Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
- zero -
He was unquestionably a failure. A dead last. Someone who could barely read right and write straight let alone do basic Jutsu and spar semi-decently.
There really was no redeeming quality to his entire pathetic existence. He had no strength, no intelligence, not anything but baseless pride and hot air filling his empty head.
This is what everyone thinks.
Uzumaki Naruto would forever remain at 'zero'.
-Academy-
Mizuki approached the lone Uzumaki boy who was sitting absentmindedly on the swing outside the Academy.
"Hey Naruto-kun," He smiled down at the down-trodden blonde boy. Naruto looked up in surprise, happiness filling his features as he realised someone would approach him without a hostile intention let alone even talk to him.
"I saw those Clones you tried to make earlier; I think you've improved!"
"R-Really?" Blue eyes widened as a large smile split open on his face. "Thanks, Mizuki-sensei! I'll get better and better, just you believe it-ttebayo!"
"But do you want to hear a secret?" The Chuunin leaned down to whisper, malice flickering in his eyes, too fleetingly for the boy to know any better. "You can get so much stronger by using Hokage-sama's secret scroll himself!"
"Hokage-jiji has a secret scroll?" Naruto gasped in a loud whisper.
"Shh!" Mizuki let a mischievous grin flit over his face. "It's a secret, just between you and me."
"J-Just between..." His mouth opened in a small 'o' as his eyes filled with tears. "Us?"
"Yeah," Mizuki had to push down the groan of annoyance at how sentimental the demon was acting. He'd never expected the Kyuubi boy to be such a snivelling child. "Us Senseis were secretly told to choose our best students to retrieve the scroll, and I chose you, Naruto-kun. I want you, by the end of today, to bring me the scroll without anyone finding out."
"What? ...Why me?"
"Because even though no one sees it," Mizuki smiled warmly, "I believe you can become a truly amazing ninja."
That was all it took.
-Hokage's office-
Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose, releasing a groan of exhaustion.
He'd had to deal with Naruto and his childish antics for too long, and this had just crossed the line.
What Naruto had done today was unforgivable. He'd not only trespassed buildings, but also stolen a highly valuable scroll that contained many dangerous Jutsu. Whether he was coerced into it or not, Hiruzen could no longer trust Naruto to become a good ninja like he'd lied about for a decade and a year by now.
Naruto ended up learning the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu before Mizuki had caught up to him and incapacitated him- almost killing the boy if not for the ANBU saving him.
It was such a mess. Hiruzen had gone out of his way to help Naruto ease some of his hatred towards the Village, and this was how his actions were repaid?
The door to his office swung open loudly as Danzo confidently strolled in, reeking authority.
"This is enough, Hiruzen." He bellowed, eye narrowing. "Time and time again, you've let the Jinchuuriki mess around... Don't tell me you'll forgive him for this as well?!"
"Mizuki was a traitor." The Hokage revealed with a sigh. "He informed and persuaded Naruto to do it for him."
"An act of an unreliable shinobi." Danzo retorted sharply. "Uzumaki Naruto is the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi demon; if he proves to be as naïve, gullible, and impulsive as Morino Idate, Konoha will be in danger. This is why I told you, Hiruzen-"
"Not this business again, Danzo." The Sandaime snapped, though with only half-hearted heat. "I will not give up Minato's son to the ANBU. You know that..."
"Once again speaking of that ludicrousness," The man brushed aside, "Doesn't the events occurring today only prove how Uzumaki's ineptness would cause him to be in greater danger? His attitude will endanger both Konoha and..." Danzo continued with a sly glint in his eyes. "...Himself."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, "What are you trying to say, Danzo? The ANBU will cause him to self-destruct-"
"Don't you remember how Minato appointed Kakashi as ANBU?" Danzo had many cards to play. Up until now, he'd just chosen the wrong ones. "ANBU can be served as a healing place for certain types of people. Can't you see that all the unnecessary ostracization is what's causing Naruto-kun to feel so upset and insecure?"
"...Well..."
He pushed on, "Naruto-kun will be able to find peers- Senpai- within the ANBU, and they're all professional shinobi who know about the Jinchuuriki processing and don't discriminate. Isn't that the care he needs?"
"The ANBU isn't... They aren't healthy..."
"Are you saying the Villager's hatred is healthy for him then, my friend?" Danzo closed his eye in sadness. "Hiruzen, you've grown old. I've tried time and time again to remove these burdens from your hand, but it seems you've always misread my intentions. I truly love this Village, and I care for you. However it seems to be like, I care for Naruto-kun as well."
Hiruzen dredged up his will and sharply corrected- "You care too much about the Kyuubi in his seal to care for Naruto."
"And you care too much for Naruto-kun that you disregard how the Kyuubi can harm him." Danzo countered smoothly. "You've done it your way, Hiruzen, just let me do it mine now, and you'll see. He'll get better, stronger, happier."
Danzo felt the metaphorical shogi board he'd arranged here to be near complete.
"But it seems you're more selfish than you appear, Hiruzen." Danzo purposefully averted his gaze downwards. "You see a ghost of Minato and Kushina in the boy, and you grow irrational. I've been with you for this long, friend, and haven't I always been your constant? Someone who keeps you here with a clear mind? I've trust in you for all this time, yet you've never trusted in me."
Hiruzen frowned, but his will was visibly wavering as his tired self was easily twisted by the words.
"So just for this time, just this moment-" Danzo walked forward, extending his hand in an offer. "-Trust in me, my closest friend, my most trustworthy comrade."
And this was... 'tsumi'.
"Naruto-kun will find home with me. Naruto-kun... belongs in ANBU."
- 詰み -
tsumi
(checkmate)
-The One Year Contract-
"Eight thousand, seven hundred, and sixty hours." Hiruzen intoned impassively as he pointed at the scroll in front of the fiddling boy. "You'll return just in time for the Genin exams, so don't worry."
"And this thingymabobo seal-whatever will be like a timer, dattebayo?" Naruto scrunched up his face in confusion. "And whaddya mean eight thousand blah blah hours?"
The more Hiruzen conversed with the boy, the more he realised that Danzo was correct; he had been too soft on the boy and now he had grown up without discipline- something that would bite him back in the future.
"For a year exactly, Naruto, you'll be in training."
"Training... So I can be a strong ninja, right?" Naruto's face split in a wide grin. Hiruzen's heart ached at the similarities between his smile and Kushina's.
"That's right, Naruto-"
"So you finally acknowledged that I'm a super awesome person, right, right? This is amazing, dattebayo!" Naruto was all but vibrating in his skin. "When do we start, old man?"
"Now." Danzo, who'd been silently watching the exchange so far, stepped up. "You'll be coming with me, Naruto-kun, I will be personally overseeing your development."
Naruto, clearly not understanding the sophisticated words, could only smile at the kindness that the old man seemed to radiate. "Oh, ok, mister!"
Hiruzen felt a twinge of... something. "Naruto," He started hesitantly, "You won't get to see your friends for a while; do you want to say goodbye to them?"
Danzo had smug and disapproving expressions on his face as he stood behind Naruto.
With the warhawk by his side, Naruto's suddenly blank expression sent shivers of foreboding down the Kage's spine.
"What are you talking about, old man?" Naruto turned part way though his blue eyes remained on Hiruzen's.
"I told you already: I don't have any friends."