The days had rolled by into weeks and Ryuu had to keep his skills down after his display of them after the first day of classes. The Hokage had in so many words said that he needed to down play them, but his training in healing he could display as he was working in the hospital. To say Ryuu was happy or even agreeable to this was wrong. He was proud of his work and his training. After all what child of seven wouldn't be? But after several discussions and lessons with the Hokage on sealing and just simple matters of politics he understood as best he could. He grasped the concepts of everything he was taught and was a genius by the rights of the word but he didn't feel that he had to truly work for anything that he learned. Though sealing was one that he had to study and practice beyond just knowing hand signs and control of his chakra. He knew it would take years to master but it was one thing that he could truly say that he strained and worked himself into a sweat to gain. He still didn't know what to make of his classmates, outside of the Nara heir he didn't have any 'friends'. But he did take into consideration the Aburame boy. The quiet appearance with the well above stoic nature that he exuded was somewhat confusing for the the young boy.
It was after one of his sessions with the wizened Sarutobi, that Ryuu was found walking alone down the streets of Konoha that he heard the distinct voice of his class mate shouting out the name of a jutsu. " Katon: fenikkusu no hana (Phoenix Flower)," but he didn't hear of feel any of the jutsu of which made him curious. Peering into the training field he could see Sausuke looking exhausted and slightly singed from obvious Fire base jutsu. " Uchiha-san why are you trying that level of jutsu? It's well above our level and could really hurt you." Ryuu was caring it was in his nature and his training as a medic to be concerned. "It's none of you concern..." The Uchiha had retorted before he noticed the speaker was Ryuu. "I.. it's a clan technique I am sure even you are aware of what this means in the right of passage." Ryuu nodded as he listened to Sasuke speak. "True, but if you just work on the technique you still won't achieve it yet. You don't have the chakra reserves of control it's why you are so exhausted... I would say if you had the control you could use it once before it actually knocked you out from exhaustion." Ryuu spoke as he flashed his eyes on and off gaging the levels of the boy. "If you think you are so good why don't you do it?" The challenge issued from the dark haired boy.
Now Ryuu could have done many things at this point but once again it seemed fate conspired against him. " Fine, show me the hand seals." To which the Uchiha flashed through them slowly. Ryuu nodded for a moment before he flashed through them twice on his own before he tried the jutsu. " Katon:fenikkusu no hana," Pulling his hands to his mouth and spitting out several spheres of fire that seemed to take on the shape of flowers before they burned into the ground. "I could do it maybe once more before I collapsed." The Uchiha was torn between looking pleased for the boy and upset that he The last of his clan couldn't do the Jutsu." How?" Was the only word he could utter. As he waited for Ryuu to answer. " Have you been doing and control exercises?" To which the ebony haired boy snorted. " Well, just so you know doing those control exercises like tree walking, not only work on your control but also on building your reserves. Not only that but all strong shinobi use it in battle since you can cling to any solid surface with it making you more apt to fight from different angles." Ryuu walked up to a near by tree and walked up the tree and back down." You just need to carefully push chakra out of your feet, too much and you push yourself off and too little and you slip and don't stick." He smiled, he wanted to be nicer and since he was suppose to try and make friends with this boy he would try but it mostly settled onto the Uchiha's shoulders.
"If you're so good why are you almost failing in class?" He sneered. "Oh well You want to be the best right? well I don't want people knowing how good I am. That way they underestimate me." He brushed his hand along the back of his head, "Besides if I want to be on your team then one of us has to be the lowest in the class and I know you won't do it." He flashed a smile, hoping that was enough of an answer to deter the boy from digging to far into his skills. "Why?" Sasuke was confused why not show off your skills, why not prove that you are the best. "Well since I think you want two answers... The first is because the less they know the quicker and easier it will be to win and a True Ninja doesn't look for the spotlight, we are meant to be warriors of the shadows working with out names. If the enemy knows us then there aren't many missions we can do because it would draw attention." He had his brow scrunched as he recalled the words of the Hokage when he had recently asked the very same question. " As for the other answer, it's because I think we are similar We have both had our families destroyed in front of us."' Though mine was right when I was born but he doesn't need to know that,'he thought."The second is I would like to be friends with you not because you're an Uchiha, or because you are a prodigy but because I can see that you would be a good person if people including you could see beyond those two things." He held out his hand, it was worth a try and his 'reasons' were out in the open as far as they should be, but maybe he could actually be friends with him and do as the Hokage had asked.
