[Saya]

Saya had been looking around for the blond boy that had disappeared for over an hour now. She had combed the entire area around the village with no luck. This kid was very good at getting away from adults. If he could get away from the shinobi of Konohagakure with ease apparently, then getting away from her was pretty simple.

"Dammit."
Saya muttered to herself as she stopped on a tree branch.
"Where the hell are you?"

Almost as if the universe or Kami himself heard her, a howl got her attention. It wasn't like the ones before when the wolves retreated. It was more like something trying to get her attention. She looked around for a short time until she found the location of the howl. There, next to a tall oak tree, was Naruto along with his fox on his shoulder and a wolf sitting on its haunches in front of him. Saya immediately tensed up and was about to rush the wolf with her sword drawn, but she stopped when she heard the boy talking to it. She landed on a tree branch not too far away from them and listened in on what the boy was saying.

"So you decided to stay with me and accept the contract?"
Naruto asked her, confusing Saya to what this 'contract' was.

The wolf made a few noises, as if it was answering the boy somehow. Saya watched as the wolf seemingly finished its low growls and Naruto started to chuckle laugh a bit. To her surprise and confusion, the wolf seemed to smile at him.

"So then Emi."
Naruto started as he pet her on the head, enticing a low, but satisfying growl from the wolf.
"Looks like we're gonna be strong together. And with Kyu-san's and Saya-sensei's help, I know I can get stronger than any ninja. Then I can go back to Konoha and change everything. Believe it."

Saya was taken aback from what he was saying. He had so much determination and heart that it was almost impossible for her not to think about it all. But what exactly did he mean by contract? Was he talking to that wolf, and if so, how? Shaking her head, Saya decided to take a chance and jumped down to them, sword still drawn. 'Emi' as Naruto called her, stood up first and took a defensive pounce in front of Naruto. The boy in question simply stood up and looked at Saya with a big toothed grin.

"Hey Saya-sensei."
He said to her, causing 'Emi' to relax and sit back on her haunches.
"So, is this proof enough that you should train me?"

Saya looked to him then to the wolf that was surprisingly calm right now. She had no idea what to think anymore, but knew one thing, If it was Naruto that somehow called off the wolves, then maybe she should train him. After thinking for a few seconds and seeing how calm the wolf was in Naruto's presence, Saya sighed and relaxed before sheathing her blade.

"If I do this, then I'm going to put you through hell kid. And don't think that just because you're a child that I'll go easy on you. I'll make sure that by the end of it all, you'll be begging me to take you back to Konoha."
She tried to sound as intimidating and scary as possible, but this had the opposite effect of causing Naruto to snicker and pet the wolf some more.

After he was finished snickering, he looked to 'Emi' who nodded to him. Then to his shoulder where his fox companion had been for now and it nodded. He then turned to Saya with a strong grin and said to her.
"We're ready."

And this was the start of Naruto's training.

[Konoha, weeks later]

Sasuke was not a happy child. He was just told that his brother Itachi would be gone for yet another week looking for this 'missing child' that left the village weeks ago. It made the black haired boy mad that his only family that he was truly connected with would be gone even longer. Itachi promised to train Sasuke before this mission. Train in shuriken and kunai throwing, reflex training, some stealth and even a few Katon juutsu's. Whoever this missing child was, they had better watch it if they ever runs into him in the future.

A few of those kids from that night had started to learn about chakra from their parents. Some of them anyway. That shy Hyuuga girl was mainly being taught by her trainer at the moment while her father didn't really want much to do with her.

Others, such as the pink haired girl and the blond girl, hadn't really paid much attention really, while some, such as the pineapple haired boy, had.

Aside from that, they were told individually that in a few years they would be able to join the academy to become ninja. Some had a mixture of reactions. Some excited, some beyond excited, and some just okay with it.

Besides that, Hiruzen was at the end of his time with the search. The council, both civilian, shinobi and elders, wanted to call it off. Saying that if even after all this time that even their best tracker Itachi Uchiha couldn't find a trace of the boy, then it probably mean that he was dead. Hiruzen knew that he had to call off the search mission now and that he could only hope that his old student and his spy network could find something.

