Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter
In the village of Konoha, a sunny blonde child walked slowly down a large, empty street. His head was down, frustration evident on his face. It was an odd sight, considering the sun had not yet risen and the child looked to be about five. His name was Naruto Uzumaki, or as he was known to the villagers, the demon child.
"If that Oba-san at the orphanage wants to ignore me, fine! I'd rather be alone anyway," Naruto spoke to himself unconvincingly.
Naruto kicked a can that was in his path, litter from the previous night's celebration. October 10th, the festival of the hero, the day the Fourth Hokage gave his life for the village. For as long as Naruto could remember, he looked up to the Fourth. Everyone acknowledged the Yondaime. Everyone… Which is why Naruto decided he would be just like him, he would be Hokage!
Unfortunately, his plans to emulate the Fourth backfired. Naruto was used to being ignored, shunned for no reason. Last night, when he had dressed like the Fourth and proclaimed he would be like his hero, people finally paid attention to him. Though their attention came in the form of absolute hatred.
-flashback-
Naruto walked onto the main street dressed in robes designed just like pictures of the Yondaime and the street quieted down.
"Is the brat serious?"
"Some kind of prank?"
"The demon is taunting us!"
A crown began to form around him, all glares and anger. They mumbled amongst themselves until Naruto yelled out, "I'm going to be Hokage!"
Before Naruto could react, a rock smashed into his temple. It cut just above his eye and he fell to the ground. His vision swam with tears as he felt shadows begin to converge on him. Naruto had always been shunned, but nobody had ever been too violent with him. At most, they threw him out of shops if he attempted to buy anything. This was an unanticipated escalation.
A gust of wind, and suddenly there was somebody at his side. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder as he began to stand up. As Naruto's vision cleared, he saw a man in a dog mask with spiked silver-grey hair kneeling over him. The crowd backed away at the man's presence.
A slightly muffled voice echoed out from the mask, "Touch the boy at your own peril," the Dog masked man looked down at Naruto, "I suggest you head back home. I am unable to protect you in a crowd of this size."
'Protect me? Why am I always treated differently? I only wanted… Feh, whatever,' thought Naruto. He scowled, but nodded at the man in the dog mask who quickly disappeared in a swirl of leaves. The orphanage was no refuge, but the old lady there wouldn't hurt him.
And so, he walked back to the orphanage. Unlike usually when he arrived back, the Oba-san who usually ignored him was waiting impatiently.
"There you are brat!"
Naruto's expression brightened, she normally refused to even talk to him.
"Pulling a prank on the village, eh? I've had enough of you! I heard what happened, how dare you spit on the image of the hero of this village… DEMON BRAT!" she yelled.
"But I-"
The old woman held up a hand to silence him and smiled menacingly. "You painted a target on yourself. I never wanted you! And now I have every reason to get rid of you. I'm going to the Hokage tomorrow to tell him I cannot afford to protect you. You'll be out by tomorrow, so get all your crap together!"
"I didn't-"
"No excuses this time, nothing but trouble. Making me look bad… You wanted attention brat? Think pranks will get you some, eh? Fine! You got it! You're out of here!"
-Flashback over-
Naruto had barely gotten any sleep. Nobody at the orphanage was nice to him thanks to the old woman, he didn't want those bullies to see him kicked out. He left before the old woman could drag him away. He'd talk to Jiji before the old woman could. As he was thinking to himself though, he missed the man who almost ran straight into him.
"Hey, watch it brat!" said the man, or at least he thought. The man was rail thin, sickly, and his features were almost… feminine? But his white robes looked unmistakably male
Remembering last night, Naruto winced. "So-sorry sir." He attempted to move past the man, having not expected anyone to be up around this time.
"You- You recognize that I'm a guy!" the man exclaimed. "Wait! Hey, I'm sorry, I was just in a hurry. Do you know where the Hokage Tower is? I'm not from around here, I want to get there before it gets busy."
Naruto could count on his hands the number of people who had ever said sorry to him, when he heard the man apologize, he froze up. If it had been any other day, maybe he would have sent him in the wrong direction as a prank. He didn't have it in him today for whatever reason. Plus, he clearly wasn't from around here, so maybe…
"I'm heading there too actually. You'll probably have a hard time seeing Jiji without an appointment. I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
The man leveled a deep glance at Naruto after hearing his name. "Hmm… I'm Yuki Hisato. You know the Hokage personally then?"
