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“If a street has a spirit, no matter how narrow it is, we can breathe comfortably over there.”

― Mehmet Murat ildan

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3

THE SUN HUNG JUST OVER THE EDGE OF THE HORIZON, threatening the night’s arrival, as furious nail-biting cold winds blew signifying the end of winter starting spring once again when Naruto found himself on the streets like a lost sheep.

He’d been wandering for hours, scanning the alleyways where he might bunk for the night, doubling back and forth. It was slow, tedious and extremely tiring. He was on his last legs. His options were dwindling. The bag containing his rainy-day pack was steadily getting lighter. At very least, he would able to eat for a couple of days — a week if he pushed it. When the sun sunk deeper and the western sky matched his flaming hair, he started to wonder if he would ever find a warm place to spend the night. Specks of dirty snow covered his way, as he trotted on the cold and slippery ground.

“Come on, give me something here,” he muttered, checking another alleyway. “I don’t want to sleep out here. Heck, I don’t even want to be here. But I need you to help me out.”

The back alleys were made up of zigzagging maze-like a spider web. Naruto had already been to all of them except those alleys where tattooed individuals prowled. He might be desperate, but he wasn’t suicidal. Just seeing those ruffians smacked passersby’s gave him a definite no-go sign.

It was getting colder by the minute, and he started feeling the chill in his bones. The dark-blue hoodie he was wearing wouldn’t stop his ensuing death by freezing. How would he avoid it? He had no idea. Continuing his walk through the streets, he started reminiscing, where his misery started.

Last night, he was finally kicked out from the orphanage. The Mother Matron that was hell-bent on making his life miserable had finally snapped, berated him for an hour spouting lies upon lies, before he was told that he could not live with the other children anymore. When he asked why she riposted with reverberating slap across his cheeks. Then she unceremoniously dragged him to his room, throwing him on the floor in the process. Gritting his teeth as pain flares through his cheeks, he picked up his bag stuffing all his belongings inside. As his hands drifted to his red scarf, pain and longingness broke his indomitable spirit, showing his real age as he cried in agony.

Kaa-chan, Tou-san, why can’t you be here? Why did you leave me alone? I don’t know what to do anymore. It hurts so much. Why can’t you be here? Why? I don’t even know why they hate me and hurt me. If you can hear me, help me, Kaa-chan. Give me a hand. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I don’t want to feel so alone. All I wanted is to be with you.

The shouts of mother ended his thoughts. Wiping his tears, Naruto hoisted his bag on his shoulder. He steeled his nerve as he was walking downstairs. He was about to plead, but his pleadings were met with massive resistance. The Mother Matron threw him out immediately before he could speak, drowning his cries and despair with the silence of the night.

As the darkness took over and devoured the dying ember-colored sky, his walk to remember was interrupted by another freezing breeze. Naruto tightened his red scarf and pulled his hood closer to his head. He’d been stalking and snaking his way through various alleyways, trying to find safety in a minefield. Looking ahead, he didn’t like what he saw.

Alleyways that I might have to get used to again. This isn’t the best, but I have to make do.

He had survived them before when he was late on coming back from the playground, and the orphanage closed down for the evening. He could do so again.

Naruto arrived at an alleyway near the red-light district with a thick broken table, can’t find anything more suited, this would be his roof for the night. The red-light district was no place for a young child but dangerous as it may seem, it is still infinitely safer than on the main street of Konoha where he would be chased out. Staying out of sight of the citizen was a valuable lesson he learned earlier, it presented him with the best way to survive.

“What should I do now? This is so frustrating!”

He had no money, but his life had taught him how to scavenge and beg. Both were difficult in the Elemental Nations, especially in Konoha, but he would find a way. If he had to.

He laid down and stretched his legs. Exhausted, as sleep offers her hand, he took it. It was his temporary retreat from this world and all its pain. For now, he would be safe in her embrace, revitalizing his aching soul. Darkness carried his burden for the night.

Naruto hoped he wouldn’t freeze to death within her embrace.

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Months had passed when Naruto started living on the streets of Konoha. The weather began to get warmer and drier, yet Naruto hardened like the harsh winter he braved, starting spring with a new outlook. His eyes were opened to the cruelty and unfairness of the world. These lessons taught him how to survive on the streets as an urchin. Brutal lessons often in the form of his battered body. Currently crouched, sweeping the field for a potential mark.

"Forty barbecue sticks, to-go please," said a rotund young child wearing a green vest and brown shorts with two swirl marks on his cheeks, beaming and drooling at the sight of food. He watched in anticipation as the owner wrapped that delicious meat.

"Here you go, kid!" The owner handed the paper bag with a greedy grin, pleased doing business with the young child. Akimichis are the best customers even when they're still young.

