Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other works that I use for inspiration.

"Speaking"- Speech

"Thinking" - Thoughts

"Speaking" - Non-Mortal Speech

"Thinking" - Non-Mortal Thoughts

Chapter 2: Foundation

2 years have passed since that fateful day where Naruto and Kurama were introduced, and much has changed. Kurama took it upon herself to fully instruct Naruto on the ways of his people, the Uzumaki. Kurama had absorbed a massive amount of information on the clan from Kushina who after Uzushiogakure demise, did everything she could to learn more about her people. She spent years collecting what she could from the ruins from weaponry to scrolls containing much of the complex seals that the Uzumaki had formulated. With how skilled they were, they had made it so only an Uzumaki would have been able to utilize anything that she had found. Even though they had fallen, the Uzumaki made sure that there would be little to no spoils of war for their enemies.

Kurama trained Naruto every day in all that she could think of. She instructed him on the ways of chakra, giving him multiple multiple exercises to better his control and utilization. She had informed him of chakra nature, and how one could convert its properties such as element and shape to produce ninjutsu. Naruto had learned he had 2 nature affinities of water and wind, just like his mother, which made him work twice as hard at learning, developing, and mastering these elements. Naruto was also working on learning the taijutsu of his clan. It seemed to be a hybrid of different styles that emphasized 3 aspects, speed, precision, and flexibility. Every move seemed to go into another and depending on the situation there seemed to be a counter, he chalked it up to the Uzumaki and versatile they were, always having an answer to a problem. Though he was making strides, he was still young. Kurama only allowed him to learn the basics of all he was instructed in, and when he finished it, it was back to square one. She wanted his foundation to be as strong as possible, after all, no structure can stand without a solid foundation.

Kurama also began schooling naruto in the special chakra practices that the Uzumaki followed. They seem to have a deeper connection with Chakra. They view it as an internal force that is influenced by the user's mental and emotional state. With this in mind, the Uzumaki established 4 principles to be applied when using chakra. Ten (Enshroud), the practice of covering one's self in their chakra, but controlling and maintaining it so excess chakra doesn't leak out. This technique not only bolsters their defenses but helped extend the Uzumaki's already impressive vitality and longevity. Zetsu(Suppress) has one completely suppress with energy into themselves. This enhances sensory abilities and acted as a rejuvenation technique, all be it a minor one. Ren(Enhance) allowed one to once again project you charka out like Ten, but focusing on outputting a larger amount of aura than Ten, projecting it outwards explosively. This amplifies the user's physical strength and durability and provides a large pool of energy for any advanced techniques or individual skills they decide to use. Finally, Hatsu(Act) was the manifestation of one's aura, an ability that the user seems to develop depending on their will. Kurama also taught him that the Uzumaki had classifications for a person depending on what Hatsu they might have developed. There were 6 in total, Enhancers who strengthened themselves or items using chakra, Transmuters who were able to change the properties of their chakra, much like shape or elemental manipulation, Emitters who were able to separate their chakra from themselves with ease, Manipulators who could control animate and inanimate objects, Conjurers who were able to create using chakra and Specialist who ability might not fit in any other category.

At first, Kurama thought Naruto was a conjurer due to his chains, but in these 2 years, she changed her opinion to believing he was a Specialist. Naruto had been training incredibly hard when it came to his chains, able to summon them from almost anywhere on his person, change the shape, length, weight, strength, and more. And though his control with them was leaps and bounds what it had been before, it seemed like his chains had a mind of their own. They would appear out of no were to defend him, skillfully deflecting projectiles, defending his blind spots, they would even wrap around certain body parts, melding together and changing to form armor of some sorts on him. To say Naruto was happy about this development was an understatement! Sentient chains that could defend, attack, and transform! He then dubbed them Kingusugādo

or King's Guard, always with him, always ready to defend him at a moment's notice, he felt it was the most appropriate name, and they seemed to agree as they sprung to life and seemed to dance around him. At that point, he noticed that his chains had changed color, from the crimson orange hue they once had, to a pure black, as if one was staring into a void.

Kurama thanked the Cosmos that Minato and Kushina were able to construct the safe house they had been using as a training location. Naruto's parents were monsters in the shinobi world for lack of a better term, and as such, they had amassed a good deal of enemies in their time. With that being the case, they wanted to have a place that they could to the best of their ability guarantee the safety of their prince. With their combined skills and with much instruction and guidance from Kurama, They had constructed an underground bunker with all that their prince would need to grow into a fine king. Seals covered practically every inch of the bunker, with multiple functions that Naruto was very appreciative to learn that Kurama had memorized. Multiple training areas with resistance seals. They would hamper the user and allow them to work themselves up to a point where they couldn't feel the effects anymore. Naruto was happy to be on the 10th of the 100 levels of resistance, each one unlocked after a trial where the participant has to tag makers that appear in the room in a certain amount of time. There were also training puppets controlled by seals with difficulty levels worked in as well.

