A young blond awoke again in his own bed. He did not recall where he came from. All he knew was his name. He was given the name Naruto Uzumaki, but with no one sharing his family name, he was all alone.

Though having nothing, he was sharp to notice many things. It seemed like all of the villagers held deep hatred over him. He couldn't fathom why they did but he was able to come down to a few guesses. He figured his parents were very evil people and committed nasty crimes, or he came from an infamous clan that no one dared to speak of, or something that even he couldn't imagine. Regardless of the reason, he didn't waver. He knew that each person had a purpose in life and he would find his.

Continuing his day like any other, he went to the bathroom to use the toilet and brush up. Afterwards, he made himself some toast and eggs to start off the day. Once he finished his breakfast, he cleaned the dishes and made his bed.

Naruto then looked out the window. It was a beautiful day outside, yet he had no one he could share it with. Many kids his age avoided him so he didn't have friends to go play with. But, he knew that a lot of kids joined the Academy for ninja training around his age. Though he didn't know how to become a ninja, he always wanted to be. Maybe it was time to train again.

Naruto then put on his shoes and bolted towards the door. He was headed towards the woods where he could train in peace.

At the woods

This wasn't Naruto's first time training in the woods. It was like his playground. He jumped around the trees and dashed to test his speed. If he hung out with other kids, he would realize that he's much more physically fit than they were. Most kids were spending time playing ninja or ball, but Naruto spent his in the woods training. He had even set up a target hanging from a tree branch for shuriken practice. Though he didn't have any ninja tools to use, Naruto spent a lot of his training running to collect rocks and stones that he could use to practice throwing shuriken.

Naruto had already practiced enough to hit the middle of the target from just standing still. He even managed to hit the target a few times while running laterally.

*gurgle gurgle*

Naruto stopped in his tracks. How much time had passed since he started training? He looked up at the sun and saw that it was late into the afternoon. He only ate his breakfast from before so he was naturally hungry. It was time to gather food.

Naruto ran about to gather wood and mushrooms. After gathering all he could find, he brought it to the river and set it aside. He then picked up some sharp sticks and a large rock. He threw the large rock into the river, and a few fish jumped up into the air. Naruto then threw the sharp sticks through the fish and pinned them to the other side of the river. He went to gather them and then started a fire with the wood he collected. He began cooking the fish on a stick along with some mushrooms on a stick. The smell was very appetizing. The smell almost made Naruto not realize that someone had approached him.

There was an old man sitting right next to Naruto observing him. Naruto looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"

The old man responded, "Who, me? I'm just an old man passing by." The old man then looked to his left where the fish were cooking.

*gurgle gurgle*

Naruto smirked as he heard the old man's stomach grumble. "Would you like to join me for dinner?"

"Oh that sounds wonderful," the old man replied. The two waited a little until the fish was done cooking and then began to dig in. As they were eating, the old man asked Naruto, "so what is a young boy, such as you, doing in this neck of the woods all alone?"

Naruto grinned. "I've just been training."

"Oh? And what are you training for?" the old man asked.

Naruto thought for a bit. "There's nothing I'm training for, but training will help me in the future. I'm better off training instead of doing nothing."

The old man looked at Naruto, a little disheartened by his words. "I figured someone your age would be playing around with other boys your age. Wouldn't that be more fun?"

Naruto shook his head. "It's better to train. All the other kids are probably with their parents training. This is a ninja village after all. But, I need to catch up to them."

"Why do you need to catch up to them?"

Naruto smiled at this. "Everyone has a purpose in life, I believe, and I think training will help me find my purpose. I can't find that purpose by doing nothing, right?"

The old man smiled. "You see those stars in the sky?" Naruto looked up at to what the old man was pointing at. "Each star is like our sun. The sheer vast amount of stars is incomprehensible. It's pretty incredible if you think about it. But, looking at this in perspective, one man's life may be insignificant, right?"

Naruto looked at the wise man. "You may be right. But, sometimes there are stars that shine so brightly that everyone can notice it. Don't most of us work hard so that we can shine as bright as the sun?" Naruto looked at the sky again and said, "But, you're right about one thing. My troubles don't seem that important in this grand world."

The old man looked at Naruto. He saw Naruto's optimism brimming out of him. This boy would definitely become great. Then he asked, "So, do you plan on joining the Academy? There's a lot to learn and plenty of people to meet."

"I hope I can."

"What do you mean by that? Why wouldn't you be able to?"

