Author's note: This is my first piece of Naruto fanfiction, and I thought I'd try something unusual (although not having read all of the stuff posted here, I have little doubt that someone had at least a similar idea at some point.). I have very little ideas as to the pairings as of yet, so I'm keeping it open for now. This is a prologue chapter, and it is purposefully short. I hope to write longer ones as I go. As always, reviews and comments are always welcome.

Small note

Bijou thinking
"Bijou talking"
People thinking

PROLOGUE

"I believe it is time" a whisper was heard in a small forest clearing. Three solemn figures were standing around a small, circular pool of water, gazing intently at its contents. The pool reflected the image of a not-so-far-away place, where a young boy was silently crying, his back resting against the trunk of an ancient tree. Blond hair, blue eyes, and three whisker-marks on each cheek, his clothes nearly torn, and sporting many bruises and cuts.

One of the three figures was crying.

"Kami, had I only known that this would happen" he said softly, the sadness and sorrow clear in his voice. Ethereal teardrops vanished before they reached the soil beneath them. The other two figures watched their companion with equal sadness. It was wrong, what had happened to the boy, and yet the six-year-old boy managed to hold his own with little help from others. They watched him since he was born, watched him being hated, cursed and harmed. He carried a burden greater than any of them, and even for all his tears, he still held strong, even if he was alone.

The time had come to change that.

"It's been six years since then." the taller of the two other figures spoke "let's begin this reunion, shall we?"

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To say that Naruto hated his birthday would be an understatement. Every year since he was born, that day was the Kyubi festival, in celebration of the death of the nine-tailed demon. What it also meant, was that a large mob would start going after him. He shuddered at the thought. Almost everyone hated him, and he didn't understand why. He had apparently done something to earn such hatred, but he couldn't understand. The shops overcharged him, the small apartment he had was broken into and vandalized so many times, he had been beaten, cursed, poisoned, robbed... and what pained him more than all that was the simple lack of family. He didn't want to be alone anymore, he wanted to have parents or siblings. Were it not for the few people who cared for him, he would have probably given up on life long ago.

He ran from town for the day, rightfully fearing that the mob would try and hunt him down. He had done so last year as well, and was now sitting in the depths of the forest outside his village, under the branches of the oldest tree there. It was one of the few havens in his world, one of the places that he knew he was safe. Tears were running down his cheeks and falling on the soil beneath him. He was sad and he was tired. He tried bringing back his only happy memories, a last ditch attempt to calm himself down. He thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage of Konoha, the man who took care of him the most. Of Teuchi and Ayame Ichiraku, father and daughter who ran a ramen stand near his home, of a few male and female ninja wearing animal masks who watched over him for the past year and kept him relatively safe. He knew there was one of them nearby, following him. He chuckled for a moment,forgetting his sadness as he remembered that he wasn't really alone. He remembered how much he liked to pull pranks on others, it was one of his more enjoyable activities, and although he never actually hurt anyone, he got in trouble every time, often having to run from the village until the 'heat' cooled down. Besides, he knew there were a few people who laughed quite hard at his antics when they thought he couldn't hear them. For a moment, he felt a familiar presence nearby, followed by two others. He smiled, that was one of the things he knew how to do well, and it unnerved his guards constantly.

"Ji-san!" he cried as he jumped to hug the man he knew to be Sarutobi. He simply smiled as he huged he small buy back, ruffling his hair.

"It's good to see you too, Naruto-kun"

They both sat down, as Hiruzen drew smoke from his pipe and told tales of past time to the boy. Naruto was a good listener, and would remember every story he was told. What he didn't know was that his 'grandfather' was actually teaching him through those stories. As always, the two sat there for hours, and day slowly started turning into night.

The old Hokage always enjoyed talking to his adopted grandson. He had long ago come to love the child for his kindness and enthusiasm. And to make things even better, he finally found a way to train the boy without any interference from the thrice-damned council. His face soured for a moment.

"What's wrong Ji-san? Councilmen giving you headaches again?" the boy asked curiously.

