This story will eventually connect with the marvel one. Depends on if I feel like finishing it. Honestly just wanted to scratch an itch.

Kakashi had never seen anything quite like this. The Nine Tailed fox was a force of nature. It destroyed on a whim, extinguished life with a meer thought and a casual flick of its gigantic tails. A monster, plain and simple. Nothing short of a miracle could have saved the leaf village but Minato Namikaze along with the help of the Uchiha clan had delivered. Fugaku Uchiha was able to restrain the beast while Minato sealed it into the youngest son of the clan head. At the cost of his own life, the Fourth Hokage was able to save the village from the greatest danger it had ever faced.

The Uchiha clan would carry the burden of the container together. Their sense of Kinship was much stronger than their dislike of the creature that had attacked their home. Hiruzen had no doubt that the boy would grow up loved and protected, away from the hate of the village. It wasn't like the Uchiha would talk openly about where the beast was sealed, but Hiruzen firmly believed that the clan would not leave the boy off into the deep end. So to speak.

The young Sasuke Uchiha would learn of his burden when the time was right.

'Along with what he had prevented' Kakashi had thought at the time, when Fugaku had carried his small son back to the Uchiha compound, 'so much death'

Too many Shinobi had been lost. A few ANBU had perished as well. The unpredictable strikes and rage from the beast had bestowed unheard of brutality against the village and the villagers.

Even Kushina Uzumaki, the wife of the Fourth, had passed away during the battle. Unknown to most was her status as the previous host of the beast. The events leading up to the release of the beast were classified far above Kakashi's pay grade. But he still had seen the child. The… 'thing' that she had given birth to.

When the Hatake and the ANBU had come across her corpse, Kushina's child had still been held firmly in her arms and that same heart warming smile still adorning her features. Frozen in her final moments.

The unfamiliar feeling of tears still felt abnormal to Kakashi, but at the time he let them fall freely. Another great person lost to such a tragic event.

He could still remember drifting both of his eyes down to look upon the son of his Sensei.

Only a second passed before he withheld the instinctive need to draw a Kunai.

Another second to confirm what he was seeing was indeed the truth.

Hiruzen had appeared alongside the Hatake, a hand swiftly clamping down on Kakashi's shoulder in order to steady him.

"We need to talk Kakashi" was all the Hokage had said.

The white haired man just nodded dumbly and less than a minute later found himself within the confines of the Hokage office.

Hiruzen was holding the creature, still in the blanket that it had been wrapped in.

A few steady minutes of silence passed between them. The view of the village and the night sky keeping their attention from the elephant in the room.

"The child is of her blood" the Third had only eyes for the quiet child when he spoke, "but as you have probably noticed..."

Hiruzen reached forward slowly and brushed something from the child's face.

A small fist wrapped around one of the old man's fingers.

"... he takes more after his father" the old monkey finished, his eyes drifting up to face Kakashi.

The unspoken, 'Questions?' loomed in the air. Kakashi knew he had some kind of right, some kind of need to know the circumstances of Naruto's birth.

Was he even Naruto anymore? That was the name that Minato had decided upon, but the boy's father wasn't-

Kakashi brutally stamped out that line of questioning, his hands clenching at his sides in obvious discomfort and pain.

"Take your time kid" Jiraiya peeled himself away from the wall, "and start slow. Some of the things Hiruzen is prepared to tell you might… freak you out a bit"

Both were aware of the toad sage the minute he had entered the office. It wasn't like Jiraiya was trying, but Kakashi still wheeled around to look at his part time sealing mentor with wide eyes.

'Freak me out?'

The Hatake did not like the sound of where this was going but he owed it to his memory of Minato and Kushina to know of what happened. The kind woman who had treated him like a son, and the man who helped lessen the pain of the dead.

"Who is the father?"

The sage and the Kage shared a deep look.

"We're not entirely sure" Hiruzen began as Kakashi boggled, 'how could they not know?!'

"But he's not from here" Jiraiya finished for the old man, a deep frown etching itself across his features, "Minato would do a much better job explaining this. After all Kushina did tell him the most about-" Jiraiya cut himself off and winced.

Hiruzen had turned away to look out at the village.

