Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto but I do plan to petition for ownership with the council.

A/N: Hiraishin! I was honestly oblivious to the actual spelling, thanks. Before we begin, need you to know that I think Kabuto is awesome (before the whole splicing thing). He has and could take on many A-ranked shinobi and fight them to a standstill. He is Kakashi level with less jutsu. Tsunade on the other hand will match all requirements for S-rank here, despite being out of practice, so OC again. And Orochimaru has to die, permanently; he will serve a purpose first though. As for a goofy Naruto? Maybe (definitely don't want a broody Naruto, almost forgot about that), he will have his moments because like I have to keep reminding myself, he still is only twelve. Another note for me, Naruto deserved to be chuunin even during cannon, he deceived the Byakugan countless times and won his match. Strategy plus a win! I was working with a lot of ideas and had to keep rewriting this chapter, but I think I got it.

Sorry for the wait, exams were hectic, anyways, here is my wilting of Naruto's strength and another buildup chapter to the Tsunade arc.

LIMITS REACHED

The hokage's and fallen leaf ninjas' funeral was held two days later, the rest of the elemental nations, even Sunagakure were told it was happening in a week. It would be another day before the death of the Sandaime would reach the other villages and three more days before any of them would reconsider taking advantage after taking into account the presence of Jiraiya of the Sannin. The sage was now considered to be the strongest ninja in the village. But by the end of the week, the pair of Sand siblings would have been interrogated in Suna, Uzumaki Naruto received an unofficial A-rank once the truth of his victory over Shukaku was confirmed. As the funeral began, news of the blonde genin spread and Jiraiya was no longer the main reason Suna wouldn't go to war.

On this day, most Konoha nin were paying their respects, even some of the ANBU were taking shifts to do just that. The village was still on high alert but there was room to grieve. Everyone paid their respects on this rainy day, some maybe not as personally as expected.

Uzumaki Naruto had never taken a break since the end of the preliminaries and today was no exception. He sent a clone to the funeral while his training continued, the hundreds of Kage Bunshin were all grouped into fifties. They were taking turns fighting their creator.

Naruto had spent all of yesterday truly mastering his resistance seal. Danzo had told him to concentrate on that alone after removing his gravity seal. Without chakra augmentation, his limit was barely the second level. When he activated the third, he'd crumple to the floor, unable to even blink, he didn't even want to think about what would happen if the gravity seal was active as well. The gap in the levels was insane and according to Danzo, he wouldn't be able to bridge it until he physically matured some more, two years, the man had said; Naruto refused to accept that, he'd do it in a year.

"Alright, next group." Naruto said. "Draw your ninja-to. But don't go for killing blows, I am the original."

The blond said this because sometimes his clones tended to forget who the original was. He was certain that if he created a militia using a vague thought like 'protect the original' that half of them would stand around expecting to be protected. Naruto unsheathed his ninja-to from his back and tried to ignore the fact that his missing tanto belonged there instead. Half of them attacked while the other twenty five flanked the ensuing battle, looking for an opening.

The battle royale ended just as an unnaturally close flash of lightning was followed by the loud crackle of thunder. Naruto had, on more than one occasion, had to release his seal levels to out-maneuver the assult of his clones, sometimes he even resorted to 'stealing' his clones' chakra blip for a kawarimi. When the last clone 'died', the blond cupped the bleeding gash on his neck. There were many other wounds but this one was cut the closest.

Three days should be enough time to rest before facing them. He thought as he walked into his kitchen and proceeded to bandage his wounds while clones prepared a meal with an excessive amount of vegetables.

As he ate, the boy grimaced at the taste but had to keep reminding himself that it was for his growth spurt that would hopefully happen soon. He needed to keep getting stronger. His gaze unconsciously met the words he'd carved into the dining room table after hearing the news.

Strength is not all there is in the ninja world.

Naruto still hadn't found the reference for the Sandaime's last words. For now he was content with believing it was a metaphor for how even the strongest of ninjas could be defeated by a weaker one. The blond wondered which of the two ninjas the hokage had been. Danzo had informed him that the hokage had died in his sleep, Naruto was sure that only few strong ninja got such a chance, he was glad that his 'jiji' was the one lucky enough to go out like that.

*flashback*

"Was that a wise decision?" Naruto asked, his sensei had just informed him that he could not be a part of the initial task force that was supposed to be attacking Suna.

"The alliance with Sunagakure may not be have been Hiruzen's idea but it will hold even in his death." Danzo said calmly.

"He should have pushed for the opposite," Naruto mumbled, "Forgiveness is not a quali—"

Danzo flared his chakra to silence his student's ramblings, "After Hiruzen was reinstated as hokage, he was just a shell of the man he used to be. When Kumogakure failed in their kidnapping attempt but claimed they had been wronged, the real God of Shinobi would have responded by sending an army at the very doorsteps of the Raikage and asked him to reconsider his position."

"What Hiruzen did, however, was allow the Hyuuga to comply to the demands of Kumo."

Naruto was confused, Danzo had already tested his knowledge of Konoha history. Telling him something he already knew proved no point.

"Do you know why the Yondaime was the most feared ninja of his time?"

Naruto shook his head, while going through the Third Great Shinobi War, his clones had accidently come across mentions of the Yondaime and they'd promptly made sure to skim through without paying any real attention to the blond hokage.

"He easily and singlehandedly decimated entire battalions in a matter of seconds, hundreds upon hundreds of Iwa ninja fell. Your father…" Danzo noticed his student's eyes harden for a moment, "is easily the most hated ninja in Iwagakure history. And so it is inevitable that once word gets out that you are his son…Iwagakure will make the same demands that Kumogakure did. What would you do, Naruto, if you were hokage and your choices were between sending men, women, children and entire families to their death in war or avoiding all that bloodshed by giving the enemy just one of your ninja?"

Naruto gulped, maybe he'd been slightly harsh on judging the hokage. His internal banter was interrupted when he realized that Danzo was still expecting an answer.

"Is there a guarantee we can win the war?" Naruto asked, hoping to give the objective answer that was expected of him.

"There is never a guarantee but we do have the full support of Suna and their jinchuriki, our ninja force is barely depleted and of course your victory over Sasuke and the Sand's jinchuriki will reinforce that the Yondaime's son," Danzo allowed the emotion to flash off his student's face, "is a capable ninja."

"Even if there was a big chance we would lose, I'd still challenge them to take my ninja by force." Naruto said. "Giving into their demands would send a message out that we are too weak to defend our own."

Danzo nodded with the rare small smile, "Yesterday we decided your fate, under normal circumstances the majority would be to extract the Kyuubi and hand you over to Rock."

At this, Naruto visibly tensed and he saturated his limbs with chakra; he was ready for the fight of his life. His resistance seals released and the less rewarding gravity seals had already been removed. Naruto was about to summon a mass of clones when Danzo laced him with his full blast of KI, he'd felt it before and gotten used to it, but the blonde's heart rate increasing reminded him that Danzo was way out of his league even for the purpose of escape. The KI stopped suddenly and Danzo continued.

"Another thing you and Hiruzen seem to have in common is your willingness to jump to conclusions without all the information."

Danzo paused to allow his student to calm down, "Good, now, the problem with that is the only non-fatal way we have of unsealing and resealing the Kyuubi requires an Uzumaki-like chakra presence. Another option is that we could loosen the seal enough for Iwa's arrogance to unleash the Kyuubi in their village; the only problem with that idea is that neither Jiraiya nor the Sandaime would allow it."

