Drakengard
Active member
This is actually going to be a fan-fiction about NaruHina and SasuSaku's children, but I thought a little prologue would be nice. I would also like to hear a bit of constructive criticism before I start the actual story. Tell me what I could improve. Lay it on me!
Naruto's efforts seem to have finally paid off. He was so tired that every step felt like a thousand needles stinging him at the same time. It was a miracle that he could even maintain this brisk walk in his condition. But he had no choice. After coming this far, there was no way he could succumb here. Because after all this time, Sasuke was finally returning to the Leaf.
His condition was even worse than Naruto's. One arm over his neck, he relied on Naruto's support as they trodded back towards Konoha together.
Sasuke: "Naruto. You know even better than I do tha-"
Naruto: "Don't say that. I'm known as the hero of this war. There's no way they can object to it!"
Sasuke: "Heh, quite the idealist aren't we? But know this Naruto, whatever I do beyond this point will be for the sake of the Leaf and its people."
Naruto let out a big grin. Naruto: "I don't doubt it for a minute! I'd have to kick your ass if you did anyways."
Ten more minutes pass. Finally, they arrive at the village's gate. Before them, a crowd of people await them: ninja and innocent civilians from all of the five great nations. Naruto recognized quite a few of them as ninja who survived the war by his side.
Naruto: "Heeey! I'm back guys!"
A silent response.
Naruto: "C'mon, I know you're all concerned for my safety and all but these bruises are nothing, really!"
Continued silence. Naruto comes to a halt before the group. From them, Iruka is seen coming to the front.
Naruto: "Oi sensei! Sorry for ditching you at the island back then. I was hoping we could discuss it over a bowl of ramen", Naruto gave a slight pause, "with Sasuke..."
Iruka: "Naruto, he's not comin-"
Naruto's voice instantly changed into a vulgar tone. Naruto: "No way!!! Sasuke's sworn into helping the village! He's one of us now!"
Iruka: "You Idiot! That doesn't matter! Sasuke's past actions are too heavy to simply let go. I too had thought he was still worth redeeming, but that was before. Or did you forget even Sai's.."
Naruto's pupils transformed as under the Kyuubi's influence. His voice is suppressed but angry. Naruto: "Of course not. I understand what you're saying, but the whole point of this war is to forget our previous conflicts and take hold a new leaf."
Sasuke: "They're right you know, Naruto."
Naruto: "It doesn't have to be this way!"
Sasuke: "I swore that I would do anything to help the Leaf. I think it's obvious now that my presence would only create discomfort around me. Naruto, you who knows loneliness, do you wish this life upon me? A life of a recluse? No. The cycle of hatred must come to an end. We're too close to peace for me to take such a selfish approach. My brother would have done the same."
Naruto lets it sink it for a few seconds before he begins to tear up. His eyes returning back to normal.
Naruto: "Even after all this time, I couldn't even save one friend.."
Sasuke smiles with warmth. Sasuke: "But you have saved me Naruto. In many more ways then one. I consider everybody here to be my family. And family sticks together, even if it means isolating yourself from the rest. But before I go, I want to say something to them."
Naruto's eyes widened, but no objections flied past his lips. Sasuke mustered up the strength he had.
Sasuke: "People of this great nation. My sins have stockpiled to the point where retribution is near impossible. That much is obvious. But I will nevertheless try my hardest to do so. That's why I must take my first steps on my journey."
Baki: "Iruka, let's not make this tougher on us than it needs to be."
Kakashi: "No. Let him proceed."
Sasuke: "My brother Itachi. He is known as the one behind the Uchiha massacre. A cold blooded killer. A fiend. But I can't let the truth be left to dissolve in time. The truth often breeds hatred, but freedom from lies and restraints are worth the burden they come with. Please do not destroy everything my brother sacrificed to obtain peace."
