Chapter 1

Reckoning

It was a dark October night, the leaves were falling from the trees surrounding the park. Lights were lined the outside of the grand circle, vivid colors of blue, orange, yellow, green, red, and pink. All the lights were aimed at a center point above the park to conjoin in an odd rainbow orb, the colors seemingly fighting each other for dominance and illuminating the entire park.

People could be seen throughout the field laughing and talking, some were in small booths attempting to sell their wares, others purchasing odd foods or playing little carnival games.

The importance of this carnival? Easy, today is October Tenth, seven years after the Yondaime Hokage defeated the Kyuubi. The celebration wasn't as good and pure as one would think, while the children were having a great time the parents knew the darker side…

Now some knew one couldn't kill Chakra, rather just seal it and knew that something of great power such as the Kyuubi no Yoko, had to be sealed in a living vessel. That being said, these people also knew that a boy born the day of the attack, was the living container for the demon; and as life sometimes is, if the smart are able to figure it out then the foolish are not too far behind.

Some of these foolish people wanted to kill the demon for what it did to their families and beloved Hokage, but the reinstated Hokage's law prevented most in fear of the repercussions. But as we all know there are several levels of stupidity…

Above even the ephemeral ball of light in the festival, one could barely see a small figure sitting at the peak of a building just out of reach of the light being cast out by aforementioned ball. Said figure was looking down at the party wishing to join but knowing the consequence of trying, this figures most distinguishable feature were the glowing blue eyes piercing the darkness of the night.

The glow of his cerulean eyes was so soft that unless he was in the dark, one would have to be looking for it to notice, but once he was cast in shadow it stood in strong contrast to the dark. In the light however, one would see deep cerulean eyes, vibrant sunny blond hair, and a mega watt smile, a façade of his true self. He was always wearing a white shirt with a red spiral in the center, and a pair of either blue or tan shorts with a pair of blue Shinobi sandals.

"Demon, you really think you should be here?" a no name Chunin yelled out standing on a different roof, while most ninja were scared of the Sandaime and the law he had passed concerning this so called demon, this offending Chunin was seemingly drunk, meaning not thinking clearly, and there for dangerous.

"Should you be saying that?" the child with blue eyes questioned calmly, glancing at the opposing ninja out the corner of his eye still facing the festival down below.

"Its because of you that so many people I knew are dead!" the offending man jumped at the boy, Kunai in hand.

"I wonder just how drunk you really are, no stumbling physically or over your words, that was a pretty clean jump. You know you cant use that as an excuse for attacking a citizen." The boy stated calmly still not moving from his spot.

"Citizen? You monster! Your nothing close to a human let alone a citizen of our village!" he yelled as he drew closer.

"Hm… that's too bad." The boy said finally looking up to the attacking ninja whom was just over him now, seeming to be held in the air by a raising heat current. "I knew about the human bit, but not a citizen, I think that just ruined my whole night…" as the boy finished speaking fire surrounded the man in a vortex resembling a maelstrom.

"Naruto, let him go and we can take him to Ibiki." An old man said as he appeared on the roof dressed in white robes and a matching triangular hat with the symbol of fire on it.

"No worries Lord-Jiji, just knocking him out by eating away the oxygen, not trying to hurt him at all." The now named Naruto stated as the fire dissipated and the man fell unconscious in front of the Hokage. As soon as the man hit the tile of the roof, ANBU were on him taking him to Ibiki.

"Would you like to watch the festival with me, Hokage-Jiji?" the boy asked resuming his original position of crouching on the roof looking down at the park.

The old man just smiled and sat down next to the blond, looking out over the field. "So, Naruto, have you come up with a name for you Kekkei Genkai yet?"

"I was thinking the Dragon Release." He replied to the aged man, his illuminant cerulean eyes locking with the old mans black ones.

"I think it is an excellent name, I will have it listed in your file tomorrow." Sarutobi stated as they began seeing the first rays of the sun peeking over the horizon.
'Naruto of the Dragon Release… sounds like he will make a big name for himself some day.' The old man thought to himself as the night finally came to an end.

A few years later found the blond child from before sitting in a classroom looking down at the rows near the front of the class. Six years had passed since the night Naruto named his Kekkei Genkai making him now thirteen.

To his left sat Sasuke Uchiha, the quiet and overly confident prick, and Naruto's only friend. To his left were currently a hoard of girls trying to make him move so that they could be the ones to sit next to Sasuke. Naruto refusing to move for two reasons, one, he was there first, and two, he didn't want to subjugate his friend to that sort of punishment.

"Class, quiet down. Its time for the final test. One by one you will all come to the front of the class and demonstrate the Bushin Jutsu." The teacher Iruka stated effectively silencing the class. As the crowed next to Naruto began to disperse, said blond reached out and grabbed a girl with pink hair and emerald green eyes.

