I own nothing.


I never really talked about the last chapter at the end author note, I'll address it now in a 12 word summary. He won't be a ruthless killer with no regard to human life.


200 hours.

200 hours.

200 HOURS!

Holy crap did Naruto underestimate that time.

After school Naruto had to spend 200 entire hours picking up litter, painting village property, and even polishing the Hokage monument.

Like really? Wouldn't wiping it down degrade the rock or something? Wasn't rain enough to clean it? Naruto was no stranger to scrubbing down the Hokage's faces, but that was usually after he put graffiti on it.

'There is no need to complain. You were crying over how terrible you were to Mizuki.'

'My moment of humanity came and went. Yes, I still feel bad, but as an eight year old boy I absolutely hate this.'

'Well you won't be eight for long, your birthday is in a week right?'

Naruto hopped a little in excitement, making the creaky scaffolding he was on shudder. The blonde instantly grabbed for a pole to avoid falling off the mountain.

"Shit that was close! Oh, sorry Ashura. My birthday is in a week, but you already knew that." Of course he knew, Ashura was locked inside of him since birth.

'I know, but a conversation will make your mundane task go by quicker.'

"I appreciate that, and you know what? A story will help very much."

'Of course you want a story, hmmm. How about this. Do you know of the forehead protectors that ninja wear?'

"Obviously Ashura, every ninja has one."

'Well then smartass. Why do I have one of almost the exact same design?'

"What? Wait! You do have a one just like ours... how?" His was almost exactly the same, albeit thicker and no leaf design.

'I assume it involves my descendants that founded this village. You know them as the Senju.'

"What!? Your related to the Senju?"

'You can say that I AM the original Senju, my father's DNA was messed up a little.'

"You said he had horns, that's a bit more then a 'little' messed up."

'Well obviously. Anyways, back to why I decided to wear these headbands...'


Naruto sat at Ichiraku Ramen, the best, in his opinion, eatery in the entire village.

The food was delicious, and the service was phenomenal too. Teuchi, the owner, and his daughter Ayame were some of the nicest people in Naruto's life. They cared for him and even gave him free food when he was low on cash, which he was not anymore.

"Naruto!" Teuchi called as the boy entered his shop. "How is my favorite customer today?" He started to prepare an new pot of ramen, knowing that the boy required an entire fresh serving.

"Just finished scrubbing the Hokage's monument. I swear I know the Yondaime's face more then anybody now."

Teuchi chuckled nervously, of course Naruto would know the Fourth's face, they shared one.

"How about a free bowl for your hard work? Wiping the entire Hokage monument must be tiring."

Naruto grinned as he shook his head, "None of that! I have money now and I ain't going to cheat off your kindness."

Ayame, who was just tending to a customer, looked at him adoringly, "You were not cheating off it. Your happiness is more then enough payment."

Naruto felt himself blush as he looked down, "Thank you." His voice was quiet.

'They are good people, looking for more then just money.'

"They're amazing people." Naruto muttered back.

Teuchi looked at him, "What was that Naruto?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

'You need to stop talking to me out loud.'

'And you need to find me some clothes, none of us are having any success in that.'

Ashura chuckled in Naruto's mind.

Ayame walked over and set a steaming bowl of ramen infront of him, Naruto licked his lips and started to devour the food at an alarming rate.

'Oh.' Ashura spoke in the blondes mind. 'Someone familiar is entering the stand.'

Naruto turned his head slightly so he can look out of the corner of his eye. He almost choked as he saw the person.

It was Iruka, Naruto gulped.

Yes Iruka was very close to the blonde, but Naruto did beat up his childhood best friend.

He looked at Naruto and smiled lightly, "Hey Naruto."

Naruto finished slurping his noodled and nodded slightly, "Heya Iruka."

Iruka sat down next to the boy, "Ayame, can I get the regular?"

She nodded, "Of course." She walked off.

Naruto started to eat his second bowl of ramen, Iruka sat by him quietly for a few minutes.

Finally he spoke, "So instead of waiting for Mizuki to heal to give his side of the story, they decided to let a Yamanaka read his mind."

Naruto assumed that 'they' was the Hokage and the government. And the blonde had some vague knowledge of the Yamanaka, apparently they can enter someones mind and look through them.

Naruto looked at his teacher interested, "What did they find?"

Iruka sighed as his bowl was placed infront of him, "Mizuki was a traitor."

"What?" Naruto's mind didn't properly comprehend the statement.

"Mizuki once killed his injured teammates during a mission, he was always a suspect due to their strange ways of death, but he always seemed so... innocent." Iruka's face was grim as he ate his food.

Naruto was speechless, Mizuki, as in Iruka's best friend Mizuki, was a traitor? Naruto couldn't comprehend how his instructor must feel.

"Iruka-sensei, I... I'm sorry."

Iruka stared at the broth in his bowl, "It's just that you think you know someone so well, that you truly understand someone. And then you find out that every single thing you knew was a lie."

