I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ITS CHARACTERS ALL RIGHTS BELONG WITH KISHIMOTO, VIZ MEDIA, AND SHONEN JUMP. PLEASE SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL RELEASE

welcome back to the story, the rewrite continues. I guess to make it clear I'll put it at the top of each chapter until I'm caught back up with chapter 15. Anyways, this is the rewritten Chapter 2. Enjoy the Read!

Arc 1: The Introduction

Chapter 2: Underneath the Underneath

1 Year Later

Naruto poured his dedication into mastering fuinjutsu, spending countless hours honing his skills under Danzo's watchful eye. The scrolls the older shinobi provided were like cryptic puzzles, each one unraveling a new layer of knowledge. Despite Naruto's relentless efforts, the time-consuming art of fuinjutsu frustrated him.

In their brief exchanges, Danzo, a man of hidden motives, offered cryptic wisdom. Naruto listened and applied each thing he was taught by Danzo. However, one moment in particular stands out from the rest.

Flashback starts

Danzo chuckled at Naruto's aspiration. "A true shinobi protects the village without craving recognition. It's a lesson you'd do well to learn. Remember, I'm not renowned outside a select few, but my contributions are vital. There will come a time when you must comprehend the subtleties, Naruto, and I may need your assistance."

Naruto, fueled by his fiery determination, retorted, "Acknowledgment strengthens a village. A powerful Kage deters enemies. What's wrong with aiming for that?"

Danzo's stern gaze met Naruto's. "Your naivety blinds you. Move forward without understanding, and you risk damning yourself, your comrades, and the Leaf Village." Naruto swallowed hard at that statement. Could Danzo be right? Is it better to play a shadow over being the hero?

Flashback end

Naruto's transformation extended beyond his newfound fuinjutsu prowess. His once boisterous demeanor was replaced by a subtle confidence, but not to confident. The village, accustomed to the orange-clad troublemaker, now glimpsed a ninja draped in shadows.

His encounters with Anbu revealed hidden layers in the ninja world. When Naruto asked about 'looking underneath the underneath,' the Hokage's chuckle resonated to with secrets. Naruto, now more attuned to the subtleties of the ninja world, interpreted it as delving beyond the surface.

His change baffled classmates. Naruto traded his vibrant jumpsuit for a more tactical ensemble, ditching the goggles. He started letting his hair grow as he didn't have much time to cut it as it would cut into his training time. Jealousy brewed among peers, especially Sasuke, witnessing Naruto's ascent. But Naruto's motives ran deeper.

Sparring sessions showcased Naruto's growth. Victorious against all but a few, not to outshine Sasuke outright. The shift in Naruto perplexed those who dismissed him, leaving Sasuke questioning when the change occurred.

Sasuke's thoughts churned as he entered the classroom, finding himself grappling with an unexpected twist in the rankings. The once perennial "dobe" Naruto had surged to the middle of the class within a year, leaving Sasuke in a state of disbelief.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as Sasuke pondered Naruto's rapid ascent. The scent of chalk dust lingered in the air, mixing with the subtle anxiety emanating from Sasuke. His eyes scanned the board, revealing a new pecking order that challenged the very core of his self-assuredness.

Class Rankings:

1. Sasuke Uchiha

2. Sakura Haruno

2. Hinata Hyuga

4. Naruto Uzumaki

5. Shino Aburame

6. Ino Yamanaka

7. Kiba Inuzuka

8. Choji Akamachi

9. Random Village Fodder 1

10. Random Village Fodder 2

11. Shikamaru Nara

12. Random Village Fodder 3

13.-30. Random Village Fodders

Sasuke's eyes widened in shock, grappling with the stark reality that Naruto had not only caught up but surpassed his peers. His once firm grip on the top spot now faced a serious challenge.

The wooden floor creaked beneath Sasuke's steps as he made his way to his seat, each footfall echoing the weight of his concerns. His classmates, unaware of the brewing turmoil within Sasuke, chattered and settled into their desks, oblivious to the internal storm Sasuke battled.

Sitting down, Sasuke clenched his fists, the tactile sensation grounding him amidst the disarray of his thoughts. The rustle of papers filled the room as Iruka walked in, and Sasuke couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Naruto's transformation traced back to their encounter, a confrontation where flames clashed, but something deeper stirred within Naruto.

