"Azumi," the Kazekage called. "You are going to go to Konoha, and you are to kill this rumored Namikaze heir on sight. We cannot have another yellow-flash in our mist. This assignment is to be an S-ranked mission."

"Yes, sir," Azumi stated as she took in his command. She was the only one for this mission that could go alone. She was an expert at disguises, and she knew Minato when they were little kids. All of Suna knew. When she was a little girl, that would be all she would want to talk about. After her parents had passed, she moved to Suna to live with her grandparents. Her friend had grown strong, and now she was to kill his heir. She had no choice otherwise.

"Now go," the Kazekage ordered. She dashed off towards the direction of Konohagakure.

Azumi made it to Konoha within two days. She had to make a costume to be able to pass through the gates, but the lazy chunnins at the gate didn't even pay her mind. She thought that they didn't care much about their village as to how lax they were.

She started walking down the street, looking for this so called heir. She found it highly difficult to find this heir because she had not a clue what it looked like. She tried to see features that she might know that Minato had, but it had been years since she had seen the father and she had never seen the mother. She remembered Minato having blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, but Azumi had not a clue if the traits were to be taken over by the mother, father or both! It had proved to be harder than first thought.

It was soon reaching nightfall, and she saw some people chasing after a little boy with blonde hair. She ran after them, without anyone expecting her or watching her, and then she saw what was happening. Azumi watched in horror as the child's arm was twisted behind his back before it made a sickening crack. The child let out agonizing scream. Tears streamed down his swollen face. One of the man grabbed the child by the hair yanking his head up, revealing his bare neck. He pulled out a knife before slowly sliding it across the boy's neck.

Blood oozed from the open wound and the man grinned wickedly. He licked the blood off the knife, before cutting the clothes off the child violently. It was obvious the man wasn't being careful the way the child's skin was being slashed and bruised.

The man unzipped his pants rubbing his erection against the child's virgin hole. "Hey now don't cry little monster. It won't hurt much." The man slurred obviously drunk. The child growled, but was cut off by the second man's cock being shoved into his mouth. "Mmm your mouth feels so good. Ya just like slut looking like that." He whispered violently thrusting in and out of the child's mouth. The first man watched his friend enthusiastically before shoving himself into the child.

The child let out a strangled scream around the pulsing organ in his mouth. The second man grabbed the knife that laid forgotten on the ground, dragging the tip of across the child's back, making a fine red line. "I think the word monster would really suit him." He spoke putting on the finishing touches.

The first man nodded before groaning releasing his seed into the child. The second released soon after words. "Now swallow like the hor you are." The child cried as he was forced to swallow the bitter liquid.

The men stood up studying the child. "I think we're missing something." The first man whispered. He grabbed the knife from his friend and flipped the child onto his back. "This way people know you are a monster." He traced the seal on the child's stomach, making it deep as possible, but to the point where it wouldn't kill him.

She thought about trying to stop them, but she was outnumbered. She gazed at the boy in the middle of the circle, trying to figure out what to do. The child's hair looked so much like Minato's, but she had no real proof.

And then, as if sensing her, the child looked up at her, if only for a second, but that second was enough. His eyes were as emotionless as the desert she lived in, and they stared at her, as if he had gone through this daily and was sick of trying to plead for those who would give no help to him at all.

Her connection with those eyes broke when she saw a ninja walking towards him with a sword. She felt herself starting to run towards the boy, and then she watched as he looked at the sword, fear flashing in his eyes. Then, all of the sudden, she watched his eyes turn red and a red chakra started oozing out of the boy. The men who had raped the boy started to run away in fear of what might happen, but they didn't get far as they were killed by the evil chakra that was spewing out of the way. The ninja still continued onwards towards the boy, and he swung the sword down on the boy, but the evil chakra caught it as if it was a solid being. The ninja's eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of his sword being stopped and the eyes widened even more when the chakra started riding up the sword, trying to get at the attacker. He backed away, avoiding the chakra within inches. I watched as the chakra followed the ninja, while the ninja tried to run after finding there was no other way to kill the boy. The chakra quickly captured the ninja when he couldn't find an escape in its hold, and the ninja started screaming as the chakra burned against his skin. Then, the chakra twisted around his throat, and the ninja collapsed to the ground, dead. Then the boy turned to Azumi with its red eyes staring her down, the chakra slowly creeping towards her.

