Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto I would not be worried about where my next meal is coming from.

Strays Siren

Chapter 1: Tree of Knowledge

The sun setting is fantastic today. Its red hue covered the sky signaling the end of the day. At any other time I might have walked and took in the scenery. Today though wouldn't be one of those days.

"Hey you! Come back here!"

Ohh well, back to reality.

"Where do you think your going you little thief!"

Here I am. Running as hard as I can for dare life from these two idiots. You'd think with all this trouble, I killed a Hokage or president. No, all of this is over two measly loaves of bread. To those buffoons it means nothing, but to me this is life. My first meal of the day happens at the end of the day. No way in hell am I turning around and giving it back now.

"Grab him somebody! Catch him before he gets away!"

Yea right. You think you can grab me so easily. I'm not that weak. I've been a thief all my life, running from goons like them. Even if someone is around at this time, I'd get by. I continue my sprinting pace hoping that these guys will just quit and go home. I haven't had anybody chase me like this today. These two buffoons have been chasing me throughout the whole village for almost an hour now. As much as I hate to admit it, they were gaining on me. I don't think I can beat them out in speed, but if I turn a few corners, I can lose them. I know I can.

If fate wasn't such evil beast I probably would have too. As I turn a corner from the main street, I run down this new street only to have my heart sink to my feet. My pounding heart must have skipped a few beats as my eyes widen to the wall that stood in my way to freedom. Even after this long hour of running I begin to sweat some more. "Dead end." I whisper these two words to myself as if I need to hear it to get my feet moving again. As I spin around to begin a mad scramble for safety, I felt frozen to the spot. Those two men behind me block my only path safety. To freedom.

It should not come to a surprise. They were not too far behind. I guess actually seeing the reality just makes it that much more frightening. My mouth opened, gasping for air to breathe energy into my body and get me to do something. Anything. I took one step back. Well it's a start. Those two goons begin their approach towards me. My whole body shook with fear. My mouth remains open, trying to say something. I wanted them to stay away from me. To get away. Just leave me alone. Yet these words remain in the pit of stomach and would not surface to my tongue. Closer and closer they came. I clutch my dinner tightly to my chest with one arm. Their shadows now covering my body. I did the only thing my body would allow me to do. Scream as loud as I can and hope someone saves me.

No one saved me.

My body lays hurt and pain on the cold dirt. They must have beaten me pretty good. I can barely remember where I am. It soon came flooding back though, like a recurring nightmare. I could feel one of those idiots grasping my arm firmly while his foot remains on my head. This made sure that the kissing session the dirt and I have would prolong. These damn goons didn't need to do that. I already don't feel like moving. "You little brat. You got our bread dirty! Now it's worthless!".

Stupid jerk. At least you have food. Some food with dirt on it is the best I could ever eat. "Do you know what happens to thieves' kid? They get their hands cut off." He says with a mischievous ring to it that brought my heart racing. Would they actually cut my hands off? I try to move but his foot puts more pressure on my head, threatening to crush it. Then I felt it. The thing that sent a shiver vibrating all the way from head, through my spine, down to my toes, and back to my head again. It's the feeling of something sharp. The bastard grips my hand so I can not move it. I can feel this cold object glide across my hand and gently poke different parts of it.

I'm scared. Afraid. I want to struggle and run but I'm too scared to move my hand. He might just chop it off. "Hey which finger do you want? I was thinking of the thumb." the man, I'm guessing who has my face eating gravel, says. "Give me his middle finger. It really pisses me off how this kid goes around flipping other people off." Ok that's it I have to struggle before these goons make a necklace out of my fingers.

I try to push myself up with my other hand. This works for only a few seconds. A foot came across my fingers and my face falls back into its position in the gravel. "He still has a lot of spunk. Let's just take both of his hands!" I could feel this man winding back as if he is about to use a lot of force on something. My hand is grasped hard just around just where my thumb begins. This is it. They are actually going to do it.

"No! Please! I'm sorry! Please don't! Don't cut off my hands! Please no!" I was babbling like a baby now. Tears wanted to seep out of my eyes, but I am too frightened to let them out. In a few seconds I'm going to be handicapped and there is nothing I can do about it. Why did I have to be so friggin weak?

He let go of my hand and the pressure on my head subsides. My pleas stop as I realize there is no pain. Either losing your hand isn't so painful or he just held off his assault. As I see my hand fall to the dirt where my head rests, I am relieved to see all five fingers still there. I didn't move though.

