The chosen one

I do not own Naruto or any of its references.

Summary: A small change can make the world of difference. The son of Senju Minato and Uzumaki Kushina was stolen by the masked man and left in the orphanage. But after one year later he was chosen for pseudo Jinchuuriki. To him, it was a curse. But unknown to him it was blessing too that will help him to make his place in the world...AU. Strong Naruto, red hair Naruto.

AN: English is not my native language.

Chapter 1

The day Naruto was born

It was a sunny day in the village Hidden in the Leaves. The sun was shining and providing its warmth to the people doing their own business in the busy streets. The street was bristling with adults. Kids could be seen running and playing. All in all, the entire atmosphere was calm and peaceful. Even the defender of the Konohagakure no Sato could be seen smiling and relaxing. The security around the village was not as tight as it should be. It was because there was no war. Peace was the only word that could explain the situation around the ninja world.

There was a man in white robes wearing and white hat with a kanji for a fire on it standing on top of the Hokage monument. The man was in his early fifties. He had his hands clapped behind his back and looking down at the village he had sworn to protect with his life. The man was Sandaime Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. He was looking at the village with a small smile on his face. Warmth filled his heart seeing his village so peaceful. A village his teachers had given their lives to protect.

The Sandaime Hokage stroked his goatee and sigh when a man in a yellow flash appeared on his right side. That man was tall with spiky blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing blue shirt and pants with Konoha Jounin jacket.

"Minato, it's very good to see you." The third spoke softly not turning his gaze from the village and its people.

"Sandaime-sama, it's good to see you too. I went to your office but your secretary told me that you're here so I came. I just wanted to give you report of the mission orally."

"As you had expected, we had observed the borders of Hi no Kuni that are on North West side...their numbers are increasing. They are using earth jutsu to hide their presence in the ground, but with the help of Kakashi and his summons we were able to sense almost 500 Iwa shinobi there." Minato finished his report with a frown. The situation around the ninja world wasn't going to better day by day. After the death of Tobirama Senju in the second war, the third Hokage was able to make an alliance with Iwagakure and Kumogakure, thus ending the war. But it had been almost more than ten years since the last war was stopped by the Hokage.

"So it seems that Iwa and Kumo are on one side. And we know that how much the third Raikage want our blood. It's just a miracle that the peace had lasted for more than a decade. Oh well..."

"What do you mean that Iwa and Kumo are allied now?" Minato questioned

"Jiraiya came back yesterday and well... Kumo is also making their camps on their border of our Northeast side. They say that they are camping here for training, but we know that they are just bluffing." The third released the smoke from his mouth and sigh.

'I'm too old for this shit.' He looked at Minato and frowned. The young man had a frown on his face that only third could see. The emotionless mask on his face telling him the things that he didn't want to know but curiosity got the better of him and questioned.

"What's bothering you Minato. If you are worried about Kushina then don't. You know Konoha had never used their Jinchuuriki in the past."

Minato sigh and rubbed his face with his hands.

"It's not that sir. It's just I don't know why they are doing that. Many lives including children's will be going to be lost in the coming war. I have a bad feeling about this."

"I know what it feels like. But you don't have to worry about anything for now. We still have at least two years to prepare for war. They will not underestimate us. That's why they will be preparing for worst case scenario." The Sandaime paused to collect his thoughts and the spoke.

"Let's change the topic, shall we. How is Kushina by the way? I haven't seen her in while."

Minato blue eyes widened and turned around to face his leader.

"OH shit, please excuse me, sir. I have to go it-it's an emergency." With that, the blond young man disappeared from Hokage monument. The last thing he heard was the Sandaime laugh.

Senju compound

Minato appeared in a flash outside of the compound and entered the house. The first thing he felt upon entering the massive killing intent directed towards him.

"Minato-kun welcome home. Do you have any excuse for being late? Rin-chan told me that you have arrived...where were you?"

