Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Italics is for the direct thoughts of the character.
Word on characterization: Naruto is seven and finds himself lost and alone. He will act and think like a seven year old. I have read to many stories where children act too adult to be believable. He is smart, but not a prodigy and as such his mind will wonder and he will want to play or prank to have fun.
Word on technology: The bigger villages have electricity, radios, telephones etc... They are rare though and only the rich have them. Government has telephones, communication radios, electricity, etc... again these items are rare and expensive and have to be imported from industrialized nations like the Snow nation (currently the only nation in the elemental nations that have that type of industry). Communication radios are rarely used except by ANBU.
Chapter 1: Alone Now, Not so Different
Pain was the first thing he noticed when he woke up...
The light was hitting his face through the trees overhead and the sounds of nature ...'Wait, nature? Trees?'
The towheaded youth blinked his eyes open and realized he wasn't it the apartment that was given to him. Trying to move his arms, he felt like he was weighted down with those things he had seen a green spandex wearing ninja use. Gingerly moving his head, the youth winced as he felt like someone had used him for target practice. Looking over himself at the dried blood and cuts, he realized that is exactly what must have happened.
Mostly healed already, Naruto made himself sit up and take stock of his surroundings. Middle of a forest. Check. Stream. Check. Someone or a group of someones taking me from my apartment in the middle of the night to beat me and leave me for dead in said forest by a stream? A BIG FAT CHECK!
Pain and anger warred within his chest as he realized that today is the day he was to start at the academy. He had already heard and tried to ignore the scathing comment about the monster being allowed near decent children. He wasn't stupid, regardless of the front he used. Naruto wasn't even sure why he chose to hide how smart he was. He just knew that he needed to keep what he really felt and thought hidden.
Looking around, the seven year old tried to think about what to do. Scooting closer to the waters edge, he looked at his reflection. The bruises he knew would already be fading and those damn whisker marks and bright yellow hair just shouted to the whole world, Here he is, hit him, grab him!
Naruto knew that real ninjas could change how they look, he also knew civilian actors could to, but how? If he could only change how he looked he could stay in the village unnoticed... but then he would not be allowed to be a ninja. Gramps backed Naruto's entrance into the academy not some unnamed youth off the street.
"Why should I even stay in Konoha?" The thought came so suddenly that he voiced it out loud in surprise that he would even think such a thought. Indeed, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense to go someplace else, but what would he do for the money that the old man always made sure he got. Looking around, Naruto first noticed something that he had, until this point overlooked.
"Where am I?" Looking at the stream with its clear water and rocky bed, he remembered overhearing some old guys talking about how if you just follow water you would find people. Maybe I can get back home, or at least find a town. Now do I follow the water or go where the water comes from.
He remembered how wide the river near the village was and how small this stream appeared in comparison. Vaguely remembering that streams could turn into rivers as it travels, maybe he is above Konoha? Oh well, either way I should find something.
Hours crept by and with it came the heat. Taking off his shoes and shirt and making a bundle to carry them in he fastened it to a sturdy stick. He found another one that could be used to help him keep his balance and stepped into the running water.
"Aah, dang that feels better." Naruto laid down his bundle and two walking sticks to quickly take a dip and allow the water to wash away the old blood and the sweat and dirt he had picked up. Ignoring his hunger he gather is meager possessions and continued on, this time in the water.
By the time the sun had started to set, Naruto's stream had turned into a slow moving small river. Or maybe it should be called a very large stream. The sides had turned sandy and in places it looked like people had been there. Too bad no one is here now.
Not seeing any other choice, he stopped to find a place to rest. Hungry, tire, and sore it was all the boy could do to keep from crying. Not to say he was scared to be alone, indeed that is something that he has always been and probably wouldn't recognize it if the feeling would be taken away. No, this was the first time that he had ever been attacked in such a way that the old man wasn't there for him to comfort and take out to eat ramen before sending the boy back to his apartment. The crushing weight of disappointment came down on him like he had never felt before. "Who needs him anyway. He and the villagers can just kiss my butt." Was the last thought before he went to sleep in the sand and grass at the waters edge.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked through his village and could not help but notice the lightened air in the market district. People were grinning broadly and welcoming him back from his visit to the Fire Lord to the north in the Fire country's imperial city. He was glad to be home. Having to listen to samurai's wax poetic about this honorable thing or that truly got on his nerves. Not that he showed it. It was important that he played the court games on occasion to ensure resources to Konoha.
What many people don't realize that each hidden nation had more that one hidden village. Konoha just happened to be the most prominent and where this nations best ninja academy was. The other villages all supported Konoha if they were ninja villages, or supported the capital city if they were samurai villages. The capital was an even mix of both ninja and samurai. This set up is pretty much the same in each nation, and when it came to war it was the ninjas that fought in the trenches and shadows while the samurai held the city defenses. It was a good compromise.
