Hi there everyone. This is my first fanfic so be gentle.

Negima: Paths Converged

Chapter 1

Destiny has never been anything if not a fickle thing. It appears before you right when you least expect it coming, in the way you least expect. For Naruto Uzumaki, gennin of Konohagakure, that way came in the form a simple sentence.

"Uzumaki Naruto, you are hereby and forthwith banished from Konohagakure no Sato." The words echoed around the council chamber for a moment. Naruto stood silent, staring straight ahead. His mind barely registered anything that was said. He had seen this coming. Saw it coming when the Konoha council had charged him with unnecessary violence in retrieving Uchiha Sasuke. Saw it coming when almost all his 'friends' testified against him. Everyone save Shikimaru and Chouji had spoken against him. They all knew now. Knew about Kyuubi. And it had turned out exactly like he had feared. They all hated him.

Towering above the other councilors, the Hokage Tsunade stood up, glaring angrily at the other members of the council. "You can't do this! He did nothing wrong, and succeeded in his mission!" she all but yelled. Danzo, though it was barely visible in the dark chamber, smiled triumphantly.

"This council has voted, Tsunade. We have testimonies as well as an eye witness account of the use of Kyuubi's power. This boy is a risk to our security. What if the Kyuubi were to escape? It can obviously weild it's power through the boy to an extent. Kakashi-san has said as much." The old war hawk said.

Naruto clenched his fists, but otherwise remained stoic. 'Kakashi-sensei…' he thought sadly. His team, his own team had betrayed him. He had no one left except Granny Tsunade. And now, he was losing her too. Tsunade sat back in defeat, glancing down at Naruto in sadness. "I'm sorry, Naruto." She whispered.

"Then this meeting is over. Uzumaki-san, you have two days to gather your things be gone from Konoha. Meeting adjourned."

Naruto didn't remember the walk home. He had ignored Tsunade when she tried to speak with him afterwards. He simply heaed back to his apartment in silence. He could feel himself dying on the inside. He never thought it would turn out like this. He was supposed to become Hokage for kami sake!

As he reached the door to his apartment, a different feeling entered him. One he hadn't felt since he was a small child, left to defend himself on the streets; pure loathing. Hatred so strong he could barely control himself enough to open the door.

He slammed it with a loud bang as he entered, storming into his room to pack. How dare they? How dare they banish him after all he had done for them? He brought back their precious Uchiha. Followed his orders. But all he had gotten in return was a slap in the face for harming her 'beloved Sasuke-kun'. Naruto sneered. That bitch didn't know the first thing about love. Though he was one to talk….

He paused from his packing and simply stared at his wall. Maybe he wouldn't feel so upset if it had ended there. But then the people he thought were his friends had broken down that last defense. The Council had deemed it appropriate to tell all the participants of the Sasuke Retrieval mission about the Kyuubi and Naruto's position. Giving some bullshit excuse about "needing to know their teammate's full abilities". Well it spread from there until the entire Rookie Nine knew.

Shikimaru and Chouji were the only two who didn't hate or fear Naruto. They still saw him as their friend and in SHikimaru's case, "just a troublesome blonde..".

And then there was Team Seven. Sasuke, eager to get revenge on Naruto for impeding his progress to power, had given a very exaggerated tale of how Naruto had attacked and threatened him. Sakura stood by her love interest the entire way. As had Kakashi. The jounin saw that last attack of chidori and rasengan between the two boys and had seen Kyuubi's power. He told the council that Naruto was unstable. Unable to handle the Kyuubi.

And that was that. A week of trials and testimonies for an outcome that altered Naruto's life forever.

Naruto shook his head and continued packing. He fought down his anger. It wouldn't do him any good to do anything besides leave. He would leave Fire Country. Try somewhere different.

But where?

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how sick he was of being a pawn in some greater scheme. Some underling to a village that hated him. He didn't want to work for another Village. Sure Gaara would probably take him in…but deserts weren't really his thing.

"I have a suggestion." A dark, guttural voice said, making Naruto jump. He looked around quickly, but there was no one else in the room. He blinked in confusion.

"What the-"

"I'm in your mind, gaki." The voice said again. Realization set in and Naruto's eyes widened.

"Kyuubi..?" He whispered. How could the demon talk to him? He had only ever spoken to it once, back when he was practicing summoning with Ero-sennin.

