Disclaimer: All credit for these characters should be given to their rightful creator.
Warning: This fanfiction contains YAOI, which means one or more of the pairings will be boyxboy. Don't like? Don't read. Simple! Flames regarding this matter will be posted and laughed at. Thank you!
This story takes place in an alternative universe, but I will be keeping characters as canon as I can (personally, I do not enjoy OOCs, though I mean no offense to those who do). Enjoy!
Those Who Bleed: Prologue
Konoha, from first glance, seemed to be a city like any other. The average bystander would see the bustling of normal, hard-working citizens as they went about their private business, adhering to routine as they unobtrusively transitioned between responsibilities at work and home. Boisterous shopkeepers argued with competing businesses while shrieking children ran down the streets leaving wary mothers in their wake; all in all, it was the epitome of normalcy.
It was the second glance that revealed the inconsistencies lying in wait beneath the vast surface of its peaceful demeanor. Most notable was the inexplicable amount of damage strewn throughout the city, ranging from cracked walls and broken sign posts to uprooted vegetation. Resembling battle scars and made more prominent by Konoha's otherwise pristine nature, these epicenters of destruction whispered tales of great battles fought by even greater men.
Once this epiphany was made, all others fell in place. The tense strain of muscle of the town's citizens as they scurried down the sidewalk, their unusual reluctance to meet each other's eyes – these abnormalities would remain questionable to any stranger until they, too, were inevitably introduced to its true nature.
For Konoha was no normal city – it was a battleground, one that was used gratuitously by the monsters sleeping within its shadows.
The first confrontation of the night began shortly after sunset. Four males traversed down the sidewalk, each looking every bit like the average citizen except for the dark blue jackets that was donned proudly on their backs. In the center of these articles was a logo that glared out at any who dared laid eyes upon it – it was the mark of the Fan, one of the five factions fighting for dominance over the city.
This faction was led by two of the most feared names in town, uttered only in complete discretion out of fear of incurring their wrath. Itachi Uchiha was the undisputed leader of the group, elevating the Fan to its status of one of the most powerful sects with monstrous strength that could only be matched by his unerring sense for battle. At his side stood his brother Sasuke Uchiha, who was younger in age but remained equal in ambition. Together, these siblings assumed leadership of the faction after the gruesome murder of their parents, and within their capable hands the Fan flourished like never before.
On their way home from a brief visit to the convenience store, these four members may have ended their journey without incident had one of them not stopped to use a nearby restroom. However, this one stop delayed them for a good eight minutes – just enough time to allow the possibility for the incident that was soon to come. As the four finally resumed walking, it took only seconds for them to catch sight of a lone figure heading in their direction, and none failed to notice the unmistakable green of his jacket or the significance of its color.
Green was the color of Leaf, one of the only factions that had the strength to meet Fan head on in battle. Led by Neji Hyuga, a man of unshakable composure that could only be shattered in the most extreme of cases, Leaf was the embodiment of stability and served as an example for all. Much like a mountain which can endure the harsh passage of time, Leaf remained unwavering against all that threatened its legacy, and its members protected it with fervent devotion.
The sight of this opposing faction was enough to instantly stimulate the aggression of the four members of Fan. As if by reflex, the males tensed with teeth bared, adrenaline pumping in their veins. Their restlessness only grew as the identity of the member of Leaf became apparent with his nearing proximity, yet to notice them due to their position in the shadows.
"Yo." One member whispered to another. "Isn't that fuckin' Endo?"
"Endo?" the other sneered. "You mean the asshole who fucked up Yamamoto last week and sent him to the hospital?"
"Yeah." The first male squinted. "I'm sure of it. I'd recognize that ugly mug of his anywhere."
"Well." The third member spoke, cracking his knuckles while his friend kneeled to pick up a metal pipe off the ground. "What do you guys say about returning the favor…with interest?"
It wasn't until later that these four would realize the serious repercussions that their actions would have. Unbeknownst to them, Endo's full name was in fact Endo Akimichi, a direct relative of one of Leaf's highest ranking members. His cousin, Choji Akimichi, worked directly underneath Neji himself and served as both reliable comrade and priceless friend to their capable leader.
This event would be one of many that would catalyze the all-out war between Fan and Leaf that was soon to come. These two factions had always been careful to tip toe around each other, well aware of the mine field planted beneath them and the sharks ever circling, waiting to feast upon their remains, but it was only a matter of time before Konoha would no longer be able to contain the hostility that had threatened to overflow for many years.
The four members fled from the scene, leaving Endo's bloodied corpse behind. His face had been smashed in beyond recognition, his jacket stolen as a trophy, and his assailants returned home oblivious to the severity of the deed they had just performed.
Several other skirmishes occurred that night, but none so significant to note. Fights between members of different sects were of common occurrence and often petty in nature, the majority of them being resolved without having to involve any others. Many of these were between Fan and Sand, notoriously known as the more temperamental sects (an attribute shared by their respective leaders), while Root and Mist remained ever-shrouded in mystery.
There would be one more event this night that would later be instrumental in the power-struggle between these irreconcilable groups. It was the arrival of one man, having been absent for several years, returning to Konoha at last. This man strode through the streets fearlessly as if he had never been gone, his pace unwavering even as he reached the daunting gates of the Hyuga compound which served as Leaf's main base. Several guards rushed him as he approached but he remained undeterred, instead effortlessly climbing the metal bars behind them and flipping over to the other side as if they hadn't been there at all.
In this manner, the male made his way to the front doors with a host of Leaf members trailing behind him, fruitlessly trying to halt his progress through a combination of insults and force. These men would eventually spread stories about this day, comparing their efforts to stop the intruder with a deer trying to change the path of a stampeding elephant. With a grin the male booted the door open with one mighty kick, the sound echoing endlessly through great empty halls.
"Ja jaja jaaaah! Naruto Uzumaki is back, motherfuckers!" he announced, striking a pose.
Thank you for reading! What do you guys think, should I continue?