Authors Note: Ya…I'm going to be working on this story as a side project. I just had this idea floating around in my head, so I decided to get it down. The fact that I can't figure out where to go with Path to Greatness might have played a role in that. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, I would be sitting on some beach in Hawaii and sipping lemonade.

Naruto panted in fatigue. He had just finished mastering the kage bunshin no jutsu. Not that he read the description for it. After all, descriptions were useless right? Naruto let his eyes slide over the scroll, trying to remember everything that he saw. Suddenly his eyes came to rest on something called elemental bloodlines.

"What's that?" Naruto read the instructions to open the scroll. When he sent chakra into the seal, a small scroll popped out that read "Elemental Guardians". "Well, looks interesting." Naruto opened the scroll. He quickly started reading it.

If you don't want to risk death, stop reading here. From now on you risk death just by reading this scroll. To this date, I am the only one to have succeeded in this task.

Naruto for once stopped and thought. If whoever wrote this scroll was the only one to have succeeded in whatever task he was talking about, it must be dangerous. By the same reasoning, it must be extremely rewarding. Naruto grinned and read on.

My name is Hashirama Senju. The Shodaime Hokage of Konoha. Years ago, I stumbled across a man sitting under a tree. Curious I asked him what he was doing. His answer was that he was waiting for me. He said that I had a remarkable future ahead of me and that he was there to give me the power that I would need for that future. At first I was skeptical, but when he beat me without any effort at all, I changed my mind. When asked what he wanted, he told me that he was there to give me the option of a test. Back then, I only had the affinity of water. It was after this test that I gained the affinities of earth and wood. Not knowing the results this test would have, I accepted that opportunity. The strange man told me to do some handseals. It was later that I learned that these handseals were for the summoning of the Elemental Guardians. Ninjas think that their affinities are determined at birth. Well, in part they are right. But they are also wrong. Your chakra affinities are determined by special nature spirits. These spirits are called the Elemental Guardians. They are omnipotent, knowing everything that is happening in the present moment. Some can even look into the past and future, seeing brief flashes of events that will happen. In all my travels and all my life, I have never run across any beings as powerful as they are. They embody the elements themselves. They determine whether they will give you the use of the element they embody. Now, do not think that all these elementals are good and kind-hearted, but most of them are. If you are pure of heart, you are in no danger from them, unless you take their test. I will not reveal the test, but I will say that if you do not have a strong will, you will not succeed. I was told the risks. Only one in one hundred will survive this test. All who do not pass are killed. If you do pass, The elemental will grant you their element to use and some of their power. I only took two tests, but I was told that if I wanted to, I could take more if I wanted to. At any time, I am able to summon them and take another test, but the odds of me passing each are almost non-existant. I am writing down the hand-seals so that any who do wish to take the test may. Beware those that are not pure of heart.

Naruto grinned when he finished reading. If he did this he'd be Hokage for sure. Naruto read the handseals and memorized them. When he was done he gathered up his strength and started gathering up chakra for the jutsu. Naruto quickly ran through the ten handseals for the jutsu and shouted "Summoning jutsu: Elemental Guardians!" There were ten puffs of smoke. When the smoke cleared it revealed four men, and three women.

The first man was wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt, white shoes, and white rimmed sunglasses. He also had blue eyes, and white hair.

The second man was wearing red anbu style pants, a red shirt with flames, and orange and red sandals. He had red hair, red eyes and was very tanned.

The third man had brown cargo pants, a light brown shirt, brown sandals, brown hair, and brown eyes.

The fourth was wearing black anbu style pants, a black muscle shirt, black combat boots, and a black bandana. He had black hair, and light grey eyes. He seemed to be shrouded in shadows.

The first woman was wearing a blue dress that went down to the ground and seemed to flow behind her. She had blue hair, and blue eyes.

The second woman was wearing dark yellow shorts, a white t-shirt, and yellow runners. She had yellow hair, and dark yellow eyes.

The third woman was wearing a light blue t-shirt, white pants, and white shoes. She had white hair, and blue eyes.

They all just stared at each other and Naruto. The first man was the first to break the silence. "Well…this is awkward…" he said with a sheepish grin. Naruto and the others just sweatdropped. The second woman just hit him in the back of the head. "Ow! What was that for Natsumi?" The second woman just looked at him in exasperation.

"What do you think? Stop acting like an idiot Katsurou." She growled out. Katsurou just looked at her in fear and nodded. The rest just shook their heads at the two's antics and turned to Naruto who was looking and laughing.

Finally the second man decided to speak up. "Hello. My name is Hotaka. The man in brown over there is Ken'ichi, and the man in the shadows is named Hiroshi. The woman in the dress is Tsubasa, while the woman with the white hair is Nanami. What is your name?" At this Natsumi stopped beating up Katsurou.

"His names Naruto." Katsurou spoke up. The others looked at him. He just grinned foolishly before saying "What? I gifted him with wind." The others just shook their heads in exasperation.

"Umm…what happens now?" Naruto asked.

Hiroshi was the one to speak up this time. "Well, considering that you summoned us, I expect you want to take the test." He stated. Naruto nodded his head at this. "Well, first of all, pick what elements you want to test you."

Naruto thought about this for a while before answering. "What element do I have currently?"

"Your element is Wind." Katsurou spoke up.

"What are the rest of the elements?"

"Well currently fire, lightning, earth, ice, wind, water, and shadow are here. The others are still sleeping." Hiroshi said.

"Could I take all of them?" Naruto asked.

"It would not be well advised. Keep in mind that you can always summon us again to take the other tests." Katsurou said.

