An original story set in an alternate ninja universe, based on Naruto themes, written by three authors, Suicunetobigaara, Zoicite23 and BeyondBirthdayYaoiFan. Here is the first chapter written by myself, Suicunetobigaara. Enjoy the story!

~~~Daichi's POV~~~

A noisy chatter filled my ears but I didn't mind. It was nice to hear the kids at the Hidden Cloud Orphanage sound happy. I continued to stack the clean plates as I listened to their discussions, mostly about how they were going to be a great ninja or how they saw the Raikage in the streets. Such talk gave them hope.

"Daichi, your shift has ended. You could have gone home an hour ago," a gentle voice caught my attention and I turned to a young girl, around the age of eighteen with long brown hair and emerald green eyes.

Mama was two years my senior, but despite her young age, she was efficient and organised, easily becoming head of all the volunteers. Mama had once been an orphan, so even though she was a Chunin, she still worked hard at a job that never paid. She worked the longest hours out of all the volunteers, sometimes longer than the nurses who were actually paid to look after the kids. She made sure every child got love and attention and I admired her for that.

She was the head volunteer at the orphanage, but I didn't know her name, she just liked to be called Mama. I liked to help out there, whenever I could and usually worked overtime.

"But then who would have stacked the plates?" I chuckled, quickly finishing my task.

Mama rolled her eyes, "I am here you know. Besides, aren't you a ninja? Shouldn't you be out doing missions like normal kids your age?"

"Yes, but I am a Genin, so the missions I receive aren't that difficult. I haven't been placed in a team yet," I responded with a smile playing on my lips.

In the Village Hidden in the Clouds, Genin weren't placed into a cell until they were sixteen years old and could only do E ranked missions, or if they were lucky a D rank one. This was to prevent the deaths of preteens and to give our population a chance to thrive.

Now ninja in my year were being assessed by possible mentors to see which team they would be placed into. The assessments were taking place this week, but I had not seen a sign of any senior ninja paying me any particular notice. I haven't been so worried since my academy exam.

"Well a young girl is here to see you," Mama replied as she looked admiringly around the kitchen, I had spent all day cleaning it.

"What does she look like?" I asked. I thought maybe a Jonin would be ready to assess my skills.

"Pretty, young, creamy white skin and off-white hair. It's the girl from the other week you numbskull," Mama told me while hitting me with a piece of rolled up paper she found.

I flinched and raised my arm to protect myself, playfully chuckling at Mama's futile attempts to hurt me. I knew the girl she had described and I was happy to hear she was visiting me.

"It's rude to keep a girl waiting you know," Mama scolded.

I nodded and thanked her before leaving the kitchen. A bunch of children greeted me, but in the middle of the room, stood my girlfriend, Hikaru Tabame. Hikaru was a Genin like me, but she had a slim build, making her look too fragile to be a ninja. However looks could be deceiving, because Hikaru was one of the smartest people I had met, not to mention the most beautiful. She was from the Tabame clan, which was also known as the Clan of the Birds. Hikaru was not a person who should be taken lightly.

"Hey, Daichi!" Hikaru greeted me whilst running into my arms. I wrapped my arms around her thin body and breathed in her feathery scent.

"No Hikaru, forget about Daichi, we can be happy together!" Ryouta, one of my favourite orphans cried out dramatically as he fell to the floor on his knees with arms outstretched. Hikaru giggled, not knowing what to do.

Like most members of the Tabame clan, Hikaru looked after the birds in the aviary. Most people in her family were ninja, but they were from the lower branch while the higher, more esteemed branch were filled with average people. Her clan trained various types of birds for messenger work and were proud of the role their birds had. Hikaru personally reminded me of a dove.

"Hey," I replied with the biggest smile on my face. I felt her hands run through my coal black hair and I could see my blue eyes reflected in her pale blue ones. I thought to myself how lucky I was to have her, my dove.

"Guess what, a Jonin assessed me! The Jonin was really rude and angry so I was really nervous. I didn't think I did too well but that means people are interested in training me! Isn't that great?" Hikaru rushed, her eyes sparkled with delight.

"That's great and I am sure you didn't do as bad as you think you did," I told her cheerfully.

Although I was extremely happy for her, I was a bit disappointed. No ninja had come to assess me yet. I knew Hikaru would spike some interest because she came from a large and important clan, while the only family I knew was my mother. Hikaru could learn secret jutsu from established ninja, yet all I had was my backyard, when I was allowed to practice.

