Naruto Uzumaki, Jinchuuriki of the nine tails fox Kurama, had been through many things in his life. Battling the odds, falling down to hit rock bottom and getting back up through blood and fire. It was a common concept in his life. If things were getting better something equally as horrible were going to ruin it. That was what life, fate and destiny had taught him. To retaliate he changed all of them and did what many dream of but could never achieve.

He created peace.

He managed to bring together all the villages, despite their differences and hatred, to win a war against a mad man. He pulled at people until they realized that they lived under the curse known as the circle of hate and broke it without a second thought.

He fought alongside the very people who once upon a time , screamed for his blood. Who believe he didn't deserve to live. Who claim his existence a sin. Who made it their life goal to convince the lonely orphan that he was as unwanted as demons.

Naruto heard it every day in his childhood. Heard it as he walked through the streets, saw it when parents pulled their children away and felt it in his very bones when the villagers eyes were turn to him.

Why are you alive? The eyes always seem to say, can't you see you are unneeded, unwanted, unloved?

The Leaf villagers had no quarrels with letting him know just what they thought of him. Every single day, without fail someone managed to belittle him in some way. Some even acted as if though he deserves this treatment regardless of the fact he was barely a decade old and thus had done nothing to gain such scorn.

For a while he even believed them but then he found his precious people; the ones who showed him the value of life, the feeling of love and the reason to continue fighting for his dreams despite the raising odds against him. True, he used to shout them at the top of his lungs back when he was a snot nose brat, but most times they were empty words. Only noise from someone who was never heard, not matter how much he made, desperate for even a glance from those around him.

Naruto knew he had some unresolved issues that stem from his childhood. He had spoken about them a bit with Jiraiya before the toad sage had died but he never truly opened up to someone about it. Others just assume he was strong enough to endure it while few who didn't even know he had problems. But to have told the wandering hermit, even if only a tiny bit, relieved more pressure in his chest then he could have ever known was there. He had remembered making a tiny comment about wanting to be Hokage so people could acknowledge him and somehow Jiraiya had heard the underlined desperation he carried with him. The old pervert probed the Uzumaki until an entire hour passed of Naruto doing nothing but sobbing and explain his experience.

He had felt so emotionally raw afterwards but lighter as well. The next day the toad sage didn't bring it up pass "If you need to talk about it I'm here. Just remember that. I will always be here"

Naruto never brought up again but he never forgot the rush of gratitude he felt for the sage either.

This was why when he was walking home one night from the Gray Terminal of the strange new world he found himself in after the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto had allowed the three children who had made the misjudgment of him being a easy target get away with noting more than a few bruises and a small lecture about proper mugging techniques. The Do's and Don'ts that every ninja knew, when trailing a target and how to successfully get away with everything they own. All three seemed too stunned to react to his words and didn't argue when the blond waved them away telling them "Hurry off, it's getting pretty late"

They were gone in a flash, under the darkness of the night from which they jumped out off. It had been three days since that late afternoon, and the ex-Leaf villager had not seen head or hair of all three. It wasn't like he was looking for them however, because if he was, Naruto guaranteed he would have found them in under an hour. The people of this strange new world were so unaware of their surroundings it was almost laughable; they could have been surrounded and not realized it until it was too late back home, by child civilians.

He tried not to think of them too hard, focused on creating a life after the war in the new dimension his final Justu blasted him to and setting up business using clones to really be of any help to them. He had sacrificed himself so that the Element Nations could stay standing, now he had to sacrifice his own morals until he was settled enough to really do anything. He knew this. Hell, he was trained like this all his life.

Yet Naruto could not get the boy with the freckles out of his head no matter how much training he has gone through, for in his eyes he had seen what he never wish to see again.

He had seen Gaara, a boy who's entire world revolved around killing to prove he even existed.

He had seen Sasuke, a boy with nothing left but the desire to make the world pay for his pain.

He saw Neji, a boy trapped in the life he was born to, forever caged until the end, even if he died with a smile.

He saw himself, a boy who doubted his right to live, even when shouting he would be number one if it killed him.

And Naruto Uzumaki, Element Nations or not, would not leave someone like that alone.

It wasn't hard to track the three younger boys down.

The three had quite a reputation among the Gray Terminal and various other places. Apparently he was the only one had fought them off by himself when the three little muggers attacked. Everyone else weren't that lucky or that skilled to do so. There were many looking to get petty revenge, all too willing to help out a follow "hunter" find the three. Naruto thankfully did not tell them why he was searching for the children, content with letting the fools believe what they wanted.

