Chapter 1: The Sharpest Leaf

A/N: The characters named here that aren't from Naruto, are from Record of Raganarok.

Honor... that is all for Naruto Namikaze. The child of the fourth hokage of the hidden leaf village. A shinobi village, where honor, isn't found anymore.

He remembers when Shinobis where respected. A time they were the honorable protectors of the village. A time before the civilian council did most of the decisions.

During war times, the civilian council is activated to let the hokage focus on the war, the third war, and they did actions behind Hiruzen Sarutobi's back to gain more power. And when Minato, his father took over, the civilian council was too powerful.

It was a sheer miracle his brother wasn't executed on his birth, due to his jinchuricki status.

With all this in mind, he requested to leave the village in a 'vacation' they called it. And like that, he left. He promised to come back in 7 years, time enough for his father to take control away from the civilians.

That was 6 months ago.

He is now residing in the land of iron, where he is training in the Toda Dojo. He discovered rather quickly that the way that Samurai and Shinobi learned. While weapon training for shinobi is mainly optional, with the exception of throwing weapons, samurai must know how to wield a katana like an extension of his arm.

He finished the academy at seven and now at eight, he is learning to be a samurai. Why? Because they fight, live and die with honor.

Physical training might be even harsher than the one of shinobis. The more hostile environment of the land of iron, makes even jogging an arduous task.

The close combat, the taijutsu how he learned, is different from. They teach different versions of combat, to use only the legs while holding the sword. It is different from anything he ever saw.

And in two years, he mastered it.

He became an instructor of the dojo, and was watching the students train as Kagekatsu Toda spoke to him "Do you still plan to return to the land of fire? To your village?"

Naruto smiled and nodded "I do. I am not the one to go back from my word after all."

The large man laughed "I know, I know that already. But with your skills, you might even be able to join General Mifune special squad."

Naruto hummed "Maybe. But in the meantime, I will just perfect my skill."

Seigen Toda, the teacher of the dojo chuckled hearing him "Naruto, even though you say that, I can't teach you anything else." Naruto raised a brow and Toda smiled "If you truly want to improve your skill, travel the land, and fight the strongest samurai in the land. That way, you will fulfill your potential."

Naruto blinked at his sensei before smiling and bowing his head "If that is the case, I will take my leave. Thank you, Master Toda."

As Naruto left, Kagekatsu turned to his uncle "Do you believe that this was the best option?"

Seigen nodded "Holding him back here, would only harm him. I see something in him, I haven't saw in years."

*One Year Later, Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu School*

"The time has come." Sekishusai Yagyu said and Naruto nodded as he held a wooden sword.

"It has Master Yagyu." he smirked "I can finally beat you in combat."

Sekishusai nodded, keeping his serious expression "Don't hold back, and attack with the intention of killing."

Naruto nodded as Sekishusai seemed to disappear before blocking his strike. Naruto smirked as he clashed the sword "Like usual, your footwork is unmatched."

"Your reflects had also improved." Yagyu praised as Naruto pushed him back and using the same footwork he learned, he kept clashing swords until he disarmed Sekishusai, his wooden sword falling behind him.

Sekishusai smiled, the first time he ever saw him do it as he bowed "You surpassed me, Naruto Namikaze."

Naruto bowed down in front of him too "Thank you, Master Yagyu."

As they entered the dojo, and Sekishusai took a bottle of sake he asked, "Now that you dominated the Yagyu-Ryu style, what is next?"

Naruto smiled as he drank from his cup "Keep learning. I learned how to wield the blade with grace and move with speed. Now I need to learn how to hit hard."

Sekishusai nodded "Then I recommend you to find and train alongside Ittosai Itto. He might be able to show you what you are looking for."

Naruto nodded "Ittosai Itto..." he smiled "Thank you master Yagyu."

Sekishusai smiled "Please, just call me Sekishusai."

*1 Year later, Mountains*

"Oi, Naruto." Naruto hummed as he drank sake, resting against a tree. "Let's fight."

Naruto opened his eyes and starred at Itto "Why?"

Itto huffed "When we met the first time, I beat you without even trying. Now, I want to see if you improved. I want to test who is the best between the two of us."

Naruto smiled at his friend and nodded "Then what are we waiting." He grabbed his wooden sword and so did Itto.

Naruto was suddenly in front of Itto, and swung down as Itto sidestepped, and swung to the ribs of Naruto, who managed to block, before Itto kicked him in the stomach.

Naruto stumbled back as Itto swung down, Naruto blocking in time, and with his left palm, hit the chin of Itto.

Itto gritted his teeth, as Naruto, swing his blade, making Itto block, but the strike was so strong, it drove both swords to the snow. Itto looked at Naruto, just in time to be headbutted. Naruto hit him with his right elbow on his cheek, before swinging his sword to his neck.

Itto fell to the snow as he panted, but kept smiling. "At least... I think I broke one of your ribs..." He panted as Naruto held his side, his forehead bruised.

"That you did..."

Itto managed to sit up and Naruto sat in front of him "So, where are you going now?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow "I thought we were still going to travel together?"

Itto laughed "I would just drag you down. Besides, next time we meet, I want to beat you. And for that, we must part ways."

Naruto nodded, sad for this departure "Just make sure to find me."

Itto chuckled "I will Naruto."

They toasted their cups of sake, as a goodbye.

*One Year Later, Kyoto*

(A/N: In this universe, Kyoto exists as a city in the Land of Iron, just how Kanto exist in Pokémon.)

Nobutsuna Kamiizumi hummed as he walked alongside Naruto in the busy streets of Kyoto. "Master, may I ask something?"

Nobutsuna nodded "Go ahead child."

"When do you think, we are going to spar?"

Nobutsuna chuckled "Always so eager to fight. And why you want to fight me of all people."

Naruto raised a brow "Because I want to test my skills against you. I want to know how far I am from reaching you."

Nobutsuna chuckled as he took the leaf from his mouth out of it "Oh Naruto; that isn't needed." He stated as he smiled at the young samurai "You surpassed me long ago."

Naruto was shocked at the revelation and Nobutsuna placed a gentle hand on his shoulder "The only thing left for you to do; is to create. You learned from the best, and now that you are the best, you need to form your own style. And there is one man to help you." He pointed behind him, where the Samurai Cuartels where. "Say to Mifune that I sent you. He, will finish to forge your sword."

Naruto nodded as he starred at the samurai in the outside "Thank you master."

Nobutsuna nodded "Don't thank me just yet. Now go."

*Two Years Later*

Mifune starred how Naruto beat the best of his samurai. "Enough." He said and Naruto lowered his guard. Mifune went to him and nodded "Follow me."

Naruto followed Mifune to the blacksmith area as the general spoke "When you first arrived, I saw how good you were. And even now, that your time here is almost over, I can still see you can keep on improving. That is why, I want you to leave with a gift."

As a samurai handed Mifune a sheathed katana and he handed it to Naruto "This is the Honjo Masamune (A/N: Look it up). Forged by Goro Nyudo Masamune, the man you saved, and as a repayment, he wanted to give you his finest work." Naruto watched the steel of the blade as Mifune continued "And remember, even when you are going back to your village and family, you will always have a place alongside me."

And now, it was time to return to his home. Seven years had passed, and it was time to fulfill his part of the deal. He just prays, that father did his part well.

Next Chapter: The Daimyo Guard