'You're a hero, Naruto.'

Those words resonated in his mind. The old lady who had said them sounded genuine in her praise. It was strange, to say the least, receiving positive words and wishes from random people inside of the village. He knew why though; the Sandaime had explained what had happened four years earlier.

The sealing of the Kyuubi no Kitsune.

He was damn proud of himself, being able to hold back a beast that even the Yondaime -one of the greatest ninja in the world- couldn't defeat.

Naruto had forgotten the part of the story where the Yondaime had sealed the demon fox inside of him. It had taken no effort on Naruto's part, seeing as he had just been an infant, while the Fourth had done the heavy lifting.

Naruto contemplated his successes as he stood in front of his favorite shop that contained the latest and most expensive brands of toys. The price tags that he could spot had too many zeroes for the meager allowance he received from the Hokage each month.

With a defeated sigh, Naruto turned onto a random street and made his way forward until he stumbled into the park that he frequented. It was late afternoon and empty due to the fact that most children have returned home for dinner already. He had the whole park to himself. He stumbled to the swings with this in mind.

Naruto climbed onto the wooden seat of the swing. He then started pressing his feet onto the dirt and gave himself a push. He had started the process of one man swinging. It wasn't as exciting as someone pushing you; maybe next time he could bring a friend? It would be better than sitting in a empty park alone

Naruto banished the thoughts and looked around at the park. It had started to get very dark and he was starting to get scared. Creepy things came out at night and Naruto had no intention of meeting said things.

Naruto sprinted across the centre of the park to make it to the exit. He began drawing shallow breaths and looking at his surroundings.

Naruto felt like an idiot. Why did he stay out so late? Stupid! Naruto raised his hand and tried to see it. It was so dark that he could barely make it out, and it was right in front of his eyes!

Tears started dripping from Naruto's eyes. He needed to find his way home. He left the park and started stumbling around in the darkness, trying to find the way back to his apartment.

He then saw it, a lamppost! Naruto was going to find his way back.

Naruto ran to the lamp post but then stopped when he saw a figure. It must have heard him, because it turned around.

It was a man with a cloud headband.

Warning bells rang inside of Naruto's head as the man's eyes locked onto his. Those were the eyes of a killer and Naruto needed to get away. Far away.

As Naruto ran, the cloud nin gave chase.

Naruto kept sprinting, eyes straight ahead, desperately trying to escape the Cloud-nin with his life intact.

Unfortunately for Naruto, a four-year-old legs were much shorter than those of the average adult.

The man soon caught up with Naruto and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket, and it looked like it was all over for Naruto.

Then something unexpected happened.

Naruto was pretty skinny for a kid his size and usually wore baggy clothes, allowing him to slip out of his jacket while sprinting and not losing his stride.

The Cloud-nin hadn't accounted for that and in his surprise let the jacket go, letting it land right on his face and blinding him to incoming attacks.

Thanks to the cloud-nin not being able so see, he wouldn't be able to notice the two toy trunks that had been placed there and forgotten by a small child. He rammed his feet right into the toy trunks, burying his feet inside of them and then started taking impromptu rolling skating session right into a section of an unfinished building

The Cloud-nin got up and resumed the chase; he needed to kill the blonde haired boy and get back to Kumo with the Hyuga heiress.

The chase began again.

Naruto was sweating from head to toe and panting. He almost never got away. Good thing he had been wearing a jacket or the man would've gotten him.

What Naruto didn't know was that the Cloud-nin was on the roof above him, taking aim with a kunai that was intended to strike a killing blow. As the Cloud-nin threw the Kunai, Naruto jumped to the side. The Cloud-nin couldn't believe it. Who was this kid?

Naruto frowned. That gross rat had given him quite a fright.

He then heard the sound of metal against brick and turned around. There was a kunai imbedded in the wall!

Naruto's eyes started ascending until they landed on a figure on top of the roof.

It was the Cloud-nin! Did this guy not give up?

Naruto bolted with the would-be murderer right on his tail, taking any path that gave him the chance to throw the nin off and let him escape.

He neared a wall that was blank save for a red fire-like symbol on it. Naruto had no idea what it meant but it was probably a clan compound, with trained ninja who could get rid of the weirdo chasing him!

Naruto attempted to climb the wall but he couldn't. Fortunately thanks to the adrenaline pumping through him and the tension and fear he was feeling, he was able to access a tiny bit of the Kyuubi's chakra. Not much but enough for him to be able to jump the wall.

