A/N: Ah, I am back. Well, as much back as I could get. Anyways, I've decided to write this prologue. It's based on an idea that I've seen floating around. About Naruto and Kyuubi and children growing up. And how things change and how things don't change. Anyways, I'm toying with this.

So this is a prologue. A beginning of sorts. Maybe an end if no one likes it. Anyways I'm going to see, well if my writing spirit is back.

A few days before

Naruto sat on the swing, alone as always. Every time he had tried to go play with the other kids, he was rebuffed. No matter what he did, no one stayed. Some did play with him but then their parents would take them away. He gripped the rope, head hanging. Why wouldn't anyone play with him?

After a few minutes of self pity, he left the swing to run back to his apartment. Naruto hated crying, as it did nothing for him. Besides crying was for babies.

When he went back, standing on his tippy toes to unlock his door, he was alerted to movement in his small apartment. There was shuffling sounds. Carefully, stealthily, Naruto sneaked along the wall and towards the noise. An intruder!

Pretending to be one of the ninja he'd seen walking in the village, he leaped out from around the corner laddle raised high, "HIYAH!"

His choice of weapon smacked the intruder with a loud thwack. Encouraged by this, Naruto continued the motion. Eventually he opened his eyes realizing that despite the sounds of success, the intruder was still standing there.

"Eh?" He raised his hand, pointing. "Who the hell are you?" His ineffectual weapon was still at at the ready.

The intruder stared at him, before speaking. "Your room- mate." He said after a long pause.

"EH!" His weapon clattered to the ground, forgotten. "Room mate?"

A nod.

His blue eyes widened, as a huge smile spread across his face. "Do you want to be my friend?"

Another quiet stare.

"It's okay if you don't want to." Naruto said quickly, not wanting to alienate the other.

The other still stared quietly, his stare unnerving Naruto greatly. It was different from what he's used to, and creepier. It was the longest minute of Naruto's life.

"If I become your friend, am I still your roommate?" Naruto's answer was a hug, as all that exuberance and joy threatened to infect the other. It was an awkward hug, as only one person was actively hugging and the other was acting much like a tree.

It didn't matter. Naruto got a friend and a roommate. It was the best day of his life.

It wasn't-this wasn't supposed to happen. The tall ANBU stared at the puddles of blood, at the body that lied stretched on the ground. He knew who this person was, a civilian who had a week prior attacked Naruto with a bottle. This man had lost his wife and two children to the Kyuubi. He used to be a brilliant blacksmith, making weapons that were unparalleled. But now he is dead. The gaping wound in his chest told him everything he needed. This was but one of the many incidences that involved the jinchuriki. This incident however was the first one to end with a death.

His gaze shifted to the child. Naruto-his charge. The seven year old looked-no he was simply terrified. The dried crust of blood on his face and neck seem to indicate that he had something to do with this. But a simple glance at his hands revealed not a drop of blood. His innocence in this matter was quite clear, as was his fear. The boy was frozen in his spot, finding nothing comforting to hide behind. ANBU were not comforting figures to run to, especially for a seven year old child.

The bag of groceries lied forgotten near the wall, it's innards spilled out. Naruto got some money from the orphan bill, enough for food and a bit of pocket money. It should be enough to get decent food, healthy food that a child needs. However, from what he'd seen the store owners tended to stiff Naruto and sell him food that is close to expiring. Once in a while, when he made enough money, he would restock Naruto's fridge. It was hard on his pay grade but it made the guilt easier to ignore. And he wasn't the only one who would sneak in at the middle of the night, to replace spoiled vegetables. There was a lot of guilt to go around.

"Naruto." His voice was sharp, not at all comforting. The boy looked up, his blue eyes wide and glassy from crying. "Come here." He softened his voice, as to not frighten the boy.

The orange clad child took a step forward, only to stop as a hand took his holding him in place. Naruto froze in place, uncertain as to what to do. Stuck between two unyielding forces, he was at a loss as to how to proceed.

The ANBU was uncertain in how to proceed. He could easily incapacitate the stranger but judging how Naruto deferred to him, looked to the stranger for answers he knew it was not the best plan. Caution was the best plan at the moment.

"Dog." Bird mask spoke, "It's getting late." It wasn't his words that Dog was paying attention to, as much as it was his fingers.

Dog made his decision, as the captain of the group it was up to him to command. He crouched, and yet still he towered over Naruto. "Naruto, can you tell me what happened?"

The blue eyed, whiskered child nodded. "I was playing outside." He began, still shaken up from what had happened a few minutes prior. "And it was getting dark, and I knew I had to get back home before it gets dark and then he-and then." Naruto sniffled, trying to master his emotions. The little boy had promised to stop crying, because he knew it would do nothing.

