"The Fourth Great Shinobi War: slaughter justified by Obito and Madara Uchiha in hopes of obtaining the last remaining bijuu; Killer B, the Hachibi, and Naruto Uzumaki, the Kyuubi. With so much death raining upon the landscape, the latter felt an enormous responsibility. Naruto split his chakra to protect those still alive, as pockets of red glow could be spotted across the battlefield. However, even this couldn't protect him from the wounds forming in his mind.
It was great to have the comradery during the final battle, but as it dragged on, more people have died. Precious people who Naruto felt close to. First was Neji, killed by white Zetsu, then was Tenten. Lee managed to survive for quite awhile before his taijutsu was overwhelmed by the shear veracity of the opposition. Shikamaru fell, however not due to his lack-luster attitude. Through a show of leadership of not sending his soldiers to die needlessly, the Nara held off a strong offensive so that many may flee. I suppose when the going got tough, he really got going.
As the Infinite Tsukuyomi was cast at Kaguya's return, so came the ascension of Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths. The Sage left Naruto with Yin-Yang chakra; Yin to create form, and Yang to give life. Even if he could save those who had died, it would not get rid of the trauma they endured. It would be best to avoid such suffering all together. With that being said, Naruto focused his chakra amassed by the bijuu, mixing it the nature's chakra and his spiritual chakra. Forming a circle with his arms in front of his chest, he began to pull apart what seemed to be space-time itself and yelled
"Hidden Sage Art: Genesis!"
For a moment, Naruto had entered a vast emptiness, a void pitch black, before opening his eyes to light shining through his window. He noticed he was smaller when he sat up. Still in disbelief and weary from chakra use, he laid back down and went into his mindscape.
"Hey Kurama… you there?"
" Yeah…" the fox replied just as tired.
"I… I think we're back in the past…"" I can barely tell if I have a face, kit. I'm so beat" Kurama retorted with his eyes closed.
Naruto exited his mindscape. Tired as he was, he couldn't sleep. Now realizing as he was in no immediate danger, all he could do was cry. Cry from grief of losing his friends, of experiences that only he could remember with people he doesn't even know yet. The regret of his dubious confidence, not even sure if he is in the same timeline as he left everyone there. Even so, there was a cry of joy from the blonde, being given a chance to prevent it from happening.
The next morning, Naruto walked up to the Hokage monument overlooking Konoha and sat on Yodaime's head. Kurama was still a bit tired, but should recover soon. Now at the age of six, Naruto felt it right to focus early on senjutsu. Granted he would have to meditate until his body becomes strong enough to maintain nature's chakra or else he'd be turned to stone. "Tou-san, Kaa-chan. This time it'll be different." He vowed.
After about half an hour of meditating, Naruto began to run the perimeter of Konoha. Villagers typically gave him scrowls of disapproval, but it was so early that civilians were seldom in the streets. He ran in peace with the cool morning breeze hitting his face, appreciating the streets that were destroyed during the war.
Naruto repeated the routine for about two months until he ran into somebody on one of his morning runs. He turned the corner and bumped into them and falling but ended up rolling off his back and recovering effortlessly. "Sorry about that" he said unconsciously with a sheepish grin and rubbing the back of his head. It wasn't until he looked up and saw who he ran into that he became a little more hesitant. The young blonde found himself looking at an older blonde with his hair in a ponytail, Inoichi Yamanaka 'If my memory serves me right, he should still be in the TI Division at this time' Naruto thought. "Excuse me, Yamanaka-san!" Naruto said with a slight bow before fleeing the scene to avoid being questioned any further. "Crap, I know I'm going to get a visit from Ji-san later".
At the academy, the Yamanaka head entered the Hokage's office. "Inoichi, what brings you in today?" asked the aging Sarutobi smoking his tobacco. "It's concerning Naruto Uzumaki" Inoichi responded. Hurizen's face grew serious. Anything concerning Naruto was a touchy subject for him, as the kid has become somewhat of a surrogate grandchild for him, forming a bond that he would not humor being threatened.
The Professor, put down the tobacco pipe gesturing for Inoichi to continue. "I ran into him, literally to be exact…" "And…?" Hurizen asked lifting an eyebrow in intrigue. "He fell, but rolled off his back like he was trained, and his shirt was filled with sweat. However, that didn't catch my eye as the next two things I realized." Hurizen tensed subtley in preparation "… he knew who I was and I never heard him coming." Light footsteps and signs of training, like a shinobi. Sarutobi picked up his pipe again "I think I should visit the boy" he said taking a long drag of his pipe.
