Altered Destiny Ch 1: Prologue
"There he is!" One voice shouted angrily, the sounds of multiple footsteps picking up their pace from a jog to a full sprint. The one being chased was a small boy no more than ten years of age; you would think that a boy this young and running from his life would wear an expression of fear and panic but instead there was a flicker of resentment reflected in his eyes. The feelings within this boy's heart would ultimately shape him, for better or for worse. After a quick turn and left and a sharp right the boy found himself staring at a dead end, he felt tears began forming but he didn't care, he was numb.
"Why do they hate me? Am I really a monster?!"
The boy said aloud, his body shaking as he slammed his fist into the surface of the wall that blocked him from his safety and salvation.
"Thought you could run from us huh? Well now we have you cornered Naruto, you little devil!"
A voice shouted from behind the boy labeled Naruto, who turned around only to be struck in the center of his face with the blunt end of a metal shovel. As Naruto hit the ground the rest of the mob of angry villagers charged at him, the rest of the memory was a blur of agonizing pain and crimson red like the blood that spilt from his body, the next thing he knew the boy was surrounded by water and suffocating and then nothing; only darkness.
After what felt like an eternity Naruto could breathe normally and he felt strangely warm… But nobody in this world had ever offered him kindness so there was only one conclusion, he was dead and now he was about to be guided to the afterlife…
"Oh? Are you awake? I was wondering when you would wake up."
Naruto managed to open his eyes, his vision slowly coming into to focus and what sight lied before him took him by surprise. The most beautiful girl Naruto had ever seen was smiling at him; she had the prettiest short hair with a shade that could only be described as lavender, her eyes appeared white are almost transparent and she wore a simple blue Kimono dress.
"You're an angel so I must be in heaven…"
Naruto stammered out, the blood loss appearing to be affecting his ability to properly form a thought. The girl's cheeks blushed at the boy's comment but appeared to take great pride in the compliment.
"I assure you I'm no angel; I'm human just like you. And my name is Hinata. You're in my secret hide out right now, so we're still in the village. Now you rest up and I'll find us something to eat!"
Before Naruto could even respond she was gone, and he began to ponder her words. This girl Hinata had called him human and showed him nothing but kindness, but if that was the true why did the villagers believed him to be evil? Each time Naruto thought he was close to an answer, more questions arose. All his life Naruto had been alone; nobody had ever been there for him.
"So why now?"
Naruto spoke aloud, lost in thought as he began to observe his surroundings; he was in a square room approximately 5x8 Ft. with multiple posters of Fire Country celebrities and famous Shinobi. There was a frame with the picture of an older woman who Naruto guessed to be Hinata's mother due to the strikingly similar facial features. The frame and picture stood atop a night stand placed on the left side of the bed, the other side had a small window that rose a little further up than Naruto imagined it would with the window just barely at level with the ground; Naruto guessed this hide out of Hinata's was some sort of basement area.
As Naruto motioned to rise from bed he felt his body a little restricted around the joints so he peeled the sheet that covered his body to find bandages carefully placed on the various cuts, bruises and what felt like broken bones. Had this Hinata girl patched him up because of kindness or did she have an ulterior motive? Regardless of any remnants of suspicion, Naruto had concluded if Hinata had wanted to kill him all she had to do was allow him to die.
A few minutes later the door opened and Hinata came inside the room, walking down the three short wooden steps that led into the room carrying a basket full of sandwiches; smiling wide she walked in and set the basket down on the night stand next to the Futon Naruto had been resting on.
"I wasn't sure how hungry you were, I brought plenty so feel free to eat whatever you want."
Hinata said, beaming as she herself grabbed one of the sandwiches and began eating. Naruto looked down at his hands as a fleeting sensation took hold of him and warmth filled his body, gathering courage he reached out and took a sandwich. As Naruto took a big bite of this food gifted to him he couldn't help but wonder…
Is this what having a friend feels like?
Ever since that day me and Hinata were inseparable, the very closest of friends. Hinata showed me the light where I only saw darkness…
