I would just like to say I do not own Naruto or any of the other things I pay homage too. If you like one of my ideas please feel free to use them in your own stories, though I would appreciate a PM so I can read them.

"Speech"

'Thought'

"Demon speech"

'Demon thought'

Jutsu

Swirling Blood Chapter 16

A nervous looking Tazuna took a step back from Kakashi as he glared at him. "This was obviously an ambush. They left two enemies behind them and ignored the fact that the Naruto that was hit by Sakura was a clone just to take you out. The fact that you are being targeted by ninja means this mission is at least a B-rank at minimum," the jonin stated as he proceeded to bind the two unconscious ninja.

"Sensei can I field strip them?" requested Naruto.

"Go ahead but use clones in case they have any dead man switches on their gear." Kakashi responded.

The group moved a short distance away as Naruto created a group of clones who began to strip the two unconscious men of all equipment and seal everything into a scroll.

"Now as I was saying, this should have been at least a B-rank mission with a chunin or jonin squad assigned as your escort. Not to mention the associated price hike," Kakashi said.

With a sigh Tazuna spoke saying, "As I said my nation is poor. Even the Daimyo has little money and all my money has gone into building this bridge. There's no way we could have afforded even a B-rank mission, let alone higher. Nami has fallen on hard times in the last year ever since the billionaire Gato bought out all of the local shipping industry. He has turned wave into his headquarters for all sorts of illegal activities. With his gangs of bandits and missing nins he has been running drugs and other contraband while strangling our nation."

With a calm look Kakashi responded by saying, "It's never a good idea to conceal facts when asking for help. The Hokage may have been willing to negotiate some form of later payment. As it is, this is well beyond our assigned mission."

Tazuna hung his head quietly saying, "I guess it's okay. You can just go on back home to your nice prosperous village. I will face my death like a man. I'm sure the people of Nami will survive somehow. My daughter and ten year old grandson will surely be fine being taken and sold into slavery."

With a look that told the Tazuna that Kakashi knew what he was trying to pull he said, "Fine I at least will continue to protect you." Turning to his students he said, "This mission just got a lot more dangerous. You just took on two chunin level nins and did okay for your first real battled, but this could get even worse. I'm going to send for reinforcements but I need to know if you guys want to go back or continue."

"Well I still want to go," Naruto confidently responded. "You will need my support abilities at the very least until the reinforcements arrive. I'm sure Sasuke will want to continue too even though he won't be fully recovered from the effects of the poison and transfusion for a bit."

"Yeah if the dobe is going he'll need me to watch his back," Sasuke retorted.

"So that just leaves you Sakura," stated Naruto as he looked to her. "Are you ready to put in the effort and training to become a strong kunoichi in your own right or is the life of a shinobi too much for you? We may have been harsh in what we said before but if you are going to stick it out then you needed to hear it. So what will it be?"

With a glum expression the pink haired girl hesitantly responded, "I… I want to be a ninja but… I just don't know what to do. It's like we were told on graduation day. I have the text book knowledge of what it means to be a ninja, but I now see I have little real skill."

"Don't worry, I can tell you right now several areas where you are strong and with a little focused training can contribute to this team just as well if not better than Sasuke or I," Naruto reassured her.

"Really? Like what?" Sakura queried now full of hope.

"Well you hit really hard when you're angry," he replied rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I mean look at you your scrawny as hell from years of mistreating your body from the misconception that skinny to the point of visible ribs is beautiful."

"What!" she partly screeched.

"If you started to eat right you would have the energy to train harder and would certainly put muscle on those bones not fat," the blond explained with a placating gesture. "I mean think about it, I have almost no skill in taijutsu to speak of and the Uchiha interceptor style relies upon using an opponents' own strength against him. In a mission where we have to get past a locked door and my skills aren't quick enough it would be nice to use that inexplicable strength you have with the taijutsu mastery you could easily attain for a button hook entry."

"So you think I would make a good physical powerhouse? That's not much compared to you and Sasuke," Sakura said in a somewhat defeated tone.

"Well that's not all but I can't say the rest until I get everyone's promises that they won't get me in trouble for how I got the rest of the info," Naruto stated

"Huh? What do you mean?" Sakura asked

"I'm not talking till I get everyone's promises," Naruto balked.

