Seven and a half Years after the kyubi attack
Naruto Uzumaki was dashing through the forests outside of Konoha. Why, you may ask? The reason was because he had no choice. In order to protect his home, he had to abandon it.
Flashback
Naruto had just finished his daily practice with his "brothers" Shisui and Itachi Uchiha. The seven-year-old was often protected by the two Uchihas from the scorn of the villagers. The two teens were the ones Naruto trusted the most, even more than his so called "Jjji" the Hokage. Ever since he turned four, Naruto had worked with the two, learning everything from survival and life skills to the ninja arts.
See, Naruto was a certifiable genius, but due to the villager's hate, everyone but Itachi and Shisui saw only Naruto's mask. He was a mid-chunin level in every regard, but to protect himself from not only the village but also certain parties wanting to use him, Naruto acted a buffoon. In the academy he couldn't pass a simple geography test or name the five major villages. In his lessons with Itachi he knew extensive history on all of the shinobi villages and the basic security breaches of each memorized (having two ANBU captains as senseis pays off). In the academy Naruto couldn't create a simple bushin and didn't know what an elemental affinity was. With his brothers he learned the kage-bushin when he was five and had mastery over wind and was working on the second step of his fire affinity. The Third Hokage knew Naruto hung out with the two Uchihas but believed he just worked on tracking and trap skills (his pranks showed his mastery in those fields.).
"I wonder what kind of ramen I should have tonight?" our hero wondered aloud, sounding like a dimwit, when in actuality he was tracking the movements of a shadow that had been tailing him for the past hour. Deftly maneuvering to an abandoned training field Naruto dropped the ruse.
"Shisui-nii I know you're there. Why are you stalking me?" He called out to the darkness. A second later and a smiling Shisui appears in front of him.
"Good sensing skills, gaki. You made sure to appear nonchalant as you led me to a place of your choosing. Most ANBU have nothing on you in tracking and traps." At this Naruto smiles, pleased by his Nii-san's praise. "However," he continued, "don't get cocky. As shinobi we must always improve ourselves for the sake of the village." Shisui continues like this for a few minutes, talking about the shinobi way and how it was his duty as not only a jinjuriki but also the son of the previous Hokage to protect Konoha.
Yes, Naruto knew about the kyubi and his heritage. Contrary to popular belief, Naruto was very good at piecing the truth together. By seeing the way the third looked at him, his birthday, and the picture of the fourth in the Hokage's office, Naruto has able to discern exactly who his parents were. And any moron would be able to piece together that they were a jinjuriki simply by seeing the seal on their stomach, their birthday, and listening to the villagers calling them "kyubi brat." That, and the fact that Naruto was an intermediate level fuinjutsu user.
Shisui and Itachi confirmed it when he confronted them about it after his fifth birthday. They were worried about Naruto hating his father and the village for his hellish life, but instead Naruto proved he was already a shinobi.
Flashback within a flashback
"It's settled then," Naruto states. Itachi and Shisui hitch their breath's, fearing the worst. "I'm going to protect Konoha till the day I die! My father wanted me to be seen a hero, but that's not happening. So instead I'll be a silent hero, protecting Konoha even if I die in a ditch somewhere doing it, never to be thought of again. I'll still be Konoha's shield and hero. I swear it on my nindo, my ninja way." And with that Naruto sliced his palm to signify his oath being worth his blood.
Both Uchiha's were amazed. Here was a boy who had every reason to turn his back on the village proclaim on his nindo that he would protect it, even if he was seen as nothing throughout the entire village. Shisui takes out his kunai and slice his palm, letting it drip onto the earth.
"I stand by you, little brother. I promise to put the village first, and do whatever it takes to uphold Konoha's Will of Fire." Itachi does the same, adding,
"To be true ninja's. That is our dream."
