A/N: Howdy y'all, I'm Benjyboy, and I'll be your author for today. I'm a Naruto fan who reads the Manga and then feels sorry for the poor sap. I've read a few Naruto fics, and especially like the ones where Naruto is neither underpowered or a step up from a deity. In this story I will be making Naruto a skilled Ninja, and not some Messiah, sorry, but there are limits. Also, this story will be NaruHina, cuz it's cute, and my Girlfriend is my Beta and she supports this ship.
Anywizzle, it's time for the openning act! Introducing the amazing, the unstoppable, the lawyer deflecting...Disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am without profit and this belongs to someone else. I'd say who, but his name's tricky to spell.
Naruto was bleeding. Another October tenth, another drunken mob with sharp implements of death and pain. The young blonde was currently trying to stem the blood flowing from his stomach where the kunai had struck.
His vision darkened briefly, as his precious vitae poured from the ragged wound. He had managed to escape the braying hordes of villagers and slunk into an abandoned buildings mostly-intact cellar before he had to rest. Naruto had ended up stabbed with a knife before he could pull off his escape. The wound was deep and wouldn't heal, Naruto knew this. He knew he was going to die, he just wished that he knew why. He pulled pranks, but they never hurt anyone, he was only five, so he hadn't the chance to cause someone a grave enough insult to warrant his death yet. So why? What had he done wrong? Jiji always said it wasn't his fault, but the villagers clearly didn't see it.
Another sharp pulse of pain came from the stab wound, jarring him from his thoughts. This hurt to much to be normal. The blonde briefly wondered if the blade had been poisoned too, it was always possible.
The pain wasn't fading this time though, so Naruto surmised that he was going to die soon. He felt surprisingly calm. All of his pain and suffering was going to stop. His hungry nights? Over. No more cries of 'demon-brat' or 'hero-killer' to be thrown at him in the street. Naruto didn't fear death right now, he looked forward to it. This complete and utter peace allowed his mind to leave the world behind, though not in death.
Naruto awoke, on his back with icy cold water up to his ears. His eyes snapped open at the feeling, and he shot upright. He had awoken in a sewer, the damp stone walls and blackened water he was in giving that much away. He placed a hand to his stomach, feeling for his wound, but couldn't even find a tear in his orange jump suit, and after waking lying in the water, Naruto wasn't wet.
What's happening? The blonde wondered. He was somewhere not normal, where all the words the villagers spat at him rang in his ears.
"Demon, monster, freak... Demon, monster, freak..." Unseen voices whispered, only just audible. It was hellish. Every jibe and barb was replayed for his ears only, but over this, the whiskered child felt a pull, towards the deeper parts of the dark tunnel. So, as every child would, the village pariah did what his instincts told him to. He followed the tunnel for what seemed to be hours, the hate-filled chanting never fading or increasing, and always the sensation of bitter coldness from the water. The sewer continued on for miles, reaching into the blackness before him, however, there was enough light to make out an area around him, roughly ten feet either way.
"Hello!" Naruto shouted, praying that whoever answered wasn't chanting. It seemed that some one was listening to the prayer.
"This way." A powerful, masculine voice spoke, words dripping with wisdom and power.
Naruto followed the voice to wherever it was leading him. He soon found himself in front of a set of steel bars that blocked the tunnel, the bars formed a cage, and the lock was a slip of paper with a word on it. He didn't know what word, because he was more focussed on the creature in the enormous, nine tailed fox revealed itself.
"Greetings, Kit." The voice said. "I am-"
"KYUBI!" Naruto screamed as he fell to his backside and frantically kicked away from the cage.
"Do calm down, Kit, I'm trying to help you here." The Kyubi sighed as he watched the blonde human back pedal madly with cerulean eyes.
"W-what? Y-your the Kyubi! You're evil!" Naruto shouted.
"Well, why don't you listen, and you can decide for yourself instead of snapping at me." The Kyubi countered. Before Naruto had the chance to speak, the enormous fox continued. "I was born millenia ago in the death throes of the Juubi, the ten tailed beast, as the Sage of the Six Paths moulded that excess chakra into the world you know today. He formed us in the hopes that we would safe guard the world he made for humanity. We made a covenant with the Kami, and in exchange for our service, we were given our clans and the first summons appeared, allowing us to have families of our own. Initially, humanity was content with their lot, forming villages to live in to protect themselves from the malcontents who refused to live in peace. The Biju were taskled only with protecting humanity from the dangers of misused power, and few were fool enough to use there strength in anger.
