Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor Naruto Shippuden save for some OC characters that may be introduced in this story.

Chapter: Prologue

We have two young boys staring down at each other as both have accessed their demonic powers after a long, tiring bout with one another. The Final Valley… a place where the fate of these boys are decided by combat against one another. These two boys were bitter rivals against each other. They were like day and night. Yang to Yin. Even the lives they both live up to are polar opposites to each other.

On one side of the Final Valley, we have a blue haired grey skinned boy with hatred and lust for power in both of his Sharingan. He was the greatest prodigy of his year. Sasuke Uchiha, a self-proclaimed would-be avenger of the great Uchiha Clan. He hates everything that is standing before him, especially the one who is threatening his plan of carrying out his vengeance.

"Dobe, I should be thanking you. For you to come to me, I can finally rid myself of your annoyance and focus on restoring the Uchiha! I've been looking for excuses to kill you since we've been on the team from day 1 and now...Here we are!"

Sasuke chuckled maliciously as he started to charge up a spark of black lightning in his left hand.(1) It was clear what he intended to do! He is going to make sure he can finally kill the blonde haired boy in front of him!

On the other side of the Final Valley, we have a blonde haired boy with blood red slitted pupils and thickened whisker marks. He was surrounded by red chakra that formed into a shape of a one tailed fox. He growled as his right hand was forming a purple sphere. (2)

"Damn it, you are really going for the kill aren't you, teme?! I'll bring you back to Sakura-chan as I prom-"

Sasuke cruelly laughed as he rebuked Naruto's determination. How foolish can this idiot be?! He will not return willingly! Not unless he wants to give up an opportunity for greater power than what that baka of a teacher Kakashi has to offer to him!

"Dobe, when will you comprehend that that foolish girl will NEVER be loved nor will she have me? She's not worthy of the Uchiha's resurrection! Clinging onto me will be her greatest demise one day and I'll be happy to see that to the end!"

In Naruto's head, a dark scoff was heard as Sasuke announced his intention on what he'd do with Sakura once he's done with Naruto.

"Kit, can we just kill him? I know you want to bring him back to Konoha to fulfill your promise to that harpy but it's clear that even if we do return him, he's still a loose cannon and there's no telling when he may try to kill you again. He is intending to make sure you die."

Naruto shook his head, understanding why Kyuubi is voicing his concerns for his well-being. Contrary to what some may think, Kyuubi and Naruto are actually on good terms with each other. Ever since Naruto managed to interact with him during their first meeting during his training for the chunin exams.

(Flashback)

As Naruto managed to find the seal in front of him, he saw a large pair of red eyes with demonic aura behind the seal. The boy wearing orange feels a shiver down his spine, knowing this encounter will not be an easy one.

"Ah is it my Ningen jailer? Fufufu... I see our lives are in peril, boy. I assume you're after my chakra, are you not?"

Naruto lifts his eyes up from the ground, observing the seal works. Whoever designed this seal is truly a genius in every sense of the work, he noted. He walks closer to the seal of the door, which surprises Kyuubi seeing the boy being so brave yet foolish to stand closer to him than he originally believed.

"Actually, Kyuubi, I'm not just here for that. This is my first time here and this IS my first time meeting you. I always wanted to see what you're like and I gotta say, you're more intense than I originally predicted...hahaha.."

Naruto chuckled nervously as deep down he was actually afraid of Kyuubi but he genuinely wants to get to know the fox before actually judging it to be evil. All these years, the villagers assumed him to be the fox's reincarnation and called him evil while the shinobis, especially the Uchiha clan officers regarded him as "too dangerous to be kept alive". Luckily for Naruto, Hiruzen managed to keep him close and watched before anyone would seriously plan to hurt him.

"Hmph. Boy, don't you suck up to me. I may be the Kyuubi no Kitsune but I do not permit you to look upon me to suck up on! Seriously, you Ningens pisses me off!"

Naruto laughs innocently, confusing the fox and grins happily at him, infuriating the kyuubi as he doesn't understand what made the boy so happy. Why is he smiling?! He is the most hateful being in existence yet some human is actually welcoming his presence instead of instantly hating him?

"Kyuubi, I'm not sucking up to you. I can just tell how much you hate humans just by looking at you. If I have to guess, you never asked to be in the position you're in. Just like I never asked to have you sealed in me, you never asked to be a part of me. If I were to make a deduction...On October 10th, on the night of my birth, some guy tricked you into attacking Konoha and as soon as you're free from his control, you try to retreat as you was in a brief moment of freedom after years of being sealed, you managed to get sealed in here by the Yondaime Hokage and ever since then, you sworn eternal hatred towards humanity?"

