Hey there and welcome to a very special chapter of rise of the Avatar. For there is a very special announcement I would like to make. As of the last chapter this fic has gotten ONE HUNDRED REVIEWS BABY! Making this my first fic to have ever gotten that many ever. I hope that I can break the five hundred mark. Now please enjoy this chapter.

Also this will be the last update for two weeks while I work on the new story arc. That will be titled on my computer. 'rough waves' Hint freaking hint.

In a well hidden training field Naruto Uzumaki was training to the point of death. With his cloths near rags he pushed his body to there absolute limits. Heavy training weights where attached to his wrist ankles and chest. Combined they weighed over two hundred pounds. The sweat poured of him as he painfully did pushups. While the sole thing keeping him from giving in stood a mere ten feet away.

Nearby his loyal hound Suicune in his transformed state watched with pained eyes. Yet the spirit hound knew that this was a necessary evil. For his master had a destiny ahead of him greater then any other.

With a seemingly sadistic grin Kenpachi watched as his student underwent his training. The normally vicious warrior had a rare show of being truly impressed. While his granddaughter had told him how she had trained him over the years. To see it was another matter entirely. The only thing he could frown about was the complete and total lack of knowledge the boy had about his own family. A problem he had decided to use to his clear advantage in there first official meeting.

Mitarashi apartment three weeks ago.

With a tired sigh Naruto entered the apartment. The training bout with Rock Lee having gone on longer then he had planned. Thus he was tired and bruised in many places he didn't like to think about. Thus when he entered the living room it was pure reflex that he ducked the punch sent strait for his face. Yet the massive fist was only the distraction. As a sweeping kick connected with his gut. The kick scooped him up into the air. Before he knew what was happening he was sent back into the large couch.

Dazed he coughed as he tried to look for his attacker. Only to stop as he found an odd sight even for him. His roommate and dearest friend was laughing next to the tallest and most battle hardened man he had ever met in his life. His training with Anko let him know that this man could have easily killed him before he even knew it.

With a grin Anko looked up at her grandfather and said amused. "See grandpa he dodged your punch. I told you my training was good." Naruto was still in a daze as Kenpachi grinned and replied. "Well the runts got potential that's for sure." Standing up Naruto fought off the pain from his collective injuries and said annoyed. "Who the hell are you?"

With a cold glare Kenpachi glared at him. Only to focus a massive blast of killing intent strait at Naruto. The sheer amount could have given some seasoned chunin heart attacks. Yet what Naruto did would impressed Kenpachi for years to come. On pure reflex Naruto attacked. His fist pulled back ready to punch the man's head clear off. Yet as he was within striking range he dropped his fist. Only to do a roundhouse kick in midair. Putting all his strength into the kick he hit the right side of Kenpachi's head dead on.

The years of strength training had given Naruto stronger then average kicks. Many times. He had fallen small trees by accident. Thus when a loud crack echoed threw the room Naruto thought he had done damage to the monster. Yet to his shock a bolt a pain shot threw his leg. As he realized with horror that he had broken his leg at the shin.

Anko winced as she realized that Naruto's leg had just been broken. Silently she thanked her sensei Kurenai for making her learn battlefield medical ninjutsu. Yet what Kenpachi did next surprised even her as he caught Naruto before he hit the ground. With his right hand he had Naruto's whole neck in his grasp. With a dark almost insane chuckle Kenpachi threw Naruto back into the couch.

Landing hard Naruto fought to right himself. As he was about to attack again he stopped as the tip of the most battle worn sword he had ever seen was a mere centimeter between his eyes. The owner of the blade had a relaxed yet clearly ready pose. In a state of shock Naruto thought to himself in fear and awe. 'I never even sensed him move. This guy is jonin level at least.'

Naruto then glared with absolutely no fear into Kenpachi's eyes. A thousand lifetimes could have passed buy without them reacting. Each one waiting for the other to act. To all but Kenpachi's confusion the giant began to laugh long and hard. The very windows shaking under the force of his laugh. As the giant sheathed his blade. He then said amused. "Hehehe you got her eyes kid." Naruto simply looked at him confused until Anko walked out from behind the giant. With a childlike grin she said almost to energetically.

"Naruto say hello to your knew sensei. My grandfather Kenpachi Mitarashi Zaraki."

Several moments later the three where sitting down. Kenpachi was across from them in a chair. The seat straining from his massive size. While on the couch Naruto's leg was being healed by Anko. Her hands where glowing a soft pale green as she healed the break in his leg. Naruto himself was looking at Kenpachi in a mix of apprehension skeptism and disbelief. "So the third asked you to be my sensei. Why prey tell would he do that?"

