Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto nor am I making any profit from this story.
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Summary: The piece of Minato's soul inside of Naruto has gone insane, it tries to take over Naruto body to live again. Unfortunately for it it doesn't completely work. Naruto and the Kyuubi fight it and Naruto absorbs the soul, gaining his father's memories.
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-Powerful!Gray!Naruto
-Rated M for violence, language, gore and adult situations.
-Takes place one year earlier than canon.
"Speaking"
Thoughts
'Mind Speaking'
"Jutsu!"
"Summon/Bijuu Speaking"
Summon/Bijuu Thinking
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Thirteen year Uzumaki Naruto didn't really know how he should feel now. He had failed the Graduation Exam at The Academy for the third time, having tried to test out earlier than required twice before. He honestly didn't understand why he couldn't do the Bunshin no Jutsu. He always messed it up, his clones coming out looking dead, dying or sickly. It was very embarrassing that he couldn't do such a basic Jutsu. Luckily, he had thought at the time, Mizuki-sensei, now forever known to him as Mizuki-teme, had told him of a supposed make up exam. All he had to do was sneak into the Hokage tower and take the large scroll the Hokage kept behind his desk and then learn a Jutsu from it to pass.
He had found the scroll with little problem and had knocked the Hokage unconscious with a quick use of his, in his mind, notorious Sexy no Jutsu he had used to fell Iruka-sensei just earlier that day. He had taken the scroll and quickly ran to the clearing where he was to meet Mizuki-teme. He had worked hard on the first jutsu he had found, the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu and had gotten it down before moving on to it's bigger, beefier brother the Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. He had barely got it down and copying a couple of others when Iruka-sensei had shown up. Iruka-sensei had been mad at him for stealing the scroll and was really confused when he had told him that Mizuki-teme had told him about the test.
Naruto hadn't been able to explain further because Iruka had been attacked by Mizuki. Mizuki had gone on to tell Naruto one of the biggest guarded secrets kept in Konoha. The Yondaime, his hero and idol, had not killed the Kyuubi thirteen years before but sealed it inside of him. Mizuki had informed him that that made him the beast. Years of not knowing why he was hated and ignored was answered. Anger, rage, hatred, sadness and pain had flooded his mind, distracting him. When he had been frozen Mizuki had taken it upon himself to attack Naruto.
Fortunately for his continued health Iruka had taken the hit for him, confusing Naruto. He hadn't thought Iruka thought much of him. Mizuki had gone on to ask why Iruka had defended him when the Kyuubi had killed his parents and that he was a demon that would use the power of the Fūin no Sho(Scroll of Seals) to take his revenge on Konoha. For a heart stopping moment he thought that Iruka had thought as Mizuki did before he had declared that Naruto was not the Kyuubi and that he was human. Happiness had burst in his heart before it was overcome with anger and determination. He stepped out of his hiding spot and declared that he would kill the traitor if he tried to hurt Iruka-sensei again.
Mizuki had, of course, laughed at the thought of the Genin failure taking out a Chūnin, not knowing that Naruto had learned the two techniques from the scroll. Naruto had utilized the Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu to overwhelm and beat Mizuki into unconsciousness. Iruka, even though injured, had come up to him and given him his old headband, declaring him a shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato. Later when they had returned the scroll to the Old Man, even though he was admonished for taking the scroll, Sarutobi had given his own approval of his promotion.
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Naruto sat up from laying on the ground. He wrinkled his nose as saw that he was in a sewer. The walls had several cracks in them and he saw two separate piping systems. One was blue and the other menacing red that gave off a faint sense of hate and malice. Naruto shivered unconsciously.
"How the hell am I in a sewer when I was just in bed?" Naruto asked aloud before he felt something calling him forward. Grimacing he tried to stay in place before the feeling deepened. Sighing he started trudging along through the ankle high water.
Naruto gaped at the cavernous space. The ceiling was so tall he could barely make it out in the darkness. In front of him was pair of huge golden gates. In the middle was a piece of paper with the Kanji for 'Seal' on it. Huge slitted crimson eyes opened to regard him. Hot, putrid breath wafted out of the cage and into his face and a hulking red body revealed itself, nine long tails flickering in the darkness behind it. He knew without a doubt that this was the Kyuubi no Kitsune. The beast's mouth opened, allowing him to see the rows of razor sharp teeth perfect for tearing through flesh.
"Kyuubi." Naruto breathed.
"So I finally lay eyes upon my jailer." Kyuubi growled. "I must say, you don't look like much to me boy."
"Why did you bring me here?" Naruto asked.
"Boy I did not bring you inside of your puny mind." Kyuubi snarled. "I would just as soon never have to look at you until I tear myself from this seal and am chewing your stringy little body."
