*Hello, before reading this story I'd like to inform all you wonderful readers that this story is litered with grammar and spelling mistakes. The story is old afterall, and I am working on fixing this. Also, many characters including (mainly) Naruto may seem OC in terms of skill. This is temporary, read past chapter 4.

In His Own Right:

Chapter One:

He was an odd one, an underdog she admitted. Which was ironic, to say the least, especially coming from such an impassive shell such as Izumi. But yes he was rather different. Him being the container of the nine tailed ju aside, this boy... This blond boy was something else.

She watched him intently from the day he was born, by strict orders of the council, always vigilant surveying and assessing the boy determining if said child was any threat to the well-being of the village.

Slowly but surely she studied him, beginning at the age of 13 she studied and evaluated his personality, watching him react with society, his team; which oddly enough consisted of her younger brother.

He was sloppy, a wreck, careless, indecisive at some points, a menace. He lacked talent, he was improper, outspoken, loud, rash and idiotic. He was a total mess she noted, and there was no doubt in her mind that at this point the boy's only threat was his untrained mouth.

She also noted his dismay, and how the villagers treated the blond with such distaste. It was painstaking to watch the boy be treated with such prejudice for something that was self-determined the day of his birth. It was wrong to treat the child a certain because of something he had no control of. In was wrong to make someone who had nothing, and was alone feel so terrible. She felt sympathy, wishing the best and even at some points wishing to hug the boy.

Despite all of this, despite the unfair treatment, despite the child growing up with no parents, despite his lack of talent and despite him being dead last. The boy had a drive... A drive that fueled the engines of his desires.

She knew him well, and it was apparent that this boy contained not only the nine tailed fox beast but a fire that burned with the will of any true Shinobi. She was amazed by his resolve, his will, and perseverance, his ability to overcome. His strong-willed and gentle nature, his ability to convert people's ideology through mere words. His love and interaction with his teammates. -He changed her brother even she could see that- She saw it all, it was AMAZING...all traits of a truly honorable ninja.

Naruto Uzumaki...

Izumi watched intently as the young sun-kissed haired genin fell, his battle with the sand genin with blood red hair ending. A harsh jab sealing his victory.

The Anbu captain with long jet black hair neatly fixed into a ponytail gazed on, her face covered in the Crimson red bodily fluid known as blood. Not her blood by all means, no.

...Was spectacular.

*Present*

Naruto's feet landed gracefully on the grassy moist floor of the training ground. The seventeen-year-old practicing the effectiveness of his ninjutsu, the Rasenshuriken. And if the magnificent crater was anything to judge by it was defiantly effective.

The young jounin achieving said promotion little under six months prior, assessed the damage with a small grin. It was perfect, and when combined with natural energy via sage mode said attack's effectiveness and usability in battle would increase tenfold. He smirked and scratched his head dumbly, the whole entire training grounds destroyed. Baa-chan wouldn't be to0 pleased to learn that he did it again. Despite the fact that it wasn't that huge of an issue.

He shrugged it off as he gazed up at the fading blue sky. It was getting dark and he should probably get home. Or maybe he could stop by the hospital to greet Sakura for a second.

He quickly dismissed that thought, she was probably super busy with paperwork or some sort of surgery. Seeing Sasuke was defiantly out of the question, he didn't dare step into the Uchiha compound.

And so the sun bleached haired Shinobi decided it would be in his best interest to head home.

A shiver ran down his spine. He didn't exactly know why but for a split second it felt as if someone was watching him. He shrugged the thought off, he was probably simply just tired.

He yawned before grabbing his bag and quickly stretching. He took off performing the body flicker technique disappearing in a puff of smoke and landing neatly on a roof a small distance away from his apartment. The young shinobi dropped to the ground busy streets of the evening city.

He decided to walk the rest of the way take in the scenery of the village he came to love. He walked his face full of joy and glee.

Many villagers greeting him politely as he passed by.

"Good afternoon, Naruto", one villager greeted him. He smiled at the man responding with a greeting if his own. He's come to gain the trust of the villagers and it's inhabitance since the years coming up. Team seven making a name for themselves throughout the shinobi world, with their huge achievements which consisted of capturing Kabuto, to killing wanted members of the Akatsuki organization.

Naruto took a left turn from the main road and headed down his less than busy street. Actually, if you think about it, it was actually pretty empty. Which wasn't weird at all, until his keen eyes picked up on very fast movement from their corners. He turned towards the shadows of which he knew he saw movement. And there it was again, the shiver. The feeling of being watched.

He continued to walk, wishing that he was just being super paranoid. His apartment mere feet away. He knew better to trust his instincts, and his instincts were telling him someone or something was watching him.

"Just to be safe.",

The shinobi quickly activated his natural chakra, locating the position of said thing.