There was more to this, Iruka seemed to be thinking of more, "Sensei?"

Iruka sighed deeply, "Turns out Mizuki has hated me for a while now. He tried to sabotage me becoming a chunin, and successfully messed up my Jonin exam. He also hated you, probably because you act a lot like I did back in the day."

Iruka could have been a Jonin? Naruto took a few moments to process the information, how was the boring Iruka that strong? He did have some impressive sensing abilities though...

This wasn't the time for such thoughts, Naruto needed to console his teacher, "Sensei, I am so sorry."

Naruto thought those were the right words, but Iruka turned to him in confusion.

"Sorry? Why are you sorry? My entire friendship with Mizuki has been fake, you just saved me from a life of lies." He smiled at the blonde, "I guess I'm thankful to you."

Naruto smiled brightly at his teacher, "No problem sensei! But... there is something I want to ask."

"What is it?"

"You said you acted like me when you were young?"

Iruka blushed slightly, "It was a phase... I swear!"


"You called for me Jiji?" Naruto asked as he stood infront of the Hokage.

The old man pushed some paperwork aside as he addressed the boy, "Yes, I wanted to talk about your punishment."

"You mean the community service and therapist sessions?"

"Yes." The Hokage leaned back in his chair, "You don't need to go to the therapist anymore."

"Huh?" Not that Naruto wasn't excited, he was. "I mean I only went for two out of five sessions."

Said therapist was a creep, Naruto didn't want to go into any details, but he was sure that man spent a little too much time on his own.

'Stop that. The therapist was not trying to do things to you.'

'I swear he was trying to piss me off! He was jerking me in all these directions for fun!'

'That sounds WAY to sexual.'

'Huh? What do you mean?"

Ashura mentally face faulted, no matter how mature Naruto was, he was still eight.

Hiruzen took his hat off and put in on his desk, "As you know from Iruka, since I let him speak to you about it, Mizuki has been convicted as a traitor. And since the therapist said that you find his sessions unsatisfactory, I decided that you do not need to go."

Naruto stuck his fist in the air, "Hell yeah! That guy is a creep!"

Hiruzen shook his head, he knew that 'creep' since he was a kid.

"On to other matters." The Hokage began, "Your birthday is tomorrow."

Naruto smiled excitedly, "Yes it is! Did you get me a gift?"

The Hokage smiled at the blondes enthusiasm, "Of course I got you a gift, I can't spend your birthday with you tomorrow, but I'll stop by for a few hours to celebrate during the festival with you."

Naruto nodded, of course he couldn't spend a lot of time with him. He was the Hokage after all, he wouldn't look as good if he was absent for the anniversary of the Kyuubi attack.


"Kurama, I need a favor."

"It depends what it is."

Ashura walked closer to the fox and sat down infront of him, "I want to look through your memories."

Kurama raised a furry eyebrow, prompting Ashura to elaborate.

"I want Naruto to start using my chakra, but it is unsafe for him. But you have been inside of humans for a century, you must have some memories of your jailers learning some of these 'Jutsu' that can help him."

"And why should I help my jail cell of all people?"

"Because we are brothers and brothers help each other." More of a desperate plea then anything, but Ashura sounded very confident.

"But. We are not brothers by blood, the Sage isn't really our father, he only insisted we called him that."

It was Ashura's turn to raise an eyebrow, Kurama would never say something like that. Maybe since it was October 10th, the anniversary of his sealing, tomorrow. He must be feeling a bit down of all the people celebrating his demise, even Kurama had feelings, whether he wanted them of not.

"Kurama, father created you guys, just like he created me and Indra, the same creation of life just using different methods. Besides-" Ashura started to look a little downcast, "- You are turning out to be a much better brother then Indra was."

Kurama's eyes widened at Ashura's words, he fully knew how much Indra meant to Ashura, and the fact that he just said that...

"Fine." Kurama's voice was mellow, "I actually have just the technique in mind, my previous container, the boys mother, actually learned this. And it is based off fathers technique that you already know."

Ashura nodded and touched the fox's arm, linking their minds.


Naruto felt a light in his eyes, sunlight. Naruto opened them, it was day.

The blonde sat up and stretched his sore muscles, he slept for much longer then necessary and it was affecting his body.

He rubbed his eyes, "Hey, how long was I sleeping?"

'You went to bed at about 10pm, it is a little after 11:30pm. You slept for about 13 hours.'

Naruto smiled grimly, "It's my birthday and I slept through a lot of it. Ah well, who cares?"

'Maybe the seven guards who have been watching you since midnight.'

Naruto blinked in confusion, what?

'Ok I'm thinking now, how many people are here?'

'Three people are in this room right now, while the other four are posted in a close proximity to your apartment.'

Naruto's groggy mind slowly started to form answers, they where obviously the Hokage's ANBU, probably sent to make sure he doesn't do anything on his birthday or something.

But seven people to make sure he didn't prank anyone? The Hokage wasn't overkill at all.

