Chapter 3 : Ties Beyond Blood
Konohagakure no Sato ( Village Hidden in Leaves )
It was a sunny day in the Village Hidden in Leaves. The streets were bursting with kids and the usual joy that lightened the atmosphere when a certain redhead wasn't taking a stroll through streets. It was always like that.. should he someone walk through the streets, the joy vanishes into thin air, and a new kind of feeling marches through the streets with a demonic stare that threatens to devour one person and one person only.
The hatred, unbearable hatred was birthed when the Kyuubi appeared in a cloud of smoke, and then went on a killing spree inside the village. The only thought was destruction and destruction was what the Bijuu dished out. Konoha had never seen such tragedy occurring right in its front yard since it's founding, but years ago, the worst happened.
The Village had turned their backs against the Yondaime's wishes; Instead of celebrating in joy with a hero, Konoha labored in hatred, troubled with thoughts of vengeance, yet powerless to do anything. The general consensus was ''who cares what a dead man thinks?'' The Yondaime Hokage is dead, he couldn't feel what they felt.
In all his very short life, he has known that Konoha hates him. Aside from the love Mikoto gave him, the other feeling he had learned to know was hatred. He saw it everyday of his life, he saw it in his bloody nightmares, he saw it in the eyes of the ignorant fools that crawled around the village streets on a daily basis. He didn't think or believe for a second that such a hateful village could ever learn to love, all it knew was hatred.
For the past 4 and a half years Naruto has been dodging bullets of death glares and fangs of curses that have been constantly thrown at him. Each time he took a walk around the village, his presence only managed to attract the worst things that lurk behind the shadows to walk into daylight. If there were vampires in Konoha, they would walk through the sunny streets just to murder him with their glares if he chose to entertain them, by parading himself while he dances to the beat of the hatred, and today was no different.
Academy
Naruto walked within the Ninja academy grounds. He is wearing a dirty orange jumpsuit he found in the trash. He was enrage that he was forced to go to the academy. Going to the academy was what everyone in his age talked about. Everyone wanted to be in the academy to be ninja, but he didn't join because it was a cool thing; no, he joined because he was to become a slave for a village that hates him.
The other kids joined because they wanted to do ninja's do, jutsu's. They did not understand what being a ninja meant because they did not see what ninja's did on the battlefield. Their parents would never tell them about it since they do not want to scare them.
Naruto gazed around at his surroundings warily. His anger had receded and he was left feeling numb, weary and incredibly discombobulated. He titled his head up and gazed at the heavens in thought, recalling the words of the Sandaime earlier.
As a ward of the state, the decision does not fall to you. The village has chosen for you to become a shinobi and this edict cannot be rescinded.
As he balled his fist he had the privilege of 'overhearing' how everyone felt about him.
Walking past a couple of parents saying goodbye to their kids , He knew how they would respond. Seeing that he was entering the academy meant that he would become a ninja one day, making things difficult for them to get their 'revenge' , 'what a load of crap.' He thought.
When the parents saw Naruto, their happy looks and smiles melted. It was replaced by the faces of numerous deals of animosity. They were displeased.
The mutterings began.
''I can't believe the Sandaime allowed 'it' to enter the academy!''
''What was he thinking doing that?! It will only give the demon a chance to regain its strength!''
''We have to do something about this before it gets too smart for its own good.''
''I think I'll withdraw my son from this year's class, I don't want my son attending the same class as the demon.''
''Hikaru, you see that boy? Don't talk or play with him. He is evil, do you understand me?!''
''Yes, Kaa-san.''
Naruto's impassive visage didn't disappear when he heard the words. He was used to the hateful comments; it was nothing new. He had learned to just live his life and ignore everything like nothing exists. Even when nothing was okay, he still ignored the world like everyone did him.
Crying over the hurtful words wasn't going to solve his problems. Crying would only make him miserable. At least showing nothing infuriated them. They thought that he was ignoring them, and their hateful glares weren't doing their job.
His lone eye widened when he heard a familiar voice. Suddenly the darkness subsided and light entered his system.
"Naruto-kun!!!" Someone said warmly
His head snapped around so fast when he heard the voice he's only heard a handful of times but each time whether it was Taijutsu lessons, teaching how to cook , or just life skills in general, the warmth in his heart never faded. He ran up to her with a bright smile and glomp her with a tight hug ignoring the black hair boy next to her. Tears threaten to come out his eyes and all that uneasiness he's been feeling slowly fading away
Mikoto chuckled softly and hugged him back.
Little Sauske eyes started twitching 'who's this kid?' He tugged his mom sleeve in a questioning manor "Uhh Mom? Can we go now?"
Naruto lone eye widened again and jumped back face red in embarrassment as he bow his head "Sorry Mikoto-Sama" but before he ran off, Mikoto lightly pulled him back gaining his attention.
"Mikoto-Sama? Is there something you need?" The boy asked politely
She smiled warmly once again and ruffled his hair "Naruto, I want you to promise me something... I want you to smile , okay?
Naruto looked up as his lone cerulean eye widened in shock. He was going to put his head back down in sadness and confusion but Mikoto softly put her finger under his chin and raising his head to see her warm smile.
"Naruto, I want you to smile more.. and if anyone ask who you are do not be ashamed. Shout who you are and your goal to the heavens. You are Naruto Uzumaki , my little light " she said, as she boop his nose.
Naruto smiled and nodded happily, he gave her a foxy smile and a thumbs up , running away.
Mikoto seeing the young boy leave , sighed and left with her son.
With Naruto
He continued on to walk inside the academy. The academy was huge and had a lot of students inside of it. Naruto looked around for where he was supposed to attend his class.
''Hey, it's that evil kid mother said we should avoid!''
''Yeah, but he doesn't look that evil to me...if anything, he looks stupid. Who wears an orange jumpsuit?!''
''Who cares if he's evil or not, he's a new kid. We should teach him a few rules!''
''Yeah, but not now. We'll be late for our class. You know how sensei is when we're late.''
''Ahhhh, I forgot about that! Let's hurry before we get yelled at.''
Naruto felt saddened upon hearing what his peers had been thinking of him. Not that he was surprised but he at least thought , he could've had some semblance of normalcy. Even though some didn't care what their parents told them about him, they were still willing to hate him for no valid reason. Sometimes he hated what his life had turned out to be.
He walked towards his class and knocked.
"Enter!"
He heard and opened the large two doors.
Each eye was looking at him. Some students were staring at him with blank expressions, some in apparent distaste.
The stares started to irritate him.
Naruto walked over to the two sensei's, who was standing in front of the class.
Both the sensei's stares showed animosity towards him. The other sensei hid it well, but the other who had a scar on his nose did not bother to hide it. It was like he wanted Naruto to know that he did not like him, but the red head didn't care.
Naruto handed the man his registration form. The man looked at the paper before looking at him. He looked back at his class, ''Class, we have a new student who will be joining,'' He announced to his class,
''Why don't you introduce yourself?''
Naruto nodded, remembering Mikoto words, he smiled proudly. "I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI , AND I AM GOING TO BE THE BEST HERO IN THE WORLD , BELIEVE IT!!!" Naruto proclaimed loudly.
He heard a couple of snickers and snorts but said nothing; he just continued his foxy smile look.
''Oh Yeah? it's nice to meet you , must be real heroic with that Kill Me clown suit of yours!'' One student called out in evident sarcasm. Naruto noted it but did not comment. He just continued smiling softly.
The whole class erupted in laughter. Even the sensei's seemed amused by the sarcasm. Naruto just stood there internalizing engrossin everything while they laughed.
"That's enough!'' Nobody listened, ''I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH! NOW SHUT UP!'' The scar-faced sensei yelled out, causing everyone to wince at the sound of his voice.
''My name is Umino Iruka,'' Iruka introduced himself to Naruto, ''This is my assistant Mizuki, now go take a seat somewhere so I can continue with my lesson.''
Naruto nodded and walked towards the seat at the back of the room beside a window. He took his seat and looked back at Iruka.
''Now where was I... Yes, I was teaching you Konoha's history...'' Naruto stopped listening and looked outside the window. He was not interested in the village's history. The history did not ensure his safety, but ninja skills ensured that he would survive.
''NARUTO!'' He was snapped out of his thoughts by the angry voice of Umino Iruka.
''Can you repeat what I have been saying, Naruto?''
