Seal of the Wind

Chapter 3: Maelstrom

"Aww man why the hell did I wake up?"

Naruto got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. He splashed his face with water. Then he checked his clock. Two in the morning? He just sat down on his bed and looked around his room. His eyes went from the floor to his calendar. It's October 10th? Hey! It's my birthday today! Now how old am I again? He counted on his fingers. I'm ten years old today! He jumped up and down for a while. Then he decided to try and sleep for a while so that he could celebrate at full energy in the morning. He lay down and five minutes later, he was sleeping.

When Naruto opened his eyes, the sun was already shining through his bedroom window. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Then he looked at his clock. 9:30a.m. He walked to his bathroom and washed his face. Then he began to walk to his kitchen, when he shouted, "I ALMOST FORGOT! TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!" He jumped up and down. Then the owner of the apartment complex and nearly all of the residents came up to his room. They pounded the door so hard that it flew the door hinges. Then the manager gave him a good lecture, while the other residents shot him vicious glances. Naruto wasn't really listening to the manager but he did see all of the stares and glances of the residents.

When everyone finally left his room, Naruto went to fix himself some ramen. All the while he was thinking, Why can't people be happy for me? Even just for one day. Even for just an hour. Even for just a minute. He got lost in his thoughts. He completely forgot about the water he was boiling for his ramen, until it boiled over and made a mess on his kitchen floor. He cursed as he cleaned the water off the floor. He sighed, Maybe I'll find more peace at the Konoha Diner.

Naruto left his apartment at ten o'clock. He avoided all of the people in his apartment complex. Then he pretty much sulked all the way to the diner. When he went inside, everyone that was eating threw him dirty looks and whispered things behind his back. He walked to the farthest booth away from everyone and sat down. Now he didn't even feel like eating. A waitress walked up to him and asked him if he was ready to order. Naruto didn't answer. He rested his head on the table and ignored everyone's whispers. The one day I'm happy and everyone treats me even worse than before. What did I do?

Naruto lifted his head up off the diner table and looked at the clock. 11:30 a.m. He stood up and put his hands in his pockets, then he walked to the door. One of the chefs said good bye to him. Yeah right. You probably just can't wait till I get out of the diner. Just like everybody else. Dammit. Naruto felt tears beginning to flow. He pushed his way outside and ran. He didn't know where he was running. Only that he wanted to get out of the village.

He ran aimlessly for what felt like hours, when in actuality was only a few minutes. When he wiped his tears and looked up, he saw his village. I'm on the Hokage Monument? He looked down and saw that he was on top the Yondaime's head. Then he heard a "poof" from behind him. He didn't bother turning around. It's probably some stuck-up fart here to tell me that I can't stay up here.

"Huh?" the ninja looked at Naruto, "I thought this was my spot?"

"If you're gonna tell me to get off, don't waste your breath. You'll have to throw me off the Yondaime head."

"If you insist." He took a step toward Naruto.

"ARRRGGGHHHH! WHY CAN'T YOU PEOPLE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?" Naruto bolted up and charged at the man. The man caught his arms and held Naruto above the ground.

"Hey? Are you calm now?"

"Hey! You're the man from a week ago, or something. Well can you let me down? I don't feel like dealing with people right now." The man did as Naruto said.

"Well… if it'll make you feel better. Happy tenth birthday Uzumaki Naruto!"

Naruto turned around and looked the man straight in the eye. He just said 'Happy birthday'. He could feel his tears wanting burst out. He stood there smiling and crying at the same time. "Y-y-you're th-the first p-p-person ever to say th-th-that to m-me." Naruto stuttered.

The man smiled at Naruto, but inside he was thinking, Brother, look at what you've done to your son. These people don't see him as a hero, but as a monster instead. Why did you choose your son as the one? You should've just used me.

"Thank you sir. For saying that. It means a lot to me." Naruto wiped his tears.

"Heh. Well, why don't we change the subject?"

"Uhh… sir, what's you're name?"

"Oh! I forgot to tell you huh? It's Teikiatsu."

"Uh… Teikiatsu-san? Seeing as we're on his head, can you tell me about the Yondaime?"

"Well, uh," Damn. This kid hits the one thing I'd hope to avoid. "The Yondaime was the probably the greatest ninja from Konoha. He became a Chuunin at the age of ten, the earliest at the time. He made a lot of original jutsus. Including the Rasengan. And—"

"I've made up my mind!" Naruto suddenly jumped up.

"Huh?"

"I'm gonna be the next Hokage!"

"Heh. Gonna be the next Hokage, huh?"

"Yup!"

"Well then… You're gonna have to beat me to it!"

"Fine! But after I'm Hokage, they're not gonna even need you, cause I'm gonna do such a good job this village won't even need a Hokage anymore."

Heh. At least now he's got incentive. You hear that Brother You're son's gonna be the next Hokage. "Yeah, like that'll stop me from becoming Hokage before you."

"ARRRGGGHHH! I'll show you. I'm going to be the next Hokage!" He ran past Teikiatsu and down the monument. Naruto ran throughout the streets of Konoha shouting "I'm gonna be the next Hokage!"

Teikiatsu stood on top of the Yondaime Well, now I guess I can take my leave. Teikiatsu made some hand signs and disappeared, never to be seen in Konoha again.

Author's Note: Teikiatsu is an OC (original character). And the age at which the Yondaime became Chuunin is fictional. Also, I stink at making endings.