Ripples of the maelstrom

I don't own Naruto or any other character from the series, if I did I would have money and fangirls

It was the dead of night, huddled around a crying infant were three silver haired men. One in black battle armor and with his advanced age showing was holding the sleeping child, the youngest wore a black half mask and green vest, with his forehead protector over his left eye. The third had a main of spiked silver hair that touched the ground. He wore a horned forehead protector mesh under a red vest and old style sandals and had red tribal tattoos under his eyes. They were in an office overlooking a city they could still see the smoke rising from the wreckage. The eldest one was first to speak. " Jiraiya, you are his godfather, " he looked at the larger man "will you be able to raise him?"

The large man sighed, "I have to much on my plate as it is, we still don't know for sure who caused the Kyuubi to attack, we need to find that out and its not safe for me to keep a child with me."

The old man looked at the young cyclops "and you Kakashi?" The young man rubbed his masked chin thoughtfully. " To be honest, I don't think I am capable of raising him properly. His father was a good friend but, there is a reason I have never had children of my own."

The old man gave a heavy sigh. "Gentlemen we have two options. Minato wanted his son to be seen as a hero, as of right now no one knows anything other than he is dead. We can either tell the people that this child, Naruto, is the jailer of the kyuubi and tell them of his wish for him to be seen as a hero. Or we can hide that fact"

Jiraiya had a thoughtful look on his face, and Kakashi was impassive, Jiraiya was the one to speak. "I would honor Minato's wish. Though I think they boy should have as normal a childhood as possible. He deserves that much, the beast will provably come to haunt him some day." Kakashi nodded. "I agree that my teachers wish should be honored but I'm not sure how much I trust the people to honor it. I say we reveal that the Kyuubi is sealed but not who its in, we can judge peoples reactions from there. I know I'm not able to raise him properly but I am capable to make sure he stays safe until he can protect him self. Its least I can do to honor Minato's memory."

There was a knock on the door. The old man gave a quick nod to Kakashi and he put on a ceramic dog mask. In a practiced voice the third Hokage, said "Enter."

Coming through the door was a man in a ceramic mask. It looked like a bird. The Hokage nodded "report."

"Sir, there is still a lot of unrest. Many people have died and at a rough estimate we have lost over a third of our main fighting force. There are also rumors that the Kyuubi has not died but been sealed. We are doing our best to suppress those rumors but they have already spread to the civilian population. Most of the shinobi are indifferent and confident in the Fourths skills, the civilians are in a state of panic demanding the demon be finished off before it can overtake its vessel" the masked man bowed and waited for orders.

The Hokage sighed deeply. "dog I think I will take you up on your offer to protect the boy. Bird spread the word to have everyone gather in front of the tower so I may address them and this issue."

The bird masked man bowed and exited closing the doors behind him. Kakashi sighed, "I would bet A rank pay that it was the Uchiha that spread it. The Hyuuga know when to keep there mouths shut."

Jiraiya nodded. "well all we can do now is break the news and hope we can keep him safe."

Several minutes later the Third Hokage stood at the top of the Hokage tower flanked by Jiraiya and a dog masked Anbu. He steeled himself for the speech to come. "People of Konoha. I am here to tell you all we know of the events that happened tonight. First of all, The Kyuubi attacked the village for reasons we have yet to figure out. Second Minato Namikaze our beloved Fourth Hokage died saving the village from the Kyuubi. Third he created a Jinjuriki out of this boy. This child is the only thing holding the Kyuubi at bay. Treat him like the hero he is. Show him kindness as he has no family. We have lost a good portion of our fighting forces, But we must not slow in our operations we can not show any weakness. Now go off and sleep we must rebuild what has been destroyed and take care of our loved ones."

He turned from the crowed, it was equal parts rage and cheering, and entered the tower followed by Jiraiya and Kakashi. "Jiraiya before you leave I want you to find an orphanage that will treat him well, Kakashi you know what to do with anyone that attempts to harm the boy."

Six years later...

Naruto was sitting on his swing like usual during recess. Most people didn't talk to him, it made him sad but he knew he had old man Hokage and the dog masked man there to help him if he needed it. He just wished he wasn't special, the old man said one day when he would tell Naruto why he was special but until then he would have to wait. He knew he was different, all the villagers didn't like him but most of the ninjas were ok. They tended to not openly insult him and never tried to beat him. So he watched the other children playing. And he saw something he didn't like. There was a girl about his age surrounded by other kids teasing her. She had long indigo hair and pail eyes. He was used to being teased and made fun of, heck he even did stupid things so people would pay attention to him but that was just plane uncalled for. He got up off his swing and marched over there.

"Hey you guys!" the assembled crowd turned to face him. Some of them cracked their knuckles he stood his ground firmly "Leave her alone she hasn't done anything to you.!" he shook his fist at them. The crowd of bullies dog-piled him He saw this coming and shouted "I Regret Nothing!" and disappeared under the wave of bodies and fists. Several kids joined in a circle chanting "Fight!Fight!Fight!" after a minute a teacher with a scar across his nose came out and broke up the scuffle "all of you inside now recess is over."