It had been hours from the battle. Minato, Kushina, Biwako and all the others were still fresh on the Third's mind.

"I'm sorry" Jiraiya said quietly.

"We all handle our grief in different ways Jiraiya, there is no need to apologise" Hiruzen spoke calmly, but his eyes were cold.

"So the father is foreign? Some strange shinobi from another land!? Some merchant!? I sure as hell haven't seen anyone purple in my entire service to Konoha, and you know I've been to some screwed up places!" Kakashi's building voice and anger drew the attention back to the matter at hand for this little meeting.

"...We think that…"

Jiraiya sighed as Hiruzen couldn't finish his sentence.

"We don't think that the father, this stranger, was from these lands" Jiraiya paused, but before Kakashi could explode into a repeat of his question, "let alone this world"

The only Hatake left in the world felt his jaw loosen. World? Different world?

"Why not?"

"7 foot tall at least, probably taller. Purple. Incredibly strong" Jiraiya began listing things off his fingers, "Tsunade wouldn't be able to hold a candle to him"

"But it was the technology that he possessed which far outweighs any of the other possibilities" Hiruzen stroked his beard calmly, even as the small purple arms of the baby reached for him.

"It is indescribable Kakashi, the things he could do" the third turned to look up at the stars outside his window, "I thought him a mad man when he spoke about coming to our world, to locate some kind of Energy... But his devices led him straight to Kushina nearly 13 years ago"

"She knew this 'stranger' for… for 13 years?"

"Indeed" Hiruzen nodded at Kakashi.

"And sensei?"

"Informed"

"Bullshit" Kakashi didn't even flinch as the profanity came from his mouth savagely at the Hokage.

Hiruzen merely cocked an eyebrow.

"Sensei wouldn't have married Kushina if he knew she was seeing someone" the worlds were spoken firmly, but Kakashi could feel his resolve in the statement slipping. The evidence of the contrary was right there in Hiruzen's arms.

"We don't know what happened" Jiraiya wrapped up, "but all we do know is that he exists now" Jiraiya pointed towards Naruto, "Minato planned to raise him as his own. A much smarter idea than letting a half alien boy walk around the village"

Even before the Kyuubi attack, the hidden leaf village had its own acute sense of racial discrimination. It was forever present in every waking moment of society, but kind of like a long forgotten dream, lurking in the background. Now though, after the Kyuubi attack, that would be suicide for the kid. All the anger, pain and hatred would still be fresh. Something strange like this would spook the villagers, a fair majority of which would be superstitious as well.

A strange looking purple child?

No. That would not do.

Kakashi was finally seeing the dots connect. As well as the reason they were confiding him with such information. Partly because of his right to know, and partly because he was in a position to help.

"You want me to raise him?"

Hiruzen nodded.

"Why?"

"Because it couldn't be anyone else. Minato wouldn't have trusted any other, and neither would Kushina. He might not be of his blood but Naruto would have been that blond idiot's son." Jiraiya felt a few tears welling up at the amount of memories that those words brought up. The stubborn blond boy who had grown up to become the fourth Hokage. To give everything he had to the village, including himself.

It hurt.

Kakashi was obviously feeling it as well.

Hiruzen was the best at keeping himself in check. Three shinobi wars would do that to a man. Tempered his heart to withstand the pain.

It was still there, the pain, but he could handle it.

"What if his father returns?"

The Hokage nodded his head at that, "I have thought upon such a question for many hours…" Hiruzen had a forlorn expression, "many hours" he repeated softly.

The elder Kage studied the damage village, even as Shinobi and villagers alike were working hand in hand to return it to its former glory.

"But we should cross that bridge should it ever come to pass" Hiruzen had his pipe in his hand, slowly packing tobacco into it.

"I'll do it. For their sake. And for his" Kakashi nodded to himself, reaching forward for the bundle. Tiny purple eyes and a purple face looked up at him.

"What are we going to do about his skin?" Hatake asked aloud, studying his new ward intently.

Jiraiya wordlessly brought up a brush and ink pot.

Oh.

Sasuke spent most of his time training. Everyone at the academy knew this, his family knew this, and any of the small group of people he referred to as friends knew this.

