Crimson Fracture

A/N: Main changes include Naruto not getting attached to Konoha and getting introduced to the kyuubi at a young age. The first couple of introduction chapters will deviate from the main story but after it gets situated it will follow cannon story line with resultant changes.

Begin!

Bold – Kyuubi talking

Italics – Thoughts

Bold and Italics – Jutsu or Shinobi Techniques

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. The respective owner is Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

A 4 year old Naruto Uzumaki was currently running for his life. All he tried to do was buy a piece of bread and the villagers went crazy. Why you might ask? Because it was the eve of the Kyuubi's attack on Konoha, and consequences be damned the villagers would fight for their loved ones. But Naruto wasn't aware of that, all he knew was every year after his jiisan gave him his birthday gift an angry mob would try and kill him, last year they almost succeeded...

Flashback

"Get the demon!"

"Kill the brat!"

Naruto was currently running out of time but he knew if he could make it to the Hokage tower he would survive.

"Which way was it, left or right... RIGHT"

he was met by a dead end and a fist to the back of the head.

"Finally I can kill the demon brat who took my wife and kid from me," one of the mob members spat out venomously.

"Sir," Naruto's voice was no more than a whisper, "I don't who you are, but how do you know me?" The fear was radiating off the child, his voice slowly rising into a cry, "Why do you call me a demon, why, why, WHY!"

"KILL HIM BEFORE HE MAKES ANY MORE NOISE!"

Naruto expected the end, he was waiting to meet the Shinigami maybe get some closure of who his parents were, relishing in the moment he was surprised when he felt... Nothing, he only heard about five thunks and then silence. Soon footsteps could be heard, and it sounded like they were stepping in puddles, "but it hasn't rained in weeks," Naruto thought.

Looking up Naruto saw death for the first time, there in front of him was the angry mob all dead with a lone ANBU starring at him, as if the bodies didn't even faze him. After starring for a while the ANBU just pulled his kunai out of their skulls gave a slight nod and left. Surprisingly Naruto didn't feel that much different either, looking upon the bodies Naruto could of swore he heard a voice, it almost growled at him? And it said

"Embrace the emotion kit; you have a long way to go..."

End of Flashback

Coming back to reality Naruto realized he was slowly getting away from the civilians, thinking he was safe Naruto slowed down and took in his surroundings. He was in what he suspected was a clans residential area, if all the buildings and space indicated anything, plus all the people had the Uchiha symbol on their backs.

"This could be bad I'm not liked around here. Let's go before anyone realizes that I'm her-," Naruto stopped his train of thought when he felt a hand grip his shoulder hard.

Itachi Uchiha a prodigy among geniuses. He graduated faster than all his peers and mastered all the jutsus he was taught. Held as the next clan heir he had a fully developed three tomeo sharingnan. But none of that mattered; Itachi hated all the praise he received. That was why he went around wearing his stoic facade. So today when he finally got a few minutes away from his controlling father and pestering brother he thought it was going to be perfect. What he didn't expect was when he was about to take a bite of the pocky he had with himself a young boy would walk right in front of him, clearly scared for his life. Itachi recognized the boy as Naruto the jinchiruuki of the kyuubi, yeah that's right Itachi respected the kid, it's not every day you hold a demon in yourself. Approaching the kid quietly he placed his hand on his shoulder.

Slowly turning around Naruto was ready to scream when he saw an Uchiha there but then he gazed into the man's eyes and he saw no malcontent or evil so he relaxed.

"Sorry sir," Naruto was whispering again, "I'll leave right away."

"Now why would you leave this perfectly good hiding spot Naruto-kun? Have some pocky, Hokage-sama has informed me you like it from time to time."

Naruto eyed the man wearily, "I do like pocky, but why would you a great shinobi from this clan want to help a demon like me. If you're anything like the villagers it would be better if I just left."

Itachi's eyes were narrowing the whole time until he couldn't take it anymore "First this clan has nothing to do with how I make my decisions and if you ever insinuate that my actions always need to be sanctioned I'll call that bastard of a father I have, and let him deal with you," Naruto physically shivered at that, "and second I will be damned if I hear the savior of this village calling himself a demon again."

Confused and a little put off with the whole 'being told the clan head,' Naruto gave the only response a 4 year old Uzumaki could muster, "Huh."

"Naruto-kun don't you find it weird that the villagers always attack you, especially today on your birthday."

