Disclaimer: All the recognised characters and places in this work belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. This is a work of fanfiction.

Both the parents started crying wordlessly at the picture painted by the old what their son endured.

"So you taught him assassination to take revenge on those bastards," Kushina spoke wiping away her tears.

"I met Naruto-kun for the first time when he's little more than seven and half years old. He's sent to assassinate me." Hiruzen replied blankly. "He's really good but not enough to kill me though."

Minato and Kushina sat down stunned into silence as the processed the words while Hiruzen unsealed sake bottle and three cups from a sealing scroll. The only sound in the room was the soft chirping of crickets in the background and sake being poured into cups.

"Pardon me Hiruzen-sama, I think there's something wrong with my ears but did you...did you just say that Naruto was sent to assassinate you, a man hailed as Kami no Shinobi,when he's little more than seven and half years?"

"Nothing wrong with your hearing, Minato-kun. I did say that." He raised his cup and smelled the sake. "Mmm... Kome no Kuni (Land of Rice) outdid itself this time, the sake was really good. Have some both of you. You'll need it for this talk."

Minato unsurprisingly was the first to regain his composure and drained the cup in one go and pressed another cup into his wife's hand. The amusement in Hiruzen's eyes disappeared and he looked at them in regret.

"Three years ago, if you remember well, you've dissolved the Council of Elders, my old advisors and replaced them with the advisory council of five members." He started sipping sake eyes slightly glassy.

"I remember that well Hiruzen-sama." Minato replied "Your council has too much influence and power in their hands. With help of Jiraiya-sensei and Shikaku Nara, I managed to unearth many irregularities in their office. I don't know why the hell did you give them such leeway but I'm not that foolish and will allow such power concentrated in hand of few individuals."

"And that bastard Danzo proved to be a slimy son of a bitch. I was surprised when we bought his ROOT ANBU back. It's force consisted of more members than half of our ANBU. He has a private army under his control and didn't send even a man when Kyuubi attacked. Each and every one of the ROOT operatives are at the very least low A-rank shinobi. Hell most of his agents are mid B-Rank shinobi. We would have avoided several casualties if they helped out "

"I do know that and I supported your decision with my vote Minato-kun." He replied icily. "I was a fool to trust Danzo and it nearly cost my life and of my entire family."

"Danzo and I came to a compromise during my tenure as the Hokage. I will the leaves bathing in the sun and he will be the roots that grow in the dark. A ruthless cold blooded balance for my empathetic nature. I allowed him to re-establish ROOT even after Tobirama-sensei said that it's too ruthless.

I know that you have both ruthlessness and kindness in equal measure. It's for that reason I selected you to succeed me as a Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato. When you became the Kage I knew that there's no reason to continue ROOT. After eight years as the Hokage, you gained every necessary knowledge to rule Konoha and passed many bills which wouldn't have been passed showing fore-knowledge and cunning .

So when you placed me as one of the council advisors, I met Danzo privately without your knowledge. I ordered him to re-integrate ROOT back into ANBU. I gave him three months to dissolve the organisation and left him.

Kakashi-kun too was once a ROOT member. Danzo took advantage of his fragile state of mind and inducted him to ROOT. He later changed his mind when he saw how much of a bastard Danzo really is. He then began to spy on him and came across a grave news that Danzo is planning to assassinate me, my family and few others to place blame on Kumo, simultaneously letting knowledge of ROOT die with me. He didn't know the exact date but he said that it will be within two months

That was my last straw. So I gathered the elite ANBU and prepared to launch a surgical strike on ROOT. I gave them layouts for ROOT bases I have knowledge of, with orders to if possible to incapacitate otherwise kill the ROOT Shinobi."

"Danzo didn't like that." He said pulling out a black scroll proclaiming it as S-Class information with the title 'Metsu no Kami' (Slaying the God) written on it with 'Treason' and 'Failed' stamped on it. Minato opened it and started reading.

It was in August when Danzo-sama finally lost his patience with the head target. The head target has destroyed half of his bases and Danzo-sama' army was depleted by more than half of his Shinobi.

Danzo-sama said that this mission is important to the future of Konohagakure no Sato. He said that the targets were destroying the roots that support the tree of Konoha. And if they continued to go unchecked they'll cripple our village and said that it's our duty to prune those branches. We are also ordered to bring the children of the targets to Danzo-sama for inducting them to ROOT.

I along with a group of fellow ROOT nin was assigned to assassinate our targets disguised as Kumo's Kinkaku Butai. I was teamed up with our most dangerous operative Metsujin to aid him in assassinating the head target. Ours is the only group of two whereas others formed a group of five. Understandable as Metsujin was our best operative despite being the youngest.

I scouted the target's house for four days, testing the defences, patrols and layout. The boy was best at scouting but for some reason, Danzo-sama ordered him not to get in contact with the head target. He also ordered him to kill him in the dark of night and not to look at his face.

Unusual...but orders are orders.

We commenced the mission around half past midnight with me dismantling all the seals around the house. The ANBU patrol guards were knocked out by the boy. I moved to kill them but he stopped me saying that it's not in our mission objective and if they die it'll cause alarm bells to start ringing in the ANBU headquarters. It's one of the defensive measure added by Yondaime Hokage to the ANBU tattoo when an operative is killed. He said that it'll make our mission difficult. I reluctantly agreed.

Under the cover of night, we reached the house where the target resides. Suddenly we felt our bodies freeze and shadows crawling up our body few tendrils trying to strangle us. The boy broke our using his chakra and used a D-rank jutsu which caused his body to glow in a powerful light. It released me from shadows and he created a clone which stood back of me lightening up as it's creator eliminating the shadows around us.

He grew tenser the looked back. Following the line of his sight, I saw a new barrier being erected in the place of one we dismantled

"The target knows we're here. We walked into a trap." He whispered urgently "He most likely has Ino-Shika-Cho team with him. We may never complete the main mission but at least one of us have to get the child.."

"I'll leave you a Shadow Clone. Scour for the target's child and leave with him. I don't know how he looks like so get the child to Danzo-sama. My Shadow Clones will protect you. I am walking into a trap so I will try to stall as much as possible to get the child to Danzo-sama.

I'll create a few clones and pair them off in groups of three to confuse them. You along with my first clone will travel under your genjutsu. The remaining will dispel if they found anything transferring the memory to the first clone.

This way we'll cover more ground and will confuse them without giving away our location. "

Creating Kage Bunshin, he dropped all efforts to stealth and made way to the front door leading to the head target. The clone (maybe original, can't predict anything with the kid) and I searched for the child with its body lightening to ward off shadows and light emitted is covered by genjutsu I used.

After fifteen or so minutes of searching, by pure chance, we managed to see an ANBU appearing from thin air to take a smoke. Discreetly following him we entered the underground base hidden under genjutsu where the target's child and his servants are present. Both the clones immediately knocked out the ANBU and we approached the sleeping child who is around four years of age.

On seeing the face of the child, the clone suddenly froze up. As if remembering something it held it's head tightly repeating a word 'Konohama' continuously. Thinking nothing of it I picked up the child and started leaving the place when suddenly it went dark.

When I awoke, I was forced by the head target to write this report and surprisingly the cursed seal on my tongue didn't activate. I know it'll kill me in case of betrayal, so I am not betraying Konohagakure no Sato.

ROOT operative Kinoe.

"If you are wondering who the head target is it's me, Minato-kun. The Metsujin mentioned in the report is none other than your son, Naruto." He informed the shocked parents. "And the operative Kinoe was Tenzo also known as Yamato of your personal guard. You can ask about the operative Metsujin if you wish to."

"Metsujin means...God Slayer. Naruto was trained to kill... you?" Kushina asked horrified. Hiruzen simply nodded in assent.

"I remember that night clearly as yesterday. I was there with Inoichi, Shikaku and Choza on standby to face anyone Danzo sent to kill my family." Hiruzen sipped sake and closed his eyes as if reminiscing his past. "Imagine my surprise when I saw that the assassin Danzo sent after me was a pint-sized child."

It was half past midnight when they felt the wards dismantled. There was no alarm and if they are not watching the seals around the house using the crystal ball, they'd have never known.

They saw the only one ROOT operative who dismantled all the seals and according to Shikaku, he must be one of the orphans Danzo stole from Konoha orphanage.

The crystal ball followed the shinobi but all of the sudden static appeared. Knowing his paranoid ex-friend, they'd have a precaution against his scouting medium.

"Troublesome..."Shikaku, now ANBU operative Namakemomo (Sloth), drawled out irritated. "We now don't know how many were sent to kill you or where they'd strike. This whole situation is troublesome.

They didn't kill our clones stationed near the walls. Probably not to alert the headquarters. Hokage-sama, put a Chi Bunshin in your place and don an ANBU disguise like us.

If they decided to go past us and slit your throat we won't be able to save you. They are trying not to cause ANBU casualties so they wouldn't be overwhelmed if the alarms go outside in headquarters. Hopefully, if he managed to invade our senses he'd kill the Chi Bunshin (Blood Clone) and walk away thinking you are dead."

