Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing pertaining to this story and hope others will take inspiration from this work to pursue their own stories for me to enjoy.
Chapter 1 - Aiming Higher
*Bang!*
A sudden jolt shook Naruto awake. He palmed his eyes briefly trying to fight off his fatigue. It felt like he had just closed his eyes before something woke him up. He looked through the tiny window high above the upper cells on the adjacent side of the room. It was still dark out so he was sure he hadn't drifted off long.
*Stomp, Stomp, Stomp!*
He froze. He could hear footsteps approaching with a faint light from the lanterns the guards carried. The young boy thought that it was just the guards making their rounds before he saw two of them escorting a thin looking guy with his hands bound. They had stopped in front of his, the guard fumbled with his keys before unlocking his cell.
"Alright in ya go! I don't want anymore trouble out of you, ya hear me!"
"He he he, of course warden, you won't hear a peep out of me. I'm not in the habit of being bad twice in one day, not unless it's wearing something strapless anyway."
"Ha! Good. Next time you'll be in isolation for a week for causing trouble, smart mouth."
Naruto watched in a breathless silence as the guards slammed the cell door behind his new cellmate. He didn't move an inch as the light of the guards lanterns faded and left him alone with this potentially dangerous stranger.
It was too dark to see the guys face but it was clear he was a lot taller than he was and had a very sturdy build. The guy stood there grunting as he stretched his body and twisting his arms. Several pops and cracks could be heard as he did this.
"Ah man there we go. Finally get in a good stretch after a hard days work. Ha ha ha ha." The man's voice was very smooth and almost had a softness to it. For Naruto a person's voice was a clear indication if they were a good guy or a bad guy. Most bad guys he had come across had menacing voices afterall. It was just common sense.
The man sat against the wall at the other side of the cell. He sat there unmoving, barely Naruto could hear the sound of deep breathing coming from him. Relaxing a bit, thinking the man was probably asleep Naruto finally took the chance to shift into a more comfortable position.
"Hmm?" The man grunted, forcing Naruto to freeze mid shift. He stared at the man seeing if he had noticed him. He still wasn't moving and he was still breathing heavily.
'Maybe he just makes noises in his sleep', Naruto thought, squinting his eyes more trying to get a better look at the guy.
"Well are you just going to sit there glaring at me? You know it's rather rude to do so to strangers kid." Panicking slightly Naruto's brain froze, knowing he didn't have his chakra should things got out of hand if he said something stupid. Especially, when this person looked alot bigger than him.
'I have to respond at least though or he might get mad at me.'
"I-errr- ummm- I." Naruto cursed himself at how stupid he sounded trying to say something back. His nerves overly frayed to speak clearly.
"Relax kid. No need to be nervous. I'm not into harming , I am a cultured man and have a strong abhorrence to violence. So why don't you start off with something simple like your name." Naruto took a deep breath. The man's voice somehow calming him.
"M-my names Naruto."
"Naruto? Like the ramen topping?" The man sounded slightly amused by this, which irked Naruto for the insult.
"No! It means Maelstrom, you jerk!" He had responded to the insult on instinct as it had been a usual teasing of his classmates at the academy. He flinched quickly realizing his snap may have may the mysterious guy angry. To his surprise he just laughed even more.
"Ha ha ha, sorry I didn't mean to insult you. To be honest I really like ramen so it was the first thing that came to mind when you said it."
Perking up hearing this, Naruto relaxed his body letting his legs stretch out. A bright smile appearing on his face.
"You like ramen? Really? Me too! It's my favourite food in the whole wide world. I eat it everyday. What kinds your favourite?"
"Hmm...I do like all kinds though I am partial to miso."
"What seriously! Me too! Thats awesome! Te he he he." Naruto was beaming. He couldn't believe that there was someone in this place who liked ramen and preferred the same flavour as him. He kind of felt stupid now for thinking this guy was suspicious. Anyone who liked ramen couldn't be bad. To Naruto this was also common sense.
"I got to say kid you look awfully young to be sent here. What are you fourteen? fifteen years old?" Naruto's smile dropped slightly as his momentary distraction faded. The sad realization of where he was still abundantly present.
"No I'm not that old. I'll be turning thirteen in a few months."
