Before you partake in this story
This is a world shared by the Four Nations and Shinobi Country. As such, I've decided to make these two halves of the world relative in terms of strength as to be conducive to the story I want to tell. I will be doing power equalization. Chi is equivalent to Chakra, Aatar characters have tenketsu points, so on. This does not mean Avatar Characters, Bender of Non-Bender, are going to suddenly bust out Jutsu, or Naruto characters will Bend elements.
Four Nations: Fire Nation, Shu Jing...
(AG 96)
Piandao had decided to take a stroll. While he enjoyed his castle and spent most of his time there, it was nice to step out from time to time. Today, he journeyed to the lake where the island's waterfall fed into. There, he spotted a body washed up on the bank.
The swordmaster rushed over, seeing it was a boy who he proceeded to check over. While he determined this boy was merely unconscious rather than dead, he also took in all his features. This boy looked a few years older than Prince Zuko had been when Piandao trained him.
He also had three whisker birthmarks on each cheek. While those alone weren't peculiar, his yellow hair and current attire would be seen as a rarity. There were not something you saw in the Four Nations, though Shinobi Country was a different story.
Piandao scooped the boy into his arms. "This boy is uninjured and merely needs a place to rest."
Piandao's Castle: Evening…
Naruto awoke to the gentler sounds of nature, a far cry from that storm over the ocean he'd fallen into. As he sat up, the blond noticed somebody sitting next to his bed. It was an old man who kind of carried himself like Hiruzen, though he wasn't worn down.
"Ah, you are awake." The old man's tone was pleased.
Naruto's eyes shifted to look around. "Where am I?"
"You are within my castle, on the island of Shu Jin." The old man replied.
"Castle?" Naruto questioned.
"I can assume where your mind is, though I'm no royalty." The old man replied. "My name is Piandao, and this is the home I managed to buy. Now, who might you be?"
The blond managed to sit up. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki."
Piandao shifted forward in his seat slightly. "You carry the last name Uzumaki?"
"It's what I was told, why?" Naruto questioned.
Rather than answer, Piandao leaned back. "Naruto, how is it you ended up on Shu Jin?"
"I spread some of my blood on this rusted plaque imprinted with a white lotus symbol." Naruto answered, deciding to start there rather than go into all the details. "After pressing my hand to it, I was suddenly plummeting into some ocean during a storm."
"You must have then flowed with the water into that river and down the waterfall where I found you." Piandao reasoned. "Those old seals would falter without an Uzumaki to maintain them. It's a miracle one worked at all, even though it missed the mark."
"Since you found and brought me here, thanks." Naruto stated genuinely.
"No need to mention it." Piandao stood. "Anyways, we can talk more at a later time." He walked to the doorway. "For now, no matter your circumstance, know you are safe with the White Lotus and welcome to stay here as my guest."
Naruto was stunned to hear that and quickly looked to Piandao, only to see he'd left the room. Despite the symbol of a white lotus being featured, as well as their name spelled within that scroll, Naruto felt they weren't common knowledge as a group. As such, he felt a little safer.
"Even after our contract took effect, you still nearly died."
"Kurama?" Naruto thought.
"With our contract in place, I can communicate with you like this."
"How long was I out?" Naruto questioned.
"In total, a little under three days. If you hadn't washed up on that bank, you'd have died even as I tried to keep you alive."
"Well, thanks." Naruto returned, genuinely.
"I was upholding our contract, nothing more."
"Right." Naruto laid back down. "Anyways, it seems I've found a member of the White Lotus and got somewhere to stay while I figure out my next move."
"If the place is big enough, we can utilize our time to train you in the fundamentals. We'll work from the beginning of your Shinobi training with a method that'll drastically cutdown on time. By the end of it, you'll be in a better place to handle advanced training."
Kurama was no Shinobi. You couldn't mistake him as one, and he loathed them. They had controlled and contained him. If he wanted the death of Madara Uchiha and earn his freedom, the best path towards that would be to train Naruto as one.
"When I'm ready, I'll see what Piandao will allow." Naruto responded.