He shook his head and gathered Narutos unconscious form. "come on then time for you to go to the nurses." Naruto woke up on the way, "teacher, is the girl ok?" "Witch one Naruto?" "the one with the funny eyes and long hair, they were picking on her so I tried to help"

The teacher patted Naruto on the head "so that's what that was all about, yes she is ok they only beat up on you. If you want I can let her out of class to visit you." Naruto looked at the floor, "only if she wants to,"

several minutes later Naruto was in the nurses office waiting for her to let him go back to class, sure he had several lumps on his head and was sore but it was hard enough to keep up as it is, he looked around the room impatiently when the girl he defended nervously walked in her eyes were on the floor and she was pressing the tips of her fingers together. He didn't know what to do, this was the first time someone came to find him that wasn't hunting him or told to. She saw him and blushed, she slowly walked over, "H, hi. m,my n,name is Hinata." Naruto smiled. "I'm Naruto. I'm glad I helped, you people shouldn't be so mean about stuff. If you want maybe we could be friends." she blushed a bit and fainted. Naruto put her up on the couch next to him and waited for the nurse to yell at him. He was always to blame when something happened. Not that it bothered him much, maybe he really could be friends with this girl.

Hinata woke up to see Naruto siting next to her being scolded by the nurse. She sighed, "Miss," she looked at the floor, "I'm ssory to bbe a bbother, I'll go now" as she got up to leave Naruto said "I'll see you back at class, ok?" Hinata simply nodded at him and fled the room. Naruto waited until school was let out to try and talk to her again.

"Hinata, would you like to play with me, old man Hokage was going to take me out to the park today but I don't think he would mind if you came with us" He smiled brightly at her hoping she would accept the invitation. Hinata looked at him thoughtfully, he was nice to me, it couldn't hurt. Not trusting her voice she simply nodded. Naruto showed her the way to the park where the Hokage always met him and sure enough he was waiting at the usual bench. He smiled warmly. "hello Naruto, who is your pretty friend.?"

Hinata bowed to him and said "Mmy nname is Hinata sir" she blushed in embarrassment. He smiled again, "now now, no need to be so nervous I am glad to see Naruto is finally making some friends. I am sure if you spend more time with him you will become less shy. You are in the academy yes?" she nodded "then I think you will benefit from working with Naruto on an extra credit activity that he and I have worked out. You see everyone must always keep there skills sharp. Some people frown on the pranks that Naruto pulls but I quite enjoy them, keeps everyone guessing and alert like they should be. I would like you to help Naruto with his next prank." Hinata paled. The Hokage wanted her to participate in an act of delinquency, what would father think, but then again he is head of the village. It was almost an order. Naruto was smileing at her with pure joy and care on his face. That was what sealed it, she couldn't help but be happy when looking at him like that, like he was sunshine incarnate.

She nodded in acceptance. The Hokage smiled at them both, "now since you have a new recruit aboard Naruto I'll pick an easier target for tonight. Things have been far to peaceful around the academy these days I think they could use a reminder that there job is not a retirement. I will leave the full details up to you two but do make it interesting." He patted Naruto on the head and handed him a coupon. Stretching his old limbs he got up "I must be back to work now the paperwork never ends" He smiled back at the two children as he walked back to the tower.

Naruto dragged Hinata to Ichirakus ramen stand. There they used the coupon for free dinner and conspired, well Naruto conspired and Hinata nodded a good amount. They decided on planting balloons filled with sneezing powder in the teachers chairs. How Naruto had that much experience with itching powder Hinata did not want to know, he told her to meet him near the academy just after dark. She nodded in agrement.

Later that night. Naruto met up with Hinata at the designated place and time and handed her three balloons. He lead the way into the academy and picked the lock on the door. He pulled out two kuni and handed one to Hinata, he showed her how to slit the seat and insert the balloon into a chair using Iruka's chair, he motioned for her to go one way down the hall and he went the other, they armed each of the six teachers chairs that night and re-locked the door. Naruto shook Hinata's hand and said "good job the hard part is not being to obvious about being involved when we see it go off, people will suspect me because I do this all the time you should be fine, just act natural and enjoy the show" he gave her a big smile before they separated. She hurried home so she wasn't past curfew. When she got to her room she drooped onto her bed and smiled widely. I cant believe I actually did it, that was so much excitement. It was like doing a real mission. I can't wait to do it again. With that thought she drifted off to sleep

Authors note,

well hope that was a decent starting chapter. This is the precursor story to A Darkened Fate, knowing the story on that one doesn't change anything for this one though. Not sure how long we will spend in the academy days but that will all depend on weather or not my muse strikes me. Feel free to comment or criticize