Greetings my fellow readers. I've had this idea bouncing around in my head for awhile now so I decided to go ahead and post.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, Sasuke would have died a long time ago and Sharingan wouldn't equal God powers.
October 10, a day of celebration or victory, a day of celebration for heroism, for survival. October 10 a day for murder. The night was alive as the village of Konoha celebrated the Kyubi festival to remember the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage to defeat the horrid demon Kyubi no Yoko. Kids ran through the streets taking in the sights and sounds, the magic and wonder, the splendor and showmanship that showed how far Konoha had come from the brink of destruction. Not all was having fun at the festival though because though the younger generation remained unaware of what truly happened that fateful, the chunin and higher ninja knew of the beasts true fate, being housed in the object of their ire.
Naruto Uzumaki, the demon child of Konoha ran for his life as these ninja and drunken villagers gave chase, their intention to hurt them clearly apparent. Why are they chasing me? All I wanted to do was see the festival like all the other kids. What did I do for them to hate me? Running as fast as his eight year old frame could carry him, he ducked into what he thought was another street only to come face to face with the darkness of an dead-end alleyway. Turning to try to escape, his eyes went wide as he saw the opening blocked by a flock of villagers carrying sake bottles, clubs, and knives. "It's time for you to die murderer." "Demon" "Monster" were some of the nicer things that he heard as they drew ever closer to him. "I've never killed anyone," the boy shouted out his voice choked with fear as he backed up slowly. "Silence Demon," they answered as they charged forward, raining blow after blow onto his poor quivering frame leaving bruises, lacerations, stab wounds, and broken bones without care for the fact that they were killing an innocent child.
The ninja assigned to watch the boy looked on with amusement happy that the boy was getting what he deserved. Yes, even in ANBU, the Hokage's elite black ops units, the prejudices of the past found fertile soil in which to grow. These ninja though trusted by the Hokage had lost fathers, sons, brothers, dear family that caused them to blindly follow their hatred rather than follow their mission. The ninja were so intent on watching the battle that they failed to notice the boys soon to be savoir happen upon the scene.
Naruto had curled up into a fetal position as the blow continued to rain down, dragging on for what seemed like an eternity, praying for some kind of reprieve from this punishment as his mind slowly shut down. Seeing one his attackers raise a katana to stab to finish him off, he closed his eyes and waited for the end. "Kagerō," a shout came out as a lance of fire imbedded itself in his would be assassin's chest, killing the man instantly. Naruto bleary opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of his savior, a boy about his age before giving into to blissful unconsciousness.
Aoshi had been having a good day so far having made great time to get into Konoha. The nine year old jinchuriki of the Rokubi no Okami had been travelling on his own for two months as a result of his home village being wiped out before deciding to make his new home in Konoha, the most powerful of ninja villages. Taking in the sights of the festival, he moved through the streets with his head on swivel mesmerized by the splendor that seemed prevalent in the village. We never had anything like this back home did we Rokubi? This is just a small example of why Konoha is the most powerful village my child. They seem to be producing the most powerful shinobi of all if the Fourth Hokage was anything to go buy. That's why we picked this place so I could become a great ninja. Moving through the crowd, he caught the scent of something that he hoped to forget, the scent of a large amount of blood being spilled. One of the side effect of having the six tailed wolf in him was his sense of smell was nearly unparalleled and blood was something he most definitely did not forget. Moving as fast as he could, he came upon the scene in the alleyway, a small child being beaten to death by a mob of villagers. It would appear that even Konoha has their secrets. Pup that child is like you and if what I'm sensing is correct then he is the jinchuriki of the Kyubi no Yoko. Is that why their attacking him? I can't let something like this happen.
Channeling some of his chakra into his palm, he let lose a torrent of flames at the man who would execute his fellow jinchuriki before jumping down in front of them. "What gives you the right to attack an innocent child and try to kill him? Is this what the most powerful village in the world does for fun?" Recovering from the sight of one their number dropping, the villagers decided to retort in their stupidity confident that the boy had gotten a lucky shot. "That child is no innocent. He is a fearsome demon and should have been dead long ago demon lover. Now you will die with him," they let out in a snarl as they charge forward to finish what they started. Aoshi knew he wouldn't be able to take them all but dammit if he wasn't going to go down without a fight. Lifting his hands up, he made the shape of a gun with each one as fire spread along them. Pointing them at the leading attackers, he let lose "Higan." From each hand came a teardrop shaped ball of fire that bored through the villagers like a hot knife through butter. Target after target fell dead as his chakra though massive from being a jinchuriki began to drain from his lack of chakra control. Watching the last target fall, he felt himself drop to his knees as the Hokage appeared slipping himself into oblivion.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had tried to protect young Naruto for his short life but the duties of a kage kept him especially busy during the Kyubi festival which of course was the worst time for Naruto. Sensing the burst of chakra coming from the Kyubi festival, he leapt into action hoping to save Naruto from the villagers wrath. He was surprised when he stepped out his Shushin with a squad of Anbu lead by Kakashi to find someone already defending him. He was even more surprised to find that it was a boy. His surprise quickly turned to anger when he noticed that the Anbu team assigned to the boy had failed to step and stop this attack. "Kakashi apprehend those Anbu and take them to Ibiki for interrogation. Make sure to tell him that they let Naruto suffer." Kakashi cringed at the thought, knowing how Ibiki would react and would have felt sorry for them if he didn't care for the boy as much as he did. Motioning to his team, they apprehended the ninja and shushined away leaving the Hokage to attend to Naruto. Once they had left, Sarutobi moved forward and picked up the two boys before taking them to his private doctor.
