Sorrowful Seraphim: Dang, it's been a while….oh man…I know all my Take My Hand readers are really pissed at me…but this is a new year…and hopefully it'll be better than the last one…Let's start with this new story…I had a good idea, so I'm going to go with it. It's my first Naruto fic, but I can do it…so here goes….
Summary: From 4, Naruto was trained by Uchiha Itachi to be an ANBU, by Jiraiya to be the next Toad Sannin, and by Sandaime to be a future hokage. Even after Itachi left, Naruto stayed and trained in the ANBU and reached the level of Tokubestu Jounin. As an ANBU captain-trainee at 10 years old, Naruto is given an S-rank mission. Join the ninja academy and scout the ninja applicants for the other two future sannin. Join a smarter and stronger Naruto on his quest to find the village's most promising ninja, save the village from multiple threats, and keep his true identity a secret to those around him.
Warnings: Language, Violence
AN: Well…I tend to use A LOT of basic Japanese dialogue…so if you don't the basics, feel free to ask me to put a note in future chapters…I know that many who read manga and fanfics and such tend to know the basics…so I'm not going to put footnotes or anything, and I also explain most of the meanings in the surrounding context, but if there's a word you just don't understand, feel free to ask me…and I'll be sure to put the note in the next chapter.
Prologue: A New Assignment, A New Era
////////////////////Naruto///////////////////////
The fresh, untainted scent of morning reached his enhanced senses as he sped quietly through the forest foliage. If one could see through his kitsune mask, they would see his face contorted in deep thought. His expression changed to alertness when he heard a small sound to his left. He glanced over to its origin, only to see a small squirrel hobbling along the forest floor below. Sometimes having sharper senses wasn't a good thing after all. And so he continued onwards, his ankle-length black trench coat flapping in the wind.
As he neared the edge of the forest, he could clearly spot the hokage tower in the distance. He was unsure of why Sandaime had summoned him so late in the morning. Usually, he would either receive a mission late at night, or very early in the morning, never this late. His mind kept nudging him in the direction that he wasn't going to enjoy whatever the hokage had in store for him today.
As his feet adjusted rapidly to the change from branches to rooftops, the young boy glanced down below him. He could clearly spot the market beginning to fill with customers as it neared noon. Many could also be seen crowding in the restaurant district, hoping to catch some good lunch. Shinobi, Kunoichi, and Villager alike could be seen walking about, engrossed in their daily routines. Beneath his mask he smiled, knowing he was one of the people that kept this village in such peace.
After all, he was Uzumaki Naruto, age 10, ANBU captain-trainee, and tokubetsu jounin of Konohagakure No Sato, The Village Hidden in the Leaves.
As Naruto landed silently in front of the hokage tower, he couldn't help but notice the smiles of the villagers passing by, seeing a hard working ANBU that they felt secure around. He grinned mischievously beneath his mask. If only they knew. If only they knew I who I was. Naruto knew by instinct that if those people had seen his face instead of his mask, they would have been scowling instead of smiling. For he was also the "demon boy" of Konoha, the container of the all powerful and destructive Kyuubi No Yokou, the great Nine-Tailed Fox Demon that had invaded Konoha 10 years ago.
Naturally, no one had told him at first. But going through Konoha's records, he realized that he was the only child born that fateful day, and so he had questioned Sandaime-jiisan, Itata-sensei, and Ero-sennin about it. Being caught in a corner, they had revealed the truth. At first he was angry and sad and hated Yondaime for leaving him with such a burden, but after his outburst of rage, he realized the young man had had no other choice, and also realized that Yondaime was far too righteous to just seal the demon in anyone. And so came to the correct conclusion that he was the son of Yondaime.
Of course, he wasn't going to boast about it. His real friends, his ANBU friends that is, and his three sensei, cared about him for who he really was, and that was all that mattered to him.
Snapping himself out of his thoughts, he proceeded into the hokage tower. Striding down the halls at a leisurely pace, he passed by many…tall…Shinobi, who gave the excruciatingly short ANBU a questioning look. Okay, so he was 10, and he was only 4' 6", but he was still a child, what could you expect? He didn't let their gazes distract him, and after some wandering, since this place always seemed to get him lost, he arrived at the hokage's office, only to be greeted by some of his friends: Usagi, his fellow ANBU teammate, and Nezumi, another ANBU he knew well. Of course he had seen their faces, but most ANBU recognized each other by their masks.
