The Beginning

Chapter One

"How is he doing?" asked the Third Hokage to the man sitting next to a bed that held a four year old boy with blond hair.

"Not good. Before he was injured it seems he was neglected and under weight," spoke the man. "The only doctor that didn't have a grudge said that he had lost a lot of blood and had several broken bones. He managed to heal the wounds and set the bones back in place. Then I asked him when the kid should be waking up and he replied that he was unsure."

For a few minutes nothing was said, before The Third spoke once more. "I think it is time that I went into more ground rules for the safety of Naruto." The other man looked at him wondering what he was going to do. He became a little confused with the next things that were said until he finally understood.

"He swore me to secrecy that I would never tell anyone of who Naruto's father was, but now I need to do it in order to keep Naruto safe. He wanted to have him grow up having a normal life and not have him be targeted his whole life. With the event of today that is not the case anymore. If he knew what his son's life has turned into, I'm sure he would let me inform at least some trust worthy people to be let in on the truth."

After he said that he turned to away from the boy to look at the other man. "Ibiki, I'm going to need you to come with me so you will be there for the top secret meeting to discuss this matter. Then I'm going to have you go one by one with each of the wrong doers that went against my law I pasted years ago. I've already have an ANBU stationed outside his room that was with us earlier this night and doesn't have a grudge against him.

"Once that is done I think I will have a discussion with all the doctors about who they should treat." Then with that both men took one more look at the boy in the bed, before leaving the room. As they left they both hoped for the best.

He didn't know where he was. It was scaring him more and more as he traveled what looked to be endless underground sewer tunnels. No mater where he went or which tunnel he turned into he got nowhere. Then suddenly in the distance he could hear something like heavy breathing or growling it almost sounded like animal.

Thinking that whatever it was would help him get out of wherever he was, he went towards the noise. The closer he went the louder the noise got. Soon he came to a room that had a huge cell in it with a seal on it. It also seemed to be where all the noise was coming from. Being strong and showing no fear he moved closer.

Looking inside the cage or cell was totally dark. There seemed to be nothing inside the room. So the boy moved closer to maybe get a better look to know for sure if there was anything in there. Slowly he drew, afraid of not knowing. Then unexpectedly two red eyes appeared out of nowhere. Then swiftly a huge red paw came out at him between the metal bars.

Purely on instinct the boy jumped backwards away from the cell and scared he might get attacked again by whatever was inside. As the boy was trying to recover himself, the being inside sort of let out a growl that sort of sounded like a chuckle. The boy automatically looked up into the red eyes that stared back at him.

"Interesting," spoke the being in a deep hard voice. "Hm…very interesting."

The boy looked at him confused and a little scared. Getting the courage up a little, he spoke. "Um…who…who are you? And where are we?"

"We are inside your mind escape from the real world, kit. This part of your mind shows so far how your life has been like for you and from what I've seen and heard, you've had it pretty bad."

"I think I get it. So who are you?"

"I'm Kyuubi the Nine-Tailed Fox, kit.'

"I'm Naruto."

"I know kit. Being inside of you, since you were an infant, I pretty much know everything about you."

"Oh, so you were born with me."

"No, I was sealed inside of you"

"Why?"

When the Kit asked him this, Kyuubi didn't know whether or not to tell the truth. Then he decided to go with the slight truth. "Because I did some bad things and the only way to get ride of me was to seal me into a new born, which happened to be you. I think they did it so that I would be given sort of chance at seeing life in a better way and to see my errors in what I have done to the village you live in. But so far. I haven't seen much"

"Oh," said Naruto now sad. He started to understand why some people would look at him hatefully or call him a demon child. Then he looked up at Kyuubi. "Would that mean I'm bad, too?"

Kyuubi looked at the Kit understandingly and plus the fact he could feel the kit's sadness in waves. "No, Kit, only me. You are just container to hold me inside. You were to grow up like any other kit your age."

Hearing that, Naruto was almost happy again. "So could you get free?"

