Chapter One.
8 year old Naruto Uzumaki was pouting by himself in a leaf training ground. Once again, for the umpteenth time, he failed to create a proper bushin (clone) jutsu. As he pondered what he was doing wrong, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. It wasn't his fault that he sucked as a ninja, it was those damned villagers's fault! He was dead last because their hatred negatively affected his mind, body, and spirit and prevented him from gaining ninja skills. That, and there was no one to teach or train him in the ninja arts.
'If I'm gonna become the best ninja there is and Hokage, I have to get out of this poisonous place' the blond demon container thought to himself. First though, he would write a letter explaining his departure to Iruka Sensei, Old Man Hokage, and Teuchi and Ayame of Ichiraku Ramen. He would also wait until nightfall to head out, so as not to attract unwanted attention. It was twilight now. Quickly, Naruro made several giant leaps back towards the village.
/
Naruto had finished writing his three letters and was now packing some clothes and non-perishables.
"I should have thought of this sooner. I wonder if I'll be able to find comrades or a family out there?"
Naruto placed his letters on the table with a plate over them, and walked out of his apartment. He had one more stop before he exited the hidden leaf, and that was the hospital. Uzumaki needed medical supplies in case he was injured while on the road. He landed on it's roof and observed two med nins (medical ninja) exiting the building. Both were wearing white hospital uniforms.
"You know it'd be great if lady Tsunade was still in this village. She was our best healer. Losing her has been like losing an arm or leg."
"I know, right. We'd get a lot more work done and help a lot more people if she hadn't left. I can understand why she did though. You know she's like a leopard, gorgeous but dangerous."
"More like deadly, don't forget she's one of the Sanin. And she's got a short fuse. That woman could literally kill us with just a finger."
Naruto didn't need to hear anymore. He had to find this woman and ask her to train him. Without further ado he headed of the village entrance. Once there, Naruto took out a map he stole, and tried to decide where to go next.
/
Tsunade Senju and her apprentice Shizune Kato were walking through a town about three miles away from their former home. The latter asked her mistress if she would allow her to visit the leaf to say hello to old friends. Tsunade told her she could go alone, and that she wouldn't wait for her when the Slug Sanin decided to leave town. That shouldn't matter since her deceased lover's niece was a great tracker. The duo were brought out of their thoughts as they saw an eight year old boy entering a casino. Naruto decided that he needed more money, especially if he wanted a place to stay for the night. Once inside, he headed to the nearest available gambling device, a matching symbols machine about twenty feet away. An employee nearby said, "Hey kid, you have to be 18 or older to gamble here. Where are your mom and Dad?"
"Don't have either."
"Oh."
Before the man could offer his sympathy, Tsunade made her presence known by saying "Hey kid, what's your name?"
"Naruto Uzumaki, what's yours?"
Both women were shocked to see the nine-tails kid outside of the village. Shizune was the first to come out of her surprise and say, "I'm Shizune Kato, and this Tsunade Senju." Now it was Naruto's turn to be shocked.
"You're the sanin I heard about, and the one I wanted to find!"
"You were trying to find me?"
"Yes, let's talk outside!"
"Oink, Oink!" a pink pig squealed from behind the two women, who parted and it ran up to Naruto and nudged his leg. He noticed it was wearing pearls and a dark red vest.
"This is our pet pig ton-ton," Shizune explained.
"You can pet her if you want."
Naruto did just that.
Then he grabbed both of their hands and dragged them out of the building. Once back on the street, the son of the Fourth Hokage explained that he'd deduced that the ostracism and contempt from the villagers was the cause of his appalling ninja skills. He needed a different atmosphere to get better. Shizune and Tsunade gave the boy looks of sympathy and pity. They were surprised he hadn't left sooner, or become a misanthropic killer. He continued, explaining how heard of her from two the med nins.
"They didn't say why you left, but understood why. I guess it must have been something traumatic, and I won't ask you to talk about it"
Smiling, the granddaughter of the the first Hokage knelt down and ruffled his hair saying, "What a considerate young man you are."
Naruto just blushed and bowed his head. Shizune giggled.
"I'm guessing you wanted to ask me to train you, given how awesome I am. Did you?" the blonde shinobi asked.
"Yes, absolutely Tsunade-san!" Naruto exclaimed
"I thought so. The answer is yes."
"Just like that."
"Yep, but first I want to test something out."
The Senju ninja took his hand and all three walked back into the casino. Going to the same matching symbols machine, the ill-tempered Sanin asked Naruto for his Gama (frog) wallet. He agreed, having intended to spend it anyway. To the trio's delight, every time Tsunade put coins or dollars in the slot machine, she hit the jackpot. Once Naruto's money was used up, they cashed the tokens he won and left.
