Chapter 1

Twelve years ago today, Konohagakure no sato faced its darkest hour. In the dead of night, the Kyubi suddenly appeared in the Senju compound, which by this point was relatively empty, and rampaged throughout Konoha. The response time was as quick as lightning, and in a matter of minutes, the Kyubi was pushed out of Konoha by the Sandaime Hokage and his monkey summon, Enma. Many ninjas lost their lives in the battle, but their hope was renewed when the Kyūbi was trampled by none other than the Yondaime Hokage and his toad summon, Gamabunta.

The attack didn't even last half an hour, but the damage was done. The Yondaime Hokage gave his life to defeat the Kyubi, but every shinobi at the time knew that no mortal being could kill a biju, but no one knew what happened other than the Sandaime and two chunin. The two chunin wasted no time getting information out to everyone in Konoha, without orders, that Konoha had a jinchuriki by the name of Naruto.

Naruto was a baby at the time, even being born the same day. He lost his parents to the Kyubi attack like many others, but he'd also been placed with a burden. One he didn't know about for years because of the law the Sandaime put in place after word got out. Naruto realized right away that something had to be different about him due to the lack of positive, or even neutral attention he seemed to get from anyone he encountered if they didn't outright ignore him.

There were a few who stood out, like the Sandaime himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who made sure to regularly check on Naruto outside of dropping off his monthly stipends, even if he could only send a clone. Then there were Teuchi and Ayame, the owners of Ichiraku Ramen, a small restaurant in the middle of the village that Naruto regularly attended since it was the only place that let him in. They treated him well, as Naruto and Ayame had created a little brother/big sister type of bond in the eight years they'd known each other.

Entering the Academy, Naruto was saddened to figure out that he would be treated the same way in the classroom as in the streets. He hid it all behind a carefree smile, not wanting to let people get the satisfaction of knowing that what they were doing was hurting him on the inside. It was like a defense mechanism, just smiling through the pain. He stopped trying to ask questions after being verbally berated in front of the entire class by one of his teachers, and now, hours before he was scheduled to take the graduation exam, Naruto wasn't in a good position. Currently ranked dead-last, his only good grades being a B+ in taijutsu and a B in shurikenjutsu, he didn't know if he could pass.

"I can't think like that, I will pass the exam and become a genin. No matter what this world throws at me, I can handle it," Naruto said as he stared at his reflection in the mirror, 'It probably would've looked a lot cooler if I wasn't in my jammies…'

With that thought, Naruto entered his room to change, throwing on a pair of black pants, tying the ends with bandages like he'd seen other shinobi do, throwing on a dark green hoodie with the Uzumaki crest on the back, but today, he would leave out the black goggles. After eating his breakfast, he put on a pair of black sandals and headed out the door with his head held high.

"Alright class, onto the ninjutsu portion, when your name is called, come to the testing room. You will be tested on the Transformation Jutsu, and the Clone Jutsu," Iruka announced, and Naruto cringed, not that anyone could see.

"Alright Naruto, the Transformation Jutsu when you're ready," Iruka said as he and his assistant teacher, Mizuki, sat at a table that had just two hitai-ate left.

Naruto nodded before he took a deep breath and made a ram seal before calling out, "Transform!"

In a poof of smoke, Naruto was no longer in front of him, but an identical copy of the Sandaime. Iruka walked over to him to inspect the technique before going back to his seat and nodding, "Nicely done, Naruto. Now for the Clone Jutsu."

Naruto nodded, a bit more hesitantly than when he was asked to do the first technique, but like before, he took a deep breath, made a tiger seal, and in a poof of smoke, a very… short Naruto appeared, about half the size of the original Naruto.

"You fail," Iruka announced with a frown.

Naruto mimicked his frown as he turned towards the door, but Mizuki's voice stopped him as the chunin said, "Now wait a minute, he did create a clone like you asked, and up to this point has done just enough to pass. Why should he be penalized for one small error?"

