This is a multiple pairing fanfic. This story will continue for about 50 or so chapters and is mainly meant to show the bonds that Naruto develops with his new "family" as well as friends, as well as flesh out Naruto's character. Then, it will probably end at the finale of the Sasuke retrieval arc, right before the start of Naruto Shippuden. From there on, I will write stories for each pairing. The following pairings are: Naruto/Hinata, Naruto/Sakura, Naruto/Ino, and Naruto/Anko (This one was mainly a request from my niece). If some people really want it, I'll write a harem route, though I'm not really sure how I'll make that one work. Also, I'm making a few changes to the general canon, so this is a heads up before people get too far into it if they don't like these changes. I'm making Hanabi one year younger than Hinata than the general age, since Hinata needs more interactions with others than just her team, and this way she can have someone that understands her more, as its kinda hard to have heart to heart girl conversations when the other is several years younger than the other. Second is that the Hinata kidnapping will take place when she is nine, I won't explain more as to why as it will spoil the plot. Third, I will not make Orochimaru a pedophile...NAW, I'm just fucking with ya, that's a given. I will be making Sakura and Ino less fangirlish so as not to make their characters so shallow. They still fawn over Sasuke, just not to the point that they don't see his faults. Fourth, I am not making Hiashi a bastard or a nice guy. Some people over exagerate the whole "pole up the ass" mentality that makes me wonder how in the hell he even got laid, arranged marriage aside. To me, Hiashi seems like the father that means well, just doesn't now how to act lovingly or accordingly and so decides to be the authority figure, and he will stay that way. Then again, that might be due to the fact that my dad acts a lot like him, but oh well, that's a story for another time. For those of you that read my Final Fantasy Fics, I will update, as soon as I recover my laptop my cousin "borrowed" on his trip to Louisianna. (yells at cousin on phone) I HAD TWENTY CHAPTERS DONE ON IT DAMMIT! Other than that, please enjoy.

11:35 pm October 10th Gates of Konoha

Six Years. It had been six years since Kakashi Hatake had seen the city gates of Konoha. Ever since the tragic day of his Sensei's death. On the day of the Kyuubi attack and he had been put on the sidelines, unable to do a damn thing! Even to this day he would toss in his sleep wondering what if?

What if he had been able to help fight the Kyuubi?

What if he had been able to prevent his Sensei's death?

What If Naruto had been able to have a family growing up?

...Naruto...

Six years ago from today, October 10th, his Sensei had sealed the Kyuubi into his newborn son. Kakashi KNEW that his sensei would have wanted him to look after his son. He just knew it. But Naruto, he looked soo much like his father that it hurt Kakashi just looking at him. The boy reminded him of the loss of a person who was very much like a father to him. In the aftermath of the attack, Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken up the mantle and asked for volunteers amongst the ANBU to take on missions that could last years in order to maintain the façade of Konoha's strength.

Kakashi jumped at the chance to get away from the village. He ran away from his problems, assuming one of the clan heads or Sarutobi would take care of Naruto. For several years Kakashi comforted himself with this assumption to subdue the guilt welling up inside of him. That was until Kakashi had a chance encounter with Jiraiya on one of his missions. When he heard from Jiraiya that the council had made it impossible for anyone to adopt the poor boy and forced him to fend for himself, Kakashi was beside himself with rage.

Damn the council for their idiocy!

Damn himself for abandoning his sensei's child!

Kakashi hastily finished his mission, inadvertently breaking the record for shortest mission ever by completing an SSS rank mission in under 24 hours. Now here he was. He found it ironic that the very day he came back to this village was the day he left it's walls hoping never to come back again. After looking around the streets to get his bearings, he noticed something interesting. Apparently in his absence, October 10th was made into a holiday to commemorate his Sensei's death, if the Minato themed merchandise was anything to go by. Even though it was already well into the night some of the stores still stayed open. Kakashi paid no interest though as he bounded across rooftops towards the hokage tower.

As he made his way towards the old man's office, he noticed his presence drawing several looks from the staff, mostly the female workers. Though he was flattered, he had more pressing matters weighing on his mind. As he drew near the Hokage office, he noticed a great deal of ANBU and other Shinobi bustling about. Kakashi was just about to ask the secretary what was going on when an anxious Sarutobi bursted from his office following an ANBU operative.

