Fukōhei Arc

Chapter One

“Dog-san, why does everyone hate me?” A childish voice questioned, causing the silver-haired ANBU to freeze in place. Uzumaki Naruto was looking up at the man who had been caring for him since he was two. Faint memories of the orphanage and the caretaker trying to suffocate him could be found in Naruto’s mind, he just never talked about it.

The man who was assigned to take care of him was one of three that was a constant in young Naruto’s life. Along with Cat-san and Jaguar-san, Dog-san was one of the few people who didn’t show the hatred Naruto was normally faced with. Along with the Sandaime and the owner of Ichiraku’s and his daughter, Naruto was glad that such people actually care for him.

But there was always this question at the back of the five year old Naruto’s mind. He didn’t understand why everyone hated him. He never got an answer when he asked, either. He was often ignored or sneered at. When he asked Dog-san the same question, there was little hope left in Naruto’s mind that he would be answered with anything other than the normal response.

Surprisingly, Dog-san turned to Naruto and crouched onto his knees, bringing him level to the young boy who was staring at the masked ANBU with surprise. It caused more annoyance at the village to fill Kakashi’s heart as he thought about what they did to his sensei’s son.

“Listen, Naruto, humans are foolish creatures. We fear things without reason simply because they are unknown to us. This village is full of fear, and with that fear….everyone turns to hate. Hate is easy, hate is safe, and hate protects them from something unknown. That unknown factor is you, and their only safe response is hatred. This doesn’t make it right, however. This makes it so that Konoha is full of misunderstanding and hatred that serves no purpose. The fools of this village fear you, and they only harm you because of it.”

Naruto stared, wide-eyed, at the ANBU in front of him. The village….feared him? That’s why he was always sneered at? Is that what those looks mean? Always so full of contempt….was it hiding their fear?

“But….it looks like they really hate me.” Naruto muttered, causing Kakashi to sigh, ruffling the boy’s spiky blond hair.

“They are often ignorant of their fear and skip straight to hatred.”

“But why do they fear me? I haven’t done anything!” Naruto exclaimed. Kakashi frowned, looking at the boy as his bright blue eyes became misty. His confusion was so big….and it was only harming the boy. But the truth….what would the truth do?

“Naruto….” Kakashi let out a long sigh, casting the boy another look as the pitiful, pleading pout continued to mar the boy’s features.

“I am unsure whether the truth would hurt you more than confusion does.” Kakashi stated bluntly, causing the boy to blink. He stared at the white-haired ANBU, his small mind reeling.

The….truth? The truth could harm me more than it does already? But….wouldn’t knowing why everyone hated me be better? Naruto asked himself in confusion. Staring at the man, Naruto put his mind to work. Despite his loud, brash personality – Naruto was smart. His observation skills preceded everyone’s expectations. He kept it secret though, it was better. If people thought he was smart, then they wouldn’t underestimate him as much.

Dog-san clearly wanted to help him, but he was unsure which course would benefit Naruto more. This annoyed Naruto, but it also made him consider just how much of an issue the truth could be. This led him to thinking of what kind of secret would be such a big deal. Clearly he had done something….or had he? Maybe he was the only one left in the aftermath of a huge event? Something that had harmed Konoha?

What could be big enough for the entire village to hate him though? Nothing had happened that Naruto knew about besides….

“The Kyūbi Attack.” Naruto mumbled in realization. He was far more analytical than people gave him credit for; it just took a while for him to connect the pieces. Given that he was only five, his mind wasn’t developed enough for the puzzle pieces to fall into place until now.

Kakashi visibly flinched as Yūgao and Tenzō appeared next to him, all clearly worried. They had been listening to the conversation from their stations, but the boy’s response had gained their attention immediately.

“Dog.” Yūgao muttered worriedly, looking down at Naruto as his cerulean eyes stared at them with an unnerving amount of calculation. All the little comments and actions by the village’s population was coming into startling clarity for the boy.

“I have somethin’ to do with the Kyūbi, don’t I?” Naruto asked, his voice holding a stern and even tone no five year old should have. His normally-present grin was gone, leaving him looking disturbingly solemn.

