(Insert witty comment about how neither I nor The Dark Void own Naruto or God of War.)

XXX

Naruto sat alone in a forest clearing, a large scroll slightly unraveled before him, reading intently. It had been easy to take the scroll from the Old Man's office. He didn't even have to follow Mizuki's instructions since it had already been out on his desk. All he did was get Kana to let him go up, tie the scroll to his back, and sneak out.

Once he got to the meeting place, he tried to wait like sensei told him to, but he just couldn't stop himself when the answer was so close. So far it had eluded him though, as all he found were jutsu far beyond his skill level.

A rustling of leaves made the blonde pause his search and look around. Behind him Mizuki landed crouched, two large shuriken on his back.

"Sorry I'm late Naruto, I got held up on guard duty. Keep looking, I have to get some supplies out and then I can help." Naruto nodded and went back to fervently searching. A short time later, he was once again drawn from his task by a distinct whirling sound. Acting on instinct, he dove to the right, stifling a scream as a familiar shuriken bit deeply into his left arm. Naruto quickly scrambled to his feet, his training already kicking in. Bringing his other arm up, he began putting pressure on the cut to help stop the hemorrhaging and hopefully prevent any major blood loss. He turned his attention to the front to find Mizuki standing there slouched, the other shuriken on his back, and a crazed smile on his face.

"Huh, so you managed to not die. I should have guessed, you always did have the fox's luck."

"What are you doing sensei?" The majority of the pain was beginning to die off, but his arm was still searing. His sensei simply ran a hand though his gray hair and let out a disappointed sigh.

"You always were slow when it came to this sort of stuff, so I'll put it simply." He pointed to the scroll behind his former student. "That scroll you stole is actually the Sacred Scroll of Sealing, or as I like to call it, my ticket out of this dump." The picture was becoming clear to Naruto.

"You're going rouge, and you used me to help you do it." He said, shifting his body to be between Mizuki and the scroll.

"Bulls-eye, kid. Now all that's left to do is tie up the final loose end." With that he lunged at Naruto, pulling a kunai from his pouch. When he got close enough, he swiped at the boy's neck, who promptly turned into a log at the supposed fatal blow. When the smoke had cleared away, both Naruto and the scroll had disappeared. An insane gleam in his eye, Mizuki gave chase.

XXX

Naruto ran through the forest as fast as he could. His left arm hanging all but uselessly at his side. That shuriken had cut through large portions of both his bicep and triceps. While it wasn't a life-threatening injury by itself, it would definitely hamper him more than he could afford. Damn it! He was being chased through a deserted forest by someone who was stronger, faster, and had been doing this longer than longer than he had been in the academy. The Sacred Scroll of Sealing, which he stole, wason his back, and he didn't even have a weapon on him! His kunai, shuriken, even the sword his dad had given him, were all back at his house. Alarm bells began blaring in his head and he tried to stop himself, but Mizuki's shin still caught him directly in the face. His body was sent flying through the air until his momentum was finally halted by him crashing into the side of a small shack.

Dazed and coughing up blood, Naruto struggled to get to his feet. Mizuki simply strolled towards the boy with seemingly not a care in the world. He was only a few feet away when Naruto struck. Lowering his shoulder, he pushed off with all his strength and slammed into Mizuki's stomach, knocking the wind out of him and forcing him to drop the kunai. He then followed up with a hand strike to his jaw. The next attack was stopped when Mizuki struck his wounded arm, digging his fingers into the open flesh. Naruto reeled back and let out a gasp of pain, but Mizuki continued to press, sinking his fist into the blond's gut and smashing him into the ground with an overhead jackhammer. Mizuki took a breath and stepped around the fallen boy to retrieve his kunai and finish the job. After his second step, Naruto lashed out with a kick, hitting Mizuki in the back of the knee, buckling it. The chunin grabbed the offending appendage and threw him into the side of the shack once again. This time Naruto could not get up, no matter how much he willed his body to do so. Mizuki began to chuckle as he unstrapped the second shuriken from his back.

"Good job, Naruto, You almost gave me a decent warm up. Too bad that's just one more reason to kill you and leave this pathetic village." He said, sneering. "I should have been dead after that first attack. You of all people could kill me in an instant if you wanted to."

"What are you talking about? You're a chunin and I just got out of the Academy. Go to Hell." He spat out weakly, blood trickling down from his mouth. Naruto was pissed. He had been led on, stabbed in the back, and beaten to a pulp by his own teacher, and now he had the nerve to say he was the one who should have died by now? Mizuki's response was to start laughing full blown.

"And they don't even have the balls to admit what they did to you." He started pacing back and forth, still chuckling every so often, like this had all been a good joke. "Hell, you know what, I'm in such a good mood, I think I'll tell you before I kill you. You want to know what really happened twelve years ago, the night the village was attacked by that demon? The truth is, not even the Fourth Hokage could kill a tailed beast, so he did the next best thing. He sealed it's soul away in a newborn, the only child born that day. You, Naruto. You were the one chosen to imprison the Kyuubi." Mizuki shouted, watching with satisfaction as the color drained from Naruto's face. "That's why I should have been ripped to shreds by now, and that's why the villagers hate you. You are the Nine-tailed Fox!"

Naruto sat slumped against that run-down hut in the middle of the woods. He could see the shuriken in Mizuki's hand start to spin. He could hear the whistle of the instrument that would bring his death. He didn't care. Those were unimportant to the pieces connecting in his mind. It all made sense now, the looks, the mumbled conversations, everything. The fragments were coming together, each falling into place, as the final answer was laid out.

He was a monster.

Mizuki brought his arm back and began to throw ninja star. Naruto unconsciously braced himself for it, no hope left in his eyes.

All of a sudden, Mizuki's body froze, then went completely limp. The shuriken was sent careening off into the side of a tree. He hacked and gargled while all life left him, until the only thing keeping his body up was the blade sprouting from his chest. The sword was slowly pulled out, not making a sound as it did, and the lifeless carcass collapsed, giving Naruto his first look of his savior.

He was an aged man, wrapped in a brown robe, the left side cut away to show a white undershirt. The top of a cane served as a hilt for the sword, held to loosely in the man's left hand. His right arm was tucked away in his robe, hanging near his stomach, as if it were in a sling. He had shaggy black hair and an x-shaped scar on his chin. Bandages covered his right eye from view.

"Traitorous scum."

XXX

"Why?" Naruto chocked out, tears beginning to run down his face. He had been on Death's door, and this man had rescued him. Why would any one want to protect him?

"I protect my investments Mr. Uzumaki." The man responded. "Besides, he was a traitor to the village, he deserved far more than simply death. I should commend your skills though. You did quite well considering you were up against a more powerful opponent, whom had years of experience and detailed knowledge of your fighting style."

"Thanks and all, but what did you investment? You've never done anything for me. Hell, I don't even know who you are." The man's one uncovered eye narrowed.

"Watch your tone, boy. I have done more for you than you know, or did you really think one of the forbidden scrolls would simply be lying out in the open? Was it luck that none of the guards stopped you once you took it? My men were the ones who put the scroll there, and they are the ones who let you leave." So that was why it was so easy to get the scroll. This guy wanted him to steal it.

"But wait, you still didn't tell me who you are and what you want with me." Naruto said, noticing he had avoided the original question.

"What I want is for you to become strong, to utilize the potential that Sarutobi would squander." The words weren't that bad, but the old guys tone said all Naruto needed to hear.

"Don't you dare talk about the Old Man like that!" He shouted.

"Face the facts, boy. Twelve years ago, the Kyuubi was sealed inside of you. Afterwords, Hiruzen passed a law forbidding anyone who could remember from telling you about it. He is afraid of you and of how powerful you can become. Instead of helping you and training you, he held you back, hoping to keep you lonely and ignorant. Everything he did was to help him control you."

"But my fami-"

"Was only given to you six years ago, and even then it was only out of necessity. Sarutobi may fear you, but he fears someone else having you even more. He only agreed to have you adopted after someone tried to kidnap you, in order to help any future attempts. I had petitioned from the first day to raise you, but I was constantly denied. Everyone else met who wanted to adopt you met the same fate. Sarutobi stopped the process before it had barely begun." Naruto felt lost. In one night, his entire world was being shattered, little by little.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Mr. Mizuki may have been trash, but he was right about one thing. You deserve to know the truth." The man's head turned to the right slightly, the sounds of footsteps reaching their ears. "Remember this boy, a tree is only as strong as its roots."

With that, the wind picked up around him, and the old man disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Naruto tried to call out, but couldn't as he fell back into unconsciousness, his body slumping against the wall.

XXX

A ways away from Naruto's unconscious form, Danzo stood alone, waiting in the shadows of the trees. Soon, Fu Yamanaka appeared from the darkness, kneeling before his master.

"Were you successful?" He questioned his servant.

"Yes, Lord Danzo. I was able to plant all of the suggestions deep in the boy's subconscious, but I do not know which will take hold. Also, it appears the beast has yet to awaken from its slumber."

"Good. You are dismissed." The jinchuuriki had eluded his grasp before, but it would not do so again.

XXX

The first thing Naruto noticed when he came too was the soreness. While most of his body wasn't too bad, he could feel his arm and back were still bandaged and extremely tender. He opened his eyes to see a white, tiled ceiling and bright florescent lights. White curtains surrounding him, rails on the bed, yep, he was in the hospital.

