Chapter 4

Over the past few months Naruto had excelled at the academy. He was ranked at the top of the class in taijutsu and ninjutsu, Sasuke coming in second. He had formed a steadfast friendship with Tenji, Ragamaru, Kiba and the rather monotonous Shino. He and Sasuke had become good friends because of their rivalry, although neither would admit it, and instead they kept up the façade of rivals. Naruto had also peaked the interest of every girl in his class, although he was too clueless to notice.

Naruto had found himself in a strict routine, and after the school day he would also make his way to his family training grounds and work on his jutsus and taijutsu. Naruto had recently been thinking of taking up the art of the sword, kenjutsu, however when he had gone to the Konoha weapons shop he had been told he needed an adult to buy him any weapon other than kunai and shuriken. He had then asked Sarutobi and Kakashi to buy him a katana, but to his distress they both refused, giving him the same reason, that he was too young.

It was after one of these trainings that it had happened.

Naruto had made his way out of his family training grounds. At the time he had been contemplating whether or not to go to Ichiraku's Ramen stand or go home and make some himself, at the moment Ichiraku's seemed to be winning.

Suddenly he heard heavy footsteps on the empty paved street ahead of him. He was suddenly alert, wondering who it could be. He heard a muffled cry and cautiously moved forward to meet the person.

At first it was just an outline, but as the man moved into the torchlight Naruto could make out his features. He had long black hair, falling over his eyes, and Naruto could make out a shinobi headband tied acriss his arm, he recognised the symbol to be the one of the Cloud Village.

Naruto was about to move to the side when he heard the muffled voice again, and he was hearing it from inside a sack that was slung across the man's back.

"Help!" It yelled. The voice was somehow familiar to Naruto, and after a bit of thought he recognised it to be Hinata's. He had had few conversations with the quiet Hyuuga, but he had liked her instantly, and knew they would be good friends if she wasn't so shy.

With this new found revelation in mind Naruto stood in the way of the Cloud shinobi, slouching into the starting position of the Dance of the Rising and Setting Sun. He felt excitement within himself as he remembered that this would be the first time he was actually going to use the style against an opponent, but quickly reminded himself how serious the situation was.

"Kid, move out of the way! I haven't got time to waste here," the Cloud Shinobi roared.

"Put down the sack first, or I will not let you pass. I know you have Hinata-chan in there, so do not try and fob me off!" Naruto declared, his voice loud, clear and challenging

"If you don't move I'll kill you. You can't seriously think you will beat e! I'm a Cloud Shinobi and a High Chunnin!"

"Well, I guess we'll see how a Cloud chunnin does against a leaf Academy student, huh?" With that Naruto ran forward to meet his foe.

The Cloud ninja dropped the sack abruptly, and slouched into a taijutsu form. Naruto attacked quickly, aiming a punch to his opponents' head, while twisting up and throwing his other fist at the enemy's gut. The Cloud Shinobi defended Naruto's blows, and tried to respond with a kick. Naruto moved to the side and quickly initiated the first form of the dance. His limbs were a blur as he moved from form to form, posture to posture. The Cloud ninja grunted with exertion as he attempted to block the blows, failing miserably. Naruto took mercy on the nin, dealing a quick blow to the side of his head, knocking him out instantly.

"That was a chunnin?" Naruto asked himself, shock evident in his voice. "I didn't even have to drop my weight or resort to any ninjutsu! What a lousy fight! He's almost as bad as Sasuke-teme," Naruto ranted.

Suddenly he remembered Hinata, and felt a pang of guilt/ He ran over to the sack, and quickly untied the rope. He looked inside, and saw Hinata curled up in a protective ball, still in her white pyjamas.

"Hey, Hinata, it's OK. It's Naruto, and I got the guy who tried to kidnap you," he whispered gently.

Slowly she turned toward him. "Y-you got him? But w-wasn't he too st-strong?" Hinata asked her pale eyes full of concern for him.

"Nah, it wasn't hard. Look," he said gesturing toward the limp unconscious form of the Cloud nin, "I knocked him out. I should tie him up, and let ANBU take care of the rest." He walked over to the nin, and used the string from the sack to tie the man's hands together with his feet.

Suddenly there was a loud clapping sound of feet hitting the pavement, almost as if a stampede was coming their way. Naruto saw a bunch of Hyuugas at the front of the mob, and behind them an assortment of people from different clans, as well as a few ANBU.

"Quick we must find Hinata-sama," a Tenji said from the front of the group.

"You looking for Hinata-chan?" Naruto called out to the mob.

"Yes boy! We believe a shinobi of the Cloud Village has taken her. Have you seen him?" The man asked him.

