Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, like at all. Every Naruto fanfiction authors worst nightmare to wake up to.

Any have the Christmas holiday spirit?! I know I do, even though its 3 weeks away, I can't wait since that means that school will be on a two week break.

So here are the polls so far: So exciting! Also any votes coming from the reviews, sorry but I won't be counting them, they will be ignored since they require time and energy I don't have to spare. The link on my profile is the official voting area.

Sorry to all those who voted that way.

Also if you see a pairing that you like but don't see then just PM me I'll be sure to add it! (^ . ^)

Sasuke: 44

Hinata: 40

Ino: 39

Shikamaru: 34

Neji: 30

Gaara: 29

Others: 24

Sakura: 22

Kiba: 20

Hanabi: 16

No pairing: 13

Sai: 5

I would also like to thank you all who left a review, and helped me find the muse I needed to continue the story.

Apparently I have changed my mind, and will keep the poll's open for a few more chapters, since its been battle for the top three.

This is all very exciting to see who Naruto will end up with, \( ^ . ^)/

So to all those who were confused as to how to vote, click to the link to my profile and the polls are right there at the top.

So vote on your favorite character, and to those who really don't like yaoi, I'm thinking about making an alternate ending for the most voted girl, and for those who love yaoi I'll make an alternate ending for that as well!

So vote like crazy, so I don't always have to wait for like ever, to update again.

By the way, I was wondering if anyone would like to become my beta? I always notice that minor mistakes get away from me when I publish a story, and it makes me feel like the chapter I worked so hard isn't all that great, I don't have a limit on how many people can help.

Also with fan art with any of my stories, I will give permission to anyone who asks, hell even if you make a doujinshi, which is awesome, it makes me happy to see them. Everyones point of view of my stories, it makes me giddy, and more inclined to write!

OH yeah, enjoy!

Chapter: 5

True Ninja

(age 11)

Rank: Genin

Silence, that was all he heard within the endless terrain. They were in the middle of a mission, retrieval of the Fire Lords stolen ancient artifact. This was a 'C' rank, their fifteenth one during their time as Genin. Jiraiya was training them to become Chuunin whenever he was around, since the exams would be happening in few weeks. The falling leaves of Autumn, signified the change of season as Naruto gave himself a birthday wish in his mind, as he watched Sai create his ink rats to scout the area. Naruto took out his own piece of paper, and began drawing countless symbols, each able to paralyze, poison, and mute whomever he placed them on. The seal he drew, was one of his own creation after a year of learning seals, and many other skills, from his other sensei's.

He looked over at his companion, waiting for the signal that he could move, as Sai's ink rats grabbed each parchment of paper he had placed the seals on. Each moved into the position, surrounding a small camp of highly trained bandits, but that didn't stop them as they proceeded closer to the camp. Naruto mentally scanning the area, carefully monitoring the pull of his countless seals, waiting for Sai's command to activate them. This mission was handed to them, by a very irate Iruka, as he didn't like this particular mission. Naruto half guessed the reason was because he would have to deal with the Fire Lords wife who had a little crush on Naruto's former academy teacher.

The year had gone by very quickly, training everyday, going through missions one after another constantly. They rarely took any breaks, although the rumor mill spun like crazy about his little situation as a special case. Everyone assumed that he was to become ANBU soon, although it sounded nice but it was far from the truth. Naruto had to rank up like everyone else, going through the exams to see if he was eligible. Naruto move his attention back to the scene before him, one of the bandits was taking watch on the south side of the camp, as another was positioned to the north. He looked to Sai to see if his rats were in location, but he was still waiting for the last one to reach their true target. Jiraiya was no where to be seen, this was their personal test with their teacher. To see if they would meet his standards, and were able to become Chuunin on their first try on the test. If they were to go through the test, than Naruto and Sai would have to have a third teammate join them, since the Hokage couldn't give them any more of a leverage without repercussions returning back to both himself and Naruto's team.

Looking to the sky before mentally preparing himself to take another life, just like before on his very first 'C' rank mission, but Naruto pushed aside the memory as he steeled himself.

"Do you think this was a smart idea?" Sai whispered as he waited for his final ink rat who was still looking for its target, as the spares he made continued to scout the camp.

"You're only asking this now?" Naruto whispered back, as he continued preparing mentally for what will happen when they attack.

"Well, they were part of the mission as well." Sai pointed out, they had set out on the mission originally with Kakashi's team, Sasuke's team. But the two boys woke up before the rest, as they quietly sneaked out to complete the missions themselves. It was easy to slip away when they all had separate rooms, and the fact that their third teammate Sora was a heavy snorer.

"Then they should learn how to do this mission from actual professionals." Naruto glared at their goal, ever since their encounter at Naruto's apartment, Sasuke made it his personal goal to try and get to know the blonde once again. But to Naruto these feeble attempts can never be, he can't give up when he was barely half-way to his goal. Being Hokage didn't matter as much anymore if he couldn't finish what Itachi wanted him to accomplish. Sasuke wasn't the only one, it seemed like everyone was vying for his attention. Although no one but Sai, and their sensei's got his complete attention.

"Naruto now!" Sai whispered, with a simple release of his chakra Naruto let all the seals go off simultaneously, the once highly alert bandits were now on the ground paralyzed, in obvious pain, and silent. Sai made his large ink bird as Naruto made his clones to grab the artifact in one of the many tents that the bandits had set up. Naruto silently wondered how infuriating it was to them, to be taken down by a team of just two Genin, Naruto felt sorry for the man who hired this lot. Although now it didn't matter to him, since the other part of the mission still had to be carried out. The second part that held a higher rank than what Kakashi's team knew about. The assassination of the entire bandit group, Naruto had volunteered to be the one to fulfill that particular mission once again proving to Jiraiya, and the Hokage just how capable he was to be a ninja.

