Uzumaki Naruto grinned widely as he dashed through the forest, his earlier depression of failing the genin exam for the third time evaporated like a snowball in hell when his teacher, Mizuki, told him about the compensation exam he could do.

Breaking into the Hokage tower proofed to be a challenge even for his considerable pranking trained stealth abilities. Most people would be unable to reconcile the loud mouth, orange wearing boy with 'stealthy'.

It where those people who were thoroughly surprised when Naruto decided he did not want to be seen. The results of whatever activity would always quite clearly point to him, the person responsible, but Naruto never claimed to be subtle. He was however, never caught in the act, even when he vandalized the entire Hokage monument earlier that week.

And people wondered why it took so long for the ninja's chasing him to actually capture him, he was the chunin version of Tora the cat, you did not risk to get bitten, instead you were nearly guaranteed to need a new uniform.

Naruto's 'enhanced' paint was a pain to get out.

Despite his considerable abilities in stealth and evasion, there was always one teacher, Umino Iruka who could catch the orange clad hellion. Unknown to most however, there was another unexpected person who could track and keep up with Naruto.

Most would not expect the shy Hyuuga Heiress, Hinata, to have such skills. But years of stalking… following her crush, observing him through his escapades gave the girl an incredible insight of what Naruto would do next.

So the girl was unsurprised when Naruto instantly agreed with Mizuki's, in her mind, dodgy 'exam'. Even as Naruto worked his way she considered helping him, but if the test was actually true, she would be the result of Naruto's failing.

Something she could not do, the idea of not being able to be alongside Naruto, following his blazing path to Hokagehood would send the girl into her own depression. Her own family did not know the meaning of a 'gentle guiding hand'. Only harsh training and harsher reprisals for failing. A way of teaching that utterly failed the poor girl, who needed a gentle but firm guidance to grow into a powerful woman.

Something her unseen observer tried to provide before she was pulled away. Yuhi Kurenai watched the Hyuuga girl with confusion, duo a mission she was late for the graduation ceremony, and expected the graduated girl treating herself to her favorite food, knowing full well her father would not have bothered showing up.

So when she didn't see the girl at her favorite shop, nor that she had come home Kurenai was quite surprised seeing the girl intensely gazing at the Hokage tower with her bloodline eyes , the tell-tale bulging of veins showing their activation. She was about to drop down and interrogate the girl when the alarms in the Hokage tower wailed their distress to the sky.

Mizuki was pleasantly surprised, he had half expected for the boy to get caught in the act, but even from his own spot he saw the boy run out of the provided 'exit'. He waited patiently for the alarms to go off.

It took longer than expected, but he was happy with that. It meant he had more time to torture the demon. He ran off to Iruka's house to 'explain' the alarm. He'd hoped that he could kill the demon together with his friend, Iruka was the only one after all who had a clue where Naruto would go.

He felt like smacking himself. 'I should have told him where to go.' He reprimanded himself.

Nevertheless Iruka, despite being gob smacked, shot off like an errant wind jutsu, intent on finding the boy. Mizuki soon 'split off' but kept his fellow teacher at the edge of his senses, he would know when Iruka would find Naruto with the scroll.

Naruto puffed his chest with pride, he had done it! 'Hah, mastering this clone jutsu was EASY.' He exclaimed loudly in his mind. 'One handsign, just two fingers and molding your chakra in the right way, bam, a clone!' he thought while watching proudly to his equally proud doppelganger.

After a moment of basking in his pride, he turned back to the scrolls, intent to learn another jutsu. 'This will give me extra credit for sure!' he thought excitement. 'Then I will be the rookie of the year dattabayo!'

A couple of minutes later, and halfway through the scroll she was rather disappointed, the next set of jutsu's he found all required things he didn't have, and didn't particularly felt like using. Reviving the dead would surely piss of the death god, and Naruto wasn't THAT reckless for extra credit.

A few other jutsu he found along the way where writing by one of his heroes, the second Hokage, but most of them revolved around gratuitous amounts of water. Although in theory you could pull it out the air, Naruto lacked that particular talent.

He was surprised his jiji, the current Hokage had written so few jutsu's into the scroll, he had stacked his hopes into that, the man was surely called the 'professor' for a reason! But alas, the few that where inside the scrolls he such complicated language involved in them, Naruto wasn't sure if it even was meant to be understand.

'Perhaps to protect the awesome jutsu jiji used a code!' he thought with a nod, and kept rolling the scroll revealing the few jutsu the fourth hokage, his favorite hero, had written down.

Naruto had hoped he would find the Hiraishin no Jutsu here, the jutsu that made the fourth so famous. He had already seen the technique in the second's part of the scroll, but it involved fuinjutsu Naruto couldn't make head or tails off. 'The fourth has used kunai, not fancy drawings!' Naruto thought to himself. 'It must be a different technique with the same name.' he concluded.