Naruto shrugged calmly
''No..,'' He replied simply then looking back out the window ignoring everyone.
Iruka eyes widen like saucers, never in his life he's been flat out put off like that, he then glared at him, ''Get out of my class, you'll come back when you've decided to take my teaching seriously.''
Naruto said nothing; he shrugged and took his small school bag and walked out.
He could not argue or refuse the punishment he was being given. Iruka was the sensei; he could do whatever he wanted with his students. And Naruto was his student. Had he turned around, he would have seen the smirk on Iruka's face.
He left the room and went to the playground. He would go back to class tomorrow. Realizing his sensei didn't even want him in the class. It was better to go back to class after some time had passed.
After some time passed, Naruto was still alone under a tree. None of the kids in the playground were willing to play with him. "Sorry, but mother said I shouldn't play with you because you're a bad person," they kept telling him. Again he wasn't surprised.
He was sitting with a small bento on his lap. Not noticing a small girl walking up behind him, trying to be stealthy as she carefully placed one foot after the other.
"If you're trying to sneak up on me you aren't doing a very good job." He said making her eep quietly.
"I wa-wasn't trying to."
Naruto just turned with a disinterested look on his face as he took her in again.
"Then what were you trying to do?"
When he faced her a look of recognition dawned his face.
"Um H-Hello, I'm Hinata we've met before I just wanted to thank you for saving me ," Hinata stated to the Red hair boy.
Naruto lone eye sparkled in recognition and smiled softly, nodding at her appreciation.
"So we're classmates." He said
"Y-yeah, I t-thought I would n-never see y-you again." Hinata replied.
"It seems luck is on our side," Naruto said with a shrug. "At least since you're here I won't be alone with all these pathetic excuses for shinobi."
"T-they don't a-all seem too b-bad." Hinata replied. Naruto rolled his eye before eating his food. After a while of sitting in quietness besides the small talk of getting to know each other, the bell rung.
"W-Well I S-Should get going" she turned around again about to leave until the young boy called out
He smiled "Hey I'm Naruto by the way but we should hang out together again it'll be fun"
She blushed red and smiled warmly back, she nodded slowly then walked away.
Red Light District ( Naruto's Apartment )
The door creaked open and the redhead sat on the couch wearily, his face in his hands as he thought of Indra his supposed ancestor, he seen a few weeks ago. What even was that? How did he even get there? Was it a dream? He shook his head at the thought.
No everything felt too real, too tangible to be a dream. Naruto clenched his fist , he still needing confirmation on his parents, releasing a long breath. Whatever that was...it was terrifying and he did not want experience that
Naruto sighed heavily to himself, shaking the discomforting thoughts away. He needed to focus on the now. He took a deep breath, compartmentalizing his fears and anxieties. He stood up and walked to his small bag of possessions and pulled his journal and writing utensils out of his bag.
The redhead sat on the couch and opened the journal to a clear page. He tapped his pencil thoughtfully against the surface of the page as he contemplated his next course of action.
He needed to plan.
He was going to become a shinobi, to become a solider. He needed to think of something. He needs to be strong enough to instill his justice in the world, if that's what it takes to be at peace then he would be the strongest. But his sentiments towards the village would never change. He hated it. He had no love for it. He despised it. But he needed to create specific alterations to his plans now that he would be forced to spend years in the Shinobi Academy and train to become a Konoha-nin.
Naruto opened the journal to a new page,
He needed to train and get stronger. He knew how to fight thanks to Mikoto, and he had endured years of torture just living but that isn't enough, he needs more.
Regarding the Academy , he can care less , he doesn't want to stand out too much. He doesn't care about the attention he didn't want to be under more scrutiny. There was still so much he needed to learn and understand about himself before he brought on further attention.
Putting his journal back in his book bag , he went to the Uchiha training grounds to meet Mikoto like usual.
Uchiha Forest (Private Training Grounds)
Naruto was deep in thought, he had a stoic look etched on his visage. Even though on the surface everything seem fine but internally he's fighting off dark desires.
Besides Mikoto, the only emotions that he truly shared with anyone were hate, disgust, and loathing. Ironically, these were the emotions that he bottled up inside himself, the ones he never revealed to anyone.
Everything else, he was simply going through the motions. He didn't do that part consciously, no.. that part was done subconsciously.
Without realizing it, he had studied the way people acted, studied the way they moved, their body language, and the sounds they made. He knew those were the actions that were supposed to be taken, so he did them, he went through the motions for their benefit.
Shaking his head , he decided overthinking things isn't going to help the situation so he got up and trained to clear his thoughts.
While going through his Katas, his anger began to receded and he was left feeling numb, weary and incredibly discombobulated , but as he thought about the images he was shown his darkness raged inwardly.
Naruto scowled to himself in irritation , he tried breathed deeply, taking long moments to settle himself and clear his mind, compartmentalizing his anger.
As he was going through the motions with the bit of taijutsu he knew, his mind started to drift once again. His anger swelled , he began not caring about his limbs bleeding, fighting with such high intensity on a wooden dummy is not healthy especially for one his age. He gritted his teeth but he couldn't help as he thought of the previous events. What was those images? Is the Kyuubi sealed in him? Is his Father the 4th Hokage ? What about his mother? What was the evil power and was it related to Indra?
So much going inside the young boy head, for all his life he has experienced so much hatred, so naturally it started weighing down on him, this caused him to have unhealthy tendencies and thoughts. As his inner darkness grows he tries to mask it with bubbly persona for the one person he cares about Mikoto.
To him she's the only light in the vast of darkness. She's the closest to family he has ever experienced and for him , as long she was around he will bare with the pain and learn to live with the situation at hand.
The young boy suddenly stop when he felt something.. no someone behind him. As fast as he can, spinning on his left heel he rose his right leg for a Taekwondo Reverse Crescent Kick. But casually the older man caught the foot slightly impressed. 'So this is the Kyuubi vessel huh? Mikoto didn't exaggerate about him looking like Kushina and Minato.' Fugaku thought staring intently at the boy.
Naruto moved back quickly, jumping away trying to keep a distance just incase of an attack and falling into a defensive crouch. He stood cautiously and eyed the stranger, trying to gauge the level of danger he was in. The stranger was an older shinobi. He gulped hard , veteran shinobi and worst a Uchiha at that. He knows he's in deep shit but won't go down easily.
The shinobi had dark straight hair, two bangs of hair fell over his pale features. His eyes were a dark black colour and they were framed with thin lines on his face. He was quite tall and lean. His posture was stern and rigid. He was dressed in a standard Jonin Vest with a long sleeve Uchiha Clan shirt under and black shinobi pants and sandals; a long katana was strapped to his back and his dark eyes held none of the animosity he was accustomed too. He appeared mostly stoic and calculating.
Naruto narrowed his eyes still confused on the situation, he broke the silence that permeated throughout the field. "Who are you.. what do you want?"
The man just stared at him for a moment before responding
"I was wondering who was trespassing into our woods and training on our grounds. I didn't expect a tiny brat." The stranger spoke not answering the first question , his lips lifting into a faint smile.
Naruto bristled silently, his brows furrowing in confusion. 'Trespassing?' He thought.
The man arched an eyebrow, picking up on his confusion.
"Ah, you didn't know. This is private property but that's alright, you're not really causing any harm." He said as he eyed the damaged trees and dummies.
Naruto's lone eye widened slightly. He just hope he wasn't in trouble, he wanted to say that he has permission but he was told not to tell anyone about this arrangement and now he was caught.
He had been training and hunting...on private grounds? He felt his stomach drop. 'Shit!' He thought. Konoha Clans were extremely territorial and rigid. They would definitely categorize him hunting down their animals as theft. The small child took a wary step back from the man, his gaze searching possible exits desperately.
He was entirely alone in these woods and if the shinobi wanted to carry out punishment for damaging private property, he would be screwed. He'd definitely put up a fight but this was a seasoned shinobi and he wasn't...yet. His chances of winning were incredibly slim.
'Shit shit shit!' Naruto thought. He had let himself fall into a vulnerable position, venturing deeper and deeper into the woods for each training session. He had checked though. He didn't enter through any compound gates and these woods were towards the edge of the village...
Naruto took another step back, his eyes sliding to his bag which was closer to the older man. He would leave it behind. His safety meant more than a few books and rusted kunai.