There was also an armory which Naruto appropriately renamed the "Trophy Room". Weapons, armors, and tools littered the room and while Kurama didn't know what everything was, she informed him of what she thought was the most noteworthy items in the vault. Kurama's favorite item in the armory was something she had a hand in making. A red and black tactical wakizashi sitting on a pedestal in its black sheathe with a red line running down the middle. Kushina, Minato, and Kurama put their combined knowledge and skill together to create this tool, one they felt was worthy of their heir. Kurama told Naruto of the many multipurpose seals placed on the weapon to increase its durability, sharpness, and weight. Though the "coolest" function of the weapon is that it was multiple weapons in one! Kushina's masterpiece was a special sealing matrix she had devised that allowed the weapon to change forms depending on what the user would want, unfortunately, they would have to be "programmed" into it, there being only 5 slots it seems, one of them being the Wakizashi. Paradokkusuejji or Paradox Edge was what Naruto dubbed it, happy he got a chance to put his creativity to good use.

Naruto was overjoyed, regardless of what life had been before meeting Kurama and learning the truth, he now knew he was loved. He knew that if they could have, his parents would be here, helping him grow stronger, showering him with love and praise. And even though they weren't here, they had done so much to make sure no matter what, he would always have what he needed. This place had everything he had needed! There was food, water, bookshelves full of valuable knowledge that he had been deprived of by the village…

The village...Honestly something he didn't like to think about too much. All the information Kurama had told him definitely change his perception of the village. Minato, in what little time they had left had a messenger toad with explicit instructions on what to do with Naruto's upbringing taking the situation into account. They also left information regarding who should care for him in case of their demise, his godparents of Jariya and Tsunade, who had both been made aware of the situation by separate messenger toads. His parents, even in their last moments tried their best to make sure he would be taken care of, and it seems that their memory and efforts were being spat on. His lineage was never supposed to be hidden from him, what type of parents would have wished for that? He came from a clan of sealing genius, yet no one even told him that the Uzumaki had ever existed! He was barely provided with the essentials, basically having to steal, ration, or wait for one of the times his chains felt it necessary to grab him something. His father was a Hokage, yet he was treated like he was less than a person. All the people who should've known who he was, did, yet not a single one seemed too concerned for him over the last 7 years. Even Naruto's opinion on the 3rd Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had changed drastically. Once a Grandfather figure, now seemed like a bumbling old fool. He withheld everything from Naruto, a man with Jutsu allowing him to watch over his entire village yet the son of its savior was left to fend for himself… How… disappointing...

Kurama wouldn't allow the village to hinder her King's growth and more than it already had. With Naruto's chakra control where it needed to be, Kurama instructed him to find a copy of the shadow clone Jutsu, a technique that allowed someone to make solid clones whose memories were absorbed by the original upon the clone's had been banished. With this technique in his repertoire, he was able to propel his training in all fields by leaps and bounds. Kurama limited the clones for training to 3 per field except for all academics and sealing, for which she allowed a whopping total of 9. The original Naruto would spend his time in his inner world learning what he could from Kurama to use in the physical plane, then to the training areas for testing, workouts, and such. Naruto loved the stories of old, stories of kings and empires making their claim in this world. He was learning to be a ruler like no other and that dedication to his goal only seemed to help him grow smarter, wiser, and more decisive. He was a king, his instincts would never steer him wrong.

Even at this young age, Naruto had begun contemplating the best plan to achieve his goals, forming his empire. He knew that no individual could accomplish such a feat, it would take a team. He would have to gather strong allies to make his dreams come true, and today he would be making the first of them, as well as a lifelong friend…

Konoha

The Hidden Leaf hadn't changed much in the last 2 years, except for one major event. Due to the discrimination the Uchiha had felt, they grew resentful. Under the leadership of the clan head, Fugaku Uchiha, there was to be a coup overthrowing the current powers of the leaf. Itachi Uchiha, eldest son of Fugaku took it upon himself to protect his village by slaughtering his clan, leaving only his younger brother Sasuke, and adopting the mantle of an S-ranked criminal to continue projecting his home and his brother from afar. The truth of that night was known by only a select few, the Hokage and his advisors, along with Jiraya, but little did they know that Naruto also knew this secret. Before Kurama's tutelage, Naruto was already creative, but with new outlets besides pranking, some of the things he came up with could either be considered ingenious or insane. One of the creations was a seal that would allow him to listen from a receiver seal after playing the transmitter seal on a surface, even skin. He also worked in a camo feature that took very precise calligraphy, which seemed to be like second nature to him, thank you Uzumaki DNA! Naruto had many places in the village littered with these seals, marking the receivers with the locations so he knew which seal would let him listen in on who. He didn't know if this village could turn into an enemy one day and he was no longer a fool, he didn't want to have to but if needed he would have the leverage and whatever else he would need to defend himself and his allies from the hidden leaf. He had seen firsthand how quick they were to further their agendas, sacrifices be damned.

Sasuke had changed as well. He was constantly angry, constantly battered and bruised, onlookers surmising his wounds as results from training. He seemed to want nothing to do with anyone. He viewed himself as a failure, unable to lift a finger against his older brother. He stood there and watch and Itachi had forced him to view the death of their brethren over and over. Whether it was a minute or an hour, Sasuke couldn't tell, but it wasn't something he was able to get out of his mind. He figured growing stronger, strong enough to kill Itachi and avenge his clan, would be the only thing that would be able to clear the terrifying images from his head, that is until a certain blonde approached him one stary night…

Sasuke had been sitting near a stream, reflecting on the progress he made in his training. Though he had been getting stronger he felt it was all in vain.

"It's still not enough! Regardless of what I do, I'm still not at his level. Itachi already had his Sharingan by my age yet I can't even execute the kunai technique perfectly."

It was then that Sasuke heard footsteps approached. He looked up to see the blonde known as Naruto standing over him, looking just as beat up as he did, if not more so.

"Mind if I sit here?" Naruto asked with a big grin on his face. He would have normally ignored the boy or just left, but seeing that grin, for some reason Sasuke simply answered with a blank expression: "Sure."

The boys knew of each other, Sasuke being the "Last Uchiha" and Naruto being the "Demon" it was hard not to know of probably the 2 most famous or infamous kids of the leaf. The boys also had a sense of respect for each other. Whenever Sasuke had seen Naruto in the village it was either he was doing some kind of exercise like running and the like, he couldn't remember the last time he had seen the blonde walk anywhere actually. There were times where seeing Naruto hard at work would make him go back to training even if he had just decided to take a break. The same could be said for Naruto. Even before that tragic night, he would catch Sasuke training his physical abilities and ninjutsu. He was beyond surprised to learn that Sasuke could already perform elemental ninjutsu! If there was anyone to be interested in forming any kind of bonds with, it was someone who put their all into accomplishing their goals, and he could see that was Sasuke.

"What's with all those bruises on you, you lose a fight? Naruto asked, snickering at the end of his question.

"No, I didn't lose a fight! I was training idiot! Besides, you're the one who looks like they just lost a fight." Sasuke told Naruto, annoyed that he would even suggest that.

"Well, I guess I kinda did y'know. It was part of my training" Naruto answered scratching the back of his head. The truth was he had just finished a sparing session with 3 clones to further polish his basics.

"And why the hell are you training?" Sasuke asked, curious about the boy's reasoning. No one their age seemed to be too interested in the ninja ways yet, so why was he.

Naruto felt that this might be his chance, so he decided to take it, he wanted to see if he could make a friend.

"It's because I'm a King and King's need to be strong!" Naruto proclaimed proudly. Sasuke was a bit confused though. What the hell did he mean a king?

"What are you on about you idiot? How are you a king?" Naruto simply turned to him and Sasuke saw something different, almost like the person he was talking to had suddenly switched places with someone new, someone who reminded him of Itachi. The feeling he gave off, the pressure, but it was a bit different. Instead of it feeling suffocating, it felt warm. Vast, warm, and encompassing, that is how he would describe what he was feeling.

Kurama was against the idea of her King associating with an Uchiha, one of which was responsible for controlling her and forcing her to do their bidding, costing Minato and Kushina their lives, and Naruto his parents. But her king had made up his mind and she was too proud of who he was becoming and how he chooses to go about this to voice any objections. It was at this time that Naruto informed Sasuke on his life, who he was, what he sought out to accomplish, his lineage while keeping a secret or two to himself. Sasuke was blown away, sat beside him was actual royalty. The last of an empire, the only heir to one of the greatest ninja the world had ever seen! Even someone as skilled as Itachi admired the Yellow Flash! Sasuke had a bit of difficulty, but something told him that the one in front of him had zero intention of lying to him. He even remembered that one of his mother's old friends was named Kushina. She had a picture and would do a prayer for her every week as far as he could remember. So after a barrage of understandable questions, he finally had to ask: "Why did you tell me any of this?"

