Naruto Childhood

A world filled with anguish and hatred. The invasion of the nine tailed fox left the citizens of Konoha into despair and anger. Sadness and sorrow soon turned into hatred towards the source of the destruction of Konoha. The source of the murder of their loved one, the Jinchuriki of the Kyubi, Naruto Uzumaki.

Age Six

"One day I will be the best Hokage! I will surpass all that came before me and the whole village will respect me, believe it!"

"Yeah sure, loser."

"You are ugly, Hokage's are not ugly like you."

"Heh, you can't even be a Ninja, loser. Let's go guys."

The words were not new to the six years old boy. It has been a part of his life since he could understand people. Their angry glare. Their hatred filled actions. Their, words.

He tried his best to brush it off but there was only so far a young boy could take. Tears filled his eyes during the night when he was back to his home. Sleeping in a bed, alone.

He did everything he could to gain attention of other people. He was hungry for love and affection but was only met with hatred and disgust.

The students in his ninja academy were no different. No one treated him nicely. Some called him ugly and fat which was far from the truth. But after hearing the same insult day after day, it became a truth to him. Their words would break his courage and confidence despite him showing his happy face. He wanted to be strong so people would acknowledge him but he soon found out he was not the best as a ninja. He couldn't even do the simplest ninjutsu. He still didn't give up. He trained day after day, progressing little by little.

Age Ten

Genin Exam. The day he was waiting for. He would finally be a ninja and start his life long dream to be the best Hokage that ever was or ever will be.

"Naruto, you fail."

Those three words crushed all his hopes. He wanted to be mad at Iruka sensei but he knew that the fault laid in him. He wasn't just good enough.

No one liked him. No one cared about him. He had no quality. He didn't have the skills and looks of Sasuke, nor the smarts of Sakura and Shikamaru. He was just a loser that no one cared about.

"I understand." Naruto replied, looking down sadly.

Iruka looked at him in surprise, expecting an outburst from the hyperactive boy.

"Y-You understand?" He asked.

Naruto nodded. "Thanks for everything, Iruka sensei."

Age 14

All his academy classmates have turned Genin and were actively playing a role in the world of ninja. Naruto was happy for them. He knew how everyone really wanted to be a ninja as much as he wanted to be. Shikamaru was the only exception but he knew one day he will be a valuable asset to Konoha.

Everyone seemed to be doing fine. Ino was beginning to finally get over her childhood crush and focus more on her training. Sakura was doing just fine with Sasuke and Sai in their three head squad.

As for Naruto. He had given up being a ninja. He was now working as assistant in Ichiraku Ramen. He was truly grateful to Ayame and her father for giving her the job. They were the only person in Konoha who would hire someone like him. A demon child. Yes, Naruto had finally learned about the truth about the source of all this hatred towards him.

It was Kyubi, the Nine Tailed Fox that was sealed inside of him. The fox scared him for the first time when he met him inside his mind but when Naruto looked at Kyubi's eyes, he saw something that was familiar.

It was the same look of sadness and loneliness. Naruto put up a face of happiness to hide his inner turmoil whereas Kyubi hide his with anger and malice. But they were the same. They were both alone and no one loved them.

"Naruto, two Miso Ramen." Ayame called out, peaking through the thin wooden crack on the back that lead towards their kitchen where Naruto was cooking.

"Ayame-nee-san, we are out of sesame oil, we can't take more orders today." He replied.

"Ugh… I guess. Okay. Let's pack up." She went back to the customer to apologize.

Naruto began to clean up but soon heard commotion outside.

"What do you mean we are closed bitch?! I waited for ten minutes!"

"I-I am s-sorry sir, but we are out of ingredients." Ayame explained.

"Bitch! I want my ramen! GIVE ME RAMEN!"

Naruto heard a loud thud followed by a screech from Ayame.

He quickly went out from the back of the stall and around. He saw one really talk and muscular man was holding her by the hair.

"GIVE ME RAMEN YOU FILTHY BITCH! OR PAY ME FOR WASTING MY TIME."

"Please- leave me. You are hurting me!"

"HUH?! Did you say you going to pay me with your body?"

"N-No, Stop-"

The man let go of her hair as his eyes fell on Naruto who stood in between them.

"Kid… I don't like the look in your eyes, look down." His voice was threatening and full of malice.

"I am sorry but this is going to take a while to heal." Naruto spoke with a smile. Before the man could react, Naruto smashed his knee against the man's crotch.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

(Scene Change)

"Naruto… what if he comes back tomorrow?" Ayame asked worriedly. "Dad isn't in the village until next week, how we going to deal with him?"

"Don't worry! I will protect you, nee-san! I am plenty strong!" He tried to pop up his muscles but his arms were skinny.

"Sure you are." Ayame laughed.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, chibi."

"Hey!"

(Scene Change)

After another day of work, Naruto walked by the silent roads of Konoha that lead towards his apartment. He didn't mind the silence, in fact he loved it. It was the only time when he didn't get the glares of the Konoha citizens.

'Mmmm… I am starving. I guess I will have a late night dinner, how about you, Kurama?'

