Scroll Zero: Prologue
War. Its very existence started long since mankind produces weapons. Weapons that were either used to defend them or destroy each other. But war would not last long when Otsotsuki Hagoromo, Sage of the Sixth Path first introduces chakra and the concept of Ninshu to mankind. For many years, peace was finally brought to the whole nation.
Years later, Hagoromo created the Bijuu and name all nine of them. And in that time as well, he name his successor that will carry out his will. His youngest son, Hagoromo Ashura. But, the flame of envy and betrayal left a bitter feeling on the eldest son, Hagoromo Indra. The older brother decided to cut ties with Ashura and declare war on him. To prove he was the right person to lead the world into a better place.
Years after the Sage's passing, mankind that he entrusted with chakra to connect one another through the body and spirit using the concept of Ninshu, weaponized it thus turning the peaceful Ninshu into Ninjutsu, the art of War for the Shinobi.
Many centuries later, The Elemental Nation: Third Great Shinobi War. Location, Land of Rain. The sounds of weapon and explosions clashes everywhere. Dead shinobis litters the ground and the ground itself soaked under the blood of the fallen. This is the Shinobi War. However the main focus of this story does not lies in this war but in four individual involve in the war. Rumors of them in battle spread far and wide but most of all, they spread fear amongst wary shinobi that dare invaded Amegakure.
A single lone young Ame shinobi with bright orange hair stood against a division of Iwa shinobis and now they were experiencing a crushing defeat. The corpses of the fallen were in mummified state and some were even burning. But most of all was his fearsome taijutsu. With a combination of the fearsome Boil Release and Scorch Release, this lone shinobi was destroying them. This shinobi was none other than the Beast of Amegakure, Yahiko of the Amegumi.
Meanwhile, another Amegumi with dark blue hair and a bun tied hair on her side was battling with shinobis from Kumo all the while piercing them with paper spear and living origami soldiers. What follows was a devastating explosion from the papers that falls to the ground. This was Konan, The Paper Goddess of Death.
In the horizon we see another of the Amegumi with red hair and ripple looking eyes standing in the middle, surrounded by an army of shinobi from different Hidden Village. As they all readied themselves to attack at once, a sentence was all it takes for the lone shinobi to blow away the entire armies like dust. Those that were near the impact sight were instantly killed due to the force of the technique. Nagato of the Six Path. Derived from his ability to use all of the Rinnegan's ability.
The final Amegumi stood alone against the might of various shinobi armies that bands together to take him down but deep down, they feel fear. The description of his physic was undeniable. Spiky and short red hair and red eyes, a black scarf that nearly covers his mouth but most of all, that large single scar mark on his left cheek. The infamous Akai no Oni (Red Demon) or better yet the Blood Demon, Haruto. The only living shinobi in this war to actually match the Yellow Flash of Konohagakure, Namikaze Minato and Ay of Kumogakure.
Just as the armies of various shinobi was about to march head on to meet the enemy. Haruto cross his finger together with a kunai that was shaped in the form of an army knife. Five of his clone appears and the group of Haruto disappears in a flash of red. In no longer than a full minute, the armies of shinobi were decimated by Haruto as his lone figure stood amongst the corpses of the fallen their blood wash by the rain that cover his figure.
This is the Shinobi War where only the strongest stood a chance of living in this war called Hell on Earth. And the Amegumi were one of those that are considered the strongest. The monsters of Amegakure. However, this four are not alone in their endeavor. Supporting them is the leader of Amegakure, Hanzo of the Salamander. And the Amegumi's own elite group of shinobi. The organizations Akatsuki lead by Haruto.
We once again focus on the leader of the Amegumi as he stood in the rain while looking at his open palm, then gripped it.
"We will end this Hell. No matter what it takes, we will end it. For our dream of the future and the future of this land….I swear it!"
7 Years Ago
A young girl that look around eight with dark blue hair with clothing that look ragged was seen staggering on the outskirt of Amegakure. She has been foraging for food nearly weeks now but to no such luck. Every place she visits in the streets or houses shot her down instantly and so with nothing left but to the outskirt, we now see her in her current predicament. Every step she took was heavy as the sorrowful downpour rained upon her. A migraine struck her and the girl felt dizzy; everything in her view was swirling and her strength was debilitated. The girl leaned against one of the boulder nearby and shook her head, trying desperately to clear her grogginess. When her vision was reverted back to normal, the girl continued aimlessly on her journey with to a plausible food sources but judging by her dire situation, the chances were slim.