"Kushi-chan I-I was with the Sandaime you know, to give the report for the mission," Minato spoke meekly. He was afraid, very afraid. Seeing Kushina with nine red tails of hair floating behind her and very sweet smile on her face...he knew there is only one way to make her calm. He disappeared and reappeared in front of her and hugged her.

"It's good to see you Kushina-chan." And just like that, her killing intent disappeared and she hugged him too.

Tsunade, who was sitting on the couch, chuckled with an amused smile on her face drawing the attention of the couple towards her. Minato turned towards Tsunade and walked towards her.

Tsunade stood up and hugged Minato.

"It's good to see you, son. I'm happy to see you in one piece." Minato nodded and looked around a frown mirroring his face.

"I heard from the third that Jiraiya-sensei is here in the village. Where is he?"

"Oh, you know him Minato. There is only one place in Konoha where you could find him."

Minato nodded and left upstairs to take shower. As he left Kushina stood up from the couch but stopped suddenly.

"Tsunade!" She cried in pain. "I-I think it-it's t-time."

Tsunade who was right beside her in an instant took hold of her body and nodded.

"Don't worry Kushina I'll be by your side. Just hold on until we reach the hospital. Minato, hurry up, come down in an instant. It's an emergency."

"Coming, coming."

Not too far away from Konoha, two figures could be seen walking in the forest that was surrounding the village walls. The figure with the Venus fly trap-like extension that emerged from their side, enveloping its head and upper body as a shell. The figurehead was of two colors, white and black. The upper half of its body was outside of the ground while the lower half was beneath the ground.

The other figure was walking beside its partner was completely black with a pair of mature Sharingan glowing in its eyes.

"So it's time to act on our plan. Do you know what you have to do clone Black Zetsu?"

The figure that was half in the ground nodded its head.

"I'll enter into the hospital room where the child would be and by copying its DNA..."

"Yes, yes...don't ruin this, you don't want Madara-sama's wrath."

The clone black Zetsu nodded. When they saw the walls of the hidden leaf village, they both descended into the ground and disappeared.

They have to do this. It will be an easy mission. When Black Zetsu told Madara about the unborn child of Senju Minato and Uzumaki Kushina he was ecstatic. A child with the Senju and Uzumaki blood would be perfect for their plans. Then Madara had asked Black Zetsu to make a clone and then Madara had transplanted his Sharingan into the original Black Zetsu so that they could succeed in their plan.

The original black Zetsu entered into Operation Theater that was covered in seals and surrounded by Anbu. Minato, Tsunade, a nurse and Kushina was outside of the door when black Zetsu appeared and activated its mangekyou Sharingan. The black Zetsu looked around muttered,

"Tsukuyomi," it whispered and the mangekyou Sharingan rotated lazily.

'Now that the unbreakable genjutsu is in motion everything is good to go.'

Outside of genjutsu

"Minato, stay outside I'll call you if something happens to seal." Minato nodded and stay outside. He trusts his mother. She is a very good medic. She will take care of everything. The door of the operation room closed leaving Minato behind.

Inside genjutsu

Tsunade and the medic staff soon got to work. Kushina was screaming in pain.

Ignoring her screams, Tsunade got to work and scanned her womb. Her hands glowing green and scanning her, she frowned at what she saw. Her frown turned into shock and fear.

"This is not good, this can't be."

"W-what's w-wrong?" Kushina questioned. Her vision turned blurry, her pulse and heartbeat increasing and her skin color changing.

"Minato come here in an instant. I think there is something wrong with the seal."

Minato was beside Kushina in an instant and examining the seal by himself.

"Oh God," he murmured. His expressions changed. He turned towards his mother and swallowed.

"I-its Kyuubi, its chakra had entered into the child blood stream. We both know that the Kyuubi chakra is toxic for other than Jinchuuriki. Mother what does that mean. I can't stop the chakra that is going into the child's chakra system. I can just stop the Kyuubi from escaping."

The more he talked, the more Tsunade become worried. There is no way he can die.

