The Kazekage's Heir

Chapter One

A Scorpion in the Desert

A little, blond, spiky-haired boy dragged himself along the sand dunes, desperately trying to make it to the big, beige wall that stood in the horizon.

His face was shaped into a frown, a pitiful attempt at keeping his eyes clear from stray grains of sand.

It was useless, however. First, because unless you had goggles, it was quite impossible to save your eyes from their microscopic enemies in the middle of a sandstorm. And Second, the extreme dehidration he was suffering made it so he had to blink several times each second in order to keep his eyeballs moist enough to operate.

Three weeks had passed since he was forced into the desert, carrying nothing but himself and water, which he had run out of three days before.

At first, he merely wandered around with no real goal in mind before coming face to face with a battlezone.

Flashback

Corpses from both Oto and Suna ninja populated a hill of sand, accompanied by multiple bells and splinters that belonged to a wooden humanoid which layed down in the middle of the "field", smashed to pieces. Naruto had no idea what either of the unusual weapons were for, but he didn't pay them further attention.

Despite his sorry state of being a week without food, Naruto kept his mind clear enough to scavenge. After a bit of searching, the boy was rewarded with a map of the desert which pointed a few of the only unchanging reference spots, and the only Hidden Village that was close to them.

The jinchuuriki smiled. Even though he was just five years old, he knew that a Hidden Village meant safety, water and food. Maybe even civilians that wouldn't beat him down, starve him and then throw him to the Land of Wind.

He rose his head and managed to catch a silhouette in the horizon.

The man was taller than average, and dressed in black. He was casually holding someone's body with his left arm, having his back to Naruto.

The only distinctive features that could be seen were the short, spiky, crimson red hair, and the red scorpion on the back of his dark shirt.

As if sensing someone staring at him, the man looked over his shoulder, examining the boy, before shooting him a kind smile that would win over any lady's heart and the trust of any child.

Naruto rubbed his eyes, and when he reopened them, the man was no more. He shrugged and went on his way. Probably another mirage...

Flashback End

And there he was, the home stretch. Just a few more steps and salvation would surely come.

He stumbled forward, light fading from his eyes as his legs gave out from under him, making him fall on his knees and then forward. The only things he could make out before sweet unconsciousness came where the yells of two gate guards as they rushed to him.

Many Hours Later

Our little hero opened his eyes, readying himself for yet another flash of light, courtesy of the desert's scorching sun. But, surprisingly, it wasn't there.

In it's place was a dim light coming from a long, straight lightbulb inlodged inthe wall facing him.

He was lying on a single bed, tubes coming from bags of serum and urine into his arms and penis. They felt weird, but he endured it. After many nights spent in the hospital, even a five year old learned not to mess with anything that looked like it was keeping them alive.

After looking around for a bit, he noticed that he was, in fact, inside a hospital, if the curtains pulled back by the sides of the bed or the machines beeping at every heart beat were anything to go by.

Something else he noticed was that this hospital room was nice, clean, smelling of disinfectant, and only had one bed, his own. Konoha's were the absolute opposite with many puddles of stale water and, normally, five beds crammed up in a single room.

The door opened, snatching his attention as a man walked in. This man had auburn hair, dark eyes and had a smile on his face. He wore a simple black jacket and pants with mesh armour underneath and was carrying a small cannister strapped to his hip.

He was quickly followed by a small, cute looking girl. She wore her sand-blond hair tied in four ponytails and her eyes were jade-green. She wore a black kimono over her fair skin, and carried a long, black object almost the size of herself on her back. Her innocent look, as she hid behind her father's leg, accentuated the small jinchuuriki's opinion of her. She's pretty.

Noticing the boy looking both at him and his daughter with curiosity, the man decided manners were in order.

"Come on now, Temari. Go ahead and introduce yourself to the boy."- he told the girl as he pushed her forward, encouraging her. She hesitated, but eventually opened.

"H-Hi. I'm S-Sabaku no T-Temari. I-I'm seven years old. W-Who are you?"- she greeted, stuttering with shyness. Naruto gave her a puzzled look.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I'm five years old."- he replied, a curious expression now on his face as he turned it to look at the man. He didn't to say anything as the man smiled at him, getting the message.

"And I am Sabaku no Kirino, but most people know me as the Fourth Kazekage. I am fourty years old."- he followed, introducing himself before noticing Naruto's facial expression of surprise.- "Is something wrong?"

