Author's Note: Okay here's the next chap, don't expect them to come this rapidly from now on, this was a special event. Now, I've heard some comments on Naruto's maturity. Before you immediately point fingers theirs two things I'd like to point out. Number one is this Naruto is older, he's had more time to consider the world at large, even if it's from a child's body. The second is that I'm of the strong belief that the immaturity and stupidity he exhibits are for the most part a mask. Don't forget Naruto mastered a version of the Rasengan in a few weeks from the water balloon, to drilling Kabuto into the ground. He also learned a high level Kin-Jutsu in a matter of hours! And we can't forget the matter of his little strategy aganced Zabuza the first time they encountered him… I might also add that in many fights or times when he needed to act serious, he did, this time he needs to act serious for a long amount of time, he has to get stronger so that he can look after his friends, and make shure what happened before doesn't happen again.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, if I did wouldn't this be a Manga?
Growing up Part 1
It was a surprise to the Hokage that the young boy won their little wager. The boy in question was doing fairly well, mostly through liberal use of Henge. Not through use of his patented Sexy No Jutsu but rather but rather through a few simple alterations to his normal appearance. Brown hair and eyes, different clothing, no whiskers, and altering his skin tone to a deeper tan or a pale reminiscent of the more aristocratic clans and only those that knew him well would recognize him. Shinobi were not allowed to use Jutsu on the civilian populace, but then again Naruto wasn't even an academy student yet officially. As such he was not bound to there rules… yet. Still the lost Uchiha was careful, to avoid the Uchiha, Hyuuga and those clans baring enhanced senses of sent. He didn't want his abilities made public yet.
It was tempting… one flash of his sharingan at the right time, and poof, instant family. It was a pipe dream at best and he knew it. Even if they did take him in, they'd kill him in his sleep. There was a small chance of them excepting him, but it was too faint to consider. Added to that they were all about to be massacred… that was what was really getting to him. They were all about to die and he couldn't do a thing about it! Damn Sasuke-teme and his brooding! The 'last' Uchiha was so tight lipped about what happened to his family, he didn't even know the date. He had plans, but didn't have half of the information to put them into action. Just one little number and word and he could save them! He had already concocted methods of luring ANBU, various clan members, and hopefully some Chunin and Jonin to the seen to intercept his crazed relative. Others to lure many of the doomed clan away and at least prevent a total genocide, but no… He didn't know when to put any of them into action, he had even figured out how the bastered had done it.
The Irony was that Itachi probably couldn't pull it off in any other 'Lesser' clan. What he did was simple really; he just exploited one of the Uchiha's most subtle weaknesses.
Through experimentation with his own eyes, and remembering past fights that involved those that bore the ocular blood-limit, he had determined the four major weaknesses to his bloodline. The first was glaringly obvious, and that was Hi-Jutsu, the sharingan was barely worth the energy it consumed against those that held a bloodline of there own, or otherwise uncopyable attacks. Sasuke's fights with Haku and Gaara had proven that. The second was speed. The sharingan could speed up your perception of your enemy, mimic his moves, and predict his next attack, but all that was useless if your body was to slow to keep up with them. The third was a bit more subtle, but still a major problem. Chakra, those that held the infamous crimson eyes needed massive reserves, preferably around twice their opponents. The sharingan didn't seem to drain to much energy, but with constant use you could find yourself tired out very fast. In addition to that, the fighting style of most Uchiha tended towards near constant use of Nin or Gen Jutsus, the eyes themselves preventing any short recovery of reserves between attacks, and you swiftly saw how draining such battles were.
Itachi was fast, one of the fastest fighters he had ever heard of, and his stamina was on par with a demon host's, but the key to his victory in the Uchiha massacre lay in more then simply overpowering them with the conventional weaknesses. No Itachi pulled off the slaughter using the fourth and most subtle weakness of the clan itself. Uchiha always, Always made eye contact with there opponent. This was to make best use of there hypnotic abilities but also left them open for a more aggressive eye based attack, such as Killing Intent or another Hi-Jutsu… namely a more evolved sharingan. All the weasel needed was to either take his time between fights, not a problem as he could take out an opponent before they got a word out, and carry a few solder pills on him and he was set.
He had two major goals to accomplish before he entered the academy, and one seemed to be undoable. The other still showed promise however, and he would be dammed if he didn't pull it off. The kidnapping attempt on Hyuuga Hinata had killed a man, broken a young girls will, and branded a life of misery to a boy barely older then himself. If he could pull this off maybe the stubborn prick would be less of a jackass, and Hinata herself might be a little less timid… well hopefully.
