It had been nearly six months since the formation of team seven under Kurenai. As we find the team practicing in a training ground that most people never seem to want to enter, that being training ground 44 or better often known as the Forest of Death. They had moved here three months ago as to keep prying eyes away from the Namikaze brothers and Hinata's own unique training. But even more so for the help of a good friend of their Sensei one Mitarashi Anko.

"Alright Gaki's Nai-chan has asked me to help you with your taijutsu, some more. " The rather busty and none to modest Tokubetsu Jounnin had stated as she dropped from a tree to the forest floor infront of the team. " Well at least to help Hinata anyways, " She eyed the timid girl. She had been observing the training for the team for several months to help her get a feel for how they worked and even she would admit if only to herself that they were impressive for a bunch of kids. Which to most people that was damn good.

Throwing scrolls at the two boys, " These are a few scrolls on taijutsu styles that aren't inside of Konoha, since you two seem to be developing a style that meshes several others together I think these will work for ya brats." She smirked, " Also I watched your affinity training and took the liberty of 'liberating' some techniques for you on some of my missions." Turning to Hinata and walking over towards her. " You little missy are coming with me, we will meet here every day at 5 am, warm up, stretch and get started. I will then take You, with me for some more in depth Kunoichi training." She paused seeing Kurenai coming in. " Let's go Now." Grabbing Hinata and shunshinning away.

The two boys looked at the scrolls and then at each other before they noticed their Sensei coming in. " Anko is a bit eccentric but she knows what she's doing...I hope." She looked at the two boys as they had started to unroll their scrolls. Watching how Ryuu worried his lower lip as his memorized every detail of the scrolls. Then seeing how Sasuke tapped his fingers as he worked on it. These were the only two noticeable means that she had seen of how the two boys poured their mental facilities into their training.

Looking closer at the two boys she noticed that they were also working on chakra training exercises as she spotted the glint of Senbon dangling from their ears and several other places that were exposed skin. She had learned the truth about Ryuu or Naruto take it however you will three months ago when she had confronted the hokage about their skills.

/flashback/

"Hokage-sama, I don't know what prank or twisted thoughts were running through your head about giving me my team but they are obviously not Gennin." The red eyed woman huffed as she had come from another training session with her team only to find out they were once again already aware of the skills that she was teaching them. Even if Ryuu had given her the training seal as well, she knew it was far beyond the scope of what mere children were able to do.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed as he looked up from his papers as the distraught Jounnin."Kurenai-chan, I think it's time to help you understand a few things about your team." taking up his pipe and filling it he continued to speak, " Please sit down for it's a long story." He watched as she sat down in the chair with an indignant huff, he keeping the chuckle to himself. " The story begins sadly on the night of the Kyuubi's attack on our village..."

He spoke for several hours about Naruto and what he had learned about the boy and what the boy himself had learned under their(meaning his and Neara's guidance) tutelage. " The only thing is Ryuu may be only 13 but his control, level of knowledge and skills themselves are that of someone much older." He sighed as he looked to the picture of Minato on the wall," Naruto or Ryuu as we will, is just like his father, a genius. Though the boy is blessed one step higher with what his personal medic and I call Eidetic memory." He noticed Kurenai's confusion and so he explained. " Ryuu has the natural ability to remember everything he has read, seen, smelled, touched or tasted with 100% accuracy. He may not having the sharingan to 'copy' things with but it doesn't matter as long as he can see it it will only take several attempts before he himself is capable of figuring it out. " He slide a folder with his seal on it over to her.

She noticed the markings indicating that this was the Hokage's personal file and no-one had ever seen it as the blood seal on it would indicate. Looking up to him she saw the nod to go ahead as she read through the detail list of training that Ryuu had received under his orders and supervision. It took several minutes to read through it all before she looked up to him. " With all of this training why is he only a gennin? Sasuke seems to also have nearly the same repertoire as Ryuu from what I have noticed in training. "

"That is because Ryuu has been training with Sasuke for almost three years in secret. After the adoption jutsu they did to bring him into the Namikaze clan." The Hokage smiled warmly as he remembered all the times he had spoke with Ryuu over what they were doing and getting detailed reports on Sasuke. " They have merged the entirety of the Uchiha libraries with the Namikaze ones making them all Namikaze information and scrolls. Going as far as to rewrite them and place blood seals on everything that is a style, a jutsu or any such thing that could be considered 'Clan Secrets'." He took a long drag from his pipe. "The only areas of study that Ryuu and Sasuke differ on is Ryuu is a Journeyman Seal Master and a Journeyman Healer and full Field Medic. With standing the two boys elemental affinities."

