"I am so bad-ass," Naruto Uzumaki chuckled to himself as he leaned his recently purloined 'Scroll of Forbidden Jutsu' against a nearby tree. Sure he had taken advantage of the old Hokage's open door policy in regards to him, and had used his infamous 'Sexy no Jutsu' to distract (i.e. knock out with a nose-bleed) his village's powerful leader. But wasn't cheating to win one of the hallmarks of ninja life?

The Third Hokage may have been the 'Professor;' and 'God of Shinobi' but he was still male and a blond, curvy, and nude bombshell suddenly appearing out of nowhere would have gotten, and in fact had gotten, the better of many before him.

The fact that the twelve year old blond haired, blue eyed, whiskered, and orange clad boy could transform in an instant into an eighteen year old porn star was just one of the many quirks of Naruto.

Now he had a few hours until his ninja instructor, the chunin Mizuki, came to look for him. Naruto chuckled at that, he had been given five hours to plan and execute his Academy Graduation Make-Up Test and he had gone and finished it in fifty four minutes.

"Four hours, six minutes of Happy Fun Jutsu Scroll Time," Naruto laughed and dropped to the ground cross-legged. He pulled the scroll onto his lap and opened it slowly, almost reverently, eagerly awaiting techniques so powerful as to be considered forbidden. This was just what he needed in his quest to become Hokage and be recognized by everyone.

He gazed with wide eyes at the first jutsu and swore loudly.

"Ah, crap! Shadow Clones? Why does it always have to be Clones? I suck at this technique! There has to be something better than this." He pulled more of the scroll open and looked at the following jutus with equal disdain. "Shadow Shuriken Clones. Exploding Clones…hmmm, maybe. Crap, no. It needs Shadow Clones to work. Double crap. Isn't there anything useful in this thing?"

He dropped the scroll and let it roll along the ground, his eyes low in disappointment.

Those eyes turned to wonder when he saw a storage seal with an inscription of a yin yang symbol around it. He slowly read the text next to the seal.

"cape of shadows and heart of light, sealed into the Forbidden Scroll by the First Hokage. Artifacts of the First World. Inscribed in an ancient dialect that translates to 'only one with light in his heart and darkness in his path may call and use these items'. Chakra readings of the artifacts are beyond comprehension."

The young blond's eyes regained their sparkle.

"Now this is what I'm talking about. Something of great power just waiting for someone like me. and with my mask hiding my pain" Naruto said to himself saddly. His mind briefly flashed to the looks of hate that the villagers constantly fixed him with, but let it go. He knew that someday those looks would change. When he became Hokage they would respect him because he would give them leadership, guidance, and protection.

Maybe this sealed artifact would be the first step.

Bringing his hands together, molding Physical and Spiritual Energy together to form Chakra, the blond gathered as much energy as he could, then touched his hand to the seal.

"Release!"

There was a bright flash of light and a puff of smoke, and then sitting before Naruto was a dark purple cloak that looked like it was shadows itself and a heart made of gold.

Cautiously he reached his hands out to grave the cloak and heart, but when his fingers came into contact with them he felt a jolt run through him. For a moment he thought someone was watching him, looking into his very soul, but the feeling passed and he graved them.

NO! A voice screamed in his head, DON'T PUT THAT ON! IT WILL KILL ME!

But it was too late, and the young ninja's put the cloak on and the heart flew into his chest.

Instantly darkness claimed him.

O = O = O =O = O

Naruto awoke he looked around to see that half of the place he was in looked like it was out of a horror movie with a dark first creepier mountain and it was dark and night. the other was the opposite it was as if he was in a utopia with the building looked like gold and the ground was cloud and it was really sunny.

Climbing to his feet he called out, "Hello? Anyone there?"

He was answered with a feral roar of pain, scarring him to the bone. He almost bolted, but felt compelled by forced he didn't understand to go towards it. as he walked in between the darkness and light, the roars still ringing in his ears, he saw powerful lights coming from in front of him.

He saw two beings, each pouring power into a cage of some kind. A massive barred gate held closed by a small paper seal was being flooded with energy, and beyond it something trembled in pain and fear.

Suddenly the power stopped, and as one the two beings turned to look at him. Each was beautiful and held a stance of confidence that left his jaw hanging.

