Third Person POV ~

Next morning the blonde protagonist did his morning routine and was ready in record time. He was dressed in training gear consisting of plain net mesh thumb hole undershirt, black turtleneck short sleeved T-shirt with two blood orange colored horizontal stripes running on chest with red Uzumaki crest stitched on the back of shirt, paired up with black joggers which had two blood orange vertical lines running by each side of leg and navy blue calf length flat Shinobi sandals.

Nodding to himself in satisfaction he took a look at the time table and revised.

Naruto POV ~

05:00 - Wake up and finish the morning routine by 06:00

06:00 - 09:00 - Physical exercise

09:00 - 13:00 - Taijutsu practice.

'Hmm might as well, search for a style that suits me and is unpredictable. I can also go to Gekimayu-sensei, he is always helpful.'

13:00 - 14:00 - Lunch

14:00 - 16:00 - Chakra Control and Calligraphy (with help of clones)

16:00 - 17:00 - Meditation

17:00 - 18:00 - Shurikenjutsu

18:00 - 20:00 - Bukijutsu

20:00 - 21:00 - Dinner

And sleep.

'Yep, all this while my clones read the books. After a month I should change my schedule again and add for Fuinjutsu and Kenjutsu. I'm good with this for now.'

Alright then. It's 5:45 I should get going. After setting up necessary traps, I locked the door and dashed off.

*Time Skip brought to you by Kamui*

Now that's a lot of information and that was hell of a training.

Good start.

I think I should talk to Baa-chan about letting me off of Team Kakashi's radar for a while.

Hmm.

I'll do that.

Hokage Tower ~

I knocked on the door and waited for the magical words.

Once I heard a grumpy 'come in' I entered to see a grumpy Old Hag.

"What is it gaki? Are you here to talk about yesterday? Do you want to withdraw your request?"

'Oh hell no!' I exclaimed internally.

"Oh Baa-chan aren't you just pretty, I wonder if you age?" I asked sarcastically keeping my voice as innocent as possible.

An empty sake bottle and an angry exclaim of "You brat!" was what I received.

Used to ignoring her usual behavior I spoke, "Well, you are right I am here to talk about yesterday but I am not here to withdraw my request."

"So, what else?" she asked confused.

"Well, I know you would inform the team but knowing Kakashi sensei, he will look for me not now but soon and I also know Sakura-chan, I know she or Yamato-Taichou or Sai wouldn't care but Sakura-chan would try to talk to me either way, I'm here to request you that you tell them I'll be doing solo missions as a punishment for my failures."

She looked contemplative.

"Gaki, I'm sure you are mistaken, of course they all would care."

I just chuckled and replied, "You'll see yourself Baa-chan."

She frowned and nodded, "Very well Naruto, I hope you're wrong. And okay I'll do this."

I smiled genuinely and said, "Baa-chan this won't be a made up story, just so you know that you won't be lying. I will start taking missions soon. And yes solo. But for a while I need to focus on my training."

Worry laced her voice, "Are you sure about that Naruto?"

"Of course Baa-chan, not only I would need money, but they will also help in my training."

She nodded thoughtfully, "Very well Naruto, let me know if I can help you more."

I laughed and replied, "Oh you have no idea how much trouble you're going to get because of that one line."

"And what's with the new look?"

"Just a little wardrobe change. I don't look good?" I asked not knowing I had used puppy dog eyes no jutsu.

She smiled and replied, "You look good for once gaki, that's why I asked. Anyways it's getting late, get going."

I huffed offended and she smirked, "You should take rest too Baa-chan. Hope you have a good night. Ja ne ttebayo!"

She smiled "Good night gaki."

And I left.

Ah, it's been a good day ended with a good meal. I hope things stay going good.

Next morning ~

Third Person POV ~

Hokage Tower ~

Team Kakashi was called for an escort mission. Every one of them were looking as usual. Kakashi, behind his team, slouched and reading porn. Yamato wasn't present for the mission today, he had another. Sai err faking a smile. Sakura ...angry? Woah okay.

