Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Reading Team Crazy: I Mean Seven! Part One.
Prologue:
Kakashi Hatake was tired. He'd just come off a twenty-four-hour guard shift, and all he wanted to do was go home and fall into bed.
"If this other me is coming off guard duty than he must be in Anbu too," Kakashi thinks to himself. He's completely on guard, not liking the situation he's in at all. Although, he is curious about what secrets his knuckle headed student could be hiding.
Tenzo looks worriedly at senpai. "Kakashi." he says, his voice laced with worry. What if this book/ television thing reveals village secrets? Or on a more worrying note, Anbu secrets?
"I know," Kakashi says, acknowledging Tenzo's worry.
All the shinobi in the room are worried as well. Anbu business was meant to be kept secret for a reason.
He was just about to do that when he received an urgent summons from the Hokage to meet him at the hospital. Henceforth why he was now walking down the hall of the hospital towards the Hokage's private suite.
Everyone tenses worried that something might have happened to their Hokage, except for the sand siblings who are just curious.
Vaguely, he wondered if something had happened to the old man, but dismissed the thought. He'd just gotten off guard duty ten-minutes ago. There was no way something could have happened in that short of time. Something had happened though because he wouldn't be at the hospital if it hadn't, but what?
"Yes, what?" Everyone thinks collectively.
Naruto paused as he read the next line, his voice cracking slightly. "The Third Hokage was waiting for him by the door of the suite. Kakashi bowed in respect. Hokage-sama, what can I do for you?" he said.
The Third looked at the young anbu captain with a serious expression. "I apologize for bothering you, Kakashi. I know you're just getting off guard duty; however, something has happened, and you're the only one I trust to handle it," he said.
Kakashi looked at his hokage. "Whatever it is, Hokage-sama, you can trust me," he said, saluting the man.
The Third smiled. "I'm glad you said that Kakashi, it gives an old man like me reassurance. I've summoned you here because I have a favor to ask of you," he said.
Kakashi straightened up. "What is it, Hokage-sama?" he said.
The Hokage sighed. "I want you to adopt Uzumaki Naruto," he said.
Kakashi's eye goes blank in shock. "WHAT?!" he yells mentally. Surprise doesn't even describe what he feels. It's not that he hates his student, but they are so different he doubts that this arrangement would work.
Tenzo's eyes are blank with shock too; he just can't see that arrangement working out. Naruto is loud and stupid, while Kakashi is calm and smart. Yeah, he just doesn't picture this arrangement working out.
Naruto, however, doesn't look pleased like one would expect. "Why? Why is this version of his supposed grandfather figure asking someone to adopt him now? He wonders silently.
Kakashi stiffened at the mention of his late sensei's child. He had only met the boy once when he was a baby, and hadn't thought of him since. So why was the Hokage wanting him to adopt the boy now? He looked at his leader. "May I ask why?" he said.
The Hokage sighed. "The boy was attacked tonight. I don't need to tell you why," he said.
A sudden burst of killing intent feels the room as the Rookie Nine, Gaara, Tsunade and Jiraiya, Iruka, Sai and surprisingly Tenzo and Kakashi hear this. They knew Naruto had the fox, and yes they knew what it did to their village, but using a child as a scape goat was cruel.
Naruto winced, remembering back to those awful days. It was because of the civilians that he put on the jesters mask, it saved him from a hell of a lot of beatings.
The anbu captain winced. Naruto Uzumaki was the jinchuriki of the Kyubi no Kitsune, the nine-tailed demon fox that had attacked the village three years ago. The young boy was just the jailer, but to the villagers who had lost loved ones, they saw him as their punching bag.
Tsunade looked furious. How dare anyone attack her godson like that!
Many of the Rookie Nine looked like they wanted to beat someone up. Most notably, Neji and Shikamaru. Rock Lee looked appalled. "Beating up an innocent child! How unyouthful," he said, shaking his head.
Kakashi nodded. "Yes, but why do you want me to adopt him now? He's been attacked before," he said.
Hiruzen looked worn out and his eyes were sullen. "I'm not sure what happened, but this time the boy fought back. He killed three villagers," he said.
"WHAT!" The room exploded in shock screams and shouts of denial. No one could believe that Naruto, their Naruto, would kill anybody. All the boys' sensei's past and current were shocked by this news.
Kiba looked angry. "No way in hell could that be true. Naruto's what? Three here?" he says, confused.
Shino sighs beside him. "Age doesn't mean anything, Kiba," he said. Good old Shino being the voice of reason.
Kakashi's jaw dropped. He hadn't been expecting that. "Excuse me Hokage-sama, but did you just say he killed three people?" he said, not believing his ears.
Kakashi really couldn't believe what he was hearing. Naruto, kill someone? Please, that boy might be a knucklehead, but he was a kind one. So to hear that this other worlds Naruto killed someone was a gut punch.
