Disclaimer: I Don't Own Naruto

"Talking"

"Thinking, Flashback"

"Demon Talking"

"Demon Thinking"

(Previously)

Naruto couldn't believe it, he was safe. That girl had saved him. Why did she save him? He didn't know her and she had shown him kindness. No one ever showed him that, almost nobody, so why did she?

Naruto thought hard about this, he just could not figure out why some random girl, who he ran into, was nice to him. He didn't move from that spot searching deep in his mind for that one answer and in time he fell asleep.

Naruto woke up with a start as a drop of water fell on his head. He looked around trying to take in his surroundings. He blinked, rubbed his eyes and looked again.

He was in a large concrete tunnel that had water that went to his knees.

"Great… just great I'm in a sewer."

He then got a sad look, "I guess that girl was a bad liar because that mob must have found me and put me here." "Wait when did Konoha get a sewer this big. I've hid in most but never found this one." He thought as he walked down the tunnel, but stopped when he heard…

"Well look who decided to show up after he woke me up for my sleep." Came a demonic feminine growl.

Naruto looked around but couldn't see anyone or anything. "W-who's t-there" he shouted trying to see farther down the tunnel. "S-show yours-self or are you scared," he continued trying to put on a brave face. All he got was a chuckle.

"Well aren't you brave little one… very well if you want to see me come forward."

Naruto debated on what to do. On one hand he could go in the other way and try to find an exit or he could go to the very scary voice that could very well be a trap. Against his better judgment, he decided to chance it.

Naruto carefully crept forward as he prepared himself for a possible ambush.

How under prepared he was.

In front of him was gate that had a piece of paper with the kanji symbol "seal" on it. On the other side of the gate was a gigantic orange fox with nine tails waving in the air.

"Well you are younger than I thought, but then again I was not expecting you for another nine years," the fox said with a toothy grin.

Naruto just stood there in shock as he looked at the demon he thought was dead. "NO. It's not possible. How is it here?"

"First you wake me from my sleep, and then you just stand there. Humans are such a strange race."

"Y-y-your-you're the Ky-Ky-Ky-Kyuubi," Naruto stuttered out. "How, how are you here? The Fourth Hokage killed you so you should be in, wait, but if you went there and I'm here does that mean I'm dead?" he whisper.

The Kyuubi started to chuckle as she rose to her full height, "Yes I am the Nine-Tailed Fox Kurama, strongest of all the tailed beast, and queen of the demons, and I am very much alive as are you. The thought of one such as I being killed by a mere human, even the one you call the fourth, is a laugh and an insult." The Kyuubi said.

"But the Y-Yondaime d-defeated y-y-you," he said trying to defend his ideal "Wait did the Kyuubi say it was the 'queen' of demons? The Kyuubi is a girl!" his thoughts were interrupted.

"You can't kill a bijuu brat only contain them mainly in humans who get called jinchuriki. That cursed human did just that when he sealed me inside of you," she growled.

"So y-you're inside m-me?"

"That's what I just said brat," the beast said and started muttering stuff about stupid humans.

Fresh tears started to fall from his eyes, "The v-villagers are right, I am a m-m-monster."

"NO YOU'RE NOT. YOU ARE A LITTLE BOY WHO IS HATED FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DO!"

"But… but you said tha-"

"I said that I was sealed inside you not that I was you." The Kyuubi stated. "Besides if you were me than you be a vixen and would have killed those villagers for just looking at you wrong. Since you're not those things than the thought of you being me is just insulting," she said.

Then she whipped her head around, bared her teeth, gave a low growl, and fixed a glare at Naruto. (who stumbled back and started to shiver with fear)

"You are not insulting me. Are you little brat," she threated.

Naruto wisely shook his head no.

"Good, because if you were, it would've ended badly for you," she said with amusement.

Naruto gave a sigh of relief, then got a confused look.

"Um Kyuubi whe-"

"Kurama"

"What?"

"My name is Kurama. If I am going to be stuck with you for the rest of your life than I want to be called something other than that title you stupid humans gave me," she stated then muttered, "The Kyuubi really it's shocking they got that right and didn't call me the Sanbi or something, bakas."

"Well… um… Kyu-"

"WHAT DID I JUST SAY."

"Kurama, Kurama," Naruto shouted to make sure that the fox could hear him and not harm him.

"Tsk"

"Ky-KURAMA where are we?" Naruto was finally able to ask.