"I understand the Sandaime, but why would Jiraiya care about me?" Naruto asked, he knew Jiraiya trained his father, but surely the bonds between student and teacher were not that strong if Kakashi's reluctance to train him and Sakura was anything to go by.

Danzo ignored the question, "The other thing you and Hiruzen have in common is that you would rather go to war than allow the Rock their demands."

Naruto relaxed at the news.

"As for you gaining experience outside the village," continued Danzo. "I suggest you gain experience inside the village first, there are at least four genin that competed in the tournament that you would be hard pressed to defeat."

"Four?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, he knew there were probably six experienced genin in Konoha with chuunin level skills but wasn't aware that there that many in his bracket "I understand Lee with his inhuman speed and strength and…maybe Shino, depending on how long his bugs take to sap someone's chakra but what two others?"

"With the Aburame heir, you'd have to worry about more than just his kikai, the file we gave you is….severely outdated." Danzo said.

"You did that on purpose?" Naruto asked rhetorically, he already knew the answer.

"Next we have Hyuuga Neji and the Hyuuga heir, their Byakugan nullifies the effectiveness of your sealess Bunshin and Kirigakure no jutsu combination. Your speed might be your only salvation but as Neji demonstrated; your current speed alone cannot overcome Hyuuga taijutsu."

"So you're not going to tell me what else Shino has up his sleeve?"

Danzo ignored the question once again, "As for Lee, it is my honest opinion that you wouldn't even be a challenge. Rock Lee is truly vulnerable to very few ninjustu, none of which you have in your repertoire. His real enemy is genjutsu, which sadly, you barely possess the very basic understanding of. One thing is for sure, if you had faced Rock Lee in the exams, he would have killed you accidently."

Naruto frowned.

*flashback end*

Naruto knew he was being manipulated into taking the other genin on but he also knew that he wanted to face them even more now, just to prove he wouldn't be killed accidentally.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Outskirts of Uchiha compound

Sasuke or the hero of Konoha, as he'd become affectionately known despite his protests that were only perceived as modesty, awoke once the rain started again; he groaned into a seated position and grimaced at the ache in his eyes and ribs. The last Uchiha felt unconsciousness pulling him back again, the jutsu had nearly killed him.

Clearly, I trained more than you did.

The self-appointed avenger of his clan knew that needed to change. He'd caught himself switching out Itachi's name for Naruto's when internally maintaining his oath of vengeance. Now he knew the difference in power.

Itachi killed an entire family of elite Uchiha…Only way I see you defeating Itachi is if he's blindfolded, a cripple and dying of some disease all at the same time.

Sasuke knew he'd been a fool, Itachi had killed hundreds of Uchiha. Maybe not all of them strong but most of them were. He had done it all so effortlessly, he would need an army of higher level ninja to at least weaken his brother for him. As hokage he would have access to all the higher level ninja in the village. Nevertheless, to become their leader he needed to become stronger than all of them.

His Sharingan disappeared and allowed his pupils to roll back into his head, Sasuke fell back to the ground. A few metres away from him, the ground was scorched black, the source? An equally scorched tree that seemed to have almost been cleaved straight down the middle.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Council chambers

"The ninja academy has had large influx of civilian and clan born entries, the next few years will prove very replenishing for our ninja force." Iruka reported while fidgeting uncomfortably, "Most parents have gained new confidence in knowing that a civilian orphan can do so well in the ninja program and the rest are being forced to the academy by children who want to be as cool as said orphan. More classes will need to be built and extended."

"Thank you, Iruka-san, you may charge the costs to the hokage's office as soon as possible." Danzo had taken control of the seat of hokage and was clearly very comfortable.

Once the chuunin instructor left, the interim hokage decided to bring the meeting back normal, "I believe now you understand why Hiruzen and I decided to keep the Namikaze-Uzumaki heir's heritage a secret from the civilians."

The clan heads nodded, it had always been a difficult task to motivate civilian parents to send their children to the academy. Although most sent their children to 'protect' the village since the 'demon' was 'regaining' his strength. But with Naruto 'seemingly' an ordinary, yet skilled orphan but still civilian in every sense of the word, morale and support for the shinobi force had skyrocketed. Shop owners were rushing to donate money and give discounts to their shinobi. It was very much like when the war with Iwa had ended rather quickly and favourably.

Danzo allowed the clan heads and advisors a moment to read the files he'd distributed, it was a semi-detailed account of Naruto's battles during the invasion.

"How is this possible, Danzo?" Koharu asked.

"The boy was deadlast in his class and failed the graduation exam three times." Stated Hiashi, "Clearly these reports are a fabrication, I have better faith in the rumor that the Uchiha did this."

"Ahh yes," Danzo said, "But you forget, he was still the lowest ranking graduate a little over a month ago but managed to defeat the Rookie of the Year, Uchiha Sasuke, who I might add has had appropriate guidance towards the ninja arts since he could walk. Uzumaki Naruto, had nothing of a sort until last month. It is safe to say that he is easily one of the most powerful genin in the village."

To say that was quite a claim was an understatement because Konoha had ANBU level genin that had been accepted and trained by Anbu and Ne immediately after graduation. 'Geniuses' of Konoha that were given the privilege to partake in the 'Itachi program', it's true name was a long acronym that no one enjoyed saying as much as the actual meanings of its letters, its most famous graduate was Itachi. The program took promising academy graduates that were capable diminishing or hiding their empathy and trained them into jounin level ninja in a matter of eighteen months. Before being shutdown, Danzo's program yielded ten successful 'prodigies', six of which had gone on to become jounin then ANBU captains, the other four never felt the need to rank any higher, but they were genin only by rank.

"You seem rather proud." Said Shikaku.

"I should be," Danzo replied, "It was I who assisted in the boy's training."

The ninja council were nothing short of surprised. So a few minutes later when they were proposing a hokage, his name was not completely gone from their minds.

"I assume he has access to the demon's power?" asked Homura.

"Not at all," Danzo said, "and at the rate he's growing, in five years he'll be capable of matching the beast in direct battle much like Shodaime."

There was a collective gasp, some frightened at the possibility, some disbelieving.

"That's absurd!" exclaimed Koharu, she found it near blasphemous to speak of anyone with such high regard as the Shodaime Shinobi no Kami.

"Believe what you may." Danzo said with finality.

"I assume you have no intention of making his contribution in the invasion public." Homura said calmly. "Why is that?" The aged advisor could easily wrap his mind around the boy's potential for growth, nothing else could be expected of the Yondaime's son after all.

Danzo motioned to Inoichi.

"That would be counterproductive to his growth," Inoichi said, "Naruto has not had many instances where he has been praised, all that praise would instantly go to his head. For him to grow, he needs to know that his progress has just begun."

"Now then," Danzo said. "It's time to move on to other matters."

"I agree," Hiashi concurred, "What will we do about Otogakure?"

"Otogakure is nothing but a nuisance, they poured their best ninja into the invasion and now all Orochimaru has left is a few hideouts." Danzo said.

The Anbu commander, Shinko Takeshi, had confirmed the same with his own Anbu. "I will be sending regular scouting and destruction squads. A few bases in Rice Country have already been destroyed."