"Alright," he said creating a Chi Bunshin. It was chakra intensive and he had to take a military ration pill to replenish his reserves. A few seconds later, he changed into ANBU operative Saru.

"Operative Kaba (Hippopotamus), as discreetly as possible leave for the base to protect Konohamaru-kun and Aya-san if the situation calls for it." Operative Saru ordered. "We have to adjust this team without you." Choza nodded and took his position.

"Operative Inoshishi (Boar). Link all of us telepathically. We both have to stay out of sight. We don't know their capabilities and we are part of an ambush. Operative Kaba and I will engage the assassin and you two will use any opportunity presented to trap him."

"Now to determine the number of assassins the traitor sent. And if possible I'll use Kageshibari no Jutsu to trap them" Namakemomo spoke up rapidly going through handseals.

"Kage no u~ebu (Web of Shadows)."

The shadow underneath Namakemomo's feet split into spidery webs and extended all over the building. With moonlight casting subtle shadows the web extended all over the grounds and surfaces and he felt the sensory link between shadows and him activate.

He felt the ANBU guarding the secret base where Konohamaru and Aya are present. He felt the chakra of every living being and then started searching for intruders. Just a few metres from the compound, he felt two assassins. Wow the traitor seems overconfident. Unusual...he is usually a paranoid type.

"Kagemane: Kage Onishibari no Jutsu (Shadow Imitation: Shadow Demon Binding technique)."

"It seems that they have sent only two ANBU. I successfully managed to trap them both, Operatives. It seems that our mission was a success... What the fuck!"

"Kaba, reset the barriers and pass the ration pill. And immediately leave for the base. " He snapped out.

"What's happening Namakemomo-san?" Saru asked as Kaba followed his orders and quietly left to the base.

"It seems that traitor got his slimy hands on an Uzumaki or at least a part Uzumaki, Saru-san. There's no mistaking that chakra." He growled out eyes hardening under the slits of the mask. "His chakra level is terrifying and is almost equal to Hoshigaki Kisame. Broke out from my Kagemane in less than a minute and then broke out his accomplice. They spread out with around sixty Kage Bunshins in groups of three so we had no idea who the original is.

And no I cannot trap them as they hid under genjutsu and the Uzumaki is still using the technique to create powerful light that eliminated the shadows. We have no other choice but to fight. Don't use lethal force till we knew who is a clone and who is original. After that we can do whatever we have to."

The remaining two members gritted their teeth and released killing intent. To make an Uzumaki lose their emotions required them to go through hell and back. Their resilience is legendary and they are highly emotional people. Whatever Danzo did to this operative it should be inhumane under any circumstances.

They pulled out their weapons and Saru called his personal summon Enma which was converted into a staff.

"He has lots of chakra. Probably a Ninjutsu expert, maybe Fuinjutsu expert as he's an Uzumaki. Kenjutsu, Stealth and Assassination expert for sure as he's a ROOT operative and we know nothing about his Taijutsu and other skills. May possibly have Uzumaki Chakra Chains."

"It seems that he's coming in alone. Dropped all attempts at stealth and was coming directly to us. Wonder how does he look?"

The well-oiled doors opened without a creak. With moonlight illuminating him a figure stepped out. All three of them are gobsmacked when they saw that the assassin sent after them couldn't be more than six or maybe he's a midget. But none of the Uzumaki clans has midgets and he's clearly not a dwarf as his proportions are normal.

Taking advantage of their shock, he immediately moved to attack the person nearest to him. Saru barely recovered out of his shock and decades of experience were the only reason he managed to block the senbon to the neck which would have certainly knocked him out.

He flipped back few steps to avoid capture by Namakemomo's shadow and pulled out two katanas and created four other Kage Bunshins. One for each of them and one of them walked out. They still don't know which of them is original and which of them is a clone.

Saru created two other clones to support other two with the decoy Chi Bunshin supporting the original. Namakemomo and Inoshishi didn't bother to create any. It'll reduce space to fight and will increase chances of hitting each other. The shadow clone which went outside divided into four used a technique which caused a bright light to form. The light coming from all the sides of the compound managed to eliminate all shadows within the compound easily. It is impossible to Kageshibari or Kagemane without shadows and Namakemomo was left at disadvantage.

It was so till Saru erected a wall using Doton behind him which separated him and decoy blood clone from rest completely cutting off one of the sources of light. It caused powerful shadow to form and allowed Namakemomo to use shadows freely. The boy's clones around the building dispelled themselves but he still retained the glow around his body.

"Troublesome." Namakemomo grunted. Pulling out shadows from outside the compounds he created another Kagemane no jutsu to link him with Saru's Kage Bunshin.

"Kagemane no jutsu: De~yuaru kageningyō geki ( Shadow Imitation technique: Dual Shadow Puppetry)" This was a fairly high-level technique in which with a single hand seal one of the two persons linked can control the moments of another one.

The boy fought ferociously with clones. B to A-Rank jutsus thrown and exchange of brutal kill shots occurred neither unwilling to give space to each other. Saru's clone with Namakemomo managed to avoid all attacks with help of Dual Shadow Puppetry. With telepathical connection, the clone near Inoshishi did the same and the clones protected them from being knocked out.

They are starting to get irritated. Namakemomo had to adjust his strategy seven times trying to lead the boy into a trap. But it bore no fruit. The brat was good, really good. Both sides were patient, waiting for the other side to make a single mistake. And it came to him on silver platter.

Inoshishi, impatient one, tried to use Shintenshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Change technique) on the boy and missed. Seeing his body collapse, the boy tried to tie him up before the spirit returned to the body. Creating other clone (?) to deal with the Saru's clones, he raced quickly to incapacitate the fallen body.

They tried to stop the boy from reaching the body but his clones(?) prevented them from reaching their fallen comrade.

Just the moment before he threw the senbon ignoring shouts from his opponents, he was stabbed in vital place by the supposedly fallen man. The boy went up in smoke signifying that he's a clone. The other two were in shock and were hit on the head by Saru's staff. They too dispelled.

'Inoshishi to Saru. You are most likely fighting the original. We'll obliterate the clones with extreme prejudice and will come to your aid.' He said telepathically.

"Don't worry guys, I've pretended to use Shintenshin no Jutsu to lure him into a trap." He said dusting off his shoulders as two more arrived to take place of destroyed clones. "Let's destroy these pests shall we?"

They started to fight seriously as now they are sure that they are facing a clone. Waves after waves of clones appeared to fight them as they made their way to Saru. By the time they reached them they destroyed around fifty shadow clones not without taking heavy damage. Saru's clones are destroyed, they are heavily injured and were standing due to sheer stubbornness. The hell...how much chakra does this kid have!

By the time they reached there the entire side was demolished. Who caused how much destruction no one knows but the entire place has to be reconstructed. Saru was clearly exhausted but is unwilling to show weakness to the enemy. The boy's gear was torn, singed and scratched in several places and was on one knee slightly panting.

"You are the toughest opponent I've ever faced in the recent times, kid. You are nearly up with the likes of myself, Hanzo the Salamander, Sakumo Hatake and Ryōtenbin no Ōnoki. Danzo trained you very well." The blood clone acting in Hiruzen's place said haughtily. "You came close…" it said it's voice holding the barest hint of praise. Then it was gone. "But you are not the first to come close."

The remainder of the boy's clones seemed to appear in their midst to support the kid. The total clones were now easily exceeded two hundred with all of them fighting as if they're one single group.

"Troublesome." Namakemomo drawled out taking a soldier pill Inoshishi doing the same. "Inoshishi, let's complete this in one final strike." Both the men jumped opposite sides and went through the handseals.

"Kage Onishibari no Jutsu: Andāwārudo no toge (Shadow Demon Binding technique: Thorns of the Underworld.)"

"Shinranshin no Jutsu. ( Mind Body Disturbance technique)."

The remaining two shadows clones Saru provided divided into five and went through handseals at extremely high speed.

"Goton Dairendan no Jutsu. (Five Release Combo technique)."

There was emergence of powerful shadow spikes from the ground which destroyed few clones. Inoshishi's technique confused the ranks among the clones which were enemy and which of them was friend. Five elemental dragons appeared spreading more chaos.

"I have lived for over a half-century through endless, unremitting war boy. You may have come close to our level. But close is not nearly enough…"

"My generation produced most dangerous shinobi to walk on this earth, boy. We saw three great Shinobi wars, fought in two and came out hardened by it. And I was called a God among them." It said it's tone turning to steel.

"And my experience taught me one thing." His voice turning bored. "Men don't rise against the Gods."

After few brutal exchange of attacks, the blood clone pierced the sword through the boy's stomach, missing his vital organs. "They fall before them."

The boy coughed out some blood and looked back at him straight in the eye. Behind the slits of the oni mask, the blood clone saw the ocean blue eyes of the boy widened in shock.