All ears were planted on Sasuke as he spoke his next words with no form of regret in them. Sasuke: "You want to know the truth? The truth is that my brother was not more than a pacifist caught between two evils. He resented the massacre more than anyone here!"
Random conversations between the villagers: "What is he saying? Itachi a pacifist?"
Sasuke: "It's the truth, so plea-"
Random Leaf Villager (outburst): "You expect us to believe such things without a shred of evidence to support it!?"
Kakashi: "He's not lying. With Danzo's death, the curse seal implanted on Root's members has subsided. Surely there will be those among them who will confirm his words. They're secret and dark, but in the end they only want peace."
Leaf Village Elder: "Enough! It truly was the work of the higher ups that Itachi be the one to carry the burden. Understand the steps we will take to ensure the safety of you all. I do confess to the things that child said myself, but that alone will not be enough to grant him admittance into our country. He needs acceptance from an official of my status or higher to enter, and I deny him such privileges."
Kankuro: "Those damn elders... outright corroborating such a heinous secret and then vetoing his entry!!"
Leaf Village Elder: "Well, Uchiha Sasuke?"
Sasuke: "Of course. I won't waste any more of your time."
Sasuke broke contact with Naruto and turned his back to the village as he walked towards the shade of the forest. His whole figure was pretty pathetic: he walked with a limp, and blood stains had ruined his clothing. Naruto stayed in his spot with his eyes closed, trying hard to fight back his emotions. Sakura's emotions were overflowing. Was reality playing with her? Was it a god's intention to put her goals in such unobtainable positions?
Soon after, the Uchiha fell where he stood, his legs giving up on him. Sasuke fought the pain in desperation. He coughed and collapsed on his own arms. Naruto opened his eyes in mere shock, but kept his back to Sasuke. He was simply cornered.
Konoha citizen: "This isn't banishment, it's outright murder.."
Sakura, who had fought hard to keep strong, suddenly gained a new form of determination in her eyes. She came to the front of the crowd, and Naurto made eye contact with her. He suddenly smiled. Tears running down his eyes, he gave Sakura a thumbs up (to everybody else's confusion). Instantly afterwards, Sakura threw a kunai at Naruto. It scraped his shirt, and she ran in his direction as everybody else fumbled in confusion.
Ino: "Sakura!"
Kakashi: "No way! Does she intend..."
Sakura eventually passed Naruto, who did nothing but await for her to proceed. While they passed each other, their voices reached their ears and only their ears.
Sakura: "Take care of the village, okay Naruto?"
Naruto: "It's my promise to you. No matter where you and Sasuke end up, we will always be a team."
Leaf Village Elder: "Treason! Apprehend the girl!"
Suddenly, a platoon of ANBU members charged from behind the scene and had their ninja equipment at the ready.
Kakashi: "There's just one problem.."
Leaf Village Elder: "What?" She turned to his direction and without thinking, had direct contact with Kakashi's Sharingan. All her previous movements stopped, and a new direction began.
Leaf Village Elder: "Stop your advance! Save your strength for repairing the village!"
The advance halted in an instant. Almost everybody was in a dazed state at this sudden turn of events.
Kurenai: "Heh, always one step quicker than me Kakashi. Though I doubt this is without consequence."
Kakashi: "Kurenai, look at them fight authority for what they believe in. I just wish I generation had half the will they have when it comes to looking out for comrades."
Kurenai: "I hope I live to see what the next generation will introduce to our world." She held the baby in her arms with loving compassion.
Naruto saw his two companions off as they retreated into the safety of the trees. Behind him stood the hundreds of innocent men and women who would easily give up their life for the sake of their friends. In front of him ran two ninja who would carry the burden of being missing ninja while protecting their attackers, and yet would live a life better than any of their alternatives. The world is not without its dark sides. But because of that, the brighter side of the world was that much more warming to everybody's desire.
Kurama: "So Naruto, would you consider this true peace?"