"You have great luck Naruto, unlike me. Would you mind helping me pay off my debts and get more money, in exchange for training you?"
"Sure thing, lady Tsunade."
"Please don't overdo it you two," Shizune begged. Ton-Ton also oinked in a concerned tone. Her mistress gambled too much as it was, and now that she met naruto and saw that he was lucky, it would do nothing to dissuade her. As they continued to walk, Naruto asked shyly if he could hold their hands. The two felt a mixture of pleasure and heartbreak, knowing the boy had rarely held an adult's hand due to the overwhelming, though not absolute, hate directed towards him.
"Sure you can," Shizune chirped. Tsunade just wordlessly took his hand in her own. Naruto stared at her for a moment then smiled and took Shizune's hand.
/
"Hokage-sama!" Iruka Umino shouted as he burst into said man's office as he talked to his three advisors Koharu, Homura, and Danzo; all senior citizens like himself.
"You appear greatly distressed Iruka-sensei. What's the matter?" Sarutobi asked.
"I went to Naruto's apartment because he didn't show up for Academy training. I though he was skipping, but I found these instead!"
The academy teacher gave his leader three pieces of paper. Each were addressed to different folks but had the same written paragraph:
Dear Old Man Hokage/Iruka-Sensei/Teuchi and Ayame
I'm leaving the leaf village. It hates me for reasons I don't know. What I do know is that the contempt around me is blocking my progress. I'll never become a badass ninja or Hokage as long as I remain here. Don't worry, I'll be back once I'm strong and powerful!
Naruto Uzumaki
Hiruzen and his former teammates stood up in alarm. Then the Leaf village leader said, "All four of you come with me now!"
The five shinobi leapt out of the Hokage Tower's window, onto the street and starting running, using chakra to increase their speed.
"Shouldn't we call for backup sir?"
"No time for that Iruka, we must retrieve Naruto as soon as possible!"
"If you had done as me, Koharu, and Danzo wished and kept the boy under constant surveillance, then this never would have happened."
"No Homura, if you three and the other villagers saw Naruto as a person and not as a danger, he wouldn't have left in the first place!"
Once reaching the Konoha gates, they stopped using Chakra but kept running. Only ten seconds later, they stopped their tracks as they noticed four all-too-familiar individuals walking in front of them, about twenty yards away. Tsunade was carrying Ton-Ton, and Shizune was carrying the Uzumaki boy piggyback style.
"TSUNADE-SAMA!" they all screamed at once.
"Hey you old farts, let's talk!" Hiruzen's student shouted back.
/
"I see, no wonder he sought you out," Iruka said after hearing how Naruto found out about the famed Medical ninja present were sitting in a room with two sofas in the Hokage tower.
"It's a good thing you were so close to the Leaf and found him before he got far," Homura stated.
"You haven't told him of his burden yet, have you sensei ?" Tsunade asked in an accusing tone.
Sarutobi said "No. I didn't want the boy to think badly of himself, as a monster or a freak."
"With all due respect Sarutobi-sama, not knowing why people hate him or who his parents were isn't doing much for his self-esteem either," Shizune responded. Naruto's head was in her lap and he was fast asleep. The other night, after getting confirmation that he had showered before he left, Tsunade's apprentice had set the boy on her lap and stroked his cheek and hair. The slug sanin had switched places with Shizune after taking a bath, and kissed Naruto's forehead. When Shizune was done with her shower, she and her would-be aunt agreed that the orphan Jinchurikki was cute, especially with his whiskers. When morning came, they'd explained to him that they would have to return to the leaf village so as not to worry the Old Man. But they also promised that they wouldn't allow him to be punished or to live a lonely hated life again. Tsunade suggested sedating Naruto if he was nervous about facing Hiruzen and the villagers; he promptly agreed.
"Uzumaki-kun preferred to be unconscious and drugged than have you mad at him sensei."
"I'm not mad at him for fleeing Shziune-san; actually I'm glad he did because it brought you two back."
"We're not back sensei," Tsunade said. " We came to let you know that Naruto is alright. Me and my apprentice have an agenda regarding him."
"Oh, and what is that my student?", The third inquired.
"Tell Koharu, Homura, and Danzo not to interrupt me," Tsunade demanded glaring at the three militaristic advisers.
Sarutobi turned to his three teammates and said, "Stay silent until I give you leave to speak!" They nodded and he told Tsunade to continue.
"We're going to to take Naruto with us out of the village."
"Lady Tsunade and I will train him, and when we think he's ready, we'll bring him back for the Genin exams. I'm sure he'll pass with flying colors."