Back to regular flashback
After that day Naruto's training took off. The boys snuck into the Namikaze house the next month, and through the use of sealing scroll, Naruto had a treasure trove of ninjutsu, kenjutsu, fuinjutsu, chakra control, genjutsu, and taijutsu. Itachi and Shisui learned all they could from the scrolls as well. By the time of the start of the story, Naruto had mastered the rasangan as well as the hirashin, but only through the use of kunai with seal tags. He couldn't create tags on the go like his father could, but he was getting there. Now both Shisui and Itachi carried the special kunai with them at all times, just in case. Along with those, Naruto could use multiple wind and fire techniques, the basics of the Uzumaki kenjutsu style as well as a few simple genjutsu, though that was hard before he struck a deal with the fox to stop messing with his chakra control in exchange for sensory access. The two have since become great friends, and Naruto learned a lot from Kurama (Kyubi' s name), including the fox summons (AN: I plan to cover this in future updates, but I am trying not to bore y'all with the story setup),
"Naruto" the tone in Shisui' s voice brought him back. This was his serious tone, one used more and more as of late due to the Uchiha's planned coup. "You know how Itachi and I have been trying to figure out the coup plans in order to stop it" I nod, now excited to hear any news on the wayward clan's intentions. If things didn't improve things soon then they would have to go with the Hokage' s and Danzo's plan: assassination and then blame one of his nii-sans in order to prevent a civil war as well as other nations taking advantage. "Well good news and bad news. The good news is it revolves around one person so stopping that one person's role stops the coup. The bad news is that person is you, Naruto." My eyes widen as Shisui continues, his eyes pained in the moonlight. "Little brother I have to ask: do you love Konoha?" I nod with conviction. "Then… you must abandon it."
…
"WHAT?!" I shout, unable to hide my horror and confusion. Abandon my home? How would that help? Except….
"By having me leave for an indecernable time period allows you and Itachi-nii to quietly change the Uchiha leadership and ideals. It saves Konoha by preventing a strong shinobi clan being lost forever and prevents war," I say with dull eyes.
Shisui nod, grim. "You are right little brother. I don't want to ask this of you. If you don't feel up to it tell me and I will take the fall for what must be done…" I look up to see Shisui's eyes. His dark orbs hold pain and resignation. He accepts that he might have to be a kin killer, the lowest of the low. I can't let that happen.
We are going through with this crazy plan, aren't we kit? Kurama's voice rings out in my head. Good, he says, startling me. Traveling will do you good. I can teach you so much more where you don't need to hide behind a stupid mask. Heh, we should go missing-nin hunting on our travels, build up your experience. I mentally nod, grateful for the advice of my closest friend.
"I'll do it." My voice rises with convention, and I can see Shisui. His eyes are hopeful yet saddened that his little brother must take on such responsibility. "While I am gone I'll gather information and work my way through the bingo books. If you leave one of my kunai in your closet I can teleport any important info to you regarding Konoha. When do I leave?"
Shisui's eyes harden with resolve, my preserved confidence rubbing off. "Tomorrow night. The academy lets out for break tomorrow. So, you can sneak out to the forest and meet Itachi. He'll have everything you need. I placed hirashin kunai in Wave country on my last mission as well as in the land of winds and the land of birds. You can teleport to one of those spots. It will be two days later that Itachi and I will report you missing after not making practice. The Uchihas will not be able to go through with their plans. However, you will need to make it look like you ran away to avoid the hatred here. I know I am asking a lot but know both Itachi and I are so proud of you, our little brother." Tears spring to my eyes but I wipe them away, wanting to be strong. That night I go for my last bowl of Ichiraku's with one of my most precious people.
NEXT DAY…
Naruto, after going through his last day at the academy, feels his stomach drop as he walks through the town, knowing that it could very well be the last time he saw home.
Kit, stop fretting. You know I won't let you die. I bet that within a year things will smooth over and you'll be able to come back. Speeking of which, a magic square rock is at your six, Kurama states, amused.
"Saru, rocks aren't square." Naruto states as Konohamaru, whom Naruto calls Saru, jumps out.
"You always catch me Nii-san!" The four-year-old jumps excitably from foot to foot. "Nii-san let's play ninja, alright, alright?" Naruto is about to decline in order to continue his solemn walk, but thinks better of it.
"Alright, sure, my foolish little brother," Naruto teases as he pulls an Itachi. After meeting Konohamaru a year ago while Naruto stayed in the Sarutobi compound after a vicious beating , Naruto promised himself to always protect his little brother figure and help him in his dreams. The two run off to the academy training grounds, intent on having a blast.
