Chapter 1 :
It's always this night, every year when villagers gather to celebrate its triumph over the nine tails six years ago, and these nights specifically that Naruto would find himself having to be more unseen. The festival always had started three days before the attack had happened with each day representing something about that day. The first day would be about those who were lost with a large bonfire being lit that represented the Will of Fire that every Shinobi and citizen was said to have, a burning passion to protect honor, and serve everyone in their village. To represent that the bonfire was to burn until the final night. On this day Naruto would sit on the Hokage monument and look at the fire, it had always inspired him to try and do better. He would watch until most villagers were long gone before hed go to his apartment. The second day would continue as a day of honor for the business and people who had helped rebuild the village. Many rides and carnival games would be brought out for everyone's enjoyment that naruto had viewed. He had learned from trying to play a game that he was not allowed, with many signs on the stores having a fox being scratched out in red to represent their lack of service to him causing him to have to watch everyone till the third day. The final day was to celebrate the conquer of the fight itself with a giant fox statue being put up, everyone would then gather around the fox as one lone person dressed in a costume of the fallen fourth Hokage who would then light a torch with the bonfire that had been lit on the first night and walk over to the fox statue and light it on fire representing the accomplishment of the fourth, however, this night Naruto was not watching from afar instead he was running. The closing event would happen at night when everyone's home with their families as they would all lit a lantern to symbolize that the Will of Fire will always start with the will to protect and be with one's family.
The lighting of the fox officially meant its defeat, but to those who knew what Naruto held inside him it was the starting signal to begin what had become to be known as 'The fox hunt'. Civilians, former Shinobi, and many current even all grabbed weapons and started the hunt in search of the 'fox boy'. Chants of "Burn the Fox' or "let's finish this" would be heard throughout the village as Naruto would hide in a poorly lit alleyway. Trash littered the ground with rodents running around freely, and it was here Naruto chose as his latest hiding spot shortly before a group of people walked past the entrance unknowingly.
'That was close' breathed Naruto as he tried to calm his breath. ' They had almost found me.' with that thought Naruto placed his back against the wall slowly sliding down it till he was sitting against it. Naruto was exhausted, the villagers had been harassing him more than usual these last few nights, they'd come to his apartment and demand hed come out causing him to flee and wait them out before returning to bed. Naruto had covered his hair with a hood and took to wearing a half mask to cover his most identifying traits, but even still he felt he needed to be out of sight for any mix-up with his disguise would instantly get him caught. His eyes slowly started to feel heavy until he found himself about to fall asleep when yelled at by a villager.
"Hey! Guys, I think I found him !" a Shinobi roughly the age of a new Genin yells loudly getting the attention of the groups around in the area. With no time to think Naruto quickly ran, moving through a multitude of alleys and sewers, with only a few formerly trained civilians and Chunins chasing him at this point. Naruto needed to getaway. He quickly turned a corner onto a road when he crashed into something being knocked down alongside his hood, Naruto looked up to see who bumped into him and saw a girl around the same age of 5 or 6. She wore a dark blue dress and a matching hair tie and had long black hair and black eyes and hid her face shyly behind her hands.
"Are you okay?" She quietly apologized with a light blush. She reached her hand down and offered to help him up. He flinched but took her hand anyway. She smiles at him and turns around, coming towards them as a slightly older boy. He had equally dark hair with a matching pair of eyes. He carried a tanto and standard anbu outfit.
"Hitomi what have I told you about not watching where you go?" The boy says to the young girl now know as Hitomi,
"I'm sorry Itachi-nii, but he ran into me." She says with a hint of disappointment in her voice. Itachi looks down at the boy and gets on one knee and smiles at him.
"Are you okay Naruto-san? " asked Itachi as he stared behind Naruto. Naruto, still shocked by all this, simply nodded before looking behind him, seeing the remains of the group that was chasing him approaching fast. Naruto quickly got up and was about to run when Itachi put a hand on his shoulder and guided him behind him.
"Stay here, I'll handle this," Itachi mutters to Naruto and walks towards the men in question. Hitomi, confused by what's happening, stands beside Naruto curious. The men finally reach them with both staring at Naruto like prey, before their eyes shift to the eleven-year-old boy in front of them.
"What do you want boy" a man past his prime growls. Itachi noted the two tattoos on each side of his cheek meaning he belonged to the Inuzuka clan. Itachi looked down and didn't notice any dog companion. And to his left were non-clan Chunin. Itachi put his hand on his hip. He wasn't new to bullies and he knew what these men had planned to do to Naruto.
"I was about to ask you the same question Inuzuka-san, why are you chasing Naruto-san around? Itachi says emotionless. Itachi knew a fight would likely happen from his statement, however, perhaps a beating would start detouring people from engaging in this Fox Hunt hes heard about.
"Innocent! This demon killed Tadao!" The Inuzuka member yelled, gripping his hands tightly in a fist. "That thing doesn't deserve to live" He yelled as he started walking closer, before instantly being knocked out with a hit on the back of the neck from Itachi. He then looked over the two Chunin who seemed to have decided to flee when Itachi took out the older man.
