hey everyone here is my first crack at a naruto fic. not pairings yet. reviews are of course welcome

Chapter One-

In the hidden leaf village of Konoha a great travesty occurred. A giant nine-tailed red fox demon known as the most powerful of all the tailed demons, the Kyuubi seemingly attacked the village without cause in a blind rage. That day was October tenth, almost ten years ago. The fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze fought the demon with everything he had but no bijuu can be killed by mortal hands so in order to protect the home he loves he sacrificed his own life in order to perform a forbidden Jutsu that seals away the fox's soul into a living newborn. That newborn was Minato's first and only daughter, Naruto Azure Namikaze. Minato's dying wish was that his daughter be treated as the hero she is for keeping the demon at bay so it will never be let loose upon the world again. Unfortunately his wish was heard on deaf ears as the poor girl endured much verbal and physical abuse from almost everyone in the village. When young Naruto had her fifth birthday a horrible incident caused the seal to crack and Naruto disappeared from the village not to be seen again for the next five years.

Five years later in a village called Villa Villa a young girl about ten years old having shaggy shoulder length blonde hair, pale blue eyes with diamond shaped pupils, four black whisker marks on each cheek, wearing a pair of black baggy pants a black baggy long sleeved shirt, a red camo sleeveless shirt over that and a pair of black sneakers. Strapped to her side is a black pouch looking empty having seals sewn into the material which allow the pouch to hold a lot more than it really can. This young girl is Naruto Namikaze. Naruto is currently walking into a casino to gamble up some cash. You see Naruto is incredibly lucky with bets and gambling, in fact she has yet to loose. . . Ever. Being so lucky she has been given the name Lady Luck's Ace. Going into the casino she is pleasantly greeted by the employees who recognize her. Giving a foxy grin in response she gets some chips heading over to an open spot at a card table. Asking the dealing what game it is the brunette woman replies "21,miss."

Deciding on playing Naruto places a few chips down as a really busty blonde woman with brown eyes having her hair in two low ponytails with her bangs framing her face wearing dark blue pants, light grey kimono top, a green robe, and a crystal with a blue glass bead on each side hanging on a thin silver chain around the woman's neck notices Naruto stating "aren't you a little young to be gambling away your money gaki?"

"one, I'm no brat, two I don't loose, and three age has never stopped me." Naruto replies. The busty woman raises her eyebrow in curiosity saying "Oh? You never loose huh? How about we see about that gaki? "

A grin forms on Naruto's face saying "yeah, I'll make a bet. But first are you a ninja by chance?"

"you could say that yes but why would you care?" the blonde replies

"how about if I win you teach me a Jutsu you know and if you win you can have all the money I have on me"

"And just how much is that?"

"few thousand dollars"

"you want to bet a few thousand dollars against a stranger for a Jutsu?" the woman asks with a disbelieving look

"yep."

"you don't even know what Jutsu it is"

"don't care, bound to be useful somehow. What's the matter? Don't think it's a fair bet?"

The woman just shakes her head saying "if you somehow win I'll make sure it's decent. To make sure you ain't lying to me gaki put the money on the table"

Nodding Naruto reaches into her pouch pulling out the money showing she wasn't lying and places it on the table

"alright then, which ever one of us hits 21 or is closer to it without going over wins."

"ok. Lady "

"learn respect gaki, my name is Tsunade, not lady."

" well, I'm not gaki, it's Naruto." 'I'm about to beat a Sannin at 21. This is awesome.'

The dealer gives both Tsunade and Naruto two cards face down trying to hold back her grin since Naruto has made bets like this with people a lot. Every time the result is the same.

The two blondes flip over their cards and one starts laughing her ass off while the other looks in complete shock.

Naruto has a king of hearts and the Ace of spades while Tsunade has a five of clubs and a two of hearts. Naruto hit 21

"that's not possible. . . . . I just lost . . . . to a child."

"I told you, lady luck loves me."

"Apparently she does gaki. You won and I will keep my end of the bargain. the Jutsu I promised is with my assistant Shizune at the hotel. Lets go gaki."

Naruto grabs the money putting it back into her pouch and follows Tsunade out of the casino and down the street toward a two story hotel building.

"so gaki what's with the marks on your face? They war paint or something?" Tsunade asks while walking into her hotel room.

"birthmarks."

"those things are birthmarks?"

"I guess so since I've had em as long as I can remember"

"what about your parents? What did they say about them?"

Naruto shrugs replying "they don't say anything. Dead people can't speak."

"guardian then?"

