Author's note:
Not gonna waste a lot of your time on warnings and what not, although a few of them are certainly due.
1. The genre of this story, unlike the original series, if this were manga, would rather be seinen than shonen. In other words, expect a lot of dark themes. Not necessarily angsty drama kind of thing, but just genuinely a lot more cynical and harsh vibe than that of the OG Naruto.
2. There will be some important characters deaths, and some of them will be quite brutal and heartbreaking. If you expect just a soapy drama with a happy ending, this isn't your kind of story. You were warned.
3. The general idea behind this take on Narutoverse is to make it more realistic, effectively. For a long time I've been thinking that, considering all the contexts and things happening behind the scenes in the manga, their world should be way more serious and, in many ways, more harsh. Here we're trying to offer you just that. Pointing out the flaws and imperfections in the life of shinobi and their world in general is gonna be our main focus. Because, let's be honest, such a life shouldn't be all about doing relatively harmless missions, going on adventures, eating ramen and so on. Although there will be some of that as well, of course. There is no intention to just make it dirty for the sake of making it dirty.
4. There is also no intention to keep the characters young for a long time. The first few chapters will be essentially a prologue to build up the premise, where in all the main events will be happening after a timeskip that will kick in shortly.
5. The pairings are undecided yet as they won't matter to the main story line besides the already listed one. As for that - I will try to offer a fresh and unique take on that as well. So if you feel like you like the ship but also kinda tired of all the cliches and common tropes in the fandom, you're probably gonna like it.
Alrighty then, enough talking for now. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Chapter 1. That Night
The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the dense forest surrounding the small clearing where Team Seven had made camp. The air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine and damp earth. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, creating a soothing melody that blended with the crackling of the campfire.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura sat idly around the fire, their faces illuminated by the dancing flames. The warm light accentuated the contentment in their expressions as they enjoyed a rare moment of peace during their first serious mission.
Sasuke, his dark eyes reflecting the firelight, leaned back on his hands. "You know, this reminds me of when we were camping out in the Uchiha compound gardens back in the academy years."
Naruto nodded enthusiastically, a fond smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, those were the good times! Remember when Itachi caught us trying to sneak extra snacks from the kitchen? Haha!"
Sakura laughed softly, her green eyes twinkling with amusement. "He made you two do extra training the next day, didn't he? I recall you guys whining the entire week after that!"
"Don't remind me," the Uchiha groaned and rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance in his voice. "My whole body ached for days after that. You were lucky to miss out on that."
Sinking into the nostalgia, the three friends fell into a comfortable silence for a while, listening to the night sounds around them. Somewhere in the distance, they could hear the faint murmur of Kakashi's voice as he spoke with Tazuna, their client, discussing the details of the bridge construction. None of them was quite interested, so the group of young shinobi didn't notice the moment the sounds of seniors' voices faded.
Naruto suddenly broke the tranquil silence, his voice uncharacteristically thoughtful. "Hey, guys? Do you ever wonder what our lives would be like if we weren't shinobi?"
The girl tilted her head, considering the question. "Sometimes," she mused, "I think I'd probably be working at my parents' shop, learning about different herbs and their properties."
"I guess I'd be helping my father with clan duties and what not," Sasuke muttered quietly, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. "What about you, Naruto?"
The jinchuriki grinned, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'd open the best ramen shop in all of Konoha!"
His declaration was met with good-natured groans and eye-rolls from his teammates.
"Of course you would," Sakura drawled, shaking her head fondly and letting out a sigh.
As the night deepened, the forest around them seemed to come alive. Fireflies began to emerge, their soft green lights blinking in and out among the trees. An owl hooted in the distance, its call echoing through the woods.
Sakura stood up, stretching her arms above her head. The firelight caught the pink strands of her hair, making them shimmer like rose gold. "Speaking of our shinobi lives," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye, "have you noticed how Kakashi-sensei always has his nose buried in that book of his?"
She struck a pose, mimicking their sensei's slouched posture and half-lidded gaze. In a deep, drawling voice, she said, "Sorry I'm late, I got lost on the road of life... while reading this very important top-secret literature. And yes, that's totally a hidden kunai sticking out of my pants. What are you insinuating?"
Naruto burst into laughter, clutching his sides. Even Sasuke couldn't suppress a chuckle, his usually composed face breaking into a genuine smile.
"That's spot on, Sakura-chan!" The blonde boy exclaimed between fits of laughter.
