Chapter 9 - My SI Stash #9 - Return of The Heavenly Demon by AzumiBear (One Piece & Naruto)

-I gotta say, for someone who has never seen One Piece, reading this SI Doflamingo fanfic gave me the goosebumps it is that good... Personally I'm one lazy f.u.c.k so I just googled about the characters of One Piece, but it's still a very enjoyable read!

Do comment down below your opinion if you think One Piece is still worth watching in 2020! LMK.

Synopsis: He had lost. Donquixote Doflamingo had been defeated, and he had lost his life. He had expected fire and brimstone or an endless existence in purgatory, but this? This was something he hadn't expected. Now here he was, a new world, a new life and Donquixote Doflamingo would use it to usher in a New Age. And being the Child of Prophecy will be a tremendous help.

Rated: M

Words: 266K

Posted on: fanfiction.net/s/12926937/1/Return-of-The-Heavenly-Demon (AzumiBear)

-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)

Chapter 1

He had lost. The moment his God Thread had been broken, Donquixote Doflamingo knew that he had been defeated. His only hope now was to survive the full brunt of Monkey D. Luffy's King Kong Gun, a task that was beginning to prove very difficult.

Bringing his Haki to its utmost limit, Doffy was able to bear the initial pain and impact of Luffy's attack, at least at first. After what seemed like an eternity, Doffy's body had finally reached Dressrosa, and proceeded to tear straight through the small kingdom.

He could feel the stone and dirt below him crumble and fold around him, driving him deeper into the earth and closer to the secret underground facilities beneath Dressrosa. Even though he could feel his former kingdom split apart from his impact, his momentum showed no signs of slowing down.

Eventually, his back met steel as it reached his underground operations and the steel tore like paper. The pain at this point was excruciating and it took all he had to maintain consciousness and keep his Haki up to protect him from the debris.

He could feel his focus waning as his body was assailed by torn metal, and, for just a moment, his focus broke, his Haki fell, a piercing pain formed in his chest and everything turned to black.

Doffy's eyes began to open ever so slightly. As he awoke he slowly starts to notice the several marines around him, scurrying with medical supplies. Wondering why, Doffy looks around until he remembers what had happened moments ago, finally noticing a steel support beam lodged into his chest.

His body felt numb. He tried desperately to use his Devil Fruit to try and repair some of the major damage, but it was impossible, the damage was too great. The marines where trying their hardest to keep him alive to bring him into custody but he already knew his life was escaping him.

The Captain of the Donquixote Pirates began to chuckle lightly. For 30 years, he had dedicated his life to destroying everything the Celestial Dragons cared about.

For 30 years, he and his family and grown and thrived to be where they stood up until this day. 30 years of his life, and it was ended by an idiot in a straw hat that couldn't find his way out of a wet paper bag. He would cry if it wasn't so funny or even possible at this point.

He could feel his vision fading, his limbs losing even the numbness they once held and now felt as if they were disappearing. He was about to die.

'Trebol, Diamante, Pica…. Vergo', he thought, picturing them in his mind, the people who had come to raise him, the person who was his childhood friend, the ones who had become his family and the ones that he had failed.

'I'm sorry...', he thought, darkness taking over his vision, until he decided to finally close his eyes, a small smile replacing his usual manic grin. It was then that Donquixote Doflamingo, The Heavenly Demon and Captain of the Donquixote Pirates, had died.

Donquixote Doflamingo did not think much of the afterlife when he was alive, but even he had thought of what waited for him at the end of his days. Whatever he had expected, be it fire and brimstone or an endless existence in purgatory, this was not something that he imagined. Doffy found himself surrounded by darkness, yes, but there was more.

It was like he was in some form of cocoon, a barrier of warmth that wrapped around him protectively. He found it almost impossible to move his body and, speaking of his body, it felt off, dis-proportioned and more importantly incredibly weak. Where was he? He took a moment to relax his mind and concentrate, to listen. He could feel and hear his own heartbeat. A good sign but also confusing.

'Did I survive', he thought. Were the marine's medics able to somehow save him? No, that was impossible, the amount of damage he sustained was too severe and the one who bore the Heal-Heal Fruit would never try and save his life.

Putting that issue aside he continued to concentrate, listening past his own heartbeat. After a moment he began to hear another, one separate from his own. This was odd, especially because the heartbeat sounded like it came from all around him. Not bothering with trying to solve this mystery quite yet, he decided to use his Haki to sense his surroundings.

