Author's Note: Thanks, yall for the quick support, hopefully, this next chapter affirms that yall didn't waste your time. Also, thanks to Taco the Terrible for beta reading and light edits.

Summary: This chapter is going to be a series of time skips detailing him as he trained for a year. He was 6 when the story began. This chapter will detail his rough time learning how to write Kanji, learn how to use a Katana at decent levels (which don't see a swing mess up his stance), and maybe impress his classmates.

Brush and Sword

Temple of Inari (Three Days after Last Chapter) [Naruto's pov]

Naruto huffed as he stared at Daiki-san, he loved training with the Katana, but writing Kanji wasn't fun, and sitting down to think wasn't either. Why couldn't Daiki-sensei just teach him how to use the blade?

"Imagine the pen as the blade," Daiki-sensei tells him, was he a physic? Should he swing the brush? "If you can't write on paper, then what's the point of writing on bodies?", he said.

Naruto's eyes grew wide as he took in his master's words, woah, that sounded awesome, maybe writing could be cool?

Two hours later

He lays his head next to the ink pad, staring at the ooze in boredom as he looks over to his writing, it was terrible, he was tired from writing! Why was writing on a piece of paper so exhausting?! He hears someone moving around the room, looking up he spots his Sensei slowly cleaning his attempts at writing before he leaves and returns with tea a few moments later.

"Come on, you did well today Naruto-san, rest up, enjoy some tea, and then we'll continue to our spiritual training," Daiki-sensei commanded as he sat next to Naruto. Who grabbed the cup and, after blowing on it for a few minutes, began to sip the tea. He wouldn't have seen himself liking tea, but it tasted good and helped him relax, something Daiki-Sensei said was a must if he wanted to find a balance.

After half an hour of relaxing Daiki-sensei motioned for Naruto to sit across from him, reluctantly Naruto got up and sat across from the Guardian.

"Naruto-san, I understand that you don't want to learn everything I teach, but what I'm trying to teach you is so you can do more than just swing a sword around," Daiki-sensei explained, but he knew that he groused in his mind.

"A Samurai must have a strong mind, as well as a body, thankfully your body and soul are strong, but your mind is lacking," Daiki-sensei continued, slowly changing his stance to the lotus position and motioning for him to copy him. "You must think and control your temper and impatience before they control you," he lectured before he closed his eyes.

Naruto grumbled but ultimately followed suit, Daiki-sensei might not be fun now, but he was strong, and he was taking time to teach him. It wouldn't be right to ignore him…hopefully, he didn't fall asleep while he was meditating.

Academy (Three months later) [Naruto's pov]

Naruto leaned back in the chair with a gruff sigh as he stared at the classroom, man, why did he have to learn all this? At least with Daiki-sensei, he knew that learning the weird stuff would help him be a better Samurai, but why did they have to learn who made Konohagakure? It wasn't like he would ever meet any of them.

"Naruto!", shouted a particularly irate Iruka-sensei as he spotted the young boy not paying attention. How was writing more interesting than the people who made his home? Before he could continue that line of thought he noticed a chalk hurtling toward him, maybe he should ask Daiki-sensei how to do-... The chalk collided with his forehead and he was brought back to his surroundings by the mocking laughter of students and an annoyed Iruka-sensei. "Pay attention Naruto, okay?", he commanded before he returned to his lecture.

He didn't bother with honorifics, Naruto thought with a peaked eyebrow before he shrugged and pretended to pay attention, he couldn't wait to get back to the temple, Daiki-sensei promised today would be Katana training!

Not so far away [Hinata pov] ( Taco- adorable isn't she?)]

Hinata looked at Naruto-san in curiosity, he was a lot more subdued than normal, ma…maybe…no…that was stupid…why would he want to spend time with her? She asked herself before shaking her head and returning to writing notes.

Temple of Inari (Four hours later) [Naruto's Pov]

He nearly tore a hole through the Shoji before he opened it with a sheepish grin, Daiki-sensei wouldn't like that, entering the temple he stared at the fox statue for a few seconds before he shook his head and walked past it, searching for Daiki-sensei. It took nearly half an hour before he decided to wait by the outcropping for Daiki-sensei…and of course, he was there, he swore no matter what happened, he would hit him today.

