Chapter 2: An Empty Konoha

The sun was just rising when young Naruto decided to leave the hospital. No nurses had come to his room since he regained consciousness and he did not care for the patronizing attitudes of a nurse either. Plus he felt as good as new, brimming with energy, only feeling a little sore which was no reason for him to stay any longer. The boy snuck out of his room after grabbing his clothes. He grabbed his orange track pants and his dirty brown Uzumaki-clan hoodie and slipped out of the window. Seeing as he had just been chased through the streets young Naruto decided that he should spend some time outside his apartment, plus he felt that he should get some training done anyways.

Naruto made his way to a forest that was fairly close to the Ninja Academy. Naruto started off his training with a nice run to get warmed up. As he ran his mind drifted to the strange feeling that overwhelmed him before he passed out. The more Naruto thought the more his head hurt, and so he decided not to worry about it too much. As he finished his run Naruto decided to work in his Ninjutsu. He focused and tried to use a basic Shadow Clone Jutsu… that failed. But that did not deter the young ninja in training. And so he tried again… and again… and again. Hours passed with no real progress and Naruto was exhausted from his constant usage of chakra.

By then it was midday, so Naruto decided to take a break for lunch and then a nap before he continued with training. After a small breakfast put together from what he could find in the forest Naruto climbed into a tree for a nice nap. Before he realized it he was knocked out.

When Naruto opened his eyes it was completely dark outside. The young ninja in training cursed himself for his laziness and quickly jumped out of the tree and started his walk to his apartment. As he made his way back he looked up in the sky to try and find the moon, which was absent tonight. Naruto hated nights like that. He turned his attention to the forest ambiance, to find that there was none. Naruto stood still and attempted to listen to the sounds of the forest, but no matter how still he remained there was no sounds whatsoever. His heart began to race; there was always some sort of sound in the forest. Naruto ran into the residential area of the village to find all the houses dark and abandoned, as if no one lived here. No matter where he went, there was no one inside the Village of the Hidden Leaf. Where had everyone gone, he wondered to himself, why am I alone. Again the feeling of solitude began to bear on little Naruto's heart, he began to feel fear and his heart grew heavy with despair.

Then he heard footsteps. Naruto quickly turned around to see who it was and he saw the strangest of things. Behind him stood a tall man with white robe-like pants that seemed to glow. He wore a long white sleeveless jacket that extended towards the ground. His face was young but intense; his dark eyes seemed to look into Naruto's very soul. He had long black hair that extended past his shoulders and a scar that came across his nose. His face looked young, like he was in his twenties. His body was lean and sculpted, like he was built for battle. What were even stranger were the chains that covered his body. On his wrist were shackles with chains attached that wrapped up his forearms and on his chest the chains created an X-shape.

"Who are you!" Naruto called out to him. The man continued his walk towards Naruto. "What did you do to the Village?" Naruto shouted, trying to find some answers. Naruto's hand began to shake in fear, whoever this man was he was far stronger than Naruto. But Naruto knew he could not let his fear get the best of him. Whoever this guy was he was about to mess with the wrong ten year old. Naruto charged the man, running full-speed. He leaped in the air and threw a punch at his face only for it to be caught by the man's hand. Naruto launched a front-kick to get some distance from his opponent. So a frontal assault won't work, Naruto thought to himself, how about some misdirection. Changing tactics Naruto ran again this time going for a sweeping kick, the stranger lifted his foot to easily evade the attack. Naruto grabbed a hand full of dirt while he was down there and then used his attacking foot to kick off the leg that was still on the ground. Naruto tucked into a roll and leaped at his opponent again, throwing a punch with his off-hand. Again his fist was caught, but he came around with the hand that had grasped the sand and threw it in his opponent's eyes. Naruto used this opening to grab the head of the mysterious stranger and used his full strength to place a knee to his jaw.

"Are you done child," the man said with a deadpan look on his face. Naruto leaped off his opponents face to see that his assault did absolutely nothing to his opponent. "That was good thing boy, but your form is sloppy. I saw your attacks coming from a mile away."

"Shut-up ya chain wearing weirdo," Naruto retorted in offense, "I don't recall asking for ya help weirdo!"

"Then watch and learn child," The stranger said. The strange man leaped at Naruto grabbing his head and throwing him down the road they were battling on. Naruto skirted on the ground before he managed to recover from the attack, as he rolled into a recovery the stranger threw a punch to the top of Naruto's head. As quickly as the first strike a kick hit Naruto in the stomach sending him flying yet again. Naruto flipped backwards again to recover, this time throwing his hands up to protect himself; by doing so he blocked the punch that would have surely threw him back into the ground. Instead of pausing his opponent kicked him in the same manner as before, sending Naruto flying yet again.

In this manner the fight continued between the two. The mysterious stranger launching attack after vicious attack, and Naruto defending himself; in time Naruto was able to defend whatever attack thrown at him. At this point Naruto was done getting kicked around the Empty Konoha by the chained clad intruder; it was time for him to go on the offensive. He ducked under a kick and launched a sweeping kick that tripped his opponent. The stranger landed on his hands and launched a kick at Naruto which was countered by a kick from the young boy. Both fighters recovered and now stood in the silence, waiting for the other to move. Naruto attacked again, not willing to give his opponent any breathing room. The mysterious stranger blocked his punch again but Naruto would not give up. He punched with his other hand which was caught as well. The stranger and Naruto locked eyes; the strangers face remained unchanged since the start of their confrontation. This entire time the stranger acted as if he had not even acknowledged Naruto… and that pissed him off. Everyone shared that look, that detached look, that judging look. Why won't you acknowledge me, Naruto thought to himself, I will make you acknowledge me!

Once again a strange power came from Naruto. The stranger was taken aback from the overwhelming force coming from the young boy. Naruto used his full strength and planted both of his feet into the man's face making the man fly into a building. Naruto landed on the ground, feeling the power run through his body. Like his opponent did to him, Naruto rushed into the building to continue his attack. Amongst the rubble the stranger struggled to get up, so Naruto threw a punch with all his might, hitting nothing but air.

"Good, you are learning to fight. You learn quickly child," The stranger said to him as the chains on his right arm fell to the ground. Then the chain began to glow and emitting a strange power. As the light faded the shackle and chain transformed into a katana that glowed in the darkness.

"Come child," The man said as he began to give off and even stronger pressure than Naruto which paralyzed the boy, "Fight… or DIE!" Before he realized it the stranger was standing in front of him and came crashing down upon the boy.