Chapter 1: The Boy on The Battlefield
THIRD SHINOBI WORLD WAR
Tsunade clutched her right shoulder and walked back to regroup with the rest of the Sannins. While she was deemed unfit to battle after the hokage learned of her truma, she was still deployed to guard an outpost in Iwa territory. After successfully capturing the territory, she was relieved of her duties and was commanded to regroup with her teammates. She had already covered halfway to her destination but the length of the journey has made her fairly tired, especially since her journey was preceded by a grueling battle. Fortunately, she is aware of a small village nearby where she could find temporary shelter. Either its inhabitants have evacuated or they suffered a brutal demise from either her own kind or the enemy. She wished the former, she hoped she wouldn't have to bear witness to a bloodbath but she can't press on with the pace she has fallen into. Rest is required.
After a few minutes of walking, she found the village. It was quiet. She readied her kunai and pressed her back towards the wall of the first house she laid eyes on. She paid attention to any motion. After a few seconds, she moved to the entrance. The door was open and she smelled the stench of blood inside. Her insides began to churn and her hands showed signs of trembling. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
She was able to move to the kitchen without spotting any bodies or river of blood. Whatever slaughter happened here, it's inside the bedroom. She found water to drink and healthy food to eat. She sat on the cold floor of the kitchen and laid her head against the wall for a minute. Her senses picked up the faintest of movements but it was not from the kitchen. Though it was coming closer. The grip on her kunai tightened. Her eyes still remain closed.
Light of foot. A shinobi or a child...Nervous steps. Definitely a child.
Her back was rested against the kitchen counter, away from the entrance to the kitchen. As the movement creeped up and the presence of the figure became more apparent, Tsunade went into a more lax state of mind, eventually the figure got close. But she was surprised at its position. The child stood right above her, feet stuck to the ceiling.
Was it a shinobi after all? No, definitely a child.
Her thoughts ended and as it did, the child came down on her, Tsunade brought herself to her feet and a slightly raised arm grabbed the boy by his neck and slammed him into the wall nearby.
The boy's eyes showed fear and anger, yet his body responded with swift precision. The knife in his hand went straight for the arm holding his neck. Tsunade grabbed his wrist and twisted it, dropping the knife to the ground. With her foot she slid the knife to her left, underneath the counter.
The boy looked no more than six, a mean look plastered in his face. Jet black hair and eyes and a tattered shirt and shorts.
"Name, kid" Tsunade peered down at him with a fixed stare.
The boy shifted uncomfortably, his eyes went to his right, where the knife was at.
"You won't get your knife back. Even if you did, you won't touch me with it"
"Now, name."
After a few moments of silence, the boy spoke up.
"Torao"
"Are those your parents in the bedroom?"
He didn't answer but the lowered head and the tightened grip over his legs gave Tsunade to loosen her stiff posture and the apathetic tone. She squatted down and looked at the boy, his eyes met hers.
"Are you alone?"
This question brought out of him a reaction she did not expect.
"What's it to you?! You people killed them! My family, my friends...I have nothing" He spoke with rage and anguish.
"I plan to eat some of your food and soon be on my way, I'll make sure to not finish it" She said as her eyes returned to staring down at the boy.
"Aren't you going to kill me?" Tsunade had already begun munching on an apple.
"Can't. Scared of blood"
"Scared of...blood? But how? How are you a shinobi then?"
"Long story, not gonna tell you. Why do you want to die brat?"
"I don't. If I could, I'd kill all you shinobi before I died. But I lost… I knew I wouldn't get lucky again. I have no chance and I'm alone now"
"Again? Did you try your earlier stunt before?"
"I killed the fuckers that killed my parents...those shinobi"
"How did you learn to walk on walls?"
"I learned it myself, I've been playing with chakra ever since I could remember...can't believe that's what I wished to grow up to be…"
"Yea we all recognize the job is too fucked up at some point. You're lucky you learned the lesson soon"
"I'll never be a shinobi. I'll kill all of you"
"You aren't killing actual shinobis just by walking on top of walls kid. You wanna kill shinobi like me? You have to be one. Simple. As. That."
"What does it matter...I'll die anyway"
Tsunade got up and began to walk past him and out through the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I have places to be kid, I did want to rest a little more but frankly, you're spoiling my mood"
Torao looked back at the knife underneath the counter, he slowly moved over there and reached for the weapon. Tsunade stood at the door ready to depart but the sudden series of footsteps halted her next step. As the knife almost reached Tsunade's ribs, she pivoted out, grabbed the boy by his head and slammed him into the doorway.
"Now stay down."
As she was ready to take her leave, her eyes went to the boy struggling to stand up.
"What's your problem? Stay down"
"I'll at least kill one more before I die"
"Or you know you won't kill me but you still want me to kill you"
Torao chose not to reply, instead readied his knife for another strike.
"Tell you what kid...you wanna die so bad?" Her arms went for the necklace tied to her neck and untied it. She dangled it at the boy, "wear this and stick with me. I promise you'll meet a great death"
For the first time, the boy showed surprise.
"You want me to come with you?"
"Not really. I just want to test if the necklace still does its job. You'll be a good test subject"
"I don't underst-" He was cut short by the necklace thrown at him which he caught with a bit of a fumble.
"Like I said, wear that and stick close if you wanna die."
"I...I'll stick close." he said, looking down at the necklace with droplets of tears falling from his eyes.
Tsunade took no notice of it and began her walk back to camp with the boy in tow.