~~~Naruto : New Beginnings~~~

Tsunade sat there for a couple of hours, downing another three cups of coffee in the meanwhile, when the ball of blanket on the bed in front of her wriggled awake. Shizune stood by the door and smiled when she watched the cute boy yawn equally cutely, while he rubbed his eyes sleepily. Naruto blinked and his mind came to, when he saw the two ladies by his side and clutched his blanket to his chest nervously. He looked down when he felt some foreign clothes, that felt quite nice, now over his body.

He looked down to see his burnt red T-shirt with a black Leaf symbol and dark blue pants and looked back at the two smiling ladies nervously.

"Why am I in these clothes?" he asked in that same guarded tone, making their smiles slip a bit. Tsunade though, gave him a warm grin and spoke up.

"Well your older clothes were cut off by me to treat your wounds. So we replaced them and put those on. You like them?" she asked curiously, making the blonde look at her warily. He looked down and ran a hand over his new shirt, it felt so nice and soft. He hadn't ever worn something so nice and then reminded himself they weren't his.

"I'll return them to you when I…" he was cut off when Tsunade giggled and waved her hand dismissively.

"Don't worry about it, we bought them for you. They are for you, keep them. What are us two ladies going to do with them anyways?" she asked, making him look at her with those same wary eyes. He couldn't understand this lady for the life of him. She was making him quite vulnerable and scared, and he didn't like that one bit.

"They look expensive, I can't pay you…" he said softly, making Tsunade frown at his desperate tone.

"You don't have to pay, they are yours…" she said firmly, to state her point quite clearly. She watched the blonde contemplating the strange situation nervously. Naruto hadn't ever met someone so nice to him before, but he knew from experience that nothing ever came free. If it looked too good to be true, then usually it was.

"What do you want in return then? Nothing is free for me. I don't have much, but I do have a necklace I found…" he trailed off, when Tsunade's hand covered his own, making him look at her innocently.

"You don't need to pay, they are a gift from us." she said in her same soft and motherly tone. Naruto felt his chest warm and a small smile graced his lips, before he pulled his hand back nervously and scooted away from her, reminding himself to be on guard. Tsunade thought she had broken down his barriers quite nicely, but cursed inwardly when she saw the boy scoot away from her just as before. All her efforts in vain, she sighed inwardly at her failure.

Naruto realized he didn't feel hungry any longer and rubbed his stomach in confusion. Did hunger die too if he stayed hungry for too long? This was a first, he thought in an innocent confusion that only a child his age could have. Tsunade saw his actions and knew what he was thinking.

"We fed you a food pill, so you wouldn't have to recover on an empty stomach. Here have this, this is a nutrition pill. It'll be good for you." she said softly, handing him the pink colored pill. He took it and sniffed it softly, instantly smiling at the sweet scent it had. Tsunade smiled herself, she had prepared them with a special recipe that made it taste like berries. Not like the crap the village mass produced for it's shinobi forces.

Naruto knew if they wanted to give him something bad to eat, they could have given it to him in his sleep instead of the food pill she was talking about. Plus, he was too hungry right now to argue so he popped it in his mouth and munched it happily. He never got anything really serious from the 'funny food' he got sometimes from strangers. Only a mild stomach ache which went away in a short amount of time.

Shizune giggled when he let out a content sigh and the innocent smile he had on his face. Tsunade too grinned that he liked her special recipe so much. Maybe this would help her gain his trust, she pondered on silently.

"It contains nutrients for six meals worth of food. So don't worry about eating for a while, until at least day after tomorrow." she explained making Naruto's eyes widen in surprise.

"They must be expensive then…" he murmured making Tsunade frown. The boy took nothing for granted, it seemed to her. And she didn't like that attitude of his one bit.

"It's alright, I make them myself so no worries alright?" she asked softly and he nodded hesitantly. Tsunade though rose an eyebrow when he was looking around, as if looking for an exit from a prison.

"What's the matter?" she asked in a gentle voice, and Naruto looked at her with those same guarded eyes she resented so much right now. They didn't suit that innocent and cute face one bit.