Coming out of his thoughts, he left the market district and entered the town square that led to the Hokage tower. Entering his office his secretary gave him all of his messages he had missed in the past week as he settled down at his desk. The first notice he read had all the color drain from his face. "ANBU!"
Quickly answering his summons, his personal four man team appear in a swirl of leaves in front of him.
"Why has no one searched for Naruto is he has been missing for the past four days!" This was not a question but a demand of an answer. The captain gulped at looking, not at their mild mannered leader but the man that is known as the God of Shinobi.
"We were told not to waste the resources, sir. Ordered by your two advisers and the council, who jointly agreed that the boy is dead." The dog masked ANBU spoke quickly and concisely. He couldn't help but notice his leaders face taking on a feral edge as he finished.
"Captain, I want every member of the council, both civilian and ninja as well as my two advisers in lock down awaiting interrogation within the hour." Sarutobi all but growled out.
A shouted 'Yes, sir' was his answer as the four man team disappeared to organize the captures. Picking up is phone he called the T&I department. "Ibiki, ANBU will be bringing you a present that has been a pain in my ass for quite sometime now. Let me know the moment you find out who ordered young Naruto disposed of and who they paid to do it!" Slamming the phone down before Ibiki had a chance to answer. Hiruzen stood and looked out his window to the village below. "Oh Minato, how could I have failed both you and your son."
Looking at the phone in confusion at where his boss had just hung up the phone, all he could say was 'Huh' before putting back on the hook himself. He pressed a buzzer, "Anko, I believe we will be having some friends over to play, get ready." He heard an enthused acknowledgment before getting up to look over his shelves of 'toys'. It took a certain mindset to work in Torture and Interrogation. In fact, one could honestly say that the people that make a career in such a field are not 'wrapped to tight'. He didn't care what people thought of his or his apprentices mental stability. He and Anko did everything for Konoha. Unquestionable loyalty.
Picking out acid, needles, couple of dull knives and a bag of lemons, he stepped out to see if the ANBU had brought anyone in yet. He stopped in shock at seeing clan heads and other members of the councils waiting on him. Looking at Inoichi Yamanaka staring back at him in anger and confusion, Ibiki came to a quick decision. "Anko, truth serum, heaviest we have." Stunned, Anko could only nod and follow her boss' lead.
"Inoichi, what the hell have they brought you all in hear for?" Ibiki growled low, so others couldn't hear. Shit, ANBU must have used almost every pair of chakra dampening cuffs we have. Thankfully all the rooms will help keep the clan heads from using any of their gifts as well.
"I honestly don't know, Ibiki. I will cooperate completely to help you figure this out." Inoichi had by now realized that something treasonous had happened with the council for this to happen. He was about to eat dinner, dammit! At least Ino hadn't come in yet.
"Well, Inoichi, I am going to give each of you clan heads some serum-44. Do you have a problem with this?" Ibiki asked his old friend.
"Do it, and as soon as I am clear let me help you with the rest." Inoichi growled out. He had nothing to hide dammit, so whoever pissed all over his standing a ninja and a clan head for Konoha was going to feel his wrath.
"Agreed." Ibiki stepped inside the cell as Anko came running up with a couple of assigned chunin. She set a nondescript black case on the table and opened it up to reveal hundreds of vials and needles set on three 'shelves' that sprang up. Preparing the needle she looked for Ibiki's go ahead before injecting the Yamanaka clan head.
Waiting five minutes to insure that the serum worked. Ibiki looked into Iniochi's dilated eyes and nodded to the chunins to begin recording:
Interrogation of Inoichi Yamanaka by Ibiki Morino. I have had my assistant Anko Mitarashi dose the subject with serum-44 to by pass mental training that the subject has received.
Ibiki: Is your name Inoichi Yamanaka
Inoichi: Yes
Ibiki: Do you know why you are here?
Inoichi: No
Ibiki: Are you aware that Naruto Uzumaki is missing?
Inoichi: What? No
Ibiki waited for a moment and turned to the chunin with the recorded. "It will be noted here that the reaction of one Inoichi Yamanaka is genuine shock."
Ibiki: In the past week have you been part of any council meetings?
Inoichi: No
Ibiki: In the past year have you been apart of any council meetings?
Inoichi: Yes
and so it continued. Ibiki took the time to question about any meeting that ever brought up the Uzumaki boy and who were the most outspoken against him.
Releasing Inoichi from his bindings he told the two chunin to take him into his office to let the remainder of the serum to flush out. Once out of the cell and chakra inhibitors, the flushing should only take about a half an hour.
In the end, it was found that none of the clan heads had been invited to the meeting. Ibiki and Anko didn't even use there toys going straight for the serum. Expensive, and usually frowned upon, but they were both sure that the Hokage would not mind it's use. Many sick surprises were found that day. After delivering the reports to their leader, they both decided to get drunk, and mourn for the death of a young boy that was never given a chance to try for his dreams.