Drip Drip

The streets of Konoha laid barren in the dead of night, only perturbed by the intermittent dripping of a leaky pipe. Her citizens all slept, happily dreaming of their fondest desires. All but one. A lone boy who sat atop a rather large, stone bust.

Drip Drip

' it's a nice night ' he thought solemnly, watching the occasional animal scurry by. 'The village actually seems peaceful and friendly when the villagers aren't glaring at me.'

Drip Drip

The lonely boy wasn't the most well-liked person among his people. Ostracized by both the adult population as well as their children, He often found solace on these quiet nights. ' It's not like I have ever done anything to those people. Sure a bit of paint here and there or a surprise water balloon to the rude passerby, but I always cleaned up after myself. But nooo they all act like I murdered half their family.'

'Oh, wait. I did do that.'

Or so he had been told.

Yes, for some unbelievable reason, he was often informed that he was responsible for a demon attack on the village. Over half of the buildings had been laid to ruin, and thousands of lives had been lost to the demonic beast that had invaded. A bad omen, he had been called. A motherless curse who brings only chaos where he goes. He couldn't even press them for more since the masked men always appeared, reminding them of their vacation. He never saw them after that. ' I've tried asking the old man about it" he recalled, " but he insists that I'll learn when I'm older. And that these 'Anbu', or so he calls them, are only looking out for me."

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"Weird ones, the lot of 'em" he pondered out loud. " Claiming to be elite ninjas yet dressed in black and concealed in animal masks. A real ninja stands out, throwing out awesome Jutsu with no regard to anything or anyone!" Yes, to him a ninja was the best of the best. To be praised and known throughout the land, but above all, to be respected.

Drip Drip

As he thought about the makings of a true ninja, his gaze wandered towards the academy." Oh yeah, graduation is in about a week, maybe I'll finally pass this year. I would have probably graduated sooner had they actually taught me a real jutsu and not some lame party tricks."

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"I hope I don't get Sasuke on my team, he'll just try to steal my thunder. And Sakura. Kiba would just be a louder, more obnoxious Sasuke. Anyone else I'm fine with, they can cheer me on from the sidelines while I get all the glory".

Drip Drip

"Maybe I could get my own cheerleader team? It could have Ino and Sakura and that quiet girl and -" . . . . Was that Santa? Focusing on the said figure in question, he saw a person carrying an umbrella with a large bag in his back. Leaping down from the monument, he ran to the roof where he last saw it. "Weird. There's no chimney anywhere in this village, plus It's also the middle of June. They have no need for an umbrella or a sack. What gives?"

'Was it a robber? In a village FULL of ninjas?'

"Maybe if I catch him, then the villagers would finally give me the respect I deserve! But where did he go?" Out of the corner of his eye, He saw a figure dash around the corner. 'There you are'. Taking off, he began pursuit of the hooded figure.

~ 20 minutes later ~

'Damn! This guy's been leading me around in circles!'

"Hey!! Come back here and face me like a man!" The hooded figure said nothing, descending into the massive overgrowth that was the Forest of Death.

Landing and dashing blindly into the darkness, he lost his target after only a few mere moments.

'When I get my hands on him I swear I'm going to throw him down at the old man's feet. Not before I give him a piece of my mind that is.'

"Foolish boy"

A voice boomed all around him, shaking him to his very core.

"You may be fortunate enough to see me, but that does not exempt you from the consequences. Leave now lest you be forced to bear my curse."

"No way! You're my ticket to glory, only a fool would be dumb enough to let this opportunity go. Surrender yourself!

"So be it"

An umbrella opened up next to him, exerting more force than should have been feasible.

A cloud of golden dust was thrown into the boy's face.

And his world melted around him.

In the blink of an eye, the vibrant green of the forest had been transformed into a desolate wasteland littered with decaying bushes. An endless void enveloped where the sky once was, plunging the world into encroaching darkness only staved off by the faint glow of a ruined temple.

It stood before him, sprawling to the heights of the heavens with a magnificent hourglass at its peak. Dozens of rooms and towers sprouted from its base, as far as the eye could see.

A blade pierced his heart.

Out of the abyss a much deeper voice spoke out.

"Thou art I, and I art thouForever chained to this horrid placeForever granting what we cannot haveThe gate is open, and you will lead us."

In an instant his vision went white, but not before he caught a glimpse of a strange man in an outlandish suit. Oddly enough, he appeared to be crumbling away.