Chapter two is here.

You may commence with the pleasantries.

Also decided to google translate the Japanese names for the countries in Naruto and Hi no Kuni translates to Girl.

Yeah. So I'm just gonna use english for those.

I'm not really sure when I started using the japanese names for stuff but I think I'll ignore the honorifics because constantly remembering to add those correctly gives me a headache.

So none of that in this story. Just things like lord and lady and sensei. If you don't like that don't read.

Those who will continue to read, enjoy!

Uzumaki Naruto, Land of Hot Water…

His first couple of weeks out of Konoha, Naruto felt completely paranoid.

No one was glaring at him or muttering obscenities under their breaths or avoiding him like he was the plague. In fact some people gave him kind looks and a couple of parents actually asked him where his were in a concerned tone of voice.

It was a mystifying experience.

He wondered what made these people different from Konoha. What was it about him that made the people in Konoha hate him so much yet no one here seemed to pick up on.

Every time he turned around he expected to see an angry glare, hear a rude comment directed towards him, something normal. Instead while people tended to not pay too much attention to him, they certainly didn't act like he didn't exist.

Unfortunately this made stealing a tad more difficult.

While this threw him off at first he quickly managed to find work arounds. He discovered that he was in fact, cute. An adorable little four year old in fact. Who would suspect such a cute kid of pilfering your money?

Once again he ran into other street urchins like in Konoha, the difference was they weren't as cautious due to the fact it wasn't a ninja village. These other urchins mostly kept to themselves like he did but a few worked in groups to distract and rob. Occasionally he got involved and lended a hand (in exchange for a portion of course). But sometimes the younger ones would group together and try and work out how to read. They all accepted that they needed to learn how if they wanted to do anything of value.

So while it was strange he certainly got in the swing of things. A few months after he arrived in this town (which was called Pallet Town he later discovered) he saw a newsletter. At the time he was still trying to teach himself to read so he only picked up a few words. What he read though was something about stealing and thieves. He decided to bring it to the next "Reading Class".

"Yeah I gots no clue what any of tha' says." One boy commented.

"I think tha' word's "complaint"." A girl pointed at one.

"Dammi' whiska's why you have to bring hard 'tuff." Another boy complained to which Naruto stuck his tongue out in response.

After a couple hours of trying to work it out they finally managed to piece together that someone or someones was complaining about getting robbed. That did not bode well.

"Maybe we should hide out for 'while?' A different girl suggested.

"I gots stuff to last me through a few moons." The first boy agreed.

It was with mutual consent that the youngest thieves in Pallet agreed to stop their stealing for at least two months. Potentially more depending on the state of things.

However the older generations did not get the memo and kept up with their normal activities.

Within a month most of them had been arrested and those that hadn't were on the run and would have to leave town if they wanted to continue their stealing.

The younger kids had agreed after the first month to wait an additional one onto the original two just in case things were still in hot water by then. When the time was up they were the only thieves left in town and had to work more carefully to avoid being caught. The group had begun working together more often to make sure that they got away cleanly. Usually teams of three. One on lookout, one as distraction and one to do the job.

It worked like a charm and by the time Naruto was five he had amassed quite the stash. There was a silent agreement that everyone was entitled to their own hideout and stash and that no one else was to investigate or go looking for it without permission from the owner.

But apparently things weren't meant to last. At least not in the way they were now.

Naruto had been sitting on the top of a wall eating an apple when he saw someone about half a dozen years older than him trudge by looking quite depressed.

"Stupid civilians, stupid sensei and stupid training." The kid was muttering. "We finally get a C-rank and what is it? To go and pick up the leftovers that the local police force didn't catch."

He was a boy around twelve or so if Naruto were to guess. He had brown hair that dipped in front of his eyes. But that wasn't what Naruto noticed, no what he noticed was the hitai-ate wrapped around the boy's upper arm.

