Author's Note: Hi all.

After much thought and debate, I decided to give this idea for a Naruto fanfiction a try and see where it'll go. After reading the manga and looking back on the first few chapters of the Naruto series, I was inspired to write this version of the jinchuriki's tale where a few changes in the timeline changes Naruto's ultimate path in life.

Instead of wanting to become a ninja, Naruto becomes a hardworking employee of Ichiraku's Ramen and, by extension, the ramen industry. And when I mean hardworking, I mean really hardworking. He in fact becomes so good at his job, the assignments he's eventually given while working for Teuchi and Ayame sends him on all sorts of crazy adventures.

What can a part-time worker in a shinobi world possibly do in this kind of situation?

Basically this story will follow the original storyline somewhat, where Naruto's journey will intertwine with the lives of others and the life his original counterpart would've lived, so you could call this somewhat of an AU version of the Naruto universe.

So… here goes nothing.

NARUTO

The Part-Timer

Prologue

"You… really know how to put your foot down when you want to… Minato," Kushina spoke in a hoarse voice, a pained cough following shortly afterwards that saw blood run down from the corners of her mouth. Managing to keep it from splattering across her son, who she could see was lying peacefully in the tiny sealing alter in front of them, the wounded mother then grinned over her shoulder towards the father, who'd also thrown himself into the fray, "Man you're stubborn."

"Can you blame me? When something like this is at stake… you can bet I'll be willing to put my life on the line for it," the blonde haired man responded in a surprisingly chipper tone, even though he too had blood dribbling down his chin and a claw the size of a support beam impaled through his chest.

In fact, the same claw that was impaling him was also run through his beloved wife, both of whom were doing their very best to hold back the thing it was attached to. Towering over the Hokage and his wife, bound in chains and locked down inside of an enormous dome shaped barrier erected from the same golden shackles sprouting from Kushina's back, was the Kyuubi no Yoko himself.

With its arm outstretched and fingers extended, the entire weight of the colossal beast was being put behind the husband and wife in an attempt to destroy its real target. He was so close to accomplishing this objective too. But, even with its great size, monstrous strength and destructive raw power, the Nine-Tailed Fox could do nothing as he was held down by the young mother determined to protect her newborn son.

It was almost inconceivable.

"Damn you… you retched humans!" the fox growled, attempting to withdraw its hand. However, thanks to the chains wrapped around its body tightening like a vice and keeping him rooted to the floor, there was not much the demon could do except curse out its quarry and snarl at the man and woman standing in his way. "I'll kill you!"

"No… you won't…" Kushina breathed out, glancing up at the entity and cracking a warm smile, one that had the creature recoil in its place, "Not today, Kyuubi."

Hearing the Nine-Tail's snarl echo across the region, the red haired kunoichi gave a pained wince when she felt the power of the biju spike as it tried one last time to push forward and spear the baby lying just inches away from its hooked claw. However, when the mother and father dug their feet into the ground and the former once again tightened the chakra chains holding the demon, the fox was stopped dead, leaving all three of them in stalemate.

But not for long.

"You win," Kushina spoke, glancing back at her husband with a loving expression while gripping tightly to the large nail sticking out of her stomach. "First (cough)… argument you've ever won. I guess you're serious about this."

Minato grinned back in response, "Thank you, Kushina…"

For the next minute the pair stood in silence, catching their breaths while at the same time trying to hold on for as long as they could.

The sudden tug on his chakra however broke Minato from his moment of reprieve, as he quickly remembered he still had the Shiki Fujin (Dead-Demon Consuming Seal) active, which was hanging onto both his and the other half of the Nine Tails' chakra that he had stored within him. It was clear the Death God was growing impatient and though the blonde haired warrior wanted to, he couldn't keep the spirit waiting for him any longer.

With a nod of understanding, Minato leaned forward to speak to his wife, who was busy gazing down at their newborn son curled up in his crib. "It's time for me to go, Kushina. I'm going to perform the Eight Trigrams Seal… and leave a bit of my chakra behind with Naruto." Seeing the woman's smile drop and her eyes start to shimmer, the man then rested a hand against her arm. "I'll… also leave a bit of yours too… and pass the key on to Jiraiya-sensei…"

"W-Wait…" the kunoichi suddenly interrupted, cutting her husband off and stopping him in his tracks. When she did, Kushina quickly reached into her shirt and pulled something out, clutching it tightly to her chest. While Minato looked at her quietly and wondered what it was she was now holding, he then saw her open up her hand and show him a pendant; a red amber crystal with the whirlpool symbol of her clan engraved upon it. When their eyes fixed on the small gem, the woman smiled, "It was… supposed to be a birthday present… for Naruto." Tears forming in her eyes when she looked towards her son, the mother then glanced back at her husband to see him staring right back at her. "C-Could you… do you think…?" A sudden sob prevented her from finishing her question.