It was the one that looked like a floating ship, the spoke first "So, you're the one to find the Heart and claok. I never thought it would be the jailor of one of the creatures that almost destroyed Earth back in our time. Things must be changing out there. Well, don't just stand there with your jaw on the floor. Come over here and say hi."

Numbly, Naruto stumbled over. The odd woman on the front that looked like an angel, and the fact that they were both smiling comfortingly at him disturbed him. Only the Hokage and the Ichiraku family that ran his favorite ramen stand had ever looked at him in that way.

Warily he asked, "Who or what are you beings? Where are we? What are you doing to…whatever is over there?"

"Little Q and A, huh kid," the one that looked like a giant purple dinasour said.

"We are the monarchs of darkness and light, Naruto. As for where we are…we're inside your mind."

Naruto blinked, and blinked again.

"My mind is weird" he deadpanned.

"Not your fault," said monarch of darkness. "It's because of that monster held back by the seal over there." She pointed one slender hand/wing at the cage to see what she was talking about.

A vulpine creature, snarling in rage and pain, with…

1...2…3…4…5…6…7…8….9…

Nine tails…

"Kyubi no Kitsune," he gasped softly, all the horror stories from the Academy flooding back to him. Then it came together. "The Kyubi is in my mind…oh god no…that's why they hate me…I'm the one…killed all those people…"

"You are not the fox. You are Naruto Uzumaki. You're a strong young man that has kept this thing locked away for your whole life. You have stood in the path of True Evil and still have the capacity to forgive, and to care for others. That's why you could claim the our powers, because you are a worthy person." darkness said, "I'd like to offer you a choice. You can end your curse, and the fox. Take up our powers, the Heart of light and cloak of darkness, and ability to rule dark and light creatures and use them to form anything and use them to create other elements like dark water or light flame. You'll know what to do."

they took up said object and held them out to naruto. Naruto hesitated, but slowly wrapped his hand around them, accepting their offer. He felt warmth through his body as knowledge slowly entered his mind. It was only a small taste, he knew, of more hidden away until he was ready for it. But for now it was more than enough.

he started to stand, and standing tall he marched up to the fox's cage.

"Time to finish what the Fourth Hokage started, you basterd," Naruto said with authority. "heart of light and cloak of darkness i call to you "

I WIILL NOT ALOW IT! The Kyubi roared, YOU CAN NOT DESTROY ME YOU IMPOTENT LITTLE MONKEY!

"Tough shit," Naruto answered as the the cloak and heart glowed and he with the monarchs shot a beam of power at the beast.

Even as Naruto howled in pain energy shot out from the objects, as well as the 2 beings with him. The blast was massive, and as Naruto focused past the white faze of energy he saw that the fox was indeed dyeing, but wore a vicious smile.

I MAY DIE, BUT I WILL COME BACK AND DISTROY YOU LORD OF DARKNESS LIGHT AND TWILIGHT!

Behind Naruto the beings grunted out, "Stop monologing and go back to Hell, you overgrown plushy!"

The demon fox gave one last roar, and with a blaze of white light everything vanished.

Naruto opened his eyes and found the cage long gone.

"Big difference, huh Naruto?"

The young ninja turned and saw the monarchs there but as if the are cracking. Still posessing timeless beauty, but also showing older eyes.  They came forward with a book that looked to be the same thickness as the forbidden scroll. Is all together rolled up.

"The fox did try and kill you just now," she said softly, "but the cloak and heart intervened. "

"You will have help," darkness. "The other monarchs gave you the ability to call all other beings and we gave you all elements in the form of darkness or light. And with both dark and light together you can use twilight. And the book shall teach you has to control you power"

"good luck naruto and enjoy the wings" they both said.

The blond started fading out but managed, "Wait, what wings? I have more questions. I don't…"

And he was gone.

2 figure slowly came out of nothingness and smiled at the spot where the young ninja had stood.

"You can come with us, you know," Will said to the tall blond man in the flame edged white coat. "There can be a place in the after world for you."

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namekaze, and his wife kushina uzumaki, laughed, "No. I think I'll stick around. My son may need me someday. Besides, all I am is a construct within the seal. For now I'll stay and make sure the chakra you purified by destroying the Kyubi blends properly with his chakra system." He laughed again.

"That's what monarchs do," they said smiling before disappearing.

