A/N: Hello all, welcome to my second fanfic. I got the idea for this one due to a certain…complication, that has arisen in my first one that I need to find out if people are okay with, or if I'm going to have to do some serious rethinking on it. Anyway, due to that, this story found its way into my brain and just wouldn't go away. So now I present it to you all to see what you think of it. Hope you like it.
Note: This chapter has been reposted due to some issues with Naruto's departure that were pointed out to me by a reviewer (who's name I can't remember nor can I find the review to tell me, but if you're out there, you know who you are and I hope you like the redo) about Naruto's departure that I agreed with. So I tweaked it a bit. Hope you all enjoy it.
A Note after a Note: Also, there are a lot of scenes later in this story that could be considered 'gay bashing'. I would just like to tell you that while I, FreeTheKyuubi, am not gay, I have no problems with gays or lesbians. Especially seeing as I have friends and family members that are gay. The character guilty of the constant comments does have a problem, but that is because of a reason that will be revealed later. Just know that all comments or accusations are purely for comedic purposes and is in no way supposed to be a reflection of dislike for gays or lesbians by me, the author.
Disclaimer: I was going to rant on about how I don't own Naruto, but I figured just telling you all would do the trick.
Chapter 1: The Meeting
A little boy of only seven years old with sunny blonde hair, deep cerulean blue eyes, and three strange whisker like birthmarks on each of his cheeks was running through the darkened forest as fast as he could. Behind him he could hear the shouts of the villagers fading into the distance as they continued their relentless search for him.
It had been happening as long as he could remember. The villagers were always beating him, yelling at him, denying him access into stores and restaurants or grossly over charging him if they did let him in, and abusing him in any other ways they could think up. Eventually he had learned to stay out of their hate filled sight, only coming out of his small, rundown little apartment when he had no choice. It was the only peace he ever received.
However, there was one day of the year that no matter where he hid the villagers would come looking for him, and if they found him, they would give him the worst beating of the entire year. On several of these occasions he had almost been killed, surviving only due to the timely arrival of a strange group of people that would always have an animal mask on that he had heard some of the villagers call, ANBU. There had been one of them in particular that had saved the boy on many occasions, but he didn't know anything about him other than the fact he wore a dog mask and had weird, silver hair.
So, who was this little blonde boy, and what was this terrible day that now had him running for his life through the forest in the dead of night? The young boys name was, Uzumaki Naruto, and today was October 10th, the little boy's birthday.
After seven years of being neglected and abused, Naruto had finally decided he had had enough. He wanted, no, needed to get out of the village as fast as he could. He had watched the guards at the gate carefully and used the skills he had obtained from years of avoiding being seen to slip past them at the first opportunity. Since none of the villagers had realized his escape, they had continued their search in the village, unaware that their prey was moving further out of their reach with every second.
Naruto ran with everything he had, never slowing down, never looking back, leaving the hidden Shinobi village of Konoha further behind him with every step. As he ran thoughts of an old man in large red and white hat, with a pipe in his mouth, and a gentle smile on his lips came to his mind. The Hokage of Konoha.
The old man had always been kind to him, visiting the poor boy on several occasions. He would always smile and joke with Naruto, even taking the boy to his favorite place in the world, Icharaku's Ramen Stand. He was the only one in the world that Naruto could have ever considered family, and he was leaving him behind with the rest of the village.
'I'm sorry, Ojii-san, but I can't take it anymore.' The boy mentally apologized as tears welled up in his eyes. 'I promise, I'll get strong, and one day I'll come back to see you again. I won't give up my dream to become the Hokage and gain everyone's respect, but I need to get away for now.'
Naruto had no idea what direction he had been going or for how long he had been running when his legs and lungs could no longer handle the strain he was putting them through. His legs buckled beneath him and he fell headlong into the forest floor, scattering fallen leaves and dirt with his impact.
As he lay panting on the ground, he could feel his eyes slowly starting to force their way shut as the exhaustion from his long exertion began taking its toll on him.
"I just…need to…rest for a…minute." He said as his eyes closed and he was pulled into a deep slumber. The last thing his tired mind registering being the sound of crunching leaves.
X
The Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi, stood in his office in front of a large window overlooking Konoha. He could see the festival very easily from where he was. He could honestly say that he didn't like it either. The festival was held once a year in commemoration of a great hero of the village. That Hero had been the Yondaime Hokage, who had died saving the village from a terrible menace known as The Kyuubi.
