Author's note:

Hey people. So I know I haven't updated Strike Package in a while but I've been kicking this idea around in my head for months upon months now and I've gotta run with it finally. If you didn't read the summary carefully, lemme break it down for you.

It's the Naruto ensemble in a story based off the L.A. Riots and their aftermath. It takes place in Konoha, blending some of the history of the village with a few elements of life in the real world. The first few chapters are gonna be somewhat of a prequel/flashback sequence describing the beginning of the riots and the (in-universe) reasons for them. The majority of the tale will take place in a modern time setting greatly affected and changed due to the riots. Anyways, I've rambled enough, we now return to your irregularly scheduled fanficton.

April 29th, 1992:

The air was thick and the crowd buzzed with anticipation as Minato Namikaze stood on the corner of 5th and Senju Boulevard. Like everyone else crowded around the small television store, he was waiting on the conclusion of a very important trial. Earlier that week, four officers of the Konoha Police Department were put on trial for crimes of police brutality and excessive force against an unarmed, non-violent suspect.

Minato shook his head in disgust as he watched footage of the beating for what seemed like the 500th time that day. He watched as the so called "peace officers" crowded around a downed and bruised old man then proceeded to violently attack him. The man didn't fight back, he just laid shouting on the dirty street as the officers began their assault.

Minato looked away. He couldn't bring himself to see this all again. He felt powerless every time he watched his teacher, his mentor, his friend cry out in pain as the attack continued.

'Why?' he thought to himself again, 'Why did they have to do this to you Jiraiya? After everything you did for this city!'

He heard his wife next to him let out a dry sob, her eyes glued to the screen in horror. He looked and saw her clinging to their five year old son, desperately trying to stay strong for him. He felt a deep pain in his chest as he saw the look of shock and disbelief in Naruto's eyes as he watched his godfather on the TV.

'I'm so sorry son. I'm sorry you have to see this. I'm sorry that this is the world you'll inherit from us one day.'

Kushina looked at her husband and saw the pain the footage caused him. She saw the hurt and betrayal that she felt mirrored in his eyes, and as a single tear rolled down his face, so did she begin to weep.

She looked down and saw that Naruto had torn his eyes from the television and thrown himself against her, crying silently into the front of her shirt.

'I'm so sorry Naruto. I'm sorry you have to watch this brutality. I'm sorry that this is the life you've had forced upon you.'

Naruto felt wet drops hit the top of his head and he looked up to see the tear stained face of his mother staring back at him. He looked to his left and saw his father's eyes stuck on the screen as a lone tear fell down his cheek. He felt dread growing inside him, an anxiety stronger than he'd ever felt.

'I'm so sorry guys. I promise to never forget this moment. I promise to never stop fighting this hate. I swear.'

With that, mother, father, and son embraced and found comfort in the supportive arms of the others.

Moments later, Naruto felt a tap on his shoulder and heard a small voice.

"Dobe."

He turned to see his best friends standing behind him. Sasuke had his hands in his pockets and though he tried to keep his face neutral, Naruto could see a small degree of sympathy and understanding behind it. Sakura's visage displayed her tumultuous emotions more openly, and Naruto could still see the tear tracks staining her face. The two had spent as much time at the Namikaze home as anybody and both grew to think of Jiraiya as something akin to a very close uncle, so it was unsurprising when they both pulled him into a group hug of their own.

Sakura and Naruto wept freely while Sasuke tried and failed to keep a few tears from spilling out as well.

"Naruto," Sakura whispered, "I promise you we'll always be here for you."

Sasuke nodded in agreement before adding, "We'll make this right someday dobe. I swear."

Naruto let a small smile grace his features as his friends said these things.

"Thank you. Thank you both so much," he choked out softly.

Minato felt a surge of pride rise through him as he overheard the three kids. Glancing to his wife, he knew she felt the same. He wrapped his arms around her.

"We've got a good son Shina."

"He's got some good friends too."

The two stood in their own little world for only an instant before a commotion was heard. Startled, the two snapped their attention back to the screen where a news anchor spoke.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us during this very trying time for the city." He spoke gravely, "We've just been informed that we're cutting now to a live press conference at the courthouse. Kurama?"

The shot cut to a tall woman with fiery red hair standing in the Konoha Central Square. She was standing in front of a large crowd of protesters near the steps of City Hall, which also doubled as the courthouse.

"Thank you B, the air is so thick you can feel it as we wait for Chief of Police Kabuto Yakushi to come and deliver the news of the verdict here at City Hall. Chief Yakushi has insisted he deliver the news after his officers have been moved somewhere safe and it has been confirmed that he will not be taking questions afterward."

"Sorry, did you say he will not be answering questions?" B responded.

"Yeah, it's very strange considering the nature of the crimes accused here. Generally you'd imagine the Chief of Police would want to put out some social fires and quell any new rumors at a time like this, but it seems like that's just not going to happen here today."

"Any news as to when he's going to-"

"Gotta cut you off there B, Chief Yakushi just stepped out to the podium." Kurama yelled over boos and the general ruckus generated upon Kabuto's arrival.

"Citizens," he began, his voice booming out of the large stereo system set up, "I have just learned the verdict. After a heated and lengthy trial, it is the decision of the court to acquit the officers accused of these crimes of all charges, and to release them all immediately back into active duty."

The audience stood stunned as Kabuto left the podium, a smug smirk barely visible upon his face.

"No…" Minato whispered, baffled by the news. Everyone around him looked on in shock as the anchor came back on.

"Well there you have it folks," he began, obviously dumbstruck by the revelation, "I can't believe it, but acquitted on all charges."

The air around Minato suddenly took on a more ominous feeling as the crowd around him began to shout. Cries of disbelief, rage, and betrayal mixed together in a cacophony of sound.

"So it begins," he said grimly to Kushina.

She nodded and knelt down to the children's level, "Get home now ok kids? Run. Run as fast as you can to Sakura's house. She's closest. Get inside, lock the doors, and don't you dare come out until we can find you ok? Me and Minato have to stay here and try to calm these people down. Run. Now!"

With that, the three kids nodded and sprinted away, Naruto glancing back once. His parents gave him a small smile and urged him forward.

"He'll be ok Shina," Minato said, trying to convince himself as much as his wife.

"I know. But I wish it didn't have to be this way." Kushina replied as the sounds of chaos and disorder grew stronger around them, "C'mon, we have work to do."

A/N:

There you have it! I know it's a wee bit short, but I wanted to get this out before I head off to bed. It's a little different from the stuff I normally write, but the topic of an alternate unfolding of the LA Riots has intrigued me for some time now, and I need a little creative break from Strike Package. I love the story, but I can't write the same thing for long before I need a change of pace. This'll be that alternative outlet for now. Don't worry, SPR is NOT on hiatus or abandoned.

I'm really happy with this first chapter, and I think this story's gonna be a blast to write.

Review if you care to, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the new subject and the slightly heavier content in this story. I plan to have light-hearted moments, but keep in mind that due to the seriousness of the topic, it's very much a drama/action kind of deal.

As always, thank you for the read!

Semper Confortare

-M