A Different Pain
As Naruto traveled the streets of Konoha, he couldn't help but notice that the people were giving him 'that look' again. He hated that look. You'd think after all this time they would have gotten over it, but if anything it had just gotten worse.
Konoha's citizens sure must have it easy. It seems they could afford to stop whatever they were doing every time he took a little trip past them just to stare at him. If he was truly fair to them Naruto could understand why they did it, but at this point, he was beyond being fair. He resented them more than a little for how they'd treated him.
Suddenly he heard a voice calling out from some distance behind him "Naruto-sama." Perfect, just what he needed right now. "Naruto-sama" the voice cried out again, much closer this time. Looks like there was no avoiding it, he turned and, as expected, there was Ebisu running up to him.
Coming up alongside him, Ebisu immediately fell into a lecture. "Where have you been? Running off without telling anyone and leaving your parents to worry. Why if I hadn't found you for them there's no telling what they might have done out of their concern for you."
Naruto had to think of a way out of this. He knew if he let him Ebisu could drone on for hours. 'Hmm, I doubt I'll be able to pull of the "help he's threatening to kill me" trick a second time,' he thought. But the look on his face when Ibiki personally came to drag him off had been priceless.
Unable to come up with any more creative solutions at that time, it looked like he'd have to resort to reasoning with Ebisu. Not as if that had ever worked for him before, but he didn't see any other options.
"I just felt like visiting the hospital. I'm fourteen. That's old enough to be a ninja and go on life and death missions. I think I'll be alright if I go outside the house on my own without documenting my plans and submitting an official request beforehand."
As Ebisu's expression suddenly shifted it only took a moment for Naruto to realize his plan had backfired. Yes, there it was. That look. Pity. Ebisu resumed his lecture, although it was clear he was struggling to choose his words carefully. "Be that as it may, none of the village ninja suffer from your ... condition. Now why don't I accompany you to your destination? Then I'll go inform your parents that you're safe."
"Would you actually leave if I said no?" Naruto responded. If the silence weren't evidence enough, Ebisu's near squirming under his gaze made it clear what the answer to that question was. "Fine then, come along if it will make you feel better."
And with that Naruto turned his wheelchair back towards the hospital and continued on his way with Ebisu strolling along beside him.
******
5 Years Ago
Listening quietly at his door Naruto decided his parents were safely asleep. With all the stealth he could muster, he opened his door and began to creep towards the exit to the backyard. Sasuke had actually managed to learn a real jutsu which he showed off to him today. A really cool fire one. Naruto was not about to let his best friend upstage him, but his mother had told him he was too young to be learning something so dangerous. That left him no choice but to try to practice when she was asleep and wouldn't catch him.
Passing his younger sister Keiko's room, he had to wonder if she didn't get off lucky having a nice normal name. Not that Naruto disliked his name, he was actually quite fond of it. It's just that Jiraiya would never let him forget that he'd been named after a character in his book. Jiraiya had, apparently, made the suggestion to his parents that they continue the tradition and name his sister after a character from one of his books. He said he had plenty of female leads to choose from.
For some reason his parents seemed upset by that idea. He didn't understand why. Maybe they were annoyed by Jiraiya talking about it all the time too.
As these thoughts went through his mind, Naruto had made his way outside and over to the pond in their backyard. Going through the hand seals Sasuke had shown him, Naruto decided it was time to start practicing.
******
Hours later, Naruto dragged himself back to the house. He was exhausted, and a little singed in places, but extremely pleased with himself. 'Wait until I show Sasuke that I learned his jutsu in a single night. I'm so awesome they'll have to give me my old man's job in no time at this rate.'
Once again, being as quiet as he could, Naruto snuck back towards his room, passing his sister's open door again. Wait. Open door? 'Wasn't it closed the last time went by,' he wondered. 'Maybe I'm not the only one sneaking around tonight.' Taking a peek inside, Naruto was surprised to discover an adult already in the room. Worried that it might be his father and that he was in risk of getting caught he began to back away, only to quickly notice it was most certainly not his father.
He was too large for that. From his clothing, it was pretty clear he was a ninja, and not from Konoha. If he recalled his Academy lesson correctly, and he wasn't at all certain he did given how much attention he paid them, the ninja was from Iwa. This realization made, Naruto quickly decided on the best course of action. He shouted out a battle cry and charged at the foreign ninja. Said ninja had no trouble at all turning around and grabbing Naruto by the front of his shirt, lifting him off the ground.
The Iwa shinobi smiled at his sudden fortune. In fact, he seemed so pleased with himself that he felt compelled to share it with his captive. "What luck. It looks like I get two brats for the price of one tonight. You and your sister will make fine hostages to use against that demon you have for a Hokage."
