Chapter-3

Seven years has passed since the Nine-Tails attack. And things started to revert back to normal in Hidden Leaf Village. New roads were constructed. Markets were running again. The plan to restore economy has been working too. With free land being allotted to farms due to rising no of apartments and farms surely helped. But it still would have taken a lot to recover if only agriculture sector was the only pulling extra weight.

Four years ago, the Hyuga incident occurred. Kumo has sent a diplomat to form an alliance. But it all was folly as Kumo's real intention to kidnap the Hyuga Heiress for the Byakugan. The delegate successfully captured the young heiress from the clan compound. Only to be stopped by the Police Force which was on high alert due to masked Uchiha's threat. Konoha pounced on Kumo accusing them of stealing and breaking the peace treaty created after the war.

Kumo declined but with Yamanaka on Konoha's side it was impossible to come clean. So, Kumo paid the price knowing their economy the Hokage negotiated to take the claims back while returning the delegate for the permission to trade in Lightning Country. Merchants from Hidden Village could only trade in their country and its allies. Getting a trade agreement in Lightning was far beneficial than getting any jutsu or dead bodies.

Sure, Kumo's economy boosted too but this Konoha to regain its former status at least economically.

On the other hand, shinobi matters were a mixed at best. The idea to reduce the academy age and make the curriculum easier was beneficial to restore their numbers but the quality for which Konoha was known was not there. Normally 33% of genin passed the after test and were tutored in hopes of being the next jonins and ANBUs. While the rest were sent to the reserve cops to improve and be bulk of chunin forces etc.

But due to this only 20% passed the test of jonin-sensei making the number of future jonin or ANBU's comparatively less. The high-level geniuses compared to previous generation were reduced too. Before this system every generation in five years has produced talents who were believed to be and reached A Rank and beyond. Currently except Shisui and Itachi Uchiha no one who has graduated showed that level of potential.

But since their numbers are back to normal from this year normal and improved Academy system will be initiated. If it works out in the next five years Konoha will be back to its former glory.

Which the village definitely needed as the great Sanin of the village have been reduced to Jiraya. Tsunade still hasn't made any contact to her home. And Orochimaru has been declared a missing nin after being caught kidnapping and performing human experiments.

This reduced Konoha to just 2 S-Ranks in the form of Sandaime and Jiraya. S-Ranks and jinchuriki were major factors in deciding a village strength. These were army killers single handedly able to change battlefields. Due to this Konoha's rank from top has fallen down to third. And it would have been fourth had the Hidden Mist hadn't entered a civil war last year.

Before the Third War, Konoha had 7 S-Ranks in the form of Hiruzen, Danzo, Sanin, Sakumo Hatake and Minato Namikaze with Kushina as nine-tails jinchuriki. After the war they lost 3 of them with Tsunade's departure, Sakumo's suicide and Danzo's damage. But still they were joint first Kumo having 4 S-Ranks and a jinchuriki. Well Minato by the end of war was probably beyond S-Rank.

But now their jinchuriki is an untrained child and one of the Sanin deserted and their strongest Kage since First dead. The next generation really needed to step up.

Speaking of next generation, we found ourself into the apartment of Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha's jinchuriki, prankster and self-proclaimed future Hokage. Normally a child living alone in an apartment would be considered abuse or neglect.

But due to Naruto's unique circumstances this was the best he can get. Naruto initially was placed into an orphanage like planned but it didn't work out well. Danzo in hopes of getting the jinchuriki, leaked his status publicly along with the presence of an Uchiha in it. The other part was solely for his old grudge against the clan. This caused an uproar people demanding the child's head, accusing the Uchiha of treason.

The Third was forced to do the damage reduction, claimed that the Uchiha was rouge and was killed by the Fourth. This improved the Uchiha situation, people were still warry of them but open accusations and non-cooperation with the Police Force stopped.

Sadly, for Naruto nothing could improve his circumstances even a village wide explanation about jinchuriki and stating that it was their beloved Fourth's last wish to see the child as hero didn't do much. Majority of the villagers, genin and even younger chunin hated the boy. At the end Hiruzen was forced to make a law of making Naruto's status and S-Rank secret from the younger generations.

