Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A/N:
1) This is my first story
2) English is not my Native language, So I try to do my best to write without mistakes, Just so you know in advance before you begin to read.
Chapter 1:
Like every morning, Naruto woke up alone in his apartment. he swung his legs over the bed and dragged himself to his kitchen. He looked inside in his fridge to see that he only had some milk left. 'Time to do some grocery shopping' he thought. It was not like he could buy enough for a growing child of 7 years old. Especially with the outrageous prices the merchants asked. Luckily there was gods gift, ramen. It was the most delicious food ever. He couldn't understand how people could eat other things than ramen. He didn't in any case. And it was cheap enough, to buy enough for a month. He never knew why but in most of the shops where he wanted to buy something they always asked more than the price said. When he asked why the price suddenly changed, they gave him a cold glare and said that he just had read the wrong price. He knew complaining had no effect and they would just throw him out of the store. So he kept his mouth shut and paid the price.
This was not the only thing that bothered him about the village. Everywhere he came the villagers looked at him with hate like he was some kind of demon. He never knew why, but he was going to show them he was more than a prankster or nuisance by becoming the strongest shinobi of the village, the Hokage. But he wasn't dumb like most people thought. He knew he was by far not strong enough, he needed to train. The problem was he never really had the chance. He had no family who could train him like the different clan heirs. Or access to information on how to start, he tried going to the library. But he was only allowed in the civilian section so long as he didn't join the academy. He tried training his taijutsu but without a style, he didn't accomplish anything. There were only two things he was good in. Agility and stamina from executing his pranks and running away from the cavalry that was sent after him. But this would all change because this year he would become eight and he would have the chance to join the academy. A chance to show the people that he wasn't a dumb, dead last loser.
But that were problems for later. Now there was the breakfast problem. 'I better go to the store. But I think I first deserve some ramen'. With that thought, he left his apartment in the direction of Ichiraku ramen. But little did he know at that same moment his future was being decided for him.
In a large room located in the Hokage tower, the Hokage and council existing out of the clan heads, civilians chosen to represent the civilian side and the village elders were discussing the students who were going to join the academy. Normally it wouldn't be necessary to have council meeting for this if it wasn't for Jinchūriki of the nine tails who would join the academy next year.
"We can't let that child go to the academy," said a civilian counselor. He was a merchant with a bald head and more on the heavier side. He wore beautiful dark yellow kimono with gold birds. "Who knows what could happen if he lost control while he is sparring with another student".
"Are you asking me to disrespect the dying wish of my successor," asked the sandaime Hokage with an angry tone. "He wanted this child to be seen as a hero. But the only thing he received from the villagers is hate. And now you also want to take his dream from him."
"I know you see us as the enemy here Hokage-sama, but you need to view it from our point," said one of the elder civilian councilors. The Hokage knew he was one of the more reasonable council members. "Our children and grandchildren are going to join with him in the academy. It is already hard enough we need to send them to a life of dead and despair. We don't want them to get killed or hurt before they even leave the academy."
"And doesn't get Naruto a chance to have a life as a normal child. His whole life has he been shunned by the villagers. He never had a family or a chance to make friends. And now you also want to take away the thing he has been looking forward to his whole life." said Hiruzen getting angrier and angrier by the minute.
"We should find a solution that satisfies both parties instead of this arguing." said Shibi Aburame, the clan head of the Aburame clan, in a calm voice.
"I will take the boy as my apprentice and help him reach his full potential," suggested Danzo, one of the village elders.
"And we all know if we would leave him with you, he would become a slave without emotions who does everything at your command." Tsume Inuzuka, the clan leader of the Inuzuka dog clan, growled.
Danzo wasn't intimidated by the women. "It is normal he will change in these years. He is still young, not really sure about his place in this world and someone needs to guide him on his path to a shinobi of Konoha. I see no problem with me being this person. I am sure under my tutelage he will become strong and loyal to Konoha."
