A loud knock at the door brought the Sandaime away from reading his reports after yet another late night in the office. "Come in," he called, still scanning through the reports.

Two ANBU guards came through dragging a struggling and biting four year old blonde and familiar boy. Sandaime looked up in mild surprise. It was the middle of the night, he should have been in bed a long time ago.

"Sir," one of the ANBU saluted. "We found this little brat causing serious property damage several blocks from his residence. He attacked several people who tried to stop him, though no one was seriously hurt."

Sarutobi sighed as he rose from his desk, finally setting down the reports. "I see. Thank you," he motioned to the other ANBU to set the child down. The boy growled at the guards as they left.

"Now, what's gotten in to you?" Sarutobi asked kindly as he came to stand next to the young blond. The boy glared at him coldly. Sarutobi was taken aback. The boy would usually hang his head sheepishly, or give a cheeky grin or hug him, or pretty much anything other than exactly what he was doing. Something was wrong with this picture.

"Na-"

"I hate you," the boy coldly interrupted. Again, the Sandaime was taken aback. Something was definitely wrong. Sarutobi studied the boy more carefully; there was a great deal of hostility in his blue gaze but also a good deal of confusion as well as grief and sorrow. Sarutobi opened his mouth.

"Why?" but the child beat him to it. The confusion in those blue eyes was overcoming the anger. Sarutobi had a faint notion in the back of his head but hoped he was wrong.

"What do you mean?" he asked carefully.

"You…all of you," the boy looked down casting around for the right words. "But I don't…I can't remember…why."

"What can you remember?" Sarutobi prodded gently.

The boy relaxed a tiny fraction as he recalled what little he could tell, "I woke up in town. Back there," he gestured over his shoulder. Sarutobi nodded, encouraging him to keep going. "There were people there. I didn't like them. Then I went out to the street. I was looking for…" The child tensed up again. "I couldn't find what I was looking for. I couldn't…. I'll never find…It's your fault!" he suddenly screamed, pointing a finger at the Sandaime in accusation. "You did it! It's because of you! Now I'll never…!" the boy started sobbing uncontrollably.

Sarutobi bent down and embraced the boy. He screamed, pushing the Sandaime away throwing accusations and invectives between chocked sobs and tears. Sandaime just held on, rubbing his back and making comforting noises as the boy cried himself out. Slowly the child quieted down and the tears stopped.

"Why are you doing this?" the blue eyed boy asked between sobs. "I don't even know who you are."

That niggling thought was at the back of Sarutobi's mind again, and this time it brought a bullhorn. "You looked like you could use the comfort," he smiled sadly. "How could I not?"

The boy sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve, looking utterly miserable.

"You really don't remember anything before tonight?" Sarutobi asked.

He shook his head. "I can't even remember my name," the boy mumbled. "All I remember is anger. And pain," he sniffed again.

Sarutobi's mind was working furiously. What was he to do? If this was what, or rather who he suspected, this could be a very dangerous situation. On the other hand, he was still just a four year old boy. A four year old boy that had caused serious property damage if the ANBU's report had been accurate, he reminded himself. If he could be convinced to lend his aide, the strength of the Kyuubi would be an amazing asset to Konoha and above all the village had to be protected, Sarutobi thought. A brief stab of remorse for Naruto was easily quashed with the ease of practice of a well accomplished killer.

"Come sit down for awhile," Sarutobi gestured to the couch nearby. "My name is Sarutobi. I am the Sandaime Hokage of the hidden village of Konoha. Does any of this sound familiar to you?" Sarutobi started.

The blond frowned in thought. He shook his head slowly.

"What about the name Naruto?" The boy shook his head again. "Uzumaki Naruto is your name." Sarutobi said firmly.

"Naruto," the boy said slowly, trying out the word. "I am Naruto," he frowned a bit, as though feeling that the name didn't quite fit him.

"Yes. As for what happened to you…," careful, be very careful, came the needless thought from Sarutobi's subconscious. "It's difficult to explain. You said you were looking for something? What was it, do you remember?"

Naruto's face took on a pained expression. "No. It was…something very important but I don't…" he sobbed.

"Shh, it's okay," Sarutobi made placating gestures. "I think I know what it is you were looking for." Naruto looked up at him hopefully. "You were looking for the other half of your soul."

Naruto's expression became one of surprise and confusion, with just the barest hint of recognition. Sarutobi mentally breathed a sigh of relief, the gamble was risky but seemed like it might work out.

"You see, Naruto," the Sandaime started to weave his story for the confused fox spirit. "You have a very powerful spirit, even as a baby. So powerful in fact, that you could rival a real demon's power," the boy nodded slowly. "But you were too powerful, and you were far too young and undisciplined to control all that power. You became a danger to the village," Naruto nodded again.

"Is that why those people were scared of me?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Sarutobi said sadly, praying that 'those people' hadn't gone and said what had been forbidden. "So we had to come up with a solution to protect our homes and family," he included the child in 'our'. "What we did was split your soul and your power into two parts and sealed half of it away. It was our hope that once you grew up and learned how to control it, you could be unsealed and be able to use your full potential. I never suspected that the sealed half could become aware; it was supposed to remain dormant. I know it hurt to be torn apart and locked up. I am so sorry for the pain we caused you, Naruto. Can you ever forgive me?" Sarutobi looked at the demon sealed behind those blue eyes with sincere apology, as he waited with baited breath to see if his story would be accepted. There was just enough truth to be credible without giving anything away. But was it enough?

Naruto stared at the Hokage for a long while, digesting the information. Finally he looked away with a sigh. "I guess we all do what we think is right," he muttered. "What will happen to me now?"

Sarutobi smiled warmly, "Well, since you're out and about now, in a manner of speaking, why don't we train you to be a ninja?"