UZUMAKI: AKAGE

(Chapter 2: Sides of a Coin)

Flashback: 7 Years Ago (Hosomen Village)

In the village of Hosomen, a Red-Haired boy sat at a Ramen Bar, happily eating. "Baah, Thank you Mr. Ichiraku, the smell of Ramen after training is the best!" The Old Chef let out a hearty laugh. "Ah, Naruto. You're too nice, I only make the best food for the best customer"

the two shared a grin before hearing someone running into the bar.

"Father! We have a letter from Konohagakure, they have sent another child." she said as she took deep breaths, Naruto nearly spit out his ramen "They're what?" The Seven year old boy yelled. The Ramen Chef only gave out a small sigh "Well, I suppose it's ok, although after what happened last time, I atleast thought they would send us a warning,,,"

Naruto blushed a little remembering what happened when he had arrived at the village.

'Jeez, don't need to remind me,,,'

The Ramen chef looked back at his daughter "Well, did they at least give a reason… or a name?" The daughter gave a nod "Ah, yes. His name was in the letter. Let me see…"

"Sasuke Uchiha…"

"WHAAT!?" the two Ichiraku's said as they nearly fell over.

"Huh? What's the big deal about this Sasuke guy?" Naruto said, still slurping down the ramen, completely oblivious.

"Sasuke is a member of the Uchiha clan…" Ayame said, hoping for that to help Naruto in any way

Naruto raised a single eyebrow in return "Ok, and?" he shrugged, not really caring much about clans

Ayame gave him a chop on the head "Jeez, Naruto. You really are a massive idiot, the Uchiha clan is considered one of the strongest clans in history, few Clans have ever gotten close to their power, with their main rival being the Uzumaki Clan" she said with emphasis on the last part.

Naruto froze. He had been told of his Clans history already, it was one of the few subjects he was intelligent in, although he still didn't know of his Parents yet.

Ayame just gave a small smile as she could already tell what Naruto was thinking, so she continued.

"A few weeks ago, one of their own Clan members went crazy and killed the whole clan! Sasuke's the last Uchiha left… Outside of the killer."

TIme stopped for Naruto, The last member of a strong clan that was killed off? Sounded strangely relatable. His face fell, it was obvious he was conflicted about something.

"Hmm… maybe I'll welcome him… well, I'm gonna go home." he said obviously out of it, giving a small wave as he walked out of the Ramen Bar.

A few days later…

Sasuke Uchiha was not having a good week, his family? Gone. his home? Gone. He wasn't even in Konoha anymore, although given the bad thoughts he had about the place, he was completely fine with that. He hadn't talked to a single person since he got to this new place

he once again zoned back out into his thoughts, leaning against the wall of the building he was living in

"Yo!" He was brought out of his thoughts as he looked at where the sound came from, seeing a red haired boy in a white jacket walk up to him.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, you must be Sasuke Uchiha, eh?" he said carefully looking over the boy from head to toe. He could feel the naturally angst filled aura that surrounded the fellow child

"hmph" he heard out of the black-haired boy, 'Uzumaki? I swear I've heard that name before…" The Red Haired just raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Did you hear me. I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I already know your name, but you still should introduce yourself"

Sasuke also raised his eyebrow, many people had tried to talk to him since the Incident, but those people backed off after he glared at them, who did this kid think he was?

"Hmph, I'm Sasuke Uchiha of the prestigious Uchiha clan. The most noble clan in the whole world, who the hell do you think you're talking to?" he said giving the most threatening look he could muster.

All he got in return was a sour look from the boy In front of him 'I knew rich kids were snobby, but this guy…'

"Ah, well. As I said, I'm Naruto UZUMAKI, the last of the legendary UZUMAKI CLAN the long-time rivals to the Uchiha clan!"

Sasuke was now interested, the final member of one of the Uchiha's main rivals? Here?

"Are you strong?" Sasuke asked with an eyebrow raised, Naruto's smile brimmed, he had the boy's attention now. He could his fist to his heart and said "Hah! You're staring at the future 'Kami no Shinobi' . How could I be weak?"

Sasuke scoffed In response, "Kami no Shinobi? The only people to have earned that name are the Sage of the Six Paths, Hashirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi. And I doubt you're even close to their power."

"Tch What're you talking about? A lot of people have earned that name In the past, like Uōtāreiji Mizu! He was considered the 'Suijin' for his ability to create Hurricanes and Typhoons!"

