Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. This privilege goes to Masashi Kishimoto.

My first fanfic so here are few details:

"Here we go again" – normal speech

"And I thought it was over" – thoughts, flashbacks

"Water Release: Water Dragon Missile" – jutsu names

"Listen here kit" – tailed beast talking

- Konoha - –names of the places or time indicators

All names of jutsus/techniques will be given in English as well as all titles or nicknames. That's due to my incredibly weak knowledge of Japanese language. The only thing borrowed from Japanese will be honorifics as I think they provide better insight into relationship between characters then English ones and maybe few other small things like names of the five main villages.

So without further delay I give you the first chapter of "Birth of a Legend: Naruto the Trickster"

Enjoy!

Prologue

10th Ocotber.

Dreadful day has come for Konohagakure no Sato.

Kyubi no Youko was approaching the village and nothing that ninja throwed at him seemed to be able to stop him. In the Hokage office several people were arguing. Homura Mitakado and Akane Kitano were arguing over evacuation of the village. Uchiha Fugaku was demanding explanation why Kyubi was allowed to come so close to Konoha. Even the ever stoic head of the Hyuga clan was agitated while discussing the best course of action with Koharu Utatane from the village council. Behind the desk stood a tall man with storm of blond hair and white cloak with red flames staring outside the window. Danzo wasn't present.

'Probably commanding his "Root" unit', thought Sarutobi as he surveyed the room. He sighed seeing general disorder. At times like this he wished that at least one of his students was present in the village even though it wouldn't help them defeat the Kyubi, but maybe less people would die. He discovered about Orochimaru's experiments not long after he nominated Minato as the Fourth Hokage. Orochimaru managed to flee the village or rather was allowed and hasn't resurfaced yet. Tsunade leaved soon after broken after losing those precious to her and seeing war raging across the country, Jiraiya was always on the way droping by for just a few days before leaving again to keep an eye on Orochimaru and his spy network working.

" Enough!", ordered suddenly the man behind the desk. Though the voice wasn't much louder than usually, steel in it forced everyone to silence, "There's nothing more to talk about. Those who are capable should go fighting, rest to the shelters with the villagers."

"But...", someone started.

"Don't worry. I have a plan. I just ask you to delay him for one more hour", he assured them. People started leaving. First Akane and Hiashi Hyuga shunshined out to join the battle, reluctanctly followed by Fugaku Uchiha. Both advisors left through the door to join the villagers. Sarutobi stayed behind and looked at his succesor.

"I presume you know what you're doing", he said, for some time he had this strange feeling, something like promonition though he couldn't put his finger on what exactly was it.

"Of course", the man responded turning from the window with a small smile, "I know perfectly well what I'm doing, that's why I have a favor to ask from you Hokage-sama, two actually".

"Hokage-sama??", Sarutobi looked dumbfounded at the man in front of him, "You can't be thinking on using that jutsu. Think about the village, about people"

"What about them? They'll survive, get over it with time, still live and have a happy time. It's not them I'm worried about. Even though it's for them I've taken such a decision"

"Then what about Kushina?"

"She'll also understand. She loved me for who I am. It won't come as a big surprise that I decided to do this"

"Then at least allow me to perform this jutsu"

"We both know that you don't have enough chakra to do it. It would be waste of a good life. Besides the village will need someone to lead them on. The war with Iwa is not finished yet. They'll need you. I appreciate the offer though."

Sarutobi looked down. He knew the young Hokage was right. He didn't have enough chakra to seal demon of this caliber. He tried to think over the entire situation, find another way of doing it, another way out of this hopeless situation. He spoke after several minutes of silence.

"What do you want from me?", he surrendered, this was not a place to argue as they were running out of time.

"Two simple things. First you'll need to take him to the chamber in the underground so that I can perform the jutsu. Everything is prepared so all you have to do is place him in it. Second one is bit more difficult." Minato stopped for a moment to collect his thoughts, "I know he'll have a tough life. He'll have his mother and Akane will help too but it still won't be easy. Will you look after him?"

