Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.

One Year Before Kyuubi Attack.

Konohagakure no Sato, the most powerful shinobi village in the Elemental Nations, was created by perhaps the most powerful ninja of his era, Senju Hashirama of the Senju Clan who became the first kage in the Elemental Nations.

Konoha bore many great shinobi who were widely known like the Shiroi Kiba, Hatake Sakumo, the Kami no Shinobi, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Kiiroi Senko, Minato Namikaze and so many others throughout every generation.

In this particular village, blazing through the streets at high speeds was a kid about four years old with spiky, bright, blonde hair with azure eyes. He was wearing blue shorts and a black t-shirt with the village symbol on it.

To others who do not know him might have looked at him with surprise since most kids at that could not run that fast but everyone that knew him knew that the kid was a genius.

His name is Naruto, the son of the Yellow Flash/Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namikaze and the Red-Hot Blooded Habanero, Kushina Uzumaki.

He was a very energetic kid who loves to prank people but not in a dangerous way nor an embarassing way. He only scares people or transform himself into someone (mostly someone he knows), tricks everyone someone who knows the person he transforms himself into, runs away and then amuses himself when the person he mimicked gets beaten or get scolded.

"Oh man, kaa-chan is going to be very angry. I hope that miso ramen is worth getting punished for." Naruto muttered to himself as he quickly ran to his house.

Tiptoeing past the front gate to prevent any noise that would alert anyone in the house, Naruto opened the door quietly and slowly peeked inside... and was met with a sight that would send many enemy ninjas run for the hills or leap to the sky in terror. His mother, wearing an apron over her usual clothing with a ladle in hand and her crimson hair flailing wildly behind her, was standing across the short hallway giving him the scariest look he doubt anyone could achieve.

"H-hey kaa-chan, u-uh what's up?!" was the only thing he could say to the intimidating sight in front of him.

"Where have you been? I told you we were supposed to go to Mikoto-chan's house to have lunch...did you go to Ichiraku again?!! That's it, no more ramen for three weeks!" Kushina hollered loudly at her son.

"What!!"

"You heard me."

Naruto could only sigh in disappointment since he knew an argument was simply not possible with his mother.

"Okaaay."

Kushina brightened up quickly at that. She put away her apron and ladle in the other room and came back.

"Okay, now it's time to find some clothes for you Naruto-kun."

Naruto blanched at that.'No way am I going through that shopping spree again. I've had enough experience of changing rooms to last me a year.'

"M-mom maybe we should get going before Mikoto-san is tired of waiting! Don't worry about the clothes, I'm sure Mikoto-san can understand and besides with what I'm wearing most would say I'm parrotic." he finished proudly.

Kushina could only stare incredulously at her son but then looked at the clock on the wall and sighed,"Alright, let's get going before Mikoto-chan hits me for getting late again. And it's patriotic not parrotic."

Both mother and son walked side by side in silence as they trekked on the road that would get them to the outskirts of the village.

Soon enough they reached the Uchiha Clan's territory and went to the Clan Head's residence. They went up to the door and Kushina knocked loudly on the door. They heard a couple of steps and the paper door slid open revealing a boy who appears to be Naruto's age standing in the doorway.

"Who are you?" the boy asked with a slightly curious gaze which was almost not visible due to the impassive look on his face.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the boy and thought,'This boy is clearly trying to intimidate us and is aiming to look tougher than me. Ha, as if. Mom is definitely not scared of this girly looking boy.' He looked up at his mother only to sweatdrop at her expression.

Kushina was trying hard not to glomp the little boy in front of her. She was on the verge of screaming 'KAWAIII' and squeezing him to death but refrained from doing so since it would most likely summon a furious Mikoto.

Naruto quickly replied,"It's rude to ask someone's name without introducing yourself first."

The boy just kept staring emotionlessly at them without saying anything.

Naruto had a tick mark on his head and was about to shout at him but his mother diffused the oncoming headache and said,"You must be Itachi, right? Where's your mom?"

"She's in the kitchen."

A long silence occurred between the three.

Naruto just kept staring at both of them wondering what is happening. After seconds of silence, he asked,"Well, aren't you going to invite us in?!!"

Itachi sighed and made way for them. Kushina smiled and made her way to the kitchen while Naruto stayed and stomped over to Itachi when his mother was out of sight.

