Prologue

o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o

A lone figure shrouded in darkness ran along, his sandals flip flopping along the ground. His ragged breaths rose and heaved in his chest as he continued to run. Behind him, he could hear the shouts of the angry crowd. They were coming…for him. He kept running, utterly exhausted and scared to his wits end. His pants were ragged and the pain in his stomach from the lack of food was hurting even more. They were coming…and gaining on him. His orange jumpsuit was smudged with mud and dirt from his run through the darkness. His body screamed for him to stop, but he couldn't. He couldn't risk to stop and rest, as the hunters were not either.

It was nighttime. There was only the moon, and several stars to watch the boy as he fled along the many roads of Konohagakure no Sato. Ninjas watched silently as the angry mob gained on the boy, several smirking. The ANBU looked passively from the roofs, not sparing a thought for the boy. There was only one ANBU that would look out for the boy, and he wasn't anywhere close to the boy.

He turned into an alleyway, to see a drunken man rise up from the trashcans, gripping a bottle. His clothes were filthy and he stunk to the high heavens He looked at the boy, and snarled, baring his crooked yellow teeth.

"Come here demon-brat" he taunted, raising the bottle and stepping towards the boy.

His eyes widened, before running back away, and running to the left.

"Come back" howled the drunk man after him, collapsing in a pool of mud.

The boy continued to run, tears streaming down his cheeks. He gasped in pain as he tripped, hitting and skidding along the dirt road. He could hear their running footsteps, their excited and angry shouts. They were going to catch him.

Naruto gamely picked himself up, risking a glance over his shoulder to see torches and angry people running towards him, pointing and shouting at him. His eyes widened, tears streamed down and he took off down the road again, praying for help.

'Please…someone help me' he thought as he ran.

He was running down an alleyway, the people running after him entering. He slipped in the mud and gave a gasp as he cut his leg on a broken bottle. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up, continuing to run. He ran out of the darkened alleyway, a cat screeched as he ran past, jumping into a nearby trashcan. The shouts of the mob grew closer, they were catching up.

It was March 10, the celebration of the defeat of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. And this boy, whether he liked it or not was linked to the Kyuubi, although he did not know why. They continued to pursue him, and the boy was running on, but his will was waning.

He finally ran out of stamina, in a large open square. On all four sides, villagers approached with their torches, snarling. Naruto closed his eyes, and waited for the pain. A villager stepped up, slapping him hard across the cheek.

'I forgive them for what they do…for they do not understand what they do' thought Naruto as he felt the blows rain in, and he lost consciousness.

As the crowd beat the poor boy, the clouds rained as the heavens cried for the boy. He was someone who was unable to change his fate, unable to live a life that was his. An orphan since he was young, the only person taking care of him was the kind old Sandaime Hokage. But one person was not enough to drown out the thousands of people who looked at him with glares and hatred. Such was the life of Uzumaki Naruto.

An ANBU jumped down in the middle of the crowd, drawing his blade.

"Step away from the boy" he said calmly.

"Kakashi, step away from the demon. Let us finish what the Yondaime Hokage started 6 years ago" said an ANBU.

"I think not" snarled the dog-faced ANBU, pointing the blade at the ANBU who had spoken.

"This is pure treason, step aside" yelled a villager.

"Let us finish what the Yondaime has done" yelled another.

There were shouts of anger and howls as the crowd approached the ANBU.

The dog-faced ANBU, also known as the copy-cat nin Hatake Kakashi looked around.

He would have no chance to defend the boy, let alone get him out of the situation. There were simply too many ninjas and ANBU in those ranks.

'Arashi-sensei...did you know that these people would treat him this way?" wondered Kakashi.

The crowd impassively continued to step towards the wounded boy and Kakashi. Suddenly, the Hokage in all his glory with 5 squads of ANBU landed around the boy.

"What is this madness" spat Sandaime Hokage.

"We will kill the demon Hokage-sama" yelled a villager.

"Surround these people, and take them away" gritted the Sandaime.

There were protests and yells at the comment.

"We've done nothing wrong. We're simply purging the world from this demon" spat a villager.

The Sandaime massaged his temples.

'How could these villagers be so blind and see behind what he contained' thought the Sandaime.

The Sandaime Hokage sighed.

"Take them away" said the Sandaime, and left with the boy in his arms towards the hospital.

They all left, except for the dog-faced ANBU, Hatake Kakashi. He looked at the pool of blood that Naruto had laid in.

"Arashi-sensei…was it truly worth it" asked Kakashi, looking up at the skies.

