On the Shoulders of Giants

OFion does not own Naruto. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

The men were gods.

No other words could describe them.

Chakra coated their bodies and caused the cold metal plates of their Warring Clan styled armor to jangle lightly.

The ground around them had been scorched by black fire and covered with the shattered remains of swords and broken oaths of brotherhood. Craters the size of summoned creatures dotted the ground randomly and shredded remains of forests littered the earth. Kunai and shuriken made of chakra metal stuck point first into the ground, each damaged from the impact with another weapon just like it with elemental chakra coursing through it.

The Shinobi no Kami jumped over the swipe of his former friend's kama blade while spinning before launching his left foot at the Man with the Enlightened Eyes. The man's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan tracked the chakra coated blow before raising his gunbai to block the strike. The Shinobi no Kami narrowed his eyes before he used the fan to push himself backwards into a backflip, although not before throwing a few shuriken coated in Raiton chakra. With a flick of his gunbai, the Man with the Enlightened Eyes launched a gust of wind chakra that stripped the incoming projectiles of their charges and sent them flying toward the ground.

The Shinobi no Kami landed with his hands clasped into a snake seal before placing one palm on the floor. Instantly spikes of wood shot forward from him toward the Man with the Enlightened Eyes who simply sliced through them all with a blade coated with the Black Flames of Heaven. This was merely a distraction for the Shinobi no Kami to launch himself forward with a speed beyond even a Swift Release user and slam a fist in his former friend's armor covered torso, forcing him to double over. It was then the brutal taijutsu training of the man took over and a knee was slammed upward straight into his opponent's chin, launching him upwards with enough force for his feet to leave the floor. The final strike was a spinning side kick planted directly into the Man with the Enlightened Eyes' chest which not only cracked the crimson armor but sent him flying backwards. With a flick of his wrist, the Man with the Enlightened Eyes' kama flew before grabbing onto the side of the wall, slowing him down to a stop.

"Stop stalling Hashirama" The Man with the Enlightened Eyes said as he stood up, the chain of his gunbai and kama making a sharp noise every time it struck a rock on the ground. "You can't defeat me, it's inevitable"

Hashirama was a tall man with tanned skin and dark eyes. He had waist-length black hair typically styled in a centre-parted fringe that framed his face. He was wearing a set of maroon body armor often worn by members of the Senju Clan during the Warring Clans period along with a large scroll going across his back. The thing that made him stand out was the metal plate with a leaf symbol engraved on it which was attached to a black cloth wrapped around his head,

"Nothing is inevitable Madara" Hashirama said with a cross of his arms. "The only thing that we can know for sure will come is death"

Madara was a fair-skinned man with spiky, waist length black hair that had a slight blue tint to it with a bang that covered one of his eyes. He was wearing a set of crimson armor similar to what the Uchiha Clan wore during the Warring Clans period. He had in his hand a scythe that was as tall as him however with a short blade while in his other hand was his most famous and prized possession. A brown and black gunbai that had been passed down to Madara from his father and to his father from his father. The thing that stood out besides the weapons in his hand was the lack of headband with a metal plate with a leaf symbol.

Madara looked Hashirama in the eye. "Yes and it will be your own…"

His hands clenched around his weapons. "This Curse of Hatred has given me strength and with it, I will crush the cycle of war and pain"

"You will fall before the might of the Uchiha!" Madara Uchiha roared as ungodly amounts of blue chakra ripped from his body and shot upwards like a spear to the heavens. "Kyubi!"

"The flames of the Will of Fire burn inside of me and I will defend them with my last breath..." Hashirama said to himself as his own hands clenched into white knuckled fists.

"For the I am the shadow of those flames! I am the First Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato!" Hashirama Senju yelled at the top of his lungs as the ground around his began to rumble and course with energy. "Wood Style: Wood Golem!"

