The very next day, Hokage Office.

Hiruzen moved himself off his seat as he heard a set of knocks coming from the door. It wasn't really a usual thing for the Hokage to answer the door to his office personally, but today was a special occasion of sort.

There were plenty of things that were different on this particular meeting, most notably, the surprising lack of ANBU guard in the room, this was to be a confidential meeting, after all.

The second was the fact that the set-up for the Hokage office had been changed, if only slightly. Within the center of the room was a small Chabudai, a traditional Japanese table. It was surrounded by only two Zabuton, cushions that were used for seating.

The third, and most noticeable thing was the steaming hot kettle of tea that was currently resting on the mahogany table. The meeting seemed more like the get together of two long time friends, rather than a top secret, confidential meeting. And in many ways, it was. As Hiruzen opened the door, it was none other than Shimura Danzo that had entered the small office.

Danzo bowed his head, his hand gripping cane firmly to support his weight. "To what do I owe the Honor of this meeting, Hokage-Sama?"

Hiruzen gave a small chuckle in response, a hand raising to his head, and removing the Hokage hat. He waved a hand idly in the air. "None of that today, Danzo." He uttered with an amicable smile. "For this meeting, I'm not the Hokage. I'm a friend that needs a favor. "

Danzo's stance noticeably shifted, the man taking on a much more relaxed posture. "Very well, Hiruzen." He nodded, a small, sincere smile dancing across his lips. Emotions weren't usually Danzo's strong suit (If anything, he thought that there should be none in a Shinob)and he rarely showed them. But even he couldn't help the smile that sprang to his lips as he conversed with an old friend.

Rivals or not, one didn't survive three wars fighting with a fellow Shinobi, and not come out with respect for them.

While the two were polar opposites in methodology, they both sought the same goal; Peace.

Danzo inwardly questioned himself, wondering if he was becoming senile to be so pleased about meeting a friend when he had once sought to kill, and dethrone him.

The Sandaime extended a hand out to the small table. "If you would," He said with a smile, and Danzo met his request with another nod.

Hiruzen quickly sat opposite to the man, setting the red and white Hokage hat on the table. He offered Danzo yet another smile, and reached forward, pouring both of them a cup of green tea.

They both exchanged a small nod, before each of the elder men picked up a cup, and began to sip on the hot liquid. They both stayed like that for a few moments, simply enjoying the warm silence, and each other's company.

Eventually though, Danzo cleared his throat. "Hiruzen," He began. "Not that I don't appreciate good tea, and some time with a friend, I must ask, what was this meeting for?"

The Sandaime gave a nod, and let out a weary sigh. He took one last sip of his tea, before setting down the still-steaming cup onto the table. His posture stiffened, his eyes becoming serious, losing their warmth. Noticing the Hokage's change in attitude, Danzo's mood shifted as well.

"I'm sure you're aware of Naruto-kun, correct?" The Sandaime asked.

"The Jinchuuriki?"

Hiruzen nodded.

"Of course, how could I not?"

Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh. "As I'm sure you're aware already. The boy has recently turned eight," Danzo quirked a brow, but nodded nonetheless. "He has also displayed large amounts of interest in becoming a Shinobi."

"I fail to see my involvement with that aspect." Danzo muttered, a small amount of confusion palpable in his voice.

"I was getting to that," Hiruzen responded swiftly. "I care for the boy a lot, Danzo. I view him like one of my own." The Sandaime trailed off for a moment, before steeling his tone. "However attached I am, I must put the sake of the village first."

"With the upcoming loss of the Uchiha clan-Sharingan transplants or not -the village will lose a sizable chunk of it's military power." Danzo nodded in understanding.

"We still need a trump card, something that can keep Konoha safe." Hiruzen continued.

"The Jinchuuriki." Danzo concluded, and the Sandaime gave a nod.

Hiruzen's eyes locked onto Danzo's own, single eye.

"Train him like a ROOT Member?" The Hokage shook his head "Take him under my wing, and apprentice him personally?" Another shake of the head "Not quite." The statement only confused Danzo that much further.

"The boy carries his heart on his sleeve, I doubt that treatment would work for him" Hiruzen elaborated. Danzo opened his mouth to protest, but Hiruzen continued "Nor would I want him to go through it."

