IMPORTANT! This author's note describes the theory behind this story. Yes, I know it is long but if you read it you will be more prepared for what happens later! Thank you.
I am a long time resident to this site and have read so many Fanfictions I've lost count. However, this is my first Fanfiction as a writer. So please forgive rookie mistakes and tell me how to fix them. I will respect a reviewer's thoughts and feelings so long as they respect mine and list complaints in a logical order. Constructive criticism is welcome. A review simply telling me that my story is thoughtless and hopeless does not help me as a writer. If you spot a typo please post it in a review.
This story has been in the back of my mind for almost 3 years and now upon entering the latest One Piece Arc, Dressrosa, I feel comfortable enough to begin writing it. This fanfiction will not be a Naruto finds a Devils Fruit. Naruto will end up with most of Doflamingo's character! I will be bringing Doflamingo's personality and ability into the Naruto universe with a plausible explanation, along with some of his friends. The basis of this fic is the difference between "intentions" and "perceptions".
Clinicians, the psychologist that a person would sit down with and talk to, and anyone in general can have the best intentions in the world towards someone else (be their friend, protect them from harm, etc.) but it does not amount to anything if that person does not perceive those intentions as positive.
First and foremost I am a Biopsychologist. This is defined as the "study of the biology of behavior." You can think of it as the crossing of Neuroscience and Psychology. If you want more information you can PM me or google them yourself (do not look up Freud he may have been the father of psychology, but I promise we have moved past him).
Now about me, I am in the middle of obtaining my bachelor's degree at a college in the continental United States and after that I will be going on to graduate school and hopefully on past that to receive a doctorate. I am heavily involved in research, as a research assistant, at my chosen university and did not simply make up the information that you will soon be reading.
THIS IS NOT A BASHING FIC! I am not interested in writing a story that simply draws characters through the mud with no character development. In the beginning it will seem kind of like bashing but I am going to do my best to keep as many character's as possible to their personalities in the manga. However this is pre-Shippuden, Naruto has absolutely no way of knowing that everyone is trying to protect him.
How Naruto turned out, a person with a heart of gold, given his upbringing is statistically unlikely. I'm simply capitalizing on that. This is Naruto's reaction to what he sees as his reality (to paraphrase Itachi)
I do not own Naruto or One Piece; no money is made from this story.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome." - Albert Einstein
Starts after the Chunin Final Preliminaries (Konoha Hospital)
"It is happening again," Naruto thought as he watched Kakashi leave. "Why is it that I always come last?" Turning to look at his new sensei, Ebisu, Naruto felt anger beginning to form in his gut. That anger only grew as a little voice in the back of his head said, "The same reason as always demon." That word, heard so often in his childhood. A label he could not escape no matter how hard he tried. At first he did not understand why people hated him so. What had he done that had been so terrible that everyone would talk in hushed tones about him? Yet when confronted just glare and ignore him?
Then he found out. That fateful night when he learned he was the container of the Kyūbi. The monster that had destroyed Konohagakure and the Fourth Hokage had sealed in him. After learning about the Kyūbi, Naruto promised himself that he would prove them all wrong. That with work he could prove to more people that he was not the fox. Yet now standing in the middle of the hospital Naruto felt more alone than ever before and for what must have been the thousandth time Naruto thought, "why me?"
The Fourth had done more than trap the Kyūbi that night; he had damned Naruto in the process. The irony of discovering the man he had once idolized was responsible for his pain filled him with feelings he could not adequately describe: despair, confusion, and rage. Why had the Fourth chosen him to be the prison? Why not one of the countless other children his age? The Third Hokage said his parents loved him and that they had died on a mission.
If that was true why didn't't they object to the Fourth? If they loved him, why was he alone? Would both parents of a newborn really be sent out on a mission at the same time? Or if one parent died would the other not retire to take care of him? Why did they leave him? The same questions were always on Naruto's mind. The third was no help. He loved the old man but anytime the topic of his parents came up the Third shut down and simply gave Naruto a look of pity. It was obvious the Third knew more than he was letting on.
