A stranger comes to Konoha, saves a four-year-old Naruto Uzumaki and takes the Kyuubi container into his home. Who is this man and what effects will his simple act of kindness have on our young hero? More importantly what is this man's connection to not only Konoha but to Naruto's parents?
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A/N: Okay so I've been gone for awhile, mostly due to my computer crashing. Sadly ALL of my files and notes for my other stories were lost in the crash so I have to start over from scratch. It may be awhile before I'm able to update any of my other stories.
In the mean time I've decided to give you all a treat for being so patient and am rewriting a new story that developed out of an idea I had about a young Naruto, in this case 4 years old, being raised by someone who's been there. This story was originally posted on and was the only one I had saved on a disk prior to the crash.
If you've read it there then I hope you enjoy the changes that have been made as well as the new direction that the story will be taking. If this is your first time reading this story then I hope that you enjoy my work.
It was just past sundown by the time the man reached the gates of the village but already he could hear the music and laughter coming from inside the city walls as the sounds of the festival reached his ears. Choosing to ignore the revelry for the moment he walks up to the sentries standing at the gate as he hands his passport over to them.
The two Chunnin are less then thrilled at having to skip the festivities as they are forced to endure yet another night of guard duty. All had seemed well until they caught sight of the man now standing before them. The man was dressed from head to toe in black clothing that seemed to match his short military style onyx hair and coal eyes. The man gave off an aura of both confidence and power that the Chunnins had felt the moment he had come into view.
While the first Chunnin inspected the man's passport his partner maintained a weary eye on the stranger. His sleeve-less trench coat was opened and revealed a utility belt with two visible pouches on either hip as well as what appeared to be two kunai holsters on each leg. In addition to his coat the man wore some type of black ribbed ANBU uniform with (at least to the Chunnin) an unidentifiable seal on the back of each hand.
The man was obviously a shinobi though he wore no discernable hitai-ate to identify to which village his loyalties belonged. "Everything seems to be in order," the first Chunnin told the man. "About how long will you're stay be?" he asked when he handed the man back his passport.
"That depends on how my meeting with the Hokage goes," the man answered when he put the item away. He gave the guards an informal salute before he made his way further into the village. 'Doesn't look like anything's changed since the last time I was here,' he thought to himself before he faded from their sight.
A frightened boy races through the streets of Konoha as an angry mob chases after him. This scene is nothing new to the village, in fact it has become something of recent pass-time to chase the boy they all view as the monster that destroyed their homes and killed their family members. The boy turns down an alley hoping to find a place to hide only to curse softly for running into a dead end.
As the crowd of villagers move into the alley, cutting off his only means of escape the boy sits on the cold wet ground clutching an old worn teddy bear as if the stuffed toy might somehow protect him. "You're finished now demon brat," one of them says as he steps closer to the boy. "We've suffered your existence long enough," he says as three of his friends step out of the crowd to stand beside him, forming a type of human wall between him and the rest of the mob intent on killing him.
The stranger is walking down the street on his way to the hotel when he sees a crowd gathered around the entrance of an alley. Curious as to what is going on he leaps to the roof top of a neighboring building and quietly makes his way towards the alley. The sight below him is one that he knows he will never forget for as long as he lives. Standing between a terrified young boy, cowering in fear of his life, are four shinobi who appear to be at least Chunnin level each pointing a kunai at the poor boy.
Images of his own past momentarily flash through the man's mind as he recalls the terror he once felt as a child. 'Never again,' he vows to himself as his anger rises at the scene below, 'Not ever again'. The man jumps down from his perch, placing himself between the poor child and the four shinobi. His anger only increases at the sight of Leaf hitai-ate they each wear. "What is the meaning of this atrocity?" the man demands as he stares the four Chunnin in the eye directing his anger at them.
"This doesn't concern you friend," the first Chunnin tells him. "We've got the situation well in hand, now step aside and let us handle the demon spawn."
The Chunnin's response catches the man off guard causing him to blink owlishly sever times. "Say what?" the man asks in confusion. "The last time I checked I didn't have any children," he tells them.