"You don't look like a Kage."- and, as a matter of fact, he didn't. The only Kage Naruto knew where all of the Hokage that had existed and each of them either wore the Kage robes or some attack armour. This man wore casual clothes. Kirino laughed as he understood the youngling's confusion, slapping his right leg to calm himself down.

"I get where that's coming from. It's just that out here, in the middle of the desert where the sun is scorching hot, those robes aren't as confortable. Besides, right now I'm not on duty. I was just training Temari here."- he explained with a warm smile on his face, patting Temari on the hair, something she loved and hated at the same time.- "Come on, Mari-chan, show the boy what you can do."

The little girl quickly forgot all about shyness as she took out the long object from its holster on her back, determined to impress the boy she had just met.

She opened the object, revealing that it was, in fact, a fan. She put it down on the ground, fully opened showing three red circles before performing hand seals. Tiger, Ox, Dog, Rabbit, Snake. After that, she pulled the fan up again, readying herself.

"F-Fuuton: Daitoppa! (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)"- Temari swung the small war fan and a small, but powerful burst of wind went straight at Naruto, who was now sitting on the front edge of the bed. Big mistake. The Kazekage thought as the little boy went flying against the wall behind him, slipping off of it and ending up laying on the bed again, though this time he was clutching at his head.

"Owww..."- he softly moaned in pain, but not like most children would moan. His was a calmed moan, as if the pain wasn't that intense and he had had worse. This interested the Kazekage as he narrowed his eyes. Temari yeep'd and quickly put her fan back, rushing to Naruto.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Are you ok?"- she asked desperately, afraid that she had harmed the boy. It took him a few moments but he nodded, raising his head.

"I think so, but please don't do it again."- Naruto begged, rubbing the back of his head. Kirino laughed at the situation.

"My boy, you impress me. First, you survive my desert. Second, you recover from severe dehydration and malnutrition within hours. And last, after all of that, you're sent flying head first against a wall and shrug it off as nothing. I like you. You're full of potential."- the Kage declared firmly, receiving yet another look of curiosity from Naruto.

"Temari, could you go and practice your wind jutsu outside while I speak to Naruto? It's a private conversation."- he asked, as his daughter quickly nodded and ran away, mostly in embarassment and guilt from hitting the boy she thought was cute, and probably did not have cooties. The Kazekage smiled one last time before turning to Naruto.

"Now, my boy, how did you end up by my gates? Why did a five year old cross all of the desert?"- he asked with a now expressionless face, receiving a sad look from Naruto as an answer.

"The villagers hit me and threw me into the sandy place. They said that if I came back, they would kill me."- he told, bad memories of a beating flooding his mind. The Kazekage's eyes narrowed.

"Oh really? And what village did you come from? Why did they do such a thing to you, Naruto?"

"I lived in Konoha. They didn't like me much, there. The old lady that owned the orphanage told me I had a monster in me before she kicked me out."- Naruto explained, his face the epithome of sadness. Kirino let no emotions come alive in his face, but inside, he was revolting. How could someone do such a thing to a child?

True, he sealed the Ichibi inside his own daughter, but he didn't ostracize her. He fed her, gave her shelter and clothes. Hell, he even tried to give her the love and bond he had with Temari and Kankuri. She was the one who didn't want anything to do with him, and tried to kill him every time she saw him. He didn't blame her, though.

"Don't worry, I'll send a message to the Third Hokage right away and convince him to take you back."- he offered, but Naruto's eyes quickly widened and he shook his head.

"Please, no! Hokage no gii-san has tried, but he told me he can't keep eyes on me at all times! If I go back, they'll hurt me and kill me! Let me stay! This place is nice!"- the sheer desperation in the boy's voice warmed up to the Kage's heart. How could he deny it?

"Are you sure? Sunagakure is not an easy place to live in. Who would you stay with?"

"With you! Please! I swear I won't be any trouble! Or teach me jutsu so they can't hurt me anymore!"- Kirino pondered over Naruto's words for a moment. It was true that if he sent the child back, he'd probably be killed. He had heard that the little Uzumaki was a jinchuuriki from Hiruzen, and knew from personal experience through his daughter that being one wasn't easy.

If he accepted the boy into the village and into his home, he would finally have a heir and probably a strong shinobi in his forces. Besides, he had always wanted a son.

"Ok. But on two conditions. First, you will do as I say no matter what, and never hesitate. Second, you have to agree to become my heir and take the Kazekage place when I die. How you do so is up to you. What do you say?"

