Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its characters.

However, I do own Ryastu so if you want to use him ASK FIRST.

Now I present to you- Enter the Dark One: A Tale of Pain

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

"Biju ,Summon, or Demon speaking"

'Biju ,Summon, or Demon Thinking'

"Jutsu"

Transitional Location and Time

Chapter 2- Welcome to Konohagure

Konoha- North Gate, 10:35 a.m.

"Another day at guard duty", signed one of the guards.

The guard in question was Kotetsu. Having spiky, black hair and a bandage across his face and nose, generally made him stand out among the crowd.

"Kotetsu, you should focus on why whe're here," His friend Imuzo chastised him in a bored tone,"No matter how BORING it is" he added

"Kotetsu? Are you...", Imuzo paused to see his friend fell asleep, again.

'(sigh) this duty of ours will probably kill us of boredom before any enemy shinobi kills us first.' Imuzo thought sweatdropping at his friend.

His other thoughts were inturrupted by motion below at the forest's edge. Panicing he woke his friend up and showed him what going on. They tensed up preparing to attack only to see a child, not older 7, walk out in the clearing and promptly collapse in front of them.

' We paniced over a CHILD!', They both thought in embaressment.

"Well, might as well get a closer look at the kid."

"Alright, but don't letyour guard down Imuzo, it could be a trap.", Kotetsu warned him

Jumping down to the ground, they started walking towards the unconcious child. The kid had shoulder lenth, gray hair that spike out in all directions in the back. His clothes were in slight tatters, but looked liked they more suited for winter and colder enviroments.

' Probably passed out due to the heat. Must be from the north.', Imuzo thought.

' What a Yuki-nin doing out in the heart of Hi-no-Kuni?', Kotetsu thought along the same lines as his friend.

On closing inspection on the kid, Imuzo found a snake made of obsidian coiled around the kids right wrist. Towards the back he finally saw two bags filled with shinobi gear, and a scroll with a blood seal on it.

' Now that is interesting, A kid with enough ninja gear to outgear two S-ranked Missing-nin.', Imuzo analyzed impressed but curious, ' Why does a kid need this much gear? It not like someone would try to kill a child, right?'

What he saw next suprised him. Strappted to his back aswell, Imuzo found a blade. The blade was as black as the darkest night, and was aleast 4 feet with two curves to help "straighten out" the balde. The hilt was wrapped in a bloodstained, tattered, black cloth. The handle lenth was enough for at least half of a second hand. the interesting thing about it was the inconphrehesional line of kanji engraved along the blade

' How did we miss something like this before!', Imuzo thought sweating bullets.

"Imuzo? You ok?", Kotetsu said to his paleing friend.

"Kotetsu, we need to get this kid to a medic, out of the sun, and quickly!" Imuzo told his friend grabbing the kid and his equipment and ran to the hospital as fast as he could.

"Hey, wait for me!" Kotetsu paniced chasing after Imuzo.

Konoha- Hospital, 12:45 p.m.

Ryatsu woke up to see nothing but white walls of a hospital room. He looked around to see his blade propted up against a wall to his left where some windows were open.

"Where am I?", he asked himself scraching the back off his head in confusion. Looking down he noticed his lower torso was bandaged up.

'What the! when did thi..Oh wait. I remember now. Damn that Yuki-shikaku, and Damn HIM!', He thought clinching his fist at the last thought. That man would pay. He would make sure he make sure that man, no that psychopath would die. That man was his father, the man who in one day, caused him to leave that damned village. Shaking his heads of those thoughts. He grabbed a mirror from a night stand to his right seeing the statuette still attached to his wrist. Smiling that she was still there, he looked in the mirrior. His eyes were a light gray color with slitted pupils, like a snake. Opening his mouth he saw those snake-like fangs were his canines would be.

"And those "features" are still present. What the? Where's everything else!", He sighed then panicing at the end, after finally realize his other stuff was not present in the room.

"Calm down young one.", a new, older voice said outside his room.

An old man in Kage robes walk into the room. Ryatsu paniced when he saw the symbol on his hat. Back in Yuki-no-Kuni, he was raised on stories about The Sandaime Hokage, the feared "God of Shinobi", but the look on this man's face too Granfatherly-like.

"Do not be frightened by me, child. I will not hurt you." He told in a soft and kind tone.

