Yay! I am so much more proud of this. P: More OCs introduced in this chapter! Please enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! MASASHI KISHIMOTO DOES! I also do not own all the other OCs introduced in this series, except:

The Tsukuyomi Clan

Nero

Daiki

Botan

Miyuki

Hajin

Zoki

Ayano

A/N: PLEASE READ THIS AUTHOR'S NOTE! The beginning of his chapter is a third person flash back and then goes to Nero's point of view! Just warning you all ahead of time!

Chapter Four: Meeting the Future

"Get outta my way, stupid!" A little boy snapped, shoving the younger boy into a wall as he ran into the classroom. The smaller, abused boy winced and rubbed his shoulder, stayed outside the classroom door.

If I go in there, He thought with a shudder, They're going to laugh at me… They'll make fun of me and push me around… I wanna go back home.. He hugged himself for a split second before he heard the teacher coming to the door. Without a second thought, he was off down the hallway, his torn ninja shoes hitting the wooden floor of the academy as he huffed for air.

He ended up running outside into a little playground, only to find he wasn't the only one ditching class. His aqua green eyes widened as he skidded to a stop in the sand, staring at the two kids, who were staring back. The first was a boy about his age, but seemed to be shaky and nervous, hiding by a younger girl maybe a year or two younger. They both had very black hair and dressed in baggy clothes.

"Hey," The girl spoke up first, "I know you… Sensei introduced you last week, but you haven't been comin' to class!"

"I-I… I can't go to class." He managed to respond, squirming uncomfortably. The girl pouted, folding her arms over her chest in a stubborn huff.

"And why not?"

"Because! They're gonna make fun of me…"

"For what?" The girl demanded, hopping off her swing.

"I can't read…" The boy replied under his breath. The girl raised an eyebrow.

"That's all? Just cuz ya can't read? That's stupid! Tell me who's been pickin' on ya and I'll kick their butts!" She yelled, making the boy sweat drop. The boy who was hiding before shifted a little, looking at the newcomer shyly.

"What's your name again?" He asked quietly.

"Nero… What about you guys?" The boy responded. The girl grinned and hit her chest with her black gloved thumb.

"I'm Tsukuyomi Ruriko! And this is my scaredy cat big brother, Akira!" She introduced. Akira whined a little, but didn't say anything else as he pulled the front of his sweatshirt collar over his mouth as he blushed. Nero smiled a little and approached them, but a bit cautiously.

"Why can't ya read anyways?" Ruriko asked, looking Nero up and down seeing as he was taller than her. Nero tilted his head a little.

"I can't remember… I knew I knew how to read a long time ago… But I can't remember anymore, no matter how hard I try." He replied quietly.

"That sucks." Akira mumbled into his sweatshirt, clasping his hands under his chin. Nero smiled weakly and nodded in agreement. Ruriko pouted, folding her arms over her chest as she dramatically puffed her cheeks out.

"Ya don't need to read to be a kick butt ninja! The other boys are just jealous cuz you're so cute, that's why!" She stated. Nero turned pink.

"Whaaat?"

"That's right! All the other boys are dummies. You're nice… You don't try and push Akira in the dirt."

"I wouldn't do that… He hasn't done anything bad…" Nero murmured. Akira smiled shyly, blushing some more as he looked away behind his sweatshirt. Ruriko snapped her little fingers up at Nero's face.

"I has an idea!"

"Have, Ruriko." Akira put in.

"Have! I have an idea! Let's all go to class together. We'll be late, but then no one'll pick on ya cuz we're all together, ne?" Ruriko asked, beaming up at the newcomer. Nero only managed a nod before Ruriko grabbed both his and Akira's hands, leading the way to class.

"Ah, does she always act like this?" He asked Akira, who was stumbling to catch up.

"Uh huh… You've never seen her on chocolate…" The Tsukuyomi brother muttered. Nero sweat dropped. Ruriko dragged them to class, bursting the door open right in the middle of a session on the history of kunai.

"We're here!" She yelled in a squeaky voice. The sensei dropped his chalk and jaw, his eyes narrowing as he snapped his eyes on the clock, then back on the students.