'I'm sure there is a good reason, but there is no need to think about it if they mean good. Besides, there is a rather nice looking breakfast on your table.'

Naruto turned his head to his dinner table, and there, like Ashura said, was a massive assortment of food ranging from dairy to fruits. Naruto licked his lips at the sight of it.

'I assume you're going to eat all of it?'

Naruto nodded and got up, heading towards his food.

'Well, if your still hungry after this, which I am positive you will be, then I will show you some of the things I ate in my time.'

'I can't cook.' It was a simple and true statement.

'This is a rather simple recipe, it just takes a while to be finished.'

"How long?"

'Quiet Naruto! The guards are listening.'

'I will just stuff my face and they'll think that I made some strange noise while eating.'

'One would think highly trained agents would pay more attention to what you of all people do.'

Naruto would of smirked if he wasn't eating, 'Ashura, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, underestimates me. Maybe it's my grades, or my clothing, but nobody thinks that I have some sort of super secret like I actually do.'

'Usually if you dressed like you do now people will consider you a madman, at least that was how it was in my time.'

'Well how about your father and uncle? The horns?'

'They just scared the shit out of everyone, then the fear went away when they became 'gods'.'

'I still have no idea how someone could be born with horns, maybe humans evolved so that they went away, but you don't have them.'

Naruto heard Ashura chuckle in his mind, 'Blame my grandmother, she was into freaky things.'

'I guess stealing from the gods and becoming an insane tree is considered freaky to you, because to me it seems absolutely insane.'

'Your definition of freaky and insane will change with age, a lot of your opinions will change with age also.'

'Not all.' Naruto definitely had a few view points that were engraved into his heart.

'Of course not all, but lets have this conversation another day, I must give you your gift still.'

Naruto blinked in confusion as he swallowed a big mouthful of food, 'You got me a gift?'

'It is your birthday, it will be difficult to give it to you with these guards around, but I think we can do it in your mindscape.'

'What is it?'

'Just go to sleep, it might look a bit strange to your guards, but you are a strange boy.'

Naruto had no rebuttal for that comment, he was a strange boy, and the talking ancient man inside of his mind was more then enough proof to him.

The blonde made his way to his couch and laid down, he didn't have a television, so he never really sat down on it much. It was mostly there in case a guest came, of course not a lot of guests did come, and the Hokage usually took him elsewhere when he came.

The tug on his mind pulled him from his thoughts, and he slowly closed his eyes.


"Hey Ashura, what is behind you?"

Ashura kept a perfectly composed face as Naruto questioned him, the deep darkness and ripples coming from the water behind him was rather ominous, and Naruto was a curious boy.

"It is just darkness, there is some space in there that I sit when you are not here, there is also a pool of water that allows me to watch what you are doing." He wasn't lying, just not telling the whole truth.

Ashura clapped his hands to get Naruto's attention back to him, "Well, onto your gift."

Naruto buzzed excitedly. "What is it?"

"As much as I hate them... I will teach you a jutsu."

A moment of silence.

Ashura started again, "You do not like the prospect of me teaching you?"

"No no no." Naruto waved his hands frantically. "It's just that you said you hated what people did to Ninshu, and also how did you learn one inside of me?"

Ashura smiled at the boy, "In order to prepare you in this world I need to give up some of my old learnings. Yes, I hate Ninjutsu, but I have used Ninshu to fight before and you need to fight in this world to change it."

Naruto wasn't big on the prospect of fighting, but he could see Ashura's point clearly, he nodded, gesturing Ashura to go on.

"As for how I got this technique, when you where a infant the Hokage was watching over you, but a dire situation happened. You where sent to the headquarters of those masked men, I saw some of them practicing it and memorized the steps, I figured it will help in the future."

In reality, Naruto's mother Kushina learned it from Minato, Naruto's father. But Naruto didn't need to know his parentage at the moment, it was the Hokage's responsibility to tell the boy.

Naruto spoke to him, "What is the technique? I'm dying to learn it."

Ashura walked closer to him, " It is a technique my father created, you cannot learn the true form at the moment, but luckily it was converted into ninjutsu. It is called the Chakra Transfer Technique."

Naruto thought for a moment, "So it is used to transfer chakra into people or things, not that I don't like it, but why would I need to transfer my chakra into people?"

Ashura patted him on the shoulder, "We are not doing exactly what the name implies."

"So what are we doing with it?"

"We are going to reverse it, so instead of you giving chakra you are taking it."

"So shouldn't you be teaching me an absorption technique?

Ashura shook his head, "There is no set absorption technique, chakra varies so much that taking it without proper precautions can severely damage the chakra circulatory system, but my chakra is free to all, we will reverse engineer the jutsu so you will take my chakra, mine is pure enough that it won't clash with your own."

Naruto looked excited and slightly confused, "You gave me your chakra before, why can't we do it the same way again? Through the seal?"

