Hi everyone. I've gotten a lot more readers since my last chapter which made this story over 10000 words. Vote in my pole on my profile page for who you want Naruto to fight in the preliminaries to the chuunin exams. I'm planning for the preliminaries to be in by chapter 12 so you have some time. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Training Ground 4

Naruto, Shino, and Hinata were all panting from their workout. Kurenai had fought each of them one on one and then fought all three at the same time. "I'm glad to see that you all know the basics of fighting," said Kurenai somewhat mockingly and yet praising them at the same time. Shino was leaning on a post while Hinata was kneeling on the ground.

"I underestimated the power of a jounin," commented Shino. "Yeah," said Hinata, "I didn't think she could take us all at the same time." Naruto chuckled and said, "And without even breaking a sweat. You're really strong Kurenai-sensei." Kurenai grinned and sat down with her legs straight out.

Naruto sat down cross-legged and mimicked Itachi's meditation stance. He started taking deep breaths to slow his heart rate and closed his eyes. Kurenai looked at Naruto curiously. "Naruto, where did you learn to fight like that?"

Naruto was caught off guard by the question and stumbled on his words. "I, uh, um, uh…. I taught myself." Said Naruto with an unconvincing smile. "Really?" Kurenai said as she twisted her voice to make it clear that she didn't believe him.

Naruto ignored the question and quickly changed the subject. "So, Shino, have you always been able to use those bugs?" Shino raised an eyebrow at Naruto's sudden curiosity. "Well actually," Shino started, "I became a host for these bugs when I was five years old. Ever since then I've been training with them and learning about them."

Kurenai looked worried at Naruto's unwillingness to talk about any help he received. "Ok, I think that's enough for today. We will meet back here tomorrow." Naruto sighed and said, "Ok Kurenai-sensei, see ya tomorrow." Naruto started to walk off and to Kurenai and Shino's surprise, Hinata got up and followed him. She muttered, "Bye Kurenai-sensei," and was off to follow Naruto.

When they were out of ear shot of the rest of their team, Naruto turned around. "What's up Hinata?" Hinata froze in her tracks and she started stuttering again. "W-well, I was just um…I wanted to ask you something." Naruto smiled and said, "What is it Hinata?"

Hinata blushed deeply and said, "Um…never mind." Naruto looked slightly saddened and said, "Oh, ok. You know Hinata you don't have to be nervous around me. We are teammates and friends so you can talk to me whenever you want." Hinata nodded. "Sorry to bother you." Naruto shook his head and smiled. "You're not bothering me Hinata. I'll walk you home if you want." Hinata blushed and ran over to take his hand.

Uchiha Hideout

Naruto crept down into the hideout to make sure he didn't disturb Itachi in case he was sleeping. When he reached the bottom, he was surprised to see that Itachi was throwing kunai around in an almost playful way. "I'm back Itachi-sensei." Itachi looked over at Naruto and grinned. "So you are, do you like your teammates?"

Naruto nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm teamed up with Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuuga. My other sensei is called Kurenai." Itachi walked over and sat in his chair. "Aburame and Hyuuga hmm? That is an interesting combination. How was your training?" Naruto sighed and said, "It was exhausting. We all fought Kurenai-sensei at the same time and she still beat us. By the way, Sasuke doesn't like me very much. I fought him on the way to training."

This caught Itachi's attention. "Really now? I hope you didn't start the fight." Naruto shook his head. "Well I didn't start it but I definitely finished it." Itachi grinned and asked, "So you are stronger than Sasuke?" Naruto smiled and replied, "Yep!" Itachi closed his eyes. "Naruto, now that you have a team I am going to train you harder. Your days will be spent training with your team and at night you will train with me. Do you think you can handle it?"

Naruto thought about it for a minute. "What kind of training are we going to do?" Itachi looked at him and said, "You will see." Based on that answer, Naruto knew he had no choice. "Alright, I'll do my best Itachi-sensei." Itachi stood up and wandered off to his room. "Well then, you should get some rest. We start tomorrow." Naruto did as he was told and went to his room.

Uchiha Hideout (after training)

As soon as Naruto got back from training with his team, Itachi made him a pleasant dinner. "You are going to need your strength for your training." Naruto nodded in agreement and happily ate what Itachi served him. Sushi wasn't his favorite, but it is a very powerful appetite suppressor.

After Naruto was finished eating, Itachi walked over to a door that Naruto had never seen him use. It was the only door in the hideout that had a lock on it. Itachi opened it and motioned for Naruto to follow him. Naruto did and his eyes widened at the sight of the interior.

The entire room was covered in ninja tools and weapons. From normal kunai to windmill shuriken to ten-foot battle axes. Naruto gazed in awe at each wall. To his left was a wall covered with huge weaponry. It held enormous pole arms topped with spiked balls or axe heads and even spears. The wall to his right was adorned with medium sized weapons. It held katanas, scimitars, longswords, tonfas, bladed tonfas and a couple short staffs.

The far wall was mostly ninja tools. Hundreds and hundreds of multi-colored smoke bombs and paper bombs were organized according to size. Along with those were empty transportation scrolls ranging from extra small which was about half a foot across to outrageous proportions like thirty feet across. Itachi grinned and motioned for Naruto to look up. Naruto did and his mouth opened further as he saw thousands of kunai and shuriken hanging from the ceiling.

"This is what training we are starting," said Itachi. Naruto was still stunned by the amount of weapons in the room. The room itself was a scarlet color on every wall including the floor and ceiling. It was at least 30x30 and 20 feet high. "How am I supposed to pick a weapon Itachi-sensei? There are so many to choose from."