"Take me there quickly!" He ordered, but before they could run off Kakashi intercepted him.

"Hokage-sama! Whats going on! Are we under attack!" Kakashi asked. Sarutobi paused for a moment, wondering who would interupt him, but then recognized Kakashi.

"No, Kakashi, its Naruto." Kakshi's heart filled with dread. Was he too late? Sarutobi seemed to see his distress and motioned for him to follow so that he could explain on the way.

Without another second wasted the three sped off into the night.

"What happened to Naruto!" Kakashi yelled as they bounded across rooftops, not caring if any of the villagers heard the conversation. He was bringing up the rear since the Hokage and the ANBU knew where to go.

"Apparently, a chunin snuck several genin and a few villagers past a drunk ANBU guard and attempted to beat Naruto to death." Saurtobi spat out over his shoulder, voicing his distaste when mentioning the transgressors. Kakashi was livid, no, even enraged couldn't describe his boiling emotions now. How dare they...HOW DARE THEY! After everything my sensei and his son sacrificed, THIS IS HOW THEY HONOR HIS MEMORY! Kakashi's fists were clenched so hard they his nails drew blood, but he didn't notice in his anger. The killing intent he was unleashing was so potent that for a few seconds the villagers thought the Kyuubi was attacking again. The hokage himself was stunned at Kakashi's reaction. The ANBU captain was always known for his impeccable control of his emotions. Yet here he was, shaking in rage.

"...are the...held?" Sarutobi barely heard a snippet of what Kakashi was whispering.

"?"

"Where are the bastards being held?" Kakashi said, fighting to keep his voice in control.

"Kakashi-"

"Dammit Hiruzen! If you don't tell me NOW I will personally raise hell, AND. I. WILL. KILL. THEM." Kakashi spat, taking Hiruzen back with the palpable anger surrounding the shinobi. Hiruzen shook his head, sighing in annoyance.

"Kakashi, if you had not interrupted me, I would have told you that by the time we got there, they were already dead, along with the incapacitated ANBU." Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could ask who did so, The lead ANBU announced that they had arrived. In front of them was Konoha's hospital, and Kakashi visibly paled at the thought of Naruto's condition. He braced himself before entering the doors. The white halls smelling of anesthetic were eerily calm. An employee or two would be seen occasionally walking through the halls. Even when the Hokage and the ANBU lead him to the ward where Naruto was bieng held, there was generally almost no activity. Kakashi started fearing the worst.

Oh god, what if he's-nononononoNO! Come on Kakashi! Pull it together! He's gotta be okay! He just has to! Kakashi mentally berated himself, trying to gain some measure of reassurance. Finally, he saw that they arrived right outside of the room that Naruto was being held in, the two ANBU guards made it pretty obvious. Both ANBU bowed when they saw the Hokage.

"Hokage-sama" they both saluted. Sarutobi merely nodded in acknowledgment.

"How is he?" both ANBU looked to each other before the left one responded.

"His condition is stable. Anko Mitarashi is inside guarding over him as we speak."

"Though, we must warn you Hokage-sama. There have been several...changes to his seal as an unforeseen consequence of todays events." the ANBU on the right said.

"What do you mean 'changes'?" Kakashi cut in. The ANBU looked once more to each other before the left one ventured to speak again.

"I think it would be best if you saw for yourself, Kakashi-san." At this, Kakashi and Sarutobi cast each other a glance before Sarutobi nodded. Kakashi proceeded towards the door, before opening it silently when he had finally worked up the nerve. What he saw unnerved him more than anything he had ever seen throughout all his years as an ANBU captain. The little Blonde newborn that Kakashi had seen six years ago was dead. The boys hair no longer spiked in every direction like his father's, but now fell flat down in the same scarlet hue as his mothers hair. His cute round ears were gone, and in their place two fox ears the same scarlet hue as his hair, coupled with the nine fox tails behind him swaying gently as if caught in a breeze. What had unnerved Kakashi was not these physical changes, nor the sight of his distant friend Anko, the one who was always upbeat and defiant, reduced to heart wrenching sobs while hugging the boy. No, it was those eyes that Naruto looked at Kakashi with, so dead to the world they might have belonged to a mannequin. What was even more frightening was the question those eyes seemed to ask in a silent question, repeating over and over.

Why?

