Enjoy the fic.

It was a bright and fresh morning, the village hidden in the leaf wasn't fully awake till now. The Shinobi population was already up and they were either reporting in Hokage office for missions or reaching to their assigned jobs. The civilian population wasn't awake till now, they were relaxed and secured in their home.

Konoha was in a more peaceful state than other villages right now. Kirigakure was busy in civil war, Kumogakure had a change of Kage after Hyuga incident, Iwagakure had recovered recently from the destruction of last war and Sunagakure had several incident of their Biju attacking civilians and ninja alike..

Two shinobis were walking toward their designated job, the gate guard duty was normally given to Chunin level nins.

Izumo and Kotetsu were two of the chunins of Leaf, they were also called as the 'Eternal gate guards' by their friends and villagers. As They can be always seen guarding the gates of village throughout the year.

"It's quite boring here, nothing really happens around here, don't you agree?" yawned Kotetsu. Kotetsu had long, spiky black hair and dark eyes. He had a strip of bandage running across the bridge of his nose and a light-coloured marking on his chin. He wore the standard attire of a Konoha shinobi complete with a Hitaiate and a flak jacket. He always carried a pair of bladed weapon strapped to his back.

"Shut up we have to do our jobs correctly, lazy ass" Kotetsu was scolded by his friend and partner Izumo. Izumo had brown hair and dark eyes. His hair was always combed down and he always covered his right eye. He wore his Hitaiate like a bandanna along with the standard Konoha shinobi outfit which goes all the way up to his chin, complet with a flak jacket.

Kotetsu was a lazy and chilled guy, he was more of a positive person than Izumo. Izumo was the mature one of the two, he was strict and serious toward the job assigned to him. They can always be seen with each other, they were like un-similiar twins. Their looks didn't matched but you wouldn't see one without the other.

The path going outside the village had more greenery and due to the golden rays of sun it looked more beautiful. Silhouette of 6 people coule be seen walking toward the village gates, they were too far to be recognised accurately.

The return trip to the Leaf village was uneventful for the three little Tasmanian Devils, they had traveled through civilian pace as Haku was still recovering from her wounds.

Naruto was finding it difficult to hold his excitement, he had to tell Anko everything that happened on the trip. Anko would surely take Kakashi's class, she would eat Kakashi alive for risking her brother's life.

"Are they team 7? Who else is traveling with them Izumo?" asked Kotetsu attentively.

"How can I see to that far idiot? I have the same human eyes as you. It's still surprise to me that you became a Chunin even after being this Idiot." Izumo again scolded Kotetsu.

"Yeah..Yeah, no need to get angry Smart-ass" grumbled Kotetsu.

When the convoy of Team 7, Zabuza and Haku reached the gates, it shocked both chunins that the famous 'demon of the bloody mist' was accompanying the top rookie team of the village.

Kakashi signed the necessary papers for their return and for bringing a foreign ninja to the village.

"These two are with me, we are going to Hokage tower to report about our mission and to recruit them" said Kakashi and moved on toward Hokage tower.

"Did he really say 'to recruit them'? I don't know about the girl but Zabuza isn't a joke. He can prove to be a beneficial ally for us" said Izumo.

"Yeah, he's A-Ranked in the bingo book" stated Kotetsu.

The convoy was traveling toward the hokage tower. Zabuza noticed something strange, two of the four members of Team 7 were receiving the looks of either fear or disgust from most of the population. Naruto and Sasuke weren't paying much attention to the look thrown at them, it was a normal occurence and it didn't mattered much now.

They reached the hokage tower, Kakashi asked the receptionist for appointment with the village leader. After 10 mintues they entered the hokage tower with Zabuza and Haku in the tow of team 7.

"So, you have returned from your mission Kakashi. How did the mission go? and what is a Kiri's missing nin doing in my office?" questioned Hiruzen.

"The mission wasn't as easy as we expected Hokage-sama. The bridge builder lied to us about the dangers with the mission, it was easily an A-Ranked mission" clarified Kakashi.

