The massive stone walls of Konohagakure could already be seen off in the distance, however, the mood amongst team seven wasn't at all a joyous one as would be typical for a genin team's first true mission outside their home village. Sakura had been taken out of the fight by the masked ninja in under a minute and was now seriously considering handing in her headband and finding a new line of work. Sasuke would likely be unable to go on missions outside the village walls for a few days due to his injuries and Naruto would likely be even longer still. As for the masked ninja herself, she was thankfully knocked unconscious and was being carried by Kakashi like a bag of rice.

Almost as soon as team seven had signed back in and entered into the village proper the villagers couldn't help but to eye Naruto's left arm. More specifically what was now left of it seeing as it now ended just below the elbow. The sounds of many barely audible conversations could be heard. All of them were in one way or another about Naruto and his now missing arm.

"My ninja career is over. I may as well just hand my headband back". Naruto said making his teammates eye him with no small amount of shock.

"Naruto you shouldn't be saying things like that we could get you a replacement. I'm sure of it". Kakashi said as he placed his arm upon Naruto's shoulders. "You know your not the first ninja to lose an arm in battle. My own great grandfather lost his arm in the Warring Clans Era at the battle of Kiseki Pass more than 128 years ago.

"It's not just my missing arm. Back in wave, I saw something. I must deal with that Kakashi". Naruto said as he pulled away leaving not just his teammates but Kakashi dumbfounded. Knowing who best to talk to Kakashi soon made his way to Inoichi Yamanaka's small shop in the commercial district. Sakura and Sasuke, in turn, soon made their way back home. Minds racing with what Naruto had said. He had seen something back in wave country. Whatever that was was still unclear but whatever it was had made the normally happy-go-lucky boy much more solemn.

-

Naruko along with most of the other Uzumaki's who were now living inside Konohakure were busy enjoying a nice meal inside their clan compound when Naruto entered their home. At once Naruko was upon her older brother in mere seconds. Her hands encircling his body in a nice long hug. It was only after the hug had been broken that Naruko first noticed his missing arm.

"Naruko-chan I must speak with Ashina. We can talk later...about this". Naruto said softly. Naruko eyed her brother for a time but she soon nodded her head in understanding and left to find the man in question. Around ten minutes later Ashina walked into the room his red hair still wet from his bath. He like Naruko before him was shocked at seeing his missing arm but that wasn't why he was in the room. He would of course ask about it later. He was after all a sucker for a good story and he was sure it would likely be one such story if his time as a ninja was anything to go by.

"I, Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze wish to have an audience with the council". Naruto said with such force Ashina knew he wasn't joking.

"That will take some time Naruto-kun the council is". Ashina said before Naruto stopped him.

"The council will see me today. Whatever it is can wait until later". Naruto said not missing a beat. Ashina was floored at this. The other Uzumaki clan members, in turn, eyed the pair moving their heads left and right as each responded. In a sick kind of irony, Naruto stood on the left side of the room.

"Why is that Naruto-kun"? Ashina asked. Naruto, in turn, called him over. Once done Naruto spoke softly into his ear. Ashina's eyes soon grew wide as all color drained from his face.

"You're sure of this"? Ashina asked already knowing full well that he was.

"Come with me then. You must change into a more appropriate wardrobe". Ashina said taking him to his room and pulling out a set of clothes before closing the door. Seeing no need to wait any longer Naruto started to undress himself. It wasn't long before Naruto returned now in a kimono.

"Good now we must hurry. Today's meeting should be ending soon so we have precious little time." Ashina said as they made their way out the door.

-

Meanwhile, Kakashi entered the flower shop. Ino was behind the counter reading a teen magazine.

"Ino-chan is your father in"? Kakashi asked making the girl jump in surprise at the unexpected visit of team seven's sensei.

"Yes, he is in the back. I'll go get him now". Ino said before she walked into the back of the flower shop. The faint sounds of talking could be heard soon being followed by the sound of two footfalls as the pair made their way to the front of the shop.