9:02 pm October 10th Relay Point, Land of Fire

Anko Mitarashi is what you would call a tomboy. Sure, she could make a majority of the male shinobi drool at her feet. Though unlike her friend Kurenai, there was no way anyone would describe Anko as feminine. She was brash, sadistic, and cussed so bad she would shame a sailor. Though under her coarse exterior she has a soft side that only her closest friends know of. Ever since she found how Naruto was she treated, she adopted the role of big sister to him. She was more vigilant than any of the ANBU guards assigned to him. She always made sure to be there on his birthday ever since the botched assassination attempt on his third birthday.

However today was different. After completing an A rank mission that spanned the length of three weeks, Kurenai and Asuma convinced Anko to join them in a "job well done" drink. One drink lead to several leading to a massive hangover. She forgot about that though as soon as she saw the time.

SHIT! IT'S NINE PM ALREADY! SHITSHITSHITSHIT!

Anko packed all her stuff and rushed off towards Konoha. They were still a days away from home, she just hoped that she would get there soon enough.

After rushing pell-mell through the forest she was at the city gates an hour and a half later. After catching her breath, she jogged over to the district that Naruto resided in. On her mission she had seen a jacket that looked perfect for Naruto and had it gift wrapped and all. Good thing too as seeing that only a few shops remained open.

As she neared Naruto's apartment she caught a odd scent carried by the wind. It seemed familiar, and chilled Anko to the bone when she remembered that smell.

Blood!

Anko ran the remaining distance, fearing the worst for her "adopted little brother." When she arrived at the floor of his apartment room she was greeted with a sight that would not seem out of place in hell. Blood seeped out the doorway, along with several mangled bodies. As Anko made her way farther into the apartment, death seemed to permeate the very air. She fearfully opened the bedroom door, horrified at its possible contents.

Bodies were strewn about, many in pieces. And there, in the corner, sat huddled Naruto, eyes staring out lifelessly. It took several seconds for Anko to register the fox ears and nine tails coiled around Naruto protectively. Anko, despite the feeling of fear rolling over her body, walked towards Naruto, wrapping him in a hug, crying apologies.

They had done something that the village had been trying for years to do to her.

They broke him

She never left him in the hospital. In her lamenting she had failed to notice another person in the room, and quickly turned on him, pinning him to the wall with a kunai at his throat. Only when she recognized the white mop of hair did she back off

"What are you doing here Kakashi?" She asked, barely above a whisper. Kakashi seemed to struggle with finding the right words until he finally replied.

"I came back for Naruto" Anko chuckled at his reply, but there was no humor in it.

"Looks like you're late again Kakashi. He's gone."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Naruto's gone. Dead. Whatever those villagers did was the breaking point. The seal broke, and Naruto's consciousness died when it mixed with the kyuubi." Anko replied waving towards Naruto. "The village got what they wanted. The Kyuubi personified."

Kakashi blanched. No, how could it have failed. His sensei, master of sealing, having his greatest creation that costed him his life be undone. But that was not what hurt Kakashi the most. What hurt him was the thought that he could have prevented this. If he had just manned up in the beginning, he could have given the boy what he longed for his entire life. Happiness. A family. For the first time ever since his father's death, Kakashi, Son of the White Fang, cried.

8:00 am, October 11th Konoha Council room

"Hokage-sama, it has come to our attention that the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi has become mentally unstable and has killed in cold blood 29 villagers as well as 8 freshly graduated gennin and one chunin-"

"COLD BLOOD! YOU BASTARDS TRIED TO KILL HIM!" Koharu appeared irritated at being interrupted by the outburst.

"Hokage-sama, may I ask why those two are here?" Koharu retorted, pointing at Kakashi and Anko standing to the side of the room. Kakashi was physically restraining Anko for fear that she would kill the old bat.

"They are both involved. Anko has acted as Naruto's caretaker of the past three years-"

"So that explains his-" one of the Civilian councilmen snidely interrupted.

"SILENCE! IF I DARE HEAR ONE MORE INSULT TOWARDS ANKO MITARASHI, I WILL SEND THE PERPETRATOR STRAIGHT TO AN ANBU HOLDING CELL, AM I CLEAR!" Sarutobi thundered. After hearing a chorus of murmured agreements, he continued.

