"I'm sorry, do repeat that again, Iruka-kun."

"Naruto was absent again from class today. I had thought it was simply because he knew we were reviewing clone theory and the mechanics behind the kawarmi... but as classes were being let out, I saw him with the fourth years, performing the ninjutsu test... he passed Hokage sama." Explained iruka, his eyes still showing shock. "He was the first person in my class create a passable henge, and he had worked out most of the kawarmi during our second session last week..."

The sandamie Hokage looked far less than pleased. For most ninja, they had rarely seen him with any expressions other than joy, good natured humor and neutrality. His current look only promised pain for anyone he deemed suited for his wrath. "Koramu-kun... why did you deem it a good idea to let young Naruto-Kun enter the graduation exams, despite only just completing his first year in the academy?"

"W-well sir, when I caught him tampering with the water bubbler next to a room that he wasn't assigned to and on the wrong floor, he made the excuse that he was suppose to be in that room today for some reason." Explained the stern but bland looking woman. "I figured it would be better for him to learn the consequences of such a poorly planned lie. I was under the impression that he had very little skill as a shinobi. The test should have proven he was lying."

"And he passed his written test."

"Yes sir, or to be more specific, he stole another students without getting caught. It wasn't until I graded Maturi's test that I noticed his was slightly sloppier than normal, and he got answers wrong that he never would have normally."

"And the taijutsu test?"

"Rento tested his defensive capabilities. When rento determined that he needed near chunin level taijutsu to put him down for any considerable amount of time, he passed Uzumaki with a note to learn a better taijutsu style."

"Naruto has never lost a spar by knock out or submission, Hokage-sama. He has only ever lost on points or on disqualification." Iruka supplied. "And Neji-Kun is so far the only student from his class that he has never defeated."

"Very well. His ninjutsu?"

"He transformed into you, Hokage-sama. He got very few details wrong, he was even able to take of the hat and the hair was correct. He tried three times to use kawarmi. Two failures and one rather good one where he replaced himself with an entire desk... we graded each jutsu as a Passing grade."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the professor and longest serving kage to date, sat back in his chair. He slowly took hold of his pipe, lighting it with a small fire jutsu and let the aroma fill his nostrils before moving the tip to his lips and lightly inhaling the smoke.

Never in his wildest fears had he even considered this coming into the fold.

Naruto uzumaki, kyuubi jinchuuriki, class clown, completely self sufficient, and a surrogate grandson, whom he let join the academy a year early as one of the many gifts he had given the boy to repent for his actions in protecting him...

Was a genin at the age of seven.

"I'm sorry, do repeat that Again, Gai-Kun."

"Team three fails, Hokage-Sama. Kubo Nashua and Richi Sameboru did not show the physical tools or mentality to be genin." Stated Gai, his eyes never leaving the Hokage.

"And what of the third team-member?"

"Ah yes. Young Uzumakis flames burn quiet bright! His effort to be of use to his teammates was Herculean, and his ability to evade me for nearly six minutes are well above genin in stealth and tactics. I can see why some of our chunin struggle to corral him."

"Do you believe he will pass the Reserve Programs?"

"I- ah, no, Hokage Sama. It's clear his knowledge is far to incomplete. I'd say despite his physical and mental talent, he's not ready for any part of life as a shinobi."

"Thank you, Gai-Kun. You may go now."

"I'm quite sorry, could you repeat that for me?"

"New Operative 725 has passed his introductory test."

"A seven year old. A seven year old has passed the anbu level test to gain access to the jonin section of the archives... how did he even get his hands on the test?"

"Genin reserve member Uzumaki Naruto has spent the first two weeks in the archives, learning from the academy level scrolls and requesting help from the chunin assigned there. Over the next month, Hidden operative Chou informed him that if he wanted to continue this behavior, he had to join the archive team."

"Skip ahead, I've been monitoring his time there."

"After he passed the security tests for the chunin level of the archives, he proved to be quite the help in the archives. In the last month, he has grown mentally and his ability to adapt quickly to information is... startling."

"Operative. If you do not tell me, this instant, why you personally gave a GENIN the introductory test to Anbu, you will be sharing his rank."