"Possible, but since I am sealed inside of you, I couldn't leave your body. I can only take control when you probably need my help in a life or death situation, but only then we would have to be united as one in body and mind."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that since the time I've been sealed inside of you I have been sort of merging with you body. As you grow your features will have some fox features add to you. The changes will probably be in your eyes, face, teeth and hands and feet. Plus to add your chakra will slowly combine with mine because since I'm in this cage it will just go to waste."

It was enough that Naruto understood. "So who put you in me?"

Once again Kyuubi didn't know whether to tell the kit the whole truth, so he gives him sort of the truth. "The one, who put me in you was The Fourth Hokage, Kit."

"Wow he must have been powerful."

Kyuubi chuckled. "Yeah Kit, he was." Then as he looked down at the Kit, he spotted a look on his face. "Kit, what are you thinking?"

Naruto smiled at him and said, "I want to be powerful like him and have people notice me for me, not something that happed when I was little."

"So you want to Hokage?" He chuckled to himself.

"Yup. Then everyone will see me for me."

"That quite a goal you got yourself, kit and I hope you get it."

Then suddenly they could hear voices. "What's happing?" said Naruto a little worried.

"You're waking up Kit."

"But I don't want to leave yet!"

"I know Kit, but I will always be here for you."

The slowly the voices started to quiet as Naruto woke.

Stepping into his office the Hokage was met with several people, who had been waiting for him to arrive. Four of them were clan's Leaders, one was a chunin, another was an Anbu, a former student, and a former student's student. They all sat patiently for him to sit down and speak. Ibiki followed him and stop to stand next to his desk.

After he was seated, he spoke. "I'm sure each of you has found out about what has happened earlier this night." They each nodded. "Ibiki if you mind." The said man nodded and then did a jutsu so no one outside of the room could hear what was going on or said secretly inside the room. What need to be said had to be kept a secret.

"What I'm about to tell you must never be spoken outside this room unless of some reason it needs to be." Once everyone agreed, he continued. "With what has happen tonight was the final straw for me I will no longer tolerate this hateful action to a child, who has yet any understanding why people may hate him. Because of what has happened a boy is in the hospital suffering the cruel intentions of several people in this village."

"Well he was the one to cause the end of the Fourth's life along with many of the villagers and ninjas." Spoke a former student of the fourth, Kakashi Hakate. Two others people nodded with him. One being was Iruka Umina, who had lost both of his parents four years ago in the battle against the nine tailed fox. The other person was the former teammate to the Fourth, Hiashi Hyuuga of the Hyuuga Clan.

"That was not the child's fault," spoke up the leader to The Nara Clan. "He was only an infant at the time." Almost everyone else nodded, except Jiraiya, who was the Fourth's Teacher. He didn't know which side to be on.

"He is right," spoke Sarutobi gaining every ones attention once more. "Naruto had been chosen by the Fourth to hold Kyuubi, since he could not be destroyed. He could have picked another child, but he knew he couldn't place the burden onto another child and he also knew no one would want to have the responsibility in their child. So the Fourth was left to put Kyuubi into a baby, who would grow up without his parents, his son."

Almost everyone in the room had been shocked at hearing the last part. Sarutobi just decided to continue. "I was sworn to secrecy to tell no one, but after tonight, I'm sure he would forgive me for telling each of you because I want to further his son's safety. The reason none of you were told this was to protect him from any enmies Arashi had when he had been alive, so Naruto's last name was changed."

"The reason now all of you have been told is so Naruto has more eyes watching out for him and to make sure he grows up normally like each and every child would need, even thought he would still be looked down upon by some. He has suffered enough and I won't tolerate it any more. He is still young and should grow up to be like any normal child, but no one except a few people, won't give him a chance."

As he spoke they each had turned to their thoughts, but still listened to him. Some were quite a shame of how they thought of or treated Naruto, even though it was still a shocker. They had never thought Arashi had a son, but now that they thought on it they could see how similar they looked, with the bright blue eyes and the blond hair.