The Kyuubi's eyes widened as he cannot believe his host, albeit incompletely, managed to deduce what happened on the night of his birth and of his circumstances. This human is very smart. He'd normally expect his host to hate him for ruining his life and for being as tainted as he is. Naruto Uzumaki is truly unpredictable!

"Half-right, that much I'll give ya, gaki! I expected you to be a scatterbrain, but I guess you're as calculating as your precious Yondaime. Very well, I shall give you a sip of my powers. Use it wisely for your body can't handle too much for no-"

Naruto gave Kyuubi a very serious yet warm glance, which surprises him. Before he gives the boy his chakra, Naruto sits down. This boy is definitely interesting.

"Hold on, Kyuubi. I believe that I am entitled to some answers and you, being a mass of energy that has consciousness since the beginning of birth, should be able to answer some of my questions. Given that we are still here, it's a sign I am still alive and therefore, we still have time, no?"

Kyuubi huffed in annoyance as he didn't expect his host to be a demanding sort of human. Smart, he likes that but demanding? Hopefully he's not like those blasted Uchihas!

"Fine, whatever, you fucking Gaki. Go ahead and ask so you can get out of my sight! You're a sore sight!"

Naruto nodded. He can understand why Kyuubi is annoyed. The fox doesn't like humans at all. After all these years witnessing humans fighting among each other and using him as a tool of war or war deterrent, why wouldn't he be upset?

"First off, what is your actual name? I don't think you were always called Kyuubi...Surely you have a name you go by?"

Kyuubi, actually taking interest in the boy, stood up and swung his nine tails around as if he was excited to hear someone finally ask this. He is the first human to actually ask him for his name!

"Oh so you don't look at me as a tool?"

Naruto shook his head, declining to look at Kyuubi as such. He's not an idiot. After all, he was potentially a tool himself because through Kyuubi, he can act as a war deterrent for Konoha to use in case a possible war may break out.

"Why would I? You're more than a mass of Chakra, Kyuubi. Given how you're able to comprehend basic emotions such as hatred, you're definitely alive and well. A tool has no emotions, no will of its own. You're not a tool, Kyuubi. You're an ally or an enemy, depending on how you view me as of now."

Kyuubi nodded his head and tapped his index claw against the ground as if he was thinking about something. For a young boy, Naruto is so wise. So wise it reminds him of the Yondaime, goddamnit! And he really hates the man for trapping him, even if he respects this boy to an extent!

"You will be the first ningen since the Rikudo Sennin to know my name, well actually the first since the Rikudo WAS the one to give me my name...I won't give it to you or at least not right now. You have to earn that shit. I refuse to have a container that gets shits handed to him without proving he deserves the rights to those shits."

Naruto smiles and understands that logic. It wouldn't be much fun if he can't go through trials to earn what he seeks from the fox. Maybe he is entitled to some knowledge but this isn't one of them and both of them know this.

"I understand, Kyuubi-san. I want to prove my worth to you as your container. If facing challenges is what proves to you I'm worthy of knowing your actual name, so be it!"

Kyuubi covered his mouth to hide the fact he was slightly chuckling. He can't afford to have his host see him looking soft.

"Anyway, my next question. Can you explain to me about my parents, if you know about them and what happened on that night?"

Oh this question. This shouldn't surprise Kyuubi. This is the one question he can actually answer, but he knows he has to make it quick. Naruto is probably as aware of it as he is but while time in the mindscape is significantly slower than the outside world's time, Naruto's body is still in danger.

"Your father...your detestable father just so happened to be that blasted ningen who locked me up here!"

Naruto was suspicious for quite some time about this but now he knows for sure...the Yondaime IS his father! The man he looked up to his entire life is his father!

"I fucking knew it. Why didn't Jiji mention it? He kept saying my parents were just normal shinobis that gave their lives…"

Sensing insecurities in the boy, Kyuubi knows this is his chance to manipulate Naruto into removing the seal. However, just before he considered doing so, he sensed an immensely large amount of potential in Naruto. If what he believes is to be true, Naruto has the potential to match or even surpass Madara Uchiha, that blasted man who controlled him that night! Hell, this brat can quite possibly surpass even the Rikudo Sennin if Kyuubi actually gave him a chance! He opted to tell the truth, knowing that by doing so, he can actually help Naruto become more powerful than what he could've been had he actively keeps screwing him over just to escape. Besides, compared to Madara returning for him, he'd rather stay sealed in Naruto!

