So, this is one of the new stories I listed on my profile. This is CHRISTIAN BTW! (Yeah, I know, I just said the bad C-word.)

Anyway, all of my other stories are on hiatus because of this one, so I figured that I'd at least throw it out there. My goal is to handwrite up all of the ten chapters of this story in a week. Also, I don't know about updates because I have to borrow my library's books for now.

Here's the first chapter of Left Behind: The Ninja 1-The Vanishings. It's Sasuke's chapter. Also, I'm going to be bending the ages a little in this fic, but it's AU already anyway.

By the way, I want to wish everyone a Happy "No More Naruto Filler Episodes" Day. That was celebrated on Saturday here in the US.


Part I-The Four Ninja

One
Sasuke Uchiha-The Runaway

Sasuke Uchiha was sick of his parents, especially his father, comparing him to his older brother. Sasuke night not have minded if his father praised him, but, no; his father always told him that he was not good enough.

How much of a right did Fugaku Uchiha really have to compare the two brothers? There was an eight year age gap between them. (Sasuke was twelve and still in academy. Itachi was twenty and on the ANBU ninja squad.)

When Sasuke's father wasn't comparing him, his mother was bugging him about personal beliefs.

Christianity: the beliefs in the writing and teachings of Jesus Christ. That was what Mikoto Uchiha kept "pestering" her youngest son about, and he wanted no part of it.

Most Sundays, Mikoto and Fugaku would take the boys to the local Uchiha Chapel in the compound. Itachi went silently, however, Sasuke, on the other hand, refused to go silently. His parents had to all but drag him into the church.

Then, after they did finally get him into the while building, he always visually expressed his disapproval. He slouched. He would stand, but he refused to sing. He shut his eyes and pretended to sleep during the sermon.

Itachi's and Sasuke's mother and father made the boys attend Sunday School each week. If Sasuke refused, his mother would ground him, a week at a time, until he would go.

Sasuke hated Sunday School even more than he hated regular church. Church was boring, but Sunday School was just plain stupid and he always felt awkward attending it.

Itachi taught Sunday School and children's church every Sunday. Sasuke hated listening to his brother teach. It felt like he was being mocked again, but the truth was, Itachi and Sasuke were polar opposites. Things that Sasuke had to work hard to do, Itachi could do with ease. Sasuke didn't have girls fainting over him, yet the girls seemed to rush to Itachi.

The church had appointed Itachi because he was intelligent. He'd always been a quiet boy in Sunday School, however, he knew his stuff completely.

One morning, when most of the regulars were in attendance, Sasuke, not paying attention as usual, looked around the room to get an idea of the kind of people that came to Sunday School on a regular basis.

His observation revealed that the majority of the students were in the adolescent years, mostly eight and nine. There were two, Sasuke discovered, older kids. They were fifteen or sixteen. They even carried Bibles. Losers, Sasuke dubbed them.

"Little Brother, are you paying attention?" Itachi asked him in his quiet, slightly mocking voice.

Sasuke let out a quick "Hmph" and faced forward as he pretended to listen.

The next week, when his mother came into his room to wake him up to get ready for church, he made an excuse that he was "too sick to go."

After placing her hand on Sasuke's forehead, she replied, "You don't have a fever, Sasuke. Besides, most people don't get sick in the middle of the summer. Now, come on, we don't want to be late."

Sasuke groaned. Not a smart idea.

Mikoto sat down on Sasuke's blue comforter. "What's the matter, Sasuke? Don't you love Jesus anymore?" she asked her youngest son.

Did I ever really? That was what Sasuke want to answer, but he knew that answer wouldn't come with good results. The boy played with one of the Uchiha fan symbols on his comforter as he answered, "Truth be told, I only go to church because you make me. If I get grounded, I can't go out and train to beat Itachi."

This was not the kind of answer that Mikoto had wanted to hear. She sighed, and then answered, "You know, just forget it. Pastor Obito doesn't need non-believers like you anyway."

"I can stay home?" Sasuke asked, perking up. This is too good to be true.

"Sure,…if you want to be ground for a whole week," replied Mikoto, with a fake smile.

Yep, that had definitely been too good to be true, and it wasn't true.

Obviously, Sasuke went to church. As he was walking slowly down the hallway toward Itachi's classroom, a mysterious person called his name.

Sasuke stopped and looked around, but he didn't see anybody. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

An unnatural wind ruffled Sasuke's hair and a man with long, greasy, black hair appeared before the young Uchiha. "Hello, Sasuke," the man spoke in a voice that was a greasy as his hair.

