Road to perdition

Chapter 1

It was pouring down the sky was grey, clouds full of rain covered the sky completely, making it look like a dark curtain. It didn't look like it was going to stop for that day, or ever, because if you looked up, it gave you the impression that there was no way those clouds could actually disappear, or at least, that's the way they looked to her.

Naruko Uzumaki, had woke up with a bright smile that morning and was feeling full of energy, looking forward to her busy day with an optimistic feeling that everything that day would be just perfect. It was the start of her new life, and nothing could convince her of the contrary, it just had to be that way, because she couldn't afford to be wrong, not this time when she was finally taking the lead on her own life.

So, she had tied her blonde long hair into a messy bun on top of her head and had made herself breakfast dancing to some random song on the radio, with no care in the world. Only after washing the dishes and getting dressed for the day, she had given a good look out the window, expecting to see the sun shining back at her, but instead was welcomed by menacing looking clouds and grey sky.

It was just her typical luck, right on the day when she had planned her move, a stupid storm had to complicate her plans, and it wasn't like she had much time either to reschedule the damn thing, she had to do it that day.

Her mood had risked being crushed by the horrible sight, but she was a type of person that wouldn't let a little obstacle get in her way, it would only make things a tad more complicated, but nothing she couldn't overcome, so she had immediately gotten to work, it wasn't like she would let a little bit of rain to stop her.

Except for the little bit of rain had turned into a full out storm. Trust Naruko's bad luck to be able to summon all that rain after weeks of drought.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait another day? The rain might calm down, and then it will be easier to move all the stuff"

Sakura, her best friend asked, as she frowned at the difficulty her boyfriend Sasuke and their friends Shikamaru and Kiba were having loading stuff on the truck as she attentively followed their progress spying them from the window. She had been asking the same question since she had arrived with the others, she really wanted the blonde to reconsider her plans because she was worried for her.

"I wish I could Sakura-chan, but you know as well as me that I cannot delay anymore"

Sakura sighed at the blonde, who was just finishing packing up her last things, then she would be out of that place she had called home for the last four years. She was glad she was leaving, those past years had been hell for her.

Life had been so unfair to Naruko. She had lost her parents the same day she was born. No one ever told her who they were and how they had died, the only thing she knew was that she had no other family except for them, so the police department that had found her that fateful night had entrusted her to the local orphanage where she had spent most of her life in, till, at the age of fourteen, a shady couple had decided to take a child in custody, and the orphanage pushed for that child to be Naruko since no one had ever wanted to adopt her, she thought it was their way of trying to get rid of her.

So she had taken her little suitcase and moved into the nice-looking house, but instead of getting the loving family she was promised, she had found two horrible people, whose only interest was to cash the government's check, and she immediately understood they were in it for the money.

They had her working there as a housemaid, when she wasn't in school, abusing her verbally and using any type of insults, they could think of. Because of all that, she didn't have time to dedicate herself to her homework, so her grades were low, and rather hypocritically, she would get beaten up whenever she brought home a bad grade.

Besides all that abuse, that horrible man, she didn't even want to pronounce his name, had beat her up so many times when he was drunk, that she had learned to hide whenever he came home. Once it had gotten so bad, she had to be rushed to the hospital because the excuse of a man had driven a knife into her cheeks, marking it with three parallel cuts on each side. She never figured out the reason for such a gesture, but when asked by the doctors how it had happened both of them had blamed it on her, saying the wounds were self-inflicted, and that according to them she had mental problems claiming she had been the one to assault them in the first place.

Unfortunately those pieces of garbage had gotten away with it, claiming that they would watch after her mental health.

Authorities had believed them, and she had let them, knowing already that they wouldn't listen to her version anyway, and she was too scared of what would happen if they sent her back to the orphanage, or if she tried to go against them.

Only a doctor, a busty scary blonde woman had left the girl her phone number, not really believing the couple's version, and told a sixteen-year-old Naruko to call her if she ever needed help. She never did call her, she didn't trust adults that much, and she believed the woman couldn't do much for her anyway, although she would never forget her.

Tsunade Senju, she had memorized the name by heart, had been the first person to show her some kindness.

Her friends had never known the truth, she had dismissed the scars as an accident, and she always tried to hide the truth being always happy and go lucky at school, and in the rare times she could go out with them she always had a big smile on her face, and she would get into all sorts of trouble with the pranks she threw on the teachers and other classmates.

