Gods and Legends

Author Notes: This story will remain close to the Canon. I will put some side stories in it. Just to let everyone know.

This chapter has been edited.

Chapter 04: Deception and Truth

Kakashi walks in the Hokage office. While he was well known for being late, there were some things he was never late for. One of them was meeting the Hokage. When the Hokage ask you to show, you show. Kakashi understood this and respected this.

"Kakashi, good you're the last one to arrive." The Sandaime Hokage said as he lets out a puff of smoke before putting his pipe back in his math.

"Did everyone give their report?" Kakashi asks.

"They did. Kurenai, Asuma and Hayama have all pass their genin's."

"My team pass. They showed excellent teamwork and corporation with one another." Kakashi reported.

Silence filled the room that you could hear a pin drop.

"You pass a team? You!" Kurenai said in surprise.

"Is it really that hard to believe?" Kakashi asks as he started to feel nervous.

"Hokage-sama, there has never been four teams that have passed. Should we hold another test to...?" Hayama began.

"What's done is done. No point of making the Genin's redo the test. I'm willing to bet they want to enjoy their success." The Sandaime said. "Kakashi, remain behind I want to hear about your teams' success."

Everyone else turns around to leave.

"Well?" The Third asks the moment the door was shut.

"They will become strong. Especially Naruto, it's hard to believe he can use his chakra so well at his age."

"Naruto will become strong; we knew that from the beginning. What of the other two?"

"Kyoko could become the fastest shinobi of her generation. Byakuya may not look like it, but he's a trickster. He always thinks three steps ahead. Even though he's a kid and lets himself be one, he remains serious when he needs to be. The three of them could become the next Sannin."

"That's quite the claim. Go out and enjoy yourself with your new team. Also, keep a close eye on them. You know as well as I do, they will make many enemies inside the village."

"I'm aware," Kakashi said as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

The Third sits back in his chair.

'Danzō, what are you up to? Why have you've been silent for so long?'

The Third knew Danzō couldn't defeat him. That's what made him so frustrated was that he was stronger than him. He doubts he would face assassination attempts soon. However, Danzō hasn't done anything lately that made him wonder what he was up to. Especially with Naruto's return.

Kakashi walks through the street thinking about his own time with Team Minato. There was so much he did wrong he was determined not to let his mistakes repeat with his team.

"Yo! My Eternal Rival!" A loud booming voice shouted causing Kakashi to wince at Gai's sudden appearance.

Gai appeared in front of him with his Genin team.

"Hmm? Did you say something?" Kakashi said.

"Damn you Kakashi and your hip attitude," Gai said.

"What do you want Gai?" Kakashi asks.

"Are the rumors true? You took a Genin team!" Gai said.

"Yeah, I'm about to meet them for curry…" Kakashi said wishing he had it.

"Yosh, my team will join yours," Gai shouted.

"You know how important these moments are…." Kakashi began.

"Let's go meet Kakashi's team!" Gai said to his team igniting his good guy pose.

Kakashi sighs knowing he couldn't stop Gai from joining on his team meeting.

"You're late," Naruto stated.

"Sorry, but I ran into a comrade who insisted on joining," Kakashi stated as Gai and his team walk in.

"Yo, Kakashi's pupils. How are you on this youthful day!" Gai said.

The trio looks at him as if he had grown a rather large head.

"They're not really talkative," Kakashi said as he sits down and looks at his menu.

"Meet my students!" Gai shouted. "Lee, Neji, and Tenten."

The trio said nothing as their meals had arrived and they turn their attention to their food.

"Gai," Kakashi said. As his food arrived. "You know these moments are special for a team."

Gai paused then started laughing.

"Of course my eternal rival! The next time we meet, my pupils will destroy your's Kakashi!" Gai said before he walks off laughing. The students all wave goodbye except the Hyūga who glared at them before he scoffs and walks away.