Before Tsunade could state their mission she began with a news about a certain blonde, "I have a news for you all, a member of your team has renounced themself from the team."

"Is it Sai Tsunade-sama?" asked Sakura somewhat contemplative.

She was somewhat happy that Sai would be off of the team and the original Team 7 would be back again. She had already bounded Naruto with a promise of bringing Sasuke back. She had somewhat lost interest in the brunet she had seen almost 2 nearly 3 years back and instead started liking the sunshine blonde.

Tsunade shook her head negative and supplied an answer with a straight face, watching with hawk eye every emotion of the team, "No, the member is Naruto."

Kakashi jolted from his posture and looked up from his book, for a brief second he lost his composure and Tsunade held back her smirk seeing that, and said in a fake laid back voice regaining his lazy posture, "Maa, don't worry about it Hokage sama. Just give him a week and he'll be back in no time."

Kakashi frowned underneath his mask, 'why would Naruto renounce himself from the team?'

Sai had not shown any emotion but Tsunade caught the doubtful flicker in his eyes.

Sakura had frowned slightly, forehead a little sweaty but didn't utter a word.

Tsunade successfully hid her dissapointed frown behind her steady voice of Kage and straight face. She was at the mission desk today, she briefed the team their mission and dismissed the team.

After they left the room, she shook her head in disappointment, realizing Naruto was indeed right.

'I hope you do well Naruto.'

*Time skip 3 weeks brought to you by Hinata's stuttering*

Team Kakashi had done a couple of C and B rank mission. 3 weeks went by and Naruto was no where to be found. So today Kakashi decided to ask about him. He didn't show on the outside but he was worried.

Kakashi dismissed the team and went to submit the report by himself. After finishing giving the report in the mission room, Kakashi walked towards the Hokage office and knocked lightly, he entered hearing a 'come in'.

"What is it Kakashi?"

"Maa, Tsunade-sama it's been 3 weeks. Is Naruto not coming back?" the tone was bored carefully concealing his hope. It hadn't been long since Naruto had returned from the training trip with Jiraiya. He didn't want Naruto going away again.

Tsunade shook her head, looked at him intently and said, "Naruto won't be joining the team, he'll be doing solo missions. It's his punishment for the mission failures as your team have reported."

Kakashi frowned behind his mask but nodded his head, he wasn't convinced but let it let slide, for now, "Is that so?"

Tsunade kept quiet.

"Is he doing alright with his missions?"

"He hasn't started taking missions as of yet. He is on standby for now but will start soon."

"Hmm. I see." He nodded, he will have to see Naruto for himself then. He eye smiled and Tsunade could feel the tension in room dissipating that Kakashi had managed to raise even with that laid back posture and voice. The man was so dangerous, it was not a joke. "Ja ne!" and Kakashi disappeared using a leaf shunshin.

Meanwhile Naruto was doing his taijutsu practice. The day went by peacefully for Naruto. Remembering tomorrow is Sunday Naruto was studying till late late night.

The appearance of Naruto's apartment totally changed. The wall was well painted, shades of orange, grey blue. There were more utensils, bottles, working appliances, self made library and drawers, wardrobe with more clothes. Near window there were more plants looking healthy and fresh. The place, in short, was livable and totally didn't look like it belonged to Naruto. Not only did the appearance of his apartment changed also that changed was his own appearance. His body fat next to absolutely gone. His signs of malnutrition gone as well. It's weird how a person can have malnutrition and body fat at the same time but seeing it's Naruto nothing seems to make sense anyway.

Now Naruto didn't wear that neon orange jumpsuit. He dressed more civil but of course he hadn't totally let go of orange. He just wore it in a limited amount.

He had a lean body. Broad back. Near defined jaw. Skin which was earlier caramel tan tone now honey golden. The results of his intense workout showing from head to toe.

