Prologue: The Hero or Destroyer

"Hokage, the votes are all in. It seems the city all believes that the boy should be sentenced to death. We now await your final decision on what we should do with him." An ANBU who stood three feet behind the Hokage had suddenly appeared after speaking the words.

"I will not allow this boy to be put to death. He should not be punished for actions he has yet to commit." The Hokage's face stayed steady as he felt the ANBU tense as he heard his words.

"Hokage, surely you can't believe we can trust this boy with what we know about him." The Hokage closed his eyes as he realized that the ANBU's mind would not be changed. The Hokage could not blame him though, he doubted anyone else in the whole world but he thought the risk of letting the boy live his own life was worth taking.

"I will do what must be done. Alert the city of my decision, and in ten minutes I will stand before them with the results of what has happened" The ANBU relaxed a bit and then disappeared into thin air as quietly as he had appeared.

The Hokage opened his eyes once again and looked out the giant window that showed the city that was his responsibility. Sighing out loud, the Hokage went to stand closer to the window so that he could now see the people who were walking it's streets.

"I have protected them from any danger that has posed a threat to them, and now I am forced to protect them from their selves." Motioning with a finger, a young man suddenly appeared in the room holding a bundle of rags.

The Hokage smiled as he turned to face the young man who stood in front of him. The boy looked exactly like the Hokage had when he had been his age.

"Grandson, it seems that you have done the first part of your mission well. Now I must ask you to flee the city and become a missing nin in everyone's eyes but my own." The young man's face remained calm as he heard the words his grandfather said.

"Grandfather, do you truly believe the boy will become our savior instead of our destroyer?" The young man kept his face calm as he spoke his words, not even flinching as he heard what his entire village would believe about him before the night was over.

"I believe that he should be given the chance to live the life that he was given. I also believe that with your guidance, he will indeed become our savior. Now, it is time for you to leave the city and begin your quest with the boy."

Feeling his doubts leave his mind, the young man bowed his head, and then disappeared from the room.

"I'm sorry that I have to force you to leave the city Misaru, but I know that you are the only one who can raise this boy to become our savior." Walking out the door, the Hokage slowly decided in his mind how he would tell the city of Misaru's "betrayal" and kidnapping of the boy.