Naruto was in disparity, lost and confused, only running to escape. Almost as if even attempting to escape was a mere formality. The sound of rain resonated in his mind, its noise only amplified, giving him headaches.

They say Anbu can give chase to enemies running at 15-30 kph for a week without resting. Elite Anbu can do 30-55 kph for a month. Naruto, who was once the leader of the Elite Anbu faction, second only to the Hokage, could run full speed for over 2 months, picking up fruits and berries for food without ever faltering at his pace.

But now, he was using that speed and stamina not for giving chase, but for running away.

SSS-Rank Criminal Naruto Uzumaki.

Offense: User of the Shijutsu, Kierujutsu, and Ansatsujutsu, three styles are forbidden by the 7 Path Sage, and use of it to bring about the destruction of the Leaf village and helping the collapse of the ninja world

Other Notes: Proficient in every chakra style, ex-leader of Leaf's Elite Anbu, and was once offered the role of Kage from another nation while still acting as a Leaf Elite Anbu. Run-on Sight unless Elite Anbu level or above. Cunning and intelligent.

- Why did it turn out this way?

Naruto heard this thought inside his head. It wasn't his thought, but it seemed as if another person entered his mind and thought this for him.

- Are you willing for a second chance?

Naruto knew this was a question for him to answer. But the answer itself was unknown to him.

- Look down at your hands.

He complied and saw blood.

- I don't need to tell you whose blood that is. It was the blood of your mistake. It was the blood that was shed by your only love. The one you adored like no other, the one who was taken by them! And you still need to think before answering my question? Do you want a second chance goddammit?!

The blood on his hands was slowly fading away, as even the rain tried to take what was left of them away.

'I want a second chance.'

- You don't sound convinced mortal! Pick your head up and ask me for a second chance like you really fu**ing want it Naruto Uzumaki!

'I WANT IT!'

- I see, well then.

The voice spoke calmly again as if to soothe Naruto.

- Your second chance will begin. The world will be different this time, one that is more fitting for your needs. As long as you can survive for the next hour, I can make you enter your parallel self, the 10-year-old child who knows no better than eating ramen 3 meals a day and drinking spoiled milk. Your memories will be transferred, but unfortunately, your skills are out of the question. You will need to re-master them. Remember, grow into your ideal self, and live prosperously, Naruto Uzumaki… Tsunizu.

Naruto smiled, to survive for one hour, for undoing everything that ruined him. It was but a small price to pay for salvation.

He stopped and turned around, and the auras that were closing onto him were slowing down in suspicion.

They got near and Naruto activated his attack. He was gonna go fighting, like a true shinobi, without a trace.

He woke up from a soft bed, the sunlight shining through his window. The sky was blue and the sun was at its brightest.

The sky was blue.

The sky… was blue.

Back in his world, the sky was always covered in clouds like a melancholy gray, and rain was a common occurrence. Yet the sky was blue!

Flashback:

Jiraiya placed a hand on Naruto's head, and smiled. There was a large spike through his belly, yet his hand was relaxed and his smile natural.

"Naruto, look for the blue skies. This world, covered by the endless grey clouds and dark sky, are covering up an endless sea of blue. Before you die…" he coughed out blood, "you must… see… it for… me." Jiraiya finished talking, blood now free flowing from his mouth. He patted Naruto's head one last time, before his firm grip was limp, eyes dead, and his life, gone.

"I shall find it for you, Jiraiya-sensei. … Arigatou. Rest in Peace"

End of flashback:

There it was.

A sky with barely a trace of clouds. Yet even the clouds were a pure white, in perfect harmony with the vivid blue sky, as if they were meant to belong.

'Can you see me Jiraiya-sensei? I found it, it's right there, right in front of me. I fulfilled your final wish. Rest in Peace Sensei.'

Naruto stared at the sky longer, realised why Jiraiya wanted to see it so much.

