Narrator:
Naruto Uzumaki, age fifteen. By looking at him, you would have never guessed how truly powerful the little squirt was; even though, he was the most knuckle headed Shinobi the Leaf Village has ever known. He was a boy who had his eye on the ultimate prize, to one day be the honorable Hokage, but destiny had a different plan for him. A curious sequence of events has made him take a slight deviation from his goal to become Hokage. This is his story...
A group of Leaf Ninja was leaping through the trees in pursuit of a Sound ninja that could potentially have some information about Sasuke. The young and honorable grandchild of the Hokage, Konohamaru was in the lead determined to help his friend Naruto in locating Sasuke. As the Sound ninja became more irate at the possibility of his apprehension, the Leaf Nins couldn't help but think that he was up to something. This was confirmed when just as Konohamaru touched down on the next branch he felt a yank on his collar, followed by a sharp pain and the heat of an explosion.
As Konohamaru's eyes fluttered open, he saw Naruto lying next to him. His body didn't show it, but Konohamaru could sense that something terrible had just happened. That moment that was supposed to be his demise resulted in the sacrifice of his friend. Konohamaru let out a blood-curdling scream as he scrambled towards Naruto's body. It was already growing cold as he pulled it towards him.
The wails of anguish caught the attention of someone that was floating just above the commotion. It was Naruto Uzumaki, and as he looked down at the scene, it took him a moment to realize what had just happened to him. Naruto floated down to where Konohamaru and his body lay as more ninjas came to try to help. Naruto could already hear the medical ninja tell each other it was no use. Naruto took a swing at them in desperation but as his fist passed right through his intended target her ended up on his ass.
"I can't be dead damn it! I was supposed to be Hokage" He yelled over and over until he heard a feminine sounding cough from behind him.
As he turned, he saw a young woman with light blue hair and a pink kimono straddling an oar that was floating easily in the air. As Naruto mind tried to wrap around what he was seeing the woman introduced herself to him.
"Hello, my name is Botan! I'm the grim reaper." She stated cheerily as she waved at him.
Naruto was stunned, but he manages to get out. "I'm not ready! I have too much to do to die now."
Botan smiled slightly then said, "About that, it seems that we aren't ready for you to die quite yet either."
Naruto was stunned at this statement "What?"
Botan smiled even more and said "It seems that you weren't supposed to die today. No one expected you to save him from that trap."
Naruto face went scarlet at this statement and shouted at her "I was supposed to let Konohamaru die then? I mean hasn't he been through enough with the old man dying a few years ago! He has his whole future ahead of him."
Botan shook her head slightly before saying "That's not what I meant, in fact, if you hadn't interfered Konohamaru would have one less scratch on his right cheek."
Naruto's jaw dropped at this, a sweat drop appearing on his forehead. He looked at the Leaf Ninja preparing to carry his body back to Konohagakure. Naruto was about to chase after them, but Botan moved in front of him and said in her most formal voice. "That will not help you get back to the land of the living." Naruto stopped and looked at her as she continues to speak; "If you are willing, I can introduce you to someone that could help you return to your body. That is if you complete his test. So, what do you say are you in our out?"
Naruto looked at the Botan slightly before answering. "Guess we better get going; if meeting this person is the only way I can get back to my life then I can get through any test this person throws at me. Believe it!" Botan smiled as she twirled on her broom before grabbing Naruto's hand. She set off into the sky with Naruto screaming in amazement as the air whipped around them.