As soon as he attempted this he had felt a wave of exhaustion hit him, only letting him use it for a moment, but it had worked. He had felt a few auras around him but what he had found confused him. One Aura, he could sense several feet away from him and it was powerful, clearly belonging to a seasoned warrior.

There was another Aura, not as strong but still fierce, this one, along with another, confused him. This aura was all around him, it was large and surrounded him completely as if he were inside its owner.

Now, Doffy was not a fool. He had many years of experience dealing with the most cunning minds in all the New World, so it should not be surprising that he had an idea of what had happened to him and where he currently was. '

I'm an infant….'. This revelation was one of both shock and slight amus.e.m.e.nt. 'First that Straw Hat boy kills me and now I'm an infant?', well, a fetus really but still, the very thought made him laugh hollowly in his mind.

But there was one more mystery to solve, one more aura that his Haki could sense. Its nature and location confused him, however. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered; powerful, overwhelmingly powerful, and evil, sickeningly so. It felt like it was right next to him, yet, at the same time, locked away in a place he could never reach.

Now that he felt it for the first time, its presence was just there. Whatever it was, he could feel it, just behind that incomprehensible barrier. And now that he could feel it, now that he could sense its rage, he knew that it was watching him, that it knew he was watching it, and it did not like being watched.

However, the mind of Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Demon, simply grinned.

Life within the w.o.m.b, Doffy had learned, was very boring and disorienting. There was little to do while trapped there and time seemed almost non-existent. But he knew that time was passing, his body had continued to grow, growing stronger if only marginally so, and soon he would be free.

The thoughts of freedom brought other thoughts as well. Where and when would he be in his new life. Would he find himself flung into the far future? Would he still have the opportunity to get his revenge on the Celestial Dragons?

These thoughts had plagued Doffy for most of his time in his 'new home'. There was also what he began to call The Entity that lived with him in his new Mother. He would continue to watch and observe it and found something interesting. The Entity was releasing some form of energy into his mother's body, this energy was thus flowing into him as well.

When he felt it, it seemed wild, almost primal in a sense with that same feeling of maliciousness that The Entity exuded if watered down. As far as he could tell it was not harmful and he had no way of stopping it either way. He continued to examine this energy as time went on and discovered that his mother also had something similar. Unlike The Entity's, hers was warmer, calmer almost and somewhat soothing if he had to admit it.

What was really interesting was how they interacted. With the help of his Haki, that would still take up a lot of his stamina, he found that his mother's 'energy' seemed to be almost shackling the others, controlling and mitigating it. After discovering this, he looked 'into himself' so-to-speak and discovered that he contained his own 'energy' as well, separate from the ones supplied to him by The Entity and his mother. Not that he could really do anything with it though. He mostly spent his time examining these various energies, trying to kill his utter boredom.

As time passed he began to feel it. His body had been growing and his 'prison' was growing smaller and smaller. His limbs were now capable of small movements and he knew now that it wouldn't be long. While in this near timeless place he had time to think. Before, he relied on his family to do many things for him, though they did it happily of course.

He was stronger than the rest of his family, yes that was true, but that was not because of any considerable effort. Doffy, after coming out of his childhood, had been stronger than most around him. He rarely trained his body and hardly ever practiced his techniques, there was no need to. He had his family to do most things for him and he was superior to most of the sc.u.m of the world anyways. That was how he had always thought, and then Straw Hat Luffy had proved him wrong in both the worst and best way possible.

In this new life, there would be a new Doflamingo. One who would fight to get everything he would ever need with his own two hands, one who would not- no, who could not rely on his family to do things for him.

The cage around him had suddenly tightened around him. It was time. A brand new Donquixote Doflamingo would emerge in this New World, and usher in a New Age.

He hated this. This entire process was uncomfortable, humiliating and if he didn't have so much pride he would say a little scary. Doffy was completely helpless as his 9-month prison tightened and squeezed him, pushing him further to his 'exit'. He didn't know long his torture lasted but eventually he could finally see it; light. Just a moment later a wave of frigid air assaulted him, but he didn't care, he was free!

The light and chilly air disoriented him for a moment but eventually he felt himself wrapped in what was presumably a blanket. He opened his eyes but could only make out the outlines of shapes and various colors. There was no definition and the world was a blurry mess. He felt himself being carried and eventually placed in front of who he assumed to be his mother's face.

