Disclaimer: ... Go see Prologue... honestly...

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews I recieved for my opening chapter! This chapter starts off three years after Kushina's suicide because, really, I just couldn't be bothered with writing about lame D-rank missions and inventing something for the Chunnin exams. There won't actually be happening much yet, I'll just introduce some characters, give you a glimps of Konoha's political situation and let Naruto show off his skills a little. BTW, before anyone asks, the Uchiha Massacre still happened. I see no reason as to how little Naruto could have changed that, so there.

On a side note, does anyone know the name of Sandaime's secretary? I just made one up, it's not that important. And just to head off some confusion, I do know that Yondaime's name was Namikaze Minato. But I thought it kind of funny to have Kazama as Naruto's fake surname...

Have fun reading!

(Three years later)

Chapter One

"Frankly, I do not care how much you sugar coat this or how many of the civilian council you have on your side, it WILL.NOT.HAPPEN! Shinobi affairs are still mine to deal with and considering that she has been in the Academy for two years now gives me more than enough reason to consider her as one."

The Sandaime was doing his very best to not go through the roof but this was the eighth time in only two weeks that the old warmonger Danzo had brought up this topic. Not to mention the accumulated tries of the past – oh, what was it again? – 6 years!?

"Sarutobi-sama, please consider the strength our village could project if we were to teach her how to use her… tenant. Especially now when the altercations with Cloud are starting to get out of hand!"

Sarutobi suppressed a sigh. "And I suppose you would be the one to teach her? "

"Well, I certainly have the means to-"

"Do not take me for a fool, Danzo. I may have officially disbanded and forbidden your Ne but I am not yet old enough to not see the truth. You know as well as I do that Konoha needs your organization as much as you need the Hokage to turn a blind eye to your doings."

"I am not sure I know what-"

"Plausible deniability, Danzo", Sandaime murmured and took out his pipe, "You know that I could crush your Ne if I only set my mind to it but at this moment in time I still like having the options available your men give me. Just make sure you do not overstep your boundaries. "

He paused for a moment to light his tobacco.

"And Ami is as much out of your grasp as Naruto, especially with his history and origin."

The Hokage watched with sharp eyes and no small amount of amusement as Danzo gritted his teeth in unwilling defeat.

"The boy has told me of all your recruiting efforts and how he rebuffed them. He is loyal to Konoha and to me. Leave him alone."

A light knock on the door interrupted them.

"Kazama Naruto has arrived, Hokage-sama", his brunette secretary informed him, "Shall I tell him to wait?"

"No, no, send him in Etsuko. We were just finished here."

Danzo stood at the dismissal and bowed stiffly.

"Danzo-san", Naruto greeted him formally as they passed each other.

"Please close the door, Naruto-kun", Sarutobi said after the boy had entered his office.

Naruto complied and then stood to attention before his leader. "Hokage-sama."

"Ah, relax, Naruto-kun", Sarutobi chuckled and motioned the boy to take a seat, "I merely wanted to chat. It has been quite some time since I have seen you. How is being a Chuunin treating you? I heard that you are mostly doing solo missions now?"

Naruto let himself sink into the comfortable chair. He liked talking with the Samdaime, there was no one he felt more comfortable around than the old village leader.

"It's been good, I guess", he shrugged, "Matsuri-sensei has talked about wanting to take on a new Genin-team so I persuaded her to let me take some solo missions to get used to it. Besides, I have been doing missions with other squads…" He trailed off.

"But it's hard for them to accept that a ten year old is at least as skilled as them?", Sarutobi ventured a guess and frowned.

"Well… yes", Naruto averted his eyes uncomfortably.

Not that he was ashamed of his accomplishements, far from it, but he knew that many others resented him for it. Though, he thought, that had always been the case, starting from the first day at the Academy when he was asked to demonstrate his skills. He had tried to make friends that year, sure. He was not antisocial back then. But he stopped all his efforts on that fateful graduation day. When he had come home, proudly wearing his Konoha hitai-ate, he had found his mother. Dead. By suicide. Oh, how he resented her for it. For leaving him alone, for giving up, for carelessly throwing that burden upon him. The scroll with her last words was still hidden away in the apartment he had moved into afterwards, and sometimes when he took it out and ran his fingers across the stained parchment he could feel the crushing weight of the dead bearing down on him. Suffocating him, singling him out in a village full of outstanding individuals and assuring his loneliness.

