This is… I don't know what this is ahaha! It has been bugging me, spent 30 minutes in the shower because my mind was so engrossed of the idea. Now i've finally got the motivation to write again. Now peeps, don't be nice to me, criticism is an author's best christmas/birthday/valentines/everyday day gift xD! Take it as a prologue, to set the tone of the story.

Enjoy! :)

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

It has been exactly a week since the horrifying event that took place in Konoha. A week since Hiruzen Sarutobi was reinstated as Sandaime Hokage due to Minato Namikaze's death. A week in which lives have been lost and new life had been created. The week that had change a baby's life… Forever.

Everyone is in red alert after the incident, how can they not? At this moment in time, Konoha itself have been left with only a few buildings standing. It would take months for the village to take business as normal. They are without a doubt, the weakest out of the four great villages, making them the number one target. Academy students to Jonin's, everyone was there to help, including the elite force of the Anbu. They however, were stationed within a hundred metre radius of Konoha's great wall. Kill on sight if any unknown shinobis is to enter their radius.

Foreseeing all said problems has been the Hokage, currently sitting on his chair in front of his desk in his office with towering paperworks in front of him. He was of age now, in his late fifties and should have been enjoying retirement. Instead, he was back at this cursed place. Shaking his head, he conceded back to his paperwork, wishing something or someone will provide him a reason to skip said task.

Kami answered through the cries of a little toddler which reverberated around the room. Set beside next to the Hokage was a cradle which seemed to be the source of the noise. Sarutobi smiled and cradled the baby to calm him down. A blonde haired boy, with three whisker like marks on each cheek. Oceanic blue eyes staring right back at Sarutobi.

"You look just like your father little one."

Sarutobi spoke, sadness apparent in his voice. A young such as this should be entitled to experience what a parent's love is. His train of thought was derailed due to a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

Four people entered his office, a tall and pale man in his late twenties wearing a white robe with rope like purple belt. He was accompanied by three kids, a purple pineapple haired girl, a long black haired Hyuga and a short haired brunette wearing glasses.

"Team Orochimaru reporting!"

Spoke the pale man, Orochimaru was a genius to say the least. Former Member of Team Hiruzen, later be known as the Densetsu no sannin. A name given to them by Hanzō for surviving against him. Hanzō of the Salamander, feared throughout the continent so much so that he has been given the "flee on sight" in the bingo books. The man breathes poison, literally.

"Orochimaru! I hope your genins are doing a fine job, we need every hand we have at our disposal with our current situation."

Orochimaru smiled, "Hokage-sama, you don't think my team would fail you, do you? You have trained me after all, if they did then would it reflect on your incompetence as a teacher as well?" You're an old man now sarutobi, you could have had chosen me as your successor and instead you chose that Minato kid.

In the background, the two men can hear the mutterings of the three kids. A female voice stood out from the rest.

"Kabuto! Don't you think the Hokage is too old

to have a baby? He must be ancient, i mean look at that white beard!"

Kabuto, the brown haired boy wearing glasses paled at her comment. "Anko! That's the leader of our village! Be respectful!"

The hokage shook his head in disbelief, honestly, kids these days have no respect. Ignoring the slight dig from his student and the little.

"He's not my baby, He is my grandson little anko." Anko was petrified to say the least, she did not dare face the Hokage. "Now, collect your rewards from my secretary as my old bones and white beard needs its rest."

Anko quickly shuffled out the room followed by her sensei and the rest of her team. Sarutobi stared longingly at his student, worry and sadness in his eyes. What has happened to you Orochimaru, what has happened to the three of you? Orochimaru was becoming more distant, Sarutobi sensed something was amiss. there was Tsunade who is in self imposed exile. Then there was Jiraiya, no one knew where he was or what he is doing after he had left the village due to Minato's death.

Sarutobi shook his head, removing the grey thoughts that clouded his mind. A sudden knock on the door deflated his attitude, -can't an old man gets his rest- he swivelled his chair to face the window behind him. The blue sky was nearing the end of its cycle and the last glimpse of sunlight seeped through the peaks of the mountains. "Come in!"

A man covered in bandages walked in and to that the Hokage's demeanor changed. it was Danzö, the man was a team mate of the Hokage in their genin years and now an advisor at his side. The ninja population knew who he was and he was despised for such horrible deeds. However, the Hokage respected him. If the world was black and white, Danzö was black and the Hokage was white. His reactions to dilemmas and the path he takes to solve it was very subjective and that is why he was hated.

However, for a light to exist a shadow must be present. Missions are easily filtered by konoha via two ways, the dirty job and the clean one. Konoha cannot get their hands dirty in fear of damaging its reputation and so they must attend to the mission without trace. This is where Danzö comes in, he and Sarutobi both agreed to the creation of ROOT. ROOT attends to the jobs that above surface Konoha cannot and therefore ROOT is the shadow of Konoha. Danzö is the leader of ROOT, he is held in high regard by his men. The same men do not obey the Hokage; the same men only answers to his beckoning call.

