~Hey guys, my delays weer a long time coming. I have a new big boy job now, with my own salary and 401k and everything. Just graduated from College 2 months ago so I have had absolutely no time to do any kind of posting and editing. I do have several chapters written for my other stories, but it will take me a week at least to keep constant posting. Don't bank on it, and expect slow updating til I get used to this whole lack of sleep and more responsibility thing. Big ups to Kiteria Faye for being my Beta, Enjoy peoples! Wot Wot~

~~The previous chapters have been edited, and some grammar has been fixed, reread if you want to!~~

"Aha! Today I shall become an author! And I will auth and auth and auth and make a squillion dollars, whoopee!" - Brian Jacques

As Naru walked out of the tower in the 'Forest of Death', she lightly hugged Choji who was nearby and joined up with Asuma so they could mass Shunshin back to the outside of the forest. Naru wanted to talk to Kakashi, but she knew that he wouldn't train her, so she would have to look out for a proper teacher tomorrow. She sighed as she walked away from the group, waving to Choji as she did. She briefly wondered why Shikamaru was giving her a measured look as if sizing her up, but simply threw the thought away, It wasn't the first time someone wouldn't stop looking at her, and it surely wouldn't be the last. With that last thought she ran home to take a very long nap, then she would go she the old man about the seal on her stomach.

In front of the Anbu administration building of Konoha

Ebisu sighed once again as Kakashi walked away looking as if he actually accomplished something. He couldn't believe someone with so much prestige squandered it on a spoiled child.

Ebisu realized it this morning when he went out to collect all the gear and scrolls he would need to train Naru. She had more potential than any genin or chunin in Konoha easily, and it was being wasted by senseless anger. He was disappointed in himself when he looked in the mirror as he was preparing to depart in the morning and thought through all his actions in these last 6 months. He, someone who prided themselves on being an elite teacher, was a joke. He, who was selected to teach the honorable grandson of the third hokage, was a closet pervert who had become one of the things he detested the most in his youth. He became a Dasai-nin (Lame Ninja). A ninja who is stagnant, who does nothing to improve him or herself, who is a laughing stock in the ninja world! It was almost as bad as being a missing-nin! If on the battlefield no ninja would give him a second glance. A proper ninja should inspire fear in the enemies and hope in their allies, without ever having to be there. He wasn't even skilled enough to be in the bingo book!

He had then slammed his hands down on his bathroom counter and rushed out to gather the items necessary to train the best kunoichi Konoha has to offer, he just had to find Kakashi at some point and convince him that he would take care of her training for the month. He had no doubt she would pass the preliminary rounds at the end of the second stage of the chunin exams. He had gone to the jonin library and systematically found the items that the spirit though Naru needed to learn.

Now it was true that Naru needed to learn the basics but she needed to become advanced in many different ninja standards to stand a chance to win the tournament. Unfortunately, Konoha did not have a whip wielder since Mito Uzumaki (ebisu had slapped his own forehead after thinking of Mito-sama, which other Uzumaki had been in Konoha besides her), and any of her techniques were locked up in the Senju estate. But what Konoha lacked in whip kata, they made up for in sword kata. Taijutsu would be a challenge not from the lack of scrolls, but due to him not knowing her fighting style well enough to give her a proper style, so she would have to make due with a basic and intermediate fast paced style. They would refine it later on during the week.

He went out to get some chakra paper and nature manipulation scrolls, and found three of each element just so that he could be prepared. The problem with this is that Konoha did not have three futon techniques. Wind style users were so rare that Konoha would only get Futon scrolls if they requested them from Suna. He hoped Naru did not have wind nature or he would have to go out and find one of the two wind users left in Konoha. One of which he did not want to speak to ever. Danzo scared Ebisu since he always felt that Danzo would sacrifice him for the greater good of Konoha.

The next on his list was training gear and weights. He wasn't sure, but Ebisu hoped that with Naru's healing factor and drive to learn, she could upgrade her basic weight to chunin level in a month. It would not make her very fast, but it would increase her strength and speed enough to match low chunin skilled nins. He then went on to get books on meditation, shinobi tactics and a large tome that was meant for remedial students who went back to the academy. He was walking out of the jonin library when he spotted one last item that would be useful for young Naru. It was a tome on Konoha law, a large book that was never read by the populous of high ranking ninja, but it would prove useful for Naru. She needed strength physically, mentally and politically, that was a guarantee. Convincing her to read all of this would be the toughest thing he had to do since his own Jonin exams, but he was sure that he could bribe her with the summon contract he had yet to find.

For a proper diet, he traveled to the Akimichi family store and bought 3 cookbooks (all purchases were on the Hokages bill for Konohamaru, but Hiruzen loved Naru like a granddaughter so he was sure he wouldn't be too mad) and some sealed scrolls with dry food goods and extra cooking items like oils and spices.

And last on the list was to find the summon contract in the vault room for Jonin techniques. This would be tricky since he there was usually a waiting list for summon scrolls that the Anbu kept on them. Each summoner would get a chance to summon, and if they completed the trial for the summon animal, they were able to keep the scroll and officially be labeled a summoner. It was one of the ways to become a clan in Konoha, if two generations of family passed the test. As Ebisu reached the vault and signed on the sheet for a summon scroll, an Anbu nearby started up a conversation.

