5 years

The form of a small child walking down the street was the very depiction of dejection. Head bowed low until his chin met his chest, he looked up not once at all the faces that turned in his direction. Which could be considered a good thing for not every expression was one of concern nor was any of them friendly.

He remained in this manner until he reached one of the training grounds. The area was, thankfully, bereft of any of the older ninjas that usually used this area to train. Seeing this, the little blond was relieved. None of the ninjas liked him, either, and would either show him their contempt by chasing him away or 'accidentally' throwing a kunai in his direction. He always got away in time but that didn't make their dislike of him sting any less. Those ninja he never saw again. That they would abandon the area in a desperate hope to be away from him was somehow worse than being totally ignored or glared at.

He moved from his hiding place and out into the open where he sat on the ground under the darkening sky.

The sun was setting in the distance, so the sky was a mixture of pretty reds, pinks, and oranges. However, not even this pretty sight could hope to brighten his mood like previous other days.

Jiji had declined his request to be enrolled in the Academy again.

He couldn't say he was surprised. He'd been asking for a long time now, but every single time the old man wouldn't give in to his pleas. He didn't know why. When asked, the old man would simply say he was too young or that he was not yet ready. The excuses changed all the time. This time it was to 'keep him safe.' Keep him safe from what? He didn't understand.

He sighed and threw a rock in the direction of the tree line. "Stupid Jiji."

"You seem to be in a bad mood. What is the matter, child?"

Naruto jumped at the sudden voice. He had thought he was alone. Fear clung to him. Was it one of the older ninjas? Why had they come back? Did they forget something? His head swung around, trying to catch sight of the voice's owner on the grounds, but saw nothing. He began to tremble.

"Down here."

Naruto looked down and gasped. On the ground in front of him was the prettiest snake he had ever seen. Scales as white as snow, it reflected the color of the setting sun, glittering orange and red with the dying light. Golden eyes glittered up at him as a black tongue slithered in and out of diamond white lips.

"Pretty..." Naruto breathed.

The snake chuckled and bowed its head in gratitude. "Why, thank you."

Blue eyes blinked as the child registered that the voice and words that he had been hearing all along belonged to the snake. He gasped loudly and rudely shoved his finger to point at it. "You can talk!"

There was just the barest hint of amusement in its tone as the snake responded, "Yes. Yes, I can." It then slithered closer. "Now what is the matter? You seemed awfully sad, little one."

At the question, the surprise drained from the boy's face as fast as it had come. Sadness filled him once more as the memories of earlier this afternoon came back to him. Head dipped once again, he plopped back onto the ground, having stood to see who had spoken to him.

"Jiji says I'm too young to join the Ninja Academy."

"Oh? And why is that, you seem like a capable boy."

"That's what I told him, too!" Naruto said, throwing his hands in the air. Not the 'capapable' part, but he had said something along those lines! "But he doesn't think I'm strong enough." Another rock joined the first at the base of the tree, following the upset grumble of the young boy.

"You seem to care what this Jiji thinks of you."

"Well, he's the only one who's ever cared about me…"

"Oh? Do you not have any parents?"

"If I did, I don't know them," Naruto said softly, depressed as he remembered just how lonely he was. "Jiji said they died when I was born."

"I see," The snake touched its nose to his ankle and Naruto shivered at the coolness of its scales on his skin. Despite the snake's temperature, however, there was somehow an exchanging of warmth through the simple touch. "I lost my parents, too."

"Really?" Naruto perked, giving the snake what could be considered a hopeful expression. The other orphans at the orphanage had lost their parents, too, but they all treated him as badly as the adults. This snake, at least, gave him attention and didn't try to bite him.

Yet.

"Why, yes. When I was born."

"Me, too!" Naruto threw himself on the ground to lie in front the snake who was surprised at the action and moved before it could get squashed beneath the larger body. Naruto let his chin fall on the palms of his hands as he kicked his feet in the air behind him. "See, that's why I want to become a ninja! So I can protect my friends! Just like Jiji!"

"Sounds like a strong man."

"Are you kidding! He's the Hokage! He's the strongest ninja in the whole village! And maybe the whole world!" Flailing his limbs, the young child nearly hit the snake who managed to duck in time. Not noticing the near miss for the second time, Naruto merely clenched his fist and brought it to his face, determination flaring in large blue eyes. "And I'll be the one to take his hat from him when I become a ninja."

The snake nodded its head. "Ambition. That is good. I'm sure with the right push you will become the Hokage one day."

"You mean it?"

"Of course. Determination makes a strong person out of even the weakest of men."

"Hey! I'm not weak!"

"I never said you were."

"Oh," sheepishly, the boy scratched the back of his head. "Well, I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but you're really nice, Mr. Snake. Can I call you Mr. Snake? Do you have a name?"

"You may call me," the snake said, coiling around the boy's outstretched hand. Naruto was ready this time, so he didn't shiver at the coldness of the snake's scales on his skin and kept perfectly still until the serpent was settled comfortably on his shoulders.

"Hakuja."

"Hello, Hakuja-san. My name's Naruto. Will you be my friend?"

The snake blinked, but on one side of its face, it looked like a wink to Naruto.

"I would be delighted, Naruto."

prologue end.

Futayo: well, that's it for the prologue. i was gonna add more, but i felt like that was the best place to stop for now. even though it wars inside me to add more, i'll have to resist. i really wanna know your thoughts on this chapter, though, because i have too much of them in my own head to think clearly at the moment. mostly how i want the scene to extend from there, yada yada.

i'm assuming you all know where i'm heading with this, but just in case not, i'll explain my reason for making this fic in the next chapter... which will probably not be soon, because of school and all (i'm in my last semester of college 8D), but i just needed this up there. i was too excited not to share this everyone. if you see any grammar issues, please let me know. i went over this chapter so many frigging times i was getting sick of seeing it. also, i have no title for this story as yet. if you have any ideas, i would gladly hear it. i may not be actively on fanfic but you can pm me anytime.

see you soon~