However, communications has been strained somewhat through the years. ROOT has started training kids from early age, earliest as 5. This troubled the Hokage but he couldn't do anything about it, he knows that ROOT is as valuable as the ninjas at his disposal.

"Danzö, what brings you to my humble abode?"

Sarutobi caught his glance towards the baby and his mind processed one thing. ROOT wants the baby, the same baby he is trying to protect.

Danzö smirked, "Can't a guy visit an old friend?"

Sarutobi's eyebrows furrowed, "I know what you came for Danzö! I can't let you have him, I respect his father's wishes, he will live a normal life!"

Danzö shook his head in disagreement, "We both know that baby will suffer and i've heard rumours that the "demon" baby ha-"

Sarutobi's fist collided with his desk, denting it in the process. The action created a loud cracking noise which in turn awoken the baby in his arms. The Hokage's eyes bore down on Danzö, he snapped his fingers and an Anbu appeared by his side.

"Hai!"

The anbu had short spiky brown hair and dog masked with a pair of pointy ears at the tip of the mask. He donned a distinctive white cloak and black trousers with bandages wrapped around his right leg. On his back was a sheathed katana, it's scabbard decorated with white bandages.

The Hokage looked at the baby in his arms and smiled. He handed the baby to the Anbu and stared at him, knowing full well he will get demoted and tortured if something happened to the kid.

"Take the baby to The headquarters and find a woman that will be able to breastfeed him. I'll call for you when I'm finished."

The Anbu understood and disappeared out of the office. His eyes lingered where the anbu once stood before he diverted his attention to Danzö.

"Danzö, tell me! Who told them about the sealing! No one but the Anbu and a select few in the jounin ranks knew about this! Pray tell, how did civilians and below jonins even had that information in which they orchestrated a plan to kill the baby! Tell me!" The Hokage was releasing deathly killing intent causing the other occupant of the room to struggle.

XXXXXXXXFLASHBACK(is a bitch)XXXXXXXX

A group of civilians and ninjas gathered a few blocks away from the Hospital. A tall and bulky man stood out from the rest. He looked down on all of them as he addressed them all.

"The demon kid is in that hospital, second floor room number 37. He is not heavily guarded to not arouse any suspicions, so only two Anbu's are present. One by the door and one inside the room itself. We can take the Anbu by the door by using one of the hospital staff." The woman next to him beamed, she had the chance to finally avenge her friend who died in the field of battle with the Kyubi no kitsune. "She will report that a fight has broken down near the hospital, the fight will be staged by the window of room 37. Light jutsus, nothing alarming that will attract anymore reinforcements. He will then come down to stop the ruckus but he is heavily outnumbered, and to get the other Anbu's attention one of us will "accidentally" throw a kunai through room 37's windows and into its ceiling. He will most likely spot his fellow anbu and will help him!" All the men cheered, it was a plausible plan and they finally have the chance to kill the demon.

True to the words of their leader, the Anbu guarding the door came out and tried to stop the trouble that was brewing. "Stop this ruckus!'you're all a pain in the arse!"

The civilians, ninjas alike pounced on him and some even threw a punch. A chunin stood a few metres away from the fighting. A kunai in hand he aimed and threw it, shattering the window and imbedding itself against the wooden ceiling of room 37.

The Anbu inside heard glass shattering and saw the kunai imbedding itself near him. He dropped to the ground and in the process took the kunai. He looked down from the broken window and saw his fellow Anbu outnumbered by what seems to be like a royal rumble. He shook his head and sighed, as his feet left the edge of the window the door behind him crept open.

A man in a doctor's robe steadily pushed an equipment trolley in the room. Surveying the dark room and seeing it was clear he walked further, nearer to the hospital bed.

It was a makeshift cradle, the pillows were arranged to make a rectangular shape in the middle and between the pillows a blonde haired boy started bellowing, tears streak down his puffy cheeks. The man smiled as he picked up a surgical tool from the trolley and lifted himself onto the bed to have easier access to the child. "Now, should we make this quick? Or should we carve the word demon in your chest? I think I prefer the latter, don't you?" He grinned like a cheshire cat as he started carving the letters onto the baby's chest.

Outside on the rooftops, two Anbu's on patrol spotted the commotion. "Senpai, isn't that two of ours?" Spoke the smaller one out of the two who wore a crow's masked. He had short jet black hair and from his voice alone one could tell he was still of a young age. The older anbu swore under his breath, "Crow, go to second floor, room 37! You have permission to kill anyone who shouldn't be in there!" The leader of the two jumped down to help his comrades. Crow, leapt from building to building until he was parallel to room 37 and he saw what they had feared. Grabbing a kunai from his holster, he speedily released it with force, aimed at the head of the large figure in the room.

