Sarutobi wasn't as good as the the Forth Hokage when it came to seals, but he knew enough to create seals that can protect his house and alert him when there're intruders. Therefore, it was unquestionably shocking when he returned home one night to find the Forbidden Scroll stolen.

Immediately, he thought about alerting his ANBU to gather all the jounin and chunin to perform a search, but a foreign presence in the room tingled his senses. He quickly threw a kunai at the spot. As the kunai landed in the wall, a figure stumbled out of the shadow with a yelp.

Blond hair, black shirt and pants, and an expression of fear and panic, which was quite unusual to see on the normally hyperactive blond's face.

"Naruto? What are you doing in my house, with that scroll?" Sarutobi demanded. He couldn't let down his guard yet because it's possible that Naruto was just an imposer.

"J-jiji..." Naruto stuttered, cerulean eyes looking downcast, tears on the verge of falling. His hands were quivering as he loosened his grip on the scroll. "I-I'm sorry, I know I p-probably shouldn't do this b-but...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to, b-but I re-ally wanna graduate...and he t-told me to wait b-but he wasn't there and I d-didn't know what to d-do so I came b-back b-but then you came and I don't wanna get in trouble but-"

"Naruto! It's alright! Calm down." Sarutobi placed a soothing hand on the boy's trembling form. "I can't understand if you start rambling."

"I-I'm sorry, jiji." Naruto wiped his sleeve across his eyes. "I-I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. I know something's wrong, b-but I just can't help it."

"Naruto, why don't you start from the beginning?"

"W-well..." Naruto fidgeted, eyes darting around the room. It was clear that he was debating whether to tell the truth. "I...I...I stopped by Mizuki-sensei after class today...and...asked him if he can tell me some ways I can practice my katra control. B-because Iruka-sensei told me that I failed bunshin no jutsu because my katra control is horrible...so I thought maybe Mizuki-sensei can help me with it. I-I don't wanna fail the exam again because of the jutsu, so I aught to pass it this time. And Mizuki-sensei told me that..."

Sarutobi waited patiently, but Naruto didn't go on, so he urged, "what did he tell you, Naruto? Don't worry, you can tell jiji anything."

Naruto sniffed. "He told me that...the reason why I can never do the bunshin...is that..." he took an intake of breath and closed his eyes. "I have the Kyuubi sealed inside of me!"

Sarutobi stilled. Did that man really-

"And because the demon is made of tons of katra, my katra coil is very big, and it is very hard to control. But the bunshin jutsu need very good katra control, so I will never be able to do it. T-then he told me there is a way to pass the exam. He said that I don't necessarily need to do the bunshin jutsu to pass, just any jutsu that creates a clone works."

Sarutobi was so engaged in Naruto's confession that he didn't notice how although Naruto couldn't pronounce "chakra" correctly, he had said the harder word "necessarily" correctly.

"And he said that there's a big scroll in your house that contained a bunshin jutsu that can help me pass the test, because I can do it easily with my big katra coil. I just need to borrow the scroll and bring it to the clearing we agreed on, then he'd help me learn the jutsu, then I can return it when I'm done. I brought the scroll there, and waited, but Mizuki-sensei didn't show up, so I tried learning the jutsu myself, and I did it in about 10 attempts. But Mizuki-sensei still didn't come, so I learned some other jutsu in there... Then I came across some really...really nasty ones, and I thought that maybe I'm not supposed to touch this scroll-"

You realized too late, Naruto. Sarutobi sighed. This boy was too naive. One day it'll bring him dire consequences.

"-so I thought maybe Mizuki-sensei isn't coming, and maybe I should return the scroll. So I came here. I was 'bout to return it but then you came in. But then I can't stop thinking what if I'm in trouble for borrowing this scroll, since you looked so angry...and..."

Sarutobi took a moment to compose himself.

"So...am I in trouble?" Naruto asked tentatively.

Instead of answering Naruto, Sarutobi called upon the ANBUs who were hiding in the shadows (eavesdropping) and ordered them to gather all the jounin and chunin to capture Mizuki.

"Jiji? Is Mizuki-sensei in trouble?"

"Naruto...what you have stolen is called the Forbidden Scroll. It contained all the jutsu the Hokage(s) deemed extremely dangerous and thus forbidden to be learned." Sarutobi explained as Naruto widened his eyes. "Thus, yes, Mizuki and you are both in trouble. But!" He said quickly before the panicking boy can utter a thing. "We will investigate into this matter, and most likely you will free from charges because you were just following a superior's order."

Naruto shifted uncomfortably on the rock hard ground. "I'm sorry." He murmured as he handed the scroll to the Sandaime.

Sarutobi smiled and took the scroll from Naruto. The scroll was covered in dirt and scratches, showing just how hard Naruto had been practicing.

"So...what will happen to Mizuki-sensei?"