"Your troubles really do feel insignificant, don't they?"

Now ready to get and get on with his new life. He wondered what was his role here, the mysterious god who put him there couldn't have done it without reason.

- It was simply the fruits of your karma. The gods have wronged you, and the life which was supposed to be yours and filled with happiness, was filled with sorrow. And hence, you became just as corrupted, and ruined your good karma. Your actions are your own, and I cannot change them, but I can do you right. This world is yours. It will be filled with sorrow, yet, this time, you will have just as much happiness.

'This is simply reimbursement, is that what you're saying?'

- Haha! That is correct. I guess no matter how I spin my words, that is the essence. Yes, this is reimbursement. You don't even have to become a shinobi! You can live modestly as an artisan, or lavishly as a merchant. Nothing carries over, and those who have done you wrong in your last life, won't necessarily do the same in this life. I can only hope you don't hold a grudge. Any questions?

'What is your name?'

- My name is Tsunizu, and you Naruto, are the one I chose to be my prophet. And as such, I have bestowed upon you a new name, Naruto Uzumaki Tsunizu.

- My name, broken into 3 parts, means One Figure. I am a god amongst gods, an anomaly of sorts. When my presence is shown, they only see… One Figure, me. - said the voice in a haughty yet cheesy tone.

Naruto laughed heartily at the sheer cheesiness of his backstory. Had he tried a bit harder, he could have come off as powerful, giving vibes of a powerful and epic warrior, or even a man of great status, and his story far more impressive, but it was just whittled down to cheesiness.

The voice laughed alongside him.

"Laughter is the best way to make friends. The problem is, how to incite laughter? Jokes don't work all the time, so the second best way to bring about laughter is… self-mockery!" ~ Jiraiya

- Ha! Laughing with a god is an honor, consider yourself blessed Naruto!

The voice spoke haughtily again, only to laugh even more.

'That tone doesn't quite suit you Tsunizu.'

- No it does not. Anyway, something you should know, this body is the jinchuriki of the 9 tailed fox, something you didn't have in the previous life. Its name is Kurama, and is missing half of itself. The missing half was sealed inside your father in his dying moments, taking it out with him. This village has only gotten till the 4th hokage, unlike your old life where this village was controlled by the 13th hokage. Your father was the 4th hokage, but due to his death, the village is being reigned by your "grandpa" the 3rd hokage. Of course, nobody knows that. You are 10, and under heavy and often violent prejudice for being a jinchuriki. The village has a shinobi school which you currently go to, although if you wish to stray from that path in this life, you can simply drop out.

'Do I have any friends, people I should know about?'

- The people running ichiraku's ramen are very friendly towards you, they were blessed by the ramen gods, and are the descendants of the Ramen God himself. They know the difference between the kunai and scroll. I recommend not going into populated areas, your presence is enough to start a violent revolution against you. You haven't done anything illegal, but prejudice always remains wherever you go. Aah and one last thing, in this life, you are considered an idiot, you show hints of tactical brilliance, but very intellectually lacking. Try to ease in your intelligence, and bui;ld it up over time so people aren't suspicious. Your skills don't carry over but your thoughts and the working of your minds do, so you can always relearn them.

- Although the one requirement is, unless a skill is physical, and practically muscle memory, like your Silent Step, Flicker Technique, all your martial arts, etc. Those are carried over. I'm not sure how, since they shouldn't, but they did, and you should be able to use them. Also, your size should be able to get used after a day or two.

'My size?'

- … 4' 9''

'WHAT!?'

- I couldn't help it ok! Anyways, I will be watching over you from the heavens, and you can always talk to me upon request. Physical interference is banned so I can't help you with those kinds of things, though certain loopholes are permitted. Anyways, school starts at 10 meaning 10 minutes and your clothes are in the closet.

There was a little beep, showing Tsunizu had left, and Naruto was left all alone.

He couldn't remember his last memories in old life, and he could only remember getting into a fighting stance, and then the sound of several explosions.