His first thought was panic. He had not forgotten his time in Konoha and immediately thought that they had found him to bring him back to that place. But then he started thinking more rationally. First of all the guy was complaining about the thievery in the area, which admittedly he was a part of but that was besides the point. Also the symbol on the metal part wasn't the spiral leaf he remembered from Konoha.

So not a Konoha ninja then. But if not from there, where was he from then?

Suddenly the older boy froze. He then whipped around and chucked a kunai at Naruto who yelped and toppled off the wall face first. Thankfully he avoided the kunai but the pavement was not exactly soft.

"Hey wha' the heck is wrong with ya, 'ttebayo" Naruto complained as he pulled himself up.

"Oh shit you're just a little brat." The ninja admitted.

"Wha's that supposed to mean?" Naruto said angrily getting to his feet and glaring.

"I thought you were sneaking up on me to try and attack me." The boy defended his actions.

"I was just sittin' on that wall. Eatin' an apple. As you walked by. Trust me if I didn't want you to see me ya wouldn' have." Naruto told him.

"Oh yeah and how do you bet?" The ninja asked him. He pointed at the hitai-ate on his arm. "This means I'm a ninja! A brat like you couldn't hide from me if you tried"

"But I already did. And I wasn't tryin' to hide." Naruto pointed out helpfully.

"..." The ninja glared at him. "Shut up…"

"Nyeh." Naruto stuck his tongue out and turned around and started walking away.

"Where do you think your going brat?!" The older kid called. "I wasn't done talking to you!"

"Wha' ya wanna talk about?" Naruto asked.

"Umm, well…" The boy seemed to realize he did not have anything else to say but he certainly did not want to be talked down to by a little kid. "Oh yeah, have you seen anything suspicious going on around here?" Oh it was one of those kinds of guys.

"I ain't seen nothin'" Naruto told him with a cheerful smile. It was practiced of course. That was what you said when people came asking about anything that might be considered "illegal" whatever that was.

"Uh huh." The boy stared at him clearly not believing. Naruto clearly had to change the subject to avoid scrutiny. He had never tested himself out under too much pressure and was not about to start now.

"So you're a ninja?" Naruto asked him.

The kid perked up. "Heck yeah I am!" He straightened up proudly. "I'm gonna be one of the best ninja around! Who cares if Yu isn't one of the big five. I'll show them anyway!"

"Yu?" Naruto asked legitimately confused.

"Yeah Yugakure, you know the Village Hidden in the Hot Springs?" The boy asked clearly expecting recognition. "Only ninja village in the entire country?"

"I didn' know this country had ninja." Naruto shrugged but was already considering the possibilities. He still thought that being a ninja would be awesome but without Konoha he wouldn't be able to achieve such a career. So he had all but given up on the dream but maybe…

"How could you not know?" The kid sounded incredulous.

"Nobody told me?" Naruto suggested.

"Well consider yourself told." The boy patted Naruto's head. "Remember the name Hikari Satoshi! Because he'll be the best ninja the world has ever known!" the now identified Satoshi told him.

"How do ya know you'll be the best?" Naruto asked him, "Maybe I'll become a ninja and become even cooler than you!" he pointed up at the taller boys face.

"A little brat like you?" Satoshi rolled his eyes. "I'd like to see you try!"

"Fine I will!" Naruto told him before stomping off. He had achieved exactly what he wanted to with that conversation. Now then the question was what to do next. Becoming a ninja would certainly be cool but he was quite pleased with his life right now. Sure it wasn't the most elegant way of life considering his hideout was in an old and (thankfully) disused sewer. It had taken weeks to get rid of the smell…

Yeah on second thought he probably should head to Yu. At least he wouldn't be living in a sewer anymore. Besides he didn't have to entirely give up his way of life, he had lived rather similarly to the way he did now back in Konoha, Yu couldn't be that much different. Well hopefully without the intense dislike towards himself.

But how to go about getting there? It was a hidden village for a reason.