The Kyuubi was a giant nine tailed fox that wrought destruction and chaos wherever it went. Its tails were said to level mountains and cause tsunamis with a single sweep. It was such a terrible menace that it had become thought of as a natural disaster, something that could only be survived through, never prevented.
On this day, October 10th, exactly seven years ago, the fox had attacked Konoha. No body knows its reason for doing so, or if it even had a reason, but the ninja of Konoha had risen up and fought the great beast instead of hiding in fear. The battle had raged for hours on end and a great many lives were lost until the Yondaime gave his life in exchange for sealing the Kyuubi's soul into a newborn baby, thus stopping the fox's reign of fear and destruction.
The child that had been forced to carry the heavy burden of being the Kyuubi's jailor was none other than, Uzumaki Naruto.
It had been the Yondaime's dying wish that Naruto be seen as a hero for the burden he now bore, but as soon as Sarutobi announced to the villagers what had happened they started rioting and demanding that the blonde baby be put to death. In the end, Sarutobi had been forced to call in his ANBU to stop the riot and detain some of the more violent villagers. It was then that he passed a law that nobody was to ever speak of that day's events or Naruto's burden to any of the younger generations. Breaking this law would be considered a capitol offence punishable by death. It was the old mans hope that by doing so, at the very least Naruto would be able to find a place among the youth of the village and have something of a normal life.
Unfortunately, Sarutobi's hopes were dashed as the years passed. The adults of the village scorned and abused Naruto, and that hateful attitude had been passed to their children. Naruto was treated as a plague and made an outcast by everyone, young and old alike. The boy never had a friend, and lived alone in a pathetic little apartment that Sarutobi had, through intimidation and more than a few threats, managed to get him after he had been found living on the streets because the orphanage had kicked him out.
Now the old man waited impatiently for the ANBU he had dispatched to bring Naruto to the office for protection. He knew that the beatings were the worst on this day. People remembered the pain of losing loved ones in that terrible battle and took their misguided anger out on the innocent boy. Sarutobi had had enough of it though, and had vowed that day to insure that Naruto would not have to suffer this year as he had the last six. It was the least he could do for the poor boy.
Two chakra signatures arrived behind him, and Sarutobi gave a sigh of relief when he recognized them as being the two he had sent to retrieve Naruto. He turned around with his kindly smile in place, only to have that smile drop when he saw that the boy was not with the two kneeling ANBU.
"What happened? Where is Naruto?" He demanded, afraid that something may have already happened to the boy.
"We went to his apartment to get him as you ordered, Hokage-sama, but he was not there." The ANBU in front said. He wore a dog mask and had a head of gravity defying silver hair. Sarutobi had assigned this particular ANBU to watch over Naruto on many occasions since he was one of the few who had no hatred for the boy. "However, when we searched his apartment for signs of struggle, we found this on the kitchen table." The silver haired man held out a dirty piece of paper to the Hokage.
Sarutobi instantly recognized the untidy scrawl of Naruto's handwriting, and was certain he already knew what it said even as he began reading.
Dear Ojii-san,
I'm really sorry about this, but I really had to leave. I didn't want to leave you behind since you are the only one who has ever been nice to me, but I promise I'll see you again. I'll get stronger and come back so that I can be the Hokage, just like I told you I would. I hope you aren't mad at me for doing this, but I just had to get away from the village and all the mean looks and beatings. Take care of yourself, Ojii-san, and know that you are really the only person I'll miss while I'm gone. Well maybe I'll miss that dog guy too, but we never talk so I probably won't miss him that much.
Bye Ojii-san,
Naruto
P.S. When I come back, will you buy me some ramen?
Despite the sadness and worry the old man felt from reading the letter, he couldn't help but chuckle slightly at Naruto's last comment. Trust that boy to think of ramen even as he prepared to leave the village.
Sarutobi's thoughts grew more serious then. By all accounts, he should send his ANBU to track the boy down and bring him back to the village as soon as possible, but the more he thought about it the more like a bad idea it sounded. Naruto had left the village because he could no longer stand the treatment that the villagers put him through, and the old man really couldn't blame him for that. If he were honest with himself, he would have to admit that getting out of the village was probably the best thing for him right now. To bring him back now could devastate the boy who was only looking for some sort of relief from the nightmare that was his life. Sarutobi knew that he needed to let Naruto have this, but that didn't make him worry any less for the boy's safety.