"Hey Daiki-sensei, I looked everywhere for you!", he confessed with a grin, ignoring the amused expression on his Sensei's face he picked up the wooden katana and took up a stance across from his passive sensei.

"Really? Everywhere? You must have searched the village then!", his sensei teased, but no, he was trying to get him angry, but it wouldn't work! He moved slowly before he noticed that his sensei had yet to unsheathe his katana.

"Hey Daiki-sensei, what gives? I thought today was a training day", he asked, brows furrowed in confusion as he waited for his sensei to pick up the blade. "What's wrong Naruto-san, I thought you would have leaped at the chance to hit me", Daiki-sensei asked, ignoring his pupil's question.

"Well it wouldn't be fair," he said, preparing to attack now that the match was even once more. "Naruto-san, it would have never been fair, now even more so, but I am proud that, in whatever backward fashion, you are slowly following Bushido," Daiki-sensei said before the training began in earnest.

"Again with your swings, move with the blade!", Daiki-Sensei commanded as he struck his side while Naruto was distracted.

"Watch my legs, watching an enemies sword will only tell you so much, with my legs, you will see whether I mean to commit," he hit Naruto with what felt like a sledgehammer on his shoulder, "In time you will be able to study the body, but for now, the legs will tell you much," he advised the blonde.

"Don't swing it like it's a club!", he yelled at the blonde before deflecting the point of the blade and hitting him in the chest, "A true blade doesn't require force, only skill to make sure the blow lands."

One Hour later

Naruto sat down with a huff, staring at his sensei in confusion, why did he look like he could keep going? "What now Daiki-sensei?", he asked him, huffing for dear life as his entire body ached in pain.

"Now we go over what you shouldn't do, tomorrow we'll continue writing, clearly you lack precision," he said with a laugh before he walked over to Naruto and extended a hand. "Come, we'll rest with a nice cup of tea before you learn what a poor swordsman you are."

Naruto grumbled before he took his Sensei's hand, his body may be in pain, but this was what learning should be.

Naruto's Apartment (Four Months Later)[Naruto's pov]

Naruto groaned as the alarm clock woke him up, the Academy would be starting soon, today was sparring day, but two days ago were katana lessons. The bruises were already gone, and so was the ache, but he couldn't help but feel like today would hurt. Maybe he could skip today? No…that wouldn't be right, it was the first sparring day after all!

As he ate he thought about the sparring his mind switched over to that day so long ago, where he saved that weird girl… Hina, and lost to those kids, but he knew he was stronger, faster too! Would that be enough? Daiki-sensei hadn't taught him how to fight without a katana yet. That wouldn't matter though, what were the chances that he would fight someone who actually knew how to fight on the first day that his class would start sparring?

Academy (A few hours later)

Naruto walked to the center, who was he going to fight? Who was this Sasuke kid? Oh, duck hair? This should be easy, he didn't look like he knew how to fight, really fight at least. He walked forward and made the Seal of Confrontation, Sasuke did the same and then leaped back. "So Sasuke-san prepared to be beaten by the glorious Uzumaki Naruto?" he taunted, preparing to launch himself at him, hopefully, his high…end…rance…his strong body would help him win this fight, he knew he could win it!

Ignoring the words Sasuke leaped forward before he knew what was happening and launched a brutal kick toward his head, and instincts built over the past seven months let him dodge that kick, but not the second. He was launched back with power but he wouldn't let himself be beaten, not yet! He roared a challenge and tore into Sasuke throwing punches and attempting to feint and land just one blow and then he did. Before he could celebrate and continue his assault, his raven-haired rival leaped up and landed a brutal kick on his head, before Naruto could react, Sasuke went on the offensive, laying blow after blow into the blonde.

After nearly a minute of this, Sasuke lept back and looked at the blonde, to see whether the pain had brought him low, and it almost had, but Naruto wouldn't let Daiki-Sensei's teachings be for naught. He waited for Sasuke to approach, and as he prepared to lay into the blonde, Naruto allowed him to, but he would make him pay in return, the kick hurt, and the punch did too, but judging by Sasuke's face, so did the punches he landed. Before the fight could continue Sasuke decided to end the fight with a brutal punch to Naruto's throat, and like that, he was out.