Couple Days Later, Morning…
Given everything that happened, the days he spent running from Konoha to nearly drowning, Naruto spent a little more time than it took him to actually recover relaxing. Even though Piandao didn't know his full story, he didn't pressure Naruto into anything.
What time he spent with the swordmaster kind of reminded him of those times Hiruzen would stop in to check on him. It was nice. The only other person here was Piandao's Butler, Fat. Naruto tried and failed to contain his laughter the first time he heard that name.
The blond apologized, though Fat didn't seem offended. Then again, he didn't really show much if any emotion to begin with. Now, Naruto was feeling like himself and ready to train. He didn't know what he was training for, given he had forgone his dream of becoming Hokage.
There was the contract he signed with Kurama, meaning one day he'd have to find and face some guy named Madera Uchiha. He supposed that was enough of an incentive to work towards for now. Still, he recognized the need to find a new dream all his own.
Naruto left his room and found the butler. "Fat, could you take me to where Piandao is because I need to ask him about training."
"You may be a guest of the Master, but that does not mean he will train you." Fat put his hands behind his back. "Given you washed up on the bank, you don't exactly have much to give him that would prove your worth."
Before Naruto could correct Fat, in that he wanted permission to train himself, Kurama spoke to him. "Don't correct him, Naruto. If you find those who can teach you anything and are willing to train you, take it."
While Kurama was committed to training Naruto, the Tailed Beast knew having multiple masters usually meant you ended up stronger faster. If for nothing else, this was a step closer to one day seeing Madera Uchiha dead.
"Yeah, I don't have anything to offer." Naruto replied. "Still, I'd like to try becoming his student. Whatever his answer, I have another request in that I'd like to do my own training."
Fat shook his head. "Well, let's get this over with."
He led the blond to a large room with a red carpet and tall windows which gave one a view of the valley. Piandao sat at a small table in front of them where he indulged in calligraphy.
"Piandao?" Naruto questioned.
"Yes, Naruto?" The swordmaster returned.
"I've recovered and taken enough time after to the point I'd like to start training." Naruto responded. "I'm hoping you'll allow me to train at your estate with what I must work on, but I'd also like to learn how to use a sword because it sounds cool."
Piandao put his brush away before standing. "Why don't we talk over a cold drink before I give you my answer?"
"Yeah, okay." Naruto voiced, feeling a bit parched.
Piandao looked to his butler. "We'll take those with a slice of lemon, in the nearby sitting room."
Fat nodded before departing. Piandao gestured for Naruto to follow, the two of them heading to that sitting room. The butler returned with cold tea, setting it on the table and moving to stand off to the side. Piandao squeezed his lemon in while Naruto followed suit.
Both took a drink before the swordmaster looked to his guest. "Alright Naruto, what exactly is your story? What brought you all the way to the Four Nations from Shinobi Country?"
"I was born within Konoha, though I don't know who my parents were." Naruto began. "All I knew was they died during the Nine Tails attack."
"The Nine Tails?" Piandao asked.
"I only learned rather recently he was sealed within me on the night of the attack, which was also the night of my birth." Naruto replied.
"You contain the very thing which attacked your village." Piandao noted.
He recognized such a thing would be a heavy burden for even a seasoned warrior to carry. To put that weight on a child, it was hard to imagine such a thing going well.
"Have you ever been invisible?" Naruto looked down. "Not cause you're hiding, because no one sees you. That was me. The orphan, the outcast, the monster child. No parents, no friends, just silence. You know what's messed up? I didn't know why they hated me.
Not a single person ever explained why the village looked at me like I was a curse. As for the kids, they didn't need a reason because they just followed what the adults did. There were nights I stared at the ceiling for hours. No dreams, just noise in my head.
Loneliness echoing louder than my heartbeat. I tried everything. Stupid tricks, dumb stunts, climbing the Hokage Monument to paint it. Slowly, there came those who showed they cared. The Hokage at least checked on me. Teuchi and Ayame fed me when I had little money.
