"What do you mean you can't teach me?" Kagami was devastated, horrified, and pained... but Yugao's broken expression stopped him from expressing it. He took in full stock of her, seeing her teary eyes, her soft pained face and the fluctuations of her chakra. "What happened?" He asked, soft as he could manage.

She kneeled down. "My lover, Hayate, the proctor for the Third exam,... he is dead. Killed by an unknown Ninja here in the village... I... I... I have to go back to guard duty as a result." She whispered. "I am a member of ANBU, I shouldn't tell you but I am trusting you to keep this a secret. I have to protect the village and hopefully avenge him. I am sorry, I would love to teach you, to mold you into the juggernaut you deserve to become... however I cannot. What I can do and did is prepare these scrolls for you, they are for your next steps in mastering Dancing Moon Kenjutsu." She handed him three scrolls, tightly bound and powerfully sealed. "Please, train hard and show what you can do."

He hugged her, to her shock. "I will keep your secrets, Sensei... be safe and if you need to vent, I am here."

She hugged him back. "I will remember that." And then she was gone, vanishing in a swirl of smoke, leaving him alone to study and train and become more than he was to defeat powerful genin including a madman like Gaara, a brooding douche like Neji and a brooding Uchiha... lovely.

Sighing, he hurried to the library. He had jutsu to study on, techniques to master and so on. He even made himself a list to work with, having molded it out the night before. He even labeled them in rank for focus.

1 -Increase speed with conditioning- Mainly for Gaara and Sasuke and Neji

2-Master next steps of Kenjutsu- Mainly for Sasuke, Temari and Gaara

3-Increase Taijutsu- For Neji, Temari and Sasuke.

4- Master Wind chakra manifestation - Mainly for Gaara

5Water and Fire and Wind Jutsu- For Gaara and Sasuke

6-Silent Killing- Sasuke and Neji

7-Sensory powers to work through mist/smoke

8-Increase Genjutsu powers just in case...- For everyone

Points one and three could be done at the same time, incorporating taijutsu into conditioning was easy. Same with point two, his kenjutsu, one some level. The rest of it would be very hard to master, with wind chakra manifestation through his blade being easier as he could already do it on a weaker level. Learning Jutsu, to deal with Gaara's sand, would be harder, it just wasn't his style but it would do him wonders. He needed more raw power jutsu to capitalize on his massive reserve of powerful chakra and his great control.

He would mostly focus on his kenjutsu and wind chakra potency and speed, that is what would keep him alive with Gaara. If Lee's physical blows could keep him on his toes, then a powerful slicing blow enhanced by wind would be enough to get through that shield and cut the boy to ribbons.

He had one month, one bone breaking, soul crushing month ahead of him and damn it he would master all he could, work himself to the bone... he could do it. To steal a stupid phrase from his brother, Believe it!

"""

Three days later

"Snake, Dragon, Rat, Tiger!" Gathering his chakra into his lungs, Kagami felt power boiling within before he unleashed a thin stream of fire. It wasn't much but it was a good start. It was progress, the scroll said most people had trouble casting the C rank jutsu at all due to the focus needed for it. "Okay,.. I wonder how much stronger it will be at full force, or even better with wind chakra enhancing it?"

"Probably rather powerful." He jumped, turning to face a man who he had never seen before. The man was tall and broad with white hair and a wart on his large nose. Red tear lines dragged down from his eyes. He radiated powerful, dense chakra. "You've got talent, Sensei was right."

"Who the hell are you?"

In a puff of smoke, a Toad appeared. "The Gallant, Jiraiya!"

"Oh, you're an idiot like Naruto... great."

The man frowned. "No appreciation for drama and a proper entrance, like your brother... pity... "

"You know Naruto?"

"Who do you think is training him?"

Frowning, he asked. "In what?"

The man got close. "How to control your other chakra. I can help you to do-"

"No." Jiraiya stopped, stunned. "I refuse to rely on his power."