"I have to go now. Thank you for everything" he said softly, making her raise an eyebrow. Did he not like this room? She had booked the most expensive suite after all.

"You can stay here if you like, don't you like it here?" she asked and he bit his lip, clutching the blanket to his chest tightly. It felt very nice to him. A roof to sleep under, a warm bed to rest on, new clothes and a full stomach. It felt like a dream to him. But it couldn't be his, he knew that.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go." he said finally, and started putting on his new sandals. Tsunade saw his look in an instant that told her how much he liked it here, but was scared too much to stay. She extended her hand to grasp his shoulder, when he shied away from her hand instantly.

"Wait, think this through-" she said desperately to make him stay, as she watched him run by her side expertly to avoid her arms that were trying to pull him in a hug. She put her arms forward to catch him again but just got a brush of her fingers with his shirt before he was off towards the door. She couldn't let him leave now!

"Shizune, stop him!" she shouted on instinct, making her apprentice nod who didn't want the boy to go herself. She ran up to catch him when he slid under her arms expertly and ran out the door, with the agility akin of a leopard.

"Kami, he's fast!" she exclaimed and Tsunade could only groan in agreement, before both kunoichi's took off after the nimble blonde. Both saw him run outside the hotel and into an alleyway, away from the prying eyes of villagers when Tsunade suddenly stopped Shizune by her shoulder. The apprentice looked confused at her master who was watching the boy in an intense stare like a hawk after it's prey.

"We can't make him stay forcefully Shizune, he must have been scared when we tried to catch him, almost like idiots chasing a butterfly." she mumbled in annoyance, making the black haired girl stick out her tongue childishly. She too thought they had gotten carried away, when suddenly Tsunade started following him from a distance, hopping expertly over the rooftops. Shizune was completely baffled by the contradiction of her master's words to her actions, that spoke completely the opposite of what she had just said not even a moment ago.

"Tsunade-sama I thought you didn't want to follow him…"Shizune asked, instantly getting a shake of the head from the buxom blonde.

"I said we shouldn't catch him like idiots, we'll follow him and see where he lives in case we want to meet him again." she answered wisely, making her apprentice smile and nod. Both jumped from rooftop to rooftop when they saw the blonde stop abruptly and look around.

"Has he figured out we are following him?" she thought but shook her with a smile thinking she was being an idiot. She was a Sannin after all, there was no way an untrained child like him could catch…

Her eyes widened when she saw baby blue eyes turn to stare directly at her before he turned around and took off in another alley.

"Shit!" she cursed out loud and jumped onto a ledge to give her a view of the alley. She looked in and saw it bare empty with just a small garbage bag by the side. She cursed again and jumped up to a high building, to look around for him but saw no trace of those golden locks she was looking for.

"How the hell did a boy know I was following him and give me, a Sannin for crying out loud, a slip, that too in broad daylight at that!" she exclaimed furiously and saw Shizune too have a look of complete bafflement on her face. The boy didn't know a thing about shinobi's from what she was able to see, but his skills at evasion were pretty darn good, and his speed too was something else alright.

Tsunade couldn't, for the life of her make some sense out of the blonde boy she found so adorable and felt a link with. She wanted to get to know him a bit better and let him know she meant him no harm.

But how was she do that if she didn't even know where the hell he lived!

She pulled her ponytails childishly, trying to rack her mind and Shizune couldn't help but laugh at her master's misery.

"He's something else alright. Isn't he Tsunade-sama?" she asked in giggles and Tsunade broke into a fit of giggles herself.

"Yeah that he is." she said giggling happily herself at the irony of their situation. Both watched the empty alley with a small sad smile on their face. Tsunade turned her eyes to the center of the village, straight at the Hokage Tower. Her smile dropped immediately, and her eyes hardened.

She had questions that needed be answered. And she would get them no matter what. Tsunade Senju was out on a hunt now.

