Naruto: Protect your life

Naruto: Protect Your Life: Prologue
~~

Three Years Ago</u>


Darkness. It clouded his vision and took over his soul. Laughter and snorting was coming from every angle of his small and fragile body. The harsh noise filled his ears, not a single being aware of his river of tears or did they care. He was a laughing stock, a nothing, a disgrace. Disgrace, what is it to be a disgrace? Had he wronged them in the past? Betrayed their trust? No, he couldn’t have had. What did he do other than keep to himself and smile politely at his fellow clan members? Sniffles poured from his nose as he roughly rubbed tears from his swollen ocean eyes. He felt an object slice across his cheek, allowing the deep crimson fluid to flow freely down his face. He tried to pick himself up out of the corner, but only received a strong blow to the stomach causing him to stumble back into the hell. Shaking, he shriveled himself up into a tight ball and waited for it to end. His body was numbing, he no longer cared. He just wished he had a mother, or anyone for that matter, to save him from this humiliation He tasted the blood in his mouth, was this really it? Were they going to kill him? Throw him off the Konoha Bridge? The laughter suddenly stopped, profanities were whispers and he heard scurrying of feet. Slowly, he picked his head up and gasped at the scene. Each kid who had been laughing a minute ago were tied with rope and hanging from the ceiling. He stood too quickly and grimaced. His stomach still hurt from the blow. He heard new footsteps from the other side of the room. A man with golden spiked hair was picking up his groceries. His sky-blue eyes sparkled as he stood up and walked over to him. Backing up into the wall, he figured it was another person to pick on him. The man looked confused, and handed the small boy his groceries.
“Are you alright?” The man with golden hair asked. The boy stared up at him, and stared at his forehead which a Konoha Plate resided. The man looked around twentyish with three scrapes on each side of his cheeks.

“Y-yes, thank you, sir.” The man grinned, and bent down to the little boy’s height. His hand went behind his back momentarily, the boy instinctively backed up. The man looked up once again, pulling out a handkerchief and motioned the small boy to come back. Slowly, he did.

“What’s your name, kid?” He said in a caring tone while wiping the blood away from the boy’s cheek.

“Nakayama Ryoko, sir.” The golden haired man looked up slightly confused and smiled.

“Ah, nice to meet you Ryoko. I’m Uzumaki Naruto.” He flashed a grin and stood up from his crouch. The boy’s blue-green orbs widened at his name.

“WOW! You’re Uzumaki Naruto? Oh wow, what did I do to deserve to meet you sir! It’s a pleasure Uzumaki-sama!” Ryoko’s face was instantly lightened at Naruto’s grin.

“Haha, calm down, Ryoko. Please, call me Naruto.” Naruto turned his back to Ryoko. “Say, how would you like to come and eat dinner with me?”

“I’m sorry sir, but I don’t have any money?” Ryoko looked down, his grin instantly disappearing.

“Nonsense, man! Come on, it’s my treat!” Running up to Naruto, Ryoko grinned and walked side by side with him out the door.

“Have a nice night, boys.” Naruto laughed and closed the door. Ryoko looked back at the door.

“You’re just gonna leave them in there?!” He exclaimed, slightly shaken by the thought of being locked inside a fort.

“Why would you care, look what they did to you! Don’t you think they deserve it?” Naruto said with eye brows raised. Ryoko looked down at the suddenly very interesting dirt road.

“Well..” Naruto shook his head.

“Don’t worry; I’ll deal with them after we eat. They can panic for a little while.” Ryoko slightly nodded and continued to stare downwards. “Say, Ryk, its okay if I call you Ryk, right? Ha, good.” Naruto’s eyes suddenly narrowed dangerously “Why were they doing that to you.. That’s unacceptable to be treated so cruelly”

“I don’t know sir.. All my life, I’ve been kicked around and hated by my people. I don’t understand either. My mother died giving birth to me, and whenever I ask about my father.. People just stare at me like I need to get my mouth washed out.” Ryoko smiled sadly. “I wish I had someone to guide me through life and tell me why people hate me, you know?”