Then, I joined the academy in a bid to make people see me. I attempted to graduate early, failed the graduation exam 3 times. One of my proctors told me of a way to graduate, but it was a set up. He wanted me to retrieve this scroll, which contained the scroll that would lead me here.
Anyways, this proctor planned to kill me. Before he arrived, the last person to care about me showed up. Another proctor, Iruka. He'd buy me ramen and scold me when I deserved it. He stepped in to protect me, and I protected him back. Things were resolved, but I'd kept the scroll.
Reading it got me thinking. Even with people who care, it didn't squash the loneliness or outweigh how the rest of the village treated me. So, I left. Either the scroll would pan out, or I'd come up with something. Anything aside from Konoha."
Naruto had become better over the years of not crying over this, especially in the presence of other people. He didn't want them to see how broken he was. Those emotions never did anything to make them think twice, nor did it truly resolve anything either.
In this moment, as he spoke on everything, tears ran down his cheeks. The distance Naruto now had from Konoha let the weight of the past twelve years come crashing down. Unlike Konoha, Piandao and Fat recognized what most of them could not.
The swordmaster reached over, putting a hand on the blond's shoulder. "You were given a burden no child should be asked to carry yet carried it without being pushed into anything unthinkable. You are strong in ways few ever develop. Together, we can develop your conventional strength."
Naruto sniffled and wiped his eyes. "You'll train me?"
"For today, let what happened settle." Piandao patted his shoulder. "Tomorrow, we'll begin your training. Once I'm done with you, you can train your way."
"Thing about that, I've spoken with the Nine Tails." Naruto began, seeing the concerned look the swordsman gave him. "Compared to most of the village, he's not that bad. Especially since he confirmed he was controlled and actually gave me a fair deal in the form of a Chakra Contract."
Even though Piandao knew a great deal about Shinobi Country, there were areas he was lacking. Though to his understanding, Tailed Beasts didn't want to be contained. The fact Naruto was still alive likely meant whatever deal they worked out wouldn't result in his death.
Sword Fighting Ring: Next Day, Morning…
Naruto finally had some new clothes, wearing an outfit nearly identical to Piandao's.
"The first thing you must learn is that your weapon is an extension of yourself." The swordsman explained, unsheathing his sword and performing a sword form. "You must think of it as another part of your body.
The sword a simple tool, but in the hands of a master it becomes the most versatile of weapons." He sheathed his blade and assumed a stance. "Just as the imagination is limitless, so too are the possibilities of the blade."
Naruto nodded, having understood.
Within the Mansion
"The warrior practices a variety of arts to keep his mind sharp and fluid." Piandao flattened a piece of paper on the table. "The first you will learn is calligraphy." He passed the brush to his student. "Write your name."
"Writing my name makes me a better swordsman?" Naruto questioned, skeptically.
"When you write your name, you stamp the paper with your identity." Piandao explained. "You must learn to use your sword to stamp your identity on the battlefield."
Naruto shrugged at that before proceeding to hold his sleeve back and dipping the brush in the ink. He then proceeded to write his name while the swordmaster watched. When Naruto put the brush back, the he took a look at it.
"I did not have the privilege of meeting many an Uzumaki, but I can tell you have their gift for Fuinjutsu." Piandao commented. "While not perfect, your brush strokes and the finished product show that clearly."
"Meeting many an Uzumaki?" Naruto questioned.
"Given what you had to say yesterday, alongside the fact your calligraphy isn't perfect, I should have assumed you'd be uninformed." Piandao noted. "The Uzumaki were a clan known for quite a few aspects, ranging from appearance to their capabilities on the battlefield.
Those aspects would be their red hair, strong life-forces leading to deep wells of Chi, Chakra as your people would call it, and their prowess for Fuinjutsu. A clan with deep ties to Konoha, their flak jackets bear the swirl of the clan. Though, that clearly did nothing to ease your life."
Naruto hadn't put the pieces together that the Uzumaki were a clan. Even with the scroll saying he was one by blood, the blond had assumed it was a family at most.
"Wait, I don't have red hair." Naruto noted.
