Prologue

"My life is my message."

Mahatma Ghandi

Life for Naruto Uzumaki had been full of adventure, danger, fear, and joy that had nearly cost him his life on several occasions. He's faced a demon hidden in mist, he's faced a giant Biju, he fought a man who believed himself to be a god, he helped save a man from his own darkness, and he helped defeat the woman who had created chakra as they know it. Naruto turned a rival into a best friend, he finally fell in love, and he had two beautiful children. Then, in a blink of an eye, he was over a hundred years old, his wife had long since moved onto the next great journey, his children now had families of their own, and he had devoted his life to the ideals of Ninshu. The idea came to him in a dream, when he was still a young man, that he had the rare opportunity to promote more pease.

Naruto only really began his religious journey after the death of Hinata, which was possibly the most painful thing he had ever gone through. After moving to the highest mountain, in the Land of Fire, Naruto built a monastery devoted to Ninshu. Sasuke, plus both of their families, moved there to study the philosophy of Ninshu, just as Hagoromo Otsutsuki had done when he was still alive. In fact, many chakra users traveled to the monastery in search of wisdom or to learn under the two saviors of the world. It was a peaceful life, Naruto wouldn't have traded this life for anything, but time went on and man's greatest obstacle soon began to claim those of Naruto's generation.

Out of all of them, Naruto lasted the longest due to just how long an Uzumaki actually could stay alive. Their natural longevity allowed them to live almost twice as long as a normal person and Naruto could attest to that. At the current age of a hundred and ten years old, Naruto found himself walking through the courtyard with sakura trees lining the pathway. The trees were in full bloom, the sky was clear, and the air was cool. All in all, it was a good day to be an old man!

"Good morning Uzumaki-sama," one of the gardeners greeted, giving Naruto a bright smile as he walked by where she was working.

"Good morning Aiko-chan," Naruto greeted back, noticing that the young woman was actually commanding the tree with simple hand gestures, showing that she possessed a skill that only one other person had been born with.

As it turns out, the study of Ninshu had helped bring back many abilities that most people used to think they would never see again. Their deeper connection to nature, not to mention each other, had granted some with the powers of old. Still, Naruto thought that all were equal in the study of Ninshu and that their gifts are to be used for the betterment of others, not their destruction.

"Morning Ojiisan!" ah and here came the children of the monastery, always running around and so full of energy.

Their youth reminded Naruto of all the trouble he used to get into at their age, which brought a smile to his old face. As Naruto walked up the steps of the monastery, people greeting him everywhere he turned, the last Uzumaki could feel himself already getting tired. Time really had taken its toll on his body, making him wiser but also much weaker than he used to be. Yet as he reached the top of the monastery, a place where he would often meditate and absorb nature chakra, Naruto found the familiar sight of his son waiting for him.

"Good morning Boruto-chan," the old sage greeting, having always referred to his son in such a way.

"Otousan, you're looking older each time I see you," Boruto chuckled, despite his own aging body.

"Gaki, you never did learn to respect your elders, now come here and give me a hug!" Naruto laughed, opening his arms wide, to embrace his only son, as Boruto came closer to properly greet his old man.

"We all miss you, imouto keeps wanting to visit but the doctors say she's too sick to travel right now."

As the both of them taking a seat on a pair of cushions, with Boruto helping Naruto sit, Naruto couldn't help but nod in agreement. Himawari Uzumaki had been a somewhat frail girl, apparently not inheriting the Uzumaki resistant to practically every illness in existence, but she always tried her best to live up to the Uzumaki and Hyuga names.

"I see, and how is your family, is Sarada and your children doing well?" Naruto asked as he reached down and poured himself a small cup of water.

"Oh yes, although Karin-chan and Kushina-chan seem to have taken after your side of the family. They are always causing trouble in one way or another."

"I remember you being quite the troublemaker yourself, but I suppose it does run in the family," Naruto laughed before his laughter erupted into a violent coughing fit.

"Otousan!" Boruto shouted in alarm, only for Naruto to hold up his hand and stop his son before he even got up.

"I'm (cough) all right, but I'm afraid I'll be leaving soon," said the old sage, smiling at the confused look his son was giving him.

"Leaving, aren't you a little old to travel?" asked Boruto, not getting his father's hidden meaning.

"I think I'll take a little vacation, have one more adventure in my life."

It clicked, "Don't talk like that, you're too stubborn to die!"

It wasn't hard for Naruto to understand why his son would be reacting like this, even if he knew Naruto wouldn't live forever. In fact, Naruto knew that feeling all too well, having felt it for all of those he'd lost over the years. Some people forget that, despite all of Naruto's once legendary power, he is still just a man. His life would be over soon and he would have to intrust his teachings to the next generation. As their conversation continued on, Boruto noticed his father wasn't so much focusing on it as he was listening to the world itself.

"What's she saying today?"

"She says I've not much longer. Come, walk me down these old stairs, I wish to see my family one last time before my vacation begins," Naruto commanded and who was his son to deny his father that wish.

