This is my first attempt at writing a fic, so please be kind and constructive criticism only . . . hope you enjoy
Disclaimer: I do not own anything naruto related, Oc's are mine though.
Chapter 1: The Rescue: Beginning of a Journey
"Help me!" A young boy no older than five was being chased down an empty street, "Help! Anyone! Oji-san! Anbu-san help me!" He was little for his age; years of malnourishment can do that to you. He had unruly, spiky blonde hair, and skin as white as snow. The clothes on his small frame were tattered and torn, terror visible is his deep blue eyes, and he was running for his life.
October 10th a day of great celebration and mourning. Four years ago the Kyuubi no Kitsune attacked the village of Kohona, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Many ninja and civilian alike lost their lives that fateful night. If it were not for the Yondaime Hokage who defeated and sealed away the Kyuubi many more would have died. But, in doing so he lost his life and damned a new born baby to hell on earth. That baby was Uzumaki Naruto, born October 10th.
Many took this time to mourn the dead in silence and comfort. United in the memory of the ones they lost, and while they did, others prefer to celebrate the defeat of the Demon and party the night away. Civilians hit the center of the village and have fun, and drink, and drink, and drink. And in their drunken haze they remember those who are not there and they get angry. When there is nothing but numbness of the heart and hatred left, they strike out at the designated scapegoat.
Naruto slips into a dark alleyway, he had managed to out run the mob of civilians and slip away. Crouching behind a dumpster he trembles in fright, he only hopes he can survive until he can reach the Hokage. He heard shouts of anger coming from the street, "Where did that little monster go!" yelled a fat, balding man, "Spread out and search! He couldn't have gotten far!" a chorus of 'Hai' was heard, people scattering in search of the blonde.
Naruto was becoming frantic, his chances for survival just dropped significantly. He tried to remain as still and as quiet as possible, when he saw a shadow being cast from the alleyway entrance. Naruto could smell the man from where he was; the scent of sweat and sake on his person was overwhelming. The fat, balding man was swaying as he walked down the alleyway, he was mumbling incoherently. Naruto was frozen in fear as he came closer and closer to his position.
'What should I do?' Naruto contemplated on running like he usually did but this time his legs were frozen and would not listen to his mental commands. The man continued to stumble, head swing to and fro searching for him. Naruto was now paralyzed in complete fear he couldn't form a single thought except: 'I'm Dead.'
A sinister smile spread on the man's face as his eyes locked onto Naruto, "There you are. Do you know how worried I was that you got away?" The man had a crazed look on his face, "Do you know what I lost Four years ago! I lost my son; he was a shinobi, and my entire family! I'm the last." He reached behind him and pulled out an aged kodachi, rusted and had dried blood on it. Tears began to stream down his face as he raised it above his head, ready to strike Naruto. "This is for my son and family, and the rest of Kohona! DIE!" Naruto closed his eyes and brought his hands to his face in preparation for the strike. Its seemed to take an eternity and Naruto was wondering what happened. He lowered his arms and opened his eyes and gasped in surprise. He looked up and saw sticking out of the man was a blood covered sword piercing him through his chest. Naruto glanced around and saw a shadowy figure standing behind him, his eyes closed and pose relaxed, he twisted his sword. Earning him a moan of pain from the drunken man, sliding he's sword out ever so slowly causing immense pain.
"To harm a child is damnable." As he pulled out his sword, the bald man fell to his knees. Gasping for air, "Pl…ease d…on't k…ill me!" The bald man was trying to look at his assailant. The shadowy figure straightens his posture and lifted the sword to his shoulder. He opens his eyes, staring at the bald mans victim, "But to try and kill a child…Demon I shall send you from whence you came!" In one quick motion he looped off the bald mans head. The body hit the ground with a soft 'thump' as the head rolled away. Blood was soaking the ground around Naruto, as he was still crouching alongside the dumpster.