"I will not warn you again," the Chunnin nearly yells as he points his kunai at the man blocking his path. "Leave now or you will share the same fate as the demon brat."
"And as I've already told you," the man says now more annoyed then angry, "I don't have any children so stop insisting he's my kid."
"Are you crazy?" one of the other Chunnin asks. "We're not talking about you now just hand him over before you get yourself hurt."
The stranger's ears seem to perk up at that before be suddenly bursts out laughing. "YOU hurt ME?" The man continues to laugh for a few moments as the mob's anger begins to shift from the boy behind him to the man himself. "Oh that… that's a good one," the man says as he wipes the tears from his eyes while bringing himself back under control. "Four Chunnin and twenty drunken civilians hurt me… ah now I've heard everything." Taking a breath the man looks at them once again but this time with a mischievous grin on his face. "Listen boy cause I'm only going to tell you this once. If you and your friends want to even attempt to hurt me you'll need more then just one village worth of shinobi to do it. Now get lost."
The man then turns his back to the mob and kneels infront of the still frightened boy. "Hey kid what's your name," he asks gently lifting the boy's face so he can get a better look at it. The instant dark eyes meet blue he goes into shock. "No… dear Kami no…"
"YOU BASTARDS…" the man roars as his once forgotten anger explodes full force. In a flash the man is gone from sight only moments before the dying screams of the would-be lynch mob fills the night air.
An ANBU wearing a dog mask drops down from the rooftop to stand front the stranger as he surveys the carnage around him. The remains of twenty-four men and women litter the alleyway save for the area surrounding a now sleeping child curled up in the man's lap. "The disposal unit is on their way," the ANBU tells the man, "Hokage-sama will wish to speak with you about what happened."
The man looks down at the boy sadly before standing up slowly, careful not to wake the child. "Why didn't anyone tell me, Kakashi?" he asks handing the boy over to the ANBU. "If I had known I never would have come back sooner."
"I don't know," the ANBU answers softly. "I only figured it out myself a few days ago."
"What's his name?" The man asks.
"Naruto Uzumaki," the Captain tells him.
"Kushina," the man speaks softly. The word barely a whisper but the pain in his voice is nearly deafening. "Take him to my place," he tells the ANBU Captain, "And stay with him till I get there." He doesn't wait for a reply before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
The Hokage sits at his desk sighing tiredly as he turns his gaze away from his crystal ball. "After all this time he has finally returned," he says to himself. Looking up at the pictures of the other Hokages he gives a sad smile as his eyes fall upon the last portrait. "I am sorry that there wasn't more I could do," he tells the blonde man staring down at him. "But perhaps now that he's here the boy's life will finally take a turn for the better."
The door to his office opens as the stranger enters unannounced. "Why the HELL wasn't I told about Naruto?" he demands. "You of all people had to have known so why didn't you ever tell me…Otosan."
The Hokage takes a tired breath as he signals for the man to take a seat. "I apologize for keeping Naruto's existence from you, Raven-kun," he tells his adopted son, "But I felt it better for the Naruto's safety if no one knew of his parentage."
"Bullshit," Raven nearly yells. "If you were so worried about his safety then you should have told me about him. You know better then anyone that I'd never let anyone harm him."
"I know," the older man admits sadly, "But your training…"
"Screw my training," Raven interrupts him, "I was done with that when I came back Minato's Inauguration. I only used it as an excuse to stay away so that I wouldn't be dragged into another pointless war." Leaning back in his chair Raven takes a calming breath, reining in his still volatile temper before he says or does something he knows he'll regret. "We can't undo what has already happened," he admits softly, "I'll take Naruto in and raise him as I know his parents would have wished."
"Are you sure?" the Hokage asks with a warm smile although he already knows the answer.
"Hai," Raven replies as he stands to leave. "Pleas have Minato's personal belongings moved from storage and sent to my home in the morning."
An hour later Raven finally walks through the front door of the small house that he now shares with Naruto. As he looks around at the sparsely furnished living room he can't help the grin that crosses his lips at how nothing has changed in the nearly six years since he last stood in the room. Making his way towards the stairs leading to the bedrooms he stops at the bottom step feeling another presence in the room. "Thanks for your assistance Kakashi," he tells the man without looking for him. "I can take it from here."