So that's what Naruto did, he said his goodbyes to those at his temple, making sure to leave specific instructions about how Ninshu should be used, and walked down the old mountain for the first time in a little under a hundred years. Apparently word got out that the savior of the world was coming because there was a great celebration in his honor, when they arrive in the thriving city of Konohagakure no Sato. Naruto was greatly surprised by how much things had changed since he left for the study of Ninshu.

People, with low chakra levels, had used technology to substitute for their lack of chakra power. They build machines to help them get around, massive buildings that touched the clouds, and the city had almost doubled in size since Naruto was the Hokage. Yet, as humanity advanced, nature seemed to not be as important to everyone as it used to be and that bothered the old sage.

"As you can see, a lot of things have changed since you left. Even when I came back, everything was so much more advanced than when I was a child." Boruto explained, but grew concerned when he noticed a frown on his father's old face.

"Oh yes, so much has changed indeed," there was a clear sign of disappointment in Naruto's tone, for the destruction of such beautiful nature was something all with sage chakra dreaded.

"Come Otousan, everyone is waiting for you," said Boruto as he helped his father out of the vehicle, they had been riding in, and out into the crowded streets of cheering people.

People had always been cheering Naruto's name, ever since he helped save the world that is, and he could sadly say that he was getting tired of it. Yes, he did manage to save the world, but so many brave men and women gave their lives to help him do so. So, to help people remember who those other heroes were, Naruto had a large stone wall engraved with all of their names on it. The wall was so large that it stretched on for a quarter mile and stood at about six feet tall, showing just how many people lost their lives in that last damn war.

"It seems everyone still remembers you Otousan, you've been gone for such a long time that most of them thought you had passed on," Boruto admitted, hoping that such praise would help his father's health but nothing seemed to have changed.

"What I did was such a long time ago, soon enough my name will be nothing more than a memory in the history of our people," Naruto sighed, a small smile forming on his face at the thought of finally being at peace.

"Come on, everyone is waiting for you inside."

With the help of his son, Naruto walked inside the large building, one that looked so much better than the ones in his time. There were no cracks in the walls, the lights seemed to be much brighter, and they used tile instead of wood. However, the more things change, the more they stay the same. As they walked down the hallway, Naruto could feel the cold hands of death slowly getting closer, it wouldn't be long now.

"Otousan, are you alright?" the worry was clear in Boruto's voice, but Naruto waved off his concern and put on a strong facade.

"I'm fine, I've still got some Uzumaki stubbornness in me," that's when it happened, a sudden pain in his chest, his legs giving out, and everything going black.

For a moment, the ancient Uzumaki thought he had actually died but that all changed when he slowly cracked open his eyes. Instead of laying helplessly on the ground, Naruto found himself in a hospital bed with several machines hooked up to him, a sensation that he really didn't like. His deep connection to nature, not to mention being able to sense negative emotions thanks to Kurama, told Naruto that the group of people before him were worried. The first was obviously Boruto, then there was the ever sick Himawari, Sarada, and all of his grandchildren. Boruto had, no doubt, sent word of what had happened and they all came rushing to him.

"It's so nice to see you all, I'm glad everyone could make it," Naruto managed to say, his voice weak and his body was even weaker.

"Hello Otousan," Himawari greeted, taking off her own oxygen mask so that she could speak clearly to her father.

"Himawari-chan, it's so good to see you again, you too Sarada-chan," it was getting harder to keep his old eyes open now.

"Don't speak old man, save your strength," demanded the daughter of Sasuke Uchiha, hiding her own sadness behind a mask, just like her father did.

"I'm afraid I don't have any strength left to save, I'm not as young as I once was," said Naruto, in a poor attempt to lighten the mood, but no one laughed.

"Stop saying that, you're not going to die, you've still got years ahead of you!" Sarada had also apparently inherited her mother's stubbornness, not to mention her secret caring nature.

"It's not a sad thing, for me to finally pass on, I now know that I can trust the future to the next generation. I'm happy with the life I have lived, the people I have known, and the wonderful family that I see before me. Don't be sad, death is just another path, one that we all must take," his eyes could no longer remain open and slowly began to close.

"Ojiisan!" the little grandchildren cried as one, only for Naruto to use the last of his strength to pat each of them on the head.

"Make me proud little one's, make...me...proud," with that said, Naruto Uzumaki, the child of prophecy, the savior of the world, and the kindest man you could ever know, took his last breath.

The children began to cry while Boruto, Sarada, and Himawari pulled them into their embrace, trying not to let their own grief show. It was then that Boruto looked out the window and saw that it had began raining, as if the heavens themselves were weeping for the death of Naruto Uzumaki. Then, breaking through the clouds like a gift from the gods, a ray of light came down and rested on Naruto's corpse.

"Enjoy your vacation, Otousan."

Over the course of the next year, a statue was built in Naruto's honor at his temple up in the mountains. The ways of Ninshu would last for the next several thousand years, with the warlike ways of Ninjutsu fading away into nothing more than a memory. Little did anyone know, even Naruto himself, that his vacation would indeed be his next big adventure. For, at the same time that Naruto drew his last breath, a baby was being born in another land altogether. As Naruto felt himself drift into death's embrace, something grabbed him and began to pull him back down.

