Akizakura here, I'm redoing all the chapters in "The Shinigami's Promise". Plainly to put it, it sucks, well at least it needs editing. So if anyone is interested in being a beta for this story, please contact me. The requirements are that you are good at grammar and spelling (I'm horrible so do not murder) and that you're caught up with the latest Naruto Manga.

Note: Words that have are in bold are for readers that do not watch the Japanese version, there is a definition on the bottom.

WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE SPOILERS AND HAVE NOT READ TO THE PART WHERE NARUTO'S FATHER IS REVEALED I SUGGEST YOU STOP RIGHT NOW. Hey, I warned you.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS NOR THE SERIES ITSELF. NARUTO DOES NOT BELONG TO ME NOR AM I MAKING ANY MONEY OFF THIS (I wish though). THIS IS FOR FAN PURPOSES ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE.

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The cursed crimson liquid stained the Earth as the sounds of deaths flooded the air around them. Blood. Death. Destruction. There were pleas of men and women; some begged for death, some for water, and others for their loved ones. Their last requests went unheard as the demon crushes more victims. Inside the Konoha Hospital a man with unruly sun-kissed hair held a newborn infant in his arms.

His name was Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage. The infant he held in his arms was not even a couple hours old and now, that very infant had to shoulder a very dangerous burden by himself.

"I'm sorry," Minato whispered to the infant. If only he could turn back the hands of time, he could make everything right again. His forlorn sapphire eyes gazed sadly at the hospital room where the baby was delivered from. Silently, he walked out of the busy hospital. The sky was blackened from the deaths and stained with the blood of both innocents and guilty.

He placed the baby down and bit his thumb, puncturing the skin as blood leaked out. Then he performed a Summoning Jutsu and a huge puff of smoke surrounded him.

"Minato eh?" a voice rumbled out.

"Gamabunta, this is my last battle I need you to hold off Kyuubi for a couple seconds," Minato stated as he picked out the infant once more.

"A fitting death for a shinobi," Gamabunta replied quietly before hopping towards the Yondaime Hokage's last battle. While Gamabunta distracted Kyuubi, Minato set to work. Seals flashed through his hands as he performed a forbidden technique, his last technique. I'm sorry, maybe someday you'll understand.

"Namikaze Minato, what purpose have you summon me for?" a monster with red horns stated.

"To seal the Kyuubi inside this boy," Minato replied, as he gazed over his son once last time.

"But is he not your son?" The Shinigami inquired.

"He is,"

"Then why curse him?"

"I'm not cursing him, I'm entrusting the Kyuubi to him,"

"Very well foolish human, I shall grant you one wish before your death," Minato's head perked up to look at the Shinigami, "A reward for sacrificing your life for this village"

"Then let me see my son grow up," Minato's sapphire eyes glistened with renewed hope.

The Shinigami chuckled; "Humans are indeed greedy, very well then, I'll let you see your son during the period he grows the most" The Shinigami turned and reached out into Kyuubi soul. Kyuubi howled with rage and hatred as he tried to claw the Shinigami with no success. There was a bright flash of light and it was over.

It was all over, the Kyuubi was sealed, Minato's body was lifeless, and an infant cried soundly. That infant's name was Uzumaki Naruto, and so it begins, the promise that was made so very long ago.

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I love doing prologues they're so fun . Anyways for people who are not familiar with the Japanese version of Naruto here are the translations.

JAPANESE DICTIONARY

- Yondaime: The Fourth
- Kyuubi (No Kitsune): Nine tails (demon fox)

- Gamabunta: The boss toad that the Yondaime Hokage used in his battle against Kyuubi. (Thanks for OnGuard for catching this mistake)

-Shinigami: Japanese death reapers. It's the one that the third (Sandaime Hokage) summoned during his fight with Orochimaru in order to seal his arms.