Stories with actual growth and long term planning is hard for me, I never got into it as I took lazy paths... I want this to be amazing and stand out so I am really trying. Please be patient and enjoy the ride. I am actually rereading old chapters to get a real look at this story and make it amazing!

This is not a Naruto Hinata story...

This is the end of the first arc, we get to see the next one soon, so this is why it is short.


"In... and out... in and out... In and out..." Naruto breathed as Inoichi had told him, repeating the simple mantra slowly as he let go of his senses and just focused on his breathing. It was surprisingly easy, which Naruto didn't get. Inoichi said that even masterful Ninja's struggled with meditation and Naruto knew he was far from a masterful Ninja. Humans just weren't meant to be still for so long, and Naruto could feel his skin practically crawling with the urge to stand and just do something but he kept to it, doing as the Doctor had recommended. He didn't get how it would help but the man really seemed willing to help him, so he would listen.

He wasn't sure how long he was meditating for as time sort of blurred... but at some point he felt a tingle, right at his left side. It was strange and annoying, like when you sit on your hand for a while or something... he tried to ignore it, but it was too strong. He wanted to open his eyes and growl at it, hoping it would stop.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, NARUTO!" Lee's loud, loud voice suddenly slammed into Naruto, knocking him out of his meditation and sending him back in shock.

When he opened his eyes, looking at Lee, he was stunned to realize that Lee was at his right side... where the tingle had been.

'Was it him, did I sense him?' The idea was impossible, like all students Naruto had been tested for Sensory powers and he had come up blank. It was one of the few lessons he had paid attention to, the idea of just knowing where someone was had been too awesome to ignore! 'Unless my lesson was sabotaged like Inoichi said my education was. Maybe I am a sensor... I am so cool, believe it'

Excited, Naruto turned his full attention to a curious Lee. "I was meditating, Inoichi, my counselor, said it was a good idea to try."

Lee's eyes went wide. "It is a good idea, it even helps with Chakra control and development on top of anxiety and stress. Gai Sensei has us all meditating!"

"I know that, Neji taught me all that yesterday... the doctor, Inoichi, told me it would help with my anxiety.. Inoichi said my anxiety is really bad, something about Suicidal Ideation... I didn't fully get it." Naruto noticed then that Lee looked very, very sad then. Putting his hands up, he waved them in his own desperation. "I am not going to hurt myself, that much I know for sure, but I guess it means I am too willing to die for others like on a mission."

Lee blurred away and when he appeared, his arms were wrapped around Naruto in a very tight embrace. "Don't die, please. Your one of my only friends and rivals, I can't have you dying before me."

Naruto was touched, having never expected that Lee cared so much. 'I have been getting a lot of hugs lately...' They stayed like that for several minutes before Lee pulled back, very determined.

"Time for your training, let's see if you remember what we did yesterday! It is my goal to test you after you retest for the Genin exams, to see how far you've come in a month. If I am able to manage it between missions."

"I'd like that, a lot."

"""

With more aches then he could imagine, Naruto all but crawled to his apartment. His everything hurt, even his brain somehow. He had a terrible headache... "Ugh, why am I doing this? Is it worth it?" He groaned out, trying not to puke on his floor. 'I have trained hard before but never to the point that everything hurts like this, will it really make me more powerful... is it worth it?'

Knowing that it was, despite his whining, Naruto slumped into a chair and grabbed a packet on his table. It was an academy review packet for the big test at the end of the year. Iruka, in his kindness, had given Naruto it so he could get a full scope and study all he needed to to at least pass the academy test. It was actually kind of helpful, with little notes detailing where to find the chapter in the academy books and scroll.

So, naturally, Naruto hated the damn thing.

'Why do I have to know all of this crap, does the Hokage really have to know all of it... ugh...' Naruto's head clanged against the table, moaning his position for only a moment before sitting up with a determined stare. " No, I won't be entitled... I may have just learned what the word means but I know I hated it. I hate being that person... and I hated being so helpless before. If I want to be Hokage then this is what I need to do."

And with that, Naruto struggled to devour the papers before him, using every note, letter and detail to soak up the information as best he could.

::

"You really think he can do it?"

Tsunade enjoyed the look of shame on Kakashi's lips as he the words slipped past them, old habits too strong to just get over. "What was that Kakashi? Could it be that you haven't been watching as Naruto absolutely killed it at his training, or how he actually managed to bunker down and really read his study guides and work his butt off to pass the academy tests to the best of his ability? Could it be that you didn't' realize, or care, that Naruto is actually quite smart but due to poor choices all around a genius like you never realized it? Hmmm, is that it?"

