I am co-writing this story with my awesome cousin outofmind4416. Go read her story Identity! Also, please leave a review. Reviews are very encouraging!

I do not own Naruto!

Chapter 1

"Thanks for helping us close, Naruto. See you tomorrow!"

These words rang in Naruto's ears as he was leaving his job at the local café. He was a waiter, and after working there for two years, his boss had decided to make him work overtime.

"Bye Iruka-san!"

Naruto started walking back to his house. He had been working at the Ramen Café since he was a sophomore in high school. It was the beginning his senior year, and he couldn't wait to go off to college. The café closed at eight, so the sun was hanging low in the sky. As Naruto was walking home, he noticed a shop that he had not noticed before. It appeared to be an antique store with all kinds of different trinkets that no one would care about. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like he was being drawn to the place.

When Naruto opened the door to the shop, a small bell rang to indicate the arrival of a customer.

"Hi, welcome to the Lock and Key Antiques. My name is Kurenai. Let me know if you have any questions about the merchandise."

Naruto nodded politely and started walking around the shop. There were rows of shelves with random items that looked like they were taken right off the street.

Naruto continued walking down a row until he reached the end. He looked to his left and noticed several strange objects. On the shelf sat an old pipe, a rusty hammer, and a pretty, ornate hourglass lined with red and purple jewels. The hourglass looked pretty. If it wasn't too expensive, he could buy it for his mom.

He picked the hourglass up and noticed something strange about the sand. It seemed to shimmer and glow in the dim light of the store. It made the hourglass seem odd but added to the beauty of the antique. He carried the hourglass up to the counter where the tall brunette woman stood.

"How much does this hourglass cost?" Naruto was hoping it was some cheap, knock off item.

Kurenai looked at Naruto with a mildly surprised expression.

"Why I've never seen that item before. Are you sure you picked it up from my store?"

"Yeah, it was back by the hammer and pipe. Does this mean I don't have to pay for it?" Naruto never seemed to have much tact.

Kurenai seemed doubtful. "I'll give you a discount since I don't know how much it's actually worth. I'll give it to you for twenty dollars. I could be losing a lot of money on this though."

At first Naruto looked like he wasn't going to buy it. However, Naruto had a strange feeling that if he didn't make this purchase, he would be passing up a huge opportunity.

"Alright lady, here you go. But I'm keeping it even if you find out it's worth a lot."

Naruto's arrogance made Kurenai roll her eyes, but she accepted Naruto's money anyway and told him the typical "have a nice day" that all good shopkeepers say.

By the time Naruto made it home, it was completely dark outside. He opened the front door and found his mom tapping her foot impatiently in the kitchen.

"Naruto! Where have you been? Your father and I have been worried sick!" Naruto usually got home around seven, and his mother was none too pleased.

"Sorry mom. Iruka made me work overtime tonight. And since he offered me a raise, I couldn't say no. That's more money for ramen!" Kushina's eyes softened. She was proud of her son for being so motivated to work. Even if the motivation was unhealthy and sodium-rich noodles.

"Well next time you're going to work so late, be sure to call us! We were about to call the police to come and find you."

Naruto sighed. "Relax mom, I'm eighteen now. You and dad don't have to keep treating me like I'm a little kid." Naruto's parents had always been a bit overprotective, but they were very kind-hearted and only wanted the best for him.

"Alright well just call next time. Also, what are you holding there?" Kushina pointed to the hourglass that Naruto was holding up with both of his hands.

"I found it at some antique place on Cherry Street. I thought you might like it in the living room or something. You've been talking about how you wanted more decorations in the house." Naruto walked over and set the hourglass on the kitchen table. He turned it over so the sand began falling down through the narrow tunnel.

Kushina gave Naruto a kind smile, forgetting that he had just worried her for the last few hours. "Thank you Naruto, that's very thoughtful. We will find a place to put it tomorrow. Your father's already gone to bed. I told him I would wait up until you got home. I'm off to bed, good night!"

"Night mom."

Since it was a Friday night, Naruto didn't have school the next day. But since Iruka had made him work so long, he wanted to sleep as long as he could. Naruto turned off the lights in the kitchens and headed up the stairs to his room.

In the kitchen, the sand in the hourglass continued to fall. It wasn't until the last grain of sand fell through to the bottom of the hourglass that the object began to glow a vibrant blue color.