Sasuke shook his head "Yeah, but those guys were nowhere close to the three I said. How do you plan on getting stronger than those guys?"

"Bah! I'll simply just be stronger!" Naruto said with a rough laugh, thinking about his dream, although it didn't last long as he was cut off by a abreast word from a slightly withdrawn Sasuke

"How do you know?" he said quietly, Naruto justlet a "Hmm?"

"How do you say that with such confidence? Don't you feel like it'll be impossible to reach where you need to get to?" he said seriously

"You're pathetic brother… build up your hatred until you are strong enough to fight me"

Sasuke looked Naruto right in the eyes. "Do you really think that you can really gain the strength to reach your goal without having to sacrifice your ideals… or friends… or… anything?" he semi-yelled at the red haired boy.

Naruto's face settled into a resting frown, he could tell the boy in front of him was hurting. The boy was a bit of a brat, but he could understand his pain.

"Yes." he said, still with a blank expression

Sasuke's eyes widened 'he's so sure of himself… he can't be right. But… maybe'

The Black haired orphan looked at the other child in front of him.

"Then prove it, fight me!" he barked, Naruto's face lit up, never one to refuse a fight.

"Of course!"

'About an hour later: Field outside village'

The two boys stood across from each other, one with a slightly nervous expression 'I need to see if he's right, maybe I don't have to build up that hatred…" Sasuke thought with a sweatdrop on his forehead, as if this battle was do-or-die for him. On the exact opposite side, Naruto was In another world 'ahh, it's such a nice day out!' he let out a sigh as he looked at Sasuke, "Alright, let's go!"

Sasuke started by running at Naruto, reaching him only seconds later, throwing a punch at Naruto's face, "You're pretty good…" Naruto said as he simply stepped back from the punch "But, you can do better," Naruto let his arms fall behind him as he ran at Sasuke, reaching him at around a second later. Sasuke went pale.

'How's he so fast!' Sasuke thought as he felt Naruto's knee hit his stomach. Naruto laughed a little as Sasuke reeled back from the pain. "C'mon, I know you can be stronger than that!"

Sasuke breathed fast as his hand clenched where he had just been hit, "Why do you keep telling me to do better… why?" he choked out, yelling the last word.

He got back up and threw a punch at Naruto's chest, the red-head let it hit him.

"Just do better, I don't know what it is, but I can tell you have some goal just as impossible sounding as mine, I don't know what you think, or who told you that you can't do it, but really. who cares what they think?" Naruto said to the child whose hand had fallen to the ground.

Sasuke looked at the other boy, with tears in his eyes.

"What the hell do you mean by that? What does 'doing better even mean!' I can't get to my goal, not without listening to him." Sasuke said with tears falling down his cheek.

"For the record Sasuke, you're not weak, in fact. You're the only person our age I've met as strong as me, you might even be stronger." Sasuke just choked out a few words "Then how… How did you beat me so easily."

Naruto gave him a warm smile "I simply became stronger than you, I could tell that you were stronger, so I simply fought harder, without caring about the power difference. as long as I have my goal, and people to protect, such things will never matter" he said to the Raven-Haired boy on the ground.

Upon hearing his words, Sasuke cried a bit harder. Naruto continued

"I have a feeling I know your goal, and In my opinion…" Naruto Paused, Sasuke listened intently despite still having a breakdown,

"I think you can do it"

Sasuke, for the first time since the incident, was showing his sensitive side

'I refuse to build up that hate… I will still get justice for my family, but I refuse to use your method, Itachi.'

Naruto dragged Sasuke up, who was wiping away his tears, he reached his fist out,

"Friend?" Sasuke simply looked at the boy who had unknowingly saved him, he had never had friends outside of the Clan, and well. They didn't count anymore. He could make this boy his first friend, perhaps he could find more, maybe even a family someday, one who he would make sure Itachi would not touch. He reached out and gave Naruto his fist-bump

"Friends." he said with a small smile, that Naruto returned.

'Thank you Naruto…"

-(しのび神)-

(Back In the Present)

"NARUTO! YOU CAN DO BETTER"

The red haired teen's eyes shot open, and he frantically looked around, until seeing the Masked Hunter with Sasuke's unconscious body, his hand still on Sasuke's neck.