Later that evening, a knock came from the door of Naruto's apartment. The blonde opened the door to find the Hokage standing in wait. 'I knew he was coming, but…' Ever since he returned to this time, he hasn't visited his foster grandfather once. "Jiji!" he yelled hugging the old man. He barely manage to hold back a more mature 'Ji-san' which wouldn't sound like a six year old. Hurizen let out a heartwarming chuckle at the embrace "Woah there, Naruto" he looked at the boy before speaking softly "may I come in?" he asked, respecting the boy's privacy. Naruto nodded enthusiastically glad to see the Third Hokage again. Naruto offered him ramen, but he refused. "I heard you have been training recently, I wondered what for." Naruto knew the thick-laced question could have many questions after if he didn't answer it correctly, Sarutobi wasn't called 'the Professor' if he didn't study. "I'm going to be the best Hokage there is, Dattebayo!" Naruto said with a wide grin and a thumbs up. "Kami this is embarrassing' he thought.
Hurizen couldn't help but smile. "Well that's a lofty goal, why did you make this decision?" 'Oh to avoid the shit-show that is the Fourth Shinobi War' he thought. "I want to protect those people precious to me, Jiji, and those people precious to them…" he said nervously. "I sometimes see that people don't like me, but I don't hate them for it. Konoha is a big family, and like any family there is one or two dysfunctions. I want to protect this family." He said in a half-baked truth. Hurizen was surprised by the answer, as he as well considered the village his family, more so because Naruto was an orphan. The old man decided not to pursue it any further. "Well Naruto, from one Hokage to a future one, rest well, whenever you can" he said putting his hand Naruto's well-toned shoulder. Naruto reflected on what the Hokage said, understood since he hasn't stopped training for the past several months. A part of him felt horrible for resting, another knew he would eventually be working on half-capacity. "Hai, Ji-san." He said confidently. Hurizen knew that a child shouldn't have went through the emotions that showed on Naruto's face. 'I wonder if he's made contact with the Kyuubi' he thought.
Inoichi followed up with the Hokage the next morning. "He's definitely hiding something, but I don't sense any anger or malice coming from him" Hurizen briefed "if anything, there were hints of sorrow." 'Sorrow…?' Inoichi thought. "Inoichi, I know your job at interrogations could be a handful sometimes, but can you check on Naruto from time to time, just to make sure he isn't dabbling in anything dangerous. The dirty blonde didn't have to be told twice, partly because his personality wants to get to the bottom of things, partly because the jinchurikki getting out could cause trouble.
At his leisure, the Yamanaka head could be seen shadowing the young boy. 'Meditates at sunrise, starts running right after…' he noted. Naruto, who has been gradually increasing his senjutsu, noticed that someone was watching him, but still couldn't tell who. Before he would go to Training Ground 44, he would lose his tail first, surprising Inoichi that the kid could be so evasive.
A week later, he noticed Naruto walking through the village when the older blonde got off of work. His tailing commenced as he hid behind walls and on top of buildings. Inoichi noted the reactions Naruto was getting from some of the villagers. 'How could they treat a kid this way. Demon or not, he's a child who isn't even aware.' Inoichi lost sight of Naruto when he entered a shop. More specifically, his shop: the Yamanaka Flower shop.
Before entering, Inoichi could hear the interaction between his wife and the kid. "Yamanaka-obasan, can I get these please?" Naruto asked holding up a yellow rose and a daffodil. Inoichi's wife was hesitant until a young Ino came running in the shop from the attached house, to which the instinctive reaction was hostile.
"Hey, Momma, who's this?" Ino asked pointing at the blonde.
Before his wife could respond negatively, Inoichi walked into the flower shop feigning surprise "Naruto-kun, what are you doing here?" His wife noticed the affectionate honorific coming from the patriarch and decided to relax. He took noticed of the flowers in the boy's hand 'Friendships and new beginnings, huh?' he thought. Who are those for? Inoichi asked kindly. Naruto got nervous. He was just going to place them on the memorial, but he couldn't tell them that. Flustered, he looked at the young Ino and offered the flowers to her "I-Ino-chan, please be my friend!" He blurted out while thinking 'Kami kill me now.'
"The two older Yamanaka's were surprised as if they'd turned to stone. 'The Demon child asked my little girl to be friends with him?! I'm not… I don't know what to think…' her mother thought. "This kid, this brat just asked my baby Ino to be his friend and gave her flowers, before you know it they're going to be eloping together and...' "Okay!" the father's thoughts were cut off by Ino accepting the invitation. "Eh?!" said Naruto, Inoichi and his wife in unison.