Ok, I know I shouldn't be doing this but it just came up! I'll have to put my "Meetings of Importance" on hold for now.

Summary: What if in another reality, the Yondaime's last wish was granted? Naruto becomes a hero and is well respected. What if our Naruto switched with him? How far would he go to go "home"?

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto. Dude, I'm just in my freshman year n high school.

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Home is Where the Heart is

Chapter 1: Confusion

By: Akki no Tama

-.-.-

I walked out of the Hokage Tower, my next mission in my hands. My back slouched and my eyes were only on the scroll. I sighed and pocketed it, then forced my weary eyes to take in the scenes around me.

The sun was high above me and I could feel its heat beating on the back of my neck. Wearing black wasn't good on a day like this. The armor I was wearing was getting warm and it felt heavy…or maybe it was just the atmosphere.

Everywhere I looked, it was depressing. I hated how Konoha turned out these last few years. The war with Sound was taking its toll on the once beautiful village that many called home. Kids were out of site, though it was after academy hours. The venders were closed. Only a few shops were open, and they were either for weapons, clothes, or food. Too many people were afraid of a surprise attack or were out on missions. This was a village made up of shinobi and only retired shinobi or shinobi who wanted to show skills other then killing opened shops. There weren't that many shops left, though. Half of Konoha has been blown up or destroyed.

I glanced at the Hokage monument. It showed only five faces but Konoha had many Hokages over the years. Over half of them were killed with the war on Sound. The current one, Ebisu, was trying to earn money for our village and defend. We no longer had enough shinobi to attack Sound.

Kakashi-sensei had died in an ambush when he was supposed to have only been doing a B-rank mission. There wasn't anything left but his head. His left eye socket, the one with the Sharingan, was empty. I myself found the eye a few yards away from the head in some bushes, a kunai through it. I knew he stabbed himself in the eye so the enemy couldn't get. It was a sad thought to know he was desperate enough to do that.

Sakura-chan and Hinata-chan died protecting a group of children who didn't realize the village was being attacked. Neji died trying to get to them. Only one of the five kids survived and he lost his right hand.

Kiba had been guarding the gate when a surprise attack came. He was one of the first to die that day. I have to take care of his dog now. Shino would have but he's currently in the hospital. He's in a coma and no one knows when he'll wake up.

Chouji had food poisoning and was at the hospital when the Sound shinobi had the great idea to attack the hospital. Chouji had saved many lives with his large body, covering them from the explosion. Asuma had brought us his body after the fight.

Ino also died that day. She was pregnant and couldn't fight. Shikamaru wasn't the same since. He constantly takes missions to get his mind off his dead best friend, wife and unborn child or goes drinking when he isn't on a mission.

I can't blame him. I usually go with him but I don't drink. It would dull my senses and I couldn't afford that with the constant attacks. I just go to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. He's starting to get gray strands in his hair. It was about time, most of us do. But it still surprised me a little, even though I was expecting it, since Shikamaru is still the most laid back guy I know. My waist long blonde hair is streaked with silver. Many would think I was older or trying to look cool (which, in most people's opinion, did look unique) but I'm only nineteen.

Everyone is stressed out. I'm getting tired with all the constant missions. I may be ANBU and the most hyperactive ninja (though that title isn't so hard to achieve now a days) but I still had limits.

Every time I'm back home, I force myself to look at what Konoha became. It was a reminder of my failure to protect my own home. But I won't let this place be destroyed without a fight. I know I'm only delaying the inevitable. Orochimaru is slowly winning, but that doesn't mean I'll quit. I refuse to quit! Even with almost all of my friends dead, even with all I've done for this place and the people here still hate me, I won't give up or run away. Because even if this place hates me, I still love it. It's my home and I know no other.

I had a bitter sweet smile as I continued to look around. In my heart, this place was one thing. It was a shinobi village, yes. It was a broken, defeated place, yes. It was nearly destroyed and it was only a matter of time before it was destroyed, yes. But it was only one thing to me.

"Home," I whispered as I left it, probably for the last time. Every mission had a chance of someone dying.

-.-.-

"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama!" a chuunin yelled frantically as she charged into the Hokage's office without knocking. "Forgive me for intruding, but I have some important news!"

Ebisu immediately turned his attention to her, leaving his still-need-to-be-looked-after work on his desk. "Yes, what is it? What happened?"

"He-I-I just don't know what to say!" she cried out, nearly bursting into tears.

"Moegi, tell me! What is it?" Ebisu asked his former student, finally losing patience.

" L-Leader…" Moegi began, reverting back to her nick name of Naruto so long ago. She had a tendency to drop formalities when she was feeling an extreme emotion. "Ebisu-sensei…no one can find him! H-he's just gone!"

Ebisu slumped onto his chair, eyes wide behind his sunglasses. "Naruto's gone? We can't afford to lose him too…Is there any evidence he was killed or kidnapped?"

"N-nothing! There was nothing!" Moegi said, finally bursting into tears. "Please, please find him!"

Ebisu shook his head sadly. "Regrettably, we do not have the man power. Where ever he is, he's on his own."

-.-.-

I stifled a moan as I came to. I didn't know where I was, but I could feel pain at the back of my head. My head pounded and my body ached, as if I had been in a fight, a bad one. Usually after a good night's rest I would be fine thanks to the power of a certain fox demon living inside me.

"He's waking up!" someone shouted. "Tell Hokage-sama he's waking up!"

I tired to sit up but I was gently pushed back down by someone stronger than me. At least, someone stronger than me at the moment. I struggled to open my eye lids but they seemed to be glued together. When I finally managed to open them, I quickly shut them due to the light.

"Blasted light…" I mumbled as I held my arm over my eyes. Someone quickly closed the curtains and I opened my eyes again. I stared in complete and utter shock at what I saw.

Old man Sarutobi …he stood right in front of me…but that couldn't be!

Sarutobi smiled at me and said warmly, "Good morning."

Rage filled me and despite a medic-nin's protests and ignoring my headache, I sat up and glared hatefully at the one in front of me. They seemed surprised and shocked. I spat out, "Who the hell are you and what do you want from me?"

They froze for a moment before sharing a look between them. A medic-nin whispered to him, "Could he have amnesia…? But, usually patients who have amnesia don't lash out in anger…"

I glared at the Third as I thought up possible conclusions. The most likely one was that Orochimaru put up this whole scheme to get something from me. But what could he want? He's close enough to destroying the Leaf, there's nothing he could get from me that he doesn't already know with all the spies and traitors there are.

"Naruto-kun, do you know who we are?" he asked me gently, as if to a child.

I responded coldly, "If you want something from me, just get to the point and stop with this nonsense."

He frowned and asked me, "What do you mean?"

"What do you think I mean?" I asked, deciding to deflect or mislead any questions thrown at me. Best not to give anything away. There has to be a purpose to this, might as well find out what that is.

"Naruto-kun, do you know who I am?"

I pretended to think for a moment. "Uh…the crappiest version of Santa Clause I have ever seen?"

He gave me a look that showed that he was not impressed. He said to the medic-nin, "He seems fine now. I think he was just embarrassed that we found him like that."

Wait, like what?

I carefully kept my face neutral as he left me alone with the medic-nin. She checked me over and said brightly, "There! I think you'll be fine now. You just bumped your head a little. You can leave if you want to." She smiled and left me there.

When she closed the door, I twitched. Did she just…? No…but she did! She smiled at me. 'The fuck?' I thought. 'What happened? And how the hell…wait…'

I made a confused face.

'Why can't I remember what happened after I left Konoha?'

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So, you like? I know this is shorter than most of my chapters, but this fic would probably be really short.

Review! (")