Author Note: N/A

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

-Chapter I-

A four years old Naruto runs away from the scene of his latest prank, after having put an illusion in the Yamanaka flower shop, turning it into a store full of man-eating plants and scaring every customer, as well as the family that runs the shop, out of their mind and out of the store. Right now, an irate Inoichi is running after him from rooftop to rooftop. Back at the store, his wife is still trying calm their crying daughter who refuses to return to the store. Eventually, Naruto crashes into his father's office with Inoichi following him inside a few moments later, his anger completely blocking all thoughts of identifying where he is.

"All right, Naruto, what did you do this time?" Minato asks, looking up from his paperwork.

"Ho… Hokage-sama!"

"It's OK Inoichi. I'm sure my son has caused a lot trouble," Minato says before turning back toward his son, "would you ever stop giving me trouble? I'm still trying to keep the Naras from trying to kill you for painting the nose of every deer they own to red and dangling ornaments in their antlers."

"As soon as you take me to the Shrine of Fire like you promised."

"The Shrine of Fire?" Inoichi asks, his anger completely forgotten in the presence of the village's leader.

"Yes. He has been clamoring about it ever since he knows how to talk. I'm still trying to figure out how he found out about such an out-of-the-way shrine."

"Excuse me, but perchance it has something to do with… it?"

"Hmm… there is a chance that may be it, but Naruto simply refuses to tell me the reason."

"I want to go! I want to go!" Naruto screams like the child he is.

"Fine, fine. As soon as I take care of what you did to Inoichi I will find Sarutobi-sama to watch the village for a few days. Now, what did you do?"

"Ino-chan says that I'm weak. I showed her. I'm not the one crying my eyes out and refusing to go back home."

"Inoichi, what did he do?" Minato asks, sighing.

"He put a Genjutsu over my shop, turning it into a man-eating plant paradise. Normally I would be impress that someone as young as Naruto can handle such a Genjutsu, but to use it on my shop while Ino's still inside…"

"I understand Inoichi. I'll take Naruto over to your place and apologize to your family. After that, I will punish him accordingly."

The punishment ends up being having Naruto study in the library under Chuunin supervision. Ino complained about the punishment after finally calming down, but to Naruto, not being allowed to run around or talk loudly would be crueler than anything Minato can think of. After serving out his sentence, Minato asks the Sandaime to step in for a week and takes his son to the Shrine of Fire in the forest north of the village.

"Why is this place so run down?" Naruto asks when he arrives.

"This Shrine hasn't been in use since Nidaime's time Naruto."

"Great. Now I have to look all over to find the stupid fox. Why didn't he tell me this is what the place looks like."

"I didn't know this place turned out this way either stupid brat," a voice booms, "it was still perfectly fine when I left."

"Who… who said that?" Minato says, looking every which way.

"All right! Where are you, you stupid fox."

"If you clear a path amongst the rubble to the middle of the shrine, you'll see a stairway down."

"Naruto, who are you talking to?"

"Dad, come on. You heard him. Let's go."

"But…"

Minato sweat drops as he looks at his son crossing his arms, pouting, and tapping his foot impatiently. Sighing, Minato gestures for his son to step back before creating several Kage Bunshin to move away the rubble. He could've used his Rasengan to clear the land, but he has a sneaking suspicion that he'll want to preserve the shrine as mush as possible. When everything is out of the way, Naruto pulls his father toward the stairwell that is hidden where the alter should've been. Once underground, the pair follows the straightforward path until it reaches a door. Before he father can even stop him, Naruto opens the door.

"So you finally decide to show up. Being trapped here was worse than being trapped in your stomach, and you know how much I hate being trapped in your stomach," the booming voice comes out from a vase in the middle of the room.

"How did you end up trapped in a vase?"

"No thanks to the stupid Shinigami. He said I have to stay hidden here in case someone frees me before my time comes. If I had known this would happen, I would've kept attacking the village for the heck of it. The darn raccoon was trapped in something roomier than this."

"Fine, fine. Shut up already you stupid fox. How do I get you out?"

"Only you can remove the seal on the mouth of the vase. Take it off and I'll be out."

"Wait a minute. Why should my son release the demon that attacked the village just a couple of years ago?"

"Because if you want your son to get stronger, you'll need me."