"Hey, don't you know it's bad manners to not invite someone in when they are at your doorstep?" he asked loudly.

"Really? Well I was about to invite the woman in but I wasn't so sure if you're her son or just a beggar in disguise."Itachi drawled out.

With his piece said, Itachi shut the door and deftly walked to the kitchen leaving Naruto to seethe in anger.

He quickly joined his mother who was sitting on a zabuton near a chabudai in the dining room while talking to a dark haired woman who was facing away stirring something in a pot. Naruto could see Itachi seated opposite his mother and carefully took a seat near his mother and watching Itachi with a glare.

The woman who Naruto assumed would be Mikoto turned to face them with a bowl of hot soup that she placed on the low table. She saw Naruto sitting and looked at Kushina.

"Why, Kushina-chan if he didn't have your face, I would have thought that Minato cheated on you with Tsunade-sama."

Kushina rapidly turned green at the thought of Minato sleeping with Tsunade.'Then again, even I would assume the same thing had I not spent hours trying to force his little body out of me.'

"Enough teasing Mikoto-chan, I thought you invited me over to talk about you-know-what!"

Mikoto looked at her son and sighed, "Ne Itachi-kun, why don't you give Naruto-kun a tour of the compound? You could show him the forest you cleared for training."

Itachi looked confused for a moment but obliged with his mother's request. He stood and looked at Naruto who pouted and pretended not to see him. Kushina silently threatened to increase his ramen punishment to ten weeks and he quickly stood up and practically pushed Itachi out the door in his haste.

As soon as they were out, Mikoto sat down and said,"Kushina you need to talk to Minato about my clan's situation. Fugaku-kun is getting restless about the whole Konoha Military Police Force plan by the Niidaime and with his councillors complaining about the clan's image in the village, I'm sure my husband is beginning to sway to their side."

Kushina could only look sadly at her and fiddled with her hair,"I know Mikoto-chan, Minato is trying his best but you know those advisors of his were the Niidaime's students and I'm certain they approve of their sensei's decision regarding the Uchiha's position in the village. Don't worry though, I'll figure out a way to get Minato to repeal this whole situation."

"I only hope Fugaku-kun doesn't get too immersed in this stupid traitorous train of thought. On another topic, when do you think your son is ready for the academy?"

Kushina furrowed her brows in thought, "Well Minato and I decided that it would be best to enroll Naruto-chan in the academy when he's seven or maybe six."

Mikoto's eyes widened in surprise,"Wait, you're even considering enrolling him at six? But I thought the Academy doesn't accept children until they're at least mature enough in the teacher's eyes or the Hokage's."

Kushina only looked at Mikoto with a deadpan,"You're telling me about that yet I know you are planning on having Itachi-kun

attend the academy at seven, you hypocrite!"

Mikoto could only laugh sheepishly when Kushina glared hotly at her.

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Meanwhile, Naruto was bombarding Itachi with questions that came off the top of his head.

"So when the Uchiha dojutsu activates, what's it like?"

Silence.

"When do you think you're going to activate yours?"

Silence.

"Man do you even know how to talk to people except your mommy?!"

At this, Itachi turned with a glare and replied,"Yes I do in fact but I do not really talk with brainless people!"

Both boys looked at each other with obvious anger but then Naruto sighed,"Okay, look maybe we got off on the wrong start so I'm extending an olive branch here."At this he held out his hand and continued,"My name is Naruto of the Uzumaki and Namikaze Clans. I like ramen and my parents and friends although I do not have many right now. That's about it so it's your turn."

Itachi narrowed his eyes in suspicion but then sighed and consented."I am Uchiha Itachi, clan heir to the Uchiha Clan. I like... peace, my clan and Konoha." He then stayed silent as if in thought.

Naruto awkwardly gazed at him but then asked,"So, uh, where's that forest your mother mentioned?"

Itachi then began to move through the streets with Naruto following him and asking questions about anything that came to mind with Itachi answering albeit a little reluctantly.

This was the start of a bond between two future great shinobi whose names will be regarded with fear by their enemies and awe by their allies.

I'm going to stop here for this chapter because I don't know exactly if I should add more. However I think next chapter will be about the start of the Kyuubi attack, Naruto's sibling, their academy days and the start of his family's collapse.

Review please because I want to know how my first story is received. And please refrain from saying hurtful words because English is not very encouraged in the society I am in so my English is not top notch.

Marcus Greendil.