Academy, Medic Ward (Thirty minutes later)

Naruto awoke with a headache that was slowly receding, looking around he noticed duck-hair himself in the same ward, nursing his chest with a pack of ice and staring daggers at Naruto.

"Oh come on Sasuke-teme, you punched my throat, I'm sure you can handle the pain in your chest," he groused, rubbing his throat as he stared at the raven. "Come on, Seal of Reconciliation?", he asked Sasuke as he stood up and made the seal as a peace offering.

"Get away dobe, you barely managed this, and if Itachi-Nee-san has anything to do with it, it'll will be all you manage," he promised as he slapped away Naruto's hand and left the room.

Naruto looked at Sasuke's retreating form in anger before he shook his head, "Don't let anger control you, don't let ang…I'm gonna punch him extra hard next time we fight," Naruto decides, giving up on the mantra, Daiki-sensei would understand, where was the honor in that kind of cheap shot?

Temple of Inari (After Academy let out)

He walked into the temple, sides aching, throat killing him, but they would only be writing thankfully. Wow, that was weird to think. Before he could enter the temple, the weird lady that lived here walked over to him, she was wearing a weird outfit, it had billowing white sleeves and she was wearing big puffy red pants. She was talking to him, he realized after he focused on the world and not her outfit.

"Are you okay?", she repeated to the blonde, and after shaking his head he nodded, "Yeah, lost a fight but I'll win next time! Daiki-sensei will help me, I know it!", he said with a bright smile, until he noticed her laughing.

"Hey what's it to ya, why are ya laughing at me, lady?", he demanded, embarrassed. "Ah, apologies Naruto-San, it's nice seeing someone so youthful around the temple, aside from Daiki-sama, the monks, and a few elder folks, it's rare to see anyone in Inari's temple, let alone so cheery!", she said with a grin.

"Oh, hey how'd you know my name?", he asked calming down as he realized he'd overreacted, again, maybe Daiki-sensei had a point with his temper.

"How could I not know the young progeny that our own Daiki-sama has taken? You are here nearly every day after all," she said with a laugh.

"Oh…haha, yeah, I guess I am here every day huh?", Naruto asked with a laugh, "Miss, what is your name?", he said with an awkward laugh, realizing she knew his but he couldn't say the same (ignoring the big word, why did everyone keep using words like en..du...nce, it just meant strong body, he bet this new one meant something simple too!).

"Apologies Naruto-san, my name is Yuri, I am the Miko Priest for this shrine to Inari," she said with a small bow.

"Oh, uh, Yuri-san, why do people serve Inari?" he asked curiously, realizing that this entire temple was dedicated to this kami, and even Daiki-sensei was too!

Yuri stared at him curiously before she began to speak," Inari-Kami is the God that ensures we prosper in life, be it with luck, food, or simple work, she watches over us," she told the young blonde before motioning for him to follow her as she entered the temple and walked over to the shrine.

"Usually, the shrines are placed deep in her domain, in the wilderness, as this shrine was, but as Konohagakure grew, eventually the temple was simply on the outskirts, instead of deep in the fringes of a forest, would you like to offer a prayer?" she asked the blonde, noticing his confused stare at the fox.

"…sure?", he asked more than said before walking over to the statue and sitting, his legs under him, as he offered up a prayer to Inari, I may not be the strongest, or fastest, but please, give me a chance to be, he asked, hoping it wasn't much, but he wasn't use to praying to anyone except Ichiraku-Kami.

"So, this is where you are?", Daiki-sensei asked the blonde, who leaped up and stared at him in shock and guilt, "Don't worry, prayer to Inari-Kami won't earn you scolding," he said with a grin before he offered a bow to Yuri-San and motioned for the blonde to follow him.

"Come on, we'll talk more in my room, maybe learn where you got those bruises eh?", he asked the blonde who silently fumed, he'd beat Sasuke next time, he swore it!

Temple of Inari (4 Months later) [Naruto's Pov]

Naruto huffed in pain, he had almost done it, he had almost landed a hit on Daiki-sensei. "Ah…tha…that was close, right sensei?", he asked the man, who had yet to be out of breath since he knew him.

