Naruto: Master of Alchemy

By Quick-n-Popular

Disclaimer: "Naruto" and "Fullmetal Alchemist" are not mine. Characters are used in conjunction with the terms applying to Fan Fiction. I own nothing but my imagination.

A/N: Not too sure on where this is going to go, but I'm excited for the journey ahead. Fans of my other stories: all I have to say is I'm sorry for the lack of updates but I'm trying to get them restarted. Call me Mr. Random, if you will, but I'm trying to come up with more chapters.

Now, let us begin….

Chapter One: Journals and Conspiracies

It was morning in Konohagakure no sato, the village hidden in the leaves. Shops were opening in the civilian sector and people were making their way either to work or to whatever morning ritual they attributed to their lives. Up on the rooftops the blurring of air signified the ninja making either their rounds or were on route to their assignments at the Hokage Tower. Some could be seen on the streets themselves taking in the pedestrian route, their flak jackets signifying of both their profession and ranking. It was a rather typical morning, a local observer might say. However, it was the start of something that would change the village and its inhabitants in the near future.

Chisa Yuey was starting her day as always as she left her privately-owned bookshop in the civilian sector. In her arm she carried a bevy of books to be donated to the local orphanage, which she has been doing since the passing of her son and husband five years ago. Looking prim and proper, she hummed an unnamed melodious tune as she walked down the street, stopping only for the occasional greetings before arriving at her destination. The orphanage was a modest one-story complex with a fenced in front yard. In it occupied nearly twenty-eight children at present and was run by a friend of hers. Chisa smiled warmly to the children who were playing outside as she made her way to the doorstep where, off to the side, her friend, the matron, was busy attending to a girl who apparently had scrapped her knee.

"Now, Yuzu, I want you to stop rough-housing with Shiro. He's bigger than you, thus he tends to get carried away sometimes. You understand, dear?" The matron warmly admonished.

The pig-tailed girl nodded while sniffling as she seemed to still be getting over the scrap. "Y-Yes, Miss Yoshida."

Kimiko Yoshida, the Matron, nodded as she got up and smiled as she noticed Chisa from the corner of her eye. She turned back to the girl. "Good. Now run along now. I need to talk with Miss Yuey."

The girl nodded again before turning and giving a small greeting to Chisa before running back into the yard to rejoin her friends. After she was gone, Kimiko turned to Chisa.

"Good morning Chisa, how are you? How's business?"

Chisa smiled, "Its good. I recently got a new shipment in from Suna, so I thought I let you pick through with what you'd like for the children."

Kimiko nodded. She then called out for the children to know that she'll be inside and that they should come back in, in an hour. After hearing their acknowledgment, she led Chisa inside where the two of them situated themselves at a small table where Chisa laid her basket with the books. The two made small talk and gossip before Chisa brought out the books for Kimiko to look through. Afterwards the two continued their discussion only until they stopped when a small figure came into the kitchen area. A small boy, roughly four to five years old with unkempt spiky blonde hair, trudged along inside before grabbing one of the footstools used by him and the other children to reach the counter and placed it in position of the sink where the children's cups lay. The two women watched while he got up, got the dirtiest glass there and proceeded in filling it with water before stopping and taking small drinks with it before putting it back to its original spot and getting off of the stool.

"Naruto," Kimiko called out, her voice taking on an uncharacteristically annoyed tone; "Did you clean all of the rooms, yet?"

The boy turned to them and looked at the matron. Dressed in shabby, torn, overalls and sandals that didn't quite fit him; he shifted as he nodded.

Kimiko stared at the boy, his blue eyes looking back at her hesitantly while his whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks almost looked as though they twitched nervously in anticipation of her reply. Kimiko closed her eyes as she nodded. "Good. Go back to your room and wait for lunchtime."

Naruto nodded and then bowed awkwardly before scuttling out of the room leaving the two women alone once more. Kimiko sighed before turning back to her friend who was scowling with a hateful glare where Naruto once was.

"Damn demon-child." She growled out.

Kimiko nodded, sighing, "I'm still trying to find a loophole from the agreement I made with the Sandaime so I can be rid of him for good. I'm afraid he'll taint the other children someday. Kami, I can't stand the sight of him day-after-day."

Chisa nodded, bitterly. She then brought out a bag she had brought with her and took out a decrepit-looking old book of sorts and placed it on the table. "By the way, I found something you can give the monstrosity. A merchant gave it to me when he passed through from Takigakure. It seems no one can understand the language in it and it has these weird pictures and designs. It's only going to collect dust in my shop and besides," Chisa smirked, "The little bastard isn't going to learn anything, now will he?"