O = O = O =O = O

"Naruto. Naruto, wake up."

The blond slowly regained awareness and found his Academy instructor, Umino Iruka, crouched next to him. The look of worry on his teacher almost brought a smile to his face, but then he remembered that he was a monarch now, and all that had transpired to make him one.

" What happened? Did this have something to do with you stealing the Forbidden Scroll?"

Naruto shook his head violently, "No! It was the heart cloak and gauntlets. they were in the scroll, but it wasn't the scroll itself."

The young teacher saw that Naruto was rambling and on the verge of panic. He placed a calming hand on Naruto's shoulder and started quietly, "All right, start at the beginning. Why did you take the Forbidden Scroll in the first place?"

Naruto took a deep breath, "I was taking the makeup exam. When I got out here I started going…"

Iruka interrupted, "What makeup exam?"

Before Naruto could answer a voice interrupted from the branches above, "I see you found the little idiot first, Iruka. That's almost too bad. Quickly Naruto, toss me the Scroll!"

A look of understanding crossed the teacher's face, "Is that what all this is about Mizuki?" He turned to Naruto and ordered, "No matter what happens do NOT give up that scroll. Even if it costs you your life."

The boys eyes widened at that, but he grabbed on tightly to the large scroll, "What is going on here?"

"Naruto," Mizuki called out, an evil grin on his face, "Give me the Scroll and I'll tell you a secret."

"What secret?"

"The one you've always wanted to know. The reason all the villagers hate you. The reason even Iruka hates you."

Naruto didn't respond, but Iruka cried out, "No Mizuki, you know the law! We are forbidden from talking about that!"

But Mizuki laughed and continued, "YOU ARE THE KYUBI NO KITSUNE REBORN!"

There was a heavy silence after that, both chunin expecting a bad reaction from their student, one with sadness and the other with glee. They were not expecting Naruto to answer as if this was a class.

"Um…actually that's not true. It was sealed in me. And it's not there anymore; we killed it before you two showed up."

Iruka was shocked, but before he could ask what his student meant Mizuki took advantage of the distraction. The silver haired chunin saw that Naruto was not about to give up the Forbidden Scroll and threw a large fuma shuriken at him, intending to end the demon-boy's life.

he did not anticipate Iruka throwing himself in front of the attack, taking the shuriken strike in the back of his armored vest.

Naruto looked up at Iruka who was doubled over in front of him, a look of pain etched across his face from the large metal weapon sticking out his back. His eyes widened in horror as the teacher coughed, letting a small bit of blood out as he did.

"Run," Iruka gasped, "get out of here. I'll buy you some time."

Naruto could only nod. he quickly shook hemself out of it and into action and bolted for the tree line, tying the scroll across heis back as she did. His only intent was to get away. Any though of graduating, of becoming Hokage, or even the dead Kyubi fled his mind as he fled the clearing.

After a few minutes however he slowed down and began cursing herself. This was wrong. Iruka was perhaps the only teacher at the Ninja Academy that had ever really tried to teach him anything. He had given him food, showed him compassion, and had even taken a lethal blow for him.

And he had left him injured to fight against another ninja who was unharmed and fresh. It went against everything Iruka had taught him, that the strength of Konoha was not its individual ninja, but its strong teamwork.

he thought of the Ichiraku's working together in their small kitchen to create their delicious ramen. he remembered the Hokage speaking to his class about the 'Will of Fire', the power to carry on in the face of adversity for the sake of those around you. he looked back into the woods and realized that Umino Iruka was more than a teacher, he was a brother.

"Never," Naruto whispered to himself. "Never again will I abandon a brother in need." he reversed his direction and charged back towards the confrontation, knowing that this new idea was now firmly a part of his ninja way, his Nindo.

he chanted it to herself as she ran, "I will never give up. I will never abandon a comrade. I will protect the innocent." he then quietly added, "I will never betray the faith of the monarchs."

he heard a clash up ahead, and voices, and slowed down so that he could approach undetected. What he heard made him stop short however. Iruka was on the ground, obviously injured further, and Mizuki stood over him, a kunai in hand and ready to strike.

Iruka spoke softly, "You're right, Mizuki. I do hate the Fox for killing my parents." Naruto sucked in air at this admission, tears welling in his eyes, but Iruka continued, "But Naruto is not the Fox. he is the number one knucklehead ninja of Konoha, and my most precious student."