Sasuke listened between what Ryuu was saying and what his own thoughts were throwing at him. 'He's like me but doesn't want things given to him because of who he is? He doesn't care what people think of him? He wants to remain thought of as weak why?' The answers to some of his own internal questions were answered and they seemed real and he had read some of them in the text books. But would that help him get his revenge? Well if Itachi still thought him weak it would be a bonus, but Ryuu was being the weak one so they could be on the same team? Maybe Itachi killed his clan too that would make sense why he's being nice and trying to help me? He wants revenge for his clan too, so he has to be strong right? Well he has to want to be stronger and he can already do this jutsu after just trying it once with a little practice over the hand seals. His mind came to the conclusion, Ryuu could help him get stronger, and he could help Ryuu get stronger somehow. "Yes, friends Ryuu," taking the other boys hand they shook on it and both went to practice working on the tree walking exercise. Sasuke getting frustrated and Ryuu helping him calm donw and focus through the frustration.
Several weeks had gone by since that day and both boys kept their true skills hidden from everyone else, though Sasuke stayed ranked among the top of the class in everything they did and Ryuu still seemed only able to excel or grasp the control concepts and healing jutsu. Which made many think him weak and pathetic, including one of their instructors. Mizuki, had kept an eye on the boy seeing that he couldn't do any of the basic jutsu taught in the academy and always seemed to struggle so hard with everything they were taught, not to mention the boys tests were abysmal. But it was that determined 'will do anything' look that had him start forming plans in his mind. It would take time maybe when they did their graduation exams in a year or so he could use the boy. His sensei would be pleased to get that scroll. "Namikaze, you have failed again, even a civillian could get a bunshin at this rate." Ryuu looked up determined and flashed through the seals only to make five half dead looking clones. Sasuke hid his smirk, knowing that Ryuu could easily make the clones as he was the one who taught him how to do it before everyone else. " Sorry Mizuki-sensei.. but I just can't get it right..." The teacher shook his head gently in disappointment outwardly but inwardly he might try and just maybe this would work and get him out of this damn village." Very well Namikaze-san, keep trying since you will need this skill to graduate and become a ninja."
Weeks turned into months with both boys secretly training together either within the Uchiha estates or the Namikaze compounds. The only two people that knew anything of what the two boys had been up to were the Hokage and Neara as they were the ones that Ryuu had reported to on everything as he was ordered too. They both seemed happy with how the two boys were getting along, and even those of the council who noticed the two boys had a connection though to them it was a one sided rivalry that the Uchiha permitted to give him something to beat around, allowed this with confidence. But now we find the Hokage and Ryuu sitting together in a warded office for one of their sealing lessons. " Now Ryuu, over the last year we have been going over the needed knowledge to make seals as well as the different styles and forms of sealing methods. I think you are ready to become an apprentice level seal master. Now as you know this means that you can start creating seals, however I will limit you to this list of seals until you can create them and modify them with out using references." Sarutobi was a harsh task master, but how else had be managed to train the great and legendary Sannin. Ryuu for all his skill and training looking at the list of nearly a hundred seals was balking at the thought of what he was going to have to do. But unlike others that learned this art he was starting nearly a decade or two before them. "Hai Hokage-sama. Ano..you and I both know that I can memorize all of these in a few weeks and can have them all mastered in about four months then being able to modify them shouldn't take more than another three to four months." Ryuu spoke as he thought over everything he had learned about seals and how they worked, and compared that to how he seemed to absorb anything he was taught like a never ending sponge for knowledge and skills. "I know Ryuu, but it's not merely the list I have given you but the other lists that are stored in the storage seals at the bottom. They are copies of every seal in Konoha as well as every seal that myself and one of my students has encountered and recorded." The older man laughed as he watched Ryuu pale at the notion of truly how many were there. " What I know in Jutsu you will rival in seals my boy." Taking a drag from his pipe, this was the Professor the God of Shinobi holder and knower of well of 2000 jutsu that caused Ryuu to fall out of his seat as the old man chuckled.
