Welcome to the new chapter. I want to thank everyone for your support. I'm really glad. Thank you so much. :D

Warnings are the same as previous chapters, please excuse the grammatical mistakes. Thank you.

….

"Danzo-sama." The black clad man bowed his head in respect.

Danzo looked at the man standing in front of his cell and a small smirk graced his lips.

"Have you done it?" he asked the young shinobi, the fire torch lighting the long dark hall ways of the prison creating shadows over Danzo's half bandaged face, making him look more dangerous than normal.

"Hai. Danzo-sama. Everything has gone according to the plan and by tomorrow we'll be able to get you out of here." The man replied.

This time Danzo laughed lightly and dismissed the man with a nod of his head. As the man disappeared from his view he murmured,

"You thought you can keep me here? See I still have people loyal to me." He laughed to himself,

"Takamine, You'll soon pay for your deeds but first I'll do what I should have done ages ago…" he closed his eyes and pulled his arms together on his lap,

"Good bye my old friend…"

….

Team 7 approached the training ground seven with their sensei tagging behind them. They have no idea what is so special about today that Kakashi has arrived to their meeting point before anyone of them, sharp at four a.m in the morning as he has instructed them.

When asked the man has only said, "You are the best team I've seen in a long time. I'm sure you'll make me proud."

Naruto had shouted "Imposter!" and tried to punch their sensei, managing to fall in the river instead. Sakura looked at the man with wide eyes as if seeing him for the first time and Sasuke has muttered a "Thank you, sensei." Instead of a "Hn."!

As they neared the training ground Sasuke's eyes widened when he saw his brother and Naota standing in the middle of the ground sparring.

He activated his sharingan to look closely as them. It was only hand in hand combat yet it was so graceful that Sasuke felt like he's seeing a well practiced dance…the only difference is each and eyery attack is a deadly one.

They fought with a combination of power and technique. Neither was holding back. Both knew the other is capable of defending himself. They exchanged punches and kicks, dodged and attacked again, blocked the attacks perfectly. There are no openings, no mistakes, their moves are perfect, too perfect for someone so young as them.

"Wow!" Naruto whispered beside Sasuke making him notice that they had already reached the compound.

Naota and Itachi stopped fighting and greeted them. "You are early Kakashi." Naota said in an amused tone.

"Maa…I am punctual!" their sensei replied making both Naruto and Naota burst out laughing. Itachi looked amused as well, a small smirk grazing his lips,

"Hn. Senpai." He murmured.

"Yeah. Yeah laugh all you want." Kakashi said frowning and jumped on a nearby tree pulling out his orange book from his pouch he made himself comfortable.

Before he could read the first line the book disappeared from his hand, "Wha-"

"No time for it Kakashi." Naota shouted from under the tree waving the orange book at him, "They are coming…join us or I'll burn it."

"No need to be violent Naota. I'm coming!" Kakashi hurriedly replied and jumped down the tree.

"Good morning Naota my youthful friend and Kakashi my eternal rival!" came an overly cheerful shout causing all the occupants to turn around.

Sasuke frowned when he saw another team with a green clad jounin coming towards them.

"Good morning to you too Gai!" Naota greeted back.

The man in green jump suite grinned at Naota and went towards Kakashi, "Let's have a competition my eternal rival!" he exclaimed excitedly causing Itachi to face palm quite uncharacteristically while Naota laughed, "Gai-san, you two can compete later, right now I'll need your help."

Just than other two teams, team eight and team ten appeared on the battlefield with their respective jounin instructors.

"What are they doing here nii-san?" Sasuke asked his brother softly but the older just shrugged his shoulder.

"All right everyone." Naota clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention, "I'm sure you are all wondering why you are here in the first place…well we are going to give you guys a special training but before that let's have the introductions first please make a line."

"Troublesome…" Shikamaru murmured as he lazily joined the line.

"I'm Takamine Naota. Elite jounin. It's nice to meet you. Now introduce yourselves. You go first Sakura."

"Haruno Sakura. Genin. Team seven." The pinkette replied.

"Ok. Out." Naota's words shocked everyone, "But why Naota nii-san?" the pink haired girl asked in a small voice.

"The elder shook his head. You are not ready for this training right now Sakura. Next."