'Minato and Kushina, I'm sorry...it seems I can't do anything.'

Tsunade looked at her son worriedly. She could see hope in his eyes. But she knew it's too late.

She shook her head. Tears fell from her eyes seeing her son like this. He ran outside and never looked back. She just stood there defeated. Never had they imagined that something like this would happen to their first child. She wiped her eyes. At least she can save Kushina.

How she will react when she will find out. She can't imagine.

After that, everything happened smoothly and a boy with blond hair fair skin and three whiskers marks on each cheek born. He was crying and wailing.

She smiled and proceeds to clean him up.

"Go and find Minato, he will be in hospital I'm sure." The Anbu nodded and disappeared.

Tsunade then woke Kushina up and when she was fully conscious. Tsunade told her everything and just like that the world crashed around her.

Kushina with trembling hands took her son in her arms and cooed and murmured soft words to her son. Who she knew will be going to die shortly. She looked up when she saw Minato arrived.

"Minato," She whispered. A whisper filled with defeat and hopelessness.

Minato sat beside her hugged their son.

"He's just like you," Kushina commented. Smiling slightly, never taking her eyes from her son's form.

"Kush-chan, I'm sorry. I wasn't able to save our son."

"It's ok. We can't do anything. There was nothing we can do to save him. Tsunade had told me everything...you know I was going to name him Dan, after your husband and your father, Tsunade, Minato-kun." Tsunade nodded. She just sat there crying. Her husband who had died in the second shinobi war with her brother Nawaki, remembering them brought more tears out of her eyes.

They sat there with Dan in their arms. And after two hours later he died in Kushina's arms.

"Go to sleep my baby, go to sleep. Go to heaven innocent soul. I and your father will join you one day and for that, you have to wait."

Outside of genjutsu

Black Zetsu with the Sharingan was grinning like a mad man. He can't believe that it worked. It was awesome. The thing is Madara had planted all of this in the Tsukuyomi before implanting Sharingan into Black Zetsu's eyes.

"Clone Zetsu proceed with you part of the plan." The clone Zetsu nodded and took the child from the crib. To his family he was dead.

But it was only in the genjutsu. His family was in genjutsu, infinite Tsukuyomi.

In reality, Kushina gave birth to a baby with red hair and violet eyes, pale skin and no whiskers on his cheeks, he was sleeping in his crib supposed to be dead by those who knew him for even in a short amount of time.

The clone Zetsu duplicated the child's DNA and created a clone with blonde hair and blue eyes with whiskers marks on his cheeks.

They took the red hair child from there and replaced him with the dead blonde one.

The clone black Zetsu dispelled itself after making their way outside of the village. The Black Zetsu took out a basket and a blanket. He wrapped the blanket around the child and placed him in the basket. Zetsu walked until he reached the bank of the river, he knew that if he'd put the child in the river then this river would take him in the village and he was sure as hell that someone would see the basket.

With that in mind, he placed the basket gently on the surface of the river.

"Goodbye. Young human, we'll meet soon." The black Zetsu spoke, the White Zetsu that was sleep until now woke up and heard his partner say.

"Do you think it is safe?" The White Zetsu spoke while looking at the basket that was getting further and further away from them.

"Yes, now shut up. We'll track the basket and see in whose hands that child would be going to end up."

The White Zetsu nodded its head and descended into the ground.

The water was taking the basket to its location. Slowly and steadily it was reaching its destination. The child in the basket was sleeping calmly. Unaware of the danger around him, at least the sun was giving its warmth to the child. But that warmth was shadowed by the two types of chakra that entered into the child's body.

Outside of the ninja world and outside of the whole universe in a place where there was no time and space a chakra entity by the name of Hagoromo Otsutsuki was floating in the air. Although the man had died a long time ago, it was his chakra that was still there looking after his sons-Indra and Ashura's chakra. His both sons had been fighting for centuries by reincarnating into their chosen hosts. The last reincarnations were Hashirama Senju for Ashura and Madara Uchiha for Indra. The host of Ashura died after striving for peace while introducing the hidden village system to the ninja clans. Madara was still alive but at the verge of death. Now he had taken an interest in the child who was a descendant of Senju. The child had been born with Uzumaki dominating genes.