The blue hair girl was finally depleted of her last energy and collapsed onto the ground. Back facing the cold wet ground and the rain pouring on top of her, she felt hopeless and miserable then. She tried one last time to get up but had no strength to do so.
"Is this the end for me? I cannot go on any further. I'm ... probably going to die here, huh?"
Darkness descended and her ability to perceive sound was fading. The droplets of drizzling rain were echoing in her mind and it was as if the curtain of black void was closing on her. Her vision blurred and she was readied to succumb to death. Entrusting miracle for once, the girl acknowledged her solemn instincts and opened her eyes.
"Looks like nobody is coming to save me…Mommy...Daddy...I'm coming….."
And with the last of her conscious, the girl finally closed her eyes and awaited her death but that was not to be as a single figure stood up and bent down a bit to check a pulse. The small figure then said,
"She's alive. Let's bring her back to our place, Mizuno."
One Year Ago
A boy no older than six years old was seen practicing a stance that he applied to his Taijutsu as his parents called it. As the boy continues with his practice, he heard commotion inside the house and knows that it was the usual. The boy parents for the better parts were former shinobi of their respective villages. His father was a Senju from Konohagakure and his mother was an Uzumaki from Uzushiogakure. Both were for the most part, pacifists. Never liking war or conflict. Plus it didn't help that they were shinobi and thus after years of service, they decided to fled here into Land of the Rain to start a new life but unfortunately, war follow suits in this small country too but both his parents were able to make out of whatever they were able to.
The boy also noticed that they heal wounded shinobis that they found when they would travel to the nearest town. I guess they called themselves Medical Nin if he guesses it right. Certain towns were considered neutral ground and it help that the current leader of this country, Hanzo of the Salamander was very powerful. His parents as far as he knew were not only pacifist but were also very kind people. Regardless what nation said shinobis they heal were from, Konoha, Kumo, or Iwa they never rejected any of this people when they needed help and the boy was also proud of this side of his parents' personality.
But today will change the life of this young boy forever. As he was training with Taijutsu skill that his father taught him, he heard struggle inside of his home but thought that it might be one of the patients painful groan or struggle but this sounded like a fight…curious, the young boy decided to walk carefully and peak through one of the crevices of his home and to his shocked there lying dead were shinobis his parents tried to heal and now there were three shinobis standing with blood covering them….if he was not mistaken…those were Iwa's shinobis.
Present time; Hours Later
When the girl was has finally awakened, she didn't expect to be enveloped by a warm sensation. There was a campfire, there was heat and there was a mysterious boy with red hair grilling chicken with a skewer over the fires. Upon further inspection, she noticed they were in a cave probably just outside of Amegakure. But after coming through from her blurry mind, the blue haired girl was frightened by the stranger's presence as she sat up abruptly and retreated backwards fearfully, pointing a shaky finger at the red hair enigma.
"W-Who are you?"
The red hair noticing the girl finally awake look at her and said with a slightly stoic face,
"Oh? You're awake. I check for any other ailment or injury but you have none so that is good. Well, now that you are awake, I bet that you're hungry so I cook up something for you. Here. Have some chicken."
The red hair boy took out the hot pipping roasted chicken on a skewer and tries to give it to the blue hair girl. The blue haired girl swallowed hard when she smelled the ambrosial aroma from the food but she still was suspicious of the boy's kindness. Upon further inspection of the red hair boy, she knows that he was no older than her. Probably around the same age or younger if the very cute yet slight stoic expression on his face was any indication. But nevertheless, she still has her doubt about him.
'He looks like an orphan, just like me. Why will he want to share his food with me?'
The girl thought in her mind. Noticing the suspicion on her looks and body movement, the young boy just said,
"It's not poison if that is what you are thinking. If I want you dead, I would have left you on the cold, hard grounds about hours ago. Trust me. Besides, why would I waste a good source of food just for the notion of killing you? I wouldn't dare dream to waste precious resources just to kill a people."
The way his tone and expression really made the girl more suspicious of him and seeing as he didn't convince her enough, the boy took a piece of the chicken and put it in his mouth and chew thoroughly. After a minute or so, he swallows and sticks out his tongue with this mouth wide open and said,
"Ah~….See? No poison."
After seeing that the boy was really offering the food to the girl, she didn't waste time and proceed to snatch the roasted chicken from his hand and started eating away immediately.
"Hey, slow down or you'll choke."
And just on cue the girl did almost choke had the boy not patted her back gently to sooth the feeling of being choked on her throat. Passing water that the boy filled with a bamboo mug, he gently passed it to the girl that greedily chuck it down and proceed to feast on her meal albeit slowly this time. After a while, the entire chicken was finish with only the bone left sprawl on the floor. The girl feeling revitalized now look at her savior and bow her head lightly.
