{Land of Fire: The Fire Capital: Hikarinoya Palace/Palace of the Fiery Field}

August 4th

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Hikarinoya Palace, also known as the Palace of the Fiery Field, is home to the reigning Daimyo and his family and the seat of power for the country.

The main structure of Hikarinoya Palace features sweeping tiled roofs with upturned eaves; each layer is edged in shimmering red tiles that, when under sunlight, seem to glow as if ablaze, hence the name. The walls are crafted from polished cedar wood, stained a warm amber that complements the natural surroundings. Part of this structure was built by Hashirama himself as a thank-you to the reigning Lord of the time.

Indeed, of all the Daimyo in the world, the title of Firelord is perhaps the most stunning and awe-inspiring, due in large part to the beauty and majesty of the land they rule and its legacy.

But right now, for all that wealth and splendor, the ruling house, the Koneko family, is facing a crisis.

Supreme Arbiter Kogane Sakutaro was walking up the significant steps of Hikarinoya Palace. The man was walking past the rows of guards stationed outside the large property, and seeing who was visiting their Lord, the men opened the large and imposing crimson/gold torii gates adorned with intricate gold leaf patterns, allowing him through.

'This place never ceases to amaze,' Thought Kogane as he reached the top of the stairs.

He walked through the great and long entrance hall and was met with the heart of the palace, where the Daimyō usually held court and entertained his many guests. The floor is a mosaic of polished granite depicting a phoenix rising from the flames, the sigil of their house. Overhead, a grand chandelier crafted from wrought iron and crimson crystal casts a warm, inviting light throughout the room.

There was usually laughter or something regarding that nature, but right now, it was silent.

Looking up at who greeted him, it made sense as to why. The man sitting on the throne and overseeing everything is the former Fire Daimyo, Lord Yusuke Koneko, the father of the current ruler.

The man has black hair with white streaks and is at the age where he's beginning to look his years. The man isn't wearing his usual attire. He's dressed in a deep blue kimono, and he looks tired.

"We meet again, Supreme Arbiter." Said Yusuke, the man looking like he wanted to kill someone.

Kogane took a deep breath and exhaled, the man walking forward before bowing in front of the man.

"Regent Yusuke," said Kogane. "I have come on official business. I'm sure The Daimyo has already received word from the Chief Magistrate about the disputed-"

"Yes, he has. I wish to know why we weren't informed of this as it was happening," growled Yusuke.

Kogane paused, trying not to grimace in annoyance. 'He seems to forget that the throne he sits on is no longer his,' thought Kogane.

Indeed. It was nine years ago that House Koneko briefly lost the Daimyo throne, only for it to be regained a few years later, thanks to an assassination plot and the genius of Hisaki Koneko, Yusuke's eldest son.

"At the time, the matter was a simple dispute case involving the three lots stated in the file sent to His Excellency. It's with the revelation of-"

"Where is Watase?" asked Yusuke. "Where is my chief magistrate? I don't see him here."

Kogane stood up and went through the papers in his hand. "Watase is currently meeting Murata Sosu, the man who somehow activated these accounts and started this mess in the first place."

Yusuke sneered. "Why is the man who sent these... Documents, not here? And why is this even an issue? Dismiss these claims and send forth a Territorial rejection form."

Kogane scowled. "Lord Yusuke, with all due respect, You are the regent, not the Fire Lord. These are for The Fire Lord alone. I cannot obey an order of this magnitude without the express permission of the reigning Lord."

Yusuke glared at the man. "Why is this an issue at all? These claims are not valid, and they never will be! I will not have another Namikaze challenging my family's power again!"

"It's an issue because I am the Supreme Arbiter. It is my job to oversee both legal matters, presiding over significant legal claims and managing the financial and administrative aspects of our new and improved legal system. To trample over the laws set in place rather than ensuring justice is served for all parties regardless of status, I'd be reverting back to our ways from ten years ago. The laws that you were abusing won't work when your son has changed them for the better. Don't push things when this one change has saved your family's skin."

The guards in the room stiffened as Yusuka shot up from his chair and stomped his way towards Kogane, the man stopping in front of the other, the man seething. "Watch your mouth, you peasant! You are but a servant! Yoou will do as commanded or I'll have you gutted in these very halls!"

Kogane didn't say a word, and before things could escalate, the sound of Hisaki, the current Daimyo, opening the doors and coming out of the Council Chambers Adjacent to the Great Hall they were in was heard.

"Supreme Arbiter. Come with me," said the young man, his face in a scroll, seemingly unaware of the exchange that had happened.

Kogane gave a respectful bow toward Yusuke before walking past him and into the council chambers, leaving Yusuke to glare and fume.

'Something needs to be done about that little pest,' thought Yusuke in anger.

Like the rest of this palace, The Council Chambers is a work of art. It's where advisors and officials gather to discuss matters of state, rather than the previous council hall, which wasn't used for anything other than entertainment.

The chamber consists of a large, octagonal room with high walls and ceilings, which are covered with colorful murals depicting various scenes from history and mythology. The ceiling is adorned with a beautiful mosaic depicting a phoenix rising from the flames, symbolizing the rebirth of House Koneko. There are also shelves lined with ancient scrolls and legal documents and a large circular table that sits at the center, surrounded by plush cushions for seating.

In these seats sat the various council members, each with a different role or purpose.

"Take a seat," said Hisaki.

Kogane took a seat next to the Chief Magistrate, the man sitting on his left and Hisaki's right.

"Thank you for showing up when called. I understand that you are a busy man, but what High Chancellor Mashiro Watase brought to our attention a few days ago regarding these now disputed properties in Konoha. and the three major contested Provinces, I had to summon you to oversee this... complicated issue," said the Fire Daimyo.

Kogane nodded. "The three minor Provinces being challenged are The Mizushima Province, the Holy Hinoenma Province, where our shrine and great temple are located, and the Hanamachi Province."

Hisaki clenched his fist at the last one. His wife's family owns this Province, which makes them Provincial Lords. Losing this territory would massively dent his family's wealth and security and bring collapse to the Horuichi house, a house that has been loyal to House Koneko since before the warring states.

"We are currently planning a meeting with the Konoha council as well as Namikaze Naruto. We'll need to wait until after the chunin exams, but a date is already being drawn up to see if it can be done before the event. I'll be present for the event anyway, so going there early won't be strange. I can discuss things further with both Hiruzen and hopefully Naruto as well if I can meet him in person," the man said.

'And the meeting with the Hyuga clan can proceed at the earlier date as well,' he thought to himself.

There were nods everywhere save for one female who was deep in thought.

"We aren't playing nice with Hiruzen, are we?"

Hisaki shook his head." No. I plan to blindside him with a trial against him. Naruto's transition into these lands will take time, but unfortunately, given the circumstances shown in these files, he's already won. I need to play nice with him, not Hiruzen."

Kogane sat back and listened to the entire meeting, giving council where he could.

But in the back of his head, he was worried that this new and improved Daimyo would soon face a challenge too great for him to handle. He knew that Hisaki had many enemies, and with his allies being stripped of their titles, he'd be more vulnerable than ever.

He just hoped that the new Daimyo's reign wouldn't end thanks to affairs outside of his control.

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{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Training ground 44}

{Neji POV}

There were small craters everywhere from the many attempted uses of his newest jutsu, and scattered about as well were the kunai, shuriken, and anything else Tenten could throw at him.

He was slumped over, panting like a dog in the middle of the clearing, his chest heaving with exertion.

"You did it! You finally mastered it!"

Neji looked up and saw Tenten running towards him. The girl grabbed his shoulders to prevent him from falling.

"Y-yeah. And with time to spare. Thankfully, there's one more week to fit something in,"

Tenten's eyes widened before she glared. "Absolutely not! You need time to rest."

Neji shook his head." No. I'm out of time for that. I need to get stronger faster. The extra time given to us is a blessing I won't take for granted."

"But your body won't last if you push yourself like this; look at your arms!" Tenten argued, gesturing to his sliced-up and bleeding arms and hands.

Neji frowned. "I have to do this, Tenten. There's no telling what Hinata has already learned. I need to be ready."

The girl crossed her arms. She gave up on trying to convince Lee to slow down, but what she was witnessing here was Pure madness. The boy has accumulated countless injuries while learning this jutsu, and many were inflicted by her. This Rotation technique is impressive, but the learning curve for it is brutal.

Neji was plagued by the revelation that his cousin was gaining the upper hand every second due to her access to forbidden techniques that were off-limits for the branch family. Not only has Hinata caught up to him in skill, but she has also surpassed him in technique, hence his fanatical drive to improve.