"Jiji!" He said his voice break-in slightly. Before they could do anything, he took a kunai and pierced himself in a vital spot seemingly committing suicide.

Until he poofed away in smoke leaving a bit of blood. The blood clone dispelled and they looked at each other in shock.

The person who pushed them to their absolute limit is nothing more than a bloody blood clone.

"On that night, on seeing mine and Konohamaru's face, he seems to have remembered something. We understood that he's near Konohamaru and raced towards the bunk. The ANBU operatives stationed there were knocked out and we feared the worst. But we saw your child on bed unconscious with clone checking for something on his body and other ROOT operative knocked out on the ground. Konohamaru and everyother person in the base were safe."

"The clone then started to study each and every seal placed on the boy's body. It started to remove each and every seal placed against his will on his body.

Memory seals, loyalty seals, slave brand seals all of them are removed with complete care and precision. To assimilate the memories, the clone asked Inoichi to help him in the process. He didn't rise till three days later.

Danzo must have learnt that the mission has been compromised. So he immediately went to hiding. In the prior bases we destroyed, I managed to find the details about your son."

"Danzo found him collapsed near Hyūga compound his completely broken body carrying the corpse of Hyūga Hitomi with extreme care. The bar was nearly a mile from the compound. The entire way was coated with his blood but out of sheer stubbornness, Naruto ignoring pain fatigue and weakness carried her. He wanted to ask justice it seems. So he first came to this place." The old man sneered at them coldly. "But you idiots didn't bother to key in his chakra and you can imagine what happened." Both of them bowed their heads in shame. "So even more damaged he walked to the Hyūga clan compound. ROOT ANBU who were always on lookout and saw the boy and reported him to Danzo. The boy's drive astounded him and mind you Danzo was hard to please."

"Thinking that he could be at least a valuable scout or an agent, he inducted him to ROOT. Knowing very well that he couldn't break the will of an Uzumaki, he did even more worse thing. He sealed off all his memories, nearly leaving an empty shell of a human being.

He was put in a lower training course stating that he could never use Ninjutsu, Genjutsu or Taijutsu. It focuses completely on stealth and information gathering. Even though Danzo managed to take away Naruto's memories, he couldn't change the core of the boy. Naruto ignoring each and everyone one of those medics and asked for a single chance to prove himself. He said he'll try to learn Ninjutsu, Genjutsu and Taijutsu without neglecting his stealth and information gathering classes. Danzo humoured him. The result is that he managed to complete Wind elemental training of splitting a waterfall in a month with liberal usage of Kage Bunshins.

His uncanny drive made Danzo so impressed that Naruto's training was overlooked personally by himself. He was trained to be equal to me. ROOT training is said to be gruelling even by the martinets of ANBU. His training was gruelling by the martinets of ROOT.

Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Kenjutsu, Stealth and assassination, Torture and Interrogation with knowledge of human body was crammed into his mind using Kage Bunshin. To prevent brain damage, a ROOT Yamanaka named Fuu helped to assimilate the memory dump. Fuu just made it sure that he's not brain dead, Naruto still felt his mind tearing itself apart and it nearly destroyed his psyche.

Within half year, he has complete mastery over his primary elements wind and water. Danzo didn't bother to give emotional conditioning to the boy as he already sealed away all his memories and in one of the files he stated that Naruto might succeed him in leadership of ROOT.

He tried to train him to cold and unsympathetic. He succeeded partially. The boy completed seventeen S-rank missions, twenty six A-rank missions and thirty-five B-ranks in the span of twelve months. He pointed out targets for Naruto to kill and he did that simply. His last mission in ROOT is to kill me."

On listening to their son's degradation, the shock gave away to anger. Minato gripped the chair so hard that wood was cracked underneath his grip. The cup in Kushina's hand shattered under the grip and blood flowed out of the wound.

"The bastard's lucky that he died of cancer four years ago." Minato gritted out his voice taking the glacial tone Hiruzen was familiar with when Naruto got angered. The couple unconsciously started to leak highly potent KI while the aged Kage sat silently unconcerned. "If he's alive, I'd make him beg for death for every last moment of his miserable life."

"He's still alive Minato-kun." He said dropping off a bomb on the couple. "Danzo is still alive."

"Ok guys... I took a day off from Academy today on Gai-sensei's request. Took you few days to decide though. Well... it did allow me to look through your files." A small blond haired kid spoke rubbing his hands. "Well... I'll train you guys separately." Creating three other shadow clones, a clones took the spandex wearing boy to the east of the compound, the Hyūga clan member to the west and the energetic sword weilding girl to the north leaving Tenten with the original.

Tenten was slightly apprehensive when the boy didn't take towards any direction. When all three of them are out of sight, he turned to her and said "You may leave Higarushi-san. Unlike others I ain't gonna teach you anything. I'm sorry but I'll arrange someone to teach you if you wish to but I ain't gonna teach you anything." He said calmly walking towards the Sarutobi compound. "I'll ask jiji to give you some scroll from his library. Will drop by later with a new technique and maybe a new teacher."

The girl was shocked for a few moments. "So you are teaching my friends but you won't teach me anything huh?" She seethed. "Is it because I'm a girl? No otherwise you wouldn't have trained Shin. Do you think I am a dimwit? Do you think I can't handle your training?" She shouted. "What's so special about them that you are training them and not me?"

The blond turned, his ocean blue eyes narrowing at her. "I don't think you are a dimwit, Higarushi-san. And why I'm not training you is a personal choice of mine. But if you so wish to know why, I'll be completely honest but you'll hate my input." He said seriously. "I am known to be an selective to whom I teach Higarushi-san. And I am known to be an asshole to be honest. If you still wish to hear my opinion... I'll not be merciful in choosing my words. So... choose your next words carefully."

"Gai-sensei said that you never do anything without a reason." She said coldly. "And I want to know that reason. It concerns me after all."

The boy looked at her seriously for few moments and sighed. "Very well then." He seal-lessly created two benches parallel to each other and sat one and gustered her to sit on the the other. Tenten warily sat down as the boy unsealed few files with names Rock Lee, Hyūga Neji, Shin and her own name written on it. Opening the file on which her name is written he read out loud.

"Name: Higarushi Tenten.

Aliases: Currently none.

Teammates/ Partners: Shin, Rock Lee and Hyūga Neji.

Teachers: Maito Gai and Yūgao Uzuki.

Noted Kills: None

Mission Record:

55 D-ranks.

No C-ranks.

No B-ranks.

No A-ranks.

No S-ranks.

Parents and closest kin: Orphaned during the Kyūbi attack, adopted by Higarushi Tetsu who owns Higarushi Arms and Supplies. No known siblings and kin.

Skill notes:

An expert marksman who can hit anything within one and half mile with hairsbreadth accuracy hundred out of hundred times. Tied with Shin, a fellow orphan for top kunoichi of her graduating class. Highly intelligent individual who understood the art of sealing and improvised the sealing scrolls for her comfort with limited knowledge available in the Shinobi section of the library that could be accessed till rank of Genin. Has innate ability to wield any weapon with ease. Tried her hand at iryo-ninjutsu.

Able to use any weapon. Expert in Bōjutsu (Low B-class). Excellent in Kenjutsu (Low B-Class). A journeyman in Fuinjutsu (Low C-class).

Behavioural notes:

No fan-girlish tendencies, a professional kunoichi who takes her job seriously

Naturally inquisitive and highly observant. Not a flight risk. Has excellent potential to be one of the best kunoichis from Konohagakure no Sato. Idolised Tsunade of Sannin and aspires to be a kunoichi on par with her.

This is the file I've acquired about you, Higarushi-san. Quite detailed one right?" He asked cryptically.

"Everything written about here is positi..." The boy raised his hand as if to order her to stop speaking

"On paper Higarushi-san, you are a model student. A kunoichi who will go far in her life and a teacher's dream. But it ain't gonna cut it for me. Well did Gai-sensei tell you about my specialization?"

The girl shook her head. "Not very surprising..." He hummed. "Very well, My skills lie in Torture and Interrogation, Information gathering and Assassination. Not training to be specialist in them, mind ya. I already am." Tenten's eyes widened in shock and slight fear. "Remember ROOT organisation? I used to be one of it's operatives. Operative not an agent or a Scout."

Tenten tried to swallow down her fear but seemed unsuccessful as the boy's features softened slightly before hardening again. 'It makes sense. His power and skills he have makes sense now.' She thought. 'All ROOT ANBU are said to be at least high B-Rank shinobi.'

"I may despise that bastard but he did train me well." He said his face darkening slightly. "One of the things he drilled into my head is to never completely trust any source of information and if possible try to verify it throughly. So I spent last two days doing reconnaissance and info gathering on all four of you."

"Everyone spoke highly about you, frankly speaking I am really pleased to meet a serious kunoichi who's not a fan-girl. But I am also trained to glean large amounts of information from very small clues." He looked straight into her eyes and Tenten felt exposed subjected to the glacial eyes. "You asked why I refused to train you didn't ya?"