"...Dragon-sama spotted him in the archives and began testing him just after he passed his chunin level clearances. Redacted information, a-class information, and the like. Operative 725 passed every single test. Dragon-sama ordered me to administer the test on his next day off, which was yesterday."

"I see. Please go retrieve him."

"Dragon-sama?"

"No Chou, Naruto uzumaki. I'll speak with your commander in the meantime."

The anbu nodded and disappeared, a black masked individual appearing directly in his place.

A tense silence filled the office as the smoke in the Thirds pipe billowed into an open flame.

"...Tell me, where did I go so wrong with my children that you both find some kind of sexual pleasure in directly Disobeying my wishes?"

"Wha-? Dad what the fuck?"

"How could you induct a seven year old into Anbu?"

"With paperwork? Honestly it's a rather-"

"Don't test my patients Hashi!"

"The boy needs it. It's obvious that he was bored at the academy. It's only a matter of time until he is bored of the archives. Imagine if you had Stuck Yondaime sama or lady Kushina in the same situation"

"His education is incomplete."

"And it never will be complete if he is left to his own devices. The boy is remarkably intelligent, but he still doesn't even know what he doesn't know."

"And being inducting into our special forces is going to afford him the chance to learn these things?!"

"No, being your new personal ANBU will though!"

"... What?"

"Just like with asuma, I'm fixing a mistake you weren't legally aloud to fix yourself. Operative 725 will be given mask Buru, and be assigned to team Roh, to the position of command liaison. Operative Saru has been promoted to captain of team Toga, directly under my command, and will be put in charge of the Hokage family protection squad."

Sarutobi looked long and hard at his oldest son, the Commander of Anbu. It wasn't entirely implausible. Team roh was his heavy response squad, and they often had to communicate directly with the Hokage. It was one of only three squads to report directly to him instead of through the commander.

"One month. You get one month. If Naruto-kun has not made marked progress in both his education and his ninja skills, I will pull him and send him back to the academy."

"Your senile! The initiation program is three months long!"

"Best hope he's the genius you say he is then."

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

"He passed, you senile old man. Gave him the standard academy tests, all 3 of the rotation, and he scored 97% on average, the only thing he continues to fail is the clone jutsu. We also gave him the chunin aptitude test and he passed with a 74%."

God damn it. It was one month to the day and Naruto continued to do the absolute impossible.

Now, do to his own bet, Naruto would be given the anbu initiation training.

"Also, Fugaku-sama has heard of this, and has requested a meeting with you to discuss a similar program for his oldest."

Interesting. Itachi is a true Genius. An actual graduate at age seven, chunin at ten and now Fugaku believes him to be ready for anbu.

Odd timing, with the rumors around the clan being very unhappy with the village.

"When?"

"In ten minutes. Now if you will excuse me, I have a child to abuse."

Sarutobi laughed after Dragon was gone. He had said the same thing when training Jiraiya after he made jonin at 12.

It wasn't long before Fugaku and Mikoto sat before him. Strangely, while Mikoto was dressed formally, Fugaku looked like he had fallen into a fire pit.

"I trust you are uninjured, Fugaku-Dono?"

"Hm. My youngest has taken it upon himself to learn the Grand fireball. He... seems to understand the basics." The honored Uchiha clan head stated with a sigh.

Hiruzen couldn't help himself but to laugh out loud, startling the the clan heads. "I'm quiet sorry, I just remember when young Asuma tried to surprise me when he created Burning Ash Pile. I now find the humor that Jiraiya found in it."

The rueful smile on the kages face never left as he appraised the uchiha. "Mikoto, that does remind me, He will be back in the village soon, I'll be sure to alert you before he has the chance to peak on your watch."

Mikoto giggled and nodded. "Thank you, Sarutobi-Sama. I have a new trick I'd like to try on my old sensei."

"Very well. Now I believe I heard a rumor that Young Itachi has expressed his wishes to test for Anbu. Would that so happen to be why you two are here?"

Fugaku lost his slight smile at the Hokage's shift in tone. "With shisui's success, and other recent developments, it's become the opinion of the clan that Itachi has the talent and drive to achieve great success in the Anbu."