"My chakra is much to powerful for your system, and I have way to much to transfer in little amounts, the lowest I can give almost killed you last time. But if you take it then you can control and lessen the load on your body, since your chakra will pull on mine, instead of mine overbearing yours."

Naruto nodded, "I see."

Another affect was that it would lessen the damage to the seal as much, instead of Ashura pushing his chakra through, it would only pool by the seal. And Naruto could take it without straining it much, it would hopefully give Ashura enough time to reason with Kurama.

"So how can I learn it inside of my mind?" Naruto asked.

"Well I am here, so are you. It is your mind so you can use your chakra, it is not that different then physically."

Naruto smirked, "Lets begin! This is going to be awesome!"


"Iruka!" The now awakened Naruto addressed his teacher.

"Hey there Naruto, happy birthday." Iruka smiled at the blonde.

Naruto hopped in enthusiasm, "Do you want to come in Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka shook his head, "No, I was hoping to take you out. Ramen, no restrictions." By that he meant all you can eat, and that he would be paying.

"Really!?"

"Yup, and after that we'll go see the fireworks when it gets dark."

Naruto grabbed the teacher and started to pull him, no doubt towards his favorite eatery.


'I have no idea how you consume that stuff.'

'What!? I can eat it because it is delicious!'

'It looks slimy... and stringy... and plain strange. Much like my wife's cooking.' She wasn't here to hear that, but Ashura still winced as if she smacked the crap out of him, as she usually did.

'It's one of those things, something that you cannot describe without trying it yourself. You must see- or rather taste- to believe.'

'Well you eat like a hog so I am going to go somewhere else, goodbye.'

'See ya.'

Naruto turned to Iruka, "So Iruka, do you think your wallet can handle this?"

Said man chuckled, "No need to worry Naruto, I said I would treat you and teaching shinobi pays a lot more then you would think." Way more then an average job actually, the Hokage knew the importance of teaching, and made sure he took care of the village teachers.

"Fine then, Ayame, another bowl!"

Iruka sighed, truthfully, the Hokage gave him money to treat the boy. Iruka wasn't lying about his salary, but the Hokage didn't want him to waste Iruka's hard earned money on his responsibility. And at this rate he would have to use his own money, not that he was upset, Naruto deserved it.

"So Naruto." Iruka asked. "What are you going to do about your academy grades?" Might as well ask him when he's vulnerable.

Naruto eyed him as he slurped some noodles, when he finished he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and opened his mouth.

"What about them?"

Iruka shook his head, "Naruto, your grades aren't the best, you're doing fine during literature and arithmetic surprisingly, given that you never study. You're only good on extremely ancient history, which we practically never go over. Everything else is lackluster."

"I don't understand. I think I have a lot of stuff down actually, what about my learning is lackluster?" Naruto genuinely didn't seem to know.

"Your ninja skills." Iruka paused to gauge the blondes reaction, which was puzzled. "Your throwing is terrible, you can barely hit the targets, you Ninjutsu is pretty bad too, mostly because you can never do the Clone Technique. You don't even have a set Taijutsu style, it is all instinctive, and I'm not complaining since you have good instincts. But they can fail you."

Naruto did not seem disappointed as he usually was when Iruka talked about grades, he seemed... indifferent.

"Iruka... why does fighting matter more over knowledge?" The question was quiet, but Iruka heard it clearly.

"Because Naruto! How can you become Hokage if you can't fight? The Hokage needs to be the strongest in the village."

"Iruka..." Naruto looked down for a second. "I don't like hurting others. Why would violence triumph over peace? I don't want to be the strongest if the title means hurting others when a peaceful negotiation can happen instead. Why do I need to be the strongest in body to protect the village when I can be the strongest in mind? The old man is way past his prime, but his mind is the thing keeping Konoha safe."

Iruka looked at the boy, trying hard to figure out where such words and wisdom would come from.

Naruto continued his passionate speech, "I know that I am going to have to fight in this world, but that doesn't mean I can't make allies instead of enemies. I will become Hokage, but I will through peace and understanding, not pain and violence."

Iruka could see something in the boy. A... light.

Maybe... just maybe. That was the sacred 'Will of Fire' the Hokage always preached about.

"Naruto... I think that you are going to lead Konoha, and the entire world, into something new." Not an opinion. Fact.

Naruto smiled at his teacher, happy of his acceptance.


"Sensei, where are we going?"

"The academy, they are having a little gathering of students and family to watch the fireworks, since they are being launched from the Hokage monument, which is pretty close to it."

"Ah, OK." Naruto continued to walk along side his teacher, "Hey Iruka."

"Yes?"

Naruto looked at the ground, "I feel... nervous."

Iruka was surprised, "Wait what? Why do you feel nervous?"

"I-I..." Naruto couldn't find the words. "I am scared of being rejected." There. There was his true feelings.

"Rejected by who?"

"EVERYONE!" Naruto's outburst made both of them stop walking.

"Naruto..."