Quickly catching on to what his wife wanted to ask, the man's eyes widened in momentary shock, before being replaced by a wide smile. Nodding in acknowledgement, the shinobi reached around and wrapped his hand around hers, encasing the pendant in her fingers, "Yes… absolutely." When he saw his wife smile, the two then reached over and, while holding the Kyuubi's claw out of reach, placed the pendant on their son's stomach.

Their hands rested, one on top of the other, making sure the child received both the present and their love.

"We still have a moment. If you have anything you want to say to Naruto… say it now…"

Eyes clouded with unshed tears, Kushina looked up with a smile. When her warm, loving gaze fell upon her son to see him sleeping soundly out of harm's reach, the kunoichi spoke, whispering words to him she was certain he could hear.

"Naruto… this is your mother. Don't be a fussy eater. Eat a lot and grow up to be a big boy. Take your bath every day, go to bed early and sleep well."

"Make friends, it doesn't matter how many… just make sure they're good friends… people you can count on… even if there are only few. And… if you want to be a ninja someday… then… study your ninjutsu well." A light chuckle escaped her lips. "I was never really good at theory, but maybe you will be. Everyone has things they're good at… and things they're not… so don't feel bad if you can't do it all."

"Make sure you listen to your teachers. Avoid the three vices of shinobi: don't borrow money if you can't help it, save up what you can, no drinking alcohol until you're twenty, and don't overdo it or else you'll ruin your body. And… as far as women go… well…" Kushina giggled, "There are only men and women in this world… and you'll want to have a girlfriend some day. Just… don't fall for the first girl you meet… try to find someone like your mother." The redhead sighed and shook her head, as she remembered something else to tack onto that. "And the fourth warning; watch out for Jiraiya-sensei."

This drew a laugh from her husband, whom she could feel shaking against her back. After all, he knew what that man was like. They both did.

Smiling and crying at the same time, tears flowing freely down her cheeks, the red haired mother leaned forward just as her husband did. When she felt Minato press his cheek up against hers, Kushina choked out a sob and continued.

"Naruto … you're going to experience a lot of pain and suffering," the kunoichi said, her eyes red and filled with sadness and love. "Just… remember who you are. Make friends… fill your life with love… find a goal… find a dream… and don't ever stop trying until it comes true. There… There's…" Kushina sniffled and held back another sob, "There's so much more I want to say to you… so much more I want to teach you. I want to stay with you…" Her eyes never left her son, whom moved about in his crib and pawed at the air with his tiny hands. The sight had the mother beam, "I love you."

Minato nodded, also on the verge of tears. But, being the tough, stubborn man that he was, he refused to. After all… it was a father's job to be strong for their son.

He had to be a good role model and he was determined to fulfill that duty.

"… I'm sorry, Minato… I took up all our time," Kushina whispered, clenching her eyes shut while continuing to hold her ground.

"It's okay," the Fourth whispered, at the same time reaching for her hand and interlocking his fingers with hers. Feeling his wife begin to tremble and giving her a comforting squeeze, ensuring her that everything was going to be alright, the man then gave one last nod before turning to his son. "Naruto… this is your dad…"

When his eyes fixed upon him and he saw the boy turn in his sleep, Minato grinned.

"Listen… to your loquacious mother."

These last words brought a smile to the child's lips.

Even though he was just a baby only a few minutes old, from the way he rolled in his cradle and giggled under the loving smiles of his parents, in some small way both Minato and Kushina knew that he'd heard them and understood everything they had to say. This was all the sign the two of them needed to know that he was listening.

Even if he didn't fully understand now, he would later on in his life.

That's what their hearts were telling them.

"Eight Trigrams Seal!"

And you know what…

…

…

He did.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Author's Note: This chapter sets up everything that will follow soon after and will lead into the next one. Hope this is a good start.