"I thought so, his behaviour was betraying his words and explanations" stated Hiruzen after a little contemplation.

"As for Zabuza-san here, he wants to join our village. He was pursued by Naruto to join our village, although he himself wanted to get rid of constant hunter shinobis behind him" explained Kakashi.

Hiruzen nodded his head and signalled to the four Anbus following the convoy due to Zabuza's presence to leave. The anbu squad was following them till now, they had seen an A-Ranked foreign missing shinobi and followed him as an ordeal and precaution.

"I leave you for two weeks on a mission and you pursue an A-Ranked shinobi to join our village, you sure are full of surprises Naruto-kun" said Hiruzen amusedly.

Naruto just smiled innocently and rubbed the back of his head, same gesture as his father. A child often copy his parents movement without even knowing it, Kakashi also saw this and smiled behind his mask.

"And who might the little girl be? Is she your daughter Zabuza?" asked Hiruzen.

"Hai Hokage-sama, this is Haku. I've adopted her in Kirigakure and from there on she is with me" explained Zabuza. Haku was astonished by Zabuza's open approval of her as a daughter, she looked up toward Zabuza with teary eyes. Zabuza wasn't used to much physical or emotional attachments, he just rubbed the top of Haku head as a sign of guardianship.

"They can join the village Hokage sama, couldn't they?" asked Naruto a little worried.

"Sure they can Naruto, Haku isn't a recognised ninja so after 15 days of probation she is allowed to join any department she desires. As for Zabuza, you have to complete 3 months of probation as we want to completely test your loyalties. Till then you will not do missions higher than C- ranked" Hiruzen clarified the terms for recruitment.

Zabuza and Haku nodded their heads as a sign of approval, the terms were rather lax and comfortable. They would get rest from constant hunter nins trying to poach them, they would also be able to live a normal life together.

"I want two mission reports from Team 7 on my desk till tomorrow morning, Kakashi and Naruto don't be late" ordered Hiruzen and moved on to sign his papers.

Kakashi and Naruto just stiffened a little at stern voice of their leader, both of them nodded their head as a sign of subordination. Team 7 excluding Naruto left the room, he went on to sit on the sofa. It had been a habit of him since he started training hiruzen, he would sit on the sofa silently for Hiruzen to notice if he had some questions to ask.

"What happened Naruto? You look a little unnerved. Did something happened on your mission?" asked Hiruzen as it was impossible for anyone to go unnoticed by the aged leader.

"Sensei, someone came to meet me in the Wave country. He had some messages for you" informed Naruto.

"Who was it Naruto? What message did he gave you to deliver me?" asked Hiruzen looking up attentively after he signalled his anbus to leave the office for privacy.

"Itachi Uchiha came to meet me, He told me to report you that 'the snake is conspiring something and you should bring back the slug to Leaf'" Naruto gave the account of whole incident to Hiruzen.

Hiruzen eye widened for a moment but he restricted his face to show more emotions.

"You wouldn't tell anyone about this Naruto, this is a secret between us. No one should ever about this Naruto, do you understand me?" Hiruzen asked Naruto and he nodded his head as approval. For Naruto nothing was making sense but he had to follow every order of his sensei.

Hiruzen signalled Naruto to leave the office, after Naruto left the office Hiruzen made a seal and four anbus appeared kneeling infront of him.

"Bring me Jiraiya and Shishui, one would be in hot spring while the other one would be in Uchiha compound" the anbu nodded their heads and vanished in shushins.

After 10 or so minutes there was a knock on the door of Hiruzen and his windows opened itself.

"Enter" came the short reply of Hokage.

Shishui entered the office through the door while Jiraiya perched himself on the window of the office. Hiruzen signalled his anbu to leave the office and told Jiraiya to put up a privacy seal around them.

Jiraiya put up the privacy seal and understood that Hiruzen has something important to tell them, he went on to stand beside Shishui who bowed in respect.

"Have you got any spies on Orochimaru Jiraiya?" asked Hiruzen.