The ninja council was out for blood, they wanted Orochimaru's head and they would have it at all costs. Danzo added his requests to modify the ninja academy. Hiashi spoke about the need to have the Police Force reinstated with Hyuuga in charge this time around. Takeshi petitioned to get a promising chuunin in his forces. The Suna jinchuriki followed soon after and then they arrived at the chuunin candidates, but no matter how much they tried, neither could get their way. Without a true and defined hokage, there would be no decisions made. The council fell into a ruckus before the issue became apparent to everyone.

"I nominate Hiashi-sama," said Tagashi Kora, it was common knowledge that her clan had recently formed an alliance with the Hyuuga and they both shamelessly came to each other's aid whenever the cause arrived.

"While Hyuuga-san would make an excellent leader," commented the Aburame head. "I believe he lacks certain credentials, he is neither an S-rank ninja nor does he have the time to train up to that level."

It was usually an unspoken rule, the hokage was meant to be an S-ranked ninja and virtually the most powerful and famous ninja in the village. This rule allowed for the hokage shortlist to become even shorter. The ANBU commander easily met all credentials except for the famous part, Kakashi was easily famous enough but he had stopped training long before nearing the coveted S-ranked level. Many former captains were passed up as well, because of one of the two reasons.

The names were tossed up and down with little consideration after that, because most clan heads were avoiding the only two names they all knew actually qualified. On one hand, there was Jiraiya, a legendary ninja and the only known sage of the time; he would have been the first choice had his infamy around women not nearly measured up to his legendary status.

Normally, Danzo would not even have been considered for the position because of his dark and shady dealings. But the fact that he'd trained their greatest hero's son planted a seed in the minds of the clan heads. The Warhawk and or Shinobi no Yami was known the world over and he was most certainly S-ranked in all bingo books. The ninja council of Konoha allowed their judgment to be clouded, they felt Danzo had redeemed himself by training Naruto, they believed they had a debt to pay to the young Namikaze and by extension, anyone willing to help him. Danzo was seen as the practical hokage; all that was left was for someone to say it.

"I'd like to nominate Danzo-sama for hokage." Said Shikaku, the jounin commander had already deciphered what Danzo's motives with Naruto were. A hokage with volatile attitude towards Naruto would cause strife in both councils, this was for the good of Konoha.

The Nara instantly had support of his teammates and Inuzuka Tsume. The Aburame head soon followed and everyone could not help but accept their reasoning. It was all to protect the interest of Konoha and help Naruto.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-Three days later, Naruto and Neji

Naruto was sure of one thing, Neji had not fought him with everything in his arsenal. The Hyuuga seemed to be unusually cautious of him, it was almost as if he expected Naruto to suddenly snap and forget they were only sparring. Our favourite blond slammed his 'spiraling ball jutsu' viciously into Neji's Kaiten. He had closed the distance just to see what would happen. Both Hyuuga and Uzumaki were launched backwards as the explosion of chakra ripped a crater in the training ground and sent debris flying everywhere.

"That…was" panted Neji, "…very…foolish of you…Naruto-san."

Naruto shrugged and instantly winced at the pain in his arms' tenketsu, his legs had been hit as well but with focused chakra pulses he'd managed to force open at least five of the more important ones in each appendage. This resulted in a sluggish moving Naruto.

"I yield," said the Hyuuga.

The bout hadn't lasted long, it started off with five minutes of Naruto attempting taijutsu. The blonde was fast but clearly Neji's regular opponent was faster. Only when the 64 palms technique made itself known did clones start popping up everywhere. The blond and his clones were shocked to find not a single attack above the waist could close in undetected, there was however, a weakness, Neji's taijutsu appeared to excel best with a very rigid stance. So the Uzumaki started incorporating low thigh kicks, it was slightly more effective than his normal forms of attack. Slightly meaning the moment Naruto and his clones managed to appear to be overwhelming the Hyuuga, Neji would activate his Kaiten.

Soon after the blondes began firing of fire jutsu and a few offensive water jutsu forcing the Hyuuga into an endless string of Kaiten. Naruto could have easily attacked when Neji stopped spinning but found himself wanting to test how ultimate this defence truly was.

After his earth dragon bullet and fire dragon bullet combination failed he knew his jutsu would be useless, Naruto cursed himself for not picking a training ground with water nearby, he had yet to use the Water Dragon jutsu and feared he might never get a chance. Naruto had never learnt the Kunai Kage Bunshin or the Shuriken Kage Bunshin techniques, he found them redundant since he could easily make individual clones capable of replicating the technique with better accuracy.

Neji had enough chakra for one more spin, so Naruto decided to try out his 'spiraling ball jutsu'. Just as the Hyuuga's spin came to a stop once more, clones appeared a good distance from him and he found himself raised from the ground by a wall of earth. His next Kaiten spin drilled back down through the earth and found itself meeting the orb of chakra that none of the present genin knew was the Rasengan.

Naruto sat there and frowned, he had been wrong with his assessment before, Neji was easily stronger than Hinata. It could have been experience, resolve but Neji was simply better.

"You are truly a genius," Neji said finally, he had been shocked to find that Naruto used clones to overcome his slower speed and actually managed to hit him.

"Genius?" laughed Naruto, "I'm anything but, I have to work a hundred times harder than normal to be average, need to work another hundred times harder to even become on par."

"You mastered sealess jutsu in just a month," Neji argued. "A month is not enough time for the hard work you're implying. Not to mention that speed that took Lee years to nurture."

Naruto shrugged, he could see that Neji did not want to be dissuaded from his beliefs. At least the older boy never brought up fate anymore but Naruto swore he could hear the Hyuuga chanting it in his head.

-=-=-=-=-=-==-==-==-=-=-=-Meanwhile, with Naruto and Shino

"Before we begin, I ask that you not use any of your Bunshin."

"No clones of any kind at all huh?" Naruto shrugged "Then you can't use your kikai to take away my chakra."

"Why not ask me to not use my allies at all?" Shino asked.

"I assume that would disable you completely, I didn't see your match," Naruto began. "But you did something to impress my sensei and I'm sure it has nothing to do with you siphoning chakra. Until I see what that is, I consider that as your greatest strength, by taking it away, I leave room for you to use your other skills that can be nothing but Kikai related since you are an Aburame"

Shino tilted his head, "You have become increasingly logical and serious, it makes me…uncomfortable."

Naruto burst out laughing at that, the very idea that Shino found his 'logical' and 'serious' behavior uncomfortable was worthy of it.

"What is so funny?" asked the Aburame clan heir.

"You're…you're joking right?"

"I do not joke, Uzumaki-san."

Naruto sighed, "Never mind then, do we have an agreement, Sh—Aburame-san?"

Shino nodded.

Naruto lazily adopted a taijutsu stance, he didn't have to worry about chakra drain and also didn't have to worry about any actual taijutsu skills from the Aburame.

He was wrong! Shino shot at him at unexpected speeds and knocked him back with a punch that broke through what he thought was a steady enough block. Naruto's shock lasted no less than a millisecond before Shino's kicks and punches were upon him once more. The blonde was glad that the boss had released all seal levels before being created when an elbow sailed passed his head and he cross blocked a powerful kick to his chest.

"I wasn't aware the Aburame employed a taijutsu style." Naruto said.

Shino kept quiet, Naruto had not asked a question but even if he had, the blond would have probably been met with silence.

Shino roared back in with the taijutsu and met a more serious opponent that hit twice as hard. Naruto found himself actually feeling the affects of fatigue after a hit on his abdomen, Shino's taijutsu was virtually devoid of any defensive techniques. The Aburame usually took a hit just so he could deliver one as well, it was easily the most fun the blond had ever had while getting pummeled.