Now seeing his younger son's chakra that was waiting for a suitable host to born so that it can attach itself to that child's chakra. Ashura's chakra that was about to attach itself to the child's chakra was disturbed by another chakra. Hagoromo knew who that chakra belongs to. But what Indra's chakra doing here; it was supposed to be attached with the Madara's chakra.

Indra and Ashura's chakra clashed with each other for dominance inside the child's chakra system.

It seems that Indra was too desperate to fight with his younger brother that he left Madara and attacked his brother's chakra host, even ignoring the blood of the Senju and Uzumaki. Ashura's chakra started defending both the child and itself from Indra's chakra attacks.

Hagoromo doesn't know how much longer they will fight inside this child. But one thing was clear by seeing the child's gray chakra. It was not accepting anyone's chakra. The child's own chakra was powerful and it was rejecting both Ashura's and Indra's chakra.

Jiraiya of the sannin was sitting on the tree branch writing his novel. He was sitting there for quite a while now. What happened to Minato and Kushina's child was truly devastating. He hadn't seen Minato and Kushina so sad and down before. And worst of all it happened because of the kyuubi's chakra that had somehow manage to enter into the child's chakra system, thus stopping his heartbeat. There were not many people who had been told about it. The relationship between Minato and Kushina was known to only a few.

To distract himself from such devastating news, Jiraiya had come near the bank of the river to write his novel in peace. Minato and Kushina will get over it by time. He was lost in his thoughts, his eyes staring at the river unfocused when he saw a basket floating on the river surface. That got his attention. He saw a blanket wrapped around something.

He disappeared and appeared on the surface of the river. When the basket came near him he bent down to pick it up when he froze. His eyes widened in amazement and surprise.

Feeling the soft flesh touching his fingers confirmed his suspicions. It was a child, a young boy with red hair who was sleeping without the care in the world.

Jiraiya picked the basket and disappeared from the sight.

Not too far away from the river Zetsu had seen everything and grinned.

"It seems you were right. Someone was there and it was none other than Jiraiya of the sannin." The white half spoke.

"Our work has been completed. Let's go."

Jiraiya appeared in front of his sensei who was sitting in his Hokage chair smoking from his pipe. Tsunade, Kushina, and Minato were sitting there too.

"Sarutobi-sensei, could you please send you Anbu for a while. It's important." The Sandaime Hokage frowned. Jiraiya had gone after hearing the news of his godson's death. Only they knew how much he was looking forward to training his godson and play with him. But alas it never happened. It had been almost three hours since he left without saying anything of where he was going.

And now seeing Jiraiya appeared in a very serious mood and requesting for a secret meeting alarmed him. So without further delay, the Sandaime Hokage ordered his guards to leave his office.

"Now Jiraiya tell me what happened. You look shocked."

Jiraiya instead of answering placed the basket that he was carrying on the table and remove the blanket from the child.

Several gasps heard by him. Everyone was looking at the child with shock and surprise. Minato and Kushina were looking at the child with fondness and small smiles.

"Jiraiya who is he?" Tsunade questioned her teammate.

"I don't know hime. I found him in this basket that was floating on the river. On investigating further, I found him sleeping." Jiraiya shrugged his shoulders.

"He is so cute!" Kushina whispered while taking the child out of the basket and holding him in her arms. Due to disturbance, the child woke up from sleep and revealed his violet eyes to the world. His eyes looked around in confusion before settling on Kushina. The baby stared into Kushina's eyes for a while before smiling. Kushina leaned forward and rubbed her nose with his, getting a giggle from the young boy. Then the baby boy touched Kushina's cheek with his right hand.

"What are we going to do with him sensei?"

Sarutobi looked thoughtful for a moment before replying.

