Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Avatar: The Last Airbender nor am I doing this for profitable gain, all rights respectively go to their creators.

ITALICS – thinking

BOLD – jutsu/demon speak

Arc One: Blind But I Can See

Chapter One

Days had quickly turned into weeks, which then turned into months ever since Konoha was attacked. The village mourned for those killed in the attack, the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi hurting the most. However, they also held hope for their Yondaime's son whom has been in a coma ever since; a total of three months. Tsunade had assured everyone that Naruto was simply adjusting to the influx of chakra in his system, but Minato and Kushina had an intuition that there was something else involved. For their sakes, they hoped that Shukaku hadn't taken ahold of Naruto's mind and turned him into a psychopathic killer much like stories of the bijuu's personality.

The three months had passed slowly for Konoha, but as for Jiraiya it was a whirlwind. During these months, he had his spy network work overdrive to ensure that Konoha's weakened state wasn't spread around the Elemental Nations. Not only that, but to also keep tabs on the masked man that had attacked, and left soon after summoning Shukaku. Nothing had come up as of yet except the news that Suna had almost been destroyed by their jinchuriki going crazy to the point where they released Shukaku. Although not stated, Jiraiya had a hunch that this masked man was responsible. As word of this reached Minato's desk, he was not pleased in the slightest for if Jiraiya's assumptions were true, then the masked man was targeting the bijuu. For what reason and as to why, Minato still had no clue.

As Konoha rebuilt and recovered, Koharu, Homura, and Danzo had followed Hiruzen's final decree. Instead of weakening the academy to allow more civilians to enter like they wanted, the attack three months ago and Hiruzen's death struck a deep emotional chord in each of them; especially Danzo. The academy would now be implemented with almost war-time standards and, much to Minato's surprise, Danzo had come to him and asked how to recondition his troops to feel again. When Minato asked about the sudden change in character, the War Hawk told him that Hiruzen's sacrifice reminded him too much of Tobirama and it was then he realized what the Will of Fire was about. Although Minato accepted the task, he would stay vigilant as this was the man who was known to circumvent the Hokage in certain matters.

Konoha was healing and the aura around the village was becoming joyous once again, but this feeling was about to increase for a comatose boy was about to wake.

Naruto groaned as he opened his eyes for the first time in months. He expected to see the light inside the room, but everything was black which brought Naruto back to reality. He was blind, and that he survived the sealing.

With a sigh, Naruto attempted to see the room using his other senses which he found to be more sensitive than normal. The beeps of the machines was near deafening, the smell of antiseptic was overpowering, and every time something was touched it seemed to send off a signal. It was almost like a pulse, a wave of some kind which blanketed the room. The blackness started to turn into something, but there was too much fuzziness to make anything out. Before Naruto could test this further, footsteps were coming this way which made him sit up. Soon, the door opened and whomever was there gasped in shock.

"Naruto, thank Kami your awake!"

"Tsunade baa-chan, is that you?"

"Hai, it's me Naruto." Tsunade said with a smile as she walked up to Naruto and ran a diagnostic jutsu, "All of Konoha was worried about you and they'd be happy to know you're awake."

"Do they know I'm blind?"

"What?" The question took Tsunade off guard for a bit before realizing what Naruto meant, "Besides your parents and a few others, no, the village doesn't know."

Naruto sighed and laid back down, not wanting to talk anymore.

"Look Naruto, yes you may be blind, but you can still become a shinobi." Tsunade said in the hopes of comforting Minato's boy, but it did the complete opposite.

"I can't see, tou-san always told me that was a key to a shinobi's survival…" Naruto sighed once again, tears now streaming down his face, "…everyone will see me as weak and unwanted; even tou-san and kaa-san."

Tsunade frowned at the accusation and had one of the hidden ANBU gather Naruto's parents and bring them here so that they could privately talk to their son.

"They would never do such a thing, especially after you selflessly sacrificed yourself to protect this village from harm."

"They have Mito, I'm unwanted." Naruto quietly replied back before putting the covers over his head.

Tsunade's shoulders slumped as she walked out of the room and closed the door. As she leaned against the wall, it was then that Minato and Kushina arrived where they instantly knew something was wrong due to the Slug Sannin's body language.

