Summary: Trust is a valuable asset to have in any situation. Its also something that is hard to gain, but easy to lose. This a story based on a single Shinobi's unwavering trust and commitment to Naruto that changes the course of Naruto's life.

Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto.

'Italics'-Thoughts

Italics-Flashback

Bold Italics-Demonic Speaking

'Bold Italics'-Inner Sakura

'Bold'-Kyuubi Speaking

Chapter 2- Starting Something New

Kyo couldn't stop the sad smile that graced his features as he finished cleaning out his locker in the Anbu Corps. HQ. 'Two years of my career was spent here.' Placing the last of his belongings in the bag he had with him, Kyo placed the straps over his shoulders before he headed out of the locker room. Arriving outside into the main hall, he decided he should pay a visit to his boss, and flinched slightly as he realized how 'fun' that conversation was going to be. 'Maybe if I hurry, I can sneak out before he notices me.' "Kyo-San." 'Fuck.'

Turning around, Kyo came face to face with his boss, Uchiha Hanzō.

The man, while not extremely well built, still had a large mass of muscle over him, as well as a few extra inches in height. He had a gruff appearance, contrary to the standard clean look that mostly all the Uchiha were accustom to. He had a scar trailing down his left eye to his lower lip, his hair black and cropped, with an equally dark colored beard. His eyes themselves were onyx in color, and betrayed no emotion as he stared down at him.

Kyo winched inwardly as Hanzō gave him a scrutinizing look. Out of everyone within the Anbu Corps., he knew that he was going to be the only one that would question his decision, reprimand him, state that what he was doing was mistake and a costly one at that. "I heard that you resigned today." Kyo bowed his head, in what seemed to be a gesture of in what appeared to Hanzō as shame, when in reality it was to stop him from noticing that he had rolled his eyes.

Narrowing his eyes, Hanzō started to speak again, his voice showing his displeasure as he said, "And from what I've heard, to adopt a child. And not just any child, the demon brat himself." Kyo froze as his brain registered that last part. He never heard his superior speak of Naruto in that way in his two years of service. Now that he thought about it, he realized he never spoke of Naruto at all, if ever. He narrowed his eyes, an unsettling feeling in his stomach starting to make itself known. "If I may ask Uchiha-San, what does that have to do with you?" His only visible reaction to be referred to by his Sur-name was a slight twitch of his fingers, which Kyo noted happily, were attempting to curl into a fist.

When Kyo had joined Anbu and was placed under Hanzō's guidance, he discovered that he was different then most of the Uchiha Clan. While the other members of his clan would flaunt their family name to get what they wanted, Hanzō was different. He wanted people to respect him because of his first name, not his last. He wanted people to know of him as Hanzō, not Uchiha Hanzō. He wanted admiration for his deeds, not because he was from one of Konohagakure's most powerful and influential clans. When Kyo learned of his desire, he had grown to respect the man. He believed he was a man of honor, who valued privilege of being a Shinobi. When he had not slurred Naruto whenever he was brought up, either by fellow Anbu or by a mission that he was assigning him regarding him, he never said a thing other then, "I expect the job done to be completed." Now it was different.

Whatever respect and genuine care he had for the man were now gone at the very instant the words 'demon brat' escaped his lips. Now he saw him just like the rest of his clan. Short sighted, ignorant, prideful fools.

Glaring at him rather harshly to where KI started to leak out, Hanzō barked, "Because I'm seeing one of my best Anbu turning soft for the cause of all of this village's suffering!" Brushing the killing intent that was sent his way, Kyo returned the glare, his KI immediately shattering the man's resolve as he immediately broke eye contact, giving another twitch of his hand as if he was trying to reach for something.

"Listen, and listen well Uchiha. I don't give a damn what the hell you have against Naruto or what your feelings are towards him, but you never, ever, insult him in front of me. I don't care if you were my superior at one point, next time I hear something negative about him come out of your mouth, I'll kill you." He smiled with a small level of satisfaction as he summoned what little courage he had left before he gave Kyo on last glare before he snarled, "To think I held you in such high regard at one point…demon lover."

Uzuki Yugao was not in the best of moods. Being new to the Anbu Black Ops. was hard enough as it was, but she had to be placed under the same squad as Hakate Kakashi, of all people. She didn't mind Tenzō, on the contrary, he was actually an okay guy. He was pretty laid back, but always got the job done. Kakashi on the other hand was another story. All he ever did was read that stupid smut book he carried around with her. She'll admit that she did get a look at it before hand, and while it did have something similar to a plot, it was pure smut plain and simple. She wasn't even into the first five pages and the main character was already going at with some girl he had used a dumb pickup line on, one of which would never realistically work. 'Perverts! This whole country is full of them!'