"It's just that everyone who I'm trying to make friends with will be there. And so will their parents. Who would want their child to befriend the stupid idiot in ugly orange clothes!?" Naruto was speaking frantically.

Iruka spoke softly, "Naruto... it's ok." He put his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Yes, you may not have many friends. But a lot of friends isn't necessarily a good thing, it's good to have good friends that you can trust with your life."

"Really?" Naruto's voice was quiet.

"Yeah. Naruto you never have to worry about rejection. Because you already have me, the Hokage, Teuchi and Ayame..."

Ashura. Naruto added mentally.

"... I will be right by your side through all of this. Just stay with me, because tonight we're family."

Naruto tried to hold it in, but couldn't. He started crying right there.


'This will be quiet interesting. I wonder how fireworks have changed from my time to yours.'

'Ashura! Where the hell have you been?"

'You can't always rely on me. You need to grow on your own sometimes. And besides, I trusted that Iruka man in that tender moment, I knew he only has your best interest in mind.'

'So you heard.'

'I did. And thank you for considering me a friend.'

Naruto smiled.

He saw many familiar figures as he and Iruka got closer to the academy courtyard. He gulped at the sight of many of his classmates parents.

Namely Shikamaru's dad. Holy crap that guy was intimidating.

'My memory is a little fuzzy, but he kinda reminds me of Chuseishi a little.'

'Wasn't he that really smart guy back in your day?'

'Yes, I wonder...'

'Wonder about what?'

'Nothing relevant at the moment. Anyways, he looks much smarter then his son, so try not to get into a conversation with him.'

"Naruto?" The blonde looked at Iruka, "I need to help the other teachers set up, I hate to leave you alone but... will you be ok?"

Naruto smiled brightly at the man, "I'll be fine sensei! Just go and make sure the show goes on schedule!" Naruto was scared on the inside, but he could do it.

Iruka smiled and walked towards the academy entrance entering it.

"We're on our own." Naruto spoke quietly. "This is going to be awkward."

'Probably.'

Naruto went and got a cup of juice from a nearby table decorated with assortments. He walked over to his favorite spot at the academy, a small swing hanging from a tree.

He sat down ad let himself swing a little, idly staring at the Hokage monument.

He heard a snotty voice by him, "Hey idiot."

Naruto knew who it was, "Ino, good afternoon." He addressed the girl back.

Ino flipped a bang out of her face and looked at the boy in disinterest, "My dad told me to go say hi. He obviously doesn't know what kind of guy you are."

'Sassy. Beyond sassy. If she wasn't such a young, immature child, then I would say bitchy.'

Naruto ignored that comment, "What kind of guy am I?" He would like to know what others thought of him.

Ino seemed surprised by the question, "I-I... Shut up Naruto! What I was trying to say was us kids are grouping up around the back of the academy during the raffle."

"Huh? Raffle?"

Ino shook her head, "Are you deaf too? There will be a raffle in an hour or so to get a C-rank jutsu. Even Sasuke came to get it!" Ino was squealing at the end.

Ashura sighed internally, of course Indra's descendant would only interact with people because of the promise of power. It was a trait that seemed dominant in his brothers line it seems.

Naruto spoke, "Ok, I guess I'll be there."

Ino nodded haughtily, "I would not of taken no as an answer!" Her eyes suddenly widened. "I left my precious Sasuke with Forehead! Crap!" She ran way, no doubt to argue with Saukra.

Naruto actually enjoyed the short conversation, it made him feel like a somewhat normal kid. But now it was back to being all alone, well mostly alone.

Naruto satt by himself for a few minutes.

'Oh hey, a familiar presence is near us.'

Naruto turned around to face none other then Hyuuga Hiashi.

Hiashi looked as professional as ever, "You noticed me, impressive." He was mildly suppressing his chakra.

Naruto bowed his head slightly in respect, "Hiashi-san. A pleasure to see you always."

"Likewise." He gestured to his side, a small girl poked her head out and looked at the blonde, "This is my youngest Hanabi, I believe that you have never properly met before."

Naruto smiled softly at the girl, "Hello there Hanabi, how are you?"

She spoke with a surprising intelligence, "You are the one who saved me I guess? You have my thanks."

Naruto's own vocabulary at that age was nothing compared to Hanabi's, she had an air of grace to her words.

He looked at Hiashi impressed, "You have raised quite the child Hiashi, she will be a impressive politician one day."

Hiashi nodded, it seems like Naruto understood the game of politics very well, "Come with me for a moment, I'm sure more of my family will want to thank you."

'Publicly showing a political alliance. Smart.'

Hiashi led him to a small group of people, all Hyuuga clan by their hair and clothes.

Hiashi gestured to girl around his age who looked very shy, "This is my eldest, Hinata, I assume you know each other since you are in the same class."

Naruto didn't really know who she was, he had seen her a few times, but never put the connection with her and Hiashi before.

But this was politics, "Yes, we know each other, it's nice to see you out of class Hinata." He smiled at her in a friendly way.

