Attention!!! This is part of a mass update I decided to post today (today marking my own birthday).
Maybe I updated your favorite story? Or maybe I posted something new that you might enjoy.
Why not go check them out?
... after reading this of course.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Fate, or any other anime I use in this story. They belong to their respective owners…
8/27/23
Heart Under a Blade
"Give it back!" An irritated voice yelled, echoing throughout the distance.
Although, considering they were all in a secluded forest, nobody heard them. As three menacing-looking older boys surrounded a much younger, smaller boy.
The boy in question had blonde hair that spiked out in every direction. And three distinct, whisker-like marks. He appeared to be around four to five years old, as he was garbed in ragged clothing that was much too large to fit his much smaller body.
What's worse was the fact that, had you paid attention, one might have noticed his lightened pigmentation on his otherwise tanned skin. His muscles being too small for someone his age, a clear sign of malnutrition within the human body,
As the boy's anger grew, cerulean orbs glared at the much larger boy. Who only smirked at his gaze.
"No, I don't think I will," he stated, uncaring, as he examined the metallic object he had just stolen.
Which only caused the blonde boy's fists to tighten even more, so much so that his palms were newly whitened.
"I said, give it back!" The boy shouted again, his angered glare increasing tenfold.
Somewhat surprising, the leading boy was amused at his attempt.
"Huh? There must be some dirt in your ears or something. Like I said, I ain't giving this back, finder's keepers," the leader said confidently, as his other two friends chuckled at the scene.
But that only caused the blonde's anger to reach new heights, something he didn't quite think was possible. Giving him quite the feral look considering his animal-like appearance.
One of the older boys seemed to notice this, as he commented, "Ha! The fox is going to cry!" He laughed, causing his friends to do so as well.
But the fox still tried to reason with them, saying, "Look, just give me it back, or—"
"Or else what?" The leader finished, leaning down to meet the blonde at eye level, confident he would beat the kid into submission.
The fox boy seemed to glare even harder, as the looks on the older boys only seemed to sicken him to his very core.
Suddenly and without warning, he acted.
Grasping the taller boy's shoulders, he used his clothing to pull him closer. Delivering a vicious headbutt to his cranium, disorienting the older boy as he collapsed to the ground.
Sadly, this move didn't go unnoticed by the older boy's friends. The much fatter one firmly grabbed his stomach from behind, as they lifted his much smaller body off the ground.
And no matter how much he struggled, trying to worm his way out of their grasp, trying not to be an easy target for their scorn.
The leader picked himself up off the dirt, smirking, even as his nose bled from his earlier blow. Even as the blonde boy struggled to try and pry himself free, it was to no avail.
And it was only when the leader was right in front of him, his fist pulled back, ready to meet his face, did the fox-like boy feel a semblance of fear.
"Take this punk!" He shouted as he was about to send his punch towards the blonde's face.
None heard the rushed footsteps that came next… but they did see the shadow that overtook them.
Which caused the lead boy to halt his punch as a new person appeared on the scene.
The newcomer had jumped high into the air, ready to send a powerful kick straight into the leading boy's face. Sending him crashing to the floor once again.
As the other two boys grew paler, seeing just who had entered the fray.
She was a small girl, just about the same age as the blonde boy, if not a little older. Her hair was blonde, although it was a much paler shade than the boy before her. As it framed her heart-shaped face on both sides.
Her gray, deep eyes surveyed the scene, watching as the two older boys grew more scared before her.
Such a sight was definitely an odd one, as the much smaller girl seemed to absolutely terrify the two much older and stronger-looking boys in front of her.
The fox-like boy seemed to recognize this girl as well, as he grew increasingly surprised. "Okita-chan, what are you doing? I got this?" He questioned, even as he was still being held up in the air.
But the girl, Okita, as she was called, only seemed to shake her head in disagreement. "Naruto, you need to head back now, or else the matrons will get angry," she reminded him.
And it seemed one of the other boys took the opportunity to try and send a sneak attack Okita's way. But he wasn't fast enough, as the girl easily saw this coming.
Dodging, she sent a harsh palm strike to the much older boy's stomach, sending him sprawling to the floor in pain.
And even Naruto used this opportunity to provide a surprise attack of his own. As he jerked up, knocking his head onto the pudgy boy's nose.
It seemed that all three of the older boys were nursing themselves on the ground.
When suddenly, something unexpected happened. As the leading boy suddenly jerked towards Okita with an earnest vengeance.
But what was even more unexpected was what was within the lead boy's palms. As he held a small blade, ready to slash the much younger girl in the chest.
Luckily, Okita seemed to react in time, pivoting out of the boy's way. Harshly, he grasped the wrist of the hand that held the knife, forcing him to drop it. She then forced his arm to be held firmly behind his back, ready to break it should she have the desire.
All was left silent, and the three boys all equally looked towards the pale-haired girl in utter terror.
Her dark eyes stared into their souls.
And when the girl finally released her hold on the boy, the terror didn't cease. As the three much older boys began to run away in fright, not even bothering to focus on their wounds as they did so.