"I have no objection to Naruto receiving instruction outside Konoha, and I agree that the undeserved hatred he's suffered is holding him back in terms of his shinobi skills. But I won't make allowances for him that I wouldn't for others. Naruto must complete the academy program before he can be allowed to to taken the Genin exam," Sarutobi stated in a tone of voice that brooked no argument. Both of his students glared at him.
"Are you certain that you can protect Naruto from danger Tsunade, what with your hemophobia?"
The angry looks on their face turned to ones of shock.
"Neither of you considered that factor did you?" Sarutobi asked. Both medical shinobi sighed in defeat, with Shizune saying ," Umm Umm," while Tsunade said, "No I didn't."
"I didn't think you did. Your fear is a weakness an enemy will exploit. And Shizune may not be strong enough to ward off potential enemies. Unless you can overcome it, or act decisively in spite of it, it would be wise to simply stay with the boy in the Leaf."
As much as the slug shinobi hated to admit it, she knew her teacher was right. The village was awful for her new charge, but at least here she and he would have support and security.
"All of your points are solid, Old Man. I'll stay here with Naruto. Also, before you ask, yes, me and Shizune will help out in the Leaf hospital."
"That's great news!" Sarutobi happily said.
"Tell those rotten bastards in the village that if they so much as give my boys dirty looks, I'll make them quadraplegics!" Tsunade said venomously. Sarutobi didn't doubt her words at all. While walking back to his office, many Konoha residents gave the boy hateful stares and whispered hateful things like "Why is the honorable Sanin Tsunade carrying that monster?" and "Did it escape? Did she subdue him?" They shut up instantly upon being barraged with heavy KI (killing intent) from said woman and her apprentice.
"They'll be warned Tsunade don't worry. I must also warn you that the law regarding Naruto being a Jinchurikki and the classification of his parentage still stand and apply to all residents of the Leaf, as do the consequences of breaking that law and leaking that info."
"I'll keep quiet Sarutobi-sensei, but don't blame me if Naruto hates you when he eventually finds out the truth!" His student responded hotly.
"Last order of business, where will you three live? I think it best if you move into the Hokage residence. That will send a message that you, Shizune, and young Naruto are under my protection," Hiruzen suggested.
"Thanks for the offer sensei, and I accept," the Senju sanin replied.
"Speaking of protection," Tsunade continued, "Homura, Koharu, and Danzo are right that Naruto should be kept under regular watch. We asked him if the vilagers ever tried to murder or injure him. He said no, but that may change someday."
"Yes it might," Sarutobi agreed nodding his head.
"The thing is, I worry those Ninja I assign may betray my trust and accost the boy, or allow him to be accosted."
"You should choose someone you trust Lord Hokage. Someone you know for a fact doesn't hate him. Like your son Asuma and his girlfriend Kurenai," Shizune suggested
"Briliant idea Shizune!"
Then he stood up and asked, "Could you all please leave the room, so that I may talk to the boy?" Looking at the two medics he said "I won't yell at him at you two I promise."
"You'd better not old man!"
"When does that sedative wear off Tsunade?"
"In a few minutes."
Tsunade and Shizune reluctantly left the room, and the three elders followed, but not before Homura said, "You said all the right things to get Tsunade to remain in the village Hiruzen. Well done."
"Glad to see that you not showing Naruto Uzumaki or favoritism, despite your feelings towards them," Koharu added. Once everyone had left, Sarutobi sat down next to the eight year old. 'You've been handed a bad hand in life son. But it's changing for the better, and I'm happy for you.'
/
"Sorry I'm so late class, but i have some big news!" Iruka announced to his students. They all leaned forward in anticipation.
"One of the Sanin, Tsunade Senju is back in the village."
The students gasped and began to chatter loudly.
"And you'll never guess who brought her back?"
The classroom went silent again, and Sakura asked anxiously, "Who Iruka-sensei?"
"Naruto Uzumaki."
"WHHAAATTTT?!" everyone shouted.
"No way! The dead last retrieved one of the three legendary Sanin?!l" Kiba asked incredolously
"When did the dobe leave the village?"
"SHUT UP NOW!" Iruka screamed with his Big Head no Jutsu, shutting everybody up again.
"Naruto has suffered more than any of you can possibly imagine! He's dead last because he has no one to teach or love him, he left to find both. I won't tolerate any of you putting him down anymore."
Then with a smirk he added, "And I doubt his new guardian would appreciate it much either. You've all heard of Tsunade's great physical strength right?"
Everyone in class paled at his words. Then Choji asked, "Wait she's actually taking care of him?"
"Indeed she is."
"You know why everyone hates him don't sir?" Shikamaru asked seriously.