Quickly getting up. Quickly analyzing his room, as well as identifying the closet Tsunizu was talking about. He could smell traces of spoiled milk, and assumed his amazing sense of smell carried over too.

After a brief body check up, knowing he was on the clock, he found out that his muscle strength and flexibility was the same (probably carried over as well), far exceeding that of a 10 year old's, meaning other than the height difference, his martial arts and general movement type skills should have the same effect. There were hints of bruises and scars not so much befitting a 10 year old's.

This body also has a high tolerance to pain, as a very hard pinch on the cheek told him. This kind of body he achieved when he was 14, mostly due to the hellish Anbu training. 'Just what did this kid - I - go through? I guess this was Tsunizu meant by violent prejudice. I'll consider this is the equivalent of a stealth mission. Don't get seen, and most of all, don't get caught.'

"Don't get seen, and most of all, don't get caught." ~ Naruto's Anbu Stealth Teacher, Cocoon. (His real name is hidden to this day, legends say, and even the 13th hokage doesn't know it either. If that says anything about his skills at least it can be said that he is worthy to teach the art of stealthiness to Anbu)

His home was nice and spacious, although looking outside and considering the houses around, his home might be considered shabby and cramped. It was plenty unorganized, but that wasn't a problem at all.

Then the most important one of all. This body wasn't activated. Meaning that he couldn't use his 3 arts, Shijutsu, Kierujutsu, and Ansatsujutsu (Death Arts, Vanishing Arts, and Assassination Arts). Activation was a very special process, done in a special room called the Akuma No Heya. Without it, use of the 3 arts was practically impossible. His chakra was wind type unlike his previous lighting type. Although since he had mastery over every single chakra type before, switching affinities shouldn't be a problem.

Now with just 2 minutes left, Naruto opened his closet, revealing an unpractical orange jumpsuit with blue highlights.

'I'll have to go shopping sometime later.'

He changed quickly, when he noticed the Uzumaki logo on his left sleeve. He smiled, glad that he was at least in the Uzumaki family.

With his black shirt untucked, and jacket unzipped, making the outfit more breathable, and 30 seconds left on the clock, Naruto was out the window, a movement that he felt was habit, despite something he almost never does. Maybe a habit of the old Naruto in this world.

Assuming everything he heard about himself was true, it wasn't hard to get a rough grasp of his school life.

With 5 seconds left on the clock, Naruto showed up to the door out of breath.

'This body has almost no stamina, did he get by on sheer willpower or what?' Naruto thought jokingly, oblivious to the fact that it was true. Tsunizu chuckled at the irony.

He took a spot when the bell rang, next to a person who reeked of dogs and a blue haired person who was best described by the word "Emo".

When class started, a person with a large scar across the bridge of his nose and a green vest walked in. He seemed to have a relatively high chakra signature compared to many of the students, who could be considered weak genin level. Judging by that much, the Sensei was at least Chunin.

Upon walking in, many of the students which were joking around and not the least bit even concerned about class, quickly filed into line, dropping conversations on the dot, and sitting in any open spot.

The teacher waited a few more moments till there was pin drop silence, then proceeded to class.

"As you know, the exams are tomorrow. I recommend eating well and getting a good night's sleep. Try not to overexert yourself in training today or you'll only be half as efficient tomorrow. Remember, there are three parts to the test. Projectile throwing, ninjutsu prowess, and basic combat. There are 25 points in each test, and then an additional 25 points for the questions the instructors ask you after the test. They won't be simple history questions or things of the sort. Actually, it's best if I don't tell you, but I can say you won't have to study much."

Naruto sighed, he might have problems in the ninjutsu parts, since even pulling off clones with his chakra coils this big, would require chakra precision among the jounins. Well, he had a day to learn more and more, which was often more than what the ANBU allowed before missions.

After a brief lesson in training chakra control, they went outside for taijutsu spars.

