Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any franchises referenced in this fanfiction, all I own is my OCs. All rights go to their respective owners.
-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-
The game begins, and the pieces begin to shift. Each move is part of an intricate dance, weaving and flowing. Pieces fly around the checkered board, moving in ways that seem to change the course of the seemingly steady rhythm, working to counter-act moves long before they are played.
To any looking down upon the game, seeing only the sharp, confident movements of each piece, effortless, this cold, calculating match, one that works with logic, with tactic. To any watching those compete, the match is oddly tense, exciting to both them and the players, creating the twisted view as they observe with an interested eye the emotions, ever so small and fleeting, being put into every move made.
This, however, could not be farther from the truth.
Every move was a scream for help, a frantic attempt to survive, every advance a war cry, every retreat a whimper. Weakness was scorned, and hesitance forbidden. Struggling was all they could do, fighting to survive the next round. There was a simple truth in this game of life or death, where every move dictated the next. One single move could change everything, from a single advance of a pawn, to a bold attack of a knight.
Because this was more than a game; no, it is a trial, controlling love and hate, light and dark, innocent and tainted. The board is a battleground, the pieces the soldiers, the game a war. There is no mercy; fight or die, adapt or crumble, destroy or be demolished.
However, just like nothing is purely emotion, nothing is completely logical, working with tactic alone despite all and any circumstance. Everything, everyone, makes mistakes, no matter how big or small, no matter how complex or simple. All feel, fight, learn, grow, and ultimately change. Emotion is what keeps someone from diving into insanity, keeping them away from the life of a puppet; never feeling for itself, following its master's every whim. Emotion is what allows change, and emotion, no matter how scorned, is important.
However, like everything, there are flaws in this way of thought.
Making a mistake in this trial may (will) be fatal, feelings finding no place in the battle of mids.
Nothing is purely logical.
You hesitate.
-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-
War, a word with many meanings, definitions, and perceptions. Some think of war at a distance, faraway from their world. They think of a battle with opposing sides, fighting for differing goals. They are the ones who live in a peaceful world, with no worries or cares other than what to do tomorrow.
To those who have seen the battles, who have starved and moved and hid, they know war as a hungry beast, devouring those in its path, destroying the ones who refuse to bow. It is unmerciful, not caring for those who live in its wake, who stand in its way. They suffer, and they know.
But the ones who know war for what it truly is are the ones who join the beast no matter how willing. War is both heaven and hell, both an expanse of light and a void of darkness. It is a dance of blades and death, corpses and souls.
They watch with horror as countless numbers are struck down, brothers and sisters torn from the world. They are the ones who know that there is no winner or losers in war, there is only bodies and the one standing on top of the pile.
But one more group remains, full of the twisted and insane. They believe war is a game of life or death, rooting out the weak and empowering the strong. They revel in blood, uncaring of the ones they must slaughter to fulfill their satisfaction. To survive the demon of war, they became monsters themselves.
They are the ones who live on Death's doorstep, but in the end, will be the ones to reap it's rewards.
-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-
Eventually the commotion settles and those who survive rebuild. It is no easy task, recreating years of hard work and skill in a short time, but it must be done. All must be perfect, fitting for a new generation to grow and learn.
From the scorched earth rise simple yet effective structures, built to endure years of harsh winters and grueling work. From ashes of a ruined forest, lush crops are coaxed from the ground, products of hard work and single-minded determination.
They band together, no matter the difference; men and women, old and young, it mattered not; they were the same in this mad, torn world, full of beasts and demons. Bound, not by village, gender, or age, but by experience and necessity.
Alone they are weak, easy prey to those who hunt in the shadows. Alone, they are nothing but small rodents, fleeing from the larger predators. Together, however, they are strong, and even though they are powerless to the predators still, they can fight and live, rebuild and gain. It is no longer a one-sided battle any longer.
There is a fighting chance.
(Yet, no one notices as an infant stresses, darkness overpowering, whispering its poisonous temptations as light, so small and feeble, attempts to repel the attack.
No one notices. Not the parents, who are hard at work contributing to the construction. Not the caretakers, to busy to notice a single oddity among many. Not the children, who are too young, to naïve to care.
After all, in the grand scheme of things, what is one small light compared to a hundred?)
-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-=oO()Oo=-
This is less of a chapter and more of a set-up once I really think about. There's probably so many mistakes in there I need to find, but currently I'm tired as all hell. Sorry about the lack of plot here, by the way. One last thing for now; I'm going to be updating on a (hopefully) weekly schedule on Wednesdays if school allows it.
Anyways, thanks for reading and see you next time!
(Edit: School currently is occupying all of my time, and I don't have the time to write for now. I'm also debating on creating a story where it'll tell the tale of one SI/OC each chapter. Each chapter would be more fun to write and I could try out more ideas (This story may or may not be continued however, and will be posted in the other story.) Please tell me your opinion.)
Ja-ne~