"That would likely be down to the fact you're not pure blooded Uzumaki, which makes sense given your age in relation to their downfall." Piandao returned.
"So, you're saying I had a clan?" Naruto questioned.
"That is what the White Lotus determined, having visited Uzushiogakure after it fell." Piandao answered. "There is a limit to what we can do within Shinobi Country, though we were at least able to determine Konoha was not part of what destroyed them."
"Why couldn't you determine more?" Naruto questioned.
"Uzushiogakure, every member of age, were essentially part of the White Lotus." Piandao explained. "In truth, they were where we concentrated our efforts. With the clan being wiped out, we lacked the agents to dig deep into what happened."
"Come to think of it, I don't think I've really heard anyone talk about a whole other side to the world." Naruto admitted.
"While likely not the case these days, beyond even the White Lotus having found out, it was originally decided only the leaders would know this truth." Piandao informed. "As you go further back, history can become hazy. What is known would be both halves of the world fought a war.
It brought such devastation that treaties were signed and agreements made. Though uncertain, you being here should be fine as what keeps the division today would be the conflicts both continents have internally."
Naruto understood to a point, though he was lost without understanding what the Four Nations truly was. "I get it, though I don't completely follow."
"It is a lot to take in, with a great deal of context lost given you only understand half the picture." Piandao voiced. "In time, I'll teach you the whole picture. For now, we have spent enough time deviating from your training.
I know not where you could find someone to teach you Fuinjutsu, though you can certainly practice calligraphy for the day you might happen upon someone who can. For this next part of your training, we're heading outside my estate."
Countryside: Midday…
Piandao was now guiding a blindfolded Naruto through the countryside.
"Landscape painting teaches a warrior to hold the lay of the land in mind." Piandao stopped Naruto, turned him around, and pulling the blindfold off. "In battle, you only have an instant to take everything in."
Naruto's eyes grew wide as he now stared at a majestic view of a mighty river flowing into a series of waterfalls that dropped into a canyon. Piandao then grabbed the blond's head and turned him away, making him sit in front of a table with a piece of paper, paint, and paint brushes.
"Now, paint it." He instructed.
Naruto shrugged at that as he took a brush and got to work. Piandao spent his time waiting with his eyes closed and holding his sword behind him.
"I'm finished!" Naruto eventually called out.
Piandao opened his eyes and looked to the blond, who presented a calligrapher's interpretation of the landscape. It was done in black ink with brush strokes once again befitting an Uzumaki. Though it was slopier than his name and things were missing.
"Well, you could certainly turn out to be an interesting artist in the long run." Piandao admitted. "In any case, you need to work on your observational skills lest someone get the better of you merely because you failed to see the full picture."
Piandao's Castle
"Rock gardening teaches the warrior to manipulate his surroundings and turn them to his advantage." Piandao voiced.
"I've had practice doing things like that when I'd outrun Shinobi back home." Naruto replied.
"Well then, let's see what you can do." Piandao stated.
He led Naruto down, the two of them working on the space. While the blond's prior experience in utilizing the environment only marginally translated given the differences, he patched any holes by observing what the swordmaster. Ultimately, he achieved something passable
Sword Fighting Ring: Evening…
Naruto now stood across from Fat, the two of them dressed in training gear while holding wooden swords. Naruto lunged forward, swinging his blade. Fat effortlessly parried him before disarming the blond and pointing his sword at his throat.
Naruto held up his hands. "I yield."
He only really practiced through kunai before, the typical weapon most Shinobi might use in close combat. A sword, even of the wooden variety, was something else. Even recognizing all this, Naruto thought he'd have done even a little better.
"Your stance and grip need work." Piandao noted. "Pick up the blade and try again."
Late Evening…
As the last remnants of day turned to night, Naruto had changed back into the attire he was given and sat across from the swordmaster.
"You had a good first day." Piandao voiced. "Your willingness to do as I ask is apparent of your lack in guidance prior."
"Iruka was really the only instructor who'd give me the time of day back home, but he was also the instructor for a whole class." Naruto stated. "No one's really given me a whole day like you, so I tried to put my best foot forward."