"There's no need to fear boy, I'm not going to do anything." The elder shinobi spoke impassively
Naruto's eyes narrowed, an angry scowl overtaking his face. Yeah right. He was hated by everyone. This shinobi would be no exception. He wouldn't take any chances with anyone.
The man crouched down and Naruto paused, watching him warily, his eyes tracking every microscopic motion with sharp eyes. The shinobi grabbed his bag and tossed it to him. Naruto caught the bag and stared at the man in confusion. The shinobi took a few steps forwards and knelt down a few meters away from him.
"Boy how old are you?"
"Four " Naruto rasped quietly, his lone blue eye narrowed in suspicion.
The man nodded. "And you're constantly here... why?"
Naruto scowled at him angrily. Because he had no choice! Why else would a four year old spend hours every week doing this? He had no choice but to hunt when he can, sleep when he can.
He was reduced to catching prey in the wilderness like an animal because the populace of Konohakagure did not want him around.
He spent his days away from the streets and alleys, away from the businesses and shops because the only place he could find peace and feel a sense of safety was alone in the woods.
The woods were his safe haven. There was the occasional fox and stag but animals were very transparent in their intentions and he never felt endangered around them.
The real monsters were always parading around under human flesh. In this life humans always turned out to be the real monsters hiding under a veneer of civility. He had seen them revert back to feral beasts when their comforts were taken or jeopardized, killing one another like animals. They were mere beasts in human form.
"To survive." Naruto hissed quietly, glaring at the man angrily, raising his chin high.
Naruto clung tightly to his backpack, scowling ahead at the tall man. 'The only way out of the woods is past the shinobi. Behind him is a streaming river and I do not want to take a dive in the dangerous waters. Fucking hell, I fucked up.' He thought angrily as his body tensed the man gazed at him with a stoic expression. He was stuck. The small orphan grit his teeth angrily and braced himself for the scorn, for the violence, for the inevitable pain.
The man impassive expression softened and he stood up quickly. He appeared in front of him in a flash. Naruto froze and raised his arms up to protect himself, his body tense, expecting the violent blows to hit him. The man reached forward and rested a large hand on his head, ruffling his hair gently. Naruto's lone eye widened in confusion at the touch, his body freezing in alarm.
"What?" Naruto muttered, his eyes wide and bewildered.
The man reached into his vest pockets and drew out a small box. He held it out to the boy with a soft smile.
"You're one tough kid.. here, It's not much but it's all I grabbed before I came here." He said with a small smile.
Naruto stared at him in confusion and suspicion, refusing to lower his arms. The man settled the box down by his feet and stepped back, putting space between them.
"You can keep coming here boy. I am Fugaku Uchiha, Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan.. I don't mind." He said with an easy smile before he turned around and shunshined away.
Naruto gazed at the empty spot in stunned silence. He blinked in confusion, his eyes widening as he recognized the insignia emblazoned on the shinobi's back.
The Uchiha Crest.. That was the Uchiha Clan Head. He then realized that the Uchiha is his distant cousin according to Indra. It was a weird feeling.
Naruto eyed the box warily and hurriedly took shelter behind a large boulder. He threw a pebble towards the small box, crouching down quickly, his hands covering his ears. When nothing happened and no explosion followed, he made his way back warily, his small feet trotting on the forest ground. He sat down and wedged the box open, blinking at the sight of the round, colorful rice cakes.
Naruto blinked at the sight and closed the box, feeling confused and wary. Why? He didn't think the Uchiha were considered friendly folks. The strange shinobi was kind. He didn't reprimand him for trespassing onto their private property. He approached him with curiosity and appeared troubled that he was hunting for his personal sustenance.
Why?
This is the third person in his short life that treated him with a semblance of normalcy, of kindness, like he was just another human. 'Why? Why does he care? Why should he even care?' He thought
Naruto sighed, shaking his head at the idle thoughts. He discarded the box of ricecakes onto the ground, refusing to eat any of its contents in suspicion and made his way deeper in the woods silently.
He didn't need nobody's pity. With much trepidation he walked home while trying to avoid the dangers from living in that district.
Uchiha Estate
Fugaku enter his room with much on his mind , as he was taking off his shinobi gear off he was hugged from behind.
Smiling sadly "You were right about him Mikoto , that boy is slowly descending into darkness. The Hokage is truly a fool." He said shaking his head in disappointment.
Mikoto started to tear up over the past months after meeting the boy she tried her best to see him without getting caught from Anbu. From giving him hand to hand combat lessons to defend himself to teaching him how to cook properly. She did anything she could to make sure the redhead boy has the tools to survive on his own. "Yes he is Fugaku and I wish there was more we can do.. we must do something soon."
Fugaku adopted a serious visage on his face "Soon we will… I've seen his fate and soon the event will happen that will be the cause that unlocks his light."
Mikoto nodded in worry but trusting her husband knowing how his eye abilities works.
''So how did it go?''
''It went as expected .'' Fugaku replied, his voice not betraying the expression on his face.
''Did you tell him?'' Mikoto asked concerned clear on her face
''No, not yet, I need him gain his light first, but when that happens it will lead me to tell him the truth.''
''So what now?''
''For now we wait Mikoto but we won't wait for too long, you will have him in your arms once again." He replied seriously.
Next Day
The sound of dripping resonated throughout the vicinity and a rancid smell proliferated through the air. The small child opened his lone eye in confusion, looking around blearily at his surroundings. He tsk to himself, ' not this again' He thought, as his lone blue eye narrowed in irritation as he sat up in bewilderment.
Surveying his surroundings, his heartbeat increased rapidly as he strained his eye, gazing at the vast open space. Releasing a startled breath , knowing the last thing he wants is to see Indra again, he does not want to experience those visions. He frowned in confusion, feeling a cold wetness on his skin. He looked down, blinking at the sight of the dark water covering his small hands. He pulled his hands away and stood up warily, looking around. It was dark and he moved slowly, his small steps echoing through the wet space.
splash, splash, splash.
He moved forward slowly, his nose wrinkling at the dank and musty smell. The place smelt old and unaired, as if it was kept locked up for a long long time. His lone eye widened as he saw long, long bars stretching up to a vast height. He inched closer warily, keeping a safe distance from the bars and peered into the darkness. He became on gaurd as he recognized the dark black coils of energy seeping from behind the bars. He stepped back in fear, a terror overtaking his small form. Something insidious was behind the bars. Something familiar and powerful. He felt it in the air, the ominous chill and the rare power omitting from the closed space.
He surveyed the bars as a large, unfamiliar form inched closer into the light. Suddenly crimson eyes glared at him vehemently, a manic smile was seen in the darkness, glinted dangerously in the dim light and a low crazed laugh escaped from the strangers mouth. Naruto fell down to his knees from the killing intent, his blue eye wide as he stared at the laughing red haired man locked in chains. Naruto focused harder at the man's face noticed something that shocked him.
Whiskers?
There were whiskers on this man's face.. like his. This man was locked in chains but felt his overwhelming power. He surveyed his surroundings warily, his lone blue eye lingering at the bars. His heart plummeted as he recognized the bars for what they were.
A cage.. It was a cage.
"What is going on?" He croaked weakly in bewilderment.
What was happening? Where was he? Why is there a cage here? Who is this man?
The crazed man smiled at him. His speech was coherent and lucid but its voice was grainy and scratchy like that of one so mad and powerful.
"Someone unworthy as you don't deserve happiness... You haven't succumb to the darkness... You are still to weak.. You don't have enough hate and that will be your undoing, and when you realize the faulty of your decisions you'll be back to me." the man said with a small smile.
"Now leave..." He said in a firm voice, now losing his patience he snarled
"LEAVE!!!!!"
Naruto woke up with a sharp gasp, his small body shivering and shaking in confusion and alarm. His mind raced with innumerable thoughts as he tried to make sense of what happened. He let out a low groan , tired of the weird things happening to him as he thought of the monstrous man and dank space. The child shuddered in fear and wrapped his arms around himself. A feeling of coldness encompassed his shaking form. He looked at his palm and noticed his seal glowing.
"What was that?" He rasped weakly.
He sat up slowly, feeling dazed and sickly as he looked towards the open window blearily. It was bright outside. He sighed to himself just more questions than answers like always. He got up and went to pack up for school. Realizing his tools is broken and dull he decided to try his luck with the weapon merchant.