"Eh! Not even a teenager. Tsk tsk tsk. What the hell could someone as young and naive looking as you could have done to be sent here?" Naruto didn't take the slight about his appearance against the guy. To him it must have been like he would have when he sees Konohamaru try to act like a ninja. Bitter emotions began to bubble to the surface. His eyes were beginning to get wet.
"I-I don't know. They told me I would find out at my trial. But I swear I didn't do anything getting thrown in prison. I'm innocent! This is all a mistake! I don't-"
"Shhh. It's alright, I believe you." Naruto flinched feeling the man's hand on his shoulder. He was shocked at how fast he moved. He didn't even see the man shift from his spot. Another moment later he processed what the man said. He didn't know why but a part of him felt so relieved that someone believed him.
"Y-you really believe me? Really?" Naruto spoke so softly almost doubting himself. Since that morning it felt like his cries fell on deaf ears. The relief he felt now was overwhelming. He felt the man patted him on the head, tossing his hair.
"Of course. I can feel how honest you are just by standing near you. Truly, you are one that wears his emotions on his sleeves. An appealing quality for building trust and camaraderie with others." Naruto was confused on whether that was good or bad but he did say appealing so it must have been a compliment.
"Umm, thanks I guess," Naruto blankly replied.
"Don't mention it. Anyway, I think we have chatted enough for the moment. It's time I got to work." The man stood up walking to the other end of the cell and placed his hand upon it. He stood there for a moment making Naruto question whether something was supposed to happen.
*Knock, knock.*
The man started tapping the wall with his knuckles across the wall.
*Knock, knock*
From one end to the other he kept tapping the wall. Confused to his actions Naruto spoke up.
"Umm...mister, what are you doing?"
Not even turning around the man simply said, "I'm working." This left Naruto confused. Wasn't this guy locked up here? So what is he working on?
"Working? Aren't you a prisoner though?"
"Ya i'm here on a job and i'm only impersonating a prisoner." Now Naruto was completely lost. This guy had gone from strange and friendly to just plain confusing.
"Impersonating a prisoner? What does that mean?" Naruto asked.
*Knock, knock*
"It means the person whose was supposed to be in this cell with you found himself unconscious thirty clicks away from this island. Lucky for him to. Freedom in exchange for a short nap. Sorry kid could you save your questions for after I wanna get this done as soon as possible."
Naruto nodded not really understanding his motives. Why someone would purposefully wanna get locked up here seemed insane to him. Despite this he felt compelled to find out.
"Umm...do you want some help?" Naruto offered. The man stopped for a moment. Naruto could almost feel the grin the man flashed him in spite of how dark it was.
"He he he, sure kid, just tap the wall and hear if anything sounds different than this," once more he knocked on the stone wall, "then just tell me and I can get down to business."
Naruto nodded, standing up. He winced slightly as he wasn't used to the pain of the seal yet. Persevering though he followed the weird guys lead knocking on the wall. Naruto did this for another five minutes before stopping.
'I'm not hearing anything different. What's he looking for?' Naruto thought turning to the man who what right beside him now. Caught off guard Naruto tripped backwards over his feet landing hard on the ground.
*CLANK!*
"Oww! Can you say something the next you invade my personal space mister." Naruto grumbled rubbing his sore butt.
"He he he sorry kid. But it seems like lady luck is with you. I think you just landed on what I was looking for. You need to move over a bit so I can take a better look."
Naruto blinked, scooting over to the side so the guy could check whatever he was looking for. The man placed his palm on the stone floor. A moment later a small glow raced its way around the large rock.
"Good find. This was what I was looking for. You may want to move."
Nodding mutely, Naruto walked behind the man as the stone tiles began to silently slide into one another. It was completely silent despite the floor rumbling.
The floor opened up to what Naruto could see step leading down to a dark tunnel. It was baffling him as to why something like that was in his cell. More importantly it made him curious to where this tunnel lead to.
The man's held his hand out, revealing the light jutsu he had seen Kakashi sensei use on one of their missions. It was now that there was light that Naruto got a good look at the man. Light brown hair, cut short, almost shaved. Sideburns that stretched to his wide jaw and a smile a mile wide stretched across his face. He turned to Naruto showing confident yet almost humorous deep green eyes.
"So would you like to go first or shall I?"
Naruto blinked.
"What?"