"Continue to work with me, and you'll be a proper swordsman in no time." Piandao voiced. "Today, we've set the groundwork you'll use to get there. Keeping your mind fluid and sharp, your perception in the heat of battle, and manipulating your surroundings to your advantage.
Work on those with a healthy amount of sparring, and I have no doubt you'll be a great swordsman. Perhaps even with the potential to surpass me one day; however, don't hold yourself to that. After all, you have much to learn beyond the blade."
"Work with me tomorrow, Brat." Kurama spoke up. "I'll get you started on that method, something which will help in your fundamentals, learning what this man has to teach you, and cutting down on the time you need to learn about the Four Nations."
"It all sounds good, Piandao Sensei." Naruto voiced. "Though, Kurama told me he has something that can set me up for success in everything I need to do."
"Then, I'll leave tomorrow free for that." Piandao replied.
Piandao's Castle: Night…
Piandao looked into Naruto's room, seeing the boy was fast asleep before quietly closing the door and proceeding to walk down the hall. A fair distance from the blond's room, he was met by Fat.
"Do you think it is wise for Naruto to be in contact with this Tailed Beast?" Fat questioned, his face impassive though unmistakable concern for the boy present in his tone.
Fat was privy to much about his master, things he would never speak even under duress. Even so, he was no member of the White Lotus himself. He did not possess as full an understanding of things as Piandao did. Even then, he understood his master lacked information on this to.
"From my understanding, it is the goal of any village, regardless of how they treat their containers, to have the Jinchuriki able to utilize the Tailed Beast." Piandao noted. "I am aware of what these Tailed Beast are, though not to the extent of temperament.
What I will say is Naruto has showcased strength of will rare for his age, something even a few old people I could name lack. I cannot put my trust in this Tailed Beast, though in the short time he's been here I can trust Naruto is on the right path."
"He is something, though the way in which that was cultivated…" Fat noted, disappointed.
"Harsh circumstances are not unique to Shinobi Country alone, though I understand where you are coming from." Piandao nodded. "With everything Naruto has been through, we can ease his burdens for as long as he may decide to stay here."
Fat nodded at that before the two of them parted ways for the night.
Sword Fighter Ring: Morning…
"Before we get started, understand you are abysmal in everything which makes a Shinobi."
Naruto wanted to argue that point, didn't help that the stupid fox sounded a little too pleased to be saying that. Given all the reflection the blond had done, he had to admit everything about his life screamed he was abysmal Shinobi material.
He was dead last in everything offered at the academy, coupled with the fact he failed the graduation exam three times over. While two of those times had been him attempting to graduate early, he still failed that third time and was the only one in his class to do so.
"Er, you're not wrong." Naruto thought.
"Even I'll admit the failure doesn't rest with you, given no one really helped where it mattered." Kurama voiced. "Just with your heritage, you got stamina and chakra to spare. With me, it's only that much more. To put it to use properly, you got to put the work in."
"Just as with Piandao Sensei, I'm willing to put in the work with you." Naruto thought. "Both to fulfill my end of our contract and for whatever I end up deciding to do now that I'm not looking to become Hokage."
"I'll hold you too that, Brat." Kurama returned. "As I've essentially said, we'll be working through all the fundamentals you should have learned at the academy. We'll just be cutting down on the time drastically through a new method."
While Kurama may be no Shinobi himself, he's spent decades within three separate hosts. Given he was chained by two of them and locked in a cage now, aside from a few instances, all he's been able to do is observe. Now, he'd be putting that to use.
Still wasn't altruistic of him in the long run, given he wanted Madera Uchiha dead and one day have his freedom without the immediate threat of being resealed. In the end, this was going to be a rather strange endeavor given Kurama could not teach in a traditional way.
"What is this new method you keep bringing up?" Naruto asked.
"Make a shadow clone." Kurama ordered.
Naruto made the hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A second Naruto appeared, prompting Kurama to speak. "The clone needs to go somewhere you couldn't possible see what he sees. Tell him to dispel himself once he's seen anything of note."
