A new story I've been writing for a bit now, so I thought now's as good a time as any to put it out there. Now before I hear any one saying I'm copycat, well you're partially right, but I asked Nightmares Around Winter to use his idea, and I made it my own in a way. So none of those "you suck copycat comments." I'm writing this fic because I enjoy his so much and I don't like waiting, so I thought hey I can write, so I'll write my own. So just, you know, enjoy the story.

XXXxXXX

Prologue: I Wasn't Brutally Murdered

Nine year old Uzumaki Naruto sighed as he swung by his lonesome in the park. All his friends had started training at the kunoichi academy, so he wasbored most days with no one to play with. He thought about visiting one of the clan compounds, but didn't want to bother anyone, though most of them wouldn't have minded having the blond cutie over.

"What to do?" the nine-year old asked no one for the umpteenth time, wishing that he could join his friends in the academy. He knew that was impossible though, since boys couldn't produce or mold the chakra necessary to be a kunoichi. Women had been in charge as long as anyone could remember and it wasn't going to change anytime soon. Of course he didn't really care about any of that, he was just ticked off because all his friends were girls and he was so miserably bored.

Naruto, in his short nine years, had often asked himself why all of the men in the village seemed to detest him, and why the boys never liked hanging out with him. Then after a while he decided he didn't care how they felt because he had people who did like him. Though, this led him to ask why the women of the village were in the opposite camp, but again he decided to stop asking and enjoy the fortune Lady Luck gave him. What he didn't know was that all the kunoichi clans were making plans to snatch the boy up when he was older. Someone would have adopted him already, if the clans had been able to stop bickering over who was the best choice.

"I wonder if Inu-chan can play? Maybe she'd take me to Ichiraku?" Naruto wasn't completely aware of the effect he had women, with his big blues, and cute face, not to mention the innocent routine that endeared him even further. "No, she's probably busy with some super-secret kunoichi mission. Hmm, Kabuta-chan might be at the hospital today," With that in mind the boy set off to the hospital.

Naruto had always wanted to protect everyone that mattered to him, but he could never fight beside them, so a year ago Naruto found his own way to help. A year ago Naruto announced his intentions to become a doctor at the hospital, and asked them to teach him. That plan went out the window when the nurses informed him that he still needed some schooling before he could begin studying medicine. Of course, the nurses couldn't stand to see the poor boy so dejected, so they sent him to the Chief of Medicine. She ordered her daughter, Kabuta, to teach Naruto about medicinal herbs, and first aid. He had learned a lot in the past year and he could remember the first time he put his skills to use.

xxxXxxx

He was walking through the park, happily full from his lunch with the Aburame clan head, Shibi, and her six-year old daughter, Shina. Shina was fun to play with, as she would often drag Naruto around and show him all the bugs hanging around the compound. Naruto, like most boys his age, thought all the creepy crawlies were a barrel of fun. It made her happy every time Naruto told her how awesome she was, and it made Shibi, who was watching over them, even happier. After leaving their home, he was looking for something else to do when he spotted a cut and bruised girl resting on a bench.

"Nee-chan!" Izumi had been taking a small break after an exhausting training session when she heard someone cry out. Looking up she saw a young blond boy rush to her side. Recognizing him as the Naruto boy some of her fellow ANBU talked about, she was going to ask what he wanted, but stopped when he pulled out a first aid kit. "Nee-chan, you shouldn't walk around all messed up like this," Naruto chastised as he cleaned her cuts.

"So who are you?" Izumi asked as she observed the young boy bandage her up. She had to admit that the diligent way he went about it was quite cute.

"Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto replied as he put the last bandage on her cheek and kissed it, "There."

Izumi smiled and quirked a brow, "Why did you do that?"

"Kabuta-chan said I should kiss the last bandage I put on a girl," Naruto replied earnestly, "Did I do it wrong?"

Izumi laughed and shook her head, "No, no it's fine. So Naruto-kun, what are you doing here today?"

"I was looking for something to do," he answered, packing his away his kit, "I'm super bored."

"Really well maybe I-"

GRUMBLE!

The small blush that spread on her cheeks made Naruto giggle, "You must be pretty hungry, huh, Nee-chan?" Naruto dug through his pack and pulled out a bento, "Here, Shibi-kaa-san packed this for me, but I think you need it more."

