So here is chapter 4. Sorry it took a little while, just finished unpacking my new place! Thank you for all the reviews and feedback. And as always I hope you enjoy it. As always please read and review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
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Chapter 4
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A few days turned into weeks and then into months. Naruto woke up where today was the day, he was six years old…again. October tenth was always a hard time for him as a child. Chills ran down his spine as he sat on his bed remembering his first sixth birthday and the mob that trampled him into the ground and left him for dead. But he knew that this time around would be different or at least he would make it different.
"Happy birthday Kit, you're twenty today…oh wait I'm sorry you're six again…HAHAHA!" Kurama laughed from within his cage.
"Oh shut it you. But thanks." Naruto said out loud with a small smile forming on his lips. "You know Kurama sometimes I really wondered what it would have been like to have Tou-san and Kaa-san here with me. I know that I will always cherish those few moments with Kaa-san and I guess the only good thing from that blasted war was to have Tou-san with me for over two years. But still…you know."
"Kit, you can't change the past…ok disregard that since we are in the past but we don't know how we got here so it's not like we can go to the day where Obito ripped me out of your mother and fix all of it to begin with."
"I know, I know. But a guy could dream you know?"
"I know Kit, but somethings are just meant to be. But come on, it's a Sunday, we have the day off. Why don't we do something extra special today."
"Like what Kurama?"
"We could go see the Old Man Human and see if we can leave the village for the day since…well you know…the other time."
"But remember last time he said no."
"But that was before this new persona that you are giving off. You are not the little idiot anymore that they thought you were. Now you are the child genius whom the Old Man Human has an actual interest in instead of tolerated for the sake of the Fourth."
"That is true. Also, I want to know why Kakashi-Sensei keeps following me. Ever since that one day a few months ago, he has been on our tail for a while. It is making it hard to plan for things in the near future. It would be nice to get away from everyone and actually plan. The Uchiha massacre is not that far away, what…only a year or so. Sasuke and I are actually friends this time around and we need to use that to our advantage to prevent the events that turns him into a cold bastard. We have to prevent that Kurama. It is the whole thing that sets Sasuke off into madness and wanting to join Orochimaru and killing everyone in his wake. I know he decided to help us in the end, but even that didn't matter in the end with his death."
"I know Kit. We will figure something out. Just remember that we have to play it smart, every change that we make will deviate that much from the original timeline. And with a future vastly different from the one that we know is not that good. And then we cannot have people knowing that you are actually from the future. I mean think of the damage that information could bring."
"I know. I know. I just feel that sometimes though it would be so much easier if we tell Jiji at the minimum. I mean think of it, if we had his help, we could accomplish a lot more."
"And then the Shadow human will find out and will want you even more for his Root."
"We can always prevent that."
"No. Don't mess with it Kit."
"Fine. We won't. You are right, we need to do this with the least amount of changes. Well, at least my training is coming along smoothly. I got water walking down, and now working on other chakra controls. I just wish we could use the Kage Bushin. It would make everything so much easier for us."
"And get caught? How would you explain yourself for knowing a Jounin level jutsu at the age of six?"
"I know…I know…yesh I was just thinking out loud. I wouldn't actually do it." Naruto let out a humph and finally got out of bed to get ready for the day. He just only hoped that the Old Man would let him leave the village.
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Meanwhile at the Hokage Tower, "Dog, have you finally made your assessment?" The Hokage asked, sitting behind his desk whilst smoking from his pipe.
"Hai." The ANBU who bore the mask of 'Dog' kneeled before him.
"What is your conclusion of the boy?"
"Naruto-kun has shown adept skills of being a sensor. Over the last two months, he has spotted me a total of fifteen times, each time I was watching him from the shadows from in-between my missions. With each witness of the boy, he demonstrated a new skill. He can now walk on water with ease, has advanced in Fuinjutsu to high Genin rank possibly low Chuunin rank. He trains religiously at the training grounds on his Taijutsu and has greatly improved upon his kunai and shuriken skills. He spends a lot of time in the library researching time and space jutsu also. I believe with proper training the boy would make a fine ANBU recruit. He shows the intellect needed and the skills to thrive."
Dog finished his report and the Hokage was taken a little bit back of the praise that this ANBU gave out for which does not happen…ever…not once has he heard Dog praise anyone.
"My, my that is some praise from you."
"He is my Sensei's son. I would expect nothing else but greatness from him and he has yet to prove me wrong. For being only five—"
"Six…he is six years old today."
"Right for being only six years old, he shows more potential than that of most of my own peers."
"I see. But, yes I would have to agree with your assessment. The boy takes after his father and in my opinion a little too much. Just a few months ago the boy was in here, took one look at the Yondaime's picture and said I quote 'The one at the end even looks like me.' He is too perspective for his own good. I fear he will start asking questions or worse figure out the answers to his own questions. The way he looked at the photo made me feel that Naruto knew who exactly who that man is to him."
"Is that why you called on me to look after him?"
"Yes, he needs a guiding hand, someone who knows his family well and someone that I trust."
Dog taken back by the statement, "You want me to train him?"
