Hate.

Hate, a burning emotion that he could never avoid as he walked along the streets. Every stare, every look, every glare was either filled with mild dislike or deep hatred.

Anger.

Anger, a raging emotion running through the veins of each person he tried to talk to. Whether they be children his age or the elderly in their peak years, the scorns and insults were always fresh in his mind; they always hurt too much.

Then again, the two were not as bad as they may seem. The boy would- no, he needed to get through all of this if he wanted to achieve his ultimate goal. No amount of hate or rage could push him away from the path taken.

Then again, there was something far worse.

Neglect.

The feeling of abandonment, the lack of care and attention from anyone. Not even a look of sympathy from a passerby when he was beaten up by children and young teenagers who wanted no more than to cause him misery. Sure the masked men appeared and stopped them from causing further harm to him, but it was their job, no?

One would expect that the people who turned up from the shadows to save you from getting hospitalized actually cared about you, right?

But from the way they acted, the silence of their voice and the emotionless expressions on and behind their animal masks, he just knew.

They don't care…

At first, he never understood the real reason why. Why was he treated this way by the villagers of Konohagakure? Was it something he did? The pranks he pulled off on the villagers were often harmless and he never did mean to hurt anyone. Sure he understood their anger and frustration at getting pranked by him but then even before his pranking days started, he just knew.

They hate me…

In appearance the boy would walk on the streets of the village with a smile on his face as bright as the sun, his blue eyes sparkling in midday. The boy would often wear a white ragged T-shirt with a red 'Whirlpool' symbol in it's centre and green coloured shorts that stretched right below the knees. A pair of green coloured goggles adorned his forehead like a hairband ensuring that no strand of hair were to touch his forehead- yet some managing to escape anyways.

Altogether, the style of the boy shaped an image of a playful and happy-go-lucky adventurer who was mischievous within his own right.

Can no one see through his mask? A visage and persona created in order to protect his own feelings and most importantly, his sanity?

Who would have thought that the boy with the brightest smile experienced painful abuse and terrible treatment from the inhabitants of the Great Ninja Village of the Land of Fire?

Did they know that the little boy they threw out of their shops, the little boy they belittle and bullied was just a child? A sweet child who wants nothing more than to be seen.

A child who wants nothing more than to be loved?

Love, what was love to the boy?

A question that deserves an answer but hardly gets any.

And at the most silent of times in the darkest of nights as the inhabitants of Konohagakure were invited to the realm of dreams, the boy stayed awake sitting down on his bed in solemn contemplation.

I just want to hate everyone… But I can't ...

Why?

Why is it me who's suffering?

Tears fell from his eyes like hush streams, flowing down his cheeks and onto his clothes. It was now he could finally put down the mask he so often wore when the sun was in the horizon gracing the land he called home.

Yet, he just knew.

So thus, a memory played again in his head. A story that he would never forget.

In order for his home to prosper and be protected.

He must suffer a great torment…

Thus, so be it.

...

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. Piles of files were stacked up on his desk creating mountains of paperwork that in a hyperbolic sense, stretched as far and high as the eye can see.

To the untrained eye and spirit of course.

Paperwork has always been a part of Hiruzen''s daily life ever since he took the reigns of leadership with the Sandaime title. Indeed his prowess in battles and skills in warfare brought him immense honor and glory to himself and his family which granted him the position in the first place. He was also regarded by the masses as a "God of Shinobi", a deity amongst mortals.

But he knew better.

He was no god.

Especially if paperwork was involved.

Sarutobi may be a powerful ninja but that does not mean he was immune to his flaws - apparently the elder was rather lacking in office organization skills.

Said piles of mission reports and meeting minutes were spread out everywhere - some scattered on the floor, some beneath the desk and some even made its way behind the throne-like chair. A comical sight it may be but one knew better than to touch any of those documents or files.

Unless you're his personal assistant of course.

Legend has it that there was once an ANBU member who was unfortunate enough to have one flying to his face.

He never woke up again.

