A/N: So my cousin came and went... then other stuff went down and... well I'm lazy and vaguely unmotivated. Its a problem I have with a lot of my stories right now, I know where I want to g with them, and how I want them to end up. But not necessarily how to get there form the point left off at, so I sit back and wait for inspiration. What isn't gonna help is in like a month I'm moving halfway across the country (And I live in Canada, big ass country...) So I apologize, and hope this new chapter of Blond appeases the no doubt irritable masses. (I doubt my stories are enough to get full blown angry, but irritable sounds just right). Anyways! In this chapter we find out what Naruto's new summons will be (I had them changed in my mind about 8 times) and a conversation with the Devi- I mean Danzo. Enjoy!

KEY:

"Normal Speech"

'Thinking'

'Demon Thinking'

"Demon Speech"

Jutsu

Chapter 3

"So this is my apartment," Naruto said, opening the door to his penthouse letting his blonde fiancé inside. Temari gaped slightly, first wondering how he could afford such a nice place for only being a gennin, but that turned to a respectful awe as she looked at dozens of incomplete weapons, seal and jutsu designs strewn about the place. She just turned and stared at him, mouth open, "Ah well, sorry it's kind of messy..."

It was indeed quite messy she noted in the back of her mind. But still... The time and effort that would have been put into even half of these notes. She walked around the room in a mild daze and picked up a piece of paper that had looked to have been worked on recently. "Rasenkaze..." She said reading the title aloud.

Naruto perked and suddenly appeared beside her plucking the paper from her hands. "Heh... That's just a work in progress. Same with the name, makes me think it's to much a Rasengan rip off."

Temari turned to him, a single eyebrow lifted in question. "I recognize the name Rasengan from some classes back in the academy. It was a class on notable ninja's of our time and their signature jutsus."

Naruto smiled a bit. "Yeah Dad was awesome like that..." He trailed off realizing what he just said.

Temari blinked twice. "Namikaze Minato... The Yondaime Hokage was your father?"

Naruto sighed, then shrugged. "Yeah... He died when I was born. But he did leave me behind instructions on how t pull off his jutsus. I know how to do them to." As if to prove his point he brought up his hand and formed a brilliant blue sphere, swirling about in the palm of his hand.

Temari just gaped at him, mesmerized by the spiraling blue chakra before her. With a wave of his hand the sphere dissipated. "Pretty..." Was all the Wind Mistress managed to say.

Naruto laughed and nodded. " I agree."

"I'm surprised I didn't see you use that in any of the matches in the Chunnin exam." She said, snatching back the Rasenkaze paper from him.

Naruto shrugged, "There were a couple reasons for that. The main reason I suppose is I want to prove that I can surpass my father. You can't really surpass someone if you use their moves, so I make my own. And the second, it was just an exam... Killing a prominent Hyuuga, or the son or daughter of a Kazekage with an assassination jutsu during the Chunnin exam would have been a serious political incident."

Temari pursed her lips and shrugged, taking another look around the room as she did so. "I suppose your right. Not many put that kind of thought into those things. Specially not that Uchiha kid." She said, images of the shrill lightning attack that had been driven into her brothers sphere of sand running through her mind.

Naruto sighed as he walked over to the 'living room' area, seating himself on a neon orange leather couch. "Yes well, despite being a vaunted genius, and I will admit he has talent when it comes to the ninja arts, the boy is dumb as fuck politically. That one..." Naruto looked out one of the large bay windows and sighed. "I want to feel sorry for him, but then he'll go and make a colossal ass-tard of himself and feeling goes away. But those are his problems, and frankly I have enough of my own concerns to keep me busy."

Temari nodded as she wandered around the open apartment. "For one in his particular position he's not very politically aware. He should be to, or he'll be strung along like a puppet."

Naruto nodded in agreement, his sapphire eyes tracking the rooms other occupant as she wandered about. "Indeed, he's far to easy to manipulate... But enough of him, thinking of it just pisses me off."

Temari laughed in agreement. "It does doesn't it?" She stopped and looked a box of scrolls tucked into a corner, with the label 'Mom's Stuff' on it. "Hey, what's this?"