Suddenly, a menacing figure materialized right behind her back. The adult shinobi appeared as if from thin air, his unbelievably massive sword glinting in the fading light. Before anyone could react, he struck without warning. As the slice went diagonally through Sakura's collarbone, effortlessly, in a matter of second going through her core and coming out of the side of her waist, Sakura's body split in two, revealing her insides and splattering the still laughing friends with the girl's blood.
Sasuke's eyes widened in horror as he watched her crumple to the ground, her body still convulsing in a futile attempt to hold on to her last seconds of life. Time seemed to slow as he and Naruto stood frozen, the shock of the situation completely paralyzing them.
In that instant of the trauma the Uchiha had yet to process, something awakened within both of them. Sasuke's vision sharpened, the world around him coming into crisp focus as his Sharingan activated for the first time. But before he could even recognize this new development, his attention was drawn to Naruto.
A primal roar tore from his friend's throat as an ominous, fiery-red chakra began to envelope him. Sasuke watched in awe and fear as his teammate's body contorted, the chakra taking the shape of a fox with a demonic face and four tails lashing behind him.
With inhuman speed, Naruto launched himself at their enemy, the ground cracking beneath his feet. The air crackled with the intensity of his rage as he engaged the stunned assassin in a fierce battle.
Sasuke stood rooted to the spot, his newly awakened Sharingan tracking every movement of the brutal confrontation unfolding before him, his mind racing to comprehend the sudden turn of events and the hidden power his teammate possessed.
The battle between Naruto and Zabuza was a blur of savage fury. Sasuke's newly awakened dojutsu could barely keep up with Naruto's blistering speed and raw power. The Four-Tailed form tore into the rogue shinobi relentlessly, each blow shattering the ground and sending shockwaves through the air.
Zabuza, despite his skill and reputation, was no match for the unbridled rage of the Nine-Tails' chakra. His sword lay shattered, and his body battered as Naruto's attacks continued without mercy. To Sasuke's shock and horror, the red chakra claws ripped the man's body apart in front of his very eyes. He could vaguely recognize a broken, torn-off arm flying in his direction as a furious demonic roar made him cover his face reflectively, taking a step back.
Finally, with a thunderous impact, the dismembered remains of Zabuza crashed into a nearby tree and slumped to the ground, motionless. With another growl of rage and despair, the claws of the demonic fox ripped whatever was left of him into unrecognizable pieces in front of the Uchiha who could only stare at the scene blankly.
But Naruto's rampage didn't stop there. His feral gaze turned to another person, who had appeared on the scene, likely drawn by the commotion. The masked, long-haired ninja stood frozen, sensing the overwhelming killing intent directed at him.
Sasuke, still reeling from the shock of Sakura's death, forced himself to focus. He realized he had to act fast or else Naruto would kill Zabuza's companion too in his uncontrolled state. Although that wouldn't be entirely undesirable, the standard protocol was to try and take him captive if they could. So, taking a deep breath, the Uchiha activated his Sharingan once more, this time with purpose.
As Naruto lunged towards Haku, Sasuke's gaze locked onto his transformed teammate. "Naruto, stop!" he shouted, channeling his chakra through his eyes.
The effect was immediate. Naruto's body seized mid-leap, the Four-Tailed form flickering as if fighting against an invisible force. Sasuke gritted his teeth, maintaining his focus as he felt the strain of controlling such raw power. Unbeknownst to him, it was more than just an impressive feat for someone of his age.
"We've got to take this one alive," he uttered, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "We need to find Kakashi. And… Sakura…" He stuttered, gritting his teeth.
At the mention of their fallen teammate, Naruto's eyes seemed to clear slightly. The oppressive chakra began to recede, the tails dissipating one by one. As the last of the Nine-Tails' chakra faded, Naruto collapsed to his knees, his body steaming and clothes in tatters.
Sasuke, exhausted from the sudden awakening and use of his Sharingan, moved cautiously towards Naruto, keeping a wary eye on the still-motionless stranger ninja. The gravity of the situation settled over them like a heavy blanket as they turned their attention to where the remains of Sakura lay, the full weight of their loss yet to be realized.
The Uchiha, still panting from the exertion of controlling Naruto's Tailed Beast, shifted his attention to the masked ninja who remained motionless, his gaze fixed on Zabuza's deformed remnants. The shock of seeing his companion defeated had apparently left the person vulnerable and distracted.