It was then the earth exploded as wood stronger than the most durable metal in the elemental nations shot up from the ground at the command of its master, shaping itself into a humanoid creature as tall as mountains. It looked like an oni with its demon like features and the dragon coiled around its body. It was a fearsome avatar befitting of the man wielding it, the most powerful man in the Elemental Nations.

A being of oppressive chakra entered the arena with a roar, its red eyes with black markings glowing with the hatred its master had for the man before him. The blue chakra that was pouring from Madara like a broken dam began to surround the bijuu like an armor. With a clench of his fist, the chakra began to stabilize into a set of samurai armor with an extra set of arms on the bijuu's back. Every part of the Susanoo Kyubi was dangerous, the swords in the hands of the arms of the Bijuu's back, the nine armored tails flowing behind it, the sharp teeth in its mouth and the oceans of chakra rippling off of it. It was a terrifying sight befitting the man wielding it, the most dangerous man in the Elemental Nations.

"Kyubi!" Madara roared with a finger pointed at Hashirama. "Destroy!"

It was with that order the Kyubi began to gather positive black chakra and negative chakra into a ball before launching it at the wood golem at an incredible speed. "BIJUDAMA!"

For most shinobi, this would have been certain death but Hashirama Senju simply leapt toward the deadly projectile with a hand extended. Then things began to get crazy as Hashirama caught the Bijudama in the palm of his hand without stopping before proceeding to slam his body and the unstable tailed beast ball directly into the wide eyed Bijuu's snout.

There was an incredible explosion as the dense ball of tailed beast chakra destabilized and sent all combatants backwards in opposite directions. Hashirama's wood golem had been damaged and covered in red burn marks but was still okay. The Susanoo armor on the Kyubi had not been as okay with the orange of the Kyubi's fur showing in some spots.

Hashirama noticed this and shot forward on the recovering Bijuu to finish this once and for all. His wooden fists began to rain down on a particular spot that the Shinobi no Kami noticed was exposed and it only took a few blows for the back left arm of the Susanoo to become detached.

The Kyubi began to give out a roar of pain only to get struck in the face by a wooden fist coated with chakra. "Wood Release: Adamantine Fist!"

Madara and the Kyubi could only roar as they were both sent flying into one of the craters they had made earlier with a bang. Hashirama's eyes narrowed on his target and ran for the ethereal sword sticking out of the ground. Once he had the Susanoo blade in his hand, Hashirama held it by the middle with the weapon extending itself like a spear. With a mighty throw, the blue blade flew from the wood golem's hands and struck the armor of the Kyubi with enough force to shatter it for good.

"This is over!" Hashirama roared as he leapt off of his position atop his wood golem, red markings covering his face. He shot across the distance between him and the Kyubi in a single, chakra enhanced bound while Madara was disoriented and managed to weave through the seals his wife had taught him.

Hashirama slammed his palm onto the Kyubi's head and black lines instantly spread from him. "CONTRACT SEAL!"

Madara jumped up with wide eyes as he saw the sharingan disappear from the Kyubi's eyes as well as his control. "NO!"

Hashirama shot forward and slammed his fist into Madara's face before the Uchiha could block launching him to the ground with enough force to leave a crater. With a final jump, the Shinobi no Kami landed at the edge of the crater.

Madara's armor had been shattered by the back to back blows from the wood golem and the Susanoo sword while his body was littered with small cuts and stab wounds gushing blood. Several of his ribs had been broken and he believe he had a punctured lung.

"Senjutsu" Madara began before coughing, spitting a little bit of blood. "I should have known"

"This is the end Madara" Hashirama said as he pulled out the blade of his katana. "You were a brother to me"

"As were you to me" Madara said with a smirk. He closed his eyes for the final time. "Goodbye"

As the blade descended down to pierce through Madara's chest, the old Uchiha began to think about his life. It had been full of war and bloodshed. He had been weak as a child, failing to save so many of his brothers in both blood and arms. The only good he ever did was to not kill that annoying Senju boy he met when he was throwing stones and instead become his friend. He would never admit it but Hashirama was as much of his brother as Izuna was.