Sarutobi raised his eyes from the letter to the two ANBU who were still kneeling in front of him and an idea quickly formed. "Captain," He said to the dog masked man. "Your subordinate is dismissed, but I would like to discuss something with you before you go."
The dog masked man turned to look at his companion, who nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Looking back at the Hokage he spoke. "What do you need, Hokage-sama?"
"I think you already know what I am going to ask of you, Kakashi." Sarutobi said, getting straight to the point.
The man nodded, "You want me to find Naruto and make sure he is safe, but not bring him back. Is that right, Hokage-sama?"
"Yes, as much as it pains me to admit, it would be good for Naruto to have his chance to get away from the scorn of the village for a while. However, I can not let him just go without making sure he is taken care of. That's why your mission will be to find Naruto and follow him until you have determined he will be safe. Is that understood?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Kakashi bowed and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
With a heavy sigh, Sarutobi turned back to the window he had been staring out before, his eyes looking over the rooftops to the mountains beyond them as if hoping to catch sight of the blonde haired boy.
'I have failed you horribly thus far, Naruto. I only hope that this decision will be the right one.'
X
He was warm. That was the first thing that came to Naruto's mind as he slowly came out of his blissful slumber. He had expected to wake up cold and shivering having fallen asleep on the forest floor, but he was undeniably warm. He also noticed that his head was resting on something soft. How that came to be Naruto had no idea, but he knew there was only one way to find out.
Slowly he opened his eyes and found himself on his back, staring at the starry night sky. He couldn't have been asleep that long if it was still night out. Turning his head he found the source of his comfortable warmth was a happily dancing fire about two meters away from him and a quick look down told him that his head had been resting on his own rolled up jacket.
"So, you're finally awake, eh?"
Naruto jumped at least a foot into the air and clutched his chest before turning to the owner of the voice that had just scared the shit out of him.
Walking in from the shadows of the trees was a young man that looked like he couldn't be older than twenty, wearing nothing but black. His torso was covered with a black, Gi like top that disappeared into his black shinobi pants and wore a pair of black boots that the legs of his pants were tucked into. Strangely enough, despite the fact it was the middle of the night, he also wore a pair of dark black half-framed sunglasses that completely hid his eyes from view. While looking at his face, Naruto also caught sight of a black wrapped sword hilt sticking out over the man's right shoulder. Once the stranger got closer, the fire light better revealed his features and Naruto saw that his arms and the visible portion of his chest had several large scars on them that could only signify a hard, battle filled life.
Of all the things that Naruto could have been impressed with though, it was the stranger's hair that caught his interest the most. It was short and seemed to defy gravity somewhat, only with out the spike appearance Naruto's had, but what made it interesting to the boy was that it was a sort of dark, dirty-blonde color that Naruto had never seen. That wasn't to say that he had never met another blonde before, it was just that he had never seen this particular shade. He had seen that one girl playing with her friends at the park. She had a kind of platinum colored blonde. Then there was that man that Naruto was fairly sure was her father since he always picked her up from the park, but his was just a bit darker shade of blonde.
"You hungry, kid." The stranger asked as he held up four fish that were attached on a line of ninja wire.
Naruto didn't get to answer because at that moment his stomach decided to let off a loud growl. Naruto blushed a little in embarrassment when the young man laughed. "I guess I'll take that as a yes, but you'll have to wait until they cook first." He took out four sticks he had been carrying with him and proceeded to impale each fish on one before propping the sticks in the dirt so the fish could be cooked by the heat of the fire.
"So, kid, you want to tell me what you were doing sleeping on the ground in the middle of the forest all alone? The last time I checked, that wasn't the smartest thing for a kid your age to be doing." The stranger asked as he sat cross legged on the ground behind the fish.
Naruto shifted uneasily at the older boy's question and looked down. It wasn't that he didn't trust the stranger seeing as he had not shown any sort of malice and was already taking care of him. It was just that he didn't want to go back to the village yet, and if he told him, the older male might feel obligated to take him back.
"Well I suppose if you don't trust me you don't have to tell me. I know I'm not the safest looking person around." The boy said making Naruto snap his head back up. Naruto was a little surprised to see a good natured smile on the teen's face instead of the disappointed frown he had been expecting.
Shaking his head, Naruto spoke for the first time that evening. "It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that I don't want to go back to where I came from yet. If I don't tell you, then you have no reason to take me back."