Finally, she had told them the truth after graduation, when she could leave that terrible house, being she was almost nineteen and having a small amount put aside, that she had wisely collected along the years, she had decided to finally move out to live on her own, but after looking around all of Konoha for a decent place to stay, and realizing she couldn't afford even the smallest of places with her small amount, and still no job to count on, she had decided to go and check, against her friend's advice, on the outskirts of the city, a terribly ran down area, where criminals and prostitutes could be seen roaming the streets at night, and where no sane person would ever decide to move to unless they were desperate.

And that's exactly what she was after all, but, for the first time in her life she had had a fair amount of luck.

Quite casually, she had noticed what looked like some sort of premise with a help sign hanging on the door, so she had walked into the shady looking bar, that looked a little bit like the ones she had seen in crime movies, with the pool table on a side, the dim lights, the wooden counter consumed by time, since it looked pretty antique, and the cash register on aside. A bunch of bottles of liquor exposed in the counters on the wall behind the counter, and the greenish old looking stools, and ruined old wooden tables and chairs spread across the room. There was even a passed out person laying on his back, all over one of the tables in the furthest angle of the place.

It hadn't been that long since she had been there, but she still remembered it as if it had happened the day before.

She had shuddered once she had stepped in, she was3 desperate, but not stupid and that place looked dangerous, and as soon as she had stepped in, something in her mind had told her to run out and take a shower, but she wasn't the superficial type, so, against her own judgment, and trying to bury her prejudices, she swallowed down her fears and went up to the counter, where a weird-looking man, or maybe it was a woman, she really couldn't tell, since he/she was dressed in a feminine attire with a snug pinkish tank top and tight leather black pants, with long brown hair that was pinned up and the faintest hint of makeup enhanced the feminine features.. The man/ woman had looked at her with curiosity, and raised an eyebrow at her, following her every movement with his/ her big brown almond-shaped eyes, marked with black and thick eyeliner.

"What can I help you with?" ok, the voice was definitely a male's, his look intimidated her a bit, but she wasn't one to be shy, so she grinned, trying to look natural, which was quite impressive, and gulped down some courage, looking straight into those deep brown eyes.

"I really need a job, and I noticed that sign…so I am the person you're looking for! Believe it!" she pointed at herself with her thumb, and smiled even wider, hoping to impress the man in front of her.

Haku, that was the man's name, gave her a not so convinced look. He thought she was either crazy or desperate for venturing herself in such a place.

"And why would a pretty girl like you want to work here? Have you seen this place?" he asked with a raised eyebrow widening his arms indicating the bad shape of the place, and she nodded, trying to be convincing.

"Please! I really need this job! I promise I will be the best employee you could have! I will work hard and be punctual and-" she was almost comical as she begged him with her hands clasped and eyes closed.

Haku stopped the girl raising his hand at her, he hadn't caught half of the words she had said, her mouth went a mile an hour, but he wasn't heartless, and took pity on her.

"I heard enough, what's your name?" he asked, openly inspecting her, massaging his chin with his fingers, looking like he was in deep thought.

"Naruko Uzumaki"

He hummed looking better at her. She was cute, with her blonde hair tied in a messy bun, her blue eyes wide and bronzed skin, the cheeks were scarred, but they didn't really take away the beauty from her face, it made her more interesting and particular. Her body looked athletic and her hands were a little calloused that indicated that she was used to hard work, and that made him wonder what type of background a girl like that could have. He wasn't sure if that was the right place for her, the people that frequented his place were mostly low lives and criminals, but she moved him a little bit with her determination and begging. He could tell she really needed help, reminding him a little bit of himself when he had been younger and in the same situation.

"Okay you convinced me."

"Really?" she asked with a huge smile, and the brown-haired man nodded again, a thought forming in his head.

"Tell me Naruko, you wouldn't need a place to stay would you?"

Naruko blinked, and nodded at the brown-haired man, wondering if he could read her mind, or she just looked that pathetic.

"I figured that much, come with me" he gestured for her to follow him, and he grabbed a set of keys that were hanging on a little hook next to a white door, before shouting at someone in the back.

"Suigetsu get your butt out here, I'm leaving for a couple of minutes"

"Fuck! Fine damn it!" someone answered and Haku rolled his eyes at that and gestured with his head to the girl to go after him.

She wondered for a second if she could trust him, after all, she was alone, on the worst side of town with a weird man that wanted her to go some unknown place with him. What if he was trying to lure her in a dirty alleyway to rape her? Or what if he wanted to knock her out and sell her organs? She was naïve, but not stupid, she had heard about the shady businesses and the stories about that place.

"I won't try anything funny, you can trust me. I am not interested in girls" he must have sensed her hesitation.

She gulped, only partially reassured, but at least now she just had to worry about her kidneys, she had heard those were the first to go.