"One day, I was visiting a settlement that would one day become Konoha, but on my way I heard the sounds of fierce battle. I entered what would become known as the Valley of the End, and saw the combatants. The Shodaime Hokage and one Madara Uchiha were there. I had met the Shodaime before, and knew him to be a good man, so rushed to his aid. Before I reached them, I was caught in Madara's gaze, and his Doujutsu, the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan performed a powerful genjutsu. I felt an eternity of agony in an instant, my mind was damaged for the remainder of the battle, and Madara used my weakness to turn me upon the Shodaime. In an attempt to save us both, he used his own bloodline to seal me into his wife-to-be, Mito Uzumaki, and defeated his enemy without me. All was peaceful until five years ago today, when Kushina Uzumaki, my second vessel, passed away giving birth. I was released, and once more Madara caught me in his genjutsu and bent me to his will. He forced me to attack Konoha, and I couldn't resist. I was only stopped by your Yondaime, the only way he could stop me was by sealing me away, as not even Madara could kill me, so, he sealed me on October 10th, five years ago, into the new born son of Kushina Uzumaki, you."
Naruto was speechless. He was just given a condensed history of the world by someone who had seen it! He had the Kyubi inside him! He had a mother! Naruto was terrified and delighted all at once!
"R-really? You knew my Kaa-san?" Naruto asked, unable to totally believe it.
"I knew her a little, she was a kind woman, and she couldn't wait to meet you. Kushina was the last heir of the Uzumaki clan, and if I recall, she left a large inheritance for you. You should speak with the Hokage." TheKyubi answered kindly.
"Does he know about my Kaa-san?" Naruto queried, a little hurt.
"He should. But, before you go Kit, you need to know a few things." The Biju stated. When he could tell that the child was paying close attention, he continued. "Firstly, when you awaken, your wounds will be healed, and all will be well. Second, avoid people, they hate you because of me. It is unfair, but they do not see Naruto, they see me. Also, when the chance presents itself, draw some blood and place it into your left palm. Thrust your hand agianst the ground and channel some chakra whilst saying the words 'Kuchiose no jutsu', this will summon a fox called Tsurana. She will help. For now though, we must part, but we shall speak again." The Kyubi rumbled out the list.
No sooner had the enormous fox spoke, than light began to flood the tunnel, and Naruto began to feel cool air against his skin, including the place where he had been stabbed earlier. A moment later, and Naruto was back in the abandoned cellar he had found, and dawn was breaking through the broken, ground level window he had climbed through the night before. He blinked as he looked himself over. His slightly large orange jump suit was torn and covered in dried blood all over the front and down the left-hand side. The grey concrete was likewise besmirched by the red fluid, as was his now-unmarked skin. Naruto stood up, wincing at the muscles painful protests, and climbed out through the broken window. It was still way too early for most, so only the earliest of birds were awake right now, and most of them were still in their houses.
Jiji should be at the tower now, I'll talk to him first. Naruto thought with something of a smile. He picked his way through a dawn-soaked Konoha in ten minutes, skirting people as he went. He arrived at Hokage's tower, and entered through the door. He passed by the ANBU ninja on the inside, aware of their gazes on his blood-caked form, but he carried on up to the office the Hokage worked from. He would have sprinted up the stairs, but he hadn't eaten in a few days, so he just settled for a jog. He reached the floor that held the Hokage's office and noted, with glee, that the assisstant hadn't arrived yet, so he simply knocked on the door.
"Enter." Came the old man's voice.
Naruto swung the door open with a cheery 'Hey, Jiji!' and was immediately stopped by the old ninja.
"Naruto!" He cried rushing over, eyes checking for a wound. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
"I was, but I'm okay now, Jiji. But I need to talk to ya." Naruto answered, his face quite inscrutible.
"So I see. Let's sit down, then we'll talk." The Hokage led the child to a seat meant for visitors before taking his own seat. His eyes remaining glued to the boy as much as he could allow.
When they were seated, the older ninja spoke.
"Naruto, what happened? Why are you so bloody?"
"Last night, a group of guys beat me up. I'm okay now though."
"I don't think you are Naruto." The Sandaime challenged. "If you were I wouldn't be speaking to you."
"Actually, I came to talk to you about something I've been told." The bewhiskered boy responded. "About an, um, 'tenant' that I have." The boy finished, testing the waters.
For a brief moment, the Hokage looked confused, then realization dawned upon him.
"Naruto," He began sadly. "I was going to tell you but I had to wait, until you had become a Genin at least."
"Yeah well, people had other ideas." Naruto answered dismissively.
"Who told you Naruto? This is serious." the Sandaime asked. "Did they hurt you too?"
