Sorry it took so long to update. I had 5 projects to do at school and almost no time to write but the bright side is i have almost all of chapter 3 on paper now i just need to type it on the computer. so give me a week week and a half and i will have updated again. So please read and review. remember i dont mind constructive criticism. let me know what you think, and now to the story.

AVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVA

(Ten minutes later)

It had been ten minutes and they were only now nearing upon the clearing the Sandaime had seen in his crystal ball. Sarutobi was filled with fear and worry he knew from experience in the Great Shinobi Wars that one minute on the battlefield was an eternity and it had been ten. Unless a miracle has occurred Naruto is either dead or dying, and if it's the later than I will only be able to offer him some comfort as he lays dying in my arms. Seeing as there is no way we would be able to get him to a hospital in time at this point, too much time has gone by.'

As he arrived on the scene of the battle, although it looked more like a war had broke out. The ground in a fifty-foot radius had all been burned into ash. Trees were black and leafless from being burned away but the odd thing was that there were small patches of ice everywhere. There were five bodies scattered across the battlefield. Three of them were horrible mutilated they had wounds of all kinds on them they had been stabbed, slashed, and hacked, but the weird part was that all of their wounds were frozen and covered in ice. The other two bodies were none other than Naruto and Katsu. Naruto was covered in burns ranging from first to third degree burns, his left arm and right leg were laying in unnatural angles with some bones protruding from his arms, his chest wasn't any better for it to had some bones sticking out of it. Katsu was in better condition than Naruto he only looked a little beat up and one of his hind legs was broken.

It was then Sarutobi noticed that his ANBU were staring at something. When he looked to see what they were all staring at it caught him by surprise because he had not noticed it sooner. He hadn't noticed it sooner but there was a young man standing above Naruto. He was a very unusual man he had ice blue hair and eyes; he wore unique armor that must have been custom made. The armor looked similar to the kind ANBU agents usually wear. It had small studs that were about an inch in size all over. He wore bracers and a mask that was similar to Kakashi's but extended down to cover his neck. The most unusual part to his whole ensemble was the fact that he was carrying around a nondescript sword hilt but that was all no blade just a hilt.

The Sandaime then whispered some orders to his ANBU team. "The moment he lets his guard down I want you to engage him in combat, and try to get him away from Naruto and Katsu that way I can get those two away from him. Do you understand?"

"Understood Hokage-sama!" they chorused out.

Just as they finished discussing this, the young man pulled out a jug of water and started pouring it all over Naruto, Katsu, and the ground around them. Um… ok what's the point of doing that? Oh well his guard is down.' "Go and make sure you do your part quickly." As the ANBU charged at the man to get him away from Naruto he started to form hand signs at a very fast rate.

Just as the three ANBU were nearly upon him he shouted out "Ice style: Ice Dome!" after that declaration a dome of ice arose from the water that had been poured out earlier, this dome was big enough to protect Naruto, Katsu, and the young man.

Damn he can use ice jutsu's! It must be some kind of kekkei genkai. Let's hope that he is a amateur or else this could get tough, After all we can't use any of our powerful fire jutsu's without harming Naruto as well.' His ANBU seemed to realize this as well so they went to perform the hand signs for some lesser katon jutsu's.

Just as they were half way through their hand signs the man shouted out from within the dome. "I don't know who you bastards are, but I won't let you harm this boy!" This statement shocked the ANBU and Hokage enough to cause them all to stop.

The Sandaime wasn't sure which shocked him more what the man said or the fact that by the sound of his voice he wasn't a young man but a young boy! "There seems to be a misunderstanding between us. We are not here to harm the boy. We are here to bring him back home; he is like a grandson to me."

After a few moments the dome of ice reverted back into water, and the young boy spoke again. "Really? Hmm, yes I see it now their headbands are slashed where as yours is not. I got here in time to save the boy from immediate death but if he isn't taken to a hospital fast… well you know…" He just left it at that after all everyone knew what he meant by that statement.

"The nearest hospital is a good ten minutes away at the least. He won't make it in time." Sarutobi said with deep regret in his voice. He was glad that Naruto was saved from the enemy ninja, but sadly it was not in time to save his life. To think this had to happen. He would have been a strong shinobi and have brung great prosperity to Konoha.'

"He might be able to make it…"

"What do you mean?"

"I have a jutsu that could buy us some time. It's not supposed to be used in this manner so it could be just as harmful as it is helpful so time is still of the essence." Looking at the slightly confused leaf ninja he explained it to them. "It's a one of my families' jutsu's it's supposed to completely freeze someone or something. If I do it right though maybe I can use it to put him in a preserved state. Almost like freezing food so that it will last longer. "Now they no longer had a confused but amazed look on their face. Being given the go ahead sign from the Hokage he performed the jutsu. Once completed the water that he had spilt earlier surged up around Naruto and then froze turning him into a human ice cube. "There we go that should have bought us some time but we still need to hurry." With that said the ANBU picked Naruto up and proceeded to run back to Konoha.

"Thank you so much for your help boy. I can't express to you how happy I am that Naruto might survive this whole ordeal. If you will come with us I'll make sure you get something for all this and I would like to hear what happened while we were on our way here." Sarutobi hoped the boy would accept. He felt indebted to this boy for saving Naruto.

"Yes of course. I'm worried about the boy, so I would like to be able to see him wake up; if that's all right with you?"

"Yes of course now let's get going." And with that they were of heading back to Konoha as fast as they could while making sure not to drop Naruto or jostle Katsu too much. Now if it were not for the fact that the man carrying Naruto was in the back of the group and that Naruto was on his back then the observant watcher would notice Naruto starting to give off a red glow. Just as they were arriving in Konoha the red glow disappear, therefore no one ever noticed anything wrong.

AVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVA

(In the hospital)

"Alright you can drop your jutsu now we made it." With that said the ice holding Naruto slowly melted away and then proceeded to move back into their prospective containers. The Sandaime looked around for one of the few nurses that were walking around right now doing their rounds. "Nurse please take Naruto to the emergency room now he is in critical condition." There was a note of desperation and sadness in his voice as he said this. The nurse noticing this took a long thorough look at Naruto. She had to force herself not to sneer at the Demon Brat. The last person that had done that in the Hokage's presence had a month's paid vacation with…Ibiki…in a holding cell. Needless to say the guy was never quite the same after that little incident.

"Hmm I will admit he is in bad condition, but I wouldn't say critical. A few broken and exposed bones and some wounds inflicted by a sword of some kind most likely." The nurse looked confused at how the boy got some sword wounds; after all not very many people use swords in a fight now days, especially in the shinobi world.

Sarutobi had been slowly getting pissed off at this nurse, who had this whole time just agonizingly examined Naruto as slowly as humanly possible, and when she said he was "only" in "bad" condition it pissed him off to no ends he was ready to kill someone. "What do you mean he's not in critical condition just LOOK at him!! Just some broken bones and a few stab wounds a…" he stopped whatever he was going to say do to the fact that all of Naruto's burns were gone. It was almost like he had never been burned. "What the… Where did all his burns go he was covered in them just a minute ago?" turning to the ice boy he asked. "Did your jutsu do this?"

"No wasn't me, remember I was worried about it hurting him so there is no way it could have healed him." The boy had a look of complete honesty and confusion plastered on his face.

"Hmm whatever he's still in bad condition and I expect you all to treat Naruto immediately, and this time do the job ALL the way." With that said a few doctors had finally arrived and put Naruto on a stretcher to be taken to their intensive care room. "Alright, while the doctors take care of him why don't we go to my office we need to talk?"

"Your office, what do you mean?"

"Oh that's right we never properly introduced. I'm Sarutobi Sasuke and I am the leader of this village, and who might you be?" He found it quite amusing to see the look of shock and amazement on the young boys face after learning who he is.

"My name is Tora Tushiro and it's a pleasure meeting you Hokage-sama.

AVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVA

(Unknown Location)

He awoke to a burning sensation so powerful it made him want to scream out in pain. Just as he was about to do so he realized there was something missing. Despite the incredible heat and burning sensation he was in absolutely no pain. After realizing that he decided to take in his surroundings, he assumed that he was sitting in what looked like a volcano filled with lava or magma, or whatever you were supposed to call it he wasn't exactly sure. Up to this point he assumed he was sitting on a rock that was jutting out of the lava, but looking down he realized to his horror he was swimming in the stuff!! "What the hell is going on here? Where am I? How am I swimming in this stuff!?

At his outburst the magma in the center of the volcano started to bubble and spew all over. I have a sinking feeling that I'm about to get my answer.' A figure started to emerge from the lava. At one glance anyone could tell you that, this thing by no mean was human despite its humanoid shape. It stood seven feet tall and the magma around him started to surge around him and forms his body. The magma hardened into a humanoid shape, the area where its eyes would be though remained as burning magma, along with the area's where a normal person's veins and joints would be. It was a rather imposing being, as it spoke to Naruto light streamed from its mouth. "Who are you mortal to enter my domain?"

Naruto was so terrified by this creature that he wasn't sure he could even talk, and yet he was more afraid to not talk in fear of offending this guy if you could call it that. "M…My n…name is N…Narut…to Uz…Uzumaki s…sir and w…who are y…you?" Naruto might only be eight years old, but even he was smart enough to know this thing had to be one of three things; a god, a demon, or something in-between.

"You shall learn my name in time boy. That is if you are worthy enough to learn it, but me must move on your spirit walk might not last much longer do to your young age…" The entity would have continued but Naruto interrupted him.

"Excuse me sir but what is spirit walking?" He was still afraid of this thing but he knew that it wasn't going to hurt him seeing as it was talking to him.

"You do not know? Then how did you get here? Ah never mind ill just explain it we are running out of time so just listen carefully because I'm not repeating myself. Spirit walking is when your soul leaves your body to partake in a journey. This journey can be many things, you could be going into the past to see the things you have done and learn a lesson from them, and you could be visiting someone close to you to see how they are. Those are the two most common types, but there are others, some people who are strong of mind and body can travel to other planes of existence. It usually takes decades for one to be able to do this, and yet you have not even seen your first decade. You should not be able to do this, maybe that is why I feel something off about you." During this speech Naruto was desperately trying to wrap his mind around the concept and yet still pay attention. So does that mean I'm dead? NO I can't be dead I just can't.'

"Hey if I'm spirit walking does that mean I'm dead?" seeing this thing shake it's head no he decided to ask his second question. "What do you mean you feel something off' about me?"

"It's as if you have been alive for thousands of years and yet only eight at the same time. You scream of pure evil and yet pure good. You have great power within you and yet you are pure of heart and soul, which is indicated by your not being burned alive right now."

"Yea I was going ask about that."

"Time is short so I shall get to the point. Every mortal before you who has entered into my domain has had a corrupted heart and therefore perished in this pool of magma, you are the first mortal pure of heart to come here and that is what allows you to swim in all this unharmed. I sense great potential in you as well you will do great things in life. Therefore I shall grant you my blessing…." Naruto was about to interrupt him again to ask what he was talking about, but after being glared at by this guy he decided it was better not to. "Now before you ask me what my blessing is, I will tell you. For now my blessing does you little good but as you grow it shall do more for you. From this day forth fire and all its associates shall recognize you as a friend. Never shall you be burned by fire or heat ever again. Never again will you be blinded by light for fire is light without heat. Finally, may you never find yourself lost in the dark."

"Umm I don't understand but hey I don't care. It's my birthday so I'll take it, anything is better than nothing." The man found it sad at the boy's lack of understanding, but knew the boy would understand eventually.

"Um… well happy birthday I guess, but it's time for you to go back boy. It's unhealthy to spirit walk longer than necessary. Farewell and know that we shall meet again."

"How do I get back though?" It was then that the world went black and he knew no more.

AVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVA

(At the Hokage's office)

"So Tora what were you doing before the incident, and who are you exactly?" the Sandaime inquired. He was curious as to who Tora exactly was. After all it's not very often you meet someone who can manipulate a secondary element.

"Well as you know my name is Tora Tushiro. What you don't know is that I originally come from a clan of people who used to be able to manipulate ice." Tora was going to continue, but the Sandaime who had raised his hand to silence him interrupted him.

"You said used to' why is that?" The Sandaime had a feeling he knew why, but he would let Tora tell him. If he was willing to that is.

"Well it all started about four years ago. As you most undoubtedly know there is a civil war going on in Mist country. During this civil war anyone with a bloodline was either made into a mindless weapon or ruthlessly killed off. My clan was very secretive only one or two people outside the clan knew about or abilities. Well one of them must have betrayed us, because one day the Mist army attacked and we were caught off guard. Before anyone could form an effective defense and counterattack countless members of my clan were slaughtered. It was painfully obvious to everyone that we were going to lose the battle. So my aunt got me and my sister while my uncle got our family scrolls and took us both away. That way our clan wouldn't be completely wiped out.

"While we attempted to escape the rest of the family started to form a blizzard in order to cover our escape. It is one of our families last resort techniques; it kills EVERYONE in its area effect. Although do to the fact that it was winter time a real blizzard also formed. Do to this our aunt carried my sister while uncle carried me seeing as we couldn't walk well in the storm. After a few hours of walking it was still storming out, but now it was also nighttime. We were walking in the middle of a forest there was about a foot or two of snow on the ground so the traveling was slow. After awhile of walking we heard what sounded like ice cracking…" He stopped talking due to the fact that he was trying his best not to break down and start sobbing.

"If you do not want to tell me then you do not have to. I understand if it is too painful to retell." The Sandaime truly felt sorry for this poor boy he couldn't be more than ten years old, and yet he has already seen so much death in his life. No one should have to see the death of all their clansmen.' "Well I guess that's enough…"

"No, it's quite alright. I know how Konoha feels about bloodline users, and ya'll don't persecute us. So I wanted to move here, but I could be considered a threat. Which means you as the Hokage need to know everything there is to know about me in order to asses if I'm a threat or not. Am I correct?" It was amazing how quickly he had been able to overcome his tears. He must have cried his heart out so much he doesn't have any more tears to shed.'

"So as I was saying… There was a cracking sound like that of ice breaking. We all stopped dead afraid to move a muscle. We sat there waiting, but after a few minutes of nothing happening we continued trudging through the snow. No sooner than we started there was another sound, but this time it was that of ice shattering followed by a splashing sound." Tora stopped for just a moment whipping a few tears away. "My uncle and I looked to our left only to see that my aunt and sister had disappeared under the ice that had been hidden under the snow. It turned out that my uncle and I were on the bank of a river while my aunt and sister had been walking on it. There was nothing we could do they were trapped under the ice and being swept downriver. My sister and aunt were gone, my clan was gone, and everyone but my uncle was dead. We never saw either of them again, uncle didn't even bother to go look for them we both knew they were either dead or dying. So that is why I said used to'.

The Sandaime is very rarely caught speechless, but this was one of the few moments that he was. "Wait didn't you say you still had your uncle?"

"Yes I did, but a few weeks ago he died as well. He left me with nothing but our family scrolls and our signature armor that you see me wearing right now."

"That is a very sad tale and I am sorry to have made you relive old and painful memories. Let's put that to the side for now. Seeing as how you're going to be moving here do you have any questions?" The Sandaime said with a sad yet inquisitive tone.

"I do have one question." He said with a nervous look.

"What is that Tora?"

"Why was that boy out alone in the middle of the forest being hunted down by nuke-nin?"

"That is a longer tale than I care to recount. So I shall give you a shortened version of it." Tora looked confused but let him continue. "You see Naruto is an orphan, his parents died in battle against the great Kyuubi no Kitsune a long time ago. After its defeat many people still held bitter feelings towards the Kyuubi because not only did the Yondaime die fighting it but so did countless number of shinobi and citizens…" Sarutobi would have continued, but Tora interrupted him.

"Look not that the story isn't interesting or anything, but I fail to see what this has to do with that boy. So stop with the story and answer my question already." He asked with agitation clearly in his voice, if he doesn't want to tell me then fine, but please stop wasting my time old man.'

"Calm down young one this story has everything to do with Naruto and more." Tora looked skeptical but he stayed silent. "You see Naruto looks exactly like a younger version of the Yondaime, the only difference being that he has whisker marks on his face and his teeth resemble small fangs. Which reminds everyone of the Kyuubi, it also doesn't help that he was born on the same day that the Kyuubi attacked. So the fact that he resembles the late Yondaime and has 'demonic' features makes many of the villagers treat him as if he is the Kyuubi. They go so far as to call him "Demon brat", "Kyuubi spawn", and even "Monster" but those are just some of their favorites they call him many other horrible things as well. The worst part about it is the fact that no matter what I do they beat him, chase him around, and torture him on a regular basis. I've tried everything I came close to adopting the boy." The Hokage had his head down during his tale not wanting to see the look on Tora's face, but now that it was over he looked up to see what his reaction was.

"Those MOTHER FING BASTARDS! How dare they treat him that way just because of what he looks like! It truly sickens me; here I thought Konoha was supposed to be a refuge for people like Naruto and me. The way they treat him is just how people like me are treated in Mist country. Doesn't the orphanage help him? Tora may be around the same age as Naruto, but right now he was acting like a volatile teenager who was just told he couldn't go to the prom.

"No the orphanage kicked him out at the age of five, the orphanage hated him more than anyone else. They always served him rotten and poisoned food." He said this with deep sadness in his voice. "He has been alone ever since then."

"Not anymore, not now that I'm here!" He said with conviction in his voice.

"Why whatever could you possibly mean Tora?" Sarutobi said goading Tora into continuing, hoping this was going where he thought it was.

"I know some of the pain he is in therefore I DEMAND you to let me move in with Naruto as his new older brother!" Tora yelled while practically knowing he was demanding this to Sarutobi who was now smiling at Tora.

"Alright Tora I accept your demands. Now let's go to the hospital and see how Naruto is doing. It is getting late but if he is awake we shall see if he accepts your proposition." They both then got up and started heading to the hospital. It was nearly nighttime now which meant they had been there talking for a few hours now. So hopefully between the medics and Naruto's incredible healing rate he should be awake at the least by now.