AN: So I am in love with all the reviews so far.. it's one reason why I'm posting so quickly. Also to note... as I forgot this at the beginning I OWN NOTHING FROM NARUTO save for my own creations :D As for my other two stories.. I will get to them just this idea has been eating at my brain like a Zombie in a mental institution sooo yea..

The week before his final year at the academy, found Naruto, Shino, Shikamaru and Chouji all training in Naruto's favorite training ground. Though to be fair it was Naruto teaching while the others trained. Shino especially was driven as the control exercises would bring him closer to a refined use of his chakra that would allow for more jutsu rather than fully relying on his Kikai. Shikamaru however was doing so to get another game of shogi. Every loss he took he had to master another form of control or reach a goal Naruto would put up for him.

The last was Chouji, the fa-er rotund boy. He was working in a more physical nature, seeing as Naruto via kabuto had figured out that the more muscle mass the boy had the less damage his clan jutsu would do to his body. Plus they had created a meal plan that consisted of heavy protein, high calorie and an over abundance of vitamins to help him grow much larger.

Naruto's eyes scanned the boys when he felt a shift in the air behind him. "Uzumaki-san. The Hokage wishes to see you." The voice of an ANBU spoke.

Turning to see a Boar mask he nodded. "Sorry guys the old man wants to see me... just keep working for another half hour I might be back in time." He said over his shoulder. Feeling the ANBU grab him the the uncomfortable sensation of being whisked away before his feet planted on the ground.

"Thank you Boar you may wait out side." The familiar rasp of the Hokage instructed. They both watched the ANBU leave. "It's been a while Naruto-kun. Are you that busy that you can't even spare a moment to see an old man?"

Naruto smiled sadly, "Sorry Jiji, I've just been working really hard with Kabuto-nii and hanging out with my friends." he jumped into the chair.

The hokage smiled, "Hanging out or training them?" He laughed lightly, "The fact that it's only control exercises let's you get away with it."

Ne waved it off, "Maybe." He looked at the man he once considered his only security in the village. "So what exactly did you want to see me for?"

The hokage pulled his pipe out and started to light it, though the look of disgust on the young boys face caused him a moment to pause before he continued. "I'm old and it's not like this will kill me yet." taking a few drags from the pipe.

"Yet being the key word Jiji, the chemicals actually cause not only a break down of your lungs. They also pollute your blood and cause an instability in your chakra coils." HE clucked his tongue.

"Be that as it may I'm the adult and leader of the village so I'll do it anyway." he sighed, and relaxed more. "You realize I was quite concerned with your change in behavior. But looking over the past almost four years I have to say I am pleased." 'Please you haven't snapped and killed anyone.' he rested his hand on the stack of paperwork before he continued. "I've decided that I want you to take the exam for being a full medic. Kabuto took his last year, and he tells that you are nearly right behind him in skills and ability."

Smiling the blond nodded, "he told me that too."

"Good, it will be nice to have another medic with your skills and reserves." the hokage gave him a questioning look.

'Might as well come clean a little and see if I can't milk it to my benefit.' Naruto looked at the ground. "Yes I figured it out you know." Looking up through his long bangs. "After I started focusing the name calling, the date of my birthday... the burning my chakra used to cause me... if I'm not the demon I might as well be a damn holding it back with a few cracks in it."

Sarutobi gripped the desk, "How long have you guessed such things?"

"the last two years." he looked at the old man, "studying to be a medic opened my eyes to a lot of things that weren't normal that I did." He stared hard, "Did you know there's a technique that lets you feel the pathways? Strange how I had my own and then another source that seemed to want to burn me to death."

Setting his pipe down, "I'll be honest with you. Yes you are containing the demon known as the Kyubii. It was sealed in you as you guessed on your birthday to save the village from being destroyed. The yondaime gave his life doing so." Getting up he walked to the window and looked out over the village. "Many wanted to kill you that night, and there were a few others that wanted to take you and turn you into a weapon. I... I couldn't allow either of those things to happen. So," he turned to face the boy, "I made it law to never speak of your condition and should anyone do so it was their death." Walking around the desk to stand in front of Naruto, "I wanted to at least let you have a chance at a normal life."

