Chapter 1

Naruto was never a normal boy. He knew this and never let that fact get him down. Instead he chose to embrace his abnormality and use it to thrive in his chosen environment.

The Village hidden in the Leaves is a ninja village. Members of this village choose to follow a path not many are comfortable traveling. The ninjas of this village just like all other hidden villages are tasked to do the dirty jobs of others. While a few like what they do, others choose see it as simply following orders. Most non-ninja people knew this fact, but many choose to ignore it and live in blissful ignorance. Naruto is not one of these people.

Ever since Naruto was little he knew he wanted to be the best at something. He didn't care what, as long as he was the best. Quickly he chose his career out of necessity. The reason for this necessity? People HATED him.

At the age of five, he didn't know why, but he did know he needed to find a way around people's hate. The few stores that did not throw him out when he stepped in, charged him ridiculous prices for the worst quality items. Naruto knew this because he watched others. The sun kissed blonde watched almost everyone around him.

At first it was to watch out for attacks, so he knew when to run or hide. This habit evolved when he realized his goal. Instead of simply watching for attacks, he watched others habits and skills.

The first thing that Naruto saw, that would help him with his newfound dream was a ninja (he knew by the vest that all higher tiered ninja wore) and his daughter. The father was showing the girl one of the skills they learn at the ninja academy. The man transformed himself into a replica of his daughter. Both the girl's and Naruto's eyes lit up at this display.

Of course when Naruto saw this he was amazed. Something so useful was taught in just the academy? Sure others may not see it as useful as him because of his status in the village, but for someone like Naruto who was hated on sight, this strange new ability would be a godsend. He quickly resolved to learn this skill as soon as possible, as it would help him get necessities without risking a beating.

He made his way to the library where he knew there were instructions to do this transformation technique, but predictably he was turned away at the door with a scornful remark. Oh they let him in while he was with the Hokage too learn to read, but whenever he tried to get back in he was turned away, sometimes forcefully. The young blonde now knew he had two options. One would be easier than the other, but the second would require more finesse on his part. The first option would be to go see the old man Hokage and ask him to either teach him or get in into the library. The second option would be to find a way to sneak into the library and teach himself. Naruto thought over these options for a while, weighing both the pros and cons for either action. He realized that if he wanted to be the best, he would have to figure out how to do this himself, without outside help. He saw this as a test in stealth. All ninjas needed stealth so why not work on his?

Naruto waited for a large crowd to go into or out of the library to make his first attempt. Oddly enough this amateurish attempt worked and he was in. Now he had to work on not being seen by the head librarian while looking for what he wanted.

The ninja section of the library astounded him. There were so many different things to choose from. He refocused and set about his personal mission. While walking through all the aisles and looking at all the different areas of the ninja life, Naruto realized that while he still wanted to be the best at his chosen field, he couldn't ignore the others. So he modified his goal.

He would be the best at his chosen field, and be well above average for all of the others. He would have to talk to the old man and see which lifestyle of the leaf ninjas were lacking in skill so that he could help the village as best as he could. Yes the people hated him, but he quite liked his village. The few that got to know him made the others that hated him worth protecting.

As the young demon container made it to the aisles marked academy, he quickly started his search for a transformation technique. He found it fairly quickly as there were only so many things that academy students learn.

Skimming it once to get the feel of it he realized that he had no idea what this chakra was. Searching once again he found a scroll on chakra.

Reading carefully through the chakra scroll until he understood it and moves back to the transformation technique that he needs. Quickly copying the hand signs and molding his chakra like it said on the previous scroll and with a lot of smoke he had transformed into the man who had shown his daughter this technique earlier in the day.

Barely able to contain his excitement he works on his newfound skill deep in the library so nobody would see or hear him. After figuring out that the smaller amount of chakra he used made less smoke, he refocused on doing it without a sound and without smoke.

A couple of hours later he could get it done with faint wisps of smoke and realizes that he is hungry. With this revelation the blonde decides that he should take a break and show his new skill to the old man Hokage and maybe get some food out of it.

Ignoring the secretary that would have turned him away, Naruto kicks open the door of the Hokage's office. "Hey old man, want to see what I learned today?"

The Hokage just looks up amused at the young boy who shows no respect to anyone, least of all to him, the village leader. Sarutobi says, "Sure Naruto, what have you been up to recently?"

Naruto doesn't even respond and just goes thorough the hand signs that he has come very familiar with over the course of the day. What was once a five year old blonde, is now a mirror image of the Third Hokage. Naruto looks down and still sees the faint wisps of smoke and gets frustrated. "God, I just can't get rid of all of this smoke no matter what I do!" He looks up at the gaping real Hokage, "Old man can you help me out with this? I can't do it without smoke."

The question shakes Sarutobi from his stupor. As he is about to answer the fake Hokage's stomach rumbles loudly and Naruto changes back rubbing his stomach.

The, now, only Hokage says, "Why don't I tell you over some Ramen?" Much to the boy's pleasure.

On the way to Naruto's favorite ramen stand, Sarutobi sees once again all of the hate filled stares directed at the young boy walking alongside him, and instantly knows why said young boy wanted to learn the transformation technique so badly. It would be an escape from the village that treats him so badly. He is shaken from his musings when he is asked another question.

"Old man you should know what's going on with all the ninjas. Which ninja field is our village's weakest? I want to know so I know what I have to be the best at when I grow up."

Said old man smiles at this, but doesn't know wether to lie to the boy or not. Truthfully Kohona's weakness lies in out assassins and interrogation specialists, but should he tell a five year old boy that? While he is debating to himself Naruto sees the reluctance on the Hokage's face and decides to help the old man.

"You don't have to lie to me. I know ninjas kill people. I also know that plenty of ninjas kill people on almost all their missions and still lead an almost normal life here in the village with families and friends and everything."

Sarutobi smiles sadly at this. Such a hard truth should never be realized by someone so young. With his mind made up he decides to tell the truth. "Kohona is weakest in assassination, torture, and interrogation. It isn't like we have bad ninjas in those areas, it is just that we have so few, we can barely do the missions necessary that come in while having some stay in the village for information gathering."

Naruto simply nods, "Thanks old man I'll see what I can do for ya. But could you tell me the kinds of things I would need to know or do so I can figure it out on my own?"

In a low voice while they are both eating ramen at Ichiraku's Sarutobi explains the kinds of things that these kinds of ninjas do and what is expected of them skills wise.

When the meals and instructions are done, Naruto had taken notes on some napkins, the orphan and Hokage part ways once again.

Naruto looks up at the sky and sees that it is almost dark so the library should be closed. As he begins to walk home he looks at his list again. His eyes stop on on specific part. Be able to sneak in anywhere. Changing course Naruto heads towards the library building to see if there is any way for him to sneak in.

On the roof of the building next to the library, Naruto is scouting out his target. As it is a little after sundown and he had already seen the head librarian lock up and go home so he had the place to himself, if he could get in. He noticed that the rain gutter was fairly close to the windows, and he remembered that he was on the second floor that had all of the academy things. Quickly jumping up to the library roof he made over to where the pipe for the rain gutter was. Looking around to see if anyone would see him, he notices that there isn't anyone who could tell what he was doing. As fast as he can he slid down to he was even with a second floor window.

Miraculously it was unlocked and after a little difficulty getting his footing, the young blonde was inside on the second floor. He turned and checked the lock to find that there wasn't one. The demon container marveled at his luck and noted the entrance so that he could use from now on.

And so started the first of many nights spent in the library learning how to be the village's best ninja.