"You're fifteen minutes late! Where were you three?" He demanded, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

"I had to go potty." Ruriko lied smoothly, giving the teacher an innocent look. The whole class burst into laughter. Nero and Akira shared embarrassed looks before they were told to sit down, Ruriko sitting between them on the top row.

"Take out your books and turn to page 89, class." The sensei called, opening a book. Ruriko tossed her book onto the desk, throwing it open to page 89 and not even looking at it. She glanced at Akira, who was flipping pages slowly and carefully, then at Nero, who hadn't even opened his book.

"Well, open your book." She stated. Nero blinked, then looked at the cover of the book. The writing merely looked like little pictures to him, having no real meaning. Ruriko sighed and opened his book and pointed to the page.

"This page. These two? That says 89. Can you remember that?" She asked. Nero stared at the writing, then at Ruriko and nodded. Ruriko beamed.

"Good! See? It's not so hard…" She drawled. Nero just smiled weakly. He knew he would forget the meaning of the writing within a matter of minutes. As recess came about, so did the trouble.

"Hey, stupid! Don't just stand there like a dummy, use your feet!" The boy from earlier yelled at Nero, who quickly shrank out of the boy's way. Ruriko frowned and grabbed the back of the boy's shirt, jerking hard. The boy whipped around, probably expecting Nero, but found himself looking down at a little girl with her black hair in two loose pigtails, wearing a dark purple little tank top and a pair of matching pants. He smirked.

"What'd ya want?" He asked.

"Say sorry to Nero!" Ruriko ordered angrily. The boy blinked, then laughed out loud, attracting attention that only made Nero slump against a nearby wall to watch with a wince. He was expecting Ruriko to gulp and run with the amount of attention, but boy was he wrong…

"If you don't apologize, I'll eat your guts, you bully! I'm not kidding! I'll tear your ugly fat body into a enough pieces to end world hunger!" Ruriko shouted, pointing a finger up at the boy's astonished face.

"Ruriko!" Akira cried, jumping up at last from his place beside Nero, but it was too late. The boy went to shove Ruriko back, only to have Ruriko open her mouth and bite his hand.

"Owwww! SENSEI!" The boy screamed, jerking his hand away from Ruriko, who spat on the boy's shoe before stomping on it.

"Ruriko, cut it out!" Akira leapt forward, grabbing Ruriko by her shoulders and jerking her back. Ruriko grinned at the boy, who was flailing and yelling at her.

"Gross! She's like a dog!" He was yelling. Ruriko jerked way from Akira to jump on the boy in a flash. All the while, Nero could only stare with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. The girl had seemed innocent on first sight, but he was so off that it scared him. She was a cannibal, no doubt!

It took the nearby teachers some time to hear the hollering and screaming before they broke up the fight. Ruriko's hair was tousled and loose now, her lip bleeding while the boy had a few bruises and bite marks.

"Ruriko, they're gonna tell Kazuya and you're gonna get in trouble…" Akira groaned, hugging his sister close to him to keep her from running after the boy.

"I dun care! That guy hurt Nero's feelings! I'll kill 'im if he tries to hurt Nero!" Ruriko yelled, flipping her finger at the boy and the teacher taking him away. Nero finally got up the nerve to get up, going up to her.

"You didn't have to do that… Now you're going to get in trouble…" He murmured. Ruriko huffed, brushing her clothes off before folding her arms over her chest.

"I dun care! That boy is a bully and I hate his guts! I curse him that he'll be as fat as a jelly roll even when he's bigger!" She stated. Akira sighed and dropped a hand on her head to ruffle her hair. Nero stared at her past tired eyelids.

She's getting in trouble because of me… She stood up for me… But I don't know how to say thank you… He thought, then bent down a little, brushing his thumb on his shirt, then using it to wipe the blood smeared on Ruriko's lip.

"I like you." Nero smiled. Ruriko smiled back, making her lip bleed just a little bit more as she held up two fingers.

"I like you too, Nero!" From that day onwards, they were friends. Every day Ruriko tried to stick words in Nero's head, always failing, but not quite giving up. She grew frustrated yes, but she was pleased one day during class Nero sat down with his schoolwork.

