My sobs could be heard throughout the underground prison. No one told me to be quiet. They probably feel bad for me, I am only five. The old guard said the elders decided it would be to dangerous to let me wander around the village. So I'm trapped in this lonely cell, with a collar around my neck, it had a silver nine on it. Like I was some sort of animal. My clothes were a simple brown shirt and pants. My hair was left to fly around where ever it wanted and I could practically feel dirt in my face, if this is what dirt felt like. Anyway, I cry when I let the loneliness get to me, which is often. A nice guard used to talk to me, and scold the guard who were picking on me. but one day he stopped. So here I am, crying again.
I cried for what seemed like hours. It's hard to tell time here.
"The village is being attacked!" my sensitive ears picked up. I kept crying. There was a scream of pain and something came toppling down the staircase. Slow footsteps came after that. I softened my crying but tears poured down my face and my nose was clogged and stuffy, my sniffling gave me away. I was scared of getting caught. I was gonna get killed before I could even live.
I tried to hide behind my blond hair, it was long and I pulled it around me so it covered down to my knees. The footsteps stopped in front of each cage. And eventually I heard the eye hole for the door of my cage slide open.
"Nagato, look here." a female said. Another pair of footsteps came and stopped at my cage. I felt eyes staring at me but I refused to look up. The lock made that clank noise and the two people stepped inside. I hesitantly made myself look up. It was a woman with blue hair and a man with orange hair, they wore black coats with red clouds on them.
"Its just a kid." The man said, he sounded shocked.
"Whats your name sweetie?" The woman said in a calm voice. I stayed silent. "Do you have a name?" she asked. I thought long and hard. I've never had to use my name before so I naturally forgot what it was. I think it was Na something. Naru? Naruko? That sounded right. The woman waited patiently.
"Naruko." I said softly.
"And how long have you been here Naruko-chan?" The woman asked.
"Forever." I said again. I don't know when I got here or when I'd get out, but I've been in here for as long as I can remember.
"Forever's a long time." The man said. I nodded.
"Would you like to leave here forever?" the woman asked. My head shot up. I could leave? Leave and not come back? Was such a thing possible? I nodded.
"Then you have to listen to us. Can you do that?" The man asked. Listen to the people who freed me? That would be the easiest thing ever. I nodded again. "Good." He nodded to the woman and she smiled at me.
She walked towards me, I instinctively backed up.
"it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you Naruko-chan." she smiled I let her undo the chains on my legs, I forgot they were there, and then she unhooked the collar. She used a jutsu to burn it, as if to say 'Your free now.' I started crying again, happy crying. I leaned over and hugged her. Saying 'thank you' more times than I can count.
"Yes yes, were all happy, lets go." the man said. The woman picked me up when I stumbled trying to walk. We ran out the jail place and the sun and cool air hit my skin. The sun was bright but my eyes got used to it. The smell of the open air was nice, I looked around and saw craters everywhere, people fighting to busy to look over. I was carried through the village, things were burning and I heard some people yelling about the Jinchuriki being gone. Was that me? Some kids were being ushered into a building one of them looked over at me, he was about to open his mouth but my eyes begged him to be quiet. 'I don't want to go back!' I thought at him, he closed his mouth and was ushered in with the other children. I wrapped my arms around the woman and snuggled closer to a warmth I've never had. I smiled and had my first peaceful sleep ever.
I woke up and saw the lady in front of me.
"You slept for a while." she smiled. I smiled back. She brought out some food and let me have it. I gobbled it all down, eating plate after plate, meal after meal, buffet after buffet. It was great! "I'm Konan. The man from earlier was Nagato, my brother." she said.
"Brother?" I said. "Whats that?" I asked. After hours of telling me that Nagato was a boy who had become her family.
"So you see, anyone close to you or related by blood, is your family." she smiled.
"Are you my family?" I asked.
"Of course." She smiled. She hugged me, I heard that mothers always hug daughters.
"Are you my mom now?" I asked. She laughed.
"Yes. I'll be your mother now." she smiled. I smiled. And tackle hugged her.
"Mom! Mom! Mom!" I repeated so the word would stick. She laughed brought me more food. Kona- Mom, combed my hair, gave me a bath and a robe with red clouds on it like hers. I put on my under shit and shorts, then wrapped the robe around me. Then she tied up my hair with two ribbons. The golden soft not so messy hair fell down my side.
"The coat brings out your eyes." Mom smiled.
