Naruto sat by the window in his small, barren room, the cold light of the moon casting long shadows across the wooden floor. The bandages wrapped around his body felt tight and
uncomfortable, but they were necessary to cover the wounds inflicted by the villagers. His aching body served as a grim reminder of the attack he barely survived a few days ago—an attack orchestrated by people he thought were his friends.
Yakima and Satsuki. Their names left a bitter taste in his mouth. He had trusted them, laughed with them, and believed that they saw him as more than the "demon brat" the village labeled him as. But it had all been a lie—a cruel joke. They had lured him into a trap, pretending to befriend him, only to lead him into the hands of an angry mob. They thought it was just a harmless prank. Naruto barely escaped with his life.
He clenched his fists tightly, the bandages stretching against his knuckles. He could still hear their laughter, their carefree excuses, as if his pain meant nothing. It wasn't harmless. It wasn't a joke. It was betrayal.
Naruto turned his gaze to the empty room around him. No decorations, no warmth, no signs of a life worth celebrating. It was his birthday today—or, more accurately, it was their birthday. Menma and Naomi's birthday. The siblings who had everything: attention, love, training, praise.
And he had nothing.
It all began years ago, when Jiraiya, the supposed Toad Sage, came to his parents with a prophecy. The prophecy spoke of a child destined to bring balance to the world, a savior. Kushina and Minato were quick to believe it was Menma and Naomi, the twins who each held half of Kurama's chakra. Naruto, who contained the fox's soul, was deemed irrelevant.
Since that day, his parents had ignored him, pouring all their love and attention into Menma and Naomi. They never celebrated his birthdays, never acknowledged his accomplishments, never noticed his pain. He was a ghost in his own home.
He rested his head against the window, his sharp blue eyes reflecting the village below. He had long since stopped hoping for their attention or approval. Instead, he focused on something else: knowledge.
Naruto had spent years studying in secret, delving into Konoha's history, its darkest secrets, and its forbidden techniques. He devoured books on fuinjutsu, memorized every scroll he could find, and trained in skills far beyond what anyone imagined. His parents didn't teach him. The village didn't help him. He had taught himself everything, driven by a quiet determination to survive and prove that he didn't need anyone.
There was one exception.
Anko Mitarashi. The woman who had been abandoned by his mother, her former sensei, after Orochimaru branded her with the cursed seal. Anko understood what it felt like to be cast aside, and she treated Naruto with kindness when no one else did. She didn't see him as a monster, just a kid trying to survive. Her small gestures of humanity meant the world to him.
But even Anko's kindness couldn't erase the bitterness he felt toward the village or his so-called family.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he thought about the day ahead. He had a theory about what would happen. He had lived long enough—observed people long enough—to predict their actions. He knew his parents would throw a grand celebration for Menma and Naomi. The villagers would cheer, shower them with gifts, and sing their praises. And no one, not one person, would remember that today was also his birthday.
And he didn't care.
Naruto stood, his bandaged body moving stiffly as he crossed the room to a small, hidden compartment beneath the floorboards. Pulling it open, he revealed a collection of scrolls, seals, and a few essential supplies he had gathered in secret. Tonight wasn't just another night of neglect and loneliness. Tonight, he would leave.
He had stayed in Konoha for far too long, enduring the hatred and abuse, hoping against hope that things would change. But now, he saw the truth. Konoha didn't deserve him. His parents didn't deserve him. He would leave the Elemental Nations behind and forge his own path, far from their expectations, far from their lies.
"I don't need them," he whispered to himself, his voice cold and resolute. "I never did."
Tonight, Naruto Uzumaki would disappear. And one day, they would all realize what they had lost. By then, it would be far too late.
Naruto descended the stairs silently, his presence barely noticed in the chaotic din of the grand celebration. The grand hall was alive with laughter, clinking glasses, and the sycophantic praises of the clan heads and their children. Banners adorned the walls with Menma and Naomi's names, proclaiming them as the village's prodigies and future leaders. Naruto stayed in the shadows, his piercing blue eyes locked onto the spectacle before him.
