Story description: Isolated and lacking all human interaction except a bloody fist, Naruto grows up without a voice to call his.
'blahblahblahblahspeech' = Kyuubi's thoughts.
"blahblahblahblahspeech" = Kyuubi's speech.
"blahblahblahblahspeech" = general speech.
'blahblahblahblahspeech' = general thoughts.
Hiruzen frowned at the whispering people gathered before him. "Council of Konoha.." he began, his voice rough and hoarse, "As you all know, earlier today, the Nine Tailed fox, Kyuubi, attacked Konoha. Today we mourn the loss of our Yondaime Hokage, and beloved comrades." He continued, bowing his head sorrowfully, "he sacrificed himself- stopping the beast" he said struggling to continue as the people before him gasped, "He sealed it into a newborn baby, his name - Naruto." He said with an uneasy smile, relieved that he had finished saying what was intended, without any interruptions.
Despite the relief, guilt still flooded every angle of his mind. What would become of the boy? Should he be told of his heritage and status as Jiinchuriki? Will he be weapon or friend or foe?
The previously quiet murmurs grew; becoming thunderous shouts and pleas.
"SILENCE!" he yelled, hushing the antic crowd, "All information released today will remain discrete. It should not be disclosed with anyone; your closest friends, neighbours or even acquaintances out on the street. The boy will also be sent to the orphanage, and later, the academy as a normal orphan would."
Holding the boy against his warm chest, he resided back to Hokage's tower, ignoring the questioning gazes.
Wrapping the small child in a thick, woolen blanket, he then exited the towering building, and flashed away with a single hand seal.
On the outskirts of Konohagakure, a lone building was situated. Leaf Shinobi were bustling in and out of the compound; likely delivering the by-products of the disastrous attack.
He followed the flow of the crowd and pushed
his way to the Warden of the orphanage. The quiet bundle in his hands was given to the lady.
"The boy is special. He holds more power and potential than you could realise. Treat Naruto well," smiled the elderly man, lowering the blanket.
The child had piercing azure eyes and glowing hair. Whisker marks adorned his face. As the woman smiled softly and tickled his stomach, the boy too, smiled.
Despite the information only being relayed to the supposedly trustworthy and seclusive council, word had gotten out about the child. The Sandaime Hokage reminded the populace of the sacrifice made and the boy's heroism, he reminded them that should the information be further discussion; appropriate charges would have to be placed on the individual.
A brown haired woman stumbled across the ground, shocked at the speech. Nono Yakushi was by no means cruel or apathetic; her mind was not tormented by the blood and gore the Nine Tailed Fox caused, and while she knew the boy to be human, she simply could not be the scapegoat of a Jiinchuriki should she protect him.
"Nono-san, you look a bit pale, are you sick?" questioned a young boy, genuinely concerned.
She laughed at the irony, "Kabuto-kun, are you forgetting I'm a former captain of the Konoha Medic Corps?" she replied, ruffling the child's hair.
"Right! Have you been inside for too long... Nono-chan?"
"Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing," smiled the woman in response.
She quickly left; her mind still pondering on the boy. She had to protect herself and her adoptive children; especially Kabuto. She had to do the right thing for their safety, no matter how inhumane.
Just as she were to collapse from the stress clutching her mind, a warm hand firmly held her shoulder.
"Nono-san... I can help."
As she closed the compound metal door, she allowed a single tear to fall from her chocolate eyes.
'This makes me no less human' she reminded herself, glancing at the supportive man beside her.
'It won't be too bad, he'll have plenty of good and water, and no harm will come to him nor my family.'
His third birthday; he knew that. He also knew there were 2 types of people in the entire box that was his world. There were men and there were females. That's all.
The men hurt and the women made it better. The men would frown and the women would smile. He was men.
As as he grew colder he rocked his fragile body, vigorously rubbing his hands to warm them.
His muscles ached as he moved his joints, but the warmth was such a nice feeling. Sometimes, when the door opened and the men and sometimes women visited, he could feel the warmth from the other side seep in; he could see the bright and vibrant colours and he could smell foreign delicicies.
Soon, the women stopped visiting. There were no more warm embraces or exciting meals. There were no more ecstatic children or relaxed muscles.
There were just the men...
And so he stopped caring; if they didn't care then neither did he.
The men weren't always the same. Sometimes there were angry men, who screamed out names as they kicked him against the wall.
Sometimes there were just men that prayed; they were angry too, but they didn't hurt.
This one time there was a man with a funny hat and silly robes. He looked like he was going to free him, but the man just shook his head and walked away.
A few days later the man reappeared and he was free. And he realised the world wasn't just the size of his box.
A cloth was placed over his dampened eyes, as they exited he could feel light even through the thick material. He could smell and touch and hear the warmth.
A second later and he was placed on a bed, he could hear the muttering of the men.
The mumbling turned to yells, and the yells to whispers, and then there was light.
The cloth was removed and he could see; even if barely.
"He is your godson. He is yours," replied one of the men.
"My spy network is too important, ya know? And of all people I can't do this... not now Sensei" stated the other man.
The first men was old, his face littered with wrinkles. The second; long white hair and less defined wrinkles.
"No one else can Jiraiya! It has to be you," exclaimed the first men.
"Tsuna-"
"No."
"Yes."
The discussion ended and he was abrubtly heaved over a shoulder.
"I'll find her Sensei. Trust me"
A few hours later and he was thrown onto the ground. This men was bad, all men are the same
The child groaned, gazing back up at the second men.
"Come on kid, get up. We don't 'ave all day," said the men, frowning.
The child groaned.
"Get up, there's no way a galiant Shinobi like me is carrying a brat like you."
The child groaned.
The elderly men groaned. And picked up the child.
In his box it was dark. Here, it was bright and dark; mysterious.
After this new box had been bright and dark, then dark and bright and bright and dark, they stopped. He found himself looking upon buildings, like the ones he had seen outside his box.
They walked into a particularly tall building that had magnificent, flashing lights and boisterous men and women.
They sat beside 2 women; he smiled! He thought the women were gone.
"Cut the crap, Jiraiya, here to bring me back to that damned hellhole eh?" spoke the women, raising her fist.
He shook. This was a women! Not a men! No! A men. This was a men pretending to be women.
"Nope! Just bringing this kid for a nice glass o' Sake" awkwardly laughed the men, crawling back.
'...'
"M-M-enn," the child coughed, glaring at the first women.
'...'
"What the hell Jiraiya? Did HE just call me a man!" responded Tsunade, grabbing Jiraiya by the collar.
"I can explain Tsunade-hime! Don't kill meeee!"
"You've got 5 seconds or I kick your ass back to Konoha."
"Heisyournewchild!"
"Heck no! Now's not the time for pranks, baka!"
"Sensei made a mistake and wants me to take care of the kid. You know I can't! You don't even have to go back to Konoha.. Just take care of him until things calm down?"
"Fine! But you better me givin' me houses full of cash and I'm not taking care of the snotty-nosed gaki for long."
Definitions
Hime = Princess (suffix)
Sama = Formal suffix.
Sandaime = Third Hokage
Yondaime = Fourth Hokage
Jiinchuuriki = Human sacrifice
Baka = Idiot