The only person in the room, who didn't really know what Naruto looked like, only knew him from rumors or what he heard from people. When hearing the news he couldn't wait to meat the son of the man he pretty much had considered his son. He was already had ideas going through his head on what he could teach the child, so to honor his father.

After giving them more time the third spoke once more. "Now that you all know the truth do I have your word that you will protect him from those who will hurt him? It does not matter if it is from a far, just as long as he is safe." One by one each agreed including those, who had thought badly of him. "Good. Further I have made it manditory to have an Anbu watch just incase from a far and until he is old enough to take care of himself."

"When there is a chance, I would like to meet him," spoke Jiraiya.

"I knew you would."

Just as the Hokage was going to continue an Anbu member appeared in the room suddenly, with a four year old boy in his arms. "I'm sorry Hokage," said the man. "The hospital was not safe for him anymore. It seems word got out that he was there. I thought it was best to come here with him."

"That is quite alright. You can lay him on the couch." He did just that before returning to his spot infront of Sarutobi. "What is his condition now?"

"Before we left the doctor checked him and said he was completely healed and that we just need to wait for him to wake up. The doctor also seemed a little perplex about something."

"Alright you may go, but I want you to find out who told where he was." The Anbu nodded and left. When he was gone, Sarutobi looked at both Ibiki and the only woman in the room. "It looks like you both will have more guests later."

"I can't wait," spoke Anko with an evil look in her eyes as she smiled.

When that was settled, Jiraiya asked, "How injured was he?"

"Badly, but it seems something is helping his process." They all glazed at the child on the couch. They could see the state the child was in. "Ibiki I also want to know why he was not in the orphanage and so under weight."

"I will."

"So where will he be staying?" ask Chouza a big heavy set man.

"I believe it will be best for him to live in his father's home, but I do not want him living there alone. If his mother was still alive he would of grown up with her. Sadly she died giving birth to him in labor and that was how I found out about Naruto. Arashi had never mentioned her to me in order to protect her from any spies or enemies. They both kept their relationship a secret in order to keep safe.

"Also from what I found out her name was Kaoru Himura and she seems to have been an only child. She was raised by her father, who died when she was seventeen and there was nothing I could find out about her mother, so it is possible that she passed on when she was younger. She made her living working in a restaurant and that is where I believe Arashi had met her."

As Anko listen on, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. It had been a long time since she had heard of that name. Once more she looked over at the boy and knew that she had to take responsibility of him. "I'll live with him." Everyone looked at her shocked. So then she continued. "Kaoru may have been an only child to her father, but to her mother she was a daughter of two. So in other terms the kid is blood."

The leader of the Nara Clan spoke first. "So you and the kid are related?"

"Yeah, before my mother passed on she told me I had an older sister, a Kaoru Himura. At the time I was so young, I didn't know were to look her up and as I grow up I never really cared to look her up. That and I have other things on my mind, such as beating up that basturd, Orochimaru for what he did to me," she said speaking the last part with venom in her voice.

"Then it is settled," spoke up Sarutobi getting every ones attention again. "Naruto and Anko will live in the estate, but it will be your responsibility to at least provide for him. You will also be able to use any funds left to him to support on until he is old enough to know wisely on how to take care of himself." She nodded.

"If you don't mind," spoke Jiraiya. "When I'm in town I would like to stay with them, so I can teach him like I have taught his father."

"That would have to be up to Anko, since it would seem she is his legal gradian by blood."

Everyone looked to Anko. "I guess I'll allow it, if you teach him appropriately and try not to be a peeping tom. Also I won't allow you to taint his mine with your crap you do on the side because if you don't follow..." She left her threat open so he could fill in the blank. Even her eyes showed that if he crossed the line she would do something.

Jiraiya couldn't help but shutter. Still he nodded his head, when he looked at Naruto. He didn't want to miss his chance to know the kid and to see if he would be like his father. "I'll have to fallow some rules at some point in my life." Almost everyone was shocked, but understood, who he was dealing with and didn't want to be on the recieving end.