"Uchiha Sasuke. Genin. Uchiha clan."

"Out Sasuke. Next."

"Kiba Inuzuka. Genin….and…my trainer is Kurenai sensei?"

Naota shook his head disapprovingly, "Out." he looked at the ahead.

"Yamanaka Ino."

"…"

"…"

"And?"

"….Genin…"

"Out Ino. Next."

"uzumaki Naruto. The future hokage!"

Naota sighed heavily, "Out Naruto."

"But but nii-san…!" the blonde jinchuriki whined but one glare from the elder and he moved towards his teammates.

"Pss…Sasuke…what do you think he wants to listen?"

The raven glared at his blonde teammate, "Hn."

"Hugga Neji. Genin of Konoha." This time Naruto smiled a little, "Good but not enough. Go stand with them." Naota pointed towards the line on the other side. Your turn."

"Nara Shikamaru. Shinobi."

This time the time traveler smiled proudly at the young generous, "Good Shikamaru. Very good."

He turned towards the other genins, "This is what you should say and feel in your heart. Our world is a cruel one. Learn to forgive and forget. If you bind yourselves in your clans you'll be just a member of your family." He looked pointedly at Sasuke.

"If you think only about your team…you'll think the other teams as enemy. If you are a shinobi of Konoha then you'll never think the other great nations as great as you think your home land." This time he looked at the Huuga.

"What you need to become is Shinibi. Just Shinobi. Every Shinobi has lost something in his life, they all have their pain and sorrow but still they all have the same goal…protecting the innocent. Be a shinobi…every single shinobi is your comrade, don't judge them by team or country or clan…" Naruto looked at the shocked faces of the Elite Jounins and the genins and sighed.

"Now who are we?"

….

"SHINOBI." They all said in unison making Naruto smile. 'Good they are learning and as soon as they learn to keep each other's back they'll become stronger.'

"Good now we'll tell you about today's training."

….

"What?" Naruto, Lee, Sakura and Ino shouted in shock.

"Hn…"

"Troublesome."

"But Naota nii-san! This is not fair! How can we beat all our sensei's together? And you are saying if we can't then we can't take part in chunin exams! How will I become hokage then?" he cried out gesturing at the jounins wildly.

"Why not Naruto? They are only four…you are 12…Itachi and me are not joining. We'll train with Shusui as soon as he gets here."

"But Naota nii." It was Sasuke, "Last time we fought sensei he didn't even needed his Shariingan to fight us! It's been what three months? We can't beat all of them together!"

"I agree with Uchiha Naota-san. It's not a fair way to judge us." It was Neji this time voicing his protest.

"Yeah! This is insane!" Kiba shouted, akamaru barked after him to show his support to his master.

"Is it really?" Naota asked raising an eyebrow. "At least you are not out numbered. What would you do if you are outnumbered and your opponent is an S-class ninja? Bow your head and accept your death?"

All the genins lowered their heads with a frown marring their faces as Naota continued, "This is not a game. Circumstances won't be in your favor every time. You need to learn how to adapt yourselves with the situation in hand. Get ready in five minutes, we are going to start now."

….

Naota and Itachi watched from the top of a large tree as the twelve genin charged at their senseis.

Naota sighed when he saw his younger self making an army of kage-bunsins and sighed, 'Was I really this stupid?' he wondered amusedly.

"Hey, Naota…don't you think it's a bit too much for them?" Itachi asked from beside him, "They are just genins…"

But Naota shook his head, "No Itachi I don't think so, they'll learn only when they are forced in a hard situation. They must be prepared for anything, you of all people should know how unpredictable

a shinobi's life is."

Itachi sighed heavily, "Yeah, you're right."

"Itachi when is Shisui coming?" Naota asked, he hasn't seen Shisui after his bandages were removed yesterday. The doctors has successfully replaced Shisui's lost eyes and are hopeful that he'll be able to use his bloodline soon.

They had told Shisui to stay a few days in the hospital but the Uchiha has refused saying he wants to start his training properly as soon as possible and has reassured them that he'd not try to activate his Sharingan and cause unnecessary strain on his eyes.

Shisui was supposed to meet them at six in the morning but Naota could tell by the sun's position that it's past six already.

"He should be here soon." Itachi replied softly, focusing his gaze back to the fight between four jounins and twelve genins…to his little brother.

