Chapter 7

Naruto sat on the steps leading upstairs, staring at nothing in particular. Every few minutes, he would stretch and yawn. How much longer is it going to take? he wondered impatiently, looking toward the front door. He fidgeted nervously as the time stretched on.

A creak from above told him his father was coming. "Hey, son. Have you guests arrived yet?" Minato asked as he came down from upstairs. It looked at his son, then out a nearby window at the last vestiges of sunlight. Guests should be arriving soon. . .

Naruto shook his head slightly and stood up. "No, I don't think anyone is coming," he said a little morosely. He looked at his dad with a fearful expression in his eyes. "Dad, why do we have to have a celebration?"

For the first time, he actually saw fear in his son. Naruto has always been strong, resilient, and carefree all his life, seeing this worried Minato very much. He placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling a pang of guilt and shame. He's afraid. . . While any other child would be excited at the idea of having a party with his classmates . . .He's afraid. He felt responsible for this, having keep Naruto under close surveillance all his life. He had no choice, he had made dangerous enemies during his career as a ninja; and any enemy would want an advantage over their adversaries.

"Don't you want to acknowledge the fact that you survived your first year at the academy?" he asked.

Naruto shook his head. "No, not really," he replied while glancing at the front door. He was sure that his classmates were on their way here. He faintly sense their chakra signatures and if he focused a little chakra into his ears, he could hear excited voices. "I don't really see the point in this. We have five more years left. What makes this year so special? Shouldn't the last year, the year we graduate, be the more important?" He looked at his father, curious.

He's more mature than children at his age should be. Minato sighed and fixed a serious look on his son.

Naruto wanted to squirm under the gravitas of his father's gaze. Did I do something wrong?

Minato knelt so he could look his son directly in his eyes. He placed his hands on both of his shoulders. "Son, you have to understand, not everything has to have a certain degree of importance to mean something. If everything was serious all the time, I think I would have gone crazy long ago." He smiled warmly, then he stood up and ruffled his hair. "We need to be able to do things for fun and nothing else, or life wouldn't be worth living."

Minato reached into his pocket and pulled out Kakashi's little orange book. He grinned mischievously. "You see, taking Kakashi's book has no great importance, but I still do it. It has no other meaning than just to mess with him." He chuckled as he pocketed the book, thinking of the distress Kakashi was feeling. He could just imagine it.

XXX

Kakashi flipped over the only sofa he had in his apartment. He didn't notice it smash into and imbed into the wall. His single eye frantically scanned the area his sofa had occupied. "Where is it?!" he shouted in despair. "I knew I had it with me!"

XXX

Slowly, Naruto nodded in understanding. "So, you mean I should have fun and enjoy my childhood?"

Minato stopped chuckling and grew serious once again. "Yes, that is exactly what I am saying." He pulled out one of his custom made kunai. "What do you see?"

Naruto tilted his head slightly to the side, confused. "A kunai?" he answered. Lately, Minato had been training him to see underneath the underneath. He would give him trick questions or ones that had a more complicated answer than the obvious.

Minato twirled the kunai around deftly. "You see a kunai; I see a tool of death," he said grimly. He threw the kunai with practiced ease at a single flower in a vase across the room. The kunai cut through the flower and made 'chunked' sound when it went into the wood. "That flower was a living thing, but it isn't the same as taking another human's life."

"This is what awaits you. The path of a shinobi is bloody and filled with death, and you will eventually have to take a life." He made a hand sign and appeared by the kunai with a yellow flash. "That is what the academy will never teach you. They may describe how it will be like, but they can never really show you." He yanked out the kunai and put in back in his weapon's pouch. "I want you to keep your innocence for as long as possible. I don't want you to reach that point where you see people as just targets, or flowers. I want you to see them like you see them now, friends and comrades. So now do you see why I wanted you to stay in the academy instead of having you take the offer to be promoted to Genin?"

Naruto stood there, quietly mulling over what he was being told. Being the son of the strongest ninja in the village, he had learned to never take what his father told him for granted. Being the Hokage, he had certainly went through a lot to reach the position he was in now. He grinned cheerfully and nodded. "I got it dad."

Minato returned his grin. "Good." He made another hand sign and appeared in front go the door. "And now, I think you should enjoy your party." He opened the door just as Sakura motioned to knock. "Good evening, Haruno-san, you're early," he greeted with a grin.

Sakura blushed momentary. "I-I thought I'd get here early," she replied softly. Even though he was the Hokage, and the best ninja in the village and a war veteran, she did have a slight crush on the much sought after Fourth Hokage. "U-Um. . . Uh. . ." She fumbled for something to say. Sakura, you're making a fool of yourself! She wanted to drop dead as she stumbled for something coherent to say.

She was saved. "Hi, Sakura-chan!" Naruto greeted her happily, his feeling of anxiety and fear vanishing at the sight of her. He hopped down the stairs and almost crashed into her.

Minato chuckled at Sakura's reaction. She blushed like mad when he stopped a few inches short. He is my son after all. He gestured toward the parlor. "The decorations are set up, and there is music playing. Why don't you two go check it out?" he suggested mildly. "There are snacks too, if your hungry."