Village Market Center
Naruto made his way through the populated streets and entered a Shinobi chain store. The owner scowled at him from behind the counter but he made no attempt to kick him out. The redhead made his way through the shelves, eyeing the weapons carefully. He took a few kunai and a tanto off the shelves and made his way to the counter, his lone eye cold as he set the items down.
The store owner sneered at him rudely and glanced down at the Kunai knives and Tanto dismissively. The rotund man tapped away on the cash register with a mean scowl on his face. He doubled the price of the items and glared down at the child expectantly.
Naruto clenched his fists angrily. "That's too much," he said quietly, glaring at the store clerk.
"That's it or nothing demon!" The clerk spat, his spit flying out of his mouth and hitting the boy in the face.
Naruto scowled and wiped his face in disgust. He pointed a finger towards the price tags.
"The pricing doesn't match." The boy spoke lowly.
The clerk's face turned red in anger as he glared down at the small child. He picked up the box of Kunai and threw it at him. Naruto's lone eye widened and he shifted to the side but one of the knives cut his forehead, its sharp edge cutting through his soft skin.
"Get out!" The man yelled. "I was being generous and you dare complain! Get out you fucking demon!"
Naruto held a hand to his bleeding forehead and glared at the man in seething anger. He knelt down and picked up the box of kunai, while tucking the Tanto under his arm securely. He opened his wallet hurriedly, scowling deeply at the clerk. He pulled out the correct amount of ryo and slammed it down on the counter with a low snarl. The clerk jumped back in fear as Naruto glared at him, his cerulean eye enraged as the blood gushed down his face. He reached forward and grabbed his off the counter and spun on his heel, ignoring the sputters and indignant yells of the store clerk.
"Stop you thief!" The man yelled after him.
Naruto whirled around, his expression livid , eye flicking from blue to red causing the man stopped short in fear and alarm, gulping at the sight of his thunderous face.
"I paid the right amount as indicated by the price tags." The boy hissed, glaring one final time in revulsion and exited the store with a deep scowl on his face.
The child walked through the village, his pace fast and angry as he made his way through the villagers who sneered and glared at him. He wiped the blood that continued to gush from his forehead and rushed forward on fast small feet, his arms struggling to hold all his stuff without a bag. He turned a corner moving fast and slammed into a solid body sending him and his belongings to the ground.
He grunted in pain at the impact and he fell to the ground roughly. His bangs were matted to his face from his injury and they obscured his vision.
"Oh Kami! Kid are you okay?" A feminine voice spoke.
Naruto pushed his bloodied bangs away, hissing at the sharp pain omitting from his forehead and glared up at the person in front of him. His lone blue eye widened in apprehension as he saw a group of shinobi gazing down at him in alarm. The woman had long straight purple hair and brown eyes that gazed at him in shock and concern as she surveyed his injury.
Naruto looked behind the female shinobi and counted three other male shinobi. One was wearing a mask covering the lower part of his face and he had a head of spiky silver hair. He was tall and had his hands tucked into his pockets. He was watching him with one wide grey eye, his other eye was obscured with his forehead protector. The other shinobi had plain facial features and short brown hair. His face was carefully blank as he regarded Naruto silently. No emotions seeped through his expression. The final shinobi appeared very young. He was shorter than the rest of his group and he was very pale. He had straight raven hair tied in a low ponytail and dark black eyes.
The female shinobi knelt down in front of him and extended a hand towards his forehead. Naruto flinched from her touch and scampered backwards quickly, his blue eyes guarded and uneasy. She was a shinobi. She wore a dark green vest and there was a long katana secured to her back. She could really hurt him. The woman paused, her hand outstretched towards him. Her eyes grew wider in alarm as she stared down at him.
"Hey kid, I'm not going to hurt you." She spoke softly, her expression gentling.
Naruto scowled at her, not believing a word coming out of her mouth. His form was tight and poised to run. His lone blue eye slid towards his scattered kunai and then back to the group of shinobi warily.
"What's your name?" The woman asked gently.
Naruto glared at her and at the other shinobi watching the scene unfold in silence. Why does it matter? He scrambled to his feet and pushed his bloodied bangs away in annoyance.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he spoke in a quiet tone. He eyed his scattered groceries and began picking them up hurriedly, his eyes sliding to the shinobi uneasily.
"Naruto-kun, you should go to the hospital." The woman spoke gently.
Naruto bent down, ignoring the woman and hoisted the box of Kunai in his arms with a grunt. He blinked rapidly against the pain thudding through his head and shifted the package in his arms.
"Naruto-kun, you need to go to the hospital." The woman repeated softly. "The village cares for its people, you can get treatment-"
"Right, people." Naruto cut her off with a sardonic look. "The village cares for people, not monsters." He rasped lowly, his blue eye cold.
The woman froze, her eyes blown wide in shock. "Naruto-kun-"
"Uzumaki." Naruto snarled, his thin patience dissipating completely.
"Don't address me with familiarity. I don't know you." He hissed, turning on his feet and moving away from the group of shinobi, his shoulders tight and posture tense.
"You need to get healed. That looks very bad!" She called out after him.
Naruto looked over his shoulder with a cold and hostile glare. "I'll heal, I always do. It's not like this is a first." He spat, turning around and rushing away, leaving a group of stunned Konoha-nin behind him.
Yūgao Uzuki watched the angry and bitter child rush through the crowds, his blood soaked bangs clinging to his forehead and his thin arms filled with groceries as he avoided the bodies of the villagers as he moved quickly. She watched with wide alarmed eyes, her entire form shaken at her heart-breaking encounter with the son of Namikaze Minato.
She turned to her teammates and exchanged glances with the youngest member of Team Ro. Young Uchiha Itachi appeared troubled, a deep frown marred his usually expressionless face as he watched the redhead child disappear entirely from sight. She knew Itachi had a little brother the same age as Uzumaki Naruto and the encounter unsettled him as he thought of little Sasuke.
Yugao had never seen such a distrustful and bitter child before. His gaze, the gaze of Uzumaki Naruto, was that of a tired, weary veteran, one who lived through hell and despised the world for showing him such ugliness. She frowned at her thoughts. He was hurt and injured and he refused help, eyeing her in suspicion and apprehension, his small body tense and taut.
He was a broken child.
The kunoichi sighed heavily to herself, feeling so torn and disheartened at the encounter. There was nothing she could do. There was nothing any of them could do. They could not involve themselves with the Jinchuruki.
None of them could do anything.
Uzumaki Naruto was on his own.
Hokage Monument
After that situation, Naruto no longer felt like going to the Academy today, he promised Mikoto while there he'll be happy so once he calm down he'll go back. Sitting there while looking down, he pondered about his parents and wondered if anyone knew. He figured if they did , no one cared who he was related to, as long as he was Uzumaki Naruto, the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi, Konoha would always hate him, it would always curse his existence. He was forced into this situation, he was forced to learn to hatred.
But Naruto didn't care about his pain, but for Mikoto's pain. For her sake, he had been forced to endure.. and he will if that means she'll continue to smile warmly at him.
There were so many days that Naruto stood at the Hokage Monument, just to stare down at the village that reeked of hatred. He could now even curse from A to Z. No matter how many times he looked at this forsaken village, and asked himself, was his pain worth saving these fools? The answer was always no.
Suddenly someone flashed beside Naruto at the Hokage Monument, both sat in silence. After a while Naruto broke the silence. "You're the guy from earlier.. what do you want? If nothing leave, I'm not in the mood." The boy said tiredly.
"I don't mean to intrude but after seeing what happened, I wanted to check on you."
Naruto narrowed his lone eye "I don't need your pity.."
Itachi shook his head and softly smiled "You remind me of myself , I remember always questioning my existence. By the way I'm Mikoto's son.
The young boy eye widened in shock not knowing what to say in this situation.
"Naruto.. I've seen that you bought a sword? What do you need a sword for? "
Without hesitation he answered "To be strong enough to protect the world and people I consider precious."
Itachi looked concerned "Ah so you fear losing people huh? That's a troubling thought"
Naruto looked confused "What does that has to do with anything "
"Everything..." The teen became serious making Naruto nervous feeling his killing intent.
"Fear leads people down a dark path, Fear leads to anger, Anger leads to hate and Hate leads to suffering. A sword is a tool to kill young one.. , and as my mother once told me , nobody is in this deserve to get hurt. Because we are all flawed, every man has sinned in the road of life." Itachi said sagely.