As he walked closer to the first bandit on the ground, the mans wide frightened eye's watching his every move, with the bloodcurdling realization, that he was going to die. Naruto had expected the man to attempt to get away, silently scream, but what he saw was a man who had accepted his execution with pride. With his blade in hand, Naruto lowered his arm aiming for the mans jugular, a hair's length from cutting the mans throat open, his blade was propelled in the oppisite direction. Looking at the source, he noticed to the hinderence and annoyance of his mission was Kakashi. Who angrily glared with his only eye, although it wasn't blood chilling as Naruto was used too, he just let it slide off of him.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Kakashi growled, his kunai glinting in the morning sunlight, as he straightened himself as he continued to glare angrily at the children in front of him. His own students were still making their way over to their current location, he went ahead sensing something was amiss.

"My mission, which you are obstructing. Of which you can be held accountable before the village council for deterring this justice for the offence dealt to the Fire Lord." Naruto boredly replied, as a second later all the men in the camp were bathed in their own blood, each killed by his clones before they popped out of existence all of whom he had sent out earlier to retrieve the stolen aritfact.

"We were sent to only retrieve the artifact, not kill the people responsible." Kakashi yelled angrily, unbelieving at the act that just occurred.

"You weren't, we were." Naruto irately replied, he hated having to go through this. It was hard enough to only keep his old friends at a distance, normally the adults that he worked with had congratulated him on his maturity, and his ability to kill.

"They wouldn't ask simple Genin for this mission." Kakashi roared, he couldn't comprehend why these kids were taking this situation so lightly. As if life and death didn't register in their mind like it did any one else. They watched him with bored expressions, as Sai and Naruto wiped blood off of their faces as if it were nothing but a slight hindrance. Kakashi didn't like the path that the two boys were taking, it was a very dark path that didn't have any positive outcomes. It was one that would be filled with constant corruption, and pain. He couldn't allow another child to have the same future as he had, to go through the same pain that he still carried with him.

"Except to the council and the Hokage we aren't simple children." Naruto answered, hiding all his emotions behind his poker face, as the faces of all those he cared about flashed across his mind. His mother and father lying in their own pool of blood, staring at him with their dead black eyes. This image repeated in his mind, as he got the memories from his clones. The blood that each of them had on their hands, were now left for him.

"What Naruto is saying is true Sensei, and if you require proof, we have the scroll for our 'side' mission on us." Sai intercepted the intimidatory situation, calmly handing over the scroll holding the official seal of the Village council, and Hokage. Kakashi heatedly grabbed the scroll from the thirteen year old's hand, as he skimmed through the contents of the scroll. His eye's widening at the sight before him, as he continued to read the rest. When he was finished he just continued his intensified glare at the sight beyond them, looking behind them, the boys noticed that their sensei had finally revealed himself. Jiraiya's face was grim, as he told the boys to finish their mission as he prepared to talk with Kakashi. Running to the tent that his clone had found the stolen artifact before they all went to finish his assassination, and the disturbance of Kakash as they found the artifact's location.

They could hear the quarreling of Jiraiya, and Kakashi, as well as physical violence with a little jutsu on the side as they tried to understand what the other was thinking. Naruto forcibly moved his attention away from the two adults as he walked into the tent with Sai by his side. Looking at the artifact, he couldn't make sense of the piece of art in front of him, as Sai studied it. He could see that look in Sai's eye's, he just knew how much trouble it'll be to keep the older boy on track, and complete the mission. Sai always got like this when he see's something that fascinated him. Looking back at the artifact, he saw the cerulean sapphire it was carved out of, it was in the shape of a dragon with fierce ruby eyes, as it looked like it was guarding a rather large diamond. Then at the tail, it was a strange piece, black stone it was almost like a demonic aura was coming from it. Although he wasn't getting paid for ogling at his mission, Naruto reached out to grabbed the artifact. Seconds before he touched it, Sai stopped him. His eyes trained on the tail, studying it.

"What's wrong?" Naruto asked, on alert as he scanned around him, keeping all likely scenarios on his mind. As Sai kept his eye on the black stone, lost in thought as he tried to place where he had seen it before.

"That is a demon stone, it is said to hold a low level demon. But nonetheless it is dangerous if we are careless about handling it." Sai explained, his curiosity clearly visible on his face as he was astonished in seeing one in real life.

"It's a good thing that you love to read." Naruto deadpanned, as Sai moved his gaze to him, his expression easily read from his face, it was confusion.

"I like to read?" Sai asked, wondering why Naruto thought that about him. Even he was not entirely sure about what he liked, human interaction was still very new to him, as he learned new things everyday by studying them with various methods, the popular one was through books.

"Nevermind, I'll talk to you about this later... god this is going to be as mortifying as the last conversation!" Naruto whispered the last bit to himself, as he pulled out his parchment paper, and drew on it, creating a minor storage seal. Using as little chakra as possible, he was finally able to seal the artifact into the seal scroll as he placed the paper in his backpack.

"Good thing it didn't explode this time..." Sai said, as he observed Naruto place the artifact into his seal, surprised that Naruto was actually able to completely seal something without it blowing up in his face.

"Yeah I know, otherwise we would have to ask for 'extra' favors from Iruka again." Naruto awkwardly laughed.

"Last time it didn't go so well, did it?"