Naruto lit up, being excluded from the parlor as the servants decorated it made him curious to see how it looked now. "Yeah, let's go see how it looks!" Naruto grabbed Sakura's hand on impulse and almost dragged her away.

"Naruto-kun, slow down!" Sakura squeaked as she was trying to keep from being dragged. Despite her protest, she was smiling.

"Son, I have a gift for you. I'll give it to you later!" Minato shouted but wasn't sure if he was heard. He didn't care if he was. He couldn't help himself, he grinned. Seeing someone that accepted Naruto just for himself and not for his name or who his father was made him happy and sad for his son. He watched as Naruto and Sakura disappeared around a corner. Just wait until he gets older. . . Things won't be as simple as giving him advice and having him accept it.

For now, we have to deal with the hatred that is directed at him. He looked out the open down and could see other children coming. He could also see their parents. His grin faltered when he saw that the parents were openly hostile and suspicious. A few caught his eye and glared openly at the Hokage. They still don't understand. Naruto never had a choice. He has to stay alive, just being alive prevents the Kyubi from ever coming back.

He sighed heavily and plastered a carefree grin on his face as he began to greet guest.

XXX

Two cloaked figures watched from a nearby roof as the Yondaime politely greeted the guests and showed them the way to the parlor. A raven-hair boy lay unconscious at their feet, but they paid him no attention. Their hoods were drawn over their heads, obscuring their faces. But you would have been able to tell them apart.

One was tall and lithe with a wicked grin on his face. He stepped on the ledge and threw off his hood, revealing a man with a distinct scar running across his face, from top to bottom. "This will be easy," he boasted. He looked over at his comrade and flashed another wicked grin. "Right, Tai?"

Tai pulled his hood off with less theatrical flare. His piecing blue eyes bore into his partner. "You should not be so arrogant, Yuri," he replied in a icy voice. He did not like people who were overconfident.

Yuri stuck out his tongue at Tai and pulled down his eyelid. "It's called confidence, look it up."

"Child."

"Zombie."

Tai sighed and turned away from Yuri. "Fine, do what you please." He hefted the boy onto his shoulders. "I have achieved my objective, so I will head back." He looked over his shoulder and sent one last scolding glare. "Do not fail. This is the Yondaime's own son; death will be the first thing you will wish for if you do so."

"You worry too much. There is no way Hayama Yuri will ever be caught!" he shouted loudly.

"You have given away your position, fool," Tai noted before vanishing in a swirl of wind.

"Crap!" Yuri leaped into a bush by the building before the ANBU appeared. Dammit, a branch is poking my ass.

XXX

The parlor was decorated expertly. Music played, filling the room, but was not too loud or too quiet. Food was set against a wall, a whole buffet with various dishes. Most of the furniture was set aside to make room so people could dance without fear of falling over a sofa or stool.

"Wow, they did a great job!" Naruto exclaimed the moment they entered. He looked around the room in awe. The parlor hadn't been used since Naruto had been born, but it didn't fall into dilapidation. The wooden floors were clean and polished, and the windows allowed in the fading light of the sunset that reflected off the floor and made the room glow. "I've got to thank Nami and the others."

"It's beautiful," Sakura agreed. She looked down and noticed that Naruto was still holding her hand. She blushed faintly. This place is so romantic, she thought as she gazed at Naruto's face. As if on cue, a slow song started to play from the speakers. Maybe. . . I could-

"Naruto-kun!!!" A cacophony of shrieks followed.

"Ah!" Naruto cried out in surprise as he was thrown to the floor by three of his fan girls tackling him.

"Naruto-kun, we're so happy you invited us personally!" they all shouted while clinging to him.

Naruto's brain began to think quickly. Got to get free! He managed to free his hands to form a hand sign. With a burst of smoke that threw his fan girls off him, an exact clone appeared next to him. "Take care of this!" Naruto ordered the clone.

"Of course, teichou," the clone replied cheekily with a nod.

Naruto didn't even consider the consequences as grabbed Sakura's hand and ran for the balcony. "Let's go!" he said, panicked. I knew this was a bad idea. Despite having a fan club that tried to cling onto him at every moment, he was afraid to be touched. Partially because he was afraid they would hurt him, like the villagers did when he wondered off from his father. But the main reason was because he had been alone for as long as he could remember and didn't know what to do.

Sakura didn't have time to agree as Naruto jumped off the balustrade and into the garden.

XXX

Naruto wiped the sweat from his brow, visible shaken. He collapsed on one of the many stone benches that were scattered throughout the garden. He ran a hand through his blonde hair. I almost killed them. . . he thought with horror and self-deprecation. He looked at his trembling hands, shaking from resisting the instinctive need to protect himself. I could have killed everyone in that room. . .

He squeezed his hands into tight fists to control them, but to no avail. They continued to trembler violently. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Dad would be ashamed if he every found out. . . I have to relax. They aren't the villagers. . . He clenched teeth when a torrent of images rushed unbidden into his mind.

Being surrounded, torches, and blood. That was what was tormenting him, the blood.

