AN: This will be an AU, in what ways will become clear over time as the changes I have in mind are revealed. (no beta and English is my second language and I suck at spotting my own errors, so sorry for any and all mistakes)

Chapter One – I am

I am, I am – Stronger than before

I am, I am more

I am, I am – Ready to go on

I am

Waking up he felt groggy like there was a dense fog in his mind preventing him from thinking clearly, sitting up he noticed that he was feeling cold but also that his body felt different then to what he was used to.

It took him several minutes to get the fog to lift from his mind, and he immediately took note of his surroundings, he was in an alleyway between two houses, surrounded by what looked and smelled like trash bags.

He was sitting on something between a duvet and a mattress, and then he noticed how small his legs, arms, and body was, he just stared down at his body for a while before pinching his own cheek, giving a yelp from the pain, making him realize that no, he was not dreaming.

He was wearing worn trousers and a t-shirt in navy blue with tears and holes in them, he had nothing on his feet, and he noticed that both his skin and clothes looked like it needed a good wash, well the clothes looked more like it needed to be replaced.

Standing up and looking around to find out where he was, his surroundings told him nothing and being in the body of a small child confused the hell out of him, so taking a few calming breaths he headed out of the alleyway.

Looking around the mostly empty streets, he could only see three people from where he exited, he looked around to see if he could spot anything that would tell him something about where he was, finding no identifiable landmarks he decided to make a beeline for the nearest person in the streets. Coming up behind them he spoke up getting surprised by his voice, cause that was most definitely not his voice.

''Ex- excuse me, could you tell me where I am'' He almost stumbled his question due to being surprised by his own voice, but he managed to get his question out.

''How can you not know that you are in Konoha'' The man he had walked up to responded as he turned around when the man looked down and saw who had asked him, different facial expression flickered over his face, before settling in a disdainful scowl.

''Go away, and don't bother me ever again'' The man said before turning away and walking away at a fast walking pace.

He froze, for two different reasons, when he heard the name Konoha his mind immediately went to the famous village from the Manga Naruto, of which he was a fan, but then the expression the man had made towards him registered and he started going through why he would look and act like that towards him, but the only answer that made sense from what he recalled from the manga, if he was indeed in that Konoha would be if he was in the body of Naruto Uzumaki, but there was no way that was the case, right?

Making a decision to find out where he was he started running along the street, noticing how the few adults that were around, making him realize it was probably morning, were sending him hateful, disdainful or disapproving looks, making him more certain that he was in the body of Naruto, if he was indeed in Konoha.

After running for almost 10 minutes he arrived at a large street that passed from the large outer walls of the village straight down the center, looking towards the center of the village, he saw a sight he had never believed he would experience, the village of Konoha unfolded before his eyes with four different but recognizable heads carved into the mountain in the background.

He just stared at the mountain as thousands of thoughts started going through his head, why was he here? How was he here? was he really in the body of Naruto? Was the strange feeling in his body from chakra? What did it mean that he was here? Those questions and many, many more filtered through his head to the point when his eyesight started to get black spots when he realized he had started to hyperventilate.

Walking to the side of the street he lay down and tried to calm himself and his breathing, when he had managed to accomplish both he stood up once more, he noticed that the street was getting a lot busier, which also meant a lot more people were sending him looks or ignoring him.

Deciding to clarify if he had become Naruto Uzumaki or not, he walked towards the nearest surface which he could see his own reflection in, he just stared at his own reflection for a while as he started contemplating what he could and should do as he looked at the reflection of a thin child who looked to be around four, with blond hair, distinct whisker marks, and azure blue eyes.

He started going through what he remembered from the manga and hoped he could use the knowledge in the situation he found himself in, so he started going over what he knew about Naruto Uzumaki.

-Born the 10th of October, the day Kyuubi or Kurama as he was named had been unleashed on the city before being sealed into Naruto.