"Hm… we're in your mindscape kit."

"Um Kurama."

"What," she said a little annoyed.

"What is a 'minescap'," he said embarrassed at not knowing.

Kurama gave a small sweat-drop. "Right… he is only four. I can't use complicated words," she berated herself. "The mindscape is basically a land in your mind. It is also the location of this infernal cage," she said throwing a claw at the bars, which just glanced off.

Naruto nodded his head and started to think about what he had just learned.

"Okay so, 1st the Kyuubi is alive, 2nd the Kyuubi is sealed inside me, 3rd the Fourth sealed the Kyuubi inside me, 4th I am probably the only thing stopping it from destroying Konoha (he gave grin at such an accomplishment), 5th I am a jinchuriki, 6th the Kyuubi is a girl, 7th the Kyuubi's name is Kurama, 6th I am in a mine or mindscape place."

Once he got he thoughts straight he looked at Kurama in wonder. Here in his mind is the strongest creature in the world, his mind, of all people. At that moment his young brain burst with questions.

"How old are you?"

"Who were you created?"

"Are you really the most powerful demon?"

"Could I be as strong as you?"

"Are you really a girl?"

"Am I your first jinchuriki?"

Kurama was getting more and more annoyed as her container continued his question assault. Her annoyance was quickly turning to anger, "Will he ever shut up?"

"Why did you attack Konoha?" as soon as the question came out he was hit with a blast of KI.

"If you are smart boy than you will not ask me that."

"But… but what happened?" You-you killed a lot of people and everyone blames me for it. I just want to know why," he asked in a small voice.

Kurama let the KI die down and rested her head on her paws.

"I will tell you when you are older, just leave it at that," she said with a sad sigh.

Naruto wanted to protest but he heard the tone the Kyuubi used and dropped it.

Naruto looked over the fox again thinking about the next question he was going to ask when he suddenly thought of one.

"Kurama do you want to be friends?" he asked with a smile.

"What?" she asked truly shocked.

"Do you want to be my friend?"

She looked at him for a minute as if in thought.

Naruto's hope was rising with the thought of finally having a friend every second that passing until it immediately died when she burst out laughing.

"Hahaha…me… Kurama, queen of demons… being friends… with a a human, a human of all creatures, oh that's rich," as she continued to laugh for a good ten minute making Naruto feel worse and worse.

"Don't take it the wrong way kit," she said as she started to calm down, "but humans are not very high on my favorite species list. One of the few I could truly get along with was my last container. And I do have a reputation to keep after all and being friends with a human will not help it. And I will tell you about her later." She said stopping his question and lying back down to rest. "Friends with a human, really"

Naruto closed his mouth and wondered about the woman who could get on the legendary Kyuubi's good side. "Wow… she must have been so cool."

"Now get out of here."

"What?"

"I said get out, wake up, scram the point is I want you to leave so I can get back to sleep." She said taking slow, deep breaths.

"But I don't want to leave. I have so many more question to ask."

"I bet you do and if you ask then all I will never get to sleep." She stated.

Naruto's body started to fade. "What is happening!" he shouted as he panicked.

"You are waking up. By the way, I would move my head to the left if I were you."

"Will I ever see you again?" "Move my head to the what?... crazy fox."

"Sadly yes, but only when I am ready for you will that happen."

Naruto nodded as his body faded from the mindscape.

"Well Kushina… you created one interesting kit," Kurama thought in amusement as she drifted off to sleep.

(Outside Mindscape)

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Why does my body hurt so mu- oh ya right…I was nearly killed. What is that noise?" he thought as he tried to open his eyes.

"Damnit demon I said move your ass off my property."

Naruto rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"Well if me yelling at ya won't make you move then-shiiiiing- than maybe this will…oomph."

Naruto opened his eyes and saw something coming at him at a high speed.

"thud"

Naruto's eyes went as wide as saucers as he looked at the butcher knife that was embedded in the wall by his head. He had yawned and tilted his head to the left when the knife passed his head cutting off a very thin layer of skin on his ear.

"Damnit I missed."

Naruto's eyes focused on the person that threw the knife. She was a civilian woman probably in her mid-thirties with a white apron on.

"Maybe I should ask my son for lessons on how to throw a knife so I won't miss next time. O-well practice makes perfect," she muttered as she went for another knife. When she came back to the ally all she could see was a dust trail leading away.

"Um… mom what are you doing?"