Still didn't help much as the matron and caretakers of the orphanages started neglecting the child. They couldn't outright abuse or hurt with Hokage, Jiraya of the Sanin and clan heads of Uchiha, Inuzuka, Nara, Yamanaka and Akimichi keeping tabs on the child. Instead, they isolated him from the other kids took his snack privileges, neglecting his basic education and allowed the other kids to bully him.

Jiraya one day found about this on his usual visits and hell broke loose. The Sanin was angry enough to kill them but calmed down and allowed the Police Force to arrest them. The Hokage and Jiraya decided that changing Naruto's orphanage or caretakers was not going help much so they decided to put the boy in high-end apartment full of high-level shinobi. With Mikoto and the other clan heads taking care of him.

Getting back to Naruto, we find running around his house causing mayhem. "I'm going to be late; I can't be late on first day of Academy" the boy muttered as rushed out of shower, dressed and ran out with a bread toast in hand. Naruto still stressed was running without and ran into someone on the hallway.

"Ouch, you know Naruto you should look where are you running" came the lazy voice of a silver-haired as he helped Naruto to stand up. "I don't have time Kakashi. I am running late on my first day" The boy blurted through the toast. "Chew it properly and then speak. And you wouldn't be late if you haven't overslept. Besides just say a black cat crossed your path and you have take the long way in" the now named Kakashi replied with same carefree town without even looking from his book.

"I am not you, so keep your lame excuses to yourself. Oba-chan would kill me if she found out I was late on the first day. Hey Kakashi can you please drop me"

"I don't know as a shinobi and the future Hokage you should take responsibility for your actions" Kakashi mused

"Oh, come on I haven't entered the academy yet. Just this once" begged Naruto

"Fine, but you will clean my room for a week"

"What, that's too much three days at best"

"Five or shall I leave"

"Fine" Naruto finally accepted the deal. Kakashi then took Naruto's hand and shunshined towards the Academy.

"Woah thanks, Kakashi" Naruto said as he ran away. Normally the journey towards Academy would have taken him 20min running at his top speed. With shunshin it took only three. "I really need to learn that" Naruto muttered as went to find his class.

Naruto found his class on the ground floor titled Class 1-A. The new academy system devised and improved from the old one is of five years in total. Kids that show signs of manipulating further than just living enter academy at the age of 7/8. The kids are then divided into 5 classes from A to E. Initially class A consist of clan kids and children of jonin, ANBU etc who are born with better genetics. After that the crop reduces in natural talent with each class with class E consisting of poor civilian and orphans. After every six months a test is taken and kids are shuffled based on their scores. So, after five years class 5-A graduates with most promising candidates in terms of future. It's normal for class A student fall back B or C but it is rare for someone from other than class B or exceptional ones for class C to reach class A.

Minato Namikaze has been the only candidate that went from class E to A in just a year. Going from E to B after his first test and then straight to A.

Naruto entered his class and relieved that he has arrived before their teacher. He scanned and found Sasuke already sitting at the first table in corner. Naruto instantly went and sat next to him.

"You barely made it idiot, I thought you were going to be late" muttered Sasuke Uchiha the second son Uchiha Clan Head and Police Force Chief. "I forgot Academy starts today and overslept" Naruto replied sheepishly as rubbed back of his head. "How could you forget when Academy starts. Mom was right you should had stayed the night" Uchiha retorted

"Wow the class is mostly full of clan kids. Look at there is your cousins sitting behind those Hyugas and there are Shikamaru and Chouji are the back" Naruto said as he waved them hi

"Of course, there are its class A consisting of only the most talented ones. My brother told me that class A consists of the best candidates and potential shinobi by time of graduation. How you are here is even a surprise since most orphans end in up D or E at the start." Sasuke replied "But then again are weird with you like you having an apartment in the shinobi part and Hokage personally looking after you" he added.

