To Those Who Would Achieve Greatness

An: Sorry that I haven't updated this story! I wanted to finish Black Ivy since I was close to finishing it. And college and my internship have taken up a lot of my time and I have had little energy to write in any of my stories. Well, here's chapter 4!


Chapter 4- Back to Training!

Naruto sat against one of the posts of Training ground seven. It had been four days since his team's C-turned-B ranked mission and Naruto was itching to get back to training. Most of the week went to testing his Kitsune-bi bombs and the Dragon Lance Jutsu with Sasuke, but one day he set aside to obtain a new wardrobe. Since his jumpsuit was ruined and he'd learned about his parents, he decided it was time for a change.

He was wearing a black short sleeve shirt under a black jacket with a red stripe running down the sleeves and the Uzumaki Clan symbol on the back in orange. It had a hood, and the inside of the jacket was, take a guess, orange. He wore black ANBU pants and black Shinobi sandals. The fabric of his headband had been changed to a dark black and was tied around his forehead. He had the original blue fabric tied to his right shoulder.

Sasuke was forced to get a new wardrobe, as well. He now wore a dark blue long sleeve shirt with the Uchiha crest on both sleeves. He wore beige cargo pants and dark blue Shinobi sandals. His headband was tied around his forehead.

Sakura changed her look as well. She now wore a dull red blouse with white cherry blossoms on it, black shorts, and a belt with a platted skirt attached to the back of it. Her headband held back her now short pink hair.

Naruto had to admit, it looked good. He was just happy it didn't cost him an arm and a leg. The old man had given him directions to a store he said wouldn't overcharge the young blonde. So after the conversation with the Hokage the day he learned of his parents, he and his team dropped by the place.

*Flashback Jutsu*

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke stood in front of a store entitled, "The Twin Dragons." It was quaint little shop. Naruto was wondering how he missed it until he looked around and saw that it was close to a bar that the patrons were known to get drunk on the "Kyuubi Festival" and go on their annual "Fox hunts"…with Naruto as their personal fox analog.

"Honestly, I walked by this place for my whole life, and I've never known it was a Shinobi supply shop," Sasuke commented as he stared at the store's name.

"What did you think it was?" Sakura asked.

"A torture chamber," Sasuke said simply.

"A torture chamber?"

"Yeah. Every time I walked by, I heard a guy and a young girl yelling about weapons and their uses against people or something along those lines."

Naruto shrugged as he walked into the store. A bell chimed as he opened the door. He bumped into someone. Acting on instincts that he built up the last three weeks with Kakashi's boot camp from hell, he spun on his heel, coming up behind the person. Naruto pulled a kunai out of his kunai holster and brought it to the person's neck as a chakra-infused hand stopped millimeters from his own neck.

The person was a Hyuga, perhaps a year older than Naruto. He had long hair and the traditional blank white eyes of a Hyuga and wore a white shirt and brown kakis. His left arm and leg were covered in bandages. His Leaf headband was around his head.

Naruto blinked and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout that," he said apologetically. "Reflex." He removed the kunai from his neck, twirled it around his finger, and re-holstered it.

He grunted as he removed his hand. He turned and walked out the door, shifting his gaze to Sasuke. They sized each other up before the Hyuga continued out. Team seven stared at the door until a whistle caught their attention.

"Wow. That was a site to see. Neji isn't easily impressed."

Naruto turned to see a girl, who was about a year older than him. She had steel-grey eyes, her black hair was tied up in two buns on her head, and she wore a pink sleeveless blouse, dark green pants, and her headband on her forehead.

Naruto turned to her asked, "What do you mean? He seemed agitated to me."

The girl shrugged. "Neji's always like that," she said. "He's my teammate, so I've learned to read his emotions."

"Yeah, I know that feeling. But I feel I've had the harder time, as I had to learn to read the emotions of an Uchiha, not a Hyuga."

"That's a matter of option." The girl smiled. "I'm Tenten. This is my family's store."

"I'm Naruto. This is my team: Sasuke and Sakura."

"'Morning. What can I do for you guys?"

"Naruto needs a new wardrobe," Sakura said politely.

Tenten raised an eyebrow. "Okay. Why?"

"My last one was destroyed testing a new explosive tag I've developed," Naruto told him.

Tenten's eyes brightened. "A new explosive tag? That's amazing! Could I see it sometime?!"

Naruto was taken aback by her eagerness. "Uh…not today. I have some…things I've gotta take care of. How 'bout tomorrow?"

"I've got a team meeting to go to then."

"Then how about four days from now?" Sasuke spoke up.

