"Normal Person Talking"

'Normal Person Thinking'

"Summons Talking"

'Summons Thinking'

Flashback/ Mini-Flashback


A Different Path

Chapter 1: The Mask Falls

Naruto was not furious that Kakashi denied him training, but even worse he was sad and nearly broken inside, the person he probably trusted the most after Hokage-jiji betrayed him and for whom - one ungrateful ass known as Uchiha Sasuke.

But before leaving he gave him a piece of his mind-


Naruto was in shock that Kakashi denied him training but before Kakashi could take his plan further by giving Naruto to Ebisu, Naruto suddenly chuckled darkly and started to laugh maniacally.

His laughter died down as he looked Kakashi in the eye and said 3 words that broke the man from inside.

"WORSE THAN TRASH"

After which Naruto left not even sparing a glance at Kakashi who was on his knees and crying.

He had only one thought in mind 'Oh Kami I have failed again, first Obito then Rin then Minato-sensei then Naruto as a kid and now Naruto as his Jonin Sensei.'


Naruto went to a training ground along a river and a waterfall and leaned on a tree and closed his eyes to sleep.


Jiraiya was now searching the training grounds for his godson; he decided to research a little before going peeping and was now found here. He went to his peeping spot near a waterfall and saw his godson there with eyes closed and crying silent tears.

His heart wrenched and decided to go confront and comfort him.

He tapped Naruto's shoulder who opened his eyes and wiped his tears to look at him and widened his eyes. He smiled a little but it was a completely forced and fake smile as Jiraiya could tell and said "Jiraiya-sama, what do you need of me?"

Jiraiya blinked, wondering why he was not given a nickname and replied "I came here and say you crying gaki, care to share what happened as according to the Hokage and my spies, you are always happy" and sat beside Naruto waiting for an explanation.

Naruto sighed and replied "It's a mask Jiraiya-sama and I recently had my trust broken again like it has always happened."

Jiraiya hummed and said "Let me guess, you were declined training from your so-called sensei and now you think that he is another demon hater."

Naruto looked at Jiraiya in surprise and nodded while wanting to ask the unasked question.

Jiraiya replied "It happened all the times with me, so I can understand your pain."

Naruto nodded and looked down again while he remembered something, he stood up and asked "Jiraiya-sama, can you remove this Gogyo Fuin (5 Pronged Seal) please?"as he removed his jumpsuit and mesh shirt beneath and channeled his chakra to reveal the Hakke no Fuin Shiki (8 Trigrams Sealing Style).

Jiraiya was shocked by Naruto's knowledge in seals but given his heritage, he chuckled inwardly. He studied the Yondaime's Seal and he had to say one thing, it was a piece of art, but he soon saw the other seal over it which was made to weaken Naruto and his chakra control and make his chakra go haywire.

He hummed and said "I heard that you met my old teammate Orochimaru in the second stage of the Exams, I take it is his work."

Naruto nodded and replied "I can also remove it but using a Shadow Clone for this is dangerous as if he dispels mid-way, I don't know what will happen to the seal."

Jiraiya nodded and said "You have a vast knowledge of seals for a Genin or a Shinobi for that matter and the fact that you taught it to yourself is praiseworthy."

Naruto uncomfortably shifted which caught Jiraiya's eye, outside, he began to unseal the seal but on the inside, he made a point to give his sensei a beatdown that was worse than what Tsunade had given him the time he peeked on her. Naruto was not familiar with getting praise and it was very bad for a child of only 12 years.

Jiraiya then decided to help Naruto a little. He surveyed the Fuin Shiki with his Right Index finger and made a certain pattern, soon, Naruto felt some changes in his Chakra and decided to ask Jiraiya about it.

Naruto put on his jumpsuit and asked "What did you do with my seal Jiraiya-sama?"

Jiraiya chuckled and replied "I did nothing more than stealing a bit of Kyuubi's powers, you would have noticed the seal and its function if I am sure."

Naruto nodded as Jiraiya continued "Currently your seal just takes the Kyuubi's chakra and filters it for you, but I stole the Kyuubi's high affinity for Katon and Futon, I can steal more of its abilities but for that, I have to weaken the seal, which I am sure is not the right thing to do for now."

Naruto nodded and smiled and said "Arigato Jiraiya-sama."

Jiraiya nodded and said "But for now, let's go to the real business."

Naruto looked confused as Jiraiya said "I want to train you and make you my apprentice."

Naruto was wide-eyed and his mouth was slightly agape, despite his shocked state Jiraiya continued "Sarutobi-sensei has given orders and there are many other things I have to discuss."