Sasuke prefered to learn through hard work, instead of hours upon hours of theory and basic practice. Almost everyone in the Uchiha clan knew that the youngest son of Fugaku looked up to his older brother as a role model. Itachi was constantly revered as the greatest shinobi of his generation, and it was easy to see that Sasuke desperately wished to close the insurmountable gap between the two of them.

So it was a with a cold sting to his developing pride that he landed four meters away from his 'opponent'.

"Don't tell me you're actually trying?"

Sasuke righted himself almost instantly, his face formed into a snarl as he launched towards the red head again.

He had arrived at his favourite training ground full of energy, ready to tear apart some of the practice targets and burn a few trees before going home to rest... only to come to terms with the fact that he wasn't alone.

Someone else had invaded his space.

While the training grounds were for public use of all Shinobi of Konoha, everyone that was anyone in a social standing knew that field number 3 was Sasuke's personal stomping ground.

Apparently this idiot hadn't gotten the memo.

"What are you doing here?"

It was barely phrased as a question, but the redhead ignored him, opting to remain seated on a small clump of grass in the center of the field with his eyes firmly shut.

He had frowned, before approaching the other boy.

"Hey!"

Sasuke waved a hand in front of his face.

One eye cracked open.

"What?" the voice was slightly deeper than Sasuke had expected, the boy was obviously around his age, but he seemed more mature.

The Uchiha had never seen him in the village before.

On any other day Sasuke would take this information and actually think about it, but now he was just annoyed at the attitude of the other person.

"What do you mean 'what?' I asked you a question"

The redhead stared directly into Sasuke's eyes before shutting them again.

He was ignoring him.

"Hey!" Sasuke twitched in anger.

Reaching a single hand out to shake the shoulder of the boy, the Uchiha Jinchuriki was fairly surprised when a tan hand wrapped around the approaching wrist.

He's fast.

"Leave me alone"

Sasuke was shoved a few feet back, his wrist sore from the obscenely tight grip that the other boy had.

'What a jerk' Sasuke growled, not realising how hypocritical some people would find that, but uncaring of the individuals who would say such things.

"I challenge you to a fight"

Sasuke blurted the words into an eerily calm space.

The redhead remained still for a few moments, eyes calmly shut.

"What's the prize?"

Sasuke grinned savagely, even though the other boy couldn't see it. The redhead was entertained by the idea, and had all but accepted at this point.

"Aside from rubbing your smugmug into the dirt? Having these grounds for myself"

Blue eyes snapped open.

"Incredible" the redhead got to his feet slowly, both hands brushing off his clothing as he came to his towering height, "everything you just said was exactly what I was thinking"

He was a good head and a half taller than Sasuke, something that furthered the Uchiha's irritation.

Sasuke had charged forward, shifting straight into the Uchiha intercept.

It had taken a single punch from the redhead to send him flying.

Not only was he faster than a lightning bolt, but his punch packed the strength of an avalanche.

He didn't look like someone who would be that strong. Long black pants and a sleeveless white shirt made for a fairly unassuming individual even if his height was taken into consideration.

Perhaps that was his goal? To appear as a simple opponent. Sasuke couldn't even sense his chakra.

The Uchiha was up on his feet without a moment's hesitation, already moving into a new form of attack.

He had only an instant to register a fist before another black eye was added to his list of wounds.

In an instant he was tasting dirt again.

"Come now Uchiha. Show me what you got"

Sasuke could taste earth, blood, defeat and he felt his chakra boil. What a fucking asshole.

It was only when the Kyuubi decided to rear its head when Sasuke would feel intense rage and anger. Subconsciously he knew that his indifferent attitude and lack of feeling towards his peers was actually a shield to protect himself from those that thought the worst of him. Sometimes the opinions of the villagers would get to him, and even though he could seek solace within his own clan Sasuke craved for the acceptance of others. However, the youngest son of Fugaku was none to aware of this. While he didn't fully understand his fear or embrace it, at some level he knew what he was doing. Of course he didn't know why he distanced himself from everyone naturally at first, but Itachi had been the best brother that an elder sibling could be.

He had taught Sasuke patience, and the virtue in keeping his emotions under tight control. But when the younger Uchiha lost that control… well the results were explosive to say the least.