Not one to turn down a free meal, Izumi accepted the boxed lunch, with a small thank you, and dug in. Naruto sat down next to her, and looked around the park while he waited for her to finish. Being his usual hyperactive self this got boring really quickly, so he took a moment to observe his new friend. He was sure that under all the bruises and cuts she was quite pretty. Her sharp facial features contrasted nicely with her feminine curves. Coal black eyes looked out through long lashes, the tear troughs running down her face adding a bit of uniqueness, and her long black, which looked well cared for, pulled back in its low ponytail. Looking down, Naruto noticed the odd mask clipped onto her hip, and without realizing it, he was already reaching out for it.

"You shouldn't take things that aren't yours, you know," Izumi said smirking at him.

"Ah, s-sorry!" Naruto apologized, "I-I just wanted to see your mask."

"All you had to do was ask, Naruto-kun," Izumi chuckled as she handed Naruto her weasel mask, and returned to her meal.

"Cool! It's just like the one Inu-chan wears," Naruto said he looked the mask over, "Hey, nee-chan, are you just like Inu-chan?"

Izumi finished her meal and turned to the boy, "Yes, I am, but enough about that. Since you fed me I'm in your debt, so Naruto-kun, what do you want?"

"Let's play kunoichi!" Izumi laughed and agreed; his enthusiasm about glorified tag was refreshing, "Alright! You're it!" The rest of the afternoon was filled with gentle laughter, and peals of excitement. Izumi was surprised to find herself relaxing, and for the first time in a long time she didn't feel the pressures of her life. When Naruto had tired himself out they sat on the bench, watching the sun begin to set.

"Naruto-kun, what do you want to do with your life?" Izumi asked, keeping her eyes on the sunset.

Naruto looked at her, unsure of where this question came from, but it didn't take long to come up with his answer. "I wanted to be a kunoichi, to protect everyone I love, but it's impossible for me." A sad, dejected look filled his eyes, but it was swept away by a roaring fire, "so I decided to be a doctor, the best in the world! I might not be able to keep everyone from getting hurt, but this way I can still save them."

Izumi smiled as she heard his declaration, and decided to make a promise of her own. "Naruto-kun," Izumi said, holding out her pinky, "Let's make a promise."

"A promise?"

"Yes, a promise to never stop protecting those we love."

Naruto's smile outshined the sun, as he hooked his pinky around hers, "It's the promise of a lifetime!"

"The promise of a lifetime," Izumi replied, with a smile of her own. Then stood and dusted herself off, "Well, Naruto-kun, I'm sure you're hungry. How about I treat you to dinner, your choice."

"Oh, well actually-"

"Naruto-kun!" Naruto's head whipped around to see Hana Inuzuka jogging up to them, "I was hoping I'd find you here."

"Hana-nee-chan, I was-oh right! Hana Inuzuka this is umm?" Naruto scratched his head, realizing something quite important, "Sorry Nee-chan, I forgot to ask for your name."

"Izumi Uchiha. I've heard of you," Hana said holding out her hand.

"Only good things I hope. It's nice to meet you Inuzuka-san," Izumi said shaking Hana's hand, "so Naruto-kun, where do you want to go?"

"I'm sorry Uchiha-san, Naruto-kun already has dinner plan with my family," Hana said taking Naruto's hand.

"Oh, well, I'd hate to intrude," Izumi replied, and then she shot Hana a sly look. She was enjoying her time with Naruto and didn't want it interrupted, "Of course, it is Naruto-kun's choice."

"Of course it is," Hana replied, surprised by how quickly this girl ticked her off, "Which is why he is coming with me."

"Is he now?"

Naruto began to sweat as he felt something bad brewing between the girls, "I'm sorry Nee-chan, but I'm going with Hana-nee-chan." The tiny sad glint in Izumi's eyes made Naruto quickly explain, "I made a promise and Teuchi-san says a man never breaks a promise."

Hana giggled and Izumi smiled at his antics, "I understand, Naruto-kun, I wouldn't want you to break a promise."

xxxXxxx

Naruto smiled at the memory, he really did have a good life.

"Excuse me, young man?" a rather plain looking women called out and Naruto had to point at himself to be sure. When she nodded, he decided to find out what she could want.

"What is it Onee-chan?"

"I was hoping you could help me move this heavy box into my store?"

