Chapter 2: Naruto's Past

Once upon a time, there lived a fox spirit with nine tails. And he was so powerful that whenever he shook those tails, landslides and tsunamis would result.

The suffering people gathered the great shinobi clans to fight this menace. Finally, risking his life, one ninja was able to imprison its soul.

Having defeated the demon, the brave shinobi died.

That shinobi was the Fourth Hokage, the Fire Shadow, champion of the Village Hidden in the Leaves…

XXXXXXX – Somewhere in the East Blue

The ocean is truly a vast thing. A single drop of water will be ignored, for it is seen as insignificant. Yet, it is countless drops of water that come to together to form such a magnificent creation. This place is home to millions, if not billions of creatures. From the tiny plankton, to the enormous Sea Kings, from the huge island whales to the tasty Elephant True Bluefin.

In this watery wonderland, a small boat sails to the next island. This boat carries three passengers, one wears a straw hat and has the ability to stretch his body to unnatural proportions, thanks to the Gum-Gum Fruit that he ate as a boy. This one was currently fast asleep and snoring like a bear.

The second passenger wore glasses and a timid personality, yet he has hope that he will be able to obtain his dream of joining the Navy and living a life where he fights and defeats the bad guys. This person is also the only one of the three who has any navigation skills and was guiding the ship to the island.

As for the last one, he wears an orange jump and a metal headband with a leaf symbol on it. In addition, he has whisker like marks on his face. Thus far, he has show an amazing ability to use the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu to an amazing degree, quite possibly more than he realizes. However, this boy harbors a dark secret within him; a secret that he himself has no idea about.

"Are we there yet?"

Currently, the boy known as Naruto Uzumaki was lying on his back and looking at the sky. That was the only thing he could think of to try to stave off the boredom (the other option had been to help Koby navigate the ship, which Naruto abruptly turned down). Absentmindedly, Naruto took a kunai and began twirling it around his finger.

"No, Naruto. For the eleventh time, we aren't there yet," replied Koby, who was currently looking at his compass to confirm that they were in fact on the right course. Seeing how they were, Koby then turned his attention to attending to the rudder. "And, would you please put that away? What if you accidentally throw it at someone? I don't want to lose an eye."

"Please Koby, have some faith in the future Hokage. Do you really think that I could become so unfocused that something like that…"

"I HAD A GREAT NAP!" an awaken Luffy shouted. This caused a chain reaction that began with Naruto jerking in surprised, which caused the kunai to go flying, which caused Koby to turn pale as it came it him.

"AAAAAAH!!!" Koby screamed as he fell backwards.

"OH NO! I MADE KOBY LOSE AN EYE!"

Luffy, now fully awake, cried out, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

"KOBY LOST AN EYE!"

"WWWAAAHH! KOBY LOST AN EYE!!"

Thus chaos reigned on the small vessel for the next fifteen minutes as Naruto and Luffy continued to cry out in grief over the fact that Koby lost an eye, with each statement being louder and more tragic than the last.

As for Koby. "Actually, I'm fine." He said as he got up. Fate had given him two pieces of good luck: the first was that Naruto's aim had been off by a good three centimeters, meaning that had it actually hit Koby, it would had just grazed Koby's forehead. But due to Koby's second piece of good luck that had him falling backwards in fear, the kunai passed him by without touching him. "You see…"

Naruto threw himself at Koby's feet. "I'M SO SORRY KOBY! BECAUSE OF ME, YOU LOST AN EYE!"

However, Koby wasn't aware of his two pieces of good fortunate and the basic instinct of panic instantly took over. "WHAT?! I LOST AN EYE! NOOOOOO! THE NAVY WILL NEVER ACCEPT ME NOW!! WHAT'LL I DO?" With that placed his head in his hands, only to realize that his glasses were still intact. Which meant that his eyes were perfectly safe. As Koby inspected the rest of his body, he realized that he didn't have a scratch. 'Oh, I'm alright. Heh heh. I guess I better tell them that.'

That was easier said than done. It took Koby an additional ten minutes to calm down Naruto and Luffy, another ten to explain the situation to them and a last ten minutes telling a very apologetic Naruto that he was forgiven.

After that was said and done, there was a very awkward silence of the air. Naruto didn't what to bring up the subject again, Koby was still traumatized over the whole incident and Luffy was wondering when he could eat some meat.

Eventually, Naruto decided to take a quick catnap. As he lay snoozing, Koby was silently grateful. Now he wouldn't have to hear Naruto's constant questioning of 'Are we there yet?'

