chapter 4

Journey to Whirlpool

(flashback no jutsu)

Kushina gave her clone strict orders to follow after leaving the kage tower. Mentally commanding her doppelganger to seal all Uzumaki jutsu, weapons and armor, and sealing scrolls and history. As well as having her acquire the joint Uzumaki-Namikaze scrolls. Contemplating taking Minato's original jutsu as well, she had the clone copy the rasengan and the hirashin scrolls as well as sabotage the original hirashin scroll's blueprint and description, should he choose to ever make it public. Knowing him, he wouldn't.

As clone Kushina finished completing her ordered tasks, she roamed the Namikaze estate and left her creator's wedding ring in the middle of the hall near the front door. Walking to the Namikaze armory she looked for items that would be useful to her little fishcake when he starts his training. Abstaining from taking any hirashin kunai, the clone took several kodachi, double edged tanto's that were bare blades, wakizashi, katana(s), naginatas, yari (as she planned on introducing him to sojutsu), daggers, and ring blades ( the blades Tira uses in SoulCalibur).

After acquiring said items she sealed them all into a huge scroll which she strapped to her lower back. Turning to leave, she made it to the stairs when something caught her eye with a gleam. Walking forward to inspect the mystery object in question she retrieved a small chest with golden trim. It's surface was covered in engravings and seals. What stood out most though was the fact that it didn't belong to the Namikaze, but the Uzumaki. The last time the redhead had laid eyes on it was when she talked to her great aunt Mito, but that was back in Uzu. So why did she find it locked within the Namikaze vault? 'master will want to know of this' finishing her train of thought she whirled around with a serrated zanpakuto she snatched off the nearest stand and held it dangerously close to a figure's throat.

Looking up, she saw a massive figure cloaked in shadows.

"What are you doing Kushina"? the voice spoke, leaning forward, it was revealed to be Jiraiya. "Why are you packing? Are you in a rush? One would think you and Minato would be together smothering your child in love and kisses." The sannin spoke. Noting the suppressed rage in the newly minted mother's eyes he asked her what was bothering her. So Kushina's clone relayed everything that occurred since she woke up till now. Not revealing that she was a clone or that she was already miles from the village with fellow ninja seeking more than Konoha could offer.

(flashback no jutsu end)

Kushina stood on the shores of Uzu, her family took to Naruto like he was a miracle from Kami herself. Kushina herself was happy to be home with family and away from that bastard Namikaze and Konoha. But she just couldn't keep from frowning after thinking over what Jiraiya relayed to her clone. The new prophecy was still fresh in her mind. Looking back at how her sochi was smiling from all the affection thrown his way, she noted how under all the attention his eyes would fall onto her constantly and flash a brilliant Amethyst.

Spending days in the Uzumaki archives, she knew of only one dojutsu that could manifest in her lineage but it's color was purple. Maybe Namikaze had a bloodline that even he didn't know about. It would explain the reactions she noticed from him. He was very receptive, and advanced very fast for three months.

Shrugging it aside for later, she picked up her bundle of joy and tossed him into the air before catching him, chuckling as he gurgled happily. Holding him close she smiled and walked to her Kaa chan and Tou san. "Tou san, about Naru's training. I want to start immediately."

...3 years later...

"Naruto! Get back here this instant!" yelled an outraged Uzu jounin, chasing the ever energetic redhead across the village, the jounin couldn't help but grimace at his situation.

(10 minutes earlier)

Niko was making his way to the kitchen, having had a long night pulling security along the island, he went to make a cup of coffee and eat his breakfast. In his moment of tiredness the jounin neglected to see his nephew hiding behind the corner of the counter smiling mischievously.

Niko made his way to the table with his coffee and quick meal, contemplating what to teach his sister's son today when he noticed something off. His jaw was numb and his tongue felt as if it was dipped in lava. His body began to drip in sweat as steam rose from his ears. His face grew redder by the second before he finally burped fire and ran to the sink, plunging his head into ice cold water. Snatching his head back gasping for air, Nico growled venomously as he whirled onto Naruto's laughing form.

The boy, sensing danger, dashed from his hiding place and instantly was on alert. Jumping over a leg sweep, Naruto twisted his body to dodge a jab to his head. Utilizing his legs he wrapped them around Niko's extended right arm and swung his torso around before pantsing his uncle. Laughing loudly, he dematerialized as his uncle struggled to not murder the boy.