"I will not lie to you Naruto-San," Daiki-sensei said with a smile before he began to walk back to the temple, with the blonde following behind confused.

"Uh, so was it close Daiki-Sensei? Come on, tell me," he asked again, but Daiki-Sensei just repeated his words and left to serve tea as per usual. "Oh, come on Sensei stop saying that, was it?", he begged his teacher.

"Naruto, I won't lie to you, trust me on that," Daiki-Sensei repeated as he poured the tea into two cups and handed one to Naruto. "Sensei…", groused Naruto as he blew on his tea.

"Just enjoy the cup, we can talk about what you almost did, or didn't after your academy lets out, and we can focus on your teachings," Daiki-sensei advised.

Oh yeah, he thought to himself, the academy would be going on break for almost two months, that would be weird. Ha, Sasuke-teme would have no chance the next time he saw him, he'd be lucky to even land a hit!

Academy (Two Days Later) [Sasuke's Pov]

Sasuke's onyx eyes watched, studied, as Naruto dodged Kiba's wild attacks, throwing punches only when the boy had overextended himself, and with dog breath, it was often. They had fought several times since the academy had begun allowing spars, he'd won them, but the gap had begun to close. The only reason he was still winning was because of his teacher.

It wasn't Itachi-Nee-san he had been too busy, strangely enough, it was the dobe that taught him the most about fighting. Mostly what not to do. It was more than what his family had taught him, Tou-sama was busy with the clan, and Kaa-san wanted him to get older before she taught him, which wasn't fair at all! Looking at the way Naruto fought he clearly had someone teaching him, he had to!

If he let Naruto train during the break, then he might be able to challenge him! He couldn't let that happen. With his decision made, Sasuke waited for the inevitable to happen and once it did, went to go do the most humiliating thing he'd ever done in his short life.

"Dobe," he commanded, just like Tou-sama had taught him, but the blonde kept walking towards the stands, "Dobe!", he shouted, and the blonde looked up in surprise.

"Oh, uh, hey Sasuke-teme, need something?", he said with an awkward laugh as he looked at him.

"I want to spar with you," he told the blonde, but instead of gratitude he just looked, confused.

The blonde laughed awkwardly before he motioned to his scuffed clothes, "I may have won, but Kiba threw a good punch, doubt I can win…", he gained a suspicious look in his dumb eyes then, "…but that's what you want, isn't it? To beat me before the academy lets out!" he accused, staring at me like I was some kind of mastermind, "well listen here Sasuke-teme, I don't mind beating you and Dog breath in the same day let's do th- "

"Shut up!", he shouted, tired of the way the blonde's mind was working, "I just want someone to fight," he saw Naruto's eyes widen in surprise and saw him prepare to refuse, "but I guess Kiba will be a better choice, he wouldn't say no." He told the blonde, hiding a smile in his mind, this would work, he knew it.

"Whaaat! You think Kiba-baka can give you a challenge? I just beat him, no way," the blonde yelled before he got near Sasuke's face and pointed a finger at him, "I'll be your sparring partner, and mark my words, you'll lose before school finishes!", he promised, yeah right.

He walked away from the blonde, pleased that everything had gone to plan, ignoring the voice in his head that told him to make plans for where they'd meet, this was cool, they could figure it out later.

Temple of Inari (A Month Later) [Naruto's Pov]

"I don't get it Sensei," he said with a huff as he threw another punch and watched as it was easily deflected, Daiki-S]sensei said he was going easy, but that couldn't be true, right?

"What don't you get Naruto-san?", Daiki-Sensei said with that familiar grin before he dodged the feinted punch, how was he so strong?

"It doesn't matter how much we train," he said with a huff, raising his hands in submission as he took a step back and took a deep breath in, "…Sasuke always beats me, why?". It didn't matter what he learned, Sasuke was always just a step ahead, a little faster, almost like he knew what he was going to do.

Daiki-Sensei laughed before he walked over to the pitcher of water and began to pour them a drink, "You don't think Sasuke isn't training? Or learning from what you do? And what doesn't work against you?"

Naruto looked down abashed, obviously, he was, but he just wanted to knock that stupid grin off his face one of these days. "I know he is but…", he stopped talking, knowing what his Sensei would say if went into a tangent about the fairness of it all.

