"Naruto stop struggling." Aki one of the orphanage staff sighed as she rewrapped bandages around the red hair orphan. "Really you should know better now about fighting."

"Grrrgh," Naruto growled as he shifted his position.

"Don't use that tone on me young man, do you want me to explain to your Iruka-niichan about you getting into trouble again?" Aki gave a warning glare.

Unknown to Naruto though, for a moment her eyes lingered on the multiple of old scars on his body – so many were there for a child.

"Iruka is a genin now, he would be too busy to deal with the like of us younger kids." Naruto twisted his head impatiently.

"I am hurt, that you would think I would abandon my fellow scar-face." Iruka interrupted as he entered the door.

"Naruto you still alive in there?" "Please don't die on me!" "You alright?"

Naruto lowered his eyes to see three other tiny frames attempting to hide behind Iruka.

"Like a few weak punches would ever hurt me." Naruto dismissed their concern and winced as the bandages on his head tightened.

"It's still not right for you to fight." Aki scowled as she finished the final touches. "Iruka your team took another D-rank looking after the orphanage again? Your sensei must really like kids."

She made a shooing motion at Naruto as she turned to face Iruka with a raised eyebrow.

"Well this orphanage was more home for a while, so there's nothing wrong with me visiting even if it's in the form of D-rank missions." Iruka scratched the back of his head as his face reddened slightly.

"Well, let's get the formalities over, can you go grab the rest of your team here and Naruto you are free to go, just don't get into any more trouble YOU HEAR ME?" Aki almost screamed the last part as Naruto made a beeline out of the room.


"It's not fair that only you got in trouble." One of the three children commented as they followed Naruto out of the room.

"Of course, it's fair Negi, I am the one who punched them first," Naruto replied.

"But you only punched them because they stole Moyashi's drawing book." Neji persisted.

"Thank you again." Moyashi smiled.

"Really through can you not get violent that fast." The last of the three sighed. "You want to be a shinobi so you can't just go all violent like that - what if they don't let you become one."

"Pft, Chashu why wouldn't I be a ninja for punching Soba in the face?"

"I don't know maybe the adults think you are violent and won't let you become one." Chashu shrugged.

"Man, Soba should stop being so mean." Negi childishly exclaimed. "He always calls you ugly, Scarface and bandage boy why doesn't he just leave us alone."

"Yeah listen the other day…"

Naruto turned back to his thoughts.

It had been 6 years since Kurama killed Naruto.

How bitter the irony was that the orphanage gave Kurama the same name as his? Then again most of his fellow orphans were named after food.

He still can't tell why he had Kushina-coloured red hair, other than that he would have looked like Naruto… except for all the scars on this body. Let it be known that Kurama could easily heal those scars, but then his whisker mask would be more pronounced.

He couldn't afford the attention.

Regardless of how uncomfortable it was, he had to live as a human. Hiding from the damn Uchiha's and that Akatsuki group hunting his brethren. Even if he was in his full might there was no guarantee that he could escape from those dreaded eyes.

Kurama sighed if only Naruto was here.

Then he could leave everything to that idiot to live the same life while he could just sleep. The timeline was a fragile thing and even he knew the damage done from Naruto's death was catastrophic. Who know


s if they could stop Kaguya this time.

So sadly, he must at least try to fill in the role of Naruto – even knowing that he could never be as kind-hearted as that little fool. He still had to try.

"Come on, let's wait and pester Iruka on ninja techniques." Moyashi nudged Kurama breaking him out of his thoughts.

'Remember you are now Naruto, you must force yourself to be kind to other humans.' Kurama reminded himself.

Kurama didn't notice the small smile that formed on his face.


"Here you go, Lord Danzo."

Danzo silently read the information from his shinobi after waving him away. Silently, he contemplated what it said.

He had many eyes on the orphanages of Konoha and its surroundings and was careful about getting more fresh blood into the organisation. So usually he would only acquire one or two orphans at a time to hide suspicion.

He needed to choose carefully.

Or else the shinobi over-watching the orphanages under Hiruzin would catch on.


Author Notes:

Aki has the meaning of clear, crystal. Moyashi means bean sprouts, Negi mean spring onion and Chashu is a kind of pork slices. Soba is cold noodles eaten with cold sauce.