DECADES AGO

ELEMENTAL NATIONS

Naruto stood in the middle of the barren Konoha. Lives and Properties were completely destroyed and what was left was an empty shell of what the village once was. Once standing tall as the strongest village in the Elemental Nations, Konoha was now reduced to nothing.

Currently, the survivors were grieving considerably so there discussions about rebuilding were on hold. The people needed to bring themselves back together, before thinking of doing the same to the structures.

The wind rippled through the hollow and broken village, sending dust and light debris billowing to the skies. Naruto closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling.

His expression showed him in deep contemplation. He was about to make a choice, a choice that was bigger than himself, and bigger than the village.

"You wanted to see me." An elderly voice spoke behind him. Naruto straightened his face before he turned to look at an interested Danzo. Naturally they hadn't gotten the time to talk but Naruto had learnt about him.

Most of the time he went to the Hokage's office to see the Third Hokage, he crossed paths with Danzo who looked at him like some sort of disappointment. Learning of his position as someone who controlled the darkness of the village gave Naruto everything to know why he was disappointed.

Later on, he was approached by Danzo himself who bluntly told him he wanted to make him into a weapon for the leaf, to protect the stability of Konoha in the world. If it was a while ago, Naruto wouldn't be able to stomach the decision but now, he considered if the village would have been saved if he was a weapon. He loved this village more than anything and he was ready to do anything to save it.

Why he still did despite the hatred towards him, was the amount of bonds he was able to create. He made friends that he considered special to him to an insane degree.

"Do you think this village would have been protected had I agreed to your offer?" Naruto asked as Danzo looked nonchalantly at the question.

"When the tide passes, we all think about what we would have done to prevent the flood. I hardly think my answer will be able to change what has happened. Konoha can be rebuilt; our strength can be recovered."

Naruto nodded his head in agreement, "That goes without a fact, but why I called you here isn't because of that."

"Well let's hear it then."

"The Daimyo along with the selected Leaders of the council are going to decide on the position of Hokage." Naruto spoke shifting his gaze towards the Hokage face statues. "Kakashi-sensei and Tsunade are dead. The only obvious choices will be either of us, and if things go smoothly without any interference, I would be chosen. You have known that right?"

"And you called to tell me this why? To gloat?"

"I want you to become Hokage." Naruto declared with all seriousness as Danzo's lone slightly widened in slight surprise. He chuckled as he asked, "Why this decision?"

"I have to go away for a while, to find some answers. I believe with you Konoha's strength can be boosted greatly and quickly. You have the experience and manpower not to mention your control of ROOT. I… thought on the situation, cheers and laughter will go a long way in restoring the people's spirits, but we need to regain our strength before anyone decides to make a move on us. You are the only one currently that can do that."

"Is this you asking for permission from the future Hokage then?"

"Something like that."

Danzo mused as he weighed the choices before speaking, "Letting the village's Jinchuuriki to leave the village is too much of a risk, you know that, but still, you were able to take down the leader of the Akatsuki. Which means you can take care of yourself if your trip goes sideways."

"I would like to receive constant progress from your journey. Do you agree to that?"

"Fair enough."

"That wouldn't be a problem. That is, if I am Hokage, you can't leave just yet. On another hand can I see it?"

Naruto arched an eyebrow in confusion as Danzo gestured to the eye in curiosity. Naruto smirked before deactivating a seal, revealing the Rinnegan. Danzo looked slightly awed, "Divine, to think this was a myth. It suits you. This power will definitely be critical in Konoha's rise to power. We need that because right now if even Suna attempts to attack us, we will be defeated."

"Gaara wouldn't do that." Naruto spoke chuckling while activating the seal, disguising the Rinnegan.

Danzo nodded his head in agreement, "A benefit of having you here Uzumaki; not intentional but the bridge between Suna and Konoha will remain for a long time. You seem to grasp some of the abilities of the Rinnegan."

"Not really, I figured out way to disguise it using a seal. From my battle with Nagato, I have gotten ideas to try and train my power, though seeing how destructive it could be," Naruto gestured to the village, "I cannot do that here."