"Nothing sweetie, just saw some creature by the trash and made it leave."

"Mom you can't call me sweetie any more. I am a ninja now."

"YOU COULD BE HOKAGE, BUT I AM YOUR MOTHER SO I CAN ANYTHING I WANT. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?"

"Y-yes ma'am!"

"Good now what do want for breakfast?"

"Troublesome woman."

"What was that sweetie?"

"Nothing, I want the dish from last night!"

"Okay"

Naruto was walking down the street his apartment thinking about what had happened last night. "Well at least I know why everyone hates me, well not me Kurama."

He decided that he better look where he was going so not to bump into anyone again

"Don't want that to happen again."

He saw the looks people gave him as he passed, they were looks of annoyance and dislike not the white hot hatred that they had the night before. "Kurama's right these people are stupid there has to be at least some who know I'm not the Kyuubi if I was the chances of these people living are slim to none if the stories about her are true. I'll show them I'm not the Kyuubi I'll be the greatest ninja ever, I AM NARUTO UZUMAKI JINCHURIKI OF KURAMA AND I WILL BE THE GREATEST HOKAGE EVER, BELIEVE IT." His face sported a grin as he got to a spot that had a clear view of the Hokage Monument. As he looked over the different faces of the pasted Hokages his eyes settled on the fourth.

"Greater even than you" he thought.

Naruto had different thoughts when it came to the Yondaime Hokage. He felt incredible anger at him not for what was done to him (so far Kurama was not that bad, just really scary when she wanted to be) he was mad at what he has caused him. Because of him no one was nice to him except for the Third, the Ichiraku people... and that Hyuuga girl. But on the other hand the young boy could somewhat understand his motives for doing so. Ever since he could remember he has heard people talk about how great, and powerful the Fourth. He has also heard about the level of damage Kurama had caused and according to her there is no one who is as powerful as her. And if that is true than sealing her was the only way to stop her. "Maybe I was just the closest, so he choose to seal her in me," he thought cursing he luck.

As Naruto made his way into his apartment he thought about the man he saw as a grandfather. "I wonder if jiji knows about me being a jinchuriki… of course he knows he's the hokage. But why did he not tell me? Why did he say that Kurama was dead, he had to know that you can't kill a bijuu so why did he lie?" the thought of one of the few people that was nice to him lying to him was not a feeling that Naruto liked.

Then he thought about the one that had saved him. He had never met her, had he? She looked familiar and had been nice how him by leading that mob away from him. He hadn't done anything to her, well, except for her except run into her. Naruto thought she would want him punished for that action, that bastard did. But instead of having him hurt like so many did she had saved him. "Why did she save me?"

That is the question that was stuck in the boy's mind for the next six month and for the life of him he could not find any answer.

"Why?"

(Six Months Later)

(Hinata)

"Hinata sweetie it is such a nice day today how about I take you to the park so you can play with children you age, besides I think there will be a clan meeting today and I would rather enjoy the day than be in a daylong meeting wouldn't you?" Haruka asked her daughter.

"Hai mother, let me get ready and we can leave," Hinata said as she hurried to get ready.

Haruka giggled at the sight of her daughter rushing to get ready, "She just wants to leave the compound, not that I blame her this place is way too depressing."

"I'm ready." Hinata said stopping in front of her mother with a smile on her face.

"Alright. Neji-kun would you be so kind as to tell Hiashi that Hinata and I will be at the park for the day?" she asked her nephew with a kind smile.

"Of course Haruka-sama," he said with a bow and a rare true smile reserved only for her.

"Thank you Neji-kun. Let's we go sweetie?" she said heading to the door.

"Coming mother," came a voice behind her.

(Naruto)

Naruto woke up with the sunlight in his eyes. "Urgh… is it day time already? Well I better get up and start my day. Maybe I can get some ideas for a new prank in the village today."

With that in mind he reluctantly crawled out of his bed to start his day. He walked around his messy apartment looking for some close that could pass as clean because his jumpsuit was ruined and the store that sold it to him either had none in stock or just didn't want to sell him any, it was probably the latter. After about five minutes of looking he found a pair of shorts and a black shirt that had a red swirl on the back.

Now dressed he went to his kitchen and started to heat water for his instant ramen breakfast. As he waited for the water to heat up he went to finish his morning ritual.

After he finished his breakfast he was about to leave when he returned to his bed and removed a plank on the floor to revile a box. Carefully opening it he pulled out a necklace before putting the box and plank back into their original position.

