I got the idea for this fic when I was reading Makai by Kaenin. It's a great story go read it. Anyway, I hope you like it!

LET THE STORY COMMENCE!

It was just a normal day for Naruto. The villagers yelled at him, refused him food, some even hit him. He had been kicked out of the orphanage last week for defending himself against one of the workers. Since then, he had been living on the streets. And when night came, the villagers went on the nightly "Fox hunts". Naruto had long since given up trying to fight back against the villagers. They were hitting him harder than normal, using weapons, dealing mortal blows. They were trying to kill him.

"PLEASE STOP!" He shouted, begging for them to stop.

"Shut up you demon! This is payback! This is justice!" one of them shouted.

'someone please stop them!' Naruto thought.

There was a bright flash of red. The next thing Naruto knew, the villagers were sent flying back. Naruto looked up, and saw his savior. The man was over six feet tall, had crimson red hair, Blood red slitted eyes, was wearing blood red armor, like the Shodaime's, had a blood red Odachi stuck to his back via chakra, and he had nine tails flowing behind him.

"You want to fight a demon? All right, then. Bring it on!" he said pulling his odachi off of his back. The villagers looked hesitant. They knew that if this was the real Kyuubi, that there was little they could do except cry and beg for mercy. So they did just that.

The man scoffed at their pleas for mercy. "What was it you said when that boy asked for mercy? 'This is payback! This is justice'" and he began killing the villagers. They stood no chance. Even the few Shinobi that were there were made short work of. It was a slaughter. Limbs were severed, heads were lost, no one was spared. When they were all dead, the man wiped the blood from his blade and kneeled down to tend to the shaking young boy.

"Are you alright?" the man asked. Naruto wasn't looking at him, though. He was looking at the blood stained street.

"They're all dead…you killed them…" Naruto said, clearly in shock.

The man sighed. "Yes, I killed them. They aren't going to hurt you anymore. No one is."

"You mean, you'll protect me?" Naruto asked, now looking at the man.

"Yes, I will protect you, raise you, and train you. No harm shall ever come to you while I'm around." the man said, still kneeling in front of Naruto.

"I have a couple of questions, though."

"I will do my best to answer them." the man replied.

"First, who are you, and do you know why they attacked me?"

"The answers are the same. You may call me Nero, but that's not what the village knows me as." Naruto looked confused. Nero continued, "They know me as the Kyuubi no Kitsune." Naruto looked shocked.

"But I thought the Yondaime killed you?"

"It isn't possible for a mortal human to kill me. He did defeat me though. He used the Shiki Fuuin to seal me into a newborn baby. That baby was you, Naruto." Naruto looked down.

"So that's why they always hurt me."

"Yes, that is why. They thought you were me."

"So I'm not a demon!"

"Actually, you are." Naruto looked even more confused. "You are not a demon because you carried me, but because of your heritage."

"You know who my parents were?" Naruto asked, surprise and joy in his eyes.

"Yes. Your father was the one who sealed me into you, the Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namikaze." Naruto looked happy and angry at the same time.

"My dad was the Yondaime? How could he seal the Kyuubi inside his own son? And how come people treat me like they do if he's my father?"

"Your father said he couldn't ask another to sacrifice their child if he couldn't sacrifice his own. And as for the treatment, I don't believe anyone knew that you were his child. Now do you want to know who your mother is?"

"Who is she? Is she alive?"

"Her name is Kushina Uzumaki, and I believe she is with my lord in the fox realm."

"Why is she there?" Naruto asked, quickly getting confused again.

"She is there because someone from this village, I don't know who, tried to kill her as soon as your father left the hospital with you. My lord saw this and pulled her into the fox realm so that she could heal safely. As far as I know she's still there."

"Why would your boss let a human stay in his realm?"

"He wouldn't. Your mother is a Kitsune, Naruto, and because of that, you are a Kitsune hanyo."

"Does that mean I can go to see her?"

"Not yet, I'm afraid."

"Why not?"

"It's rather simple. My powers are still sealed inside of you, and you can't control yours. You need to be able to teleport to get there."

"How do we get your power out of me, then?"

"We can't. Only my lord has enough power to break that seal. If you want to go to the fox realm, you will have to train to a point where you can teleport us there. It will take a number of years, if you want to do it." Nero explained.

