DISCLAIMER: I do not own NARUTO or any of the characters created by Masashi Kishimoto

A/N This is my first fanfiction and am just getting constructive criticism is appreciated. Please no flames if you want to just burn it leave information how it can be fixed. Please read and review

Chapter 1 Parental gifts

Of all the Demons in this world none was greater then the kyubi-no-kitsune. With one swipe of its tails tsunamis and typhoons appeared, The earth quaked with his rage and people cried in fear from his hate. No mortal could stand against such hate that night except one, The yondaime hokage the greatest shinobi to come out of Konoha. That night much of the village was lost and many brave shinobi and kunoichi gave their lives. Lost too was the villages greatest light the yondaime But from this loss came a new even brighter light. To him the yondaime passed his will of fire and the dreams of the hokages past, his name is uzumaki naruto

Life is never fair and aggression, prejudice, fear, and hate can fall onto those who deserve it the least. All naruto understood was that he was no longer welcome at the orphanage. The director was drunk again and had beaten him severely forcing naruto to run for his life. Tears streamed down the 3 year old face. He did not understand, people were celebrating the victory of the yondaime, but when they saw him they threw stones, slurs, or worse gave a cold stare and ignoring his existence. He was forced to continue running by the crowd yelling at him saying it was his fault a hero was dead. What did he do? He had not hurt anybody.

So avoiding the crowds the child thought 'if I become this Hokage the village will recognize me and not stare at me with those cold eyes.' Unknown to Naruto he had wandered into the Ambassador section of Konoha. Also unknown to naruto was that this used to be the Namikaze compound. With no 'official' heir to claim it the land was absorbed by the village council and sold to foreign lands to pay for the rebuilding of Konoha after the kyubi attack. Foreign ninja bought it hoping to find secrets of the yellow flash and bolster their jutsu. Naruto continue his trek with it being late no one was up and the streets were barren.

Looking around fresh tears went to his eyes, he was lost. What was he to do, as he was starting a new round of crying he felt a warm breeze cross his cheek and a pull in his heart trying to guide him towards an alcove of Japanese maple trees. The maples still held onto their leaves and were the brightest shade of red that shook in the strangely warm breeze. The pull on narutos heart guided him to an old maple 100 yards from the end of the buildings. As he walked under the maple leaves he had a feeling of being welcomed home.

The trees were planted by the first namikazes when the clan was established and were a gift from the first hokage. The one tree that was calling to naruto felt to him like his unknown mother calling him back inside for the day. Naruto knew nothing of what other children felt about that, but this was something he desired and needed. As he approached the old maple he saw some names carved into the trunk he didn't know it since he was never taught to read. To others the names were 'minato and kushina.' Naruto felt the urge to touch the names he steadied himself against the trunk and on his tiptoes reached out and touched the names. When his hand touched the engravings a powerful surge went through his body and a deeper pull grabbed him so he closed his eyes. If somebody had been there to see what happened all they would see would have been a flash of yellow light.

With his eyes closed do to the pull naruto first noticed the change by the colder air across his skin. He opened then to a drastic change in scenery he was not in the trees anymore, but in a large dimly lit room surrounded by scrolls, kunai, and seals. Where was he? How did he get here? was this what happened with that last pull? Looking around he felt a strange familiarity in the room like he was there once before. He walked around looking for a way out, none was visible to him so he was going to have to find something to search the walls with. He grabbed the only tool visible to him a three pronged kunai hanging from a piece of rope. When his hands gripped the kunai another rush came into him, instead of a pull it was more of an awareness lit up in his mind. A canopy of stars felt like they had just blinked into existence in his mind. Naruto concentrated on the light that felt the closest and found himself instantly move across the room next to a box of the kunai.

"Cool" the three year old yelled

what was this wonderful toy he had just found. He concentrated on another light this one farther away and 'flash' he was back in front of the old maple tree feeling pride swell in himself. It felt weird but the trees seemed to agree.

"Amazing dattebayo!" he screamed

he could do so much with this toy, he could avoid mobs, pain, he could get away from everything that would hurt him. A loud growl came from his stomach

"Uh I'm so hungry" naruto talked to no one in particular

he had not eaten since he was kicked out of the orphanage. Naruto needed to find some food but where. He pocketed the kunai and started to walk back to the village, maybe he could find some food.

Ichiraku Ayame was returning to her fathers ramen restaurant after picking up some ingredients for their ramen. The Festival was still going on and she needed to get home so her dad could make more ramen. As she was carrying two bags of groceries a small boy with blonde hair and striking blue eye came up to her

"Ne-san do you have some food? dattebayo I'm hungry and there's no were for me to go."

The urchin looked like he had seen better days, he was covered in dirt and had bruises all over his arms and face. She looked him in the eyes and saw a sense of need in them. She didn't have the heart to say no, but she had to get home. Ayame smiled at him and said

"Hold one of these bag and follow me. I can get you something to eat at my home."

The boys eyes lit up like lanterns "Yes, thank you ne-san dattebayo" he shouted enthusiastically.

Ayame handed him her lightest bag and lead the way back to the bright lights of ichiraku ramen.

"Dad, I'm back with the shopping and a little extra" ayame shoutedwhen she entered the back of the restaurant

"Extra?" Teuchi questioned back turning around to see a small blonde boy holding a bag of groceries. "What's going on here Ayame-chan?"

"Well on my way back dad I found a little volunteer to help me carry back the groceries for a little ramen" she smiled at her father.

He looked at the young boy into his cerulean eyes and his heart went to the boy. "where are your parents?" he asked

"I don't have any." naruto replied "I was kicked out of my home today and have no where to go."

This seemed off to teuchi who would be so cruel to kick a child to the streets. "What's your name son?"

"my name is Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto replied.

That explained it to Teuchi. He knew about the Hokages rule and who it applied to. He was never one of the fools who thought that the child was the demon fox incarnate so he did what he thought any good person would do. While smiling at Naruto he said "Well I'm Ichiraku Teuchi and I have some standards." The boy seemed to cringe at this for an unknown reason, but Teuchi continued. "You can't eat here covered in dirt. Ayame please take naruto up give him a bath and an order of ramen."

Naruto brightened up at this and a loud growl came from his stomach and he blushed. "Better make it a Hokage sized helping for the help he gave you." He winked at naruto.

Naruto was ecstatic he was not turned away like before. "Thank you dattebayo"

"Don't worry about it Naruto-kun now go wash up so we can get some ramen into you." Teuchi guide naruto to hold his daughters hand as she lead him upstairs to the bathroom and a much needed bath.