Once again, he was sorely disappointed, instead of finding jutsu, he found mostly theory's around Bjuu's, their attacks and elements. 'Kyuubi could have used fire?' Naruto asked himself as he read that, wondering how the fourth figured that out. The history books never mentioned the enormous fox spewing fire.

He soon reached the end of the written part of the scroll, plenty of blank page left for the next hokage's to write upon. The last jutsu involved using the drawn seal on the paper, more chakra than a single human, or even a group of humans could afford, and a few hand seals to teleport the user, and those very close by to a 'safe location determined by the users will and wishes.'

Despite not being useful as a jutsu for extra credit, Naruto couldn't help but be curious why the fourth Hokage would make a jutsu nobody could use even if they died using it. He caught something about 'initial prototype' and 'summoning jutsu' before a harsh voice shouted.

"NARUTO!" Naruto whirled, and saw Iruka, his favorite teacher looking extremely angry at him. Both didn't know that hidden well in the bushes, a shy girl nearly gave herself away by jumping in surprise. So focused on the other they didn't notice the bushes momentarily shaking.

"You did better than I thought fox brat, I expected you to be caught." Mizuki's voice rang out, the man standing on the branch of another tree, and ugly sneer on his face. "I am too awesome to be caught!" Naruto replied cheerily, ignoring the oft used nickname without thinking, and missing Mizuki's expression. "I managed to learn a jutsu too!"

The sneer deepened, while Iruka started to look confused. "Like hell you could demon! The techniques written on that scrolls where deemed too risky to learn without express permission from the Hokage, no way a fox demon like you could learn them!"

"What?" Naruto asked confused, he had seen some techniques where risky and life threatening, but they said so at the description, than his mind switched to the fact he was called a demon…again. "I am Naruto!" he shouted indignantly "I have a name, Uzumaki Naruto, why is everybody calling me a demon!?" he demanded frustrated.

Before Iruka could interfere, Mizuki sneered out. "You are the nine tailed demon fox! I have no idea why the third just didn't kill you after you were sealed into a baby, but I will not make that mistake, DIE!" he roared at the end, started to throw a large windmill shuriken he had on his back.

His aim was off however, just as he was about to release the weapon, a sharp pain in his leg unbalanced him. Sending the weapon flying off, not hitting Iruka who had leapt to cover Naruto.

Mizuki whirled around and grappled, to his surprise, the meek Hyuuga heiress. The girl looked mortified at herself that she actually struck someone with the intent to harm. Mizuki snarled as he reached out and flung the girl towards Naruto, Iruka dodged while Naruto clumsily caught her despite being frozen by the sudden revelation, sprawling the pair next to the opened scroll.

"He is a demon, how can protect a demon!" Mizuki demanded as he threw he second oversized shuriken towards Iruka, preventing the man from attacking him. "He… He isn't a demon! He is..is.. my friend!" Hinata squeaked out as she tried to figure out up and down after being thrown like a ragdoll. Her concentration was thoroughly broken when Naruto, the love she now sat on top off said an heartfelt "Thanks" Emotion thick in his voice that somebody called him a friend.

"Stupid girl, now you have ruined everything! Nobody will believe Naruto could kill a failure like you, I will never become a jounin or ANBU now!" Mizuki shouted as he kicked away Iruka who charged him. "Now I have to become a missing ninja, but I will be a powerful one!"

"You'd betray Konoha?!" Naruto demanded. Mizuki laughed harshly "Such a loyalty for a village you tried to destroy thirteen years ago demon!" Iruka shot forward, engaging Mizuki with kunai in both hand, sparks sprang as the man fought. "Just as I taught him Mizuki, a class you clearly missed!" he taunted.

Mizuki snorted. "You can give that class again in the afterlife Iruka, or perhaps you can teach the demon himself in hell if you like him that much!" he shouted, throwing a kunai with an explosive tag attached to it.

Naruto was trying to the heavily blushing girl off him while she tried to get off herself but the nearby explosion disorientated the pair again. He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his hand, and saw a piece of shrapnel sticking out. Blood spurting out around the wound. He bit through the pain and formed the hand seals for a shadow clone.

"You won't hurt Iruka sensei!" he shouted from his awkward position, his arms now holding the heavily blushing Hinata pinned against him, clones appearing around the pair who charged off to fight Mizuki.

Mizuki was forced back and knocked out, and Iruka watched him for a moment before he made his way next to the pair, smiling widely. "I knew you could do it" he spoke softly with kindness. He unbound his headband and put it into Naruto's hand. "I should have not doubted…" he was interrupted as he was kicked away by a monstrous looking Mizuki, who turned into some kind of tiger human hybrid.