He didn't know what to say, nobody in the village except for Teuchi-san; Ayame-chan and Jiji had ever been nice to him. And nobody had ever questioned his close relationship with the old man. Now that he thought about it, it was a bit strange. He'd have to ask Jiji later.
"Hello? Kid? We heading there or what?"
Naruto shook his head, what was he thinking? Bleh. Whatever. Oh, yeah! The Hokage Tower.
"Let's go then!" Naruto smiled with enthusiasm.
# # #
Naruto skipped into the Sandaime's office with a goofy smile. The old man was always happy when Naruto was cheery. Naruto never liked to act sad in the short time he had with the old man. The office was an overly large space with a big Hokage desk, and stacks of papers all around the room. Most of the room was made up of mats for people to sit on when there was a large meeting.
"JIJI! I'm coming for your seat! Just you wait!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat calmly at his desk, a warm smile came over him as he set down his papers at Naruto's entrance.
"What can I do for you Naruto? Are you sure you're ready to take this old man's position? Should I start the paperwork?" He winked.
Naruto fell over in surprise. The old man had called his bluff. What did he want again? OH!
"No way Jiji, I'll let you keep the seat warm for now. I've gotta go to the Academy first like you said." Naruto paused. "Hey Jiji, could you make time for a friend of mine? The guards didn't let him through, but… he was nice to me. It sounded super important."
Wordlessly the Hokage signaled with his hands.
Naruto smiled, this time for real. Maybe his connection to the Hokage could make people acknowledge him. Then he remembered the matron at the orphanage knew and he threw away that idea.
"Naruto, besides this friend why are you really here? Hmm? I suspect not just to see this old man, not this early. I heard about last night, are you alright?."
"I want out of the orphanage Jiji." Naruto looked down, ashamed. He had told Jiji he would get them to acknowledge him. Better to disappoint the old man than have him think he was kicked out.
The Hokage's demeanor looked solemn. He steepled his fingers in concentration, Naruto thought for a moment that he saw anger. "Now Naruto, not that I don't believe in you, but I did suspect that you might want out of the orphanage when you finally joined the Academy. I have something prepared; but, you're young still."
"But JIJI!" Anything so that Jiji didn't realize they didn't want him. The only person that believed in him would realize he wasn't wanted. Maybe he'd stop believing in him. Maybe he'd have nobody.
At that moment the door to the office opened, and Hisato-san stepped in. Naruto shut his mouth promptly.
The Hokage raised an eyebrow, "Can I help you? I am busy with young Naruto here, who let you in young lady?"
Naruto sweat-dropped, Hisato tripped on the floor when he heard. As Hisato dusted himself off trying to regain his dignity, Naruto cut in, "Jiji, that's my friend, and he's a he. Sheesh!" Naruto pouted until the Hokage looked apologetic.
"Ahem-" Hisato coughed. "My name is Yuki Hisato." The Hokage looked inquisitively. "Yes, that Yuki clan. I come to Konoha to seek asylum and rebuild my life. I am something of a doctor, and although I am incapable of using the Shinobi arts, my skills could be quite beneficial to your village. I should also tell you in advance, I am unable to pass on my bloodline."
Hisato grimaced as if prepared for an immediate rejection after he said the last part.
The Hokage pulled on his goatee thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, but Konoha has plenty of shinobi medics. We are not as good as we once were under her but I don't see how we could grant you asylum with you only being 'something of a doctor'."
"JIJI!" Naruto whined
The Hokage continued, "However, you have made quite an impression on a boy I consider something of a grandson. I could grant you guardianship status of him under the pretense of being his personal doctor. Provided you show a portion of these skills, agree to take care of Naruto until he becomes a Genin, and agree to a light interrogation process."
Naruto's eyes widened with what his JiJi was suggesting, looking back and forth between the two men. Throwing him on some stranger? What was he thinking?
Hisato narrowed his eyes at the old man. "I'm just a stranger to the boy. You're testing me, aren't you? If I accept so easily, you'll think I'm after him. Which means, my suspicions are correct. I felt the extreme Yang, and seeing the picture tells me all I need to know." Naruto saw him glance towards the portraits of the Hokages, he remained as confused as he had ever been.
The Hokage turned white for a short second, but quickly got ahold of himself. He released a small bit of killing intent at Hisato. "You do realize that now I cannot allow you to leave the village, whether you get asylum or not."