"My eyes? What do they look like?" I asked. Mom led to to some glass. I looked at it and saw me! My eyes were big and blue. "Wow!" I smiled wide.
For the next couple weeks I clung to Konan. She was my only mother after all. I wanted to stay close to her. When she wasn't around I stayed close to Nagato. He was my uncle since Konan was my mom. That's what Mom said. One day, Nagato and Konan's brother, Pain, said I needed to start training. Of course I said yes, he was my other uncle after all. I would happily train. Anything for my family!
It's hard! I lifted heavy weights, ran a lot and had to fight really strong people. I got used to it. I've been through three years of training, Mom said I could be on a team now. My team was Kisame and Itachi. Itachi doesn't talk much but he's pretty nice. Kisame's mean! He always teases me and calls me small. And he always calls me a 'Momma's Girl'. Is that a bad thing? He says it like an insult so it must be. Today Kisame pushed me to far. We had a big fight and argument! Itachi had to set us on fire to make us stop. And when I started crying Itachi would flick my forehead softly with two fingers to make me stop. Kisame must've felt bad because he came to me the next day.
"You need to quit crying." he said.
"What?" I said. I've always cried. How do you just stop that?
"You're an Akutsuki now. You have to be tough, and I'm gonna show you how." he grinned. But it wasn't like when Nagato or Pain grinned. This grin was scary. I was scared.
About a year later Kisame had finished 'teaching me' he taught me in 'Don't fuck with me 101' It was fun. When he didn't hit me for crying. Mom yelled at Kisame for giving me an 'attitude.' whatever that meant. But another member, Hidan said I was bad ass. Mom didn't enjoy that either. What I didn't know, and what Kisame didn't know when he taught me, was that I had a short temper. VERY short. I would go all out in the littlest arguments or scuffles with the other members. My mom tried to snap me out of Kisame's teachings but apparently It was to late.
A few weeks later I started complaining. My mom kept telling me
"next year Naruko, Next year!" I sighed.
"But I wanna go on a mission like Kisame and Itachi!" I groaned.
"Naruko, you need more training."
"But mom!-"
"No buts Young lady. I swear, I'll kill Kisame for teaching you to act like this." she growled.
"What's wrong with how I act?" I asked.
"Your rude and short tempered." She scolded.
"So?" I asked, stubbornly crossing my arms. Mom sighed.
"Just, go Naruko I'll ask about your first mission."
"Woohoo! When is it!? when will it be!?" I yelled excitingly.
"Next year." She grinned.
"FUCK!" I yelled. Mom hit me.
"WATCH YOUR MOUTH!"
Note to self: No swearing in front of Mom.
1 years later
"Yo! Kisame!" I yelled. No answer. "KI-SA-ME! COME ON! IT'S MY FIRST MISSION!" No answer. "DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE WAITED!?" I yelled again. Damn. That guy was professional but he slept like a log. I brushed some imaginary dust off my black robe and tightened the ribbons keeping up my hair that spilled in two pony tails down my sides. Itachi walked down the hall.
"Your coming too?" He asked. I smiled up at him.
"Why of course!" I said matter-of-factly. Itachi rolled his eyes and pushed open Kisame's door, walking in. "How rude." I commented. They both came walking out later. Kisame looked tired, he yawned and glared at us. His blue hair was a mess and his robe was crooked.
We left his room.
"I hate both of you." He growled as we walked out the hide out.
"Aw, don't be like that!" I grinned walking in between my partners.
"Go die in a hole." He glared.
"After you sir." I taunted. Itachi stopped, making us stop. He glared at us.
"You," he said glaring at Kisame. "I'm used to." then he fixed his glare on me. "But you have just begun to annoy me, quit acting like Kisame." he scolded.
"Ha!" I laughed.
"Shut up." Kisame said conking me in the head. I punched him in the arm. He punched me back. We glared at each other and started fighting. Itachi set us both on fire. Kisame screamed and put himself out with water. I ran around in a circle.
"HOT! HOT! HOT!" I yelled jumping into a river. I came up, standing on the water. "WHAT THE HELL ITACHI!" I screamed at him, but he was already walking away, along with Kisame. I growled and stomped after him.
We had been walking for hours.
"Where are we going anyway?" I asked. Kisame chuckled.
"You don't know?" He sneered.
"No. What about it?" I growled.
"We're going to Konoha." Itachi said plainly. A shiver ran up my spine, that stupid village. All I had there were bad dark memories. My fear turned into hatred after all this time. I'll never forgive them for what they did. EVER.