"What is it that you want me to do then?" The scarred man questioned.

The Hokage shifted in his seat. "I want you to give the boy, and a person I will assign to teach him, access to your ROOT training grounds."

Danzo scoffed "Hiruzen, you've had ROOT disbanded several years ago, remember?"

The steely gaze that the Hokage held didn't relent, and a hint of realization flashed through Danzo's eyes.

"You know?" Danzo finally asked, after a moment of silence.

"What, you didn't think you'd be able to hide something under the nose of the God of Shinobi, did you?" Hiruzen spoke playfully.

"God of geezers, more like it." Danzo mumbled under his breath, something which Hiruzen quite clearly heard.

The two exchanged a look, before they each broke into a small fit of chuckles.

It was Danzo that interrupted the comforting silence. "If you knew, then why did you never confront me, and try to stop it?" He asked with genuine curiosity filling his tone.

The Sandaime let out a weary sigh, his eyes taking on a very jaded look. "The public, and I for that matter, don't agree with your methods." The Hokage explained simply, making Danzo mumble something about stupid civilians under his breath.

"However, you and I know that the Shinobi world isn't so black and white." He moved from his small cushion-seat, talking slow slides to the window of his office, a window that gazed over the entirety of the village. Hiruzen smiled wearily, gazing longingly at the village.

"For them to prosper, for them to live the peaceful life they desire..." Hiruzen trailed of, his smile turning a bit sad. "Organizations like ROOT must exist." Danzo nodded from his position on the table.

The Sandaime sighed softly, and moved away from the window, gazing nostalgically at the picture of his past Sensei, the Nidaime, Tobirama Senju.

"While they live, and prosper in the daylight..." Hiruzen trailed off, remembering a particular saying that his Sensei had been particularly fond of. Unsurprisingly, Danzo continued his line for him. "-We die, and struggle in the shadows."

Danzo's gaze shifted to his old teammate as Hiruzen continued. "We die, so that others may live. We make sacrifices so that one day our children, and their children do not."

They both spoke together, finishing the last line in Unison.

"For a tree can only grow if anchored by deep, unseen roots." That was Tobirama's Will Of Fire. His Nindo.

It was the belief that ROOT was built upon, what Danzo built his life upon.

Even though Hiruzen had been Tobirama's student, he had adapted Hashirama's ideals, and his way of life. That every Konoha-nin was a part of a family, that they all fought together to protect the was what Hiruzen had passed onto the younger generation, Hashirama's Will of Fire.

But even Hiruzen knew just how unfeasible that Nindo was, Hashirama was always an idealist, one of the few that the elemental nations hadn't chewed up and spit out.

In a way, they were polar opposites, but they still came to an understanding, and maintained the balance, and the peace that the village needed.

Danzo had long ago come to terms with the fact that he would never become Hokage. He was efficient, ruthlessly so, and most people (Especially civilians) didn't desire a leader like that. They wanted a leader that they could hope to one day become; A people's hero.

Hokage or not, Danzo still wanted to protect the village he had grown up in, the village he had fought in three wars to protect. If he had to do it within the shadows? That was fine by him.

"Even if I do not agree with your methods, I still appreciate what you do for the village." The Hokage finally admitted.

In a way, Hiruzen's words had given him what he had desired for a long time; Validation.

Danzo knew his job was a thankless one, especially considering what he did. But for him to finally get one? For his efforts to finally be recognized? Emotions were a crutch, that much was true, but even he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips, nor the warm feeling that felt his chest. A deep sense of pride, of accomplishment.

With the smile still present on his face, Danzo spoke. "Access to a training ground to two people? That can be arranged, consider it done."

Sarutobi made his way back to the small-table where Danzo was still seated, and took his seat once more.

"His Sensei will help him grow in power, no doubt. But I want you to also..." Hiruzen cleared his throat, trying to find the right word "-Educate him. We both know that the time he spends in the academy would be much better spent under your tutelage."

Danzo let out a small amused chuckle. "Teach him how to survive, and navigate." Hiruzen nodded.

