Arashi here with my second attempt at writting a story, this one will be truer to the naruto universe, not much else to say. enjoy!
Summary:The ability to change and adapt is what makes us human, also what makes us stronger. One change can cause a change in everything around it. See how one ninjas will to change can effect everything around him.
Disclaimer: i do not own naruto, if i did naruto would have had more of a clue, kakashi would have actually trained them, hinata would have been on narutos team and sasuke would have been labeled a reject and kept for breeding purposes only (sharingan is still a cool bloodline ability). but alas it is not so.
A lone ANBU stood atop the Hokage monument gazing out over the village as the sunset washed it in a brilliant hue of orange. The dancing of the various colors over the buildings at this time of day gave it an ethereal glow almost as if the village was a blaze without actually burning. He smiled gently behind his mask; he enjoyed coming to watch the sunsets when he was in the village. The anbu was reaching up to remove his mask to better enjoy the view when a small noise to his left caught his attention. Off in the distance a small boy wearing orange had just finished climbing the stair of the monument.
'The uzumaki child.' The anbu thought to himself.
He took no action, there was no reason to take any, he simply watched as the kyuubi's vessel walked over and sat atop the head of the 4th. He held no animosity for the boy even though the nine-tails had killed most of his friends. There is a distinct difference between a prison and its prisoner. He had been on the frontlines the night of the attack, a newly promoted chuunin, and from where he had been fighting had witnessed the fourth hokage seal the demon with in the boy. The simple fact was the child had existed before the kyuubi was sealed and could not be the demon itself.
Making no movements the anbu watched from his place above one of the carved stone spiky hairs of the 3rd's likeness as the blonde boy began talking to seemly no one. Not being close enough to hear the boy or at the proper angle to read his lips he turned his attention back to the sun. It had nearly disappeared below the horizon now. Watching it finish it journey he let out a contented but muffled sigh. He did enjoy watching the sunsets in konoha.
With the source of his entertainment now gone his gaze wandered back to the other person at the monument. The vessel child was now leaning forward, chin resting on his arms propped up on his knees, with what could be called a sad look on his face. The anbu frowned beneath his mask. Sad was not the proper word, lost maybe or confused, or perhaps some combination of the three. 'He feels alone,' dawned the anbu, 'little wonder considering who he is.' He had been assigned to guard the child a few times in years past. Never physically protecting him but always watching from the shadows in case of danger. The hokage felt it necessary to prevent anymore "accidents" from happening to the child. He had observed how the villagers shunned him and would run him off at every opportunity.
He felt compelled to go speak with the boy when he was stopped by a slight itching sensation from his shoulder.
'Our leader calls.' Few outsiders knew that the anbu mark was actually a seal that would itch slightly whenever the hokage needed to summon one of them.
He let out another soft sigh turning away from the boy, his kage was summoning him, and he had to answer. He prepared to shunshin away but stopped and smirked, 'It would only take a moment.' Dust kicked up slightly as the place the anbu once stood suddenly emptied.
'What did I ever do to them?' Naruto wondered to himself as he finished climbing the stairs of the hokage monument. He had no idea why people hated him so much. Always calling him a monster or a demon. He just wanted to buy his groceries but the old woman started yelling at him and hitting him with a broom until he ran out of the store. So he ended up here at his favorite spot. The head of the Yondiame Hokage. He wasn't sure why he liked coming here, but it always seemed to calm him and help clear his mind to think.
"It's pretty." The sunset had caught his eye. The wash of oranges and reds cast on the buildings was majestic. Just another reason he loved this place, not just his spot on the fourth's head, the whole village of Konoha. "I wish I could show it to someone."
He hated the glares and the names. He hated how parents always chased him away whenever he tried to make friends. They looked at him like some kind of monster; something less then human. He did his best to ignore it but the glares were always there.
"I'll show um," he said speaking to no one, "One day I'll become Hokage and then they'll all have to acknowledge and respect me."
Suddenly a low whisper came from behind him. "Gambatta Naruto-kun."
Startled he jumped up and looked behind him. There was no one there, just dust and air. He looked about not finding a soul anywhere. Returning to his spot he did notice a small leather bag on the ground just behind where he had been sitting. He picked it up, attached to the side was a note. It said Hold on to your dreams and never give up, Uzumaki-san. He opened the bag and dumped it into his hand. His eyes widened as enough coin for five bowls of ichiraku ramen fell from the pouch. Naruto stood stock still, the shock holding him silent. He closed his hand around the coins as a determined smile appeared on his face, "I will be Hokage."
He started making B-line towards his favorite ramen stand, grinning all the way in the knowledge that, someone, somewhere, supported him
It's the bane of every Kage in every village. The thing he dreaded the most each day. Sarutobi held a grim face as he stared down the opponent before him. He slowly reached out and took the next paper off the top of the pile.
