Naruto Fanfiction

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Author's Note: Just something I was thinking of. This has not been pre-read. My apologies.

---

Those eyes...

Every time he looked at those orbs an icy wind would blow around his heart. Feelings like shame, regret, pain, anger and sadness would come knocking at his door, but he could do nothing but ignore all of them.

In front of him were three ANBU, bowing their heads in embarrassment. Behind those three, a painting of the Fourth Hokage seemed to glare at him.

The Third Hokage sighed and prepared to write everything down that the ANBU would report to him.

"Tell me now... everything about the assassination of one Uzumaki Naruto. Enlighten me how you managed to fail in your given mission, you three of the Elite ANBU." The ANBU all tensed as Chakra filled the room. "Masks off, now."

Old man Sarutobi watched as Uzuki Yuugao, Hatake Kakashi and Tenzou let the masks rest in their hands.

They all dropped to their knees, their faces expressing extreme regret.

Hatake Kakashi looked up and started the story.

"It was a trick... A trick of the highest order, great enough to fool the Sharingan."

---

The Chastising Castigator
- Prologue: The Vindicator

---

From the day he was sealed to the day of now, he was always watched, guarded, without him knowing about it. The Third Hokage would not fail to accomplish the Fourth's greatest wish.

To him, Uzumaki Naruto meant the world. He had ordered Kakashi's team of three to watch and observe everything surrounding the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Every villages or Shinobi who meant him harm would be reprimanded. This was an ultimate secret, no one knew Uzumaki Naruto was being guarded by the ANBU.

He had his suspicions some of them might know and they were proven now. Someone on the inside was in on this.

But he never considered the possibilities... the dangers.

With great pain in all of their eyes, the story began...

"Man, you're so troublesome. My mom's gonna be a real pain because of this."

Chouji merely chuckled at Shikamaru's comments about detention.

Naruto had started a fight, or rather, everyone BUT Naruto had started a fight against him, which lead to the entire class becoming way too chaotic. Of course, the teacher blamed it all on Naruto.

Shikamaru never understood why...

He didn't blame Naruto for coming too late or skipping classes with the way he was treated.

His senses were not really keen, but he heard the stone coming from behind them. He didn't even worry as it was heading for Naruto's head anyway.

"You bastard!!I missed Sasuke-kun's exit because of you!!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head and watched a fuming Sakura and Ino glaring daggers at him. "Ah, sorry, Sakura-chan! Ino-chan!"

Shikamaru shook his head. "Just run, Naruto."

Naruto frowned at the Nara, not understanding. "Why?"

And more stones suddenly followed, giving Naruto a signal to clear the area.

"Ah, the Nara is quite the observing type. He and his Akimichi friend didn't seem to be as hateful to Naruto as the other kids. But then, they didn't really seem to care about him either." Kakashi noted.

"But you should know, we weren't there, when it happened." Uzuki continued. "We only know the rest of the details thanks to Ibiki interrogating them."

The Third nodded. "Continue."

"Naruto, you're up! And hurry up!"

After performing his infamous Oroike no Jutsu, Naruto tried again, but failed his Henge no Jutsu, which lead to failure.

"Uzumaki Naruto, you FAIL!!"

"After the Genin Examination, it seems Naruto was invited to dinner. Morino Ibiki has told us everything."

"So, he failed the test?"

"Yup! That's good, right?"

"Yes, honey. Perhaps you should invite him to dinner tonight?"

"But, don't you hate him? I... I hate him too!"

"Well... I just feel sorry for the boy, Ino-chan..."

"Yamanaka Ino, although expressing certain dislike for the boy, invited him for dinner that same day." Kakashi said. "The boy, never being invited to anything, couldn't do anything but comply with happiness I've never seen him express."

The Third narrowed his eyes in anger at this. Kakashi too, was clenching his fists.

"We trusted the Yamanaka Family, but we still observed them hours before the dinner would commence." Uzuki continued. "But Yamanaka Inoshi used a Secret Technique only available to those of the Yamanaka Clan."

"Which was?"

