The Fox and The Tiger
Who's That?
The day was as normal as any other in Konoha. Well...not entirely. Today several of Kumogakure's Jonin would arriving in the village. A celebration would be held as a peace treaty betweem Kumo and Konoha was to be signed today. This would effectively end the feud between both villages for the time being. They would become allies to one another and peace among nations could be reached.
The third great ninja war ended about four and a half years ago. Three years ago, Konoha lost the Fourth Hokage due to the Kyubi attacking. Since then the Third Hokage, Hiruzen has retaken office and has ran Konoha ever since. This treaty was the final remnant of the third great ninja war and would stabilize everything. Atleast this was Hiruzen's hope.
Perhaps if the Fourth Hokage was still around, things would already be solved. No one would have dared tested him. But that was not the case and everything has led to today. This would mark an era of peace. One that could hopefully last a long time.
Amongst the village, everyone was preparing for the festival to be held. Merchants were setting up shops, restaurants were opening up and prepping a ton of food. Others were hanging up banners and streamers to decorate with lanterns and little games with prizes around.
For the most part, everyone had a smile and the general mood was high. They were all excited for today and who could blame them? Today would be one that would change the world as they knew it...and that it would...
Within the streets of Konoha, a short little bright blonde haired kid walked around. His hair was almost golden in appearance and he had bright blue eyes like an ocean. He had a white t-shirt with a swirl on the front and blue cargo shorts with blue sandals. This, was Naruto Uzumaki. This three year old, unlike everyone else wasn't happy or excited. What would be the point? He was alone.
Not in the sense that he just didn't have friends but he had literally no one. No family, no guardian...he didn't even have a home. Despite it all, he'd always show people a smile. A smile was a way of saying hi, and a smile usually was returned with another smile...usually...
"Today, today everything is going to change! Believe it! If I have to do something crazy then so be it. No matter what, today will mark history." Naruto said as he pointed to the sky.
"Shut up Brat!" some man said and pushed him to the ground. "Now get out of here!" With a kick he sent Naruto away.
"I don't understand...why do they hate me?" Naruto turned a corner and smiled at some other kids his age. There was 3 girls and 2 boys.
"Ah get away!"
"Stay away from us!"
The other kids all shouted and ran away from Naruto. He still showed his smile and had his eyes closed so he didn't have to see their faces.
"Maybe they're just playing a game..." Naruto said to no one and put his hands in his pockets. Finally opening his eyes and continued walking. "Who am I kidding...it's always the same. It won't be for forever though! I'll make a friend..."From deep in the shadows and in a hidden place, someone watched the entire scene and took notice of Naruto. Naruto felt like someone was near and turned to where the person was but they were gone. Shrugging it off, Naruto continued on.
"I need to report this to the Captain. He may be interested." Thought the hidden man and vanished once again.
Naruto continued his walk through the village aimlessly and things were no better than they were the day prior. "Everything will change...I just need to think. How can I make things different?"
The entire day would seem to go by for Naruto like a blur. At around 5pm the celebration and festival began. The high Jonin of Kumo walked through the village and were greeted with cheers and joy from the villagers of Konoha. Shinobi even were in the crowds, they weren't necessarily cheering but they were glad that this would finally be over and tensions can die down.
Naruto was in an alley just waiting for it all to end. There was bound to be food left some place for him to eat. Scavenging what he could is what got him by. Je wasn't fast enough to steal so when he did, he had to ve precise and have a plan. There was no outrunning the adults.
Other than that, there were little options for him to do anything else for food. No one would let him enter their shops and even then, it wasn't like he even had any money. There were times that he'd find money...but he'd eventually get beaten up and it would be taken from him. This is why he no longer carried anything on him aside from what he wore.
The positive out of that was that he had little value for materialistic things. On one hand was a negative but it also was a positive. It was all a matter of mindset. It's funny how much one's mindset can alter who they become so drastically.
The roads were filled and there were a lot of people around, and yet, Naruto felt like he was the only one in the village. Most either didn't notice him pass by or just didnt care and avoided him. They would part away, always giving him a bubble, no one within 5 feet from him. He stood out for this reason. That is why it was so easy to find him tonight...
"Hmm. You're right. There's something interesting about the boy."
"You see Captain. I wouldn't disappoint. The question now comes, who do we get? We've been tasked with taking the Hyuga heir..."
The Captain gave a nod and brought his hand to his chin. "Do you sense it? There's something ominous emanating from within him."
"I don't think I understand."
"Focus...the more I have, the more malevolent in nature it seems...new objective. We're taking that boy."
The two men smiled and followed Naruto from the rooftops. Their new target in sight and definitely easier than their original mission. Still, the feeling he got from the boy was unlike anything he ever felt. That was saying something...
Naruto kept walking and happened to head to a very secluded part of the village and sat beside a dumpster. He was curled up and had his knees tucked to his chest. It was cold and he had nothing for warmth. On top of that he was hungry. At this rate he considered giving up but something just wouldn't let him.
"I don't know how, but I know, today will change everything."
Naruto smiled weakly at the thought and his eyes began to close. Consciousness was fading. Hunger and the cold was taking too much.
"Hey, kid. Would you like something to eat?"
Naruto looked up and saw someone he'd never seen before. Not that he knew everyone in the village but they dressed in completely different attire than any of the people he'd seen before. For shinobi, they didn't have the green vest, and the headband even looked different. It looked like clouds rather than a leaf.
This guy talking to him had the top of his head bandaged and his headband covered his right eye. He wore a gray flak jacket and dark gray shirt under with black pants and sandals. The only other notable thing he had was a goatee.