Months had passed again since that meeting and his apprentice level of sealing began, which is now finding Ryuu in his home meditating. /MINDSCAPE/
Ryuu walked along the grass covered mindscape noticing the changes since his last time reaching this level of meditation with out being pulled here or ending up here on accident. The forest of his previous life memories seemed warded and far away. Where as the Tower and growing village seemed to be bustling with people that he knew ans they were his knowledge and memories of them, the buildings housed his knowledge of what the represented weapons, food, clothing, medicines, even the clans. Though all his techniques were stored in the tower guarded by the six dragons that seemed to have appeared one day though he noticed each one represented an element and his personal strength with each one. THough none of this seemed to intrigue him more than the vast blue ocean that stretched on for miles with out a tinge of red now among it. He reached out and sought the red chakra but none was to be found it confused him, he had studied his seal and new that it shouldn't have been this quick to purify the demons essence. "Confused boy?" a voice rumbled causing him to spin, seeing a dragon land before him, "Hai I should still have the youkai but it's all my chakra now... how?" The dragon laughed as he took in his young host. "Quite simple, with out the soul of the demon there was no fighting or restraint so you purified it faster, and with that seal your mother placed on you it took what would have taken thirty years into mere eight." The dragon explained. "Alright, I can accept that, but now I have to ask is who are you, why are you in my head and when did you start being able to talk?" Ryuu wanted answers as the only person that had been in his mind was his mother and that wouldn't last much longer.
The Dragon smiled though it didn't look happy it felt that way, "That would go back to the day that you were 'reborn'. You learned a technique well to be honest many techniques from the Kyuubi. Though you have yet to seek them out in that tower. But that is getting ahead, when you were reborn one of those techniques activated and all the people that were used to grant you your new appearance any bloodlines or affinites they had were harnessed and strengthened as they were added to you." The dragon paused to watch his young companion take this in rather quickly before he continued. "That being learned you can use that ability after you look it over, it will be in your tower listed under Oni techniques of which I dare say are atleast a hundred of them. But as for my being here one of your 'parents' I should say were descendants of a Container as you are, though what they contained was a Dragon. What bit of the Dragon essence that was passed one was completely awakened inside you because of that ability you have. Though as you can see I am outside that seal, and that was to judge you for a time before I made a decision." Ryuu was accepting this information rather easily but then when you have a large dragon telling you something you tend to believe it, especially after you had once housed a great demon it's not that far fetched. "Why judge me and what is your decision?"
"I judged your soul, and wanted to see how becoming one with the powers of a demon affected you. It didn't corrupt you though I think that is more because of having those that care about you and you care about than anything else. Your study of sealing has lead me to my decision. I will with your permission use you knowledge and mine and create a contract between the Dragon Clans and the Namikaze Clan and those you deem potential to be our summoners. Though the final decision will be from us." The dragon pulled on the great sea of Chakra twisting it it into a scroll and feeding it power from both itself and from the vast stores Ryuu had. " Now, Hold on to this and when you wish to return to the outside world will this to appear with you. It will be very draining and you will be tired but it can be done, you will just use a massive portion of your chakra. Good bye my summoner." The dragon dispelled in a cloud of smoke, before Ryuu could ask further. But instead of pondering over the fact that he had a summon contract he dashed off to the tower and began touching every book there learning, relearning or discovering the knowledge and skills that he had seen, trained or had been left behind by the great demon he once contained. Before long and having a headache from being inside his own head and looping his knowledge he decided to leave and return to the outside world.
