I've decided to start this fic since inspiration for the other ones is...somewhat lacking. So to abate my own boredom and to give you all some more decent Naruto fics, I've decided that this tale will begin now, to all of those that are worried I'll abandon my other fics you need not concern yourself. I will never quit one of my stories, a hiatus maybe but that’s as far as it will go, at least until inspiration returns to me for it.

Also this story will follow the basic plotline of the Manga up until the Chuunin exam arc where it will then change drastically. Make no mistake, Naruto will be powerful in this fic, but trust me when I tell you that he must be with the plotline I'm following. I dont want people calling me saying that 'Naruto could never be so powerful when he's so young, that’s bullshit ect...ect... Suck it up Itachi was Anbu captain when he was thirteen and he didn’t have a demon lord sealed into his gut so yes, Naruto can be sannin level when he's very young, especially if he's been training since he could walk, which in my story he has.

Trust me when I say there's a reason for him being 'all powerful' which will be revealed later into this story, much much later. AND no its not some supernatural cause that the bijuu are being let loose or that some otherworldly creature is coming. Trust me when I say this plotline will be rather...unique.

Anyway, here's your new story.

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Seven ANBU black-ops stood before the Hokage, the aged old man looked them over with a stern, serious gaze.

Six of them had normal Anbu masks while the seventh, also the shortest of the group, had a blood red fox mask, who's slitted eyeholes seemed to glint eerily in the darkness of the candle lit room.

"Report." Sarutobi commanded in his 'Hokage' voice.

The captain, wearing a hawk mask straightened before he answered. "Hokage-sama, mission success. The Iwa daimio and his family have all been assassinated."

"Casualties?" Sarutobi spoke.

The Anbu captain looked to the fox masked shinobi. "None sir." He said after a moment. "Kitsune, efficiently demolished the opposing enemy force. Leaving us to go after the Daimio and his family."

Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe, "I see." He stated thoughtfully, "Is anything else you wish to report?"

The ninja seemed to shuffle nervously from foot to foot before he took another glance at the fox before shaking his head. "No Hokage-sama." He said.

In truth he wanted to scream out at the old man, what he had seen had not been a battle, it had been a massacer, the bodies of all the Iwa nin were practically ripped to pieces or burnt to ash. Nothing but dust, bones and blood had remained of them. But still, he would hold his tounge, perhaps because despite his brutal efficiency he felt he owed the ninja, or perhaps it was a mild respect, or perhaps the most powerful emotion that held him back was the fear.

Fear of the retribution the young fox would dish should he speak against him.

Sarutobi nodded. "Very well, you six may leave; Kitsune, you stay."

The Anbu bowed before shuffling out of the room.

Sarutobi looked to the last remaining Anbu in his office. "Remove your mask please."

The short Anbu wordlessly removed his mask, revealing a blond haired boy with whisker like birthmarks on his face along with the calm cold blue hues that were his eyes. He could be no older than six. Sarutobi sighed sadly. His eyes had always been like that. Ever since he could remember, the boy was literally the embodiment of the perfect shinobi. The perfect tool. The perfect killing device.

He hated the council for what they had done, they had left him with an ultimatum. Either he would be trained as Konoha's weapon or he would be executed. Sometimes he wished he had taken the second option. It seemed merciful in comparison to the empty void he now was. On par with Uchiha Itachi. Perhaps even colder.

He sighed again, now was not the time for this. Many in the council still supported the notion that the boy should be made into a human weapon. No...he would wait...he would bide his time and then he would set things right. "Naruto, I understand that this is your first mission as an Anbu."

"Yes." The boy spoke. His voice was flat and even, no emotion could be heard in his voice or seen on his face.

Sarutobi eyed him for a moment. "Are you well? Sometimes Anbu level missions affect people on a physiological level. I would like to know if you are coping well."

Naruto mentally raised an eyebrow. He was confused by this. "They were merely enemies that were interfering with our mission. I do not understand why you would believe this would affect me in any way."

Sarutobi resisted the urge to sigh this was so frustrating. The council had trained the boy to the point where he had either buried or repressed all emotions. He was almost like a drone. It was sickening. "Never mind Naruto." He stated before standing. He looked at the boy for a moment before speaking. "I have a meeting, to finalize the alliance with the Kazekage of Suna. You are to be my bodyguard."

