Jiraiya looked down at the folder. His long spiky gray hair tied into a neat bun. The bangs held back by his odd, horned headband. He looked up at his teacher and then back down at the folder. "This is him?."

"Yes."

He looked at the ID and back up at Hiruzen. "Looks like Kushina with a wig." he said as he placed the folder down. "Sensei, you know I'm not against training this kid, but…my research has to come first."

Jiraiya saw the displeasure in his teacher's face, and he quickly held his hands up, "Listen, ill give you an uncensored copy of my latest book, free of charge.".

Hiruzen looked around his office nervously. "Deliver it in an unmarked box. No symbols, names, nothing, I also expect it by the end of the week". Jiraiya nodded, "You got it."

Naruto walked slowly across the small bridge. His black towel wrapped around his waist.

Rubbing his wet hair and silently cursing lee for making his upper body so sore. "Naruto, I wish to ask you a question" Zodd said

"Ask away."

"What do you think of the denizens of The leaf."

"Indifferent… I have no reason to care for them. There are only a few, and by few I mean three."

"Then why do you wish to be Hokage?"

Naruto stopped and thought for a moment. "There are many undiscovered or ruined lands that can be rebuilt and reconquered. Why start with a kingdom that is already subjugated."

Naruto nodded. "You bring up a good point."

"I'm going to start weighted training today. Work mostly on martial arts. That Lee kid was something, had it not been for the massive strength difference, I PROBABLY would've lost".

Tenten Watched Naruto haul several tons from the training section. "All of this ….and um get me some wooden dummies and a vest please"

Tenten looked down at the gear. "You sure this isn't over kill for one month?". She asked as she rang up his items. "Absolutely not."

Naruto stumbled into his apartment. Dropping his key on the table and plopping down on his couch. His eyes wandered to the neatly placed letter and box on his small coffee table. 'From Yugao'. Naruto immediately grabbed the letter and opened it.

"Dear Naruto.

I was just writing to wish you a very, very late happy birthday. I came by a few times, and you weren't home, I wanted to introduce you to my fiancé, but I guess that can wait. Furthermore, I hope you're doing well in the chunin exams and hope to see you wearing your brand-new vest next month.

The gift was almost all Irukas idea. He's been hoping to see you as well. He's started dating a local crazy girl, Anko. Hopefully, you've broken out of your shell and found love yourself. Do come to visit sometime.

Love: Yugao."

Naruto stared at the letter before folding it up and placing it in his jacket pocket. He grabbed the box and inspected it. Opening it carefully as to not damage the material. Two things, 'A history of Konoha: From its foundation to its expansion. Deluxe and expanded edition'.

A wooden prayer necklace. Naruto inspected the neatly polished wood and smiled. "That girl, a real catch. I'm surprised you're getting so much tail at your age". Jiraiya said as he turned on the kitchen light. "Hey, before you go nuts, I was sent by the third hokage. I'm going to be your mentor." the man said as he rooted through the boy's fridge. "I don't need a mentor." Naruto said firmly.

"You uh kinda don't have a choice. Sorry kid."

Naruto sighed in annoyance. "Escort yourself to the door, please.", Jiraiya ignored the boy and leaned against the wall. "So about the purple haired anbu chick…she doesn't have any-"

Jiraiya ducked as Naruto's hand burst through the wall. Naruto retracted his hand, "Tell lord third, that I don't need a mentor."

Jiraiya rolled his eyes and looked at Naruto. The boy was taller and more well-built than the picture let on. "From what the old man told. You have a lot of potential, so he got me to help you out."

"What can YOU teach ME?"

"Control of the fox."

This got the attention of Both Zodd and the fox.

Naruto shook his head. "I have absolutely no interest in that." Naruto said. Jiraiya's brow furrowed, "Why not. With control of the nine tails y-"

"Control does not equal partnership. If the fox comes around, then ill work with him, but I'm not going to risk it trying to kill me with chakra poisoning mid-combat."

"You don't-"

"You need to get out of my house"

Jiraiya said nothing as he disappeared and reappeared on the roof, "That cant be Minato's son." He said as he looked at Kakashi. "It very much is," The Cyclops said. Jiraiya smacked his forehead, "I'll go talk to Danzo and see if he can help me out. I know he's got something."

Kakashi gave the man a weary look from behind his mask, "Danzo?"

"Yes. It's imperative that I train Naruto, I'm the only one who can get IT under control" Jiraiya said as he vanished. Kakashi frowned before vanishing himself.