"Sakura-Chan, you sit here." He said with a slight smirk as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Over the years his eyes had began to emit more of an ethereal light then they used to. Now even in the day time, like now, you could tell that his eyes were literally shining.

For some reason, no one in the class ever spoke back to Naruto. If he were to say something, you would listen, the only people not effected by this were Ninja that Naruto saw to be superior officers of higher rank, currently meaning anyone Genin and up. Sakura speculated it had something to do with his eyes.

"H-Hai." Sakura said trying to avoid eye contact, something about his glowing blue orbs were hypnotizing. So facing forwards with a slight blush dusting her cheeks she sat down, not focusing on the fact Naruto still hadn't let go of her arm.

"Shino, if you could come up and perform a Bushin in front of the class please?" Iruka called out.

The Aburme had made a copy of Iruka with his bugs and passed the exam. Others were similar, either using their family ability like Shikamaru and his Shadow. Finally…

"Naruto" Iruka called causing Naruto to stand and walk to the front of the class.

"A copy of you, right Sensei?" he questioned as fire just formed around him before separating to go off to the side. It blazed for a moment until it just vanished leaving a copy of Iruka, the only difference being the copy's eyes were a crimson red. Most of the class was in awe, Naruto rarely used his abilities, but when he did it was always an amazing sight.

"Alright Naruto, you pass." Both Irukas said at the same time. The clone then smiled at the original and flared away. "Class is dismissed for today, come back in three days for team placements." Iruka said as the class filed out the door, all except three students, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura whom was seated still only due to Naruto's hand on her shoulder.

"Lets hang out today." Naruto said as he got up and walked to the door, "We are on the same team after all, we need to get to know Sakura-Chan."

"From the way you address her it sounds like you already know her." Sasuke said with a slight smirk.

"Wait! How do you know we are on the same team?" the girl questioned.

"He probably snuck into the Hokage's office and saw."

"Nail on the head Sasuke, now lets go get lunch." Naruto said ushering them out the door.

"Tsk just no ramen today." Sasuke said as he walked out the door after the blond. "Come on Sakura, if we let him get too much of a lead we will be stuck with ramen again." Sakura blushed a bit before nodding and running to catch up with the retreating form of Sasuke.

"Somehow we still wound up here…" Sasuke said looking down into his bowl of ramen.

"You got a problem with my business, kid?" the ramen chef Ichikaru questioned in a dark tone. Sasuke just shook his head quickly eyes wide.

"So, do the two of you hang out a lot outside of class?" Sakura asked, hoping to start some sort of conversation.

"Yeah, you could say that." Naruto said pausing for a moment looking over at Sasuke. "Teme is trying to help me be more a people person." Naruto proclaimed happily causing Sakura to choke.

"Umm that's nice of you Sasuke-Kun." Sakura said smiling and her eye twitching. 'Sasuke-Kun teaching Naruto-Kun how to be social? That seems a little backwords.'

"Yeah not too many people would believe it, since he is always so mean and anti-social. But he taught me how to actually talk to people and in return I taught him a few fire techniques."

"Also proper etiquette ranging from posture to table manners, how to set a table proper use of all the different types of arrangements so on and so forth." Sasuke continued.

"And how to dance too." Naruto stated earning a slightly embarrassed growl from Sasuke and a smile from Sakura as she imagined the two boys slow dancing.

"If that's the case, Sasuke-Kun, why aren't you more open and talkative to others?" the Pinkette questioned failing to stifle a laugh.

"No point in becoming friends with someone who either wont pass the exam or might die early on. I will make friends with people after we are on a team." Sasuke said eating a tomato he snagged off Sakura's vegetable platter.

"That's an odd way to look at it… But then why hang out with me? I don't like to admit it, but I'm not that strong, so wouldn't that put me on your list of high chance of dying early?" Sakura asked.

"Nah, Naruto already said you wouldn't." was the reply as if it was common knowledge that whatever the blond said was bound to be true.

"Y-yeah?" Sakura asked again with an eye twitch still trying to smile happily regardless.

"So Sakura-Chan, tell us about yourself. Besides the typical, crush on Sasuke, pink hair, green eyes. Things that we would know being your team mates." Naruto said.

"Well what do you want to know?" she asked back.

"Oh, I'll demonstrate. My name is Naruto Uzumaki Nami- Uh never mind that! I like Ramen, fire, and my friends, I hate anyone that tries to harm my friends, and I am an orphan because my parents were both killed by the Kyuubi the day I was born."

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I like tomatoes, my friend, and training, I dislike everything else. I live alone for reasons that are public knowledge and I will become strong to reinstate and recreate my clan."

"Alright.. My name is Sakura Haruno, I like a few things…" at this she just looked down blushing again, "I dislike Ino-Pig, I live with my parents, and I guess I will be part of the Sasu-Saku-Naru team." She finished to hear a slurping noise. Both Sakura and Sasuke automatically looked at Naruto who wasn't even touching his bowl.