Naruto smiled reassuringly. There was still plenty of things to get done before the gears of progression could turn. But the Will of Fire would ensure that they would never give in to rust. Believe it.
Prologue - After the War
Naruto's efforts seem to have finally paid off. He was so tired that every step felt like a thousand needles stinging him at the same time. It was a miracle that he could even maintain this brisk walk in his condition. But he had no choice. After coming this far, there was no way he could succumb here. Because after all this time, Sasuke was finally returning to the Leaf.
His condition was even worse than Naruto's. One arm over his neck, he relied on Naruto's support as they trodded back towards Konoha together.
Sasuke: "Naruto. You know even better than I do tha-"
Naruto: "Don't say that. I'm known as the hero of this war. There's no way they can object to it!"
Sasuke: "Heh, quite the idealist aren't we? But know this Naruto, whatever I do beyond this point will be for the sake of the Leaf and its people."
Naruto let out a big grin. Naruto: "I don't doubt it for a minute! I'd have to kick your ass if you did anyways."
Ten more minutes pass. Finally, they arrive at the village's gate. Before them, a crowd of people await them: ninja and innocent civilians from all of the five great nations. Naruto recognized quite a few of them as ninja who survived the war by his side.
Naruto: "Heeey! I'm back guys!"
A silent response.
Naruto: "C'mon, I know you're all concerned for my safety and all but these bruises are nothing, really!"
Continued silence. Naruto comes to a halt before the group. From them, Iruka is seen coming to the front.
Naruto: "Oi sensei! Sorry for ditching you at the island back then. I was hoping we could discuss it over a bowl of ramen", Naruto gave a slight pause, "with Sasuke..."
Iruka: "Naruto, he's not comin-"
Naruto's voice instantly changed into a vulgar tone. Naruto: "No way!!! Sasuke's sworn into helping the village! He's one of us now!"
Iruka: "You Idiot! That doesn't matter! Sasuke's past actions are too heavy to simply let go. I too had thought he was still worth redeeming, but that was before. Or did you forget even Sai's.."
Naruto's pupils transformed as under the Kyuubi's influence. His voice is suppressed but angry. Naruto: "Of course not. I understand what you're saying, but the whole point of this war is to forget our previous conflicts and take hold a new leaf."
Sasuke: "They're right you know, Naruto."
Naruto: "It doesn't have to be this way!"
Sasuke: "I swore that I would do anything to help the Leaf. I think it's obvious now that my presence would only create discomfort around me. Naruto, you who knows loneliness, do you wish this life upon me? A life of a recluse? No. The cycle of hatred must come to an end. We're too close to peace for me to take such a selfish approach. My brother would have done the same."
Naruto lets it sink it for a few seconds before he begins to tear up. His eyes returning back to normal.
Naruto: "Even after all this time, I couldn't even save one friend.."
Sasuke smiles with warmth. Sasuke: "But you have saved me Naruto. In many more ways then one. I consider everybody here to be my family. And family sticks together, even if it means isolating yourself from the rest. But before I go, I want to say something to them."
Naruto's eyes widened, but no objections flied past his lips. Sasuke mustered up the strength he had.
Sasuke: "People of this great nation. My sins have stockpiled to the point where retribution is near impossible. That much is obvious. But I will nevertheless try my hardest to do so. That's why I must take my first steps on my journey."
Baki: "Iruka, let's not make this tougher on us than it needs to be."
Kakashi: "No. Let him proceed."
Sasuke: "My brother Itachi. He is known as the one behind the Uchiha massacre. A cold blooded killer. A fiend. But I can't let the truth be left to dissolve in time. The truth often breeds hatred, but freedom from lies and restraints are worth the burden they come with. Please do not destroy everything my brother sacrificed to obtain peace."
All ears were planted on Sasuke as he spoke his next words with no form of regret in them. Sasuke: "You want to know the truth? The truth is that my brother was not more than a pacifist caught between two evils. He resented the massacre more than anyone here!"
