Okay, back to this again. Thank you everyone, my email practically blew up from the sheer influx of Story+Author Favorites/Follows. I had to make a new folder just for that! I would like to address one thing however, a Review I received.

Djberneman: We all know the obsession that is Ramen for everyone's favorite blond knucklehead ninja. Yeah, Itachi's bank was broke after that visit. Although, he probably shouldn't have decided to promise Naruto ramen if he couldn't afford it! His fault tbh.

Novrier: Thank you for your blunt and brutal honesty. The praise I managed to receive was appreciated, as was your truthfulness in what needed improvement. In response to the rushing: I did happen to rush the previous version of the 2nd Chapter because it had been sitting on my Hard Drive for... Months, unattended. And I just wanted to mash it out and get it out as quickly as I can. I agree it was a mistake, so I'll be doing a Ret-Con on the reveal of who Naruto's parents in this Fic because... I don't even know what I was thinking! A combination of tiredness, exhaustion, and fatigue? Perhaps, but not total excuses.

Oc (Guest): If you didn't notice, I decided not to allow your Anonymous Review to post to my story. It literally provided no suggestions to improve or things you liked of value to me, just needless insults. You may be used to going around finding Fics with instant smut and get off with your hand because you cannot find a sex-buddy, but that will not happen here. And if you hadn't noticed, I started the story off in MY way, not yours. Also, I won't be following the Canon path. I've already caused a massive divergent timeline through Itachi taking in Naruto. Besides, I think you're too scared I could report your Review if you were actually signed in through your own Account for such blatant disrespect to well, anyone. As Novrier has stated, and in my opinion now that I actually remember my preferences of stories I have read. Love does NOT start instantly. True love stories... Take time. A believable relationship shouldn't begin instantly the moment you set eyes on someone. I thank Novrier for calling me out on that in their first Review, and modified my Story when I realized that and wanted to do much better with my Story I want to work on, on my free time.

Okay, that's enough with the Reviews I want to address. I may have given the dunce Guest a bit more attention than he deserved, but if they happen to read this Chapter I won't lose any sleep if I hurt their feelings or not. On with the Chapter.

Chapter Three: Salvation

"Okay Naruto-kun." Itachi smiled as he sat down across from Naruto on the grass of the backyard. "This will be your training space in the future, just in case any of my family come to visit."

"But I want to meet your family Itachi-niisan!" Naruto spouted out.

Itachi laughed and leaned back a bit. "Perhaps you will, but now isn't the time. Besides, my younger brother would be very jealous to see you here when I haven't been 'home' in a long time. Now, are you ready for me to teach you the way Konohagakure teaches us to be Shinobi?"

Naruto's pout only lasted a few moments, before he grinned brightly with his eyes closed. His whisker marks shown proudly on his face from the motion. "Yeah! Teach me!"

Chuckling, Itachi looked over to Shisui.

"Ah, okay okay. But don't take too long, we have to speak to the Hokage." Shisui said as he walked towards the large tree at the center of the backyard and plucked several leaves from the upper branches before he returned to Itachi to hand him a few, and gave the rest to Naruto.

"Okay," Itachi nodded as he held up one of the leaves. "This is called the 'Leaf Concentration Practice'. It is something you'd normally learn in the Academy if you were a civilian with no shinobi parentage or family to teach you. But I learned this when I was a bit younger than you are now from my father."

Naruto squirmed. "What does a leaf have to do with this? It's just a leaf!"

This caused Shisui to laugh and go to sit nearby on a bench as he waited, while Itachi chuckled mirthfully and turned the leaf in his fingers. "Well you see, the purpose of this is to steadily access your chakra, directing it to your forehead..." He quickly pressed the leaf to his forehead, just under the protector with the leaf symbol after adjusting it up his head a bit. "And using your chakra to stick the leaf to your face, and hold it there for as long as you can. This helps you build up the basic level of chakra control you need in order to learn the Academy Jutsu in theory."

"Ohhh!" Naruto grinned as he watched Itachi lean forward and show that the leaf was very stuck and didn't fall from the movement, or from gravity. "So cool! What do I have to do?"

