Forbidden Bonds

"One War Splits the Balance of Power among the Shinobi Countries…And Three Unlikely Friends are caught in the Middle of it…"
Where, in a different world, they could have fought for one another.
…The Legend of Team Seven remains…

XxX

The shadows were always flickering, always moving in distinct and disturbing patterns across the walls, illuminated by the lone candle, the only source of light, sitting on the simple wooden table standing lonely in one corner of the small room. The walls, already marred by the depressing dimness, were made of stone, emanating a coolness that touched the bone and allowing a haunting echo to sound at the slightest of noises.

No windows. No comfort. But a home. And yet still so frighteningly trapped.

A worn pack lay harmless at the foot of the lone door, its contents spilling with deadly tools and weapons, glinting weakly in the darkness. The only exit, the only escape to something bigger, to a world more remarkable than that single room also revealed a reality equally as terrifying.

An obscured figure, facing away from the shallow light, sat on the rigid bed, quiet, head bowed, and sapphire eyes still bright despite the gloom. His gaze was focused, trained with a fierce intensity on the two objects resting in each of his upturned hands. Dry lips turned downward, blonde brows furrowing with deep thought.

Loyalty was a powerful thing. It was a dependant trait because such reliability, such faithfulness, such trustworthiness, can only be made with another. And when such devotion, allegiance, fidelity was broken the consequences would be catastrophic. So with such powerful arsenal like Loyalty to be freely given, the question was:

To whom would that loyalty be offered?

Polished to perfection, the metal flashed briefly against the firelight, its weight heavy against tanned hands not only from its substance but from the burden the two separate objects bore, the choice he would ultimately have to make.

In his left, engraved was the swirl of his hometown, the mark of his mother, and the years he spent as a child striving to better himself, especially for her pride and attention. In his right, the emblematic leaf signified his connection to his father, the times he had spent in a place he longed to call home, a link to the friends he had made and had grown bonds with.

To whom would that loyalty be offered?

Cobalt eyes narrowed with thought. Each metal band whose symbol it belonged had their faults as well. But in times like these…

Eyes squeezed tight, head shaking as his hands angrily fisted into the metal and cloth of his hold. Already he could hear the agonized yells and clashing weapons; already could he smell the burning fires and decaying corpses; he could taste the bile rising up in his throat; see deaths in forms that only the ravage of war could bring; feel the thickness of liquid crimson on his calloused hands.

It wasn't what he wanted. But who was he to make choices? The whiskered scars on his cheeks and the entity dwelling in his body did nothing to help him.

Nothing.

Opening azure eyes once more, frown more prominent on his young features, the boy allowed his right hand to wander back to the bed, setting its cargo gently – reverently – on the sheets, before bringing the item in his left hand up to his forehead, tying the black cloth through blonde spikes. Standing up and making his way to his bag a determination shined on his young expression.

He had made his choice. The swirl would see the day while the leaf would be left in darkness.

xXx

"We never chose this kind of life…We never wanted war."
"If only things had been different, ne?"
"…Hn…"

xXx

Uzumaki Naruto
Childhood Arc
15 Years Prior

Uzumaki Naruto grinned cheekily as he inspected his self-polished set of kunai and shuriken, proud that he had accomplished his small but important task without injury. Carefully holding up the sharp weapon, the blonde-haired boy watched with captivated fascination as the sun's summer light reflected off the steel blade.

"Awesome…" The boy breathed, sapphire eyes alight and shining just as bright as the object held so delicately in his small hands.

After a few more moments of admiring the beautiful but deadly tools, the child returned them to the pouch from whence they came and settled his curious gaze on the simple but significant metal band beside it. He easily recognized his Country's insignia carved in the center of the immaculate object, a simple swirl that curved three times around. Both the headband and the symbol presented that the owner of the item was an official shinobi or kunoichi of Whirlpool Country.

Young Uzumaki Naruto strived to become one of these loyal shinobi too.

He grinned, fingering the black cloth that held the metal band, "Just like–"

"Naruto!" A feminine voice called, "Lunch is ready!"

"Coming!" The boy responded frantically as he quickly put the treasures he had found back in their respective places. Scanning the simple bedroom once more to make sure it looked exactly as he had found it, Naruto smiled mischievously, taking a step backwards towards the door…

…Only to bump into a soft, familiar body.

"Uzumaki Naruto," The same feminine voice from before reprimanded teasingly, an amused chuckle following, "Why are you sneaking around my bedroom?"

Slowly, the tiny boy turned around, offering a sheepish smile as he nervously scratched the back of his neck.

"Um…Nothing?" He responded, flushing slightly when he earned a raised brow of expectancy from his company.

"Hmm…Really?" The woman replied with a skeptical smile, bright azure gaze rising towards the bedroom and eyeing her polishing rag in the nightstand when she knew she left it in the drawer; she returned her gaze to the boy who was still trying to look inconspicuous while continuing to smile his sweetest, "…I see."

Naruto nodded and happily grappled her hand, dragging her out of the room and towards the kitchen, closing his eyes in bliss as the aroma of his favorite meal assaulted his senses.