"Of course," Naruto answered, always happy to help those in need. If only he had noticed the vicious smirk on the woman's face. "Hey Onee-chan I don't see a-uh!" Naruto dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. The woman quickly bound, gagged, and threw Naruto into a sack. Then she transformed her cover, a man who came to the village for supplies, and carried him off.

xxxXxxx

Five miles outside of Konoha was a waterfall that connected to a river that ran out of Fire Country. It was here the kunoichi dropped the sack before a tall, well-dressed man, "Here he is. Now, where's my pay?"

"Here," The man carelessly threw a bag full of coins at her feet. All his focus was on the sack, and when he saw the boy inside a wicked smile danced on his lips, "Finally."

The kunoichi, now revealing a scratched headband from Suna, headed off into the forest. She spared one last glance at the boy, "Sorry kid."

The man shook Naruto awake, sick joy swelling in his heart at the terrified light in the boy's eyes. "Do you know who I am, monster? My family, my wife and daughter, you killed them that night. You crushed them like they were ants, like they were nothing!"

Naruto tried to scurry away, but the man seized Naruto by the neck and threw him to the cliff's edge, "But they meant the world to me!" The man pulled a dagger from his belt, tears in his eyes, "Sachiko you were so beautiful, so kind…"

Naruto had never been so scared; tears and snot ran down his face as he tried to scurry away. "Where are you going, monster?" the man spat bringing his foot down on Naruto's leg.

"Mmrgh!" Naruto screamed through his gag, and small pathetic whimpers followed.

"Tomiko, can you see daddy now? Daddy is going to make everything right." The man turned Naruto over and straddled him, "This is for the village," and drove that dagger down.

Naruto had never felt so much pain in his life; it surged through his whole body, crippling and agonizing.

"This is for Sachiko!"

"Mmrgh!"

"And Tomiko!"

"Hmm."

"And this is for me!"

"…" It hurt so much he couldn't muster anymore cries. As more and more blood pooled under Naruto, his slipped in and out of consciousness, "I don't want to go…please someone, save me…"

Finally satisfied with his work, the man rose to his feet, making sure to leave his dagger in the demon. "Enjoy these last few moments on earth, monster," with that he kicked Naruto over the edge, down walked away.

The small body crashed into the water and flew down the raging river. The last thing Naruto felt was the river's chill seeping into his bones as it carried him to the end of his life.

xxxXxxx

The man walked through the village back to the small settlement that would serve as his alibi. That idiotic kunoichi council wouldn't suspect a thing.

THUMP!

The man's heart jumped into his throat as a familiar woman was dropped in front him by an enraged Hokage, and three equally furious ANBU squads.

"Is this him?" Hiroko asked.

"Y-yes…" The woman coughed out.

"Good," Hiroko snapped her fingers, "Neko."

"Hai," Neko approached the woman drawing her sword.

"W-Wait I kept my-" Neko pulled the blade out of the kunoichi's throat, leaving her to drown in her own blood.

"Where is he?" a deadly quiet came over the forest, and he had to resist the urge to piss himself when all the ANBU took a step forward.

"He's dead," seeing the devastated look in Hiroko's eyes he couldn't help rubbing salt deep into the wound. "That's right I killed your little pet monster. You should've seen the look in his eyes, and the pathetic little screams he let out, like music," he laughed, damn near able to taste their pain, and wanting more. "I'm sure he was crying out for you, for all of you to save him. I'm sure you can still find his blood, after all there was so much gushing out of him as I stabbed him over, and over, and over."

Weasel pinned the man against a tree, kunai pointed at his eye, "Where is he?"

"Back that way is the waterfall," the man answered, "but I'd hurry, I tossed that piece of shit over the edge," the man finished, laughing hysterically.

Weasel silenced the man permanently and raced to the waterfall, everyone right on her tail. Weasel felt sick to her stomach as she arrived at the gruesome site. The man hadn't been lying, Naruto's blood soaked the ground, "It's too much, he couldn't-" she shook her head, banishing those thoughts from her mind.

"Everyone follow the river! Keep an eye out! He could've washed onto the bank," the ANBU took off, desperately praying to find their blond-haired angel.

Their prayers would go unanswered.

"I'm sorry Naruto-kun," the Hokage would go home that day and mourn with her village.

xxxXxxx

Naruto's body floated down the river like flotsam, blood dying the river red as his life drifted away. Just as Naruto took his final breaths crimson energy erupted from his body. The water steamed and sizzled as the vile chakra closed his wounds. Then the chakra exploded, hurling the boy clear of the river and onto the bank. On dry land, even more of the revolting chakra oozed out Naruto.. His eyes snapped open, but instead of their usual happy blue, these eyes were red, angry, and filled with a deep, endless hate, "Finally."