"Not even close." Naruto chuckled, as a scream was heard from a distance. He recognized that voice, as another memory tried to resurface in his mind. Walking outside the tent, he was welcomed by the horrific expressions from Kakashi's Genin team. Sakura was the one who screamed as she now had her hand over her mouth, their teammate Sora was disgusted at the sight before them as he emptied whatever contents he had in his stomach on the ground behind them. Then there was Sasuke who looked like he was having a horrible flashback as his eye's were locked on the dead bandit in front of him.

'You're not the only one.' Naruto thought as he moved passed them, walking to the last location their sensei's were in. They were now in a locked stare, both looked to have damage done to them by the other. The terrain surrounding them looked like it had seen better days, as there were craters all around the ground, little fires still going here and there. Deciding enough was enough, Naruto walked in between the two luminous men, glaring at them both for their unprofessional behaviors.

"Pervy sage, we are done, and are leaving NOW!" Naruto growled, as Sai made his ink bird fly towards them. The boys boarded the ink bird beast, as Jiraiya said he would meet them back at the village, after he went back his own way. Kakashi and his team, were preparing to get ready for the trek home, since the youngest Uchiha, and his companion already completed their mission.

"Sai, can you handle two?" Naruto asked, staring at the horizon ahead of them he thought about the distance with the bird, comparing it to a team of four going that distance on foot. Sai looked at the blonde in confusion, head tilted to his side.

"Birds?" Naruto nearly fell off the ink bird at the questioning look, Sai still had his questioning gaze set on Naruto, waiting for his answer.

"No dinosaurs, of course the birds." Naruto replied sarcastically, but he couldn't help but chuckle at the innocence his friend sometimes displayed unknowingly even though the teen was a very professional ninja.

"I don't know." Sai replied honestly, he was unsure of his limits. They never went past their limits for very long periods, only on certain time intervals. It wasn't strenuous as it should be, but it did increase their reserves greatly.

"Wanna try?" Naruto attempting to coax his raven haired teammate, a new human interaction book that Sai had been looking for the last couple of weeks as he continued waving it in his face.

"Wouldn't that be considered dangerous?" Sai questioned as his gaze stayed on the book, Naruto knew he had Sai where he wanted him.

"No, it would be considered as training for both you and them."

"How so?"

"You would be training your chakra reserves, as they train for survival from falling from the sky."

"Is it safe?"

"When has training ever been considered safe?"

"Once." Sai remembered their safest training they have had in their team of two with Jiraiya, it would have been the perfect blackmail to anyone else if they weren't Sai.

"That doesn't count, we were just working on our Kanji!" Naruto barked, his cheeks reddening at the memory while Sai smirked, he hated it when Sai smirked like that.

"Our?"

"Fine, mine! Are you going to do it or not! I don't want to deal with delayed paperwork!"

"I will, but why two? I can make this one bigger."

"I-I, uh, never mind. Do as you wish." Naruto growled as Sai pushed more chakra into the large ink, increasing its size by triple so that it could be large enough for everyone to have space for themselves.

"You know I do."

"Don't you ever do that again!" Naruto barked terrified of Sai's new personality that he was obviously trying out.

"GET ON THAT DAMN BIRD!" Naruto demanded as he looked at his brother's team, they looked at him warily but Sasuke's reaction was strange, and Naruto could not make out what that particular emotion was and he hated sounding like Sai, one was bad enough.

"Don't tell us what to do, you murderer!" Sora yelled at him, glaring with pure hatred while Sakura and Sasuke remained silent, waiting for Naruto or Sai's reaction.

"You either get on that bird, or we leave you here with all the dead bodies."

Kakashi glared at the blond boy who lost his temper he knew that he was going to have a long talk with their sensei, and after he was done there would be no way that he would be recognizable after he was done. But he knew the benefits of taking the ink bird to The Hidden Leaf Village would be quicker than walking, since they were close to the Lightening country as they trailed the Bandits until they found them. Kakashi went to his students ordering them to take the boys offer, as the children begrudgingly climb the monstrous beast of a bird.

The Hidden Leaf Village

A Few Hours Later

Leaves falling from the tree's seemed to flow in the soft chilling wind, leaving most tree's bare of their colours. The villagers wore warm clothing as they prepared for the cold winter that was slowly creeping up on them. Farmers were preparing for their last harvest of the year, as most of their vegetation was placed in storage, as they hired many Genin to pick the last of the crops. Living in a Ninja village helped most with their surprise when a large black and white bird flew to the Hokage tower, since by now they were used to Naruto and Sai's entrance. Seconds after landing the bird dissipated into thin air, as its riders were now headed to the Leader of the village, the Third Hokage who was waiting for them.

As they walked through the countless winding, and confusing hallways of the Hokage tower, they were guided to the Hokage's office by his secretary who was told to their arrival. Naruto could feel the Kakashi's gaze on him, as well as the jounin's team who all felt different emotions on what he had done, but it was Sasuke who he was the most confused with as he still couldn't place that particular emotion. Reaching the Hokage's door they were ushered in being told that the Hokage was waiting for them having already received word from Jiraiya who was also waiting inside.

By nature Sai and Naruto both got into formal position when addressing the Hokage while Kakashi's team stumbled on the formality, although they did better than Naruto expected. Turning his attention to the Hokage who observed them all, noticing all the little twitches and slightly pale faces of the Genin who didn't have their first kill.

"Report." He ordered as he locked eye's with Naruto, who stood forward preparing himself to deliver his report until Kakashi interrupted him.

"Lord Hokage please pardon my bold act, but why was a genin team given an assassination mission?!" Hiruzen sighed loudly as a large puff of smoke was released into the air from the pipe the Hokage had placed in his mouth after ordering their report.

"He has proved great promise Kakashi, and it is not within your power to question his Sensei's methods of training as they are taking a different route from your own genin." He answered, knowing full well who he was more concerned for.