(back to present time)

Niko dashed roof to roof, creating a clone to circle around and cut the child off, Nico smirked as he chased Naruto to his demise oops I mean capture. Kushina would kill him for harming her 'precious sochi'. Refocusing on his target, Niko thrust his palm forward releasing ruby red chakra chains that created a barricade around the youth, his clone doing the same as they jumped to his location and snatched him up.

"Listen to me you gaki, if you weren't my nephew I'd strangle you and throw your corpse out to sea. But I have a better punishment befitting you little fishcake" Niko dragged out breathlessly, emphasizing on fishcake. It was a well known fact that Naruto loved Ramen, though not as much as his mother and kin, he adored the fishcakes so much that he would eat plates of the stuff themselves.

Trapping Naruto under his arm, he jumped to the nearest training ground and dumped his troublesome nephew on his head.

"Naruto, stand and prepare yourself. It has been a long time since I last oversaw your training. Now show me the fruits of your labor." Niko stated as he unsealed a flamberge from his wrist. The blade was 4 feet long with a 6 inch ricasso. Gleaming silver and heavily engraved in designs and seals. The hilt was wrapped in midnight blue colored leather. Taking test swings to get accommodated to his weapon, Niko slowly slid into his kenjutsu stance.

Naruto for his part pulled out a golden cross hilt nodachi, a gift for his third birthday from his jii-san, it was bound in red leather wrappings with the symbols of water and lightning engraved on the blade. The blade of the sword had serrated teeth coated in the venom of black mambas that are bred in captivity of the Uzumaki SWIRL anbu division.

"Naruto, seeing as you plan to use your favorite weapon, activate the seal to retract the venom. You wouldn't want to hurt me would you?" Niko asked mockingly. "Oh you're no fun, kaa chan trains with me all the time and it never bothers her!" pouting, the young red head activated the seal before dashing at his uncle's ankles.

...Meanwhile...

Kushina had just woken up, overhearing her son and younger brother go at it early in the morning she could help but shake her head. She was glad to have started Naru's training when she did, it helped to curve his hyperactivity and sense she drilled discipline and patience into him as well as strategizing, she was able to ensure that he would diligently train instead of goof around. Though that didn't stop him from staging pranks on any unsuspecting foe. Many chunin, jounin and SWIRL have fallen prey to his devious antics.

The SWIRL even went so far as recruiting him for training, his trap making skills and pranks are so well developed that he practically is a tokubetsu jounin in that area. Though Kushina denied them the rights to fully induct him in their ways, she did let them assist in his training. The boy was a prodigy like no other. Not even Mikoto's boy Itachi could stand before him, and Itachi was already a SWIRL captain.(Getting tired of writing out swirl so for now it'll just be 'S.')

Adorning her she placed her black captain's mask on her hip. It had blue lining on it depicting a panther's facial markings, the eyes were a sapphire color and it sported a icy blue mane. Grabbing her favorite Katana, she looked into her full body mirror examining her entire outfit. Glad that she got the Uzukage to change the S. ninja attire to black and blue. Her pants were non light reflecting jet black with dark blue combat boots, her chest armor being a dark grey, cut short above her toned stomach. On her arms were dark blue greaves that fit like a second skin. On her hands were fingerless black gloves that had seals on their palms.

Proud of her own additions to her uniform, she sent out a small burst of chakra before turning in the direction of her little brother and son.

...Back in Konoha...

"Minato, you must see reason, why are you still denying your own son? What more do you need to realize how big of a mistake you've made this become? We've lost our spy master do to your ignorance, Tsunade has officially denounced the village and removed all Senju assets from Konoha.

Now what in Kami's name are you going to do to fix this?" Hiruzen shouted furiously. Having made up with his son Asuma, and his grandson Konohamaru, Hiruzen knew just what needed to be done. He just wished he didn't have to go behind Minato's back.

"Sigh...Sarutobi san, no matter what I do, Kushina and...my son will never come back willingly. Maybe we would have some luck catching them at a chunin exam sometime in the future but for now I believe I can have someone who Kushina won't kill on sight keep us in the loop." Minato stated calmly, although the person in question was at best not on good terms with him, he couldn't let that stop him from trying.

