A/N: This story takes place in an alternate universe. Naruto is 16, and having been a target of hatred all his life by those he swore to protect, is finally caving in under the pressure.
I am not sure exactly how long I am going to keep this story going, was just a quick idea I had one night. If it gets a good enough response I will continue it with more chapters.
Naruto will have scenes in first person, as well as third person. I will also be changing up the way some characters act. Don't ask why I don't just stick to one version, it's my story lol.
I am still working on my story MISSING. If you haven't read that, I suggest you check it out!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Only my OC.
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Chapter One - Falling
I am so tired of this.
It is the same fucking day every day.
I wake up to dilapidated apartment with barely any furniture, I take cold showers when I have water, and then I go to meet my team for a day of 'training', if one could call it that. Our sensei only puts effort into one of us, leaving my useless teammate Sakura and I to our own devices, for several hours a day.
Just because our sensei Kakashi doesn't train me doesn't mean I am a slouch. I spent a lot of my time exercising off to the side of training ground seven. The rest of my team probably wouldn't even notice if I was gone. Sakura watched Sasuke and cheered him on, while our Jounin sensei Kakashi actually taught Sasuke different techniques and exercises. Looking at them literally make me sick.
After we are 'dismissed' for the day, I wander around the village aimlessly. Not like there's much else for me to do. No one will let me use their services, I only get food from one place, and there's only so much I can take of ramen. I also don't have any friends. A few years ago I discovered I should just give up on trying to have friends. Either their parents dissuade them by telling them not to associate with the demon child, or they punish them for even looking in my direction. Kami, what a joke.
I am not totally alone like you may think. I have one friend. He's been with me through.. literally everything. His name is Kurama, and he is the Kyuubi no Yoko. When I was born, the Yondaime Hokage sacrificed both of our lives for the good of the village by sealing Kurama into me. The Yondaime died after completing the seal, and I.. well, I became the village's scapegoat. Even if the wind blew in the 'wrong' direction, I was blamed for it.
Not only did all the villagers blame me for their problems, they also attacked me. I would occasionally be walking down one of the many roads in our village, and then out of nowhere four or five people would run up to me and beat me relentlessly. Since I became a ninja the beatings have slowed down, but every year on October 10th, my birthday and the anniversary of the Yondaime 'defeating' the Kyuubi, a large mob would form and hunt me down and beat me to within an inch of my life.
Kurama has been with me through all of the pain, through all the physical and emotional pain. when I first met the fox, we were totally against each other. After multiple years of beatings and torture however, we bonded. He felt horrible that they were attacking me because of him, but I don't blame Kurama. He never meant to attack Konoha in the first place. It was only by bad luck that the Yondaime sealed him inside me. In exchange for letting Kurama access my senses, he has been teaching me what he knows of the shinobi arts, and under his tutelage, I've become a pretty powerful ninja.
Even though I have power I can't stand up for myself. All it takes is one complaint that I attacked a villager and I will be hauled off to jail and quite possibly executed, even though the offer is looking quite attractive. After years of this abuse I am nearly at my limit.
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I was currently walking by the East Gate of Konoha, minding my business, because kami forbid I look at someone wrong. Today had been much the same as the day before it. Cloudy, gloomy, looked like it might rain. Kakashi-sensei let us go a little earlier than usual today so he could train Sasuke in secret. It's a shame that he doesn't trust his own team, however it's no skin off my nose.
"There's that demon brat."
"Don't look at him Ayame-chan! He will eat you!"
"Fucking demon thinks he can walk around freely, like us."
'I can see the villagers are having a good day today'
I neared closer to the gate and saw the Hokage and a few delegates standing around.
'Wonder if they're waiting around for me..'
Deciding to wait around and find out what is going on, I stood over by one of the village alleyways. Leaning against one of the walls, I sat patiently. Moments later, a group of foreign shinobi landed in front of the gates and walked towards the Hokage and her party. There were five people all together, four of them had looked like ANBU, wearing black clothes and camouflage, and carried huge swords with them. While interesting, they were not nearly as interesting as the fifth member of their group.
She was a tall woman, with long flowing red hair and pale skin. She wore a blue dress with a gray skirt and fishnet leggings. She radiated authority and power. Even from where I was standing, I could sense a large amount of chakra within her. She looked beautiful. The woman walked forward, in front of her group and met with the Hokage.
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"Why hello there, Hokage-sama, it is an honor to finally meet you."
"Likewise, Mizukage-sama. You can call me Tsunade." The Hokage said, smiling warmly at the Mizukage.
