Yo, all. It's Snipa...
Alright, I know I haven't really updated a lot. Nor do I think I'll be releasing the Silver Fox redux for a while yet.
Anyways, this story was somewhat of a brainchild.
I kept seeing OC's added to story plots, and even people changing how Naruto was raised. Hell, I've seen so many self-inserts by some of the female writers on fanfiction it's gotten kind of ridiculous. I'll rant on that later...
Anyways, I got to thinking "People keep adding to the story. But... what happens when you take something out?"
This is the brainchild's consequence of that thought:
I took out only one single thing. A simple existence. One simple little existence.
And it's kinda funny how it turned out in my mind...
With that thought in mind I give you the first chapter of an epic length story.
The story with One Less Existence:
...
It's amazing what the difference that one person can make on the world.
Throughout this person's existence, they had made many decisions. Decisions that changed the path of the world around them.
So then, this begs the question...
"What if this one person, this one single existence, had never existed?"
–
"Naruto, come on, we gotta get going," a man's voice resonated throughout the house.
"Coming, papa," a kid's voice calls back. Soon enough a ten year old kid entered the main living room of the house where the man was waiting. The kid had bright blond spiky hair and bright blue eyes. He wore blue pants and a black t-shirt. Over the t-shirt was a chuunin vest. On his head were a pair of goggles. Around his neck, he wore the symbol of his village, indicating his status as a ninja.
The man, whose blond hair shimmered in spike's just like his son's, smiled warmly at his son. "Where's mom?" He wore blue pants just like his son, but on top he wore a white t-shirt that was underneath a jounin vest. Hanging from his shoulders was a long jacket that had flames at the hem. On his head was the symbol of his village.
"Mom's out back gardening," Naruto replied.
"Let's go say goodbye to her. Wouldn't want her to worry now, do you?"
Naruto smiled and shook his head. He quickly fell in step behind his dad.
The garden was a vast one with many flowers to adorn it's edges. In the center of it sat a beautiful woman, and nearby a small blanket with a figure on it. The woman was tending to a small flower on the edge of the centerpiece of the garden. She had long red hair, and violet eyes. She wore a plain kimono that looked comfortable to wear.
As Naruto and his dad walked up, the woman looked up and smiled at them. "How are my boys doing?"
Naruto and his dad smiled. The father responded, "Just fine, Kushina-chan. And how are my two princesses doing?"
Kushina giggled, and moved over to the blanket and picked up a sleeping three year old girl. "We're just fine, Minato-koi. Are you leaving today?"
"Yeah, Naruto and I are going to head over to Uzushiogakure. Political meeting and all that," Minato sighed. "I hate politics."
Kushina giggled again. She looked down to her son, "Naruto-chan," the boy grumbled at that with an indignant "Moooom", "be safe now, and don't make any trouble for your dad, okay?"
"Yes, mom," Naruto said with exasperation.
"Good. I'll see you boys later," she waved goodbye, her sleeping daughter being carried with care in her arms. The daughter had streaks of red in her blond hair.
"Goodbye, Kushina-chan, Mito-chan," Minato said.
"Goodbye Mom, little sis," Naruto said, and with that both walked out of the garden.
–
After checking out of the gate, the two males leaped up into the trees taking the "ninja road."
It didn't take them long to reach the coast of their country seeing as how both were moving at high chuunin speeds.
Minato looked down at his son, "Alright, you have your passkey?"
Naruto dug into his pants pocket and successfully pulled out a small flat piece of wood with a spiral on it. "Yeap." The passkey is a necessity that is required to get passed the natural defenses of Uzushiogakure.
Minato nodded, "Okay, let's go." With that both launched themselves onto the ocean water, and started to glide across the blue plane at high speeds. After an our of doing this, they reached the edge of the village's territory. The first few whirlpools which made up a bulk of the natural defenses appeared on the horizon. As the two approached, they pulled out their passkeys and allowed chakra to flow into the swirl designs on the woods. As the passkeys glowed the whirlpools in their path disappeared and turned into a safe passage for the two. The moment they passed the whirlpools started up again.
After ten minutes of bypassing the whirlpools, they finally reached the coast of a large island which was home to Uzushiogakure. Several figures were their to great them.
"Hello," said the leading man, "Welcome back, Kokage-dono."
Minato smiled as he and his son walked up to the group of six men. "It's good to visit your village once again, Uzukage-dono." The man Minato had greeted was wearing the standard kage hat but this one was violet in color. It had the symbol for whirlpool. The man's red hair was straight and was swept back.
"I trust your trip here was uninterrupted," the Uzukage asked.
Minato nodded his head, "Yes. And as always the sea you control is as beautiful as I remember it."
Both kage's chuckle at their own hidden joke. "Ah, I see you brought your boy here."
Naruto nodded his head while Minato spoke up, "He wanted to see you guys again, and he was also eager to continue his seal training."
