This is my first fanfiction. I have a bit of an idea of where I want to go with this story so it should be fairly organized.

I'll be following canon for a bit with some major changes here and there. I plan on going my own way after the training trip and we really get into Akatsuki.

I've got no pairings at this point but there will be romance. I will most likely let the pairing arrive naturally as I write.

This will be a smart, serious Naruto and he will be stronger than canon and strong sooner than in canon but not Godlike.

I hope you enjoy!

I do not own Naruto.

"Talking"

"Thinking"

"Demon Talking"

"Demon Thinking"

Prologue

Eggs and Oaths …

It was a beautiful fall night in Konoha. A wonderful chill drifted through the air and the festival atmosphere was all about the village. So why? Why was this happening again?

Naruto ran down the street as fast as his little 4-year-old legs could carry him. He dodged, darted, and dashed between and around the villagers with a grace no child his age should show. His body moved by instinct and his mind was a buzz once again as to why these people were trying to hurt him.

"What did I do? I was just trying to eat. I even had money this time!" Naruto questioned to himself.

A tall, hulky man in the mob tried to pelt Naruto with a rock but narrowly missed his blond shaggy hair as the little boy cut into an alley. "Follow him! Don't let the demon get away!" The man yelled to the others in the mob.

Naruto knew these alleys like the back of his hand, every dark corner, every crawl space, every nook and cranny had been mentally mapped and physically ran through numerous times. He just had to be fast enough. "A little further, just a little further … I'm almost there." Naruto anxiously chattered to himself. He could here the heavy steps approaching him; the sounds like an ominous serenade, and knew that he was quickly running out of time. Naruto sprinted into another alley and frantically felt along one of the walls. His face lit up as he felt the heavy brick slide out of its position and with all the haste his body could put forth he hurriedly moved more and more bricks out of the way. Naruto froze as a loud crash sounded. He halted a scream from escaping his throat with all the restraint he could muster; the sound far too close to him for comfort.

"There's a dead end ahead, we've finally caught up to the little bastard!" A small woman yelled as the mob approached Naruto's position. The mob yelled in excitement and rushed to meet the small boy to give him his birthday "gift".

Naruto's little hands were bleeding from moving all the bricks but he could almost see through to the alley on the opposite side of the wall. He slid the last brick and quickly started to pull his body under the wall. He reached out and felt the freedom and safety just beyond the unforgiving obstacle and started to pull the rest of his body through until a large hand grabbed his foot and started to pull is body back into the alley. Naruto panicked and kicked the hand with his other foot with all his might.

"Just give up brat and take your beating!" One man yelled.

"That's right, there's no use trying to get away from us!" Another yelled.

Naruto reared his left leg up next to his chest and kicked down with all his strength onto the hand deterring his escape.

"Kami damn it! You little shit!" the man yelled and unwillingly released his hold on the small boys leg.

Naruto felt the grip leave his leg and swiftly tucked his legs back into the safety of the hole and slid his body to the safety beyond. He awkwardly scurried to his feet, limping slightly before he again started to run away.

After finally running far enough away to feel safe Naruto fell to the ground and leaned against a cold and dirty wall in yet another alley. The small blond gulped in air and desperately heaved his chest in hopes that his heart would slow down. His breaths finally started to slow and the tremble gradually started to leave his sweaty and dirt caked body. Naruto relaxed his tiny fists that he didn't even realize he was clenching, and looked at the bleeding nail marks in his palms. He shakily rubbed the blood off on his shirt before he pulled his knees into his chest. He wrapped his short arms around his legs and began to cry, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. "I'm so scared." Naruto whispered into the night. He cried until the tears would no longer fall from his eyes, his throat sore from the agonizing wails and stifled screams. Once he reached the pinnacle of exhaustion, Naruto fell over onto his side in the fetal position and whimpered into the night, his sad song masked ironically by the light hearted and energetic sounds of the festival, until exhaustion finally claimed him.

-Next Morning-

Beautiful ocean blue eyes opened to the gentle morning light that peaked into the desolate alley. Naruto slowly began to stir, his body ached from the prior nights chase and the unforgiving ground that substituted for a bed. The sound of crinkled paper further removed him from his absent state of mind. "Where did the paper come from?" Naruto asked to no one as he removed the makeshift newspaper blanket from on top of his legs.