"Naruto, you may not have beaten him, but he knows you're the best person to test himself against, even if you haven't realized that, sometimes the best thing you need isn't someone who can beat you, but someone who's close to it," he said with an all-knowing smile on his face, Naruto wanted to argue, but it made sense, ever since they really started to spar together, he learned more than he ever had with Daiki Sensei.

"I know you've realized it too, come on, we're not done yet but drink some water, maybe you'll learn something that'll help you in that next spar," Daiki-sensei said with a grin as he raised the cup to the blonde, who with a shrug took the cup, he had to beat him before the Academy started up again, he had to.

Academy, Training Grounds (A Week Later) [Sasuke's Pov]

The dobe was putting him on the back foot again, taking a page from the blonde's own book he shifted his body into the punch he threw at him and threw a punch into his lungs. The punch that hit him on the side of the head sent him reeling, but they were both out of it, with a huff he drew in a deep breath before throwing the next punch.

A Few Minutes Later

Sasuke sat down and stared at the tree, rolling his tongue as he felt a bruise on his cheek, either he was lucky enough not to bleed or he had been bleeding for a while now. He grabbed the water bottle his Kaa-San insisted he brings and drank half of it before he looked up at the blonde, who was lacking anything even with it being the fifth time they had done this and chucked it at him. He deserved it.

It was a good thing he decided to swallow his pride, it was closer than ever before today, thankfully Naruto hadn't realized that he didn't mind playing dirty, a trait the blonde didn't share. It was strange, it didn't matter how many times he lost, he insisted on winning with his own skill or ingenuity, they were taught to win with the path that offered results, but Naruto didn't take it. It was working but the more they fought, the easier it became to circumvent the blonde's strange ways.

"Why are ya staring at me Teme? Did you want the rest of the bottle?", the dobe asked with his stupid laugh, "Shoulda told me, would've saved ya some, next time I'll bring you a bottle, how does that sound?", the blonde offered.

"Just wondering how a Dobe like you managed to land a hit on me," he said, chuckling as he saw the blonde get enraged, he rolled his shoulders with a grin, they would fight again, he knew it, thankfully the blonde was mad, he never did fight good when he was mad. He tensed his chest as he saw the blonde get into a rough stance, he always did throw away his strange Taijutsu stance he had learned when he was mad, his punches would hurt, but it should be easier to beat him (didn't mean he regretted pissing the blonde off).

Ichiraku Stand (October 7th ) [Naruto's Pov]

"Thanks again Daiki-sensei!", he said with a smile as he dug into the bowl, Sensei was oddly enthusiastic about taking the blonde out to get some Ramen.

"Well, I think after all you've managed to learn, it was the least I could do Naruto-san," his Sensei said with a grin as he dug into his customary Tonkotsu, it was a strange kinda Ramen but hey, he clearly worshipped Ichiraku-Kami so where was the fuss?

The blonde and Sensei dug in as they enjoyed Teuchi-san's skill before the blonde leaned back with a content sigh, three bowls lying empty near him as he waited for his stomach to settle before he ordered his customary fourth.

"Naruto-san, why do you train?", Daiki-Sensei asked out of the blue, that was a weird question, but why did he train? The blonde looked at his Sensei with confusion before he saw his Sensei wave away his question.

"Never mind, let's enjoy this meal, I think this is the last time you'll be able to keep your food in," Daiki-sensei said with a laugh as he dug in, yeah right! His stomach wouldn't dare commit sacrilege.

Temple of Inari (Day After) [Naruto's Pov]

"I think it's time you learn a stance, you've learned how to use the Katana in a passable attempt, but you would lose to a younger Samurai simply because they've added technique you lack to their movements," his Sensei said with a grin, technique? He already knew how to swing the sword, right? What more could there be?

His sensei looked at him with a gleam in his eyes before he raised his wooden tool and widened his feet, settling his body low, before he swung his Katana faster than he could see, every strike would've hurt him, but together? He would be red and blue…

"Wow," he said, amazement hanging off every word," I'm going to be able to do that?", he asked as his body shook with excitement.