"Sit in meditation for a few moments until you can feel your chakra again. Then, try to draw it forward and circulate it towards your forehead. Once you feel you have the concentration just right to manage it, put your leaf there and try to keep it there for... Try for at least a minute for now."

Naruto nodded and immediately closed his eyes, taking the Lotus position and sinking into meditation.

Sarutobi hummed as he regarded both Itachi and Shisui before him, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers in thoughtful reflection. "So you want to do this plan, even if eventually other Uchiha will learn of your involvement in some way Shisui?"

Shisui bowed forward. "Yes Hokage-sama. I love this village, and if my actions can protect it in any way I hope will cause the least strife, I will do it."

This caused the aging Hokage to let out a dry humorless chuckle. "Indeed... Shisui, tell me. How strong is this Genjutsu you are going to cast on the Clan?"

Itachi looked a little wary upon that question, but looked sideways at his friend.

"I would activate my Mangekyou Sharingan, Hokage-sama, and just by glancing in the direction of those who I wish to affect I cast Kotoamatsukami. It is a simple, but very complexly subtle Genjutsu that allows me to enter the mind of each person who is under its effect and provide a suggestion. The person who is affected would then take that suggestion to heart, as if it were their own, and so long as it doesn't go against whatever staunch reservations they do have... It won't break unless I dismiss the Jutsu actively. It does require some time between each use, but both of my eyes are capable of utilizing it."

The Hokage hummed and nodded slightly. "An impressive boon if any I have heard... Its almost unbelievable just how strong your Sharingan actually is young man. However, I've seen the result of your feats from the War, and with you being one of my more powerful Shinobi I am inclined to believe your claims. Who all knows about your ability to cast such a Genjutsu?"

Itachi frowned slightly, unnoticing of how thoughtful Shisui appeared. "Should we be talking about this so openly in your office sir?" He decided to ask.

Sarutobi shook his head. "I'm afraid you don't need to worry Itachi-san. I have the room Sealed from all sound leaking out, once you both said that the conversation was important and could only be for my ears." He swatted at a fly after it buzzed near his ear.

"Sir, that isn't a fly. Kill it." Shisui warned immediately, his Sharingan flaring active for a moment. "It's a kikaichū."

Sarutobi's eyes widened before he slapped the bug, a squishing sound heard. "Why would a kikaichū be in my office?"

Itachi frowned. "It might be obvious someone has been spying on you. Perhaps for a long time. But I cannot think of who, besides the Aburame who sent that bug here."

"What do you mean your insect is dead?" Demanded Danzō, turning to face his Root while he waited in his small but well tidied public office located in the Hokage Tower.

The man his master mentioned, a person wearing a brown and white trench coat with dark glasses covering his eyes leaned from a wall nearby. "It must have been detected... And the room is sealed. I am afraid I do not know what the conversation was."

"One of the Uchiha must've found it... Damn..." Danzō sighed, leaning back in his chair in thought. "Has Kakashi reported back on his findings for the spy work he was assigned to?"

The Aburame Root shook his head. "I'm afraid not sir."

Danzō grimaced, but nodded slightly. "Very well... And still no word on the location the Kyuubi Jinchuriki resides now?"

The Root ANBU shook his head, before disappearing back within his wall.

Hiruzen, what have you been doing? No matter... Soon we'll know what the Uchiha are going to plan their Coup... And I'll have an Assassination against the Hokage through Kakashi when the time comes, and then eliminate the boy to cover my tracks.

(Later in the day)

Naruto was where he was before, sitting in the yard behind Itachi's home, with eyes closed as he concentrated as hard as he could on his chakra. Slowly, he lifted his left hand towards his forehead, a leaf in his fingers to place it against his forehead and carefully pressed it flat to skin. Directing his chakra, he attempted to keep it stuck where it was and slowly pulled his hand away. However, just before he was about to lower his arm completely the leaf blew from his face and burst into tiny infinitesimal shreds. "Noooo!" He exclaimed, before grumbling to himself and getting up.