The kid gave the exact amount and hastily started walking out of the restaurant, dragging his companion behind.

"Thank you; please come again!" The owner thanked his customer, waving them goodbye. Yet the young child didn’t pay him any attention, distracted by the sweet-smelling package.

“Come on, let’s go to the park. I’ve told okaa-san to pick me up there. We could go cloud-watching near the big Sakura tree while waiting for them. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” Letting out an enthusiastic invitation to his friend.

His pineapple-hair-styled companion mumbled. “Troublesome,” but a definite soft smile graced his face. Delighted with their agreed choice of destination.

“Hold on. Calm down. Geez~ I’m coming. No need to drag me,” he said, trying to hide his obvious excitement.

Both unaware of a pair of oceanic cerulean eyes watching intently, hiding in the corner of a nearby alley, looking at them waddled away. Naruto wasn’t idle; he was planning his grab — get in, get out quickly, finalizing his entry and exit strategy. He had done this before; he would do so again to survive.  

The garbage heaps can only provide so much, and most of it was already too rotten to eat. It doesn't help that people started to notice his scavenging after months living on the streets. They began chasing him away even from their garbage bins. The Ichiraku's was the only place that didn't chase him, but they almost have no leftovers to throw away. Talk about efficiency.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Naruto was famished and desperate, scooping different restaurants, stalls, and shop to find the safest mark; never hitting it twice. He learned that the longer people see him, the more hostile they are. So, he did himself a favor and made himself scarce. This particular restaurant serves barbecue, which he hasn't tasted yet. It helped to have an extremely lax security.

I haven't eaten in three days. It is not like they're going to give me any food if I ask them. No one ever helped me. Might as well save myself. And he has so much! I’m sure he won’t notice. He pondered, justifying his reason for stealing.

He surveyed the surroundings again and eyed his prize. The delicious smelling smoke coming from the grills made his mouth water. A grumbling stomach decided his next course of action.

This would be his mark. He began to move.

The little boy tiptoed lightly to the side of the restaurant, using what he learned in the orphanage. He was sneaking much careful than usual to hide his crimson red locks. Glancing up, he saw the man was busy talking to another customer. Naruto slowly creep in, reaching with his tiny little hands.

As he grabbed the paper bag, a bystander shouted.

“THIEF!”

I have to get out of here. Get away from that man!

Naruto dashed toward the door, frantically scrambling around tables and customers.

The owner noticed him and flung a wooden stool, hitting him in the back. This caused him to stumble on the floor. Pain flared between his shoulders, and several customers cried out when the stool bounced off of him and thumped against the floor.

Naruto lied in a daze. Then something within him — something vile and evil but unbelievably potent — rushed through his body. Suddenly, strength filled him. His vision began to focus, his pain becoming a dull throb. He climbed awkwardly to his feet.

The man was there, hovering over him, cutting his escape. He backhanded him as he stood. His head snapped to the side from the blow, twisting his neck so painfully that he barely felt hitting the floor again.

The man bent over, grabbing him by the hem of his shirt, pulling him up, his fist cocked back ready to continue the assault on the young boy. Naruto was trembling; it was the only thing he could do; he braced himself and began to beg for mercy. He looked at his attacker with his blue pained-filled eyes, tears starting to form; his eyes begging for a bit of compassion.

"P-Please s-stop. I w-won't do it again," Naruto’s desperate words filled with sincerity, no louder than a gentle breeze. His tears finally began streaming down his face, taking what little hope he had.

Please let me go.

For a moment, the man hesitated, his eyes softened. A bit of humanity was shown, his conscience tested. However, he remembered his wife — dead, in his arms — as she was pierced by wooden spears made of debris while attempting to escape that nightmarish night. His daughter lifeless beside her; he would never see her grow up. They were gone, he would never see them again. You did this, demon!

His eyes shifted to the boy in his arm and his rage returned. Unwavering. Terrifying.

"Damn demon!" The man muttered, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him, trying to crush him.

Naruto tried to break free, but the man's grip was firm like steel. He looked around, desperate for aid from any other customer, however, he knew what he would find; indifference.

Just endure. I can't die here.

He renewed his struggle, but the man hit him again, knocking him to the ground. The blow stunned him, and he gasped, the breath knocked from his lungs.

He’ll just beat me up senseless and throw me. I hope I’ll go unconscious soon,

Naruto weakly turned, and he saw the man looming above him, drunken fury showing in his face. Then he knew that this time would be different; it would be no simple beating. The man was not in control. The murder was evident in his eyes.

Please!

Naruto thought with desperation, terrified of the man before him.

Anyone!

The man bent down, muttering to himself as he roughly pulled the boy by the right shoulder, making Naruto wince, his shoulder releasing a loud pop.

