Alright, this is my first (lousy) attempt at doing a story in world of Naruto. I know A LOT of people have done this type of thing before, but I was still obligated to do this kind of thing ever since i got into the series. Of course, things are going to be done differently, but I would still like to add as much of the material that the author has used to help bring in the story aspects and character development that the series is known for. So here I go, wish me luck and I hope that I have at least some people read this decent (LOUSY) piece of fiction. I do not own the contents of Naruto or claim ownership of anything it uses.
Here are some notes:
1. Each chapter is going to be a POV chapter of specific characters. At the beginning of each one says the name of who is going to have their little adventure going on from start to finish.
2. This IS an alternate take of the story, but still being consistent with the actual series. So expect some things being similar to what you've seen, but handled just a littleeeeeee differently.
3. I'm an amateur storyteller and writer, so at least forgive me for trying. If there are any suggestions, I would love to hear from messages for critiquing.
4. Have fun!
REASON TO LIVE
Prologue
NARUTO UZUMAKI
Today was just like the others. Waking up to the sound of my small, cheap alarm clock to the ugly feeling of getting out of bed. The skies outside my window had a grayish tint to it, giving it an almost hollow appearance. The floorboards beneath my feet still creaking with each step I take to exit the emptiness that is my bedroom. Even with the drawer full of clothes, the half-destroyed bed, blankets luckily made of some decent cotton and polyester, and even with the mirror I had stolen from the trash heap yesterday, it still wasn't as bad as it could've been.
Ever since I was little, I never really had anyone to take care of me. No parents, no aunts or uncles, no cousins. Everything I have done to this day, I have done on my own. I had learned how to take care of myself by staying at an abandoned apartment complex somewhere in the outskirts of Konoha, the Hidden Leaf Village. There were still some backup generators inside this place that were working fine, so I could use all the electricity in this building as I wanted. However, there was only one place I wanted to stay at. Room 507 was the only one at the highest floor of this building that had a balcony to where I could have a nice view over the whole village.
The room was very destroyed when I had found it; I was five at the time, which was a year ago, I think. I was running away from a couple who claimed I looked at their little boy as though I wanted to kill him. The father brought something shiny and sharp out of his pocket. I think it was a knife, for I remember getting some cuts from an angry adult before with that. Him - along his wife - chased me down through some street blocks when I took cover in that empty complex. Catching my breath from using the strength of my tiny legs, I looked around the building and found the room I am currently living in.
Before that, I only knew the comfort of hard ground and muddy puddles as a sleeping spot instead of a nice bed like the other kids. The clothes I had stolen from a nearby clothe line were the only ones I could grab. Food and drinks were hard to come by, and I don't remember having that much when I younger. I probably only settled with some filthy soda cans or settling on scraps leftover of a drunk businessman's plate when he wasn't looking. Over time, I was able to collect enough items such as an old cooler and blankets that I tried my best to keep clean over the past few months. Even though I'm still really young, I think I've done a good job so far.
Normally, someone would probably be very sick from such difficult living conditions. For some reason, I wasn't. I managed to get by despite how hard times were. I guess that is what I call my "luck" that I was able to get through the day with so much pain and hardships. Getting by with very little money that the 3rd Hokage gave me wasn't as tough as you would think. Even though the Hokage was the most busiest person in the whole village, he once in a while was able to catch up and try to do something to help me such as giving me very small amounts of currency to buy food for a month. I guess being the strongest shinobi in the whole village and being respected by everyone, he kind of has to show me some kind of... sympathy, I think they call it. He was never around long enough to ask me how things were going, nor did he decide it was best to have anyone else do his tasks. He kept on telling me "It's for the best for now. You will find out when you get older."
And just like the other days, I wouldn't be able to use any of money I had gotten to support myself. Today I had gotten to the store to buy some water for my apartment room. The cashier was furious to see me walk up to the counter. He went over the desk and tossed me out as far as he could back into the streets outside. He grabbed his own bottle of water he was drinking and spilt it all over to me and the ground between us. He yelled out to me "Never come here for water again, you bastard!" and threw the bottle at me. Again, this was just like all the other times I had ever gotten to a store.
