Chapter 4 – A new beginning

Naruto was standing at the window, looking outside at the street. It was crowded. He rarely saw the roads of Konoha during this time of the day. But this was going to change for him. He didn't know whether it was for good or not. He was free now, free to do anything if it was legal, free to just lie and stare at night sky. But also he didn't wanted to change, not after all the hard works he had done.

He sighed and turned to see his new apartment. It had one bedroom, one hall which also had the kitchen.

"I hope you like it Naruto-kun. This will your new home from now on" said Sarutobi. Sarutobi had decided to come along with Jiraiya to show him his new apartment.

Naruto was not going to complain anything. This apartment was bigger than his quarter at the root. He shook his head implying he liked it.

"Good then. I will be leaving for now. If you need anything just tell me or Jiraiya. Good luck Naruto-kun for your new life". Sarutobi turned and went out of the apartment. Naruto saw hokage going towards the hokage tower from his window. Naruto saw two of the ANBU gaurds following him and two were keeping an eye from the shadow, going from tree to tree.

"I should also leave now. Take care Naruto. And once again I am sorry for leaving you" Jiraiya said to him.

Naruto looked at his godfather and said, "It's alright".

Naruto turned towards his bedroom to lie down. He was tired, not physically but mentally. Last two days had been tough for the young ninja. First the mission at sound village, then meeting with Jiraiya. And then this, moving to his new apartment, starting his new life.

He closed his eyes to take rest. He tried to recall everything that happened since yesterday.

FLASHBACK

Naruto removed his mask and looked at Jiraiya. Jiraiya stood there, his eyes widened at seeing his eyes.

"Where did you get your Sharingan Naruto?"

"If you asking me if I killed some Uchiha, then I didn't"

Jiraiya was sure that Naruto can't kill someone for that. But he had to make sure. After all Naruto was following Danzo orders for some long time.

"Few years back. It was implanted in me. Please understand I can't tell you who it was or where I got these" Naruto said moving towards the dead sound ninja he killed some time ago to get his sword which was still stabbed in his body.

Jiraiya doesn't need to be told where he got those and who was responsible. But he was not going to force Naruto to tell him, "I understand"

"Naruto how you know about me being your godfather?" asked Jiraiya remembering Naruto just said himself as godson of Jiraiya.

"Danzo told me about you when I asked him for my relatives" He pulled his sword from the body and sheathed it back.

Jiraiya just stand and watched him.

Naruto came back and looked at him, "So you know anything about my parents or anyone else other than you? Danzo just told me about you"

Jiraiya was in a fix, he didn't know whether to tell him or not. By telling him he would be breaking the last wish of his student Minato. But he just can't lie to his face like that or Naruto will never trust him again. He thought and said "Listen Naruto, your father made some dangerous criminals his enemy. His last wish was to protect you. If those people knew you are his blood, they would have come to hurt you. So he made me promise to tell you about your lineage when the time is right, when you are ready to protect yourself and others around you" Jiraiya didn't lied to him, he just changed few facts about being some criminals as his enemy in place of the whole hidden village in rock.

Naruto knew the importance of promises. He was still to break one. "It's fine then. I suppose you will tell me when I become strong enough to protect myself and I will not have to ask you again?" Jiraiya nodded.

"Let's go. I have to report before night" Naruto asked Jiraiya.

This brought back Jiraiya to current situation, situation of Naruto being a root ninja. He didn't want that for him, neither did his parents. "Naruto, you should leave root, their method of working is not right. They just know to fight and want to settle everything with a war".

"And what's wrong with that? If someday I realise that they are going too far, I would stop them myself"

"Danzo will never let you, He had already brain washed you. You will never even question him or his methods just like now. Tell me, what is the reason to send a kid to a hide out of that snake bastard?"

Naruto just stared at him. He knew why Dazno sent him alone. He already gave Naruto reason for that during the briefing.

"I will think about that. Now, Come on, we should go".

Jiraiya knew Naruto was not going to listen to him. But he was also not going to ignore this. He would now have to take some serious steps to save Naruto from Root. He nodded to Naruto and they both started moving towards Konoha.

END FLASHBACK

Jiraiya was standing outside Naruto's apartment. He had just said him goodbye. He was rather pleased with his doing. Not only he was able to save Naruto from roots, the look he got to see on Danzo's face was something extra.

FLASHBACK

Jiraiya was standing in the Hokage office. Naruto had left to meet Danzo as soon he reached Konoha.

Hokage was looking out of the window. He turned to face Jiraiya. "What you want to do now then? You know we can't forcefully ask Naruto to leave Root."

"I know, and also it doesn't seem like he was ready to leave it. But we have to do something. We just can't leave him there. Danzo gave him Sharingan and you know the only way he could have those is from the massacre. We could use that or something to force Danzo to let him go".

Sarutobi sighed. He knew it was almost impossible that Danzo will let Naruto go just like that. Not only he was the Jinchūriki of the most powerful bijuu, he had also the sharingan and not to forget he had made a name of himself in ninja world. He spoke his mind to Jiraiya, "Danzo will not just let him go. You know that, right?"

