Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto if I did Itachi will be alive and Sasuke will loss more than just one limb. Also, this disclaimer is for the full story ahead.
A/N: If you want an always grinning and forgiving-every-damn-incident-in-life kind of Naruto, then I don't have one. Sorry. There is a little angst in this chapter, you have been warned.
Beta by: Cyrro and RedCommander72. They did a splendid job with the chapter and made it readable. There might still be a few mistakes left since none of us are professionals. But we did try our best. Thank you for your understanding.
1. Monster
Shinobi era was an era of chaos. People died in the name of peace and prosperity, but in the world where children were trained to be killers, does this 'peace' even exists? This was a question unanswered to Itachi Uchiha.
Itachi was the first-born child, the heir of the Uchiha clan. Already an excellent shinobi at the tender age of eleven. An obedient son and a loving older brother. He had everything one could possibly hope for in the shinobi era. Then why was it that his mind could only ponder on and on about how rotten the world was? Why was Itachi drifting away into an abase day by day? The world felt like a curse, and Itachi was holding the latest victim of that cursed world in his arms. A bloodied, broken reality of the darker side of society.
'Why can't they see that she is just a child? A mere six-year-old, defenceless and orphaned. She never asked for this burden to be given to her.' He thought gritting his teeth. The way the child looked; she may as well have been a corpse now. Only the slow beats of her heart gave Itachi hope that the kid was not dead, yet. His own brother was the same age as her. He couldn't even imagine seeing Sasuke like this.
Itachi noticed that she was small, too small and light for a six-year-old. She looked like a four-year-old at best. Malnourishment, was Itachi's conclusion.
The child that the Uchiha heir was so urgently carrying was Naruto Uzumaki, the vessel of the nine tailed demon fox. She had shoulder length spiky gold hair, which was now soaked in blood. Her bright sky-blue eyes, which are generally filled with loneliness, were closed. Her face, which normally carried a goofy smile, was covered with blood, sweat and cuts. Itachi knew she smiled a lot, but most of the time it was just to cover how lonely she really was. Only a few had ever seen a real smile on her face, and Itachi was among that lucky bunch. Her breaths were slow and uneven. It was the worst beating she had gotten in her life. The villagers weren't fond of her. No, far from it, they hated her. But never before was she injured this badly.
People of Konoha usually ignored her, no one had beaten her before. Sure, she was mistreated regularly, Itachi winced at that thought. A child of six being mistreated is unheard of. But people don't change easily, neither did they forget easily. Especially if the reminder was their most beloved, but now decreased leader. It's been 6 years since Nine Tails attacked Konoha and the death of the Fourth Hokage. But Konoha remembers the day well.
These facts were no excuse to try to kill a child. When did the Hidden leaf start to be so cruel? Itachi might not know the answer to this question but one thing was for sure, her attackers would pay; Itachi would make sure of that. No one, absolutely no one, would just get away with beating up an innocent child. Shinobi life be damned. Children do not deserve this cruelty.
Itachi increase his speed. He needs to reach the hospital soon.
Line break...
"Monster!''
"Demon...''
"You should die...''
She was running as fast as her feet could carry her. She hated this place. She hated all the people in this village. Why wouldn't she? They all hated her too. For six years she had lived among them, yet she didn't know the reason why she was treated differently. For six years she didn't know the reason why she was hated so much. For six years she searched for possible reasons why she was avoided this much.
Ever since she could form sentences, she had begged the Hokage, one of the very few people kind to her, to tell her the reason.
But now she knew it. She knew why she was thrown into this eternal punishment of being hatred. She just came to know that her fate was sealed the day she was born! At first, she couldn't believe it but, now that she thought about it, everything made perfect sense.
Until two days ago she thought that she would be all right. Until two days ago she thought she would be accepted by people someday. She thought she would be truly happy someday. But now everything she believed in was shattered. Her whole world was had been turned upside down. Why her?