"Something hit me." He continued, rubbing his face subconsciously. The cut that had been there ten minutes prior was already healing. It used to be a gash that had revealed bone. "And then he was on the ground and I didn't do anything. Promise. I didn't-"

His eyes were so bright and blue, reminding Dog of a familiar person whose eyes were just as bright and just as warm. But that was the past, and the pain that belonged there were supposed to stay there. He looks just like you sensei, Dog thought.

The communicator strapped to his neck crackled, bringing him out of his memories. New orders. They've been dawdling long enough, the dead man's body had already cooled. The Konoha police are to arrive soon to deal with the body and file a report that won't ever be seen. Normally a situation such as this would be finished, the body destroyed or brought back to headquarters. But they were uncertain as to how to proceed. It was mainly due to an unforeseen situation.

"Naruto, you have to come with me to the Hokage tower."

The boy perked up, his eyes widening. "We're gonna see jiji?" Dog almost cringed at that. The Hokage had taken to the nickname with good grace, accepting it with a broad smile. Others have been killed for less.

"Yes, we're going to see Hok-jiji." Dog really did try not to wince as he spoke.

"Can my friend come too?" The seven year old turned to his 'friend', beaming.

"Yes, him too." Curt. Calm. Dog felt his fingers curl tightly forming into a fist. "Want to introduce your friend to us?"

Naruto positively beamed at that. "Yeah, this is-"

"Naruto." Ah, and so the friend speaks. The other boy's grip on Naruto's wrist remained even as he spoke. Throughout the whole conversation, he hadn't let Naruto go at all. The bloody hand print on his shirt told his tale far better than anything Naruto could ever say.

"That's my name, don't wear it out!" The container of the Kyuubi grinned at the other, determined to at the very least introduce his only friend to the adults. Naruto wasn't afraid of them, they looked scary but they were nice to him. Nicer than most people. His exuberant grin did not falter even in the face of the flat look that was sent back.

Contrary to popular opinion, Naruto was not a child eating demon. He was a sacrifice, an example of how far a love for one's village can go. He is the legacy of the fourth, and one day everyone will know that. But at the moment, he is a secret. There are many who would want to kill the son of the fourth, Naruto's father had earned many enemies.

Dog could hear the impatience as orders were once more snapped to him, his squad already in movement. One grabbed Naruto by the scruff of his shirt, not being at all gentle with her movements. As for the other, two ANBU surrounded him, dragging him along in their teleportation jutsu. Dog vanished last, to cover for the squad's movements.

They arrived at the Hokage's tower easily, without resistance. They teleported to the office, blurring into view before melting into the shadows as proper ANBU were supposed to. The two boys were left behind, in the middle of the office. The office was full of scrolls and ink.

"Naruto-kun." Sarutobi's warm grandfather voice broke the silence, and soon Naruto's gleeful shout followed after. The boy ran up to the Hokage, reaching up to hug him. "You look well." The Hokage's visits were always met with squeals of glee and many hugs. It was sadly one of the highlights of Naruto's week.

Sarutobi easily lifted Naruto, propping him on his knee. "Now what brings you here?" In an attempt to get anything important, they had decided on this ruse. It wasn't to get information out of Naruto, as much as it was to gauge the reaction of the 'friend'.

Speaking of the foreign nin, the other child watched this entire exchange without batting an eye. From the shadow, Dog really didn't know what to make of the boy. The Hyuuga on his team had already verified that it wasn't a foreign nin and if it were, they were very skilled. But not skilled enough. Any spy would know better than to try to befriend a boy who is watched by ANBU. Any spy would know better than to kill in broad day light and not bother to hide the evidence. A spy would at least try to appear amicable.

The strange boy watched as Sarutobi placed a sleeping jutsu on the yellow haired child, and the ANBU squad as one tensed, hands drifting to their weapons. Everything about that kid unnerved them, the way he moved and the way he presented himself screamed unnatural. And the swiftness of his strike, as he gutted the poor man.

With the sleeping Naruto resting on his desk and out of the way, Sarutobi faced the Other with the full weight of his years behind him. There was no kindness in his eyes, only the authority of Hokage and the intent to protect. There was no killing intent, yet.

"And now for you." Sarutobi took out his pipe from his desk, lighting it. His actions betrayed nothing of his intent. To anyone else, this would seem to be nothing worth noting. Just a meeting between an old man and a child. "What is your purpose?"

The object of his questioning tilted his head, much like a bird would. Bright blue eyes stared back at Sarutobi, his form as if a mockery. The bright blond hair stood out against the paint of the walls, framing his face. He looked so much like that man. It hurt to look at him.

"And why have you taken on that form, Kyuubi no Yoko."

A/N: And that is the prologue. Well I hope you guys like it. Tell me what you think.