Tenzo also couldn't believe his ears. He honestly didn't think Naruto had what it took to be a killer.
Sai smiled over at his teammate. "So you do, have balls after all," he said, that fake smile on his face.
Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he kept reading. "Hiruzen nodded sadly. "Yes, and injured five others. I'm sorry, Kakashi, I truly believed the villagers could see past their hatred. I was wrong. I can't have Naruto-kun suffer any longer," he said.
"Why is he apologizing to Kakashi? When he should apologizing to me!" Naruto thought angrily. Not wanting his friends to see his dark side, he kept his face blank.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but why me?" he asked.
The Hokage looked at his anbu captain sternly. "I choose you because of your connection to the boy's parents. On top of that, I know the villagers wouldn't be dumb enough to attack the boy while under your care," he said.
Kakashi nodded, seeing the logic behind those words, but he still felt there was something the Hokage wasn't telling him. "Alright Hokage-sama, I'll adopt him, but is there anything else I should know?" he asked.
Hiruzen winced. "Yes, actually. The other reason I want you to take the boy is because I'm worried about his mental health," he said.
Quiet a few eyebrows lifted at hearing this. Since when did Lord Third care about mental health, let alone a child's? After all, The Hiruzen was always saying that a shinobi was someone who endures.
Kakashi blinked in surprise. Ok, he hadn't been expecting that. The anbu captain looked at the Hokage cautiously, waiting for him to continue.
The Third sighed in frustration. "Naruto-kun, although he was attacked again and made his first kill, seems to take it rather well. I'm worried, though, that this might leave a lasting effect on the boy," he said.
Tsunade and Jiraiya can't help but roll their eyes at their late sensei's words. "Well, no duh sensei, you think?" The two think at the same time.
Gaara, who has been silent until now, can't help but think this situation sounds awfully familiar. "This sounds oddly like the night I cracked," he thinks, wincing, remembering how dark that time was.
Temari and Kankuro also wince and silently wonder if they're about to glimpse into a universe where their brother's best friend snapped. As much as the blonde annoys them at times, they are truly grateful to him for saving their brother. It scares them to think of a world where the happy blonde turned into a bloodthirsty killer. "Kami, help us if that happened," they think.
Hinata winces. Naruto's never give up attitude had helped her when she was younger. So, the idea of him no longer caring, scares her and makes her wonder what she'd have become without the blonde's help.
Kakashi tilts his head in confusion. "How so, Hokage-sama?" he says.
Hiruzen scrunched his eyebrows together. It was obvious something was deeply troubling the old man. "I'm worried about how calm he's taking this. To put it bluntly, he's acting like he didn't just kill someone, let alone three people," he says, shaking his head.
"That's not good. That's not good at all." Everyone in the room is subconsciously thinking at the same time.
Iruka glances at the boy he views as his surrogate son. He just can't picture the hyper-active brat that sat in his classroom joking all the time, being able to kill someone without remorse.
Kakashi looks concerned at hearing this. "Maybe he's just in shock?" he says.
Hiruzen shakes his head. "I wish that was the case, Kakashi, but sadly, I don't believe that's it. Naruto is acting perfectly calm about the whole thing. Kakashi, that isn't normal, even you acting a little upset after your first kill," he says.
Kakashi nods. Even though his first kill was ages ago, he remembers it like it was yesterday. It was a traitorous pair of rain ninja that had betrayed their teammate, and yes, he had been slightly bothered by it afterwards.
Kakashi nodded in agreement. "You're right Hokage-sama, that is a little concerning. Alright, I'll monitor his mental state," he said.
The Hokage smiled. "I knew you would," he said.
The Hatake shrugged. "Um, Hokage-sama? Can I meet him?" he said.
Hiruzen nodded. "Yes, right this way, Kakashi-san," he says, opening the door of the suite.
Entering the room, Kakashi sees a small blonde-haired boy sitting up in bed reading a book. The child was small and a little malnourished, along with being a little beat up. Otherwise, he was okay.
Sakura chokes in surprise. "Naruto is actually reading something without being forced? Now I know for sure this is an alternate reality," she says.
Naruto looks at her. His emotions are a mix between hurt and annoyance. "Sakura, I know this might sound hard to believe, but I do enjoy reading. As long as it's a subject that interest me," he says in the nicest way possible.
The boy looks up, and smiles when he sees the Hokage. "Hello Hokage-sama, what brings you here?" he says.
Kakashi smiles. "What a polite child. I only just met him and he reminds me of sensei." he thinks.
Sakura looks at Naruto and points to the book. "Hear that Naruto? That's how you're supposed to address the Hokage," she says. Naruto just shrugs.
The elder shinobi in the room ignores Sakura. For they know that Naruto giving nicknames to those people in charge is his own way of showing respect, and they day he stopped was the day the lost Naruto.
