Minato sat in his office, gazing through the window at his village, tears slowly leaking from his eyes. He had just returned from the memorial service, honoring all the shinobi who died facing the Kyuubi. Memories of Jiraya and Kushina floated through his consciousness as he silently mourned the loss of his precious people. A shrill cry broke him from his musings. He quickly made his way to the cradle that held his infant son.

'' Shh shh it's okay,'' he repeated his comforting mantra a few times as he patted naruto on the back. '' Don't worry, we'll manage... somehow.''

Five Years Later

''Tou-chan!!'' a happy voice disturbed the silence of his office as Naruto, followed by Sarutobi, ran in the door.

'' Tou-chan, Jiji taught me how to use chakra! Can I show you? please!'' He jumped up and down excitedly, exuding energy.

Minato smiled. '' Of coarse, lets see what you can do, son.''

Naruto nodded and turned his serious face on as he concentrated on doing exactly what Sarutobi had told him to. He took a deep breath and put his hands into the ram seal, or attempted to, Minato had to step in and reposition a few fingers, then he started to reach deep within himself, like his jiji had said, and found the spark. He focused on it and drew it out, the warming sensation spreading throughout his entire body. This process was also known as molding chakra, and became easier with practice.

Minato's eyes widened to an impossible size as he felt the amount of chakra his five year old son was making.' he has the same amount of chakra as a seasoned genin!'He thought to himself. He shook his head and smiled widely.

'' Excellent, Naruto-kun. Most little boys don't even have chakra.''

'' Well, I'm not a little boy.'' Naruto puffed his chest out and struck a pose, a pose very reminiscent of his former sensei. He smiled delicately as he thought about Jiraya. '' Well, I guess your right, Naruto-kun. To celebrate, why don't you go out for some ramen with Kakashi, ne?''

Naruto smiled brightly. '' With Kakashi- onii?''

Minato nodded and snapped his fingers. An ANBU with an inu mask appeared. '' You won't be needing your mask for this mission Kakashi, you may leave it here. Have him back in an hour if you would please.''

Kakashi put his mask on his desk and nodded. '' Of coarse sensei.''

Naruto, becoming increasingly impatient, grabbed Kakashi's hand and attempted to pull him. Kakashi smiled and let Naruto pull him out of the room, all the while muttering something about big boys knowing how to be patient.

'' I assume you felt it.'' Sarutobi said, '' His chakra is above genin level.''

'' I know. It was to be expected that he would have more chakra than his peers, he's been using it subconsciously since he was born because of the seal. I hadn't expected it to be this drastic though.'' Minato answered.

Sarutobi chuckled lightly. '' Having a lot of chakra is more of a blessing than a curse Minato. However, I would suggest you start teaching him some control exercises, as it is his control will be horrendous if we don't nip it in the bud as soon as possible.''

The young hokage nodded. '' I'll start with him tonight. You're right, the sooner the better. I'd like for you or Kakashi to watch him while he trains though.''

'' Other than that, how is putting Jiraya sensei's spy network back together going?'' Minato asked.

Sarutobi smiled. '' I do belive that, after five years, Jiraya's spy network is almost complete once again. It's just a good thing I made him give me all the names when I was hokage. It should be up to it's former glory by the new year.''

Minato sighed, releived. His sensei was a spy master, and the network he built up was easily one of the most elaborate in the world. It had taken a long time, but Konoha's ability to gather information would once again be top notch. '' Thats excellent news, Sarutobi.''

Kakashi and Naruto walked in a few minuets later, looking broke and content respectively.

'' You are dismissed Kakashi, report back here tomorrow by 9, and I mean 9, I need to discuss something with you. I'll see you tomorrow as well Sarutobi. Come on Naruto, it's time to head back home sport.''

When the two arrived home Minato led Naruto to his personal dojo. Naruto looked around in wonder. His dad had never let him in this room, stating that it was for training puproses only and he was too young to train.

'' Tou-san...'' He said quietly, then smiled brilliantly. '' Does this mean I get to start becoming a strong ninja like you?''

Minato nodded. '' I need you to listen to me very carefully. Remember your chakra?'' He received a nod and continued, '' Well, chakra needs to be controlled, and the way you learn to control it is through chakra control exercises. We're going to start those right now, and I expect you to practice everyday with myself, Kakashi, or Sarutobi. I don't want you experimenting by yourself yet, so before we being, I need you to promise me you won't be trying this alone.''

Naruto held up his right hand. '' I swear by the name of Namikaze, that I will not practice by myself, tou-chan.''

Minato laughed and patted Naruto's head. '' You can start practicing by yourself when you enter the academy, deal?''

'' Deal.''

For the next few hours, Minato taught his son how to make a leaf levitate above his hand. It took Naruto a while, but he finally managed to get it to float, but only for a few seconds.

At Naruto's irritated sigh, Minato took the leaf. '' You can practice more tomorrow. Don't expect to master these right away.''

The next morning, Kakashi was on time, and Minato nearly had a heart attack. '' I'm, uh, glad you're on time.''

Kakashi sweat dropped. '' You told me to be here on time.''

Minato nodded. '' I did, but that's never stopped you from being late before. Why the sudden change of heart?''

Kakashi shrugged. '' You seemed... serious, sensei.''

'' Okay, well, I wanted to talk to you about Naruto's training.''

'' Isn't it a little too early to begin training him? You said so yourself that you wanted him to grow up as a normal child.''

'' I know, but Sarutobi and I have both come to the same conclusion. He has the same amount of chakra as a seasoned genin, if he doesn't start to train his control now, it will only hinder him in the future.''

'' I understand. So do you want me to train him?''

'' Yes. I've told him he can't train on his own until he enters the academy in a year. By that time I expect him to have had enough lessons to be able to mold his chakra without injuring himself, and maybe he'll even know a few jutsu eh?'' he laughed lightly.

'' He is your son, sensei.''

For the next year, Naruto trained with Kakashi, Minato, and Sarutobi to help his control. He mastered the leaf floating and tree walking exercises. Water walking was a bit harder and he had been working on it for a while, along with trying to make leaves float around his entire hands. His control was better, but far from perfect. Unfortunately, it probably never would be perfect, but it would be close enough to perform almost any jutsu, as long as he kept had also started training his body for taijutsu. The Namikaze clan style was called the senkou kabushi, or flash fist. It centered around quick, powerful jabs coupled with graceful movements that made it near impossible to beat. Naruto needed to be fast and strong, and if Minato had anything to say about it, he would be.

Now six years old, Naruto and his father stood outside of the Academy, preparing for the next step in their lives.

'' Good luck.'' Minato said. '' Do your best, don't hold back.''

'' Of coarse, and you remember your promise right? I can start training by myself?''

'' I do. and I never go back on my word. I'll see you after class.''

With that, Naruto entered the academy, and took his first steps into the shinobi world.

How was it everyone? Please review! it gives me the power to write! =] ja ne!