Recognizing the opportunity, using the last bits of his chakra, Sasuke activated his Sharingan once more. Despite the strain, he focused his newly awakened power on their surviving opponent. "Look at me," Sasuke commanded, his voice low but firm.
The stranger's head turned slowly, almost mechanically, towards Sasuke. As their eyes met, the Uchiha channeled his chakra, weaving a subtle genjutsu. The tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, ensnaring the other ninja's mind in an illusion. "Your name?"
"Haku." A soft murmur came from under the mask.
Under the influence of the genjutsu, Haku's body relaxed, his arms falling limply to his sides. Sasuke approached cautiously, retrieving some ninja wire from his pouch. With quick, efficient movements, he bound Haku's hands behind his back and secured his legs.
As he finished tying the last knot, the young ninja released the genjutsu, finally deactivating the Sharingan. Haku's eyes widened behind his mask as he realized his predicament, but he made no move to resist.
"Don't try anything," Sasuke warned, trying to hide his exhaustion. "It's over."
Haku nodded slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I understand. Without Zabuza-san, I have no purpose. Do what you will with me."
Sasuke's expression remained stern, but a flicker of empathy passed through his eyes. He then turned back to his friend, who was still on his knees, trying to process what had just happened.
"Naruto," Sasuke called out, his voice softer now. "We need to figure out our next move. Can you stand?"
The gravity of their situation hung heavily in the air as they prepared to face the aftermath of the battle and the loss of their teammate.
The Uchiha helped Naruto to his feet, and together they made their way towards the spot where Sakura's life had ended. As they approached, an eerie silence fell over them. The mist had begun to clear, revealing a scene that would be forever etched in their memories.
There, on the cold, hard surface of the ground near the still burning campfire, lay Sakura's remains. Her pink hair was matted with blood, and her once vibrant jade-green eyes stared blankly at the sky above. The rest was just too unbearable to even look at, so Sasuke moved his gaze away, biting his lip painfully.
Naruto stumbled forward, his legs giving way as he collapsed beside Sakura's body. His hands trembled as he reached out to touch her face, as if hoping that somehow, this was all just a terrible genjutsu. "Sakura-chan," he whispered, his voice cracking. "No... no, no, no!"
Sasuke stood frozen as the full weight of the situation finally hit him. He watched Naruto's breakdown, observing the raw emotion pouring out of his teammate. Uzumaki's anguished cries echoed across the forest, a haunting sound that seemed to embody all the pain and loss they had experienced.
As he witnessed his friend's grief, Sasuke felt a complex mix of emotions stirring within him. Part of him wanted to join Naruto in mourning, to let out the unfamiliar excruciating pain that was building in his chest. But another part, one he had also never felt in himself before, strangely held him back.
His mind raced with thoughts about what this meant for their future. They had just lost a dear friend. Team Seven, once full of potential and dreams, was now irreparably broken. The dynamics that had begun to form, the bonds that had started to grow, had shattered in an instant.
Trying to distract himself from his own frightening feelings, the Uchiha wondered about how this loss would change Naruto, wondering if his bright, unwavering friend would ever be the same. Would this push him further in his quest to become Hokage, or would it break his spirit for good?
And then again… what about himself after all? He still was in shock and had no idea what to make of what had just happened. For now, all he could think of was this situation revealing the harsh realities of the ninja world he had been somewhat oblivious to, thanks to the sheltered life his clan had been providing him from birth. And now… Was this it? Was this how it would go from here on out? Was this nightmare a horrible wakeup call for them? Or just for himself…? Was he just a naive idiot? Was this always meant to be like this, from the very beginning…?
As Naruto's sobs continued, Sasuke clenched his fists, his nails digging into the skin of his palms. It was a vague feeling he couldn't quite comprehend yet, but it oddly gave him the resolve they both required for now. He didn't know it yet, but it was almost as if he felt it. This night would define them both, shaping their paths in ways they couldn't yet imagine. The innocence of their genin days was gone in an instant, replaced by the harsh reality of loss and the weight of survival. And so, although he already hated himself for this feeling deep inside, he did feel relieved in a very cynical way. There was no longer any ambiguity. The world was just this cruel, and they needed to fight for survival. Fight or die. Simple as that.
The Uchiha took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. They would have to find their sensei, report back to Konoha, and somehow find a way to move forward. But for now, all he could do was stand beside Naruto, a silent sentinel in this moment of unbearable grief, as they both grappled with the harsh truth that in many ways, their lives had just ended along with their deceased teammate.