With Iruka forced out of the way, Mizuki ran towards the teenagers, Naruto saw him coming, and in his panic started to go through the hand seals of the last jutsu he had read. Remembering the last part of the instruction, he slammed his bloody hand on the seal, forcing as much chakra into the seal as he could.

Ignoring the enflaming sensation as his chakra coils overloaded, a yellow lightning sprung from the seal, quickly forming a dome around the scrolls of seals and the pair of teenagers, before suddenly compressing. A final lightning roared out as it shot towards the heavens.

The first thing the pair of teenagers did after the roar, lightning and the sudden flip of gravity which plopped Naruto on top of Hinata was close their eyes by the sudden sunlight. They felt something bump into their sides and realizes they were on a slight slope.

After a minute of adjusting to the sudden sunlight the took in their surroundings, they were standing on a mountainside, overlooking a forested area with the sea glittering in the distance. If they could have looked longer they would have spotted a small fishing town but a voice interrupted them.

"Who are you!" a red-clad boy with brown hair demanded, his hands on the blades he carried on his sides. Beside him was a small group clad in variety of colors and holding their hands close to their own even more diverse set of weaponry.

"I am Uzumaki Naruto, and who are you and where are we?" Naruto replied 'elegantly'. The group gave him a baffled look at the second question.

Iruka sat against the tree trying to control his heartbeat and breathing as an ANBU patched his wounds with medical chakra. The fight against the transformed mad Mizuki had been grueling until the Hokage himself and his guard intervened. They had seen the lightning bolt shoot upwards to the very heavens themselves and used that to home on to him.

The Hokage waited patiently for the teacher to recover as he observed the scorched area as he tried to figure out what kind of jutsu from the scroll Naruto would be reckless enough to use that would leave these results.

The corpse of Mizuki already had been carted off for inspection and dissection, but the seal the man had used for his transformation reminded him eerily of the cursed seal Anko was forced to bear. He saw another group of searches finally show up and he waved them off with a gentle smile.

He was furious on the inside however, he had been overlooking the village trying to figure out what would push the loudmouthed boy he saw as a grandson to commit the crime. The boy had been through a lot due Hiruzen's own failings but he always stayed true to his own morals. Stealing something from the Hokage himself was enormously out of character for the boy.

He glanced towards the teacher and saw that the man had recovered well enough to report. "What happened." He asked sternly. The teacher launched into explaining the situation.

Naruto dived to the side as he barely cleared the area the massive thunderbolt had struck. "Hinata!" Naruto shouted to warn the girl as she also leapt to avoid the next strike from the oddly bulbous see through creature. Lightning coursed through its body as it turned around to focus its wrath on another member of the party who had just struck him with a fireball.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly as the pair got back to the feet. The girl gave him a nod before they shot forward again. Naruto's pair of blades started to glow softly as power build up within them while Hinata leapt into the air.

Hiruzen frowned at the end of the explanation. 'So he was desperate enough to be duped… yet that does not explain why the Hyuuga heiress was here.' He thought although he was pleased that Iruka considered the boy graduated from his display of using shadow clones.

Hiruzen felt like slapping the teachers over the academy for not recognizing that the boy containing a creature entirely made of chakra might have a bit too much stuff for techniques that didn't require a lot.

"That still does not explain what jutsu Naruto used to… escape the field of battle." He mused aloud. Iruka thought for a moment before hesitantly replying. "The scroll was opened around.. halfway?" he nodded to himself. "Both ends where about the same size." He said more confidently.

"Halfway hmm?" Hiruzen replied as he wished that he took his pipe with him as he turned around to gaze the scorched area. Hiruzen had perused what his successor in his short reign had added. It was not a lot. His eyes widened as he remembered Minato's next ambitious project as the supposedly functional seal he had written down.

"He managed to activate it?" Hiruzen asked aloud and puzzled. Drawing confused and worried glances from the surrounding ANBU as they wondered if the old man had finally lost it.

Naruto, Hinata and a woman all gazed skyward with the rest of the group. The group having grown substantially after since first meeting. They tracked the red clad boy soared towards the sky carried by two large wings. A girl dressed in white sprouted her own set as she launched herself after the boy towards a large closed floating green flower.

Together high in the sky they raised a massive purple blade and slashed its downward towards the seed. Energy exploded from the seed and it thundered downward towards the ground. It struck in a brilliant display of light blinding all those close by.

Unseen by all energy erupted and a woman merged with the soul entrapped within the seed. The roaring energy floated outward and gave the newly combined planet new life.

And it expulsed three foreign presences back to whence they came.