Naruto may not have been the smartest of his generation, but he was the most observant. He had to be.
The adults all knew of his burden and they blamed him for it. Granted they never physically touched him, but that did not lessen the pain. Words are just as powerful a weapon as a kunai or jutsu and the effects they have last far longer. A cut will heal with time. Yet when people constantly assault a child with words it is only a matter of time before he starts to believe them. When he was younger he had believed them. He thought he had done something. He had tried apologizing, for the unknown transgression, but that only seemed to make people angrier.
Isolated, Naruto had to learn silently from the sidelines. Learn by observation instead of interaction. A child learns by copying his or her environment. They mirror the movement of an adult's mouth to form words; they rely on social interaction to learn how to behave; and finally they rely on those that cared for them for protection and guidance. Naruto was alone, even before he had been kicked out of the orphanage at 6 years old. He had been on his own.
Isolated from everyone and forced to learn all by himself, Naruto had become very good at observing others. This awareness only grew with time Such as, being able to gauge emotion by the movement of facial muscles. This ability helped significantly after being kicked out of the orphanage because he could discern when to approach a shop owner to purchase food or other supplies.
Yes, when the third Hokage had learned he had been kicked out of the orphanage he had been angry. Yet all the old man had done was give him a rundown apartment in an abandoned building and a monthly allowance that was barely enough money to live hand to mouth. He could read, do basic math and he could write. The little time the Hokage could spare was spent teaching Naruto these basics and Naruto had loved every minute of it. The Hokage especially enjoyed commenting on how quickly Naruto could learn new things when he set his mind to it.
Yet, that love of learning would not last. Upon entering the academy, Naruto had quickly learned that teachers hated him just as much as everyone else. It did not matter how hard he tried he got the grade the teachers thought he deserved. He remembered studying all night for the test on the First and Second Hokages and triple checking all his answers to make sure they were right only to receive a failing grade for all his trouble.
So Naruto simply gave up and played the fool. "No one cares if I try so why try at all?" Naruto remembered saying while crying upon failing the test he had worked so hard on. It had been so easy, scream out about wanting to be Hokage and everyone simply ignored him; to hide in plain sight, to wear a mask in public and keep his thoughts to himself.
It had been a frighteningly easy transition; no one seemed to question this sudden shift in his personality. Not even the old man, which broke Naruto's heart. His grandfather figure did not know him well enough to question why a curious and intelligent 5 year old suddenly became an obnoxiously loud fool. So the entirety of his academy years had been wasted and Naruto was only now learning of the consequences. Naruto was dragged out of his mental monologue by Ebisu, "Meet me tomorrow at 7am at the hot springs." Nodding his agreement Naruto started the long walk home.
Walking silently back through the village. Naruto watched the people he passed, a silent witness to men and women living out their lives. Everyone was happy, until they saw him. No words were spoken. No words were needed to showcase their dislike for him. How children were pulled closer to parents when Naruto strayed within 20 feet. How villagers would increase their pace to get away from him quicker. Not to mention the glares: Naruto felt surrounded by looks of distrust, hatred and fear.
These people were who he was supposed to protect from the Kyūbi? These were the people he was supposed to win over?
His dream of acceptance was looking more and more like a fantasy, something to be longed for but never achieved. Naruto did not want to be Hokage to protect Konoha. No, he wanted it because he wanted the acceptance that came with the title. As a child the Third had told Naruto stories of the heroics of Hokages past. Naruto wanted to be remembered. To be important enough that people would want to be like him. The Fourth's role in his past had soured this dream.
Naruto was no longer sure he wanted to be Hokage. Every time he looked up at the Hokage monument he was reminded of what he was, not what he wanted to be. Hokage were supposed to put their lives on the line to protect the village. Naruto was a survivor, and the longer he spent as a ninja. The more times he put his life on the line to protect his precious people. The more he realized that it was all talk. What made these people precious to him? Why should he die for them, when they refused to treat him as a human-being?