He was able to piece together their haunting grounds however, from the large amount of victims the three left in their wake. It was well planned, for civilians to say the least. They would always wait for either the early morning or the late afternoon using people drowsiness against them. After effectively knocking out their targets the three little "demons" would make off with whatever the poor saps had on them and disappear without a trace. Then they would pop again in a different area allowing the wariness from the previous to cool down from the people in them and repeat the process as many times as needed.

They were followed by angry crowds before but most were either beat away or thrown off trail.

This is where Naruto's ninja training paid off the most. It wasn't hard to find information on them, nor find the general direction they usually took. After all, the three were known for coming from the large forest area.

They used the forest to lose any who followed and while they were skilled in doing so, the three were no match for a Leaf ninja especially one as determined as him. He keep to the trees watching as all three hunted animals far larger then he was used to unless of course he was in the Forest of Death or had seen someone summon in the heat of battle. The blond man guessed they had no formal teacher and had learned how to survive solely on the environment around them. He liked their efforts but the sloppy forms they fell into when attacking had his inner ninja scoffing. Even Naruto wasn't that bad when he was their age, and he was dead last of his class.

The strongest one was the freckled boy but that was only due to his rare physical strength. He had no control of his emotions and tended to get angry easily something that could one day cost him his life.

The second boy, no older then the first, was strong but his greatest strength was his brain. The boy was quick to think on his feet, create plans and applied it to the two others subconsciously; he would be a good squad leader. However he also tended to forgo plans and rush in regardless of the dangers around him.

The last and youngest, had an odd blood line, one that allowed him to stretch any part of his body at will even launch them from far away areas. He however was the worst. The straw wearing boy did not plan, did not think and sometimes didn't even notice when there was danger around. His entire fight style relied on his instincts, his devil luck and the backup of the two others. He had so much potential though, in fact they all did.

If given the proper training the three would grow to be a force to be reckoned with.

Naruto watched them for the rest of the afternoon making sure to take notes of their individual fighting techniques , already planning the proper forms for each.

He knew they were there. It was his plan from the beginning.

Naruto wasn't a fool. If he tried to approach them then the two older ones would instantly be on guard against him while the younger would accept him without a doubt of him betraying them. This the blond teen gathered from the hours spent watching them. He had learned all of their names a well, Ace , Sabo and Luffy. Such odd ones, true, but he was fishcake so he couldn't really say much on the topic.

The ninja had noticed many things about them in over a week.

For example Ace had the tendency to push his bangs from his face whenever he thought of something mischievous. Sabo was easy to scare if the pranks the other two played on him were any indication and Luffy would stare at his siblings whenever they wouldn't notice. He had seen that look before, it was the same one Konohamaru had directed at him way back when, and he knew the little straw hat boy hero worship the others in the privacy of his mind.

He knew all this and more, from his observations, using all the ninja spy training Jiriaya had stuff into his head during their two years together.

It was odd to do ninja things again.

When he first woken up, Naruto had to use Genjustus and clones to gather information on the world he landed in. He spent months and months gathering what little he could scrape up, sneaking into libraries and even looking into building illegal businesses that way he could have some form of income. When it became a fact that he would never see his home again the blond boy had shut down and almost lost his mind but he stubbornly pushed through, determined to at least find a way to survive if not for himself then for those he left behind.

Sure his clones now ran pretty successful ramen stands, clothes shops, wood art galleries and even a blacksmith shop the blond had done nothing in that time to really apply the usage of his previous career.

He had gotten soft and started to slack in his training due to this. But there really didn't seemed like a point to it anymore, after all as far as Naruto knew ninja were considered a myth here.

It was too painful to realize he was in a world that didn't have the ninja system, instead had something called the World Government. He only gathered information from Dawn Island and the few boats that docked on it so it was very limited but Naruto would bet his Leaf headband that the World Government wasn't as "peaceful good doers" as the world believed.

Everything he heard about them made red flags wave and alarms ring in his head; In the Element Nations most of the stories people told about the World Government would be called out on the sugar coating for being too darn sweet. They sounded too good to be true, and based off the Gray Terminal with High Town, they were obviously hiding the darkness from the public.

But that was not his problem. No Naruto only cared about the three hungry boys that watched him from the bushes as he continued gutting the crocodile he capture. He wondered what he looked like to them. As far as he saw, no one besides the three ever tried to eat the meat from these large beasts and he knew that they recognized him from the week before. Would they come out or stay hidden in their poor disguise?

Which reminded the whiskered teen, who taught them that placing a few leafs- and flowers in Luffy's case- in their hair were enough to blend into the bushes completely? They hadn't even bothered covering their faces.

Something he needed to work on later on. After all, how could they pull pranks when they were so easy to notice?