Two days ago, it was her sixth birthday. She knew nobody liked her, and the villagers hated her more on her birthday. So, she decided to stay at home and eat instant ramen. Her home was a one roomed apartment where she lived alone. She started living in that apartment after she turned four-years-old. She didn't have a choice. The orphanage where she used to live kicked her out. No other orphanage would take her in. Her only choice was to stay alone or die on the streets; not much of a choice. So, the Hokage put her in that apartment.
Unlike the popular belief, her favorite food was not ramen. She liked it, but not to the extent people thought she did. Ramen was just cheap and she had little to spend. Living alone she had no possible income source besides the orphan fund, which was not much to begin with.
So, she was doing exactly what she had planned; eating her ramen in her apartment alone. But suddenly she felt this really weird urge to go outside immediately. She didn't know what that was until today. The Hokage said she was put under a genjutsu.
So, she went out. It was half past eight. It was not that late an hour for a festive night, but the streets were already vacant and silent.
Her birthday was on October 10th, the day the Nine Tailed Fox had attacked their village and was killed by the Fourth Hokage. Since that time a festival was held on her birthday, October 10th, to honor the most beloved Hokage of all time.
She looked up at the sky. A bright, full moon was visible. It was beautiful. She stared walking on the silent street, roaming around absentmindedly, wondering why she was out here in the first place.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eyes, she saw a shadow pass by on her right. She looked to the side but saw nothing. She must have imagined it, she thought. Then, she looked back to her front and froze. There were at least ten masked people in front of her.
Usually, masked people were with thet Hokage whenever he came to visit her. But they were different from those masked ninjas; these people had black masks unlike the white ones the Hokage brings with him. They were not all ninjas too. She could feel it. Another thing she could feel was cold blooded hatred, all directed towards her. Fear struck her little heart. She started backing away from them. They started to come towards her. She felt her back touch a cold wall, she was cornered now. She slowly looked up and saw the cold eyes of her attackers. They looked like predators hunting for their prey. Naruto was their prey.
"Let's finish the job the Fourth Hokage stared six years ago and honor him properly," said a cold voice from among them.
Before she could think anything about the words he said, she was attacked. Different weapons started raining on her like a storm. She tried to resist at first but she was just a small child and they were all grown adults. She didn't stand a chance. She felt pain wash over her body. She tried to scream but could not find her voice. A rather nasty cut had sliced across her vocal cords, she couldn't form sound any more. Tears started to form in her eyes. So, this was the end, she thought closing her eyes. She would die here. For a second, she wondered if she would find her parents in the afterlife. Would they love her? Or would they hate her too? After that last thought she passed out.
When she woke up, she was in the hospital with a concerned looking Hokage sitting beside her.
He told her how she was attacked and was rescued by an ANBU, the white masked ninjas. She was half dead when she was brought to the hospital. All that happened two days ago. She was unconscious for two whole days! Emergency operations were done on her and she would make a full recovery. Except for one thing.
She tried to ask him what that was, but no sound came out of her mouth. She tried again but it was to no avail.
She looked up at the Hokage with a horrified look on her face. He gave her a sad look and he started explaining gently.
"Your neck was subjected to severe injuries. You may also have a permanent scar on your neck due to it. Your vocal cords were cut in such a way they had to be removed, because if they were to stay in there, it would have caused problems in future. As a result, my child, I am afraid you will never be able to talk again," finished Hiruzen, sadly.
Naruto felt her whole world just get swept away from under her feet. She. Wouldn't. Talk. Again. Were the only words in her mind. She didn't even notice when tears started falling from her eyes. But it was just the tip of the iceberg. The Hokage wasn't finished yet.
"I know you have many questions in your mind right now. I can't answer them all, but I will answer some of them," He started again.
She looked up at him, still crying silently with a questioning gaze.
"Naruto, what I am about to tell is an S-ranked secret in the village. Only two people are allowed to disclose it to anyone. One of them being the Hokage and the only other is you."
She was confused at that. What secret? Why she was not told about this before? More so, how was this related to her current status.