All three ANBU immediately wanted to deny the claims. As they looked at the child, however, they could see just how much he needed an answer. The village was harsh, no matter how renowned they were for being ‘soft-hearted’.

Konohagakure was a cruel place for the Kyūbi jinchūriki.

“We’re going to see the Sandaime.” Kakashi decided, picking up Naruto without any complaints. The trio of ANBU nodded to each other before disappearing from the rundown apartment in a puff of smoke.

____

Sandaime Sarutobi Hiruzen had been followed by an ominous aura all weak. He could teal something drastic was going to happen. His only question was what.

When the trio of ANBU that guarded Uzumaki Naruto appeared in his office with the boy securely in Hatake Kakashi’s arms, Hiruzen had a sinking feeling he was about to find out. The boy who was normally grinning and happy to see him was leveling a serious look at the Sandaime, a look no one should have at the age of five.

“Seal the room.” Hiruzen instantly ordered his personal ANBU, his ominous feeling growing worse. As soon as they ANBU exited and the room glowed with blue light as the protection seals activated, Hiruzen turned a sharp look to Kakashi.

“Dog-san, what has happened?”

Kakashi stayed silent, setting down Naruto and motioning for the boy to ask his question yet again. Naruto looked up at the trio for a moment before nodding curtly and turning to the Sandaime. Hiruzen had to hold back a swallow of surprise as he was distinctly reminded of his late successor, Namikaze Minato.

“Jiji, why does the village hate me?” Naruto asked, watching the Hokage as he flinched.

As the old man struggled for an answer, the blond continued. “It has something to do with the Kyūbi, doesn’t it? That’s why everyone hates me, isn’t it? That’s why everyone calls me a demon brat, isn’t it?”

Hiruzen stared down at the blond in obvious surprise before turning a glare at the trio of ANBU who raised their hands in innocence. If they hadn’t told him….

“Why do you think that’s the reason, Naruto?” The Sandaime questioned curiously. May as well figure out how he came to the answer.

“I listen more than everyone gives me credit for, ‘ttebayo! I can’t be loud all the time. If I can annoy the villagers, than why not? It gives me more hints after all. It’s like a puzzle.”

Hiruzen was further surprised by the reasoning, staring down at the child. He had just sounded so much like Minato….and even Kushina, although the redheaded woman had said dattebane instead.

“Naruto….sit down, I’m going to tell you a story about what really happened five years ago….” Hiruzen ordered, motioning for the trio of ANBU to be on a lookout for unwanted listeners, even if the room was sealed shut.

____

Haruno Sakura stumbled through the east gates of Konohagakure, her eyes empty and her body filthy. She was bleeding, though she was too covered in filth to figure out where from. The trail of blood behind her was obvious enough, though.

The guards at the gates jumped, staring at the five year old child before jumping forward, both intercepting her path and looking at her in concern.

“What happened?” One asked, kneeling down in front of her and causing her to stop.

Dark emerald eyes stared at him blankly, eliciting another question. “What’s your name?”

“Name….?” Sakura murmured faintly, racking her blank mind for an answer. Surely she knew her name. No matter all that had happened….she should remember her name.

“Sa…Sakura…Ha…ru…no.” The Chunin nodded sharply, glancing over at his companion as the man darted back to the guard post. Pulling out a clipboard, he glanced over it quickly as he noticed the blood pooling behind the small girl.

“Haruno, Haruno, Haruno….Haruno! Family of three: Kizashi, Mebuki and Sakura. Departed for Wave Country for one of their festivals, supposed to be back a week ago.” The Chunin departed.

“Dead…all dead…mist…old man…” Sakura panted out before promptly falling forward, unconscious.

“I’ll take her to the hospital and inform the Hokage, you stay here!” The Chunin that caught her ordered, already jumping away with the girl in his arms as the other Chunin nodded.

____

Hiruzen was staring at the pictures of the previous three Hokage the day after speaking to Naruto about his jinchūriki status. The boy had displayed a large range of emotions, from sadness to anger. It was mostly anger about the stupidity of the villagers, something Hiruzen wholeheartedly agreed with.