What nobody had taken into account was that the tiny bit of the Kyuubi's chakra was very potent. So Naruto didn't just clear the wall.

He flew over it.

Naruto hadn't any ninja training so all he could do was scream and wail while he fell, but fall he did.

Naruto couldn't believe it. He had never been so high in the sky! But he was going to die when he landed!

Yet, that never happened.

As Naruto returned to earth he landed on the Hyuuga washing line(since they weren't going to allow commoners to wash their clothing) effectively making it act like a slingshot and firing Naruto feet first right at the Cloud-nin who was chasing him

The resounding crack could be heard for miles.

The Cloud-nin, Naruto and the sack that he had failed to notice fell down to earth. If Naruto's feet hadn't knocked the ninja out, then the fall to earth certainly did.

Naruto landed on the Cloud-nin with the sack held in his arms.

If the whole ninja compound hadn't been woken already, they were certainly awake now.

Naruto could hear rushed footsteps and whispers making their way to him.

He then faced the entire Hyuuga clan. Naruto could tell by the weird white eyes.

"Uzumaki-san, may I inquire why are trespassing inside the Hyuuga compound?"

At that moment a head popped out of the sack, a girl with black hair and pale eyes.

"Father!" Her face was wet with tears and her eyes bloodshot from crying.

Hiashi couldn't believe his eyes. The Kumo ambassador had tried to steal his daughter? He would've gotten away with it if it hadn't been for the efforts of Uzumaki Naruto. Uzumaki, a four year old had taken on a fully grown Jounin with decades of experience on him.

The boy would be powerful in the future.

It would be imperative to get on his good side and create an alliance. Yes, a shrine in the Hyuuga compound celebrating his victory over the Kumo Jounin and the saving of the Hyuuga heiress. That would do very nicely.

"Uzumaki-san, I cannot thank you enough for saving my daughter. If you require my assistance do not hesitate to call upon me."

"Its… Nothing Hyuuga-san! Just glad to help."

Naruto failed to mention that he had never known the black haired girl was there and that he was running away from the man.

"Uzumaki-san, if you would please accompany me to the Hokage's office. We should inform him of this development. Hizashi, restrain our unwanted guest."

He received a nod from Naruto and his twin brother.

The walk to the Hokage's office was very short thanks to Hiashi knowing the exact routes of Konoha. A Hyuuga never got lost.

They made haste to the Hokage's office and quickly entered, irritating the Hokage's secretary to no end.

"Hiashi-san, to what do I owe the visit?" You better not be wasting my time.

Hiashi explained what had transpired. Naruto didn't interrupt once. The man made it sound like he actually fought the Cloud-nin instead of just running away from him.

To say Hiruzen was skeptical would be an understatement.

"Hiashi-san, you're telling me the four year old Naruto in my office managed to outwit and defeat a Jounin?"

"Yes Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen checked his tobacco for any hallucinogens.

"Very well Hiashi-san. How will you reward Naruto?"

"A shrine in the Hyuuga Compound, and he may ask a personal favour of me."

Hiruzen double checked his tobacco.

"Naruto, do you believe this is fair?

Naruto looked excited at the deal. Did being a hero get you favours and free stuff from people?

"Yes Hokage-sama."

"Very well; it's settled. Hiashi-san you are dismissed. I will send Anbu to pick up the ambassador."

"Thank you Hokage-sama. Goodnight."

Naruto turned around to leave as the Hyuuga clan leader had done, but Hiruzen interrupted him.

"Naruto, would you by any chance want to become a ninja?"

"Will I be able to save people Hokage-sama?"

That was an odd question.

"Yes, Naruto. You will be able to save people in the later stages of your ninja career."

Naruto's face lit up at that. It meant more free stuff from people.

"Then yes, Hokage-sama. I accept."

"Very well Naruto, you will attend academy classes in three years. Now I'll have an Anbu operative take you home."

The Anbu operative in question couldn't believe what the four-year-old had done.

Four years old and already defeating jounin. You'd be so proud Minato-sensei.

The time spent heading to Naruto's apartment wasn't very long and Naruto was glad to fall into his bed and head off to sleep. He couldn't wait to become a ninja and get lots of free stuff.

Wait, if he was a ninja wouldn't that mean he'd have to fight other ninja?

The next morning Naruto would rush to the shower and attempt to change his bed sheets which had become wet, soaked with his urine when he realized the terrible truth that came with becoming a ninja.

He was screwed.