"Six years ago, the Nine Tailed Fox attacked our village. The reason why is still unknown to us all. The Fourth Hokage fought it alongside his wife and killed it. This is the official story. But you see Naruto, tailed beasts can't be killed – no matter what. They are made up of chakra. Chakra can't just be destroyed. It is the combination of our physical and spiritual energy. The only way to stop it is by suppressing it with sealing. The Nine Tailed Fox had to be sealed inside a new born child to protect our village. If you try to seal a Tailed Beast into grown person it will tear the flesh apart and will break free," the Hokage paused for a bit.
But by now Naruto was wide eyed and tense with anticipation. Could it be that she...No, it can't be? Is it? The Hokage started talking again, interrupting her thoughts.
"Only one child was born that night. And it was you, my child. The Nine Tailed Fox was sealed inside you an hour after you were born. You are not the beast itself Naruto. You are only its jailor," he said softly.
"No, you are lying." Naruto wanted to say but she couldn't. She wanted to scream but she couldn't. Only silent tears were her voice now. Everything was a lie. She could never be happy. She was cursed the day she was born. She was completely broken from the inside.
Before Hiruzen could say anything more, Naruto bolted out of the room and ran. She couldn't think about anything but getting away.
She wanted to run away from everyone, everything. Tears were freely falling from her eyes. She had no one in the world. She was alone. She was alone in this unforgiving world and she would always be alone.
Kakashi and Itachi were hiding in the shadows of the hospital where Naruto was told the truth of her existence.
They were not shocked when they saw her reaction. They knew her quite well. When she was given a separate apartment, the Hokage ordered them to shadow her. They shadowed her for a whole year. Then after a year they were released from that duty. The Hokage thought that the villagers were ready to accept her now. Sadly, it turned out that was not the case. There must be some civilian councillor who informed those low chunin and civilians that she was free of body guards now. If it wasn't for Itachi returning from a mission that night and passing by that alley, God knows what would have happened. They knew she was lot more then she let on. She was more mature and smarter than normal children of her age.
As soon as she ran away, The Hokage immediately called them and sent them to get her when she calmed down. They didn't say anything and followed the now mute and lost child. She was like them after all, a prodigy, and they understood her pain wholly.
Soon she was sitting in front of the Hokage again, in his office this time. She cried for hours on top of the Hokage Mountain. After she stopped crying, two ANBU appeared and took her to the Hokage again.
Her face was completely blank. Her heart felt more blank than her face though. She lacked the strength to feel much of anything at this point. No sadness, no loneliness, no hatred, no anger, nothing. She was a little relieved that she felt nothing. After all, pain of the heart was the worst kind of injury to suffer.
"Due to the circumstances Naruto, it is best for you to join ANBU to complete your training as a Ninja," said the Hokage. "You will at least be safe there," he added softly.
She nodded. How funny right? She can't speak now and ANBU don't speak. They only follow orders. Ironically, it will be the perfect place for her.
"Dog," the Hokage called. A tall ANBU with a dog face mask and silver hair jumped in front of him.
"Take Naruto to the base. She has to stay there and train. She will be under your direct command. Under no circumstance should she be seen out in the village without a mask until further orders. Her training schedules will be sent shortly," he ordered.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," the ANBU said and beckoned for Naruto to follow him.
She followed him without any questions.
The Hokage looked at her retreating back with a sad look on his face. No child should see the horrors of ANBU life, but it was the best thing he could do now. Thanks to the incident two days ago, it was clear that the villagers would not accept her as easily as he wanted them to. He sighed tiredly. She won't be the same ball of sunshine any more. She will not be a child any more. He will never hear that cheerful 'Old Man' any more. He felt old and defeated. If only he was able to protect her better. Living a long life in the shinobi world brought a lot of regret and he was filled with it.
"Itachi," the Hokage called out. "Keep an eye on her for me."
Itachi appeared before him. He nodded silently and disappeared.
'Minato, I hope you can forgive this old man,' thought the Hokage as he looked at the picture of a blonde man in the Hokage's robe on the wall across from him sadly.
The shinobi life was cruel and a dark place. But there is always a sun waiting for us at the end of a stormy night. When would the stormy night end for Naruto Uzumaki?
A/N: Read and review people. I really like to read from you guys.