Standing up he looked at the object in his hands, the very same that had saved his life.

The necklace had a simple strap with a ruby. The ruby was tire-shaped and a little bigger than a quarter and about half an inch thick. What was interesting about it though was that there was a black swirl in the middle of the ruby like the one on the back of his shirt (just neater and better).

Naruto knew that this necklace was by far the most important and expensive thing that he owned. He had even went to a jeweler to see if it was real, but it did not good so well

(Flashback)

It was three days since the mob attack and Naruto was lying on his bed looking at the necklace in front of him.

"I wonder if this thing is real? If it is then maybe I can sell it and move out of this apartment."

"No I can't do that, this necklace saved my life I can't just sell it. But I wonder if it is real. It looks to pretty to be fake, but I want to know for sure."

Naruto jumped off his bed, grabbed the necklace and ran out the door to the store that had had a diamond on the now broken window.

Taking a deep breath to calm his now nervous heart he opened the door and walked inside.

The store had a lot of people in it. All of them were so busy looking at shiny and glitter rings, necklaces and bracelets that no one seemed to notice him as he made his way to the display case. He had stares in his eyes he saw all the expensive items right in front of him.

"Hey you little monster where did you get that necklace hn?" came a not so nice voice behind him.

Naruto turned to see a man in a fancy cloths glaring at him and eyeing the object in his hands.

Naruto brought it to his chest as a way to protect it, "I-I f-found it." He stuttered out.

The man looked even madder than before, "You found it, you found it, you and I both know that you're trying to steal it. I know because I saw that necklace earlier and was planning on getting it for my wife. And I am not going to let some demon brat steal something while the rest of us 'normal' people have to pay for stuff. Now hand it over."

Naruto didn't even respond as he ran out of the store. The ruby had to be real if someone was willing to make up such a lie to get it.

Naruto heard "Hey get back here with my necklace!" behind him and turned to see the fancy-cloths guy at the jewelry store door shaking his fist in a rage.

"Nope, this is my necklace now," he thought with a smile.

(End Flashback)

Naruto gave a frown at the thought, "How can people be so blind to think I am anything like the fox."

Ever since that day he had worn the necklace in hope of it bringing him luck and protection. Putting it on he put it under his shirt and looked at his refection and gave a confident smile as he pointed to himself, "You are Naruto Uzumaki and you are going to be the best future Hokage ever, BELIEVE IT!" he shouted as he ran out the door to start his day.

Naruto gave a tired and satisfied sigh as he left the Ichirahu stand after having lunch and started to wonder around with no destination in mind.

"Man it is already past noon and I still have no ideas for my next prank."

He stopped when he saw the four faces on the Hokage Monument.

His face adopted a sinister grin, "Unless"

"OW"

Naruto was rubbing his head as he picked himself off the ground and looked around for what hit him.

His eyes spotted a ball just a few feet away from his person. Picking himself up he walk to the ball and picked it up for closer examination.

"Hey over here. Could you throw the ball over here?"

Naruto turned his head to see a boy a little older than him waving his arm to get his attention.

"Throw it!" the boy shouted.

Naruto look at the boy and was about to throw the ball when he decided against it and began to walk over to the boy.

"Um… here you go," he said as he handed the ball to the boy.

"Thanks, oh, and sorry about hitting you in the head earlier. It turns out my friend was lying about his aim skills," he chuckled as he to a group of boys behind him. One of the said boys were red in the face and appeared to be giving a nervous laugh but was too far away to tell.

"So… urm… do you… think… maybe… I could… possible… play with you guys," Naruto ask carefully.

"Sure we might have enough room for you to play. Let me go ask them," he said as began to walk back with Naruto behind him with hopeful thoughts in his head.

Once they got close enough the boy called out to his friends.

"Hey guys this kid wants to play with us. Do we have room for him?"

The boys looked around and saw Naruto and two of the boys got nervous looks on their faces.

The first boy spoke, "Yeah, you can pl-"

"Um, guys could we talk about this for a second," one of the nervous boys interrupted.

The first boy looked agitated at being interrupted but saw the look on number two's face.

"Sure I guess we could talk. (Turning to Naruto) Give us a sec ok," Boy one said as he went to his friends.

Naruto just gave a slow nod, not liking the way boy two looked, as he watched the group back away to what they thought was a safe distance and couldn't be heard. The key word though was 'thought'.

