Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 1– Re-birth
Naruto awoke to find himself someplace he had never seen before. Actually he couldn't see where he was. The whole area was dark and devoid of any signs of life.
"Where am I?" he says out loud.
"You are in the world between worlds, otherwise known as the void young one"
Naruto was naturally shocked by the voice. No one was there he was sure. That only left one possibility … a ghost. The one thing Naruto was deathly afraid of.
"W-who-who … said that?" he questioned slowly.
From the darkness walked a massive, gigantic, humongous man like he hadn't ever seen in his 6 years of life. Even more shocking the man had two heads and both were looking at him intently with their four eyes.
The clothing this two-headed man wore was a slate grey in color. The over-collar and inner collar were a darker shade of gray. His shirt, pants, and shoes were also gray. Even his hair, and eyes were a shade of grey resembling silver.
"My name is Nezumiiro. I was sent here to explain things to you and show you to your next destination" the two-headed giant says.
"Next what?" Naruto answers.
He was just getting over having a giant two-headed man talk to him.
"I am here to show you where you will be going next after answering any questions you may have" Nezumiiro says.
"O-kay" Naruto replied, before blurting out "What are you?"
He quickly covered his mouth hoping he hadn't offended the two headed giant person.
"Hahaha, it's alright Naruto-san. I am what is known as a giant. I guess you haven't seen a giant before" Naruto shook his head getting both heads to nod "I expected that. Well I guard the paths to heaven and hell" Nezumiiro answers.
"Why do you have two heads?" Naruto asked.
"It's the way I was born" the giants answered.
Naruto just continued to look at him, but wasn't sure which head he should look at it so he kept switching between the two heads every fifteen seconds, which was becoming annoying for the giant.
"Don't you have anything else you want to ask me?" the giant asked almost begged.
"Sure … umm … did your mother have two-heads also?" Naruto asks.
"Actually, no it was my father that had two-heads. People often say we look exactly alike" the giant says proudly forgetting his annoyance for a minute.
"Oh …" was Naruto's response.
Naruto know he shouldn't, but he felt sadness overcome him. He often wondered if he looked like his dad at all or if he resembled his mother. No one seemed to know who they were though or wouldn't tell him.
"Any other questions?" Nezumiiro asks.
Naruto shook his head.
"Then we should be going?" the giant says.
"Going where?"Naruto asks.
There wasn't anywhere to go just darkness. Before he could get further and actually say that a giant door dropped down from above them and slamming to the ground causing Naruto to fall on his butt even the giant couldn't shake the impact as he was sent into the air for a few seconds.
When Naruto got up shakily he looked at the door scrutinizing it. The giant ignores this and turns the door knob and pushed the door open. From behind the door the most beautiful golden white light shone onto Naruto and almost like in a trance he slowly made his way through the door not even noticing it close.
When it did close Naruto's trance was broken and he found himself in some kind of wooded area and a beautiful golden hair woman was overlooking a statue surrounded by a pool of water. She suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked directly at him.
"Come with me Naruto-kun" the inhumanely beautiful woman says.
For some reason beyond him Naruto couldn't find the words to ask her any question like where he was? Or who she was? Or where they were? Instead he could only walk forward until he was in front of her and wait further instructions.
"Listen to me closely Naruto-kun. I know you do not know me, but I have been with you every second you have been alive since your conception into your world. I feel a great connection towards you and have seen what lies ahead for you if nothing changes.
I cannot change your destiny Naruto-kun, for you affect far too many people and lives. However, there is something I can do. I am going to make you one of my warriors Naruto-kun. I am making you a warrior of heaven, an angel.
When you wake up back in your world you will find I have given you a number of gifts. Do not think you are undeserving of such gifts, because in my eyes you are a worthy champion. Please grow strong Naruto-kun and protect those that you care for and love" The woman tells him.
With that she bends down unintentionally giving him a glorious view of her cleavage that goes unnoticed by the six year old child and gives him a kiss on the lips. The kiss lasts but only a moment, but it was enough to transfer a portion of her power and leave an indelible image in the child's mind.
Once separated the woman gets up and returns to gazing in the fountain and Naruto found his body walked back the way he came. He desperately tries to gain control of himself and just manages to turn his head and call out once question.
"Who are you?"He asked.
The woman turns and gifts him with the most amazingly wonderful smile he had ever seen or would hope to see before she answered just before he made it to the entrance/exit of the wooded area.