"Are we there yet?" Luffy asked.

Koby felt like he was going to cry.

XXXXXX – sameplace (Naruto's dream of his past)

Naruto didn't remember much of his earlier years. The one of the earliest memories he had was when Iruka looked down at him, smiling at him, saying over and over again that it wasn't his fault.

That had happened when Naruto was a little over two years old. The man that he would come to know as Iruka-sensei. Iruka and Naruto had arrived in a small village on a little island in the East Blue a year prior to that. Why they were there, Naruto had no idea.

Iruka-sensei wasn't what you would call a man, as he was barely fourteen at this time when they found the village. He wore a simple attire that was similar to that Mizuki had worn, but instead of a bandana, he wore a headband with the leaf symbol. He also had the same type of vest that Mizuki had, though he had a habit of looking at it like he didn't deserve it. His most distinguished feature was the scar across the bridge of his nose. Yet he was the kindest person Naruto ever remembered.

When the twosome had reached the village, called Meadow Village due to the gorgeous meadows that surrounded it, the villagers were hesitant to greet them. Naruto vaguely recalled that they had been most uncomfortable looking at Iruka-sensei's headband for some reason.

But due to Iruka's gentle and kind nature (and the fact that he was carrying an adorable child in his arms), the village accepted them much faster than anyone had ever expected. In addition with providing them a modest home, they gave Iruka a job as a teacher's assistant in the local school. Within a few months, Iruka grew immensely popular with the village and was soon given a teaching position of his own (despite his young age), something that Iruka took full opportunity of. When Naruto turned two, Iruka-sensei was invited to a party in his honor. It was to be hosted by the Mayor himself, an old man of 72.

However, things started to change when Iruka, accompanied by the Mayor, came home that night. Though Naruto was barely awake and aware, he still heard Iruka telling him, "It's not your fault." Over and over, and the conversation that followed.

"You! We trusted you! When you came here, there were a few that wanted to chase you two away! I was against it! I thought you were a benevolent person, yet you bring that…that THING here!" the Mayor was shouting at Iruka.

"Mayor, please. It wasn't Naruto's fault that he was selected. The Hokage was desperate. If he hadn't done that, the true monster would still be ravaging the world. The Hokage wanted Naruto to be seen as the hero that he is. I thought you would understand that. That was why I told you all at the party, so you could recognize that. Not to turn your anger on Naruto."

"How can you say that?! That monster is within our grasp! What happens if it takes control of the boy? Or worse, break free? Do you really think that boy can contain…"

Iruka stomped his foot, which caused the Mayor to stop. "Yes," Iruka said without hesitation. "The Hokage believed that Naruto would be strong enough to bear the burden that was placed on him. And I also believe he can do it."

Before either could comment, light was glowing in the distance. Both men recognized the light as torches. And many of them.

After a moment, the Mayor said, "Iruka, because I hold a great deal of respect for a young man such as yourself, I might be willing to let you remain in the village with…him. However, you have little chance of convincing anyone else."

Iruka had looked at the floor, as if he didn't want to look the Mayor in the eyes. "Mayor," he said finally. "When the shinobi nations…fell…there was pure chaos. Everyone was trying to flee in whatever direction they could to get out in time. Sarutobi-sama thrust the baby and a vest in my arms, told me to run and to take care of him. He even said that doing this job would make me an honorary Chunin. I don't know why he chose me. I was only thirteen, still only a Genin out of the Academy, maybe it's just because I was the only one around, everyone else was dead or running. Before I could protest, Sarutobi-sama turned back to the battle. That's when I ran. I don't even remember having the baby in my arms. I ran for so long…finally, I was able to find a small boat and started to sail. That's when I realized I still had the baby and what it meant." Iruka suddenly looked up, and a small tone of hatred could be heard in his voice. "Did you know that I lost my parents to the monster? Then Sarutobi-sama give me the baby…I couldn't understand. See it was a hero? I couldn't do that. That's when I picked up a kunai and I started to…but I stopped when the baby did something…It woke up…" Iruka voice suddenly began lighter. "After all the chaos, all the destruction, it finally woke up…and do you know what it did? It giggled. IT GIGGLED! Then it raised its arms to me, maybe he thought the kunai was a bottle. After that, I dropped my kunai. After seeing such a face, I couldn't do it. I think it was right then…when Naruto giggled…that I realized what the Hokage and Sarutobi-sama were trying to say: he's not the beast, he jails the beast."

