I don't own Naruto.
Chapter -1: Meeting
5 years ago the Kyuubi (Nine tails demon) attacked Konohagakure (Village hidden in the leaves) and did considerable damage to the village. Fearing the destruction of the village, the fourth hokage Minato Namikaze used his life to save the village by sealing the Kyuubi into his newborn child Uzumaki Naruto and hoped that people would see him as a hero rather than a demon. After the Kyuubi massacre, the previous hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was reinstated as the hokage and told the people about the Kyuubi and the boy who contained it.
From then on fear took over the people and they saw the boy as a demon rather than its container. He also made a law stating that whoever speaks about the Kyuubi openly or tells their children or anyone about this will be severely punished. He made this law in the hope that the next generation of shinobi will not know about this and will treat Naruto fairly. Naruto was then put in an orphanage with all the other orphans and Hiruzen hoped that this will be enough to let him have a normal life.
[Naruto – Age: 5 – October 10]
Naruto wearing short orange pants and white shirt is lying on the ground battered bruised and having blood all over his shirt. (3 hours ago) Today is his birthday and the orphanage have kicked him out. So he is all alone, hungry and there is a group of people who are chasing him around and hitting him with stones and sticks and whatever they could find. Finally exhausted he fell on the ground.
Naruto started crying and shouting heavily, "please spare me I didn't do anything" but the angry mob came closer and closer to kill him. Thinking this is his last day Naruto closed his eyes and curled up on the ground when suddenly the angry mob started slowly walking backwards in fear. When Naruto opened his eyes, he saw a man standing in front of him.
That man is an elderly man with his grey hair in a short ponytail wearing a mesh armour under a short, brown, sleeveless kimono with a pair of grey pants. He is carrying a wok (cooking vessel) and also a ladle, and a sword sheathed horizontally across his lower back. The mob were in fear because the old man is giving out an enormous amount of killing intent
"Hey old man, why are you protecting the demon which killed our people? Let us get rid of the demon once and for all" said a man. "Yeah lets us finish him," said another and all of them started to talk. The old man closed his eyes momentarily and opened it "No he is not a demon, but a child who is being beaten mercilessly and the only demons I see are the people attacking him. If anyone of you takes even one step forward, I will start cutting killing each and everyone one of you. Got that?" and started giving off even more killing intent. The mob first hesitated and then slowly walked away from that place.
The old man turned around "are you all right little man" and asked the boy lying on the ground. Naruto first started shivering with fear on his eyes and suddenly fell down unconscious. The old man picked Naruto up and immediately rushed to the hospital
Naruto slowly opened his eyes "where am I? What am I doing here?" and started looking around. "You fell down unconscious and I carried you here. How are you feeling?" He turned his face to the side and saw the old man with a smile on his face sitting right next to him. Naruto with fear in his eyes fell down from the bed and went to the other side of the room. "Please don't hurt me. I didn't do anything, I won't do anything so please let me go….please…" and started talking with so much fear and his body started shivering.
"Look boy I am not going to hurt you… I promise… okay. So calm down and come here". With a smile on his face, he used his hand to tap the bed urging him to come forward and sit down. The old man with a smile on his face waited for 5 mins. Naruto slowly started moving towards the bed and finally sat down.
Suddenly his stomach started growling. "You're hungry aren't you?" smiling the old man gave the food to Naruto. Initially hesitant Naruto started eating slowly and then gobbled up everything fast. After eating they stayed still for some time.
"I haven't introduced myself, haven't I? My name is Kosuke Moroboshi and I am a shinobi. So what happened to you and how did you end up like that?" asking worryingly. "Um…..I was kicked out of the orphanage and was roaming around the streets for food when suddenly a group of angry people came after me and started hitting me. After running for some time I was exhausted and fell down…" said Naruto with a sad look on his face. Then no one talked. "Why…why did you save me Kosuke san? All of them in the orphanage and everyone in the village hated me. So why…..?
"Because it is the duty of a shinobi to help the innocent." Smiled Kosuke. There was silence again.
"What is a shinobi Kosuke san and how did you make the people go back without doing anything"? Asked Naruto with a sparkle in his eyes.