Thoughtlessly, he picked up his pencil and seemed to be writing something on the page, making Ruriko lean over in curiosity.

"Ne! Nero! Look what you did!" She cried, waving her finger. Nero yelped and looked down to see he had written something… But he still couldn't read it.

"What is it?" He asked. Ruriko laughed.

"Your name, silly! You wrote your name all by yourself!"

"I did? But I still can't read it…"

"No, but now you know what your name looks like, ne?" Ruriko asked eagerly and oddly enough, Nero was able to write it a few more times, pleased with the accomplishment. He remembered ruffling Ruriko's dark hair… Mumbling how much he liked her…

FLASHBACK END, NERO'S POV

I clenched the side of the book tightly in my fist, reeled it back, then flung it forward with as much force as I could muster with both chakra and mere strength alone. The book collided with the wall, bursting into a flurry of pages. I gritted my teeth and fell back on my ass, glaring at the book across the room.

I don't even know why I still tried… I just couldn't do it. Too many sounds, too many different meanings… I buried my face in my hands, my nails digging into my headband. Stupid book… Stupid everything. The Chuunin Exams were in two days and I feel like I haven't changed since that day… I feel like everything's toppling backwards.

I shut my eyes tightly. No… No, I'm just stressed… I can't spazz out now. If I do, it'll put Ruriko and Akira at a disadvantage. They've been looking forward to this since we became Genin… We had to do it.

No backing out now.

I eventually left the cramped space of the hotel room to go find Akira and Ruriko. I wanted to talk to them about those weirdos we met in town yesterday. I could feel my face growing hot.

"So very cute, indeed… Botan wants to keep you, yes? Botan would feed you and cloth you and bath you and-"

That sick freak saying things like that when he doesn't even know me! Ack, then again… He already knew my name… How did he know my name? And that other man, Daiki… He had such an ugly look in his eye, like he wanted to kill someone, whether me or the other two, it still was unsettling.

I sighed and rounded a corner, looking up just in time to see the devil himself. Daiki was standing in a hallway with that Botan guy. I jumped back and slammed my back against the wall, wincing. I went silent, hoping they hadn't heard me. I leaned in to listen a little.

"… Here. You cannot pull foolish acts like you did previously, do I make myself clear?" Daiki's voice demanded sternly, nothing like the sweet voice he used before.

"Yes, sir," Botan's voice murmured hypnotically, no longer loud and obnoxious, "I promise to behave…"

"And keep tabs on that team… We won't be able…" His voice seemed to drift in and out now, as if he was teasing, "Catch up with… Death of her… No fool, Botan…"

"Yes, of course… Sir?"

"What do you want now?"

"May I please, please, have him? I never get any pets to play with. I promise to take care of him, like I was saying before…" Botan's voice was raising slightly and I had a sickening, nauseous feeling that he was talking about me. I heard a chuckle.

"If you think you can take care of him… Do as you please, so long as you comply with my orders."

"Mm," Botan broke into that weird maniacal giggle, "Ne, ne, Daiki-sama! Botan loves you so much! Thankies for letting him have a pet!"

"Botan," Daiki's voice cut in sharply, "Do well to control your switches… Or else you'll arouse suspicions…"

"Heehee~ Of course, Daiki-sama. Botan can be a good boy!" I flinched and shuddered. Ugh, that guy was suck a creep… Both of 'em were! I started to inch away, but a strong grip caught the back of my cloak, jerking me backwards. I yelped and lost my footing, falling backwards as the grip dragged me into the hallway. I jerked my head up to see that that blind girl, Miyuki, had caught me. I grimaced at the sight of Daiki and Botan's surprised expressions.

Daiki's surprise slowly twisted into some kind of sick sadistic grin.

"An eavesdropper, eh?" He asked and walked over, bending down in front of me. I just tried my best to glare, but that gross feeling was hanging heavy in the air and making me sick. Daiki tilted his head a little, studying my face.

"Nero… Hm, you have the same eyes as your mother…" His voice trailed. My eyes widened and I stared at him now. Mother? I had a mother? Well, yea, I know everyone has a mother, but… I didn't think I would ever hear of one being mentioned for me. Daiki's stormy gray eyes seemed to dance as he studied my face.