The boy was taking it well, though. Far better than Hiruzen could ever think possible. Perhaps his predictions were wrong about keeping Naruto’s jinchūriki status a secret.

Letting out a deep sigh, the Sandaime was about to head to the room holding his crystal ball before being frozen by his office door slamming open. A Chunin looked frantically at him, rushing inside the room and closing it sharply behind him.

“Apologies, Sandaime-sama but I have a report from the east gates.” The Chunin rushed, huffing for breath. The raise of Hiruzen’s eyebrow prompted the shinobi to continue.

“At 0923 hours Haruno Sakura, age five, stumbled through the eastern gates filthy and injured. Our records show her and her parents, Kizashi and Mebuki, went to Wave Country for one of the annual festivals. From what the girl was able to tell me before passing out, it appears they are dead due to ninjas from Kirigakure.”

Hiruzen’s features had morphed into shock before watching as the shinobi let out a breath, trying to recover himself. He was obviously concerned about the girl, as anyone would be about a five year old being through a situation such as this.

“I’ll see to it. Thank you, Kokuji.”

The man bowed, taking his leave. A pensive Sandaime looking back up at the pictures of his fellow Hokage.

Why do I have a feeling this is worse than it seems….? The Sandaime questioned, letting out a tired sigh before rising from his desk and exiting his office.

“I’m going to the hospital.” The Sandaime informed his assistant, getting a nod as the woman continued with her paperwork.

____

“What happened, Sakura?” The Sandaime asked, looking at the girl kindly. He waited as the five year old collected herself. She had been unconscious for four days and then two days were spent with counselors as the child tried to get back to an acceptable level of sanity.

The pink haired girl stared at the leader of her village before looking down at her bandage-wrapped hands. Hesitantly, she began to speak. “K…kaa-san and tou-san brought me to the W-Wave Country festival for my birthday….it was a f-family vacation. When we were going through the village, some m-men came up to us and d-dragged us into an alley. They….they s-stabbed tou-san and he….he died….then they started asking kaa-san questions. They kept asking if we were from K-Konoha….they had Kiri headbands, without slashes like m-missing-nin. W-when they were done asking things….they k-killed kaa-san too. Then they hit me until I went unconscious…when I woke up I was in this room and it was dark….then the men came again and the candles were lit. It was covered in….seals. Yeah, they were asking a r-redhead about if the seals would ‘seal the demon’ or s-something…I was in the c-center of the room then the redhead s-started making hand seals. There was this b-box near me and it started to g-glow….and then there was a lot of pain. I was k-knocked unconscious again and then when I woke up I was in the w-woods and I s-started walking until I got to K-Konoha.”

Hiruzen was increasingly getting worried, but at this change in the story he yelled out for the ANBU guarding the door. As soon as he entered the Sandaime ordered him to fetch Jiraiya, knowing the Sannin was still in the village due to reporting back from an assignment the day before.

“He’ll be near the hot springs, peeping most likely. Order him here at once.” The Hokage ordered. Nodding, the ANBU disappeared as the Sandaime turned back to Sakura as she looked at him in wide-eyed fear.

“Sakura….do you know about the Tailed Beasts?”

____

“It was just like that seal you reported on Rin.” Jiraiya commented, glancing over at Kakashi who had removed his ANBU mask. The silver-haired man winced, reminded of his teammate and the events that had….transpired during the war.

“I’ve fixed the seal, though. Naruto’s is still stronger, but that was due to Minato’s—” Jiraiya cut himself off with a pained looking before continuing. “The Sanbi won’t suddenly become unsealed and destroy the village like Kiri has planned. How they arranged this during their civil war….I’ll speak to my contacts.”

“Very well. As for Sakura….Kakashi, she’ll live with Naruto. I’ll inform her of what demon she has and explain his circumstance. Would you tell Naruto?” The Sandaime watched as the ANBU nodded before he dismissed him. Once Kakashi was gone, Hiruzen looked over at his former student.

“This is troublesome.” Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Jiraiya only grunted before saying goodbye and taking his own leave.