She tried to absorb everything from Ryuu being the host of the Kyuubi, the boy she herself had helped many times after attacks on him. All the way to all the private training he had received. " Hokage-sama why did you train him so much?" She was worried as between the dark creature that he held at bay and the boys large thirst for knowledge it resembled to much of Orochimaru.

"That would be because I felt indebted to the boy, for all that I have done to wrong him. As well as what this village has done against him and therefore his fathers wishes." The elder man sighed as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders." In a year when the exams come I wish for you to support them by allowing them to take the exams. This is a scroll containing all the affinity exercises for the boys and Hinata once you decide to test them. Ryuu has already mastered one affinity because of it's ability to calm and control bijuu." Holding up his hand, " No, I am not aware of how he came into this affinity though I have my guesses but only he could tell you." the man chuckled.

/end flashback/

She shook her head, " Alright boys, I'll give you another few minutes to look over the scrolls before we start working on your elements."

Both boys looked up for a moment and in unison, "Hai Sensei." She could only imagine how poorly things would have went for Ryuu if he would have remained Naruto. Though it would only be another year before the true Namikaze would be mentioned. Even now she could see the boys hair loosing the red tinge and becoming more blond, just like his fathers and his original color.

"Now, I am fully aware of what you have been trained in." She half-heartedly glared at the two boys. " I have spoke to the Hokage as I thought you were being used as a very rude prank on me. However he has filled me in as completely as he could on Ryuu's past." Here the two boys looked at each other before looking back to their Sensei.

"Then you are aware as to who he was previously and to what he contained?" Sasuke finally spoke up moving ever so slightly in front of his brother.

"Yes I am aware that he was once Uzamaki Naruto and is the container of the Kyuubi." She paused for a moment, " What do you mean contained?"

Ryuu placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, he had long ago revealed the truth to his brother and also left it within a very well guarded scroll in the clan history section. " What my brother means is that only He, myself and now you will be aware of the fact that the Demon Kyuubi is not trapped with in my seal. Only it's chakra and knowledge over anything related to Chakra and the ninja and demon ways was sealed. As the Shinigami used in sealing the beast took not only my fathers soul with him but also that of the Kyuubi itself." The blond boy spoke as he searched Kurenai for any form of disgust or hatred. Finding none he decided to wait for her response.

She honestly didn't know what to say but the fact he kept that a secret from the Hokage had to have a reason, as she thought about it longer she realized that it didn't matter as she never once thought of the boy as a demon in the past. Only to find that he never housed the demon only further infuriated her to the actions of the village. " Why haven't you told the hokage?"

"Because if I did he would inspect the seal and try and alter it to determine if I was telling the truth. IF he did that my body wouldn't be able to handle the Chakra even if it has all been purified by the seals. Simply because I have not grown enough to physically handle it." Ryuu left out the part of how he planned to use the seal to save the others like him from their burden. He had already placed a few seals over it to be able to absorb other demons and spirits that plagued other Jailers. Not to mention that he had yet to fully assimilate the knowledge in the vast ocean of former demonic power. It would destroy him if he had to do so in an instant. Though it was the one reason he still wore the training seal as it severely sped up the process. He would have full assimilation of the Kyuubi in a few more months, and then he could start hoping to find the others.

"Alright that makes sense, and I will keep this secret. We are a team and I expect you to tell Hinata soon. Not only are we a team but we are friends and even more so a family." She paused, " It was one of the few phrases that Kakashi uses and was passed down to him from your father. 'Those who disobey the rules are trash, and those who abandon their friends and comrades are worse than trash." She looked between both boys. " Now these are from the Hokage, as you alread know of your affinities now these are the exercises to master them. I will be testing Hinata soon and start her on it the same." She pasued as the thought came to her. " Ryuu, You can see chakra with your eyes and I know you are aware of everyone on this teams level of reserves and control. Can we all safely use the Kage Bunshin?"

