Author's Note:
This is my first story, so input is appreciated! This story is rated T for a reason, as it will contain abuse, language, and violence- reader beware!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its ideas! The only content belonging to me are the OCs.
Within the bustling Ninja village of Konohagakure, behind a humble shop long since closed, three boys surrounded a beaten figure lying sprawled on the ground, shadowed by the sun setting behind the abandoned building.
The bruised and bloody boy remained dignified under the inflicted pain, holding strong in his objective to protect the subject of their ire.
His resolve was steadfast, even as one of the three delivered a crushing kick to his ribcage, eliciting a pained grunt he could not contain behind his gnashed teeth.
"Really? You'd really rather get the life beat out of you than let us get that little blond nuisance?"
Another boy sneered.
"How disgusting!"
The final one taunted, delivering another kick, but the boy silently endured the abuse.
"C'mon, let's leave the Freak to bleed. He can keep the nuisance if he wants; there are much more fun things to do."
The first one grunted, and with grumbles, the other two followed him away.
"What a sorry little Freak. They will probably just get killed off before they make Chuunin, anyway…"
One of them commented before they left his earshot, but the suffering boy continued to lie still long after they were gone.
Catching his breath, the boy gingerly sat up, wincing silently at the sharp twinge in his limbs.
They had spent a good hour trying to break him, to get him to tell them where he hid the blond that they were searching for.
He was barely five years old; his raggedy hair was a few inches long and jet black with the occasional streak of vivid violet, his eyes a luminescent orange, skin pale.
Underneath the black cloth and wire-mesh mask obscuring the lower half of his face, his bottom lip was split, cheek bruised, and his left eye was black and swollen.
He wore violet-embroidered knee-length battle robes over a black tunic, heavy pants, and black combat boots, although the front of his clothing was dappled with droplets of blood it did well hiding the many bruises he was now sporting as he gingerly crawled to the empty half-smashed pile of crates.
Cautiously, ignoring the flare of pain from movement, he crumbled up an inconspicuous slip of paper and released the weak seal with a pulse of Chakra.
"It's okay, you can come out now."
After a long moment a head of shocking blond popped out of the pile of crates previously hidden by the seal.
Worried ocean-blue eyes zeroed in on his injuries before the blond, wearing a simple white suit with green trim and a hood, slipped completely out of his hiding spot and ran to his side.
The worried blond was obviously an orphan and about four years his senior, but that didn't stop a pand of outrage that the other kids would pick on someone they percieved as weaker.
"Are you okay?"
The orphan cried out, eyes watering, lip quivering, and a horrified expression on his pudgy face.
He couldn't help it.
He burst out into a fit of giggles, bewildering the blond for a few very short moments before he broke off with a wheeze, clutching his ribs.
"S-sorry,"
He spluttered but the bright grin hidden by his mask remained, if a little bloody; although he was sure he swallowed a previously loose baby tooth from one of the nastier blows.
"Your expression is really funny."
The orphan looked confused by the younger kid, who was smiling judging by the half-moon shape of his eyes.
"You shouldn't be laughing. You got hurt because of me!"
The younger one's grin became a genuine smile.
"It was nothing really; I've had worse! I'm just happy I could help you."
His smile then faded, and he looked the blond over with a critical eye.
His expression darkened, smoldering with righteous fury behind his usually jovial mask when he saw the damage done to the blond before he saw the other kid's plight and tried to help.
The orphan was sporting a few nasty bruises, and something about the now somewhat awed look rubbed him the wrong way.
"Never mind me, I know my limits. Are you alright?"
The blond nodded fervently.
"Yeah, thanks to you. I appreciate your help…"
The orphan trailed off with a question, gratitude in his tone.
"Kurotenshi Cogura. It's no problem."
He said with an enthusiastic nod, wiping away a trail of the blood from a cut on his eyebrow while the blond smiled hesitantly.
"My name is Namikaze Minato… Ano, not that I'm not grateful, but… Why'd you help me?"
The orphan asked almost hesitantly as blue eyes met orange.
The younger one shrugged, shifting into a sitting position.
"I've known those scoundrels since as long as I can remember. They've never shown any kindness, and I'm not going to let them harm someone who's not going to fight back… Especially if I can help it."
They stared evenly at each other for a few long moments until Minato sucked in a breath.
"Then why didn't you fight back? You risked yourself to protect me, even- well, even if you don't know me…?"