Naruto stood up and stretched his hands to the peaceful morning sky, and then rubbed his legs with his little hands. "I'm sooooo hungry!" he shouted out and grabbed his stomach as it sounded its complaints to sympathetic ears.

"Breakfast, Breakfast, gotta get me some breakfast." Naruto sang to himself. He skipped over to the trash can opposite of were he'd slept and started to dig through the rubbish.

"Sweet!" he yelled in excitement and pulled out a half eaten sandwich and a tad bit too old apple. He gently put the food into his pockets and headed for his apartment.

Naruto safely made it home and after eating his scavenged meal; he headed to the bathroom for yet another ice cold shower. After quickly washing himself, he dressed with his body still partially damp from not drying off properly and settled into his bed. He softly shifted into his lumpy mattress trying to find a comfortable position and promptly drifted off to sleep once more.

A shadowy figure appeared on the branch outside his room. It looked in through his window at the sleeping boy and then disappeared in the wind as if it was never there.

-Hokage's Office-

"Report" the Sandaime barked.

The Anbu didn't even flinch in his kneeled position from the harshness in the Hokage's tone. He stood up and started to report. "There was nothing of note that took place during yesterday's watch until well into the night, "fox" was on his way back from a stall when a male villager approached him. After the man started to yell at "fox", a small crowd began to form in the area.

The Hokage's eyes glared into the Anbu's mask as he continued.

"Once others started to yell at "fox" from the growing crowd, he fled. I tracked "fox" as he ran and he was succeeding in his escape until he came to a dead end. He managed to get under a wall and was almost free until one of the villagers in the mob grabbed him." the Anbu explained

The Hokage's body stiffened at this particular detail but he didn't let it show on his face.

"Fox managed to escape after kicking himself free and fled further into the residential area before taking shelter in an isolated alley and sleeping there for the night after crying himself to sleep. He woke a little after dawn and after removing his "breakfast" from a near by trash can he proceeded back to his home safely, where he then ate, showered, and returned to sleep. I left when I was relieved by "Cat"," the Anbu finished with as little emotion in his voice as when he began.

"The attacks are becoming more frequent," Sarutobi mumbled to himself," but at least he got away this year. This is the first time he hasn't spent the day after his birthday in the hospital," he said more to himself than the Anbu standing before him. "You're dismissed" Sarutobi barked out.

"Hai Hokage-sama" the Anbu bowed before he shun-shined out of the room.

"Eggs and Oaths are soon broken" Sarutobi sighed to himself. "Minato I hope that you can forgive the villagers for their ignorance, for they stomp on your wishes daily," the old man sadly stated to no one.

-With a 5 year old Naruto-

"Did you enjoy your lunch, Naruto?" the Hokage asked to the bouncing boy walking next to him.

"Hai! Ramen is the best food EVER!" the blonde child yelled back with a huge smile on his face.

"You were telling me about the fox kit that you found yesterday. Where did you find him?" Sarutobi asked with a glint in his eye.

"I was playing in the river in the forest and when I went to put my clothes back on it was sleeping in my shirt," Naruto stated as he cocked his head to the side. The blonde boy continued to jabber on to the Hokage about his adventures with his new fox friend until they finally arrived at his apartment. Naruto stopped suddenly after taking a few steps inside and slowly turned around to meet the Hokage's eyes.

"What is it Naruto?" the Hokage prodded. Naruto opened his mouth to speak but shut it with an audible click and looked to the floor.

"You know you can tell me anything? I won't get mad," the Hokage spoke to him gently.

"Well," Naruto quietly began. "I … I … I want to learn how to read," he said with barely a whisper.

Sarutobi smiled brightly and reached down and stroked Naruto's messy golden locks. Sarutobi slowly bent down onto one knee and placed his hand under Naruto's chin. He slowly lifted Naruto's head until he could see those piercing blue eyes and gave the young blond a reassuring smile.

"Then I guess I'll have to arrange something won't I," Sarutobi said with a wink and a smirk. Before he could say anything else, the little blond charged into Sarutobi's chest with surprising speed.

"Hmph!" Sarutobi grunted when Naruto made contact and then began to chuckle gently while stroking the blonde's hair.

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!" Naruto said brightly while giving the old man the biggest hug his little arms could manage with the hugest smile anyone had seen on his chubby face.