Inoichi Yamanaka was more or less a carbon copy of his daughter save for the fact his hair was darker.

"Hello Kakashi how can I help you today"? Inoichi asked as he busily knocked off a few bits of dirt from his shop uniform.

"It's about Naruto. Our mission to wave country turned into a mess. Naruto lost his arm, Sakura may drop out, and Sasuke is off the active roster for a few days". Kakashi said making the older man's eyes grew wide.

"My god is he ok"? Inoichi asked. Unbeknownst to the two of them, Ino had quickly run upstairs into her room with hot tears forming in her eyes.

"Yes he's fine but that's not why I'm speaking with you. He said he saw something. He didn't say what it was so I was hoping". Kakashi said before being cut off mid-sentence.

"You're worried it may be the fox". Inoichi said.

"Yes, that's if you don't mind". Kakashi said awaiting the older man's response however before he could an ANBU appeared before them.

"Inoichi Yamanaka you have been summoned by the council". The ANBU said before just as fast disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

"I sure am a popular guy today". Inoichi joked to which Kakashi could only nod his head in amusement before he also departed from the small shop.

-

Minutes later Kakashi and Inoichi entered the council chambers. Naruto stood off to one side along with Ashina. Shikaku Nara could also be seen rubbing his eyes due to having to wait for over 38 hours with little to no sleep.

"Oh good, you arrived at last". Shikaku said before calling Naruto over. "Please take a seat. This will likely take some time. As of now, this meeting is adjourned". With that, the other council members departed some unhappy not to be able to see what was happening with the boy.

No sooner had Inoichi placed his hands upon Naruto's forehead than his mind was being flooded with images of a land entirely unknown to him. He could see around 20 robed figures in a circle only illuminated by the light of torches on the outskirts of the stone circle.

"Do you have it"? A voice asked. Who Inoichi couldn't pinpoint. However, that didn't much matter what he saw next caught his attention completely. It was a fox with nine tails. The fox was the size of a large dog but there was no mistaking it.

"By the nine gods, we the Namikaze clan hereby declare our loyalty and protection for as long as we live". This was soon repeated by the others until all had said the words. The nine tails, in turn, bowed his head and disappeared into the distance. The next image was one he knew all too well.

"The night of the attack". Inoichi said absentmindedly making Shikaku as well as Kakashi too narrow their eyes.

"What are you seeing my friend"? Shikaku asked Inoich who seemed fixated on discovering what this all meant. Kakashi was also growing even more interested in what Inoichi was seeing in the boy's mind.

Meanwhile back inside the mindscape, Inoichi continued to view the images flooding to him.

"Push the fox to the village walls"! A masked ninja ordered as attack after attack struck the massive fox in the side. No sooner had it crested the hill overlooking the village than the masked ninja all retreated into the safety of the trees. Its head soon turning to Konohagakure. It was only when the fox began to make its way to the walls of the village that he saw it upon a masked stained in blood.

"Root. Danzo was behind the attack 13 years ago". Inoichi said to himself before breaking the mental link. As soon as he had recovered he turned to his lifelong friend and uttered the words that would shape the very future of the ninja world for years to come.

"It was Danzo. I lost my wife due to Danzo".

-

The room suddenly grew deathly quiet as if the last words spoken had sucked out all the air from the room in an instant. Shikaku for his part took the news as good as anybody could given the implications of that one statement.

"Danzo was behind the attack...are you sure"? Shikaku asked hoping for once in his life that his lifelong friend was somehow wrong on his assessment. However, he knew better than most how unlikely that was and that fact alone terrified him to his core.

"Yes, Lord Hokage I am". Inoichi said knowing just as his friend did how dangerous that fact alone was. It came as no great surprise to any of them when an ANBU soon dropped down from the ceiling before bowing before the Hokage.