"Can't say I don't like the logic, but what makes you so sure I'd try to?" The stranger said as he turned the fish to keep them cooking evenly. Taking in Naruto's surprised expression he simply shrugged. "You left for your own reasons, right? I may not know what those reasons are, but I wouldn't take you back to a place that you obviously want to get away from. I took off to challenge the world on myself when I wasn't much older than you, so it'd be kind hypocritical of me to tell you you're wrong in doing it too. Don't you think?"
Naruto wasn't sure if he was more relieved that the older boy wasn't planning to force him to go back, or surprised that he had just said that he also had left his home a long time ago. "Why did you leave?" Naruto asked.
"Ah, ah." The older boy said with a wag of his finger. "I made the fire and caught the fish, so it's only fair that you tell the first story. Before that though, we need to know what to call each other, right? So, what's your name kid?"
Naruto looked a little sheepish since he hadn't realized that he didn't even know the name of the person who had helped him, but answered energetically. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto, seven years old, and the future Hokage of Konoha." He hadn't really meant to add that last part, but old habits were hard to break.
The stranger smiled slightly at Naruto's proud declaration. "I guess that saves me the time of asking where you came from." Naruto rubbed his head sheepishly as the other boy continued. "Well, Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage. My name is Jagaa. Just Jagaa. I'm also seventeen years old, and," the young man took on a noble pose and declared proudly. "The most badass mother fucker you'll ever meet!"
Naruto stared at the teen in silence. His mind not sure how to process that last part.
"Hmm, tough crowd." Jagaa muttered.
The younger blonde decided the best thing to do would be to just ignore the comment and opted to instead ask a question that had entered his mind during Jagaa's introduction. "So, why don't you have a clan name? Did something happen?"
Jagaa looked down and shook his head slightly, and Naruto could have sworn he saw a sad smile pass his lips. "That's a story for another day, kid." When Jagaa looked back up all trace of the sadness that Naruto thought he had seen was gone. "Speaking of stories, why don't you tell me yours over a roasted fish?" Jagaa plucked one of the sticks out of the ground and handed the freshly cooked food to the eager boy. Naruto took it gratefully and quickly took a large bite, only to immediately start choking on a bone.
"Take it slow, kid." Jagaa said as patted Naruto on the back. "Don't make me have wasted my time making the fire because you went and died choking on a fish bone."
Naruto laughed painfully as the bone was dislodged from his throat and, when he took his next bite, was very careful to be mindful of the dangerous little things.
"So, going off your self introduction, you're from Konoha, right?" Naruto nodded at Jagaa's question. "So why did you leave? It seems like it would make it a little hard to accomplish you goal doesn't it?" Jagaa was observing the boy carefully as he asked his question, and was a little worried when he noticed the boy's happy eyes dim as a painful sadness filled them.
"I...I just…I had to get away from it…If only for a while." Naruto said sadly. Jagaa made no comment as he waited for the boy to continue. Naruto saw Jagaa's patient silence and took a little comfort in it. The older boy was letting him tell him at his own pace. Taking a deep breath, Naruto spoke again. "All my life, the villagers have glared at me, called me names, even…beat me. They were always calling me things like Monster or Freak, and they wouldn't let their kids play with me so I never had any friends. I wasn't allowed into most stores or food places, and would sometimes throw rocks at me, or spit on me as I walked by. I have been beaten more times than I can remember, and sometimes I think I might have died if those masked guy's hadn't saved me." As Naruto finished he hugged himself to his knees and stared into the fire. "I just needed to get away." He whispered.
"…I can see why." Jagaa said lowly as he too watched the dancing flames. "What I don't understand though, is why you want to be the Hokage of a place like that. If I understand it right, a Kage is supposed to protect the people of his village even if it costs him his life. Why would you want to do that for a village that has caused you so much pain?"
"To show them they were wrong!" Naruto's answer compelled Jagaa to turn back to the boy, and he was amazed to find a fierce determination shining in his eyes. "I'll show them that I'm not worthless, that I'm not some sort of monster! I'll become the strongest in the entire village and make them all respect me!" Naruto looked at Jagaa with unwavering resolve. After a few moments of staring at each other Jagaa started chuckling softly, earning him a confused stare from Naruto.
"That's one hell of a goal you got there, kid. What will you do if it doesn't work though? What if, even after you become the Hokage, they still don't respect you? Will you still be able to protect them?" Even though Naruto couldn't see Jagaa's eyes, he could almost feel the intensity of his gaze through them.