"Well we saw how that turned out." he bit out, "But it's better I guess. I wouldn't have had to learn to cherish what I had and fight and struggle to learn everything I have against everyone conspiring against me."' Or me conspiring to make them like me.'

A faint smile traced the old man lips, "I'm glad you are mature enough to understand this. Now I have to ask have you told anyone?"

'Sasori hahah,' "Kabuto-nii, and Shino. I was planning on letting Shikamaru know as well since I think he's capable of understanding the difference."

He agreed with a nod of his wizened head. "That is one thing out of the way. The other is... the council is unhappy that you are scoring so well."

"They're afraid either the demon is influencing me or I am actually much better than they thought and it scares them that a weapon might be stronger than it's use?" He scoffed. Sarutobi nodded, slightly surprised by the boys insight. "Well until I become a gennin I'm a civilian. I'm free to move from the village. I'm sure any other village would love to have another tool." He paused, "I'm not am I? Because of your law I'm classified as a village secret."

"Yes." he hung his head slightly feeling saddened by the boys response. Where was the kid who cried out he would be Hokage? "It is why they have agreed for your testing as a medic, another tie to hold you to the village."

I'll take the test. But." he looked out the window, " I want on either Shikamaru's team or Shino's."

the hokage thought it over. 'Kakashi wants Naruto or he won't take Sasuke. But having a medic on any team would be a great bonus.' he relit his pipe and took a few puffs. 'I won't mess up the Trio it would be to good a mix. Though having an all male team doesn't work either. Plus Naruto doesn't appear the frontal assault type which is what kakashi wants him for.' "The only way that can work is if you possess a skill set that would match either of theirs or allow for room to work better with each other."

Rubbing his chin, " Shino would be the closest... I mean I'm not a support type at all. I have the reserves and control for genjutsu or ninjutsu. I've been learning another fighting style that works with my build... I'm the only one of my age ground and then some that can avoid ANBU detection, I am a medic which means I'm also good with poisons." 'I'm also a puppeteer.' he added the last silently. "Even if I were to do something different the teams have been set for a while haven't they? I mean as many clan heirs are in my class." He leaned forward, "Ino isn't going to fit in with Shika and Chouji... even though that's the plan. Which means Shino, Hinata and Kiba would be a team Kiba is to blunt and tactless to work well with them... though that would mean that Uchiha, Sakura and I would be the last team..." He shook his head.

"That is the rough plan but how did you figure that out?"

"Please Ino-Shika-Cho has been used three times as a team. The top boy and girl are always on the same team with the lowest student to pass." Here he gave a pointed look to the Hokage, "Which is Kiba and has been for two years now." He rubbed his shoulder, "Shino and Hinata are both natural designed for tracking... which should have been with Kiba because of Akamaru and he would have acted as their shield."

"That still doesn't tell me how you would be better with Shino or Hinata versus Sakura and Sasuke." he took a drag off of his pipe waiting to see if He could give him a strong enough answer.

"Sasuke only looks out for himself, Sakura only looks out for Sasuke at her own expense for one. For two Shino is already aware of my 'issue' Hinata wouldn't be to far behind as much as she looks at me with her eyes active. Plus between the jukken and the kikkai they are the best two to 'put me down' if the demon does somehow get released." 'I don't want to play this card yet, and I can't.' Thinking of his puppets. 'but I can use the Anko card, hehe'. "Plus I've been getting help in my skills from some one else in exchange for helping Her with an old wound."

That caught the old mans ear, "Who is teaching you? And what is she teaching you?"

'Hook and hopefully the line next', "Anko. She's been helping me with my style. Plus some tracking and stealth stuff." He shrugged. "I kinda ran into her a while ago since I spooked some things in the forest. She drug me off to Kabuto-nii, and he noticed to weird mark on her neck. Next thing I know we are trying to fix it and she helps me out as payment."