"You can come out now. No one will harm you now." Stepping from out of the shadows, Naruto saw his savior. The man was at least six foot four inches, and had on pitch black samurai armor covering his entire body. His skin was a pale white and his silver hair was flowing down past his shoulders. But the most noticeable feature about him was his eyes. They were a deep and rich golden yellow; Naruto couldn't help but feel fascinated. Naruto feeling drown out by his eyes, stepped out from his hiding place. "Ah, there you are!" The samurai said with a big smile on his face.
Naruto walked around the body without braking eye contact with him. "W-who are you?" Naruto asked as he walked up to the samurai.
The samurai crouched down to Naruto's eye level with Naruto, he reached out and takes hold of his shoulder. "Well my name is Minamoto Yoritomo. What's your name little one?" he said in a bright tone. Naruto feeling a little uncomfortable being spoken to in such a tone kept silent for a while. Bring his head up to look at Yoritomo, and saw that he was still waiting with a gentle smile on his face. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto and I'm four year old today." He said in a whisper.
Yoritomo's smile widen when he heard Naruto speak. 'So he's only four years old, the fate of a Jinchuuriki is one of hardship and sacrifice.' Yoritomo stood and turn towards the entrance, "Come Naruto it looks like you could use a shower and a hot meal." Naruto's eyes lit up in admiration and hope, hope in the fact that he might have a friend. Naruto was taken out of thought when he noticed the crowd gathering in the entrance of the alley.
Yoritomo stood a couple of feet in front of Naruto and the crowd. "What have you done?" Yelled a Shinobi with red eyes, as he stepped forward pulling out a kunai. Murmurs of support for the shinobi were heard coming from the crowd. Yoritomo turned and looked at Naruto, "No matter what you see don't turn away." Naruto was confused but nodded in understanding. "I asked you a question! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" At that second something in Yoritomo changed that Naruto noticed immediately, his eyes had changed to a bloody crimson. "Now what have done with Yoshi?" The Shinobi yelled. More Shinobi arrived to the scene, but these were different; they wore all black outfits with white masks and the kanji for 'Root' on their shoulder. Yoritomo looked around and pulled out his Katana and started walking forward, "If you're looking for Yoshi, just look to your left by the wall."
They looked and cringed when they saw the severed head with its eyes open. "There you have Yoshi. Now it would be in your best interest to turn around and leave me and my apprentice alone." Naruto was shocked at what he heard. The other shinobi drew their weapons and crept closer, Yoritomo reacted in an instant. He leapt for the shinobi on the rooftops, instantly killing four shinobi, blood spilling everywhere. The civilians ran for cover as the other shinobi engaged Yoritomo. Fire jutsus were being fired at him from every angle, he stood there let they fire consume him and with one swing of his katana he pushed the flames back. "If you play with fire you're going to get burned."
He brought his left foot forward and leaned back on his right, and brings his katana across his body. "This is a technique only known to me!" The air around Yoritomo was becoming energized, and the ground around him was breaking apart. "Now feel the power of my sword!" 'Tempest Fire Dragon' he swung his sword at a 45 degree angle unleashing the power gathered I his sword in the form of a Cerulean fire dragon. The shinobi still alive tried to avoid the blast but the beast followed them, burning them. The bodies of the down shinobi littered the floor. Yoritomo walked up to the shinobi with red eyes, "And to think the Mighty Uchiha has sunk so low as to harm children."
The down Uchiha grunted in anger, 'No one insults the Clan and lives'. Yoritomo turns and walks to Naruto, "Come Naruto we have much to do and many things I have to teach you." He turned to the civilians, "You better get them to the Hospital or they will surly die." With that said he grabbed Naruto's hand and vanished into the shadows
The civilians rushed to take the shinobi that were still alive to the hospital. Some ran to the Hokage's Office to warn him that the Demon child has been taken by a foreign enemy.
The Hokage was sitting in his chair looking out in the direction in which he felt the build up and release of massive amounts of Spiritual energy. 'Only one clan of people in the entire Elemental Nations can build up that much spiritual energy' He thinks deeply why there would be one of them in the village and realizes why: 'Naruto'.