"Of course I will. That's the least I can do for you for all that you have done for the village.", Sarutobi responded.

"Thank you. I'll write a letter for him and leave it with you. Give it to him when you think time is proper. Also tell the villagers that they should view him as a hero rather than demon."

"A hero?", Sarutobi asked, curious why the young man would make such an odd request. He judged people fairly but could be strict when the situation called for it. But he never gave his verdict prematurely, he judged based on people actions rather then appearances and had a very strong code about it,

"Yes, I know it's too early to decide that but I believe in him. Besides if I said to treat him as just a normal boy no one would pay attention to my words. This way maybe some at least will listen. We'll see how much my words are really worth after my death."

"Do you really think it will be that bad?" Sarutobi asked with concern in his voice. He couldn't imagine that the village would go against wish of its beloved Hokage.

Minato turned to the window before answering and looked over the village, "I honestly don't know and I wish I would be mistaken but I'd rather not take any chances in this situation. People are unpredictable after all. And with this many deaths around people may not act rationally."

"I'll do as you ask"

"Thank you", said Minato and started writng his last letter in his life adressed to his son. After he finished he handed it to Sarutobi and took off to the battle.

Sarutobi took the scroll from Minato and was about to speak but the young Hokage disappeared with flash of yellow light. He was running out of time. He put the scroll on one of the shelves and shunshined on his way too hospital. He just hoped that at least Kushina would survive this whole mess.

-Konoha Hospital-

Even though most of the village was deserted there were many people around the hospital. Wounded were brought in while medics tried to save as many lives as possible. Most of the them were civilians. Even though Kyuubi didn't enter the village, earthquakes and shockwaves did considerable damage to many buildings, wounding many people in effect. Shinobi were too busy repelling the beast to bring wounded here. Medic-nins on the battlefield had plenty of work so there were only few of them in the hospital. Normal doctors had to make do for the time being. The few ninjas present erected a barrier around the hospital to ensure the treated weren't harmed further. By far it had done its job but no one knew how much longer will it stand.

As Sarutobi entered the building nobody paid attention to him. Doctors and nurses were running in all directions trying to help as many people as possible. Finding a room where Kushina was would be almost impossible in this chaos. Fortunately Third knew exactly where he should go. Time was running short, so he tried to make haste but crowded and narrow corridors were not really the best place to achieve high speeds. He reached the room where the baby with his mother should be but found empty spot. "Hasn't the operation finished yet, or did something else happened to her?", wondered Sarutobi looking for anyone who could give him some info.

"Where's Kushina Uzumaki?", he demanded from the first nurse he found.

"Who?", asked the nurse,

"Woman with red her from this room, she's supposed to give birth today"

"She's still in surgery, the birth is more complicated then we originally thought"

"Which room?"

"Operating theatre number 3", Sarutobi didn't wait any longer and took off in given direction, his thoughts were a total mess now. "If the operation is that difficult then Kushina maybe in danger. God please don't take the boy both of his parents on the same day, have mercy.", he prayed in his mind.

It took only a couple of minutes before medics exited with woman on a cart!! quickly going to another room. Right behind them went a nurse carrying a small bundle in her arms.

"What's going on?", the Third asked,

"The birth was very difficult, she also sustained some damage, we must operate immediately in order to save her life, Sarutobi-sama."

"And what about the baby?"

"Everything in order, now if you excuse me I'll take him to nursery."

"Unfortunately this is impossible, I must take him with me. It's a matter of an utmost importance."

"You cannot be serious Sarutobi-sama. It' a newborn child, he must be taken to the nursery, I can't allow you to take him.", she almost yelled at him for such a demand.

"I must insist, no more discussion. That's a direct order. Now return to your duties.", he cut her off. "Don't worry I'll return with him as soon as I can", he added more softly to comfort the nurse. A bit frightened but also curious what would former Hokage want with this child, the nurse was forced to comply. Sarutobi took the child and immediately left for the Hokage Tower.