He could not have stayed in Konoha. His old ways and ideas would stir up too much anger and hatred. If there was to be peace in Konohagakure no Sato, Madara Uchiha must die.

As he waited for his death, he suddenly remembered something.

His son, Minato Uchiha.

Minato was an accident. He had been born after a drunken night in Tanzaku town but Madara had immediately taken a liking to the boy due to his immediately obvious prodigious talent. Madara often said that his son was the second coming of his brother, Izuna Uchiha due to their mannerisms and knack for space time ninjutsu.

Madara sighed in his head, he would have liked to see his boy. Minato, one last time.

No. He was going to see Minato. He would see his blood pass on.

This was not going to be his final dance…

"Transcription Seal: Izanagi!" Madara yelled in his head as both of his eyes went blind. One usage of Izanagi was going to fake his death. The second was to replace his eyes with new sharingan after he died and send his current eyes to Konoha.

Those eyes were going to be his present to his grandson. Peace to the world was going to be his final legacy.

"Why do they hate me so much?" The boy asked himself as he rubbed the tears from his eyes.

He didn't look back when he heard the loud explosion and a flash of bright colors behind him. The sight of the fireworks that illuminated the Konohan night sky would just make the tears fall faster.

Today was October 10th and it was the 5th Annual Kyubi Festival. It was also the boy's birthday. Sucky birthday wasn't it?

Streaks of dirt marked the boy's bright golden hair as it hadn't been washed recently and his dirty orange jumpsuit was ripped slightly on one arm from the time he had tried to jump from the top of a tree and had fallen into a bush. He had just been trying to get their attention.

He continued to run away from the village, his speed closer to that of a genin than a four year old. He had always been fast, fast enough to catch all of the other kids during Tag and be forced to sit out because it was "unfair". It wasn't his fault alright!

He wasn't afraid of getting lost as he knew Jiji usually had a few masked people following him. He could feel them on the roofs usually and he knew they were the ones who stopped the bad people from getting him.

He briefly turned around to see if anyone was around him but it seemed to be mostly silent. But the boy knew that silence didn't mean it was empty. It came with being in a shinobi village.

His eyes shut as he tried to activate that ability had realized he had last year during a game of hide and seek. Suddenly the world changed from colors to black and white and city of konoha ignited with fire. The boy had been afraid the first time he had seen it but he now knew that each flame was actually the life force of a resident of the village. The boy knew that his Jiji in the Hokage's tower had the biggest but he knew some of the masked people who followed him were really powerful too. The shinobis in the village had more powerful fires than the civilians but it was all really impressive. The boy could even see different tints and shades of life force, with some being warmer while others were more free like water or hard like earth.

The boy search around for any of the masked people however found that almost all of the village was in the streets celebrating, not caring about anything.

Tears began to stream from the boy's eyes as he realized that not even his protectors cared about him enough to follow him on his birthday. He began to run even faster, fast enough to overtake some chunin as he ran behind a tall fence at the edge of the village.

He didn't notice the sign that said "Daiyonjūyon Enshūjō" also known as "Training Ground Forty-Four".

The boy didn't know the more common name for the forest he had just entered was "Shi no Mori" or "The Forest of Death".

The boy continued to walk through the forest until he stopped at a clearing with a large rock structure on which he sat down. He felt the tears begin to stop, but not before a few fell onto the rock face. With a sad smile, he drew a 5 with the water from his own tears.

"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me" The boy sang to himself. "Happy birthday Naruto, happy birthday to me"

It was due to the incredibly sad situation that the boy didn't realize something was watching him and was slowly walking closer and closer to him.

The forest was almost silent. There was barely a snap of a twig as it pounced.

Something inside of Naruto told him to turn around and he did just in time to see a fifteen foot tiger lunging at him with razor sharp claws out. It was at least half of ton of pure muscle coiled to attack.

Naruto could let out only a scream as he looked certain death in the eye.

"WHERE IS HE?"