Itachi just laughed. "Practice with every one of them. Just make your decision by tomorrow." Naruto couldn't believe it. "By tomorrow? Are you sure that is enough time to choose?" Itachi turned around to face Naruto. "That's up to you, the weapon chooses you." Naruto looked confused as Itachi walked past him through the door. "Oh yeah, here's the key," Itachi said as he tossed the key behind him.

Uchiha Hideout (next morning)

Itachi woke up early in the morning to the sound of steel against steel. He got up and walked into the main hall to see Naruto fighting one of his clones. Naruto was using a 6 foot reaper's scythe while his clone was wielding two katanas. Itachi spectator the battle and watched as the original Naruto finished off the clone with a sweep of his scythe to the clone's back.

"Impressive Naruto," said Itachi. Naruto smirked as he held the scythe upright with it touching the ground. "Itachi-sensei, none of these weapons seem to be working for me. I mean, I can use them all pretty well, but none of them feel like it's MY weapon." Itachi sighed and walked over to Naruto.

"What you're missing Naruto, is that you are not looking for a unique weapon. You are just trying them out at random. Look in that room and find a weapon that looks unique. The best weapons to use in combat are the ones that no one knows how to use, or counter for that fact." Itachi smirked as he immediately thought of a weapon he had once used.

Naruto walked back into the room and looked around. *A weapon that no one knows how to counter?* Naruto looked to his right and saw the perfect weapons. He picked them up and walked out of the room. Itachi looked in amazement as he saw the peculiar weapons that Naruto had chosen.

In Naruto's right hand was a sun-yellow blade that was about four feet long. It had razor sharp teeth carved into it and it looked like it was part saw and part sword. The teeth themselves were about two inches long and two and a half inches wide. They looked like shark teeth but were slightly slanted downward toward the handle of the blade.

Itachi however, was more curious about the weapon it Naruto's left hand. It looked like a giant fish hook. It was also about four feet long from the handle to the curve of the hook and the blade continued downward from the curve for another six inches. Right where the curve started was a thin spike which protruded from the blade straight out and that was about four inches long.

"Well, I did say to find weapons that are unique. I just didn't think that they would be THAT unique." Itachi commented. Naruto looked at his weapons with enthusiasm. "Alright! Itachi-sensei, can I try these on you?" Itachi was taken aback and said, "Um, sure I guess. But don't count on me to sit here and do nothing while you bash me with sharp objects."

Naruto laughed and charged at Itachi. He already knew how he was going to use the weapons. Itachi prepared himself as Naruto swung the sawblade horizontally at his chest. Itachi jumped straight up just as Naruto had predicted. Naruto took this chance to catch Itachi off guard and used his hook to grab Itachi's shin guard. He pulled Itachi down onto his sawblade and cut Itachi's leg. Itachi however, disappeared in a puff of smoke revealing a log in his place.

Itachi appeared behind Naruto and clapped three times. "Very good Naruto. You seem to already know how to use those effectively enough to land a hit on me." Itachi pulled a huge five-foot katana from a scroll he had summoned. "Now let's see how you fare against a longer weapon." Itachi vanished and appeared behind Naruto.

Naruto saw him just in time to duck under his slash and he spun his foot on the ground in an attempt to sweep Itachi. Itachi quickly blocked Naruto's foot with his blade and tried to cut Naruto's leg. Naruto however pushed down on his hands and grabbed Itachi's blade with his hook while in a handstand. "That's impressive," said Itachi.

Itachi jumped back and sheathed his blade. "That's enough for now." Naruto stood normally and held his weapons at his side. "Itachi-sensei, how will I carry these around?" Itachi thought for a minute. "For now you should seal them in a scroll. You're not yet good enough with them to use them as your main weapon."

Itachi walked over and sat in his obsidian chair. "Naruto, I have something that you might like to hear." Naruto raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "What is it Itachi-sensei?" Itachi hesitated for a moment and finally said, "How would you like to come on a mission with me?" Naruto immediately got excited and said, "Really Itachi-sensei? I can come on a mission with you?"

Itachi nodded his head. "It's not a hazardous enough mission that I need your help. But you could use the experience. And I also think that this will put you ahead of your teammates, and maybe even impress a certain girl you like." Itachi smirked as he said the last part which made Naruto blush and turn his head to the side.

Itachi laughed. "Yes I knew you like someone. I can tell by your mood. So who is it?" Naruto thought for a minute, *Do I like her? Does she like me or was I just imagining it?* Itachi grew slightly impatient. "Well?" Naruto spoke up and said, "It's uh, Hinata Hyuuga." Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Hyuuga hmm? Does she like you?"

"I think she does but I can't tell for sure," Naruto admitted. "Well then," said Itachi, "I guess we should get going. You want to get stronger for her don't you?" Naruto looked up at Itachi. "Of course." Itachi turned around and started walking towards the exit of the hideout. "Then follow me."

Naruto walked towards Itachi but then remembered something. He turned around and ran over to a door. He opened it with the key and went inside. When he came out, he had a scroll attached to each thigh. "Alright, I'm ready," said Naruto as he ran to Itachi's side.

Thanks for reading. I know what you're thinking and yes they are weird weapons to give Naruto. But as you read more chapters you will see why I chose this unique combination for him. Please vote in the pole, it is on my profile page. The preliminary rounds are only three chapters away. Don't forget to read "Fate's Repayment" made by my brother SearingHalo.