(The Group)

"Dude what do you want to talk about? There aren't too many people here for him not to play," boy one asked.

"I know but I don't think it is a good idea to be around him," boy two stated.

Boy one gave a confused look.

"Why?"

"Well my kaa-san says that he is a mass killer."

Boy one just looked at his friend.

"No offence but your mom was always a bit nuts," he said.

Another boy decided to add his thoughts.

"I don't know. I heard he was a monster."

Boy one looked behind him to see Naruto staring at an anthill while he waited the looked back at two and tree.

"How could he be a killer, he looks only four or five. Not even old enough for the academy."

"Tou-san said he was a evil demon in human form, and that he looks like a kid to get close to ya and stab ya," boy three said and two nodded in agreement.

Boy one looked at them for a second then started to fake laugh.

"Hahaha that is not a very funny joke guys. That is very mean," he said.

Boys two and three shook their heads, "We're not joking, we're serious. Haven't any of you heard of the monster that lives in Konoha?" two asked hoping to have someone back up his claim.

The group thought about it seeing if they could remember anything.

"Well I heard some villagers say that after the Fourth Hokage died that a monster decided to live in the village."

"Oh kaa-san said that a demon live here and is waiting to kill everyone."

"My jiji said that a monsters human form looks real and grows the same as us to make us like it more."

The boy group kept throwing around what they remember about the topic and by the end boy one was quite nervous. He did not necessarily believe what he heard but to hear so many comments that basically say the same thing, a part of him found it true.

(Naruto)

When the boy left to go talk to his group Naruto had hoped that they would talk about something that wasn't about him, but that hope was dashed as he could hear every word that they were saying.

"I guess that Kurama has increased my hearing. (sigh) I was so close to being able to play with them. I guess kids will believe anything you tell them," he thought. He squat down to look at an anthill he found trying to divert his attention away from the group's conversation, sadly though he failed miserable.

Boy one walked over to Naruto (who had a dark rain cloud over his head) as the huddle ended.

"U-um… hey listen… you see my friends reminded me t-that… well if you play then we would have too many people, sorry," he said nervously.

Naruto felt his anger rise. Here is this boy, who just a second ago was talking to his friends about all the bad things that the villagers made-up about him, tell some crappy lie to his face.

"Ya I bet that is what they told you," he said with a glare.

"I-I-I'm s-sorry but you c-cant play, you can watch though. Please don't hurt me," he said shaking a little.

Naruto's anger vanished, "This guy is afraid of me. He like everyone else in this village think I'm a monster."

"Whatever," Naruto said sadly as he walked away from the group and sat under a tree a little further away.

(Hinata)

Haruka and Hinata were currently sitting on a picnic blanket in the middle of the park just enjoying the day. They were just relaxing and enjoying each other's company but Haruka gave a sigh of disappointment.

All throughout the day she had tried to get her daughter too social and play with children her own age, but each time she politely refused saying that she would rather stay bye her mother's side.

It is not that she didn't love to spend time with her daughter, she cherished the alone time with her, but ever since her failed kidnaping she had become shy and her only friend outside the compound is her guard Kurenai.

In the end she gave up trying and the two had lunch.

"Hey over here. Could you throw the ball over here?"

Both Hyuugas looked up to see Naruto talk to the group of boys. They saw the boys form a huddle and rejected Naruto afterwards who went to sit by a tree.

"That poor boy. I wish I could help him but Hiashi would be greatly upset if I was directly involved with the boy." She thought but then looked at her daughter and a small smile grew on her lips.

Hinata had seen the confirmation the strange blond haired boy had with the others and felt a little upset. There is the boy that saved her from being kidnaped and everyone was mean to him.

"Um Kaa-san," she started, "Would… it… be all right if I go play with that boy," she said pointing to Naruto.

Haruko took a pose as if she in thought before she replied, "Yes you can go, but behave."

"Yes mother," she said as she made her way over to the boy.

(Naruto)

Naruto brought his knees to his chest as he looked at all the boys play ball, "Why did this have to happen to me? One friend, just one friend is that too much to ask Kami. I guess it is since no one what to be around the 'demon boy'.

"Um, h-hello"

Naruto turned his head and saw the girl that had saved him. Unlike the last time he saw her she wore a black training outfit and she seemed more nervous than last time.

"H-hi my name is H-hinata."

Naruto looked at her for a second then a smile spread across his face.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I'm going to be the greatest Hokage ever, BELIEVE IT!"