There was a massive flash of light and three figures stood upon the scorched ground. The lead figure was the most easily recognizable thanks to his blond hair, sky blue eyes and distinctive birthmarks. For all to see he was older and had grown substantially. Instead of the orange monstrosity he was known to wear he was now clad in loose burned red clothing. A nod to his favorite color was to see as the slightly open jacket revealed a bright orange shirt underneath. On his back was a large cylindrical object packed inside a sturdy covering. On his forehead was a battered Konoha headband, multiple scars of battle where clear to see on the steel.

He stopped looking skyward the moment he suddenly saw the night sky and immediately went for the two blades at his side. With a distinctive sound of drawn blades he took a guard position.

The ANBU snapped out of their stupor and leapt into the tree's and drew their own weapons as they went. Hiruzen took a few cautious steps backward and gently dragged the stunned Iruka with him as he watched in fascination. The flash of light and the subsequent appearance had tingled his senses, but it wasn't chakra what he felt.

The woman at the blonde's left had the distinctive whites eyes of the Hyuuga clan. Her dark blue hair flowed over her shoulders now. She was wearing a lavender jacket and dark blue pants, her lower legs where covered in solid metal greaves with small extrusions on them. She took a moment longer to recover before activating her bloodline without hand signs and taking an defensive position. The two ring shaped weapons on her sides where left untouched. Her headband hung around her neck and was in far better condition than the young man's.

The dark brown haired woman on the right was actually the most prepared of the party. She had sensed the incoming energy and its intent and had bundled her most distinctive feature, her nine tails into one thick tail behind her and tucked it upwards behind her long hair that fell all the way to her thighs. Her long red ears went flat against her head. Although her posture was tense she did not take a martial position, instead she started an incarnation under her breath should it come to blows.

She had all faith in the leader of their small party to defuse the situation. He managed to bring her down from her endless rage and actually argued on her behalf for her limited freedom.

"Jiji?" the blond spoke hesitantly as he saw a figure he never expected to see again. "Naruto?" Hiruzen replied equally puzzled. It was clear to him the boy had grown a great deal. If he had to guess he would say the boy had a hit a growth spurt and aged by two years, perhaps even three.

The blond boy lowered his two blades as he recognized Hiruzen and smoothly put them back into their sheaths. In the back of Hiruzen's mind the ease Naruto did that and the odd make of the blades was noted. "Jiji.. how long have we been gone?" Naruto asked.

Hiruzen made a subtle gesture with his hand to tell his ANBU the situation was safe. The few he could see slowly stowed their weapons back to the respective pouches and sheaths. Iruka was still stunned by the sudden change and startled out an answer after Hiruzen shot the poor man a sharp glance.

"About half an hour." The man said. Both Naruto's and Hinata's eyes widened at the news and shot each other and the unknown woman a glance. Hiruzen saw the non-verbal by play he decided to interject and get some answers. "Report." He asked in a stern tone causing both youngsters to stiffen while the woman looked amused.

He filed that odd reaction away into the growing pile of mysteries. He just hoped that the pile of mysteries could be stowed away like so many others Konoha had done over the years. Earlier this week they had a rather well connected yet corrupt man go on a 'vacation' for example.

"We went to another world and journeyed to save it and another one for.. two.. two and half years?" Naruto said after a moment of thought.

'Well there goes that hope.' Hiruzen thought sourly. Realizing that whatever journey the pair managed to get themselves onto was far too long to hear standing outside in the cold he spoke loudly. "Iruka get yourself checked at the hospital and treat what you heard as an A-rank secret only to be discussed with me." Iruka nodded and hobbled off after shooting one last look at Naruto.

"Tori, I want the strongest tea in my office in five minutes." Hiruzen added as an afterthought. Naruto tended to go overboard, but the boy clearly had outdone himself this time. "As for you three, Naruto, Hinata and…?" he left the last one open on purpose.

"Akane" The woman replied as she slightly relaxed and lost control of her flattened ears who sprung upright. Hiruzen gazed at the long pointy red ears for a moment before he decided he needed some strong stuff in his pipe to go with the tea.

"You three come with me to my office, you are going to explain me everything."

As the three set off at a normal pace Hiruzen noted the group tensed again as they moved silently through the forest. When they moved through the great gates of the city wall the group relaxed again. 'Why would they expect an ambush so close to Konoha?' Hiruzen asked himself, adding another question to the impressive pile.

Even as they moved through the sleepy Konoha now that the alarm was out again Hiruzen discreetly observed the three and the results surprised, confused yet also made him feel proud.

Naruto walked confidently through the streets. His stride showed no hesitation or the overabundance of energy the boy used to run around with. Even inside the city Hiruzen could clearly see that the young man kept a sharp gaze on his surroundings. The expression he wore still had traces of disbelief of the sudden return, but was otherwise content. The loneliness Hiruzen always saw in the eyes of the boy behind the loud mask he put was gone. Clearly the friendless boy had found some, perhaps even more as he took in the young Hyuuga woman.