"Neji, I'm not going to stop you from training some more. However, those wounds are in the worst place they can be. What if Hinata takes advantage of them?" She said, trying to get the boy to see reason.

Neji stared down at his forearms and grimaced; they were superficial." I've... endured worse."

Tenten loomed over him with an angry and stressed look, and he reluctantly sighed.

"Fine. I'll take care of them."

The girl smiled. "Good. We'll do so now. I'm not going to watch you fight at Fifty percent capacity. Not when I've invested so much time in you as well."

Neji gave a rare and soft smile. "Thank you for assisting me in this, Tenten. I really appreciate it."

The girl helped him up while trying to ignore the sudden feeling she felt in her chest. "Yeah. Sure. Let's get going already."

Neji gave a silent nod. 'I fear I've learned all I could. The only thing left to do is heal and master my emotions for what is to come.'

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{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Konoha hospital}

{Shikamaru POV}

A sweaty and tired Shikamaru walked alongside Asuma through the halls of the hospital, the reasoning for this being that his previous training partner incapacitated himself by eating too many dumplings, leaving him with a nasty case of indigestion.

In his hand was a fruit basket, something he thought Choji could use. However, the staff told them Choji couldn't eat anything, So now, he's just stuck with a stupid fruit basket.

"This is such a drag. I went through all the trouble of picking this thing up when I could've kicked my feet up, yet Choji can't even have it."

Asuma chuckled. "It's alright. The important thing is that you cared enough to get it for him. That means a lot."

Shikamaru shook his head. 'Yeah, whatever. I'm ready to sit down somewhere."

Asuma nodded. The boy was fresh out of a grueling training session, and it was commendable that he went out of his way to shop in his exhausted state.

They approached Choji's room and heard talking coming from within.

"Oh, stop your whining and swallow already! Doctor's orders!" Ino's voice rang out.

"NO! I don't want that crap! I want something else! I'm tired of soup!" yelled Choji from within the room,

"Well, like usual, Ino beat us to him," said Asuma.

Shikamaru snorted. "Yeah, and she's driving him crazy."

The two entered the room and saw Ino trying to get Choji to take a spoonful of soup.

"Hey, guys. I was wondering when you'd show up. Help me hold this big baby down so I can feed him." said Ino.

Shikamaru put the fruit basket on a nearby table and crossed his arms. "Come on, Choji. A girl is trying to feed you and you're being difficult?"

Choji glared at the boy. "She keeps trying to force this crap down my throat! It tastes awful!"

Ino frowned. "No, it doesn't. It's your mother's soup. It will assist your stomach acid. Now eat!"

Choji shook his head. "Nuh-uh. I'm not taking another bite. You're trying to kill me, I swear it!"

Asuma watched as Choji and Ino continued to argue and chuckled. "well, at last, you know not to eat too many pork dumplings."

"Never! My stomach may disagree with me, but my soul yearns for it. I need it more than anything," Choji argued.

Everyone in the room sighed. "OK, I'll hold him down," said Shikamaru.

Ino smirked, and more cries of protest rang out from the room hospital room, prompting the hospital staff to periodically check on Choji for a good chunk of the day.

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{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Training ground 30}

"What the hell kind of training was that?! Kiba screamed as he stumbled out of the woods.

"Oh, relax. You're fine. My bugs were ordered not to do any harm. You were safe the entire time," Shino said, coming out from behind him.

"Safe? What does safety have to do with being covered head to toe with bugs, Shino?" Kiba screamed.

"You are making a big deal out of nothing. I used a weak strain of fire ants and bees to keep you occupied. You weren't in any danger."

"You're fucking nuts! Akamaru, back me up here!" Kiba said, looking at his dog, who was now in his arms.

Akamaru barked in response and looked at Shino with a glare.

Shino shrugged. "I'll pay you both back, I promise. This training was effective, so thank you both."

Kiba sighed and shook his head. "Oh, whatever. You'd better beat Shikamaru, because this is getting ridiculous."

"It won't be a problem. I'm prepared to win," Shino said, walking away from the angry Kiba.

"Yeah, yeah. Good luck," Kiba said, heading back to the village, not bothering to listen to anything else Shino had to say. A long bath was the only thing on the boy's mind.

Shino waved as the two walked off, Akamaru now in tow.

He then pulled out his notebook and began writing. During his session, he discovered a few new methods of combat—underground warfare.

He smiled at the thought. The possibilities were endless.

'I'll have to make some adjustments to my attire.' He thought.

The boy walked off to speak with his father. He needed a few tips before he could fully incorporate this into his combat style.

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{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Hidden Leaf Village Hotel}

Temari and Kankuro were startled when Baki slammed the doors to their room open.

"Where is Gaara?! You two were supposed to be watching him!" yelled the Jonin.

The two looked at one another in shock before getting up and rushing to Gaara's room.

Temari threw the sliding door open to find that the silhouette of the boy had been nothing but a sand statue.

"Shit!" hissed Kankuro.

Temari went pale and backed away, her heart pounding.

"W-we need to find him before he does something reckless!" the girl said.

Baki scowled. "No shit! Scatter! Find Gaara and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid!"

"Yes, sir!" Temari and Kankuro said in unison.

The two jumped out the window after slipping their sandals on and began their search for Gaara.

Baki walked further into the room and clenched his fist, his heart gripped with stress and fear. "I swear to the Buddha himself, Gaara! If you do anything to jeopardize our mission, it'll be all our heads!"

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Temari {POV}

She and her brother raced through the village, trying to keep their heads cool, but the thought of their baby brother going ballistic at any moment was a terrifying prospect.

"Damn it! Where are you?!" yelled Kankuro.

Temari took a breath and tugged at her Kankuro's sleeve while guiding her through the air. "Hang on! We need to stop!"

"Huh?!" yelled Kankuro, and both of them landed on a residential building.

"What do you mean stop! That twerp is about to go nuts at any moment! We can't stop!"

"Kakuro! Listen to me! Gaara isn't stupid; you found out the hard way, remember?" she hissed.

Kankuro finched at the memory of Gaara almost crushing his arm for playing a harmless joke. It was the last time he ever tried to bond with him. "Y-yeah, so what?"

"Think! He knows he's in a foreign village and understands that getting caught doing something gruesome here, of all places, would result in punishment. What's the one place you can guarantee he'll go to where he can... satisfy his bloodthirst without people knowing?"

Kankuro opened his mouth before closing it. 'Where would that be?'

His eyes widened, and she was relieved he caught on. "Just like at home. He'll be going into the slums, the place where no one will question a dead body or two."

Temari nodded. "Exactly. Now, let's find a more extensive map and go from there."

The two took off and crossed their fingers, hoping to Kami that Gaara hadn't already done something terrible.

Unfortunately, they will find that they are a few minutes too late for that.

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{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Kageura District}

The moment Gaara left his hotel room, the Anbu commander was already on his tail.

For him, watching the Jinchuuriki was the most important thing he had to do, as well as making sure he didn't get into any trouble.

The boy was obviously tunnel-visioned and aloof to their presence, and he found this to be a good thing.

When he saw him entering this district of all places, he relaxed. It wasn't as bad as entering the one ruined by the nine-tails, where displaced families still live, for this place is meant for the unwanted, poorest of the poor, the expendable.

The Anu captain beside him leaned forward, his hand on his tanto when seeing Gaara's sand spill out and start moving on its own.

"It's starting. That monster is about to go on a rampage." said the captain, ready to strike at any moment.

The commander gently placed a hand on the captain's hilt, stopping him from acting. "Don't. Stay put. Let him get it out of his system."

Some of the Anbu present looked at their leader in shock, but he waved them off.

"Sir, with all due respect, we can't just let him slaughter innocent people," said the captain.

"We don't have a choice. The Hokage doesn't want this thing detained because he doesn't want Sunagakura pivoting to invade early. We act if his rampage extends to the more relevant part of the village," said the commander.

The captain scowled behind his mask. "Yes, sir."

Gaara moved through the streets like a phantom, searching for something to quench his thirst for blood. He has already come to the conclusion that the people here aren't worth his time, but his desire for murder is too much. He needed to feel it, his purpose for living.

He turned the corner and saw a group of street rats picking on another boy who was being held down.

He watched as they struck him multiple times, and Gaara smiled. "Perfect."

The older boys noticed Gaara and glared. "Who the hell are you?"

Gaara didn't respond.

One of the boys stepped forward. "Hey! Get lost before you get hurt!"

The Anbu captain was on the verge of jumping in, but the commander had him by the wrist.

"They're kids!" he hissed silently.

"Not yet. Watch."

Gaara raised his hand, and the boys were startled when they saw sand rising up from behind Gaara.

"W-what the hell!" yelled the older boy.