Naruto thought for a bit more before answering. "Can I take the tests by water, ice, and fire?"

"Yes, you may." Tsubasa said. "Just come here." Naruto walked over to her, Nanami, and Hotaka. "Alright, close your eyes. We will test you now." As she said this, she put Naruto in a trance, and the three entered Naruto's memories. The three looked through Naruto's memories, from his birth, to the present. They couldn't help but feel sorry for all the pain and suffering he went through. Eventually they pulled out. Nanami was the first to speak up.

"For him to have gone through so much and turn out this way is nothing short of miraculous. His soul is pure. Why didn't you tell us about this before Katsurou?"

Katsurou sighed before speaking. "It wouldn't have done any good. You know we can't interfere with mortal affairs. No matter how aggravating it is…" Katsurou said the last part with a growl. He had picked Naruto to be a recipient of much of his element. The affinity he had was on par with the Ichibi, and yet the villagers of Konoha beat and abused Naruto due to him being the container of the Kyuubi. Pitiful.

"I think it's safe to say that he passed the test?" Hotaka asked. The other two nodded in agreement. "We better bring him out of his trance now. Tsubasa?" Tsubasa went over to Naruto and put her index finger on his forehead. Slowly Naruto's eyes opened.

"Did I pass?" Naruto asked sleepily.

"You passed Naruto." Katsurou said with a happy smile. Naruto grinned and started jumping around and shouting. "Not so fast Naruto. You still need to be gifted with the elements before it's done. Hotaka, if you would?" Hotaka nodded before going over to Naruto. Hotaka gave Naruto a reassuring smile before placing his hand on Naruto's head.

"From now on, fire will obey you. Have faith, for fire will never be extinguished. It is immortal, unconquerable, fierce. Yet it is also gentle, warm, and giving. Use it well." Hotaka's hand started glowing red and Naruto felt an intense warmth. "It is done. Tsubasa?" Tsubasa nodded and took Hotaka's position.

"I bless you with the control of water. Eternally flowing, never stopping. It is raging, unpredictable, but it is also gentle, life-giving." Her hand glowed blue and a sensation of peace came over Naruto. "Nanami?" Nanami walked over and took Tsubasa's place.

"Ice. Cold, deadly, yet also necessary. If there was no ice, the circle of life and death would become unbalanced. Use it well to defend those in need." Nanami's hand glowed blue and Naruto suddenly felt an intense cold like none he had felt before. "The ritual is complete. Use our powers well. Your chakra has been increased to that of the Ichibi, the least of the tailed beasts. Train and learn to use our powers to help those in need. Vanquish the darkness in the world." At this Ken'ichi, who had been mostly silent up until now spoke up.

"We now give you a task. Will you Naruto Uzumaki accept it?" Naruto thought for a moment before nodding. "Good. There is a upset in the balance of nature itself. A man who should not have been able to achieve immortality has. We task you with the responsibility of eliminating Madara Uchiha. If you can, kill the sannin named Orochimaru. He has been corrupting nature, though he has not yet achieved immortality. In return, we gift you with the control of earth." Ken'ichi walked over to Naruto who stood stock still in shock. "I gift you with the control of earth. Your heart is in the right place. Immovable, unbreaking. Just like the earth. Use it well." His hand glowed a dark brown, and Naruto felt suddenly invincible. "It is done. My gift to you has given you control over earth. If you summon us again, I can guarantee that the others will be up and wanting to meet you. Farewell Naruto Uzumaki." Ken'ichi disappeared, along with Nanami, Tsubasa, Hotaka, Natsumi, and Hiroshi.

Katsurou grinned at Naruto before walking up to him and kneeling in front of him. "Naruto, I want to let you know that I am proud of you. I can also say in the greatest confidence that your father is as well. We'll get him out of the shinigami's belly soon enough. He really was a genius you know. Anyways, I think it is time you learned why the villagers all hate you. You Naruto contain the Kyuubi no Yoko inside of you." Naruto looked stricken.

"So they're right, I am a demon." Naruto said. Katsurou sighed.

"Listen Naruto. If you seal a kunai in a scroll, does the scroll turn into a kunai?" Naruto shook his head no. "Well then, why would you be the Kyuubi?" Naruto's face gained a look of understanding. Katsurou smiled at Naruto. "Now, I want to give you a gift." Katsurou gave a sharp whistle. A sharp shriek came in reply. Seconds later, an eagle landed on Katsurou's head. Katsurou's face gained a look of annoyance while Naruto laughed at him. "Alright, alright already. Anyways Naruto, this is Chiaki. She is a very rare kind of eagle, called a wind eagle. She was just born five months ago. Eventually she will grow enough to be able to carry you. Consider this a belated birthday gift from me." Katsurou smiled at Naruto and handed Chiaki to him. Naruto looked at Chiaki. The feathers on her head were blue fading into white as you went further down her back, until they faded back into a mix of blue and white on her underbelly. Perfect camouflage for hunting from the sky. "I have to go now Naruto. Train hard. I would advise you focus on chakra control for now. I did not expect Ken'ichi to gift you with his power. I think he likes you! Haha!" Naruto smiled at this.

"Will I ever see you again?" He asked.

"I'm always with you. Just listen to the wind." As Katsurou said this, he slowly faded away with one last smile at Naruto.

"Huh?" Was the only response Naruto could think up. "Oh well, might as well get started."

And the ninja world was forever changed.

Authors Note: Well, that's it! Hope you enjoyed! Naruto will not get a special weapon in this fic. If he needs a weapon, he'll use kunai or something. So, see ya!