"Not really sir," Naruto said while putting on his fake smile, "I just figured they were angry when I asked them if it really cost fifty ryo for a piece of last week's bread. They must be going through some rough times so I don't blame them."

Itachi was appalled after he heard that, he was going to have to talk to the Hokage about the treatment Naruto was receiving. But there was something Itachi needed to address now, this kid was so much like himself on a mission it was unbelievable, he was quiet, calm, and held his emotions in check. He would probably be a prodigy if given the right training.

"Naruto-kun answer me this, I know you are not lying but why would you hide your emotions by putting on that fake smile of yours. While a shinobi is required to be able to keep their emotions in check, you are not, so can you please explain to me why you feel that you need to lie."

Itachi saw Naruto flinch a little after being called out, but he did not expect to see a lone tear trail down the young blondes face.

"... Sir can we just keep this between us, jiisan doesn't know about this," seeing Itachi nod Naruto continued, "I used to love this village, but over the past year the hate I receive has increased, the glares have turned to beatings and the whispers have escalated to shouting at my face. I don't even know why. Jiisan just takes me to his house for a few days and lets me play at the mansion. But now hate this village, I wanted to protect it at one point but now I wouldn't care if it burned to the ground. The only people I would ever fight for are those precious to me, but since I'm hated, that's only jiisan and maybe you... I wanted to become a shinobi but now I don't care. I have seen the way ninja look at me; I'm doing everyone a favor."

Itachi was officially pissed the fu-, off. He was going to help this boy out if it killed him, literally with what he was planning to do.

"Naruto-kun let's go have a talk with the Hokage, you remind me of myself."

And with that Naruto and the man whose name he still didn't know left for the Hokage tower via a shunshin.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was an aging man who had been through a war, demon vessels raging and training possibly the three most recognized individuals in the elemental nations, the sannin. Yet every day the man could not grasp what ever possessed him to become Hokage, he had to face the biggest threat to a man's sanity everyday...

Mountains of Paperwork

Sighing to himself Sarutobi lit his pipe, he had a feeling his mountain of paperwork was about to get a lot bigger.

He didn't even know how right he was.

Feeling Itachi's presence getting closer he noticed that he was accompanied by a much smaller one.

"Now who could that be?" Sarutobi was cut from his musing when Itachi arrived via his crows holding on to a slightly dumbstruck... Naruto?

"Itachi-san good to see you, may I ask you why you have my grandson with you?"

Now Itachi was never one to shy down but he was slowly starting to lose confidence. The question was asked with no malevolent intent but it's not every day when you commit an act of treason and try to tell an S-classed secret.

"Hokage-sama with all due respect I came here with Naruto to make a request," when Sarutobi's eyes prodded Itachi to continue he did, "tell Naruto, our savior, about IT or I will. I am sick of seeing him take the brunt of the idiot villagers' torture"

Sarutobi's visage turned into a scowl and Naruto for his part could not understand what the now identified Itachi said that would invoke his jiisan's face to change.

"Itachi you will speak no more of this, Naruto is 4, we don't know how the 'situation' would affect him."

"Hokage-sama, Naruto is a bright young boy who has potential to be better than myself, withholding information of his ancestry and true abilities limit him severely. You say that the laws were made to protect him but all they do is place him in a false world. Hokage-sama either you tell Naruto the whole truth now and see if he overloads or you allow me to take him in as an... Apprentice you could say, that would allow me to train him to become a shinobi and slowly tell Naruto-kun his heritage."

Sarutobi wasn't regarded as one of the smartest shinobi for nothing so he immediately noticed some loop holes, while he wasn't excited about this proposal he did not want to lose one of his best shinobi and his grandson. "Itachi while I agree with easing the truth to Naruto there are some problems with your plan. First how could you possibly take him in, need I remind you, your father does not share your thoughts about Naruto. Second do you really think that the brat will live up to your expectations?"

Sarutobi figured he could handle the council and the Uchiha clan but he wanted Naruto's opinion, if the kid did not want help, Sarutobi would stop at nothing to make sure he didn't get help. The brat comment was to get Naruto talking.

Meanwhile in La-la land Naruto was wondering if he could become a shinobi. He saw the way Itachi moved quickly with his crows and was instantly hooked. Listening to parts of the conversation Naruto was hearing his name and words like apprentice, when all of a sudden he heard his jiisan call him a brat.