"Don't eat that brat. It's not cooked yet, it'll make you sick" The words left his mouth absentmindedly as he finished skinning the croc. Behind him he felt Luffy stiffen in shock, little hand stretching for the fresh meat on the blanket he sat on. Naruto smirked when the bushes stared to shake in rage and knew the other two were panicking about Luffy's safety. Again.

"If you want to eat something go ahead and take the fruits in the bag, but you'll have to wait for the meat, understand?" Naruto asked as he turned to stare into the strawhat boy's eyes.

Luffy peered up at him in wonder most likely shocked that he was offered food but that quickly slipped away as the boy all but dived for the promise bag. He shoved all of the food into his mouth without hesitation and took off just as fast throwing a "Thanks shishishis!" over his shoulder as he went. He rounded a tree and was back into the bushes his friends were in not seeming to understand it could give away their location. Naruto pretended not to see however, as he wanted the kids to stay.

The teen just raised his hand casually as he started a fire intending to eat his meal. He had just placed the meat over the flame when twin pipes swung at the back of his head. Seem like Ace and Sabo wanted to try mugging him again. Well, they shouldn't be disappointed if they thought he wouldn't fight back.

Ducking under the pipes skillfully Naruto quickly turned on his heels and grabbed the boys by a wrist, as they were still in mid air from their attack. He ignored their startled looks and promptly throws them against the ground. They rolled onto their feet quickly much to his approvable, and spilt up to surround him on both sides. Both were clutching their pipes pretty hard, glaring at him like one would a vermin.

"Why are you attacking me?" Naruto asked honestly curious about the answer. He hadn't done anything threatening to them or to the younger one. He knew that they were smart enough not to simply jump into a fight they knew they couldn't win. So an explanation on their sudden surprise attack would be lovely.

One he didn't get as both boys jumped at him again with a battle cry.

The blond ninja reframed from rolling his eyes at their attacks and deflected all of their attempts to land a blow on him.

Eventually Luffy joined in and their teamwork started to improve dramatically. Naruto made a mental note to train them in fighting in pairs, or individually. It was obvious they were rarely away from each other but a day would come when the two others wouldn't be able to help and they needed to be able to adapt to that. The blond ninja moved to jab Luffy in the ribs, swung to kick out Sabo's legs and then caught Ace's pipe making sure to push the boys into better battle stances with each touch. They didn't notice but their attacks did start to get more solid, and Naruto was glad for their quick learning skills.

He may have never been a Jounin sensei but Naruto had taught at the academy sometimes when Iruka asked him for a favor. He pretty much did everything his teachers did to teach him and knew that one's bad habits were easier broken in the middle of battle. Plus it was funnier a hands on exercise then study books or scroll. Unless of course that scroll was forbidden then it got interesting.

Eventually all three dropped from exestuation Unable to move beyond the occasional groan of pain. The blond blinked down at them, confused on why they tried out so quickly when he remembered the lack of chakra in this world. Even academy students back home had higher endurance due to the constant flow of life energy in them, unlocked as it was, and sometimes Naruto forgot that the people of this world did not have it. Well he guesses he could work around that, maybe even boost their stamina beyond anyone else around them.

But first thing, first; He needed to make them his students.

"So, you guys hungry?" He asked as he pulled the meat off of the flame.

The boys could only numbly nod.

"Here" Naruto placed a large bag in each of the boys' lap two weeks later.

He had kept coming back to the river, hunting the large crocodiles and casually going off to take a lion for their fur. Naruto used all the skin to make clothes, his sales among the nobles rose to shocking levels due to it. This was his excused for being in the forest. He had even brought a sketched book once just to design some coats knowing the three boys were watching him. He didn't have to full out say it but Sabo was smart enough to figure it out and had most likely told the others for their weariness had noticeable lowered around him.

Naruto made a point of always placing three extra plates on his picnic blanket regardless of the fact if the children joined him or not. He always smiled when he got up and went to check his traps, to find all three plates empty, stacked perfectly on the blanket when he returned. He was a little peeved that they took his share too, but never did much about it. If they we willing to try to mug him, then the ninja found it reasonable to steal his unguarded food as well.

He decided to place unseen traps on his share next time so they will learn two lessons at once. A) how to direct traps and b) don't steal Naruto's food.

He grinned as the traps caught all three that morning allowing him the golden opportunity with delivering each their bag.

"Wha?" Ace mumbled as he tried to untie himself. The boy had fallen in to one of the ninja's springs traps which wrapped around his body in seconds. Luffy had been caught by a foot and was then pinning to the ground when he stepped on a tripwire. Sabo was still trying to get out of the small pit, unaware of the seals preventing him from doing so, frustrated that he couldn't grip onto the wall.

