Hope you guys enjoy this. My first Naruto Anbu fic. This will be a Naru x Anko fic. He WILL hook up with the other Ice queens and MAYBE others too at one point or another but this is NOT a harem fic. Those will come later. Note Anko will change quickly in this one as Naruto quickly removes the reasons for her mask. As always criticism is welcome as are requests. The story will have canon elements but mostly as an outside point of view. Please point out plot holes to me. I tried to fix any I made but with this one the timeline isn't easy for me to keep up with. Don't forget to review and tell your friends. Enjoy Red Fox.

As always I don't own Naruto.

Red Fox

At the start of this story Naruto is 10 years old and Anko is 2 years older he is also 2 years older than his canon classmates. Yugao is the same age as Anko. Kurenai and Hana are 2 years older than Anko.

"Damnit Not again! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS AFTER ME?! WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU?!"

"GET BACK HERE AND FACE JUDGEMENT DEMON!"

Naruto in his desperation takes a turn into a dead-end alley way.

"No no not again. Not now! I was all set to attend the academy to become a ninja."

"Hehehe a ninja? Don't make me laugh. You're a demon and now we're going to finish what the 4th hokage started. NOW DIE DEMON!" The man rounded on Naruto with a rusty kitchen knife intending to gut him. With the help of the mob finally pinning Naruto down he starts to slice into Naruto's belly and chest. With a sick smile on his face he continues to slowly cut into the boy not noticing his hair is changing to the same color as the blood spilling from his wounds. Not noticing his eyes changing shape and color from solid ocean blue to a bright red with concentric circles and a slit pupil. The mob and the man never notice until a wave of gravity push them out of the alleyway.

"W-what the fuck was that?" The man asks as he cradles his head in pain. An Anbu in a Dog mask lands on the ground next to him. "Looks to me like a mob committing treason to me. Weasel round this lot up and take them to Ibiki for interrogation. Find out who put them up to this." A second Anbu lands next to Dog and nods before doing as ordered. Dog gathers the severely injured and dying boy in his arms and takes him to the Hokage.

"LORD HOKAGE!" Dog burst into the office and startles the old Hokage. "What is it Dog. I was about to head home for the night." Dog sets Naruto on the desk. "The mobs again. This time worse than ever but something strange happened." The old Hokage jumps out of his chair to attend Naruto. "Go get my personal physicians. Damn those fools they will kill us all. You can tell me the details after Naruto is taken care of. GO!" Dog body flickers out of the office to do as ordered. "Naruto…. if your parents saw you like this, they would be beside themselves with fury. I am sorry."

Unknown location

Drip

Drip

Drip

"Wake boy. We have much to discuss."

"Unnnn where am I? huh? I'm alive?"

"Yes…but barely. Hmhmhm truly you seem blessed by lady luck. Haaaa wish I could say the same…"

"W-who are you? Where am I?" Naruto jumps back in fright as a large pair of blood red, slit pupil eyes look out at him from within a mountain sized cage with a paper tag on the front bearing the Kanji for Seal on it.

"I am the 9 tailed fox boy. I am the reason they hate you. I have watched your life from within this seal and I am not impressed. Oh, you are weak but not by your own fault. They call you a demon. They mistake you for me, but they are more demon than I. I will kill. I will Maim. I will destroy and slaughter but even I would never torture a child."

Naruto looks defeated. "So, there is no hope to change their minds. I assume you're the reason I heal so quick?" Kyuubi nods. "Thanks for that. Heh funny. The person who's nicest to me is the cause of my pain. I just hope I don't drag you down with me. I may have only just met you, but you really are the only friend I've ever had. Sorry."

"Hmhmhmhm you sound like you're giving up kid. You aren't dead yet. Besides if I have my way you will live a loooooong time. Hmmmm seems the old man got his doctors to help me heal your body. You will wake soon but before you do, I have some things for you to do and to know."

Naruto looks at the Kyuubi shocked before changing his face to determined. "I never want this to happen to me again. What must I do?" Kyuubi smiles and explains about the new dojutsu he has unlocked and what he wants Naruto to do.

8 hours later at Konoha general Hospital

Naruto opens his eyes and groans at the light.

"Hmhmhm so you live another day hm Naruto?"

"Uhhh Old man? So it wasn't a dream…..Kyuubi says hi by the way." The old hokage pales slightly.

"You have spoken to it? Is this the first time Naruto? Is the seal still intact?"

"Whoa slow down. Yes, to all 3. Says he's pissed at the villagers. Says they way they treat me is worse than anything he could bring himself to do. Well he explained it a bit more gruesomely than that but that's the gist of it. He gave me instructions on what I should do."

"Naruto you really shouldn't listen to him. He could be trying to trick you into releasing the seal." But Naruto just waves him off.