And this redheaded boy just drove Sasuke nuts. Their obvious gap in skill, strength and speed was glaringly clear to both of them within the first few minutes and it infuriated the Uchiha. But not as much as how arrogant the taller boy acted towards him.

Like he knew he would win, no matter what.

WIthout knowing, Sasuke began to draw on his tenants Chakra, just like his family had taught him to in dire situations.

To Sasuke, his pride was a dire situation.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" it was the fiercest battle cry the 13 year old could muster, but the fireball that followed it was nothing to sneeze at.

For a second, it almost seemed like the taller boy was surprised to see such a flame, but then he was engulfed by the fire.

Sasuke smiled. He had won, he had finally beaten that prick! He had… just killed a random leaf Shinobi.

Fear and trepidation ran through his form, holding him in its tight grasp and locking all of his muscles.

'What happens when the council hears about this? Or mum and dad? What will Itachi say? I lost control…. I…'

"Not bad. For a beginner"

For a horrid instant, Sasuke couldn't tell if he was happy that the other boy was alive, or frustrated that he seemed fine.

What followed was the strongest hit of their little 'fight, and it' ragdolled Sasuke to the ground. For a second, the Uchiha didn't fully know what was happening. What felt like minutes passed before he came out of his daze, rolling over onto his back leaving him to stare up at the winner.

The redheaded boy stood next to him, hands casually slung in his pockets.

For a few minutes he said nothing, letting the wind and the tree's talk quietly to the empty field.

"You're talented" he admitted quietly.

He lapsed back into silence as they looked at one another, Sasuke with great difficulty due to the sun directly above them and the swelling in one of his eyes.

"It must be painful to see that you are far above the level you've been placed at. Your gifts alone put you in a class most wouldn't determine you ready for" cold blue eyes regarded him, "but you can't beat me. Almost no one can"

His opponent turned away from him, walking away from the training ground.

He was leaving? Why?

While still a sore loser, Sasuke would admit defeat this time. He was outclassed by this opponent.

The redhead was getting further and further away. Sasuke had lost, accepted the fact that he had, yet the winner was leaving… why?

"You won!" Sasuke called out. Even though he had gotten the dirt out of his mouth, it still felt awful to speak those words. He'd only ever said them to three people… four now.

Who was this new addition to that very privileged list?

The redhead stopped moving.

"The training grounds" Sasuke still called out to him, but it wasn't a yell, "you won, so they're yours"

Sasuke needed the validation. The understanding that he had tried, failed, and put up an effort. While still a very large sting to his pride, he would return to defeat Redhead one day.

The other boy didn't even fully turn to face him.

But Sasuke could see the smug grin on his face, "you need them more than me little Uchiha"

Sasuke snapped.

"Who the fuck are you teme?!"

Redhead just kept walking.

Itachi watched his brother fume. His anger was palpable. It was interesting to see him stew like this, but Itachi knew that it would be better for his brother to remain calm.

Even though it was good for Sasuke to have his ego knocked down a few pegs, as an older brother he had not been comfortable with the thrashing that the 'Titan' of Konoha had given him.

To be thrown around by the 13 year old was an experience for every shinobi. Most Chunin levels didn't last a minute at most, some didn't even make 30 seconds. Some Jonin had been able to last for significantly longer periods of time but only an exceptional few could outright draw or beat him.

The Third Hokage. Jiraiya of the Sannin. Hatake Kakashi.

Those were the only fights that Itachi had witnessed, and the ANBU were taught to be cautious around the tank of a teenager.

"So I see you've met Konoha's resident juggernaut"

Sasuke's head whipped straight to his brother, his jaw slack.

Itachi knew exactly what he was thinking as he slowly walked towards his brother in order to help him up.

"Don't feel so bad. You lasted longer than most my foolish little brother"

Sasuke slumped his head as Itachi lifted him to his shaky feet. That last punch had stunned his little brother, and he was still feeling the effects.

"Who is he?"

"His name is Naruto. He is the ward of Hatake Kakashi"

"Hatake? The student of the fourth Hokage?"

Itachi hummed in response.

"Is that why-?"

