop- I mean-"

'Oops.'

'Well anyways. I think that every hero must have something to distinguish themselves from the rest. From what I heard (From Kurama), is that people like the Yondaime Hokage had a white and red coat to stand out. The First Hokage had old red samurai armor he wore, the material wasn't very helpful against attacks but his abilities made up for that. Also the Second Hokage always wore a fur lining around his neck.'

"The Hokage's have something that stand out too?"

'Not just the Hokage, but they are heroes you know of.'

"What about the old man? He is the Hokage."

Ashura quickly cut off the connection between him and Naruto.

"Kurama? What does the monkey man wear to distinguish himself?"

Kurama, who was taking a nap, opened one eye lazily, "He had some sort of ninja pajamas with a weird helmet. Oh and a huge ass staff like 3 times his size, hurts like hell."

And with that Kurama ungracefully rolled to his side and started to sleep again.

Ashura reconnected with Naruto.

'From what I heard, which is not much since I am inside of you, is he has a very... strange outfit. I cannot give much detail other then he carries a staff much larger then himself."

'Hmm, interesting. What should my distinguishing feature be?'

'Good vocabulary with distinguishing. But I thought you already knew what the feature is.'

'Huh?'

'Orange.'

If there wasn't the worlds most scariest female in the same room as him, Naruto would have jumped in joy.


"Really Ashura?"

Ashura turned around to see Kurama, awake, looking at him.

"What?"

"Trying to make him a hero?"

"What's the issue with that?"

"My presence makes his dark side more pronounce, call it a side effect of being a Jinchuuriki. He has a dark side, and a strong one at that. He may very well be a villain."

"But with two good people like us inside of him? We can help him control his darkness."

"It has been many years Ashura. I am not good like you say."

Ashura chuckled, and Kurama swore it sounded exactly like his fathers, "Oh Kurama, dad has raised well. I know, with all my heart, that my brother is nothing but good. Maybe a bit misunderstood but, aren't us all a bit understood?"

At that moment Kurama fully realized while Ashura was chosen as the Sages successor instead of Indra.

Ashura turned around to watch more of Naruto's actions. Leaving Kurama there to contemplate.

After a few minutes Kurama finally spoke.

"Orange though? That is a stupid color to be remembered by."

"Father and Hamura had horns Kurama... HORNS!"

The fox snickered, "They pulled them off remarkably well."

Ashura laughed heartily, "Yeah, yeah they did."

After that both sons of the Sage settled into a comfortable silence.

"Oh Kurama?"

"Yes?"

"You are orange."

"..."

"..."

"Shut up."