Random conversations between the villagers: "What is he saying? Itachi a pacifist?"
Sasuke: "It's the truth, so plea-"
Random Leaf Villager (outburst): "You expect us to believe such things without a shred of evidence to support it!?"
Kakashi: "He's not lying. With Danzo's death, the curse seal implanted on Root's members has subsided. Surely there will be those among them who will confirm his words. They're secret and dark, but in the end they only want peace."
Leaf Village Elder: "Enough! It truly was the work of the higher ups that Itachi be the one to carry the burden. Understand the steps we will take to ensure the safety of you all. I do confess to the things that child said myself, but that alone will not be enough to grant him admittance into our country. He needs acceptance from an official of my status or higher to enter, and I deny him such privileges."
Kankuro: "Those damn elders... outright corroborating such a heinous secret and then vetoing his entry!!"
Leaf Village Elder: "Well, Uchiha Sasuke?"
Sasuke: "Of course. I won't waste any more of your time."
Sasuke broke contact with Naruto and turned his back to the village as he walked towards the shade of the forest. His whole figure was pretty pathetic: he walked with a limp, and blood stains had ruined his clothing. Naruto stayed in his spot with his eyes closed, trying hard to fight back his emotions. Sakura's emotions were overflowing. Was reality playing with her? Was it a god's intention to put her goals in such unobtainable positions?
Soon after, the Uchiha fell where he stood, his legs giving up on him. Sasuke fought the pain in desperation. He coughed and collapsed on his own arms. Naruto opened his eyes in mere shock, but kept his back to Sasuke. He was simply cornered.
Konoha citizen: "This isn't banishment, it's outright murder.."
Sakura, who had fought hard to keep strong, suddenly gained a new form of determination in her eyes. She came to the front of the crowd, and Naurto made eye contact with her. He suddenly smiled. Tears running down his eyes, he gave Sakura a thumbs up (to everybody else's confusion). Instantly afterwards, Sakura threw a kunai at Naruto. It scraped his shirt, and she ran in his direction as everybody else fumbled in confusion.
Ino: "Sakura!"
Kakashi: "No way! Does she intend..."
Sakura eventually passed Naruto, who did nothing but await for her to proceed. While they passed each other, their voices reached their ears and only their ears.
Sakura: "Take care of the village, okay Naruto?"
Naruto: "It's my promise to you. No matter where you and Sasuke end up, we will always be a team."
Leaf Village Elder: "Treason! Apprehend the girl!"
Suddenly, a platoon of ANBU members charged from behind the scene and had their ninja equipment at the ready.
Kakashi: "There's just one problem.."
Leaf Village Elder: "What?" She turned to his direction and without thinking, had direct contact with Kakashi's Sharingan. All her previous movements stopped, and a new direction began.
Leaf Village Elder: "Stop your advance! Save your strength for repairing the village!"
The advance halted in an instant. Almost everybody was in a dazed state at this sudden turn of events.
Kurenai: "Heh, always one step quicker than me Kakashi. Though I doubt this is without consequence."
Kakashi: "Kurenai, look at them fight authority for what they believe in. I just wish I generation had half the will they have when it comes to looking out for comrades."
Kurenai: "I hope I live to see what the next generation will introduce to our world." She held the baby in her arms with loving compassion.
Naruto saw his two companions off as they retreated into the safety of the trees. Behind him stood the hundreds of innocent men and women who would easily give up their life for the sake of their friends. In front of him ran two ninja who would carry the burden of being missing ninja while protecting their attackers, and yet would live a life better than any of their alternatives. The world is not without its dark sides. But because of that, the brighter side of the world was that much more warming to everybody's desire.
Kurama: "So Naruto, would you consider this true peace?"
Naruto smiled reassuringly. There was still plenty of things to get done before the gears of progression could turn. But the Will of Fire would ensure that they would never give in to rust. Believe it.
End of Prologue
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