"Ebisu-san, I had thought that the honorable grandson would sign the scroll for the monkeys of the Sarutobi clan? Is he skilled enough to have his own?" The Bear masked Anbu questioned.

"Not exactly, as this summon scroll would not be for the honorable grandson, but for my second student" Ebisu wasn't sure if this Anbu was as disillusioned as he had been, but he did not want to risk naming Naru as the summoner until she was strong enough politically to defend herself.

"Oh? And who is the student? I don't recall you being listed as a teacher for any other shinobi." The Anbu scrutinized Ebisu closer, and as Ebius started to sweat, he quickly though up a half-lie that would get the Anbu off his hide.

"A high power in Konoha has asked me to take on one more student, as it is imperative that this individual becomes powerful enough in the near future." Ebisu emphasized the word individual, hoping the Anbu would get the wrong idea on who he was to teach.

The Anbu in question let out a sigh and a small groan. "The council really asked you to take on another student even though you are teaching young Konohamaru? They are getting more brazen if they think one of their little grandchildren is important enough to get a summon scroll. And they even want to lay the blame on you if the student doesn't pass the test right?" The bear Anbu really hated the council in Konoha, as this wouldn't be the first time they pushed for something that was stronger than they could conceive.

Ebisu just shrugged and struggled not to let out a laugh. It payed off to know about the dirty laundry of the council sometimes, as this would more than likely be the third or fourth time this month that the council wanted one of their shinobi tested for a summon contract. Konoha had lost 2 out of the many contracts they had this way, as the summon animal in question hated to be brought out again and again for failures. The fourth hokage had banned the council from doing that, but the ban was lifted after a ten year grace period.

"Well, good luck finding one that they can use, is there one in particular you were requested to find?" The Anbu questioned again, taking his shrug as a confirmation that Ebisu didn't care what the council did to him.

"Hmm, I did figure that there was a forgotten scroll in the vault, a minor scroll that no one has used before." Ebisu looked on as the Anbu did a recount of the vault, and he snapped his fingers as her did know of one.

"Hai, there is the contract for woodland creatures in the vault, but no one wanted that summons since they figure it was an entertainment summoning creature. The only reason it was kept in the vault is because the first hokage figured that someone would use it someday. That would be perfect for the brat you need to teach, and it wouldn't be any danger to Konoha if they passed or not. Let me go get it for you." The Anbu disappeared briefly, and arrived back with a medium sized scroll, about the size of his forearm.

"Here you go Ebisu-san, this should be more than enough for your 'student', but good luck with the training all the same. Maybe we'll get lucky and this will turn out to be a new boss summon scroll, Hahaha" The bear Anbu chuckled and handed the scroll over, before getting back to his post above the vault.

Ebisu walked out, happy that he had gotten away with a scroll so powerful that it contains creatures that could reach your dreams. Now, he had five days to convince Naru that he could be a good trainer, and convince Kakashi that he could take his student on for the month. Out of nowhere, Kakashi himself Shunshined in front of Ebisu.

"Ahh Ebisu, just who I was looking for!" Kakashi stated with an eye smile, before he looked back down at his Icha Icha.

Ebisu nodded knowing Kakashi could see him and replied "What can I do for you Kakashi-san?"

There was silence for the next several minutes as Kakashi continued to read his porn and giggle, and Ebisu developed an eye twitch as he waited for this Yabo-nin (uncouth / unmannered) to respond.

Ebisu was getting ready to shove his foot up Kakashi's rear before Kakashi answered.

"Naru has made it to the finals as well as Sasuke, and due to a certain danger to my cute little genin, I was hoping you could teach Naru for the month, as her basic skilled need to be increased for her to even stand a chance in the first round. I don't expect her to win the fight mind you, but it would do her well to not piss off Gai's student before the fight even starts, so manners would be a good thing to cover." Kakashi then looked up at Ebisu for his answer.

Ebisu kept a straight face on the outside, but on the inside he was more disgusted with this man than anything. Who pawns their student off then wants them to be trained in manners before an official competition like this? The worst part being that if he had not had the summon animals come to him, he would have agreed and trained Naru in only manners for a month. He was disgusted with himself but he shoved that feeling back so that he could give the proper response.

"Of course, I'll train young Naru with the best of my abilities. What have you taught her so far?"

"Surface walking"

"And?"

"Just a bit of the basics, things here and there." Kakashi replied in a very lazy manner. Ebisu took a deep breath and tried to not think bad thoughts and let his killing intent out.

"And what are her chakra natures?"

Kakashi was silent, then giggled as he continued to read.

Ebisu almost let out a scream, but held it in and made arraignments to meet Kakashi and his students outside of the hospital.

Next day, outside Konoha general

We now join Naru who has met with Kakashi and Sasuke outside of the hospital after the young Uchihas release. It was a pleasant day with no clouds in the sky and the weather was warm. But all was not well with team 7. Oh no, it was more along the lines of…

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU WON'T TRAIN ME YOU LAZY MEATSACK?"

A yelling match.

Kakashi tried to calm his student down, but in her rage she had stomped down on Sasukes foot, as he had tried to adopt his patented brooding stance, since he was standing next to Naru when Kakashi broke the news.