"Let's do it! I want to see my Kaa-chan!" Naruto shouted. Nero chuckled.

"Alright, but take me to see the Hokage. I have a few things to say to the old man."

"You won't kill him, right?" Naruto asked. He didn't want the old man to get hurt, even if he kept all of this a secret.

"No. I may hurt him, but it will heal. I promise."

"Okay." Naruto, all healed due to his Kitsune blood, stood up and grabbed Nero's arm and led him to the Hokage's building. At first, the guards wouldn't let them in, but with a little… persuasion from Nero, the remaining guard let them in. They had a similar problem with the Hokage's secretary, but she backed down as soon as Nero put his hand on his odachi's handle. She let them in.

"Hey Jiji!" Naruto said, grinning.

"Hello, Naruto-kun. What brings you here, and who's this?" Sarutobi asked, seeing the man's tails made his eyes widen.

"I am Nero, you people know me as the Kyuubi no Kitsune." in a flash, the Hokage's Anbu guards were poised to strike, and in another flash, they were all missing their left arms and Nero's sword was in hand.

"Don't do that." he ordered. The Anbu stayed down. Nero looked back at the Hokage, and saw that the man was in front of Naruto, kunai in hand.

"I won't let you hurt Naruto." Sarutobi stated.

"But Jiji, Nero hasn't even tried to hurt me."

"That's right. I'm kinder to the boy than your whole damn village. Or did you not know that they beat him relentlessly every day. I was in the boy's gut for 4 damn years, and not once did you or the Anbu that are at your beck and call ever help him. Why didn't you help him? And don't you dare say that you didn't know. There's no way you couldn't have known."

"Naruto, go wait outside, please." Sarutobi said, looking back at Naruto. Naruto looked at Nero, who nodded. "I'll tell you everything later. Yell for me if someone tries to hurt you." Nero said

"Okay." Naruto walked out of the room. As soon as he shut the door, Nero grabbed Sarutobi by the throat and lifted him off the ground. He slammed him into the wall.

"Now listen here, you decrepit old fool. I want answers, and you're gonna give them to me. And don't even think about lying to me. No human can outsmart a 3,000 year old Kitsune." Nero said, his face getting a dark look. He let Sarutobi drop to the floor after he nodded to what Nero said. Sarutobi stood up and walked over to his desk.

"For starters, why haven't you helped the kit? With your connections, you could've kept the boy safe forever. Hell, you could've even adopted him into your clan. Why didn't you?" Nero asked.

"I tried everything I could. The Council fought me at every opportunity. They want Naruto dead! It took every bit of my power to keep them from executing him!" Sarutobi said.

"Bullshit! The Hokage is the ultimate power in a ninja village! The council holds no real power." Nero shot back.

"They were able to get more power when Minato died. Once I took the position back, I couldn't get it back! I truly want to help Naruto, but my hands are tied with keeping him alive."

"Well, then, I think it's time you and I work together." Nero said, with a mischievous smirk on his face.

"What do you mean?" Sarutobi asked.

"Simple. We both have one thing in common: we want Naruto to have a better life. But you can't act because the council won't let you, and I'm not a part of the village, so I have no part in the politics. So, we work together."

"How would we do this?" Sarutobi asked, curious as to where this was going.

"Well, there are many ways to do this. One: I kill anyone who tries to stand in your way. Two: you let me adopt Naruto. Three: I kill Danzo and the elders. They are the ones who get in the way, along with the civilian council, correct?" Sarutobi nodded. "Then I kill the elders publicly, along with telling the village that anyone that tries to harm Naruto, either directly or indirectly, will share their fate. That will scare the civilians into submission. It will also show the Shinobi that they are not above reproach. It should also help you regain some of your lost power." Nero said. Sarutobi was surprised at how thought out this plan was. Seeing his look, Nero chuckled. "What can I say? Foxes are crafty." Sarutobi chuckled.

"This plan of yours could work, but there's one problem." Nero raised an eyebrow. "Danzo has a secret Anbu squad called ROOT that he thinks I don't know about. They are completely and utterly loyal to him. They would sooner die than give up."

"Do you know where their base is?"

"Yes. I take it you will deal with them?"