Naruto opened his mouth to retort but cried out in shock and pain as a fist slammed into his jaw, throwing him across the cavernous room. A blond haired man wearing a white coat bordered in orange flames stood in front of the Kyuubi's cage. Dark blue eyes peered at him through the darkness.
"Yondaime!" Kyuubi howled with fury, throwing himself against the gate with a loud CLANG, it's claws scrambling over the bars trying to tear into the man who had imprisoned him.
"Be silent you stupid beast." The blond sneered. "I did not come here to speak with you."
"You dare to speak to me that way you filthy monkey!" Kyuubi roared in rage. "I am the greatest of all the Bijuu. With but a single flick of my tails I have created tsunami's or crumbled mountain ranges that have stood for eons."
"And yet I beat you." The Yondaime retorted.
"Only with the help of an Elder God." Kyuubi spat, droll dripping from his maw to hiss on the floor of his cage. "Why are you here? Is it not enough that I am sealed in this cage inside of your offspring? Have you come to taunt me with your presence or to gloat?"
The Yondaime ignored him, focusing his attention on the groaning blond teen in front of him.
"What the hell was that for!" Naruto yelled.
"Hello Naruto." The Yondaime said ignoring the question. He blurred forward until he stood in front of Naruto. "Be a good boy for your father and give me your body!"
The last part was howled freaking Naruto out.
"Wha?" Naruto asked confused, back flipping away before he frowned. "I'm not giving you my body teme!"
"Why not?" The Yondaime sneered before an insane gleam entered his cerulean blue eyes. "You're not using it to it's full potential. I deserve this body more than you do! I died too early for world to truly know my genius and greatness. I could have done so much more if you had never been born!"
A fanatical gleam shone in his eyes.
"I will retake the reins of Konoha before conquering the other nations. I will bring peace to the Elemental Countries and form a new Empire with me at it's head."
Naruto growled angrily.
"Shut the fuck up! You don't know me!" Naruto yelled. "How could you try and do this? You were my hero, my idol!"
"On the contrary I know you very well son." The Yondaime retorted circling Naruto like a predator stalking his prey. He blurred forwards, embedding his fist in Naruto gut causing him to cough up blood before backhanding him across the face and sending him flying. "Who do you think kept you weak all of this time? No son of mine and Kushina would be as weak or as dumb as you. I have been subtly undermining you. I couldn't have you becoming too powerful or intelligent since it would make my takeover harder."
"Why didn't you try before when I was weaker like when I was a baby?" Naruto asked, moving to keep the Yondaime in front of his eyes. The Yondaime frowned but answered.
"I was unable to until you came to your mindscape for the first time. Now I will live again!" The Yondaime howled as he lept for Naruto.
Instead of knocking him over though he was seemingly absorbed into Naruto's body. It was Naruto's turn to howl but with pain as it felt like his entire being was being ripped apart.
"Give me this body!" The Yondaime howled as his face appeared in Naruto's body.
"Never." Naruto growled through gritted teeth, trying to save himself from being taken over. He cried out as the pain spiked, forcing him to his knees.
'Hee hee hee.' He heard the Yondaime's voice inside of his head. 'I can feel your will weakening son. Soon this body will be mine and you shall be no more. Too bad really. I wanted an heir. Oh well there are always other women out there will to bear a strong man children.'
"It seems that you are too weak to save yourself. I locked away his ability to use Jutsu but still it is not enough for you." Kyuubi growled in annoyance. "Use my power boy and save yourself or die like a pathetic idiot to be forgotten by all."
The boiling red miasma leaked out of the cage before surrounding Naruto. Both Naruto and the Yondaime screamed.
"Stop you fool beast!" The Yondaime screamed. "You're ruining everything!"
Kyuubi laughed maliciously.
"I will have my revenge Yondaime."
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In the real world several people started freaking out when the unconscious Genin was surrounded by the writhing red chakra. Hatred, malice and blood lust filled the room, causing a couple of apprenticing Iro-nin to fall unconscious and another to throw up. The Sandaime rushed over to the bed only to hiss when a small amount of the Kyuubi's chakra burnt his hand. Leaning back he observed the seal.
Good the seal isn't breaking. He thought. He knew that the seal was supposed to allow Naruto to access the Kyuubi's power eventually but this was still the first time that it had happened. He trusted Minato but Fūinjutsu was an obscure and dangerously complicated discipline.
"Hokage-sama what's happening?" The head Medic Nin, Towka Nagi asked.
"The seal is leaking the Kyuubi's chakra." Sarutobi said. "Naruto should be fine. Though I do not know what is causing this."
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"No!" The Yondaime howled as his soul was being consumed. His struggles increased causing Naruto to grunt, blood flowing from his nose. "I will not die!"