Crossing his arms Kenpachi grinned and said amused. "Because runt your mother and I go way back. She was the only Kunoichi to ever beat me." All the color drain from Naruto's face at the mention of his mother. While Anko stopped what she was doing to stare at him in shock. The list of people to beat her grandfather was short. Only a handful of people could claim that honor. Half of them where killed in rematches. With a whisper Naruto said to himself. "My mother was a ninja?"

Hearing him say that he frowned and asked his new student. "What you didn't know that? How could you not know? Your mother was a legend." Her answer came as her granddaughter said with a downcast glance. "We don't know who his family is. We think he's related to the Namikaze clan but none of the surviving members will admit it. So we never could find out."

Killing intent flooded the entire district as Kenpachi relaxed untold amounts with no restraint. Many on the streets and in there homes dropped to there knees in fear. While in his office the third hokage sensed the release. With a gaze at the photo of the forth he said in a seemingly victorious tone. "Looks like I outsmarted you Minato. I may not be able to tell him. But Kenpachi sure as hell can."

As soon as the killing intent came it left. In the apartment Kenpachi looked at Naruto with cold fury. "Boy are you telling me you don't know your own mother's name?" Almost afraid to answer him Naruto simply nodded his head.

Kenpachi's mood then did a full three sixty. As with a grin he said amused. "Well then kid do I have a surprise for you. Cause your mother and I go back. In fact she is a legend in the hidden leaf village. When that blasted fox attacked she single handedly held it of for over an hour. Like myself she has turned down the mantle of hokage. Feared threw out the ninja world more then the forth hokage. The deadliest female ninja in history."

Anko was paling as she slowly began to realize who he was talking about. For she had idolized said woman since she could threw a kunai. Kenpachi himself was taking a dramatic pause before he finally said amused.

"The one and only Halibel Namikaze. The flash shark of the hidden leaf."

Naruto's eyes shot open as he said this. Not a single leaf villager didn't know about her. His memories then flashed back to the hall of legends. A memorial set up during the last war. It was there they immortalized every kage level ninja to come from the hidden leaf. To be placed in this hall was a honor many dreamed of more then becoming hokage. The latest addition was none other then Itachi Uchiha himself.

The memorial was a large building. The walls where lined with portraits of each honored in there prime. Beneath that was a plaque describing what they did to earn there place there. Naruto in his youth before he met Anko would spend nearly his entire time there. Hoping that those legendary heroes of the village would guide him somehow. He remembered spending most of his time in front of her portrait the most. Her never knew why but he felt a connection with her. Now he knew why. She was his mother.

Shocked to her core Anko blurted out with almost a shriek. "ARE YOU SERIOUS!!?" Nodding Kenpachi grinned and replied amused. "Dead serious kiddo. I got all the proof I needed five minutes ago. Only Halibel's kid would shake off my killing intent and attack on pure reflex. Not only that he has that same defiant look in his eyes. This kids just like his mother. He doesn't know the meaning of the word die."

Anko meanwhile had shaken Naruto out of his daze by saying with a bolt of realization. "So that's why they refused to admit he was a Namikaze. She practically humiliated the clan every chance she got. There holding a stupid grudge."

Present day.

That had been the start of his training. The moment his leg healed Naruto hit the ground running. To Kenpachi's pride Naruto never once complained. Thus he showed no mercy. Choosing to use his mother's status and power as motivation. He drilled it into the boys head to surpass her in every way. While Kenpachi himself was reluctant to admit it his apparent elemental powers where clearly powerful. So powerful he was considering introducing him to an old friend of his.

Behind the hokage tower next to the ninja academy was the hall of legends. A circular building with one long hallway spiraling towards the center. Where a small flame rested symbolizing the will of fire. Built on orders form the third hokage himself. It's goal was to show that while one may not achieve the rank of hokage. They could just as well reach that level of fame and raw skill and power. Since it's construction over three hundred people where honored in this hall. Many for services to the village like no other.

In this hall of legends Anko was standing before one of the more famous of the legends. One of only a handful to ever turn down the title of hokage Halibel Namikaze. The portrait was of her in her early twenties. Dressed in a white bodysuit with a dark blue jonin vest. Sticking into the ground beside her was the fabled Executioner's blade. One of the very blades of the seven ninja swordsmen of the mist. Her right hand was gripping the handle while it was clear she was ready for anything. While it was only a painting it seemed as if her eyes where tearing into ones soul. As if anyone not worthy to gaze upon her portrait would be cut down but the blade she carried.

Looking a the portrait in awe Anko could see the resemblance. So entranced by the recent revelations she never noticed the hokage himself walk up behind her. Only when he spoke in a calm serene tone did she realize he was even there. "She truly was a legend in her own right."