The village always comes first.

That had become his mantra, his safeguard against failing so many people as his parents had. Konoha was more important than having friends, even more important than his life. If one life lost could serve the village than it had to be lost.

His fast ascension in the shinobi ranks assured that he could give the village his all. And maybe, just maybe, in time he could make up for his parents' mistake.

"Don't do that", Sarutobi's sharp voice shattered his wandering thoughts, "Haven't I told you time and again to leave the past where it belongs?!" His voice softened, "No one blames you, Naruto and it has been a long time since anyone has had the gall to blame Minato and Kushina."

"Ma, you always know what I think, ojiji", Naruto responded lightly, "does that come with the job or is it a special jutsu? Or maybe a kekkei genkai that nobody knows about?"

Naruto was glad that the Hokage smiled a little at his, truthfully pitiful, attempt at levity.

He really didn't fancy another talk about that subject. He had lost count of how many times over the last three years he had been forced to 'talk about it' just because his initial mental checkup had diagnosed him with PTSD. He had gone to the psychatrist the first time but after she had tried to get him to play with toy soldiers and given him wax crayons and sweets he had violently refused any further visits. That had bought him many raised eyebrows but, hey, as a Shinobi he was entitled to refuse treatment as long as it didn't impact his job.

"Well then", Sarutobi changed the subject, "concerning your…ah… unpopularity with those of your rank and Matsuri's request for a Genin team I have worked out a passable solution to the problem."

Naruto tensed in his seat. He suddenly had a horrible feeling about where this was going. "You can't…", he attempted feebly but was totally ignored by his leader who went on cheerfully and with a wicked glint in his eyes.

"Matsuri has grown quite fond of you, Naruto-kun, and would be loath to lose you. Considering that the number of this year's graduating Genin is uneven, Matsuri will get the two left over students with you to fill in the vacant slot."

Naruto looked at the Hokage unbelievingly.

"Erm…well, it nice and all that you're thinking about me", Naruto said scratching the back of his head sheepishly while trying to edge away to the office door, "but…erm…I kind of like my solo missions. So, ah, if you don't mind I'll just be goi-"

"Naruto", the Hokage rolled his eyes.

Naruto slumped slightly and trudged back to his seat.

"There's no way I can change your mind?", he asked hopefully, "you know I'm not good with teams."

"It's already decided. Other villages may cultivate this self dependence but here in Konohagakure we make an effort for teamwork, as you well know. And this system has given us good results so far. So, do I have to make it an order to you?"

"No, Hokage-sama", Naruto replied somewhat stiffly.

Sarutobi raised his eyebrows.

"Now, don't be like that, Naruto-kun. Try to get along with them. It won't be that bad. Besides you will only join them when they have already done most of their required D-rank missions. I may be a stickler for teamwork but even I don't like to squander talent like yours unnecessarily. Especially in tense times like these. Tell me, what do you know about the start of these problems we have with Cloud right now."

Naruto paused to think a moment.

"What I gathered from the history and politics books is that it started about six years ago. A ninja from Kumogakure tried to kidnap Hyuuga Hinata in order to get the Byakuugan. He was unsuccessful and died in the attempt which threatened the peace treaty which had just been signed between our villages. And then things get a bit unclear", Naruto furrowed his brows, "The Raikage wanted retribution for his killed Shinobi in form of the life of Hyuuga Hiashi, the clan head. He obviously wanted to make it look like his Shinobi had been killed unprovoked. But you denied his demand on the grounds that you had an eyewitness whom you were unwilling to name out of fear for their life. And from there on things declined till we got to this not-quite-all-out war we have now. Do you want me to go into the details about the skirmishes and political maneuvers that happened in the following years?"

"No, that won't be necessary, Naruto-kun. I simply wanted to see wether you were aware of the delicacy of the situation", the Hokage said and then added, "It was Ami."

Naruto blinked at the seeming non-sequitur.

"I don't…"

"The eyewitness", Sarutobi clarified," it was Ami."

Naruto looked up sharply.

"No wonder you kept her name quiet", he observed," the villagers would rip her apart if they knew she was indirectly involved in creating this warlike state we have now. They don't exactly like the Jinchuuriki."

"Do not call her that", Sarutobi reprimanded sharply, "I know you keep your distance to her but there is no need to insult her."