'The curse seal, but how would Kabuto know of it? Plus how would he be able to fix it neither of the boys know seals.' he sat the pipe carefully on his desk. "Naruto how does Kabuto know about the curse seal?"

"Oh is that what it's called?" Naruto made a thinking face, "Well it's not really the seal thingy. It's more what it does to the body. He found something like it when he was on a mission I guess and study the body.. but since Anko's alive we can see what it actually does all the time." He looked over, "The guess is the seal is the point that started it, but the rest is all like a parasite with some nasty things... we've almost got her's taken care of... we wanted to wait to show you the results until we knew it worked."

'He's paying for training, which isn't illegal.' Though it surprised him that he thought about it. But then he was trading skill for learning something which was a very stubborn and old naruto way of doing things. He sighed, ' Though if that is true then he would be a much better fit away from kakashi. This is not going to be pretty in the end.' "Fair enough, I will speak with both Anko and Kabuto about this situation. IF everything is as you say then I will agree to placing you with Shino. After you take your placement exam." He did smile faintly, "Though I am glad you aren't picking up on Anko's bad habits."

Naruto's attention was still on the window, he quickly pulled a kunai and launched it just barely skimming the window sill. The small yelp of shock that followed had him smirking. "I hope you're actually on the ledge and not using chakra, because that was poisoned."

White hair and a single eye soon peered into the window, " It just grazed my hair." As he climbed through he stumbled and collapsed.

"It was a powder base contact poison," the blond slowly stood up. "Your Hair dislodged it to your scalp where it seeped into the cranial network before traveling through the rest of your body." He moved slowly, while pulling a kunai, "The nice trick is that it force your chakra to lock up in your tenketsu creating a muscular paralysis. I would say anywhere between three hours to a day depending on your control before you can move the poison from your system... Now why were you spying on a private conversation. Hatake, or should I say ANBU Inu?"

Sarutobi watched the entire scene play out, 'Yes Anko is written all over this. But how did he know the ANBU identity?' While kakashi's single eye seemed to widen that his alias had been found out, but that shouldn't be possible especially for this kid, he was an idiot bottom of his class.

"I bet you're wondering how I figured that out?" He chuckled, then licked the kunai. "Three simple things. One Inu and Hatake are the only two people in the village that don't have their right eye visible. Two, only again those two Alternate in appearing at the memorial stone at the exact time everyday. And finally..Your reaction told me it was true." He smirked before he removed the poison and headed to the door. Well removed enough that it would be a few minutes for him to move. "I'll see you Jiji, oh and Hatake thanks for the book." Holding up a small orange book as the door closed behind him.

The two adults looked at each other, before the Hokage started laughing. "We underestimated him. Given who his parents are we shouldn't have..." he wiped a tear from his eye.

Slowly pushing himself up, "How did he do that? I mean not the poison kunai thing.. that has Anko written all over it.. but the medic jutsu he's the dead last.."

"No, he's actually number four in his class. He's been receiving training in the medical skill for almost four years now." he looked sadly at kakashi, "You want him on your team but you don't even bother to look at his files and his reports do you?" Shaking his head, "Obviously you'll have your hands full without having him on your team. Just because he looks like him doesn't mean he is, honestly he takes more after his mother now in everything but looks."

Kakashi nodded, men don't walk like that. The signs were there, but he moved like a trained kunoichi. Subtle, seductive, twisted and beyond all sense of don't piss one off. "What happened... there's no way he could have changed that much from the knucklehead."

"No not on his own, but because someone older showed compassion and offered help yes. He also is aware of his burden. He took that easier than being told the council doesn't approve of his scores being so high."

"His control shouldn't be that good, not with the way the seal works..." It was one thing he did notice that night.

"The reports are he does two hours of control exercises every morning and has been for four years."

"Do you have his file?" Kakashi finally turned to look at him.

"Yes, though I doubt you will get him on your team. Unless you give up teaching Sasuke." he handed over the latest round of files from Iruka.