Hiruzen was not unaware of the troubles that plagued the young Hyuuga heiress. Her situation was in ways just as lonely as Naruto. Instead of being enforced by the shortsightedness of the village population it was held strong by the girl's insecurities fed by her family. Now however those insecurities seemed to be gone and he spotted a short brush of hands by the pair as the girl shortly draw alongside Naruto.

He expected it to be ignored, and was surprised when the pair shortly held hands and looked at each other, in which Naruto gave a reassuring nod before they let go. Hiruzen briefly wondered if the girl would lay her head on Naruto's shoulder but they soon distanced from each other again.

The unknown woman, Akane was far, far harder to judge. She walked behind the pair and strode like there was nothing that could truly harm her. She smiled indulgently at the pairs interaction giving Hiruzen the suspicion it was something that happened more often, but not as often as the woman hoped.

Otherwise he could not tell much about the woman. Unlike Naruto and Hinata who both clearly had multiple types of weaponry on their person the closest he could find where the odd bell attachment to the red and white detached sleeves the woman wore. The bell appeared to be tied to a long string that wound itself around her upper arm to secure it. The clapper had a purple fluffy tail like decoration to it that was tied down by the cord, preventing the bells form ringing as the woman moved.

It worried him he could find out so little about her. Unlike most visitors the woman barely spared a glance towards the Hokage monument and observed her surroundings for threats, not to take in the sights. 'She can't have seen Konoha before… those fox like ears would have drawn a riot towards her yet she isn't surprised or intrigued.' Hiruzen thought worriedly.

They arrived at the Hokage tower and Hiruzen was pleased it was nearly empty. The few guards he spotted on the way up to his office where all people he was reasonably certain where only loyal to him and did not report to Danzo or the elder council. 'Or both of them.' He added sourly in his mind as he saw that Akane's ear's drew some attention.

The group entered the office and closed the door behind them. A burst of chakra triggered a multitude of seals to flare to life and the group to be isolated from the outside. With a nod that everything was in order Hiruzen turned towards Akane. "I belief a formal introduction is in order." He spoke kindly. "I am Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sandaime Hokage of Konoha." The woman gave a short bow. "I am Akana no Hono, I am summoned by and bound to Naruto."

Hiruzen glanced towards Naruto who kept an admirably poker face. But Hiruzen saw in Naruto's eyes there was more to it. His knee jerk reaction would involve the Kyuubi somehow, but he highly doubted the beast in any shape or form would be so polite.

"Summoned? Like a summon animal?" Hiruzen asked after a moment of thought. The woman glanced meaningfully towards the pair of youngsters who shook their heads after a moment of thought. Naruto spoke up. "A summon.. spirit connection is far more complex."

Hiruzen frowned at the lack of description and decided to cut out the issue for later so he could hear what happened to the pair. He needed to confirm something first however. "So she is loyal to you?" he asked. Naruto nodded. "She is." He confirmed. "Violating the contract set up by Origin between me and Naruto will have grave consequences for me." Akane added.

Hiruzen was puzzled for moment before he realized that 'Origin' was a name of sorts. Clearly somebody important for the spirits by the respect the woman clearly interjected in her voice when she spoke the name. "Very well." He spoke after his moment of thought. "Now then.. what happened after you used the jutsu from the forbidden scroll?"

And so Naruto launched into an explanation. Their arrival to the new world and their awkward and slightly distrustful meeting with the chosen's group. How they joined them and crossed the sea and clashed multiple times with the Desian's, elemental spirits and monsters as they journeyed through the lands of Sylvarant.

He learned of the cost upon the chosen in order to save world, the betrayal and truth around the revival process .He was surprised that Naruto was not joking when he said he travelled to another parallel world called Tethe'alla and how those two where bound by the chosen's journey. Even more bizarre was one of the methods you could travel between them. Hiruzen subtly double check there was no genjutsu placed on him to make him believe that the boy truly was not lying when he described the flying machines.

The story ended as they described how the group fought Mithos, both himself and in his monstrous machine. How they escaped the asteroid floating around the planet like a moon once connected to a tower that defied the laws of the world with its sheer size.

Hiruzen slumped slightly, he clearly had gotten the abridged version thanks to Akane prodding Naruto to stay on track instead of going into each minor detail but it still took over an hour. He released the seals on his office and send a subtle gesture with his hand. Signaling for the ANBU to execute the order he had prepared while the story was told.

"Well it appears the two of you went on quite an adventure." He summarized lamely. "But why haven't you tried to use the seal upon the scroll to return?" Naruto fidgeted for a moment. "It crossed my mind but with my blood on it I wasn't sure it would work and return us to Konoha instead of another, perhaps more dangerous place." He admitted. Hiruzen gave a short nod in understanding as he removed the scroll from its protective bag. It clearly looked like it had been carried around into battle, its edges that where unprotected by the hardened exterior showed signs of damage.