The sand shot up forward, and the Anbu all tensed at what they were about to witness.

Before the sand could slam into the kids, a blast of wind knocked them away, saving them from being crushed.

The Anbu sighed in relief, and the commander nodded. 'Perfect. Right where they need to be,'

Temari landed before the boys and Gaara, holding her hands out. "Wait, Gaara! Please! Don't do it!"

Gaara growled in anger, and with a wave of his hand, he sent a wave of sand toward Temari, forcing the girl to use her fan to blow away the sand.

The kids behind her flinched away and went into a fetal position, wind and sand kicking up everywhere.

Kankuro landed beside her and pulled his puppet out. "Gaara, stop! We aren't home, remember?! You can't just go around-"

"Shut the hell up." Growled Gaara. "You can't tell me what to do, now move before I kill you too!"

Kankuro paled at first but resolved himself to their mission, glaring at his brother. "No, Gaara! Sometimes, you need to listen to your older siblings!"

Gaara tilted his head, and an evil smirk made its way onto his lips. "Siblings? So now we're siblings?"

Temari ushered the kids away and turned to Gaara. "G-Gaara, please. Just listen to reason and-"

"Save it. You let my prey get away. And don't ever lump me in with you people. We aren't the same; we aren't siblings. You people are all the same; you're just like your father. Another life for me to take when the time's right." Growled Gaara as he turned around and began skulking away, likely to find another victim.

Before he could think to begin his search again, he found himself face to face with the Anbu commander and his squad.

Temari and Kankuro paled, and Gaara just glared.

"What are you three doing outside of your permitted area? Didn't we make it clear where you could and couldn't venture off to?" asked the Anbu Commander.

"Um, you see, we were, uuh, training, yeah. We were training." Said Kankuro nervously.

Temari resisted the urge to facepalm.

The Anbu didn't say a word, none of them moving an inch, and it made both Temari and Kankuro nervous.

Gaara glared and took a step forward, but the moment he did, a blade rested casually on his neck, the commander moving faster than anyone could percieve, save for the Anbu captains.

Gaara was frozen, but not out of fear, but of revelation. He's not dumb. He knows better than to pick a fight with an older shinobi. He learned this lesson when trying to kill both his father and Baki. He wouldn't be spared if he did something reckless.

"We'll escort you three back to the hotel. Don't let this monster out of your sight again. He's obviously deranged." said The commander, removing his sword.

Kankuro and Temari nodded the former bending over in relief. "Thank you. It won't happen again."

The captain ushered the Genin away, and The Anbu commander crossed his arms, staring at Gaara's back.

'So he isn't stupid enough to lash out. What a shame. It would've been the perfect excuse to eliminate him.' He thought to himself.

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{Land of Fire: Midoriyama Village: The Fields}

Residents of Midoriyama Village have gathered just outside the field to witness the sparring between Naruto and Jiraiya, with these residents being mostly curious children and a few worried adults.

Since coming to this village to train, Naruto has grown exponentially in skill and power. As he was, he could easily keep pace with Lee with his weights off, though his speed was rough and somewhat sloppy.

But his training didn't aim at simple speed. Everything was increasing. His muscle definition was more prominent, his movements were faster, and he hit much harder than before.

As for Naruto's taijutsu training, though a bit rough around the edges, he's become adept at his frog kata to a greater extent. The agility and strength training was paying off mostly thanks to his ability to recover from gruesome muscle tears and aches quickly, meaning he didn't need to wait long to continue his training. However, That didn't mean it wasn't a problem. Soreness could be a real bitch.

It did allow him to push himself harder and faster without worry, something normal people couldn't afford to do when put under as much stress as him. Add that with his vitality and you have a force to be reckoned with.

Jiraiya and Naruto stood on opposite ends of the field, each looking at the other with serious expressions.

Jiraiya looked at the boy up and down and couldn't help but be painfully reminded of Minato. Thanks to his hair not being cut down much, the boy was the spitting image of the man. Though not prominent, it was enough to catch the eye of anyone who either knew or remembered the man.

'I suppose since his true name will be known soon, there's no need to stress over his stubborn hair growth,' thought the sage.

"OK, Naruto. Starting now, I want you to come at me with everything you can dish out, and I mean everything," said Jiraiya.

Naruto looked a bit surprised, falling out of his taijutsu stance. "Everything? Ninjutsu as well?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Yup. I want to see how far you've come. It's the only way to get the best picture of your progress."

Naruto pondered this for a moment, taking in Jiraiya's words before nodding. "Alright. If that's what you want."

Naruto's first move was to create shadow clones and rush back, fifty of them popping up all around him, with forty charging Jiraiya with everything they had as the remaining ten stood by for support.

Jiraiya rolled his eyes. 'Shadow clones? C'mon kid, show me something different.'

Naruto's clones attacked head-on, but Jiraiya quickly dispersed them one by one, dancing around them with no effort.

But this was only to buy time as Naruto went through hand seals.

"Water style: Wild Water wave!" yelled the clones and eight of them spewed a torrent of water at the man, who didn't budge.

The amount of water that came his way actually took Jiraiya by surprise. 'Oh? Using clones to create a more potent water-style Jutsu? Interesting.'

Jiraiya leaped into the air, backflipping as the water nearly rammed into him.

Since they were on a hill, the massive flood of water raced down the hill, and Jiraiya rode the wave, watching Naruto and his clones leap off the hill.

The man recognized the lightning sign and scoffed. 'You're going to need to be more creative than that, Uzumaki,' thought Jiraiya as he hopped into the air, his hair going stiff as he took in the air, preparing a jutsu ahead of the one he was about to perform.

"Sage art: Toad oil Wave!" yelled Jiraiya, and he spit a wave of oil larger than the water wave, splitting the water instantly, the oil covering the surrounding area as well.

This surprised Naruto, as he hadn't seen the man use this technique before.

Naruto and his clones scattered, and their plan was ruined as the water and oil were dispersed throughout the field.

He gave silent communication to his clones to surround the battlefield as he slid away, the ground now slick with mud and oil, and Jiraiya took advantage of his lack of stability.

'Ninja art: Hair needle senbon,' announced Jiraiya in his head, his hair shooting needles at Naruto, who deflected the attack by clasping his hands together to create his personalized barrier, the velocity of the senbon slightly causing them to pierce into the barrier.

Jiraiya smirked. "not bad,'

Jiraiya changed his handsign, and suddenly, his hair became a maw that rushed at the blonde.

Naruto's eyes widened. Afraid to slip on the sleek and muddy ground, he stood his ground and threw his hand out, erecting his barrier armament.

The maw smashed through both easily, knocking the boy away and sending him sliding across the field.

Jiraiya was already skating across the ground when he flew into a kick that the boy blocked with both arms, the force behind it sending him flying.

Naruto crashed into the ground hard, but he wasn't done. He shot up from the ground and rushed out of the way of a descending heel kick, spinning into a counter-clockwise kick that Jiraiya bent away from, sweeping Naruto from underneath as he did so.

Naruto landed on his hands and flipped back onto his feet before sending a series of palm strikes at Jiraiya, who slapped them away with little difficulty.

The Sannin then thrust his palm out to send the boy away, and Naruto leaned away, catching and latching onto the man's arm faster than Jiraiya knew the boy could do, and Naruto twisted his body into a heel kick, using Jiraiya's arm as leverage.

Jiraiya blocked three consecutive kicks from the boy before swiping at him, Naruto releasing Jiraiya and blurring to his left, Naruto using Jiraiya's size against him to send a flurry of punches into the man's side, forcing the sage to twist and block.

'Not bad. This kid's actually keeping me on my toes. Just a few more minutes, and I can start taking him seriously,' thought Jiraiya.

Jiraiya was a stationary blur as he suddenly went low and thrusted a kick towards Naruto's chest, and the boy bent back farther than he ever has to avoid it, his flexibility coming to light in that moment.

Jiraiya smirked and went into something similar to a breakdance, spinning his limbs and kicking Naruto's feet and hands from under him.

Naruto hit the ground once more, and Jiraiya's foot met the boy's stomach, causing Naruto to once again slide across the ground.

Naruto grit his teeth at his predicament. 'What the hell was I thinking? Starting with water was a shitty Idea! I can't keep still in this crap!'

Naruto slid to his feet, and Jiraiya, across from him, looked at him expectantly. 'C'mon kid, show me more, ' the older man thought.

Naruto let out a breath and raised both hands and dull golden, jagged, spiked chains fell to the floor.

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "There they are."

Naruto scowled and pumped chakra into them, their size increasing. And with a single thought, they shot forth, ripping the dirt they previously sat on to shreds.

Jiraiya blurred to the side, watching the chains race past him and embed themselves into the distant trees and ground behind him.