"Hey I don't know maybe I am just special" Naruto chimed "More like special idiot" snorted Sasuke "Oh I think I was special yesterday when I knocked your teeth with that roundhouse" "That was lucky shot" spat the Uchiha. "Lucky my foot I could easily done that whenever I want" "Oh really why don't do it now" Before the argument could escalate the door opened and the teacher arrived.

Naruto's day passed at Academy without much commotion. Sure, there were some whispers about him like why was he here in this class or other kids murmuring that their parents asked them to stay away from him. Especially at lunch when all the kids were around. But seeing him hang out with the Uchiha, Inuzuka, Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka heir nobody dared to bully him like in orphanage.

Although by Naruto was sure that even Academy some teachers didn't like him. He walked outside with Sasuke and he heard those whispers again "What why is he being allowed to enter academy with our kids" "I heard he is class A, what makes him special other than you know" "Look at him with youngest Uchiha heir why does his parents allow him to be that boy" "Hey maybe it's to keep him in check"

Naruto tuned down the murmurs as he was used to them. But Sasuke wasn't so he did what Uchiha do best glare at them. Even with big eyes and chubby cheeks Sasuke had a nasty glare for his age. So, the murmurs died down.

"Here boys" yelled the Uchiha clan head Mikoto Uchiha as she crouched and hugged the kids. "So, how your first day" "Boring" came the synchronised reply

"All they did was to tell us about the curriculum" Sasuke said "You know that for first six months we will only study and practice taijutsu stances. No sparring till the first test" Naruto added. Mikoto chuckled "It's just the start boys you'll have more fun by the next years"

"Naruto you are coming for the dinner tonight its feast for the start of their shinobi journey" added the Uchiha head. "Really is their Ramen" "Yes there is from Ichiraku too" "You are the best Oba-chan" yelled the boy "Don't worry Sasuke I have prepared your favourite tomato soup too" "You are awesome Mom" now Sasuke yelled as they all went towards the Uchiha clan compound

Naruto and Sasuke went to the training ground for some sparring after some snacks as Mikoto started the final preparations for the supper. "So, ready to lose another tooth" taunted Naruto "Keep talking I will make sure you can't eat tonight" retorted Sasuke as the boys took their stances.

Sasuke took the classic Uchiha interceptor fist stance and Naruto took his southpaw counter-strike stance. Sasuke was first to attack going for a kick at Naruto's chin which Naruto blocked from his right fist and went for left at the Uchiha's gut.

Sasuke seeing the incoming side-stepped and went a step back. Now Naruto went on offensive with right-handed jabs trying to break Sasuke's guard, the Uchiha started to weave with his guard up and waited for the right moment before interlocking Uzumaki's arm with his own pulling him close for a right cross. The blonde seeing he couldn't evade grabbed Sasuke' own elbow that was interlocked with his and went for knee for the gut while simultaneously putting up guard to block the cross. Uchiha seeing he couldn't stop the knee adjusted to side taking the on his rib and slipping past Naruto's guard to his cross on his lip.

Both boys separated and panted. The two of them were each other's worst opponent as the Uchiha-style was majorly based on fast pace attacking and overwhelming the opponents. With Sharingan's prediction abilities it was one of the nastiest taijutsu style. Even without the doujutsu it was overwhelming enough. Whereas Naruto being a natural southpaw gave him an advantage towards the most combined with his counter-attacks it was difficult stuff to deal with. The problem was that Sasuke can't go on offensive too due to Naruto's natural Southpaw stance if he screws up, he getting a counter like the roundhouse. Whereas if Sasuke is able to predict his counters, he could serious damage Naruto's remembers when Sasuke gave him a black eye.

This time Naruto went on the offensive same with right jabs on upper body while moving forward and trying a low kick on the calves of his opponent. Sasuke again side-stepped and hit back with kick to gut which was dodged by Naruto. But instead of just dodging Naruto grabbed his leg and tried to pull the Uchiha down for which the raven responded by using the Uzumaki as a leverage to land his other kick on his head which Naruto blocked from his hand as he pulled Sasuke to the ground.

The kick enough to loosen Naruto's grip as he stumbled backwards. Seeing the Uchiha down Naruto tried to jump on top of him but Sasuke was fast enough to recover. By now both boys were tired and so before it could further accelerate it was put a stop by emerging Itachi Uchiha.