Tenten seemed to consider it. "Well, I'm not doing anything then. Sure! We can use the training area out back!"

Naruto nodded. "Sure. Now, where's the clothing section. I want to get this done fast."

"Sure. It's right over here."

"Tenten, wait," Sakura called out. She grabbed both Sasuke's and Naruto's arms and said, "These boys couldn't pick out good clothing for the life of them. As a fellow kinoichi, could I ask you to help me with these two so they don't stick out like a sore thumb during missions?"

"Wait, what?" both boys asked.

Tenten smiled slightly. "Certainly! I don't need two other Lees running around. One's enough."

Sakura stiffened. "Lee?" she asked tentatively.

Tenten's smile turned sympathetic. "Oh. You've met him, I see. No matter! Let's hurry up and turn these boys into actual Shinobi!"

Sasuke and Naruto were scared. If there was ONE thing every male on the planet knew instinctively, it was NEVER go clothes shopping with women. "Save us!" they screamed as Sakura dragged them to the clothing section.

*Flashback Jutsu Release*

…The males were subjected to three hours of hell until the two girls decided on what they were wearing now.

Naruto shook his head of his reminiscing. "Yo, Sasuke. You wanna spar 'til Kakashi sensei gets here?"

"Hn. Sure," the Uchiha replied.

"Again with the verbal tic," Naruto groaned. "You Uchiha are really annoying, 'ya know?"

Sasuke gave him a pointed stare. "I could say the same about Uzumakis," he shot back.

Naruto opened his mouth, but he promptly shut it and sulked. "Damn-it."

Sakura sighed. "I should've asked Tenten to help me with both of your verbal tics," she said. "Verbal tics are so annoying."

Both Shinobi looked at her and deadpanned. She got agitated. "What?"

"You say that…" Sasuke began.

"Yet you have one yourself," Naruto finished.

Sakura was enraged. "How dare you two! I don't have a verbal tic, Cha!" She immediately stopped. She replayed her sentence in her head and blushed brightly. Naruto and Sasuke were snickering at her. "I hate you both."

"Now, now, Sakura. It's not good to hate people, you know," Kakashi's voice said as the one eyed Shinobi walked up.

Suddenly, the three were up in arms. Naruto jumped forward and threw a kick at Kakashi's stomach. Kakashi grabbed his leg and propelled over the offending appendage. Sasuke ran up and jumped off Naruto's back and threw a punch at Kakashi's head. Kakashi grabbed it and again propelled himself higher. Sakura jumped onto Naruto's back, then to Sasuke's, and appeared above Kakashi. With a loud 'CHA!', she punched him back to the ground, creating a small crater.

The three landed. The Kakashi in the crater disappeared in a cloud of smoke, revealing a smashed log. Substitution. The three went back to back and looked around vigilantly. Suddenly, they sensed something under them. They jumped up, but they were not fast enough. Three Kakashis appeared and grabbed their ankles. They spun them in mid-air and slammed them into each other.

They grunted and fell to the ground. Kakashi dismissed his two clones and said, "You three were slow in reacting at first. Then slow in detecting my chakra. But, all in all, you did good." He eye-smiled at them.

They glared at him. He chuckled. "Now that we've all calmed down a bit, why did you three attack me?"

"We thought you weren't Kakashi," Sakura spoke up.

Kakashi raised his visible eyebrow. "Why?"

"Well, you were on time," Naruto explained.

"You're never on time if it isn't important," Sasuke added.

"And you three thought I was an imposter because of that?"

Team seven looked at each other and said in unison, "Yes."

Kakashi closed his eye dramatically. "Oh, you three wound me," he said flamboyantly as he placed his hand on his forehead. "Having no trust in your sensei like that."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Well, if you were ever on time before, we wouldn't have been so surprised."

"Oh, forget it." Kakashi waved his hand in front of his face. "Now that I am here, let's get on with your training."

That got there attention immediately. They still were apprehensive after their last training session with the one eyed Jonin. Naruto decided to speak up. "What do you want us to do, sensei?"

Kakashi scanned the three youths. "First things first: Naurto, I want you to make a couple of clones and work on your chakra control. With the amount of chakra you have, it's always a good idea to do chakra control exercises regularly. Then I want you continue with your katas for your Maelstrom Fist. After that, I'll teach you some Jutsu."

Naruto brightened at that. "Sure thing, sensei!" he said brightly. He created ten Shadow Clones and said, "You boys know the drill! Get to it!"

The clones whooped their agreement and got to work. Naruto fell into his Maelstrom Fist's first kata and started going through the others. Kakashi nodded and turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, we'll be fine tuning your Interceptor's Fist. You're still lacking finesse. Then a Jutsu or two."