As Sasuke let out a silent scream on the ground, Naru was staring at her sensei in the eye, wanting nothing more than to punch him in his groin and choke him out with her chain. She glared at him, and once again, Kurama chose that time to add her killing intent to Naru's, making Kakashi see the hazy outline of the armored figure and the cloaked figure behind his student. Ebisu chose this moment to Shunshin over with a large storage scroll strapped on his back and he nearly pissed himself when he faced the KI that was spilling out of the young girl. Luckily for the two Jonin, Kurenai was exiting the hospital after a brief visit to Hinata, and rushed over to Naru to help.

She quickly kneeled down near her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. After a few calming words in her ear, Kurenai turned Naru to meet her face, and the KI vanished into the air. Kurenai internally was impressed at this, as she had also seen the haze of a figure near Naru. Maybe she could teach someone in Konoha about KI genjutsu, one of her Chunin specialities. It would be interesting for the dead-last of the graduating class to be the one she teaches genjutsu too, considering that Naru has more chakra than she knew what to do with. Kurenai then exchanged a few whispered words with Naru, and once she figured it out, wanted to let out her own KI toward Kakashi as well.

Strangely enough it was Ebisu who came to the rescue. He walked up to Naru and kneeled down in front of her.

"Naru, first of all, I would like to apologize to you for my actions toward you since we met." Already this was throwing off a wide eyed Naru and a still kneeling Kurenai. Kakashi at this point walked slowly over to Sasuke and Shunshined away with him for their month long training. The remaining Jonin ignored the pervert.

"It truly was beneath me to judge you before I had the chance to even know you, and I wish to make amends for this by fixing Kakashi's mistakes when it came to training you. He told me yesterday that you had only been taught surface walking and a few team building activities. At that rate, you wouldn't even know the Shunshin before you were a Jonin. You have talent like no other in Konoha Naru, and I went out and got training materials for the month for you. But know this, I do not have the ability to take on S ranked nins." Ebisu said truthfully, even going so far as to take his glassed off and show Naru his steely grey eyes. Kurenai just looked on, interested in where he was going with this. Naru was still wide eyed.

"…But, you can. Period. You alone have the potential to take on and even become an S ranked ninja. You have the potential to become the greatest female kage the elemental nations has ever seen, and you easily have what it takes to use what little Kakashi gave you and make it to the final round. All I want to do is be part of the select group that has the honor of teaching you and leading you there." Ebisu let out a true smile at this, and Naru stared into his eyes with such an intense look that both Kurenai and Ebisu held their breath.

"You aren't hiding the hate anymore…" Naru whispered

"I'm ashamed to say that I even had it, you don't have to forgive me Naru, but you do deserve an apology." Ebisu still answered truthfully, looking down at the ground.

Naru gently put her own hand on Ebisu's, and let out a small smile.

"Ok"

Ebisu smiled back and stood up straight, before nodding to Kurenai and making the motion to leave. He stopped before he took a step and looked back at Kurenai, the words from the spirit coming back to his mind.

"YOU CANNOT BE A BETTER TRAINER ALONE"

Ebisu smiled one more time and got Kurenai's attention.

"Kurenai-san, I believe only one of your students is in the finals correct?"

Kurenai nodded, smiling despite the fact that only Shino made it into the third round.

"If it isn't a conflict of interest, would it be possible for you to aid me in teaching Naru here about genjutsu, and perhaps the Kunoichi code? I doubt that Kakashi-san even brought it up to her" Ebisu grimaced inside, wondering if Kakashi just had it out for the girl.

Kurenai's eyes widened when she thought about it. The Kunoichi code was a nickname for the kunoichi standard training that was to be given to genin, which included special jutsu for things like pregnancies, seduction missions, jutsus for missions when kunoichis were captured, disguises for every nation that a kunoichi would use and introductions to basics that every able bodied kunochi should be able to do. She also doubted that Naru was taught this, and now that she thought about it, Sakura and Ino would more than likely need this as well.

"Kunoichi code?" Naru questioned, once more cursing her sensei for not letting her learn these things.

"Of course, it would be interesting to teach her, and I'll get you up to date on the kunoichi code Naru. While we're at it, as long as you don't ask me about tactics against Shino, I'd like to be able to teach you a special branch of genjutsu I developed off of an ancient text I saw in the land of Iron. From what I've seen, this training is tailor made for people like me and you, who have the ability to unleash a large amount of Killing Intent.

"Killing Intent?" Naru asked innocently, and Ebisu and Kurenai both put their palms on their foreheads.

Naru sat, while Ebisu and Kurenai stood in Sarutobi Hiruzen's office, watching as the hokage paced back and forth, muttering about his punishment he would give Kakashi for neglect after the exams were over. Naru had asked to come by to talk about a seal, but only Kurenai was clueless on the seal that she was talking about. Hiruzen has called for Jiraiya and asked how her time on team 7 had gone. He was not happy at all at the performance of Kakashi, and considered telling him whose daughter he had neglected in his stupidity, but decided that he would simply let Kakashi regret his choices later on in life. He should focus right now on Naru and her new teachers. Even if she didn't pass the chunin exams, she would be getting a new teacher no matter what. He wouldn't mind letting this new Ebisu have a chance to teach her, and Konohamaru could do with some time away from him.