Danzo nodded in agreement as Naruto concluded, "I've spoken to Shikaku and Inoichi, and they fully agree with my decision. Though Shikaku really has reservations about you being Hokage, but, he has acquiesced due to the situation."

"Who would have thought that hyperactive kid will turn out to be you?" Danzo chuckled, "I will be seeing you Uzumaki. If I may ask, where are you heading to first?"

Naruto looked to the skies with a sigh, he then began walking away, "I'm planning to first get some answers. I'll be heading to Uzushiogakure."

PROLOGUE 3: BLISS

PRESENT TIMELINE

VALE – EVENING

Old trees bordered a large park and helped to block the sounds from the city. Within the large park a peaceful haven was visible. The entrance was a narrow path of flat green grass that gradually widened as it led into the wide field of grass. The path was bordered by flowers and shrubs that glimmered under the sunset as well as widely branched trees that acted like a canopy over the path.

The rays from the sunset shone through the spaces between the trees bringing out the beauty of the region.

The sounds from the region came from the rustle of the leaves, as the birds fluttered among them, whistling merrily to each other.

A gentle wind aided by the natural wind breakers blew through the branches, spreading the sweet smell of lilies and other flowers that lined the park.

"This is not what I actually pictured when you suggested this." Glynda spoke in complete surprise finding herself right at the middle of the park. She wore a much more casual clothing than her usual school attire. "I'd be much less surprised if it was something like those amusement parks those kids love."

"Oh please, a date is more fun this way not boring each other out in a restaurant." Naruto grinned as he placed his right arm over her shoulders and snickered at her reaction. He didn't notice the slight blush that emerged on Glynda's face at his action. He was still that dense after so many years.

She then blinked. Wait a d…date?

He wore a simple black jacket over a round necked orange T-shirt and black trousers.

Naruto smiled and crouched placing his hands for the little squirrel that ran towards him. Glynda blinked in surprise as he pet the little creature which seemed to relax in his presence. "I just love places like this. There quite a few when you consider the amount all over Remnant."

This was a side different from the lazy employee she was accustomed to. Sure he might still be a delinquent but this showed her that apart from being occlusive to most of her inquiries, there was a degree of good in him. Something possibly pure.

"So, do you like it?"

Glynda blinked at the question, blushing in embarrassment after being caught staring. Naruto just laughed it off as he placed the squirrel on his shoulder, and stood up.

"I agree with you. It's quite peaceful. Though I'm really confused."

"Why?"

"As to why you brought me here."

"I see. Well my answer is quite simple. You seem to need this."

Glynda blinked. "I don't under-"

"See it like this." Naruto smiled as he looked to the clouds and inhaled. "At some point in our lives, we get to experience something. Be it loss, a great degree of stress, anything. I don't know what's yours but I know it's there. You're quite good at hiding it you know. I usually found that immersing yourself in nature makes you see how little your troubles are compared to the size of this world. Anyways I'm just rambling, heh…" He began to mumble a bit with a frown. "I… was not always a teacher you know."

Shaking his head to rid himself of his thoughts he looked to her. He scratched his head as he tried to find the right words. "What I'm saying is, if you need some time to think, or to be at peace, you can always come here."

Glynda let out a chuckle before it evolved into laughter puzzling Naruto, considering he hadn't seen her laugh. She held her stomach as she laughed at the situation making Naruto's eyebrow twitch a bit. He began to look around in nervousness. "Why… Why are you laughing?"

Her laughter slowly died down as she smiled in understanding and nodded her head. "I got it." She closed her eyes and inhaled. Letting out a soft chuckle she muttered with a grateful smile. "Thanks."

Naruto blinked in surprise before he let out a smile and sat on the grass. He let out a pout. "I don't know why you were laughing though."

"You're not that good with words are you."

"I guess." Naruto laughed a bit. I tend to ramble a lot. Even after all these years, I haven't gotten a handle on it."

Glynda smiled and moved down too sit on the grass.

A cool breeze swept through the region causing her loosened hair to flow with the current. She closed her eyes and took in the scent of the park.

"You are right. It's beautiful, right."

Naruto looked at her completely stunned at the way the light hit her face. He gulped. "Yeah… Very."