"What do you mean 'what'? You want to get out of here right? Prove your innocence, fight for your freedom and all that. Or would you prefer to stay and wait until your old enough to drink to get out of here?"
'Till i'm old enough to drink? That's forever from now'. Naruto gulped at the thought of being here that long. Granny Tsunade did say it could take years before his trial. Years he would be stuck waiting with no way of knowing what was happening. He already hated being here alone for only a few hours. Years was out of the question. Besides, he wasn't one just sit around anyway.
"I'll follow your lead Mister."
"Stay close then."
Closing the entrance behind them they set out down the long, dark and narrow tunnelway. It was pungent with dust and had an uncomfortable cramp-ness for even someone of his stature.
'Which is regular size for someone my age.' Naruto thought. Lying to himself.
It wasn't long before the tunnel mage a slight decent before coming into an opening. The air flow was incredible. It seemed like it would knock him over if he didn't watch his feet. Where it was coming from was hard to tell. Curious, Naruto took a step out in front of the weird guy. He didn't make it half a foot before he felt a hand yank the scruff of his robe hard enough to jerk his neck. Naruto couldn't control is yelp of surprise.
"HEY WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA MISTER?!" Naruto asked much louder than he thought.
"Hey what's the big idea mister?!" Surprised to hear his own voice resound back to him he saw the man move his light jutsu lower to the ground. It was there that Naruto saw just what he almost stepped off of.
"Be careful, one more step and you would have fell three hundred feet to an unfortunate splat. Ha ha ha ha." The man joked. While it seemed funny to him Naruto couldn't help but gulp at the close shave. Shakily he followed the man down the long winding steps that wrapped the inside of this large structure.
"So tell me Naruto how long have been a guest in this home of the ill begotten and criminally marginal assortment?"
"Huh? How long have I what? I didn't understand half of what you just said mister."
"Ha ha ha. Sorry I'll keep it simple. How long have you been locked up?"
"Oh. Why didn't you just say that? Umm, actually I just arrived here this morning."
The man stopped abruptly making Naruto bump into his back. He turned around, his smile beaming brighter than his jutsu. His body seemed to be shaking.
"You mean to tell me that you have been here less than a day?" The man asked incredulously.
Naruto nodded, frowning a little in confusion. "Ya, why? Is that important?"
"AHAHAHAHAHA!" The man barked out an incredibly large laugh that its echo resounded throughout the chamber. The man quickly took a deep breath to restrain his laughter. "Thats rich! This is the infamous Hōzuki-jō. You will be the first person ever to be locked up in the most secure facility on this continent and to escape the same day you arrive. Wow! You have to be the luckiest kid alive." He started back down the steps, resuming his amused laughter until they reached the bottom.
Naruto didn't think this was amusing in the slightest. He shouldn't even be here and yet this weird guy who knows nothing about him says he's lucky. What a joke.
"Alright now let's see what we have here." The man walked up to what looked like a massive door. In the dark Naruto could tell it easily dwarfed the main gate in Konoha. "One, two, three and let there be light."
Fire erupted from different grooves surrounding the door. On the front there was design depicting some sort of strange creature with wings and a giant mouth. It creeped Naruto out by how grotesque it was and made him nervous as to what may be down here.
"Hey mister? Can I ask you a question?" The man placed his hand on the door looking up at the design.
"I think you just did." Naruto groaned. That was an old one Kakashi- sensei used on him from time to time. It always annoyed him how he had to be so literal. "I'm messing with you. What's your question kid?"
"What are you looking for down here anyway?" It had to be something important if the guy got locked up just to find it.
"A box." The man responded bluntly.
Naruto blinked thrice. "A box? That's it?"
"It's special."
"Special? Does it have something inside it you want?" The man turned, smiling even wider and shrugged casually.
"I haven't a clue.''
"If you don't know what's in it, why are you going through all this trouble?"
"A rumor."
"A rumor?"
"Yes. They say the box of Paradise is down here somewhere and under special conditions it can grant wishes."
Naruto folded his arms, face scrunching in thought. 'Wishes huh? That kind of sounds familiar'. He vaguely remembered a trip to the beach and some weird jar that did the same thing. However, Kakashi- sensei said it was just an elaborate genjutsu and everyone stopped mentioning it. 'Maybe this one is the same thing'.
