I do not own Naruto.


"Light and shadow are opposite sides of the same coin. We can illuminate our paths or darken our way, it is a matter of choice."

- Maya Angelou

Everything is broken. Fire engulfed the streets, its fierce orange flames licking at the crumbling buildings. The crackling of burning timber filled the air, accompanied by the acrid scent of smoke. Blood-curdling screams echoed through the narrow alleyway, piercing through the chaos. No one saw this coming. Whoever was stable amidst the chaos took charge, leading the frightened villagers through the smoke-filled streets towards a safe location. But even their efforts would not be enough to stop the demon from wreaking havoc. The beast was a manifestation of pure evil, its presence suffocating, sending shivers down the spines of those who dared to get close.

Amidst the devastation, the fourth Hokage, his face etched with determination, fought with all his might to defend Konoha. Following the path of destruction, his brown eyes surveyed the toppled buildings and the limbs protruding from the debris. The weight of the tragedy bore down on his shoulders as he remembered the families he once knew, the children who yearned for the safety of their parents.

With each step, the somber memories weighed him down, his back growing heavier. Protecting the village was still his duty, and the longer he hesitated, the more lives would be lost. Despite his old age, he knew taming or defeating this tailed beast was an impossible dream. But he had to try.

As he raced forward, his hat, previously perched on his waist, fell gracefully through the air. Tears welled in his eyes, and his lips quivered with emotion. This was his home, and he would never give it up. Approaching the monster, the deafening roar reverberated in his ears, causing blood to trickle from his eardrums.

"Third Hokage, evacuate! Our forces are trying to contain the general area!" a voice called out amidst the chaos.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze never wavered from the demon that laid waste to his beloved village. "You take any injured shinobi out of the battlefield, and I'll assist the battle!" he barked back, determination seeping through his words.

With a deep breath, he leaped into the air, his body covered in a sheen of sweat. The scent of death hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of the imminent danger. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to retreat or assist from afar, but he couldn't abandon his role as a leader. He knew that once someone crossed the boundary of death, they would awaken into something new.

Chakra surged through his feet, propelling him forward. Time was of the essence, and hesitation would lead to failure. "HERE I COME!" he bellowed, his voice drowned out by the sheer force of his power. Saliva sprayed from his mouth as his body soared through the air, ready to face the monstrous threat head-on.


Winter Saturday, 8:37 pm

x11 ANT (Eleven years after Nine Tails)

Almost a decade had passed since the subjugation of the tailed beast, yet Hiruzen struggled to restore the village's former honor. His efforts seemed to only worsen the impact on the hidden leaf, leaving him with baseless promises that held no weight. Desperate to keep the loyal villagers afloat, he ventured into the treasury, selling valuable scrolls, history, and origins. As he stood, the wheels of his chair squeaked, and the blinding sunrise momentarily overwhelmed his good eye. Konoha was at its lowest point, with the third Hokage afraid to part with any more valuables, despite the dwindling number of passing merchants. On certain maps, the village appeared to fade away. They were now at the bottom of the barrel, paying neighboring villages for protection. Swallowing, the old man leaned against the window, clutching his side. Despite the dire situation, he kept his lips sealed, fearing the irreversible damage that worry could cause. The villagers relied on him, and his name and legacy were on the brink of destruction. The once-famed 'God of Shinobi' now struggled to revive Konoha. He had heard the rumors that nothing thrived on this land since the attack. Even tourists were scared to come near, as entering the village seemed to guarantee failure. It was a depressing reality. "Father," a man appeared in a cloud of smoke, his face etched with worry. "We've done the math, and unless something changes, this will be our last batch of young shinobi!" Asuma Sarutobi couldn't meet his father's gaze, their conversations diminishing. It was daunting, and he blamed himself. During the battle with the Nine-Tails, his father lost an arm and went blind in one eye.

"What are you trying to say?" Hiruzen asked, his head twisting as he awaited the obvious. The dark circles under his father's eyes made Asuma hesitate. With the current trajectory, they would be lucky to survive another three years. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him. "We should gamble everything we have on this generation! I know many renowned clans have left, but with what we have, we hope to participate in each exam this time around."

Contemplating the answer, Hiruzen shook his head slowly, deep in thought. The decision to cease sending children to take part in exams was made a few years back, prompted by the unfortunate experience of a shinobi he had sent the year before, who had been targeted and subjected to an excessive amount of suffering. "Before I can come to a conclusion, I'll need to see some progress." It was an undeniable truth that, with more hands, the village could thrive.