Cogura gave only the slightest of nods.
"I won't let them have the satisfaction of fighting me, and besides; you're alive and you feel pain, don't you? So why should I stand back and watch them hurt anybody if I can help it?"
He looked into the other's gaze while he spoke, resolve glimmering in the orange depths much like the righteous fury had only a minute ago.
Minato watched the other boy gingerly get to his feet, curiosity in his eyes while he absently rubbed his bruised cheek.
"If they mess with you again, find me and I'll set them straight."
He growled, holding a hand to the blond; although his vicious smirk was hidden from view, his eyes danced with a protective but good-natured spark.
The orphan, beaming with excitement, took the offered hand and let the other boy pull him to his feet.
"So,"
Cogura began nonchalantly.
His hands blurred into motion, rapidly forming hand seals under Minato's widening eyes.
"You attend the Ninja academy, ne? I believe I have seen you around. They say you're a prodigy,"
The blond nodded eagerly with a bright smile, realization sparking in his expression when he put two and two together.
"Hai! Now that I think of it, I've seen you there as well- you're the youngest student in the academy and top of the class too, if I remember right."
The noirette grinned privately, ending the hand seals with a green light glowing from his palms.
"Hai,"
He said with a proud lilt in his voice, watching the orphan's amazed expression while the bruises disappeared under his Mystical Palm Jutsu.
Chewing his lip in concentration and feeling a small drain on his chakra, he let the green light die out when the last of the marks were gone.
"Whoa..."
Minato gasped, poking the skin where one of the worst bruises had been.
"Not too bad,"
He said proudly, amused by the blonde's antics.
"You're five years old and you can do medical Jutsu already?"
Minato squeaked.
Cogura nodded proudly, but after a heartbeat his smile died out when his eyes wandered to the sinking sun.
"I have to go home."
"…Oh."
He looked back up at the deflated blond, and he offered a cheerful eye smile.
"Tomorrow we get assigned Genin teams. I will see you there, right Minato-kun?"
Like the flip of a switch the orphan cheered up.
"Of course, Kurotenshi-san!"
The purple-black Ninja-in-training immediately scowled at the honorific.
"Just Cogura is fine."
The blond shook his head in childish refusal.
"I can't do that, Kurotenshi-san."
The five-year-olds scowl deepened.
"I don't like you calling me that!"
He warned, ensued by a long and intense staring match, but after a few moments the blond relented.
"Very well then, Cogura-san,"
The younger ninja sighed, having to remind himself that he didn't have the time to spend arguing.
"I guess that's a bit better… I will see you tomorrow, Minato-baka. Ja ne,"
The boy waved over his shoulder, limping away from the encounter.
"Ja ne!"
He smirked at the shout that followed him, pride and happiness bubbling in his chest despite the pain caused by a movement as simple as walking.
He had made his first non-Clan friend.
During the trek home the little ninja's smile became more strained, his form tensing at every step he got closer to the unsteady old house he lived in.
Muscles tensed as coiled wires he slowly approached the cracked front window and cautiously slipped inside, feet silent as he closed the window and shut the curtains.
The main room had an old traditional table with worn cushions and an old, worn couch and arm chair.
Quickly darting across the now-dark space he slipped inside a door just past the rickety kitchen.
It was a small closet occupied by a tatami mat and a small desk laden with a few material objects, and what Cogura called- quite proudly, mind you- his own space.
Laying down on the mat he bundled up, hoping that neither parent noticed his late arrival.
At a small sound the boy stirred, blinking blearily at the crack below his door.
The golden sunlight slipped underneath, and with a groan he sat up, inspecting his injuries from the day before.
A few hand seals and Chakra usage later his pale skin was once again flawless.
The ninja-in-training gingerly prodded his previously bruised ribs, sitting up rigid when he heard a faint muffled snore.
Dread sunk its claws into his heart- he's back already? - But in a show of bravado, he stood on silent feet and slid open the door.
The large form of a Koga- his father- lay sprawled on the couch, clad in a larger form of the boy's ninja garb.
The boy's nose wrinkled at the reek of alcohol, scowling at the empty sake bottle still clutched in the man's loose hand.
Pulling every trick in the book he knew, he forced himself to calm until his breathing was silent even at its rapid pace.
His sunset-orange eyes darted around all corners of the stale room, sharp hearing picking up muffled crying all but drowned by Koga's snores.