"You did well protecting the scroll… and although I understand why you revealed some of the contents to this Raine in the hopes to learn more about ninjutsu to help them, you did reveal classified information to somebody unaffiliated to Konoha."

Naruto cringed, although he was not the best student even he knew that heavy punishment would result from the action. Something he had knew when he had made the decision to ask Raine for help.

"However…" Hiruzen paused for dramatic effect and to confirm Naruto was aware of the consequences. "… you had to make a field decision and decided you needed more power to protect yourself and Hinata. The chances that the information would leak to those hostile to Konoha was beyond minimum from your perspective. So I will not punish you." He paused for a moment. "Unless you have reason to believe others from the group made it towards the elemental nations."

It was Akane who spoke up, although to quickly for Hiruzen's tastes. The woman.. summon spirit clearly had anticipated the question, like a few others he had around her binding to Naruto. "No, the only reason I was pulled along was because I am bound to Naruto." She once again gestured to the large green crystal on the center choker she wore. "The energy to revive the great tree purged all foreign elements, the rest of the group belonged to the newly united world."

Hiruzen conceded the argument with some hesitance, it all seemed a bit to convenient but he had no proof otherwise. And the spirit was far more attuned to that other world so perhaps she was right.

"Very well. Is there something you have missed during your explanation that is important to the safety of Konoha?" he asked. The group exchanged glances before shaking their heads in unison. "Very well, you are dismissed. Tomorrow at 10:00 is the team assignments in room 201. Even after such a long time you should remember where that is?" he asked. Hinata and Naruto nodded and stood up with Akane and left quietly.

He waited a few moments after they had left his office before he reengaged the seals. "Well?" he asked the shimmering patch near the book closet, revealing the form of Yamanka Inoichi. "I have completed my scans as they told the story despite how unbelievable it is." He paused for a moment. "It is completely true as far they are concerned.. I would never belief that a group of people could fight dragons or the other creatures they encountered if I had not glimpsed the memories myself."

Hiruzen nodded. "And their loyalty to Konoha?" he asked. Inoichi frowned slightly. "Hinata and Naruto are still loyal to Konoha despite their ordeal or long time away from it. Although Naruto's interaction with people without being judged as the fox made him more loyal to you sir, then to the ideal of Konoha."

Hiruzen sighed before he puffed his pipe to calm his nerves. He thought it over for a moment and decided he could not fault the young man for his thoughts. However Hiruzen was not blind to the pile of lies he shoveled towards the boy for his own safety. Some which would be released soon if they properly adjusted him for his age. He grimaced as he mentally went over the connections binding Naruto and knew they were dangerously short despite addition of Hinata.

"I will not fault him for those thoughts... as he is right about them. This does make him a flight risk however should something happen to me." Inoichi nodded in agreement, although a smack of distaste crossed his face at the reasons. "And this woman.. or summon spirit?" Hiruzen asked.

"I don't know." Inoichi admitted bluntly. Hiruzen blinked in surprise. "Why?" "Because she quickly became aware of my subtly intrusion… I only managed to find out that Akane is one of her names and that she it's a kitsune... a nine tailed one." Hiruzen froze for a moment. "How did she hide her tails then?" "Behind her hair and reinforced with a subtle genjutsu of sorts." Hiruzen rose an eyebrow at the explanation. "She was aware and showed me a few things in a way of explanation. She clearly wanted to separate herself from the Kyuubi."

"When they explained their meeting with Origin and the binding she showed me multiple things on how it was done and the costs from her and gains for Naruto from their bond. She never showed her own gains however." Inoichi explained.

"That is good." Hiruzen admitted after a moment of thought. "Then I suppose the coincidence is a unfortunate one, or perhaps the Kyuubi gave Naruto some sort of affinity towards foxes and kitsune. Thankfully she is aware of this and will not rile up the villagers too much. I fear what kind of power wields with the title of 'Blaze'" he finished with a grimace as he could already imagined the burned corpses of the villagers. Naruto was now aware that their behavior would be unacceptable everywhere else and would be less inclined to proof himself to them and protect them.

"She'll need to be watched, but if she is truly bound to Naruto and he gains the necessary bonds to keep him loyal to the village despite his distaste for the majority of villagers then all should be well." He reasoned and was glad Inoichi nodded in agreement. Hiruzen would have hated to execute Naruto and fail Minato in the worst way possible.

As Naruto and the group exited the Hokage tower they saw Hiashi approach from the distance. Naruto and Akane quickly seized up the man before effectively ignoring him. Hinata gaze lingered for a moment longer before she reaffirmed the words Raine and Regal had spoken to her when she explained the family situation.

