Sparta

Disclaimer: This is a Naruto fanfiction. Thus, Naruto does not belong to me, but to a very nice and talented man in Japan. This is just my historically inspired version of his original work.

AN: Enjoy.

Prologue: Genesis

….

There was once a Spartan boy,

who, one night, stole a fox.

In order not to be caught,

he hid it under his cloak.

He stood stock still as his

elder looked him over,

but all the while the fox

chewed away at his insides.

The boy bit his lip against

the pain until he inevitably fell,

dead to the ground.

-Plutarch

….

Lightening crashed and the sky opened up against the heavens, pouring stinging droplets upon his face as he ran barefoot toward the walls of Sparta. He was already numb to the pain of the rocky ground as the cold infiltrated his insides, his one tunic barely enough against the gods' wrath. He almost fell, exhausted against the towering wooden gates, but they opened abruptly, allowing him swift passage into the city.

He stumbled through the threshold, breathing harshly, but willing his legs to move as quickly as they could toward the center of the city. A hand clamped upon his shoulder before he could get too far and he looked up into the familiar Spartiate guard's pale expressionless face, a question flashing through his deep ebony eyes. "Iruka." It was a gruff statement of familiarity. "You have news?"

"Yes, Uchiha, sir." Iruka nodded curtly towards his elder, recognizing his former teacher. "From the battlefield."

"Come." Uchiha gestured for him to follow and lead him toward the middle of the cold, stone city where the counsel of elders resided.

Moments later, they reached the massive stone building, Uchiha opening the heavy wooden door and allowing Iruka to pass through. Iruka surveyed his surroundings a bit bewildered. After all, he had never been within the ruling chambers before. His eyes slipped over the stone walls, painted in flickering light from torches hanging every few feet. So enraptured was he, he actually jumped when Uchiha slammed the door behind him, blocking the strong winds. The torches immediately stopped flickering as the dark man passed Iruka brusquely, striding purposefully down the hall in front of them.

Iruka followed a bit unsteadily, clenching his fists against his sides to keep them from shaking noticeably. He had to stay strong no matter how weak and cold he felt. It was his duty, and his message was an important one. So absorbed was he in his thoughts, he failed to notice when Uchiha and he entered the main chamber.

A swift shove to his shoulder care of Uchiha brought him back just in time to see the five elders looking back at him questioningly.

Iruka coughed, awkwardly clearing his throat as their wizened eyes continued to bore into him. "I have a message…" he began hoarsely. "From the battlefield."

"Go on, boy," an elder with long white hair and a slight smirk remarked, watching Iruka's twitching limbs bemusedly.

"Archon Uzumaki has died." The words left Iruka's throat with a slight bitterness that he could not manage to hide. Their second Archon was really dead. Finally saying it made the reality of the situation that much more harsh.

The counsel went unnaturally silent, and Iruka could see by the look on the white haired elder's face that he was as devastated by the news as Iruka was.

"You are a Helot, are you not?"

Iruka nearly shivered at the low almost sultry voice that practically slid down his spine the moment it entered his ears. The sight of its originator was not much better. Tight, snake like eyes pierced through him from within a pasty white face.

It took a while for Iruka to remember to answer. "Yes, sir. By birth."

"He is not to be trusted," the snake-elder hissed lowly in that oddly effeminate voice.

There was a low murmur of agreement among the elders as they looked upon Iruka distastefully. Iruka kept his features emotionless and looked ahead against the glares. He had long since been used to such discrimination. He noticed, however, slightly surprised, that the white haired elder was only smiling at him with no trace of malice.

Iruka was beginning to get the impression that the white haired elder was a few hoplites short of a phalanx, when the man spoke. "I trust him, Orochimaru. No matter how much the news pains me."

The snake elder named Orochimaru only rolled his eyes with an ever-present sneer.

The white haired elder ignored the look, and nodded at Iruka, a deathly serious expression washing over his features. Iruka wondered at the look, but he quickly turned around and followed Uchiha out, away from the claustrophobic room swirling with hateful glares.

Iruka was about to leave the building entirely, but a hand clamped upon his cold, bare shoulder once again. He turned back to see Uchiha holding a finger to his lips.

Iruka looked back at him confusedly, but didn't move nor make a sound as his former teacher in the Agoge leaned his back against the stone wall opposite. Iruka unconsciously mimicked him, feeling the jagged stones against his wet back, but ignoring the slight discomfort they brought. Uchiha looked intently towards the elder's chamber door, a dirty hand placed against his chin in thought. Iruka did so too and realized that he could hear the elders talking just barely through the wooden chamber door.

"We must name the successors."

"I agree."

"Who would you recommend?"

"The late Archon Uzumaki has a child, does he not?"

"Yes, but he is merely an infant."

"He will be powerful though. If he is truly his father's son."

There were murmurs of agreement and light chatter following the statement. Iruka knew this was a valid statement. Everyone in all of Greece knew that the best men were begotten from the best fathers and mothers, and this baby arguably had the strongest parents in all of Greece. He would most surely be intelligent and strong, like the best bred colt from a fine stallion and mere. Furthermore, traditionally if the late Archon had a son, that son would take his father's place. It was the Spartan way.

