Disclaimer: Again Naruto is not mine.

I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 4 - Change

A little more than two years later Hiashi is in his study his tears seemed to not end. His beloved wife died giving birth to their second daughter, now his brother and his wife were gone. The clan elders were pushing him to send Naruto away, and they wanted Hinata to prove herself as a Hyuga. He has gone numb not being able to face them anymore and argue with them on all these subjects. He is dreading this meeting with the elders, they have a lot of leverage but the worst thing is that he does not have the will to fight. 'Why so soon after her death do they push me? I know some do not like Naruto but most of those not on the council enjoy Naruto being around. They find him a bundle of joy and do not want him to leave. I am guessing that it is those who do not like change.'

An hour later he was in the Hyuga clan council chamber. "Hiashi, you will send Naruto away, he is distracting Hinata from becoming stronger. We cannot have our next leader be weak." All Hiashi could do is just nod as he started to seal his emotions inside of him. "Also you will forbid him from seeing her. This is the best for the clan. I know he has defended her a few times." Referring to the abduction and a few other incidents where Naruto had either saved or defended Hinata from other children. "He must leave. We know it will be hard on him, but it will make them both stronger in the end."

An hour later, Hiashi is standing in front of Naruto and Hinata. "Hinata, you will go to your room until supper. Naruto wait here. We have some things to discuss." Hinata left not knowing what was going on, but complied with her father's wishes. "Naruto, you are here by ordered to leave the Hyuga compound and not to return until you are told you can return. You are also here by forbidden to talk or approach Hinata unless you go to school together. Have I made myself clear?"

Naruto shoulders slumped like the weight of the world had just been press down upon him. All he could do is nod as tears rolled down his face. He tried to speak but could not. His whole world had just been ripped out from under him, added to that the death of Lady Hyuga who Naruto looked up to like a mother died only a few weeks ago. He knew it was taking its toll on Hiashi and Hinata. 'Why are they kicking me out?' He could not understand.

Hiashi knelt down to look Naruto in the eyes. "This is not because I hate you or even dislike you, there are other things involved in this. I will tell you later about them. Until then be safe and try to be happy. I know this hurts but there is nothing I can do at the moment." A couple men appeared out of a tree wearing animal masks. "These men will escort you to the Hokage. He has set up a residence for you so that you can live on your own." Turning away not able to face the boy as it would break him into pieces. "Be strong, I know you want to be Hokage, make that your dream. If not find a dream and seek it out. Now go we will send your stuff to you." Hiashi walked back into the compound slamming shut the door and the window to his emotions.

Naruto walked up to the two men with animal masks and followed them. One talked to Naruto, "Cheer up. Things are different but they will improve." With that they walked silently, other than the constant sobs of Naruto, to the Hokage's tower.

At the tower, Naruto went to the Hokage's office. There he saw Sarutobi looking over documents not apparently noticing that Naruto and his escort had arrived. Naruto continued to cry as he had lost everything, his best friend, a man who he thought of like a father, the woman he thought of like a mother had died only recently. Nothing made sense. 'How am I to survive alone and with no one? Did Hiashi hate me? No, he said he did not. But then why is he sending me away? What did I do wrong?'

Sarutobi finished the document he was working on and waved the escort away and moved over to Naruto and knelt down and gave him a big hug. This startled Naruto as he was deep in thought about what he was to do. "Naruto, I know this is all confusing. And there is not much I can say. I am giving you an apartment to live in. You will be able to come and go as you please. Also for the next couple years I am going to have a Chunin come and stop by every few days to check on you and to teach you. This is to make sure you settle in to your new place and are able to survive."

"When you are eight I will let you enter the ninja academy. I will also come by occasionally as my work here permits. It is either this or an orphanage. I hope you understand that Hiashi did what he had to do. We can discuss this when you are older if you like. These men will escort you to your new home. Good luck. I expect great things from you Naruto." He hugged Naruto again and the escorts reappeared and walked him to a second story one bedroom apartment. It had a small kitchen, a refrigerator, a small couch, a small bathroom with shower, and in the bedroom there was a bed and a dresser. There was a note on the top of the dresser. The note read 'Naruto, you will be given certain amount of money each month for food and clothing. Please use it sparingly. Hokage.'