Kakashi opened and started reading through, his one eye growing larger and visible brow crawling into his hairline. "You let them bring back that test?" he flipped more pages seeing the constant improvement in Naurto. As well the notes mentioning his 'games' with Shikamaru and winning or stale mating the other boy in shogi. "It has to be the demon doing something."

"No, or we would have been alert as he was in the room the entire time." He motioned for a certain figure to come from the walls.

The ANBU walked forward, "It is as Hokage-sama speaks. I felt nothing but the barest levels of Demonic chakra coming from him. It's almost as if either the beast is withdrawing further into the seal or Naruto has his own way of dealing with the creatures Chakra."

Winter soon rolled around for the hidden village, with Naruto being found on what looks like an operating table. "I've burned myself for the last time. I'm glad I only have to deal with that damned test four more months." He growled.

"Lay still and stop moving. If I mess any of this up I might as well just kill you and let the Kyubii free." Sasori snipped. His hands slowly and meticulously tracing lines and symbols with a small brush and ink against Naruto's seal. The last line finished, "There now compress it so I can remove the overlay, not that it matters it's almost burnt out anyway." he grumbled.

His hands flashed down to the moist ink and began pumping his chakra into it. It quickly came to the point where his reserves were shot and the the dregs in the overlay pumped in causing a sharp intake of breath from the pain as he burnt the extra boost. A tight feeling of pain coiled from his seal as he felt it latch into his body and into his chakra. A small flash of blue and green light burst from the seal and

then it faded back into nothing as he passed out.

Instant Sasori was upon him, and quickly banished the old overlays leaving only the modification to the seal. "Kabuto, make sure he is stable. I don't want any complications beyond what we anticipate."

Silver hair moved in a flash and green chakra soon spilled from his hands as he kept track of any changes. Noting as things shifted or altered. He was surprised to see the two radicals working in tandem to heal and infuse with the body.

Seal

Naruto opened his eyes to find himself sitting in front of a row of bars, a small paper resting in the middle with the word Seal on it. "So my warden finally chooses to show himself." Orange fire seemed to leap into the bars that didn't move. "I wish to devour you and free myself."

"Kyubii, the unwanted one." he walked towards the bars to look at the demon trapped on the other side. "You are the cause of all my problems. I'm just so glad we fixed it before you could have done anything about it." he smirked.

"I can control you, my chakra runs through your flesh, feeds into your pitiful reserves. I am the reason you live.. I am the reason you will have power!" It growled.

Naruto actually started laughing, "My flesh yes, but not very much." Shaking his head. "The seal doesn't let your power touch me. You will never be able to control me, never withhold chakra from me or force more upon me to try and take over." He smirked, "You are nothing more than an annoyance to me now."

"Lies I feel my chakra being drained into your coils, filling you with MY power. I feel it changing your body to be stronger, more agile.. more predatory into a perfect form for me to Control." The demon bellowed.

"No. It would have been so, but we changed that. What remains of your chakra after my body took it is turned into medical chakra then turned into my chakra. Your power only feeds my bodies addiction, nothing else." he walked up to the point his nose was inches from the bars. "Even if you forced your chakra into me it would do nothing more than disperse and be wasted as it converts and heals my body the rest will simply fade away."

As he spoke, green chains shot from the bars and darkness around the demon to latch into it, creating a collar. The power seeming to feed from and into the demon at the same time. Causing it to hiss, and smoke at the touch. "What have you done to me, what are you doing Mortal!"

"Putting a rabid beast in it's place." Turned and walked away. "Did you know the seal is meant for me to fully absorb you? Leaving you nothing and as nothing?" He stepped away as a wall rose up behind him cutting him off from the sounds of the Kyubii.

Real World

Four days passed until Naruto woke up. "Ugh, I feel like I got hit with the Hokage tower." He rubbed his head feeling his hair was much longer, and his own body seemed lighter. 'This can't be good', he thought when he opened his eyes. The mirror so nicely placed next to him revealed the whisker marks nearly faded, but it was the rest of him that seemed to perplex his mind. Thankfully in his own view he remained looking very much a boy, though his now lean figure and long hair could twist that fact. If he had to guess the full change was a few inches taller and his body mass evened out.