"Yeah, I have two spies reporting me his every action and movement Sensei" stated Jiraiya.

"Have informed you about something fishy or some informations that should be shared with me?" asked Hiruzen sternly.

"No, they haven't reported any such incidents or informations Sensei. Why are you asking such questions? Have you got any information on him sensei? Is there something we could be concerned about?" asked Jiraiya a little concerned.

"Well, Yes I have got some disturbing news regarding him and as for your spies Jiraiya, recheck if they're still alive or not. So, a spy of mine has reported that 'The snake is conspiring something, bring back the slug to the Leaf'" explained Hiruzen.

Jiraiya was the first one to speak after the shocking reveal by Hiruzen "So as pe your spy, Orochimaru is conspiring some thing and we should bring Tsunade back to leaf. How does this spy know so much about our village? Is is safe to trust him? Is he reliable enough?"

"He is as reliable as you Jiraiya, he didn't betray the village even over his own clan. The news was delivered by Itachi Uchiha to Naruto" stated Hiruzen.

The eyes of other two occupants widened for a moment, they both readjusted their expression, Shishui went on to talk "So, Itachi had met with Uzumaki-san. Is there anything else that I should know Hokage-sama?"

"Well let me first clear this topic then we will move on to you. So, Jiraiya I want you to go and search for Tsunade, and also try to persuade her to return to the village" instructed Hiruzen.

"You know she will refuse sensei, she has taken up the oath to never return to this village. Even if I try to persuade her, she will never agree to return here" expressed Jiraiya sadly.

Jiraiya was the only one of the Sanins still loyal to the village, Orochimaru had betrayed the village while Tsunade retired as a shinobi and left the village. Tsunade had left the village after The Second shinobi war, She left Konoha because Dan died and she couldn't carry out the duties of a ninja anymore, since she was scared of blood and had lost faith in the whole shinobi system. While for Orochimaru, He left Konoha just after Minato became the Hokage, because he was pissed that Hiruzen chose Minato over him, and started to be less discrete with his experiments.

Hiruzen found about his experiments, and caught him red-handed while stealing some kinjutsu from the library of Second Hokage. Hiruzen was unable to kill his beloved student but chased him out of the Village. Orochimaru became a missing ninja and swore revenge on the village of Leaf.

Orochimaru was a monster disguised as a man, he was declared as an unmatched prodigy of his era. He was able to use every element, was a snake summoner and capable enough to use jutsus in conjunction with snakes. He had also created hebi-style Taijutsu and had learned many kinjutsus from the scroll of sealings before he left the village. After traveling around the elemental nation and conducting different type of experiments on others and himself, he would be as strong as Hiruzen now.

"I know she would never accept to return to village if you went alone to persuade her, I have selected an another shinobi to accompany you. It's time Jiraiya that we tell Naruto who his godmother is, he would be able to make her return to the village" stated Hiruzen.

"Why didn't I thought of that? she would surely accept to return to village if Naruto persuades her" expressed Jiriaya enthusiastically.

"Additionally, the Chunin exams are going to be commenced in a month and half time. You would also train him for that purpose. Naruto and you would leave for the mission tomorrow, you've a month time to track her and make her return to the village" clarified the Hokage.

"Now go search for him and tell him all about Tsunade and your mission, you're dismissed" ordered Hiruzen, Jiraiya nodded and jumped off the window in the search of Naruto.

"As for you Shishui, I want you increase the training of Sasuke. Orochimaru was always interested in Sharingan eyes, he would surely try to capture or use Sasuke" said Hiruzen, Shishui nodded his head and went out of the office after bowing his head.

Hiruzen then again made a hand seal and an anbu guard appeared infront of him.

"Bring me Kakashi" ordered Hiruzen.

After ten minutes of waiting Kakashi entered the office of the Hokage, Hiruzen signalled him to sit on the sofa and joined him.

Hiruzen told him about Naruto travelling with Jiraiya for the month as Jiraiya had taken up to train him up for upcoming Chunin exam, and Shishui had taken up the training of Sasuke for the month due to the same reasons as Jiraiya.