~~~Hokage Tower~~~

Loud and firm footsteps, with the sounds of heels clacking on the hard wooden floor echoed throughout the halls of the awfully silent Hokage tower. Tsunade walked down the halls, getting several looks of admiration and respect from everyone. She walked up to the receptionist, who looked up from her paperwork and stood up in respect in the blink of an eye.

"Tsunade-sama! What can I do for you today?" she asked as politely as she could, making the buxom blonde nod. She did want something right now.

"I need to meet Sarutobi-sensei urgently. Is he in?" she asked in a firm tone that meant business, and got a nod from the secretary. She checked the schedule, and saw the she did have an appointment for the evening and decided to push the current one he had to the evening spot. Whatever she had to talk must be important, she mused and ushered her in quickly towards the door.

"Hokage-sama, Tsunade-sama is here to see you on urgent business." the secretary spoke through the door with a knock. Tsunade walked in after confirmation from the inside, and was graced with the smiling face of her teacher. Though she didn't smile back, her mind was elsewhere right now. And she was here for answers that she would get no matter what. Hiruzen though spoke up, completely oblivious of the inner tirade his kunoichi was having inwardly right at that moment.

"What brings you by this early Tsunade-chan? What is this urgent matter you require to discuss off your sensei? On such short notice at that." Hiruzen asked in his usual grandfatherly tone, making her knit her eyebrows when he had broken her out of her thoughts. She decided to be blunt about it and spoke her mind clearly.

"Sensei, I want to know about someone in this village." she said, getting straight to the point. Hiruzen rose an eyebrow and leaned forward, placing his crossed fingers in front of his mouth. Now he was getting curious, his lone kunoichi subordinate was rarely this serious, and when she was, it meant the matter at hand was of grave importance to her.

"Who might that be Tsunade?" he asked seriously himself, seeing the serious expression on her face.

"I don't know his name for sure but I do know how he looks. He has quite exotic features that would be hard to miss." she explained quickly, getting a nod from the man. He sat silently, letting her go on.

"He is around six or seven years old, has silky blonde hair, wide baby blue eyes and three whisker like marks on each cheek…" she explained and saw the slight stiffening in his features, making her smile inwardly. He knew about him, she thought inwardly clapping at her success. Now it was just a matter of milking the information out of him, by hook, or by crook if need be.

"I have no idea who you are talking about. There are many children that age in the village, but I can have someone look for the boy you wish to speak to." he lied smoothly making the blonde frown at the blatant lie he was spouting. Hiruzen knew she wouldn't be staying in the village for that long and the matter would be swept under the rug like he wanted to. But Tsunade saw through his bluff in a blink.

"So I was right, that is Naruto then?" she stated more than asked, and Hiruzen flinched at her perfect accusation. He cursed her keen insight inwardly, though kept a stony face on the outside.

"Why are you asking around for him?" he asked seriously in a steely voice, leaving no room for arguments. Tsunade's eyes narrowed in on the man before her.

"Where do you think he currently is?" she asked in retort to his question, changing the subject instantly to her liking, not at all fazed by the iron in his voice. Hiruzen once again frowned, but answered nonetheless.

"At the orphanage of course." he said as if she was stupid. Though when she looked at him blankly, he knew she was well aware of where he was. He cursed yet again, this wasn't going anyway like he would have wanted it to.

"You've met him." he stated with a sigh, and got a curt nod from the woman in front of him, who had crossed her arms under her bosom to make her quite an intimidating person to behold right now. He let out a tired sigh and rubbed his eyes slowly, showing off how old he really had gotten.

"How is he?" he asked her tiredly, but got another blank stare in return. He sighed yet again at his student and placed his face in his hands. There was no point in beating around the bush right now.

"Naruto he…" he started tiredly, and swung his chair around to look outside the window. His heart pained at what he was about to say. No doubt when she walked out of the office today, he wouldn't be on her list of respected people anymore.

"He is my greatest regret Tsunade." he started, making the woman say nothing and just stare at the back facing chair of her teacher.

"The boy is essentially a prince to the village, but to the villagers he is nothing but the beast he holds. The beast that ravaged the village six years ago. Hatred is a really painful thing to forget Tsunade, it hurts everyone." he said tiredly, making her knit her eyebrows together as he tried to reason with her. To make her slowly realize why he had done what he really had for the boy.