Iruka had started to care, but one positive instance does not outweigh all the negative ones. While the mask he wore made him out to be a happy go lucky fool. The real Naruto was far more calculating and far less optimistic. Naruto liked Iruka but he could not bring himself to trust the man. By nature Naruto was suspicious of everyone who simply offered him aid. He had learned his lesson when his peers would pretend to be his friend only to turn Naruto's hopes into the punch line of a joke.
While it did not appear that anyone in his age group knew of the Kyūbi. That did not make them ignorant. The children picked up on their parent's hostility and instead of accepting him had mocked and belittled him all the more. These incidents of playground humor, innocent in the eyes of an adult left a profound impact on Naruto's understanding of the world. Everyone has an ulterior motive and nothing is free.
It was because of these pranks by his peers that Naruto had begun playing pranks in the first place. He had gotten his revenge on those that had made fun of him. He realized that the people he pranked acknowledged his existence. Even if it was in anger, they looked at him. They called out his name. It was so simple. The pleasures of having someone say his name. Most people take for granted this everyday occurrences, but Naruto cherished every second of the attention. So he took to pranking like an addict to a drug.
He even decided to wear bright orange to try and force people to look at him more. As a child he thought it better to be hated than ignored but now he was not as sure. While his pranking had unknowingly made him a savant at stealth, it had only increased the villagers dislike for him. He had unknowingly only made his life all the harder. It was why after coming upon this revelation had stopped pranking people. He had hoped that stopping would help to lessen the hostility. Sadly it seemed only to put them more on edge.
They simply thought he was biding his time for the heat of defacing the Hokage monument to blow over. They still thought him a troublemaker.
"I'm on my own, nothing has changed," Naruto thought sadly. Naruto had hoped that having a sensei would be the turning point he so needed. Yet Kakashi was no different than anyone else. While the man obviously cared on some level for Naruto's safety. He was unable or unwilling to look deeper. Even with Kakashi's mighty Sharingan he was unable to see through the illusion that was Naruto.
He played the part of the orange wearing dunce to well and now it was coming back to haunt him. After learning he was the Kyūbi container Naruto began to realize the importance of knowledge. If it was possible to stop something as powerful as the Kyūbi with just ink and chakra, there was no telling what else could be done. Maybe it was possible to remove the Kyūbi and place it somewhere else.
Naruto came to the sobering conclusion that goofing off instead of studying during his academy days may just get him killed. He was only just able to defeat Mizuki and if he had wanted to Haku would have killed him with little resistance. Then there was Orochimaru who was on a completely different level than anyone Naruto had ever met before.
"Knowledge is power and I am weak," Naruto thought to himself as he neared his apartment. "I was so focused on learning some all-powerful jutsu that I failed to realize that it is often the basics that determine the winner." Ninja are supposed to be stealthy, so throwing fireballs around would be counterproductive to killing a target without alerting anyone. Naruto flinched at that thought, immediately thinking back to the deaths of both Zabuza and Haku in Wave Country.
While he no longer felt remorse for what had happened to either Haku or Zabuza, death is a part of a ninja's life, he feared what Haku had become. Haku spoke of protecting what was precious. Only to rely so heavily on the acceptance of others, that when it was lost he lost his will to live. Haku died thinking he was nothing but a tool. He did not fight it; he accepted his death with no objection. Was that any different than what Naruto himself had tried to do? How he was willing to die for his "precious" people?
"The same people who have once again abandoned you?" There was that little voice again inciting anger.
Opening the door to his apartment Naruto walked in and slammed the door shut. Kakashi is more concerned with Sasuke. The same could be said about Sakura. As a child Naruto wanted nothing more than to be accepted. Sakura, in the beginning, had been just like him, a social outcast, because of this Naruto thought she would understand. Thought she would be more willing to accept him.
Looking back on it now Sakura was in fact the cruelest of all. She had started out an outcast only to then become popular and with that acceptance she too had shunned anything that did not meet up to the status quo. Sasuke cared to an extent, which was proven in wave, yet his actions in the forest of death put that example into question. Sasuke craved power, that much was obvious, and Naruto was unsure of how far he would be willing to go to get it.
