Chapter 01: Prologue

His breath is coming out in sharp gasps, breath misting up in the early morning chill. His short little legs are carrying him as fast as they can, nearly a blur to the untrained eye. It hasn't been too long since he'd been in this situation before. He thought he'd have more time to heal. Oh well, he'd be seeing Jiji later so the day isn't completely ruined. Besides, Kyuu could just fix him right up.

'I'm sorry Kit.'

'It's alright furball, you're more than making up for it.'

…A few days later…

Seven-year-old Naruto shifts from foot to foot nervously. The Hokage asked him to come to his office so he could finally find out why the villagers dislike him so much. Jiji doesn't know about the beatings anymore, or so he hopes, so he wonders why the old man agreed to tell him anything now. Maybe after years of asking jiji finally got tired of saying 'when you're older' Naruto thinks to himself with a snort.

"Hokage-sama will see you now." The secretary says sneering. He shoots her a glare once her back is turned, before looking to the old man. A smile tugs at his lips at the sight of the only person in the village that cares for him.

"Ah, Naruto-kun." He says, moving from behind his desk to greet him.

"Hokage-jiji." He answers with a bow.

"How was your day?"

"Boring, as usual, jiji. I really wish I could go to the academy already!"

"You're still too young, you know that. It's only another year."

"Yeah, yeah. I didn't come here to fight that battle, jiji. You're going to tell me why the villagers always glare at me!"

'I told you, kit. It's probably because of me.' The Kyuubi pipes up from his cage.

'Yes, but it would be easier if he knew I know.'

'I suppose you're right.'

The Hokage sighs deep and full of sorrow. "Are you sure you want to know, Naruto-kun?" He asks, taking a seat on the couch and gesturing for Naruto to do the same.

"You promised you'd tell me, Jiji! I never go back on my promises, the Hokage shouldn't either!"

"I know, I know, Naruto-kun. I'm just making sure you still want to know."

"I'd rather know the truth, than be blinded by ignorance."

"Wise words from one so young…" When Naruto doesn't look ready to reply, his intense gaze demanding answers, the Hokage continues. "Seven years ago, a monster attacked the village…"

"Kyuubi no Kitsune…" Naruto fills in for him.

"Yes, Naruto-kun, the King of Beasts. Our Yondaime knew the village would not be strong enough to destroy it without destroying itself in the process. And so he called upon the Shinigami to seal the monster's soul into a container to stop the beast from destroying the village. That container…the only thing strong enough to hold the Kyuubi…was you, Naruto-kun."

"M-me?" He asks shocked. 'The only thing strong enough?'

'Children will grow, adapt, become stronger when introduced into a hostile environment from a young age.'

'So any child would have done?'

'Yes…or perhaps not, you do have a startling similarity to the late Yondaime-sama.'

'…His own child? How selfless…'

"Are you alright, Naruto-kun?"

"A-ah…yes jiji. It's a…shock, but I think…it makes sense and you wouldn't lie to me."

"I wish it were, Naruto-kun, I wish it were a lie." They sit in silence for a moment.

"I-if I'm to contain the Kyuubi no Kitsune…"

"Yes?"

"Don't you think I should become strong at a younger age than other children? What if he were to attempt to break out? Or-or something?"

"I have the utmost faith in the Yondaime's sealing abilities…but you do raise a good point. Let me think on it, Naruto-kun. I'll let you know in a few days…"

"Thank you for the consideration, Jiji." Naruto says, bowing, taking the dismissal for what it is.

He wanders around the village for a while ignoring the glares as usual, before a thought from the Kyuubi sends him running off to a rarely-used training ground. There, hidden in a tree is a stash of kunai and shuriken, abandoned by other ninja.

"Accuracy first." Naruto mumbles to himself. "Then muscle strength, endurance, then speed."

A few hours later the sun is starting to set.

'Come on kit, let's get some food and head home so you can read more of that scroll you got from the library.'

'Okay, Kyuubi.' Naruto says picking up the scattered weapons and putting them back in the tree where they're safe. 'Can we-'

'No.'

'But you didn't even-'

'I know what you were going to say, and the answer is no.'

'But-'

'We're not eating tempura again. I'd rather eat dirt from this god forsaken cell.'

'Ehehe…well what do you want?'

'Let's stop by Ichiraku's…'

'Ramen? That's the most unhealthy-'

'If you don't want my chakra to keep healing your injuries and nutrition deficiencies, keep talking.'

"Fine fine…" Naruto mumbles making his way back to the village.

…A month later: End of the first day of the Ninja Academy…

Naruto sits disappointed on the swing, slowly rocking back and forth absentmindedly enjoying the feel of the wind as it plays with his hair. It was a long and boring day, the children were all older then him, and he felt so small and insignificant, even though he knew everything he was being 'taught' already. He had made sure to dress in his best, most ninja-like outfit, black shirt with the orange swirl, black shorts, and his ninja shoes, part of an early birthday gift from the Hokage. He had his bag, full of all the brand-new school supplies, also from the Hokage, and he arrived earlier than any other student. The teacher had ignored him, but when he wasn't looking directly at the man, he was sure he was being glared at.