Naruto lit up as Iruka sat back in thought, hoping he'd change his mind, but his hopes were diminished as Iruka responded with one word, "No."

"Why not?" Mizuki asked.

"Because it wouldn't be fair, everyone else could make three or more perfect clones. Naruto could only make half of one. He'll just have to try again next year," Iruka said, and Mizuki didn't pressure any further, and so Naruto left the room with his head low as for once in his life he couldn't hide the sadness that plagued him. He'd been working his ass off for the past few years for this very day, the day he would become a real shinobi, but when he stepped up to the plate, he struck out.

He ignored the glares aimed at his back and the whispers that weren't meant for his ears as he walked off towards his home, but just as he was about to turn onto the main road, a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned around just enough to see Mizuki, the teacher who'd stood up for him, giving him a small smile.

By the Academy, Hiruzen and Iruka stood side by side, watching as Naruto left with Mizuki. They stood in silence for a moment, before Hiruzen finally said his piece, "Iruka, we need to talk."

"Iruka really wants the best for you, but that won't happen if he goes easy on you," Mizuki said as he and Naruto sat on a ledge.

"But I've always had problems with that technique, I don't know what it is, but I can never get out the right amount of chakra," Naruto replied in a quiet tone.

"I think I may know a way to help you out with that problem…" Mizuki said, and Naruto looked towards him with hopeful eyes.

Iruka laid on his bed late that night, thinking back on his earlier conversation with the Sandaime.

"Iruka."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"I know how you feel, the Kyubi took away your parents, and you grew up all alone, just like Naruto, without the love of a mother and a father. The warmth of a family.

Flashback

"LET GO OF ME! MY PARENTS ARE STILL FIGHTING!" a young Iruka screamed out as a shinobi had picked him up and made headway towards the hospital.

Flashback end

I

ruka could see the malice in the Kyubi's eyes, it was a look he'd never forget. He was broken out of his thoughts when he heard a loud knocking on his voice, accompanied by Mizuki yelling out for him. He quickly got up, wanting to figure out what all of the commotion was about, and so upon opening the door, he wasted no time asking, "Why are you making so much noise, Mizuki? Don't you know what time it is?"

"Naruto… he took the Forbidden Scroll," Mizuki said through deep breaths.

"The Scroll of Sealing?!" Iruka asked for confirmation.

"Yes! Now get ready, Hokage-sama assembled all ninja in the village to look for him.

"Mizuki-sensei's not here yet? Then I guess I'll just start on my own for now," Naruto said to himself as he opened the scroll, "oh, here it is, Shadow Clone Jutsu."

Naruto spent two hours continuously practicing the technique, first mastering it, then getting it down two one hand seal. The technique was easier than he imagined it would be for a B-rank technique, and he especially liked how the jutsu could be used for information-gathering and to quicken his training. As he rested, he heard the leaves rustle violently, and perked up thinking Mizuki had finally shown up, only to be disappointed when Iruka was the one to show up.

"Naruto, why did you steal the Scroll of Sealing? Don't you know how illegal that is?" Iruka asked as he glared holes into him.

"Illegal?" Naruto repeated in shock, "but Mizuki-sensei said that this scroll was to help people like me."

"Mizuki? Like you?" Iruka repeated as he realized who was really at fault.

"Yeah, people who can't do the Clone Jutsu! He told me where to find it, how to get here, and even promised to help, but he hasn't shown up yet," Naruto said with a pout.

'Mizuki was behind it all, but why?' Iruka asked himself but was cut off from any further thinking when Mizuki finally showed up.

"Iruka, how nice of you to join us!" he sarcastically said.

"Why would you frame Naruto for treason, Mizuki?!" Iruka angrily asked.

