A/N:

Still don't own Naruto. At the moment I'm in the process of writing the last Chapter of Act I (The Academy Years). I will post those over the next weeks I think.

Six years later - First day of the new academy year

A six year old newly minted academy student with his blond spiked hair was on his way home. The hateful glares the villagers sent him were nothing new to him. He made his way to the red light district where his Jiji got him an apartment after he got thrown out of the orphanage two years ago.

After he moved in, the Hokage visited often to get him to read and write properly. The pressure of his office blocked him from teaching more so he delegated it to his Anbu.

In particular, one with gravity defying silver spiky hair and a dog mask who taught him to survive in his harsh conditions. To hunt in the woods with traps, manage his money which he got from the Hokage thanks to the orphan stipend. He also got him clothes and supplies because the merchants didn't want to service him in their stores.

An annoyed and bored Naruto Uzumaki entered his Apartment. Closed his door and threw his backpack in the corner of the room. Like a robot he walked to one of his cabinets. His hand safely closed around an instant ramen cup. He got through the steps and waited the usual three minutes to let the cup heat up.

A cough from the place where his couch would be let him stand still for a second. What his eyes saw was a sight to see.

There leaning on his couch was a large scroll and on the crouch itself was an elderly green toad slurping on a cup of tea.

„You know that it is rude to stare, young tadpole?"

Naruto could place the ramen cup safely on the kitchen counter then pointed at the toad and screamed.

„You can talk? What is happening here"

He looked at the Toad still pointing.

He slurped at his tea and sighed a little bit

„All those centuries on my bones. I am getting too old to educate tadpoles about etiquette"

Naruto looked confused, then his mind caught up that the toad told he is centuries old. His finger slowly went down some.

„You … you are centuries old"

He finally asked

„That I am Naruto Chan. As I already said it's rude to stare. Let us assume you invited me in. Then you introduced yourself"

Naruto dumbly nodded. Fukasaku put his cup down and also nodded.

„Very good your parents left this scroll in the care of the Toads of Mount Myoboku. Our care. We are a clan of summons and no I will not tell who your parents are. It is not my place to do so. All will be explained through the scroll."

He motioned Naruto to him and opened the scroll a bit. You could see a circle of kanji.

„Did you already unlocked you chakra Naruto Chan"

The young boy took some steps to the toad. The promise to get to know something about his parents was just too much for the young Orphan.

On Fukasaku's Question he shook his head.

„Don't mind that. I will channel the chakra but you have to deliver the other part. So if you would be so kind and bite your thumb and smear a bit of blood in this circle."

Naruto used his canines to cut the skin on his thumb and used the cut to provide the blood.

Fukasaku put his hand over that of Naruto and used a one handed seal.

„Kai!"

After a bit of smoke there stood the imposing figure of Mito Uzumaki. Looking like she is in her thirties. The crimson red hair in her two buns on the side with the Fuinjutsu Tags as earrings.

In his mindspace a certain fox stirred unnoticed at the sight of his first jailer.

Fukasaku was surprised as much as Naruto but the last of the Konoha Uzumaki was shocked into silence as the Toad elder bowed to Mito. She returned the bow going just a little bit deeper.

„I will take over here Fukasaku Sama. My tags will provide me with chakra to sustain myself."

She pointed at her tags.

„I don't really know how the scroll got in your hands but I am grateful and appreciate you loyalty."

The toad nodded.

„The Fuinjutsu of the Uzumaki is always creative. I will take my leave then."

He looked at Naruto.

„I feel we meet again Tadpole"

With that he returned Home.

Some days later

„Welcome Home Naruto."

Mito stood in the middle of the Uzumaki Compound Garden. Once created through the combination of Hashirama and her skills she looked at Naruto with a genuine smile. Her relative was a studious type after she got him out of his stupor.

The chance for some recognition and family was all he needed to be highly motivated.

After she told him who she was it was all over.

He was so energetic and excited that she got some tears in her eyes. The little disappointment that she could not tell him who his parents are, even if she had a good idea who the mother would be.

They spent three days unlocking his chakra to move the scroll and Mito from the unsafe environment of his apartment to the Uzumaki compound. Here and today his lessons should start. Naruto was excited. The teachers in the academy ignored him or just threw him out. He would go and play pranks but at this moment he had better things to do.