There was a wave of KI that ripped through the room and brought all of the ANBU to their knees, each wanting to reach for their masks from the sheer difficulty that was breathing. Each of the ANBU was strong, easily jonin-rank with years of experience however the sheer power behind the killing intent showed the danger of the man before them. This was followed by a wave of pure Chakra that displaced everything around the elderly man.

The man was easily in his early 70's with tan skin that has wrinkles and liver spots. Spiky white hair was hidden under a triangular hat and a red and white robe covered his short stature.

This was all a little misleading as the sheer power and authority oozing off this man proved who he was.

He was Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato and Shinobi no Kami (God of Shinobi). He was the child of Sasuke Sarutobi and student of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. He was the man who had lead the Leaf through 3 wars with his ideals of love and comradery he had gained from his teachers.

He did not leave family behind and one of his closest family members was Naruto Uzumaki, son of two people like children to him and the Jinchuriki of the Kyubi no Yoko. Thus he was very very angry.

One brave ANBU member stood forward and knelt before the Hokage. "We do not know Hokage-sama"

"That is not the answer I want to hear! Find me Naruto Uzumaki or I will have your masks!" The man roared in anger. "Dismissed!"

The elite group did not have to be told twice and they disappeared in a flurry of leaves, none wishing to anger the God of Shinobi. Few were brave or idiotic enough to attempt to challenge the veteran, even in his old age, especially when he was furious.

Hiruzen took a deep breath as he sat down in his chair and buried his face in his hands with a sigh. This was not how the day was supposed to end up.

Hiruzen had been planning to meet with Naruto in the evening so that he could treat the young boy to ramen however when the Hokage went to the Academy, he had learned from Iruka that the boy had ran off after class. It was only after Hiruzen's visit to Naruto's apartment that he realized the boy was missing.

Hiruzen glanced over to the picture he had on his desk of a small boy with blonde hair standing on top of the Hokage Monument, a big smile on his whiskered face and a peace sign .

"I'll find him Kushina, Minato" Hiruzen swore solemnly. "I promise"

Naruto groaned as he sat up and let out a sigh when he felt sewer water between his fingers. Great, that would never come out of the jumpsuit. It took him a few seconds to question why there was sewer water when he had passed out in a jungle and another few seconds for him to open his eyes.

"How can you be sure-"

It was a big booming voice, like that of a giant. It was also kind of rough, like that of a gangster's but also had a sense of humor to it.

"My dear son, I am positive in his power. His path will like a leaf's in the wind, unpredictable and wild. Just as he is. He could be the savior or destroyer of our world"

This voice was far more ancient and powerful, with the sort of wisdom that one would develop over a millenia.

Naruto groaned as he sat up and looked around, only to see no one there. It was only once he looked up that he noticed there was another presence in the room with him. "What the hell…"

Trapped behind a set of bars each as think as him was a fox. A giant orange fox easily as big as the Academy building with nine long tails swirling behind it. It had crimson eyes and long canine teeth as it stared at the small boy in his cage.

"Who might you be Ningen?" It growled.

"You first" Naruto said, trying to be tough like Jiji said to be when someone tried to intimidate you. "You always give your name first before you ask"

The fox gave a feral grin. "I am the Kyubi no Yoko, natural disaster and plague of shinobi"

"Sounds more like a bunch of stupid titles but okay" Naruto said with a grin of his own as he held out his hand. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki! Nice to meet you!"

"You do realize that you're talking to a giant fox right?" Kyubi commented.

"Good point" Naruto sighed. "So what is this place"

The Kyubi gestured around with his tails. "This is your mind and this is my cage"

"Hmm" Naruto commented with a snicker. "Jiji usually says having voices in your head is bad but you seem okay"

The Konoha's future Hokage crossed his arms and stared at his Bijuu. "So why am I in here Mr. Yoko?"