Parents: Kushina Uzumaki of the Uzumaki clan, former host of Kurama, was Naruto's mother, Minato Namikaze, Fourth Hokage, was Naruto's father.

- Had a huge chakra reserve due to both being an Uzumaki and being the host of Kurama

- Had Wind chakra affinity

- He was and would be hated or despised by most of the village.

- He had no friends, relatives or friendly relations at this stage in his life besides maybe the third Hokage.

- The Akatsuki was or would be out to collect Kurama, putting his and Kurama's life in danger.

With that information in mind, he started thinking about what he could do get ahead if he remembered correctly the teachers in the ninja academy had either done nothing or tried to sabotage, Naruto's attempt at becoming a ninja.

That meant that if he wanted to be a better ninja in Naruto's earlier years, he needed to get a head start and to get a head start he needed two things. First, he needed to learn to manipulate and use his chakra and secondly he needed to learn the shadow close technique.

With that thought in mind he went over all the training exercises he remembered from the series and if he remembered correctly the shadow clone technique only had a single hand seal, and it was the chakra required to use it and the lethal consequence it could have if you did not have enough of it that made it a higher ranked technique.

With the start of a plan in mind he shook his head as his sight came back into focus as he had been zoning out, he took off in a run excitement rushing through him as he thought of all the things he would get to see and do as Naruto went through his mind, he started searching for a training ground or just an area where there was no one, so he could get started on his plan.

Xx-xX

Hours later, around noon if the sun high in the sky was an indication, Naruto, as he had decided to think of himself as to avoid not reacting when people called his name, was lying in the grass on a field sweating with his stomach letting him know that food was something he needed.

He had found out that getting a feel for his chakra was way harder than he had hoped it would be, he could sort of feel that it was there, but he had not found a way to do anything with it yet. With his stomach giving stab of pain from hunger, he made up his mind to go find some food, standing up, he started towards the village was he started thinking over how to get some food.

He had no idea where Naruto lived at this age, but if the conditions he had woken up under said anything, then that was not an option for food anyway, which meant he had limited options to get food, he could beg, but that was unlikely to work, with the way the populace treated him, he could try and steal something, but that was almost guaranteed to get him into trouble seeing as he was in a village of ninjas, or he could try and find someone who could help him, but the only person that came to mind for that was the third Hokage, seeing as Naruto probably was not yet on friendly terms with Teuchi and Ayume at Ichiraku.

With only one decent option he could come up with Naruto started heading towards the back of the city near the monuments of the Hokages were carved in the mountain, he hoped that this was where the current Hokage had his office.

It took him far longer than he wanted to find it and get there, especially with the stabs of hunger, though they had started to go away after around half an hour had passed in his estimation, walking into the reception room that was below the Hokage's office, he walked to the desk where a middle-aged woman was sitting going through some papers.

''Excuse me, could I talk to the Hokage when he has time'' Naruto asked, getting the attention of what he assumed was the Hokage's secretary.

She looked up from her papers before zeroing in on him, her eyes narrowed and disdain surfaced on her face for a moment before she steeled her features ''The Hokage doesn't have time to meet with you today, try again another day'' she said dismissing him.

''Ehm, it is sorta important'' Naruto tried, even as he could feel himself getting angry over the way she just dismissed him due to his circumstance of birth.

''Don't bother the Hokage with your trifle matters, if you persist I will have you removed from the building'' she said sharply, a hint of anger in her voice now.

Shallowing his need to yell at the woman in front of him, Naruto start walking slowly towards the exit, looking over his shoulder he noticed she was busy, so without giving it a second thought, he took off running up the stair, hearing his footsteps the woman started yelling at him to stop and come back, but he continued until he arrived at a pair of double doors, hearing he running after him from behind he quickly knocked on the door before using his entire body to force the door open, barely managing to fall into the room when she reached him.

The occupants in the room looked up at the disturbance and saw Naruto lying on the floor with an angry looking secretary standing over him, both appeared to be breathing hard.