'Sasuke…No!' His breathing picked up, The Masked Man shifted his attention to Naruto, and looked at him "Your friend Is already dead, I suppose he wasn't much better than you…"

A feeling within Naruto that he hadn't truly felt In a long time seeped out, hatred, unknowingly, bit's of red chakra were also leaking out, and his Pupil's also shifted color, from a blue, to dark red. The masked man could hardly stifle his surprise at the shift.

'This can't be… Damn bastard's never told me I'd be dealing with this, I suppose it does explain the large price for this job… damn it Ryōhō why didn't you warn me, who the hell ordered this…" The masked man simply took precaution and got into a stance, dropping the Uchiha…

Naruto growled a bit as he also got ready for attack. Putting one foot forward, launching himself full speed at his enemy.

"DIE YOU ASSHOLE!" The enemy in question simply let out a shocked grunt, 'Damn, He's nearly my speed now, I should be able to dodge though' he barely got out of striking distance of the punch, 'Now all I have to do is-' his attempts at an counter attack were halted when he felt hot wind hit him, blowing him into a wall at full force, 'What the hell!' Naruto simply stood there, only now realizing the chakra surrounding him, 'What's this about?' he questioned himself.

He shook off the thought and decided to figure it out later, "Give up…Or don't I'll kick your ass anyway." The Man weakly got up, 'I can't believe he's made me go this far, normally I wouldn't use it on a target I need to bring in… but if he has that Chakra, he should live," He once again got into form, Naruto did subtly notice a change in his stance, he was clenching his fists harder "You've truly impressed me boy, but I am to accomplish my mission. And you staying like this is only hindering me, but you should consider yourself lucky, you're one of the only people in the world to see this and live"

Naruto's eyebrow raised, had he done something else he couldn't notice?

"Form Two: 'Eaburēdo' Your move with the airblast reminded me of this, although this is far more dangerous. To most people, getting hit by this move would be like getting stabbed by the air itself." he said smirking "Now, I should really finish this."

He launched at the boy in front of him, Naruto's felt a knot in his stomach telling him that he was In danger, he attempted to step out of the way but felt a blur appear Infront of him 'Strikepoint: Heart' Naruto could feel his whole body freeze, right in front of him was The Man 'How the hell'd he!?' the world slowed down around him, as he saw his adversary's fist making a b-line for his chest, but as he observed closer he calmed

'Hah! You won't even hit my chest… wait-' The fist outstretched itself without hitting the redhead, but that didn't stop the attack, "GAHH!" the Teen yelled as he felt his chest being stabbed by nothing, throwing him back with force, 'Damn… Wha- what the hell just happened.' he hit the wall at full force, nearly breaking through it, "If you didn't have that power, you would have died from that,"

Naruto wiped the blood off of his mouth, and burrowed his eye's at the man.

"Who…who the hell are you anyway?" he said to the masked enemy. The man looked at him blankly, "Just call me The Salamander, not that it really matters, you're still going to lose, I'm surprised you can still stand, in all honesty." The now named man said, making his way slowly towards Naruto.

"The Salamander, eh? Pretty intense name…" he said as he pulled himself up, "I gotta admit, that hurt, you hit a lot harder than Sasuke or those boar's do." he took a few deep breaths before continuing. "It feels like someone took a bat to my chest… a few thousand times. But, unfortunately, it's going to take a bit more than that to beat me." he gave a grin as he finally got back on his feet.

"Don't thi- think you're gonna get him all to yourself, loser…" A weak voice coughed out.

Naruto nearly did a 360 degree turn upon hearing the voice, he saw his friend, bloodied, barely able to hold himself up "Sa-Sasuke I thought you were…" Sasuke gave a deep breath as he barely kept his balance "Hah *tisk* you insult me Naruto, if you think that i'd go down so easily." he said with a grin "And anyway, you don't seem to be doing much better…"

"You two really are annoying, you know." The Salamander said, "I'm starting to get bored of this, I beat you two alone, what makes you think this will be any better?" he said, getting ready to fight them. Naruto let a scowl grow on his face. "Y'know I hate cocky guys like you…" he let his eyes briefly scan the area before he let a smile show.

"Let's go, Sasuke!" he said.

Sasuke took the signal and threw a Kunai at the enemy, "You really think that'll work?" The man said "You're hardly even strong enough to throw this right now… I can just hit it out of the way." he said, reaching out to grab it as it came closer, before hitting it.