Mito prepared the „classroom" in which she had the scroll on her hip and behind her was a blackboard. On the ground was a mat and a low table for Naruto to sit and write at. She was no fan of closed spaces. And she had to be outside to store enough chakra to maintain herself.

The young Uzumaki rushed to his classroom but as he could see Mito in the distance he slowed down. As Mito turned to him he bowed respectfully.

„Mito Sensei, thank you for teaching me today"

She smiled. Besides teaching him to unlock his chakra the first thing she corrected was his etiquettes. She told him that the people who were nice to him deserved that he would be nice to them. So she educated him about all those things. The other thing she cured immediately was his thrive for flashy Jutsus. A conversation about his life till their meeting quickly showed the reason for it. He wanted to be recognized . To be seen.

Mito promised him that his time would come but first, the qualities of a good Shinobi would be to play his cards close to his chest. To use deception and prepare to take his rightful place.

„Rise and take a seat Naruto Chan."

She told him as she pointed to the mat and table.

The young Uzumaki Pupil nodded and sit in a Seiza Position on his knees before the table prepared his notebook and pencil and listened closely.

The Uzumaki Queen began her Lecture.

„Before we will talk about the main skill each Uzumaki had to learn, we will talk about the History of our Clan, the theory behind Chakra and the legend how we got to wield it."

Naruto began to scribble notes in his book after he quick glance from Mito and a scowl she added

„And we will need to improve you calligraphy"

Naruto gulped. Mito was unyielding in her standards. The exercises to unlock his chakra exhausted him every time. When someone like Mito said she wanted to improve a skill of you, you better prepare yourself for a world of pain, cramps and exhaustion. She quickly and with perfection drew six Magamats on the board.

„The history of all Shinobi began with the introduction of Ninshu. This Legend was vocaly handed over in our clan for many generations. The old clan head would tell the new one. After hearing it myself I hold this legend of the utmost importance so listen closely!"

The fox listen closely as was his warden

„There once was a man who had to fight his own mother to prevent the world from ending. After she had eaten the fruit from the divine tree she was the first two to wield chakra. At first all seemed well. She was worshiped as a goddess. But as wise people said power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. She began to use Genjutsu to enslave whole nations. Her two sons, the names lost to history, had to watch as their mother developed a hunger to consume everything. Even as the goddess turned Oni witnessed that her sons were able to use chakra she wanted to be the only one to use chakra.

A fight broke out. Landscapes were reformed and the Mother was supported by the manifestation of her malice a ten tailed beast appeared."

Naruto was still taking notes. The Kyuubi was shocked in the seal that the reason he was born is not forgotten to time. Mito looked over Naruto's notes and nodded approvingly.

„The two brothers were able to defeat her. Seal her away for eternity. One of them sealed the ten tailed beast in himself. The brother travels the lands to teach about chakra and the way of Ninshu. Intending to spread this wonderful gift that all beings would have the chance to prosper.

Naruto Chan, can you imagine what happened next?"

He looked up from his notes and closed his eyes after looking mournful imagining the possibilities of peaceful times, with no orphans looking for their parents.

„They used chakra to fight against each other? I mean we Shinobi use it so it seems obvious."

A smile from Mito and an approving nod started the next part of the lecture.

She straightened her Kimono and focused on Naruto again.

"You are right young Uzumaki, again the brothers had to take to arms and use their might to bring peace back to the world. What happened with one of the brothers is unclear after they brought peace back but some say he did the same thing his brother had done and found himself a loving wife to start a family. Here our legends start to be more clear. at most for one of the two. He had two sons, one was called Indra and the other's name was Asura."

She made time to write both names on the board. Her writing in such a graceful manner and looking effortless with all her practise of the sealing arts it was no surprise. She made one line under Indra and two under Asura and turned back to Naruto.

"You see, the one brother we know about is still mentioned in folklore as the sage of the six paths possessing the heavenly eyes called Rinnegan and a body strong as hundreds of men.

As he knew he would have to leave the plane of the living he passed on his powers. But as we are human we are open for jealousy and other low emotions. In the hopes of preventing a discourse he splitted his powers. Indra the son with a more active way of approaching problems the sage bestowed him with the power of sight. So that he may use them to see reason and other ways. The younger brother was different; he inherited the peaceful attitude and thinking of his father. In the hope of balance the sage provided him the means to endure. The body of the sage with the vitality and endurance to last conflicts to find the answer to peace."

