Chapter 2

I'm back! Welcome everybody to the second chapter of 'Proving Myself'. I know, we are moving fast. But it is because I am motivated. Also, I wanted to inform that I changed my mind about the pairing, now it is Naruto x Mei. Now, because I don't know what else to say, let's go the story!

Legend:

"Talking."

'Thinking...'

Jutsu Name

Chapter 2: Breaking and Toughening Bonds

Naruto was blocking each blow that his sensei was sending to him. They had been training for 3 months now and Orochimaru was pleased.

Naruto absorbed the information like a sponge. And not only in the shinobi arts.

He took Naruto to his labs once or twice and the child was fascinated. He looked to everything like if it was the finest piece of art. He admired even the smaller details. He chuckled remembering that. Maybe he will have an assistant really soon.

The spar finished when Orochimaru connected a punch to his face sending him towards a tree. Naruto rubbed the back of his head and Orochimaru chuckled "Very well Naruto. But you are still far away from me."

"I can tell sensei." Naruto said standing up slwoly.

"You know Naruto, if you accept the modifications, I offer you, you would-"

"Sorry sensei. But my answer is still the same. I want to make myself strong with what I have in hand." Naruto explained and Orochimaru scowled but nodded.

"Suit yourself. Now, how is the jutsu I taught you is going?" He asked and Naruto grinned.

He stretched his arm towards the training dummy and said "Sen'ei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)" Out of his sleeve, 6 snakes came out and jumped to the dummy biting it. Orochimaru smirked.

"Good job. At this rate I might let you sign the snake contract sooner than expected."

Naruto eyes brightened "Really!?"

"Maybe." He said before looking up to the sun position. "Let's call it a day. We had going at it for 3 hours." Naruto frowned but nodded. He really enjoyed having this training sessions with Orochimaru.

He walked towards the Uchiha compound. Maybe Itachi wasn't busy and they could train together. He arived to the Uchiha compound and walked to Itachi's house. He knocked on the door and his aunt Mikoto opened the door.

"Oh Naruto! What a nice surprise. Are you looking for Itachi?" She asked and Naruto nodded "He is inside with Sasuke. Why don't you join him?"

Naruto smiled and nodded. He walked inside the Uchiha mansion and went to the nursery room, where he could see Itachi playing with Sasuke.

"Hey Itachi!" Naruto said making his Uchiha friend jump of surprise. He turned around and smiled to Naruto.

"Naruto. Came to see me or Sasuke?" Itachi asked and Naruto smirked.

"Mostly you but hey, hanging out with Sasuke is always more fun." He joked and Itachi smiled.

"Maybe. Mother says that he is way happier baby than what I was."

"You were always too... how to say it... Uchiha." Itachi gave his friend a look and was going to say something when Sasuske started to make some noises calling for attention.

They turned to the baby and smiled. He honestly spends more time with Sasuke that with his own sister. Not because he doesn't want to be with her, but because she needs so much attention from his parents that he can barely be close to her.

Itachi looked at him with a worry look. He knows or has a feeling about what is going on at his friend's home. He can't do much but give him a friendly shoulder. And Sasuke seems to think the same.

But he knows that everything will work itself out. Once Itsuka grows up a little bit more, they are going back to being the perfect family they always were.

*Hours Later*

Naruto was all afternoon with Itachi and Sasuke. He even sparred a little with Itachi and trained with him when Itachi's dad Fugaku offered it to him. He only stayed there a little bit. He didn't want to intrude to much in the father and son training.

It was getting late and he needed to get home before dinner, otherwise mom was going to get mad. He walked home and opened the door and saw that the lights of his living room were turned on. he peeked his head to see if there was someone there.

"So, we should wait?" He heard his dad voice ask and he looked to see his uncle Jiraya nod.

"Yeah. For now, Itsuka should be the priority. She has the fox sealed inside of her. You need to focus more on her. Not only at his training. But in most of the things. If she gets upset, the fox might try to break out." Jiraya explained and he saw his mom raise an eyebrow.

"And what about Naruto?"

"We can wait. He is already being trained by Orochimaru. And you can start helping him once he starts the academy next year."

"But-" Kushina said again but Jiraya interrupted her.

"Kushina, it might be hard to hear, but Naruto isn't as important as Itsuka."

Kushina frowned and was going to counter at that, when Minato talked "Kushina. Jiraya-sensei is right. What if the seal break? She needs to control the Kyubi and for that she needs our help."

Kushina glared at her husband before sighing. "Maybe you are right. But we are not forgetting about him! Once he gets into the academy we will start his training!" She demanded but Naruto wasn't there anymore.

*Konoha Research and Development Department (R&D)*

Orochimaru finished one day of work. Between his job as head of the R&D department and training his newest apprentice, it consumed most of his time.

He walked towards the door and felt a presence outside. He raised a brow. He wasn't expecting anyone and his workers had acces to the lab during all times. Narrowing his eyes, he took out a kunai and walked to the door, he slowly opened it to hear a child sobbing.

He put down his kunai and opened the door to see Naruto crying at the door. He bent down, "Something wrong, Naruto?" He asked and Naruto looked at him with his blue eyes.

"I want them..." Orochimaru raised a brow "I want the modifications." Oh.

The Snake Sannin smirked and moved from the door "Well, you're lucky. I was about to close the labs for today. Come in. We have no time to waste."

