Through Dimensions...? (On Hold)

A rather dysfunctional Team

***Chapter Five***

A rather dysfunctional Team

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“Hey! Watch it, kid!”

I looked up curiously from the book I was holding. Peering through the bookstore’s window, I saw a little boy around twelve years of age dash through a crowd of unsuspecting villagers, cackling and hooting with laughter. Compared to the drab dreariness of the morning goers, this boy was a little ball of energy. 

He had bright blonde hair, which spiked up in different directions almost madly – as though he’d been electrocuted. How he kept it up like that, I would never know.  He had the biggest, round blue eyes, which I couldn’t help but envy. The hyperactive boy was wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, his feet adorned with sandals, and tied around his forehead was one of those metal-plated headband things. I’d come to the conclusion that most ninja wore one of those things.

“Hah! You can’t tell me what to do!” The boy yelled joyfully to the man he’d almost knocked over. “I’m a ninja now, believe it! And I’m going to be the Hokage, so start respecting me!”

Then he zoomed off, in the direction of a large building. I noticed the villagers he’d disturbed were giving him odd glances. At first I thought it was just annoyed stares for his disturbance, but when I looked closer, I felt a pang in my chest. They looked…fearful. Disgusted.

Disgusted at the boy? Terrified of his presence? Why? What had an innocent, adorable little boy like him done to any of them? Why did the villagers look down upon him? I suddenly realised I might have been getting ahead of myself – for all I knew, the boy might have had a wonderful life, with parents, brothers and sisters.

“Ah, Naruto Uzumaki,” A gravelly voice sighed next to me. I jumped about a foot in the air, and the book went flying in some random direction. A wrinkled hand caught it before it could shatter anything. Preferably the rather fragile looking windows. I didn’t really feel like paying any money for damaged goods – especially if I didn’t even know what the currency was in this odd place.

Beside me was the bookshop’s store keeper: an old, greying man, with a dusty-grey beard, and a receding hairline. He gave me a small smile, which I returned hesitantly. He waggled the book in my face. “Wanna buy this? It’s only ten Ryō,” The owner offered politely.

I shook my head. “No thank you.” I turned my gaze to the window. “Who was that boy? The one you were talking about?”

The old man sighed again. “Naruto Uzumaki is his name. He’s an orphan,” He explained, and I felt my heart clench. Maybe this boy didn’t have such a good life after all. “I – I would advise to avoid him,” He said suddenly. I shot him a bewildered look.

“Avoid him? Why on earth? The poor thing needs all the family he can get,” I protested. I knew that that was exactly what my mother would say. We had a big family, and having family was important to us.

“Miss,” The owner cut in slowly, “He’s not…normal. Surely you’ve heard of the Nine Tails’ attack twelve years ago?”

“‘Nine-Tails’ attack?’” I echoed with a shrug. “Never heard of it.” The man shot me a disbelieving look, but continued on anyway.

“Twelve years ago, the Nine - Tailed Demon Fox was unleashed upon the village hidden in the Leaves. It caused many deaths – many of our shinobi were killed that day,” He trailed off dejectedly.  “I – I lost my son. He was fighting that cursed demon….”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said sincerely, albeit awkwardly. “What happened to this demon?” I was finding it hard to believe that demons could exist, but then again, if ninjas could exist, why couldn’t hell-loving bloodthirsty demons?