/Real World/
He opened his eyes only for the world to spin as he was covering in a cloud of smoke and the weight of a heavy scroll resting on his lap. "Ugh" Only to pass out from the exertion. It was several hours before he woke up again, thankful for not having classes today but it was to the sound of Sasuke yelling at him to get up that he cracked one bright blue eye open. "What time is it Sasuke?" As he sat up feeling the scroll laying next to him."It's almost noon Ototo..." Sasuke stopped and froze at his words, did he really think of Ryuu like that. While Ryuu just smiled and tackled The Raven haired boy, "Really? I think of you like my brother too. " Over the year they had grown close and maybe now that he knew about the Uchiha from the Kyuubi's memories he might be able to end the line. Sasuke truly smiled once he relaxed into the hug, he wasn't alone anymore. Ryuu was like family, "Uhm Sasuke, I know you are proud of being an Uchiha, but I would really like to be brothers... but we both have our clans... I mean I know a technique that would make us real family but you would loose the Sharingan from it...but you would get the Kagegan..." Ryuu bit his lip. His voice in the back of his mind knew that if he did this the council would through a fit, but then the Kagegan was an improvement and was immune to the Sharingan and the Byakugan. He looked at Sasuke, wondering what was going through his thoughts now.
Sasuke was shocked, at the fact that someone would offer this, but then looking at his family records with Ryuu over the year as they shared their family histories Sasuke had become free of the illusions about how grand his family was. Yet he still wanted revenge for their destruction he held no true feelings of glory about the eyes that caused it all in the first place. And from what Ryuu had explained to him about the Kagegan, well what little he would as it was declared public knowledge it was slightly improved or almost a merger between the Sharingan and the byakugan. Plus it would be one more step that Itachi wouldn't see coming, it would be worth it. " I'll do it. Uchiha Sasuke is no more, Namikaze Sasuke sounds better that way I won't be like that traitor or have to worry about going crazy from the eyes." Ne spoke softly but with determination. Ryuu, hid his smile. This would leave only two Sharingan in the world and no one would know it. "THe good thing is since you haven't activated yours yet it won't hurt." He started flashing through hand seals some two of which Sasuke had never seen before. "Oni Style: Ribāsu Namikaze no saiyō" Placing his hand and Sasuke's chest and bitting his thumb of his free hand and placing it on the boys forehead letting the blood seep into his eyes. Pushing the Chakra into the jutsu felt strange as he could feel it expanding and passing on his affinities and stretching Sasukes reserves and destroying the Sharingan and regrowing the Kagegan. Then in a bright flash both boys collapsed to the ground. Both smiling as they looked into each others blue eyes. " Well the only thing different on the outside is you have blue eyes like mine. guess they are going to notice now aren't they?" Ryuu spoke, but Sasuke seemed to still be adjusting feeling the rush of power he could tell more than just his eyes had changed, he felt stronger and he knew he had nearly twice as much chakra now it must be a Namikaze bloodline to have high reserves, control and the Kagegan.
"One last thing, and it's going to suck but I need to place the training seal on you. Since you are clan now, it basically forces you to have amazing control because chakra will be used for everything you do." He flashed through the sequence that he found, and didn't call out the seals name since it wasn't really a Namikaze seal but a Uzamaki one but who cares. Before he drew it on with blood to seal it." there, uhm.. *yawn* one more thing and then I think a nap." He chuckled as he saw Sasuke try and move only to fall over looking strained. " Focus your chakra to move it'll feel easier after a few days. But know we can sign this." He unrolled the scroll and signed his name in blood in the first slot (Namikaze Ryuu) Sasuke following suit (Namikaze Sasuke) rolling the scroll up and hiding it in one of the vaults. "Well we can use that after we graduate but now that we have signed it I'll tell you it's a summong contract for the Clan. Though Uhm.. I think we should get all the stuff from the Uchiha district and move it here also destroy whatever else you don't want. Then after we are 'legal adults' we can transfer everything over. Just tell the Hokage that you want your 'Clan' to be supervised by the Nara it's what I did until I'm old enough." With that the to boys rested, one dreaming of having family true family, and the other for once sleeping blissful as the weight of the Uchiha clan fled from his shoulders and the first Uzu appeared in the boys eyes. From the shadows the faint outline of a young woman giggled, "Kami-sama was even more correct in what she had said about this boy, and the Uchiha will fall and the true Heir of the Sage shall emerge..." The figure vanished into motes of light.
AN:
I don't wish to hurry through a bit of this but honestly.. I will have one more chapter until they graduate and have teams :D
Let me know what you guys think.. Also I do have a poll up on my profile as far as a Pairing goes.. vote and it will help.. I state in it that once the Chunnin exams start the poll will close.. and that's when the 'fun' can begin... Ja Ne