Mizuki acted like Iruka wasn't even there as he focused his attention on a confused Naruto and said, "Good job, Naruto, I knew you could get the job done. Now, give me the scroll," Naruto looked between his two teachers, not knowing which one to trust. Mizuki noticed his hesitation, and decided to make the decision easier as he said, "who was the one who vouched for you after Iruka had failed you?"

"I admit, I shouldn't have failed you, Naruto, but please trust me when I tell you that you cannot give the scroll to Mizuki. He tricked you into stealing it!" Iruka pleaded with him.

Mizuki saw that he was losing this battle for Naruto's trust, and so decided to go with plan B, he asked, "Naruto, do you want to know why people are so biased against you? Why they ignore you at all cost?"

Iruka's eyes widened as he realized Mizuki's new tactic, even worse it was working since he had Naruto's full attention, and in a last-ditch effort yelled for him to stop, saying it was forbidden, but it only made him look worse as he realized immediately after.

"Why?" Naruto asked in response. Finally, one of his life's biggest questions would be answered, and he couldn't wait to hear why.

"It's because the Kyubi no Yoko that attacked the night of your birth wasn't killed! Yondaime-sama couldn't kill it, and so he sealed it inside of you! You're the Kyubi no Yoko, Naruto!" Mizuki announced, much to Naruto's horror.

He was the Kyubi? That couldn't be true… right?

"Don't worry, though, Naruto, tonight I will finish what the Yondaime started and put your soul to rest! Tonight, the world will be ridden of the demon fox who killed so many all those years ago!" Mizuki roared before launching a giant shuriken at Naruto.

"NARUTO!" Iruka yelled as Naruto stood frozen in shock, even with a giant projectile coming at him.

Iruka's voice shook Naruto out of his state of shock, but as he tried gathering his steps to dodge the incoming giant shuriken, he fell on his butt and crossed his arms over his face as he closed his eyes. So when he heard the giant shuriken connect with something, but didn't feel any pain, he slowly put his arms down and opened his eyes only to have them widen in shock at the sight of Iruka on all fours, the giant shuriken sticking out of of his back as his face contorted in a mixture of sadness, regret, and pain.

"Iruka-sensei, why?" Naruto asked after regaining his voice.

Iruka shed some tears, which Naruto at first thought was because of the pain, but soon realized that his pain wasn't just the wound in his back as he said, "Naruto… I'm so sorry. I treated you like crap, not understanding that you were going through worse pain than I was at your age. I couldn't see the Naruto who had lost his parents to the Kyubi, nor the Naruto who was secretly affected by the treatment he received from everyone. I could only see the beast that you were stuck with. But you're not the Kyubi, you're Naruto Uzumaki of Konohagakure no sato."

"Awww, suck touching last words," Mizuki mocked the scene before him, "it doesn't matter what you think, because both of you are dying tonight, and when I get rid of your bodies, I can take this scroll straight to Orochimaru-sama and gain all the power in the world!"

"Hey, Naruto," Iruka weakly called out as he lifted his hitai-ate off of his head and put it in front of Naruto, "I think you deserve this. Especially after the ass-kicking, you're going to give Mizuki. Congrats, Naruto, you pass."

Naruto looked at his sensei in wonder and horror as the man slumped over. He slowly took the hitai-ate, looking at it for a few moments before a shift in his emotions happened as he tied it around his forehead. Gone was the frightened Naruto who needed protecting, in came the Naruto who would do the protecting, and would stop anyone who dared threatened the safety of his home.

"Mizuki, you just made a big mistake," Naruto said in a low tone as he looked up to meet the older shinobi's gaze.

"What was that demon brat? I couldn't hear you over the sound of you dyING?!" Mizuki roared again as he flung the second giant shuriken at Naruto, who dodged this one as he charged, "you actually think you can take on a seasoned chunin? You can't even make a single clone."

"Oh yeah, then what's this? Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto called out as he made a ram seal, and he was soon accompanied by 20 other Naruto's. Mizuki's eyes widened as he faltered, giving Naruto the perfect opportunity for a pounding. After knocking out Mizuki, and making sure he would stay down, he checked on Iruka, who he found sitting against a tree with a small smile on his face.