"As I was saying, Anko Mitarashi has been his caretaker for three years and as such has a valuable assessment of Naruto's behavior. Kakshi was a student under the Yodaime Hoakge, and as such has some knowledge of the seal seeing as Jiraiya of the Sannin is not currently available. Now may we begin?" Homura and Koharu both nodded, before the former began.

"As Koharu stated, several were found dead at the Jinchuriki's apartment, along with the ANBU guard stationed to watch over him. Large amounts of the Kyuubi's chakra were found on the premises as well as on the mangled corpses. The council wonders as to why the Kyuubi has appeared now and what course of action you are willing to take?"

Sarutobi gestured towards Anko and Kakashi to speak. Anko, noticing the council's shifted focus towards her, calmed herself before addressing the council.

"In all the time I have known Naruto, he has kindness beyond imagination. Even after he suffered beatings when I was away on missions, he said he harbored no hate towards the village. As for why now? After what Kakashi has told me, the seal reacts to the hosts emotions, so that in times of great stress or fear, some of the kyuubi's chakra would be given to the host. What happened last night was the breaking point, as the seal is no longer there," Anko glaced back to Kakashi making sure she covered everything, "as for the boys current state of mind, I think Mr. Yamanaka will provide a better description."

Yamanaka straightened a few papers before speaking, "Ah, yes. After the boys physical state was checked, I performed a mental analysis that I have done every year for the boy. I can attest to Ms. Mitarashi's statement, the boy is kind and caring, especially around my daughter-" Koharu interrupted with a cough.

"Yes yes, Mr. Yamanaka, but please, the report?"

"Ah, yes. Well, before the boys mind was clearly divided by the Fourth's seal. Now with the seal gone, I can no longer find the path to Naruto's mind."

"Meaning?"

"That Naruto is dead." Anko cut in. A general outroar followed her statement.

"-YOU MEAN!"

"-DEMON-"

"SILENCE!" Sarutobi roared. Once the council room had calmed, Koharu spoke up.

"What do you mean 'dead,' Ms. Mitarashi?"

"Exacly what I mean, As Mr. Yamanaka said, the boundary that separated the two is gone, and both consciousnesses shattered when they collided, basically wiping the slate. In that sense, both Naruto and the Kyuubi are dead." A silence lasted in the room, broken by a chuckle of an old man wrapped in bandages who had walked in a few minutes ago.

"My councilmen, if I have heard correctly, we have just heard the answer to our prayers. No longer will Konoha live in fear of invasion, with the Kyuubi's power reigned in, Konoha will truly be a force to be reckoned with! If I may, Hokage-sama, I would like to train it to better help serve Konoha." at his declaration, many of the civilian council murmured their approval, while several of the shinobi council looked on with disgust at the prospect of treating a child as a weapon.

"Danzo, in no form will I allow you to turn the child into no more than a weapon!" Sarutobi thundered.

"Ah, but Hiruzen, you forget, the child you cared for so is dead, did you not hear. He would slit your throat with hardly a second thought." Danzo retorted. "And you forget, the final say does not lie with you. My fellow councilmen, I propose a vote in favor of training the Jinchuriki to better aide Konoha!" Anko visibly paled as every civilian council member raised their hand in approval, taking up two thirds of the council.

"Hokage-sama! You can't let them do this! Please, let me adopt the poor kid!" she pleaded, looking on the verge of tears. She wouldn't allow whatever last vestiges of humanity be stripped of the boy.

"As if we would allow such an important weapon in the hands of a shinobi formerly aligned to a traitor!" one of the councilmen shouted, but almost literally shitted his pants at the glare Sarutobi sent his way.

"ENOUGH! Unfortunately Danzo, I DO have the final say. You see, the fourth had predicted such a situation, and had included in his will that Naruto be put under the protective care of one of his students. As we all know, Kakashi is the only one left among the living," he paused before turning to Kakashi," Kakashi, if you accept this responsibility, you will have to resign as an ANBU operative since looking after Naruto will be your primary concern. Also a dorm will given to both of you in the Shinobi complex A-5, along with Anko, will that be okay?"

Both Anko and Kakashi nodded "Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Good, council dismissed."

Man, the second half seems rushed in my opinion, I hardly have any patience when acting on my ideas. I hope you like it though! Since this is my first Naruto fic. Reviews are encouraged!