"Thank you for not only saving me but you also kindly gave me food and place to rest…I don't know how to thank you."
The boy shrugged his shoulder and just casually said,
"Ah, you were in trouble so it's only right that I help you especially if it's a girl."
"But…why?...You don't even know me all that well and yet you save me.."
The girl was still in turmoil with herself. Not that she was ungrateful for being saved but such prospect never happen to her. After months of trying to survive on her own out on the cold streets of Ame scavenging for food and even evading unnecessary attention, the thought of someone coming to her aid was the last thing that came to her mind. After a long silence, the boy merely let out a sigh and said,
"I don't… really have a good reason other than that…"
The boy said while scratching his cheek.
"Besides, since when did you need a reason to help somebody in trouble? I don't need one. Maybe I helped you out because I understand what it's like to be alone, to be picked on and to have to fight to survive. I never want that to happen to me again, and I certainly don't want to see it happening to other people. My mom and dad would certainly agree with my decision. I know they would…"
Upon hearing his reason, the girl can't help but feel flushed and now somewhat grateful to hear her savior's reason. She then shyly look at him and said,
"I never get to it properly but thank you…uhmm?"
Realizing that they haven't introduced each other yet, the boy said,
"Ah, my name is Haruto. What's yours'?"
The girl now knowing her savior's name let out a pretty smile in the Haruto's thought by the way, said,
"Thank you, Haruto-kun. My name is Konan."
"Konan, eh? That's a pretty good name and it suits you."
Konan slightly blushed at the praised and before she could say more, she heard something coming down and to her pleasant surprise, it was a Swallow but more commonly known in this nation as Tsubame Mizu. A swallow that is not only very rare but extremely swift and fast at its flight and maneuver. And is one of its only kinds to be able to traverse rainy weather or wet surfaces very easily hence being called Water Swallow. To see one first hand was a pleasant experience to Konan as she really like birds. The Swallow that was hovering around the ceiling of the cave slowly descends and rested itself on top of Haruto's shoulder. The boy looks fondly at the Swallow and petted its head and said,
"Hey there, Mizuno. How was thing outside?"
The bird chirped a few times and as if understanding the small creature, Haruto made a few nods and said to Konan.
"Mizuno said that the outside is clear now so I should be able to go gather up supplies for tomorrow."
Konan look disbelief and merely pointed at Mizuno and said,
"You understand it?"
"Of course. Mizuno here is like family and she has been with me for over a year now."
"…What…where are your parents?"
Haruto stop petting Mizuno for a moment and sent his gaze straight into Konan's eyes and said,
"They died about a year ago….killed."
Konan was taken aback at the sadness reflected on the red hair boy's eyes. Even if his face looks like that of indifferent but his eyes tells all and Konan felt bad for asking that question then bringing up bad memories.
"I'm sorry, Haruto-kun…I didn't meant to bring up bad memories…"
The girl look down hearted and noticing her upset state, Haruto quickly dismiss the situation by saying,
"Nothing to feel bad about, Konan. You didn't know after all. The past is the past and I rather look up towards the present and the future. Besides, I'm not alone. I have Mizuno here to be with me,"
Konan realizes there was nothing to worry about but feel a bit dishearten that the boy didn't mention anything about her. Though they only just met, Konan already know that the boy in front of her was naturally kind and like to help others in need but still…before she could think further, Haruto surprises her with his next words.
"But of course, I have you here too, Konan. So that makes us friend now."
"Friends?"
The words weren't quite new to her but after being alone for a while now; the notion of having friends never crosses her mind. But here is a boy that she just met who not only save her, feed her and even gave her place to rest, but he was also offering her his friendship. There was nothing more light heartening than that. Haruto now having a small smile on his face for the first time offer a hand to Konan and said again.
"Yes. Friends. Let's be friends, Konan. You and me. Together in this. What do you say?"
It didn't take a genius to know the girl answer as she also reached out her hand and proceed to hold Harutos' hand in hers'. She smiles brightly while having some tears flowing from her eyes.
"Yes! Let's be friend, Haruto-kun."
Author's Note
This story was a long time coming. Never know if it would work but I find it interesting to try. We won't be seeing the DxD universe until a certain chapters has passed but I promised all of you we will get there. Characters' developments are important after all. I will not promise to update this as fast as I could seeing as I am honestly a slow updater. That and I have a new semester this year that will make me busy as hell. Other than that, not much to say except, leave a review; a constructive one at that and I will see you all in the next chapter.