…

…

'Grr…'

'Heh… that answers.' He laughed outwardly before he bumped into a lamppost for not seeing where he was going.

"Ittai!" he rubbed his forehead and that's when his eyes fell on the training ground. Particularly, the noise of the kunai hit against the wooden mark.

'Sasuke…' His once rival was practicing intensely. Everyone saw the Uchiha as a gifted prodigy who's strength came from his bloodline but the truth was far different and Naruto knew it more than anyone.

The sharingan did not make the boy strong, rather he made the sharingan strong. Sasuke was special when it came to fighting impulse. His body seemed to have a mind of its own that made him such a special shinobi. But Naruto didn't really admire his ability or his strength, what he admired about his rival was his resilience and determination to get stronger. He could see the old himself in Sasuke. But the difference was Naruto had given up. Sasuke didn't.

Sigh… 'This is really gloomy; I should hurry back.' He picked up his pace and left the training field in rush.

The last time him and Sasuke had any sort of interaction was four years ago.

'Now that I think of it, I haven't really talked to anyone from my class for the past four years…' He shook his head and jumped up on the roof as he picked up his pace.

'Not that they are dying to see me anyway. But it would be nice to see how they are doing. I bet Sakura-chan has gotten strong. She was always smart. Shikamaru hopefully isn't lazy anymore, haha.' Despite a smile playing on his face, inwardly he was shattered.

'If you are so sad about it, why don't you start training again?' It was Kurama's rare moment when he spoke to Naruto more than a growl or three words.

'Wow, you talked. You worried about me? :o' Naruto faked a gasp.

'No, it's just your shitty memories make my stomach growl. I have enough shit in my own head, don't need your crap to pollute further!'

(Scene Change)

He walked in and sighed deeply. The one-bedroom flat was in a mess. The smell of last night's ramen turned into a stench. Holding his nose in disgust, he briskly went to get his plates and dumped all the remains in the bag.

It took him another one hour to completely clean the room and throw out the trash. He didn't want the landlady to complain tomorrow when she comes to collect the rent.

After everything was cleaned and dined, he changed into his pyjamas and frog shaped hat before jumping on his bed.

…

…

He stared blankly at the ceiling. He wasn't tired and he didn't have anything to do.

'Another day passed… if only I could travel forward in time…' He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep.

'I can send you in future, if you let me out.'

'No, I am good.'

'Grrr…'

.

.

.

'Mind Zero'

Naruto soon found himself in a familiar place. It was the cage where Kurama was sealed.

'Kyubi… what do you want?' He asked. 'I am trying to sleep.'

But no response came from the fox. He could only see his blood red eyes hidden in the shadow.

Then he felt different. A sense of nausea and slight headache.

'What's going on…'

"Naruto."

He froze as soon as a hand rested on his shoulder. He gulped. 'A g-g-ghost?'

"Naruto, turn around."

He gulped again and slowly turned around. His eyes soon widened once he saw the person in question.

"Yondaime…"

"Hai, Naruto."

…

"Naruto…? You know my name?" He asked. He didn't know why he was so shocked. He should be excited. He was in front of the Hokage that saved the village from the nine tails attack. He was a legend. A hero. Yet Naruto felt odd. As if this wasn't the first time they met. A sense of familiarity on his smile. His hair. He couldn't quite put a finger on it.

"Of course, after all, I am the one who named you." Minato replied with a smile.

…

"Y-you named me? But why? I mean, how? You knew my parents?" His eyes lit up in anticipation. "Who were my parents? You know them? Yondaime-sama?"

Minato nodded. "I do… and your parents are not dead, Naruto."

Naruto looked at the man in front of him with wide eyes. He didn't know how to react. But his eyes soon blurred in tears. He quickly rubbed his eyes. "They are alive? Where are they?! Can I meet them? I mean why are they not with me? Where can I find them? Do they want me? Ahhh! What am I saying, ugh." He pulled his hair and shook his head. The headache was getting worse and his vision was getting blurry.

"Naruto, you are the only reason your parents did not lose hope. I can not tell you more, but I will just tell you one thing. No matter what you choose in life, or what path you take, we will always love you. You are the best thing that happed to us. Naruto."

"W-we? Wait- what-"

Dream End

Naruto jumped up from his bed, sweating from head to toe, gasping for air. He looked through the window and it was already morning.

'What just happened… Yondaime… dream… my parents are alive? What? Ughh…' He flinched again from the headache.

'Oi Kyubi, you saw that, too right? Oii!'

..

..

..

'I did. Your dad was dumb, he ended up telling you the truth.'

'My dad? Who? What truth?'

…

'Baka…'

…

…

"Huh? Nani?"

(Scene Change)

"Kuso! Damn that kyubi, he won't tell me. This whole thing must be a sick joke by him. Pfft." He soon pumped into someone and fell on his back.

"What's the big deal, old man?!" He growled at the tall man in front of him.

"Old man? I am Madara Uchiha."

"Oh yeah?! I am Sasuke Uchiha Uchiha!"

...

...

'Wait, Baka! Don't look at his eyes! NARU-'

..

The last thing Naruto remembered, were the man's blood red eyes.

End

Author's Note: Review.