Sasuke nodded and walked off through the woods to a clearing. Kakashi turned to the last team member. "Sakura, I want you to continue your chakra exercises and increase your stamina. Afterwards, we'll polish off your Sakura Petal Jutsu."

Sakura nodded and headed another way. Kakashi made two clones and one went off to observe Naruto while the other walked after Sakura. The original went after Sasuke.

Naruto had created another clone and was sparring with it. The clone threw a kick at Naruto's head, but the blonde grabbed the appendage and threw the clone over his head and into one of the training logs. Naruto bolted forward and sent a flying kick to the fallen clone, cracking the log and dispersing the clone with a hail of smoke.

Naruto created another one, and Naruto 2 charged him. Naruto ducked under a punch and shoulder-rammed the clone in the gut. He then sent a punch to the clones face. The clone dispersed, causing Naruto to create another.

This was a system Kakashi had developed for Naruto. He would fight one clone at a time and after the clone was dispersed, Naruto would use the memories of that clone to help himself perfect his fighting style.

It worked very well. Everything else they tried didn't help Naruto as well as this tactic did. It made Naruto smile to think that he was the only person who could use this training tactic.

After several minutes of this, Naruto heard the Kakashi clone 1 say, "Alright, Naruto, that's good for now. Let's start you on a new jutsu."

"Sure thing, sensei!" Naruto said cheerfully. "What are you gonna teach me?"

"First thing's first," Kakashi 1 said holding up a piece of paper. "We're gonna find out what element jutsu type would best suit you. This is chakra paper, and when chakra is forced into the paper, it will either shrivel up, crumble up, grow soggy, burn, or be cut in half, depending on your chakra's element. Paper burns for fire, cuts for wind, gets wet for water, crumbles up for earth, and shrivels up for lightning."

Naruto nodded in understanding. "Alright. Let's do it!" Naruto shouted excitedly. Kakashi handed him the paper, and Naruto began to channel his chakra into the paper. It split in half.

"Wind, huh? Interesting. Your father had a wind affinity, too," Kakashi 1 praised.

Naruto grinned. "Awesome! What's next?"

"Make a few more clones. We'll start them on some rudimentary wind manipulation exercises," the one eyed ninja stated. "If you can at least complete the exercise a few times, I will show you a few wind Jutsus I know."


Meanwhile

Sasuke was, at the moment, sparring with Kakashi. Kakashi was helping Sasuke coordinate his Interceptor's Fist with his Sharingan. He was a natural at it, naturally, being an Uchiha and all.

Sasuke dodged a kick from Kakashi when the one eyed Jonin said, "Alright, that's good. Let's move onto some Jutsus."

Sasuke nodded, but paused for a second. Kakashi noticed this. "Something on your mind?"

"You could say that," the Uchiha replied.

"What's up?"

"It's…something Itachi said…the day he killed my clan."

Kakashi didn't like the tone Sasuke's voice held. "What did he say?" he asked carefully.

"He said that if I wanted to kill him, I needed the same eyes as him. I found out that he means the Mangekyou Sharingan, but…in order to get them…he told me you have to kill your best friend."

That got Kakashi's attention. "Go on."

"Well, I don't want to be like Itachi," Sasuke continued. "I was wondering if I could unlock the Mangekyou while under a Genjutsu? That way I don't have to stoop to Itachi's level."

"So you're thinking that to unlock the Mangekyou you only need the emotional trauma, not to do the act itself?"

"Pretty much," the Uchiha agreed.

Kakashi sighed. "Well, it's worth a shot. But allow me to talk to Kurenai first. She specializes in Genjutsu, and I want her opinion on the matter."

"Sounds good."

"Now, let's find out what your chakra affinity is," Kakashi said, pulling out a chakra card. "If the paper crumbles, it's earth; it crinkles, it's lightning; it gets soggy, it's water, it burns, it's fire; it gets cut, it's wind."

Sasuke nodded and took the paper. It began to crinkle up. Sasuke smirked.

"Well how about that? You have the same chakra affinity I have," Kakashi mused. "Well, that makes it easier for me to train you. Let's begin."

Sasuke suddenly had the feeling that he was in for a world of pain.


Meanwhile

Sakura flashed through hand signs and called out, "Dancing Sakura Petals Jutsu!" Cherry blossom petals began falling around her. She charged Kakashi clone 2 with several petals turning into perfect images of the pink haired kunoichi. She closed the distance between her and her teacher and threw a punch, but Kakashi lashed a kick at her. Sakura vanished when the kick connected, leaving only a sakura petal floating down to the ground. Sakura continued the onslaught, and Kakashi 2 flawlessly dodged and/or blocked every strike.