"Alright, go somewhere I'm not and when you see anything of note, dispel." Naruto ordered, not sure where this was going.
"Right!" The clone declared, running off until he was out of sight.
After a couple of minutes, they both felt the clone dispel.
"What did he see?" Kurama asked.
Naruto blinked as he had that memory, though knew for a fact it wasn't him who saw it. "He saw a bird land within Piandao Sensei's bamboo forest."
"There is the secret, Brat." Kurama voiced. "Shadow Clone Jutsu creates physical copies, not just an illusion like with the regular Clone Jutsu. While that's good for altercations, an added boon is that you'll receive the memories of whatever a Shadow Clone may have learned."
"I guess that's cool, but I don't know what it has to do with reducing the amount of time I'll need to get caught up on the fundamentals." Naruto thought.
"To put it simply, aside from the physical, putting however many shadow clones you make through training cuts the time needed to complete it by that amount. We can condense what you should have learned from spending years at the academy into a few months."
"I get it now!" Naruto was amazed. "Is this how Hiruzen got to be Hokage?"
"This isn't a method I've never seen anyone use in all my time contained." Kurama informed. "It's something others could have done given their unique genetics and circumstances, though even those I've been around didn't utilize this."
"What are you going on about?" Naruto asked.
"Shadow clones divide and disperse Chakra to the point only those with a large reserve could theoretically pull this off." Kurama stated. "Someone's heritage, a luck of the draw at birth, or having a Tailed Beast are just a few good examples."
"Do I really have that much Chakra?" Naruto asked, stunned.
"Without me, you got roughly four times the amount of any Jonin in that old village of yours." Kurama replied. "With what I can offer you at this time, it's that much larger. Chakra reserves the likes of which nearly any Shinobi would be envious of."
"Alright." Naruto nodded. "So, I'm basically being put through the academy again."
"That is part of it, though this method isn't exclusive to my training." Kurama replied. "You can add the training of that swordsman and getting an understanding of the Four Nations into the mix. Anything, with the exception of physical training, should be open to you."
"Alright, I think I'm ready." Naruto noted.
"Before you begin, put some organization to it." Kurama voiced, sounding irritated. "The last thing I need is you whining about your head hurting because you dispelled too many clones at once."
"How should I go about it?" Naruto questioned.
"Divide your Chakra into however many equal pieces you need for what you'll have them do." Kurama voiced. "Then, command them to create the shadow clones that will do those tasks. They can slowly dispel those clones into themselves before you slowly dispel them into you."
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"How many pieces is that?" Naruto asked.
"There's a lot of work here…" Kurama sighed, starting to wonder if this kid could get to the point of killing someone like Madera Uchiha. "Taijutsu, work on that stance of yours. Ninjutsu, the speed of your hand signs. Genjutsu, we'll go over that later.
Information, learning about the Four Nations. That sensei of yours likely has some form of library in a place like this. Swordsmanship, likely a few to do the training you were given. Shuriken and kunai work. Start there, and we'll expand as needed."
"Got it." Naruto made the hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
There were multiple poofs of smoke, followed my multiple Naruto's doing as the original just had. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In the end, for the coming months, Piandao wasn't going to know the peace he's had years now.
This variation of the story was inspired by the creator biconickyoshi, her story The Avatar and the Fire Prince found on a number of websites. She's gotten me thinking of pairings I otherwise didn't from the original series. I will say she does do same sex pairings, things I'm likely not going to do given I don't want to jack all her ideas. I will say it is a good fanfiction that while not complete contains a lot of material you can read now.
Yes, she has given permission to use her ideas which you can see on her Tumblr for the above story as an anonymous ask.
Before you ask, I know the Shadow Clone training is OP. I would like to point out Avatar is a traveling story with fewer amounts of larger downtime than you might remember. Even in a universe with more time, do recognize what will keep Naruto from becoming overpowered is the fact that a majority of the time is travel coupled with the implied tension with a Shinobi here in the Four Nations stopping him from utilizing this training method every available chance.