"Hey Nii-san," Saru says after hours of playtime, "You know how you always say to have a dream and to strive to protect the village?" I nod, wondering where this is headed, "Well I finally have a dream. I want to be Hokage! That way I can protect EVERYONE and have everyone know who I am, not who my grandpa is." Saru's eyes burned with passion, and Naruto couldn't help but feel he wouldn't mind following his little brother into battle one day.
Ruffling Saru's hair Naruto smiles, a gentle real one, not the mask fake ones most people see. "That's an admirable goal, Saru. I can see myself following you one day, if your Will of Fire burns as bright as I see it now." With that Naruto brushes off his orange sweat pants and heads to his apartment for the final hours, leaving Konohamaru to look at him in admiration before an ANBU escorts him home. Little did Konohamaru and the ANBU know that Naruto had put a delayed seal on his neck after ruffling his hair. It would be released three days from now, containing Naruto's last words to his precious little brother.
Present, heading towards Itachi and Shisui
I can only hope one day you can see I did this for the right reasons little brother. These thoughts plague Naruto as he approaches two familiar chakra signatures. As he gets closer he sees the grim visages of the reason he is doing this. I won't let your hearts go down a dark road, he promises himself.
"Naruto, you ready?" Shisui's prompting causes the kunai of reality to sink in. I gulp down my apprehensions and nod. Over the next thirty minutes Shisui goes over everything in my bag I was to take, from all the scrolls (sealed in one bigger scroll of course) to the bingo book and gear to clothes and a month's worth of ration bars. Itachi through all of this stays silent, but I can tell through his whitening knuckles he is fighting to keep calm.
Finally it was time to leave. I changed out of my old clothes, giving them to a clone to take them inside the land of stone before dispelling, which will no doubt lead to Sarutobi believing I died or was taken.
"Nii-sans." The word hitches in my throat but I fight to continue evenly, like a proud shinobi. "In a month I will teleport my status and will check about once every three months after that unless I find something interesting." Both nod with proud looks in my eyes. "So while I'm gone…kick some Uchiha elder ass and keep Saru-I mean Konohamaru safe. Please…" I trail off at the last part and both nod, promising to protect him to the best of their ability.
"Little brother…kick some ass out there, alright?" Shisui jokes and fist bumps me, solidifying our bond.
"Little brother…until next time, I will keep Konohamaru-kun safe for you," and with that and an affectionate poke on the head I take a step back from the two most influential people in my life. Turning around, I hold up a thumbs up and with a quick flash I'm gone, the only thing marking I was ever there was the kunai and two heartbroken teens. Looking at each other, the two Uchihas set off to prepare for the back lash and bumpy ride the next few years were sure to bring.
Just outside Wave…
Flashing that far for the first time makes me dizzy, and while my stomach settles I sit down, knowing that a boat to take me into the country wouldn't be there until mid-afternoon, almost twelve hours. Taking in my new outfit, I can't help but feel childlike glee at what I am about to do.
My new outfit consists of black ANBU style pants taped to the ankles with matching shoes. A black sleavless shirt with an under mesh shirt comes next, with arm guards. A grey and black hooded short sleeved jacket with an embroidered fox and the kanji "Kitsune" on the back. Finally a black face mask ( think Kakashi) covers his whiskered face, completing his new life as the Guardian Kitsune, Konoha's hidden protector.
AN: Hey guys this is my first story here! I plan on updating about once a week. Anyway, this story has been bugging me for awhile, since I wanted a story that Naruto is a little more like Shisui and Itachi in that he wants what is best for the village, even at the cost of himself. For those who think his is overpowered, know that I disagree based on how quickly he masters everything in the series if he is given an ounce of help. With two brothers from an early age Naruto's stupid attitude is a thin mask, not an iron clad defense that he has in the series. Because let's face it. Anyone who can learn shadow clones in an hour or improve the rasangan within a few weeks is not the "dead last" but instead a genius…hidden behind a sea of orange and a future of ramen induced heart disease. Anyway, I don't own Naruto because if I did then Naruto would have been raised as a shinobi (I am sorry Kishi but there is no way even Sarutobi would allow a jinjuriki to go untrained. That's just stupid) and Kakashi would have realized how much potential his sensei's son had early on. Ja Ne!