Kakashi was instructed by Hiruzen to focus more on his third student, she needed the most training of the three.

It took Jiraiya a whole day to track Naruto, he was training with Konohamaru in some basic taijutsu stances and guards.

It was difficult for him to explain Naruto about his godmother, he was constantly interrupting him to ask questions. Naruto had became more close to Jiraiya in past years, Jiraiya had taken care of his needs from the day he was kicked out of orphanage. Every expense of Naruto was taken up from Jiraiya's account, Jiraiya was like a grandfather to Naruto.

"So, you're telling me that I have a godmother and she is a gambler. Why did I get idiots as my godparents? My godfather is a perverted sennin while my godmother is a gambler princess" Naruto said rhetorically.

"Hey! don't say that like as if I'm not here you brat, and don't badmouth about her" scolded Jiraiya.

"So, we will on the move from tomorrow to find her. Will you teach me some ninjutsus Ero-Oji?" asked Naruto raising an eyebrow.

"We are going to focus more on your fuinjutsu, you will also try to harness Fox's Chakra. If we get more time I will teach you one of the top Jutsu in my arsenal and stop calling me by that name brat" said Jiraiya. Naruto was salivating at the prospect of learning strong justus from Jiriaya, it was no surprise to anyone that Naruto was a sucker for justus.

Naruto's jutsu arsenal had increased as he had been learning new ninjutsus from the scrolls given to him by Jiraiya and Hiruzen. He had been trying to develop his own justu for quite sometime now.

The next morning Naruto and Jiraiya left the Leaf village in the search of one of the legendary sannin and world's best medic.

Meanwhile in Konoha, Sakura was moving toward team training ground at 8:30 am. She had been called by Kakashi to inform her that she would be training under him from now on till Naruto and Sasuke returned after completing their trainings.

She entered the training ground to see three people standing there, Zabuza, Kakashi and Haku were waiting for her for a while.

"It's nice to see you Sakura, I believe that two days of leave for relaxation wasn't interrupted by anything else" said Kakashi giving his iconic eye smile.

"No sensei, I was able to fully relax in these two days" smiled Sakura.

"Good, because from today on you will train with me and Zabuza-san here. Naruto and Sasuke had went on to train with their respective guardians for a few weeks, concentrating on the upcoming Chunin exams" stated Kakashi.

Kakashi pulled a scroll from his waist, he opened it and laid it on the ground. He pointed two fingers on it and channelled some chakra in it.

~Pooof~

~Claanng~

In a poof of smoke a big sword appeared outside the scroll, it was a cleaver-like heavy-blade sword. It was a single-edge sword with a 55 cm long and 20 cm wide blade and a 15 cm long handle. The sword wasn't a joke as it was heavy and big, and only a person with a good amount of strength would be able to wield it.

The blade was black in colour with silver edges and the handle was made up of same metal as the blade. The handle was wrapped with red clothes around it. Kakashi also brought out a brown leather cover for the sword that can be tied on the wielder's back.

"Is this really for me Kakashi sensei? This is awesome!!" yelled Sakura while grabbing the handle of the sword, she was unable to pick it up directly. She infused a little chakra in her hand and tried to pick up the sword and was able to do it. She swinged it a little as a trial, she would need to increase her chakra reserve. She had to constantly infuse chakra in her arms and legs to use the sword, that would require a lot of chakra.

"As Naruto and Sasuke aren't present, I will focuse more on training you. You will have three training sessions in a day, first you will study about herbs, potion and medicines with the help of scroll I gave you from 6am to 8am. Secondly you would train with me in Taijutsu and ninjutsu from 11pm to 2pm and then you will train with Zabuza in Kenjutsu from 4pm to 6pm. Do you understand?" asked Kakashi.

Sakura answered with a "hai sensei", she had increased her diet as per Kakashi suggestions. It was necessary for her to train harder than before so that she can fight alongside her teammates without becoming a burden.