"Yes I know. Then what? We are just going to ignore it. And why didn't you stop Naruto from the start?"

Sarutobi knew it was his mistake he didn't keep an eye on him. 'Sorry Minato, I guess I let you and Kushina down.' But Jiraiya was right he couldn't just let this go. He had to do something to make things right.

"I will call for a meeting with Danzo tomorrow, I want you to be there also" said Sarutobi

Jiraiya nodded and once again said, "Leaving this aside, I have some news about the Akatsuki. They have started making moves. There are numerous reports of sighting two ninjas travelling in pair dressed in black robe with red clouds. I suppose this is how they travel. In pairs"

This day was getting worse and worse for hokage. He rubbed his temple and sat on his chair motioning Jiraiya to continue.

Next day, Sarutobi and Jiraiya were waiting for Danzo in hokage's office.

"What's taking him so long?" complained Jiraiya.

"Sorry for making you wait. These old body doesn't particularly help me move any faster" Danzo entered the office giving his answer for being late.

Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, "You sure took your time Danzo. For a moment I was thinking you might have decided not to come. As you always say, 'something important came, which required your complete attention there".

Danzo ignored the comment and asked for the reason of this sudden meeting.

"I have come to knowledge that Naruto has got sharingan from somewhere. You might want to tell us something about that?"

Danzo remain silent.

"As I thought. Listen Danzo, I want Naruto out from root"

"I know you would say that after Naruto told me about his little talk with Jiraiya. But doesn't Naruto decide this for himself?"

Jiraiya knew exactly where Danzo was going, "Don't play games Danzo. Who knows what had you done with his brain in all this years?"

"Are you blaming something on me Jiraiya?" Danzo asked the sannin without looking at him.

All this time Sarutobi was listening. He knew he had to take out Naruto from there, no matter what steps he took. "Listen Danzo, I have been ignoring and hiding some of the recent activities of root. You do remember about the incident in the capital of Fire country last month. Right?"

How could Danzo not remember that? He was the one who had ordered to kill one of the member of council of Fire country's Daimyo and told his ninja to make it look like robbery gone wrong. He was suspected of selling information to other nation about the Konoha and fire country.

Danzo stood impatiently.

"I have to take some actions if this comes into the knowledge of Daimyo. After all that council member was not even proven guilty in front of Daimyo". Sarutobi warned Danzo. He had known about the council member being a rat who was selling information. He was going to take some actions if he had not gotten involved in that 'robbery'.

Danzo was now in a corner. Already people looked at root as something illegal, something that shouldn't exist. If this happens, either he would have to dissolve the root or he would need to work from even deeper hole. He had to choose between Naruto and Root. He choosed root. "Fine. From now, Naruto is not a part of root. I will send him here in few hours. From now on he is your responsibility. But think again, do you really want to bring him to light? He is still the Jinchūriki of Kyuubi"

"I will make sure nothing happens to him this time" Sarutobi was not going to let anything happen to him now. Before Naruto was in roots, there were some incidents where he was hurt by the villagers and other ninja due to his status as a Jinchuriki.

Danzo nodded and turned to leave. As soon as he came out, a smile graced his lips. It was going just as he thought.

Sarutobi sighed. He somehow managed to save Naruto from roots. He motioned and one ANBU appeared in front of him. He kneeled down, "Yes Hokage-sama"

"I want you to look for a small living place for a single child. Try to find it close."

With this ANBU nodded and disappeared in swirl of leaves.

END FLASHBACK

Dazno was sitting in his office chair with his head resting on his one good arm. He had lost one of his best ninja. But he had already expected this from start, Sarutobi would someday try to bring Naruto in the light. He may be just waiting to announce his lineage first. He rested against the back support of chair and looked at the ceiling. 'It's all upto you now, Naruto'

FLASHBACK

Naruto had just returned from his mission. He was kneeling in front of Danzo in his office. He had told him about his mitting with Jiraiya. He was waiting for further instructions from Danzo.

"Naruto, there is a chance that you will be asked to leave Root by Hokage. What would you do then?" asked Dazno.

"I don't have any plan of leaving root. If that's what you are asking. If it's not forced on me, I will not leave"

Danzo betrayed a smile from his stoic face. He had trained him well. "But I want you to leave"

Naruto lifted his head to see the eyes of Danzo, to understand what he wanted to say.

Danzo tried to clear his confusion, "Listen Naruto, you are a great asset to Root, but it's time to take a major step towards the protection of Konoha. Unless, the Hokage is not someone who can understand our ways, we would never be able to do job more efficiently. We will always be considered as outcast".

Naruto knew very well what it felt to be an outcast.

"It's time that someone from our brotherhood took the responsibility of our village. I want you to become Hokage in the future".

Why he? That's the question that was in Naruto's mind. Nobody ever even cared for him. Nobody ever looked twice at him whether he was left alive or dead after they beat him mercilessly before he joined root. Then how would they choose him as their respected and beloved Hokage. The confusion present on Naruto's face was not went unnoticed by Danzo.

