I don't own Naruto.
Naruto walked into the Hokage's office the following day after his bell test with determination brimming in his eyes.
He waited until the secretary informed the old man about his request to meet him. It was only a few minutes before he was called in.
"Hello there Naruto kun, how can I help you?", Hiruzen began with a smile.
" You remember what you promised? ", Naruto asked without beating around the bush.
" And that would be? " , Hiruzen asked, "You see I'm getting quite old"
"You said that you would allow me to have the scrolls left behind by my clan when I was older", Naruto reminded him or more so daring him to say something otherwise.
"Ah, yes. About that", Hiruzen said.
" I am a gennin now. That means an adult by Shinobi law", Naruto stated.
"Yes, yes. You don't have to sell your point", Hiruzen said with a dismissive hand, " In fact, your new sensei suggested me to do the same"
"He did? ", Naruto asked surprised.
" He was quite impressed with your intrests and dreams", Hiruzen told him, "He told me about your modified paper bomb"
"Would you mind making one for me now? ", Hiruzen asked, " What change did you make in the formula? "
Naruto went upto him like a puppy wagging his tail.
Hiruzen handed him a normal piece of paper and ink with brush and Naruto took it dumbly smiling.
"It's actually a failed product of something I wanted to do", Naruto told him.
Naruto tore a piece of paper and started painting it.
" Normal ones are made by just applying chakra into the kanji, and it starts spreading when chakra is activated until it bursts", Naruto said continuing his work.
"I wanted it to be bigger, the explosion, I mean. I tried painting the entire paper with chakra laced ink and then draw kanji on top of it.", Naruto said blowing air to dry it.
" That way it only would require to just activate it to blow. It would seem like a ordinary painted paper but it would have an explosive kanji on it ", Naruto told him drawing kanji of 'explode' on top of it.
"But like the present one, I couldn't stick it to anywhere and landmine paperbombs are useless most of the time, ninja don't have a predictable movement pattern or movement pattern at all", Naruto continued, " But--
Hiruzen interrupted him by taking away the paper, "But the problem was that this one would detonate even with slightest of chakra", he said quickly dipping it in his water glass and destroying it.
" Even with the traces of chakra left behind in the air, after performing any jutsu",Hiruzen said looking at him with a contemplative expression, " That would be dangerous to carry around and time taking to make it on the go"
" Yes, that and instead if making the chakra spread slowly, it required to be a burst of chakra which is only possible by having it in contact ", Naruto answered.
" And that would kill the user as well. It's suicidal", Hiruzen stated.
"It is", Naruto agreed all too happily.
Although the happiness was originated by his creation, the fact that the creation was a suicidal time bomb didn't help.
" Anyways"
" You would have to visit the library every time though", Hiruzen moved on.
"Huh? Why? ", Naruto crossed his arms, " Why can't I have it? "
"Those are very dangerous as well as important to just lay around at your apartment, Naruto kun", Hiruzen answered him patiently, " They would be safer there with constant gaurd"
Naruto couldn't argue with that. He wanted him to have them because he owned them but he would prefer them not being stolen away or worse, lost by him.
"They would not deny me entry? ", Naruto asked, " Like before? "
"No, that was the public library, these would be located in the shinobi library", Hiruzen said uncomfortably.
" On the contrary they would only allow you, not even me. Only Uzumaki would have access and you are the last one--
"Last known Uzumaki", Naruto emphasised.
Hiruzen nodded understandingly.
" Then can I go there now? ", Naruto asked.
Hiruzen stayed silent for a moment.
" I would need to update them first. They won't allow you entry now", Hiruzen told him.
Naruto frowned.
"I will make sure to have every preparation done by tomorrow", Hiruzen promised.
" Okay", Naruto's frown turned into a pout, "I don't know where this library is though"
"The library is near the Hokage faces but clan specific knowledge is a little further away, connected to the library", Hiruzen told him.
" I will send someone to show it to you tomorrow ", Hiruzen said.
Naruto thanked him and walked out of the room, missing the sad smile on Hiruzen's face.
Next Day
Naruto excitedly followed Kakashi. They were going to go on their first mission! They would get to beat up villians and save people.
But not before he reminded the Sandaime of what he had promised yesterday. He just got a dismissive wave with reassurances that it was in process. Why would just telling the gaurd people to let him entry take so long?
Kurama had then pointed out, that the world didn't work according to a thirteen year old's logic.
Naruto had happily pointed out that it didn't according to an eternal being's logic as well. Especially one who has tails.
They would get to go on dangerous and awesome missions right? Naruto could keep patience to wait if he had something to do.
So why was Kakashi stopping at a house? A civillian house too as it seemed. A gruff looking man walked out. He burst into a series of coughing right after. He did appear to be weak despite his appearances. He was redder than normal as well.
Kakashi handed him the scroll and then followed the man deeper into the house.
They were then welcomed to a vast and open area. Naruto looked at Kakashi for answers.
"Get to work", Kakashi said eye smiling.
'I don't like that look',Naruto thought.
Kurama too was laughing uncontrollably for some reason.
" Whaddya mean? ", Naruto asked.
" Get to ploughing ", Kakashi said again.
" Why? ", Naruto asked.
" Well the clients don't like it when you don't actually do the mission you are assigned to do", Kakashi said completely non chalant.
"Ehhhhhhhhh?!!! ", Naruto screeched, reality sinking in.
Kakashi's huffing laughter and Kurama's loud laugh in his head didn't help.
'Why didn't you tell me? 'Naruto demanded.
'And miss that? ', Kurama replied still laughing.
'You suck',Naruto commented digging dirt.
Two hours into work, Naruto just plopped down under the shadow of a tree to catch breath and take a break.
Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of him using shunshin.
Naruto let out a startled yelp, but calmed down seeing who it was.
"I am just resting for a bit. I'll get to work", Naruto pleaded.
Still smiling Kakashi began, " Hokage sama has sent for you"
Naruto looked behind him to see a man in the Konoha's jonin outfit. Looking at his eyes, he was a Hyuuga.
Naruto leaped up excited, "Is this about the library? "
The man just nodded his head.
"Wait, that's no fair. Naruto gets to go and we have to continue working?", Sakura complained.
" It's just for some time. He will be back by our next mission", Kakashi told her.
Naruto let his disappointment show on his face about it. He quickly moved to get away from the labour work. The man who had come to escort him didn't like him being rushed it seemed as he nodded his leave to Kakashi and moved in a steady pace. Naruto was forced to adapt the pace as well.
Naruto was then lead behind the Hokage mountains to see a huge structure standing there but it seemed very insignificant compared to the mountain.
He supposed that the library would be the primary target of any and all infiltrators, so it being in a remote location made sense. Only Shinobi would ever be able to visit there so no one would be able to disguise themselves as a civillian and taking identity of an unknown shinobi amidst other shinobi of the village would be the stupidest thing ever. The only way left was to take the identity of some shinobi and they would have to do intense research of whoever they are taking the identity of and tackle through the person's behavior, reactions, friends and everything.
Kurama didn't say anything, so Naruto knew that his thoughts held some logic at least. It had been the best way for Naruto to overcome his shortcomings. Hehad been just brushing off things he couldn't understand before because no one was there to explain it to him but after Kurama had become Kurama and not Kyuubi, Naruto always tried to think of reasons or logic behind everything and Kurama would make fun of him if he just wandered off far away from the actual or plausible reasoning.
To say that it solved Naruto's problems would be wrong. Kurama had superior logical thinking compared to Naruto but still that didn't mean Kurama understood the way of humans, especially Shinobi.
Kurama would just rant about humans if he didn't seem to find the answer to anything. Not that Naruto thought of Kurama any less because of it. Why would he understand humans to great depths? Humans don't know every aspect of other creatures, hell even other humans. Humans just have a basic understanding of animal's way of thinking. Naruto doubts that they would have even gotten where they are if there weren't talking animal summons.
They entered and Naruto felt like he entered a different world all together. Most of the library was carved into the mountain with just the the entrance built outside. There was very little light coming in so the entire place was filled with candles everywhere. It gave the entire place a golden red glow, enhanced by the afternoon sunlight, cracking in.
He realised that he had fallen behind looking around and the Hyuuga had moved forward and now was waiting for him patiently. Naruto quickly moved to join him. His running steps pulled several head away from whatever they were reading but nobody said anything and they went back to whatever they were doing.
Naruto didn't miss the recognition in their eyes though.
They walked deep into the library into a isolated hallway where there were several shinobi on gaurd. He saw a huge door with two men and a woman gaurding it.
"I believe Hokage sama has informed about the inheritance", the Hyuuga said.
The one in the lead nodded and moved aside but another one cut them off and then placed a hand on him and then Naruto felt a sudden gust of sensation through out his body.
"You think someone can replicate that chakra", the first one said in a hushed tone.
Naruto knew what that chakra meant but they didn't know that he did.
The Hyuuga just coughed to remind them to not talk about it in front of Naruto.
" Procedure is procedure ", the man said calmly.
Naruto realised that the first one was a sensory nin.
'The second one is a gen jutsu user' Kurama said, 'Your mother went through this everytime she came to visit your father''He is checking for gen jutsu or henge techniques laced on you'That made sense.
'And the third one? ', Naruto asked.
'I don't know but most probably a combat specialt', Kurama answered.
They then proceeded deeper. There was a never ending and wide hallway. There wasn't even a slight trace of sunlight but there were several flame torches on both sides. It was deadly silent. Naruto realised that they were heading underground as the temperature dropped a little.
'Kurama, switch with me and check if there is anybody else is here, Naruto said.