- 15 minutes later –

Sarutobi was standing in underground chamber of Hokage Tower. He looked at prepared circle where he put small child. He still couldn't believe that something like this was taking place. A great man was sacrificing his life for the village and this little child was given burden which would mark it for rest of his life. Suddenly seals flashed with light and child started crying, room was bright as sun in the middle of summer for a couple of seconds and then everything was over the noises outside ended, the light died. Only cries of the boy filled the room. "And so passes the great man", Sarutobi thought ,"Don't worry, your legacy lives on and will go further then even you have imagined", he thought struck by sudden premonition, one couldn't live so long and not develop another sense in judging people's potential and he saw something in this boy. It started to intrigue him how this family could influence other people even from the earliest years. As he took the baby from the circle he noticed seal on his stomach. The child already had enormous amount energy, it wouldn't stay still no matter what as if it already wanted to go out and explore the world. Sarutobi leaved the Tower in direction of hospital with hope that Kushina survived the entire ordeal.

Now that everything was quiet more shinobi were brought to Hospital, the barrier was lowered and everything seemed to slowly settle down. As he entered the building and started walking towards nursery, wounded still arrived but not as many now that the battle has ended. Other shinobi were returning from the battlefield carrying wound and dead. In later days there would be state funeral but more important things were at hand. Everything was still a bit hectic but as things started to settle down, civilians were slowly returning to village to estimate the damage. On his way he met the very nurse that he took the child from. "As promised I brought the boy back as soon as I could", he said but then noticed a concerned look on woman's face. "Thank God you have returned, Kushina-san is dying and wants to hold her son, we must hurry", she said confirming Sarutobi's worst fears. "Lead the way". Now, even more then earlier he wished that Tsunade was here. But now all hope was lost and little child would be left without parents before it could even seen them. They went to the room where she was resting after the operation. Kushina looked very pale, almost white, even more visible due to her contrasting fiery red hair, her astounding beauty now similar to one of a ghost, beautiful and unreal at the same time. She looked peaceful when laying on a bed with her eyes closed, almost as if she was just resting after a long and tiring day. When he entered the room she opened her eyes and looked at a bundle in Sarutobi's arms.

"Can I see him?", she asked, her voice which was always full of life and energy now seemed empty and tired." Of course Kushina, it's your child after all", Sarutobi answered handling her gently the bundle, "Where's Minato?", she asked but only silence answered her, "I see", she said with a small smile. As soon as she took the boy, he calmed himself, stopped looking around him and focused on a woman who was holding him, "Poor Naruto, I wish I could stay with you longer but my time is short. I hope you'll grow into fine man, protect those precious to you and never give up so that you'll never regret anything in your life", she said to him, weakening with every word so the last were just a mere whisper. The boy looked at his mother almost as if he could understand each and every word and listened to her with attention. Then she noticed the seal on child's stomach, it was only barely visible and fading quickly until just clear skin was left, "So it has come to this", she whispered and turned to Sarutobi. "Please tell Akane to take care of him in our stead", as the old man nodded Kushina hugged the baby close to her and whispered her last words,

"Swift as water, free as wind

Whirlpool will always find its own stride"

As soon as she stopped breathing the little boy in her arms started crying. "Please take him to the nursery", the old man said to the nurse as he exited the room feeling 10 years older then he really was. "This definitely was a long day. And what's worse it hasn't ended yet", he thought as he made his way towards the Hokage Tower to meet returning commanders and people of the council. "I think I'd rather faced Kyubi then those harpies from the council", he thought on his way there. He promised that he will look after the boy and the first battle for his future was about to take place. What's worse he only knew about one ally there. He sighed as he wished that the day would end as fast as possible.

That's the end of first chapter. Thanks everyone for reading. I hope you liked it. All comments appreciated, especially constructive critic. This is my first fanfic and English is my second language so feel free to point out mistakes in the text so that I can correct and avoid them in next chapters.

Pairings are undecided yet so you can vote for one of them:

Naruto x Hinata

Naruto x Tenten

Naruto x Yugito

I'll try to update ASAP and make next chapter a bit longer but you may have to wait some time.