Hiruzen knew if Danzo got his hands on Naruto he would have really failed Minato. With the civilian council supporting Danzo would have no problem getting what he wanted if it came to a vote. Danzo had his eyes on Naruto since he knew he was the Jinchūriki of the nine tails. It was only because The Hokage put an ANBU squad on naruto to guard him that Danzo hadn't had a chance to persuade Naruto. He needed to think fast. "I will take him as an apprentice."
Everybody expect Danzo and Shibi looked at the Hokage with open mouths. "You're going to do what?" asked Hiashi Hyuuga, clan head of the stoic Hyuuga clan.
Hiruzen was smiling, he saw the anger in Danzo's eye's. ''You heard me right I will take Naruto as my apprentice. This is the best solution for this problem. I will train him until he is 12 years old. Then he will take the academy exams and will join a team.".
"You can't teach that demon. What will happen? No, we better let him stay a civilian as he is. " said the heavyweight civilian.
"You have no say in who I take as my apprentice" replied the Hokage while leaking a little bit of killing intent. "If you don't want me taking him as an apprentice, then he will join the academy. But either way, if you like it or not Naruto will become a shinobi of this village."
The civilian council was too afraid to respond to this statement. They knew the Hokage could be a vicious man if he wanted to.
"But how are you going to combine training the boy and running the village." voiced Danzo in concern. He didn't like he couldn't train Naruto but if the boy was to be trained he needed to be sure he would be trained decently. Their Jinchūriki needed to be a strong weapon so Konoha didn't fell behind the other hidden villages.
"Don't worry about that Danzo I will explain this later. This is not of any concern to the civilian council." The Hokage replied with still a little bit of anger in his voice. "As last, everything that has been said here today must stay a secret. We don't want other villages knowing that I am going to have a new apprentice. If nobody has anything to add to this, then I think the meeting is finished for today. " he said back in his normal voice.
With that everyone left, most of them with smirks on their faces, the clan heads knowing the Hokage had denied Danzo his weapon and that there was a possibility for naruto to become a legendary sannin like the other students of the Hokage. And the civilian side knowing that the demon wouldn't be in the same class as their children.
The Hokage and the elders retreated to the Hokage office. Once inside the Hokage sat behind his desk. The moment this happened Koharu started talking. "How are you planning to train Naruto you barely have free time with your duties as Hokage".
"If you just give the boy to me you won't have this problem" added Danzo.
Hiruzen looked at him with cautious eyes. "This won't be a problem at all I will make use of a blood clone. The clone and one will take naruto outside of the village to train him. An ANBU will join them to make sure Naruto is save if something was to happen to the will return back when the genin exams take place, in four years."
"If this is your decision we will not try to stop you. I am sure he will become a strong shinobi under your tutelage." Said Danzo surprising Hiruzen. It was a rare sight when he didn't try to fight his decision. But he knew Danzo would do everything for the good for the village. And another shinobi trained by the god of shinobi and being a Jinchūriki at the same time was always good for the village. Even if he couldn't control the child.
With that Hiruzen was left alone. He slumped down further into his chair. What was he thinking of taking another student at his age. One thing he was sure off, he wouldn't further disappoint the legacy of Minato. "Cat," Hiruzen said. Suddenly an ANBU member arrived in front of the Hokage. He was dressed in the standard ANBU attire. The only thing to identify him was his cat mask and his short brown spiky hair. "I have a mission for you that will take four years do you accept," asked the Hokage. "Yes Hokage-sama, I accept".
"Good, You will be paid the amount of an S-Rank mission for a duration of four years. With this, you are no longer ANBU and you are given the rank of Jounin."
Naruto was busy devouring his 15th bowl of ramen. When Ayame, a girl in the twenty with brown hair and daughter of the best ramen chef of whole Konoha, no whole the world, came out of the back. "Do you want another bowl Naruto?".
"No I think this will be enough for today if I keep eating I won't have enough for grocery shopping," he said with a sad tone.
"This one is on the house for our best customer" came from Teuchi the father of the previously named girl, while he put a bowl of miso ramen in front of Naruto. On naruto's face came a bright smile. A real one not the one he faked in front of everyone. This smile was only seen by people the closest to his heart. "Thanks, Teuchi-san".