He strained his senses, trying to make out anything familiar around him. His ears could hear what sounded like speech, but it sounded almost garbled, he just couldn't make out the words. His eyesight was also still limited, he looked up to view his new mothers face but could barely make anything out except the distinct color of red.

He really hoped it was just her hair. His first mother died rather early on in his life and it would be rather… saddening to lose another so quickly. A moment later he was carried a bit further away from his mother.

Suddenly, he heard what he easily recognizes as a scream come from the nurse currently carrying him, another pair of arms quickly grabbing him as the nurse fell. Startled, he saw a hand raised threateningly above him through his blurry vision.

He tried to see who it belonged to but couldn't. He could hear his new retainer speaking to someone, his mother or father perhaps when they suddenly flung him into the air. The world swayed around him as he was disoriented, then he felt someone catch him.

He activated his Haki, attempting to identify the aura of his attacker, but something very odd happened just before he did. The various colors around him changed in an instant, and he could now feel a slight breeze where before the air was still.

His Haki, short lived that it was, could now only sense the person carrying him, who he had recognized as his father during his time in his mother's w.o.m.b, with no trace of his attacker.

His use of Haki had quickly drained his stamina and he could feel sleep already approaching his small body. Once again, his surroundings had suddenly changed, and he could feel his father place him down onto a soft surface, a bed. He tried desperately to stay awake and was successful for a few minutes.

Soon after he felt someone else, someone much larger than him, being placed in his bed, the distinct color of red returning. His mother, laid next to him, cradling him in his arms and a moment later sleep had finally took him.

He awoke again, his eyes revealing a still blurry world, but it was clearer than before. He was laying in some sort of crib and there were two others standing over him. He looked at them, seeing that distinct color of red, his mother, and a brilliant gold, most likely his father.

There was something else, It, The Entity; he could feel it just behind his parents, looking past them, he saw a mountain of reddish orange, in a form he wasn't able to make out. It was filled with a hate he was now very familiar with. It was then that he noticed it, a nail, or more accurately a single claw piercing through both his parent's bodies, inching closer and closer to him.

He could hear his parents speaking but his ears refused to translate the cacophony of noise aside from The Entity's roars of anger. Then, suddenly, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach, and energy being poured into him that he easily recognized to belong to the monster that had just killed his new parents. Its power flowed into him and when it stopped his eyes began to close and he welcomed some much-needed rest.

It had been quite some time since the date of his birth. In that time, he was able to learn his new name: Naruto Uzumaki. It was rather pitiful compared to Donquixote Doflamingo, but it would have to do. He found himself now being raised in an orphanage, having never seen his parents after his first day in this new world. He was still under the age of 1 years old or, so he thought. Time was still quite hard to keep track of but at least now he knew when it was night or day time, he estimated he was at around six months now.

His sight and hearing were now significantly better, and he was capable of standing on his own if he had something to lean on. He was able to crawl as well when his caregivers gave him the opportunity. Speaking of his 'caregivers' he found them quite…odd.

There were 3 different women working at the orphanage. They took care of him as well as any other child but with a strange sense of detachment, like it was just a job to be done.

Now, while that is technically true they only had this quirk when it came to him, the other children they treated as if they were their own. The looks they gave him were reminiscent of a different past he was never able to forget.

Despite these issues Doffy, or rather Naruto now, quickly began a routine to further himself as quickly as he could. He would crawl and perform small exercises to help develop his body and practiced talking when no one was around. It wouldn't do to have a.d.u.l.ts hear a 6-month-old speaking words it shouldn't yet know.

He was able to use his Observation Haki much more efficiently now as well, though he never tried using the other two types. Sadly, it seemed that his Devil Fruit was now lost to him as no matter how hard he tried he was never able to conjure his beloved strings.

Furthermore, he had continued to investigate the energy that he discovered early on in his new life. He could feel The Entity's energy still, but it seemed almost muted, trickling into him from somewhere he couldn't identify. The beast itself seemed to be almost asleep, no longer aware and watching him as it did when he first arrived in this new world.

His own energy, separate from the beasts, was now much 'larger' than before. If he concentrated he could control it to some degree, moving it around through bizarre channels in his body, but he didn't know what it was or what he was doing. He continued to manipulate it regardless, trying to piece together its purpose but still hasn't discovered it yet.

Looking around, Doffy/Naruto found that the room he was in, a rather large nursery with other cribs and infants, was currently missing any caretaker, with the other children currently asleep or content on their own. He used this opportunity to sit his small and still pudgy body up. He stood on wobbly legs and, using the sides of the crib as support, practiced walking around the edge of the crib. Using his Haki, he made sure to watch anyone approaching the room.