"Yes, you're more like her than your father…" He mused and took my chin in his hand. I had completely forgotten I was in trouble. I was more focused on what he was saying. How did he know my mother? I know for sure I had a father… Well, he didn't act like a father, more like drill sergeant. It made me wonder what my mother was like. My father hadn't said a thing about her, only cursed her for not being there. I wondered before about my mother, but I had started to forget about her. She wasn't there and I don't remember anything about her for some reason…

"Such a thoughtful expression," Daiki interrupted my thought with a cat-like grin, "You never knew your mother, did you? Evidently not because your expression seems baffled…" I grimaced and reached up to smack his hand away, but Miyuki managed to catch my wrist in mid-air.

"Ah, ah, boy," Daiki warned, "You don't want to upset my Miyuki… She's much more powerful than you assume…" I dropped my eyes on him again, wincing at Miyuki's grip on my wrist. She definitely knew how to cut off blood flow, that's for damn sure.

"Don't hurt him too bad, Daiki-sama! Miyuki!" Botan complained, stomping his foot a tad childishly. Daiki smirked.

"No, just enough to make him forget we ever had this conversation." He replied, grabbing a handful of my hair. I winced and jerked at Miyuki's grip to make sure I couldn't free that hand before I used the other, bringing it up and slamming my fist into the side of Daiki's head. Daiki cursed and let go of my hair. Miyuki's grip loosened on instinct and I tore away, scrambling to my feet.

"Miyuki!" Daiki ordered. Miyuki whipped around without a sound and grabbed at the back of my cloak, but I managed to duck and skid across the floor back to my feet again. I ignored the fact that I lost a spiral of bandages on my way from squirming away from her before I ran around a corner and took off. I heard Daiki call Miyuki back, but I was still running, my lungs tightening.

Holy shit… That was close. I ran all the way down the hall and to the lobby to find that Kazuya wasn't there. I had to remember the common places he'd be at, which sucks since Kazuya's practically a social butterfly. I bolted outside and ran down the street.

Such a damn big village. I hate it.

I slowed to a walk, my eyes scanning the little shops until I found a pastry shop, where Kazuya happened to be sitting down with Asuma and two other Jounin. I tried not to make a scene like Akira would by bursting in there, so I just inched over and peeked in.

"Ah, Kazuya-sensei?" I asked. Kazuya blinked, and having to have good hearing, looked up at beamed at me.

"Nero! Come here. You can't keep hiding until the exams…" He added quietly. I glared at him, but walked forward and sat by him anyway, but keeping my eyes off the other two Jounin. One had bluish black hair in a bun with lilac eyes, wearing an eggplant-color kimono shirt with a sleeve is missing with a fishnet shirt underneath and navy pants. The other Jounin had salmon colored hair up in a firefly hairpin with light green eyes, wearing a green flak jacket with a light purple formfitting shirt with a metal plate at the top with Konoha's symbol and navy blue pants. They seemed friendly enough, but I still wasn't going to talk to them.

Looks can be deceiving!

"This must be one of the Genin you were talking about, Kazuya?" The first Jounin woman asked, cocking her head with a warm smile. Kazuya smiled and dropped a hand on my head.

"Yup! This is Nero. He's the oldest one out of the group. Well, mentally at least." He added with a sweat drop. The second Jounin smirked and rested her head on her knuckles to look at me.

"Is that so? That mean your mature?" She asked.

"Kotori, behave." The first Jounin woman scolded, but she was still grinning despite it. Kotori leaned back with a light laugh.

"It was just a question. You act like I was-"

"Flirting." Asuma and the first woman said together in a deadpan voice. Kotori sweat dropped and pushed her lips into a sort of thoughtful pout. Kazuya laughed, then turned my head so I was looking at the table of Jounin.

"I'm sure you remember Asuma. These two lovely ladies are Hitsuki Mayu and Kuromura Kotori." He introduced.

"Are you trying to flatter us?" Mayu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Cuz it's working." Kotori grinned with a playful wink. Wow… If there was one way I could remember HER it was because she was definitely a flirt. Asuma chuckled as he puffed on his cigarette.