As Hiruzen stood up from his desk, he sighed, knowing that the council would finally get what they wanted for so long. To be rid of the 'demon brat' and bring about a 'new age' of peace for all of Konoha. Hiruzen knew this was an absolute joke. One boy wouldn't take down all of Konoha, but maybe he would've if he was to stay here and be treated like a monster. Hiruzen looked to the open window and walked to it. He stopped and looked out into the distance to the sprawling village that seemed to have more of a pep in its step since Naruto's departure.

"Naruto."
He started as he took a puff of his pipe and sighed.
"I do hope that wherever you are, you're happy there."

[Naruto]

The blond boy wasn't happy. He was more irritated than anything. For weeks now he had been trying to get the hang of having to hold a sword and getting used to the weight. True, Saya gave him a practice sword, she wasn't stupid, but he simply couldn't get it down. Kyuubi chalked it up to his inexperience at kenjutsu among other things, but Naruto was being stubborn about it. Emi was sitting next to the little fox Naruto had named Yori, and the two were playing while Naruto practiced a few katas.

"With all due respect Naruto-kun."
Emi started, getting the blonds attention.
"Wouldn't it be more effective to train your body more so than just rushing in to the katas?"

Naruto hadn't really thought of that. True, Kyu-sensei was teaching him of how to somewhat control his massive chakra reserves, but he hadn't really trained him physically. It had always been in his mindscape as Kyuubi would call it.

Naruto looked to Emi and huffed a bit in annoyance before relenting.
"So, what do you suggest Emi-chan?"

Emi smiled at the gesture, a sign that she and Naruto were really becoming good friends, and answered him.
"Maybe trying something basic like working on your endurance, stamina, upper and lower body, and your core. For us wolves, speed and precision are our most useful traits when in battle. Try training in that sense."

"Huh."
Naruto thought. Saya hadn't really been too physical in training and assumed he had good muscle growth and reflexes for his age. So she wasn't too helpful.
"You know what Emi. I think I just got and idea."

"And what would that be Naruto-kun?"
The female wolf asked while tilting her head long enough for Yori to take a playful bite of her ear.

"While Kyu-sensei teaches me about chakra and my contracts, and Saya-sensei teaching me about kenjutsu, could you teach me how to be as fast and precise like a wolf?"

Emi playfully tapped Yori off her ear and smiled again.
"I would be happy to teach you Naruto-kun."

Naruto knew that the path to growing in strength wasn't going to be easy. He was going to need all the help he could get to reach his goals, no matter what.

[Months later]

Naruto had been put through the ringer these past months. Both Emi, Kyuubi and Saya gave him almost no time for rest during this time, and it paid off wonderfully. Thanks to Emi, Naruto was able to be almost as fast as she was at her full speed. His physical strength had tripled since her teachings and suggestions. Kyuubi had made him a master of the chakra control exercises and even taught him how to walk up trees and on water. Saya, despite not knowing how he went from scrawny and slow to pretty buff for a five year old and faster, was impressed by how he adapted to holding the practice sword. He now was able to last at least three minutes in a spar with her, surpassing his last record of only one. He was getting better with the katas each passing day and Saya was more and more impressed with his progress. It would still take years for him to hold an actual sword, but Naruto assured her that he would break that time down to a mere year in no time. She laughed at this at first of coarse, thinking he was just being an overconfident little gaki, but then she was starting to see how long he would train after practice. He was indeed getting better and stronger for his age. Maybe he could break that time down to just a year. At the rate he was going, it was a possibility.

Now though, Naruto was out of the village with Emi and Yori training. He learned how to control his chakra reserves from Kyu-sensei, now it was time for the real training. Being able to summon Emi and use her affinity properly. Kyu-sensei had bounded Emi to Naruto through the demon contract months ago when Emi volunteered for it, yet he told Naruto to hold off on the training until he mastered chakra control. Since now was the best time to, Naruto was getting instructions from Kyu-sensei right now.

"Alright Naruto. This is the real deal. Now I've already bonded Emi to you, so all you have to do is perform the summons. Just like I taught you."
Kyuubi told him with a little bit of worry that something could go wrong easily if Naruto messed up something.
"Ready you two?"

"Ready Kyu-sensei."
Naruto told him enthusiastically as he prepared himself with a deep breath.

"I have faith in Naruto's abilities, Kyuubi."
Emi said to the chakra demon inside of Naruto with a smile.

Yori stood far away from the two and watched intently as they stood in front of each other. Naruto took his thumb and bit down on it, drawing some blood and performed the hand signs necessary for the summons. He raised his hand into the air, summoning the chakra needed and slammed his hand down while shouting out.