"I look after myself."

"but your just a child." a feminine voice states. Looking toward the bathroom Naruto sees the black haired brown eyed woman is who spoke. The woman is wearing a black kimono. Figuring that is tsunade assistant Shizune, Naruto says "wasn't my choice but shit happens."

'ok, now I'm curious about this girl. Just who is she?' tsunade wonders "just how long have you been on your own, Naruto?" Tsunade asks

Naruto thinks for a moment before asking "you guys know about the big fox that attacked a place called Konoha right? How long ago was that?"

Tsunade and Shizune look at each other before Tsunade says "about ten years ago on October tenth."

"umm, five years then"

"what does that have to do with this?"

"I was born the day the fox came and kicked out of Konoha on my fifth birthday." Naruto explains

Tsunade's eyes narrow before asking "do you have a design on your stomach that appears when you use chakra?"

"yeah, but it is always there now." Naruto says. Shizune looks at Tsunade 'does Tsunade know something about Naruto?'

"would you mind letting me see?"

"I guess not" Naruto lifts her shirt revealing a black spiral design around her navel having red lines all through it looking like cracks in the design having been filled with red.

Looking closely at the design Tsunade thinks 'looks like sensei was unable to keep Minato's wish, if my perverted old teammate was nearby I'd have him look at this. She was just five years old when she was kicked out meaning there is no way she knows the truth. I did not want to go back to Konoha anytime soon but it just isn't safe for a jinchuuriki who doesn't know anything about being a jinchuuriki to be wandering about. The gaki likes to learn Jutsu's so perhaps I can bribe her to go to Konoha in exchange for another Jutsu'

"uhhh, you done yet?" Naruto asks 'what the hell is so interesting?

"mmhmm" Tsunade replies allowing Naruto to pull down her shirt. "I do believe I owe you a Jutsu. Shizune would you go grab the blue scroll for me?"

"uh, yes. Of course." Shizune states going to the closet stepping over a sleeping pig and she grabs a normal sized scroll that is blue with white swirls on it. She gives the scroll to Tsunade who unwraps it skimming through it before finding what she wants, unsealing another scroll from the blue one this one being black with white circles all around it. "you know what summons are gaki?" Tsunade asks.

"yeah, I've seen ninja summon animals to help them." Naruto says remembering a white haired guy summoning a really big frog. 'The frog was bigger than the guy and it could talk.'

"well, this is a summoning scroll I picked up a while back. I have no use for it as I'm happy with my own summons. They are some type of feline but I don't remember what kind. It's yours gaki, the scroll has all the info you need." Tsunade explains giving the scroll to Naruto.

"cool. Thanks baa-chan."

"yeah, . . . Wait. What did you just call me?" she asks having a edge in her tone causing Naruto to grin

"I called you Baa-chan, baa-chan."

"you trying to say I'm old!?"

"not trying to say I am saying."

"come here you little shit!"

Naruto quickly bolts out the door with Tsunade chasing after her and for the next hour the whole town can hear Naruto laughing and Tsunade cursing . Though Tsunade isn't a Sannin for no reason so she does get a few whacks into the little prankster. After Shizune is able to calm Tsunade down and Naruto is positive she's safe. Tsunade decides to talk

"alright gaki, you obviously like learning about Jutsu's and you defiantly move like a ninja so why not become one?"

"I would love to but you need to live in a village that has them."

"what about going back to Konoha?"

A scowl forms on Naruto's face "why in hell would I go back there? Almost everyone hated me."

"and the ones that don't?"

"just gramps, a lady that scares people, and a few others"

"so because of what others think of you, your going to never see those who do care about you again?"

"yes…no….it wasn't my choice to leave in the first place."

"but it was to not go back. A real ninja doesn't run away, a real ninja faces it head on." seeing Naruto's mind running Tsunade turns to Shizune saying "Shizune, we will be leaving in the morning" turning back to Naruto she says "if you decide to go back meet us at the hotel in the morning. If your not there by noon your on your own. Lets go Shizune" ' I need a drink.'

Tsunade and Shizune both leave Naruto to her thoughts.

When they are a distance away Shizune asks "are we really going back to Konoha?"

A smile forms on Tsunade's face saying "that's up to Naruto."

Elsewhere Naruto is sitting on a tree branch which hangs above a small river in thought 'should I go back? I mean they didn't even want me there, that much is obvious. But if I want to become a ninja I have to go back. I would have a few people glad to see me again and it has been a few years so maybe it will be different. I don't know what to do. . . . . .hey maybe my new summons would have some advice?'

