Hello again! I'm not quite as late this time! I think. Okay, not really. Anyway, due to some logic that was thrown at me by a reviewer, I've decided to throw Onikage out of the voting. The logic was that being called the demon shadow would only fortify Konoha's belief that Naruto is the Kyuubi. I suppose Akumakage could do the same thing, so I'm reducing the vote to just Enmakage (Enma's more like a god than a devil) and Shinikage. Sorry. Onward!

"HA! I win!" A blond figure burst from the ground, covered in dirt. Moments later, another figure emerged.

"You got lucky!" Kiba shouted, but Naruto was already lost in his little happy dance. The dog-boy gritted his teeth and pointed a clawed finger at Naruto. "Come on! I challenge you to another rou-"

"RAMEN TIME!" Naruto was gone in an instant, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust in his wake. Kiba blinked once before letting his hand drop.

"How did I lose to him?"

"Hey old man!" The old ramen chef smiled upon hearing the shout. His number one customer had finally come home, even if it was at the cost of several of his other customers leaving.

"Been awhile, Naruto? Where've you been?" he asked before turning back to his stove.

"Eh, just a mission, old man! Gimme a bowl of miso!" Ichiraku chuckled as he stirred the noodles.

"Hehe, no problem, kid." Naruto licked his lips in anticipation, his eyes taking on a hungry light, before suddenly switching to a confused one.

"Hey, where's Ayame-neechan?" Ichiraku nearly dropped his stirring spoon.

"She's…she's busy." Naruto quirked a blond eyebrow, his enhanced ears picking up an undertone of worry in Ichiraku's voice.

"Busy with what?" The old chef's comfort level continued to drop.

"…Big girl things."

"What do you mean 'big girl things'?" Ichiraku sighed before leaning to Naruto's ear and whispering something. "AYAMEN-NEECHAN HAS A BOYFRIEND!?"

Himaru gasped from his hiding spot, each breath hard and raspy. "Damn she's persistent," he mumbled. The raven-haired half-god slumped into a sitting position. "Thank my uncle for dark alleys."

"Himaru-san?" Himaru leapt to his feet.

"AGGHHHH!" A tanned face in front of him echoed his scream.

"AGGHHHH!" Both men finally stopped screaming and clutched their chests.

"I-Iruka-san…hello," Himaru wheezed.

"G-good afternoon, H-Himaru-san. I-I didn't mean to s-startle you." The jounin chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"Hehe, likewise. I'm a little…on edge right now." Iruka raised an eyebrow, but left it alone.

"How about I buy you some lunch to make it up to you? I've been wanting to talk to you about something anyway." Himaru took one last ragged breath before smiling.

"Sounds nice, thanks. Where to?"

"How about Ichiraku Ramen?" Himaru laughed as an image of his ever-grinning blond student flashed before him.

"I've been wanting to visit the famous Ichiraku ever since I got Naruto on my team." Iruka nodded with a smile before moving to lead the way. Himaru emerged from the shadows of the alley to follow him, scanning the immediate area for a certain kunoichi before moving on.

"I have to admit, Himaru-san, I'm sort of jealous."

"Jealous? Of what?"

"You taught Naruto for a little over a month and accomplished more than I could in a years of classes. I've always known Naruto was special, but how did you do it? And his teammates! If it weren't in the rules, I would have never dreamed about putting them together in a team, but you've actually pulled it off. What's your secret?" Before Iruka had even realized it, his question had become a rant, earning him a laugh from Himaru.

"Hypnotism." Iruka blinked.

"What?"

"Well, more like subliminal suggestion if you want to be picky, but yeah." The chuunin just stared at him.

"What?" he reiterated. Himaru took a deep breath before trying again.

"I have a little ability where I can implant suggestions and moods into people. It's pretty far from down right control, but it's the best damn motivator I've ever heard of." Iruka remained silent, finding a sudden interest in his feet.

"Can you teach it?"

Naruto stared in to the mirror, inspecting his fangs. 'Perfect,' he thought, adding a practiced predatory grin for emphasis. He briefly checked his kunai pouch before pulling his repaired coat on around him in an elegant twirl.

'Pulling out all the stops, eh Kit?' Naruto smirked.

'Only the best can date Ayame-neechan! A-class mission: Test the mysterious new boyfriend!'

'Oh boy.' Naruto ignored the demon and threw himself out his window. He clung to the outside wall on all fours before pushing off to reach a nearby roof. Naruto started to leap from roof to roof, little more than a shadow in the evening darkness. 'My, you're even being sneaky.'

'Shut-up.' Naruto skidded to a halt on one of the rooftops and sniffed the air. 'Ha! Found her!' The blond lowered to all fours and peeked his head into the doorway. 'Huh? Why's everything upsi- oh, never mind.' Naruto scanned the room, searching for his quarry. 'Looks like a pretty fancy place,' he thought absent-mindedly. 'But where's Ayame-neechan? Oh, back there!' Naruto channeled a small amount of chakra to his eyes, very careful not to blow the precious little body parts to kingdom come. 'Yeah, that's definitely Ayame-neechan, but I don't recognize the guy…' Naruto's brow furrowed.

'Isn't that the guy who's always hanging around Ichiraku?' The Kyuubi suggested.

'You're right! How long has this been going on!?'

