A/N: It's been such a long time, right? *laughs nervously* Sorry! Well, now I shall try and update this story more frequently! :) I don't know how frequent though, I'll just try and do my best for you guys.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 1: Name
"Excellent as always, Wolf." Hiruzen meekly smiled, sadly Kakashi didn't reciprocate his gesture. Only steely eyes stared straight through him, unwavering, awaiting for another order - dismissal or a mission, anything. He stood, like an obedient dog.
The Hokage blew out strands of smoke, settled down on his chair, swiveled it around and sighed. "What's the matter, Kakashi?"
Kakashi staggered back from a moment, realizing all formalities has been thrown out of the window. "Nothing, Hokage-sama."
A nimbus of smoke slithered out of Hiruzen's cracked lips, dissolving into breath. Another sigh, another disapproval of his uncandid response. He turned back round to place his pipe down on the ashtray. "You've been awfully quiet as of late, Kakashi."
The silver-haired man stood unfazed, emotions still intact. Hiruzen gave the younger ninja a scrutinizing stare, examining every inch of his uniform as if he could se the phantom traces of blood which previously stained across his uniform. The young prodigy wasn't so young anymore, the Third concluded, his body had become more refined and chiseled that the Third could no longer recognize him if it weren't for his silver tresses.
Hiruzen reclined back on his chair in comfort. His eyes scanned the cat-like mask that concealed Kakashi's identity. It was as stone cold as before, mismatched eyes bore behind the two curved holes of the mask - not a single drop of emotion showed. With a deep sigh he raised his hand up, specifically pointing at the mask. "Kakashi, remove your mask."
At a tedious pace Kakashi lifted his mask up to show his weary face: dark circles underlined his eyes and highlighted his outstanding fatigue. Kakashi refused to utter another word, he merely looked back at his superior. "Do you require me for another task, Hokage-sama?" he dryly asked.
Surprisingly the Hokage didn't respond, he continued to glare at Kakashi with burrowed eyebrows growing fiercer by each second. His face wrinkled as his face contorted into - what Kakashi saw as - disgust. "My god, what has happened to you?"
Really?
Kakashi clutched his mask tighter secretly as he gave a prolonged sigh. "Sleep eludes me,"
"Did something happened? A woman perhaps?" It had always piqued the older ninja's interest if Kakashi had a secret lover lurking somewhere in the dark. It couldn't be helped, the boy's life was basically an enigma! He needed - he wanted - to know about his personal affairs. Screw boundaries!
The ANBU grimaced back in response. It was obvious that his leader was trying to pry into his personal life. "Not at all, Hokage-sama. It's just chronic sleep deprivation. Don't worry about me."
"I'm going to relieve you for a week, Kakashi." The Hokage signed a slip of approval of his time off. "You need it." His hand extended with the signed form of permit.
Reluctantly one black gloved hand took the slip of paper from him without any haste. Kakashi's face screwed together another look of disapproval, but he didn't voice it. "Hai." Voice strong as steel, cold as ice.
The Third was simply too sentimental, placed too much value on one's life, treated the assassination squad the same way he did all other squads – but ANBU shinobi were not the same as regular shinobi. They served a certain purpose within the village, one that Hiruzen failed grasp, or if he did, he sought to change. Foolish man.
Putting his mask back on, he met the Hokage's softened glance. "I appreciate your concern, Hokage-sama." He spoke, languidly, smooth, formal. "However, do not waste your time trying to look out for my well being just because I was Fourth's student. Showing favoritism isn't professional."
Hiruzen resigned a small chuckle. "Yes, you're right, Kakashi. But can you blame an old fool for trying to show concern?"
Kakashi halted at the door, his lips couldn't help but tug a small smile. You're too kind for your own good, Hokage-sama. Abandoning the door completely, his presence dissolved in thin air.
The Third swiveled around again, sighing out loud. It's been five years since you last saw Naruto, Kakashi...
As the lone ANBU officer paced through the village, with a black cloak enveloping his body, he could vaguely hear complaints wailing around him. Something about a blond vandal painting their shops and houses. He simply shook his head in dismissal as he proceeded to wonder through the streets that would eventually lead him somewhere with a dead-end.
Kakashi continued with his aimless pacing until he came upon a large crowd herded together in one tight alleyway. His hidden eyebrow raised in question but his body stood stagnant, a few feet away from the crowd.
There wasn't any commotion being caused just a few mumbles of agreement and occasional cheers. Despite of not having any suspicious plotting or behavior at all, the young ANBU jumped up on a near building to overlook the crowd.
At first everything seemed innocent, nothing out of the ordinary, but a droplet of sunkiss yellow streaks in the crowd caught his keen scarlet orb. Those strands, there was no doubt about it. "..Naruto Uzumaki." he softly spoke, bewildered.
"Hey since the Hokage isn't here, nor are the ANBU dogs, let's put matters in our own hands!" their spokesperson declared, casting a deathly glare at the adolescent. "Kid, you have caused us so much trouble.."
Naruto grinned as he clutched the steel paint-bucket in his hand. "Ha! No one can catch, me, Naruto Uzumaki!" he claimed strongly, filled with pride. "I shall take you all on, dirty geezers!"
SPLASH!
Blood red paint splattered at the crowd, momentarily blinding their sight from Naruto. The mischievous blond decided to push past the crowd as fast as he could before he could be caught. However, a calloused hand gripped his dirty cream t-shirt by the collar.
"Brat, think you could get away?" he threw the child against the wooden fence before he clicked his knuckles. "I have had enough of your bullshit, Demon."
Naruto's lips pursed at his remark. "I'm not a demon, dattebayo!" he shouted, shaking his head in denial. He refused to believe in what they perceived him to be.
"You're a demon, brat. Face it - no one wants you in this village!" another person in the crowd claimed. "You should be exiled!"
His small fist curled and his teeth gritted against each other in anger. Sapphire blue eyes darkened into a dark shade of blue as his nose wrinkled. "Shut up! Shut up!" he roared with steely eyes.
Another member of the crowd stepped forward with a rigid rock resting on his palm. He threw the rock up and down on his hand, taunting and intimidating the child. "Demon brat!" he claimed, stepping back to hurl the stone at Naruto.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I'm going to be Hokage one day!" the blond screamed desperately.
Twisted laughter mixed in the crowd with witty remarks. The boy who stood in front of Naruto clutched onto the rock even harder with a growing smile of satisfaction. "Kid, like we told you your name is-"
His hand stretched out and threw the rock with high velocity that Naruto was frozen with fear that he couldn't evade the incoming attack. At first he attempted to take several steps back to evade its wrath, it was all futile. So instead he squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the impact to happen.
He waited and waited for the object to crush into his bones and tear into his skin - it never came. Instead he felt a warm cloak encasing him as if in reassurance he was safe. He peered up and saw an ANBU officer towering in front of him. "...ANBU?" he gasped out, eyes twinkling with admiration.
Kakashi had caught the rock with his gloved hand before it could inflict any damage on Naruto, and he had successfully broken it into tiny pieces within a second. "Naruto-" he began.
The orphan's eyes widened.
"-Naruto Uzumaki is his name!"
A/N: Certainly not my best chapter written. I like simple written stories, and I plan on making this story relatively simple. If any of you guys feel as if you want a more in depth chapter, tell me. I shall write a better chapter next time. For now, I'd like to keep it simple. A short apology for any mistakes in the chapter. :)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter,
Exciled3
