A/N: Canceling OH-TEN indefinitely; I modified the next two (?) chapters to reflect a "final". I am busy and rather focus on my Seiya story, so I shouldn't put too many large projects on my plate. Thank you for reading. If there is more reception, I may pick it up again. I may or may not upload another Gaiden.

You are you

(君は君だよ)

Mizuki wasn't sure what he saw. At first, his blade was towards Naruto's neck; his consciousness, spurred by hatred, gave him enough drive to ignore the pleas of his companions and do what he conceived as right. But his blade would miss Naruto every time and every chance; now, he lost his sight. The last thing he saw was multiple bodies of Naruto. The boy's fists and the feet stretched towards him, and before he could understand, Mizuki was pummeled head to toe. It was dark afterward.

When he woke up, he saw Hayate Gekkou, who told him that he lost consciousness. The chuunin was now bounded in chains, surrounded by Gekkou and masked men in a dark room. There was another man whose features made him stand out beyond everyone else. Wearing a long coat, he was taller than everyone in the room; he wore gloves of the same color, a skullcap akin to Gekkou, his face like a stoic bear, covered in scars. It would be that man who would stand before Mizuki.

"Mizuki Shimoyama, did you use Naruto as a scapegoat?" he asked, slipping his hands in his coat pockets.

Mizuki looked down.

"I have all day you know? I can make you talk too," the scarred man said. Mizuki would not see his grin. His voice was dark and smooth. "If you're silent, it would be that you have something to say."

"I suppose you are friends," Mizuki murmured. "Konoha kin and such."

"Of course?"

"I could tell you."

"That's right."

Mizuki held his tongue after that, and it gave the scarred man a moment to pull up a chair for him to sit in front of the bounded chuunin.

"The boy was about to die right?" He asked. "So, you tried to kill the demon vessel. You had the Shinkyo mirror too."

"The Lord Third and grand master Shimura insisted on his execution. No rule was broken. I just showed the boy for what he really was: a troublesome monster that will ruin this land," Mizuki replied.

"If that's true then there's no point in having Jinchuuriki then? To even risk that system. The point of the Jinchuuriki is that it doesn't fester ill will towards nature and destroy it. Also Mizuki, the vessel doesn't automatically learn secrets and forbidden details."

"The fox will rise and destroy us. He said that he wants to become the King and Emperor, all of that shit." Anger was slowly entering Mizuki's voice. He lifted his face to look behind the seated man. "Gekkou! You saw him assault me didn't you?"

"That 'monster' also showed a lot of remorse didn't he?" said scar face. "He is an apparent failure and uninspired student at the ninja academy."

"So what?"

"Gekkou said that he saw you change into Naruto and enter the forbidden vault. That man hardly lies."

"Always a first."

"And, there's no damn way a child would know about that scroll unless someone told him."

Mizuki said nothing, but his mouth quivered.

"You had every intention to wipe out that boy and live with that lie, right?"

"You're going by your emotions, Morino!"

"I can't help but be emotional when I'm damn right."

"Humph."

"Well?! I'm listening Shimoyama! Since we're friends as you said."

Both men were face to face. Morino's face deepened from a scowl.

As the interrogation went on, the execution was thwarted. Naruto Uzumaki opened his eyes and saw the ceiling of a room. He looked around, noticed a window, a framed photo on a wooden drawer, and a knobbed door; he quickly realized that he was at his home.

"Oh." He wasn't dead after all, but living chased him with the spirits of mopes. If he recalled, he was tired beyond the usual after performing a technique that split his body into multiple forms. Falling into slumber, his mind was thrashed by the memory of his former teacher attacking him. Nightmares that were prolonged usually indicated a ton of stress. Perhaps the creature inside was toying with him; Mizuki's face distorted from fury and his shuriken would shimmer in the darkness, coming closer, missing Naruto's neck and head with each throw. Naruto could hear his pounding heart beat as he kept escaping injury and death, and a boy covered in shadow, an imitation of him, would mock him.

"See? Can't trust nobody 'round here, man. See how power and fear takes everyone?"

Naruto moved into a small living room with a sluggish trudge. It was very unlike him. He reached for a chair, sat down and hunched over, holding his head. His body was pressed down by an overwhelming pressure that wouldn't go away. He didn't even budge from hearing the echoing sound of someone else's steps. The person was walking into the same room.

"Master Naruto?" A soothing mother-like voice called to him, but he didn't move his head to acknowledge. He knew who it was; he only replied with a sigh.

The woman first answered with a moment's silence before speaking again. "Umino-sensei came by. He said that you passed the trials. See?"

