Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

Italics - Flashbacks

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Shinobi
by RhedQueen

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Chapter I : Prologue

Your face was full of lies
When you greeted me that day
I didn't see through your disguise
Or rejected your embrace

The wounds haven't healed
They're now a gaping maw
Your words won't conceal
The true colors I once saw

Sacrifice oneself for the greater good of the country. One death can save thousands. It only takes a single second of hesitation to bring either victory or shame to one's village... It only takes one individual to bring down an entire nation.

It did not start in a faraway place or with a 'Once upon a time'. Their lives were not fairytales, and most did not meet a happy ending. Their sworn honor was to protect their village by any means necessary... Even if it meant leaving everything and everyone they loved behind.

In life there are seldom clear cut beginnings - moments where we can look back and say 'this is how it started'. But there are other moments, where life throws us inexplicable situations that unfold surprising events for us.

.... This is one of those stories....

Shinobi once controlled the world through their actions and underground movements. They drew strength from their passions, they were driven by desire, and they could even turn hatred into a worthy ally. Yet, they were told to turn their backs on these things - the very feelings that made them human.

It was simple. Emotions interfered with missions, it built hesitation that would, otherwise, lead them to disadvantage. Disadvantage would lead to failure. Failure was unacceptable. They were machines of war bred for destruction, tools, human weapons, waiting to be used. They were to kill whoever it was ordered to kill, whether they wanted to or not.

Kill or be killed. The simple physics.

Following no code other than the loyalty to their families, they were often hired as mercenaries and regarded as bloodthirsty assassins. They fought each other for centuries. Whole clans, powerful techniques and individuals, vanished in the never-ending cycle of hatred.

Many died in missions and wars. Even the strongest died easily, and in surprisingly simple ways. With one final breath, they seized to exist - leaving behind the bonds created during life. Becoming nothing, but a mere memory.

... Every warriors worst nightmare...

But, memories are important for one's survival. It holds vital pieces of what we were, what we are, and even hints to what we might become. It exists as a reminder of our best and worst times so we can learn from our mistakes and move on. Memories mark our humanity. But to Uzumaki Naruto, one memory was the last string that held on to her life.

It was funny how her most horrible memory was the only hope she had left. Her only reason to live.

As long as she still clung to it, then the determination to fulfill her promise would force her to live. She had a promise to keep, not only to that one person she considered her only friend, but to her village, and to herself.

For three years, she had trained to irrational levels and undergone severe training that if it hadn't been for the Kyuubi no Kitsune's chakra and healing abilities, she wouldn't have returned to Konohagakure in one piece.

After her arrival to the village she once regarded as mightiest of all, she distanced herself from every familiar face and place. She didn't walk the bright pathways were everyone could see her, preferring to keep in the shadows. She didn't resort to being the center of attention any longer and instead listened apprehensively to everything around her. The bright clothes she wore were gone and instead she was often seen in dark blues and black garments. She moved to a better apartment, on the other side of the village, away from the housing districts.

She had changed, not only in body, but in mind. She no longer harbored any feeling of compassion and pity towards her enemy. She was no longer sympathetic to the discriminative villagers. In a way, she was no longer Uzumaki Naruto, but Anbu number 6520.

Everything about her was different, in an almost eerie way, that had many thinking what had happened to the stubborn child. Those who looked past their hate to acknowledged her, where left wondering when she had fully grasped what it meant to be a ninja.

What many didn't know though, was that despite saying the contrary, he was the reason she changed. Her determination to overpass him changed the very person she was. It was because of him, that she grew up. He made her face the reality of the path she had chosen. It was because of him, that her life went through hell and back. What had once been pure love and admiration had morphed into hatred tightly bound to her anger, and influenced by the dark chakra she was cursed with.

Her goal to become Hokage was no longer important. The reality of it was grinded to her mind. It was foolish to protect those who hated her. The respect she had now, she had received through sheer ruthlessness and the fear that were left in many after she had used one of ther jutsu on the battlefield.