It was certainly a funny scene; it was almost as if the three had seen a demon and run with their tails between their legs.
And as the girl saw the three definitely leave the scene, it was only then that she turned her cold gaze towards the blonde boy before her.
Almost instantly, her eyes softened. "Naruto, are you alright?" The girl asked in concern, as Naruto looked away.
"Okita, what are you doing here?" The boy asked, dodging the question, as he was slightly frustrated at her presence.
Okita sighed slightly, noticing what her friend was doing, but she did answer his question. "The other kids talked about rumors that those three left to follow after you, and I came as soon as I heard," she told him.
"Alright, I get that, but I could have handled them," Naruto complained slightly, although truthfully, he was grateful for her intervention.
"I know you could have," the girl said wistfully, as she got close. She inspected a small cut Naruto had received on his cheek with her palm. As her proximity caused Naruto to gain a light dusting on his nose.
"But it's always good to have a friend when you need them," she finished, as Naruto looked away.
"Look, Okita, I don't want you to get involved with them any longer. They're my problem; I've got to deal with them," Naruto told the girl; he didn't want her to keep getting in trouble just because of him.
But the girl only shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I cannot uphold such a request," she told him, and that was what Naruto expected.
XXX
"Get in there, you damned mutt," a woman growled as she dragged him by his collar in a largely cluttered room. Hurling him onto the hard stone ground without care.
"You'll stay in there if you know what's good for you," the matron shouted as she locked the big metal door that sealed the room shut.
Naruto looked around, seeing the familiar old metal objects that roared to life. It was a scene he knew well, having been locked in the orphanage's boiler room many times before. As leaking pipes dripped onto the rocky floor.
It was always like this, and he shouldn't have expected anything different.
The kids who had been scared off ran to the matrons at their orphanage, knowing exactly what they would do.
Ever since he could remember, he could always tell that the leading women within the building always despised him.
They hated him, mocked him, scorned him.
What's worse, he could tell that they weren't inherently bad people—quite the contrary. He had seen the women fulfill their roles, acting like he imagined mothers to be to all the other children. It was just... not to him.
And he didn't know why.
The other kids at the orphanage seemed to notice this behavior as well. With them either avoiding him or worried that if they associated with him, they would be treated the same way. Or they behaved just like those bullies did, trying to pick on him every chance they got, something that seemed to gain them even more good attention.
Well, all the kids did that, except for…
Suddenly, the sound of the large metal door opening caught his attention, and he knew just who stood on the other side.
"Okita-chan?" Naruto recognized the girl as she revealed herself, having sneaked out of her room to visit him. Picking the lock just to enter the room.
"Naruto," his only friend nodded, "I am glad you are safe." The normally cold girl flashed him a small smile.
"You shouldn't be here; you'll get in trouble," Naruto told her, already shouldering the blame for their most recent stunt, not that the matrons wouldn't have blamed him anyway.
But, like always, Okita refuted his poor attempt to keep her away. "No, I believe this is what friends do, Naruto."
"I suppose you are right." The blonde sighed. Although, truthfully, he valued her words more than she would ever know.
This caused Okita's small smile to grow even more pronounced as she began to reach into her pocket, retrieving an object that lay within.
"I believe this belongs to you," she stated, showing Naruto just what was within her palms.
Naruto's eyes widened, seeing the small butterfly knife that had been stolen from him just hours before.
It was the same weapon that the head bully had attacked Okita with.
And the girl knew that it was also the same blade that the old man who visited him gave him on his most recent birthday. He later found out he was his village's Hokage. Something that Okita found strange, although he knew she was happy for him.
He cherished the blade, it being the only thing in his lifetime that had been given to him.
It had been left behind in the chaos of it all when he decided to go back to the orphanage to shoulder the blame.
But as he gazed at the metallic object within the girl's grasp, he realized something.
He valued something a lot more.
So when his small hand crept up to meet Okita's, instead of taking the blade within her hand. He gently closed her fingers, causing the girl's face to look somewhat confused.
As Naruto flashed the girl one of the brightest smiles he could muster, he asked, "Hey, why don't you keep it?"
He wanted the girl to be able to protect herself, even if she had already shown the capability to do so before. He had been scared when the knife had been pulled on her. That's when he realizes just how precious she is to him.
And he had been relieved when the girl had managed to save herself.
Naruto knew those bullies would come back, and he didn't want the blade to fall into their hands once again.
And so, hesitantly, Okita took the blade once again within her pockets. Knowing how precious the blade could be to him.
And although they both knew she preferred longer blades, this blade had been given to her by Naruto. And for that, she would value it forever.
After that, the two sat on the hard floor, backs to each other, in a comfortable silence. Neither spoke a word, and they didn't need to.
As both were content to just sit there for each other's comfort in the small amount of moonlight that penetrated the room.
Hours had passed as the two kids felt nothing but the warmth of each other.
But it soon came to pass that Okita had to take her leave, lest the matrons find her with him.