"The seal is designed to release on its own eventually. He doesn't need to do anything." Hiruzen drops his pipe.

"WHAT?! WHY WOULD THE 4TH DESIGN THE SEAL THAT WAY?!"

"Because his hope for me to be seen as a hero wasn't blind as you thought. He knew that if I was treated right, I would be able to master the Kyuubi's power by the time it broke and if not then the Kyuubi would see me as something to be protected and would help me. He really isn't what you think old man."

"Why would the 9 tailed demon fox help a human?"

"Because every time he's been out of the seal since before his fight with Hashirama he's been controlled by an Uchiha. Don't get the wrong idea though. It was Madara the first time and when he was taken from my mother it was another wielder of the eternal Mangekyo sharingan. Dunno what that is but he says it's beyond all but a few Uchiha. As to why he would help me. Well let's just say he's board and he is sick of seeing me in this room."

Hiruzen closes his eyes in thought and relights his pipe. "I see…and what is it he wants you to do about it?"

"As you know I was to attend the ninja academy today but seeing as my hope to win the respect of this village is now out of my mind I will NOT be attending. Instead I wish for Anbu training. My father wanted me to be a hero and if I can't do it in the light then I must step into the shadows. If nobody wishes to see me then let them NOT. If they see me as a demon fox, then let me BE one."

Hiruzen looks at Naruto's eyes and see's determination. But remembers what Dog told him about Naruto.

"Naruto would you please channel chakra into your eyes for a moment?" Naruto smiles at the hokage.

"So, I take it an Anbu came by just in time to see that huh? Yeah, he told me about the rinnegan. Said it was a new variation though. Different from the Sage or his mother." Naruto activates his eyes.

The old hokage looks at the eyes curiously. "And what did he call this new variation."

"Kitsunegan. It seems to have a few powers from each of the 3 great dojutsus and a couple NEW ones. Since there is nobody capable of teaching me to use them that falls to him though so I would appreciate it remaining between only those who now know."

Hiruzen nods. "I don't like the idea of you joining Anbu at your age. In fact, I was never planning to let you do so. Besides normally there are rules as to the requirements to join just like the requirements for any Ninja rank…however I will make an exception. With your knowledge of the fox and with those eyes it is now far to dangerous for you to live out in the open. I will apprentice you to some of my finest Anbu. Within the 5 years it would take you to graduate the academy you will be trained to at least chuunin level or you will be forced into the academy. Deal?"

Naruto nods. "I only have one request." Hiruzen quirks an eyebrow and motions for him to continue. "The civilian council. They must know nothing. The elders too. The fox says the mobs were too organized to be random. Somebody was helping them and given my father's reputation I doubt it was any of the clan heads."

"Haaaa so he told you about them, did he? Yes, I have suspected as much for a while but have not had the resources to prove any wrongdoing. Deal. I will also assign an Anbu for a long-term mission to investigate the council. But remember you have 5 years to achieve chuunin level in at least Taijutsu, Ninjutsu and Kenjutsu."

Naruto grins his foxy smile. "Old man in 5 years chuunin will be the LEAST I can achieve."

1 week later at Anbu headquarters

A man wearing headgear much like the 2nd Hokage is sitting at his desk looking over a file.

"So, he's sending him to Anbu. Haaaa this is going to give me such a headache I just know it. Honoka get me Dog and Weasel." His secretary nods and leaves his office before returning 5 minutes later with the requested Anbu members. "You called Tenzo?" Tenzo nods. "You 2 are getting a new apprentice. He will train alongside Cat. Hokage orders you to give him the most grueling training you can as he wants him up to chuunin or better in the 3 primary Anbu skills within 5 years."

Dog and Weasel look at eachother before weasel asks. "That kind of training would be difficult even for a prodigy. Who is it?" Tenzo pauses before nodding. "Naruto Uzumaki. According to the Hokage short of killing him or any permanent damage anything you can do to him will heal quickly so hold nothing back. This is a make or break mission. The hokage doesn't truly want him here so he has set a deadline and the method is to test his will to commit to his chosen path. If he can't take it then he will go to the academy and be watched constantly. You should know. His appointment is an S class secret as are any abilities or skills he has or develops until further notice."

Dog looks down and folds his arms. "So, Sensei's son…seems fitting. Does he know of his parentage?" Tenzo nods. "Do I have leave to teach him his father's Jutsu?" Tenzo nods again. "He will have access to his father's Hiraishin once he retires from Anbu but until then you can teach him Rasengan. It's noticeable but technically anybody who has seen the Jutsu can learn it if they understand how it works and because you are known to know it nobody will question it. He should be here soon so dismissed." Dog and Weasel flash out of the room to meet Naruto at the entrance.