For any child, especially for Konoha's No.1 loudmouth, it was a celebratory time to jump up for joy. However, an awkward, almost weary atmosphere filled the room; Naruto remained in his chair. He heard the ringing of metal, and it caused Naruto to lift his head. In the woman's hand was a headband.

"Now, you will meet a new, highly experienced sensei next. You'll be in good hands, Master Naruto, I assure you."

"Yeah, I got the headband, but I can't help but feel sad."

"Sir?"

"I trusted Mizuki-sensei. Why would it end up like this? Is that why everybody hates me?"

Ine Sogame leered quietly. She was a bespectacled woman with shimada styled hair, but with long side locks. With her purple attire, her entire presence gave off a noble and intelligent image. Thinking on Naruto's words, she remembered what Iruka had told her. Naruto's situation could truly attest that so much could happen in one day. It shook her to know that the ANBU and Mizuki tried to execution him legally, while revealing the Nine Tailed Fox. However, it filled her with relief to also know that Iruka and a jounin protected him. Despite the truth, and difficult times in school, Naruto Uzumaki had allies.

"Master Naruto," Ine spoke carefully after thinking of her next words. "If you think that I am prepared to turn on you, I'll give you the right to kill me."

Noble, shrewd, and helpful, Naruto's care attendant assigned to him after his parents' death, Sogame was sometimes a little too earnest.

"What are you talking about, Nene?"

She was silent.

Naruto snapped. "Don't say that!"

"Then," For her next words, she nodded, "you can send me away." Next thing she saw was Naruto's chair tumbling backwards.

"I said don't say that! Why does everyone talk like that?! Stop talking about blood!" Naruto lost it."And killing and leaving! Spilling blood? What is wrong with this village, damn it?!"

Naruto had jolted up from his chair, and his eyes froze Nene with a burning stare. "Nene, you promised that you would protect and care for me. That's what you said! Keep your promise!" Naruto grabbed his face. His entire body shook. "Just keep your promise! Is it that fuckin' hard?!"

In truth, he thought about his parents. He thought about the monster that he saw in the Shinkyo mirror that revealed the truth. Was he really a monster? It was like the troublesome reputation, that blot of the village given the name Naruto Uzumaki, has elevated to another level. He knew he was used to being called "idiot" and" loser", and he knew that he always punched back by ignoring such titles, but was he destined to be hated? Hated to the level of a mass murderer?

It still shook his heart. It felt more real, and it all felt more villainous.

"I'm sorry." Calming himself with a breath, and after apologizing , Naruto rubbed his eyes with his arm and went to pick up his chair. His voice drawled. "The Nine Tailed Fox was a great monster that attacked and destroyed the village. Am I a monster?"

"If it's true then you wouldn't be honored as a ninja. Let alone a human."

"Am I human?"

"Without a doubt."

"When were you going to tell me all of this, Nene?"

Question after question, it was becoming obvious that Naruto was discouraged. After the outburst was calmed, Nene took a moment to think of her next words.

"I thought that it'd be best to tell you once you became an official ninja. It'd be the time to explain such burdens, because we'd know that you would face more."

"Truly a good choice. " A voice said, prompting Naruto and Nene to turn their heads towards the main door, which lead to the outside. At the sliding door was a silhouette. A person was standing in the veranda. "That's why I'm here." It was a man.

"Who's there?" Nene replied.

"Black." The door slid open, revealing a masked person in a hooded cloak. A chill stilled the room. There were no bars on this person's impudence; supposed it was an enemy or a thief of such cold-blooded audacity, but instead, it was a man considered one of the Black Operations Squad. Furthermore, he would meet a newly ordained genin?

For the first time today, Naruto behaved like himself; the unknown man elicited a vigorous reaction from him.

"Ah! Wait a sec! You're that Pig face from that execution aren't you?!

"I am a boar." He replied dryly.

"You mother fucker! You think you can come in here whenever you want?! And without knocking?"

"You don't knock a slide door."

Realizing that Naruto was still indignant at his situation, Ine could only decide to bow at the ANBU. Never would ANBU appear without reason. "Forgive me if I am out of line in my speaking, but I wish to ask if the affair with the execution was true?"

"You are indeed out of line," the Masked Boar's answer was prompt. "But, I will answer as some things are best said and faced with honesty. It is true that we tried to execute Naruto Uzumaki by order of the Lord Third."

As expected from a Boar Mask, there were no bars. The eyeholes of the mask seem to gleam with ferocity, the man's glare sticking onto Ine and Naruto. "But it's being insisted that he was set up. Questioning is occurring now."