Naruto looked up at the man, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Yes! I swear I won't let you down!"- he swore. Kirino laughed out loud from the boys determination before laying a hand on his head.

"I know you won't...my son."

One Month Later

Our little hero walked around Sunagakure, a distressed look on his face. The village hidden in the sand was everything he wanted, really. He loved the constant, cold wind fighting him and trying to push him back as he walked, and the sun that rarely allowed for rain at all.

The people were nice to him, even those that didn't know he was the Kazekage's adopted son. He'd walk into a store and the owners would immediately offer advice and help on how to choose their items, whichever they were. In Konoha, as soon as he walked into a store, Naruto could count the seconds that it would take for him to be thrown out.

His new family was also fantastic for him. Karura, the mother of all of the Kazekage's daughters had died, but everyone else was still there.

Temari had quickly made him her little brother, and instructed him on basic shinobi knowledge, like chakra and the standard Genin jutsu. He was responding well to the teaching, with good results, and she was going to teach him about elemental affinities in that very afternoon.

Kankuri, who at first had looked at him in a weird way, accepted him somewhat as a younger brother that you practice mischief with. She taught Naruto about bladed weapons and even had given him the adress for a store she thought he would like.

Gaara, however, acted like Naruto was merely part of the landscape. Not that she acted better towards anyone, since she hated pretty much every person, but she seemed to not hate Naruto, if that made any sense.

He had really only tried to approach her and talk with her once. And even though she only replied in short sentences, she didn't try to murder him with sand or tell him to go away unless he wanted to die. Maybe it had something to do with the funny looks she gave him when she thought he wasn't looking.

And then there was Kirino. The man was often really busy with work, but most days he made time for the children, and they'd spend hours joking around.

That was why Naruto was so frustrated. He was being offered so much, given things he never thought he'd have, and he couldn't repay them unless he fulfilled his promise.

He needed to become a real ninja and fast, if he wanted to be strong enough to become a Kazekage. That's when he took out the small piece of paper Kankuri had handed him with the address of a "special" weapon shop written on it. Or so she said.

He arrived at the place and noticed how small, yet cozy the shop seemed. He entered and saw that it was very clean, and any and all weapons that were on display were sharpened to the limit and polished until they became mirrors.

But there was something definitely strange about the place. Aside the blades and interesting weapons, it also had wooden joints and arms, for some reason.

"Hello there, my dear boy! Is there anything I can help you with?"- a sweet voice came from a corner of the shop. As he looked to find the voice's owner, he saw an old, tubby woman that seemed like she was in her seventies. Her hair was of a very light purple, and her eyes were black as night. Although her face was filled with wrinkles and fat that betrayed her age, it was still warm as she gave him a smile that came from her heart.

"Yes. Are you Chiyo-baa sama?"- he asked, calling her by the name that Kankuri had given him. She smiled and nodded politely.- "Kankuri told me to come see you."

"Oh! You're a friend of Kankuri's? Well, I know what she wants. Come with me, my dear boy."- the old lady asked, heading to the back of the shop. They reached a nice spot with a table that was probably used as a workdesk. On it, was a small, hand-sized puppet.

Naruto was expecting her to pull some wires out of somewhere but she merely rose her right hand and the puppet rose with it, turning around and bowing to the blond jinchuuriki as Chiyo flicked her fingers. Naruto's eyes shone with excitement and awe as the puppet initiated an intricate dance for him, and didn't notice the old woman's mischievous chuckle until the small wooden doll jumped at him and a blade came out of a hole in its palm that Naruto didn't even know was there before.

"This, my boy, is Shinobi Puppetry. The art of manipulating any puppets you create with near-invisible strings made of chakra. Most deem this fighting style harmless and silly, but in the hands of a master, even a small puppet like that could be an effective assassin."- she explained, and the little boy didn't even care he had a nail-sized hidden blade put up against his throat anymore, such was his excitement.

"This is the path Kankuri has chosen. This is the path I have chosen. Is this the path you will choose?"- Chiyo asked him, an all-knowing smile on her face. The little blond one had fallen to the spell.

"Yes!"

(And that, mates, was chapter 1. This is my new fiction and I hope I started it well. Do note that Naruto is five in this chapter because I'm pretty much telling the story of how he became a puppeteer first before we get to the real action! If you liked this fic, Follow/Favorite and Review! You've got no idea how much it helps when you point out what needs to be improved.)