Please note in this AU I will be following the narutoverse but I am adding an extra character to the Senju family tree but this will not be revealed until later in the story.

Naruto the Shadow of the Shodaime

Prologue

among the land of shinobi and samurai there are five large nations ruling the land. One of which is the land of fire, the land of fire is well known to be the strongest of all elemental nations since the time its shinobi village was started, Konohagakure.

The history of the Konohagakure goes back to the first shinobi war and its creators Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. These men started the hidden villages from one dream and that was a dream of peace throughout the land.

stories have been made and stories have ended, but one thing is for sure Konohagakure has always had the will of fire. because of this many think this is the reason why Konoha still stands, others believe it's how everyone relates to one another but one fact is for certain the person to hold the strong will of fire is one Naruto Uzumaki.

"No! Naruto" Kushina Uzumaki says as she tries to grab her strength after giving birth to her blonde haired and 6 whiskered son ,Naruto. "Minato please save him" Kushina almost screams as tears begin to fall, "so what will it be Yondaime, Your son or you village?" says a tiger patterned masked man.

"wait we can be reasonable everything will be ok just let him go" Minato the fourth Hokage says trying to take care of the situation at hand.

"so naïve, Hokage" the masked man looks down the bundle in his arms and then without second glancing throws it into the air. "NOOO!" Kushina screams trying to get up and catch little Naruto

The fourth Hokage runs and catches Naruto and hears a burning sound as he looks down he throws the blanket covered in explosive tags away and lands safely with Naruto in his hands. he looks over to Kushina and says "I'll be back as soon as I can." and in a flash of light disappears.

Minato reappears in his home and places the sleeping Naruto on the bed and whispers "don't worry Naruto I'm gonna save your mommy now" little Naruto's face brightens up with a small smile and slowly goes back to sleep. "Kushina" Minato whispers and flashes of again in search for his wife.

as the fourth Hokage reappears to Kushina's aid the masked man says "did you know yondaime that a jinchuriki's seal is extremely weak when they gives birth? And did you also know it's very taxing for a tailed beasts chakra to rip out of its seal?" the Yondaime bit his lip at this already knowing where this is going "Don't release the Kyuubi do you know what damage it will cause?" Minato almost shouted hoping to buy as much time as possible.

"ha ha ha haa" your too late Hokage the jutsu almost finished shouts the masked man "and of course I know what damage it can do, I brought him to Konoha in the first place!"

"No… But that means your…Madara Uchiha!"Minato getting ready to use his Hirashin and anything else he can think of to defeat the legendary Uchiha.

"AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Kushina screams as she can feel the Kyuubi forcing its way out of the seal. within a matter of moments the screaming dies down and the Kyuubi is in its huge form looking down at Konoha with a red glow in his eyes.

Minato Hirashins to Kushina's side and Hirashins home to place her with Naruto "Don't worry I will handle this just look after Naruto." Minato says as he places her next to Naruto "minato … please stay safe" Kushina says as she cuddles into Naruto "I'll try." and minato Hirashins off to the Hokage mountain.

As he appears he sees the Kyuubi's tailed beast bomb. He sends out a space seal to absorb the incoming bomb. as it comes towards him at amazing speeds he apologises to Konoha for everything that's about to happen, knowing the only way to save this village and possibly the elemental nations.

Minato throws his kunai at the Kyuubi and lands on his head before Shouting "HIRASHIN!" to the village it looks like the battles over but an explosion outside the village attracts their attention, with a lone old man with a bo-staff in hand and a samurai helmet "Minato this is too much".

Yet another earthquake happens from one of the Kyuubi's tails causing minato to get a lot of distance before biting his thumb and says "summoning Jutsu". with a puff of smoke a red toad the size of a skyscraper appears under Minatos feet. "What the Minato that's the nine-tailed fox wh-" cutting the toad off Minato says "Now you see why I called you here Gamabunta I need you to distract it while I get somebody".

Gamabunta looks up and sighs "Ok fine but you owe me snacks". Minato can't help but chuckle and says "I'll put it on Jiraiya's tab." before he hirashined away.