He couldn't help but laugh as the boy was dead on target. He's a lot smarter than he likes to show, Hiruzen thought, wondering how the boy would have turned out if he had a stable family instead of the nightmare he was living.

"How did you figure it out?" He asked Naruto, willing to see the line of reasoning he followed.

"Well" Naruto stopped for a moment "The village isn't under attack, or you and the other ANBU would probably be elsewhere" the old man nodded "And of the other options, only the council gives you that much trouble" he exclaimed with a grin, proud of being able to explain so well.

"Smart boy" Hiruzen said proudly ruffling the boy's hair again.

"I wanted to ask you something Naruto" he began again

"Eh?"

"How would you...." Naruto realized that he couldn't hear the voice any more

Hurry child, there isn't much time, a strange voice echoed in his head, and he felt something pulling him. For whatever reason it was, he knew it wasn't far.

"Naruto, are you alright? You just spaced out there for a second"

"Someone called me" he answered bluntly, raising an eyebrow on his grandfather's head.

"I..I think, someone wants to see me" he added, scratching his head in confusion.

"Well, why don't we go and see him?" Hiruzen answered with a smile

"Them" was the only thing that Naruto said before he jumped and sped off.

Sarutobi may have been old, but he was still one of the most powerful ninja in the world, and it took very little effort to follow his adopted grandson through the forest, three ANBU captains in tow.

Naruto wasn't sure why he was doing this, but the voice was calm and … warm. He was never careless, as he would have died long ago if he didn't pay attention to the dangers around him, but he somehow knew that there would be no danger here.

Within a few minutes he reached the oldest part of the forest. Tall trees extended their branches far overhead, blocking out the skies above. He still ran, the pull was getting stronger. After a while, he finally reached what seemed to be a large clearing with a small circular pool in the middle. He nearly fainted as he recognized the three figures that surrounded the pool.

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Sarutobi silently cursed. In a moment of carelessness, the boy suddenly turned and the old hokage lost sight of him. Still, his chakra signature was easy to follow when he allowed it. But this wasn't the only problem that plagued the very much capable mind of the 'Professor', as they called him. The boy had always been something else, he still remembered how Naruto had predicted a few rather terrible hailstorms that would come, probably saving the crops and the village from starvation, he had noticed several enemy shinobi under deep cover missions and had the foresight to stay calm and warn him without taking any action himself. His only comment was that they smelled weird. And now, the boy was running after some strange voice that called him. If he didn't know better, he would have said that the boy had gone insane. The fact that actually worried him was that the boy would never lie to him, and what he said worried him. There was only one source from where that voice could have come from. As he finally caught up to Naruto, he saw the wide clearing and the three figures with Naruto. He could only feel his jaw drop and eyes tear as he recognized the faces.

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"Hey kid" said the spectral figure of one Minato Namikaze to the startled boy in front of them. Naruto was standing in awe of the three figures in front of him. There was very little need to wonder a to their identities, after all, their faces were carved onto the side of the mountain back in the village. He was speechless, and the figure that closely followed him followed him was in no better condition

"Although we'd love to stay a while and chat about the good old times, we're somewhat strapped for time" dryly said the second figure, that of Tobirama Senju, while still giving a small smirk. The other two merely laughed.

"But... how?" was the only thing Sarutobi managed to speak, tears now falling freely from his face.

"You died. You all died years ago..." he continued to mutter.

"We're ghosts Hiruzen. Those upstairs" Minato spoke, pointing his finger upwards "are somewhat worried for the situation here. And although I'd like nothing more thank to talk to you, we're here for him" he added as he pointed at Naruto.

"Me?" Naruto meekly said, to which Minato nodded.

"Come, there is much to talk, and there is someone else you must meet as well" He spoke and touched Naruto's forehead, seemingly knocking him out" Old man, we'll be borrowing him for a while, he should be quite safe here, but if you want, feel free to take him back home, he'll be out until morning"

With those words, All three figures disappeared, leaving behind a very confused Hokage, along with his three escorts.

"Sir, where those...?" one of them tried, not believing what had occurred before him.

"Aye" he chuckled, wiping away the last of his tears with his hand. Damn, it was good to see you all again.