Rumours aside, skimming through the Hokage's documents without any official permission from the Hokage himself may be subjected to espionage, thus if one were to be caught in the act, there was no denying that one could be charged with treason. In order to avoid such incidents from occurring, an ingenious method was implemented by the Nidaime Hokage- a method which involved combining a simple genjutsu with an even more simple fuinjutsu.

The result was an inability to see through the papers from a far distance even if one possessed the Sharingan or Byakugan - unless of course they are masters of that particular set of Dojutsu- except when in contact with said papers.

As a second layer of protection, the fuinjutsu layer also included a particular illusion where if anyone aside from the Hokage or ones given prior permission to see through the documents, said person would be placed under a genjutsu that traps the culprit in an endless extending hallway similar to the one in the Hokage's Tower. Although the genjutsu may be said to be simple, the effect depends on the mastery of the user hence it is rather overwhelming even to even a Jonin level ninja to overcome.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi was no slacker when it came to power.

Yet behind the professional demeanor lies but a man who wished he had not rushed to the office before getting his morning coffee at home.

A sad smile appeared on Hiruzen's face as he recalled a memory from the past.

"... but I'm fine dear and I'm rather late now," said Hiruzen as he scratched the back of his head with a cheeky smile on his face, "you don't need to -"

"Don't need to what?" a scolding voice said that could even make a grown man wince. "I've been married with you for 34 years Sarutobi and I know that once you reach your office and do 'work' you'll forget to eat!"

"But the trade delegation from Suna-"

"The trade delegation can wait. Even the Shinigami for all I care! You know why you keep getting those gastric pains? It's because you make it an effort to skip meals especially breakfast!"

"Aika dear," Sarutobi said, his voice calm while his hands raised in a manner to convince "I promise I'll have breakfast at the office. Hitomi can -"

"So you'd rather be fed by that young secretary of yours than from your own wife?" Aika Sarutobi said in an accusing tone as she turned to the other direction from her husband, arms crossed with a frown on her face.

Hiruzen stayed silent. Even at old age his wife pouts the same as she did when they first started going out with one another. Sure it was annoying to some if not many to be emotionally manipulated around like that.

But Sarutobi knew the woman he spent three quarters of his life with. And even with her flaws he never felt so complete.

He loves her.

A single had escaped his right eye, the smile still present as he chuckled a light chuckle. Often in solace he would break into this state of remembrance, nostalgic remains playing scenes in his mind. The yearning would come and go as it pleases but learning to let go was different for everyone.

For him it was always difficult.

Hiruzen took out a red coloured pipe from one of the drawers and placed it on his desk.

He reached his hand towards an egg like marble box decorated with emeralds on the far right side of his desk and placed it next to the pipe. Taking out crushed tobacco leaves from box he rolled it carefully into a fine ball and inserted the leaves into the pipe.

With a swift hand motion, a matchstick in his right hand against the rough surface of the match box a small fire lit. Such an over exaggerated and theatrical display was common for Hiruzen. He was always a fan of theater and had even considered to become an actor in his younger years.

That was before the First Great Shinobi War of course.

So to compensate for lost dreams and passions, the man would often attend the local theater and was the anonymous local patron for arts in the village -funding usually came from an 'unknown' source. He had written a play once regarding the war a few years back that managed to run for a year or two in the Land of Water. Currently, he was writing a novel about a retired ANBU squad leader that underwent tragic events under horrifying circumstances. The protagonist hence took the decision to abandon his village and hid in the Land of Frost quietly. However such peace was only short-lived as a global conspiracy brought him back to service. The assassination of the Raikage and mass genocide of northern shinobi clans was triggering a civil war in the region. A mysterious girl half his age had accidentally appeared in his life as current events pointed to her and a failed mission a few years ago. Will she be the light guiding him out from his past sins or will she destroy him and the nations around him?

This was all under a pen name of course.

A Kage writing about war and treason for entertainment as well as being a hopeless romantic was in itself a scandal towards his reputation. Few people know of his secrets, one of them being his own Secretary while the other, Jiraiya his legendary student.

"And dear Aika," he thought sadly, puffing the pipe and inhaling the relaxing yet smoky smell of burning tobacco "after all she was the one who encouraged me when she found out about my writing habits.."