Naruto met that gaze with his own, his determination never wavering. "I will! Even if they still hate me, I'll keep trying! No matter how long it takes, I'll keep trying and one day I'll change their minds!"
Jagaa held Naruto's gaze for moment before smiling. "Good answer, but I think you still have a long way to go before you get there. So, would you like some help?" Naruto looked incredulously at Jagaa who never lost his smile.
"If you want, you're welcome to travel with me." Jagaa said to the shell shocked boy. "I'll teach you what I can as we go and may even be able to find some people who would be willing to teach you what I can't. You'll also be able to see the world and learn about the different cultures and ideals of the other nations. A useful thing to know as a Hokage, don't you think? Of course when you feel you're ready to go home, I'll take you back to Konoha. It would be hard for you to become the Hokage other wise, right?" Jagaa was trying to gauge the boy's reaction to his offer, but Naruto was staring into space in a dumbstruck gaze. "Uh, Kid? Naruto?"
The next thing Jagaa knew he was tackled by a mass of sunny-blonde hair that started hugging him tightly that and screaming "Thank You" repeatedly at the top of his lungs. Jagaa's surprised expression changed and a soft, barely visible smile came to his lips. "No problem, kid, but if you're going to be traveling with me, you need to get some sleep. It's really late already and I like to start moving early so-" Jagaa didn't get to finish as Naruto launched off him and resumed his place that he had woken up in. With one more yell of thanks he closed is eyes and seemed to be trying to force him self to sleep.
Jagaa laughed silently to himself at the boy's antics, while at the same time wondering just what he may have gotten himself into.
X
The scarred man sat silently as the fire turn to glowing red embers and listened to the rather loud snoring coming from the little blonde boy across from him. For someone who seemed to be bursting with energy as he tackled Jagaa, Naruto sure had fallen asleep in record time. Jagaa couldn't hold back the low chuckle that came as he decided that his life was probably about to get far more interesting than he had ever thought possible.
Jagaa's thoughts then darkened as he remembered just what the kid had told him. It had taken all the will power he had not to show how angry the village's treatment of Naruto had made him. Hell, he had only known him for less than twenty minutes and he could already tell that the boy was practically the incarnate of kindness. For any one to be able to willingly harm a boy like him…
Jagaa shook his head to clear away the path his thoughts were leading him down. He had already promised that he would help the boy achieve his dream. That meant that he would have to one day take him back to the village, no matter how much he felt that a village like that didn't deserve someone like Naruto in it. He decided he would think more on the matter later, right now he had something to take care of.
With another quick examination to make sure Naruto was still asleep, Jagaa stood up from his spot on the ground and walked into the darkened forest. Once he was about one hundred meters from camp he spoke to the surrounding trees. "You know, it's not polite to spy on people. So how about you quite hiding and show your self?"
A swirl of leaves erupted about twenty feet in front of him before dying away to reveal a man with gravity defying hair and wearing a porcelain dog mask.
"So, you knew I was there all along, huh?" Kakashi said in a partially congratulatory tone.
"Don't sound so impressed. It might be flattering if you had actually been trying to hide, but as it stands it's somewhat insulting." Jagaa said and crossed his scarred arms.
"Ah, sorry about that. I didn't realize you were good at sensing chakra." Kakashi apologized and scratched the back of his head.
"Why don't you cut the bullshit and tell me why you're here." Jagaa said in a no nonsense tone. "I'll warn you now that if you're here to take Naruto back to Konoha, I'll be inclined to stop you. If even half of what that kid said is true then that village is the last place he should be."
Kakashi raised his hands in a placating manner. "I agree, as does the Hokage." Kakashi's statement caused Jagaa to raise an eyebrow over his glasses.
"If that's the case, then why are you here?"
"The Hokage wanted to make sure that Naruto was safe. So he sent me to watch over him and protect him from the shadows until I deemed him such. Like someone taking him in, for example." He tilted his head, and Jagaa was sure that the man was smiling beneath his dog mask.
"Well, since you already heard my conversation with the kid, which ended about an hour ago by the way, why are you still here?"
Kakashi casually put his hands in his pockets while still facing Jagaa. "Saying you'll protect someone, and actually meaning to do it, are two different things." He said in a much more serious tone than he had been using.
"I see." Jagaa said with his arms still crossed in front of him. "So you mean to find out if I'm a man of my word?"
"Yep." Kakashi answered with a carefree tone. The wind blew through the forest carrying leaves and dust as the two stood facing each other.