"You brats have been wearing the same thing for over two weeks." Was all Naruto said as he packed up his stuff, walking away casually.

He made a point to throw down some rope for Sabo as he walked by, knowing the boy would release the other two once he was free.

"If it don't fit let me know. I'll get the right sizes for ya"

Naruto hoped the kids like their new clothes, he spent hours brainstorm designs for them and not to mention the time he spent making said clothes. It would be such a waste if they didn't use them.

He smiled when he heard Luffy's excited scream carried by the wind reach his ears "Mine shirt had meat on it!"

"Raise your hands a bit more and put your right foot forward"

Ace jumped a good foot off the ground which was hilarious to the blond. The boy hadn't heard his approach, too focus on improving his fighting style without the pipe all three seemed to carry around. Naruto approved of his forethought, as there was no grantee one would be available to him at all times. It was nice to know the kid had spent time practicing , but his starting form weaken his defense a bit so the blond ninja thought he would give him some pointers.

"What the hell-? Go away before I kill you!" The child roared at Naruto, seemly unpleased with his audience.

"Kill me?" the teen teased "With that stance?"'

This made Ace snap as the raven child charged at him. He swung wildly no real plan in fighting him, just trying to land a blow. His moves seemed sloppier then usual but no means less dangers. Naruto dodged effortlessly, eyes closed just cause he could, surprised that he couldn't sense the other two nearby. Seemed like it was just Ace today.

Always angry Ace.

"Amazing Ace! You have gotten so much better since the last time I saw you!" he encouraged as the boy fist nearly broke his nose. "You're darn amazing! Try to put more weight on your left foot though, it helps with controlling jumps"

The raven child roared again in outrage, but did take the blond's advice , seeing as his fist was much closer than last time. Naruto smiled in satisfaction. He made a habit to randomly yelled out improvements when facing the boys as the three challenged him every time they crossed paths. The kids had all taken to his secret lessons like fish did to water, and tended to apply each comment during the battles.

Luffy would get excited each time Naruto praised him, while Sabo would accept the advice with a small nod of gratitude, Ace however seemed to take it as an insult.

The teen thought it was kind of cute how angry the other got over such a small comment, but frown when he noticed the lack of attacks after a few seconds. It was way too soon for the other to tire out and he didn't feel the kid moving to try and regroup. In fact he felt like he just stopped where he was.

Confused Naruto paused as well, crooking his head to the right at the lack of violence. When he opened his eyes he was meet with a ten year old sitting on the ground, his tiny arms wrapped around his legs and face hidden into his knees, seeming for all the sense in the world defeated. It was so unlike the kid that Naruto was in front of him in a flash checking for any visible injuries with his eyes. He hadn't tried to fight hurt had he?

"Hey you alright?" He asked after confirming there was no wound wondering what had brought this reaction up.

He got no response which made him frown in worry. The child just started shaking, and after a moment, a faint sob broke out from him. What the hell?

Naruto didn't know what was happening, didn't know what had cause this to happened but he knew what he needed to do. Bringing the smaller male into his arms, regardless of the struggle he was met with, the blond started rocking back and forth humming softly. He rubbed comforting circles into the tiny back hoping to make the other feel safe again. He felt Ace fight against him for a while before the boy slumped into him, rubbing his wet face into the ninja's chest. Suddenly it was like a dam broke and the boy was all right bawling. He hiccupped loudly and shook all over but clung to Naruto like his life depended on it.

The ninja returned the hug just as tight, softly whispering into the raven locks "Shhhhh. It's okay. I'm here. I got you."

The two stayed like that until Ace's breaths even out about twenty minutes later. Naruto stood with the sleeping child safely tucked in his arms and walked back to his camp site. Whatever was bothering Ace, needed to be talked about, and Naruto wasn't taking no for an answer.

They spent the whole day talking about parents, and burdens. Naruto was a little shocked to learn about Ace's dad but he made sure to let the kid know he was no demon, no matter how much the kid denies it.

It was a hard conversation to have but eventually, Ace relaxed completely around him and was even willing to train with Naruto for a while. The blond ninja loved the bright light in the silver eyes, as the kid raise his hands to follow the Leaf village basic fighting style that Naruto was teaching him.

He got his first student in the bag.

"What did you do with Ace?!"

Naruto turned eyes to the blond child hovering over him, not paying mind to the pipe against his throat. "Would you not shout? I'm trying to sleep."

Sabo sneered at him before apply pressure to the pipe. "Where. Is. My. Brother."

"Sleeping. Like I'm trying to do." Naruto mumbled nodding his head to the side of the tent covered by a cloth. After Ace's melt down the teen thought it would be best to put up something that would give his guest some privacy when he woke. After all he knew from expertise just how far a little bit of fabric did to reassure someone.