He had been practicing for a few minutes, when he suddenly felt two large auras in the other room approaching the nursery. As quickly as he was able, he laid down and stared at the ceiling, making small movements and sounds to give the impression the he was just a normal six-month old baby.

The door opened a moment later and the two powerful auras walked into the room. With his ears now in much better 'condition' he was able to make out what they were saying.

"Which one is he?", a voice, deep and slightly rough, asked its counterpart.

"He's just over there, in the corner of the room.", another voice this one sounding older and belonging to what would seem to be a rather heavy smoker.

The two strangers walked to the right side of his crib, looking over him allowing Doffy to see who was interrupting his training session. The man on the right had bright white hair, it was long, tied in a ponytail behind him with two large bangs framing his face. He had a strange headband on with the kanji for "Oil" upon. His face looked somewhat young with but a small wart on his nose, but his white hair made it hard to discern his age.

The other was considerably shorter than the white-haired man, and older as well, with gaunt skin and liver spots dotting his face. He was wearing white robes and strange diamond shaped hat.

The two looked down upon him until one finally spoke up. "So Jiraiya, care to explain why it took you six months to respond to my summons?", the older one spoke, his face seemingly calm but clearly, he was irritated.

The taller man, Jiraiya, hesitated for a moment, his face set in stone, then he responded. "When I got news that Minato and Kushina were dead, I immediately set my spy network to ensure that no news was spread about their child."

The old man's face flashed a hint of irritation before calming, then speaking again. "And it took you six months to accomplish this? Without any contact with your home that had just lost their Fourth Hokage?".

At the mention of this 'Fourth Hokage' Jiraiya visibly flinched. He was silent for a moment, his eyes taking on a hint of sadness. His reply was quiet, with a tone of defeat, "Yeah…".

The two stood there for a moment, silent, continuing to look down on Doffy/Naruto as he continued his charade. The old man let out a small sigh. "Very well, what are you going to do now then? The boy has no other family and you are his godfather Jiraiya."

The white-haired man took in a large breath of air, held it for a moment and then released a large sigh. "Well, I can't imagine myself taking him in, I'm just not father material honestly, even if it's just as a Godfather", he said, an arm reaching behind him to scratch the nape of his neck. "Honestly, he'd probably have a better childhood here, in the Leaf Village."

The older man glanced at Jiraiya, who did not meet his gaze. "You're sure about this then? If he finds this out he may not forgive you."

Jiraiya continued to look down, not even truly looking at Naruto anymore. "Yeah, i-…I'm sure", Jiraiya's voice was quiet and the older man closed his eyes for a moment.

"Very well", he said, opening his eyes to look at Naruto, "He'll be raised through the Leaf's orphanage services then. I'll look after him as best I can Jiraiya, but I am Hokage again, and I am not as young as I once was."

Jiraiya quickly responded, "I understand Sarutobi Sensei", almost interrupting the older man.

The two stood there a little more before Jiraiya vanished in a small puff of smoke. Sarutobi sighed, "He could at least leave the building normally", he grumbled, taking one last look at Naruto before walking out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Doffy, sensing that the old man was gone with his Haki, stopped his small charade and thought about the conversation he had witnessed. 'So, it would seem one of my parents, Minato and Kushina, was rather important, this 'Fourth Hokage'. I know where I am now too, the Leaf Village, quite a strange name.'

Doffy continued to parse through the conversation. 'I have one more family member as well, a Godfather, Jiraiya.' Doffy mouthed the name of the Godfather that abandoned him, then said the name aloud. With that name firmly in his mind Doffy stood back up and continued his training, with a smile that did not belong on a child's face.

2 Years; Naruto Uzumaki, or rather Donquixote Doflamingo, was finally 2 years old. Last year, he was finally moved out of the nursery and was given his own room to sleep in. It was rather small, more like a closet than anything else, but unlike everyone else in the orphanage he did not have to share the room, giving him the privacy needed to continue his training.

He also was finally able to go outside as well, to the small playground just outside the orphanage and see just what kind of village he lived in. When Jiraiya had called his new home the Leaf Village, he was expecting just that, a village.

Instead, he was greeted by a large city, with oddly shaped buildings and various pipes and wires traveling across them. This 'village' was unlike any other he had ever seen, which was saying something.