"So," Danzo began "Four years, we're making him enlist at the normal age?"

"Three." Hiruzen swiftly corrected. "Teach him for those years, and simply give him access to your grounds the fourth." Hiruzen had planned on enlisting Naruto in the academy the last year, allowing him to build up a sense of camaraderie with the people that he'd eventually become a teammate with.

"And who do you want to be granted access?"

"Hatake." He answered simply.

Danzo raised a brow, but didn't choose to comment on the Hokage's choice of a mentor for Naruto.

"Is that all?" Upon Hiruzen's nod, The Yami No Shinobi moved to stand, a firm hand gripping his walking cane. "Very well, I shall make arrangements, and send you a ROOT member when they are finished."

Hiruzen let out a small laugh, instantly melting the serious aura that had filled the room. "Please," He gestured towards the table "Take some time to relax. You haven't even finished your tea."

Danzo shook his head, chuckling softly as he relaxed, and moved his hand to his cup of tea. "You never change Hiruzen."

Naruto's Mindscape

Naruto grinned in excitement as he found himself drawn to the lush forests of his mindscape yet again. The last time that he had visited, Kurama, the strongest of all the nine Biju (Or so he claimed), had offered to teach him a technique, and not any technique, one of his own techniques!

Kurama gave a toothy grin, one to match his own as he stared at his excited form. "I assume you're ready for the beginning of your training, then?"

Without a moment of hesitation, Naruto gave a firm nod, his eyes hardening with determination.

The massive grin on Naruto's face died down to a subdued smile as he noticed the very serious look that his partner took on.

"Now, you must know that every Jinchuuriki takes on some of his Biju's attributes." Kurama began, making Naruto perk up. "The Ichibi- Shukaku- grants his containers with the power of sand manipulation. The Nanabi- Chomei- grants his vessels with extra resilience, and the power of flight."

Kurama's posture shifted, and he extended a hand with two outstretched fingers towards Naruto. "And likewise, I grant my container three abilities. " He closed a finger, leaving his index extended. "One, you have my ability to sense negative emotions."

Naruto's eyes widened at that, a look of recognition crossing her cerulean orbs. "Is…" The blond cleared his throat for a moment, trying to find the right choice of words. "So that's why I can tell when people are angry at me?"

Truth be told, the boy had picked up on the fact that he could somewhat sense the emotions of people around him, or at least, the negative variety. The ability got stronger the closer they were, but until now, he had only really felt one emotion; Hatred.

He couldn't exactly tell what the people around him were thinking precisely, it was more like a nagging feeling of discomfort whenever he felt somebody that disliked him get close.

He thought they were instincts he had developed over his eight years, to know that it was one of Kurama's gifts? It made him all the more grateful to the fox.

The gigantic fox gave a sagely nod as he stared at him. "And it will only get stronger the more you grow, and the more you try to develop it." Eventually, Kurama hoped that the boy would even be able to be a mock-sensor with the ability, able to sense precise negative emotions within people.

The fox gave the boy a few seconds to digest the tidbits of information, before continuing.

"As for the second" He extended a second finger outwards, "Is Chakra manipulation." Kurama explained simply, only for the blond to tilt his head.

"So like, can I control my chakra just super easy?" Naruto inquired, only to pout in disappointment as he saw Kurama shake his massive head.

"Chakra manipulation, and chakra control are two very different things... " He paused for a brief moment, trying to find a proper way to explain the complexity of his ability to an eight year old boy.

"They are correlated, the better you are with Chakra control, the better you are at Chakra manipulation."

The perplexed look on Naruto's face made Kurama want to facepalm. How the hell was he supposed to explain this?! He was never good with words, he was a sentient mass of Chakra, hatred, and destruction, he wasn't a goddamn tutor!

"Chakra control is based around how well you can control the amount of Chakra sent through your Tenketsu" Of course, him being made out of chakra, it was very different, but he still remembered a few things about the human anatomy.

"Chakra manipulation, on the other hand, is how well you can control that Chakra when it is outside your body."

"Let me show you." Kurama's hand extended closer to the boy, an open palm being towards his direction.

Naruto gaped in surprise as he saw the sight before him, as golden chakra began to form around the fox's palm, until it coalesced into a dense, but bright aura.

