Breaking the Seal

Chapter 1

A Broken Shell

The first six years of my life can fill numerous novels, could captivate the simplest and complex minds for days on end. But as eventful as my life was it could be summed up in a few words. The easiest way to portray my life would be using two words that clarify and show my true life so painfully well it was as if someone created these words with me in mind. Those two words were Pain and Suffering.

Everyday I had to struggle to stay alive. I wondered why I bothered trying to stay alive I still do just not as much. I had no one to comfort me I had nothing to call my own I was allowed to stay in an apartment somebody else paid for. I was allowed to be beaten, to be cursed, to be hated by people I have never even met before. But most of all, the cold void in myself was allowed to grow and grow.

Many people have tried to get close to me. At first I would freely give my trust and enjoyed the attention and caring I thought I received. It was all fake, every smile every comforting thing said everything. I was backstabbed countless times; I lost the ability to try to fill the void. I lost the ability to hope, to dream. I lost all expectations I had of everything. I only expected the worst. If I found some money on the ground someone would claim it theirs and accuse me of stealing. If someone saw me they would attack me. Everyone was secretly plotting to kill me. Nothing was as it seemed. I became paranoid, I became a ninja.

Over time my paranoia was reinforced. Beatings and belittlements continued, but the weaons lost their sting, the words their bite and I became numb to the world. I started basking in darkness. It was the warm blanket I never had. It never failed to make me feel safer. It protected me from the villagers. It was the loving embrace I always wanted. It protected me unconditionally and never hurt me. I felt right in it, it was the one thing I had.

With the darkness came voices. I would talk to the voices and they would comfort me. Even though there are only two. One of them sounds distinctly like a father while the other holds the warmth of a true mother. I talk to them when I can. Talking to them keep me sane, even thought people said I was insane fore doing it. So technically I was kept sane by being insane.

One day the Hokage took me to a doctor to have me looked at. He didn't trust others around me, he protected me like the voices. But I know he is like the rest. He will betray me any second, maybe plunge a knife through my back, curse my existence, and try to burn me alive. I keep my guard up while answering the questions I'm asked lying occasionally to make myself look better then I was. In the end the doctor said I was suffering from paranoia and insanity. I calmly corrected him saying "I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it." I meant what I said.

The Hokage seemed pleased at my remark while the doctor seemed a little miffed. I choose that time to make my get away before I was attacked by anybody. Every since I started hearing the voices I have been trying to find them. When ever I am able to sleep I awaken in a dark labyrinth of pipes leading in all directions. The voice calls for me to find it but I can not tell which way the voice is coming from. I apologies for my inability and continue searching. All the time thought the voices treat me kindly telling me they are proud of my attempts and give sweet encouragements.

I wake only to try to go back to sleep. The voices sounded so close. I want to find them; no I need to find them. I look around and make my way to the fridge. I find some food in my fridge. I hope it hasn't been poisoned and quickly eat it. I go to the bathroom and look for the sleeping pills the doctor gave me. I never chanced taking them before because of the fear of poison, but I need to find the voices. Without them I have nothing but the darkness but the darkness was not enough and little did I know I would gain something I never thought possible, the light.

(Exiting first person for now)

Naruto swallows three of the pills after skeptically reading a note from the Hokage saying he has personally checked all the food and medicine the boy had been given. The boy jumped under the covers to eagerly wait for chemically induced sleep to claim him. Slowly the boy world turned to black and the all too comfortable darkness embraced him once again.

(Inside the labyrinth)

Naruto made his way towards the voices. He could tell where they were coming from now. They sounded so close to him. He rounded a corner and saw a white light at the end of the passage way. He sped up and hurried towards the room. The light got brighter and brighter while the voices kept egging him on. For better or worse he was going into the light to confront the voices.