"Trust me," he said firmly, "and everyone else who stayed loyal. We won't let everything be in vain." Asuma was well aware of the situation, having discovered it in his father's journal. The weight of the Hokage's burden would eventually become his downfall, taking with it the rich legacy of the Hidden Leaf. He left the room with a purposeful stride, the pack of cigarettes crinkling in his hand. With a practiced motion, he placed one between his lips and lit it, the smell of burning tobacco filling the air. No matter how much his father pushed, the weight of everyone's hope rested on these children. If they found out the burden they were going to carry, would they continue or break under pressure? With a flick of his wrist, he released the build-up of smoke, and it dispersed with a gentle wave of his hand. Anyone loyal to this village would be fighting this impossible battle from the start, and he knew it, too. He had learned from his father to never back down.


Winter Monday, 10:20 am

x11 ANT

Coughing, he waved his hand, dispersing the swirling dust clouds around him. The chalk, dry and powdery, felt rough against his fingertips as he struggled to grip it firmly. Opening his worn journal, he heard the faint rustle of the pages as he flipped to a blank one; the sound echoing in the empty classroom. With a slight shiver, he jotted down today's lesson plan, the scratch of the pen on the paper providing a momentary distraction from his swirling thoughts. After the turmoil of the previous night, his mind now settled, and he finally had the clarity to ponder his plan for the upcoming years.

But uncertainty loomed. He wasn't fully convinced of the future here, but he will take a gamble, to place his trust in Asuma's plan. The night's conversation with his drinking buddy still echoed in his mind, the words lingering like the taste of stale alcohol. "Putting our faith in a bunch of children is… disgusting." The chalk twirled aimlessly in his hand as he contemplated the situation.

His fears were not unfounded. Placing their hopes solely on these young ones was a dangerous endeavor, and the haunting memory of that incident from a few years ago lingered in his thoughts like a dark cloud casting a shadow over his resolve. The guilt he carried from that day forced him to question his chosen path. Someone needed to show the next generation the true meaning of the Will of Fire, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this might be the last generation Konoha would see. The weight of responsibility on these children's shoulders seemed unbearable, threatening to crush their spirits. Yet, if by some slim chance, they managed to rise above it all, they would become the true carriers of Konoha's future.

"Ugh, maybe a drink would help clear my mind," he muttered to himself, seeking solace in the thought of temporary escape. Opening his creaky door, he stepped out into the hallway, the scent of dust and old parchment filling his nostrils. His heart was committed, but his mind wandered. Iruka knew deep down that he could never handle another one of those heart-wrenching situations. If he witnessed someone so young, someone he had poured his heart into, return in pieces, he feared he would finally collapse under the weight of it all.

These children needed someone strong, someone who could guide them through the treacherous world they were about to enter. "They have what, a year? Maybe two?" He struggled to remember when the graduation exam would take place, resisting the urge to rummage through his drawer for his emergency liquor. "I lost that spark years ago." Frustration welled up inside him, and he couldn't help but release it by slamming the back of his head against the cool, unforgiving wall, and letting out a heavy sigh.

"Hard work or talent?" The question lingered in the air, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "You have talent! I had to work my ass off to get where I'm at," Iruka pointed awkwardly at his drinking buddy, a mixture of admiration and envy in his eyes. "You were born with this overwhelming amount of talent, the golden spoon. I had to eat with my bare hands!" He understood the struggles faced by those without natural gifts, a challenge that only ordinary people could truly comprehend. It was like building a small shop, toiling away for years, only for it to start turning a profit far too late.

"I worked hard, there were times when I even considered giving up." Watching Asuma down his third drink, Iruka couldn't help but shake his head, a mixture of respect and disbelief swirling within him.

Peeling the delicate skin of the bamboo cup, Iruka found himself lost in his metaphor, the soft strands unraveling like his thoughts. He could almost hear the faint rustle as the skin separated from the cup, a sound that mirrored the unraveling of his doubts. "People have limits," he murmured, his voice tinged with frustration. "Not everyone is born into some prestigious clan, blessed with a sturdy foundation and a secret weapon." The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his own experiences.

Lifting the vibrant green cup, he winced as a burning sensation radiated through his fingertips; the heat searing into his body as the drink settled.

"Iruka, I believe those with hard work can prevail just as much as those with undeniable talent," Asuma interjected, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. He had always been one to rely on his overwhelming talent, unable to fully grasp the struggles faced by others.

Iruka sighed, the sound shaky and laden with grief. "Lily, Jaren, Toku," he whispered the names carrying a weight he couldn't shake off. "Those were my students, unable to ever learn ninjutsu again. They faced someone who possessed overwhelming talent, and they were swallowed whole." His breath trembled as he let it out, the alcohol he had consumed warming his chest, temporarily numbing the pain.