The two sprang apart after a quarter of an hour of nothing but solid taijutsu.

"How are you so…fast?" panted Naruto.

"Resistance seals." Shino said, sounding calmer than when they had started.

"Okay, then," Naruto said as he drew a kunai.

"I'm afraid," Shino began. "I will be dictating the form of battle now."

The Aburame ran through hand seals at the same time as he narrowly dodged the thrown kunai, he ignored the explosion caused by the tag that was attached to it and jumped sideways in his final seal just as Naruto's blocked kick tried to break the progress of his jutsu.

"Bringer of darkness technique," said the Aburame.

Naruto tensed as his eyes lost light, he knew about the technique. The only genjutsu he was absolutely sure pain wouldn't release him from. The Nidaime's technique, however, was useful only if your opponent wasn't a sensory type ninja. Naruto had undeniable proof that he fell under the more useful category.

Molding chakra, Naruto felt Shino move away from the chakra blip and had to curse immediately. Shino's kikai gave him sensory abilities as well. The blond rolled wide and far as he heard the telltale signs of kunai or shuriken, he wasn't sure. They sailed past the position he recently occupied and then the blond leapt back just as one of Shino's limbs sailed painfully across his nose.

The blond leapt back some more, he'd never encountered this problem before. He should have known. Just because he could sense a person's chakra did not mean he could actually see them, right now, all Shino appeared to be was a beacon of chakra with no actual form or shape. The blond cursed never mastering the Silent Killing technique.

Shino waved his arm in front of Naruto but the blonde's eyes remained vacant, Shino knew he needed to end this fast, Kurenai had advised him not to use this jutsu so early after mastering it. He could already feel the excessive chakra drain.

I can't see him attack. Naruto noticed in a panic as he leapt back again, probably dodging another kick or punch or elbow or anything. Shino probably hadn't done anything but close the distance to gauge his reaction, now the Aburame probably recognized his ability to sense him to some degree.

Holding the tiger seal, Naruto fired off a Water Severing Wave and expelled the wave in a sweeping motion. Shino appeared to stay where he was but Naruto was sure the Aburame was not dead, there hadn't been a change in his chakra. Naruto regretted agreeing not to use his clones now, they could have come in handy.

A Goukakyuu no jutsu later and Naruto felt a shuriken embed itself into his thigh and another slice a deep cut through his cheek, the rest grazed his form dangerously. The blond tensed his ears as he pulled out the shuriken, over the roar of the flames he hadn't heard anything.

With practiced ease, Naruto began to saturate the air with his chakra, the mist had probably already begun to roll in by now. Shino rushed him and Naruto wasted no time by allowing his hair to explode out in a spiky shield around his upper body, Shino halted and soon after that, Naruto was sure the mist had removed all the visible advantage Shino once held.

Firing of shuriken of his own, the blond was shocked to hear them clash against something with a loud clang, there was no way he blocked them all, the mist stopped all vision. Naruto closed the distance and swung what he believed was his most vicious kick to date. It made contact but Naruto nearly yelped in pain as it hit whatever body part that Shino had hardened.

He leapt back, Why does everyone have an ultimate defence?

Shino disappeared into the ground, but Naruto was in the air just as hands burst from the ground beneath him. Shino disappeared back underground as gravity dragged a stream of sharp water towards him.

The two could not actively engage each other without actual sight. But still they persevered, Naruto make good use of his chakra advantage and firing of jutsu easily.

"We're evenly matched." Naruto finally said, trying not to sound lightheaded. "You can't maintain this technique for much longer but need to and I'm pretty sure I'll be dead soon from blood loss."

"I see." Shino's voice said.

"We should call this one a draw." Naruto said.

There was a slight pause, then Shino agreed.

"Very well."

Only now that the adrenaline wore off and light returned to him did Naruto realize that he'd neglected his own doton techniques, specifically the Swamp of the Underworld technique. But that technique worked best with his clones.

Damn, Naruto thought. Shino took away just one of my jutsu and left me completely vulnerable.

The blond frowned, This guy, he didn't use his kikai techniques at all.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-==-=-=-Meanwhile, with Naruto and Hinata

Kirigakure no jutsu was useless against the Byakugan, that was what Naruto understood from ten one sided minutes were Naruto had his clones Kawarimi around the Hyuuga heiress and found each of them defeated by her, dealing nothing but grazing hits. She barely moved, simply stood were she was and danced through them with fluid grace. The clones just felt their attacks miss and then pain, Hinata could see them through the mist, they couldn't see her. The blond cancelled the justu and glared right back at Hinata's harsh Byakugan induced stare.

He jumped back a good distance, taijutsu was rather redundant here and he wasn't so sure he felt comfortable hitting a girl head on. It was time to abuse his repertoire of ninjustu and find out if the Kaiten or Hinata's fiery deviation was truly an ultimate defence.

Clones puffed into existence and Hinata rushed him, the blond and his clones fired off balls of water instantly and watched with easily concealed shock as she twirled around them like they were moving in slow motion.

Hinata's acrobatics were complete in time for the clones to create what was an impressive circle of bodies. Hinata moved again and the clones palmed the ground and turned it to a muddy quicksand just as the Hyuuga jumped, she landed on the mud without a splash and proved her perfect chakra control another surprise to the blondes.

Hinata wondered why Naruto was pausing in between attacks, his attacks were supposed to be better coordinated. She watched the mud dragons that had formed just as she landed and frowned.

He doesn't think I can react fast enough to defend myself.

Before the clones initiated the complementary Fire dragon bullet jutsu, Hinata's purple hair blurred as it was ingulfed in a regular Kaiten, clones and original were thrown backwards viciously, the former poofed out of existence.

"If you thought I was weak," Hinata snarled, "Then why did you want to fight me?"

Naruto took an involuntary step back, "I don't think you're weak, it's just that…you're a girl."

"I see," Hinata said as her glare intensified. "Then I suggest you pretend that fact doesn't bother you…or I will kill you?"

Naruto gauged her for a moment, then nodded. Without further prompting, he closed the distance between them a moment later and had already kicked Hinata in the chest. The blond grinned as Hinata dragged herself to her feet, the toes in his left leg were practically numb, even at that speed she had managed to hit him.

He dearly hoped that his clone wasn't engaging Neji in direct hand to hand combat, long range was the way go and he had the ultimate long range ninjutsu.

Creating ten clones, nine moved to engage the Hyuuga while another stepped behind him and a second later he was raised two metres into the air atop a wall of earth, arms crossed and surveying the battle safely. Naruto did not grimace one bit as his clones landed ten direct hits on Hinata while being immediately dispelled. Surprisingly, she took the hits without being knocked down once, Naruto suspected chakra coating as a shield. He was disappointed she hadn't used her fiery Kaiten once.

Loud booms of chakra later and Hinata was joined by five clones that multiplied into twenty. And just as Naruto expected, the Hyuuga spun into a globe of magnificent blue flames.

Naruto's clones barely lasted a second into the spin before the substantial heat turned all twenty of them into puffs of smoke. Naruto could feel the heat even from the distance and had already created a clone facing the other way to cover his escape and was glad to when the living firestorm known as Hinata didn't slow down. The blue flames seemed to be expanding excitedly, it turned wild when a lash of flames lightly lapped at his earth wall only to explosively turn it into rubble.