Trusting herself not to speak without stuttering she simply nodded. The boy sighed pinching his nose. "Because you are a bloody coward." He said coldly.

Registering his words, she glared at him heatedly. Forgetting her fear for a moment, she held the boy by his collar. "How dare you call me a coward?" She growled out seething in anger. "I. AM. NOT. A. COWARD."

The boy raised his eyebrow and within a second, she was made to kneel at his feet with a kunai at her throat. "I think that you didn't understand what I am, Higarushi-san. I am an assassin, and not to toot my own horn but I am one of the best. Next time you pull something like this I'll amputate one of your limbs." There was no KI, no raise and fall of his tone but the way he spoke as if he's discussing weather made the bun-haired girl understand how dangerous the boy in front of her is. "Till I stop speaking... Please keep your mouth shut "

"I spoke to Gai-sensei and Yūgao-san and... questioned your fellow orphans, matrons at the orphanage, Academy teachers, your adopted father and the iryo-nins you've trained under." He drawled out. "All of them said that you are an exceptional kunoichi and a prodigious one. But I read between the lines and learnt what I needed about you."

"I don't deny that you are a good kunoichi, Higarushi-san. But you have few qualities I hate more than anything. I'll sum them up for ya.

"First" he said lifting a single finger. "you have overinflated sense of self, in other words a superiority complex. Many shinobis have it don't think otherwise but you have something to complement it. In a bad way of course. An inferiority complex."

The girl kept silent but wondered where this little bastard got his overactive imagination from. She seethed inwardly but didn't speak his threat still fresh in her mind.

"You might be wondering where this asshole gets his overactive imagination from don't ya? I don't imagine anything girly. I observe." He said amusedly

"You've spent few months, three months to be exact. From two months before graduation to a month after it training to be an iryo-nin. Being a arrogant little girl you are you thought it would be easy to be an iryo-nin. Because why would it be difficult? You have done everything easily and this wouldn't be so difficult.

Well because of your training you have far higher chakra reserves than usual. So when the fan-girls were able to get medical techniques faster than you, never mind they've an year or more experience over you, you got dejected. But your pride didn't allow you to give up so you took scrolls for chakra enhanced strength and started practicing it with it. Your pride got further damaged with each attempt you didn't manage to master it. You simply threw that away, feeling that you'll never be able to become an iryo-nin. There I deduced your attitude.

There I explained your superiority and inferiority complexes. Tell me if one word... just one word I've uttered is wrong"

Tenten swallowed bile rising up her throat and blinked back tears. The boy managed to exactly deduce her thoughts down to the T.

"I called you a bloody coward didn't I?" He said calmly. "I do have a reason for that. After the failed attempts at iryo-ninjutsu, you went back to your toys and found sealing. In less than two months, one month fifteen days to be exact, you've learnt to customise your sealing scrolls. But... never bothered to go beyond that." The boy's features twisted into an ugly expression.

"I know for a fact that both your teachers, even though Gai-sensei doesn't look that way, are very knowledgeable in Fuinjutsu. They did help you in many ways and Gai-sensei bragged off my ears about you and your natural aptitude for sealing.

But you never bothered to advance further. Mostly because it needs excellent chakra control and you are afraid of failure. You failed once in chakra control and are afraid of failing again. Nah... afraid of failure means you have at least tried. But you always take easy way out Higarushi-san. Weapons came naturally to you and sealing till what you learnt too came naturally.

You are happy with what you have never bothering to improve yourself. If I'm not mistaken if something didn't come easily, you don't bother to strive for it. Even now you're here 'coz of peer pressure otherwise you'd be at Training Ground 3 repeating your already worn out drills

You hate hard work. You depend on your natural talent and never bothered to improve yourself. And my training was known to destroy resilient men.

In fact deep down you still wish to be like Tsunade of Sannin. But because it's difficult, because of your rotten pride you will never pursue iryo-ninjutsu. The iryo-nins who trained you at the hospital were still hopeful that you will master those scrolls one day and will succeed where Hitomi Hyūga didn't manage to succeed before she died. You disgust me." He sneered and walked away from the crying girl. "I hate those who turn their backs on their own dreams. At least a fan-girl despite rejection and foul words would try hard to gain affection of their idol."

"What do you know?" She wailed. "What do you know how it feels when the person who's useless and inferior to you at everything managed to surpass you even though you trained to bone?" She cried pathetically wiping the snot. It's a ugly expression but the boy's features softened slightly. "How will you feel when you understood that despite everything you do your dream will always be out of your reach? What do you know about tackling what you know is impossible?"

The boy stared at her for few moments and laughed out loud. It's not a warm one, sneering one or a cold one. It's a hollow laugh of a person who heard a cruel joke yet found humour in it.

"Impossible." The laugh that followed it is horrifying and spine-chilling. "Now that's a word I'm very familiar and yet has no knowledge of." He sneered. "Ya do know how they treat me in the village don't ya?"

"When I was six I was brutally assaulted by a mob. My spine was fractured and all the bones of my legs are shattered. They said that it's impossible for me to ever walk properly. That I'll be a cripple for rest of my life. But I'm now one of the best Taijutsu experts in Konohagakure no Sato."

"I am the disowned son of Yondaime-sama. They forgot to key in my chakra and the tenketsu in my hands burnt off when I was at the same age. Even now if Neji sees carefully, I have only seven tenketsu as supposed to be ten in normal human hands. The remaining three are damaged beyond repair. They said it's impossible for me to mould chakra through the handseals. Yet I was perhaps the third person in the entire world to master, mind you not just learn, all five elemental forms."

"Due to my time in ROOT they said my mind was fractured and it's impossible for me to perform genjutsu. Now the only people who could beat me in genjutsu in Konohagakure no Sato was Kurenai Yūhi, Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha."

"At age of nine I have Kage level reserves. They said it was impossible for me to have enough control to perform iryo-ninjutsu. I am not an expert but I am good enough and was few steps down before being a combat iryo-nin." To prove his point he flicked the ground with his fingers. The moment his finger touched the earth a fissure longer than six metres became visible on the ground as the girl looked on with shock.

"Because of my high reserves they said it's impossible for me to hide from any sensors. But even though you put me in eye searing orange clothes I can assassinate even the extremely paranoid heavily guarded Damiyos and walk out none being wiser."

"I was beaten, burnt, strangled, stabbed and abused. 'Just roll over and give up' they said. 'It's impossible for you to become a shinobi.' they said. Yet here I am." He stretched his arms at his sides. " Here I am because I worked for what I want, sweated for strength I wish to have and bled for who I am today. And I am a child who is a Jōnin level shinobi before he even stepped out of the Academy."

"I heard that word many times in my life Higarushi-san. It might've registered in my ear. But..." He said tapping his heart. "It never registered here" and mind. "here."

Tenten looked at the blond haired kid in shock. "What's your impossible compared to mine, Higarushi-san? Lemme tell you a fact. It took Tsunade Senju two and half years of rigourous training before she managed to complete chakra strength. It took her another one and half years to complete Ninpō Sōzō Saisei — Byakugō no Jutsu (Creation Rebirth: Strength of Hundred Seal). She dedicated herself completely during that period. It's height of arrogance and stupidity that you without even completing the basics thought you could master it, that too in three months. So I placed my case Higarushi-san. Sorry I know you don't want to hear this but I pity you... Ja ne."

The boy left dispelling the bench he sat on leaving the girl to wallow in misery. After a few minutes of crying, she understood that there's nothing false or inaccurate about what the boy said. 'Maybe I'm too arrogant and cowardly. But I promise myself that I'll never be the same again.' But the words still bought tears as she cried till her throat grew hoarse.

"What did you say again, Hiruzen-sama?" Minato asked bewildered. "I thought I heard you say that the traitor was still alive."

"You heard right Minato. Danzo is still alive and kicking." Hiruzen replied calmly.

"Where the hell is that fucker?" Kushina growled out. "Tell me where he's so that I may rip that bastard piece by piece."

"Truthfully speaking, I really don't know." Both the husband and wife let out their KI and glared at him. "Only one person in this world knows where he is and I never had heart to order the location out of him."

The hall was silent for few moments till Kushina spoke up. "That person is Naruto isn't it?" She asked wearily. Minato looked shocked at her and it grew when Hiruzen didn't refute that statement.

"When he woke up after assimilating his memories with help of Inoichi, I asked how he felt. Do you on what he answered

'I am t-tired, jiji. I-I am tired of the spider called l-life, tossing me around like a m-meal? M-making me live in fear of when life will devour me or my loved ones? I am tired of seeing people I love die before my eyes. I am tired of e-everything.

I-I see people I killed. I became something I despised j-jiji. I-I have blood of the only person who loved me on my h-hands.'

On that day I held him as he broke down in my hands. When I asked him if he knew where Danzo is. He asked me a favour in return. He said that he wanted to go take on Danzo alone.