"Kazuya, I think you're gonna have to learn the ways of the exams on your own. All we know is there are three parts to it." He stated, flashing three fingers up. I sweat dropped. So Kazuya was asking them for information on the exams? Impatient bastard.

"Yea, it's not like we give information free anyway." Mayu agreed with a nod.

"It doesn't have to be money." Kotori threw in, innocently rolling her eyes to look up at the ceiling. Mayu and Asuma sweat dropped. Kazuya, being the totally clueless guy he was, blinked.

"What else would you take?" He asked. I smacked my forehead. Asuma laughed out loud.

"Kazuya, you don't get out much do you?" Mayu asked with a sigh, tilting her head and leaning it on her hand.

"That's okay," Kotori jumped in, "We can show him all around town… And if you wanna come, Nero, you may join us." I should have replied, but I only gave my head a little shake.

"Doesn't say much does he?" Mayu sighed, looking right at me. Her eyes looked comforting, but that didn't mean I was going to talk to her. People could say and do whatever they want to be nice, but they could be really mean. Ruriko said I was the exact opposite. I looked and acted mean, but I was just shy and friendly.

Yea right.

"He's just shy." Kazuya replied, as if reading my mind. I rolled my eyes and looked the other way, but that's when I remembered why I ran to find Kazuya. I looked at him eagerly and gave his chocolate brown jumpsuit sleeve. He looked at me.

"One second, Nero," He told me and turned to the others, "I should probably get back. If you guys happen to find out something you wanna tell me, I'm at that hotel down the street… and if you see my brother and sister, tell them to come back to the hotel. They haven't been back all day."

"Misfits!" Kotori snorted, but she was still smirking.

"Probably off exploring this village is pretty big." Mayu said.

"Let's hope they don't run into some weird characters." Asuma muttered. All four Jounin seemed to sweat drop together at the thought of whoever fit in the category of 'weird'. If anyone, I think that kid from the other day, what was his name? Rock Lee. He was weird as hell. So was Daisuke, but for some reason, I could actually talk to him. Maybe not full paragraphs, but a few sentences…

"Anyway, thanks for the help! See you guys later!" Kazuya waved as we got up.

"Hehe, don't forget about that offer about hanging around town tonight, Kazuya-kun!" Kotori called, flailing her hand.

"For gods' sakes…" Mayu smacked her forehead. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I didn't ask and waited until Kazuya started walking with me down the path.

"They're weird." I said at last. Kazuya smiled.

"I rather enjoyed their company."

"Even Kotori's?"

"Of course! It's nice to have people who are lively and fun. I'm used to all those serious old men back at the village." Kazuya muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. I sighed, then frowned.

"Uh, sensei, I needed to talk to you about something…"

"What is it?"

"There were these really weird characters we met, uh, yesterday," I explained slowly, "I don't know who they were, but one of them in particular bothered me. I think he has some kind of split personality." Kazuya frowned.

"… That's odd… How many were there?"

"Three. A woman and two guys. The woman wears her headband over her eyes, though… And the other guy, I guess he's their leader or something, but he acts really high and mighty… He looks a little familiar, but I can't tell where I've seen them from."

"Hn, I'll look into it… Meanwhile, be careful. It sounded like you just described Gin'iro Ni Kagayaku Tsuki, the Silver Moon. They're a pretty famous criminal trio that are in league with Akatsuki." Kazuya informed. I stared at him.

"Two dangerous criminal organizations? Great, just what the world needs." I muttered. Kazuya smiled and patted me on the head.

"That's why we need shinobi, for you to pass the exams, so we can stop criminals from harming the common people." He replied. I nodded. Of course… But still. I got a really uneasy feeling from that trio.

The Silver Moon…

Later…

I tossed my clothes onto the bed, glancing at Akira, who was sitting on his bed crossed legged, holding a book in his hands.

"This is really mature… I wonder who writes this!" Akira laughed, dropping the book. I frowned and walked up to the bed, picking up the book to look at the cover. All I could tell from it was something really mature with a guy chasing a girl across the cover.

"Where did you get this?" I asked as Akira snatched it away, although, he wouldn't have to. It's not like I could read it anyway. Akira grinned sheepishly.