"Eternal rival?" Naruto said once Gai's team was gone.

"He's been chasing to beat me ever since we were kids. He's always been persistent. Now, let's eat!" Kakashi said.

"Hey sensei," Kyoko asks.

"What is it Kyoko?" Kakashi said.

"What type of missions are we going to be doing?" Kyoko asks.

"Hmm, you're rookies, so it won't be anything intense. Basically, you'll be doing chores around the village and improving your skills. Only until you've proven capable of handling yourself that you will be given better missions to suit your skills." Kakashi said.

"It better not be boring. We've been training for four years to do something serious." Naruto said.

"You're going to have to take it slow and work on your teamwork before you get any serious missions. It will take time, but you'll get there." Kakashi said.

'These kids, Naruto and Kyoko have seen hell before but they've never fought in hell. They will be the quickest to adapt to the shinobi life. Byakuya is good discipline. And they're capable of becoming great. Each team is created for the purpose of a role. If I was to take Gai's team, they would be a heavy combat team. Kurenai's team is a recon team while Asuma's team is an intelligence and backup team. This team can become an all-rounder type. Capable of combat, intelligence gathering, and recon.' Kakashi thought with a smile. 'A team like this hasn't been assembling since Minato-sensei's team.'

Nothing much was said as Kakashi watch his three students talk happily about being shinobis. thought he was going to regret the bill they were going to rack on him as they ate a lot of food.

Naruto walked home after saying goodbye to Kyoko and Byakuya. In front of his door, he notices a Chūnin standing there. One of the Academy students.

"Uzumaki Naruto, I'm here with a mission for you." The silver hair Chūnin said.

"What is it?" Naruto asks.

"The Village Council doesn't believe you deserve to be a Genin after being away from the village for so long. They have decided to grant you and your teammates a special test to see if you truly qualify to be a Genin."

Naruto blinks. He knew the council didn't like him, but this was new.

"What do I have to do?" Naruto asks.

"Your teammates are being met with other Chūnin's and are giving their own assignment. Your assignment is to steal the village's Scroll of Sealing and meet me at a rendezvous point near the outskirts of the village. You have until midnight to complete your task."

"What's your name?" Naruto asks.

"Mizuki."

Naruto narrowed his eyes while looking at Mizuki who was smiling at him. Something in his gut was telling him something was wrong with this mission. But the only way to know for sure what was going on was to do the mission. He would have sought Kakashi-sensei but he didn't know where Kakashi-sensei lived.

Later that Night

The Hokage was standing before a group of Chūnin's and Jōnin's that came to respond to the unexpected theft.

"Hokage-sama, you've been warned the demon brat is no good. Now here's the proof. Give us permission!" A Jōnin shouted.

"Hokage-sama!"

"Enough. We don't have intelligence regarding the reason behind this theft. Bring Naruto to me at once!"

'What is going on? This isn't like you Naruto.'

Naruto was speeding towards the forest where a small cabin was in the woods. Naruto looks around to see Mizuki but he was nowhere to be found.

Naruto opens the scroll and could see some Jutsu's formula were on the page.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu?" Naruto said. He already knew the Jutsu but he continues to read it. What he read made his eyes baffle. About the Kage Bunshin's special ability. He realized it was defiantly going to be useful when he was training.

He moved to the next and read what was written on there.

"Naruto!" A voice shouted causing Naruto look up to see Iruka-sensei heading towards him.

"Iruka-sensei," Naruto said as he got to his feet and holds the scroll up. The scroll was heavy and as tall as he was, but so far Naruto was managing.

"Why did you steal the Scroll of Sealing?" Iruka asks.

Naruto blinks as he looks at Iruka.

"This is supposed to be a test the Council gave me," Naruto said.

"A test? Without Hokage-sama approval?"

'So it was a trick. Mizuki is after the Scroll of Sealing. I should have told the old man at the very least.'