I denied it but he simply broke out of the base. Luckily we thought of placing a tracking seal on his body. But he was intelligent enough to hijack the barriers around the Sarutobi compound.

By the time we managed to go after him after taking down the barriers, everything was done. We found a destroyed base with several injured bodies. The boy took down 50 low B-Rank to high A-Rank shinobis before facing Danzo. That bastard was bleeding from his right eye and his hand was amputated. Naruto too was on his last leg though. Had to knock him out and sedate him."

''Funniest thing is that it took a child to destroy 50 elite shinobis. A child no more than seven autumns incapacitated 50 elite shinobis and crippled that bastard who is said to be nearly my equal. Even worse thing is that he's not crippled." He said remembering the repulsive sight of white arm with Sharingan eyes embedded into them.

'It seems that he regained the function of hand by experimenting with cells of Shodaime-sama. And embedded into that hand was several Sharingan and he replaced his destroyed eye with Sharingan. And half of them are destroyed because Danzo used Izanagi several times. Naruto crippled him thirteen times before tearing off his arm and his eye."

"On that day I witnessed the birth of a legend. One of the shinobi destined to grow to be greater than myself and maybe he'll be to the likes of our Shodaime and Madara Uchiha." He said breathing airily.

"On that day I knew he could kill Danzo immediately but he refrained. Later when asked him why he said that Danzo was the only reason why he's not dead when he's six. Ironic isn't it?" Hiruzen smiled wryly. "He requested Danzo to be his captive and promised that he'll never keep any secret Danzo uttered. Knowing that he'll find a way if we refused him, we accepted it."

"The first time Danzo sat down without saying anything, Naruto flayed him alive completely. Inoichi vomited on the spot as it was the first time he saw a man alive completely without skin. Hell, it's a first for all of us and I had nightmares for few days." He shuddered remembering those memories.

" He pulled out every information and every possible blackmail he had on the bastards who killed his friend. The way he punished them I myself nearly lost my lunch many times. The fact is that your boy's information came from that rotten traitor. He knew he could have disgraced the Hyūga clan. But out of respect for Hitomi, he didn't do it. I think he'll make good friends with Hinata. That little girl may not look like Hitomi but she has her heart. I remember the tears and nostalgia Naruto had when he first saw that little girl."

"You might be wondering why this senile old man is telling this didn't ya? I am telling this because I wanted you to understand your child completely. To love him you have to accept and respect everything about him." The old man set down the glass and pulled out a very thick file. "This contains all information on Naruto during his stint as operative and whatever he did later, his training, missions he took, strategies he formulated and everything you need to know about him."

"This is given to you because I want that child to have his parents. He suffered enough in his life. I told you everything you needed to know about him and what you do with it is your business. Good day Minato-kun, Kushina-chan. I am not asking why you neglected him b'coz I too am guilty of that but I am asking you to make it up to the kid."

Tenten was still sitting on the bench staring unfocused at something when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Startled, she jumped and met the eyes of Sandaime Hokage.

"Hello child, may I ask what are you doing here?" He asked softly. Looking at her headband his eyes shined in recognition. "Ah you must be one of the Gai-kun's students. Naruto said that you'll be training here today. But judging by your tears, I think he's asshole as usual. Tch... I have to teach him how to treat a girl normally."

"Nothing he said is wrong though Sandaime-sama." Tenten hiccuped through tears. "He's harsh but he's truthful about his opinion."

"Nonetheless he shouldn't be that harsh... I didn't get your name..."

"Higarushi Tenten, Sandaime-sama." She said respectfully.

"Well Tenten-chan. He led a harsh life. Frankly speaking he walked through hell." Hiruzen said smiling wryly. "It led him to have a harsh outlook on life. He has high expectations on everyone. But he didn't know...Nah he did know he cannot make friends by being an asshole but thinks if he's soft in making friends they might die in field if they didn't correct their mistakes. He did once say their living is more important to him than making friends."

"He's not wrong, Sandaime-sama." She muttered with shame. Hiruzen's eyes softened further

"Alright child. I am bored. Will you bother to keep this old bones some company." He smiled kindly. "I know how he teaches as Konohamaru is training under him but I want to see how he'll interact with people of his age group. So you'll get to see what your teammates are learning. And you can tell me what my asshole grandchild told you."

With Neji.

The clone with him ordered him to complete his regular stretches to reduce pulling of muscles during training. A half an hour later he's ready and walked towards the blond clone.

"Alright Neji-san. I have a proposition for ya. I already decided to teach you something but I want to give you an option. You can ask me something you wish to learn or something you are working on but needed help. I am knowledgeable on many things but if I don't know what you asked, I'll teach you what I wanted initially."

Neji thought for a few moments his mind going back to that night he's set free. The Jūken technique in which chakra forms into large guardian lion-shaped shrouds was one of the techniques which was imprinted into his mind. Hiashi-sama said that it was a lost technique and what they have with them was incomplete.

Naruto was not a Hyūga. Gai-sensei was said to be premier Taijutsu expert in Konohagakure no Sato but Neji never asked him because he knew Lee needed more concentration. That doesn't mean he neglected others. He's always there for them. He's jealous but he understood. And sensei did say that Naruto was knowledgeable in all arts so it doesn't hurt to ask.

So he described that technique as well as he could. He said that it's a technique he's trying to develop and asked if the clone could help him in anyway. The clone folded it's hands looking unimpressed as Neji wondered what did he do to piss off the boy this time.

"Instead of all that complicated description, Neji-san, you should have simply asked me to teach you Jūho Sōshiken (Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists)" he replied dryly. "Alright wait a few moments." He said creating another clone. "Need to get few supplies."

As the clone jumped shunshin'ed away from their training ground, Neji turned to the clone with bewildered look in his eyes. "Y-you know how to perform that t-technique?" He shouted pointing his finger at the clone. "B-but you are not a H-hyūga. Y-you don't have Byakugan required to perform our t-techniques."

The boy pinched his nose irritated. Raising a mud wall with faces of dogs on them, he slowly settled into a stance. Neji immediately recognised it from four years ago. A more flexible and less rigid Jūken stance which was a mirror image of what that man did three years ago. It looked exactly the same, the flow of chakra exactly the same. Dark blue chakra flowed in the hands of the boy forming large guardian lion-shaped shrouds.

"Jūho Sōshiken." The boy shouted hitting the large wall in front of him. It offered no resistance and was pulverised in front of his eyes.

"Fun fact, Neji-san: It is a said that no person in this world can perform Jūken without Byakugan." He said dryly. "Not necessarily true if you have memorized all 361 tenketsu in human body. And I..." He said ignoring the wall crumbling behind him "memorized all of them."

Neji looked stunned as the boy performed a technique which was said to be lost art. "I didn't know that the Hyūga clan still remembers this technique, Neji-san. It's knowledge said to be destroyed when the clan was divided into Main House and Branch House."

"Who taught you this technique?" Neji nearly begged. "I wish to meet that person."

"Taught me, Neji-san? No one taught me this technique. I along with Gai-sensei and jiji reverse engineered this technique Neji-san. It took us nearly six months with minor records from Senju, Sarutobi and Uchiha compounds about this technique along with other techniques in one of the branches of Jūken. This is water style Jūken, one of the preferred styles by Branch House members before it was destroyed."

"Preferred by Branch House members?"

"Preferred by Branch House members." He confirmed. "If you wish I'll tell how these techniques got lost in first place."

"Hn."

The boy raised his eyebrow in amusement and started

"Well the history went this way if I am not mistaken. Hyūga Iemetsu was known to be one of the most cruel bastards in history and was once the clan head. He was a earth style Jūken specialist who formed his council who has his specialty.

The first branch house members were farmers who used to be first line of defence against oppressors during clan wars. They have mixed styles among them. Water style, lightening style, wind style and fire style according to their preference.

That bastard turned unstable and started molesting the wives and children of his clan members. His council following in his steps did the same. The clan fed up with him tried to revolt. But he was an intelligent bastard. Got Cursed Seal from Uzumaki clan and twisted it to suit his desire. He applied them to children and killed many of them to stop the revolt as he knew he cannot fare against other styles, however expert he might be. He enslaved the part of clan and formed Main and Branch Houses. He enslaved his own younger twin brother out of paranoia that he'll try to overthrow him as a clan head and thus your despicable tradition started.

The paranoid little bitch ordered the Branch House to stop teaching high level techniques. Instead of killing the teachers, he killed the children who were taught. Fearing for their children's lives they stopped. As the time passed the techniques are lost to the world."

"I never knew any of this." Neji admitted weakly. "So that's how Main and Branch Houses are formed huh?"

"Not many people knew, frankly speaking." He said shrugging his shoulders. "Jiji's clan has habit of recording techniques trying to find weakness in them. Same went for Uchiha and Senju clans. In Sarutobi compound we found water and wind style Jūken and in Senju compound fire and lightening style Jūken were found with stances. Uchihas recorded the chakra flow accurately and combining all these we managed to bring back all the styles. We wrote it down and placed it in restricted section which allows access to only Jōnin and above.

