A Hero... (A Naruto Fanfiction)

Was it Worth It?

Welcome to the first chapter of A Hero... (Naruto Fanfiction)! 

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Was it worth it? That's all Naruto asked himself as he felt himself sinking into this pit of darkness that was his mindscape while in real life, he was in a river. The Kyuubi, despite wishing to break free of his chains, felt pity for his host. No human should have to go through that much pain. The boy had a powerful will, he'd give him that. However, all humans had a breaking point.

'Was it worth it?' Naruto questioned mentally. He'd felt his sensei's presence leave already after getting Sasuke, having decided to drop the entire "weak and idiotic" facade. He stared blankly at the sky, his body floating when suddenly, he noticed a presence above him. "You poor child," the man stated, his deep voice reverberating like a baritone. "I'll train you, son of the fourth Hokage," the man said. Naruto sighed as he slowly moved to leave the confining clutches of the cold, bitter water that flowed over him. 

"May I ask why you'd want to train a demon like me?" Naruto asked, his eyes dull and downcast. 

"You? A demon? All I see is a broken child," the man responded. Unbeknownst to Naruto, a lone tear fell down the man's cheek, the pure sorrow in the one boy in front of him enough to crack his own mask.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked, standing up to face the man. 

"I go by many names... but you may call me Madara," Madara responded. 

Time Skip

Naruto woke up. Three years... it's been three years. He was sixteen, now and well-trained by the man he called "Older Brother." Madara, who he could guess wasn't actually THE Madara Uchiha, trained him and treated him like any older brother would to their younger, including the humorous fighting. Today, however, he was being summoned for a different reason. He pulled on an Akatsuki trench coat and a pair of black-armored gloves with a red cloud on the back of each one, the middle being cut off by a band of metal. He placed his kunai pouch on his left thigh and checked to make sure all of his seals were in place, ensuring he was still training just by walking. 

"And now, we begin," the voice of Pein, the leader of the Akatsuki, spoke. "Lord Pein, if I may," Naruto began. Pein looked to Naruto. 

"Speak, Uzumaki," he responded. 

"Despite your wish to capture Jinchuriiki now, why couldn't we just wait for the shinobi war to occur? Tensions are high between Iwa, Konoha, and Kumo. Once they begin, Mist will be left to choose a side and sand will be forced to side with Konoha," Naruto spoke. Pein nodded. 

"And how do you propose we go forth?" 

"Simple. We frame them," Naruto said. This meeting was held in specific to be in-person. Naruto noticed Pein's eyes seem to widen a fraction, though what from he didn't know.

"I'm impressed, Uzumaki. This plan holds plausibility and will most likely benefit us by not costing us strength. However, how are we to accomplish this?" Pein asked. 

Naruto chuckled. "We take missions and use my skill in fuinjutsu to edit the text on the scrolls, both making us money and by extension, funding while at the same allowing us to force through a Shinobi war, though I do request to leave Wave out of this unless they choose to intervene," Naruto spoke, making Pein nod. 

"Very well," he said. Naruto nodded at the approval. "Now, continuing with the list of things we must do. Deidara and Sasori. You two must take the one-tails," Pein spoke. Naruto flinched and Pein noticed. "Do you wish to say something Uzumaki?" He asked, though his tone held more curiosity towards the young blond.