"I knew you could do it, Naruto," he said, and Naruto ran to him, giving him a giant bear hug as he repeated, "You're alive!" over and over again.

Naruto woke up the next morning feeling pretty drained. Yes, he did pass, Iruka's decision being approved by the Sandaime after they gave their report on the whole situation, but still. He was the host of the same Kyubi who took so many lives and brought so much destruction to his home the night he was born. It was a tough pill to swallow, even knowing that the Yondaime trusted him enough to protect their home from the beast. And that posed another question, why did the Yondaime have such an undying faith in a newborn baby?

"Ugh, I get why Shikamaru calls things troublesome so much," Naruto grumbled to himself as he got out of bed.

'He's starting to look like Minato a little bit', Hiruzen thought with a small smile as he looked at Naruto's ninja ID, 'soon, the resemblance with be almost uncanny'.

Hiruzen was brought out from his thoughts by the door of his office, where Naruto was also sitting on the couch, swung open, and the familiar voice of his grandson, who was set to enter the Academy this coming year, called out to him.

"PREPARE TO BE DEFEATED, JIJI!" Konohamaru yelled before running into the office, a wooden kunai in hand. Not three steps into the office and he tripped on air and fell flat on his face.

Naruto had watched the entire scene with a great amount of amusement, but couldn't hide his laughter when Konohamaru fell. He needed something to take his mind off of what he found out last night, and Konohamaru did just that, even if it wasn't intentional.

Speaking off Konohamaru, he groaned as he got up, and when he looked around to find something to blame his misfortune on, he immediately spotted the laughing blonde, to which he pointed an accusing finger at him and asked, "You're the one who tripped me, aren't you?!"

Naruto's laughter ceased almost right after Konohamaru finished his question, and he looked at the kid with a mixture of curiosity and amusement before shaking his head and saying, "Sorry to tell you this, but you tripped on nothing but air."

Hiruzen cleared his throat, getting their attention as he decided the least he could do was introduce them to one another and hopefully end their argument before it got underway.

"Naruto, this is Konohamaru, he's my grandson and he wants to defeat me and become Hokage. Konohamru, this is Naruto, he's like a grandson to me, and he too wants to be Hokage."

"Nice to meet you, Konohamaru," Naruto said with a friendly smile as the boy stared at him in wonder.

"Hey, how come you're different?" Konohamaru asked after a brief moment of silence.

"I'm sorry?" Naruto said, confused by his vagueness.

"You didn't call me 'Konohamaru-sama' like everyone else does when they hear who I'm related to," he pointed out.

"Uh… Do you want me to call you that?" Naruto asked, hoping he'd say no. The last thing he needed was to deal with a snobby kid who thinks he can do anything because of who his grandfather is.

Konohamaru shook his head quickly before saying, "No, I don't like when people call me that, I was just wondering why you didn't."

Naruto nodded, internally grateful he had some sense, then answered his original question, saying, "Well, you're a kid. If you were an adult, I probably would've, but your not."

Konohamaru was about to bring up the Hokage job and declare him his rival, but then a new voice rang out throughout the entire building, one neither Sarutobi in the room were happy to hear at such a volume.

"KONOHAMARU-SAMA! I finally found you!" Ebisu exclaimed through tired breaths, then noticed Naruto, who was silently exiting the room, to which he immediately narrowed his eyes, 'That kid. I better get Konohamaru-sama away from him before he influences the boy too much', "Come now, Konohamaru-sama, we need to continue your training, after all, only I can put you on the fast track to becoming Hokage…"

What Ebisu had failed to notice was that while he was rambling, Konohamaru left behind Naruto, leaving Hiruzen, who was rubbing his temples as he listened to the man list off the reasons why he was an elite jonin and why that made only him qualified to train his grandson. Finally, he had enough as he said, "Ebisu, say another word and I'll strip you of your rank and demote you back down to genin for the rest of your career."