"Whoever put him in the river wanted the child to reach Konoha. We don't know anything about him or his parents. We can only guess or assume what had happened to his family. Maybe they were ambushed and killed and succeeded saving his life. Or maybe they put him in the river because whoever birthed the child never wanted him in the first place. Or maybe he was kidnapped and accidentally dropped into the river by the kidnapper."

The professor finished his theories with a sigh. "Well he is in our hands now; we should take care of him." Kushina's hopeful voice heard by anyone and they knew what she wanted to do with this child.

She wanted to adopt him.

"Kushina-chan I know what you want but we can't do that. You can't just adopt him. What if his parents came back for him? Would you able to give the child that you raised as your own to his real parents? I think we should place him in the orphanage; he is, after all, an orphan in a way."

Everyone nodded. The orphanage would be the best option. And it would be a temporary stay for him.

Kushina just nodded her head sadly. Accepting her leader's suggestion, looking at this child remind her of her own son who had died not too long ago, she felt Minato's arms embracing her and she accepted his warmth. Who would abandon such a beautiful baby like this? The child who doesn't even know his name, wait, what?

"His name, we have to give him a name."

"Yes, we have to give him a name if we want to place him in the orphanage," Minato replied while smiling at his wife.

"Why don't you give him a name then Kushina?" The Sandaime's suggestion caught her off guard. She was surprised, but seeing the go ahead and encouraging nods from anyone and Minato who squeezed her shoulders slightly gave her the confidence to give him a name.

Her expression turned thoughtful.

"What about Naruto...!"

"Fishcake...!" Tsunade's remark brought a giggle from her mouth.

"No Tsunade. It means maelstrom. And I think its suits him perfectly. How he was separated from his family and left alone in this world."

The Sandaime nodded. Pleased to see Kushina not taking this matter to her heart.

"Well, Naruto it is then. I think we should call it an end to our little secret meeting. And I suggest that you should keep this child's presence a secret for now."

And with that Naruto was placed into the orphanage under Sandaime's orders.

One week later

Konoha council room

Right now in the council room, the Sandaime Hokage could be seen sitting with other clan heads and his advisors. Minato and Jiraiya were standing on his right and left side respectively.

"Thank you for coming here in this meeting. I don't how much time I'll take. The first thing that I want to discuss in this meeting is the situation around our borders. It just like calm before the storm. Team Minato came back from their mission after collecting disturbing information last week. Some of you may already know but I think Kumo and Iwa are plotting something in the shadows... Minato If you please..." upon his leader's order Minato stepped forward and speak in loud and clear voice.

"Last week Team Minato consist of Rin Nohara, Obito Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake went on a border patrolling mission on North West side of Hi Nu Kuni. Kakashi Hatake with the help of his dog summons was able to sense almost 500 Iwa shinobi gathered there. They are using camouflage and earth jutsu to hide their presence." Minato stopped speaking when Sandaime put his hand on his left forearm. The professor's eyes turned towards his student who nodded and spoke.

"It's the same situation on the North East side. The Kumo shinobi are making their camps and storing weapons, ration and what not. Not only that, my spies in the Iwa and Kumo had told me about the alliance between the two villages... they are even trying allied themselves with Mist village."

Jiraiya stepped back and folded his arm around his chest. Everyone was deep in their own thoughts. Fighting possibly three villages with only Suna on their side would be very difficult. Iwa and Kumo have numbers but they have quality.

"Before you ask anything, I have already sent 200 shinobi on both Northeast side and Northwest side. A team of trackers is already there. In the next two weeks, we would be able to finalize our defense on the borders. The shinobi from the Mist village will have to cross Sea first before reaching our lands. It will take some time that's why I haven't sent more shinobi there. Our anbu teams are making sure to secure our borders from spies and bandits. I have already sent a letter to fire daimyo requesting his forces to secure the borders parameters as well." The Sandaime Hokage finished before someone question him about the response.

