The Ninth Cohort

by C0UNT K1NGP3N

The Butterfly Effect. With the change of one thing, massive differences come into fruition. And with these changes, the Shinobi World as it is known will change drastically. AU, Pairings TBA. Some Violence, Language, Adult Themes (ish), etc. Starts rate T, becomes M later in story.

1. What Came First

I DON'T OWN NARUTO.

A/N: So this is the Prologue a few readers recommended. I hope it lives up to the rest of the story. It is a bit all over the place, but I digress. I was not originally planning to have a prologue, so if it doesn't flow quite properly send me a PM about ways I might be able to fix it and I will try to bring it up to snuff. Just as with before, there are some minor and major divergences from canon here, and if anyone wants me to explain them more I can. One thing I will bring to light as I have not mentioned it yet is that the Uchiha Clan Downfall has NOT happened yet. My version of it will happen in one of the next few chapters. Also, the Hyūga Hyuuga

"Blah" _ Talking

"Blah" -Thinking

"Blah" - Jutsu/ Demon Speak

"Blah" - Demon thoughts

"Blah" – Monikers (i.e. Sharingan no Kakashi)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~October 10th, Just after the Kyuubi attacks~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"MINATO-KUN! DON'T YOU DARE USE THAT SEAL!" As he wailed from his place outside Kushina's barrier, one Jiraiya of the Sannin pounded against the barrier of chains.

Looking back with anguish clearly on his face and tears running down his face, Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage of Konohagakure, merely runs through hand seals to summon a small ceremonial throne on which he lays a small baby… his child… and turns toward his wife, standing next to him. "Kushina-chan… I love you."

"Minato-kun…" Her tears slowly stopped flowing as she stands next to her husband, and began flipping through hand seals of her own. "Hakke Fuin!" (1)

Creating the basic seal necessary for her son to live through what was about to happen, she turns to her husband and simply nodded, and he nods back. They both rapidly flip through the same set of handseals, and both end by clapping their hands together. "Shiki Fujin!" (2)

On the outside of the barrier, Sarutobi Hiruzen's old gaze widened a great deal as he felt the air grow cold, and sensed some great power near him, yet he could not see a difference.

"GRRAAAAAWWWWWWWW! I WILL NOT BE SEALED AGAIN!" Thrashing wildly against the chains that made up the barrier that restrained him, Kurama, more widely known as the Kyuubi no Yoko, roared, and reached towards the two insolent humans before he froze, and looked right behind them. "No…. It can't be!" Thrashing more, he saw the two humans stumble before 2 ghostly arms latched onto the Kyuubi, and pulled. And Kyuubi did fight the pull, until he was being condensed into what appeared like a sphere and shoved into the pre-prepared Hakke Fuin, and with a final shove, the Kyuubi no Yoko was finally sealed within the small, screaming body of Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto. And the Shinigami, summoned by the combined efforts of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato, smiled to itself, and took the knife from his mouth, he severed the summoner's souls.

"Naru-chan…" Having lost her ability to hold the barrier, Kushina collapsed to her knees… "I… have a gift… for you." Flipping through 3 quick seals, she places a single hand over Naruto's little heart. "Iden-Teki Fuin: Kettō no kopī" (3)

"There you go baby… a little piece of Mommy will always be with you!" And as she removes her hands, the barrier that had fallen suddenly reappears brighter than ever before and then began being drawn to this new seal, before her chains that made up the barrier become a part of her baby-boy.

"Sarutobi!" Using the last of his strength, Minato looked to his predecessor. "Make sure… the village knows… My son is a Hero!"

And with their final messages delivered, Konoha's Akai Chiso no Habanero (4), and the Konoha no Kiiroi Senkō (5) left this world, their souls taken by the Shinigami.

"Damnit Minato! I am too old for this!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~6 Years and 3 months later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the Hokage walked into one of the civilian owned restaurants that populated some of the Market District of Konohagakure, he smiled to himself. Reminiscing about the more recent years of his Village's history, he then walks right into a scene that makes his blood boil.

"Get out you little brat, your presence is breaking my 'No Demon's' policy. So GET OUT!" Stepping aside at the last second the Hokage was able to dodge the flying orange blur that was thrown out of the restaurant. And rather than just pass along like most people, he turned to the man who threw the boy out, and blasts him with a very heavy dose of Killing Intent. "Anbu, this man broke the law, please show everyone here what happens to those I catch doing so!"

Everyone watched as an Anbu appears to the right of the Hokage, and then disappeared and reappeared behind the man, and with a soft click that seemed to echo through the building, the man's head fell to land at his own feet, the cut that caused this to happen cauterized already by the fire chakra that was channeled through the killing blade (Not that the civvies knew that).