"Fine I promise," Sakura replied with a huff.

"Hnn, this sounds interesting. I'm in," Sasuke said with a note of interest.

"Hmm, have you been breaking into the records storage again Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

"I don't know what you could be talking about Inu," Naruto responded with false sincerity.

"Well I'm no longer in Anbu so it's not my job to stop you anymore. You don't have to worry about me," Kakashi stated.

"Fine I read everyone's records so I have some idea on how each of us can get stronger," Naruto finally informed them.

Naruto's clones returned handing a scroll off to him. He then turned and offered it to Kakashi saying, "Here sensei you took them out so you get first dibs on their equipment,"

"Oh I have no need for it just split it among your selves however," Kakashi replied.

"Sweet they have some pretty interesting stuff on them," Naruto excitedly responded. "Anyway we have a job to do so let's take the rest of this conversation on the road. Sensei do you know the Kagebushin?" he then asked.

"Yes, why?" the silver haired jonin asked.

"I figured we could send my clones and one of yours to escort these two back to Konoha and request those reinforcements," the boy explained.

"Good plan," with that statement Kakashi formed a clone and sent it with the squad of Narutos already guarding the demon brothers to carry out that task as the rest of the group turned to continue with the mission.

"Okay I will start with sensei since I have the least for him," Naruto continued with the previous conversation.

"Oh you have plans for me too?" Kakashi asked with his patented eye smile.

"Yeah your lack of depth perception and blind spot is a problem. Also your implant drains way too much chakra. You are constantly being admitted to the hospital with chakra exhaustion and have to retain more than half your reserves at all times to prevent it from draining you to death," Naruto stated. "You were lucky you already had jonin level reserves when you received it."

"And you think you can fix this?" Kakashi sarcastically deadpanned.

"I have a few ideas that may work but make no promises. If they do though you would effectively be Kage level in strength," the boy responded.

"So what are these ideas?" the jonin asked now curious.

"Well one would be to find a Huuga you trust and have them cut the flow of chakra and return it a few times. With this experience you might be able to get a feel for the flow of chakra and be able to restrict it reducing the chakra usage or even possibly learn to stop it completely allowing you normal usage of the eye," Naruto explained.

"Hmm might be worth a try. What else?" Kakashi asked.

"Well I was thinking a set of chakra blocking seals with an easy trigger could be applied around the eye or if you must you could always wear a sealing eye patch that will prevent the lower chakra drain when the eye isn't in use though again you still lose out on depth perception," Naruto responded.

"Well we can certainly look into it when we return to Konoha," the jonin commented thoughtfully.

"Now for you teme," Naruto good naturedly ribbed.

"Hnn, this should be entertaining," Sasuke grunted.

"We all know as soon as you get your pinkeye infection that ninjutsu and genjutsu will be a breeze for you to learn. And while you will be able to learn fighting styles by observing them there is one flaw. Your body won't have the conditioning to utilize them. So first you need to start training to enhance your strength, speed, atamina, and flexibility." Naruto stated confidently if jokingly.

"And how should I go about doing that?" the Uchiha boy questioned.

Pulling his sleeves back to show bracers covered in seals Naruto said, "We get you some chakra weights like these to build the strength, speed, and stamina. Then I suggest you start training in kenjutsu with me as the style I use for my katana is all about flexibility and arching motions,"

"That doesn't sound so bad," Sasuke responded.

"Well the physical improvements will probably be the easy part of my plan," Naruto said a bit warily.

"So what else is there," Sasuke asked.

"Well your bigger problem is your mental profile," Naruto said receiving a growl in response. "There is your first problem, you have anger issues. If an opponent notices they can easily exploit that weakness. If you fight angry you fight sloppy."

With a sigh Sasuke just nodded in recognition of the blonds words.

"Second is your arrogance. You believe that as an Uchiha you are better than anyone else and don't need help from others. This is why the rookie of the year has a failing grade in teamwork. A canny opponent can fake a weakness to pull you away from your team and into a trap," the orange and black attired young nin said. "Not to mention if an opponent were to take advantage of both weaknesses."

"Fine I need to work on my self control is that all?" Sasuke asked contritely.