Two tendrils sprang out from the aura around Kurama's palm, licking up the gigantic creature's arms. The two tendrils spiraled around the gigantic appendage, moving together, synchronized perfectly.

The tendrils stopped when they reached his shoulder, paused perfectly before seemingly reversing their spiraling motion, and traveling back down the furry arm, coalescing back into that golden aura that surrounded Kurama's palm.

He clenched his palm into a fist, and the golden Chakra dissipated.

"...Pretty…" Naruto uttered, completely mesmerized. He remained in a trance for a few moments, before a shake of his head snapped him out of it.

"So!" He snapped excitedly "I can do that!?"

"You will be able to do that, and much more, with enough training."

Naruto ceased his excited hopping for a few moments. "Waaait." Kurama perked up, tilting an eyebrow at the boy. "What can I do with that? It's not like I can hurt people with my Chakra, can I?"

Kurama snorted, the boy should have seen how badly a Bijudama could hurt people.

"As my host, you will be capable of manipulating, and manifesting your Chakra Physically. Understand?" The boy shook his head, and Kurama sighed, before he extended his palm yet again. The golden chakra springing to life once again. This time, instead of a pretty show, Kurama gave the boy a much more practical application of his Chakra manipulation.

That golden aura coalesced around his fingers, solidifying into dense, golden claws. Kurama dragged his fingers along the ground, grinning as he saw Naruto's eyes bulge as the chakra claws cleaved a path throughout the clearing.

Kurama let his chakra disperse once again, gazing curiously as he saw the contemplative gaze held on the boy's face.

His sapphire eyes narrowed, and Naruto nodded firmly. "I get it!"

So he was the physical learning type, eh? Good, then he wouldn't have to concern himself with trying to find the proper words to explain to Naruto what to do, he'd simply show him an example, and leave the boy to break down what he saw himself.

In a way, the way the boy learned reminded Kurama of Kushina, and her hands-on approach when it came to learning.

Kurama thanked whatever celestial body there was that Naruto didn't turn out like the Yondaime, he liked the man, and he was certainly very powerful, but God Minato was such a fucking nerd.

Always talking about Chakra theory, fuinjutsu theory, theory this, theory that. He inwardly shivered, he'd be awful at trying to explain things to Naruto if he was anything like his father.

"The third" He extended his ring finger, and Naruto subconsciously moved a bit closer, if the second was being able to do cool things with Chakra, he could only imagine what the third could be. "Is healing. My chakra can accelerate your healing process rapidly, to the point that I can heal nearly fatal wounds."

'Maaaan.' Naruto whined internally, a tad bit disappointed at the third. He couldn't deny how useful that ability was, but at the same time, he half-expected to be able to do something even more awesome, like make things explode with his Chakra!

"And of course" That made Naruto perk up quite a bit, Kurama never mentioned a fourth! "An ability that all Jinchuuriki have is the access to the Chakra of the beast that is sealed within them. A tailed beast's chakra is much more concentrated- Much more powerful than a humans, and therefor, when humans draw upon our chakra, they're given a boost in physical attributes, and in techniques as well."

If only to prove his point, Kurama sent a rush of Golden Chakra in Naruto's direction, the young blond gasping in surprise as he felt that Chakra enter his body.

He felt good-No, he felt downright incredible! He felt as light as a feather, and strong enough to smash boulders with his bare fists, but before he could test his new found abilities, the Chakra dispersed, and immediately, his entire body seized, and locked up. His hands shook, and he bit down on his bottom lip in order to suppress the scream of pain that wanted to escape his lips.

His veins felt as if they contained magma rather than blood.

Kurama noticeably frowned upon Naruto in such an amount of Pain, but there was simply no other way he could teach the boy the downsides of using his Chakra.

"But Human chakra pathways are unable to handle the strain of Bijuu chakra. At least, not without years of acclimating the pathway system to the foreign Chakra." Kurama spoke, remembering that piece of information from a rather long winded speech he had received from Minato a long time ago.

Kurama tilted his head up, gazing at Naruto apologetically. "Your Chakra network is still maturing, so it is best that you don't handle my Chakra for now."