"He will be placed in the T&I department so we can investigate this matter further."

"Oh...and jiji?"

"Yes?"

"Can you explain to me...about the Kyuubi?" Naruto looked hesitant. "Is that the reason why everyone hates me?"

"Naruto. You have to understand that they don't hate you." Sarutobi placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders. Through the thin fabric, he froze when he realized just how thin Naruto was. I have to remember to tell Ichiraku to make some changes to their recipe. No wonder Naruto is so short.

"You're lying! They hate me! Everyone hates me! You think I don't what they say behind my back do you?! I know more than you think I do!" Naruto yelled, face reddening as he thought back to the hateful words directed to him. "Demon brat! Kyuubi brat! Kick me out if I dared to enter a restaurant! Charge me twice as much if I attempt to buy anything! Tell their children to hate me, stay away from me! Tell me then! If they don't hate me then why would they do that!?"

Sarutobi was stunned at the raw emotions the boy was showing. Naruto had never shown anyone how he truly felt. He may seem like someone who can never hold a secret, but he's actually more than capable to hide his true emotions. He never cries in front of people; he never let anyone know how he really felt. He always hides behind his goggles, his knucklehead persona. This was the first time Sarutobi had ever seen Naruto break down.

"Naruto..."

"I know they hate me! Everyone hate me! I bet even my hero the Fourth Hokage hates me! That must be why he chose to seal the Kyuubi inside of me! Maybe even my parents hate me, if I have any! Maybe even you hate me-"

Naruto was cut off with a tight embrace. He blinked, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Naruto, I'm sorry for never telling you this. I wanted to protect you. I thought this is the best for you. That's why I never told you anything. I'm sorry for being so selfish, for not realizing how much pain you're in." Sarutobi patted the boy's back as he decided to spill the beans. "Naruto, the reason why the Fourth Hokage chose you to seal the Kyuubi in is...that you're his son."

Surprised to not hear any reaction from Naruto, Sarutobi leaned back, but was stopped when thin arms wrapped around his back.

"Jiji, thanks for trying to comfort me, even if it's a lie."

"Naruto it's not a lie!" Sarutobi broke himself from the hug and stared into the boy's eyes. "Your father is the Fourth Hokage. I never told you this because your father has many enemies, and if they found out that you're his son, you will be in danger."

"Then he must hates me if he sealed the Kyuubi inside of me!"

"He doesn't!" Sarutobi was getting tired of this conversation. Who knew the boy was so pessimistic? "Trust me, your father doesn't want to do that either. You weren't his option, but what parents would want their child to have a demon sealed inside of him or her? Leaving with either do nothing and let the demon destroy the village, or seal the demon in his own child, your father chose the latter. What kind of Hokage is he if he can't sacrifice his son for the village? A Hokage's job is to ensure the safety of the village. The village always comes first, no matter what."

"Then I don't want to become the Hokage," Naruto pouted.

Sarutobi was shocked to say the least.

"If I have a son, I will never do this to him. I won't let anyone live through the life I'd lived. Even if it cost me the entire village." Naruto muttered. "So I guess I'm not fit to be a Hokage eh?"

"Naruto..."

"I know how much it hurts to have people hate you for something you have no control of. It's not my fault to jail the Kyuubi! Why can't the villagers see that? I'm sorry jiji but I'm not kind enough to let anyone else live my life. Does that mean I'm a bad person?"

"Naruto...you're not a bad person." Sarutobi ruffled the boy's hair. "A person can't be truly bad if he made the choice to protect somebody, even if the choice require many sacrifices. You may not fit a Hokage's role, but you will be a good ninja. A good comrade. A good father."

"Jiji...thank you, for telling me everything." Naruto smiled. "Now that I know the villagers are idiots, my A.T. field (1) can finally work to its full scale."

AT field?

"What do you mean?"

"After all," Naruto smiled. "The villagers must be idiots if they can't tell the difference between a prison and a prisoner."

"So true, so true." Sarutobi laughed, ruffling the boy's hair. Naruto seemed to be smarter than he appeared to be. Sarutobi mentally reminded himself that appearance can be fake. "Well, it's getting very late and you have an exam tomorrow. Why don't you go home and get some rest? We can continue this conversation tomorrow after your exam is over."

"Alright jiji! Thanks again for everything!" Naruto was gone before Sarutobi could murmur a reply. He was once again marveled by the boy's amazing speed. No wonder he could escape all the ANBU chasing after him during his pranks.

Minutes later, his room was crowded with ninjas.

Two ANBUs, a cat and wolf masked, were holding a struggling Mizuki down.

"Hokage-sama! What's the meaning of this!" Mizuki cried, panic seeping through his voice.

Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.

"That's what we're going to talk about right now."

(1) A.T. Field: came from EVA, stands for "Absolute Terror Field." It's a barrier that both Angels and Evangelions can generate to protect themselves.