Welcome back folks to chapter six of this story and I must day i like where this story is going. Sorry for the long update but was dealing with two deaths in the family very sad, had to go all the way to Alabama for a funeral. SO needless to say I was a bit busy, but coming back I've been ultra productive..or so I'd like to say but getting back into a normal schedule is stressful. Anyways here's chapter six hope you enjoy.

Ch 6 - A Hyuga in the making.

Two months into the school year had gotten everyone into a routine of sorts. Naruto would wake up early with Iruka and accompany him to the academy, were he would usually be the first to class. Soon after he arrived Hinata would come in, and Naruto made a habit to ask her to sit next to him, it was a giant help for her stutter and confidence. She was quickly becoming the the top kunoichi in class, easily surpassing the fangirls like Sakura and Ino. Naruto himself seemed to grow immensely as he started getting into his training which he did after school, with which he also made a habit of inviting Hinata.

Not only was she an amazing offensive fighter, which easily tested the limits of Naruto's kenjutsu, where he often ended up partially paralyzed on his back, her byakugan made Naruto's chakra control training supremely effective. The improvements were noticeable in class's regular sparring sessions, were Sasuke made it a personal note to challenge Naruto. And most of their spars were more evenly matched, because Sasuke didn't underestimate Naruto. Right now they were tied 7 to 8, and the class usually made a bet. If Naruto could hold onto his blade for the first part of the clash then normally he won, but if Sasuke could remain on the offensive and catch Naruto off guard then he'd win.

And when it came to Hinata, she had to be brought up to the male bracket, as the rest of the females in the class were sorely lacking. Though it did give Iruka reason enough to push the ladies harder. After their conversation, Mizuki didn't show his face around the school for an entire week, Iruka was just starting to look for replacements when Mizuki showed up for class one day.

'I took what you said into consideration Iruka-san. I still don't want to believe I've been hating an innocent kid for this long, but I'm willing to see if i was wrong.'

Since then Mizuki had fully stepped into his role as taijutsu instructor. Even going so far as to give Naruto some pointers with his kenjutsu. Mizuki was also adamant about making Sasuke work with other students, not caring if the boy didn't feel like it. He would often set up team matches, 3 vs 3, so the kids would get used to their future teams.

Sasuke for his part was quieter than normal, not boisterous, his thoughts keeping him inward. And most disturbing they were often about a certain infuriating blond. He had gone to civilian records, asking about Naruto only to learn that for some reason his were sealed at the highest order. All he could figure out was that the dobe was born the same day the Yondaime Hokage killed the nine tailed fox, October Eleventh. That was it, that and also everyone had a chip on their shoulder when it came to him.

It was infuriating, Sasuke was used to getting any piece of information he wanted, but not even the people of the council would tell him, they were all tight lipped about it. What was so special about Naruto, it had people scared to death? 'I will find out you fool!'

Life progressed after that, up until Naruto's first visit with Hiruzen that is...

Naruto was sitting in the grass just staring at the intimidating tower which housed the most powerful figure in the Country of Fire. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Naruto remembered Hiruzen's funeral. Seeing Konohamaru cry into Asuma's shoulder, he could remember the nights he stayed up, wishing for Hiruzen to come back, because no one else cared like he did. Naruto chuckled, back then he would have given anything to speak to Hiruzen for any number of minutes, and now that he had all the time in the world, he didn't know what he'd say.

'Hey old man I'm from the future and I know the exact day and circumstances in which you die. Yeah that's a quick way to a looney bin, and a Yamanaka psychiatrist appointment.' He could see Hiruzen, standing at the window puffing on his pipe, watching over the city. 'I wonder if I can convince him to give me access to my family estate...the Namikaze family legacy. I remember Kakashi telling me how all of dad's work was hidden in one giant library. Hiruzen took the information of how to get in with him when he died, so I never really worried about claiming it.'

Naruto stood up, and walked to the door 'well I could always try this...'

Hiruzen had hired a new secretary, a young brunette Chunin. She saw Naruto approached and gave him a distasteful glare. "oh what do you want brat?"

Naruto returned the glare, "I'm here to see Ji-san."