"I have done you no wrong," she said as she stood her ground, as a true ninja should. These Konoha ninjas didn't know the true meaning of strength, at least that's what she thought.

"YOU DID NO WRONG YET," a booming voice erupted from the boy. "AND YOU ALSO DID NOTHING. SO WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU WHEN SO MANY GO AFTER MY HOST?"

"I may have been assigned to kill your host at the beginning," Azumi noticed the chakra slowly creeping towards her, "But I am not going to kill your host anymore." The chakra stopped within inches of her. The red eyes stared calculating at her, as if it was trying to find the truth in her answer.

"WHY," the boy questioned.

"Because I owe Minato a great many debts, many that I have forgotten until I saw his own son, your host," she replied.

"SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS VILLAGE ARE TOO BLIND TO SEE," he mused. "BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I KNOW HOW TO TRUST YOU."

"All I can give you is my word," she stated. His eyes stared calculating at her, thinking about what he should do.

"I SHALL TAK YOUR WORD, I SUPPOSE," he stated. "WHERE WILL WE GO, AS I'VE NOTICED YOU ARE NOT FROM KONOHA?"

"I'll take your host to my home village in Sunagakure," she replied. "And I will keep your presence a secret for as long as I can."

"THANK YOU FOR THAT," he stated. "BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SHIKAKU?"

"He is sealed in the Kazekage's son," she answered, not surprised that he was asking about the sand demon.

"GOOD," the boy smirked. "HE'S TOO INSANE TO BE LEFT ALONE IN THIS WORLD. I MUST GO AS I AM RUNNING OUT OF TIME."

"Wait," she stated. "Who are you?"

"I AM THE KYUUBI NO KITSUNE," he answered back. "NOW, I MUST GO." Then she watched as the red, evil chakra recited and the boy's eyes turned back to the blue they once were. She noticed his eyes starting to roll the back of his head, and Azumi ran forward and caught him before he hit the ground. She looked around to see if she could see anyone, and then she started to run. She ran towards the gate, strategizing her next move that she may be able to take. She decided on making a henge around them both and exited the village.

"Whaa," a voice said drowsily, and she looked down to see the boy waking up.

"Hello," she smiled at him after setting him down on the ground, making sure he would be able to stand.

"Hi," he said as he stretched, rubbing his eyes. "Where are we?"

"We're going back to my home village. The Hokage said I can take you with," she lied, not wanting him to think that she was kidnapping him or let him know about the Kyuubi, just in case he didn't know.

"What about Konoha," he questioned.

"You'll be able to visit when you are older, but for now, we're going to have you come to my home, where you are going to live until you are bigger."

"Okay," he stated. "Does that mean I get to see Shika-kun and Ojii-san when I'm older?"

"Yes, it will," she smiled. His grin grew wider, and then they started walking towards Konoha.

"What's your name," he questioned.

"My name is Azumi Kinaru," she replied. "What about your name?"

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," he stated.

"You're not Naruto Namikaze," she questioned.

"No," he stated. "I never knew my parents though, so I'd never really know." She then understood why he was never told about him Namikaze heritage. Minato had grown to have many enemies. It only made sense to use another name to not cause Naruto's early death. Maybe later on would he actually take the Namikaze name as his own.

"What do you like to eat, Naruto," she questioned as she was growing reasonably hungry herself.

"Ramen," she answered. "Can we have some, please," he begged.

"Next time we see a Ramen Stand, I promise you that we'll get some, but for now, let's have some rice cakes." He pouted, but he took his own and ate it. They ate some more before heading on their way. Naruto climbed on her back so they could run towards Suna instead of walk, and it didn't take long before they decided to make camp.

"So what's your favorite color," Naruto questioned, trying to get to know Azumi. They had finished setting up everything.

"Blue," she smiled, catching what he was doing. "What about yours?"

"Orange," he grinned.

"I can see that," she smiled, looking over his clothes options, which was a orange jumpsuit.

"It was the only thing I could afford," he mumbled in embarrassment as he looked away with a deep blush.

"It's alright, Naruto," she said reassuringly. "It's difficult being an orphan. You've been doing really well." He gave her a smile. "Now, what's your favorite game?"

"Well, I don't really have a favorite game," he stated. "I mostly set up tricks around the village, and I'd have to run from the ninja."

"Well, then, we'll just have to get you to start playing, won't we," she smirked. "And no more pranks!"