Two weeks after Naruto left the Leaf village in search of Tsunade, he and Jiraiya found a trace of his godmother.

They had been traveling through a small village when they heard about a yellow-haired woman who broke the walls of a casino with a single punch as she had lost all her money while gambling. It was direct indication that Tsunade wasn't far away now.

Naruto had worked hard to improve his fuinjutsu, forming 10 solid clones of himself who could transer back experiences was proving beneficial for him. He would learn techniques in hours which would take others at least days to understand.

They had reached a village last night and went on to rest, well only Naruto was resting peacefully as Jiraiya was busy wooing women in a tavern nearby.

It was afternoon when Jiraiya woke up from his deep slumber the next day, he showered and went on with Naruto toward a clearing.

"Now, Today you would try to harness the chakra of the Fox inside your seal, the fox wouldn't give its chakra for free. Your have to make amend with the fox or make a agreement with it to be able to use its chakra" explained Jiriaya.

Hiruzen was called as professor, but the one thing that he didn't had much information about was Kyubi. The nine-tailed fox was selaed in Mito Uzumaki after Hashirama fought and defeated Madara who was controlling Kyubi with his Sharingan in their his last battle. Mito wasn't able to harness Kyubi's chakra as she wasn't in favour of using such malicious chakra.

Kushina was able to harness a little of fox's chakra as she had a agreement with it and only Minato and Jiraiya knew about this. Jiraiya tried to motivate Naruto to do the same thing as it would be easier to make a pact with the fox rather than stealing it's chakra forcefully.

Naruto went on to sit and meditate, after 10 minutes he felt sudden jolt and found himself in his mindscape. He stood up and walked on the path led him to the cage last time, He didn't hated the fox, he had read about its known past and what the creature was according to myths and legends. He knew that anyone who has been locked up in a cage or chains and robbed of his freedom would want to flee at the first chance he gets.

He reached the cage after sometimes, he inspected the cage thoroughly from afar. It was a very huge cage with golden bars, the sides of the cage had black signs. The middle of the cage was of black bar with a paper stuck in middle of it, the paper had inscription of seal in kanji on it.

As soon as he took a step forward two eyes with a slit running through the middle of them opened, they focused on Naruto and then a massive amount of KI and chakra was forced toward Naruto.

He was thrown back due to sheer force of the Killer Intent, he had experienced Killer intent before. Hiruzen had trained him to withstand Killer intents by forcing his own chakra and KI on Naruto. But this was something else, Naruto could see images of his deaths in front of his eyes.

He was unable to stand and went on his one knee somehow, he now understood what those villagers felt on the day of Kyubi rampage. He understood why Kyubi was called as a nine-tailed monster, this being was no Joke.

"Why have you come here? How dare you disturb me in my sleep? I will rip you apart in pieces with a flick of my nails, you puny brat" roared Kyubi, The voice was deep and rough and it sent shiver through the body of Naruto.

Kyubi could see and hear only a few things that was happening outside the boy due to the restriction seal.

Unknown to everyone except Kushina, Jiriaya and Minato, Kyubi had made a pact with Kushina to lend some of his power to her, in return Kushina had promised to free him at the time of her death. Kyubi was a prideful creature, he wouldn't make pact with humans but his freedom was more necessary than his pride. Kushina had agreed to free him at her own choice, that changed the mind of the beast a little about humans, not all of them were treacherous bastards.

All was going well untill that masked shinobi came, he pulled Kyubi out of Kushina and controlled him with his Sharingan. The masked ninja wasn't Madara Uchiha but a descendant of him, when Kyubi regained the control of his body one of his fingernail was gushed deep inside Kushina and her husband Minato's belly.

But even in their death-like state Kushina restricted Kyubi with her Chakra chains and Minato sealed it inside the belly of this boy, their son.

Even if Kyubi felt sympathetic toward this boy, he would only let him harness his chakra if the boy was like his mother or father instead of normal humans, treacherous bastards they were and Kyubi hated them with a passion. He would test the boy, if this boy was like his parents then he would help him. But if he wasn't like them he wouldn't get even an ounce of Kyubi's chakra, without a cost.