"Ah, My name is Kakashi Hatake, there are lots of things I like and few things I dislike, my dreams for the future, hmm… I have lots of hobbies." A man a few seats behind Naruto stated.

Turning to look at him he was wearing the typical Jonin attire with a face mask coming up to just below his eyes, one eye was covered by his head band though, his silver hair sticking up at a slight angle.

"Yo." The man named Kakashi said with his hand up in a lazy fashion, judging by the mans voice he seemed bored to be doing anything.

'Sloth…' was all Naruto could think while looking at this man.

"Your really strange." Naruto said causing everyone to fault.

"Long time no see to you too Goldie locks… Now that we all know each other, lets start your real test to see if you qualify for team 7." Kakashi said standing from his seat.

"Ano, Hatake-San, our team placement isn't for another three days." Sakura said trying to be polite.

"No worries Sakura-Chan, this is our Jonin Sensei Copy Kakashi, top ranking Jonin in Konoha said to know over 1000 Jutsu. Is publicly obsessed with the Icha Icha books written by Jiraiya of the Sannin, but secretly has only read the books once to keep public image and gives the façade of a lazy pervert. The rest of the time he is just holding the book up to give his opponent some humility since he is beating them down while reading." Naruto explained.

"What is this test you mentioned?" Sasuke inquired ignoring Naruto's basic overview of the odler Ninja.

"To get to training field 3 in ten minutes." Kakashi said before disappearing in a swirl of leaves. Sasuke just grabbed onto Naruto's shoulder.

"Sakura-Chan grab on anywhere you'd like." Naruto said with a big smile while Sasuke looked impatient.

"Umm… Okay but shouldn't we-" As soon as Sakura got close enough Naruto grabbed her and pulled her into a hug and the three of them disappeared in a ring of fire.

Kakashi was standing in the middle of field 3 with the three wooden posts when a column of fire jet out of the ground next to him.

"Yo." Kakashi again lazily greeted, "Fastest ones yet."

"What can we say, we are awesome." Naruto commented.

"As for the test, you are to get one of these bells from me."

"But there are only two bells!" Sakura contested while slipping out of Naruto's arms.

"Your powers of observing the obvious amaze me…" Kakashi replied lazily. "As I was saying, get these bells from me and you pass, don't get a bell and go back to the academe, if you-" again Kakashi was interrupted by Sakura.

"But I thought all teams were 3 Genin and 1 Jonin?"

"I'm sorry pinkie, did the middle of my sentence just interrupt the beginning of yours?" Kakashi asked sounding slightly irked as Naruto was openly laughing. "Whatever, just begin!" with that all three Genin jumped away into the forest.

"Sakura-Chan, we are working together. We are going to kick ass! Sasuke will be the distraction, you will be the support, and I will be the offence, are you ready?" Naruto asked as he and Sasuke appeared next to her causing her to jump.

"Wait, support? What do I do?" but it was too late, the two boys were already in the clearing, looking like they were trying to hide still but arguing until Sasuke took a swing at Naruto, Kakashi having a clear view of it all.

Naruto retaliated by setting Sasuke on fire, who then in turn ran into the clearing screaming.

'that's an interesting Genjutsu…' Kakashi thought watching a panicked looking Sasuke running towards him. 'Umm… that's not a Genjutsu… awe fu**…' Kakashi thought as he went about using a water Jutsu to try to douse the (no pun intended ) flaming Uchiha.

As Kakashi was running through a few hand signs, he noticed a Kunai flying at him from the foliage. Jumping back as he completed the Jutsu causing a stream of water to fly to Sasuke and put out the fire, he noticed yet another Kunai flying at the spot he was about to land, the only difference was this Kunai had an already flaming explosive tag.

Panicked he performed the Kawirmi and replaced himself with a log. Landing in a near by tree he watched as the Kunai stuck in the log and the tag burn out, but no explosion.

'A trick? Where are they trying to lure me?' Kakashi thought to himself as he glanced over at the alarm clock, 'Still ten minutes… hmm did I even mention this being timed?'

"Kaka-Sensei, behind you." came a calm statement from right behind him, spinning around he came face to face with an exact copy of his late sensei. At the same time he felt a slight tug at his hip, hazarding a glance down he noticed the falling form of Sakura with a bell in her hand the other bell falling after being cut by a Kunai courtesy of a certain duck haired Uchiha.

"Well-" Kakashi began only to have the alarm sound. "So since the test is over, it looks like Sakura and Sasuke pass?" Kakashi questioned only to hear a jingle from Naruto. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Naruto holding a bell that looked just like the other two. Kakashi smiled under his mask causing his eye to crinkle.

