Naruto may have been a smart kid, but studying was still not his thing. His Dad, who knew how to get him to learn, at times tricking him into it, had told Anko and Gai. They would all train with him when they had the time, but it was growing less and less with him. In fact they were all gone on mission, and he was staying at the Hyuuga compound. He was of course being babysat by Hinata's cousin Neji's father, Hyuuga Hizashi.

Naruto was to be in the room next to Neji, should he need anything. After all, Neji was part of the servitude branch. Hinata's room was on the other side of the compound, and it was almost painfully aware that the main branch of the house, other than Hinata and Hannah , were against him for the fact he was different. Naruto had taken up wearing a mask the day before the first day of school. His eye crinkled like his father. He was a month into school, and he loved it, but he had to work hard to learn things. Especially when he was trying to teach himself. He and Hinata were in the Hyuuga training grounds at the moment, and they were being trained along side of Neji with Hizashi. They were training Gentle Fist style, which Naruto was picking up slowly but surely. He had become much more graceful, and Neji no longer scoffed at him openly when he made a huge messup. Hinata had given him extra lessons, because Naruto had begged her.

Neji landed a blow, and Naruto's right arm, his dominant arm dropped limply to his side. But Naruto kept on, this time with renewed vigor, and he landed a blow to Neji pressure point on his shoulder. He may not have been able to use the best form of Gentle Fist like a Hyuuga, but he could use it fairly well. He would have to concentrate as much as possible to make sure Neji didn' fly across the training grounds. he'd done that on accident before. Neji 'd looked like a human air plane. Neji was eight, even though they were still seven.

Naruto had an incredibly hard time controlling his chakra. It was like when he needed to use just a pinch of chakra, the top of the shaker fell off everytime, making a mess of salt and ruining his food. Just like to much chakra ruins whatever jutsu he happened to be performing. But he was getting bettwer with the help of his friends, and they all shared the techniques that helped them to better control their chakra.

Neji, on the spur of a moment, grabbed a Kunai, and tried to cut through his mask. Kakashi had taught him not to let that happen. Naruto wondered why he couldn't let people see his face, but he didn't mind. His Dad had taught him to respect and listen to his elders, and his superiors, though he he sometimes faught with them, and got in their faces if he thought they were wrong.

The sun beat down on them, and sweat trickled down their spines. Neji hadn't seen Naruto's face since he'd come to the compound nearly a year ago. Neji hadn't talked to him, because he simply didn't have the time to. He was more open with Naruto now, and he had smiled more often. Before Neji had been lonely. Sometimes being a genious can have its downsides. He had been forced to work hard by Hiashi, Hinata's father. Hinata's father scorned her for not being more forward and more strong. But Naruto had stood up for her, and told her father what he really thought. Hiashi glared at him and Naruto glared back. And then Naruto was kicked out of the Hyuuga compound for a week. But when he came back Hiashi explained to him why it was so important for Hinata to be stronger, because she was from the main branch of the house. Hiashi appologised for being so rude, but he had to teach Hinata a lesson.

"She's only nervous around you because she's scared to death of you. You're her father, but if you don't let her work at her own pace , she won't make any progress. Come to our next training practice, and don't let her see you. It'll be just me and her, that's when she works best. Neji's busy that ay anyway. " Naruto told Hiashi the when and where, and then Hiashi nodded. " You shouldn't treat her any better or worse than Neji. You're family, and my Daddy taught me that no matter what- family is important and you love them no matter what!"

That had been the day before, when Naruto had come over to be baby-sat and watched, and Naruto had an extra practice with Hinata after this. Hinata knew that, as did Hizashi and Neji. After a while, Hizashi called it a draw, and Naruto let out a laugh that mingled with his sigh of relief. He plopped down on the ground, and gulped the air into his lungs. Neji had plopped down next to him, and Naruto put his hands behind his head. He pointed out a flower shaped cloud, and Neji said it didn't look like anything but white fluff.

" You have to use your imagination Neji. All you see is what is there, but what about the underneath? " asked Naruto reaching over lazily to smack him on the forehead.

Neji shrugged. After a while he pointed to a different cloud, and pointed out a square.

"Ha!" laughed Naruto he rolled over onto his side, laughing.

"What?" said Neji sitting up. "What's so funny about a square?"

"It's just, I mean - a square? Are you kidding me?" Neji gave Naruto an incredilous look.

"Well excuse me for trying to take your advice!" said Neji angrilly.He turned away from Naruto angrilly.

"I'm sorry!! I didn't mean it like that. It's just that- I don't know. No one's ever really seen a square in th elcouds. Cloud watchers see what they see, not what is really there. People think seeing different stuff means different things, right? So what does seeing a square mean?"

"Maybe I should think outside of the box, ne?" snorted Neji smiling. " I mean look. The cloud could be a box, and I'm outside of it, so shouldn't I think like I am?"

Naruto smiled, then stood up. He offered a brotherly hand to Neji , who accepted, and then they parted ways. Hizashi and Neji were going on a father son lunch break, and Hinata already left for training. Naruto knew that he would be late, so he ran as fastas his seven year old legs would carry him.

