Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. The only thing I own is the idea and the original characters.
Summary: Naruto gets banished from Konoha after failing to retrieve Sasuke. But he isn't alone. Shikamaru accompanies him and together they start a new life. He gets sent to a present day city. There he finds a new life and a new dream.
Pairings: Naruto/O.C. doesn't know about any others.
Words—thoughts
"Words"-speaking
Words—Kyuubi talking
A New Start
Chapter One
Naruto stood in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. After everything he did for this village, this is how they repay him? He spent the past thirteen years protecting this village, trying to prove himself a worthy ninja, and this happens. He was still trying to figure out if he heard the council correctly.
"You're banishing me? Why?" he asked, still not understanding what they were saying.
"For failure to bring back Sasuke Uchia," one of the clan heads replied. "That was your mission and you failed. We cannot afford to let failure to complete a mission go unpunished."
"So why am I the only one getting punished?"
"You're not. The others will receive punishment as well. They will all receive no missions for awhile and are restricted from leaving the village."
"Why am I the only one getting banished?"
"Because the villagers wish it, you are being made an example of. Any ninja who fails will be punished accordingly. The higher rank the mission, the tougher the punishment."
"Your mission was to prove to the villagers that they could count on you and you let them down. Thus they no longer trust you can do your job as a ninja. The only alternative is to banish you and remove your rank as a ninja," another member explained.
Naruto stood in silence. He was still digesting that last part. The villagers needed more proof? Wait a minute; they never trusted me to be a ninja in the first place. Why are they banishing me now?
They probably just needed a good excuse, Kyuubi answered his thought. And now they have one.
Yeah, you're right. What do I do? Naruto stood before Kyuubi's cage. He doesn't remember when he and the demon started having these talks, but now he's glad he has someone to talk to. Kyuubi understood what he had been through more than anyone, and there were times when he had good advice.
There is nothing you can do. Just go along with it, is the only advice I can offer. They'll regret this decision one day. One day, they will need you more than ever, and you won't be there. Kyuubi replied. He loathed the council more than anyone else in this village. Naruto was a hard worker and a good ninja, and these pompous old farts insisted on taking everything from him. Well, this was the last time they would tear apart Naruto's life. They would go somewhere where the kit would be appreciated and respected. They would start over.
Naruto finished his mental conversation with his demon, and turned his attention toward the council. They obviously expected an outburst. But they were going to be disappointed. He straightened his shoulders and took a calming breath. Then in a calmer voice he said, "The villagers requested this, every one of them?" He sighed. "Fine, if that is what they want so badly, then they'll have it. I'll leave, but when I do I won't be coming back. Ever, no matter what the situation is. I'm sick of being treated like I don't exist or am going to kill anyone who dares to even look at me." He turned toward Tsunade, "Is there anything else or can I leave Hokage-sama?" He said politely.
"You may go." She replied, her heart breaking for the child before her. He bowed, and then quietly left the room.
Naruto headed toward his apartment, he needed to get ready to leave. He wasn't going to remain here one more night. They wanted him gone? Fine, he was gone. Not one of his so called "friends" even stood up for him. They just stood there supporting the council's decision. How could he have been so blind? No one was going to change. He didn't have friends growing up, what made him think he had them now?
Naruto paused in his packing when he heard a knock at the front door of his tiny apartment. He made his way from the bedroom to the front of his one-bedroom apartment. He opened the door only to gape in shock, there stood the last person he expected to see; Shikamaru. The clan heir stood there looking bored as usual; with a travel pack slung over one shoulder.
Naruto came out of his shock just long enough to snap, "What do you think you are doing?"
Shikamaru took no notice of the tone of voice Naruto used and answered, "What do you think? I'm going with you. I heard what had happened at the meeting from my dad and decided that if they were going to banish you; then you shouldn't be going alone. I was leader of that mission, and all I get is D-rank missions for a month. How can they call that fair?"
Naruto considered the ninja in front of him for a minute, before allowing the other to enter the apartment. "It'll just take me a couple minutes to finish gathering my things." Shikamaru made himself comfortable on the couch as Naruto made his way back to his bedroom.
Naruto finished his packing in record time. He took one last look around the apartment, making sure he had everything. He left all of the ninja gear in the bedroom as well as his usual clothes. He was dressed as a civilian; black cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and a pair of black shoes. Gone, was his usual orange jumpsuit. The last thing to be placed on the bed was the headband Iruka-sensei gave him. He reluctantly set it down next to the other gear. Then he grabbed his pack and headed out of the apartment.
Both Naruto and Shikamaru paused at the gates and looked back one last time. This was the last time they would ever walk through these gates. You ready kit? Hai, this is it. No more being a ninja, no more Konoha, no more "friends". Hai, no more lies, no more hate…
With that last thought, Naruto turned away from the village and headed toward his new life with his only friend at his side.
A/N: I decided to edit the first two chapters according to some input I received from a couple of my reviewers. From here on out Naruto will have at least one companion in his new life. Any more input I receive will be considered and I may add the ideas to this story as I write it. Thanks for the support. Ja Ne