"Yes I do. But, Unfortunately, I'm forbidden by law to tell. And yes there is a law," Iruka replied surprising Shikamaru and the rest of the class. While they had previously been uninterested in the Uzumaki boy, no he was an enigma that needed to be solved.
/
Naruto eyes slowly opened as the drug Tsunade injected him with wore off. As his vision cleared, he observed the Third staring at him. He became afraid only for Sarutobi to assure him that he wasn't mad.
"Your reasons for leaving the village were sound my boy. I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you from them."
"Does that mean you'll let me leave with Tsunade and Shizune?" Naruto asked hopefully
"My former student has decided to stay," Sarutobi replied
"You used to teach her? Wait, why does she want to stay?"
"Because a ninja that fears blood won't be able to protect you."
"Huh?" the blonde demon container asked in an utterly dumbfounded voice. The Third went on to explain how Tsunade had a brother named Nawaki and a lover named Dan. The former was reckless and full of energy. The latter was wise, especially for a young man, and loved the village and it's people, just like Hiruzen. Like Naruto, they both wanted to be Hokage. Tragically, both of them died young; Nawaki ran into an exposive trap and Dan was injured during a battle and bled to death. Tsunade tried to save him, and he begged not to die, but there was nothing she could do for Kato. Seeing blood reminded her of literally having his on her hands, which filled her with terror. The Senju woman came to believe her necklace from the first Hikage was cursed, and the Hokage position as a foolish one to accept; it would only result in death. When Hiruzen finished, his grandson in all but blood was utterly speechless. After a few moments he asked," Where is she?"
"My student is meditating in front of my office door."
"Did you tell her I wanted to be Hokage?"
"No."
Naruto ran of the sofa room and down the hall. He soon came upon his new guardians, in meditative stances. Both Med Nins heard him coming long before they saw him. Neither Shizune nor Tsunade expected the eight year old blonde to fling himself at the latter.
"Old Man Hokage told me everything about your little brother and boyfriend, and why your'e afraid of blood. I'm so sorry."
The shock from the two of them increased.' Sarutobi must have told him we were staying, so of course he told him I'm hemophobic and why,' Tsunade thought. The boy pulled back slightly and said, "I'll do all I can to help you get over your fear and set you free."
The slug Sanin stared at his detemined for a short while, then wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close to her.
"You're so sweet," the slug mistress said. In that moment, Sarutobi caught up to Naruto and smiled upon seeing the touching scene.
/
Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi walked into the Third Hokage's office, having been summoned by him. They weren't surprised to see Tsunade, Shizune, or Naruto there. Like most Konoha residents they had seen the trio walking through the village and heading for the Hokage residence.
"Hello Sarutobi-sama," Asuma said. Even though the man was his dad, he still had to be respectful.
"Greetings Lord Hokage," Kurenai added with a bow. Then, turning to Tsunade, they both bowed and called her "Tsunade-sama."
She nodded in response, while Shizune returned their bow.
"I've called you here to make a request. If you don't want to do it that's fine. Tsunade and her apprentice have decided to stay in the village and be Naruto Uzumaki's guardians. But since they'll be working at Konoha General, they won't be able to be with him every moment of everyday. And even though it hasn't happened yet, some misguided villager may try to harm the boy. Thats why I've decided to give him full time protection," Sarutobi elaborated.
"You mean bodyguards." Asuma stated rather than asked.
"Exactly my son. Thing is, I need shinobi I trust and that I know have no contempt for Naruto to protect him."
"Like the two of us," Kurenai chimed in.
"Say no more Lord Hokage, I'm in. Actually I feel guilty that I didn't look out for him earlier."
"Me too," Asuma stated.
"I thought about approaching the kid numerous times, but I didn't know what to say."
"What matters is what you two do now," Sarutobi replied. Asuma's partner then went over to Naruto and held out her hand, telling him her name and her and her boyfriend's purpose for being there. Asuma told the Uzumaki boy his name, his relation to the Third and waved at him. Said child shook the beautiful red-eyed woman's hand, waved at Asuma, and thanked them both.
"You two won't be able to go on missions as long as you're watching Naruto. Are you absolutely sure you want to make such a sacrifice?" Tsunade asked the two lovers.
"He needs protection, more than we need to go on missions. Isn't that right Asuma?"
"Yes it is Kurenai. And anyway, with Tsunade's and Shizune's instruction, Uzumaki will become a powerful shinobi in no time. He'll crush all of his enemies, without needing our help!
End of Chapter One. I never understood why Sarutobi never got Naruto a bodyguard/caretaker and allowed him to live alone. Or why Asuma, Kurenai, Gai, Anko, or other ninja that didnt hate Naruto never took him in!