"Crow, send word to Jiraiya to keep an ear out on any possible sightings of Danzo. This is a class SS mission. Failure is not an option". Shikaku said before the ANBU acknowledged the order and was gone just as quickly as he had come. It was around this time that Inoichi voiced his opinion.

"Given Naruto's recent adventures it is of my opinion that the boy should be taught how best to deal with mind-controlling jutsus. Especially knowing how Danzo operates". Inoichi said placing his arm upon the boy. It was at this time Ashina, who had been temporarily forgotten due to the shocking revelation only seconds before also voiced his own opinion.

"Shouldn't he get his arm looked at by Tsunade? Ashina said making the Hokage nod his head in agreement.

"By all means do so". Shikaku said before he suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Naruto before you go as Hokage I have the authority to give you this. I feel now is as good a time as any to do it". Shikaku said before he placed the small scroll in Naruto's right hand before he at long last called this unplanned meeting to an end.

-

The next day Naruto found himself sitting in the waiting room waiting for Tsunade to be done fixing up a genin who had somehow tripped over his own feet. He did feel sorry for the boy. Really he did but at the same time he just couldn't help but find it at least a little funny.

"Naruto if you would". Tsunade said as she walked into an empty room and started her examination. All the while Naruto said not a word. His mind raced with what Shikaku had given him the night before. He knew it had to be important otherwise the Hokage wouldn't have said it in such a way. But due to the already late hour, he hadn't had time to open it.

"Naruto this looks like somebody applied a rudimentary medical jutsu. Who did that"? Tsunade asked as she got herself ready for what she had to do next.

"I did". Naruto replied before Tsunade gave him a sympathetic look.

"You didn't do too bad but it got infected". Tsunade said as she started to disinfect it. Naruto, in turn, couldn't help but wince at the action. Once that was done she wiped it tightly in some medical gauze.

"Naruto you are to come back this time next week. Your arm should be ready by then". Tsunade said as she got up from her chair and discarded her medical gloves. Naruto waited patiently by the door. Once that was done Naruto and Tsunade walked side-by-side to the Uzumaki clan compound. All the while talking about one thing after another.

-

A week later Naruto found himself once again waiting for Tsunade. However, this time Ino was by his side. She had been ever since she first saw him after the disastrous wave mission. Naruto remembered the event vividly. It had been the day after he had his arm looked at by Tsunade. He was just taking a walk around one of the many parks when Ino called out his name. About as soon as he had turned to face her he was tackled to the ground.

"Naruto-kun I was so worried ". Ino cried out as she hugged the one-armed boy tightly. Naruto taken aback by the girl's actions couldn't help but feel a blush starting to form on his face.

"I'm fine Ino-chan, really I am. Naruto said making Ino look up at him with tearful eyes. Seeing this made the boy feel an unknown emotion. An emotion he had never felt before in his life. But before he could even dwell on it for even a second longer Ino pulled him back to the here and now.

"Naruto I was hoping we could walk together". Ino asked the boy again once she saw she had regained his attention.

"I would be a fool to say no to you Ino". Naruto said making her blush.

"You sly fox you". Ino said before she laid her head on his shoulder. Naruto, in turn, pulled her in ever closer, after all, it was nearing evening and he didn't want her to be cold. Unbeknownst to them however a masked man soon jumped away to report his findings to his lord.

-

Tsunade had seen many things in her life but seeing poor Naruto pinned under Ino nearly a week before was just too cute not to make fun of him for.

"Do I hear wedding bells Naruto-kun". Tsunade joked making the boy pout like the child he still was in so many ways.

"What...no stop making fun of me". Naruto said before becoming serious again. "Is it ready"? He asked.

"Yes. It's ready we just need to do a few tests". Tsunade said as Naruto woke Ino and the two entered the room. The arm itself looked indistinguishable from his own aside from the fact that all three knew it was, in fact, a prosthetic.

"Naruto this has a few advantages over an organic arm. For one it has a chakra storage seal so performing high-level jutsus should be easier. Tsunade said as she fastened it to his arm and at once Naruto felt a surge of power.

