Reviews: To start with, I want to say thank you for the reviews, they will help me to craft this story better and thus they are appreciated. Also, man with the cool name, all will be explained in good time, but thanks for pointing out some plot holes. If you are wondering how he could read, it is because he snuck in to the lessons that the orphanage offered the other children.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other intellectual property referenced in this fanfiction that is not my own creation.
Chapter 2: A New Dream
Naruto was startled awake by the first lights of dawn converging on his eyelids. Many thoughts ran through his head, many questions which - for the most part - were easily answered. He realised - with some measure of excitement - that he was presently in Uzushiogakure: the village that his ancestors, his own flesh and blood, had built and strived to protect. Only to ultimately fail when faced with the armies of three great villages.
Reality then came back into focus; his friend had died last night. He could still remember their first encounter, if only because of the events that followed.
It had been cold for the past few days and as such, the villagers tended to stay inside, suffocated in the warmth and comfort of their home. This only served to rid him of the restrictions that usually imposed his afternoon strolls. Of course, his attention was then turned towards a young girl who drifted through the streets; her face gaunt and her hunger manifesting in her attraction to the sweet aromas that permeated the air. Naruto had seen many like her - though most quite a lot older - and had simply let them be. But something called out to him, something that grabbed onto the remnants of his humanity - as insignificant as they were - and guided his ever observant eyes to watch her. It succeeded in prompting him to share whatever food he had on him with her.
The girl, with extraordinary quickness, engulfed it without second thought and sped off, her afterimage the only evidence that she had ever been there.
And Naruto's only thought was, 'What a peculiar girl.'
Naruto was broken out of his reverie by a familiar voice. "Oi Naruto! Stop daydreaming you little brat." came the snarling rasp of Kurama.
'Woah. Woah woah woah woah woah. Why are you in my head!' shouted a very confused and surprised Naruto. This was an unnecessary shock for the boy who had just awoken.
'My apologies Naruto. I just thought it would be best if we could all communicate freely without having to reside within a dingy sewer. As such, I established a mental link between us and loosened Kurama's seal enough that he could both communicate with you and take control of your body should you lose consciousness. This, of course, means that you do not need to talk aloud but merely mentally communicate your message to us.' answered the old sage.
'So basically I have no privacy,' replied an irked Naruto.
'In time, you will learn to sever these links when needed but one of us can still force a connection should the situation require it.'
'I think I get you old man.'
'Good. Now, your training will be starting soon, as such I will be explaining to you how it will proceed. However, before we can even begin to plan out your training, you must have a goal to strive for, one that you need to achieve; for a man with no goal, no ambition, can never truly become strong.'
Naruto pondered many ideas, all had their benefits but none truly struck a chord with him. A spontaneous smile beamed from Naruto's face and without hesitation he shouted, 'I will become the Uzukage. That's what the leader of Uzushiogakure is called, right?'
'Yes, it is. That is a good goal for you to strive for young Naruto. Make sure you nurture it and make sure you make your dream a reality.' spoke the sage.
'Understood.'
'Great. Now Naruto, we must talk about your training. Now, I am about to project my soul for you to see so don't freak out.' said Hagoromo as he emerged in front of Naruto. 'In this form I will be training you in everything I know. Not only that but I will be calling upon your other ancestors to guide and train you. '
'So I will meet my family? And what about my parents, will they come and train me? Who are my parents, you told me you'd tell me?' an excited naruto rushed out.
'You need to slow down young one. You will meet your family and have the opportunity to train with your parents. I guess you have the right to know who they were now. Compose yourself.' said the sage, 'Your mother was Kushina Uzumaki, the Red Death, and your father was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage.'
Silence. Naruto was hurriedly trying to understand everything. His father was the Fourth Hokage, which means his father had sealed Kurama within him, had left him to rot within a marsh of hatred and isolation. His father had given him the burden, sacrificed his life for the village, a village that prays everyday for his death.
'Kid, before you start wallowing in loathing, you should know that he didn't just do it for the village, he did it for the world. There is a threat coming that no one alive could possibly handle. He sealed me within you because you were the only one he could trust with saving the world. If he hadn't then you would never have been strong enough to fight it and you would have suffered the pain of losing all your friends along with the entire world. He just put too much faith in the people of this village. He gave you this burden because you were his son, the only one strong enough to bare it.' spoke Kurama.
'I suppose Kurama's right, but I will reserve my judgement until I meet him again.' thought Naruto.
'So, with that out of the way, let me introduce you to your ancestors. They will be training you for the next few years until you are strong enough to beat them all at once.' said the sage.
From behind him, several flashes on white light could be seen. His ancestors had arrived. Some, he could recognise but others were less familiar.
'Boy, you're about to feel some next level pain.'
END Chapter 2