"Thank you." Blasting all inside with more of his Intent, the Sandaime merely smiles "Now, everyone here understands, right?"

With unanimous head nodding, the Hokage turns around and walks out, and seeing the little boy that was just kicked out, he walks over and helps him to his feet. "Hello litt- Naruto-kun! What are you doing? Shouldn't you be at the Orphanage?"

"They kicked me out Jiji! They said I was ruining their reputamation, or something like that…." Naruto lowers his head, slowly turning around to go hide as he always does.

Hiruzen hid his fury, motioning to one of his hidden Anbu, and using the Anbu Sign-Language, he messages: "Investigate, Arrest, and I.T."

Without waiting for his operative to disappear, he turned back to Naruto. "Now hold on a minute Naruto-kun, I am betting you are hungry right?" Smiling to himself, Hiruzen grabs Naruto's little hand, and starts walking him to a small stand on a side road in between the Residential and Market districts. "Let me show you this wonderful little restaurant. They just opened a few weeks ago."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Moments later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pushing the small curtains aside, Hiruzen walks Naruto into a small Ramen Bar, known as Ichiraku's.

"Welcome to Ichi- Oh! Hokage-sama! What an honor it is that you have graced our small stand with your presence!" The speaker, a smiling older gentleman, and his adolescent daughter bow quickly, before standing up and motioning to the menu behind the counter. "How may we serve you and your little friend? First bowl will be on the house sir."

Smiling, Hiruzen nods. "No, don't worry about it! No need for preferential treatment simply because of my position."

His daughter, who introduced herself as Ayame, nodded to her father. "What Teuchi-jiji forgot to mention is that a free bowl is the regular treat for new customers."

"Well then, I won't complain. I believe Naruto-kun and I shall both have a bowl of Miso Ramen. Is that alright Naruto?"

Having been salivating at the delicious smells wafting throughout the stand, Naruto jerks his attention back to the Sandaime. "Uh… Sure, I don't mind…"

Teuchi notices his hesitation, and then examines the small boy. "Orphan, from the looks of things, definitely malnourished, and from the looks of it is actually homeless, and isn't living in the orphanage. I must ask Hokage-sama what I can do to help him in this situation." Teuchi smiles "Coming right up. Ayame, why don't you show little Naruto-kun around the stand and the kitchen, I wish to speak to Hokage-sama alone for a moment."

"Of course Father. Naru-chan, follow me I will show you around." Smiling, she takes his hand, and motions for him to follow her.

"Y-you won't throw me out, r-right?" Stuttering in worry, Naruto averts his eyes, kicking the ground in embarrassment.

Ayame, now aghast with disgust at the idea, wraps the small boy in a soft hug, ignoring his sudden stiffening. "Of course not Naru-chan! I would never throw out such a sweet little boy. Now, let's go ok?"

Smiling brightly, he nods. "Okay Ayame-nee-chan!"

Watching as Ayame shows the little boy around, Teuchi turns to the Sandaime "Why does the Sandaime Hokage care enough about one random street orphan enough to bring them to a restaurant and get them lunch? I am not complaining about him, as I can see that he is in need of food and nurturing. But what makes him so special?"

"You weren't in the village six years ago, so I can't give you exact details. He is blamed and ostracized for something he can't control because of something that happened on his birthday." Clasping his hands, and resting his elbows on the edge of the bar, he looks pointedly at the owner of the stand. "Will this affect how you treat him in any way?"

"Yes."

His eyes hardening to a harsh glare, Hiruzen merely sighs. "How so?"

"I will provide him my food at a lower price, and if it is necessary, I will give him more nourishing foods than simply ramen. We had some orphans and others in situations like Naruto's back in the Land of the Great River. I did the same for them. I am willing to even offer him and others like him a home and even some money to help them get by. Not what you were expecting me to say, now was it?" Smiling warmly, Teuchi pulls out a small picture. "This is Ayame, when we first met. She was an orphan, the only survivor from a village that was razed to the ground. And as such, she was ostracized by the village she was taken to, like some form of cursed child. So, I took her in. This had the aftereffect that my business in that town started failing, and so we moved here. All I ask is that if my business does suffer here do to my backing of Naruto or others like him, that you find a way through the law to help me, or simply by sending a stipend of some kind. That way, I can continue to help the orphans here. Also, if you'd be willing to send me a list or maybe you can bring in some of the other orphans so I can know who I am helping, and let them know they have someone who is helping them. Are these requests acceptable?"

"I am more than willing to do as you have requested. However, adoption of Naruto or others is out of the question. I have a plan for that already, but I will ask: How would you like to be the owner of an apartment building for orphans, funded by yours truly?"