"Good luck you two, you'll need it." Tsunade patted both on the shoulder, "He thinks you'll favor Mito over him…and he fears that everyone will see him as unwanted, including you two."

"W-what?!" Kushina was shocked and heartbroken as was Minato whom pulled her into a comforting hug.

Minato thanked Tsunade and entered Naruto's room where silencing seals were placed once the door was closed. A conversation that was about to take place was for their ears only.

"I can't see my lil' fishcake under those covers," Kushina tried to smile, but it was hard to do so in this situation, "Why don't you come on out so that we can chat?"

"I don't wanna," Naruto's muffled and depressed voice came from underneath the sheets, "Just leave me alone."

Kushina frowned as she walked up to the bed before bending low and slowly pulling the covers away until Naruto's tear stricken face could be seen. Tears which were wiped away by the Uzumaki's soft fingers.

"You're not a burden to us sochi, and you'll never will be." Kushina was now sitting in the bed, trying to comfort Naruto the best she could, "Your hardship is ours, and all of us will get through it together, OK?"

Naruto didn't reply, instead he tried to get as far away from Kushina as possible; an act which made both parents frown.

"Your kaa-san's right, Naruto." Minato said as he walked up to the bed and sat down besides Kushina, "And I'll do everything in my power to make sure your shinobi dream becomes reality."

"Go away!" Naruto yelled to them, though it was muffled as he stuffed his head into the pillow.

"Isn't there something you can do?" Kushina whispered to Minato whom began to think about a possible solution, "I can't bear to see Naruto like this…he's been through too much already."

"Hai, and I may just have something which will cheer our sochi up." Minato whispered back, not knowing that Naruto could hear every word being said, "Remember that blind ANBU who came to me about training our sochi if he ever awoke?"

Kushina's eyes widened before a smile came to her face, "I knew there was a reason I loved you."

"Thanks, Kushi-chan."

As the two kissed, Naruto's mind was in a tizzy at what he just heard. If there was another like him, and in ANBU nonetheless, perhaps becoming a shinobi was still possible. As much as Naruto wanted to reply to his parents, his body and mind was still tired and he soon fell back asleep. So deep was this sleep, that Naruto didn't feel Minato and Kushina get up and kiss him on the forehead before leaving the room.

Another week had passed before Naruto was able to leave the hospital, but it was a week of experimenting and discoveries for him. The blurry figures that appeared when Naruto had touched something turned out to be the room around him. However, much to Naruto's dismay, a lot of work had to be done to perfect this new ability. At first Naruto had used his fingers and tapped around, but then he got the idea to use his feet. The pulses happened again which brought a smile to Naruto's face, but that quickly turned into a yelp of pain as he stubbed his toe on the nearby wall. Yes, much work had to be done.

Also during the week, Minato and Kushina met Naruto daily and made sure that he was alright and to discuss their plans with him. It took a couple days, but Naruto finally relented and told his parents about his ability, and when he would meet the bijuu in his gut. The ability surprised them, but they couldn't be happier for Naruto. As to meeting Shukaku, Minato had told Naruto that such a meeting wouldn't take place when he was stronger and when his abilities were under some form of control. Speaking of the bijuu, Minato and Kushina began to wonder if Naruto's ability was a direct result of the sealing, but they decided to put that question aside for now. It was a couple days after that did Naruto finally meet Takashi, the blind ANBU.

Although he couldn't see what he was wearing, the man's deep voice was oddly calming to Naruto, and made it feel like he could trust this man. To Minato and Kushina, though, Takashi was wearing an altered version of the ANBU uniform, the armor still on his person. He was slightly taller than Minato, had tan skin, short black hair, and the Konoha headband was wrapped around his eyes. Although almost in his 50's, Takashi had a young looking, clean shaven, face.

For the rest of the week, Takashi shared his stories and told Naruto of the scar over his eyes, one he got about the same age as Naruto. When asked the reason, Takashi replied that it was a training accident when he and his father was sparring. Naruto, in curiosity, traced over his eyes and found that he too had the same exact scar. Although they only chatted a short time, a strong bond had already been formed.

"Calm down Naru-kun, Takashi will be here soon." Kushina let out a small chuckle as she watched her son bounce on the balls of his feet.

"But I want to start training now." Naruto let out a pout, "Can't he arrive sooner?"