Naruto, even in his young age could follow well. He admired the second of the two because his own situation showed him what humans are capable of inflicting on others without much thought. Sure there are times for violence, conflict and where clear lines have to be drawn in the sand, but even then one should always look for a peaceful way. One thing was already clear to him. From Hatred and Destruction only Hatred and Destruction could sprout.

His Sensei was unaware of his thoughts, but a certain fox was not. He could hear them in the seal and to say he was surprised that one of those stupid humans could have the possibility to reach the same understanding as his father was refreshing. But at the same time. His Jailor was just a kid. Scorned by his people for sure, but still, he had not much experience in the world. The Kyuubi would be watching his progress and maybe when the time comes, play his part as he promised the old man.

Mito recognized the signs that the attention of Naruto was more to other things so decided to bring him back.

"Naruto Kun, would you be so kind and repeat my last sentence about what happened after the sage died and the brothers fought for the first time, to determine who should take over?"

Naruto's head snapped up to Mito and he scratched the back of his head like a certain flashy blond before him and smiled apologetically.

"Gomen Mito Sensei, I was caught up in my thoughts about the noble thinking of Asura."

Mito nodded, accepting. Noted Eyes under Indra and Body and Mind under Asura turned back to her apprentice.

"Well, I can understand and appreciate that you are engaging in the peaceful thinking of Asura. But as an encouragement to stay listening to your sensei you will add two rounds for each exercise this evening. You understand?"

Naruto sweated, two rounds to each exercise. How can Mito be so kind and understanding and in the next Moment be more sadistic than the matron. His evening exercises consisted of Push ups, Sit Ups, Pull ups, Kicks and Punches with elastic bands inscribed with seals to adjust the strength needed to the one using them. His Sensei adjusted them so that after each round he was always exhausted. After all of that he would have to swim in the pond and run rounds around the training ground. The swimming part was an "encouragement" after he was taught to swim by her yesterday. Two full rounds are just cruel. He began to cry some tears.

"I am sorry Sensei, one round of the whole circle is enough to exhaust me. I think I wouldn't survive two extra rounds"

Mito took some steps to him, gracefully got on her knees beside him after making sure her Kimono was out of the way and enveloped him in a hug whispering in his ear.

"You are the heir to our clan Naruto chan. I was never unfair to you wasn't I?"

He shook his head. So she continued.

"The next time you lose yourself in your mind in my lectures raise your hand beforehand and we can talk together about it, maybe take a break okay."

Again she waited for Naruto to acknowledge her. He may be the last of the Uzumaki as far as Mitos Mentor Scroll Clone knows but he was still a child and she still had some of her maternal instincts. She sighed a little bit.

"Good. Because you apologized on the spot and your notes are besides terrible to read top notch information you gathered from my lecture I will waive off one round. Don't test me further. My first and foremost task is to provide you with the means to be safe. You remember the night I told you about the destruction and sealing of Uzushio?"

Naruto nodded and relaxed a bit, one round would be hard, but manageable. After a good night of sleep and maybe some more in the academy, his senseis there couldn't care less and he noticed if he was just sleeping that would leave him alone for the most time. He would be good for his afternoon lessons. Then he thought back to the story of the Fall of Uzushio and again nodded, this time a little bit more slowly. He was six and to listen to the story how over ninety percent of his clan was "slaughtered" because three ninja villages wanted to eliminate a potential threat in their war with Konoha was something you wouldn't forget fast. He still had nightmares where he saw faceless red haired shinobi getting attacked and killed by other shinobi.

"As I told you, what would have happened if Ashina Sama hadn't the idea to give information to me and seal our lands? Maybe your parents wouldn't have prepared something like the scroll. You would still be ignorant of your heritage. Still strive for their attention."

She caressed his Hair. Still hugging him to be by his side.

"Remember all Information could be important. I know you sleep sometimes in the academy now that you were able to unseal the study guides your father had written."

Naruto smiled sheepishly. This treasure chest named scroll provided him with an improved curriculum for the academy and the reference material. Mito ordered to study the guide in his own time to relax after his physical training. What would follow after her lectures. It was important to always train body and mind, she said. He would understand when they would discuss chakra. So he did exactly that. He read the guide each day before bed and was now steps ahead of the academy lessons so he used them to get some sleep back. You have to prioritize right?

