Apprentice of the trickster– Chapter one: unexpected encounter
Summary: what would happen if Naruto was kicked out of the orphanage but went into the forest as a result instead of where the Hokage would eventually find him? Or even if someone he never knew existed found him instead?
Author: Adameia Kirantro
Rated k+: no cussing, or innuendos or pairings, has minor violence
Disclaimer: I did not create, and do not own the characters from Naruto, nor the world they live in, They are owned by Masashi Kishimoto, and I may borrow them for your enjoyment. But I DO own Sheikka, and anything to do with the Changelings so back off and don't steal.
Authors note: I know I've been neglecting the stories that I have up but lately? I've just been too busy, and I was reading through some fan-fiction, I got the idea that ended up as this story and started switching between this one and my other ones, which so far has worked, and I got a little way into the stories before I decided I had enough to go on for me to start posting chapters… I'd love it of you would inform me of your opinions since my other fan-fic's seemed to have little success… enjoy!
Chapter one: unexpected encounter
a lone fox could be found casually traveling in a forest, very much aware that she came near the village commonly known as Konohagakure no Sato. suddenly, (from an outsider's perspective her red furred ears perked, twitching slightly and finally, made out the unmistakeable sound of a small child crying not too far from the position of the now attentive fox. –what's a kid doin' out here on such a chilly night? - The wandering animal thought, cocking her head in confusion. After curiosity made up her mind, she made her way through the underbrush in the direction of the still weeping child. silence encompassing her movements, she drew closer to the child, who, now that she could see him, looked no older than four, and was clad in a orange tee that didn't fit very well and some simple blue shorts. slowly she moved closer letting the steps give some minor noises so as to not startle the crying boy and said in a gentle tone, "what's the matter little one? Why are you out here by yourself?" the kid jumped, startled by her presence (despite her care to not do that), looked around quickly and then stared wide eyed taking in the only possible thing in the area that could possibly be speaking. the fox sniffed and smelled fear on him, and then it occurred to her -I forgot that most people don't know some animals can talk, drat!- more careful not to startle him than before she butted her nose against his shoulder before giving his cheek a gentle comforting lick, and then sat within easy arms reach, she decided to prompt him into speaking again, "would you like to tell me what's wrong? Maybe I can help you?" as she said this she took the opportunity to take another sniff now that she was closer, and for some reason he smelled of abnormal chakra and vaguely of fox that somehow seemed familiar, though she couldn't remember why it was. he seemed to calm down a little,but looked at her slightly wearily while thinking.
After a while it seemed the child had made a decision, "w-well… the the orphanage k-kicked me out, saying to n-never come back… I-I have nowhere to go since e-everyone hates me and calls me things l-like 'demon'…" the orange clad kid stuttered, obviously trying to contain the hurt and scared tears that were streaming down his face, he was so caught up in his emotions he barely noticed the low growl emanating from the animal in front of him, -those idiotic, no brained imbeciles! to do something like that to an innocent child!- were the thoughts that ran through her head as she received this new information, noticing that the boy was still crying she responded in an almost instinctive manner, because who could not try and comfort an adorable crying child? "Hmmm, seems to me like that town is filled with foolish idiots, don't ya believe 'em kid i have seen monsters and i know you're no monster... but you can stay with me if that is something you would like to do?" the fox finished her (slightly rambling)statement with the question, thoughts returning to recent memories of that abandoned house a ways back in the forest… maybe she could take him there. It was obvious to her when she passed that the previous inhabitant(s) were no longer among the living... the sniffling boys eyes grew wide as (at least) some of her words sank in.. "W-would you r-really let me s-stay with you? W-wait… y-you're a fox…I think… h-how can I stay with you?" the boy said confused, staring oddly at the strange talking fox before him.