Kimiko too smirked as she nodded. The two talked a bit more, most of which being the latest gossip going around the hidden ninja village before Chisa decided to leave to sell more of her items to other businesses.

"Well, take care, Kimiko. Oh, don't forget that the meeting has been changed to end of this week, due to Kaname's illness." Chisa said as she gave a hug to her friend before parting.

Kimiko nodded. "I'll be there, see you then."

Chisa nodded and then headed her way out.

Kimiko watched her figure leave the area and then turned back to the kitchen as she was to begin the children's lunches.

If one would look at one Naruto Uzumaki, most would say that he was a typical five year old. All his wants and desires limited to all that pertained to a child of his age, showing nothing really astounding. However, rarely does anybody look deeper that what's on the surface. Despite proper education, Naruto excelled through self-taught methods. He learned quickly what street signs meant by watching how others regarded them and what their behaviors were. He learned reading by listening in on some group readings at the orphanage and writing by similar situations. It didn't end with that as the more he learned the more he yearned for more. During the times when the Matron was occupied with one or more of the other children, Naruto took the chance to borrow the dictionary and add more to his understanding and vocabulary. His reading and writing weren't the only things that he excelled in. During the times when shinobi came in to the orphanage, these times when Naruto was ordered by the Matron to go to his room and be quiet; Naruto would watch from a hiding spot and would memorize when the guest would do certain hand formations and how they would draw out chakra. Hearing the explanation made in simpler terms for the children the shinobi were demonstrating for, Naruto was able to deduce how he himself could bring out his chakra. However, he found the chakra he currently possessed was too small to bring out. Yet, there seemed to be another source, a rather large one inside of him, but it seemed to dismiss his attempts of pulling it out. Thus, Naruto would continue his practices whenever he was left alone in his room and there he would pursue his thirst for knowledge and learning. Outside he would play ignorant as the first and last time he displayed his knowledge it was met with a severe slapping by the Matron.

Thus his life continued. However, lately things started to change, somewhat. An old man going by the name Hokage, started coming to the orphanage to visit just him. He seemed nice but Naruto kept on waiting for the niceties to drop and for him to start the name callings and physical punishment for doing things he shouldn't. The 'leader of the village' took Naruto out of the orphanage to look around the village and to stop at a place called a "ramen shop" to eat before taking him back to the orphanage. Naruto still wasn't sure of what to make of the Hokage but he did like ramen a lot! The second thing that was strange was today when the Matron gave him a book before telling him to turn out the lights and go to sleep. The only things she had ever given him were worn out dirty clothes that didn't really fit. Never has she rewarded him for anything and Naruto never asked for anything from her. As always, Naruto kept his 'mask' on showing no emotion as the last time he did he was beaten on the back by the Matron using a wooden ladle, telling him, "Monsters have no emotions so neither should you!". The book itself had him mesmerized. It was a sort of journal/instruction guide by two people calling themselves the "Elric Brothers", titled: "A History of Alchemy".

Thus here he was now, sitting on his bed reading by what scarce light illuminated through the cracks of his boarded up window. He took tiny bites of the stale bread the Matron had given him as his eyes went through text after text of the introductory page. The page itself took on a narration by the youngest brother "Alphonse Elric" as he was telling the reader what Alchemy was and the philosophy behind it. Some of the words used, Naruto wrote down on his head board of his bed, he'd look up later as he didn't understand them. As soon as he was finished with the introduction he could hear the Matron outside gathering the children to come back in, which was Naruto's cue to stop for the day. Closing the book, he looked at it with reverence and decided that this was his most prized possession and that he would keep it safe and secret for always.

Days had turned into weeks, weeks into months, and finally it had became a year since Naruto had received the, as he referred to it, "Elric Journal". Reading had become his favorite pass time as he enjoyed the stories the brothers told of their journeys. While entertaining the book was also an irreplaceable source of learning material on Alchemy. During the latest visit from the Hokage, Naruto slipped in a curious question regarding the subject to the Sandaime who looked at him as if he asked a made up word and laughed when Naruto pouted. To Naruto, since the leader of the village knew nothing of the subject matter, it confirmed his thoughts that only he possessed the only material on it. Learning the mechanisms of a "Transmutation Circle" was a tough and irritating experience for the soon-to-be six year old. He soon learned and hated the term "trial and error", however he was happy to know that the second author "Al" was just as disappointed yet encouraged to continue on as Naruto was. Today was the first attempt to make a toy out of sawdust that Naruto had found spread out on his bedding.