-Hokage's Office-

Sarutobi signed and stamped yet another paper and added it the slowly growing stack of finished work on his desk. An Anbu shun-shined before him and he placed his hand in his lap and gave them his attention.

"You sent for me Hokage-sama?" the Anbu questioned respectfully.

"Hai, I did but first please stand and relax please. You're not in trouble." Sarutobi stated jovially.

"Hai, Hokage-sama," the Anbu acknowledged and fell into a stiff parade rest. The Hokage grumbled to himself at the sight and just shook his head and continued.

"Remove your mask and take a seat please … I said to relax," Sarutobi lightly commanded. The Anbu removed his mask and remained standing looking at the Hokage awaiting further instruction.

"Itachi … I said take a seat," the Hokage paused and looked at the stiff 10 year old before him. Itachi finally sat in the seat and awaited further instruction.

"I'm concerned about … how do I say this … your," Sarutobi stroked his chin before continuing, "your continual emotional regression" the Hokage stated. "Now I understand that emotions can be dangerous when used at the wrong time and especially for an Anbu such as yourself but emotions do have a place and I fear that since you've been a ninja so long from such an early age that you may have missed out on developing and understanding the place of emotions in the ninja lifestyle." Sarutobi finished. Itachi just sat and stared back at him. "Itachi, I'd like to hear your feelings on this issue, if you would," the Hokage pleaded.

"Hokage-sama, I see no issue with my emotional state and do not understand the origin of your concerns," Itachi stated evenly.

"And that is precisely why I'm so worried. Itachi please understand, I know that the Uchiha are … stoic and view emotional behavior as … undignified. But even for an Uchiha your emotions feel withdrawn and barely existent, now I feel that I am to blame partially since I focused more on your achievements than I did to your shortcomings. The fact is though that since you are a prodigy a great deal of leniency was given to you because of how highly your performance has been but emotion and dedication are two very strong bonds that ninjas form with their village. I wish for you to strengthen one such bond that apparently you don't even realize is waning," Sarutobi finishes.

"But …" Itachi started to counter but was cut off quickly by the Hokage.

"No Itachi, not but. I really need you to understand where I'm coming from with all of this. Emotions connect us to each other. Bonds are strengthened through everything that we experience and if your not able to tap into this connection than basically you are cutting off a potential reason for growth," the Hokage strongly stated as he placed his elbows on the desk and leaned his face into his hands.

"Until otherwise specified you won't be going on anymore long term or S-ranked missions. The longest you'll be away from the village is a week at a time tops. I want you to focus on forming emotional bonds with your fellow ninja and reconnecting with your family. Your brother adores you, now you'll have some time to spend with him," the Hokage said with a smile.

"Also, I'll need you to handle a special long term mission for me within the village," the Hokage shuffled through the papers on the desk and picked up a mission scroll. He stood up and handed the scroll over. Itachi grabbed the scroll and returned to his seat.

Itachi opened the mission scroll, read it, resealed it and stood to his feet. "Hai, Hokage-sama," Itachi said as he bowed. He put his mask back on his face and shun-shined from the office.

Sarutobi sighed deeply and slouched into his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and finger. "Itachi, what am I going to do with you."

-Riverbank in the forest-

Naruto was happily stomping through the water in the shallows of the river. The sun was high in the sky shining it's warmth down on the energetic boy and small fox kit. An Anbu shun-shined into the clearing and looked at the small child as he played.

"Uzumaki Naruto," the Anbu stated.

"Hai!" the small boy screamed from the scare he had just received. Naruto then picked himself up out of the water that he didn't even realize he had sat down in.

"Yes, I'm Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto said shyly while slowly walking onto the bank. "Who are you?" the blond asked softly.

"I'm Crow. No," the Anbu reached to his face and removed his mask. "I'm Uchiha Itachi and I've been assigned to teach you to read," the Uchiha declared stoically.

Naruto's face immediately brightened and he dashed over to Itachi with no abandon and latched on to Itachi's legs, soaking them with his drenched body and smiled up at him.

"Awesome!" Naruto yelled as he trotted towards a large tree and flopped down. He cocked his head to the side and looked at Itachi.

"Well … are you coming?" Naruto said innocently as he patted the ground next to him.

To be continued

Chapter One post editor update 6/3/14

I've finally got an editor! So there should be a drastic drop in grammatical errors and especially my issue with tense

Please let me know what you think about the story. Reviews really help me form the plot.

Until next time!