"So do you want to tell me why you were jaded today." Her tone was completely different. It seemed like the disciplinarian that was back in school vanished and right here was a much more grounded Glynda.

"I met… a past friend."

Glynda looked at him. "Past?"

"Where I was born, we were brought up to be Shi… Soldiers, and we were quite young y'know." Naruto smiled as Glynda widened her eyes. Naruto rested his back and watch a group of birds heading towards the sun's direction. "In the beginning we were all carried away, that we had a chance to act like how heroes were, in the books. Not knowing what the very same people we adored had to do so we could live in peace. You see… stories written as fiction always strays away from the blood and the darkness that surrounds each person. They coat them with words and history that makes them seem infallible, perfect, and the villains with blood and darkness that makes them irredeemable, not knowing life is more complex than good and bad."

Naruto exhaled, closing his eyes. "Anyways, I'm straying away. As I said, I had a past friend and I met him recently. We always fought over the smallest of things wanting to one up each other but there was this bond, I don't know what to call it but it was there."

Glynda smiled. "Like brothers."

Naruto let out a short mirthless smile. "Yea… like brothers."

"What happened?"

"We were part of a team, and he betrayed us to seek revenge against someone, because all he wanted was power."

Glynda looked at him in understanding.

"He told me that if he had a chance, he would kill me, even if it meant being part of the Grimm."

"What does that mean?"

Naruto widened his eyes as he looked to Glynda realizing who he was talking to. For just a brief moment, he thought he was talking to-

"I don't know."

Glynda closed her eyes as she let out a smile. "There is a lot that I don't know about you, I'm guessing you probably don't trust me fully, and I accept that."

"It's not that." Naruto chuckled. "To be honest, it's all in my head. I don't even know what I-" He sighed in defeat. "Here I am, in lack of words."

Glynda just looked to the distance to see the squirrel from before playing with another. "I am the last of five siblings, well… we were five."

Naruto blinked in surprise. "My father was real tough on us as he expected us to be top tier hunters and huntresses. The fact that they became such successes put an even higher pressure on me to follow their footsteps."

Glynda had a pained expression as Naruto smiled at her, "It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows was it."

She didn't answer, just kept looking forward. Naruto smiled in understanding. "Well. Apparently we might have something in common after all apart from our blond hair."

"What are you talking about?" Glynda asked puzzled. Naruto smirked, and sat up.

"Life hasn't always been sunshine and rainbows either."

"I kind of suspected. From what I have observed from you and Ozpin, something tells me it wasn't in a good moment you met him. Your parents both died huh?"

"You are awfully on point, aren't you?" Naruto muttered chuckling looking at Glynda who reciprocated the look. She smiled at him as the setting sun gave a beautiful setting almost like a painting. Leaving the rest to the imagination.

"Well, it wasn't like that…"

Naruto looked from a distance towards Ozpin and Glynda as they moderated the new recruits into Beacon Academy. His eyes slowly moved towards Ruby, thinking back to the clip of Ruby's battle which Ozpin had shown him.

"To think I would meet two of you people in possession of this power in this lifetime; things will definitely become complicated in the future. Ozpin said my job was just to watch them in case they mess up or are about to get killed."

He observed the students. "Meh, they'd be able handle whatever's in the forest. That Jaune kid though."

Looks like a wimp huh, needs a good reshaping.

Naruto's eyes slowly widened. K…Kurama?

Missed you too brat.

Naruto smiled in relief. Where the hell have you been?

Away from the bitchy parts of your life. It's good to be back though.

"I had thought Sasuke and Danzo had-"

That Uchiha brat got nothing on the Tailed Beasts; using the Demonic Statue was always a stupid plan of theirs. All he could do was suppress me in your mindscape, not control me, I've become resistant to that. I was reforming at a slow rate though. My power still coursed in you nevertheless, I could still note what was happening around you. It's been an eventful amount of years for you. I see you haven't gone to see the other Tailed Beasts.

"After all that's happened, I'm sure they will not want to see me." Naruto said as Kurama scoffed. "I wouldn't want to see me. What I did…" Naruto closed his eyes in resignation. "I'm still surprised you stuck with me all these while."