We placed it there hoping that someday a Hyūga will learn and bring back those magnificent styles. As I co-authored it with both Gai-sensei and jiji I can get you a copy. If you wish I'll get it for ya by evening."

"Co-authored?" Neji asked sceptically.

"Well... Gai-sensei provided taijutsu knowledge. Jiji provided his knowledge on human body and placement of tenketsu. And I provided this..." He said showing his fully mature Sharingan. "to read chakra flow."

Not really true. The piece of history is. But the scrolls in Senju, Sarutobi and Uchiha compounds are placed by himself using seals to age the scrolls. Whoever called Hinata weak or not a prodigy is an idiot. From base itself, she managed to build up water style and with help of Neji, Hiashi and Hanabi, she managed to build all other styles within span of three years. Timid she might be, Hinata's a driven kunoichi. An other mistake in Tsukyomi he should've realised is that she'd never stay at home when her loved ones are threatened.

"You are a part Uchiha?" He asked surprised.

The boy nodded "Not many people knew that Yondaime-sama's great-grandfather is an Iwa merchant named Namikaze Hiro who settled in Konoha after marriage with a kunoichi named Uchiha Mira. She got her chakra system damaged in First Great Shinobi War and the family was thrown out of the clan for not having their Dōjutsu. After all these generations I was the first to activate Sharingan."

The clone he sent returned back carrying few papers. "Ah he returned finally. Ok Neji-san, if you don't know what these are, it's chakra papers. You know about elemental affinities right? These will show you your elemental affinities. You'll have to pass chakra through them.

If it's cut into half, you got wind affinity. If it gets soaked, water affinity. Crumbling into dust, earth, burning into flames obviously fire and if it crinkled you are lightening."

To demonstrate, he passed his own chakra into the paper it was cut sharply into four uneven pieces, the largest piece is soaked. For two nearly equal pieces one turned into dust other went up in flames and the smallest piece crinkled

"I have primary wind with water as secondary and rest I have acquired by training my ass off. Now try doing the same." He ordered.

As ordered, Neji pumped chakra into the paper. The paper crumbled into dirt initially but was suddenly split in center as if cut by scissors and other part crinkled.

Naruto whistled in appreciation. "A earth primary with wind and lightening as secondary. You are really lucky but unlucky."

"It'll be difficult for me to learn what I requested isn't it?" He asked softly depressed.

"Maa Neji-san, it's difficult, not impossible is it?" He said patting his shoulder. "Earth and lightening styles are very similar and lightening bled back into Hyūga techniques which you guys now follow.

Earth is rigid and inflexible. But it acts as an enhancer as it strengthens the user. Lightening is predictable element. But even though you can predict it the damage done will be heavy. The precise attacks of the present Jūken is from lightening style and rigidity of your stances come from earth style. Lightening are easily manipulated though. And earth are headstrong idiots.

As you have wind affinity, I'll teach you the style if you wish to. Frankly I wanted to teach you some Ninjutsu but as I said they are near dead art which we love to restore, Gai-sensei and I will help you to incorporate it with your present Jūken. "

"So you will help me to form an entire new style?" Neji asked excitedly. Naruto simply nodded as Neji smiled.

"But I am warning you, wind style is a different ball game from what you have learnt till now. Wind is always around us but we fail to recognise it. It is impossible to predict and is the giver of life. To be one with the wind means that you never bow down to anyone, your mind must be open and should be unpredictable. Winds prefer to be free and unchained and will raise hell if anyone tries to control them. Downside they might be scatterbrained" 'like my past self', "highly laid back" 'like Asuma-sensei.' "or plainly insubordinate bastards" 'like that fucker Danzo and to some extent you towards Main House.' "It's a toss we can't predict. Wonder what category you fall in." Neji scowled at that

"It is an unknown fact that one of the greatest advancement in iryo-ninjutsu, the chakra scalpels is a derivative from Jūken wind style. It is Nidaime-sama's only contribution to iryo-ninjutsu.

You must loose nearly all the rigidity in this style, all preconceptions must be laid aside.

This is battle form of Jūken as one touch using this could shred tenketsu beyond repair or cause internal bleeding. No unsealing them, it would shred it completely. It is most offensive form of Jūken. But first your chakra control must be excellent. Are you willing to work hard in this style?" He asked

"Bring it on!" Both of them smirked at each other.

"Well we will start tomorrow then. I'll drop a copy for it in the evening. Look over the theory and practice the katas. Don't practice the ones that require chakra and do only the basics. Oh I have a question."

"What's it Naruto-san?"

"Do you mind if my friend joined you in your training session. You know her. Your clan's disavowed heiress, Hinata-chan."

"Of course not. I can tolerate her. She's nice and kind."

"Well then. Ja..." "Wait a moment, Naruto-san."

"Yes."

"What does the name... Hitomi Hyūga means to you?"

The boy's features slackened for a moment eyes going to a trance before a small smile appeared on his face out of his violation. "My life."

He flickered out of the training ground not noticing that Neji is smiling as if he found answer to whatever he's looking for.

"He's a really good teacher." Tenten said after watching the training with help of Sandaime-sama's crystal ball.

"Well that Hyūga is going to face hell. The boy's teaching makes Gai's training regimen look easy."

"Are you senile?" Tenten asked without thinking her words.

Hiruzen looked amused as the girl picked her jaw from the ground. "Senile?" He repeated.

She blushed. "I mean serious. Are you serious?"

"Dead serious, Tenten-chan."

"Don't even joke about it Gai-sensei's regimen is called hell by even shinobi population. Every shinobi we meet gives us pitying looks when we say we have him as our Jōnin sensei."

"Tenten-chan, one day Konohamaru, who's seven then, asked Naruto to help him practice his dodging skills." He said amusedly. "The boy ordered him to run around the compound five times while throwing shuriken with minor exploding seals attached to them. For everytime he's hit Konohamaru must do ten push-ups and for every five hits an extra round is added. My bratty grandson on that day ran around the compound fifty-five times and did five hundred push-ups. He complained many times but Konohamaru loves getting trained by the boy. I personally think I dropped him on his head too many times when he's a baby."

She gulped slightly thinking of the hell the brat is going to put her teammates through.

"Do you think if I promised to do my very best will he train me?"

"He did say that it's your weaknesses Tenten-chan. But I don't think he'll accept you." He said calmly. "I will try to put a good word for you. No promises though. Thankfully I can rewind this to watch everything. Let's watch how he deals with your other teammate "

With Lee.

Lee followed the clone to one of the secluded part of the training ground. After doing the warm-up stretches, he went to a clone who slept on a bench conjured by itself reading Icha-Icha Paradise."

"Ah Lee-san. Today..." Before he could continue, out of nowhere five masked figures attacked them. Naruto's clone was able to kill two of them but he was dispelled and Lee was knocked out.

Tenten was about to move when the masked figure removed his mask to reveal it's Naruto himself. Using his blood, he created few clones which were henged into Tenten, Shin, Neji and both of their senseis.

"Tell Gai-sensei that Lee will start receiving Orochimaru-sama's CCC. And he'll not attend training for a week or so."

"Boss don't ya think it's too early." The original looked emotionlessly till the clone sighed and shunshin'ed out of the training ground.

"Oh shit!" Hiruzen said dread filling his tone. "Tenten-chan please tell me that your teammate not a chivalrous idiot?"

"Yeah I guess, Hiruzen-sama. Lee always holds back against me, Shin and even against Yūgao-sensei. He says that it's unyouthful to hit girls even though Gai-sensei scolds him for that. " She replied cautiously at the tense look on the face of the aged Kage. "By the way what's Orochimaru-sama's CCC?"

"It's one of Orochimaru-kun's more unusual treatments. Stands for Chauvinistic and Chivalrous conditioning. Not a original name I know but... Well..." He sighed calmly. "It was usually done on Jōnin hopefuls if they are chauvinistic pigs or chivalrous idiots. It's one of the more dangerous psychological tortures in Konoha. It was designed by Orochimaru-kun and Anko-chan our leading experts in T&I. Just simply watch and you'll understand. And a piece of trivia...Gai is the first victim."

When Lee regained consciousness, he immediately opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. His entire body is bound and he saw Neji, Tenten and Shin bound with him in the same room. Gai-sensei and Yūgao-sensei's voice were heard from the upstairs screaming in agony.

"Where are we you unyouthful bastards?" He bellowed on top of his lungs. "Release us."

"Ohhh...one of the pests woke up early." A smooth honey like voice spoke up sauntering into the room. The voice revealed to be a woman with heart shaped face, ruby bow-shaped lips, sharp Roman nose and delicate features. She could be called beautiful in every sense of the world. But a glance at the dark cold eyes and ugly sneer chilled the spine of the eccentric boy.