A voice whispered darkly in his ear. "You still don't understand. . . They will inevitably grow into those villagers that hurt you. . . It is better to kill them before they can cause you pain."

Shut up! Naruto screamed at the voice. I made a promise to my dad, and I never go back on my word!

XXX

Flashback. . .

Minato lifted his son off the ground and spun him around. "You did it!" he exclaimed, extremely proud. They stood amid what used to be a cluster of trees. All that was left was stumps.

"Of course I did. I am your son!" Naruto replied with a grin. True to his word, his father began to spend more and more time with him. They would do many things, but it was mostly training. Just like now, Naruto had master another jutsu; the wind sword.

Minato set Naruto down on the ground. He looked at the damage. Each tree was neatly cut down to size. What will he be like when he's older? . . . he wondered.

Naruto looked up at his father with eager eyes. "What jutsu are you going to teach me next?" he asked excitedly. Despite being ready to drop from exhaustion, he wanted to spend as much time with his father as possible.

Minato looked back at his son and his grin vanished, replaced with a stern expression. "I'm not going to teach another jutsu. In fact, you are forbidden from ever using these jutsu until you graduate or if you are protecting anyone precious to you," he replied.

"What?!" Naruto whined loudly. Why did I do all that training if I can't use them?

Minato held up a hand, quieting Naruto immediately. Naruto was mature for his age, but acted his age at times. "Let me explain," he said with an authoritative tone. "I know you feel like all the training seems worthless because you cannot use the techniques you have learned." Naruto nodded. "This is going to sound very harsh, son. . . But I cannot teach you anymore jutsu because you are still a child."

Naruto visibly flinched. He thinks I'm irresponsible. . . he thought dejectedly. It stung, but he knew his father was right, he was still just a kid. At least for now.

Minato took a seat on one of the numerous stumps and beckoned to Naruto. "You are a great son, Naruto. And an even greater student. You know one forbidden jutsu and two A-rank jutsu."

Naruto sat down. He makes it sound like a bad thing.

"For a kid your age, that should be impossible." Minato looked at Naruto with pride. "You are even mature for your age too. But sadly, you cannot change the way the world looks at you with a couple jutsu." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He looked back at Naruto with a lopsided grin. "Promise me something, son."

Naruto returned his grin. "Anything day!"

"Promise me that you will never let anyone determine who you are. Promise that you will always be yourself no matter what you told."

Naruto was confused. Who else can I be? If it makes dad happy. . . He nodded. "I promise dad!"

"And you never go back on you word, right?"

"Yup, because that is my nindo. Same as yours!"

XXX

I would never do that to them.

Sakura sat down next to him, panting heavily. Naruto had dragged her across the vast garden before finally stopping. What's wrong with him?! she wondered as she glanced at him. "Naruto-kun, are you okay?" she asked worriedly, seeing him shaking.

"I-I'm fine Sakura-chan," Naruto replied shakily. He tried to force a smile but failed.

"Are you sure?" She placed her hand on his arm. He flinched and drew away. That stung. Why is he acting like this? He's acting like I'm going to hurt him. "Naruto-kun, you are definitely not okay," she said sternly. "What's the matter with you? You're being strange. This isn't like you."

Naruto chuckled. "No, it's not," he agreed. He looked at her with a vulnerable expression. "But it is apart of me." He grabbed his hand and tried to make it stop shaking.

"No, it isn't," Sakura huffed. "This isn't anything like the Naruto-kun I knew! The Naruto-kun I knew wouldn't let himself be shaken up so much. He would be the one comforting the one who was truly scared!" She blushed and hesitated before she wrapped her arms around him. "The Naruto-kun I know isn't afraid of anything."

Naruto wanted to leap away immediately, but for some reason he didn't want to. He felt. . . Safe. I feel pathetic now. . . She makes everything I'm afraid of seem meaningless. He smiled sadly. "You think too highly of me, Sakura. . . I am only human after all. Even I get afraid."

"You don't think much about yourself."

"Aw, isn't this sweet?" A cloaked man stepped out from behind a hedge.

Naruto instantly leaped to his feet and nudged Sakura behind him. "Who are you?" he demanded. He stood protectively in front of Sakura, watching the intruder intently.

A smile broke out under his hood. "You don't need to know my name. All you need to know is that you are coming with me, willingly or by force." He started to saunter forward.

"Sakura-chan, go get my father," Naruto whispered conspicuously to her. "I'll hold him off." He saw her about to argue but stopped her. "Don't argue, just go!"

She paused, then took off for the house.

"No you don't." Yuri drew some kunai and hurled them at Sakura's exposed back. Metal rang out as kunai intercepted his and cancelled each other out. He gave Naruto an annoyed frown. "It figures you had be good enough with kunai. Not many kids can do what you just did." This complicates things. I better hurry.

"What do you want with me?" Naruto asked as he got into a taijutsu stance.

Yuri shrugged. "Your father has made many enemies. They will use every advantage they can get, including. . ." He appeared in front of Naruto and slammed his fist into his gut. "using you." He caught him as he fell and threw him over his shoulders. "I bet you didn't expect to be take hostage. Well, the unexpected gifts are the most fun or painful."