Flashback: 4 years ago
"Minato, we must take immediate action against them now in order to ensure the safety of our village." Said the man with tape over one of his eyes.
"What reason do you have to believe that they are up to anything?" Said Minato.
"My root agents have been investigating, last night they discovered this." Said the one-eyed man as he handed Minato a scroll.
Minato read the scroll to himself "Top secret misson order for agent raven: You are hereby ordered to assassinate the 4th Hokage within the week. If you are caught, we will deny all evidence of our involvement in the matter. This is not an optional mission; it is what is best for the village. Destroy this message immediately."
"I find this hard to believe. I know Itachi well; if he was a traitor he wouldn't be caught. Danzo obviously forged this letter, but what could he gain by turning me against the Uchiha?"
"I see. I will look into this further, but no action is to be taken as of now." Said Minato.
"You fool do you not see what is going on here?!" Yelled Danzo as he slammed his fist on the desk.
"Dammit I'm in charge here and you will not act out like that again in my presence!" Yelled Minato as he jumped up, throwing his chair back into the wall. "There will be an investigation into the matter. Until that time there shall be no actions taken, do you understand me?"
"You are blind to the"
"I said do you understand me?!" Yelled Minato as he directed all of his killing intent at Danzo.
"Yes Hokage-sama" Spat Danzo as he turned to leave. Once Danzo was gone 2 figures stepped from the shadows.
"Itachi, Kakashi, I want 3 teams of ANBU on guard around the Uchiha compound at all times until I say otherwise. Be sure not to alert the rest of your clan we don't need them to panic and worsen the situation. This is a SS-class secret. Tell only those who need to know and be sure to swear them to secrecy. You have your orders, dismissed." Said Minato as the two ANBU shunshinned away.
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The next morning.
"Report." Said Minato with a look of anger on his face.
"Sir, these 2 men were found attempting to sneak into the Uchiha compound last night. We tried to apprehend them alive but the committed suicide after being captured."
"That is fine. Take them to the morgue and fetch Danzo for me."
"Yes sir." Said an ANBU as his team grabbed 2 bodies off the ground and shunshinned away.
Minato returned to his desk and started to look over his reports and what knowledge he had on root. A short while later there was a knock on the door. "Enter."
"You wanted to see me Hokage?" Said Danzo.
"Yes Danzo. You violated my direct orders last night by attacking the Uchiha compound. You have left me no choice; You are hereby stripped of all powers. I demand that ROOT be disbanded immediately. If you a found continuing the operation of ROOT, you will be executed immediately."
"You can't do this to me! Without my ROOT this village will fall!" Screamed Danzo.
"I can and did Danzo. I meant what I said, ROOT is done. Leave my sight now."
"You wait and see Minato! This Village cannot last without me!" Said Danzo as 2 ANBU appeared and drug him out the door.
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Present day
"You say we'll make it up huh?" Said Naruto with an evil grin.
"Of course Naru-kun." Said Ino in her sexy voice as she winked at him.
"I like the way that sounds. But we can save it for later." Said Naruto as he winked back. "How about some dinner for now?"
"That sounds fine with me, let's go! Said Ino as she grabbed Naruto's hand and drug him away. A few minutes later they appeared in a small restaurant. A waitress came over to the table to take their order shortly after. "I'll have a miso ramen please." Said Naruto. "Just a small salad for me." Said Ino as the waitress walked off. "You know Ino, as a ninja, you're not eating enough calories. You have to eat better where you'll have more energy for training and missions." "But Naruto I've got to watch my figure, a body doesn't look this good on it's own." She said as she waved over herself. "Ino you don't have to worry so much about that, you need to eat healthier. I don't care if you gain a few pounds I would love you anyways." "Aww do you really mean that Naru-kun?" "Of course I do Ino-chan. I love you for you, not your looks." "Of course being smokin' hot is kinda nice" Naruto added to himself. "Naruto-kun that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." Said Ino as she leaned across the table and kissed him on the cheek. After a few minutes their food came and Ino started eating her salad. Naruto just sat there watching her, thinking about how beautiful she is. Once she finished the salad Naruto pushed his order to her side of the table and said "Here Ino-chan, eat up." "But that's your food Naru-kun?" "I'll be fine. I know you must be starving though after a diet like you have been on." "No Naru-kun I cant eat your food, I'll just start eating healthy tomorrow." "Ino-chan I promise I'm fine. Here." He said as he got a spoonful and started moving it towards her mouth. Ino hesitated for a moment before she finally let him feed it to her. After tasting the real food for the first time in God knows how long, her eyes went wide and she practically inhaled the rest of the ramen before she realized what she had just done. She looked at Naruto and said "Oh my God Naru-kun I'm so sorry you must think I'm a pig." As tears began to form in her eyes. Naruto just reached across the table and laid his hands on top of hers and smiled as he said "Don't worry about it Ino-chan. Like I said, I'll love you no matter what." Ino just looked up at Naruto and smiled.
