FSDYT Notes:

Hello my awesome following of readers. It has been brought to my attention that this story is awesome. But also a bit overwhelming. In terms of plot and structure. Ha ha ha! I assure you all things will make sense if you continue down the path of reading. Remember a journey starts by putting one foot before the other.

And like a journey this story is still going places, so please read on and enjoy. I know you will.

JAN 14TH| 1056 YOS, YEAR OF THE SHINOBI | FIRE COUNTRY | VILLAGE HIDDEN AMONGST THE LEAVES

"Hiruzen!" cried the only kunoichi present "The boy is troublesome! He lacks discipline and has no form of restraint!

A lack-luster roll of his eyes was all he could give his long time fellow comrade and even more personal team-mate. She had been by his side through good and very dark times. Which was also why she had continuously been his adviser for so long.

Although to his aged but still sharp memory he never remembered her being as irritable as she had become in the last twelve or so years.

Indifferently inhaling a aromatic puff of fine tobacco from his last reprieve of solace, his pipe. Hiruzen expected the next statement as he saw his other team-mate put his tea cup down to speak.

'Ah this will be good. He will unanimously agree with Koharu but in so many words... what a way to spoil a tea gathering' thought the Third Hokage

Causing a dignified clink of fine porcelain to occur as he placed his cup down. Homura clearing his throat with a small guttural sound made sure all attention was upon him before he began to speak.

All had expected as much as the man had ways of making sure his every word was heard if not waited upon.

"Hiruzen the boys upbringing has left gaps upon his ability to converse well with others. His ideals of gaining attention through mockery and disruption is of a child's logic. He needs to be tamed and shown that such behavior is unfitting an will not be tolerated. I suggest we put him in to a special training regiment as soon as possible, this can no longer be held off"

Koharu curtly nodded agreeing completely with the assessment.

The Hokage on the other hand kept a unreadable but bland face. The pipe in his lips slacking just a bit as he watched the man go back to refreshing his glass of tea. 'De-javu' was the mans only thought.

Alas the aging leader perked up just slightly as the fourth man in the room and quite literally usually the broker of peace made his thoughts known.

"C'mon guys!" chided the man gaining two looks of varying degrees of dissatisfaction at his impromptu entrance in to the debate. As usual the man ignored his more rigid colleagues and spoke to the Hokage directly.

"Hokage-sama" regarded the man respectfully ignoring the addressed man's distaste at being addressed so formally at such a informal event. Never the less he carried on unimpeded "Naruto is a child. To think he is going to behave as anything other than a immature, and rambunctious kid is like wishing Kami would come down and give us all cinnamon cookies."

Hiruzen smirked beside himself at his third advisers always brash but unintentionally funny remarks. They always lightened the mood. For him at least. His view of his other two former team-mates told him that they still after all these years did not like the man. Nor cared too much for his blunt ways.

The man continued ignoring every look but from the interested Hokage "Is today not his graduation day. A day in which a fledgling ninja proves themselves. Though he may have small quirks, as do we all. We can not disqualify him in life for something we ourselves had a very much direct control over"

Interjecting quickly Koharu denounced "He is a jinchuriki. His life has been good in this village thanks to our interventions. And we in turn have kept him safe. I dare not know of one village that can say that of their own jinchuriki"

"Correct!" surmised Homura backing his old friend

The man was not swayed as he for the first time since the tea meeting began stared directly at his co-advisers and asked "Then why not allow your interventions to come to light in young Naruto? Let him on this day of trials prove that the choices we have made thus far were in fact in everyone's mutual interest"

The question remained unanswered as Koharu and Homura synchronized picked up their cups and took long silent sips.

Hiruzen smiled brightly at the mans words. He had countered as so many times before his other two counselors machinations. The pair for a while now had been quite lofty on changing the direction of things if there was any a hint of disaster in the near future. It was as if they had lost stomachs to simply ride out any wave of chaos to its finish.

Such a cautious mind-set may have led them victoriously through the battlefield and help uphold the Leaf to what it is. Alas Hiruzen knew such pre-set agendas upon people would not work out too well.

For humans could change at the drop of a hat. Unexpectedly more then not.

As Hokage and survivor of three shinobi world wars he knew that completely.