Naruto bowed his head. "As you wish." He stated before placing his red fox mask over his face.

Sarutobi felt a pang in his chest at the sight. It was almost like that mask was consuming him. As if it would swallow his soul entirely every time he put it on. He hid his sadness, walked around his desk and out the door.

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“Hokage-dono” The Kazekage greeted respectfully as he stood. “I am pleased you have arrived.” He said as he bowed his head.

Sarutobi smiled and translated the words into normal human language. ‘About time you showed up ya old bastard.’

“Ah Kazekage-dono, forgive me for keeping you waiting. I had some urgent maters to attend to” Sarutobi spoke in that sage old voice which indicated he wasn’t really sorry at all.

The Kazekage nodded tightly, he never did like these meetings, couldnt really bring himself to trust his so called ally. He sudenly caught sight of Naruto's robed form emerging from the hadows and standing behind Sarutobi. "Hokage-dono, I respectfully request that our mutual body guards remove their masks."He said, eyeing the strange short Anbu suspiciously.

Sarutobi nodded and turned his head to look at Naruto from the corner of his eye.

The blond nodded to his silent request and removed his mask without hesitation.

The Kazekage's own bodyguard removed his mask revealing Baki.

The Kazekage out of sheer curiosity looked straight at the Anbu as he removed his mask. He immediately regreted locked eyes with those cold blues and froze. Those eyes were dead. They showed absolutely nothing, no hapyness, no sadness, no anger, not even cold indiference. They were just voids that threatened to swallow him whole.

"Well then, shall we get down to business." Sarutobi's voice brought the Kazekage back to reality, he tore his gaze away and looked at the old man, “Of course.” He replied giving a slight nod.

Over the hours through the night they spoke over the details of the new treaty between their two countries and the conditions of the alliance for several hours before they finally came to a mutually satisfying agreement.

As the Kazekage stood in preparation to take his leave, Sarutobi stopped him. “May I have a word in private, Kazekage-dono?”

The Suna leader hesitated for a moment before nodding. Naruto and Baki accepted the silent command and bowed their heads before walking out of the room, the Suna Anbu sending wary glances to the frightening boy.

Sarutobi suddenly sighed sadly as the blond boy finally exited the room. “Kazekage-dono…I know…of what Suna is planning. To create a weapon out of the Shukaku’s jinchuriki.” The Kazekage’s eyes shot wide open in surprise at that statement.

Sarutobi looked straight into the Kazekage’s eyes as he spoke his next words. “I warn you now that if you follow through with this…you will regret it forever.”

The Kazekage’s eyes immediately narrowed. ‘Are you threatening me?”

Sarutobi sighed again. “No…you may do as you wish I assure you that it will not affect the alliance. It is just…” He trailed off as he turned his head to face the door Naruto had used to exit the room. “You have seen tonight, the results of such ambitions.”

The Kazekage’s eyes widened considerably. “You mean that boy?”

Sarutobi nodded. “Naruto is Konoha’s attempt at a living weapon. We succeeded but…” He trailed off slightly. “But the price was too high. For it was his humanity.” He then turned to the Kazekage. “Can you live with such a crime?

The Kazekage remained silent.

“I implore you Kazekage-dono. Have the strength to do what I did not. Have the strength to save a life.” The old Hokage spoke with sadness in his voice before turning and walking out the door, leaving the Kazekage to think.

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As Sarutobi returned to his office he sat down in his chair with an exhausted sigh. His eyes landed on the red fox mask. “You may go Naruto.” He said, his voice laced with weariness and his face showed his true age.

Naruto inclined his head in a short bow. “As you wish.” He said, before he turned sharply on his heel and walked out the door.

Sarutobi’s face twisted in grief after the boy left. It always did. The guilt and anger he feltdue to his actions, or lack of actions, on the eve after Kyuubi’s devastating attack five six years ago tore at his heart. Ate away at him. It hurt just to look at the boy. To see the results of his cowardice.

The civilians wanted him dead, the council wanted a weapon and the dying wish of their savior was left…forgotten in the wake of fear, hate oppression, and ambition.

Sometimes he wondered if it would have been better to have let the civilians have their way.