Naruto nodded as he walked into the dark labs. His sensei guided him towards a secret room hidden under his office, where there was an operation bed and multiple machines. He stopped to at the entrance and Orochimaru patted his back. He looked to the man that gave him a reassuring smile. Naruto smiled back and nodded.

"Laid on the bed, Naruto. I'll get everything ready meanwhile." Orochimaru said and Naruto obeyed. He got on the operation bed and laid his head against the cold metal. He looked to Orochimaru that put-on operation gloves and a mask. He walked close to Naruto and placed a mask over his mouth. "Count to ten backwards Naruto. Then he can start the operation."

Naruto nodded "Ten. Nine... Eight...Sev..." After that, he passed out.

*Next Day*

Minato was between worried and angry.

Worried because Naruto didn't come home last night.

Angry, because Orochimaru told him that he spend the night with him at the R&D Department doing some 'special training', whatever that meant.

He with Jiraya went there to the R&D Department to see if the man had harmed Naruto. "Come on Minato, I know that Orochimaru doesn't like you, but I doubt he would harm the kid."

Minato didn't answer. They just arrived to the R&D department building and Minato was going to open the door, but Orochimaru opened it from the inside and smirked to the two shinobi.

"Oh! Jiraya, Lord Hokage. What a pleasant surprise. In what may I help you two?" He asked and Minato glared at him.

"Where is my son?"

Orochimaru nodded without losing his smirk "I guessed you weren't here to say a mere 'hello'. Follow me, he is having breakfast."

They followed the man to his office where they saw Naruto eating from a bowl. Minato smiled seeing that his son was okay. "Naruto. Good to see that you are al-" He stopped in mid-sentence when he saw Naruto.

He looked alright but something was different. Now his blue eyes were had a vertical slit. Just like the ones of a snake.

He glared at Orochimaru "What have you done to him!" Minato demanded ready to kill Orochimaru when Naruto grabbed his arm.

"Dad. I wanted this."

"You wanted what? What did he do?" Minato asked confused by the situation.

"Modifications, Lord Hokage." Orochimaru said and Minato glared at him.

"Orochimaru, you need to be clearer." Jiraya said and Orochimaru nodded.

"Very well. You see, last night, Naruto came running here asking me to make him stronger. The reason? I don't know. But, not wanting to disappoint, I agreed to make some modifications to his body. Now he has more agility, immunity against poisons and I even enhanced his reflexes."

"And why wasn't I informed?" Minato asked and Orochimaru shrugged.

"I thought it was master-student secret. But Naruto is happy with it, so why are we complaining about it?" He asked with a smirk.

"He is right Minato." Jiraya said "If the kid is happy with whatever Orochi-Teme did, why complain. Hell, it might help him become a better shinobi in the future."

Minato glared at Orochimaru before sighing. "Fine. If Naruto is fine with all this, I'll allow it. But hear me Orochimaru; if my son gets harmed in any way possible, I-"

"Don't worry lord Hokage. I get the message. Now Naruto, why don't you go home. Your mother must be worried about you." Naruto nodded and bowed before leaving, followed by Minato.

Jiraya stayed behind and looked at Orochimaru with a questioning look "What are you planning?"

"Me? Just to make sure that my first student is competent. Didn't you want the same with Minato?" Orochimaru asked back and Jiraya nodded slowly.

"Fine. But please, don't do anything stupid Teme." Jiraya said and Orochimaru smirked.

"Stupid? Me? That is something someone like you would say, Dobe."

Jiraya chuckled and left the lab "You should come and drink with us again. Tsuande-Hime miss you."

Orochimaru nodded "When I make some time, Jiraya. But for now, I am making the future."

*Namikaze Compound*

"HE DID WHAT TO NARUTO!?" Kushina demanded to her husband that nodded slowly.

"That's right. He did something to Naruto body last night. Modifications he called them."

"I don't care what they are called! The point stands that he did something to him and now his eyes are different!"

"He said that it was just a secondary effect. Nothing to worry about."

"And you are okay with all this?!" Kushina asked and Minato sighed.

"No. But, what else can we do? Orochimaru is a great shinobi and seems to be an even better teacher. Someone needs to prepare Naruto while we focus on Itsuka." Minato explained and Kushina sighed.

"It doesn't mean that I will like it, but alright."

In another room of the house, Naruto was holding his little sister in his arms. He was looking at her with his blue eyes that now where like the ones of a snake. Itsuka was watching him with interest and Naruto smiled. "Hey Itsuka. I'm your big brother. I know we haven't had too much time to talk, but I just wanted to tell you something." Itsuka tilted her head and Naruto took a deep breath.

"I already know that they choose you over me. But I want you to remember, that no matter what, I'll always be by your side. Because I love you." He kissed her forehead and Itsuka giggled.

Naruto smiled. Even if his parents see him as the second best, he will always have his little sister.

And done! That was chapter 2 of 'Proving Myself'. Now, usually I would explain the parts that doesn't make a lot of sense at plain view. But because I am lazy, I will let you ask the questions and then I will answer them. We cool? Yes? Cool. And that's all! Remember to vote for the sensei that next chapter will be revealed, leave your Review that it helps my motivation, PM me for any doubt or suggestion, Follow and Favorite me and the story.

Till Next Time.

Roy D. Harper.

Next Chapter: New Team, New Friends, New Challenges