Brazil, 2014

It's hours before the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the atmosphere in Brazil was electric. The country already buzzing with excitement, and the streets are awash in a sea of yellow and green.

One blond in Rio de Janeiro stood out the most. Wearing a black hoodie and shades to hide his face, he stood below the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Having seen it through out his childhood, Naruto Uzumaki was proud of it and loved how it watched over the city.

With its arms outstretched as if to welcome the world to this special event. "I hope I get to show your will with my skill later tonight, lord." he muttered to the statue, as he continued to shower praise.

"What do you mean, I'm on the bench?" the blond questioned. "I'm tearing up the league!"

In the office of head coach, Luis Scolari. The blond was called in to find shocking news, Scolari stated that he wasn't fit to open up the nation's tournament.

"I know you're disappointed, kid but you need to remember that this is your first call up." Scolari explained as Naruto looked hysterical. "But, I can adapt, coach?! What's the difference between playing in the Under-21 and the senior team? One is for players who are still good while for others is for them being too old for under-18."

Scolari seeing how cynical the blond was becoming sighed. "My decision, is final. Whether you accept it or not, you won't change my mind. You're on the bench." he finished as he excused the blond.

Naruto making the chair screech with the floor got up and stormed out the door. "It's not over till it's over, coach!" the blond barked as he opened the door, and with an anti-climactic tantrum, he respectively closed the door with a quiet thud.

Naruto went to the film room, and expected to find himself there. Seeing as the morning debrief would occur in fifteen minutes he expected his teammates to be chatting in the canteen, but nope. They all we're in the film room.

"Hey, guys!" he greeted everyone as he closed the door. "What's going on?" looking around he watched as chuckles and smirked creeped on everyone's face.

"Naruto, it's time for you to continue with tradition." the blond looked at the team captain, PSG stopper, Thiago Silva. "As the new guy on the team, we have to have fun with you." he smirked.

"Okay...I never thought we also did hazing."

"Oh it's not that." speaking up was Barcelona star, Neymar Jr who was juggling the ball and smiled at Naruto. "Piggy in the middle." he lobbed the ball over to the blond who caught it surprised. "Piggy in the middle!? But I'm a pro! This isn't the beach!" he whinned.

"Exactly." David Luiz quipped "It's a way we can see that you have the skills and can handle the pressure."

"But..."

"Take it like this," he said "We wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of the whole country. We've seen what you've been doing at Flamengo, in the league. What'yu think would everyone think if we gave you a tap in and you missed it, in embarrasing fashion?"

The blond just sighed in defeat. He couldn't back down, since from what Silva told him. Pelé was in his shoes back in his first ever World Cup. "Just go easy on me, alright?" he stated as he stood in the middle of the formed circle.

"I'm only a year removed from the academy, while you lot. Have literal Champions League, experience."

The squad began passing the ball around and Naruto analyzing the passes tried to intercept it and eveytime it moved too fast. Feeling a bit dizzy by the fact he'd be twisting his head in the direction of the ball after every pass, Naruto watched as the ball was suddenly in Neymar's feet.

Naruto tried to intercept it, but Neymar being to quick, rolled it through his legs with his heel. Everyone in the room burst in laughter as the ball rolled out the circle. "That would've been two times." Neymar told the blond as Naruto felt embarrassed. "But since I'm a good guy, you owe me a sandwich." he ruffled the blond's hair.

"Don't worry, Naruto." Silva being the voice of reason spoke. "We've all been there." he spoke up as everyone nodded in agreement. "Just learn from your mistake and try again." Neymar's Barcelona teammate, Dani Alves spoke up as he retrieved the ball and started the passing.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto knew he couldn't give up. Slowly waiting for his chance he pounced at a botched pass from Zenit winger, Hulk. "Finally!" he exclaimed as he passed the ball quickly to Neymar. "Congrats, Naru!" Neymar congratulated the 19 year old.

"Welcome to the team." everyone clapped for the blond and finally accepted him as one of them. Naruto had graduated and had became a Canarinho.

Later that day

Naruto sat in the team bus, with his eyes wide in wonder. Having never experienced anything like this before. He watched the streets packed with fans, dressed in the yellow and green of Brazil. Hearing the fans chant out the Seleção's name, he couldn't help but feel excited by the electric atmosphere.

"This is amazing," he told his seat neighbour, Neymar. "This beats the Flamengo fanbase by like a long shot."

"Of course it is. Flamengo fans are only intrigued if the team's winning. While the entire nation just wants to see the team play well, even if they lose."

"Hey! Not all our fans like that...I'll let you know I get some pretty nice fan mail even after a loss."

"Ah huh...sure." Neymar rolled his eyes "You know ever since you won that Puskas of yours on my team, you seem to think we'd lay down and forget. Watch us win the league, Neymar. Watch us!" Naruto proclaimed.

"We're going off topic here, didn't you say that the fans we're exciting?"

"They are, then you went on a tangent about my club."

"Okay, okay...I'll stop. I just wanted to say that you'll be shocked when we see the stadium." Neymar replied as he looked up. "Speaking of stadium, we're here."