Jiraiya rushed Naruto, and another large chain erupted from Naruto's chest. The man dodged under it to get closer, and just as he did, he saw the blue light of the Rasengan in Naruto's hand.

Jiraiya reacted fast, and his own Rasengan was formed to counter Naruto's. What sounded like grinding metal and heavy vibrations rang out as the two Rasengans clashed, and the ground beneath them instantly caved in.

The two were evenly matched, which Jiraiya was fine with as he wanted to see how well Naruto could keep up with him.

Naruto growled, pushing harder, and to Jiraiya's surprise, Naruto's Rasengan increased in size and power.

'So he can already increase its size? And in the middle of a clash, no less? Very good,' thought Jiraiya before the man did the same, getting a frustrated look from Naruto.

With their hands still pressed against one another, Jiraiya went through a series of hand signs with his free hand, noting that Naruto couldn't control his chains and maintain the clash at the same time. "Sage art: Toad oil Bullet!"

A powerful stream of oil spewed from his mouth, slamming into the boy's Barrier armament and sending him flying away.

'He was fast enough to defend himself with that annoying little trick of his.' Thought Jiraiya.

Naruto's Rasengan went flying, exploding in the distance. The boy was unable to maintain it as he flew back, but Jiraiya didn't care about that.

Jiraiya watched as Naruto landed on his feet and was still sliding back thanks to the slickness of the oil and mud, but it seemed Naruto suddenly got a handle on his footing, the boy suddenly coming to a halt by adding chakra to his feet.

'Why didn't I think of that before?!' thought the blonde.

Jiraiya looked around, keeping an eye on the boy's clones as Naruto gathered himself, and Naruto got an idea while he was doing so.

His clones caught on and went on the move, surrounding them in a wide circle.

Naruto sighed and twisted his back, and adjusted his neck. 'OK. You wanna play that game, Jiraiya? Let's go then.'

Naruto, without warning, performed the wind bullet jutsu, lethal and concentrated winds blasting forth, and Jiraiya responded by clasping his hands together to erect a mud wall that hardened the moment it came into contact with the winds.

'That's easily Naruto's fastest jutsu in his arsenal,' thought the man, a grin on his face as he saw his mud wall being pierced through, and he wisely dashed away as holes were blown in.

A rain of shuriken came curving around the wall and straight for Jiraiya, and the man brought out a kunai, realizing that the amount sent was no joke.

'And duplicating his shuriken jutsu with the Shadow clone Jutsu? Interesting' thought Jiraiya as he blocked all the weapons.

Jiraiya was caught off guard when the entire field suddenly caught ablaze, the Fire rising up like a wall in front of him, and he realized one of the shurikens had an ignitor seal on it, the sparks from is causing the oil-filled field to catch Fire.

This left Jiraiya trapped on this side of the field, and the Fire prevented him from moving freely.

The Fire spread, surrounding Jiraiya, and he realized what the clones were doing. They were waiting for him to be right where he was.

"Earth style: Mud dome!" Jiraiya yelled, a wall of mud arching over him.

The Naruto clones all performed the wind stream jutsu and the wind cyclone jutsu, fanning the flames and ensuring it doesn't spread beyond the field and surrounding the area with a massive tornado of Fire.

'Oh, hell! Now, this is what I wanted to see! Very impressive!' thought Jiraiya in his dome.

Naruto crossed his arms as he watched the blaze from a distance and scowled when he felt Jiraiya's presence from within become faint.

His clones all ceased their jutsu, and the Fire dissipated, revealing nothing but scorched earth and oil.

'Where'd he-'

Naruto turned to one of his clones as the rest of them regrouped with him.

Naruto gave his clone a look, the clone looking confused at the expression on his creator's face.

"What?" asked the clone, only for Jiraiya, the man using the Toad Flatness: Shadow Manipulation Technique, to disperse it.

Jiraiya's hair instantly blurred and wrapped all the gathered Narutos', dispersing the fakes and bringing the real one.

"Gotcha," said Jiraiya, a triumphant smile on his face.

Naruto sighed. "Can this jutsu kill?"

Jiraiya smirked, and Naruto felt the man's hair spike up by just a touch, enough so to emphasize that this was no jutsu to take lightly. "It can. Trapping you is dangerous for anyone who doesn't know about those nasty chains. If this were a real fight, I'd have-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. There's no need to rub it in. Can you release me now?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya let go of the boy and watched as he let out a sigh.

"You didn't use everything."

Naruto gave the man a weird look. "I threw my strongest jutsu at you. My chakra chains and Rasengan meant nothing."

"You have fuinjutsu aside from that little barrier projection thing, and you still could have pulled on the nine-tails chakra. It would've made things easier for you. You can pull on it, right?" Jiraiya pointed out.

Naruto clenched his fist, and his hair stood up, his eyes becoming red. But unlike before, his eyes didn't hold aggression. "I can. It's easier than before. For some reason, the Ninetail's power isn't pulling away from me."

Jiraiya raised a brow. "is that so? How odd. I wonder why that is."

Naruto shrugged, and his hair returned to normal, his eyes fading to blue. "I don't know. I still haven't met this creature, so I can't tell you anything about it. The only thing that changed was my ability to access its power, but the moment I do, it's like I'm getting a glimpse of what it's feeling. This is something that I can't explain."

Jiraiya leaned forward. "what? A glimpse into what it's feeling?"

Naruto nodded.

"What was it feeling just now?"

"calm," said Naruto.

Jiraiya's eyes widened. "what?"

Naruto sighed. "It's weird. It feels like it's... I don't know. Maybe it's just a fluke."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin in thought. 'that isn't the feeling I would have expected from the demon fox.'

Naruto watched as the man became lost in thought and sighed. "We have an audience, by the way."

Jiraiya looked up and turned around to see a bunch of curious villagers and kids. 'crap. I forgot about them.'

"Well, Naruto. I say we end things here for today. I can say for sure that you've reached the point of being beyond Chunin."

Naruto crossed his arms and frowned. "Are you telling me I can take on a Jonin? Because if so, you're stretching."

Jiraiya shrugged. "I'm saying you have the potency of one. No one can escape those chains, and the Rasengan isn't something to scoff at."

Naruto nodded and looked at the field, a guilty expression crossing his features. "I wish I hadn't set the entire place ablaze like that. I'm surprised this didn't burn down the surrounding area."

"I'll take care of that, Naruto. Why don't you head into town and get some rest? Go into the hot spring and relax for a bit. I'll handle this mess."

Naruto smiled. "Thank you, Jiraiya-sensei. I'll see you there."

Naruto gave the man a respectful bow before walking off.

'He called me Jiraiya-sensei. About time he did that.' thought the man, pride swelling in his chest at seeing how far the boy had come since meeting him.

Naruto walked down the hill, taking note of all the kids who were staring at him in awe.

Naruto smirked as one of the girls ran up to him with wide eyes.

"You were so cool out there! You said you were a genius! Can Genin really do that in the hidden leaf village?!" said a girl in excitement. Her name is Mari, and she's the daughter of the owner of the hot springs here.

She's his age—maybe a year older. She has brown curly hair, green eyes, and freckles.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "I wouldn't say that."

The girl smiled, and before she could say anything, more kids began bombarding him with questions, and Naruto was left with no way to escape them.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya was explaining things to the authorities.

'We should have gone somewhere more private,' thought the blonde.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Midoriyama Village: Serene Pines Lodge: the hotsprings}

"Here you are, Uzumaki-san," said Mari, the girl placing a towel on Naruto's head.

Naruto smiled. "Thank you, Mari. You don't need to do all this."

Mari blushed. "it's OK. I don't mind. Your performance was so cool! It made me want to be a shinobi myself."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Trust me, being a shinobi is no joke. Enjoy your freedom while it lasts."

Mari gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?"

"You don't live long. You get sent off to war, and you end up getting hurt or even killed. It's not always fun and games."

Mari nodded. "I know. My dad was a shinobi before he retired. He says the same thing."

Naruto smirked. "I'm glad he settled down and started this place. The food here is good."

Mari giggled. "Yeah. He's the best at cooking. But it's my mom that started this place."

Naruto shook his head, and before the girl could continue to ask questions, her mother came through the door.

"Mari, leave that boy alone. Let him relax in peace."

Mari pouted. "But mooom! I just wanted to talk!"

The woman gave a stern look, and Mari sighed and walked out of the room, leaving the two alone.

"Enjoy your bath, young man; tell your master he's banned."

Naruto nodded at first before standing up in shock. "Banned?! What did he do?"

She gave the boy a look, and he knew immediately what was happening.