"There are many people out there that don't like me. For whatever reason, they seem to have it out to avoid me at all costs. Some don't let me enter their stores. So if they can do that, I don't know why they'd let me into the Ninja Academy."

The old man gave a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry about that. The Academy won't stop you from entering it. If anyone's got a problem with that, then you tell them to come to me."

Naruto laughed a little. "I appreciate the offer, but I wouldn't want to put an old man like you through so much trouble."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all. Just think of it as a kind gesture, like the gesture you showed me by offering some food," the old man replied.

Naruto grinned. "Oh, okay. But, I don't even know your name, sir."

The old man started laughing. "That's right! How foolish of me to forget my manners. I'm Hiruzen Sarutobi. Can you tell me you name?"

Naruto smiled. "I'm Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki."

After their introductions, the two of them began to converse some more and enjoyed the time they spent together. However, with time passing, the old man Hiruzen had to depart home for it was getting late. After he had left, Naruto had decided that it was time to head home and call it a day.

The Next Day

Naruto woke up early again as usual. He remembered what the old man, Hiruzen, told him about joining the Academy and decided that he would register today. He quickly ate breakfast and locked up so he could leave to the Academy immediately. As soon as he locked his door, Hiruzen Sarutobi was outside to greet him.

"Good morning, Naruto," Hiruzen told Naruto.

Naruto smiled. "Good morning, Hiruzen."

Hiruzen laughed. "Naruto, children your age don't usually call people like me by our first names. They us 'old man' or 'gramps' or give us some fun nickname."

"But, I only met you yesterday."

Hiruzen smiled, "People can become friends in less time than you think."

Naruto thought for a little. "Okay, I think I understand now, Walking Dead."

Hiruzen face faulted at his new nickname. "Naruto, why would you call me that?!"

"Well nicknames are supposed have some relation to the person they are for. Your main feature is being old. Being really old and almost dead are almost the same. So I figured it would be a fun play on words if I said that you're so old that you're like a zombie, or someone who is dead and walking," Naruto said with a smile.

Hiruzen sighed at Naruto's disturbing logic. "Trying to explain to you why that is wrong would be far more tiring than I can imagine so for now you can just call me Hiruzen."

Naruto gave a questioned look, but he complied. "So, Hiruzen, what are you doing outside of my home?"

Hiruzen looked at Naruto with a surprised look. "I'm here to take you to the Academy, remember? We talked about this last night. Do you forget easily?"

Naruto didn't recall Hiruzen saying that he was actually going to come with him, but rather telling him to just tell them his name to the people running the Academy and that they'd give him clearance. "But wait, how did you even know where I lived?" Naruto examined Hiruzen's clothes and came up with a question from his quick observation. "Are you a feudal lord or something?"

Hiruzen found Naruto's quick analysis impressive. "I'm something like that. I'm guessing that my clothes gave it away, huh." Hiruzen was wearing his traditional Hokage apparel.

Naruto nodded. "Would someone of your position also be able to find out where I lived?" Naruto asked wondering how Hiruzen ended up at his doorstep in the first place.

"Haha, you're awfully cautious aren't you," Hiruzen said.

Naruto shook his head. "If you were going to do something bad to me, it would've happened when we were in the woods so I don't suspect anything malicious coming from you. I'm just observant."

Hiruzen nodded. The logic was sound. "Well, my occupation does let me know where you live, considering I am the Hokage."

Naruto gave him a puzzled look. "What's that?"

Hiruzen pointed to the faces on the mountain. "He's the leader of the village. Don't you see my face over there?"

Naruto nodded. He never knew that he would have met someone so important. But why would this Hokage go out of his way just for Naruto. Naruto didn't question it because he still wasn't sure what being the Hokage entailed.

"Now why don't we get on our way," the Third said to Naruto. Naruto nodded and they embarked on their way to the Academy.

While on route to the Academy, many villagers passed by Naruto and the Hokage. The villagers wanted to give hateful glares to Naruto, but instead gave a low bow towards the Hokage standing right next to him. Naruto noticed this and thought, 'Wow, Hiruzen wasn't joking when he said that he was important.'

At the Academy

Naruto and the Third had finally reached the Academy. Naruto was in awe because he had never stepped foot inside it. The Third Hokage directed Naruto to the office and they entered together.

One staff member stood up and greeted the Third. "Lord Hokage, to what do I owe this delightful visit?"

