Title: Destiny

Summary: Living in the Shinobi World for 5 years now, Harry Potter managed one day to be robbed by one young Naruto Uzumaki. The child reminds Harry of himself and having what we like to call a "saving people thing" he could not help but try to protect the boy.

Disclaimer: Naruto and Harry Potter are property of Masashi Kishimoto and J. and in no way mine. This was written for non-profitable entertainment purposes only. Any Original Characters (OCs) are mine to claim.

Chapter 1.

'That little worm robbed me!'

Harry's mind was raging with anger at the thief and shame at his own observation abilities as he ran after the tiny figure witch moments before expertly managed to pick his pocket. He was fast. He would give him that, but Harry had not been the youngest Quidditch Seeker for nothing. Years of training and evading his cousin's beloved sport named "Harry-Hunting" brought his speed above limits. Commanding his legs to pick up a notch when the boy turned around the corner, Harry had the little runt in middle air by the back of his shirt within seconds.

'The child does not weight much that's for sure.' Grimacing when a sharp kick almost managed to land where any man inclined to avoid being hit one hundred percent, Harry secured the boy's legs and arms and none too kindly turned him around.

His eyes instantly narrowed.

Dressed in torn clothing, filthy blond messy hair, dried blood around his mouth obviously caused by a busted lip, one eye so swollen you could barely see its color, small and starved for sure.

Yes, one look at the little juvenile and Harry was transported back into his own youth. His heart was shifting between pity and fury.

The boy looked humble and resigned now that he was restrained. He was not bothering to struggle anymore but Harry could recognize the concealed defiance and fear in the kid's eyes and Oh. The wizard knew the game. He knew it all too well since this was exactly how he used to proceed when his uncle was angry. Give them the illusion of giving up, make sure to appear remorseful and when you are released - escape. And yes, Harry could feel that the boy's whole body was tense and the little rabbit was ready to bolt as soon as he weakened his hold.

Looking into glowing blue eyes, Harry meticulously weighted his options. In the end, he smiled gently at the child and keeping his voice as neutral as possible, not giving away any of the feelings he as currently experiencing. He asked.

"Tell me Blondie, what is your name?"

He was ready for a noisy explosion at the word "Blondie", the kid definitely fit the criteria and Harry's "people reading skills" were never mistaken, but it was only the child's eyes that widened to some degree. Harry could say with certainty that this was not what the kid anticipated. A beating instead? Most probably. Those blue pools narrowed and in a crocked voice the boy did not give him an answer but asked a question of his own.

"Why?"

Harry could help but give a painted sigh. Cautious, suspicious...he could see so much of himself in the boy. Harry would state without deceit that it was better to be paranoid than naive but that is a "skill" that should be learned in times of warfare not when one was as young as this small blond sitting in his arms.

"Just curious, kid. I will make you a deal, you tell me your name, and I promise on my honor that you won't get a long scolding from my book. It's named "One Thousand Reasons Why Stealing Is Wrong" you know."

The boy coked his head to a side and just looked at him clearly not comprehending what he was talking about. 'So cute.' Thankfully the kid was observant enough to pick the gentle tone and light amusement from the wizard's voice, so he replied in a reluctant voice.

"Uzumaki Naruto"

"Nauto Uzumaki, hmm? Tell me Blondie, how old are you?" This was a inquiry of much interest for Harry, and he held his breath without realising wile waiting for the answer.

"Stop calling me Blondie!" The additional mention of the word achieved its goal judging by the snappish tone of the boy. Good, at least he wasn't fearful to converse anymore -Harry's "people skills" are never in error! "And I'm eight."

Harry relised the breath he was containing only to take a new deep one in order to keep in check the wave of hot fury. Eight. The kid barely looked six. He instinctively tightened his hold over the boy, his protective instincts over a much smaller and vulnerable creature coming to surface. The child winced.

"Oh, sorry." He lessened his hold again.