"How do I get myself into this" says Gamabunta as he dodges a tail and bringing out his blade on his side.

"Hey Fluffball I could do with a new rug maybe you can make a contribution" shouts Gamabunta another three tails slams after him and then a loud demonic roar follows. "why did I just say that, this Is a tailed beast I'm fighting not a snake and among that the strongest one too" as another tail drops, Gamabunta jumps up and launches water bullets trying to distract him for a little longer.

This worked as another roar comes and a more angry Kyuubi starts attacking more ferocious. "Gulp, HURRY UP MINATO!" Gamabunta shouts hoping to get out of here and fast. "you rang?" minato says as he lands on top of Gamabuntas' head with kushina in his arms bridal style who's holding Naruto.

"At last, do you need me anymore or can I go home and have horrible nightmares." Gamabunta says jumping out of the Kyuubis range. "no that's all I need of your help thanks Gamabunta." he jumps down and places kushina and Naruto on the floor as Gamabunta disappears into a cloud of smoke.

"I'm sorry kushina but it's the only way" minato says as he summons a ritual cot. He walks over to kushina and pries Naruto from her. "No Minato you know the life of a Jinchuriki is horrible no use me again please not Naruto." Minato places him on the cot and looks to Kushina and says "I'm sorry but you know this is the only way For th-" a loud roar shouts cutting Minato off.

Minato and kushina turn and see the Kyuubi coming over. "NOOOO" kushina shouts as she uses the last of her chakra to constrict the Kyuubi with her chakra chains. "I'm sorry kushina but it has to be done." Minato says to kushina going through hand seal to summon forth the Shinigami "REAPER DEATH SEALING TECHNIQUE" Minato shouts summoning forth the Shinigami.

As kushina sees the Shinigami impale her husband she starts to lose control of her chains as her emotions run wild. "MINATOO! whose gonna look after Naruto if we both go!" she shouts.

as the Shinigami does his work and seals half of the Kyuubi, Hiruzen comes over and see's whats happening with his Anbu guard. "Minato, why?" is all he can say.

"Hiruzen please look after Naruto make sure he grows up safe and please tell the village Naruto saved us all." Minato says before the Shinigami leaves and walks over to Naruto and begins sealing the Kyuubi.

"NOOOO I WILL NOT BE SEALED AGAIN!" the Kyuubi shouts across Konoha. He uses all of his strength against the chains as Minato begins the jutsu, He shouts as he finishes the hand sign "Eight Trigrams Sealing Style" and places it on Narutos' stomach.

The Kyuubi tries to impale Minato and kushina to get to Naruto but Hiruzen throws his bo-staff at the Kyuubi's nail causing it to miss "Now Minato end the seal!" Minato nods to Hiruzens words and finishes the seal.

"NNNOOOOOOOO!" roars the Kyuubi as he gets resealed again but into Naruto. Minato picks Naruto up and takes him over to Kushina for her to hold him. "I'm sorry Naruto but I can't watch you grow up, I can't watch you fall in love. I'm so sorry, I wanted to watch you grow, to be strong , I wanted to be with you to give you all my love." kushina says trying to hold back her tears but unable to. "promise me you will eat right and don't listen to anybody being hurtful and make friends lots and lots of friends. don't forget to behave for the Hokage too don't cause him to much trouble, I love you Naruto."

Now it was Minatos turn to say his last words to Naruto "Naruto look after yourself ok, become big and strong, don't worry about being the strongest ninja, think about every plan carefully, but don't forget to have fun, don't let all the gloom of a shinobis life make you lost, there will always be happiness to lead you back to yourself just always look and you will find it." "Gak. Kushina I don't have much longer left" Minato says feeling his life slip away, I love you kushina and Naruto remember you will always make me proud" with his final words said the Shinigami finishes the seal of the Kyuubi's chakra and ends Minatos life as well.

"Kushina please we have to take you to the Hospital" Hiruzen said whilst taking Naruto from the alter, all Kushina can do is slowly nod as she feels her own life leaving her. "anbu take her there" Hiruzen commanded.