"Naruto do be careful. It'll take time for your body to adjust to the prosthetic arm. Wait a day or two before performing any jutsus with it". Tsunade said before backing away allowing him to do a few test punches.

"It's a bit stiff". Naruto said once he had done around a dozen. Ino meanwhile stood off to one side happy he was safe and she like Naruto was feeling an unknown emotion. She knew she liked the boy before her but this felt different. It felt more meaningful. So lost in her own thoughts that she failed to notice Naruto wave his left hand mere inches from her face.

"You ready to go Ino-chan"? Naruto asked. Ino feeling somewhat embarrassed said nothing instead choosing to simply hook her arm around his own. Tsunade could only shake her head at the mere sight.

"Kids will be kids". A voice said from outside the room.

"Ashina-kun I told you I would b..." Tsunade suddenly felt the lips of her boyfriend no lover that was better given their age seeing as both were past 50.

"You and I both know Naruto was the only thing keeping you. Now you and I have a date with some cards". Ashina said before Tsunade hit him upside his head.

"You didn't forget the seals this time...did you? Tsunade asked.

"I didn't forget dear". Ashina said before he like Naruto had done before him only seconds before left with a woman on his arm.

-

Over the many weeks since the disastrous mission to wave Naruto had busied himself with his training. Both in his mind as well as his body. Currently, he was sparring with Sasuke who to his slight embarrassment still hadn't unlocked his clan's bloodline. A fact Naruto enjoyed reminding him. If for nothing else then to make the boy fight ever harder and ever faster. Still, the raven-haired boy could do little more than hit air.

"No fair you lowered your weights". Sasuke yelled out convinced that was the reason he couldn't hit him.

"Sorry to tell you this Sasuke but I still have the weights on. You're just slow". Naruto said before pulling up his pants and showing that he did in fact still have them on and active. Kakashi seeing the lapse in the action called them both over.

"You have done well today Sasuke but I'm sorry to say until you unlock your Sharingan I'm pairing you with Sakura from now on". Sasuke, at this, was about to voice his opposition at the news however Kakashi raised his hand stopping that before he could. Kakashi then handed them both a scroll. "Inside is the chunin exams participation papers that are to begin in less than a week. If you wish to participate sign your name and hand it in no later than in three days' time". Kakashi said before he dismissed them all for the day. No sooner had he left so to did Naruto and Sakura. However, Sasuke lingered for a moment longer in deep thought. No matter how hard he pushed himself in his training he still couldn't match Naruto. Even when he was away from the village he was always ahead. Sure he took the top student awards every year but that was only due to Naruto being more than a thousand miles away at the time. It just wasn't fair he trained just as hard as he did and yet he still couldn't do much more than hit air. Just as he was about to leave a voice from behind stopped him.

"Naruto is a prodigy like no other. That much is clear but what if I said I could help you". The voice said but no matter how hard Sasuke tried he couldn't pinpoint the location.

'Show yourself or I'll burn you out"! Sasuke yelled out only to receive laughter as the response.

"My you're quick to anger, but fine I'll come out". The voice said before the sight of a boy around his age dropped down with white hair and thick glasses.

"Who are you"? Sasuke asked.

"My name is Kabuto Yakushi. Now on to more important matters do you want my help or not"? The white-haired boy asked as he pushed up his glasses catching the light of the setting sun as he did so. For a time Sasuke eyed the boy before him unsure on what to do.

"What kind of help are you offering"? Sasuke asked. At this, the boy pulled out a small vial containing a greenish liquid.

"You take this and your reaction time will be halved. A downside is it burns chakra like crazy. So what do you say? You want it or not"?

"How much"? Sasuke asked already digging into his ninja pouch for his money.

"Call it a gift". The boy said before handing it over and with that, the boy was gone. Sasuke eyed the small thing now in his hand for a few seconds before placing it inside his ninja pouch. He would wait. If what this Kabuto guy said was true he could use it in the upcoming exams. He would show that fox-faced teammate of his. He was tired of being shown up. He was an Uchiha after all.

