When What Was Is Now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but negotiations are in progress.

Italics are thoughts

Bold is for Bijuu

Bold Italics are Bijuu thoughts

Prologue

The funny thing about the decisions one makes in life is that sometimes the impact isn't felt till long after the events that shape them are forgotten. People often forget how the past defines our future, and how it has a tendency to repeat itself if steps are not taken. The Sage of Six Paths faced down a monster, and in his victory taught the world how to harness the energy within. Near the end of his life he split the monster into nine lesser beings, which he then tried to teach them how to be human. It was at the end of his life when he chose one of his sons over the other that lead to people beginning to use that energy to kill one another. It also marked the start of a Cycle of Hatred between his very sons and their descendants.

If we move forward one thousand years, we see the impact of the Sage's actions. The nine beings that were his children, even if they were not his flesh and blood, had become little more than living weapons of mass destruction. Demonized by mankind, they responded to the hatred of man with a fury not seen since their progenitor. And the sons of the Sage had diverged into many clans, but none so embodied the Cycle of Hatred more than the Senju and the Uchiha. Yet, for all the hatred, it was this time that the Cycle broke. The first cracks were made when the brothers met again, old souls in different bodies. Two enemies, two children, that decided to become friends. When they grew older, their old friendship reemerged and a home was made where the young need not fear death as they grew up. The friendship ended in fire and death, but this was enough to begin the breaking.

The next time the brothers met, things had changed. One was an outcast, ignorant of the burden forced upon him at birth. The other was a spare son, who was spared when almost all his kin died. They grew as rivals, then as friends, and finally as brothers. Even though one abandoned his home, the other never gave up hope. The outcast grew strong, and became aware of his burden. In time, he fought a man with the eyes of the Sage and, in fighting him, faced the old trial. Yet this time the Cycle of Hatred was broken. With his victory, he ceased to be an outcast and became a hero. The spare drowned in his hate, and even when revenge was his, he still felt empty. The hero saved his friend, saved the world, even saved the beings that had been demonized for so long. His choices brought an end to the endless wars, and as the need for shinobi decreased, so did the knowledge of their abilities. Even the power to use those abilities was becoming less and less.

It has been a thousand years since the Cycle broke. Much history is forgotten, much knowledge was lost. Yet the world marches on, different then it was before. The Sage changed the people, the Hero changed the world. Yet for all these changes, some things remain the same. Those with power hold it over those without. Those that lose what's precious to them fight to protect what remains. And as the old saying goes…War never changes.

Scrape…Scrape…Scrape. The sound echoed throughout the empty hall. Dust that had settled for at least a thousand years was finally stirred into motion. Chip…Chip…Chip. Hammer and pick set against old stone. Chip…Chip…CRACK! As the sound of tools finally ceased, it was replaced with the sounds of cursing as the intruder cut his arm against the stone. After a minute or so, those sounds faded as well, leaving only the dust. And then, suddenly, there was light.