Naruto was currently on his way to Ichiraku's for lunch with Konohamaru close behind, trying to act as if he wasn't following. He realized early on after he'd heard a few people greet the boy, but said nothing and let him follow.

"Hey, Naruto, how come you're not wearing your headband?" Konohamaru asked after running to walk beside Naruto.

"Oh, well I guess I just don't want to scratch it before I can actually use it," Naruto simply answered, "so how come you're not off training with that dude who came into the office?"

"You heard him! He's always boosting his own ego, talking about how he's the only one fit to train 'the grandson of the Sandaime', it's annoying," Konohamaru said as he put his hands behind his head just like Naruto had his, "I know Jiji's too busy to train me himself, and my parents are ANBU members so they can't, but still. I know it might sound selfish, but I wish my parents weren't in the ANBU. Maybe then they could be home more and actually train me, you know?"

Naruto stayed quiet as Konohamaru ranted, and after some silence, said, "That is selfish, but you have every right to be selfish when it comes to your parents. Sarutobi-jiji says my dad played a big part in fighting off the Kyubi the day it attacked, but a part of me wishes he didn't because I would at least have one parent look after me… Say, how about I show you a thing or two? Maybe then you could at least get a somewhat normal trainer."

"Really?!" Konohamaru replied, ecstatic at the offer of learning from someone who didn't refer to him by his title.

"Why not, I'm free for the day."

The day had gone by quicker than Naruto and Konohamaru would've liked, but they had fun. Konohamaru started off by showing what he'd learned so far, then Naruto showed him some tricks he could use in the taijutsu style he was using, the Sarutobi clan's style, as well as some pointers on his shurikenjutsu since those were the only two thinks he was good at. Now, they sat on a nearby log, relaxing as they watched the sunset.

Naruto, deciding to break the silence, asked Konohamaru, "So what's this about beating Sarutobi-jiji to become Hokage? You know that's not how it works, right?"

"But I have to! If I beat Jiji and become Hokage, then people will stop looking at me as just his grandson! They'll see me as Konohamaru Sarutobi, not Hiruzen Sarutobi's grandson!" Konohamaru responded.

'He's a lot like me', Naruto thought before telling the young Sarutobi, "Like I said, that's not how it works. To get people to see you as Konohamaru Sarutobi, you have to work really hard, harder than anyone else. It'll be super tough, and there will be times when you feel like you're all alone, but once you find that one person who wholeheartedly believes in you, it keeps you going. For me, that person was Sarutobi-jiji, then I found two more people who believed in me just as much as he did in Teuchi-ojisan, and Ayame-chan."

Konohamaru once again looked towards Naruto in wonder as he took in the full weight of his words before shaking his head and jumping up, "Argh! Who are you to speak all sage-like and stuff! That's it, from this day on, you're no longer my trainer, but my rival! One day, when Jiji retires, I'll beat you and become Hokage, you hear me!"

Naruto chuckled before standing up and ruffling Konohamaru's hair, "I'll be looking forward to that day."

He started to walk away before turning around and reaching up for his goggles, "Oh, and I want you to have this. When you get down and the dumps, and feel like you can't do it, just put this on and imagine yourself standing on top of the Hokage's Tower, receiving the old man's hat, alright?"

Konohamaru flashed him a big grin after putting it on and saluting, "You got it, boss!"

And there you have it, chapter 1. I hope you liked it, I'll definitely keep them coming as much as possible. Now that I'm out of school for the summer, I'd like to try to post 1-2 chapters a week, so be on the lookout for content. Be sure to leave reviews and comments, I would love to hear what you liked, what you didn't like, and how you think I can improve. Once again, I hope you liked this chapter, be on the lookout for chapter 2 anywhere from late Wednesday to early Friday, and until then, have a blessed next couple of days. Peace.