She turned red and Naruto saw her feet start to shake, she leaned on a boy next to her slightly, "Y-Yes. I hope the e-evening has been t-treating you well."

"It has, and no doubt the night will be much better." Naruto shot her his winning smile, she then closed her eyes and lost her balance.

Hiashi was there and holding her upright in an instant.

Naruto shot him a confused look, "Is she ok?"

"She is currently ill at the moment, she said that she was fine but I was wondering why she wasn't speaking all evening, do not worry though, the illness is not anything serious." A perfect lie, Naruto instantly believed it.

Ashura snorted, before exploding into laughter.

'What's so funny?'

'You-you haven't noticed? Oh man you need to find this out yourself.'

'Well I'm in a middle of a important conversation, so tone down.'

Hiash gestured to the boy Hinata was leaning on, "This is my nephew Neji, I'll leave you two while Hanabi and I take Hinata to get some water." And with that he left.

Neji eyed him, "I thank you for saving Hanabi-sama from her captors, you helped our clan more then you realize."

"Hanabi-sama? You are cousins, and you are older, why the 'sama'?"

Neji had a distasteful expression on his face, "I am a member of the branch house, the Hyuuga clan are split up into the main and branch houses. The main house controls the branch house, so I must show respect to my superiors."

'It's a barbaric system actually, filled with slavery and torture.' Kurama told Ashura that, apparently changing that system was part of the Fourth Hokage's agenda before he died.

"I do not mean to insult your families customs, but that system will not last long in my opinion, I do not think that it is effective or particularly moral."

Neji didn't seem insulted at all, he actually had a respectful look on his face, "I personally agree, but I cannot do much as is. A branch member can do very little, only the clan head can."

"Well Neji, with only the best interests of the Hyuuga clan in mind, I think changing that system will benefit them more then hurt them. I will be sure to voice my support if that discussion ever comes up openly." Both boys knew of the political game happening, Neji was aware of Hiashi aligning himself towards the blonde. Neji didn't know why Hiashi was so interested with Naruto, but it was obvious that Hiashi expected something big from him. In ten years his voice might actually mean a lot.

Neji smiled lightly to the blonde, "I'm glad that we think so similarly, it is nice to have an educated conversation with someone around my age."

"Likewise."

Neji activated his Byakugan for a few seconds, before deactivating them and looking at Naruto, "Hiashi-sama is addressing some of the other clan heads, and it seems that the raffle will be starting soon, Hinata-sama and many other kids are pooling up over there, shall we meet up with them?"

Naruto nodded, "I think we should."

Both boys set off together.


'You're oddly quiet today Ashura.'

'You are mingling with other people your age, there is no need to intrude.'

'I enjoy your advice.'

'Naruto, I grew up with a half god dad with horns and a power obsessed brother, I really have no experience talking with kids. You do not need advice to talk to immature kids that probably still play with dolls.'

'Let me phrase it a different way, your presence helps soothe the nervousness inside.'

'I appreciate that.'

"Hinata-sama." Neji addressed his cousin as him and Naruto entered the group of kids.

She blushed slightly, "Neji...Naruto..." She was very insecure, not the best personality for a future clan leader.

'You are thinking to political, try to be a kid and have some fun.'

'I never really hanged around my peers before, what have you done for fun?'

'Heh... ask my wife.'

'Excuse me?'

Ashura did not reply back.


"Hello Sasuke."

Sasuke looked to the one who addressed him, Naruto, impassively.

He did not reply.

Naruto ignored his silence and continued speaking, "By any chance do you know what technique the raffle is giving out?"

Sasuke merely stared at him for a few moments before opening his mouth, "I do not know, but it will be mine."

Naruto did not know how to reply to that.

"Well that was helpful." He added dryly. "I'll be taking my leave I guess."

Sasuke grunted in response.

Naruto was about to walk back from Sasuke's isolated spot to where Neji was standing when his ears suddenly twitched.

"Sasuke... do you hear that?" Naruto's cheerful expression was gone, immediately putting Sasuke on edge.

His face gained a seriousness as he concentrated on the sounds around him.

The Uchiha turned back to the blonde, "It sounds kinda like... footsteps, in the forest."

Naruto heard another noise, a metallic one.

'That's a weapon being drawn! Get the hell down!"

"Shit Sasuke!" Naruto tackled the boy into the ground as a flurry of shuriken assaulted them.

The shuriken impacted the wall behind them, luckily none of them hit the boys.

"Get to the parents!" Naruto hollered as he and Sasuke got up and booked it towards their classmates parents, many of them were Jonin.

Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the arm and pulled him to the side, a lone kunai zipped past them, barely missing the blondes head.

It continued, however, straight into the crowd of students enjoying themselves. And unfortunately heading towards Ino Yamanaka, who had her back turned.

Both boys watched in mute horror as the kunai approached the girl, their voices lost.