"Yay! Ramen!" He cheered, causing a small laugh to escape the older woman's mouth; he grinned up at her, "My favorite!"

"I know," She chuckled, allowing the boy to release her hand and scramble to his seat at the table.

The child watched with anticipation as the woman moved towards the steaming pot on the stove while simultaneously binding her long, red hair.

"You know…" She started lightly while pouring the noodles into two separate bowls, "I've found that my weapons and hitae-ate have been shinier than usual…Polished so well that I can see my own reflection quite clearly!"

Naruto grinned proudly, although, hid his triumph when the woman glanced at him, opting to tilt his head to the side cutely.

"Whoever he is," Naruto beamed, "He must be really good!"

"Indeed," The woman agreed with a nod of her head as she placed the bowls on the table, the blonde-haired boy wasting no time in digging in, "And whoever he is, I hope he doesn't get hurt by those sharp, dangerous weapons. Yes?"

She eyed him knowingly, the corners of her lips lifted slightly in concealed amusement. Nervously, Naruto swallowed the noodles in his mouth and grinned weakly.

"Right."

The red-head smiled, returning her attention to her food, "Good."

A comfortable silence reigned on the child and woman, warm, afternoon sunlight filtering through the kitchen as the boy's mild slurping lulled them into routine. Slowly, deep blue eyes drifted from the cooling broth of her lunch to the boy happily eating his. She couldn't help but smile as she gazed upon the messy blonde locks and a grin that easily caused her vision to mist over.

Feeling her stare on him, Naruto looked up, confusion and concern washing over his young features, "What's wrong Mommy?"

She smiled, blinking back tears and placed stray strands of hair behind her ear to prevent it from obstructing her view, "…You look so much like your father."

Naruto instantly brightened, "Really?"

She laughed, "Really."

"He's a really good shinobi, isn't he?" He shot excitedly, "And one day I'll be just like him! I'll be a powerful Whirlpool Shinobi just like you too Mommy, believe it!"

"I certainly don't doubt it Sweetheart," She answered genuinely, blue eyes sparkling as she witnessed his passionate enthusiasm.

However, it was short-lived as Naruto's grin dimmed, blue eyes saddening causing the woman's smile to fade as well.

"…Why isn't Daddy with us? Why isn't he in Whirlpool Country?" The boy questioned, looking down solemnly at his unfinished bowl of Ramen, "He loves us…Right?"

Big, blue eyes, watered and lost, looked up at the female, immediately making the woman stand, hurry around the table, and envelop the boy in her arms; her heart breaking at her son's crushed expression.

"Oh Naruto, sweetheart," She whispered as she rubbed his tiny back, feeling as his small arms wrapped around her neck, "Your father loves us very much…But he's a very important person of his home country…I promise, someday soon, we'll all be together and become a complete family…"

"Forever?" Naruto asked, pulling away from the comforting embrace.

"Forever."

"Will he be proud when I become a shinobi like him?"

"The proudest."

Kissing him lovingly on the forehead, the woman gave him a final tight hug before standing and ruffling his soft, blonde locks, the boy smiling before returning to his lunch.

A knock sounded at the front door and Naruto exchanged a short glance with his mother before she walked off to answer it. Naruto instantly jumped off his chair and ran toward the kitchen door, peeking silently around the corner to the hallway beyond. Sunlight spilled through the entryway as the door was opened revealing a Whirlpool Jounin Shinobi, a scroll in his hand. The man bowed respectfully as he outstretched his hand with the scroll, his hitae-ate shining from the sunlight.

"Ambassador Uzumaki Kushina," He greeted as the woman calmly took the document from his hold, "Your new orders."

"Thank you."

The man bowed once more before turning and leaving, Kushina closing the door behind him before opening the sealed parchment. Naruto stepped into the hallway, watching as his mother read through the contents, a beautiful smile emerging on her expression.

"What is it Mommy?"

Smile still on her face, Kushina looked down at her son, excitement alighting her azure orbs, "I have an Ambassador Mission in Fire Country Naruto and you are coming with me."

"Why?"

Kushina laughed, kneeling in front of the boy and playfully tweaking his nose, to which he scrunched up cutely, "We're going to visit your father, Sweetheart."

Realization immediately dawned on Naruto's young features and he grinned, sapphire eyes widening with anticipation.

xXx

"We'll always stay friends…Right?"
"…Dobe…"
"I hope so, Naruto…I really hope so."

xXx

A/N: So yet another new story. I hope you all like, I'm hoping for this chapter fiction to be at most 20 chapters. It's going to go through the lives of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Tell me, from what you read so far, especially the very first few paragraphs, what do you think is happening? I'd like to hear your thoughts!

I appreciate your reading and reviewing, please stick with me and offer me some helpful feedback towards my writing!!! Thank you!!

Next Chapter: Haruno Sakura.

Next Update: Probably this coming weekend.

Disclaimer: I really wish I did own Naruto, but to no avail…

Thank you again for reading and reviewing everyone!! You're the BEST!!!

With Love!
Luvinukag83
aka Len83

And Please check out my Profile and other Fictions!!! :)