(A/N) hey guys I am Ralph Lionheart a returning writer on this sight. This is my only fiction on this site and the first one I have written in four years. So be gentle with me as I am trying to dust off the cobwebs. First off I will warn you now that my spelling is horrible at times and my grammar can leave room to be desired. So don't flame me for it and just so you guys know I will try my best to secure a beta, or if you're interested message me and let me know. And with my introduction and my spelling disclaimer done I would like to thank Venom Lord for allowing me to borrow certain aspects of his fic Altered Destiny. (Read it btw) and also I don't own Naruto or anything pertaining to it. And this fic is made only for entertainment and is not intended for profit. Naruto is trademark to its owners.

Naruto

Protecting the dream

Prologue

(Choosing a Difficult Path)

Uzumaki Naruto was currently walking down the street, his head hung low and eyes down cast avoiding the glares of the villagers. They all ways seemed to be doing that to him. Even though he did nothing wrong other than a few harmless pranks here and there. But that wasn't what was bothering him today.

Today it was something far worse than a glare. Today he failed to obtain his dream again, that dream being obtaining the title of a Shinobi of the village hidden in the leaves, or Konoha this was his second time to fail, his first being because his apartment had been ransacked by the villagers the day before and his alarm clock had been claimed in the process, along with what meager furnishings he had. But this time had been different he had made it to the academy on time and passed the written portion albeit barely. But when it came to the physical portion he choked. For that portion of the test he had to perform the bushin no jutsu and when he allowed himself to become nervous and pushed as much chakra as he could into the jutsu and the result was a sick looking clone.

He looked up and noticed that he was in front of the Hokage tower and decided to go in to see if the Sandaime Hokage could offer him any advice. Ever sense he was little, or as far back as Naruto could remember the Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi had all ways looked out for him and helped him as much as possible. He gave Naruto a Monthly allowance that made sure he was able to buy clothes and food. Not that he could get much other than Ramen and some horrendous orange jumpsuits. Truth be told he hated the color and how it screamed for attention. If anything he wanted to fade into obscurity and go by unnoticed. For you see Naruto isn't everything that he seems. While he may appear unintelligent and brash on the outside on the inside there is someone who wants to better himself by becoming smarter and more intelligent. But when you live on your own and are a complete pariah you tend to not be able to learn things properly so he made do with what he had nothing. Everything he learned he learned through watching others so there you see his major flaw, a lack of fundamental teaching. But he hopped he would be able to get some form the Hokage.



He entered the main lobby and the receptionist shot him a glare like everyone else but didn't stop him when he made his way to the stair well. She learned long ago not to stop the boy when he came to see the Hokage. So he climbed up the stairs without incident and made his way to the Hokage office.

Sarutobi was currently locked in an intense battle of epic proportions, with his one true enemy, Paper work. If it was one thing he hated about his job it was the paperwork. So he was pleasantly surprised to see Naruto walk into his office unannounced. But his face saddened when he saw the boys down trodden disposition. "What is the matter Naruto-kun?" the elderly man asked orange clad boy.

Naruto looked up to show his tear streaked face and said, "I failed again Saru-jiji." This again caused another string of tears to make its way down his face.

"What Happened?" the other asked. And Naruto launched into the story of how he came to fail again.

"I am truly sorry that I am unable to help you more than I can but I can never seem to free myself from this paper work." The old man said truly sorry he couldn't help the boy.

"I know Jiji, I know that if you could you would and you all ready do a lot for me." The boy said showing maturity beyond his years. The kind of maturity you get when you don't have anything to start with.

It was at this time that an ANBU member entered through the window, but unlike most ANBU he didn't wear the a-typical animal mask. Instead he wore a black crow mask, and his body was concealed by a trench coat rather than a cloak.

"Oh Hello Karasu-san" Sarutobi said with a smile as the man appeared.

"Reporting as Ordered Hokage-sama." Karasu stated with a bow of respect.

"Right, Naruto-kun why don't you go into the next room and visit with little Konoahmaru for a few minutes while Karasu-san gives me his mission report." The Hokage told the young boy.

Naruto got up and walked into the adjoining room of the Hokage's office were the toddler Knoahmaru was napping. Naruto noticed this but shut the door to the room anyway and pressed his ear against the door to hear what the old man and the ANBU were speaking about.

"Go ahead and begin your mission report Karasu." The elderly Hokage said as Naruto pushed his ear a little harder against the door.

"The mission was a Success. The target was eliminated in an effective matter and no one seen me." The ANBU said.

'He must be an assassin' Naruto though hearing this bit of information.



"That's good what of the second objective?" the Hokage said using his business tone Naruto heard whenever the old man spoke with a Shinobi.

"I managed to plant explosives on all of the drug labs and detonated them after I completed the primary objective to cover my escape if I were discovered." Karasu said in a tone of seriousness similar to the Hokage.

"After fleeing the area I detonated all of the tags I planted and destroyed the labs. With them gone the as well as the leader the others should scatter and the drug flow into fire country should slow for quite a while." Karasu continued he allowed a bit of happiness sink into his voice as he said the part about drug flow slowing.