"Call a Council meeting in one hour. Say it's about Naruto. While they're getting set up, I'll get rid of the ROOT. Watch Naruto until I get back. Where are they?" Sarutobi told Nero where the base was. "I'll be back in an hour. I have some gardening to do." Nero told Naruto to wait with Sarutobi. Naruto agreed.

ROOT Base

"Sarutobi has called a council meeting regarding the Kyuubi brat. I must prepare. Wait for my signal until I return"

"Yes Danzo-sama!" Came the reply from the ROOT Anbu. Danzo wasted no time in leaving the base to head to his compound to prepare for the meeting.

The ROOT Anbu went about their daily duties. That is, until they heard a loud scream.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" When they found the body, they saw a LARGE pool of blood. The body, or body parts, were lying around the floor, scattered. The torso had every limb, and the head, severed from it. The torso had several cuts along it.

"Alert the others." The leader said. Two of the ROOT members complied. Three decided to stay and inspect the body for clues as to it's killer.

"We should report this to Danzo-sama." one of the ROOT members said.

"I wonder who could have done this…" the leader wondered.

"Why don't you ask?" a voice behind them asked. The ROOT Anbu turned, but before they could even fight back, their heads were cut from their shoulders. They fell instantly.

"Next…" Nero stated, shouldering his Odachi. He calmly walked into the center of the base. He came across 5 ROOT Anbu. They immediately attacked. "Fools" he said with a bored look on his face. One attacked with his tanto. Nero cut him diagonally in half. Then one tried a genjutsu. Nero slashed him from shoulder to hip before he could even finish the hand seals. "Two…"

The remaining ROOT Anbu decided to keep their distance and attack with ninjutsu. One was impaled before he could even start weaving signs. "Three…"

The two of them managed to get their jutsu out. "Futon: Daitoppa! (Wind release: Great Breakthrough)" "Katon: Goukakyu no jutsu! (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)"

The two jutsu combined made a giant fireball that hit Nero head on.

The two ROOT ninja smirked, thinking that they had killed him.

"You should know better than to try to kill a Kitsune with fire." Nero said as he stepped out of the fire, completely unharmed. "besides, you call those flames? Kitlings can make fire hotter than that." Nero was upon them before they could recover from the shock. He quickly severed their arms from their bodies.

"AAAAAHHHH!" they screamed, and Nero decapitated them both with one swing of his odachi.

"Pathetic. Let's find out if all of these ROOT ninja are as pathetic as you five were." Nero said, looking back at the bodies of the ROOT Anbu he just killed before moving to continue his "gardening"

Council Chamber

"Hokage-sama, why have you called us here?" a civilian council member asked.

"I have called you all here for an announcement regarding Naruto Uzumaki." Several of the Council members scowled at the mention of the boy.

"And what announcement would that be, Sarutobi?" Homura asked.

"I'm glad you asked, Homura. This announcement-" that was as far as he got before Nero walked in, blade in one hand, A ROOT Anbu in the other. He was also covered in blood, as was the blade of his sword. "also concerns a certain trio in this room." Nero finished for him.

"Nero!" Naruto shouted. "Hey squirt."

"Why are you holding an Anbu by the throat? And, more importantly, why are you covered in blood?" Hiashi asked.

"Oh, I just cleared out a ROOT infestation." Nero replied, smirking.

Danzo paled. He recognized the Anbu as one of his ROOT operatives. 'Does Sarutobi know about ROOT? And who is this man? Whoever he is, he must be powerful to take on my whole ROOT squadron. I need to formulate a plan.' he thought.

"What do you mean a root infestation?" Choza asked.

"Ask Danzo. He should know." Nero said. Danzo's visible eye widened.

"Well, Danzo? What do you have to say for yourself?" Sarutobi asked with a smirk. Danzo tried to signal for his ROOT Anbu, but none came.

"Weren't you listening to me, Danzo?" Nero asked, "I destroyed your entire base! There is no one coming to help you. Or you two." Nero said, pointing his blade at Koharu and Homura.

"What have we done?" Koharu asked.

"You've been fighting the old man here's decisions regarding Naruto since the day he was born! You've been trying to get Naruto killed for the same amount of time. You have been a thorn in the old man's side as well as Naruto's for too long."

"So you're going to kill us for voting against you?" Homura asked.