"Ahem. As for your mother, She's Kushina Uzumaki, The Red Death of the Uzumaki Clan. She was my second host although...I never communicated with her. Now for the rest of the stor-"

Naruto quickly interrupted Kyuubi as he heard "Uzumaki Clan". Wait. There's family for him out there?!

"Wait, Uzumaki?! Are you saying I have families this whole time and they didn't come for me?!"

Before Naruto even has a chance to feel sadness, Kyuubi ends up snapping at him for being so impatient. This boy really needs to not jump into conclusions!

"Gaki, pipe down before I actually let you die! And Yes, there's an Uzumaki Clan, Naruto. Fret not about your clan, since they didn't abandon you...from what I heard in the outside world through Kushina's ears, Uzushiogakure, the former home of the Uzumaki...was destroyed long before your birth. Now, let me finish my story, dammit!"

Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he found out his ancestral home was gone and quite possibly, the rest of his clan along with it. He wanted to do more research on his family's legacy and get down to why they were destroyed along with their homeland. As much as he was paying attention to the rest of Kyuubi's tales, he can't help but have one thought.

"I must do everything I can to get every information I can find on my clan."

Kyuubi saw a simmer of determination in Naruto's eyes and while he can't sense the Blonde Uzumaki's full intentions, he can tell that his jinchuriki wasn't thinking about Konoha nor the Hokage spot. No, this is far more personal for him!

"Kit, we do not have too much time before we actually die. Stand up and I will transfer a small portion of my Chakra."

Naruto nodded and stood up, signalling to Kyuubi that he's ready to give him some of his almighty powers. Naruto is actually being more reasonable than one would expect of him. Then again, he's much different on his own than he would be around other Konoha-nins. He knows too well that Kyuubi can't be fooled by his mask. Ironic how these Konoha shinobis boast about producing the best of the best yet they can't pick up on the fact that he's significantly smarter than they ever thought of him. All because he's a kid who reminded them of what they lost that night.

"Kit, I will have to warn you. Don't get too cozy with the Sandaime nor with that pervert of a Sannin of a teacher. If they are willing to go as far as to hide the fact Uzushiogakure exists nor even cover the fact that the Uzumaki Clan actually existed from you, they could as well hide everything you need to know about your family or what you should be learning."

At this time, Naruto was considering that Kyuubi was trying to manipulate him but was proven to be truthful as a week after meeting Kyuubi and being saved from falling to death, he directly went to Sandaime and Jiraiya. When he asked the Sandaime of the possibility of the existence of the Uzumaki Clan, he noticed that the aged Hokage's body starts to shift slightly before repeated to Naruto that the Uzumaki Clan is not an actual clan but rather just the last name of one of his parent's own, which while this is technically true, Naruto knew that the old man won't be entirely honest to him about his family. Hell, Konoha must have hidden the secrets of the Uzumaki Clan in its records somewhere away from the public's eyes, in hopes that Naruto wouldn't realize he has a family even if they do not tell him about his parents.

Try as he might, he couldn't find much about the Uzumaki Clan just by asking around. Then he realizes one thing. What if he tries to steal scrolls containing their secrets? For now, Sandaime and Jiraiya are being cautious about him. He'll have to wait until the opportunity presents itself to find scrolls on them.

"Kyuubi-san, I can't kill the teme, or at least not right now. Konoha needs him. Sakura-Chan needs him. Besides, even if they didn't, I can sorta understand where Sasuke's coming from. After all, I never even get to know my own Clan because I've been lied to my entire life. I also have to do Mikoto-Chan a favor in trying to redeem her son!"

Kyuubi scoffs at this notion, believing that Sasuke is too evil and lustful for power to listen to Naruto. Naruto, as smart and cunning as he may be, is still too optimistic about Sasuke being willing to listen. The Uchiha Clan bar one member, Mikoto Uchiha, had been treating Naruto so poorly that mercy shouldn't even be an option to him by now! What would Mikoto think of Sasuke now if she was still alive? Would she side with him? Would she stand against her own son? Naruto shook his head and knew in his heart that Mikoto wouldn't want her son casting everything aside for the sake of a quest he may fail.

"Teme, listen to me. I'm giving you one last damn chance to be reasonable and surrender. Your kaa-chan would not be happy about seeing you regress to this dark path. Once you start going deeper into this evilness of yours, I'm afraid that one day, I may have to kill you and I don't want to have to kill you. If you praise evil, I will praise good and reject you and your ways. Stand down and come back to Konoha willingly! It doesn't have to be this way!"
Sasuke in response to Naruto's words laughed maniacally. Who is this deadlast ordering around?! The Uchiha boy lunged towards Naruto at an almost lightning-fast speed, intending to end this dobe's life.