"He must become the next Archon."

There was a long silence and Iruka strained to hear any whisper he might be missing, but there was nothing, until the same husky voice that sent chills down his spine finally echoed throughout the chamber.

"Then who shall be our second Archon? The late Archon Sarutobi had no heir."

"Yes, we must choose someone capable," another murmured thoughtfully.

"I nominate Jiraiya."

"I agree."

"I agree."

"I am honored." Iruka guessed that was the white haired elder, Jiraiya, who replied.

The final voice sighed as though in regret, but it hissed, "I agree as well." A pause. "But who shall rule in young Uzumaki's stead until he is of age?"

"I nominate Orochimaru," an unrecognizable voice spoke without hesitation.

Three others agreed, but the fourth, who must have been Jiraiya himself, hesitated for a moment.

The silence that followed seemed tense even from outside the room, but it was finally dispelled with a sigh. "I agree."

Uchiha let out a disgusted, "tch." From beside Iruka, and Iruka had to agree. The thought of that serpent-man as Archon sent his stomach churning – and the way Jiraiya hesitated. He probably felt the same way. But it was done. Orochimaru would take the archonship until the baby could come of age. Iruka was beginning to think twenty years was too long to wait. At least the Spartan people would have Jiraiya to check the balance of power until that day arrived.

The meeting ended soon afterward, and Iruka stiffened as the elders filed out of the room and passed him in the hall. Most ignored his very existence, but the last one to leave, Jiraiya, looked at both him and Uchiha in a conspiratorial way before nodding to Uchiha. Uchiha nodded back in affirmation, and Iruka just stood puzzled at the scene before Jiraiya made his way out into the heavy storm beyond the threshold.

Iruka switched his gaze back toward Uchiha who was staring down at him in all seriousness. Iruka only gazed up at his former teacher questioningly, noting the way Uchiha's grave look hardened his eyes and made the bags under them come out in stark relief under the flickering torch light. Something seemed very wrong.

"I have a mission for you." The words were clipped, but toned with uncharacteristic gravity. "Do you accept?"

"O…of course sir," Iruka replied stumblingly, as those piercing black eyes looked him over with something like sorrow beneath the hardness.

"You must take the young Uzumaki and flee Sparta. Raise him as a helot until he is of age. Protect him with your life until he can become Archon."

"I…I don't understand. Why…" Iruka questioned, feeling overwhelmed, but he was swiftly cut off.

"Jiraiya does not trust Orochimaru to keep his end of the bargain. As an orphan, the late Archon's son is vulnerable to the jealousies of power-grabbing men. Under Orochimaru's care, the boy is in great danger." Uchiha's eyes hardened as though imagining what that would entail for Sparta. "You must take the child, gain the gods' protection of him, and train him in the lands of Messenia."

Iruka could only look up at his teacher in shock, as his mind tripped over the implications of the mission he had so rashly agreed to take. Never in his life had he imagined he would be ordered to raise a child, much less a Spartan child of royal blood. As the shock slowly receded, doubt and anxiety quickly took its place. How was he expected to raise a child all on his own? He was only fourteen years old! And to work as a helot once again, that was just…

"Do you accept, Iruka?" Uchiha's voice interrupted his thoughts, tinted with a sense of urgency that Iruka had never heard from the stoic man before this moment.

Iruka shook his head of all doubts, resolving not to let his former teacher down. "Yes, sir."

Uchiha clapped him on the back, which was almost enough to force Iruka's jelly-like legs to collapse from under him. Iruka just smiled anxiously at his teacher, as Uchiha opened the door to reveal the horrible weather outside.

"Follow me."

Feeling as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders, Iruka followed his teacher back into the raging storm.

…

"This is him?" Iruka asked uncertainly, as Uchiha shoved what looked to be a bundle of heavy rags into his arms.

He was now standing outside a small estate on the former Archon Uzumaki's land. The rain had somehow managed to become wetter, and by now Iruka felt as though he had taken a dunk in the river Eurotas. Iruka had been forced to wait for upwards of five minutes while Uchiha went in to retrieve the baby, who was now supposedly resting in Iruka's arms.

His original question was answered almost immediately by a shrill cry emanating from the middle of the bundle, which was now squirming around within his arms. Iruka hesitantly pulled the mismatched covers apart, revealing a tuft of blond hair and the reddened face of a very irritated baby boy. Iruka winced as the cries became louder now that they weren't so muffled by cloth.

"You hear that?" Uchiha asked, completely unaffected by the shrieks as he looked down with pride at the royal bundle of joy. "He is a strong one."

Iruka only smiled half-heartedly at his teacher as he attempted to wrestle with the writhing baby in his arms. He could already tell this was going to be a nightmare. Gods help him.

"What is his name?" Iruka remembered to ask, changing his grip on the baby in hopes that that would control his erratic movements.

"Naruto, son of Arashi Uzumaki," Uchiha replied without missing a beat.

