October 10th

32nd year of the Sandaim Hokaga


Diving under a garbage can in a near by ally, Naruto hid from the raging mob of Civilians and low rank Ninja. It was his fourth birthday and it was pouring outside. The alley way he was now hiding in was muddy and filled with the stench of Garbage and decaying flesh, all thanks to the many restaurants that lined the thoroughfare.

Shaking and Silently sobbing with the terror that racked his small form, Naruto tried to make himself as small as possible as he pushed into the dark recesses of the alley. Clutching a small rag between his hands in anxiety, Naruto let the tears roll down his cheeks as he begged for someone to come and save him.

Little did Naruto know- his prayers were going to be answered.

Strutting down the muddy boulevard known as 'Jirou's Delight' thanks to all the sweets shops and other eateries lining the streets, a six year old Tenten Higurashi walked with her Mother- Momo. The two of them were on their way to a Ramen stand at the end of the way, it had a name like Ichiraku's Ramen Stand.

The owner, one Ichiraku Teuchi, had decided to build his stand fairly far from the actual hubbub of the street, though not far enough away to not be considered apart of the streets venders. His small stand stood off by itself next to an open dirt lot, a fence about chest height surrounding said lot.

As the mother daughter duo traveled closer to the stand, they heard the small whimperings of a child. So, being the respectable woman she was, Momo told her daughter to stay close to her side. Drawing a set of kunai and shuriken in each hand, Momo slowly trudged on into the dark alleyway. Suddenly the duo were hit with the over whelming sent of decaying flesh and garbage- this almost made both the seasoned chunin and daughter retch at such a foul smell.

"Mommy, what's that bad smell!" Tenten hacked out as she tried to clear the foul smell from her airways- only she succeeded in inhaling more of the noxious stench. Her mother hacked a few more times before responding, her red and blue Kimono shaking in her fit of coughing as she tried to overcome the stench permeating the alley.

"That, my Ten-chan is something I hope you won't know for many years," Momo rasped out, trying her best to not inhale anymore of the offending odder. Walking further into the alley, they heard the sobbing again, this time coming from around a corner not a half dozen yards ahead of them. Having their curiosity peaked even more, the duo quickly soldiered on- their need to find the child making the noise overruling their want to leave the disgusting alleyway behind them.

Now, turning the corner, Momo and Tenten were faced with a devastating sight. Laying in a small pool of his own blood was a small boy with sun kissed skin and blond gravity defying hair. Not more than five at the most, the little boy let out another soul rending sob and curled up even tighter into himself, a small rag clutched in his small hands.

The child was dressed in what could only be described as rages. His upper body was covered by a torn and bloodied table cloth that had been torn in spots for arms to go through, his pants were nothing better than a kilt made out of the remains of the sheet he used for a shirt. Both of these items could be seen as once being white, though now they were stained a jubilee of disgusting colors. The most recent though was red, blood red to be exact.

Rushing over Momo returned her weapons to their rightful places in their pouches, he daughter quickly kneeling down next to the boy as she helped to raise him up into a sitting position. He was covered in bruises, cuts, contusions, gashes, and other injuries... Though the Higurashi matriarch could plainly see the telltale signs of broken bones, like how his left fore arm was laying at a slightly off angle along with his right shoulder and upper right thigh... though how someone had broken that she would like to find out... And why.

"Ten-Chan, we are going to move him ot the hospital... Now hold on," Momo abruptly said, her motherly tone lost as her serious ninja side took over and started running through the needed procedures for taking care of an injured boy and how to get him into an ICU as soon as possible. She quickly reached down and scooped up both young children, barely even registering the extra weight of her daughter and the boy as she quickly "shunshined"(Body Flicker Technique) to the hospital for medical care for the boy.


Waking up with a slight headache, Naruto quickly surveyed his new environment. He quickly came to the conclusion he was in the hospital... Or at least a room that was almost exactly like the hospital. Looking about he saw the usual hospital equipment that normally littered any room he was ever interned in. Across from him on his right- sitting in a pair of chairs were three very sleepy looking people. One was an older man with almost comically ripped arms; he was slightly over weight, had black graying hair, and wore a large leather apron on top of a navy blue t-shirt and khaki work pants. Next to him were to women, one was obviously his wife by how her head rested on his shoulder and her hand was intertwined with his. She wore a red and blue Kimono, it was doted with little white flowers that looked to be falling from around her shoulders. She had brown hair- which was done up in two apple sized buns atop her head, making her look kind of like a human panda for some reason.

