Chapter 3:

Naruto walked into the same hospital room he was in just a two days ago. Now however there was a major difference, Sasuke was up. Naruto walked up to the boy who was at present surrounded by several council members and even the Hokage.

Naruto waited in the back as he watched each member of the council say that they will treat Sasuke with the respect the last loyal Uchiha deserves. Naruto could see them try and kiss up to the boy and kind of felt sad, it was almost like none of them could see the sad expression on his face right now.

Soon after the council were done brown nosing Sasuke, and throwing glares at Naruto once they realised he was there, Naruto approached Sasuke.

"Ah Naruto," the Hokage said spotting him approaching them, "I was wondering when you were going to come to talk."

"Hey gramps," Naruto said smiling at the old man. He then looked at Sasuke who looked at Naruto and the two simply stared at each other.

"So your name is Naruto?" Sasuke finally asked breaking the tension.

Naruto nodded, "yeah. And you are Sasuke Uchiha. The black hair and eyes kind of gave it away."

Sasuke smiled at Naruto's humor, "yes, I think it did." And Naruto smiled back. Seeing the boys get along the Hokage decided maybe it was best the two discussed what happened alone.

"Well, seeing as to how you two get along, I think I will be going now."

"You're leaving gramps?" Naruto asked.

"Yes Naruto, I do have a village to run," he then turned to Sasuke, "take care Sasuke. If you need someone to talk to my door will be open like it is for Naruto." And with that the old man walked away, not before giving Naruto's hair a quick ruffle.

Naruto then took a seat on the chair the Hokage was sitting on and soon a silence fell on the two. Naruto could feel the tension as it was slowly becoming more and more awkward since now one wanted to talk. So Naruto decided to start.

"So...what's your favorite food?"

Sasuke looked at him and laughed, "nice way to start a conversation."

"Do you want to talk about the weather instead?"

Sasuke chuckled, "no, no. My favorite food is dango sticks. I love the taste. You?"

"Ramen! Ramen is love, ramen is life! It is the greatest food ever!" Naruto screamed fist pumping the air.

"I'll admit ramen is good, but seriously dango is ten times better."

"No, ramen is better! There are so many types of ramen unlike damgo!"

"Which world do you live in? There are several types of dango served for different seasons. There are thousand different types out there!"

"Oh please come with me to Ichiraku ramen and taste some there, it will be the best you ever had!"

Sasuke shrugged, "oh please that's just a restaurant. If you want to taste the best dangos anywhere than you would have to come to my home, because my mom makes the best dangos….." Sasuke then slowly became quiet as all the happiness that he got from talking with Naruto slowly melted away with the thought of his dead parents.

"Sasuke I.."

Bamn! Sasuke smashed his fist into the bed. The swung it again and again and again until he his breath started to strain. "they are gone now. My mom, her scent and her food. I can never-"sniff"-I can never taste them again."

Naruto looked down as he couldn't say anything to that. What could he say?

"He took them from me," Sasuke said as he slowly looked up with tears in his face, "Itachi took them from me."

"Your brother was a monster," Naruto said looking at Sasuke.

"He is, but he wasn't always. He used to be the pride of the clan. He graduated when he was 7, he became chunin at 10, jonin when 11 and joined the ANBU. And at 13 he became an ANBU captain. He was so strong, he was so kind. Naruto, I loved my brother."

"Why do you think….he did what he did?"

"He wanted to test his power. He wanted to become stronger than ever before. He wanted to be better than everyone. I couldn't understand it then, but I do know. He wanted power and he didn't care what he did to get it. He didn't let anyone get in his way, he killed them all for power, and would have killed me too, if it wasn't for you Naruto."

"I didn't do much Sasuke I just helped you a little."

"Bullshit. I still remember that night Naruto," Sasuke said, "you charged at Itachi just as he was about to cut me down Naruto. I was scared beyond belief, I won't lie Naruto, I literally was about to faint from the fear. But the moment you stood up to Itachi and said you name my mind became clear. I then got the courage to face him Naruto, so thank you."