It was Jiraiya after all that helped publish his works for him.

Who else inspired Jiraiya to take writing seriously? The Icha Icha series were currently one of his favourites.

Not that anyone else should know that he had a copy of the series in one of his vaults at home.

"And if she actually did find out I read those books…" Hiruzen shuddered at the thought, thankful to never have been exposed.

At that very moment a polite knock was heard from the door accompanied by a request to come in. The voice sounded soft and high-pitched, usually associated with a girl who had flourished into womanhood.

"Enter," said Hiruzen calmly.

Thus a young woman opened the door. In her arms were some scrolls and files thick as books. She seemed to be struggling as she hugged the documents tightly to her chest. She looked to be around the age of seventeen or eighteen, grey-coloured were her eyes. Her hair was a light chestnut brown and grew down to shoulder length. She was lean and petite yet in her posture she carried the poise of nobility.

As she was about to take a step into the room, one of the scrolls she was carrying dropped on the floor. This led to a domino like effect as more documents began to fall which led to all of them falling at the same time.

"AAAH!" shouted the girl as she clasped her mouth immediately with both her hands. "My deepest apologies Hokage-sama" the girl said in a softer and more polite tone very different from her previous outburst. She then bowed respectfully to Hiruzen and proceeded to pick up the documents on the floor.

A light chuckle escaped Hiruzen's lips as he watched the scene unfolding in front of him.

Hitomi Himura was in a sense a rather odd girl. Born from the line of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, she was considered a noblewoman. Her father, Asahi Himura was the younger brother of the current Fire Lord and acted as his regent and handler to the affairs between the shinobi village and the royal palace.

Yet here she was. A Chunin level ninja working as assistant and secretary to the Hokage.

A question would often arise in the minds of those who had the knowledge of her ancestry; why become a kunoichi if one possessed the blood of royalty?

Being born the eldest of the two in her family - she had a younger brother who was eight years younger than her- life was never difficult for the dear girl. Her father was also the would be successor to the feudal seat as her uncle the current Daimyo had no children which made her in turn second to the succession.

However the laws pertaining lordship inheritance of the Land of Fire differed greatly to other neighbouring nations as it favours patriarchy instead of primogeniture. If there was to be no male heir to the current Daimyo the woman shall take his place. Hence by right, her younger brother shall inherit from her father when the time comes.

A memory resurfaced in his thoughts.

"Lady Hitomi-sama," Hiruzen said in a respectful tone. "Are you sure about your decision? Once you enter the academy and graduate as a Genin you shall be bounded by shinobi laws and way of life. In a most humble way for me to state, I shall soon outrank you and I am no longer subjected to treating you like others of your royal house."Hiruzen expected the little girl sitting in front of him, whose hair was braided in a very intricate way while wearing beautiful sky blue silk robes to be intimidated by his statement. Nobles were often treated extremely well with high respect by the branches of proper society compared to an average citizen. Having the power to rule over a nation as powerful as the Land of Fire was a dream many sought to have but can never possess.Yet even with Hiruzen's subtle threats about the loss of power and influence from her part the girl's smile had not fade from her face. Her face carried the innocence of a child but one look in her grey eyes amused Sarutobi- it was like looking in the eyes of a determined shinobi before entering a battlefield.

Accompanying the young mistress and her father the Lord's Successor Asahi Himura around the Hidden Leaf Village, Hiruzen noticed a number of peculiarities with the girl in question. When brought to the traders quarter of the village, the girl kept pestering her father about buying kunais and shurikens instead of clothes and jewellery moreover the girl was more interested in a trip to the shinobi training grounds than a visit to the Shodai Hokage's Spring Garden which was known for its beautiful flowers and cherry blossom trees.It was of course not unheard of for a woman to take the vows and rights of a kunoichi as four out of every ten ninja that had graduated from the academy are women. Tsunade his honorable student was the prime example of what women are capable of doing if given open and unrestricted opportunities.However for a woman of high birth- directly from the line of the Daimyo himself! - to have the interest of being a kunoichi was rare if not extremely uncommon. The work of a ninja was considered to be a servant's job by the nobility such that to go as low as to become one could heavily affect one's place in upper society.And after another visit or two during these past few months, here it was, that same girl requesting an audience with him in his office in order that he allow her to enter the academy."A new idea for a new book perhaps…" thought the Kage with amusement.