Naruto Kawarimi'd away the moment he lost balance and was lucky as not a moment later, most of the entire training ground was enveloped in a great detonation of blue flames. The blond, kneaded a lot of chakra and momentarily stunned, forgot that he could do the jutsu without seals, rushed through the seals for the Water Formation Wall jutsu. He ended at the tiger seal in time to spew an ungodly amount of water.

Did Hinata just commit suicide? Thought the blond as her jutsu hissed his own jutsu into steam instantly. The blond Kawarimi'd away from the heat.

It was only ten minutes later when the steam began to dissipate and he ventured into the steaming wasteland that had once been known as training ground 15 did he find the Hyuuga heiress in the centre of all the steam.

"Hinata?" Naruto said in worry, "Was that supposed to happ—"

The blond never got to finish as Hinata's fingers struck his chest, narrowly missing his heart and sending him tumbling to the ground.

"Damn it, Hinata!" He howled in pain, he didn't even feel like he could get up.

"We're not done yet. Get up, Naruto-kun." She sounded oddly commanding.

Despite Danzo's stimulating, Naruto still had a low tolerance for pain. He wanted to curl up in a ball and die…or disappear. He flexed his chakra and had to buck in more pain as the tenketsu was forced open. Naruto rolled out of the way just as another Jyuuken strike tore into the earth, right where his head had once been.

"Hinata!" Naruto yelled as he stared down his would-be murderer, just because he was a clone didn't mean he didn't value his 'life'.

"What?" Hinata said in a somewhat carefree voice, "I said would kill you if you went easy on me."

Naruto scowled, when did she become so psychotic? "Jiraiya-sensei did say I'd fall victim to beautiful assassins."

Hinata blushed but wasn't surprised to see Naruto's feet simultaneously soaring at both sides of her head, trying to take advantage of her distraction. She hated his opportunistic clones!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Naruto and Lee

With all his seal levels off, Naruto was easily faster than Lee. This advantage was bridged easily by the older genin when he too dropped his weights. Clones, Naruto realized, were the only reason he actually stood a chance. The green clad youth had gotten it into his head that Naruto was holding back and so proceeded to youthfully encourage him to show his true abilities, ten clones were destroyed a minute. Naruto soon realized the difference between him and Lee, the green genin's body had been conditioned for more years and that coupled with his natural size advantage left the smaller Naruto feel like he was fighting a brick wall that could hit back.

Naruto had to hit twice as hard to get him to even grunt when blocking and had to block offensively. It was ridiculous to block Lee's attacks close to his body, it needed to be as far away from his body as possible.

And so Naruto and his clone were stuck applying a makeshift splint on his left wrist, he and his clone had each used only their right hand to achieve the feat, both found it impressive. Keeping his left hand semi-useful was going to take a lot of chakra and pain.

Lee dealt with the clones sent to keep him occupied with some actual difficulty but it seemed that the lucky blows his clones actually managed to hit him with only made the green clad youth more excited.

Naruto sped through a few hand seals and a clone came into existence, rushing the charge of the older genin. Lee punched through the clone with relative ease but instead of poofing, the doppleganger turned into a muddy blob that instantly began its job of constricting it's victim.

The Doton: Kage Bunshin had less chakra than he did but wasted a significant amount because of the nature manipulation. Naruto panted in relief as the sounds of Lee's struggle made it increasingly apparent that there was no removing the blob.

If this was anyone else, Naruto would have stood back and watched the mud choke its victim, the person could escape with a Kawarimi but when you were being mauled by a living piece of dirt, all rational thought went out the window. However, Lee could not use ninjutsu but Naruto did not dare underestimate him.

Clones appeared at his sides and they all fired Phoenix flower jutsu with little worry, Lee could take it. Lee dodged the only way he was sure was the safest, up! But that was exactly what he and his clones had expected, six Goukakyuu no jutsu shot up towards the still struggling teen. Gravity was bringing him down towards the flames.

Naruto did not know how Lee managed it so quickly but before the flames even closed in, the teen had maneuvered himself with his head facing down and by the time the flames should have touched him, the youth had already detonated into a highspeed rotation that eerily seemed similar to kaiten. Lee's shout drowned out the roar of the flames, as said flames took shape around him in a flaming meteor.

"One man primary lotus!"

A fireball or two had missed the charismatic pull of the spin but Naruto was sure that if he had stayed in his position any longer, he would have been obliterated along with his clones. Lee's fiery crash kicked up dust magnificently.

That technique's supposed to be physically exhausting. Naruto hoped, but knowing his luck, Lee probably did that technique as a warm up every day.

Naruto was shocked to find Lee actually panting, the singed teen was removing the blackened layer of burnt mud. When Lee was done, fatigue faded away instantly.

"Yosh!" he said. "That was most youthful, Naruto-kun, I can no longer fight you in my present state."

The blond didn't know what it was that saved him, instinct, skill, precognition…luck? It was probably luck. Lee opened the first gate: the Gate of Opening just as Naruto's legs began to wobble and the pre-teen dropped to a knee not a millisecond before the green blur's kick would have smashed into his neck.

Naruto flooded his limbs with more chakra, the tingly feeling he received reminded him that the chakra burns were soon to come. The blond summoned a dozen clones then began saturating the air with his chakra as Lee ran at his clones. And the difference was clear as the clones were now capable of dodging and retaliating.

"You shouldn't let your guard down just because you opened the first gate." Naruto said as the mist began to slowly move in.

"Yosh!" Lee said, after getting up. He had forgotten his taijutsu combos in favour of simply attacking once and dispelling the clones or taking down their creator.

It was with that word that Lee's skill in taijutsu became apparent, the green genin danced around his clones attacks and began to pop them. The clones were seemingly faster but they got in each other's way, they all thought the same way and in many cases attacked the same way.

When the last of the clones popped, Lee settled into his taijutsu stance, his muscles were begging for respite but the genin willed them onwards with little difficulty.

Naruto wasn't shocked, he knew this would happen. The blond flexed his chakra and the mist in the area thickened to obscure all vision.

Naruto brought his hands up in the cross seal and a mass of clones popped into existence and ran to attack the fluctuating chakra that represented Lee in waves.

I should have mastered the silent killing technique. Naruto regretted.

His clones were essentially in the dark, guessing where Lee's body or chakra was but because Lee's 'body' fluctuated there were many cases where attacks missed by mere centimetres because the 'body' had been larger than normal. When punches and kicks landed, it was usually on irrelevant targets like shoulders. When Lee's chakra was small, his clones overstretched their attacks, kicks ended with his thighs shoving Lee back with the feet missing uselessly, punches were the ones that actually made more effective contact in these cases.

Just as the clones were getting an idea of how to properly attack without wasting effort, Lee began to dodge as well. The green genin was actively engaging Naruto's clones in a taijutsu match while blind.

"How the hell are you doing this?" demanded one of the clones, just before its nose was punched broken and it dispelled.

More clones poofed then Lee roared an answer, "I can hear you!"

The original took an involuntary step back at that, Lee wasn't simply just dodging he was countering and completely intercepting attacks and something told him that Lee had just learnt to do that in the few seconds since the jutsu activated.