With that, he devoured his last bowl, said goodbye to Teuchi and Ayame and left for the shop. He was walking through the main street when suddenly a shinobi appeared in front of him. He was wearing the standard ANBU uniform without the mask. He had short brown spiky hair and black almond shaped eyes. The most unique thing about him was that he wore a happuri instead of a normal forehead protector. "Can I help you" Naruto cautiously asked. Not really trusting the man in front of him. He didn't look like he was going to hurt Naruto but he never could be too sure. "The Hokage has asked for your presence."
"What does Jiji want with me," he asked with a questionable look. Before the shinobi could answer Naruto began to ramble. "Maybe he will teach me a cool Jutsu or tell me about my parents or let me join the academy earlier or…."
He just let Naruto ramble, touched his shoulder and Shunshined away. They arrived in the Hokage's office. Naruto still rambling "Or maybe he will make me Hokage because he knows how awesome I am. No that can't be it I am not even a ninja.". He jumped up when Hiruzen coughed to get his attention. He looked at the Hokage who was laughing at his antics. "Hey, you could have warned me before we left" shouted Naruto at the shinobi. Who was also giggling.
"Naruto please sit down I need to tell you something". Hiruzen said with a soft voice. Naruto sat down on the chair in front of the desk. "I want everybody to leave the room except you Yamato." Suddenly two ANBU's jumped from the ceiling and left through the door. This left the Hokage, Naruto and the shinobi that brought Naruto to the Hokage.
"What is it Jiji, is it about me finally joining the academy". Naruto asked full of anticipation.
"It has to do with that but first let me ask you a question Naruto why do you want to become a shinobi." Naruto didn't need to think long about it "I want to become a strong shinobi to show the villagers I am more than a prankster. I want to show I am strong enough to protect them and smart enough to lead them." At this Hiruzen smiled "That is good to hear that you don't want to become a shinobi for power or money, but to protect people."
"With that answered, you can't join the academy." said Hiruzen in a calm tone.
Naruto's world crashed down in front of his eyes when he heard those words. "What" screamed Naruto "You can't do this to me. You know I looked forward to this my whole life. And now it's going to happen you forbid me to go to the academy."
"Listen to me" Hiruzen tried to get between naruto's words.
"No you listen to me" Naruto shouted harder. "You can't stop me from becoming a ninja. I will do everything to reach my dream and you and nobody else can stop me."
With that Naruto tried to leave only to be stopped by Yamato. "Naruto if you would listen to the Hokage I think he has more to say". Yamato said trying to calm the boy. Naruto returned reluctantly to his chair.
"Are you calmed down,"The Hokage asked calmly. Naruto nodded. "Fine, if you would have let me finish you would have heard you won't join the academy but you will become my apprentice for the next 4 years." With that said naruto became his energetic, enthusiastic self again. "Really Jiji I will be trained by you, the strongest ninja in whole Konoha."
"Yes, you will. But calm down, this will become four difficult years. You will be trained into the ground by me. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Jiji I am totally ready to become the strongest ninja and take that hat from you," Naruto shouted full enthusiasm.
'That's what I am hoping for, show the council who you really are' Hiruzen thought with a smirk on his face.
"The next four years you will stay outside of the village. I am not personally going with you but I will send a blood clone and Yamato here with you." Naruto looked behind him to see Yamato giving him a nod. "Naruto this is Yamato he will accompany you together with my clone".
"I think we already have met," Yamato said while Naruto was looked confused. "When you were little I was one of the ANBU charged with keeping an eye on you. My codename was Cat".
Suddenly Naruto's face cleared up "You were Cat, I never got to thank you for the times you bought candy for me". Naruto said with a big smile knowing the shinobi, who he was going to spend four years with, was one of the few people that were friendly to him.
"Don't sweat about it. It was the least I could do for you" Yamato said with a small smile.