The only other store I could possibly go to was "Ichiraku Ramen" further down some blocks from where I lived. There were times I would go there and "borrow" some ramen noodles from the store manager while he had it out for himself when he wasn't looking. But even that didn't turn out as well as I expected. Just as I had gotten there, the entire building was burnt down to the ground. At first I thought it was some sort of kitchen fire that went on inside and it was an accident. But apparently the folks outside the small restaurant were whispering to each other, saying some strange things.
"I hear the demon comes here to pilfer some of these people's poor food" one woman told her friend.
"Well, whoever did this is a hero in my book. Anyone that stops that 'thing' from taking care of itself is someone I'd buy drinks all around!" a man yelled out to the top of his voice.
I had wondered what they had meant. Hmm, maybe I'll figure it out someday.
With my stomach and throat still empty from going through more days without anything to eat or drink, I went to one of Konoha's clearest lakes. I never knew the name of it, but I always did know where to find it. I dropped my filthy head down into the clean water, drinking and drinking as much as I could until I started to get full. It wasn't the best way to take care of myself through the day, but it was better than nothing.
Unfortunately, I had changed my mind soon after when someone grabbed the back of my head with their hand and kept me under for several seconds. As much as I tried to get out for air, it was only for a second to regain back that air before the person doing this to me did it again. My heart racing, I began to wonder who would do such a thing. Just when I thought my life would be over then and there, the grip on my head nowhere there. Maybe someone has come to save me? I had to see it for myself...
Getting my head back up, I tried to catch my breath slowly with my face drenched in water. Looking back, I saw that it was that same store clerk who threw me out of his shop. He had two other guys standing behind him with their arms crossed, an almost creepy look on their faces as they smiled over what just happened. One of them said to his "friend" next to him "Hey, man, I think he hasn't had enough water! I guess he must be really thirsty like you said he was!"
"Naw, man, that little bastard has had enough for one week. Keep giving him more, and he'll come at you like a horny dog. Besides, I don't want any trouble from those damn shinobi that might be watching us." he said back with excitement to the other two.
"Besides, I'm sure there is someone out there who prob wants to kill this kid more than us sooner or later. Let's go some of your beer back at the shop!"
And just like that, they walked away. As if nothing had happened. Why do they keep doing all of this to me? I haven't hurt anyone before in my life. I only stole to help fend for myself, but never from those who deserve "happiness" - if I can even relate to the meaning of that word. I never picked on any of the other children, and I don't see them get hurt as much as me. I stay away in an almost dark building all day so that I do not trouble the grown-ups. So why me?
I got up on my tiny little feet as I walked away from the lake to where I almost died at. The sun was setting tonight, and it was probably for the best I get back home before anyone else tries to hurt me again. I didn't want to waste my spare ramen noodles at home, but if I didn't eat anything tonight, I don't know what else I could do. But there was one place I wanted to visit before I headed back home. Now that I think about it, it was probably 4 days since I last went there.
After what seemed forever, I made it to the park I always go to whenever the day got rough. The seesaws, the swing sets... Everything I needed was here. And good thing too, for I could have it all to myself. No other children or parents were here to ruin this for me. It was nice and quiet, something I've always been used to when I'm alone. Yet no matter how many times I would swing over my favorite spot over and over again, or no matter how much I would go down the slide, I could never forget the horrible thoughts that would come when I was done.
There would still be no one I could talk to about all of this.
Something in my eye was making it hard to see. I brought my hand up to rub them, yet it was still difficult to look at the park. It almost felt a little... wet. I felt this before. This was something I would get every time I would think of my loneliness, or every time I see a lucky kid's parents showing some form of affection. Every freaking time I even thought about it when I was came to this place, the pain was always there.