A poof of smoke interrupted the movement of the Hokage. Hayashi music began to play as a tall man posed in a strange Kabuki style stance. He was posing with white hair, green short shirt kimono and matching pants; under which he had mesh armour that showed out of the sleeves and legs of his outfit. He had on hand guards, a simple black belt, traditional Japanese geta (wooden sandals), a red haori with two simple yellow circles on each side, and a scroll on his back. Before Jiraiya could even get started, Hiruzen smacked him lightly on the back of his head and pointed to Naru, who was staring at Jiraiya with a very deadpan look.

"You… are a pervert… aren't you?" Naru asked. Kurenai stared at Jiraiya with a blank look, but inside of her head, she was beaten the tar out of Jiraiya. Ebisu wanted to rush up to him to get the great Jiraiya-sama to sign his icha icha, but he had the feeling that the female spirit that talked to him in his dream yesterday would glare a hole right through his head if he did.

"No no no, you've got me wrong gaki, I'm not a pervert, not at all" Jiraiya said smoothly, not noticing both his teacher and Kurenai clenching their fists if he dared to tell Naru about his preferred profession.

"I'm a SUPER *CRACK*" Jiraiya's face impacted the floor as the hokage's Anbu guard pulled her fist back, before jumping back into the ceiling to hide. While most tolerated Jiraiya during his visits, the Anbu had been very angry after hearing about Kakashi's training of young Naru.

Jiraiya picked himself up before giving a pout and crossing his arms, mumbling 'pervert' under his breath.

Hiruzen sighed and gave a brief introduction for all in the room. He also informed Jiraiya of Naru's presence and the events that led up to the messed up seal on her stomach. Jiraiya became serious and asked Naru to show him her seal. Naru glanced at her jiji and he gave her a smile and a nod. Jiraiya looked at the seal after Naru lifted her shirt and he was amazed at what he saw.

"Sensei, you won't believe this, it's amazing." Hiruzen approached and watched as Jiraiya took out a notebook and drew the seal and alterations to it. He patiently waited for him to continue.

"Ok, so this kid, her seal is fine, thank Kami, but orochi-teme was only able to use three of the five element seals on her body. The three blocked were Fire, Earth and Lightning. Now normally this wouldn't change anything on the person except for a bit of shoddier chakra control, as the symbols are only well... symbolic. But on the four symbols seal, the corresponding elements in her chakra core are coincidently right where the five element seal would be placed. Again, this wouldn't be a problem if Orochi-teme had successfully used the five element seal on her, but due to her Wind and Water nature being unaffected, Kyuubi's chakra has filtered into her chakra core. This in turn still wouldn't have mattered, but here is where things get really amazing. She must naturally have a wind and water nature, and luck would have it that the filters on the four symbols seal were still working."

Everyone in the room was staring at Jiraiya, waiting for the end result of his lecture.

Jiraiya stood up and prepared to break the three elements seal on Naru, and finished his observations.

"What I'm trying to say is, that out of pure luck or coincidence, the gaki here just got an amazing natural boost to her own chakra natures, to the point where training her elemental nature is just a matter of shaping. It's like being given the gift of perfect chakra control, but only for wind and water nature attacks. She'll still have to practice and master her jutsu and techniques, but I wouldn't be surprised if she could pull water out of thin air by tomorrow." Jiraiya then slammed his hand on her seal and let out a name, "Kai!"

Naru got pushed back, only being caught by Ebisu as she relaxed her body, and felt the familiar heat of the Kyuubi spreading through her body. After a quick breather, Ebisu handed Naru over some chakra paper, and Kurenai explained the reactions you get if you channel chakra into it, with her wind nature splitting the paper and her water nature soaking it. What no one expected to see was the chakra paper split vertically and horizontally nine times. The paper was still whole, before water seemed to be drawn from the air around the paper, soaking it to the point where Naru decided to squeeze it, and fresh water dripped out. Everyone had wide eyes as they stared at the paper.

Suddenly Hiruzen chuckled before speaking. "Well Naru, it seems good fortune is upon you this time, as the plot to handicap you has given you a boost in strength that should be impossible. Now Naru, I want you to train hard for this next month, and use all your skills and the resources (At this point he waved his hand around the room to indicate everyone around him) to your advantage. Do not think of this as an unfair advantage, as your natural kindness has given a lot of the members of Konoha's shinobi forces the chance to pay you back for your services toward their home. Now go on and train to your heart's content, I have old person things to do for the rest of the day."

Naru gave him a smile before it turned devious "You mean smoke, drink and read porn til ya shoot dust?"

Jiraiya gave out a loud snort, while Kurenai had to cover her mouth to block her quieter one. Ebisu looked scandalized and the hidden Anbu had to shift around to not fall out of the woodworks laughing.

Hiruzen gave a little smile, before he reached for his trusty 'Beat you stick' near his desk while letting out a very generous amount of KI. Everyone rushed out of the room when they saw him reach for the stick, for both Naru and Jiraiya know what it's like to be on the receiving end of the staff. Kurenai and Ebisu had known that while the staff may look brittle and frail like the old man did, Hiruzen was said to have beaten 100 missing-nin of every nation with that staff alone. Hiruzen always laughed when he heard that rumor.

It was only 80 missing nin.