Before any one would speak further, they heard Naruto waking up. He was moving around more than when he had been sleeping. First he rubbed his eyes as he lowly sat up. Then one by one he opened his eyes and began to look around. Spotting them in the room, they saw how he got a little scared in his eyes. But then when he spotted the Hokage, quicker than the eye could see he was gone. Most were shocked that he could disappear so quickly. It was only when Sarutobi moved that they knew where he went.

"Hello, Naruto,"said Sarutobi looking do at the boy, who didn't reply or take his eyes off of them. To everyone in the room, it seemed the memory of what happened earlier was still fresh in his mind. "You're safe Naruto. They won't hurt you." At those words he relaxed some and looked up at Sarutobi. "How are you?"

Naruto bit his bottom lip at first, before speaking. "I'm hungry." Some smiled at his response.

"We'll get you something. What would youlike?"

"I don't know?"

"What did you like eatting at the orphanage?"

"The scary lady wouldn't let me have anything. She would chase me away whenever it was time food. I find my food in a big box. I did have to climb boxes to get in it." When they heard this their eyes widen at knowing what he meant. This now just made them more ashamed of themselves that they hadn't stepped in and saved him. Even what they heard next made them feel even guiltier.

"Why didn't you come to see me?"

"I wanted to. More people chased me away. The scary lady even shut me out many days ago."

"Well your safe now Naruto, so don't worry." Naruto nodded. "Ibiki if you don't mind." The man noddid and disappeared in a poof of smoke, knowing what the Hokage wanted. "Now Naruto I have someone you should meet," said Sarutobi

Anko stepped forward. Naruto looked at her. "Hey kid, name's Anko and it would seem I'm your aunt." He looks back and forth between her and the Hokage confused not sure if it is true or not. Anko continued, "Your mom turns out to be my older half sister kid."

"She's right Naruto."

When the Hokage said that, he disappeared and reappeared in front of Anko. He looked at her still not sure or knowing what to do. Most people he had run in with looked at him hatefully, but the lady in front of him look at him differently. She didn't look like she would hurt or was afraid of him. Then hearing that she was related to him he didn't know how to feel. All his life he had grown up alone not knowing he had family somewhere.

"Now that you know who I am, you outo know that now you and I will be living together in..." She was about to finish saying his father's home, but a sharp look from Sarutobi told her he didn't want Naruto to know who is father was just yet.

For some reason Naruto got really happy that someone actually wanted him. "Do you want to know something," he asked her suddenly. Anko nodded. "I want be just like the fourth, so people will recognize me for me. Kyuubi my new friend asked if I wanted to be Ho...Hoka...Hokage and I told him yeah. He hopes I get it."

When they heard that he wanted to be just like his father they were happy for the kid. But when they heard him say Kyuubi everyone in the room became shocked. Did the kid really just say what they heard? Look in at the others in the room, showed that they had heard the same thing, too. "Naruto," said Sarutobi trying to recover. "Where did you meet your new friend?"

"In my mind ecape he said, when I asked him. He was locked inside a cell or cage with this seal writing on it. Before I found him I was going through tunnels with water everywhere. He said that it show how my life was like to me or something like that. At first I thought he was going to hurt me, but he didn't. Instead he didn't make me feel scared of the place I was in with him. He even told me a few things."

"Like what?" asked Anko.

"um..that since he was inside of me that I would gain some things as I grew , like hearing, smelling and seeing better. He even side my face and my hands would change a little, like my eyes and mouth. That was all I think...Wait he did say that I would gain his cha...chakra to mine as I grow.

"Before that he told me the fourth was the one to put him in me for the bad things he did. I even asked him if that made me bad person too, but he said no, just him and that I was to just grow like every other child. He cheered me up and even thought I was in..interes..ting. He even kept on calling me Kit. Why would do that?"

"He means that since you are a kid. See in Fox terms their young are called Kit or Kits. It's the same in human terms where we call our young kid, kids, child, or children," spoke up Iruka drawing everyones attention.