"Sorry sir, its just that I was raised on stories of you as the feared "God of Shinobi". Seeing you in person as a kind, grandfatherly figure caught me off guard.", Ryatsu told him, gaining a chuckle from The aging Hokage.

"Thats alright young one. Many outside of Hi-no-Kuni have heard that same story.", He said.

"So tell me, why did two of our shinobi find your unconcious infront of the north gate?', he asked a in a serious tone.

"Its...just that..."

"Just what, young one?"

"I was hoping to find a new home in hopes on starting a new life.", Ryatsu told staring at the Kage dead in the eyes.

Hiruzen saw the childs snake-like eyes but looked past them and saw a child of pain. Experiencing no joy,but only sorrow. A child who has lost everything in front of his eyes. Those eyes seemed lifeless. It pained his heart knowing that even outside this villiage that people would do somthing like this to a child.

"I'm sorry, I never got your name did I?", the Kage asked with a sad undertone.

"No sir"

"Please young one, don't call me "sir". it makes me feel older than I am."

"Ooook. Anyway my name is Ryatsu."

"No last name?"

"Not any that I to affiliate myself with."

' As I thought. This kid is a Jinchuriki like Naruto. Probably like Naruto, Tortured and beaten senseless by the villiagers from where he came from.', Sarutobi thought sadly.

"Um, Ji-san? Where is my other stuff by chance?", Ryatsu asked innocently.

"Oh yes, your equipment is in my office. Do want them back?", The Hokage asked back.

"Yes sir!", He said excitedly

Konoha- Hokage's Office, 2:30 p.m.

"Here you go Ryatsu-san, Your scroll and ninja gear.", Hiruzen said handing Ryatsu back his things.

"Thank you Ji-san!", Ryatsu exclaimed as he re-attatched his bags and scroll where they were, on top of his sword.

"Oh, Ji-san?"

"Yes, Ryatsu?"

"This place is exactly what I've searched for for three years now. I would like to live and start anew, with your permission of course, sir.", Ryatsu pleaded to the Kage, "Jenara-chan agrees with me too."

"Jenara? Who's Jenara?" The Hokage asked.

"I'm Jenara, Hokage-sssama", came a serpent-like voice from the stautuete, that promptly become an actual snake.

Silthering around Ryatsu's wrist affectionally She turned her attenton to the now fritented Kage.

"Thisss isss interessting. the God of Sssshinobi isss Sssscared of a ssssnake.", She said amused.

"Jenara-chan stop it, Your scaring him with that fake, snake acsent of yours.", Ryatsu told her.

"Have I told you how much of a buzz kill you can be, Ryatsu-kun?", She said dropping the snake acsent entirely.

"Amazing, Ryatsu-san is your little friend a-"

"(sigh) Yes Hiruzen-sama, I am a demon, but I'm proud of it and happy being with Ryatsu-kun.", Jenara said snuggling her head against the back Ryastu's hand.

"Ryatsu, I've decided." The Kage said inturrupting the moment.

"Yes, sir?' Both Ryatsu and Jenara asked.

"I wish to personally welcome the two of you to Konohagure-no-Saito.', He then declared.

"But before I arrange you a place to stay on your own Ryatsu. I insist that we have someone watch over, just a bit. Also, when you turn 9, I will plan on enrolling into our ninja academy to become a Shinobi of the Leaf. If you wish.", The Hokage asked, leaving the ultimate decision up to the two in front.

"We agree to your terms." Ryatsu said, Jenara nodding in agreement.

"Good.", He said.

"Raidou-san, send in Uchiha Itachi to my office imeadiately.", He said to secretary.

"Right away, Hokage-sama." Raidou said before leaving the building, via the window to fetch the Uchiha.

"Sir, Who is this Itachi person?" Ryatsu asked.

"Uchiha Itachi? He is to be your guardian for the next year and a half.", the Kage replied.

"Sir, Uchiha Itachi is ready to see you now."

"Good, send him in."

Got to love the Forbidden Cliffhanger-no-Jutsu. Next time, Itachi gets charged with protecting Ryatsu and a certain someone get jealous. Jenara reveals more about her. Find out this and more in Ch.3: The Brothers Uchiha and The Massacure.

Ja Ne

~Orochi-no-Tsukiyomi