I'm not going to make it…

Naruto walked quietly through the streets of Kohona as light rain fell. He sighed to himself as he stood, drenched, in front of his new apartment building that was built recently. The building stood before him in a blaze. Naruto pulled his orange and black jump suit closer around him and turned towards the main street as the rain started to really pick up. While walking he started to think about all that has happened this past year. Finally, he was able to walk the streets without being looked down upon. He smirked to himself, one step closer to becoming Hokage.

"Naruto," Came a voice from one of the buildings. Naruto turned his head to see Kakashi leaning against the door frame of a small tea shop. "We need to talk."

"What about?" Naruto asked as he approached him. Kakashi moved to allow Naruto to enter the small tea shop. When he entered he noticed some familiar faces. Shikamaru and Lee sat next to each other at a round table along with Guy. Kakashi motioned for him to sit which he did.

"Naruto," Kakashi began as he sat down at one of the open seats. "I need to know right now how far will you go to protect this village?"

"All you have to do is ask," Naruto said as he looked at him with steel blue eyes. "I will do whatever it takes to protect this village."

"Good to know," Kakashi said with an eye smile. "From here on out you three have perished in that fire."

"Wait!" Naruto said as stood up. "You started that fire?"

"Yes," Kakashi deadpan.

"Why would you do that!" Naruto was pissed. Kakashi waved him off as he turned towards the others.

"Shikamaru you guys will be leaving for three years," Kakashi said as he pulled out a large map. "You will be heading here, across the ocean."

"WAIT!" Naruto yelled as he slammed his fist on the table. "Why are we leaving?"

"Naruto," Kakashi said as he looked over at him. "We know what Madara wants. With him thinking that you've died in the fire, they will have to postpone their plans till the Kyubi is born again. That will give us a few years of peace and give Kohona time to rebuild our army so we will be ready for them. "

"You will not be going on some vacation either, "Guy said with unseen calmness. "You will be training on each of your strengths and in a new style."

"With who?" Naruto asked as he looked at the two older Jonnin.

"There you will seek out this man," Kakashi handed him a picture of an older looking man with wild black hair and long black beard. "He is going to teach you western fighting. You will become masters of three different styles so you can bring it back here."

"Like what exactly can he teach us that you guys can't?" Lee asked.

"For starters," Guy said turning to the mini clone with a smile. "They have abilities that we have yet to see, so think of all the Taijutsu you can add to your arsenal. You will be even greater than I!"

"Yes!" Lee yelled as he raised his hand in the air.

"How long will we be gone again?" Shikamaru asked as he looked crossly over at Kakashi.

"Three years," Kakashi said. "Then you will return and we will take the offensive against Madara."

"Fine," Naruto said as he took a seat. "How do we get there?"

"You will all be traveling by foot till you guys are out of fire country," Guy explained. "Then you can use summons to travel faster."

"When do we leave?" Shikamaru asked as he leaned back in his chair.

"Now," Kakashi said as he put three scrolls on the table. "These are your supplies that we gathered for you."

"So what about our friends and families?" Naruto asked looking up at Kakashi. "What will you tell them?"

"Naruto for this to work everyone must believe you three have died," Kakashi said. "I will need each of Headbands for proof of your death, but they will be returned once you return."

"This just feels unreal," Naruto said as he looked over at the others who were thinking the same thing. "Why me? I finally get recognized by the village, find out a girl likes me and now I have to die?"

"Yup," Kakashi said giving him an eye smile. "Now I need you guys to get moving."

Naruto stood and placed his forehead protector on the table. He looked up at Shikamaru who seemed a bit misty eyed as he placed his on the table as well. They turned to see Lee and Guy hugging and crying like babies. Naruto looked over at Kakashi who put a hand on his shoulder. Kakashi picked up their headbands from the table and put them in his jacket pocket.

"Naruto his name is Master Shin," Kakashi said as he turned back to the boy. Naruto wasn't expecting it but Kakashi gave him a quick hug and an eye smile. "You will need to absorb everything he is willing to teach you. When you come back you will be ready. Good luck."

"Yes sensei," Naruto said dropping his head. Kakashi sighed and leaned down next to him.

"I will tell her to wait," Kakashi said with an eye smile causing Naruto to smirk. "Now you guys best be leaving."

"Yes," Naruto said with a new look in his eyes. "We will be back. Just hold up your end."

Naruto, Lee, and Shikamaru arrived at the position on the map in a week's travel time. They arrived at a beach where a lone figure stood before them. He was a short man with crazy black hair and a long black beard. He was wearing bright yellow robes with a black dragon that wrapped around him. He had a large sword strapped to his side that looked like a pirate's cutlass. He looked up at the approaching three and smirked.

"So when I was asked to take in three apprentices I was hoping for people with a bit more potential," Master Shin said with a raspy voice. "But no little Kakashi has to send me the Lazy, the Dope, and the Spaz."

"Hey take that back!" Naruto yelled with a raised fist as Shikamaru raised his eyebrow.

"How do you know about us?" Shikamaru asked as he crossed his arms.

"I get it I'm the spaz!" Lee shouted as he arm pumped, as the other sweat dropped.

"Now we have lots to do," Master Shin said after he recovered. "Follow me to meet the other masters."

"What are we going to be learning here?" Naruto asked as he followed Master Shin.

"Each of you will be learning something different," Master Shin said with a smirk as the three gawked. "But first we will be meeting my brothers."

"We will see in time," Master Shin said as he continued to walk. Naruto and the others followed quietly. They approached a small compound after an hour of silent walking. When they were meet by two older men in elegant robes. One of the figures stepped forward and offered a kind smile. He was short with grey robes and blonde hair. He had blonde hair that was pulled into a pony tail that reached the middle of his back. He was younger looking than Master Shin, and had dark sunglasses over his eyes.

"Welcome," He said with a smirk. "I am Master Shin's brother. You will call me Reaper. I will be teaching The Lazy one I guess."

"So that means the Green Spaz will be mine huh?" Said a gruff voice from the second man. The second man was a giant. He stood towering over his counterpart. He had dark blue robes and what looked like a giant hammer on his back. His black hair had was done in a huge Mohawk. He had tan skin and a scar on his left check. He smirked down at Lee who was reading his new sensi.

"Yup and we need him to be able to return alive!" Master Shin said as he looked the man. "Spaz meet my youngest brother Cho. Now say good bye to your friends. We will be doing separate training for the first two years. Then on the last year we will come back here and continue our training together."

"Where are we going?" Shikamaru asked.

"We will be heading to a small temple of my fellow Assassins," Reaper answered. "There you will be taught like an assassin."

"And Spaz and I will be heading to the mountains," Said Cho. "There we will forge his new weapon and begin his battle training."

"What is battle training?" Lee asked.

"Well you were picked to come because you have a problem with Chakra correct?" Master Shin asked as Lee nodded. "So you have become quite adapt in hand to hand combat. With Cho he will teach you his art of fighting which we've dubbed Battle Training. After this, lets just say you wont be needing Chakra at all."

"Really," Lee said looking at the tall man with stars in his eyes.

"But no other apprentice has been able to survive this training," Master Shin said as everyone face faulted.

"What will I be learning Master Shin?" Naruto asked as he recovered first.

"Oh I can't tell you that," Master Shin said with a smirk.