My mother didn't like me practicing as it took time away from my chores. She didn't want me to be a ninja at all, at first, but when I started to bring home money, she didn't mind as much. My mother needed money to help her with a shop she owned, which was set at the front of our house.

"Thank you!" Hikaru said excitedly, before her face turned more serious, "I have a mission for you from the Raikage."

"Cool a mission!" A boy called Ryouta said as he approached me. The other children joined him in surrounding me, each wanting their own look at the mission. I unfolded the note and read it.

Daichi Nakahara,

Mission level: D rank

Brief: Obtain the Rainbow Jurah Flower. This is a rare flower that changes flavours as the colour changes, and is wanted for an ingredient for a meal for the feudal lord's family. The flower is obtained at the Greenhaven sanctuary which is half a day's travel away. The flower only changes colour when it has fully bloomed and goes through a cycle of colours once, before setting at a sunset yellow colour. The flower is to be picked when it is green, to ensure a bitter flavour.

Reward: 50, 000 ryou.

At the bottom was the Raikage's signature. I felt daunted when I saw the reward money, as it was the highest amount a ninja could earn while doing a D rank mission. I never chose missions that held such a high reward because I didn't do missions for the reward, but if the Raikage chose me then I would have to complete this mission. I ran my hand through my short slightly spiky black hair.

"Can I come?" Ryouta asked as he jumped around me and quickly he was joined by most of the other children.

Ryouta was one of the more mischievous and excitable of the children and he looked at me with wide green eyes that were silently begging for me to let him join me. Although he was doing well at the academy, he was no way ready for the full responsibilities of being a ninja.

"I am sorry everyone, but you aren't trained," I apologized while ruffling Ryouta's fuchsia hair, "when you graduate from the academy then I promise I'll do a mission with you guys."

"I am almost a Genin!" a young girl with ginger hair called Miu protested. Normally she was a respectful child.

A chorus of "awww" filled the orphanage but it wouldn't deter me, even when some of them folded their arms or turned away from me. I quickly gave Hikaru a light kiss on her soft cheek and set off after heading home and retrieving my equipment.

I put on a one shoulder, white flak jacket, which was unique to the Kumogakure ninja, over my black sleeveless shirt. I put on my elbow guards and shin guards which were a matching black colour. I kept the black sandals I had on currently and wore my forehead protector on my forehead.

My mother did not like me going out long, but currently she was home, so I was able to slip out of my house undetected. I planned to make a quicker than the estimated half a day travel, to avoid conflict.

I traveled through the mountainside, using my chakra to increase my stride and grip to the sides of the mountains. I had seen the Greenhaven sanctuary only once before and had used a map in my mother's shop to confirm its location.

I spotted the valley in which the sanctuary was located and headed down towards it. I gathered up speed as I leapt down the side of the mountain, gripping with the chakra concentrated in my feet so well that loose stones didn't bother me. As the slope decreased, I slowed down until finally arriving gently

I reached the open iron gates at the entrance of the sanctuary. An old man, leaning against a walking stick stood in front of them. As I showed him the piece of paper with my mission written on it, I glanced at the signs that hung around the fence. Words such as 'trespassers beware' and 'warning' sent chills down my spine.

"This seems to be in order young man," the hunched over old man muttered while handing me back my mission slip. He also handed me a map that showed me to where the flowers grew and an odd purple flower with a bright yellow middle with a pin through its stem.

"Excuse me sir, why did you give me this purple flower?" I asked him, while tilting my head in confusion.

"You'll be needing that to get past them snappers," the old man grunted. "The fence around this here place isn't to protect the plants inside, it's to protect them god damn people on the outside."

"Oh," I didn't know what to say, but I placed the flower on the sleeve of my shirt, "thank you."

"You're a polite young boy, I hope you don't die," the old man mumbled. As I turned to walk into the sanctuary, the old man called out, "You be wise to not sniff nothing!"

As soon as I entered Greenhaven Sanctuary it was dark and had an earthy smell. Large trees that appeared as thick as the mountains themselves reached out and blocked the light with their outstretched fingers, making the place look damp and gloomy. Still I put one foot in front of the other and walked on. It was morning when I left the Hidden Cloud and noon when I arrived here, I needed to be quick if I was to make it home before dark and even then I would be in trouble.