Mito disconnected from him and stood up. Straightening her Kimono and walking back to the blackboard. pointing on the drawn Lightning Bolt between Indra and Asura.

"Back to our main topic. After Asura could defeat Indra. He was the person to inherit the role to spread the ways of ninshu as the heir. His brother however vowed to get him back.

What led to a conflict nobody could foresee. The clans the brothers founded would be in conflict for a long time. Can you guess who that could be?"

Naruto looked over his notes.

"Well I know of two clans with a Dojutsu here in Konoha. The Hyuuga with the Bjakugan, and the Uchiha with the Sharingan. The Hyuuga are very posh?"

He seems to move around crass words around his Sensei who gave him a nod to continue

"The Uchiha are one of the two founding clans with the Senju. They founded Konoha after…"

He stopped as he saw the light popping up.

"they founded Konoha after they had many conflicts with the Uchiha in the warring states period. So it would make sense that the descendants of Indra are the Uchiha as the Senju could be the respective ones for Asura right?"

Mito clapped in her hands with a proud smile. Noted the names down using the left arrow from Asura for Senju and the single one under Indra for the Uchiha.

"Very Good Naruto Chan. Yes the Uchiha are of Indras Line as the Senja are from Asura. The Hyuuga are rumored to are the clan founded by the brother of the sage. But those are guesses and legends. The second clan who originated from Asura was ours. The Uzumaki also known as the Uzumaki of the Long Living. After some Generations we strengthened the tie to our ancestor. You may remember I was married to Hashirama Senju."

That was the moment she got a hint of a blush on her cheeks. The strong and persistent Hashirama was very present in her thoughts till she could get a hold of herself again seconds had passed.

Naruto focussed after getting punished for not paying attention to details already on it.

"Is everything okay Sensei? Your cheeks are heating up. Are you ill? Can Clones of Chakra even get ill?"

Like a Taijutsu master would repeatedly strike fast in seconds his questions shot out of the six year old. All for the (embarrass-)amusement of one Mito Uzumaki who schooled her features quickly and shook her head.

"No need to worry. Where was I? Oh right. The Uzumaki and their relation to Asura. Remind me for what the Uzumaki are known for Naruto''

She quickly distracted the young boy. Who was not even aware why she would do that.

"Fuinjutsu, our Vitality and the ability to be a menacing opponent if someone was dumb enough to attack us first"

Mito nodded, noting the points down to the Uzumaki name and underlining the words "attack us first"

"There we have it. They attacked us first. We defended our Lands. The Uzumaki never tried to conquer land outside of Uzushio. On the contrary we tried to keep the peace around us with clever application of diplomatic efforts and seals. Both of us won't understand why that attitude was enough for three of the big five to declare war on us. Even after our allies were in open warfare with their enemies we only supported them with supplies. No Uzumaki was directly involved in the war. But I digress. You can see the legacy of our clan is far and interwoven with the Senju and Uchiha. Before I give you a short break, remind me what I told you about our lessons please."

Naruto finished the line in his notes, switching to a new page.

"Never tell outsiders of the clan more than information I had learned in the academy to this point"

He repeated with ease and Mito nodded. Using the Seal on the blackboard to clear it of the written chalk writings. Looking him in the eyes she followed it up.

"And that is because?"

Naruto grinned bright as the sun leaned back a bit.

"That is because knowledge is power and deception is shinobis best weapon"

She smiled.

"Good and don't you forget it. Now take a ten minute break. Get something to drink and walk around a bit. After that we will use some time to start you on calligraphy exercises and move on to chakra theory. After that two rounds of your conditioning circle. After that you are done for the day. Don't forget to hunt a bit on the weekend. You have to eat something besides ramen so your body can develop right."

Naruto nodded and stood, brushing the nonexistent dust of his shorts. Pulling a bit on his shirt with the Uzumaki Swirl. He bowed to his sensei and left to enjoy his break. Maybe use the swing or feed the fish in the fish pond at one end of the compound. He was smiling. For the first time in six years he had a true smile on his face. They tried to break him. Especially the last two years. But he now knows. He is an Uzumaki. He will endure, he will stand tall and prove them all wrong. He will never give up and change their thoughts about him. Because to never give up, one Naruto Uzumaki knew in this moment was his Nindo.