In a flash of movement and ring of steel, the space between the two closed, and Kakashi was a bit surprised to find a three foot Ninjato at the side of his neck, even as he held a kunai to Jagaa's chest. The two stood in that position for a while longer before simultaneously withdrawing their weapons and taking a step back from each other.
"Hatake Kakashi, nice to meet you." Kakashi introduced himself with a hidden smile.
"Jagaa, but you already knew that." Jagaa replied, lowering his blade to his side.
"Hmm," Kakashi smiled. "It looks like you weren't lying after all. So I'll just be going now." Kakashi turned to leave but stopped as he remembered something. "By the way, I noticed you seem to be a loner, but if Naruto's dream is to become the Hokage he is going to need to understand the value of teamwork."
"Don't worry about that. I may like to fight alone, but I know that everyone needs help sometimes. Hell, I would probably have been killed already if I didn't." Jagaa did his own turn and started walking back to where Naruto was but stopped and looked over his shoulder after a few steps. "You know, I have to wonder what is wrong with your villagers if they can willingly attack someone like Naruto. The boy practically radiates kindness and caring. Would you like to explain why he has been the target of such hate all his life?"
"Unfortunately I can't. It's an 'S' classed secret punishable by death to reveal it without the Hokage's permission. Which I don't have. If you want to know, you will have to ask the Hokage directly. I can tell you that it was in no way Naruto's fault…or his choice."
"I wouldn't have believed you if you had said otherwise. The kid's just too innocent to have willingly done something to make people hate him." Jagaa said, his tone firm.
Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "I'm sure you'll be told all about it once you return to Konoha. Until then, please take care of Naruto." The other man nodded silently to which Kakashi nodded in response and leaves began to circle around him. "Oh, and when you get back, I'd very much like to spar with you again." His friendly tone was carried on the wind as the man disappeared.
Jagaa looked at the spot Kakashi had been standing for a moment, and then slowly raised his blade in front of him where he silently examined it before a small smile came to his lips. "…interesting." Sliding his blade back into its sheath, the man turned and walked back toward the fire. And his new traveling companion.
X
Sarutobi Hiruzen could only stare incredulously at the most skilled Jounin under his command as the man finished lazily giving his report. "And you just left him!? With a man you had only spoken to for five minutes!?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Kakashi said easily.
The aged Hokage took several calming breaths as he fought his desire to jump over his own desk and strangle the silver haired man. "Do you have any idea what you've done, Kakashi? You've left a boy, who has the most powerful bijuu in existence locked inside him, with a man, another shinobi, who's allegiance and motives you don't even know. What if he turns Naruto against Konoha? Or worse. Into a living weapon?"
"He won't." Kakashi replied, his voice losing its lazy quality and becoming more serious. Almost defiant.
Sarutobi locked his eyes with Kakashi's single, visible eye. "And how can you be sure?"
"Because our blades crossed."
The Hokage was visibly taken aback by the statement. "You could read his heart? Someone you had only just met?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Not fully. No. However, when our blades crossed in that single instant, it was as if…I were crossing blades with a best friend. I felt something like…a familiarity. I just knew that he wasn't lying. That he was going to protect Naruto." Kakashi paused, his eye going distant. "It was as if my soul itself were telling me that he was a person I could trust."
Sarutobi was silent for some time, his thoughts wrapping around what he had just been told. Finally, he spoke in a low, serious voice. "Do you understand what could happen if you're wrong, Kakashi?"
The Jounin stared back at his leader, his visible eye glowing with firm conviction. "I'm not wrong."
Silence once again filled the air, but it did not last long as the Sandaime leaned back in his chair, lowering his head acceptance. "Very well. You're dismissed, Kakashi." The silver haired man saluted silently and vanished in a swirl of leaves. With a sigh, the old man stood, looking out the widow and over the lit village. He knew that he shouldn't be allowing this. He knew he should be sending out an ANBU squad to get Naruto away from the unknown man. But, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
He wanted to believe. No. He needed to believe in the feeling that Kakashi had experienced. He had to believe that he really was doing the best thing for the boy. He had to believe that this was all being guided by fate.
Sarutobi shifted his eyes from the glowing village to the darkened sky above. "I hope I'm doing the right thing for you, Naruto."
A/N: Well, what do you all think? I should warn you now that as it stands I have this story very minimally planned out so right now, so it could be a while between updates.
Oh and does anyone have any suggestions on who Naruto should be paired with. Anyone, anyone at all?