Hinata was shocked at is exclamation. Naruto saw this and started to sheepishly rub the back of his head in embarrassment of his outburst. In all honesty Naruto expected to her to leave and call him an idiot or something like that but he did not expect her to start giggling into her hand.

"You're f-funny N-naruto."

He looked at her for a short while thinking if he should ask the question that had given him such a horrible rejection every time before. Something seemed to tell him that he should.

"Um… Hinata… do you… maybe… possibly… you'd want to play with me?" he once again asked.

Hinata could tell the bo-Naruto was nervous and so was she. Turning her head, she looked at her mother silently asking for permission.

"Please, Kami let her say yes. I will do anything for a friend. Please just let me have a friend."

"Um o-ok. Kaa-san s-said that i-it was ok to p-play w-with you N-naruto." She was nervous. She had never played with anyone her own age, she did not know what to do.

Naruto froze. Did she just agree to play with him? Yes she did and her mother was alright with it. He just looked at her with a blank face that slowly rose to a grin that went from ear to ear.

Quickly snatching up her hand he dragged her to the swing-set and told her to sit down while he pushed.

"O-ok," she said as she did as he asked.

And the two children did something that they have never done before; they had fun without a care in the world.

Haruko just smiled at the scene that involved her shy daughter and the outgoing blond boy.

"It seems that opposite do attract. They will be good for each other in the future," she thought with a smile.

" -sama."

Haruko turned to the one that interrupted her thoughts and saw a civilian woman in the thirties.

"Hai?"

"I would like to inform you that that thing is attacking your daughter," she said pointing to the two kids playing.

Haruko frowned, "I'm sorry but it seems that you're mistaken. I do not see this 'thing' you are referring to, just two kids playing."

The woman gave Haruko a 'are you stupid' look, "Hyuuga-sama surely you know what that boy really is, right?"

"Yes I Know that he is the one that holds the thing that tried to destroy us and he see my daughter worthy enough to play with. I feel honored,"

"But Hyuuga-sama aren't you worried that it will force itself on her?"

It was Haruko's turn to give the 'are you stupid' look, "Well if anything happens than I will put a stop to it, but until then I will let the kids have their fun."

The woman gave her a disgusted look, "I see that you are one of those demon-lovers Hyuuga-sama. If it were up to me than it would have been put to death the moment it was brought into this world," she said as she glared daggers at Naruto.

"Well than it is a good thing that this decision was made by OUR HOKAGE and not a simple civilian then. Now if that is all you had to say, please be on your way," Haruko dismissed

"Yes that all. Good day Hyuuga-sama," she rudely spoke to the demon-lover and being called simple. She walked away.

Haruko gave a sad sigh. The people of her village won't let go of their hatred toward the beast and are putting on a little innocent boy. It is quite sad really. She looked at the two who are now chasing each other. It was like the beginning scene of a romance novel she used to read as a little girl, and call her crazy she had a feeling that this was the beginning of a good one.

That day had been the day that Naruto had been dreaming/hoping for his whole life, he finally had a friend.

Since that day Naruto and Hinata could be seen playing with each other every other day and the two children quickly became best friends.

That was Naruto's life for the past two months now the two could be seen lying under a tree on opposite side with Haruko talking with some people not to far way.

Earlier that day Hinata had told him that she was going to be a big sister in about eight months followed by a game of tag and finally a picnic thinks to Haruko. (who was slowly becoming Naruto's mother figure) after eaten the two went to the tree each lost in their own thoughts.

Hinata thinking what would life as a big sister be like, while Naruto was thinking the same thing he had since he ran into his friend.

Why did she save him? He just didn't know. He had come up with tons of possible answers but he did not know if any of them were right, it was driving him crazy.

"(Sigh) Hinata"

"Y-yes"

"Why did you save me that time?"

Hinata knew what he was talking about. She had gotten to know her blond friend over the past few months to know that very few people were kind to him and he was wondering why was/is she. The answer was simple really.

"B-because N-naruto, you saved m-mine."

Out of all the possible reasons he come up with that was not one of them.

(Flashback)

Naruto was on his way back to the village, skipping to a tone he was humming. When he was done he smiled as he thought what was to come.

Earlier that month some bigger boys made him mad and led him to a spot where they dropped orange dyed water on his head and then proceed to laugh at him.