Kakashi 2, suddenly, grabbed Sakura's arm as she overextended and twisted her around. She fell onto her back and gasped as the air left her lungs. Kakashi eye-smiled.

"Very good, Sakura. You're getting better. Soon, I may have to start using my Sharingan," Kakashi 2 said smiling.

Sakura gave a breathless smile and nodded. "Now then," Kakashi 2 continued and pulled out a piece of paper, "let's find out your chakra affinity is, shall we? You know what chakra affinity is, right?"

"Yes, sensei. It is the element your chakra is aligned with."

"Very good. Here you go. Just focus your chakra into the paper."

Sakura nodded and grabbed the paper. As she channeled chakra into the paper, it crumbled to dust.

"Earth? Not what I would've expected from you, but it's a very good element to have. We'll start you on Earth manipulation later. Right now, after I dismiss you and the boys, I want you to go find Kurenai at Training ground eight. A few Genjutsu lessons should help your jutsu out tremendously," Kakashi 2 explained.

Sakura nodded again. "Sure thing, sensei!" she said cheerfully.

Excellent! Now, I don't want to start your elemental training until your Genjutsu is better than it is, so, you may leave. Remember to find Kurenai at her team's training grounds. If she's not there, she'll be at a local bar just before you reach the red light district. It's frequented by Jonins of the village."

"Will do, sensei."

Kakashi 2 smiled as Sakura took off towards the village. He dispersed, sending the memories to the original. Kakashi smiled as well when his clones dispelled. His training day worked exceptionally well. Way better than he expected. Naruto had begun his training in wind manipulation, but still had a long way to go. He did learn the Shunshin and the Great Breakthrough Jutsus, so it wasn't too bad a day, in all.

Sasuke was starting in lightning manipulation and learned a few more fire jutsus that Kakashi had learned over the years. Plus, he took to a few lightning jutsus very well. All in all, Kakashi was proud of his team. He looked up and saw the sun still high in the sky. Just barely noon.

Okay then. Time to see if the latest edition of Make out Paradise is out, Kakashi decided, a perverted giggle escaping his lips.


At the Twins Dragons' Shinobi Supply Shop

Naruto and Sasuke had met up and were walking into Tenten's family's store. They entered and saw Tenten arguing with a teen about her age wearing a dark green spandex suit and orange leg warmers. His arms were covered in wrappings, and his hair was cut in a bowl cut fashion.

Tenten saw the two walk in and waved to them. The boy turned around, and the two male members of team 7 were shocked to see his LARGE…FUZZY…EYEBROWS!

"Ah! So these are the two ninja that have created a new youthful exploding tag!" the spandex suit shouted…loudly. He vanished and reappeared in front of Sasuke, shocking the two boys with his speed. "I am Rock Lee! Sasuke Uchiha! I challenge you to a match!"

The young Uchiha and Uzumaki stared back at the youth in curious shock. What was with this weirdo?!

Tenten took pity on them and walked over and grabbed Lee by the collar. "Sorry 'bout him, you two," she apologized. "He's too excitable, as you can see."

"But Ten-chan!" Lee protested.

"No buts, Lee! Now, I will have your new weights in tomorrow. I'll bring them to you during team meeting."

Lee got the hint. "Alright. You wanna see this new exploding seal. May I accompany you? The only other thing to do today besides training is challenging Neji, but I'm pretty sure he's in the Hyuga compound, and you know I'm not allowed in there after 'The Incident.'"

Tenten shuddered at the reminder. "Yeah. I remember. But, it's not my call." She turned to Naruto and Sasuke and asked, "Would you mind if Lee joined us? I'm sure he'll be good." She gave Lee a baleful look for good measure. He nodded quickly.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other and shrugged. "Meh, the more the merrier," Naruto proclaimed with a smile.

Lee cheered jovially. He began to run in place until Tenten bonked him on the head. "Cut that out!" she reprimanded. To the two other ninja: "Follow me."

Naruto laughed as he and Sasuke followed Tenten and a (somewhat composed) Lee behind the counter. She led them down a hallway until she reached a door. She slid it open and revealed a small training ground. "It's my family's private training ground," Tenten explained. "It's got several silencing seals around it and seals to prevent explosions from disturbing the neighbors."

Naruto whistled. "Powerful seals."