Naruto had a few broken bones as well as a concussion but any further injury had been prevented by the boy's arrival. Aoshi was suffering from a case of mild chakra exhaustion and would be awake momentarily. When the boy began to stir, the Hokage had gone over to him and prepared his questions. "Ugh note to self, chakra exhaustion sucks. Where the hell am I," he said as he glanced around and took in the telltale white walls of the hospital. "That's right I saved the gaki." Turning his head he noticed the Hokage sitting in a chair patiently waiting for him before sitting bold upright in respect. "Hokage-sama, what do I owe the honor of the leader of the village waiting at the foot of my bed." The Hokage smiled as took in the flabbergasted expression that the boy had before allaying his fears. "Don't worry child, I wish to thank you for protecting Naruto-kun for me. I fear what would have happened had you not been there to help though I must know why you did it?" A look of uncertainty flashed in Aoshi's eyes before he calmly spoke, "Is there anyway we can make this conversation private Hokage-sama" The Hokage raised an eyebrow at the question before moving through some hand seals which caused the walls to glow. "With the privacy seal, no one will be able to hear this conversation now answer the question." Aoshi paused for a brief moment before starting his story. "He's like me. I couldn't stand idly by while another jinchuriki suffered so I stepped and yes the villagers deaths where necessary because just by looking at the I could tell they wouldn't have stopped."
The Hokage's eyes had widened in surprise when the boy had begun to speak from the revelation that he was a jinchuriki to the fact that he had killed 20 people so easily. Deciding to delve deeper, the Hokage spoke, "You're a jinchuriki, I was unware of any others so close to Konoha. Why are you in the village instead of your own hometown." Again the hesitation crossed his feature before he decided to keep honest with the man who seemed to genuinely care. "The village I was born in was on the outskirts of Hi no Kuni. I lived a humble life there, I wasn't excommunicated like he seems to be and things were good. Three months ago the village was destroyed in an attack. I don't remember much other than the bandits killing my family and me waking up in a pile of bodies. What I can piece together is that I gave in and the Rokubi took control and together we slaughtered the bandits. Leaving behind my past, I journeyed across the country before deciding to try and settle down in Konoha to become a ninja. I figured that being a jinchuriki combined with my fire abilities I would be able to become a ninja a grow stronger. I had no idea I would run into a brother like that nor that jinchuriki can sense other jinchuriki." Sarutobi shook his head at this. What is our world becoming if children as young as them how to go through so much suffering and see so much death."You'll get your wish, I'll have the papers drawn up tomorrow for your citizenship and you'll start the academy with Naruto next week. My only request is that you'll look after him. He is very dear to me and he needs someone to be there for him when I am unable to." Aoshi didn't hesitate this time as he loudly proclaimed, "Don't you worry Old Man I won't let my bro down." The Hokage face faulted at being given the same nickname by to different people but was shocked out of it by Naruto.
Naruto had been awake since the start of the conversation due to the Kyubi's quick healing of the damage done to him. He had sat there quietly and listened while the boy who saved him had talked about his life story. "Is that why the villagers hate me and call me demon Old Man, because I am the Kyubi?" Upon hearing this Aoshi had promptly gotten up and smacked Naruto in the head knocking him out of his depressive state. "Listen to me gaki, being a jinchuriki is nothing to be ashamed off. You are not the demon but are instead it's container. You hold the most powerful tailed beast in check through your will alone. Don't let what a few villagers say get you down bro." Hearing this, Naruto teared up before hugging Aoshi in a vice like hold a happily shouting, "Nii-san!" Smiling, Aoshi patted the boys head affectionately before replying. "Outoto. I'll always be there." The Hokage smiled as the interchange happy that Naruto had found someone who could relate to him and could share his burden. Thank you Kami.
Translation Corner
Kagerō: Heat Haze, Aoshi channels chakra into the palm of his hand and releases it as a small, concentrated stream of fire.
Higen: Fire Gun, Aoshi channels chakra to his fingertips and shoots fire bullets from them.