Been a while since I updated, sorry this chapter took so long for me to release, Ive been busy.

Review if you like please.

Xxxxx-xxx-xxxxx

Hyuuga Hinata whimpered in pain. Her hand aching as her father's grip tightened around her wrist. Her face was twisted into a visage to torment. Tears trickled down her eyes.

"Tou-san, you're hurting me."

Her father remained stoic. His face impassive, unchanging. No compassion was held in those eyes, no sorrow, nor forgiveness. There wasn't anger, or hatred, rage or disappointment. Those eye…those eyes just were. They existed in a state she quite couldn't understand.

"Tou-san…." She whimpered out.

His grip tightened in response. His eyes suddenly gaining a look of fierce determination.

"Remember this Hinata. This pain," his grip tightened even harder, and she crumpled into herself. "This pain, the pain your feeling right now is nothing to what you will face when you become a Kunochi. This pain is trivial. Out there…"

His face took on a faraway look, as if he was remembering a time far gone.

"Out there you will face horror's I can't speak to you off. Out there you will be killing, fighting, murdering, for the village. Out there you'll lose your childhood, you'll lose your friends, and if you're not careful your life."

With a flourish he let her arm go. Slowly the pain in her writs ebbed away, and now her attention was focused solely on her father.

"Tell me Hinata, are you stronger than me?"

Hinata hesitated, pausing for just the slightest instance of a second before answering her father. "No Tou-san."

"Are you faster, smarter, better skilled? Do you have more experience? Have you shed more blood?"

"No Tou-san."

"Were you to face me in battle right now, would you win?" Haishi's face was stern. His voice once flat and plain was a sharpened knife, his eyes twin pools of cream that stabbed into her. Splitting through Hinata's body and piercing her soul.

"No."

"Good." He smiled at her. "You realize you would not win. You're young Hinata-chan, tiny and frail." Once more his face switched to a frown. Never before had Hinata seen such a wide range of emotions on her father's face. "In a fight with most of the ninja you'll meet you'll be out matched. They will be smarter than you, faster than you, stronger than you, older and more experienced. I won't be teaching you how to fight them Hinata, you're years from ready."

He crouched down to stare her in the eyes. His face directly in front of hers'. His eyes capturing her complete attention.

"I will be teaching you how to survive. How to face opponents who will out class you, and come out if nor intact at least alive. Do you understand?"

"Hai Tou-san. I understand."

"Good, let's begin."

He lashed out, and his palm slammed into her abdomen. "The first thing we will learn is defense." She found herself rolled into a ball. "You can't take a direct hit."

"Direct hit's mean death for one as small as you Hinata. You can't block, you're not strong enough, you can't dodge, because eve if you can see the attack coming your far too slow. To get around this, I will teach you how to flow with your enemies attack." He helped her stand. "The first step is to track my attack."

"Hai Tou-san."

"Are you're ready?"

"Hai…"

"Then let's try once more."

xxxx-xxx-xxxx

A wise man had once said every army needs to be bred, fed, and led.

Bred, you needed soldiers on the battlefield. Warm bodies placing their feet on the ground. Strong men and woman willing to lay their life on the line. Brave souls willing to do dirty deeds knowing their only reward would be a slap on the back and a nod of recognition. Konoha was sadly lacking in this. A devastating ten-year long war, a wavering two year peace period, and a vicious attack by a Bijju that had devastated their forces.

Fed, this didn't necessarily food exclusively. In general it cover supplies. Sandles for the shinobi, food for the shinobi. Perhaps more importantly steel for the shinobi. Cold hard steel that wouldn't fail where a Jutsu would. Food pills, and posions. Ninja wire and smoke bombs. His troops needed supplies and while Konoha had them in store, stores were finite, and war could eat through supplies at an incredible rate.

Led, you needed heroes. Someone strong minded, fast thinking, quick acting. Someone the men could look at with pride in their eye and say "That monster, that monsters on my side."

"That monster's killing for my ideals. My beliefs. He's murding those fucking bastards, giving them two fold for everything I, and mine recvied." Leaders boosted moral, leaders kept troop inline, leaders allowed a mother to look at her sun and think, He might come back.

You needed leaders.

Too bad they couldn't grow them on trees. Leaders had to rise to the action. Konoha desperately needed leaders.

All this filtered through Sabutori Hiruzens head as the early morning soon shone into his room. As his pipe let out a thick stream of sweetly scented smoke he let his had wonder to an intercom.

"Please let Danzou-san know I'm ready to meet with him."

"Of course Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen's eyes trailed to the door, as they slowly creped open. A man walked in, his step limped and forced. His body covered in wide expanse of bandages.