She tightened her small brown purse to her side and went after the man that lead her outside the bar, taking a sharp left, they ended up in a small alley, and she felt her fears resurface, but she swallowed loudly and just kept walking behind him and she was surprised when they got out the other side, and ended up in a little housing area, and Haku stopped at the beginning of the road, where a small two-story house was situated.

It looked run down and neglected exactly like the rest of the buildings in that part of town, the greenish paint was chipped off in some parts, and the wooden doors and windows were old looking and looked rotten in some areas, the grass around it was left to grow wild, all in all it looked like a dump, exactly like the rest of the area, but it's not like she could have some pretenses.

"I know it's not a luxurious place, but if you need somewhere to stay, I can rent the bottom part to you"

Haku explained as he turned the key in the lock, which looked a little bit of a hassle, since it was old and rusty, and the man almost had to force it open to let them in.

They walked in a little foyer like area, where there was a door in front of them and a flight of stairs on the left, that leads to the second floor.

"Me and Zabuza, my partner, live upstairs, if you would ever need anything" he gently offered, and he opened the door for her, so she could give the place a look.

Her blue eyes inspected the place but she couldn't really find any objection to it.

The floors had moquette on the floor that might have been grey once, and the walls were a bit dirty and would surely need painting.

The living room didn't have furniture in it but she could gather some things and she had the freedom of arranging it how she wanted.

The kitchen was on the right, it was a horrible faded yellowish color and old fashioned, some handles and doors needed some repairing but she could do that once she lived there, and all in all it wasn't that terrible.

The bathroom was maybe the worst part, it was terribly small with depressing brown tiles on the wall, a small sink, the toilet in an angle, and a small shower on the other hidden by a half-broken shower curtain.

Yes, she would surely need to work on it, but nothing could crush her enthusiasm, and she already thought of it as her home.

"Haku! You just saved my life!" she grinned warmly at him, and he smiled, feeling immediate affection for the girl.

Sakura shook Naruko out of her daydream, sitting on the horrible orange bean chair her friend had bought for her new house and that was waiting to be loaded.

"Naruko, are you really sure you want to do this? I have seen that place and it's…" she couldn't find a kind enough word to define the apartment her friend was going to live in. To her it was a small, horrid pit hole, and the people that lived around the area weren't really the best neighbors one could have, but Naruko was enamored with it, and no one could make her change her mind. Not even Sasuke's snarky comments, or Shikamaru's quiet disapproval.

"Sakura-chan, Haku is a really nice guy, and I will be fine, I told you already that you shouldn't worry"

"Yeah, I know, but I don't understand. We could have rented a house together, Ino and Hinata had agreed, we would share the expenses and everything"

"It's too expensive for me, I have already barely enough to pay for college expenses, and I couldn't find a job here, no one wants to hire someone like me" the blonde explained as she closed one of the last boxes. She didn't own much, and the furniture she had bought for a small price from a local thrift shop, had already been brought to her new place.

"Sasuke and Iruka sensei have offered to loan you the money you needed" Sakura reminded her, a small pout gracing her thin lips, and Naruko frowned as she thought about her Sensei, that was more of father figure to her, than a teacher, but she had turned down his offer to help her too, as Sasuke's, his family was still dealing with their own personal drama, she couldn't bring her problems into the mix.

"You know I can't accept" The blonde stressed, pulling the box near the door with the others.

The pink-haired girl sighed, she was aware Naruko was a stubborn girl, and always looked at things from an optimistic point of view, but sometimes she wished she could be just a little more aware, especially because the area she was moving too was considered one of the most dangerous of the city and still she acted as if nothing was wrong. It unnerved her deeply, she had even considered of beating some sense into her, but to no avail, the blonde wouldn't give up.

"All done Dobe, do you have other stuff we need to load?" Sasuke was all drenched in his raincoat, and his expression was annoyed, which wasn't unusual for the Uchiha, he always looked like he had something up his ass, so the blonde paid no mind to him.

"Just these boxes, then we can go, now I only need to find Kurama" She told the Uchiha, that without another word, took the last boxes in his arms with a huff and walked off.

"I will bring down this thing then and wait for you in the car"

Sakura grabbed the orange horror she had been sitting on and fled after Sasuke.

Naruko nodded grateful for her friends. Now, the only thing that was left for her to do was look for her cat.

She had adopted him as a kitten just a few years ago, and had kept him hidden in her room all that time because she knew the people she lived with would never allow her to keep a pet, but when they weren't home, he roamed freely, hiding in the most unlikely of places, exactly like it was doing now.

She grabbed the small animal cage Kiba had given to her as a gift, and looked around the house and when she found the red furball, she noticed he had left a little gift on the precious carpet in the living room.