As they did, many of the girls fawned towards Mr. Emo, who seemed not to care. Mr. Emo did have chakra coils far exceeding a child only just about to become genin, and judging by his muscle formation, he was proficient in taijutsu. Of course, Naruto dropped his standards a lot, knowing they were just 10 year olds.

- You can see muscle formations?

'Yup, when a person walks, they subconsciously use the same muscles mainly used in taijutsu. Hence, the better you are at taijutsu, the more certain muscles become tensed or relaxed during walking. When one realises this, simply walking in front of them is enough to give them a good understanding of your skill level. ANBU usually have special training to dominate the movement of every single muscle, consequently leading us to being very sensitive to how we move, as well as noticing the muscles of others.'

- I was only reborn recently, so I do not know much of this world or yours. So I might ask a few questions.

'Reborn? What does that mean?'

A beep in his mind told Naruto Tsunizu had already stopped talking to him.

"That turd head!" Naruto said out loud, gathering the gaze of his many students.

When accidentally directing that much attention to himself, his first instinct was to pull out a kunai and massacre, a habit from being a criminal for so long. Next was his instinct to use the flicker technique and double time out of there, a habit from being influenced by ANBU so early in his life.

Suppressing his urge, he chuckled clumsily and put a hand on the back of his head.

"Sorry, I saw a dung beetle and couldn't help myself." Naruto said.

Many students sighed like it was normal and turned back to the battle. Some students offered a glare alongside it. A peculiar person looked on the ground in hopes of seeing a dung beetle. He had a black glasses and wore a tan high collar.

The battle finished, a minute of two equally clumsy people duking it out with each other, when Mr. Emo the promising one and Mr. Dog Breath stepped onto the stage.

Judging by the looks of the classmates, they were the creme de la creme* of the class. Naruto wondered how strong the genin were during the 4th Hokage times (his world had a 13th hokage, so his was in the 13th Hokage times).

*The phrase "creme de la creme" is a french idiom, directly translating to: cream of the cream. Means to be one of the best among others. In this usage, the class is the cream, and Sasuke and Kiba are the cream of the cream*

Mr. Dog Breath requested an open ring, where stepping outside the boundary was legal. The sensei looked towards Mr. Emo, and simply nodded. An Open Ring match came with other unsaid rules. Injuries and dismemberment of limbs was allowed. D-Rank jutsus and below were allowed. Interference from outside parties was prohibited, unless both parties agreed to.

"On request of Kiba, this will be an open ring spar. Try not to take the battle too far, and please keep your attacks away from the rest of us. Let's have a clean, nice fight. Begin!"

As Iruka's hand went down, Kiba stood on all fours and galloped towards Mr. Emo, whom Naruto still didn't know the name of.

After making his way to Emo, Kiba lunged while spinning, hands out, imitating a drill. Emo brought up his fist and blocked the first impact, then raised his knee and connected it with Kiba's chest. He then did a backflip with his knee still on his chest to add more force to his hit.

Kiba coughed some blood, but he quickly regained his sense and smiled.

Sasuke finished his backflip and rushed forward, only to see blood on Kiba's nails.

Looking down, his knee was cut open, blood gushing. When he noticed, the pain hit.

Now limping, Sasuke did a strategic retreat, rushing into the forest where the spars were conducted.

Kiba followed in strong pursuit, being a sensor and tracking type ninja by nature, his speed was much above Sasuke, hurt knee or not.

They quickly were far from the class, in a big game of hide and seek. Kiba, who was still to train his nose, had to rely on his ears and sight. He was embarrassed to say that his nose was underdeveloped, but knew it could be fixed with chakra modification.

Although his ears failed him, due to the numerous noises in the forest, plus Sasuke was extremely good at masking himself, his eyes were constantly on the lookout.

Blood was sprayed everywhere, incoherently and without direction, showing that Sasuke was still masking his exact location, but more importantly, he was still thinking clearly.