He also took notice to the large mountain with four large stone faces engraved onto them, overlooking the village. He recognized the Hokage, Sarutobi from his encounter with him, meaning the last face on the right must be the Fourth Hokage, his father Minato. An important man indeed, to have something like that dedicated to you.

Doffy had also made an effort to try and… socialize with the other children. Needless to say, that ended in disaster.

For one thing their vocabulary was extremely limited compared to his own making conversation utterly meaningless. Their games were far too simple and trivial for him to take part in. Also, he got the feeling that the other children didn't like him much. He didn't know why though! He made sure to have his best smile on his face as much as he could, almost always!

Oh well, it didn't really matter. These children were just orphans after all, no one important. There was no need to start building any relationsh.i.p.s with the rabble after all. He had his eyes on much bigger prizes.

This 'village' was ruled by those with the title of Hokage. The current Hokage, who he learned was named Hiruzen Sarutobi, would visit the orphanage now and again. Though he made it seem he was just visiting the 'unfortunate' children without parents, Doffy knew that he was really checking up on him.

Sarutobi would also come to deliver a sales pitch about being 'ninja', this villages military force, of which the strongest was elected as Hokage. He explained to the Orphanage that children can go and attend an academy where they would learn how to become the heroes that protected their home: Ninja.

It did not take Doffy long to decide that the Ninja Academy would be his first stepping stone in his new life, telling the Hokage to sign him up. But there was something else that was bothering him as well. Small things about his new home that had puzzled and slightly worried him.

For one, he had heard no mention of either the World Government or the Marines in the past 2 years. The naming conventions here were also different. The style of names were different than what he was used to, usually more complex than simply 'Trebol' or 'Baby 5'. Everyone here also would introduce their given names first and surnames last if they had one, the opposite of what he was used to.

He had no way to confirm it but, he didn't think he was in Kansas anymore. Regardless, Naruto Uzumaki continued his life in the orphanage, a grin on his face and a diamond shaped hat in mind.

Aneko Hamadate did not like Naruto Uzumaki. She had run this orphanage for almost 20 years now and, while there was the occasional bad apple, never in her life would she say that she did not like any one of the children living in her orphanage. Naruto Uzumaki changed that.

She knew that young Naruto was the Jinchūriki of the Nine Tailed Fox, that was really an open secret at this point, but that wasn't why she did not like him. No, there was something else, something off about the child.

When he had first arrived at the orphanage, she was wary of him, knowing his status as the Fox's container. She did her job, took care of him and that was it, end of story.

After a while, she began to notice strange things about him. His eyes seemingly holding an awareness that didn't belong in such a young child. Some days, she could have sworn that she had seen the young boy in his crib, practicing to walk a couple months ahead of others his age, but lay right back down as soon as she had walked in.

That wasn't what had disturbed her the most though. When he was young, the boy would almost never cry. It was only when he needed to be changed or feed, never anything else. Eventually, even that stopped all together.

When the boy would fall and scrap his knee or when the older kids would try and pick on and bully him, never would he cry. No, instead there was just a smile, a grin if you could even call it that. It looked normal to most yes, but after seeing that smile everyday for over a year Aneko knew better.

There was something wrong with that smile, with that boy.

The other children knew it as well. They would hardly ever interact with him anymore, and when they did it would not go well. That boy would simply smile at them, brushing them off and almost ignoring them completely, as if he were looking down on them.

It wasn't just his social skills that were off either. The boy moved with grace; an elegance and control that a 5 year old should not posses. He walked with confidence wherever he went, with that damned smile never going away.

He was stronger than others around him as well, she had seen him beat children that were almost twice his age and had training in the ninja academy, though he never instigated the fights.

Yes, Aneko Hamadate truly did not like Naruto Uzumaki. He had shown an interest in becoming a ninja as well, a terrifying thought. And with that thought in mind, she signed the letter she had written to the Hokage, his official guardian, calling for his immediate removal from the premises.

Normally, she would feel bad for sending a child out all alone into the world, but Naruto Uzumaki was not a child, this she was certain of.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not having a good day. It, like almost every other, was filled with monotonous paperwork and political strife that he was well and truly sick of at this point. He remembered a time when he enjoyed these things, but now he was missing the retirement that Minato was so kind to bring him.

He grabbed the next obstacle in his path to the days end, what looked to be a letter addressed to him, and filled his pipe with another round of tobacco. He read the letter as he did so, stopped for a moment to put his pipe down and re-read the letter, hoping that he had misread it.