Naruto nodded, "no problem Sasuke. So...what now?"

"Now, I train." Sasuke said, "I train until I obtain the power to become strong enough to kill Itachi."

"So power is all that matters to you now?"

"Yes."

Naruto huffed, "you sound just like Itachi."

"What?!"

Naruto slowly untied his white headband that Ayame gave him and showed Sasuke his scar. The Uchiha looked at it in shock and then noticed similar cuts across Naruto's arms. "After you gained Itachi did this to me. He held me down as he carved these into my body. He then looked at me and said, 'it's obvious you don't want power. You would just hold my brother back from the path of strength.' He would have killed me too if four chunins hadn't arrived and gave their lives chasing him off."

Sasuke was silent through all of this as he took in Naruto's story. He then spoke, "Itachi told me to get stronger. Before you came, he and I fought and I saw the difference in skill and I was scared. I need the power Naruto. To make sure no one else gets hurt the way I do."

Naruto nodded, "yes, but don't obsess over it like Itachi did Sasuke."

"He wasn't obsessed with power."

"Tell me again what age he became an ANBU? He was obsessed Sasuke, and he wants you obsessed as well. He is trying to make you into him. Are you just going to do that?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto and slowly blinked as he thought about what Naruto was saying. It made sense, now that he thought about it it made perfect sense. "So what are you saying Naruto? What would you do if you were me?"

Naruto tied his white bandana back on and got off his seat, "I don't know. So far all I got is get stronger till I can protect myself first and people I care for, like the Ichiraku's and even the Hokage.."

"My people are dead."

"Then make some more. Sasuke, I am an orphan. I don't have parents, heck I don't even know who they are. But I do have people I care about, so why don't you find some more people who care about you?"

"I-I don't know if I can."

"It's okay," Naruto said grinning, "I'll help you! You and I are going to kick Itachi's ass!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "what do you mean you and I?"

"Oh you think I'm not going after that asshole? He is a disgrace to the name ninja, he killed his own family for power, there is no way in hell I'll going to let the man live. Don't worry I won't take away your vengeance, all I ask is let me hold him as you stick a kunai in his throat."

Sasuke looked at Naruto and for several moments as the two remained silent. Sasuke then spoke up, "you won't interfere in my plans to kill him?"

"I'll help you."

"And for my quest to gain more power?"

"I'll make sure you don't get your head stuck up your own ass."

Sasuke smiled at that, "then I guess we have a deal." Sasuke held his hand out to shake which Naruto smacked away. Instead the Uzumaki held up and closed fist. Sasuke grinned and dumped his fists and just like that a friendship was born.

Naruto walked out of the hospital with a smile on his face. He spent the last hour talking to Sasuke about his likes and hobbies, well mostly Naruto talked while sasuke listened. Naruto avoided talking about Sasuke's past life for the most part and over all the two quickly became fast friends.

Now Naruto headed to steal street the one place where one could find weapons. Naruto still had the money he got from the Hokage because he frankly didn't pay for any of the furniture he got instead using his powers of persuasion to get out of paying anything at all.

Naruto then walked into a store called 'Urahara's Tools'. Inside he saw a tall muscular man with glasses and a thin mustache standing behind the counter. On the walls were shelves filled with scrolls and even weapons. Naruto gulped as the man started to scrutinize Naruto, which was getting a little bit creepy.

Naruto looked around the shop as spotted several cool looking weapons he would love to own, including some he couldn't really place.

"Can I help you?" came a loud voice. Naruto turned to the man at the counter.

"Ah, yeah I was just looking for some supplies, I'm starting, or actually I'm restarting the academy tomorrow."

"I see, well I have several recommendations for you," said the voice, Naruto looked at the big man in wonder as the voice was very soft, the strange thing was that Naruto didn't see the man move his lips.