After a few minutes of searching, Sasuke showed himself. His knee was well bandaged and there were traces of pain numbing leaves on his wound. Kiba growled, his main advantage against Sasuke was no longer as advantageous.

Now with a fiery thirst for revenge, Sasuke was quick on the offense, using classic bobbing and weaving styles to whiz around the trees, disorientating Kiba severely.

Along with that, Sasuke cleverly used substitutions and clones to further disorient Kiba.

Now impatient and still revenge driven, Sasuke leaped, and managed to slash Kiba's back with a kunai.

He receded back to the trees and threw numerous shuriken. One hit on his left leg and the other on his left arm.

Sasuke rushed in again, using various attack patterns and continuously lightly slashing kiba, not enough to count as an injury, but more than to count as a big scratch. Many times over and over again dealt ample pain to every crevice of Kiba's body.

After a painful number of minutes, Kiba was unable to fight back, and Sasuke was tired, his revenge was more than satiated, and he had started hoping Kiba would give up a few minutes ago.

Now tired and in pain, Kiba surrendered spitefully, and Sasuke let out a small smile, and held out his hand. Kiba smiled and used it to get up.

Sasuke put Kiba's hand around his shoulder and helped him get to the stadium. Usually he would leave him for somebody else to pick up, but nobody was around.

Naruto, who used doublestep around when Sasuke and Kiba sprinted into the forest, was watching the whole time. Impressed by Sasuke's ruthlessness, a weird fetish many Anbu develop, and have to work hard to get rid of. Naruto embraced this fetish with open arms, often using it as an incentive to fight.

Now noticing sasuke's chivalry in helping Kiba return, Naruto nodded approvingly, and jumped down from the tree he was watching from.

As Sasuke walked sluggishly, having to support another person as well, Naruto popped up from around the corner.

"Need help?" said Naruto, smiling warmly and unhostile.

Sasuke jumped back, and Kiba was shocked and wanted to jump back as well, but couldn't move.

'I didn't notice him? How? His chakra was always so large and evident it was impossible to miss. I might be tired, no, it was something more. But… it was Naruto! The dead last! He couldn't have possibly hid his chakra that well. Must be a fluke.'

"I don't need your help." said Sasuke, turning his head to look away, as if his gaze was too important to be directed to Naruto.

Unfortunately, acting arrogantly in front of Naruto, was a mistake.

Naruto dashed forward, picking up a stick, and poked Sasuke's injured knee 5 times, causing his knee to buckle and making Sasuke and Kiba fall.

Even while falling, Naruto poked his knee an additional three times, and then after falling, another four times.

"Still don't need my help?"

Sasuke was embarrassed beyond doubt, and agreed.

Now supporting both of them, Naruto walked carefully. He was practically carrying them, making sure to release chakra into their systems to keep their regeneration high.

After Naruto reached the end of the forest, he nodded at Sasuke, and let them go.

Using the pretext he had to go find something he lost, Naruto walked backward, only to double step into his position in the crowd.

Sasuke was piqued by his new found interest in Naruto. He had his eye constantly on the forest, to make sure Naruto came out.

When class was over, Sasuke insisted on waiting for Naruto, although the class frowned at him, which was weird for Sasuke.

Naruto patted Sasuke on the shoulder and told him he's probably delusional from the whole claw to the knee thing, and to go back to class. Sasuke was shocked, he didn't notice Naruto leave the forest at all.

Despite the class's assurance that his knee was fogging his thinking, and Naruto was always with the rest of the class, and he should go rest, Sasuke was well aware of what happened. Delusional people have their memories hazy and incoherent, but Sasuke's was fresh and sharp. Naruto was certainly there, and he appeared and disappeared without a trace after helping them.

Plus, Sasuke could still sense some of Naruto's chakra on his system. Naruto was most certainly there.

