Panting heavily he took the chance to look over his shoulder and saw the mob was gaining on him. Frantic with worry Naruto looked up to the sky and saw it was getting darker, yet as he quickly glanced around he felt panic when he saw he was on the other side of town from his apartment, a part of town no one seemed to go to anymore. He was lost and the villagers were getting closer.
Spotting a shadow cross near the wall the six year old felt a surge of relief when he spotted a small opening near the wall at the end of the alley; dashing across the alley with a burst of speed brought about by blind panic as he felt a Shuriken fly past his face he quickly ducked into the small narrow passage that seemed to be caused by the outer wall being built in front of the original wall, as if someone decided that the first was to troublesome to rebuild. Squeezing through the short passageway Naruto tried to control his breathing while at the same time his curiosity started to go into overdrive, coming to a break in the wall he carefully peaked around the corner and frowned when all he saw was p[art of an overgrown garden and what looked like a run don house in the distance. Looking all around one more time Naruto calmly walked out of the break and stood silently as he strained to hear if the villagers had found where he had hidden, body poised to leap back between the walls to the darkness that promised safety. Or at least some protection, as it would be hard for the drunk villagers celebrating the downfall of the demon to surround him as they beat him up for the thirty seventh time this year.
After several long minutes where no other sounds except for the crickets could be heard Naruto fell to his knees as the rush of adrenalin left him.”Why do the villagers hate me…WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE TO THEM.” Pulling up tuffs of way to tall grass Naruto wiped the tears off his face as he looked at the run down house in the distance. He was lost on the other side of the village just as the festival was getting into full swing. It was too dangerous to try to get home now, all he could hope for was that the house he spotted was empty then at least he could spend one night without waking up in the hospital after nearly being beaten to death.
Dragging himself to his feet Naruto stumbled towards the house eyes constantly looking around for danger. Walking up the stone path and stopping at the bottom of the steps Naruto was confused. The house looked nothing like it did a few steps back, frowning the six year old backed up a few steps and saw the immaculate house fall back into the image of a house rundown and walls barely standing. Grinning he jumped back up to the porch and looked around gleefully while whispering in awe, “It’s like magic…or Gent…” shaking his head in awe he smiled as he approached the door, “A great Shinobi must live here.”
Reaching up with a slightly bloody hand Naruto touched the door and the paper that covered the middle of the two doors glowed red and burned to ash before his surprised then gleeful eyes, he had always dreamed of seeing awesome Jutsu in action. Maybe he could convince the great Shinobi that lived her to teach him, and then the villagers would see that he was not a demon or a worthless person. He would be someone they looked up to, too protect them from the bad people. Sliding the door open Naruto twisted his head around but saw only dark shadows as the moonlight streamed in through the windows, “H…Hello is anyone home?”
Nervous and very much afraid after the run in with the villagers Naruto’s hand hovered over the light switch, listening very carefully for any sound before he finally sighed and flipped the switch. He jumped slightly before laughing nervously as several of the light bulbs popped as they broke from coming to life after so many years. Frowning as Naruto tried to figure out why the lights would break like that, after all someone would have replaced them if they were going bad long before now, at least that was what he thought normal people would do.
Slipping his sandals off onto the may by the door Naruto slowly closed the door quietly hoping that he at least would not be hurt, maybe they would let him sleep on the floor of the porch before he had to go home tomorrow. Stepping quietly into the hallway he looked all around as he walked towards the back and the open middle area of the house and froze as he saw shadows move across the picture on the wall. laughing in relief when it was just the moon and clouds through the window he looked up at the picture of the two people and his mouth dropped open in awe at the two powerful looking people in the portrait. “Wow they look powerful, they must be really good Shinobi…” eyes dropping to the bottom of the picture Naruto’s eyes widened in shock as he saw the nameplate under the portrait.
Minato Namikaze, Kashina Uzumaki
Uzumaki…Naruto’s brain froze as he looked up at the picture that included the woman that had the same last name as he did. His breath started to come in rapid gasps as tears ran down his face as he stared at the picture, grief for all the years of hurt he had gone through slowly leaking out through his eyes.