Naruto nodded and tears were brimming in his eyes, he wiped them off and said with full determination "Of course Jiraiya-sensei, I will not make you regret that, I will be even better than your previous disciple and you will be renowned as the person to train two of the greatest Hokages in Konoha's history."

Jiraiya for a moment thought he was looking at a young Minato with the confidence of Kushina and smiled.

He then thought it would be best for him to tell Naruto about him being his godfather.

Naruto was baffled and a little bit angry bit after listening to Jiraiya's reasons about Orochimaru, Akatsuki and the guilt and pressure, he forgave him and hugged him tightly.

Naruto separated from Jiraiya and said "Well, I can't call you Jiraiya-sensei or Jiraiya-sama, now can I, so your new name is … Ero-sennin."

Jiraiya fell on his face on the ground as he remembered another Uzumaki call him that.

Afterwards Naruto said "Ero-sennin, please tell me about my parents."

Jiraiya quickly shook his head and said "Sorry Naruto, I can't tell you that but I can tell you that …"

"That they were great ninja, died in Kyuubi attack, made enemies and blah blah, tell me something I don't know" interjected Naruto.

Jiraiya looked baffled but before he could say anything Naruto said in a sad tone "They say that if your parents are dead and you know their name, they didn't abandon you but if you don't know their name, they abandoned you.

"I don't have anything. Sasuke's Sharingan means he can learn whatever super awesome technique Kakashi is gonna teach him instantly! And Neji's got that Juken Taijutsu that he gets from his family and it's just…"

Naruto trailed off, but a deep frown had already settled across Jiraiya's face as the sun set in the distance.

"I just…I feel like everyone's just had all these cool moves and secret techniques just given to them growing up, and I'm just left picking up the scraps or stealing something." Naruto, having seemingly voiced the weighing angst in his body, leaned back on the river, resting his hands behind his head and stared up at the sky. Jiraiya's expression remained unchanging, but his eyes grew distant and guilty.

"So please, tell me anything you know about my parents to ease my pain."

Jiraiya could not hold it any longer he hugged Naruto and shed tears with him. He thought 'Sensei said that if anyone knew of Naruto's Heritage, Iwa would be up in arms, so what should I do.'

But then he had a brilliant idea and he had a smug smirk on his face. He separated from Naruto and said "Sensei said that if anyone knew of your Heritage, Iwa would be up in arms but that would be if they got to know."

Naruto himself realized that idea and smirked and motioned for Jiraiya to continue.

Jiraiya then said "First things first, you will not interrupt me and ask any questions after I am done."

Naruto nodded and Jiraiya told him about his mother first and some of her tales along with his birth events.

Naruto was never more happy, he had a caring mother who happened to be the 'Akai Chishio no Habanero.'

Then Jiraiya told him about his father, at first Naruto was a little bit angry but considering his father's circumstances, he understood and promised to continue both of their legacies.

Naruto then asked Jiraiya "Where are the scrolls and other things they left me?"

Jiraiya replied "Everything is in your parents' house-the Uzumaki Compound and the monument of your father, though they gave me a few elemental manipulation scrolls and jutsu scrolls just in case but your Highly Advanced Uzumaki Fuinjutsu material and your father's notes of the Rasengan and the Hiraishin are in the compound. In your father's head is his library of scrolls along with formal Kimonos representing the Uzumaki Clan and an armory."

Naruto had stars in his eyes and was very thankful to his parents for all of this. He recovered and said "I think after the exams, it would be good to take those items back."

Jiraiya nodded and said "Well, it's late today, I think you should come tomorrow at 5 a.m to start your training for the month, Konoha won't know what hit them after the month."

Naruto nodded and hugged Jiraiya one more time before going back to his house to get ready for the month.


The Next Day

Naruto arrived at 5 a.m and saw Jiraiya also arriving, approached him and said "Well, sensei, what would be my schedule for the month."

"Do you know the Kage Bunshin's special ability?" asked Jiraiya.

Naruto nodded and replied "Yes, but I had nothing to do and nothing to study from."

Jiraiya frowned and continued "Well, first we will take your elemental affinity test, you have Katon and Futon from the Kyuubi but if I am right, you can also have Suiton and Raiton as they were your parents' affinities."

Naruto looked confused as Jiraiya elaborated "Affinities are passed from parents, it's a rare chance that someone develops an affinity for an element which was not related to their parents, that's why all of the Uchiha Clan members had either a primary or secondary Katon affinity and the Sarutobi Clan members have either Doton or Katon as one of their affinities."