He created a clone and it dispelled and relayed his orders. His clones stood completely still, concentrating chakra. Naruto smiled and formed three clones with a clear instruction in mind, he needed this perfectly synchronized. What followed next was anarchy, loud booms of chakra as the created clones proceeded to disorient Lee by exploding around the mist immediately after each other in an ear deafening succession. Naruto's clones did not hold back as they charged Lee in a barrage. An Uzumaki Naruto Barrage of unrelenting and uncomposed kicks and punches, one even got a head-butt in. The clones did not know what they hitting as long as they got in a hit, some even popped each other: anarchy.

Five seconds, that's how long it took for Lee's chakra to explode out, the second gate opened and all clones in the vicinity were destroyed. The mist, in the inexperienced hands of Naruto, could not handle such intrusive chakra and was easily disrupted.

Naruto cursed and Lee's blurry form soared at him, the blond side stepped and just barely dodged the attack. Lee was on another level now, Naruto knew it was the distance that had given him the chance to dodge that.

"Amazing!" Lee said in his transformed voice. "Even at this speed, you are capable of easily dodging my attacks, I clearly have to go all out in order to even match you."

"Whoa whoa whoa, Lee!" Naruto pleaded to his chakra oppressive opponent. "There's no need for this, you won. I…I forfeit!"

"Nonsense," Lee replied. "You're just being modest, let us let our flames of youth burn!"

Naruto cursed and wasted no time as clones appeared, they all poured all chakra into the technique as the Mud wall jutsu was erected simultaneously around Naruto. The clones disappeared immediately, leaving their creator digging into his pouch as he hoped the wall around him would protect him long enough.

Meanwhile outside the wall Lee had opened four of the eight gates and was going on his fifth chakra gate.

Naruto was sure Lee would have to come up and over the wall to get to him, he stood perfectly in the centre of his makeshift compound, everything was prepared and so he powered a technique that he had yet to ask the name of. Normally he wouldn't use this directly against a person he didn't intend to kill but Lee wasn't exactly going easy on him.

The finale probably took no more than five seconds. Naruto sensed Lee running circles around him, fifteen to twenty times, probably fifty, he was too agitated to actually care. He tensed as Lee ran straight at the wall, hoping against hope Lee couldn't scale the wall so fast that it would be a blur to him.

He won't be able to speed through falling. Thought the blond. The moment he appears I'll ac—

His train of thought was cut off as Lee came through the side of the wall with nothing but a kick, the blond didn't see it though, all he remembered was one side of the wall exploding and then he was sent out the other side of the wall, back first and head second. The concussion was actually a welcome painkiller as he soared through the air and skidded to a stop.

Naruto eventually gained the courage to lift his head, he had landed on his left arm. In his delirium he saw the exhausted Lee step past the rubble that had once housed his security.

"Move!"

Rock Lee was too dazed to respond appropriately, he was also too dazed to hear the hiss of exploding tags beneath the rubble.

The ANBU captain codenamed Yamato had already been on his way to take the boys to the hospital after what he deemed was the end of the fight. Naruto was his main priority, so he left the green genin to the jounin, he saved his charge as Gai did the same for Lee and within an hour, the boys were in the hospital.

"You ribs and head should be fine," exclaimed the medic nin. "But that's as far as I can heal your wrist and jaw. Your jaw should be fine but avoid using the wrist at all for a month. No training at all!"

"You heard that Anbu-san?" Naruto asked smugly. "Tell Danzo-sensei my five day long vacation just got extended."

Uzuki Yugao smiled behind her mask, she hadn't been on shift but Yamato had given her a rather detailed report about the blonde's fight. Although impressed by his exploits, the Anbu decided to horrify Naruto before leaving.

"I see," she said. "Danzo-sama will be pleased to have a reason to triple your training regimen next month."

Naruto paled and then, the purple haired Anbu was gone.

"You should really be careful, Naruto-kun." Said the nurse that had arrived to wrap up his wrist, "I was really worried when I heard you were injured."

Naruto's eyebrow raised ominously at that, this change in behavior from the ninja and some civilians was very uncomfortable. He wasn't sure he liked it at all, since less than two weeks ago these people were the ones that looked down their noses at him, glared and or disregarded him as a non-entity. He chose not to dwell on that because he was sure that road usually led him to anger against people who would frankly be a waste to even concentrate on. The nurse seemed to notice what she'd said and was instantly taken back by the look in the teen's eyes.

She wanted to be one of the first to forgive him, "I forg—"

Her words were drowned out by the boisterous greeting of Might Gai. She was forced out by the disregard Naruto showed for her almost forgiveness. From the moment she'd claimed her worry for him, he'd looked through her and was easily ushered out by Naruto's uncanny ability to completely snub her.

"That was very unyouthful." Gai said.

Naruto shrugged and allowed Gai to explain to him why he was here. It shocked Naruto to hear that the man's student was gearing up for a rematch by increasing his training, apparently Gai felt it necessary to warn him. He was right.

*flashbook*

"You and Lee are quite alike," Gai said. "Your fighting style though…"

"Yeah, yeah" Naruto waved it off. "It's the most hideous thing you've seen and makes you weep tears of disgust; I've heard it all from either of my sensei."

"No!" Gai was now on his feet, striking a pose. "Your flames of youth burn bright and true in the art of taijutsu! You incorporate unpredictability with decisive hits magnificently, its eerily similar to the Drunken Fist."

"Drunken Fist? What's that?" He hadn't come across such a thing in his studies.

"Drunken Fist was one of the few taijutsu unpredictable enough to avoid being predicted by the Sharingan, the speed of the user was rumored to be irrelevant to its effectiveness" Gai said in full lecture mode, "it is, however, extinct and has very few documentations. I've only known of one person who can use it, Lee."

"Who taught Lee?" Naruto asked eagerly.

He listened intently as the man described an incident where Lee went berserk and managed to land a solid uncountered hit on Neji and even escape the capture of his sensei just because of a small sip. Apparently, when Lee was old enough, they were going to use his drunken state as a basis to create a kata around the style. Naruto could not wait that long.

*flashback end*

A taijutsu effective enough to hit a Hyuuga or Sharingan user without receiving a counter in return or being predicted was quite impressive, especially for someone who needed to hit people without having to flood his muscles with an unusual amount of chakra just to beat up other genin; maybe he wouldn't have to maintain his insane diet any longer all he needed was a sip of alcohol.

So the blond went around town, asking bartenders to give him the one thing that would surely prove him capable of easily harnessing the Drunken Fist. It was met with an unexpected denial rate of 100%. Most people truly did not want to serve him because he was a minor; others pretended that was the reason to mask their hate for him.

Naruto would then tap his forehead protector, "Old enough to kill, old enough to drink." He would argue, but to no avail. One bartender, hate gleaming in his eyes, actually tried to smugly ask him if he's ever killed anyone.

"I killed quite a few people in the invasion this week," Naruto said lightheartedly, then KI flashed through the room. "In fact, they say I also managed to kill quite a few hundred ninja and civilians alike on the day I was born. It would only be natural that if I can do that as an infant then a few years later should make me the perfect killing machine."

The idiot then tried to serve Naruto because he was 'sorry'. Naruto left the establishment annoyed and in no mood to ask anyone in Konoha for help anymore, maybe he'd look around the mansion for some but as a contingency, he had clones researching a way to make him the drink. A majority of Konoha smiled and waved at him during his trek and Naruto found himself involuntarily frowning. He decided to find the one person that could easily cheer him up.

"Let me guess," Ino said when she noticed his hand. "Training accident?"

"Yep," Naruto said. "I'll tell you all about it if you buy me a bowl of ramen."