Little by little, her friends continued with their lives. Until it seemed the Rookie Nine were no longer her acquaintances, and only Haruno Sakura approached her without fear of being decapitated with a death glare that could make any Uchiha or Hyuuga cry in shame. But even Sakura had her life to continue. As head Medic, she spent more of her time in the hospital than anywhere else.

Everything had changed. And it was then that she decided to leave. This world no longer suited her. She was too tainted despite not having done anything wrong.

"I thought you were past this." said Tsunade sadly at the woman sitting in front of her, "You're so blinded by inconsolable rage that you don't care who you hurt.... It would do good if you didn't think too much about him... The person you know is gone. You know what must be done - "

"It's not too late. I can save him."

"... I can still send someone else in your place. Kakashi has agreed to take your posi - "

"No." Uzumaki Naruto interrupted the Godaime, her voice calm and composed left no room for argument. "Only I can do this."

Tsunade frowned and banged her closed fist loudly on her desk. The action would've made any other person flinch, but the Kuniochi merely stared, crossed her arms and pursed her lips.

"I hate seeing you this way. Please don't torture yourself like this! What will seeing him again do? It's not gonna make you any happier than you were when he left. Do I have to remind you what happened when you met a year ago? If it hadn't been for Yamato using Mokuton, he would've killed you too! What makes you think he'll car -"

"This mission is just like any other I've completed before." Uzumaki Naruto replied monotonedly, her blue eyes turning cold. The short spiky blond hair had grown out and now fell in long silky strands. Even her tanned face seemed a little pale this days. "I'm motivated by my duty... As a Kunoichi of Konoha I want to thank you for your concern... As an old friend I'm asking you to stay out of this."

With that said, Uzumaki Naruto stood from her seat and walked towards the door.

"What about you then?"

Naruto stopped.

"...Can I guarantee your return as well?"

"No one can guarantee the future, Obaachan." Naruto turned back to her, giving Tsunade a small smile. "... If you're so worried, then let's make a bet. You can bet that I'll be killed... You never win, anyways. Besides, it's not like you don't know where I'm at."

"What are you - "

"You didn't think I noticed that you used the Shodaime's necklace as a tracking device?" the younger blond smiled watching as Tsunade's face slowly changed from confusion to surprise. At this, Naru laughed softly, "You think so little of me... I'm not weak, you know."

"I'm sorry. You never would've agreed to it." Tsunade shook her head, "It helps me sleep at night to know you're safe. After that day, I promised Jiraiya I wouldn't let anything happen to you -"

"If you won't let anything happen to me, then nothing will happen to me." Naru replied softly, facing the door away. "You understand why I must do this?"

Tsunade closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "Just - just do your best. If anything should happen, charge the necklace with your chakra and I'll be at your side immediately ... I promise I'll be with you this time..."

The Godaime Hokage woke up with a yell. She sat stiffly back on her chair, chills crawling all over her body, for several seconds. She panted deeply in and out, feeling anxious all of a sudden. Her brain administered the pain on her wrist, with a small gasp, she slid her coat off to reveal red markings on the bracelet she wore, almost as if it was burning the metal onto her skin.

"...No...No, no, no, no, no...." She repeated worriedly with widening eyes, and began ransacking her desk drawer for a lottery ticket she had bought that morning, quickly checking the newspaper, she found the winning numbers and froze.

Tsunade felt a pang in her chest, panic completely overtaking her, as she stared at the empty spot in front of her door. Her heart jolting like it was being split in two. Her throat felt raspy and was constricting rapidly. She held back the longing give out a sob, and absentmindedly, she stood from her seat - never breaking her gaze at the entrance of her office. ".... I won't win this bet again ... SHIZUNE!"

A moment later, her assistant was by her side, cringing at the amount of killing intent the Godaime was exerting. Without pausing, Tsunade continued, "Get Kakashi and Sakura now! We'll be leaving for an S-rank mission in five minutes. I'll be waiting at the gates."

"W-what?" Shizune stuttered confusedly. "Y-you can't leave the vill-"

"I won't win this bet again." Tsunade reapeated again firmly, more to herself than anything. Without looking back, she walked out of her office, hoping that her adoptive sister would be fine.