"Mind Manipulation. We all were sent away from Konoha, all three of us suddenly believing we had an important S-Ranked mission in Kumo." Tenzou explained. "We found out about it when the Gate Guards of Kumo sent us back to Konoha. Rushing back, remembering about Naruto, we knew we were already too late."

"Hello, Naruto-san, please come in..."

Kakashi gritted his teeth in anger and rose to his feet. "I apologize, Hokage-sama. But I must amend. I must-"

"You will do nothing, Kakashi." The Third ordered sternly. "You will remain here and continue the story."

As Naruto entered the Yamanaka household, he realised he was still walking, but... he wasn't walking himself. "Wh-what's going on? Yamanaka-sama?"

"Nothing's wrong, Naruto-san. We're just directing you to the right way. Don't worry, we'll be there soon." Came Ino's mother's sweet voice.

Naruto's eyes registered another presence in front of him and saw a tall blonde man, with about the same hairdo as Ino-chan had. "Ah, you're Ino's father?"

The reply that came was not what he expected.

He was slammed into the wall, a Kunai piercing each of his shoulder.

"Finally..."

"From there on, an endless torture begins." Uzuki spoke. "The Yamanakas do not equal Morino Ibiki in methods, but they... They can control the Mind. After a while of mental torture, it seems Naruto's wounds were not healing anymore."

Tenzou nodded. "Though we weren't there, I can conclude that the influence of the Kyuubi's Chakra is dependent on Naruto's willpower. After a while, the physical torture asked its toll."

Kakashi grunted in agreement, able to somewhat continue. "They managed to break Naruto and got past his defense. They succeeded in killing him that night..." He growled. "Yesterday..."

The Third looked away from the three ANBU to the painting on the wall. "I'm sorry... Namikaze Minato-sama."

---

Years later...

"Sasuke-kun!!"

"Hahahaha!!This is all your hatred?! This is all of it?! How pathetic!!"

The sole survivor of the Uchiha Massacre, Uchiha Sasuke, was slammed into a tree.

Haruno Sakura, Pakkun and Temari were bystanders and were helpless to do anything about the onslaught before them. Gaara was completely beating the crap out of Sasuke.

"Sa-Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura yelled.

All of a sudden, a figure landed in front of her. "Don't yell so much, girl! You call yourself a Shinobi?" Sakura watched him look over his shoulder at her. "Oh, a Genin? I guess that's a good excuse." He chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll save your little boyfriend!"

Temari took her gaze away from the fight between Gaara and Sasuke, to see a tall old man with an unknown Headband standing in front of the Konoha Genin Kunoichi.

"Katon, Karyu Endan!!" Temari's eyes widened at the sudden eruption of Fire moving towards Gaara. 'S-Shit!'

Gaara screamed in pain as the Fire easily bypassed his defences. "W...Argh... Who dares?!"

The old man grinned a grin that seemed to go on endlessly. "Ahoooo! The great Jiraiya-sama has come to punish you, you little brat!!"

Sakura's eyes widened. 'J-J-Jiraiya-sama!?'

"Tanuki Neiri no Jutsu!!" Gaara yelled out and Jiraiya simply smiled. Gaara exploded into a huge dust cloud, only to transform into a huge Demon.

"Shukaku, huh?"

Temari's eyes widened at the calmness this man was displaying. "This can't be good..."

"Tcheh..."

Temari turned around at the sudden noise and saw a young boy standing there, with Uchiha Sasuke out cold at his feet. 'I... I didn't even sense him!'

"Suna Kunoichi." His voice held certain anger, she noted, but it was not directed at her. "Your little brother sure is a stupid one." He then sighed as he riffled his own wild blonde hair. "Geez, old man... Why do you even bother?" Temari noticed this boy was not wearing a Hitai-Ate at all.

As Temari turned back to the battle, she was surprised to see Gaara out cold on the ground, Jiraiya towering above him. "Heh, a brat challenging one of the Sannin? Where is the world going to?" He asked no one in particular. "Yo, kid! Get down here!"

