Real living is living for others. - Bruce Lee

Three weeks, that's how long Sakata Naruto has been traveling with Hatake Kakashi from Mizu no Kuni to and through various different places in Hi no Kuni. During wich time Naruto has had a change of wardrobe on the expense of Kakashi's wallet, not that it botherd Kakashi, after all he did have a vast sum of money saved over the years being a ninja and an Anbu agent.

The wardrobe change suited the young boy, he now wore black shinobi sandals reaching some ways up his shin, with baggy black anbu pants tucked into his sandals. He also wore plate shin guards with carvings of Dragons on them. His right thigh was bandaged much like every other ninja had. He also wore a sleeveless black torso like Kakashi had with mask and all, except that the mask didn't cover as much of his face as it did with Kakashi, just enough to cover the whiskers on his face. Kakashi would have protested if he hadn't witnessed it himself, how the people in Mizu no Kuni were glaring at the boys face, made him uneasy. How can you glare with such intensity at one of the cutest faces Kakashi had ever seen, granted he didn't know the boy all to well but Kakashi had a weakness for all things cute. He also wore black fingerless battle gloves with plate guards on them, same type of carving as his shin guards. The two last things was that he had a headband with kanji for 'Cute Demon' on it, and on his back was the sword his sensei had given him. The fact that he wore the headband was testament to his reading skills.

Over the past three weeks Kakashi learned more and more about his new student, about his treatment in his former village. The amount of animosity this kid has dealt with, Kakashi made a promise with his student, that he wouldn't be alone any more. That he would share in his pain and push on through life no matter how difficult it would get.

Having stopped to rest for a while, Naruto started rummaging through his backpack for his water canteen. Kakashin just stod there for a while and took in Naruto's appearance from top to bottom Kakashi eye smiled and chuckled in the sweetest tone he could while thinking to himself 'cutest mini-me student in the world '. Naruto caught wind of his chuckling sensei, eyeing his sensei suspicously Naruto spoke up ''Oi, Sensei, what's funny ?''. Kakashi thought he might aswell have some fun with his student ''Oh, it's just, I was thinking about how I'm glad I took you on as a student'' they both eye smiled and he continued ''And I have a plan, that I want to let you in on. Concerning what will happen when we reach our destination.'' That caught his attention, he had planned to ask him about what was going to happen and where they were going, but if he was to just up and tell him, fine.

''We're heading for Konoha, the village hidden in the leaves. Once there we'll be meeting with the leader of the village, and then I'm going to teach you.'' Kakashi said with a fatherly like voice, atleast that's what it sounded like for Naruto. ''I'm going to teach you how to read and how to write, and how to fight.'' ''And I'm going to teach you bushido.''

Silence ensued, Naruto wasn't much of a talker, mostly just replying if asked a question. Only talking if something peeked his interest. At the moment Naruto was just silently contemplating his 'Sensei', three weeks ago this man found him and offerd to change his life. Was it fate or just chanced luck. 'Would I be dead ? If not for him ? Would they have found me ? Was this what chino-san was talking about ? I have a part to play, is this it ?'

''Well, let's keep going. We'll be in Konoha by midday.'' And with Kakashi's final words they were off. Walking in a moderate pase Naruto drifted his thoughts back to Mizu no Kuni, remembering the treatment by the people there. And the only person whom ever wished him well.

Flashback

Opening his eyes Naruto was looking up the sky, that clear blue sky with some lone clouds drifting by. He liked the clouds, clouds have true freedom as in they can go where ever they want, when ever they want. Nobody can stop the clouds, the clouds are their own masters.

''That's what I want ? To be able to travel the world ?'' he spoke to himself. 'Maybe, maybe people would like me if I were to go somewhere else' he thought to himself.

Sitting up with a grunt he spoke to himself rather calmly ''Impossible, demons are hated throughout the world'' getting up and preparing to leave the area. ''That's absolutely correct'' a figure spoke from behind him, slightly riggid voice of an old woman. Her voice startled him, he spun around quckly faceing her, she had a grim expression on her face, and that look in her eyes...pain.

''There is absolutely no place in this world for demons. No matter what village, someone considerd a goes to, there will always be people whom dislike them.''

'Hold on, I know her.'

''Miya Chino'' I spoke with acknowledgement in my voice, for her words were true. ''Naruto'' she said, a smile graced her lips however small it was. ''There are many forms of demons in this world. As a matter of fact, there is a demon in most men, do you know wich demon you have inside of you ?''