"Yeah in this case all the hatred is hurting a six year old boy." she said coldly, making him fall silent in a moment. He picked his pipe up and lit it, letting out a ring of smoke before he let out a tired breath.

"That it did." he affirmed her words instantly, knowing how true they were.

"Why isn't he in the orphanage?" she asked icily, making him turn around and look at her with such hate in his eyes she nearly shivered. But the hate wasn't directed at her, not one bit.

"He is supposed to be in the orphanage, yes…" he spat venomously, making her frown but she let him speak before interrupting. She would let the man make his point and then decide what she wanted to say and do.

"But the orphanage apparently doesn't have what it takes to care of more children. As soon as he was re-entered, the orphanage sent a notice to the council that they were overflowing with children. One to be precise and the notice, as always sanctioned by unanimous vote from both halves of the council in an instant. Even I cannot overwrite the decision of the entire council." he explained in wise tone, making her look at him with an incredulous expression. Her ears couldn't believe the stupidity he was spouting right now.

"Even the clan heads?" she asked in disbelief, and got a grim nod from Hiruzen.

"No one wants to get on the bad side of the civilian half of the village. Especially, if it is for the sake of only one insignificant child." he spat, making her clutch her fists in cold fury. Though her eyes glared at the coot in front of her.

"Then why didn't you do something?" she asked coldly, and he glared right back at the Senju clan head.

"I tried, but everyone was against me. Even the clan heads. I tried to get him in the orphanage time and time again, but after he turned five, they weren't under legal obligation to keep him. I tried, believe me I tried, but the council didn't want our jinchuriki hurting other children with his demonic chakra." he said tiredly, making her look at him in pure disbelief. They doubted the sealing skills of the Yondaime? The one who's dust that left the man's feet was as good as gold to the civilians? That Yondaime!

"Well you could have done something…" she started her tirade, but was cut off by an irate Sarutobi.

"And pray tell what I could have done? They would revolt against me and force down a new Kage, the moment I did something for him. One who would be willing to let them kill Naruto, or have him turned to Danzo like he has been forcing me to all these years, to turn him into a mindless weapon used only as a war deterrent. Even I, as a Hokage, cannot fight against the whole village. They would have me overruled and upturn my authority immediately." he said grimly, making her scowl and stand up, looking at the man she once used to respect with utter contempt and disgust. She knew she was done and Sarutobi knew it too. He made his last stand to at least save some face in front of his student.

"I was going to have him entered into the Academy, and let him have an apartment to live since then he would be a budding shinobi under my eyes that would need my help. Even the council cannot object to that." he added with a little light of hope in his voice, but it didn't make any effect on Tsunade as he had expected. She couldn't believe it, so until he was ready for the Academy and started to train to be used by them, he was going to fend for himself among these wolves? It was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.

"You might as well just hand the hat over to Danzo if this what the 'God of Shinobi' has come down to. You aren't making it any easier for Naruto, this is just your way of taking the guilt off your head." she said coldly, and he glared at the buxom blonde. His anger finally got the better of him and he slammed his hands on the table, startling her a little.

"Then take this position from me and make it so that Naruto can have a better life. I know I am not the man I once was, I am merely a shadow of my former self. Take this hat and become Hokage, do what I cannot…" he tried furiously, but he saw the pure disgust on Tsunade's face when she opened the door to leave, but not without a few parting words.

"I don't need that accursed position to help a child in need for my help. I'll show you just how much I can do for him without that darned hat. Mark my words Hiruzen Sarutobi, I'll take that boy under my wing, and Kami be damned if someone tried to stop me." she said in her own iron voice before she left.

Hiruzen winced at the force put behind the closing of the door that had caused a web of cracks in it and let out a tired sigh.

For the first time in a really long time, he felt really old now. As much as he wanted to refuse and deny her words, he knew she was right. He could have done a lot more for the boy. But he had turned a blind eye on him over the welfare of the village.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of one. That was what he had done.

Tsunade walked out with a furious expression on her face. This why she hated the village and that damned position of Hokage. To think that old coot would use her emotions to try and guilt trip her into becoming the new pig for the village's mountain stone face.