The boy paused for a moment as he considered it, realizing why she had asked. Sasuke could easily use it now and he had not taught his brother the skill just yet. Kurenai with the use of the seal was now able to safely use it with out damaging herself and Hinata was easily into that level as well though no more than two or three at a time. " Yes, Hinata could safely use two or three, where as you and Sauske would be able to do about twenty before feeling the drain to the point of it not being useful for training."

She smiled sadistically, " Alright so here's the plan. Teach us how to use it, and I will teach Hinata. Then we will make at least one clone each and have them do our D-rank missions. Leaving us time to get ourselves up to par with each other. So that we don't have to worry to much. It will also give me and us more time to train and hone out skills." She let out at small laugh as she saw the shock on the boys faces.

/ Three Months Later/

"Futon: Gale of Destruction,"

"Katon: Vanquishing Fire,"

"Suiton: Leviathans Rage"

Kurenai watched as her team each showed her their jutsu that each of them had created, she was impressed not only by their growth but by the amount of trust and understanding that each held for each other and herself. " Good, Now since our clones have taken over our D-ranks we are now ready to actually work on C-rank missions and put your skills to use. " She chuckled as they all high-fived each other. "Now go and clean up, and meet me at the Missions office."

She watched them all vanish from sight, she was glad she had taught them all how to use the Shunshin techniques, though it was impressive how each one had put their own twist into it. Rather than using the Konoha Shunshin they each had applied their affinities to it. Well in the case of Sasuke and Ryuu they had made several variations but used them for different reasons. Hinata had left in a splash of water, Sasuke flashed away in a burst of lightning and Ryuu well, He seemed to favor leaving via his wind affininty. Herself just chuckled as she disappeared into a burst of fire. Leaving the forest silent in their wake.

They all appeared shortly in the missions office, Hinata wearing something similar to Kurenai, though the gennins wrapping was in ocean blue and showed off her blossoming figure from all the training with the seals and Anko. She was no longer the shy timid girl but much like her element was calm until provoked. The two boys arrived together wearing matching outifts. Each had a ninja mesh long sleeve shirt, with dark blue muscle shirts over it, black ANBU style pants with blue spirals going up the legs, and black fingerless gloves on their opposite hands. The palm of Ryuu's glove contained a storage seal for his staff, where as Sasuke's hips had storage seals for his twin nodachi's.

After all the training the boys were as well rounded as they could be balanced in taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu and both specializing in a weapon. Where as Hinata was specialized in Taijutsu in tandem with the Tenshi strength that Naruto had taught her, though she was strong in both nin and genjutsu she had yet to find a weapon that would suit her. Kurenai turned to face to hokage and saw him smilling at her and the team. " Team 7 reporting for duty, and requesting a C-rank mission."

Iruka was the chunnin on duty for the missions office today and he looked between the team shocked at the change in how they all seemed to behave and looked to Kurenai. He couldn't believe that the genjutsu mistress could have pulled this team together like this in only a year, but seeing as they only did one to two d-rank missions every other day she had plenty of time but no-one could have conceived of this much change in these three gennin. " I'm not sure that is wise, as you have just only completed your required level of D-ranks."

The Hokage suppressed his chuckled as he listened," Iruka, I have been informed as to their 'training' and I will vouch for their ability to take on a mission and I have just the perfect one." He pulled up a scroll and handed it to Kurenai who read it then passed it to her team for them to look it over. After a moment Ryuu handed it back to her with a nod.

" My team and I will accept the mission. However we request that it be extended to the completion of the bridge itself." After reading the sign language from the team.

The Hokage was surprised that she had taught them complete signing but it would be useful to keep up their ruse of being weak as they wouldn't have to speak much. " Alright, Tazuna-san you may come in, may I present your escort and protection for the duration of the buidling of your bridge Team 7."

The old bridge builder, looked at the brats before taking a swig from his bottle, he was going to make a comment about them being only children. After all it was only known to him that this was far more dangerous than an escort but he couldn't afford hell Wave couldn't afford to let the be known right now. " I don't know what you consider Ninja but these are just kids."

He barely finished what he was saying before a glowing green hand struck him in the chest, forcing all the alcohol in his system to vanish leaving him with a headache if only for a moment. "Now that you are sober, you will not be a liability to your protection Tazuna-san." Ryuu had spoke though he voice was forced to remain pleasant. He had never like drinking or those that drank that much, his memories of his childhood would always bring back the smell of Sake to his torture as Naruto.