"The Lord Hokage is currently in a meeting brat. He's busy and will probably be busy for the rest of the afternoon. Come back later, or even better stay away. The Hokage is a busy man and doesn't make time for the likes of you."

Naruto just waved her off and proceeded past her "Hey! You can't go in there! I said the Hokage's a busy man!" She had just stood up to stop Naruto, when he flung open the Kage's door, his face turned to see what the commotion was. Of course his office was empty save for the old man himself. Though he was not surprised to see the disturbance was Naruto, in fact he smiled happy for the distraction from the mountain of paper work on his desk.

"Ah Naruto my boy how good to see you, it's alright Clara I'll deal with this, you go back to your duties. And please close the door behind you Naruto."

Naruto did as asked, grinning at the infuriated Chunin. He closed the door and turned towards Hiruzen and smiled "Hey Ji-san it's been awhile since we talked."

Hiruzen motioned towards the empty seat in front of his desk and sat down. "You're right Naruto, it has been some time. I am glad to see you've revised you're choice of clothing, and surprised to see you've picked up the way of the blade."

"Yeah it was all Iruka's idea actually. He wanted me to have my own edge when it came to fighting the clan heirs, and I've been training with Hinata recently, it's been a big help."

Hiruzen gave a big smile "I''m glad to see you making friends among your peers Naruto, I've read Iruka's reports about you're astonishing growth in class."

Naruto gave a dry chuckle "it's amazing what one can do when their not being hindered and sabotaged by their teachers."

"Yes Iruka has also expressed concerns about that, I am sorry Naruto at how stunted your growth has been."

Naruto waved the old man off "It's fine Ji-san, you're the Hokage. You can't keep up with my every move at every point in time. It's not your fault."

"You are correct of course, but it still makes me sad that my own villagers would stoop so low. But that is besides the point, what brings you here today?"

Naruto was quiet for a second before "I want to know..is Kushina Uzumaki my mother?"

Hiruzen froze for a split second, in just one brief moment, his eye narrowed "tell me how you came to that conclusion Naruto?"

"Well Ji-san, you know I've always wanted to know about my family, you wouldn't tell me so I went to public records and found that after the destruction of Uzushiokagure a single Uzumaki came to the Leaf, a Kushina Uzumaki. Her records after that are sealed, as she apparently became a ninja. So I looked up the archives of deceased ninja, and found out she was killed during the Kyuubi attack, the day I was born. I know it's not a lot but its the most I found, so I was hoping maybe she was my mother? Because if that's not true than why am I Naruto Uzumaki?"

It was the look in his eyes that broke Hiruzen, a small boy who was just looking for answers to a question he had been asking for as long as he'd been able to ask it. He gave a long sigh and sat back. "Yes Naruto, Kushina Uzumaki was your mother, and before you ask yes there is a reason this knowledge was hidden from you. When she was young, the Hidden Cloud Village tried to kidnap her for her line of Uzumaki heritage, and I feared the same fate would befall you if the two of you were ever officially connected."

Naruto gave a confused look "I'm sorry what do you mean by 'her line of Uzumaki Heritage?'"

"You see in the Uzumaki clan there were some who had a blood line limit, much like the Inuzuka and their companionship with ninken hounds or the Akimichi with their body inflation technique. The Uzumaki could manipulate chakra to create chains that could seal another persons chakra completely . Though it was rare among the Uzumaki Kushina did indeed posses this bloodline, although it's a mystery on whether or not she passed it on to you my boy. Anyways, I kept it a secret so that Kumo would not come after you, for should you know who you're mother is than you have all rights to make it public."

Naruto looked at the ground, feigning deep contemplation. He knew this already, Kakashi and Tsunade had explained all of that to Naruto. So he wasn't mad, but he was trying to think how would Naruto have handled this information when he was actually still in the academy? "Does that mean you know who my father is?" This was the moment he was waiting for, the body of an eleven year old and the mind of an eighteen year old, but dammit he wanted to hear Hiruzen say it, like he was a little kid again.

"That is not a question I'm going to answer at this point in time Naruto, and I am sorry. To know who your father is, is to learn certain truths about yourself and him, and I don't think you're ready for that yet."