Naruto looked up and over to where she gestured at. "Oh, My mother was an ANBU captain, along with my father she left me a bunch of her jutsu's and fighting styles. I haven't touched it yet because they are mostly all water jutsu, and due to an odd birth defect my body can only for Wind element chakra."

Temari looked over at him, "That's an... Odd defect."

Naruto nodded and let out an exasperated sigh. "I know, it seems all useful, I've got crazy stupid wind affinity, but I can't use any other elemental jutsu." He ran a hand through his blond locks, "It kinda pisses me off at times."

Temari furrowed her brows, "Wait, if you can only use wind chakra how did you use those, uh, I dunno what you call them, but they were like crazy, swirly flame pillars of doom."

Naruto stared at her dead in the eyes. "Crazy, swirly flame pillars of doom. That's seriously the best description you can come up with." He said raising an eyebrow, he flinched at the glare she shot him. "Well I suppose it is descriptive." He got up and searched through a stack of papers, rifling around till he found the one he wanted, he expertly tossed the folder at her. "To answer your question, it was seals. In my quest to find a way around my handicap I came up with those seals. You pump normal chakra through them and the seals filter the chakra into whichever element that seal is meant for and intensifies it to the level of someone with a high affinity for it." She nodded wide eyed as she flipped through the folder. Naruto continued on, "I have specific one of those inscribed on my battle fan." Temari perked at that. "Fire mostly, cause, well you saw what happens when I pushed out a fireball worthy of your average fireball jutsu, adding it with my own wind based attack... and well, you get crazy swirly fire pillars of doom." He said with a chuckle.

She nodded in approval and looked up at him, "Add that into the list of stuff your doing for me."

Naruto laughed, "Of course... I'll also add in teaching you the Rasengan..."

Temari looked up sharply at that, "You would?"

"Sure." He said with a nonchalant shrug. "Your going to be family."

She blinked a few times, her eyes moistening slightly. "That's like, the nicest thing anyones ever done for me." She wiped her eyes and shook her head, looking back down into the box. "Do you mind If I look at this stuff?"

"Nah go ahead. I just remember it being mostly tai and ninjutsu scrolls-"

"Holy shit there's a summoning scroll in here." She said, pulling out a long and thick scroll, racked with heavy signs of aging.

Naruto blinked twice, then suddenly appeared next to her, grabbing the scroll from her. "Well fuck me sideways... I have got to look through my stuff more often. Last time I went through Mom's stuff was just a quick glance a couple months ago, before I knew what a summoning scroll looked like. Huh."

He looked at Temari, who looked back at him. "Well dammit don't just stand there lets head to a training ground and check this out!"

Naruto shrugged, "As you wish... I'll show you the culmination of my Rasenkaze research as well... God that name sucks." He used his free hand and grabbed her shoulder, "We'll go the fast way." He said, before the pair of them disappeared in a violent gust of wind, once more scattering various papers and notes around the apartment.

()()()()()()

The blond pair appeared in training ground number 96, it had a rather large clearing and was far away from the village, so any large summons wouldn't be necessarily noticed. Off to one side was a slow idling river with crystal blue waters. Temari looked around in appreciation. "It's nice here."

Naruto nodded, already unraveling the mystery summoning scroll. "Aye that it is. I come here a lot to practice, away from prying eyes." He looked around, "This used to be a rather heavily wooded area..."

Temari looked around again, this time noting the wind scars, tell tale signs of a wind users practice grounds. "Indeed. I can tell." She said, approval laced in her words. She huffed and tapped her foot. "Come on, I wanna see this summoning contract in action here."

Naruto sighed and bit down on his thumb, signing his name next to his mothers, allowing himself a small smile at the Uzumaki Kushina, written in blood next to his own name, he finished and closed his eyes searching his memory for the correct seals. "All right... Let's try this... Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" He slammed his hands into the ground letting out a burst of chakra.

Naruto and Temari stared in anticipation as a tell tale puff of smoke arrived, Temari burst into laughter as the smoke cleared. "Rabbits! Your Mother summoned fucking Rabbits! AHAHAHAHA"

She stopped laughing when she found a particularly long and dangerous looking pike being held in front of her face. "We're called Hares bitch, and don't forget it."