"How are you doing that?" Naruto asked as he focused really closely on the tall man's mouth.

"Doing what?" the voice asked.

"There!" Naruto asked pointing at the man's lips, "you did it again! You talked without moving your lips!"

"Haha," the voice laughed out, "that's Tessai dear boy, I'm behind you."

Naruto spun his head quickly, almost getting whiplash and saw a man leaning over him. He had a cane on one hand and wore a green yukata. The man had a green and white stripped hat on his head covering his eyes and letting just a little bit of blonde hair show.

"H-h-hello" Naruto stammered out as the man smiled.

"Hello dear boy, I'm Urahara. Now what can I get for you?"

Naruto looked at the man in wonder and fear."I-I am starting the academy tomorrow and I was just here for some supplies."

"YOu told me that already Naruto," Urahara said smiling at the boy, "but tell me how do you know off my shop?"

"I just walked into the first weapon shop I saw," Naruto said before realising something, "hey, how do you know my name?!"

The man's laughter filled the shop, "who doesn't know you Naruto? You are the best prankster in the village!"

Naruto scratched his head, "oh yeah. I didn't prank you did I?"

"You covered the entrance of my shop with toy toads."

"Oh yeah. But in my defence I did that to every store on this road, they refused to smell me stuff."

"Why didn't you come and try here?"

"Well after around 8 or so shops refuse you you kind of loss faith in humanity."

The man smiled as he walked behind the counter. The large muscular man there then pick up a scroll of one of the shelves and gave it to Urahara who gave it to Naruto. Naruto read the scroll which said 'academy student's basic supply.'

"So...this is it?" Naruto asked, "where's the rest?"

"That my boy is a sealing scroll," Urahara said, "you do know what a sealing scroll is don't you?"

"Ah…. pretend like I don't."

"Haha, well a sealing scroll is a ninja's best friend," the man said as he motioned for the scrolls return. He then opened it across the counter and Naruto saw several seals written on it. Urahara pressed on of the many circular seals and suddenly in a puff of smoke a stack of book appeared.

"Woah!" Naruto said with stars in his eyes, "this is so cool!"

"Yup," the man said, "just channel chakra into the seal and presto whatever you seal will be unsealed."

"And if you want to seal something in?"

Urahara then pressed his hand on the pile of book and then disappeared again, "just do the same ontop of what you want to seal." The man then rolled the scroll up and gave it to Naruto, "that will be 250,000 ryo please."

Naruto took th money out and then handed it to the man, "hey hat guy were you a ninja?"

Urahara face palmed at Naruto's nickname for him before nodding, "yup. I was a jonin before I decided to quit."

Naruto nodded, 'well there goes me ordering him to give me back the money'

Naruto then had an idea, "hey since you were a jonin you must have heard about chakra strings right?"

Urahara nodded, "yes. It's not something talked about because it's very popular. Why?"

"Do you sell any?"

"Yup, but it's going to be expensive," Urahara then went to the back of the store and brought out a wheel of string, "how much do you want?"

"How much do you think I will need?"

"Hmm, a kilometer of string should be enough," Urahara said as he spun out the amount needed and tied it up as a small bundle, "400,000 ryo."

Naruto paid the man and pocketed the expensive string. "Anything else?" Urahara asked.

Naruto the spotted several book arranged along the shelves, "hey hat guy what are does books about?"

Urahara looked at them and smiled, "oh nothing too interesting, just about seals, tips on taijutsu and even one on trap making. Everything one would need to be a ninja basically."

Naruto's mouth was watering by now, "how much?"

"Well you see that's the problem," hat guy said, scratching his chin, "legally speaking I can't sell them to you because you aren't a ninja."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "and illegally?"

"But there is the matter of my soul," Urahara said striking a dramatic pose, "I couldn't is good conscious sell you such book. What if you get hurt?" The man now had fake tears running down his face, which was frankly starting to piss Naruto off, "but, if you were to prove to me you can handle them I would be willing to sell them to you."