"Ha Ha Ha who said I didn't do anything. I did do something but you couldn't see it because you are not a shinobi yet…and a shinobi is someone who protects the village and its people from inside and outside forces using his life….."Then the old man looked at Naruto who was scratching his head "and he also jumps from one tree to another and uses jutsu to attack and defend"
"What is a jutsu Kosuke san?" asked a deadpanned Naruto. Kosuke smiled and immediately used the tiger seal to create a shadow clone
"This a jutsu/This is a jutsu, little Naruto," said 2 Kosuke at the same time. Naruto fell down from the bed in shock.
From behind the bed Naruto got up. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (Typical Naruto style)…there…are….2….."Suddenly Naruto put his head down and became silent.
"Are you alright little Naruto?" asked a worried Kosuke
"amaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing how did you do that? This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. Can you teach me….can you teach me please…?" Naruto asked fully grinning from ear to ear.
"This is the first time I have seen him smile and he's finally behaving like a child," thought Kosuke while smiling at Naruto's antics.
"Don't worry you will learn this technique and much more in time. So be patient." Kosuke looked out of the window "In the meantime what are you going to do? Do you have anywhere you can go to?" asked Kosuke
Naruto looked down for a few seconds "I don't know where to go and whom to talk since everyone in the village seems to hate me….." Kosuke looked at him for a few seconds and looked out of the window suddenly remembering the past.
[FLASHBACK]
A young boy having dark hair and wearing a blue jacket and a mesh shirt underneath was seen crying beside a group of people lying dead
"It was my fault because of me they are dead" cried the young boy.
"Being a ninja means you risk death. It wasn't your responsibility alone" scolding the young man is a fair-skinned man, shaggy hair and red coloured eyes, having 3 red markings on his face, one on his chin and one on each side of his face wearing a blue with a distinctive white collar over a simple black suit.
"But Nidaime Sama, they died because I gave a careless order. I was only thinking of becoming a chunin and lost sight of what is important. So please let me be a genin till I die. This is my way of atoning for my sins" cried Kosuke
"You…..do you seriously intend to be a genin for the rest of your life," asked the Nidaime Hokage
[FLASHBACK - 2]
"You have done enough to atone for your comrade's death. Enough Kosuke, become a jonin" said the tan skinned, dark brown, spiked hair man having a goatee, wearing a light combat attire wearing a jumpsuit
"But sandaime sama I….." said the man who had dark hair and wearing a blue jacket and mesh shirt underneath
"Otherwise from now on, you'll only be assigned the light missions of a genin. As long as I am alive, I won't let you go to your death on a mission. If you are a hidden leaf ninja find your will of fire. Do not burn away your life senselessly" shouted the sandaime Hokage.
[Flashback Over]
"Kosuke san…..Kosuke san are you alright" asked Naruto who started pulling his hand. "Yeah yeah I am alright, just thinking about something," said Kosuke
"I think after a long time of searching I have finally found my purpose in life" and started looking at Naruto intensely. He then put his hand on Naruto's head and started ruffling his hair with a smile on his face.
"Say Naruto do you want to come to live with me?" said Kosuke. Naruto looked at him for a few seconds with wide eyes and asked: "do really you want me to live with you?"
"Why not? I know a lot of stories and a decent amount of jutsu that I can teach you and you know you seem like a good kid and I also get lonely and….." Suddenly there was a huge cry and Naruto started hugging him tightly. "Okay…. Let it all out Little Naruto" and started gently soothing the crying Naruto
After some time, the crying stopped and Naruto was back to his usual self and started laughing and jumping all around the place and wanted to immediately go to Kosuke's house.
"Calm down little Naruto…. before we go to our home we have to talk to someone regarding this," said Kosuke. "What…..why… Other than you…, no one likes me and notices about me enough to care so why should we care?" asked Naruto angrily.
"Now now, that is not the way to talk. Actually, there is one person who cares about everyone in this village equally regardless of what you think."
"Who is that person Kosuke-san," asked the wide-eyed Naruto
"He is the man who is considered as the strongest in the village and is the current leader of the village. He is the Hokage" said Kosuke looking at Naruto with a smile on his face.
"Hokage? He is the strongest in the village? Stronger than you?" asked the wide-eyed Naruto. "Ha ha ha I am nothing when compared to him little Naruto and he has been leading this village for quite some time, you know," said Kosuke while ruffling Naruto's hair and smiling at the same time.
