I do not own any of the characters from Naruto, wish I did, don't. Welp, here I am with another new story in an attempt to get the creative juices flowing, for those of you waiting on Mystic sect and Rise of the legions I am still writing them but have hit some writers block, in the meantime, enjoy.
He smiled as he ran. This one day of the year he was more likely to be ignored than persecuted. They were too busy for their normal hateful looks and sneers, he could just run around. Maybe find a kid who hadn't been told not to play with him. It happened less and less as he grew older, but he still managed a few games.
"You won't catch me! HAHAHA!" He continued to run and smile. It wasn't his fault they chased him, all he'd done was drop a paint balloon on the guy's head. He wasn't even the intended target. The newly turned eight year old ran through the crowds before suddenly ducking into an alley. It had taken ages to get this place set up, a strategically placed crate next to garbage can, just under a pipe that he could shimmy up. A great escape route so long as the person chasing you wasn't a ninja. He quickly clambered up the building down the next before disappearing among the crowds in the next street over. Naruto smiled again as he wandered among them, letting his breathing subside from the mad dash through the crowds of the Yondaime Festival.
He stopped to look at the foods and games, watching as the other children played them, wanting to join in, but not having much spare cash. When it came to anything not ramen related Naruto was actually pretty frugal, but he'd managed to save a small pocketful for the celebration that immortalized the life and victories of the Yellow Flash of Konoha. In another universe his balloon would have made it to it's intended target, another escape route would be used, and another street explored. He would wind up getting a small frog wallet that would hold his money until he invariably strolled by Ichiraku's Ramen Shop. In this time though, his wanderings took him past a stand that specialized in toys from Wind Country, filled with puppets, fans, and expertly crafted glass figurines. Naruto stared up at the collection of wonders and the man smiled to himself, sensing an easy sell.
"See anything you like kid?"
Naruto's sense of wonderment burst for a second as the man spoke to him and he nodded excitedly. "They're so cool."
The man looked at his wares and smiled. At least someone in this country appreciates quality. "That they are. Wanna take a closer look?" He handed the kid a glass figure of a roaring tiger that just as quickly fell from his hands. Luckily the merchant was well used to children's butter fingers and caught it quickly as he chuckled. "Maybe something not as breakable." He pulled a puppet out next and started to make it dance much to Naruto's amusement. Then he grabbed a wolf and had it attack the clown, smiling as he saw the child's eyes brighten even as more people watched the show. He watched as various children including the blond began to pull out what pocket money their parents gave them.
Naruto held his own money out and pointed at the clown puppet and watched the man get it down before handing it over and taking the money.
"Have fun kid." The man gruffly said as various other children started to buy up his wares.
It wasn't long before the crowd of children were putting on their own, (and extremely weird and disjointed) puppet show.
The show started to break up as the crowd drew the attention of parents who's children had slipped off came to grab them.
It wasn't long before Naruto's fun ended for the night as his hunger called him to his favorite restaurant, and from there, to his home. Smiling, Naruto settled into bed, the clown hanging from the post as he fell asleep. It had been a good birthday.
Hiruzen stretched lightly, his back aching as he thought about buying a new chair. I'm not getting any younger after all. As his door slammed open his mind examined every scenario, as he prepared to deal with the threat and within a split second relaxed at the appearance of the young boy.
"Hey old man, how's it going?" The child looked happy and had his hands behind his back, obviously hiding some kind of surprise.
Hiruzen smiled. "Ah Naruto, How are you? I'm sorry I couldn't come see you last week. How was your birthday?"
Naruto smiled. "It's fine, I know how important you are, for now. "
Hiruzen rolled his eyes. The child never let him forget he intended to take the hat one day.
"It was great, and look what I got." He said as he pulled the clown puppet from behind his back and pushed it into the Hokage's aged hands. The old man smiled for a moment at the boys excitement before starting to examine the small puppet. He stared at it for a few minutes before smirking. "Excellent craftsmanship, definitely from the Land of Wind."
Naruto stared at him for a minute. "What do you mean?"
The Hokage looked at him. "Oh nothing much. Wind is well known for their craftsman. Especially with wood since much of the country is desert. They can't afford to waste any." He smiled as he ignored the puppets controller in favor of chakra string as he made it dance across a particularly annoying request to add a dango stand inside of Anbu T&I division.
Naruto's eyes opened wide at the things Hiruzen did with the puppet. "How-?"
Sarutobi smiled as he astounded his young friend. "The same way the puppet users of Suna do, with chakra strings." For a second he pushed far more energy through the strings than needed to make them visible for Naruto.
His eyes sparkling as the puppet took up a taijutsu stance from the academy Naruto stared at it, a hungry gleam in his eyes. "Puppet users?"
Hiruzen made the puppet sit down on the edge of his desk before releasing it. "Oh yes. Suna holds many ninja that rely on puppets to fight. They use many techniques to turn their puppets and themselves into deadly weapons, poisons on the puppet's weapons, traps around themselves, all manners of blades within the puppet and more besides. It's a varied and powerful specialty that Suna takes great pride in."
"Can you tell me more?"
The head of the Sarutobi clan looked at the boy for a minute. "Unfortunately, not right now, I really do need to get back to my work." Seeing the downcast look on the blonde's face he got up and walked over to a bookcase. He searched for a minute and pulled out a book before walking over and handing it to Naruto. "But you can borrow this. I have written many journals over the years about the techniques I've fought against. This one contains most of my encounters with the puppet users during the Second Shinobi World War."
Naruto looked at the book with wide eyes. Written by his third favorite Hokage, (second being the Yondaime and first reserved for his own entrance into those hallowed ranks) and grandfather like figure. "Thanks old man, this is awesome."
Hiruzen chuckled before handing him his puppet and sitting back down at his desk. "You're welcome, now run along and play. Hopefully I'll have some time free in a few days and we can go to Ichiraku.
Naruto nodded as he ran out of the room taking all the excitement with him and leaving the third hokage alone with his paperwork.
"I want to be a puppet user."
Hiruzen's broth spilled across the counter of Ichiraku's stand. "What?" He managed to cough out.
Naruto smiled too innocently at him. "I want to be a puppet user. Are you going deaf old man? Can you get me one?"
Hiruzen looked at the boy asking this innocent request. "Most likely not." The boy's face drooped even as he continued talking. "Suna is quite proud of their puppetry skills and won't want to share them. I'd rather not offend them by stealing one of their techniques. But I will send a message to the Kazekage. Perhaps something could be worked out.
Naruto smiled and resumed eating while Hiruzen thought of how he'd have to word the letter. This could be tricky.