"Danzo…"

"Hiruzen…"

"It is good to see you, old friend."

"I wish I could say the same of you Hiruzen. Time," he laughed a quick harty laugh, " has been no where near as kind to me, as it has been to you. And I can't help but to feel that it has been more than a tad bit unfair with one such as myself."

Hiruzen allowed his own laugh to echo through out the room.

"Time is quite kind to your face my friend even if its not grace has not extended to your body. I wish I could say the same with either my face or my body."

An uncomfortable silence fell upon the two men. A stifling quite, a type of noiseless noise that fell upon those who were once friends but had long since had a fallen out, and just now, after many years, chose to consolidate their problems.

"So what have do you need for me Hiruzen?"

"The tree is in desperate need of its roots. It is nutrient are scarce, its seeds even scarcer, and in no way ready for the world. The leaves, which provide guidance, are not ready."

Silence fell over the two as both men absorbed the information.

"Tell me Danzou, what can the roots do?"

"What do you wish for the roots to do? Even the roots of the great tree are withering beneath the heat. But it shall accomplish what it can. If it has to steal the nutrients from the surrounding soil, if its seeds are not it's own; If its roots must ensnare the soil and poison the water of those around it…then so it shall be. The tree will not fall, it will not falter. It shall face the gale, and howl against it. Ask and the roots shall provide."

"The rice Diaymo, in the last war Konoha defended rice. Our men died to hold Iwa, and Kumo from storming the grain fields, from overrunning their defenseless strong hold and takeing the country as theirs. Yet…yet now, now when the time comes for Konoha's lost lives to be remembered. Now when we ask a favor of the ally we defended so strongly. Now when we have need of her, like she once had need of us, she refuses. She refutes our claims, ignores our calls for aid."

"Quite troubling."

"More than troubling Danzou; treacherous. We need Rice Country, its grain fields will provided food for our armies, and secure us an absolute way to feed not only Konoha, but also her troops in times of dire need. I believe Rice is in need of a regime change. Perhaps new blood will remind Rice of its commitments to us."

"You want me to orchestrate his?"

Danzou couldn't help but to smile at the revelation.

"No, I already have it orchestrated, I need it enacted. I need this to happen without a hitch, I don't want to slightest falter, the smallest misstep. Most of all if this fails, I don't want this being traced back to us."

Hiruzen pulled a scroll from a drawer. "There is a merchant heading to Rice in a few days time. He is well aquatinted with Rice's Diaymo, a childhood friend I believe. I want your root to infiltrate his guard. Assassinate the Daiymo, ensure it is an accident; his brother, he has no heirs and his brother is next in line for the throne. Needless to say his brother will be far more…amiable in his attitudes towards the village hidden in the leaves. The merchants guard is well armed, take care when disposing of one of its members."

"You expect to do this in….?"

"Jairiaya estimates a three year period before things start to go to hell, I want this mission finished in the next few months. That'll allow Konoha more than sufficient time to re-bluster her food stores."

"Your not giving me much time to work with Hiruzen….but I can see the severity of the situation, and it's not like the task is beyond the physical scope of your men. I can make this work, I'll need support though."

"What do you need?"

"Not much, I'll need money, my own coffers are shallow, and wouldn't allow me to pull the proper strings to turn the tides against the Daimyo and towards that of his brother."

"How much?"

"Half a million."

"Half a million? Half a million? Danzou, that's five S-ranks. The village is on hard times as it is…no." The old kage suddenly called out, his face taking on a look of concentration. I'll provide the funds privately. The village can't take that burden right now. I'll pay privately, consider it done."

"And after the war?"

"If we still stand in good grace…then, perhaps it will be time for rice to fall into the good hands of the land of fire. After all, a country that falls into civil war as easily as rice, one with a family that battles constantly over the throne, and sends its people into war. Well…" Hiruzen let the words trail out his mouth.

"It's the only humane thing to do." Replied Danzou. "I'm glad to see you haven't gone soft in the past few years. It's good to know that the man whom led us through the crisis of Oujou valley hasn't gone soft through the years."

"I may be kinder than I used to be in my youth, but that doesn't mean I've gone soft from age. Far from it."

With that the meeting was over. As Danzou left, once more Hiruzne's hands roamed beneath his desk. His calloused fingers pressed gently onto the intercom.

xxx-xx-xxx

Blue eyes stared rapidly as their owner observed; blond hair swayed lazily in the dry hot heat of the Konoha summer. The wind carried the scent of blood and death.

He'd never seen a body before.