Ino crossed her arms in a pout, "Only if we get ice cream first."

Naruto chuckled, she had probably done that on purpose to cheer him up, "No chance, I hate ice cream. Besides, we had ice cream first last time, it's ramen first today."

If possible, Ino's pout increased in intensity. Naruto held his stare, refusing to be bullied again by the Yamanaka princess. The moment she got her ice cream, she would disappear on her duties to buy ramen and only reappear after he was done paying.

"Fine!" she growled. "but this is not over, Uzumaki."

"So what's got you all upset," she finally asked after he lost another battle of witty banter.

"I need to get some sake so that I can master a taijutsu technique."

Ino shrugged, not at all surprised by his answer. Naruto usually spoke about training sessions that were going unwell for him, she had become an advisor of sorts. And usually a confidant for how many new ways he had found to blow things up, but he never went into specifics.

"Well there's no chance anyone will serve you in Konoha," she said. "Daddy says Konoha has a strict policy against underage drinking."

"It's so weird that you still call your father 'daddy'," Naruto chuckled after a while.

"Well what am I supposed call him," Ino growled. "He is my daddy."

"Hinata calls hers 'father' but easily not as girly as your thing." Naruto said, wondering what he would have called Minato.

"Sh—shut up."

It was a moment later, when they rounded the corner, that Naruto and Ino were faced with the sight of one Subaku no Gaara.

Naruto did not know what happened, from the moment he saw Gaara, his body just reacted. A clone poofed in front of Ino by the time his ninja-to was already streaming towards Gaara's neck, fortunately or unfortunately, the blade was blocked by a blond haired Anbu's tanto.

Hmm, I wasn't going to stop. Naruto thought as he stared into the clearly alarmed eyes of Gaara.

*flashback*

"Is it safe to allow him to roam around?" Naruto asked.

"His seal has been modified to remove his…urges." Danzo said. "You are not allowed to kill him, that should be abundantly clear."

Naruto gave his sensei a quizzical look, what made Danzo think he would try to kill Gaara.

"Okay," Naruto said. "Not sure I can promise the same when it concerns Sasuke."

"Oh," Danzo smirked in that annoying way that Naruto knew he was going to make a good point. "In your mission to Nami no kuni, was it not worrying when he almost died? I thought someone like you would avoid such a situation. Maybe Kakashi's reports of how you were distraught at the idea that he might have been dead were fabricated."

Naruto frowned; Danzo would make a terrible motivational speaker.

*flashback end*

Naruto remembered Sasuke 'saving' him on the bridge in the wave. His life hadn't exactly been in danger but Sasuke didn't know that, if he could forgive Sasuke for shoving an assassination jutsu into his chest then maybe he could forgive Gaara for trying to kill him by releasing a tailed beast.

Gaara's Anbu guard tensed, "Genin Uzumaki, please sheath your sword and calm down."

Naruto blinked and the KI he'd been involuntarily releasing vanished, the blond sheathed his sword and motioned his clone to disperse. The Anbu followed suit but did not withdraw.

"Sorry about that, Gaara," Naruto said with a chuckle that made Ino look at him like he was crazy. "Friends?"

The blond held out his hand. The Anbu stayed on alert and Gaara gave a start. The redhead raised his hand to meet Naruto's but was instantly stopped by Ino slapping it away.

"No!" she said viciously, "He just tried to kill you, you shouldn't just accept his friendship offer right away."

"I sh—shouldn't?" asked the perplexed Gaara, only his eyes appeared to show the emotion.

Naruto sighed; he knew exactly where this was going. "Ino, you made a promise."

"I know, but he didn't." Ino smirked and turned back to Gaara. "No you shouldn't, Gaara. Naruto-kun just tried to kill you; in order for you to truly be friends he must first buy us a round of ice cream."

Gaara, as if in a hypnotic trance, nodded his head and made his demands known: ice cream was on the menu today and Naruto was treating.

"What happened to Ino-san?" asked the redhead as he ordered another bowl of ramen.

Naruto sighed and was glad to see that Gaara no longer winced at the sound, "She'll be back the moment I finish paying."

"You tried to kill me because I wanted to end you existence."

Naruto looked at Gaara for a moment, "I never understood that logic, just because someone tries to kill you. That isn't enough for me, the first time I tried to kill you was because someone told me to and today it was probably because someone told me I couldn't."

"And now you no longer have that wish?" Gaara asked.

"Of course I do," Naruto said, then noticed Gaara's reaction so he added. "But I'm starting to believe he already knew I'd try to kill you if he told me not to or maybe he originally thought I planned to kill you. Either way, I think he still got what he wanted."

"I see, you do not want to be controlled so you take the least expected route of action," Gaara said, he was surprised he hadn't thought of it himself. "That is why you instantly befriended me."

It wasn't a completely incorrect assessment. Naruto knew that Danzo said things in a suggestive way to get him to do things, the blond had no choice but to make sure that would never happen.

It was only three bowls later when both boys departed from the ramen stand did Ino reappear, "Hey Naru-kun, Gaara."

Naruto growled, "Don't you Naru-kun me, that was wrong."

"Sorry, will make it up to you next time." Ino said with a giggle.

Naruto sighed, she always said that. Ino rarely paid for anything herself. As the three walked, Naruto was constantly approached by older genin that wanted to see the kid who beat the Hero of Konoha when said hero was still weak. Some just wanted to prove that he wasn't as strong as the rumours while others just wanted to use the time to show their gratitude for putting geniuses in their place. Only when Gaara was gone did she actually get a little bit serious.

"So," Ino said. "Who do you think will get that vest, besides you."

"I have no doubt Lee, Gaara and Shino are getting them, not so sure about Sasuke though" Naruto said, "Gaara is for obvious reasons, Lee is the strongest genin in Konoha and Shino…that guy is insanely cunning."

She punched Naruto in the shoulder, "Hey! What about my teammate? Shikamaru is pretty smart too."

Naruto shook his head, "Maybe that's true but he lacks the strength to back it up, people like Shikamaru…aren't cut out to be field leaders."

"I think you're being a bit harsh," she said. "Leaders aren't meant to be strong."

"Normal leaders aren't, but leaders of ninjas should be able to join their men in battle."

Naruto was probably basing his opinion on his personal feelings, Shikamaru had always had access to what he didn't: training. Shikamaru could have easily been the strongest ninja in that chuunin exam but he chose to slack off because he found everything so 'troublesome'. His file clearly stated that he wanted to be average, but there was no place for shinobi who wanted to be average. For someone like Naruto who had always wanted to be strong, he did not enjoy finding out that there were people who took such a privilege for granted.

"He will get someone killed if he carries on at that pace." Naruto mumbled, Ino was about to object. "I'm not saying that he isn't a genius, just saying that I wouldn't feel comfortable following him."

"You know most would say the same about you." Ino snarled. "You're not exactly the ideal ninja."

Naruto shrugged, "People are entitled to their own opinions."

Ino scoffed resentfully. She found this side of Naruto annoying, her blond counterpart had become something of a know it all and enjoyed flaunting that new found knowledge. Even the way he'd said that, it was as if he was implying that his opinion was shared by everyone but her. She could practically smell the arrogance on him.

"How come you didn't ask me to a spar?" she asked rather calmly.

Before Naruto erupted into what he was sure would have been a beating inducing laugh, Kakashi approached the duo.

