Old Fear, New Fear

The plastered mob had spotted Naruto on their way home from a random bar. Any anger from the group for any failures or unwelcome surprises from earlier in the day had increased a thousand fold as they zeroed in on their favorite victim.

"You monster, you will pay for you sins!"

"Die freak of nature!"

"Abomination!"

"Demon!"

Those words resonated around Naruto in the forms of angry growls and hollers from drunk civilens as well as off duty ninja. Naruto froze up in fear, then quickly sped off across the village. I must get home Naruto thought, I never should stayed out this late, I need to pay attention more! Naruto thought franticly. Naruto stumbled as a blade slice the side of his calf causing him scream in pain and stumble. He straightened out and ran through the pain.

The poor boy was halfway up the apartment stairs, almost home free when one of the ninja surprised him. The ninja reached for Naruto, but he was already falling down the stairs. Before he even hit the ground one of the mob members kicked him away from the complex. Naruto struggled to get up, his chest was on fire. The mob advanced to him as his eyes welled up from the torture session. "Leave me ALOOOOOOONE!" Naruto screamed loudly.

(Naruto pov)

I saw them back up considerably after I yelled. I wasn't sure why so took the chance to run ahead of them. Where should I go, where will I be safe? They're not giving up I wined as I tried to dodge most of the weapons thrown at me.

I saw the woods, the super creepy at night woods looming ahead of me. That's my only option right now. I'd rather risk getting lost then having them catch me. I poured on the speed the best I could with my wounds.

"We're gonna kill you this time monster!" said a frightening voice. I darted through the trees and bushes hoping not to run in to a dangerous animal.

(Normal pov)

A ninja pounced on Naruto's back sitting on him with a devilish smirk on his face. The ninja looked around, "looks like I'm the only one here. I can handle teaching you a lesson, demon." Naruto clawed at the ground trying to get out from underneath him.

"I don't think so!" said the ninja as he took out two kunai and thrust them in to Naruto's hands. Naruto couldn't hold in his pain filled cry. The man brought out another kunai and wildly slashed at Naruto relishing in his tears. Naruto turned his head in time to see the most despicable grin he's seen on a attackers face. His eyes widened and pleaded when the ninja attempted to cut off his pants.

(Naruto pov)

Oh gods no, help, someone, anyone! I prayed to my self. Grrrrrr! I felt the ninja stop moving and turned toward the direction where the noise originated from.

"What the hell is that!" Naruto turned to see a white and black beast. The beast knocked the ninja off me, I turned to see the exchange between the two.

"Your gonna be ok now." I looked up shocked to see an ANBU member speaking to me

. . .nicely. He reached toward the kunai in my hands, "this is gonna hurt."

"We have to go, HE won't be happy if we're late."

"Just a minute I have to help him." said the first ANBU member to the second. The member grabbed both kunai and quickly pulled out. I gasped painfully.

(2nd ANBU member)

Why dose he care about this blonde boy so much? He knows he shouldn't let his emotions lead him around like this. But I can't help to admire that about him.

"Master is waiting, Shin."

"Yes I'll take the blame," said Shin, "Who are you, can you get home from here?" the blonde boy sat up shakily and stared at us with fear in his cerulean eyes. I felt something strange staring in to those captivating eyes. What am I doing I thought and mentally shook myself.

"Hm? What did you say?" Shin asked kindly.

"N-Naruto and I can g-get home." he said louder, his shaking lessened.

"You sure, uh Naruto?" I asked, he nodded furiously.

(Normal pov)

The one of the ANBU waved as they vanished from Naruto's sight. Naruto looked around realizing fast how lost he was.

"Now what?" he asked him self, "I might as well pick a direction." Naruto turned around thinking that if he went in the direction he ran from things would be fine. The blue eyed boy felt light headed and tired. He decided to sleep against a tree then find a way out tomorrow morning.

Naruto woke the next day sore and still lost. He stared at the tree tops to try to find the sun among the thick foliage. On his quest to find the sun Naruto tripped several times over large roots causing him to land on his face. Naruto wandered for hours, in his frustration Naruto cried. A quite rumbling noise faded in and out from the boy's left. Naruto decided to check it out and much to his delight there was the faintest specks light shining through. Thrilled, the azure wonder mad dashed to the light. He shoved through the bushes to reach the hopefully favorable destination. Finally what felt like forever Naruto exploded out of the trees, but in his eagerness he fail to noticed where exactly he was heading. Poor Naruto fell right in to a ditch luckily on a large patch of tall grass. A loud roar sounded flying past Naruto, scaring him deeper in to the grass. The roar faded then twenty long seconds got louder again stopping near him. Terrified he stayed buried as foot steps closed in.

"Please don't be dead," whispered a stranger in a strange language "Hey, your breathing are you ok I'm not going not hurt you."