Never seen the rotting decaying corpse of another person; smelt the stench of death and blood as it dribbled from the corpse mouth. The scene was grisly, the main laid face down, his face a blotched, splotchy purple, his mouth agape in a silent scream of pain. Yet despite this despite his face was somehow peaceful.

It was beautiful, death.

A strange thought he realized, for his first view of death. He stepped forward, and with his step came a better view of the corpse. Thick bruises marked its neck; his face was a thick deep purple hue. His eyes were wide, and one of them was a bloody red. Perhaps, most importantly was his clothing, or, rather what of it that was left.

The man seemed to have been stripped of most of his clothing when he had been killed, yet what remained indicated great amounts of wealth. Heavily armoed undergarments adorned the man. His undershirt was a thick mesh made of thin and finely wove chain links so spaced it was evident a work of human craftsmanship and not simple machine work. He dashed forward quickly, a thought suddenly striking him.

If he was lucky…

He was barely at the corpse before his small hands started roaming. Roving over the dead body, searching clothing and crevasses in a search for treasure. Suddenly his face morphed into a smile. A wide, broad, and white-toothed grin that lit on his mouth. He'd found it. Exactly what he had expected.

Cash.

Ten thousand in cold hard ryuu. Bound in a tight roll, strapped loosely to the man's body. He let out a low whistle, followed by a slight giggle.

"God damn Gaki, you'd think a dead man would deserve some respect."

Naruto whirled around at the voice. Blue eyes snapping to the other figure that now dominated the small alleyway. The main was a gaint, easily the biggest aldult Naruto had ever seen. His white, spiked hair flowed down to his back. Brown-black eyes observed him with a scowl adorned on their owner's face.

"Hey, you're the old man that was talking with the old man."

The man grit his teeth in annoyance, "I'm not old! I'm in the troughs of my youth, why, women adore me! Men bow before my might, and shake in jealous want. I am-"

"You're an old man."

"And you're a disrespectful brat that apparently robs the dead."

Naruto cast a confrontational look towards the old ninja, his face in anger as he took a mentally defensive stance. "He's dead, he doesn't need it anymore."

Jariaiya bulked at the words. His face morphing into a look of distaste. "That's besides the point brat! There's something wrong with robbing a man blind after he can't get back at you for doing it!"

The boy's face took on a look of trepid confusion. 'But…he's dead. He ont' need it anymore."

Jairaya stopped as he looked at the boy. His frown deepening as he thought. The boy truly seemed incapable of understanding what he had done wrong. He let out a long-winded sigh, realizing a lost battle when he saw one.

"Fine, whatever Gaki, look the old man told me to find you. He wants the three of us to have a chat."

"The old man wants to talk with me? Is it about the money...cause it's mine. I found it, and he doesn't need it." The boy pouted, the sanin pickedh im up, held him under his arm, and carried him towards the Hokage tower. The boy laughed as the man leapt from rooftop to rooftop.

"Faster!" The boy cried.

The sanin let out a heart laugh and obliged. Picking up his pace at the young one's command. When he finally arrived, the boy was a gaggle of childish giggles.

"Tha' was awesome!" He happily yelled out. "Again!"

The sandiame let out a quite laugh at both off their expenses. "It would seem that Naruto-kun has taken quite the liking to you Jairaya."

"I wish I could say the same about the Gaki. The brat has a mouth on him that makes him hard to take a liking to."

The elderly Kage let out another laugh.

"Jii-san. Why'd you call us here?"

"I called you here Naruto-kun because I wanted to speak to both you and my dearest student here." The Hokage chuckled at the last part. "Things, Naruto-kun, are about to become very hard for Konoha very soon. During this upcoming time of difficulties I will be incapable of protecting you, or, providing protection to you. Nay, providing you protection would prove detrimental to the whole considering the dire straits that we are in right now."

"Why would I need protection Jii-san?"

"I can't explain that to you at this time Naruto-kun. But do know when the time comes either I or Jairaya-kun will explain to you why you need protection, why you're special. But do know you are, that you do need protection, and that when the time comes Konoha will be unable to provide it. But fret not, that's where Jairaya-kun comes into the picture.'

Blue eyes turned to the toad sage. The mid-evening sun, preening past the windwos, glistening against the white hair of the old man. The man looked down, brown eyes staring into powerfully back into blue. Naruto couldn't help but to smile at the man, there was something in those eyes.

"jairaya-kun is a skilled Ninja, one of the strongest in the world. In my current condition he just might be able to beat me," Jairaya didn't know how to feel about the hybrid insult and praise. "If I were blind, death, and dumb, while also stricken with the daises of age."

Jairaya deflated at the jest.

