Away and Back - Prologue

This is my first fanfic so don't judge. I really hope for some reviews soon or I might lose the motivation for this story. I'm not really sure if this is a good idea or where it's going to go so if you have any feedback or ideas, just put it in your reviews. Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

[START]

Naruto walked into the Hokage's office and saw the Third sitting at his desk. He sat down on the chair on the other side of it. Naruto was here for a "conference" with the old man he considered his grandfather. It couldn't have been any good; he wasn't smiling like he usually was when he saw Naruto. Instead, his face was expressionless.

"How are you today, Naruto?" Sarutobi asked, looking at the eight-year-old-blonde with a calm steady gaze.

"I'm fine, Jiji. What did you want to tell me?" Naruto asked, already tired of the Hokage's beating around the bush. He was a lot more mature than others gave him credit for.

Sarutobi cleared his throat, trying not to think too much of Naruto's tart tone of voice. "It seems as if the village doesn't enjoy your pranks as much as you do, Naruto. They want you to stop."

Naruto was immediately defending himself. "I can't do that! Pranks are what keep me s-sane here! I can't give them up!"

Sarutobi tried to reason with him but he was interrupted.

"You d-don't understand!" Naruto sobbed. "Everyone h-hates me! They call m-me a demon and everything! They call me a demon... a dem-mon..." Naruto trailed off and looked down dejectedly, tears streaming down his marked cheeks. He couldn't understand why everyone hated him and called him a demon and monster and stuff like that. What did he do to them? They would chase him and beat him to a bloody mess. No one ever cared about him except for the old man.

Images of angry faces and bloody weapons swam into Naruto's mind. He sobbed harder and harder until his throat felt dry and his face was slick with tears. He couldn't shake the images of torture from his mind.

The Sandaime hated to see Naruto like this, crying so much with no way to actually comfort him like parents could with their children. The beatings the villagers put him through must've been extremely bad for Naruto to be so... defeated. He was just eight after all! Sadness washed over the old man as the boy in front of him slowly stopped crying. "Naruto..." Sarutobi trailed off, not knowing what to say. He sighed, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

"I'm leaving," Naruto suddenly said, still sniffling. The old man's head jerked up at this. "I'm tired of seeing the villagers glaring at me every time I walk past them. They call me demon and monster and fox brat and I don't even know why! I can't live here anymore!"

Sarutobi sighed and closed his eyes again. "Naruto, I promise that one day... One day, I'll change everything... Naruto?" Sarutobi opened his eyes, only to find an empty chair and a wide open window.

[END]

Well, what do you think? Is it a good idea? Any suggestions as to where this should go? Remember to help this newbie fanfic writer and read and review!

Ja ne!

K.N.