Naruto grinned wickedly and sat up, but then something unexpected happened. The crimson chakra died out, vanished as if it was never there, but in its place came an explosion of even stronger energy. This chakra was a deep black; it seemed to want to draw everything into its embrace.

"It's so warm," Naruto yawned and laid back down, "I think I'll take nap…"

xxxXxxx

Honda Moto was a man of some sixty odd years who had lead a life more exciting than most. He had become a wandering healer, plying his trade from one end of the Elemental Nations to the other. He'd had a few adventures here and there, saw amazing things, saved lives, fell in love, had his heart broken, and sowed his seed. Yes, Honda Moto, could say that his life was more than he had ever expected it to be, and he was damn happy for it.

Once age had caught up with him, Moto settled down in a large village in River Country. The savings he had earned throughout his life afforded him a good home in the poor district; hiring out his skills from time to time kept him comfortable. Now he was resting on the riverbank, fishing rod in hand, enjoying the late summer afternoon.

The comforting silence was shattered by splashing water and the loud thump a small distance from him. Curiosity got the better of him and he was going inspect, until his world exploded into red. The force knocked him on his ass and fear made him scurry back as he gawked at the fire in front of him. Just as he was going to run away the flame turned green and then gently died away.

His whole body told him to leave, to find someone, report it, and stay as far as physically possible from whatever was over there. But he knew that thump, he'd heard it enough in travels to know it was the sound of a body hitting the ground. The doctor in him wouldn't allow him to ignore it, so he gathered his nerve and investigated.

xxxXxxx

Tired eyes opened to the view of a starry night. Exhaustion turned to curiosity when those eyes fell onto an old man tending to a crackling fire. He tried to speak but his throat was so dry all he could muster was a coughing fit.

"Easy kid," Honda said moving to Naruto's side and bringing a flask to his lips, "Slowly, not too much. Don't need you choking." Once Honda was sure the boy was fine he pulled the flask away, "How do you feel kid?"

"B-Better," Naruto said sitting up, "who are you?"

"Honda Moto, and if you wouldn't mind settling an old man's curiosity, who are you?"

"I'm, uh, I'm Naruto?" he winced as his hands brushed up against a lump on his head.

"That's it?" Honda asked, "no last name, mother, father, where you're from, uh pet dog…"

"N-no," Naruto answered trying to recall any little detail about himself, "just Naruto."

"I was afraid of that," Honda replied shaking his head, "seems like the blows you took to the head gave you a case of amnesia."

"What!?" Naruto was on the verge of tears, "What am I going to do?"

"Hey, hey, calm down kid," Honda comforted the poor boy while trying to think up a solution. The smart thing to do would have been to take the boy to the orphanage, but the boy was in a bad spot and he could never turn away someone in need, "Listen kid, how about you come stay with me."

"R-Really?" Naruto wiped his eyes and gazed hopefully at Honda, "you mean it?"

"Yeah, besides someone's bound to come looking for you; this river runs the length of the country." Now that he thought about, Honda wondered how Naruto made it down the river without being dragged out by anyone. The area he was fishing from was *too* small and shallow for anything bigger than a canoe, so he understood that, but the river that fed it was used for transporting goods. "Guess I'll just chalk it up to a fluke."

Naruto hugged the old man happily, until he felt the chilly air on his skin. Looking down he noticed his state of dress, or rather the lack of it, "Where are my clothes?"

"Oh, they were wet so I had to take them off. They're drying over there," Honda didn't tell the boy the state he found his clothes in, he had been through enough. Naruto's shirt had been soaked in blood, the tears in the clothing told Honda that the boy had been stabbed, repeatedly. The fact that Naruto had been in the river also indicated that someone had been trying to get rid of the body. Honda still felt disgusted by what he'd seen, and wondered what kind of monster committed the deed.

"Ojii-san, what-what if no one comes looking for me?"

"Then you'll stay with me until we figure out what to do. I'll even do what I can to help you get your memories back," Honda said as he plucked a fish away from the fire and offered it to the nine year old, "Here kid, I'm sure you're starving."

Naruto tore through the fish like a rabid fox. "Can I have another?" When Honda handed him another the old man had to make sure he ate slowly, warning him about bones, "Ojii-san, thank you."

Even as Honda smiled, his gut told him that this kid was going to be trouble.

xxxXxxx

TBC