"Hokage-sama, it would be my honor. So, on to your lunch! Ayame! Bring back the guest of honor, I am about to get started on the food!"

"Yes Father!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~6 months later, at the newly opened Apartment Complex~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Teuchi and Ayame stand in front of their recently renovated and refurbished 4 story apartment building, with 4 young children crowding around them. "This building is to be your home, but remember: if you need help, we are always willing to help. And I know you all know where to find us!"

And the chorus of orphans merely cheer in response, with a blonde prankster cheering the loudest from the back, standing next to a taller black haired boy with MASSIVE eyebrows, who was cheering nearly as loud.

Having finished the opening ceremony, Teuchi begins divvying up the rooms. Motioning to the two boys in the back, he points up to the top floor. "Alright Lee-kun, you get the room on the right, and Naruto-kun, you get the one on the left." Pointing to the floor right below that, Ayame motions to the other boy, this one almost as tall as Naruto and will long silver hair. "Shin-kun, the left room of the third floor is yours. And lastly, Matsuri-chan, you get the right room of the second floor. And boys, all of you will not bother her right?"

"Yes, Teuchi-jiji!"

"Alright, Teuchi-jiji and myself will check up on you soon, don't get into too much trouble. Shin, as the oldest I expect you to be a leader here, alright?"

Shin nods happily "Yes Ayame-nee-chan!"

"Oh, and before Ayame-chan and I forget, Happy Birthday Naruto!"

"You remembered!"

Ayame points to a thing behind Naruto. "And so did they!"

Naruto turns, and sees Sarutobi Hiruzen standing there, along with another older man only Naruto recognized. "Hogake-jiji! Jiho-jiji! You all remembered!"

Jiho, the head medical officer in Konoha, and an old friend of Hiruzen's, smirked good naturedly. "Of course you little gaki, wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"You all make sure Naruto has a great seventh birthday, ok?"

"Yes Hokage-jiji/ Hokage-sama!"

Hiruzen looks down at Naruto. "So my boy, would you like to go to see some jutsu demonstrations from myself and my Anbu?"

"YEAAAHAHHHH!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~3 years later, Hokage's Office~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*knock knock*

Setting his pen down, Hiruzen glares at the massive pile of paperwork still crowding the desk, before looking towards the door. "Come in!"

A rather nondescript Jōnin walks in with only one adolescent walking with him, however, this young male also had a bandaged stump where 3 of his right fingers used to be "Team 14 reporting a mission success sir… however… We are all that is left."

Sighing in great despair, Hiruzen's heart sank. "Go and get checked out in the hospital, but first I wish to see the mission report."

Nodding slowly, the Jōnin hands over the scroll before ushering his only remaining student out of the office.

Softly mumbling to himself, Hiruzen opens and reads the report. "This was a simple bandit eradication mission. Such a mission should be easy work for a Genin squad that was accompanied by a Jōnin even a rookie one like Team 14."

Running through the records of the 3 Genin and the curriculum of the Academy, Hiruzen was appalled at the horrid level of rigor that the Academy thought was "passable", and how the Genin of Team 14 were supposedly near the top of their class.

"I am not going to let any more of my soldiers be so shoddy. The Jōnin sensei's job is not to "pick up the slack" that the Academy leaves… They are to teach the Genin to advance, not to catch up. What to do… What to do…"

Thinking to himself, Hiruzen's heart hardened as he came to a final decision. "I will not sit by and let the council's decision ruin my forces. It is time to remind them that I Am the Kami no Shinobi! I am The Sandaime Hokage, the leader of this village. And my decision on this matter is final!"

Smirking to himself, Hiruzen motions to 3 of his hidden Anbu. "Tori. Inu. Ratto. Summon the council. I have an announcement."

~~~~~~End~~~~~~

Eight Symbols Seal

Dead Demon Consuming Seal

Genetic Sealing: Bloodline Copy (Own Creation) –Basically, by sealing one's own bloodline in a direct descendent with this seal, the direct descendent will have the bloodline 100% of the time, with the sealed bit being filtered into their own system and adapting their body at a genetic level to naturally have the bloodline. (Uzumaki Hiden Sealing Style)

Red Hot-Blooded Habanero

Yellow Flash of Konoha

And Cut! Here is the prologue that was recommended. I will be going into the academy time next chapter, and I will be adding my own slight twists to some events that happen, I.E the Uchiha Clan Downfall, the Graduation Exam and The Mizuki Incident. I am going to guess the Academy/ Pre-graduation arc will take up 2, maybe 3 more chapters unless I add some more details and stuff like that. If you all have an event you want to happen or one you'd like me to explain, I am always willing to answer.

Blood Out!