A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.

DarkRavie: Thanks for your review my friend.

TigrezzTail: Thanks for your review my friend. Yeah he definitely got lucky this time.

Naruto's POV

When he came too he knew that he was no longer in the forest. A softness under his back spoke of a bed. He could hear sounds of people near him. Power hummed underneath his skin. The mergingIo of his soul and the ring was a success.

A hand lightly touched his hair. Its fingers carded through gently in a soothing motion. It was almost enough for him to go back to sleep.

Until a familiar voice asked, "How long is he going to stay asleep? It's been three days now."

An unfamiliar voice replied, "His body needs to heal, Xaiogang. We are lucky he survived at all. Even more so that, his soul didn't fracture and break from the strain. He's not even 10 yet and already has a purple ring. If I didn't see it for myself I would have said thag it was impossible."

Naruto opened his blue eyes to find a familiar ceiling above him. He was back at Xaiogang's office. His teacher was next to him. He let out a groan as he tried to sit up. His entire body ached.

Xaiogang's hands left his hair to gently push him back onto the bed. Worried amber eyes entered his vision. He relaxed back into the bed he was laying on. If his teacher didn't want him sitting up it was for the best.

A woman with red hair and green eyes appeared in his vision next. She went through all the medical checks. He winced when she lifted his broken wrist but said nothing.

Finally she said, "He will live and his wounds will heal. You are very lucky to be alive, Mr. Uzumaki. If your friend had not brought you back when he did we would not be having this conversation."

Friend? Did she mean Sasuke? They weren't friends. Now that he thought about it, they weren't really enemies either.

She interrupted his thoughts, "Xaiogang I'll take my leave. If there is an issue send for me. I don't foresee that there will be however. Your disciple is strong."

Xaiogang bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Anna."

She acknowledged him with a tilt of her chin and then she was gone. Healing spirit masters were rare and many belonged to clans. It wasn't often you saw one outside of a clan stronghold.

It seemed his master had many tricks up his sleeve. Such a thing it seemed saved his life.

When amber eyes turned back to him there was a fierce anger in them. On instinct he flinched back trying to put distance between him and his teacher. Despite not being in the village for almost three years his reactions were still the same. He still flinched away from anger.

The anger softened until it was more disappointed than anything. That hurt more than any blow ever could. He didn't want his teacher disappointed in him. He looked away to hide his self hatred.

Xaiogang stated softly his hand coming under Naruto's chin making the boy look at him, "I almost lost you, Naruto. Do you know what that would have done to me? You are my only disciple. I cherish you above all others."

Naruto's eyes filled with tears as he whispered, "I'm sorry, master. I sent Sasuke to get help while I stayed behind. I couldn't let you die just as if you were in my position you wouldn't leave me to die."

Xaiogang inquired his head bowing slightly in acknowledgement that he would have done the same, "You have never had someone to look after you, have you? How did you survive for so long by yourself?"

Naruto paled significantly. That was one of the few things they had not talked about. He didn't like thinking about his past before the academy. It was filled with pain and loneliness. No one wanted to be around him or to give him an ounce of kindness.

The past two years had been the best of his life. Despite his difficulties with connecting with people they were filled with happiness. A friend, a teacher, and mentor.

Naruto answered vaguely, "I did what I had to do. I don't like talking about it, Master."

Xaiogang seemed to think about it for a moment. Then he ruffled the younger's blond hair. Naruto before he could stop himself leaned into the touch. When he caught himself he found he didn't want to pull away. The touch was gentle and warm.

Xaiogang ordered gently but firmly, "Get some rest. I'll check on you in a little while."

Already he could feel his energy draining. He responded in a slurred whisper, "Aye, Master."

As soon as he said the words the world faded to black. His sleep was dreamless but the feeling of warmth never left him. When he awoke the second time the exhaustion was gone. While his wrist still twinged when he tried to move it, it didn't hurt nearly as bad as before.

It was only when he sat up that he realized he had been moved. Before when he awoke he was in his master's office. Now he was in an unfamiliar bedroom. Books lined the walls either in stacks or on bookshelves.

He sat up and after a moment of dizziness threw his legs over the side. Slowly standing he used the wall for support. It was then that he noticed he was in pyjama bottoms that were much to big for him. If he had to guess they were likely his master's. A belt was the only thing keeping that at his waist. Part of the leg was rolled up to keep him from tripping. His master it seemed planned on him waking up while he was gone.

The next thing he noticed was that he wasn't wearing a shirt. It allowed him to see that his wrist had been expertly splinted and his wounds stitched. If he didn't know it had only been a few days he would have thought it had been weeks. The wounds were sealed up and completely healed. Stitches he could tell were ready to come out.

He slowly moved around the room not finding any of his clothes. When he reached the door he leaned on it. Did he want to leave or did he want to wait on his teacher to get back?

The decision was made for him when the door he was leaning on opened. It threw him off balance so that he fell into the one who opened it. A gentle chuckle made him look up. It wasn't Xaiogang like he was expecting. Instead it was Hayate.

The swordsman was wearing a black t-shirt and grey pants. His headband was across his shoulder rather than being a bandana.

Naruto said happily, "Hayate sensei!"