The Mayor had been listening intently at this and was about to speak again, but Iruka wasn't done. "Mayor…as a Chunin, Genin, or even an Academy student, I still have training as a Shinobi. You villagers don't have anything like that. I won't allow you, anyway of you, to harm him. Even if it means that I have to fight the whole village. And believe me when I say I won't lose."

By this time, the torches had become much brighter.

At last the Mayor spoke, "What about them?"

Iruka had started walking to the door. "As I said, I won't lose," he answered.

As Iruka was about to open the door, the Mayor stopped him. "Alright, Iruka. You win. But only because I like you. You guys can stay. But I can't speak for everyone, nor can I control anyone one actions and feelings."

"Thank you, Mayor. I promise you, you won't regret it."

"I hope so, Iruka. I really hope so. Now, lets see to your…guests."

With that the two men left. The lights never got any bigger and eventually left.

After that day, Naruto remember so many hateful glances and comments at him. That always confused Naruto, he didn't understand why they did that. Was it because he once threw up on the Mayor? Or maybe when he peed in Mrs. Hallows garden? Or when he accidentally bumped a cart and had all its contents scattered and busted a store? Those couldn't be it. All of them, even the Mayor, had just laughed at those things, as if they were the most hilarious acts on earth.

Naruto never understood, and one day asked Iruka about it. Iruka simply hugged him and told him it wasn't his fault.

Then after Naruto turned four was when he started taking a new path. He began training was a ninja.

He had seen Iruka-sensei in the backyard, doing something with his hands, then he shouted: "Bunshin no Jutsu (Clone Jutsu)" And another Iruka suddenly appeared.

Naruto remembered the huge surprise he felt. "Iruka! How did you do that?!"

Iruka-sensei looked at him and smiled. "Do you want to know?" And Naruto vigorously nodded. Iruka sat him down and showed him in more detail what his hands were doing. "These are known as hand signs; the ones I just did were known as Tiger, Boar, Ox, and Dog. When a ninja does certain signs in certain combinations, as well as focus his charka, he is able to do techniques known as Jutsus. Such as the Bunshin no Jutsu, or Clone Jutsu I just did." With that he gestured at the other Iruka, who smiled, waved then vanished.

"Hey Iruka! You disappeared!" cried an astonished Naruto.

"Yes that's because the jutsu wore off."

"Can I try too?"

Iruka smiled. "Can you focus your chakra?" Due to Naruto's dumfounded look on his face, Iruka already knew his answer. And that it was time for a lesson. "Now I want you to listen closely Naruto and one more thing."

"Yes?"

You must now call me Iruka-sensei from now on."

"Yes Iruka-sensei!"

Thus began Naruto's training. That small session in the backyard turned into many, with each one introducing Naruto to a new part of the world of shinobi. He learned about Chakra, about several different types of E-Ranked Jutsus, how to handle kunai and shuriken. True, he was still a novice in these areas and he was particularly bad with genjutsu. As a result he felt that he wasn't truly improving. However, every time he failed, Iruka simply laughed, show him his mistakes and told him that this wasn't easy, but if he could master the basics, the he could enter a whole new world of the shinobi.

So for the next year, Iruka-sensei had trained Naruto. When Naruto had turned five, he caught Iruka working on a on a strange scroll.

"Iruka-sensei, what you are working on?"

"Oh, Naruto. You startled me. Anyway, I'm trying to write down all the Jutsus I can remember."

"Huh?"

"Well, you see Naruto, the shinobi lands are…um…not doing real well. I haven't seen another ninja in a long time. So I decided to try and write all those Jutsus that I could remember, so at least some of the ninja teachings would survive. You see…huh?"

During Iruka-sensei's little speech, Naruto snuck around him. It still amazed him how Iruka-sensei could lecture like that and nearly forget about his surroundings completely. As a result, Naruto took advantage of this and grabbed the scroll. "What's so special about this?" As he read the scroll for a few seconds, he then said. "Hmm, Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, that doesn't sound too hard."

"What?! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! Naruto wait! Your chakra levels aren't…"

"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU! (Shadow Clone Jutsu)" Naruto cried and over 30 of them appeared in the small room. Naruto remember that was the first time, he ever seen Iruka-sensei truly speechless.

"Naruto...how are you feeling?"

"Normal, why?"