The Kyubi rolled his eyes at what it assumed to be the boy's naivety. "My last name isn't Yoko"

The Kyubi was however just walking into the young boy's trap. "Does that mean that Kyubi isn't your first name? So then what is your name?"

For a second the Kyubi was shocked at the fact that a thousand year old creature had just been played by a five year old boy. The boy however would need to do more than that to get his name.

"You're in danger and have loosened the seal on something locked inside of you that could save your life right now" The Kyubi said, ignoring the boy's comment. "So I brought you in here so you wouldn't die and take me with you"

"How do I unlock them for good?" Naruto asked hopefully.

"Unlock my seal and it will be released" The Kyubi said with a smile.

It was at that Naruto paused. He wasn't quite sure what the Kyubi was but it wasn't something that he wanted running around Konoha. But there was something about the fox in front of him that felt familiar, as if they had been close in a past life.

"I don't know why…" Naruto said as he walked up to the large fox's cage. "But I trust you Mr. Yoko"

Naruto stretched onto his tiptoes as he stretched to reach the white seal paper. A second before he grabbed it and ripped it off, a hand grabbed him and pulled him back with incredible speed.

"Stop right there" A man said. "This is a big decision"

Naruto looked up with wide eyes as he instantly recognized who it was.

"Yondaime-sama!" Naruto said with joy.

The Kyubi recognized the man as well. "YONDAIME!"

The man was tall and lean, with a slim but compact body mean for someone who hit fast and hard. He was wearing the traditional Konoha Jonin uniform with a white haori on top that had red flames on the bottom and the Kanji for "Fourth Hokage" on the back. The most noticeable thing about him was the spiky golden hair and the bright blue eyes he had.

"Kyubi. I must say I did not miss you and I wasn't expected to be summoned so early" The man said. "But I do get to say happy birthday to Naruto"

Naruto was shocked his hero knew his name, especially since he had died the day Naruto was born. "How do you know my name?"

The Yondaime gave a hearty chuckle that made Naruto smile. "Because I gave it to you of course"

Naruto took a step back as his eyes widened in shock. "Wait…"

"Yes, you are correct" The Yondaime said. "My name is Minato Namikaze, Yondaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato. I'm also the father of Naruto Uzumaki, the greatest gift the world has ever given me"

The walls Naruto's mind began to shake a little bit from the shock as a billion emotions ripped through Naruto. One however grabbed hold much tighter than the rest.

Naruto ran forward in and hugged his father. "I miss you so much…"

Minato gasped in surprise and was about to respond when he was cut off. "I've been super good!"

Naruto grinned as he rubbed the tears from his eyes. "I'm starting the academy later this year but I already started and I can read really well and I've been exercising and sleeping and stretching to get stronger. Jiji says if I want to get even stronger I have to eat less ramen but that's crazy and I only eat it 7 times a week-"

Naruto's mini rant was interuptted by his father grabbing him even tighter.

Minato smiled as tears threatened to escape him. "I'm so sorry you have to grow up alone"

The Kyubi coughed into its hand to get the two blondes attention. "I'm sorry to break up the sob show but the tiger is getting closer"

Minato nodded. "For once the Kyubi is right"

"Oh let it go. It was 5 years ago!"

"You killed me and my wife!"

"Minato looked back at his snickering son. "I know you want to open the seal and I will let you but I need to tell you some history before my time is up"

With a snap of his fingers, two chairs appeared from the ground while the Kyubi laid its head on its paws. "It all comes down to two men. Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha"

Naruto raised an eyebrows when he heard the names of people he had read about in a history book. "Woah the founders?"