"No" Itachi denied, "Hatake-senpai has nothing to do with your redheaded friend's strength" Sasuke twitched at the friend part but Itachi continued, "he was born with defunct chakra coils"

Sasuke stared at his brother as he was maneuvered home.

"Nothing he did during your fight was done with the aid of Chakra" Itachi knew his brother, and he knew he wouldn't let this defeat go, so he was doing his best to arm him with knowledge.

"The Science division thinks that he is a freak or miracle of nature. Depends on who you ask. His skin is much thicker in density that you could image. A kunai couldn't slice him just as much as a fireball could be capable of burning him" Itachi recalled what his ANBU squad mates had told him.

"His strength?"

Itachi looked at his brother, studying the intent in his gaze.

Oh.

Itachi knew that look. He knew it very well. When Sasuke was six and challenged his older brother to a fight, Fugaku had told his eldest to let Sasuke win. That would have been the end of it.

But Itachi had won their small little wrestling match that day, becoming the self proclaimed 'superior Shinobi'. Sasuke had given him that same look back then. A stubborn combination of determination and a will to succeed. His little brother had taken to training and improving himself at a rapid rate. The Kyuubi, when he was told about it, had just become another stepping stone to be a better ninja. When he wasn't dealing with his own insecurities and problems immaturely, Sasuke dedicated himself towards aiming to be the best.

That stare had been a promise to Itachi that one day his brother would surpass him.

'You might find that you'll bite off more than you can chew with this one little brother' Itachi thought, unintentionally giving his little brother a fond stare.

"What about his strength?" Sasuke had ignored the look his brother gave it, "training?"

"Partly" they were nearing the Uchiha compound now, and many were giving the brothers incredulous stares. Seeing Sasuke so beaten up was a very rare occurrence.

Sasuke figured out what his brother was implying.

"Muscle density?"

"And here I thought I'd have to spoon feed you everything" Itachi smiled even as his little brother stamped on his foot in petulant anger.

"He is many times stronger than anyone else could even hope to be. I don't actually know what he is capable of, I've only heard rumours"

Sasuke nodded, content with what his brother had given him.

His curiosity was sated for the time being.

But Itachi knew his brother would persist with the questions.

"What do you think of the new regulations being put into effect Sasuke?" Mikoto, the Uchiha matriarch, dished out another serving of tomatoes for herself as Fugaku grumbled over a few pieces of paper from beside her.

"Ridiculous" Sasuke was always curt with his mother and most of his family. Aside from Itachi he didn't find solace in most other Uchiha. His mastery of the Uchiha indifference was second only to his brother and father.

But he did treat his mother with a sense of fondness. Most knew that the youngest of Fugaku didn't like to connect with people.

Most were there when Sasuke had been informed of his burden. For the first few days he hadn't handled it well. In fact, Sasuke only subconsciously secluded himself from others. He respected strength and privacy.

"What regulations? The academy ones?" chimed in an annoyed voice from the seat on the other side of Itachi.

"Yes" Sasuke answered with a little bit of bite. His older sister was one of the less favoured people in his personal opinion. She had been absent most of his life growing up as she had been fostered with another family due to still private reasons. Their lack of interest in one another combined with a constant feud of who would succeed Itachi created a very hostile relationship.

She was two years older than him, meaning she was 15, with Itachi being the oldest at 19. The Uchiha trio were a dysfunctional group at best, and a destructively annoying one at worst.

"Dull" Itami sighed, "I can't believe they rescinded the advancement law"

Fugaku looked up from his papers, "that's already been enacted? We just voted on it today"

"What was the vote?" Itachi asked as he idly toyed with his Inari.

"12 to 5 in favour of removing it" Fugaku murmured quietly.

Sasuke's hand twitched. His father was nervous about this topic.

"You voted for it didn't you" Itami accused, her gaze locked on their father.

"Oh don't be like that" Mikoto scolded the youngest two as she began to collect the empty plates and bowls from the table, Fugaku a second behind to assist her.

Itachi finished his food quickly and stood to help with the dishes.

"You know why your father would vote for the repeal. A law such as that was only beneficial in times of war" the unspoken comment about the village being at a stand-by for war was left unsaid as Mikoto bustled from the room. Fugaku was closely behind her.

"Laws such as that stifle genius" Itami stated blandly.