The taste of rivalry lingered on Sasuke's tongue, bitter and unyielding. As Iruka started the lesson, Sasuke's gaze remained fixed on Naruto, a silent vow etched in his determined eyes: he would rise to the challenge, reaffirm his dominance, and secure the coveted title of Rookie of the Year, whatever it took.

A Few Hours Later

The lunchtime bell resonated through the academy, and Iruka's firm voice commanded the students to disperse for their break. As the classmates chatted and shuffled out, Iruka's gaze, filled with anticipation, landed on Sasuke.

"Alright, enjoy your lunch period, and when we get back, meet me outside this classroom for sparring sessions," Iruka declared, his words lingering in the air. Sasuke's eyes flickered with determination as he exited the room, fueled by a single purpose: to beat Naruto.

Outside, under the azure sky, Sasuke began his warm-up routine. The rhythmic stretching of his limbs seemed almost mechanical, a testament to his disciplined nature. Unbeknownst to him, a voice interrupted his concentration.

"You know, fighting on an empty stomach isn't good, right?" The words, casual and wise, sliced through the air. Sasuke turned sharply, recognizing the unmistakable tone. It was Naruto, the source of his current unease.

"Leave me alone, dobe! Today, you will lose to me, and I will prove that your increase in skills is just a fluke," Sasuke retorted, his pride flaring.

"Just tryna give you advice. Fighting on an empty stomach won't do you any good. No energy will mean that you won't have as much of a fight as anyone else," Naruto replied, a nonchalant grin on his face. His laid-back demeanor juxtaposed Sasuke's intensity.

"I don't need energy to beat anyone in this class. I am an Uchiha; we are the strongest in this village," Sasuke declared with conviction, his eyes gleaming with arrogance.

Naruto, undeterred, halted his stride and turned around. "Sasuke, that's a foolish statement to make. Some of our classmates have grown tremendously in the last year. If you think you're going to get an easy win, you're delusional," Naruto lectured, his tone carrying a hint of sincerity. An angry glare from Sasuke followed, met with a casual shrug from Naruto before he continued his walk. Sasuke, fueled by pride and the desire to prove himself, persisted in his warm-up, each stretch a declaration of his determination.

15 minutes later

"Alright class we will have three spars today. Today we will have Shikamaru Nara Vs Random ninja fodder 1, Naruto Uzumaki Vs Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha Vs Hinata Hyuga!" Iruka said. The class gasped. This would prove the top 4 rankings for sure.

The first match happens with relative easy for Shikamaru as he wins fast with his Shadow Paralysis Jutsu. The next match is about to start. This would be the first time since Naruto improved that Sakura faces Naruto. She is a tad nervous but has to win to impress Sasuke. Maybe then he will take her on a date.

"I forfeit Iruka-sensei. I have no interest in facing Sakura." Naruto said.

"NARUTO YOU IDIOT! You can't forfeit! You have to face her. These will be the last spars of the semester until The Genin Exams." Iruka-sensei said.

Naruto accepting defeat from his sensei gets ready iruka starts the match and Naruto puts up a defensive stance. Sakura goes on the offensive and attempts to knock him out. She threw five punches. Four of the five were blocked by Naruto, the last punch connected with his nose. He slides back but doesn't fall.

"You think you're better than me Naruto?" Sakura yelled out. "I'm going to pummel you!" She runs up to throw a punch. Naruto stays there. She connects her fist to his face. Naruto falls over. The class is eager to see what Naruto will do in retaliation. They watch and wait for Naruto to get up. Naruto lays there with a blank expression. Iruka looks over and sees Naruto not knocked out and just laying there.

"Naruto if you don't get up and fight back you are going to get knocked down on the rankings board." Iruka-sensei lectured.

"You mean he's still awake?" Sakura asked. She hit him as hard as she could. Naruto gets up.

Naruto was ready to go on a rant about how it didn't matter about becoming rookie of the year. However, Danzo's words echoed in his head, A true shinobi protects the village without craving recognition. It was times like this he cursed the old mummy ninja.

He looked at his sensei, "well, I was attempting to lure her over, so when she checked to see if she won, that I'd actually be ready to get the drop on her and defeat her." Naruto explained. Iruka was surprised that Naruto would do such a thing. The class was all staring at the new and improved Naruto.

"You Idiot!" Sakura yelled out charging at Naruto. Naruto who had enough of this dodged her and chopped her neck, knocking her out immediately. The class was shocked.

How strong did he get? Is he still holding back? Sasuke thought to himself. He watched as Naruto looked down at the unconscious pink haired girl. "You see Iruka, I was waiting for a moment like that. But you ruined that for me." Naruto simply said as he put his hands in his pocket and walked away.

Iruka still in shock. He watched as Naruto simply walked away from the school yard. The worse part is, I can't even blame him. Iruka thought. After the shock wore off he started the next match.

As the tension filled the air, Iruka's voice broke through the silence, "Okay, since Naruto isn't coming back, we can start the next match. Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Hyuga, please do the unison sign and prepare to fight." The class gathered outside the training arena, their eyes fixated on the two combatants, eagerly awaiting the clash.

Hinata and Sasuke locked eyes, their expressions revealing their determination. Sasuke knew that in order to emerge victorious, he had to avoid being struck while still landing powerful blows. He understood that the first person to inflict a meaningful hit would likely secure the win. Failure was not an option for Sasuke, not after what he had been through with the Hyuga clan.

With unwavering focus, Sasuke launched his attack, aiming to catch Hinata off guard. Hinata swiftly attempted to dodge, but her efforts fell short as Sasuke's strike landed heavily on her shoulder. Despite the pain, Hinata refused to back down. Summoning her inner strength, she retaliated with a counter-attack, hitting Sasuke's left leg, narrowly missing the chakra point but causing significant damage to his knee. Sasuke winced as he started to limp, realizing that he needed to bring the fight to an end to avoid being defeated.

Baffled by Hinata's newfound strength, Sasuke couldn't help but wonder, "How did she become so formidable?" Meanwhile, deep within her thoughts, Hinata attributed her newfound skill to Naruto. She recalled the time he had presented her with a scroll, teaching her the Hyuga's Jūken combined with her own unique taijutsu style. Naruto's guidance had enabled her to strike her opponents' joints with precision, inflicting severe pain even if she missed the chakra points. Grateful for Naruto's influence, Hinata silently thanked him, knowing that her growth had made her father proud, yet he is not aware that an outsider of the clan is the reason.

Determined to press forward, Hinata directed a regular Jūken strike at Sasuke's arms. In response, Sasuke launched a powerful kick, connecting with Hinata's right arm. Both combatants endured the pain, but Hinata was sent flying backward, while Sasuke, now burdened with a limp and a useless right arm, stood his ground. As Hinata rose to her feet, Sasuke's frustration grew. "How can she still stand? I'm getting tired too," he grumbled, recalling Naruto's advice about managing his energy levels. This realization only fueled Sasuke's anger, blaming Naruto for his predicament. With his options limited, Sasuke resolved to dodge Hinata's attacks until he could land a decisive blow.

The onlookers, including their classmates, were astounded by the intensity of the battle. They watched in awe as Hinata pushed Sasuke to his limits, recognizing that the next significant strike would determine the outcome. Even Iruka, their teacher, couldn't conceal his shock at witnessing Hinata's remarkable progress over the past year.

Summoning her remaining strength, Hinata charged at Sasuke once again, hoping to target his other arm. However, Sasuke anticipated her move and swiftly dropped to the floor, delivering a powerful kick with his good leg. As Sasuke rose to his feet, he assumed a defensive stance, waiting for Hinata to recover. Slowly but resolutely, she struggled to stand, her inner resolve unwavering. "I must keep fighting! Naruto-kun will know that his help wasn't in vain. I want to prove that I can be strong and protect my comrades!" Hinata's thoughts echoed in her mind, driving her forward.

Summoning her remaining energy, Hinata unleashed her most powerful technique, "Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Her strikes landed with precision, leaving Sasuke sprawled on the ground, defeated. The onlookers erupted into whispers and murmurs, stunned by Hinata's triumph over the renowned Sasuke Uchiha. They couldn't help but speculate whether she would be crowned Rookie of the Year.

Breaking the silence, Iruka's voice resonated, announcing Hinata's victory. He jotted down the result, and the class made their way back to the classroom to hear his final announcements. "Alright, everyone, over the next two months, we'll be revisiting and reviewing everything we've learned thus far. Following that, the Genin Exams will commence. Next week, the new board for Rookie of the Year will be displayed. I expect all of you to be punctual and focused during these upcoming classes. Thank you all, you're dismissed," Iruka concluded, leaving the class with a sense of anticipation and determination for the challenges that lay ahead..

Meanwhile Back with Naruto

Naruto makes his way back to his apartment to learn more fuinjutsu from the next book he ended up getting and the scroll he got from Danzo. The new book he had just gotten was written by the Fourth Hokage himself. The only reason he got the book is because Danzo given it to him and had told him that this was the pinnacle of sealing jutsus. Naruto happily accepted the recommendation. That's when his whole world changed. He found a page that looked as if it didn't belong in the book except it was still written by the Fourth Hokage. It looked as if it were from a diary instead.

"There is a seal. It is called the Reaper Death Seal. Kushina had informed me that this seal is very strong almost to the point that it is nearly unbreakable. She also told me that if I used it, it would be the last thing I ever did. When I asked her what she meant by that, she told me that the cost for using such a jutsu would take my soul and the soul of who or what I'm sealing, into the shinigami's stomach in a never ending battle. This jutsu would be the best to seal a tailed beast within a child. The beast wouldn't be able to escape such a seal and it would leak its chakra into the host's chakra, making the Host's chakra even stronger with larger chakra pool."

After reading that Naruto had seen a illustration of said seal. He was shocked at what he saw, because it was the same seal that appear on his belly when molding chakra! The Fourth Hokage had died the night of the Kyubi attack. In fact that day was Naruto's birthday! Did the Fourth Hokage die sealing the Nine Tailed Fox into him? He had to know so he kept reading on the other side of that page. In fact this page was a diary entry. It even had his birthday marked as time of date. It read:

"This is hard for me to do. I'm sorry for what I got to do son. One day I hope you'll read this and can forgive me. I have to die sealing the Tailed Beast into you. This is the only way I know you will be strong enough to deal with the Masked Uchiha. The village must be protected at all costs. I'm leaving it all in your hands, Naruto."

Naruto was shocked at what he just read. The Fourth Hokage had written his name in this page. Even called him, his son. What truth did this hold? He had to find out immediately.

As he started his walk to the office of the Hokage, he heard Danzo's voice ring in his head again. There will come a time when you realize that what you believe is an entire lie. Just know that it is better to make ally's with the children heirs of their respective clans, so that you may become Hokage and ensure it doesn't happen again. He hated hearing that. There was truth to it as the Shinobi council would carry the vote for hokage. Naruto shook off that thought and carried on to the Hokage's office.

As Naruto walked through the bustling streets of Konoha, the weight of his revelation pressed upon him, robbing the vibrant scenery of its usual luster. The cherry blossom trees, which once filled him with a sense of hope and renewal, now seemed to shed their delicate petals like tears falling from the heavens. The scent of freshly bloomed flowers mingled with Naruto's sense of despair, creating a bittersweet fragrance that hung heavy in the air.

His steps felt heavy, his usually energetic stride now filled with the burden of his newfound knowledge. The vibrant colors of the village seemed muted to Naruto, as if the world itself had dimmed in response to the storm of emotions swirling within him.

As he reached the entrance to the Hokage's office, Naruto took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation ahead. He raised a trembling hand and knocked on the door, the sound echoing in the silence. "Come on in!" came the Hokage's voice from inside.

Naruto pushed open the door, his heart pounding in his chest. The office, usually filled with the familiar scent of old parchment and ink, felt suffocating to him now. The rich aroma of tea, a scent that used to bring him comfort, now seemed to taunt him with memories of a time when he believed he knew everything about his own identity.

"Oh, it's you Naruto-kun. How are you doing today?" the Hokage asked, his voice filled with concern.

Naruto struggled to find the right words, his voice laced with a mix of anger and sadness. "Well, I had a terrible time at the academy. I wanted to fight Sasuke but got stuck with Sakura. And then the librarian gave me a hard time about checking out another book. And when I finally got home, I discovered the truth about my father."

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a look of surprise, his eyes betraying a hint of guilt. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Naruto's frustration boiled over as he hurled the crumpled diary entry at the Hokage. "Why didn't you tell me that my father was the Fourth Hokage?" he shouted, a mix of anger and hurt in his voice.

The Hokage was caught off guard, his mind racing to find an explanation. "Well now, Naruto, how did you discover this secret?" he asked, trying to regain control of the situation.

Naruto's voice quivered with a mix of sorrow and accusation. "This book... it had a diary entry added to it. Why couldn't you tell me that my father was the Fourth Hokage?" Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision.

Hiruzen motioned for his ANBU guard to leave, giving them a silent command. He turned back to Naruto, his voice filled with regret. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I did it to protect you and the village. Your father, Minato, had many enemies. If they had known about you, it could have sparked a war. That's why I gave you your mother's last name, Uzumaki."

Naruto's tears continued to flow, his voice choked with emotion. "You could have still told me! I looked up to you, respected you, and wanted to be Hokage! I can't believe that Danzo was right about you." His voice cracked with disappointment and hurt.

Unable to bear the weight of Naruto's pain, Hiruzen sighed heavily, his gaze focused on the door as Naruto ran out. The room felt suffocating, a sense of regret hanging in the air.

"I've read that book before, and this diary entry wasn't there. Danzo is plotting something," Hiruzen muttered to himself, his voice filled with concern. He reached for a seal that Jiraiya had left him, a frog-shaped token of communication. Placing it on the desk, he whispered a message, watching as the frog disappeared in a puff of smoke, carrying his urgent plea for Jiraiya's return.

Unbeknownst to the Hokage, an ANBU operative had been listening intently, lurking below the office. With heightened senses, they had captured every word, their heart pounding with anticipation. They knew they had to report this to Danzo immediately. Swiftly, they darted out of the headquarters, their duty demanding swift action. The echoes of their footsteps faded into the distance as they vanished into the shadows, leaving the office shrouded in a heavy silence.

As the ANBU operative swiftly made their way through the hidden underground tunnels that led to Danzo's secret lair, the dimly lit cave system enveloped them in an eerie atmosphere. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and musty stone, creating a chilling ambiance that matched the tension in the operative's heart.

Finally, arriving at the entrance of the chamber, the ANBU agent took a moment to catch their breath before stepping into the dimly lit room. Shadows danced along the walls, and the faint echo of dripping water echoed in the distance, a constant reminder of the cavern's isolation.

"Lord Danzo, I have followed the boy as you requested," the agent reported, their voice laced with a mix of urgency and excitement. "I have learned that Naruto is indeed proficient in fuinjutsu, just as you predicted. What's more, he is currently engrossed in the book written by the Yondaime. But here's the intriguing part, my lord: Naruto stumbled upon a diary entry from the Fourth Hokage himself, where he claims the boy as his own son!"

Danzo's single visible eye widened with both surprise and satisfaction. "You fool! I knew the boy's heritage, which is precisely why I gave him that book!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of irritation and amusement. "Now tell me, how did Naruto react upon discovering this newfound information?"

The ANBU operative paused for a moment, gathering their thoughts before responding. "Well, my lord, Naruto's emotions were a whirlwind. He was clearly angry at Hiruzen, their bond now strained. It's uncertain whether they will ever be able to repair the trust that has been broken. However, Hiruzen has called for Jiraiya's return to the village."

A sinister smile flickered across Danzo's face, his thoughts already plotting the potential outcomes. "That is most wonderful news," he murmured, his voice tinged with anticipation. "I wonder, however, what Naruto will do with this newfound knowledge about his heritage. Especially when that oaf Jiraiya arrives here."

The room seemed to grow colder as Danzo's chilling words hung in the air, the dim light casting eerie shadows across his face. The ANBU operative couldn't help but feel a shiver run down their spine, a palpable sense of foreboding settling within the cave.

With a nod of dismissal from Danzo, the operative turned to leave, their footsteps echoing through the chamber as they retreated back into the winding tunnels. As they disappeared into the darkness, the oppressive atmosphere of the cave seemed to intensify, leaving Danzo alone with his thoughts and his plans for the future.