"Neither will I!" Naruto growled, sweat pouring down his red face. "You had your time in this world. It's my time now."
With a bright flash of light and a deep howl of agony the struggle inside of him stopped causing him to fall to the floor, luckily on his side and not his front. He didn't know if he could drown in his mind but he wasn't in a hurry to find out. Gasping he flopped on his back.
"He is dead." Kyuubi spoke up.
Naruto opened his mouth to speak but out of no where crippling pain assaulted his mind and body, many times worse than before, causing him to scream in agony, writhing on the floor, splashing murky water everywhere. Light enveloped his form blocking him from Kyuubi's sight.
"Boy! Boy!" He could hear the Kyuubi yell.
I hope I survive. I don't want to die. Were his last thoughts before blackness overtook him.
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Naruto woke inside of the seal with a groan. Sitting up he pushed himself to his feet only to feel disoriented causing him to stagger. Closing his eyes with a groan he leaned against the nearest wall. Breathing deeply in and out a few times he opened his eyes only for them to bug out as he saw his reflection. He appeared to be older by at least three years. He estimated his new height to be a few inches below six feet. His body was lean but toned and his face more angular while his whisker marks seemed to have faded slightly.
"What the fuck!" Is all he could say. He grabbed his throat as his voice had come out quite a bit deeper than it normally was.
"Heh heh heh." Kyuubi snickered. "It's about time you woke boy. You've been in a coma for nearly three days."
"What the hell happened to my body fox?" Naruto demanded to know.
The Kyuubi's eyes narrowed and the Bijuu's KI flooded the area between the two causing him to take a step back.
"You will address me with respect boy or we will have problems. I am as far above you as your are an ant. I will be afforded the proper respect." Kyuubi growled, before momentarily increasing his KI even further to press his point. "Do we have an understanding?"
"Y-yes Kyuubi-san." Naruto stammered but there was a look of anger in his eyes. He didn't like submitting to anything, even something as powerful as a Bijuu.
"Good. Kyuubi-sama would be better but I have come to not expect manners from humans." Kyuubi said, tongue flickering out to lick it's teeth as it sat down. "As to what happened to you, when your sperm donor's soul tried to take over your body it started making changes to yours. It tried to make your body match it's own original one. Fortunately for you you are half-Uzumaki and your clan has always been very adaptable. You must have some Kami blood in you. After you won the battle with the soul I was able to finish the process it started."
Kyuubi's mouth widened in a malicious grin.
"Luckily for you since it could have left you crippled if I hadn't. As you can see your body has been aged several years. All of your muscles were strengthened and more defined. Giving you a large boost in strength and speed, and reflexes. Your healing factor has also been increased. Cuts that took minutes to heal will now take seconds."
"Cool." Naruto said. He knew that his healing had been very impressive before and now it would be more so.
Foolish ningen an increased healing factor also means an increased lifespan. Kyuubi thought gleefully. This will give me more time to figure out how to get out of this infernal cage.
"You also now have an eidetic memory. How you talking monkeys survive without one I'll never know." Kyuubi added.
"Thank you Kyuubi-san." Naruto said with a slight bow. The Kyuubi just scoffed.
"Do not think I did this because I like you or that we are friends. I helped you to help me." Kyuubi glared. "While I am contained inside of you you represent me. I refuse to have weakness of any kind to be associated with my name. Nor would I ever let myself be contained within that man. It would be an even greater insult than having been sealed by him. It is up to you to do your best with what was given to you."
"That doesn't mean I can't be grateful." Naruto replied.
Kyuubi laid down with huffy sight, ruffling Naruto's hair.
"I suppose not." Kyuubi said.
None of this should have happened in the first place. Naruto thought. What could have gone wrong with the seal? The piece of my father's soul was placed inside of it to help me.
"Do you know what happened with the seal?" Naruto asked the Bijuu. "Why the piece of my father's soul attacked me?"
Kyuubi flicked it's tails in boredom.
"I can only speculate." Kyuubi answered. "A soul is not meant to torn into separate parts, kept from it's other selves. It most likely drove the piece of your father's soul insane. Your whole soul helped you fight it but it was only through my intervention that you are still sane and whole yourself. Without my help you would have lost your battle of wills."
Naruto nodded, a melancholy look on his face. He wished that it hadn't happened but he wasn't going to feel sorry about saving his own life.
"Have fun acclimating to your new body." Kyuubi snickered. "Luckily for you it shouldn't take too long."
With a that a wave of pressure hit him kicking him out of his mind.
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An annoying beeping sound and a bright white ceiling was the sight that greeted him as he woke. Naruto groaned and closed his eyes.
"It's good that you are awake Naruto-san." A male voice spoke up.