Sasuke got a good look at her since Itachi was no longer between them.

Long black hair, a smooth yet sharp face, coal black eyes. There was no mistake she was an Uchiha. Some even referred to him as her twin, because of her eerie resemblance to himself.

Her look of disinterest as she ate only furthered his belief that secretly they were twins.

"You'll be assigned your team tomorrow" Itachi had reappeared from the kitchen, a bowl of ice cream in one hand and spoon in the other.

"Hn" Sasuke turned away from his older brother, instead focusing on the wall.

"It's not all it's cracked up to be" Itami usually didn't initiate conversation with her brothers unless forced to.

Family events were the only thing that succeeded in making her socialize.

She looked up from her rice dish to see her brothers staring at her like she had grown a second head.

Oddly enough it caught her off guard and a flush rose up on her face before being brutally fought back down.

"Okay. Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?" Sasuke accused, hand slowly reaching for Kunai.

He caught the rice ball that was flung at him out of the air.

"I'm still me idiot. Stop being such a dobe"

Itachi smiled behind his vanilla ice-cream with chocolate sauce as both of them blew up at each other.

Sasuke hated that word with a fiery nine tailed passion and it made him completely livid.

Normally they'd be at one another's throats, but today it was just casual sibling annoyance, something that Itachi never got time to appreciate.

He smiled further as Mikoto joined the fray once food was being flung at one another.

Fugaku stood next to Itachi as his wife and children engaged in an all out war consisting of rice balls, fish and tomatoes.

Even though he called out a few times for them to calm down or stop, it was impossible not to notice the small grin on all of their faces.

Itachi wouldn't trade his family for anything.

"I'm surprised you still don't like the name..." Hiruzen remarked with a smile as he sat next to the red headed boy, Naruto.

"It feels derogatory" the strong boy leaned back with his legs dangling over the edge of the monument.

Both him and the Hokage had taken their monthly walk up to the Hokage monument in relative peace. Nothing serious was happening and Hiruzen found their talks to be therapeutic. If Kakashi's reports were anything to go by, Naruto felt the same.

"Considering a Titan is a symbol of immense strength, I thought it would be perfectly appropriate" the old monkey took a puff from his pipe.

"I know" Naruto frowned, "it just doesn't feel right… my name doesn't ever feel right"

A comforting hand patted him on the back, "it's alright to feel lost at times my boy. In my youth I was never as serious as you would have thought" Hiruzen took on a contemplative expression, "sometimes being lost is the best way to find yourself"

Naruto turned his head to look at the God of Shinobi, the infamous Professor.

"Didn't take you for a poet old man" he grinned slyly.

Hiruzen puffed up like a peacock, "I have my moments"

Both of them took a second before breaking out into a quick hearty laugh.

The silence that followed it was comfortable and welcoming, both of them content to just bask in the sun for a few more minutes.

The village looked peaceful at this hour, the sun slowly dipping beyond the horizon. It was calm, quiet and warm. In times of war, Naruto could only imagine how horrible it was. Hiruzen had always described the village as a center for peace and 'the will of fire'. While Konoha was the strongest of all the hidden villages, it was also the only one resolved towards ending war quickly. Not for the sake of a victory of course, but for the ingrained belief that needless bloodshed was just that, needless.

Hiruzen held this personal belief close, as did Naruto. Their need for peace and a want for a better life for all was a common discussion between them.

Their common argument was love vs. power. The Titan of Konoha believed that only strength in the face of adversity could keep the peace. He himself was a perfect example of that. On the other hand, the Third Hokage always said that love, empathy and care were the ways towards understanding one another.

When that was accomplished, when people could truly know one another, peace would be possible.

You just had to let go of your hatred.

Which for Shinobi was much easier said than done.

"So a little bird told me that you had a disagreement with young Sasuke today"

Naruto snorted, but remained silent.

"Gave the boy a pretty significant black eye he says"

Naruto frowned, "your bird likes to talk"

Hiruzen remained calm even as Naruto became frustrated, "When the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi is tapping into their power, my little bird gets my attention Naruto"

"He was being a little brat"

"Apparently so were you"

Naruto glared at the horizon, trying to ignore Hiruzen.