"Yes sir." Kakashi grudgingly pushed it aside, as he stole one last glance at the blond boy who was more like him than he liked, but his features showed him more of his Sensei every time he looked at the boy.

"Now report."

"We trailed the thieves to the outskirts of the Lightening country, Sai and I went alone on the mission and completing it. I have the artifact in my seal scroll." Naruto answered monotoned as he reached for the scroll in his pack giving it to the Hokage who grabbed the scroll with his eyebrow risen in a questioning gaze.

"It didn't blow up again did it?" Naruto blushed in embarrassment at the insinuation as he imagined Sai's smug face smirking at him, after it only happened twice and now it was stuck with him.

"No sir!" Naruto squeaked as he looked to his side, and the expression he as expecting was on that damn teen's face. Naruto was gonna pay him back later when he least expected it.

"Good, you are dismissed." All the genin left while Jiraiya and Kakashi stayed behind, most likely to discuss his conduct since this was the first mission that they shared that Naruto was ordered to kill, and Kakashi was disturbed by it.

"Want to grab a meal at Ichiraku's?" Naruto asked his teammate as he looked outside to see how the weather was after that chilly meeting with the Hokage, then as he turned to see what Sai was going to say, only to find him lost in his book that Naruto had given him, his question didn't even register as Sai read each page burning it into memory. They were both unaware that every single genin that Naruto graduated with was within hearing distance and all assumed his offer was for them as they all accepted, well for Hinata's team Kiba had accepted for them. Having noticed everyones existence and his invitation which he was regretting that was offered, and accepted he forced himself to walk with everyone to Ichiraku's keeping a firm hold on Sai's sleeve as he read and walked by Naruto's side since the blond didn't want to be left alone with the other genin from his graduating class.

Everyone chattered with one another as they caught up with everyone, since this was the first time all year that they were all together. Each genin was surprised that it was Naruto who invited them since he isolated himself from them all except for his teammate, Sai who was a mysterious boy that the girls were idolizing along with Sasuke as he also only gave his attention to their sensei's and Naruto.

Each genin stopped in their tracks as they heard a loud impact as they turned to see Sai on the ground with an irritated Naruto walking ahead of them quickly ducking under the curtains that told them they arrived at Ichiraku's. Ino and Hinata quickly went to the downed boy who was surprisingly unharmed considering the deep crater that his face made, but he laughed it off with the girls informing them that he was used to Naruto's temper tantrums.

Sasuke froze in his seat when he heard Sai, he turned to look at his younger brother who was ordering for himself, and his teammate already knowing what the boy was going to order as he saved a seat next to him while he sat next to the wall. Everyone shuffled in as they all ordered to the happy Ayumi since they all filled every seat in the small shop, as she told all the orders to her father who was already cooking Naruto's and Sai's meals. He always did this when the boys came back from a mission since they both made it a tradition to eat at his Ramen shop when they finished a mission.

"It's been a long time, huh Naruto." Hinata turned to the blond as Sai moved lower so he could be more involved with his book, and Hinata can easily talk to Naruto.

"Yeah it has, sorry I've been so busy with training and missions." Naruto apologized sincerely, this cause Hinata to smile as he was given his order from the owner himself as both he and Sai grabbed their bowls preparing to eat, or devour in Naruto's case.

"It's okay, I'm just glad that you are doing okay." Hinata was also given her small pork ramen, the bowl was still giving off steam as it was just taken from the kitchen.

"Yeah Naruto, we are all glad that you are doing okay." Choji piped in as he eagerly waited for his order to come to him, while Shikamaru blew on the steaming chicken ramen in front of feeling Choji's intense gaze as he salivated at the sight of his food, as well as Shino's who was sitting next to him.

"I heard from Asuma-sensei that you already became a complete ninja." Shikamaru added as the risk of Choji stealing his food was quickly averted when Ayumi gave him his order. Naruto merely glanced at everyone that was seated to his left, they all were agreeing amongst themselves about the rumours that their sensei's had told them about Naruto, and Sai's progress, no doubt trying to instigate their motivation.

"I heard that from Kurenai-Sensei too." Kiba yelled over the loud chatter, everyone was talking about the countless mission Naruto and Sai had gotten, except for Sasuke and his team, who were barely eating their food as they remembered what they saw merely hours before.

"We already witnessed it, I only hope I won't lose my appetite." Sakura brought up as she took a single noodle in her mouth, trying not to recall the camp ground filled with blood and corpses.

"Don't worry after a few times you learn how to cope with it enough to actually be able to eat." Sai told her as he easily ate his Ramen with ease, but he was not as rambunctious as Naruto who wasn't giving himself anytime to chew before he swallowed his third bowl of ramen, when he got that far no one knew.

"How many time have you two done it?" Kiba asked his eyebrows moving suggestively, it silenced the entire ramen stand as everyone waited to hear the answer, except for Ayumi and her father who were preparing another round of ramen since the kids ate a lot.

"15." Sai answered as he took in another mouthful of ramen, all the genin choked as they tried to get the food dislodged from their throats. Naruto's eyes bulged just like everyone else as they listened to what was just said, no one believed what they just heard, none them had any idea just how far the boys relationship actually was.

"Wow, thats a lot." Kiba laughed as he nearly fell off the stool, unable to hold it in as Naruto's face grew crimson in an instant, he was angry but his reaction was perfect.

"Sai you idiot, he was phrasing incorrectly!" Naruto punched Sai once again as Sai fell off his stool, seeing stairs on the roof of Ichiraku ramen made him confused of his situation. Hinata was the first to go to his side as Naruto was only seeing red, as his gaze fell on the still laughing Kiba, everyone watched with bated breath, and another ticked off Uchiha who was planning on revenge.