Hmm…

Maybe Satoshi wouldn't mind having someone watching his back...

Sarutobi Hiruzen POV, Konoha…

It had been the more than half a year since Uzumaki Naruto had been removed from the orphanage without Hiruzen's knowledge.

Those responsible for the removal, either via neglect in the case of the ANBU guards or action in the case of the Orphan Matron, had been brought into T&I and interrogated to see if they had ulterior motives. From what Morino Ibiki had learned they had acted of their own free will out of hatred for what the child contained. If he still contained it at this point.

True it was a big 'if' but the possibility was still there. The seal on Naruto had been designed so that when the boy died the beast would go down with him. Unfortunately, it was unknown if the seal would work properly this early in the boy's life. It had also been designed to steal the Kyuubi's chakra and convert it into Naruto's which would theoretically result in massive reserves for the boy. But without the child here to have the seal checked up on it was impossible to know if it worked properly.

While there had not been a body found, it was still possible the boy was dead. If he was and the seal had not worked as designed then it was very likely the Kyuubi could reform in a short number of years. If and when that happened Hiruzen did not even wish to consider what could occur as a result.

About a month after he had discovered the boys disappearance and three after Naruto had been removed from the orphanage Hiruzen had held a meeting with The Advisory Council, the Shinobi Council, and the Civilian Council. (Why were there so many councils again?)

It went as well as could be expected.

Flashback No Jutsu

"I don't understand the concern Lord Hokage." One civilian with absolutely no civilian background comment but to be fair he did sound legitimately confused. "Is it not a good thing that the demon is dead?"

A number of other civilians and a few no-name clan heads muttered and nodded in agreement and Hiruzen had to reign in his anger at the sheer disability to understand. Instead he decided to make them sweat a little.

"Oh that would be a good thing if the Kyuubi was dead." He took a breath of his pipe. "Except that since it is Naruto who may dead and if so the Kyuubi is probably already starting to reform." A bluff of course but at the very least he could make them sweat. Not to mention it was most certainly not a good thing for the Kyuubi to be dead as that left Konoha without a Bijuu and therefore weakened in the eyes of the other villages.

"W-what?" Another civilian stuttered in shock and fear.

"I attempted to explain it to you four years ago and you did not listen therefore I shall attempt to do so again." Hiruzen dictated. "Naruto is not the Kyuubi, he is the container for the Kyuubi. Without him the demon fox would be free to wreak havoc again."

Someone snorted with obvious disbelief. "You expect us to believe that some ink on a child could hold back a monster like the Kyuubi?"

"Fortunately it does not matter what you believe as it is a fact." Hiruzen smiled coldly. "As it is also fact that if Uzumaki Naruto is dead that Kyuubi could very well be reforming at this very moment. So I must ask if anyone has any idea of where he might be, now would be a very good time to speak up."

Flashback Kai

That meeting had not truly gained him much information as many, even some of the clan heads, preferred to just forget about the child. He supposed he could understand especially if one went down to the truth of it. The people of Konoha loved the Fourth and put him on an untouchable pedestal. The idea that he had been willing to sacrifice an innocent child to defeat the Kyuubi would shake some to the core.

While that did not entirely excuse their treatment and opinions of Naruto it at least gave some insight into the mentality behind it. Especially among the civilians who romanticized the Shinobi way of life and had no ideas of the horrors it entailed. Just look at what had happened to ninja like Senju Tsunade and Hatake Kakashi.

Speaking of ninja, Jiraiya had returned not long after Hiruzen had sent for him. The man had been most displeased with the fact his Godson, who he had not been able to take in for multiple reasons, some of them being political and at Hiruzen's behest, was missing.

Jiraiya had nearly fallen into a depression when Hiruzen told him there was a good possibility of Naruto being dead. But thankfully he had also point out to his former student that there was a possibility of his godson being alive and just outside the village, perhaps because he had fled or perhaps he because had been kidnapped.

