Disclaimer: Everything here belongs to Naruto's world so far. My brain may occupationally add its own input.

Squad 4

Prologue: A team of four set out to change the world as we know it. Their goal... to save the jinchuuriki and their demons...

"From the journal of Uchita Sasuke. Day 5, spring, Year 195d.l. (dividing of the lands).

It has been a year sense Itachi gave this journal to me. I still don't see why I write in it. Maybe it's good to get my thoughts in writing. Four months now, sense my family's murder. As I sit here on this pear, where I last saw my father alive, I wonder if he is proud. I don't think he is. All I've done is cower from my fears. But I'll go back, that I swear.

All the villagers think of me with pity. I'm either 'cute & adorable', a 'poor child', or an 'obnoxious punk'. But today I saw someone different; he looked at me with envy and empathy. His name is Uzumaki Naruto and he never knew his family. I wonder why I never noticed him. He's always getting teased and picked on for being a class clown. Usually called the 'dead last'. Yet I can see past the mask; inside he's like me. I think Iruka-sensei can too.

He carries a heavy burden, heavier than mine. He acts like he has no care, but his posture says other whys. If you try and look, you can see the sadness in his eyes. He is talented, waiting to be taught how to better carry his burden. He is ever teachers dream, and they refuse to acknowledge his existence. He reminds me of the stories of the Yondaime Hokage. Makes me wonder if he had a son... named Naruto.* (also said by Itachi to Kisame when they are hunting Naruto.)"

Kakashi POV:

It's the day before the Kyuubi festival. I was assigned to guard the boy; Naruto I think was his name, for the next few days. It took me a while to notice it, but when I began to actively look for it I could see it. He walked as though he had been hunted his entire life. I then realized with shame that he probably has been.