"I see."

Abiding to her manners, Ine showed the ANBU a seat in the kitchen area. Naruto watched Boar Mask, clearly irritated, following with heavy steps. The kitchen's interior was a modern, western style with a fridge, and a stainless steel table fitted with a sink. Led to a stool, the ANBU sat down at the table like a casual man. It was as if there was no suspicious substance from this man, someone from the special operations unit. Gnashing his teeth, he sat right across from the ANBU. He wanted to watch him no matter what; Ine backed away a few feet, keeping watch.

"Take your hood off! This is a house!" A metaphor for 'you are being suspicious" in Naruto's mind. He was still quite upset. Boar Mask could hear the anger in his voice.

"As I was sent by the Lord Third, I can truthfully state that he bears nothing but kindness and faith for you. Despite everything." He said, pulling down his hood. Anyone would be deeply entranced by the slash marks and scowling style of his Boar Mask, but it could be realized that he wore a spiked topknot of red hair. Naruto only replied with a huff.

Boar Mask continued. "This is why I'm here. Naruto Uzumaki, I am here as a herald to your destiny as a jinchuuriki, the vessel of the Nine Tails. And, to tell you that I'm chosen to monitor you."

"Say what? Doesn't that mean that you'll look over me?"

"Yes."

Naruto slammed his hands on the table. "Yeah right! I don't need another grown man looking over me, especially when I already have Nene around. Unless you become a retainer!"

"What?"

"You're ANBU! So it makes sense for you to help me."

"I serve only the Hokage."

"I plan to be the Hokage in the future." Naruto's arm reached over the table, and he pointed a finger into the mask. "And if a grown man if going to tail me and shit because I have a fox in me, well damnit, you might as well be my retainer!"

"That would generally entail that I stay with you, follow your orders in times of war and peace, and have competition." The Boar Mask stretched over the table slowly, and pushed his mask against Naruto's face. "You are not a seasoned shinobi yet, let alone a man."

"What did you say you pig?! A man?!"

"Kazuki (火嵩木)."

"Who?"

"That is how you refer to me. My name is written with the same symbols as 'hi' (fire), 'gasa' (high), and 'moku' (tree). You could say that it means a 'flame soaring over the trees'."

"So, you're full of yourself?" Naruto grinned. "It fits! With a name like that, and since you're in ANBU and the old man sent you, I guess I could use a guy like you. However, what would you do? Like I said, I already have Nene, and she just told me that I'll have a sensei that'll watch over me."

"Orders are orders."

"What does that answer?!"

"I'll be monitoring from a distance and contacting both Sogame and your sensei when need be. I will also discuss further circumstances."

"Hey look, if it's so bad then why don't you just get rid of the fox?"

"An attempt to extract the fox will potentially result in your death. You haven't nurtured as a ninja, let alone a human, to withstand after effects. It's an issue even with it inside of you."

"There you go again with the 'not a man' thing!"

"Physical growth has to do with it. As you are still maturing, you could say that your molecular system, plus mental health, has to deter the stress of both the demon's malignancy and power. No amount of deer milk, vitamins, or weight lifting will protect you. Understand? You need to truly train yourself. And extracting it is like pulling out parts of your molecular system to get an infected tumor out."

"But it's bullshit! Mizuki-sensei tried to kill me because of it. Isn't it dangerous?! Why do we need this damn power?" Naruto began to shake as he was again reminded of his trauma from the execution. His mind recalled pieces of Mizuki's words: "That influence is monopolized by the Jinchuuriki. The Fox did not die, no. We had to follow the decree and contain the fox inside a person inside in order to protect it."

Sogame took steps toward the boy, but was halted by a lift of Kazuki's hand. Naruto grabbed his head again.

"Everything in this world has a meaning."

The Boar Mask man tilted his head down, and he began to mumble. "Is power, high esteem, the most important thing?" Can only power administer justice? Does inevitably the strong defeat the weak?" A response would not be returned, but this time, Kazuki contemplated his next words carefully.

"Naruto, if being a leader is important to you, let's just say you must lead an example not only for yourself and others, but the creature inside. That is what the people of Konoha believe. I think your parents said the same thing."

In the end of the conversation, it was agreed that Naruto should for now focus on his training as a genin. Taking his newly-acquired headband, he left his house of the village outskirts and wandered the streets of Konoha just to clear his head. Kazuki or Ine did not follow. Ine wondered how Naruto paseds because of his grades and negative observation by Iruka and Mizuki, and the Boar Mask simply stated because of his guts and potential. Iruka said Naruto saved his life and he saw that, if he could curb his recklessness, he could develop into a powerful ninja.