The further inside the sanctuary I got the darker it seemed to be. I did see patches of sunlight where the sun had pushed through the ever present darkness. In some parts, I could not even see my own feet.

After a long time, I found a clearing where the thick trees gave way. The grass here was springy and fresh and an array of flowers bloomed here. I identified a few poisonous ones, knowledge I had obtained from the academy. The only other time I had been here was on an excursion with the academy and one girl got a rash and we had to go home.

I saw large spores erupt from a tiny speckled brown flower. They floated around and I ducked around them. One threatened to touch me, but I blew it away with my breath. Although the spores looked as soft and fluffy as clouds, I didn't have enough knowledge about plants to know whether they were safe. Academy training only covered the basics.

I made my way through the field and found a path that I needed to take, in order to get to the Jurah flower. I saw a line of vibrant green stems and a couple of brown wilted stems and looked up. I could recognize the giant Venus fly traps that guarded the path.

Maybe those are the 'snappers' the old man was referring to? I thought as I stepped forward gingerly.

The carnivorous plants didn't budge and I strode more confidently down the path. At the end was a small plant that resembled a bunch of weeds and one long leafy stem with a flower that opened slightly was at the top.

I looked down at the map and then at the ordinary looking plant. This must be the Jurah flower and not being one to judge based on looks, I sat down and watched the plant. Every so slowly it opened up and abruptly changed from a light blue flower into a sky blue flower.

This is it! I thought, happy that I did not have to wait long. I watched the flower intently as it changed from a sky blue colour to a dark blue colour and from that into a midnight blue colour. I was amazed at how such an ordinary looking flower could be so unique and beautiful.

"Ahhh!"

Suddenly an ear splitting scream erupted through the sanctuary. I stood up and looked around, noticing that the scream came from nearby and was in the direction of the path I just used.

"Help me!" screamed a voice that to my horror I could recognize. It was Ryouta.

Forgetting the flower I raced down the path and towards the Venus fly traps. When the boy came into view I saw him running for his life away from the carnivorous plant that was the furthest away from me, the one that guarded the entrance of the path.

Without a thought I drew out my kunai and raced to the boy's aid. Sweat dripped down Ryouta's dark skin as he tried to out-run the plant beast. Before I could reach him the flytrap scooped up the boy in its jaws.

"No!" I growled as I raced to the stem of the plant. I hacked away at the stem with my kunai, ignoring the sticky, watery juices that flowed from its wound. I knew I had to get Ryouta out of the plant before it dissolved him.

I dug the kunai in deep and used it like a knife in an effort to kill the plant. Finally my kunai broke through to the other side of the stem, but not before I noticed something in my peripheral vision.

I used my chakra to perform a basic quick sprint that sent me meters away from the head of the Venus flytrap which had come to stop me from cutting through its stem. I pulled out three shuriken from a pack on the side of my pants and threw them at the plant beast.

Although the shuriken were embedded into the soft flesh of the plant, the Venus flytrap still charged at me, ready to head butt me. I waited until the last moment before jumping onto the 'head' of the vegetation.

"Ball of light!" I cried out to no one in particular and I summoned a small ball of fire in the palm of my right hand. I shoved the tiny flame ball into the plant and earned a sizzling noise. The Venus flytrap paused and shrieked, if it were possible.

As quick as I could, I jumped down into the mouth of the plant and pulled a dazed Ryouta out of its mouth. I wrapped my arm around his abdomen and leapt away from the enraged plant. I gave the purple flower to Ryouta.

"Keep a hold of this," I ordered him before running back to the half-cut stem.

Not leaving myself open with another attack I used my ball of light jutsu and slammed it into the stem. I quickly pulled my hand away and slashed through the stem. I was rewarded, then my kunai cut through the stem.

Another shriek tore through the air and I turned around to see another giant Venus flytrap race to me, with jaws wide open. I dodged to the side and used my Quick Stride technique to fly across the few metres that separated me and Ryouta. I crouched behind the young orphan and the Venus flytrap suddenly came to a halt.

I could smell a rancid stench as the Venus flytrap held its jaws open. It pulled away and closed its head, resuming its position. Ryouta held the purple flower out like a shield and we slowly shifted past the Venus flytraps and to the Jurah flower. I looked at the flower and saw it was a disappointing yellow.

"What's wrong?" Ryouta questioned, staring at the flower.

"It's the wrong colour. I failed my mission," I told him solemnly.