The door to his office burst open as an Anbu with a dog mask rushes in, "Hokage-dono Naruto has been taken!" But he is too late as he sees the Hokage disappear in a swirl of leaves. "Oh boy." The Anbu sighs.
Outside the village Yoritomo and Naruto step out of the shadow of a tree. "Wow, how did you do that Minamoto-san?" Naruto asked in wonder. Yoritomo looked down at Naruto and put his hand and on his head, "You liked that huh? You will be learning that in a few years it is called 'Shadow Step' and it requires that you learn my style of fighting." Naruto nodded and couldn't wait to learn a cool move like that. As they continued walking a short distance Yoritomo quickly unsheathed his katana and took his stance. "Do not worry. I'm here to talk to you." Says the Hokage as he steps out from the shadows. Yoritomo is hesitant in sheathing his sword; he could feel the power emanating from this seemingly harmless old man.
"Alright then speak." Yoritomo said as he stepped in between the old man and Naruto. The Hokage noticed the protective gestures that Yoritomo is making in ensuring Naruto's safety. "What in one of the Minamoto Samurai clan doing attacking the people of my village and taking a very promising young boy from his home?" Yoritomo's face contorted in anger at what he assumed, and burst out in a fit of angry laughter, "Home? He has no home here. Home is where people care and love you, not treat you like some kind of vermin. And as to why I'm here, it's because it has been foretold in my village that a child of the Kitsune and the children of the Moon will either herald this world to a time of prosperous peace, or destroy the world in a hail of fire and death."
Yoritomo stepped up to be face to face with the Hokage, staring deep into his eyes, "I can tell that you are a good man, but you are letting the people with no power in your village have too much power over you. I they hadn't Naruto wouldn't be in this predicament." The Hokage took the words spoken to him and though of all the times he could have made a better life for Naruto. Yoritomo walked over to Naruto and put hi on his shoulders, "If you don't mind Lord Hokage, we have a long journey ahead of us back to my homeland." The Hokage reached into his robes and produced a series of scrolls, "If you could teach Naruto his Heritage and to become a warrior you might need these to assist you." Yoritomo took the scrolls and gave them to Naruto, "Thank you. We must be on our way." He bows to the Hokage, "Good-bye." He starts walking away with Naruto on his shoulders. Naruto turns his head and gives The Hokage a sad smile, "Bye Oji-san! Take care of the village until I come back!" Tears were streaming down the Hokage's face as he witness the most promising child he's ever known be taken away to become a Warrior the world will either Fear or Respect. "Grow strong and become what your destined to be my child. I will wait until the day you come back to die."
Naruto riding on Yoritomo's shoulders was quickly falling asleep. His eyes were becoming too heavy, fighting back sleep he tried to keep his mind active and awake. He tried to take in the features and scents that is Minamoto Yoritomo, Naruto started to stroke his hair, it felt like silk in his hands. Next he hand stroked his face, it was smooth and soft. Yoritomo smiled at the antics of the blonde, "Enjoying yourself Naruto?" Naruto quickly stops what he's doing and begins to apologize profusely. Yoritomo laughs a hearty laugh, "Its okay Naruto. You can stop apologizing." Naruto started scratching the back of his head and had a big grin on his face. Minute's later sleep won over the small blonde and he was snoring lightly. 'He's had a rough and tiring night. It's a good thing he sleeps without problems.' Yoritomo calmly walked into his camp and greeted his Horse Entei. Entei was not an average horse his skin was snow white, his mane was a fiery red and his eyes were a deep emerald.
Entei walked over to them and laid down before them, Yoritomo placed Naruto up against Entei's side and pulled out a blanket from the saddle and draped it over Naruto's sleeping form. Yoritomo walks over to a tree that is next to them and sits down, bringing his sword to him, he leans it against his shoulder, "Keep him warm Entei." He closes his eyes and leans his head back, "for you have a special child at your side
Thanks for reading and please review. next chap comes out soon.