The whispers and glares that came his way were harsher than the ones he normally received. Not that it bothered him much as he was already used to the hostility of the villagers. Still, a part of his mind was curious of this sudden change of behaviour. Instead of being intimidated as the villagers expected him to be, he simply put his hands behind his head and flashed them one of his infamous grins. Needless to say, the glares hardened. Wow, so much for a nice morning walk on the day of my birthday, he sighed before realizing that this could be the reason for said change in hostility. Not wanting to get his mood ruined, he jumped to the nearest rooftop and sprinted towards the Hokage Tower which was just a few yards away.

Sarutobi Hiruzen put his crystal ball away as he felt Naruto's chakra signature approaching him. He had felt he should keep an eye on Naruto in-case the villagers became too aggressive and attempted to harm him. From what he saw, naruto noticed this as well. Ofcourse he knew the reason why they acted more harshly. Being born on the day of the Kyuubi attack and afterwards having it sealed inside him doesn't really give hope to enjoying his birthday for the following years to come. Even if someone is a harmless infant. Quickly breaking out of his thoughts, he picked up his pipe just as a mop of spiky blonde hair made it's presence near the window. Dazzling blue eyes met his brown ones before his face morphed into a huge grin.

"Ohayo Jiji!" naruto greeted loudly before hoping over to him.

"Ohayo Naruto-kun", the hokage greeted back before giving him an amused look." I thought I remeber telling you to enter through the door".

Naruto's grinned widened. "Doors are for old kids and old people! ", he reasoned knowingly jabbing at the hokages age.

Sarutobi, ignoring the jab, raised an eyebrow." You are...8 years old Naruto and practically a 'little' kid."

Instead of being annoyed, a grin ceased into a small smile."ah...so you remember"

Sarutobi smiled knowingly. " Ofcourse I do. Happy birthday Naruto-kun. Congratulations on turning 8", he said patting his head gentle.

Naruto nodded before looking at him expectantly." neh neh, I get a present right? right?"

The Hokage hummed for a second before asking, "Is there anything specific you want?...and no Naruto no paper-bombs". He added hurriedly much to the boys chargin. Naruto pouted at him before trying to decide what he wanted. He didn't need clothes as he already had his favourite orange jumper and his currently wearing white T-shirt with a big red spiral on the back. He wondered if the old man would give him information about his parents or why the village treated him so badly before pushing the thought away. The Hokage already told him that he would tell tell when he becomes older or when he becomes a genin. When he asked why the old man told him that the information was very dangerous( to which Naruto made a speech about him fearing nothing...other than ghosts), Looking out of the window from where he could see the entire village, he 'hmmm'ed for a moment before turning back to hokage and asking him something that he didn't expect.

"I wanna go camping!"

"Camping? where?" though he already guessed the answer naruto explained anyway. "Outside the village there is a lake! I overheard one of the kids in the playground saying that his whole family went there on a camping trip and they saw shooting stars during the night!" Naruto waved his hands excitedly." neh jiji can I go? please~?"

Hiruzen knew what lake the blonde was talking about. It was approx 2 miles away from the village. While his initial thought was declining the boy's request, he was somewhat curious as to why naruto wanted to get out of the village.

"Why do you want to go outside the village naruto-kun? Other than that, did you forget that today is the day we hail a celebration for the death of yondaime who sacrificed his life to protect the village against the nine-tails?", he asked. Naruto's face fell slightly and his eyes made his way towards the floor. The hokage could feel his hesitation at giving him his reasoning.

"well..."he began," uhh, I already told you how the villagers treat me weirdly right?", he continued avoiding his jiji's eyes and missing the look of understanding that dawned on his face," So yea for some reason they...hate me more on my birthday. Also when I went to the celebration in honour of the fourth last year, they ahhh... told me go away", Naruto scatched his cheek trailing off. He had lied the part of the villagers only forcing him to leave. He didn't wanted his only grandfather figure to worry about him.

Sarutobi on the other hand wanted to kick himself. How can he forgot about the kyuubi. He can imagine how the villagers would react if they saw him attending the festival of their 'hero'. For the hundredth time he cursed the idiocy of the villagers and also himself for letting naruto go through such a harsh childhood. How can he be called a hokage if he can't even save one child. He cared for the boy. He wanted the blonde to be happy. He wanted to see him smile a real smile instead of that fake one he kept plastered on all the time. He wanted naruto to become a strong shinobi and have comrades who would see him for who he was. He truly did!

Now, seeing the boy standing nervously a few feet away and fidgeting slightly, and when he looked up with blue eyes that shimmered with hope, Hiruzen had made the decision. Naruto's eyes brightened when his jiji smiled at him.

"Very well then naruto-"he held up his arm before the blonde could start celebrating right there," but I will be sending an escort with you just so you don't get lost on your way there". Naruto pouted but he understood the old man's reasons. Jumping to the nearest window sill, he turned back and gave a slight wave telling him he would head back to start packing right away and vanished before the hokage would 'order' him to use the damn door.

The hokage mumbled something about 'youngsters these days' before calling out to something invisible in-front of him. "Cat!".

His call immediately followed by a person, a woman judging by her long purple hair, wearing a neko mask seemingly to appear out of thin air and bowing down to him.

"Yes Hokage-sama!" The anbu inquired.

"I have a mission for you", the hokage replied as he went into giving out the details.