Reaching his home, Naruto heated up a glass of water and opened a ramen packet. Pouring it in, he began the three-minute wait for Ramen to cook.
Wood groaned as it was opened. Naruto heard it, and without ramen in hand, rushed into his room, before diving into his closet. His blue eyes struck with fear.
He couldn't die after finally getting a friend, could he? It wouldn't surprise him, the best day of his life, would be his last. Naruto could feel the Gods laughing at him. Mocking him for thinking that he could have a good day, without consequences.
He could hear the person enter his home. The first footstep scared him. His heart was racing, pumping hard to escape his malnourished body. His breathing shortened as the footsteps became louder. His body went slack as dread filled his core.
His head became nauseous as his lunch wanted a second chance at air. His body was covered in a layer of sweat, not that he could feel it. His body shook uncontrollably, fearing the worst as the person approached him.
Another step took place, and his mind went haywire. He wondered if the Uchiha's would even be sad at his death? Would they bother going to his funeral? Would he even have a funeral?
He questioned and questioned. Wondering why the civilians had such a abhorrence for him. Why they wanted him, a three-year-old (nearly four) dead. He remembered walking around with Itachi, and hearing the civilians mutter "The Hokage-Sama has forced the Uchiha Prodigy to watch over the demon brat. It's a waste of the Uchiha Prodigy's time, he should just have him kill it."
Yet, as his final seconds dawned on him, he couldn't help but feel relieved. If only momentarily. He was going to die, there would be no more stares, no more hatred. Maybe he would meet his parents up there. Maybe… just maybe.
His thoughts were broken up by another step… in the direction of the closet he hid in. The urge outweighed his resistance, and he found himself vomiting as this person approached further.
The footsteps stopped for a moment. His mind cleared up for one desperate moment to save itself. Then the alarm clock ran out. The clock rang, and his heart beat with the rhythm of the bells.
Looking under the door and ignoring the smell of vomit. Naruto puked once more. Right in front of the closet, were a pair of feet.
As the door opened, Naruto felt consciousness slip away…..
Kakashi stared at the child in front of him. Covered in puke, and surrounded by it, was Naruto. Unconscious to the world around him.
Kakashi briefly wondered if he had caused this. Caused this irrational fear inside of a child. His inability to always protect him, caused such a stress upon this child.
Sighing to himself, he grabbed Naruto by his collar and used a quick Shunshin to the hospital. Walking to the "safe" area of the hospital as he likes to call it, he requested a nurse to come in and check up on a "special" patient, hoping that they would realize who it was.
After getting Naruto help, he heard the cry of a hawk. Sighing to himself, he got prepared for a mission.
-_-The Next Morning-_-
Naruto hated the hospital. Waking up to see nothing but white above you, is what Naruto would think heaven would be like. Something you'd reach when you were dead and out of the range of attacks from those who dislike you.
Yet, the hospital wasn't that. The hospital meant that he would be thrown back to the streets to fend for himself yet again, and he would be sent back to the wolves. Hoping to leave unnoticed, Naruto changed into his normal clothes before leaping out the window…..
He was five stories up, and barely gripped the window before he fell to his certain death. Steadying himself, he got around the building, getting out without being seen.
Running to the Hokage hut, he remained nearly unnoticed. As he entered the building, the secretary smiled at him. "Happy Birthday Naruto-kun." She states happily.
"Thank you. May I see Jiji?" He asks.
"Of course! it's your big day after all." She answered.
Nodding to himself, he went up the stairs
Opening the door, he was met with the smiling face of the Hokage. "Happy birthday Naruto-kun." He wished with a smile.
"Thank you Jiji." Naruto responds with a grin of his own.
"Heard you had a little scare last night, are you alright, Naruto-kun?" The aged Hokage asked.
"I am feeling good Jiji. Nothing that can bring me down on my "big-day"." Naruto replied with a smile.
"Naruto, come back later today. I have a present for you, but I'm not quite sure if it's been prepared yet. I know it will be later today. So, if you could return around seven, it would be perfect." Hiruzen states.
"I-I guess Jiji." He whispers.
"See you then, Naruto-kun." The Sandaime bids.
Naruto nodded his head, unable to speak with the feeling of rising bile burning his throat. Restraining the urge to vomit across the Hokage's hut. So, he went back out, opening, and closing, the door after him.
After waving his goodbye to the secretary, he started his race home. He quickened his pace, each stride akin to a lunge as he pushed himself further and faster than normal. His mind raced as it surveyed the surrounding people, noticing their slight twitches.
He finally got to his home. Kicking down the door, he rushed to the bathroom. His muscles contracted, attempting to eject what lied in his stomach. His mouth burned as he couldn't resist purging the yellow, chunky monster out of system. The nauseating smell filled his lungs, and his muscles remained contracted. Attempted to wring out the last piece of rotten liquid from his system.
His dry heaving eventually stopped, and so he stood up… Way too fast. His feet scrambled to right themselves, and he was unable to properly do so. Slamming his head on something on the way down, he allowed unconsciousness to take him.
-_-Later-_-
He couldn't move his arms… why couldn't he move his arms? He struggled against it, wriggling and writhing. Now that he realized it, he couldn't move anything. His eyes shot open, wide and glancing around.
