From Present to Future

Chapter 2

Being pulled inside his mindscape, what greeted Naruto was a vast landscape filled with lush green grass, a beautiful wooden house, having raised pavillions and yellow glazed rooftiles. Its a two-storey house with simple decoration and yellow & red colored walls. In front of the house, there sat (laid) in the grass the famous, kyuubi no kitsune or Kurama. For villagers its demon fox, for ninjas its Kyubi but for Naruto, the furry guy is his everything. His mother, his father, his brother and dare he say his sister. Yes the fox has been his every bit of a family Naruto ever craved for. Like a mother, he would nag all day about his food, his dressing. He would heal Naruto everytime he gets hurt. Like a father, the fox guides him, teach him lessons about both ninja and his ordinary life. Like a brother, lets just say, he is a total pain in his ass. He is cranky, sarcastic, sadistic and not to mention he just loves to piss Naruto off. Be it with his talks or pranks or sometimes, by merely just existing. But Naruto loves him to every bit. Now lets not say why the fox is like a sister to him. He doesn't want to be on the receiving end of a pissed off (probably on periods) kurama. (Sigh. Just like a sister).

Coming out of his thoughts, he looked at the fox with a calm and genuine smile.

"Kurama"

"Naruto" the fox returned.

Now grinning, Naruto went near the fox and touched his snot with his hand, rubbing it gently while asking, " Why do you think jiji called us? Its our day off. I can also sense other team sensei's nearing the Hokage Tower with their genins"

" Dont know. Maybe a mission, or a joint exercise. You know you could use that"

Naruto replied with a 'hn' before again rubbing the fox's ears, enjoying the 'purr' he got in return. He loved doing this. It calms him, his inner anxieties. His past has ruined his mind way too much. If it wasn't for his all-in-one family Kurama, his mental health would have long collapsed. His mindscape was once an old, neglected sewer, with greasy pipes running along. Dirty water filled the space (Naruto would say it was Kurama's pee) and a smell would linger around. That was his mental health. Neglected and on verge of collapsing. That is when Kurama came. At first he was too cold to him. Apart from 'unwillingly' healing him, the fox would never say or show anything kind to him. But he worked hard. He got punched, thrown, and even chakra blasted on his face (5 times, not that he is counting). But knowing he was not alone, knowing like him, the fox too has only ever been hated in his life, he felt happy and sad and determined. He was determined to befriend this old fox. So here they are. One purring furry fox and his jailer. He hate that word. One day, he promise, Konoha will acknowledge them as their own. He smiled at that thought. A genuine smile.

Back to present, Naruto bid goodbye to his tenant and is now already standing in front of Hokage's door. He looked surprised at first for not noticing his walk up here but soon shrug it. Meh, its normal. He looks back to see his teammate and sensei's shocked face. It took him a while to realise why. He was quiet. He was not loud, grinning, or being hyperactive. But that's not unusual. Well unusual in front of his team but in private he is like that. Quiet, perceptive and always in thoughts. Once again he shrugged. Blame it on his stupid no-sleep-only-train idea. He was brought back to reality by his sensei's voice.

"Naruto" His jonin sensei called, surprised seeing his loud genin being utterly quiet.

"Are you okay? "

"Hai sensei. Just sleepy. " Trying to play it off, Naruto replied with a tired grin. Without waiting for their reply, the genin turned about and opened the door to the Hokage's office. His team followed behind him, forgetting the matter for the time being. Naruto did looked tired and with his current state, he really looks like in need of sleep.

Entering the room, Naruto greeted his grandfather figure. " Good morning, jiji", a grin already taking its place. No matter what, the old Hokage is one of a dear person to our blonde ninja.

Hokage seeing his pseudo-grandson forgot about the impending paperwork and indulged himself in the chat with the almost 13 year old ninja.

"Morning Naruto-kun. I see you were training" He said pointing at Naruto's appearance.

"Hehe", grinned Naruto, scratching the back of his neck. The Hokage smiled fondly.

Taking a whiff out of his cigar pipe, he continued, " Take a seat. The others should be here soon too. I will explain everything when they come."

Naruto and others soon took their seats, waiting for others. Getting bored and sensing team 8 and 10 almost near Hokage tower, he relaxed but soon drifted off to light sleep, leaving it to Kurama to wake him up when everyone's here. Although not much but he really is tired from having attempting to pull off a B- rank jutsu all night.

Soon the members of team 8 and later team 9 entered the office. They too waited like team 7, promptly ignoring the snores from the shortest member of team 7. Now it was just team 10 that has yet to arrive. Few minutes later a knock was heard n there entered the parents of all the rookies and team 9. Entering Hiashi Hyuga, Shibi Aburame, Tsume Inuzuka, Yoshino Nara, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, Kizashi and Mebuki Haruno. Now many questions await. The 3 jonin senseis looked at each other and nodded, thinking to wait and see what the old 'god of shinobi' had in store for them. Meanwhile the older Ino-Shika-Cho trio exchanged glances seeing how only their kids have yet to arrive but didnt say much for they knew the reason for their tardiness. Especially when you have a Nara and Akimichi together, such things are bound to happen.

Half an hour later another knock was heard and thus entered Team 10 & their sensei Asuma Sarutobi. Coughing lightly, the young Sarutobi apologized for his lateness not bothering to give any explanation as everyone knew from the smell of barbeque in air that they have indeed come from eating the all-you-can eat barbeque.

Seeing everyone was there, the Hokage asked Sakura to wake up the sleeping ninja before stating his reason to gather everyone here. Having everyone's attention, Hokage continued, " I have gathered you all to discuss about the young genins future. Few days back, I received this artifact which said to have a very unique capability. To not let it fall under wrong hands, our spy decided to destroy it before any mishappenings occur but he was killed. Before dying he managed to delivered the artifact to us using one of his summons. Having tested that it is what it says, I want you all to make use of this orb to see konoha's future."

Interpreting what the Hokage meant, Shikaku Nara couldn't help but ask, " Are you implying Hokage sama that this orb can help us see future?"

"Yes" Replied the Hokage.

"And you want to see these genins' future? "

"Yes"