Reaching into her pouch she pulls out the scroll unrolling it and reading the directions

To become the new summoner you must sign your name in your blood mixed with your chakra, this makes you the permanent summoner until you die. 'so that's what happened.' Naruto muses continuing to read. After that is done you will use these hand signs with chakra to summon one of us thus finalizing the contract. 'still doesn't tell me what kind of cat they are. Guess I'll find out' nicking her finger she moves chakra to her hand mixing it with her blood as she signs her name. as the blood touches the paper it turns black drying instantly. Looking at the hand sign she goes through them a few times without using chakra making sure she has them right. Once sure she has it down she stands up and goes through the hand signs using chakra saying "summoning Jutsu" and slamming her hand down releasing the chakra in a burst. A burst of black smoke surrounds her.

"it's been years since another summoner has come along and you are by far the youngest." a male voice states.

As the smoke clears Naruto sees a black leopard with white spots basically a reverse snow leopard. This one is the size of a normal leopard having orange eyes.

"so you're a leopard?" Naruto asks

"kage-leopard to be specific. Ability to use shadow. My name is Nero. What is yours? " the leopard asks

"my names Naruto Uzumaki. What do you mean by using shadow?"

"like this" Nero states before a small shadow appears looking like a ball of black flame. "we control it by will, soon you will be able to as well"

Naruto's eyes widen "I will be able to do that?"

"and much more."

"that's awesome" remembering the reason she summoned him in the first place she asks "hey, the reason I summoned you was that I wanted to ask you for some advice"

"I'll answer the best I can" Nero truthfully replies and Naruto explains what happened today including winning the scroll, getting chased by Tsunade then the question of returning home.

"that is a big question. But the real question is why do you want to become a ninja? There must be a reason."

"well, when I was still living in Konoha I was attacked a lot, don't know why but it was always worse on my birthday which was also the day they celebrated the death of the Kyuubi. Quite a few times the attacks would get real bad and when I thought I was going to die Anko-chan was there using her ninja skills to save me. I want to be a ninja to do that too. ''

"so you want to be a ninja to protect those who cared for you, as in keep them safe? Nero asks

"yeah, that's the ninja I want to be."

"well, how can you do that here?"

"huh?"

"to protect those you love it is kind of helpful to be there with them. And the ones you love live in Konoha. You can't do that living here now can you?"

"no. .. . I can't. . . . . thank you Nero."

"your welcome Naruto, I take it we are done for now?"

"yeah" Naruto says. "next time you see me I'll be a ninja for Konoha."

"good luck to you" Nero disappears in a cloud of black smoke.

"now what do I do till tomorrow?" Naruto swings upside down rocking back in forth for a few minutes trying to think of something to do when a thought comes to mind 'hey, baa-chan had the scent of sake on her. Meaning she's a drinker. I bet she's drinking tonight too. Which means in the morning. .. . . . . .' a mischievous grin form on her face as she lets go of the branch holding her up she falls down easily landing on her feet using chakra to stand on the water, a trick she learned from a traveling nuke ninja. The guy loves bets and she managed to learn a few things from him, he lost every bet they made. The little girl dressed in boy clothes seemed to find it quite funny. Smiling at the memory she heads back to town ' I miss those two. Wonder if I'll run into them again?'

She idly wonders while going back to the casino since she needs to win a bit more money for ninja gear and whatever else she might need living in a house again. Better safe than sorry. For the next few hours Naruto using her insane luck to earn a few grand. The casino owner says he miss her after hearing she's going back to Konoha. Naruto's luck had always brought in customers wanting to beat lady luck's Ace and Naruto would of course beat them. Quite often she would split the amount with the owner for the room she stayed in upstairs. She always gave a whole lot more than necessary keeping the owner happy. Didn't bother her since she could win more. In exchange for all the customers and extra dough the owner would give her first dibs on anything ninja related that would turn up. It was how she got the almost endless space pouch she has strapped to her side.

In the morning the owner's wife pulls Naruto into the office before she leaves. Like her husband she has long black hair going to her waist while her husband is at his shoulders in a tight ponytail. She hair bright green eyes, he has brown, they both wear black clothing. Her name is Crystal and his is Brian. Anyway Crystal brings Naruto into the office right before Naruto walks out the door.

"Naruto I need your help, Brian has been kidnapped"

………………………………..................................................................................................................................................................................

and there is chapter one. i hope you like. i would very much appriciate a few reviews. Oh, did anyone guess who the nuke ninja was?

later my homies!