Fissures of Thirteen

Hey everyone. Yeah, I've written Naruto stories before, but it's been such a long time. I fell out of the series for a while, tried my hand at other things then in a fit of sorrow got my girlfriend and myself hooked on the show, yeah... that was interesting. Anyway, in a fit of passion I started writing this thing out It's actually a (highly) edited version of an idea that I had once when I was younger. Then I turned it into another series then brought it back here. It's not really close to the same as it was before though. I kind of veered off the point of the old idea, but you know what? I don't care. Point is it's here and it's going to be fun!

For now I'm going to try and stick with an update a week so that I can get other things done as well. When college starts back up I may not be able to keep that up, but since I already have a bunch of chapters written we'll see what I can manage. this is the furthest I've gotten in a story (that I've written on my own) and it's a lot of fun.

Furthermore I like some characters that most people wouldn't like so they are going to be good (if not at first they will become good) so just be warned. There are some characters I dislike, but I won't bash characters because I don't believe in that. Even if it's the villains they will be interesting, and have their reasons even if it's a bad reason.

Oh and thank my girlfriend Bakurafangur91 (who is working on her own Naruto story) for helping me edit this story.

Disclaimer: I wish I could draw so well, but no, I don't own Naruto.

Warning: Violence, death, blood, gore, angst, mental and physical abuse, stuff like that. There are some things in some chapters that might be uncomfortable for some people so I will warn you guys about those because (though they won't be too graphic) there is at least one chapter later on that has a panic attack that might be triggering so be safe.

Pairings: Well I guess I should tell you those, but what fun would that be? If you really want to know (because you hate certain pairings) then you can ask me and I'll tell you (fi I have that one figured out), but I don't want to tell you all of them just because I think it's moe fun to keep people guessing. If too many people ask I will list them though.

Chapter 1

Naruto

I don't understand.

It's just that simple. I don't think I'll ever understand why they always look at me like that. Why does everyone hate me for no reason at all? Did I really do something bad? If so, I want to know what it is so I can fix it.

I know the kids bully other students as well, but they like bullying me the most. Until the adults tell them off because they should stay away from me. It's like I don't exist to them. Like I'm just something they want to get rid of.

I just don't know why. I've never done anything to any of them. I'm only six; what could I possibly have done?

I run through the streets not bothering to look around me. After all, I can feel their stares. That hatred they direct at me. They think I don't hear them whispering, but I do. I can hear it very clearly.

"Isn't that the boy?"

"Be quiet, just ignore him."

"Momma, who's that?"

"No one you have to concern yourself with, dear."

"He looks lonely."

"Listen, you're not allowed to be near him."

"I wish he'd just go away!"

"Why does the Hokage even let him stay in the village?"

"Is it really alright to allow him to enter the academy?"

"Yeah, I mean, just think what could happen if he became a ninja."

I try to drown them out. I've long since stopped crying about the things they say. I stop for a bit to look up at the Hokage monument. What I wouldn't give to be respected like the Hokage. To be treated like I was actually important. Maybe… maybe if I were to become Hokage…

I shake my head. I have to graduate the academy first, and most of the stuff is too confusing. I can't get any of it, and the teachers are no help! The best I get is ignored!

Sometimes I even wonder why I still go to the academy. It's not like I'd pass anyway. I can't get this stuff. I don't know why I don't just give up.

Then a part of me tells me I can't give up because I want to prove to everyone that I'm not some monster. I want to have friends. I want to have people who care about me. I want it so badly. Seeing everyone with their family and friends… it hurts deep inside. I don't know how to change it, but it really makes me feel like I want that too. Can I have it?

Am I allowed to have it? Kids have said that my parents never loved me, and that I was just abandoned. I don't know if they're right, but given how this village feels about me I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

I look into a river. What is it that makes me so different? Is it these marks? I stroke my face gently where three marks like whiskers line my cheeks. I've seen people with strange marks on their face before, like Kiba and Choji in my class, but none of them have marks like this.

I clench my fists grabbing a stone, and throwing it into the water to distort my appearance. I hate them! Why do I even have these marks? What do they mean? Am I really a monster? No one will ever answer me!

I've asked Old Man Hokage-one of the only people who will actually talk to me-but he just smiles sadly and tells me I'll know when I'm older.

I don't want to know when I'm older! I don't even know how much older! I want to know now! Everyone's keeping secrets from me!

I sigh going to the place I usually train. It's at the outskirts of the village. I know I should be in one of the training grounds, but it's not like anyone would miss me, and besides, I'd rather not have people glaring at me, or telling me to get out because I don't belong there.

I walk into the clearing looking around. It doesn't seem like anyone's found out about my secret training ground. That's good. I'd rather no one knows about it.

I take off my backpack and lean it against a rock near the edge of the clearing. I pull out my shuriken. Guess I'm going to have to practice this we're going to get tested on it, and I'm going to fail as always.

I always hear the kids complaining when they do badly because their parents would tell them off for getting a bad grade… I wonder what it's like to be told off, but still be wanted. I wonder what it's like to have a bond with a parent.

I shake my head. I'm going to have to stop thinking about that. There's no real use. It's only going to make me cry, and crying is pointless. I pick up the first shuriken aiming it at the target I set up on a tree. I try to throw it, but it doesn't even land in the target at all. What am I doing wrong?

"I'd suggest you stop throwing it like that. Unless you want to cut your hand in half, but that's your choice honestly."

I jump at the voice turning around. I look up seeing someone leaning against a tree. The foliage above creates a silhouette of the person.

"Who are you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Well, yes."

"If you say so. Though it is polite to give your own name first before asking someone else's, child."