"How so?" Sai asked once he remembered where he was, rubbing the lump forming on his head as he sat down again, curious about what he had done wrong, the dog boy had asked how many time they had killed didn't he?

"I am not explaining the birds and the bee's again." Naruto blushed as he looked very interested in the wall behind him, none of them had every seen this side of the blond, he was always calm and collected.

"Oh was that a reference to that?" Sai exclaimed as if he had discovered something great, as he was about to thank Naruto, the younger blond cut him off.

"YES!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Kiba was still laughing, and apparently Sora had joined in his laughter, it made him forget the horrific scene he saw earlier.

"You idiot Kiba, you almost killed everyone here." Naruto gestured to the remaining choking teens who were receiving help from other genin.

"But it was so worth it." Kiba wiped a tear away as he slowly calmed his laughing, the pain on his sides and stomach was worth the laugh.

"I swear you will be number 16." Naruto threatened a flashlight was placed under his face by Sai to emphasize the terrifying effect he had on everyone else, while Sasuke discreetly added the thunder behind him, this brought forth the much wanted effect Naruto wanted while the two raven haired boys quickly retreated leaving Naruto unaware of their assistance.

"AHHH! Don't kill me!" Kiba cried as he hid behind Shino who didn't stop to notice the mood around him as he continued eating.

"Naruto bad boy, don't make me put you in time out!" Sai berated, memories surfaced from the time when Sai got ahold of a parenting book by accident, and when he was like this Naruto couldn't help but use him as his punching bag.

"Sai why don't you just keel over and DIE!" Naruto delivered the finishing blow, throwing Sai back into the crater he made earlier, paying for his food he ventured off home before he started getting friendly with everyone once again.

"Is this how you got hit last time?" Ino asked as she helped him this time, however Sai was still smiling as he thanked her and calling her 'beautiful' leaving her flustered as he seated himself again caressing his head as he felt a headache forming.

"Yes, it seems that my method is ineffective."

"Of course it would be, he is only a couple years younger than all of us, so of course he'd want to be treated as an equal in age, considering his accomplishments even get the higher ups attention." Shikamaru drawled as he resumed his eating after being assisted with his choking minutes earlier.

"Even then, he is still young and sometimes gets temper tantrums." Sai announced as he finished his meal, knowing that Naruto would want some company as he walked home in anger, Sai had gotten used to the blond boys antics as he observed his younger teammate in the past year, it made Sai think that he should have been the one to read a book on how to relay his own emotions.

"He does?" Sasuke asked, surprising most that he spoke at all. Sasuke recalled all his time with the younger Uchiha and he couldn't see it at all, he was always so happy as he chased after him and Itachi, the very name that boiled his blood as he thought about their older brother since the memories he had of him were circulating around the massacre of nearly their entire clan.

'I have to protect Naruto from that monster, maybe then I can have my shot at happiness just like that kid should have had if he didn't become a ninja.' Sasuke thought to himself as Sai continued the conversation.

"Yeah, he always gets angry when I don't eat with him at least once a day or if I don't give him any attention." Sai told everyone as he proceeded to pay his own bill, he waved farewell to everyone as he left to catch up with Naruto, all he had to do was follow the trail of destruction.

"Wow, who would've thought." They all agreed in unison as their minds were plagued with images with the blushing Naruto, they never seen him frazzled before, and to them all it was quite cute as they continued eating as thoughts of Naruto kept them all preoccupied.

Naruto's Apartment

"Naruto please forgive me for any transgression I may have caused you." Sai bowed to Naruto in his home, after all Sai lived with him most of the time and has his own key so it didn't exactly belong to just him since the other resident footed the other half of the bill helping them a lot with being able to eat out more since neither can cook to save their life, and that was almost an issue at one of their training missions.

"Fine, even I know that you had no idea what Kiba was insinuating. That means that I have to teach you to read the mood."

"Read the mood? I had no idea that a persons mood can be read, I haven't come across that in the books I have read so far."

"Never mind, your gonna drive me crazy one of these days."

"I won't be the one driving you until you get crazy, your hectic lifestyle will do that for me."

"Sometimes I wonder if you actually do not understand communication between people, or if it is a facade or maybe in actuality you really have no idea what is truly going on."

"Life is a mystery."

"You have been watching television shows again haven't you."

"How can I? We have no television in this apartment."

"We're ninja's we don't need television since we never have the time."

"Speaking about time I just remembered what today was!"

"What?"

"Happy birthday, Baby Uchiha!" Sai smiled as he pulled out an elegantly wrapped present, with a small bow at the top, it had taken him quite a few books to understand the complexity that was birthday parties. Naruto was shocked that his teammate did something similar to an actual human affection, until the last part of Sai's sentence registered in his mind

"I AM NOT A BABY YOU JERK!"

The Meeting With The Hokage

The hokage was listening to the endless arguments between Kakashi and Jiraiya about their methods of training for their genin. Jiraiya made valid arguments about Kakashi's inability to teach his genin to become true ninja's by holding off their first assassination mission where they would have to achieve their first kill rather than immobilizing their opponents. Then on Kakashi's side he also had a valid point that they were not in war, and the Martial law was not in effect which forced Jounin sensei's to have their genin kill and recover mentally so they would not break down in the middle of a battle.

Hiruzen could see both sides of their arguments, knowing full well that both methods were acceptable and he understood why they were fighting over this issue; however, Naruto and Sai were not be treated lightly considering the young Uchiha's early graduation, and if they were to hinder his progress it would harm his future as a ninja. Many could see his future as he would gather countless achievements, while others saw this as a path to darkness as they saw Itachi in the young boy despite their differences in features. Those who were close to the Uchiha clan years before had heard the stories about young Naruto and how he was able to activate his sharingan at a very early age which was earlier that Itachi. The council would debate about the youngest Uchiha which was still ongoing about how they would approach his growing intellect, and skill, while most of the council supported Jiraiya on his methods, others also fought back with the same argument that Kakashi was currently saying.