Naruto looked over the Hare (mentally reminding himself never to call it a rabbit.). It was the size of a horse, with coarse light brown hair. Scars could be seen over his eyes, and it was wearing a deep blue jacket. Oh and the pike, large dangerous... Pointy... Weapon it was. Naruto summoned up a bit of courage and coughed to get the Hares attention. "Hi, I, uh, am the one that summoned you."

The Hare, drawing back his pike from the now very respectful Temari, looked over Naruto. "Are you now boy? And what is your name?"

"Uzumaki Naruto." The blond said, straighting his back.

The Hare raised an eyebrow, something Naruto and Temari hadn't known was physically possible. "Kushina's boy?" A nod was his answer. The Hare looked at him a bit closer. "Hmm, good build to yeah, your face looks like that idiot toad summoners, but your build is definitely hers." The hare sat back on its hind legs and smiled, again something the human blonds hadn't known was anatomically possible. "I'm Rockjaw Grang, and a good friend of your Mom's."

Naruto nodded, and gave the hare a half bow, "I am honored to meet you. I found the summoning scroll among my mothers belongings."

Rockjaw nodded slightly, "Hmm, I'm surprised you don't have the toad contract. While your mother was pregnant it was all your father could talk about."

Naruto laughed and scratched the back of his head, an act Temari found incredibly endearing, "Well I had the opportunity... But I already look like a cloning experiment of my father, and as strong as they are the toads were well known to be his summons. I simply did not wish to look like I was trying to imitate him too strongly."

The hare nodded sagely. "I understand, and well really. We hares are far more appealing then toads to begin with."

Naruto looked at him, then shrugged. "I can't argue with that statement."

The hare gave a deep belly laugh, "Damn straight boy! Now, I would suggest you summon our boss. He'll be delighted to know Kushina's son picked us over those toads."

Naruto shrugged, "All right, how much chakra should I use?"

Rockjaw tapped his chin thoughtfully, "About twice as much, maybe a little more."

"Can do. Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" Naruto called out again. This time a much larger puff of smoke, one about the size of the Hokage tower appeared. A big, really big, a real step back, whoa now that's big, kinda big hare appeared from the fading smoke. He was wearing an eye patch, and draped over his silver fur was a blood red jacket. A saber was seen sheathed at his side. Naruto and Temari's jaws dropped as they stared at the summon boss.

"Hey! Who has summoned me here? Wait, since when did we have a new summoner anyways?" The massive hare boomed out.

Rockjaw bounced into view, "He is new Sir Basil. He is Kushina's Son."

The big hare took pause at that, and leaned in to look at Naruto. "Kushina's boy eh? I always thought your fool father had you slated to be a toad summoner."

Naruto gulped, feeling one of those rare moments in his life where he was completely and totally intimidated. "Umm, well there are a few reasons for that, the whole he died fighting Kyuubi thing, and well uh... Let's just say Hares are way more awesome then Toads." Naruto said, fighting back a nervous stutter.

Basil looked at him, before rearing his head back and letting loose a guttural laugh. "I like him!" He said, grinning at Rockjaw. "But I suppose I should test you, can't let you be our summoner all willy nilly can I? Hmm, Perhaps the same test I gave your mother. Right now, use your strongest jutsu, if you can impress me I'll agree to make you our summoner."

Naruto blinked twice. "Uh, all right then." He paused trying to think of a jutsu. HE sighed and realized he only had one chance to truly impress this Hare. "All right, this isn't really complete yet, and it doesn't have a name... But here it goes." The blond closed his eyes and held out his right hand, using the left to steady his wrist. Slowly, a small whisp of wind formed, spiraling around a central point. Then more and more as a small vortex was formed. All the wind seemed to be pulled into the increasingly violent ball forming in Naruto's hands. Soon, great blades of wind chakra formed spiraling around, slashing into the earth, and into Naruto's hand. The vortex roared,a s if angry as it sucked all the loose dirt and air towards it. Sapphire eyes snapped open and Naruto charged forward, towards conveniently located boulder. He thrust the angry swirling mass into the rock, and the boulder seemed to explode, chunks of it spraying across the field. Naruto sighed, a bead of sweat having dripped down his forehead as whisps of red chakra surrounded his heavily slashed arms. Where the Rasengan grinded, this slashed and shredded.