"Congratulations, you are here by the first team I have passed." The older ninja stated getting a cheer from Sakura. "One question though, Sasuke why aren't you burnt at all?" Kakashi questioned noticing there wasn't even a singe on him.

"Oji-Sensei that would be my fault actually. My fire will only burn what I want it to, fire is pure energy not just a destructive force." Naruto explained with a slight vulpine smile on his face, Kakashi couldn't help but think about the Kyuubi.

'Pure energy not a destructive force huh.?'

"I see… well meet me here tomorrow at 9 sharp and we will begin our missions." Kakashi said as he pulled out a book and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

"So who wants to go to Ichikaru for Ramen?" Naruto asked with a smile, looking expectantly at Sakura.

"Sorry dobe, feeling a home cooked meal this time. Maybe another day." Sasuke said turning to walk home.

"Alright fine, we can have normal food today I guess, sorry Sakura-Chan I hope your not too disappointed to be pulled from ramen to have Sasuke's cooking…" Naruto said in mock worry causing Sasuke to freeze.

"Who said I'm inviting you guys?" Sasuke yelled indignantly.

"We are a team! That means we will be spending a lot of time together, on the road included spending the night in the same tent fairly often. Might as well start getting used to each others company now right?" Naruto yelled back.

"One condition then, stop acting the fool. We aren't in the academe anymore, so drop the charade."

"Fine, not a problem with me." Naruto said grabbing Sakura's hand and walking towards Sasuke pulling the girl with him. "So whats for dinner?" Naruto questioned in an even calm tone. Relaxing he let his presence expand for a moment as if his soul its self was stretching.

Contrary to popular belief, ones presence does change based off of their mood, for example killing intent that some fighters talk about is just ones presence. That being said, when one with either great control or a vast amount of Chakra releases their presence, its extremely potent.

Naruto's presence was like sitting in an Endless Pool Of Water on a mid summer day, its hard to tell if your hot or cold like the feeling you get after running through the streets in 90 degree weather when you jump into a swimming pool.

But just as quickly as it had come, it vanished. "Lets go already, I'm hungry." Naruto urged to Sakura who was frozen after the presence was released. Naruto's voice broke her out of her shock as she accidently made eye contact, her eyes widened for a moment before Naruto closed his. "Your going to need to get used to that as soon as possible, Sakura-Chan." He stated before letting go of her hand and walking towards Sasuke.

"What was that, just now?" Sakura asked referring to the feeling she had gotten when Naruto relaxed.

"Its called ones Presence, it can be used in combat as a way to psyche out the opponent. Some people have to keep theirs suppressed though, especially if they have too much Chakra." Sasuke explained as they waiting for Sakura to catch up.

"So could I learn to do that?" she asked.

"You already do it every time you see Ino, just take that emotion and spread it." Naruto stated neutrally his eyes still closed.

"But yours didn't feel angry at all, wouldn't mine if that's the emotion I'm broadcasting?"

"Hmm true, I'm not sure how to manifest it though, just how to suppress it. Maybe Kakashi can teach you, now lets go I wasn't joking about being hungry."

The Uchiha compound stood as proud as ever, regardless of the single resident, or current three inhabitants. In the main house's meeting room the new team sat silently drinking their respective cups of tea .

"In all honesty I'm surprised that Naruto is being so silent and still." Sakura said breaking the silence in which both boys were clearly comfortable with. Naruto just quirked an eye brow at her while Sasuke briefly glanced at the two guests.

"Like Sasuke said earlier, it was time to quit playing around and making people think I was stupid or potentially helpless. I landed on your team and that's what I was aiming for, the top two are typically placed with the worst to create an illusion of balance." Naruto explained.

"what do you mean an illusion of balance?" Sakura questioned glancing to Sasuke, still clearly trying to avoid eye contact with Naruto.

"Think of the Sannin, known to be the strongest team, lead by a Hokage. Next is his student Jiraiya's team, he trained the Yondaime Hokage so they had both a Sannin and a war hero/Kage. Next is the Yondaime's team, not only a Kage but Kakashi and an Uchiha. There is no balance with those teams in comparison to the others, these teams that I mentioned blew all others out of the water and had one thing in common." Naruto explained.

"And what is that?" both of his team mates inquired.

"They were all Team 7"

Opening chapter for a new idea I had, this will not stick to cannon much, but it will still follow the basic story line of wave, Chunin exam ext.

And later there will be an Omnipotent OC added in that will have a lot of sway to this story but will remain a neutral party for the most part.

These chapters will be longer than any of the other stories I have put on here or Deviantart.

Thank you to all my faithful and ever patient fans.

And to all those saying my writing sucks, well screw off. I wont claim being a great writer until I see my name on the cover of a bestselling book. I simply write/type for my own amusement (and apparently the amusement of others.) If you don't like my stuff, then get out of my stories and find something better to do rather than bug me with your flame.

Thank you again,

TTR/TAK\XIII