I was crying. The tears wouldn't stop flowing.
I hated myself so much for feeling like this.
No matter what I could do to try and laugh this off, the damn thoughts wouldn't go away! I wish I had everything they had! I wish I had a home where I wasn't afraid that someone would punch me in my belly over and over again! I wish I had good food that wasn't from the ground! I wish someone could walk up to me and say "It's going to be alright. You're my child." like a loving parent! I wish the children would play with me like all the others!
I wish to be acknowledged as a person... like the Hokage.
"Okay, Mom, I'll get my toys!"
That voice... it sounded so innocent. Who said that?
I looked up after lifting my head into the direction that voice came from. Though my eyes were still watery, I could see someone was standing over the sandbox. She was just as little as I was. Maybe we were the same age. Either way, I had to figure out who she was. I wiped my eyes as fast as I could so I can see her from the swingset. She was all the way on the other side of the park, but I could see very good from here.
She had very pretty pink hair that almost reached her shoulders. Her green eyes were very bright, the sunlight shining into them. She was wearing a blue shirt with yellow pants, and the typical blue sandals that everyone has on. But what really stood out was her big red bow she had tied on top of her hair. It was like putting it on a present for someone to open up. She looked very... cute.
She was looking for something that was probably buried in the sand. After a minute or so, she jumped up in joy as she pulled out a small doll. It was just a regular toy, nothing that made it stand out. If anything, it looked like someone made it on their own with a bunch of needles and cloth. Did she make it?
"Sakura, did you find it yet?" another voice yelled out, sounding much older than the little girl.
Sakura...
"Yes, Mom! I left it out here after all!" she yelled back at her. So she came here to look for her doll. As she was getting ready to leave the park, she stopped for some reason. Turning her head to the left, she looked over to see me sitting by myself. All we did was just stare at each others eyes. My mouth was slightly open as she just watched me. Why was she looking at me, of all people? Does she hate me too?
To my surprise, she had a small smile across her face. And it wasn't like those fake ones that the grown-ups use when they lie and hit me. This one was real. She brought her other hand up that wasn't holding the doll, waving it back and forth a couple times. I think that's what people do when they say hi but don't say the actual word. I was too shocked over what she was doing, I could only bring one of my hands up and repeat what she did. I felt much better than I did earlier. Seeing her do this to me felt... right.
"Sakura Haruno, hurry up or your father will bug us for taking too long!" the voice said as it got the little girl's attention. She yelled out "Coming!" as she was running towards the exit in a hurry. Before she left, she looked back at me in curiosity and smiled again as she was going to see her parent. I wanted to see that pretty smile one more time, but she was gone as she passed through the trees to where I couldn't see her anymore.
There was a strange feeling in my stomach. I couldn't understand what it could be, but I liked it. This was the first time I ever saw someone that I can remember to where I wanted them to look at me. The way she smiled was like from a storybook. The smile wouldn't get out of my head. I was very jealous that the Hokage can even get people like that to respect him for how cool he was. If I could get that kind of attention...
...
That was it!
Maybe if I can become the new Hokage of this village, i could probably get everyone to like me. That way no one will ever hate me again, whether if I do something wrong or not. I will have everyone respect me so much, then I will be remembered forever. If I work hard and train to be the best shinobi in the world, then that girl will be smiling at me over how cool I am. And if she smiles like that again, I won't feel so alone anymore. Letting my body take control, I jumped away from the swings and brought my arms in the air. For the first time since I've woken up, I spoke for the first time and as loud as I ever have in my life.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! I am going to be the Hokage for this village someday! Miss Sakura, I promise to make this dream come true so you can smile like that again!"
Even though I didn't see this coming, this day was definitely not like the others.
Wow, I managed to at least finish the first chapter! Just like the other 3 stories I've done, I really like to read reviews to get everyone's opinions on what I've done so I can have some confidence and suggestions to work with. So please do so and I will update ASAP! Have a great day everyone!
