Start was OK, but it looks like the author doesn't really understand the source material all that well, and random AU due to that isn't what I'm looking for.

I had two issues with this chapter. First, while Iruka and Naruto were written really well, Kakashi seemed really OOC. Naruto asks him for jutsu all the time, and he never helps. Now all it takes is for Naruto to say "What do I need to work on" and suddenly he's bending over backward to help? This seems extremely sudden and is a bit jarring. And second, you just skipped over the important parts with Ino. They met up, went to get ramen, had a little teasing, and then it's suddenly later and she "enjoyed getting to know" him and is interested in more. But WHY? Beginnings are important. You can't just handwave it away like that. What did she find interesting? Why? I'm not generally one for detailed mushy romance stories, but you're trying to do some character building and yet still skipping the parts that build the character.

I didn't notice this in the first chapter or most of this one, but toward the end of this chapter there were some weird word usages, too. Examples (odd parts capitalized): "Complaining didn't get him anywhere ON the past", "the place always had cOstumers", "climate at THE Konoha was mild", "train ON your water walking", "spying on womAn", "turned to the Whole", "strOke a pose". Lots of wrong or extraneous words, and all in the last tenth of the chapter.

You fucked Sasuke up in this story, he is way too weak. Also too much focus on Shikamaru.

The only interesting thing about this ending was that someone else was a big name in the Akatsuki and not Tobi. All signs point to it being Kushina.

Ya know, leaving with Jiraiya isn't exactly a "new path". As a matter of fact, it the exact same path as canon. Maybe instead calling this story: "Naruto: A New Path", you should've just called out: "Naruto: The same story but with a couple small twists that make absolutely no difference in the end". I'll admit, it's a little wordy, but that's just a working title.

That was sickeningly predictable. I did enjoy some of the fight, but did you really have to do the valley of the end bit? Also, I somehow doubt your Naruto could've beaten Sasuke's cursed seal 2 form when it beat two tailed Naruto.

This was so predictable. Now, Kakashi having so much trouble with them is pathetic. You're making him look so damn weak. Lee and Gaara both went toe to toe with Kimimaro. I can tell you're trying, but it still sucks because of how predictable it is. I get what you want to happen here, I just wish you'd gone about it better. Hopefully in a way that didn't seem so forced.

Without the fox's chakra Naruto doesn't stand a chance. I'm assuming fewer people are going on the mission. Also, you've already set Naruto up to lose. With as whiney as he gets about his friends getting hurt he'll never be able to match Sasuke who wants to kill him. I really like your pure fox mode or whatever you called it, but a simple seal added as quickly as it was shouldn't have screwed up the fox's seal. We're talking about a sealing masterpiece created with the aid of the shinigami. The fact that it was permanently altered so simply is ridiculous.

I get not listing basic just like the substitution, but the sexy jutsu should've been in there. Also, when is ino going to learn some more of her family techniques. It feels like you're really missing out on some of her potential there. Taijutsu wise, I hope you don't have Ino being such a stiff fighter like Sakura. She's too flexible for that. And what happened to Anko training Naruto?

Did Naruto have no plan at all? You said he wanted to speak with the red death. Are you saying he just decided to take him on solo and hope for the best? Having more backup would ensure that he could've fought smart. And wasn't Naruto behind Gaara and in his sand? How did the red death get him?

I can't help but feel like Inoichi wouldn't act quite so harshly with Naruto. At the very least his wife would be far stricter with him for some funniest moments. I mean, Inoichi is a mental health specialist and your version of Naruto has a legitimate fear of being around adults. I know we all like writing about his obsession with his daughter, but I'd think his professionalism would win out. As I said though, even if it didn't, you could've gone the more humorous route and had his wife hit/ threaten him every time. Or, heaven forbid, Ino to turn on him lol. I just don't think that you should take a mental trauma so lightly.

Aside from that tiny detail, solid chapter. I'm growing more and more curious about what's going on with Choji though.

Neji seems a bit weak. He simply took more hits than I feel he should have. He's not someone who takes it easy because he's a prodigy, but someone who trains tirelessly as well.

There goes waiting till the mission was over before telling people they are together.

A decent chapter but I'm still reeling after the last couple.

I'm sorry. I know how this is going to sound, but are you a moron? You follow up last chapter's idiotic choice with another. In what world would Jiraiya leave Naruto alone with Orochimaru? Are you really that stupid? My daughter is tough for her age, doesn't mean I'd leave her to fight someone on par with me. Jiraiya isn't that stupid and knows full well Naruto's inability to successfully use the kyubi. Orochimaru also knows killing Naruto will lead to the akatsuki coming after him with fast more intensity.

Here's a thought, why not just get Naruto to take Tsunade out of the base? He'd stand a far bet chance against any sound ninja he came across than Orochimaru. That was just awful.