His frustration over the Uchiha situation drove him in his training, and the results showed. In one year he was cable of more then he was in his Genin days… well in technique anyway. He had raised his Sharingan to level 2 in both eyes. The Rasengan was nearly useable again; he just needed to up his reserves some more. He could pull off a shadow clone sealess with enough concentration, and had gotten replacement down to a single hand seal. He had a plan for those two, it was ambitious, but because he had the time to work it out he might as well at least try. Both justu were useful even if his plan failed anyway. The grand fireball he copied was mainly acquired as a test for his eyes, but he still got it to three seals. You never knew when you would need a ranged attack. Henge, or rather Kazehenge as he had discovered it actually was, seemed to be his most successful jutsu; sealess and soundless he had become a practical shape-shifter, only higher level genjutsu specialists or those barring enhanced senses would spot what he was. It was with those shape-shifting skills that he managed to live a life much more comfortable then he had the first time around. Likewise his stamina and control were great. His reserves weren't up to his Genin days, but they were upper Chunin, and unlike last time his control was actually well above average. His best guess as to how he managed to do so well on what was always his worsed front was simple. His body had less chakra, so it was easier to get a hold of. In his first life by the time he was thought any form of chakra control his reserves were already mid to upper Jonin. It was always an up hill battle because of that. This time he was practicing his control in little ways ever since his Birth. He was also fairly certain that his stamina was likely higher then it was last time around, he was just using much more draining exercises.
Under a tree, after doing such exercises, he found himself completely spent. He did a quick estimate of his rate of growth. He would likely be at Ero-Senin's level in raw power, and better at control by the time he graduated, if he became a shinobi the same time this time around anyway. He was still debating that. If he entered early he could possibly graduate by the same time Kakashi sensei or Itachi managed it. But if he did that, he would likely never meet his friends again, those of Kohona would fear him more then they did. And most important of all… he would be a registered shinobi of Kohona, and no longer exempt of the laws he was bypassing now. More importantly, he remembered how Neji's dad had died. In the fight aganced Hinata's kidnapper he might kill the man. And while there were after the Bakugan, the odds they would want his own Sharingan as a consolation prize were too great. If he was a civilian, they couldn't give him up. In fact Cloud would be in an even worse position. Sure one of theirs would be slain. But it would have being by a civilian, while attempting to kidnap another civilian, both children at that! Cloud would be a laughing stock, and they would have no grounds to declare war… If he survived the encounter. At that thought his wariness was forgotten and he channeled chakra to his feet once more, sprinting up the tree from a laying position, hands flashing the seals for the grand fireball. He would be ready… he had to be.
It happened a few days later. Under transformation he was gathering supplies, fruits, veggies, bread, milk, and of corse raman. He also snagged some Shinobi Food bars. They were cheap and they had all the nutrients you needed for a few days. The only reason he didn't buy them the first time around was because the owner tossed him out before he could get in. The produce venders ether did the same or over charged him for the worsed grade products. He had money to spare this time around. So he bought these. They'd last for decades and he knew once he could no longer disguise himself he wouldn't get a chance to get any more. He'd tried one. It tasted crappy, and he needed to down a glass of milk along with it to be able to force it down. But it held true to it's advertisement. He hadn't felt hungry all day, even after training. He had almost a year's worth in a backpack. If all else he had his options… He shook his head, he didn't want to think about that. As he left the shinobi surplus store he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A newspaper. A major member of the police force had being murdered. He was an Uchiha, Something of the Mirage. It was in one of those dammed box dispensers, so he didn't see the first name, still he could read part of the opening paragraph '…Was found by his best friend…acting commander of ANBU Corps…Killer unknown and still at large…' The acting commander of the ANBU was Uchiha Itachi… found by his best friend? It clicked "Mengenko." He murmured. Then took off at a dead sprint for the Hokage Tower, attracting the attention of more then one person while doing so.
The secretary was more then a little surprised when a young brown haired boy entered the tower said a few rapid and garbled worlds and then plowed through the room in seconds the two Chunin guards thrown to each side. Blinking she hit the intercom "Uh… Hokage-sama? You have a visitor." She wasn't that worried, he might have rushed in, but there wasn't a ounce of killing intent coming out of him, and to be honest they got at least three visitors like that a day.
"Old man… we have to talk." It was a statement, coming from anyone else it would be near insubordination.
It took a moment for the third to realize who was talking to him "Naruto?"
The nondescript boy blinked, then widened his eyes "Whoops, sorry forgot about the disguise." In a small puff of smoke he turned back to his normal form. He looked sheepish for a moment, before once more becoming all business "What do you know about the Sharingan?"