"They are. Dad says the Fourth himself made 'em," Tenten explained, causing Naruto to tense slightly. Tenten and Lee noticed, but they stayed silent on the matter. Tenten turned to Naruto and, with stars in her eyes, asked excitedly, "Alright! Enough beating around the bush! Let me see your new paper bombs now!"

Again, Naruto was taken aback by her eagerness. He shook his hands in front of him and said, "Alright, alright. Don't kill me yet." He walked over to one of the dummies and pulled out his Kitsune-bi paper bombs. "These are my Kitsune-bi bombs," he explained holding them up.

"Kitsune-bi? Why did you name them that?" Lee asked in a quieter voice.

"You'll see." Naruto placed a tag onto one of the dummies and stepped back to a safe distance. With a hand seal, the dummy erupted in blue flames. The two Shinobi that hadn't seen the tag in action began cheering loudly.

"That was so YOUTHFULLLLL!" Lee exclaimed.

"That was amazing!" Tenten shouted just as enthusiastic. "How is it made?! How much black powder is placed in the seal?! Do the size of the brushstrokes affect the-"

"Tenten! Breathe!" Sasuke called out.

Tenten blinked at him blankly. She took a few deep breaths and said, "Thanks! I needed that! But seriously, though. I'd like to know how to make those paper bombs."

Naruto tensed up. "Uh…actually…um…I'm the only one who can make them," he said carefully.

Tenten blinked, confused. "What do you mean? It's just a seal, right? I've made enough paper bombs before. Yours shouldn't be too difficult to make."

Naruto shifted uncomfortably. Sasuke decided to help out his friend. "Naruto…has a special type of chakra needed to make the bombs."

"Oh? And what kind of 'special' chakra do you need?" Tenten asked.

Naruto looked at Sasuke. They had a quiet conversation from between them;

Naruto: Should I?

Sasuke: It's your secret.

Naruto: And if they hate me and start trying to kill me?

Sasuke: Kick their asses.

Naruto sighed tiredly. "Listen, I can tell you…but you need to swear not to tell anyone about it."

"You don't trust us?" Lee asked.

"No. It's just what he has to tell you is an S-class secret punishable by death if you tell anyone," Sasuke said.

Tenten's and Lee's eyes widened. But they immediately schooled their features and nodded grimly. "Okay," the weapons mistress sighed. "I understand. I'm confused as hell, but I understand."

"As do I," Lee agreed nodding.

Naruto nodded and took a deep breath. "Alright. You know about the Fourth and the Kyuubi, right?"

"Yeah! The youthful Fourth Hokage defeated and killed the Kyuubi!" Lee shouted, throwing his hands up.

The two other guys were silent. "He didn't kill it, did he?" Tenten asked.

"Nope. You can't kill a mass of chakra; so, he instead sealed it. Into a newborn child."

The members of Team Gai gasped. "That's horrible!" Tenten shouted, appalled.

"Most un-youthful!" Lee agreed.

Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle connected in Tenten's mind. "You were the child he sealed it into," she told to Naruto, not questioned.

Lee's eyes widened further as he stared at the whiskered blonde incredulously.

Naruto fidgeted under their gaze. The silence was deafening to him. Sasuke stayed silent as well. Naruto decided to speak up.

"If you're gonna curse me and/or insult me, please hurry up," he said. "All this silence is killing me!"

Lee snapped out first. "Why would we curse you, Naruto?"

Naruto shrugged. "That's what almost everyone else does," he said. "Most people hate me for what's sealed inside me."

Tenten snapped out of her funk then and walked over and hit him upside the head. Naruto whined in pain. "While I can't fault you for thinking that way since it's obvious that you've dealt with shit like that all your life, you're still an idiot. I'm a weapons specialist! I use storage seals all the time! I know the difference between a kunai and the scroll used to seal it with!" she yelled at him.

"That's right! Everyone who can't see you for who you are are not youthful enough to know the real you!" Lee agreed.

Sasuke blinked at Lee. "Um, what the hell did you say?" he asked confusedly.

Naruto smiled. "Thanks, you two. It's…it's good to know not everyone hates me."

Sasuke smacked Naruto upside the head. "You really are an idiot," he told the blonde.

Naruto smiled sheepishly. He rubbed the back of his head and said, "Well, that's one thing I'm still working on right now."

Everyone laughed. Naruto felt a true smile grow on his face. Two more people accepted him for who he was, not for what he carried. Two new friends he'd fight to the death to protect.


An: And done! Man, this took forever to finish! Read and Review and tell me what ya think! Oh! I'd like to know what kind of summons you want Team 7 to have. Should I stay with the ones they have in cannon, or should I use something else? 'Till next time!