Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and unfortunately never will…

Chapter 1 Last Remaining Family Member

Nine years later…

Riku still hasn't gotten over what happened to the Hidden Whirlpool Village, and news of both Minato's and his sister Kushina's death didn't make things any easier. Riku didn't hear anything about Naruto so he assumed he died on the night of the Kyuubi attack as well. That was until he overheard a conversation between two traveling hidden leaf ninja at a bar that were clearly wasted.

"So when do you think that Kyuubi brat will just die already?"

"Dunno"

'Kyuubi brat? Minato must have turned a newborn baby into a jinchuriki that night…WAIT! Naruto was supposed to be born that night! Maybe that baby was Naruto! Maybe he's still alive! Better do a little recon.' Thought Riku

"What was that little brat's name again?"

"Does it matter?"

"Not really, but I remember that the name means a fishcake of some sort."

'Suspicions are almost confirmed, and if I'm right it means maelstrom not fishcake! Thought Riku

"The demon brat's name is Naruto you dunce. Not that it matters because he'll die by some random villager's hands soon enough."

'YES! It is him, but what do they mean by die by someone's hands soon enough? Tch, idiot villagers! Can't they tell the difference between prisoner and jailor?' thought Riku in a both hopeful and angry way.

"So do you plan on finally ending the little brat's life on the day of the festival celebrating the Kyuubi's defeat?"

"Heh, doesn't everybody?"

"One of us might get lucky this time."

"Alright"

'Tch, I better make it to the Hidden Leaf Village before October 10th or Naruto might not survive his birthday this year, speaking of which I should probably get him a present along the way…' thought Riku.

And with that thought, Riku disappeared in a swirl of leaves.


October 10th 7:00 a.m.

Riku arrived just outside the village gates when he heard the festival already starting up, most would consider those sounds pleasant, but given Riku's situation, until he found Naruto it would sound more like funeral music. 'I have to find Naruto and save him from these crazy villagers!' was the only thought crossing his mind.

Since today was a festival, the guards easily missed him so he didn't have to worry about a search as long as he didn't behave suspiciously. After wandering the streets a little bit Riku decided to visit his old friend Hizuren Sarutobi (aka the Third Hokage) a visit to see if he knew. Luckily he had no appointments today so it was easy to get an audience with him.

"Great to see you again old man, did ya miss me?" Said Riku

"R-Riku is that you?" stuttered Sarutobi believing that he's looking at a ghost

"Yes it's me, and no I am not a ghost seeing as I and not transparent can't walk through walls." Mocked Riku

"Where have you been all this time? You never visited on the day Naruto was born or showed up after your village was destroyed." Questioned the aged Hokage.

"Allow me to take a seat and I will explain" said Riku

"Very well, please begin" said Sarutobi

And thus Riku shared his story.

"That is quite a hard tale to swallow, but it does explains why the Kyuubi attacked, but it also opens up even more questions, like how Madara is still alive?" asked Sarutobi

"Beats me" said Riku "but now onto why I came here, would you mind telling me where my nephew is?"

"Not at all" said Sarutobi "since the academy has a day off today he's probably at his apartment or hiding somewhere, I wish I could do more for the boy but the council has my hands tied so if tried to do any more for him they would raise hell about it. Most of the ninja portion of the council is finally starting to see past the Kyuubi and sees Naruto for who he is, while the rest of the council is as blind as the rest of the population."

"I see" said Riku in a thoughtful way "could you give me a picture of him so I could at least know what to look for? For all I know he might have red hair and blue eyes, or blond hair with violet eyes."

"Here" Sarutobi says while handing him a picture and Naruto's address "and it's actually blond hair with blue eyes."

"I'm assuming the whisker marks are a symbol of the Kyuubi's presence?" Riku said

"Yes" said Sarutobi "before you go, are you interested in becoming a leaf ninja, I have a feeling you will need the income, by the way if you do you will be given the rank jonin due to your obvious level of skill if you accept"

'Well I suppose it wouldn't hurt, plus, it would give me a better chance to help Naruto with the influence and privileges ninja have around here' "alright, I'll become a leaf ninja, I've become a little tired of wandering anyway" said Riku.

"I should also set up living arrangements for you now shouldn't I?" said Sarutobi.

"That would be a good idea, you should also give me custody of Naruto seeing as I am his last living relative" said Riku.

"I'm already on it" 'let's see the council block this one' thought Sarutobi in a manipulative way. "How did you find out about Naruto anyway?" asked Sarutobi

"Believe it or not, I overheard a bunch of drunk ninja talking about him." Laughed Riku

"Before you go, I should tell you about the new laws that are in place since the last time you came here" said Sarutobi

"Alright I'll listen" said Riku in a board tone of voice

And so Sarutobi informed Riku of the new laws.

Right as Riku was about to leave Sarutobi decided to add just a few more things.

"Riku, before you go I just have to add a few more things" said the Third.

Riku turned around and raised his eyebrow.

"Here is your new address" Sarutobi said as he threw Riku a piece of paper, "it is located near the Namikaze clan mansion, I'm sure you remember where that is, and the best place you should probably start your search for Naruto would be on the top of the Hokage Monument."

"Thank you for your time old man" Riku said as he fastened his new leaf headband on his forehead.


Meanwhile…

Naruto was hiding on the top of the Fourth Hokage's head hoping none of the violent villagers would find him there. Unfortunately, after some searching, they did, and now he was on the run all over again. He was getting used to it and he was now able to outrun civilians, it was when ninja started to join in that he started getting beaten within an inch of his life, and soon enough that happened.

Right when the ninja were halfway done with the beating they felt an insane amount of killing intent directed straight at them. Hinata, who was hiding behind the trees at the time praying that the ninja who were beating on Naruto would stop (remember, she's too shy and timid to do much at this point in time) was frozen in fear as well hoping that this person wasn't going to kill Naruto. A foolish chunin that was too stupid to even do so much as feel the killing intent walked over to the source of the killing intent and said.

"Are you here to help us kill the demon brat?" the chunin asked with a creepy smile.

Then Riku, the source of the killing intent responded by saying, "no, I'm actually here to beat the living daylights out of idiots that beat up innocent little children" Hinata was relieved upon hearing this.

And beat up the idiots he did, as soon as Riku kicked the idiotic and stupid ninja out of the general area Naruto was conscious enough to ask:

"Who are you?"

"My name is Riku Uzumaki" Naruto was shocked hearing this.

"Uzumaki?! That's my last name! A-are you-"

"If you're asking if I'm your father than no, I'm your uncle" said Riku

"I-I have an Uncle?!" asked Naruto in disbelief and was also tearing up.

"Yea, I would have shown up sooner but I only just recently found out that you lived through the day of the Kyuubi attack, but I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere." Said Riku

Naruto, just getting through his state of shock returned to his hyperactive old self and latched onto Riku hugging him as if his life depended on it with tears in his eyes and yelled out "UNCLE!"

Riku, still kneeling down was now holding onto Naruto whispering comforting words to Naruto, promising that he will always be there for him. Meanwhile, a certain lavender eyed, shy Hyuga heiress walked away starting to tear up thinking 'I'm so happy for you Naruto.'

So how was that? Good? Bad? Perhaps a little too sappy at the end?

Please click the magic review button below and review; I could use some constructive criticism.

Warning: for all those people that are actually fond of Sasuke, prepare to see him look like an idiot in some of the chapters to come, oh, and Sakura will be a complete and utter bitch too.