Asuma's expression hinted at a deeper understanding, a shared burden. "I understand," he breathed, his voice filled with empathy. There was more to this topic than the simple debate of 'hard work versus talent,' and they both knew it.

"In our current position, if we cannot produce satisfactory ninja soon, everything we've worked for will be taken from us," Asuma continued, his words carrying a sense of urgency. "All I'm asking is for this last batch of Genin to prevail. Don't let the past hold you down."

Iruka knew Asuma was right. They had become a laughingstock, and their reputation diminished. It had been years since anyone from Konoha had made a name for themselves in the Chunin exams.

"In our arsenal, all that remains are talent or duds," Iruka conceded, his voice heavy with resignation. "You want to gamble on the Jinchūriki, and everyone else?" He couldn't help but feel torn, the fear and guilt of seeing others push themselves through hell only to fall echoing in his mind.

"It's all we have left," Asuma declared, reaching for a cigarette and fumbling in his pockets for a lighter. "The armory is nearly empty, and the Third Hokage will never dip into those forbidden scrolls again. We will have to give it everything we have. I've already asked some friends to take a cell, and they agreed only after scouting. If we fall now, what will be left?"

Iruka's bleary eyes watched drowsily as Asuma fumbled and muttered a few profanities, his hands desperately searching around. The classroom seemed hazy and distant to him, the faint scent of liquor and musty people lingering in the air. "I haven't been paying much attention to this class," Iruka confessed, his voice tinged with regret. "Whenever I see them fooling around, I can't help but remember the desperate looks on my previous students' faces when they returned. One of them couldn't even walk properly, and the other came back in a coffin." Licking his dry lips, his gaze darted around for another bottle. "Everyone knows the risks, but our village's reputation puts a target on their backs."

"Iruka, I understand," Asuma continued, his voice heavy with the weight of outsiders' judgment. "You wouldn't believe the questions I'm asked. 'Is the Hidden Leaf still standing?' 'Are you proud to be part of a dying village?' 'How can a village thrive when their Hokage is a eunuch?'" Blowing the smoke away, Asuma placed his lighter on the table. "It's too late for us to change anything, but maybe... just maybe, these kids can carry Konoha forward."

"We only have a small window of opportunity, a year or two," Iruka acknowledged, knowing it was too late to truly make amends for neglecting these students. But even if he had to push himself beyond his limits, he was determined to give it his all. "I will assess their talents and dedication, placing some in the category of gifted and others in the latter." Rising from his seat, Iruka locked eyes with Asuma. "Taking on this burden will make us outcasts if they ever find out."

"Fortunately, I'm already an outcast," Asuma quipped, a small smile playing on his lips.

Iruka sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, as memories of their drunken conversations flashed through his mind. How were they supposed to accomplish any of this when Konoha was a pool for criminals? His fingertips scraped against the edge of his desk, trying to anchor himself in the present. "Whoa, are you okay, Iruka-sensei?" an energetic voice boomed from beside him, paint smudged on the boy's cheek.

"Thanks, Naruto," Iruka replied, composing himself and picking up the broken chalk from the floor. "Hey, Naruto. What's your dream?" Listening intently to the boy's response, Iruka swallowed, feeling a dryness in his throat. As Naruto grinned and headed back to his seat, a soft hum echoed in Iruka's ears, carried on the wind, unheard by anyone else. "Will you carry our dreams with you?"


Uh, logged back in and most of my stories were deleted, and PMS LOL. So with my newfound talents and beta here I present a rewritten version of DOF at least the first few chapters. With a new name, Meaningless Names.

Sorry for the delay, finally got my life together. With that said, I feel better about my writing and overall plan in motion. Thanks to those who undoubtedly helped me this past year with my writing and everything in general. Not sure why the previous story got deleted, but I will clarify that this story is rated M and will have Mature themes.

The idea of the Nine-tails doing internal and external damage to Konohagakure and the longevity of the damage it would cause. Undoubtedly Konohagakure was one of the more substantial villages, but now it's the opposite. Certain known clans defected to other villages, and Konoha hasn't been producing results. The whole village has an uphill battle to escape its destruction or fall and take everything with it.

This story will expand on the whole world of Naruto, from the dark and gritty to the light and butterflies. Syoc style, check my profile for how many OCs will be accepted.

The form and the deadline will be in my profile; if you'd like me to send you the form, pm me, and for those who wish to transfer over characters from DOF, pm me so we can talk about it. Any questions about anything, message me.

Some canon characters will act slightly differently; considering the difference in the story if Konoha is at the bottom. But if they are at the bottom who's at the top?