Paperwork.
Letting out a long sigh befitting of his years he signed his name to the document and laid it in the Done pile. It was already dark and the pile was still 2 inches thick. As he signed at yet another parchment he gazed at the pictures of the past hokages on the wall of his office. More specifically the picture of the man he had chosen to be his successor.
'Minato you should be here right now doing this, this village needs a stronger Hokage, why couldn't you let me do the sealing in your place.' The aged Hokage thought to himself.
His thoughts were shortly disturbed as a shadow quickly appeared on the floor and proceeded to mold into a kneeling person.
"You summoned me Hokage-sama?" spoke the anbu before him.
"Yes I did Crow," Sarutobi motioned for him to be seated while shuffling for a paper "I wanted to talk about your request to retire from the ANBU and return to Jounin status."
The anbu seated him self in the chair in front of the hokage's desk and waited for the aged shinobi to finish his search. It wasn't that unusual a request, being in the Anbu did dark things to people, the ones that survived usual wanted out after about 5 year wishing to keep their sanity intact. The constant secrets, cold blooded assassination, dangerous missions, terrible things one was asked to do, would be enough to turn some ninja into cold emotionless killers. The fact that 'crow' had lasted for almost a decade without succumbing was a tribute to his mental fortitude.
"Returning to being a jounin will be quite a change Crow," Sarutobi stopped on a paper of paper reading over it quickly before continuing. "It says your reason for leaving is family related. I was unaware you had any family remaining."
It was more of a question then a statement but the old kage was wise enough to phrase it in a way that the topic could be dropped if the anbu didn't wish to explain.
"Hai," the anbu said calmly, "However being in the Anbu for the past nine years has made it impossible for me to be a part of their lives, it something I think I can amend by returning to be a jounin."
The hokage frowned inside, the question had been answered but he got no real information out of it, its what made this Anbu one of there top infiltrators. He leaned back in his chair, approving the request with the signing of his name, "well Crow if you will turn in your mask and gear to me I will return your name to you."
The Anbu simply nodded before taking off his mask and placing it on the table. A wistful smile crossed the odd mans face as he gaze upon the now uncovered blue eyes of the man infront of him; he was losing a good operative but gaining an exceptional jounin. 'Maybe that skill and fortitude could be used in another way.'
"If you're interested," broached the Hokage "I'm looking for jounin-sensei for the class graduating at the academy in a few days, we have a promising group this year and I need talented instructors for them." He watched as the now jounin shifted to a thoughtful pose. "At the very least you'd be in the village more often to be with your family." he added.
The jounin smiled slightly. 'Figured that would catch his attention,' the old ninja mused.
"It sounds interesting Hokage-sama," a full smile appeared on the blue eyed ninja's face, "I think it would be a good change Hokage-sama, I'll do it."
The Jounin then bowed and turned to leave, the rest of his equipment would be turned-in in the morning when he had changed clothes. No point in having a naked ninja running around. He was about to exit the door when the Hokage call out to him "and one more thing, Welcome back Kiyoshi."
Uzumaki Naruto let out a content belch and patted his stomach. It was late at night and he had just finished five bowls of ramen at Ichiraku's and was on his way back to his apartment. He was about half way back when he noticed something odd.
There was an Anbu walking down the street without a cloak and even weirder no mask.
Naruto watched in wonder. He had never seen what an Anbu looked like with out a mask on, he always picture they'd have cold hard faces and lots of scars all over, but this one was scar free and just walking along with his eyes closed and smiling like he had no cares in the world. He could only stand there and stare wide eyed as the Anbu casually strolled by him on the street.
"Ne, Anbu-san," Naruto turned and shouted to him, "Anbu-saaaaan!" The anbu stopped and looked back around at him.
"Nani?" he answered with a soft low voice.
"Ano, why aren't you wearing your mask?"
The anbu frowned slight and reached out his hand towards naruto. Naruto closed his eyes and recoiled slightly wary he might be struck for ask the question. But the hand simply landed on his hand and proceeded to muss his hair a little before returning to it owner. "I'm not an Anbu." Naruto looked up at the strange man how had started walking away again.
"Neh! What do you mean not an Anbu, your dressed like one?"
The odd ninja simple waved over his shoulder before calling out, "Oyasuminasai, Uzumaki-san." before vanishing into the night air.
"What a weird fella," Naruto thought aloud before turning to finishing his trip home, "at least he was friendly." Naruto jogged from the spot wholly unaware that a set of pupil-less pale lavender eyes had watched the event unfold from the cover of some bushes. "Naruto-kun…"
Hope you enjoyed it, depending on the response i get ill post more chapters, So please review. Writters love the feed back.
-Arashi