"Th-This." Naruto spoke, thankful to feel the pain already dissipating. "Didn't hurt so bad the first time..."

"That's because I didn't channel my chakra throughout your network." Kurama explained simply.

"...What? How did you do it then?"

"I channeled my Chakra through the seal. Allowing me to manifest a physical form for only a few short moments to protect you." Naruto nodded in understanding, staying quite for a few moments.

A brief look of curiosity crossed Naruto's features. "Hey, Kurama?"

"Yes?"

"Since you're super strong and all... Can't you just.. Keep doing what you did last time?" Naruto's tone held a sincere hint of curiosity, the boy simply asking for the sake of asking. Unfortunately for him, his question seemed to upset his tenant.

If the person that had asked him that question was anybody else, Kurama would have blasted them with enough Killing Intent for them to go into cardiac arrest. But since it was Naruto... All he could do was glare at the boy in anger.

A glare wasn't really the harshest thing he could muster up, if anything, it was rather petty in his own opinion. But to Naruto? Well, he had the strongest of all Biju glaring at him, he didn't exactly feel at ease.

"I can. But do you think you can be proud of yourself when you rely on borrowed power?" Kurama asked, a small growl added to his tone.

Naruto quickly shook his head.

Guardian or not. Kurama refused to have a weak container. The moment that they had agreed to be partners, Naruto had unknowingly promised that he would prove himself worthy of the partnership.

"Then? I will aid you on your path to becoming a great Ninja, but I want you to become a powerful Shinobi regardless of whether or not I help you."

Naruto gave a shaky nod, Kurama went on, hoping to motivate the boy some more.

"Your father and mother both carved their own paths to becoming a great Shinobi. They did not have everything handed to them on a silver platter, their own strength got them were they were!" Kurama knew he was reiterating the same idea, but he needed to drill the point into his dense container's head.

"Make them proud. Make me proud. Show us that you can make it on your own." Naruto was nothing but tenacious, and determined. Kurama saw all the shakiness in the boy disappear, his cerulean eyes once again hardening. God, Naruto reminded him more and more of Minato by the day.

"I promise!" He exclaimed loudly-and a bit chilldishly- "And I never go back on my word!" That made Kurama smile.

"I will train you to use my Chakra, and give it to you willingly, but I want you to use it only when necessary, understood?" Kurama said sternly.

Naruto gave him a nod, a large grin already presented on his features. The blond raised a fist upwards, and the fox bumped his own against it.

"You got it, partner." The fox grew a grin to match Naruto's own.

Naruto's body jerked out of of it's meditative trance as the boy left his mindscape. He smiled to himself as he gazed over his rather small apartment. He had left Kakashi's own apartment not too long ago, explaining that he had some private training to catch up on. Kakashi seemed intrigued, but didn't press any further.

He moved his hands off his knees, instead raising them so he could gaze at them better while he began his very first training session of Chakra manipulation.

He breathed in, let his body relax, and began.

He channeled a small amount of Chakra to his hands, or more specifically, out of his hands. He smiled to himself as he saw the light ethereal blue glow that came from his Chakra. Unlike Kurama, however, the aura that surrounded his arm didn't seem so solid, it seemed wispy, almost smoke like, with his Chakra dissipating into the air around him no matter how hard he tried to reel it in.

He even tried swiping at his bedsheets, only to frown in disappointment as his Chakra gave way, and allowed his fingers to graze against the fabric.

'Kuramaaaaa!' He whined internally to his tenant, hoping to get some advice, or at least reasoning as to why he seemed to be doing so badly at something he should have been naturally good at.

'You're using too little Chakra, and channeling continuously.' The creature commented simply.

'Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?' The boy asked curiously.

Kurama snorted, and Naruto could almost feel that the creature was rolling his eyes inside his seal. 'Use a single, large burst of Chakra.' The fox instructed. 'Work on retaining it, instead of maintaining it.'

Naruto gave a slow now, and let the Chakra that surrounded his hands dissipate. He took another slow breath, and just like he was instructed, used a surge of chakra. Both of his hands were surrounded with a dense, blue glow. Unfortunately for the boy, instead of staying around his hands, the Chakra quickly permeated through the air around him, dissipating like before.