"You may know me as Kami" was her simple reply.
Naruto was in too much shock at the answer never for once questioning it's validity or not as he walked back through the door and once again found himself standing in front of Nezumiiro.
"W-what w-was th-at?"He asked still in awe and confusion.
The giant just smirked at the look on the boys face. Everyone reacted like that when meeting Kami no matter how many times they did so except for a handful of God's, Demon's, and Angels.
"You will soon find yourself awake and back in your apartment Naruto-kun" the Giant tells him.
"Is this a dream?"Naruto asks.
"When you wake up you will see this wasn't a dream. Goodbye Naruto. Have a good and long life" the Gaint says.
Naruto felt like he was falling asleep again as his eyes began to get droopy and he slowly made his way to what he guessed was the floor. Just as his eyes were almost shut the Giant called out one last time.
"When you wake up don't be alarmed. He is a gift that will stand by your side forever. Remember to treat him well and you will have a friend for life" Naruto hears before everything goes black.
"Hmm … I probably should have told him we took care of the Kyūbi. Ehh … I'm sure he'll find out soon enough" Nezuriimo thinks out loud.
He then walks back through the dark atmosphere disappearing from sight. There were more souls to pass through way more and he needed to get back to work guiding lost souls on their proper path.
Naruto's apartment
The sun shone through the window of the little apartment Naruto resided forcing him to wake up. He tried to go back to sleep, but the sun seemed to shine even brighter and hotter right on his face.
When he finally did get up he noticed the floor seemed a little closer to the bed, because his feet actually touched the ground and his knees bent a little. Which wouldn't be unusual except the bed was for someone half his age that had been given to him by the Hokage when he moved in 2 years ago and his feet never touched the ground before unless he got out of the bed.
Shaking off the strangeness he then got up and moved towards his bathroom still half a sleep. Unaware his foot hit something solid, which woke him up immediately.
"Ow … ow … ow… oww …"
When he looks at what he knocked into he stares at it strangely. In the middle of the room was a fairly large chest like something one would see in a pirate book depicted to be holding gold or some rare treasure.
"What the heck is this and how did it get in my apartment?' He wondered.
'I've heard of thieves breaking in and taking stuff, but never of someone breaking in and giving stuff' Naruto thought curiously.
Still he was taught to beware of strangers baring gifts or maybe it was bears with strange gifts or gifts with strange bears … it was one of those he was sure. Regardless he would inspect it later. He didn't have classes today thankfully as it was Sunday, but he still thought he should get to the bathroom and do his morning routine before trying to open the chest.
Naruto made it to the bathroom without any further delay and used the bathroom before taking a shower and then stood in front of the mirror. He first wiped it down as it had fogged up from the shower, but when he did he was further surprised.
For his head was different than he last remembered. His hair was no longer spiky and sticking up everywhere. It was no smooth, shiny, and flowing down his shoulders reaching just about mid-shoulder in length.
His face was also different. The whisker marks that he had since he could remember were gone leaving a smooth tan unblemished cheek to reflect on the mirror. His teeth were whiter than he remembered and the four sharper teeth were a little shorter as well. His eyes if possible seemed lighter a more clear blue than before.
He lastly noted he didn't have to stretch to see his face in the mirror like usual. That made him look down and noticed he had grown. That alone was enough to cause him to cheer out, but instead he smiled.
Naruto quickly brushed his teeth and then for the first time brushed and combed his hair. He wasn't going to be girly about it, but he liked his hair this way. As he walked onto the bathroom he stepped on something furry and hard.
Yeow!' the thing shouted/roared.
It then proceeded to try to a chunk out of Naruto's leg, but he jumped back in time to avoid being bitten. It ran after Naruto forcing him to run and jump on his bed. As he looked at the thing trying to bite him Naruto noted that it looked like a large white cat. The differences were that the ears were almost on the side of the head and rounded, and it had a tuft of hair on the end of it's tail which had a visible bruise.
Naruto usually wasn't the smartest kid, but he could tell what happened and immediately apologized to the cat.
"I'm sorry I stepped on your tail. If you stop trying to bite me I'll make it up to you by buying you breakfast" Naruto says.
The cat seemed to accept the apology and settled down allowing Naruto to get dressed. When Naruto went to his fridge he noticed it was empty. It seems he needed to go shopping again. He really hated shopping. Usually the old man would send him some stuff along with some pocket money every other week to help him get by.
"Hmph … seems I don't have anything to eat" Naruto says out loud.