At that moment shurikens appeared from trees heading for them. Iruka being more seasonal, push Naruto out the way before taking the blunt of the attack. He brought his arms up to his face to protect them from getting impaled.

Mizuki jumps down on the lower branch with two large fuma shuriken's on his back.

"You did well to find this place Iruka, despite not being a sensor type shinobi. I thought for sure this place was forgotten." Mizuki said.

Naruto reaches for his tantō and got in a defensives stance. He wasn't sure if he was able to fight a Chūnin but he wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"Well, it seems like my plan has been ruined. But it doesn't change anything. The Scroll of Sealing will be mine!" Mizuki shouted.

Mizuki looks from Iruka to Naruto.

"Did you know Naruto, that Iruka is like the rest of the villagers. They want you dead." Mizuki said. Naruto said nothing as he knew Mizuki was trying to distract him and get him discourage. "Do you want to know why?" Mizuki suddenly said.

Naruto looks up and stares at Mizuki. As much as he tried to block out Mizuki's words, it finally looked like he was going to get some answers. He tried to block it out, but it was hard. He was giving in to temptation.

"Ten years ago, the Kyūbi attack our village and brought the shinobi's of this village to its knees. The Yondaime Hokage manage to defeat the Kyūbi, do you want to know how?!"

Naruto head pops up. He has heard the story many times. However, the clear details on how the Kyūbi was defeated was never told. All he knew was the Yondaime Hokage manage to stop the beast. That's where it ended for him. Details on how it happened were never told.

"Stop it Mizuki! You know it's forbidden!" Iruka suddenly shouted. His body

"That's because the Yondaime Hokage sealed the beast inside you!" Mizuki shouted. His words hit Naruto hard as he came to the realization what Mizuki's words meant. "Now do you understand, the Yondaime Hokage couldn't defeat the monster, he merely made a new one. In other words, you are the Nine Tail Fox!"

Naruto could only stand there at the realization was setting in.

He was the reincarnation of the Kyūbi, merely trapped in human form. That meant he was destined to become the ultimate evil of the world. He would kill his friends and destroy the village and wreak havoc and destruction upon the world.

"Once I kill you, the village will recognize me as the village's greatest hero, die Kyūbi!" Mizuki shouted as he grabs his Fuma shuriken and throws it at Naruto.

"Naruto!" Iruka shouted.

The Fuma shuriken hits Naruto in the chest causing Iruka to open his eyes wide in shock.

Naruto and the scroll of sealing disappeared in a puff of smoke. Leaving behind a stump in his place that was impaled with the fuma shuriken.

'What? When did he use the Kawarimi no Jutsu (Substitution no Jutsu)? He should have been in a state of shock and not be able to weave signs. Don't tell me, he's skilled enough to use the Kawarimi without weaving signs.' Mizuki thought with frustration as he grins his teeth. 'His presence has also vanished without a trace. That's impossible, no Genin can hide so well. Not even the Monster Fox. Where did his evil presence go?' Mizuki thought as he jumps up and vanishes into the trees.

Naruto was panting as he was holding the scroll and trying to hide his presence. For the first time, he wasn't sure what to do. The truth was in front of him and he was scared. He's never been so scared in his life before. Not even when the villager's chased him around trying to kill him.

A noise startled him as he looks through the bush to a replica of himself and an Iruka on the ground.

Iruka disappeared in a puff of smoke and Mizuki appeared with Naruto disappeared to reveal Iruka.

"Why do you defend him Iruka? Isn't he the monster that killed your parents." Mizuki asked without a care in the world.

"That is true. The Kyūbi did kill my parents. And for ten years I blame Naruto for their deaths despite the fact he wasn't at fault. That was my mistake. Naruto is a shinobi of Konoha. You know our ways Mizuki. We never leave a comrade behind." Iruka said with a smile.

"That ideology is pathetic Iruka. You've seen the harsh world. This is a world, where it's survival of the fittest. The strong eat the weak. And I will do what it takes to come out on top." Mizuki shouted.

