Chapter 1:
Liars and Cheats

"I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken; the choosing was not. You have to move on."
~ Stephen Sondheim

Shaky with a mix of apprehension and eagerness, Naruto went up to the front door, which was coloured with faded red paint, and gently knocked twice.

...

There was no answer.

Naruto listened carefully but he heard no sounds of the stirring. It hadn't occurred to him that nobody would be home. Perhaps he had been too quick to assume that they had household staff? Naruto backed up on the short dirt path and looked up at the closed windows of the house, unsure of what to do.

"What do you want?"

"Ack!" Naruto gapsed in surprise, and turned around to see a short, strict-looking woman with her hair in a frayed bun, peering out of an second storey window. "I mean... yes. My name is Naruto Uzumaki."

"Who?" The woman asked loudly, looking annoyed.

Naruto had an aggravated reply on his lips in seconds, but in an attempt to be diplomatic he swallowed it with uncharacteristic restraint. "I wrote to a Mr. Mizuki last week about staying here."

"I see," she replied, her expression relaxing but still not entirely friendly. "You're the boy from Whirlpool country."

Naruto felt a little encouraged by this familiar connection.

"Fine, come in then." The woman, who Naruto guessed was a member of the household staff, started to shuffle back into the house before adding, "You don't need help with that bag, do you?" She eyed him in a way that clearly warned her not accept the offer. "Your room is here next to the bathroom," she said gruffly, nodding her head in the direction of a small door across from a narrow staircase. "If you need anything, help yourself quietly and don't bother me or my staff, do you understand?"

Naruto nodded with a smile, which hid the sinking feeling of regret that he felt in his stomach. His room smelled musty and the floor was covered in the sticky residue of something that Naruto didn't care to identify. The bed was dusty, and he saw some small black insect scurry away when he prodded it.

"This isn't so bad..." Naruto whispered to himself, opting to grin widely. The grin slid immediately off of his face as he surveyed the mouldy room once more. He tried again. It was hard to maintain this happy expression, but he would manage it.

Somehow.

"I've already spoken with the Inuzukas," Nagato had announced, "They have invited you to live with their family, for which you should be extremely grateful. I offered them an extra sum of money, but they wouldn't accept it. I'm told their daughter is married and no longer living at home, so they would be more than pleased to receive you and your aunt."

Naruto looked away. He didn't like this conversation at all.

Nagato squeezed Naruto's neck, gently kneading. "Remember that I'll always be proud of you Naruto, for as long as you are you. Just be true to yourself, as you've always been."

The warm hand left a vague ache when it dropped from Naruto's neck to pat his back affectionately. It made his throat tight. "Uncle Nagato..."

His uncle's eyes were moist with worry and it made Naruto all the more uncomfortable. "Yes, Naruto?"

"… thanks." It was distressingly hard to even say the word, but he felt he owed it to the other man, for trying.

Nagato's answering smile was brighter than anything Naruto could imagine and it filled some of the empty spaces within him with a tentative hint of warmth.

"Anytime."

But as much as he appreciayed these comfortable living arrangements, Naruto was sixteen, almost seventeen now, and desired something far beyond living a quiet life in the village. Indeed, his mind was set on something very different...

The bazaar was crowded with people that afternoon. Experience made Naruto wary of those that came too close to him, but besides the lack of personal space and the number of shameless pickpockets, he liked the general atmosphere of the capital's marketplace.

Halfway back to the Mizuki's inn, Naruto bumped into someone and clumsily dropped all of his things. The someone stooped to help him and piled them all into his fishing net, which he could use as a makeshift bag. Naruto, amused by his efficiency and grateful for the small kindness, was about to treat him to a coin or two. It was only when he peered into his pouch that he realised half of the money had disappeared.

A pick pocket! "Son of a bitch!"

The bandit bolted.

Naruto instinctively attempted to pursue him but bashed his head against a plank of scaffolding in his haste. Bright green spots hurled in his eyes and a knot formed in his head that began to throb furiously. Stating a very lively word would make a sailor wince, Naruto trailed quickly after the thief. Darting left and right, past stall after stall, he chased the thieving brat relentlessly. However, after several minutes Naruto was forced to conclude that he'd lost him, leaving him to fume heavily with mounting rage.

It wasn't long before Naruto realised that he had gotten himself quite lost. The enclave's magnificent view of the ocean and the multi-coloured sunset reminded him of home. Naruto closed his eyes and breathed in the salty ocean air deeply. When he lazily opened his eyes after a few moments, he felt the same kind of peace that he did back in Whirlpool country. Seized by some unexplainable impulse, Naruto suddenly burst into a fit of childish laughter.

Just as he did that, something moved from behind.

Naruto turned around slowly, curious (and most definitely not afraid) of what he might see.

A young man approached with a surly look on his face. The fellow youth was carelessly dressed in countrymen's clothing but it could not obscure his reticent confidence, nor the striking elegance with which he moved. He looked about Naruto's age, and was likely taller than he; ebony hair that was a touch too long, a whisper too wild perhaps, fell slightly over the darkest eyes Naruto had ever seen and contrasted directly with faultless, ivory pale skin. It took a moment for Naruto to realise that he was staring quite openly, and he turned away quickly, training his gaze on the grass.