"At this rate they are never going to make it." Itachi said to his companion and Naota could not agree more, they are a mess.

Sasuke and Neji are glaring at each other both trying to prove their bloodline will give them better advantage while Naruto is trying to get his teammate's attention but failing miserably.

"Foolish little brother…" Itachi sighed.

Hinata is trembling like a leaf at one corner and looking at neji like a role model. Kiba is trying to attack four jounins alone head on.

Shikamaru has tried to form a strategy at the starting but when he has realized that no one is going to listen to him he has backed off and now is watching the clouds lazily.

Lee is ranting about some youthfulness and all to Shino trying to convince that attacking other three jounins except for Gai-sensei would give them more advantage.

Chouji is busy with devouring his chips…

Tenten, Ino and Sakura are slightly better; at least they are working together but Sakur, being a medic is getting problems on forming plans of attack with the violent natured girl.

All in all…they look like a complete disaster, a bunch of brats and not shinobis at all.

"Whoa! What is happening here?"

Naota and Itachi both turned around when they heard Shisui's voice coming from behind them.

"What a scene…" Shisui mumbled as he sat down on a branch and looked at his nephew and his batch mates.

"Shisui." Naota greeted, "How are your eyes?" he asked.

The Uchiha is wearing thick black glasses to protect his eyes from getting infections and any unwanted harm.

"Good. They are fine. The doctors said if all goes well them I'll be able to use my Shiringan in a week." Shisui said smiling a little. It's been a long time since he has seen the light of day and after living in the darkness for so long it feels like dream to him…a very real dream.

"That really a good news Shisui." Naota replied and jumped of the tree, "Itachi you can start training with Shisui, I'll join you shortly but right now I think they need some push…" he said pointing a finger at the defeated looking genins.

Most of them are now panting hard and on their knees. Their bodies full of cuts and bruises. Well at least their teachers are taking the fight seriously, Naota thought as he walked up to the fallen genins.

"Gave up already?" Naota asked in a mocking tone, knowing full well that if anything could make them work harder that is the strike on their pride.

Sasuke, Neji and Naruto glared at him as they tried to get up on their feet. While Kiba and Akamaru directly jumped on him,

"This is all your fault! You bastard! You don't want us to take part in the chunin exams!" the Inuzuka shouted in anger.

A deathly silence setteled in the whole training ground as Kiba tried to place a punch on Naota but was thrown back like a rag doll by one hit of the older's hand, slumping against a large tree.

Everyone looked at the boy with wide disbelieving eyes, finally it was Naruto who broke the silence.

"Apologize to Naota-nii san Kiba." He glared at the boy angrily, "How dare you talk to him like that?!" he shouted in rage.

The Inuzuka shook his head, slowly standing up on his legs, "No I won't." he snarled, "I'm right. That man doesn't want us to take part in the exam can't you see Naruto what is he trying to do?"

"Shut up Kiba! You know nothing about him. If he says it's necessary to take part in the exam then he's right." The young blonde shinobi walked over to Kiba and grabbed his collar angrily.

"Calm down Naruto." Naota put a hand on his younger self's shoulder and shook his head in disapproval.

Kurenai also appeared beside them, "Kiba apologize, is it how you behave around your elders?" she asked angrily.

Kiba lowered his head in shame, refusing to look up at his sensei's disappointed face, "I'm sorry…" he mumbled out feeling humiliated.

Naota sighed and then knelt down before the boy, making him look up to him.

"It's allright Kiba. I know you are angry and think that this is impossible. Let's try again, this time I'll help you all." He said looking towards the other genins who looked shocked yet relived.

"Nii-san!" Naruto shouted jumping on Naota's back, "Thank you! we'll definitely win if you are gonna help us!" he said smiling happily.

Naota shook his head, a small smile gracing his own lips, "I'll help you but I won't take part in the battle, I'll just tell you what you are doing wrong."

A shadow of doubt clouded the young shinobis' visions but nonetheless they nodded in agreement.

Naota walked in the middle of the group and knelt down, motioning all the genins to gather around him as he started explaining the things they should remember in a battle.

All the genins nodded in understanding, some looking ashamed of themselves and some looking simply speechless.

Naota smiled at them and stood up in the middle of the group.