"Sleeping?" The intruder asked eyes still filled with mistrust.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, we were training and I guess he tried himself out. I brought him here so he could have a good night's rest and out of the rain. You can go see him if you want."

He watched as the top hat wearing child thought over his words before removing his pipe. He kept his eyes on the yawing teen but moved over to the cloth almost desperately. On the other side laid Ace, covered perfectly by two blankets and sleeping onto of the mattress Naruto carries in his seals at all times. He looked so peaceful it brought a smile to the older male's face.

"Sabo, you can take him home tomorrow morning. Don't even think about walking back through this rain- you'll catch a cold." The teen ordered as he turns in his sleeping bag so his back face them. "The mattress is big enough for both of you so sleep there. Make sure to cover yourself with both blankets. It gets super cold."

"Why do you care?" The question was whispered but he was happy to note Sabo had moved to do as he was told.

"Because you guys are worth it." Naruto answered.

He pretended not to hear the gasp.

When he woke the next morning both boys were gone along with his mattress. Naruto wasn't even annoyed.

Luffy stared up at him.

Naruto looked down to keep eye contact.

"Did you really give Ace and Sabo a bed?" The child asked.

"No they stole it" Naruto responded.

"Oh." The boy looked disappointed

Naruto rubbed his neck before asking "Do you want a bed too? I'll buy you one."

The smile he received was blinding.

"Can you teach me that?" Sabo asked, watching as Naruto placed his traps around the clearing.

By now it was common to find the boys near him.

All three were over the moon when Naruto offered to train them, though Luffy's and Ace's reaction to the word train had him worried- who had scared them so much they both tried to run away?- and spent hours upon hours following him around. He didn't mind in fact the ninja found it rather adorable, regardless of what they were doing. He had set up training dolls around the forest for them to practice with, had taken each to the side to help further their development and made sure to banged them up afterwards. Luffy's bloodline had been a concern at first, seeing as there were no family members nearby to explain the family trait to the ninja but he soon found out the problem that stood in the way.

Luffy tended to throw his arm to the ground, and not expect the rubber's path way.

Naruto fixed that the first week their official training with him started. The kid didn't have full control yet, but at least now he could actually hit something when he wanted to. It wasn't much but it was something.

Ace's Taijustu was coming along nicely. After he had the Leaf basic form down, Naruto had moved him to the Fire-style of the Uchiha Clan. He knew that fighting style almost as well as his own, and was happy that the quick motions worked for the kid. It almost seemed like Ace had been born in his world to the actual clan with how fast he picked it up. The ex-villager had to fight back the urge to puff out his chest every time Ace practice.

Sabo had been more focus on the varies of weapons Naruto used much to the surprise of the oldest. The younger blond had all but demanded the Jinchuuriki to teach him how to throw a shuriken, when he happened to walk in on the ninja's own training. Now he stood at the ready, a small weapons pouch at each hip filled up by the kunai and shudiken he was learning to throw. It was hilarious to see him practice because Sabo turned out to have as much luck as he did when Naruto was in the academy but it didn't seem to stop the younger.

Naruto turned to see all three of his students watching his finial trap come to life with awe eyes.

"Yeah, so back home this trap is called, Nightwake, and this is how you do it…"

The lesson began.

"Get your hands off them." His voice came out more like a growl but Naruto didn't practically care.

He had wondered what had taken the boys so long too met at their usual spot but thought it was probably due to their Pirate Fund again. Though the children did not know, Naruto had long ago found out their little hiding place, and had added some extra protection to the fund via seals. He knew that whenever they didn't spend time with him, the kids were either training , hunting or mugging people.

With their new training, the kids were expanding their range to much stronger opposites and were taking them down like flies. Their pirate fund was skyrocketing by the boat loads.

He guessed he shouldn't be so proud of the fact but he was, so the blond ninja let them continue their activities. He made sure to place some hidden clones in the junk yard however, in case the kids every bite off more than they could chew and needed immediate assistance. He hadn't felt the need to step in so far, even when the boys were left covered in wounds since their lives weren't in danger and the ninja wouldn't fight their battles for them. In the long run, baby all three would hurt more than help.

Today however he was glad his clones were nearby.

He didn't know the full story of what was happening but from the way all three children were surrounded by the pirate group, and the smug Noble that smirked down at them, the ninja knew it wasn't one he would like. Ace and Luffy were shouting out in desperation to the shaking Sabo who was walking towards the Noble. Screaming at him to leave them and run before his freedom was stolen once more. Naruto had some suspicions about Sabo's behavior before, because no matter how much he tried to hide it, the boy had the air of someone from a higher class. True it was dulling a bit by living with the other two but any ninja worth their salt could tell someone's social status by their body langue.

And right now, Sabo's was telling him that the blond child did not want to go any near the ugly Noble but was being forced to.

Naruto felt his blood boil at the tears in his students' eyes, so with the intent to bring down all the nine tail wrath on the group of men before him, the Leaf ninja stepped out growling out his command.

"N-naruto!" Luffy screamed from the ground. A man had him pinned with a gun pointed at his head, the poor boy was sobbing "They want to take Sabo away!"

The already cold blue eyes of the teen seem to glow a demonic light before sending a warm smile towards the down boys. Ace was also being held down his eyes filled with worry and fear. "I won't let them Luffy. I promise. So don't worry alright?"

"Think you can do anything to stop us boy?" A common thug taunted from the crowd.

Naruto tilted his head to the side a bit before blurring out of sight only to reappear next to the man. He leaned in to whisper into the shocked man's ear "Oh, believe me. I can ."

It was a slaughter.

They tried to defend themselves, they really did, but Naruto was not in the mood to give out mercy. He attacked quickly and painfully. Each time he moved someone screamed in pain. He broke bones with each punch, chopped off a few limbs and knocked out those that ran. They had been willing to hurt defenseless children, so the ninja thought it was only fair they get the same treatment. The ones holding on to his boys were dealt with first. Naruto would not allow the enemy to hold a hostage if he could avoid it. As soon as Ace and Luffy were free, Sabo had made a mad dash for them. They crumbled to the ground in a desperate hug, sobbing to each other in fright.

Naruto placed himself in front of them as he faced the only two people left. The Noble and the Pirate captain.

"W-what are you?" the pirate asked terrified of the teen before him.

"Their friend." The blond said stalking towards the coward with a sneer "And you tried to hurt them."

"W-we were only doing what he told us to! It was a nothing but a job!" The dark skin man screamed pointing an accusing finger to the pale Noble.

"I do jobs too, you know. I have to do what I'm told too, when on a mission. But then again, I'm also the one who accepted them." Naruto said his eyes cold and accusing but developing a mad glint. "Why, should you be any different, and why should I not kill you? I really want to kill you. "

The man screamed before shooting at the teen. Naruto rolled his eyes, deflecting the bullets easily with a chakra influenced kunai. Soon the gun was empty, and in one flick of the wrist Naruto had him down by a kunai at the knee. He screamed as he hit the ground but blue eyes were already on the last target.

The noble was trembling as Naruto sneered at him too, hand raising his Kunai to throw when the man suddenly yelled out "W-wait! I can pay you as much as you want!"

That got the blond interest. "Pay?"

The noble seemed to get more confidence by this response as he straightened, smug grin back on his face. "Yes, I'm of noble blood. Name you price and I will pay it fully."

The ninja tilted his head to the side, in thought, "You want to pay me to let you go?"

"And to return my son." The noble answered sending a superior look to the children behind the ninja. He heard Luffy whimper, Sabo held his breath and Naruto could all but feel Ace's tense form. He felt eyes burn into his back all three wondering what he would do. They knew by now that if Naruto wanted to crush them, they would be unable to beat him. If he betrayed them now they could do nothing to stop him.

"Sabo is your son?" The ninja asked.

"Yes, but he went missing five years ago. I came to get him back." The noble said "He should have known not to run away. It is the job of the children to live as their parents demand"

The whiskered teen hummed before releasing a good amount of killing Intel that had everyone besides himself and his boys gasping. All those that were still conscious clutched their throats, feeling death itself embracing them. One by one they each witnessed their own death by the demon in the shape of a adolescent male. It was enough to make the Noble foam at the mouth, shit his pants and fall unconscious but not before he heard the words that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

"Don't you dare come near Sabo or the others again. I will paint the ground red with that pretty noble blood if you do."

The flames were everywhere. The nobles and royal family watched with horror filled eyes as everything they knew was consumed by the fire. One by one screams filled the air of the unlucky that hadn't been able to get out of the houses they were trapped in. Buildings collapsed left and right, sending dust into the air. Mothers were crying as they clutched to the tiny still bodies in the streets. People ran to and for trying to find a way out but the heat was unbearable and the smoke made it darker than anyone had ever seen the sky before.

Everything was in a hue of red.

There was no escape however, and everyone would eventually die. Already the stench of burning flesh made many throw up the fancy meal they had for supper until nothing but acid came out. For some this was the first time they ever felt truly empty stomachs and they wondered how so many people had been able to live with the feeling.

The wall that they once loved, for it keep all those beneath them out, was now caging them in. The gate would not open not matter how much they plead for them to, no matter how much they pounded on the wood, no matter how much they screamed.

