p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Naruto strolled through the market with barely contained glee, his shiny new headband gleaming in the afternoon sun. There were glares and he usual muttering, however the boy didn't even acknowledge them; he was on cloud nine at the moment. He was a ninja! An official ninja! em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"I can't wait to learn some cool techniques! /emThough he knew better than to think that being a ninja was all about flinging Jutsu around, he couldn't help it; He was still a kid after all. He looked up at the stall he had stopped outside of. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Time for some ramen to celebrate!/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"As he ducked under the flap and settled down onto the stool, he wasn't in the least bit surprised to see that his order was already being slid across the counter. "Ah Naruto-kun, how's my favourite customer? I haven't seen you all week!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Hey Old man!" He returned in-between mouthfuls of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I've been preparing for the graduation exam em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"all /emweek and I haven't had the chance to stop by." Just as he finished the first bowl, a second was placed in front of him. And he began to tuck in with gusto, all the while explaining how the exam had went /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""- and then he pulled out my head protector and told me I'd passed!" He exclaimed, pointing his chopsticks at his forehead. Teuchi smiled at the blonde, and laughed along with him as he told his story./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well then, I do believe that such an achievement deserves a reward. This meal in on the house Naruto-kun." And with that he turned once more to the stove, stirring the broth and adding the few spices still needed to complete his recipe. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUsually his daughter Ayame was the one that prepared the broth, but she was shopping for ingredients at the moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"The boy grinned to himself as he finished his last bowl, shouting his farewells to the man who Naruto thought of as family. He ducked under the flap that separated the homely interior of the stand to the outside world and began making his way along the street once more. The sun was setting now, and he directed his feet towards the base of the Hokage monument. As he climbed up, he couldn't help but think of what was in store for him now that he was officially a ninja. Yes, he knew that he would be placed on a team under a Jonin and sent out on missions eventually, but with the veil of possible war overshadowing the village he could only imagine how things were going to change. Would he be placed on the front lines immediately?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFor all his confidence in his own skills, as meagre as they were in the large scheme of things, he knew that he was untried and untested, and the deep stirring in his gut told him that if he wanted to survive the coming years, he would have to work – em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"hard. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"It was with this uncertainty that he reached the top of the mountain and began to make his way to one of the stone spikes that emulated The Third Hokage's hair. He sat down and let all of his thoughts drift away as he stared out over the village. The receding light of the sun painted the village in a red glow, like the embers of a dying fire. It was one of the most beautiful things Naruto had ever seen in his short life. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Ah, I thought I might find you here." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMuffled footsteps followed the statement, and seconds later the Third Hokage sat down beside him, smoke drifting lazily towards the sky and he puffed on his pipe. Naruto turned to look at the man, and received a small smile; the dying light pushing the elderly mans features into focus. From his tired eyes, starting to sink into his skull, to his weather beaten cheeks and chin. Naruto hadn't thought his grandfather had ever looked so old. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Not that I would ever say that out loud – He'd kill me. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Hokage-ji?" Naruto prompted, turning his head rather reluctantly from the mesmerizing sight to fully face his grandfather. Inwardly, he was starting to feel nervous. The solemn demeanour of the Hokage was new to him, but he waited patiently for a response nonetheless./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Luckily, he didn't have to wait too long as the Hokage turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, his other still holding his pipe to his mouth. "Naruto... what we're going to discuss now is going to be difficult to process, and I ask that you save any questions you may have until I finish, can you do that?" Naruto just nodded, and turned back towards the sunset./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""It is striking, isn't it? Sadly I don't have the time to gaze upon such a truly wonderful sight anymore, the only em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"sights /emI see now are of the endless mountains of paperwork." He chuckled to himself then, and took a deep draw of his pipe. "I spent a great deal of time trying to come up with a way to make this conversation easier for the both of us, Naruto; unfortunately I don't think I succeeded. So I will simply start from the beginning." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Naruto listened intently as his grandfather started to speak. "When the Nine Tailed Fox attacked, the village was in disarray. Even though we knew it was coming, nothing could have prepared us for the sheer power that the beast unleashed. With a flick of a tail, buildings full of people were crushed like ants; its roar shook the foundations of the em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"trees themselves. /emThen, Minato Namikaze appeared in front of the beast, and with a touch, transported it far from the village." Hiruzen took a breath and steeled himself. "Naruto, you will presume to know the end of this tale; that the Fourth Hokage killed the beast, sacrificing himself to save the village. That ending... is false."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Naruto didn't dare ask the questions that were bursting forth in his mind. His nervousness increased, only matched by his confusion. But he stayed quiet all the same and let his grandfather finish the tale./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""A demon of that magnitude cannot be killed, regardless of the strength of man. They can be sealed, however. The sealing arts are a difficult and esoteric art, Naruto-kun. I can count on my hands with fingers left over the ninja that have earned the title em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Seal Master' /emin this world. Minato Namikaze was considered em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"the best. /emSo when he fought the beast, knowing that he could not kill it, had a solution ready. He would seal it into a newborn child. That child, Naruto, was you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, Hiruzen would have laughed at the look of utter disbelief on the boys face. As it was however, he nodded solemnly and continued to explain. "Now before you go and accuse yourself of being the demon Naruto-kun –you aren't. You em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"are /emits prison; no more, no less. The villagers do not understand – and so they fear the unknown. I know that one day you will prove yourself and rise above the hate and the fear. Naruto-kun, I have no right to ask this of you, but I ask that you try not to hold anger towards the villagers, for it is only their ignorance that holds them back. Now have you any questions?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Naruto said nothing for a time, and Hiruzen didn't push him. It wasn't exactly a pleasant conversation that they had just had. The elderly Hokage placed a hand on the boys shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze, before he slowly stood – Naruto could hear his bones squeak, though that was another thing that he would never say out loud. Naruto stood also, watching as his grandfather made his way towards the path. It was dark now, the sun was long gone and the fireflies were out en masse. In the blonde's opinion, the fireflies added an atmosphere that couldn't quite describe but it made him shiver pleasantly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Hokage-ji!" He shouted, watching as the elderly man paused, turning his head back towards the boy. "I won't use it - The fox, I mean. I won't use its powers, I'll use my own and I'll span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanbecome strong enough that I won't ever need it. That's the promise of a lifetime! em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Believe it!"/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Hiruzen smiled, and then he laughed. "Of course, my boy, I know you will." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"As he ducked under the flap and settled down onto the stool, he wasn't in the least bit surprised to see that his order was already being slid across the counter. "Ah Naruto-kun, how's my favourite customer? I haven't seen you all week!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Hey Old man!" He returned in-between mouthfuls of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I've been preparing for the graduation exam em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"all /emweek and I haven't had the chance to stop by." Just as he finished the first bowl, a second was placed in front of him. And he began to tuck in with gusto, all the while explaining how the exam had went /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""- and then he pulled out my head protector and told me I'd passed!" He exclaimed, pointing his chopsticks at his forehead. Teuchi smiled at the blonde, and laughed along with him as he told his story./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well then, I do believe that such an achievement deserves a reward. This meal in on the house Naruto-kun." And with that he turned once more to the stove, stirring the broth and adding the few spices still needed to complete his recipe. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUsually his daughter Ayame was the one that prepared the broth, but she was shopping for ingredients at the moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"The boy grinned to himself as he finished his last bowl, shouting his farewells to the man who Naruto thought of as family. He ducked under the flap that separated the homely interior of the stand to the outside world and began making his way along the street once more. The sun was setting now, and he directed his feet towards the base of the Hokage monument. As he climbed up, he couldn't help but think of what was in store for him now that he was officially a ninja. Yes, he knew that he would be placed on a team under a Jonin and sent out on missions eventually, but with the veil of possible war overshadowing the village he could only imagine how things were going to change. Would he be placed on the front lines immediately?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFor all his confidence in his own skills, as meagre as they were in the large scheme of things, he knew that he was untried and untested, and the deep stirring in his gut told him that if he wanted to survive the coming years, he would have to work – em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"hard. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"It was with this uncertainty that he reached the top of the mountain and began to make his way to one of the stone spikes that emulated The Third Hokage's hair. He sat down and let all of his thoughts drift away as he stared out over the village. The receding light of the sun painted the village in a red glow, like the embers of a dying fire. It was one of the most beautiful things Naruto had ever seen in his short life. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Ah, I thought I might find you here." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMuffled footsteps followed the statement, and seconds later the Third Hokage sat down beside him, smoke drifting lazily towards the sky and he puffed on his pipe. Naruto turned to look at the man, and received a small smile; the dying light pushing the elderly mans features into focus. From his tired eyes, starting to sink into his skull, to his weather beaten cheeks and chin. Naruto hadn't thought his grandfather had ever looked so old. em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Not that I would ever say that out loud – He'd kill me. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Hokage-ji?" Naruto prompted, turning his head rather reluctantly from the mesmerizing sight to fully face his grandfather. Inwardly, he was starting to feel nervous. The solemn demeanour of the Hokage was new to him, but he waited patiently for a response nonetheless./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Luckily, he didn't have to wait too long as the Hokage turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, his other still holding his pipe to his mouth. "Naruto... what we're going to discuss now is going to be difficult to process, and I ask that you save any questions you may have until I finish, can you do that?" Naruto just nodded, and turned back towards the sunset./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""It is striking, isn't it? Sadly I don't have the time to gaze upon such a truly wonderful sight anymore, the only em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"sights /emI see now are of the endless mountains of paperwork." He chuckled to himself then, and took a deep draw of his pipe. "I spent a great deal of time trying to come up with a way to make this conversation easier for the both of us, Naruto; unfortunately I don't think I succeeded. So I will simply start from the beginning." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Naruto listened intently as his grandfather started to speak. "When the Nine Tailed Fox attacked, the village was in disarray. Even though we knew it was coming, nothing could have prepared us for the sheer power that the beast unleashed. With a flick of a tail, buildings full of people were crushed like ants; its roar shook the foundations of the em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"trees themselves. /emThen, Minato Namikaze appeared in front of the beast, and with a touch, transported it far from the village." Hiruzen took a breath and steeled himself. "Naruto, you will presume to know the end of this tale; that the Fourth Hokage killed the beast, sacrificing himself to save the village. That ending... is false."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Naruto didn't dare ask the questions that were bursting forth in his mind. His nervousness increased, only matched by his confusion. But he stayed quiet all the same and let his grandfather finish the tale./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""A demon of that magnitude cannot be killed, regardless of the strength of man. They can be sealed, however. The sealing arts are a difficult and esoteric art, Naruto-kun. I can count on my hands with fingers left over the ninja that have earned the title em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Seal Master' /emin this world. Minato Namikaze was considered em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"the best. /emSo when he fought the beast, knowing that he could not kill it, had a solution ready. He would seal it into a newborn child. That child, Naruto, was you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, Hiruzen would have laughed at the look of utter disbelief on the boys face. As it was however, he nodded solemnly and continued to explain. "Now before you go and accuse yourself of being the demon Naruto-kun –you aren't. You em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"are /emits prison; no more, no less. The villagers do not understand – and so they fear the unknown. I know that one day you will prove yourself and rise above the hate and the fear. Naruto-kun, I have no right to ask this of you, but I ask that you try not to hold anger towards the villagers, for it is only their ignorance that holds them back. Now have you any questions?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Naruto said nothing for a time, and Hiruzen didn't push him. It wasn't exactly a pleasant conversation that they had just had. The elderly Hokage placed a hand on the boys shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze, before he slowly stood – Naruto could hear his bones squeak, though that was another thing that he would never say out loud. Naruto stood also, watching as his grandfather made his way towards the path. It was dark now, the sun was long gone and the fireflies were out en masse. In the blonde's opinion, the fireflies added an atmosphere that couldn't quite describe but it made him shiver pleasantly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Hokage-ji!" He shouted, watching as the elderly man paused, turning his head back towards the boy. "I won't use it - The fox, I mean. I won't use its powers, I'll use my own and I'll span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanbecome strong enough that I won't ever need it. That's the promise of a lifetime! em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Believe it!"/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; line-height: normal;"span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"Hiruzen smiled, and then he laughed. "Of course, my boy, I know you will." /span/p