"That's what I am hoping well mission success Karasu you are free to go." The Hokage said sounding rather happy as well.

"Is there something wrong?" the old man said after a few seconds making Naruto guess that the ANBU hadn't left.

"Well sir, it's that boy that was in here with you…" Karasu paused, sounding as if he didn't know how to best say what he wanted to ask.

"Is he-"he was cut off by the Hokage?

"Uzumaki Naruto? Yes." He said finished the man's question

"What's wrong with the boy? He seemed to have been crying when I came in judging by the tear streaks and the red eyes." Karasu asked Naruto was taken aback by the man's question. He was actually expecting to hear words of hatred and contempt rather than the compassionate statement from the unknown assassin.

"He failed the Genin exam for the second time. The boy has a serious problem. I am sure you know that he has no family and is generally hated inside the village right?" the Hokage said quickly making a ploy to help Naruto.

"Yes, so judging by what you said he has no one to show him things outside of the academy, and his teachers either can't for fear of showing favoritism or just out of malice." The ANBU said filling in the blanks.

"Sharp as ever Karasu, now I know that this isn't your normal kind of thing." The Hokage said preparing to ask the biggest favor he could ever ask of the man.

"You know as well as I do what the boy holds and he needs someone to show him things so that he can have a chance in the world, and obtain his dreams." He began.

"I'll do it." The Hokage hadn't even finished yet.



"But I didn't even ask you what I wanted you to do yet." The Hokage stated a little taken aback by the man's willingness.

"I know Hokage-sama but I believe I know what you're asking of me. And I accept both as my duty to you as a Konoha Shinobi as well as a small payment to the debt I owe to a certain man."

"Very well then from this day on you are to Take Uzumaki Naruto under your wing and teach him all that you know. From here on you will take a leave of absence from the Tobouketsu Black Opps and assume the temporary rank of Jounin. Consider this an A-rank mission, and you may now hand in your mask." The Hokage said in his official tone.

You could hear some shuffling around but that was it the entire time this had been going on Naruto was having trouble putting everything in to perspective. At first he was overjoyed at having someone teaching him personally to become a powerful Shinobi. But the thought hit him, 'this man is an assassin he makes a living by killing people!'

Naruto wasn't a complete fool he knew that by being a Shinobi he would be required to take a life; it would be silly for him not to expect that. But to make a living solely by spilling the blood of others it didn't sit with his morals. But he couldn't exactly complain about learning how to be a ninja.

"Why don't you come out from behind that door Naruto and meet your new Sensei." The Hokage said and Naruto still deep in thought came out of the room and looked over to the now un-masked Karasu.

"Hello Naruto-kun I am Jinrai Ryu and for now I will be your instructor in the Ninja arts." The man said and Naruto looked upon his face for the first time. Jinrai Ryu was tall maybe about six foot even, and had long black hair that was held in place by is head band. But what struck Naruto the most were the man's piercing honey eyes. They were all most the color of gold and he felt like they could almost look right through you while Naruto couldn't see anything in them other than an intelligent calculating look.

"So you are really going to be my new sensei?" Naruto asked looking at the man intently.

"Yes I am Naruto." He replied.

"But aren't you an assassin?" the boy said sounding wary of the word.

"Yes I am. Why, is that going to be a problem?" Ryu asked looking interested in what the boy was thinking.

"Well you specialize in killing people…" Naruto said trailing off.

"That is true but do you know why?" Ryu asked and watch the boy take on a look of deep concentration; this lasted for a few minutes before Naruto looked him in the eye.



"No I don't know why any individual would want to specifically make taking lives their specialty. Don't get me wrong I know that as Shinobi there will come a time when taking a life will become necessary. But to chose to do so on a regular basis is a thought that is beyond me." Naruto said completely outside of the mask that he shows to the world and expressing the beginnings to a higher moral thought that he didn't know how to express.

'Naruto-kun to grow up so fast, I am truly sorry that I couldn't help you enjoy your childhood more.' The Hokage thought as he let a small sigh escape his lips and made a slight shake of his head.

'This kid is sharp, too sharp for a kid his age…' Ryu was slightly taken aback to the profound thought the boy had eloquently expressed, the Naruto that he had seen in the village was just a knuckle-headed boy that always had a goofy grin permanently etched into his face. But this proved that there was a brain inside of his head.

"Well follow me and I will explain the reasons why I chose the path that I did." Ryu said as the Hokage nodded in his approval for Ryu to share this information with Naruto.

'Maybe after Ryu shows him why he chose to become an assassin Naruto will begin to see things differently.' The old man couldn't help but smile at the thought.

"Ok see you later Saru-jiji." Naruto said as he left with Ryu.

'Jinrai Ryu why do I feel as if you will change the very fabric of Naruto's being one day and shape him to be something great.' The Hokage thought as he returned to the ever remaining fight against paperwork.