"Ah, so this is about Naruto." The Sandaime said easily. Both uchiha stiffed at this. A tense silence filled the office as he locked eyes with Mikoto, then Fugaku. "Tell me. When were you planning on telling me that your clan felt threatened by its place in the village?"

"What?!"

Another heartily laugh filled the room, much to the uchiha's confusion. They were set on edge. True that they hoped by having more uchiha in the elite forces, they could increase their clans status in the village, but they hadn't though that they could have been read so clearly.

"Granted."

"Excuse me?" Fugaku let slip as he moved to lean forward, not trusting what he had heard.

"Granted. Dragon approached me earlier about young itachi, and plead his case for your son. While some of his reasons can't be discussed due to sensitive information... Well, the long and short of it is, the rumors are true. Naruto seems to posses every single ounce of natural talent that his namesake suggests. He's stumbled into promotions and new roles in the village over the last six months and he's shown that Hatake Kakashi wasn't as out of the norm as we had thought." Supplied Sarutobi as he puffed on his pipe and took a deep breath. "We've had our eyes on others due to Naruto's recent successes. Itachi is at the top of that list, though Hana Inuzuka, Ko Hyuuga, Dei Lichata and a few others have found themselves on our radar."

"So... that's it? Itachi is in Anbu now?" Mikoto asked, rather perplexed.

"Not nessissary. If Itachi doesn't pass his first two tests, he will return to the regular forces. I wouldn't take Naruto's astonishing success as of late cloud your expectations. That boy..."

"Sandiame sama, please, we figured out long ago who the boys parents are." Stated Fugaku, a knowing look in his eyes. "While we had initially believe he was entirely his mother's son, it's blindingly obvious just how much he takes after his father."

A sad smile formed on the sandiames face. "Yes, I suppose that soon many people will make the connection. I had wished he would stay like his mother a bit longer... but it seems some genetics can in fact out weight Uzumaki DNA."

"Sir... when sensei returns... if it's alright... may I meet him?" She asked, ignoring the disgruntled look from her husband before snapping at him. "Oh you stay quiet! Sensei is an honorable man, just because he isn't your man crush Orochi-teme doesn't mean that you can keep me from bonding with my sensei."

"I dislike having The Village Madness in my district for a multitude of reasons." He refuted, but wilted under his wife's glare once her Sharingan activated and began slowly spinning.

He may have had the Mongekyuo himself, but there wasn't a more blessed pair of eyes in the clan today than that of his beloved wife.

Plus it didn't help that that was the look that promised angry sex later, and it had been ages since the last round of angry sex.

"I'll let Dragon know he can pick up his new recruit in the morning."

"I'm sorry Kakashi-kun, could you repeat that?"

"Itachi has passed his initiate training and has begun missions in team Roh. Naruto passed just two days ago."

Hiruzen simply couldn't believe how quickly everything was happening. Naruto was now an official member of anbu. He wasn't even 8 yet, only about six days away, and by all accounts of everyone around him, he earned it.

Itachi uchiha, the latest of the villages long line of child prodigies, had somehow overshadowed Naruto, but then again, he was more public that Naruto.

Itachi was the darling of the village, a kind, reserved, intelligent clan heir. Some saw the boy as a changing of the guard in the uchiha clan. The boy had a pacifist streak and was immensely talented, not relying on his sharingan, but he still used it to great effect when needed.

Naruto though... Naruto's failures were victories and his victories were reality bending successes.

He was the dead last in his class, tho not by much to Rock lee, who seemed to be simply more driven than Naruto at that time.

Then the boy went and lied his way, accidentally, into a genin graduate test, and on the barest threads of rule bending, passed, at seven with a completely inadequate education.

He failed his genin team test, partially his fault do to his entire lack of skill, and inability to work properly in a team. He was thrown into the archives, the only spot Hiruzen though he was remotely able to perform in a not completely counter-productive way...

And inside of a few months he was one of the best archivers. He had tested for and gained chunin level clearance, and spent roughly fourteen hours a day in the large expansive building. He learned all the information he could that interested him, and incidentally helped create a new sorting system that helped streamline the maintenance of the archives and reduce the backlog of tasks that had faced the department for the last two decades.