"Yes, good job Naruto-kun" Minato nodded. "These were the two strongest men of their era. Their power shaped the earth around them with their power"

"The Senju clan was one of the greatest clans in the Warring Clans Era. They were known as the clan with a thousand hands due to the fact that each member had a special ability" Minato explained. "The strong body of the Senju allowed them to adapt and focus to one specific part of the Shinobi arts"

"This focus allowed to achieve feats in this topic that are legendary to this day. Tobirama Senju with his suiton ninjutsu, Toka Senju with her genjutsu and Hashirama Senju with his Mokuton" Minato said with a smile. "All of these were mastered to a higher degree than almost all others of their time"

Minato continued. "Then there was the Uchiha Clan. The rivals of the Senju as well as the only one who could match their power. When one nation would hire the Senju to fight, the opposing nation would hire the Uchiha"

"The Uchiha held their own fearsome Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan" Minato smiled. "The ability to cast genjutsu with their eyes, copy their opponent's jutsu and predict their movement was incredibly powerful on the battlefield"

"The two men who controlled these clans were on a whole different league" He explained. "Their battle was enough to carve a valley deep into the ground"

"It was during their final battle that Hashirama Senju defeated Madara Uchiha and it was thought the Uchiha Clan main line died with him" Minato said as his eyes suddenly glowed with a crimson light. "No one knew that Madara had had a son named Minato Uchiha"

Naruto's own eyes widened at the sight. "Wait does that mean that I'm Madara's grandson?"

"Yes as well as the last of the main house Uchiha" Minato said as he poked his son in the forehead with two fingers. "You also have one of the most powerful eyes in the history of our clan"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "How can you be so sure?"

Minato gestured toward the fox that had been listening to their conversation. "The Kyubi is not violent and as destructive as he usually is"

"The Sharingan is not the only reason for that" The Kyubi commented only to smirk at Minato's confused face. "Oh you do not know?"

Minato's red eyes flashed to with anger and power. "Tell me Bijuu or this cage will become much more uncomfortable"

The Kyubi gave a foxy smirk. "We both know you do not hold enough power in that state to do as you have threatened"

"Do you not know your own wife's parents?" It asked, slightly amused.

Minato's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "She never knew"

"Ah Ningen, it is obvious is it not? Jinchuriki are always related to the Kage of their village" The Kyubi said as if it was the most simple thing in the world. "Usually it is their own child"

The gears in Minato's head began to turn rapidly. "It's impossible…"

Naruto looked at the two with confusion. "What's impossible?"

"Your mother was Kushina Uzumaki, daughter of Mito Uzumaki and Hashirama Senju" The Kyubi smirked. "Thus making you the grandson of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju"

Minato however had already figured that out and had already leapt a few steps ahead. "He has it?"

The Kyubi knew exactly what he was talking about. "Even stronger than his grandfather in fact. I don't even know the extent of his power with it will be"

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.

"I never said you had unlocked one thing" The Kyubi explained. "You were born with the most powerful components of both of your grandfathers"

Minato was concentrating so hard as he reappeared in front of the cage instantly in a burst of speed. The writing on the paper instantly turned to liquid ink as the Yellow Flash removed the seal.

Their was a boom of chakra as the Kyubi and Naruto's own chakra exploded from their cages.

Two things began to happen to Naruto.

The first was as if the world became so much more clear, even the smallest of water ripples being countable suddenly.

The second was a rush of energy through his body that was emulated by the sudden growth of trees and roots on the walls of his mind, instantly covering the pipes in a layer of vegetation.

"The Choku Tomoe (Straight Tomoe) Sharingan" The Kyubi said, referring to the two tomoe crimson eyes Naruto was now sporting.

"The Shin Mokuton (True Mokuton)" The Kyubi said as he gestured to the trees on the walls.

"Amazing…" Minato said in awe at the two powers that seemed to be working in perfect tandem. He glanced down at the small boy in front of him and smiled when he saw the wonder-filled eyes the boy still had somehow.

"I am so proud of you my son" Minato said as he dropped to one knee so he was eye level with his son. "You made your mother and me so happy and I'm sorry we were taken away from you before we could raise you and care for you and tell you everything we want to"

"Here's a birthday present my son" He said as a tear ran down his check. "Unlock it when you're alone and only use it when you need them"

It was then Minato's time began to run out, his body slowly glowing with bright light as the chakra in him was used up. Before he left his son to face the world once more, he said one last thing. "I love you"

The Kyubi grinned. "Time to kick some ass?"

