Konoha- Winter

The cold was worse than Naruto could have expected. A blizzard had come to settle on the city, and the seven year old was struggling to make his way to the Hokage's Tower. His apartment had no defense against a blizzard of this magnitude, so he sought help from the only person who would give it. Unfortunately, the Tower was at least a ten minute walk, and in this weather, he understood that ten minutes he was out was borrowed time.

He clutched his coat tighter than ever, but it was old and worn, and served him little good. As the strong winds pounded snow and ice into his face, the boy had lost his bearings, and panic was taking hold. He needed to get out of this weather and rest a little bit. Shapes were dark and foreign, building shrouded by haze, and lights tiny fireflies that disappeared all to quickly.

But by sheer luck, Naruto found his way to an alleyway and slumped his back against the wall, his breath coming in ragged gasps, and his lungs stinging as they expanded. With the roar of the wind deafening his ears and the snow nullifying anything farther than five feet away, the boy never noticed a large man in tattered clothes approach him and stand right in front of him.

Just as Naruto noticed his presence, the man picked him up and held him at eye level by the scruff of his collar. His breath reeked of alcohol. Naruto's frightened blue eyes met the cold black abyss of the other man's. Hatred he saw, yes, but also a tiny bit of fear, yet the child knew not what it was from. Without warning or speaking, the man threw Naruto into the opposite wall, where he crashed into the garbage cans.

Surely the noise would draw someones attention, Naruto reasoned. But with the blizzard's howling, that was unlikely. His only chance was to run. When he started off, running to the safety of the cloud of haze, however, the man grabbed him and threw him again into a wall. Before he could even stand, Naruto was straddled by the drunk, who proceeded to punch Naruto over and over. Blood stained the white snow, and his tears made it silver. Still the man didn't stop. Finally he stood, but just when Naruto thought he was spared, a heavy boot collided with his ribs. Pain. He screamed, and the drunk put his hand's to Naruto's throat. Weak as he was, Naruto struggled, kicking, biting and scratching at the man. The world swooned, everything going an unnatural black. Yet when Naruto had resigned himself to his fate, a yellow light broke through, pointing at the man. A far off voice yelled "Hey!", and the man was gone.

The light grew in brightness, and everything started to come into focus. Then the light was shined right into his eyes, and Naruto thanked what ever eternal beings where beyond the world. To his horror, though, the light turned away and left him in the alley.

Leaving me to die, Naruto understood.

For a while, Naruto was unable to move.

The cold became inviting and peaceful, not a biting force of fury.

The roar was a serenade of the angels, not a monster howling in fury as it grabbed at his warmth.

This was peaceful.

Just a few minutes of sleep. I'll shut my eyes for a minute, then I'll go to the Hokage's.

Just a minutes rest... A smile, meek and small, spread across his face.

Just a few minutes, he thought again as the blackness from before closed around him yet again.

Just a few...

The darkness took him, swallowing him up, dragging him down to a place he had seen many times before, but had never

gone. His body hung limp in a vast room of black, a small light like the one from before shining down on him. It was completely quiet.

Naruto.. Naruto..

A woman's voice. It was sweet, but it wasn't coming from where he was. Somewhere different. But where? This place was vast, infinite even. Where?

Naruto...

It called to him again.

Wake up, Naruto...

Just a few more minutes.

This place is peaceful.

I like it here.

No Naruto, you shouldn't't be here.

Wake up!

Wake up, Naruto!

Why? So peaceful...

Naruto, wake up, or you will die!

Wake up!

NARUTO!!!

NNAARRUUTTOO!!!!!!

The screams woke him up. He had to get to safety. Struggling to get up, he lurched at the best form of shelter he saw. Under a brick building, a small cave like hole, protected, though poorly, by wooden stakes. He slipped through, but his scarf caught on a wooden guard. With a final lurch, Naruto fell through, the scarf caught on the beam, flapping madly in the wind, a bizarre flag, the only sign to his presence.

In what he assumed to be the basement of the building, he landed on his back and rolled due to the uneven ground a few feet, coming to rest at a wooden shelf with several heavy floor rugs rolled up. Using the last of his energy, Naruto grabbed several of the rugs and urolled them, and placed them on the ground and then over himself, snuggled tightly against them, a lost to the blackness of sleep.

Well done, Naruto, the voice crooned to him, well done.