Many students looking at Ino noticed it and screamed, Ino turned and could only get a small glimpse before-

-Before she was tackled to the ground. By an unknown figure.

Naruto let out a sigh of relief, it was a chunin.

He got up and yelled to the ninja, "There is someone attacking us, whoever that was threw the kunai!"

Naruto started to jog to him.

'Naruto stop.'

Naruto listened without much thought, 'Huh, why?'

'Look at his thigh.'

Naruto looked to the man's left thigh, there was nothing out of the ordinary, other then his empty kunai holster.

Naruto's mind clicked.

'Wait... EMPTY kunai holster!'

The chunin had a blank expression on his face as he dropped the Yamanaka heir and rushed towards the blonde, reaching into his back pouch to no doubt get another kunai.

'Get ready for a fight!' Ashura hollered in his mind.

Naruto got into a combat position, ready to parry his opponent.

"Fang Over Fang!" The chunin was suddenly impacted by a giant spinning projectile, sending him flying into the academy wall.

He heard Kiba cry, 'Mom!"

When the dust settled it was indeed Kiba's feral mother Tsume Inuzuka. She was crouching with her canine partner right next to her.

Naruto looked to the other kids to see Ino's father holding her while Shikamaru's and Choji's fathers rushed towards the assailant.

Hiashi stood infront of the students, no doubt with a defensive technique ready to use in case they were attacked again, and Shino's father Shibi stood in the back, doing something with the container on his back.

"Are you alright?" Naruto looked to see Neji at his side, helping Sasuke up.

"Yeah, what was that?"

Before Neji could answer Shikaku started to yell out commands.

"Hiashi! Byakugan on! Shibi scout the entire area for any other unknowns, I want Inoichi here and I want this man identified by anyone who has seen him before! Any detail you know tell me!"

Shikaku spoke with such authority that even his son was surprised. The other adults complied immediately, knowing that Shikaku was the Jonin commander, therefor has full authority to command them.

Tsume got up and walked over to the fallen chunin, "I saw him when I got here, I saw him bringing some fireworks for the festival."

Hiashi walked near her, "His chakra system is fluctuating rapidly, the pathways to his brain is not normal, he was not coherent when he attacked us."

The Nara head nodded as Choza tied him up, "Shibi?"

Naruto looked to see multiple small bugs being released from Shibi's long sleeves, flying into the the forest in every direction.

"Clear for a Kilometer, I will keep that perimeter."

'Those bugs must relay information back to him, interesting.'

'Very organized, very effective. These shinobi know what they are doing, no doubt they have been through war by the looks they have in their eyes.'

'Makes me feel safe. That guy was aiming for me.'

Inoichi put his hand on the chunins head, "Permission?" Mind reading was a very dangerous art, using it on a unwilling ninja could destroy his mind. And the fact that the intended target was a Konoha ninja meant only the highest in ranking could authorize it inside of the village.

Shikaku, however, was high enough. "Do it."

The children all watched quietly as Inoichi closed his eyes and stayed still, after about 5 seconds he cursed and withdrew his hand.

"His mind is blocked, when I tried to probe a fail safe kicked in, he's a vegetable."

Naruto felt a slight fear in his chest, that man was practically dead now.

Neji tugged on him, "Come on, let's get to Hiashi-sama, we'll be safer there."


"Tsume track his sent to find out where he came from, Shibi go with just in case you need to contact us. Hiashi, get to the Hokage and tell him whats happening."

Shibi and Tsume, being former teammates, complied without argument and jumped off into the forest, Hiashi made his way to the Hokage's office, which wasn't to far from the academy.

'I need to sneak away.'

'Why? There might be more.' Ashura didn't yell or anything, he merely pointed out the obvious.

'Exactly! He went after me! And if there is anymore then they would go after me too! I don't want to endanger the others!'

To Naruto's surprise Ashura chuckled, 'Calm down! I did not say no. The man watching us, Choza, is talking to his son right now. Use that opportunity to escape.'

Naruto nodded and silently backed off into the treeline.


'Duck!'

Naruto dropped his head, a kunai whizzed by and impacted a tree near him.

Naruto turned around to face the assailant.

His eyes widened, "Kotetsu!?"

'He's the one who guards the gate, he usually is very nice to you.'

Kotetsu had a blank face, he did not say a word.

"Kotetsu whats wrong!? Why are you attacking me!?"

Kotetsu still had a strange expression on his face, he still stayed silent.

'Naruto, I do not think he is in the right mind, he usually is very talkative.'

"Maybe what Hiashi said was right, something is affecting their minds..."

Kotetsu rushed at him. And Naruto jumped away from a kunai slice.

'Are you ready to use my power.'

'Yeah, lets do this!'

As if Kotetsu heard his thoughts he pulled out two foot long blades of his back, dual wielding them.

Naruto looked to his side, the kunai thrown at him rested in a tree next to him, the blonde grabbed it and wielded it his left hand.

'Go!'