"You want to know my name?" I ask. Why's he even talking to me? Everyone always knows me.

"Maybe I do; maybe I don't, but if you're going to ask my name you're going to have to do it politely."

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," I say. I'm ready for the person to leave or throw something at me. No one ever stays around long enough to even ask my name. I have no reason to think this person will be any different.

"See, was that so hard?"

"So are you going to tell me your name?"

"Don't feel like it."

"Oh come on! I told you my name so why won't you tell me yours?" I whine. I think this is the longest conversation I've ever had.

"Quit whining; it's annoying."

"You said you would tell me your name if I told you mine."

"Actually, I said it was polite to give your name first before asking others; I never said was going to tell you my name."

"Whatever," I say turning around again. "I need to train."

"Don't you know it's dangerous to train out here? You could get hurt."

"I don't care. At least out here I won't be bothered by people."

"And what would happen if you got hurt?"

"Does it matter? No one even cares about me anyway, No one would miss me if I were dead!"

There was a moment of silence. "You're only going to get killed training like that. Let me show you how to do it properly, and if you show promise, I'll tell you who I am."

Show me how to do it? No one's ever done anything like that before. We get a demonstration in class, but they don't really do anything for me. Especially when Sasuke is doing it. Sasuke does everything. Sasuke is amazing, and never does anything wrong! That's what everyone says at least.

"Okay," I say. Not that it's going to make a difference. I'm just an idiot. This person will learn that really fast. I have no talent at all.

The person jumps out of the tree landing on the ground with ease. I look for a while. "You're a really pretty, lady."

He looks at me for a while, then rolls his eyes. "I'm a man. And yes, before you ask, I'm sure. I checked last time I had a shower."

"Well, anyway, you're still pretty, but… you're so pale. I mean, how are you even that pale? You look like…" my eyes widen in realization. "You look like an Oreo!"

He stares at me. "I'm… an Oreo…?"

"Yup!"

"You're a strange child," he says walking over to me. He picks up one of the practice shuriken. "It's been a long time since I've held one of these. Now, pay attention. I don't want to have to repeat this too many times."

"Alright," I say watching as he holds the shuriken different than what I had been doing. He flicks his wrist, and the shuriken goes flying hitting the bull's eye.

"Now you try, and no rushing. That only causes more problems. Once you can get the hang of it, you'll start knowing how to do it faster, and when you're in motion. You have to take these things one step at a time. You don't learn how to run before you even know how to crawl after all."

"I guess that makes sense," I say. I turn to the target watching it. I grip the shuriken like he showed me, and tried to throw it. It was at least a little better this time.

"Don't hold it so tight, let it slip out of your hand when you throw it."

I keep training throwing shuriken after shuriken then getting them back when I run out. I don't know how much time has passed, or even how many times I've been throwing shuriken, but I think I'm making progress.

"I suppose that's all you can do for today."

"No it's not! I can keep going!" I say though I do feel a bit tired.

He fixes me with his golden eyes. "You're going to learn really quickly that there is a limit to how far you can push your body. If you push yourself too hard bad things could happen. You need to give your body time to relax. If you don't it's not going to get better; you're only going to hurt your body. If you work really hard one day then are out for a few days you'd get less done than if you did a little bit each day."

"But I haven't mastered it yet!"

"Mastering anything takes time and practice."

"But Sasuke can do it with more than one shuriken!"

"Well, you aren't Sasuke, now are you? Perhaps he can, and perhaps he has people helping him learn how to do it, but that doesn't matter. Having a rival is good, but you're never going to be exactly like him. If you constantly compare what he can do to what you can do you're never going to get better. Focus on what you can do. There are things you will be able to do that Sasuke just can't do-"

"Like what?" I ask eagerly. Something that I can do that Sasuke can't! Then I can finally beat him, and prove myself!

"I'm not sure yet. You're just at the basics of your training. Your own style will only start to shine when you have at least D-rank techniques under your belt, and it will become very apparent when you get even stronger moves."

"Oh," I say calming down.

"Now go home, and get some rest. I'd also suggest you take a hot bath, they're the best to get rid of stiff muscles, and your arm muscles might be a bit sore after throwing that many shuriken."

"Alright," I say putting my shuriken away. I wonder if I'm going to have hot water today. The water heat can be very testy at my house. I'm used to taking cold showers.

"By the way, since you wanted to know so badly, I'll tell you my name, but you can't tell anyone you know me."

"I won't," I say. I know I should be worried about why he doesn't want anyone else to know, but I'm too excited about having someone who was actually helping me to care about if I should trust him or not.

"My name is Orochimaru."

"Good night, Orochimaru," I say putting my backpack on, and waving.

"Good night, Naruto," he says. I look over my shoulder just as he vanishes in a puff of smoke.

I smile to myself. That's the first time anyone but the old man has actually used my name. Okay, that's a lie, a few other people have used my name. In fact I think I'm going to go get some Ramen before I go home.

This time I really don't hear all the talking about me. After all, I'm in too much of a good mood. I finally have someone who wants to train me. Someone who will help me with my jutsu. I can't really tell anyone, but who'd want to know anyway?

I shake the thought off. It's time to get some Ramen, a hot bath, some sleep, and endure the next day of the academy because I actually have something to look forwards too after all that stupidity. I'll show everyone that I will be a great ninja whether they like it or not.

Did you guys see that coming? Not sure if you did, but yes, Orochimaru is a good guy in this story. Well, a good guy in lose terms. You'll see. He's still going to be Orochimaru, just not as crazy and strange. Because Naruto is just that awesome. Anyway, hope you all enjoy the chapter.