"Nagi-san?" Naruto asked before coughing.
"Hai it is I Naruto-san." The Med-Nin said as he poured him a glass of water and helping him drink it. He was the same Med-Nin Naruto always saw, handpicked by the Hokage himself due to his trustworthiness. He was a brown haired man in his mid-thirties with dark blue eyes and round-framed glasses. He wore his regular brown slacks and white lab coat. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was forced to grow a lot." Naruto quipped causing Nagi to snicker.
"Well your body has changed quite a bit since you feel into your coma." Nagi said, sounding slightly concerned. "Do you have any idea what happened?"
"I do." Naruto said. "I need to tell the Hokage what happened."
Nagi peered over his glasses at him before nodding.
"I'll send an ANBU to fetch him." Nagi said before walking outside.
"Boar-san I need you to go and fetch Hokage-sama." Nagi said.
Boar materialized beside Nagi before nodding and disappearing via shushin. Nagi meanwhile started running a diagnostic jutsu over Naruto. Seven minutes later the Hokage appeared.
"How are you Naruto-kun?" The Sandaime asked as he walked up and gripped the youth's shoulder.
"Fine for the most part Sarutobi-jisan." Naruto said, his deeper voice causing Sarutobi to start a bit. The maturity and seriousness in his eyes also took the Hokage aback.
"Can you tell us what you know about what happened?" Sarutobi asked.
"It involves a secret greater than what I was told by Mizuki-teme." Naruto said totally serious.
Sarutobi frowned before dismissing Nagi and having the ANBU stand guard outside of the room. Reaching into his robes he stuck a piece of paper with a seal drawn on it.
"Fuin!" Sarutobi barked as he sent the chakra into the paper. The seal stretched over the walls before flashing and disappearing.
"You may speak now Naruto." Sarutobi said, pulling a chair up to his bed.
"I know who my father was." Naruto said causing Sarutobi to choke. "The Yondaime Hokage."
"H-How did you find out?" Sarutobi asked, leaning forward.
Naruto sighed before taking another sip of his water.
"I was called into my mindscape by Kyuubi after I fell asleep back at my apartment." Naruto began explaining.. "While we were talking I was surprised out of nowhere with a punch to the face. The Kyuubi howled about the Yondaime and when I looked he was standing in front of the Kyuubi's cage."
"Why would he attack you?" Sarutobi asked. "Why was he in there in the first place?"
Naruto's face turned grim.
"It was a piece of my father's soul placed in the seal to help repair it if it was ever damaged or the Kyuubi began to escape. Unfortunately, according to the Kyuubi's theory, a piece of a person's soul cannot be separated from the whole for very long if at all. The longer it is a part the worse the consequences. The piece of my father's soul had gone insane inside of the seal."
Sarutobi gasped.
"What happened?" Sarutobi asked concerned.
"We fought." Naruto answered. "He wanted to take over my body to live again. According to him I was not using my body to it's full potential, that he deserved it more than I did. He went on to say that he died to early for the world to truly no his greatness and that that he could have done so much more if I had never been born."
Naruto offered him a crooked smile.
"Such a nice thing for a father to say to his son." Naruto said bitterly.
Sarutobi who had whitened at the thought of the return of an insane Yondaime and the destruction he could have caused gripped Naruto's shoulders firmly.
"Naruto you mustn't believe anything it said." He said fiercely. "As you said it was insane. I know for a fact that both your father and mother were overjoyed when she became pregnant. I know that Minato was so happy he was tempted to shout it from the rooftops. I don't think a shovel could have taken the smile off Minato's face when he found out he was having a son. He and your mother had many plans for you."
"I know." Naruto sighed. "Still though, it doesn't make what happened easier."
"What do you mean you know?" Sarutobi asked suspiciously.
"When he attacked me he 'jumped' into my body and tried to take over. It was the worst pain I had ever experienced in my life. It felt like my entire body was being ripped apart. According to Kyuubi while it was trying to take over it was also trying to change my body to be more like it's old one. I was only able to stop it from taking over with Kyuubi's help. When I destroyed the soul I also absorbed all of his memories."
He was greeted by shocked silence.
"All of them?" Sarutobi asked faintly.
"Yes, every last one." Naruto smiled, slightly amused as seeing the Sandaime so bemused before he grimaced. "Even my 'conception' and their practice for it."
Sarutobi had to laugh at that.
"Yeah, yeah laugh it up old man." Naruto muttered. "There's just some things a person shouldn't see."
Sarutobi chuckles slowly quieted before he sighed.
"I needed that laugh." The old man said. "Now please continue your explanation please."