"No. The final and most damning of all is you lack any bonds. I am the closest thing you have to a friend and with the way we fight that's kinda sad. You push everyone away probably afraid that if you start to care they will get taken away just like your family," Naruto stated. "The reason Konoha is the strongest of the five great nations isn't numbers as Iwa has always had more troops, and it isn't greater skill as Suna have so few ninja that they must each be far better than the average Shinobi. It's the will of fire that makes us strong. The belief that as long as we work together and protect those we care about we will always prevail has made us the strongest. But without any bonds you would be willing to betray us all for the power to complete your vengeance and forget that if you do you will never reform your clan which is your other goal."

"Okay fine I have issues I need to work out. Just… move on to Sakura," the dark haired avenger said with a sigh.

"Ah yes back to the bubblegum princess," Naruto grinningly stated. "Let's start with your mental issues. I'm sure you remember the shinobi code of conduct and I seem to remember one being never show emotion on a mission."

"Number twenty five," Sakura supplied looking downcast.

"And yet you showed anger when you attacked my clone, confusion when you found out he was a clone, fear when Sasuke was injured, and humiliation at our words. Now we haven't been perfect in this regard as well but you have no self control whatsoever," Naruto said. "Plus your either borderline schizophrenic or have an odd recessive Kekkei Genkai that allows you to split your mind. The Yamanakas were never quite certain."

"I might have a bloodline?" Sakura asked.

"Well maybe. I certainly intend to try and exploit it like one to make you stronger," Naruto said.

"Okay," Sakura said trying to practice a calm facade.

"Now as for skills you have near perfect chakra control but that is due to your low stamina giving you an almost civilian level chakra pool," he said with some trepidation. "The taijutsu training and proper diet should build up your stamina and reserves but you may never have enough to be a ninjutsu specialist like Sasuke or I. On the other hand keeping up that control gives you great potential in the field of genjutsu or could even lead to your becoming a medic on the level of Tsunade of the Sannin."

"You really think so?" Sakura asked thoughtfully.

"Sure. Now the genjutsu I obviously can't help with, but I do have plenty of medical knowledge to share to get you started on that," he replied. He then pulled out a scroll from his supply pouch and tossed it to her before sheepishly saying, "I kinda expected something like this to eventually happen and took the liberty of packing some basic anatomy and medical texts as well as some properly balanced meals for you."

AN: Well here we go again. They are on their way and Naruto has begun the process of trying to build up his team as well as eliminate weaknesses. I hope you enjoyed the read and reviews are always welcome.

AkashXD - I belive you have read to much fan fiction many of your assumptions come from those in FF. Lets break down your arguments against Jiji.

1. Never in the manga or anime is it said Hiruzen announced Naruto's jinchuriki status. In fact when the info got out he immediately passed a law to prevent everyone form talking about it.

2. Yes he lied to the boy. Naruto wasn't the type who could have truly kept his mouth shut thus endangering himself. Any other village would be willing to steal a jinchuriki let alone the heir of the 4th and a known Uzumaki. Kumo did try and kidnap his mother before him.

3. See 2

4. Never in the manga or anime does it mention time in an orphanage. And if you look at Konohamaru he is showing the same need to get attention. The hokage's job is very busy and he is in his 70s. He just doesn't have the time to be spending with two children let alone one.

5. Since Konoha is a metropolis similar to a less modern New York you won't find many true houses. Apartments are the norm and his wasn't a bad one. This is again a FF asumption.

6. Danzo isn't even mentioned until Shippuuden. So he isn't relevant to Naruto's childhood. He was a bad guy from Konoha that Kishimoto came up with later on. And further more Root is suppose to be disbanded.

7. All interactions between the two characters show he thinks of the boy as a grandson. There is no secret loyalty program. He even feels shame at how lonely the boy's life has been.

8. Naruto chose to become Hokage on his own. It is not delusional as we can see he has earned the villages respect now.

9. It never shows the other teams training previous to the chunin exam and they seem similarly week. I doubt that any of them besides Guy did much better than Kakashi, and Guy had a full year to train them.

10. He did die a painful horrible death if you didn't notice.

And frankly Jiji translates as old man so I don't see Naruto being respectful to him either.