"No one would want a Root ninja to be their Hokage. But if you leave root now, everyone will forget about that. You have everything that is needed to be a good leader. I have seen it in you. With time everyone will see it too. You don't let emotions and feelings cloud your judgement. That's what is required to be a Hokage" He stopped to let this sink in Naruto's head. He continued, "That is why I want you to leave Root and become Hokage"

Naruto understood now. If he became Hokage, he would make root an agency for black-ops and other dirty works. It would be direct under Hokage. And after few years, this would become common and next Hokage will follow it too. This was what Danzo basically wanted from him.

Naruto nodded, "I understand. Then what should I do now?"

"Nothing. I will take care of everything. You just be ready and pack your bags. You are leaving root"

Naruto started to leave. Danzo stopped him, "Naruto, I want you to become more approachable if you want success in this last mission. I want you to put on a mask if necessary. A mask of smile to be more precise"

Naruto was trained in all fields, how to get mixed among common people was one of them. He was trained how to fake a smile, talk and make a good time.

He looked back at Danzo and gave a smile. If Danzo didn't knew Naruto he would mistake it as a genuine smile. "Yes, of course Danzo-sama".

END FLASHBACK

Naruto opened his eyes and looked outside of window. It was already dark outside. He had drifted to sleep. He stood up and went to kitchen to look something to eat. There was nothing except some fruits which Jiraiya had left him in case he didn't wanted to make something or leave his apartment for food. Naruto was not in mood to eat those, especially not today. He wanted something good.

He went towards his bed and picked his wallet from the bed side table. He opened to look how much money he had left. It was sufficient for a good food. By working for root for some years, he had made some good money and also before leaving Danzo had given him some.

He was looking for some good place to eat. He saw a ramen place. He had eaten ramen before. It was good. He went to the shop and looked above at the name of shop, 'Ichiraku'.

He went inside and ordered his miso-ramen. His eyes widened when he took his first sip. Saying it was good was just like to insult it. It was the best he had ever tested. Quickly finishing his bowl he asked for a second, then third, then fourth. In half an hour he had already eaten 6 bowls.

"Wow kid. You sure eat a lot. By the way I have never seen you before here" an old man said from inside.

"Thanks for the meal. I am Naruto and yes it is my first time here but I will be coming here a lot from now" replied Naruto remembering just how amazing it was. He left some money on the counter and went outside.

"Yes do come. You are always welcome here" said a young girl from the shop at the retreating blond. Naruto turned and gave a smile.

He was sitting in a park looking at the skies. He was wondering whether he should have stayed there and talked for a bit with the ramen shop people. He was going to be a regular customer there and as Danzo said he had to be more approachable. 'that should have been a good practice' he thought. Mixing with others for short time was not hard for him. But he was not sure what to do now. He had to do this for a very long period of time. He looked at other kids playing in the park. His eyes scanned at everything. Any idea of how to behave like a normal child was good. He looked at their cloths and then at his. He was not in a cloth which an 11 year should wear. His cloth was made for complete stealth. To completely mix with the shadows. Naruto decided, he was going for shopping.

He looked at the clothes which the shopkeeper showed him.

'So which one looks the most stupid?' his eyes stopped at one particular cloth. It was like a jump suit. He picked that one and asked the shopkeeper to put it in a carry bag. He paid the money and went outside.

He reached his apartment and took out his new cloth. He sighed at it, especially the color, 'I sure picked the stupidest. Who wears orange like this? Why does it even was there?'

He threw himself at the bed, closed his eyes and recalled why he was even doing all this.

FLASHBACK

"Naruto. Welcome" Sarutobi welcomed the blond and asked him to take a seat. Along with the blond was Danzo.

"From this day you are a normal ninja of Konoha" said Sarutobi.

Naruto nodded.

"Good to know you have no objections to that" Sarutobi smiled and continued, "But we have to do something about your eyes. If people find out, it will be bad"

"And what that 'something' might be Hokage-sama?" asked Naruto.

"We will put a seal on your eyes so others can't see them. But this will also stop you from using Sharingan"

Danzo was getting furious, what was that old fool trying to do by keeping those powerful eyes locked? Sarutobi was not that of a fool though.

"Of course, it will depend on Naruto when to deactivate that seal. It's just like a safety switch such that Naruto would not just activate his eyes in front of others subconsciously. But I do warn you it will limit its power. We don't know to what extent" Sarutobi turned to Naruto and continued, "try to understand Naruto-kun, it's for you. If people see you with sharingan, they will start making assumptions. And they will not be good assumptions". He knew people hated Naruto for the Kyuubi. If they knew about sharingan, it will only add fuel to the fire. They could assume that somehow 'kyuubi-brat' killed one of their precious Uchiha and stole the eyes. Or even worse, Naruto helped Itachi in the massacre.

Naruto got the hint where Sarutobi was going with all this, "If you mean what others will say, then you should know I don't care about that. If possible I will try to live away from them". Naruto knew it was not possible. If he had to make his last mission as root a success, he had to socialize. He had to know others.

"That may not be possible Naruto"

Naruto turned to look from where the voice came. Jiraiya was entering from the gate, may be for the first time. "That may not be possible that you live alone, away from others. After all you are going to academy from tomorrow"