"Hehe, I stole it from a bin downstairs in the lobby at the front desk. I think the manager reads it… What a pervert." He snickered. I blinked.

"It's porn?" I asked. Akira blushed, waving a hand in my face.

"Not porn! Art! There's a difference!" He yelled. I raised an eyebrow.

"And what if Kazuya-sensei caught you reading that?" I asked. Akira went red, hugging the book to his chest.

"Don't tell him! Please, Nero! I never get to do anything and this book is so good! I promise to return it when I'm done, I swear, I swear!" He cried, practically flailing. I smirked, folding my arms over my bare chest.

"Che, he'll find out sooner or later if you act more perverted than you already." I pointed out. Akira scowled at me, still blushing red as he shoved the book under his pillow.

"I do not act like a pervert! I'm civil, thank you."

"Liar. You were probably peeking into the thermal bathes all day, weren't you? Kazuya-sensei mentioned something about you being gone all day." I replied. Akira wailed, pulling on his loose hair.

"You're such a jerk, Nero! You dummy! Meanie!"

"Even Ruriko can come up with better insults and a lot of the shit she says doesn't even make sense." I deadpanned. Akira sweat dropped, then huffed and whipped around so his back was facing me.

"Hmph! Go put a shirt on or something!" He retorted. I smirked and went to my bed, scooping up a pair of pants and changing into them. I didn't wear a shirt to bed, so I didn't bother and hopped onto the bed, taking my headband off and tossing it on the nightstand. I could feel Akira watching me the entire time for some reason. I looked at him and he looked back down at his book quickly, getting caught in the act.

"What?" I asked. Akira glanced up past his hair.

"What what?" He asked. I frowned.

"You were looking at me."

"Was not." Akira answered dryly and harrumphed, looking back at his book. I raised an eyebrow, then rolled my eyes and slid into bed. I closed my eyes and went to bed.

That was the worst thing I could have done.

I was plunged into one of the worst nightmares I had ever had. Normally my nightmares are enough for me to handle, but this one was different.

I felt someone holding onto me, tightly, squeezing the air out of my lungs. Oddly enough, I felt an arm up my shirt and holding my chin to accompany the grip around my waist. I gasped for air, but it was hard to get it in. Then I heard it. That familiar hyena laughter that echoed in the forested area that I was in.

"Nehehe! He's mine, mine, mine!" Botan's voice yelled in my ear. Horror shot up my spine and I tried to squirm away, but he was holding me way too tightly. I winced and gasped when another scene popped up. Daiki had Ruriko pinned down with a wind jutsu, but she was bloodied and cut up, still yelling, but her voice was muffled sounding. Akira was yelling something, but suddenly stopped when that Miyuki girl jumped in front of him. Suddenly, I felt like I was looking through his eyes.

Miyuki's headband slipped from over her eyes and fell to the ground, suddenly getting warped into some kind of hideous scene with lots of blood and screams. I saw chunks of flesh go flying and kunai, swords flashing everywhere. It all repeated before vanishing and I was back in my own body, watching Akira crumple to the ground in a fetal position.

I tried to yell again, but Botan clamped his hand over my mouth, giggling in my ear. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to scream, yell, anything, but his hand had a good grip and all my cries were muffled. His nails dug into my cheek and hip as he brought his mouth to my ear.

"Now Botan has a pet… Now Daiki-sama will be happy when his family is punished for killing little sister, yes, yes… We're going to have a lot of fun together, Nero~"

I screamed and my eyes snapped open when I felt someone's hand touch my head. I gasped, finding myself staring at my pillow. My face was pressed against it, my fists gripping the sheets.

"Nero… Nero, are you awake?" It was Kazuya's voice. I didn't feel like talking now and I just lifted my eyes in the darkness of the room to see Kazuya kneeling beside the bed, his hand resting on my head. I stared at him, trying to catch my breath and sweating.

"I'm not taking the exams…"

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A/N: Sorry if the ending seemed rush, but I was in a bit of a hurry. lol. Thanks so much for reading, hope you guys are as happy as I am with this chapter. I brought in some more OCs and promise to bring in a lot more in the next chapter! Your reviews are loved!