Kushina smiled as she picked Naruto up and placed the excited boy on the couch in the family room just as there was a knock on the door. Needless to say, Naruto wasn't on the couch that long.

"He's here, he's finally here!" Naruto yelled with a massive smile on his face as he ran towards the door.

Kushina shook her head with mirth as she watched her son open the door to reveal Takashi in all his glory.

"Ah, anxious to start training I see, young one." Takashi smiled as Naruto hugged his right leg, "And I see that you've been working on that ability of yours."

"Hai, but everything's still fuzzy…" Naruto's face scrunched up, like he was disappointed, "…my toes still hurt."

Takashi and Kushina laughed at that, even more so as they remembered trying to get Naruto to wear shoes. He wasn't having any of it and fought to the point where both, even Minato, knew that doing so in the future would be impossible.

"We'll be in the backyard if you care to watch, Kushina-sama."

"Just Kushina please, and I'll be out after I get some chores done around the house." Kushina replied, taking the time to hug Naruto and wish him well, "Don't overdo it, OK sochi."

"I won't, thanks kaa-san!" Naruto broke free from his mother and tried to run out the door, but Takashi stopped him before hitting the wall.

"The door's over here, Naruto."

Confused, Naruto reached forward to find that he was about to hit a wall. Laughing sheepishly, Naruto took Takashi's hand before being led towards the backyard.

"What am I going to do with that boy?" Kushina sighed and let a smile come to her face as she closed the front door.

"So how do you see things, Taka-Sensei?" Naruto asked, using the nickname he had given when still in the hospital.

"Ah, a very wise question at such a young age, but a crucial one nonetheless." Takashi smiled as both continued towards the backyard, "I use a form of chakra sensing to see what's around me. One pulse of chakra is all it takes, though to see more advanced objects, I have to use senjutsu."

"What's senjutsu?

"Techniques that only a select few have been able to do." Takashi and Naruto had reached the backyard where they sat under a nearby tree. "Such techniques require the use of the natural energy around us, and can be quite powerful when used correctly. However, take heed for if one uses this power incorrectly, they will turn into stone."

Naruto, although amazed, let out a nervous chuckle, "Can we skip that for now, becoming stone doesn't sound like fun."

"Skip it?" Takashi shook his head and helped Naruto stand, "You, my blind maelstrom, are most likely using it with that special ability of yours."

"Really?!"

"Hai, but it's all speculation for now as we still don't know how far such an ability could progress." Takashi took in a breath before putting his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "So, ready to train?"

Naruto smiled and began to run around the yard but, like many times before, he ended up stubbing one of his big toes; this time, on a rock.

"ITAI!"

Takashi sweat-dropped, "I'll take that as a yes."

Hours later, Kushina had finished her chores and was ready to head out to see how Naruto was progressing. Before she could do so, however, Minato appeared in a flash.

"Hey Kushi-hime, how's Naruto?"

"I was just going to have a look, Minato-koi." Kushina gave her husband a quick peck on the cheek, "After I get Mito, that is."

Once Kushina had Naruto's baby sister, both headed outside where they were surprised to see their son running around the many trees in their backyard, not even hitting them once. It was only a week ago that Naruto had discovered his ability, but now it looked like he was well on his way to mastering it. To further their shock, Takashi was throwing shuriken and kunai on occasion. Naruto dodged some, used the trees as cover, or failed to dodge completely. Luckily for them, the shinobi tools were the rubber academy kind. They may have been made of rubber but, being made to be similar to the real thing, it still hurt a lot.

"Very good my maelstrom, one more lap should do it!"

Naruto nodded as sweat poured down his face and his breathing was labored. It may have been only three hours since they started, but since then it has been nothing but physical fitness, and testing the limits on Naruto's sensor ability. Of course, there was breaks in-between, but a regime like this, for a five year old nonetheless, was brutal. Luckily for Naruto, the Uzumaki genes were strong and his stamina was quite high; having a bijuu sealed in his gut also helped matters.

"And done!" Takashi yelled which made Naruto stop and stumble towards his home.

"Ugh, I'm sore." A yawn escaped Naruto's lips, "And tired."

"Of that I have no doubt," Takashi patted Naruto on the back, "You did well today, but you're still young and we can only do so much."