"I am so sorry!" Ryouta wailed, "The ninja covered in black said I could help you!"

"What ninja?" I asked curiously.

Ryouta took a moment to calm down and started to explain.

"Well I was bummed that I couldn't go on a mission with you when this ninja covered in a black body suit and a black mask showed up. He said that I could help you and he helped me get here. Well I rode on his back, like a piggy back, anything to come and help on a real mission. So then I came into this place. I almost touched a spore thingy but the black ninja blew it away and helped me through this place. Then he said he couldn't help when he was near the man eating plants and I thought he was just scared. Maybe he knew these plants were here but he left and I went on."

"Hmm, well it explains how you got here," I replied.

Who is this ninja covered in black and why would he want to harm an academy student? I thought to myself.

"Can we go home?" Ryouta asked desperately.

"Sure," I answered with a frown on my face.

I helped Ryouta out of the Greenhaven Sanctuary and through the mountains surrounding the Hidden Cloud. We traveled at the pace of a snail and I watched the sun sink behind the mountains. After many hours I returned Ryouta to the orphanage where Mama gave him a harsh scolding.

"Oh before you leave, some weird guy dropped off a present for you," Mama said as she shoved a package into my hands.

I opened the package to see a green flower that had a bitter scent wafting from it. It was the Jurah flower.

What is going on? I saw only one flower at the Greenhaven...

Dumbfounded I delivered the flower to the Raikage. Once the mission was complete I headed home, dreading what my mother would say, or do.

I opened the back door and slipped into the house. I turned on the light in the living room and saw my mother sitting on the couch.

"It's dark and you weren't here," she said accusingly.

"I am sorry mum, but I was out doing a mission," I apologized.

My mother glared at me with dark eyes, and began to rant.

"I knew these missions were bad. You are using them to get away from me. The mother who raised you and housed you and clothed you! THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?" My mother yelled at me.

She charged at me with her hand raised and struck me on the face. I crouched and drew my arms around my head to protect it, but my mother had started to use her feet to kick me.

"How dare you! You insolent, piece of shit! All you do is leech off of me," My mother screamed at me.

"I did it for the reward money! It has a 50, 000 ryou reward," I shouted, thinking of a way to stop her without violence.

My mother hesitated, "What did you say?" she asked.

"All for you," I told her while handing her the bag of money, "because of everything you do for me."

My mother took the bag and stroked my hair. Her whole demeanor changed.

"What a good boy I have," she cooed, "but I want you to stop taking such long missions."

"I'll try," I comforted her, "but when I get put in a team I might get longer missions. But I will get a bigger reward."

"NO!" she roared at me, "I don't want you to leave, not like him! Go to your room, you are disrupting my peace."

In a heartbeat I made my way to the stairs, but stopped halfway up them when my mother called me.

"Daichi, don't forget I love you," She said gently, as she played with her long black hair.

"I love you too Mum," I replied, touching my face where she had struck me, it had already started to bruise.

***?'s POV***

A ninja covered in a black cloak and wearing a black mask stood in his apartment alone. He had already gone to see the Raikage to give his report.

Daichi Nakahara, he will do nicely for my Genin team. Most wouldn't give him a second glance because he doesn't seem unique enough, but I see much potential, the ninja thought to himself.

One down two more to go.

Who is the mysterious ninja dressed in black? Who else will this figure want for his team? Why would they dare put a child in danger? Find out soon!

Author's note:

This story as an alternate Naruto universe, except with original characters, powers and set in the Village Hidden in the Clouds. Some of the key elements are the same, but there are enough differences to make it unique. We have made our own jutsu aside from the basics seen in the show and the clans are completely different. For instance;

Normally Naruto's elements go like this:

firewindlightningearthwaterfire

These didn't seem logical in the writer's opinions, so here's a revised idea with explanations:

firewind (oxygen in air makes fire stronger)

windearth (wind techniques involve cutting and blasting, can break rock easy)

earthlightning (contrary to Naruto, earth doesn't conduct electricity, should be completely immune)

lightningwater (water does conduct it, and shouldn't be able to change shape when electrocuted)

waterfire (water puts out fire)

More of these differences will be evident as the story goes along. Now you have seen some changes I hope you enjoy the story! (Hopefully we won't get criticized for not following the manga/anime.)

Question of the day: Who actually read the Author's Note? Please Review!