"It's because of your seal. When you fought the Uchiha boy, you used quite a bit of my chakra. As a result, our connection has strengthened." The demon explained. Naruto nodded slowly. He supposed it was possible. But then what the demon had said came back to him.

'What suggestion? About where to live?'

"Indeed. You have many enemies in the Elemental Countries, the biggest being the organization Akatsuki." The fox demon respond. Naruto remembered his last encounter with the organization; with Sasuke's brother. He shuddered.

'Okay fox, what the hell. I'm listening...'

Jirayah appeared an hour later, hopping through Naruto's kitchen window. He glanced around and, not seeing the boy, began wishing through the fridge. He dug out a small sandwich and began eating when Naruto exited his room and entered the kitchen. He paused, seeing Jirayah. "Ero-sennin." He said, lacking his usual enthusiasm. Jirayah noticed and immediately frowned.

"Naruto, look." He began. "I'm sorry about what happened. Tsunade tried all she could to-"

"Well obviously she didn't try hard enough." Naruto snapped, making the Sannin blink in surprise. Naruto sighed. "Sorry, Ero-sennin. I'm just..sick of all this. I'm not going to wait anymore. I'll leave tonight." He said. Now Jirayah's eyes widened. He had been hoping to stall it long enough to at least let what remained of Naruto's friends say goodbye.

"But, what about everyone here? Surely Tsunade will want to see you off." He said. Naruto smiled sadly.

"I have no one who I really want to see again, sensei. You can tell Granny Tsunade if you want, but I'm leaving tonight."

Jirayah sighed and nodded. "Alright. Listen, Naruto. I'll travel with you for a while if you want. Teach you a bit more outside the village if you want." To his surprise, Naruto shook his head.

"No thanks Ero-sennin. You've been a good teacher, even though a pervert, and I'm grateful for all your help. But I need to do this alone. I…I don't want any more ties to Konoha when I leave." He said. Jirayah stared at the boy, trying to read him. What he saw broke his heart. Naruto was broken, simple as that. There was none of the happiness and cheerfulness that was natural for the blonde. Only a wall of sadness and…hate? Yes, there was definite hate in there. Jirayah exhaled through his teeth. He couldn't really blame the boy.

"So that's it? You mean to leave it all behind? Forget everything? Do you hate this place that much?"

Jirayha already knew the answer even as he asked it. Naruto gazed at him, anger flashing through his eyes.

"Yes." He said simply. A pained expression mixed with the anger. "I..I'm trying not to Ero-sennin. But..I can't help but hate them. Hate them for doing this. For betraying me. Does that make me a bad person?" He asked, his voice weary and far too old for a mere twelve-year old boy. Jirahya shook his head sadly.

"No Naruto, it doesn't. You have every right to hate this village. All I ask is that you don't let that consum you. Don't be another Orochimaru." Heasi, memories of his teammate flashing through his mind. Naruto nodded.

"Of course. All I want to do is leave."

"Where will you go, Naruto? Suna?" Jirayah asked. Naruto shook his head and smiled mysteriously, which caught the Sannin off guard.

"I was..thinking maybe Ostia." The boy said. Jirayah felt as if someone had punched him in the chest. How did Naruto know that name? How did he know any place outside the Elemental countries? Realization struck him.

"The fox told you." He said. Naruto nodded, making Jirayah sigh for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "Why? Barely any shinobi have left the Elemental Countries in over a hundred years."

"I don't want to stay in this place. I'm tired of all the politics, and hatred of the Elemental Countries." Naruto said softly. "Kyuubi tells me that outside the Elemental Countries…I'd be more accepted."

Well, Jirayah reflected, that might be true. He had been to the outside world of Mundus Magicus only once in his life. It was truly an awesome and different place. While he was more than a little worried about the fact that Naruto had learned all this from KYUUBI (he made a mental note to check the seal later) Naruto would definitely fit in there. But there were all sorts of complications and problems that went along with that. But as he studied his student, he realized that Naruto had made up his mind already. Nothing Jirayah said would change it. So instead, he nodded. "Did the Kyuubi explain Mundus Magicus to you then? All about it?"

"About magic and all that? Yeah, some of it. It's all a lot to take in, but I like it. Sounds like a new adventure." He grinned weakly. "Kyuubi.'s not that bad, you know. He said he was going to help me."

Jirayah blinked in surprise. The demon was helping Naruto? Sure it was true that most jinchurriki ended up harmonizing with their Bijju eventually, even sometimes merging with it. But it, in all recorded history, had never happened at such a young age. But still, if the Kyuubi was helping Naruto, then Jiraya had nothing to say about it.

