Mission Zero Ch 1: Blood
( Italic: Thoughts, flashbacks, dream sequences. Bold: Jutsu and Kyubi/Demonic/Inner Character's Speech. Underline: Time Skips. )
A injured shinobi ran frantically, a very dangerous enemy hot on his trail. Knowing well the consequences of beng caught. A scratched out leaf emblem on the headband I.D. to symbolize that he's a missing ninja. The shinobi constantly glanced over his left shoulder, the bloody palm of his right hand tightly gripping a Kunai as he sped up, his little remaining chakra depleting quickly by the second.
Due to a mixture of fatigue and blood loss, the two combined factors resulted in very poor perception. The escaping shinobi tripped over a long wire, a barrage of eight kunai knives equipped with explosive tags raining down upon them, his screams of terror and agony immediately extinguished by the explosion.
A blond haired shinobi who appeared about twelve years of age walked almost casually across the battleground, disappearing and reappearing in a burst of chakra-enhanced speed. The blond shinobi wore a basic black Jonin Vest and matching loose Jonin pants, multiple hidden compartments for weapons, poison, etc., and black lightweight boots with hidden mechanisms installed.
The last feature, and the one that made the most impression was the menacing white, almost skeletal colored mask, thin red lines decorating his face in runes, the symbols glowing in what seemed like a pulse, the runes reacting to his chakra. A Konoha I.D. leaf emblem carved into the forehead of the mask.
The Ninja's name was Naruto Uzumaki.
"You're very foolish if you think you can get away from me in the state you're in."
Naruto said in a cold, merciless tone. Not the tone of voice you'd expect from a child of this age. Naruto approached his target's hiding place, able to sense the source of the steadily decreasing chakra signature. The enemy shinobi quickly performed a few basic hand signs, using every last ounce of his chakra he had left, desperately attempting a teleportation jutsu to escape from battle.
The shinobi froze in his tracks as he felt a cold, sharp blade of a Kunai against his neck. With one swift motion Naruto slit his target's throat, the motionless form of a man falling to the ground face first as a pool of blood formed beneath the corpse. A moment later three Anbu Agents arrived on the scene, all with leaf village emblems carved into their masks.
"The target has been eliminated, I leave the rest to the elite tracker unit."
Naruto stated in an emotionless tone with a matching facial expression, verbally reporting to his superior.
"Very well shinobi agent zero, you are dismissed. Return to the village immediately and turn in your official mission report to Lord Hokage."
The Anbu captain ordered, Naruto bowing once to acknowledge the orders he had been given before vanishing in a swirl of leaves.
"Sir I understand that agent zero is a qualified shinobi but should we really send a young boy back to the village unescorted?"
One of the three Anbu asked his superior, turning to his captain.
"Under normal circumstances you're correct, however that is no ordinary child. In fact I pity anybody who is foolish enough to try and attack that boy before understanding his true abilities. That boy is by definition a true Shinobi."
The Anbu captain replied in a dark tone.
Naruto was back in the village within a mere four hours, although his hunt had tired him out considerably. After confirming his I.D. with the village guards Naruto filled out his official mission report while walking toward the Hokage Mansion. Naruto overheard two Chunin whispering to one another, shooting him hateful looks as they spoke. Naruto ignored them. Over the years Naruto had come to ignore the meaningless hatred of the villagers and shinobi of his village, unaware of the reason they hated him so much.
After about only give more minutes of travel Naruto arrived at the top of the long, spiral staircase. Arriving directly in front of the Hokage's office door, knocking with decent force, awaiting a reply.
"Come in Naruto, I've been expecting you..."
A deep and weary voice said from the other side of the door. With the Hokage's permission Naruto pushed the door open, entering and shutting the door behind him firmly. Naruto took four steps into the room before dropping down to his right knee in a respectful bow, holding out the mission report for Lord Hokage to accept it. Sarutobi nodded in reply, walked over to Naruto and took the document from him, opening it and reading it over.
"Excellent work as usual agent Zero, your payment will be transferred into your account. Now, are you ready to accept your next mission?"
Naruto bowed his head even further, looking straight down.
"There is only the next mission. It is my purpose."
Naruto stated simply, these words making the Hokage frown slightly.
Maybe I'm hoping for too much... Maybe it's too late for Naruto to be able to interact with other children his age but this old man can try...
The Third Hokage thought to himself, sipping from his pipe and exhaling the excess smoke out his office window.
"Your new mission will be to join the Ninja Academy and pass along with the rest of the students, you will be placed in a Genin Squad and tested as a true shinobi. You have been trained in personal development and shinobi conduct but you must now learn everything else that is required of a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village."
"Yes Lord Hokage, I will fulfill the mission at all costs."
Naruto replied, a little confused by what Lord Hokage meant by everything else that was required of a shinobi...
"And for this mission you have two additional orders, you will leave your Anbu mask with me and until you have attained the rank of Jonin you are not allowed to die. Do I make myself clear?"
Sarutobi stated, a dead serious look in his eyes as he spoke. Very aware this particular shinobi would do anything to assure the mission went successfully including sacrificing himself without hesitation if need be. Naruto was hesitant to reply but nonetheless obeyed his orders.
"I understand Lord Hokage, until I have achieved at least Jonin Rank I will act as a Genin of the Hidden Leaf Village."
Naruto said, taking his mask off and setting it on the Office Table. Naruto's face appeared very tired, his deep cerulean eyes filled with what appeared to be an emotionless void that matched the rest of his facial expression, his blond locks overgrown and hanging down loosely in front of his face.
This AU is my new fan fiction project, this story is so good it's pretty much writing itself! I hope somebody, anybody enjoyed reading this even half as much as I enjoyed writing it! Peace! - DL555