The Uzukage looked down at the boy, "Is this true, well then, we shouldn't keep your boy waiting. An eager young mind is always a pleasant one to teach."
"If I may, Uzukage-sama," one of the men behind the kage spoke up, "I will take him to see his grandmother." The man looked much older then either of the kage's.
The Uzukage chuckled, "Would you like to see your grandma, Naruto?"
"Sure, Otooji-san!"
The Uzukage laughed, "Ah, I see you certainly have inherited my sister's brash attitude. Well, go on with your grandpa. I'm sure he wants to spend a lot of time with you as well, oi-kun."
The older man stepped away from the crowd in a certain direction, "Alright, let's go, magomusuko-kun. Your grandma has been wanting to see her rambunctious grandson for a while now."
"Coming, Jiji! See ya later, dad," the boy waved to his dad as they walked away.
"I see he's just as off the walls as he used to be," the Uzukage mentioned.
The Kokage sighed, "Tell me about it. Well, let's get these boring political matters out of the way first so we can have a drink later."
The Uzukage nodded and smiled, as did the other 4 men behind him. "Sounds like a plan."
–
A kind looking old woman was relax and having tea. Her grey hair tied up into a pony-tail. Even though she looked old, she also looked strong as well. Her hands did not whither with her age, neither her muscles. She felt a couple of presences enter the home. She smiled and placed her tea off to the side and mentally counted down from five.
When she reached zero she was not surprised.
"OBAA-CHAN," a kid's yell was made out as she felt the boy glomp onto her back. She laughed as she brought the boy around.
"Ohohoho, and how's my little Naruto-chan," she asked.
Naruto smiled wide, "Great, Obaa-chan! I made chuunin, look!"
Indeed he did. The chuunin vest was quite pronounced on his chest. "So I see, Naruto-chan."
"Yes, and he seems to have inherited our daughter's lack of respect for authority figures," chuckled the old man behind them.
"Of course. He wouldn't be my grandson if he didn't!" The old woman cackled. "Have you kept up with your seal studies?"
"You bet, grandma," The boy said with pride.
"Good, let's see where you are," the old woman said as she got and headed into the house's study room. Naruto and his grandfather followed behind closely.
–
It was dinner time around the table at the old Uzumaki house. The Kokage and Uzukage were both MIA from this function, but not unheard of. They would most likely receive reports the next morning about random tidal waves and big typhoons. The two brother-in-laws got along mighty well.
Anyways, the function was rather more quiet then the random "oohs" and "aahs" likely heard outside. Naruto was beaming at the news his grandmother told him after the most recent seal test.
He had been promoted to Journeyman! Quite a feat considering he had only been using seals for two years. Still, the boy had a long ways to go. Both grandparents were smiling proudly as the boy guzzled down his reward: Ramen.
"Well, I thought I was seeing things when I first saw the results, but Naruto-chan, you certainly are surprising. I thought you would only go over the material I gave you, but it seems you went out of your way to learn more," The old woman stated.
The blond chuckled, "Haha, but I have access to mom's notes!"
The grandmother's expression widened for a moment, but she started laughing, "I can't believe I forgot about those old scrolls I sent her with. Well, then boy, I expect you not to slack off now that you don't have an excuse."
Naruto smiled as he slurped up the last of his ramen. "I'm not a chuunin for nothing!"
The grandfather smiled, "Want to test that statement?"
"Grandpa, I don't mean to be mean, but aren't you to old to fight a, how did you put it, a "young sapling" you aged old "tree,"" Naruto countered.
The man laughed, "I'm not to old to put you in your place, my boy!" In truth the man was seventy or something years old. To some, this might be old, but this is only a bit above a third of the expected life span to the average Uzumaki. The old man liked to wear white robes that had a blue tint to them. It looked like the color of a summer sky.
"Now now, hubby, young Namikaze-san here has been training just to put you down," The old lady said in a humorous tone.
"That's right, and someday, I'll surpass you old man," Naruto yelled out.
"In your prepubescent dreams, sapling. The day you surpass the mighty Araguza-sama is the day that hell freezes over," The man exclaimed. "And I'll prove it by swearing on Santara-chan's soul here."
A major crashing sound was heard as the old lady's hand had somehow materialized in his face. "Swear on your own soul, Araguza-kun, not your wife's."
The old man was chuckling in a dazed tone, "Hehehe, gets her every time." He got up from the floor the right side of his face was now red from the impact.
"Every day that passes, I could swear more and more that you're a masochist," Santara said.
"And you know you love it," the old man countered.
The woman huffed in response, and turned her attention to a trying-not-laugh Naruto. "So, how is my daughter and my new granddaughter?"
Naruto stopped laughing, "Great. Sis just turned three a week ago."
"Three already? My my, And I haven't even gotten to see her yet. That settles it, Ara-kun, we're going to Sugakure next week," Santara stated.
"As you wish, my queen," the grandfather got closer to her as his tone changed.