Hiashi expertly hid his worry as he saw Hinata, or the young woman he was certainly was Hinata. Did he miss her grow up so suddenly he asked himself. 'Or is it related to the reason the Hokage suddenly called me?' he wondered as he walked past the group.

He couldn't help but wonder when his girl suddenly grew up. Yes, he saw her gaze but it was not the nervous and avoidant one she had the last time she spoke. He stride indicated she was confident and although he was aware of her improper crush on Konoha's demon container he was certain she did not act on it.

Now however he was walking far too close for comfort to the boy.. nay young man then his neglected paternal instincts liked but acting on those now was unwise. He briefly wondered who the woman was with the odd fox like ears on top her head. 'A prank of sorts?' he wondered. She was walking next to Konoha's resident prank prince.

When he reached the Hokage's office and got a quickly summarized version of what happened he could not believe his ears, yet it explained the changes.

'Was it truly needed to lie to the old man?' Naruto asked in his mind as the group was halfway his apartment. 'Yes.' Akane replied sternly. 'They would have attacked me upon hearing I am the Kyuubi and would attempt to disperse this form, or worse experiment on me.' Naruto cringed at the second option, the labs the chosen's group had seen in the Desian's bases where not pretty.

'Do not worry Naruto. I even distracted the mind walker when you recited that fictional bit of the story.' Akane reassured him. 'Mind walker?' Naruto yelped back. Akane laughed softly to Hinata's confusion before she realized the pair had a mental conversation. "Everything is alright Naruto, trust me." Akane spoke softly. Naruto was conflicted for a moment. "I trust you Akane." He replied.

"What do you think they will do with us?" Hinata asked as they ascended the stairs to Naruto's apartment. "They won't split us up." Naruto said with some confidence. "Jiji knows we have been working together for over two years, no way he is tearing that apart." Hinata smiled at the logic and nodded.

They entered their apartment and Akane's expression instantly turned displeased. Naruto sensed the danger as he saw his.. pig stall and he suddenly remembered that he wasn't that most organized or clean person before the journey. He felt his ear taken in a firm grip as Akane ground out his name. "Mercy." Naruto whimpered. Hinata's shy giggling at his situation did not help.

Ten minutes later thanks to a quick clone cleaning crew Akane deemed the apartment livable again as Naruto nursed his red ear. As Akane searched through Naruto's limited food supply to find something she could cook with Hinata, Naruto left to his bathroom to freshen up.

Akane managed to find enough for a basic dish by the time Naruto was done. "You girl take the bed, I'll sleep on the couch." Naruto spoke. The group had visited enough ins, churches or other places that did not enough beds that usually led to the men taking the slightly less comfortable sleeping places. "Oh, you don't want to share the bed with Hinata-chan?" Akane teased and delighted herself in the blushes the managed to get. "Or perhaps sleep with two beautiful ladies?" she pushed further as she leaned forward to give Naruto a good view down.

Naruto blushed more fiercely as he turned away his head not to fall for the trap. Akane blissfully ignored Hinata's outraged cry as she stood back up and stopped hiding her tails behind her hair and unfurled them. She stretched provocatively to try and lure out another reaction but she saw it had no effect. "I hope I don't have to hide my tails for too long." She said with a frown. Now she could relax she noticed how stiff they were.

Naruto scowled. "Even if you saved the village by fighting yourself one on one they will hate you." He spoke bitterly. When Akane 'joined' them at the end of the journey people where weary of her appearance but never showed any hostility or discrimination like the half-elf's suffered.

"Naruto-kun." Hinata said softly as she hugged him. "I know Hinata." He replied as he hugged back. The pair ignored the cooing sounds Akane made in her attempt to embarrass the pair again. Naruto released Hinata and spoke with a smile. "Off to bed then, tomorrow we will learn who our sensei is." The pair of woman nodded.

As the lights went out and they all laid down Naruto couldn't help but wonder out loud. "How do you think everybody else is doing?" "I am sure they are fine Naruto." Akane spoke soothingly. "Once they notice we are gone Raine will figure out why, and otherwise pacted spirits will tell Sheena." Naruto frown was unseen. He had enjoyed the journey despite the hardships, and he wasn't sure if he was happy to back.

Hiruzen was glad he had ordered his ANBU to get Kakashi before he gave Hiashi a barebones explanation to what happened to his daughter. The night was not getting any younger, nor was he himself. So by the time he was done Kakashi was successfully dragged from whatever hole he hides when he wastes other people time by coming late.

"We have a rather unique problem suddenly with the teams due events tonight." Hiruzen started off as he gave a short explanation how Naruto and Hinata suddenly aged. "Due his long time away from Konoha and proper interaction with other people Naruto is aware of the extend of his mistreatment." He saw the assortment of soon to be jonin sensei nod in understanding. "Thus he is now considered a flight risk should the citizens of Konoha continue their foolishness." He saw Kakashi bit his lip under his mask to protest.