Sasuke checked Kiba too and sensed his chakra in him too.

After school was over, Sasuke sought out to see Naruto, only to find him long gone. It also seemed no one saw him leave, which was abnormal due to the rather high prejudice against him.

Almost always, there was somebody waiting to attack Naruto (Sasuke noticed but never wanted to step in, 'there must be a reason', he deducted), but no one noticed and he just slipped away? No, impossible. He asked a person for Naruto's house, and he grinned while telling him his address, and ending his answer with a "give him a few injuries for me too."

Confused yet somewhat enraged, Sasuke nodded awkwardly, why did people hate Naruto so much?

*A/N: I was thinking, many people got their mind brainwashed into believing "naruto is a monster" by their friends and family. But at the time, Sasuke had no… friends or family, so he shouldn't be affected much!*

Upon reaching his home, the first thought was 'how could anyone live here?'

He knocked, and heard a small sound, before eerie silence. He opened the unlocked door and saw a mess of a place. As well numerous traces of blood and an unnatural amount of used and stored bandages.

Sasuke was slowly on his way to realizing something very dark about Naruto. Although right now, he was currently convinced Naruto was a murderer.

After looking around, he saw no one, and started searching through his belongings. He saw plenty of used instant ramen, and practically no dishes in his ownership.

'Does he live off this stuff?' wondered Sasuke, holding up a half eaten Ramen, on its side was a trace of dried blood.

He slowly dug up more and more, now searching specifically for the scroll that Naruto used to learn the technique. Of course there was none and he was searching for gold in the wrong mine.

Sasuke found a folder that was very big and locked closed.

'Is this it?'

Looking for a way to open, he realised he had some of Naruto's chakra.

He had enough for opening about 5 locks, so he used one and the folder opened to reveal a large collection of papers. He took one out and saw something at the bottom of the page, the Konoha's hospital insignia.

He read its contents.

*I'm assuming Naruto was born on 10/10/1984 in this next section. Why 1984? It's my favorite book right now in the dystopian genre. 1984 by George Orwell, amazing story.*

"Patient: Naruto Uzumaki #1135

Age: 5 Days

Date: 10/15/1984

Reason of Admission: Heavy Wounding and Severe Internal Bleeding, Numerous Near Fatal Cuts Injuries

Other Notes: Was Injected with Snake Venom instead of Nutrient Fluids. Was Attacked Once During Recovery. Nurses refused to Tend to him. Healed rapidly, though thoroughly setback due to numerous attempts on his life."

To say the least, Sasuke was not expecting that. He hoped that the other things in the folder were different, that this was a one time freak accident.

He looked further into the folder, and read all of it.

There were all pages nearly identical to the one he first read, if anything, more severe.

And there were pages for almost every single day of Naruto's life. He was a regular at the hospital, yet even till the most recent one, in the "other notes" section, the nurses refused to tend to him.

Suddenly, all those bandages made sense, and his uncanny stealthiness natural. It was almost as if every time he was seen, he would be thrashed to near death. Of course he would have to be stealthy to survive.

He remembered what that one person told him, "give him a few injuries for me too." And he wondered how many people from his class were involved in this too?

By this point, Sasuke was looking for things far beyond a simple stealth technique. He felt remorse for Naruto, and felt his chest become heavy at the thought of all those things Naruto constantly beared.

Was this Naruto the same person that showed up almost all the time to school without fail? With a smile on his face and doing antics to make the class laugh? A caring personality and a will for helping out? Could he really still be the same person who helped Kiba and him out in the forest when neither could move? Could he really still be this way after dealing with all this? Or is it all a hopeless facade?

Naruto never once complained about his problems or used them as an excuse. Sasuke remembered that occasionally, Naruto had a very pained look to class, and under the ruse of sleeping, there were tears on his sleeve. Was this the reason why? And all this thinking led him to wonder, why did no one notice this sooner?

…

Or were they all part of his pain?