Rapture

Chapter 0: Preface

    Raising boys was the last thing Iruka Umino would have considered to be difficult. But boy, was he wrong about that assumption.

    Having grown up as a boy in the foster system, it was always a dream for him to be able to foster his own one day. So when the day did come that Iruka was in the financial position to become a foster parent himself, he immediately jumped on the opportunity. And when he got the call a few weeks later asking to take in two young boys who've had the misfortune of being passed around foster home to foster home for years, he just knew it was his duty to give them a home that would last forever. In fact, when Iruka first laid eyes on the brothers, he vowed to himself that he would never let them go, no matter the difficulty.

    It's been 12 years since that day, and Iruka has to constantly remind himself of that very promise he made to himself and the two boys. That's not to say he doesn't adore the brothers with every fiber of his being. They just surely have not made it easy on him.

   Kurama Uzumaki was 9 years old when Iruka first took them in. He was quiet and reserved, yet intense. He was also extremely mature for his age and the circumstances he had been put through. He only spoke when spoken to. And when he did speak, his vocabulary was one of a grown adult. He was intelligent and polite. But Iruka soon found that to only be the case as long as his baby brother was not involved.

    You see, Kurama was what one would say to be an overprotective older brother. And Iruka found this to be endearing, admirable even. But Iruka soon discovered his protectiveness to be to a fault. Because not only was no one allowed to mess with his younger brother, one could not even dare touch a blonde hair on his baby brother's head without Kurama's permission.

    But Iruka was patient. He took the time to gain Kurama's trust, and as a result, had eventually become the only other living person to be allowed to hold the four year old without permission.

    Over the years, Kurama found himself getting in trouble often for taking things too far when it came to his brother. He had been suspended a number of times for beating anyone in school who bothered his beloved sibling. He was once suspended for over a month in 9th grade for sneaking into the elementary school and stapling a teacher's hand after they gave his precious baby brother a detention. If it hadn't been for his otherwise stellar behavior and exemplary grades, he would have surely been expelled and put into juvie.

    Now that's not to say that Kurama had not seen his fair share of the juvenile detention center. He had spent time there on multiple occasions. But those were dark times that he did not wish to reminisce on. And if asked about those times, you were guaranteed a black eye at the very least.  

    It's true, Kurama had his flaws. But all the hardship came with the price of loving his younger sibling more than life itself. He would do anything for his brother. And vice versa.

    Now in his early twenties, Kurama has excelled in his studies, and was accepted to multiple prestigious universities across the country. But he chose to go to school close by, albeit still a very good school, but not quite to his standards. Still, he wanted to stay home to stay close with Iruka and of course, his still adorable baby brother.

    Iruka will never forget when he first laid eyes on Naruto Uzumaki. The four year old boy looked as though he walked out of a Gerber's commercial. He was the definition of adorable. His little hand held a death grip on his older brother's, and his bright blue eyes held so much fear and awe at the sight of his new foster father. Iruka could only imagine the horrors those azure eyes had witnessed before their encounter.

    Growing up, Naruto was seen as the complete opposite as his older brother. He was loud, energetic, and very charismatic. He was much quicker to warming up to his new home and with a single offer of ice cream and a new toy truck, he was immediately acquainted with his new foster father. Iruka should have known then, that this meant trouble.

   And oh was he trouble.

    Naruto was not one to stay in one place for a long time. Perhaps it stemmed from being passed around homes 18 times in the span of 3 years, who's to say? Nevertheless, things did not hold his attention for long. He was fearless and gullible when it came to strangers as well. Iruka thanks the heavens for Kurama being as mature and overprotective as he is. Because if it weren't for Kurama, Naruto was sure to have been kidnapped long ago after the countless times he was caught running away and accepting candy from strangers.

    He was also a hothead. It's also thanks to Kurama that Naruto hasn't been arrested or killed for the amount of trouble he caused over the most simple things. He was such a happy go lucky kid, but that temper was not one to be toyed with. But despite all of this, there was something about Naruto that just captivated others. He had a way of making people instantly connect with him, and never wanting to let go.

    Iruka knows this first hand. Because he often did forget the promise he made to himself all those years ago about never leaving those boys. In the times that Naruto was missing for weeks after running away, or Kurama was away in juvie, Iruka strongly considered throwing in the towel. But alas, something about those boys, specifically Naruto, just forced him to hold on and never let go.

    Iruka couldn't be more proud of the man Kurama has become. But the same cannot be said for Naruto. In fact, Iruka fears that he is only just beginning to experience the trouble that Naruto will cause. He often lays awake at night in fear that the sixteen year old boy he has raised and loved as his own son, will not make it to his seventeenth birthday.

    Because Tomorrow, Iruka is picking Naruto up from rehab for the third time. And deep in his heart, he knows that Naruto does not plan on making his life any easier by staying sober.

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Hello and welcome!!
I thought it was about time I make an attempt at my own story. I've also been watching euphoria and got some major inspo from that and thought why not make my own twist on things? If you've seen Euphoria, do not fear, I have no plans on making this story anything of the likes. I simply got inspired from it, but that's not to say there wont be some things you find familiar. Anyways I hope you enjoy Rapture!