Temari was speechless, that was the jutsu in the notes she had looked at? She had known it was incomplete, but still...

Basil nodded, "It seems being truly surprising runs in your family lad. If I may suggest a name fr the jutsu, Try GouzenUzu. And lift your head in pride, your now a summoner of Hares."

Naruto smiled, the combined summonings showing of his jutsu having made a significant dent on the teens monster supply of chakra. "Roaring Vortex... I like it. And I am honored to be your summoner."

Basil smiled, "Respectful when needed, good lad. If you ever come across it, sign the badger contract. It has been lost for several generation and they are the one species we do not mind sharing a summoner with." A tendril of chakra burst from the boss summon, and into Naruto's arm leaving what looked like a Hare/Rabbit skull tattoo on his arm, just past his elbow. "I must be going now, business and what not. Summon me whenever you have need, or for a drink."

As the larger summon poofed away Rockjaw turned and smiled at his new summoner, "I should be going as well, pleasure to meet you. Call for me whenever you need me." And with that he too disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Naruto and Temari stood, in a semi-stunned shock, a simple get to know your fiancé day had turned into a rather interesting affair indeed. "So..." Temari started, "This kinda stuff happen to you often?"

Naruto looked at her, "All of a sudden meeting summons, and becoming a summoner? No, thats a new one. But for the general level of weirdness? Yeah this is more average then I care to admit."

"Fun."

"Indeed."

()()()()()()

Naruto returned to his apartment several hours later, having taken Temari back to the hotel her and her brothers were staying at until the wedding, and having then proceeded to be sucked into a discussion with Gaara on the best blood spray patterns you could achieve.

He opened his apartment and walked in, raising an eyebrow at the sight of someone sitting drinking tea on his couch. "Ah, your home I see."

Naruto bit back a 'who the hell are you', "Yes, yes I am." He slowly, and carefully sat across from the man, in a rather cushy orange recliner. He narrowed his eyes as he studied the man, the blue orbs widening in recognition. "Danzo is it?"

"Ah, glad to see you still recognize me." The man said, almost cheerily as he sipped some more tea. "You have excellent taste in tea by the way."

Naruto nodded, only slightly weirded out by this conversation, "I do. I import it from Grass, as despite the name Tea country does not make that good of a cup of tea." Both men laughed at that. "But, talks of my good taste in hot beverages aside, what are you doing in my home?"

The man paused, holding his tea. "I suppose you could call it a business proposal of sorts. Beneficial for the both of us I assure you."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, summoning a shadow clone to get his own cup of tea made. "Oh? And what would you, an honorable council member and ex-leader of the now disbanded, but really anyone with a brain knows they aren't ROOT, want with little ol' me?"\

Danzo grinned, "See, that's what I like about you. Straight and to the point when there is no reason to beat around the bush. What I want, is to offer you training."

At this Naruto raised an eyebrow skeptically. "And why would, I, who turned down a Sannin, want help from you?"

The older man set down his tea cup and waved Naruto off, "No no... Not physical training, or anything in the way of fighting, though ANBU level training options would be made available to you. No, I wish to train you for a different kind of fighting. Specifically, politics."

"Oh?" Naruto said, genuinely intrigued.

"Yes, with your upcoming marriage, you will be thrust into the political arena. After all we can't have the daughter of a Kage, even if it is a deceased one, marrying a random gennin. You will be given honorary clan status until such a time your family size is large enough to move beyond honorary. The addition of such a new clan will tip the odds in the current clan council, which is currently split in it's factions. The Hyuuga, the Utatane and the Mitokado forming one front, the Haruno, the Inuzuka and the Aburame form another. And the Yamanaka, the Akimichi and the Nara. The Sarutobi clan usually remains neutral, or often exempt."

Naruto nodded along as Danzo spoke, "And Where do I fit in? Or more important, where do you want me to fit in?"