‘NO!’ He admonished himself as he shook his head. There was still time to save him. Somehow he would find a way to undo the damage done to him. That was a promise he would not forsake twice.

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The walk back to Suna seemed to lag on forever to the Kazekage. He longed to see the walls of his home village.

But the trip had also given him ample time to think, and reflect upon his actions. Mainly, his actions against his son Gaara.

The death of his wife at child birth was an unforeseen consequence on his part. The priest, who had also died sealing the sand demon had assured him that the only way for the sealing to succeed was for the beast to be sealed while she was in labor. He was never informed that his wife would die from the ritual.

Filled with grief and rage over his wife’s death he had struggled to find an outlet and eventually he could only find one…

Gaara.

He had blamed Gaara for his late wife’s death and had even cursed his very existence. He vowed to himself that he would cut the family bond of father and son, and that he would turn Gaara into what the sand wanted him to be…a living weapon.

He had almost succeeded in that endeavor.

But now, seeing the living result of such ambitions in that boy from Konoha had truly shook his resolve. No mater what he said Gaara was still his son.

Could he bare turning Gaara’s innocent green eyes into the same cold lifeless hue of that boys? Could he turn Gaara into what others had been calling him since he was born?

A monster?

About a week ago his answer would have been easy. But now…now he truly didn’t know.

For the first time in a long time the Kazekage of Sunagakure true regret and utter sadness for the treatment he had cast upon his son.

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"Ahhh, Kazekage-sama." A servant spoke as the Suna leader entered his estate. "It is good to see you have returned. We were begining to worry." He spoke as he bowed lowly.

"Where is Gaara?" Was the first thing that escaped his mouth. The servant looked up, startled at the question. It was very rare for the Kazekage to ever make any mention of his son unless there were reports that he had killed someone else in the village. "Err, he is in his room my lord...shall I...go fetch him?" He asked rather uncertainly.

"No."The Kazekage spoke tightly, with a flare of his robe he turned sharply on his heel and walked down the hallway towards his son's room.

As he approached he felt his steps heavy, the clack of his shoes against the wooden floor echoing off the halls. He looked to Gaara's oak wood door and oppened it.

And there he was, sitting in the middle of his room, hugging the old worn teadybear he hasd since he was a baby. A gift from his mother. The Suna leader reflected sadly as he recalled his wife buying the toy when she was still pregnant with him.

As Gaara turned and caught sight of him, he saw the turquoise eyes widen in fear. His eyes clouded over in sadness, he didnt know how, but he would fix this. He would undo the wrongs he had commited upon his son and perhaps some day...he could be redeemed in his own eyes and more importantly...in the eyes of his son.

"Gaara." He called. He saw the boy flinch as if struck, something that sent a pang of guilt through his chest. "Come here please."

Gaara stood and walked over, his eyes meekly uppon the floor. He sighed and moved a hand to touch the top of the boys head when sand emerged and stopped him. Gaara looked up fearfully, everytime his father saw any form of resistance from Gaara he would llways get angry. But he couldnt controll it, he didnt know how.

The Kazekage sighed heavilly as he pulled back, allowing the sand to dissipate. Gaara looked up, for a moment before diverting his eyes. The Kazekage sighed again. "Gaara, look at me." He said to the young red head who raised his head to look into his fathers eyes and then found an emotion he never thought he would ever see there.

Guilt.

The Kazekage stared into his sons eyes for several moments before he spoke. "I'm sorry." The simple words seemed to have the force of a thunderclap in Gaara's mind and his eyes visibly showed his confusion. The Kazekage continued in a somewhat saddend yet nonetheless heartvelt tone. "I promise...I'll make things right." He said before he turned again and walked down the hall. He had to arange a meeting with the council, one that they most likely would not enjoy.

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Hn...here you go, in a way I've switched Gaara and Naruto's roles (No Gaara will not be a bubbly bouncy idiot but he wont be so bloodthirsty this time around either), but like I said, this will follow more or less the same plotline up until the chuunin exam. Read and review, tell me your thoughts and opinions.

Also, this story whil be updated, on a whim as it stands now. Meaning I'll update whenever inspiration strikes me. The story wont really get started until the end of the chuunin exam.