Chapter one: Prologue

A young boy dashed through a vast forest. The trees towered over him, whistling nature's song. The leaves of those massive everglades moved with the wind of an impending storm; nature painted a beautiful picture for him. But this child couldn't stop running to think about it. His bare feet shuffled through the bushes and shrubs, tripping over sharp rocks and pebbles, scrabbling through the rain's fog. He had to keep running because the person chasing him wouldn't let him stop to gather his thoughts - not even for a single second. He knew the killer would eventually catch up with him; it preyed on him like a tiger in a large jungle, simply playing with its prey until it was dead.

"I'm no better than him because of you!" From within the trees, the attacker screamed at the child. "These eyes... They're made of blood. I, too, am a murderer, just like that man!"

"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about!"

A rush of wind flew past the boy's cheek, much faster than his limited human vision could detect. When his skin finally reacted with the slight drip of blood down his face, he widened his eyes; he'd been cut - did he throw something? He looked at the tree in front of him; a single kunai had stabbed itself deeply within its bark. "What the hell?" the child exclaimed, sweating profusely from his run. That throw appeared to be as fast as a bullet. A single one to the right place would have instantly killed him.

"Stop sprinting. "It's pointless," the unknown assailant muttered to the boy from behind him. "I could have killed you at any time."

The child cautiously turned around to face him in the eyes. His vivid red eyes were the first thing he saw; they seemed to glow like torches in the fog, almost frighteningly so.

His iris had a strange design, almost like a wheel, and three dark smaller, sharper pupils encircled the main one, glaring back into the boy's own eyes. He appeared to be no older than thirteen years old, just as old as the child was, as evidenced by his infantile round face. His hair was slicked back, weirdly flying in all directions as it made its way to the back of his head; it was a dead black tint that blended in with the darkness. He looked at the youngster blankly, his brow furrowed, and there was a trace of grief in his expression.

The raven-haired boy found a log to sit on after taking his hands out of the pockets of his ragged white shorts. For a few seconds, he stared at the trees, probably wondering what to do with the nameless boy. "Take a seat." He motioned for the boy to sit on a log neatly positioned in front of his face.

He took the expressionless boy's offer and sat down."What do you want…?" There was no more uncomfortable situation.

"I don't know who you are or why you were out here, I could care less honestly…" he stared at the ground, not even having the nerve to look him in the eyes. "I- made a mistake. I placed my anger on the wrong person."

"I'm just supposed to go home now? You chased me into the middle of a forest, I have no idea where I'm at…"

"That's not my problem now, is it?"

For a brief period, the two locked gazes. They stared at each other, wishing the other would simply go away. "Is there something wrong, loser?" Standing up from his log, the raven-haired kid inquired. "I told you to leave." He focused his attention on the child.

"Whatever." Despite not having a home really, the child took advantage of the opportunity to flee. He calmly slid his hands into his own pants pockets and walked away. This way, he wouldn't have to cope with this insane emo-looking guy, who even admitted to being a killer. He didn't want to become the next person on his list.

"Why the hell were you out so far in this forest anyway?" The killer asked, stopping the boy from walking off. "The Valley of the End is an odd spot to just visit."

"I ran away from my home in Amegakure," The boy muttered, looking at the ground. "I was planning on being granted asylum as an orphan in Konoha."

"Asylum? Konoha has no laws like that. They'd throw you in a cell before even thinking of such things."

The child scoffed at that; the week he spent just trying to get this far had been all for naught. "…I guess I'm dead then." He grabbed the blade that had been thrown into the tree with both hands. "Once my village finds me, they'll probably kill me anyway."

"…So killing yourself is the only way to escape? Even though you're perfectly innocent?" The red-eyed child narrowed his eyes at the child holding the blade at his throat.

"Pretty much. I was never trained as a ninja or anything, so I can't defend myself like you."

"And you'll let them win over you like this?"

"I don't see anything else there is I can do. I was raised underneath a trafficking ring, I'm not that smart."

"WHY DO YOU AGREE TO THAT?!" Those same individuals who shunned you and forced you to flee your village will do the same to others!" He yelled in an enraged tone at the boy, preventing him from inserting the kunai into his throat. "They don't deserve to breathe another breath on this world." They feed on the misfortune of others, utilizing them as puppets for their gain. They want you to give up here; do whatever you can to be strong and prove them wrong."

The child had an odd grimace after the remark. "Why do you care?" "What does my death have to do with you?" He yelled back at the emo. "Wasn't the orange-haired guy you slaughtered back there a sacrifice for your own gain?!"

In a flash of wrath, the raven-haired boy sneered and violently grabbed the boy's shirt. "I-I'M NOT LIKE HIM!" he exclaimed. "It was an accident; I didn't ask for this!"

"But now you see? There's nothing we can do but succumb to the strength of those who are more powerful than us; we do what they want even if it's unknowingly." His eyes drooped in sadness, replying honestly to the enraged boy.

"No… "I'll use this mistake and the strength I gained from it to make my dream a reality." He muttered, glaring at the boy's eyes, and let go of his shirt's grip. "I'll use this cursed power against him, even if it means sacrificing my one friend."

"Vengeance?" The words opened the boy's eyes; though immorality had clearly emerged from beneath that hazy dream, it was better than suffering and accomplishing nothing like he was. "What's your name?"

"Sasuke. Yours?" he stuck out his arm at the boy, opening his palm for a handshake.

"Quanxi" he grabbed the red-eyed man's hand and shook it.

The start of a new unspoken bond is formed.