Shadow clones could easily make you S rank in a few months. That is just a fact.
Turn of a Hero is a huge inspiration here, that was the story that got me writing fics.
"Wow... so few finds." Naruto muttered as he and his clones returned to the central part of the island. They had found four scrolls collectively, a statue of the Shinigami and a flawless blade wrapped in red. It was this blade that startled Kurama the most.
"That blade... It's..." he shivered. "History lesson, contrary to popular belief, there was an Uzumaki woman as feared as the First Hokage. Her name, I cannot remember, for she was known more by her title. Benihime, Crimson Princess... the Legendary Red Death. She was from the generation before the Founding of the Villages, when this area was just being developed. Her powers were terrifying, she could cast seals of such strength that it would and could undo anything. She was the founder of this village, and in some ways the most potent Kunoichi in history. Her sword skills were why your mother learned Kenjutsu in the first place.
That was her blade, a blade of such potency, that even I fear it. It could end me, not disperse me, but end me. It was why no Bjuu attacked this place, why no one ever touched it. Where did you find it?"
"In a mass grave, by the southern most part of the island." Naruto recalled from the Clone's memories. "Benhime... she my ancestor?'
"Yes, Kushina's great, great grandmother. She was Mito's grandmother, as Mito was Kushina's great' aunt. The blade is deactivated, it requires a skill and power to activate that few could ever achieve, that is why it could not defend this place as Benihime could. I fought Benihime once, and I lost, worse than when I fought Hashirama. She showed me mercy... which is rare, but she did. She was the one Shinobi I respected, bar you."
Naruto nodded. "I will honor her then, for she did not kill you."
"Thank you... now... We will not touch those scrolls for another three months, by then you should be at enough skill to even understand them. I would recommend you leave here, and train as you travel. Master all you have access to, and bounty hunt. Become great, that is your next goal, little brother."
Naruto froze, eyes wide. "Little brother?"
"Yes, you are my family, as much as any of the Bjuu. Your mother abuse me, but we both share a life of despair. I cannot ignore that... you are my family."
Bowing his heas, Naruto smiled. "Thank you, always..."
And so they left, rushing into the distance, ready to continue their training, desperate to matter in a world that declared them as nothing more than tools.
"""
A Month Later
"AHHH!" Anyone that only guessed, would assume that Orochimaru's killer intent and sadism was the peak among the Sanin. They would be wrong, for Tsunade was capable of so much more as Jiraiya was experiencing as she beast him bloody. "Please, stop!"
"NO! You lost Naruto, the only reason I am in this village in the first place. You will find him and bring him back, or I will kill you." Her killing intent was so thick that people just nearby were convulsing in agony. Kicking her idiot friend once more, sending him flying back through the wall, she stalked toward him. "Do not take my threats for bluff!"
Shivering, Jiraiya stood. "I know, I know... but I have been trying, what the hell did Kushina do that he was able to escape me?"
She sighed. "You never saw her sealing skills, or my grandmother's. She could have done a million things. All we can guess is that she gave him knowledge, knowledge to allow this. You are still a sanin, the best tracker among us all. Even Kakashi cannot track as well as you can. Find him, and bring him home!" She froze. " Why did he leave you, you never said?"
The man shivered more, looking ready to bolt. "I... uhg...I..."
"JIRAIYA! I swear if you stole his money, whored yourself about and did not teach him I will tear your balls right off!"
The man went cold. "I failed him... as I had before. He was a my godson, and I failed him."
"Yes, you did... go... find him, and I will train him personally. I will not have your failings doom him."
Jiraiya slumped away, unable to bear the hateful, disappointed glare in her eyes, in the eyes of the woman he loved.
""'
Three Month Later
"STOP, PLEASE, WHAT DID I DO TO YOU?" Kazuto screamed, rushing away from Naruto's vengeful grin. The man, armed with six missing Mist ninja, was the peak of wealth that even Gato could not compare with. As far as he was concerned, his shit didn't stink and the world was his bitch.
A fact that failed him when Naruto came in, swinging Benihime, slicing through the enemy ninja with ease, dodging water based jutsu and using the Flying Swallow technique to bisect his foes. It was shocking to Naruto, how much he enjoyed bounty hunting, how good he had gotten at killing. He had taken over a hundred lives in three months, using them as a chance to master the skills his mother had passed onto him.
Using raw speed, a product of hard training, Naruto was in front of the fleeing man. Gripping his throat, Naruto smirked. "I am many things, cocky, arrogant, young and foolish, but those that harm the innocent really get to me. You are a rapist, a murderer and a facilitator of abuse. This is really personal." And so he squeezed, hard enough to pop the man's head right off his neck. "Now I am officially in the one percent." Naruto cackled. "This is getting easier."
With that, Naruto knew his rising title, the new Red Death, would become solidified. People knew him, feared him. He had killed people in all nations, of all skills levels... Naruto himself, based on Kurama's estimation, was easily Upper tier jonin. Four months of constant training, effort, the use of shadow clones and his natural physical powers... and well, a beast was born. He was no Kakashi or Gai, but he could easily fight Asuma or Kurenai and come out on top. Experience was all that kept him down and that was coming fast.
Kurama laughed within him 'And to think, this is your powers without my aid... with my powers, you could fight Orochimaru and survive. Now... I think it's time to open your family scrolls... it is time to see what you can really learn.'
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a blast to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.