Naruto quickly brought down a diagonal slice at his opponent, who parried with one of his blades, they stood in a small power struggle, which wasn't going to last long.

Naruto took advantage of his smaller size and went to kick out Kotetsu's legs, only for him to jump back.

Naruto cracked his knuckles before channeling his chakra.

Rat. Hair. Horse. Dog.

"Chakra Absorption Technique."

Naruto felt his right hand tingle, and he could feel Ashura's thick chakra pooling in the seal on his stomach. He placed his hand on the seal and pulled, his entire body tingled as Ashura's chakra flooded him. He could see the white energy being dragged into his hand.

Kotetsu rushed at the blonde, swinging both blades at different angles, making it impossible to block with only one kunai.

Naruto brought up his kunai hand to block one knife, while using the other to grab Kotetsu's wrist.

Kotetsu was bigger, and therefore stronger, then the small boy. And the block would of done nothing if Naruto wasn't reinforced by the foreign chakra.

Naruto quickly brought up his right foot and kicked the chunin's stomach with all his might, Kotetsu's flak jacket absorbed much of the impact but the kick left him doubled over. Naruto took that opportunity and firmly grabbed Kotetsu's wild black hair. He roughly pulled his head back before slamming it into his knee.

Blood exploded out of the chunin's nose as it broke and Kotetsu's body limply rolled to the ground.

"That was... surprisingly easy." Naruto said slowly, in awe of the power he just used.

'Your not that strong, Kotetsu, or whoever is controlling Kotetsu, did not expect such a strange power to come from you. They were surprised.'

"Way to burst my bubble." Naruto finished lamely.

'Enough. Did you notice where he came from?'

"No, not really."

'Around the back of the Hokage's monument.'

"That's where Iruka and the others are setting up the fireworks!" Naruto exclaimed in shock.

'We need to hurry then.'

Naruto set off running.


"Shit!"

Naruto just barely managed to sidestep a flying kick from yet another chunin. He felt the back of his neck tingle and turned slightly to see a giant fireball rushing towards him.

'Just like we planned!'

White chakra pooled around the boys back and a giant white hand of energy shot out of Naruto's shoulder blade, it grabbed the fireball and quickly extinguished it.

"Two of them... damn it." Naruto looked between the one standing rigidly infront of him and one crouched in a tree a few meters to his side.

The one in the tree tensed his muscles, about to pounce.

"Eight Trigrams: Sixteen Palms!" Naruto quickly ducked underneath a sword slash and hit his opponent in the stomach with a chakra enhanced kick.

Naruto looked to his side to see the chunin in the tree collapse to the ground.

"Neji!? What are you doing here?"

Neji poked the chunin Naruto kicked multiple times, no doubt using a Hyuuga technique to subdue him.

"You do realize we where speaking when you snuck away right? And I decided to make sure you were not getting into trouble, which was apparently a good decision."

Naruto nodded, "Well thank you." His face gained a more serious edge, "But onto another matter, these chunins..."

"There's something wrong with them I know. The one I attacked should have noticed me immediately since I cannot mask my chakra signature."

Naruto prodded the chunin with a sword with his foot, "And this guy had the reflexes of a snail. I'm nine and I defeated him."

"Do you have any ideas?"

Naruto pointed to his left, "Whatever or whoever is doing this is behind the Hokage monument. All of these chunins are ones working on the firework show."

"Maybe it's an attack on the village? Security is spread thin around the walls since a festival is a good time for another village to attack, an inside attack is unexpected."

"But the firework show... are they going to replace them with a bomb or something? Why target them?"

Neji shrugged an started to walk, "When they don't fire people will investigate, if there is people trying to do something it is best to hit them while they are still building their plan."

Both boys paid no attention to the fact that they were both not ninja, and that the enemy was probably much stronger than them.


"This is it! I see the firework set up right there!" Naruto pointed to the set up, it was in the middle of a medium sized clearing. There was a very small stone building next to the expensive apparatus.

Neji activated his Byakugan, "My senses are fuzzy, I can make out a large chakra in the entire clearing. We must be in the center of it since this is where the most is."

Naruto looked around cautiously, "Do you have any idea where the person doing this is?" Chakra meant life, and only humans can use it in such away. Naruto be dammed if a ninja beaver or something did this.

'You are getting distracted. Refocus.'

Neji turned his head sharply to his right, "I sense multiple signatures coming our way!"

Naruto watched in a battle stance, his stolen kunai at the ready.

The figures entered the clearing.

'Well shit.'

Naruto gritted his teeth.

He spoke slowly and seriously, "Neji. What the hell is wrong with them?"

"Their chakra pathways from the brain are completely messed up... I can probably disable them with the Hyuuga Taijutsu."

"We don't know what they can do. They outnumber us."

Neji took a few steps back so he was closer to the blonde, "I can identify them. Izumo is the other gate guard, Daikoku is my academy teacher, Suzume teaches special female classes."

He looked at the blonde concerned, "And... You know Iruka very well."