"Like I said I absorbed his memories and my body was in the middle of being changed. Kyuubi finished the changes to a safe point. When asked it said that the only reason I survived was because I was an Uzumaki and we are very adaptable. Apparently I'm stronger and faster now, my reflexes were given a large boost, I now have an eidetic memory since I was forced to absorb years worth of memories and my healing factor has also been boosted quite a bit. Kyuubi did say that it only helped me because it helped it; that it wouldn't have anything that represented it as being seen as weak. Plus that it would have been a bigger insult to him if he was sealed inside of my father seeing as he was the one who stopped it."
Sarutobi sat back in silence. Hand folded together in front of his face in thought. While everything that happened seemed to have been to Naruto's benefit, for the most part, he would need to have him check out. For his safety and that of the village.
Naruto laid back and allowed him to think. He would use his father's knowledge to better himself. Compared to his father at his age he was pretty much a joke. It was a bitter pill to swallow that he had been at least partially responsible for his failures. He had skipped many of his classes at The Academy to play pranks. Some of the earlier sensei didn't help since they refused to offer his assistance, even sending him out of the classrooms at times. He should have been given many lessons in at least chakra control since he was both a Jinchūriki and an Uzumaki who always had large chakra pools. He was way behind where he could have been with proper training.
He also couldn't decide what he should feel about the villagers and their obvious disdain and hatred of him for holding the Kyuubi. One part of him could understand them but the other hated that they blamed him for something outside of his control. It wasn't his fault that his father decided to seal the Kyuubi inside of him. He wasn't going to complain about that though as he might have in the past because it could only help him in the long run.
Perhaps I should take this one day at a time. Naruto thought. I don't need to figure it out right now.
'Damn right monkey, everything is better when I am involved.' Kyuubi spoke up almost causing him to jump.
'How are you talking to me Kyuubi-san?' Naruto asked in his mind, thinking that it might not be such a good thing to speak to the Bijuu out loud.
'I opened a mental link between us when I fixed your body and mind boy.' Kyuubi replied. 'This way I don't have to call you to your mind in order to speak with you and I don't have to look at your face.'
Naruto made a face back at him but didn't reply.
"This is a surprise." Sarutobi finally spoke up drawing Naruto's attention away from the conversation in his head.
Naruto snorted. An understatement if there ever was one old man.
"What might have been a major disaster could become a very good thing for Konoha and for you." Sarutobi said. "Your father knew many things and was a very powerful shinobi. Now you contain his knowledge. It could only make you a better shinobi in the future."
"What shall we tell people who ask?" Naruto asked.
"What do you think should be revealed?" Sarutobi countered to try and gauge Naruto's new maturity and mental acuity.
Naruto's brows furrowed.
"Perhaps it could be passed off as my Kekkai Genkai fully waking up." Naruto offered. "Many people already know that I heal faster than normal. I used to be smaller and malnourished. Tell that that my Kekkai Genkai healed and aged me slightly. Not a very big lie since the Uzumaki clan did have a Kekkai Genkai."
Naruto gave Sarutobi a pointed look at the that, getting a sorrowful look in return.
"I did not enjoy hiding your heritage from you but it was necessary for your safety and that of the village." Sarutobi admitted with a sigh. "I had considered releasing your maternal heritage but you already had enough trouble with the village that there was no need to add those outside of it."
"I understand." Naruto said. "I don't like it but I understand. There is one other important thing I should mention."
"What's that?" Sarutobi asked, leaning forward.
"Kyuubi was forced to attack Konoha, I am sure of it." Naruto answered utterly serious. "According to my father's memories a man attacked them and killed all of the guards around my parents."
Here Naruto gave him a look of sorrow as Sarutobi's wife Biwako was one of the ones who had been killed that night. From the tight expression on his face the Hokage knew why he had included that information. When the Sandaime nodded he continued.
"The man wore an orange mask and a black cloak and he had the Sharingan. He kidnapped me and placed a bunch of explosive tags on my blanket. Dad used the Hiraishin to take me away but the man ripped the Kyuubi out of mom before teleporting him and it away. He was able to control the Kyuubi. Dad fought him but he used some kind of Jikūkan Ninjutsu (Space Time Ninja Technique) that allowed him to become intangible, allowing attacks to to go through him. Dad was finally able to hit him with a Rasengan and hit with a seal that broke the contract between the attacker and Kyuubi. The man claimed to be Uchiha Madara before he teleported away."
Sarutobi drooped slightly in shock, sitting back in his chair and rubbing his forehead wearily.
"This is grave news indeed." Sarutobi said gravely. "Uchiha Madara was a fearsome shinobi, a true monster on the battlefield. I only met the man once and from what I remember he had powerfully dark chakra. The only person still alive to have faced him in battle is Ryōtenbin no Ōnoki, the Sandaime Tsuchikage. Madara disappeared during the battle of the Valley of the End where he fought Hashirama-sama. It was said that he summoned and controlled the Kyuubi there. Even if that person who ripped the Kyuubi from your mother wasn't Uchiha Madara a person with the ability to control the strongest of the Bijuu is a dangerous enemy. I doubt that they are finished with Konoha."
