Disclaimer: Naruto characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi.
Summary: Sasuke is a warrior and also a descendent of the Uchiha clan with leadership bands. Will these bands lead to good or evil? (AU needless to say)
:::::: The Scroll of Death ::::::
[Prologue]
The world must be balanced. That is why there are two sets of scrolls on Earth, one is the Scroll of Life another is the Scroll of Death. Two sets of golden wristbands were forged to lead to these scrolls. However, the bands will only react to the chosen ones.
One scroll leads to birth, peace, light and happiness while the other leads to death, destruction, darkness and sorrow. The heroes of this story will embark on a long and tiresome journey along with their counterparts.
=*= Chapter One =*=
[Uchiha Palace]
Sasuke had been walking on harsh arid fields for many days. He had merely survived from his brother's attack. Sasuke had been given the royal bands to signify his leadership of the Konoha people. However, Itachi deeply resented his brother's success.
//Flashback//
Sasuke was alone when his brother decided to pay him a visit. He remembered Itachi's furious look that was filled with hatred. He smashed the ornaments in Sasuke's room and yelled, "GIVE IT TO ME!"
"NO," replied Sasuke.
"Then you should die like the rest of them!" exclaimed Itachi and added, "They're too old to live."
"Father…" trailed Sasuke.
"Yes, little brother," snickered Itachi, "He's waiting for you on the other side."
"How could you? Mother…" whimpered Sasuke.
"She also awaits for you," explained Itachi and added, "If only they had given me the bands. Now give it to me!"
"NEVER," replied Sasuke as he charged out of the room.
Itachi smirked, "You won't live long."
Sasuke had known brothers kill each other to win the throne in other countries. But he had not thought his own brother would do such a thing. His blood related brother wants to kill him and have already disposed of his parents.
Some soldiers on Itachi's side had attacked him during his escape from the palace. Luckily he found the secret passage that was only known to the royal family. Within minutes he was out of the building, away from Itachi's reach.
He ran until his legs could not carry him no more. He hid in the shadows and claimed sympathy from the sanctuary of the night. He dropped to his knees as his muscles ached all over. He continued bleeding yet he could not feel the pain. Rather, he felt a greater pain; his heart ached from the loss of his loved ones.
Droplets of water trickled onto the floor. Sasuke could not hold in the tears as he mourned for his parents. Soon sorrow turned into hatred as Sasuke gazed towards the moon with his sharingan eyes. He swore that he would kill Itachi.
The next second he fainted from blood loss but luckily a kind old man took him in. The old man treated his wounds while Sasuke thanked him. It was better for Sasuke to leave further out of Itachi's proximity.
//End of flashback//
Sasuke glanced at the golden bands on his wrists and shivered. Itachi had killed because of these… At least those bands could be used to assemble a loyal group of army. He wondered, 'If there was any people left who believed these bands…'
=*=
[Haruno City]Sakura pulled all the petals off a flower in frustration while her bracelet jingled. She heaved a big sigh and wished, 'If only life wasn't so boring.' She looked out of her window and spotted a servant. A smile lit up her face.
"Hinata, what are you doing?" asked Sakura.
"Watering the plants, Miss," replied Hinata.
"I'm bored! Can you go out to the markets with me?"
"Omg… Do I have a choice?"
Sakura chuckled, "I guess not. Let the other maids water the plants, you're coming with me."
Hinata helped Sakura dress into some plainer clothes before they left. Sakura skipped happily because she finally got out of the house. She was not allowed outside often so she had sneaked out the back door. 'Yes I'm free!' thought Sakura.
Sakura ran to the little stores and bought all the jewellery they had. She laid eyes on many make up products and bought all those too. Along her way the cute little ornaments fascinated her. She was about to buy them too but Hinata winced.
"Omg… Perhaps it's enough for today," cried Hinata from carrying the load.
"Oh," replied Sakura as she saw the piles on Hinata's arm, "Here let me help you carry some."
"Thank you," smiled Hinata.
Suddenly Sakura grabbed Hinata's hand and wailed, "Dad! Run." They were running blindly before Sakura stacked but strong arms grabbed her before she fell. She found herself pressed onto a tall man with a dark coat. Her eyes were lost to two dark blue eyes. Standing in front of her was a very handsome man.
"Miss are you okay?" asked Hinata.
Sasuke's attention diverted from the pretty emerald-eyed girl to the short black hair servant. He took a glance at her pretty amethyst eyes and was mesmerised by the tranquil and sincere aurora emitted from her. He liked shy, timid girls rather than the happy faced pink hair girl. He let go of Sakura and was about to leave but Sakura held onto his strong arms.
"Wait, what's your name?" asked Sakura.
"Sasuke," muttered Sasuke before he left her to find a commander Haruno.
"Let's go home," said Sakura as her heart fluttered, Sasuke.
=*=
[Spiral Village]Naruto had just finished a long day from chopping trees. He placed all the chopped wood onto his wooden cart and pushed it off to his client. After he collected the money he went home.
"I'm back," greeted Naruto before he charged to the bathroom.
