Shinobi

by IVRedQueenVI

The World As They Knew Had Ended, Literally. Years Later, Friends Became Enemies. Enemies, Became Something More. Now, It Was Time To Put Old Grudges Aside and Rewrite Shinobi History, Their History. But How Can They Rebuild Their World When Each is More Twisted Than The Last? They were, after all, dead.

1. The Beginning is the End

Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
Rated: M

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"To abandon your duty is not courageous, below the courageous there is nothing."

Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato

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SHINOBI
Chapter I
The Beginning is the End

What can change the nature of man?

Does man change when the world is taken away from him? Or will he change when he takes the world from someone else? If he changes, will he rise up a hero and fight for good, or a desolate villain who will bring the world to an end? What is it that makes a man a man? Is it his origins? The way he comes to life?

Or is it something else? Something much harder to describe?

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There are consequences to every action; it is just not always so obvious when. You never really know how things are going to work out or how you're going to feel until afterward - thus, regret is born. You may not be able to change anything, but at least you can feel bad about it.

Never mind that it might haunt you for the rest of your life.

But the past was pretty much irrelevant now, other than the fact that it led to the present. The present, a terribly uncertain place of fear and restless doubt. But the future existed to allay those fears, and to make both the past and the present bearable. The future was a place where all their hopes and dreams lived.

And now, as they studied each other with profound determination, they were all out of future. Each of them searching, coldly. They had their good times, their bad, their happy, and their sad. In the end, reality stepped in. Childish laughter and ideals were outgrown and replaced with the path each had chosen. Some for the better, others for the worse.

After years of trying to save each other from their own personal demons, they had finally arrived to the conclusion of their respective stories. Ones they had fought so hard to change. Their fate remained the same. It all led to this, their last battle.

As if by programmed default, each held their Hitai-ate up, before tying it fixedly to their foreheads. Each nodded in a silent understanding that spoke for itself, I respect you, Shinobi.

The winds, calmed down. The swishing sounds of the trees were non-existent. Even the river seemed to flow gently. Other than the sounds of thundering clouds, signaling the approaching storm, the valley was quiet. As if the heavens itself waited patiently for their next move.

If there was a lesson, it was that there's no room for chance in this "business." Lives depended on certainty. Reason. Intellect. Skill. Nothing else was supposed to matter. They were the cause leading to the greater effect. The major impact. The turning point in the story.

Three hands slammed into the ground from their respective places. And with three large growls, each stood atop their summoning heads. Suddenly, the shrill cry of an eagle up above gave the clear start of the battle long postponed.