"What is all this nonsense now?"

"Dad, it's a long story. I'll tell you all about it after I let the stupid fox out so he'll stop his complaining."

Ignoring his father's complaints, Naruto removes the seal on the vase and a large cloud of smoke soon engulfs the room. When the smoke clears, a miniature Kyuubi is stretching where the vase had been.

"Finally. I'm out again."

"Why do you look so… small?"

"Stupid brat. I can't have this place caving in while the three of us are still in here now can I?"

"Umm… Naruto?"

"Oh, right, the explanation. Sit tight dad, I can't have you fainting on me."

"I'll… try," Minato says, looking between his son and the small nine-tail fox.

It takes about half an hour for Naruto to give a brief summary of what happened in his previous life and how he ended up here and saving his father's life. It takes quite a bit of effort, but Minato manages to stay conscious from all the information. Seeing that his father needs some time to digest all the information, Naruto turns toward the miniature fox to his side as it takes out a small scroll hidden in one of the loose walls.

"What are you doing?"

"This is the summoning scroll for the fox. Sign it while I bring someone out to keep an eye on you until you're ready to train with me."

"What do you mean keep an eye on me?" Naruto asks as he signs the contract.

"We can't exactly have a nine tail fox walking around the village while I'm waiting for you to grow physically. I'm sending one of my guards to protect you and prepare you until you're ready for my training."

"Oh."

"Kyuubi-sama, did you call for me?" a fox asks, coming through a portal created by the Kyuubi.

"Yes. I've picked this kid, so keep an eye on him until he's ready."

"Very well, Kyuubi-sama."

"Wait a minute, my village is still very weary of anything that has to do with foxes," Minato says, finally joining the conversation.

"Even if she's a silver fox? Fine," Kyuubi says as he turns toward the other fox, "this will hurt a bit."

Naruto and Minato stare dumbfounded as Kyuubi attacks the silver fox, leaving behind several deep wounds. Gesturing toward the injured fox with his head, Kyuubi asks the two to take the fox back for treatment and make up some excuse of finding her in the wild. Deeming it as a passable excuse to alleviate fears of people perceiving it as a demon, Minato picks up the injured fox and heads out of the shrine.

"So where are you going to go now?"

"I will return to the demon realm with the scroll for a small bit just in case anyone tries to cause any troubles for me. I have no idea if the Akatsuki has taken form yet, but keep an eye on some of their members and targets."

"Got it."

"Naruto, come on. This silver fox may be a demon but those are some pretty nasty wounds," Minato screams from the entrance.

"OK, I'm coming."

"I will see you in a few years kit," Kyuubi says before disappearing in a swirl of red chakra.

The village gets into a small uproar when the people see their leader bringing back an injured fox. They only stop their tirades when Minato explains that he found the fox as it was being attacked by a boar and that no demon would allow itself to be wounded this badly without fighting back. It took about a week, but the Inuzukas managed to nurse the fox back to its feet and Naruto takes it home that very day. When they get home that day, Naruto finds his father looking over a scroll with an annoyed look on his face.

"What's wrong dad?"

"It's just some diplomatic message I got from a foreign village. It's nothing you have to worry about."

"Hey come on. I was a Hokage too. Tell me what it says."

"It's a message from Kumo. It says that the Raikage wants to send over an ambassador to negotiate and sign a peace treaty."

"Now that you mention it… I remember something that Neji told me during my first Chuunin exam…"

"Neji? As in Hyuuga Neji?"

"Yeah, that's him. He told me that the Kumo 'ambassador' was there to kidnap Hinata-chan…"

"What! I'm going to refuse this request…"

"Wait! I have an idea."

"Oh?"

"You remember how I told you about an organization named Akatsuki right?"

"Yes? What does that have to do with this?"

"Just let him come in. We'll catch him in the act, alive, then I'll tell you the rest of my plan. Oh, and we'll need to invite the Kazekage too, just as a witness. Just make up an excuse that since Suna is our ally so they'll have to be part of the negotiations as well."

"I really need to be careful around you. Who know how many more devious plots you have in that brain of yours."

"Heh, I do have over thirty years of pranking experience, or did you forget about that?"

"It still hasn't completely sunk in. It's too farfetched to believe but all the evidences make it hard not to believe it."