Whatever the case he had managed to give Jiraiya some hope in a way that allowed him to continue managing his spy network while simultaneously working towards a goal that kept him from falling into a similar state to his teammate.

As much as Hiruzen hated to admit it, the loss of Naruto, while greatly unsettling, could not be a primary concern at the moment. Konoha was still recovering from the Kyuubi attack and tensions had been high as peace talks with Kumo had begun. Personally he wanted to believe that Kumo truly had good intentions but a lifetime of Shinobi training and war had taught him otherwise. That wasn't even including the rising tensions with the Uchiha Clan.

Hiruzen glared at the pile of neatly stacked papers that sat waiting on his desk. He was really getting too old for this job.

Naruto POV…

Let it be known following ninja around is not a good idea. More specifically it is never a good idea.

Especially if you're not a ninja.

Naruto had discovered this the hard way. How?

By being caught following a ninja.

In hindsight he really should have planned this out better, but after meeting Satoshi he had assumed the others would be just as neglectful in their study of their surroundings. That was a big mistake on his part.

He had attempted to follow Satoshi as the boy continued onwards. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the boy hadn't picked up on the young pick pocket sneaking after him, maintaining a safe distance behind of course.

After about half an hour of completely aimless wandering (in Naruto's opinion anyway) Satoshi had finally met up with the rest of his team. Or at least Naruto had assumed that at first.

The three ninja that Naruto could see started conversing but he was unable to hear a word they were saying from his safe distance on a rooftop roughly one block away. He probably should have just stayed there but dammit he wanted to know what they were saying!

So, staying out of the view field of the three ninja, Naruto shimmied down the side of building he was on. He was careful to use the side with the most loose bricks so he had enough handholds to grab onto on the way down.

Very stealthily he snuck along the side of the building. His ratted out t-shirt and shorts didn't do much for blending in but at least he wasn't wearing orange (even if it was an awesome color).

He was just around the corner from the group when he could finally hear what they were saying.

"-eriously where is he? We were supposed to meet him here like an hour ago!" It was hard to tell but it sounded like that Satoshi guy talking.

"Actually he was supposed to arrive and converse with us ten minutes ago but yes he is late." Another voice spoke up.

Naruto narrowed his eyes wondering who they were talking another member of their team? But that did bring up the question where was this fourth member.

"Hey there whatcha up to kid?" A mockingly pleasant deep voice asked

Naruto froze and slowly turned around and then looked up.

...and up.

...and wow this guy was tall.

Naruto put on his best 'I'm just an innocent and adorable little kid' face. "I ain't doin' nuthin." He stated firmly.

"And I'm the tooth fairy." The adult. with a headband that looked worryingly like the one worn by Satoshi, deadpanned at him.

"Really? Wow mister tooth fairy, how come you never came for that tooth I lost?" Naruto asked trying to figure out how to get out of this situation. He hadn't planned on engaging anyone so he hadn't bothered to come up with an escape plan and it looked like he might be paying the consequences for that now.

"Smart mouth kid." The tall man said to him before scooping him up the scruff of his shirt, causing Naruto to flail his arms and legs trying to get away.

"Hey lemme go!" He whined struggling as the shirt rode up on his armpits making movement difficult.

"Why are you stalking my team." The man, who Naruto guessed was the fourth ninja the other three guys were looking for, got right to business.

Before Naruto could think up a response a voice called out "Sensei!" And Satoshi and team appeared around the corner.

"I'm here." The adult ninja told them not taking his eyes off of Naruto. "It turns out one of you had a tail following you."

Satoshi's eyes went wide and he pointed angrily at Naruto. "Hey you're that brat from before! Why were you following me!"

"Not tellin'." Naruto managed to rotate somewhat and stuck his tongue out at the younger ninja.

"Well you better get "tellin'" or you're going to get hurting." The man holding him spoke up again causing Naruto to tense.