Naruto nodded as Jiraiya handed him a Chakra Paper. Naruto poured his Chakra into the paper and both of them were shocked as the paper split into 4 pieces, one piece shredded into small bits, the second one burned to nothing but ash, the third one got so wet that it disintegrated and the last one crinkled to show that Naruto has all the affinities except Doton.

Jiraiya whistled and said "Well, you have strong Katon, Suiton and Futon affinities and a regular Raiton affinity. Sensei was not joking when he called you the No. 1 Unpredictable Ninja."

Naruto grinned and said "Well, I also have a moniker to live up to."

Jiraiya chuckled and said "Well Naruto, I want you to make 80 clones who will work. 10 each will work on your affinities, 20 will focus on jutsu and cutting down hand-signs, while 20 other will work with my 5 clones to make two special seals. While your clones will be doing this, you will work on speed, endurance and physical training along with Taijutsu, Fuinjutsu and Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique) with me every day along with some breaks."

Naruto nodded as he made 80 clones, Jiraiya rose his eyebrows amusement and made 5 of his clones, he then said "I want 10 of you to take a leaf and cut it with just your chakra, if you have any problem, take this scroll, this has the first exercise and it's details" as he threw a scroll to a group of 10 clones who went to do as asked.

He then told 2 other groups to burn a leaf and crinkle a leaf with their chakra and gave them the respective scrolls.

He then turned to the group for Suiton manipulation and told them to reverse the flow of water in a river for minimum 15 minutes with their chakra and gave them their scroll.

He then turned to the group for jutsu practicing and said "First I want you to practice making hand-signs with speed and sense how your chakra moulds when you make a specific seal, after one week, I will give you your scrolls."

They nodded and left to practice making hand-signs and studying, he then turned to the last group and said "I want you to work with my clones here to figure out a seal to nullify the Byakugan and the Sharingan, it would be very helpful and I personally think that you are a lower Level 9 Seal Master, I myself am a Level 9 borderline level 10 seal master, we can figure this out."

They nodded and left, Jiraiya then turned to Naruto and said "Well, first I want you to sign this" as he removed the Toad Summoning contract from his back on unrolled it in front of Naruto.

Naruto started jumping and excitedly signed the Toad Contract with his blood.

Jiraiya put the scroll back on and said "Now, I want you to take your blood, do these handsigns and put enough chakra to summon a decent toad."

Naruto took his blood from his thumb which he pricked for the contract, did the hand-signs and slammed his hand on the ground "Kuchiyose no Jutsu."

A seal array appeared on the ground followed by a large poof of smoke, when the smoke cleared, there was a Toad twice as large as Jiraiya standing in front of Naruto and Jiraiya, Jiraiya was again amused and shocked as Naruto on his first try summoned a decent-sized toad whom he could ride on.

The Toad saw Jiraiya and Naruto and said "Jiraiya-sama, why have you summoned me?"

Jiraiya shook his head and said "It was not me Gama, it was the new summoner, Naruto here who summoned you."

Naruto waved and smiled making his presence known and said "Yes, Gama-san, I summoned you as sensei gave me the contract to sign."

Gama nodded and replied "No problem, it's great you summoned someone as big as me on you first try, try to pour more chakra to summon our boss, he would like meet a new summoner after all, a piece of advice, keep sake with you and treat all toads with respect especially, Gamabunta-sama and Shima-sama and never call her old."

Naruto saw Jiraiya shuddering decided to take Gama's advice. He thanked Gama who poofed away back to Myobokuzan.

He took out a storage scroll and took out 5 sake bottles and saw Jiraiya with a questioning look in his eyes. He elaborated "No, I don't drink sake, just keep it for bargains with some people and sometime for a special occasion."

Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief, after all, he did not need another blonde, Senju-related, sake-obsessed person in his life.

Naruto kept the sake bottles with himself and decided to summon another time with more chakra than before.

He summoned again and this time a large Toad came out with a smoking pipe in his mouth.

Jiraiya's eyes were the size of saucers while Gamabunta was also wondering as to how the new summoner summoned him so quickly, he saw a kid in front of eyes and nearly shouted Minato out of his mouth.

He looked around and said "Who are you Gaki and where is Jiraiya?"

Naruto stood up and answered "I am the new summoner, Uzumaki Naruto and sensei is down there" as he pointed towards the ground where Jiraiya had a proud smile on his face.

Gamabunta widened his eyes and thought 'Minato's Gaki' as he asked "You are the one who summoned me?"

Naruto nodded and unsealed some sake bottles, Gamabunta had a gleam in his eyes as Naruto opened one bottle and said "Care for a drink, Gamabunta-sama."

