Prologue

For as long as Naruto could remember, people would make a habit of avoiding him. Looks of hate, fear and even disgust had been thrown at him since his birth. Those around him would sneer, unable to look past their own pain to see the child he truly was, only able to find the monster that had taken their loved ones from them.

Humans were adaptable creatures, so perhaps one would think he would simply grow used to such a thing. But that wasn't the case, it could never be the case.

The others had always been treated differently. Love? Affection? He was always able to see what he could have had, had there not been something wrong with him. (But what? What was it about him that was so different from everyone else?)

Seeing positivity- even if it was never directed at him- was what ensured that he would be prevented from adapting. Knowing that there was such a thing as kindness stopped him from drowning in darkness and insanity. Yet knowing what he could have had only seemed to pull him further and further down.

It gave birth to hatred within him.

But then things had begun to change, a small shift in the life of the child- not even five years of age- as he was about to give up something he would not understand for years to come.

The moon was a wonderful thing, she shone with unimaginable beauty and filled the night sky with her grace. Naruto loved the moon with all his heart, as it was her kind whispers of reassurance that had begun on that night- the night he had almost given up all hope of finding the light in the dark- that had saved him.

"Things will get better, child." The moon had whispered, "I promise."

Things had taken a turn for the better after that. A man Naruto would later come to call 'Jiji'- but seemed to be referred to as 'Hokage-sama' or 'Sandaime-sama' by most other people- had payed him a visit. A kind smile being given as the old man in robes and strange hat treated him to lunch.

The man where the Hokage had taken him to eat had frowned at first, but still served them with a fake smile without any protest. Naruto couldn't complain, he was used to it, and the sad look in the Hokage's eyes had gone unnoticed as he devoured his food, talking excitedly as he soaked up the rare positive attention like a sponge through bites of delicious noodles.

Ramen, he had decided, was the food of the gods. It had to be.

It was around the time of his second bowl that the man had lost most of the well-hidden negativity he had previously had. Naruto didn't understand why the man seemed to accept him, or what he had been accepted for, but it was a nice feeling.

When he had finished his meal and Teuchi had ruffled his hair, insisting that he come back another time and wanting to introduce him to his daughter... Well that had just confirmed Naruto's belief about ramen. It truly was something divine.

(That night, the moon had agreed with him wholeheartedly.)

It had been a good year and a half since Naruto had made his very first friend- the moon- when he met her. A girl with a unique yet no less pretty shade of pink hair had been crying alone just as he had many times before, hands covering her face as he scared off the bullies picking on her forehead?

It was an odd thing to be teased about, but that didn't matter. Crying meant sadness and Naruto had never liked sadness. It reminded him too much of himself and the moon when she spoke of her sons, telling tales of her corruption and two powerful men sealing her away.

So he approached the girl, pulling goofy faces in attempt to make her smile. Smiles meant happiness, he had learnt, as long as they weren't fake. She had stared for a moment before laughing at his silliness, and he had soon found himself laughing along with her.

There had been nothing fake about her- relieved and cheerful- as they laughed together.

With that, and an offer to play with him, Naruto made another friend in one Sakura Haruno. Little did either of them know how greatly their meeting would affect their lives, and the lives of those around them.

As the two chased after each other in a game of tag, several scheming beings across the world shuddered simultaneously as a foreboding feeling swept through them. It took them all less than five minutes to rid themselves of said feeling, however, all believing it to be unimportant.

Except for Hidan. Hidan felt awfully giddy.