"That was such a waste of time…" Naruto whines to himself.

'What did you expect, kit?'Kyuubi asks with a laugh. 'They have to teach the basics before they teach techniques.'

'But Kyuubi! You taught me this years ago!'

'And those children don't have a millennium old demon inside them to show them the ropes.'

'I suppose you're right, Kyuubi…it's going to be a long year, isn't it?'

'A few long years, kit, a few.' A sigh slips from between his lips as his feet shuffle the dirt below him. A shadow covers his feet and he looks up curiously. One of the kids from his new class stands before him.

"Hey, Nishima-san, was it?" Naruto asks politely, warily looking the older kid over. He's a bulky boy, probably one of those kids whose parents think they're only 'big-boned'. Rumor has it he'd failed the first level academy class once already and this was his second run-through.

"You're just a brat," Nishima growls, sneering down at him.

"Can I help you with something?" Naruto tilts his head to the side in consideration.

"No. But I can help you with something, kid. Saving your life…you'd better quit while you're ahead. Or else."

"Or else what?" Naruto asks raising his eyebrow.

"You'll regret it. Trust me, you demon." He says, obviously having no clue why that should affect him, but knowing it will. Naruto flinches and Nishima smirks before walking away.

'What was that Kyuubi?'

'Your first real academy lesson…bullies.'

'How am I supposed to respond to that?'

'Ignore it for now, if it becomes a problem, we'll figure something out.'

'Alright. If you're sure.'

…A few months later: After another boring Academy day…

Every day after the academy lesson lets out, Naruto sits on the swing and watches as the other children's parents pick them up from school. He observes as the adults intently listen to the wild stories their kids' spin about the day and their achievements, and as they comfort them when they fail. He feels a subtle jealousy burning and growing within him, but Kyuubi usually talks him out of it by telling him stories of his father, the legend that reached even the great Bijuu's ears. Naruto's enthralled in one such story about his father taking out an entire army on his own, when a kunai scrapes his cheek.

Startled, he looks up to see it's gotten quite late, even the teachers have left for the day, and the sky is dark with a coming storm. A few feet away from him is Nishima-san, red-faced at his failure, apparently he was aiming for Naruto's forehead.

"Nishima-san…" Naruto starts, concerned at the look of jealousy on his classmate's face, he remembers that feeling all too well, having felt it a while ago when Nishima himself received a hug from his parents, for his 'D' on a test…Naruto's 'A' is balled up in the bottom of his backpack. "Nishima-san, what-"

"Why are you so smart, you demon?" Nishima yells angrily. "I'm sick and tired of failing because of you! If you didn't do so good on tests, Sensei would have to change the grade and I'd have a C not a D!"

"I'm not the only smart person in the class. It's not my fault you're stupid."

"I'm not the stupid one! But you'll be stupid and loud if it kills you!" Naruto stares at the older boy in disbelief. "I'm serious! One more right answer coming from your mouth and I'll tell my parents you're bullying me!" He says glaring at Naruto.

"But I haven't bullied you. You're bullying me!"

"I have no reason to lie, and all the adults hate you, so they'll believe me! Do as I say and I wont tell my parents you hurt me!"

"What?!"

"You'll dress in orange and be loud and obnoxious, not only that but you'll be stupid, the dobe…or else!" Naruto's anger and previous jealousy bubbles up to the surface, his fists clench as his eyes narrow.

'You can't fight him…'

'Why not?!'

'Because then you will have beaten him up, he'll use that as proof to get you in trouble.'

'But Kyuubi! Even if I do act dumb, Hyuuga-san's not going to scrape by so this idiot can pass.'

'I suppose you could think of it as an exercise in subterfuge…if you can pull this off you can become anyone.'

"Fine…" Naruto growls, more to the demon inside him then the child in front of him.

"Here." The Nishima says shoving an ugly orange jumpsuit in his face. Naruto flinches but takes it from him. "Now go. If I catch you wearing anything but that I'll tell on you."

"Yeah, yeah…" Naruto says sighing. 'Like anyone will believe this…'

…A few days later: Academy lunch break…

Naruto sits alone at a table, loudly humming to himself some nonsensical tune, waaaay off key. Most everyone ignores him, glad that the little brat got all the answers wrong this morning. 'I can't believe everyone believes this…even Sensei!'

'I know…it's highly illogical.'

"Uzumaki-san?"

"HAAAIIIII?" Naruto yells looking up from his lunch to see Hyuuga Neji-san standing near his table.

"Is…something the matter, Uzumaki-san?"

"Whachu you mean, Hyuuga-san?" Naruto asks squinting his eyes at the class's new number one student.

"You…seem different recently." He says wincing at the orange monstrosity.

"Iya! Iya! Iyadaaaa!" Naruto exclaims, arms making a big 'X' in front of his face.

"Tell me. The truth." Naruto's eyes widen as he examines the sincerity on the others face…he glances over to Nishima, who's not paying him any attention…his mask falls.