When the group of four (Naru, Ebisu, Kurenai, Jiraiya) reached an empty training ground, Naru turned around and looked at Ebisu.

"So… what first?"

Ebisu coughed into his hand and lowered the large scroll on his back to the ground. He unsealed the many items inside and showed Naru books and scrolls he had collected for her. When she saw all the gear, Naru's face lit up at the thought of getting stronger. Before she could day dream, Ebisu started on his plan.

"Ok Naru, from what I understand, we need to start with a crash course in physical training, including taijutsu, ninjutsu, the academy training and weapon skills. As much as we want to get you to a point where you can defeat Hyuga-san and all of the other competitors that you will face, we need to give you a proper baseline to work from. Normally this would take years, but you have a very unique advantage over any other genin. It is both your work ethic, and your kage bushin technique"

"You mean the memory transfer things?" Naru questioned.

"Yes, exactly, I'm glad that you knew this already. Why have you not used this before hand?" Ebisu asked

"Well, I never really had anything to use it for…" Naru answered, a bit nervous of their reactions.

Kurenai just smiled lightly, but hid her fist behind her back. Kakashi had really screwed up on this, but she got Ebisu's point, with this, they could speed up her training by a lot.

"Don't you worry Naru, here's the new plan, and trust me, by the time of the finals in twenty nine days, you'll be able to storm through and become a chunin no problem." Ebisu was actually getting excited by this, Naru would become the perfect student under his and Kurenai's guidance. Ebisu suddenly remembered more words from his dream yesterday.

"The toad sage cannot be trusted"

'uh oh' Ebisu thought as he looked at the last scroll he had on the pile. He hoped beyond hope that Jiraiya wouldn't notice, and would leave before he showed Naru the summoning contract. But as it happened, Kurenai saw the scroll and picked it up.

"Hmm, the summoning contract for Woodland Creatures. This summoning scroll hasn't been signed by anyone before" Kurenai looked the scroll over, and opened it to see that there were no signatures. Jiraiya walked over and looked at the scroll as well.

"It's a pretty small scroll there, so its more than likely a minor or entertainment summoning contract. The creatures in this one wouldn't be able to be used for battle, so they are more for companionship than anything. Look gaki, why don't I let you sign the toad contract instead of this one? The toads are a legendary contract with a boss summons as big as the hokage tower." Jiraiya questioned, disregarding the Woodland creatures contract. Jiraiya couldn't help but remember the prophecy given to him by the great toad sage after Naru's birth. About the student of Jiraiya's that would bring a great revolution to the world of the ninjas. He had already lost Minato and Nagato, he would see if Naru would be the one to bring peace to the Elemental Nations.

Ebisu quickly countered. "You never know Jiraiya-sama, since this woodland creatures contract hasn't been signed yet, maybe the test and the power that the creatures in it hold can truly help Naru out in her training. I'm not sure why, but when I saw this contract, I knew that it would help Naru out in ways that we cannot imagine."

"You're usually not one for prophecies Ebisu" Kurenai couldn't help but point out with a smile. Imagine, Ebisu, the same glasses wearing Otaku-nin (Nerd ninja) from her graduating class, starting to believe in fate and gut feelings. Yet, she had to agree, you never know what could be in a contract, and it wasn't like if she failed the test of the contract, she couldn't sign the toad contract instead.

"I know, but I just have a gut feeling that this contract was meant for Naru here. But I believe we should leave it to her to decide though."

Naru looks between Jiraiya and Ebisu, but doesn't answer as she begins to think the choice through. She heard a voice in the back of her head telling her to sign the woodland creatures contract, and she simply shrugs and grabs the contract from Ebisu. Jiraiya is stunned that this genin would choose a contract from Ebisu over him, the great Jiraiya, the Gama Sennin, the Sato no Kyoki! So stunned he was, that he ignored Ebisu giving instructions to Naru about how to sign the contract. Once done, Ebisu began his lesson plan.

"Alright Naru, here's the plan for the next four weeks. With your knowledge on the Kage Bushin, we will split up the training between the days. For today and tomorrow, we will have you create six bushin every two hours, then replace them so you progressively get the knowledge back. Kurenai-san will take two bushin, and give them the kunoichi code today, then anything extra at the end of her lesson." Here Kurenai nodded. "The other four will be with my own Kage Bushin and they will be split between reading the two copies of the academic lesson I brought, the one copy of shinobi tactics, and the last one will be the cookbook. I know what you are thinking, but even something like understanding how to cook will help you gain a proper diet for training than the regular diet that you eat now. It will help you grow, and give you more energy to do your everyday actions. The cooking scroll also has some spices and oils I have bought you in case you needed them."

Naru nodded, she didn't have anything against learning how to cook, since she could learn how to make her own ramen with this.

"You yourself will be doing physical exercises with me, and we will create a proper training and warm up series for you, as I know for a fact that Kakashi did not give you one. Tomorrow, we will go through an all day circuit training, and over the next 29 days, it will change as you progress in your physical training. I found a few taijutsu scrolls for you, and we will work this month on giving you a few chakra based attacks for situations that you may find yourself in. This is where Shinobi tactics will come into play. The more you know about your opponent, the easier it will be for you to make the proper choice on what actions to take against them. At the end of the second day, we will practice summoning as well." Ebisu was really getting into his lecture mode now, and Naru was paying close attention.