Several hours later Naruto moved forward and placed his small hand on the picture as he whispered, “Okasan…” head slumped forward he wondered why his mother had left him alone all these years. He also wondered if the Shinobi in the picture was his father, glancing at the mirror on the wall he smiled slightly as he saw the resemblance to the man in the picture. He now knew who his parents were and he felt happy, at least he did before he frowned as he tried to understand why he was not with them. Looking around at all the dust over everything and all the weeds and overgrown garden he started to feel a stitch in his chest as he began to get a bad feeling about why he was an orphan. The house had not been lived in for a long time.
Frantically Naruto started to rush around the house, racing down the walkways and sliding open doors as he tried to find anyone still around or at least a clue that someone still lived here. Finally tears almost all gone the tightness in his chest squeezed a little tighter as he realized that his parents had not lived here for a long time, the house was empty. Stumbling blindly into the kitchen he pulled out a chair and sat down, head falling to the table as his insides were crying, outside he had used up all his tears and he felt numb. Looking over the top of the table he noticed an envelope. Jumping up he was shocked when he saw his name was on it, hesitantly he slowly reached out as if the envelope would disappear and felt his hand touch the paper and he carefully opened the top and pulled the paper out.
Naruto,
My wonderful son.
It pains me to no end that I never got to watch you take your first steps, say your first word or even throw your first Shuriken. I write this letter to you as your mother fights for her life, which I pray with my whole being that she wins.
The nine tailed demon, the Kyuubi is attacking the village as I finish my preparations to go fight the beast.
There are so many things I want to say but I do not have time right now to do so and it saddens me to know that as I go off to sacrifice myself to defeat the demon I have to use you to do so.
I am sorry my son but of all the children under a week old in the village right now you are the only one that I can trust to hold such power, and the only one because of your mother’s bloodline and my own small one in healing that will be able to survive the sealing I am about to do.
I have left several tapes in the recreation room for you to watch and listen to; at least you will know our voices and our dreams as you watch them.
Naruto noticed the spots that looked like tear drops, and his own tears joined those from his father as he finished the letter.
You are my son and the last of the Namikaze line, but more importantly through your mother you are the last of the Uzumaki clan. A very powerful clan from the hidden village of Whirlpool, in fact your mother would be considered the last of the leaders of Whirlpool. And now you are the last of the Uzumaki and I place heavy burden on your shoulders that the sealing I am about to undertake can only add to the burden, yet also give you the power to not only survive the burden but to flourish.
Time has run out for me my precious son, go to the recreation room and watch the tapes, they will explain in detail what needs to be done. But more importantly they will prove to you that we loved you enough to die to protect you.
Your father
Minato Namikaze
Yondaime Hokage
Clutching the paper to his chest Naruto, bleary eyed stumbled from the kitchen towards one of the small bedrooms he had passed on his frantic search. Walking into the room he smiled sadly as he saw all the baby items littering the room, spotting his name in bright letters on the toy chest he pulled several of the blankets off the dresser and curled up on the floor falling asleep as soon as his head touched his arm.
Bright and early the next morning Naruto woke up from his dream and jumped thinking he in fact was dreaming. Calming down after frantically looking around the room and spotting the toy chest Naruto picked up the letter from his father and carefully read it again. Finished he refolded it gently and slid it back into the envelope before putting it on the dresser, first he would see if there was any food still good and then he had to find the recreation room. He wanted so desperately to hear his parent’s voices for the first time.
Walking into the kitchen Naruto took a really good look around, last night he was more than a little distracted. He felt funny inside his chest he thought, yet he felt like smiling knowing everything around him belonged to his parents and now was his. Scowling and clenching his little fists as he looked out the window he would fight to the death to keep what was his, no one was going to take away his parents things from him.