His gaze darkened as he observed Minato and Kushina standing proudly beside Menma and Naomi. They wore smiles that he hadn't seen directed toward him in years. His hands clenched into fists, the nails digging into his palms.
Amid the celebration, the only person who noticed his presence was Satsuki. Her dark eyes flicked toward him briefly, but she said nothing, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face before she turned her attention back to the crowd.
Minato raised his hand to quiet the room, a triumphant smile on his face. "Today, not only do we celebrate the birthdays of my beloved children, Menma and Naomi, but I am proud to announce that they will inherit their positions as future clan heads of the Uzumaki and Namikaze clans!"
The room erupted in applause, cheers, and congratulations. Naruto's glare intensified as he stepped forward into the light, his expression cold and unyielding. His voice cut through the commotion, calm but laced with venom.
"Just like that, huh?"
The applause stopped abruptly. Heads turned toward him, confusion and shock painting their faces. Kushina frowned, tilting her head. "What do you mean, Naruto?" she asked, her tone uncertain.
Naruto's smirk was razor-sharp as he locked eyes with her. "It's Kushina. You lost the right to call me your son a long time ago."
Her eyes widened, a mixture of shock and hurt crossing her face. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Minato's jaw tightened, but he remained composed, though a flicker of unease betrayed his calm exterior.
"What are you talking about?" Kushina pressed, her voice trembling slightly.
"You mean you don't know?" Naruto's voice dripped with mockery. "You and your precious husband disowned me years ago. Or was it just so insignificant to you that you forgot?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Kushina's face paled, and Minato's frown deepened. Before either could respond, Naruto raised a hand, cutting them off.
"Don't bother denying it. I know why you trained them," he spat, pointing at Menma and Naomi. "It's because of that prophecy. That pathetic old toad whispered in your ears about a destined savior, and you both decided it was them. You never even gave me a chance."
"That's not true—" Minato started, but Naruto silenced him with a glare.
"Cut the bullshit!" Naruto snarled. His voice echoed through the hall, making everyone flinch. "You never trained me. You never even looked my way. You left me to rot while you showered them with everything. And now, you expect me to just sit back and applaud your little announcements?"
Naruto extended his hands, revealing two glowing spheres of energy, one a swirling mass of wind and the other of water. The twin Rasengans hummed with power, casting an eerie light across the room.
The sight left Minato visibly stunned. His eyes widened, his lips parting as he struggled to process what he was seeing. "That's... impossible. I never—"
"Trained me?" Naruto finished for him, his smirk widening. "No, you didn't. But I trained myself. While you were busy coddling those two, I mastered what you couldn't. So don't you dare tell me I don't have potential. You never even gave me the chance to prove it."
"Naruto, we—" Minato began, his tone conciliatory, but Naruto interrupted him again with a mocking laugh.
"Save your apologies," he sneered. "You made your choice. Menma and Naomi are the children of prophecy, right? But let me tell you something—" He turned to the twins, his expression full of disdain. "They don't look strong to me. They're just overhyped brats, bloated with power that isn't even theirs. That chakra you gave them? It's nothing but a temporary boost. It won't last. And when it fails, they'll crumble."
Kushina's eyes narrowed at his words. "What are you saying?"
Before Naruto could answer, Menma stepped forward, his face red with anger. "Shut up, loser!" he shouted, puffing his chest out. "I'm the child of prophecy! I'm destined for greatness, and you're nothing! I'll put you in your place!"
Menma lunged at Naruto, but his confidence evaporated in an instant. Naruto's foot connected with his stomach in a blur of motion, sending him flying through the kitchen wall. Menma's body crashed into the backyard, skidding across the dirt before coming to a stop. He coughed violently, vomiting blood as he clutched his abdomen.
The room fell into stunned silence. No one dared to move, their eyes locked on Naruto, who stood unshaken, his cold gaze sweeping across the crowd.
"You want to talk about destiny?" Naruto said, his voice low and threatening. "Here's the truth: destiny is nothing but a crutch for the weak. And you've all been leaning on it for far too long."
