It's been three months since Shisui had taken Naruto under his wing. Naruto had started to make slow, but amazing progress. While he wasn't genin level in terms of strength yet he was ten times better than he was a few months ago. Shisui already finished teaching the blonde all about the basics of a shinobi, from chakra control to elemental jutsu, and the different types of methods that shinobi can battle with. While learning these methods, he and Shisui found the ones best suited for Naruto's future. While Naruto wasn't big on fuinjutsu, which would have probably made his parents frown. He found unrequited love for genjutsu and ninjutsu. He wasn't keen on learning kenjutsu, and taijutsu is a must for any shinobi for hand to hand combat.

Another trait that Naruto excelled in was surprisingly, chakra control. After learning the fundamentals with Shisui, he was given a task to expand his chakra pool along with learning how to control it. And after the three months he already completed the tree walking exercise and water walking.

"Feel the chakra flow through your body, not too much to overload your coils."

Naruto, who was sitting in the center of his room thought to himself, looking at the long sprawled out blue scroll that was open in front of him. His eyes scanned over the scroll for what seemed like the 100th time. This scroll was a gift given to him by Shisui about one week ago, it was his first attempt at a real jutsu, not the basic academy jutsu like, Bunshin, kawarimi, and henge. No, this was his first attempt at a real nature manipulation jutsu! Having figured out what chakra nature he held, Shisui gave me a scroll to work on that corresponded with his nature.

FLASHBACK

"Okay Naruto this is called chakra paper, this will help you figure out what chakra nature you have."

Naruto reached out and grabbed the paper from Shisui's hands. It was small, no bigger than his palm. He gave a frown and looked at the paper with skeptical eyes "How will paper help with nature chakra?"

Shisui chucked and reached into his pouch to pull out a second piece of paper. "Well let me finish baka." Naruto sent a glare his way "This paper is special, it's made from a special tree that has chakra running through it constantly. With even a tiny drop of chakra this paper will tell you exactly what chakra nature you have. Or in other words, Chakra affinity."

Naruto took a few moments to process the information. After seeing Naruto nod, he continued. "Now Naruto-kun, watch."

Just as Naruto had Shisui's paper in his sights. The Uchiha sent a small pulse of chakra into the chakra paper and it ignited into a small ball of fire before crumbling to ash in Shisui's palm. Naruto looked on shocked. "As you clearly saw my paper caught fire, meaning that my chakra affinity is fire. If your paper wrinkles up then you have Lighting. If it becomes wet and soggy then you have Water. If it splits in half then you have wind, and if your paper turns to dirt and crumbles away then you have earth."

Naruto nodded, finally understanding. He looked down at the chakra paper in front of him. He sent a small pulse of chakra, and the result surprised him. The paper was now completely drenched with water, the paper falling limp in his palm. Even Shisui raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"So that means I have a water affinity?"

Shisui nodded. His hand coming up to rub his chin. "Yes. And a pretty strong one at that. Which is odd since I'm pretty sure neither of your parents have an affinity for water. You developed this all on your own kid!" he said with a chuckle making Naruto beam. He reached into his pouch once again and pulled out a small blue scroll.

"Here, this is a D rank water ninjutsu. I have a mission to go to but I'll be back within the week. But I want you prancing this while I'm gone."

- FLASHBACK END -

And practice Naruto did, every waking moment was spent learning this low level jutsu. The technique was 'Water Style: Spitting Fish'. A low D Rank ninjutsu that was mainly taught to academy students who lived in Kiri. It was a fairly simple jutsu. Where the user lets out a single jet of water from the mouth. While not used for real battles, its main purpose used for infiltration missions and gaining people's attention. "Okay, only two hand seals. Inu, ram. Water Style: Spitting Fish!"

Suddenly a small jet of water shot from his mouth shooting off into his bedroom wall. It wasn't strong enough to create a dent, but the water dripping down was a sign of his success. Naruto's eyes lit up. He did it, he finished his first elemental jutsu!

"I did it! I finally did it, Shisui-niisan is gonna be so proud!"

"Hey Naruto keep it down up there! Now hurry and get down here dinner's almost ready!"

Naruto faltered slightly at being addressed by his yelling mother downstairs. It was the first time he's been called down for dinner all week. Suddenly a lightbulb appeared over Naruto, maybe he could finally show what he was capable of to his parents! Maybe they could finally start training him. Naruto raced downstairs to see his siblings already seated at the table, his tou-san also seated listening intently to what they were saying. As usual his family didn't say anything about his presence in the room and if they noticed him, they didn't show it. He took the first seat he could, at the end of the table so his kaa-san could sit next to tou-san.

"Tou-san, kaa-san! Guess what I learned today!" Naruto yelled, practically jumping in his seat. He didn't feel the annoying looks his siblings sent his way. Minato raised an eyebrow, finally seeing Naruto since he arrived at the dinner table.

"When did Naruto get here?"

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait Naruto. Natsu and Narumi were in the middle of telling me about their training with kaa-san today." Naruto felt his face start to fall, "Am I really not important enough to them? That they won't even let me talk?"