Naruto was now staring at Itachi as a hero. He had stopped these men from hurting him. Naruto was used to dealing with these situations on his own, the only help he'd received was the first year he decided to try and attend the fox burning, which quickly had almost turned deadly had the anbu with silver hair hadn't stopped them. Naruto quickly reached for his wallet when Itachi shook his head in disapproval after turning around.
"No Naruto that is unneeded, my sister and I were going to light some floating lanterns, however, due to this, I have to go to Hokage," Itachi says calmly, he noticed his sister seemed disappointed in this with a frown. "How about you make this up to me by going with my sister instead. " Itachi says with a smile. Naruto, still in shock, can only nod his head. Hitomi smiles at Naruto which for some reason had helped him lose all his nerves. Itachi smiled and Shushined to the Hokages residence to inform him of the incident. With Itachi leaving Hitomi grabs Naruto's hand with the lantern in the other and makes a quick pace to the clan compound. Naruto was scared and held her hand tighter when they started walking towards a large group of people who all seemed to look similar to each other, 'Her clan..?' thought Naruto as he saw everyone acting familiar with each other as one big happy family.
"Aww Hitomi-sama we were wondering when you were coming, where's your brother?" a man says walking out of the crowd towards the two, Naruto was surprised by how he had addressed her
'Sama ?' Naruto questioned, ' she must be an heiress.' Naruto questioned. He must've been lost in thought as Hitomi gave him a giggle before, pulling him further along till she arrived by a lakeside with one single dock with a small boy sitting at its edge. They continued out to the dock towards the boy. The boy turned around and smiled. He looked fairly similar to Hitomi for some reason. Naruto stepped behind Hitomi cautious of the new person.
"Onee-san, what took you so long?" The boy asked respectfully. " And where Onii-san?". The boy who now was identified as her younger brother folded his arms waiting for an answer. He paid Naruto no mind, only caring for his sister's words.
"Im sorry Sasuke. There was a problem with the commoners and he had to go talk to the Hokage. He asked if Naruto-San here could come for him because the commoners wanted him for some reason." Hitomi pouted. She then showed the floating lantern to Sasuke. He mimicked her pout before grabbing it and looking up to the sunset giving the last bits of sunlight.
"Hes never missed this…" Sasuke muttered "I knew when he became anbu he'd be gone a lot but.." Hitomi grabbed him and hugged him. To Naruto he felt like an outsider, this was a family moment, something he shouldn't have been a part of. Naruto slowly started moving back before Hitomi looked his way.
"Naruto-san where are you going?" Hitomi asked, still hugging Sasuke with a single arm.
"You're not leaving are you ?" Hitomi said a bit sadly. Naruto didn't know what to do. He had never dealt with people much. He just stood there trying to think of something to say, something that will fix this and not upset her.
"Itachi-nii asked for you to take his place," She reminded him, her sudden attitude slowly turning to irritation. "Thats all he asked of you for helping you today can you not do it ." She finished angrily glared into his deep blue eyes. Naruto was confused. He knew to run when people were angered with him , he knew that when people mention they're upset to leave them be, to get out of sight, but for some reason he didn't want to leave. He didn't want to be the reason for her being upset. Not after what her brother and she had done for him earlier.
"I... I just dont want to disappoint you" Naruto said, struggling to find the words. His hand went up and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and confusion. Hitomi's glare softened to a simple stare, she then took the step to get closer to him and grabbed his hand.
"Then don't leave us." She simply answered before walking them back over to Sasuke who still held the lantern. Up above them, the sky had darkened, no more was the pleasant blue sky visible but instead a mixture of floating lanterns and the stars themselves shining down upon the world. Sasuke handed half of the lantern to Naruto so that they both held aside, as a way of showing his acceptance to him being here as Hitomi lighted a match and lit a candle on the inside.
"On three we all release, ready. One, Two, Three!" Hitomi counted and gently pushed the lantern up alongside Naruto and Sasuke, and with that, the candle flew and joined the others within the sky. That is when Naruto remembered the true final event of the festival, something that he had never witnessed due to him having to run and hide. The closing event of the lanterns happened at night when everyone's home with their families with each lighting a lantern to symbolize that the Will of Fire will always start with the will to protect and be with one's family.
'Did that mean there is my family now?' Naruto asked himself as he looked over to both Hitomi and Sasuke as their eyes still tracked their lantern as it joined the others in a final performance. He then looked up and was truly amazed by the beauty. The night sky seemed to be alive with the lights of stars mixing with the lanterns, he had not only witnessed how a family lighting would happen but now, finally at peace to simply look up at the sky and how the village had gathered together. Naruto felt a want to protect moments like these. And with that final thought aside, he sighed and just enjoyed the beauty before him.
AN: Hey I hoped you enjoyed the beginning of this story idea. I haven't written in a long time and thought that maybe writing a fic can be some good practice. If you have any advice or anything PM or comment, that also goes if you have any story ideas for moving forward. Well I hope everyone has a good day and enjoy the next fic you read!)