Chapter 1- "…Uzumaki Naruto?"

Shinto Naruto was just another kid. He never knew his parents, and he lived with his grandparents, but he knew tons of kids like that. He had whisker-like marks on his face, but they were just birthmarks. Sure, he didn't do very well on tests, but he tried his hardest all the time. He was just another kid, wasn't he?

"So, who can answer the question?" The teacher asked.

Naruto studied the board, but he couldn't make hide nor hair of the problem. All he saw was lots of marks. He went back to making origami people out of his textbook. "Shinto Naruto!" a voice called.

Naruto stood up immediately. He knew that tone meant he was needed for the problem. "Y-yes?" he asked. "Answer the problem." The teacher said in a harsh voice. A hush fell over the classroom, and Naruto tried to find a answer. I can't figure it out! Better go a different route. He thought.

"I don't see a problem with it." Naruto said.

The teacher shook his head. "Naruto! Figure out the answer, or you're expelled from school!"

Naruto gasped. Always the trump card. He knew the teacher poked that stick at him in the past for fun, but this time, he meant it. "Umm…" He started. He swallowed his pride. "9?"

The teacher shook his head again. "Naruto. You'd be a great businessman is you rented out the empty space in you're head for cash. Leave, and never return." All eyes followed Naruto. He picked up his bags and left. He didn't even bother sticking around to say good-bye to his friends, or what few friends he had.

Naruto wandered through the streets of Tokyo. His "empty" mind went through thoughts of what his grandparents would think. "What you got expelled?" That's how it all started. Then he thought of how his grandparents would do next. He began to smile as he took turns with each grandparent, who would kill him a different way every time. What am I thinking? My grandparents are nice! They won't, disown you or anything! What are you thinking Naruto! He thought to himself, laughing.
"AND STAY OUT!" Naruto's grandpa said, throwing him out of the house. That's what you thinking. Naruto thought. He started walking down the street, and then he saw his friend.

Komihita Hinata was his best friend in school. He knew she had a crush on him, but other than that, she was the best friend he could think of. "Hey Naruto!" She called. He couldn't eve fake a smile. "What's wrong? I didn't see you after school!" She said.

"I got thrown out of school." Naruto said, looking up at her, "But no big loss," he didn't need to fake a smile now, "the teachers are such jerks."

Hinata smiled, "Well… If you say so, Naruto. Hey, why don't you come home with me?" She began to blush, "You can work in my dad's general store. That way you won't be homeless, or without work!" Naruto smiled.

"Thanks Hinata."

They walked down the last street. His stomach growled, and his legs ached. "Where is your house anyways?" Naruto asked. Hinata pointed to the store at the end of the street. Komihita General Store, the store's sign read. "We live on the second floor." Hinata explained.

"Hey Hinata! You brought Naruto? That's great, let's go tell sensei!" A boy yelled at the end of the street. "Hey Naruto! Uzumaki Naruto! You remember me?" The boy yelled again.

Uzumaki Naruto? Why do I know that name? Naruto thought.

"Go away, Choji!" Hinata yelled, she grabbed Naruto's hand, and ran towards the store. The fat boy tried to intercept her, but hetripped over something. Probably from weight. Naruto thought. Hinata opened the door to the store when she got there, pulled Naruto in with her, then closed it.

Naruto was hungry, his legs ached, and his mind ran that name through its vast memory. "Uzumaki Naruto." He whispered to himself.

The name echoed through his head. Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto…