…
It was only a few hours later when they stopped for something to eat at a small stall along the well-used road did Nagato turn to him to speak.
"I can't just keep calling you boy. Are you sure you do not remember your name?"
He shook his head slowly his mouth drawn into a straight line. His name had been the only thing Nagato had asked of him and it was the one thing he could not remember, no matter how hard he tried.
"Na- he …to? - oh it's useless." The boy sighed.
"How about you make one up then?" Nagato suggested. The boy thought about it for a long while then nodded seeing no problem with his suggestion.
"How about….Yuri."
The look on the boy's face made Nagato laugh. After Nagato a few seconds he waved his hand in the boy's direction in an 'okay I'll be serious' gesture.
"Okay then…how about Narako?" He suggested.
"Narako." The boy tested it out on his tongue then nodded in approval. Nagato smiled.
"Okay then from now in you shall be known as Narako." Nagato stated.
The boy looked a little dazed like he couldn't believe that he had a name. For most people their name was something they took for granted. But to him it was a privilege; it gave him a base for an identity, where before he had never had one. He was just 'boy', a generalisation not an individual, not a person. But this man, Nagato, had given him food, shelter and most importantly a reason to live, a purpose in life and he was sure that Nagato didn't know just how much that meant to him. Where everyone else had scorned him and ignored his pain, Nagato had welcomed him with opened arms, a virtual stranger, a boy with no hope, no life, and no future ahead of him but the dirty floor on which his cooling body would have been laying upon if Nagato hadn't been there to save him.
It was then that the boy made a vow that he would protect Nagato. Not just because of the debt he would forever owe this man but because the world was a better place with this man in it and if he died protecting him then he would die knowing he had saved something valuable and precious, hope for a better future. He was so sure of his decision it wasn't even made fully conscious, he just knew it in his heart of hearts.
Nagato caught the look in the boy's eyes and wondered what was going on in his head. It was like somebody had lit a flame in his soul, burning bright it shone from his eyes. Nagato signal the waiter for the check and stood up smiling down at Narako he offered his hand.
"It is time for us to move on, let us go."
Narako took his hand and Nagato lead him from the small road side restaurant.
"We are headed for my home land in the land of rain, there I will train you."
Narako's head jolted up at the mention of training.
"You like the thought of that, I can tell. Well let's see what you have to say after a few days into training." Nagato half chuckled half snorted like what he had said was a joke only he understood.