The young blond let out a loud slew of curses, even going as far as to punch the bed a few times in frustration.

'Patience.' Kurama chided. 'What you're trying to do can't be done in a single day.'

'Try again' The creature instructed. 'Channel chakra from a single hand, and then use both to try and retain it.'

Naruto complied, doing as instructed, materializing a dense, blue ball of Chakra above his palm. His fingers clenched around the ball as he felt the chakra wobble uncertainly, his other hand quickly came up, cupping the ball from the other side. Naruto tried his best at maintaining the Chakra in his hands, sweat physically dripping down the side of his head.

He managed to hold the Chakra in his hand for almost a minute before a lapse in concentration caused it to dissipate.

'Not bad.' Naruto's tenant uttered, actually sounding quite impressed. 'Not bad at all.' While yes, the boy had been using both of his hands to manipulate a relatively small amount of chakra (That, and he wasn't even moving the chakra around, for that matter). He was making good progress, especially for his age.

'Keep going, we've only just begun.' The Kyuubi uttered, and Naruto quickly complied, forming his Chakra into a sphere about the size of a tennis ball.

Naruto sighed heavily, it seemed like he really had a long way ahead of him.

A Few Hours Later

A small swirl of leaves was the only thing that signified Kakashi's arrival in the small, dinghy apartment. The man moved with purpose, quickly and soundlessly making his way to the boy's bedroom.

Curiously enough, the door was left ajar, giving Kakashi a peak of what was inside. Naruto was quietly sat atop his bed, his legs crossed in a meditative stance as his arms cupped around... Something, he couldn't quite make out what it was at a first glance. His eyes widened considerably as he saw the dense, blue ball of chakra that the boy was apparently struggling to hold.

'A Rasengan?!' He questioned inwardly, but open closer inspection, he noticed the dense blue ball lacked anything that made the Rasengan, well, the Rasengan. His chakra was formed into a tight sphere, much like the Rasengan was, but being quite familiar with the technique, he could already see that the boy hadn't been spinning his chakra, nor was he doing anything with it really, he was simply trying to contain it in a tight ball.

It was impressive, certainly, as very few Ninja actually had enough Chakra to manifest it physically, and even then, they rarely manipulated said Chakra into shapes. The only people he knew to be capable of such a thing were the Hyuuga, but seeing as how they had A Bloodline limit, he figured it was one of their specialty techniques.

Kakashi observed the boy for a few more moments, before finally clearing his throat. Naruto, who hasn't a sensor, had no idea that somebody was in his apartment, and thus, his reaction was a tad bit justified.

The boy screamed loudly in surprise, the chakra in his palms quickly dispersed, and he grabbed hold of the closest thing he could find, and threw it at Kakashi.

Kakashi, being a seasoned Jounin, had no problems at all dodging the pillow that had been thrown his way.

"Yo!" The Jounin gave a two fingered salute, eyesmiling at his surrogate little brother.

"WHAT THE FUCK, NII-SAN!?" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs, a hand gripping his steadily beating heart.

Where had that language come from all of the sudden? Maybe having him spend time with Anko wasn't such a good idea? He inwardly hummed to himself, he'd have to spank her as punishment later. She'd probably try to stab him (Again) but it would be worth it.

"The Hokage summoned us both." Kakashi exclaimed in an overly pleasant tone, his eye still crinkled into that U-shape that Naruto quickly began to hate.

Naruto let out an inaudible curse, but relented, quickly slipping off the bed, putting his sandals on, and running towards the door. Kakashi watched in amusement, waiting until Naruto was out of the door before calling out to him.

"I can use Shunshin, remember?"

Naruto yelled in frustration. "I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"

Kakashi chuckled "Yeah yeah." He quickly made his way over to the boy, and ruffled his hair, before both of them disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

AN: A bit shorter than the previous chapter, but I wanted to group together all his training with Danzo/Kakashi/Anko into a single chapter. And yeah, Naruto officially be a Ninja in two chapters!

Next chapter will be a training montage of sorts, and the one after will be some tidbits of his time in the academy.

Please review!