The boy sighed and shook his head. 'why does he have to be such a peeping tom? I swear, he's gonna get himself in real trouble one day.'

Line break.

Naruto entered the hot tub and enjoyed the warm water. It was nice, and he really needed this. So much was happening in his life now, and he needed time to process it all. Every time he tried, he fell asleep or was simply too tired to think.

The thought of war was terrifying to him. He wasn't afraid of his own safety but the safety of his friends. He even had a nightmare of his adult self standing in front of the very monument Kakashi showed him and his teammates, the names of his entire class having been carved into it.

It was a disturbing nightmare, and it left him shaken. The implications were worse than those nightmares where he's being chased by angry adults or being hunted by some beast.

He shuddered at the thought and submerged himself underwater, blowing bubbles as he did so.

'Sunagakure teaming up with Konoha's boogieman, Orochimaru, to take us down. I don't understand why they would attack us when we've done nothing wrong. Surely there must be a valid reason for it.' thought Naruto.

Naruto closed his eyes, and the faces of his friends and loved ones came to mind. 'I can't wait to go home.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Konoha Administrative Complex, AKA, The Civilian Council building}

civilian Councilchairman Yutani sat in his large office pondering the gravity of a visit from a representative of the Fire Lord himself. To come to Konoha not to deal with shinobi affairs but civilian affairs is a rare and highly unusual occasion.

He understood that with the Chunin exams fast approaching, many from all over the world would attend. But to send a representative to address issues with Konoha's civilian population? Very interesting. It could be that given the scale of this event and the inevitable presence of the Daimyo himself, financial matters are being addressed as well.

His many friends made many different assumptions, but the one they stuck with was that he was here to make special arrangements on behalf of the Fire Lord, given the numerous business opportunities this event would bring. It made the most sense.

A knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts, and he perked up.

"Come in," he said, his voice cracking from lack of use.

The doors opened, and a young woman peeked through. "We just received word that the High Chancellor of Fire Country is not far from Konoha and will be on his way here soon."

Yutani nodded and stood from his desk. "Thank you for informing me. Is everyone present in the council chambers?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir. Everyone is waiting for you."

Yutani adjusted his sash and walked past the young woman, who bowed as he walked by.

The man walked down the halls and through the doors of the council chambers and was met with the curious stares of all the other members.

Yutani looked at an empty seat and scowled. "Where is Haruno-san?"

"Behind you." Midori Haruno said, the older man walking in from behind. "I went for a quick coffee; I'm sorry."

Yutani shook his head and walked past the man, taking his seat at the table.

'Now we wait.' thought the man.

Line break.

High Chancellor of Fire Country, Watase Mashiro, approached the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village, Flanked by a retinue befitting his esteemed position.

The scene was one of both grandeur and authority. Four elite samurai, clad in the dark attire of the Fire Country's special forces, and Toshiro Watanabe, a member of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, moved in practiced formation around the Chancellor, their eyes scanning the surroundings with unwavering vigilance.

Behind them, a small contingent of officials and aides followed closely. A dignified aide-de-camp held a leather-bound ledger, ready to manage the details of the visit. A legal advisor, adorned with a scroll case, stood by to provide any necessary legal clarifications. Two clerks trailed behind, carrying neatly stacked documents and blank scrolls, prepared to document the proceedings.

As they entered the village, villagers paused and murmured, recognizing the significance of such a high-profile visit, and wondered what the occasion was.

The entourage made their way towards the Konoha Administrative Complex, where members of the Civilian Council awaited the Chancellor's arrival.

Upon entering the building, many paused their work, the gravity of the visit being made apparent.

The High Chancellor's support by his retinue underscored the importance of his mission and visit. He was there to deliver a message that would reverberate through the village: the revelation that Namikaze Naruto was to inherit extensive lands and businesses within and without Konoha, a legacy hidden until now.

When the doors to the council chambers opened, the many civilian council members who had sat with anticipation looked up and stood, bowing as the High Chancellor and his entourage came into the room.

Once the formalities were over, Watase sat and adjusted his attire. The man sitting directly across from him was a stern-looking Yutani.

On the inside, Yutani was freaking out. 'What is this?! This kind of visit would be expected from the Hokage, not some bureaucrat! Does this mean an administrative takeover?'

The High Chancellor cleared his throat, gaining the attention of those around the table.

Watase's face showed no emotion as he spoke. "I understand you are wondering why I am here, and I also understand that you all are busy people, so I'll get straight to the point. I must bring attention to a major revelation that has been hidden from Konoha's populace for years."

Everyone at the table shared glances, wondering what this man was on about.

"The Namikaze name has been revived."

Many in the room gasped, with the exception of a select few. Murmurs went out throughout the room, and Yutani's eyes widened. The sound of the scribe writing furiously brought everyone back to attention.

"The revival of the Namikaze line is a grave issue. Your Hokage has hidden this from the populace, and as a result of this, many lands and properties that once belonged to Namikaze Minato must be re-evaluated. The deeds and files were gone over repeatedly, and we found that due to an unfortunate loophole of the man having a secret heir, many of the properties are now in dispute," said Watase.

A random councilor raised a hand, and Watase gave him a nod. "Speak."

"Who is this Namikaze heir? Is it someone from outside of the village?"

Watase shook his head. "No. The heir is Konoha's jinchuriki."

The room fell silent for a moment, the sound of shuffling papers ceasing.

"What?! The Nine-Tailed Fox Jinchuriki?" another asked, incredulous, and many of the council members burst into a cacophony of conversation.

Watase raised his hands. "Indeed. The son of Namikaze Minato and Kushina Uzumaki, as well as the heir to the Namikaze lineage, is Namikaze Naruto. Everyone, please calm down so we can proceed."

The man was handed a file by his assistant. He slid it across to where Yutani sat, the councilor catching and opening it.

Within the file were various documents: deeds, property agreements, contracts, and a birth certificate. But what horrified them all was the will. This was the deathstroke to them all.

Yutani stared at the document, his mind processing the information presented.

Others wanted to gather around him, but Watase gave a stern look that demanded professionalism, and they reluctantly went back to their seats.

"Tell me what you see, Chairman," Watase ordered.

"It's the deeds to his many properties, the boy's birth certificate, his business contracts, some of which I'm not familiar with, and... a will."

Haruno Midori, Akio Toin, and Kamiya Mieko, the owners of the Silverleaf trading company, all paled, thinking the exact same thing. 'He left a will?!'

Midori gave a look to Akio, giving a subtle signal to calm down, to which his three fellow directors nodded.

Watase motioned towards Yutani. "Read it for the rest of us so the real discussion can begin."

Yutani sighed and read the will out loud.

": As of a couple of weeks ago, I found out that my wife, Kushina, is pregnant with my child. This was a huge surprise to me since I swear I was careful, but looking back (Scribble), I was counseled by both sensei and Lord Third to prepare a will in case something happened to either me or my wife, and seeing that they are both wiser and more experienced when it comes to dealing with these things, I trust their judgment, especially when it comes to protecting my family.

First, to my wife Kushina, my one and only, I want you to know that I love you, and I love our unborn child. If something were to happen to me, naturally, custody of our child and immediate belongings should be passed to her for obvious reasons. The second, in terms of custody, goes to my father, Jiraiya. He's not my real father, but he's the closest thing to it, and thus, I named him guardian. The third and final candidate for custody goes to the Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi.

My properties go to either my wife or my son, and the same goes for all assets, material and immaterial. The company I've finally managed to get off the ground, the Silverleaf Trading and Shipping Company, shall also pass to my heir, with either my wife or my friend Murata Sosu as the temporary acting manager until my child comes of age.

I have given everything to my wife and child because I don't wish to have them live in poverty, so I'm doing my best to secure their futures.

If my child turns out to be a girl, all of the same documents and property go to her; nothing changes, same for any order of children I have."

Yutani felt a shiver run up his spine and sighed. "This is indeed Minato's will."

The council chamber was filled with silence, and many of the council members had mixed feelings about the will.

"What does this mean?" a female counselor asked, her voice showing obvious worry.

Watase cleared his throat and looked at his legal Advisor, who nodded and came forward to answer the question.

"It means that Namikaze Naruto will gain all properties, assets, and inheritance left by his father, Namikaze Minato. Any land or business enterprise being held by Namikaze Minato in the past is now the property of his son, Namikaze Naruto. Unfortunately, the properties that were sold off and transferred into other hands are now in dispute, but the primary titles must be handed over. These titles are both the Commercial district of Hoseki Plaze and the entire south side of Niji Gardens, the residential lands."

The entire council erupted in chaos.

"I Live in Niji Gardens! What do you mean the demon child has control of the district? I just paid off my house! I won't move!" screamed one woman.

