"You can't hide forever kid" the root ninja barked, laughing sadistically. A eight year old blonde was hiding in the dark, blood was flowing from the numerous wounds decorating his body like a warrior. If it wasn't for the tenant that lived inside him, he may not be even breathing. He didn't understand why he was being hunt. Danzo had called him earlier and asked him to run and hide if he didn't want to be killed.
Inspite of all the trainings he had for controlling his emotions and being calm, his heart was racing in the danger that a kunai might be sticking out of his body any minute. He calculated his steps and reached to only one conclusion. If he want to see other day, he had to hold his ground and fight. He may be outclassed but he was not going to give up. He never learned that.
Taking a deep breath, he threw several kunais and formed several hand seals. Kunai kage bunshin. The kunais multiplied and hit its mark. The root ninja who was supposed to be there turned into a log.
'Substitution?' thought Naruto. His positon was compromised and before he could change it, shuriken flew towards him. He blocked few and jumped to his sides, preventing them to pierce his body.
"Got you kid!" before Naruto could turn to see his hunter, he had to turn and block the incoming kick to his torso. But the force was enough to push 40kg boy to the wall. Blood came out his mouth. Moments later both got indulge in exchanging blows. In spite of being just 7 years old, Naruto was better than most of the chunins. But fighting against a jonin was just enough for him, especially when the jonin was coming with an intent to kill. But he was still holding his ground somehow. For each 5 blows he took, he was able to block 3 and give at least one. After a minute of beat down, a punch was placed on the face of older root ninja with a force so much, he was sent flying to the opposite wall with blood coming out of his mouth. Before he could regain his composure, Naruto was onto him again.
The tide of battle was changing, Danzo saw this too. "Both of you can stop"
Naruto stopped his 'claw' inches away. The reason of this change in fight was obvious. Danzo saw his eyes. Danzo saw his demonic eyes staring back at him. The thing which made him smile was the two tomoes on each of Naruto's eyes. Naruto had activated his sharingan.
"You can stop Naruto. All this was just for your sharingan"
Naruto pulled his punch back and walked to Danzo, his wounds closing with each steps he took. "If it had got any longer, Kyuubi would have killed him" he said to Danzo. His voice didn't betrayed any remorse or any emotions.
"That's the price we were ready to take. Go take rest, you have earned it"
Without saying anything, 7 year old root ninja went to his room.
His room was small, with minimal light possible. It contained a bed and a book stand filled with scrolls and books. As soon he lied on his bed, he drifted to sleep.
"Hahaha. Looks who's here! It's the jailor himself"
Naruto opened his eyes and found himself again in the sewer. "Hello, Kyuubi. What can I do for you?"
"Don't mock me vermin. What can a human do for me?" Kyuubi roared, pushing back his jailor a few steps back with his breath. His rage change into sadistic grin and said "unless… unless you can free me"
"You know I can't do that. We both have become one, if we are separated I would die"
"And should I care about that?"
After few minutes of silence, Kyuubi said again "So, you have awakened that cursed sharingan? Even more to hate you now"
Kyuubi had already told him about the masked men and Madara who had used their sharingan to make him do their bidding. The reason why his parents died and the true 'animal', as kyuubi referred, responsible for the kyuubi attack all those years back was that masked man.
"You know what I am always thinking. Don't you? So you must know I will never use sharingan on you, unless no other option is left. I don't want to depend on any other's power, whatever Danzo and others say. And I believe when I will be truly in need of your power you will give me. After all if I die, you are going to die to"
"You kid. You intrigue me. But you also know my death will be temporary. I will come back sooner or later"
"I know Kyuubi-sama" Naruto know how much kyuubi hated to be called like this. "If you allow me, I would like to take some rest"
Kyuubi doesn't reply and went back to his sleep, closing his demonic yellow eyes and putting his head on his paws.
It has been months since Naruto got two tomoes in each of his eyes. His days were same. Waking before sun light even hit the ground, practice, learning new things, practice then sleep. All things inside the base of roots. The only time when he was allowed to go outside was during mission. He didn't complain about it, in fact in that way he was spared from the hateful stare of villagers, not that he gave a damn about that. But still sometimes he wished to be free. Occasionally during his free times in missions, he used to look at sky and birds, getting a small feeling of jealousy, jealousy of their freedom. Not that he was going to do something about that. At least for now.
Danzo had given him the Uchiha scroll containing knowledge about sharingan and fire style jutsu. Another 'loot' from Uchiha massacre. It was not complete, hell he didn't even know how much it contained and how much there was still left to learn. He had told Naruto to always keep by his side and never lose it as it may be the last of source to learn about sharingan. Naruto had kept it inside his storage seal which was engraved in his left shoulder. Having storage seals made like tattoo on skin was useful. They cannot be forgotten or lost and easily accessible. But his was something all cannot have. It was special seal made by the Uzumaki and only for the Uzumaki. Danzo got those Uzumaki sealing scroll from the hokage for the blonde to learn. After all, no one can open them except their own blood.