"If I can't count on them, then I must be able to rely on myself and I'll show them all!" They all thought he was weak and useless. That had been proven during his battle with Kiba, who thought that the match was over before it started. Naruto smiled at the memory of the looks of astonishment on the faces of spectators when he won his match. Like it was impossible for them to even understand he was capable of winning. However, even with that win nothing had changed because Kakashi stilled cast him aside in favor of training Sasuke.
Which brought Naruto back to his current problem, what to do about the up and coming chunin exams finals. Naruto had his doubts that Ebisu would be able to teach him anything that would help him beat Neji. "Hmm, during Neji's fight with Hinata there seemed to be some sort of history between the two that angered Neji," Naruto thought, "maybe I can use that to my advantage."
The details were unclear but Naruto distinctly remembered that there had been some event where Hinata had almost been kidnapped. He decided that he would go to the library tomorrow and make a shadow clone to go and meet Ebisu. He needed to go to the library anyway to try and get materials that could help him learn everything he missed during the academy. It would be difficult but if he could make up for lost time he might just find a way to beat Neji.
Early the next morning Naruto woke to the sound of his alarm clock and got ready for the day. Naruto, not knowing what to expect from Ebisu, decided to try and put as much chakra as possible into the clone to try and make it more durable. After creating the clone Naruto instructed, "Go meet Ebisu in front of the hot springs and try not to get dispersed."
With that both the clone and Naruto left the apartment. Before arriving at the library Naruto decided to use the Transformation Jutsu to mask his appearance. Unsure of how the library staff would react to his use of the library. "Better to be safe than sorry," Naruto thought as he transformed in to dark haired average male of his age.
Opening the door to the library Naruto was greeted with a giant circular room. Every available piece of wall was lined with bookshelves at least 10 feet tall. In the center of this massive room were tables where people were reading books or scrolls of all shapes and sizes. Naruto stood in the door way unsure of what to do. When a woman employee approached him and said, "Welcome to the Konoha Library. How Can I help you?" Thinking on his feet Naruto replied, "Hello, umm I was wondering if I could maybe read some books?"
The woman smiled, "Yes you can read all you want, let me show you around." The woman, who introduced herself as Ibara, showed Naruto around the library and instructed him on how the library books where categorized. When Naruto asked, "Do you have anything on ninjas?" Ibara informed him that while they had the materials for the academy, everything else was store in the Konoha Archive Library, which was located in the Hokage Monument and only ninja could enter it.
Naruto, still disguised, thanked Ibara for her help and moved to look around the room. "One more thing you are welcome to read anything you like but to check out a book you will need a library card," Ibara informed him. Naruto froze for a second then replied with a smile, "That's okay I'm just going to read here."
"If you change your mind or you need any help I will be at the desk by the door," with that Ibara left. Naruto immediately went over to the academy section of the library and began looking through the available books. While he had hoped to find something on the Hyuga Family the books seemed to be all about the basics of becoming a ninja: the proper way to throw a Kunai, basic chakra control exercises, and the generic Taijutsu taught to all academy students. "Well I guess I have to start somewhere," Naruto thought picking up the book on chakra control.
Picking an empty table with four seats Naruto sat down and began to read. The book first mentioned how chakra was broken into Yin and Yang. Yin Release is based off of spiritual energy and governs the imagination. Yang Release, on the other hand, governs vitality and energy. These 2 basic chakra forms were then molded in different ways to form the chakra types needed in either Genjutsu or Ninjutsu.
"I always thought that chakra was just chakra but it seems that there are different combinations for different techniques," Thinking along this line Naruto began to wonder if that was why he was never able to make a simple clone and was so good at making Shadow clones. "Shadow clones are real; they are solid and can interact with the real world. Maybe they use yang chakra."
The book went on to explain that Yin chakra was based off of the mental capacity of the individual. While the Yang chakra was connected to the physical energy the human body was capable of producing. Naruto knew he had an inhuman amount of stamina and that he had a lot more chakra than was normal for someone of his age. He was unsure if this was a byproduct of containing the Kyūbi or if it was a natural occurrence. So engrossed was he in this debate he was taken by surprise when his vision suddenly shifted.