But first things first, she needed to find a certain blonde haired, blue eyed boy. Her thoughts trailed down to the glimpse of his change in eyes she had caught last night. If that was what she thought it was, then he would be scraped alive of all his innocence and used by the village to the fullest.

"He needs someone, he needs me…" she thought desperately, as her maternal instincts kicked in. Her feet now had an extra hop to them, her eyes roaming around, narrowing every now and then in alleys and other places in hope she might see the one she was looking for. Her eyes glanced behind her back to an 'apparently' empty spot on the roof behind her. She stepped into the alley and stopped abruptly.

"It isn't wise to follow me." she said coldly to no one in particular. A moment later an ANBU wearing a dog mask was in front of her. Tsunade knew who it was, she had seen the kid since he was a little child. There was rarely anyone in this stupid village that could get past her eyes unchecked even if she hadn't been here for quite some time now.

"Why are you following me Kakashi?" she asked him seriously, clearly in no mood for playing around. The man himself didn't show any surprise, she wasn't a Sannin for nothing after all.

"It's Dog right now Tsunade-sama…" his lazy voice trailed off when he saw the woman's eyes narrow in on him dangerously, while her patience ran thin with the man. He gulped and spoke up before she blew a gasket.

"I heard what you said in Hokage-sama's office Tsunade-sama…" he started nervously, making her raise an eyebrow.

"And…?" she asked slowly, making him sigh.

"I too have regrets, I didn't want to look after him and wanted hide myself from everyone. In truth, I couldn't bear to be attached to him and loose him like I have for all the others." he said mournfully, making her look at him with pity. The man had almost as much burden as her, and still had more piling up on him. She saw him pull out a slip from behind him and hand it to her.

She read it and rose an eyebrow.

"Coordinates?" she asked him and he nodded.

"That is the place you are looking for. I must leave now Tsunade-sama before someone notices my absence, I wish you luck." he said slowly with a little shame, and tried to disappear before someone noticed his disappearance from duties. He had heard everything from the window of the Hokage Office during his patrolling and looked for her afterwards. At least he could help one of the only ones who wanted to do something truly helpful for the boy.

"You know where he lives?" she asked curiously making him stop for a moment, and he nodded but said nothing. He knew the anger she would release when she saw the place for herself.

"I look after him every now and then and leave some money there for him. But with my missions and ANBU duties, I cannot do much. And the council must not get a wind of my help to him, or they would bar even that barest minimum for the boy. Maybe you can…" he said leaving the thought hanging, and vanished into thin air. She let a small smile grace her lips, when she memorized the coordinates she incinerated the slip, leaving no trace or evidence behind to trace it back to the silver haired ANBU.

Every high ranking shinobi had to memorize the map of the village, and she knew where those coordinates would be approximately, but she would still need a map to pinpoint it exactly. She walked into the bookstore in front of her and bought a map. Her fingers locating the place and rose an eyebrow. It was near the red light district on the outskirts of the village. He lived almost near the village walls, she pondered on in deep thought, her finger scratching her chin in deep thoughts.

She followed the map and walked out to the place she was looking for. Her feet walked her near the place and she saw how deserted this part was, especially after the village had completely shut down all illegal operations within the village walls.

"A perfect place to hide from the world." she thought guiltily, while biting her lip. But she was totally confused when her feet led her into an alley. She looked around to see no doors or signs of life around.

Her eye twitched in fury. Had that lazy pervert pranked her on on such a serious matter? Her eyes though narrowed in on the a large old table kept at the end of the alley. It was covered by cardboard cut from various boxes, to make a small makeshift shelter. Though what had caught her eyes was the small foot she could see, that was covered with a sandal she recognized all too well over it.

She walked to it with soft and silent feet, so as to not arouse any attention. As soon as she reached near it, she stopped and crouched down. She was glad the boy hadn't noticed her, his senses were quite sharp from what she had seen earlier. He was most probably a natural born sensor and didn't even know it himself. Her hand caught the large piece of cardboard covering the table from the front and slid it to the left.

Her eyes widened at what she underneath it, and her eyes watered themselves on their own in an instant. She bit her lip to keep from crying at the scene.