Just because you went a different path from the old man doesn't mean they will hate you forever, they will get over it; we are beings of millennia. You may think that we care, but we actually don't give a crap as to the wellbeing of the world. Naruto chuckled. No matter how you look at it, this world is much more peaceful than what you had to fight through. Conflict will always arise, that is something you must get used to. These Grimm though are a really big problem.

"You know what happened."

The fact that you pissed it off is not good. I can't believe you managed to grab their attention. Kurama laughed. You sure are unpredictable. That woman. Glynda is it? Her attitude and behavior is familiar. Is that why…?

Naruto's silence caused Kurama to chuckle.

You dumb blondes. I see you tinkered with my powers while I was asleep. I could feel it in that cat girl.

"Kurama." Naruto deadpanned, "You know she has some of your traits right?"

Mutated traits. Kurama corrected. Can't believe I let you tinker with my attributes.

"They would have been dead by now if I hadn't. Their bodies unlike mine can't handle full demonic chakra in their systems."

Whatever, oh, seems they are going to head out. Hey! You aren't going after them.

"Nah. I have better things to do."

Like what?

"Cloud watching."

Y…You're kidding right?

"Nope. Besides they can handle themselves."

Kurama sighed. Shikamaru would be truly proud of you.

"So, what do you think?" Ozpin asked as Naruto looked at the forms detailing the teams.

"I agree with you on the groups. But instead of Weiss make Ruby the Team Leader."

"Any reason, perhaps?"

"It's just that I think she'd need the experience more. It's…essential. Besides, from their battle in the Emerald forest it should be her. She has a quality that I have been searching for a while. Why did you make Weiss the leader anyway?" Naruto asked puzzled as Ozpin chuckled. He elaborated.

"She has this arrogant character of hers."

"Reminds you of someone?" Naruto asked rhetorically.

Ozpin groaned before ruffling his hair, "Anyways I thought to do to her exactly what you did to me. Being in charge can change you."

"In your case someone actually paid for your mistake." Naruto spoke seriously.

"But this isn't the same."

"What makes you think it isn't? Is it because the setting's different? It's better you do not try the same mistake twice that would come to hurt you again."

Ozpin sighed as he clenched his fist, "No I wouldn't."

YEARS AGO

I'm out of charity tonight. If you choose, keep your head bowed and bent on your life's path. I have a lot of plans with someone of your potential. With what I can sense in you, I do hope to see you as a wolf someday, not some sheep in need of saving. Until then, remember… Remember the one you fear the most!

The white haired girl gasped as she awoke, finding herself in the darkened forest. She looked around in the night in fear examining her arms; noting some black markings receding back into her body.

"Where am I?" She asked aloud in confusion. Her head was hit with a very powerful migraine. She grunted in pain grabbing her head as her vision became blurry. She felt sick and nauseous.

What is happening to me?!

She panted, and slowly, she lifted her little frame up looking for her location. She could see the Grimm slowly disintegrating around her; their stench filling the atmosphere.

She looked around before heading to a tree. Grunting, she climbed upwards and looked straight to the distance noting the wide span of the forest. She sighed in disappointment before moving forward aimlessly, trying to find something or anything that might give her a clue as to where she was.

Hours passed and she trudged forth lazily, trying to muster up any energy left in her body to move forward.

She couldn't.

"I can't die here. I just can't!" She gasped, falling to the earth in pain. Her vision was distorted, she was slowly moving to unconsciousness.

Mom… Dad… I… I can't die here.

A figure immediately landed in front of her. Craning her head slightly, she could see a boy her age. He knelt down and helped her up to sit.

"Here, drink."

He placed a bottle of water to her lips to which she drank greedily. She sighed in slight relief as she began to breathe easily. Looking to her savior, she saw a silver haired boy with dark eyes looking concerned at her well-being.

Convinced that she was resuscitated he commented, "I never thought someone survived that onslaught. The Grimm has been acting up lately more than usual. Maybe master knows what's going on."

She looked confused as the boy smiled nicely at her.

"Who…" She gulped. "Who are you?"

"I'm Ozpin, and you?"

"I…I'm… Salem."