Chapter Text
Chapter 1: A Very Bad Meeting
If you are looking for a story in which Naruto Uzumaki finally receives the happy childhood he deserves, I strongly recommend finding another tale immediately. There are countless stories involving mysterious inheritances, forgotten bloodlines, and kindly villagers suddenly regretting years of mistreatment.
This is not one of them. This story begins, as many unfortunate stories do with a letter.
Naruto Uzumaki, an orphan in the Hidden Leaf Village, sat alone on the Academy swing after class. Around him, parents congratulated their children on another successful day of ninja training. Mothers fussed over scraped knees. Fathers laughed as they hoisted children onto their shoulders. Only Naruto watched in silence.
"Naruto."
The old voice belonged to the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his usual pipe tucked beneath one arm and a thick folder clutched against his robes. His expression carried the particular sort of solemnity that only adults mastered. The kind that meant very bad news was about to be delivered with very polite words.
"Come with me, my boy."
The Hokage's office smelled of parchment and tobacco. Hiruzen carefully unfolded an official document. "I'm afraid," he began, adjusting his glasses in a manner remarkably similar to an overworked administrator, "that your legal guardian has... met with an unfortunate accident."
Naruto blinked.
"...Guardian?"
"Your financial trustee."
"I had one of those?"
"Apparently."
Naruto scratched his head.
"So... what does that mean?"
"It means," Hiruzen sighed, "that until you become an adult, you must be placed with your nearest living relative."
"I have relatives?!"
"...One."
Naruto's grin spread across his face. For one glorious moment, he imagined someone kind. Maybe they baked ramen. They'd teach him cool jutsu. Hiruzen looked increasingly uncomfortable.
"His name," the Hokage said slowly, "is Nagato."
Several days later, Naruto stood outside a crumbling building. The weeds reached nearly to his knees. Broken windows stared like empty eye sockets. One crow looked at the building, reconsidered its life choices and flew away. Standing beside Naruto, Hiruzen consulted his paperwork.
"This appears to be the place."
Naruto frowned, "...Are you sure?"
The front door exploded open. Out strode an incredibly thin man dressed in faded black robes. His long red hair framed a pale face. His eyes were ripple-patterned rings of purple. Nagato smiled. Unfortunately, it was the sort of smile that suggested someone else's suffering had just become considerably more convenient.
"My dear nephew!" he declared dramatically throwing his arms wide. "Welcome home!"
He hugged Naruto. Naruto noticed three things immediately. First, Nagato smelled faintly of old rain and dust. Second, every floorboard creaked as though warning him to run. Third, Nagato's smile vanished the instant Hiruzen wasn't looking. Only for a second but Naruto saw it.
"My deepest condolences. Such tragedy. So unexpected,” Nagato said warmly.
He dabbed at perfectly dry eyes with a handkerchief. Hiruzen nodded sympathetically.
"I understand you've agreed to care for Naruto."
"Of course." Nagato placed a gentle hand upon Naruto's shoulder.
"He is family." The grip tightened painfully.
"I shall care for him..." Another squeeze.
"...with all my heart." Naruto winced and the smile never left Nagato's face.
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "There is one additional matter."
Nagato's eyes gleamed. "Yes?"
"The trust." Naruto looked confused.
"What trust?" Hiruzen opened another folder.
"Your parents left a substantial inheritance." Nagato remained perfectly still. Only his eyes moved.
"How substantial?"
"It cannot be accessed until Naruto becomes a full fledged shinobi." Silence. A crow coughed somewhere outside. Nagato smiled again.
"Well money is meaningless. Family is everything to me. We may as well be the last remaining Uzumaki clan members."
Hiruzen relaxed visibly. "I'm relieved to hear you say that."
The Third Hokage knelt before Naruto. "If there are any problems..."
Naruto smiled. "I'll be okay, Gramps. I can handle anything!"
Hiruzen hesitated. Then he nodded. "I'll visit soon."
He walked away. Naruto waved until the old man disappeared down the road. The moment he was out of sight Nagato slammed the front gate shut. The smile vanished. His expression became cold.
"So."
Naruto looked up. "So?"
Nagato folded his arms. "I dislike children."
"Oh."
"You eat food."
"...Yeah?"
"Food costs money."
"I guess."
"You possess money."
"I do?"
Nagato smiled once more. This smile was even worse. "But not for long."
The heavy front doors groaned open. The mansion behind him was impossibly dark.
"Inside."
Naruto swallowed. For reasons he couldn't explain, the old building suddenly felt less like a home and much more like the beginning of something dreadful. Unfortunately for Naruto Uzumaki, he was absolutely correct.