That's when Iruka-sensei had started talking to himself, "Impossible! That Jutsu evenly divides the chakra among all the clones. With his level, he shouldn't be able to stand, let alone not feel affected! And certainly not with thirty clones. Wait! What if it's due to…that? Yes, what if that is giving him more charka? Tons of it. Now that I think about, his body shouldn't be able to contain all of that power. Wait, that would mean that he would have enormous chakra. So then why does he have so much trouble with the basic Jutsus?"

"Iruka-sensei? Is something wrong?" All the Narutos asked.

Iruka-sensei didn't seem to hear him and started to walk in circles. "Wait, what if it's because he has so much chakra? So much that I imagine he can't control it. Only someone with precise chakra control would be able to truly handle that amount of charka and even then, it would still be difficult. So, is it because that the Kage Bunshin requires so much chakra that Naruto was able to do it so easily? If that's the case, then that would mean that he would be able to master Jutsus that required huge amounts of chakra much easier then even the Academy techniques. Incredible! With that, he could surpass the Hokage." He then looked at Naruto, as if he was looking at him so the first time. "Naruto, have you ever felt exhausted?"

"Exhausted?"

"Tired, very tired."

"Not really. And I usually have trouble falling asleep."

"I see." Then Iruka-sensei began shaking his head, as if arguing with himself. Finally he asked. "Naruto, do you want to try some more of these techniques? We could test you to find your chakra element."

"REALLY?!"

"Yes, I think that you might be able to help me with these techniques." Before Naruto could say another word. "Not now, of course. It's late, lets' say…this weekend." And with that Iruka would had left for bed.

However, Naruto wasn't done yet. "Iruka-sensei, what's a Hokage?"

"Naruto…"

"Please…"

Iruka-sensei sighed. And began telling Naruto some basics about what it meant to be Hokage. As Iruka talked, he realized that he had Naruto's complete attention. Thus lecture side took over and he began telling tells of all four of the Hokages and the things they had done. How the First, who founded Konoha and a unique ability to control wood, how the Second had such complete mastery over water that he could use water jutsus without a water source, how the Third had such a vast knowledge of Jutsu, and how the Fourth created many unique and powerful techniques. After hearing this, it didn't take long for Naruto to proclaim that becoming Hokage would be his dream. Iruka-senesi just smiled at that and he then told Naruto a little of Konoha, but stopped when he realized that it had become even later.

"Iruka-sensi, don't stop! Tell me more so I come become Hokage!" Naruto protested.

"Not now Naruto." Iruka-sensei replied and immediately tried again to get them both to bed as he had been talking strait for an hour and a half.

"Iruka-sensei…" Naruto started.

Iruka placed a hand on his forehand, and shook his head, but couldn't suppress a small laugh. "Naurto…just because you don't tried out very easily, doesn't mean that the rest of us…"

"…What's your dream?" he finished.

That wasn't the question Iruka-sensei had expected, judging how he had nearly tripped over his feet. Once he regained his balance, he asked Naruto to repeat the question. Once he had confirmed, Iruka sat back down and put his head in his hands, showing that he was in deep thought. Finally he said, "I want to reunite the scattered shinobi, Naruto. No, not just reunite them, but truly unite them in a way that they haven't been before."

"Reunite…the scattered…shinobi? Why would the shinobi be scattered?"

"Well…you see…" suddenly he stopped and smiled. "Nice try, Naruto." When the boy began protesting again, Iruka-sensei stopped him by holding up his hand. "I'll answer all your questions this weekend, only three days away. Okay?" When Naruto reluctantly nodded, Iruka started to leave when he realized something.

"Naruto."

"Yes sensei?"

"Disperse your shadow clones." Iruka-sensei said, clearly amazed that he had forgotten that thirty other Narutos had been sleeping, drawing and even fighting in the background.

"Uh…I don't know how…" Naruto said.

Thus Iruka had been force to postpone bedtime yet again as he showed Naruto how to disperse his clones, though Naruto would always remember the next words his mentor had said under his breath. "Truly incredible. He maintained those clones for nearly two hours. Hell, he even forgot about them. And yet he isn't showing the any traces of fatigue. This boy is truly remarkable, and he maybe just achieve his dream of being Hokage." And with that, the twosome finally made it to bed. The final words Iruka-sensei said before they parted were, "This weekend."

Unfortunately, that day never came. For two days later, Naruto's world completely fell apart. That day that man appeared.