Another grin formed on Danzo's face. "Personally, I would want you to fit in to wherever you deemed right. For a long time the Sarutobi clan has held the swing vote, I would find it interesting and best for the village if that power was given to another." He paused at this, "It pains me to say this but age does not always breed wisdom, I truly mourned the loss of your father as Hokage. This village needed a younger perspective."

Naruto never stopped watching Danzo, carefully monitoring the aged advisor. "Indeed, Jiji... Was a good Hokage, but after finding out he lied to me for so long, I looked up many of his past decisions and found them... Lacking. But, that still does not answer, What do you want from me?"

Danzo didn't answer right away, choosing instead to look out the window at the fiery sunset. "I have led a long life..." He started, "And looking back, I regret the path I choose to walk down. I still believe ROOT is needed, but I went at it the wrong way... I have caused division when I should have sought order, and often unnecessarily circumvented authority. For a while I deluded myself into wanting power, jealous that Sarutobi had what I had always wanted. But when I realized I had gone to far down a rather dark path, it was to late to change my ways." The one armed man turned to face Naruto, the dimming light lighting his old and faded features, and Naruto couldn't help but feel the man looked, very tired. "In you, I have found a chance to redeem myself, I wish to teach, and train you into being my successor." Naruto's eyes widened drastically at that and Danzo chuckled. "You see young Naruto, you hold a very interesting charisma about you. People feel drawn to you, for what seems to them to be inexplicable reasons. That is needed to be in my position, though I never had it as strong as you. Also, you have seen far more then your young eyes should have. This has hardened you, and sharpened your mind, and for some reason you still stay in Konoha... For what reason I do not know. "

Naruto stared hard at the man, his chin leaning on clasped hands. "So... You wish for me to become the next ROOT commander?" A nod, "I suppose you can do that... But I thought a Hokage chose his own advisors."

Danzo shook his head, "A Hokage's advisors choose their own replacements by law. The feeling is that the Hokage would install someone with a biased opinion, the job of an advisor is to avoid that. And even more that is the job of the ROOT commander, to be willing to do anything to ensure Konoha's safety."

"Interesting..." Naruto said, tapping his chin lightly. "I have no desire to be Hokage, not anymore at least. To much personal sacrifice, and the sacrifice of family involved." He said quietly. "Your offer though, it is far closer to what I originally wanted, all those years ago... Hmm..."

"Now, I know it is to much to ask for a decision now but-" Danzo was silenced as the blond jinchuuriki raised his hand.

"No need to worry Danzo... I would be a fool to let such an opportunity slip by." A small thin smile formed on Naruto's lips. "I accept."

()()()()()()

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A/N: Wooow eeee... Fun chapter no? Finished it in a day to boot. Hey, when the writing flows it flows...

Minor notes... Umm, Probably every Hare (And Badger if I decide to get them) names comes from the Redwall series of books. Cause, well, despite the fact I first read those books as a kid, they continue to inspire me today. Go read them. Personally I haven't read his alter ones but I've read all the old ones, so seriously, go now and read some.

Also included in here is a reference to another favorite book series of mine, can you find it?

Oh and I want to give an answer to every reviewer who's bitched about the whole Naruto slept with Gato thing, get over it. Seriously... It was a minor point to show why Naruto is filthy stinking rich, and the fact that the ninja's in this story wont be all happy go lucky, and sometimes have a much darker undertone. I never expected anyone to latch onto that, and complain so much about it, hell it was more of an afterthought to me and will likely never be mentioned in the story again, or if it is, only a minor one.

Oh, I really fricking hate Cannon Danzo I mean god Kishimoto what the hell. Everything in the latest few chapters (aside from the babeness of the Mizukage and the Kumo kunoichi) has pissed me off so bad. Its like 'o noes Sasuke is officially a missing nin!' How the fuck is that a surprise? He betrayed the leaf for Orochimaru, ya remember? The guy that killed Sarutobi? Frickin R-Tards. On a high note, we get to see more of Sai, who I actually like. And Gaara! WOOO GAARA! (Damnit! I thought I repressed those fanboy instincts! DOWN DAMN YOU DOWN I SAY!) Meh, thats enough ranting for now. Dunno when I'll update next, moving and all, ugh... till next time, Draton out.