"Kakashi I see no issues with Jiraiya's method, seeing as how Naruto is the jinchuriki he must be properly trained and constantly monitored. There is more at stake than his mental wellbeing, other countries have had their own jinchuriki trained since they could walk, and most are considered stronger than the others. War is always being threatened amongst the five great nations, and I know I may look like a feeble old man but I have lived through two of the Great Ninja wars losing a sensei in each one."

"I understand sir but they are just kids, just take a look at those of us who were raised in war and killed at young ages, none of us will ever be considered normal-"

"I understand your concern and I also know that you brought up a valid point. But in the end it is Jiraiya's decision about what he would have the boys do while they are under his tutelage. You have your own genin to worry and care about, I know that you are worried since he is your former sensei's only child, but the best thing you can hope to do is to help and allow him to grow. This world has no place for innocence if it did then that would truly be a world worth fighting for in the future, but this is the corrupted world we reside in, and we must do what we can to help those children grow stronger so that they can carry the 'Will of Fire' pass it on to the generations after them."

"I understand sir."

"You are dismissed."

"Thank you."

"Now Jiraiya you said about wanting to request a traveler's permit."

"Yes sensei, after the Chuunin exams I would like to take those two brats on a training journey."

"Do you think this is wise?"

"Yes, keeping him out of the village will surely keep him off their radar."

"I shall inform Danzo about this matter considering Sai has no record for me to sign, he shall have to handle this while I work on your new one, and creating one for Naruto."

"So you are signing them up for the exam?"

"Yes, they are more than ready."

In the dark night with soft glow of the post lamps illuminating the walkways of the Hidden leaf village it was quiet as most were in their beds sleeping the night away, Naruto couldn't bring himself to sleep as these things kept him awake, his senses were on high alert as he looked at the culprits wrapped in colourful bows and were in large piles in front of him, Sai was already asleep leaving Naruto nowhere to vent his inner turmoil. The presents were all addressed to him each had birthday wishes for him, each had different penmanship than the last making it difficult for him to link the owner to each gift since he was still training on his writing, and he didn't know anyone else's writing except for Sai, Jiraiya, the Hokage, and Itachi.

Swallowing the excess saliva as he nervously he reached out to grab the closest one, unwrapping the flimsy colourful paper carefully inspecting it for triggers that would explode its contents in his face, but he didn't find anything. As he finished unwrapping the gift that he didn't pay attention to as he moved unto the next, then the next, until he finished unwrapping all the presents. Cleaning up the wrapping and placing everything on his bed after passing Sai who slept peacefully on the couch, Naruto finally put his attention on what he got from the anonymous people who gave him birthday presents, he saw ninja tools, various pills, parchment papers, scrolls, clothing that were to large for him, and one present he knew who had given it to him with the large bold letters 'BOSS' engraved on a blank konoha headband, but the one gift that grabbed his attention was the small emblem, it had the insignia of the Leaf village.

Naruto pulled his own head band off his neck as he replaced the large emblem with the smaller one, he wrapped it on his forehead surprised that it fit without any discomfort. Rushing to the mirror in the bathroom on the other side of the apartment using his heightened senses to run along the walls without waking Sai, pushing the sliding door aside he gazed at himself in the mirror, sharp cold blue eyes stared back at him, he grew more since the last time he looked at the mirror. Every feature that he saw a year ago was nearly gone as he saw that his jaw had begun narrowing with his increasing age, as well as the lessened amount of his baby fat around his face and limbs, the pronounced muscles that he was slowly gaining, his height was different from the year before as he grew a few millimeters, then he looked at his hands which instantly became stained with the blood of all those who were killed by him, their dead stares burned into his memory from those he killed in the beginning of his short career. His amateur mistake the first time he killed was allowing himself to feel too attached to his target as he established bonds with her to lower her defences as he delivered the lethal blow to each of the vital organs, he had to stay with her until her pounding, bloody heart had stopped, he felt frozen as he sat by her side as she looked fearfully at him, just staring with her blood teared honey-gold eyes, he didn't move for a long time but Jiraiya understood and explained to him that it was his final test to his Village that he deserved the band that was wrapped around his neck, he was a true ninja now.

Images of the countless dead men and women, especially her lovely features left his mind as he refocused on his hands, they were clear from the blood that stained them seconds before, looking back at his reflection he could see his haggard appearance as he calmed his pounding heart, he forced himself to sit on the floor as he felt the dizziness overcome him from his laboured breathing, he knew it was because of the memories of all those he killed and he needed to calm down and think about something that will distract him enough to forget about the lives that he took in his entire life.

Thinking about the happier times was hard since his mind would wander back to the Uchiha clan compound, where he could see nearly all of his clan members that he can remember as they went about their daily duties, with the Uchiha corps running everywhere keeping the peace as they surveyed the Village. Naruto's thoughts returned to his home from his childhood as he saw his mother in the kitchen, he had just come home early from the academy, it was his first day as he told her about Sasuke's large amount of friends. Naruto tried to recall if he saw his father but the memory kept on playing as his mother sent him to his room so that he could nap before supper, he did as she wished but when he woke up the silence scared him since he couldn't even hear the many Clan members going about their day from his open window. Naruto remembered as he walked to the window first seeing Hikaru the oldest son of the nice lady who worked at the nearest bakery as he was lying on the ground unmoving, he remembered being scared as he ran outside his room to find his mother so that she could help the downed boy, but it was quiet as his footsteps echoed throughout their home. His breathing began to increase as he remembered the blood, the pool of blood as he looked upon the corpses of his parents as his father lay atop his mother as he looked like he was protecting her until the end, he remembered he screamed as he held his Fathers kimono until his throat was raw with pain, but he didn't stop after what seemed like hours, then Sasuke came.

He knew he was hyperventilating now as he clutched his head, tears running down his face as he repeated the mantra he knew that would be hopeless, but the thought made him feel better as he hoped someone, anyone would come and stop the oncoming memories. The slaughter of his parents was the only thing he remembered that night, Naruto wasn't sure of the memories of Hikaru's body was true, he couldn't recall if there was a Hikaru Uchiha, but that didn't matter now as he started feeling faint.

'He had no choice, he had no choice, he had no choice, he had no choice, he had no choice, he had no choice-.' Naruto could feel someones arms wrap around him as they softly and calmly spoke to him, but he was going into a panic attack he didn't hear a word that they were saying. Looking up at the mirror as he felt nauseous he saw that it was Sai who was hugging him as he tried to calm him down, this wouldn't be the first time Sai had done this for him and this was part of the reason why Sai stayed with him as the memories of his assassination missions brought horrible scenes from his past to bombard his psyche. Pain in his chest started increasing after every breath, Sai noticed that as well as he put Naruto down on the chilling tile floor as he elevated is legs, how? He didn't know but Sai did all the medic training that he could recall as Naruto felt himself calming down as his heart beat slowed, and his breathing began to relax.

They stayed in this embrace until the younger of the two fell asleep, slightly snoring as the older of the two moved Naruto until he was in a position of being easily carried as he took the boy to his bed, while Sai felt a slight panic when Naruto didn't let go of his neck when he put the boy down, he saw only two options;

1) Wake the unstable boy, risk yet another attack.

Or the second more sedate option

2) Sleep in the soft and comfy bed while Naruto held unto him.

Sai made his choice as he slid into bed beside Naruto letting the sleeping child hang unto him, until he felt sleep evade him when he the pulsing rise in a foreign chakra, he was in a bind if it was an assassin even though he could easily escape the lax restraint that Naruto had on him, it was raise questions that he didn't have the authority of answering. He waited for a reaction unconsciously pulling the blond closer in an intimate embrace, the pulsing chakra increased as more chakra signatures appeared all at once, Sai let go of Naruto and the chakra's fell down to a bare minimum, he experimented once more as he embraced the smaller boy moving his lips to the unconscious blonds neck slightly sucking, it was now killer intent that was pulsating as he left a small mark, no larger than a dot but it was enough instigation for him to see who was spying on them since the window was curtain-less from Naruto's rampage a couple weeks before they left on their mission, and he could easily see the figures leave their hiding spots.

As Sai sat up remarkably not waking up the now drooling boy as he continued to hang off him, he saw every single genin they had eaten at Ichiraku's earlier and each had different expression displayed on their faces but Sai was unfamiliar with discerning other emotions other than Naruto's since it was a routine speculation due to his inferiority complex with his young age. As soon as he saw the others they each had comical reactions as a few fell off roofs, ran into walls, tripping over the odd object or two, he saw that four of the genin all hit each other head on as they tried to run from his prying eyes, he guessed they were scared for a reason he didn't know why until he saw Naruto was sleeping with his eye's open again as he glared out the window while snoring loudly with specks of drool going down the side of his chin. Sai moved back down unto the bed when everyone was gone, he felt more at peace now less on alert as there seemed to be no one around to disturb them while they slept and so Sai slept comfortably forgetting that it was Naruto he was hugging back and not his older brother Shin as both boys slept with a smile on their faces.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS THING ON MY NECK!?" Naruto screamed at the top of his lungs the need to kill the nearest soul had him moving on instinct, as he loomed over the unsuspecting and slumbering Sai who slept on his bed.

Eve Of The Chunin Exams

Few weeks later

Training Ground #74

"Who do you think will be on our team?" Naruto asked feeling slight dread as he thought about the balance of their teamwork having been put into jeopardy due to a last minute addition, and Naruto couldn't help but feel this was horrible timing seeing as how they have no teamwork history the night before the Chuunin exams.

"Jiraiya did not give any information on who will be joining us." Sai replied as he put on his automatic smile, Naruto still had a lot of work to turn this robot human.

"Think they will be competent enough?" Naruto inquired as his hand moved to check on the scroll hidden in his weapons pouch, a dangerous habit he still had to break.

"My book of quotes says, 'We can only hope for the best'." Sai responded by showing Naruto the exact line he was quoting from.

"That must be the only sanest thing I have ever heard you say, AND you learned that from a book!" Naruto stared shocked at his teammate who wasn't unnerved at all as he continued reading his book, only bothering to reply after he turned the page to find that he finished the chapter.

"That was rather rude, I learn everything about day-to-day life through my books."

"Know what else is rude?" Naruto felt his anger rising as his faced flamed in an instant as he recalled what happened a few weeks before.

"What?" Curiosity caught his attention as he put his book away to hang on his side as they continued walking to the meeting place they promised to meet Jiraiya so that they can be introduced to their temporary teammate for the exams.

"Giving your roommate a hickey just see who is spying through the window!" Naruto silently shouted not trusting his surroundings as he feared someone who may not have known that little tidbit to walk in on him yelling at Sai, it may end up looking like a lovers spat.

"It worked didn't it?"

"But you suffered the consequences."

"You can't handle your puberty."

"Like you can! Y-y-you molester!"

"I am not a molester, I don't harass you."