"You shouldn't shout like that fox, my ears are still ringing from your voice" joked Naruto while still struggling on a knee.

"You should know your place human, either state your reasons or leave this place right now" said Kyubi after calming a bit.

"I know my place, beside I am here to make an agreement with you" stated Naruto getting a little serious. Kyubi stopped his Killer Intent and chakra outflow after hearing these words, as an another person had also tried and succeded in doing so.

"What benefits could a puny human brat like you give me? You're kind are nothing but Insects. Leeches who drink the blood of its host, you're kind is idiotic and power-hungry" said Kyubi in a disgusted manner

"I know what you mean, but trust me I am not like them. I know you're not a monster but a creature made out of chakra that doesn't want anything to do with humans. I have studied about you after I came to know about you, I found that there are 9 of your kind" explained Naruto.

"It doesn't matter what you know about us or what you think about us, you're here for my power so state what could you give me in return" asked Kyubi. Kyubi could easily read the mind of Naruto and he knew Naruto was telling him truth.

"I know you aren't able to clearly see out of seal in real world, I can allow that. I can let you see and hear through my eyes and ears respectively" stated Naruto.

"Do you think such unnecessary thing's would mean something to me? You're naive brat if you think you could make a pact with me with such terms, I want a promise from you that you will free me at the time of your death" said Kyubi, he wouldn't have made a pact with this brat if he didn't felt somewhat guilty for death for the boy's parents specially Kushina.

"Okay, I promise that I would let you free but you should promise me that you wouldn't try to overload me with chakra to try and kill me" expressed Naruto.

"I wouldn't try to do something like that when you're promising to free me, and even if I try something like that the seal will not let me do. It I designed to release my chakra periodically" told Kyubi.

The pact was made, Naruto had made a pact with the nine-tailed fox sealed inside of him. All the legends he had read about the fox wasn't true, most of them were wrong and misinterpreted.

"Now, I would give you my chakra in the forms of tail and you're solely responsible for mastering them, and don't think that we are friends or even comrades. We're merely two creatures with symbiotic relationship" clarified Kyubi.

Naruto just nodded his head, it was unwise to rile up the beast for some fun, just yet. He returned to the real world downing a smile.

"By the looks of your face, it's not unwise to think that you have made an agreement with the fox" quoted Jiriaya. Naruto just nodded his head in approvals and went on to show Jiraiya his new accomplishment.

Naruto focused and brought some of the Kyubi chakra forward, it covered him in a red bubbly chakra cloak with a half formed tail behind him. He was able to feel both the power and bloodlust that the chakra brought with it. He focused more and suddenly felt something, He looked toward Jiriaya and was able to sense both his chakra and what Jiraiya was experiencing right now. Jiraiya was proud for something related to him. He was confused, how could he understand what Jiriaya was feeling.

"That's one of the power that my chakra grants you, you are able to sense the Chakra and emotions of the person standing around you in a limited distance. And don't talk loud just think, I can read your thoughts" came the sudden deep voice of Kyubi from Naruto's mind.

'This is awesome' thought Naruto, but no reply came in response.

'To be able to use this much of fox's chakra at first try is astonishing, but he needs more control on it or else it could prove to be problematic and dangerous' thought Jiraiya.

"Let me try something" said Naruto made four hand seals and said "Suiton: Water pellets".

Naruto shot three football size Water balls, the balls collided with a tree and uprooted it. The power behind the balls had increased due to the potent chakra of Kyubi.

Jiraiya had seen the effect of using Kyubi's chakra with ninjutsus, Kushina used it to add more powers in her jutsus.

Naruto receeded his cloak back and moved on with Jiriaya to practice more control over the chakra. He practiced the control over chakra for an entire day.

Little did they knew that the person they were trying to follow was residing in the same village as them, but they would get to know that the next day...

Disclaimer:- I don't own Naruto, All rights are reserved to Kishimoto.