Little did anyone know, the web of secrets and hidden agendas was rapidly tightening, threatening to unravel the delicate balance of trust and loyalty within the village. And as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, the impending clash between Naruto, Jiraiya, and the manipulative Danzo would set the stage for a battle that would not only shape the destiny of the young Uzumaki but also determine the very fate of Konoha itself.

At the Hyuga Compound 5 hours later

Hinata Hyuga went home and at dinner she dropped her bombshell. "Father, I've beaten Sasuke Uchiha in a spar for the sec-cond time this year. Our current record this year is 2-1. Iruka-sensei said with that win I might be bumped up to R-rookie of the Year instead of Kunoichi of the Year."

Everyone from the main house stop what they was doing to look at Hiashi Hyuga. He looks over at his eldest daughter. "That is most excellent news to hear that you bested our old rivals the Uchiha clan. However Chunin Umino said might be. Why is that?" He inquired.

"Well you s-see Na-Naruto-kun has improved leaps and bounds. So far in spars this year he is undefeated except for the draws he and Sasuke Uchiha have been in. Today h-he beat Sakura with one move." The Hyuga Heiress said.

Everyone at the table gasp to know that the nine tails boy is getting stronger. Hiashi looked over everyone's reaction and his second daughter spoke out. "Wasn't he just number 4 on the rankings?" Hanabi asked.

"W-well technically he's number th-three because me and Sa-Sakura are tied for second." Hinata said.

Hiashi spoke up. "Yes the Uzumaki boy seems to be getting more powerful by the day. But I do find it hard to believe that he is both undefeated in spars unless it's the Uchiha and went from dead last to technical third place in rankings. However you have no need to lie therefore he must be."

"Anyways Hinata I'm glad to hear that you've made the clan look good! You've really came into your own recently and we as the main branch can tell you've taken this seriously." Hiashi's father said. Hiashi couldn't believe the hypocrisy of it all. They wanted Hinata to be marked with the caged bird seal less than two years ago. To top that off he has no clue where Hinata learned her hybrid style still.

'Hopefully me and Naruto-kun are on the same team.' Hinata thought. Hinata has improved because of him. She would love to fight beside him as well. She can only hope and pray it works to her advantage.

The Next Day at Naruto's apartment

'The Fourth Hokage is my father. And yet everyone treats me like I'm the plague. Funny how I'm the son of their precious savior, yet they treat his son horribly. If only they truly knew!' Naruto thought angrily.

Naruto was smart enough not to blab it out yet. Plus no one would even believe him. He would wait and when the time came, he would show everyone that he is Naruto Namikaze!

Naruto walks out his apartment to go get something to eat. He heads to the ramen stand he loves. He orders his two bowls of ramen and eats them. After that he headed to the library to read up on as much as he could about the Fourth Hokage and any reminiscent of Uzumaki. As he gets a few books on the Third Shinobi War and starts reading. He reads about his father's exploits during that time. Taking out one thousand men from Iwa.

'So this is why The Third wanted me to be named Uzumaki. It's because Iwa and possibly Kumo would try to kill me. Interesting enough. However still not a good reason to lie to me all my life.' Naruto thought.

He eventually found an article on a battle that occur in Konoha. Konoha was attacked by 10 Kumo ninja but was all defeated by a woman named Kushina Uzumaki!

'This has to be my mother. She was very awesome as well. This Jiraiya will prove useful to gaining more knowledge as well as what's sealed inside me. I'll confront him when he comes.' Naruto finishes his thoughts when a man sits next to him. He looks over and recognizes him. "Hello Danzo-sama, how have you been?" Naruto asked.

"Oh, Naruto, I didn't see you there. I'm doing well thank you for asking. Have you made use of that book I gave you?" Danzo asks.

"Oh, it's nice to see you Lord Danzo! It's great to have you. Can I get you started on something?" Teuchi asks.

"Good afternoon Teuchi. And I will take whatever it is Naruto got." Danzo said as Teuchi nodded. "Anyways, back to what I asked Naruto."

"Oh yeah, I've been hoping to bump into you to ask. You see, that scroll you have me, I got the seal memorized I just didn't want to play around with a Jonin seal and hurt myself." Naruto said.