"He will be training you, I want you to heed his words Naruto-kun. The man that trained our dear Yondiame, despite his flaws, is still one who's words you should take to heart. We may not be able to protect you Naruto-kun, but we will be able to train you to protect yourself. You'll be traveling with him as he's far too busy to stay in Konoha…is that fine with you?"

"So I'm going on an adventure?"

Hiruzen smiled at the young blond. With such childlike enthusiasm, it was hard to imagine the mental imbalances that were currently festering and growing in the boy's mind.

"Yes, you could say that you're going on an adventure."

xxx-xxx-xxxx

A palm lashed out and small body fell harshly to the floor. She let out a pined cry at her abrupt meeting with the floor. She felt tears watering in her eyes, and caught a whimper in her throat. Just as suddenly her father's firm hands were helping her to stand, and his normally hard eyes were carefully watching her. Again another sob nearly escaped her lips.

"I do this not do this because I enjoy to see you in pain musume*. I do this because I have no wish to receive a black bordered scroll announcing your death. Pain…dear daughter is the greatest of teachers."

His hands ran through her hair. "Your form was still far too loose, you stance not balanced. And despite telling you to only defend, to move and avoid me blows you still attacked."

He let her face free. Her small eyes looking to the man in a newfound light. "You must learn to defend, to avoid direct blows, before you think of attacking. So…let's being anew?"

"Hai Tou-san!" She watched as her father smiled at her enthusiasm, and a small burt of pride struck in her heart. Her mother's words drifted into her mind once more. "Be strong for me Hinata."

"Once more, attempt to avoid my blows, and just that."

Her father attacked, and she drew back, his blows coming in slow enough for her to see and attempt to avoid them. His first strike was aimed at her abdomen, and she rolled around it…only for another to be aimed at her head. She ducked, pulling tight onto herself like she'd been tought, and diving forward. She twisted on her heels and landed behind her father.

"Good, very good. You're getting better." She'd never received praise from her father before, it warmed her heart.

"But don't get too cocky," and he was before her, another strike flashing towards her body. It landed and she fell on her behind. The door to the training room slid open.

"Haishi-sama, the elders wish to speak with you."

Hiashi struck another strike at Hinata. The girl rolled beneath the strike, sliding past the blow, and swiveling around him.

"Very good Hinata, very good. Practice you Kata. We'll continue this when I return."

"Hai, Tou-san."

Hiashi left the training dojo, and strolled slowly through the alleyways of the clan compound. His eyes watching the smooth, unblemished cream walls. Observing the carefully planted flowers, the multitude of low, multi-room homes, the slow tenured stroll of his clan members and returning their respectful bows.

After a few moments he approached the Hyuuga gathering hall. A place where communal dinner was held on special occasions, and where the meeting of the elders was held in a far more secure part of the village.

"Dearest Elders." Haishi called as he entered the clan building. "May I request to the reason for my summons?"

"Yes." An elder spoke. He was a withered old man, well into his ninth decade, and had witnessed more combat than Haishi had been alive. His voice came out in slow withered drawl, carefully chosen, and timed. Despite its soft tone, it carried power and might. By far the oldest Hyuuga alive, the eldest elder was knowledgeable, wise, and patient man.

"Haishi, something is going on."

"Highest elder I assure you…"

"Assure me nothing Haishi." The old man frowned. His wrinkled face morphing into a true look of dictate. "Something is coming, the Nara are on edge, and if the Nara are on edge something is going on. The Akimachi, and Yamanaka are no doubt already aware of what's to come. They too, prepare. Yet the Hyuuga languish, we stand still and unprepared while he the other clans move on ahead of us. What's going on Haishi?"

Haishi sighed, his face taking a look of intrepid defeat. His frown deepening, no doubt, this meeting would be long and arduous event.

"War, looms on the horizon."

"War…" The old man sighed. "War, we need to prepare. Hiashi, first-"

Haishi sighed once more. Taking a seat as the old man started one of his overtly complex drawls. The eldest elder was a wise man, but still he spoke far too slowly, and far too much.

xxx-xx-xx-xxx

This chapter is finished. I managed to start the development of some of the major ideas in this story. For instance, Haishi training Hinata, Hiashi's life, the sandiame's intrigue, and of course Naurto's development.

While this chapter doesn't focus too much on Naurot that's because, in a few chapters it'll be only Naruto and Jairaya, with a couple glimpses of Hinatas development, at the same time well be seeing developments throughout the rest of elemental nations.

Next chapter will have more of Haishi's backstory, and Naruto and Jairya will star on their journey while the sandiame continues his scheming. Please don't nag me about any spelling mistakes in my authors notes, these are quickly written a few moments before I release a chapter and are not spell/error checked since their not too a part of the story.

Review please.