"You dishonor the Fourth Hokage by not wielding that power for the village."

Anger and killer intent exploded from Kagami so potently that even the Sanin recoiled. "Boohoo, this village sure as hell doesn't deserve my or the Fox's power, not with what it has done to Naruto and I! I couldn't care less about the Fourth Hokage's wishes, he doomed us to a life of hate, isolation and misery. Fuck him and you. Now go before I kill you, or at least try my damndest."

::

Jiraiya gaped, hearing Minato's son so... hateful towards his father, it felt wrong... and yet he could not entirely blame the boy for his reaction. He knew how the boy had been treated by the village. "If you change your mind, find me. I'll be with your brother. I know you are to face hte genius Uchiha, you might need-"

The boy turned. " I am faster and stronger than Sasuke, have been since graduation and I have only gotten better, I don't need or want your help, Jiraiya. Back off." The boy's hand was close to his blade, cold hate radiating from every fiber of his being.

As was a tiny fraction of the Fox's aura, he could feel it leaking from the boy. "If you are sure..."

And then he vanished, leaving his godson alone, hating that he would never get the chance to help him... but sure he would come begging for that help when he realized how helpless he would be without it. Especially against Gaara...

"""

Shaking, Kagami sat down, mediating as before he reached the ground. Desperate to gain control over his rampant hate, breathed in and out, only to feel water around his fingers. "Huh?" Opening his eyes, he saw that he was no longer outside, but was in what looked like a basement. "Is this a genjutsu?" Biting his lip til it bled, nothing happened. Turning he jumped, seeing a massive cage with the Nine Tailed Fox looking at him in curiosity. He was a brown Fox, with a malicious smile and a radiant, Yin focused aura. "Hi there." Kagami shocked himself by saying.

The Fox laughed. "Hello, my host, it is an honor to meet you." There was malice there but no hate. "What draws you to tap into my powers?"

"Huh? I wasn't, I was just really, really pissed... but that is enough, right? Anger? That is what got Naruto to tap into your other half."

The Fox nodded. "That is enough... yes... Your anger, I feed on it, I drink on it, it nourishes me... and yet, I will not take you over. Unlike your brother, who is a fool, you are wise and you work hard. You recognize the power of your hatred, you allow yourself to be strengthened through it and your anger, you do not dismiss it... I will help you, willingly if it comes down to it."

Nodding with a gape, Kagami smiled at the Fox. "Thank you... I... I am sorry you are in me. I can only imagine this shithole of a village earned your attack, if how they treat me is any indication."

The Fox laughed. "They did... I will make you a deal, beat Shukaku's host and I will not only grant you my power but I will tell you the truth of what happened... I will also tell you your parents' names."

Stepping forward, he spiked his chakra unintentionally. "You would... really?"

"Yes, my boy... I know and I will tell you what you crave. Now go... train and prove the power of my host!"

A surge of chakra knocked him away, leaving him back to his body. "I will do this... I will prove my worth and he will tell me their names... and finally I will know. He is probably doing this to manipulate me, but I can handle it..."

:::

Kurama chuckled, drinking deep of the boy's loathing, his hatred. He would make a powerful host, maybe even a real ally. The boy hated the Leaf as much as he did, more in fact but the boy's mind could not handle the full hate and so repressed it. It would come out though as he got stronger, as he merged with the Yami he held. Unlike Naruto and his otherside, he could play with this power within Kagami and that meant everything. He would gain his revenge and the Leaf would pay...

If that meant playing good with Kagami... so be it. The boy was not that bad, he might even make a decent ally...

It would be nice to not be so alone, to have a real conversation for once, it had been so long... far too long. It was making him soft. Damn that Minato!

Laying back, Kurama watched his host training, knowing the boy would defeat Shukaku's host and the Uchiha. He was talented, powerful and driven. He was the superior twin and with his skills they had so much possible. A far brighter future and one day he might even gain his other half back once more...

It was all coming together...

Finally coming together...