"I'm simply telling the truth", Naruto replied evenly, "She is a human sacrifice. The villagers may see her as the demon reborn and had rather she died yesterday than tomorrow but I don't. She is a jailor. And human. Nothing more, nothing less. The situation would be the same if things had gone as planned."

It was silent for a minute.

"Besides", Naruto went on quietly, "you should be glad I'm staying away from her. There's no telling how she would react should she ever find out the truth. The villagers and most shinobi may have forgiven my parents or even forgotten about it but somehow I doubt that she would take it well."

Sarutobi sighed quietly.

"I suppose this is a subject we'll have to agree to disagree on. But back to the topic. I'm giving you a last solo mission. It is long term, most likely a month or more so you'll get back in time to join your new team. The class is low to middle B-rank and normally I would have liked to have you accompanied by at least two more Chuunin or one Jonin, but we are simply lacking the manpower right now. It is primarily a reconnaissance mission but depending on the situation it might come to direct enemy engagement."

The Hokage paused slightly.

"You're being awfully vague today", Naruto commented lightly, although his eyes were serious.

"Are you going to take it? It pertains to sensitive information and I cannot reveal more unless you accept."

"Of course I accept."

"Very well…"

(6 weeks later)

The dark clad figure made his way swiftly though the woods, the white unadorned mask an undistinguishable bright spot in the trees. The movements weren't as graceful as one would expect from a Shinobi but then again, even Shinobi seldom had to travel eight days with only few stops and even less sleep through nearly unknown territory.

Only a few more miles, he thought to himself and again pushed himself to his limits. He was glad he had lost his pursuers three days ago in Waterfall country as he knew he couldn't have kept escaping them for much longer.

Besides, I'm on a time limit, he reminded himself exasperatedly. This mission had already taken longer than anticipated and in only a few hours he was to meet with his new team. Not that he was looking forward to that. It would have been bad enough just having to meet them but as exhausted and probably still sleepless as he would be by then it just spelled disaster.

As the dark shape of the walls and therefore of a side entrance to Konohagakure no Sato loomed before him he released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

The two guards at the unobstrusive metal door stood straighter when they saw him approaching. Naruto chuckled quietly. With his clothes and the mask he had been given specifically for this mission he look eerily like a member of ANBU or Ne. He doubted the guards would give him the same respectful attention if they knew he was only a Chuunin like themselves.

"ANBU-san", the left one said with a short bow, "your identification number, please."

"37-AC-5726 reporting back", Naruto replied, his voice slightly muffled by his mask.

The head of the other guard shot up from the scroll he had been verifying his ID with.

"Ah, the Hokage has informed the guards to look out for you. You are nearly a week late, ANBU-san. He has asked that you be sent to him immediately upon your return."

"Thanks, I will do that", Naruto replied. There goes my much needed sleep, he thought somewhat grumpily.

"Besides, I'm not an ANBU", he added stoically as he entered through the small door, "Have a nice shift, Itsumo. Daisuke."

He left the two trying to figure out who he was (not that they had any chance of succeeding, those bakas, he snickered to himself) and made his way to the Hokage Tower. He rather pitied the Old Man for having to work such ungodly hours.

The secretary winked him through to Sandaime's office as soon as he stated his mission-ID.

"…nothing suspicious to be reported, Hokage-sama. Of course, our notorious lack of concrete information-", the tall, silver haired man broke off abruptly as Naruto opened the door.

"I apologize, Hokage-sama", Naruto said, the annoyed twitch of his left eye well concealed behind his mask, "apparently your secretary isn't quite up-to-date with your appointments."

He moved to step outside again when Sarutobi motioned for him to stay. "That is quite alright, Kakashi-kun spontaneously… dropped by… a few minutes earlier."

Narutos eyes involuntarily followed Sarutobi's to the open window. "Ah", he murmured, "I see."

Naruto was impressed with the Hokage's 'Mastery of Mind Reading' when the Old Man sternly said: "And I'd appreciate it if you would continue to use the door, nonetheless."

Naruto scowled slightly dismayed which again was completely lost on the Old Man.

"Now, where were we", Sarutobi sighed and the silver haired Jounin took that as his cue to continue, evidently seeing no reason to censor his information if the Hokage himself had allowed the masked Shinobi to stay.