"Woooooooooooooooooow," Naruto thought while thinking how scary he might be if he is the strongest in the village
"So little Naruto, you're still tired right so why don't you sit on my shoulders and we will go meet the hokage….what do you say," Kosuke asked while at the same time carrying Naruto and placing him on his shoulder. To this Naruto just smiled like never before and started playing with Kosuke's hair
"A pure and playful kid at heart," thought Kosuke while jumping out of the window at the hospital and moving from one building to another while Naruto was having the time of his life while seeing all the buildings and enjoying the view and the scenery.
"So how are you holding up little Naruto? Are your bandages holding up? Is there any pain anywhere? Smiled Kosuke. "No there is no pain at all anywhere and I am really enjoying this Kosuke san" grinning widely.
"Is the hokage really scary Kosuke san since he is the strongest in the village" worrying Naruto slightly.
"Ha no not at all, in fact, he is very gentle, so don't worry okay" smiled Kosuke when looking sideways at Naruto. Then a few seconds of silence ensued
"Kosuke san do you know why they call me a demon?" asked Naruto when suddenly Kosuke stopped dead in his tracks and having a stunned and shocked expression on his face. After a few seconds of silence, Kosuke turned his head sideways at the village, "yes I know why they call you a demon" told Naruto with a worried tone.
"Can you tell me the reason Kosuke san" asked the crestfallen Naruto. Again a few seconds of silence "Why don't I tell you the reason after we have met the hokage, little Naruto okay?" Naruto said okay with a dissatisfied expression, after that they continued the journey towards the hokage tower.
After a few minutes, they came near the hokage tower. "Look Naruto that is the hokage tower and that is where the hokage resides" Naruto looked with awe at the Circular shaped building. It is one of the largest buildings in the village, towering over most buildings. There is also kanji for fire painted on the roof of the building. Kosuke let him down from his shoulders and observed his reaction
Naruto was stunned and didn't speak for some time. "Hey what are gaping like that for, come on let's go".
"Doesn't the hokage fell lonely living all alone in a huge house" asked Naruto as they were walking towards the door. "This is the place he works, not where he lives so don't worry he won't fell lonely and there are always lots of people coming here" as he gave eye smile towards Naruto. Naruto was soaking the whole atmosphere as he was looking inside, he also noticed the serious glade people were giving towards him and he immediately rushed besides Kosuke and grasped his hands tightly.
"Don't worry, no harm will come to you while I am here" said Kosuke while noticing the several glares people were giving the boy. They went upstairs and went to the door where few feet away a shinobi was standing there. Kosuke spoke to him and the guard immediately went inside, came back and let them pass though. They opened the door and went inside.
The first thing Naruto saw when entering the door is that there is a light skinned, grey hair man with wrinkles and liver spots over his face wearing a haori with a red, full-length kimono tied using a white leash sitting down in a chair and placing his hands on a desk where lots of papers and scrolls are lying around. He was looking straight at them. Naruto was standing behind Kosuke (specifically hiding behind his legs) due to fear and looking at him covertly
"Thank you for meeting with us hokage sama" Kosuke said while bowing his head in reverence.
The aged hokage looked up "No problem. I was surprised when the guard said you wanted to talk to me Kosuke. How long has it been since we talked and how are you doing?"
"It has been a very long time hokage sama I am doing fine," said Kosuke courteously.
"The guard said you bought a kid. Who is the kid and what did you want to talk about Kosuke" inquired the third hokage
"Don't you recognise the kid, hokage sama" and turned down to look at Naruto smiling "Hey come on, introduce yourself properly" using his hand to drag Naruto away from his leg and stand beside him.
"Good evening Hokage sama. I am Uzumaki Naruto and pleased to meet you" said Naruto meekly.
The third hokage looked startled, gathering his senses immediately rushed to the boy and hugged him tightly " Naruto my boy, how are you" looking at him again " why are their bandages on your face, what happened to you and why are you injured, who did this to you" and continuously started asking questions regarding health. Naruto shaken by this sudden closeness immediately rushed back to Kosuke's leg and started hiding.
The hokage looked at him first and looked at Kosuke "I will answer everything hokage sama" and Kosuke explained everything in detail from the beginning. "Damn it I should have put more security on Naruto, because of my carelessness…." thought the Hokage as he was standing near the window and listening to the story with an irritated expression. When he turned around he saw Naruto standing behind his chair and looking at all the photographs which are placed there.
He slowly walked towards Naruto, placed his hands on Naruto's head "what are you looking at Naruto" asked the aged hokage.