"Is there a reason your eyes are so earnestly searching the soil?" A low, sharp timbre settled languidly in the empty air without invitation.

Naruto blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Might your interest be located there? Or is it my horrendous features that offend you so?" The boy elaborated further in a very uninterested voice.

It suddenly occurred to Naruto that the other was mocking him, that he had probably seen him laughing like an idiot. When Naruto thought about how that might have explained the strange look he was being given, he involuntarily grew self-conscious, embarrassed and highly defensive.

"I don't believe that is any of your business." Naruto snapped, feeling his face scrunch up into a nasty scowl.

One dark, unimpressed ebony brow lifted opposite him, and Naruto instinctively knew that this was as close to a surprised expression as the boy was capable. Truthfully, Naruto wasn't quite sure why he was acting so rude either, though it might have had something to do with the supreme arrogance radiating from brunet, the sound of his aggravatingly self-assured voice.

"An astute observation. Truly worthy of you, dobe."

Naruto couldn't stop his jaw from dropping ungracefully, feeling the blood rush to his face he felt his ego and pride crash horribly to the ground. Dobe? DOBE? Just who the hell did this boy think he was? Naruto may not have been in the top 30 (okay, maybe 50) of his class back home, but he was definitely not dead last.

"Hey, listen here asshole—!"

"Asshole?" The bastard turned his black, mocking eyes back to Naruto. "You have a very limited vocabulary, do-be." He said, emphasising his last word and purposely drawing out each syllable. The dark-haired boy shook his head condescendingly at him — and that dug deeper than anything. Dug deep and rooted in his head until the indignant Dobe? spewed forth and Naruto growled, feeling a rush of anger sweep through his veins.

With all his built-up might Naruto howled at the receding black figure:

"Bastard! Stuck-up arrogant prick! Who the hell do you think you are?"

Still wearing that supercilious smirk, the arrogant bastard simply walked away into the nearest alleyway and vanished from sight without another word.

"Did you know that Shinobi have been reported seen around Konohagakure?" Konan had murmured that morning.

Naruto brushed the comment off with a snort. Ever since he had made his plans of leaving public his aunt had relentlessly tried to discourage him.

"A letter from Konohagakure for you, Naruto." The housemaid announced and handed him a thick, official-looking envelope. Naruto thanked her and opened the letter with interest. When he saw the signature, however, he scowled. Konan looked up and asked who it was from. Naruto read it aloud without any shortage of sarcasm:

"Dear Mr. Uzumaki,

I first offer my condolences for your recently deceased uncle, a report that unfortunately did not reach us until well after the funeral. The news was recieved with much sorrow. As you are aware, he was my mother's brother and an honourable man. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

I also write to discuss another report of a more pleasant nature that has reached me: that you intend to journey and settle down in Konohakagure. I realise that we have never spoken in person and would very much like the chance to meet you. I invite you to stay in my home for at least your first night in the city until you have found a suitable place to live of your own. I also offer my long-distance carriage services to you, for your travelling convenience, if you should wish it. Until then I wish you the best.

Sincerely,

Kakashi Hatake."

"Why, your Lord cousin sounds like a perfect gentleman!" The housemaid said enthusiastically. "Will you accept his offers, Naruto?"

"Not a chance." Naruto replied disdainfully, "Manners and false promises are the least someone of his status could do. Isn't it enough that he's inherited our home? Must he pester us needlessly as well? I want nothing to do with him!"

"His status is hereditary, Naruto," Konan said calmly. "He has little choice in the matter. You may not want to hold that against him."

"And why shouldn't I?" Naruto snapped irritably. "His status is hereditary, so he's been blessed with a fortunate life that he hasn't earned it at all!"

"So have you." Konan said warningly. "Nagato gave you the freedom to do whatever you wish with your life, and very few who exist who can say the same. What have you done to earn this special treatment?"

Naruto fell silent.

When a doctor had informed Nagato Uzumaki he was suffering from a fatal illness with no known cure, he had calmly accepted his fate. Knowing that without a son to ensure the well-being of his estate his family would be at the mercy of his despicable brother-in-law, Sakumo Hatake, Nagato had devised a plan. A quarter of his savings were given to relatives, and the rest evenly divided between his wife and his nephew. This was enough for each of them to live on their own in relative comfort.

"Don't misunderstand me, Naruto," his aunt continued, "I do not defend his father who has long ago proven himself a disgraceful man. I am merely warning you not to be prejudiced against a man who has done nothing wrong yet, and who deserves the benefit of the doubt as much as anyone else."

"Fine," Naruto conceded, annoyed. "But I still won't accept his offers." Konan was right, as always, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

It was getting quite dark by the time Naruto decided he was hopelessly lost enough to ask for directions. He looked around for a building with the lights on, spotting an old brick building with the upstairs windows boarded up; a sign hung above the door read:

'FOR SALE!'