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei," Ino said.

"Hello there, cute genin" Kakashi began, his eyes straying to the amused expression on Naruto's face. "Are you two on a date?"

"Something like that, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said offhandedly, he then turned to Ino, his smile returning. "See you later."

"Before I forget, Naruto, we have team training at six tomorrow."

Naruto didn't respond as he walked away, Kakashi probably wanted more teamwork building exercises.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=The hokage's office

"The boy fought four of Konoha's top genin. He did not subdue all his enemies completely but I'm certain he thinks he could have beaten them all. He needs this milestone, Jiraiya."

"He could die." Jiraiya said defiantly.

"He won't," Danzo said rather calmly. "the boy is a survivor, but he can't live up to his potential unless we root him out of this arrogant phase of his. He needs to understand the concept of humility, with his injuries, the Iwagakure team will be able to teach him just that. He'll run, survive and have learnt a valuable lesson."

Jiraiya cursed the moment he informed Danzo of the Iwa team that had crossed Fire Country borders but he had no choice but to inform the new hokage of possible threats to the village. The team had completed a two week long escort mission in a week and were now using the last week to enjoy some quality time.

"What makes you so sure he'll run?" Jiraiya asked, Minato had not been the type to run from battle, he was sure that Naruto had the same instincts.

"He places a lot of worth on his life but," Danzo said. "He lacks the malice to see danger to his life as worthy of similar treatment. I've spoken to him about it, he can justify murder with self defence afterwards but cannot act on it in the moment. Naruto still appears to need a more noble reason to kill."

Jiraiya did not enjoy hearing that, Naruto had spoken with Danzo instead of him; it was very upsetting.

"If he dies, Danzo," Jiraiya said seriously. "It won't matter how many Ne operatives you put in my path, I will kill you!"

Danzo smirked slightly and nodded his head. Jiraiya did not have the strength to kill him, the last person he found capable of that died a few days ago.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=Naruto's apartment

The Uzukage Bunshin and his clones rushed to hide their work on the intricate seal that adorned their original body's abdomen the moment a large chakra body began moving more or less towards them. A knock on the door revealed Danzo to be the culprit.

"Danzo-sensei," Naruto said. "You do know that I'm not supposed to be training anymore right? Doctor's orders."

Danzo was amused, the boy was using the free time to train by himself regardless, this aspect was what Danzo admired. With a few more years, Naruto would become the ultimate weapon for Konoha and on that day; the boy would have to be forced to impose his dominance over the Kyuubi.

"I am aware of that, but yet you still continue to train."

"Kakashi's training is not hard, trust me." Naruto replied.

"That is not what I meant," Danzo said. "I came here to inform you that the council in all its wisdom has decided that I am to be the Godaime hokage."

Naruto frowned, that would mean that only the usually absent Jiraiya would be able to continue his training. "I'm happy that you finally achieved you dream."

Danzo smirked, he had caught the completely selfish concern in Naruto's eyes. The boy hated to hear that his progress would be impeded once more.

"I declined the offer," Danzo added, looking him directly in the eyes. "I believe that I have found another ninja worthy of being called hokage. This ninja will lead Konoha to a time when we deserve the title of the best ninja village."

Naruto was shocked to hear that the man would deny a position that he found no one else worthy of. Danzo and he had spoken in great detail about the future of Konoha. They had even spoken about possible great hokage candidates, Naruto had thrown in Konohamaru's name as a joke but was shocked at the serious pondering his sensei took.

"Yes," Danzo had begun. "The boy is brimming with natural talent, with proper molding he will surpass his grandfather."

"You and Jiraiya shall leave tomorrow afternoon after your team training," Danzo said. "Senju Tsunade shall be the Godaime hokage."

Naruto stared after the door his Danzo had closed after leaving a while ago. Tsunade was one of the Sannin. Granddaughter of the Shodaime and considered to be the greatest medic-nin in the world. Normally that would make her perfect, but Danzo spoke with great disdain for the Sannin. Tsunade received the brunt of his rants, Danzo found her weak and insecure. Naruto never pressed for answers. Jiraiya, Danzo had explained, would never fully accept his title as hokage. Jiraiya is warrior through and through. Being hokage would break him.

Orochimaru was spoken about in the past tense, as if he died. He was the only Sannin with the mindset for hokage. He was the only person whom I believed was worthy of the mantle.

Naruto had no idea how Tsunade had changed Danzo's usually unwavering opinion, but if that was who would keep his parents' village strong and alive then who was he to judge.

=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=next day

Early that morning, at around five, the blond had dispelled and created his new batch of clones for the day. Then found himself blindfolded in the middle of training ground 7, surrounded by ten clones.

He couldn't clench his left hand and so limited the training to seeing how long it would take him to recognize were the attacks were coming from. His clones always stopped an inch or so short.

Two hours into the frustrating training, Sasuke entered the clearing. The ten clones continued on as if the genin wasn't there. They had received clear orders from the moment the chakra signature began to approach. The chakra signature that was easily bigger than Sakura's but just as easily smaller than Kakashi's.

"Oh hey, Sasuke." Said the original, then he chuckled. "Or should I say hokage-sama?"

Sasuke was shocked at how easy going Naruto was. He was back to his original goofy self even after their match, the Uchiha had been worried how to handle things between them now. Kakashi had informed him that Naruto had been willing to retaliate in kind. How was he back to normal so easily?

"Hn." Sasuke said.

Naruto's eyebrow raised at that, he turned his blindfolded face to the Uchiha. Then his clones resumed the exercise, swinging their ninja-to ominously close to the original before stopping.

"So," Naruto said, instantly his clones stopped moving. "Did you find a way to beat my clones yet?"

Sasuke smirked, this was still his rival. The match had changed nothing between them.

"Of course, dobe," Sasuke said. "Don't even think that you compare to me."

There were two puffs of sound and Naruto felt Sasuke's chakra split in three equal parts. Kage Bunshin. That certainly evened out the odds. Sasuke could fight him and his clones at the same time.

There were loud booms and Sasuke's clones were destroyed by the blades that were streaming towards his own neck. The moment the disorientation wore off, his Sharingan activated to find two blades resting just above his shoulders and another blade in the hands of the blindfolded Naruto, its tip was less than ten centimetres from his windpipe.

Naruto tilted his head to the side, he was almost certain that Sasuke was facing him directly. Or he was looking at Sasuke's back and that would be rather awkward.

"What are you doing, Naruto?" Sasuke asked with minimal movements.

"Oh this?" Naruto said, facing him although his eyes were still covered. "Just wanted to tell you that I appreciate what you did for me on the bridge in Nami no Kuni."

Sasuke did not feel like replying to that, he was just coming to terms with the memory of dying, it wasn't pleasant but his mind had suffered worse. The Uchiha shrugged it off and proceeded to glare at Naruto's blindfold.

"That is the only reason I didn't kill you at the finals if you're wondering." Naruto then positioned his ninja-to right onto Sasuke's neck short of breaking the skin. "Consider my debt paid. But I advise you to never cross that line again because unlike you, my body won't be moving by its own to save you."

The clones poofed out of existence and Naruto took a step back just as Sasuke kawarimi'd a few metres away. The two boys did not go anywhere near each other after that, what had once had the makings of a healthy rivalry had been redefined. Friends! Some part of them had believed that they were becoming that, maybe even best friends. However, such a thing was impossible now, a limit had been reached and the two were now wary of each other.