The old man leaned back, remembering the last time he had talked with the boy in front of him. Naruto, it seemed, was one of those tragic few that grew up far to fast. And he had a way with hiding the full truth… he was a bit of a mystery. If experience served there was a point to this "Enough… it's the Uchiha bloodlimit, crimson in color. It allows the wielder to copy Nin-Jutsu, see through Gen-Jutsu. In it's mature state it can hypnotize, and predict the movements of it's holders opponents. The level of it is determined by the comma like markings on the iris, to a maximum of three… why do you ask?"
"There are four." The blond said simply.
The old man's brows narrowed "What was that?"
"There are four levels to the Sharingan. There is a forbidden highly evolved form that allows it's wielders immense hypnotic powers, and access to devastating Hi-Jutsu, and seems to invokes a descent into madness… A level reached by the mental stress of killing your best friend." His eyes hardened "It's called the Mengenko Sharingan, and it's the most devastating optical bloodline that I have ever dreamed could exist. To this date there is only one wielder alive… Uchiha Itachi."
Sarutobi had closed his eyes; he had gone through the clues Naruto was offering, actually mouthing the name in synch with Naruto. "Are you curtain?"
"I swear it on my fathers sacrifice…" he sighed and finally looked away "Look, I know my word isn't worth much, and that Itachi has done a lot for our village… but just have some Jonin keep a watch on the Uchiha complex. They hate my guts, and wouldn't take me in even if they did know I was one of them, but there the only family I have. Even if they never know I'm doing it, I have to watch out for them."
"Aren't you a little young to have the fate of an whole clan resting on your shoulders?" the elder ninja asked taking a drag on his pipe as he let the thoughts run through his head.
"Your telling me…" he mumbled to himself before answering aloud "I still have to do what I can."
The old man paused "Very well, I will arrange for a few people I trust to watch over the complex for the next two months… But this had better not be a prank Naruto." The boys answering grin was almost worth all the paperwork this would cause.
"Thanks old man! I'll remember this when I take over. You'll have the easiest retirement ever!" grinning like he had just won the lottery, he retransformed, surprising the hell Hokage with the level of skill demonstrated. Before the elder man could ask however, he had already left.
Taking another puff from his pipe the old man smirked "Interesting indeed…" he pressed down on the intercom button "Get me Miso Gai."
The massacre happened two days later… this time however ANBU and select Jonin forces, along side the Hokage himself were already on the seen moments after the first chakra spike. The specifics for the most part of the conflict that followed were not revealed to the public, but the results were known to all. The entire military police force slaughtered, the counsel destroyed, aside from that all of the original two hundred thirty some Uchiha, there were now less then fifty still alive. Of what was once considered Kohona's strongest bloodline, only 21 sharingan still spun, one a gift from a dying friend, two unknown to the world, and two more covered in the blood of the bares family. Of the eight Uchiha left with the active limit, five were retired, and one more resigned to help take care of the remaining clan members, who were primarily children. The threat of the dreaded Crimson eyes of Kohona had all but faded out of existence… But unlike in his first life the ashes of the clan still smoldered… and with patience, the winds of time would bow new life into it. Resurrecting the fabled flame wielders from there own ashes.
Still… the weight of his 'failure' held it's grip hard on the lost Uchiha. At the funeral, his eyes would occasionally flare up, even though it was covered buy his standard henge. There was a chance someone would see through it… the Hyuuga were present, well… a few of them… as were every last remaining members of the Uchiha clan, but it was a time of solace… No chakra flared, aside from his own, at his frustration as failing so badly tore into him with every name read.
That night he mastered the shadow clone technique sealess, and with it the Rasengan… as several former trees could contest to… by the end of the night he was to tired to move… He was left to his thoughts.
"Damn you Teme. If I had known that day, if you had opened up just a little bit… I could have saved them all… Damn you." He barely had enough energy left to seal his wounds before he passed out, under a lone standing tree, in the middle of the devastated remains of the training grounds.
The Demon of Kohona awoke to the 'gentle' sounds of a rather loud rant on 'the sprint time of use' "Oh no… Not him." Sharingan eyes shot open in a glare, which backed by the ever-present traces of yoki in his system and his own dojutsu, flared to a level that would make Zabuza proud. "Could you shut up… I'm not in the mood." The red eyes faded back to blue.
"As such is obvious Uzumaki Naruto… or should I say Uchiha Naruto?" smirked the green beast of Kohona, in one of those… unique… poses of his.