Naruto felt warm, as warm as when darkness inspired him inside his mindscape. But that warmth turned to cold dread as he saw Mizuki ready himself to kill the downed Iruka.

"No," whispered Naruto as power welled up within him.

Mizuki stopped as the clearing was flooded with a darkness and a wave of power. He looked back as saw a form step forward out of the light as it faded away.

it was naruto with the cloak on his back heart in his chest gauntlets on in twilight mode sword and dagger on his hips. and silver black and white wings coming from his back.

But it was the blue eyes that seemed to spark in the night that drew attention the most. They were eyes flooded with righteous anger. then cards planets stars and consultations apeared around him.

"You will not touch him," the boy growled out. "And if you try, I Will Kill You!"

"like you can stop me. but you can't stop me," Mizuki answered and threw his kunai at him, intent and ending his life with one hit. But before it got halfway to the boy he raised one hand and a card of a lighting bolt apeared and shot a white bolt at the steel weapon, knocking it away with a snap and a crack of thunder.

Mizuki was looking right at the boy when he attacked, so he found himself flash blinded by the lightning. Before his vision could clear he felt himself grabbed and picked up.

And he kept being raised up.

When his eyes cleared he looked to see the blond boy holding him at arms length, his wings a flapping. He looked down and saw that he was a good two hundred feet off the ground.

He went to attack, knowing that if he did it right he would survive the fall, but before he could strike he simply let go.

He started righting himself almost immediately, but he felt a tingle at the back of his neck and looked to see the boy flying along side of him, his hand holding the sword of light swinging it. He dodged in mid air, but it didn't have to hit him. light arced, impacting with his body, burning his skin and tensing his muscles so that when he did hit it was with no ninja skill.

He did not get up.

Iruka looked up at the hovering boy, hanging like an avenging angel in mid air. He slowly worked his way forward, grunting against the pain, and suddenly found himself in his arms. he eased him back to the tree he had been leaning against and set him down.

"Are you all right, Iruka-sensei?"

He looked at the boy, surprised that he knew his name. But then he saw his deep blue eyes, the faint whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks, and recognized as naruto.

"Naruto?" The boy nodded and he continued, "Is this another Jutsu of yours?"

he smiled, "Nope, this is my power."

Iruka wondered at this cryptic response, and then turned to look at his downed former friend and co-worker, "Is he…"

Naruto answered, "No. But I really wouldn't want to be him in the morning."

The ninja teacher nodded softly and then looked back at his student. he had taken irukas habd and put it on his chest were his heart was. his eyes closed. Then in another flash of light iruka was healed.

"I think you have a lot of explaining to do, Naruto," Iruka said with a sigh, "but first come here and close your eyes."

Naruto sat by his instructor and did as he asked. he felt something hard, but covered with cloth placed on his forehead.

"You can open your eyes now," Iruka said softly. Naruto did so and saw that something important was missing from his teacher. The headband with the simple metal plate etched with a leaf that was the symbol of any Konoha ninja was missing. he reached up and touched what Iruka had tied to his head. His fingers traced the leaf pattern and he looked at him in wonder.

"Why? You said that only real ninja could wear this forehead protector."

The chunin laughed and scratched at the scar running across his nose, "So I did. That must mean you've graduated Naruto. Because you rescued a fellow Leaf Ninja and defeated a threat to village security, going above and beyond the call of a cadet, I now name you, Naruto Uzumaki a genin of the Village Hidden in the Leaves."

Naruto let out a whoop of joy and flipped into the air, forgetting for a moment that he didn't know how to use his wings landing on his back. Iruka laughed at his antics, and the young blond soon joined him. After a long time they quieted down and Iruka smiled.

"Now, Naruto, what was that about the Kyubi being dead?"

Suddenly a voice came from the woods, "That is something I would like to know as well."

The Hokage stepped into view, accompanied by two masked ANBU ninja. He lit his old pipe quietly as the ANBU took Mizuki away and turned to Naruto, "So, will you tell us?"

Naruto sat up, and thought for a moment. then explained every thing and the past of monarchs

"sorry to say naruto but we need to tell the council about this for now go home and go to bed we will have the meeting and time we have the team's tomorrow and be there naruto" stated the third as they all left.

til next chapter