"Yes, I do. The Academy, while good for most students, does not suite the boy. The reports on him from his teachers say that he sleeps all throughout class, cares little for the studies presented before him. But then I get reports of him studying advanced skills that normally a first-year student wouldn't even know how to comprehend. He needs to be stimulated. I believe under your tutelage he could rise within the ranks and become the man that his father always knew he would become. Will you take him on as your apprentice Kakashi?"
Dog took off his mask to reveal the Copy Nin, Hatake Kakashi. "Hai Hokage-sama, I will take him on. But I will not be easy on him."
The Hokage let out a small chuckle, "I wouldn't have it any other way otherwise, I think your future apprentice will just fall asleep on you like he does with Iruka-kun. Bear."
Another ANBU came out of the shadow of the office and presented himself before the Hokage. "Hai."
"Go get Naruto. I believe it is high time that we present him with this gift, after all it is the boy's birthday." And with that the ANBU ninja left.
"I am a gift now?" Kakashi asked sternly, not really enjoying being called a gift.
"Yes the gift of tutorship, knowledge and friendship. If the boy is going to go off on his own, it is better that we get him proper instruction to keep a better eye on him." The Hokage let out another small chuckle to himself whilst Kakashi just rolled his eyes who put his mask back on and stepped back into the shadows waiting for his queue to come out of hiding.
Soon enough though, Bear and Naruto came into the office of the Hokage. "Jiji! I was wanting to see you today!" The young boy exclaimed.
"You were?" The Hokage asked, mildly amused by the boy.
"Yes, you know what today is, I was wondering if I could leave the village for the day so that I could go train."
"Ah so you want to train even on your birthday? How very astute of you! The life of the ninja rests for no one."
"Yes, but it is also the day where the villagers become angry." The boy got quiet all of a sudden. "I would rather not be here for that." He looked down at his feet, feeling a little squeamish under the Old Man's eyes.
The Hokage's heart went out for the boy, October tenth was never a good day for anyone but much more so for the boy. The villagers were known for getting drunk and trying to take it out on the boy for all they saw was the monster that ruined their lives those six years ago. "I am afraid that is not possible Naruto. I cannot let a young child out of the village on his own just because," Naruto's eyes widen with despair, "But I might have an alternative plan that might be most beneficial to you and your cause Naruto."
The young boy's eyes went wide at the prospect of something cool coming his way, "What is it Jiji?"
"How would you like to take private lessons from one of the best shinobi that our village has to offer?"
"YES!" The boy exclaimed out loudly with such excitement.
The Hokage motioned for Kakashi come out of hiding. "This is Dog or more commonly known as Hatake Kakashi."
Naruto's eyes went wide at seeing his old Sensei who for him had been dead for a year. In that moment, all he wanted to do was run to him and bury his head in his chest and cry at the relief of seeing him alive and well. But he knew that was not possible. In this timeline, the two had never met yet so he must act as such. He took in the appearance of his Sensei and noted that he looked much younger, at most twenty-years old, still during his ANBU years. There were no signs of the lazy teacher that he had come use to, instead was placed with a harden shinobi who earned his S-rank class in the bingo book. "Its's nice to meet you Kakashi-Sensei." He finally said. "Was that you then who has been following me every now and then over the last few months?"
Although already knowing the answer to it, he was curious to their reactions, to which he grew accustomed to seeing their surprise faces. But there were none now. Instead, he only received blank stares, "Yes." Was all his future teacher said.
"Wait, what about school?" He then thought out loud.
"You will be taken out of school to study under Kakashi." The Hokage said.
"But I have to be there." He said.
"Why is that Naruto?" Kakashi said, a little skeptical that the child would want to stay in a place where clearly held no challenge for him.
Naruto about to answer stopped himself before saying too much. Shit, what am I supposed to say. No, let me stay to prevent a massacre of an entire clan and save a boy from a life of misery. Ahhh! They would just think that I was mental or something. He collected his thoughts, took a deep breath, "Because there are people in there that need me and I need them." He said quietly, trying to give off his best-defeated look, hoping to ignite some sympathy from the two men in the room.
The Hokage and Kakashi just looked at the boy, different thoughts running through their minds. The Hokage let out a deep breath, "Naruto I know that you made some friends at the Academy but the Academy is not suited for you. Now that does not mean that you will never see them again. But you need proper instruction. Do you understand?"
Naruto did understand all too well, but that was not the point. But obviously defeated, "Yes I understand."
"Why doesn't he go to school every Thursday and Friday. That would allow me to complete some missions and time for him to spend with his friends." Kakashi said.
Naruto's eyes lit up at that thought. "Yes I like that idea!"
"Very well. Naruto, you are to report to Kakashi Monday through Wednesday and school on Thursday and Friday." The Hokage said clearly outvoted in the boy's choice of schooling regime. The only thing that the Hokage knew was that the next few years would surely be interesting for both Naruto and Kakashi as they embark on their journey as teacher and student together.
"Come Naruto."
"Where?"
"You said you wanted to train today, did you not?" Naruto smiled and nodded. "Good, we have much work to do and little time to accomplish all that needs to be learned." And with that both Naruto and Kakashi left the Hokage Tower to begin their first lesson.
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Author's note
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So there was the chapter! As always thank you so much for the reviews so far! I really appreciate the feedback! It motivates me to keep writing the story! I hope you liked it! Please read and review! The next chapter should be coming out within the next 2 weeks!