"Because of this, and the addition of Akane I am shuffling the teams." Another set of nods, some wore looks of unhappiness at the chance of their 'perfect' team being ruined. "Naruto will be removed from team 7 as otherwise Kakashi would have to deal with two flight risks." Kakashi shot Hiruzen a foul glare, he had asked for Naruto at an attempt to repent himself for his failures to his teacher. Hiruzen never admitted that Naruto was Minato's son, but Kakashi was no fool unlike seemingly the rest of Konoha.

Leaving Sasuke with only the theory about the eyes he was taught before his clan was destroyed would severely hinder the boy's growth, and despite his vengeful attitude Konoha needed the Uchiha clan to restore itself. To ensure the chance of the children Sasuke would eventually willingly or unwillingly father to have the sharingan, he would need to unlock the eyes himself first.

Ignoring Kakashi's foul look Hiruzen ploughed onward. "Inuzuka Kiba will replace him. Aburame Shino will be pulled out of squad 8 and will join the internal security forces. Uzumaki Naruto and Akane will join squad 8 to round out the team again."

Yuki Kurenai blinked in confusion. "Sir, would it not be better if a flight risk like Naruto would be assigned to a more senior jounin like Asuma or Raido?" she asked. "Do you dislike Naruto for what he contains Jounin Yuhi?" Hiruzen asked sharply. She barely managed to hide her flinch at his tone before responding. "No Hokage-sama."

She was proud of herself she did not start sweating or fidgeting under the intense gaze Hiruzen gave her for a moment before relenting. "Very well. Despite Naruto's flight risk and his nature I do not want any of you to make special efforts to befriend or train him. His experiences with Mizuki might make him more weary of those efforts." He was greeted by another round of nods and an increasingly foul glare from Kakashi. "Everybody but Kurenai is dismissed." He watched the jounin file out.

After he was alone with Kurenai he observed her momentarily before speaking. "Are you still wondering why I assigned you?" Kurenai nodded. "Naruto and Hinata have both gone on a long ordeal together in those two years and clearly bonded closely. Hinata suffered from isolation herself due her family, but you are more aware of that then I am." Kurenai nodded again with a dour expression for a moment.

"Should Naruto decide it is worth losing my respect to longer have to deal with Konoha's hatred there is a good chance Hinata will consider leaving with him." He grimaced. "I would not blame him for that, however we both have our duty to the village." Kurenai also grimaced but nodded relunctantly. "You are the only one outside the Hyuuga family I am certain the girl has good bond with. I hope you can use that to gain Naruto's trust and make him belief again in the will of fire."

"I understand Hokage-sama." Kurenai said after a moment of thought. "But what will I teach them, if they fought a lot during this two and half year ordeal there clearly above genin now." Hiruzen made a sound of agreement. "Indeed, but their skills as ninja might have declined, from what I managed to understand they fought mostly non-human opponents. Should their skills still be acceptable, expand upon the basics." He thought for a moment before an idea hit him. "Naruto uses swords, I am giving you a blank card to call in any other jonin on non-critical duties to assist you teaching him and Hinata on my authority. This will hopefully give him more people to have positive relation with. I trust you use this responsibly"

Kurenai blinked at the unprecedented allowance but understood the logic. This was the first time Konoha had to deal with a demon container and it would tarnish the image of the village if it were known Konoha's container was an outcast like the containers of Iwa and Taki. Or worse that Naruto defected to another hidden village for better treatment.

"Understood, what about this…. Akane?" Hiruzen grimaced. "She is a summon spirit. She is different than a summon contract we use. She is a nine tailed Kitsune but I am certain she is not the Kyuubi we know." He added quickly as he saw the alarmed expression on Kurenai's face. "Like in the legends she used a genjutsu to hide her tails so she is capable of that, otherwise her title and the few descriptions of the major battles she participated in indicates she uses this fire magic. Different then the Katon jutsu we use." He paused for a moment in thought. "I suspect she is far older than you and I despite her looks, so she might resist your authority." He warned.

"Document anything you can about her abilities without forcing it out of her, this bond she has to Naruto makes her important to him and any forceful push we do to learn more might drive the young man away. Do the same about anything you learn about their journey despite how fantastical it seems." He finished. Kurenai mentally filled away the orders and wondered what she had gotten herself into.

"Understood Hokage-sama."

AN: This fic draws inspiration from Gungnir by Ryvaken Lucius Tadrya for the introductory phase. It will leave that fic's track and the will most likely loosely follow the canon one. Since with the groups new abilities stuff.. will go different.

Hono = Blaze

This fic will update whenever I feel like I got a ready chapter for it.