Naruto nodded, too tired to talk anymore, let alone walk properly. This state changed a little when Minato, Kushina, and Mito came into view, though. Naruto tried his best to run towards them, but he ended up tripping over his feet and falling onto his stomach a couple feet from his parents. Such an act made Mito giggle and coo as she reached a hand towards her brother. All the while, Takashi had an amused smirk on his face as it reminded him of the son he'd lost many years ago.

"Somewhere, I know you're still out there my son, somehow, I will find you and make everything right once again." Takashi let out a sigh and unsealed a cigarette from a tattoo on his right palm, "You may have shown happiness on the outside, but there was always deep hatred in you," Takashi lit the cigarette with a small fire jutsu before placing it in his mouth, "Hatred which only I am to blame for."

By time Takashi had reached Minato and Kushina, Naruto was fast asleep in his father's arms. As much as Takashi wanted to get closer, the look Kushina was giving him promised pain, and lots of it. Everyone knew of her disgust with tobacco products, especially after she laced the Sandaime's stash with a laxative. How Kushina managed to do such a thing was beyond anyone, even the ANBU.

"Hai, Hai, I'll put it out." Takashi dropped the cancer stick to the ground before stomping on it.

"Good boy." Kushina's look of rage instantly turned into one of happiness, "Now, how about we go inside and have some tea whilst we discuss our lil' fishcake's progress."

"You do know it means Maelstrom, not the ramen topping…right?"

"She does," Minato responded as all went inside, "Kushi-hime just does that to get under Naruto's skin…works quite well actually."

Takashi let out a snort, "Yah, and when Shukaku latches onto that anger, what then?"

It was a rhetorical question, but it made Kushina nervously chuckle while it made Minato pale a little. The last thing either parent wanted was for Naruto to use Shukaku's power before he was ready for it, and right now five years old was way too young. A silence hung in the Namikaze household for bit while Minato put Naruto in bed, and Kushina put a kettle of water on the stove. Such silence was broken when Mito started crying which made Kushina smile.

"It appears our baby girl is hungry, give me a moment before we start."

Once Kushina was upstairs, Minato sat down on the couch in the family room and motioned for Takashi to do the same.

"So, anything I should be worried about with Naruto's strange ability?"

"None that I can see, other than my assumption that it uses the natural energy around us instead of chakra."

"Senjutsu, at his age?" Minato shook his head in denial, "It took Shodai-sama many years to master such a talent, and you believe my son can harness it without his knowledge?"

"I know it may seem implausible, but Hiruzen always told me that the shinobi world is filled with uncertainty." Takashi leaned back in the chair and sighed as another thought came to mind, "What are the chances that Naruto has something that this world hasn't seen in ages, all because of Shukaku or some other being involved?"

Minato quirked an eyebrow, but before he could say anything, the kettle started to whistle.

"Excuse me."

Takashi nodded which prompted the Yondaime to rise and walk towards the kitchen to get the tea ready. As he was doing so, Takashi couldn't help but feel that he was onto something. However, there was a major problem with this, and it all dealt with history. Anything before the Warring Clan era was largely comprised of stories passed down, with bits and pieces of actual evidence to back such stories up. It was here another question came up, one's regarding the bijuu.

"Hiruzen always said that the bijuu were peaceful until Hashirama traded them to the major villages as tokens of peace…could the beasts that we've grown to fear know more about the ancient world than we do? Could the beasts we've enslaved for all these years led to each of the Shinobi Wars thus far?" Takashi let out a sigh as he rubbed his temples, he didn't know what to do.

"Tea for your thoughts?" Minato asked with a smile as he put the cup and saucer in front of Naruto's Sensei.

"Hai, thank you."

Minato nodded and handed one to Kushina who just happened to show up.

"Thanks." Kushina pecked Minato on the cheek before both sat down, "So, what's got you all flustered Takashi?"

A simple question, but one which would spark a discussion that would last until Minato had to go back to his office; a total of three hours. In that time, Naruto's ability was discussed; theories on how it came to be, bijuu and higher being link included. Ancient history, more like stories, was also involved, and led to Takashi being able to access the Hokage Library where only the most sacred pieces of history were included. By the end of the discussion, all three were convinced that change was coming to the Elemental Nations, and it all revolved around this mysterious masked man and one Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze.