Gamabunta happily nodded as drank all the sake Naruto had and made him an official Toad Summoner.

When Naruto got down, he saw Jiraiya drawing circles on the ground and sulking while saying something like Toads and Blonde Gakis being friends.

Then Naruto and Jiraiya went to training, Jiraiya first put the resistance seals on his arms and legs and decided to put the gravity seal later because of Naruto's physical state.

He made Naruto run for the entire week until he got acquainted with his seals.


By the end of the month, Naruto was a lot better than before. Even grew a few inches because of the diet changes. He was currently in his house reading 'The Tales of an Utter Gutsy Shinobi.'

He was resting as tomorrow was the Exam Day and he wanted to be in top form to kick Neji's ass and spit in face of Sasuke.

Over the month, he learnt basic elemental manipulation, he was able to cut the leaf by the end of the 3rd week and burn it mid-way the 4th week. He was able to reverse the flow of water for 12 minutes, so in Jiraiya's and his eyes, he had still not completed the first stage of Suiton manipulation.

His Raiton manipulation was also completed while he learnt the basics of the Kawazu Kumite (Frog Katas), Jiraiya said that to continue this style, he had to master Senjutsu first, when Naruto asked about Senjutsu, Jiraiya said that he would tell him about that during the Training Trip as Senjutsu was least used and most dangerous shinobi art.

He learnt few jutsus of his elements and was able to do them with a few less seals.

He and Jiraiya also made two separate seals to block the Byakugan and the Sharingan and had them on his Left and Right hand respectively.

He was on the level 2 of resistance seals and his Chakra control was also much better than before.

During that time, Jiraiya got updated as Lower Level 10 seal master and Naruto himself got his certification as Middle Level 9 Seal Master.

Naruto still remembered when Jiraiya called him Minato when he wore his new clothes and got new supplies.


Naruto and Jiraiya walked into the weapons shop Jiraiya told him about started to look for clothes, after looking for a few minutes, he got into the changing room and came out.

Jiraiya was wide-eyes and his mouth was slightly agape and whispered "Minato."

Naruto was wearing a Black Konoha Full-sleeve undershirt, Black Shinobi pants tucked into black boots, He wore a red glazy cloak going to his ankles along with black fingerless metal-plated gloves.

He had his Kunai and Shuriken pouch on his right thigh. A pouch on his left hip which had explosive tags, paralysis seals, chakra suppression seals and some Fuka Hoin(Fire Suppression Seal).

He had a pouch on his right hip which had two scrolls which contained extra Kunai and Shuriken respectively. 200 m long Ninja wire and 20 smoke bombs.

His Kunai were special chakra-conductive ones for him to channel his elemental chakra.

He paid for the items and found the owner to be a good man who did not hate him. When he first looked at Naruto, he also widened his eyes but quickly recovered.

Naruto then found out that he was Tenten's father and asked Tenten's opinion on Neji and Lee.

He replied "She is just like Neji, she says that you are a dead-last will never beat Neji because he was the Rookie of the Year."

Naruto chuckled which covered the sound of Tenten coming through the door and replied "If I am right, then her idol is Senju Tsunade, right."

The man nodded as they failed to notice Tenten standing and listening to their conversation.

Naruto continued "Well, Tsunade was the Kunoichi of the Year and Jiraiya was the dead-last, now I think everyone knows who is the most powerful and loyal member of the Sannin and who is roaming the nations as a drunken bitch and wasting her money."

Before anyone could say anything, he spoke "Neji may be more powerful but he is not a better ninja, at least Lee doesn't say that it is not his fate to become a ninja because he can't use chakra. At least he accepts it and motivates himself to work harder and what about Neji, if his fate is to protect the Main Family, then why did he try to kill Hinata, who he is supposed to protect, wasn't he himself trying to change his own fate."

Naruto took 5 sets of his clothes and shunshined out of the shop along with Jiraiya leaving Tenten to think for herself.


Another interesting event happened when he awoke his ability to use Kongo Fusa (Adamantine Sealing Chains).


Naruto was being beaten down by Jiraiya who was making Naruto observe and fight at the same time to grow his instincts and experience, suddenly when Jiraiya was about to land a punch on Naruto's face, two golden coloured chains came from his torso and protected him.

The shock on his and Jiraiya's face was evident. He then learnt that his ability will grow overtime and the chains will also grow strong, he could currently manifest 2 chains at a time to help him.


Naruto smirked and just had one thought in mind 'They won't know what hit them.'


A/N: Sorry for being gone without updates, Rokudaime story will be updated tomorrow.