"It is time for you to begin the next step in your journey, little Naruto."

At the same time as a great hero's passing, a child had been born in a land called the Fire Nation. This child was born into the mighty Fire Sages, his mother being a priestess of the god Agni and the boy having been born on the god's favored day. They believed that Agni would see this as a gift, for watching over the Fire Nation, and would use the boy to let his will be known. Little did they know that the tides of war would change the moment they let this child live. With his yellow spiky hair, resembling the sun itself, and his ocean blue eyes, this child would bring to them the wisdom of a sage.

Meanwhile, in a place known only as the Spirit World, a tiny creature suddenly appeared sleeping beneath a mighty tree. Nine long dark orange tails curled around its body to keep it warm while a massive red eye just barely cracked open before a sense of exhaustion pushed it back into the world of dreams.

The Fire Nation's capital city, built in the hollowed out remains of a long dead volcano, was something to behold for those that had never seen it before. Legends say that a previous Avatar, born on the island long before the Fire Nation became one united country, battled this massive volcano when it threatened to erupt and cover the entire world in ashes. Now a massive city occupies the caldera of said force of nature, featuring everything from the royal plaza to the main temple of the Fire Sages.

It was in this very place the Fire Lord Ozai, second son of Fire Lord Azulon, sat on his elevated throne in the ever intimidating throne room; the fire all around him waning and waxing with each breath he took and the mood he was in. It was in this room that his power was unquestioned by all, for he held dominance in both strength of will and political hierarchy. No major decision was made without his approval, from taxes to wartime planning, which is why the religious masters of the Fire Nation had asked for an audience with him. Now Ozai wasn't a religious man, by any stretch of the imagination, but he did understand the amount of influence such a group held over the people of the Fire Nation.

Slowly the massive doors to the throne room were swing open and no less than ten Fire Sages entered into the ornate room, guarded on all sides by thirty members of the royal procession itself. Leading the sages was the High Sage himself, a reasonably older man that had been a close adviser to Azulon and would have been one to Iroh had the man become Fire Lord. Yet what caught Ozai's attention was the young boy that walked beside the Fire Sage, dressed in their acolyte robes and with bright blonde hair pulled up into a traditional Fire Nation bun; although without the rest of his hair being shaved off.

"Hail, Fire Lord Ozai," the High Sage greeted as he and his fellows dropped to their knees and bowed to the Fire Lord with their heads touching the ground, although Ozai was distracted by something else to really pay attention to them.

Something was encroaching upon his domain and slowly taking control of the nearby fire away from him. Yet Ozai schooled his features, even though he was hidden behind a monsterous wall of flames, and spoke with all the authority that a man of his power and position commanded.

"I've granted you this audience because of your loyal service to my father before his passing, but my patience is not infinite. Why are you here?" Ozai asked, noting with a small amount of satisfaction the way all the other Fire Sages seemed to grow nervous at his tone, but that satisfaction nearly vanished when he saw the strange boy showed no such fear in the face of his power.

"Because our nation has been gifted with a blessing from Agni himself," the High Sage replied, getting a momentarily surprised look from Ozai before the fire in the throne room sudden blazed like never before.

"Superstition and prayers, blessings from Agni, this is why you waste my time?" Ozai's voice was calm, cold even, but the now raging fires showed his true emotions in a way words never could.

"Nearly six years ago, on Agni's favored day, our priestess gave birth to the young man standing beside me," the High Sage spoke without an ounce of fear, as if he knew something that Ozai didn't, "He was born with the White Sun in his palm, blue fire in his eyes, and the whiskers of a dragon upon his face. We bring him to you now, the greatest of our nation, and beg you to teach him the things that we cannon."

Everything was silent for a moment, you could hear a pin drop from across the throne room without straining your senses, and even the various fires around them seemed to no longer make any noise. Slowly Ozai got to his feet, his form imposing and covered in shadows from behind the still raging veil of orange fire, but things were not as they seemed. For not a moment later, without any warning whatsoever, the wall of fire suddenly seemed to lunge out at the Fire Sages like an angry dragon!

Many of the Fire Sages shouted in fight as their death came upon them, yet only the High Sage and the boy remained unmoved. Ozai himself watched in anticipation, waiting to hear their cries of agony from the very fire he commanded, but suddenly that control was ripped right from his grasp! The orange fire stopped just before it could hit the High Sage before suddenly shifting into a nearly blinding white color. The now white fire then began to mold itself into a new shape, the shape of a mighty white dragon, and incircle the Fire Sages as if to protect them.

"What...What is this?" Ozai asked in complete bewilderment, having never experienced his own fire being ripped from him in such away, let alone turned pure white and given an all to realistic shape.

"This is Naruto," the High Sage began again, gesturing to the boy at his side who now had his right hand covered in white fire, "The chosen of our god, Agni. The one who commands the white fire and holds the sun in his right hand."

Ozai looked down at the boy once more, who still didn't flinch away from his gaze, and now saw potential. Yes, this boy could perhaps be worth his time after all.

"Hm, how very...interesting."

I know I should be working on my other stories, but this idea just won't go away!