"Dobe, I've had it with your annoying words! I am your superior! You should kneel before me. Seeing as you still forgot about the hierarchy, I'll pardon you with blood. You know nothing about me nor my family! Don't you dare talk about MY Kaa-san like you know her!"

Naruto growled angrily and dash towards Sasuke with the purple sphere at hand, knowing that there's no other way to get Sasuke to listen to him. Ugh, he is so stubborn like him! He knows there's only one way this fight will have to end and it is to beat the living pulps out of the Uchiha boy to the point of unconsciousness! Deciding there's no more needs to be said, he starts to thrust the sphere at Sasuke as Sasuke was thrusting his fist full of black lightning towards Naruto.

"Chidori/Rasengan!"

The clash of both techniques was enough that it started blowing away the water and chips away the rocks of the statues. The friction created by both techniques was such that it's hard to distinguish a clear winner of this clashing. Sasuke noted that their clash was on equal footing as neither one of them are backing down from one another.

"Kyuubi-san, I don't mean to be a bother but I need more of your power! This won't be enough!"

Kyuubi, naturally as he feels unsure about this, was reluctant on the request. He knows that if he pumps any more Chakra into Naruto, the Uzumaki boy might not be able to think clearly especially with his chakra being so malevolent and filled with hatred, as his hatred for humanity as a whole has not changed just yet. Granted he likes the boy a bit and all but as he is now, Naruto hasn't learned to control more than what he's already is controlling as of now. That little problem can be fixed later. Granted, Naruto will have to directly fight him one day for full cooperation but for now, he's only assisting the boy not out of friendship but so he can see him live up to his expectations. If he disappoints, he will escape the seal.

Suddenly Naruto's chakra aura started to produce a second tail, indicating that more of Kyuubi's chakra is flowing through Naruto, giving him more power to drive back Sasuke's assault til both the techniques slip from the friction. The Chidori pierced Naruto's chest, narrowly missing his heart and the Two-tails enhanced Rasengan made an impact on Sasuke's chest, sending him flying back into the leg of the statue of Madara Uchiha.

"Ugh!"

The grey skin and blue hair recessed as Sasuke realized he was about to fall unconscious. In his mind, he might have won, seeing as he thought he struck Naruto's heart.

Naruto on the other hand was falling onto the foot of the Hashirama Senju's statue. The Chakra cloak starts to leave him as his eyes went from slitted red to its cerulean blue. He lacked the energy and he was mortally wounded by that Chidori to move easily. He's aware that it missed its vital mark but damn does it still hurt. Thump! He landed on the foot of the statue. He barely managed to turn his head up to the statue Madara's leg, noticing that Sasuke fell unconscious which means to him he successfully defeated him.

"haha...I defeated the teme! Now I can flex on his bitchas- OUCH!"

He winced as he could feel that chidori blow still stinging his chest. Boy is he glad that it wasn't piercing his heart. Not even he could come back from that and he has an incredible healing factor!

"Take it easy, Gaki. I can heal this but it is a bitch to heal a huge fucking hole gaping open in here. I can't have you dying now! It should take you no longer than 25-30 minutes to close this hole. As for the rest of you? Likely longer than that."

As Naruto nodded, he heard a voice that he thought he wouldn't hear by now.

"Well then...I see Naruto managed to subdue Sasuke. Thank goodness he managed to stop my favorite pupil from going to Orochimaru. Hmmm...Ahhh...Sasuke is too heavily damaged."

Kakashi?! Labeling Sasuke as his favorite? Deep down, this hurt the young blonde boy. He looked up to Kakashi as an older brother at first but now this? This stings his core as Kakashi treated Naruto with some care and respect.

"Sensei...I thought you hate us all the same?"

Kakashi turns around after looking at Sasuke to notice that Naruto listened to him all along while lying on the statue's foot! He wasn't unconscious all this whole time. He found a sad expression on Naruto's face, The boy realized that Sasuke was the favored one instead of being treated as equally as him and Sakura were.

"N-Naruto?! Look, you don't understand…"

Naruto's face turned bitter as Kakashi was ready to justify himself. He didn't want to hear it! He had enough of being told lies!