"Oh, come on," he complained.

"Suna's different than Konoha, Naruto," he stated. "No more pranks."

"Yes, Azumi," he sighed. They decided to go to sleep after that, and it didn't take long before they were comfortable enough to do so. Tomorrow would be a new day for them. For Azumi, it would be home, but for Naruto, it would become a whole new life. He was excited and nervous all at once, but he was going to follow this through because that was his new nindo way.

"So, here we are," Azumi stated as they had made it to Suna, at last. They had learned many things about each other, and they were able grew a companionship with each other.

"Wow," Naruto whispered in awe as he took in all of the sand buildings that he never thought he'd ever see. It was just like a really big sand castle that he's seen other children make. He enjoyed the fact that people were staring at him kindly, and he wasn't receiving any glares from anyone in the sand village, unlike his other village. He missed Shika and Ojii-san, but he knew that they would be able to live without him for a few years. Shika would still be friends with Choji-san, and he'd be able to grew to be a lazy genin, if he did what he always did. And Ojii-san had all his work to do as the Hokage. He probably wouldn't be missed at all.

"What do you think," she questioned. "Do you like it?" He nodded his head, still looking around in awe. "Now, Naruto, we have to see the Kazekage. He has to know that you are going to be staying in Suna with me."

"Is he mean," Naruto questioned.

"No, he's not mean," she smiled. "And he'd be even nicer when he learns that you won't prank the village." Naruto nodded, hoping to get on the Kazekage's good side.

Once they were in the Kazekage's office, Azumi started giving her report. "I'm sorry, sir, but I did not find any rumored Namikaze heir. There appeared to be none at all, from what the citizens and ninjas of Konohagakure had stated."

"Very well," the Kazekage sighed. "We will report this as a failed mission by default, Azumi. Now, why is there a boy in my office with you?"

"This is Naruto Uzumaki, sir," she answered. "I found him being raped by the Konoha citizens and almost being killed by a leaf ninja, sir."

"Well, it doesn't seem that the leaf village is as safe as they proclaim to be," the Kazekage mused. "Come here, boy." Naruto stepped forward, nervously, as the Kazekage examined him. "Naruto, is it?" Naruto nodded, unsure of where this is going. "Do you have any family?" Naruto shook his head. "Are they all dead?"

"I-I don't know, Kazekage-sama," Naruto stuttered. "I've never known anything about my heritage." The Kazekage took this information in, and he still examined the boy, seeing something that was familiar in him, but he didn't know from where. The Kazekage decided to push it aside, for another time. "Alright. He can stay in Suna, but I want him underwatch, just in case this is some kind of trick that Konoha has decided to play on us."

"Yes, sir," Azumi said. "I will watch him at all times."

"You have taken a fondness on him, haven't you, Azumi," the Kazekage mused, and Azumi nodded, confirming his statement. "Alright, you two may go." Naruto bowed, and then he skipped off to Azumi's side, and they disappeared out of the door. She's hiding something; I just know it.

Down in the market place, Naruto and Azumi were going through the stores, trying to find things that would be good for Naruto, such as new clothing, bed and bedding, soup, etc. Naruto was having a great time with Azumi, and Azumi found herself to having fun with this wild, unpredictable boy. His attitude had totally changed from the one that he had had with the Kazekage. Now he was acting just like a kid, having fun and messing around. She couldn't help but smile at the boy's antics of seeing and touching everything on sight. It was such an amusement to her, but she knew, deep down inside, that this was his first time walking around freely, without care. She wished that Konoha had been this nice to Naruto when he was younger, but it seems that they were not.

"Come, Naruto," Azumi stated. "We have enough for today."

"Will we come back sometime," Naruto questioned, a little sad that he had to go from such a wonderful place.

"Yes, yes, we will," Azumi smiled reassuringly at Naruto's sad face. He instantly brightened up, and he started skipping ahead of Azumi, but she noticed something made him stop for just a moment. That moment was enough to get him running towards the wrong direction. She quickly ran after him, and she stopped, seeing what Naruto saw for the real first time.

Azumi's character description:

Name: Azumi Kinaru

Age: 27

Occupation: Suna nin; jounin/ANBU rank

Description: Dark brown hair; green eye color; slim, muscular fit; kind-hearted person

Height: 5'8"

Status: Single

Relation to Naruto: "mother"