Naruto was working in the backyard, when he heard a knock at the front door. He knew that Iruka-sensei would answer it, so he continued throwing kunai at the target. However, shouts started coming and Naruto's curious mind had him going to the front door. When he got there, he saw something he would always remember: Iruka-sensei was leaning against the wall, his face terrified. He was talking to a man wearing a black cloak decorated with red clouds.

That's when Naruto asked, "Iruka-sensei?"

Instantly both men turned to him and the man in black and red smiled. "Well, it seems I won't need your services anymore." The man then looked at Naruto and held out his hand. "Naurto come with me."

Naruto never got a chance to answer, for Iruka-sensei tackled the man right then and there. The move had caught the man off guard, but it only caused him to stumble slightly. However, Iruka wasn't done as he pulled out kunai and shouted, "NARUTO RUN!"

"Sensei, what's going on?!" Naruto cried out as Iruka attacked the man with his kunai. The other man simply caught Iruka's arm and threw the side person against the wall, hard. Iruka started coughing blood as his body hit the wall, but he managed to retaliate by throwing a handful of shuriken at the man. The man jumped back in plenty of time, but that only made Iruka smile as he gestured with a hand. Instantly, the spot where the man had stood exploded, thanks to the exploding tags he had planted there, one of the many traps Iruka had set around the house. He always told Naruto that those were for people who would want to hurt them. Whenever Naruto would had asked who, Iruka had simply shook his head and said everyone, in a sad voice.

Naruto remembered the surprise Iruka had shown when his opponent was still standing, clearly not affected in the slightest and chuckling, something that would haunt Naruto in his dreams for the rest of his life. "I hope you can do better than that, poor fool. Much better." With that he attacked again, throwing a series of punches, few of which Iruka had been able to counter.

"SENSEI!"

"Naruto! I told you to RUN!" Iruka had cried as he was now just being merciless beaten by his opponent.

"I don't think so." After that had been said, Naruto felt intense terror, something he had never experience in his short five years of life. Iruka had also been affected, his eyes wide as he clutched his head, screaming, "NO! NOT AGAIN! NOT AGAIN!" As Iruka-sensei continued screaming, the man began to approach Naruto, with a sinister smile on his face.

When the man had almost reached Naruto was when Iruka stabbed himself in the leg to clear his mind. After that, he attacked the man once again, who simply batted him away. Then Iruka threw a shuriken, but not at the man, but at Naruto. This shuriken scratched his cheek and Naruto instantly remembered what was going on. For a third time, Iruka-sensei shouted, "RUN!"

This time Naruto ran, though he could still hear the two men talking. "Oh no you don't boy!" That was instantly followed by the last words Naruto would ever hear from Iruka-sensei: "I WON'T LET YOU!"

Naruto just kept running. He fled through the back of the small house, threw the backyard. He continued on through the town nonstop. The villagers didn't have try to stop him, most likely as they themselves were focused on the noises coming from Naruto's humble home. As a result, Naruto continued running across one of the meadows and still, he didn't stop. As he ran, he came to one of the small woods on the island and ran into there as well. It wasn't until he tripped on his own feet that he realized where he was.

However, the fear of the man was still very real in his young mind and he huddled himself at a base of a tree, simply shaking in fear. For the next hour, he would do so until he finally found the courage to get and go back home to see what had happened. His trek back was significantly slower that it had been when he ran, but he still managed to get back in less than an hour. When he reached his home, he found the entire village looking at it. Though no one said anything, several were nudging their neighbors to go look inside, but no one offered. As Naruto approached he pushed through the villages so he could see what had happened. For once, the villagers did not give Naruto any hurtful glares and simply parted for him. As he got to the front of the crowd, Naruto could see that the outside of his house, minus the front door, seemed intact and little damage. Mustering all the courage he could, he walked inside.

What he found next appalled him. Blood was everywhere, almost every piece of furniture had been damaged and moved, not one piece was where it had originally been. There were scorch marks, as well as kunai and shuriken, all over the place, from the ceiling to the floor and everywhere in between. Iruka's traps had been used to their full potential, yet it didn't seem as it had made a difference. Naruto then tried to speak, though nothing came out. He tried for a second time only to have the same result. Finally on his third try, he managed, "I-Iruka-s-sensei?"

No answer returned. This lead Naruto to start searching the house for his beloved caretaker, though as he searched the rooms, he found no trace of him. Desperate, he began all over again, continuously calling Iruka-sensei's name and even moving the bloody debris. All in vain. Finally Naruto made his way back to the front on the house and his foot step on something. Looking down, what he saw left him completely scattered.