Shaking his head he went past the refrigerator knowing that anything in there was long passed the point it could be eaten, opening the cupboards he blinked in surprise as he saw stack upon stack of scrolls. Blinking as he looked over his shoulder to make sure he was in the kitchen he slowly closed the cupboard and opened another, this time finding a small bag of rice and a few tins of meat. Glancing back at the large cupboard full of scrolls Naruto grabbed the bag of rice and several tins of meat and went over to the stove and grabbed one of the pots above the stove and filled it with water. An hour later, stomach full Naruto put the freshly washed pot back on the hook and gave the room one more look, he had checked the rest of the cupboards on that side of the room while cooking and found every cupboard but the one filled with scrolls, his parents must have been weird or something he thought as he walked out of the kitchen with one last look over his shoulder at all the scrolls.
Walking around the walkway Naruto wondered how much work it would take to get the inner garden cleaned up; leaning over the railing he smiled as he saw several very large Koi swim past. Shaking his head he was already planning on moving in as soon as he felt it was safe to leave the hidden sanctuary he had found this morning. Peaking into room as he walked by he grinned as he saw a rather large dojo that seemed to take up one whole corner, stopping he entered the room and crossed to the other set of doors and his grin widened as he saw his own private training grounds. Well they would be once he cleaned them up some.
Back on the inner porch his head kept going from one side to another as he took in new wonders before he finally found the room that had the television in it, as he entered the room and opened the curtains he had to wonder why there was still power after six years. Shaking his head he looked at the stack of video’s near the television and frowned as he read the note on top.
Naruto,
If you lived the life I hoped you would with the people treating you like the hero you are then watch the tape marked in green first.
If what I fear came to pass and you were treated poorly and are an outcast push the tape that is in the machine in first.
Your father
Minato
Sighing Naruto turned the television and tape player on and pushed the black cassette into the machine, one day he would watch the other one, maybe when the villagers started treating him right. He stared in wonder as the screen lit up and the tall blond haired man smiled and started to talk to him.
“Hello Naruto,” Minato’s image smiled. “I can say I am disappointed by the villagers, but…” Naruto watched him sigh as he sat down behind a large desk. “I think you realize by now that people never do the right thing most of the time. Or at least from your perspective,” the image stared from the screen for a minute before shaking his head. “I always hope for the best but plan for the worst thing I can imagine happening. It is something left over from the war with Iwa.” Pulling one of the scrolls across the desk and holding it up so Naruto could clearly see it Minato started teaching. “I have no idea if you were brought here earlier than age nine when I asked Sandaime Hokage, the Hokage I replaced for a short while to bring you here, but once again I must plan for the worst and assume you have found your way to our home before I planned for. You will find hundreds of these scrolls in the kitchen cupboards; they are sealing scrolls filled with food, which mean that if you channel your chakra into them in the correct way they will disgorge their contents so you have fresh food to eat. Year’s worth with what your mother and I placed in the scrolls, the good thing is you can put sealing scrolls inside special sealing scrolls in case you need to make a quick getaway.”
The image tapped the small seal near the bottom of the scroll, “This is where you channel your chakra to empty the scroll, the other corner, the one with the wavy line is what you would channel chakra into to seal what you placed on top of the scroll inside. Both your mother and I prepared boxes of scrolls so if you need to make a quick escape you can take all of our belongings with you…”
Naruto watched in fascination as his father started the long explanation of the plans his father and mother put in place to protect and train him now that they were gone. He was confused with the reason why his father started his story with the lesson on storage scrolls, but as he stopped the tape and decided to eat lunch he started to think about what he had heard as he walked around the inner garden back towards the kitchen as he practiced molding chakra like his Otousan showed him on the tape.
Walking into the kitchen and grabbing a random scroll from the stack he took it to the table and opened it up so it was spread out and looked for the seal his father had shown him and grinned when he molded his chakra into the seal and it lit up a light blue before flashing brightly. “OH…” Naruto’s expression of delight and shock crossed his face before he jumped up and down as he picked up several containers of fresh meat and found they were fresher than the stuff the shop owners sold to him.
