AN: Well now that we are past the prologue… Let the story begin! But please have patience, as I've probably said a few dozen times now, first story…
But without further ado, Chapter 1!
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There was a tired sigh that came from the aged man behind the desk. Said furnishing had a pile of papers as tall as the five year old that sat across from the man. The man was Sarutobi Hiruzen, the reinstated Third Hokage.
"Ji-saaaaan!" Whined the blonde haired child impatiently. "Yew shaid we'd go to Ichiwaku's for my birfdaayyyy! But yowr still doing werk…" The child whined cutely. To say it worked was like saying the Third was way out of his prime. He stood, walking around his desk and patting the boy on the head, getting him to smile. "Let's go then Naruto." He said with a smile.
It had been five years on the day, since that night. To say that the Professor was saddened by the reaction the village gave him from the news… It just goes to show how ignorant people can be.
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FLASHBACK
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Light from the sun rained down across the village, ironic how such wonderful weather came the day after such an event that would stay with the village for a while, it was almost sickening how wrong it seemed.
The village was a mess; the epicenter of the destruction was littered with downed buildings and bodies of some villagers and a few ninja that weren't fast enough to escape. The feeling of dread, sadness, loss and hatred ran high.
Sarutobi's timing couldn't have been any worse.
Crowds of people that made it out, civilians and ninja alike gathered at the Kage Tower. The Third carried a bundle of joy that was currently asleep again. Oh how he envied the baby, care free, even resting.
He raised his head, "People of the Hidden Leaf… We have suffered a great loss this night. Many of our friends, our families… Have died for what seemed like an unforeseeable disaster… It was no dream, no nightmare, but reality that we were attacked by an unseen force-" To which he was interrupted by a civilian.
"Unseen! I'm sure we all saw that massive demon fox that ravaged us! It showed no mercy!" The man was quickly silenced when he noticed the glare he received from the aged warrior.
Sarutobi had to pause, he needed to tell them that the fox wouldn't have attacked if not for that stranger that attacked them. But he couldn't tell them that the Fourth was having a child, nor that the previous container, whose identity was supposed to be kept secret had been the mother. He came up with what he hoped would sate their anger.
"The demon was summoned by someone, we don't know who it was, if they had accomplices, or any major details, all we know is that someone attacked us… But our late Hokage, Minato Namikaze saved us! He sealed the threat into this child!" He raised Naruto into the air, expecting cheers. What he heard, angered him.
Shouts out 'Kill it!' and other such things had come from the collective of villagers. Their knowledge of seals being limited, if it even existed. Further chants of 'Slay it while it's weak!' And, 'That's no child, it's the demon in a disguise!' filled the air.
He didn't take long to realize he'd made a mistake. He'd almost ensured the boy's future…
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END FLASHBACK
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Luckily there were a few exceptions, for instance the pair of Ramen chiefs they were on the way to meet. Planting his hand on the boy's head once more, they vanished from the office in a swirl of leaves. Not even a moment later, they were in front of the small stand. Naruto was practically floating on the aroma of fresh ramen. He yelped in excitement and almost hauled the aged Kage by the wrist into the stand.
When they were finally seated, the older of the two cheered, "Yosh! My favorite customers!" He clapped his hands together for emphasis before leaning over the table with a smile, "How can I help the two of you? Lord Hokage? My dear boy, Naruto?" Not missing a beat, Naruto chanted, "Miso ramen, miso ramen! –ttebayo!"
"And for you Lord Hokage?" He asked, the boy's smile was infectious and he could feel one tugging at his lips. Sarutobi nodded, "Ah, yes… Miso Pork Ramen please…"
A vast difference in behavior, but none the less, the mood was high. Ayame, the chief's daughter smiled pulling out what was needed to make the ramen. Teichu, the owner and father started on the orders.
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It hadn't taken too long for Naruto to eat his fill. Three full bowls of Ramen… How the boy could eat. They lay piled and empty off to the side, and the blonde sat back, patting his stuffed belly. "Thanks for the food!" He cheered. To which the pair only smiled, saying in unison, "Happy Birthday!"
After paying the bill, the Hokage led Naruto out, and thought to escort him to his apartment. Now Naruto had been forced out of the orphanage pretty early, probably at the age of three. So about two years ago today, he'd been sent to live alone. The intention of the caretaker was for him to lie on the streets. But unluckily for her, the elder Kage had come to visit later that day. It was the boy's birthday after all, he always saw him on his birthday atleast.
He had arranged for Naruto to live in an apartment just a ways off from the Uchiha compound. A few of the Uchiha had befriended Kushina, and he figured a few of them would pick up on the last name Naruto carried.
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FLASHBACK
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The door opened to the shabby apartment room, almost completely bare with the exception of a few furnishings, for example, a stove, a couch, a bed, a dresser, the basics. "Now Naruto, this is where you're going to live from now on… I know it's lonely, and you might not be able to cook on your own… But I think I may have a solution…"
As if on cue, a knock came from the front door. "Naruto… I think you should go answer it…" Sarutobi hinted, a smile tugging at his lips. Naruto gave him a funny look before nodding. He made his way to the door, almost cautiously, which made the old man frown. But when he finally opened the door, he was embraced by a woman with black hair and eyes. Beside her stood a child about Naruto's age, give or take a few months, also baring black hair and eyes. He stood to be about average height for a three year old.
