Naruto came out of the academy with a face full of dread. He had just been informed that tomorrow will be his third-ever Genin exam. This time, he felt more determined to pass than any other time.

"I am so going to pass this test. Then I can beat Sasuke-teme and be one step closer to becoming Hokage," Naruto exclaimed with a determined look in his eye that would make Rock Lee proud.

"Hey, kid! If you want true power, then I suggest you follow me, and you may beat the Uchiha kid with this" A man with hair that went to his chin, while also maintaining a bright red color that is comparable to the red hot-blooded Habanero herself.

At first, Naruto thought something was up, but the second he heard this "unknown power" could make him strong enough to beat Sasuke, he threw all the questions he had out the window.

"Ok, so what do I have to do, save the village from sand raccoons, or maybe save the village from a guy with purple eyes, or I might have to save the world from a guy with an orange mask and stop a war!" Naruto proudly said.

"Those are some wild dreams there, kid, all you have to do is keep up with me," the red-haired man said.

The second he said that he started running.

Naruto did not have to be far to think that those were strange things that would be happening. Naruto turned to see the red-haired man running.

"HEY! That is not fair," Naruto yelled while starting to run after the guy.

"Nothing's fair for Shinobi, so get used to it, or you will die," the red-haired man yelled from in front of Naruto.

Naruto winced at the last part but decided to ignore it and started chasing the man with all his might.

(3 HOURS LATER, LOCATION: FOREST OF DEATH)

Naruto had been so focused on following the man that he didn't see the warning signs for training ground 44, the training ground that put the Bloody Mist training grounds to shame.

Naruto was still chasing the red-haired man, he was exhausted. So, when he heard a roar and fell to the ground to see a bear at least five times bigger than usual, he almost peed himself, but because he's the great Naruto Uzumaki, he didn't pee himself… barely. He thought that this was the end for him because, at a time like this, he had to admit that he was weak. He was a bad Taijutsu, no Genjutsu, and the only Ninjutsu he had sucked or worked on 1. perverted boys/men or 2. perverted lesbian girls/women, and a huge bear wasn't either of those, and he couldn't even run because he was exhausted.

"This is it, for the great Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto thought as the bear lunged at him. He prepared his body for pain, but it never came.

The red-haired man that he had been chasing the whole time jumped from the tree at the speed of an elite Jounin and started making hand signs.

Uzumaki Style: 5 Fingers of Hell Jutsu

He then placed his hands on the bear's forehead while using his hand and the bear's forehead to launch himself up onto a nearby tree. After he landed, he snapped his fingers and watched as the monster bear lit on fire, yelling and roaring. After about a minute, all that was left of the bear was ash.

He then jumped onto the ground. "Hey kid, are you ok?" he asked, his face leaking worry.

"Yeah, I am fine. . . and thanks for helping me. Also, what's your name?" Naruto said, just above a whisper.

"Well, my name is Aka Uzumaki, and as you can tell, I am from the Uzumaki clan just like you," he said with a grin on his face.

This information must have shocked the living hell out of the poor blonde-haired fellow because he did a Hinata and fainted.

At first, Aka thought he was hurt and checked his pulse to see that he was fine, so he decided to ask why he fainted later and carried him the rest of the way.

(Location: Secret Uzumaki clan hideout)

When Naruto woke, Aka was right in front of the Uzumaki clan hideout. In Naruto's sleepy state, he noticed that the symbol on the clan's hideout was the same as the one he had on his jumpsuit and the Chunin/Jonin vest, so he thought that this was probably just the Jonin's lounge.

Aka noticed Naruto had awakened and decided to ask his question now. "So, Naruto, are you okay? I was worried about you. Why did you faint?" he asked with curiosity.

This woke Naruto up, and he remembered what Aka had said to him.

(Super tiny flashback)

"Jiji, do I have a clan or a family-like Kiba?" a four-year-old Naruto asked.

"Sorry Naruto, you were found on the streets, and no one knew your parents, so they must not have been important enough to have." He lied through his teeth. Oh, please, Minato, don't kill me again when I die, but then he remembered that Minato was the belly of the reaper and gave a sigh of relief.

With tears in his eyes, he left but not before saying, "Oh, it's okay. Thanks, anyway."

(Location: Naruto's apartment)

"So my family hated me, too, and dropped me on the street and left," Naruto said with tears streaming down like a waterfall.

That night, he cried himself to sleep with his torn up teddy bear and frog wallet.

(End of flashback)

At that moment, Naruto started crying.

"Is it true that you're a part of my family?" Naruto asked in a scared tone.

For a moment, all Aka did was look at Naruto, but then after a bit, he said, "Yes Naruto, it's true that I am a part of your family, which means I have to protect you with my life" he said with a wide, foxy grin.

"Aka," Naruto whispered, "Thanks for everything."

Aka looked shocked for a moment before saying, "You're welcome."