He looks at the cat and notice it is starting get angry.
"Wait! I know … we'll go out for breakfast! I know just the place" Naruto says.
Naruto didn't know why but he swore he felt like the cat nodded and ushered him to hurry up. Naruto checked his pants pocket, but didn't feel his wallet so he looked onto the floor for the pants he wore yesterday and took his wallet from the pocket before placing it in the pair he was wearing.
Dropping the pants Naruto checked to make sure he had everything and noted he hadn't put on his jumpsuit. Instead he donned the orange pants since that was all he had and a black t-shirt. Grabbing his keys Naruto headed for the door with the cat following him.
When Naruto opened the door he noted the cat ran out in front of him but waited at the steps for him allowing Naruto to close and lock the door before they made their way down the stars with Naruto being careful of the tail. As the odd duo walked through the village they were getting many strange looks.
Well for Naruto they were strange since they weren't filled with hate, indifference, or condemnation (not that he knew what that was). Instead they were curious or searching as if they didn't know who he was. This was good news to Naruto as he always hated the way a majority of the villagers would look at him.
When they made it to Naruto's destination, which of course was Ramen Ichiraku, Naruto picked the cat up and sat him on an empty stool at the counter and then took the one next to it.
"Welcome to Ramen Ichiraku, how may we serve you" said a cute dark haired girl.
This was Ayame, waitress at Ramen Ichiraku and daughter of the proprietor of the shop. She was eleven years old and one of the few girls Naruto could call a friend. She usually liked to tease him, but she was nice and would talk to him when the stand wasn't too busy or he really needed someone to talk to.
"Hi Ayame-neechan!" Naruto called out.
Ayame of course immediately knew the voice of her most frequent customer and little brother. She hadn't really seen him before, but now that she was looking she couldn't help but blush a little.
'So cute' she thought.
"Is that really you Naruto?" she asked.
"Of course it's me! Who else would I be?" Naruto responded.
"Okay, okay it's just … you look so different. What happened to your face?" Ayame asked.
"What? Is something wrong with my face?" Naruto asked.
"No, no … it's just … your cute little whisker marks are gone" Ayame told him.
"Oh … I don't know. I woke up and they were gone and my hair was different as well" Naruto responds.
Ayame nodded and gave a big smile.
"Alright Naruto-kun, what can I get you?" Ayame asked.
"Actually I'd like a bowl of Shōyu ramen please … and if you have any meat I'd like some for the cat" Naruto orders.
Ayame froze in shock as did Teuchi. Their no.1 customer and favorite ramen addict whom usually ordered 10 bowls of ramen, but never less than 3 was ordering a single bowl.
For Teuchi he didn't know what kind of hell he had been transported to. He was already calculating all the lost business if this wasn't one time thing. His profit demanded that Naruto be a ramen eating pig with a bottomless stomach. He only had a handful of other customers that ate anything close to what this boy did on an almost daily basis. And he couldn't count on luring an Akamichi, because they had on their own restraunts and shops.
Ayame had brief thoughts similar to her father's, but she was mainly shocked that Naruto had said please. She loved her little brother, but the kid had the manners of a savage. She had taken it upon herself to try to teach the lonely little boy some manners, but her lessons always seemed to go in one ear and out the other. Plus, he never showed any interest in the things she tried to teach him so she had quickly stopped.
Teuchi was the first to break out of his shock as a pan caught on fire forcing him to deal with it. Ayame also broke out of it soon after as her father called for help. Those at the stand including Naruto watched with interest as the father-daughter duo combated the flames.
Thankfully it was a small fire and they were able to put it out before any real damage was done meaning they could continue serving customers. When Ayame came back out half an hour after she left she was holding Naruto's bowl of ramen.
"Sorry for the wait" Ayame apologize.
"It's no problem, I don't mind waiting, But are you guys alright nothing was damaged right?" Naruto asked.
Once again Ayame was stunned and missed the last half of the question. Naruto never liked to wait, even though it only took 3 minutes or less for her father to cook up his meals he would always complain for the whole 3 minutes. It was really annoying, but he was always so cute as he waited and fidgeted anxious for a bowl.
Teuci had also heard and was again surprised, but reined it in as he didn't need another fire. The first one was already going to cost him in repairs. He also answered for his daughter thanking the little blond for his concern. Which also meant he got his first look at Naruto and couldn't contain his surprise. He asked the same question Ayame had earlier and got the same response.