"Was it truly worth it…?"

o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o

Naruto slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the white ceiling. The instant smell of detergent and the sterile environment attacked his nose. He could hear murmurs and shifting in the background. He slowly opened his eyes, to see the Sandaime Hokage looking at him. His first instinct since he found himself in the hospital, was to groan loudly.

"Naruto…your finally awake" he said sadly.

"How long have I been out for?" asked Naruto.

"1 day since…" began the Hokage.

"Hai, don't worry Hokage-sama. I forgive them for what they do. They simply do not understand, but one day they will" said Naruto.

The Sandaime smiled, and nodded.

'He truly is the son of Arashi' thought Sandaime.

"Old man, I would ask for a request" said Naruto.

The Sandaime looked at him with his an eyebrow raised. Naruto got out of bed and whispered to Sandaime. He opened his mouth to protest, but reluctantly agreed.

o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o

It was late afternoon as Naruto stood with a backpack and papers from the Sandaime Hokage. The Sandaime looked sadly at Naruto.

"Are you sure this is what you want Naruto" said the Sandaime.

"Hai, I wish to see the world and become strong" said Naruto.

"I wish you the best of luck Naruto, and put those training weights and scrolls to good use" said the Sandaime.

"Arigatou Old man" yelled Naruto and ran off, leaving Konoha behind as a mere 6 year old.

The Sandaime watched the orange blob as he walked away.

"Take care of yourself Naruto, and come back safely" said Sandaime, walking away.

He turned back, to see Naruto beside him. Sandaime looked at him oddly, before Naruto's eyes looked at him sadly.

"There's something wrong with me Old Man" said Naruto.

The Sandaime looked at him oddly, before calling an ANBU. The ANBU took his orders, and Hyuuga Hiashi was summoned.

"Yes Hokage-sama?" asked Hiashi, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Naruto.

"Hyuuga-sama" said Naruto, bowing lowly.

"There's something wrong with him…I can't put what though" said Sandaime, "Could you check his chakra system?"

Hiashi nodded, activating his byakugan and looking at Naruto. His eyes widened.

"There's something wrong with his brain…as if a seal is holding something back" said Hiashi.

Sandaime looked at Naruto…before his eyes widened.

"Not that seal..." said the Sandaime.

Hiashi motioned for the ANBU to come over.

"Find Jiraiya, as fast as possible" said Hiashi.

The ANBU nodded, and sprang away.

"I'm sure he's still visiting since giving his last intelligence report" said Sandaime Hokage.

Naruto looked at them both with his eyes wide.

'Whats going on?' he thought.

"Naruto, I would like for you to come with me and Hiashi to the Hokage tower" said Sandaime.

Naruto nodded, following the two men of high status.

o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o

At the Hokage's office

Jiraiya entered annoyed that he had been interrupted by his research. The Hokage walked up to Jiraiya, and they spoke in hushed tones. Jiraiya's eyes widened, then walked towards Naruto. Looking at Naruto in the eyes, he closed his eyes.

"Naruto…we have to do something to you. There's a bad seal in your head which we need to get rid off" said Jiraiya.

"Bad seal?" asked Naruto.

"Yes. It will hurt but once it's gone you'll feel better" said Jiraiya.

Naruto nodded and closed his eyes.

Jiraiya glanced at Hiashi and Sandaime Hokage, before nodding and muttered several words under his breath. He moves his hands and struck Naruto's head, holding him steady as Naruto writhed in pain. Naruto gritted his teeth.

Hot iron pain shot into Naruto's mind. It felt like it would overwhelm him.

'I will not cry out in pain' he thought determined.

Hiashi watched impassively as Naruto writhed in pain. He looked at him with awe.

'He hasn't even cried out once…what a boy' thought Hiashi, looking on with admiration.

Finally Jiraiya stopped, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's done" said Jiraiya.

Naruto looked up dazedly, before collapsing.

He blinked, seeing blurry figures standing over him, before he suscumed to darkness.

o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o

Naruto groaned. He made a bet to himself that he was in the hospital. He opened his eyes.

Damn

Naruto slowly woke up, looking around him. He padded over to the closet, putting on his clothes. He then looked as a nurse came in a gave him a death glare. Naruto looked back at her, eyebrows raised.

"Your free to go" she spat, walking out.

"Talk about feisty…" said Naruto, walking out.

Naruto slowly padded along towards the Hokage's office. The 2 ANBU guards nodded, letting him in. He opened the door to find the Hokage sitting there, ink stains on his hand as he filled out paperwork. Naruto was about to yell out a greeting, but he didn't feel like it. It was as if he was changed.

"Old man" he said.

Sandaime Hokage was taking a sip of tea. He looked up, and spat the tea all over his desk.

"GOOD KAMI" he yelled, his voice being heard from miles away.