They were going to die and no one cared.

"Good thing they are burning trash tomorrow."

"Sleep tight, and remember the vermin die tomorrow!"

"I bet they are running around panicking right now. Ha! Like they could escape the flames."

"Well its about time someone did something about that trash pile. If you ask me, we should have killed them all a long time ago"

Everyone still alive froze as their own voices came from above. It was what they had said or thought of when the fire was set to Gray Teminal. The words they said in the comfort of their homes sleeping peaceful as the horizon turn red.

One woman looked up to the sky only to scream in fright at the sight of larger size version of herself lighting the roof of a house with a torch that oddly resembled her family crest. It was like looking into a mirror at a fun house. She recognized her hair, her body , her voice even but her expression had made the blood in her veins freeze. It was one of pure superior scorn and glee at the misery she was causing. Her duplicate sneered down at her when they locked eyes. "vermin like you shouldn't even look at me!"

The woman could do nothing but sob as she was killed by flames she set, wondering if the man she told that to not two days ago felt the same helplessness she did. God, all he had asked was for directions, and she had him exiled for being poor. He had died in the fire like all the others. She screamed in regret for all she done as the flames ate her whole, the laughter of her other self a haunting farewell.

A voice, like God himself was punishing, suddenly screamed above the noise of death.

"Witness what you have done, and suffer the consequences."

The screams echoed throughout the night as High Town was destroyed by giants; giants, that were Nobles with too much power and so little care for the smaller beings that were powerless.

It wasn't until everyone had been killed by the fire that a soft voice whispered into the night

"Release."

Everyone awoke the next morning traumatized and a little bit humbled. _

Ace had been acting strange around me lately. Naruto thought, head almost completely under the hot water.

He had missed the hot springs resort form the Leaf and because he could not find one in town, created his own by the use of justu. He had shift the earth until it form a water fall like structure on both sides, pressing the ground into the shape of a small lake. Then had added water with a small water dragon justu, until it was almost filled, afterwards he used Sasuke's fireball justu to spit flames until the water was nice and hot. To keep the temperature the same at all times the bond happily applied seals at the bottom of the hole. He build a little Inn to the side, and watched as people flocked to his business with a satisfied smile. He had of course given the boys a gold pass, which allowed them to enter for free whenever they wanted.

The way their faces lit up as they first tried out the baths still had him smiling- even though Luffy had been oddly affect by the water.

"N-Naruto. Can, um , can I come in?" A timid voice asked snapping the teen from his thoughts. He turned to look at the boy he was thinking about surprise to find Ace staring at the ground.

"Hey Ace! Sure come on in the water feels great Dattebayo!" He answered shifting away to make room. He grinned at the ten year old who shift a bit before walking into the water.

"T-thank you." The lad said, face red.

He had gotten so polite ever since asking Luffy's mother figure to teach him manners. Apparently the boy wanted to properly thank him for saving his brothers, along with a man named Shanks who had saved Luffy before the ninja met them. He found it cute and had accepted the thank you with a smile and a rub of the raven hair.

"So what you been up to?" The sixteen year old asked as he turned to the boy who couldn't drag his gaze away for the water.

"J-just hunting and stuff. Luffy and Sabo wanted to, you know, take a bath so we came." The freckled lad answered face flushing further. He sunk into the water unaware of the worried frown directed at him.

It was worrying to the ninja because for the life of him he could not figure out why Ace's face always seemed to be a hue of red. It reminded the ninja of his friend Hinata back when the girl had less confidence but unlike her Ace didn't faint at the sight of him. So obviously it wasn't because the boy had developed feeling for the older male. Naruto may have only had one girl say she liked him but he noticed some of Sasuke's fangirls faint at the sight of him too so that must be the indicator of someone feelings. So in his mind, Ace was just being strange.

Maybe he was getting sick? Was it a side effect of the Narcolepsy he was diagnosed with? Should he get another doctor to get a look at him? Was taking Ace to get a check up once not enough?

"NARUTO!" a blur of rubber limbs slammed into him before he could think more about the troubling new shy attitude of his student. The blond teenager laugher as Luffy jumped onto his back , a more detained Sabo following close behind with a calm smile.

"Guess what?! I caught a crocodile all by myself today!" The little energy ball cheered.

"Really Dattebayo?! Good job Lu! Tell me everything!"

He spent the rest of his bath listening to a epic tale of three hunting brothers. How relaxing it was.

"Good luck out there you two." A twenty three year old Naruto said.

