Forest

Naruto remained calm on the outside but his mind was racing with possibilities on what he could do to escape this apparent death trap. Not knowing exactly who he was facing was a problem in itself but he did figure out one thing. The mysterious shinobi did not go straight for the kill.

With that fact in mind he carefully turned around and was met with two sharingan eyes under a Konoha Anbu mask. What made this more terrifying was that he could not sense even a sliver of chakra coming from this man.

Itachi calmly watched Naruto as he desperately tried to figure out any sort of advantage he could find. He had known Naruto since he was a baby and was even assigned to watch over him on several occasions. He had witnessed the harsh treatment the villagers directed at him but considering the very being that was responsible for countless deaths rested inside him it was not surprising.

After some tense moments Itachi finally broke the silence and asked the Jinchuriki a vague question. "Show me how much you have changed Naruto. Show me your power here or die and be forgotten."

Naruto was not one to be easily scared but this man ahead of him spoke with power. He knew he had the advantage but still he didn't know why exactly he was challenging him. It didn't matter he thought. If he died here then his parents gifts were all for nothing. He would not let that happen.

Itachi's eyes widened as Naruto vanished from his vision. However his sharingan eyes would not be fooled and thus he easily sidestepped his lightning infused punch.

Naruto collided with a thick tree trunk leaving his hand stuck inside it for a moment. He easily pulled out and frowned at not being able to land his blow. His eyes began to glow an ominous blue as the skies above began to tremble.

Itachi remained cool under his mask as he noticed the ominous trembling above no doubt because of Naruto's mounting frustration. The next moment his sharingan eyes foresaw his coming blows as he easily sidestepped his punch once again.

Naruto grit his teeth as he once again missed his mark. Turning around he released a breath as he tried to calm himself. After a few moments his entire body exploded in a bright blue flash. His body now flowed with pure lightning increasing his speed and power tremendously.

Itachi watched in awe but only for a moment before he foresaw him coming for him once more. This time however he realized he would be too slow to dodge his attack entirely. This further validated Naruto's new found speed courtesy of the lightning flowing through him.

Naruto was so close to landing his punch that he could see himself in Itachi's sharingan eyes. But just like that his entire body dropped to the ground like a rock in water. His vision turned dark and his control over his body was non existent.

Itachi breathed a cool sigh seeing his genjutsu had been successful. He then walked towards Naruto's sleeping body wanting to find out exactly what was happening inside him. His body should not be capable of handling this much lightning without it shutting down completely. His answer came when he saw his body filled with lightning instead of the normal chakra. What did this mean when it came to the tailed beast jailed inside him he wondered.

Any normal person would already be dead from the lack of normal chakra flowing through them. Yet here Naruto was not just surviving but thriving. Now he knew why the Council was so interested in testing his new found power. "And..."

Naruto struggled to stand up after being hit by his genjutsu at point blank range. Still he managed and glared at the calm looking man ahead. "That's the second time you've had the chance to finish me off. You will not get another I assure you."

Naruto's body exploded with power once more as he dashed towards the masked man. This time he managed to grab him by his throat before slamming him to the ground in a thunderous roar. An impressive looking crater was born but all that left it was a bunch of black crows that pecked him without fear.

"Fucking shit!." He shouted as his annoyance began to grow not being able to end this threat once and for all. He focused on trying to find him in this forest but he could not. "Alright...if you won't come out willingly then I'll just force you out!."

Itachi meanwhile watched from a safe distance away as he sensed Naruto's growing frustration begin to give him even more power. The next few moments he witnessed almost all of the animals near them flee for their very lives seemingly knowing what was to come.

Just as Naruto had finished whatever he was aiming for Itachi appeared so close he could see himself in his eyes. That was all he was capable of seeing before being blasted by a ferocious kick planted deep into his chest. "Shit!." Was all he could muster as he flew through the air and through several thick trees before finally stopping.

Itachi stood tall just opposite where Naruto had landed. However, he could be seen holding his right leg in pain after coming into contact with Naruto's lightning shield. 'I need to finish this before things get to heated.'

Naruto meanwhile was on his butt as he coughed up a glob of blood. He held his chest in pain as his ribs had been broken. He couldn't linger in his pain any longer before Itachi appeared once more and went for the knockout blow to his head.

Luckily Naruto's lightning shield protected him and thus gave him the chance to finally land a hit on Itachi's stomach. Unluckily for him the body he hit only resulted in black crows being fried to a crisp.

"Dammit!." He slammed his fists onto the forest floor as once again he was unable to land anything on the masked shinobi. "I'm so weak!." He shouted and the heavens above responded with a thunderous roar. "I cannot die here! I will not die here. Maki...Chi..."

Itachi bore witness to Naruto's transformation. He could sense his power multiply even further beyond. Now he understood that Naruto's lightning power was no ordinary power. No, this was special and dangerous. Something he knew could save Konoha or brings its ruin. "He is the one that shall..."

Naruto's eyes only wanted one thing and that was the destruction of the masked shinobi that threatened his very existence. He did not even pay any notice to his transformation and instead went straight for the masked shinobi ahead.