It was Iruka-sensei's headband. With blood all around it.

For several minutes, Naruto simply stared at it, not wanting to believe what this could mean. Then he sunk to his knees, and grabbing a hold of the headband. Then he began to truly despair. But it wasn't over the man, or the very real possibility that Iruka was dead. No, Naruto began despairing over what he had done.

"I ran away! That man wanted me! If it wasn't for me, that man would had never come here! And Iruka-sensei would be…I ran away! I've been telling Iruka-sensei that I would become Hokage! That I would be a strong shinobi! That I would be the greatest that the world had ever seen! But when push came to shove, I got scared! And look what happened! Iruka-sensei, I ABANDONED HIM! I RAN AWAY!"

That last statement just seem to echo his mind, growing louder and louder. As he looked at the item in his hands once again and began shaking uncontrollably.

"I RAN AWAY!"

At that last statement, the villagers finally found the nerve to enter the house. There they too found the scene of carnage, with all the blood, weapons and disaster around the entire house. And they found one more thing as well: a small five year old boy clutching a bloodied headband, shouting the name Iruka-sensei over and over again.

For the next two weeks, the villagers searched the small island, looking for a trace of Iruka. They found nothing. Nothing to indicate whether Iruka was alive or dead, whether he was on this island or not. Finally after a third week had passed with no results of any kind, the villagers gave up. It was to be decided that Iruka had perished in the fight and that a funeral was to be held for him. Everyone in the village attended the funeral, yet another sign of how much respect Iruka had. However, one person did not attend.

Naruto himself had stayed in the house for the first week, unwilling to move, unwilling to eat, even unwilling to sleep. After that week the war against sleep was lost. When Naruto came to, there was food (all of it ramen). After looking at it for awhile, he finally ate. As he ate, something happened to Naruto. Perhaps it was the fact the he had finally slept, or maybe that he eaten his favorite food. Maybe it was even the fact that a week had passed and what had happened had finally sunk in. Regardless, something filled Naruto more than the ramen he had been eating.

It was determination.

The villagers themselves had said it during the first week of the search, there was no trace of Iruka alive. But that didn't mean that he was dead. That thought gave fuel to Naruto's new determination. Iruka-sensei wasn't dead. He was still alive. And Naruto was going to be the one to find him. So Naruto joined the search during the start of the second week. But he did not join the other villagers. Despite only being five with less than a year of training in the shinobi arts, Naruto was still in better shape than a majority of the villagers, with his new skill with shadow clones, he had all the numbers he needed. During the next two weeks, he would cover more ground over longer periods of time, than the rest of the villagers put together. When the villagers officially gave up and prepared Iruka's funeral, Naruto was still out searching. Eventually, he too, had to accept that Iruka, dead or alive, was not on this island. Which of course meant that finding Iruka alive would require leaving and traveling to other islands.

At this, Naruto hesitated and did something that he really didn't do that often. He thought about his actions. Even his five-year-old-mind knew that leaving by myself to search the world was pure insanity. He wasn't ready, physically or mentally, for such an ordeal. So, Naruto started getting ready, by promising himself that he would continue his training on his own so that he would be strong enough to take down that man and save his sensei.

So for the next few years Naruto would do just that. Unfortunately, he didn't do that well. He quickly realized how much he had depended on Iruka-sensei's constant supervision and explaining his faults and how to correct them. Naruto would also constantly try to read more of Iruka's scroll, but aside from the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, he didn't understand any of it. He didn't know how to create Fire in his mouth for the Fire techniques listed, or how to manipulate the earth, or influence water into devastating attacks. And it's not like the villagers were willing to help him understand the scroll.

In fact, after Iruka's 'funeral', the villagers turned nasty. When in the olds days, they would just throw hurtful glares or make snide comments under their breath (but still loud enough for Naruto to hear). Now they had taken that a step further: strait out violence. It wouldn't be uncommon for five or six adults to start throwing rocks at him, or start chasing him with rakes, shovels, and whatever else they could grab. Naruto would plead, cry, beg, anything to get them to stop, or at least tell him what he had done. All they would say were demon, damn, death and various other d words. The only sanctuary Naruto had would his home, which for some reason the villagers would never go near. They wouldn't even throw rocks, or graffiti the house, to which Naruto never understood why. He often wonder if it was because the villagers were still scared stiff of the house because of what had happened in it.