Sitting in her lap was the second woman, better yet girl, that Naruto had seen as he looked over the people sitting in his room. The girl, same as her apparent mother, also had brown hair that had been done up in a pair of buns. She was dressed in a cream white kimono that had a red belt tying it all together. Her face looked... kind to the young Uzumaki's eyes- though he would be able to figure out why very soon.

With a sudden click, the door to his room opened and in came one of Naruto's most loved and precious of people- Hiruzen Sarutobi 'aka- the Third Hokage'. Trailing behind the old man was an Anbu in a 'dog' mask. The Hokage was dressed in his usual white haori and red under coat while the Anbu was dressed in his usual lavender Anbu vest and black Op pants.

"Naruto-kun, are you feeling better?" The Hokage asked in his Grandfatherly tone- the same one he used on only those he considered family. This was a small pool of people anymore, after everything the village had done to Naruto in his short life so far it was a miracle he hadn't just offed a good portion of the village anyway. That and being extremely bored didn't help either- even with paperwork taking up a good portion of his time.

"I'm feeling better Jiji! Um... Why are they here though? Are they hurt?" 'Ah the mind of a child...' Hiruzen thought as he smiled down at Naruto and then over at the Higurashi family.

"No Naruto-kun, they are just fine... And actually, if it were not for Momo-chan and Tenten-chan over there, you my boy may not even be with us this day," Hiruzen sighed as he motioned for his Anbu to go grab him a chair to sit in.

"Really Hokage-Jiji? Did they save me?" Naruto asked with a certain shine in his eyes, the shine of learning that someone else- other than the Hokage- cared for him.

"Aye Naruto-kun, they did. Momo-chan there-" Hiruzen pointed at the older of the two girls, "Had heard you crying in the alley way... So she and her daughter, Tenten-chan there," he said pointing to the young girl in Momo's arms, "Found you and quickly carried you to the hospital on the other side of town... It's only thanks to Momo-chan's quick thinking that you are even alive today my boy... The man there is Takashi, Momo-chans husband. He came here as quick as he could and stayed with his wife... The two of them have been watching over you wit htheir Daughter Tenten-chan for the last three days," Though it all Naruto listened and learned of his saviors. He learned of how Tenten was getting ready to go into the Academy, how Momo was a retired Chunin thanks to her week immune system, and how Takashi was a hard working Blacksmith that supplied a tenth of all the villages utensils and weaponry- like Kunai and Shuriken. He was amazed at how easily they had been able to just drop what they were doing to come and take him to the hospital... and to then stay afterward to make sure he was alright.

Right then and there... Naruto knew he was going to make sure they were protected with all his might... Anyone that stuck their life on the line to save him was worth protecting in his book.

"Thanks Hokage-Jiji!" Naruto beamed up at the older man- whom had finally gotten his seat sometime while talking to Naruto, and was now sitting on his left side.

"It's no trouble at all my boy, all I wish is that you would try and keep yourself out of trouble Naruto-kun..." The Hokage flashed him a smirk and winked at him, letting the child know he understood that none of this was his fault and that he was just teasing him. Naruto stuck his tongue out at the Hokage as the old man did the same to him; the two of them quickly devolving into childish taunts and acts of hilarity- most ending with Naruto the winner.

Moments later the sound of the rooms three other occupants waking disturbed the two 'children' from their acts of tomfoolery. As the first to fully become cognizant of her surroundings, Tenten hopped off her mothers lap and quickly ran over to Naruto's bed side and smiled up at him. Her smile in turn made Naruto smile at her as well, their combined smiles having lit up the room and banished any foul emotions from its confines.