"Oh Kami, what have they made you go through baby?" she thought to herself, while her eyes took in the blonde she was looking for all day long. She knew now why he hadn't noticed her. He was fast asleep, curled up in a red blanket with a small white cub sleeping with him. The cub was nuzzled against his cheek and purred softly with every breath the blonde took.

She couldn't believe it. This was his home? A thrown away table covered with card boards? No wonder he looked so desperate when she had asked him if he liked it in her hotel room. She glanced to the side, only to see a worn off mug and some clothes that looked like they had seen their better days, kept in a cardboard box with several other boxes, no doubt containing his other things.

He had made this little makeshift shelter into his home, from what he most probably would have picked up from around the village. The things villagers had thrown away deeming them useless was his haven now. Her eyes turned back to the small boy who was curled in a ball in his blanket, and that crimson blanket was the only thing that looked like it wasn't a thrown away thing. Instead it looked really expensive? She thought a little curious now with the new development that took her mind off depressing thoughts for a moment, much to her happiness.

She narrowed her eyes at it, and saw the small Uzumaki spiral embossed on a corner making realization dawn on her. It was the blanket Kushina must have ordered to be made for her newborn son. She couldn't help but smile at how adorable he looked right now.

It was his to have, along with the entire fortune of his parents. But she knew why he couldn't. The wrath of the entire elemental nations would come along with the power and fame of his parents. And the village would rather have him die, and absorb all the sealed heritage into the village, than let him have it and live peacefully with his rightful belongings and fortunes.

Her hand reached out and brushed his head gently. She smiled when he leaned into her hand like a little cat, and nuzzled it in the warm and big hand that was cupping it gently.

"Naruto?" she whispered softly, so as to not startle him and saw his eyes flutter open. His blue eyes widened when he realized someone was in his hiding place, and he scooted back as much as he could with the cub now completely hidden in his arms protectively.

He took in the woman he knew from earlier, and looked at her uncertainly when he saw her smiling gently at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a guarded tone, making her smile slip again at his guarded voice. She strained it back to the fullest and looked at him warmly.

"You live here?" she asked him in a gentle voice, and saw him nod timidly.

"Yes, no one lives around here but me and Kiara." he explained softly and politely, and Tsunade gushed over him inwardly when she saw him nuzzle his nose on the sleeping cubs head affectionately. He looked up at Tsunade contemplatively after a moment.

"What are you doing here?" he asked again, a bit scared as his eyes wandered around to look for an escape route immediately. Tsunade saw it and brought her hands in front of her, doing the exact opposite of calming him down. He scooted back and took off to the side, pushing the card-boards away quickly with a push.

"HEY WAIT!" she shouted desperately, and jumped up to follow him. She saw him rush to a wall and was confused as to where he was going, when her eyes widened while she saw him scoot in a small hole and slip into the other side, with the cub tucked protectively under his arms.

"DAMN IT!" she growled furiously at her failure to talk to him, and thought about what to do. She could break through the wall with her monstrous strength, and scare him and half the village to death, or wait it out and talk to him when he came back later. At least now she knew where he lived she thought with a tired smile. She didn't know why she wanted to get to know the boy so much, but she needed to, that much was for certain in her mind right now.

She sat down by the wall, tucking her knees with her arms to her chest and placed her forehead on her knees, letting out a tired sigh. Her eyes drooped a little and her breathing softened when she fell asleep in the alley.

Author's Notes : There is the second chapter of my story. I forgot to mention some things last time, the Sharingan will be a rare kekkei genkai in this story, much like the Mokuton. To me, from the beginning it didn't make sense that a bloodlimit, as powerful as the Sharingan had so many bearers. It made it's appeal and rarity quite shallow in my eyes. Well I intend to rectify it here. Only four have ever been documented to have ever wielded it before our little blonde her, Indra, Madara, Obito and Itachi being the last one. Well if you like it and would like a quick update please leave reviews. I'll see you next time alright? ;)

PS : This story has been co-authored by me and NarutoxSharingaxenthusiast. Please give my friend the due credit for his help. I'm sure many of you would have noticed his style mixed in this too along with mine by now hehe.