Hello Everybody! This is my first ever fanfiction and I am excited to be sharing it with all of you. It took a lot of courage to publish this and I hope someone out there enjoys it. Please Review and constructive criticism is accepted. Thanks!
This chapter is going to be more of a prologue than anything and is shorter than the other chapters I will write. The following chapters will be between 3k-5k words. This is a story that I have been trying to get out of my head for a while. I already have an outline for it and I am excited to write it.
Pairing:
NaruxSaku
Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto Franchise, that is Masashi Kishimoto's master creation.
CHAPTER 1: A Life Changing Offer (Prologue)
Naruto Uzumaki carried a burden like no other. He was the cage in which the nine tailed fox demon was locked in. Sadly, most people saw him as nothing more than that. Even worse, they looked down on him for keeping the fox at bay. This led to abuse from the villagers and many painful experiences.
The Third Hokage put much effort into attempting to stop the torture that the child was receiving but had no luck. It didn't help that he was currently struggling to prevent a potential coupe by the Uchiha. It was painful to see what the child was going through but he didn't have many options.
Thankfully he was able to contact Jiraiya and speak to him about the situation with Naruto. Shockingly, Jiraiya recommended something that the Third would have never expected. He wanted to take Naruto out of the village and on a journey. The Third didn't know what to say at first. However he concluded that it would make Naruto a lot safer to be with his former student.
Jiraiya came home to the village two weeks later and spoke with the Hokage in person. They confirmed the plan and conversed the details.
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Jiraiya POV
"So five years then", said the Third with a hint of sadness in his voice. As much as I knew that he would miss the boy, it was necessary.
"Yes 5 years is the plan, that way the boy will return when he is 13 just in time to graduate", I said.
"Very well then, when will you be leaving?" asked the Third.
"In 3 days, that will give the boy enough time to pack and say goodbye to his friends", I said.
"Sadly Jiraiya, I don't think he has anyone to say goodbye to", said the Hokage.
"Even sadder is that I suspected such a thing", I said with a audible amount of sadness in my voice.
"The poor boy doesn't deserve the treatment that he gets, he is a hero", the Hokage said with frustration in his voice.
"I know, Minato would be disappointed in this village if he knew what was happening to his son", I said also with frustration.
"Very well then Jiraiya, I will summon the boy", said the Third.
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Naruto POV
Today was going just as well as any other day. Of course by "well" I mean absolutely horrible. I can't walk down the street without getting the glares of all the villagers. Or without someone yelling "Get out of here demon brat". The funny thing is, no matter how many times I hear it, it never stops hurting.
I don't know if it is the pranks that make them angry with me. Then again, it's not like I'm hurting them. I'm just trying to get them to laugh to see if then they will like me. Yet, I don't think it is working. People still say the same things no matter what I do.
It is interesting to see how they treat me. I can tell the hatred is the same in all of the people. The difference is the way they act on it. Some people just try subtlety glare at me, while others yell. Some of them hit me; others just stand by and watch while I am getting hit, which is practically the same thing.
I act differently sometimes too. Sometimes I yell back at them, other times I ignore them. Then there are the times when I can't take it anymore and I start crying. Even then they show no mercy, in fact I think it makes them want to hurt me more.
There are times when I can't help but be jealous of all the other kids I see. They are smiling and they are happy. They don't have a problem in their world. They have parents who love them and protect them. Parents who feed them, who care for them. Parents who would sacrifice their entire world for them. Yet I am here alone with no one to even ask how my day was.
I think I have gotten used to the loneliness though. The nights have become less painful then they once were. I have gotten over my fear of ghosts and other monsters that kids are usually frightened of at my age. I guess the loneliness makes me different then everyone else.
POOF
I jumped at the sudden cloud that appeared in front of me. After the smoke cleared I could see a man with a funny mask on, it kind of looked like a bird.
"Uzumaki, Naruto", the man said with a very serious voice.
"Yes?" I asked with not much else to say.
"The Hokage requests your presence", he said again with a very serious voice.
'The Hokage', I couldn't help but feel confused.
