Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Naruto: Pride of the Shadows

Prologue: No More tears

Naruto's breath came in quick pants as he tried to regain his bearings. Tears were streaming down his face as he wailed into the night. He tried to blink the tears away, as he looked at his surroundings. Naruto found himself hiding behind a dumpster, near the backdoor of the orphanage.

He cried harder, his sapphire eyes swimming, as he remembered the reason he was running away. The boy's 4th birthday was coming up and people started treating him like trash. The adults were glaring at him while kids older than him insulted and hit him.

The spiky haired blonde couldn't take it anymore, and started to run as fast as he could; not caring where he would end up. He was stopped when he bumped into something. He screamed in surprise when a firm hand grasped his collar and lifted him off the ground.

"I didn't do anything to you" Naruto shouted.

"You better watch where you're going boy" replied the old man with a scar passing over his right eye.

"I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me!" cried Naruto whilst flailing his arms and legs in an attempt to escape the older man's grip.

The man abruptly set him down and gave him a thoughtful look. The man said, "If you stop crying I'll teach to become strong enough to defend yourself and those you care about."Naruto wiped his eyes on the edge of his sleeve and looked up at the elder. The man trained his good eye on the boy and said, "It isn't going to be easy. I promise you that the training will be difficult, but when we're finished you'll become strong."

A small smile graced the lips of the kid. 'Maybe this can teach me how to become as strong as jiji' he thought. "Ok old man, I'm ready! I promise you I'll become stronger than Sarutobi-ojiisan!"

The man slightly raised an eyebrow but smirked inwardly, as he started to walk away. Maybe just maybe, Hiruzen was right. With children like Naruto the future of Konoha would be safe. 'But it's always better to be safe than sorry. I need a successor... Yes, Naruto will do the trick. If I can't become hokage, I'll make him into the one Konohagakure needs. He'll be the one to lead the shinobi world into prosperity.'

His thoughts were cut short when the blonde shouted. "Hey! You forgot to tell me your name old man!"

He said, "Danzo" as he disappeared into the shadows.

The next day, Naruto found himself in one of the dark gloomy training hallways of Danzo's base going through different taijutsu stances. "Become as unmovable as a mountain, but remain as flexible as a blade of grass." berated the man with the x-shaped scar on his chin. The man shifted his stance and toppled the kid over with the tip of his cane.

"Be aware of your surroundings but remain focused on your opponent." He said as Naruto stood up. Danzo swung his cane around expecting to hit Naruto on the cheek but the boy unexpectedly blocked it with his forearm. To say Danzo was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. The usually stoic Root commander was estatic with the boy's potential. Were it not for his experience in suppressing his emotions he would have smiled. 'This boy will be great someday' he surmised.

The council elder pulled back his cane and swiftly maneuvered the curved end to grab the kid's ankle. He yanked it and Naruto fell over yet again.

Naruto was frustrated and he wanted to scream at the man—it was his fourth time fall on his butt. He opened his mouth to scream when he remembered Danzo's first rule, 'good shinobi don't have emotions but the great ones know how to control theirs. Emotions like fear and anger can drive us useless and weak, while emotions like love can make us stronger.' Naruto cooled down and put his frustration into check.

Danzo smirked at his victory. Naruto had learned his first lesson. The kid was special and destined for great things. He didn't want him to become one of his emotionless drones since he knew the boy would need to learn how to relate with others to become an effective hokage. Having emotions himself, Naruto would be able to understand what drives people. He would learn how to inspire and lead. With emotions Naruto would truly become strong.

The blonde kid could grow up into a magnificent leader, one which Konoha needed, if he grew up right. 'I guess I'll just have to make sure. I'll be there every step of the way.'

Naruto stood up once more with a look so determined it could burn water. The look said, "Keep on trying. I'll just get back up everytime."

He went into his stance and steeled himself for Danzo's next move. He was ready for anything. When none came he tilted his head upward to show the man his puzzled look.

Naruto glanced at the elder and an image was forever burned into his memory. The old man was looking at him. His head was tilted down, and x-shaped scar facing the ground. Danzo's eyebrows were furrowed into frown while his lips were slightly curving upward at the corners. The man was trying to suppress a smile. There was something about the man's look that engraved one word in his head, 'Pride'…The old man was proud of him.

The tiny boy with yellow-gold hair did his best to prevent himself from tearing up but he could not help it. His vision turned glassy, tears slowly forming. He gave in and allowed himself to cry, but not before making a promise he would forever keep.

'This is the last time I will cry'