Naruto nodded in agreement. The man who had controlled the Kyuubi had been very powerful and had gone toe to toe with his father; a man widely feared and acknowledged as the most powerful shinobi Konoha had ever produced.
"Everything aside from your Kekkai Genkai is going to classified as an SS-Rank secret." Sarutobi said. "Especially the identity of your father and you having his memories. I will allow you to receive your inheritance from your mother. It will not be released to the general public until you become Genin however. The truth of your father will not be released until you are Jōnin and prove that you are able to battle strong opponents."
"I would like for Inoichi-san check your mind for damage." Sarutobi said. "While I believe you that there is no damage it is better to be sure."
'Agree.' Kyuubi spoke up. 'If he tries anything else I will defend your mind. I can't have you going around brain dead can I? Pretty counter-intuitive to making you stronger. Besides the Mind-Walker can teach you how to sort your memories. It will make your mind clearer and help with recall.'
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"Hello Inoichi-san." Naruto said recognizing the blond-haired man from his family owned flower shop. Naruto occasionally went there to gather supplies for his plants. Inoichi had never been unkind to him, treating him just like any other customer.
"Hello Naruto-san this shouldn't take very long at all." Inoichi said. "Just lay back and relax."
Chakra lit up his hands and he placed them on Naruto's forehead. Soon enough the two found themselves in his mindscape.
"You looked surprised." Naruto said.
"Normally the person affected by the technique doesn't follow the user into their mindscape." Inoichi said. "Perhaps it is because of your condition."
"Perhaps." Naruto agreed.
"Follow me Naruto." Inoichi said.
Inoichi walked beside him down a long hallway, stopping at a round door that seemed to split in the middle. Several large sliding locks held it closed.
"You'll want to open it." Inoichi said. "While I can do it myself it would cause you at least some discomfort. If you fought it would cause you pain or injury as I had to force my way through.."
Naruto placed his hands on one of the large bars and a handle materialized. Pulling it open he quickly repeated the process with the other three. Pushing against the door it opened easily. The room was huge and was filled with shelves. Colored orbs sat on the cushions. There was two different colors mixed all together. Blue and Green.
"Why don't we try touching a green one?" Inoichi asked. It was always better to have the target cooperate with them.
"Sure." Naruto shrugged, reaching out at the same time Inoichi did and placing his hand on the orb. Immediately the two were sucked into a memory.
~Memory~
Minato jumped towards his sensei Jiraiya who was seemingly peeking into a woman's bathhouse. He seemed to be about fourteen at the time and was wearing a black tracksuit along side his weapons pouches.
"Come on sensei why do you have to peek on women all the time?" Minato complained.
"Shh Minato you'll scare my inspiration away." Jiraiya said, waving off his apprentice.
Minato developed a tick above his right eye at being ignored. He was tired, hungry and beginning to feel really pissed off. He had come out all this way to get Jiraiya so that they could go and get something to eat after having training since that morning. Normally he didn't begrudge his sensei his proclivities since every shinobi had to find a way to deal with their way of life but right now he wasn't feeling very charitable.
Fine you want to play it that way sensei? Minato thought, a wicked grin coming to his face. Pitching his voice to come out higher like a girl he yelled, "Oh my god there's a pervert spying on the hot springs!"
Several loud screams and screeches were heard from inside. Utilizing the Shushin no Jutsu Minato ran away leaving his sensei to his, in Minato's opinion, well deserved fate.
~Memory End~
"Well." Inoichi chuckled while Naruto snickered. Served Ero-Sennin right.
Reaching for a blue one they both touched it as the same time again.
~Memory~
Six year old Uzumaki Naruto was walking through Konoha beside the old man. He had been visiting him in his office and the Sandaime had promised to take him to a restaurant for lunch. He was both nervous and excited. A lot of places in the village wouldn't let him inside, sometimes violently kicking him out.
"Are you sure that they'll let me eat there Jiji?" Naruto asked.
"I'm sure Naruto-kun." Sarutobi replied. "You needn't worry. Teuchi-san is a good man as is his wife."
Soon enough they arrived at a small food stand named Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto let the Old Man walk through the flaps first.
"Good afternoon Teuchi-san." Sarutobi said to the man through the window in the kitchen.
"Hokage-sama this is a pleasant surprise." The man said coming out from the kitchen. "It's been some time since you've visited."
"Yes the paperwork has really been piling up lately." Sarutobi joked. "I had lunch free and decided to treat Naruto-kun."