Anbu. Oh how he constantly rued his eldest son having earned his level of autonomy with his anbu. Now his two most promising ninja had been whisked away into the covert sector.

And once again, he had to admit his eldest boy could spot talent from Miles away.

Itachi was now the second youngest anbu agent ever, only surpassed by Naruto.

"Might I ask that you rotate both boys through the office while your team performs missions. I will allow Itachi to join missions after his probation is up. Naruto is confined to in village missions until he is ready for service."

"Understood." Kakashi nodded before bowing to the Hokage. "Thank you... for giving me this opportunity to atone for my past..."

"I wouldn't have thought of it that way."

"Hokage-sama?"

"I'm not giving you an opportunity to atone for your past, kakashi-kun. I'm giving you the responsibility to prevent this village from creating another you." The words slapped kakashi across the face. He was almost indignant, until his Hokage continued. "You are the SINGLE most talented ninja to ever exist in this village, only young Naruto and Itachi can compare. And yet, try as I might, how have you grown in anbu? You were an A-rank ninja at 13."

"I'm-"

"Silence." The simple command froze the anbu captain. "This meeting isn't about you. This is about Buru and Neko. I trust I've made myself clear what my expectations are?"

Hiruzen stood among the smoldering wreckage of the uchiha district, shaking his head.

Seven total uchiha were left alive.

Seven. From an entire clan and district population down to seven. And 5 of them were children.

"Buru. Inu. What happened here."

"Sir, at 1900, we were informed of massive surges of chakra in the district. When we arrived at 19:02, we found Mikoto Uchiha and Fugaku uchiha, as well as several chunin and one other jonin, fighting off the rest of the clan. It was quick, sir." Inu reported, still covered in blood and soot.

"Buru. Report."

"Sir, when we arrived I was ordered to get the children out of the cross fire. By the time I had located those that weren't already dead, lady uchiha was on her last legs and lord Fugaku had fallen. I took lady uchiha to a safe zone and returned to see that the fighting had stopped." The small blonde anbu was shell shocked. Much to the boys credit, he was still functioning, after seeing such a grotesque sight.

Just then, Dragon landed in front of the Hokage, holding a scroll. "Hokage-sama. All Uchiha are accounted for... 312 casualties, 9 survivors, two in critical condition."

"I trust Neko and Taka are still out on their mission."

"Reported in ten minutes ago from the outpost in Kumo, Sir."

Hiruzen took a deep breath. "The area is secured, correct?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Kakashi. Work with Danzo's men and make sure that nothing fishy happens. I want all uchiha to remain accounted for. Naruto, you will guard the survivors, use the anbu wing of the hospital... until we know more, keep Mikoto Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha isolated, under level three security. I also want Moru Uchiha under level 5. I do t want him talking to anyone until we can set up the extraction machine."

"Who has clearance to enter the ward?"

"No one but yourself, Anbu medics and Dragon. Not even me, do you understand?"

"Hai, it will be done."

As both anbu departed and left, Hiruzen took a moment and looked his eldest in the eyes, through the mask. It didn't need to be said. They would find the ones responsible.

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that last part Hokage-sama?"

"You've had a fantastic career in Anbu, but it has come to an end. We need your talents elsewhere. Remove your mask, Buru."

Hiruzen gazed upon the cool, calculating eyes of Minato Namikaze for the first time in 12 years. The sins of his past were haunting him now.

Who was he kidding? They always had.

Naruto uzumaki, formerly anbu operative Buru, stood 5'1", very tall for his age, and much stockier than Minato had been, his body building out more similarly to the male uzumaki oh Sarutobi's youth.

While his 4 years in anbu, the last year as captain of team Roh, had been some of the darkest in village history, the young man had somehow retained small portions of his old personality. He was immensely skilled, mid-a rank. In the village power hierarchy, the blonde was somewhere between 10th and 13th. If he had to estimate, he was just under Asuma.

Naruto had a soft smile on his face as he looked at the Hokage. "I suppose I can call you Jiji again now that I'm just a lowly genin again"

A hearty chuckle filled the air and Naruto visibly relaxed. "I don't think it would be proper for my newest jonin sensei to be calling the Hokage an old man. Not a great example for your new students..."

"...wat?"