"What did you intended to do with the coins you took from me kid?" Harry's voice was kind and gentle, with no hint of a threat. " There is quite an quantity in that small pocket bag." His entire wealth most likely not that the wizard was going to acknowledge that. It was a bottomless bag, the only one he had, and it contained both Black and Potter's family gold. He was not quite over the fact that this little thing managed such a feat. It was sad in a way - more than sad. The boy looked like he had experience - a second of distraction was all it took.

Harry was one hundred percent positive that the experience in stealing came from necessity, the little one does not look like one who does it just for the thrill and pleasure.

The kid flushed and ducked his head. It was obvious that he wished to be relived from having to answer but Harry waited patiently. The child cracked in the end and mumbled something.

Harry raised an eyebrow and said.

"Louder Blondie, all I heard was some bizarre word in an untraceable language. It's not Parseltongue let me tell you."

The child rose his head and looked at him like he was deranged. Harry considered that he almost certainly was. He had to be lacking something crucial in the head. What kind of sane man leaps into the Veil of Death anyway?

Nevertheless, we are getting of the track. That's a story for another time since Harry was more intrigued in the kid's answer.

"Tell me again how you were going to spend the money. No, tell me on what you were going to use them. And please talk louder, so I can hear what you say this time."

The boy flushed and ducked his head. Again. Harry grimaced. Was this getting repetitive or was it just him? He gave an exasperate sigh and finally the child seemed to draw on what little bravery he had- definitely not a Griphindor- and glanced directly into his own green eyes.

"Food, mister. I was going to buy food." The boy continued to talk but Harry was only half-listening. The kid was saying he would give the coins back. Well, the wizard will take the money, but he would not the child starve that's for sure.

If he was to be frank with himself, Harry already knew what the kid would say before the answer was even given. He could not fault the boy for stealing. It was survival instinct. And didn't Harry know about hunger? That hollow feeling in your stomach fallowed by the sensation of bile in your throat that just won't go away. He could still see himself as a small child drinking many quantities of water 'Maybe the hunger would drown, and the funny noises would stop.' When the night came, he was delighted, so happy that for a few hours he would fall into a welcoming darkness and just forget.

He shook his head and glanced back at the child once again. Such interesting eyes. With a little care and attention, this Naruto Uzumaki would grow to be a handsome young man - those whisker marks were very...exotic. Harry could help but think that he was familiar. It would probably come to him later.

Back to the problem at hand though. The Shinobi Villages did not have "Street-Kids" like his world had so the boy either had abusive parents, a guardian which didn't give a damn or the orphanage in this area did not do it's job appropriately.

Now to find where exactly the poison lay.

"Let's make another deal Blondie. If I let you go, and you promise not to run, we will go and have some food together. Anything you want. How does that sound?" The child's eyes brightened at the prospect of still getting a meal and Harry cursed in his mind whomever made that light dim.

Blondie nodded frantically and Harry prepared to put him down. He stopped when he remembered something - something important. So he brought the child up until they were face to face, eye to eye, grinned kindly and said.

"My name is Potter Hari. You can call me Hari. I must say it's an honor to meet you, Uzumaki Naruto."

He is shocked and startled when tears occur in the child's eyes. They swim there for a moment, blurring those eyes of an intense and blazing blue. In that moment Harry more or less gently planted the small form on the ground. He observed absent minded that his hand shook. He had no idea how to deal with this. Hermione's fervent tears and Ron's occasional jealous one did not, in any way prepared him for an even such as this.

Just when he gathered all of his courage and prepared to say something encouraging that later would no doubt make him feel like an moron. Naruto Uzumaki smiled.

Harry James Potter forgot how to breath.

Unguarded, the boy was Innocence. Harry could see it into his smile. He was Light and Purity, and all that was young and holy.

Oh, Harry had no grand disillusions. The young one knew the world's cruelty and what misery humans could produce. But for now Uzumaki Naruto was untouched.

And it was in that day, walking towards Ichiraku together with a child who swore there was where they had the best ramen. It was in that second that One Prophesy Man made a oath to protect, love and cherish Another.

His eyes narrowed as he noticed the people's glares.

No matter the cost!

Note : I apologise for my mistakes. English is not my language, even if I use a spell checker we all know that they are not one hundred percent correct.