Naruto pondered on the words the teen has given him. Itachi slightly chuckled and got up but said one thing before leaving "I think my mother pacifism is getting to me but remember young one , when one feel fear you must also bear the risk of feeling hate..." He said before disappearing
Naruto in deep thought looked towards the horizon.
After some hours it became mid day, Naruto sighed and got up , began walking home.
As he was walking home, he noticed a couple of kids a year or two older than him hanging out in a sort of alley between stores. Then, he noticed that they were pushing around a small girl. His eyes slightly widened recognizing the girl.
When he saw her getting bullied , he remembered Mikoto's words 'A hero job is to protect the world... I'm counting on you Naruto'. He decided to step in when he saw the way she looked scared and hopeless. He didn't realize it, but he was leaking killer intent staring murderously at them.
"H-Hey, it's the demon , should we run?" said the tallest one in an scared manner. Then he caught a glance at the other kids behind him, all with pale expressions on their face, and one of them was in a fetal position due to never experiencing such intent to kill.
Naruto right now, was seething. How dare they attempt to take away somebody else's peace , he was so angry, he just wanted to kill every single one of these insects.
Naruto didn't so much as yell or make a sound as he walked up and punched the older kid in the gut, he doubled over were Naruto grabbed his hair and kneed him in the face, twice. The kid's nose exploded and he was on the ground just holding his face crying.
The other three were so stunned that they just stood still as the watched Naruto grab a wooden chair from the right side of the alley and run towards them swinging it along the way. It hit the kid on the far right. The chair predictably just smashed against him and broke into a few dozen pieces.
The now wounded kid with a broken arm was knocked against the wall.
Naruto didn't wait for them to get back up, He simply stared at them impassively and said "Don't think I'll be this merciful next time , now leave" doubling his killing intent
The kids ran off scared to death, Naruto slowly turned around and saw the bruised , scared girl on the ground. With a small smile that held warmth , he asked while holding out his hand "Hey Hinata are you okay? "
The pupiless girl flushed red, grabbed his hand and nodded yes. "Yo-You save me again.."
He smiled "It's what heroes do.." after sensing someone coming , he said goodbye to her and left.
Hinata sat there a dawned a small smile, she always counted on Naruto to be her sun, her light.
One Year Timeskip
(AN : Context Naruto , has been pretending to be happy and goofy to keep his promise to Mikoto and obviously bottling up your emotions creates instability. Warning it gets pretty dark , so if you can't handle it skip this section of the story.)
Iruka looked like an irritated figure with some frustrations leaking out of his ears in a cloud of smoke. His eyes were fixed to the menace that was in his class. A menace he was forced in his every day of life at the academy to teach. Not that the boy ever paid him any attention when he spoke. He'd thought he would be relieved if the boy wasn't taking any interest in his lectures, but it annoyed the crap out of him whenever the redhead spotted that look of pure happiness it just felt off. There was even a day he had been tempted to run up to the boy and drag him out of his class, by his hair.
The thought had been crushed instantly when he thought of Mikoto that talks to the boy. The mother would certainly kill him. Literally. No doubt about that.
Uzumaki Naruto: Iruka couldn't even begin to remember the day the redhead had so even paid attention to his class. From day one, the boy had always put on a mask of happiness, but oddly never taking part in anything. As much as Iruka wanted to throw the boy out of the class, he couldn't do that. Not without a noteworthy reason. It would get him in trouble with the Sandaime. Not the mention that woman who would snap his neck in a mother fury.
Iruka sighed, and settled on the edge of his desk, looking at his students. No one was absent today – which was good. He didn't feel like teaching anything. Well, since they haven't been in the training grounds for some Taijutsu demonstration, he decided it was best to take them there.
''Okay class, settled down,'' Iruka said a bit loudly.
Nobody heard the chunin, or they did just chose to ignore him in favour of continuing with the chatter. If Iruka hadn't become used to this familiar occurrence, a vein would've been throbbing on the side of his forehead right about now.
''SHUT UP!''
That touched the right spot. No matter how many times his loud voice did the trick, Iruka couldn't help but smile in appraisal of his kids silencing jutsu. He always felt content and would smile happily when the jutsu did work its magic to quiet down the little ones. It was a pity to Mizuki though. The chunin couldn't do a better job than he did. Then again, Mizuki was just his assistant. Naturally, he should be the one getting things done quickly.
''We'll be going to the training ground today for an exhibition on the academy Taijutsu Mizuki has taught you,'' the Chunin said.
Academy Training Grounds
Naruto was drawing some strange looks right now, but he didn't care. He was waiting with the other children in his class for the Tiajutsu tournament to start. Or rather, he was standing in the middle, while all of the other kids gave him plenty of space, as they all had been told to stay as far away from him as possible.
Usually, he would have stood far to the side, pretending he wanted to be alone at that moment anyway. Back then, he would have done anything to get people to look at him in any other way than the cold, hateful eyes. The worst looks were that of indifference, it was like he wasn't even there.
But, he had realized something... That there was another way.
Yesterday, due to the Hokage inability to protect the redhead , foolishly believing in the citizens of his village.. in his neighborhood, he had been jumped, and almost molested by a bunch of homeless people, while it was being watched by other homeless people. He was crying, real tears, but they didn't care. It almost happened, but if he had kept his composure he would have been able to take them out. He was still young, but he was still a ninja in training. It wouldn't be easy, but he could beat them all to death. And that's exactly what he did.
Just as his pants were being torn off, something woke up inside him. Something awoke from depths of his soul. His lone eye turned red and begun to spin ominously. His moon seal began to glow with power. In a millisecond his life flashed before his lone eye. He saw it all at once, the glares, the beatings, the empty looks, and worst of all, the loneliness.
A dark voice came in his head
"You're still to weak… you don't have enough hate and you know something… you never will …
Unworthy
Demon
Monster
Bastard
Unworthy
UNWORTHY
"If only I had more power.. " Naruto said fearfully
"You're weak.. you don't have enough hate…"
Naruto fear turned into hatred and with a scream of rage, and hot tears running down his face, Naruto snapped. He could see it all happening, he just seemed to not be able to control his body. It was like he was trapped in his head while he watched through his eyes as he beat those bastards to death.
There he sat surrounded by corpses while sitting on top of a dead man , bashing his brains in.
After it was all over, and he was breathing deeply, covered in blood. He realized that he could move again. He started to get up, but he discovered that the other homeless people had not left, and just watched. The looks on their faces filled Naruto with a feeling that was the closest to joy he had ever felt.
They were utterly terrified. Then he remembered Indra's words 'With enough power the world will bend to your will ' Naruto loved it, loved the feeling of scared looks, how much better it was than the other ones he always got.
It was right there, at that moment that Naruto made his decision. If they wanted to treat him like an animal, he would act like one.
He would become so strong that no one could ever hurt him again, so strong that there wasn't anyone anywhere that wasn't afraid of him.
He had discovered something, there are different ways of protecting the world. For a while he had lived a lie, his laughs were hollow, his smiles never truly reaching his eyes, his heart slowly filling with hate. Hate that he's trying so desperately tried to hide.
He remembers what Mikoto said about being a hero and smiled, screw being the Hokage. Why would he want to do that? No, he would give people a valid reason to fear him so nobody like him can ever be victims to these scum. He was done with this.
No more..
From that moment he's losing his light.
Naruto was getting strange looks. He had not smiled, not spoken since he got there.
He was not wearing his jumpsuit; he was wearing a somewhat loose and grey long sleeve instead. For pants he wore just plain black tactical ninja pants. Not the same at all.
If Naruto noticed the looks he was getting, he didn't show it. After a while, everyone was sneaking glances at him, they were outside now, and the tournament was just about to start.
All that was left was the raffle to see who would fight who first. He couldn't wait to show them all, it couldn't have been a more perfect setting for them all to see the real him.
Everybody in the academy in his grade was here. All of the kids from the other classes, almost every one of their parents were as well. Naruto was feeling something that was more akin to savage sadistic glee than happiness.
As luck would have it, his name was drawn first, him and some random kid from another class who he had never even seen before. Naruto didn't even bother to listen to his name.
He simply walked out to the center of the small field and waited, not even shaking hands. Everyone was now concerned, they didn't know what was going on with Naruto, even for him this was weird they all knew something was off with him.
While none of them had ever taken the time to get to know him, they all knew of him.