The only support he had in the village was from the Mayor. The Mayor would chase away any people who would try to physically harm him (he never tried to silence the remarks though). The Mayor would always drop off food, supplies and money at his house. Naruto would always be grateful for him and once when he was seven, he tried to thank the Mayor. That's when reality slapped Naruto in the face, quite literally. Tears ran down Naruto's face over as he stared at the Mayor is pure disbelief. "Don't ever think that I'm doing this for you. The only reason why I'm not with them is because I made a promise to Iruka. Only that is why I allow you to stay in this village. Now get your damned self out of my sight." Those had been the Mayor's exact words as he left a weeping boy, who hadn't cried so hard since the day Iruka went missing.

And so it had gone on for five years. Five long years that Naruto would suffer ridicule and torment by the hands of the people he had grown up with, even among his own peers. As a result, Naruto's poor training nearly collapsed into nothing at all. Naruto couldn't ever remember a single happy memory during that time. Then when he was ten, the Mayor died early in the morning, his old age finally falling to death. And that night was the last night Naruto would remain in that village.

Shortly after dusk, the villagers attacked. Naruto had been in his home grieving when he heard the pounding of boards on his house. When he went to go look at what was happening, what he saw would forever scar his soul. The entire village had gathered at his home, and they were nailing the doors and windows completely shut. Naruto tried to plead with them to stop, but they just continued on, ignorant of a ten year olds cries. Fifteen minutes later, the house was completely boarded up and that's when the villagers threw their torches on the home, setting it ablaze. The very home in which Naruto had lived his entire life, even managing to clean it a little after the incident, was now on fire.

Desperately, Naruto tried to get out, but no avail. He tried to get the villagers to let him out, they laughed. Eventually, Naruto huddled in the middle of his room, just crying and waiting for the end. 'I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'M GOING TO DIE!' was the only thought that was running through his head, until something crashed that got his attention.

It was a picture of Iruka, smiling.

Naruto took the picture and held it, thinking bitterly, 'I'm sorry Iruka-sensei. I've failed you.'

At that last thought, time seemed to set still for Naruto. That thought began screaming in his head over and over. But it wasn't concerning pity, sadness or anything else related to those emotions. If Naruto had to identify the feeling he had felt, it would be determination again.

Suddenly Naruto stood up as he felt determination fill him and his tears leave him. No, Naruto wasn't going to fail. He did that once and Iruka paid for it. No, Naruto was not going to fail again because he sat and did nothing. NO, this time, he would take action!

Walking calmly to Iruka's old room, Naruto kicked down the burning door. In there was all of Iruka's old shinobi stuff: kunai, shuriken, wire and the works. He strapped the weapons holster to his right leg of his orange jumpsuit and then retrieved Iruka's headband. All these years, he never felt that he was ready to wear it. That time was over as he tied it to his forehead. No more running, no more abandoning people who were precious to him, no more hiding. NO MORE! The last thing Naruto would have gotten was Iruka's scroll, but to his horror, it was already burning.

Naurto then felt anger raising in him for the first time his life right there. The villagers tormented him, hurt him, mocked him, burned his home and now had destroyed the thing Iruka had worked so hard on and Naruto was sick and tired of taking it. Now was the time to do something. But first he had to get out.

Naruto walked to the front door, though he didn't use it. He knew that the barricades would still be in place, but Naruto had something else in mind. Crossing his fingers, he cried out: "Tajyuu Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!!!"

The burning house was instantly filled with Narutos as Naruto created as many as two thousand clones. The result was just as Naruto expected, with so many, they had to burst through the windows and doors and thus made an exit for him, though it caused Naruto over half his clones. Sure enough, twenty seconds later, several windows broke and created exits and all the Narutos began running outside.

As the original walked into his front yard, he could see the villagers complete shock as hundreds of Narutos began coming out. However, they quickly recovered by chanting the d words again and preparing their weapons. At this sight, the last barrier inside Naruto that held his anger completely gave way. "I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU BASTARDS!" and with that, Naruto raised his right arm and then threw it forward. At this, all his remaining clones attacked the villagers. The villagers' courage gave at the sight of eight hundred Naruto's coming right at them, each and every one with a feral look in their eyes. They tried to ran, but Naruto's clones caught them first and began attacking. For several minutes, he watched until something in his stomach started to turn. He then realized that what he was doing wasn't right and that Iruka would have been ashamed.