Naruto stared at him for a brief moment before answering.

"I feel like you might be the only person who might understand me. It might not be the same thing but we have both lost in a sense. More importantly, I feel like you would understand what I want to accomplish!"

Sasuke continued to stare at the boy.

"I guess I can understand the first part…But what do you mean I'll understand what you want to accomplish?"

"Before I answer you, I have one more story to tell you… but you might not like or even believe what I have to say." Sasuke already didn't like the feel of this. The feeling he was getting from Naruto changed. It was more serious, he even thought it had gotten colder around him.

"I'm going to tell you the truth of that night, the night Itachi slaughtered your clan…" Sasuke was instantly infuriated. He wanted to punch this kid's face in for so much as mentioning that night, but something he didn't know what but something was telling him he had to listen. And so he did, he listened to every detail even how he obtained the information. He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to but no matter what he thought, he couldn't convince himself that it was a lie….he just couldn't…

"ARRRGGHHHH!" Sasuke yelled then pounced on Naruto, and began pummeling his face, blow after blow. Regardless of his attacks, it seemed that they were doing nothing to the boy, crystal blue eyes remained in contact with his eyes of onyx. He knew he was telling the truth, his clan traitors, his brother a martyr, and he was left blissfully ignorant. He stopped his assault to ask yet again:

"Why?... WHY TELL ME ANY OF THIS!?" Sasuke asked tear falling down his face as he stared back at Naruto. Pain in his eye from his awakened Sharingan.

"Because you should be allowed to decide what your life is for yourself! How can anyone expect you to be your own person when an event like this would most likely define you. You are already training yourself into the ground and for what, to kill your brother based on a lie! Instead of growing for yourself, your hopes and dreams, you gain strength for revenge… and then what…?" Naruto responded. He could feel it, he was getting through to him.

"Why...why do you care…?" Sasuke fell back. He didn't know what else to ask or to say really.

"Because if it were up to everyone else I would've stayed ignorant too. So much of my potential wasted simply because I was misguided on how to properly harness it. Knowing who I am, where I come from, that will allow me to decide who I want to be. You deserve that same liberty. No matter how cruel it is, it's your life, you should know the truth, and decide from there what you want to do." Naruto sat up and answered Sasuke. Even though before he sat a child a couple of months younger than himself, he felt as if he was being consoled by an older brother.

"I want to be a great King, so when I bring back the Uzumaki, they will not only have a wondrous empire to call home but, have a powerful leader who will be able to protect them, and make sure that the tragedy that befell them before never happens again!" This resonated with Sasuke. Even before the truth of that night, he wanted to one day bring his clan back to its former glory, but now he wanted to establish a new Uchiha. One that wouldn't succumb to the vices of the previous, a virtuous Uchiha who put loyalty and faith before matters as self-absorbed as pride. One could wield pride to strengthen instead of weakening and he knew that now.

"But before I do any of that I need friends that could help make that a reality. Things might get messy along the way, but I think you might be just the guy to help me. Who knows, we might just take over the world while we're at it!" A massive grin on Naruto's face. He was serious and Sasuke knew it, but what could he say. This kid had basically flipped his world on its head and now he was trying to recruit him on some "build an empire take over the world" scheme!

"Trust me when I say, you'd make the perfect Knight! With you by my side, we could change the world Sasuke! We could reestablish both our " Naruto stood up and extended his hand to a sitting Sasuke. All Sasuke could do was stare in awe. The only thoughts in his mind were about how absolutely insane all this sounded, how insane this entire night was! Regardless of all of that, he felt that there was no other response but to take the boys hand, get on one knee and say:

"I'm honored Naruto-sama! I, Sasuke Uchiha will follow you as we create this empire together!" He didn't honestly understand, but he felt he had to put his faith in this boy, no this man. No matter how young they were, in a world this cruel age didn't matter, Itachi taught that lesson many times over.

"Excellent! We will get stronger and we will take the world by storm!" Even Kurama was laughing hysterically. Thinking about the strength Naruto had now, and the potential of both him and the Uchiha for growth, the leaf, no the world had no idea what was coming…

A King and his Knight…

Chapter 2 End

Author's Notes: Thank you all for reading chapter 2 of my story and I hoped you enjoyed it! For anyone who was able to tell I based the advanced chakra technique of the Uzumaki on Nen from HunterXHunter. Please review and provide any suggestions you might feel better the story or reading experience. Until next time!