"No. I refuse to hear any justifications, Hatake-san. Your model student pierced my fucking chest and he intended to kill me! I tried everything I could to hold back and get him to return willingly! And what did he do instead? Refusing to listen to any reasonable talks and decide that I should be killed since I'm an inferior to him! To add insult to injury, he had a lot of balls to threaten to kill Sakura-chan if he killed me! I did everything I can to be a good pupil for you and well fuck...My Chakra Control is probably so ass that you don't consider to use a Kage Bushin to train us both and instead focus on solely him. Before you use the conserving chakra excuse, you're a Jonin for kami's sake! You should be able to train us more competently! Did th-."

Before the Uzumaki boy could finish his sentence and lectures, he fell unconscious to his injuries. Kakashi flinched as he saw Naruto having a fair point in his lectures. He is aware that no matter how much he tries to justify himself, the end result hurts Naruto both physically and mentally. He knows that he fucked up with Naruto. Sure, Naruto and Sasuke had provoked each other time and time again and some of the times, it's Naruto's fault but here? Naruto actually tried to avoid a battle with Sasuke. Unfortunately, Sasuke shows no hesitation in killing Naruto if that chest wound is anything to go by. At the same time, Naruto's rapid growth in strength and wisdom is one of the reasons why Sasuke tries to leave. Sighing in exhaustion, knowing this entire situation is mentally tasking, he lifted up Sasuke's body with both of his arms and summoned a large Ninken that can carry Naruto back as well.

(3 days later in Konoha's hospital)

"Ugh...what the fuck just happened?"

Naruto stirred up from his sleep, noticing that he is in the hospital bed and no longer in the Valley of the End. Did Sasuke escape again?! If he did, he failed his mission!

"Easy, Gaki. You were fighting an intense battle for your life. Honestly, I'm impressed you defeated Sasuke Uchiha."

Naruto turned right out of his bed to find Jiraiya looking at him as if he's a proud grandfather. He? Defeated Sasuke?! Finally, he proved that he's stronger than him! Fighting him as an equal is one thing but to actually defeat him? Sakura will be happy with that! Unfortunately, Jiraiya frowned as his face turned stern. Why is he beginning to look upset?

"Naruto, the council, both shinobi and civilian sect, had voted to banish you from Konoha for "attacking" a fellow Konoha-nin. Being the generous people they were, they said they'll give you a week to say goodbye and say your piece...Personally, I hate the fact that they outnumbered Tsunade and I but a vote is a vote…"

Naruto's eyes widened as he realized his entire world was going to crash on him. Damn if he brought back Sasuke and damn if he didn't. Regardless, he's banished from Konoha. They know damn well that Sasuke won't return willingly but they would banish him for simply doing his job? He can't eat ramen here anymore? Can't see his friends again? Can't even become Hokage and restore the Uzumaki Clan in Konoha?

"W-why?"

Jiraiya stopped him before he started bombing him with questions. He understands the kid is confused and feels betrayed but he needs all this information before he can do anything.

"That's just the start of it, kid. Your precious Sakura-chan you talk about so much? Well she didn't take you hurting the Uchiha so lightly...there were a few people who visited you. Trust me when I said that they weren't enemies of yours."

Naruto was taken aback as he had no idea that people were caring about his well-beings. Hatake and Sakura don't seem so. He is aware that Jiraiya does genuinely care about him, but he still doesn't trust the Toad Sannin completely due to hiding a lot of information from him. Information that he seeks about his Clan and his ancestral home, that is.

"Who were they, Ero-sennin?"

Jiraiya took a breath to clear his throat. He's happy to see that his apprentice understands that perhaps there are some that actually care about him in Konoha even if he doesn't like the village itself nor majority of its people.

"To give you the list, they were going by the following names. Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, Tsunade, myself, Iruka, Anko, and that one fellow named Konohamaru."

9 people are actively supporting Naruto and stay on his side despite the council's wills? Despite that he had to hurt Sasuke to return him? He's happy to see people that are caring genuinely for his sake.

"Kid, I know I haven't been entirely honest with you…It's time to start telling you the truth. Even if you get exiled, I'd still love to be your teacher. It's just up to you to keep me as your teacher or not."

And that is it for the prologue. Next chapter will be a big time skip. Of course I will give flashbacks here and there. As for my plan regarding Naruto pairing, I'm still not

exactly sure who to pair Naruto with. For direct shipping, I am considering either Anko, Karin, or Ino as a surefire. Three of these aren't that common. I like to hear suggestions on ships of any kind for Naruto, even the MILF option is open so long as it's not Tsunade. To me, She's like a second mother to him. See you guys next chapter!