Naruto made it look like he was looking around the place so the Hyuuga would not get a direct look at his closed eyes and suspect anything.
Kurama then tilted Naruto's head into the air to get a better smell.
'There are', Kurama said and Naruto quickly switched and opened his eyes.
'All of them are well hidden', Kurama said.
'We won't probably be able to switch in here. They would get suspicious', Kurama told him.
Naruto felt a little satisfied seeing how secure every thing was. He for sure knew that he would have most of the scrolls missing by a month.
'One week',Kurama bet.
Naruto ignored him and continued.
"This is where we part ways", The Hyuuga said.
" Huh? But we still haven't reached", Naruto said in confusion.
"Beyond the next walls lies clan secrets and treasures of several Konoha clans except the Hyuuga. It is embedded with seals that block the Byuakugan for safety reasons. I don't wish to bring trouble to my clan without intending to", The Hyuuga said.
" There would be someone to help you ", the man said before departing.
Naruto continued and after the next set of entrance he saw a woman waiting there for him.
" Ah.. I see you are here Naruto kun. Follow me"
Naruto recognised her. She was the old man's daughter in law. They had a few interactions before but not much. It was only Konohamaru's inspiration of pranks that she didn't like about Naruto, so that was fine. She was a civillian but not she seemed to understand Naruto's situation better than the others it seemed.
She led him through the complex architecture. He saw many clan symbols on the way leading into rooms gaurded by people of the respective clans.
The Uchiha and the Senju's were the largest and next were the Akimichi. The Senju's had been completely sealed off and the Uchiha's too it seemed.
"Here", she said.
Naruto was a little disappointed to say the least. It was the smallest one he had seen. But then again the Uzumaki weren't a clan of Konoha so they wouldn't have much.
"Naruto kun, you have to cut your hand and bleed on this seal", she told him.
" Eh? Do I have to cut everytime I come?", Naruto asked
She fidgeted a bit, "Ahem... it's like... "
"Other ones are chakra signature based. Blood and genetic material were used in old times but because of the way of life for a shinobi, it is very easy for enemies to attain that on missions", She explained.
" In your case, you see... You have very large chakra reserves and little control so we don't know how the seal will react", she continued.
"How are those related? ", Naruto asked aloud.
'She's fooling you. It's not your reserves. They are worried about my chakra being mixed with yours', Kurama answered.
"I only have little knowledge in shinobi art, Naruto kun. I have cleaned up the place and light up the candles", She tried to change the subject.
Naruto ohhed in understanding mentally but shrugged physically and then but his thumb and then drew a line on the seal which disappeared instantly and the door unlocked swinging both sides. It felt so dramatic.
The door was then flung closed after he entered.
He looked around to see a neat and clean room with scrolls and books of all sizes stacked in bookshelves and piled up larger scrolls. He pulled one of then out and opened its to be witness to the most beautiful calligraphy he had ever seen. It was only expected by Füinjutsu masters.
'The Hokage is trying to earn your trust', Kurama said.
'What do you mean? ', Naruto asked.
'He could have directly sent the woman to you but he sent the Hyuuga out of all people who clearly wasn't allowed here. He wanted to show that you can trust him and he would not exploit it''Really? Aren't you digging a little too deep? 'Kurama just huffed, clearly unsure himself.
His trust in the old man has been wavering slowly as the years pass and he isn't speaking a word to him about Kurama or his parents. Maybe the old man knows that and is trying to regain his utmost trust and blind devotion again?
Naruto shrugged that thought and began looking around.
'The seal my father used was called Reaper Death seal right? ''Yes, but what use would you have with it? You would die right after', Kurama questioned.
'I just want to know more about the seal. I think I should understand it completely if it is going to be on my body''Are you sure that is all you want? ', Kurama asked skeptical.
'Of course! ', Naruto said indignantly, 'I want answers but not that badly that I would die to be eternally sealed in the Shinigami's tummy'
Naruto spent the next couple of hours searching but to no avail.
"It's not here", Naruto muttered aloud.
" I didn't get everything! The old man is still hiding things ", Naruto shouted frustrated.
" I can't even call him out. I would give away that I know about Kurama and more so that I know Kurama well enough that he would tell me about the seal"
'Quit yapping. It's not the end of the world. It's forbidden anyways',Kurama said.
'Learn those chains or something, that would actually help you on missions and combat'
"MISSIONS! ", Naruto jolted up.
" I forgot about my team", Naruto said hurrying out into the dusk
AN:Thank you for reading! I was actually questioning myself if I wanted to write this chapter or have it in background as we go through cannon.
The paperbomb thing was so vague last chapter because it was in this chapter. I tried my best to explain but I don't think the explanation is clear enough and I didn't want to drag the scene on.
PS:I am foreshadowing the future. There is a big one in this chapter!
PPS:I had a test last week, so I didn't post. I have another in the first week of June. I would give a heads up when I won't post!