"A-Are you sure?" Naruto was hesitant since no one ever just came and did this for him.
"Sure kid. Here." The man offered Naruto a wrapped up sandwich and some water. This immediately got Naruto to smile as he took the food. "You don't look so well. Is everything alright?"
"Mmm, well...I'm used to it. For as long as I can remember, it's always been this way. I don't understand why they hate me nor why I'm called a demon...now that I told you that, you'll leave too, won't you?"
"A demon eh? Yeah...this is much better..." the man thought as he just smiled at Naruto. "No, I'm still here. See." Naruto just gave a nod and smiled. "Would you like to come with me, kid? We could be friends and you won't starve out in the cold anymore."
"Are you sure?" The man gave a nod and still had a smile. "What part of the village do you live at? Also why is your symbol different?"
"Ah. Well, kid, I have a different symbol because I live in a different village. It's pretty far from here and it's colder, but it's nice. I think you'd like it."
"Another village? That's far away?"
"Yes. It would be like a fresh start for you. And, you wouldn't be stuck in the streets like this. What do you say?"
"A fresh start...Are you sure mister? I won't be stuck like this?"
"No one will know you. The only thing they'll know is that you're an outsider. That should be your only 'discrimination'."
"Discrimination?"
"The only reason you'd be treated a little differently than normal. It would pass over time as you get to know others. I know you'll make plenty of friends. You'll even have a home."
"Friends...Home..." Naruto's eyes seemed to lighten up and become bluer in a sense. "I'd like that."
"Sounds good kid. What's your name?"
"Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto said with joy and put a fist in the air.
"Uzumaki huh? His chakra will be high. That is something of value. Plus the nature of whatever else he has should prove interesting...I sure hope he ain't like Bee-sama with those antics..." The man shivered at that thought and just smiled back to Naruto. "Well Naruto Uzumaki. Let's get going. It's a long trip."
Naruto nodded and the two left the spot in a puff of smoke. They met up with the man's subordinate in some woods outside Konoha and began to walk.
"Woah...how'd you do that?" Naruto was full of energy and jumped around.
"What a bundle of energy this kid is. Captain...Goodluck with the trip. Your patience will be tested." the subordinate thought. He wore a similar outfit to the Captain but had a hooded black cloak on and his headband was on his left bicep just below the shoulder.
"You'll learn later on when you start training when you're old enough. Now we have a long road ahead of us, try to conserve some energy." The Captain shook his head with a smirk.
Things were going so well. It was so easy getting the kid, especially since he willingly went with them. But then again, who could blame the poor kid. When you're faced with two choices, one where you stick where you are and continue to be in pain, or the other where you can begin a new life and have a better chance, what do you expect someone to choose?
For Naruto, the prospect of finally making some friends and having a home was more than enough to convince him to try at this new village. He already suffered so much here, why stay when they haven't changed at all. No one helped him or showed him kindness like this man had.
It is true that the man's goal was to try to take Naruto, but that didn't mean he exactly lied. He was truthful, at his village, Naruto could make friends, and have a home. It really was a fresh start for Naruto. The only thing he hid was that he would have taken him anyways. But he never had to resort to that and the Captain was happy about that. It didn't seem honorable to attack a kid, and in this way, he remained true.
"Based on how he's been treated, I wonder how long it will take before they notice he's gone...if at all." the Captain thought as they walked
It would seem that Naruto was a nobody and no one cared one bit about him. With that in mind, there wouldn't be anyone to miss him. Still though, what was that such overwhelming evil that was coming from him? This was just a 3 year old child so what was it?
He'd know once they got to the village. Surely someone would be able to tell him what it was that the kid had. Either way, he was happy with the success. It wasn't a Hyuga, but this was someone of the Uzumaki clan, known for their ridiculous chakra reserves, Fuinjutsu, and Kenjutsu. There was no way he could get his hands on the Uzumaki seals since those were all destroyed or locked away hidden in Konoha. Kenjutsu wise, they could teach him easily enough.
The future for them would be good since they could have chakra monsters for shinobi within a few generations. This would help further increase their village's power over time. Yes, this was a success indeed.
After a long couple weeks of traveling since Naruto couldn't exactly travel at their pace, and because they wanted to let him experience some of the world and let him take it all in. See how different villages are from one another. Each having it's own sense of culture and ambience.
Maybe it was because both of these shinobi too were orphans and alone once. Perhaps this was why they felt so strongly about Naruto. In any case this was a mission, and they most likely wouldn't see him on a regular basis at all. Didn't mean they couldn't try to keep tabs with the kid.
They finally were in view of this new village to Naruto. To say he was shocked would be an understatement. Naruto was astounded and couldn't believe what he saw. The village was in the skies...well it was on a bunch of different mountain peaks and was all connected. Clouds would pass by and hide the village so it definitely lived up to its name.
"Naruto. Welcome to Kumogakure."
Merry Christmas Y'all. Hope you are doing well and get to see some family today or last night. I know time's are a little rough but that doesn't have to bring us down. Now this story will mainly be a bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) update status. If I can get it up more often at times, I will. "Naruto Of The Uchiha" hasn't been abandoned and will remain weekly upload status. I hope you enjoy this story and what I can make of it. Based on the title, you can see the main characters of this fic. There's a lot that I need to invent in terms of characters but Karui, Omoi, Darui, Samui...that's a lot of ui's haha but they'll all also be in this. Pretty much every character that is known of Kumo will feature as main characters and get larger roles than canon. Well i hope you enjoy these two chapters that serve as the pilot if you will and just help develop the story that will take place.