"Alright so here's the deal. I need you to pay attention and save your questions till the end." The man started. Naruto's attention snapped forward. "I came here about a week ago already knowing where the box was located. However, it was behind a number of blood seals that would have required doing more unsavory work than I had intended doing. Luckily this prison was built on ruins that go back centuries. Of which, have underground tunnels that just happen to lead to the same room the box is stored."
"Oh so this is like a back door right?" Naruto asked. The man smiled, nodding.
"Exactly. The problem is that these old ruins were built with traps installed to stop intruders who's chakras were not keyed into the ruins defense seal. Meaning from here on it will be extremely dangerous."
Naruto stood tall. Puffing out his chest. "You don't have to worry about me mister. I don't look at the moment but your looking at one of the best ninjas from Konoha."
"Ha ha ha ha. It's good your confident. However, I need you to do something for me first. It's extremely important and will be the deciding factor that will decide our fates. This is so crucial that I barely dared to speak of it. Something so important that I need the full brunt of all your willpower to achieve." The man leaned in close, speaking with such intensity that Naruto tensed in anticipation.
"Ya sure! Whatever it is just leave it to me!"
"Are you sure? I mean absolutely sure?"
"You bet! Lay it on me mister!"
"I need you to take off your shirt." There was a pause before Naruto's overly excited brain began to process what he just heard. His eye widening, he jumped back five feet wrapping his arms around his chest. He then shot out his arm pointing at the man.
"Ah come on! Why did you have to go and get me super excited then say something weird like that?! You can't just ask someone like that, ya' know." The man crossed his arms, tilting his head to his side. He then smiled, his confused look replaced his a smug smile.
"Weird? Whatcha' mean weird? Your a guy aren't ya? Wait. You don't like guys do ya? Are you acting shy that a handsome man like me asked you to undress?"
"What?! No! Of course I like girls. It's just weird when some guy I just met asks me to remove my shirt, especially after last time with Pervy Sage."
"Pervy Sage? Ya...thats sounds like I story I don't want to dig into for my own sake. Anyway, I told you it's going to be dangerous so you need access to your chakra. For that I need to undue that seal."
Naruto's ears perked up. "You can remove it? I thought that warden guy said he was the only one that could?"
"The essence of being a good thief is knowing every detail about your target. That includes what special techniques they possess and countermeasures for them. So if you would kindly."
Nodding, Naruto slid his arms out of his robes, wincing slightly at the stiffness and residual pain. He normally healed fast but his fight with Sasuke was the most he had been injured in his entire life. Now this prisoner seal only added to that pain. He would be happy if it could be removed.
"Alright this will only take a moment. It won't hurt but you need to stay still." The man placed his left hand on his chest while forming a seal with his right. The man's hand was warm, but felt tough and rugged. Something that he would normally see on guys like Bushy Brows and his sensei.
"I see. So that's how it is...your a..." The man paused, muttering to himself.
"What? Is something wrong mister?"
The man shook his head. "No, it's nothing. Just need to make one adjustment. Now,
Heavenly Fire Suppression Jutsu: Release!" The man's hand glowed red as a wave of energy encased Naruto's body. Like a weight lifted from his shoulders he could instantly feel like his strength returning. A moment later the man removed his hand and placed it on Naruto's head. "There, you should be all good now."
Beaming a smile Naruto formed his go to seal to test his new found freedom. "Alright! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
*Poof*
Out of the smoke appeared another Naruto, who like him, was smiling like a loon. They both turned to the man, both speaking at the same time. "Thanks mister!"
"Ah ah aha! Don't mention it. But don't thank until we're out of here. First we need to get through this door."
"Does it need some sort of key or something?"
"No, it required an unlocking seal to open. I already removed the seal but it seems something has fused this door shut so we'll need to break it down somehow. Sadly I don't think I have enough explosives on me to tear a door of this size."
Naruto grinned. 'It needs to be torn down huh. Well I got something that will knock this guys socks off!' He held out his hand to his clone who nodded in understanding.
"Just stand back and watch mister. I'll take down that door for ya." The clone shaping the chakra his Naruto's hand until a bright blue spiraling sphere appeared. The clone poofed away as Naruto charged the door without hesitation. His hand slamming against the cold metal. "RASENGAN!"
*BOOM!*
A loud explosion rung out through the chamber followed by the sound of scraping across the stone ground as Naruto slid back towards the man feet. Naruto winced, looking back at the door front his prone position to see the door still there, unharmed by his attack.
