Title: Who am I?
This fic is AU. Any complaints regarding context can be forwarded to my middle fingers.
Summary: The search for an identity.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 2: Silence
Xxx In The Village Of Hidden Leaf xxX
Over two years had passed since the second worst night in the hidden leafs history. The village hadn't completely recovered since that faithful night when the Uchiha Clan was massacred, seemingly by one of it's own, the Hyuuga clan lost it's heiress, the village had lost both a very powerful artefact that had belonged to the Nidaime, the Second Hokage, and the one scroll containing the village's most dangerous and secret jutsu, and as if that wasn't enough, Uzumaki Naruto, holder of the legendary nine tailed fox was gone without a trace.
This night was second only to when the Kyuubi had attacked.
Sandaime Hokage, the current leader of the village was in deep thought. Even though it was a massacre, not everyone had been slain. No, there were two survivors: one who was believed to have committed the crime, and the other, the youngest son of the once proud clan's leader, Uchiha Sasuke. One might have thought the boy would go out of his way to avenge his family, but while that might be a priority, it seemed that the boy found it important to enjoy the days of his youth to their full extent. After all, wasn't it said that the best revenge was to lead a good life? So that's what Sasuke did.
Xxx In The Village Of Hidden Rock xxX
Uchiha Itachi and Hyuuga Hinata had been staying here for the last 4 months. During the almost 2 and a half years they had spent together, they had grown as close as any sibling pair. Even though Hinata had at first had problems with her chakra control, she didn't anymore. With proper instruction from Itachi and praise when it was earned made both her chakra control and feeling of self worth soar, as opposed to when she lived with the Hyuuga, where her father did nothing but look down on her and criticize her every move. A side from control, Itachi had trained her mostly in taijutsu. He knew little of the Jyuuken and its secrets, but what he did know he taught her. So she ended up with her very own style, which was a mix of Uchiha, basic academy and Hyuuga taijutsu. Her white eyes of the byakugan were already trained to the point of mastery.
Itachi, now fifteen was a true force to be reckoned with. He was already a shinobi of S-rank. Even though most people thought of him as a missing-nin, he didn't and for that reason kept his Konoha forehead protector unscratched and safely hidden away in his pocket, awaiting his return to his beloved hidden leaf.
Currently the duo were disguised as a sibling pair, both had blood red hair, orange eyes and very dark skin. This un-natural appearance made all but the shadier villager keep their distance. This was in fact just effect Itachi was going for when disguising them as this, for those with information about criminal affairs would of course be the criminals. Simple logic. And the scarier they looked, the shadier the people who would approach them would be, and the information Itachi was after was the highest level of shady. Who set him up to take the blame for the Uchiha massacre, and why. It was their last lead that had led them to the hidden rock, but now it appeared it was just another wild goose chase. They were scheduled to leave town the next morning.
Xxx In The Village Of Hidden Sand xxX
A boy of eight was walking around his current home. He had spent the last year of his life here. He was dressed in grey pants, a white t-shirt, black sandals and a grey jacket. On his face there was a mask, hiding his identity from everyone, including himself. On the back of his jacket however, was the kanji for 'Fugen' meaning Silence. It was the name given to him by the voice.
:Flashback:
Xxx Deep In A Forest, Far Away From Civilisation xxX
A boy of seven years stared into a lake, examining his reflection. Staring back was a boy with a proud crown of blonde hair, his face hidden behind a mask. The mask was a plain white nondescript mask that covered his whole face. There was no string that held it on, in fact it seemed the mask was burnt into his face. There were two thins slits for eyes and four small circular holes to allow breathing. He had no immediate recollection of the past years. He had lost all track of who he was. All he knew was that one-day he had awoken with the mask on, and no memories whatsoever. How long ago it was he didn't know. Where he was currently situated was another thing that escaped his knowledge. There were trees all around. 1000 steps from the small cabin he had built and was currently living in, was a river. 200 steps in the other direction found a small lake. They served as both training grounds and sources of food. Why he was training, he didn't know, but the voice in his head told him to do it and he did. He felt a sense of devotion towards the voice. Where it came from or whom the voice belonged to he didn't know either. He didn't know what it was that would happen if he disobeyed the voice, but he feared it would leave him. It was his only companion. Always keeping him busy, there was always a new task that needed completion: Train body, train jutsu, get food, cook food, train more, sleep etc. Why he trained, he didn't know, but he did it anyway if only to please the voice.