Temari didn't hear a sound as the boy next to her teleported to Jiraiya. The Uchiha kid was still lying on the branch next to her. She immediately jumped down to protect her brother.

Jiraiya and the kid calmly watched Temari approach, before Jiraiya froze her with a Kanashibari no Jutsu. "Listen, girl. We won't harm your little brother. He just needs to be taught a lesson. You can't do anything about it, anyway, so..."

With that, all three of them were suddenly gone.

"What the...?!"

"Sasuke-kun!!" Temari didn't move an inch, still in shock, as the pink-haired Konoha Genin was running towards her teammate.

Pakkun was in the same condition as Temari, but for other reasons. 'T-That was...!!'

---

Orochimaru dropped to his knees as his old sensei had passed away. "Argh..." He gritted in pain. "My hands! We retreat now! Without me, we won't be able to overcome Konoha!"

His Sound Four carried him away as quickly as they could, before any Konoha-nin could catch them.

Kakashi felt from afar that Pakkun had cancelled the summon and jumped down to land beside Gai, to look at the deceased Third Hokage. 'Orochimaru...'

And then, something stung in the back of his neck. He frowned at this because this meant someone wanted to be summoned. Kakashi decided he would summon Pakkun later. Now was bad timing.

---

Sasuke was frowning as he stood next to his team. His teammates were more than simply annoying, but his sensei was at least a bit helpful. Sai stood to his left and Sakura stood to his right. His teacher, Hatake Kakashi stood behind him.

He had woken up in the hospital today, with bandage almost covering his entire body. No one could tell him what had happened the day before, how Gaara was defeated or how he had escaped.

Sakura was the only witness, next to that Sand girl. But Sakura was talking nonsense about some Shinobi, one of the Sannin, showing up. He growled inwardly, as he probably would never find out what had transpired that day.

Kakashi was a bit absent, but still very sad about the death of his Hokage. Putting his senses to the maximum, he knew the rumour was correct. But how?

After several speeches, some extremely long ones coming from the council, the funeral was over and everyone returned home.

Kakashi turned his head slightly, before he faced his three students again. "Sai, Sakura, Sasuke. All of you, head home. Today is a day off for Konoha." And then, Kakashi vanished.

---

Jiraiya bowed shortly and stared at the departing people. He didn't even bat an eye as Kakashi appeared behind him.

"You know this guy, Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya turned around and smirked at the Jounin. "Yo, Kakashi, how are you doing?"

Kakashi bowed shortly. "My condolences." He then turned to Naruto and bowed fully. "My... My sincerest apologies, Uzumaki Naruto-sama."

The kid, Naruto, frowned at the grey-haired Jounin and considered him, before looking at Jiraiya again. "Who's this again?"

"Hatake Kakashi, Konoha's Copy Ninja. Owner of ALMOST a thousand techniques." Jiraiya chuckled. "He... was assigned as one of your guards when you were still a kid."

Naruto turned back to Kakashi and shook his head once. "You did great." He sarcastically pointed out.

"I'm sorry." Kakashi said. "I thought you died. I am relieved the opposite is true."

"I'm sure you are."

Kakashi rose from his bowing position to look Naruto straight in the eye. Life has been harsh on the kid and his eyes truly showed his pain, his hate, his anger and his... strength. This kid was not one to be taken lightly. He had also already noticed that he spoke with evident anger in his voice, like he was angry at everyone and everything.

He didn't blame him.

"I assume you took care of Sabaku no Gaara?" Kakashi said, looking at Jiraiya again.

The Toad Sage snorted. "Easily, too. The kid's small fry, that's for sure. Even Naruto can kick that brat's ass in seconds. Anyway, I fixed his seal. I hope the one who did his is dead and if she's not, we'll make sure she's killed."

"Suna... it's been some time since we've gone there." Naruto said to no one. "Anyway, we've paid our respects. Let's go, Konoha always makes me sick."

Kakashi winced. "Uzumaki Naruto-sama. I... For what it's worth, I truly regret not being there for you when it was acquired of me." He bowed again.

