Disclaimer: Naruto, character, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Masashi Kishimoto and Weekly Shōnen Jump. Naruto Publishing Rights © Shueisha. I do not make any $$$ from the publishing of this story to any website.
A/N: This story is written with Mobile and "1/2 Margin on Full Screen Desktop mode" format in mind-otherwise the paragraphs will feel small.
The End is Where We Begin
Deep within the dense forest of a hidden mountain valley, the heavy songs of war raged as the sound of clashing metal echoed around the thick trees. The early morning air was chilly from the cool night. It was calm and filled with a sickening smell of blood and smoke. Throughout the valley, the earth was torn asunder, clearings were scorched bare and littered with the dead. One such peaceful clearing now tainted with a thick miasma of malice, will forever be known for the blood that soak the dirt beneath. As the soft oranges and rich reds of the early morning sun broke through the dark blues of night, a small bird fluttered into the clearing from it's hidden nest. The smooth dark feathers shimmered gently against the soft light as the creature investigated the aftermath of carnage. Within moments, it was joined by brothers and sisters, as they awoke to the inviting feast before them and all of it's temptations. The small bird leaped from body to body, plucking at the bits of torn flesh and ripped muscle, gorging itself on the delicious meal of death as it moved along. As it came to a rest on the chest of a mangled corpse, the small bird plucked at the exposed muscle surrounding an empty eye socket.
The sharp inhale of air and labored breath frightened the carrion and it quickly took flight. The easy meal was still alive. With a push of it's wings, the bird lifted from the chest of the aged man and circled over-head while it kept a sharp eye on the meal. A sharp cry of protest from the small bird drew the attention of the man. A single dimming cerulean blue eye followed the movement of the creature overhead before looking past it at the heavens beyond. His mind was cloudy, and his chest felt tighter with every breath. He reached his left arm upwards, the remains of a broken Kunai grasped in his hand and pointing it skywards. It was his challenge to a fight he could never hope to win.
The grizzled man knew that the heavens would never accept him. Not for the atrocities he had committed in his lifetime. They have tainted his soul in filthy ways. It was the thought of spending an eternity of tortured existence, suffering for crimes and answering for sins that compelled the man to beg for forgiveness. He had sworn duty to his village as a soldier, to his nation as a citizen, and to himself as a person. The crimes he had committed in the name of his village, were spurred by the constant threat of war. There must be some forgiveness, right? For protecting the way of life of others and committing sins that left him with regret all of his life, right?
His body felt heavy as his last remaining strength began to fade and his outstretched arm fell heavy against the cool stone beneath him. The broken Kunai slipped from his grasp and clattered against the rough surface of the stone. Another implement of war that would be lost and forgotten with time. A single tear collected at the corner of his eye and started to roll down across the coarse whiskers of his cheeks. The man understood that his time left was short, even if by some miracle he could be recovered. This was the end of his story. The small black bird above him was a sign that the end came near. With it, the end of a lifetime of war and killing.
He slowly drifted and his consciousness began to fade; the songs of war echoed in the far distance. A calm and inviting chill settled over the his body and his hand relaxed where it rested. A soft smile broke through the dried blood and grime that marred his face. A row of sharpened fangs catch the light of the morning sun one last time before he is gone.
A/n: Well, after a bit of a hiatus, here is a new story. I felt like trying something different than what I normally write. Unfortunately, the means my other story will continue to be on hiatus until I no longer feel burned out.