"Then Kakashi-niisan said that it was already about high genin level!" Narumi yelled happily, with Natsu nodding his head along enthusiastically, Naruto saw his father smile wide. It felt like a knife was plunged deep into his heart. "You guys are progressing so fast! How about after dinner me and your mother show you those fire and wind techniques we promised you both!"

Naruto snapped his head to his father in utter shock. His eyes went wide as the two remaining children yelled happily "Yes please tou-san! I already mastered that low level fire jutsu you gave to me last week!" Natsu said loudly, making Naruto physically flinch.

"They already started training with their chakra nature?"

Kushina came up to the table, a big bowl of steaming ramen placed in the center, a huge goofy smile on her face "Oh yes our little shinobi's in training are doing just wonderful!"

Naruto listened to his family happily talk about how far Narumi and Natsu were along. And it only reminded Naruto by how weak he was in comparison. Sure he had Shisui now, and he's been the happiest he has ever been in the last few months. But seeing this, his family was a constant reminder by how far behind Naruto really was. He was a shadow, a shadow that the Namikaze family wanted to forget. He clenched his fists under the table, trying hard not to let any tears get by.

Unlucky for him, Natsu saw his Otōto's sudden attitude change. While Natsu was slightly curious why his mother and father never really gave Naruto any attention, and always refused the idea of training Naruto whenever he asked. He came to the simple conclusion a long time ago, that he and Narumi were just more special then Naruto. They were the Jinchūriki of the most powerful bijuu! Of course they would need all the attention they could get. An ordinary child doesn't need all the extra help. He felt a smug grin glide across his face, not realizing how the next few moments will drastically affect Naruto.

"Awe, is my Otōto sad that his siblings are so much stronger than him."

Naruto closed his eyes tight, a few tears leaking out. Unknown to him, his mother and father were slightly worried about his sudden shift of attitude. Natsu felt Narumi elbow him in the side telling him to stop. That didn't deter Natsu. "Of course why would our parents waste time on such a loser like you!"

"Shut up!" Naruto yelled, his eyes opening wide as he tried his best to glare at his brother, each word felt like a dagger slowly slicing him up. He heard his parents try and get Natsu to stop. But nothing stopped his onslaught

"That's right baka, you're a weak loser that nobody likes! And when I'm the clan heir, I'll make sure you get what you deserve and take you out of the clan!"

"Shut up!"

Without warning Naruto's chakra began to fluctuate, his hands moving at academy level speeds and using the jutsu he learned just an hour ago. Water Style: Spitting Fish. The small jet of water went ahead and shot itself over at Natsu, hitting him right between the eyes. His sudden rant was closed to a halt as he fell backwards, stumbling to keep his balance bumping into Narumi and taking both down to the ground. Unfortunately Narumi's leg caught the tablecloth and sent the large oversized pot of ramen to the floor shattering into a thousand pieces. Both parents reacted almost instantly, with Minato catching his falling kids while Kushina grabbed Naruto out of the way of the falling ramen.

Minato helped his kids to the floor, making sure they were on their feet before looking back at Naruto. Minato sent a cold glare to his son, hoping it would come off fatherly.

How wrong he was.

"Naruto. I don't know where you learned that but you never, and I mean NEVER use jutsu like that out of a spar. You could have seriously Injured your brother."

Naruto's tear stricken face morphed into fear. His father's cold eyes looked down at him while his mother looked over her two kids for any damages. "B-but t-tou-"

"No buts! I want you to apologize for attacking your brother like that right now." Minato said, his arm pointing over to Natsu. While Natsu wasn't in any pain, he was shocked to see the use of a water jutsu. He heard his sister mutter how disappointed she was in them both. But he didn't care, he kept his smug grin as he watched his little brother try and apologize to him.

Naruto couldn't stop the sudden tears, he was getting yelled at, not the brother who called him useless, weak and a loser to the clan. He couldn't find his voice, his tongue now felt big in his mouth. All words gone, and now fear and sadness flashed In his eyes as he looked at his father. An angry and disappointed glare looking at the eight year old.

"I-im s-s.."

Minato shook his head irritated "That's it. Naruto go to your room. Since you wont apologize you get no dinner today. I expect an apology to the whole family come breakfast tomorrow morning." Minato said, his eyes narrowing at the blonde

"Do I make myself clear?"

Naruto nodded frantically, without saying a single word he ran upstairs and into his small room. The looks of disappointment and anger he received by his family were now etched into his brain forever. He curled up in his messy bed, his tears staining the sheets as he sobbed silently. It wasn't fair, all he wanted was a family, a family to love him. Naruto sniffled, grabbing the headband that Shisui gave to him and hugging it to his chest. Only Shisui-niisan truly cared about him. He is the only family he had. He finally saw the reality, how sick he was to think that this was a family. The words of Natsu snapping gently into place. He would prove them wrong, he would get strong without their help. He opened his bloodshot eyes, pushing the headband upwards and wrapping it around his forehead. Pushing back his depression and changing it to determination. He will grow stronger, he has Shisui-nissan and the academy. He didn't need special treatment, he didn't need this so-called family. Using his arm he wiped away his remaining tears.

"I'll become strong. I swear it."