It was midnight and Naruto was up carefully drawing the circle and the other designs by the schematic drawing in the book. He was aided by the light of a candle he had stolen from the Matron's closet and he thought ahead to put some dirty cloths underneath the door to block out the light. Unfortunately for him, the book recommended the use of chalk when drawing the symbols and circle. However, it wasn't a requirement so Naruto used the black crayon he had been given since he got here. Finishing the last detail, then checking with the book to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything, Naruto stood up and wiped away the residual sweat that built up from concentrating on the perfection of the design.

"I hope this works." He quietly muttered to himself. He then sat on his knees at the rim of the circle he had drawn. Eyeing over everything he had done, he then took a quick glimpse of the pile of sawdust that was in the center of the circle before grabbing the book and looking at the notes next to schematic drawing of the transmutation circle. Nodding in understanding of the instruction, he put the book off to the side and then placed his hands on the outer-rim of the circle and closed his eyes. Not too sure of what to expect to happen, he scrunched his eyes and clenched his teeth together. After a moment of undaunted silence, he opened one eye to see what results took place only to quickly open the other eye and then scowl in disappointment. The sawdust remained where it was and looked undisturbed. Brining the book back in front of him, he carefully reread every part of the instruction before putting it aside once more and sighing in irritation.

'Al said that the circle should have lit up and the transmutation should have happened.' Naruto thought as he rocked himself back and forth while absentmindedly gnawing on one of his knuckles, a bad trait that he didn't know when he picked up.

He stopped rocking when an idea hit him. Sure it was just a guess on his part and nowhere in the book was it mentioned, at least not to the point of where he was reading. Still, it was worth a shot as he didn't know what else to do. Placing his hands back in place on the circle, he then closed his eyes and started to breathe in a relaxed method. His mind went back to what the Shinobi, Hayate-san, said about how they draw chakra to parts of their bodies. Naruto felt the same sensation he felt weeks before when he was finally able to draw upon what little chakra he had. It felt warm in his stomach and then he could feel that same sensation slowly flowing from his midsection up to his chest and then flowing to his arms and finally his hands that lay flat on the floor and the circle. Naruto allowed one eye open and opened both as a grin found its way on his face. The circle was shining brightly and soon an energy came surrounding the entire area before it became too bright and Naruto had to close his eyes. After the light died, Naruto opened his eyes again and looked toward the center of the circle and was elated to see that he made an accomplishment. Taking the place of the sawdust was a, albeit, misshapen; wooden kunai toy.

Naruto shakily reached out and then took the object and handled it carefully as if expecting it to break soon. It seemed really solid and, after dropping it against the ground twice, it appeared durable as well. Naruto exhaled a sigh he had been holding in. He'd rather yell out his accomplishment; however he knew that if he did that then he'd get the whipping of a life time if the Matron heard him or found out what he did to her floor. In the end of the night, Naruto instead hid his prize of accomplishment in the pillow on his bed and thoroughly cleaned up the markings he had made on the floor away with the water from his glass. He then went to bed, cradling the book that he felt was going to give him what he felt was missing in his young life.

A purpose.

Unbeknownst to Naruto, the Matron wasn't even home; she was instead attending a late meeting with a group of friends and colleagues. This group was made up of survivors, widows, widowers, and others of the Kyuubi attack that happened nearly six years ago. It was basically a support group founded by a civilian, Chizuru Negia, who lost her son, a Chuunin, to the Kyuubi. Its purpose was for the survivors and those who lost someone to band together and support one another in their grieving. However, since it was announced by the Hokage of what one Naruto Uzumaki's role was in the supposed removal of the demonic demon fox, the group took on another agenda for their meetings.

In a small yet somewhat spacious room filled with chairs and a small wheeled car filled with refreshments and baked goods; the people occupying the chairs quieted down from their small talk as a person, a shinobi, stood.

"Now that we're all here, let's begin our discussions on how we're going to rid ourselves of one demon-brat."

To be continued….

A/N: Just to be clear on what level of intelligence Naruto has, he has that of a prodigy or rather that of a teenager. His reasoning, thinking, and reading skills are of that level. As described he somewhat grasps what chakra is and how to bring it out, though he still is not capable of supplying the right amount for an E-ranked jutsu, like a bunshin. As to where he is at in the Elric's journal/instruction guide, he's probably right at the point where they were making objects to show off to Winrey and their mother. Just so we're clear, I'm NOT making Naruto into a power-house this early on. Everything will be taken in strides as there will be a lot that'll shape his character. Remember, he isn't even in the academy yet. Anyways, thanks for reading this chapter. Please review and I'll be sure to get another chapter going soon enough.

Q-n-P