"I see you have finally woke up Naruto."

"Sasori-sama." He nodded his head.

"It seems the transition was roughly how we anticipated." The man waved a vague hand in Naruto's direction. "Kabuto and Anko are both waiting to being testing the changes. Myself will only require a clone to begin working with you on your new Katsu."

"Yatta!" He smiled, "I guess I will need new clothes too." he looked at the now baggy and very much to short clothes that he had worn previously.

The red head nodded, "I've taken the liberty of getting you something that will reflect upon your training." he placed a package on the table, "Also I have had multiples purchased and some other articles placed for you so that you don't have to continue wearing the same one over and over again."

He turned and left the boy to begin his own dress.

Once Sasori was gone he jumped out of the bed, teetering slightly from the difference, but quickly opened the package slipping into his new underwear. He pulled out the pants, which were a bit tight but made from a soft leather in black. The shirt wasn't much as it was ninja mesh, and was cut to hang longer over his left hip to just above his knee. A black belt with three utility pouches and a double scroll holster designed to hand over his right side. Last had to be from Anko as it was a modified trench in black, with hidden slip pockets so he could reach his pouches with out taking his hands out of the coat.

He also found black wraps for his ankles and wrists, and combat sandals. Looking in the mirror he didn't know whether to blush or feel proud, though the last detail would be his hair. Which now rested just passed his shoulders, pulling some ninja wire out, he pulled it back into a low and loose ponytail. With a smirk he pulled some of his bangs to frame his face before he walked out of the room to meet with his three teachers, his three friends, his three members of what he considered his family.

Anko let out a low cat call, while kabuto and Sasori nodded their approval. " We have a week left of your winter break. That should give Anko and Kabuto ample time to find your new limitations or any issues that we need to resolve." Sasori spoke, "I will take you clone and continue with you private tutoring."

With a nod he created a clone, with out using the hand seal. Which caused a raised brow from everyone. "What? I use that jutsu everyday and have for three years..." Anko laughed.

"Let's go brat we've got to get you squared out so you can get back to getting the Pedo's bite mark off of me."

To say that week was simple or easy would be the opposite of anything he thought was tough. Limits were found, in everything he did just short of actually breaking him. But out of all of it, he knew his weaknesses in what he had been trained in. His medic nin skills were really the only obvious improvement. Everything else was just mildly different, save for his reflexes and senses. When the Kyubii had told him predator it wasn't lying. He could react quicker, smell, hear and see better, and had a mild sensor ability. Nothing like he originally hoped for, but he could 'tag' signatures marking friend from foe in a decent distance.

His greatest achievement was however Katsu II, seven generations of controlled and enhanced breeding of foxes. With training a seal work to push them had given him four to work with. He would keep three of them for future breeding and obvious need to upgrade. But The strongest of them was a deep gray colored male. The boon to his puppet was his deep knowledge in being a medic, most of the seals were placed while Katsu was still alive to ensure they preserved the body, mind, ability and natural skill. Even most of the original parts and weapons of Katsu I had been placed and installed before he let the animal die. Cruel maybe, but it kept and made it look truly alive compared to the firs one.

Sasori's critical eye gazed over every inch of the puppet. Before he took control and began testing every trick he could with it. Before he let a small smile grace his features. Handing Katsu back, "You were correct there is no 'flaw' in this puppet. The next few 'living' ones you create however must be animals that you are not so intimately familiar with either through their awkward motions or a strong difference to you and to this puppet."

"Why?"

"Because once doesn't mean success always. But also I wish to test your ingenuity." He smirked. "Unless you can simply only copy previous puppets you've made?"

The blond just sent him an icy glare, "Fine Sasori-sama You wish for innovative puppets... Very well." The clone dispelled, leaving Sasori to actually laugh.

"I'll mark him as a master when he passes the gennin exam." He spoke to no one but the racks of puppets filling his home.