'He probably means how dad sealed Kurama into me.' Naruto clenched his fists and looked down "But that's not fair Ji-san!"

"You are right Naruto, it's not fair, but it is for your safety. To take his name is to take his enemies, and trust me when I say he had many who were powerful."

"And when will you tell me then Ji-san!"

Hiruzen smiled "Well Naruto it was either when you became a chunin or if you decided not to become a ninja when you were sixteen. But how about this then, at the end of the year, if you pass and become a ninja I will hold a test for you. If you pass then I will tell you, if you fail then you will learn once you are sixteen or have reached the rank of Chunin got it?"

Naruto stared into the eyes of Hiruzen, stern but still soft and kind. He really didn't like hiding the information from Naruto, but he had too. And Naruto could understand that, didn't mean he had to like it though. "Fine Ji-san, I'll take you're test and when I pass I want to here the words come from you!" Naruto stood up and pointed at Hiruzen "And when I pass I want you're personal acknowledgement that I'm one step closer to becoming the greatest Hokage EVER!" HE then ran off to find Hinata he had some training too do. Just because he went back in time to change things doesn't mean his end goal had changed.

Just as Naruto walked out Danzo walked in, the two meeting each other's gaze for a brief second. "Danzo, i hope you don't make a habit of unscheduled meetings."

"And what did the jinchuuriki want Hiruzen?"

"He has a name Danzo, and he was asking about his heritage, the boy figured out Kushina on his own, but has yet to realize his relation to Minato, even though he's almost a carbon copy of the man. It does beg the question though how long it will be till he finds out."

Danzo shrugged his shoulders "the sooner he inherits his heritage the sooner we may be to finding out the secret to Minato's hirashin technique. Imagine if our ninja had access to that technique! The Hidden Leaf would be unstoppable!"

Hiruzen gave Danzo a hard look. "No, Danzo. If we get access to that technique it'll be only because Naruto chose to share it with us, it's a family technique it is the same reason why all our ninja don't have their own ninken like the Inuzuka or Kikaichu bugs like the Aburame. Now onto the reason you've decided to grace me with your appearance today."

Danzo slapped a folder onto Hiruzen's desk. "You asked, now I'm delivering, that is my ninja's report from Iwa, there is a protocol to get a message out to retired ninja in other villages. They send older men, who aren't even able to fight to the villages and they find the retired nin, delivering a message of some kind as well as the orders they're meant to give. And it would appear that our Tsuchikage see's Teuchi as an active under cover agent. Though Teuchi's word was true, he hasn't been sent any orders from Iwa in a very long time."

Hiruzen scanned over the contents of the folder. "Thank you Danzo, that will be all for now, also I must thank you for Sora-san she is an excellent ninja."

"Well what did you expect Hiruzen, I trained her after all."

"Heh, I guess so Danzo, so how likely is Iwa to contact Ichiraku again?"

"Like I said Hiruzen, Teuchi hasn't been an active ninja in a long time, I doubt that fool of a Kage even remembers him as an asset. Though I will still have eyes on the man and his daughter, interestingly enough though Iwa doesn't seem to know of her existence, it wasn't in any of the records my ninja could find."

Hiruzen stroked his goatee "Very interesting indeed, you said you had an undercover agent acting as an construction worker?"

"Yes I do, though fairly low in the actually hierarchy when it comes it Iwakagure construction why what do you have in mind?"

"Oh just some passing thoughts is all, how useful is he to you?"

"When it comes to fighting he's decent, but his true talent lies in information gathering, getting blue prints and schematics for certain buildings and figuring out whose in whose circle of allies and friends."

Hiruzen stroked his goatee, "Hm... have him find out who in the village actively stands against Onoki, and who supports peaceful actions with the leaf, their precious stones and metal for our fish and lumber."

"Bah Hiruzen you fool, if we had the Hirashin technique at our fingers then we could have all of their precious stones and metal by the end of next month. Peaceful talks might take years to bore any fruit."