He faced the two seventeen year olds who had flourished into fine young adolescences over the past seven years they were together. Ace still couldn't look him in the eye properly but he throws an excited smile at him from his little boat anyway. Next to him Sabo tied a bag into his own boat double checking to make sure he had everything he needed for his trip. Today would be the day they left Dawn Island to follow their dreams, and conquer the seas. As promised Ace would be the captain of his own boat while Sabo would find a crew to call him captain as well. They would be splitting up but would forever remind brothers.

Naruto had taught them each almost everything he knew and had even managed to help unlock their version of chakra. It was weaker because they could not manipulate the elements like the ninja could but it did make them able to sense attacks, harden their bodies and even knock out weaker opponents without touching them. The last one Ace and Luffy had been naturals but Sabo didn't seemed to be able to do so, if it wasn't due to Naruto killing Intel release training the blond would probably be the only one unable to use it. Both teens were at the level of high jounin and quite frankly Naruto couldn't be prouder.

"Thanks Ruto." His fellow blond said before bowing in the older males direction "For everything"

Naruto grinned at him. "You're welcome. Now go out there and give them hell!"

Ace whooped as he released his sails, letting the wind take him away. Sabo laughed loudly as he did the same.

"BYE ACE! BYE SABO!" screamed Luffy on his right, waving his arms as much as he could. The boy still had a ways to go, and he would be staying with the blond ninja for three more before he too left the nest. Naruto knew his power level to be near high chunin but that wasn't enough for him to survive alone, so the bond man had held him back from going as well.

"Bye Luffy! I'm off to make my dream come true!" Ace screamed back waving just as much.

"By Luffy! The next time you hear about me I'm going to be one of the people to change the world!" Sabo screamed too, hands cupping his mouth as they had sailed quite a bit out. "Naruto please take care of him! And keep Gramps away too!"

Naruto threw his head back and laugh. It was true that the marine vice admiral was tough and had given the teen quite the work out the day they met he was also for to be around. For some reason the old man seemed to like him. Naruto was the only one who could distracted Garp long enough so his grandkids could make a run for it. The man was also happy that someone else was teaching the kids how to fight, and even asked him to try to convince the three brats to become marines in his stead. Apparently under Naruto's teachings the three were better candidates for the marines corps. (it still made the blond man sad however when he thought of Garp's desperate need for the World Government to accept his grandkids as valuable weapons. The old man knew they would be killed for their parentage otherwise. Naruto felt no need to lie about that.)

"I will dattebayo! See you guys soon!" He screamed back waving an arm with glee wondering what he was going to tell the old man when he came to visit next time.

Luffy and Naruto stood waving at the boats that grew smaller and smaller in the horizon until they were barely out of sight. This was why it surprised them when Ace's voice suddenly scream from afar.

"Naruto! When the whole world knows my name….I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW I REALLY FEEL!"

Well. Shit. Did not see that one coming.

He stood watching as Luffy sailed away feeling oddly empty yet satisfied.

Naruto knew this day would come. It was Luffy dream after all but, it had felt too quick that his youngest brat turn seventeen. Over the last three years, Luffy had been turned into his prize pupil and he couldn't image a life where the rubber teen wouldn't be there every morning to enjoy large unhealthy amounts of ramen with. The two had made a routine to train in the morning then split up to do any errands they each had. Naruto still ran many businesses and was currently richer then the King of Goa but to keep his money flow steady the man had to occasionally step in so his clones knew what to do.

His power that came with said money had allowed him to have top notch information about Ace and Sabo. Both have been doing well for themselves.

Ace had been a high coming rookie, leader of the Spade Pirates and had over a five million beli reward on his head. His student's fighting style was rumored to take down whole armies and that was without the help of his devil fruit. Currently Ace was the second commander of the Whitebeard crew, most feared in the word.. Not bad for the three years he was out.

Sabo had been a well known pirate too for the first year, creating the Freedom Pirates by raiding slavers and slave owners, he was feared for his not quite Conquer haki that apparently many couldn't deflect, that was until he was recruited by the Revolutionary army. Currently his blond student was Chief of staff and kicking butt at it too.

The days had past in a haze and before he knew it, Luffy had started packing for his journey. It was a little hard to say goodbye since Luffy's not a bloodline but a devil fruit had been hard to turn into a weapon luckily both had creativity to pull it off. His student was leaving the island with a high jounin level statues as well. Naruto was once again proud.

"Goodbye Luffy!" he screamed on last time when the teen turn his attention to the sea monster that had tried to eat him. The boy waved back to him after a big blast of killing Intel had the monster foaming at the mouth.

"Bye Naruto! I'm going to be the King of the Pirate!"

The twenty six year old man knew he had done right when not even three months later Luffy's first bounty was published.

May the world survive his three little brats.