"Hokage-sama," answered the girl politely, her posture proper which was expected from her house. "I believe that I can be a worthwhile asset to your village and to the nation if given the opportunity. With my father's blessings he has allowed me to pursue my path without the consequence of losing my birthright."

"I assure you Hokage-sama that with the approval of the royal house at your side by allowing me to achieve my ambitions, this will allow you to solidify your political position without deterrence."To say Hiruzen was surprised was an understatement- the man was completely shocked by the child's answer. Here it was, a girl who had not even reached the early stages of adolescence with an effective rebuttal. Even for a nobleman's daughter, the eloquence in her speech was beyond that of anyone her age group -heck even better than one of his own council members. A political animal in the making."Curious curious…" thought Hiruzen with wonder.Currently indeed, amongst the council Hiruzen was facing silent but great opposition from certain parties amongst the shinobi and civilian entities.A primary candidate would be from a man who was no longer a friend nor an enemy nonetheless.The unhidden secret behind their opposition always did involve a child in the village despite the odds so against him.

And an inevitable failure from him as well.The bitter truth was that no matter how much he tried to protect the boy from the harsh realities of the life he had to experience, it was never enough.

Now in front of him was an opportunity to rectify the situation and even pacify the council from acting out against him in order to get rid of the boy from the village's boundaries.Or even worse, turn him into an emotionless and mindless weapon.

"Then Lady Hitomi-sama," said Hiruzen in a tone meant for diplomats and village elders. "I will accept your request."

The little girl's smile stretched even further at listening to the approval of the Hokage. Finally she was able to achieve her dream!

"However if I may be so bold as to ask Lady Hitomi-sama, but why become a kunoichi?" asked Hiruzen, wonder present in his voice.

"Because-"

"Hokage-sama," a feminine voice called the Hokage who seemed to be stuck in a daze. "Are you alright?" continued the voice.

Hiruzen who was caught staring into space re-composed himself and coughed lightly, slightly embarrassed with himself. They say that it is usually the young that are caught in their daydreams and visions that play in their head.

People tend to forget that the old were once young too.

"Yes, yes I am Hitomi," replied Hiruzen. "I was merely thinking about something."

"Alright," answered Hitomi with slight doubt. "I have the scrolls and reports you wanted yesterday. Also just to inform you that next week a trade entourage from Sunagakure will be coming to discuss the new trade policies recently implemented by their village."

"Who will be leading the entourage?" asked Sarutobi as he huffed his pipe slightly, the smell of burning tobacco present in the air.

"Yashamaru, the Sunakage's younger brother" Hitomi stated. "And with all due respect Hokage-sama, will you please not smoke in my presence. It's bad enough that the ANBU have to bear with the smoke," continued Hitomi as she closed her mouth with her right hand, clearly unhappy with the situation.

Hiruzen chuckled slightly at Hitomi's reaction, a small smile appeared on his face. Normally one would be very foolish to even chide at the Hokage for doing anything at all.

Unless you're Hitomi of course. The girl was like a daughter to Hiruzen.

Asuma's scoldings were even worse though. His son consumed a pack of cigarettes a day.

"Alright, alright. You don't have to tell me twice," Hiruzen put out his pipe and disposed of the contents in a bin next to his desk. He placed back his red pipe into it's respectful place. Half-heartedly of course.

"And well Hokage-sama, the council meeting will be held at noon today. The topics that will discussed today are in this list," Hitomi handed the agenda paper to Hiruzen as he read the contents.

Hiruzen's mood dropped to a great degree and a noticeable frown appeared on his face as Hitomi mentioned the meeting today. The main agenda was to discuss last minute preparations for an upcoming festival this coming Friday three days from now.

A festival is a time for happiness and joy present in every people no matter cultural background. As per common sense it is required for the Hokage to attend the festivals celebrated by the inhabitants of the village. Normally, Sarutobi had no problem being the honoured guest at village festivals as it strengthens the bonds between himself and his people whilst the man could relish in fun and enjoyment denied to him since being the Hokage meant to abstain from fun for the sake of responsibility.

