a/n: I've decided to start over on this story *bows deeply* I'm really sorry to all my current followers/reviewers that have been waiting so long for an update! This probably isn't what you expected right? Like I said before in the notice from a while back, I'm trying to give the story more of a plot because the one I had going was a complete mess with like three consistent chapters of a pseudo-plot. Also the meeting chapter I had from before was like... really just wrong in my eyes. It was all over the place. Anyways I hope you enjoy this new version and PLEASE REVIEW! I LOVE YOUR REVIEWS IT KEEPS ME GOING!

His shoulders were stiff. His left leg, he was sure, was at least broken in three places. He was dehydrated, his freaking left eye kept pulsing like crazy, and he was pretty sure he was actually suffering from a concussion and was on the brink of passing the hell out. He couldn't go on for much longer. His remaining leg failed on him and before he knew it he was face first, literally biting the dust.

He should have just turned down the job when he had the chance, but he couldn't, the job proprietor had specifically requested him to take down the group of bandits that terrorized their town and controlled who came in and out, what the client failed to mention was that the so called bandits was actually a dark guild. He slowly moved his hand up towards his face and pulled down his scarf so breathing could be less taxing than it already was. His vision started to become blurred and he could feel his eyes being coaxed to give in and shut. He forced himself to stay awake, 'just a few more seconds' he'd think, hoping that a random traveler would spot him and help him.

After thirty minutes he heard someone gasp from somewhere ahead and the sound of a paper bag smacking against the ground as the sound of feet rushed towards and finally, he gave in to the sweet embrace of sleep.

"Do you think this is enough?" Green eyes peeked into the brown paper bag curiously.

"Mah, Sakura-chan this should last us at least a few days until we reach the next town!" Blue glanced at her from the corner of his eye and gave her a reassuring smile, "I'll get another job just to be safe though."

Sakura sighed and shook her head, "At least let me help out Naruto-nii..." She didn't notice him stop and stare at her as she kept on walking.

"You really don't have to... I'm fine with working you know. It's my job as your older brother to care for you." He watched as Sakura stopped, her body suddenly tensing, so he continued,

"Jiraiya made me promise to take care of you so that's what I'm doing!" he shouted at her. His only response was the distinctive sound of a paper bag crumpling and the thud of the contents within hitting the ground, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

Confused the blonde picked the bag up, placing the fallen items back in and looked ahead. The he saw his sister crouched over a silver haired man with worried eyes as she gently flipped him onto his back, her hands hovering over his body with a green glow he knew far too well. Hugging the bags closely, he rushed forwards.

"Naruto-nii! I need you to tilt his head back so he can breathe easily!" she ordered.

He was woken up by the sound of a crackling fire and the scent of a beef stew. What the...where the hell was he? Last thing he remembered was labored breathing and his face hugging the dirt road like they were best friends, yet here he was, eyes staring at what seemed like the rounded ceiling of a cave, the fire's shadow licking the walls, though... it seemed a bit off. Maybe he just needed more rest...

"Sakura-chan, he's awake." A not so quiet whisper reached his ears, followed by the sound of shuffling, seconds later bright ethereal green eyes stared at him before her arm reached behind his neck and metal tapped his bottom lip, asking him to open his mouth so that he could drink water. Oh god water was so god damn good, he'd never dis water ever again. Well not like he did dis water in the first place. The owner of the green eyes seemed satisfied with the amount of water he drank before helping him sit up completely, placing a bundle of bags and blankets to give him support.

"I'm Sakura," the owner of the green eyes finally spoke, she had long pink hair that reached her hips, " that's Naruto," She pointed at the spiky blonde haired boy with blue eyes that seemed to be stirring something in a small travel pot, that had to be the stew he smelled earlier.

"We found you on the road..." she said as she placed the back of her hand against his forehead, " You were pretty injured, broken leg, sprained ankle, and a severe concussion." Ah so he was right. She suddenly looked down at her lap and sighed before letting her eyes fall on him once again, "I'm really sorry!" she bowed before him.

Sorry? What? He cleared his still sore throat, "What are you sorry for?"

"She couldn't save your left eye." Naruto stated from his position in front of the pot of stew. He was taken aback by the bluntness of the boy and his gaze dropped back to the girl. His right hand now touching his left eye only to notice his left eye was shut and a jagged scar went through it. He let his hand drop onto his lap and with a sigh his left hand patted the girls shoulder, causing her to sit up with a confused look on her face.

"It's alright," he said. The girl nodded shyly. A few minutes passed in silence as she walked away to do something else and Naruto passed out small metal bowls of stew for them to eat. Right as he handed him his bowl, the boy plopped down next to him.

"Say, what's that mark on your face?" He raised his right brow, because god damn his left one hurt like a bitch, and blew into his soup to cool it down, "What mark?"

The boy reached over and his finger hovered over his left eye, making sure not to touch it or injure him in any way, "that gray mark over your left eye."

"Oh, that's my guild insignia."

"Whats it for?"

"It shows which guild I belong too."

From across the cave, Sakura was sitting with her knees up to her chest, metal bowl of stew now empty, "whats a guild?"

"Hmm, well it's a place where you can hone and improve your skills as well as take jobs and make money. Sometimes guild members think of each other as family, well mine does at least," He watched as Naruto glanced back at Sakura with a smile on his face, before turning back to look at him, giant smile still plastered on his face, "there are many kinds of guilds though, for example, mage guilds, merchant guilds and even bandit guilds."

"What guild do you belong too? Who are you maybe we've heard of you! We're mages y'know!" the boy rambled, wanting to ask him a million questions at once.

A small smile spread across his lips, "The name's Kakashi Hatake, S-class mage of Fairy Tail."

The boys face lit up like a light bulb, and re-introduced himself and his sister, "My name is Naruto and that's my sister Sakura! We're Dragon Slayers!"

((posted 8/22/2014 3:21am))