It was cruel of her, she knew, but Tsunade really couldn't help it. She wanted to impress upon the man the lessons he had so obviously failed to learn. Why was she doing this to him, after already punishing him... well a simple conversation with Sakura and watching the girl's chunin exam performance may have pushed Tsunade over the edge. Just a little anyway.

'How anyone could ignore the sheer potential of both kids to such a degree is baffling. As a bystander I get, but as a teacher, it is inexcusable. Sakura is learning at a rate that is down right baffling, the girl will surpass me that is clear. Her knack for healing is incredible, her retention of knowledge is scary and her drive is unsurpassed. She could have easily made jonin by now had she had a good enough teacher early on.

Then there is the boy... Naruto's taijutsu is already noticeably better now, and his chakra control is actually quite advanced for his age we just never noticed it due to the Fox but Kakashi should have if he actually tested their control beyond the tree climbing exercise. He has emotional issues, who wouldn't with his life, but his drive is beyond even Sakura's. I called him entitled, and he was, but all he needed was a firm hand and some guidance. I definitely owe him an apology and a present... maybe I will teach him medical jutsu? Not enough to be a full medic but enough to be useful. His control is far better, thanks to the Rasegnan I assume, then we realized so really he may have the capacity for it.'

Satisfied with herself and her thoughts, Tsunade leaned towards Kakashi, leaning over the crystal ball they had been staring at to watch Naruto's hard core studying. She just couldn't wait for Kakashi's answer, whatever it was.

The man looked at her, melancholy clear on his face, even past the mask. "Must you taunt me?"

"You failed to train two, TWO very capable genin. Sakura is the brightest child I have ever met, period. She fills the gaps in her knowledge unlike anyone I have ever seen. She has already mastered the basics of medical jutsu, something that takes six months for most people. She did it in less then two weeks. Naruto is working harder and harder and soon I feel we will see just what he is capable of. Inoichi will be giving him an IQ test, and I think he will surprise us. You saw how much his taijutsu has improved, on a technical level alone and with just a few days of working with Rock Lee. I give him three months til he reaches chunin level in taijutsu alone. We saw his chakra control when he was working with Neji just a few minutes ago, he is better at control then some jonin I know, a byproduct of the rasengan.

I want you to see how badly you failed them, I want you to see exactly why you have been and are being punished. I want this lesson to be fully drilled into your skull so this neglect never happens again. Do not look away, do not doubt it. I want you to learn and you will. Your a genius, rare and true, and you will learn. Now go, I have things to do. Your dismissed."

;;;

It was getting late when Naruto started to meditate once more, and almost immediately he felt something tingle against his senses. To the left hand side, but only barely, like whatever it was was too far away for him to focus on. Curious he turned his attention onto it. Pushing and pushing his attention towards it, he slowly felt more and more of it. Several things became clear, first whatever it was was like a burning candle that was too far away. It was impossible to really gauge it's heat but you still see it's light. Second, whatever it was was human, it reminded him of Lee just brighter. Third and most important, it was focused on him too.

That last part he was unsure of, how he knew that was unclear but he knew it was true. It was like when someone was looking at you from a distance, and you could sort of feel their stare. He could feel their chakra, so he guessed, and it's attention was on him.

'Who's watching me?'

Curious and frustrated, he opened his eyes and followed the weird tingle out of his apartment. The moment he was on his balcony, he looked around and saw no one around, it was night after all.

'Maybe I was wrong... no, I'll try again.' He closed his eyes and stretched out his senses and, lo and behold, he felt another presence just as before... it was running away but he knew where it was now.

Throwing himself onto the roofs he shot away, hoping from roof to roof until finally he was in front of the source, leaping down in front of them.

"Hinata?"

The timid girl squeaked in shock, backing up nervously. " Naru,Naru, Naruto." She whispered, shaking. "What, are you doing out here?"

" I felt you looking at me, I could sense you... pretty cool, right? I am awesome, believe it?" Then he stopped. " Why were you looking at me?"

The girl started to really shake. "I,..I... uh... I... goodbye Naruto." And like that, Hinata shot off, leaving Naruto standing in the middle of the road, looking at her back wondering what the hell just happened.

"She's weird... anyway, I can sense things! I am awesome! But why now? Was Kyuubi stopping me or... is there more to it then that? I should tell Gran... Lady Tsunade." Naruto gulped, thinking of how Neji told him to refer to Tsunade. Neji was really smart, maybe he did know better afterall. Naruto actually turned to run off to her, then stopped. " What if I surprise her, when I become a genin again... yeah, that sounds better... I like that."

And so he hurried home, excited to have something entirely new and epic to practice in and show Tsunade one day when he proved that he deserved to be a genin once again!


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was so much fun.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.