"That's settled, Team seven you may leave when you are ready." The hokage smirked at what would happen if Ryuu ever ran into Tsunade, which only brought him a heavy heart.

"Tazuna-san if you would meet us as the east gate in an hour we will be ready to leave." Kurenai spoke as she signaled to her team to meet her in the Smithing district once they were dismissed. With that the whole team Shunshined out of the office. Leaving only a stunned Iruka, a very sober Tazuna and a bemused Hokage.

/ Wolf-claw Armory-Smithing District/

The whole team appeared outside the store, " Good, now I have ordered you all a present each for getting this far. It's a congratulations for working so hard and in my opinion surpassing every other gennin team out there. Now come on in." She turned to walk into the store followed by her team. Spying the owner of the store, and vice-versa he noticed Ryuu.

" Ah Namikaze-san I see you have returned for your items, and brought me more customers?" Hioshigi-san laughed. " Ah Kurenai-san is this your team then?" After having spotted Kurenai. The Sensei of the team had wondered why Hioshigi was so familiar with Ryuu, until she noticed that the boys weapons were the same as the shops. Each smith had a style that was imparted into the weapons if only a small variation but it seemed Ryuu and Sasuke only shopped here.

"Hai, I'll be picking up my orders and I think Kurenai-sensei has ordered things for us as well. " Ryuu replied with a fox like grin as if he knew exactly what was going on.

The old smith smiled and proceeded to pull up large scroll with Ryuu's name on it and tossed it to him with a smile. Then went into the back to pull up four packages and placing them on the counter. "Now which one is for which Kurenai?"

Watching Ryuu roll open the scroll exposing several seals with markings indicating what was where, he flashed through a few seals his fingers glowing blue as he began lifting the seals from the paper and placing them on the inside of his holsters and around his belt the seals glowing brightly once they were placed only to dime down into a brighter blue against the black material. Kurenai was stunned as she didn't know what they all were, but it was more so that he was able to remove and transfer seals. She had never heard of that skill before.

Coughing brought her attention back to the smith, " Oh well seeing as you know Ryuu fairly well then the staff should be obvious, the twin set is for Sasuke and the Chēnburēdo are for Hinata." Hioshigi smiled, knowingly. He had already planned on making the staff for Ryuu after the first time they had met years ago, especially knowing the boys focus, skill, and ability with seals. After all Ryuu had developed some of the seals that he used on his weapons. Teaching him how to create summoning seals for weapons so that the owners could recall their weapons. Though it was a hefty price to place them on one. (Just so that they didn't place them on cheap weapons that were the mainstay of his business).

"Alright then," He began unwrapping the Chain blades to reveal dark blue metal links that were obviously chakra conductive metal, they were about six feet long each ending with the last several links being blade edged. " Theres also a scroll to go with them with some basic care and usage techniques. These aren't weapons used in this country mostly in Lighting Country." He handed over the weapons and scroll to the Lavender eyed girl. The next package were twin blades, both again dark blue, with swirl patterns etched into the blades, making them look almost like liquid themselves. " These are obviously twin nodaci, Chakra metal with summoning seals, and a few others, that will make them legendary in time I am sure. " He winked at Ryuu who just laughed at Sasuke's expression over the new blades.

"For Ryuu here, well after your Sensei told me you decided on calling your Taijutsu and Staff Style the Doragon no tsubasa I figured this with what you have helped out here with that I should test myself." He unwrapped a small rod that looked to be a long dragon of dark blue with silver etching around the scales. " It's got the same shrinking seal as your old one, but I added all the other seals that you gave me as well. Plus I put in that one seal on both your's and Sasuke's blades." Kurnenai was surprised and a bit worried about the cost. She didn't think that They would be so high quality of a weapon, but again she seemed to underestimate the depth of Ryuu and what he did in his free time. " Now, I'll cut you a deal Kurenai, since I knew who these were for, as long as you and your team only shop here for your weapons and supplies then I'll half the order cost of what I originally told you."