The man raised an arm — his hand forming another fist, his muscles tensing, while his eyes darted around, deciding which part of Naruto's body he would pound next. His target chosen, he looked up to Naruto's eyes, glaring at him in defiance, this irked him. Yes, I will knock your teeth out, along with your spirit.

Just as he was about to swing his fist, the door shook, then burst open sending splinters all over the place. An opportunity ran into Naruto’s mind. He ignored the newcomer, seeing a chance to escape, he tried to shake himself free from the man’s grip, but he was too weak. His face blazed from where he was hit, and he tasted blood on his lip. His shoulder had been twisted awkwardly, and his side ached from where he’d fallen.

Then he saw a dogface masked man quietly standing in the doorway. Tall and lean muscled, he had gravity-defying silver hair and wore black pants, gray colored armor over a black sleeveless shirt, elbow reaching gloves with forearm protector, and a sword at his back.

The newcomer looked down at Naruto checking his condition, and expression softened slightly. Then he looked up at the man, and his eyes grew dark. While his mask hid his expression, his eyes were livid: one black and one red.

The man was about to greet the newcomer when he felt a mighty blow across his face, sending him flying across the room. He impacted the wall hard, and slowly collapse to the ground.

The room fell still.

Have to get away was the only thought running through his head.

Naruto forced himself up to his knees. The man groaned in pain from a few feet away, and Naruto crawled away from his, slipping beneath an unoccupied table. He turned toward the door desperately. He was close, painfully close. He had nearly escaped. Just a little farther. The exit was just a few feet ahead. If he could crawl to it—

The newcomer finally stepped into the room. The rest of owner’s customers remained sitting at their tables. They looked surprised but oddly unworried.

As the newcomer entered the room, Naruto could finally see that a second person stood in the doorway behind him. This second man was less imposing. He was shorter, with a gray goatee and tan skin, sporting a regal outfit; he wore a red kimono, a white obi tied around his waist, a white haori and square hat labeled fire written in kanji. He looked calm, but his eyes are sharply examining the room.

On the other side of the room, the man groaned and sat up, holding his head. He glanced at the newcomers. “Hokage-sama! Why, uh, well, this is a surprise!”

“Indeed,” said the shorter man. Naruto frowned, realizing he sensed a slight familiarity to these men. He recognized them from somewhere.

Hokage? The orphanage. I’ve seen that old man once when he visited the orphans. As for the silver hair… I can’t put my finger on it, but he is really familiar.

The man tried climbed to his feet, but that was optimistic, the word was ‘tried.’ As soon as he finally had a semblance of footing, Naruto’s silver-haired savior delivered another brutal strike to his face, downing him once again.

“Inu, stand down,” Hiruzen said, calming the furious dogface masked man. He motioned from behind signifying there’s more that came with him.

“Neko, take this man to Ibiki and tell him to go for the special.”

The man was knocked out and taken before he could begin to protest. Hiruzen came near Naruto and knelt, assessing the damage done to his frail young body, ignoring the other occupants of the room. He looked at Naruto and smiled warmly.

Naruto remained still, keeping watch on both men. As the tension subsided, he felt his wounds throb again. He noticed that there’s blood dried all over his face. The blows to his face, side and shoulder would become large bruises soon enough. But he guarded his emotion, clenching his teeth, he could deal with pain for now.

Hiruzen extended his hand towards Naruto to bring him closer, however, upon contact Naruto slapped his hand away; and gave him a fiery scowl. “No!” Naruto tried to shout, but it came out as a weak croak. “Don’t touch me.” His voice was shaking; it can be either fear or anger. The Hokage attempted to soothe him.

“Naruto, no need to be so cautious. We’re not here to hurt you. We want to help you.”

Naruto didn’t respond, instead remained focused on Hiruzen, observing his every movement. Nobody does things without motive.

Come on. Tell me what you want with me. Make your move.

“Naruto, we need to take you to the hospital to get treated. You’re badly hurt,” The Hokage said as convincingly as possible while keeping his distance from the young man. He tried to smile reassuringly.

Never trust a man who tells you good news

“Who are you? And why do you know my name?”

“I’m the Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, its protector and its pillar. I know you because you are one of the many leaves that I protect. You're a part of the great tree, and it’s my duty to care for all of you. You are in need of help, and I want to help you. You can trust me. I’m not here to hurt you,” Hiruzen narrated, a magnificent show of authority. The view was awe-inspiring especially for those sitting patrons inside the restaurant, everything said, it was impressive.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t dealing with a gullibe kid.

The man who wants you to trust him is the one you must fear the most

He would go and get treated in the hospital, but he would remain vigilant.

It was to protect his neck.