"I can attest to Iruka's words," Kazuki said to Sogame. "I observed from the execution that Naruto was able to perform an advanced technique. You could say it's a type of technique that cannot be allocated to one man, but many men."

"Why is that?" asked Nene.

"Because of the focus it needs to split that chakra into equal parts, plus a ton of chakra is necessary. Even I wouldn't bother with it. A technique placed into forbidden archives due to causing fatalities even in its experimental stages. No boy should have that."

Naruto was still a bit singed and demanded to know of his parents. He sought the Lord Third at his tower; before he entered the academy, he told the old man that he would know of his parents once he became a full-fledged ninja.

That time was now!

"You!" Naruto's way to the tower entrance was blocked. The Lord Hokage hunkered out of the entrance slowly, but one figure had left before him. "Get ready asshole!" Naruto instigated a duel as payback for the other night. He entered a rush, his punching fist soaring over a shoulder; as soon as he saw the bandages, no rational thought entered his head. Before another move, Naruto crashed into the dirt. He was pinned into the ground by his neck. The sheer force of this person's crinkled palm left him silent. It nearly felt like an elephant's foot against his nape, and he could barely move.

"Fury can't defeat me. You are ten, fifty, no, nearly one hundred years too early to face me." It was the one who insisted that Naruto should die, the one who insisted that he was a troublemaker without his parents, and called him a Demon Incarnate. It was none other than the one-eyed senior ninja, Danzo Shimura.

"Enough Danzo, please. Release him," called the Third Hokage wearily.

"Hiruzen, you're too soft on this boy." Danzo lifted his hand and backed away to stand at the Third's side. Despite his severity, he and Hiruzen were of the same generation. However, Danzo would not let his poison completely run out. He would give out another shot.

"If you want such an iron grasp son, then live and train properly." He said, cracking the knuckles of the one hand that took down Naruto. "Face cruelty and despair, face adversity and bloodshed, the reality of the world. I never let go of what I'm taught, nor let go of my own ambitions. In the ninja world, you don't put your scars, or your fangs away, ever."

"Whacha ramblin' about you wrapped up old man? Aren't you about to drop dead?" Naruto winced, rubbing the back of his neck. The stiffness he felt was enough to settle him down. Danzo resolved himself to not talk back to a loud-mouthed moron. It was not a winning battle, but he knew that he won when it came to issuing reality.

"Hey, old man Hokage, don't go anywhere. You and I made a promise remember? That's why I'm here." When Naruto saw Lord Third lift his eyebrow, he took out the headband from his pants pocket.

"Indeed. A headband. I am heading for the academy to do a congratulatory speech for the new ninja. You should do the same."

"Not until you tell me the truth, here and now. Until you tell me why you held it for so long."

"This is about your family right?"

Minutes after Naruto was born, on the Day of Tenko, his mother and father had already left to the next world. Just like many others, falling against The Nine Tailed Fox. It was like a village folktale – heroes led by a Golden Lion, defeating the evil demon and saving Konoha. It heralded a new era of peace. That was what Naruto thought until yesterday. The Third Hokage told Naruto that due to the academy speech and post-visit matters, he didn't have the time to sit and unravel everything, and he really needed the time and space to do so for their sake. Of course, that only made a child like Naruto livid.

"No more secrets! What else could you fuckin' possibly tell me that can break me apart? And what's with sending that Boar Mask?!" When Naruto yelled at the Third, an intensity darted out from the Hokage's crinkled eyes. Not anger, but more like relaying an astute desire for understanding and future achievement. It was not the Third's desire to break Naruto, but he felt that he told him, it would only supplement his reckless behavior.

How he was the son of a hero. The Third wanted Naruto to mature enough to grasp the concept, so he simply said, "Indeed you're a genin, but embrace that substance of being a shinobi just a bit more. It's because your parents were significant shinobi who loved and trained for everyone. That is a fact. I can tell you now that the best parents do not wish distress on their children."

The Third also felt that since now Naruto knew of the Tailed Fox, the boy would find a way to cope. "I can't tell you much about the Fox either, but let's say it really depends on you. What happened on the Day of Tenko were the forces of evil at work. It's not you at all." He said. At the end of their talk, Naruto and the Hokage reinforced their promise – by hitting both of their fists together.

"Okay old man. Curl your fingers and hit me. Like this."

"Like this?"

"Yeah! No turning back. PRO-MISE!" Both the Current Hokage and the Aspiring Future Hokage smiled at one another. One thing did matter – their respect for one another was no falsity.