The room froze as glowing seals shimmered across the walls and floor, glowing an ominous red before chains burst forth from various points in the house. The chains lashed out with serpentine precision, wrapping tightly around the necks of the clan heads' children. Panic erupted, and shrill cries filled the air as the children gasped for breath, clawing at the chains constricting their throats.
"Stop this, Naruto!" one of the clan heads bellowed, his voice trembling with fear.
Before anyone could act, Shikaku Nara raised a hand, his sharp eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation. "Don't move," he commanded. "The brat set up secondary traps on the seals. If anyone tries to interfere, he'll kill the children instantly."
Naruto chuckled darkly, his calm demeanor chilling in the tense atmosphere. "Clever, lazy man. You're absolutely right." His voice dripped with malice as he added, "The seals are simple, really. If anyone kills them, their necks will snap with such force that their heads will pop off." He exaggerated the "p" in "pop," and the sound seemed to echo ominously, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present.
The room was filled with horrified silence. Many of the children, including those who had bullied Naruto relentlessly, were now pale and trembling. Satsuki opened her mouth to speak, desperate to defuse the situation, but when her eyes met Naruto's cold, piercing gaze, she froze, fear coursing through her veins. She looked away, her body shaking as she realized the depth of his rage.
Naruto's voice broke the silence. "Hurt me, and they suffer more," he said, his tone deadly. "The seal is designed to amplify their pain tenfold if you so much as touch me."
The adults, even the clan heads, were paralyzed, unable to do anything. Suddenly, Jiraiya appeared behind Naruto, a Rasengan in hand, ready to strike the boy down. But before he could land the blow, Naruto substituted with Tsunade, who took the full brunt of the attack.
Tsunade slammed into the ground with a sickening thud, coughing up blood. Jiraiya froze in horror at what he had done, his face twisting in disbelief.
Naruto turned to him, his expression unreadable. "I'm not surprised," he said coldly. "You wouldn't hesitate to kill me. You're lower than scum."
Minato attempted to use his Flying Thunder God technique to subdue Naruto, but his face paled when he realized he couldn't teleport. Naruto turned slightly, smirking over his shoulder. "Oh, did I forget to mention? I temporarily disabled your precious technique. You've become far too dependent on it."
Sweat dripped down Minato's face as Naruto's words sank in.
Kushina lashed out next, summoning her chakra chains and aiming them at Naruto, but as they neared him, they disintegrated into nothingness. Her breath hitched in shock and horror. "How...?"
Naruto's smirk widened. "You're supposed to be a fuinjutsu master, but you can't even comprehend the seals I've placed here and on myself. Face it, Kushina—you're outclassed. You were never ready for someone like me."
Jiraiya, recovering from his shock, charged at Naruto again, only to scream in pain as a seal on his back activated, electrocuting him and forcing him to collapse to the ground.
Minato, desperate, created a Rasengan and charged at Naruto. "That's enough!" he yelled.
Naruto caught the Rasengan with his left hand, shocking everyone as he drained its energy into himself. "Enough? No, this is just the beginning." The energy flowed into his right hand as he clenched it into a fist, driving it into Minato's stomach with devastating force. Blood erupted from Minato's mouth as he was sent crashing into the kitchen, landing in a heap.
Kushina lunged at Naruto but froze mid-motion, her eyes wide in terror as she looked down. A kunai was embedded in her lower abdomen, blood pooling beneath her. She fell to the ground, writhing in pain.
Naomi screamed in rage, a cloak of Kyuubi chakra enveloping her as she charged at Naruto. He smirked, summoning chakra chains that wrapped around his fists like knuckle dusters.
"Let's see how strong you really are," he muttered before meeting her head-on.
Naruto unleashed a brutal assault, each punch draining the Kyuubi's chakra from Naomi while leaving her battered and bloodied. Her screams of pain filled the room as the chakra cloak faded.
"Brother... please, stop," she whimpered through tears, her face swollen and bruised.
Naruto straddled her, delivering one final punch to her face. Blood splattered across his own, and he smiled coldly. "Don't call me 'brother.' You've lost that right."
He stood, breathing heavily, and looked down at Naomi's broken form, her body trembling in a puddle of urine from fear and pain.
Everyone in the room was paralyzed with terror. Even the children who had once mocked Naruto stared at him with wide, horrified eyes.
Naruto walked over to Kushina, leaning down and twisting the kunai in her abdomen. She cried out in agony, and Mikoto Uchiha begged him to stop.
Naruto ignored her, whispering something into Kushina's ear. Her eyes widened in shock and horror, tears streaming down her face.
Straightening, Naruto addressed the room. "It's time you all learned the truth. This village is a cancer, and Minato will be its downfall."
He released the full force of his bottled-up bloodlust. The oppressive wave of malice suffocated everyone in the room, leaving them gasping for air and trembling in abject terror.
Finally, Naruto withdrew his bloodlust and turned toward the door. "I'm leaving," he said calmly. "Maybe I'll come back someday. Or maybe not."
As he disappeared into the dark night, explosions erupted across the village, shaking the ground. Panicked screams filled the air as flames engulfed several buildings. Chaos consumed Konoha, the destruction a final reminder of the storm that had been brewing within Naruto for years.
Timeskip
Naruto walked near the border of Takigakure, the chill of the night brushing against his skin as he moved further from Konoha. He had left the village behind in ruins, explosions still echoing faintly in the distance. For the first time in years, he should have felt some semblance of satisfaction, but all he felt was emptiness.
A hollow victory.
He stopped walking, staring up at the moon hanging in the sky. His hands clenched into fists, his expression dark. The rage that had fueled him was gone, leaving behind only an ache in his chest—a void he didn't know how to fill.
"Why does it feel like this?" he muttered, his voice barely audible. He had shown them all. He had made them suffer, just as they had made him suffer. So why did it feel so meaningless?
As he stood there, lost in thought, a faint sound reached his ears. A cry.
Naruto's head snapped in the direction of the sound, his senses sharpening. It was a girl's voice, her sobs carrying through the forest. Without a second thought, he took off toward the sound, leaping into the trees.
Moving swiftly and silently, Naruto came to a halt on a sturdy branch, his sharp blue eyes scanning the scene below. What he saw made his stomach churn with anger.
A young girl about his age was on the ground, crying as three Takigakure shinobi surrounded her. Her tan skin was marred with bruises and dirt, and her mint-green hair was tangled and matted. She looked terrified, but there was a flicker of determination in her eyes.
"You thought you could run away from us, demon?" one of the men spat, kicking her in the ribs. The girl cried out, curling into herself.
"I-I don't want to go back!" she screamed, her voice trembling. "I don't want to live in a place where I'm treated like a monster!"
The leader grabbed her hair, yanking her head up roughly. She winced but glared weakly at him through her tears.
"You don't get a choice," he sneered. "You're a jinchuriki. Your only purpose is to serve this village. You belong to us."
Naruto froze, his blood running cold. A jinchuriki...
He watched as the men laughed cruelly. The leader knelt down, pinning the girl's legs to the ground as she struggled.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, a malicious grin spreading across his face. He reached down and grabbed the hem of her skirt.
"No!" she screamed, thrashing violently. "Stop! Let me go!"
The leader ignored her pleas, lifting her skirt and grabbing the waistband of her underwear. His comrades chuckled darkly, one of them unzipping his pants.
The girl's cries grew more frantic, her voice breaking as she begged, "Please! Somebody help me!"
Naruto's hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. His body trembled with barely contained rage as he watched the men prepare to do the unthinkable.
"Enough," Naruto muttered to himself, his voice low and filled with venom.
In an instant, two kunai flew through the air, their trajectory silent and precise. Both struck true, embedding themselves in the heads of two of the men. They collapsed to the ground, dead before they hit the dirt.
The leader froze, his eyes widening in shock as he looked around wildly.
"What the—?!"
A third kunai landed near the girl's trembling hand. She hesitated for only a second before grabbing it, her fear replaced by raw desperation.