''Sorry for the disturbance Lord Hokage, this rascal wouldn't listen and just ran up here, I'll bring him out immediately'' She said still breathing heavily as she reached down towards the blond boy, who reacted by scrambling out of her reach as fast as he could moving towards the Hokage and the other occupant sitting in front of the Hokage's desk.

''I need to talk to the Hokage damn it'' Naruto got out between intakes of breath.

''You can leave us Yui-san, I will manage from here'' Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a gentle tone when it looked like the secretary wanted to object, Hiruzen sent her a glare that silenced the protest before she accepted his order and closed the door behind her after leaving.

''So, my boy, what is your name and what did you need to talk to me about, that was so urgent you decided to run past my secretary'' Hiruzen asked after Naruto had gotten on his feet with the secretary leaving.

Naruto took a quick look around the room as he stood up and he noticed the second occupant, a man with black hair, done up to look like that top of a pineapple, Making Naruto guess it was Shikaku Nara, the father of Shikamaru Nara.

''Naruto and ehm, I don't have anything to eat'' Naruto said.

Both adults had noted Naruto's state of dress at this point and had small frowns on their faces ''Do they not give you food at the orphanage?'' questioned Hiruzen.

''But I don't stay at the orphanage?'' Naruto said tilting his head slightly hoping he pulled off the act of a child well enough.

''Then where are you staying now?'' Hiruzen asked he had an intense look in his eyes that made Naruto fear that the Hokage had realized that he was not really Naruto and he would send him to the Yamanaka to have them walk his mind.

''In the alley?'' Naruto said in what he hoped was an innocent tone that did not give him away and if the look of anger that flashed on the two men's faces were anything to go by it seemed it managed.

''Well then Naruto, I will be taking my lunch break soon, why don't you go sit downstairs and wait a bit and I will come and get you for lunch?'' Hiruzen said Naruto gave him a nod and a small bow before running out of the room with a smile on his face, his objective completed.

''We will continue this another time Shikaku, for now, I want you to look into why young Naruto is living on the streets'' Hiruzen spoke, the kind look he had tried to maintain during Naruto's visit completely gone now.

''As you wish, Lord Hokage'' Shikaku responded, and after a few more exchanges the two left the room.

Xx-xX

A while later Naruto was sitting beside Hiruzen at a small barbeque restaurant, they had just received their food when Hiruzen noticed that Naruto was having trouble with using his chopsticks, so he spends a few minutes teaching him how to use them correctly before the two started eating.

The two started talking with Hiruzen asking Naruto what he wanted to do when he grew up and from there Naruto started asking Hiruzen all the questions he could about ninjas, they even got around to Hiruzen explaining the Will of Fire as it was called, Naruto even managed to get Hiruzen to give him a few pieces of advice about chakra, which Naruto hoped would help him to start using his.

Naruto was told by the Hokage to come by his office when it was time for dinner and that there would be a surprise for him at that time.

Which is why Naruto was now back in the field that he had used earlier when trying to access his chakra, sitting in a lotus position he was doing his best to feel out his chakra and try and move it around, it took a very long time but the happiness and excitement that ran through him once he could move his chakra around in his body sluggishly was overpowering.

He just lay on the ground for a while smiling at the sky as he moved his chakra around, when he finally got back up he kept trying to get a better grasp on moving his chakra around, it was hard to describe what it felt like, it was like having an extra limb that moved as he wanted it to but its movement was sluggish like walking in water.

He spent the next several hours just getting a feel for his chakra, he managed to move it to different limbs at the same time, which he found out increased his speed if he tried to run with a good amount of chakra in his legs, he later realized he was not moving his chakra around when he stopped sending it to one arm to move it to a leg, instead the chakra in his arm seemed to either dissipate or tickle back to his center, and he was sending chakra from his center to his leg while that was going.

And with that discovery, he managed to stick a leaf to his forehead as he kept a constant stream of chakra going there, and that was how he was found, sitting against a tree with a leaf stuck to his forehead, by what he guessed was an ANBU if the mask was anything to go by.