"After the first two days are over, you will be making clones for weapons and jutsu training. You will have three clones for water nature manipulation, three clones for wind nature manipulation, two clones for sword katas, two clones for whip katas, and two clones for kunai katas. The kata clones are just for muscle memory, so you get the movements down. Two more clones will be made for throwing and catching shuriken, the faster the better. The same two hour rule will apply to the ten clones so that we can get the most out of progressive training."

"Your next set of clones will be continuing their reading, and here I want for your clones to read and re-read certain chapters of every book, so that the next set of clones will be able to help memorize these tomes. Two clones are to be set for each book, and one clone will be writing down the words said as the other clone reads out loud. This is because I figure that you are someone who learns by doing, instead of just seeing. Three clones will be reading and practicing a calligraphy book I brought. This is for you so that we can learn a bit of sealing later on during the next weeks. Better handwriting is important for a Hokage after all." Said Ebisu, while Naru gave him a deadpan look, but sighed and nodded anyways. She supposed it was true after all, a hokage couldn't have chicken scratch. She would be the laughing stock of the Kages for it.

"Another set of twelve clones will be practicing chakra control, which will be surface sticking, water walking, chakra strings, and surface gliding. These clones will master their chakra control by the end of the month training, and as they get farther, they will do more complicated techniques, like having leaves stuck on them as they do the exercises, or having chakra strings grip heavier objects. Chakra strings will be good for you, since denser chakra like yours will be able to grab heavier objects."

"Denser?" Naru asked.

"Yes, denser. you have chakra that is naturally thicker than others, which gives you a unique advantage of having more powerful jutsu, but the disadvantage of wasting more chakra. With chakra control, we will try and get your disadvantages lowered." Ebisu replied, before going back to his lecture

"Another set of clones will be going with Kurenai when she had the time to arrive, and she will go over what she needs with them and how many you need to make" Kurenai stepped forward and began.

"I am available three days out of the next weeks, as any jonin sensei who has student in any exams is given paid vacation, which should be just enough time for me to get my lessons with you done after the month. We will work with four clones. Two clones will be working on jutsus for the kunoichi code, just to make sure you have it down, while I will teach the last two clones my killing intent genjutsu. This genjutsu is based on cultivating your intent to kill, and meditation will help here also. Once you master how to channel killing intent, I can show you several tricks to use with it, like making an opponent drop their weapons, or causing them to misstep while charging at you. With the kyuubi's help, you may be able to channel enough killing intent to do what you did to Neji at the end of the finals normally." Kurenai smiled an evil smile as she stepped back, a smile that matched Naru's. Ebisu shuddered briefly, but composed himself to continue his lecture.

"You yourself will be doing even more physical exercises at this point, and every hour we will switch between making any jutsu you learn to be at a masters level. This includes fast hand sign speeds, using less hand signs for jutsu, and faster hand movements for drawing and throwing kunai. One hour will be doing your physical exercises with increasing hand sign speed and difficulty. We will go as far as 40 hand signs so that you will be able to do jonin level techniques and high chunin level speeds. The next hour you will be doing physical exercises while learning how to do a kawarimi, henge and kage bushin without the need for hand signs. This is a high genin level skill for the kawarimi and henge, while doing the kage bushin with no hand signs is easily a jonin level skill. Once you get that down, hopefully by the end of the second week, you will then learn how to summon a kage bushin in an area around you with chakra manipulation. This is beyond a jonin level skill and I do not expect you to get this down by the finals, but it will give you something to practice. Each day, training will take up to twelve hours, so four hours for each skill." Ebisu took a breather here. Man this was a lot of talking. Naru groaned, this would be such a pain. Even Kurenai and Jiraiya looked like they wouldn't want to be doing this.

"Now at the end of each day, we will mark your progress, and see how you are advancing in each skill. This will be for the first six days. The last day, you will be on your own for training. This day, I would recommend you practice your cooking skills, and meditation techniques. Meditation will help temper you, so that opponents you face will not be able to anger you. You can also use this time to practice with your summon creatures if you pass their test. With your meditation, we will try to see if you have the ability to be a sensor, as I can teach you a trick I learned as a chunin called Chakra Sonar, which will be useful in a lot of situations for ninjas. The last thing is another book I got you on politics in the village, even if you just make a clone or two read it, this can help you out later on in life. Again, a Hokage must know politics to be a politician. Other books I would recommend are things like math, science and physics. Your kage bushin could make you one of the most intelligent people on the planet as well, and a successor to the professor title."

Naru nodded with a special glint in her eyes, then stood up straight as Ebisu handed her chakra weights.

"I will do everything in my power in ensure you a victory at the chunin exams Naru, and with this, you will become the strongest kunoichi Konoha has ever seen."

Naru smiled before looking at Jiraiya.

"Will you help me with my training as well, even though I chose not to sign your summon contract?"

Jiraiya shuffled uncomfortably at the look she was giving him, since it was just like Minato when he first got team seven. He quickly thought of a proper answer, still hoping he would get her to sign the toad contract. He got an idea from his time with Minato, training him before his days as Hokage.