His eyes still had the mischief also the twinkle he had before now more than ever, it was kindness. His eyes held no remorse, that one would expect who knew of his past. His eyes had the sad gleam but it had lessened.

His body and walk, confident.

Not just his outer appearance but also his inner self changed. He was now more calm externally and internally, collected, aware of his surroundings and more than anything happy with himself. He realized he was begging for attention and acceptance from the people who he didn't know, who didn't know him when he didn't accept himself as he was. He had started accepting himself for how he was, for who he was, who he was becoming and most importantly who he will become.

Naruto Uzumaki wouldn't change totally of course, he still had the prankster in him. His smiles weren't those always 'so wide to be true' grins instead grins and smiles that curved his eyes naturally. The cutest thing about his smile was that, when he smiled his eyes would twinkle and a soft shade of pink would dust his cheeks.

His goal was no longer just to be Hokage but also to become a respectable Shinobi. He wouldn't give up his dreams and goals for nothing. He wouldn't stop at anything until he has received the mantle of Hokage. He realized he couldn't just focus on bringing back Sasuke. Of course he will bring the Teme back. But what after that? If he kept going with his usual bullheadedness he would just become a mass of power and chakra with no intelligence or life after that. That would stray him away from his goal since childhood. The dream he had confessed to his first precious person who he couldn't protect, Jiji. His goal, to be recognized, acknowledged, become Hokage.

Loneliness wasn't eating him anymore instead he was becoming comfortable with solitude. There was no denying the fact that he did feel alone, now more than ever but he knew the perks of solitude too which eased him somewhat.

All this change in just 3 weeks was something he was proud of.

His skills had progressed well enough.

He now knew 3 taijutsu styles but not an original yet.

His shurikenjutsu had great accuracy.

His calligraphy was so beautiful, a seal master would know it is perfect for sealing.

His cooking skills had progressed. He couldn't let go of Ramen and he didn't always have time to go Ichiraku, so he had asked Teuchi to teach him making Ramen. That was one of the first dishes he had perfected.

He had completed his chakra control exercises, one more week and he'll have perfect chakra control. Well, not perfect but compared to before it was much better. He had read about human anatomy thoroughly. He had planned, after practicing his chakra control for one more week he would start working on Iryou ninjutsu.

History books almost all done, where a couple of things caught his attention. Like without hand seals healing itself that only Senju Hashirama and Senju Tsunade could do till date, but no information about it. Apart from this, Yondaime is what he was most curious about, according to the books, he was a selfless person, so if he was really selfless why would he seal the Kyuubi in Naruto, a random clan less orphan that happened to be born on the very same day. Apart from that what more intrigued him was that according to the books, the seal constricting a biju loosens, in case of a female, child birth. There was no other way to see it, his birthday was on the same day which was indicating that he might be the son of the previous Jinchuriki. Or Kyuubi was intentionally set off on the village from outside. However he was still not sure.

Next was his appearance, you see Naruto let his hair grow, and looked like an exact replica of the Yondaime with whiskers and he has not seen any blonde of his shade in the current or previous generation. But him being the son of the Yondaime was not so certain with how he has been treated and all, maybe all the blondes died during the Kyuubi attack.

He could not ask anyone, the Sandaime never told him and would always brush it off. He concluded that the elders would not tell him and decided to talk to the Kyuubi about the attack and as well as about his parents. He thought maybe he could even apologize for all the last times he had rudely asked *cough* demanded *cough* his chakra.

Currently Naruto was reading 'How to beat a Nara at Shogi' he had already read the rule book of Shogi and mind tactical games.

He completed reading the book and was asleep by 02:00 hours. The next morning was surely gonna be troublesome, he thought.

*-*

Baa-chan - Granny

Shogi - Board game

Kyuubi - Nine Tails.

Biju - Tailed Beast

Jinchuriki - Power of Human Sacrifice / The one that is the jailor of Tailed beast

Jiji - Old Man

Ja ne - Well then

Gaki - Brat

Gekimayu - Intense Brows