"I felt the same way when the stupid fox first told me about it… OW! What did you bite me for!"

"How dare you disrespect Kyuubi-sama."

"I've always called him that! I've been calling him that for over twenty years! If he doesn't care about that then why should you!"

"Kyuubi-sama is the master of the demon foxes. I will not allow you to disrespect him."

"Bah, whatever. Dang this hurts… even if I kept some of Kyuubi's regenerative powers, it's still not healing as fast."

"Move your hand away."

Looking at the fox in confusion, Naruto simply ignores the fox and continues to nurse his wound. Annoyed, the fox moves Naruto's hand away with its stout and starts licking the wound. Naruto winces initially from the pain until he notices that the wound is closing up much more rapidly than before. The silver fox backs away when the wound has completely closed up.

"My saliva has the same healing power as Kyuubi-sama's chakra."

"So do all silver foxes…"

"No. Just me."

"Oh."

"OK, I'm finally done with my response message."

"You mean to tell me that you didn't even pay attention to me when I was attacked!"

"I'm sure you can take care of yourself. All right, I'll just have Kakashi and Rin send this message back…"

"Wait a minute, Rin? As in your student?"

"Yes, what of it? …Now that I think about it, you still haven't met either of them yet have you? At least in this life time," Minato says, "that time right after the Shinigami sent Kyuubi away didn't count."

"That doesn't matter right now. I don't think you should send her."

"Why not? Kakashi and her have been working together ever since Obito died."

"Kakashi-sensei never told me how either of his teammates died, but he was very aggressive when he was fighting against the Kumo-nins when they attacked. Even more so than the Iwa-nins."

"But Obito died in Iwa… he absolutely hate their guts."

"That's why I think that Rin-nee-chan might have died in Kumo…"

"But then why would the old man let the Kumo-nin enter Konoha if they killed Rin on this mission?"

"Maybe Rin-nee-chan found out something and confronted the head ninja after he got to Konoha?"

"That could be the case… I suppose I can send someone else… but who should I send? He doesn't work well with anyone else."

"How about Gai-sensei? I'm sure his 'power of youth' will make Kakashi-sensei come to his senses."

"…Did Kakashi torment you in your previous life? Why do you want to punish him like that? Spending that much time with Maito Gai will drive anyone crazy."

"Tenten-chan came out just fine if you ignore the weapon fetish, though Neji and Lee were a bit off when I first met them."

"I… don't think I want to ask who this Lee is… all right I'll send Gai with Kakashi this time. I'll have Rin work on training you so they don't suspect anything. After all, Rin is the best at teaching the basics, and from what you told me… that's your worst area."

"It's not my fault that I haven't had a decent sensei that would teach me the basic from the Academy through the time I became Hokage."

"Yes, but you don't have to worry about that this time around. All right, time for bed young man. I'll have Rin teach you starting tomorrow."

"What! But it's not even that late."

"No matter how old you are mentally, you're still a kid physically. Off to bed you go."

"But I could've helped you with the paperwork."

"Maybe you should've taken that into consideration before spending the day showing off your new friend to everyone."

"Aww… but the girls just won't stop petting her even if I told them I have to get home."

"Then that's not my problem. Off to bed."

The next day, five young ninjas are summoned to the Hokage's office. When they arrive, they are surprised to find the Hokage's young son also sitting in the room.

"Hokage-sama! Why have you called us here so urgently? Is there a youthful task that wish for us to accomplish?"

"Yes. In fact I have two missions that I need taken cared of."

"Hokage-sensei, what is it?"

"…Why do you insist on calling me that Rin? Anyway, Kakashi, Gai, you two are to deliver this message scroll to Kumogakure and escort their ambassador to Konoha. Asuma, Kurenai, you two are to deliver this scroll to Sunagakure and return with their response. Rin, you job is to start training Naruto in the basics of being a ninja."

"But Hokage-sensei, I…"

"Nice to meet you Rin-nee-chan."

One look at Naruto's eyes and Minato knows that he has won the battle. Sighing, Kakashi places his hand on Rin's shoulder nodding before leaving with Gai, who has already taken the scroll and is halfway down the staircase screaming about the powers of youth. Shaking their heads, Asuma and Kurenai pick up the other scroll before leaving the last three occupants in the room.