Naruto looked at the hole in his wall and sucked his teeth. Putting on the prayer necklace and going to the bathroom to look at himself.

Kyuubi emerged from his cage. "Boy, we need to talk."

"About what."

"About this man who was in your home… Stay away from him."

"I had no interest in approaching the man"

"No, boy, you don't understand. Stay way from HIM. He and anyone associated with him cannot be trusted."

"Would that include lord third?"

"Especially Him."

Naruto nodded and adjusted his headband. He went to his room and grabbed his copy of the forbidden scroll. Skipping over the C-Rank section and moving to the upper echelon of the B ranks. He ran his hands over the ones that seemed the least time-consuming.

In his time with the scroll, he had found out that it was simply just a compendium of almost every Konoha Jutsu from the last 40ish years. Naruto heard a loud knock on his door and sighed.

He slowly opened it and peaked before opening it fully. "Good evening, Kakashi sensei".

Kakashi walked in and sat on the couch. "Evening Naruto… I won't be staying long, I just came by to give you some advice."

"And what would that be?"

"As you know, I'm training Sasuke and Sakura has gone to the hospital to receive some medical training from the nurses. I've also been providing some additional chakra control tips for her, so I didn't feel good leaving you in the dark."

"You have shadow clones…and you can make lots of them. This gives you the edge in terms of strength increase, Chakra wise, of course. When a clone is dispelled, all the information it gained is returned to the creator."

Naruto quickly picked up on the direction this was going. "If I have several clones training in one Jutsu, then ill learn that Jutsu quicker."

"Precisely. Just don't over do it, alright".

The entire field was covered in Naruto's

About two hundred or so. One hundred worked on two fire Jutsu and the others worked on Kata's.

The original sat underneath a tree, meditating.

His mind attempting to ascend to heights beyond belief.

His eyes closed in serene repose. In this stillness, his mind's power grows. No earthly sound can penetrate the tranquil veil that he had created.

No thoughts of war or earthly fate can break his concentration. Naruto seeks a higher plane.

He remained like this for another hour before opening his eyes and looking around. His clones were still at it. The sun now sat high in the sky and was now beating down on the field. Naruto stood up and began slowly dispelling his clones.

He stretched for a few minutes before beginning the short journey back home.

The walk through the civilian heavy areas was, to Naruto, annoying. Odd looks and storekeepers making their 'No Naruto signs' more visible.

A hand landed on his shoulder, causing him to whirl around with a kunai drawn. An anbu quickly jerked back and recomposed himself. "Lord third has requested a meeting with you."

"Tell him I'mm busy."

"Lord third has REQUESTED a meeting with you."

Naruto sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Alright, let's go."

Inoichi, Jiraiya and Hiruzen perked up as they watched Naruto walk in. Hiruzen sat up and put his pipe down. "Hello Naruto."

Naruto simply gave the man a head nod.

"I don't want to keep you here for too long, so ill get to the point."

"Why did you deny training from Jamaica."

"Because I don't need it." Naruto responded firmly. "Naruto, I don't think you know what you're turning down here, Jiraiyas is a Sannin, his knowledge of chakra and taijutsu could be very beneficial in the long run." Hiruzen said.

"I doubt his training would be any more beneficial than the training I'm doing now."

Hiruzen frowned and pursed his lips. Jiraiya quickly stood up, "Listen boy. There is a group of Shinobi dedicated to hunting host's, do you think your little backwoods, hick training will be able to compete with them!."

The man yelled as he pointed a finger at the boy. "When I meet them…ill be prepared."

Hiruzen told Jiraiya to calm down. "What's your dream, Naruto?.", Naruto said nothing for a moment. Hiruzen scanned the boy, Kakashi had told him that Naruto wished to be hokage and this was a tool that could be used to lure the boy into training with Jiraiya.

"I wish to be the ruler of all."

"Ruler of all?…well, the help of a sanin could-"

"I have a dozen more things more helpful than a Sannin.".

Jiraiya shot up once more. "Name one!"

"The kyuubi."

A heavy silence wafted into the room. The three men threw glances at each other. A slow dread slowly building within.

Inoichi cleared his throat. "You've been communicating with it?.".

"On and off yes…and so far he's proved to be a wonderful, competent teacher." Naruto said. Inoichi scooted closer, "He hasn't been telling you strange things, has he?".

"No…may I leave, I'm not very fond of sitting here covered in sweat" Naruto said. Hiruzen nodded.

Jiraiya inwardly swore. This was going to be harder