"Hai, Tsunade-sama. You may call me Mei" The Mizukage said, quickly scanning the area in front of her, taking in the sights of Konoha's east gate entrance. The village itself seemed rather peaceful.
"Alright, Mei-sama. Let us head to my office and get out of this heat." Tsunade said as she ushered the Mizukage and her group forward. Nodding the group started walking towards the Hokage tower.
Mei's eyes scanned all around her as she watched Konoha's people mill on about their days. Her eyes happened to glance down one of the alleyways to her right and spotted a man standing staring at her, hands in his pockets, leaning up against the wall. Seeing him staring at her, she couldn't fight her urges and winked at him seductively. The man however winced at that and began to walk the other way quickly. Feeling a little put off by his actions, Mei gave chase, breaking off from her group.
"Hey! Stop right there!" Mei shouted as she landed right in front of the man.
"P-please mam, please let me go" Naruto said as he tried to step around her so he could leave, however Mei wasn't having any of it.
"Why did you wince when I winked at you, you're not gay are you?" Mei asked half threateningly, half teasingly.
"I-i" Naruto started before he was tackled to the ground by ANBU, who began hitting him.
"W-what are you doing?" Mei asked stunned that the ANBU that had followed her had attacked an innocent man for no reason.
"We're really sorry about the inconvenience Mizukage-sama, this trash will be dealt with." one of the ANBU said hauling Naruto to his feet and pulled him towards a different alleyway.
"What are you doing with him?" Mei asked anger rising to the surface again.
"Do not concern yourself with him Mizukage-sama" The remaining ANBU said, ushering her to return to her group. Looking incredibly angry Mei stomped off to where she left the Hokage and her group.
"Tsunade-sama, we need to talk. In your office please." Mei ordered and Tsunaded nodded as the group moved towards the Hokage Tower, much quicker than before. Once they arrived, Mei had Tsunade kick everyone out of the room.
"I would like to ask you a question Tsunade-sama. Two of the ANBU you had guarding me attacked a man that I was talking to back there, and I want to know what he did to warrant such treatment." Mei said, eyes ablaze with anger. Tsunade looked at her confused.
"What man?" Tsunade asked.
"He was about my height, blonde hair, and was wearing an orange and black suit." Mei said as Tsunade got a twitch to her eye.
"Naruto? Why did the ANBU attack Naruto, he's one of our Genin!" Tsunade said getting angry herself.
"I am not sure why they attacked this Naruto, but I was teasing him and they just beat him and shoved him in an alley." Mei said. Tsunade got even more angry after hearing this and called for her ANBU. When two different ANBU arrived in the room, Tsunade sent them after the two other ANBU responsible for Naruto's beating.
"Sigh, I have no idea why people can't be more tolerant of Naruto" Tsunade said rubbing her temples.
"Tell me about this Naruto." Mei said, looking at Tsunade.
"There's not much to say. The brat is loud, has a weird obsession with the color orange, and he's always shouting about becoming Hokage" Tsunade listed causing Mei to raise one of her eyebrows. That's not the impression she got at all.
"Is that it?" Mei asked before seeing Tsunade frown.
"Not quite.. The villagers, and even our own ninja, treat him very differently than everyone else as you have seen." Tsunade said looking down a bit and zoning out. Mei frowned as well.
'I want to meet this Naruto, there must be more to him than just this' Mei thought.
"Tsunade-sama, if you don't mind, I'd like to walk around your village for a bit before turning in for the evening." Mei said. Tsunade nodded and watched her leave her office.
Mei was going to find Naruto if it was the last thing she did.
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Naruto lay in an alley after getting beat by an ANBU. This wasn't the first time it's happened, and it definitely won't be the last.
'I'm really sorry about this Kit' Kurama said in Naruto's mind.
'Don't worry about it Kurama-san, this always happens' Naruto thought back wincing in pain as Kurama tried his best to heal his injuries.
'It's not right. These humans disgust me.' Kurama said frowning.
'I agree Kurama-san, these people sicken me as well. I am so tired of being treated like this. I can't bare it anymore' said Naruto causing Kurama to get concerned.
'Kit? Are you alright?' Kurama asked
'Not yet, but I will be. Looks like it will rain soon' Naruto said as rain started to fall on his face while he laid in the alley. Moments later, he got up, and walked off in the direction of the Hokage Monument. As he walked thoughts flew through his mind.