I was looking at the ground, my silver hair shadowing my multi colored eyes, hiding the pain they showed. This was a new one, she had thaught me a lot about the race of humans, and she often spoke of the demons inside of them. But, she had never come out and asked me if I knew wich one I was. I was caught off guard by that question. What was I to answer, hell if I knew what demon I was. All I knew was that people didn't like me, and I didn't like people hurting those weaker then themselves. I first found out that people didn't perticularily like me when I stopped a gang of kids from beating on a boy and his dog. When I saw it, anger filled my head, my hands were trembling and I found myself walking and then sprinting in to ward of the attackers. I threw a punch on the one who was to hit next. My fist connected with his chin and sent him reeling backwards, he and the others we're shocked, and then anger filled them as well. Clouded their heads as it did with me. I was beaten badly, but it was worth it for they forgot about the boy and his dog. That made me content. When the beating seemingly stopped I peered up at the kids, and the one I hit, sneered at me and called me a demon. I played the word in my head...demon. It was bitter sounding and stung hard. Now I was just looking up at the sky and contemplating the word 'demon' in my head. Shortly after snow started falling, and I was losing consciousness.

She was looking at me with a calm yet sad expression, Chino-san was the only person who had ever bother talking to me with out yelling demon at the top of her lungs. She showed me something I had never seen before, compassion. She found me one snowy winter day, beaten to a pulp and left in the middle of the street. She took me in, to her house, tended to my bruises and wounds. Fed me and looked after me, and when I was better she thaught me stuff about people.

''No...I don't know what demon I have inside of me'' I finally said. Silence ensued for a moment before she spoke up ''Would you like me to tell you ?'' I peered up at her through my hair showing some of my eyes, and the sadness and confusion they held.

''Yes'' at that she looked like she was considering how she would say it. She decided to be blunt and just tell me ''Truth be told, you don't just have a demon inside of you, you are a demon of sorts yourself.'' If I was confused I didn't show it, my expression was blank. But my mind was haywire 'So I'm a demon after all' I thought, my face taking on a grim expression, she took it as her que to elaborate. ''When I say you are a demon of sorts, why do you automatically think the worst ?'' now I was definetly confused and my face showed it. ''Firstly let me tell you about the one inside of you. The one inside of you is a Bijuu, one of nine in the whole world. They go from one to nine their number is depicted by the amounts of tails they have and their strength is depicted my their tails. Yours is the nine tails, kyuubi.'' she paused and gave me some time to soak it all up, I mean it's not everyday someone tells you that you are a demon, with a demon inside of you. ''As for how and why you have it inside of you, nobody knows. And now for the demon you are...of listen up this is important. You are going to leave this village, and go into the world. Because you have a part to play, and depending on how you play that part, will you activate the demon you are. You will be part of deeds beyond your wildest dreams, you will meet many different people. You will lose things close to you, but you will also gain a whole lot of things. Depending on all of this the demon you are will awaken and you will either wreak havoc and destroy the things you hold dear, or you will defeat your inner demons and protect the things you hold dear.''

I was shocked to say the least. Here this old woman standing infront of me was telling me my future, did her age finally catch up to her or is she actually not senile and telling the truth. My inner turmoil was slowing down, and I wanted to know more. Like why I have the Kyuubi in me, and why everyone else knows I'm a demon.

''What am I supposed to do ?'' my voice was confused, and rightly so. But did I have a reason to doubt this old woman, she has never lied to me before and I can't see a reason for her to do so now. ''You have to leave, doesn't matter where, so long as you decide where you go. I know I said demons have no place in this world to go, that is why you have to find a place and claim it as your own. Your fate is in your hands, now you have the opportunity to set out and forge it. You have to leave now, the others won't notice your absence before tomorrow and by then you should be some distance away from here.'' I didn't need to be told twice, turning away from her I started walking, not to far before stopping and turning my head to peer at her from the corner of my eye. ''Thank you Chino-san-'' she smiled at me, and I continued on my way out of there. This was the easy part, this is what I wanted 'Right ?', yes, I will find my place, and I'll claim it. I will find people to hold dear, and I will protect them.

End of flashback

Walking on the road to konoha in Hi no Kuni wasn't so bad, compared to Mizu no Kuni, the weather was nice, the sun was beaming on the clear sky. The birds were chirping their happy tunes. Kakashi nearing the gates of konoha with Naruto picking his nose with one hand and the other behind his head gazing up at the sky in tow thought about what people would think about the boy, he would be accepted among his close friends and the hokage. But he had to ensure that nobody called him a demon ever again.

''Yo Naruto'' Kakashi called behind himself as they continued walking down the road. ''What is it, sensei ?'' he responded ''Once inside the village, keep the mask on at all times. To refrain from having people call you things that are not true.'' a few seconds of silence and he responded, with an indifferent yes. ''Oh and one more thing, how would you like for me to adopt you ?''

That got him to stop in his tracks, staring at his sensei with wide eyes. ''What ? You want to adopt me ? Why ?'' Kakashi turned to look at him with his trademark eye smile ''Well I was just thinking since you're alone and I'm alone we could be a family.''

Naruto didn't know what to say, his sensei was willing to adopt him. He had already promised to shoulder his pain, but this meant shouldering everything with him. Pain, hate and he would no longer be alone. He would have a family, he would be his father.

No answer was needed, Kakashi knew he agreed when he looked into his eyes, they were shining. Tears, but they were the kind of tears that he had never shed before. Tears of happiness, tears of acceptance. Kakashi eye smiled and utterd a single word that made everything perfect for Naruto ''Musuko (Son)''