"Hmmm is this the place? Damn and I thought I had pranked every Anbu hideout." Dog steps out of the shadows. "You did. This one is new. Hehehe honestly, I'm a big fan of those pranks. How you do them wearing neon orange is beyond me." Naruto shrugs. "When your life is on the line it doesn't matter what you wear. You learn to be invisible. Besides it's all the villagers will let me buy. They don't sell me anything else and destroy anything I find. Thanks, by the way. For saving me." Dog nods. "Come. First we need to get you registered and outfitted then we get your mask."

1 hour later Naruto is wearing standard Anbu gear minus a mask or sword. "Hmmm small. You haven't been eating well have you?" Naruto shrugs. "I eat ok. When I can eat that is. Pretty much all I can afford is Ramen though. Much as I like it, I am beginning to get tired of it. Haaa never thought that would happen." Weasel chuckles. "Well you don't need to worry about all that now. New living space and supplies will be provided until you can support yourself and make full Anbu. Once that happens, we have access to certain stores which will not discriminate so that won't be a problem."

"I will warn you now though. We have orders to give you the harshest training we can think of. We will break you, fix you then break you some more. If you can't take it then you will be thrown out to the academy. Are you certain this is what you want?" Dog hands him a blank Anbu mask. Naruto nods and takes the mask. "Then channel chakra into the mask to reveal your animal." Naruto does so and the mask changes into a Kitsune the same color as his hair. Blood red.

Kakashi chuckles. "Ironic. Fox. Crafty, Loyal and when provoked vicious. And the color. Same as your mother's hair. Your hair too now I guess." Naruto nods and puts on his mask. "Come. Time to meet your other teachers and your fellow student Red Fox."

2 years later near the boarder between fire country and wave

"Dog sensei. Why has the Hokage sent us out here? You never did tell us the specifics of the mission." Dog looks at Cat and nods. "As you know Weasel was given a mission last week to kill his clan. As far as the village knows he is a murderer and missing nin as this mission was a black op. However, over the past 2 years he has taught you all he could in Kenjutsu but Naruto has yet to find a sword which fits him. The Hokage believes that the answer may lie in the ruins of Uzushigakure." Cat starts at this. "The village hidden in the Eddies. But that would mean….." Cat looks at her quiet fellow student. "You say too much Dog. Any more and she might as well know my name too."

Dog shakes his head. "Just because our names and faces are forbidden to be known outside Anbu doesn't mean you can't share with eachother." Naruto frowns behind the mask. "I know who my parents were and that's enough for me. As far as I am concerned Red Fox is the only name I need until I must take off this mask. I entered the shadows to do what I would never be allowed to do in the light. That is all she needs to know." Dog sighs in disappointment. "Haaa very well. Rest up you two. We head out again soon." "HAI/HAI."

A few hours later in UZU

"So, the hokage was right. The whirlpools around Uzu are Seal based and tied to your lineage." The Red Fox nods while they walk towards the only building left standing. "He said something about that but because of my condition he doesn't want me learning sealing beyond the basics until I make full Anbu. Now let's see if he was right about everything else."

The red head swipes blood across a seal on a large stone door unlocking it. The door swings inwards slowly while releasing 50 years of stale air and dust. "Huh so more than a simple blood seal then. More like…a preservation seal." Cat follows curiously while dog shakes his head. "Condition or not you have a talent for seals and it's going to waste. Still based on your progress I doubt you have long til you make full Anbu even if you aren't quite up to what you agreed on yet."

Naruto stands at the entrance to a small vault. "Like I said. 5 years will be more than enough to reach that and more." He looks around slowly. "I'm surprised. Such a small vault in such a large room. Like whatever they put in here was worth protecting against the lives of the whole village. There's a tingling in my hand…. like something is calling to me." Dog nods. "Open it then. Let's see what we find."

Naruto does as order and opens the door to find 3 scrolls and a Katana in a blood red sheath. The Hilt is decorated with a silver fox in mid-roar. "Huh I am flattered. They even got the nose right." "Heh somehow I'm not surprised that they have some kind of link to you."

Naruto examines the scrolls. One is Red and has the Uzumaki crest on it. One is Black tied with a white ribbon and sealed with a blood seal. And the third is a large scroll with a depiction of a dragon on it. Dog looks at it with curiosity. "Huh. A summoning contract. For dragons if the art work is any indication. I didn't even know if they were real let alone that they had a contract. If I was you, I would wait until you are stronger before you sign it and not anywhere near a populated area." Naruto nods but Cat asks why. "Because dragons were said to be large fearsome creatures almost as strong as a tailed beast. Every summon clan boss tests it's summoner in a way unique to the clan to find out if they are worthy. With a clan like Dragons that is likely to be destructive and difficult." Dog nods. "Well we got what we came for. Time to return to Konoha."