"That's good to know. Now for the clone." The Hokage took out a big scroll out of the bookcase and rolled it out on the floor. On the scroll was a seal. The Hokage bit his thumb and let a couple drops of blood fall in the middle. He started doing seals at a fast pace and pressed his hands against the scroll while saying "Blood Clone". There was a poof and in the middle of scroll stood a clone of the Hokage.
"What is so special about this clone you couldn't make a regular clone." asked Naruto.
'This is good, he is interested in learning new things' The Hokage thought. "Well the biggest difference with a normal one, is that this one is a real clone so it can be used for your training. Also, I only need chakra to make him. The advantage of such clone is that it can stay for so long as I want or until it gets hit hard enough to disappear without me keeping my chakra up. The disadvantages are it takes a seal to make and only one at a time can be made".
"Still that is amazing so I can touch it without disappearing and can be used for a longer time. That is so cool. Think about all the amazing things you could do with this. Like it could be used as a body double for when you need to go to a dangerous situation."Naruto said surprising both Yamato and Hiruzen at the intelligent response. "That's right Naruto. That is a good deduction."
"Now that we have handled this we will meet you tomorrow morning at 8:00 at the gate. Yamato will take you to a store to get you the necessary equipment. And don't start with telling everyone that you are going to be trained by my." Naruto gave a nod and Yamato bowed for the Hokage. And with that, they both left.
The first thing they did was going to a clothing store. Because according to Yamato He wasn't going to look at that eye hurting orange for four years long. With a lot of struggling, he forced naruto to wear a standard shinobi attire without the flask jacket. He had promised Naruto they would buy clothes that he wanted before they returned to Konoha.
The next stop was the weapon shop. They went to a shop called 'the bullseye'. It was a small shop, he had walked a couple of times past the shop on his way to the grocery shop but never went inside because he was sure they wouldn't sell weapons to children. Inside it was bigger than it looked from the outside. There were different racks with weapons from katana's to clubs. They were greeted by a muscled man. He was wearing a gray shirt without sleeves and light brown pants above this he had a brown apron mostly used when working with the forge. "Welcome to my shop, my name is Ryozo, how can I help you". He asked with a friendly smile while looking to Yamato. Naruto stayed a little bit behind Yamato. Afraid he would be thrown out when Ryozo saw him. But when Ryozo looked at Naruto he saw the same friendly eyes Yamato was greeted with. "We are looking for a set of kunai and shurikens for my young friend here".
"No problem we have them right here," Ryozo said while taken a pack of kunai and shuriken out of the rack.
Yamato looked at Naruto "Are you interested in wielding a weapon?".
"I am not sure I never thought about it," Naruto answered
"Why don't you look around if something interests you," Yamato said while starting to look at the weapons displayed.
Naruto went further into the shop to look at all the sword's, club's and bow's until he stopped at the bo-staffs. He looked at the different models until he heard a female void behind him. "Are you interested in the bo-staffs". Naruto looked behind him and saw a girl a little taller then him wearing a pink Chinese dress like shirt with dark green pants. She had brown hair that was put in two buns.
"I don't really know I was just looking around". Naruto said a little confused.
"My name is Tenten," she said with a smile.
"Naruto" Naruto replied with a big smile while putting his hand out. "Nice to meet you".
They shook hands. "I think a bo staff would suit you really good".
"How are you so sure about that" asked Naruto. "You haven't seen me fight. Maybe I am not really suited for weapons."
"With most people I can see wich weapon suits them best. My dad says because I am always busy with weapons." She said a little embarrassed. "I want to become the weapon mistress of Konoha. And become so strong as my idol the slug princess, Tsunade."
"Who is this Tsunade? " Naruto asked confused. Never having heard of this Tsunade person.
"What you don't know Tsunade the female sannin. Trained by the Hokage." She said a little bit bothered Naruto didn't know her greatest idol.
"Is she really trained by The Hokage," He asked thinking. "Then I am going to become so strong as her. Because the Hokage is going to train me for the next four years." He said before realizing that the Hokage had warned him not to tell it to everyone.