Iruka rolled his eyes a bit at the unnecessary formality. Of course this boy was the son of the late Archon. Anyone who saw the boy would see the resemblance instantly. That thought sent a jolt of fear through Iruka's heart. He looked down at the bundle in his arms to find the boy looking up at him calmly, his previous tantrum completely forgotten, and his blue eyes wide with interest. There was no doubt. The boy looked just like the late Archon. How in Hades was he supposed hide such a boy? And when he grew up? It could only get worse…

Iruka's darkening thoughts were interrupted by a burning bundle of reeds from off the bank of the Eurotas, which Uchiha quickly threw upon the thatched roof of the house. They both stood there, the baby wriggling within Iruka's grip once again, watching the wooden house quickly burn down to the ground, it's fire light flickering ominously upon their faces and mocking the rain that was still pounding upon the earth.

Once only burning embers were left, Uchiha spoke, "I will go back to the city now and tell them of the unfortunate news."

Iruka only nodded his head. The first part of the plan was complete: retrieve the baby and make it seem as though he was burned alive in a house fire. Iruka wondered how effective this diversion would be for men such as Orochimaru. A chill went down his spine just at the thought of the man.

"May the gods be with you and your charge, Iruka." Uchiha patted Iruka on the back once again dispelling his darkening thoughts, and then turned to leave in the opposite direction, down the muddy dirt path leading to the estate.

Feeling utterly defeated, Iruka watched forlornly as his teacher's departing silhouette slowly melded into the dark and tempestuous night.

When he was sure he was left alone with the child, Iruka set off in the opposite direction toward the Temple of Artemis Orthia, the goddess of hunting and children. The temple was located on the opposite side of the city walls, along the bank of the river Eurotas where all of the Spartan boys trained in the day. Now, as Iruka stumbled toward it, little Naruto was crying again and the winds were buffeting harshly against his face, making it hard to see ahead of him. Two torches were lit on either side of the entrance to the temple, however. So he used them as beacons through the storm.

With one last suffering heave, Iruka made it atop the stairs to the temple and through its open door. He leaned against the door frame tiredly, and surveyed his surroundings as his harsh breathing echoed within the large stone room. The walls on both sides were lined with flickering torches, which lead to a statue of the goddess Artemis Ortheia at the other end of the temple. Upon closer inspection, he realized that the walls were carved with images of young warriors hunting foxes and fields full of grain and vegetables. Artemis Ortheia's statue sat on a chair with vine carvings, while a small deer and a small fox stood on either side of her, each gazing up at her in reverence.

Iruka noticed that Naruto was looking around at all the ornate designs as well, and he smiled involuntary when the baby's big blue eyes locked on his curiously as if to ask, 'what is this place?'

Iruka only sighed and stepped up to the towering statue with his wet bare feet, following the goddess's stone robes until his gaze caught upon her beautiful carved face, which seemed to be tilted toward him and the baby in concern.

"Artemis Ortheia, goddess of hunting and protector of children, " Iruka began, almost startled by the sound of his own voice as it reverberated ethereally throughout the temple. "I come to offer this babe of royal blood to you in hopes that you may grant him protection from those who only wish him harm."

Iruka leaned down and placed Naruto at her feet, before he stepped away. "Please let him grow up strong and swift like a fox. Let his heart grow brave and true, and his enemies fall at his feet. I now leave him in your hands."

Moments passed and Iruka began to become anxious as nothing happened. Maybe he hadn't done it right, or maybe she had rejected his request…

Suddenly, Iruka jumped as lightening crashed near the mouth of the temple and the flash filled the room dramatically. All of the torches abruptly went out and Iruka was left in the pitch dark.

Shivering a bit, Iruka opened his eyes as wide as he could make them and attempted to make something out of the darkness. His eyes fell upon a small red glow just in front of him. The glow grew larger and larger until Iruka realized that it was the fox sitting beside the goddess, its red light revealing the goddess's statue and the baby still lying at her feet. Iruka watched in awe as the fox moved its head from gazing at the goddess to regard him before standing up as though it was alive. Iruka's mouth dropped open as the glowing statue leapt into the air, revolving slowly over the baby before it descended straight into Naruto's tiny stomach. Another lightening strike flashed through the room and the torches relit, creating the impression that nothing had happened since they went out. Yet where the fox statue once sat there was nothing, as though it had never been there at all.

Shaking a bit, Iruka hesitantly walked over to the baby to find him sleeping calmly. Iruka picked him up gingerly as not to wake him, and was a bit startled to find three identical scars on each side of Naruto's face – almost like whiskers.

Iruka walked out of the temple and was surprised to see that the sky was clear, stars twinkling brightly down on him. Naruto twitched as though in a pleasant dream, and Iruka smiled softly down at him.

His heart feeling inexplicably lighter, Iruka set off toward the land of Messenia, where he had grown up. He didn't know what was going to happen to them or what dangers lay ahead, but he was certain watching the boy grow was going to be anything but dull.

…

AN: Well, there you guys have it. The beginning of yet another historical AU. I hope you enjoyed it at least a little bit. And of course, the story will develop into SasuNaru…that much is a given.

P.S. I will update ThreeAlls soon as well. I'm sorry for making everyone (who reads it) wait so long. bad author. ^_^