With a scream, she slashed upward, the blade slicing through the man's groin. He howled in agony, collapsing to the ground.
"You... bitch!" he wheezed, clutching his wound.
The girl scrambled to her feet, tears streaming down her face. "You called me a monster," she said through gritted teeth, her voice shaking. "Then I'll show you what a monster can do!"
She lunged at him, stabbing him in the chest with the kunai. Over and over, she drove the blade into his body, her cries of rage and pain echoing through the forest.
Naruto dropped silently from the trees, landing behind her. He watched as she continued stabbing, even though the man had long since stopped moving. Blood soaked her hands and splattered across her tear-streaked face.
"Stop," Naruto said quietly, placing a hand on her wrist.
The girl froze, her bloodshot eyes meeting his. For a moment, she looked like a wild animal, her body trembling with adrenaline and fear. Then, as if realizing what she had done, she dropped the kunai and collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Naruto knelt down and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she cried against his chest. "It's over," he said softly. "No one's going to hurt you anymore."
She clung to him, her small frame shaking with each sob. Naruto looked down at her, his heart heavy. He had saved her, but he couldn't erase what she had been through.
Naruto sat under a tree, his arms crossed, watching the girl he had just saved. She was trembling, her face streaked with dried tears and dirt. He reached into his pack, pulling out a set of clean clothes he had brought with him. Walking over to her, he held them out.
"Here. Change into these," he said softly.
The girl hesitated, looking at him with uncertainty, but after a moment, she nodded. She took the clothes, muttering a quiet, "Thank you," and stepped behind a tree to change.
When she returned, the transformation was subtle but noticeable. The clean clothes didn't erase the signs of her trauma, but they gave her a small sense of dignity. Naruto motioned for her to sit, and after a moment of silence, she spoke.
"My name is Fū," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Naruto nodded. "Naruto Uzumaki," he replied.
Her eyes widened slightly. "Uzumaki?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Are you... related to the Fourth Hokage?"
Naruto scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Yeah, I'm his son," he admitted, his tone hollow. "Not that it means much."
Fū stared at him, stunned. "The Fourth Hokage's son... abandoned, neglected and abuse by his own village?"
He nodded, his expression darkening. "Ironic, isn't it? The same people my sperm donor protect treated me like trash. They called me a demon, a monster. They abused me, family neglected me, starved me... all because of a fucking prophecy."
Fū's gaze dropped to the ground. "A jinchūriki," she murmured.
Naruto nodded again. "Yeah. And you're one too, aren't you? I heard them call you a demon. Heard them say you were their weapon."
She swallowed hard and nodded. Slowly, she turned her back to him, lifting her shirt to reveal her scarred skin. Whip marks, burns, and other signs of torture marred her back, each one a testament to the pain she had endured.
"They did this to me," she said, her voice trembling. "Every time I stepped out of line... they reminded me what I was to them. A monster. A tool. Nothing more."
Naruto felt a pang of pain in his chest. His Uzumaki sensory abilities allowed him to feel the depth of her anguish, and it nearly overwhelmed him.
"I know what that's like," he said quietly. "To be treated like you're less than human. To have everyone look at you with hate and fear."
Fū lowered her shirt and turned to face him. "You do?"
He nodded. "My village was no different. They blamed me for everything. They beat me, starved me, ignored me... all because I carried the soul Nine-Tails."
Fū's eyes widened. "The Nine-Tails?"
Naruto nodded, chuckling bitterly. "Yeah. The strongest of the tailed beasts, sealed inside me by my own father. And for what? So I could protect the village? So I could suffer for their mistakes?"
Both of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared pain hanging heavy between them.
"Our lives... they're terrible," Fū said softly.
Naruto nodded. "Yeah."
He hesitated, then admitted, "I thought putting them in their place would make me feel better. Make me feel whole. But all it did was leave me feeling... empty."
Fū looked at him, her eyes filled with understanding. "I feel the same way. After killing those men... I thought I'd feel free. But I just feel hollow. Like the pain will never go away."