“I see..” Naruto’s eyes fell downcast as he thought deeply. This is the same treatment I went through, I won’t let this happen to him.. He’s so young; he needs some sort of a figure in his life.” Looking to his right, he patted the Nakayama on the head and smiled widely. “How old are you, Ryk?” Naruto asked genuine curiosity on his face.

“I’m turning eight in a month, Uzumaki-sama.” Naruto sent him a glare “..I mean Naruto-sama” Another glare. “Naruto-san?” Ryoko sent up an innocent grin. Naruto sighed and shook his head. He just waved it off as in acceptance.

“Interesting. Ah! A ramen shop! Let’s go!” Naruto skipped off happily and into the ramen shop, Ryoko following closely behind.

”Two Shoyu ramens please!” Naruto shouted to the shop owner. He grunted in acknowledgement and began to cook. Sitting down on a stool, the Kyubi embodiment slapped a seat next to him for Ryoko to sit on. Slowly he climbed up and smelled the delicious aroma that danced around his nose. Naruto scanned the boy’s appearance. He seemed very skinny and as if he hadn’t eaten anything decent in a long time. But along the smooth tanned skin, he seemed to have a good muscular system underneath it all. The two bowls were slid in front of them as they began to eat. Drooling, Ryoko took the chop sticks and snapped them apart.

“Itadakimasu!" Ryoko shouted happily and began engulfing the food. Simply smiling, Naruto reminisced about his early days and when Iruka-sensei brought him out to ramen and how delighted he was. Even though their personalities were very different; Naruto felt that Ryoko’s and his own heart were very alike. He let out a small laugh and began to eat. After a few minutes of silence, Naruto put down his sticks and started the conversation back up.

”So, Ryk.. Are you studying to become a shinobi?” Naruto asked with a mouth full.

“I wish, the people of the village won’t allow me, sir.” Ryoko swallowed a big bite and pushed the empty bowl forward. “Thank you for dinner, Naruto-san.” He smiled happily at the first person who was ever kind to him. Naruto’s fist slammed down on the table of the Ramen restaurant and stared at Ryoko, baffled.

“WHATT?!” He yelled, Ryoko shrunk backwards into his chair as Naruto’s nostrils flared. How could one not be able to become a shinobi!? What was this clans PROBLEM!? When he got his hands on them, why he’d-.. All of his nasty thoughts dispersed as a small hand touched his shoulder.

“It’s okay, Naruto-san. I’ve learned to deal with it. It was my dream to become a great ninja, but if my clan forbids it.. I cannot do so.” Ryoko said with sad eyes making Naruto’s boiling rage soften. Wrapping his arms around the black haired boy’s body, he engulfed him in a hug.

“I can’t allow you to stay here. Come with me, I have an apartment you can stay in.” Naruto said as Ryoko silently sobbed into his chest.

“My clan would find me as an even more disgrace, Naruto-san. I can’t!” He shouted. Naruto rubbed the boy’s back.

“How is that possible? They already treat you like your dirt, I won’t allow it. You’re coming with me. Let’s go get your things.” Placing money on the table, Naruto walked out of the ramen restaurant allowing Ryoko to follow the man he had only met a mere hour or so ago. Rushing after him, Ryoko led the way to his tiny apartment. Opening the door, he turned back and smiled apologetically.

“Sorry, it’s kind of a mess.” He pushed the door open and walked in to the one roomed apartment. Posters crowded the walls of famous shinobi and places. Naruto immediately recognized one of the Fourth and Third together. He looked up to the ceiling and smiled as if saying a thank you. Skimming along the rest, he found a fairly old one. He walked over to it and traced his finger around the rounded face of a young boy. Reading the headline, he smiled. “Teen Hero: Uzumaki Naruto saves Konoha from its destruction” The picture featured himself, Kakashi and Sakura smiling.

“You have a nice place,” Naruto said from across the room as Ryoko was frantically packing his things. A mumbled thanks was said, as he flew to his next destination to pack. Naruto laughed, and walked over to the window. Things were so much simpler when you were a kid. Once he brought Ryoko into the world of the shinobi, it could put him in danger. He’d leave it in his new apprentice’s hands if he wanted that. Apprentice.. It had a nice ring to it.