"Who…..who are all these people hokage-sama," asked Naruto meekly. To this the hokage chuckled "there is no need to be afraid Naruto, I will tell you who they are" and he grabbed Naruto hand and dragged him towards the extreme left painting where they saw the picture of a man with long black hair "That man is the shodaime hokage Hashirama Senju and is the founder of this village." Naruto looked at him with an open mouth and stared at him for a few seconds. Naruto then moved on the next painting where a man having white hair and marks on his face "This is the nidaime hokage, and brother of shodaime hokage, Tobirama Senju…he was also my teacher you know" giving a smile to Naruto.
Naruto looked at the second hokage and then at Hiruzen and started gaping at the aged hokage. Hiruzen chuckled at his expression and they moved along to the next photograph "That is obviously me…" then Hiruzen noticed that Naruto looked at him and that photograph with a confused expression on his face " in my younger days of course" said Hiruzen with a cough. Naruto looked at the photograph for a few seconds and then at Hiruzen. He finally smiled and nodded his head.
"Thank god he recognised me," thought Hiruzen with a satisfied expression in his face and they moved on to the next one. Kosuke was standing behind them and watching them with a smile on his face "Initially he was afraid of the hokage but now he is talking to him freely hmm…" thought Kosuke
When Naruto moved on to the next one, he saw a man with yellow hair and blue eyes. "This man is the yondaime hokage Minato Namikaze and he was considered as the fastest man alive," said Hiruzen while looking at Naruto closely. Naruto looked at the photograph and started smiling. "Why are you smiling Naruto," asked the hokage. "I don't know hokage-sama. When I look at this man I just feel like smiling" replied Naruto. To this Hiruzen looked at him "your son is really just like you…Minato" thought the hokage while ruffling Naruto's hair.
"Hey little Naruto come here" Kosuke called him where Naruto went running towards him. "Hokage and I have something important to discuss so can you wait outside for a few minutes?" smiled Kosuke. "Okay," said Naruto and went outside to wait while closing the door behind him
"Hokage-sama can you please send the anbu guarding you away, so that we can speak freely?" Kosuke requested. The hokage clapped his hand and immediately four anbu came in front of him in kneeling position. "Can you leave us, while we have something important to discuss….. and make sure no one disturbs us. I don't want to be interrupted. Got that?" The anbu with a unison yes immediately vanished from this place. Using a tiger hand sign he also activated the silence seal which are placed all around his room
"Now we are free to talk as we please" smiled the hokage. "Permission to speak freely hokage-sama," asked Kosuke which startled the hokage as this is the first time Kosuke has requested something like this to him. "Permission granted," said the hokage.
"I know you have gotten old but when did you go mad Hiruzen," asked Kosuke sternly. The hokage clenched his fists but controlled his anger. "What do you mean Kosuke," asked hokage with a serious expression
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING LETTING NARUTO LIVE ALL ALONE IN THE ORPHANAGE? DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IS LIFE IS? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH PAIN HE HAS TO GO THOUGHT EVERYDAY JUST TO SURVIVE? IS THIS THE LIFE YOU WANTED HIM TO HAVE? ANSWER ME HIRUZEN" shouted Kosuke from the top of his voice
"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? AFTER THE NINE TAILS DESTRUCTION, EVERYTHING WAS IN SHAMBLES. I HAVE TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THE VILLAGE AND THE BEST I COULD DO WAS SEND HIM TO THE ORPHANAGE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT HIS BURDEN AND VISITING HIM WHENEVER POSSIBLE. WHAT MORE CAN I DO? TELL ME? Hiruzen shouted from the top of his voice.
