Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I own the plot, original characters, and made-up jutsu names.
Summary: What if Naruto had a friend while growing up? Would his life be any different? Different!Itachi & Strong!Naruto
Prologue:
Groups of survivors gathered around the podium. Behind them lay the destruction brought on by the Great Demon, Kyuubi; the Fourth Hokage had just sacrificed his life to destroy Kyuubi and save Konoha, Fire Nation's Hidden Ninja Village. Chaos spread through the air, until a clear voice said out loud, laden with grief.
"Citizens of Konoha, we must rebuild our village and carry out the Fourth Hokage's wish for us to live on and for Konoha to thrive again. New leafs will spring forward and show the rest of the nations our strength." The Third Hokage spoke out.
Cheers rang out in the crowd.
"Now I must present to you a hero. It is also the Fourth Hokage's wish that he be recognized as a hero of this war." The Third Hokage held up a small bundle, showing a sleeping blonde baby of no more than 1 month old. "This war would not have ended without this boy. I present to you Uzumaki Naruto, the boy that made a sacrifice to become Kyuubi's container."
"WHAT! Kyuubi's not dead?" "We must kill the boy while he is defenseless. He will surely grow up to exact Kyuubi's revenge on the village." The crowd murmured.
"How can you think that way?!" a girl's voice rang out. The crowd parted ways in the middle to show a little girl, no more than 2 years old, with blond hair down to the waist, with puffy eyes that looked like she had just cried. "That baby," pointing to Naruto, "is the reason this entire village is not flattened to the ground. My father gave his life to protect the village, and he would have wanted me to thank Naruto for ensuring the village's survival."
The crowd's rage died down, and the murmurs trickled to a stop. The Third Hokage seized the moment and pronounced, "Let's return to our homes for the night and focus on rebuilding the village in the days to come." Slowly the crowd dissipated and all that's left in front of the podium was the little girl.
"Can I see Naruto-kun?" the little girl said. The Third Hokage smiled and motioned for her to come up the podium. "Yuki-chan, I'm sorry about Keisuke-kun. I'm sure he would be proud of what you did just now." "I know, Hokage-sama. I will honor his wishes and grow up to be a proud kuniochi of the Leaf." Yuki smiled at the baby. "Naruto-kun will have a hard life. I will do my best to be there for him."
The Third Hokage sighed inwardly at how grown-up a 2 year old girl has to be in this time.
"Well, Yuki-chan, I think you should return to your home. Gai-kun will be worried."
Yuki smiled. "Well, I wouldn't want to keep my uncle waiting." She leaned down and kissed Naruto on the chin. "See you later, Naruto-kun."