"Anyway, your teachers have been bought here as they have information we needed. You guys have been bought as insurance." She sneered coldly. "Gin, keep an eye on the little shits. Before that blond bastard sniffs us out we need to get our information." A tall masked man who looked like he juggled boulders in his free time appeared in the room. "Don't try anything funny." She warned them and left.

"Psst Lee." A small whisper reached his ears.

"TENTEN!" He bellowed. "YOU'RE AWAKE."

"Oh the little girl too was awake huh?" The guard sneered at them. "So little girl are you trying to fool us so that you can plan your escape huh." Cracking his fingers, "you'll pay for that."

Dragging the girl away to other room the large man left the door open, they simply stood still.

Tenten who's watching the entire thing through crystal was confused when Lee started to scream obscenities trashing through him bonds roaring to stop.

"Genjutsu. Tenten-chan." Hiruzen replied calmly. "If I am not mistaken Lee is watching you get sexually assaulted over and over..."

"That's... despicable." She said stunned at those words.

"Nah... the real despicable part of training starts from here."

'Even more despicable.' Tenten was stunned as she saw her look-alike was dragged by the bulky clone. Her clone's clothes were torn and very few strips of clothes were left covering it's modesty. Re-tied to the chair, the clone dripped blood all over the floor.

"Tenten-chan." He started loudly.

"Why..." The clone moaned pathetically. "Why did I ever thought of trusting a moron like you?" It said tears flowing gently from both her eyes. "How stupid am I to put my faith in you. Should have waited at least till Shin or Neji has awaken. Shouldn't have trusted you in these type of work."

Lee was stunned into silence at those words. It was his fault that the guard knew Tenten was awake. If he kept his fat mouth shut she wouldn't have suffered. If she didn't trust him inexplicably she wouldn't be raped by that despicable man.

"I-is t-that n-necessary?" The real Tenten asked, her voice shivering in uncertainty.

"Yes it is." A voice spoke with finality. Tenten jumped from her seat surprised on seeing the boy. He was less than few feet from her but she didn't detect him. Hiruzen continued to smoke as if nothing happened. He made few handsigns signalling something to the old man in ANBU code away from eyes of Tenten. Hiruzen's eyes widened a small minuscule before he covered it signalling his assent.

"Yo jiji. I completed teaching for today. Iruka-sensei said that he'll be conducting a test in the third period so gotta run." The boy said cracking his neck slightly. "And FYI Higarushi-san, Lee-san is going to watch Gai-sensei flayed alive, Yūgao-sensei's mind broken, Neji-san's eyes ripped from sockets, Shin-san's death among many other things via Genjutsu during his stay. And Gai-sensei approved of this." He said coldly. "The file Orochimaru-sama had on him recommended him to go through that conditioning before he's sent to B-ranks or higher. I personally think it's recommended if he went through it before his first C-rank."

"He's young and inexperienced Naruto-kun." Hiruzen argued slowly. "Your psychological torture could break minds of war veterans nevertheless a green Genin. His mind will be shattered if you continue to do this."

"Jiji..." He exhaled slowly. "Tell me what you prefer. Do you prefer if I nip it in bud slowly and carefully or after he has blood of his teammates on his hands? In some cases his mind will be hardened and he'll grow accustomed to seeing his teammates harmed but firm in his beliefs he'll refuse to let go of them. Then the torture will be physical and psychological and it'll be at the hands of Orochimaru-sama, Mitrashi-san and Itachi Uchiha. If that too fails he'll loose his headband and will have no future as he didn't have civilian education. Do you prefer that? And out of all graduates the only graduate to whom this training was said to highly recommended and mandatory is Rock Lee.'

Hiruzen thought of that scenario. If it did come to that the boy's psyche and his world view will be irrevocably shattered and will turn into shell of the person he once was.

In his old world after ten nearly unsuccessful missions and twenty shinobi hospitalised due to his stupid chivalrous nature, Gai-sensei stopped training him and handed him over to Yūgao Uzuki, Kurenai Yūhi and Anko Mitrashi. It took them little over year and half to break his bad habits and it seriously stunted his training and he was one of the ill-recommends for Jōnin ranks for three years. Lee has heavy potential and skill but once ill-recommends otherwise known as black mark in simple terms is stamped on your file, not even Kage can give a field promotion. After all at the age of fourteen, and just year and half of training, Lee could open five gates but at age of seventeen he could only open till sixth gate as Gai refused to teach him further till his attitude changes. In this world Naruto refused to let that happen.

"So tell me jiji. Just one word... just one word and I'll drop the conditioning and will start other training with him."

"Alright then Naruto-kun." He said shocking Tenten who half expected the old man to order him to stop the training. "Just... please just don't go overboard."

"No promises jiji. By the end of this training he'll either quit being a shinobi or will be a serious one. I'm betting on the latter but I can't predict everything." He shrugged.

"Jiji, do you know when will Asuma-san arrive?" He asked curiously. "I heard that Shugonin Jūnishi (Twelve Gentleman Guardians) was disbanded, so did he sent any information on when he'll come to Konoha? We need experienced Jōnin senseis like him so just asking."

"How the... nevermind you're the information gathering expert so I shouldn't bother to ask. I'll just send a letter to T&I and if you have any important information just write a report I'll forward it."

"Expect a file by tomorrow jiji. I'll be off then."

"Wait.." Tenten shouted as the boy turned to leave for the Academy. Bowing down till her head touched the ground, she requested "I request you to teach me Naruto-san."

"Higarushi-san..." "Please Naruto-san, I'll give it my all. I promise you that whole heartedly. Whatever you throw at me, however difficult it might be, I'll face it. Just... please just gimme a chance to prove myself."

The boy looked at her for what it seemed to her as eternity and sighed rubbing his temples. "Very well then... Go back to the hospital and get re-registered for iryo-nin training. Get the afternoon slot. I already requested Yamanaka Benten who agreed to teach you in the evening, so you can start from tomorrow. I'll teach you along with Neji-san or Shin-san. Get timings from both of them and come whenever it's convenient." He then disappeared in smokeless shunshin.

"Hiruzen-sama... Naruto-san told me that he's...h-hes once a R-ROOT o-operative. I-is it t-true?"

The old man looked shocked at her words his eyes widening slightly before hardening severely. It made the bun-haired kunoichi step back in fear. "That... idiotic kid." He growled under his breath. "Did he say his designation?"

"Ah...no Hiruzen-sama. Just said that he's a specialist in Torture and Interrogation, Information gathering and Assassination. And he's once an operative and he hates Danzo Shimura. What's his designation?

"It's A-Rank secret. All the identities and designations of ROOT ANBU are. They are socially stunted individuals and people will hate them for being associated with Danzo. And unfortunately I can't punish that kid as it's his secret to tell."

"I along with Minato-kun decided that it'll not be productive for their minds and after several months of rehabilitation we managed to let them out in public confident that they'll be able to fool ordinary citizens. They have been re-integrated into ANBU but continued their rehabilitation. If identity of one member of ROOT ANBU is known it's possible to know each and every other members. And ROOT operatives are best of the best. If an enemy gets a leak and manage to penetrate into mind of one of those ANBU, infiltrating Konoha will be a child's play to them. At least the kid has sense enough not to tell you his designation. Look Higarushi-san, what Naruto told you shall never to be repeated to anyone else. It's capital offence and is punishable by death." He stressed eyes hardening severely showing the importance of the matter.

"You mean to say that he's really an ROOT operative." She shouted her eyes bulging out in shock. "But he's twelve years now and ROOT was dismantled four and half years ago. The ROOT are called the boogeyman of the ANBU. You've saying that Naruto served under such blood thirsty branch of ANBU at seven."

"Yes."

"Then his threat ranking should be at least BB (mid B-Rank). If I'm not mistaken."

"Naruto was combat rank A at seven. By the time ROOT was dismantled he's combat rank AA. He's an operative Tenten-chan just not a scout or an agent. Operatives usually have minimum of low A-Rank threat rating." 'And a S-Rank after it.'

"What's the difference between agent, operative and a scout, Hiruzen-sama?"

"Well if you join ANBU you'll learn the ranks. It's not a secret so I'll tell you. It's rather simple actually. Scouts are trainees who completed the training but just amateurs in it. These members are not sent to dangerous missions, just normal ones like scouting, infiltrating and information gathering. Contrary to popular belief, not all members of ROOT are mid B-Rank shinobi. These are low C to low B-Rank shinobi. They are usually assigned in groups of two members. Genins so as to speak.

Agents are ones who completed the training and have lots of experience, so are given higher ranked missions. They usually sent to lower ranked assassinations to break them in. Think of them as Chūnin to Tokubetsu Jōnins. Mid B-Rank to low A-Rank. Think of them as Chūnin squads.

