He had two friends in the entire world. One betrayed him and the other disappeared. His desire was to always protect those who couldn't protect themselves, but now he's finding it hard to stay motivated, yet still, he remains strong. AU.

Naruto is trying an experiment that involves rediscovering the Hiraishin. After months of reading Jiraiya's notes on sealing and some of the stories focused on his father, Naruto has finally done it! Or so he thinks, Konohamaru doesn't quite agree.

Uzumaki Naruto grew up with lofty goals, guts, and determination. Instincts of a born fighter made him grow; duty to his home drove him. As the battle lines begin to blur, he must find a way to reconcile all he's ever known with the man he hopes to become. Large AU.

After the disastrous chunin exams it wasn't Sasuke that left the Hidden Leaf in search of power. Instead, Naruto, in a fit pain and rage after learning that Sasuke got all the credit, again, leaves the village vowing on his Ninja Way to never let Sasuke achieve his dream of killing his older brother. After all Sasuke stole his dream so it was only fair. Start from Konohamaru's POV

There were very few things that could rile a 25 year old Naruto Uzumaki up. He was perfectly content to sit in his home, work his normal job, study at a normal school, and in his free time, tinker (read: upgrade in a potentially life endangering manner) with whatever happened to catch his interest. This obviously did not include Devils, or Angels, or Fallen Angels.

He had long since given up. Or to be more precise, he just found it hard to care. He only had his job, his burden and his duty to keep him going. Smiling was a task, a necessity. Not a luxury. This is a story of a man, learning how to see in colours again.

What if something made Naruto the dead-last that everyone sees him as? What if he really wasn't as weak as he seemed? The true Naruto, unleashed upon the shinobi world! AU Story starts at Invasion of Konoha arc and continues onwards.

With enough time anyone can call themselves a master of life, but no matter how much time goes by one cannot truly understand existence as a whole without first having experienced death. How will one blond handle his brush with it? - "Wait... what?"

Uzumaki Naruto was not kicked out of Konoha; he left of his own accord. Not enough money, and no health or dental coverage? It was a bad job, really. Swearing and mature themes. Strong!Naruto.