"I also live in that district! I don't want to lose my home!" said another.

Watase raised his hand to silence them, but they kept on going.

"I have businesses in Hoseki! You expect me to pay rent to some brat?!"

"I have a few as well! This is crazy! This isn't fair!"

"Namikaze Minato surely had no heir! He wasn't married! That demon is not his son! If so, he's a bastard!"

Watase growled. "Silence!"

The room didn't stop its eruption, and the man sighed. With one glance at Toshiro, the Guardian shinobi stepped forward.

The room was briefly engulfed in ki. Nothing bad, just enough to quiet things down, and the room went silent.

"Thank you," Watase said.

"What does this mean for us? Surely these proceedings aren't as simple as uprooting people from their homes and forcing them to pay rent to a twelve-year-old boy!" Midori Haruno asked.

Watase nodded. "Indeed. This will take some time, but I am here to give the order for Naruto to be recognized as Namikaze Naruto, not simply to order lands to be taken. It was a necessary announcement because I'm aware that all of your own lands are being claimed."

"You want us to announce the boy as a Namikaze?! Oh, for fucks sake! The Third Hokage had this hidden away! We could be killed for doing such a thing!" said Midori Haruno.

Watase shook his head. "Not when receiving the order from someone like me. After this meeting, I'm moving on to announce this to the Hokage's shinobi council. He knows I'm here, and he no doubt knows why. He's not going to interfere or object. He will be more worried about saving his own skin than dishing out punishment."

The council calmed down by just a smidge, but nothing more.

"What about the claims on both the lands and businesses? How do we defend ourselves?" asked a councilwoman.

Watase looked at his legal Advisor once again, and the man spoke.

"Simple. You attend the trial that's being scheduled for..." The Advisor shifted through papers before stopping at the one he was looking for. "September 3rd is for the primary titles regarding the district-wide properties, and September 8th is for the business holders' chance to either negotiate an agreement on rent or face potential confiscation. That gives you all enough time to gather evidence, statements, and anything else you need. I don't need to tell you all that failure to comply will result in a fine. And if that doesn't work, well..."

Akio Toin raised his hand, and the Advisor nodded at him.

"What about the dealings with the trading company? It controls 30% of Fire country's wealth and is ruled by an oligarchic triumvirate. What will happen to it?"

The Advisor raised a brow. "Good question. Are you a stakeholder, or are you one of the direct members of the Triumvirate?"

Akio looked at Midori and Kamiya, and the two nodded at him. "I am a Triumvirate.:

The Advisor cleared his throat and answered. "The succession of this now massive company would be decided through two factors. One has been confirmed already. Minato's will and exact instructions given upon his death, and the other is the original documentation concerning the bylaws at the time of Minato's death."

Midori paled. "Huh?! What do you mean at the time of his death?! The bylaws are set so that they pass down and split evenly!"

Kamiya crossed his arms. "Those laws are meaningless because they were changed after his death. The proceedings were to take place immediately after his death, but because of Hiruzen, Naruto never inherited. We'll need a copy of the old bylaws to see what inheritance laws were in place during his demise. Otherwise, Naruto could sue for many reasons, the primary reasoning being that the original laws would have made him eligible for more than the current and illegitimate bylaws created by the ones who took over.

Midori's eyes widened, his face turning pale. Every security measure had been dashed. Now, their only options were to get a copy of Minato's first bylaws and alter it, which was not likely to happen since those documents would be under Jiraiya's control, or hope that they could prove that they were indeed the original stakeholders in the company, which they were not. They are about to get into a lot of trouble.

'Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!' Midori thought in panic. 'I'm about to lose everything to some demon child!'

"Enough questions about the Trading company. It's not why we're here. Make this clear to your colleagues: If there's an issue with the transfer of land, then I want it resolved peacefully. If you can't settle this out of court, then either move out now or be prepared to deal with the consequences," Watase said.

Line break.

{Land of wind: unknown location}

Three days later.

Pakura stared out into the valley, watching 4,000 sand shinobi mobilize below her.

She couldn't help but scowl, knowing what was coming. 'I did all that work years ago trying to make peace with Iwa and Kiri, and now I must bring us to war with Konoha?'

She glanced at the man on her right.

Rasa was next to her, looking down at the shinobi as well. "Do you have any objections, Pakura?"

Pakura sighed. "You already know how I feel. This is going to be a mess. We've spent all this time trying to maintain peace, yet we're breaking it."

Rasa frowned. "We have no choice. If we continue to remain as we are, we will forever stagnate to the point of famine. This is the only way to get to the wind daimyo without tainting our village."

'But at what cost? This will result in the bloodiest war in history,' thought the woman.

"Besides, this isn't just for resources. Konoha has been holding us back from advancing for decades, stealing business thanks to its reputation as superior to other villages. This is for us to finally become strong and not be looked down upon like dogs. We have to do this, so please steel yourself. Once this is over, we'll be well off to watch the vultures fight amongst themselves."

Pakura said nothing, watching the men below march on to Konoha.

"I'm putting you in charge of the first and third companies. Two thousand shinobi are at your disposal. Don't let me down," said Rasa before walking off.

Pakura watched him walk off and took a breath to compose herself. It seemed she was the only one who saw the consequences of their actions, and that thought didn't sit right with her.

'The first stone is about to be thrown. Brace yourself, everyone.'

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Main entrance}

The number of people coming into and out of the village was staggering, and the line to get in had grown exponentially.

There were only two days before the exams, and a lot of people were excited.

Amongst the crowd was both Naruto and Jiraiya, and neither was too keen on being in such a large crowd.

Naruto looked around with a less-than-pleased expression.

'Why in the world do we not just skip this stupid line?' thought the boy.

"I know what you're thinking, and no. We can't just skip the line; it's the rules," Jiraiya explained.

Naruto shook his head. "I know that! But you're a Sannin! We've been walking for hours, and I'm hungry!"

Jiraiya smirked. "I know. Just hang on a little longer, and we'll be through. They are getting credentials for this... circus?"

"Caravan." corrected Naruto.

Jiraiya nodded. "Caravan, right."

Indeed. In front of both Naruto and Jiraiya was a massive caravan of merchants, traders, and entertainers. It was a veritable city on the move, with wagons, tents, and animals of all kinds.

The line finally started moving, and everyone behind the duo, including the duo themselves, sighed in relief.

'Finally. I'd hate to complain as Naruto has, but even I was getting a little antsy standing in a line for two hours,' thought the man.

As they approached, Jiraiya and Naruto watched as the man who was checking documents spoke with a stern look on his face. "Next!"

Naruto and Jiraiya went up, and the man gave them an odd look before his face turned into one of shock.

"Master Jiraiya?!"

Jiraiya nodded. "That's right. Here."

Both Naruto and Jiraiya handed in their ninja IDs and other credentials. This was necessary given the upcoming exams and the fact that all military personnel were on guard due to the very real threat of an invasion.

The man checked them and let them through, and both of them went past the gates.

Naruto sighed in relief, finally home. Unfortunately, this didn't ease his nerves. Knowing that a lot of what he was seeing would soon be in ruins if he failed made him feel sick.

Jiraiya noticed Naruto stop for a moment and turned around. "What's wrong, Naruto?"

The boy said nothing; there was no need. Not a moment after Jiraiya asked, he too sensed the Anbu, and in a plume of smoke, an Anbu captain appeared.

"Hokage-sama has ordered your immediate presence at the tower. The council wants to speak with you both," he said.

Jiraiya sighed. "Very well."

Naruto gave a nod of his own and followed after Jiraiya and the anbu.

'It seems we can't catch a break. Bummer.'

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Hokage Tower: Council chambers}

Hiruzen, Danzo, Hamura, Koharu, and the Daimyo, along with the Daimyo's many advisers and aides, sat around the table in the council chambers.

Hisaki Koneko crossed his arms, glaring at the Third Hokage after having had a heated discussion about the issue of succession and the repercussions of hiding such an important detail with individuals who could have prevented the potential economic hiccup from happening in the first place.

"You hid this from us, Hokage, and you expect us not to be angry?" Hisaki asked, his tone showing how disappointed he was.

"I know you're upset, but this was necessary at the time. Naruto was still very young and needed to be kept a secret," said Hiruzen.

"That is a very weak argument, " spoke the Supreme Arbiter. "You haven't even told your advisors of what you've done, have you?"

Danzo looked at Hiruzen with suspicion, not understanding what was being implied. The elder council hasn't been told of Naruto actually claiming his heritage yet.

"What do you mean? What hasn't been told to us?" asked Koharu, the old woman not understanding the tension in the room.

