SOME YEARS AGO
The morning light streamed long and narrow through the thin wooden beams that held up the frame of Ichiraku Ramen (Ramen is the best pleasure!). The crisp bite of October's early frost could be felt on the chapped lips of Teuchi, the bar's owner. His daughter, Ayame, had her chesnut hair bundled in a simple white headscarf matching the uniform. Her kind eyes and nimble fingers organized the array of sauces and chopsticks in front of her with careful precision while the only customer in the shop sat hunched over his ramen, the steam flushing his porcelain cheeks.
Teuchi's muscles visibly tensed when he saw a figure approaching. The figure had flame-coloured hair and multiple facial piercings and he wore a dark, heavy cloak with red clouds. His walk was strong and confident and although his expression betrayed no malice the owner and his daughter were visibly nervous. As the person approached Teuchi went over to the till and retrieved a bundle of Ryo.
"Teuchi, don't make me have to come down here again for this"
Teuchi nodded, "it won't happen again" he said.
Before leaving, the man turned towards the young boy who lifted his head from his ramen bowl, mesmerised. The boy noticed he had a ring on his right thumb.
"You Yamato Kichiro's son? Your name's Ren isn't it"
"Hai" the boy nodded, wide eyed at the fact that this mysterious man knew him.
"You do good at the academy?" His low voice seemed to echo throughout the ramen bar and bounce off the wood.
"I recently passed my chuunin exams"
The man smiled.
"That's good, I passed at your age too, that's what they call a paradox", the boy couldn't be more than 10. Gesturing for his hand, the man placed a pocketful of Ryo into the boys hand and leant in closer.
"You ever wanna earn a little extra money? You come find me, you know where I am?"
"Hai" the boy nodded, he had some idea.
"Good"
Some weeks later, the boy and the man sat together in a cave somewhere near the Land of the River. The sunset streaked shadows long and wide up the cave walls which danced in and around the crevices of the rock. The man spoke.
"The hokage wants you in your place" his low voice reverberated against the wide walls, seemingly making the pebbles below vibrate. "Kneel, stand, kneel, stand" he made motions with his hands. "You gotta make your own way in this world, no-one gives it to you."
The boy was hypnotized by his words.
"When I was your age they told me I could become a good Jounin, or I could become a criminal." The man leant towards the boy, he could feel the heat of his breath on his cheeks.
"The truth is...when you're facing death, what's the difference?"
Author's notes: So this was the first chapter, just a prologue. Reviews would be great, i'd love to know if anyone's interested! I have a lot planned for this one.
Till next time xo
