Author's Disclaimer:

Naruto is a trademark of Shonen Jump Graphic Novels and Viz Media. The characters and original storyline belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This is my version of "Naruto"; please read and enjoy. Remember constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

Azteka

PS Sorry 'bout this being posted late. I really have no excuses. Enjoy!

~Prologue~

Far from the arena where young warriors battled, show-casing not only their strength but the strength of their villages, a young man's focus wavered from the lecture he was giving to the next generation of warriors. It was not because the material was dry and boring. It was because the young man was worried about one of the warriors battling in the arena. He was worried and wondered how that particular warrior, the son of his heart, had done.

Had his heart-son won his matches? Will his heart-son progress to the next challenge? Was his heart-son injured? These thoughts danced in his mind each time he happened to glance out the window toward the arena.

During a moment of inattentive, one of the young man's student noticed his distraction. The little boy perked up and turned to his neighbor, whispering about the instructor's distraction and suggested they sneak away.

"HEY!" Iruka shouted when he caught the two boys conspiring with one another, "Konohamaru! Trying to play hooky again, huh?"

"I…" Konohamaru stuttered, "I need to use the bathroom, sir!"

Meanwhile in another part of Konoha and equally far away from the Chuunin arena, a pair of figures hidden in the shadows looked upon the arena with disinterest. One of the two knelt on his left knee before his companion, his superior, who was casually leaning against a pillar.

"The preliminaries have safely concluded." The kneeling one reported, "They will now proceed to the finals."

The standing man gave no indication that he had heard the other. He was just standing there, taking in the beautiful scenery.

"How tranquil…" The man murmured before sneering, "Or rather how naively peaceful this nation has become… while all the other countries are busy with military expansion races…"

"So if we strike now…?"

"Well, yes…" He replied wistfully, "Although I doubt it would be any fun to kill that feeble old geezer…"

"Are you so sure of yourself…?" The kneeling man challenged, causing the other to glare.

"To me," The kneeling one explained himself, "it still seems like you're faltering…"

The standing man remained quiet, and his glare did not lessen its intensity.

"Soon," The other continued, "The powers of each Hidden Village will collide and enter a fierce, lengthy conflict. Otogakure, the Hidden Sound Village, will be one of those involved, and you're planning to be the trigger of that.

"And to that end, that boy…" The Oto ninja pushed his glasses up his nose, "He's a bullet, right? Uchiha Sasuke, wasn't it?"

The Oto leader chuckled darkly.

"Your insight are disgustingly accurate." He praised.

"Well, obviously not." The glasses-wearing shinobi countered, "Because I didn't know about Dosu, Zaku and Kin. When I was assigned to gather intelligence on Sasuke, I wanted to understand the power of those three Sound ninja. I made a foolish tactical error… I even provoked them into attacking me and over-estimated my own defenses."

The kneeling Oto paused for a moment after admitting his own foolishness.

"It seems you still don't put your full trust in me."

"Those three are so inconsequential…" The standing Sound shinobi replied, "Is it really necessary for me to tell you of such trivialities? You're my right-hand man… that itself is evidence of my trust."

The glasses-wearing ninja looked at his superior with a small self-pleasing smile.

"That's why," The Oto superior continued, "I was thinking of entrusting Sasuke to you. The curse mark I put on him… it seems it's been sealed by that pesky Kakashi; not that it's of much consequence. But before the darkness in his soul is extinguished, I want you to kidnap him right away."

"How unlike you…" The Sound subordinate commented, "You're worried."

"There is something causing me a bit of concern…"

"You mean… Uzumaki Naruto?" He breathlessly asked as he felt a shot of arousal course through him at the mere thought of the petite blonde.

The Oto superior stared at his most trusted subordinate. He knew of his subordinate's predilections for pretty young girls so it surprised him to hear the other's dark desire for the boy.

"Sasuke is an embodiment of vengeance." He began, "His sole reason for living is the desire to kill his older brother. Until he achieves that goal, he cannot die. And yet… when we fought each other he knew he couldn't prevail against me, he came at me without any fear of death. I hadn't thought he was a child who would rush so eagerly to his demise.

"And according to your notes, it seems his contact with the nine-tailed fox child is changing Sasuke's purpose and soul." He looked at his subordinate and noted the murderous aura rolling off of him. He found it surprised him to realize that his subordinate was jealous of Sasuke's connection with the fox child. "Since Naruto possesses so much influence over Sasuke, I must separate them immediately. And once separated, you can stain Naruto with your colors."

The glasses-wearing ninja shuddered as he licked his lips in anticipation and his pupils were blown with desire.

"Now…" The Oto superior commanded, "You may go! I'm putting my trust in you."