"Jiisan don't call me that. Itachi-san I would love to be trained by you, I'm going to be a feared shinobi one day."

"Wait what? I thought I wanted to be Hokage, when did that change."

From the back of his mind Naruto heard a dripping sound, slowly a voice called out to him...

"Embrace your desires kit; we will converse when you grow strong. The first step is to set your resolve."

Filing that creepy quip for later Naruto caught the tail end of the conversation.

"... Alright Itachi I will give you a chance to train Naruto. You will care for him until his graduating year at the academy. You can instruct him on his heritage however you see fit, but I warn you now that if Naruto comes back distraught I will strip you down to a chunin forever. Also I do not want Naruto to be isolated from others, even if he only interacts with your jonin associates he needs to meet others."

"Thank you Hokage-sama."

With that the duo that would rock the elemental nations in the future set out to the Uchiha complex.

Wanting to instruct Naruto on some of the problems that might arise with him staying at the estate Itachi told Naruto they were going to walk home. Much to the younger blondes' dismay, something about superfast travel with crows. After a couple of minutes of walking the pair stopped at a park.

"Alright Naruto as you know you will now be living with me because of our training agreement. First at the complex the only person you have to worry about is father," the word dripped with venom "Second I will tell you about your heritage when I want, if you pester me I will stop training you. Third we will pack up all your valuables shortly, no need for clothes because we are buying you new items. Fourth every day after training you will accompany me and we will meet some of my friends and eat pocky, OK."

Naruto thought about it for a bit then looked up to Itachi with a foxy smile that he would come to hate in the future, "Under two conditions," Itachi raised an eyebrow at that, "One sometimes we have to eat ramen and two when you are not teaching me sensei I can call you Oniisan."

"Sounds good to me Otouto. Let's go get your old and new stuff."

After a long, scratch that, very long long day Itachi arrived home with a smiling Naruto. The kid had no possessions what so ever, so Itachi naturally bitched out the lady at the orphanage and bought Naruto all new clothes. Naruto's new style consisted of this: A straight navy blue t-shirt, black shorts which ended just below the knee, black shinobi sandals, and a white cloak with flame decal on the bottom - which Naruto was carrying because he was hot. Itachi admitted it made Naruto presentable and with any luck his family members would fu-, mind their own business.

Of course though Itachi had the worst luck possible, just as he was thinking where Naruto was going to stay, his Father, Mother and younger brother Sasuke turned the corner, stopped, gave him a once over and thought, "Who the hell is that."

Recovering quickly from his stupor Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi's father asked, "Son why did you bring this de-, brat to our quarters at the estate, and why are you carrying all the boxes for him, I'm sure the Beas-, kid could handle it."

Before Itachi could even think of a response his other family members put in their thoughts as well.

"Awwww, look how cute you are, Fugaku when we have a guest you treat him as one," Mikoto reprimanded "Let's get little Naru-kun some food."

Aforementioned kid blushed.

"Niisan why did you bring this kid to our home, and where were you today I thought we could train?" Sasuke asked a little downtrodden.

Once again before Itachi could answer a certain blonde knuckle head answered for him, and not in a way that would make his life any easier.

"Owww wow Oniisan, you have such a cool family. Your mommy is very pretty and nice, your father is like jiisan I know he loves you, and you have a little brother. Could he train with me during the apprentice time thing? Oh and can he be my brother too, I would call him Otouto though because I'm older, I think. And I want to call Mikoto-san Mommy too, I don't have one and I would like to have one. Is that OK," turning around after his speech Naruto saw a very pale faced Itachi, "Oi, Oniisan are you all right."

Silence.

Not a word was spoken for a minute and a half before Fugaku decided he had enough. "Itachi you have a lot of explaining to do." It was not even given option to be negotiated. Fugaku just turned and went to the dining room, everyone followed soon after.

Thus began the most uncomfortable dinner the Uchiha family has ever encountered. About half way through the meal Mikoto sent her eldest son a sympathizing glance and said, "Itachi can you please tell us the whole story. I can see you already finalized the details, much to your father's ire, so can you please just inform us on what is going to happen."

"Thank you kaasan. In short Naruto-kun was chased around today because of 'IT', he then blamed himself because of 'IT', then had enough will to put on a fake smile and take it in stride. I see a very rough exterior but on the inside he reminds me of myself. After that we went to the Hokage and I told him; either he tells Naruto about 'IT' or I take him as an apprentice. The stipulations set are I will be his caretaker until he graduates from the academy and over the course of that time period I will tell him about 'IT' while training him in the arts of the shinobi."