Hiruzen walks over to the corpse of his successor and drops t one knee "Minato I promise I will look after Naruto as if he were my own. Do not worry about him he will be fine" he stands back and tells the remaining Anbu to take the yondaimes body to the morgue. "come on Naruto let's get you something to eat" he says whilst keeping the fatherless and soon to be parentless child happy.

5 years later

"NARUTO!" Hiruzen shouts chasing the young boy around his office.

"heh heh catch me if you can Jiji" he says whilst avoiding the old Hokages grasp. "come on Naruto give me back that book, it shouldn't be for you to read." "and why is that jiji?" the young Naruto now with slightly longer blonde hair now wearing his black shirt with the will of fire symbol and simple 3/4 trousers.

"come on Jiji tell me" "No Naruto give it here" "fine here you go" Naruto pouts and then runs over to the Hokages desk 'phew thank god Kushina isn't here she would have skinned me alive I she saw Naruto holding my Icha Icha book' thought Hiruzen as he made his way over the bookshelf to place it on the highest shelf "hey Jiji, is this my dad?" Naruto says catching the third off guard

"why do you say that Naruto?" the third says trying to gain his composure at the sudden question. "I have the same hair colour as him." holding up the picture of the fourth Hokage "and not many other people have yellow hair like me" Naruto finishes as he get quieter towards the end.

Hiruzen picks up Naruto and puts him on his lap and places the picture frame on his desk in front of himself and Naruto.

"Do you know who this is, Naruto?" seeing Naruto shake his head Hiruzen continues "this is the fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze."

Sarutobi seeing Naruto start to get sad he says "Why don't I tell you a story about Konohas' yellow flash."

Hearing story caught Narutos' attentions as he looks up at Sarutobi.

"This man here is our saviour and everyone truly respects him Naruto. if I were to say that there would be a person in this universe, alive or dead that could beat me even in my pride, he would be one of them." Naruto looks at the man in the image again and can't help but to be in awe just at his picture.

"He was an orphan just like you Naruto." seeing Naruto look up at him wanting it to continue Hiruzen continued "he was an orphan from birth, no one knows his parents but like you he wanted to become strong. He became one of the strongest in this universe, alongside Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju my former sensei and Madara Uchiha."

"woooww, He sounds awesome do you think I can be that strong Jiji?" Naruto said completely captivated by the story.

"you know Naruto, I think you can become stronger than our yondaime. I think you have a potential that far sees' others expectations of you." Hiruzen said making the heart in his words come with the truth he says.

"Really Jiji? thankyou then I better not ruin it, I will show you our dream come true because I'm gonna be the Hokage and be the strongest of them all. hee hee" Naruto shouts

'Narutos' found his dream and I know one day you will be great Naruto.' Hiruzen couldn't help but think. "how about this when you go to the academy next year, every test you do and every exam you show me I will tell you more of the yondaime and his stories."

"ok Jiji. When do I start going to the academy?" Naruto asks looking forward to starting his ninja career.

"we will start you in the beginning of the year but until the I want you to go out to my receptionist and ask her to teach you to read and write."

"but Jiji ninja' don't need to read or write all they have to do is kick ass."

"Naruto one of the things that made Minato a strong ninja was his use in Fuinjutsu. Do you know what that is?" seeing Naruto shake his head Sarutobi continues "it's a ninja art that creates seals made for multiple things from storage seals to exploding tags, This is one reason why I am telling you to learn to read and write, you want to be stronger than Minato, don't you?"

instantly at Sarutobis' question Naruto jumps at it "yes I do Jiji and I will be stronger than him you can count on that." after his proclamation Naruto runs out with determination and a strong will with him.

'That Naruto he always puts a smile on my face.' thought hiruzen before hearing

"No Naruto it's not o-" SMASH "n that shelf" Sarutobis receptionist said through the door.

"sigh Naruto" Hiruzen calmly says whilst putting his pipe in his mouth and begins to do the paper work.

(A/N this is my first fic so if there are any problems please PM me or write a review and thankyou for reading my fic)