"Dinner will be ready shortly, Naruto," said Mrs Yamanaka.
He wanted to take a bath to wash off his sweat from the day. When he opened the door, he stared at a stark naked Ino.
"ARGH!!!" screamed Ino.
"Ino, I didn't mean too," Apologised Naruto and added, "Not like I haven't seen…"
Before Naruto could finish, Ino chucked something at him, "Get out!"
Naruto sighed but was thankful that the Yamanaka family had accepted him. He was an orphan and had only vague recollections of his mother.
//Flashback//
A beautiful woman with curly blond hair used to take him to the river. She had the same sea-blue eyes as Naruto and he could still remember her laughter. He had inherited most of his features from her and was not sure how his father looked. He had only heard vague descriptions of him.
"Your father is a tall handsome man. He has the shiniest silver hair that I've ever seen," said his mother.
"Where is he now?" asked Naruto.
"I don't know," she said and tears began to flow past her cheeks.
"I don't need a father. I have you," soothed Naruto.
That put a smile back on her face as she tried to forget the memory of the man who left them.
When Naruto was 8 his mother had struck an unknown illness. They went to many doctors but all of them shook their head. Finally, in a cold winter night Naruto's mother died. She felt sharp pains in her heart as she lay on her deathbed. A silent tear rolled down her cheek as she found it impossible to breathe.
"Mother! Mother wake up! Wake up! Don't sleep," cried Naruto.
The Yamanaka family had kindly adopted Naruto and they had lived peacefully since then.
//End of flashback//
At the dinner table Ino continued to glare at Naruto. Naruto shifted uncomfortably and complained, "We used to bath together." Two chopsticks flew out of nowhere as soon as he said that. Mr and Mrs Yamanaka only witnessed this with an amused smile.
++
The next day…
Shikamaru came by to greet his friends. When he saw Ino, his heart skipped a beat. He had known Ino and Naruto since they were young and was amazed that Ino grew into a pretty lady. He promised to himself that when he had saved enough money he would marry Ino.
"Hi Ino," said Shika as he tapped Ino's shoulder.
"Shika, you scared me. If you are looking for Naruto he is still sleeping," said Ino.
"I came to tell both of you something. Let's talk inside when you finish washing the clothes," replied Shika.
When they got Naruto to wake up, Shika discussed his plans.
"This better be good Shika," warned Naruto.
"I was wondering if you guys would be interested on a holiday," said Shika.
"Holiday?" wondered Ino.
"Yes, to Haruno City," said Shika.
"Where are we going to live once we get there?" asked Ino intently, she wanted to take a break from making tofu.
"I have a friend, his name is Neji and he works at the Haruno Fort. He asked me if I'd like to tour the city," explained Shika.
"Hold on a minute, when did you become friends with Neji?" asked Naruto.
"Eh? At the soldier camp," replied Shika.
"How come you're not a soldier?" continued Naruto.
"Omg… I decided that being a soldier wasn't for me," said Shika but truthfully he had dropped out because of the heavy training.
"Good for you! I wouldn't want to be a soldier and listen to people's commands!" exclaimed Naruto.
"I think it's a good idea. I'll ask my mother about it," said Ino while Shika blushed from her reply. He had hoped to go on a holiday with Ino and if only Naruto wasn't coming…
"Good! If you can come, pack tonight because I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll come by in the morning either to go with you guys or to say good bye," said Shika as he bowed and left.
=*=
[Mist Village]
A young man with mahogany brown hair gazed up towards the moon. He lusted for blood and whoever passed by was not in his lucky day. His dark shadowed eyes stare intently on the dark street for his next victim.
A smile crept up Gaara's lips as he saw a man and a woman quarrelling. He advanced towards them while they looked at Gaara in horror. The evil boy with a love tattooed onto his forehead stood a meter before them. He raised a hand and soon the man next to the woman was swallowed by sand.
"Desert coffin," said Gaara.
The sand squeezed the man to death while some blood squirted onto the woman's face. The woman took a few moments to realise what she had just witnessed. She screamed in fear and for help but was soon silenced by Gaara's desert fist. A slight speck of blood was flicked onto his hand so he licked the blood.
Gaara smiled and was satisfied from the night's kill. Meanwhile Temari had packed her belonging to go somewhere far away from her brother. She was afraid of her brother and thought it was wise to leave him before he killed her. She was wrong…
When Gaara came home, he had a very sarcastic sad look.
"Onee-chan, why did you leave me?" whispered Gaara.
::: TBC :::
[Notes]
Sasuke, Gaara, Hinata, Sakura, Neji, Shika, Ino and Naruto are 16-17 years old (more characters such as Rock and Ten ten etc may be introduced).
Itachi- 24 years old and has many supporters because Sasuke is too young to rule. The Konoha kingdom is notified that Sasuke is missing or presumed dead.
Sakura- daughter of a great commander Haruno, Sasuke comes to seek his help. He agrees only under the condition Sasuke marry his daughter.
Kakashi- Naruto's father, he is a powerful official.
The prologue was changed because I didn't like it.
Please leave me a review…