Disclaimer: Own nothing but the plot!
'thinking'
"talking"
jutsu
I can honestly say I know what the real world is like, yet I tried to hang on to my last shard of innocence I had left, like a child who refuses to grow up, but like every child I had to grow whether I liked it or not. All I had left is instinct and willpower to survive. Innocence is useless in the world I live in. The world where that piece of moldy bread could be your last, where you wonder where you will sleep next once darkness falls, but worst yet, is when you wonder will you live the next day and see the first light of dawn? I live with that fear everyday, but what is worst than death is to be ignored.
I know the villagers fear me, hate me, and detest my very existence. I could feel it in the core of my being. But like I said, it is worst to be ignored, no one acknowledges that you're there that you're even alive. I'm like air, invisible, but like air, I'm always there whether they acknowledge me or not, I exist and nothing they say and do can contradict that.
They fear me for who I protect them from, I feel no malice towards them, and they do not deserve it. I can only feel empathy; I know intimately what loneliness is like, that all consuming embrace, cold and empty and they fear that embrace. They fear me for what a represent, I represent emptiness, of lost loved ones and they cannot face me because I would cause them to remember their loss and their broken heart.
But I shall protect them; it is my duty, no matter how much they call me monster, demon, no matter how much it hurts. I will stay strong for them even when they beat me and crush my fragile body. I will be strong for them even if they're oblivious to it. I shall be their protector and hero from the shadows; I shall keep the soldiers of the light sane to fight another day for their loved ones, deceased and alive. I shall be their spirit, their Will of Fire, their determination, and personification of the ideals that make Konohagakure. I shall be their sun and warmth when it grows cold and dreary, when the sun and the moon can no longer bring light and comfort. I shall be their idiot to make them feel safe.
And I'm their one and only King of Pranks.
Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto.
"Naruto," Sarutobi Hiruzen said exasperated, "why did you place flash bombs in the Hyuuga compound?"
"Humph!" Five-year-old Naruto puffed up his cheeks and replied, "Those stuck up bastards need to loosen up! Believe it!" 'Plus, they shouldn't treat one of their own like that.'
"Sigh. Whatever will I do with you?" Naruto crossed his arms in defiance.
"Do nothing then." Sarutobi chuckled.
"Just don't get caught next time, Naruto." Naruto flashed his foxy smile.
"You got it, Old Man! You won't be seeing me for a while! Believe it!" Naruto announced enthusiastically. "See ya later, Old Man." Naruto waved to the aged Hokage and dashed out to do whatever Naruto did. Sarutobi waved absentmindedly back but quickly went back to the every growing pile of paperwork. He gave a defeated sigh then quickly started attacking his arch nemesis.
Naruto walked cheerfully, hands behind his head, face-splitting smile plastered on his face. He mentally sighed sadly for the looks he was receiving, understanding why but still not liking it. He had many moments when he wanted to shout from the top of the Hokage Monument that the Fourth was his father. But he held himself; he greatly needed a distraction so Naruto jogged then picked up speed to lose the guarding ANBU. Having lost them he did a transformation, his new appearance consisted of black bob hair, droopy, emerald eyes, beige complexion, small, straight nose, his Konoha hitai-ite rested around his neck, he wore the standard Konoha shinobi attire, the overall appearance makes him look weak and common and very not like himself especially since he looked a good twenty years of age. He took to the roofs and made for the Uchiha compound where his good friend Uchiha Itachi resided.
Nine-year-old Itachi was training in an isolated clearing, practicing his kunai aim on multiply targets simultaneously. Naruto continued to watch behind a tree until a kunai found its way towards his head; his hand shot up and grabbed the kunai. "Is that anyway to greet your friend?" He voiced as he stepped away from his hiding spot.
"What are you doing here, Kazeshi?" Itachi asked.
"Can't I come here just to meet my friend?" Itachi stared at him. "Fine, I was bored and needed something to do, happy?" Itachi just shakes his head and continued to train. "Yeah, yeah, ignore me." Naruto turned Kazeshi muttered. Kazeshi watched Itachi for a good ten minutes before silence, except the sound of thuds, become unbearable. "So, how's Sasuke-kun?"
"Hn." Was the simple answer.
"Good, good… Has he made any friends outside the compound?"
"Hn." This time it sounded slightly… sad.
"Ah, don't worry Itachi, he'll make friends eventually especially when he attends the Academy, just you wait. Now I better be going, see ya!" Kazeshi waved and body flicker-ed away.
Naruto appeared in an alley near his apartment and released his transformation and raced to his home. He found a cup of ramen and got it ready to eat, once cooked he dug into his simple, cheap meal. Many cups of ramen later, night had fallen and he went to bed.
A few days later, Naruto felt inclined to meet Sasuke in person, not in a transformation, but as himself, so here he is. Near a lake with a pier, on the pier was Sasuke himself. Naruto sneaked closer to Sasuke and right when he was behind him he tapped his shoulder enticing a yelp of surprise from his lips. He whirled around and saw Naruto grinning mischievously with both hands behind his head.
"What was that for!" demanded childish Sasuke. Naruto ignored the outcry and introduced himself; he pointed a thumb at his chest.
"Names Uzumaki Naruto! And you're looking at the future Hokage! Believe it!" He let his arms drop to his sides and then asked, "What's your name?" He leaned in closer to Sasuke's face.
"Hey!" Sasuke pushed Naruto away and out of his personal space. "Humph! I'm Uchiha Sasuke." He crossed his arms and pouted, "Why did you do that?" Naruto tilted his head in fake confusing.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't lie, you know what I'm saying."
"That your name is Uchiha Sasuke?" Answered Naruto unhelpfully.
"No!" Shouted that, "I mean, why did you have to sneak up on me?"
"AH!" Naruto slammed his fist into his palm as if he had an epiphany. "I was just trying to get your attention." But the mischievous glint in his eyes said otherwise. Sasuke just let it go.
"Why are you here anyways?" He asked in bewilderment. Naruto shrugged nonchalantly.
"Just bored, passing by, saw you. So I decided to introduce myself, you did look lonely."
"I'm not lonely."
"Oh really." They had a staring contest, one demanding for the other to admit it while the other stares in defiance. Naruto broke eye contact first. "Wanna play?"
"Really? YAY! So what are we playing?" Naruto grinned and there was a certain glint in his eyes, which could make those who knew him wary for the rest of the day lest they get caught off guard by a well-placed prank. Thus starts the legend of the Prank King from Hell and his secret Right Hand Man.
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