Naruto realized the situation hadn't gone as he'd hoped it would, but wasn't about to give up. He was the son of the greatest Hokage ever, and future Hokage himself. He wasn't about to get captured by some nameless rock shinobi. Resolution firmed he decided the first thing he needed to do was free himself. Plan made he proceeded to bite the hand that was holding up as hard as he could.
It was obvious the Iwa nin had been caught off guard by this tactic allowing the first step of Naruto's plan to succeed as he involuntarily released him. "You little brat. You'll pay for that. I was going to take two hostages, but I suppose one hostage and an example will work just as well."
Naruto began frantically looking around him for any sharp objects he could use as a weapon. A pity it hadn't occurred to him that such items might be hard to find in a 4-year-old girl's bedroom. While he wasted his precious seconds on this search, the Iwa nin had made more productive use of his time, having completed his jutsu. One that sent a particularly large and nasty looking rock flying at him. Naruto attempted to jump out of the way, but was unable clear himself completely from the path.
The lower half of his body was still slammed against the wall introducing Naruto to a world of pain he had never known before. By this time Keiko had woken up, and seeing what just occurred started screaming as loudly as her small lungs would allow. Satisfied that Naruto was taken care of, the would be kidnapper returned to his original target, but just before he reached the terrified young girl, a yellow flash flew into the room and the Ninja collapsed. One generally does when their throat was just cut by the kunai that was now in the hands his father, the Yondaime Hokage.
His mother, Namikaze Kushina, ran into the room seconds after the killing blow and stared at the scene in shock. She seemed unable to comprehend the current contents of the room. His father, who was marginally more in control of his faculties briefed her on the situation as quickly as he could. Keiko is fine but Naruto needs a doctor now. You stay here with Keiko I'll take care of Naruto. Without even waiting for a response, he shoved the boulder out the way, lifted Naruto as carefully as he could and disappeared in the yellow flash he was so famous for.
******
Minato paced around the waiting room. The waiting was unbearable. 'How could this have happened?' he thought to himself. 'I'll have all the guards doing D class missions for the rest of their lives. That's if I don't execute them.' The scary thing was, he thought he might be serious about that last internal comment. It all depends on how Naruto was he decided.
Kushina was still at home with Keiko. She had sent a message that their daughter was too traumatized to be left with someone else right then, but she wanted to be informed the instant he knew anything.
'What could be taking those doctors so blasted long?' As if his thoughts had summoned him, an old balding doctor walked through the doors and came up to him. Minato wanted nothing more than to grab the doctor and demand to know how Naruto was, but he restrained himself. The doctor seemed nervous enough as it was and scaring him probably wouldn't get him his answers any sooner.
"Hokage-sama," the doctor started, "Naruto's condition is currently stable however ..." as the pause dragged on to uncomfortable length Minato's control fled from him. He stood up and glared at the man, deliberately letting a little killing intent leak out to make the man clear just how fast he wanted the details. "Spit it out already!" he yelled at the doctor who could no longer be called merely nervous.
Giving up any attempt at composure he resumed his prognosis almost rushing through it in a chance to please the irate man in front of him. "Naruto suffered extensive damage to the lower half of his body. Both his legs were badly crushed. In addition the lower portion of his spine was damaged beyond our ability to repair. We're doing everything we can to help him recover, but it is highly unlikely he'll ever have any feeling in his legs. I'm afraid even if Tsunade herself were here your son would never walk again."
Having finished the doctor took a step back and seemed almost prepared for the Hokage to leap at him and disembowel the poor man or something. Minato, however, merely stood there and took a few deep breaths before making a signal with his hand. A nearby Anbu who had been accompanying Minato took note of the sign but seemed to hesitate. Annoyed the Hokage repeated it more forcefully. This time he nodded and took off, taking news to Kushina of what he had just heard.
Now if anyone had to fear bodily harm it was the poor Anbu he had just sent. He hoped his wife wasn't too hard on him. This was the start of one of the worst days in Minato's life. He didn't need to add to it by having to explain to the man's family why his wife had decided his outfit went better with a dozen kunai deeply embedded into it.
******
AN
My first every posted fanfiction. So please be brutal. How else will I learn without criticism?
Oddly enough, I have several other stories, that I've plotted out and planned and started writing, but never seemed to be able to get to the point where I'd be willing to post them. Then today I got this idea I felt compelled to write up. I haven't had too long to get attached to the story so I feel I'll just post it without major revisions or a clear plan of where it's going and at least get some feedback.
Chapter 2 is also written in a rough draft form and is a little longer than chapter 1. Doesn't look like I'm going to have time to proof read it and fix my more obvious mistakes today. But it should be up very soon. Probably tomorrow.