"Kuchiyose no Juutsu!"

He slammed his hand down onto the ground and a puff of smoke engulfed him and Emi. Yori watched on with anticipation for his friends and was surprised when he saw Naruto standing next to Emi. Something about her was a little different now. Her once light brown fur was sparking with lightning and her eyes were a deep crackle of yellow lighting. Her paws all the way up her legs were also covered in the lighting and she looked more feral than anything. Yori also saw Naruto and saw him breathing deeply, almost as if he was out of breath. He hunched over and was catching his breath when he turned to Emi and smiled weakly. Emi in turned did the same.

"I think I got it."
Naruto said weakly.

"Not quite kit."
Kyuubi said to them.
"I'm surprised you were able to make it this far on your first attempt. But if it was a true success, then her entire body would be covered in lightning, not just her legs."

Naruto did a little huff before raising himself up and stretching. He undid the summons and Emi was back to herself again.
"How do you feel, Emi-chan?"

"I feel alright now."
She answered as she rubbed him a bit, causing him to sit down and pet her behind the ear.
"In all honesty, being summoned felt strange. And being like that I felt a little feral. Like if you told me to fight and kill a hundred men, I could with no problem."

"Really?"
Naruto asked, receiving a nod from her. He smiled that big toothed smile of his then stood up, rejuvenated.
"Alright! Then lets try this again!"

Emi smiled and prepared herself for a long training session.

[Three years later, Konoha]

A lot has happened in the village in the past three years. The Uchiha massacre being the most horrific. Itachi Uchiha had killed the entire clan except for his younger brother, Sasuke. It kind of left the boy a bit messed up in the head. Not like most people thought, thinking that he wanted power or revenge on his brother at any cost. He just made people think that so they could stop pestering him and showering him like a goddamn precious jewel or something. He didn't want special treatment by no means, he just wanted to know why from Itachi's mouth. The last thing he remembered about his brother before he placed him under the genjuutsu, was that he was crying. A merciless 'traitor' doesn't cry when killing people. It took Sasuke some time to process why Itachi would do such a thing and he even did his own investigation. But every time he would get even a monochrome of a clue, one of the elders on the council would lead him on. Something wasn't right here. Why were they trying so hard to keep him from this? Did this have to do with those 'talks' that Sasuke's father was having with some of the other men of the clan? Sasuke had too many questions and no answers to any of them. One thing was for sure, Sasuke needed to get stronger. Stronger so that when he does confront the truth, he'll be ready.

Right now though, he was just asking Kami himself for one thing as he sat in the academy classroom.
"Please kill me now."

As it stands, right now Sasuke had so many fangirls all around him that it made training near impossible. True, he remembered his brother teaching him a few things back then, but he still needed to know more of the basics before he could really start training. And these fangirls all trying, some a little too desperately than others, to get his attention by constantly getting in his way was an annoyance. Top off the fact that both the assigned sensei and the assistant sensei were also bending over backwards rather unnecessarily and you had a very pissed off eight year old.

After today, being only a random day in the middle of the first year mind you, Sasuke decided to head on home. Against the wishes of the elders and practically everyone who tried to adopt him, Sasuke was very adamant about staying in his own home. It took him a while to clean the place up and wash all the blood away, but he soon made it all clean. There was no way he was going to disgrace his mother, who was his favorite parent, and his brothers family name just to appease those old fools on the council.

As Sasuke made his way in the compound, he looked around the silent streets. Remembering every bloody body that was there that night. Although something about most of the dead now that he thinks about it didn't add up.

"Nii-chan was always about stealth, precision, and causing a painless death for his enemies."
Sasuke thought as he reached home.
"Why were some treated that way and others cut apart like animals? That's not like nii-chan. Then what really happened that night?"

Sasuke didn't know what was what, but he knew that when he meets Itachi again, he would get the answers he sought after. Even if he wouldn't like them.

Hope you guys and gals liked this chapter. I'm doing things differently with Sasuke simply because I'm a little sick of always hearing the same damn thing with him.

'Emo-king, brooding, kind of a dick all the time, always answering things with "Hn", and generally just a flat out douche.'

So I made him like this. No Sasuke bashing or brooding. Though there will be plenty of Sakura bashing, council bashing, probably Jiraiya bashing. I don't know bout that last one though.

Bye-bye.