Darkness Falls

Chapter 2

Authors Notes: Map above is reference for Elemental Nations in this story.

Naruto, Age 8

The young blonde sighed heavily as he made his way through the village. Once again, his teacher decided that he was responsible for the mess that happened in this classroom that afternoon, despite the mess in question was all the way on the other side of the room from him. Either way, it didn't matter to him. If anything it allowed him to avoid the group of kids that had planned to jump him as soon as he left school.

Unfortunately for the group of bullies, Naruto was no longer an easy target. With his heightened senses thanks to being a hanyou, he could easily hear the whispers shared between the group that conspired to bring him more physical pain. Thus, he was able to plan around it and avoid them all together. The wrongfully delivered detention just made it easier for him.

He did find it amusing that the group of kids actually waited outside for him for the full two hours he served his detention, only to discover that Naruto never walked out the doors. In fact the moment he left the class room, he ducked into a corner full of shadows and disappeared. Reappearing a few blocks down the street in an ally way. Using one of his favorite new abilities from the black scroll he had gotten on his sixth birthday, the (Shadousuteppu) Shadow Step.

A handy ability that allowed him to literally walk into shadows and travel elsewhere in a split second. In theory, he surmised he could use this ability to travel anywhere, whether he had visited that place before or not. However, in practice he only traveled to places he had already been. No need to take unnecessary chances and get lost in the darkness.

"Seriously, with how strong you are with your hanyou body, you could have easily floored those twerps." Ahri commented in anger in Naruto's mind. She had become even more fiercely protective over her blonde container over the past two years since they officially met.

'Maybe, but you have to remember half the kids in the class have parents or family members on the Civilian Council.' Naruto replied mentally. 'All the perks I have for being a half demon would be moot if I am locked away in a prison cell. And the old man can only do so much until I become a Genin at least.'

"I understand where you are coming from." Ahri frowned, not that the blonde could see it. "I just hate that you have all this power and have to hide it. Speaking of which, why didn't you just use your Shadousuteppu to just return to your apartment. Why come out in the alley?"

'I know Ahri-chan, I know. But my bastard of a father was right about one thing. Deception is a very powerful tool to employ.' Naruto stated, a scowl on his face at the mention of his father. 'As for not returning directly home, mostly the same reason. If I am never seen wandering around the village, people will begin to get suspicious and that would put more scrutiny on us. Also, I want some ramen.'

Ahri could only chuckle in response.

Casually, the blonde jinchuriki made his way towards his favorite ramen stand, ignoring the various glares and sneers that were cast his way. As long as they didn't try anything, he didn't care, and so he continued on his way. As he continued on, his pace slowed as he walked past the now mostly empty Uchiha compound as a frown formed on his face, though he didn't linger long.

Only a few months after the attack on his sixth birthday, Uchiha Itachi had killed his entire clan save for his younger brother and left the village. The official story was that Itachi had betrayed the village and slaughtered his clan in the quest for more power. Though that didn't sit right with the young blonde. He knew there was more to it then that. There just had to be, but he knew the old man wouldn't tell him anything, even if his theory was correct.