The Third smiled. "Hello, I know that this is a little unorthodox, but I'm here to sign up this child for the Ninja Academy."

The staff member looked down and noticed Naruto standing right next to the Third Hokage. This staff member wasn't someone who hated Naruto, but actually felt bad for the child from the way he's been treated throughout the village. The staff member looked at Naruto and smiled. "And may I ask the child his name?"

Naruto looked back at the staff member and responded, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki."

"Well Naruto, it is a pleasure to meet you. As it so happens, today is the first day of classes and we have the opening ceremony in an hour. Would you like to attend it?"

Naruto nodded.

"Oh, it is customary for the children enrolling to have a parent or guardian accompany them to the ceremony," the staff member added.

Naruto looked down. He didn't have anyone to accompany him. But then he felt a hand on his shoulder. "I will be accompanying Naruto to the ceremony today," the Third said.

Naruto smiled at Hiruzen's response.

The staff member became a little confused. "Lord Hokage, aren't you the one who is running the ceremony today? How are you going to be accompanying Naruto and running the ceremony?"

Naruto's face immediately lost its happy complexion. He didn't realize that Hiruzen would be running the ceremony. But then Hiruzen spoke up, "like this."

The old Hokage then performed a plus hand sign with his fingers and there was a puff of smoke. Now there were two Hokages before Naruto.

Naruto was astounded by this. "What is this? Do you have a twin?"

The Thirds laughed. "No Naruto, this is a jutsu. It's a ninja technique, much like the ninja techniques that you'll learn at the Academy. This one is called the Shadow Clone Jutsu, which makes a solid clone of me. With this jutsu, I'll be able to accompany you to the ceremony while running the ceremony."

Naruto looked at the two Hokages and smiled. "Will I be able to do stuff like this in the Academy?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "This technique is far too advanced for anyone at the Academy. But, if you work hard enough, then you too can master techniques that are even greater than this one."

Naruto nodded. It looked like he had a lot to learn in his upcoming Academy days. The staff member then spoke up. "Most of the children won't get here until the ceremony starts. But, there are some children outside right now."

The Third crouched down next to Naruto. "Naruto, why don't you try and make some friends with the other kids outside?"

Naruto was a little hesitant because he had never communicated with any kids before. Most kids stayed clear of him for some reason. But, he was going to be a future classmate to them so it would be a good idea to get acquainted with them early. Naruto nodded and headed off.

Now that the staff member was with the Third Hokage, he said, "So that's the boy, huh."

The Third nodded. "Yes. I hope things go well for him."

"Thing won't be easy for him. The entire village just wishes for his death."

The Third sighed. "Yes. It's a shame that the villagers only see the demon inside instead of the little boy in front of them."

With Naruto Outside

Naruto went outside to see some kids playing. They were running around and looked like they were enjoying themselves. Naruto then looked over to four people by a tree. There was a little girl with purple hair and a baggy coat that looked fearful of three boys surrounding her. Naruto walked closer to see what they were doing.

"Haha, you're a freak," one boy told the girl.

"You've got to be a monster to have eyes like that," another boy added.

The girl looked like she was about to cry from their continuous teasing. Naruto noticed her distress and pocketed some pebbles off the ground. He then ran in front of the girl and confronted the boys.

"Hey, what's your problem?"

"Yeah, you want to defend a freak like that?"

Naruto replied, "Do you not see that you guys are upsetting her? Why don't you leave her alone?"

"Heh? We just told you. Because she's a freak!"

Naruto gave cold eyes to them. "If she bothers you that much, then leave."

The three boys shuddered a little from Naruto's words, but they didn't back down. One of them spoke up. "Tch, you piss me off. Let's get him guys!" The three boys then began to attack Naruto.

Naruto acted fast and grabbed the pebbles from his pocket. He then threw some of them at the boys and they yelled in pain. The boys then thought that they'd get smart and picked up some pebbles to throw at him. But, as soon as they picked them up, Naruto threw a pebble at their hands so that they would drop the pebble.

"Arghh! Let's just go guys. He's not worth our time," one of the boys said while the three boys ran off.

Naruto watched as they ran off. For some reason, he had no patience for people like that. He then turned to the girl behind him. "Hey, are you alright?"

The girl, as shy as ever, replied, "Um, y-y-yes. Th-th-thank you."

Naruto smiled a little from her response. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto said as he extended his hand out to her. "What's your name?"

The shy girl made a little smile and awkwardly took his hand. "I-I'm H-Hinata Hyuga."