"Jiji, what is going on? I don't like being left out! And you never asked me if I thought it was okay." Naruto pouted.
Hisato spoke up, "That I ran into you was no accident Naruto. You see, I heard rumors of an Uzumaki in Konoha. Although I doubt I would have ever found you if not for luck, considering your hair color. Had I not examined carefully on the way over, I might have even doubted you had Uzumaki blood. From what you told me Uzumaki-kun, your Hokage here is in something of a pickle. The village cannot be trusted, or at least those who have the time to care for you cannot be trusted. I am not from the village, and so I cannot be trusted by default, but I know too much now and my motives are suspect. If you do not allow me to be your guardian, it will not be pleasant for me Naruto, your Jiji's hands are tied."
Know too much? Hands tied? Uzumaki? Why was he looking for an Uzumaki?
"Naruto, I need you to wait outside," said the Hokage.
Naruto sighed. It was just like Jiji to keep him in the dark about things. The old man knew about why everyone ignored him, and now he suspected he knew about his parents after all. He'd have better luck if he asked Hisato afterward, but that could only happen if Hisato was allowed to become his guardian. Hisato seemed nice enough, anything would be better than the orphanage. If it didn't work out, it didn't, but Naruto wanted to shove it in that old lady's face. He was wanted by someone, and she was wrong.
# # #
Sarutobi Hiruzen scowled in annoyance, he had been outmaneuvered for the first time in a long time. The God of Shinobi, cornered by a man incapable of using Shinobi arts. Naruto being rejected by the orphanage, and then this desperate man showing up, it was perfect. Even if this Hisato couldn't be a Shinobi, the bloodline purges of the Land of Water had reached a frenzy, and the infamous Yuki clan would be hunted all over the ninja world for research. Now though? Hisato could not be allowed to leave the village under any circumstances.
"So Hokage-sama, I take it you don't realize the damage you've done to the boy?" Hisato looked at his nails absentmindedly.
The Hokage let guilt flash across his features. "I know, the psychological damage-"
"Ah, so you are completely unaware then… Minato thought he was helping his boy by splitting the Fox chakra. He could not have been more wrong."
"Minato was a once in a generation genius!" the Hokage raged, "you are unfit to question his work!"
"I have great respect for Namikaze-sama and his sealing capabilities. But with his sage abilities, he should have known better. I can mitigate the damage, maybe even make him stronger for it if you let me. He inherited the vigor of the Uzumaki, but judging by his blonde and his personality, he does not have their yin within extreme yang. At best he has a wind affinity, at worst a fire affinity. I suspect wind. By giving him a large Yang chakra construct to absorb, you will have a complete imbalance, extreme yang is supposed to give birth to yin. You will stunt the boy's Yin. Even if he is very intelligent, it will only come in bursts, and his focus will be completely destroyed! Have you already noticed his scattered thinking and hyperactivity? Even the full-blooded Uzumaki take the Fox as a whole, a Yang leaning entity even with the Yin intact!"
Hisato paused, breathing heavily, realizing he was ranting at a man who held his life in the balance. If he couldn't find shelter here he was dead anyway, might as well prove his usefulness.
"As for my qualifications, I am the opposite of the boy. I have studied my whole life so I could cure my natural extreme Yin disposition. I could teach the boy everything I know, which would do him a great deal of good in the Shinobi world. I am incapable due to my body. I don't know why Namikaze-sama would do what he did, perhaps to create the body of the sage? But you would end up sending him half-cocked into the ninja world. A shinobi's greatest weapon is his mind. And he would be absolutely incapable of passing even the Academy, as any genjutsu would be impossible for him."
The Hokage looked at him with his mouth open, no words escaping. But as the God of Shinobi, he was not easily thrown off.
"And what do you want with the Uzumaki? Perhaps you wish to use him as a cure for yourself? Hmm? How can I trust that you will not harm him for your goals?" Hiruzen had already agreed in his mind to give the child to Hisato, with some ANBU protection at first. There weren't many alternatives in the village…
"As he is now, he is incapable of helping me. If I was a woman I could have him take my primordial yin, but even then he is a child, and it would be too late by the time that would be possible. No, I need an Uzumaki who is completely healthy, alive, and willing to help. Nothing that would hurt the boy. And even if you didn't believe me, by the time Naruto could help me, I will have benefitted him greatly. If anything, you could take my help and then throw me away before I achieved my goals."
The Hokage smiled suddenly, "I think we can help each other then."