Oreo; Alright, I know I should be working on other stories, but this won't leave me alone. Don't worry, all my others will be updated soon.

Chapter 1

Naruto sat cheerfully on the stool at his favorite eatery, Ichiraku Ramen. The sun had risen two hours ago, and the six-year old blond was enjoying the salty heaven that Teuchi made with love, seated comfortably on the stool specially reserved for him, and him only. With a stack of bowls up to his nose, Naruto almost didn't notice the old man slide into the seat next to him. A few minutes of silence, while the stranger checked over the menu, until the tired old voice came out so calmly, Naruto felt like he could give the old man a hug, even without knowing him.

"One order of inari-zushi, please."

Naruto frowned at this. Who would order sushi at a ramen stand? "Hey, jiji! Don't you know this is a ramen stand? Why didn't you go somewhere else?" the old man turned to the young blond, his long white hair parting over an elegant aged face while the straight posture given by a strong back softened slightly. His aged emerald eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Well, young man, I liked the look of this place, and I rarely come to Konoha, so I don't know my way around very well."

Naruto blinked. He'd never met someone from outside of Konoha before! "r-really!?" the blond grinned and started bouncing around. "What's it like outside? Where are you from? How far are you from home? What's-" The old man just laughed at the boys enthusiasm.

"Please, young man, I need to eat! How about we go for a walk after we're done, and I'll tell you all you want to know, alright?" Sure enough, a plate of the sushi, and another bowl of ramen had found their places on the counter. Three bowls and one plate later both slid off the stools, the old man silencing Naruto's protests when the man paid the tab.

Naruto timidly slipped his hand into the old man's, chattering question after question, all of which the old man answered with a smile. Eventually finding their way to a park, the old man asked if Naruto wanted to sit for a while. "To rest my old bones," he joked with a wink. Snuggling into the kind old man's arms, Naruto inhaled his scent of roses, trees, dirt, and sushi. Looking into the old man's eyes, the blond finally got the courage to ask the one question that had been plaguing his young mind all day.

"Ano… jiji, who are you, exactly? No one but Hokage-jiji, Inu-ani, Iruka-ani, Ichiraku-jiji and Ayame-nee-chan have been this nice to me before." The boy fidgeted nervously with downcast eyes before glancing up into kind green eyes. The old man gave a sad smile at the youngster in his arms, the noon-day sun paling in contrast to the boys golden locks. "I'm exactly what you've named me, Naruto-kun. I'm sorry I haven't been there all this time."

Narutos cerulean eyes widened in shock. "y-you're my Jiji?" at the old mans nod, the boy threw his arms around his grandfather's neck, sobbing all his troubles into the long hair, still soft despite the wear-and-tear of age. "There now, Naruto-kun. It's ok, it's ok." Jiji rubbed his hands in soothing circles on Naruto's back, whispering reassurances into the young boy's ear. After an hour of letting himself cry all of his problems, insecurities and promises into his new-found grandfather's ear, Naruto pulled back to look into those kind eyes, emerald-green as the leaves in the trees. Still sniffling slightly, he curled up, safe in the old man's arms for the first time in his life. Jiji's eyes took on a sadder cast, guilty at the fact that his next words would bring his young grandson to even more tears.

"Naruto-kun, I'm sorry to have to tell you this when we've finally found each other, but this will be our last time together."

Sleepy blue eyes were no longer sleepy, as Naruto bolted up in fear, his terrified eyes looking deep into solemn green eyes. "W-What?" Jiji sighed sadly, hugging Naruto tighter, tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes.

"I'm dying, Naruto-kun. This is my last day alive."

"N-no! Y-you can't" hic "die! W-we j-just got to meet each other!" hic "Please!" Naruto broke into tears, sobbing into his grandfather's silk tunic. Jiji just held the boy, crying his own silent tears. Feeling a sudden pain in his chest, the old man knew he was entering his final moments. He shifted his grandson so he could search through his pocket.

"Naruto-kun." The young blond looked into the man's face, tears still streaming down his cheeks. "Listen, now. I need you to be a strong boy for me, alright? We'll see each other again at the end of your life. So live long, because I want bragging rights, alright?" Naruto grinned and nodding, wiping at his moist eyes with his arm. The old man smiled at the boy's determination before putting a large pouch in the boy's hands.

"Listen up, young man. No more crying, unless it's tears of joy. I know I couldn't be there for you in the past or future, but this gift should make up for all the birthdays I have, and will, miss. They're my own special weapon, and no one else can use it. I trust you to be able to use them properly." Naruto saluted the old man, bag dangling from his hand. The old man laughed one last time, grabbing Naruto into a light hug. Naruto hugged back, arms firmly around his neck, as the man breathed his last breath into the blond's ear, going more peacefully than he could have hoped.

Naruto held in a sad sniffle, remembering his promise not to show how sad he was. His last known family member had given him a glimpse of what life could have been like, and the young boy had no wish to dishonor him. Hearing a poof, Naruto turned slightly, taking in the sight of the old Hokage.

"Naruto-kun, are you alright?"

"Y-yeah…. Hokage-jiji, will you help me bury him?"

The elderly Sarutobi let out a sigh, seeing how much this mystery-man's death had shaken the boy. "All right, Naruto-kun. Is there any place in particular?"

Young Naruto silently pointed to the Hokage monument. "I-I want to be able to visit him. I-I think he would have liked it up there if I had had the time to take him there." Sarutobi smiled sadly, nodding as he collected the child from the corpses stiffening grasp. Hoisting the blond onto his shoulders, the Sandaime lifted the cooled body in a bridal hold, putting his hands into the proper seals around his load.

An hour later, leaves were floating on a breeze on the clear space behind the Hokage heads. A lone gray tombstone sat in the clearing, baring witness to the life going on in the village below. A few words had been lovingly carved onto its surface.

Kurama

Loving Father

Dedicated Grandfather

May your spirit bare witness

To the growth of a legend

TBC

Oreo; Well, I was planning on writing more for this chapter, but seems that the story had a different idea. In case you didn't notice at the end, this story will be a crossover with Yu Yu Hakusho. Of course, I don't think the other characters will be appearing in this story, except maybe to the side. Now, read and review, please!