Startled Anko turned on her heels to face him. With a shocked tone Anko asked the old man surprised. "Lord Hokage what are you doing here?" With a chuckle the aged warrior said almost sagely. "I often come here my dear. I find this hall to be very inspirational. Take miss Halibel here. She was one of many members of the Namikaze clan. From birth her father tried to drill in her the near berserker style of there clan. Yet she defied them. Sought her own path and became truly strong. Facing the nine tailed fox single handedly to protect the village. I had asked her once to become hokage. The fire lord himself practically begged her. But do you know what she said in reply."

Anko looked at him confused. While she had tried to find the answer herself many times. No one seemed to know what the woman had said fifteen years ago. With a warm smile the third hokage said simply. "Paperwork scares me."

The look on Anko was priceless. While the laughter from the hokage made her quickly compose herself. Seeing the disbelief in her eyes the hokage finished his tail. "Ah yes dear Halibel honestly feared paperwork. Not a single mission report ever handed in by her was longer then two pages. While her handwriting was beautiful and her style of writing divine. She never seemed to put much energy into writing longer then necessary. When she turned down the title of hokage I asked her why. This is what she told me."

Fifteen years ago hokage's office.

The third hokage had seen many things in his lifetime. The death of his sensei's. The fall of nations and the rise of empires. Yet what he had just witnessed was beyond all those combined. The prime candidate for the mantle of hokage. The only person he completely trusted with the protection of the village. Hero of the last war had turned down the offer to become his successor.

Standing before the hokage Halibel Namikaze was the very definition of controlled. While before her the fire lord and third hokage looked as if they had been slapped in the face. Arms crossed she waited for them to regain there senses. In robes costing more them most would earn in three lifetimes. The fire lord was every bit the symbol of a ruler. Thus it was rare to throw the leader of kilter.

With several swift blinks of his eyes the fire lord stammered out shocked. "Why are you refusing this honor? It is the dream of nearly every ninja of the village to become hokage. What force on earth could make you not want this honor of honors?"

Her reply was a blunt and simple. "Paperwork scares me."

The two leaders looked at her in complete and total disbelief. Looking at her as if was for the first time the hokage said confused. "Paperwork scares you!? How is that possible?"

Closing her eyes to collect her thoughts. Halibel worded her next words with such conviction. That making her the next hokage almost became the twos mission in life.

"The reason paperwork scares me is simple. I want to live my life to it's fullest. To have a family. To see the world and protect those I love with my entire being. Trapped behind that desk would rob me of that dream. The time wasted signing page after page I could be with those I love. I love this village. Often times so much it hurts to set a single foot outside of it. But to be condemned to a desk for years is a fate worse then death for me. Tell me lord hokage how many hours everyday have you spent at that very desk? In the twenty six years you have served as Hokage."

The aging leader looked behind himself at the very desk in question. A pained look in his eyes as he realized she was right. The time wasted there he could have done so much. He had even missed the birth of both his sons because he had mission reports to review. Getting her answer she turned to leave. As she reached the door she stopped. Without looking back she said calmly. "Though he's as thickheaded as father. Minato can do the job. He has the 'heart' for it." With that she walked out of the room. Leaving the two to there thoughts.

Present day.

"A month later Minato was made Hokage. Halibel then left for nearly a year. Only to return four months pregnant. She refused to say who the father was. But we could tell she loved him. Whoever he was."

With a frown Anko asked the question that had burned in her mind for weeks. "Why didn't you tell him she was his mother?" Frowning the third replied with a hushed voice. "It was Minato's wish. He requested that if Halibel died by the fox's hand. Naruto was to be banished from the clan a bastard. With all records of his heritage sealed until he either made jonin or his fifteenth birthday. Why he did this I have no idea. Kenpachi though is a fire guardian officially. Thus he was immune from this order."

There discussion was cut short as an Anbu appeared kneeling before the hokage. In a panicked tone the anbu held a scroll up and said. "My lord we have an emergency!" Swiftly taking the scroll the aged leader instantly became the 'professor' His trained eyes instantly scanned the scroll. His eyes widened with every word. When he was done he looked at the Anbu and said. "Summon the jonin council immediately!"

Turning towards Anko his gaze told her it was big. With cold fury the hokage said to simple lines. "Find Naruto. Bring him to my office NOW!" As the Hokage began to swiftly walk away Anko asked scared for her closest friend. "Lord hokage what's wrong?" Stopping he looked back at her and said fiercely. "Were going to war!"

I bet you didn't see that coming. I thought this chapter was good for character development. Now this is important. I need suggestions for any plots in the future. The war is going to be short but sweet. Just a little intro for the world. That the avatar has arrived! Also in the next chapter Naruto will meet Shion for the first time.