Tenten's eyes went wide open "You are going to be trained by the Hokage. That's amazing you're going to be trained by the god of shinobi. And you are younger than Tsunade when she started training. But how is the Hokage going to train you when he needs to lead the village" she asked having recovered a little from the revelation.
"He made some kind of special clone who is going to train me. But this needs to stay a secret between us. Normally I could tell no one." Naruto said trying to save the situation a little.
She pouted a little before smiling "I promise it will stay a secret between us. If you promise to fight me first thing when you return from your training."
"That's a promise," Naruto said with a big smile knowing he had made a friend in the girl.
"Now the problem with your weapon. I think I have the perfect one for you." She said while going to the back of the store. She came back with a wooden bo-staff. It had a red color and golden markings. "Look at this beauty," She said while mesmerizing the staff. "It was made for a client but he died before he could come and get it. For now it's maybe a little too big for you, so you can't use it to your full potential until you grow a little but I am sure you can begin training with it."
Naruto was pouting a little knowing she had insulted his height. But he was happy she was helping him. And it sounded like good information. Not like the other merchants who tried to sell him inferior objects. "I like it but how much does it cost," Naruto asked with a small heart. Knowing it wouldn't be cheap, seeing the quality of the staff. "I need to ask dad," she said while walking to the counter.
"Hey dad how much doe this weapon cost," she asked. He looked at it and said without changing his face "12 000 ryo". Naruto's face showed disappointment. "That's too much I could never afford it."
"You know what," Ryozo said. "I give it to you for 2500 ryo. As a one time deal If you promise to keep shopping here for all your needs."
"You don't need to do this that discount is too much. You don't even know me." He said cautiously thinking he had other motives for giving such a high discount. "Don't worry about it, this weapon needs to be used not catch dust in the back of my shop," Ryozo said with a big smile vanquishing all off Naruto's doubts.
"In total, that will be 3800 ryo". Before Yamato could pay Naruto stopped him and said: "I want to pay for the bo-staff, if you don't mind". "If you say so," Yamato said, "The Hokage gave me money for all the things you needed and I think he would be very happy to hear you are interested in learning to wield a bo-staff."
Naruto and Yamato paid and before they left the store. He heard the girl say "Hey don't forget what we promised to each other. Become as strong as possible because I will do the same."
Naruto gave her his real smile."I never break a promise that's my ninja way.". Both adults could only smile at the scene before them. The two children only just met a couple of minutes ago and you already knew they were going to become good friends.
After they left and turned to her father and asked: "Why did you really gave that staff so cheap to him".
Her father looked at her "Because he reminds me of one of the best shinobi this village ever knew and this is my way to honor him. I know that kid will go far and will even surpass the Hokage." He said with a smile thinking about the things the kid could accomplish.
Tenten never had seen her father this way. She saw in his a little bit of regret. She could only hope he was right in his assumption about Naruto.
After this Yamato and Naruto both said goodbye and went their separate ways. Naruto first went to Ichiraku ramen first knowing this would be the last time he could taste god's food made by the best chef in the world before he left for four years.
After saying his goodbyes to Ayame and Teuchi. He went home ready to prepare for the big day tomorrow the day he would start his training to become the best ninja this village would ever know.
The next morning Naruto was walking towards the gate when he saw three people waiting for him. Two Hokages one in his robes and the other in his battle armor and Yamato in a standard jounin attire.
"Good morning Naruto are you ready to leave." The Hokage in battle armor asked. 'This is probably the blood clone' naruto thought. "You can count on me, I am ready," Naruto said full of enthusiasm.
"Ok Naruto good luck on your training and listen to both Yamato and my clone," said the real Hokage. "I see you in four years and hopefully, I can welcome you back as a strong shinobi".
"You count on me" Naruto yelled "Let's go" and with that, he ran off.
"5.. 4...3..2..1...". Yamato counted down. On one Naruto suddenly appeared again. With a red face, he embarrassed asked "Hu, which direction do we need to go?" With that, the clone and Yamato left chuckling in the other direction with Naruto behind them.