Sarutobi reached behind him, where Naruto had tried to hide, bringing him forward gently.
Naruto saw the skin around the man's eyes tighten slightly when he looked at him.
He's going to kick me out. Naruto thought morosely.
Teuchi's eyes seemed to pierce him before a smile came to his face.
"Good to meet you Uzumaki-san." Teuchi said with a nod. "Welcome to my family stand."
"You too." Naruto mumbled.
"What can I get for you two today?" Teuchi asked.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking that Teuchi-koi?" A brown haired, blue eyed woman wearing a bandanna to hold back her hair said. She wore a dress with an apron over it. Standing partly behind her was a mini-version of her down to the apron.
"Of course Bana-chan." Teuchi said, making his way back to the kitchen after waving to the Hokage and Naruto.
"Welcome to Ichiraku I am Ichiraku Hibana and this is our daughter Ayame." The woman said. "Say hi Ayame-chan."
"Hello." Ayame waved shyly.
"Now what can I get you two?" Hibana asked.
"Let's start with a bowl of Miso." Sarutobi said. "This the first time Naruto-kun has eaten ramen."
"Well then the first bowl will be on the house for you Naruto-kun." Hibana smiled.
"Arigato Gozaimasu Obachan." Naruto said with a small bow, his eyes a little wet.
Naruto cautiously took a bit from his bowl with his chopsticks before putting it in his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully before sipping a bit of broth. The others watched him in anticipation and smiled as his whiskered face lit up in pleasant surprise.
"Wow this is great!" Naruto exclaimed. "It's the best food I've ever had!"
Teuchi and Sarutobi chuckled while Ayame and Hibana giggled.
"Well thanks for the compliment Naruto-san." Teuchi said. "You'll definitely have to come back again."
"Sure thing Oji-san." Naruto grinned, giving him a thumbs up.
~Memory Ends~
"Kyuubi said that I should have you help me to figure out how to sort my memories. Even though I have and edietic memory it will help me." Naruto said. "Do you know how to help me?"
Inoichi nodded.
"That's a good idea." He said, choosing to ignore that it came from the Beast that had attacked them thirteen years before. "I have some techniques that I can show you that will help."
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"I could find no hint of damage to his mind Hokage-sama." Inoichi announced. "I can confirm that Naruto is still Uzumaki Naruto even if a more mature Naruto. The memories have forced him to grow mentally as he has physically. I can confirm that he now has a eidetic memory that he didn't have before."
"Thank you Inoichi-san." Sarutobi said. "I will have you credited for your work here. All of this is labeled an SS-Rank secret."
"Of course Hokage-sama." Inoichi bowed. "Still to think that he is his son. He was noble to the end."
"Indeed." Sarutobi replied with a smile before seeing him out.
"I will need to train if I am to get stronger." Naruto said determined. "The memories and improved body are great but I don't necessarily have the skills and I need to get used to this new body. I have to be better."
"Agreed." The Sandaime said. "You will have at least a year to improve until you can retest for the Academy or you could pass now and become a Genin."
This was a tough decision for Naruto. While he was wanted to be Genin now he had even more reasons to wait.
Naruto sighed somewhat sadly.
"I would like to stay at The Academy for now." Naruto said, wincing as if in pain. Sarutobi chuckled. "I need this time to be stronger before I can devote my time to being a full time shinobi."
"I am proud that you are willing to improve yourself over your dream." Sarutobi said with a smile.
A knock interrupted their discussion.
"Naruto-san I've brought you some clothes I could find that would fit you." Nagi said, stepping back into the room with the Hokage's permission.
Nagi brought him in some spare clothes since his would not longer fit. Naruto had been given a clean bill of health by Nagi earlier before Inoichi had come. They had tested his healing factor by making several deep cuts in his arms when had healed in a few seconds. Nagi said that if his bones were ever broken they would be fully healed within a couple of minutes. He would most likely also be able to regrow a limb if he ever lost one, not something Naruto ever wanted to actually experience. Apparently his healing factor was regeneration or as close as a human could get to it. Not a bad thing for a shinobi to have and Naruto figured that it would probably be quite the boon in the future.
The clothes Nagi had found turned out to be a pair of worn black cargo pants, a plain white t-shirt and black sandals. Luckily they were all clean.
"Thanks." Naruto said, slipping out of the hospital clothes and into the others. "Looks like I'll have to go shopping for new clothes now."
Sarutobi chuckled behind him.
"Afraid so my boy." He said. "I have something here that should help you though."
The Sandaime pulled a large envelope out of his robes.
"Inside is the payment for the B-Rank mission of catching and defeating a traitor to Konoha." He said seriously.
"Thank you." Naruto said, a little awed. The envelope contained more money than he had ever held.