After, he sighed and, with weary hands, set the letter down and picked up his pipe. He sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the downtime that he honestly felt he deserved. When his pipe ran dry, he quickly scribbled a reply to the letter he had received, signed it and signaled for one of his ANBU.

"Yes, Lord Hokage?", a Tiger Masked ANBU had appeared kneeling in front of his desk.

Hiruzen handed the folded up letter to the agent. "Take this letter to Akeno Hamadate at the Southern Orphanage", he ordered, his voice firm and calm to hide the frustration he was currently feeling.

Without another word the ANBU agent disappeared to fulfill his orders. Hiruzen got up from his chair, stretching his back that sore from constantly sitting down for the past few hours.

As sad as it was, Hiruzen had anticipated this happening and had already rented an apartment in advance in-case this situation ever occurred. He walked out of the room, entering the hallway and greeting his secretary.

"I'm going out for the rest of the day. Push any appointments I have to tomorrow". Not stopping to hear her answer, the Hokage continued to walk out the tower and made his way to Naruto's soon-to-be former home.

His pace was slow as he greeted the various villagers around him. He was not looking forward to this. While he enjoyed visiting and speaking with Naruto, telling him that he was going to be living alone from now on was not something he was eager to do.

The villagers were quite wary, afraid even, of the young boy. That fear spread to their children as well, ostracizing Naruto and making it very difficult for him to make any friends. He knew this, it was something he was keenly aware of.

His decision to reveal Naruto's status as the Nine Tailed Fox's Jinchūriki was a hard one. There were many ninja that night, watching the sealing happen. Who knew what kind of rumors would be spread if left alone?

To mitigate this, he had decided to reveal Naruto's status making it clear that he was just a normal child and that he was a hero. That decision clearly went well.

Still, Naruto himself did not seem to be bothered by this if he was aware of it, which he undoubtedly was. He was a smart kid, advancing well beyond his peers in pretty much all things.

When the two of them would get a chance to speak, he didn't feel like he was talking to a child. Honestly, Naruto reminded him of Itachi, with eyes too old for such a young soul.

Like Itachi, Naruto was talented as well. Hiruzen had already suspected that the boy was a sensor, never being surprised when the Hokage would drop by, almost knowing that he was on his way.

His physical abilities were quite impressive as well if Aneko's letter is to be believed. Defeating multiple academy students that were almost twice his age with no formal training was quite a feat.

Hiruzen continued his steady pace toward the orphanage. No doubt by now Tiger would have delivered the letter and Naruto would be almost done packing his things, what little he had anyways.

Hiruzen's thoughts eventually strayed to his now wayward student, Jiraiya. All those years ago, when he had come with him to visit Naruto, Jiraiya had disappointed him. Was that unfair?

Perhaps, he knew that Jiraiya was in a lot of pain after Minato's death. He had spent most of life searching for his Child of Prophecy, and finally he had thought he had found him in Minato. Minato and Kushina treated him like family, something Jiraiya never had.

And in the end, he lost everything in a single night. Naruto was a reminder of that pain, of everything he lost. Yet Hiruzen couldn't help but see it as a Jiraiya running from his responsibilities.

The two still kept in touch via letters though only for official Leaf Business. Still, Hiruzen would mention the boy in his letters, encrypted of course, and mention his hard sh.i.p.s and struggles, hoping to convince him to change his mind and return.

He never even bothered to acknowledge them. Yes, in Hiruzen's eyes, Jiraiya was just running from his responsibilities.

Finally, Hiruzen had reached the orphanage and approached the front. Already, he could hear the sounds of children playing and laughter. He waited for a couple moments until the door finally opened, Akeno there to greet him. A short, brown-haired and rather heavy-set woman but one that he had known to be a mother-hen through and through. This thought only made him more disappointed in her, an emotion he was beginning to be feeling far to often.

"Ah..h-hello L-Lord Hokage", her voice trembling slightly. There was a small look of shame in her eyes that could barely stand to meet his own. What stood out most though, was the was the look of determination in the rest of her features.

He didn't have to do this. As Hokage, he could force her to continue keeping Naruto in her care, but that look meant that she was adamant about getting him out of here. If Naruto did stay, his life would only go downhill from here as the caretakers began to neglect him more and more till he was already independent. It was best to get it over with now instead.

"Take me to him", his replied with his voice demanding and possessing an air of authority. Akeno startled slightly, wide-eyed, and nodded, turning around to guide him to Naruto's room.