''Lord Hokage is awaiting you at the Hokage Tower'' The ANBU spoke up.

''Ahh, sorry I've lost track of time'' Naruto said before jumping up and starting to run towards the village, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

''Stand still for a moment and I will bring you there'' the ANBU said getting Naruto stop, just as he was looking up at the ANBU's mask and was about to ask how he felt a breeze against his skin before he found himself standing at the entrance to the Hokage Tower.

''I have brought Naruto Uzumaki as ask Lord Hokage'' The ANBU said kneeling beside Naruto facing toward the Hokage.

''Yes, thank you, Falcon, you are dismissed'' Hiruzen said before turning to Naruto, who gave the old man an apologetic smile.

''Sorry Lord Hokage, I was trying to learn to use chakra and lost track of time'' Naruto said shifting a bit in place in apparent embarrassment.

''It is totally fine Naruto, I was hoping to grab something to eat with you before I show you the surprise I have for you'' Hiruzen said with a kind smile on his face, making Naruto nodded his head eagerly, he was surprisingly hungry again.

This time Hiruzen lead Naruto to what Naruto quickly recognized as Ichiraku Ramen stand, and while the two of them ate dinner, Hiruzen listened to Naruto talk about how he could now feel his chakra and move it around, he had even managed to get a leaf to stick to his forehead.

Hiruzen had looked like he wanted to ask Naruto something when that came up but seemed to decide not to, Naruto showed his new ability by sticking his chopsticks to his forehead, making both the Hokage, Teuchi and Ayume laugh at him.

Afterward Hiruzen was escorting Naruto around the village, they walked for quite a bit and Naruto guessed they had moved to the area of the village that held some of the clan areas if the walls surrounding the areas was an indicator.

The two of them finally arrived at a two-story apartment complex, Hiruzen lead Naruto inside and up the stairs to an apartment door which he unlocked a guided Naruto inside.

''This is my surprise to you Naruto, this will be your home from now on. I will make sure someone comes by and helps you with food and cleaning'' Hiruzen said surprising Naruto as he had thought Hiruzen would have found somewhere to place Naruto where there would be someone to watch over him.

Naruto jumped onto the mid-section of the Hokage a hugged him with all his four-year-old might, thanking him sincerely before he let himself drop to the floor and starting to quickly look around the apartment, he found out it had four rooms, a bedroom with enough space for a bed and a closet, a bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. A kitchen with a large fridge with a small freezer on the top. The last and largest room was the one they had entered. The only furniture in the apartment so far was a bed in the bedroom and a small table with two chairs in the kitchen.

''This is awesome'' Naruto exclaimed when he came back from his exploring getting a small chuckle from Hiruzen.

''Someone will come by tomorrow morning with breakfast and some furniture and other articles the apartment still lacks, but from tonight you will be sleeping here'' Hiruzen said before taking out a pair of keys.

''These are the keys to your apartment, for now, I will be keeping the second one, if at some point you find someone else you would rather have holding onto the key, just let me know'' Hiruzen explained before giving Naruto a key for his apartment.

''Sadly I have to go now, sleep well Naruto'' Hiruzen said before he turns to leave.

''Thanks a lot Lord Hokage and good night'' Naruto called out to him as he left.

'This day went so much better than I had hoped, not only did I manage to figure out how to use my chakra, at least to some degree, but I have even gotten an apartment to live in by myself' Naruto thought to himself

'There is even enough space that I can do chakra exercises with clones in here without anyone seeing it, that is if I can manage to pull the shadow clone technique off' Naruto thought before he yawned, and he began to feel tiredness set in.

Walking over and locking his front door, he went to the bathroom before taking a shower, after drying off and putting his underwear back on he left his dirty clothes in the bathroom before walking and crawling into bed, giving a sigh at how comfortable it was, and he was soon fast asleep.

End of Chapter One

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it, reviews are welcome!

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-Akabara