"Wise choice. It's used to cut of chakra from the person you put the seal on. It was made for mainly Jinchuriki." Danzo said.

"Where have I heard that word before?" Naruto asks innocently.

"More than likely a history book. A Jinchuriki, also know as human sacrifice, is a person who has a tailed beast sealed into them like the Nine Tails would be." Danzo said.

"Danzo-sama, did you know the Nine Tails was sealed into me?" Naruto whispered.

"Yes. I had told that fool Hiruzen that you should've been given to me. So that I could help you harness its power and become strong. It would've helped too because you wouldn't have been in the sight of many villagers. For his cowardice I apologize Naruto." Danzo said.

"Here you go Lord Danzo, on that house for a council member." Teuchi said.

"Thank you Teuchi. Naruto remember that you alone are protecting the village from its greatest threat. If you ever feel like you need me to help you with its chakra just come to me. I will be there for you when you need it." Danzo said as he got up and left.

Naruto noticed that Danzo didn't even eat the ramen that Teuchi placed down for him. 'Danzo what are you playing at I wonder. Why come here as if you knew what I found out and decided to tell me about controlling the nine tails?' Naruto paid for his food and left back to his home.

everyone thank you for reading the updated chapter two. I'll be spending some time with my family for the 10 days for the first time in seven months and the next updated chapter will release on 12/30/2023. Also, I wrote each girl in here a way to mend them with Naruto in case they win the poll. If you're worried about someone like Temari, I have plans to incorporate that should she win. As an author, who is wanting to make a story which becomes popularized, I want to keep all my loose ends, loose. And when it's time to cut them, I'll be ready. Also also, I understand that some of you want the harem, it's not happening. Naruto isn't that kinda guy. And the CRA head canon is cringe. Naruto has always been a honorable person. This story is a tad darker than the canon universe, but Naruto's end goal is still the same.

Naruto X Haku (female)-33

Naruto X Hinata-32

Naruto X Ino-40

Naruto X Sakura-28

Naruto X Tayuya-30

Naruto X Temari-35

Remember the way to vote on this is to drop a review or Pm me. I see each review and Pm.

Post Credits

Sasuke found himself surrounded by a vast collection of books, their spines neatly aligned on the shelves of the village library. Yet, his frustration grew as he realized that the section dedicated to fuinjutsu was disappointingly sparse. The Uchiha clan had never been renowned for their expertise in sealing techniques; their strength lay in their raw power, after all. Letting out a sigh of exasperation, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a pang of envy towards the Hyuga clan, who seemed to possess an abundance of knowledge in that field.

Still reeling from his recent defeat at the hands of the now Hyuga prodigy, Sasuke's determination burned brighter within him. He had learned from that encounter, gaining valuable insights into her unique taijutsu style. The defeat had stung, but it had also served as a catalyst for his growth. With each passing thought, his thirst for knowledge intensified, propelling him forward.

Frustration etched across his features, Sasuke muttered to himself, "These fuinjutsu books are worthless! I'll never figure out how to unlock that damn door. What secrets lie behind it?" His voice carried a mix of annoyance and curiosity, the desire to uncover hidden truths burning deep within him.

Then, a flicker of realization crossed Sasuke's mind. Memories of Naruto, the ever-energetic and unpredictable blond ninja, flooded his thoughts. "Wait a minute, that dobe was reading fuinjutsu books earlier this year. I remember seeing him with a scroll he was studying instead of paying attention in class," he mused. A plan began to form in his mind, a way to acquire the knowledge he sought. "Perhaps he might have a book or two that I could... 'borrow'," Sasuke thought, a hint of mischief glinting in his eyes.

The challenge now was to find a way to get to Naruto's house. Sasuke devised a plan, a cunning strategy to approach his rival under the guise of camaraderie. "I'll follow him home and ask him to spar," he concluded, a smirk playing on his lips. "If I can get on his good side, he might be willing to share his fuinjutsu books with me."

Satisfied with his newfound strategy, Sasuke's hunger reminded him of his physical needs. The rumbling in his stomach drew his attention, reminding him of the importance of nourishment. Deciding to temporarily set aside his pursuit of knowledge, Sasuke resolved to refuel his body before setting his plan into motion.