'Does it matter? She looks happy enough kit, and the villagers are starting to notice you.'

'So?'

"Demon!"

'Damn.' Naruto rolled to the side as the first rock came flying at him, but the second and third caught him off guard. "Ow! That hurts!" An angry crowd started to form around the restaurant, followed by a third volley of rocks. Naruto cursed before replacing himself with a log, desperate to get as far away as possible. And with Naruto's chakra supply, that was pretty far. As in deep into the woods on the opposite side of the village, far. Naruto blinked at his new surroundings. "Double damn."

"-And then you direct the chakra in a swirling motion and-"

"Himaru-san." Himaru stopped in mid-lesson with his fellow teacher and turned to the voice.

"Is something the matter, ANBU-san?" The bear-masked ANBU handed Himaru a scroll before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. "Well that was rude," Himaru said before standing up. "We'll have to continue this another time, Iruka-san. Thanks for the ramen."

"Where are you going?" Iruka asked, genuinely confused. "You haven't even read the scroll yet. Himaru shrugged and popped the scroll into one of his many pockets.

"Don't need to. Bye." As soon as Himaru disappeared, Iruka felt a new presence appear beside him, a much more ominous presence.

"Looks like you've made a new friend, Iruka-kun." The scarred ninja froze.

"H-hello, Anko-san."

"What's up?" Himaru appeared in a poof within the Hokage's office. Quite predictably Tsunade, Sarutobi and Jiraiya were there, all of them quite serious. Himaru felt a nervous sweat break out across his body. "Eh, heh, heh…is there a problem?" Tsunade placed her elbows on the desk and rested her chin on her hands in a startling imitation of her sensei.

"Tell me, why do you want to make Naruto a kage?" Himaru raised an eyebrow.

"Because he's my student?"

"I'm not as easy to fool as these two," Tsunade gestured to Jiraiya and Sarutobi, who were both suitably insulted, but they stayed quiet lest they incur the she-devil's wrath. Himaru just smiled innocently.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

"Do you really want to mess with three Hokage-level ninja, Himaru-san?" Jiraiya spoke this time. Himaru's look of innocence was replaced with a thin line.

"I defeated Orochi single-handedly. I would have no trouble escaping you and bringing my students along with me."

"You would be hunted down," Tsunade said. Himaru almost snorted.

"Who would you send? No ANBU team would be anymore than a nuisance." This time Tsunade smiled, and it was a very creepy smile.

"Who said I would send ANBU?" Both Jiraiya and Sarutobi turned to Tsunade in confusion, but Himaru paled.

"What was your question again?" Tsunade's creepy smile turned into a much safer smirk.

"Good to see we understand each other. Now, why do you want Naruto to be the kage of your village? Why not you?"

"He'd make a better one than me."

"Really? Judging from your accomplishments you're definitely kage level, if not higher."

"There's more to being a leader than just strength!" Himaru practically spat it out, his eyes darkening with memory for just a moment before quickly composing himself. "Ahem. I apologize, such subject bring up…unpleasant memories." The three legendary shinobi before him had been shocked into silence by his sudden killing intent. "As I was saying, Naruto's better suited to it then I am. He has a certain sense of compassion that I lost a long time ago, and he has… it. The Will of Fire, as you call it. I see in him the potential for a man that can change the world. A man whose words will strengthen any warriors resolve, and whose determination and heart will never crumble, forever a light of hope." Himaru's voice softened with each word until it became almost a whisper. "The best I can do is stir that potential awake, and give Naruto the strength to utilize it."

"You do realize that what you're saying is technically treason," Sarutobi said suddenly. Any further words were cut off, however, as a killing intent that put even Kyuubi's to shame entered the room.

"If you get in my and Naruto's way, I will see all of you to the grave." A black chakra began to curl around Himaru, gradually enveloping him.

"So you do exist, Karite," Sarutobi said suddenly, shocking both Tsunade and Jiraiya.

"Karite?" they echoed. Sarutobi nodded, never taking his eyes off of Himaru.

"There were rumors that the Shinigami had a child with a human woman, and named the boy his heir." A small, sad smile crept onto Sarutobi's face. "I apologize, Karite-san. I only wished to know for sure." Slowly, the dark chakra receded, the killing intent along with it. "If I were still Hokage, I would give you and Naruto the full go ahead. Our village lost our chance with that boy long ago, but it is now Tsunade's decision." He turned his wrinkled face to Tsunade expectantly, awaiting her answer. The Slug Ninja merely snorted.

"Like Hell I'm getting in the way of that. All right Hima-Karite-san, do as you wish. I think we have a little idea of why you're doing what you're doing, and I trust you."

"Himaru is fine, Hokage-sama," Himaru said with a grateful bow. "I cast away the name my father gave me years ago." Out of nowhere, Jiraiya coughed, reminding everyone of his presence.

"I'd like to have a little talk with you later, Himaru-san, about a certain threat to Naruto." Himaru nodded before disappearing in a puff of smoke, followed quickly by Jiraiya. Once the two were gone, Tsunade leveled a baleful glare at her sensei.

"Demon containers, half-gods…damn you old man." Sarutobi only chuckled before quickly disappearing as well before Tsunade's temper could truly flare. "I hate this job…"

Well, that was a very multi-faceted chapter. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll try to update again this week, but don't hold your breath. Sorry guys…please read and review anyway.