Naruto looked down at his hands, his voice barely audible. "Sometimes, I think... it would be better if it all just ended."
Fū nodded slowly. "Me too," she said, her voice trembling.
The two of them sat in silence, the unspoken understanding between them growing stronger.
"Maybe that's the only way," Fū said quietly.
Naruto looked at her, his heart heavy. "Maybe," he agreed.
Naruto and Fū stood at the edge of the cliff, the cold wind whipping around them, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant rain. Below them, the abyss yawned like a dark, endless maw, promising a release from the pain and despair that clung to their souls.
Naruto turned to Fū, his hand tightening around hers. Her green eyes were glassy with tears, her face pale under the faint light of the moon. She looked down at the abyss, her lips trembling.
"I'm scared," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Naruto gave her a sad, fragile smile. "Me too," he admitted, his voice heavy. "But maybe... maybe this is the only way we can be free. Maybe... this is where it ends for us."
Fū swallowed hard, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Do you think... do you think there's something after this? Something better?"
Naruto closed his eyes, his grip on her hand firm and steady. "I hope so," he said quietly. "Maybe... maybe in another life, things will be different. Maybe we'll be happy."
A moment of silence passed between them as they looked at each other, two broken souls finding solace in shared pain.
Fū's voice broke as she spoke, her words trembling like her heart. "You're my first friend, Naruto. If there's another life... I hope we can meet again. Maybe even be a family."
Naruto nodded, his own tears spilling over. "I'd like that, Fū. I really would."
The two of them closed their eyes, taking a deep breath as they stepped off the edge together.
Music: royal & the serpent "wasteland" league of legend arcane season 2
As they fell, time seemed to slow, the wind roaring in their ears. Fū's voice broke into a trembling hum, and soon, both of them began to sing softly, their voices carrying the pain and hope of their short lives:
"I've held on for as long as I can
For the ones that I had to defend
I've been strong every day of my life
If she wants, death could take me this time."
The abyss grew closer, the darkness rising to meet them like a wave.
"This world is a wasteland where nothing can grow
I used to have strength, but I ran out of hope
I know it's my fault that I'm here all alone
This world is a wasteland
Please let me go, go, go, go, go, go, go..."
Naruto looked at Fū through the rush of wind, her green hair whipping wildly around her face, her tears glistening like shattered stars. He squeezed her hand one last time, their fingers intertwined as they fell toward what they believed was the end.
"If I could just lay my head down and rest
If there was nothing to fight or protect
Maybe then I could finally be free
Maybe death is like falling asleep..."
The world spun around them, the dark void rushing closer with every heartbeat. Their voices grew stronger, defiant, and filled with all the emotions they had kept buried for so long.
"This world is a wasteland where nothing can grow
I used to have strength, but I ran out of hope
I know it's my fault that I'm here all alone
This world is a wasteland
I'm not ready to face it
Don't go saying goodbye
There's a beauty in changes
And I wanna try..."
As the final line of the song echoed between them, a blinding light erupted from the abyss below, engulfing them in its radiance. The air crackled with raw energy, and they were consumed by a force far greater than anything they had ever known.
Naruto's eyes flew open as his body was jolted by a surge of power. He reached for Fū, but the light surrounded them both, pulling them into its chaotic embrace.
They landed on the ground with a heavy thud, coughing and gasping for air. The pain in their bodies was sharp and unfamiliar, and the world around them was unlike anything they had ever seen.
Fū scrambled to her feet, panic in her voice. "Naruto! What happened? Where are we?!"
Before he could answer, a voice boomed around them, powerful yet calm, resonating with an undeniable authority.
"Welcome, Naruto Uzumaki and Fū," it said.
Both children turned toward the source of the voice, their eyes widening in awe and fear. Standing before them was a tall, imposing man with raven-black hair and regal features. His presence was overwhelming, his very existence radiating a sense of divinity.
Naruto swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he asked, "Who... who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "I am someone who knows your pain. And I am here to offer you a choice."
to be continued...