Hiruzen sighed, knowing that no matter how hard he tried, they'd all find out. "Naruto has claimed his inheritance."

The entire table fell into silence, and Danzo gripped his cane hard enough to splinter slightly. "What?" the old man asked, hoping to the heavens that his hearing was finally failing him.

"You heard correct, counselor Danzo. Sarutobi here has activated Uzumaki... Namikaze Naruto's assets, and has permanently given the boy power well beyond what he should be allowed to wield." Said Hisaki, visibly annoyed. "Your Jinchuuriki is now the seventh most powerful entity in all of Fire Country, under the Hokage, myself, his fellow Provincial lords, and the High priest."

"WHAT?! You can't be serious! This must be undone this instant!" yelled Homura in panic, but Danzo caught something else that bothered him.

"What do you mean by fellow Provincial lords? Uzumaki isn't a lord," said Danzo. Hiruzen flinched at this, knowing Naruto's status change was about to rock the room.

Hisaki looked around the room, and seeing the confusion, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at first. But then he laughed, laughing out loud. "You must be kidding; Hiruzen has truly left you all in the dark with this."

The man calmed down after some more chuckling. "Kogane, if you would?"

The High Arbiter bowed and collected a map from a nearby scribe, and he rolled out a detailed map of Fire country. It had been specifically designed to show the major landmarks, towns, and roads.

"This is a detailed map of fire country. You see this Province right here? Right by Tenchi Bridge. From here to here is the land he owns in the north." Said The High Arbiter, and the council saw the scale of Naruto's land. It made their old hearts sink.

"That isn't all. This port here, the one by Wave Country. He owns that now, too. Oh, and we can't forget the Industrial Province located here. The Mizushima Province, the Hinoenma Province, and the Hanamachi Province are all under Namikaze's control now, making him the only Lord to hold more than two major provinces."

The entire room stared at the map, and Danzo turned away from the map and sat down, his own shock subsiding faster than anyone else in the room.

Just before any more conversing could be done, the door opened behind them to reveal Jiraiya and Naruto walking in, escorted by a squad of anbu.

"You summoned us, Hokage-sama," said Jiraiya.

The Daimyo smirked. "Actually, it was I who summoned you both."

Jiraiya's eyes widened at the Daimyo being here, and they did a slight bow, forcing Naruto to do the same, making the young blonde yelp in surprise. "I didn't expect to see you here, your majesty."

"Well, I didn't expect to be here either, but when word gets out that the Hokage is hiding something as important as a Namikaze heir, well..." The Daimyo paused to get a better look at the boy.

Naruto's attire was black and orange, which didn't stand out to him. His hair and eyes did.

'He's definitely got Minato's child. A carbon copy if I've ever seen one,' thought the man.

"So, you're the young man we've heard so much about. Namikaze Naruto, is it?" asked the man.

"Yes, sir," said the boy.

The Daimyo nodded. "I am pleased to see you. I am Hisaki Koneko, the eighth ruling Fire Lord of Fire Country. I summoned you so that we could deal with some important matters."

"What kind of preceding?" asked Jiraiya.

Hisaki smirked. "There are many, but the main one is to officially recognize Namikaze Naruto as the heir to Namikaze Minato and give him his inheritance. So far, it has been nothing but talking and the signing of recognition forms relating to his claims. This, however-" the man pulled out a small stack of papers and set it on the table. "Is what will make the difference between a claimant and an official heir. Once signed, you will legally become a Namikaze, and everything that your father left for you will be yours to inherit. It will be a difficult road for you, but you must bear through it."

Naruto looked at the papers first before looking at Hiruzen, who held no emotion. He looked at Jiraiya, and the man came forward to help him along. "This contains everything?" asked Jiraiya.

"Everything concerning the land transfer of..." The man walked forward, tilting his head over to read what was on the document. "The Mizushima Province, the Hinoenma Province, and the Hanamachi Province... The Commercial District of Hoseki Plaza and the south side of Niji Gardens. These lands will be yours."

Naruto's eyes widened. 'That's a lot of land!'

Jiraiya crossed his arms. "Will he need to deal with a trial?"

Hisaki chuckled. "Only to deal with settlement deals, or whether one will even be had. As for his... Business, the inheritance for that will take some time. Though, from what I hear, Minato left both his will and still had copies of whatever... uhh."

"Bylaws." Said the Arbiter and Hisaki nodded.

"He had a copy of the bylaws during the time of his death, so it's mostly a pity trial, but one that must be done for legal reasons. If you could, we'll be needing a copy of that as well to make things run smoothly. It dictates how much of Minato's company Naruto is to inherit." said Hisaki.

"Now, hold on! Shouldn't we cast a vote?! Koharu said, having had enough of being ignored. "This kind of decision affects not just the village but all of Fire Country!"

Danzo nodded his head in agreement. "Indeed. Uzumaki Naruto's inheritance of these assets causes too many problems. He is the Jinchuuriki of the nine-tailed fox. Having him walking around as some spoiled brat is not in the village's best interest. A vote must take place given the scale of this issue." The stoic old man said.

'Yeah. I don't like this guy.' thought Naruto.

Hisaki chuckled. "I would've loved to hold a great meeting over this issue. However, Your Hokage decided to act on his own and release these documents to the public. Other countries will find out about the boy shortly, and so will the civilians. His name has already been publicly changed. Give it a month, and people will find out themselves. The damage is done."

Danzo sent Hiruzen the most hateful look he could muster, and the third Hokage didn't flinch. He had his reasons for doing what he did.

Hisaki cleared his throat to regain attention. "Now then, another thing to add. I want his name spread as fast as possible, and there's no better way to do that than to announce it to the world during the chunin exams."

This time, everyone was shocked.

"What?!" Said Jiraiya.

"You heard me. There's no better way to get it out of the way than to announce it during the event."

Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Naruto paled. This fucks up their plan really badly.

'I was supposed to settle into the name, not suddenly have it announced to the whole world! That's insane! And how am I going to deal with Gaara if there are eyes on me constantly?!' thought Naruto.

"Is that wise? I understand that this is an important issue, but this is a little much. He needs time to process and adjust." said Jiraiya.

The Daimyo smirked. "This isn't about just him. This needs to be announced by the governing body of Konoha in order for it to take hold. Do it in whatever way you so please; I don't care how just do it."

Naruto looked back down at the paper and grabbed a pen.

'I Fucking hate politics.'

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: The Hyuuga compound}

Three hours after dealing with the council and meeting Naruto Namikaze, The Daimyo and his entourage went to pick up his wife and youngest son from the hotel they were staying at before going to deal with the Hyuga clan.

His son, Masuda Koneko, looked nervous as they approached the large Hyuga compound.

He planted a hand on his shoulder to ease him. "It'll be fine. Just remember what we practiced, and you'll do fine. Don't let anyone intimidate you."

Masuda nodded and looked back to the Hyuga compound, taking a breath to calm his nerves.

Naturally, a crowd formed that needed to be parted. After all, it was the Daimyo and his family.

'We're probably easy to spot and prepare for. I can never pop up on anyone when my very presence is so loud.' thought Hisaki.

Finally, they were allowed to enter, and as they did, the Daimyo and his family were greeted by none other than Hyuga Hiashi, besides him being his father, Hiroshi. Behind these two were also the elders and minor members of the main branch.

The man bowed low and waited for the Daimyo to speak. "Rise, Lord Hiashi. It is good to see you again."

Hiashi nodded. "And to you as well, Lord Daimyo. I'm pleased that you chose to visit us before the Chunin exams."

Hisaki smiled. "It was prudent. I managed to tackle many issues by getting here a couple of days early rather than waiting until the last second. I hope I didn't blindside you."

Hiashi nodded in complete understanding. "Of course not. Please, right this way."

Hisaki smirked and walked forward, his guardian shinobi beside him, his entourage behind him, and his family close by as they walked through.

The place was immaculate in both design and presentation, as he expected from such a prestigious clan.

They entered a large Living area, where servants were already awaiting their arrival. They set out snacks, tea, and even sake.

As soon as they sat, Hisaki looked to the side to see his wife, Asami Koneko, who was a gorgeous woman with a voluptuous figure. She had long black hair that fell down her back and deep blue eyes. His son, Masuda Koneko, was a young boy of twelve. He was the spitting image of his mother and was just as pretty.

Hisaki turned his attention back to Hiashi. "Now then. Let's get down to business."

Hiashi nodded and gave a hand motion.

At the queue, Hinata walked forward, not seen before now, and Masuda's jaw nearly fell.

Hinata was dressed in a refined black kimono, similar to her father and grandfather's, the attire complementing her fair complexion. Her long, raven-black hair flows down her back, perfectly framing her delicate features. The stoic elegance and calm authority she exuded made him sit up straighter.

