Naruto's POV

Naruto walked through the forest to the abandoned training grounds. Once again he was shown up in class by Sasuke. All he wanted was someone to recognize him for who he was. He had to bite back a sorrow filled snort. Like that would ever happen everyone hated him and he didn't know why.

Everyone in the village was cold to the touch. He had once mentioned it to the Hokage. The man didn't understand what he was describing. To Naruto's disappointment he too was cold. He wished he understood what it meant.

A movement above him made him jump back in fright. He was barely able to move out of the way as a black haired man he didn't recognize landed where he had been a moment before. Naruto watched him suspiciously. This man was not a villager and neither was he ninja. Who was he?

The man cocked his head to the side examining the boy in front of him. He asked stepping a tad closer," I am Hirato one of the Captain of Circus. Who are you?"

He said warily," Naruto Uzumaki of the Village Hidden in Leaves. What's Circus? Why are you here?"

The man didn't answer just seemed to be watching him. Naruto was feeling oddly nervous at the man's constant staring. He never got this much good attention or even nuetral attention before. The man took another step forward and he took one back. The man stopped again considering him.

Naruto asked trying to hide his nervousness," What do you want? Why aren't you saying anything?"

The man said softly," You intruige me. I'm not sure why."

Naruto looked away. He never had someone say something like that before. What made this man different? Something under the man's jacket sleeve caught his attention. Was that a bracelet? What did it do?

He was so caught up in trying to figure out the bracelet he didn't notice the man coming within a few feet of him. When he did notice he stumbled back a few steps and almost fell. Hirato grabbed his arm to steady him and Naruto felt a link form between them. What the hell was that?

Once he regained his balance he fearfully jerked his arm out of the man's grip. He took a basic taijutsu stance. He didn't know what that man had done but he wouldn't be caught off guard a second time. Hirato though looked just as surprised as him. Whatever had just happened he hadn't planned it.

Naruto said making to leave," I'm going to go home. Ummm nice to meet you."

Hirato grabbed his arm firmly but not painfully. This time though he noticed something about the man's grip. It was warm. He never felt a warm touch before. Not even from the Hokage. Everyone was cold. Everyone but this man.

He said his voice shaking," Your warm."

Hirato said smiling slightly," So are you. Most people are unless they spent too much time outside."

Naruto said looking ashamed," I have never come across someone that's warm. They are all varying degrees of cold. Even the Hokage is and he's the only one who's nice to me."

The man gave him a look akin to pity. That was the last thing he wanted from anyone much less a stranger. He wanted someone to treat him like a person. He wanted someone to give a damn if he came home or not. He didn't want to be alone anymore.

He pushed the man away and ran off back to the village. He hated the looks people gave him. Looks like they hated him for just being alive. What did he do? The only reason why he pranked people was because they didn't acknowledge him.

As he came out of the forest on the far side of the village he looked up to the Hokage monument. One day he would be Hokage. One day the village would acknowledge and accept him. With a heavy sigh he made his way to his apartment.

Hirato's POV

He made his way out of the forest following silently behind the blond haired boy. They popped out on the far side of a village. The way the boy looked at the mountain said this was his home. The boy's words came back to him. The Hokage was the only one nice to him? Was he abused by his family? He would ask the old man later and find out the boy's story.

He made his way to the giant red tower near the mountain. That was where he was to meet with the Hokage. They were to talk about Circus and the Hidden Leaf becoming allies. When he reached the entrance two men with headbands led him straight to the Hokage.

The old man said standing and holding his hand out," Welcome Captain Hirato to the Hidden Leaf Village. I hope you had a pleasant trip."

Hirato shaking the man's hand," I did, Hokage. The airship always provides for pleasant travel. I'm sure you know why I'm here."

The Hokage looked much older at this point as he said," Yes I do. You believe the group your against had aligned themselves with Orchimaru. You also believe they are creating creatures known as Vanguras. That any one of these creatures could take on a team of jounin's and kill them easily."

Hirato nodded and said pulling up the sleeve to his jacket revealing his id bracelet," These are Circus id bracelets. They call forth out weapons and specialized abilities. Only a handful of people would be able to use them. They are also the only things that can kill a Vangura."

The Hokage seemed to deflate at the answer. To have only a select few people be able to use those bracelets and only those who could use them be able to kill such creatures. It was enough to scare any sane person. There seemed though to be something on the man's mind.

The Hokage asked carefully," What's bothering you?"

Hirato shook himself from his thoughts on the boy as he replied," I met a young boy today."

The Hokage let out a groan as he said," Tell me Naruto didn't prank you."

Hirato said confused," No he didn't. We did come across each other when I surprised him in the forest. Something he said to me though has me worried."

The old man sat forward looking at him intently. He asked," What would that be?"

He said," He called me a warm. The only people who use that term are empaths. While extremely rare I believe that boy is one."

What Hirato said was true. In both the ninja world and with those who served Circus Empath's were one in a million. He had only ever met one a dying young child who been abandoned by his family. If he could save this child he would.

The Hokage said," I never suspected. We know so little about empath and most die before they become adults."

Another true statement. Most died at their own hands when young. They were outcasts of the world. It took a special kind of person to connect with them. In their own words it took a warm. Even if they found a warm person it was likely to late for them to learn to trust. He could only hope that this wasn't the case with Naruto Uzumaki.

He said seriously," I want to test him."

You could hear a pin drop after his statement. In accordance with the agreement they were trying to make they couldn't deny his request. It would be within his rights to test anyone not a genin. If the old man wanted their peace talks to work out he would allow him to test the kid.