I'm struggling in this chapter, and the save file was corrupted once, so I have to re-write it. So anyway, you know, I feel the story stagnated. I want to fast forward the story, but the meeting of the characters happened around this time so what do you think I should do?

Also, I'm currently sick so I'll take some rest before writing the next chapter

Akudou ch 7

"Naruto, do you have something to do today?"(shisui)

"Not really, do you have something in mind?"(Naruto)

"Then I'll introduce you to my friend, also he have a little brother the same age as you so it might be nice to have you two meet, you could be friends"(shisui)

"Sure, i never have a male friend before so it might be fun"(Naruto)

"Oh what's this? Do you already have a girlfriend at this age? Hahaha you're quite something!"(Shisui)

"It's not like that! we're just friends! Some kids was bullying her and I helped her, then we talk and became friends"(Naruto)

"Ooh, isn't that like a prince saving the princess from bad people? I bet that girl has fallen for you hahaha!"(Shisui)

Hearing that Naruto's face becomes red as he chases after Shisui who ran away after saying that.

"Fufufu~"(Kurama)

"Mom~!"(Naruto)

"It is true though, you even said her eyes are beautiful while looking at her"(Kurama)

Hearing his mother join in the teasing, Naruto covers his ears as his face becomes hotter.

"Aaah~! I didn't hear anything!"(Naruto)

""Hahaha~!""(Shisui, Kurama)

After a few minutes of walking they arrive at a big house in the Uchiha compound. Naruto is still pouting after the teasing he got from both Shisui and Kurama.

"Itachi!"(Shisui)

Sound of footsteps came from inside and a teenager came out of the house, he had shoulder length black hair and a handsome face. Following him is a boy the same age as Naruto, black eyes and hair like his brother.

"Shisui"

"Shisui nii-san"

Unlike his calm and mature big brother, the little brother has a cheerful demeanor. Shisui greeted them and introduced them to him.

"Yo itachi, Sasuke, have you been well?"(Shisui)

"Naruto, this is my friend Itachi and his little brother Sasuke"(Shisui)

"And you two, this is Uzumaki Naruto, I'll be looking after him for a bit"(Shisui)

"Eeh~ Shisui nii-san, you said you would show me shuriken throwing next time you come back from a mission!"(Sasuke)

"Hey, i didn't say i wouldn't show you, i was thinking that we should all go together, it's rare lately we can do something like this because we always busy with mission and training"(Shisui)

"Eh!? Really!? Nii-san you can teach me shuriken throwing today!?"(Sasuke)

"I guess so"(Itachi)

"Alright!"(Sasuke)

And so they move to the training area. There are many targets placed around the area, it seems this is the place they usually use for shuriken throwing practice.

"Alright, Naruto, do you know how to throw shuriken?"(Shisui)

"Yeah, though I rarely use them, I use kunai more often than shuriken because it's more deadly"(Naruto)

"Is that so? Alright then, Sasuke! Come here I'll show you how it's done!"(Shisui)

"Eeh~ but nii-san is here so I'd rather have nii-san teach me how to do it"(Sasuke)

"Oi oi, aren't you betraying me too fast just because Itachi is here?"(Shisui)

"Of course, nii-san is the best after all!"(Sasuke)

Sasuke said while puffing his chest. Itachi quietly shows him how to do it while Naruto and Shisui just look from the side. After telling Sasuke how to do it and Sasuke tried a few times, Shisui called out to him.

"Hey Sasuke, why don't you have a match against Naruto and see who is better at it?"(Shisui)

"Sure, I won't lose!"(Sasuke)

"Sure i guess, better than sitting here doing nothing"(Naruto)

Naruto and Sasuke stand in the same distance from their target and each of them holding five shuriken. They will throw the shuriken one by one and whoever hits the target the most is the winner.

Naruto and Sasuke both throw their shuriken. Shuriken is easier to use because of its shape, so Naruto was able to hit the target with all of it, though he didn't hit the middle. It is enough for him as he usually uses shuriken with poison to paralyze his prey, so it doesn't need to be lethal, and shuriken is not a weapon that can deal lethal damage in the first place.

Sasuke on the other hand missed some of his shots, resulting in him grumbling frustratingly. Then he challenged Naruto again saying it was a fluke. It took him challenging Naruto a few times before he managed to hit all his shots.

"Next time I won't lose!"(Sasuke)

"Sure, I guess next time it will be who will hit the bullseye more is the winner"(Naruto)

"Yeah, and I will be better than you this time!"(Sasuke)

While Naruto and Sasuke continue their match Shisui and Itachi watch them from the side.

"What do you think?"(Shisui)

"He looks normal"(Itachi)

"But he managed to slip by the anbu squad who is guarding him, not once but twice even. Though the second one is questionable and the hokage is currently dealing with them"(Shisui)

"Considering he did disappear once when he was only four and the anbu couldn't find him, he might have innate talent for stealth"(Itachi)

"I think he's a sensor, he wasn't even surprised that I showed up in front of him when I found him. Though I'm confused as to why he didn't panic or try to hide when he saw me"(Shisui)

"So we keep an eye on him"(Itachi)

In the afternoon Naruto and Shisui were walking in the village after playing or training with Sasuke and itachi when Hiruzen showed up in front of them.