Cold sweat dappled his brow and with a prayer, he let his training guide his feet to sneak around the sleeping Nin without waking him up.
That would most definitely be Very Bad.
Placing his feet light as a feather, the young ninja silently and slowly inched his way a single silent footstep at a time past the couch where the man slumbered.
The stifled crying was louder now that he was close to the bedroom door, and with bated breath he pushed it open just enough to squeeze into the room.
He froze halfway through at the sounds of Koga stirring.
A long moment of dread and fear pumped adrenaline through his veins, but when the snoring resumed his shoulders nearly shook with relief.
Stepping in and closing the door, he felt something absolutely dark and awful twist in his chest when he saw Sayo curled up by the bed, dark blotches on her tear-streaked face.
"Kaa-san?"
He whispered, crouching in front of her, worry and concern further fraying his ragged nerves when he saw the marks of a beating, and her shocked orange eyes opened.
"Oh, Cogura-kun... Gomenasai, you shouldn't have to see me like this,"
She cried softly, pulling him into a weak and shaky hug.
His expression hardened into something bitter.
"He got drunk again,"
Cogura stated in a growl, returning the embrace, orange eyes shining with frustration.
"It's not your fault."
He let her cry into his shoulder until she was recovered enough to pull away and present him with a watery smile that looked out of place on her swollen, bruised face.
Her orange eyes were worryingly absent while she carded her fingers through his hair.
"Kaa-san, please let me heal you."
She shook her head, smiling tearfully, and he was left in disappointment; she always refused.
"I need some more flour,"
She murmured to break the silence, sniffling, she took his hands and cupped them together, reaching on the nightstand and placing a coin purse in his palms.
"Don't you have class at the academy? You must hurry along… We have a big day at the bakery tomorrow, can you fetch two sacks for me on the way back please?"
He may be young, but he understood exactly the silent words behind her fake-bright smile.
Please, don't be here when Koga wakes up.
"… Of course,"
He murmured, uncertainty and disbelief coloring his voice, worry distorting his expression.
Her smile became regretful but she kissed his forehead in reassurance anyway, wiping her tears when she pulled away.
"Have a good day, Cogura-kun. I want to hear about how you did when you get back."
With one more glance over his shoulder, the boy opened a window and vaulted onto the street.
He immediately broke into a run, easily weaving through any civilians while his feet carried him to the Ninja academy.
His orange eyes were downcast, fighting back the dread that threatened to quench his usual exuberant smile.
He knew all too well by now that if Koga woke up in a foul mood, Sayo would be the only one there.
Harshly clamping down on his dread and locking away the negative emotion, his feet continued to move him.
When the building was in sight the young ninja tucked the coin purse into the inner pocket of his vest, and he pointedly kept his head down until he entered the building.
The room was full of excitedly chattering children, and with light feet he slipped by the crowd and settled in his usual seat in the upper left corner.
His orange eyes scanned over the heads of the class, and he smirked at a flash of blond among the crowd.
Minato's sky-blue eyes met his own, and the blond smiled and waved in a friendly manner that he easily returned with a genuine eye-smile.
He was glad the orphan was doing alright after the episode yesterday.
"Ohayou, Cogura-kun."
He jumped, turning to face the kid taking a seat next to him.
"Oh- ohayou, Kazemi-kun!"
He returned with an energetic wave.
Kazemi snorted at him in exasperation.
The boy is a few years older than him with olive-tinted skin, dark eyes, and long black hair in a low tail dressed in a traditional shihakusho, and he was one of the few in their class that the noirette liked.
The teacher walked in yawning, glazed eyes skimming over the classroom, sparing a short mumbled speech about becoming a Konoha Nin.
Valiantly beating back the voice of boredom asking if he could count eternity, Cogura sat straighter when the lazy teacher cleared his throat to address business and one by one names were called out, the teams were assigned, and he remained studiously still and silent in his seat to wait his turn.
"… Koichi Kazemi,"
Smiling with amusement he watched his olive-skinned acquaintance become ramrod straight out of the corner of his eye.
"… Namikaze Minato,"
He saw the blonde's head swivel in attempt to search for his new teammate.
"… And Kurotenshi Cogura."
His own eyes widened in disbelief, meeting incredulous black and excited blue orbs.
"Your Jounin Sensei is Jiraiya."
Cogura swore all the blood drained from his face.