"The best you could do huh," said Kosuke in a low voice. After a few seconds of silence, he raised his voice "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN BY THE THAT HUH. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE IDIOTIC HOKAGE IN MY LIFE. IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT A BOY WHO HAS SAVED THE VILLAGE BY KEEPING THE DEMON INSIDE HIM? TELL ME HIRUZEN….IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT THE YONDAIME'S LEGACY? TELL ME…." Hiruzen looked at him in shock "you knew…?" in a low voice. "OF COURSE I KNEW. I HAVE BEEN TO NUMEROUS MISSIONS WITH HIM AND KNOWING THE KND OF GUY THAT HE IS, HE WILL ONLY USE HIS HEIR AS A VESSEL TO PROTECT THE VILLAGE. IS THAT WHAT THE SHODAIME AND NIDAIME TAUGHT YOU? ANY FOREIGN SHINOBI CAN COME, HENGE HIMSELF, GATHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE KYUUBI AND EITHER KILL NARUTO OR WORSE RELEASE THE KYUUBI FROM HIM. IS THIS THE LIFE YOU WANTED FOR HIM HIRUZEN. TELL ME." Kosuke was panting slightly after his outburst and there was silence for a few seconds
The hokage moved from his place and sat down on the chair behind the desk. "You are right Kosuke. Even though I did assign an anbu when it comes to protecting Naruto I have failed…and right now I am very ashamed of myself." the hokage replied in a very dejected tone.
"Tell me Kosuke what action would you like me to take?" asked the kage in a low voice.
Kosuke calmed down, looked at him for a few seconds and closed his eyes. After opening his eyes "I would like to raise Naruto and make him into a fine shinobi" replied Kosuke. The hokage looked at him with surprise
"Do you remember a long time ago you asked me to find my will of fire? Well….Naruto is my will of fire and I will make sure that the name Uzumaki Naruto will resonate all over the world." Said the relaxed and smiling Kosuke. Hiruzen looked at him for a few seconds and a small laugh ensured
"After all this time….glad you found it Kosuke…..Don't worry I will take care of all the necessary paperwork regarding Naruto adoption. From now on you are his guardian and is responsible for shaping Naruto's future" said the smiling hokage
"Hokage-sama I would also like to apologise for my outburst earlier," said Kosuke. The hokage looked at the window "No it's alright Kosuke…partly it's my fault also so no worries"
"When I saw Naruto getting beaten like that and they the way he reacted at the hospital…..something inside me just swelled up and became very angry. Again I would like to express my apologies hokage-sama," said Kosuke while bowing down
"Kosuke…..we are still friends aren't we?" asked the hokage in a doubtful manner. "Always hokage-sama…always…" smiled Kosuke and hearing this the hokage also smiled.
"If you don't mind can you bring Jiraiya back to the village? I would like to have a word with him" asked Kosuke and Hiruzen looked at him with a puzzled expression "why would you want to speak with Jiraiya"
"He is Naruto's godfather is he not?" smiled Kosuke. "How did you….."Asked the shocked kage.
"Minato being a student of Jiraiya and Naruto being named after a character from the tales of a gutsy ninja written by Jiraiya. It's not that hard to figure out you know." Hiruzen just laughed at this and said "you are as astute as ever Kosuke "
"One more thing Kosuke, the money you will receive for taking care of Naruto will be given directly to you and is your house big enough for two people to stay? asked the hokage
"Thank you hokage-sama, regarding the house, do you remember a long time back the house that I showed you after I bought it?" mentioned Kosuke
The hokage lit his pipe and started smoking "Hmm…..ah yes…the one with a huge training ground. The one where you said that you will move to that house only when you have a family…..is that right?"
"Yes, hokage sama. That is the one. That is kind of my dream home. Now that I have a family I can finally move to that place" said Kosuke with a contented look in his face
"I am truly happy for you Kosuke," said the smiling hokage "Do you want me to send a couple of anbu to help you shift all your stuff"
"That won't be necessary hokage-sama. I can do it by myself than you. By the way, does Kakashi Hatake know about Naruto's jinchuriki status and his legacy? enquired Kosuke
"Hmmm…..yes I think he does…..why do you ask? Asked the surprised hokage
Kosuke started chuckling "It's funny you know, that many a time I have seen Kakashi Hatake mope around the crematorium regarding his team and his teacher, but he won't come to the aid of his teacher's only legacy when it is required." To this, the hokage looked down in silence and Kosuke continued "It's really sad that some of our fine and established shinobi we have produced are such pathetic human beings. Don't you think so Hokage-sama? For example, Danzo, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Kakashi Hatake …. the list goes on."
The hokage gave a heavy sigh "sadly…...yes". "Then I take my leave hokage sama. Thank you for your patience." Said Kosuke as he started walking towards the door, he immediately turned around "Hokage sama, today is Naruto's birthday so I was thinking of taking him to eat somewhere so would you like to join us" asked Kosuke.
"Yes…I am also starving let's go" said the smiling hokage who was walking enthusiastically towards the door.