Operatives... now these fellows are whole bag of cats. Cold, apathetic, unfeeling and extremely dangerous. Killing machines who doesn't feel pain, discomfort and will not blink twice if ordered to commit suicide for sake of mission. Low A to mid A-Rank. Jōnins simply speaking. They are usually assigned as captains, vice captains, leaders of the squads, commanders etc. When they become too powerful Danzo usually sent these guys to series of dangerous missions till they die in one of those. Do you wanna learn the hell these ANBU undergo to get the operative ramk?" Tenten nodded. "Keep in mind that this is very cruel and inhumane practice. It's not a secret perse every clan child above age of thirteen knew it as Danzo had his fingers in too many pies. If you want to know I'll tell you but it's not a pleasant tale." Tenten nodded mutely

"Two agents of equal skill level are handpicked and are grown together as siblings. They lived together, slept in same room, ate at the same table and became each other's rock. Do you know why it's allowed that way." The brunette shook her head

The wizened shinobi looked grim. "It's part of emotional conditioning to loose every kind of emotions. When they both forge a bond deeper than blood, Danzo will pit them in death match. I read reports of shinobi who threw themselves in pangs of death so that their loved ones would live. But the living one will have blood of the one whom they lived on his hands. It will irrevocably shatter their psyche and the brain will start to shut down the emotions to stop it's pain."

Tenten let out a gasp eyes widening in shock. "Then as I said they'll be sent to lower assassinations..." The old man took a puff dabbing his eyes to wipe off the tears. "It can't be called assassination missions. No...they are pre-planned cold-blooded murders. Pregnant women, infants, crippled old civilians were to be killed in planned way and with each murder the soul and whatever remaining emotions of the shinobi will be stripped away leaving a shell of person they once used to be. Only then one becomes an operative in ROOT."

"If ROOT has not been taken down many of your friends in the orphanage would've have been taken in by the Foundation. No one cares about few missing orphans after all."

"T-that's h-horrible." She breathed out. "W-why did you ever allow a parasite like that grow H-hokage-sama? W-Why?"

"Because I'm a coward."

The brown eyed girl stood shell-shocked at those words. She thought he might say that he never knew the training procedures or might say that it's necessary to do so. But hearing the sincerity in his tone, weariness in his face, it rattled the kunoichi to her core. "W-Wha.."

"Because I'm a bloody coward, Tenten-chan. Every drop of blood spilled to create those shinobi stains my hands." He took a deep breath. "To know what is right but choosing to ignore is an act of a coward. And I am one."

"The idea of ROOT was first developed and proposed by Danzo to Tobirama Senju, our Nidaime Hokage and my sensei. Danzo tried to omit most part of training to him but sensei was neither a forgiving fool nor an idiot like me. I still remember the killing intent he emitted and threat that he'll behead him if he's not truthful. We both know he'll go through that threat without remorse. When Danzo outlined everything I was there. Sensei rejected outright it stating that it's inhumane by any standard."

"So how did it come to light?"

"I gave an order to start it." He replied shocking the girl.

"When sensei died making me the Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, I was a soft-hearted fool no..." He said shaking his head. "I was a bastard who cared too much about his image. I refused to take tough choices even when necessary just because it'll ruin my image. Even though I know the extent to which the depravity goes, I met Danzo and allowed him to form ROOT. Just to keep blood off my hands I allowed him to do so. I choose to turn blind eye to the suffering and atrocities committed. Sometimes I look back and thought if I showed some spine and bore it as it's my job as Kage many children would've been saved. Hindsight is a bitch though."

The girl sat down for few moments seeing an tired old man in place of the powerful Kage Konohagakure no Sato saw. To stop the old man from wallowing in the past, she blurted out first thing that passed her mind.

"If what you are saying is right Hokage-sama won't it easy to find out who they are. I mean no disrespect but any idiot can identify an emotionless sociopath. Despite of any depth of rehabilitation some old habits die hard. I mean Naruto is clearly cold-blooded person."

"Not many people can identify those members. The rehabilitation done out of mine, Danzo's and Shimura clan accounts were thorough and precise. They are done by the very best psychologists Hi no Kuni has to offer. It won't be an A-Rank secret if they're found so easily. And everyone who still didn't regain their emotions are now in ANBU and are undergoing treatment. It's least I can do to atone for my sins. And you didn't even suspect him till he said it to you."

"So Naruto went through all of that when he's seven?"

She winced when the aged Kage put his head down in shame. Apparently it's a wrong question to ask.

"No... Naruto didn't go through all that." He said closing his eyes. "He... went through worse."

Shaking his head he said. "I have an important meeting in half an hour. So have to prepare for it. Go to hospital and do as he requested."

After the brunette left the compound, Hiruzen let his emotions out when he remembered the message Naruto told him. 'Shin is ROOT agent with her brother stop the girl from watching her training.'

"Alright class, calm down as I said we'll be having a test in fifteen minutes. It's the first test in this final year and it'll make up one percent of your grade, so get your heads in gear and do well." A scarred chūnin ordered getting, the class back in order after the Taijutsu lesson. "So do your bes..." Whatever he's saying was cut off by opening of door as the most hated child in Konohagakure no Sato stepped in.

"Sorry Umino-san. I overslept." The blonde said unrepentantly. "Did I come in time for the test?" he asked.

Iruka Umino rubbed his temples in frustration knowing very well that the boy plainly doesn't care about his opinion. "Just... just take your seat and attend detention with Azula-sensei after the class." The boy shrugged and walked to his seat at the corner of the class. He raised an eyebrow seeing a platinum blonde in addition to usual brown and purple sitting near his seat. Thinking nothing of it, he took his seat beside Shino who bowed his head slightly. Hinata smiled and waved at him brightly and blushed slightly when he smiled back kindly at her. He didn't bother to look at the last one.

The whole class thought that Ino has taken last bench as she wanted to know about the new girl in class. When Naruto returned they thought she'll move to one of the further benches not wanting to spoil her reputation. The girl's clothing was changed, her hair cut off at the shoulder and few of the observant Genin aspirants saw that she didn't fawn over Menma as she'd have done before holidays. But she sat firmly in her place talking animatedly with the cute new girl of the class. Her close friend Shikamaru Nara with more observant genins Shino Aburame and Sai noticed the covert glances she threw at the disowned blond in the class.

The question papers are handed out to each and every student. Naruto for his part simply wrote exactly half of them wrong and remaining right and took a nap with Shikamaru following him few minutes later. Kiba tried to copy off from the pink-haired girl in front of him and got a chalk piece to his head for his troubles. Chōji answered as much as he can and pulled out a plastic bag filled with chips. Menma, Sai, Hinata and the Ice princesses completed the test perfectly without any problems with Sakura doing the same as it's only portion she could excel. Ino scratched her head having a bit of trouble but ultimately getting a good portion of questions right. No one knew when Shino completed the test.

"Alright guys. Time's up." Iruka shouted getting groans in response. "One by one come and place the papers on the desk and leave to the training grounds. Azula-sensei will help you with Ninjutsu or any other techniques you decided to learn if you have any problems. If you don't have any problems you can practice for your finals in this class. Daisuke stop answering the questions. You do know that there's a surveillance seal which will erase the questions you've answered after the time limit." A brown haired boy pouted at that.

The classroom was slowly emptied as the students left in small trickle. Naruto took his detention slip from Iruka who looked at him sadly. Shrugging he walked out of the class to see Shino, Hinata, Ino along with Shikamaru and Chōji waiting for him.

"Yo." He greeted them lazily. "Why aren't you in Uchiha-san's class already? You do know that Uchiha-san gets irritated when anyone comes late to her class right?"

"W-we are waiting for you N-Naruto-kun." Hinata replied poking her fingers shyly.

"I want a rematch." Shikamaru.

"I wanted to say sorry for how I treated you before." Ino

"Munch~Munch~" Chōji.

"I am here to make sure you will not evade and depart from Azula-sensei's class. Why? Because your attendance is low and I don't need a reason to look out for my comrade." Shino said tonelessly.

"Not planning to do so Shino." He replied. "There's only two minutes left. Hurry up. We'll talk in the class"

The group of six raced towards the class in moderate pace and reached just before the bell rang.

Aand cut! Sorry for the delay guys. Between job interviews and my end semester exams which ended just this morning I didn't have much time to type out all of this. So hopefully it came out alright. Completed half of this yesterday already and remaining I typed out in the afternoon. I want to post it as soon as possible so pardon if there are mistakes.

By the way I am not an expert in Japanese culture and traditions. And I am writing only for my pleasure. If you guys have a problem with this, the exit button is your friend. English isn't my first language and if you feel my grammar is bad. Do a favour by not leaving a useless review and wasting mine and your time. I am searching, fruitlessly I admit, for a beta. So guys who christen themselves to be a grammar Nazi feel free to volunteer. Don't leave guest reviews if it's flames it just shows you're a coward. And if you don't like these type of works as I said before the exit button is your friend. I wholeheartedly welcome constructive criticism though.

And few readers reviews or PM's are that 'There's nothing like this in manga or anime.' 'Your character doesn't seem like that in manga.' or something along these lines. If you are one of those please leave the site and read manga itself. This is fanfiction not original series.

As always read and review.