Uzumaki Naruto was born twelve years before the series start to Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage. Naruto was named after the lead character in one of Jiraiya's lesser known semi-biographical works, while Jiraiya himself got the name while eating ramen. Minato felt the main character's drive and determination made excellent qualities and he hoped to raise his son to be a shinobi like the "Naruto" character. Kushina agreed that the name would fit their son nicely. They then agreed that Jiraiya should be Naruto's godfather, as he was the finest shinobi they knew.
Jiraiya was embarassed but accepted the honor, a role he would finally fullfil later in life. A short time later within moments of having his umbilical cord cut, Naruto was made the vessel for the Kyuubi fox demon attacking Konoha. The Fourth Hokage was able to finally end its destruction when he used the Shiki Fuujin technique to seal the demon's yin chakra away and leave the yang within the body of his newborn son Naruto. Minato lost his life, but he made sure that the Kyuubi would help Naruto while sealed away. Jiraiya would later surmise Minato knew precisely what he was doing, putting such a burden on his new son. Minato would leave a "key" to Naruto's seal with Jiraiya and the toads, to allow Naruto to manipulate the seal holding the Kyuubi, potentially to utilize an unknown incomplete and powerful jutsu. Naruto would know neither of his parents, as Kushina was unable to raise her son for some unknown reason
The imbuing of the Kyuubi made Naruto a "Jinchuuriki," a person with a tailed demon sealed within his body. As a side effect, Naruto would gain "whisker" marks on his cheeks. The hope of Jinchuuriki creation is for the human and the tailed beast to resonate together, thereby granting the human some measure of the demon's immense power. There were nine demons in total, known by their number of tails. Naruto got the nine-tailed and most powerful of the demons. The seals the Fourth used would ensure the Kyuubi would lend some of its power to Naruto. The seals would allow the Kyuubi chakra to leak back into Naruto's own chakra. This allows Naruto to draw on the chakra of the Kyuubi and still keep the Kyuubi itself imprisoned. The biggest benefits are the way it grants Naruto some measure of the Kyuubi's immense chakra and heals most any wounds he receives. Please see Naruto's entry in the Jinchuuriki Guide for further information.
Naruto's father hoped the village would look on Naruto as a hero for containing the Kyuubi demon. Unfortunately quite the opposite happened; as Naruto grew the village began to see Naruto as the demon itself. The adults who knew the real story of the Kyuubi looked down on Naruto, and their feelings were passed down to their children who didn't even know he was the Kyuubi vessel. This resulted in Naruto living a lonely life as he was often shunned when seen in public. Because his parents were no longer present, he was an orphan who was raised by the village itself, under the direction of the Third Hokage who resumed his position after the Fourth died in battle. When Naruto was old enough he was given money for living and an apartment to live in. He was also enrolled in the Konoha Ninja Academy. It is unknown at what age he entered the Academy, but he attempted the graduation exam several times before those of his same age group.
Naruto grew to resent his outcast status in the village, turning to pranks to gain the attention of the other villagers. He would slack off in school, much to the dismay of his teacher Umino Iruka. Naruto would sometimes play hooky with other slackers in his class like Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba and Akimichi Chouji. For the most part though, Naruto had no real friends. He would also feel annoyed by his fellow classmate Uchiha Sasuke, who was loved by all and always got the best grades. When Sasuke's clan was wiped out the two young boys shared a moment in their loneliness when Naruto saw Sasuke sitting by the river. As Naruto grew he saw Sasuke as a rival, especially for the affection of Haruno Sakura. Sakura was a fellow classmate of Naruto's who he had a crush on. Unfortunately Sakura found Naruto annoying and instead had eyes like most girls her age on Sasuke.
iration, the best way to gain that would be to become the village Hokage. Unfortunately Naruto had trouble mastering even the most basic of Ninjutsu, like the Bunshin technique. When the graduation exam arrived once again, Naruto was asked by his teachers Iruka and Mizuki to do the Bunshin test, unfortunately he managed to make only one pitiful Bunshin. Once again he was held back while those around him graduated. Mizuki had his own plans for Naruto though, confiding that there was another way to graduate. Unfortunately Mizuki was manipulating Naruto for his own ends, to gain access to the scroll of sealing, which held the secrets to many forbidden jutsu. Naruto stole the seal from the Third Hokage's office and managed to learn one of its jutsu, Tajuu Kage Bunshin, a technique which created multiple clones with real substance in exchange for an equal part of the ninja's chakra. The village ninja were sent to track down Naruto but Iruka managed to find him first.
Naruto Iruka couldn't believe Naruto's actions and he was surprised that the normally jutsu challenged Naruto could learn a jutsu from the scroll. He also soon learned that Mizuki was behind Naruto's actions. Mizuki further manipulated Naruto, revealing to him why the village shunned him, that he was the vessel for the Kyuubi Demon. Naruto reacted in fear and anger and fled, both men gave chase and when Mizuki went to kill Naruto with a giant shuriken, Iruka stepped in the way to take the blade for him. Iruka told Naruto he led a lonely life too, losing his parents to the Kyuubi he acted stupid to get attention.
Naruto fled and they gave chase. Iruka stated he believed in Naruto and Mizuki moved to kill him. Naruto arrived to save him and his emotions boiled. Using his new technique, Naruto created numerous Kage Bunshin which pummeled Mizuki for hurting Iruka. The Third Hokage watched from afar and realized Naruto was developing in interesting ways. Iruka was amazed by his growth and gave him a reward, the headband from his forehead. He congratulated Naruto on graduating from the Academy. Naruto began to cry and hugged Iruka after achieving his first step on the path to Hokage.
Naruto Shortly there after Naruto and Iruka would go and have a meal at Naruto's favorite place to eat, Ichiraku Ramen. He would also be introduced to the Third Hokage's rambunctious grandson Konohamaru. Naruto would not be impressed by Konohamaru's bad attitude and hit him for his actions. Konohamaru was shocked and wanted Naruto to be his boss and teach him his secret pervy adult weakening "Sexy Techniques". Naruto would teach Konohamaru and the two boys would become fast friends. With Naruto now a Genin he was placed in a squad under the leadership of a Jounin sensei. Naruto waited with eager anticipation to learn who his teammates were. He rejoiced when Sakura was placed on his team, and felt miserable when Sasuke was too. The group then waited for their sensei, who was late. The sensei eventually arrived, Hatake Kakashi, who appeared to have a rather droll personality, being unimpressed with his new squad.
Naruto has a large number of characters, most of whom are ninjas. They initially study at the Ninja Academy, where the story begins, are split up into squads of three after their graduation and become Genin, rookie ninja. Each squad is assigned an experienced sensei. These core squads form a basis for the characters' interactions later in the series, where characters are chosen for missions for their team's strength and complementary skills; Naruto's squad 7 becomes the social frame where Naruto is acquainted with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and their sensei Kakashi Hatake, forming the core of his world-in-the-making. The other three-man teams of his former classmates form another such layer, as Naruto connects with them to various degrees, learning of their motives, vulnerabilities, and aspirations. The groups of three are not limited to the comrades Naruto's age – groups in the story in general come in threes and multiples of three.