The faint click of a closing window lets him know that his guest has left before he continues on his way up to his room. He stops to peek in on a sleeping Naruto and smiles as he notices how peaceful the boy seems. "Tomorrow we'll start getting to know each other and get you settled in," he says softly. "After that we'll begin your training and education and by the time I'm finished with you, you will be the greatest shinobi this world has ever seen."
"Assuming he can reach the same arrangement with Kyuubi that you have with me," a deep haunting voice whispers in the back of his mind.
The sun is already peeking through the curtains of the room by the time Naruto wakes up from the best night sleep he can ever remember having in his admittedly short life. The seductive smells drifting up to his room from the kitchen caused his mouth to water as he slides from under the covers and slowly makes his way down the stairs. 'The nice man said that his friend would be taking care of me from now on,' he remembers as he reaches the bottom of the steps.
Naruto remembers the Dog Masked ANBU from the nearly countless times the man has saved his life over the years and has grown to trust him the same way he trusts the Hokage and the nice people that run the ramen stand. 'They always make sure I had at least one meal a day,' he smiles to himself, 'Even if it is ONLY three bowls.'
As he enters the room he sees the strange man that saved him from the mob last night. The man smiles at him as he slides a plate of food towards an empty chair before signaling Naruto to take a seat. The young boy holds his teddy tightly as he slowly approaches the seat and then climbs up to get a better look at the food.
Raven grins as he sees the boy pick up the fork and almost instantly begin devouring the bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast before chugging the milk. The boy takes less then a minute to consume the entire meal before holding up his plate and asking for more. 'I remember when you used to eat like that,' the voice in his head says.
'What do you mean USED to?' Raven replies mentally as he collects the plate and glass before walking over to the counter to replace the food. 'I still do.' he thinks, 'Just not in public.'
'True,' the voice concedes, 'He looks so much like his father,' the voice comments as it watches the boy through Raven's eyes scarf down yet another helping of the meal. 'But he seems to have his mother's table manners,' it groans as the boy lets out a loud burp.
Raven mentally chuckles at the voices annoyance as he clears the table, placing the dishes in the sink before returning to his seat across from the boy to begin the talk he knew they had to have. "I already know who you are Naruto-kun," he tells the boy, "But I should probably tell you who I am. My name is Raven Sarutobi and like you I too was an orphan."
The man's voice is kind and gentle as he speaks to Naruto and he can't help but smile at the man that calls himself Raven. What he likes even more is the fact that Raven was also an orphan like himself. "Am I going to be living here like the nice man said, Raven-san?" he asks, his eyes shimmering with hope.
"Hai," Raven answers with a smile as Naruto leaps out of his chair and runs across the table to hug him. With reflexes born from his years as a Shinobi, Raven catches the boy easily and returns the hug warmly. "But please call me Raven," he tells the boy. "Raven-sama is way too formal for my tastes."
"Hai Raven-niisan," Naruto says still clinging tightly to the man.
"Niisan works," Raven chuckles as the voice in his head grumbles.
Walking down the streets of Konoha on their way to the shopping district to buy the things that Naruto would need their first stop is to get the young boy some new clothes. As they enter the store the shop owner immediately glares at them. "I do not allow demon brats in my store," the man tells them. "Leave now before I call the ANBU to remove you both."
"What is it with people and their insistence that you are my kid," Raven asks Naruto. "I mean sure okay I'm kind of adopting you but what does that have to do with calling you my offspring?" Naruto looks at him as if he's grown a second head before shrugging. Turning back to the shop owner Raven stares into the man's eyes as his own normally onyx eyes shift to the green slitted reptilian eyes. "I may be known as the Demon of Konoha to my enemies but in this village I'm called Raven Sarutobi. My Ward and I would like to buy some clothes but if that is too much of a problem for you we will take our business elsewhere."
"N…no…no problem S…Sarutobi-sama…" the man stutters, "Please take your time and let me know if you need any help."