Whether or not it had been intended to get them, or they had just been caught up in the collateral damage. They had all seen him running through the village looking like an idiot with that jumpsuit but this was not the same face of indifference they had ever seen no something much darker.
The other boy simply laughed at Naruto, assuming that he was just trying to act tough. The kid could jump higher than most kids his age, and he was proud of it. He ran at Naruto and jumped to perform a flying side kick.
Naruto had never been given a proper chance to show his physical abilities during his time at the academy. He was either left out, or was in trouble and couldn't participate.
There was a reason why he trained until his knuckles bleed. A reason he was able kill wild animals twice his size for food. He didn't have a choice but to. Even if nobody didn't realize it, he had been born into this world to struggle and survive no matter the cost.
When the kid was fully in the air and unable to change his course, Naruto swiftly took a step or two to his right, and jumped towards the kid. In mid air, Naruto connected with a devastating snap kick that was hard enough for everyone to clearly hear his sternum break. The boy flew a little ways before he fell a few feet away, coughing up blood.
As Naruto recovered himself, he heard screaming from some girl who was screaming at him for something involving her 'love'. She ran at him, slightly jumped up and tried to bring an elbow down. He blocked it, and the second one. After that she tried to knee him, Naruto caught her leg, and lifted her up in the air before slamming her down on her back.
After that, they were both on the ground with Naruto on top. Naruto started hitting her in the face as hard as he could. Every time he hit her he screamed out, though controlled, as he was not just blindly howling, it was still clear; Naruto was taking out his rage on her. Before he could be stopped by an adult, as it was clear he was killing her, one of her friends ran up to help her.
Naruto abandoned the girl, who was unconscious, and attacked the boy. The boy was too slow to make a punch before Naruto hit him in the torso, followed by a few more punches that were filled with power. Naruto then kicked him in the midsection, and after he bent over, he kneed him in the stomach causing him to bend over completely. Naruto jumped up over the boy, with his knees brought up like he was going to jump as high as he could. As he came down, Naruto pushed down as hard as he could on the boys back. The boy collapsed and there was an audible crunch as well as a scream from the boy.
Naruto heard a few more kids charging him. A part of him was wondering why the instructors or the parents had not stopped this yet, but he was glad they didn't all the same.
Naruto did a simple jump front kick at the first one, knocking him back a few steps. Naruto then jumped on him, with his feet on the kid's hips, and Naruto grabbing the boy's jacket firmly and using it as leverage as he head butted him over and over again. Naruto jumped off as the kid as he was collapsing, looking to the next one.
He had moved more than he realized, he found that there was a picnic table right behind him.
The next one was a girl; Naruto caught her fist, and punched her several times in the solar plexus. He then threw her on the table, got up close, and drew his fist as far back and high as it would go. Naruto yelled out as loud as he could, calling out as much strength as he could. He hit her with such force that her head snapped down and broke through the two inch thick wooden table.
Someone grabbed him by his hair and dragged him back some, Naruto took the pain and turned around, letting the kid tear out some of his hair. Naruto hit him in the torso a few times to soften him up, before drawing him up, and hitting him with as many round house punches as he could.
Again, someone grabbed him from behind, this time wrapping their arms around his shoulders and neck. Naruto threw himself at the ground while twisting. They ended up lying right next to each other. Naruto brought his elbow backwards onto him as many times as he could.
Naruto blocked a boy who had tried to stomp on him. Naruto kicked up, catching the boy in the face, and followed up with another kick to the face. Naruto, still on the ground, swept the boys legs in such a way that the boy ended up on his knees. Naruto, wasting no time, got up, grabbed him, and then started smashing his head on the ground as hard as he could.
Throughout this whole thing, Naruto was unaware that he had continued to scream out his controlled fury, screaming out every time he hit something.
Naruto was grabbed and hurled far, he landed hard. That was way too strong for any child. He knew it, the fight was over. He was just surprised that they hadn't stopped it sooner. He looked and saw that it was Mizuki that had thrown him. He also noticed that it was Kiba Inazuka head he had been smashing into the ground.
After it was all said and done, they all had that look on their faces. Every single person had the look of fear on them. The parents, while not afraid of him right now, were afraid of what he might become. Naruto loved it, he now wanted it, needed it. He decided that he would give them an explanation of sorts, give them something else to lose sleep over.
"WHAT? YOU ALL TREAT ME LIKE I DON'T EXIST! ACT AS THOUGH I AM JUST SOME UNWANTED FUCKING STRAY DOG! WELL YOU OBVOUISLY WANT ME TO BE A DEMON, SO GEUSS WHAT? YOU'VE GOT ONE NOW! I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU HATE ABOUT ME, BUT DON'T YOU ALL WORRY, ILL GIVE YOU A REAL REASON TO FEAR AND HATE ME!... Just you wait." Naruto said that last part with a dark smile as he simply walked away.
Satisfied by all of the horrified looks he was getting. Apparently, someone had indeed hit him, he simply didn't notice.
Naruto was happy that he got hit after all. Pain was good; let him know that he could still feel something. He started walking away but didn't get too far though as two Uchiha Police officers appeared before him
Hinata stood fearful , she didn't join the fight. She was just so heartbroken that the boy she knew disappeared, that she was so powerless to his pain , that she couldn't recover his lost light.
'everyone thinks Naruto has changed and honestly I've been thinking the same but maybe we all have it wrong. Maybe he's always been this way... but if that is the case what was the thing that keeps me so close? Why does my heart hurt when you're like this.. Naruto please be okay.' Hinata thought worriedly
"Uzumaki you're coming with us". Before Naruto can respond they grabbed him by the shoulder and shunshin him away.
Underground Cell
Hiruzen stopped by the door at Naruto's cell. He can't be placed in a regular cell, there's no way they'll risk the Kyuubi going out of control so incase of the worst he was placed in a fortified room of seals.
The Hokage placed the food down and knocked. Not twice but five times. There was no response. He was certain though, that Naruto was there in the room but simply ignoring him. He sighed and opened the door and walked in.
The place was cold. And eerily silent. Hiruzen sighed slightly. Many thoughts racked the Hokage mind , He knows Naruto was a miserable lonely child.
He wished he still kept his exuberance , his smile , his light. That was at least something good. But nothing made him smile anymore. There were still many problems that didn't look like they were going to go away. And there wasn't much he could do about it.
To feel so powerless to change things… Hiruzen had never been so frustrated and he was called the professor. He had learned every fire based jutsu in the fire country. He had solved many puzzles, and yet, Naruto's life was one he could not solve. No matter what he said, the villagers would undo it with their glares and blatant whispers of contempt.
The villagers wouldn't sell him food. They wouldn't sell him anything. Since they couldn't touch him, they thought death by starvation was one way to go about. To some, it was just the fear of losing customers. Who wanted to buy in the same shop as the Kyubi brat?
Shaking his head, Hiruzen silently sat the food on the table and looked forward.
There was Naruto sitting by the window. A small boy: no more than 4 years and a few months old. His lone eye were cast into the darkness.
He had been here all this time. Just silent. Just never reacting. When did it start? How did it even come to this point? Naruto had been happy. He had smiled and laughed.
But now, he can tell something was different. He spent the whole time sitting in that corner, motionless, as if dead.
It pained him.
"Naruto…" Hiruzen forced a smile as he walked over the child. His tone was gentle. Naruto didn't react until he stopped by the wall. Hiruzen tapped the red head on the shoulder. He almost startled him. "Lost in thought?"
Naruto faced the Third for a moment. There wasn't much on his face. He looked at the food on the table. Once more, he looked into the darkness as if looking for something. There wasn't much to look at. Just the bricks and bugs. But he looked at the insects as if he wish he was free like them.
"Are you here to kill me?" Naruto finally spoke. His tone was quiet and slow.
Hiruzen winced at the statement but nodded in the negative, "No of course not Naruto-kun but we do need to talk…"
Silence overtook the room for a few seconds, noticing Naruto reaction well lack there of he continued
"The incident at the Academy , would you like to explain yourself?" He stared at Naruto waiting for an answer.
Naruto still staring into the darkness feeling something there but chose to ignore it.
"I did what I had to…" he said impassively
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, this is dangerous , to think it's came this far something had to be done , no.. it must be done for the sake of the village.