"I agree with Kosuke. Naruto must have the chance to prove himself. Any other actions then that would show a lack of trust we have inside of our ninja. Or rather ninja to be"

Homura and Koharu in perfect sync gave one look to the Hokage before placing their cups down then rising from their comfy couched seats. Dignified as ever they gave a bow then left the room side by side.

"Those two sure have been getting real. . . robotic lately" remarked Kosuke lighting his very own pipe to the approval of the Sandaime.

Sarutobi savored one last puff as he looked to his old team-mates exit. To him it was sad how they had began or rather been behaving for quite sometime. It was if he could not put his finger on it but their behaviors were odd.

"I know that look. Professor" chuckled Kosuke gaining all of the old Hokages attention

"Huh?" was the village leaders rebuttal

"So you finally see that those two have in fact changed. Now my words rang clear as a bell in your old head my friend! Yet I have been saying it for years they have been getting more different by the day!"

"Off what basis do you make these accusations" questioned Sarutobi sagely engaging in to his thirsty for knowledge persona.

Kosuke became very serious as he leaned towards the Hokage. Tilting his ash out of the pipe unto a platter while keeping eye contact with the older man.

The mood in the room quickly became somber.

"Do you remember on that fateful day-

"Me sensei! Hokage!?" muttered Hiruzen almost silently but every ninja ear gathered heard quite clearly.

Everyone gathered was surprised and in awe at such a announcement that threat of death upon them all had kept them from breaking out in to joyous celebration.

Rising from his squatted position on the ground to his full height the Nidaime turned his back upon his squad "This war is over you all. These small sparks trying to alight in to a bigger hell fire shall not succeed. The ones who survive unto this future will be those who broker the peace. I may not make it but you young one will"

Hiruzen went to reply to his dear beloved sensei but the man was gone in a instant. No trace of him was left. It was as if he was a phantom. One moment he was there. Next he was home.

Taking on his new responsibility with everything he had. He looked around at the survivors and ones his sensei had directly sacrificed his life for but knew they stood for a bigger picture.

Standing up he moved to the middle of the medium sized squad. Already had he formulated a plan with his quick thinking.

"We rendezvous with the main battalion close to the border. This mission is a fail if we don't make it home!" the young Sarutobi commanded trying to raise morale. If even by a inkling.

Expectantly Hiruzen called "Danzo I need you at point with me to-"

Interrupting with a almost silent quiver in her voice Koharu spoke "Hiruzen he left. . . said he would help the Nidaime"

The young Sarutobis' head snapped to his team-mates direction and he walked swiftly up to her. His eyes burning with disbelief and confusion. "When?! He was just here!"

Homura seeing his friends shock informed "We cant go back for him. So he is with the Nidaime now. Hiruzen don't we have to move already?"

Reminded of his command Hiruzen instantly pulled himself from the brief shock. An began to give orders once again. Worried completely about the survival of the whole rather then the missing few.

Kosuke to the right of Koharu couldn't help but look at the young kunochi. She was attractive no doubt. Any man could see her as such but it was not the reason he layed eyes on her.

No the reason his gazed lingered on her then Homura's for but a moment or two was because simply he had witnessed they do something that missed the attention of all the other high ranking ninja other then himself who was stunned at the Nidaimes choice.

He had seen it. Between all three of them.

"Kosuke you cant be serious. . ." quivered Hiruzen taken aback as if struck in his chair

The counselor leaned back in his comfy seat. One apart from the long couch his colleagues had sat in. Sighing at first the man then shrugged as if confused by his very own news he had told.

"Hiruzen it was never something to tell. They did what they did for what they believed in. It was not bad what they did for all parties agreed to it. Its just well I guess it was time to express to you. . . how far those two will go. Have gone. An may go again"

Sagely the Sandaime analyzed "Is this why you finally share this with me? Are you saying they are a threat? to young Naruto"

"I never wanted to usurp them or damage their credibility Lord Hiruzen I simply wanted you to know why I strive just as hard as they do to improve this village. The reason is. . . while those two value sacrifice as the highest thing a ninja can do. I myself know it is love for ones village that can propel a shinobi past any hardship"

Sarutobi nodded regarding the words as mementos he had heard before. So very long ago.