Hiruzen gave Danzo a hard stare "Fine, fine you'll get my report when I do Hiruzen." Danzo made a quick exit leaving Hiruzen with his thoughts.

'The Hirashin will be the Namikaze Legacy, if Danzo gets his hands on it then war will consume the entirety of the Elemental nations. I must keep it out of his grasps at all costs..but how? Any plans will have to wait until Naruto gets access to those scrolls'

"Sparrow!" He barked out, and the latest addition to his guard popped out of her hiding hole, bowing the new bird mask framing two locks of reddish brown hair on either side of her face.

"Yes Hokage-sama."

"Find me Jiraiya of the Sannin and tell him that I need him immediately, tell him it involves the seal holding the Kyuubi, I fear it may be failing."

"Yes Hokage-sama." And she was gone in a small swirl of leaves. While Hiruzen was technically lying, it would get Jiraiya to his office the fastest. He had a plan, after all he wasn't known as the Professor for nothing.

He needed Jiraiya's vast knowledge of Fuinjutsu, as Hiruzen's was lacking.

On the East side of the village, in the Hyuga complex, Hiashi was pondering a rather perplexing puzzle. Hinata's continued friendship with the Jinchuriki. Oh he knew the boy wasn't the Ninetail's, his Byakugan had easily been able to separate the boy's chakra from that of the Fox within him. On one hand the boy was universally hated throughout the village, and he didn't want that hatred to pass on to Hinata and by proxy the Hyuga clan.

On the other hand though their continuous sparring and training together had done an enormous wonder for her self confidence, he was starting to see the clan heiress he always wanted to see out of her. She rarely stuttered anymore and would more often than not look the elders in their eyes as they spoke to her, hell she even handled her own against Neji in a spar they had earlier this morning.

And Neji dear Kami! What had happened to him? He had changed in what seemed like a day, Hiashi hadn't heard Neji say anything about fate and destiny in what seemed like forever, and he was more kind and caring towards Hinata, almost acting like an older brother to her. He didn't know why, but he felt that Naruto was somehow to blame for it, he just couldn't find out how.

He was kneeling behind his desk, having finished the days paperwork and enjoying a rare moment of relaxation, his thoughts drifting to his late wife. Hyomo-chan(1) what would you say? I know I've been hard on her, but she needs to be strong in this village or she won't go anywhere, and it's starting to look like she's reaching for her potential. Thanks to a boy no less.' Hiashi chuckled to himself 'reminds you of me doesn't it? Hizashi was always the talented one until I met you. But hate will come of that friendship, and if hate stars coming the Hyuga way than the clan Elders might come in and try to stop it by force.'

Then he heard a sound, like small thud, his ears perked up as they tried to discern what the sounds where. He closed his eyes for one second "Byakugan!" With his doujutsu cast he trained his sight to the courtyard outside his office. He was surprised to see Hinata, without her jacket on going at it against training posts in the center.

And by the looks of it she had been going at it for a while, the bruises on her fingers and knuckles were what gave it a way. Yes that boy, Naruto Uzumaki, had lit a flame behind her eyes, one he had seen in her mother's many times. Hiashi stood up and made his way to the court yard, to a small tree a little to the left of where Hinata was training, some side branch members had stopped what they were doing to watch the young heiress train.

"My my Hinata at this rate I might have to get a new training post" Hinata turned around in surprise, how long had Hiashi been standing there?

"Father what are you doing here?"

Hiashi looked towards his office, Hinata's eyes following his gaze "Well it is my compound and that is my office, the real question is how long have you been here?"

Hinata looked down "oh um...just an hour or so?"

'Dear Kami, an hour of training with no break? If I didn't know any better I'd say Neji was bringing her to training sessions with Guy.' Hiashi motioned for one side branch member to follow him, as he walked over to Hinata. "clean those wounds up will you? If my daughter is hell bent on training that hard than by all means she deserves a moving target."

Hinata looked in confusion as the side branch member hurriedly fixed up her hands, "Father, what do you mean?" He had never so openly claimed her as his daughter, and was that an iota of pride she heard in his voice

Once the side branch member finished Hiashi took the familiar Juken stance, "I mean daughter that you've improved greatly in the last couple of weeks, and I want you to show me just how much better you've gotten!"

Audible gasps were heard from the small crowd that had gathered around, it was a wide known fact in the Hyuga clan that Hiashi didn't spar with Hinata, for the simple fact he thought she was to weak to spar with. One such gasp came from Hinata herself, this was the last thing she expected from her father, she was at a loss "um...I ..um..."

"You are right Hiashi-sama, Hinata-sama has grown a tremendous amount in such a short time" every body gasped again as Neji walked into the small circle to stand behind Hinata, since when did he praise her? Didn't he hate her? "I think it would do her some good to realize just how far she's come since school's started."

Hinata looked into Neji's eyes, he was standing up for her? He had been acting differently lately but she wan't expecting this. Though his words did inspire some confidence in her. "Fine father, I will spar with you." She assumed the Juken as well, and Hiashi smiled.

"Good Hinata then Neji will act as a referee, come at me with everything you have." Mentally he finished 'and show me that you can be the next Clan leader, the one I always knew you could be.'

Hinata charged Hiashi, her fingers a blur as they started attacking, Hiashi being the veteran he was, was easily able to step out of the way of her strikes. Taking the small pause she took to back flip away, he took a long stride forward to lash out with his own strike. What he wasn't prepared for was Hinata to roll around and then under his out stretched arm to deliver an upper cut style juken strike, forcing Hiashi to use his other arm to block the strike, then back stepped away.

Oohs and aahhhs followed the maneuver as Hinata followed up with a lunge kick into a spinning combo of juken strikes, Hiashi not able to recover from being staggered back was put on the defensive momentarily. If there was one thing Hinata learned from fighting someone as unpredictable as Naruto, it was that to win you needed to be unpredictable too.

The Juken style was to stationary, to rigid for someone as flexible as her, she needed maneuverability, and had thus changed her Juken style to fit it, having fought an unpredictable blond who seemed to know a lot about Juken fighters for someone who really shouldn't have helped a lot. Though it didn't take long for Hiashi to realize and adapt to this, as he knocked Hinata's hands aside and landed two strikes to the center of her chest, pushing her back a few feet.

The crowd went silent as the first blow of the spar was dealt. Hinata was panting a little, but she looked up at her father with determination burning in her eye. This was the first time he had sparred with her in a long time, and she was not going to disappoint him. Her father was a retired ninja with years worth of practice and experience, her winning this spar was not an option, but proving to him that he could be proud of her was all she wanted.

And boy did she do that, she gathered chakra in her feet and leapt into the air, raining down all the shuriken and kunai she had. Hiashi smirked and started spinning "Rotation!" He shouted, a dome of chakra ricocheting the weapons in all directions. That had been the plan though, as Hiashi was surrounded by chakra he didn't see Hinata land or get in a very unique stance.

Neji saw though and his eyes widened 'is that the...'

"Gentle Fist Arts: Eight Trigrams: 64 Palms!" Hinata shouted, rushing her father right as he slowed down. Hiashi was caught off guard but put up an impressive guard in what could only be described as a flurry of blows. A palm thrust from Hiashi rocketed Hinata into the crowd, sliding a couple of feet. Hiashi though didn't get away unscathed. His left arm was hanging limp at his side, and if one looked close enough it looked like his left leg was supporting all of his weight.

But his strike to Hinata had done the deed, she was out, chakra gather at the tips of each of his fingers when he hit her, had sent her chakra network into a wreck and would probably take most of the day to recover. He hadn't done much internal damage, but the combination of training and sparring and exhaustion meant she hadn't had much left in her.

Neji's hand came down "The match is over, Hiashi wins." Hiashi limped over to Hinata, and smiled, and picked her up and went to his office, leaving her on a small rolled up futon her kept in his office. Neji followed him and watched the small act of paternal affection.

"She did well Hiashi-sama."

"Yes" Hiashi replied sitting back at his desk, using his good hand to unblock is chakra network. "She has made great strides in her training thanks to that boy, Naruto. Tell me, you had a class with him, how does he do it? What is he like? I've heard nothing but bad things about him, such as his notorious pranking habits and horrid chakra control."

Neji looked down in thought "Well Hiashi-sama, Hinata has a great fondness for Naruto." Hiashi nodded his head, her feelings towards the boy were known to him "And yes, while he is not from a clan, and has no parents, the boy has determination, and refuses to give up no matter what. The fact he has high chakra reserves and enough stamina to back that up does help. He pushes Hinata to strive for more, to be more. She's adopted his attitude towards fighting and training to never give up."

"I am worried about their friendship though, the elders might try and force Hinata to end it."

"Forgive me if I sound rude Hiashi-Sama, but you're the clan leader, the elders really can't do anything to Hinata without your approval."

Hiashi sighed and looked down, "You are correct Neji but it will be a hassle none the less, and I fear they may try and make her life difficult if I take this course of action. All though I've heard several reports of your growing relation to the young lady on your team as well." Hiashi raised an eyebrow at Neji, who blushed in response. It was true, while not official Neji had taken Tenten out on several other dates, and he could usually be found spending his time with her.

"Yes it is a growing relationship, the fact she's not from a ninja clan won't be a problem will it?"

"Well you're a side branch member, and while probably the strongest side branch member, I doubt the elders will give your romantic feelings a passing glance." Hiashi wasn't trying to be rude, but that was the truth. So long as he stayed within the clan, and any child he fathered was given the cage bird seal all would be well. Neji knew this, and he wouldn't let this second chance to make things right with Tenten get away from him, he certainly wasn't going to hide his feelings for her. Not again, he had watched her mourn him, the look of pain broke his heart.

"Thank you Hiashi-sama." Neji bowed and made a quick exit, leaving Hiashi alone with his passed out Daughter.

'What to do, what to do?'

Alastair looked up at the towering Gates of Konoha, his companion marveling at the goliaths as well. "Well Jezebel, this is Konohagakure no Sato, and I'll tell you what the name does it justice, the forest surrounding this place are huge! If there wasn't one giant rode leading straight to it, there's no telling how long it'd take you."

Jezebel whistled "So this is where the blond little fucker is? It's about time, because walking for two weeks straight fucking sucks!"

Alastair clicked his tongue "now, now Jezebel there were plenty of places to stop by on the way but you were the one who insisted on coming straight here."

"Yeah I know, and you know how damn hotheaded I am! It's your job to keep me in check, and remind me that these human bodies of ours need rest and nutrition unlike our actual demonic bodies. Hey why the hell does Shinigami think we will have fun with this? I mean our human bodies are nothing compared to our demonic ones, and he expects this blonde boy to fight em."

Alastair shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know but hey who am I to judge, we get to live again if we kill him so I don't mind. But before we do any of that let's find a place to sleep for the night, and then do some recon tomorrow eh?"

"Sounds great to me, because I heard from some cute tramp that Konoha has some of the best hot springs aside from Hotspring village, and I've been dying to try them for myself." Her blue eye having small hearts in them at the thought of a hot bath.

Alastair quickly took out his katana, examining the multitude of nicks the blade had acquired along the way to Konoha. THey hadn't been passive on their trip to Konoha "While you do that, I think I'll find someone who can repair my blade. And then I should probably get the equipment to fix it myself."

Jezebel had already left Alastair at his point. He sighed and started walking one way 'Ichiraku's ramen? Sounds like a nice little place.'

Naruto was in his training ground, his breath heavy, the multitude of craters around him a testament to the training he had been doing. He had learned about his Kekke Genkai, the ability to manipulate chakra into Harden structures. It's what had happened with Sasuke, he had willed his chakra to protect him, and it had formed a small shield that took the hit and blasted Naruto into the tree.

How had he come to Learned about his new talent? He had tried forming chakra chains, which he had been able to accomplish, in a spar against Hinata, he willed his chains to defend them and they simple formed a circle in front of him that blocked Hinata's shuriken. That lead to Naruto toying with it and finding out that they weren't chakra chains but chakra constructs.

Or in other words, what ever he wanted them to be. Spears, fists, swords, axes, a shield, a bird, he just needed to concentrate and his chakra would take whatever form he wished. Which turned out to be an excellent chakra control exercise, as his chakra constructs were typically big, but if he wanted to make them small he needed to use less chakra. This was the process he had been doing to try and get his control to the point he could use the Kagebunshin technique and it was working, he could effectively make a kagebunshin, but keeping it from expelling almost immediately was his problem.

Naruto straightened himself, fixed his clothes and did his favorite handling, "Kagebunshin no Jutsu!" he shouted! The puff of smoke beside him gave way to a perfect clone, that stared and grinned back at the original "hey boss I don't think I'm going anywhere!" It held one thumb triumphantly at Naruto before it went disappeared in a puff of smoke and Naruto shoulders slumped in disappointment. 'Damn almost had it.'

That's how his day progressed for the next two hours, with small breaks of meditation so Naruto could rest up. Every time he stopped for a break he could feel the Nature Chakra, just on the edge of his senses, how he yearned to try and gather some reach sage mode again. But he didn't have the chakra control for it, and he wouldn't have any for a while. But the Peace and tranquility that came with the transformation was almost worth the risks.

He was meditating now, just a small breather, he'd been training for most of the day since his visit with Hiruzen. He had been surprised with the actual amount of progress he'd made. Having Hiruzen admit who his mother was, was a big surprise. Now he just had to hear the old man say that Minato was his father. Plus there was Jiraiya, his godfather.

His fist clenched as his mind wondered to the day he learned of Jiraiya's death at the hands of Pain and his Six Paths. He wouldn't be seeing him for another year at the very least. Once he had the Toad contract he could worry about mastering Senjutsu. Another thought struck Naruto out of nowhere, what of the other Jinchuriki? During the war, Madara used them and their Biju as powerful weapons, and ultimately it was the joining of all the tailed beasts chakra that allowed for Kagyuya to be resurrected.

If he could save just one then things would be fke it and think it's cool/ ine, but if he saved one he'd be duty bound to save the others. Agh this was too much, he barley understood where the Jinchuriki were, let alone how and when they where taken. The only thing he knew for sure was that at this moment, the Akatsuki already had Yagura, using him to stir civil war in Kiri, which would cause his eventual run in with Haku and Zabuza.

Garra was still with Suna, Yugito and Bee were safe in Kumo for the moment, Roshi and Han were still traveling around Iwa, Fu was at Waterfall, and he really didn't know were Utakata was at this point, just were he would be in a few years. Than there were the Ginkaku brothers, he would need to take care of their bodies so they couldn't be resurrected, Madara could use them for Kurama's chakra if Naruto himself proved to difficult to catch. He was honestly surprised they hadn't done that to begin with.

But his enemies lack of awareness wasn't his problem at the moment, no the biggest problem he was facing was a survival exercise his class was doing, going to training ground 5, the biggest training ground in Konoha, for three days, He would be teaming up with two other students and they would have to protect a scroll while at the same time, they had to take the scroll of any other team they met. At the end the team with the most scrolls would win.

Him and Hinata were teaming up, obviously but the third member of his team was the question, who should it be? he knew that Kiba and Sasuke were teaming up and it was a coin toss on if their third teammate would be Ino or Sakura. Shikamaru and Choji were teaming up, Shino really hadn't picked a side yet, but he was definitely leaning towards Shikamaru's team.

Which left him with one of the civilians and either Sakura or Ino. Normally he wouldn't mind that except Sakura was still at that point in her life where Sasuke was still the god of everything, and Naruto was nothing more than a nuisance. Ino wasn't to far behind her in that regard. Though he one hundred percent would take those two over any of the civilians in the class. They were poisoned by the words of their elders and almost unanimously hated Naruto, those that didn't outright show it, couldn't be bothered to care.

Maybe he could convince Sasuke to take Sakura, have Shika take Ino and he could get Shino? That all depended on if he could get Sasuke to listen to him. Naruto stood up and stretched tired and sore muscles. 'Well one way to find out if this will work out or not.'

So what did you think? I like how I'm doing Hinata's character. Anyways not much to say hope you enjoyed and please leave a review.

1) Hinata's mom is Hyomo because I like it.