"Naruto, how are you doing?"(Hiruzen)

"I'm doing fine, it's nothing new"(Naruto)

"Is that so, well I have repaired your apartment, and the people who destroyed it have been captured by the police force so it should be fine to go back now"(Hiruzen)

"Okay"(Naruto)

Naruto said, not interested. Hiruzen might be expecting him to be excited as he just smiles wryly at Naruto's reaction.

"Are you not interested in seeing it?"(Hiruzen)

"Well, after what happened I'm not really hyped in living there"(Naruto)

"Hmm, do you want to find another place?"(Hiruzen)

"Ah, it's not that, I'm talking about the people, not the place. Even if I find another place it would be the same, the entire village hates me after all."(Naruto)

"Then what do you want to do?"(Hiruzen)

"Hmm… well i probably spend a lot of my time outside, mostly in the forest, other than that maybe trying to find some more friends"(Naruto)

"That is good, how many friends do you have now?"(Hiruzen)

"Well there is Hinata, then Shisui, Itachi and Sasuke, and there is this ramen shop ichiraku? The people there is nice with me so I want to get close to them too"(Naruto)

"Hahaha, that is good. There is a saying that 'one enemy is too many, and a hundred friends is too little' so try to find as many friends as you can"(Hiruzen)

"Now then, are you hungry? We can eat at the ichiraku if you want, you will be able to get closer if you visit often right?"(Hiruzen)

"Sure!"(Naruto)

And so, Naruto and the Hokage head to Ichiraku and eat there. The owner was surprised at first but they soon get back to work, showing how the Hokage is close with his people. Naruto asked if he could have some for the foxes, receiving the permission he called for them as they ate together.

"So how did you get these foxes?"(Hiruzen)

"I met them after the villagers chased me out from the orphanage. Well, they wanted to kill me but I managed to run away. While hiding, I found their nest. These two, Niko and Sango were little cubs at that time. The mother, Ichigo, accepted me and I ended up living with them. I learned how to hunt from her and what to eat and what not. And that's how I live in the forest all this time, they are my family"(Naruto)

Naruto tells the story while petting the foxes. Both Ayame and Hiruzen listened to him silently.

Hiruzen asked him about his friends and Naruto told him what he thinks of them. They continue talking for a while before Hiruzen finally says that he has to leave.

Naruto leaves the place after and decides to look for Hinata's house. He walked in the direction that Hinata's aunt showed him the other day. He followed the direction and noticed the familiar scent, following it led him to Hinata who was watering the flowers in the small garden in front of the house. The family name written in front of the house is Yuuhi.

"Hinata"(Naruto)

He called her as she hadn't noticed him coming.

"Naruto-kun"(Hinata)

"Are you alright? I heard what happened yesterday"(Hinata)

"Ahh you heard about it, yeah I'm fine, I wasn't there then they did it"(Naruto)

"What are you going to do from now on?"(Hinata)

"It's fine, the Hokage has fixed it for me. Though i haven't lived there for long so there really nothing in there that is important"(Naruto)

"Eh? Is that so? Where did you live before that?"(Hinata)

"Hmm? Ah, I lived in the forest with the foxes, just like yesterday, the villagers chased me out of the village long ago, and I've been living inside the forest ever since. Just a few days ago i come back to the village to see if it has changed but… well it's as you can see"(Naruto)

"So… I'm sorry"(Hinata)

"Haha, it's nothing you should apologize for… oh yeah, today i met this kid, his name is Sasuke, he was training on using shuriken and we ended up having matches to see who is better. I was better than him though"(Naruto)

"I know him, we are in the same class in the academy"(Hinata)

"Eh academy? But the Hokage said you enter the academy when you are 8 years old"(Naruto)

"Yeah, but clan children usually enter early, they call it the pre-academy. We learn the basics there first because most have to learn their clan secret techniques so they don't have as much time to learn the basics later. That's what I'm told"(Hinata)

"Eh so it's like that. Then when we enter the academy we will still enter at the same time then?"(Naruto)

"Yes"(Hinata)

Naruto just stands there in silence as he looks at Hinata finishing watering the plants. Then remembering something he decided to ask Hinata.

"Hey Hinata, why do you want to be a shinobi?"(Naruto)

"Me?...l, I want to be a strong and kind shinobi like my mother. She died when I was little, but I still remember she was a really kind person, that's why I want to be like her. What about you Naruto-kun?"(Hinata)

"Hmm, for me, it's not that I want to be a shinobi, but I need to be strong. I have a dream, I want to build a place where people like us can live in peace. A place where no one hates you because you're different, a place where no one looks down on you because you're different. I want to build such a place"(Naruto)

"That sounds nice, when you are able to make it will you promise to show it to me?"(Hinata)

"Well I did say people like "us", so of course I'll show it to you too, and you can live there if you like it"(Naruto)

"Alright, it's a promise"(Hinata)

"Yeah, it's a promise"(Naruto)