"Maybe gaki, it's not easy for me to train someone unless they become my apprentice, so they can take over for me in being a spymaster for Konoha. You would have to sign the Toad scroll for that though. Maybe I can stop by and give you a few pointers here and there, but I can't give you any of my special techniques until the time you sign." Jiraiya gave her a small smile, expecting her to want to sign his contract right at this moment. To his surprise, Naru shook her head.

"Nah, as cool as your techniques would be, I want to see what this contract can do, and see if people were wrong about its potential. Now that I signed it, at least for this moment, the hope of this contract lies with me." Naru gave the scroll on in her hand a caress, before looking back toward Ebisu.

"If ero-sennin won't help me then that's fine, I'll become strong enough to be a chunin and hokage anyways. So… let's do this Ebisu-sensei! KAGE BUSHIN NO JUTSU" Jiraiya was still too stunned to give a complaint.

Ebisu gave a smile and a nod, then pushed his glasses up and got into teacher mode.

Danzo Shimura sat on his bed in his underground root base. He had a hand over his stolen sharingan eye, and a haunted look in his face. His dream was very surreal. A spirit had come into contact with him, questioning his motives for his actions against the uchiha clan, as well as his stealing of the first hokage's mokuton blood limit. No one had ever confronted him like that, as his usual 'It is for the benefit of Konoha' line didn't work on the spirit. The spirit claimed that it wouldn't be able to stop him, but it did mention something that had got him thinking even in his dream.

He, as a shinobi, had no successor.

Not for his root program, no, he had subordinates, tools, pawns, knights and gold generals for that, yet he lacked in the one department that got his old rival so much fame.

Danzo Shimura had no students.

No students for his invented techniques, no one to push his non-konoha related ideals on. His tactics that helped him in the wars, his experiments in the name of science, his political maneuvers that he would see in play when he was long retired. When the spirit in the dream brought this up, Danzo almost dismissed it, until the spirit mentioned that if he never passed on his techniques, then his greed would be holding Konoha back. In his own twisted way, his words were thrown back into his face.

Danzo Shimura had no students or successors.

And it was… a disturbing thought.

Danzo had just read a report on the genin of Konoha that would make it to the chunin exam finals before he slept, and one name in particular seemed to pop out at him.

Naru Uzumaki.

Now Danzo had done some despicable things in life, even he could admit that. Back when Tobirama had died, Danzo had tried to have a few of his agent sneak into the Senju compound and take anything they could get their hands on, but they were discovered by the three students of Hiruzen, and his root unit was broken up officialy. Danzo himself had an alternate plan though, and he had gone to the old Uzumaki compound and grabbed most of their fuinjutsu scrolls. Unfortunately, only one scroll was unlocked at the time, and it was the basis for his cursed seal. Any other scroll would have had to be unlocked by the last living Uzumaki at the time.

Kushina.

Danzo had believed that Kushina would try to take the knowledge of fuinjutsu away from him and the rest of Konoha, and hid what was rightfully hers from the child. Now that he thought back to that action, he had squandered a resource that may have been able to save the fourth hokages life. The scrolls were in his vault, still locked to this day, and the information in them can only be used by an Uzumaki. The spirit had mentioned all of this, and Danzo had to admit that his actions were foolish and greedy.

He had weakened his own home for no other reason than his own fear, something he had taught his troops to abandon! This lack of foresight for the future had made him want to pull his own hair out!

The report they had on Naru Uzumaki was varied, but it did mention that she had a potential wind natured chakra. Danzo would go and make amends for his mistakes of the past by offering his legacy of vacuum techniques to the young girl. He would return the Uzumaki scrolls to their rightful owner, and hopefully, after an apology, teach the young girl how to properly become hokage. Danzo of course knew the truth about the young kunoichi.

No one in Konoha had as much potential as Naru Uzumaki, and Danzo would be damned if she wasn't his successor.

Tsunade groaned as she packed her bags. She would be heading back to Konoha shortly to teach a young gaki a few techniques, and unlock the Senju compound for her. She had a dream where she was visited by a spirit she hadn't seen in forty years. The badger mother that was associated with the realm of the dark forest had come to her again. The first time this spirit had talked to her, it led her to the slug contract and helped aspire her to become a healer.

Truthfully, she didn't so much mind going to Konoha, if it weren't for her bad memories of the place. She at least owed it to Shizune to visit back home every once in a while. That, and the badger mum Cregga had told (aka yelled at) her about the life of her last living relative, and Tsunade had been furious. She had thought Minato looked a bit too much like Tobirama to be a coincidence, just to find out that Minato was his descendant born out of war. Her and Minato had been aunt and nephew, or grand nephew. It pained her to know she missed out on the one child whose life had more meaning to her than anyone besides Shizune.

So here she was, packing her thing, hopefully in two weeks she could arrive to give the young kunoichi Mito-obaa-chan's whip techniques. She could clearly remember how men and women cringed when she brought out her whip. Mito was known as the seductress of the Hokage, but no one would dare call her that to her face. For someone so prim and proper, no one knew how best to flay flesh from muscle like Mito did with her whip. Heck, Tsunade had once seen Mito peel an apple, knock away 100 grapes from their vines and split a brick wall in two with a few flicks of her wrist. If the new generation of Senju-Uzumaki could learn how to do that too…

Maybe she shouldn't travel too fast.