Mikoto's eyes almost popped out of her skull. How could her son be so brash? She knew he despised the way the villagers treated Naruto but this, this was unreal.

Sasuke on the other hand could not for the life of him figure out why Itachi Oniisan was being so nice to this orphan. He was thinking it was pity or the sorts, but when Itachi said Naruto reminded him of himself, he felt... Jealous. But when Sasuke heard that the kid was going to be his Oniisan's apprentice he lost it, "Oniisan how can you train this kid over me, I am your Otouto not him, why do you always do this," Sasuke was now whispering, "why... why-,"

"Itachi-nii, this doesn't seem like it's going to work out. I will go get my stuff and leave. Sasuke Otouto it was nice meeting you I hope you grow strong. Mikoto-sama, Fugaku-sama thank you for the meal, an orphan like me doesn't deserve this." With that a depressed Naruto left. He was so let down he left without putting on his fake smile

Before anyone could say anything, Itachi exploded; damn it all he wasn't going to be interrupted anymore, "OK, WHAT THE HELL. I tell you guys' one thing and you all immediately shut it down. Otousan you disliked the idea the second you saw him, Kaasan there is still some distrust in your eyes, and Sasuke ohhhhh Sasuke. You were probably fine with getting a brother until you thought he was stealing me away from you. Maybe that's why I like him so much, he is clearly polite and even knows a shinobi creed even though he is an orphan. You should be ashamed of yourself; maybe if what I taught you actually stuck I wouldn't be pissed right now. The needs of many outweigh the needs of one. Remember that brat and in the future be respectful to your brother and my Otouto."

And with that the Uchiha family was left at the table as Itachi went to find Naruto.

Just outside the compound.

"Naruto-kun wait, wait!" Itachi was frantically trying to get the blonde to stop. What he didn't expect was for the kid to whirl on him and stare at him with eyes full of tears.

"Why should I wait, I was right Oniisan your family hates me like everyone else. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY!" Naruto was screaming, "Why should I stay in a village that hates me, also I think I'm going crazy because I hear a voice in my head, it keeps telling me to embrace something. So you know what, I will just leave and figure it out on my own. I don't want to cause anyone more pain then they need and I seem to make everyone hate. Good b-,"

Just as Naruto was about leave he felt someone poke his forehead and pull him into a hug.

"Silly Otouto, you don't make people hate it's their own stupidity. Plus if you left the village your jiisan would be very sad and I would miss you too, you are my little blonde Otouto and don't you ever forget. I know kaasan will love you eventually the other two worry me..." pausing Itachi backed off a little so he could see Naruto's eyes. "Tell you what, if you don't want to deal with them I will move out with you and we can get a nice apartment."

Sniff-"thanks Itachi-nii but let's just stay at your house. It will take a while but we could probably get along. If it ever gets rough I can stay at a guest house at the outskirts of the property."

"OK Otouto let's get you to bed, tomorrow is going to be even worse than today."

With that Itachi led Naruto back to the estate and straight to his room. He did not trust anyone in the household at the moment and he wasn't going to chance it.

"Goodnight Itachi-nii."

"Goodnight Naruto-kun."

MINDSCAPE

"The kit is growing. He seeks out his power for the sake of nothing ... yet, the bond is growing stronger. I will not reveal myself until he proves his resolve is strong enough to contain the emotions; anger, desire, hate. He will learn in time what a true shinobi is and only then will the world be ready. For being loyal is nice but the elemental nations will soon find out the embodiment death, for he who bears the sins of many shall restore the peace to the corrupted world. May he be known as the Crimson Fracture that tore this world asunder."

Another A:N/ So what did you think of the first chapter. This story will be drawn out so no need to rush anything. I promise to warn you for time skips at the beginning of the chapters. I know that you're all thinking WTF, why is Itachi being so nice to Naruto, and the hell the kyuubi is a scholar. Well that will be explained, later. I am game for writing a cute pairing between almost anyone, just don't expect lemons. I'll put a contest up and see. Also should the kyuubi be a woman, yes or no. As good as some stories are there will be no relationship there, but I might give Naruto some more foxy attributes. It just makes him so damn cute. Please don't flame me if ya hate my guts or this story, ja ne.

Ambrax Demise