"Mistake One: Underestimating your enemy." He heard Sasuke say, all of a sudden he saw the Kunai billow into smoke, and before he could react he felt the full force of a punch into his stomach, knocking him back.

"Mistake Two: Underestimating Us." Naruto said as The Salamander landed, Naruto pulled out a Scroll from his pocket "Seal: Activate!" He said, slamming his hand onto the paper, 'I didn't think the prank would have any real purpose for a fight, but this is fine I guess.'

"Tch… You brat, the hell did you-" he stopped as he saw parts of the wall light up with patterns.

*POOF* All he could see was yellow and purple paint, and smoke everywhere. Covering his mask, making him unable to see

'Can't see… not good' he noted to himself. Before he could properly collect his surrounding he heard a loud voice

"Fire-Style: Spitfire Jutsu" he heard Sasuke say, although he couldn't tell where from.

'Where's it gonna come from?' he frantically asked himself, listening for the sound of fire balls, Unfortunately, he couldn't tell, and the Flames hit him in the back, forcing him to keel over onto his knees "Gah! Damn it" he yelled.

"Mistake Three…" He heard from distantly In front of him, although he couldn't move due to the pain in his back "Don't Underestimate me!" He could feel the air pressure itself before getting kicked in the Jaw courtesy of Naruto, sending him flying away.

Only a few feet away, The Salamander hit the floor, his mask cracked, and In Pain, he made a decision 'Damn, I can't fight any longer, too much attention… I will get you soon, Uzumaki, Uchiha.' he collected his broken mask and made his escape with a smoke bomb.

Back with the others, Sasuke sat down, wheezing for breath, although he also looked around at all the now-formed graffiti that was made because of Naruto, "Is… Is he gone, Naruto?" He said loudly, ``Back in the smoke Naruto was also breathing, although it was more to do with the haze, "Y-Yeah, I think he's gone…."

"Thank God."

The two continued laying on the ground until eventually people finally came to find them, as they had been looking for Naruto because of the Prank…

The Next Day…

"Have you packed everything, Naruto?" Ayame asked her Pseudo-Adopted brother, despite still being somewhat mad about the prank, she was more thankful that him and Sasuke were safe, and after a while she realized she couldn't stay mad at him.

"For the thousandth time… YES!" He said to her, although not too angrily, he was still happy they won against The Salamander, plus he'd rather not incur her wrath

Naruto stood up, after his fight, he realized that he still had quite aways to go before reaching his goal, but. That only gave him inspiration to take on the world by storm, he was now even more sure of himself then he had been previously, but. That didn't mean that the battle hadn't effected him at all, he remembered something that he had been told long ago, 'You can only have true strength if you use it to protect the people you care about' Yes, he would become the greatest of all time, and he would use the power he gained to protect the people he cared about. The fight against his attempted kidnapper had instilled more maturity In him than anyone had before. He still had the same philosophy that he told Sasuke of years ago, but now he remembered why he had that in the first place.

His thoughts were elsewhere too though, he still had no idea what the Red-colored Chakra had been, and he doubted anyone else knew, so he didn't ask around, he supposed he could ask about it to 'The Professor' when he got to Konoha.

Sasuke's brain was also hard at work, he knew he had put up a good fight against their enemy, but he couldn't help wonder why they had been attacked anyway, he remembered something about being needed alive, had someone sent them to be kidnapped? 'Then why wait till now? Couldn't they have done that years ago?' if it had been attempted kidnapping, why on them? Sasuke knew that being the last Uchiha was a good reason for him, but the Uzumaki Clan had been long forgotten by most people, except higher-ranking Shinobi likely.

"Yo, Sasuke. It's time to go!" he heard Naruto say, bringing him back to reality.

Sasuke got up and gave a small grin to his friend, "Even before we left, you managed to get in trouble, I only pray you won't to anything else stupid, although that's just wishful thinking, isn't it?" Sasuke said, much to the annoyment of his red-haired companion

"Eh? I already told you, he attacked me and I didn't do anything!" Naruto said, frantically waving his hands.

The boy's left, with a large gathering party coming to wave them goodbye, the Two ambitious boy's of Hosomen Village, now well on their way to the top. Many tears were shed

(Next Time: Turbulent Start: Just Who Is The Salamander?)

(hehehe... Hope you liked chapter two: I'm having a lot of fun writing those, although the pressure to deliver is strong, even when no one reads your story - Zora!)