He was no longer looking at a book; actually he realized he was no longer in the library at all. He was standing in front of the Konoha Hot springs working on his chakra control. Ebisu had instructed him to use his chakra to stand on the water's surface for as long as he could. After falling a few times he had started to get the hang of the technique. It not only took more chakra then climbing a tree, but was more based on continuously emitting chakra to keep from sinking into the water.
On the third try he was distracted by a man sitting on a toad peeping into the women's side of the bath and when he fell into the water he dispersed.
As Naruto returned to the present he lost control of the Transformation and reverted back to his own form. Gasping for breath and trying not to throw up Naruto did not notice someone approaching him. "Hey what are you doing here?" Ibara screamed at him, "Leave this instant!"
Anger swelled within Naruto as he looked at yet another person who hated him. Yet he understood that yelling back at Ibara would get him nowhere so he calmly replied, "as a citizen of Konoha I have a right be here. I am sorry for causing a scene it will not happen again." When Ibara look ready to start screaming again he added, "If you have a problem with me being here you are welcome to take it up with the Hokage I am sure he would be interested to hear you are denying a ninja the use of the library." Ibara went pale for a second, before nodding and retreating back to her desk.
Collecting himself Naruto began to think about what had just happened when it finally occurred to him what had happened. "I just experienced what my shadow clone has experienced," Naruto concluded in shock. Why had no one ever told him about this?
If he was able to experience what a clone experienced then he could make clones to help him learn everything he had missed! With this thought Naruto returned to the shelf of ninja books and began to grab every book he could. Upon returning to his desk he placed the books carefully down on the table. Stepping back he crossed his finger and whispered "Shadow Clone Jutsu." Three Clones appeared around the table and then quietly sat down and began to read.
Returning to the book on chakra control Naruto was once again engrossed in the importance of chakra control. It was not as simple as simply being more efficient with jutsu this was a byproduct of chakra control. The Yin and Yang halves of chakra originate in two different areas of the body. Yin originates in the brain and Yang in the stomach. While the energy for a jutsu came from the Yang portion. The intent, what the chakra was supposed to become, was governed by the Yin portion.
This was why chakra was such a versatile tool. Chakra control was not only about being able to control and proportion of energy, yang, but also to have a clear mental image of what the chakra was intended to do, yin. This is why hand seals were so common. The hand seal aided in the focusing of yin chakra and the consolidation of yang chakra. A person with good chakra control could use yin chakra to heighten their senses or use yang chakra to increase physical abilities without the need for complex hand sign combinations.
Hours past as Naruto and his clones read in silence, when they finished a book they set it aside and pick up a new one to begin reading. Chakra Control, Taijutsu Stances, Konoha's History, and many other topics were read with enthusiasm. By the time the sun was setting Naruto had finished reading the available selection of books in the Library.
While Naruto was happy to be done for the day he found the information he had read to be lacking. While chakra control was well covered the other topics only had the most basic aspects and the author had obviously written these books for children because not a single one mentioned the violence that was present in the life of a ninja. As he and his clones placed the books back where they belonged, Naruto decided that tomorrow he would go to the Konoha Archive Library.
He would also send a few clones back to the hot springs to work on Water Walking and Leaf Concentration practice. Another technique he was reminded of while reading his books.
Turning to the three clones Naruto said "Alright one at a time dispel starting with you." Indicating the clone on the right and with a poof Naruto was once again assaulted by an influx of memories. Luckily this time he didn't fall to the floor. The transfer of memories was still disorientating, but now that he was expecting it he was better able to deal with the stress.
After the third clone dispersed he did have a headache. "The mental strain of absorbing the knowledge of my clones seems to increase the longer the clone has been formed and the more knowledge that is transferred," Naruto theorized as he exited the library. He tried to ignore the fact that as soon as he left the library Ibara locked the door and turned the sign to close. Even though the sign clearly stated they were supposed to be open for another hour.