Four months breezed by for most everyone else, save Naruto. It seemed his three 'masters' had decided to up his training. Rounded out he was easily Chunnin, yet he still lacked in the area of Jutsu, weapons, genjutsu. He effectively was a glorified rookie. His skills as a medic were recorded, and well earned. Yet his scores in the academy placed him in the upper middle of his class. The freshly worked mark into his chest however was his pride above anything else. Sasori had tattooed the emblem of Master into his skin.

Though maybe the suffocating breast of Anko had been the highlight of the last four months, but then that happened often enough to just be a treat. They had finally come up with the way to destroy the seal and it's counterparts. The A-rank pay and mission statement for both Him and Kabuto however was nice. Not even a Gennin and already a High ranked mission.

But now he was sitting with the rest of the class after finishing their exams, the black band resting against his forehead brought a small smile to his face. "Now, for those of you that passed today. Congratulations." Iruka smiled to them all. "You will need to report here tomorrow at noon for your team assignments. Dismissed."

Hokage Tower

The Hokage sat at his desk, with folders stacked each being that of the passed students. The prospective Jounin who would be taking teams sat before him while Iruka sat to the side as the most knowledgeable about the students to advise the decisions. "Now before we begin I have a few things to say first." Sarutobi began. "As kakashi is the only one able Sasuke will be on his team. However there is one other matter. Shino Aburame and Naruto Uzumaki are to be teamed together." He hid his smirk. As much as he disliked it, he was a man of his word. Also he had it signed by the council mixed among other things they didn't notice. "You may take the time to look through their files, and question Iruka if you so choose."

Files were passed around, and few words were spoken among them for some time. As files were read or exchanged. Sarutobi noticed the unhappy looks of three of the Jounin. Kakashi was easy for obvious reasons, 'he can't get Naruto.' Kurenai was simple to take a guess at, with her specialty. 'Tracking team, she was probably hoping to get Aburame, Inuzuka, and Hyuga.' His aged eyes fell onto his son next. 'I really can't figure that one out. He has been after the Nara boy since his first year in the academy.'

Kakashi's thoughts were rather simple, 'Damn him... Icha Icha thief...'

Kurenai's were fairly more complex, ' ugh damn that cyclops and his given team top boy and girl and the dead last. Why did Kiba have to be such an Idiot.' Flicking pages, 'Why? It's the best set up for tracking why did he have to go and screw me over like that my first time out.'

Asuma on the other hand, 'Nara or Uzumaki?' the question repeated over and over. 'Ino-Shika-Cho or Aburame,Uzumaki and the Hyuga... Nai-chan might kill me if I take that one.. but I could get a more varied team... and the team work needed would make the trio a good first team for her...' he scribbled his selection on the paper, having Uzumaki as his first choice. Which meant the Aburame was his second. The third member he left blank as long as it isn't the pink haired one I'll be fine.

The others were soon placing their requests on the desk, leaving the Hokage to look them over.

Kakashi -Uchiha, Uzumaki, Aburame

Kurenai- Hyuga, Aburame, Uzumaki

Asuma- Uzumaki, Aburame

He titled his head. 'This is definitely not what I was expecting. Then he noted the note at the bottom of Asuma's form. Ino-Shika-Cho would be a good first team for Kurenai. The teamwork and methods are well in place but would still allow her to utilize their individual skills to make a tracking team with an assault secondary.

The hokage chuckled slightly as he would have to agree with the assessment. Kakashi's request was flat out. The placement of his team would be tradition. Asuma's request was the most reasonable seeing as he gave up a good team for a wild card that came from no where. "After having reviewed your requests, and previous meetings with Iruka I cannot agree with your thoughts." He frowned, "Kakashi I'm sorry but tradition must be kept. Your request is denied. Kurenai your request thought a good potential concept is to volatile for a first team." he filled out his forms and stamped them passing them out. "Asuma your team will be Uzumaki, Aburame and Hyuga. Kurenai Ino-Shika-Cho combination is reliable but versatile enough to handle." Raising his hand to stop the comments he knew were coming, "This is final. You will collect your teams tomorrow and I expect your test results by no later than Saturday. Dismissed."