His toad-like eyes narrowed he picked up on multiple signatures, but what stood out the most was the fact that someone was trying to keep theirs concealed.

If that were true then that also made his latter thoughts also true.

A dark figure took to the sky dashing on the rooftops full speed. Naruto's hypothesis seemed to be correct, someone had indeed been spying on him. He took to the rooftops dashing towards the figure, giving chase.

"Hey, stop!", he called.

He was curious as to what business this person had with him. It was rather suspicious, who the hell was this guy.

He caught up with the figure, clad in Anbu uniform and a mask.

They still didn't trust him.

Both ran parallel from each other jumping from the rooftops at the same pace.

"I think you have some explaining to do.", he growled.

The Anbu didn't respond with words but, a swift and dead accurate kunai aimed for Naruto's face. He dodged the metal as it grazed the hair on his side, barely missing the side of his face.

This was serious, here he was challenging an Anbu agent. The best of the best. Rational thought told him to stop and head back home, but something else.. Curiosity possibly... Told him to keep chase and find out; who, what, and why.

Naruto withdrew two kunai from his pouch and shot them in the Anbu's direction. It quickly withdrew its katana deflecting the weapons before stopping on a roof opposite Naruto.

He stopped too, starring the shinobi down.

"Alright, then.", Naruto began towards the Anbu.

"What business exactly do you have spying on me today?",

His eyes rolled up and down the Anbu agent taking his its appearance. From what he could tell the figure was a slender tall female with long flowing jet black hair. Her facial features completely covered by that of her Anbu mask.

Naruto made the first move his kunai slashing at the female Anbu, she slid back successfully avoiding his attack. This would be a fight without ninjutsu, else he wanted to damage the village and get into any more trouble than he probably already was.

She retaliated with her katana quickly slashing at Naruto who blocked her barrage of attacks with his kunai, before sending a kick to the shinobi's chest. She fell back performing a back flip before recovering.

Naruto rushed her with a barrage of swift and carefully thrown fists. None of which actually connecting with the girl, and he soon found his arm being caught by the girl.

"Shit.", he muttered as she slammed him into the hard concrete of the rooftop. Katana dangerously close to his face, as her foot forcefully pinned his back to the ground.

"I expected more from a member of team seven.", she spoke for the first time. The feminine voice spoke sending shivers down Naruto's spine. He was holding back of course.

"Bastard, you have no idea what you're talking about.",

He recognized it..from somewhere but he just couldn't figure it out.

Naruto pushed up catching the female off guard, his physical strength proving to be superior to that of hers as he knocked her back. The Kunochi recovering instantly but Naruto was fast on her Kunai in hand.

"Now let's see who's under that mask!",

He swiped his weapon in an attempt to remove the mask. But the female shinobi was quick and caught his wrist, she instantly sent a kick into his stomach causing him to be pushed inches backward.

He was quick on his feet. But as soon as he recovered he was met by a katana stabbing straight into his arm. He felt blood spill from his open wound.

She was close, close enough.

He quickly grabbed at the mask, tugging at it with lightning swift speed. He removed it.

"Was it that hard to realize, are you satisfied now?", she spoke removing the weapon from his arm and backing away from the bleeding shinobi. Her face unfazed by the removal of the mask.

He held onto his wounded arm narrowing his eyes.

She was...just...stunning. Her face was pale and seemed to be flawless, her charcoal black eyes complimented her black hair.

He knew her from somewhere, but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it.

"You must not recognize me, hm. Oh well, this was pointless then.", he remained still memorized, as she disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Leaving a bleeding Naruto in the middle of the leaf village.

"Shit, what the hell.", Naruto inquired gazing at his bleeding arm.

"You're an idiot, you know that?",

"Yeah I know, I know.",

Naruto sat rather contently in Sakura's apartment living room. Luckily her shift had ended little under thirty minutes ago, or else he would have had to ran all the way towards the hospital while bleeding out.

"You don't just go around attacking random shinobi!", Sakura scolded Naruto, as she forced her green chakra into his arm.

"She could have killed you, hell you could have bled out, what were you thinking?", Naruto shook his head.

"I was just curious... Didn't I tell you she was spying on me?",

"No shit! That's what they do, that's their job! They're always watching us, that's just how it is!", she spat.

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Well now that you say it like that, it was kind of idiotic.",

"You're hopeless... Do you know how much trouble you could get in for getting in their way?", Said Sakura.

"But she was, absolutely beautiful, so I consider that a win in my book.",

Sakura shook her head obviously not wanting to press the conversation further.

He chuckled a bit rubbing the back of his head dumbly. "I wouldn't mind meeting her again actually.",

*If you enjoyed, please tell me.