"Why?" I spat angrily, now that I knew the destination.
"To get the forbidden scroll." He said.
"And that is?" I pushed.
"A scroll of forbidden techniques." He finished.
"Sounds cool!" I cheered. Konoha came into view and we concealed our presence.
"Naruko, you stay here and wait. We'll need you to distract them while we escape with the scroll." Kisame whispered.
"Kay." I said hoping down from the tree and watching them go. I turned around and was pushed roughly against a tree. My eyes met red ones. I took in a breath of air and grabbed the arm at my neck. I couldn't see who it was but they looked angry.
"Who are you and why are you with my brother?" The person growled.
Okay. I really do not know what this guy is talking about. But he was cutting off my oxygen. I kicked out and he flew back. He toppled over in pain.
"Don't touch me." I growled. Whoever he was, he was a Konoha ninja and I didn't want him anywhere near me. He jumped up and attacked with a fire ball. I dodged and easily jump kicked him in the face. He flew back and steadied himself come up he landed a lucky punch and I flew back. I kicked him and he fell over again, coughing. "What did I JUST SAY?" I yelled kicking him in the face. He fell unconscious. I think. Maybe he was dead. I kicked him over and he grunted. He's fine... that's too bad. I looked at his face. "You look a lot like... wait... no way. That can't be, Itachi never said anything about a brother. Probably just a misunderstanding." I shrugged, turning to return to my post. "Damn. You really took a lot out my time. I wanted to sleep but now I don't have the time." I groaned. A hand grabbed my foot. My eye twitched.
"Don't. You. Dare. Try. To. Leave" The boy huffed. I yanked my foot away as he stood up. He gripped my sleeve and I glared at him.
"Don't touch me." I growled.
"What's your problem?! Why are you with my brother?!" He yelled glaring at me.
"KONOHA'S MY FUCKING PROBLEM!" I shouted grabbing his arm and slamming him into the ground. Not bothering to answer his last question. My signal came. I looked back, the boy was till standing. He was tough... damn. I glared at him, and he glared back. "Later kid." I said, then I ran off. He yelled something, but I ignored him.
Itachi and Kisame ran silently above me and I ran right in front of the guards with my fake scroll, like we planned.
"She has the scroll!" One of them yelled.
"And I'd like to see you take it from me!" I yelled I ran just outside the village to the meeting spot. A brown haired man landed in front of me. "Crap." I muttered.
"Name." he demanded.
"None of your business." I spat. Then he threw a Kunai. I dodged. Five more kunai, I dodged them all. All that training wasn't for nothing after all. I used my flash step and got around him. He was in front of me again. Wow he was fast!
"What? No one's as fast as my flash step!" I said aloud.
"Your Naruko aren't you?" The man said. How did he know my name? I stepped back, and got on guard.
"Depends who's asking." I said nervously.
"I'm Iruka." he said. Then he held out a hand. "The Hokage's been worried about you." he tried a friendly smile. I backed away from the hand.
"No one in Konoha has the right to talk to me." I growled.
"We're sorry. Naruko." he smiled stepping towards me.
"You should be!" I snapped. "Do you realize what you did?!" I screamed. Memories of that dark, small, lonely... No, I had Mom now.
"We'll make it up to you. Come with me for now." he said urgently. I felt a tug in my chest.
"No." I muttered, then used my flash step on full force leaving that Iruka guy in my dust. The Hokage? Worried about me? Don't make me laugh! If he was worried he wouldn't have locked me up like an animal. And now they want to apologize? I don't need them! I don't want them anywhere near me! I found Itachi and Kisame.
"What happened to you?" Kisame asked picking a leaf from my hair.
"A few fights along the way. No big deal." I shrugged.
"That's not what it looks like." Kisame laughed at how distraught I looked. I glared at him and we started for home.
When we got back Kisame went inside, but Itachi stopped me and faced me.
"What happened." Itachi said. I shrugged.
"I told you. Just a few fights... I- I'm just tired." I smiled. He must have known I didn't want to talk about it. Because he stopped talking. I felt two fingers press against my forehead and flick me back gently. I felt my forehead. As he walked away.
"Good job." he said plainly. I smiled. He didn't say it but I knew that was Itachi's way of showing he cares. He's done it to me when I used to cry when I was a little girl. A thoughts of Konoha went away. Yep. This was my family.
Screw Konoha...