"Naruto-kun , what you did was assault several civilians and clan children, don't you understand the implications? Granted given the circumstances the teacher is under investigation for allowing this but it doesn't change the level of cruelty you showed your comrades. " He took a deep breath "Is.. Is everything okay? What's wrong? What caused so much anger to cause the outburst?" He said worriedly
Naruto after hearing the last question his lone eye narrowed slightly and darkened but quickly went back normal , he stayed quiet , but the Third caught the look already. He got up and walked towards Naruto.
The Third placed both his hands on Naruto's shoulders. Naruto lone eye widened in shock then quickly turned into rage slapping his hands away. Hiruzen lips twisted upside down. He was apologetic.
"I'm sorry for not having done this earlier, Naruto…" he stared into those confused blue orb for a moment before walking away, Mikoto came rushing in the room but before he closed the door he said a final "I am sorry."
Naruto stiffened sharply. He still wasn't used to this. His personal space – intruded but after awhile he smiled. This was someone he can trust. He began to regain his light.
When the Mikoto didn't let go, his hands slowly moved and he wrapped them around the woman. Warmth. It was a beautiful feeling. He pulled tighter to get more of it. He buried face on the Mikoto's shoulder, enjoying the warmth.
It was at moments like this that something he couldn't explain occurred to his heart. His eyes usually water. But the feeling was good. He didn't always get it. But it was good. He couldn't explain it but he didn't dislike it, even though it nearly brought him to tears.
"You're going to suffocate me, Naruto…" the Mikoto said with a soft chuckle before pulling away.
Naruto blushing, smiled. Yes, he smiled. It was an embarrassed smile. "S-sorry…" he murmured.
Mikoto was happy to see that smile. She cherished it for a moment. There was truly hope. Not all was lost. Yes, there was hope. "Listen very carefully, Naruto. I heard what happened I just want you to remember to control your anger okay and if you ever need anything do not hesitate to talk to me okay…" she paused. "Do you understand me?"
Naruto hesitantly nodded in the positive clearly conflicted with something.
Red Light District (Naruto Apartment)
After walking home and he looked around scowled at the empty apartment, he was alone.. again. He sighed heavily at the thought.
"This sucks," he hissed to himself in anger,
While upset he noticed the open window angrily and slammed it shut, cutting off the grating noise of the drunkards on the streets. He secured the lock on tightly, ensuring that it wouldn't be opened by anyone. He drew all the curtains back on his window, obscuring himself from view. Naruto walked around inspecting the rest of his apartment, looking for anything odd or out of the ordinary.
He was paranoid and he was certain that he was under constant surveillance. He was certain his window was closed when he first entered the apartment. It wouldn't make sense to leave it open while he was out and he would have noticed the cold that permeated through the space when he first entered his new abode. Naruto moved slowly around his apartment, his lone eye critical and assessing. His search showed nothing out of the ordinary and he felt comforted that at least in this apartment, he had a semblance of genuine privacy.
His inner thoughts was cut off when he saw a tall man appear from the shadows. Naruto dawned a feral smile, he knew that open window was suspicious, he quickly jumped into action. The red head leaped off the wall , while in the air he threw a couple jabs and a spin kick but nothing connect. Snarling the red head jumped back and charged a straight forward punch with a roar but the man nonchalantly dodged it. As the boy flew past him , the man put his knee out , using the boy momentum against him , causing Naruto to fling across the room clutching his gut. The man slowly trudge towards him and Naruto felt his ptsd rising. ' NOT AGAIN NOT AGAIN ' He frantically thought and like last time, unconsciously a gold chain sprouted from his back towards the stranger but to the boys horror the man simply caught it. He knew he was done.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?!" Naruto demanded
"Do not fret boy it is me..." the man said as he approached Naruto slowly, not answering the question.
Naruto recognized the man from the Forest but still not trusting the man narrows his eye "What do you want then"
He nodded at the red head for a moment then finally spoke "Honestly it's shameful to have you living here" he said looking around "you're like me and my clan; feared and hated because of ignorance and bigotry" he said a Naruto looked at him, his lone eye wide. "But I know your fate and it has something different for you, young warrior... I've witnessed it." The man said mysteriously
"What ? What do you mean" Naruto said as he was no longer fearing the man but still on edge "Tell me... why am I being forced to live such a life? I need the full answer... nobody not even Hokage never gave me a answer" Naruto said as the man stayed impassive.
The man slightly shook his head in disappointment "The Hokage is a naive fool" he said as he knelt down and looked Naruto in the eye "His words are empty and not full of conviction... no matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it." spoke the man with much wisdom.
"I can show you everything , but you must give me your word to keep it a secret otherwise I'll be killed" the man said to which Naruto internalized it.
Naruto was silent for a moment contemplating whether he should believe to the man or not; he then came to a decision and with a look of determination spoke "show me".
Suddenly the man's eyes turned red and had a strange pattern in the middle; Naruto became surprised as he locked eyes as the man spoke a single word.
"Kuronokineshisu"
The world began to spin and the sun going up and down as if going through different time cycles. A full three minutes past until both Naruto and the man blinked as the jutsu ended just as soon as it began; but for Naruto and him it was hours as the he showed him the truth within the time space he created. He showed him everything even the things the boy already knew , which surprised him greatly.
Naruto after seeing the past in full, fell to his knees in disbelief. "So.. M-My m-mother... wa-was"
"Your mother was the Jinchūriki of the Kyuubi….." the moment those words reached Naruto's ears, his lone eye became wide. He could not believe it; his mother was also the Jinchūriki of the Kyuubi, and he couldn't fathom the Kyuubi being sealed inside of another person. He shared the same burden as his mother did. His darkness grew and his eye began to change. Fugaku continued
"Before it was sealed inside of you. The night of your birth, as you seen that man ripped the Kyuubi out of your mother's seal; thus, the Kyubi went on a rampage. Sadly, she died that night. Her name was Kushina Uzumaki."
Naruto world froze hearing her name, he now knew a little of his mother. She was a jinchuriku of the Kyubi. He had taken up her burden. His mother was killed the day he was born, the day the Kyubi went on a rampage. 'Kushina Uzumaki,' that was his mother's name. A hole in his heart seemed to widen, and it could never be closed as it lacked a mother's love. He swore at that moment that he'll kill that man.
Before Naruto darkness compels him, he asked a question. "B-But why has no one has ever spoken of my mother's name, there is nowhere in history books that says she was a jinchuriku?''
''All records about her were destroyed, and her jinchuriku status was kept a secret only a select few in high positions knew of it.'' Fugaku said solemnly
Naruto clenched his fist, his mother was made none exist because of foolish beliefs. They celebrated the Yondaime as a hero while his mother was not spoken, she died and no one ever speaks of it. Her name was not even written in the history books, he blamed the Yondaime for that. It was the same as him; he who carried the burden was hated, while the Yondaime who ran off to die was worshiped. He hated the bastard, if he was still alive, he would give nothing more than to see the man die a slow painful death, while he watches.
His volatile emotions turned into rage, without even knowing Naruto channelled chakra to his left eye where his Sharingan formed but unconsciously his eye began to spin. From his extreme grief and eternal darkness it evolved to the pattern of his mangekyō. His maelstrom like pattern appeared in his eye, but when Fugaku saw his eye he swore he saw the Shinigami. Suddenly the air became denser and Naruto chakra became darker.
'Is this his next evolution? This boy.. I knew it. He's truly the key to everything' Fugaku thought in absolute shock
Naruto left eye started to bleed as he performed the first of his mangekyō's abilities. A great force pushed down on Fugaku. He cringed at the weight of the force it was almost like he was controlling gravity itself.
Suddenly Fugaku felt a invisible force began to crush is throat and slowly he rose in the air, desperately clutching at his neck. Naruto with his right palm raised his moon seal began to glow menacingly, he was angry , his rage was consuming him. He snarled savagely 'So it's true , it's all true.. my own father was the one that condemned me to a life of misery and loneliness.
The Sandaime Hokage said that he didn't know who my parents were that he found me in a forest, but.. he lied, he lied right to my face, he knew.. he knew all along. A man named Jiraiya was supposed to be my grandfather, and a man named Kakashi was supposed to be my brother in all but blood. If they knew... then why was I abandoned! Left to the wolves.. and for what?! I should have seen it sooner, all the attention that Sarutobi gave me, he wouldn't care about some random orphan, no... he only would care about the son of the Yondaime and the Nine Tails container.' He thought furiously
Naruto narrowed his eye as it glowed ominously with power. "Tell me... why I shouldn't kill you . Right here... Right now..." the boy snarled slowly strengthening his hold.
