A/N:

New story here! And I know. Some of you are thinking, "Are you crazy? You still have an unfinished story waiting for completion and you're starting on another one?!" But this idea wouldn't leave me alone! I had to write this!

Warning! grammars

Pairing: Not sure. Maybe implied ones?

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO!

Leaving Behind

Prologue

There was once in Naruto's life when he was just like any child. He was sheltered, loved, and protected. He had someone to lean on. He had a father figure and a friend. Naruto had a house and a yard and someone that scolded him whenever he was being a little too mischievous. He had someone that he trusted explicitly for his wellbeing. During that part in his life, he was taught how to read and write. He was taught many things that kids his age shouldn't have been able to learn or grasp. And for that father figure and friend, he would've done anything but all that was asked of him was to be understanding.

He only understood what that person meant when it was too late. By that time, that person had already left Naruto. It was too late for that person to see anything. It didn't matter how many times Naruto cried and begged for the man to come back because he never did. All his begging and crying were all just a waste of his strength and energy. It was then that Naruto learned what loneliness was.

When he was alone with no one to fall back on, the world had suddenly become harsh. He was hated and bullied for absolutely no reason and he had no one to run back to. He was sent to an orphanage that held too many children that were uncared for. The matrons there hated not only him, but every single child that resided in that orphanage. Many times, he and the other children had to go without food for weeks. There, he learned what it meant to truly care for something.

In the short amount of time he stayed there, he found himself having to care for the other children. He had to care for the ones that couldn't walk yet, the ones that couldn't talk yet, and the ones that were too young to understand that Naruto wasn't their 'daddy'. They didn't understand that Naruto was only five years old and in no way old enough to be a father.

There Naruto was also happy. It wasn't the ideal life but he had people that he cared about, people that relied on him. He had a family. Then that was also taken away from him. The orphanage was burned down by those that had an unexplainable hate of Naruto. All the matrons died and almost all of the children there were gone. Only two had survived. A four month old baby girl and a three year boy. They were the only two that he had managed to save. For years afterwards, he was plagued by nightmares. The faces of those he couldn't save haunted him. Sometimes his dreams would show the children hating him. But those were okay. They had a right to hate him. He couldn't save them and he deserved it.

The ones that really got to him were the dreams of those children smiling at him. In those dreams, the children told him that they didn't blame him, that they loved him. Don't blame yourself, they said. We love you and we'll always watch over you, daddy, they said. Those ones hurt. They made his chest clench in a way that left him gasping for breath, face red, and tears streaming out. He would've given anything to see them again, but he couldn't. They should've blamed him, but they didn't. It always left him in a wallowing mess of sadness and pain. One that threatened to consume his every waking hours.

Once, he almost took his own life. It wasn't worth it to keep living in pain and he so badly wanted to be with the ones that left him. He had grabbed for a broken glass and gotten ready to stab himself when a whimper from the two bundles beside him snapped him from his despair. They weren't aware that he was about to abandon them, but he was. If that whimper hadn't come out when it had, the two children he'd taken such pains to rescue would've been left alone. The things he'd done would've been in vain and they'd have suffered the same fate as him and that's what really stopped him from giving into his suicidal tendencies.

In that cold and bitter filled night, Naruto swore that he'd live for those two children. He'd live for them and he'd die for them because they were the only two precious things left in his life. Without him, the two would've been defenseless and at the mercy of those that had destroyed their homes and killed their brothers and sisters. Call him selfish but he couldn't let that happen. Not on his life and not even after that! He'd protect the two 'till the day he died! He promised that.

When the two children woke up, he had hugged them tightly and apologized to them over and over again. The despair he'd felt so strongly dissipated as the sunrise washed over the three of them in loving, gentle rays. At that moment, he recalled what that person and told him with a sad smile.

"You don't have to do anything for me, Naru-chan. I don't want you to do anything. I just want you to have a normal childhood. And if you want to do anything for me, just grow up to be a great person. Grow up to be an understanding person."

"Why?" He had asked.

"Because my child, people in this world aren't understanding enough. If we had just one person more in this world that were willing to understand one another, we'd have a world full of peace. War and violence doesn't have to happen." He'd given Naruto a gentle smile full of sadness and worldly burdens.

"But why do I have to be understanding?"

"Because if it's not you, then who else? And besides, I'm not asking you to be understanding, it's your choice."

"It is?" Naruto frowned thoughtfully. "If I become understanding, what happens? What does it matter if I'm understanding but the other person is not?"

At that, that person smiled triumphantly. "It'll become your secret weapon!"

The younger Naruto just shook his head in disbelief.