The new teacher student pair left the Hokage's office and started making their way through the village, a few villagers would send glares at Naruto but would be meet with a much more and effective and intimidating glare from Ryu so it wasn't long before the glares ceased to be for the time being.

Naruto wasn't cognitive to the fact that he was being glared at his brain was to occupied trying to wrap his mind around the concept as to why anyone would want to make taking lives their exclusive job. So much so he wasn't aware when they reached their distenation.

The entire way Ryu was wrapped in thought as well. But his was centered on how Naruto could go on with the hatred that he felt from the villagers, 'this boy deserves better than this'. And he began to feel the strings of guilt pluck away at his heart, he hadn't exactly been there to help any of this despite the wishes of his only friend. 'Forgive me Minato please forgive me, I am going to make things right I swear it upon our blood oath.'

It was now when they reached the destination that Ryu had in mind. Naruto found himself perched upon the top of the head of the fourth fire shadow of Konoha. From here you could see the entire village right down to the huge sprawl of training grounds that surrounded the village and the more forested parts of it.



"Wow! The view from here is amazing you can see all of Konoha from up here!" Naruto said over enthusiastically finally sounding like a kid for the first time that day.

"Yeah, this is the place that I come when I need to get my head on right and remember why I do what I do." Ryu said as he looked up with a slight grin on his face as he noticed the thunder clouds begin to roll in along the horizon.

"So sensei why do you do what you do?" Naruto asked after Ryu brought his profession back to the forefront of the boy's thoughts.

"Look out there and tell me what you see Naruto…" Ryu said as he sat down and crossed his legs.

Naruto took a seat as well and looked out of Konoha as she began to shine with street lamps and lights from business. Making it appear as if it was glowing like a bright ember in the knight.

"I see the Village, and the Hokage building, and some thunder clouds rolling in over the horizon." Naruto said looking up at his teacher with a strange look. "You kill for a living to protect the village, don't all Shinobi do that?" Naruto said kind of put out sounding, he had been expecting to hear something profound and unheard of, or that Ryu was just unstable and enjoyed the killing. But all Konoha Shinobi fought and died to protect the Village.

"In a way Naruto, but what this village full of?" the elder of the two said as Naruto went back to thinking.

"Trees?"

"Be serious…"

"Ok the Village is full of people. But how is that any different than anyone else?" this guy just didn't make sense to Naruto.

"Naruto you are so close to it for the reason I do what I do is so close but profoundly different." Ryu spoke encouraging the boy to continue thinking he decided to give him a hint. "Ok there is something that every human has no matter what, despite wealth, poverty, or history, what do all humans have in common?" Ryu was enjoying this conversation.

Naruto spent a good fifteen minutes trying to think about it. But couldn't only draw up a blank, "What is it Sensei? What do we all have in common?"

"Dreams… Dreams Naruto we all have dreams, regardless of our social status, wealth, poverty, creed, clan, sex. So on and so forth. Even people without hope dream of a day when they have it." Ryu said watching the boy closely so he could see how he reacted.

"So you take lives to protect dreams?" Naruto asked starting to peace things together.



"Yes if I have to, I get no enjoyment out of it and I have nightmares every time I do but Naruto there are very corrupt people in this world and they will stop of at nothing to capture their corrupt dreams, even if it meant killing others and taking their dreams from them." Ryu said speaking with a quite passion that was very stirring to the young boy.

"As long as people like that exist in this world I will gladly pick up my blade to protect the dreams of the people I hold close when they cannot. And that is what gives me the strength to do what I do." Ryu said looking at the boy who fell back into a state of concentration.

"Now the question is Naruto what will you do after I show you the basics of the Ninja arts I know nothing else to teach you other than the art of the silent blade and the way to defend dreams." Ryu said standing up.

"I'll leave you hear to think about it, I will expect your answer come morning and then we will go from there, until then I bid you fare well Naruto-Kun." And with that Ryu disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

'To protect the dreams of the people I hold close…' the boy thought as a thunderclap sounded in the distance rolling over all of Konoha.

(A/N) hey prologue completed this is a important part of the story and will literally shape the Naruto of this story, as far as his power level he will be strong but still a Genin he will need his team to make it through a lot of situations. The pairings for this story is mainly Naruto and Hinata and will remain that way no harem or anything like that and maybe some other parings if I happen to bring those characters to the forefront. I will try to update soon but I can't promise anything because I work full time and go to college part time but I will try. Now as of right now Ryu Jinrai (Dragon Thunderclap) is my only OC directly involved with Naruto and won't be around after the first few chapters but will literally change Naruto into the version of him I have crafted for my story. If you haven't figured it out this won't be very cannon but I think you might like something I got in store. Oh and please review I won't affect my writing or not writing but reviews are nice and they let me know that you are enjoying my yarn. Criticism is welcome but not grammar wise I know it sucks, but if you want to volunteer to beta for me message me, but other than that thanks for reading. And another thank you to Venom Lord for the inspiration to write this and allowing me to use some aspects of altered destiny.

Read and review and until next time Ralph Lionheart signing off…