A year had gone by quickly, but it was a year filled with progress, and not just for Naruto, but for Konoha as well. Thanks to Jiraiya, who was now back home and helping Naruto with his training, had set up a main base for his spy network in Konoha. It was earlier in this year that Danzo brought up the idea of his Root being used in the spy network at one of the monthly meetings Minato had. Everyone, including Homura and Koharu, were nervous as they knew of Danzo's past and how crucial the spy network was for Konoha and their allies. After much talk, and reassurance from the War Hawk about his new emotion-filled troops, they agreed, but on the stipulation that one screw-up would spell the end of such a deal.

It was months later that Danzo's Root had found many spies in Konoha, all of which were sent to T & I where any and all information was extracted out. For Minato, the Sennin, and the elders, they couldn't be more relieved that everything was working out, but they wondered how long it would last. Of course, such captures led to some interesting treaties being formed.

Although they were enemies in the past, Kumo, after learning of their spies being captured, decided to cut their losses and made a treaty with Konoha. Iwa, however, didn't care about their spies being found and they even had the gall to promise untold devastation upon Konoha. Minato laughed at such a promise seeming that he devastated their shinobi in the Third Shinobi War. Suna, although they had a treaty with Konoha, quickly revoked it after they learned that they had Shukaku and wouldn't give it back. The only reason they didn't go to war was due to their extremely weakened state.

Needless to say, Konoha was strong once more, and such strength would only continue to grow as the new academy curriculum would now be applied to any and all entrants; new or old. Although Tsunade wanted the graduation age pushed to 15, Jiraiya made a compelling argument saying that the Elemental Nations was in a cold war where tensions were high to the point where one snap could force another Shinobi War. Nobody wanted that, especially with the Third Shinobi War still fresh in everyone's minds.

Although kids Naruto's age would be entering the academy, the age of six, Naruto would not be doing so due to his condition. Although Minato and Kushina hated to admit it, blind shinobi were indeed looked upon as weak, cannon fodder if you will, and many were tasked with suicide missions by their Sensei or overlooked entirely when it came to promotions. Naruto feared such a thing, but Minato told him as Hokage, he wouldn't allow such bias.

He even went so far as to demand Koharu and Homura to add a course in the academy, both shinobi and civilian, to deal with the problem. To further this, Minato created a law which made it illegal under hefty fine, imprisonment, and/or hard labor, to discriminate against the blind; be it in the labor force, or unemployed. Of course, the punishment would be decided largely upon the severity of the crime.

Such acts calmed Naruto's fears, and even made him work harder than ever to show everyone that being blind did not equal weakness, but the strength to overcome. And he was doing just that as in the year his ability to see by just tapping the ground grew at an astounding rate. Pictures of the world were now clear, though some haziness still existed. Even more so, this ability, coupled with his higher than normal senses, made Naruto acutely aware to any dangers around him. The process of dodging, and fighting, using almost all the senses at once was still disorienting to Naruto, but that was what Takashi had been focusing on for the past month now.

"Time to take a break my maelstrom, you've been walking up trees and jumping between them for a couple hours now." Takashi yelled into the forest as he watched Naruto jump towards him.

"Yah, a couple hours filled with me mending his almost broken bones." Tsunade huffed and she crossed her arms under her large bust, "Damn Uzumaki's must have high bone density or something."

Takashi let out a laugh as he remembered watching Naruto miss a branch on occasions, only to fall to the ground below resulting in him screaming in pain. Luckily for them, they were at a private training ground where Kushina couldn't pound them to dust for hurting her baby. Before Takashi could respond with something witty, Naruto jumped out of the forest and landed in front of them, obviously augmented with chakra; something which Naruto had unlocked only six months ago. But what happened when Naruto landed had put wide-eyed looks on Tsunade and Takashi's faces.

"What?" Naruto was confused on why he was getting such stares, but upon looking where they were pointing… "Heh, well whaddya know!"

The ground underneath Naruto, once hard and compact, had turned to sand.

AN: Hope you enjoyed these chapters, and I hope this story will be one to kick my writer's block off the cliff. I got many stories to update, and Akuma no Senshi to finish, but the real world comes first. Being an adult sucks. So, for those reading this that are still in Middle or High School, enjoy that time whilst you can, as it will be gone before you know it.