She considered this, and noticed that is how Ryuu probably got his weapons as well, and considering that her team was funding the shop with seals, and probably making a small bit of money from it anyways she agreed as half of 2000 Ryo would be a nice price since she got more than she bargained for yet again. " Deal, You got that only buying from the Wolf-Claw... I catch you with weapons bought elsewhere..." She left the threat hanging, as they all knew it would be personalized training with Anko. As one the team shuddered. " Good, but we have to leave to meet with out client. I hope you are all stocked up?" Sasuke and Ryuu nodded, as they placed their new weapons where their older ones were, placing those in a storage scroll. No sense in wasting them since they may have children to pass them on to one day. Hinata had finished wrapping her chains as the scroll had shown, and activating the locking seal on them that kept them attached to her body.

/East Gate/

The team arrived, with a bit more than they were last seen with, each of them minus Ryuu seemed to have their holsters filled with shuriken and kunai. To the naked eye it seemed that Ryuu wasn't wearing any weapons, but the team had long since found out that with him being well on his way to being a seal master and with that natural Fox like ingenuity that he seemed to posses that he didn't have need to have his weapons exposed, and with all the seals on his armor and what were hidden even under that as Anko had found out one day,that Ryuu had summoning seals on his underwear for weapons.

They collected their Client and with one last look at the village, the team and Tazuna left the safety and confines of Konoha and entered into the woods surrounding the village on the Road to Wave. Several hours had passed, and one Sober Tazuna, watched the 'children' that were highered to protect him move and flow around him in a seemless fashion, he admitted that he was impressed. They didn't complain or argue hell they didn't even seem to talk out side of answering a few question here or there. It was a bit unnerving to see children like this, but maybe there was a glimmer of hope for them.

"So Tazuna-san what is Wave like?" Ryuu had asked, he was curious as to what they would be dealing with and had already got the go ahead from Kurenai to ask the man about it.

"Well, it was once a prospering land, with the ocean and our closeness to several other nations we dealt in trade and had protection from them since we held their economies together." He sighed, " but a few years ago an evil man came in and started buying everything, closing us off from the rest of the nations. We are poor, and poverty stricken. Most of us can barely afford to feed ourselves let alone out families." He sighed, he hated being sober for this reason, but he was afraid the kid would hit him with that Sobering thing again. " It's why I am building the bridge, so we can be connected to the main land again and get out from under Gato's control.."

Ryuu nodded, and gave his team a look that went unnoticed even by Kurenai. They all nodded to the look. No matter what they were going to fix the problem and help them, even if it was outside of what they were 'told' to do. The small puddle caught their attention the next moment. IT was summer and hadn't rained in a few weeks, All three activated their eyes, not needing seals or even to say it as a focus. The spied the two nin laying in wait. Ryuu nodded to Sasuke, who flashed through handseals, "Raiton: Shōgeki no kangoku " Lightingsurged from Sasuke's hand, and surround the puddle, sending up several columns of energy that surrounded it. Dispelling the henge the missing nin were using, revealing them to be ex-Kiri nin.

" You're the demon brothers." Kurenai, stated, after seeing their gauntlets and their headbands. She watched as Sasuke closed the electric cage around them making it touch them and sending waves of energy through them. " Why are you here?"

"We're here for the old Man Gato wants him dead." One of them spoke while the other smacked him upside the head. "Shut up."

Ryuu had disappeared only to reveal two hands coming up from under the two kiri nin and pulling them into the ground. Before he himself popped up between their heads, then deftly wedged two senbon in their necks." Move your heads to much and that will sever your spinal cord," with out a hand seal he summoned a kagbunshin, that shunshined to the village. " He's going to alert the ANBU of their pick up, and tell the Hokage, so that we get the Bingo price."

She was pleased with her team, not even killing them or really having to fight much it was a statement to their skills, though she feared when they would have to make their first kill. If this had been another team this would be beyond their skills but she had faith in her team and the look of determination in their eyes showed they wouldn't be backing out now. "Tazuna-san, would you care to explain how a C-ranked mission meaning bandits and theives translates to us finding other Ninja after you?"

The old man wished he could lie, but seeing how they had saved him couldn't do so, " As I told you my country is poor because of Gato. He is going to no ends to stop the bridge, and we couldn't afford anything higher."

She nodded looking to the team, " Then be glad you got our team, and I am sure once the bridge is completed your country will of course pay the difference in Mission rankings... As of now this is a B-ranked mission though it may become an A rank... I trust you are all aware of what this means and you are still prepared to go forward?" Each gennin nodded.