The blond was half way up when Gai mentioned his mother's legacy. Hearing that he promptly fell flat on his ass. "What the hell do meen by that?"
"Your sharingan activates under emotional stress. It flared just now, and it did at the funeral last night." He adopted a 'lecture' pose "Fankly I'm surprised that more people don't know about your heritage. Although after last night that might not be so much the case. I'm certain I'm not the only one that noticed them yesterday." He switched to a 'thoughtful' pose. "Most would consider it foolish to enter an area with so many who could discover your identity. Then again… only trash would abandon their friends or family."
"They weren't friends… but they were family." He scowled "Not that it mattered, They would never have accepted me, the old man of the Uchiha even told the third that he should just smother me in my crib once." He shook his head "They wouldn't take me in even now that most of them are dead."
"Despite your best efforts…" Gai shot a smirk.
"What do you meen" blue eyes narrowed
Gai laughed "Who do you think was assigned to observe Itachi? I was a little curious about the 'informant' that would dare accuse the prodigy of the Uchiha clan. I must say I'm impressed. I know Chunin that aren't as capable as you. And you haven't stolen every thing in site with those eyes of yours, even though your transforming skills would make it rather easy. In fact it looks like you even developed an original attack! Your hard work and dedication are on par with my own pupils!" at this point he had shifted to the 'power of youngish' position, but he changed again once more to 'curious' "What Pledges my curiosity however is why? Why do you work so hard? Are so dedicated to becoming a warrior? What drives you to burn so hard?"
Naruto looked down, he didn't know what to say, 'I do it so my friends that died in my first life won't die in this one!' accurate perhaps, but not something he could advertise… But why else? Should he trust Gai? He was weirder then a hyperactive sloth, but a useful ally, and a good man that would do what is right no mater the odds. Viewing him holistically rather then just his personality quirks it became easy to see why Rock Lee patterned himself on the man.
Then it hit him, the blond looked up eyes burning just short of activating the Sharingan. His decision was made. "I work hard so that I can become Hokage! To make sure this never happens again! So people will acknowledge me as me and not the Kyuubi! So I can be strong and protect this village like my father before me! So no one will ever have to live a life like mine again!" the sharingan activated of it's own accord "And I won't let anyone or anything stop me!"
Gai was teary eyed at the display of 'passionate youth' "Yoshi! To have such lofty goals, and the drive and ability to actually reach them! To burn with such a fire that can not be ignored! I must help you on your quest to become Hokage!"
Naruto's eyes widened in genuine surprise "You meen you'd really help me? Just like that?" his hand wondered to his stomach, or more precisely the seal place upon it.
Gai nodded "I know of the burden you carry, but I do not hold it aganced you. If anything the fact that you wish to help the village despite knowing what it has done to you makes you even more worthy of any help I can offer!"
The Kyuubi's container grinned "Really? No Joke? Cool! Are you going to show me some kick ass ninja skills? I know some kick ass Ninjutsu! My Gen-Jutsu's kinda lame except for Henge, but I'm half descent with Tai-Jutsu… I don't know any Ken-Jutsu aside from the basic shuriken and kunai stuff though."
"Well your in luck then!" he grinned "I might not be the authority on Gen-Jutsu, but I am good friends with one of the local weapon merchants, and happen to be Kohona's undisputed Tai-jutsu master!" he shifted back to thoughtful "My training will be difficult. Even with your stamina your days will be trying. Once we start we can not stop until you are an unbeatable weapon… are you sure your up for it?" his eyes were burning with barely controlled anticipation.
The blond grinned, half tempted to say no just to see the look on the mans face. "Of corse I am! I'm going to be Hokage one day aren't I?"
The Jonin jumped "Then let's get started! I want you to run two hundred laps around the village!"
The blond sweat dropped "Right now? What about breakfast?"
The green beast of Kohona blinked "After your warm up of corse."
Naruto facevaulted 'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…'
Gai grinned to himself 'Another protege, perhaps he'll make Lee a good sparing partner… I wonder were I can get green spandex for someone that small…'
Author's Note: Well that's this chapter… or rather the first half of this chapter, done. The next one, next Friday is what I'm aiming for, but no promises. The chapters will come as they come. The faster they do the smaller they'll be and the worse quality, so I'm not going to rush, sorry. I hoped you liked this, reviews appreciated but not necessary.
Beta's Note: Sorry if there are any mistakes left! I didn't have a whole lot of time to look this over. (So much for beta reading –sob-. Don't chew the writer out for it though! If you gotta yell at someone, yell at the magnificent delinquent that is myself, KONJER! (The Double Enigma). Peace out ya'll.