Hayate asked his eyes checking over Naruto's form, "How are you feeling, Naruto? Any lingering pain?"

Naruto shook his head as he replied, "No, sensei. The healer did her job well. I just feel slightly weaker than normal."

Hayate pressed his hand into one of the healed wounds. Naruto didn't even feel a twinge with the action. There was a look of contemplation on the other's face. Did his teacher know of the Nine Tailed Fox?

"Hayate sensei? Do you know that I have the Nine Tailed Fox in me?"

Hayate said his brown eyes widening, "So you found out. All the adults in the village know. Lord Hokage wanted you to have a normal life. So no one was allowed to talk about it."

Or in Hayate's case, tell him. If the old man wanted him to live a normal life, he failed. Naruto didn't know friendship or kindness until coming to the academy.

Hayate held out a bag to him pulling him from his thoughts. He said, "I brought you some clothes. If you are feeling up to it. I have been asked to take you and Sasuke Uchiha to register your rings."

Naruto asked, "He got a ring? What did he kill?"

Hayate shrugged and said, "A young forest wolf. I believe it was only 55 years old."

So he received a white spirit ring. It was the most common for new spirit masters. If the tiger had not appeared they would have gone for a better ring.

For his part Naruto began to change into the clothes he was brought. He changed into a grey undershirt, and black pants. Over the shirt he put on his black jacket.

He said stretching his muscles, "I think I'm well enough sensei."

Hayate nodded his acceptance. Then they walked out. Xaiogang barely glanced at them from his book. A small smile crossed his teacher's face.

Sasuke was waiting for them outside of the school. A brief look of relief crossed the boy's face. They weren't given the chance to speak. Going to the spirit hall was a short trek into town.

An old man greeted them cheerfully, "Hayate Gekko, it's been awhile since you were last here. What can I do for you?"

Hayate pushed the two of them in front of the man, "We are here to register these two. One is to be registered as a spirit master. The other is to register his second spirit ring."

The man looked at the two boys in surprise. They both looked too young to have a second ring. Most children their age were just getting their first ring. The geniuses would be getting their second. Even then it would be those who came from a clan.

A voice said from behind the old man, "Naruto-san! It's not time for you to collect your stipend yet. What brings you to the spirit hall?"

Naruto grinned and greeted, "Spirit Lord Yao! It's good to see you! I'm actually here to register my new spirit ring."

The old man that greeted them moved aside to allow Yao to step up. Yao had been the man to register his soul ring two years prior. Since that day he was always the one to give him his stipen. The man was something of a gentle soul but fiercely protective of those he claimed. Naruto was lucky to be one such person.

Yao said ushering them into the room, "Well let's register the young Uchiha as a Spirit Master first. Then we will register you as a Grand Master."

Sasuke at first was reluctant to go. He was an unusual case having been awakened at only half a level. Naruto knew he would have a long road ahead of him. He wanted to make it easier but wasn't sure how.

Still he walked up to the crystal with his head held high. Placing his hand on the crystal he focused his power and called out his ring. The white ring circled his chest and a brown forest wolf appeared and howled. Then Sasuke's essence appeared. The falcon was faster than before. Like a forest wolf it had speed that would rival those at his spirit rank.

Yao said nodding, "Level 11 falcon. Well done young man. Starting today you will receive one gold coin a month. Spend it well."

Next it was his turn. They were surprised the last time he came in. A child with no family to speak of with full essence harmonization. Now he would surprise them again by doing the impossible.

He touched the crystal and activated both his rings. The frost wolf let out a howl with the activation of his first ring. Weaker masters in other halls covered their ears. Yet it was nothing compared to what was to come.

When the purple ring appeared over his chest Yao let out a gasp. As did the other spirit master. He ignored them and the tiger he had defeated just days prior roared. The force of the roar was enough to shake the entire building.

Six months later

Students from years two and up sat in chairs. They were excited to be apart of the ceremony. It was graduation day and a third year was graduating a year early. Most of the students had looked down upon the boy without kith or kin when he arrived. He was just a nobody.

In the three years since he arrived he changed everyone's perceptions of him. The first day of classes had been the start. Fighting a student with a ring and then becoming the headmaster's disciple. Then he went so far as to prove what had only been a theory prior to that. Evolution of spirit essences was possible.

He became the youngest in the academy to get his second spirit ring. Once again he did what should have been impossible. Accepting a purple spirit ring into his body. No one dared look down upon him after that.

Naruto for his part was happy to be graduating. Xaio Wu promised that she would find him no matter where he went. Sasuke threw himself into his studies to improve himself further. Kiba was being the same old person he was before. However he no longer poked fun at Naruto. There was no bullying between them.

The ceremony was simple. Their names were called and Master gave them a paper. It was proof that they had graduated as spirit masters. Some received letters of recommendation. Those were useful for certain jobs or to get into a secondary school.

When it was his turn Naruto was given two papers. One was his graduation and the other was a letter. His letter was going to take him to Shrek Academy. It was rumored there the students were monsters. Only the best of the besr graduated. Only 1/4 of the students made it through the first year. They trained the best Spirit Masters in the world. As a level 24 Grand Master he would show them his strength.