"Seriously?! Theres not even a dent? That's my strongest jutsu though!" Naruto whined. He felt a hand grab the collar of his shirt as he was lifted to his feet.
*Clap, clap, clap, clap!*
"Bravo! Not bad kid. Didn't think someone your age would possess an A- rank Jutsu. But I guess that's par for the course for a weird one like you. In any case, you did dent it. You just need to push more Chakra into to make it bigger."
'Bigger?' Naruto thought. He had no idea that the Rasengan could be bigger. Besides needing a clone he had thought his was like Pervy Sage's. If it was possible he was sure he would have showed it to him. "Um… I'm not sure if that's possible mister."
"That's the fourth Hokage's Jutsu correct?"
Naruto nodded. "Ya, how did you know that?"
"I've met the fourth before. That Jutsu is very versatile and I've seen him create one that was as big as a house."
'This guy has met the Fourth Hokage? That's so awesome!' Naruto's thoughts went into overdrive has images of his hero creating a Giant Rasengan appeared in his mind. He was a little miffed that Pervy Sage hadn't told him something as awesome as that but it was just a struggle most times for him to even half explain things to him.
"I'm guessing since you don't know what it is it's best we try something else."
"Ya sorry. I wouldn't even know what to do to make it bigger."
"It would require you to effectively contain a larger amount of Chakra into an even larger sphere. But that would take time to practice. Time we don't have."
Naruto hung his head sadly. "Sorry mister."
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Don't worry about it kid. However, I am curious as to what jutsu you do know. Shadow clones and the Rasengan are advanced techniques."
Scratching the back of his head Naruto replied. "Actually, I know those two as well as the replacement and transformation jutsu." It wasn't like the thousand jutsu his sensei was famous for but they had gotten him far.
The man scratched his chin in thought. "Hmm. A strange assortment but I think I can work with that. Alright kid here's the plan. Were going to blown this door down with your Shadow Clone Jutsu."
"With shadow clones? How will that help?"
"These clones will be special. I want you to do four hand signs then make about a hundred shadow clones. Once you do that I want them to walk up around the doors frame in an arch. They shouldn't stand on the door though. Do you think you can do that? I assume you should have the chakra to do so?"
"Ummm, ya sure I guess. I don't really get what your trying to do but I'll give it a shot. What hand signs are they?"
"It will be Boar - Tiger - Dragon - Ram, then use the clone seal like you normally would to make one hundred shadow clones. Make sure they don't dispel before they are all in place and that they stay there no matter what. So be careful."
Nodding, Naruto built up his chakra going through the hand seals slowly. His chakra felt weird when he did it but it wasn't far off from when he normally used the shadow clone jutsu.
"Multi- Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
*Poof, poof,... poof, poof, poof!*
Roughly one hundred shadow clones appeared in front of him. All of which looked the same to Naruto as they normally quickly walked in line forming around the doors arc. They stood there waiting for what was going to happen next.
"Done, now what mister?"
"Alright kid, you and I are going to go over to the far wall. When I say cover your ears, do it. Make sure you stay low as you can."
Moving across to the other side of the chamber. The man placed his hand on the ground forming a stone wall in front of them. Then from his sleeve he pulled a pocket knife, barely bigger than his finger. He peered around the side, his arm bending back in a throwing position.
"Cover your ears... Now!"
*BOOOOOOOM!*
*SLAMMMMMM!*
Habitually shutting his eyes tight as he cupped his ears. He was shocked by the loud explosion that shook the chamber with an almost unrelenting force. He half peeked expecting the stone barrier to crumble from such force. Hell the whole place seemed like it was going to collapse in itself. He stay huddled for a few moments before he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Alright kid, looks like it worked."
Naruto gaped in awe as the massive metal door lay flat only a few feet from the barricade. Around the edges of the door were crumbled rocks and scorch marks.
"Woah...What the hell happened?"
"The door was too thick to tear through but the arc holding it in place was made of stone. Much easier to break. So with a shaped charge we literally blasted the door off its hinges."
"No not that! I mean, how did you cause that explosion with just your pocket knife? That was so intense, ya' know."