He walked towards the nearby tree and reached up, grabbing another handful of leaves. Itachi-nii said this takes a long time, but this is impossible. He did it perfectly each time he showed it to me. He grumbled again, before sitting back down in the Lotus position and inhaled, before exhaling while closing his eyes once again. He slowly sunk into feeling his chakra network. The twisting, dark blue lines lighting up within his mind's eye. Along with the reddish-orange writhing mass near his belly. Something about that off colored chakra unsettled Naruto, but at the same time he found a comforting feeling from within whenever he passed his chakra thought that point as he lifted it to his forehead and focused on keeping the swirly bubbly feeling that was his chakra buzzing beneath skin. It tickles like that. He repeated his gesture from before, pressing the leaf to his forehead once again.

And cried out in dismay in just ten seconds as the leaf blew away and shredded into tiny particles.

"No luck?" Asked a voice which startled Naruto, turning around and then grinning up at Itachi who smiled down at him softly.

"No..." He admitted with a pout. "Why does the leaf keep... Blowing up."

Itachi laughed softly. "You're using too much chakra Naruto-kun. But you have a decent grasp of what needs to be done I think. We'll keep working on that until you can keep the leaf for a minute."

"Hmm... Okay." Naruto reached to grab another leaf. "Too much chakra..." He muttered to himself.

"If you use too little, the leaf won't stick. Too much, and the leaf flies away." Itachi sat down next to Naruto and smiled as the boy closed his eyes to concentrate. Black swirled into red with three tomoe, as the Uchiha prodigy watched the blond concentrate upon gathering his chakra. "Okay, lessen that amount as much as you can. It is still probably too much."

"Huh? But that's the least I think I can bring."

Itachi blinked in alarm. The least he can manage? How much chakra do you really have... I can tell it is dense, but without a byakugan I cannot tell for sure just how much or help him totally regulate it. He smiled a bit though. But that means he has lots of potential. And this is without using the chakra of the Fox... "Well... How would you say you're bringing the chakra up? Does it feel like lifting sand. Or grabbing thick mud."

"Super mega thick mud."

Itachi winced. "Ah... Well it might take a while then... So... Try to let the chakra you are 'grabbing' sift through your grip, like how you would let dirt and mud when you're playing, until you manage to get as little as you can. And start using that from there." He suggested.

"Umm... Huh?"

Itachi let out a sigh. That went over his head. "Open your eyes."

Naruto did so, turning to look at Itachi expectantly.

"Alright buddy." Itachi pressed his hand to the soft ground, grabbing a clump of dirt and clenching his fist carefully to grind the clump. "Look at it like this. This," He opened his hand to show Naruto the clumps of dirt. "Think of this like the chakra you're trying to use. This is too much. What do you do?"

Naruto frowned as he stared at Itachi's hand, before looking up to think. "Umm... Sift it?" He asked as he looked back.

"Very good. Sift it." He started moving his fingers, sifting the small specks of dirt from his hand as he showed his example. "However, since you say your chakra is like mud it won't be as easy, but it should still be possible. Even the thickest bit of mud will slowly drip away if you open your hand to let it. Try to do that with your chakra."

Naruto frowned in thought, letting out a long hum. "Umm... Oh. Like that... Okay." He grinned and closed his eyes to go back to his meditation and concentration.

Itachi smiled and rubbed the hair on Naruto's head affectionately, but lightly so as to not disturb him. Standing up, he walked back into the home and to where Shisui was in the kitchen. "Alright, I think it'll take a long time to get him ready for the Academy. I am glad I can teach him."

"He's lucky to have you for a teacher. You're good with him." Shisui said with a chuckle. "However... We need to talk about how much you owe me."

Itachi couldn't help but pale slightly. "Umm... I'll get you back when I go on missions?"

Shisui grinned. "I know. Anyways, I'm going to 'talk' to the Elders and give my 'report' on you from today."

"Good luck."

(Uchiha Clan Compound – Edge of Konoha)

Fugaku moved to sit down in his chair as the rest of the Clan Elders filed into the room. "Welcome, I believe Shisui is running a little late but we'll find out what he knows from his talk with Itachi today."

One of the Elders, an Uchiha with ash-gray hair and his eyes in a near permanent squint, nodded. "Hopefully we can get some decent intel. We need to do this."