"No, Jiji, the guys who hurt me knocked me out, the Kyubi himself told me." The blonde felt the room stiffen.
"Explain, what did the Kyubi say." There was no flexibility in the statement. It was an order.
So Naruto explained exactly what happened. Starting at the attack and finishing at the time he awoke, though he left out his newfound parentage and this 'summoning' stuff, a rare moment of tact, as that information needed to be addressed in a different manner.
"Is that all?" Sarutobi asked. He was quite shocked, the idea that the Kyubi could be kind and good was... Unsettling. And hard to believe.
"No, but the rest isn't about what you think, it's about what you know." The maelstrom gave his most cryptic answer.
"So you want to hear my verdict first?" Naruto nodded at this. "Very well. Firstly, I am truly sorry for keeping this knowledge from you, I was trying to protect you, I really was." This earned another, slower nod from Naruto. "Second, the Kyubi's story does corrobarate with history, so we shall not dismiss it completely, though we will need proof and, crucially, this is an S-class secret that must be kept from everyone save those who must be told. Lastly, I will be finding and punishing those involved in last nights lynching harshly. Now though, I need to know what else was said." Naruto noticed that the Sandiame waved his hand at a cat masked ANBU, and the kunoichi vanished in a swirl of leaves.
"Well, um, do you know who my parents are?" Naruto asked, but he quickly followed. "'Cos Kyubi said that he knew my Kaa-san."
"I knew them, Naruto." The old Kage answered sadly.
"He said she was part of the Uzumaki clan, that she was the last one. Is that true?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me about her?" Naruto grew hopeful.
"Of course, but first, we need to talk about your inheritance."
"Kyubi mentioned that to, he said it was big, but I don't know what an in-hairy-dance is." Naruto's five year-old mouth couldn't handle the big word.
Sarutobi smiled at this, finally, he could make the council pay through the nose for hurting Naruto.
"An inheritance, Naruto, is money, land and personal things that a parent leaves to a child after death." Sarutobi stood and walked around his desk while talking. "First though, I will show you the home you have inherited. Until you are old enough you have to live in the orphanage." The Hokage explained.
"I got kicked out." Naruto answered.
A moment passed.
Another moment.
"Why?" The Sandaime had never sounded so deadly.
"They said I had to go, they never said why, but I can guess." Naruto looked down, he didn't know why, but he felt inordinately saddened that people thought he was someone else, even if that someone else was a kind, hundred foot tall fox.
"I will deal with them later. When we arrive, the Uzumaki compound will be your new home, and I will notify the water an power board, the main house shall be fully functioning by noon." The robed ninja promised. He then took a moment to look over Naruto again. After that, he spoke again. "Inu, find a good amount of clothes to fit Naruto. Drop them off in the master bedroom." A dog-masked, silver haired ninja shunshin'd away.
"Thanks, Jiji." Naruto wrapped his arms around the older man in a hug. 'Jiji' patted the lad's hair affectionately.
"No problem Naruto, but, before we go, I need to know if there's anything else." The Hokage answered.
"Yeah, do you know what 'kuchie-oze no jutsu' is?" Naruto asked yet another unexpected question.
"Yes, ninjas use it to summon aid on the battlefield." The Sandaime answered slowly.
"Well, 'fluffy' said that if I use it, foxes'll come and help me!" Naruto yelled excitedly.
"I see. Well, so long as I am there, I will help you to perform the summoning safely." This response was noticably faster than the last. "For now though, we should get you some food and to your new home."
Naruto smiled.
A/N: And that's the first chapter, there'll be more soon.
For now though, I think it's time I outline what I plan to do.
Naruto in the anime grasped intricate techniques in a fraction of the time it takes others. However, he wasn't educated like others. Naruto will benefit more from his education as the Sandaime will be taking a more active role in his life and the academies teachings will be reinforced by the scrolls that Naruto's mother left to him. Naruto will also be learning the more theoretical aspects of becoming a ninja and a clan head. He will also be trying toi demonstrate that he wants to help Konoha in everything he does, not just by being a ninja.
Furthermore, I will try to make Naruto a balanced ninja, not just a clone-spammer that he always was. He will gain the foxes summoning contract, but no others, and they are going to be the only recurring OCs in this fic. There will be civilian council bashing, and initially Sasuke bashing to, but eventually he will stop being a douche. Also, you may have seen the 'unusual' pairings. Yeah. That's happening, but I will do it tastefully.
Lastly, please review, especially if you see a flaw, I don't want to be flamed, but constructive criticism would be a major help.
Thanks for reading, Benjyboy.