"That's... very quick." Shikaku Nara commented. A Jounin level shinobi and head of Nara clan, he had two scars on the right side of his face. Dark hair tied up in a spiky ponytail, dark eyes as well as a goatee. He wore a meshed shirt underneath his flat jacket, a deer skin over that and hand guards.

"Danzo..." the Sandaime barked. He appeared as the frail old man who would normally walk with a cane, black shaggy hair with right eye bandaged. He had an x-shaped scar on his chin. He wore a white shirt with black or dark gray robes. Getting his teammate's attention, the Sandaime spoke,

"I know your Ne is still working and doing operations. I want you to eliminate all the spies from the land of fire and mostly from Konoha. Guard the village from the shadows.

I'm putting this village under red alert. Store as much weapons as you can. From now on be ready to be called for any time any day.

Fugaku, Hiashi, I want you and your clans to protect the leaf village from any threats and intruders. Fugaku you are head of Uchiha police force, that's why I'm giving you full authority to capture anyone who appears to be intruder or spy. You have the authority to check every house, shop and every sight in this village and deal with it.

The war is on our head gentlemen; I suggest we do everything in our power to defend our borders."

One year later.

It had been six months since the third shinobi war ended. Many lives had lost in this war. Minato's own two students Obito and Rin had died. Konoha had won but with many losses.

And Minato had become famous because of his jutsu 'the Hiraishin' giving him a moniker 'the yellow flash'. Konoha had won the war but they had lost many shinobi in the war. They don't know what happened or what the reason that stopped the war was, but it happened and peace settled in the shinobi villages again.

Unknown location

A fragile old man could be seen sitting on a throne that was providing chakra to him and keeping him alive. Madara Uchiha looked towards the young Uchiha who was training in taijutsu. Almost a year ago when the third shinobi war had started, this young boy had fallen a victim just after a month. Madara saved his life and repaired his damaged right side with Hashirama's cells. The boy wanted to go back to Konoha but Madara had other plans for him. He let Obito go but instructed Zetsu to lead his teammates Rin and Kakashi into the trap where the shinobis from the Mist village were waiting for them.

Obito loved Rin and Madara used that weakness to change Obito's heart. Obito saw Kakashi kill his Rin and led to the butchery, Obito killing every Mist shinobi that was there and he awakened his mangekyou Sharingan too. Two birds with one stone. Obito saw only what Madara had wanted him to see.

Madara knew that he doesn't have much time. He had instructed Obito about what he has to do after his death. Now the peace had settled in the elemental nations, it would be easy for Obito to do as he wishes. Of course, he knew he will not disobey his orders. The elemental nations had weakened severely because of the third ninja war. Obito just has to join Nagato as Madara Uchiha. Obito will be going to attack the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi in the leaf village. The current Jinchuuriki had become too powerful for Madara's liking. That will be going to change soon. The new Jinchuuriki will be young and weak, meaning they will be able to capture the Jinchuuriki very easily.

The only thing that Madara was worried about was the young Senju with Uzumaki blood in him. He doesn't know but he has a feeling that keeping him alive and away from his family would not turn the young Senju the way he wanted him to. Madara wanted someone to revive him alive using the Rinnegan. The young Senju would be perfect for sacrifice; he was just a baby, too easy to manipulate. But that child was without the Sharingan, he wouldn't be able to act as Madara Uchiha because without Sharingan there would be no Madara Uchiha.

So he left the young Senju there in Konoha. He was living in the orphanage without even knowing that his father and mother. Those parents who would see their son almost every day in the village they live in without knowing about him.

Through Madara's manipulations, Dan had died and Naruto Uzumaki had been born.

He stood up from his throne. After extracting the pipes that were given the life force to live, he walked forward getting Obito's attention. It's ironic that someone would be going to take his name after his death. But that pathetic pawn of his would never be able to achieve his power level.

He doesn't know what he would see after death. Maybe he would see Hashirama? He'd doubt that.

"Now go and proceed with the plan...you are no longer Obito but Madara Uchiha."