Turning the corner at the end of the hall she was walking down, she stopped as her eyes spotted a very strange sight. In front of her was Uchiha Hanzō, glaring at a young man whom if she remembered correctly, was Itonami Kyoufu. Though she didn't know either of them personally, she had heard that they were both extremely talented. Hanzō was of course no surprise, being an Uchiha and a seasoned Shinobi, he would have to be. Kyoufu on the other hand, was only sixteen, seventeen years old, and he had joined Anbu when he was just fourteen years old, a record as only a few others had joined at such an age. Not only that, but the only ones who seemed to be able to combat him and win were only nine in number, her two squad being two of them. She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Hanzō snarl, "To think I held you in such high regard at one point…demon lover."

Her eyes widened when she saw Hanzō imbedded into the wall down the hall, Kyo standing on one foot, his other pointing in the direction that he kicked his superior into. Lowering his leg, he stalked towards his direction before he pried him off the wall, his hand wrapped tightly around his neck. "I warned you Uchiha. Now I'm going to kill you, nice, and slow." Yugao watched his grip tighten around Hanzō neck, and couldn't stop the shiver that ran down her back as she saw the cold inhuman fury in his eyes. She finally took a step forward when she heard Hanzō take a strangled breath, before she saw Kyo narrow his eyes and increase the pressure he had on the man's neck. "Kyo-San!"

His grip slackened almost immediately, his eyes still narrowed in a glare, but the intensity in them were gone. Hanzō slumped to the ground, his breathes coming in pants as he tried to regulate his breathing again. Adjusting his bag, Kyo gave the man one last glare before he said coldly, "This is your one and only warning. Cross me again, and I will kill." Giving Yugao a sidelong glance, he muttered lowly that he could barely hear him, "No matter who is watching." Standing to his legs shakily, Hanzō gave him a look of hatred before he stumbled down the hall, most likely to one of the medics to heal him rather going to the hospital. 'That way this who little episode won't spread. His reputation would be damaged, along with his pride.'

After seeing Hanzō turn the corner, Kyo turned his gaze back to Yugao before he growled, "You shouldn't have interfered." With her mouth agape slightly at his tone, Yugao fumbled for her words before she gave him a leveled look. "And what? Have you kill a fellow Konoha Nin? Are you out of your mind?" Turning his back on her, Kyo whispered, "I have the authority to."

"You don't have the authority to do anything! Only the Sandaime and the Elder Council has the power to execute a Shinobi!" "As of six years ago, that power has been mute."

Frowning, Yugao tried to remember what happened six years ago to make Kyo believe he can kill whomever he pleased, particularly since this was a strange new behavior coming from him as he never threatened anyone unless on a mission when he faced opposition. Then the thought a certain blonde haired boy passed by her mental field of vision. "The Uzumaki?"

Nodding his head, Kyo whispered, "The Sandaime created the law that forbade anyone of speaking of the Kyūbi no Yōko and its true fate. Even then, the people have found loopholes, referring to him as 'demon brat' or a monster. The mobs, beatings, and constant raids and burning of his apartment are just a few of the actions that the villagers' commit against him. As I told Hokage-Sama, I am tired of being assigned to guard him just to watch as he gets sent to the hospital for injuries that would kill a seasoned Shinobi. So I took his law and decided to make it a reality. Next person to injury my Sochi or give an level of distain short fro a glare, I will end their existence." Seeing Yugao's surprised look, he explained his current situation and decision to adopt Naruto and give him the life he truly deserves.

"The only reason I am telling you this, is so you can spread it among the Shinobi ranks. Though I told Hokage-Sama that I will kill anyone who tries to make my son's life miserable, I'd like to prevent that, if at all possible. I am sure that even though Hanzō may want this to remain quiet, our little fight will spread. As you a witness, I am sure you will be asked the details behind the story. Now that you know, I expect for you to disclose whatever mucked up lie that Hanzō will conceive. Now if you don't mind Yugao-San, I need to go and visit my son as he is getting discharged from the hospital today."

Watching him make a quick hand seal, Yugao saw him disappear in a vortex of leaves before she snapped out of her reverie. Rubbing her shoulder anxiously, Yugao wondered what this would entitle for her and her friends if they ever crossed Kyo like his former superior did. 'We don't have anything to fear. I'm not sure about Kurenai-Chan, but I know Anko and Hana for a fact don't hold the Uzumaki responsible for the near destruction of Konoha those years ago. I don't, and both my parents died that night.'

Deciding she wasted enough time thinking about this, Yugao made her way to the women's locker room to change into her armor as she was meeting her team for the first time today. 'I swear of Kakashi has that book out during any part of the meeting, I'll castrate him!'

At the Memorial Stone…

Sneezing rather hard suddenly, one Hakate Kakashi rubbed his nose through his mask before he idly wondered who in the world would be thinking about him to get him to sneeze like that. Unbidden, images of several female Kunoichi showed up in his mind's eye, and he couldn't stop the perverted giggle and blush that appeared on his the only visible part of his cheeks as his thoughts then led to more unsavory images, fueled by the smut he had in his hands. 'Thank kami for Icha Icha Paradise!'

Konohagakure General Hospital…

Appearing in front of the hospital's main entrance, Kyo quickly stepped inside, bypassing the woman at the desk from the previous night and going up the stairs to Naruto's room.

Once he arrived, he noticed immediately that Kari wasn't standing guard outside the door, and his insides filled with dread. 'I forgot that her guard switch was earlier this morning.' Remembering how his former partner Inu had reacted to protecting Naruto, Kyo wasted no time in running full speed towards the door, bursting through it, a kunai blade in hand as his other hand was already going through the seals required for a Bunshin. What he saw made him falter, his eyes widening slightly in surprise at the scene playing out in front of him.

Naruto was sitting comfortably in the lap of Kari, whom was dressed out of her Anbu uniform, now wearing a short sleeved mesh shirt with a gray faded tank top over it,. She had a pair of knee high shorts and a pair of Shinobi sandals as footwear. Her hands were covered my a pair of navy blue fingerless gloves, and the right and left bangs of her hair he noted, were braided. Her eyes merely glanced at him for a second before returning her attention back on Naruto, who was still chattering aimlessly on how 'cool' his new Tou-San and about the various pranks he pulled in the Academy, completely unaware that his father had just broken down the door to his hospital room.. Letting a soft smile grace her face, Kari politely interrupted the boy before gesturing to Kyo, whom had yet to put the kunai in his hand away.

"Tou-San!"

Finally snapping out of his stupor, he grinned at the boy before he shoved the kunai back into the pouch on his left leg. "Morning Sochi. How did you sleep?"

Giving his usual foxy grin, Naruto chirped, "I slept great!" Nodding his head, Kyo let his grin turn into a soft smile. 'So the news about the fox didn't affect him as bad as I thought it would. Good, that means he can accept the harsh realities of the Shinobi life style.'

Glancing back at Kari, whom was watching the scene with the utmost interest, Kyo gave her a nod before he asked, "What are you doing her Kari-Chan? I thought your shift ended a little over two hours ago." Nodding her head, Kari gave Kyo a small gesture towards her outfit before she said, "Yes, and as you can see, I took the opportunity to go and take a shower, braid my hair, change my clothes, and then made my way back her to spend some more time with Naru-Chan."

Giving the woman a pout, Naruto gave a small whine of, "Kari-Chan!" Grinning like an idiot, Kyo decided to mentally take notes at his son's reaction to the pet name, making sure to use it embarrass him as much as he possibly could, or at least when he refused to listen to him. Giving Kari a small bow of gratitude, Kyo said, "Thank you for spending time with Naruto-Kun, Kari-Chan. Mind if I ask what the conversations you had with him were about?"

Raising an eyebrow, Kari merely shrugged innocently before she said nonchantley, "Oh, we were just swapping stories. He told various pranks that he pulled on the Academy Instructors, and I told him about that mission we had for Madam Shijmi, the one where we had to find her cat, Tori when it had missing while she was out touring the country. I was just on the part when the cat tried to latch on-!"

Moving faster that even the Sharingan wouldn't be able to track him, Kyo appeared behind Kari's position on the bed, his hand pressed firmly over Kari's mouth as he gave Naruto a look laced with a small amount of KI that clearly said, 'Tell anyone and you're going to get it'. Nodding his head vigorously, Naruto squeaked, "I promise not to tell anyone, dattebayo!" With his KI lessening, Kyo gave him a small nod before he shot Kari a rather nasty glare.

"Next time, tell him a story that doesn't involve that stupid cat and its claws. God knows that thing has done enough to piss me off that it warrants the most painful methods of death to be placed on it." Removing his hand from her mouth, Kari tilted her head back slightly, finding that she fell short of him as her head fit snugly against his chin. Fighting the blush on her cheeks, Kari gave him a innocent smile before she said, "Do you mind letting me go now?" Realizing that she was now sitting in his lap and that he had his left arm wrapped around her waist, Kyo immediately let go before he shot up to the ceiling, hanging on by his feet in a crouch as he looked determinedly at the wall, a large blush decorating his face.

Before either adults could speak, Naruto gave them both a wide grin before he shouted, "IS KARI-CHAN GOING TO BE MY NEW KAA-SAN?!" With his son's proclamation shocking him and causing his focus to split, Kyo slipped off the ceiling before he landed on ground, giving a small groan of pain when he landed on his back. Kari on the other hand, remained perfectly still, her face a cross between a blush and amusement.

Glancing down at him, she gave Kyo a contemplative glance before she decided whatever retribution he offer to her would be will worth the extra bit of teasing she was going to get out of this moment. "I'm not sure Naru-Chan. What do you think Kyo-Koi?" Sputtering and feeling his cheeks heat up, Kyo mentally berated himself from blushing so much in the time span of five minutes. 'Is it even healthy to blush this much?'

Returning his gaze back to Kari, he muttered, "Its up to you Kari-Hime." He felt the pride and triumph rise in his chest as it was Kari's turn to turned her head in the other direction, another blush decorating her cheeks now. Standing up, he gestured for Naruto to follow him as he waved a farewell to Kari, who was able to get the red in her cheeks to dull to a light pink. "Bye Kaa-San! I'll see you later!"

Grabbing the boy by the scruff of his neck, Kyo dragged him down the hall before Kari had a chance to reply, though he was expecting that she was probably trying to regain her composure, again. Giving his son a sidelong glance, Kyo silently vowed to make adjustments to Naruto's training schedule. 'Or I can ask Gai if he would like to train my son in the ways of youth.' Following that thought, an image of a orange spandex wearing Naruto with blue leg warmers appeared in his mind, screaming to the heavens of the power of youth with the image of a sunset behind him. 'NO FUCKING WAY IN HELL!' Making the necessary hand seals for the Shunshin., both he and Naruto disappeared.

Hokage's Tower…

Arriving outside the Hokage Tower, Kyo started to pull Naruto's arm as they entered the building, said blonde asking excitingly how he had used that Jutsu. "Tell you what. You behave, and I'll teach you that and another Jutsu of your choosing as a late birthday present. Deal?" Feeling the little ball of energy collide with his right leg, Kyo felt a bead of sweat work its way down his forehead as Naruto tried to crush his leg in a hug, tears running down his cheeks while shouting, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Prying the boy off him, Kyo picked him up to eye level before he said softly, "Its not a problem Naruto-Kun. Just promise me that when you met the Hokage, I want you to answer all his questions, no matter how hard it might be for you, okay?" Nodding his head vigorously, Naruto replied, "Hai Tou-San!"

Placing him down on the ground, Kyo walked with him to the Hokage's office, glancing at the receptionist before she gave them the go ahead to enter. Taking a deep breath, Kyo gave Naruto a reassuring smile before he said, "Just remember what I said last night." With his posture straightening, and his sapphire eyes taking on a look of pure defiance and strength, Naruto gave his father another grin. "Don't worry! I won't tell Jiji-San a thing!" Entering the room, Kyo quickly followed after him, closing the door behind him before he took a seat, noticing the Hokage's stern expression. "Something wrong Hokage-Sama?" Fixing him a dark look, Sarutobi remained silent for a moment before he whispered harshly, "We have to talk Kyo-San, about whether or not it truly was a good idea I let become Naruto's guardian, considering what I just heard." With his eyes widening, Kyo only had one thought running through his mind at that moment.

'Fuck. I'm screwed.'

Translations:

Terms:

Kaa-San- Mother

Tou-San: Father

Jiji-San- Old man/grandfather

Geographical Areas:

Konohagakure no Sato: Hidden Village in the Leaves

/-/Author Note/-/

Second chapter finally done! There was no real purpose for this chapter other then to introduce Kari and Kyo a little better and introduce a few characters that will have a far more important role later in the story. I'll try and put up the third chapter as soon as I can, which hopefully won't take me about two weeks. Remember to review, and criticism is welcomed.