Naruto grows up with his grandparents, living in the Whirlpool village. He grows up just like a popular normal person until his 15th birthday and the unusual present he receives before going to the ninja academy in Konoha. Read as his life takes twists and turns, learning from the best and rivaling Konoha's top clans. Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Naruto characters, Naruto places, etc. Im just using them to amuse other Naruto fans with what could have happened differently.
Naruto was walking through the streets of Whirlpool village. People walking, shopping, and going about their day's activities swarmed the streets that he was walking through. As Naruto passed them all, he waved and smiled at the ones he knew, which was just about everyone. Not many people came through Whirlpool village and those that did were ninjas who were shopping for their renown weaponry. Naruto was in an especially happy mood today, only a week until his 15th birthday and his grandparents promised that when he turned 15, he would be allowed to go to the infamous ninja academy in Konoha. When Naruto turned 7, his grandparents told him how his father lived in Konoha and when his mother went to ninja training, they met and his mother never came back. On the day of his birth, his parents had died fighting the Kyuubi and Naruto was sent to live with his only living relatives – his grandparents. As Naruto approached the front gates, he noticed two newcomers approaching the gates: one looked to be a few years older than Naruto and the other looked like he was the same age as Naruto. Eager to meet new people, Naruto rushed to the gates and offered to show them around. The older one politely agreed while the younger one was silent, showing his infamous smile Naruto introduced himself and found the older man's name was Itachi and the younger one's name was Sasuke. As the three walked through the streets, Naruto lead them to his family's shop. While Itachi looked around the shop, selecting things he wanted, Naruto and Sasuke had a chance to get to know each other. Naruto found that they would be in the same class in the academy and sighed when he realized that he wouldn't have to be lost in a big school with no idea where to go, it would help to have Sasuke there. Sasuke found his first non-uchiha friend that seemed like a promising rival, there was something about Naruto that lured Sasuke in. It could be the dormant, powerful aura, waiting to be released or the way Naruto talked like he and Sasuke had been best friends for years, Sasuke wasn't sure, but he liked it. Itachi and Sasuke stayed in a hotel that night after Naruto's thorough tour of the village. The next day, Itachi almost had to drag Sasuke back to Konoha, but after a grin and a promise to see him soon from Naruto, Sasuke ran back to Konoha without any more trouble to Itachi. Even though they had only spent a day together, Naruto and Sasuke had become the best of friends and the fiercest of rivals. That night Naruto fell asleep wishing the academy's start date would come sooner.