It was at this moment Naruto's stomach decided to make its displeasure known; Unleashing a growl loud enough that the few people walking in the opposite direction actually glanced in his direction. "Wow haven't eaten since this morning," changing his course to make a pit stop at his favorite ramen stand.
How he loved Ichiraku ramen, Naruto thought of Ayame and Teuchi as the closest thing he was likely to ever have to family, a sister and a doting uncle, not parents but enough to give him a glimpse of what he was missing. What a family would be like. As Naruto neared the stand Teuchi called out, "Well if it isn't my best customer! What can I get for you Naruto?" In reply, "three miso pork ramen and two beef please."
I always found Naruto's immediate acceptance of the Fourth to be lacking. Yes, he punched him in the gut, cried, and finally was ecstatic. I find Naruto's acceptance of Kakashi saying "Fathers usually have something to say to their sons" as Naruto is recovering after the invasion of pain (or it might have been after Karui beat him up) even less likely. Finding out the man who made you a Jinchūriki is your dad, this is pre-Kushina remember he has no knowledge of why they did it, and not wanting to do more than punch him once just seems unlikely to me.
I have read many fics in which reviewers cry out that Naruto is not physically abused. That Konoha's population simply ignored him. I can't remember where I saw it but it is a scene in which a young Naruto wants an ANBU mask. The shop owner first pushes Naruto then when confronted gives Naruto the mask but tells him to leave immediately. This is not just being ignored it can be defined as Naruto being verbally assaulted. The fact of the matter is psychologists have yet to find out which is worse, physical or mental. Both are forms of abuse and should never be tolerated. It does not make a child stronger, it will not help them to live their lives, and it can never be justified. It will hamper their ability to live. It may turn them into abuser in the future. To those that think being ignored is not detrimental to a child's health.
A professor once instructed in class that ignoring a young child, from birth until about 24 months if I'm remembering correctly, can kill them. Blunt but sadly true. (These tests are no longer aloud and even then not to my knowledge was any child ever denied complete interaction. Most of these studies were done on victims after the fact. Psychology testing today, at least in the U.S. and European Union; have to meet very strict risk to participant guidelines.) Very young children need to be held, talked to, and interacted with. These interactions cause stimulation along neural pathways, helps the brain as an organ mature (much more complex then it seems).
Left alone, not for a few hours or days more like weeks to months to years, these pathways can shut down leading other systems to shut down. Everything in the brain is connected to something else in some fashion. While more resilient then the infants or toddlers, children who are kept from adequate human contact have developmental issues. In theory a child can be fed and sheltered, but be completely incapable of interacting with their environment. (An extreme example would be "The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog" by Bruce Duncan Perry et al. Your brain does not stop growing until you are between 25-30 years old. Most of the vital social growth happens before age 10 (Naruto is still in the orphanage or living on his own).
A child giving up after failing to succeed is a proven occurrence. An individual who fails at something without a motivating force to drive them to try again is far less likely to repeat the failed action.
Naruto always talks about how when he is Hokage they will accept him. It is only during the fight with Edo Tensei Nagato and Itachi that he sees that a ninja becomes Hokage because he is accepted. This difference is what makes Naruto incapable of holding the hokage position, even after he spoke to Itachi. Naruto wants to be accepted and be the strongest but was not the least bit interested in the actual day to day work of being Hokage. The blonde would never have been capable of sitting at the mission assignment desk or doing all the required paper work.
I did a lot of research into chakra. When Sakura first mentions it she defines chakra as a mixture of Spiritual Energy, Life Energy, and Physical Energy. However, in Shippuden the idea of yin and yang was introduced. I will be using Yin and Yang as the two halves of the equation. This will become more important as the story goes on.
*If you have conflicting information about psychology, and you can prove it with a reliable source, please do tell me. It is not my intention to post false information. However, I am human and capable of mistakes. Tell me and I will change it so that future readers may better understand.*
Please tell me what you as a reader think of this story, nothing is too small and everything is appreciated. Louis the Gator