“I’m ready, Naruto-san.” Ryoko called from the door, snapping him from his trance. Naruto walked over and smiled while Ryoko flashed a toothy grin. Naruto looked into his eyes, even though they showed happiness, he also saw the scared thoughts shining through them.

“It’s okay; I won’t let them hurt you anymore.” Naruto said as he walked out. “I had a friend of mine deal with the kids who bullied you.” Ryoko looked up him, perplexed.

”Who?”

….

A woman wearing a tight sleeveless tank top with the collar popped and slightly unzipped along with a pair of shorts, both were black. She looked like she was in her early twenties. Her green eyes glistened with anger as her cherry colored hair danced as she spoke. Stomping around she continued to mindlessly babble to the children on the floor who were still tied up.

“-And if I hear that you’ve hurt this poor little boy ever again-“A boy laughed and looked at her like she was nuts.

“Listen lady,” The woman glared. “I could careless about what you’re saying, and Ryoko is sure not poor! He’s a disgrace to our clan! Look at his cheeks! They bare the markings of a Hoerezoon! That kid doesn’t belong here and never wil-“

“What's a Hoerezoon..?” She asked trying to comprehend the clans slang. Another boy laughed and looked at her like she was stupid.

“A son of a whore.” SLAP! The lady looked down at the boy panting out of fury.

“How dare you call that boy that! YOU ARE A DISGRACE!” The boys laughed as if she were crazy.

“Whatever lady, I’m leaving.” The kids seemed have severed the ropes and began to walk away. The woman smirked through her obvious annoyance, and looked at them as if they were trying to do the impossible. Slamming her fist into the ground, she watched as the ground crumbled before they could get to the door.

“As you were saying..?”

…

Two sets of feet are shown walking up a long stair case. As the pair reaches the door in the dark hallway, one pulls out a key and puts it in the door knob and unlocks the door. Pushing it open, they flick on the lights and walk in revealing a beautiful apartment. Naruto walks in and places his keys on the counter and takes off his jacket.

“Can I get you anything?” He glanced back at the petite boy who seemed out of place. Ryoko chuckled slightly at his blankness and quickly said no. Naruto nodded and pulled out a water bottle for himself. Deciding to break the ice, the Kyuubi boy sat down on the couch and coughed.

“I want you to become my apprentice.” Naruto said nonchalantly. The owner of the black shaggy hair’s head instantly snapped up as if he misheard.

”What’d you say?” There was no way this legend wanted to teach some..outcast who knew nothing about shinobi life.

“I want you, Nakayama Ryoko, to become MY, Uzumaki Naruto’s, apprentice.” Naruto’s voice was a bit louder and clearer this time around. He was flabbergasted, his jaw stuck to the ground, his eyes buldging. No one ever acknowledged him but now, someone just suddenly comes out and asks to let him be his master? No WAY!

“I must be dreaming, there’s no way someone would ever be this nice to me, let alone ask such a question.” Ryoko began to slap his face with both hands as if he was trying to get a hold of himself. Naruto grabbed his hands and stared straight into his eyes.

”I know you hold something great inside you, I don’t know why but you do. I can tell that at one point if not continuously you’ve trained hard. That says to me that you were willing to do anything to accomplish what you were trying to do. Someone prolly’ told ya, ‘Yeah kid, you cant do this so just give up,’ and you did so, trying to gain their respect! Ryk man, I will do everything in my power to help you.” Naruto explained sincerely. Ryoko stared into his sapphire eyes for a few more seconds, still not believing that anything was happening. Finally, he grinned at Naruto and put his arms around him in a deep hug. A father-son type hug.

“Hey Naruto-san~?” Ryoko called, sounding slightly silly.

“Yes Ryk~?” Naruto imitated.

“I like this.” Ryoko pointed to the Hidden Leaf Village head protector on his forehead.

“Well, once you graduate you can have one!” He snickered.

“Hmph. No fair.” Pouting, how cute.

“Well, TOO BAD!” Naruto walked off waving behind his back “I’m gonna go get your stuff for bed, tomorrow we start on training you!”

“YAY!” Ryoko jumped up in down in delight.


”If it weren’t for Naruto-sama, I don’t know where I’d be right now. He is my life long friend. He is my teacher. He is my idol. He is my everything.”