"And the demon awakens." The owner of the mask shop down the street announces.
"Took the little shit long enough." Another man states.
"We can finally begin, eh?" The third man asks.
"Yes, it seems that the time has come." The mask owner responds.
While he said this, his hand hovered over his pocket. Almost shaking in anticipation as he awaited the moment that he would be able to open it. And then his shaking stopped, and he reached into his pocket.
Naruto's eyes went wide with fear. His incessant movement increasing as he struggled under the restraints. Naruto attempted to scream, gagging at the object in his mouth.
The mask owner sported a grin as he flipped the knife in his hand carelessly. Without warning, he suddenly threw the knife at Naruto. The knife flew for a moment before reaching Naruto. When it hit, it nailed the skin of his right arm, pinning it to the wall.
Naruto screamed in pain, unable to get the blade out from his arm, and not sure if he wanted to. His eyes shut tight, wanting to fade from the world at that moment. Through his own screams and the lid of his eyes, he was unaware of them falling on his position.
His body suddenly tensed as the tip of a knife poked at his skin. Not daring to break his skin… yet. Randomly, it slammed down, impaling Naruto's left arm. His screams again muffled by the gag, but still resonating within the building.
The knife smoothly slid across his skin. Increasing the length of the gash and ignoring the frantic movement of the victim. A smile of glee fluctuated on his face. He could smell the blood gushing from Naruto.
Each drop of warm crimson falling to the floor. The undisputable smell of iron flooding the room. He enjoyed every second of this euphoric feeling. Especially how effortlessly the blade glided through his arm.
He would thank the dealer for this, it truly worked beyond expectation. He almost forgot that he had guests when he was doing it. Ignoring the muffled screams, made him ignore every noise around him. Even when his friends had asked If they could begin yet.
He gave a nod of his head to them. One of them gripped Naruto's stomach, holding a rusted blade in his other hand as he carefully, and slowly, wrote something on his skin.
The other one however, just watched the two of them, content at the muffled screams.
The mask owner continued his introduction with his blade. The blood pooling under his very feet as he sported a disturbing smirk. Blood slithered down his arm, staining his pale skin.
The other guy didn't stop carving. Each stroke with a clear purpose, and what would normally be one stroke, was dozens. Perfectionist like quality came from him as he drew his art.
Naruto's screaming continued. Unable to silence himself as each slithering blade embedded into his soul. The lights in his room were faint, as his body struggled to continue. Naruto tried one more attempt at moving, only to be restricted once more by the rope bindings that encompassed him.
Hiruzen's stroll through the neighborhoods, seemed quieter than normal. He accounted it to the celebrations being in a different street than the one he was currently walking in. Still, he walked through the streets slowly and calmly. Always enjoying the sight of the city in his strolls.
The watcher finally decided to do something. Flipping through basic hand seals. Once done, he whispered, " Katon: Shi."
Flames erupted from his right hand, and without second though, he placed it over Naruto's head. While doing so, the artist of the group picked up his knife in happiness. He had done what he wanted.
Naruto screamed, his shaking of his head mixed with the heat, took off the gag. His screams reached a distance, and his malformed face was etched with charcoal skin. After his primal scream for survival, Naruto's body collapsed, attempting to preserve the sanity of the child.
Hiruzen slammed open the door. Examining the room, and noticing every minute detail. Then, he saw red. His vision turned crimson as he glared at the three men. He blinked. He blinked again. And once more his eyes closed, this time letting them stay shut.
The room gave him nausea. The smell of burnt skin, sweat, vomit, feces, and the sweet tinge of metallic iron sickened him. He couldn't help glancing down. Three corpses, one questionable. Hiruzen looked at everything around him, filled with sorrow and regret.
Then, the God of Shinobi, screamed in pure anguish….
Blue eyes shot open. Only noticing what seemed to be a sewer….
-_-Omake-_-
"I believe that may have been your darkest chapter yet." Kurama, mentions.
"I fear it may be. However, I think it got the point across." the Author replies.
"I feel like you left out a part of it, it just seems like it's missing something." Kurama states.
"Originally, I wanted it to go on for longer, and I would have been more descriptive, but I honestly got stopped while making this chapter. It was just taking way too damn long." the Author responds.
"On a different note, I see that your "new" story hasn't been updated in a while." Kurama states.
"Yeah… that happens sometimes with me hehe. Sometimes I get over hyped with writing a random idea, so I put it on the internet, and then I regret it…"
"Whatever." Kurama mutters.
-_-Fin -_-
Hello guys. Citrus here, apologies for the late chapter. This took way longer than I had originally anticipated. I'll have the next chapter out the moment that I can finish it (because this chapter covers topics that some may not want to read), so having the next chapter to read will be better.
Erm, I plan on responding to reviews that I get on the Fanfic website, in chapters. (Cause I can reply to Wattpad comments publicly), so if my chapters ever start or end with "So and so asks…" that's why. I doubt it will be anytime soon though lmfao.
Also, just figured out a nice schedule that should work out for my updating schedule. So that's nice.
Published September 30th, 2018
Finished September 30th, 2018
Word Count| 2554