... Little did the two know that they would never see each other again, at least not for some time.
XXX
Silence remained.
It was empty and hollow, a far cry from the comfort he once felt in the company of his friend.
That was until he heard the sound of the large metal door opening. And instead of revealing his sword-loving friend, he saw the face of the not-so-kind matron standing at the only entrance, as well as the only exit.
This was something he expected; the woman usually came by to retrieve him after he spent the night here. Although, it seemed a little early for her to do so.
Was it morning already?
Nevertheless, he stood up, rising to his feet as he addressed the matron. "Oh, is it time to go back now?" He asked. That didn't seem so bad; he could see Okita again.
But it seemed all his hopes were dashed away as a foul, evil smirk made its way across the woman's face. An expression that sent chills down his spine.
"Oh no, Mutt, you won't be going back anytime soon," she told him, and before he could wonder what the woman meant. The woman harshly grabbed him, forcefully dragging him out of the boiler room as she did so.
XXX
"Go on, you're old enough to survive on your own; get out of here!" A woman yelled as she threw him once again harshly on the dirt ground. Having dragged him through the orphanage despite his struggles
As he looked up, seeing her scorn-filled look in her eyes. It surprised him, even after the many times she had tried to kick him out. He realized something had changed; he didn't know what, but he could tell that this time, the woman was serious.
Perhaps his last stunt was the last straw. Or perhaps she had always just held these hateful emotions within her.
He didn't know, and it didn't matter. As quickly as she could, the woman closed the front door, sealing him off from the orphanage entrance.
Leaving him stranded on the ground, dirt marking his clothes. In the darkness of the clouded sky…
Alone.
As he picked himself up off the ground, he wondered where he would go now. What would he do?
And what would he tell Okita?
XXX
Hours later.
(With Okita)
Things had been strange.
Not only that, but ever since she had woken up, she had felt this sort of nagging feeling in her stomach. As if something was alerting her that something was wrong.
What was worse was the weather, as it seemed to be dark and cloudy all day. Like a premonition of something she did not know.
She had tried to search for Naruto, but he was nowhere to be seen.
And so she tried 'politely' asking around for the other kids.
"Where is he?" she demanded coldly, interrogating the boys she had beaten up the previous day in the halls of the orphanage.
"Eh, that brat? He probably wised up and left already; it serves him right," the leader answered, causing his friends to laugh.
That was until Okita's gray eyes sent a chilling glare their way, which instantly caused all of their blood to run cold.
But before she could 'talk' to them more, a voice made their presence known.
"Oh, Okita-Chan, just who I was looking for," a matron stated, which gave the three boys enough time to flee from the pale-blonde's wrath.
"Matron-san," Okita greeted with a slight bow, although there wasn't any respect in her words.
She had seen this woman, as well as how the other matrons had acted towards Naruto and the other children. Like polar opposites, it didn't sit right with her.
Especially with how close she had gotten to the blonde.
No respect was given to the woman before her.
Nonetheless, the woman nodded, giving Okita to two-faced smile she so despised. "Good, there's actually a man who wants to see you. And with any luck, he may even consider adopting you," the matron said cheerfully, which did cause Okita's eyebrows to shoot up in surprise.
Adoption? She knew that was the end goal for most orphans. But really, it wasn't something she had yearned for. What would she do if she did actually get adopted? What would she tell Naruto?
But before Okita could question the matron on the subject, another person entered the hall. Someone who immediately set her senses on edge.
The man was old; she recognized that. With his dark, spiked hair and a large X shaped scar on his chin. Even stranger was the fact that he was almost completely covered in bandages. With the white linen covering both his forehead and right eye, as well as his entire right arm.
The matron seemed to notice him immediately, as she treated him with the utmost respect. "L-Lord Danzo, it's unexpected to see you; I was just about to bring the girl you requested to you," she told him, but the esteemed elder was unperturbed.
"Is this the girl?" This 'Danzo' asked bluntly, not wanting to waste any time.
"Y-Yes, she is," the matron answered.
As the veteran Shinobi looked the girl over, analyzing her potential. He seemed to spy something within her as he finally nodded.
"She will do, especially with what I have heard of her," the mummy answered.
Words that would change her life forever…
End chapter.
An: This was recommended to me by the same guy who came up with the idea for 'king of nothing' and 'to love an Angel'
But I will give myself a little credit as originally the idea was pitched myself as an Akame ga kill fic, with Akame being the main heroine.
That idea was scrapped, sadly, but it was later turned into what you see now.
Now, Okita's character is a bit on the nose, mainly since I don't really know too much about her. Never seen a GudaGuda event, but I have read a bit of fate/redline. And took a bit of other inspirations from characters like her (Kuuderes) like Mikasa Ackerman, or Rei Ayanami.
Even took a bit of inspiration from Aot for the starting scene.
Anyways, check out some of the other things I've posted, as you might find something good.
Please leave me lots and lots of NICE reviews.
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Inspirations:
User: 'Midnightson41'