He looked at the four jounins waiting for them to finish and gave them a curt nod to restart the session again.

And the battle between the twelve genins and their teachers began.

….

Exactly one hour later they had Kuranei trapped under Shikamaru's shadow binding jutsu, Gai trapped in Ino's mind transfer jutsu as Hinata used her gentle first on him, making him paralyzed. Kakashi was forced to reveal his Sharingan to fight them but yet had a hard time and now he's panting harshly from chakra exhaustion, unable to move.

Naruto has managed to fool Asuma by his shadow clones and henge, giving Sasuke an opportunity to catch him in his genjutsu. Though Asuma has broken it within a minute, that was all the time Neji has needed to use his sixty four palms on him.

The twelve genins smiled at each other, a look of mutual admiration in their eyes instead of rivalry or envy.

They all remembered the advice given to them prior to the fight.

Flashback

"You have all learned to work as a three men team, now work as a shinobi of Konoha, respect each other and combine your attacks. Protect the weaker and fight with your brain not only with your jutsus.

Neji, Hinata you have the byakugan, the best ability to keep tracks on your enemy and detect hidden or surprise attacks." Both Huugas nodded their heads in understanding though in Hinata's case it was a bit reluctant.

"What are you afraid of Hinata?" Naota asked the Huuga heir softly.

"I-I…I'm not as strong as N-neji-nii san…" she shuttered out.

"So what Hinata? Your comrades are here to watch your back aren't they?"

The timid girl nodded to Naota.

"Sasuke, who do you think should be the strategist?" he asked the young Uchiha.

Sasuke looked around and frowned, "Me?" he asked reluctantly causing Naota to sigh, "Naruto?"

"…Shika." The blonde said softly looking at the lazy genius. Naota smiled at him.

"Where do you think a medics place should be?" Naota asked to no one in particular. But it was Ino who answered him, "In the middle where he or she could be easily approached if anyone gets injured."

"Correct. Now tell me who can spy on your enemy without noticing them?" Naota asked Kiba.

"I think Shino." He said pointing at the silent boy. Naota nodded silently.

"Brute force? Fighter for the front line?"

Naruto, Lee, Ten ten, Neji, Chouji, Kiba and Sasuke took a step forward.

"Good. Split up protect both the front and the back. Exhaust your enemy. The ones with the most stamina should go first." Naota told the genins.

He stood up, "Combine your attacks. Naruto's wind nature will help Sasuke's fire nature, Shikamaru and Ino's shadow binding and mind transfer can do well together, they can do well with the Huugas gentle first. Use your brain, create your own fighting style, together you can become an undefeatable group." He paused for a moment to take a deep breath.

"Sasuke your eyes are not to be compared with Neji's, it's not which one is better or more powerful, this is about which one will help you keep your comrades safe. Neji's are better in protecting people and yours are better in killing your enemy."

Naota stepped back, "Do your own part. Trust your comrades to watch your back because there are things you can never do alone." He said giving them a thumbs up.

Flashback End

They all surrounded Naota, thanking him for his help and asking him to teach them new jutsus enthusiastically. The four jounins, Itachi and Shisui have also joined the group.

Naota rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, his childhood habit showing unconsciously. But the gesture didn't go unnoticed this time.

Shikamaru's of eyes narrowed at the gesture. Finding it similar to another person he knows. Brown eyes bore at Naota's deep blue before he shrugged his shoulder.

Yes, the gesture is similar, so are the eyes…but what could this mean? Is this man really Naruto's relative? But he says his last name is Takamine not Uzumaki….and Naruto has no living relative…

"Troublesome." Sikamaru sighed, may be he's just thinking too much…

Just then an ANBU appeared in front of them causing the group to stop the genins' celebration on defeating their senseis.

Everyone turned towards Asuma as the ANBU handed him a small scroll and disappeared.

Asuma read the scroll, his eyes widening, the small piece of paper fell from his hands as he looked up to meet his comrades' eyes.

"What is it Asuma? What happened?" Kakashi asked putting his hand on his shoulder.

"Hokage-sama is dead. He was poisoned with a fatal poison."

…...

Thanks for reading everyone. Please leave some reviews/favs/follows if you enjoyed it. I have decided to give this story monthly updates, So see you next month.

Till then…Take care and bye. :D