With a silly grin on his face Naruto quickly emptied the few small bowls from the refrigerator into the sink and happily placed all the fresh food into the refrigerator, keeping out one large container he remembered his father mentioning that was his mother’s favorite. Putting the rest of the stuff into the small cupboard while his lunch heated up Naruto was a different person, the smile on his face practically went from ear to ear as he happily went about cleaning the kitchen while his food heated up in the oven. By the time it was ready he had everything cleaned and spotless, not that it took much as it was mostly just washing the dust away. Thinking about other things as the memory of the food brought the grin back to his face Naruto quickly washed the few dishes before placing them in the drying rack. Looking at the sealing scroll with narrowed eyes he scanned the intricate seals before finding the one that his father had explained would place items inside the scroll. Head whipping around to find something to try sealing inside he quickly went to the stove and grabbed one of the pots and placed it in the middle of the scroll before scrunching his face up in concentration as he molded his chakra and put his finger on the seal. “I did it…I did it…” Naruto whooped in joy as he jumped around the room as the pot disappeared in a bright flash. Settling down he quickly unsealed the pot before rolling the scroll up and slipping it into his pants so it would be safe during his trip back to his apartment. Thinking about all he had in his apartment for a moment, sadly he decided one scroll would be more than enough to move everything. Walking towards the front of the house he stopped briefly to smile sadly at his parents before putting on his sandals.
Walking outside he looked up towards the sky, “Most of the people will still be asleep and not moving to well…it’s now or never,” Naruto muttered to the rising sun before running towards the gap in the wall. making his way slowly, stopping to listen every couple of steps Naruto peaked around the corner of the small break to make sure the alley was clear. Once he decided it was safe he looked around to burn into memory the landmarks before jumping to the top of the wall. hand across his forehead shading his eyes he tried to figure out where he was and the best way to get to his apartment from here. Spotting one of the old training grounds he used behind the academy he grinned as he took a red stone he picked up from the garden path from his pocket and laid it on the top of the wall to mark the way back not his new home.
Ten minutes later Naruto skid to a halt in front of his rundown apartment, eyes narrowing as he felt something was wrong, as if someone was…head twisting upwards he frowned as he saw the masked Anbu member watching from the rooftop before he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Hand reaching for the scroll in his pocket unconsciously he ran up the steps to his apartment before someone came looking for him or Ojiisan sent for him. He wanted to move before anyone tried to stop him, the house belonged to him now because it was his parents. Skidding to a halt at the broken door Naruto carefully checked for traps before entering. Frown turned to despair as he looked around and saw almost everything he had salvaged for his own was broken beyond repair. Tears threatening to fall he quickly went to the secret section of his closet to make sure all his special things were okay. Unfurling the scroll as he dropped to his knees he quickly went about placing his belongings on top of the scroll and sealed them inside, the last thing he sealed was his bulging frog wallet. Wiping the tears from his eyes he snapped up the scroll as ran towards the door, rolling it up as he went.
Hearing a noise Naruto panicked as he saw several Anbu members rushing towards his location. Scared and afraid he would be sent somewhere he rushed down the alley before leading the ninja on a long drawn out chase through the village away from his new home and a quick duck into the storm sewer had Naruto doubling back towards the Academy.
Stopping near the grate that led to the alley near the Academy Naruto tried to listen and feel with all his might if anyone was near. Thinking the coast was clear he rolled out of the grate and quickly looked around before making a mad dash for the woods. Heart thumping as he panted behind one of the trees he smiled as he looked around seeing none of the pursuers. Not wanting to stay any longer he dashed through the woods towards the training filed and the trail he left to his secret sanctuary, picking up the trail of red pebbles as he went. Twenty minutes later he was exhausted and barely able to keep moving as he ducked into the small crack in the wall and crawled towards the break that led to his parent’s house. Head down as he tried to stay on his feet he finally entered the house, kicking off his sandals as he went before dropping to the floor curling up to rest, ‘maybe just a short nap’ he thought before his eyes closed and his head dropped as the snores of exhaustion started.
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