Naruto looked at him and noddid his head. "You should be a teacher. You know a lot."

Iruka rubbed the back of his head and smile. He never had anyone suggest he be a teacher before. "Maybe I'll look into it."

For right now they would wait for another time to discuss matters about Kyuubi for later. Each of them was pretty much the same thinking process and knew that the demon fox wasn't going to be a problem seeing as how the child talked about him. He made the child feel less scared and even encourage the boy to reach a goal that some hoped he would reach. So looking from this they all started to believe that the demon fox wasn't going to be a problem for the village anymore, but be a benefit while inside the boy. Some were even wondering what the boy would bring to the future.

Soon every ones attention was back to watching him when Naruto looked at the only person with silver hair. In a second he was in front of the man. "Why do you wear a mask and why do you hide your eye?"

"I rather not tell you kid," said Kakashi.

"oh," said Naruto a little down. "Did you get hurt like me, but on your face than on your body?" Then Naruto raised his shirt a little and then turned to show Kakashi several scars on his back that hadn't been healed by a medic. These scars were older ones.

"Not really," said Kakashi pulling down the Kid's shirt. Everyone new he was a little disturbed by seeing the kid's back, who wouldn't. Those who had children would be upset to see scars that were made by people in the village. "Why don't you go sit next to you aunt, while you wait for you food."

"But..."

"Naruto leave Kakashi to himself," spoke Sarutobi. He could see how much Naruto was affecting those. Just meeting the boy had change their view about him. That was one thing that Naruto had going for him. Once someone got to know him, they started seeing him for the boy he was than the demon that they thought him of. The true demons were the ones that didn't except him.

Naruto pouted at him and moved on to the next person that caught his eyes. That person was Hiashi Hyuuga. Naruto looked up at his eyes. "How come your eyes are di..ffer..ent?"

"They are bloodline Trait," said Hiashi in his emotionless voice.

"Oh...that's neat, I guess."

Several people laughed at his response. "I bet you don't know what he meant huh, kid?" said Shikaku Nara.

Naruto nodded no. Inoichi Yamanaka then said, "The bloodline trait can be any thing that is past down through each generation in one clan. It is what makes each clan stand out from another. The Hyuuga clan has a bloodline trait called the Byakagon. It is the reason that everyone in that clan has a different kind of eyes than others. Some bloodline traits aren't that notice able or maybe on really considered a bloodline Trait."

"For intance," spoke Choza. "My family clan has the ablity to be come like giants with the help of secret family pills and jutsu. Inoichi's," indecating the man who spoke before him, "clan can use a jutsu that can get inside another persons body or control them. And Shikaku Nara here," indecating other man next to him, "has a family jutsu that that uses the shadows to control a person. But it has price that causes them to be injured if the person they control is injured while the jutsu is in effect."

Then Shikaku took over. "Hopefully you understand that meaning, right?"

"I think so." Then Naruto looked back up a Hiashi. "So what does your backyougon do?"

"It is Byakagon and that is a secret."

Before Naruto could ask anything more, Ibiki appeared back into the room with his hands full of food. Naruto rushed over to him and began to jumb for anything he could have. Ibiki just went over to a table in front of the couch. He then set up things Naruto could eat and drink. Naruto watch as he cut up an apple for him and would hand him a piece to eat, which he would glabble up. While he would be busy with the apples, Ibiki brought other food for Naruto.

"It seems you have a big appetite," he said seeing how much Naruto could eat. "I guess that's good."

Once Naruto had his fill he started to feel very sleepy. Everyone could see this. "I believe our meeting her is concluded for now. Looking at him we should all go home and get a good night's sleep. Anko for now take Naruto to your apartment. Then in the morning we can settle matters about the new living arrangements."

"Alright," she said walking over to Naruto and picking him up. "Come on kid, we better get going."

Soon after that everyone began leaving the room with a better knowledge and a better light about a boy named Naruto.