She couldn't help but grin, and took the animal, that was now a healthy eleven lb. cat into her arms, careful of his sharp claws.

"I guess you didn't like these people either huh? I can't really blame you"

She had took the habit of talking to her cat, even though some of her friends (the Teme mostly) called her insane for it, but what else could she do, she did feel lonely sometimes and the cat was the only family she had, so she would talk to it if she wished to do so.

"Here Kurama, be good we are going to our new house now, and you will be free to roam wherever you want. You just need to be a little patient ok?"

She put him delicately in the little cage, and grinned at him. He looked comfortable in there.

"Well Kurama" her voice sounded a little nostalgic, but she was smiling as she gave one last look at the place she had spent the last four years of her life in, although it didn't feel like she was leaving her home, it had never been such a thing for her, and she didn't harbor any affection towards the building or the people that owned it.

"This is the start of our new life, I hope you are excited just as much as I am" she gave a quick look at her pet, and furrowed her brows. Kurama was licking his tail with no care of what she was blabbering about, and she smiled at that, getting a hold of the cage she walked out and jumped into her friend's car, giving the house a quick glance before turning to smile at Sakura.

"Ready to go?" the pink-haired girl asked her, clutching the steering wheel with both hands in a nervous gesture, that didn't go unnoticed by Naruko, but she chose to ignore it, because she was sure of the choice she had made for herself. She didn't want to depend on anyone, and this was the only way, she wouldn't let Sakura, or anyone else convince her of the contrary.

She leaned a little bit against the door of the car, setting Kurama's cage on her legs, it was only a half an hour ride, so there was no point in leaving him in the back seat.

She eyed Kiba's truck behind them, that was waiting for them to move so they could follow them, and she leaned her head on the seat, closing her eyes, finally allowing her body to relax.

"You know the answer" she turned to look straight into Sakura's eyes with a big reassuring grin, helping the pink-haired girl relax a little bit.

"Let's go then!" she started the engine, and with one swift moved maneuvered the car on the road.

Forty- two minutes later, they finally reached their destination, the heavy rain had slowed down traffic, so it had took a little longer than usual, but that didn't ruin Naruko's everlasting good mood, and she rushed to open the door to let the others in, to avoid getting soaked by the rain.

With Kurama's cage safely anchored to her hip, she took her first steps into her new home with a satisfied smile.

She had spent a good part of her time painting the walls and moving furniture around to make it look better, and she was satisfied of the results.

Haku had given her the keys almost directly, giving her the freedom of doing what she wanted with the place, and so she had done.

The small living room, looked brighter with the small coffee table in the middle of the room, the orange angular couch that she had bargained at the local flea market, some colorful and horrendous pictures, that gave some light, and the blue and orange curtains draped over the window, of dubious taste.

The house had transformed into a sad empty hole into this vivacious explosion of colors that resembled the new tenant's bright personality.

"Kurama, welcome to our new house!" she set the cage down opening the grill, the cat slipping out immediately, and after giving the place a good long stare, jumped on the couch dozing off against the armrest. That was pretty much what was expected by a cat, but Naruko managed to feel a little insulted at his lack of interest.

"So, where should we leave the rest of your shit" Kiba walked in without much thought some boxes in hand, and shoes all wet.

"Idiot! You are dripping on the damn floor, take that soaked coat off!" Sakura punched the back of his head, luckily it she had gone light on him otherwise he would be rolling on the floor in pain, and maybe a concussion too. Sakura's punches were something to be scared of, the girl had monstrous strength.

"Sorry sorry, geez you girls, always complaining about everything" he complained taking the raincoat off, shaking the remnants of water from his head, exactly like a dog would do.

"It's called having good manners!"

Naruko ignored their bickering, not really caring if the floor got wet, she wasn't as picky as her friend was.

"Drop them over there Kiba, thank you" she smiled pointing towards the small hallway. The brown-haired boy that did just as he was told, before dropping on the floor with a tired puff, waking Kurama that meowed in annoyance.

"Here Dobe, I hope we're finished" Sasuke and Shikamaru followed the Inuzuka's example leaving everything there, and walking in the cramped living room, giving it a long pointed glance, he was the only one of the group that hadn't seen it finished. Naruko looked at him, lips in a grim line as she waited for him to express his judgment.

"It looks…terrible, but, it's renown you have a very bad taste in almost anything, but it's better than what I was expecting"

Everyone in the room turned to look at him as if he had discovered the Saint Graal,since he never said so many words in one take, and, but it was the most important part, he had complimented the Uzumaki, in his own way, but still, it was something to be proud of.