Unfortunately this very same scene to plays out in nearly every store they visit until they finally decide to stop for lunch just after noon. Never the less they still manage to purchase Naruto several children's books, toys and clothing as well as restock the cupboards and pantries with enough food to last even them for a week or two, longer if they eat out at least twice a week.
After lunch they make their way towards the shinobi supply shop talking as the go. "Starting tomorrow we'll begin your training," Raven informs Naruto.
"Training," Naruto asks, "Training for what?"
"To be a shinobi of course," Raven answers causing the boy's eyes to light up.
"You mean like the nice man and the Hokage?" Naruto asks.
"Hai," Raven tells him as they enter the shop.
Unlike the others shops they visited that day the owner doesn't try and chase them away, instead the man walks over to Raven and extends his hand. "Welcome back Raven-san," the man greets him. "It's been a long time."
"Hai," Raven replies shaking the hand, "It's good to see you old friend."
"And you too," the man replies. Looking over Raven's shoulder he smiles at Naruto before stepping in front of the boy and squatting down to the child's level. "I'm Ryo and you are?" he asks the boy.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki…sir," Naruto answers the man.
"Well Naruto Uzumaki welcome to my shop," he smiles before standing back up so he can turn around and look at Raven once again. "Re-supplying or arming the kid?" he asks.
"Both actually," Raven answers, "I'm going to start his training tomorrow so we'll also need training gear along with a full set of ninja equipment."
"Standard Shinobi equipment or Standard Raven equipment?" Ryo asks with a chuckle.
"Do you even need to ask," Raven replies with a chuckle of his own.
"Same old Raven," Ryo answers as he heads towards the back. A few minutes later he returns with a box and sets it on the counter. "The weapons and other gear I already had waiting," he informs his friend. "The clothes will take a while to make since I'll need his measurements before I can begin."
"Not a problem," Raven smiles as he hands Ryo a slip of paper before reaching for his wallet.
"No charge," Ryo tells him before Raven can start taking the money out. "Consider them late birthday presents."
Raven nods as he puts the wallet away knowing that the man is referring to Naruto and not him. "Alright but I'm still paying for the clothes," he tells Ryo.
"Only if you let Naruto come over to play with Ten-Ten." Ryo laughs.
"Ten-Ten?" Raven asks confused for a moment before realization dawns on him. "So it was a girl?" he asks excited for the man.
"Hai," Ryo answers beaming with fatherly pride. "She's a hell of a shot too, just like her mother."
"Speaking of her mother," Raven says, "How is Suka? I haven't seen her since you guys announced you were expecting."
"She's fine," Ryo answers, "She and Ten-Ten are out visiting her folks right now but they should be back soon if you want to hang around."
"I'd love to," Raven tells him, "But I need to get this stuff home and start on Naruto's education before dinner."
"Alright," Ryo says understandingly. "How about you two join us tonight? I know Suka will love to see you again and I'm sure the Naruto and Ten-Ten will get along just fine."
"We'll be there," Raven tells his friend before picking up the box and signaling for Naruto to get the door. "See you tonight then."
A/N: Not too bad if I say so myself… Raven is a Jinchuuriki just like Naruto and has lived through the same persecution as Naruto. His Bijuu in this story will be Hatibi no Tatsu or the Eight Tailed Dragon. (I think I got this right… please correct me if it's wrong, Thanks.)
I created Hatibi because I like Dragons and to the best of my knowledge the Eight-Tailed Demon hasn't been revealed in the Manga thus far. I also just made up the names of Ten-Ten's parents since I can't find any information on them. (If anyone knows anything about them let me know and I'll make the changes otherwise they'll stay as they are, Again Thanks.)
I want to clarify things now before I get accused of writing another OC-centric story that while Raven will remain a key character throughout the story I'm only putting the main focus on him for the first few chapters as a means of establishing his relationship with Naruto and the other residents of Konoha. After that he will fully assume his duties as a member of the supporting cast.
As always Reviews are greatly appreciated as they continue to help me in improving my writing. They also let me know whether or not you're enjoying the story so far.