"Hokage-sensei, what about our other guest that I'm taking cared of."

"Oh, I'm sure you can introduce her to Naruto."

"…Hai Hokage-sensei."

"Really now, Rin, stop calling me that."

"But Namikaze-sensei sounds too informal and Hokage-sama sounds too formal," Rin whines, "besides, I like calling you Hokage-sensei."

"Fine… just get on with your mission. I still have a lot of work to do. Oh, make sure you bring Naruto home by six. I have to take him over to the Hyuuga Compound. Hiashi invited me over for dinner at the compound tonight."

"OK. Come on, Naruto-kun."

"Coming! Come on Ginko-chan."

Rin is slightly unnerved by the sight of such a large fox accompanying Naruto. She doesn't feel the same way about foxes as some of the villagers do, but from what she knows, that has been a wild fox up until a week ago, and it might suddenly attack the boy. However, she figures that if the Hokage allows it to be around Naruto all the time, maybe the Inuzuka worked wonders and tamed it within the week. Shrugging off the thought, Rin makes a quick stop back at her house to pick up her other guest before setting off toward the nearest training ground. On the way, Naruto can't take his eyes off the new addition.

'Man, I can't believe this. I knew Kakashi-sensei saved Koyuki-hime but I never thought that he brought her back to Konoha. I thought Sandayu took her with him as soon as Kakashi-sensei got out of Yuki no Kuni,' Naruto thinks, 'she's still as cold to everyone as when I first met her though…'

"Is something the matter?" Ginko whispers so that only Naruto can hear her.

"Hey, when we get to the training ground, can you help me cheer up Koyuki-hime? You seemed to work wonders yesterday."

"Fine, whatever. I'll try."

"Man… you're almost as cold as Koyuki-hime, Ginko-chan."

"Well, don't expect me to turn good and kiss you on the cheek after you got knocked out."

"OK, we're here."

Naruto looks up at Rin's words and immediate represses the urge to groan. Everything from the three tree stumps to the memorial stone near the edge of the training ground, team seven's training ground doesn't look any different than the one Kakashi took team seven to after they first became a team.

"Is something wrong Naruto?"

"No… it's just that I don't particularly like seeing that stone. Makes me sad looking at all the names."

"Naruto-kun, those are the names of the heroes of the village. You should show them respect, not try to look away from it."

"Is that the only way for ninjas to be respected or be seen as a hero by the villagers? To die and have their name on that stone?"

"That's not true Naruto-kun. You and your father are seen as heroes for chasing away the Kyuubi."

"But so many other people died because of the attack just for us to be seen that way… I don't want it to happen that way."

"Naruto-kun… you're a really kind child," Rin says, giving Naruto a quick hug, "well, then you'll just have to get really strong so you can protect them from dying."

"I swear that I will take over for my old man when the time comes and become the best Hokage Konoha has ever seen."

"That's the spirit Naruto-kun. To be able to do that though, you'll have to get through my trainings first."

"Hai Rin-nee-chan!"

"OK Naruto-kun. I'm sure that Hokage-sensei already told you about the basics of chakra. I'm going to teach you how to control it properly."

"Oh, I just remembered something. Can you give me a moment Rin-nee-chan?"

"Um… sure, go ahead," Rin says as Naruto and Ginko walks over to Koyuki.

"Hey, can you keep an eye on Ginko-chan for me?"

Koyuki takes one look at Naruto and Ginko before nodding her head reluctantly. Rin has been getting on her for her to become more social ever since Kakashi brought her back to Konoha. She feels that it won't do to upset the ones taking care of her and it's just an animal, so it's not like she will have anyone bothering her. Smiling, Naruto gives Ginko a wink before scrambling back Rin, who is watching the exchange with an amused look on her face. The pair spends the rest of the day going over the proper way of molding chakra, weapon throwing and even a few crash courses on battle strategies. Every now and then, the pair would look over toward Koyuki and find her either stroking Ginko's fur or whispering into Ginko's ears. By the time they head home that evening, Koyuki keeps glancing over at the silver fox not wanting to part with it. Seeing her reaction, Rin suggests for Koyuki to stay over at Naruto's house, which she eagerly agrees to.

Additional Author's Note: Leave a note if you like the story.