Naruto looking forward was shocked by The Maracana! It was the biggest stadium he'd ever seen! The fact it was made for the world cup showed since it seemed it had enough room to house a lot of passionate fans.

When the bus came to a stop in the parking lot, everyone got off and with fans shouting in pride as they we're held back by security and barriers Naruto smiled at them and followed his teammates in signing merchandise and taking pictures.

Changing into his warm ups, he went to the pitch to see already the rafters packed with fans making a defeaning noise. "This is incredible," the blond told himself. "This...is the passion I've always loved about home."

"Welcome to Brazil!" Neymar commented as they returned to the locker room. Listening to Scolari fire up his team even harder the blond was determined to do well. "Starters to the tunnel, subs to the bench." Scolari ordered as he stood at the door. Watching everyone walk past him, Naruto was stopped. "Naruto aren't you forgetting, something?" Naruto looked confused as Scolari handed him a bib.

"If only they allowed twelve players." he spoke up as he escorted the blond out. Wearing his bib, the blond rolled his eyes and got to the bench.

Sitting down he watched from the sidelines. Standing for the national anthem, before the game started Scolari told him to pay attention to the front three of, Hulk, Neymar and Fred.

"Absorb what they are doing." Scolari said "Study their movements in certain moments." he added as the blond nodded.

Playing against Croatia, the game was very equal. With the Croatians doing so well and defending stubbornly, the first half ended still 0-0. After a massive shouting from the head coach, the team was heading out for the second half and Scolari came over to Naruto.

"Naruto," he got the blond's attention. "I need you to pay attention to the front three. They're the key to our attack. See how they link up and create chances, learn from their actions and you'll be very useful for me." he patted the blond's shoulder as he nodded.

"I'll do my best coach." Scolari nodded as they separated with one heading to the coach box while the other went to the bench.

The halftime talk seemed to be enough of a wakeup call for Brazil as they dominated possession and we're beginning to make paths into the box. Everything was going well that Naruto stood up from his seat when he watched Hulk run with the ball up the field, the man was on a great run as he bullied past most of the Croatians.

He was about to pass the ball but out of nowhere, he received a nasty tackle from Dejan Lovren that made him curl in a ball and hold his knee tightly. The ref blew the whistle and got in-between the two arguing groups, one trying to de-escalate the situation while the other trying to lay hands on Lovren.

Naruto at the time was told to keep himself warmed up on the sideline with a training coach by doing a couple stretches. The coach was called by Scolari who asked if Naruto was warmed up enough, when he was told yes. He called for the blond.

"This is where I'll see if you actually listened, Naruto." Scolari told the blond "Because if you do anything foolish and look like an academy headless chicken, I'll make sure you help clean the locker room the entire tourmanent." the blond gulped at that. "Yes coach."

"Good, now go give, Silva these instructions." he gave the blond a note as they watched Hulk get carried off in a stretcher. With the fourth official showing a change occuring, his signal board showed number 19 coming on.

Naruto touching the grass, he kissed his hand and ran onto the pitch.

"And here comes the sub! It's Naruto Uzumaki! The youngest player in the league, and he's coming on for Hulk!" Martin Tyler, the veteran commentator who had travelled down to show his iconic voice to the world spoke.

Over in Rio at the Copacabana Beach the place was packed with sunbathers and revelers. "Hey it's Naruto!" one of the patrons shouted out the local hero. Everyone on the beach celebrated hearing this and they all watched as the blond was called over to the free kick spot.

Naruto having given Silva the instructions from Scolari went over to the free kick spot as Neymar had called him. "What's up?" Naruto asked as Neymar smiled. "Nice of you to join the party." he replied as Naruto shrugged. "It's never too late, am I right?"

"I guess." with the ref having finished setting up Croatia's wall, Naruto watched as Neymar held the ball out. "What's this?" he asked

"Remember when I said you'd owe me a favour?" Naruto remembering of his nutmeg earlier nodded. "Well I'm cashing it in." he put the ball in the blond's hands.

"You want me to take it?" Neymar nodded "Why?"

"It's my favour, so you better not miss." watching the number 10 walk away Naruto was shocked! He had to take the shot?! Hearing the rhythmic banging of the drums in the rafters, Naruto could hear his heartbeat.

Placing the ball down he took a few steps back and took a deep breath.

"So it seems that Neymar has put his faith in the Southpaw. How will he fair?"

With the ref blowing his whistle, Naruto looked at the top right corner. With a quick run-up he curled it like Beckham.

Over in São Paulo, the financial capital of Brazil, the atmosphere is just as festive. Paulista Avenue, the city's main artery, had been closed to traffic and transformed into a giant fan zone. With everyone's eyes glues on the screen, they all watched as the ball sailed into the net. With a big uproar shouts all over Brazil we're heard.

Live music, muffled with cheers and praises. Many people we're in joy.

With people gathered in bars, restaurants, and their homes to watch the opening match. They all raised their glasses at the opening goal, of the 2014 World Cup and it's taker, Naruto Uzumaki.