"Spend it wisely." Sarutobi said.
"I will." Naruto promised. Luckily if he did run out of money he now knew where his father had hidden several caches of supplies, money and weapons both in and outside of Konoha.
"Come talk to me in a couple of days about your inheritance from your mother." Sarutobi said. "There is a house and bank accounts."
"Hai Hokage-sama." Naruto said, with a shallow bow.
Now that he truly knew what it meant to be a Kage his respect for the old man had increased even further. It was not, as many thought, an enviable position. Sure you ruled over a lot of ninja and wielded quite a bit of political power but it was also highly stressful and a huge target on their backs. They were forced to make terrible and heart-wrenching decisions every day that could potentially lead to the loss of lives or all out war. It was hell but a necessary one.
"Please wait a few moments when I get something I think you'll need." Sarutobi said.
Sarutobi snapped his fingers causing an ANBU to appear beside him. He whispered instructions to the man who bowed before utilizing shushin to leave. A couple of minutes later he returned, handing a package to the Hokage.
"For now wear this to disguise your face." Sarutobi said, holding it out.
Naruto swiftly opened the package. Inside was a face mask like Kakashi wore causing Naruto's lip to twitch.
"It will stop many questions." Sarutobi said.
"Thank you." Naruto said, pulling it out and sliding it over his face. The fabric was surprisingly breathable and comfortable.
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Japanese Terms
San- basically addressing someone of equal status, Mr. or Ms.
Kun- A way of referring to close males, can be used for male friends or boyfriends.
Chan- A way of referring to young children,close female companions or girlfriends.
Sama- Referring to someone with respect.
Arigato Gozaimasu – Formal way of saying "Thank You".
Obachan- Aunty
Ojisan-Uncle or older guy you don't know, like Mister or Sir.
Teme- Bastard
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1 Japanese yen = 0.010855 U.S. dollars
1 U.S. dollar = 92.1234454 Japanese yen
10 Yen =1 ryo
1 Japanese yen = 0.010855 U.S. dollars
1 U.S. dollar = 92.1234454 Japanese yen
Enlistment Bonuses
Reserves $3,000/276,000/27,600 ryo
Genin : $7,000/644,000/64,400 ryo
Chūnin Instructor: $20,000/ 1,840,000/ 184,000 ryo
Jōnin Instructor: $27,500/2,530,000/ 253,000 ryo
ANBU/Hunter-Nin: $45,000/4,140,000/414,000 ryo
Monthly Pay*
Reserves: $250/23,000/2,300 ryo
Genin: $550/50600/5,060 ryo
Chūnin: $1200/110400/11,040 ryo
Chūnin Instructor: $2400/220800/22,080 ryo
Tokubetsu Jōnin: $3,700/340400/34040 ryo
Jōnin: $6,000/552,000/55,200 ryo
Jōnin Instructor: $8000/736,000/73,600 ryo
ANBU/Hunter-Nin: $11,000/1,012,000/101,200 ryo
ANBU/Hunter-Nin Taicho/Jōnin Commander: $13,500/1,242,000/124,200 ryo
Hokage: $17,000/1,564,000/156,400 ryo
*Before taxes. 6% shinobi, 8% civilian
Mission Pay
D-Rank: 230 Ryo
-$25US x 92 Yen= 2,300/10
Mid D-Rank: 460 Ryo
-$50US x 92 Yen= 4600/10
High D-Rank: 1,840 Ryo
-$200US x 92Yen=18,400/10
Low C-Rank: 4,600 Ryo
-$500US x 92Yen=46,000/10
C-Rank: 20,240 Ryo
-$2200 x 92 Yen= 202,400/10
Mid C-Rank: 32,200 Ryo
-$3,500US x 92 Yen= 322,000/10
High C-Rank: 46,000 Ryo
-$5,000US x 92 Yen= 460,000/10
Low B-Rank: 78,200 Ryo
-$8500x92 Yen= 782,000/10
B-Rank: 92,000 Ryo
-$10,000US x 92Yen=920,000/10
Mid B-Rank: 110,400 Ryo
-$12,000US x 92 Yen= 1,104,000/10
High B-Rank: 138,000 Ryo
-$15,000US x 92 Yen=1,380,000/10
Low A-Rank: 173, 880 Ryo
-$18,900x 92 Yen= 1,738,800 /10
A-Rank: 230,000 Ryo
-$25,000US x 92Yen=2,300,000/10
Mid A-Rank: 349,600 Ryo
-$38,000US x 92=3,496,000/10
High A-Rank: 598,000 Ryo
-$65,000US x 92= 5,980,000/10
S-Rank: 1,150,000 Ryo
-$125,000US x 92Yen= 11,500,000/10