"The other meaning Sai." Naruto felt exasperated when Sai knew more than one meaning for a word, he's have to explain what he meant, otherwise the older raven haired boy would have no idea what he would be talking about.

"I am in no way attracted to small underdeveloped children, I like my partner to be older, more risqué and beautiful as a working piece of art."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SMALL INSIGNIFICANT CHILD!"

"Oh look there's Jiraiya!"

"SAI GET BACK HERE AND TAKE YOUR BEATING LIKE A MAN!"

"Naruto calm down, sheesh if I didn't know you two I'd think you were hot for each other-"

"..." his face was reddening as he thought about a certain someone that would reciprocate his feelings as they would go out on dates, grow up together, and hopefully live to old age together, Naruto got lost in his thoughts for second before punching himself in the face for having such thoughts, momentarily knocking himself out.

"..." Sai looked blank face not bothering to give the older man the satisfaction of seeing a reaction as he just stared at Jiraiya who shrugged off his students as being the usual, strange.

"Now here is your teammate for the Chuunin exams tomorrow, this would be his sixth time taking the exams, hopefully with you two he will break his unfortunate streak. Now that you know each other I have prior engagements I have to attend." Jiraiya ran as fast as he could, when Naruto woke up he knew exactly what was in that direction as he saw the Toad sage run, it was the new open air hot spring bath.

"PERVERTED OLD MAN." Naruto and Sai roared as Jiraiya gave his usual maniacal laughter as he waved behind him until he was out of sight.

"That's a first." Naruto exclaimed surprise as he completely ignored their new teammate, who he didn't even know was there.

"What?"

"You yelled at Pervy-sage with me."

"I thought I would give it a try, its seems like an awful waste of time to do this every time, why not record your voice-"

"Uhm, you do know I am here right." The silver haired glasses wearing teen who was to be their teammate tried to get their attention, but it was hopeless as they started to talk about pranking their Sanin of a sensei.

"-leaving him naked in the women's changing room." Sai continued completely aware that the older teen was trying to get their attention but he ignored him because he didn't like being interrupted.

"Brilliant!"

"Uhm, Hello!?" The older teen tried more forcefully, and it worked as Naruto swung around quickly as if he just found out he was here after the introductions seconds before the famed pervert Jiraiya had left for most likely his 'research'.

"Oh hey, when did you get here?"

"He was here the entire time Naruto, you are just too much of a Baby Uchiha to notice him."

"I AM NOT A BABY UCHIHA!"

"Aren't you the famed 'Sun of the Uchiha Clan'?"

"Not that name, please anything but that name..."

"Baby Uchiha." Sai requested happily as he didn't even bother to dodge the sideways punch Naruto threw his way, making the increasing mysterious appearances of face shaped craters all the more larger as Sai fell face first into the ground.

"Never mind lets stick with that name."

"This is so amazing! I have heard so much about you, you're getting famous as the last true Uchiha genius."

"Uhm Thanks, hey I know that this may be rude, but what is your name again?" Naruto nervously rubbed the back of his head as he had the decency to blush at his blunder, as the older teen chuckled as he bowed to reintroduce himself.

"Thats okay, my name is Kabuto Yakushi adopted son of the local doctor here in Konoha's main hospital."

"That's cool, wanna help us pass the chuunin exams?"

"Hopefully I'll be of use, my teammates passed during the last chuunin exam, I guess it's obvious that I didn't."

"No problem we will help with your loser streak-" Sai emphasized as he picked this time to get up as he brushed the dirt off his face, unharmed by the crater he unwillingly made.

"Sai you dolt." groaned Naruto as he crudely cradled his head, punching the Raven haired airhead back into the ground.

'Well as long as he doesn't get in the way of my progress I could care less, I need to get Sai and I to graduate the first time, we are running put of time.' Naruto thought to himself as he began to calm down, ready to offer free dinner as an apology to Sai to make up for him punching him all day.

"It's okay I am used to it, I guess it's because of my teammates are always rubbing it in, that I didn't pass and they did." Kabuto shrugged off the rude comment, this made Naruto resolve to make sure to take him out to eat as well.

"As long as you contribute we will try our best to get you to graduate as well." Naruto grinned as he gave Kabuto a thumbs up, happy that his temporary teammate was complacent to him and Sai, when usually they would be ready to slit their throats for being the opposite as they imagined him to be, this may not be a waste of his time after all. Naruto invited Kabuto to eat at Ichiraku's while he left to grab Sai out of the new crater he had made, not completely aware that

"Thanks." Kabuto darkly smirked as he watch Naruto rub his leg just over the kunai pouch in habit, he had a hunch that Naruto was the one Orochimaru wanted, and he may have been right after all.

'This is going to be fun, better show me a good time little 'Sun of the Uchiha Clan.'

Preview:

'So this is the best that all the Elemental Nations have to offer?' Naruto thought to himself as he defeated yet another of his opponents, his main target was the boy with the red hair, he knew they both felt it the pull of chakra pulling them closer and Naruto didn't know what he wanted as he felt anger, sadness, happiness, and joy as they stared each other down. Neither of them knew if they wanted to see the other bleed, or to embrace each other, but they will not get the chance to find out as others get in the way of their chakra pulls.

"Naruto I love you!"

'Did someone just confess to me?' Naruto thought

Hoped you liked this Chapter, I was going to keep on going, but most of you would have killed me for not updating right away, I will work on the next chapter right away, and get this Chuunin exam done.

Confessions may, or may not go down in the next chapter, but don't worry I am far from being finished, I want Naruto to grow up, and depending on who he ends up with there will be different endings, and I promised to do the endings of the !top BOY, AND GIRL!