Chapter 2: The First Scar

AN: Sorry if this is a bit shorter. The ending of the chapter felt right and I think I got the interactions with Naruto and Hinata in the last chapter.

(Konoha Red Light District)

Naruto was now six and a half years of age. Hinata has been with him for over a year, and they have been living in an apartment given to them by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Although Hiruzen wanted to give Naruto a nice apartment to himself and his pet, he knew that such an increase in wealth for a single orphan would be seen from the outside as suspicious. Naruto, who looks remarkably like his parents, both of whom were powerful shinobi with powerful enemies, would be in danger should any untoward attention be brought to bear upon him. Despite that, he managed to get an apartment that was on the edge of the red light district, near one of the infiltration training facilities for kunoichis that was disguised as a brothel.

Naruto, however, didn't mind since he had Hinata, the grayish-blue rabbit with such brilliant blue eyes. They were just as inseparable as they were at their burrow. He started to try and learn gardening using the flat roof as a spot for it, since his apartment had direct fire escape access to the roof. He used it mostly to grow food for Hinata, though he had some for himself. Despite most of the village hating him, the convenience store a block away from his apartment and the farmer who comes in town once a month to sell his crops seem to like him. Things were looking up for Naruto.

0ooo000ooo0

(A seedy Bar)

Two men met at the dark corner of a bar. Tables filled with cheap whiskey shots, and empty bottles. "That damn brat gets ta walk 'round town like he owns it. If it wasn't fer him, muh wife and kids would still be here." One of the men, who wore a torn cloak and had a scraggly beard said. His partner agreed with drunken nods of his head. "We should just end him."

As he said this, a figure approached the two. "Well gentlemen, today is your lucky day. There is a group of concerned citizens who think exactly like you," the figure puts down several stacks of ryo, "and we pay well. What do you say? Care to help?" The two, in their drunken stupidity, grinned maliciously to the best of their inebriated ability.

o0o00o0o

(Red Light District)

Naruto was walking home, Hinata in his jacket, with groceries in hand. He passed by the brothel where an older worker called out. "Evening Naruto, went shopping?"

"Hello Madame Moon! I picked up these ramen cups and some veggies from Eustace jiji!" Naruto cheerily waved at the woman. He always enjoyed Madame Moon's tea. Naruto always calls her Madame Moon because she told him she was a Lady of the Night. Naruto, being young and innocent, associated her with the moon because she's always smiling kindly at him. Eustace was the farmer that always gave him good deals on food.

Naruto was about to head up his stairs when two men passed by him, clearly drunk, before grabbing him and pushing him into an alley. Naruto cried out in surprise. Moon saw it happen, eyes widened, before she signaled a girl nearby and shunshined towards the Hokage tower to warn the Hokage. The girl who caught the signal quickly moved to change into an ANBU outfit with a fox mask, taking all of a minute before using her sensing capacity to locate Naruto. Naruto was already surrounded by 45 individuals in a warehouse, 10 of them being located near entry points. Naruto was pushed into the building and was being pushed to the center. Most were civilians, but a few ninjas were present. "Time to kill this little fucker!" someone in the crowd said, riling up everyone. They wasted no time as they started to beat him with blunt objects. Naruto curled up into a ball immediately to protect Hinata from the beatings. Fox knew she had to do something, but she had limited options by herself. Still, as soon as the beatings started, she tossed smoke bombs into the warehouse, killed two people standing at the side door before rushing in to grab Naruto and rush out. Unfortunately, one of the Chunin that was nearby made a lucky swipe at the ANBU and caught her in the ribs. She was unable to get Naruto.

"It's ANBU! Kill the demon child now!" someone yelled in the smoke. Fox gave a quick, "fuck!" under her breath before tossing a few shuriken in the direction of some shadows at head level to avoid accidentally catching Naruto in the crossfire. Three shadows dropped. Naruto was grabbed and cried out in pain. A shadow holding a smaller shadow pulled a knife and thrust it into the smaller shadow's chest area. Fox tossed a kunai into the head of the shadow stabbing Naruto. She grabbed Naruto and carried him towards an exit. Running up the wall and towards the nearest window Fox finally left with Naruto, who was sobbing.

Right as she touched down in the street, the Hokage and a contingent of ANBU arrived. "Fox! Report!" Hiruzen demanded.

"Naruto was stabbed in the chest, everyone in there has committed a conspiracy against the village," she stated swiftly. She then handed off Naruto to an ANBU with a medic bag.

Naruto was wailing from everything that happened, with a large amount of blood on his front. When Cat went to check on his wound, she found instead a bloodied blue-gray rabbit, dead. "Hinata! Hinata! Please wake up! Please!" there was no response from the rabbit. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" he continued repeating as he hugged the dead rabbit. Cat didn't know what to do after making sure he was alright. Despite heavy bruising in some areas, Naruto himself was fine. Physically that is.

He continued to sob, he was inconsolable. Hokage gave his orders, "go, arrest those you can, kill those who resist." The sounds of screams echoed the night. Only 7 survived to be tortured by Inoichi and Ibiki.

00oo00oo00

(Naruto's Burrow)

It was a bright sunny day, the Hokage and Naruto stood over a small grave that had a small pine box in it, and a large river stone with a carving in it that read, 'Hinata the Rabbit, my first friend.' Naruto looked drained and sniffled a little bit. After a moment, Naruto started to put the displaced dirt back into the hole, covering the mini-coffin. Fresh tears started anew as he patted the mound of dirt down to make sure it was packed tightly. Saying his last goodbyes, Naruto left with Hiruzen. His tears hit the ground like a soft rain.

It was a bright sunny day, a horrible day for rain.