'I can't do anything to change their minds'
'I can't do anything to make my life better'
'I can't escape this fate'
As Naruto passed groups of villagers trying to get out of the rain, they all stopped to sneer and give him dirty looks. The pouring rain was a perfect mask for the tears flowing down his face. He was tired of holding up this facade. He wasn't happy, he was never happy. He couldn't even be bitter, or angry with the villagers anymore for their ignorance. He just accepted it.
Passing his dwelling, Naruto noticed that there was a smoke coming out of his windows. Stopping to stare at it for a few moments he smiled and continued walking down the road, chuckling to himself. People near the end of his street looked at him and frowned at him laughing to himself.
"Demon brat."
Naruto just moved on.
Nearing the monument, Naruto slowly made his way up to the top. Coming here throughout the years put him at ease, strangely enough. Pretty much always being in hostile territory, he found it odd that he could find a place of peace. The rain fell much heavier now as Naruto stood on the head of the Sandaime Hokage.
'Kit, what are we doing here?' Kurama asked
'I don't know' Naruto responded, staring out over the village.
With the rain falling like it was, he couldn't see very far past the village walls, but that didn't bother him. The rain made it look like the monument was crying, just like he was.
'You will never amount to anything'
'You can't become a good ninja, you'll always be a reject'
'Dead last, can't do anything right'
'Demon brat should be executed'
Each thought. Each vision. Each memory, pushed him closer and closer to the edge of the cliff. Looking down he could see the ground. It was quite a drop if he fell, and even with Kurama's healing abilities he wouldn't be able to recover, he'd be dead instantly.
"It looks so inviting" Naruto said looking down, smiling.
'Kit-' Kurama started before he was interrupted
"Hey you, what do you think you're doing?!" a voice suddenly yelled, causing Naruto to turn slowly to see the Mizukage standing a few feet away from him.
"Oh, it's you." Naruto said, looking down.
"What are you doing up here while it's raining like this? Don't you have any idea how dangerous it is?" Mei said annoyed.
"This place.. is special to me" Naruto said turning back around to face the village. Mei stared at his back.
"Why aren't you at home or something?" Mei said watching the boy twitch at her question. Naruto mumbled. "What?"
"I SAID BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ONE" Naruto shouted turning back around, eyes red with tears streaming down his face. Mei flinched and took a step back.
"All of my life, I was taught to love Konoha, to protect it from threats, however they all treat me like a threat! Worse than that! Naruto screamed into the rain "I've spent every single day of my life in fear of not making it to tomorrow. No one gives a damn about me!"
Mei stood there transfixed as she listened to Naruto vent about his life here in Konoha. She felt sad hearing how the villages treats him, and she was pissed that a human being could ever be treated that way. But she couldn't prepare herself for what she was about to hear.
"..and you want to know what the worst part is? No matter how much they decimate me, how much they beat me, how much they RAPE me of everything they never let me DIE. I just want release, to be able to end all of this... torture." Naruto said looking back out to Konoha. "That's why I came here today. I have had enough of this pain. This emptiness..."
'KIT! DON'T YOU DO IT' Kurama roared from inside his mind.
"P-please, don't do this" Mei stuttered watching the boy walk to the cliff's edge. "You don't have to do this!"
"There's no other way out Mizukage-sama." Naruto said, voice void of emotion as he neared the edge.
"Y-you can leave the village with my men and I, you can become a ninja of Kiri!" Mei shouted trying to deter Naruto from continuing. Naruto stopped and turned back around.
"Why would you do that for me? I am nothing to you" Naruto said staring at Mei.
"I'd do that for you because you deserve a different life." Mei said staring at Naruto. "Naruto, you've lived out such a sad existence here in Konoha, and they take you for granted. In Kiri you could do anything you wanted. Live anyway you want to."
"There's no possible way I could get away from Konoha. The second I set foot outside the village they'd have ANBU haul me back and they'd execute me." Naruto said looking down.
"Leave that to my men and I, we have ways to help you. Naruto.." Mei said walking up to Naruto and pulling him into a bone-crushing hug.
"..Please come home"
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Chapter One - Falling END.
That was some first chapter!
I don't know about most of you, but I enjoy reading stories where Naruto is really down on his luck, and depressed, because it's more relatable. However, I also enjoy reading stories where he concurs these feelings of hopelessness and perseveres!
I am not sure where I am going with this story yet, because I am just kind of winging it, but I have a feeling this will be a great story.
NOTE: Please don't think I am rushing Naruto into a relationship with Mei, if you heard someone say what Naruto did, you'd want to save him too! THEY ARE NOT IN LOVE..YET.
I would love to read your thoughts on my story! Flames will be ignored.
AU/OC By WarrenBeck
Next Chapter: Flight.