"No, we're going to execute you two and Danzo for trying to kill Kushina Uzumaki, mother of Naruto Uzumaki, and wife of Minato Namikaze." At that revelation, everyone's, save Nero, Naruto, Sarutobi, and the elders, jaw dropped. The elders did look surprised, though.

"Kushina was the wife of the Yondaime?" Hiashi asked, rapidly regaining his composure.

"Yes. They married in secret to protect both her and their future family from his enemies." Sarutobi stated

"Do you have any proof backing these accusations?" Danzo asked.

"Quite a bit, actually. For starters, I found the order that you gave your ROOT Anbu to perform the deed." Nero said, holding up the scroll. "I also have this guy here. He was one of the agents who you got to perform the deed. Sarutobi, if you will?" Nero asked, handing the ROOT agent to Sarutobi. He quickly breaks the seal on his tongue and sends for Ibiki. Within minutes, he appears.

"You called, Hokage-sama?" Ibiki asked.

"Yes Ibiki. I need you to perform an interrogation in this room."

"Why here, Hokage-sama?"

"This has become a makeshift trial. This Anbu has information that we need."

"Yes sir. Inoichi-san, if you would please assist me…"

"Of course, Ibiki-san." Inoichi Yamanaka responded.

They immediately began working on breaking the ROOT agent's mind. Within minutes, they got it.

"Well, I'd say that's enough proof, wouldn't you?" Nero asked, looking at Sarutobi.

"Yes, a confession is more than enough. Now then, who here supports the execution?" Sarutobi asked, looking around the room. All of the clan heads, save the Uchiha, and even some of the civilians with more backbone raised their hands. "I see. Opposed?" The rest of the civilian council, Uchiha Fugaku, and the elders raised their hands.

"All right, then. By majority rule, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane are to be executed immediately. Nero, if you will?"

"Gladly." Nero said, with a sadistic grin on his face. He shouldered his sword and begun to walk towards the elders, who tried to run. They were immediately surrounded by Anbu loyal to the Hokage. "Ah ah ah.. Don't try to run. You'll ruin my fun."

Before they could even try to do anything, Nero was upon them. "You're first." He said, looking at Danzo. He quickly severed his arms. "Hurts, don't it?" He said, still grinning sadistically. He then cut his legs off. "I'll finish you in a minute." Nero turned away from Danzo and immediately stabbed Koharu through the heart, killing her instantly.

"Now for you." Nero calmly walked toward Homura, who immediately started making hand signs. "Can't have any of that." Nero said, and chopped Homura's hands off, before decapitating him.

"Back to you, Danzo." Nero turned to Danzo, Who was extremely pale from losing so much blood. "Damn… you…" Danzo spat out.

"Not nice." Nero said, and quickly decapitated him as well.

"Pathetic." Nero said, sitting down next to Naruto and started to clean all the blood from his blade.

"Thank you, Nero." Nero nodded, not looking up from what he was doing. "Now then, anyone tries to harm Naruto here, either directly or indirectly, will share their fate. I also have decided that from this day forth, the civilian council will only deal with civilian matters and leave things dealing with the Ninja side of this village to the Shinobi council and myself."

One of the civilian council members decided to speak up. "You can't do that, Hokage- sama!"

"Oh? Well then, let's put it to a vote. All for?" The entire Shinobi council as well as Sarutobi raised their hands. "Opposed?" The entire civilian council raised their hands. "Well then, by majority rule, the civilian council will from this day forward have no say in Shinobi matters."

"My last announcement is that Naruto will now be known as Naruto Uzumaki- Namikaze. He will be living in the Namikaze compound. Nero here will also be living there as Naruto's Guardian. Any Questions?" Seeing none, Sarutobi stood up from his seat. "Very well, meeting adjourned." The council members slowly got up and left. The Anbu started to clean up the bodies of the dead council members. Nero stood up and looked down at Naruto.

"Hey, Squirt," Naruto looked up at him. "Let's go see your new home." Naruto smiled, and they started to walk out of the Hokage's tower.

Things were definitely starting to look up in Naruto's life.

This was the first chapter. I hope you liked it. As always, review or I shall unleash my army of telletubbies upon you all!

Forever in the Sky,

The Red Star