"Well, all I can say is, good luck kid." Jirayah said finally. "Be careful though. Make sure that the Kyuubi doesn't try to get out. I don't exactly trust anything it might say."

"Truthfully, me either. But it's a risk I'm willing to take." Naruto said with a shrug. Jirayah nodded.

"Alright. Well, good luck in the outside world, Naruto." He said. Naruto nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Jirayah-sensei." He said, for once calling Jirayah by his actual name. Jirayah walked closer to the boy and put a hand on his shoulder, staring at the boy-no young man in front of him. He was amazed how much Naruto looked like Minato. This village was a bunch of idiots, he thought. They don't deserve this boy.

"I'd better check in with Tsunade." He said suddenly. He walked to the window and, with a final nod, jumped out and left.

Naruto stood alone in his kitchen for a moment. Of all the very few people he had left, Jirayah was the one he would miss the most. He turned and headed back to his room to finish packing.

It was night time when Naruto slipped out of his apartment, clad in his normal orange jumpsuit and his, instead of his headband, a simple black bandana. He had his pack, loaded with food, his few clothes and weapons. He left his headband and his picture of Team Seven on his nightstand. The only two things he had left. Naruto had debated about burning the picture, but decided against it. No need to dwell on his anger too long.

He jumped across the rooftops, careful to avoid the night patrols, until he arrived at the Konoha main gate. It was deserted, almost. Izumo and Kotetsu were standing watch at the gate. They saw him approaching and nodded silently. He returned the nod. He had never really known either of the two, but he knew that they didn't see him as the Kyuubi, which labeled them as okay in his book.

"Naruto-san, we were ordered not to let you pass yet." Izumo spoke up as Naruto got closer. Naruto frowned.

"Why not?"

"Because, did you really think you could get away without saying goodbye?" Naruto recognized Tsunade's voice, even as he heard it from behind him. He turned to see Tsuande, Jirayah, Iruka and SHizume all standing behind him. Iruka wore a sad expression on his face, one that actually made Naruto want to not leave. Iruka was the closest thing he had to family. Actually, he realized, his entire family was standing right in front of him. Naruto smiled.

"Came to see me off Granny?"

Tsunade's eyebrow twitched at the name, but instead of punching the blonde shinobi, she walked up to him and enveloped him in a great hug. "Jirayah told me what you intend to do." She half-whispered. "Please be careful."

Naruto nodded, hugging her back. "Of course I will. Take care of yourself…Onii-chan" He whispered the last part. Tsunade tried to hide the tears in her eyes as she stepped back, but was failing.

Jirayah silently clapped him on the shoulder, words unable to be said in the situation. Naruto accepted it with a small sigh and smile. Next was Iruka. The chuunin stumbled over himself, trying to find what to say.

"I…I'm sorry Naruto. I never would have thought that the council would.."

"It's alright Iruka-sensei. I'll be fine on my own." Naruto said. "Keep an eye on Konohamaru. Tell him he's gonna have to become Hokage in my place."

Iruka nodded. Shizune hugged him tightly, whispering a quick goodbye.

With all his goodbyes said, Naruto turned and stepped toward the gate. Izuma and Kotetsu stepped aside and opened the large gates. On an after thought, Naruto turned his head back to the group and flashed them his famous foxy grin. "Thanks for everything. Goodbye."

And with that, Naruto Uzumaki stepped out of Konoha and began walking down the path, forcing himself not to look back.

Iruka and Shizune left, leaving the two Sannin alone, staring out at the woods as Naruto disappeared from sight.

"I hope he is careful out there. There's no telling what types of dangers are out there." Tsunade said. Jirayah nodded.

"We shinobi have always lived in isolation from the rest of the world. There are plenty of people out there who would love to get their hands on some of the Elemental Country's secrets." He said darkly. "But I think that he'll be alright. After all, he is Minato's son. At least this way, Akatsuki won't be able to find him easily, if at all."

Finally they left as well. The gates of Konoha shut, cutting off a chapter of life for Naruto Uzumaki. His life as a shinobi of Konoha was over. But the future lay ahead, mysterious and unsure. Only one thing was certain; Naruto Uzumaki would never be the same again.

An: Well there's the first chapter. Hope you liked it. The Negima part really picks up next chapter. Please review and give me feedback, it helps me to make better chapters!

Scion of Fate, signing off.