"Wow, I think I can rest in peace now" Shikamaru had already made himself comfortable on the sofa, next to Kiba.

"Really though, there's a hell lot of orange around here" the brown-haired teen commented with a grin, not that anyone was surprised, everyone knew she had an obsession with the color and anytime she found something in that tone, she had to buy it.

"Hey, orange is great!"

"Well, I think we should grab a bite to eat, and then get going, you have to get to work soon anyway" Sakura said peering at Naruko that was going through a box to find something she could change into.

"I still have two hours" she waved her off, she was hungry, and neither one of them had had any lunch that day.

"Actually dobe, it's five o'clock " the black-haired Uchiha checked his phone that displayed the exact time, and it was the only clock he trusted.

"What! You mean I only have one hour to take a shower, find something to wear and to eat?" the blonde panicked, squeezing her hands on her cheeks roaming around the house like a crazed person.

"Don't worry, fretting about things won't help" Shikamaru sounded like the wisest of them, as he yawned from his spot on the sofa.

"That's why you need a watch, dobe" Sasuke sighed, throwing a small package at her, it looked like a gift with the golden paper wrapped around it and the small orange bow that made her smile. Whatever it was she was lucky she caught it immediately, without dropping it.

"How is this supposed to help me?" she asked raising both brows at the Uchiha shaking the package close to her ear.

"You have to open it, Naru" Sakura explained, aware that Sasuke would lose his patience if she asked another stupid question.

"oh…all right" she sat down between Shikamaru and Kiba staring at the thing curiously.

"Come on Uzumaki, it won't bite you" the Inuzuka grinned, looking at her with impatience.

The girl then proceeded to unwrap it slowly and gasped when she revealed what that small box contained.

"A phone? For me?" she looked at the small group with an incredulous expression, and then back at the box, it looked a lot like the one Sasuke had, and she knew it was expensive because she had gone with him to get his.

No one had ever given her something so worthy, actually, no one had ever thought about giving her gifts.

"Of course it's for you. You don't have one, and you didn't receive anything for graduation, so, we got one for you, it's already set up, we have registered our numbers in it already, the only thing you need to do, turns it on" Sakura explained with a bright smile.

"Button on the left side, in case you're wondering" Shikamaru explained, taking it out of the box for her, showing her the right button.

"You guys…I can't accept this" she smiled softly at them, but she felt bad, almost like she was taking advantage of their kindness, her blue eyes shiny with unshed tears. She wouldn't cry, although it moved her to see how much they cared for her. It made her feel warm and happy.

"Of course you can, don't be such a stubborn ass" Kiba punched her lightly on the arm with a smile, and she nodded, hugging her cocky friend, patting him lightly on the back.

"Thank you you guys, I don't know what to say"

"Don't say anything, there's no need" Shikamaru got up from the couch, and stood in front of her ruffling her hair with affection, before dragging Kiba up with him.

"We should leave, you have to get ready now, and we are delaying you"

"Yeah, he's right" the two boys waved at Naruko, with the promise of calling her the next day, they left, leaving only Sasuke and Sakura behind.

"Naruko, if you ever need anything or want to leave this place just give us a call all right?" the pink-haired girl hugged her friend, smiling warmly at her.

"Of course, but I will be fine, don't worry"

Sakura nodded, and took the Uchiha's hand entwining their fingers together.

Sasuke hesitated a little bit, as he looked straight into her deep blue orbs, a sincerely concerned look in his eyes, that left her speechless, but something in the back of her mind suggested she knew the reason of that particular look, having nothing to do with her, but with the place she had chosen to live in. He had never expressed his opinion about it, but it was obvious he had been harboring such feelings for a long time if the look on his face was something to go by.

"Dobe, just…just be careful. There are dangerous people in this place" an unspoken name made quietly it's way in the raven's mind, but he refused to speak it out loud, he hadn't uttered it in such a long time, he wouldn't do it now, it would sound like a bad omen.

"Don't worry Teme, I can take care of myself"

Author's note

Hello everybody! I know I still have two other stories to finish, but this has been on my mind and on my computer for so long, and my muse came back with ideas flowing my mind for this I couldn't leave it unfinished.

For those who know me for "One of the boys" just know that this story will completely differ from that, not only because it will touch more darker and angsty themes, but because I plan on taking my time with this, updating less frequently, and only when completely satisfied of every chapter. One of the boys was like a little try out for me, I loved it just as much as this one, but I think it's obvious that I will put much more time and efforts into this one, since to me, it's a much more serious fiction in my point of view, and with a more complicated plot.

Thank you for your time, and I hope to read your opinions!

Till next time

Darkshadows92