Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other respective media, only my OC

Naruto – Interlude 1

S-Rank Secrets Revealed

It was only about a day after the mission to the Land of Waves, Team 7 had finally gotten back to the village. After arriving back home after being gone for so long, the group the headed for the Hokage Tower so they could report back on the mission's success.

As they reached the front door of the Tower, Kakashi stopped his team as he spoke to each of them.

"Before we go see Lord Third, I want to talk to each of you about this mission." Kakashi started, all four genin looked at the masked jonin with attention.

"You've all shown great potential in this mission and for that you've exceeded my expectations. Sakura, this mission I think opened your eyes to many things, with your ability in chakra control I know that one day you'll put it great use and be a great kunoichi."

Sakura smiled in excitement at Kakashi's praise. "Thank you, sensei!" "THAT'S RIGHT, I'M THE BEST! CHA!"

"Sasuke, your fight with Haku has proved your prowess, but also your commitment to your comrades. You fought to protect your team and nearly sacrificed it all to save them. You've also unlocked your family's dojutsu. You do your family name and your village proud."

Sasuke only grunted in acceptance of Kakashi's praise, but Toshirama noticed the slight amount of emotion he showed.

"Toshirama, you've proven that you have the possibility as a great leader, your ability to think even in a desperate situation has shown that you have a great intellect to see things that no one else can. You'll be a great leader one day, no matter where that leads you."

Toshirama smiled and nodded his head in acknowledgement, "Thank you sensei, that's mean a lot to me."

"And last but not least, Naruto, despite your recklessness at certain points you've come a long way, the most out of all of you. You not only showed your resolve, but you gave hope back to the village and Inari, to them you'll always be a hero."

Naruto scratched his nose sheepishly, "See that, once I become Hokage, I'll change everyone in this village, just like I changed Inari, believe it!"

The jonin eye-smiled, as the group then continued on inside the tower

After a few more minutes of walking the team finally arrived to meet the Third Hokage waiting for them.

"Ah Kakashi, I'm glad to see you are alright, I'm guessing its safe to say the mission was a success?" Hiruzen inquired.

"Yes, Lord Hokage, the escort was a success and the bridge has been finished. Team 7 was successful." Kakashi answered.

"Well then for now you all will receive the pay of a C-rank mission for now, by the end of the month you'll have received the rest of the payment due to its new standing as an A-rank mission, so be patient." Hiruzen informed the squad as they all looked disappointed at the news.

"Well something's better than nothing I guess, but I'll have to restock my gear and all, so that was to be expected and I'll have to but some more essentials for home." Toshirama thought to himself.

Kakashi spoke up, "Well I guess with that you guys can go, I have to finish my mission update here, so take the rest of the week off you've deserved it. Although, Toshirama I want to stay for a while."

The team was surprised by Kakashi's request as they looked at Toshirama who looked just as they did, but he had a feeling of what it was about.

"Yes, sensei I understand." Toshirama answered. Naruto turned to the boy and said, "Hey bro, after your done here let's go to Ichiraku to celebrate?"

The white-haired boy turned to him and smiled, nodding in agreement. With that the team left as the ones left in the room now were Hiruzen, Kakashi and Toshirama.

The Third Hokage began, "Kakashi sent me a mission update after Zabuza's death, he tells me that much happened during your fight with Zabuza's partner, he said that he felt a 'dark chakra' during the fight, do you know what he meant by this?"

Toshirama's face looked conflicted and answered sheepishly, "Y-yes, I saw it all and reacted to it."

Hiruzen's gaze now looked inquisitive, "Reacted to it, what do you mean?" Toshirama once again spoke, "When that dark chakra appeared around Naruto, something inside me came out as well, it was similar to it, it was dark but tamer than Naruto's."

Hiruzen's look was now one of shock though it only lasted for a second, "So you too felt something similar to Naruto's, is that it?" The boy then nodded his head yes.

"I never thought it would come so soon, but it may be why you and Naruto are so close and can understand each other's pain. Toshirama, what you are about to hear are s-rank secrets; they're not to be told to anyone, only with the permission of me and your sensei can you ever tell someone this, understand?"

S-rank secrets? What was so important about him and Naruto that was needed to be hidden from everyone?

Toshirama thought for a moment then answered, "Yes, Lord Third, I understand." Hiruzen then began explaining.

"As I'm sure you've learned it was the Fourth Hokage who sacrificed himself to defeat the Nine-Tailed Fox from the village, but that is not the only that he defeated it he had sealed away the beast into the body of a newborn infant that infant was Naruto… he is a jinchuriki, the host of a Tailed Beast."