The escort left him with a key to the apartment and told him to expect a visitor in the morning. Naruto went into the bedroom and lay down on the bed and cried himself to sleep.

At the Hyuga compound Hinata asked where Naruto was. "He has been asked to leave. He has also been asked to not bother you anymore." An elder answered the elder smiled with the last statement. This news devastated Hinata. She had lost her best friend and he had been told to not talk to her. Feeling hurt and confused she ran as fast as she could to her room closing the door. She then proceeded to cried herself to sleep. 'Why do they want you to go? Where are you?'

The next day Naruto did not feel like getting up even when there was a knock at the door. He just lay on the bed not wanting to do anything not even think. He heard the door open and someone walk in. "Naruto? Are you here?" Asked a sweet voice. "Naruto are you here?" The voice seemed to become panicked. "Naruto are you here? Please Naruto be alright!" A woman ran into the bedroom with a look of terror in her jade green eyes. All Naruto could do was stare at her eyes. Seeing Naruto she put her hands on her chest. "Naruto, there you are. You had me scared. My Name is Keiko. I am very pleased to meet you." She bowed to Naruto. "I have been appointed your temporary guardian. I will also be instructing you on several subjects. These will include basic shinobi training, housekeeping, and finances. Do you have any questions?"

Naruto dumbfounded just shook his head no. "Ok Naruto, let's get you unpacked." She said with a chipper voice. The rest of the day was spent unpacking the few boxes that had come from his room at the Hyuga compound. They then went into town to get some more supplies. She later showed him how to cook and safety with the stove. "You should not be out without escort at nights. Also it would be better for you to eat here at home." This helped Naruto over some of his sadness about the whole Hyuga issue. She left late that night "I will see you in a couple days. Let me know if you need anything until then, just stop by the Hokage's office, they know how to contact me. Good bye Naruto and good night."

That night he heard his door open and some voices but he was groggy and did not realize that someone had entered his apartment and meant to do him harm. All he heard was "kill the demon." Then there was only blackness. He woke up at the hospital. Keiko and the Hokage were also in the room whispering something he was only able to catch parts of what was said. "He forgot what?" "Well at least Kakashi was there in time." "He is awake. We'll talk about this later."

"Hello Naruto, I hear you forgot to lock your door." Sarutobi said with a playful smile. "Did Keiko forget to tell you to do that when you leave and when you go to bed at night. I am truly sorry. Keiko and I were talking and she will be staying with you for a couple weeks so that you can come up with a system of how you will learn to live in your new place and to keep any robbers at bay. I hear you can go home today." Naruto suddenly got a big smile, he then realized that the Hokage was talking about the apartment and he looked was very sad.

The next couple weeks went by with no incidents, Keiko took him around to find things he needed and how he could get and use money. She taught him some basics for running and jumping so that he could run a little faster and also so that he could jump farther. When Keiko left after that he felt so lonely, he did not sleep for the first night. The next day he followed his routine Keiko laid out for him. The following day was not as good as he followed his routine he was attacked, the lessons Keiko gave him proved invaluable. He was knocked down and was beaten but was able to get up and run away from the attackers. While he did not like the beating he learned to enjoy the chase. Especially the evasion of his pursuers.

After a couple months he learned how to read the villagers, who would try to attack, who would shy away and who would just avoid him. Out of sheer boredom he started pulling pranks on a villager that he knew had beat him a couple times in the last couple months. While the pranks were simple they were effective in getting the attention of said villagers. His first consisted of a bucket, some string and some water. A simple trip wire trick that would pour the water from the bucket on the head of the jerk who liked to hit him.

Also he began to wonder why most stores would not let him shop there. He was not able to find very good clothing. He found a shop that had a supply of orange jumpsuits. He did like orange, and it got him more attention. He mostly ate at home, easy things to fix. He usually ate rice, ramen, a small serving of meat and some vegetable, but as few as possible. As time went on he went to great lengths to make sure his pranks got attention and that that no one would ever get hurt. Keiko and the Hokage tried to tell him to calm down his pranks or stop them. He would explain that he was just getting even with the ones who keep on hurting him. Quietly the Hokage and Keiko were happy that he found a constructive way to express his feeling and did not want to kill those that would do him harm.

About six months after starting his life on his own Keiko and Naruto were walking in the park near the lake. They were suddenly attacked. Keiko told Naruto to run, and he did. All he could hear after her screams were his heartbeat and the steps of someone pursuing him. He felt sharp pains in his back but continued to run, towards the hospital which was the closest place he knew was near. As the hospital came into sight a masked figure appeared in front of him, Naruto was feeling very weak and gave up as he could not fight or evade this person. So he gave into the tired feeling that was enveloping him. He collapsed into the arms of said masked man.

The man immediately took a shuriken to the mask, he returned the attack killing the attacker, then lifting Naruto gently he moved to the hospital. The mask was broken over what would be the left eye. The shuriken had glanced off his headband. As Kakashi entered the hospital a nurse immediately took Naruto and put him on a gurney. The nurse carefully removed the shuriken and kunai that were in his back. She then put bandages on the wounds. After taking care of Naruto the nurse turned to Kakashi. "Ok what happened?"

"Keiko and Naruto were ambushed. We were able to take out all but one of the pursuers but they got Keiko in the process. I lost one of my men also but we were able to take out all of them. I wish no one would have gotten hurt but this was all we could do." Kakashi explained as he removed his mask showing blood running down his left cheek. "I also got hit, good thing I keep this over that eye, pointing to his headband, or I would also be dead, and so would Naruto."

"Here let me check this out. Kagome, send word to the Hokage that Naruto has been attacked again, but this time it was serious. Now let me take a look at you. Naruto will be alright, he was able to minimize the places he was hit so they are not life threatening." She dressed Kakashi's wounds and they waited for the Hokage to arrive.

The Hokage arrived in a very bad mood. "Kakashi what happened? Where is Keiko? Who is protecting the boy?"

"We were attacked, she is dead, and I want to protect him. As such I would like to leave ANBU, as I can't just stand by and watch as evil people try to kill Naruto. I will watch over him when missions allow, I know how ANBU works so I would be a perfect protector of him. It was the Uchiha's again." Kakashi answered angrily.

"Calm down Kakashi, do you know what raising a boy entails? He is still growing he needs guidance that is why I had Keiko guarding and instructing him. Did you know Keiko was an Uchiha? My guess was that they were after them both. They targeted her for disobeying the head of the clan and him for being who he is." Sarutobi said shaking his head from side to side with a sad look on his face. "What can you offer him other than your protection? There are few in the village that will have anything to do with him. At least the other nobles allow their children to play with him, but that is only sparingly. Quite a few of the ANBU do not like Naruto. What will you do when he enters the Academy?"

"Let him do as he wants. He is a prankster that could become very valuable if he could use that on a mission where it is needed for distractions. Heck with that blonde head of his we could take him on the border with the land of stones and scare the heck out of them as he looks like the second coming of my old teacher the fourth Hokage." A look of solace hit Kakashi's face. "I liked Keiko, she was good for him. She was probably one of the few Uchiha's that cared, like Obito." Kakashi added sadly. "I will let him be on his own when he enters the academy. I will train him with the information he will need, I will not teach him jutsu but I will also not leave him unprepared for life at the academy."

Sarutobi nodded his agreement. "Then you will be working as a jonin instructor when you release Naruto. You can have him as a pupil if you like but I must say you must be fare with all your possible genin students." Kakashi nodded.

Naruto was released a few days later and was greeted by Kakashi "Hello Naruto, I will be your new guardian. My name is Kakashi Hatake. I will keep the schedule that Keiko was keeping with you also I will leave a friend with you so that you can stay out of most trouble, like the other night."

Naruto sadly nodded, "so Keiko left me?" Looking very sad "will you leave me too?"

Kakashi put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto, I will leave you to go on missions but I will leave someone with you to watch over you. Keiko left you but not willingly. From what I could tell she loved you like a brother. I am sorry she did not make it. She died making sure you made it to the hospital. I am sorry." With that they walked to Naruto's apartment.

"Tomorrow I will give you some training and we can work on some neat things. Sound good?" Kakashi asked as Naruto just nodded and walked with him to his apartment.

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