To say he was surprised was an understatement. "Oh Naruto! You … You look-" She was cut off by a pointed look from Sarutobi, as if reminding her that it was too soon. "I'm glad you're healthy…" She said, correcting herself. "Anyway… I'm going to stop by sometimes and take care of you…" She paused, but laughed at herself, "Silly me… I haven't introduced myself… I'm Mikoto Uchiha… And this is Sasuke… My youngest son." She said smiling. But Naruto had already been in front of the boy, stumbling over his words, "He-Herrow?" He said nervously.
Now he may not have been conscious of it, but he'd been afraid that this other kid would reject him, like all the others had when he'd tried to play with them at the orphanage. He didn't know why they did, but he'd developed a defense for it.
Mikoto nudged Sasuke which got the boy to stumble a bit, looking angrily at his mother, "H-Hi… I'm Sasuke…" The boy answered, raising his hand to shake. He'd seen his brother do it with his friend, Shi-Shinsuooo or something or other. He couldn't remember, his three year old mind hadn't the capacity to remember the boy's name.
Sarutobi and Mikoto could only smile at what they hoped was a blooming friendship.
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END FLASHBACK
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The boys actually had gotten somewhat close since that day. At least once a week Sasuke and Mikoto had visited Naruto, teaching him how to make some foods on his own, and the boys would play down at the park or the river at least once a week as well. They had Naruto over some nights for dinner, Mikoto and her husband Fukagu, along with Itachi. Naruto felt safe around Itachi oddly. It was as if he exuded a protective aura.
Recently though, it had been as if something was weighing heavily on the Weasel's mind. He used to always play with the boys, but lately… He kept saying he was too busy. He'd started training them for the academy, seeing as they were a year out from starting. He started teaching them soon after Sasuke's fifth birthday which was some time in February, and even offered to help Naruto. But it was just after Naruto's fifth Birthday and it seemed that he was becoming more and more distant. They hadn't gone to target practice in almost two weeks.
Itachi had been called in by the council two weeks ago and whatever they had to say… It seemed to effect Itachi in a way that neither child could comprehend. There were even days when he and his father would argue. And it didn't help that his friend, Shisui had been found dead, drowned in a river some three days ago.
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Aside from the odd behavior of their favorite Weasel, there had been commotion of some visitors from another village coming. Naruto had overheard the old man talking to some ninja a few days ago about how today a few people from some village pretty far away were coming. Something about meetings, trust, and a trea- Treat! Yeah that's it! They were coming for some sort of treat! Or maybe with some sort of treat? Who knows.
Naruto had been excited, he wanted to see what people were like from outside the village…
It was early in the morning, and several people and ninja alike had gathered at the front gate. Said gate was opening just in time for a few figures dressed in odd clothing walked past. Each baring a forehead protector with some sort of insignia resembling a cloud.
One of the first figures that caught Naruto and Sasuke's attention was a tall, dark skinned teenager, blonde hair, with two blades sheathed on his back. He had been swinging his arms about. They caught the end of his sentence, "-inally, we be the here at sunrise, because we has arrived! Fools, ya fools!" He stopped, pulling out a little book, and a stick, licking the tip and covered it in ink. "No, no… That didn't rhyme at…" He muttered.
The next was a girl, she seemed to be a good bit older than them, also wearing a forehead protector. Her dark blue eyes seemed slightly slanted, like that of a cat. She walked silently behind the first, as if he were some sort of shield.
The trio that followed hadn't really stood out like the first two. All baring the same forehead protectors, lighter skin than the first man, baggy gray/black clothes. All in all… They were pretty plain.
Naruto being Naruto, he rushed up to the group, "Ttebayo! You guys are from another village right!" He asked energetically, almost shaking with excitement, "That's so cool! What's it like out there!" He asked starting to bombard them with questions. Suddenly the Hokage was there, and silenced Naruto with a pat on the head. He shooed him back to Sasuke who hid behind his mother who'd just arrived.
The tall dark skinned man couldn't help but watch as Naruto left, and the voice deep inside spoke. "There's something… Familiar about that kid, Bee…" Bee only nodded to himself.
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AN: Guess whooooo! Well I guess you really don't have to guess but you can, it's always fun either way!
Anyways… I wanted to cover a good bit with a bit of time. Wanted to roll past the prologue, so I can check that off my list… Now where to go from here…
As for the pairings, well until I figure out how the rest of this is going to go… I can't honestly say. Plus I have to figure out how to get a poll up… Until then… Just post in the comments the girls that you'd like to see, maybe that's how I'll take the vote because honestly, I'm a bit to lazy to figure out the poll. It's probably really simple anyway.
I more than likely won't do any girls from the movies, or ones that had a really minor role. That doesn't mean Haku or Tayuya will be left out. They didn't have minor roles in my opinion. But enough blathering, READ AND REVIEW!
SageKyuubi… OUT! Ja Ne!