Toshirama looked in utter shock at the news he had just heard, "Naruto has the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, is that what I saw, just a glimpse of its power?"

"Toshirama, snap out of it." Kakashi spoke up as Toshirama came out of his shock to continue listening to the third Hokage.

"As I said, the Fourth gave his life to seal away the beast and end its rampage and in the ensuing chaos, he died. Naruto was given the Nine-Tailed Fox on the day he was born, October tenth, but… he is not the only one to be a jinchuriki."

It was then that Toshirama had come to the realization, but the Third spoke for him, "I can see it in your face young one, you have noticed; the reason you felt that power inside you, that chakra you felt that day you fought that Haku boy, what you discovered too, was a tailed beast inside you, the Three-tailed turtle."

Toshirama was in almost utter disbelief when he heard the Third Hokage's admission, he was also a jinchuriki like Naruto, he too had a tailed beast inside him.

Hiruzen noticed the boy's face and couldn't help but think back to that day almost 12 years ago, when the Fox came.

"So… So who was it that sealed the Three-Tails inside me?" Toshirama inquired. "It was also the Fourth Hokage, he assisted in sealing the Three-Tails inside of you from its previous jinchuriki, the Fourth was a genius when it came to sealing jutsu, so it was his expertise that helped in both cases. Now do you see why you and Naruto are truly connected as you are, the reason why you both were so ostracized in your childhoods?" [1]

Toshirama now had tears in his eyes as he listened to the Third Hokage's explanation, Naruto and Toshirama were kindred spirits, they were both the same in almost everyway except blood and appearance.

As the white-hair boy, now knowing these great secrets he couldn't help but continue to cry as the flood of emotion he felt for almost all his life was finally catching up to him.

Everything in his childhood; The day he met Naruto, the day they became friends, all the fights they got into, the trouble they caused together, and most importantly… the unbreakable bond the two shared despite all the loneliness and hate-filled looks they received from the villagers.

"So that's why… whenever the villagers looked at us… it was because of…" Toshirama looked to the floor as both Kakashi and Hiruzen could only imagine what the boy was thinking about all of this new information.

Knowing what could help the Third Hokage spoke up, "Toshirama, do you still remember our first conversation in the forest?" [2]

Toshirama looked up, his eyes still filled with tears, but for the most part he stopped, he looked at the Hokage and thought back to childhood, it was also just after Toshirama had just met Naruto for the first time, he looked

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Toshirama replied with a smile on his face, "And, I won't stop until I made sure make sure everyone's dreams come true, that's all I can do for now."

The Third Hokage and Kakashi smiled as they saw the boy's spirit had been restored, "Well I think with that, our business is concluded, you may both go and remember Toshirama you can't speak of this to anyone understand?"

Toshirama nodded his head as he opened and closed the door, with only one destination in mind he took off running.

However, what the trio didn't know, was that a spy was listening to them, "I must report this at once." The spy hopped away silently.

Toshirama continued running he knew Naruto would be waiting for him and he had found Naruto was still at home using his sensory abilities.

He reached the building that he and Naruto lived at and just as soon as he reached the door to Naruto's apartment, he went to open the door and saw that Naruto was on the other side.

The two 'brothers' looked at each other for a few seconds; Toshirama was panting heavily having ran all the way from the Tower to his building and Naruto on the other side of the door. A look of surprise on his face seeing Toshirama.

"Big bro, are you al…?" Naruto never finished as Toshirama hugged Naruto tightly in the moment with the tears still in his eyes as he held on to his brother. The orange-clad knucklehead was shocked by the sudden contact but couldn't help but respond back than by doing so in kind.

With tears still in his eyes Toshirama said, "Have I ever told you how much it means to mean that you're a brother to me?" Naruto wasted no time in response, "If I never found you, I wouldn't be who I am today, neither of us would."

The two let go as they looked at each other as Toshirama spoke up, "Still want that ramen?" Naruto nods in excitement as the two take off for Ichiraku to enjoy some R&R.

Meanwhile… The Hokage's Office

Toshirama and Kakashi had already left and most teams had already turned in their mission reports, now all Hiruzen had left was to finish what paperwork he had left.

He was finishing forms mostly concerning the Chunin Exams, that he would announce its start after a week's worth of time so as to allow Team 7 a chance to recuperate their energy.

As he was busy filling out the forms, he heard a knock at the door, "Come in."

The door opened and in walked a man wearing bandages over the right side of is face, his left side was the only part exposed, he wire a dark gray rob with another white robe underneath and held a cane in his left hand as well.

"Danzo, what is it, I'm busy?" Hiruzen replied to the man's presence as the two stared off. Danzo finally spoke his piece.

"I've have heard rumors the Three-tails boy was here and now he knows about the Nine-Tails as well." Danzo simply stated, Hiruzen was now silently furious at his old friend.

"Where did you get that information from?" The Third Hokage accused Danzo. "Like I said Hiruzen, they're rumors only, but your reaction may prove my greater point." Danzo replied maintaining an emotionless face.

"What point does it prove?" Hiruzen inquired once more. "That he should've been trained by my Foundation as a child, if here were a member, he'd already be the greatest asset to the Leaf." Danzo replied.

"What you want is living weapon at your disposal, besides Root is gone, therefore your opinion is moot, my old friend." Hiruzen stated simply.

"But Hiruzen, you didn't tell him the whole truth, did you?" Danzo said as if trying to force a raise form the Hokage. Hiruzen calmed himself as he knew what Danzo was trying to say, "He is just a child still, if he knew of his heritage, his true heritage, the boy would be broken in two."

Danzo seemed unconvinced, "Be that as it may, that boy has the greatest potential in all the Leaf and you squander it, this why the Hidden Leaf and the shinobi world is at it is, kindness and peace will never be achieved unless our enemies fear us."

"I tire of this; I will be resting in my chambers." Hiruzen replied having no answer. The Third Hokage left the office as Danzo stayed behind.

The old man walked up to Hiruzen's desk and placed his hand on the table and said to himself, "You may be the one on charge now Hiruzen, but mark my words, one day that boy will be my greatest soldier, one who will do what I cannot and usher in a world peace from the darkness. I will do it myself, if necessary."

Underground Root HQ

With that said Danzo left the office and traveled underneath the village to the Foundation's underground HQ, there he summoned his agents, "We have arrived Lord Danzo, what news did wish to share with us all?" An agent asked

"Hiruzen has once again proven that his way will lead to the Leaf's disaster, for the sake of peace in the ninja world, we must act. I shall assign one of you to watch the Three-Tails jinchuriki; you will report back to me everything he has done that day; record every interaction and relationship he has with those he knows and the progress of his training. One day, I shall no longer be of this world, I too will need a successor and that boy has the potential if he is 'persuaded' to join us." Danzo informed his followers.

All of them were slightly caught off-guard though behind their masks it wasn't noticeable at all. One member spoke up, "Lord Danzo, do you mean to say it is that boy is he truly the one you've sought?"

"Yes, he will be what I never could, master what I never could; in time he will lead the shinobi world in my place." Danzo answered.

"Hinoto and Sai." Danzo said with authority. Hearing the name a female agent wearing a cat-like mask with purple markings and red pearl earrings turned to face Danzo and asked of him, "What are your orders, my lord?" The other boy remained silent.

"You will be the ones to watch over the boy and report to me all the progress he makes, you are not however to interfere in any way with his progress by assisting him, only to report and register the appropriate data we need, understood?" Danzo asked of his agents.

"Yes, Lord Danzo." Hinoto said as the boy, Sai just bowed as he said nothing.

So began Danzo's ultimate plan for his rise to power in the Leaf and his vision for the ninja world, he had all he needed, now was the time to play the game.

AN#1 – Here's my first Interlude chapter I'll make these in between certain areas for character development spots for Toshirama and for the story development centered around him. So, let's get started:

Hiruzen has finally told Toshirama the truth about why he and Naruto were treated so horribly in their childhoods; both of them are jinchuriki:

Naruto is the jinchuriki of Kurama

Toshirama is the jinchuriki of Isobu.

Let me explain why I chose Toshirama to become a jinchuriki of Isobu. After the Third Shinobi World War, Rin's death in particular, after Obito's rage against the Mist ANBU, after the chaos, the Hidden Leaf recovered both Rin and Kakashi. Since Rin was still a child, I don't think the Hidden Mist would put all of Isobu's chakra in her as I think that would be too much for her body to contain and control. So in an effort to prevent the beast's possible escape the Hidden Leaf sealed the beast away into another ninja of the Hidden Leaf, who you may ask, well you'll have to be patient with that one…

That's all for now, I promise you'll get more just please be patient with me is all I ask, thank you! :)

AN#2 – Remember to Review, Favorite and Follow! I wouldn't be here without you guys! :)