"I'm Tenten! What's your name?" The young girl asked, her eyes gleaming up at the blond haired, blue eyed boy her and her mother had rescued.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, believe it!" the small boy cried out in joy, flashing the small girl and even BRIGHTER smile and a thumbs up- this made the Hokage sweat-drop and smile at the blonds antics. "It's nice to meet you Tenten-chan!" He then shot out his hand in her direction, waiting for her to take it.

"It's nice to meet you too Naruto-kun!" The girl then took Naruto's hand firmly in hers and they shook, rather vigorously, sealing their friendship for the foreseeable future.


33rd year of the Sandaim Hokage

October 13th


With another birthday here and gone, and this time being able to hide out with Tenten and her family, Naruto was able to celebrate a real birthday for once in his short life. Having spent most his time with the Higurashi's Naruto has come to think of them as his family- though only in the sense of being the closest thing he has to what he thought a real family would be like.

Today though, was going to be something different, something no one had ever thought ever capable of happening was about to happen... and Naruto was going to be present for it.

"Hey Teuchi-san! One Miso ramen with extra pork and some of that curry paste you made! That stuff was amazing!" Naruto exclaimed as he jumped up on one if the seats lining the inside of Ichiraku's Ramen Stand. After the Higurashi's had taken Naruto there a few times they had learned that Naruto loved Ramen; even proclaiming it the food of gods and men alike while sucking up the delicious elixir of food and broth like a mad man. They had also learned that the Ichiraku's were among some of the only people that didn't hate the child, and had quickly come to liking the boy.

"Coming right up Naruto-kun!"Teuchi called out from the back just as his daughter, Ayamy Teuchi, came walking in form taking out the trash. She smiled and walked over to the counter, once there she began to talk with our young Uzumaki kinsman.

"So Naruto-kun, any new pranks pulled lately?" The older girl asked as she shot the child an amused grin, making said child scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Well, I would tell ya Ayamy-chan... But I can't reveal my secrets of pranking to anyone... I don't need another 'November Nights' incident..." Naruto shuddered as he smiled up at his older sister figure, trying to shun the memories of one of his worst Pranking failures to date.

What all happened was that one night, Naruto had gotten the help of one of the clan heads; Kiba Inuzuka... It was a night of running for his life and avoiding the forever hateful glares of the village citizens... All because Kiba had had a bit of miss-communication and pulled the wrong prank... Which had taken the life of someones arm and almost landed the two children in a literal shit tone of trouble. From then on, Naruto vowed that he would not involve another person in his pranks for fear of injuring another human being... or animal again.

As the two of them chatted, a small boy with black hair and flint colored eyes strode in with his mother, a woman with waist length black hair and the same colored eyes. The boy was wearing a navy blue t-shirt and a pair of cream colored shorts with some kid sized ninja sandals to boot. The woman was wearing a long solid navy blue Kimono with the same kind of sandals attached to her feet. On the back of both their clothing was a symbol of a red and white fan- it looked vaguely similar to a setting sun in a way.

"Hello Ayame-chan, I would like two Pork and Chicken Ramen, and a side of vegetable rolls if you would," The woman asked as she and the boy sat down just one spot away from Naruto. The boy was rather happy, his smile never even wavering as he looked up to his mother with the most overjoyed expression Naruto had ever seen- it brought a sense of joy and a slight bit of jealousy to his heart, though the later was stomped out with a fervor like none other.

"Ah! Mikoto-san! Of course! And hello there little Sasuke-kun, I'll get your orders ready immediately!" Ayame smiled as she saw the faces of two more of her favorite customers; having known Mikoto since she was a small child she has come to think of the woman as an estranged mother figure.

"Um... Hi, I'm Naruto..." Naruto said as he looked over at the other two, giving them a small wave when they looked at him. Sasuke blinked as he was suddenly faced with a new person he hadn't seen before, the six year old not being quite that good at making friends. Mikoto on the other hand was almost shocked beyond belief when she heard the child's name. The only person she had known of to carry that name was her friend Kushina's sun to be, Naruto Uzumaki... And looking at the child before her, she could- without a doubt, say that this was her friends child; the face was a mixture of Kushina's and Minato's, Naruto's father, he had Minato's blond hair and blue eyes, he had Kushina's mannerisms- to an extent, and she could summarize, a Ramen addict... Much like herself if him being here was any indication.

