MAFIA- An organized international body of criminals, using extortion and other criminal methods, a group powerful or influential group in an organization or field.
Shinobi- A person skilled in ninjutsu, the ancient art of the ninja shadow warriors, hired for covert purposes ranging from espionage to sabotage and assassination.
Prologue- For Better or for Worse
The Sage of Six Paths sat on a hill overlooking the small village. His eyes were ripples, a deep purple shade, and were clouded over in deep thought. A frown graced his tired face, and he thought of the past and where he presently was. He preached peace but the world knew only war. Bloodshed was the norm, and new wars were waged every other day, and not even his teachings or powers could stop the evil in man's hearts. He sat there old and broken, wondering if this world could be saved, and if he'd live to see it?
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Shadows leapt from tree to tree as dark clouds rolled in, a blood red moon shining down, sparing no extra light in the dire situation. Arashi Namikaze leapt from tree to tree, with his half-conscience nephew clinging desperately to his tattered and bloody armor.
"Hold on Naruto, whatever you do, don't let go!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, the creeping shadows gaining ever swiftly. The tree canopy of the forest was growing darker and darker as the moon continued to rise. Sound Ninja were advancing, kunai holsters at the ready, leading the charge was a dark figure with pericing green eyes and a mask covering his lower face. The figure wore an equally tattered, but not as bloody, cloak with red clouds gracing the fabric. Kakuzu commanded his swarm of sound shinobi, "Don't let them escape, I want that man's head!" If Arashi heard the deadly command, he paid it no mind, he was so close, he could taste it. All that mattered right now was getting Naruto to safety, for that he would gladly die. Kunai whizzed past him and one grazed his cheak. Bloody dripped down from the shallow wound, but Arashi's pace never faultered. Naruto was weeping quietly, "Uncle, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he cried into the man's shoulder. "Hehe, what's that for," his uncle joked at a time like this, jumping from tree to tree as the forest behind them was engulfed in a crimson flame.
The fire was curtesy of a nightmarish monster with a tiger masked, protruding from Kakuzu's back, further ripping his cloak. Arashi and Naruto, along with the sound shinobi raced to escape the embers. Naruto was terrified and only wept harder, "I'm sorry, it's my fault," a shuriken zipped past him, scratching his side, "Ah!" Naruto yelled in pain. "Naruto!" Arashi exclaimed, "Naruto listen," he desparetly tried to calm the child as his strength was fading quickly. The trees finally opened up and Arashi landed in the middle of a clearing.
He was about to take off again, hoping the Shushin could get him and his young charge to where they needed to be, but before he could move, they were upon him. Surrounded by the enemy, Kunai rained down from the heaven. Naruto screamed in terror and awaited the sharp pain he had assciated with kunai, but it never came. Suprised Naruto opened his eyes, that he didn't realize he'd shut. Arashi was laing over him dozens of the sharp knives protuding in his back. Blood oozing out his mouth, he could only whisper to Naruto, the boy he loved so, "Naruto, You'll… ugh; you'll have to be a big boy. Can you do that?" Naruto could only nod in stunned silence, he didn't trust his mouth to move. Arashi could only smile at the seven year old underneath hs diying body, "Naruto...my favorite thing in the world is ramen, really good ramen." he wheezed. Naruto didn't say anything, time seemed at a stand still, it was only him and his uncle. "Life can be a lot like ramen; those bad things that happen in life are like those three minutes you have to wait for the ramen to cool... and... and the good things are like when the ramen is finally ready." Naruto could only weep, not understanding what his uncle was saying. "Yeah, ramen with Naruto, those were the good things...He's a strong boy..." Arashi's eyes finally dimmed, leaving Naruto alone with a swarm of a cruel enemy.
"Uncle?" Naruto whispered, tears pouring down his cheaks, as rain finally started to fall. "No... No! UNCLE ARASHI!" Naruto screamed as the sound shinobi charged forward. In that moment a cruel, firery essence exploded around Arashi's corpse. A blinding light extended over the entire clearing covering every living thing. And in an instant it was gone. And not a single thing was left alive. It wasn't until the next day when local authorities found a lost, wondering and confused boy, not remembering anything of what had happened. The boy was covered in blood, not an once of it his.