That wasn't the first time that he recalled what his father figure had asked of him but it was the first time that it had hit him so hard. It had finally sank in why he had to be understanding. It hurt when he realized it. Tears came out involuntarily and his chest tightened painfully. It was like a stab to his already broken and bleeding heart. He'd never even had time to heal when he was hurt again over and over. He understood that that if he was anything other than understanding, he'd have just made things worse. He'd be like the villagers who tried to kill him and anyone innocent who were involved.

He didn't want that.

And so the small fairytale that he had lived in shattered completely. The world wasn't as nice as he thought it was. The world was cruel and it ruined and killed innocent and unsuspecting people. It was never nice to the good people. This was something he experienced first hand. During that period in his life in an attempt to follow with what that person had told him, he was tricked and betrayed many times. People laughed at his pain and misery. They even encouraged and fed off of it.

They weren't like that person at all. That person that he could trust.

That man always kept his promises. It didn't matter how difficult the promise was, he would keep it or die trying. It was from that person that Naruto learned to keep his promises, no matter how insignificant it was. And for three short years not counting the two years at the orphanage, he was truly and completely happy.

But all of that was gone in a matter of hours. He was abandoned and left alone.

The man had died eight years ago.

.

.

.

"Kit! Wake up! The two devils are awake!" The voice that thundered through his head was an annoyed one.

"I'm awake Kurama…" Naruto yawned, unconsciously showing his long canines.

"Brat! They be here in nine seconds." Kurama grumbled with an animalistic growl.

"Okay." Naruto slowly got up. The sun's rays hit his blonde hair beautifully, making him glow in an ethereal way.

"Daddy!" Two distinct voices called out enthusiastically making his cerulean blue eyes widen in surprise. One was male and he sounded closer than the other one who was a female.

He had barely gotten out of bed when he was tackled back on it. Groaning in pain, he used his elbows to push himself up, shaking his head to clear the hair out of his face.

"Haru-kun?" He playfully glared at the young boy in front of him. "Where's Kiyoko-chan?" He asked.

"Behind me." Haru quickly replied before burying his head full of red hair into Naruto's chest.

Rolling his eyes, he sat up and waited for the other pitter pat sound to come closer. He smiled as a familiar shout of 'daddy' reached his ears. Petting Haru's red hair back, he got up and patiently waited for Kiyoko. A few seconds later, she was in front of him, her short baby legs rushing towards him at a speed unusual for a toddler.

"Daddy!" She screamed in frustration, her navy blue hair, almost black hair swished adorably as she came to an abrupt stop.

He smiled at her apologetically before glancing down at a blissful Haru. "Haru-kun," he whispered, "you might want to move your legs a little higher or she'll bite it." Without a sound, the red haired boy immediately wrapped his legs around the blonde's waist.

"Daddy!" Kiyoko gave Naruto a cute glare.

Naruto chuckled and bent down for a hug. She responded immediately "Who taught you how to glare?" He cooed. "Did you teach her, Haru-kun?"

"No." Was the muffled reply.

"No? Then who did?" The blonde asked as he set both of them on the bed, his cerulean eyes twinkle merrily.

"Haru." Kiyoko chirped helpfully. She gave Haru a bubbly smile.

Haru glared at her, his green eyes lit up angrily. "I didn't teach her, daddy. She copied it!" The small boy crossed his arms and humphed.

Kiyoko's smile widened. "No."

Haru's head immediately snapped back to her. "What do you mean 'no'?" He yelled. "I didn't teach you how to glare! You copied it!"

Naruto gave an amused snort. Here we go again, he thought.

"Teach! Teach!" The amber eyed baby clapped her hands cheerfully.

"I did not!"

The blonde rolled his eyes at their behavior.

"I'm telling you," Kurama snorted in amusement, "that the female kit is just egging him on."

Naruto just nodded his head in agreement. "I should stop them, shouldn't I?"

"Not yet. The good part's just starting." The fox murmured distractedly.

Naruto laughed. "Let's make breakfast, everyone." He called clapping his hands. The chatter quickly died down.

"Breakfast?" Came Kurama's eager response. "I'm poofing out!" And before Naruto could respond, a small orange fox poofed out of thin air. "What are you waiting for, brat? Go make some food!" The fox demanded before running towards the kitchen.

With an enthusiastic shout, Haru jumped from the bed and followed Kurama leaving an angry Kiyoko behind.

"Daddy! Help!" Pouting angrily, Kiyoko raised both her hands up, demanding that Naruto pick her up.

With a gentle smile, he grabbed her and ran after the other two.

This is the present not the past, Naruto reassured himself. Nothing's going to happen.

A/N: What do you think? Is this something worth continuing? Tell me your feelings and opinions on it. Give me some advice, ok?

Thanks! Love ya!