"I'm Sasuke, Sasuke Uchiha... Um, Naruto-san right?" Sasuke asked a he shot the blond an unsure glance, where he quickly looked to his mother for guidance- whom urged him on for the first time.

"Yep!" Getting a slightly positive response, Naruto decided to go all out, "Naruto Uzumaki, world class prankster and Ramen lover, Believe it!" Naruto flashed them his blindingly joyful smile and a thumbs up as he spun on his seat- some how not losing balance the whole time.

'It is him! By Kami it is!' Mikoto cried tears of joy on the inside as she looked down at the Uzumaki child with no small hint of love in her eyes. Her smile widened as Naruto quickly brought her son Sasuke into a friendly embrace, shocking the young boy as he wasn't used to such overly friendly interactions in the clan, save for those his mother poured onto him and Itachi.

"Hm... Naru-san... Can't... Breath...!" He wheezed out as he tapped on the counter to try and get the blonds attention, which worked and was then placed under siege by the tirade of apologizes and such from the blond.

Watching all this with a mirthful glint in her eyes, Mikoto was non-pulsed by the eccentric attitude of the Uzumaki sitting before her- having spent a good twenty plus years with Kushina can do that to a person. AS her son and the son of her deceased friend continued on with their shenanigans, Ayame returned with their food.

"itadakimasu!" Sasuke and Naruto shouted simultaneously, making them look at each other strangely before laughing and devouring their food like a pair of animals, and being only five and six they were just about that anyway! With bits of noodle and broth flying form the two voracious eaters, Mikoto chuckled bemusedly as she soon after began to devour her food in a more... Gracious manner... One that Kushina would have been proud of...

"Another bowl Tuechi-san!" Naruto fired off as he slurped up the last of his broth, just moments before Sasuke finished his and made a similar cry towards his mother.

"Three more servings Ayame-chan! Same as before!" Mikoto politely asked as she slurped up a noddle that had clung to her chin for dear life. The two children shouted in joy as their food was soon brought before them, Naruto looking up at Mikoto like she were a goddess or something.

"Alright boys, eat up, we need to be getting back to the compound soon- I know Ichirou and Jirou want to play with you again Sasuke-chan," Mikoto told her son in a teasing voice as she hurriedly slurped her Ramen, watching the two children with a discerning eye.

"Hey Naruto-san," Sasuke randomly called out as he laid his chopsticks on the dish next to his bowl, grabbing Naruto's attention as the boy was now looking at him with a whole bundle of noodles hanging out like a waterfall. "What would you say to playing with me and my cousins?" Sasuke asked with a straight face, though Mikoto could see the strain that this question had on her youngest son. After the words had been uttered, both boys looked up to the Uchiha matriarch for an answer.

"That sounds like a splendid idea Sasuke-chan, what do you think Naruto-kun?" The Uchiha matriarch asked with a blank look as she stared at the starry-eyed boy sitting across from her son.

"Yata! That would be awesome- Believe it!" Naruto shouted to the heavens, making Sasuke smile while cringing slightly at his new friends over exuberance. Mikoto on the other hand was beyond pleased that her little Sasu-chan was able to make a friend so easily with her deceased friends son.


Half an hour later the trio found themselves standing in front of the Uchiha compound gates, Sasuke and Mikoto walking in front of a surprisingly shy Naruto. While Sasuke got on just fine with Naruto, he and the boy ignored the many looks of disdain and hate that had surprisingly been sent their way. Mikoto on the other hand saw all that which the boys were to naive to see. She saw the glares, the hate, the fear, and the anguish as all the villagers and Shinobi they passed stared after Naruto.

Making sure to send a glare of her own at certain individuals, they quickly found themselves inside the clan compound- now away from prying eyes and hateful glares.

"Sasuke-chan, take Naruto-kun over to Nami-chan's house, I think I remember hearing Itachi say they were all going to be over there when we got back... But he also said not to look for him, and that he had a mission..." The elder Uchiha stated in a slightly depressive tone- having an idea about what all was going to happen that night.