Yet this festival was one he had no other choice but to go for, no matter how much he loathed it.

The Celebration of the Defeat of the Kyuubi by the Yondaime.

A celebration that marked one of his greatest failures to protect his people.

And a young boy nonetheless.

In the silence brought by the revelation after Hiruzen read the list given, Hitomi stood and watched the expression of her employer and mentor turned from prior amusement to solemn bitterness. If she was in anyone else's position- especially as an outsider born out of Konoha, she would not understand why was there a sudden change in the Hokage's mood regarding the topic at hand.

But she knew all too well.

An S-rank graded secret entrusted to her by Sarutobi Hiruzen. A burden that should never be placed on the shoulders of anybody what more to say an orphaned child who has no one else to rely on for support.

Meeting the boy was a weekly routine for Hitomi ever since she assumed the position of the Hokage's personal secretary two years ago immediately after passing her Chunin exams. To her, his demeanour was the kind that had an effect on others, albeit divided into two extremes.

Either to be enticed by his charisma completely or to despise it wholeheartedly.

Sadly the premier was a rarity and the latter was a norm.

Based on what she thought of the boy, at a glance he looked to be a normal child shorter than most children his age with mischievous tendencies that branded him as a delinquent. He would often enter the Hokage's office in a way which concerned her greatly; how had he managed to sneak into the office, passing her work desk stationed next to the office doors without her knowledge whatsoever? The boy also had the nerve to call the chief of the village with a title befitting his age yet could sign a death wish for the one who uttered it.

Apparently the 'Old Man' was not offended by the nickname although disrespectful in a general sense. Instead he considered it to be rather 'endearing' and would often tease the boy back in their conversations during their personal meetings.

After officially taking residence in the village and entering the ninja academy at the age of 10, she was rather acquainted with the boy. Meeting him in the Hokage's office was usually coincidental as the blonde had a habit of entering as he pleased- without repercussions of course.

Interactions between himself and her would always be followed in a fixed and uniform form of operations which over the past year had become habitual every time he stopped by the tower. Greetings would be exchange between the two individuals; the blonde would use the honorific '-san' in their conversations. Then the boy would state his purpose to her in which she would allow him entry if and only if Hokage-sama was free. After that he would enter the office, and thus ended would be the conversations between them.

And if he could not get his way, there was always the method of sneaking in without prior permission from her part.

A usual occurrence it was.

Yet no matter how acquainted she was with uthe boy there was so much she did not know of him-her experience only consisted of dealings inside her workplace, never more. There was a mystery shrouding the blonde and she had very little knowledge of of it. Hence her mind would often bring her to wonder ever since she met him for the first time; Why was he so special to the Hokage?

Hitomi knew he was an orphan and that his ancestry traced back to the now non-existent village of Uzushiogakure that stood vacant and ruined south-east of Konohagakure. He was probably the only one of his clansman currently in the village as she heard not nor seen anybody with the same surname. Not being local, she was at least wise enough to put in mind the names of the various ninja clans residing in the village.This was due to the fact that the leaders of these clans would seek an audience with her- only if given permission by Hokage-sama of course.

She was still a princess after all.

Her curiosity of the boy lead her to investigate things herself and with effort she managed to uncover the unknown.

And now her question does not lie on the who was the boy.

Instead she feared for his sanity.

"ANBU, you are dismissed," Hiruzen instructed, a tone of solemnity present in his voice.

The ANBU hidden from view under an invisibility henge posted around the office complied immediately with the Hokage's orders and left the room, the remaining ones being herself and the Hokage. The tension in the room was rather choking, anxiousness accompanied by the inevitable feeling of dread. Yet such emotions felt was not directed to anyone in particular but for a certain someone.

A boy by the name of Naruto Uzumaki.

"Hitomi, all my years as Hokage from the time I was bestowed the honour by the Nidaime, taking the reigns of leadership again after the demise of the Yondaime until now, I have many regrets," said Sarutobi as he stood, his gaze facing the village scenery through one of the windows.