"I think you should go see the Hokage Naruto, he might want to see your changes for himself" Teuchi directed the boy.
"Why?" Naruto asked.
"He cares for you a lot Naruto. I just think he would want you to get checked out to make sure there is nothing wrong with … you. That's all" Teuchi says.
Naruto looks questioningly at the old cook. He detected that pause and found it odd as well as being told the see the Hokage for something that wasn't a big deal. So his hair was different, the whisker marks were gone, his eyes were clearer, and he was a little taller. He was also thinking more clearly and noticing things he hadn't before, but that went unnoticed by the blond.
"Okay, but can my cat get some meat before we go?" Naruto asked.
When Teuchi looked beside Naruto he indeed so a white cat, which he would have mistaken for a kitten because it looked so young but it was bigger than any kitten he could remember seeing before.
"Sure, coming right up" Teuchi says.
"Ayame … Ayame … Ayame!" Teuchi shouted getting the girls attention.
"Take this over to Naruto" He says a few minutes later handing her a plate.
Ayame took the plate and sat it down in front of Naruto. She wondered what he wanted the extra meat for when she saw him sit it down on the stool next to a white cat that didn't seem quite normal.
"Where did you get the cat Naruto-kun? You aren't taking in strays again are you?" the young girl questioned.
"No, uhh … I don't know. He was in my apartment when I woke up and I stepped on his tail so I offered him lunch and he came with me" Naruto responds.
Ayame nodded at the story, but just found it all too weird. She decided to let it go. Everything with Naruto was a little weird and she had come to expect that sort of stuff where he was concerned.
"Does he have a name tag? Maybe he belongs to someone?" The older girl asked.
Naruto just shook his head. He hadn't seen any tag and for some reason he felt the little guy belonged with him.
"Then you'll have to take good care of him" Ayame says.
Naruto smiled at the girl and nodded before finishing his bowl of ramen. Ayame also noted that he took longer to eat and wasn't as messy as usual. Things just kept getting weirder and weirder.
Then when Naruto stood up he actually took money out of his pockets. Ayame briefly wondered where his little frog wallet had gone, but shook that off for the surprise of Naruto plunking down the correct amount of money and a little more for a tip plus paid some of his tab off.
The father-daughter duo loved the boy to death, but he rarely actually paid. For the most part the Hokage took care of Naruto's bill while they had started a tab under which Naruto promised to pay off one day. Of course the two had no idea the Hokage was actually paying the bill off with Naruto's inheritance, but that wasn't important.
When Naruto left heading for the Hokage Mansion where the Hokage's office resided Teuchi came out from the back for a break as the place had become empty, which sadly wasn't unusual during or for half an hour after Naruto ate there. Although some of that was because of how the boy would eat. Even veteran ninja told him they found it difficult to be around when the boy ate his ramen, a few likening it to the horrors they experienced during their tour(s) of duty.
This time it was different as it was just a lull and he wanted an early break. Thus he found Ayame staring at a small neat pile of money.
"Ayame … Ayame … Ayame!" He shouted getting her attention.
"What's wrong Ayame-chan?" The worried father questioned.
"N-N-Naruto … paid for his ramen and the extra meat, plus left the correct amount for a tip" Ayame tells him pointing at the money.
"Oh … that's good seems the boy is starting to grow up a little. I did notice he seemed a little taller today" Teuchi says while thinking it over.
"Noo … you don't get it. He even paid some of his tab off" Ayame says.
The amount of alarm in the girls' voice caused Teuchi to go and count the excess money putting the rest minus the tip in the register. When he did he found it put a little dent in the money owed, but not much. The kid had only been coming around for a couple of years so he hadn't amounted that great a bill with the Hokage's help.
Teuchi was a visionary though and part of the reason he let the tab stand and keep running because it was already at a tidy sum and he could only see it growing even larger. Naruto's tab had in a sense become Ayame's college fun/ His retirement fun. With Naruto now ordering less food and paying off his tab …
Both father and daughter stared at the money for over an hour before a customer snapped them out of it.
Meanwhile, Naruto had arrived at the Hokage Mansion and was sitting in the waiting area reading one of the shinobi related magazines that littered the table in front of him. The receptionist had already informed the Hokage about the boy being there, but was busy in a meeting so she was stuck watching the brat.
Unlike the previous secretaries the Hokage had Michi actually liked the little blond boy. It was just he rarely waited for her to inform the Hokage of his arrival and often barged in rudely ignoring her. So this was shocking to her as she watched the boy … wait paitiently and read. That was also new.