Naruto opened the heavy wooden door.

"Ho outlander. How may I be of assistance?" A short, elderly man greeted from behind the desk lit by two solitary candles.

"I'm in need of directions, if you will." Naruto scanned the room briefly. The floor was dusty and showed the footprints of the few places visited by people. Cobwebs were all over the window sill as well as the small chandelier that hung by the staircase across from him. "Would you tell me how to find the Uzunomichi Bridge? I know how to find my way home from there."

The old man's sudden, toothy grin reminded Naruto so much of the pint-sized thief that it immediately put him on guard. "Certainly," he produced a small map of the streets leading to the bridge. Eyeing the blond intently, he added: "Is that all I can do for you?"

Naruto had every intention of leaving as soon as possible but he recalled the sign by the window and had another idea. "Actually there is something... What exactly is this building for?"

"It used to be a popular tavern," the old man recollected wistfully, "But I'm afraid it's been neglected for many years and now the landowner wishes to have nothing more to do with it."

"I see..." Naruto murmured. "I'm sorry to hear that. Just how much is he selling this land for?"

The old man's expression suddenly soured and he regarded Naruto with a high degree of suspicion. "That kind of information is nobody's business except those who wish to buy it."

"What if I was interested in buying this place?" he said, flashing his most charming smile.

"I'll be damned before I see some backward country fool own aged and reputable properties like this! Now get out before I get really angry! Out! Out I said!"

Naruto took this suggestion eagerly and ran out the door as the crazy old man continued to swear loudly. When he finally stopped to catch his breath he pulled at his coarse, flaxen locks in frustration. Everywhere he went, it seemed, he met nothing but contempt and unkindness. Was this yet another sign that he'd made the wrong decision in leaving home?

Thoroughly demoralised, Naruto made his way back to the miserable home of the Mizukis with a deep sigh, only to find that he'd been locked out. They probably didn't realise that he'd been out, the blond reasoned. He walked around the house to where his room was – hoping his window was unlocked for him to crawl through, when he heard two voices coming from within it.

"…was a poor investment if there ever was one!" A rough, male voice said followed by the sounds of ripping fabric.

"Don't go blaming me for your lack of judgement," A female voice that was unmistakably Mrs. Mizuki said; "How was I to know that the stupid country boy had no valuables?"

"You were the one who said that High Lord Sakumo was cheated out of the inheritance money by Nagato Uzumaki, woman!"

"He's still in the good graces of House Hatake. Lord Kakashi himself has been writing to the lad - look, look," the sound of paper rustling.

"What good comes from harbouring a kid crazy enough to live alone in this city and refuse the services of a rich relative? You talk as if you know everything, so do answer that for me!"

"He isn't aware of the aid offered to him by the High Lord's son - I've been intercepting the letters! I say we exploit our connection to him… say he vandalised our home or stole some valuables, and demand some compensation!"

Mr. Mizuki fell silent and Naruto didn't dare to show his face through the window to see his expression. Eventually, the sound of their heavy footsteps moved out of the room and the bedroom door was slammed shut. Naruto sat still for a few moments in case someone was still in the room. Then, slowly, he raised himself from the crouching position he was in and peered through the window.

All clear.

Naruto knew that he couldn't stay in this house for another instant. He carefully pushed the window open and crawled inside. He noiselessly wrapped all of his belongings in the fishnet hammock as the thief had done and then took off in a desperate run. He stepped into the first decent-looking inn he could find, roused the man dozing behind the front desk, and paid for a room.

For the rest of the night, Naruto lay awake on his bed, thinking about how little he'd understood when his aunt said that he was fortunate. Naruto felt ashamed at how much he took his sheltered life for granted. He buried his face into the soft, clean pillow and let himself be relieved at how it was such a far cry from the other room.

All night he tossed and turned, so seriously disturbed at how terrible life in Konohakagure could be; that Konoha's outer image as a thriving modern city was as deceiving as Kakashi Hatake's attempt to forge a friendship with him. At any moment, he thought he might cry. This was to be his life now; Naruto had desired change and he had been given it, but now all he wanted was to go back home. He was no longer concerned with appearing strong and masculine. He simply wanted to release the backing well that was mounting inside his chest.

(. . . be true to yourself . . .)

(. . . as you've always been . . .)

Nagato's steady brown eyes were a hot, heavy reminder at the back of his mind. He was shaky and terrified at the prospect of life alone in Konohakagure, but Naruto felt that old and familiar strength rekindle inside of him, still feeling that, despite the factual evidence, there was hope yet. He needed to deal with these new conflicts and learn how to survive, because Naruto was determined to believe that there was more to life than this cruelty.

You know what, Uncle Nagato? I won't give up, because that would mean giving up on myself and I won't give up on either of us. I can't. I never will.

I promise.

A/N: It's a little odd setting for a Naruto plot, true, but it'll gravitate towards more Naruto-esque lines later. Well, I'd love to hear from you guys as to what you think.

Right.

Well.

Thanks for reading!