The young boy ran with his parents through a field, explosions rang out around them, dirt and rocks flew against their bodies as they dodged the impact zones. His mother held an infant in her arms. His father held his little wrist so tight it almost hurt. "Faster!" his father snapped. "We have to get to the portal before it shuts!" Ninja of different village bands littered the ground. "I can only run so fast while holding our newborn Kyouya!" His mother snapped back.

"You just had to leave the realm to see the Leader!" His father snarled with a little sarcasm.

"Well who knew she. . .``his mother panted. "It's closing! We have to get back there!"

Terror filled him as he tried to push his little legs harder, just like his father said. He saw it, an almost blinding light opened up before them. But it was shrinking. "Yukiji!" He heard his father bellow, he let go of the boy's hand and shoved at his mother and the bundle, shoving her through the portal as a blast hit their position.

For a long moment, darkness took hold of the child. But then something woke him. His eyes were blurry, his ears were ringing. He could smell the metallic scent of blood around him, could hear the sobbing of other wounded people, hear more explosions. Mother. . . Father. . .His sister! He blinked hard over and over trying best he could to get his vision cleared. "Father!" He cried seeing the body near him. But he couldn't see his mother and sister. Panic raged through him and he scrambled closer to his father's body. He pushed it to try and force his father to move but he was covered in dirt and blood, and was missing half of his face. The child screamed. He screamed until his voice grew horse. Eventually, the other sobs, the cries of pain, stopped too. If he was hurt, it wasn't registering to him yet. The portal was gone. He'd seen that for certain. He looked around the plain they'd run through, no. . .not a plain. . . a battlefield. This was a battlefield. And yet for some reason, there were no living fighters. No medic nin coming to rescue their comrades. He stood slowly. Where were his mother and sister? "Mama?!" He sobbed out. "Mama?!" Why did she abandon him and papa? Did she make it into their home realm?

He had to get out! The blasts had started up again. He knew if he didn't get somewhere safe, he'd join his father. As he got up his legs shook. Where to run too? He looked around and saw her. A woman with hair like his mother, laying face down in the mud. He opened his mouth in anguish. He couldn't scream. A blast hit close, scattering body parts over him. His body shuddered with revulsion then threw up what was in his stomach. Move!

He forced himself back up and ran for the tree line. Faster, and faster. He found dodging the blasts easier now. Another blast grew too close and ripped at his clothes.

I'm going to make it! He thought as the trees grew closer.

I'm going to-!

Another blast hit too close to him, throwing him toward the trees. His body hit the trunk, his head hit a branch. And he fell to the ground. Unable to get back up again.

Hours later, the child woke. His memory hazy. He looked around, confused, unable to remember why he was there. His clothes were almost shredded, his body covered in mud. But he had no memory of why. He frowned and wandered into the tree line, following a hardened, man made path toward the sounds of birds. Maybe someone could help him if he kept walking?

He paused as the edge of the trees to see water, as far as his little eyes could see, and a little hamlet. His eyes widened. Houses! That meant people would be there! And food! He inhaled and smelt salt. And he saw the birds. The big, white birds. His eyes looked around and found the path that would take him to the small fishing village. It would take him a while, but he knew he could get there! But he had to rest a little first. He felt hope.

He sat down and watched the boats bop around on top of the water. Who knew that there was such a thing? He'd never seen the ocean before. What would it be like?

Excitement made him get up and start running down the path. He'd find out what it would be like!

Just as the child got half way down the pathway, he smelt smoke. It made him halt in his tracks and he saw a glow through the brush. He could hear screaming. Someone laughing. He ran faster again and reached the edge of the path that opened out to the little village as saw men running around setting the place on fire, killing anyone who tried to run and leave.

Full of fear, he hid in a cluster of brush to keep out of sight. He was too little. He was powerless. He couldn't help anyone.