A slight flush colored the boy's cheeks as he struggled to tear his gaze away, and he swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. Despite his attempts to remain calm, his admiration is clear.

"This is my daughter, Hinata Hyuga. She has been trained diligently and embodies the principles and strength of the Hyuga clan as a whole."

Hinata bowed respectfully, her eyes meeting Masuda's with a composed yet discerning gaze.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Masuda-sama. I look forward to getting to know you and understanding how we can support our families' goals together," said Hinata.

Her voice was steady, charming, and subtly assertive, hinting at her manipulative prowess.

Hisaki immediately noticed this and was impressed, but it also unnerved him. This girl was unnatural, and that one interaction made him uneasy for his son.

He glanced at his wife, who was looking at Hinata warily, well aware of how dangerous a girl as trained as her could be.

Hisaki frowned. 'She's more intelligent than I first presumed.'

Masuda blinked, still dazed, and nodded, his voice soft and weak. "U-Uh, yes. Ummm... Ahem. It is an honor, Hinata-Hime. I-I hope we can work together to strengthen our families' bonds and achieve great things."

He resisted the urge to look to his father for approval, and luckily, things proceeded from there. The boy was able to breathe a sigh of relief when the adults started talking about things he couldn't really understand.

He looked back at Hinata and saw she was paying close attention to what her father and Hisaki were talking about.

'So much for small talk. But I guess that's expected. We're here for business, not pleasure.' thought Masuda.

Masuda tried to pay attention to the conversation at hand, but it was too difficult for him.

What broke him out of his stupor was Hiashi speaking to his daughter.

"Hinata, dear. Why don't you show young Masuda around the compound? I'm sure he'd like to see it."

The boy nodded eagerly, hoping to escape the conversation. "That would be most kind, Hinata-hime."

Hinata gave a charming smile that made him blush again. "Of course. Come this way."

The two stood up, and two guards followed them out of the room, one being a Samurai while the other being a Hyuuga servant.

Masuda followed after her, and he couldn't help but admire her. She was beautiful.

When they were a good distance away, Masuda cleared his throat to get her attention.

"You know, Hinata-hime, you are very pretty."

Hinata chuckled. "Thank you, Masuda-sama. You are quite handsome as well. I am sure we will make a fine couple."

Masuda blushed. "W-Well, I-I would hope so."

Hinata scanned him as she led him through the hall, and her smile broadened a bit. 'So innocent. His lifestyle has left him pampered and spoiled, yet he seems to have retained his manners.'

She looked straight ahead, and they turned into the garden to have a conversation.

Line break.

Meanwhile, the moment the young potential couple left, the room became more business-oriented.

Hisaki drank his tea, enjoying it for a few seconds before putting it down. "I was not expecting Hinata to be as knowledgeable as she is. I saw it in her eyes. She was memorizing our every word."

Hiashi nodded. "Indeed, she is. A true Hyuga in every right. I hope you don't mind the arrangement?"

Hisaki's eyes narrowed. 'Indeed. I'll need to watch these Hyuga. They are good at hiding their emotions, but I know what they want. A way to control me and gain political power through my son. He's not ready for a bride as... advanced as Hinata Hyuga.'

He glanced towards the scribes who were writing everything down, and grit his teeth.

'My in-laws are about to lose half their land to Namikaze. If they find out before a proper arrangement is made, then I won't be able to achieve the balance of power I'm looking for. This means sacrificing my son to these people.'

Hisaki took a breath and leaned forward. "In exchange for my son, I want a proper alliance, and some branch members as my personal guard. A symbiotic relationship between the Koneko and Hyuga clans is what I see."

"Exactly what's been stated in your letter? Fascinating," spoke Hiroshi.

"Surprised?" asked Hisaki.

"A little. Though, I feel there may be a bit of an imbalance in the exchange," said Hiashi.

Hisaki narrowed his eyes. "My third son is being offered up in a potential matrilineal union. This is something most families would never do. He's my best spare, and I'm forcing him to give up my house's name for your own. How is it there any form of imbalance here?"

"We do not wish to take; we wish for support," said Hiroshi, and Hisaki looked at the man suspiciously.

"What kind of support?"

"We want to bring ourselves up as a community rather than a family, but to do so, we need more land within Konoha. To be more specific, we need a district of our own," said Hiashi.

Hisaki relaxed at this. "Why hasn't this been possible without my help?"

"Greedy civilians asking for something they have no business requesting. Many wish for what your son is now about to attain. a Hyuga." said Hiroshi.

Hiashi resisted the urge to flinch at his father's crassness.

Hisaki took a breath. "So, what you're saying is that you wish to be given land in the village to expand upon. That's it?"

Both men nodded, and Hisaki looked to his wife, who nodded.

"Very well. I'll see what I can do."

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Naruto's Apartment}

The sun was dipping low enough to paint the sky orange when Naruto finally managed to get home, opening his door and breathing in the air of his apartment.

"Oh, it's so nice to be back. Now I just need to take a shower and get to bed."

He was about to do just that, going to his room and putting out a change of clothes, when he heard a knock at his door.

"Fucks sake, man, can't I catch a break?!" The boy complained, stomping his way to the door.

He swung it open, an annoyed expression on his face. His expression turned surprised and delighted when he saw both Sakura and Sasuke at his door.

"Sun's barely gone down, and you're already in a foul mood? Did you take your meds, Uzumaki?" asked Sasuke, smirking.

Naruto chuckled. "don't piss me off, Uchiha. Just a little tired. Come in."

Both teens smiled and walked in, looking around. "Nice place. A lot cleaner than I'd expect," said Sakura.

Sasuke nodded in agreement.

Naruto smirked and closed the door. "Ah. I forgot that you guys haven't seen this place. You guys want anything?"

Sakura shook her head, and Sasuke did as well. "We came to see how you were doing. Apparently, we all got back at the same time."

Naruto raised a brow. "Did you guys encounter a really-"

"Loooong Caravan? Yeah. We were lucky enough to be in front of it." said Sakura.

Naruto was silent at first but then broke out into laughter. What were the odds of his team being so close, yet so far? And how in the world did he not sense them?

This disturbed him a little. It seems his mood clouds not only his judgment but also his senses. 'I need to be more careful. Keeping a cool head in a crowded place is a lesson learned,' he said.

Sasuke crossed his arms. "So. What do you do for entertainment?"

Naruto sighed. "I have everything I need. It's a sanctuary, not a hotel."

They both shrugged and began talking about their experience with Kakashi. They talked about the many camp mishaps they had, which left Naruto wishing he had been with his team during the training period. But alas, he had a different and arguably better experience.

It was with them that he felt the weight of what was happening around him lifted from his shoulders. After all, these annoying pests were his family, his brother and sister in arms. He could let his guard down.

It's not the same with Jiraiya or Hiruzen. He loves those two in his own way, but there are moments when he's reminded that were he any other kid, he'd mean nothing to them. He'd be the village weapon. Jiraiya is puppeteering him for his own good, and Hiruzen is likely trying to make amends to his dead father, but this was one thing he was thankful for. Regardless of whether he was the son of Minato or not, they'd have become his friends... eventually.

Naruto's calm was shattered when he realized something. They need to know. The invasion could result in their deaths if he remains silent.

While Sakura was talking about the new Princess Gale movie, which was a month away from being released, Sasuke noticed that Naruto's mood seemed to become tense.

"Hey. What's up?" asked the Uchiha.

Naruto looked at him and Sakura, both looking at him with concern. They knew him enough to tell that he had something to say but didn't know how to go about saying it. 'Should I say anything? Pervy sage said it was a secret mission, but...'

He looked at his teammates and saw genuine concern for him.

He wasn't aware of how stressed he actually looked, and it was worrying them both. But having to deal with politics and invasion at the same time was a bit much, so he couldn't help it.

"OK, guys, let me fix us something to eat. Make yourselves comfortable, and whatever you do, don't share this with anyone."

The two looked at each other and nodded. "Just spill the beans already," said an inpatient, Sasuke.

Naruto crossed his arms and took in a breath.

"We're being invaded."

Line break.

End chapter.

{Author's note}

I apologize for the late chapter. I would've posted two days ago, but I can't seem to write on a plane or in a foreign location. I couldn't get into the zone.

The chapter is 14,000+ words, so hopefully, that makes up for the absence. 5,000 is supposed to be the minimum, but I seem to be keeping them long.

The next chapter won't be as complex. We'll be going straight into the Chunin exams, so no worries. All the important stuff is out of the way.

I'm probably going to make something of a release date for the chapters as well, but I'm trying to time the days. I'll let you know in the next chapter if it's something I end up doing.