The two went through the building, with Hiruzen smiling at all the children running up to greet him. Soon, they made it Naruto's room, and not even bothering to knock, Akeno opened his door and walked in.

"Hey old man, what took ya so long huh?", rung out a young voice, full of amus.e.m.e.nt and mischief. Looking inside, Hiruzen spotted young Naruto. He was leaning up against the far wall, his arms crossed and a small backpack sat down in front of him.

The short blond-haired boy, was wearing his ever famous grin, a bright pink shirt on with equally bright white shorts and black shoes. He had on a pair of oddly shaped sunglasses, with a silver frame and red lenses. Naruto had asked for them during last year's Rinne Festival that they spent together and wore them everyday. In fact, Hiruzen couldn't remember seeing him without them on since then.

Yes, without a doubt, Naruto had quite the flair for the dramatic. It didn't bother Hiruzen though, he had seen stranger things, and stranger people.

Hiruzen smiled lightly, then chuckled a bit. "Well when you get as old as me it takes a bit longer to get around", he said humoring the boy.

"heh heh heh, sure old man. What ever you say", Naruto replied, seemingly laughing at some inside joke. Naruto pushed off the wall, kicking his back pack up and looping one of the straps around his shoulder in one smooth motion. "Now c'mon old man, lets go see this new place ya got for little ol' me", he said, walking past him and Akeno and toward the front door.

Yeah, quite the flair for the dramatic indeed.

The Hokage followed him to the front door, amused by Naruto's antics. "Now Naruto, shouldn't I be leading the way? After all, I doubt you'll know where to go after we walk out that door."

Naruto, finally at the front door, opened it and bowed dramatically, gesturing for Hiruzen to step out."Of course Lord Hokage, I was getting the door for you. One should be respectful to their elders. Heh heh heh". Naruto, with that grin still plastered on his face, laughing at the barb about his age.

The two walked out of the orphanage, now side-by-side, they began to walk closer to Naruto's new apartment. It was located closer to the Hokage Monument and thus the Academy as well, which Hiruzen signed Naruto up to begin attending next year.

As they walked through the village, the various villagers would often stop to look at the two, and not in greeting like they did when he was alone. They would often move to the other side of the street to avoid being close to them. Seeing this, Hiruzen looked down at Naruto.

Naruto seemed to be ignoring this, grinning like always and his eyes hidden behind his stylish sunglasses. Hiruzen sighed a little, looking at him. Naruto had a bad habit of walking a little strangely. His hands would be in his pockets and his legs would move at an almost exaggerated pace, lifting up far too high when he walked. But he was mostly concerned about the way Naruto would hunch his head, as if he were too tall and trying to duck under some thing.

They pass by and stop by a few places, getting Naruto food, clothes and various supplies like utensils and dish soap. The apartment was already fully furnished and Hiruzen would leave further decoration up to Naruto. Continuing away from the market, Naruto stops and turns, standing still for a moment. "Hey old man, whats the building for?" the child looked up at Hiruzen pointing at a building to their left.

Hiruzen looked over at the building Naruto had pointed out. It was a fairly large building, two stories and with a red shingles making up the roof. The beige walls shown obvious signs of wear, spider web cracks running all along them. He knew this building quite well, watched both its construction and the need for its use. Built during and after the First Great Shinobi War, it housed all of the war orphans that the war had brought and has done so for the Second and Third as well.

It was a building that symbolized the pain and hardship that the Leaf had gone through, and a prison for the children whose parents were sacrificed in her name.

Hiruzen looked down at the boy. Naruto looking towards the building, his usual smile missing from his face. "That's the first orphanage that was built in the Hidden Leaf Village. Why is there something the matter?", he asked, curious.

The boy stares at the building for a moment longer, eventually looking away and continuing. "Nothing, let's keep going", as he called back to him.

They continue towards where Naruto will be staying. They finally walk up to a beige building with maroon colored shingles. Standing about four stories tall it was a plain apartment building.

As they proceed to follow up the stairs to the top floor and stop at the third door on their right, at room 4C. "This will be the building you will be staying at," Opening the door, he revealed a single, small, plain room with dim green colored walls and a wooden floor. In it was a bed with a small night stand and alarm clock, a small desk and chair with a small radio on it and a single dresser. "and this will be your new room."

Naruto, after adopting his smile again on their way to the apartment complex, entered his new room, looking around. The two walked through a small door way leading to the kitchen, where a small refrigerator, stove top and a small table with four chairs served as Naruto's new dining room. There was another door in the kitchen leading to the bathroom.

Hiruzen put the bags of groceries on the dining table. "So, what do you think, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked, eager and slightly nervous to hear the boys response.

Naruto looked around the apartment for a moment, his smile dropping for a moment. Then his smile returned and he looked up at the old man. "It looks like shit, old man. Heh heh heh". Naruto said, laughing.

Rather disappointed but not very surprised the Third Hokage sighed. "Language, Naruto", Hiruzen reprimanded him, handed him a spare key and then continued, "I'm afraid you'll have to live with it for now, at least until you become a powerful Shinobi and earn some more money. Speaking of...", the Hokage reached into his robes and pulled out a small bundle of money, handing it to Naruto.

"As of this moment you'll be receiving a fixed income every 30 days from the Hidden Leaf in order to help take care of yourself. This is all you'll be getting so be sure to spend it wisely." The Hokage moved out of the kitchen and into the main room, with Naruto following him.

"Also, I have enrolled you into the Ninja Academy for next year. As long as you'll be attending you won't have to worry about paying any rent or utility bills."

Naruto flung his backpack off his shoulder and onto the bed, his grin widening as he flipped through the bills that Hiruzen just handed him.

After flipping through the last bill, Naruto spoke up. "Anything else I need to know, eh?", Naruto asked still gleefully looking at the money in his hands.

Hiruzen shook his head at the young boys greed, and replied,"No that's everything for now. I'll be visiting in a few days to check up on you and if you need anything I'm usually at the Hokage Tower." Hiruzen opened the door, ready to head home and relax for the rest of the day.

"Yeah, Yeah, see ya later old man", Naruto waved him off and closed the door behind him.

With that, Hiruzen made his way home, this time traveling by the rooftops. There many thoughts about Naruto on his way home. What Naruto was thinking and what his future was. As much as Hiruzen hated it, there were many things that rested on the boys shoulders, too many. He would do all he could to make sure Naruto went down the right path.

Hopefully he wouldn't be the only one for much longer.

Doffy closed the door behind the old man, the smile on face dropping for a moment. Ever since they passed that building, the other orphanage, what his Haki had sensed had been bothering him, distracting him. Looking out the window in his new apartment, the sun was beginning to set. He would investigate it tomorrow. For now he would settle into his new home.

He put the things that the Third had bought him away into its new designated areas, made some dinner for himself and, after he was done eating, laid in bed.

He lay there for a while, trying to sleep but the orphanage situation still bugged him. It took a while, but eventually sleep took him.

Doffy woke again at the crack of dawn, like always. He got out of his new bed and decided to enjoy his new freedoms. He used his own shower and bathroom, no longer having to share it with various other orphans. He cooked his own breakfast, something he was slightly out of practice of but was more than capable of. Changing clothes, Doffy grabbed something, a gift, out of his backpack and exited his new apartment, locking the door behind him with an objective in mind.

Slowly, Doffy mad his way over to the orphanage that he and the old man had passed yesterday. It took quite a bit, as Doffy had a bit of trouble remembering exactly where it was but he found it again eventually. It was just before noon now and just like at previous home, there was various children playing at a nearby playground.

It was like clockwork, as soon as he was in range that aura was back, calling out to him through his Haki. Doffy with his signature smile walked onto the playground and spotted two benches sitting back to back in the middle of the park.

He walked toward it, slowly, tracking that aura through his Haki and sat down on one of the benches. Then he waited, his eyes staring straight ahead of him and his smile dropping.

There, a boy was a few meters ahead of him. He was quite odd looking, a bowl shaped hair cut, thick eye brows and large, round eyes with rather prominent eye lashes. A small frown adorned the boys stone set face, a perfect example of seriousness.

The boy walked forward at a steady pace, his hands neatly folded behind him. He continued to approach him, eventually reaching the bench Doffy sat at. Rather than sit next to him, the mysterious boy circled around, sitting at the bench just behind him.

The two sat there a moment, back to back, the sound of the other children playing around them. Doffy reached into his pocket and pulled out the gift, a pair of sunglasses. Taking them, he reached over his shoulder, offering it to the other boy, who smoothly reciprocated the action, taking them from him.

Doffy could hear the boy unfold them and place them on his face. They say there for a moment, until finally, the other boy greeted an old friend.

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"Doffy".

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Donquixote Doflamingo grinned.

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"Vergo"