"You want me to do you a favour just to let me buy them from you?"

"Well not in those words…..but yes."

Naruto sighed, "what do you want."

Urahara grinned, "you know Kuchiki's robes?"

"The one owned by that guy who can't smile and looks like he is constipated all the time?"

"Yup. I want you, the resident prankster, to prank him."

"What did he do?"

"He called my hat stupid."

"Done." Naruto then walked out of there without looking back. Urahara looked at Tessai as the two wondered what Naruto would do. Half an hour later Naruto came back.

"What did you do?" The hat guy asked to which suddenly the cries of pain of one Kuchiki Byakuya could be heard.

"I ground up a ghost pepper and laxatives and put them in his food. He is currently in his toilet. Anything else."

The two men looked at Naruto with pure fear now and both quickly shook their head. Naruto soon walked out of there with a book on sealing, ninjutsu, chakra control and taijutsu.

The next day Naruto sat in his basement apartment in the center of the living room. The place was now furnished with a glass table for dining on along with some comfortable chairs to make a dining seat.

The bedrooms have king sized beds along with a cupboard each. The living room however had only a desk and a big leather chair in it along with a shelf in the side. Naruto used the rest of the empty space for practise.

Naruto had spent the morning arranging the scrolls he got and searching threw his academy student supply scroll he had gotten from Urahara. The man certainly gave him a lot. In the end Naruto had several pouches of kunai and shuriken, some basic knowledge book on the Elemental countries and each Ninja village along with several random book and also one big ass book on history, which was Naruto's least favourite.

Naruto tossed aside most of the boring subjects focused on only things that interested him. Naruto summoned several clones, one for Seals, academy level ninjutsu from the academy scroll, trap building technique and chakra control, for now. Naruto himself took to reading the book on chakra control and soon the time flew by.

After an hour Naruto stood up and sighed, he just learnt that because he of his huge reserves of chakra he would have to practice several times to perfect his chakra control. Naruto then dispelled his clones and gathered the knowledge the other clones had gathered.

The seal's book spoke mostly about theory, but it was interesting none the less. Naruto understood it such that it spoke about how the chakra infused ink is used as a type of canyon, and like a canyon directing water, the drawn seal directs chakra.

Naruto could not help compare seals to hand seals. Both involved moving chakra through specific moments. In hands it was the different gestures one made, on written seals it was through the drawn ink symbols.

Naruto then recalled the book in ninjutsu which taught the theory behind two techniques Naruto had heard off but not seen anyone see yet. It was the body replacement jutsu and the henge jutsu or the transformation jutsu. Both fascinated Naruto immensely and he couldn't wait to try them out just like the book said.

Then was the trap building book which spoke about several interesting ways for maching trap which included using a low level basic earth type ninjutsu to dig a deep hole. There was also several ways of tying wire traps using chakra string and even one about tricking the enemy into thinking there was only one trap when there was in fact two or even three.

As Naruto was collecting all the data in his head, he couldn't help compare two of the works he and his clone had read. The books he got from Urahara were very similar in writing, they used similar examples and even the same dry humor. They couldn't possibly be…..no.

Naruto grabbed the books on chakra control and sealing and looked through them. He wasn't reading them wrong, they were written by the same person. Naruto then looked at the spin of the book and his eyes widened like plates. He grabbed the other book he bought from Urahara and saw them all were written by the same person, 'Kisuke Urahara'.

Ten minutes later.

Naruto threw open Urahara's stores door and barged in, "you wrote those damn books!" Naruto said screaming out.

Inside Urahara was seeing with his legs on the counter lying back reading a certain orange book. The moment Naruto walked in he fell back and by the time he got up the orange book was gone hidden away from view.

"Ah Naruto I wasn't expecting you so soon. Do you wish to by more of my-"

"Your books? When were you going to tell me you made me buy your own books?"

The man smiled as he tried and failed to hide his grin behind a paper fan, "well Naruto I didn't say that, but I didn't not say that either."