Naruto pulled out some money and laid it down on the table as Ino started to stand up. Naruto just looked at her and grinned as they disappeared and reappeared on top of Mt. Hokage. He once again pulled out a scroll and unsealed a blanket from it. He spread the blanket on the ground and sat down as he motioned Ino to join him. She complied and walked over and sat between his legs and leaned back against his chest. Naruto wrapped his arms around Ino's waist and laid his chin on her shoulder. The couple sat there and watched the sun set and just talked and laughed for the longest before Naruto said "Well, it's getting late; I better get you home before your dad kills me." They stood up and sealed the blanket back up as Naruto grabbed Ino's waist and in a flash of red they were gone. They reappeared in the street in front of Ino's house and they kissed once more before Naruto started walking off towards his house.
Naruto was walking along taking his time and enjoying the nice night when he noticed someone was following him. He calmly reached into his coat and grabbed one of his tri-pronged kunai as he kept walking along, pretending he didn't notice. After a few more blocks his shadow got a little closer to him and he turned around to confront them. "Why are you following me?" he said.
"I came to ask if you wanted to go out on a date with me some time." Said a feminine voice that Naruto vaguely recognized.
"And just who are you?"
"My name is Hinata Hyuga." Stated the voice as she stepped out of the shadows.
"Well Hinata, in case you didn't know, I'm dating Ino-chan, and I am quite happy with her. And for future reference, I wouldn't follow people. I almost killed you just now." Said Naruto as he held up his kunai.
"Sorry about following you. I was just waiting until we made it away from Ino's house."
"So you know about me and Ino-chan, yet you still ask me out?"
"Yes, I love you Naruto-kun."
"Well I'm sorry Hinata, I love Ino-chan."
"No! What does she have that I don't?"
"It isn't about what either of you have or don't have. I just love her and that isn't going to change."
"Oh really?" Said Hinata in a sexy voice as she walked a little closer, revealing that she was wearing a low cut shirt which showed off a lot of cleavage. "Like what you see Naruto-kun?" as she continued getting closer to him.
"Hinata stop this I told you, I love Ino." Said Naruto
"Well let's just see if I can change that then." She said as she got within a couple of feet of him and reached out to rub his chest.
"Nothing will change my mind Hinata you might as well stop this." Said Naruto as he started to back away.
"Come on Naruto-kun at least give me a chance, please?" She said as she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him in tight, rubbing her chest against his.
"Hinata. I'm not going to say it again. I. Love. Ino. Nothing you say or do will change that." He said as he pushed her off of him. "Now please leave me alone."
Naruto turned and continued his walk home as Hinata stood there with tears forming in her eyes.
If I can't have Naruto-kun, no one can. You better watch your back bitch. Thought Hinata as she turned back towards Ino's house with her byakugan active.
The rest of Naruto's trip was uneventful, he made it home and grabbed a snack out of the fridge before heading upstairs to bed. The next day when he woke up he showered and headed down for breakfast just like any normal morning. He had the day off so after he ate breakfast he headed over to Sasuke's house to see if he was busy. As he walked up to the gates of the Uchiha compound he was greeted by 2 guards in Konoha chunin gear. "Hello Naruto-san how are you today?"
"I'm fine, is Sasuke around today?"
"Actually Naruto-san, I think he is out training with Itachi-sama today. Is it something important?"
"No it's nothing. Thank you." Said Naruto as he bowed and walked off.
Well Ino is with her team, Sasuke is busy with Itachi, and I have nothing to do today. Hmm… maybe I can find someone who can teach me to use Zabuza's sword? But who do I know that is good at kenjutsu?
Naruto continued walking down the street trying to think of someone who could teach him kenjutsu when he suddenly heard "YOSH! YOUR FLAMES OF YOUTH BURN AS BRIGHT AS EVER LEE!" as he stopped and looked over to the training ground where the noise came from to see a tall man with green tights, a jounin vest and a bowl haircut crying anime tears while another smaller version of himself without the vest was doing one armed pushups. A younger man in a white jacket with black shorts and long black hair, as well as a younger looking girl with a white Chinese style shirt and brown pants, with 2 buns in her hair stood nearby watching. "If I cannot do 500 one armed pushups, I will do 1000 squat trusts, if I cannot do that, I will run around Konoha 500 times on my hands, If I cannot do that-" Said the smaller green clad ninja as the girl with the buns punched him in the back of the head. About that time the jounin noticed Naruto standing there. "Ahh we have a spectator! The youthful son of our youthful Hokage is watching our progress! How are you today Naruto-kun?"
Naruto started walking towards them as he said "I'm doing fine… I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
"YOSH! I'm am Might Gai! The Beautiful Blue Beast of Konoha! And these are my youthful students: Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee!"
"Nice to meet all of you, I am Naruto Namikaze." Said Naruto as he bowed to them.
"Hello Naruto-san, I am Neji Hyuga."