He slowly rotated back so he was staring the full grown version in the face. He gulped as he felt a shiver run down his spine. This must be what getting caught felt like. At least he hadn't been caught stealing. That would have made this so much worse.

"I wanted to find out how to get to Yu 'ttebayo." Naruto decided to answer truthfully. Not like he had many other option at this point.

"Why?" The man asked with no noticeable change in facial expression.

"'Cause he said that it was a ninja village and I always wanted to be a ninja. 'Sides it's not like I got anythin' here for me." Naruto explained to him the best he could.

"And what would our village want with a little punk like you?" The man continued his questioning much to his team's obvious annoyance.

"Dunno." Naruto admitted. "But I can be pretty sneaky."

"Yeah right." The girl among the younger ninja snorted.

"He's been watching you three since you got here." Their sensei told them. "And not one of you noticed. So far I feel like my teaching talents would be better spent on him than you three." Naruto perked up at the serious tone but the three other kids glared.

"Unfortunately I happen to be stuck with you three." He dropped Naruto who landed ungracefully on the ground.

He glanced at Naruto again. "So I'll tell you what kid." He pulled out a sheet of folded paper out of his vest and tossed it to the blonde haired boy. "If you can get to Yu on your own using that, I'll vouch for you joining our ninja academy."

Naruto's eyes widened and dying hope rekindled in him. "Really?!" He asked excitedly.

"If you're serious about it. We could use more ninja and you certainly have the stealth for it. Besides our mission is to stop the remaining thieves in this town. It didn't say how to stop them." Naruto shifted uncomfortably at the shocked looks from the younger shinobi.

"Wait this kid-" The girl started but their sensei cut in.

"I figured that since the robberies are continuing after the local police cracked down on it that the only criminals left are the ones who are too good and the kids who were smart enough to stay away." The sensei explained before looking at Naruto one last time.

"If you do happen to find the village tell them that Kuma Hiromasa sent you there. That should get you into the academy. We need shinobi and you seem like you could be good for us. Don't waste my monthly act of kindness." The man gestured to his team who stood at attention and they moved away faster than Naruto could follow.

He stared after them a moment before unfolding the map and look at it. He didn't understand much of what was on it but he could understand what the big X on it ment. All he had to do was figure out how to get there.

He stood up and refolded the map before making his way back to his stash. He wasn't about to waste this chance.

Well isn't this interesting?

No seriously I have never seen nor heard of a story where Naruto joins the Village Hidden in the Hot Springs. Probably because it disbanded its ninja force by the time we hear about it in the canon.

I'm not exactly sure when the village got rid of their ninja force but for the sake of the story let's say it hasn't happened yet and won't for awhile..

As for Hidan, this is before he became a Jashinist. Basically he's going to slowly descend into crazy until the disbanding which is gonna set him off like a pipe bomb on a puppet show.

So like the name suggests Naruto is going to continue to be a thief. That won't change, what will change is that he'll have jutsu to help with that. I want to make sure he stays Naruto though because I have seen a lot of stories in which "Naruto" is someone's angsty and godlike OC with Naruto's name tacked on.

Anyway let's do reviews!

Guest: Glad you're excited for it!

Scarease: Well that's an interesting idea and I have a similar one for Naruto in this but you'll have to wait and see.

LiveForeverOrDieTrying: And once again you prove why you're better at math than me. Of course I'm sure those numbers have changed since then I'm sure but nonetheless your mathematical help has been soothing.

Duskrider: That is a possibility.

That's it for reviews!

Moving on, I'm going to get back into my old schedule of weekly updates on saturday. Next week will be either Gone Ghost or Village Idiots and the following week will be whichever I don't do next week. After that I might update Lightman Legacy or Sealed Away.

I mean it's not like I have anything else to update…

*Nervously eyes the old and rickety door labeled SS*

So I'll see you around!

~FriTik

R&R