-

As Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke walked inside the ninja academy for the first time in nearly half a year all three could feel the pressure. It came as no great surprise to any of them that teams eight (Team Kurenai consisting of Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, and Kiba Inuzuka and his ninja-dog Akamaru) team nine (Team Guy consisting of Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten), and last but certainly not least team ten (Team Asuma consisting of Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara) had also decided to participate. What did surprise them however was the number of non-leaf genin who stood waiting for the first phase of the chunin exams to begin. Ino, of course, made a beeline for Naruto as soon as she saw him and his teammates enter. Sasuke meanwhile stood off to one side eyeing the other teams. He could make out the emblems of no fewer than 27 other villages. The big five obviously made up the majority of the teams but that wasn't to say the smaller villages didn't make a showing. Villages such as the Hidden Village Of Flowers, Crescent, Snakes, and a new village nobody even knew existed until their team entered the village to participate in the exams the Hidden Sound. But nevertheless, the teams all looked strong especially the genin team from the Hidden Sound and that fact alone made the boy all the more ready for the exams to begin. He had little doubt that Naruto would make it to the finals. Now all he had to worry about was making sure so did he. Sakura for her part did her utmost to go unnoticed by the other teams not because she was afraid but because she wanted intelligence. The sound team would likely go for them if the evil looks being sent their way was any indication at all.

-

Meanwhile, Ino was busy talking a mile-a-minute as Naruto simply nodded his head occasionally. He had no idea what half of what she said to him even was but he wasn't going to stop her. At least not until the exam started. He didn't have to wait all that long as only around ten minutes later the door opened to reveal a tall man in a brown overcoat.

"Hello to you all my name is Ibiki Morino and for the next few days, I am God. My rules are absolute. Failure to obey my rules will be grounds for immediate termination of not just yourself but your teammates as well. Now pick someone to send in. The intimidating man said as he eyed this year's group of genin. It wasn't long before around 270 genin stood side-by-side. In their hands lay a small bit of parchment with a number. A number that if they had to guess signaled a classroom.

-

Once Naruto made his way inside his assigned classroom (B18=The 18th room on the second floor) he saw a scroll resting atop a lone desk. Upon opening the scroll he was faced with some form of code. Naruto knew that a chunin needed skills that may not reside just in the field of combat but also in the fields of reconnaissance and code-breaking. It had been one of the many things Kakashi had drilled into them all in the past few days. On one side of the scroll lay a set of numbers from 1-40 and on the other side sat words that to him held no real meaning. It wasn't long after he had entered the room that he could hear the sounds of the many nearby doors open and the sound of feet making their way down the long hallway. This, in turn, made his mind race with what this all meant all the more. As he battled for the codes meaning Sakura and Sasuke could do nothing but watch as one after another ran past them and out into the village. By now half of the allotted time had elapsed and Naruto looked no closer to solving it than when he had first entered the classroom.

"What does this mean"? Naruto asked himself now even more desperate for meaning. Just then a deep voice was heard.

"Move the words". The voice said softly. It sounded distant and yet at the same time not. Looking around he could see nothing and hear nothing. Looking at the clock on the wall he saw he now only had around five more minutes or else he and his team would fail.

"Move the words around human". The voice said this time even louder than before. Naruto again looked around. Still nothing save for the small classroom that he was in.

"MOVE THE FUCKING WORDS ALREADY"! The voice yelled out this time sending him to the floor.

"Ok voice in my head. Just stop yelling at me". Naruto said as he worked to rearrange the words as fast as he could. He would talk with Ino about this once he had a chance. With but only a few seconds left he quickly sealed it and ran out of the room. He appeared before his teammates as well as the other 90 teams just as the clock signaled a new hour but that didn't matter. He and his team had passed. But only just. The next phase was when he would really test his skills.