"Oi, Ohayo Gozaimasu, Kistune." Usagi cheerfully addressed him. Usagi was a happy person anyway, but after his last long S-rank mission, he'd been a bit solemn. Something good must've happened today…wait…is he laughing at me? Naruto noticed that Nezumi was also snickering. She's always serious, something has to be up.
"Anoo…Ohayo…Usagi, Nezumi…" he replied hesitantly. They opened the door for him and he walked slowly inside, unsure of what was about to transpire. He could still pick out the sniggering of the two ANBU behind him. Damn, what the hell is going on?
Naruto saw Sandaime sitting as his usual desk with his usual mound of paperwork surrounding him. Everything seems normal… Naruto let his thought trail off as Sandaime motioned him forward. He took his usual place in front of the Hokage, the same place he stood for receiving his usual missions, but the moment Sandaime looked up him with a playful smirk on his wrinkled face, he knew, this was NOT the usual.
"Ah, Naruto, it's good to see you today. Ogenki desuka?" It was also usual for Sandaime to ask how he was, but the old man's odd smile was still existent.
"Anoo…genki desu…demo…." At his "but" Sandaime frowned, and his expression became that of general concern.
"Nan desuka? Daijoubu ka?" The problem was, he didn't know what it was, nor was he sure he was alright…but he nodded and spoke nevertheless.
"Hai, it's just, everyone is acting strange today…and I don't know why…" Sandaime suddenly burst into laughter. Naruto was genuinely stunned. Now his confusion had reached all new heights.
"Naruto, it's probably your new mission. It's S-rank, demo…" S-rank?! What's so damn funny about an S-rank mission?! He should be serious, unless…it's one of those important ones that are actually really annoying...Kusou…
"Wakarimasen…." He was serious. He really didn't understand what as so funny.
"Well, your mission is out of the ordinary. You know that you are the next Toad Sannin, ne?" Naruto nodded, wondering where this was heading. He had known for many years he was being trained for that position. "And unless you've forgotten, there are supposed to be three sannin..." No…no no no…Naruto was finally beginning to see where this was going…just no…please no…onegai!! "I strongly believe there are many possible applicants in the ninja academy that will soon become genin." No!!!!!! "And you, being the future Toad Sannin, as well as the youngest ANBU, are more than qualified to take the mission of going undercover in the academy to scout for the other two future sannin." This cannot be happening.
Naruto was speechless. Ojii-san wanted him to become an…an ACADEMY student?! No way in hell!! Those kids were nothing but sniveling brats, how could he possibly stand it? But he couldn't say no…Because this was his mission, assigned to him by the hokage.
"Well, Naruto? Do you accept?" Naruto nodded ruefully. This is going to be the worst experience of my life….
"Ii desu, you start tomorrow. Your teacher is Umino Iruka. There are a box of clothes at your home that you can choose from to wear during your time in the Academy. I want you to gauge each and every student's ability to the fullest." He nodded one last time before walking out the door, and barely caught Sandaime wishing him good luck.
/////////////////Naruto/////////////////
Sitting on the hokage monument was something Naruto had often done as a child. That was a time when he was broken and battered, when he had no friends or comrades. On the top of Yondaime's head was his favorite place to watch the sky in the evenings back then. It soothed his nerves when he was tense, like he was now. It had been years since Naruto had talked, much less interacted with people his own age. Perhaps, he thought, that was another reason Ojii-san assigned me this mission.
He knew very well that Sandaime only wanted the best for him. He had told Naruto on multiple occasions that he should look for some friends among his peers, but he had never pursued any such action. He sighed and stood up in one swift motion. In the flash on an eye he was back to jumping gracefully along the village rooftops, towards his apartment. As he neared it he noticed the box of clothing Sandaime had spoken of. Landing beside it, he picked up the moderately light box before unlocking the door and stepping into the dark room that was his living area. Naruto was planning on turning in early tonight. He was going to need a good deal of rest if he was to accomplish this mission.
Sorrowful Seraphim: Is it okay so far? Do you approve of my storyline? It is interesting enough? Is the Japanese dialogue okay for you? Comments please…Read &Review…I enjoy feedback….
AN: Also, I don't have a beta reader, so I apologize for any grammatical errors...
Next Chapter: Awkward Beginnings, The Start of a Illusory Rivalry