"One day, if I teach you right, you'll be able to do more," Daiki-Sensei said with a grin before he raised his blade like he did the first day they began practicing, "Now, notice how my hands slide lower than we trained…".

Academy (Nearly Three Months Later) [Sasuke's Pov]

He looked around, bored, Naruto looked ready to fall asleep and he couldn't blame him, whatever they were learning about had become that weird little sound in his ear. Sighing he picked up his eraser and tore a chunk of it off, looking up at the blonde he aimed carefully before throwing it at him, he looked up with a start before his eyes focused on him. He looked ready to fight, good, but first, he motioned towards the door. The blonde, angry for being bothered when he had almost fallen asleep looked more than ready to leave.

"I'm going to go to the restroom Mizuki-sensei," he declared with a huff before he stood up and walked out the door, not even a minute later the blonde yelled the same and ran out the door and looked at him with a gleam in his eye, earlier anger forgotten.

"So, you want to finally lose huh? Wanna start off the new year strong, well, I hate disappointing you, but I had the same idea," the blonde said with his usual bluster, okay anger not entirely forgotten, good.

"Tou-san has been having meetings, but he said he'd start training me soon, wanted to show you one last time what almost beating an Uchiha is like," he said with a confident swagger as they walked towards the training ground.

Naruto looked more than ready to challenge him, and once they arrived they leaped into action. Naruto began with his usual brash attitude, and he reciprocated. After a few seconds of their back and forth, he saw an opening, and with a snapshot, he claimed the first blood.

It took long enough for him to start forgetting that there was a class to get back to, until he felt the whiplash of his body colliding with the wiry frame of Iruka-Sensei, judging by Naruto's girly scream, and his not-so-girly grunt, they were caught.

"So, boys, while I appreciate the show, I do believe you have a class to be in, don't you?", he asked, this was not going to end well, he could feel it. "But, I suppose if you all know what to do, I wouldn't mind some help after school, after all, you all have nothing better to do, not in class, not studying, just training, well, I oughta help, shouldn't I?", and there it was. Judging by Naruto's eyes, he wasn't resigned to his fate, he was even opening his mouth to fight it!

"YEAH, we'd be delighted to," he looked at the blonde, eyes pleading, Tou-San might change his mind if they get into too much trouble, "Right Naruto?"

The blonde looked pained to say anything, literally, but he agreed, and like that, on the first day of a new year, they had detention.

Temple of Inari (A few Hours Later) [Naruto's Pov]

"I dunno Sensei, are you sure you aren't going to make me write some lines or something?", the blonde asked as he struggled to fend off his Sensei's advances, this wouldn't have been so bad if the bruises from his earlier bout from Sasuke had yet to heal, but it was preferable to writing Kanji.

"Now why would I do that? Your writing is getting to…an agreeable degree, but once you get old enough to call smart, that's all we're going to be doing," Daiki-sensei said with an easy-going sigh as he swung the blade with ease, how was he doing that! Get tired you monster!

Naruto's knees nearly buckled as he caught instead of deflected the next blow, why was he so strong? "I don't know, I just feel like there's something wrong with today," he admitted to his Sensei.

Daiki-sensei stopped swinging and raised a hand, "A break," he said, seeing his student's struggles. He put his tool down and walked over to the pot they had carried out with them, and poured out some tea, "While I hate cold tea, I find it soothing to the nerves, and sometimes preferable to a steaming cup," he said with a grin as he handed Naruto the cup.

Naruto looked at the cup and slowly raised it to his mouth as he began to drink, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with tonight.

Uchiha District (Same Time) [Itachi's Pov]

"No…no…no!", his little brother screamed as he stared at the bodies of his uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends, what had happened?

Atop a building, narrowed eyes watched with a single tear sliding down a cheek before he gathered himself, his work was not done, they still remained. Then there would only be three Uchiha remaining in this world.

Author's Note: Hopefully I built this up nicely, the next chapter's going to skip around a bit more than this one did, couldn't do as much as I wanted without skipping over this moment. The next chapter will be the end of the Academy, and then we'll move to Naruto's realization of how being a Ninja and a Samurai are two different roles.

Also had to fix the little issue with the subheadings not being appropriately broken up, apologies for that yall