"Pocket knife? Ha aha ha ha ha! I didn't kid. That was all four seals primed your chakra in your clones that once they were dispelled they would explode. Once one exploded there was an instant chain reaction. So good job kid. You just learned another A-rank jutsu; The Exploding Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Naruto's eyes gaped, speechless at such a revelation. He looked at the door and the frame again. 'An A-rank jutsu?! Just by adding four hand signs to my clones, I did all this?' An urge of overwhelming excitement came over him he just couldn't contain.
"Alright! I just learned another amazing powerful jutsu! I'll become Hokage for-!" Naruto's body froze. These words an almost an uncontrollable verbal tick for him. His hands tightened until the nails dug into his palm. Collapsing to his knees, forehead pressed against the cold floor. Reality biting him hard once more.
"Oi! Hey kid are you alright? Are you hurt? Talk to me here." The man asked, panicked.
Tears began to form in his eyes. 'Why did I have to go and say that? What's the point of learning new jutsu if I'll never be allowed to achieve my dream? What purpose do I have anymore?' These thoughts began filling Naruto's entire being.
"Come on kid if your in pain you have to tell me or I won't be able to help."
Naruto rolled over to his back, his arm covering his eyes to soak up his tears. He gritted his teeth bitterly. His heart in so much pain he couldn't bear it.
"If you aren't going to tell me what's wrong then I'll just have to carry you."
Naruto frowned. "J-just leave me here. Even if I do escape, even if I'm proven innocent, I'll never be allowed to become a shinobi again. I-It was all I had. My ninja way was to never give up. From the time I was little more than an infant I was dead set on becoming Hokage - no the greatest Hokage - that ever lived. I made so many people promises that I would reach that goal and now I can't. It was everything to me and now I...I having nothing driving me forward. So just leave me here and go on without me." Naruto panted having just spilled his heart out about his torments. He hoped the man would understand-
"Oh is that all." The man spoke completely casual. "Fhew! I thought it was something important, like a stomach wound or something. I may be a man of many talents but besides putting on some band-aids my medical skills are pretty pathetic."
Naruto flipped on to his knees. He stared angrily at the man who was so dismissive of his dream. "What the hell do you mean it's not important?! Did you not hear me?!" Naruto growled at him at how he could say something so hurtful.
"Oh I heard you. Your dream is to become hokage. Ha! What a joke. Reaching such a goal is a waste of effort for someone like you." The man actually laughed, amused at his dream.
Naruto stood up silently. His anger driving his actions. Staying low as his right fist curling as he reared it back. Jumping forward he pounced on the jerk who was laughing at him.
"You don't think I'm good enough to become Hokage too huh?! Well Laugh at this you bastard!"
*Smack*
Shocked at the mans speed as his fist was caught in the palm of his hand. He tried to free it but the man's grip was like iron.
"Urgh! Let go!" Naruto grunted.
"Relax Naruto. I think you misunderstood me. I apologise if I insulted you. I wasn't insinuating that you didn't have the talent to become Hokage. I have no doubt on ability alone you could easily become one." The way the man said it made it sound like he was stating it as a fact.
Naruto stopped struggling, relaxing his arm as he heard the mans words. The man let go of his hand after doing so. He was so perplexed how someone could say that to him which such certainty. Most people seemed like they had a bit of skepticism when he told them his dream.
Naruto looked away. Head hanging in shame."Well as I said it doesn't matter now. I'm not even allowed to become a leaf shinobi anymore."
"Good. You shouldn't and it's good you'll never be Hokage." Naruto was about to yell again before the man put his hand in his face. "Before you blow up at me again let me ask you a question Naruto. How long has the title of Hokage been around? How many years? It's your dream after all so I assume you know."
Naruto was about to open his mouth to answer before he stopped. He didn't know the exact number. All he knew there were four all together and old man third was almost seventy so maybe a little longer than that. Actually, he had no idea when the old man became Hokage. History wasn't what he would call his best subject at the academy. He decided to give a guess.
"A hundred years, maybe more." Stated Naruto, with a someone sense of surety.
"Pfttt, wow. Not even close."
"So? What does it matter? It's a respected title that's still been around for a long time."
The man shook his head. "I may not look it but I'm older than even the first Hokage, so let me say this; It you asked me sixty years ago who or what the Hokage was I would draw a complete blank. Same goes for the rest of the other Kage. Though some of the other lesser ninja villages have been around longer it's a title that was made up and then adapted into the military structures of different countries."