"You mean this Cloud ninja?" Naruto gestured to the bound Cloud nin beside him, a grin plastered across his face. "I took him out ages ago, and if you're looking for Hinata-chan, she's right here." Hinata got up off the floor and stood up beside Naruto.

"Father Tenji-san!" Hinata said, running to him and grabbing him around the waist, hugging him fiercely, and he ruffled her hair affectionately in response.

One man came forward from the mob and spoke to Naruto. "You took this nin down? How, when you can be no more than 8, could you have taken down a ninja of such experience and aptitude?"

"I am a Namikaze," Naruto answered simply, a smirk across his face. The crowd shuffled forward, so they could see him better. A few gasps and whispers came from the crowd as they realised who he was.

From the back of the mob a single person started clapping, and slowly the whole crowd was clapping, and cheering, attracting a crowd from all parts of Konoha, until the street was packed. There were chants of 'Namikaze Naruto' from the crowds, and Naruto waved to them, with a huge grin plastered across his face. Once the noise had died down Hiashi stepped up to Naruto, Hinata in tow.

"Namikaze Naruto, for centuries the Hyuuga Clan and the Namikaze Clan have been allies, but ever since your father, the Yondaime passed away that alliance has seemed to have lapsed. From this moment on I Hyuuga Hiashi, leader of my house, renew the Hyuuga bonds with your clan. Know that we are forever indebted to you, and will stand by you in your times of need. There will always be a place for you at my table," with a short bow Hiashi moved back.

"I accept Hyuuga-san. Know that, although I may be the last of my lineage, that I too will aid you in your times of need," Naruto said. As he said this two ANBUs came forward from the crowd and picked up the Cloud shinobi, and disappeared in a whirl of leaves.

Another ANBU stepped forward and said, "Namikaze-sama, the Hokage would like to speak to you," Naruto nodded, and they too disappeared in a whirl of leaves.

A few moments later Naruto found himself in front of Sarutobi.

"Hey ojii-san what did you want to talk to me about?" Naruto asked.

"Naruto I just wanted to commend you for saving the young Hyuuga, and also comment on how well you handled that situation with Hiashi," the Sandaime said, smiling at Naruto. "I also wanted to talk to you concerning a few things about your family. Naruto, as you know your family is the noblest and oldest in all Konoha, and as I have explained to you, you have the inert ability to unlock your family bloodline, the Wind bloodline. As such, your family holds a seat in the council. If you want you could join the council right now, but at your age the other members are unlikely to support your views and beliefs. Now you don't have to, but I'm advising that you give somebody else your seat, so that they can represent you until you come of age."

"Well, I you think I should I'll do that," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head. "I think I'll have Kakashi nii-chan do it."

"Good choice Naruto," the Sandaime said, a small smile visible on his face. "I also have something for you." Saying this, he bent below the table and reappeared with a long box in his hand. He placed it on the centre of his desk.

"A few weeks ago you asked me to buy you a katana Naruto. At the time I said you were too young, but I think you have proved yourself to be mature and a capable shinobi today, for that reason I am giving you this." The Hokage carefully lifted the lid of the box to show its contents. Naruto gasped at the sight. Lying before him was the most beautiful blade he had ever scene. Its handle encrusted with gems of all sorts, all precisely cut. The blade itself shone a bright white. Its scabbard lay to the side, a completely gold case, also adorned with gems and crystals.

"It is the Fujin Blade and is a Namikaze family heirloom; it has been passed on to the leader of the clan for centuries. However, the blade can be wielded by few. Only those who the spirit of the blade deems worthy may wield it, and in the history of the Namikaze clan only one person has wielded it, and he was the greatest shinobi of his age. He was called Tylian of the Infinite Wind. This is a blade of legend, ad it has many hidden power, which only the wielder could truly understand," Sarutobi explained, pausing for breathe. "When you touch the blade it will test you, and the process is said to be most painful. If it accepts you it will glow bright white, if not t will remain the same, so take up the blade and let it test your heart and will Naruto!"

Naruto carefully reached out to the blade and gripped it firmly in his hand. At first nothing happened, but then a sudden pain pulsed through. It was a pain like nothing he had felt before; he had never thought that this type and amount of pain was physically possible. It was life knives tearing through his insides. It was almost as if the blade itself was within him, ripping him apart, studying his insides. He clung on tom the hilt, his knuckles turning white. His legs gave way and he fell to the floor, his vision blurred, and he could hear nothing. All of a sudden the pain stopped, and Naruto passed out, but not before catching a bright light from the blade. He fell into oblivion, his lips taking the shape of a small smile as he knew he had passed the test, and was to become the new wielder of the Fujin Blade.

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