Inside room 37 the man laughed maniacally as he stared proudly at his artwork. The baby cried and cried as blood trickled down his body from his wounds causing his ripped clothing to be drenched in blood. Raising the surgical tool above his head, the man muttered what would be his last words, "goodbye demo-." A kunai embedded itself in the centre of his forehead, causing him to stumble to the floor, lifeless. His surgical tool clattering beside him. Not a second later, the man known as crow appeared by the window ledge. Scouring the scene, the Anbu spotted the blooded surgical tool, immediately realised what has happened. Jumping down beside the baby's bed. He picked him up, blood covered his hands as he cradled the baby against his chest. Without a second wasted he disappeared, reappearing in a room full of masked ninjas. Everyone stared as he shouted for a medic. "Medic! Code red, attempted murder on the vessel!" Two masked ones suddenly appeared next to him, and grabbed the baby. "Crow, go back to wolf, we will take care of this!"

XXXXXFLASHBACK ENDS(still a bitch)XXXXX

"Sarutobi, you know very well I value this village as much as you do! Why in the world would i want the villagers to kill such a strong weapon!" Argued Danzö, in turn, the killing intent as resided and The Hokage stared at him in understanding. "It is most likely one of your anbu's or your jounin, even the possibility of it being the clan leaders."

The Hokage kept his stare as he listened to the man, as much as he felt disgusted by the use of the word weapon, he was right. Naruto, is and always will be a weapon. That's why each great villages had their own jinchuuriki, to fight:to protect; to serve.

The Hokage turned his chair to face away from his visitor, "Leave, the baby will not become a shadow… He is too important for the job." Danzö knew the hidden message, the baby was the son of a Hokage, a jinchuuriki. Such things can be used to the villages advantage, a marriage proposal to form a treaty? A way to attract customers to sending their missions to Konoha because of a strong shinobi? Danzö admitted defeat as he bowed and left the room, he can see the positive in keeping the child at full view.

An hour had passed since his confrontation with Danzö. The the Hokage stood up, It was time. Clicking his fingers, two Anbu's appeared by his side. "Accompany me to HQ."

-ANBU HQ-

The Anbu HQ is situated underground, hundreds of meters below the surface. This is where S to SSS rank missions are taken, this is where Elite of Konoha is situated. Anbu's are known to be the one of the strongest shinobi's in Konoha. The force is split into three divisions, hunter-nin, infiltration and BOOM.

Hunter-nins are the one who tracks missing-nins or any shinobi's that is a threat to village security and is listed in the bingo books. They are trained in human anatomy, knowing what each muscle do to the body and where to aim for an instant kill.

Infiltration division are trained in ultimate stealth. They are trained to undergo days without food or water if they are to survive behind enemy lines. Like Hunter-nins, they are also trained in human anatomy in enthralling detail.

Lastly is the BOOM division, a group consisting of only three Anbu's. Three Anbu's that could take on a Kage and have a possibility of winning. Two of the Anbu's are the commanders of their respective division. They are chosen due to their strength and capability. BOOM's third, last member and leader is the Anbu Commander. the Anbu Commander is known to be the second strongest shinobi of Konoha, behind the Hokage. This division is led by the Hokage himself, and BOOM will only surface when war is brewing.

Only Infiltration and Hunter-nins have their own training areas, both division has acres and acres of lands to train in. However, BOOM doesn't require training areas, training areas requires BOOM.

In the Anbu commander's office, three people were present, well 3 ⅓. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Anbu commander and Hunter-nin's commander who is currently facing away from the two as she sat on the corner, breastfeeding the baby. The room was spacious but simple. The desk was situated near the wall, a cupboard behind the commanders chair and only three seats altogether.

The hokage stared at the masked man, he has just promoted the man to Anbu Commander. However, before the previous commander died, he was highly recommended to take over.

"Zô, you may already know why i've come here."

Zô nodded as both men stared at the back of the only woman in the room or specifically the baby she was holding. Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, son of the Yondaime Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki, the second jinchuuriki. The most valuable asset of Konoha and thus, must be protected.

"I want the baby protected Zô, you may have heard what happened a few days back. The outside world is not safe for him and thus I am leaving him in here. You must train him until the day I come for him. Any questions?"

Zô didn't need to be told that it was an order, Hokages words are absolute. However, one question did play in his mind.

"The mask will mould according to his face, but which masked would he wear Hokage-sama?"

The Hokage smiled, let us see how good you can be. Standing up, he walked behind the commander and opened the cupboard. The contents varied from retired masks to vintage weaponry. He took three equipments from the cupboard and laid them down in front of the commander. One was a weird looking kunai, tri-pronged kunai with a larger handle which had encrypted seals on it.

"These two masks, i want them reforging. Half them and combine the two halves together. Now i'm sure you know why i chose the third one."

The Hokage did not wait for the reply, he turned around and walked towards the exit. Two Anbu's appeared beside him the moment he had closed the door. 'Naruto my boy, this is the best i could do. Make me proud.'

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

P.S

Naruto canon's personality was one of the let downs in the canon. I was never a fan of his character, so please, if you expect a happy go lucky kid… Then do not read any further!

Till the next chapter!