He brought his fingers together again and dispelled the jutsu. Once all the Naruto clones disappeared, the villagers fled. As Naruto watched, he realized he felt relieved as none of them had any serious injuries. He knew that he made the right choice by calling his clones off. Had he continued, he would become just like the bastards and Naruto wouldn't allow himself to sink that low.

Once the villagers left, Naruto began walking to the docks, doing something he should had done years ago. Getting in a small rowboat, Naruto left the island that night, never looking back once. As he stared at the night sky, his vision shifted to the picture of Iruka that he managed to bring with him.

"I'll never run away again and I'll always protect those precious to me, no matter what the cost is to me. I'll become Hokage when I find Konoha that Iruka always told me about. And Iruka-sensei…" he paused before finishing. "…I'm going to help you reunite the shinobi. I don't know what happened to them, but I'll bring them together for you and I'll find you. I promise."

A week later, a starving Naruto drifted to an island, where he received some decent human compassion and sympathy. These villagers greeted him with kindness and immediately helped the poor boy. Not one of them asked what had happened and why he was drifting. Instead, they gave him care and food. He stayed for three weeks recovering before taking his leave. He had shown them the picture and when none replied that they had seen the man, Naruto said he would have to go. These villagers didn't protested as they could see the determination on the boy's face, so they merely helped him with supplies and taught him basic navigation. There was a heart full farewell when he left that island and Naruto happily waved back as he continued his journey.

For two years, he would travel from island to island, showing each of the villagers a picture and asking the same question: Have you seen this man? All of these people answered with a sorrowful no. While he traveled, he also asked if they had seen any shinobi. This question always got a negative glance, but never any that resembled those of certain villagers. In any case, he always got a negative for that question as well. Funny thing was, despite having no success in any of his goals, Naruto was happier during these times than he had been during the last five years in the accursed Meadow Village. Perhaps it was because he was meeting friendly people who didn't treat him like dirt, or maybe because he was finally doing something to meet his goals. Whatever it was, Naruto was happy.

Eventually, his travels lead him to Alivda's hideout, where he met Koby. After nearly two hours of chatting with the boy, he instantly started to bond with him. Once he learned Koby's situation, he vowed to help his new friend. Koby naturally protested to this, saying he didn't what a friend hurt. Hearing the word friend, Naruto beamed then stated that he wasn't going anywhere until he helped Koby. Koby finally gave in, but told Naruto to wait about a month. That would give Koby time to make a plan, though Naruto knew he was just stalling. Nevertheless, he agreed. Then three weeks later, he met Luffy.

XXXXXX – Koby's Dinghy

Naruto awoke from his sleep. His painful memories of Meadow Village no longer bothered him as much as they once did, but that didn't mean he was ok. Making a fist with his right hand, he thought about his promises: to find Iruka, to never abandon his precious people and unite the scattered shinobi. His dream: to become Hokage. Although it had been over two years, he still wasn't anywhere close to meeting his dream, or any of those other promise. That is unless you counted Mizuki, but since he had been trying to kill Koby, Naruto didn't bother with that scum. Besides, Naruto doubted that someone like Mizuki would have helped Naruto anyway. But for the moment, there was something he could do.

"Luffy," Naurto said, reaching into his jacket's pocket and pulling out a photo. "I didn't get a chance to ask you earlier because of big, fat and ugly. But…have you seen this man?" he showed Luffy the photo.

Luffy replied with a simple nope.

That's when Koby decided to enter the conversation. "Well, I do have one piece of good news…"

"You have some meat?"

"You have some ramen?"

"…Uh, no," Koby replied, but he grinned and pointed. "But we're here!"

At that, the other two turned and faced where Koby was pointing. In that direction was the island alright, Naval base and all.

"So this is where Roronoa Zoro is being held! Let's go and get him to join my crew," cried Luffy, enthusiastically.

"Luffy, you do remember that Zoro is supposed to be a Pirate Hunter right?" the boy with glasses asked, to which Luffy responded, "He's a Pirate Hunter? He'll be a great first mate!"

The boy with whiskers smiled at that. Perhaps he'll stick around with these guys to see if Luffy would get his first crewmember, before parting ways.

End of chapter 2

A/N: Concerning Naruto dreaming of his past and all the detail he remembered. I seriously doubt that Naruto, or any young child could remember such events in high detail, such as the conversation Iruka had with the Mayor when Naruto was two. Still, I figured that none of you would mind seeing how you get a better image on how Naruto grew up as opposed to the original version, which was much less clear.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Naruto. They belong to their respective owners: Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto.