Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto or its characters
Chapter 1- Another chance
The night was dark, even with the moon rising in it full glory of the grand forest to the west of the town of Konoha, in the grand fire nation. This was a night that everyone one would remember, well at least those who lived to see the morning. This was a night filled with death, and destruction. Hundreds of the finest shinobi passed away. As the battle went on, more and more died, finishing in the last death, the death of the great hero of the town, the Yondaime. His actions to seal the demon into his own new born child had been honorable, and praise able. Still it leaves the young Naruto an orphan who would have to grow up in fear for his life because of the hate that the villagers had for him because of something inside of him. Naruto was not the only orphan made that night though, many others had also become orphans, like Iruka, the man would become an important figure in Naruto's life. Also there was Zaku Abumi, whose family had only 2 and a half years before moved to Konoha from the outer villages. They had then been recruited by the Yondaime himself into joining the ranks of Konoha shinobi. They for the few months of happiness in Konoha had achieved much during mission earning the praise and respect of all of the shinobi in town.
Then two years before the events of that October, they had a son, Zaku. For the first two years of his life, Zaku was treated with respect, and even watch out after by some of the better shin obi in the village including Maito Gai, and Raido Namiashi. Then that horrible October night happened and Zaku no longer had any parents. After the events of the night, the Sandaime worked to give homes to the orphans of the attack. His work made life easier for most of the orphans of the town. Still even the best plans have holes in them. Zaku just happened to fall into one of those holes, being forced to live in an orphanage to some point in his life. At that point in his life he can't no remember what took place, except that one day, he was picked up by someone at the orphanage. He did remember anything after that until one day he was somehow back on the street. Everything since that point had become a routine of doing the same thing everyday. It was a day to day fight to stay alive, and get to the next day. He had at some point just become one of the forgotten of the town. That was just how things were.
Zaku woke up slowly looking around his hidden spot in a back alley. He had to make sure that there was nothing around him, which could do him any harm. As he looked around he noticed nothing dangerous, except the trash bin, and stone walls around which he slept. Zaku stretched for a second allowing himself to fully wake up. He then walked over to the trash can, to see if anyone had throw away anything he could sale, at a junk shop, or use as a weapon if he had to fend off a treat or a mad shop owner. He had once found a dozen gold coins, and a number of times he had found thrown away Kunai, which he practiced with to give him some type of defense which he could use against other who would want to hurt him.
Walking out of the alley, Zaku joined the masses of people who were walking down the street of Konoha, how it was amazing, how none of them ever seemed to notice him at all. How they just seemed to look past him, as if he was not there. It was like they wanted to avoid the fact that they had to face. That they were a large reason, a kid like this would fall though the cracks, and end up a beggar on the streets at age 10. Zaku looked at the shops for anything that would be easy to take. Since people didn't ever notice him, it was rather easy to take stuff from them. He had become something of a good pick pocket in the last few years.
Zaku's eyes widened as he noticed two large bread sticks sticking out of a brown paper bag. The bag was sitting on the edge of the counter, and no one was looking at it. It in short was such an easy target nothing could possibly go wrong… This was the type of easy picking that he loved, it was just food after all, and if he didn't get the food, or take the risk, he would die. He had no choice but to steal. Zaku sometime wondered what it would be like if he didn't have to take food, but that was not going to happen. He quickly grabbed the bread and started to walk away.
"Hey kid, that is my bread," Zaku heard from behind him.
He crushed himself, how did he get noticed, now he had to get away. If he didn't he could get beaten up like he was the one other time he was caught. Zaku ran as fast as he could into an empty area. He took a deep breath before he heard footsteps. Zaku panicked and ran a bit more till he had to stop. Zaku had to have gotten away form the man, he had taken every short cut he knew, and also used all his tricks.
"Hey kid, why did you take my bread," A voice asked from above him.
Zaku knew he was finished; he looked up, hoping the beating would not be too bad. His eyes widened when he noticed that the man was a shinobi of the village. Not only that he was kind of odd with a bowl cut, large eye brows, and a green vest over green spandex. This was a high level shinobi, he was doomed.
"I see, stealing things is not a good way to display your youthful power," The shinobi stated plainly, "Still from the looks, you can use that bread more then me. Where is your home and what is your name kid?"
Zaku looked up a bit stunned, he was not getting beaten up, in fact this guy sounded helpful. He wanted to answer, but he found it hard to speak, "I am Zaku Abumi, I have no home, mister."
"Abumi, huh," The shin obi said rubbing his chin, "I will give you a choice, Zaku; I will take you to the Orphan's house if you want, or if you want, you can live with me. If you choice the latter you will have to work hard, not steal anymore, and practice to become a shinobi yourself. By the way, I am Maito Gai."
Zaku looked up still in total shock, had this guy just offered him a chance to live with him, why the heck would anyone want to do that.
Maito smiled looking at him, "I know you must be wondering why I am giving you this chance. Well, Zaku, I knew your parents, and I can see a great amount of youthful energy in you. I think you can be a good shinobi for this town, just like your parents."
"Fine, sure, but if things go bad, or anything, I am leaving," Zaku said trying to make himself sound like he had more power then he had. He in reality was more then a bit happy at the idea of having a safe place to sleep.
A/N- I hope you liked this, I don't know how much I will update, it is not at the top of my priorities, but I like the idea a lot. Please review, and give me your thoughts. Thanks