Even with his fully evolved sharingan eyes Itachi still struggled to keep up with Naruto's new found speed. It was here where Naruto finally landed a solid hit on his mask and shattered it on impact sending him flying back.

Acting on pure instinct Naruto calmly raised his hands to the heavens above and was immediately blasted by a thunderous lightning bolt charging him to the max. Feeling like his body would explode at any moment he calmly planted both of his hands onto the forest floor. He then raised his head and smirked at the forest ahead knowing the masked shinobi was watching him. "Heaven's Judgement!."

Not even a moment passed before everything around Naruto exploded in a dazzling display of blue leaving everything in ruin.

Town Near Battle

A bearded gentlemen and several other important seeming people were gathered around a large table discussing the safety of their town. "The roads are becoming too dangerous for our people to travel. We need more shinobi to protect our caravans." The very next moment a thunderous roar exploded their eardrums and shattered almost every single glass window there was.

The large gathering of important people immediately went outside to find their town's people also gathered together in shock. Their eyes focused on the ominous dark clouds gathered miles away from their town. A moment after another thunder clap roared resulting in the blackout of the town.

Destroyed Forest

Although Naruto stood tall in actuality he could barely move an inch from where he stood. That move drained everything he had and thus the next moment he fell to his knees and then face first to the ground. As his consciousness left him he could feel proud in taking down that masked shinobi.

Itachi appeared in the ruined forest after having replaced himself with a clone he had left just in case. It was fortunate that he did because if even a second more had passed he could honestly say he would have been vaporized instantly. The amount of power that move had could have easily destroyed an entire village if he so desired. Still, this battle provided him with the answer he so desperately needed to know. Naruto was indeed Konoha's salvation.

Several Hours Later...

Itachi's Campsite

Naruto slowly began to reawaken as he examined his surroundings with groggy eyes. He quickly realized what had transpired before when he noticed that exact man seemingly asleep next to him. He realized he had lost but weirdly enough was still alive. Even if he wanted to escape his body still felt empty.

Itachi who had been resting till this point casually opened his eyes which lacked his usual sharingan. He noticed the boy was looking at him with suspicion no doubt thinking of ways to escape his predicament. "Before you get any crazy ideas you must know I was sent by the Hokage to watch over you and protect you if needed."

Naruto slowly sat up and watched the mysterious man with confusion evident in his face. "Then why the hell were you trying to kill me back there?!." He honestly couldn't picture the old man wanting to hurt him like this.

Itachi responded calmly. "Like you mentioned earlier I could have easily killed you if I so desired. In truth I wanted to find out why exactly the council had taken such an interest in you."

Naruto shook his head at his deception thinking all this time he was fighting for his life. Still he was alive and that was a fact he could not ignore. Laying his head down he gazed at the ceiling tent for a moment before asking another question. "So...do you have a name?."

Itachi looked at him with a bit of hesitation before he answered in his usual cool tone. "Itachi Uchiha."

Naruto figured he belonged to the Uchiha with those sharingan eyes of his but still he wondered something. "You being from the Uchiha I would imagine you have met Maki?."

Itachi looked at Naruto with a serious expression before looking away. Clearly there was something between them but he knew better than to ask further if he did not want to share himself.

An awkward silence lingered before Itachi broke the silence and asked Naruto a very important question regarding his future. "What would you say if I offered you a chance to train with me once your mission is over?."

Naruto was speechless not knowing what to think. He already had a sensei in Maki but considering he had surpassed her it was only logical he moved on but.

Itachi knew about Naruto's previous teacher in Maki. He could see the attachment in his eyes regarding her but he felt this was the only way. "Maki-san can no longer teach you anything you don't already know Naruto. It is time you shed your naivety and become someone people can depend on."

Naruto looked down to his hands as his mind raced with thoughts about Maki. He felt he was betraying her by accepting another teacher so easily but he could hear the wisdom in Itachi's words. He knew he had to become stronger and who better than the man that took almost everything he had to offer and still looked unfazed. With determination filling his blue eyes he accepted Itachi's offer.

Itachi seemed to smile for a second before regaining his cool expression. "Very well. It is best for you to rest to regain your strength before you begin your mission."

The next morning...

Campsite

Naruto awoke feeling better and stronger than ever. His attention shifted towards the noises outside his tent. As he exited the tent he was immediately tossed a sandwich which Maki and Chi had so carefully made for him.

"Eat your share as I have already had mine. Quickly now as time is of the essence." Itachi paid no mind to Naruto's annoyed expression at being robbed of some sandwiches made specifically for him.

While Naruto ate his sandwiches in silence he felt another thing coming his way. Thinking it was another sandwich he swiftly caught it without even looking at it. Immediately he felt the cold steel in his hands and discovered it was a Konoha headband. He then carefully put down his last sandwich as he grabbed the headband with both hands. "Is this for me..."

Itachi came behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You will become the beacon of light as the world around us succumbs to the darkness. Never forget who you are and what you are protecting. Even if it means our death..."

Naruto felt Itachi's grip tighten ever so slightly before being released. Seeing his sensei quickly put out the campfire he griped the headband before putting it on. It was time for his mission to begin and the world to know about Uzumaki Naruto.