Naruto nodded. "Absolutely"

Naruto was about to leave when he s"I don't really have a lot of friends Mr. Yoko. I hope you can be one of them"

"We'll see Mr. Uzumaki"

It was coming closer and closer, its knife like teeth glistening with saliva. The ground below it caved in slightly due to the downward pressure it made when it jumped. Despite the finely sculpted muscles of the animal that had been supercharged by growing up in the chakra laden forest, it did not have enough time to react to it's fate.

Naruto's eyes snapped open, each a blood-like crimson with two tomoes and it was like the world had slowed down. The tiger was slower than a snail as the rain that had started earlier completely stopped, each raindrop countable. Naruto's eyes looked at the creature attacking him with interest, also sensing the dozens of creatures that were watching the scene and hoping to steal the kill in case the tiger failed.

The boy's hands came up before him, his hands clasping together as if he was going to pray and his eyes closed.

And it was at that moment that the animals in the forest knew they fucked up.

A mixture of blue, green and orange chakra ripped from the small boy's body and the forest instantly reacted. The hate and power in the bijuu chakra was focused through the green Mokuton chakra before being directed with Naruto's own blue.

It was then the forest of death exploded.

Spikes and rocks and branches all erupted from the earth to spear and bludgeon and completely obliterate the dozens of beings watching Naruto. A single wooden spike flew from a tree on Naruto's left and flew through the tiger's head, stopping it in its tracks completely.

Naruto's spinning red eyes allowed him to track the projectiles flying around as well as the predators turned prey attacking him, easily letting him dodge. It was only after about a minute that chakra stopped being pumped into the attack, the orange cloak returning to Naruto's body as his crimson eyes turned blue once more and he collapsed to the ground.

"Hokage-sama!" The ANBU immediately said as he shunshined into the room. "He's been found"

Hiruzen's head shot up. "Where?"

The ANBU bowed. "Forest of Death. There was a huge spike of Bijuu chakra and the boy has been located. There are ANBU teams there-"

The Hokage didn't even let him finish as he disappeared in his own, much faster shunshin leaving on a flurry of leaves. He reappeared in the Forest of Death in front of what was now a much larger clearing.

He glanced over at the ANBU who were there inspecting the scene and received a nod that told him that Naruto was okay. It was then he walked forward and knelt down next to the boy on the floor.

Naruto looked so peaceful, so calm, while he was asleep. The forest around him was not. Trees stuck out from the earth at odd angles, the ground was broken and cracked and the leaves were all colored red from the blood of the creatures that had dared to attack him. It was a scene of absolute carnage and destruction. Something that had been done by a boy that was but only 5. Hiruzen could only begin to imagine the type of destruction Naruto could cause when he was a teenager or in his prime.

Hiruzen sighed as he picked up Naruto and held him close. "This changes everything…"

He was right of course. There was a new name in the history books, one that would be remembered for ages. It was Naruto, child of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. It was Naruto, grandson of Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki as well as the grandson of Madara Uchiha.

Naruto, the man who would unite the world. Those who stand on the shoulder of giants can see farther than the rest.

Hey! Sorry about the hiatus. A lot of stuff has been going on in my life and I've put writing on the backburner. The first part of this story was written back in February on the day after Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 came out and was inspired by the fight between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju. This story has also been inspired by Legacy by Cr4zypt (which may literally be my favorite story on this entire website) and Naruto Senju: Hashirama's Heir by Hamp24.

This story does not have a pairing yet so I will be willing to take suggestions. I will not accept anyone from the Rookie Nine however except for Hinata (either RTN Hinata or something else though for her personality). Also let me know if you guys want a Rinnegan or if you think it's overdone. I will say if I do add Rinnegan into this story, it will be very unique. So it's up to you guys to let me know in a review.

That's it for now. This is OFIon, I'm out. Thanks for reading!