Naruto hit his face, "look just tell me you just didn't try to dump your book on me."

"Why I am offended Naruto. I write only the best books!"

"Really?" Naruto asked spectacle.

"Why yes. Did you read them?"

"Yes."

"Did you understand them?"

"Yes."

"See I'm so good that even idiots like you can understand them!"

Naruto got pissed off at that comment, "idiot am I? Well that is true. Say if I am such an idiot and even I can learn from you books, that means your books must be good right?"

"Yes of course."

"Then why were they never popular?"

The hat man slowly started to sweat, "w-well, I, ah. You see-"

"You didn't actually get permission to write this book did you," Naruto asked because if one writes a book which involves jutsu's and sells it in Konoha they are required to submit it for checking to make sure the book didn't have any wrong information that would harm a village ninja when he/she bought the book. If the book was too advanced the book would be restricted, only to be found in the village main library.

The only reason Naruto knew about this is because he remembered the old man going on and on about paperwork and how much work he gets because some idiot author out there didn't want his work restricted to the library.

Urahara, " I-I don't know what you mean Naruto, why don't we move along and talk about what a wonderful day this is. Look the birds are-"

"I want a 25% discount or else I'm telling the Hokage."

Urahara stared at Naruto with his mouth wide open, "2-25%! That's robbery!"

"Well if you would like me to tell the Hokage," Naruto then made to walk out only to be dragged back in by Urahara.

"Okay! OKay! Deal!"

Naruto smiled, "pleasure doing buisness with you."

Urahara, "yes well unless you have some actually buisness with me I would like you to get out. You are currently interrupting a very nice Sunday afternoon for me."

Naruto smiled, "yeah I'll be going now."

But before Naruto left Urahara spoke up, "Naruto tell me how did you figure out that I wrote those books?"

"Oh? I just read two of your books and found they had a similar way of writing."

"I see," the man said, "but that would have taken hours for you to read, how did you do it so soon?"

"Well I," Naruto thought about it and decided it would be no harm if he told the man about his shadow clones. After all he had something to blackmail him if Urahara was a threat, "I just used shadow clones."

The man's eyes were finally visible as two grey eyes looked at Naruto, "that is something Naruto. You must have a lot of chakra for making a shadow clone."

Naruto rubbed his head, "yeah tell me about it. I have so much that I need to learn chakra control ASAP."

Urahara smiled, "well with my book on chakra control and your shadow clones it should be a breeze."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You don't know? A shadow clone if usefull for a lot of things. It can be used for instant information transfer, which you used to read my books. The other is that it can transfer experiences. Meaning if one shadow clone trains in one type of ninjutsu, when it dispels you will learn what it did and how to do the same."

"So if I do chakra exercises with shadow clones, when I dispel them I would gain hours of experience together."

"Now you are getting it!" Urahara said smiling, "now go on, I have work to do," he said pushing Naruto out. Once alone he pulled out his orange book and began reading.

Naruto then walked home that day stopping only to buy more groceries. At home he started to practise the first chakra control exercise, leaf balancing. Naruto had gathered several leaves before returning home and so he summoned clone equal to the amount of leaves he had. So the apartment was filled with Naruto's all sitting cross legged trying to balance a leaf on their forehead.

The original Naruto nodded his head as he went to bed, it had been a long day and though he didn't go out much he had done a lot.

The next day Naruto woke up and saw half the clones asleep on the ground while the other half was sitting still and looking straight ahead with a leaf stuck on their head. Naruto grinned as he dispelled them all.

Suddenly Naruto was bombarded with images of himself, his clones rather, doing the same exercises over and over again. But he also got the knowledge from his successful clone and could now hold a leaf on his forehead. Naruto grinned, one challenge was done.

The next however relieved itself as Naruto realised what day it was, Monday. Meaning only one thing, he would be re entering the academy.

Give me reviews my loyal readers. That is all, over and out.