"I understand Kosuke and i will keep my eyes open"

"Please do Hiruzen. This is a dangerous world we live in. . . I would dare say it is even more lethal then it was say sixty years ago. In one ways or another. I just worry when people take things onto their own backs and try to solve problems as if they could not ask for help. Or believe they have no other choice. It ails me."

Hiruzen nodded but then as a after thought raised a single finger in silent protest "Although I will say it may be quite more disconcerting. It has gotten better too. Especially with young leafs ready to sprout in to new trees. . . Makes a old oak like me happy"

The counselor smiled knowing exactly what the aged leader spoke of. A wandering glance gave him the view of the ever present Hokage Mountain. An its three giant heads carved with the likeness of its pass two Hokage and still serving third Hokage.

"I do believe it is coming to that time" said the Hokage catching Kosuke's wandering stare.

Kosuke unsurprised gave a warm smile then took a pull from his pipe. "My you sure have been swept away by the winds of change today!"

"They blow upon us all once in a while" was the sage like reply

I had gotten them one more time! Of course me a master prankster! Unrivaled in the art and master of a thousand no! ONE MILLION PRANKS! I Naruto Uzumaki future Hokage of the leaf village. Had pulled the greatest of my greatest pranks.

It didn't matter that now I was cleaning it up or had been caught. No the only thing that mattered was that I had sealed my legacy as the greatest-

"Scrub harder! Naruto! Uzumaki!" yelled a very annoyed male

A tongue sticking out in defiance was the mans response. And it angered him to no end as his eye twitched in utter annoyance. Yet he could do nothing more as he had caught the boy and promptly set him to work cleaning up his mockery. However by the boys attitude the punishment did not seem fit enough.

Sighing angrily while rubbing his forehead absently in irritation Iruka thought of some way to try to relate to Naruto that his actions were intolerable and quite disruptive. He was a menace of sorts.

Not deadly or frighteningly just simply. Irritatingly traumatizing.

"Naruto" Iruka muttered softly "Why did you do this?"

I did not take my eyes from the stupid sponge that made those squeaky noises every time I rubbed it against the chin of the first Hokage. I knew Iruka's tone of voice and it bothered me. Sounding all disappointed and quite frankly tired of me.

He didn't show it but I could tell. He too did not like me much. Then again there was only a few people that did. An they usually showed their dislike with a quick glare or the passive aggressive stance it seemed almost a majority of the village had adopted against me. Iruka was a in-betweener with his stern ways but somehow fair approach.

For whatever reasons they disliked me I knew it couldn't warrant their life long vendetta it seemed the more extreme of them had swore against me.

It didn't matter though for I knew one day I could change all of them. One day, I could become so strong I would be declared the best and named Hokage! then all would have to sing praises of me. No longer would I get anything but joyous hurrays in my honor.

Knowing I had ignored Iruka-sensei long enough by the angry twitching of his eye-brow I replied "So they will be ready!"

"Ready for what?" the chunnin asked curious

Naruto smirked "For my greatness as a ninja! If they see I can do this then they will know the sky is the limit for me! A future Hokage has to be clever, and who is more clever then I am? None! that is who so I prove my greatness by doing this then I get picked for a super mission and-"

Iruka annoyed by the surmounting evidence that his student had no complete knowledge on how the workings of a ninja village, ninja, and logic itself worked. Became disappointed at himself as a educator of minds. He immediately stopped the miss-informed rantings of the child.

"Naruto that is not how it works-" the male began but was interrupted

Immediately the blonde had taken notice of the yellow blur that appeared from thin air. Catching a glimpse of the materializing being. Somehow his eyes were quicker then that of his sensei. Or rather his senses more keen.

"Iruka-san please don't entertain his ramblings. That too is a prank of his to make it seem as if he is dumber then what he really is. He is only pulling one over on you. A mental prank one might say. I'm sorry for his behavior. His mother... encouraged this once and now its gotten out of hand. I'll be taking my son now"

Regaining his shock at the arrival of the famous figure who as his name sake had proclaimed appeared out of nowhere. He had only a instant to nod his head at the mans request before he and his son disappeared in yellow blurs.

Sighing at the handful of trouble he knew the renown jounin would have to be sorting out right about now Iruka shook his head at the misfortune. He made to walk away from the mess of the Hokage's mountain but quickly remembered it needed cleaning.

A angry growl escaped his throat. "Who the hell is going to clean this now?!"