Naruto snorted. "Forgiving people is not something I do. But I don't blame you; I know what happened. The Third Hokage was a man I truly respected. Now that he is gone, however, Konoha is even more dead to me than it was before."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Anyway, we have to leave. Konoha needs a new Hokage and I'm not gonna be it!"

Naruto rolled his eyes. "We're not even Konoha Shinobis." He looked at Kakashi. "Say hi to those other two ex-guards of mine." He then turned his back to the Jounin. "And tell them... thanks."

---

"Damn it, where are you guys!?" Came the extremely loud voice of a girl as she was running through the forests. "What a day to pick to train!"

"Ah, what better day?" Came Asuma's voice behind her. Ino quickly jumped away from her teacher. She knew he had trouble coping with his father's death and this was the best way to deal with it, she supposed.

Kicking the crap out of his students.

"Tsk, you know better than that, Shikamaru." Asuma scolded. "Using Ino as bait to lure me out, while I'm a simple Kage Bunshin. Surely, you're location is revealed."

Ino grinned. "As is yours!" She threw several Kunais through the Kage Bunshin at the real Asuma in a tree.

Asuma simply appeared behind her again, only to find out her Chakra was completely... inactive? "Ino!! What's wrong!?" He panicked. This only happened when someone was dying!

Shikamaru and Chouji came running to check their teammate out.

Asuma looked from his students to two people standing in front of them. "Jiraiya-sama!"

---

Jiraiya calmly touched the back of Naruto's neck with a piece of paper with a special seal on it. "Calm down, Naruto..." He whispered.

Naruto's eyes turned back from red to blue as he saw the four people in front of him. "Tcheh." He turned away, although Jiraiya knew that he was extremely enraged at the moment. 'Thank god for this seal...'

"A-ah..." Shikamaru gasped as Ino started crying. "Ino, what's wrong!!"

"Mom!!"

"Be quiet, dear! We're supposed to be doing this!!"

Ino, who was seven at that time, was shocked to see blood on her parents' arms, legs, feet and hands. Even their clothes were covered in Naruto's blood.

"Dad!!"

"Silence!!Can't-" A slice of a Kunai. "You" A harsh blow cracking the nose. "We're" Another blow piercing the ribcage. "Busy, Honey!!"

Ino's eyes widened as her father grabbed a Sword. "Time to die, demon spawn!!"

"Yes, do it, Inoshi!!" Her mother cheered.

"Ino!!" Shikamaru's voice brought her back to the present.

"Na-Naruto?" Ino said in between her sobs.

Shikamaru's eyes widened as he turned from Ino to the two strangers. It was true, that kid next to the old man was Naruto! But didn't he vanish many years ago? And why was Ino's reaction this extreme!?

Asuma's gaze was gentle, both Shikamaru and Chouji noticed, as the Jounin looked at the two. "Jiraiya-sama." He greeted, bowing. "Nice to see you again."

"Ah... My condolences, Asuma-san."

"Thank you."

Ino suddenly fell to her knees as she stared at Naruto, her eyes filled with water. "N... Naruto?"

"Can we go already before that seal runs out, Jiraiya? I can already feel it losing its effect." Jiraiya narrowed his eyes as he saw Naruto's eyes continuously changing from blue to red and back again.

As they left, Chouji turned to his teacher. "Who were those two, sensei?"

Asuma chuckled as he lit a cigarette. "I should have known they would show up today. You might remember the kid as one of your classmates, like Ino here has..." He said, gently rubbing Ino's back as she was still crying. "Those two were Jiraiya, probably the strongest of the Legendary Sannin, and Uzumaki Naruto, who in the Bingo Book, is more known as the Vindicator."

---

TBC

This fic is somewhat angsty. Naruto in here is probably on equal grounds with... let's say... Kaguya Kimimaro.
In here, his character is even more messed up than Gaara's. He pities Gaara, because to him, he doesn't hate enough. Jiraiya tries his best to raise Naruto in a proper way, but time can be a stubborn teacher and only teach things right before you die...

Thanks for reading!!