Disclaimer: I do not own naruto.

Jiraiya left the temple soon that evening, much to Naruto's displeasement, because he knew nobody in the place. as such, he is pretty much on his own.

So, he sat in his simple room. Two tables, one meant for writing and the other for eating. Few cabinets, cupboards and stuff like that, while the bathroom was decorated in plainly, but it still had everything a person would ever and never need. But there was one thing that clearly made the room look warm and welcoming. The usage of earth tones all over the place. and the clever arrangement for comfort and ease.

The blue-eyed boy glanced out of the window, and outside those wooden panels they stood, an array of wonderful flowers, radiating its' wonderful assortment of colors. Allured, the blonde walked softly towards them, and he slowly sat next to the beautiful flowers, admiring their beauty. Then, his little gazing wandered to a cherry blossom, at the edge of a small, gardenlike lake. Instantly, he was reminded of Sakura.

"Hi." The blonde's thoughts were instantly sliced to a million bits, and his eyes turned to glimpse at the intruding person. Before him, was a girl, much older than him, definately, but still within the age range of twenty to thirty. She continued, with a silky voice, smooth and unwavering. "Who are you?"

Trying to be polite, because he is after all in a temple, far away in the mountains. He'd definately wanted to make some friends. "I'm Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto."

"I see, the new kid. I'm Hinako. Anyway, since you are new, why don't I show you around the temple? If it doesn't bother you, that is." She gave a small little smile, but to Naruto, it was more than enough to ease his slight fear, so he nodded.

Naruto followed Hinako, and she began to give a small lecture. "Naruto, when you meet someone older than you, it's important for you to give a small bow." The blonde nodded.

Then, they passed through a large stone path, leading to a large three-story building. "This is the library, all the scrolls, books and every other reading material is stored." After a short walk, they arrived at a beautful garden, "This is the Meditation Garden, you'd probably come here often, it's the first phase of your training." Then, they went on to arrive a the large stone plaza that Naruto passed through when he came. "This is the first training ground." Then, they arrived a small place, filled with tall, thin logs standing upright. "This is the second training ground." Then, they arrived at anoter building, but it has lots of chimneys. "This is the kitchen. Come here when you are hungry to take some food."

Naruto interrupted, "Any ramen?"

"... I don't know. Ask the chef." Then, they continued on to arrive at a large two story complex. "This is also another training ground. They are actually more training grounds, but the rest of them are in the woods or further down the cliffs... Did I miss something..." She clicked her fingers, and they continued to arrive at a narrow but long open ground with wooden dummies at the other end of the open ground.

"Let me guess. Accuracy?"

Hinako nodded her head, "Yes. But we mainly use it for archery, but I guess it can also be used for other long range training... Well, that's all."

Then, another bald man came along, in his hand, he held a staff.

"Hinako!"

"Yes, sensei." The girl bowed slightly.

"Aren't you supposed to be meditating?"

"...I was showing Naruto around." She smirked slightly, her fingers fiddling with her own hair.

"... I see. Naruto, would you come with me, please?" The old man called, then, he turned to face Hinako, and he said plainly, "Go. You should be meditating, I'll inform Naruto on his senseis."

Hinako bowed, and she walked away silently.

"Now, Naruto. I'll introduce you to your senseis."

"... Can I ask something?"

"Go ahead."

"Why someone like Hinako is here? I thought temples are for old people." This question prompted the old man to laugh.

"If you say so, why are you here?"

"I'm here cause I was told that someone can train me."

"Well, Hinako is here because she is also here to train and control herself." The old man said plainly. "I believe I am not properly introduced to you yet. I'm Takashi. I'm a former chuunin, but I'm retired."

"Chuunin? That's the same as Iruka-sensei."

"Well, yes. But that was thirty years ago. Anyway, I'll be teaching you for the first phase of your training."

---------

'So dark... Where am I?'

Then, it flashed over him, endlessly and ceaselessly echoing. "Hate. You don't have enough hate." He trembled, and those simple terms sent shivers down his spine. His hands shook again, and he felt sick to the core. The hair on his skin stood on it's end, and he felt cold, vacant inside. Then, out of the shadows, he heard even more words.

"You are weak." A voice stirred the idle air.

Anger, and fear boiled inside his soul, he hated to be called 'weak.' He believed that he was never weak, he believed that he could defeat anyone.

"You are useless."

He turned around to face the voice. "...Who... Who... Are you?"

"Scaredy cat. Is this who Uchiha Sasuke is? Someone who had to rely on others to obtain power?"

He turned around again, and he felt cold, alone and vulnerable.

"Stupid brother. This is what you are then? Weak, useless, and cowardly." Itachi's voice echoed in the dark place.

Sasuke screamed, "NO! I'm not weak! I'll kill you!"

"Moron. You'll never beat me. Never." The Uchiha prodigy turned, and he screamed in anger.

"So, this is Uchiha Sasuke. Useless. I thought he swore to kill Itachi. It seems that the Uchiha clan has declined since your betrayal, Itachi."

The black haired genin spinned, and he felt angry, and yet he also felt... weak.

"Coward! You are never strong. You are a parasite, not worthy of existing. You feed on others to gain strength," A dark laughter feeled the place. "What a useless bug. He can never be as strong as his brother."

Sasuke turned around to face the voice again, and he trembled. He felt vulnerable, angry and worst of all, he felt like dying.

"Go ahead. Die. Then, you will never be able to surpass your brother. You are nothing."

"Sasuke, Sasuke. You are weak. How can you hold our family name? You are not worthy to be an Uchiha, you are not even worthy to be a genin. No village would accept you."

"I agree, Uchiha-san. This kid is useless. He will never be strong. Orochimaru has poor tastes, don't you think?"

"Hate me, my stupid brother. Go on. Because that is what you will only be able to do; in the end, you still need to rely on power of other ninjas. Go on, stupid Sasuke. You are blind. Blind! You can never surpass me, because you cannot even surpass the copy ninja. You can't even surpass Naruto. Weak! A bug, easily squashed. Expendable, the Hokage would have killed you if not for her kindness, and her desire to preserve the bloodline. Weak! That is how you are, my little brother. Always hiding behind the back of others."

Sasuke screamed angrily, "I'm not WEAK!"

"Prove it." The voices said simultaneously. "Without relying on anyone else. Without using the curse seal of Orochimaru. Can you do it?"

Sasuke trembled, his legs shook ceaselessly.

"You are weak, then." Malevolent chuckles filled his mind. "Weakling. The Uchiha clan has no need of such a weakling."

"I should have killed you earlier, because you are humiliating our family name. No, my family name. You are not worthy of the title."

Sasuke screamed again, but there are hints of uncertainty in his voice. "I... will be strong without the snake's help. Then, I'll kill you. I swear it."

"You'll be dead before that." Then, more dark laughter in the room.

"I will kill you, Itachi! I don't need Orochimaru, or anyone else to help me defeat you." He yelled again, but now the hints of uncertainty are gone.

Then, it all faded to black. Then, a small light crept through his opening eyelids.

------

The new character, Hinako, will not be Naruto's girlfriend, just in case anyone wonders. She'll only be a friend.

Sorry for taking up your time. I am a very poor writer, so I apologize for any mistakes I might have done unconsciously, and any problems.