"Why does the Hokage want to see me?" I asked the man with the funny mask.
"I am sorry Uzumaki, Naruto, but I cannot disclose the information in public", said the man.
"Well alright then", I said still with confusion.
He guided me to the Hokage mansion where we stopped in front of a room on the last floor.
"Please proceed, Uzumaki Naruto", said the man. I found it kind of funny that he was so formal.
Anyway, I opened the door to find the Hokage and a man with long white hair.
"Hello Naruto", said the Third with a smile.
The Third Hokage was always nice to me; in fact he was probably the only person who was nice to me in the whole village.
"Hello Old Man", I said with some affection. Like I said since he was nice to me, he was the only person I could be affectionate towards. I tend to look at him like a grandfather sometimes.
The third only grinned at what I said. Then he turned to look at the man with the long white hair, nodded then looked back at me.
"Naruto I would like to introduce you to Jiraiya", said the old man.
"Nice to meet you Naruto", said Jiraiya.
Trying to be nice I greeted him as well, "Nice to meet you too".
"Jiraiya and I have an interesting proposal for you", the old man said with mixed emotions in his voice.
"Naruto I would like to take you on a journey with me", said Jiraiya.
"A journey?" I said very confused.
"Yes a journey throughout the world", he said with some enthusiasm in his voice.
"Why, why a journey?" I asked still very confused.
"We know that you are currently not in a good situation here in the village, and we have major concern for your safety", said the Third with a genuine voice.
"Our journey won't just be a waste of time, I will train you along the way", said Jiraiya.
"I don't get it, why wait until now, why did I have to endure all these years of pain", I said starting to become frustrated. They both frowned at what I said.
"I'm sorry Naruto", said the Third."I know I let this go on for too long, but this is a chance to get away from this place for a while".
"How long, how long will it last", I said with some insecurity.
"The goal is to come back in time for you to graduate, at this rate it will be in about 5 years", Jiraiya said.
5 years, 5 years away from the village. 5 years away from the pain. 5 years to get stronger. 5 years to have an adventure. 5 years was starting to sound pretty good.
"Ok, when do we leave?" I asked. They seemed shock by how fast I made my decision.
It seemed that Jiraiya was the first to regain his composure, "In three days, we will meet at the gates at noon".
"Alright then, see you then", I said.
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I walked out the door seemingly calm, but inside I was a storm of emotions. I could've never imagined that this would happen to me. Maybe my bad luck was starting to finally where off.
I decided that I should go to Ichiraku Ramen for some lunch and to think. The good thing about Ichiraku is that the old man Teuchi and Ayame are nice to me, I appreciate that about them. They genuinely think of me as a good person, something that only the Third Hokage has shown towards me.
"Hello Naruto, how are you?" asked the old man with a smile. I couldn't help but grin back at his smile.
"Alright I guess", I said with a monotone voice. I could tell he caught it.
"You don't seem alright", he said with a more serious and concerned voice.
"Well, I guess I'm not", I said with a worried voice. "I kind of have a change coming my way, and I don't know if I should be excited or scared".
"Well, change is inevitable, and normally change is for the best", Teuchi said with a smile.
"I guess", I said not really convinced by his response. "I still can't help but fear scared".
"That's normal, it is a natural response to change, but we have to take the bull by the horns because we know it is for the better", said Teuchi with a smile at the end of his sentence.
I think that helped me because I am starting to feel more excitement than fear now.
"Thanks old man Teuchi", I said with a true smile.
"No problem Naruto, but if you don't mind telling me, what is the big change?" he asked seemingly curious.
I looked down for a while until I finally responded, "I'm gonna be leaving for a while".
"That's good Naruto", the old man responded seriously. I couldn't help but be shocked at his response.
He could tell I was shocked," I know the problems you face here, and I think leaving for a while will do you some good.
I responded only with a smile and I finished my ramen. After I paid the meal, I said goodbye and I decided to go for a walk.
What started out as a bad day just became a day that would change his life forever.
"5 years gone", I said to myself. Its gonna be one hell of an adventure.