"As one of the defenders of this village you will need to learn to work alongside the Jinchuuriki Naruto"

Naruto snapped.

"He's bratty, arrogant, cocky and has zero respect for anyone else within the village!"

The redhead pointed an accusatory finger towards Hiruzen, "and don't you dare say I'm anything like him. You know that's not true!"

"Yes. I know" Hiruzen frowned at the redhead, "but now I wonder how you've managed to become so closed off an conceited. You don't visit the markets anymore, you don't train with any of the Jonin, you hardly visit me anymore, you don't even go to your-"

"Please stop" Naruto whispered, having slowly deflated at every word that Hiruzen spoke to him. Instantly the third Hokage was reminded of the fact he was dealing with a child still. A thirteen year old boy who had never known his mother or father and possessed super human abilities.

"I'm sorry my boy, but can't you see what this looks like from my point of view? You can't condemn someone while acting the same way they do. I know you are no hypocrite Naruto" Hiruzen rested a hand on the redheads back, "tell me what's wrong. You can't just lash out at everyone in the village that annoys you my boy"

The 'especially the Jinchuuriki' went unsaid.

"I need to fight. I can't want to stay cooped up in the village anymore old man…" Naruto didn't know how to explain how he was feeling. The third Hokage was one of the only people who could go toe to toe with his insane strength and durability. However, as he got older Naruto was getting stronger. It was only a matter of time before the Third Hokage could not keep up with the redhead. One on one fights with Anbu members were just a joke to Naruto. Kakashi couldn't keep up with him anymore, and Jiraiya wasn't in the village frequently enough.

All of these individuals, proclaimed as some of the most powerful Ninja of their respective generations, and Naruto could tear through them like paper.

One of his many personal fears was that he would reach a point that no one would be able to defeat him. Hiruzen had taught him that there was always someone stronger out in the world, but a part of him felt that no one in the elemental nations could hold a candle to him.

He was only 13 for god's sake.

Hiruzen could not understand Naruto's situation and as much as he wished to help the boy, he just failed to empathise with him. But he did feel for him, a deep sadness for a young boy to be lost at such an age. As a child the Third had been above average in comparison to his peers and fellow ninja, but unlike him, Naruto was on his own level. Many a spar the redhead had just walked through Jutsu that would have roasted other men alive. He had batted aside earth techniques which would have crushed others or maimed most. Kunai bounced off of him, and Shuriken didn't even garner his attention.

The Monkey King, Enma, had called the boy a monster in human skin, and Sarutobi could only feel a horrid sense of guilt.

Guilt because Naruto still didn't know.

The boy was under the illusion that Kushina, his mother, had married a stranger and his birth was the result of a genetic anomaly.

Hiruzen had not told the boy that his father hailed from beyond the stars. That the reason he could not find an opponent worthy of his time was because there was no one like him. He stood alone amongst those he called his people.

Sarutobi had two choices right now.

He could come clean with the truth.

Or…

He could put it off for a few more years, to help the boy be ready.

"Perhaps we could find something for you to do"

The Third Hokage decided to wait. In the end, Naruto would understand why this was kept from him.

After their talk, Naruto decided to take a detour from his regular path home. His small little nest by the lake was an adequate place to relax for a bit. Stepping through the bushes, the redhead took in a deep breath as he surveyed the clear water. The trees and wildlife had encamped on the far side of the lake. Animals chittered quietly as the sun had just gone down, while the wind rustled the leaves softly.

This was his own personal slice of heaven.

The son of Kushina dropped onto his rear, taking a comfortable seat in the grass by the lake with his gaze upon the water.

Again.

He wanted to see himself again.

Naruto reached for his barely functioning Chakra coils and caused them to fluctuate briefly. Pain lanced through his body at having to use his pitiful reserves, but Naruto kept his eyes on the water.

For a brief second, faster than most could even blink, he had changed.

His skin had taken a different texture, something inhuman. The tone had changed, a deep purple going across every visible part of skin.

Purple eyes had stared back at him.

For a second, the illusion of who he was had faltered.

Yet even as Naruto questioned himself and his existence, he was alone in his problems. His father could still be out there, somewhere. The redhead would scour the globe for his father.

He would have his answers.

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