"Wat'cha doin'? " asked Naruto peering over Hinata's shoulder. Hinata's smiled . She'd recognise that catch phrase anywhere. She rarely knew a day he didn't say it.

Hinata and Naruto quickly got to training. Hinata landed a few blows, but Naruto did his best to dodge them. He was excrutiatingly tired. HIs whole body screamed for him to stop, but he had to prove Hinata a good fighter to her father. This wasn't the time for him to give up and be lazy like he usuallly was.

He landed a glancing blow on her shoulder, but she determinedly pushed on. She jabbed here and there, closing certain chakra points. He continued fighting, unaware ofthe damgae she was doing. Then he felt it. He couldn't use his chakra at all anymore. It was stuck in the pit of his stomach, where it remained trapped.

He hit the ground, and he groaned in pain. "Unh. Hinata! You're carrying me back. I can't move. " Hinata pretended to walk away, and then she his behind a tree." Hinata! Don't leave me out here! "

Hinata laughed then jumped out from behind the tree. Naruto was tired, and his whole body hurt. Hinata had blocked all of the chakra points along his arms and shoulders, and a few on his legs and stomach. The rest had been from Neji's brutal attack.

She threw him over her shoulder, and she strolled leisruely back to the compound. He shoulders hurt something terriblly, but she felt sorry for Naruto. She knew he wouldn't be able to move again until a few days later. If he did, he might permanently damage his muscles and chakra points.

Hizashi watched the two sparrign partners fighting, and he smiled. She really was as good as he'd hoped. She wasn't as good as Neji, but she sure was smart. She knew the body like the back of her hand, and where to hit, picking out Naruto's weaknesses. She had been the dominator, leaving Naruto to defend himself for the most part. He smirked. Naruto was an enthusiastic little squirt. He loved that boy. He had grown very fond of having him around. He noticed Hinata was less and less shy as she hung around him, and she was improving. Neji was smiling more, and talking to people like a normal child. Maybe Naruto was right. They were a family, and maybe it was time they started acting that way.

The sun was shining through the window onto Naruto's face, and he didn't raise a hand to block it. He was too tired. He sighed and closed his eyes. He was soon sleeping again, his mind wandering , drifting from dream to dream. He felt like he was free from all his inhibitions, and he could accomplish anything. The face of Sarutobi-jiisan, and he was talking to him.

"Ah, little one. You remind me so much of my own children. Ah... Sometimes I wish they'd never grown up and just stayed little children. " Nareuto noticed that Sarutobi-jiisan looked younger then.

He looked around, and he saw the Hokage's office. But it looked different. The paint was a differnent shade, and it smelled funny. Like a stinky diaper.


Naruto sat up when Neji brought in his food. Neji beamed at Naruto, and sat down while Naruto picked up a rice ball.

" You look happy this morning, Neji!" smiled Naruto. He lifted the bottomg of his mask, a fraction, and bowed his head to take a bite. Neji was used to this by now. He used to think it odd, but then everything about Naruto was odd and different, wasn't it?

" Hiashi-sama said that there will no longer be branch families! He said starting today we are all equals. The main brnach family's elders were angry, but everyone else was completely satisfied by the situation. They all cheered, but the elders got pissed even more. They said that this was a show of total disrespect.

But it wasn't, Hiashi-sama told them that forcing the other 'lower' branches was a total show of disrespect.He told them very politely that they would have to live with his decision, as it was for the better of the clan. " Neji laughed out loud, and he smiled at Naruto, and then he revealed his forhead.

"I'm never getting one! I don't ever have to get the gursed bird cage tattoo!" laughed Neji. He ran to the window, and Naruto watched and listened as he pointed out all the things he saw in the sky. Naruto laughed and talked with Neji for a while, then Neji excused himself to go train. He finished his breakfast, and looked at the scroll that sat next to him on the nightstand. Neji had left it for him, and it was a scroll on different fighting techinques and stances. He read it all the way through, studying and mentally practicing. He was overjoyed Neji was finally free of his sp-thought "destiny" to be a servant for life.

He read and reread the scroll , and then moved onto the next one. It was on defensive tactics, and tricks of the trade. Neji's jagged yet somehow neat scrawl was added everywhere, pointing out diadvantages and little extra tips of info , and shards of information not included. At the very back of the scroll, was a short barely leggible scribble. It read "Thanks dobe. No more destiny crap - I promise. Neji." Naruto smiled, and plopped back on his pillows. He was healing exceptionally fast, and soon he'd be able to kick Neji's but for calling him an idiot.

Author's Note- I haven't written for this in iawhile, so I figured I'd make a pimpin' awesome chapter. I know some things are very weirdish, but this is my story dammit! I'll do what I want! Thank you, now moving on . Check out my other stories. This chapter, altho he is not a reader i would like to credit Agent-G, the author of an amazing Hatake Naruto story. Look it up! You'll like his better probably, but he is the one who opened me to this idea, and I would like to thank my readers from Love In Death , who inspired me to write this. Music Artist of the week- it's a vote.

Would you rahter:

Enya or A Fine Frenzy or Paramore Flyleaf