"For Konohagakure, my heart yearns forevermore, a thousand lives I would live just to die once more, to protect the ones I love from the core," Sarutobi continued as the prowess of a poet begin to show.

"Yet of all my regrets, there is one that brings me restless nights. The pain of knowing that there is one I cannot protect, a boy a young orphan who knows nothing but neglect," his voice was threatening to crack at the moment, a heartfelt confession escaping his lips.

"Indeed I possess power, unimaginable in size. The irony of it all is that those who harm him aren't foes from an enemy village, but those I sworn to protect."

Hitomi listened in silence, her eyes watched attentively the man she called her 'Oji-san' in private. The Hokage like all men of his status, hid his weaknesses well behind a persona of uncaring indifference. For a village to remain strong in the eyes of others, its leader must play its part to be an unmoving mountain, placing the village above at all times disregarding their personal feelings.

However, even a solid mountain may break in the end.

"Two days ago, I received a report from one of the ANBU about an attack on Naruto while he was on the way to the market. There have been four attempts this month and it seems they are not stopping. No matter how many laws are emplaced it seems the spirit of hatred is not ceasing. They are only getting worse as the festival approaches." stated the Hokage.

"Tell me honestly Hitomi, what are your thoughts on Naruto-kun?" asked Hiruzen, sadness present in his voice.

Hitomi was rather shocked at the question. After disclosing the secret regarding the sealing of the Kyuubi inside of the child, the Hokage instructed her never to discuss of it again and to leave it be. For her to be asked an opinion regarding the matter was quite a surprise.

"He is a boy with mischievous tendencies who enjoys pranking others and is quite not well-versed in reacting with social situations especially with regards to authority," said Hitomi bluntly.

The answer however expected, still sprouted the feeling of disappointment in Hiruzen although he did not display it in his expression. There was slight hope within him that his granddaughter-like figure would see past Naruto's faults and accept the boy for the good in him- and there was many. Sadly that was not the case and he cannot and would not force his opinions on the girl.

"However, behind all of that I see a boy who is not afraid of being himself. A boy who even with all the odds against him would continue on even if he had to crawl towards his goal. A boy who has much in what he does given that opportunity opens to him. A young child who wants nothing more than to be treated fairly with respect and even be loved. A boy who has the brightest smile in the whole village yet unbeknowingly hides his pain and suffering. If there was someone I admire Hokage-sama, it would be Naruto."

A proud smile appeared on the elderly's face as a tear threatened to escape his right eye. For Naruto who would only receive rejections from those around him, to be seen in such a way by at least one person was a blessing. The boy would be exhilarated just to know that he meant something to someone.

Hiruzen tried his best to fill the cracks of his broken heart anyway he can but he knew it was not enough. The boy needed friends amongst his peers to support him on his perilous journey on the way of becoming a shinobi. They are those who are willing to support him, the boy who was carrying such a heavy burden.

Beneath it all Hiruzen acknowledged that Naruto needed someone other than himself to watch him progress from a far. A figure who would watch him like a guardian angel by his side. One who he would seek if he was in trouble, one he would seek when he needed help.

One he would seek if he needed guidance in time of darkness and light.

At first, the Sandaime had already planned to bring close both Naruto and Hitomi in order that she play the role of the boy's 'sisterly figure'. However due to political reasons, for her to involve herself in the young boy's life was in itself, an action that goes against the council's decision that gazetted the boy as the property of the village instead of just a specific ninja clan even if it was the royal house. Thus a choice was made by the Hokage, although with heavy reluctance. He, with guilt ever present in his heart, instructed Hitomi to avoid the subject of the boy in his presence and the others unless given permission to.

My attempts to protect both Naruto and Hitomi have only made it worse for him...

Thus with a deep breath, a thorough calculation regarding the gain and losses, decision was finally made. He knew this move would hurt his position even further damaging his political influence. Yet if he played his pieces right, with the correct variables in place, no matter if he did hurt himself the boy would finally have what he truly wanted.

Love.

"Then with words said Hitomi, there is a mission I must ask you to perform…."