Fugaku starting to lose his consciousness said something that shook the boy to his core.
"I-I'm.. Mi-Mikoto's husband..." He rasped out.
Like a flick of a switch Naruto gained his light again and his Sharingan devolved back to its normal state. That released Fugaku from his bind, he couldn't hurt Mikoto. Fugaku began coughing trying to catch his breath.
There was a moment of silence.
Looking defeated , "what do I do now.." Naruto said as he began to shake with rage until the man put his hand on his shoulder.
Fugaku dawned a ominous small smile " Come with me, I want to show you something." With a sign he made a shadow clone and henged it to look like the red haired boy. He put his hand on the young boy shoulder and both disappeared via reverse summoning.
Unknown Location
Rain cascaded throughout the Land of Fire Country , as the rain pour you see two hooded figures looking intently at a empty base that is built into a terraced mountain with vast forestry growing on each level. Two towers were also built on either side of the mountain connecting directly to it. As they went inside, Naruto noticed that there was at least one, vast meeting hall which had the symbol of the Uchiha framing the doorway on either side. At the front of the room, elevated above the rest of the room by a platform was a throne of sorts a small table beside it.
This throne has the Uchiha crest on either side of it and two tomoe shapes below those as as well. Directly behind the seat is a poster which has the kanji 狐 (Fox) surrounded by eight swirls. The design of the throne itself allowed for the poster to be clearly visible behind it. The hall itself was in a dilapidated state as there are numerous indentations in the wall.
As the hooded figure walked down a corridor he stopped in his tracks when he found a casket. Above the casket there was a memorial it states
Here lies the son of Tajima Uchiha descendant of Indra, and brother of Madara Uchiha may he find peace in the after life. Farewell , Izuna Uchiha
And above it all was a stone tablet perched up.
Naruto was first to speak as he was confused. ''What is this place?'' he asked looking straight at the Uchiha.
''The place where our ancestors use to reside, the Uchiha Clan Hideout.'' Fugaku replied with an impassive tone. It was one of the hideouts that was located within the forest of the Fire country. The Uchiha clan had many hideouts around the nations that they used before hidden villages where formed.
"okay but why are we here?" Naruto asked with a incredulous look on his face.
"Look at the Stone Tablet , channel your chakra into your eye and tell me what you see" Fugaku said without answering the young boy's question.
He did as he was told and fully matured 3 Tomoe sprung into life in his lone left eye. Naruto squinted at the text but even with his blessed eye he still couldn't decipher the message. "I can only read certain letters but everything else is just jumbled kanji." Naruto said confused.
Fugaku nodded , already expecting that reaction. "Naruto, try to use more chakra in your eye.. "
"What will happen?" Naruto asked, not even knowing he unlocked the next level.
Naruto try to do as he was told but he couldn't do it. He fell to his knees exhausted from everything.
"I.. I can't do it" the boy said emotionally defeated
Fugaku narrowed his eyes then looked at him dead in his eye
"What are you doing.. stand up Naruto"
The redhead eye widened feeling the intent but Fugaku continued
"Did you forget.. The reason why you're here. Isn't it to protect that girl you saved from Kumo? How about my wife Mikoto and everything she loves? For your family, your mother , for your clan that was wiped out... avenged then all. And keep moving forward. Even if you die and even after you die, this is the fate that you must end... Do not let your emotions betray you, let that anger.. DEEPEN YOUR HATRED."
Naruto after hearing that spaced out only sound he heard was the beat of his heart. Soon he was met by darkness but this time there was no Mikoto to pull him out. He just embraced it.
Thump
Thump
Thump
Thump
Slowly Naruto eye spun, then it morphed into a menacing maelstrom. Suddenly a great pressure pressed down the building. It seem like gravity it self was being manipulated. Fugaku gritted his teeth in pain when he was pinned down to the ground. (AN: For visual reference, search up Kenpachi spiritual pressure felt by Ichigo)
Naruto look at the stone read it then closed his eye. Like nothing happened everything went back to normal.
"Seeking stability, one god was divided into yin and yang, these opposing two acting together obtain all things in creation. When someone who possesses the power of Saṃsāra approaches the moon, an eye will open that is reflected on the moon to grant the eternal dream.." Naruto said recanting the message on the tablet.
He slowly turned around "But what does that mean?"
"It means you are the key, you possess the power to defy fate. The eye of Indra..." Fugaku said ominously causing Nagato eyes to widen slightly
"You know about my eye?" Naruto asked
He slowly pointed at the redhead "You are the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths. The man who dreamed of world peace and stability. You have both Senju and Uchiha blood running through your veins. You my boy is unique. Unfortunately the selfish intent of wanting to preserve peace initiates wars, and hatred is born in order to protect love.. But.. In a world of which you control, peace and love we can achieve true happiness. Such a world can be created, if we collaborate you can learn how." Fugaku stated sagely as the thunder billowed throughout the sky.
With so much that happened in his short life he began to space out, he just stood there stock still. He's trying to understand everything that's been put before him.
Then he felt anger, unbearable anger raged within Naruto. Anger that his own father was responsible for the miseries he had to ensure, angry that the people he trusted the most lied to him all his life. He could almost see them laughing at him, while he cried for his parents. They knew who they were, and yet they just laughed at him telling him that they did not know.
It brought so much anger within him. So much anger, that the atmosphere in the room became suffocating. Black flame like chakra surrounded Naruto's entire body.
''Naruto!'' Fugaku called out seeing the ominous chakra leaking out. If he did not calm Naruto, things might turn out nasty should Naruto leak too much chakra.
Naruto did not respond, he was too absorbed by his thoughts to hear Fugaku . ''Naruto!'' He called again raising his voice slightly.
It took a few moments for Naruto to register Fugaku's words. He calmed down upon noting the temperature in the room, and his chakra leaking out. His calming down forced the ominous chakra to recede where it belonged. Naruto stared at Fugaku for a moment before his eye went to the ceiling.
''I managed to collect a few photos from your father's house. I took the liberty of taking scrolls with notes on jutsu's that made your father famous. I believe that they are yours to learn, and no one has the right do deny you that.'' Fugaku stated eyes boring into Naruto, ''Everything I took is inside this bag.'' He said pointing at the bag on the table.
Naruto's eyes shifted from the ceiling to the bag and then settled onto him, ''Why did you tell me this, when the Sandaime or Jiraiya chose not to?''
''For you to choose the correct path for your life and to become truly strong you must know who you are. Telling this, allows you to locate your roots. This in turn will help you become truly strong knowing where you came from, what you were born to become.'' Fugaku replied getting up. ''I will leave you to your thoughts. When I return tomorrow tell me the decision you have made."
Naruto just stared at the retrieving form of Fugaku with many thoughts dancing within his head. As soon as he disappeared from his sight, and senses, he looked at the small beg on the table. Slowly, he took the bag and carried it to an available room, intent on exploring all its content.
Next Day
When Fugaku came back , he seen the boy not facing him. He was just staring at the tablet stone , a picture of his mother in his left hand. But what caught his eye was the moon seal glowing ominously.
Naruto spoke out directing his words to the man
"Where there's light.. there's also darkness. As long as there are winners, there will be also losers as well. It is cause and effect, and one cannot be separated from the other. But.. a world that knows only peace. A place like that can be created.."
He turned his head Sharingan spun wildly "I have nothing.. No father, mother, or clan. I am alone... I alone will bear the hate of the entire world.. When that happens then everything will be restored to its rightful place. With true power of the Sharingan I will bring back a era of Peace , Love and Stability."
From that day Naruto became the child who defied fate.
AN : Thank you so much for your patience. I have work and school so I just do this on my spare time. Now you may ask ' why does Naruto talk so mature , and sound so intelligent at such a young age?" Well the Karma seal embeds the originator experience and DNA within the vessel causing Naruto to change every since he activated the seal for the first time last chapter. So Indra, experience and personality blends with Naruto. I hope I was able to entail how unstable Naruto is. Hopefully you guys enjoy the way I'm plotting everything out, I wanted to put more to see Danzo point of view of things but I'll leave that next chapter. If you want more context just comment and I'll PM the context on anything I put out. Enjoy !