Dang, she would have to, apparently the Gaki inherited her second bloodline in her family. A bloodline that Tsunade herself had. Tsunade had the ability to draw water from the atmosphere, but she only used it for her specialized water style healing. Most assumed since she wasn't a ninjutsu specialist, that she didn't know how to use it. Her special healing technique was known as Nagareru mizu shōsen Jutsu (Flowing water mystic palm technique). It had saved the lives of many shinobi in the past, but only those that wouldn't report on her technique.

It was always funny for her to blast someone with a water dragon from a single hand sign. Fifty years of deception, and no one knew that she was good at Ocean Release.

Tsunade sat in the lobby waiting for Shizune so they could begin their trek.

Kisame gathered a few of his belongings and listened carefully to the shark that had summoned itself in the lake he was lounging by with Itachi. He nodded his head as he listened to the gurgle of the shark messenger. Kisame waited as the shark dismissed itself and lifted the pack over the shoulder of his akatsuki cloak.

"Yo Itachi!, I have a delivery to pick up for my summons near Konoha, I'll be back in a month or so."

Itachi nodded his head as he went to continue his mission. Itachi knew the importance of summoning clan requests, as the crows had sent him to retrieve items for their clans before.

Kisame whistled a tune as he shinobi walked (Tree jumping) towards Konoha. The sharks had informed him that a gaki kunoichi had signed a partial contract. It was part of a legendary contract that had many pieces to it. Each piece would be like adding a small clan to a ninja village. Each time a clan is added, the overall strength of the contract is increased. A neighbor of the sharks had asked for a favor from them, and in turn him.

He was to deliver the pike contract to the gaki in konoha. Once there, he would teach her the shark techniques, but have her mold them after pikes. Kisame didn't mind, as he could spend this time eating sushi and not having to deal with the prince of brood Itachi. Nice guy, just needs to talk more.

Kisame suddenly laughed. He could be for all intents and purposes, going to teach a kunoichi techniques that could kill him one day. And yet, he and the sharks didn't seem to mind. Kisame then felt Samehada twist in its bandages. It let out a hiss and a gurgle, before he felt his blade squirm.

Great. Sword molting season. Hmm, maybe that gaki in Konoha can find a use for a bunch of Samehadas old scales. You never know.

Martin and Cregga stood by each other, looking over the great tapestry to pass the time. They were both pleased to know that the two ninja they talked to were agreeable to help Naru out in these coming troubled times.

"Martin, when Naru is first summoned to this plane of existence. How should we test her for her worthyness to use the contract? As much as I agree that testing her is unneeded, she will be expecting something."

Martin had a small smile on his face as he turned toward her.

"Do not worry, I have a perfect plan for her. Once she understands the concept of the contract, I will lead her on a journey to find my blade, and meet other spirits here at Redwall Abbey so that she knows who she can summon."

Cregga noticed that Martin was no longer holding his blade, and shook her head with a small smile. Martin and his riddles were infamous in the adventures of Redwall Abbey.

A knock on the door brought their attention to the front entrance. Once opened with a wave of Cregg's hand, three shadowed figures entered.

The first was large by any standards, standing with a dark brown cloak and his hood above his head. The sound of armor echoed throughout the abbey as he walked in. In the figures hand was a large broadsword with an unmarked blade. The size of the blade was larger than Martin himself.

The second figure was much shorter, and had a long tail. Around her arm was a thick shipping rope, with complex knots lined on the ends.

The third was average in height and stood between the two. His figure was plump, and he was munching on some cheese in a pouch on his side. You could see a small sling and bag of rocks attached to his belt. On the other side was a small but nicely made dagger.

Martin and the third figure shook hands, as Gonff the mousethief lowered his hood. Mariel Gullwhacker lowered hers as well, and Rawnblade Widestripe took of fhis robe entirely.

"Welcome my friends, It is good to see you in redwall once again" Said Cregga, giving a short bow, which was returned by each individual.

Rawnblade gave a short chuckle and looked at Cregga in the eyes.

"Good morrow Marm, so when do we start training the new summoner?" Rawnblade asked, his eyes gleaming in the sunlight through a crack in the window of the great hall.

"Very soon, we just await the arrival of Trisscar Swordmaid and Lady Amber. If my guess is right, they will be part of Martin's trial for young Naru." Cregga answered, glancing at Martin who now talking to Mariel.

"May I ask though, what are we all here for? If she needed training in the art of swordplay, wouldn't Martin suffice for now?" Rawnblade asked, leaning his blade verminfate on the wall.

"That is where things get interesting, she needs to learn how to fight against every type of sword wielder we have available in a short time, and she has a technique that can help here, but we will let it surprise you when she arrives. With your strength, Trisscars speed, Martins tactics, and gonffs trickery, alongside Lady Ambers teachings, and even Mariel's gullwhacker lessons, we will help our summoner out in her trial in one months' time." Cregga smiled as she once more looked over the seal on the wall that Hagoromo left them.

Rawnblade nodded and looked at the seal and tapestry. The future would need a new badger lord, to represent both Redwall Abbey and Salamandastron. He could recall the words of Lord Brocktree as he looked upon the flowing images of the seal.

"Defend the weak, protect both young and old, never desert your friends. Give justice to all, be fearless in battle and always ready to defend the right."

Naru Uzumaki would become the savior of the world. He could feel it.