Naruto stuck his head to the side and made a "yuck" face. He didn't dare to look. He may have been a shinobi, but his hormones weren't "on" yet. And seeing this from the old people, he was glad he didn't.
–
The next day
Both kages were looking a bit worn, but still presentable. The scene looked to be similar from yesterday otherwise.
"I must thank you again for allowing me to visit your fine country once again, Uzukage-dono," Minato smiled.
"No, no. It was great that you could make time to come. Thank you once again, Kokage-dono," The Kokage responded.
Everyone, even Naruto, knew that these lines were just formalities. Still these were the exact lines that their predecessor kage's used to greet each other all the time. So it more of a tradition then a formality.
"Well, then," the Kokage started, "We should be off. I hope that we shall meet each other once again, my friend." With that, both Father and Son took off across the ocean again.
After reaching the coast later, they once again took to the 'ninja road' and made their way home.
"So, how was your grandma and grandpa?"
"Same as usual, dad."
"Old man Araguza still a masochist."
"Yeap."
"Still lovebirds?"
"Yeap."
"So how was your test?"
Naruto beamed, "I got Journeyman in rank!"
Minato smiled, "Well, well, well. Look at my son. Barely into his second decade and he's already a Journeyman. Man your Kyoufu is gonna throw a fit."
"I bet you 300 ryo that Ero-kyoufu get's pummeled by daibo-oba-san because he thinks the world's gone mad," Naruto claimed.
"Even your godmother wouldn't take that-" Minato was cut off by a spike in chakra. Minato reacted by pure instinct and grabbed his son while simultaneously molding chakra for a substitution. A large explosion sounded off as dust and smoke rose into the air.
Three figures landed in the clearing that was created by the large explosion. "Did we get them," One voice asked.
"Those stupid little birdies couldn't have made it out of that," a second voice said.
"Careful you two," a clearly older one stated, "This is their kage, remember? Keep an eye out."
As the smoke and dust cleared, it revealed a smoldering log.
"Damn, they got away."
–
Minato and Naruto quickly got back-to-back. Both were holding their kunais out in front of them. All playfulness that was in their eyes now gone, and in their place were the eyes of a hardened warrior.
"Well, they sent a small assassination team this time," Minato stated casually.
"Who do you think they are here for? You or me," Naruto asked.
"Bet you 20 ryo it's me this time," the older said.
"Bet you 40 ryo it's both of us," the younger countered. "I also bet that they're Hi."
"Hmm, I see your bet and raise you Iwa."
"How about," a voice said, "I kill you both, and take your money?" With that several ticks went off as kunai and shuriken were launched at them from all directions.
Both blonds deflect the incoming projectiles and toss their own kunai back into the shadows of the trees. Minato heard the sound of metal hitting flesh nearby and flashed one of his special kunai in the direction. He disappeared a split second later, and then reappeared next to his son with two dead men at his feet. "Well, son. You were right this time. They are from Higakure no Sato," Minato mused.
Naruto was keeping his eyes out for anymore dangers as he replied, "Heh, 20 ryo in the bag."
Minato smirked, "Ah, ah, ah. The bet's off if they were here for me only."
Naruto chuckled as he launched a tri-pronged kunai at a shadow, "We'll find out."
Minato disappeared the moment he felt the kunai reach the right distance. He came back a second later holding a man with black hair and wearing dark blue robes. On the back of the man's shirt was a white fan with a red semi-cirlce above it. The sign of Higakure's village and most prominent clan. The Uchiha. "So, Uchiha-san. Who were you here for?"
The Uchiha coughed up some blood as there were obvious wounds all over his body, and even a spiraling wound on his chest. "Go to hell you piece of shit! You and your son will both perish before the might of our sharingan!" With that answer given to him, Minato stabbed the man through the neck, and then tossed him off to the side.
"And that's another 40 ryo," Naruto noted.
Minato chuckled, "Alright, I guess I owe you 60 ryo into your deposit." Minato twirled his tri-pronged kunai on his finger and with a large amount of grace made it disappear with a simple twist of his wrist. "Come on. We gotta get home or else your mom will throw a fit at being home alone for too long."
Naruto adjusted his Hitai-ate to let it show more properly. The symbol was a simple pentagon with the sides being longer then necessary in one direction. Sort of like a wheel. The lines were pointing in the counter-clockwise direction. In the center of the pentagon was a spiral design.
Both blonds jump back home. Not at all surprised by the ambushed that had just happened.
The Uchiha on the ground had a Hitai-ate that looked like a frozen flame.
–
First chapter complete.
Btw, this will be an ongoing challenge:
PM me who you think I took out of the picture? DO NOT REVIEW WITH THE ANSWER. I don't want it ruined for anyone else.
Who I took out is really the question. Once enough people figure it out, then yes I will announce it, on that chapter.
Otherwise, read review, and enjoy this little brainchild.