Naruto put the comment of the man's age aside for the moment. He was pissed and confused why this guy had something against the Hokage. "I don't get it. Why are you telling me this? Are you saying just because your older than the title it's not important?"
"No I'm saying that the title became important because the one who started it was. Hashirama Senju was so strong that when he made the title everyone went along with it and made it special. Since then it's been a hand me down title to whoever gets appointed, not necessarily by actual skill. It's basically been a popularity contest based against the highest achievers in the village. In some cases it's inherited through family. Even then the position is only second to the whims of the Daimyo of that land. As I have no doubt you know about since your Hokage couldn't do anything while he disbarred your right to an open trial by not telling you why you're even here. So it's not some holy position that's been around since the beginning of time. Hell, I doubt it will last longer than a century at the rate it's going."
Naruto frowned, a little surprised by this knowledge. He too had been a little shocked that Granny Tsunade went ahead with this. He guessed that even she had to listen to someone. Even though she was Hokage, the position he wanted more than life itself. Naruto's depression radiated thinking about this.
"Ugh stop with that look! What I'm saying is that it doesn't matter if you can't become Hokage. Because I can see it in you."
Naruto could barely keep himself from staring into the ground. So disparaged he didn't want anyone to see his sadness so closely. "See what?" Naruto bit out. The man huffed, placing his hand in Naruto's head. He stared directly into his eyes. His piercing green eyes looked so determined and strong. Stronger than he had ever seen in anyone before now. Naruto couldn't help but be entranced.
"The potential to create your own title. A title that makes even the Hokage, any kage, or any Daimyo for that matter, worthless. To shape your own destiny without being trapped in the shadows or rules of others. To use them as mere stepping stones to become so great that your shadow envelopes over them. To become something that cannot be judged by the whims of others!."
Naruto stilled. His eyes widening in an unparamout of shock. The hair on his neck stood up as almost an electric charge swept through him. He didn't know why but what he was hearing seemed to lift some of the pain that had filled his heart. A smile slowly forming on his face.
'A title that surpasses the Hokage. Is it even possible? I always thought that being Hokage was the pinnacle of strength but...why do I feel like what this guy is saying is true'. These new thoughts filled him with almost nostalgic feeling. One so familiar to him. 'Yes this feeling. It was like when I decided to become Hokage'.
Wiping his eyes Naruto stared determined at the man. "I-Is it possible? To become greater than all of the Hokage?"
"That depends. In my experience it's through adversity that we grow stronger. If you had stayed in your village you would have limited your potential because of all the support you would have had. However, that changes now. By escaping here you'll become a criminal, wanted by the world. Should you overcome this challenge, become stronger than anything this world throws at you, then your name will become greater than those of legends!" He exclaimed. The man then grinned again, his smile had an almost dangerous look to it. "This means, however, you'll have to work even harder than you would have to become Hokage. If not, then you better give up now."
Naruto wasn't really comfortable with the idea of being a criminal but everything else the man said resounded so strongly in him. He stood taller, staring back at the man with even more confidence.
"Of course I'll work hard! I'll work harder than anyone else has before me! Your right. If I can't become Hokage then I'll aim higher! Become someone so great that no one stands above me!"
A brief thought drifted to his friends and teachers in Konoha. Realizing that the man was right about not having their support. Doubt began to gnaw at him about whether this was even possible as he was now.
"It's not the hard work i'm concerned about. I-I don't even know where I would start." Naruto muttered.
"Don't worry Naruto. Follow me and I will show you the path that you must take to reach that height. Know that you won't face this task alone."
Another weight lifted from his shoulders, Naruto couldn't help but tear up in happiness. It had seemed that his goal in life had abruptly ended when it was just that a harder path was taking its place.
"Thanks mister I-"
"Noriyuki." The man interrupted.
"What? Noriyuki? What's that mean?"
"My names Noriyuki, so stop calling me mister."
Naruto smiled brightly. He couldn't stop beaming his joy towards the man who just pulled him out of this nightmare. "Thankyou Noriyuki- sensei, I won't let you down! That's a promise of a lifetime."
Never losing his grin Noriyuki turned away from Naruto facing the large, dark path that lay in front of them.
"Then prepare yourself Naruto because even I don't know what we're about to face."