Hatake Kakashi, Naruto thought, the Copy Ninja, his father's prized student and master of over a thousand jutsu if his entry in various Bingo Books could be believed. The man who had distanced himself from Kushina and Naruto after the Kyuubi attack out of grief for not only losing his last teammate but also his Sensei and who, according to the Sandaime, had given up hope of finding them five years prior. Who wouldn't, Naruto reasoned, after four consecutive years of trying – and failing – to locate the last two elusive Namikaze.

Naruto felt no bonds to the man, no desire to get to know him, not even back then, when he was told of him a few months after his mother's suicide. If anything, he felt slight resentment of the Hatake for having known Minato when Naruto himself had never had the chance.

"… but just a few hours ago we received confirmation, that there was a short altercation between some Cloud nins and an Iwa border control three days ago. We have no idea what Kumo nins were doing in Taki no Kuni and even less why they were engaging ninja from Iwa. I thought Kumo and Iwa were neutral? Them being on hostile terms could mean that Kumo's attention towards us will decrease for a while."

The Hokage obviously noticed Naruto's slight shift in stance at that and motioned for him to speak.

"I suppose this ties in with me being so late, Hokage-sama", Naruto began, "On my way out of Kaminari no Kuni I was detected by a Chuunin border patrol. As my mission stated not to engage if not unavoidable I tried to lose them but they were replaced by four Jonin soon after. Obviously the theft of the items I targeted did not go unnoticed and they rightly suspected me. I led them on a chase through Rice country and into Taki no Kuni. I thought it best not to compromise Konoha in any way. I managed to get three of them temporarily held up by Taki nins and confronted the other a few miles from the Iwa border", Naruto took a silent breath.

Even now it seemed like a dream that he had managed to overpower a Jounin. Admittedly, he was probably a new Jounin and not very skilled but a Jounin nonetheless.

"I used the area to my advantage, took him down and took him over the border into Iwa. Then I destroyed all traces of the battle. That was three days ago. After that, I backtracked through Rice towards Hi no Kuni. "

Silence descended upon the three and Naruto felt Hatake giving him an appraising look.

"I am impressed", Sarutobi said after a while, "you reached all other mission targets?"

"Of course", Naruto replied evenly.

"Well", the Hokage mused, "you are certainly not called a prodigy for nothing. If you were a Jounin already, I would consider letting you keep the mask."

Naruto vaguely noticed Hatake's one visible brow nearly vanishing into his hairline at that but he was too busy suppressing his blush beneath his mask to comment on it.

" If I may ask", the Hatake began and looked at Sarutobi who nodded in consent, "What is your name? To which team do you belong?"

Naruto stiffened imperceptibly. Well, that was that about keeping under the Copy Nin's radar, no thanks to the Old Man.

"Kazama", he replied somewhat tersely, trying to keep his displeasure from being noticed, "My name is Kazama Naruto. I am a Chuunin under Tanaka Matsuri but I have not yet had a team. Not many are professional enough to work with or under a Chuunin who is younger than your average Academy graduate."

Kakashi nodded and eyesmiled at him. "Yes, I got that a lot, too", he replied lightly, "I might have heard about you before but I usually don't pay attention to such things. "

"Maa, don't start on my account", Naruto said dryly, "Too many people are considered prodigies today, in my opinion."

The Jounin chuckled. "Well, that's true. Now, if you allow, Hokage-sama, my squad is waiting to move out again and you still have to debrief our overly intelligent squirt here."

The Hokage motioned his hands to dismiss him and the wiry man disappeared.

Through the window.

Sarutobi simply put his head into his hands. His office had a door, for Kami's sake!

The unmuffled and put out voice of Naruto roused him again. The boy had finally taken off his mask.

"I'm not that short, am I?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"I don't like that Hatake", Naruto mumbled sullenly.

Then he sighed exasperatedly.

Kami, he needed sleep! He was acting like a … well …ten-year-old…

"Can we just get this done?", he asked – NOT whined .

He tried to keep his temper in check when he saw the Hokage not even bothering to suppress his smile.

Well, after this night someone was going to suffer, Naruto thought viciously. Kami help those new teammates of his…

(TBC)

Sooooo, that was the first chapter. Did you like it? Did you hate it? I would love to know!

I'd like to know where you guys want this to go. I'm not promising anything but if you've got some ideas about who you want Naruto and his team fighting against or maybe something like that, I'll see if I can work it in.

Next chapter: Naruto meets his new team and we get to know a bit more about Naruto's privat life. Stay tuned!

cheers ginoeh