"technically speaking I'm not actually a fox…" she stated in a matter-of-fact sort of way. seeing the bewildered, and incredulous look she drew from the blonde by her statement, she did what she never thought she'd ever do… left herself vulnerable in the open by carefully shifting slowly(as to not startle the boy since she'd have no risks if she were to "shift" at her normal speed) her form until she was mostly human, dressed in a sleeve-less tunic -length robe with a strange cloth covering the midsection from the bottom of her ribcage to just above her hips,the bottom edge of which was hidden beneath a sash with a metal plate on it, she also wore some simple slacks. she looked at the boy in front of her and informed him, "I am a shape-shifter, if you do not understand I'll explain more in-depth later, but i can basically change my looks to whatever i want. I have a home near here, and there is plenty of room, and it wouldn't trouble me by having you there" she smirked a little and then started looked him over as he fully digested over what he just heard, -He's cute for a kid I'll give him that, especially when he's not crying…- coming out of her thoughts she decided to introduce herself since she forgot to earlier because of… distraction," by the way, you can call me Sheikka, and even if you don't want to stay with me… I'd still like to be friends with you..." she trailed off as she examined the scrapes and bruises and dirt-smudges on the visible parts of his body. A brilliant smile, that lit up his face like a beautiful sunrise peaking over the horizon, brought her attention from his bare dirty feet to his suddenly happy face as he said, "it's nice to meet you sheikka -Chan, my name is Uzumaki Naruto, and I'd love to stay with you!" he said cheerfully, and she returned his smile (which she later could have sworn was infectious) she started guiding the boy away from the tree and she noticed how tired, and hungry Naruto looked.
Soon time found the passed out form of Naruto being carried into a particularly large house by the red headed fox girl named Sheikka, her pale icy eyes still glowing slightly in the moonlight.
After finding what I needed in some cabinets, I soon found myself tucking the unconscious blonde child that i took into my care, into a futon in one of the empty rooms of the house that they now inhabited, -this kid looks like he'll become quite the handful as he gets older- I thought, sighing I examined the room I had set up for him. this room had been completely empty, until I brought in a certain slightly drooling blonde in one arm and dragging a futon in the other. I had also brought in a small desk and a bedside table after I settled him down, and some other items he might need and/or want for the sole purpose of having them for him to use as he wished while he lived here. After making sure he was safely in bed and comfortable, I made my way out of the room, closing the door softly behind me. I had decided before I got there that I'd sort through and clean and organize everything I found here to make it look more convincing as "my" residence, and soon found myself looking incredulously at some documents that I found at/brought to the writing desk that was obviously a surface the previous inhabitant of this place used a lot. –who would have thought, that the reason there was strange protection seals and the like around this home, were because this place belonged to Minato Namikaze? A person whom I know was the fourth Hokage of Konoha who was said to have died defeating the nine-tailed fox? And what was the chances that by some coincidence, I came here with the child that is obviously the one he sealed the Kyuubi no Yoko in?- with those thoughts in her head she analyzed all the documents that she had at the desk before the clues suddenly popped into place. -no way!... Impossible!...- even though it made sense, considering the birth certificate I found showing that he was born on the same day the demon fox was sealed within him, but who would have thought that the child was Minato's own offspring? I found other papers that informed her that his mother, was Kushina Uzumaki (obviously where his current last name came from since she doubted those people would treat him so badly if they knew his true identity) who was originally from whirlpool country that-sadly- no longer existed(it had been one of her favorite places to visit), and that she had died in child birth (probably has something to do with the facts here hinting that she was the previous host for the fox).
Much later into the evening I withdrew from my long research on the boy's lineage and I came up with a decision, because children tended to be emotional about a lot of things,and had a hard time keeping secrets... she would not inform him of his lineage until he was ready, which meant that she was going to have to securely hide everything that would reveal this information. Of course she'd have to make sure that the Namikaze and Uzumaki clan's heritage styles and unique skills get passed on to their lone successor at some point, but that was an easier task to accomplish and wouldn't even be started until later anyway. So with my new plan I'm motion I set to the task of clearing the house of all possible traces of it's previous inhabitants, sealing them away in a hidden storage place and making sure it was even more hidden by the best security seals i knew, by the time this had all been accomplished the sun was already slowly rising in the sky, and since I didn't particularly need to sleep I shrugged, and made my way out of the silent house and dashed through the surrounding woods, hopefully I'd be able to find and get some food back into the house before Naruto inevitably woke up.