"Then you don't mind fighting me," Kakashi said behind Mizuki.

Mizuki's eyes open wide as he slowly turns around to see Hatake Kakashi standing there. And he wasn't standing alone. He looks around to see a team of ANBU in the trees.

Naruto eyes would have popped out of their socket from his eyes. He didn't even sense Kakashi-sensei or the ANBU approach. And he was a sensor type!

Genkai's words were true.

"There are several types of sensor types. Some can feel chakra from miles. There are those who can detect chakra and its pathways. There are those who can see chakra. However, as there are those with the gift of 'sense' there are those with the gift of 'conceal'. The ability to hide their chakra from sensors. Konoha is a village with many people capable of both sensing and concealing. However, be wary of Kirigakure shinobi's. They're the best at concealment. The best defense against them is Konoha's Hyūga Clan Byakugan. Sensor type shinobi's are valuable. However, you can't truly rely on your sensing in many situations."

"Uzumaki Naruto." A man said as he jumps down. He had an ANBU mask on with red and green markings. A woman with long purple hair with a line under her eyes along with a line between her forehead appeared next to him.

Naruto quickly brings out his tantō and holds it in front of him. After what Mizuki told him, he didn't know who was a friend from foe.

"We're here under Hokage-sama's orders. Rest assure, we know what has transpired here. Hokage-sama has already been told. However, we need to take the Scroll of Sealing back. Or you will be punished for stealing it in the first place." The man said.

The woman grabs the Scroll of Sealing and Naruto made no motion to stop her.

Hokage's Office

"I see everything has calmed down." The Sandaime Hokage said as Naruto stood in the room with Kakashi and the ANBU.

"Is it true?" Naruto asks.

The Third looks at Naruto with a hard look.

"Mizuki may not have fully understood what he told you, but yes, it's true. That night, the Yondaime Hokage sealed the Kyūbi inside of you."

"Then I am the monster reborn," Naruto said with his head down.

"Naruto." The third said. He holds a kunai and a scroll in his hand. "This kunai is the Kyūbi, and the Scroll is you. If I seal the kunai inside the scroll does that meant the scroll is the kunai?"

"No, it's still a scroll with a kunai sealed inside of it." Naruto answers. He learned that in his first week at the academy.

"Exactly. The same is said about you. You may have the Kyūbi sealed inside of you, but you are not the Kyūbi. I did not want to tell you this until you were older. You were far too young to carry such a burden yet you carry it. I wanted you to have a happy life without knowing the burden you carry. Perhaps I was being a fool. That's why I let Genkai-sama take you away. To give you some peace outside the village."

"Why was I chosen?" Naruto asks as he clutches his fist.

"I cannot tell you that, at least not today." The third said.

"Why!" Naruto shouted.

"I'm sure Genkai-sama has already told you, but your mother and father were powerful shinobis. They made many enemies, both outside the village and inside the village. Understand, for your safety you cannot know, not until the day comes when you can defend yourself."

"And when is that?" Naruto asks.

"I see you have no intentions of just letting this go. Very well, I shall tell you everything, the day you become a Jōnin! However, understand, the moment the truth if revealed, many people will come to kill you. You must get stronger before that day comes!" The Third said.

"Then I have to get stronger?" Naruto said.

"Naruto, you were assigned to me because I'm also here to protect you. I know it's hard, but for your own safety, you'll have to wait until you become strong." Kakashi said.

Naruto said nothing.

"Naruto, you will have a difficult road ahead, but the day will come when you will have what you desire. You just need patience. Now go home, and get some rest, you have a busy day tomorrow." The Sandaime Hokage said.

Naruto nods his head and turns to walk out the room.

It was just hard to grasp the reality of the Kyūbi sealed inside of him. However, he was going to show everyone, he was Uzumaki Naruto and not a monster fox.