"What have mother told about training alone" asked the Uchiha heir

"Not too" came the huffed reply

"And what are you doing" asked Itachi rhetorically

"Training alone" came back the rhetoric answer

The elder Uchiha just face-palmed and muttered something about stupid little brothers.

"Well please stop now. One of you might get injured before the supper" reprimanded Itachi "But Itachi-nii it's still an hour before supper" "Yeah, we will get bored" came the respective voices of Sasuke and Naruto.

"Fine, how about we practice kunai and shurikenjutsu. I remember Naruto-kun still has troubles with multiple shurikens and Sasuke kunai could use more accuracy and power."

Seeing the excited nods the elder Uchiha heir started with their practice. Safe to say the boys were tired enough by the end that they made sure nothing went to waste in the supper.

While Naruto was enjoying his night with the Uchiha, a certain spymaster decided to return.

"You should really start using the door Jiraya" called out the old Hokage. "Oh, come on sensei doors are for losers. Not someone as gallant as me" answered Sandaime last loyal student. "Sure, they are. So, what's the report"

"I might have some lead about our masked invader. You know about the mist civil war" "Yeah certainly, you think he is behind it" asked Sarutobi "I believe from my contacts it's believed that Mizukage didn't went mad but instead is being controlled" "And you think it's our masked man" inquired Hiruzen "I believe so, Fourth Mizukage is a perfect jinchuriki, any normal person can't control. Even Yamanaka wouldn't stand a chance"

"And what if it's bijuu, Its, not the first time a jinchuriki has lost it due to its bijuu" The Third argued. "Sensei Yagura has been Sanbi's jinchuriki since Rin Nohara's death. For more than five years now. If it was the bijuu it should have been far early. He reigned as a Kage for couple of years before he scummed to madness. And there has been no previous incident Sanbi driving its container towards mass slaughter."

"All that points to someone controlling him, and there is only one person we know of with the ability to control the bijuu" concluded Jiraya

Jiraya's hypothesis has put the Third in deep thought, there is a chance that the Mizukage was really a puppet. But if it wasn't Konoha's acts would be seen as an act of aggression. Even if he was it wouldn't matter Kumo and Iwa would definitely blame them for messing in a village's internal manner. He voiced his thoughts to the Sanin

"About that, I might have got it covered. The leader of the rebellion Mei Terumi has the Water Daimyo's support in the shadows as he doesn't want to mess with Yagura. She can get an official letter of request from Water Daimyo to Fire Daimyo for assistance. Then you have to act like you are hard to convince" explained the Sage.

"You have really thought this out. Fine ask them to send the letter" with Hiruzen's answer the Sanin summoned a toad to tell his contacts to connect with Mei Terumi.

"I think you will be part of this mission. Yup an I want Kakashi brat too. His sharingan will help with Yagura" asked the Sage. "You can have Kakashi if you want, but if you want someone to help with the bijuu. Shisui Uchiha will be your best choice" suggested the Hokage. "Shisui, I know the brat with all that Shunshin no Shisui thing, but he is not better than Kakashi"

"I wouldn't say better shinobi, but he is better to deal with equipped to deal with the bijuu. As young Shisui has obtained the Mangekyo Sharingan" Hiruzen's answer was enough to shock Jiraya. "Mangekyo how" "He believes the loss of his mother was enough to awaken the Mangekyo but just like Mikoto told we still don't about Mangekyo conditions. So, we are going with this only" came the answer.

"Well, if the brat has Mangekyo than bring him in too. But I am still taking Kakashi with me too" clarified the sage. Hiruzen nodded and prepared to inform the council about this.

"It looks it's my time to leave." "You are not going to the meeting with me"

"Hell, no sensei, those things bore me out. Besides I have some research to complete and a godson to meet" with that the Sanin departed.

Leaving Hiruzen alone to deal with migraine of council meetings. "You really have to die, don't you. You Blonde Bastard" muttered Sandaime as he looked at his successor's portrait.