The Hokage smiled at the boy. "Awe, Naruto-kun. I heard you were attacked and came as fast as I could. I was very worried about you," he said.
Naruto shrugged. "It wasn't anything I couldn't handle, Hokage-sama. I'm sorry you had to come all the way down here to check on me though," he says.
Kakashi stiffened, taken aback by the boy's nonchalant attitude. This wasn't normal behavior for someone who just took a life. In fact he worried that the child might have some mental defect due to lack of affection. He silently prayed whatever the problem was could be reversed.
At hearing his other counterparts' concerns about his young charge. Kakashi can't help but be suddenly grateful Naruto turned out okay. If Naruto did ever kill someone though, and acting calm about it? Well, he promised himself, he'd get the teen to a Yamanaka immediately.
The Hokage looked hurt. "Naruto-kun, I will always come if you're hurt. Now, I was wondering if you could tell me and Kakashi-san here what happened tonight?" he says calmly, trying to get the child to trust him.
Naruto sighed. "Same oh, same oh I guess. I was out walking and got jumped," he said.
Several people scowl, while some look ashamed. The ones that looked ashamed couldn't believe how stupid and cruel they were to the poor child.
Kakashi interjected then. "Excuse me, but why were you out on the streets this late at night?" he asked, bothered that the child was out past midnight.
Tsunade looks livid. "Naruto, were you ever out past midnight in our world?" she says, her voice deathly serious.
Naruto sighs. "Yes, this must be when I got kicked out of the orphanage," he says.
Several of the Rookie Nine and Gaara look pissed. How cruel can you be to kick a three-year-old out on the streets with nowhere to go and everyone under the sun wanting your blood?
Naruto jumped, startled by Kakashi. "Well, Shinobi-san. To answer your question, the orphanage kicked me out," he said.
Kakashi looked away from his student. He hadn't been aware that the child had lived on the street. It made him feel guilty.
Tenzo scowled. It was shameful how that child was treated. Even if he housed the Nine-Tails.
Sai was surprised to say the least. He'd never imagined that Naruto had been homeless.
Kakashi's eye twitched, making a mental note to pay the orphanage a visit later. He was pulled from his dark train of thought by the Hokage asking Naruto if he was okay.
The anbu captain watched as Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "Why wouldn't I be okay, Hokage-sama?" he asked.
The two shinobi looked at the boy sternly and Hiruzen addressed him. "Naruto-kun, you took the lives of three people tonight. I'm worried about how calm you're taking this. Can you explain in your own words why you did it?" he asked.
Naruto's eyes darkened. "I did kill them, but they were trying to kill me first. One man even said the D word," he said.
The two men stiffen thinking the D-word meant demon. The Hokage looked at Naruto sadly. "What's the d-word, Naruto-kun?" he asks, his voice gentle.
Naruto looked down. His tiny fist balling up in frustration. "Die. The man told me to die, but I didn't want to die Hokage-sama," he says.
Hinata clenches her fist. "Naruto-kun, you deserved better than that," she thinks.
Kakashi winced but was relieved the man hadn't broken the law. Hiruzen smiled in relief. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that Naruto-kun. To show you just how sorry I am, I've found someone to take care of you," he says.
The boy looks at the Hokage curiously. "Oh? Who, Hokage-sama?" he says.
Kakashi steps forward. "Yo, that would be me," he says.
Naruto raises an eyebrow, looking at him curiously. "Um, excuse my rudeness Shinobi-san, but who are you?" he says.
Kakashi can't help but eye smile. The boy is just too polite for his own good. "I'm Hatake Kakashi, nice to meet you," he says.
Naruto's eyes widen. "My apologies Copy-Ninja-San. I didn't realize it was you," he says, bowing a little.
Kakashi was surprised that the child knew him, or of him. "So the boy is aware of who I am interesting," he thinks. Eye smiling at Naruto, he gives him a thumbs up. "No worries, Naruto-kun," he says.
Tenzo can't help but smirk at his senpai. Really, the guy could have used that little brat to cheer him up years ago. Kakashi ignores the look.
Shikamaru and Shino wonder why this couldn't have happened in their world. Kami knows Naruto needed the attention.
Naruto smiled. "I look forward to being in your care," he says before yawning.
The Hokage smiled. "It looks like you're tired Naruto-kun. Kakashi and I will let you rest now, but tomorrow you will be discharged into Kakashi-san's care," he said.
Naruto nods. "Goodnight Hokage-sama, Kakashi-san," he says. The two shinobi then leave the poor child to rest. Kakashi realized at that moment his life was about to become interesting.
The room is deathly silent. No one knows what to say as this whole chapter has trudged up unpleasant thoughts. Naruto ignores this and says. "So, who wants to read next?" he says.
Authors note: So here's chapter two of Into the Naruto-Verse.