The sound of soft humming reached his ears and he looked around for the source. Just beyond the curtains he could see the silhouette of someone as they approached his bed. The hangings had barely parted when he found himself wrapped up in the person's arms. A spasm of fear ran through his body as the memories of what happened returned to him, but they were quickly dissolved away by the warmth of his mother's hug.

Naruto didn't know how long they stayed like that, it could have been forever for all he cared. All he knew was that he wished it could last that long. Finally they separated a little, both smiling and misty-eyed, Athena gently running her fingers through her son's hair.

"You had us so worried." She eventually said.

"I'm sorry mom. I just..." He trailed off, unsure of what to say. His mom shook her head slightly.

"You don't have to explain right now. All that matters is you are safe." The whiskered blond nodded then looked around the room.

"Where's Dad?" He questioned. Athena sighed.

"Gai finally convinced him to go get a meal after spending fourteen hours standing by your bed. He almost gave one of the nurses a heart-attack when he first barged in after finding out about what happened to you." He chuckled, yeah, that sounded like his father. Athena kissed his forehead and they continued to hold each other close.

A few minutes later, Kratos burst through the doors, and as he walked in, he saw his son awake and fairly well-off in his bed. Naruto gulped; he had really been hoping to put this off til later. In an instant Dad was at his side, and he was seeing stars from the smack to the back of his head.

"What in Hades' name were you thinking boy? Breaking into the Hokage tower, stealing classified information, consorting with a traitor, and getting into a fight without any of your equipment with you." Kratos raged, veins bulging in his neck. "What could have made you do something so brainless?"

"I just wanted answers." Naruto started.

"Answers? Answers that were so important you could not wait for Athena or I to return and ask us? Did you need them so much you would help someone betray your city?" His father interrupted.

"But Dad,"

"No, no "but Dad"s. There is no excuse for this idiocy." Naruto could only look down at his hands, his father's words filling him with shame. He quickly glanced at his mom for support, but she slowly shook her head.

"Naruto, what you did was extremely foolish and dangerous." She said softly, Kratos still continuing to go off on him. "You should have come to us first."

"I would have, but you two were gone, and I needed to know right away. I know it was stupid, but I had too."

"Naruto, just tell us what it was?" Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. How could he begin to tell his parents, anybody, this? His brain fumbled with words, trying to come up with something, when a thought appeared in his mind. Horror struck him, and his body was paralyzed by it. No, No, No, No. It couldn't be true. Even if it was he couldn't ask. His reality had already been destroyed by questions, he couldn't let that happen again. But he still had to know, he still had to ask.

"Did you know?" Naruto whispered. Kratos stopped mid tirade, and his mother questioned.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you know?" He asked again, his voice growing louder. "Did you know I have a demon in me? Did you know I'm a monster?" By the end he was shouting, his entire body shaking, hands clenched in anger. His parent were quiet for a while. Athena tried to pull him in for another hug, but he shoved her away. In the end, she answered.

"Yes, we did."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Naruto began to cry. It was true, everyone he knew had lied to him.

"Because you weren't ready, and from what I've seen, you still aren't." Kratos told him. "Athena and I had planned on telling you after your first major mission as a genin. We believed that by then you would be able to handle such news."

"Naruto, I know you feel betrayed, but it was the best option. The Hokage told us the day after we adopted you and left us to chose when you were told about the Kyuubi. We never meant to hurt you, we were simply trying to protect you from the truth. We still love you." Athena followed up. Naruto sniffed,

"But I'm a demon." At this, Kratos could not help but chuckle a little.

"Brat, I've fought many monsters and demons, trust me, you are far from being one." The boy nodded, a sense of relief filling him. His parents still loved him, and had loved him for six years, despite knowing what was held inside of him. Silently in his head, Naruto made a promise that he would become stronger, so that his parents never had to worry about him again, and he could protect them for once.

Nodding to himself, Naruto surprised his parents by jumping up in his bed and hugging his father around the neck. Kratos did not move to return the affection, but to anyone who knew him well, his face said a that needed to be. Athena smiled softly, getting up and walking around to their side. She placed a hand on her son's shoulder, gently rubbing. Yeah his family was far from perfect, but in that hospital room, surrounded by the warmth of his mother and father, Naruto realized something important.

Perfect was boring.

XXX

What's this? A quick update to make up for the drought before? Good heavens, who would have thought of such a thing?

Well, enough of that crap. Not much to say this time, except I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to continue introducing the Naruto universe to my dear friend, the Butterfly Effect. She's a splendid old gal who can make anything interesting, though she can be quite fickle, if I do say so myself.

Look out world, Glock3bb is back, baby!

Sincerely,

Glock3bb, The Dark Void.