Chapter 1: The End

Buildings burned in the distance and the ground trembled as structures fell. The great city of Konoha was falling, the leaf had been caught by a spark and now it was being turned to ash. All around turmoil unfolded as dead littered the streets and Konoha ninja fought the enemies who dared to attack their beloved home and kill those dear to them. It was now that the will of fire became the blaze of justice.

The great hero's of the village came out of retirement to fight off this unholy attack by a man of pure evil. The Hokage could only watch as the greatest enemy known to the ninja world now destroyed the great village and killed those within. The Hokage saw the man's bright crimson eyes that held years of hate and anger within them. Fire erupted form the man's hands and struck more buildings. Then it was tornados, descending from the clouds as though the Gods had sent them, tearing through the village leaving deep gouges and even more innocent lives lost in their wake.

Lightning flashed all around striking the ground and sending large plumes of black smoke curling into the air where the clouds churned and it began to rain slowly, a slight drizzle until finally the rain came heavily only it had no effect on the fire that seemed to grow larger. The Hokage fell to her knees and wept as she saw the chaos the single man was causing. His eyes of evil gleamed with glee and his blond and black hair swirled around dangerously. He wore a pair of black pants and his red robe was open and flapping around, the sword on his back seemed to pulse an evil energy.

She heard his voice that called out challenging those around him and as they rose to the challenges they fell before his power. None could stand up to him. The Hokage wept more for her precious Leaf was burning in the great bonfire before her. Most of the people she held dear were already dead by now, long ago lost to this person. She looked upon the village again and she saw Armageddon, the end of it all. Even with the combined forces of Suna and Kumo there was no way that the three great Hidden villages could fight this war…

As the Hokage wept a single teenaged ninja was running from the flames hoping to fight to protect his home. He jumped over burning debris and struck enemies as he ran not bothering to stop to finish them off. He felt fire singe his clothes, wind tussled and threw his black spiky hair that hung in his eyes, lightning blinded him briefly and rain slowly drench his hair making it impossible for him to land and always hope he wouldn't fall. His clothes which consisted of a pair of simple black combat pants and a white T-shirt were long torn and were extremely muddy. A short sword bounced on his back its black handle seemed to shrink as the boy ran.

He jumped over a fallen wall where the fire had not yet strayed and he landed in a mud puddle that was deeper then it looked. He lost his balance and fell forward and came to a halt and groaned as he got to his feet again. He was about to take off when he noticed a pair of legs and then a man leaning against the wall, his arms hanging limp at his sides and his breath coming in deep and painful gasps. The boy slowly walked over to the man and he opened his eyes and their eyes met.

"H-Hey are you okay?" the teen asked. His blue icy eyes gazed into the blue eyes of the man in front of him.

"No… I can only watch as my home dies in flames… I should be helping to extinguish these flames of death but I can't…" the man muttered. There was a large red stain on the front of his shirt and it was spreading slowly and the man felt the life leaving himself even as the demon within worked to keep him alive.

"Just wait here, I'll try to get someone!" the boy said worriedly and started to stand to his feet only the strong steely grip of the man stopped him.

"No…" he muttered and a slight breeze picked up making the man's blond hair that hung down in front of his eyes billow in the breeze. The boy looked into the man's eyes sincerely and he understood and slowly kneeled back down. "The way you can save me is by listening to my story…" the man said and the boy nodded.

"Okay… but sir, what's your name?" the boy asked and rested his hands on his knees.

"My name? My name…" the man muttered and he closed his eyes.

"Yes…your name, mine is Uzumaki Hairo…" the boy known as Hairo said.

"Ahh, yes I see… my name is… it was Naruto." Naruto muttered and closed his eyes and began to speak. "My story begins when I was merely 14 years old… I had just graduated from the academy…this was so many years ago now… about 20 actually." and with those words Uzumaki Naruto began to tell his story, his story that involved all of his pain, the story that told why Konoha was now burning to the ground.

"Wait… your name is Naruto?" Hairo asked with a look of fear on his face. He had every right to be fearful and for a good reason.

"Yes…" Naruto muttered and he knew what was coming.

"There has only been one Naruto ever named in this village…on record in the entire Elemental Nations. Are you…are THE Naruto?" Hairo asked and began to creep away from Naruto as though he was a disease.

"Yes…my name was Uzumaki Naruto. Before you flee and report me though…please-" Naruto began to cough here, blood flecked across his chin and Hairo ceased his slow retreat. He realized that this man couldn't harm him in anyway; he was too injured to do so.

"Please just listen… then tell me… if I am the evil person I have been made out to be… yes I have betrayed Konoha but my story will reveal why I did so." Naruto rasped as he closed his blue eyes. Hairo nodded and Naruto began to speak slowly.

"I had just found out that the Kyuubi no Kitsune was sealed within me…. I had beaten my traitorous Sensei Mizuki with the technique I learned in order to 'pass' as he said… and it was time to be organized into cells… Iruka Sensei began to call out Team…"