"Yashiro-san, don't speak out of turn." A female Uchiha with long wavy hair, her cropped bangs hanging over her forehead protector.

Yashiro snorted. "I'll speak as I want Naori."

"Yashiro, don't antagonize. We're here to converse, not start infighting." Fugaku advised while waiting with his eyes closed.

"Apologies Fugaku-sama." Yashiro bowed, hiding his smirk just enough.

Naori sighed softly and closed her eyes to wait as well.

After a few minutes, the door to the room opened and Shisui walked in while having his left eye covered with a few bandages.

"Shisui! What happened?" One of the other Elders asked, startled at his appearance.

Shisui grinned weakly. "Sorry for being late everyone... I got sidetracked by a spar on the way here. Didn't use my Sharingan since it wasn't serious, and got hit on accident."

Fugaku opened his eyes to look at Shisui, before nodding. "I understand Shisui, good job keeping up your appearances. What did you find out?" He asked.

The rest of the Elders all turned to Shisui, who smiled. This caused the Elders to smile as well, especially Yashiro who had a wide grin.

"I learned a lot today." Shisui started, secretly activating the Mangekyou in his hidden left eye. Kotoamatsukami. He thought quickly before the others activated their own Sharingan, for even a moment, because it was a habit to occasionally do so. "We are to protect Konoha. They are willing to work with us once again, we have proven ourselves after the attack of the Kyuubi. The Coup is no longer necessary."

The entirety of the Elder's eyes blanked out slightly as they nodded.

Fugaku was the first to recover, who smiled. A genuine, relieved smile. "That is good. Yeah..." He smiled again.

Yoshiro nodded slowly, as if taking a while to come to terms with the declaration. As did the rest of the Elders who had the same agreement in mind.

(The Next Day)

Itachi watched with patience as Naruto managed to last a half minute, weaving chakra to maintain the leaf in place for as long as he could. He can reliably manage thirty seconds of this. He learns fast, which is good. However this is one of the easiest chakra control exercises... The Tree Walking one will be fun to watch.

Naruto groaned as he grabbed for another leaf.

"Don't be like that, you're getting better Naruto-kun." Itachi said with a prideful tone. "You're actually picking it up slightly slower than I did, and I learned it the quickest between me and my brother."

"Really?" The blond asked with surprise.

"Of course." Itachi ruffled the top of Naruto's head. "Don't feel bad you didn't get it right away. It takes practice to get anywhere. However, the only difference between me and you is the amount of chakra we have."

Naruto blinked in confusion. "People have a different... Chakra size?"

"Yeah." Itachi said with a nod. "I have maybe less than a tenth of what I've seen you manage. The problem I had was using too little, so the leaf took a while to stick to my head for the length of time my father wanted me to manage." He paused for a moment. "And it is not a size, but strength and amount they can draw upon." He rubbed Naruto's head affectionately again before standing up. "I'll go make dinner, you continue to practice." And with that he stood and walked into the house again and proceeded to begin to cook a dinner. However, he couldn't help but feel something was off about today. Must be my imagination. I'll take Naruto and go see Shisui later and see if he can help me with how to decide the best training schedule for when Naruto enters the Academy.

Alright, here is the third chapter. This should be the last bit before I move on to actually getting Naruto into the Academy. Now, obviously with one major event not happening lots should be changing from what would be Canon. First off, there would be a lot more Uchiha running around obviously. Also, there will be consequences for what I have done, that will play out in the future. One Shimura-clan sized problem? Or multiple? Look forward to the future to find out.

And just an FYI, Naruto is five-ish right now.

Which isn't saying much, cause a 7, yes seven, year old Itachi graduated from the Academy. Mastered his Sharingan at 8, Chunnin at 10, ANBU at 13. He's roughly 14/15 right now. As in, a young man. So it is obvious that the children of Naruto grow up fast mentally, to be able to handle the influx of y'know. Shinobi life. Sure they can still behave like well children, but I'm digressing at this point. Please R&R, and look forward to the next Chapter: Academy Bound! If you do Review, please note the things you liked, and anything you disliked within reasonable levels. I accept criticism. But blatant insults aren't something I particularly enjoy.

~VeloranDarkfyre