'When did he learn to read?' she thought.
He had just recently been enrolled in the academy so he shock was justified. Plus, intelligence wasn't one the boys known strong points as a matter of fact it was just the opposite.
So imagine the Hokage's surprise when he came out of his office to find out why his secretary wasn't answering him only to witness the same thing she was.
"Naruto … is that you?" The Hokage asked.
"It's me old man, what did you forget me already?" Naruto questioned.
"No … no … it's just you look … so different … and who taught you how to read?" the Hokage asked.
Naruto just shrugged not knowing how to answer that.
"Alright,, did you want to come into my office?" the Sandiame asks.
Naruto shrugged. He had only come because Teuchi said he should. The Sandiame was surprised by the action, but led the boy to his office after telling his secretary to let anyone that needed to see him know he was busy.
The Hokage offered Naruto the standard chair in front of his desk before he sat back in his seat and observed Naruto. The kid was looking around the room like he had never seen it before, which was odd. He barged into the office at least twice a week for little to no reason, which the old man had accepted and come to expect.
"Who are those people on the ceiling and why do they have masks on?" Naruto asks before sitting down.
Both the ANBU and the Hokage were shocked. The Sandiame even checked to make sure the ANBU were using their normal stealth jutsu before turning back to Naruto.
"What are you talking about Naruto-kun?" The Sandiame asked.
"I am talking about the one wearing chameleon mask there, the one in the tiger mask there, the one in the dog mask there, and the one in the cat mask over there" Naruto says pointing each one out.
Now the Hokage and ANBU were beginning to freak out. No one should be able to see them. They could even hide from Byakugan, so how was this kid with no dōjutsu managing to find them.
"Naruto … those are ANBU that are assigned to protect me. How can you see them?" The Hokage asked.
Naruto looked at the man and then back at the masked ninja and gave a shrug to the Hokage. The Hokage couldn't just accept that. Something weird was going on and he needed to find out.
"Why did you come to see me Naruto-kun?" the Sandiame asked.
"Because Teuchi-ojisan said I should. He said you would want to see me, because I look different I guess" Naruto replies.
'What is wrong with everyone today?' Naruto thought.
When Naruto said that, the Hokage finally took a good look at Naruto. He almost let out a gasp when he noticed the changes, now that he wasn't thinking about Naruto's odd behavior. Only his experience helped him keep from showing too much surprise.
'This could be serious. I need to get Jiraiya here fast. Something has happened and I'm sure the Kyūbi is behind these changes. But I need to stall … I know"
"I'm glad he did my boy, it's always good to see you. Unfortunately I have a meeting in a few minutes and more paperwork to do so I would like you to come back tomorrow after school let's out. Is that okay?" the Hokage asks.
"Sure" Naruto says with a shrug.
He had been shrugging a lot today he realized.
"Good … good, then I'll see you tomorrow" The Hokage says as he stands up.
"Alright …" Naruto says as he and the cat walk out the door.
Sarutobi was thrown for another shock when he noticed the cat. He hadn't even seen it before. This was bad, really, really bad. He didn't have a good feeling about this. Then again it might just be the paranoia of an old war vet, but he couldn't take that chance.
As soon as the door shut he summoned Enma and had him deliver a message to the Toads. He knew Enma hated playing delivery ape, but this was the quickest and most secure way to get a message to Jiraiya.
He then looked to his ANBU detail to find the redoing their stealth jutsu just to make sure it was active and functioning properly, which it was. The Hokage also made a note to visit the Ramen stand and talk to Teuchi directly to get his prospective. Naruto didn't know it, but Teuchi had actually be a shinobi during the 1st and 2nd world wars up until he met his wife and she gave birth to little Ayame.
Now he just needed to figure out a way to smuggle Naruto into the hospital without the council or the civilians being notified. He would contact the clan heads when he figured out whatever it was that was going on and then tell the council. He was sure the civilians would find out soon enough afterwards.
With Naruto he had made it back to his apartment without incident and was now looking at the chest. The cat was there as well, watching him strangely. Naruto decided he should try and open it. When he did …
"What the heck is all of this?" He questioned out loud.
Thank you for reading the first chapter of this new story. Which some of you may notice as the first story I actually released on this site. I felt bad about taking it down and putting a new story in it's place so I decided to bring it back and redo it. I hope you liked it.