With a single snap, dolphin and hebi appeared at his side. without even looking back at them, the yondaime gave the order to find Danzo Shimura and bring him in at once.

Five minutes later the old decrepit fossil was standing in front of his desk. "Danzou...I have need of a certain operative...If you would, I wish to give a mission to Taze. Is that acceptable for you?" Minato stated, going straight to the point, which shocked Danzou.

"I see...as you wish Hokage sama." Tapping his cane, three root agents materialized from his shadow. "Fuu, Torune, Kira...you are to go there and secure Taze. Be on guard, he is extremely dangerous." Danzo ordered.

Turning back to Minato "I hope you know what you are doing Minato. That operative is vicious even for my standards." The elder warned.

Dismissing the unwanted words Minato turned to Hiruzen. "I believe it's time we upped the training of our ninja and kunoichi. We don't need Tsunade to enforce better studies in being field and combat medics. We also don't need Jiraiya to continue with spies, and I believe it's time that our so called elite jounin become true elites." Minato stated as he overlooked his paper work and the academy curriculum. "I'm doing away with the 66% failure rate. I want all failed genin teams at the academy in one hour. The age limit to start at the academy is now 6 and I will be adding seals to the academy to make training and learning go faster."

"The academy will have medics from the hospital that can be spared teaching and T&I will have employees teaching the importance of information gathering, espionage and torture. Also on how to endure and escape torture to the max extent possible...the shunshin will be added to the curriculum. The bunshin, Kawarimi and henge will be year one requirements. Year two will be taijutsu styles and ninjutsu. Year three is where they will take what they've learned and been taught and choose two fields to specialise in while the others they will be proficient in. Year four, graduation year, is where they will be field tested to determine their standing as genin, if any remedial is to be made they will spend two weeks in the academy which will be equivalent to one year. "

Minato stated with a tone that meant there would be no room for discussion. This impressed Danzo as he could see the pros and cons of the new curriculum. "Minato san, just what kind of seals are you planning to place?" Danzou asked for both him and the Sandaime.

"Oh, just some gravity seals, space and time seals to make the academy much more spacious and to make one school day equivalent to two months. The remediation chamber as stated before two weeks inside is equal to one year. Also replenishing seals so that those inside won't be affected from day to day exposure to the difference in both time and gravity both inside and out of the academy.

Each student will be given a band with a seal to allow each to study and train to their best which coincides with the gravity seal. Each body make up is different. That's where the bands come into play. They regulate the Gravity seal to one's body and adjusts it accordingly. They will also help build up chakra reserves.

In four years time. Konoha will be the strongest hidden village in the nations. Also Danzou, I want all foreign spies in this village eliminated, starting with one Kabuto Yakushi...I have had enough of that double agent feeding information to Orochimaru, yes I know all about it, I have also noticed a remnant sleeper seal placed on him that doesn't look like your work. It's time we cleaned house"

...In Otogakure

A chill ran down a certain pale man/woman's back. Hard to remember since he changes bodies so much..."Kukuku, I must say, things are about to get very interesting" the pale man said as he leaned back in his chair. "What do you mean Orochimaru sama?" a female voice asked curiously, a wet resounding popped occurred before she spoke.

"Who told you to stop sucking!" Orochimaru shouted while pushing the girl back down. Never let it be said that Orochimaru went for little boys, he just cared for whatever caught his fancy at the time. Chuckling to himself as he looked to his left.

"Kimimaro, be a dear fetch Guren, I do believe she could show young Tayuya hear how to work diligently" The sanin said with a blood cooling smirk.

...Back with Minato

"Lord Danzo, we have Taze. What do you wish of us sir?" Nodding, Danzo looked down at Fuu before addressing the Yondaime. "Hokage sama, the operative is here, would you like for him to come in now?" Danzou said respectfully, not going unnoticed by Hiruzen or Minato. "Bring him in please, this should be a good reunion" the blonde said cryptically.

As the door opened, a root anbu that hasn't seen the light of day in 16 year stepped in. Removing his mask eliciting a gasp from Hiruzen the man said two words that shocked the old monkey to his core. The man should be dead, he saw his body during the last war...but he couldn't deny what he was seeing...

Opening his eyes towards Hiruzen, he spoke...

"Hello father..."