Getting over his anger he asked the boys (Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane) why they did that. They told him that it was a prank. Still confused they told him what a prank was, why they were used, and some of their uses. As an apology they even said that they would even help with his first prank.

That got Naruto very excited. Earlier that month a traveling storeowner that had been in the village three years ago when it was attacked threw a apple at him and left a bump. He had heard that he would be leaving the next day and would be taking the route he is on. So for he revenge he made a plan.

He had the older boys place buckets of paint in the trees that were above the path. His part was to tie wire to the right places and lead the shop owner there. The boys would be taking payment in pictures.

Unfortunately for him the wire had taken a lot longer than he thought forcing him to stay up as night covered the forest. It was way past his bedtime and he was tired, hungry, and in a really good mood.

"Finally I got done with my plank, now all I got to do is wait for that big meany tomorrow. Now I tired so I need to sleep."

He stopped when he heard his stomach and looked down.

"Haha it looks like you are hunger tummy. Maybe the nice noodle people will give us more food. Tummy likes their noo- what is that smell?"

Naruto and sniffed the air. Turning towards the smell he saw a faint light in the distance.

"He what is that it looks like a flashy bug" he thought as he started to move towards the light.

The closer he got to the light the brighter it got and the better the smell got.

"Come on almost there" he thought reaching out his hands in a grabby motion.

Then the light disappeared.

"Hey where did flashy bug go?"

Disappointed he was about to head back when he heard grunts coming from where the light was. Curious he continued forward until he was in a clearing. The clearing was clear except for four things. One, there was a log near him. Two, there was a sack near the log. Three, there was a circle of rocks with gray and orange in it on the other side of the clearing (fire pit). Four, that was a man stomping in the circle eating some food on a stick.

"Fooood. I want some but that man looks scary. I'll take some from the bag."

Quietly he crawled over to the bag and untied the bag.

He was shocked that instead of food in the bag there was a little girl with dark blue hair and white lavender tinted eyes.

"Pretty" he thought but that is not what came out.

"Your not food," he said pointing a accusing finger at the girl.

Despite being confused and scared as hell the girl started to giggle into her hand.

"HEY BRAT WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" Naruto looked up and saw the man was looking at him and he looked mad.

"Time to go," he said as he took off running.

"GET BACK HERE BRAT!" the man yelled as he gave chase.

When Naruto exited the forest he started down the path again looking over his shoulder he saw the older man was following him.

"This is fun" he thought.

"BRAT GET BACK HERE!"

"YOU WILL NEVER GET ME HAHAHA"

"WHY YOU LITTLE"

The chase lasted a few minutes until Naruto recognized a certain tree.

"Almost there just a few more steps… now"

Jumping as far as he could he keep running until he heard what he was waiting for.

"Thud"

Stopping and turning around he saw the man was on his bottom covered in red, black, and orange paint with one of the buckets on his head.

Completely forgetting the situation he was in he fell on his back laughing.

Getting over his shock the man stared at the kid that did this to him forgetting about his mission he could only see red.

"WHY YOU LITTLE BRAT. I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" he yelled as he landed his most powerful kick on the bod sending him flying into a tree head first.

"Hn brat don't think I'm done with you."

He then proceeded to beat him to a pulp taking out all his anger in the process.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm"

The blast knocked the man off of the unconscious boy killing him before he hit the ground and the path was suddenly filled of people.

One Hokage, one Hyuuga Hiashi, two anbu, and two Hyuuga branch members.

"Lord Hokage this is the cloud nin ambassador. Hiashi-sama's jutsu killed him." an anbu said.

"I see and the boy?"

"He's alive," the anbu said with disappointment, "but he will need medical attention."

"Hiashi-sama." Everyone turn to see Hiashi's younger twin brother, Hizashi, appear with the girl in his arms.

"I found Hinata-sama in a clearing not far from here. I believe little Naruto distracted the cloud nin." He informed them as Hinata walked over to see her savoir.

"What that is non-since and I don't want to hear other wise. Am I understood."

"But how could yo-hu- yes lord Hiashi-sama." He said with a sigh.

"Come lady Hinata."

Taking one last look at the beaten boy, she turned around to follow her family, "Hai"

(End Flashback)

"That was you?" Naruto peering around the tree.

She nodded her head even though he couldn't see.

"Yes, a cloud nin tried to kidnap me. You saved me, thank you."

Naruto just smile, "Well I guess that means we're even right."

"Mmhmm."