Sasuke quickly pulled out one of the kunai knifes that his mother did not allow him to bring to church and hid it behind his back with his right hand.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?"

"My name is Orochimaru. You can put away your kunai. I didn't come to fight you. I merely want to talk with you."

Sasuke made no move to put his kunai away. He may be young, but he wasn't dumb. He'd studied hard at the academy and he knew to trust his instincts when it came to identifying an enemy. "So talk."

"Okay, fine. I've heard about your troubles and I would like to help."

"My troubles? You don't mean…?"

"I don't have a lot of time, but I came before you today to offer you some help. He quickly snatched one of Pastor Obito's business cards and scribbled something down.

Handing the card to Sasuke, who took it, Orochimaru finished, "If your religious problems ever get to be too hard, come search me out at this location. I can't guarantee how much longer I'll be there, but you can try." As an afterthought, Orochimaru smirked and told Sasuke, "I look forward to seeing you soon."

Before Sasuke could reply, more unnatural wind ruffled his hair. This time, a younger boy with long, silver hair tied back in a low ponytail appeared. "Sorry to interrupt, but we must go, Lord Orochimaru."

"Fine, Kabuto. You're lucky that you're my assistant or I would have probably slain you a long time ago."

Sasuke glanced between the two. The twelve-year-old was unsure if the two were friends or foes. There was Kabuto, who was probably no older than Itachi, who called Orochimaru 'lord', and Orochimaru, clearly older, who'd just threatened Kabuto. Before Sasuke could decide the unnatural wind blew again.

Orochimaru's voice was the last evidence that anyone had just been there. "I'm sure we'll meet again, Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasuke stood in the hallway for a minute longer as he tried to comprehend all that had just gone on. All he succeeded in doing was to give himself a headache.

Giving up, Sasuke continued walking slowly to Itachi's classroom. When he came to the door, he didn't try to sneak in. He just casually walked in as if he wasn't late.

Itachi, who was having a discussion, immediately looked up. With an emotionless expression, he said, "Well, well, how nice of you to join us, little brother. Now tell me, what has kept you from gracing us all with your presence?"

Sasuke took his usual seat towards the back. "Why's it matter to you, Itachi?" he replied in a mocking tone. He loved mocking his brother like his brother always mocked him.

Itachi returned to his discussion and as Sasuke ignored him, the younger thought about the encounter with that Orochimaru again.

That was how it had all come to this. Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He had decided to go find that Orochimaru.

In his bedroom, he grabbed his purple backpack that he always took with him when he went training and stuffed a change of clothes (AN: his blacks from later in Naruto) a couple bags of Doritos, a pack of cookies, and three boxes of Pocky into it.

Feeling satisfied, he prepared to leave, but, like always, he was stopped at the door.

"Where are you going, Sasuke?" his mother asked him.

"Training," Sasuke replied, simply.

"But it's almost dark."

"So? Oh, and I packed snacks, so don't hold up dinner by waiting for me."

Mikoto smiled. "Sasuke, you really have grown; you and Itachi both."

Sasuke didn't reply, because he had already left, shutting the door behind him.

888

Sneaking out of the Uchiha Compound and the Leaf Village was not too hard.

When Sasuke arrived at the hide-out, he was a little unsure of how to enter, but, as it turned out, he didn't need to worry.

Orochimaru appeared outside the hide-out with more of that unnatural wind. "Good to see that you have come after all, Sasuke. We've already set up a room for you. I trust that you'll find everything to your liking."

Sasuke thanked him and allowed the other to show him to his room.

Sasuke Uchiha. Finally, his parents might realize how he felt. Keyword: Might.
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So, that's Sasuke's chapter. With this story, I plan to blend facts from the show, yet, in a different sense, such as here. This is why Sasuke leaves to go to Orochimaru in this story. Orochimaru will play a bigger role later.

The main four ninja are Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi. Yeah, Team 7. Others will come in later. So far, Sasuke has the longest chapter, but I'm not finished with Naruto's chapter yet, so we'll see.

Also, I will be posting a poll on my profile. I don't know whether I want Naruto's last name to be Uzumaki or Namikaze. His parents will both still be alive. The poll should be up within a day or so. Please take time to vote. This issue will be important to the story. You have until I'm ready to post Naruto's chapter to decide. Then, the decision will be final, forever.

Anyway, as always, thanks for reading.

demonalchemist5