"Rock Lee here! I intend to become a great ninja even though I cannot use gen or ninjutsu.
"Hello Naruto. I'm Tenten, the weapons mistress of Konoha in training.
"So Naruto-kun, I thought you just became a genin a couple of weeks ago?" Said Gai.
"Yea I graduated not too long ago, why?"
"If you are a rookie genin, then why do you wear the vest of a chunin?"
"They promoted me and Sasuke a couple days ago."
"YOSH! LEE! HIS FLAMES OF YOUTH BURN BRIGHTLY! HE IS BUT A ROOKIE AND MADE CHUNIN ALREADY!"
"YES GAI-SENSEI! I MUST FIGHT HARD TO BECOME A CHUNIN QUICKLY AS WELL!
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
Naruto leaned over to Tenten and said "Does this happen often?"
"Unfortunately…" Said Tenten as she sighed.
"I'm so sorry…"
"You get used to it after a while."
"I don't know about that. Anyways I've got to run, nice meeting all you." Said Naruto as he turned to leave.
"YOSH! Naruto-san! You must spar with me to see whose flames of youth burn brighter!" Yelled Lee.
"Okay I guess I can do that." Said Naruto as he turned back to Lee and walked to the middle of the field.
"Ready?" Said Naruto as he dropped into a ready stance.
"Go!" Yelled Lee as he charged forward with incredible speed.
Naruto wasn't expecting Lee to be so fast and as such didn't get his guard up in time, and Lee landed a kick to the side of Naruto's head, sending him flying. Naruto righted himself in mid air and landed on his feet just in time to duck under a punch. Lee launched an all out barrage against Naruto with punches and kicks putting him on the defensive. Naruto dodged blow after blow until finally Lee left an opening and Naruto kicked low. Lee jumped over the kick and did his own spin kick which connected with Naruto's ribcage, sending him flying again. Naruto righted himself in the air again as he went through some hand seals and said "Wind style: Great breakthrough!" as a wall of wind slammed into Lee, stopping his new charge. Lee landed on his feet and resumed his ready stance as Naruto went through another said of hand seals and said "Water style: Water bullet jutsu!" as he started spitting out several balls of water, which Lee dodged with ease as he charged at Naruto again. As Lee began his charge Naruto pulled out a kunai and threw it at Lee. Lee side-stepped the kunai as Naruto disappeared in flash of red. Before Lee knew what happened he heard "Water style: Water prison jutsu." come from behind him as he was immobilized in a large ball of water. "Good fight Lee." Said Naruto
"YOSH! NARUTO WINS!" Yelled Gai.
"Good job Naruto-kun. From this moment forward you shall be my eternal rival! I shall one day prove that my flames of youth burn brighter than yours!" Yelled Lee as he dropped to pushup position. "As my punishment for losing, I shall do 1000 pushups! If I cannot do 1000 pushups, I will run…" said Lee as Naruto turned to the rest of the team. "Well guys, thanks for having me, I'm headed on further." "Squat trusts, I will do-" continued Lee until Tenten punched him again. "See ya around Naruto!" Said Tenten as Naruto walked off.
Well I didn't find a teacher, but at least I met some new people and burned some time. I guess I'll just head home and train a little bit.
Naruto disappeared in a red flash and reappeared in his living room, where Jiraiya and Tsunade were sitting on the couch playing chess together. He started to walk off when Jiraiya said "Hold up Naruto, I need to talk to you. Checkmate." as he moved one more piece. Tsunade jumped up and yelled "Dammit I never win anything!" as she smashed the chess board, and table, into the floor. Jiraiya and Naruto both sweat-dropped a little bit and scurried off to the back yard as Tsunade sat back down on the couch and pouted. Once they got out back Jiraiya said "So Naruto, have you spoken with Gamabunta yet?"
"Well, I spoke to him briefly on my last mission. I summoned him to help destroy Gato's compound. Why?"
"Usually when someone signs a summon contract they are required to speak with the head summon beforehand, however in your case Bunta allowed us to sign you and said you could talk later. Why don't you summon him so you two can have his talk?"
"What talk?"
"Like I said he just needs to get to know you and you can become familiar with him. It seemed like Kichi took a liking to you so you could summon him too."
"Alright then." Said Naruto as he bit his thumb and ran though some hand seals as he smacked his hand against the ground. "Summoning jutsu!"
As he finished a large cloud of smoke appeared and Gamabunta and Gamakichi, as well as another toad about Kichi's size, but yellow, stepped out of the smoke. "Hello Jiraiya, Naruto." Said Bunta.
"Hey Bro." Said Kichi as he jumped on top of Naruto's head.
"Hi guys!" Said the yellow toad.
"Hey everyone." Said both Naruto and Jiraiya.
"Sorry, I haven't met you yet, what's your name?" Said Naruto to the yellow toad.
"I'm Gamatatsu, Nice to meet you Naruto, have you by chance got any candy?" Said Gamatatsu as everyone else sweat-dropped.