Re-focussing on his reflection revealed that he wore no clothes on his body save for some makeshift loincloth made from the skin of some animal he'd killed. He had once owned a set of clothing but they were ripped to shreds due to his harsh training regiment and run-ins with the local wildlife. To his knowledge he only owned two items. But the voice had forbidden him from using them, and told him to bury them.
Suddenly he felt nauseated. He knew the voice was about to speak.
"Child! It is time for you to relocate. During your time in the forest, your strength has increased to a level of satisfaction. Even though you have only reached the human age of eight, your level of power equals your human rank of genin. You will retrieve your possessions, and go to live amongst your fellow humans. They will teach you things that I cannot. However, due to lack of use, aside from your jutsu, your vocal chords have all but dried up. You may experience slight difficulties when speaking. This will only be temporary, as repeated use will restore them to normal. Due to this fact, you will go by the name of 'Fugen'. Once you reach a human settlement I will contact you once more."
The boy, Fugen, did as he was told, and before long he was on his way. In addition to his loincloth, a cylindrical container was now strapped to his back. It didn't weigh much, and Fugen had forgot what it contained. He only knew the voice said it was dangerous. He ran and ran until the thick forest was no more and instead the ground was sandy and the air was dry.
:Flashback end:
The voice had indeed contacted him again. The morning after Fugen had arrived in the Sand, he had awoken with a bloodied body. In front of him were the very same set of clothing he wore everyday, and a stash of money. The voice had told him to dress in it and have the 'Fugen' emblem sown onto the back. The money should take care of that as well as cover any necessary items he might need for work as a shinobi. Later that day he had shown up at the Suna mission centre as a mercenary for his first mission.
Throughout the year he had progress from genin to upper chuunin level, and the voice was satisfied. Due to his damaged vocal chords and time spent away from civilization, his people skills were far from the best they could be. He had no friends, and most of the humans he met were those in the mission centre giving him a spare mission, and whoever got in his way when completing said mission. To this date he had never failed a mission, and always returned unharmed. That is to say, he was injured, but by the time he arrived back, all his wounds were healed, leaving no trace of them ever having been there. He had the voice to thank for that.
And this is how he found himself reading the mission folder to assassinate a member of the Hidden Sand, a red haired boy roughly about his own age. He was said to be extremely dangerous. He went by the name of Gaara.
Xxx At The Hidden Sand's Public Bathhouse xxX
Jiraiya, one third of the Legendary Sannin of the Hidden Leaf, Toad Sennin, and self-proclaimed Super Pervert was currently conducting his normal research, which consisted of peeping on naked women. Nothing wrong about it, he'd say to himself, they were there, he was there, and he had a book to write.
He sighed as the women started to leave. The hidden sand had some magnificent women, but since water was so scarce, the bath was only open for two hours of the day. But that didn't deter Jiraiya, oh no. He'd get his inspiration one way or another before skipping town. It was days like these he wished he possessed the Byakugan.
Sensing someone behind him, he turned around and saw a boy. His face was masked and his hair was bright blonde. Not knowing why, he decided to follow him. He had a feeling things were about to get exciting.
Xxx With Fugen xxX
Walking around in search for his target was outright boring. Speaking still hurt a lot, so he'd avoid asking for help unless it was strictly necessary. When he had walked past the public bath, he'd notice a strange man, who in turn started following him. Fugen didn't mind this though. He realized that he'd seen this Gaara kid on more than one occasion, but it turned out that when he actually wanted to find him, it was near impossible. If this kid was as dangerous as the mission report would have it, maybe the strange man following him could be of help. Fugen would of course take all the credit, but he welcomed any help he could get.
For this mission, the voice had allowed Fugen to bring his sword. It was one of two items that he'd brought with him from the forest. But this was no ordinary sword; its blade was made of lightning. Sadly, he didn't recall how he'd acquired the sword.
Finally! He sensed a powerful presence watching him. It had to be his target, seeing as there was no one but the strange man following him around. In a raspy voice he said:
"Gaara, show yourself. It's time for you to die." He was simply stating a fact. He never wasted his voice on nonsense.
Tsuzuku…
A/N: I know I said I wouldn't be able to get another chapter up in a while, but my mind was working overtime and wouldn't leave me alone. I leave for school on Sunday, and will be gone for four weeks. The last remaining days, I'll be spending with my girlfriend. Rest assured that my time away will be spent writing up a nice and juicy chapter or two filled with details on the training done so far, and the upcoming battle, just waiting for me to get my clutches on a PC.