"There! You get the message you little punk?"

"That'll teach ya to waste our time."

I just laid there. A part of me is just in too much pain to get up at the moment. The other part of me is still afraid to move in fear they may come back. The sound of footsteps came to my ears. I still didn't move. The foot steps became fainter and fainter. I stay prone with my nose pressed a centimeter into the ground. A few minutes pass as my mind plays with different ideas. Of course there is only one idea that always comes to me. Like a dog nagging for food it would always return.

So this is all my life is. That idea always haunted me.

I begin to struggle to get up. I made it to a sitting position on my knees. I guess its progress...I guess. Below me is one of the loaves of bread I had stolen. It is dirty and begins to crumble.

All my pain and suffering. For just some measly bread. Those two bastards just shrug it off like its nothing while this is all I have. It's not like I want to steal, but what choice is there for a weakling like me? What is even worse is this feeling of pain. Being beaten down for just some food. Even though today is the most severe of beatings I've had to date in my twelve years of life, this was a weekly occurrence. I'd steal one meal a day, maybe two if I'm lucky. One of those days out of the week somebody would catch me. Give me a beating and try to teach me a stupid lesson of why not to steal. The only reason they haven't strung me on a noose as yet is because I'm just a kid. Or maybe it's because they don't see me as a threat. I'm not too sure which.

My blood begins to boil at these thoughts as I look at the precious ambrosia I hold. A scruffy piece of damn bread. How I hate it. Always at the bottom. They can just have their way with me because I'm so weak. My stomach gives a suggestion that it is ready for food. Not the most proud of things, but I never did have anything to be proud of. I began to eat the bread like a wild cat while my thoughts play their own game.

Once my stomach is slightly appeased by the bread, I remember what that buffoon said to me. A thief gets his hands cut off ehh? If I only had power. If I only had strength. I'd crush you all. As if to symbolize this, I ball my right hand into a fist as tight as I could. It was the only comforting thought I ever had. That someday I'd be strong and powerful. Then these fools would never treat me like a street urchin again. And if they did I'd kill them.

Now able to get my legs to move, it's time for me to leave this ally. The sun is still setting and that red hue still remains. I would have liked to actually look at the view, but I'm just too pissed. So what to do now for the end of the day? Go huddle under some garbage can. Maybe find something soft to use as a pillow. Then sleep. Wake up the next day sometime in the afternoon. Plan to steal some bread from some person or maybe pilfer some meat just as they buy it. Maybe I'll even be lucky enough to find a tourist and steal something of value that I can use to buy food. Then have people chase me around the village. Maybe I'd get away maybe I wouldn't. They'd beat me down in an alley, leave me for dead. I'd get up later and go find some place to sleep. A monotonous and vicious cycle that's been my life. And I can't do a damn thing about it.

"You have potential boy."

A voice? It startles me that I spin around as quickly as my beaten body would turn. There is no one behind me. Great. I've finally been hit so hard that I'm hearing voices. Either that or someone is playing a trick on me. It doesn't matter now. I'm fed up with this day. I turn back around to begin my walk that led to nowhere. Then I see him. Standing right in front of me. Like an almighty being he looms over me grinning. I didn't know what to think. Should I run? I want to, but I find my eyes transfixed on his face.

His face is pale, which is a perfect fit for the long raven hair he has. His nose is long that travels up to his alluring eyes. They are the weirdest thing of this man. They weren't eyes I have ever seen before. Their bage color seems to hold a more animalistic nature inside of them. At the same time though they hold a tame nature to them as they pierce into me. This man had to be a high class noble. Even his clothing just seems god like. I open my mouth trying to say something although I don't have a clue what would have came out of my mouth if it could speak. This man just stands there grinning down at me.

"I saw something in you I like. A look in your eye."

His words bring me back to reality. I am too transfixed on his face from before. I didn't hear what he first said. But if this person speaks again I'd be sure to listen.

"If you leave this place and come with me, I will make you strong boy. Follow me"

With that he turns and begins to walk away. As I watch him leave me behind I realize. This maybe my chance. What else have I got to loose. I did almost loose both of my hands today so what else can happen. His words repeat over and over in my head. With each time it repeats more and more I feel this is right. I am sick of this pathetic life. I have nothing to loose and if this noble can make me strong. Strong enough so I never had to have my life toyed with by others.

I'll follow him into hell right now.

----------

One mistake. That's all it takes to make one persons life joy or misery. If a mistake somehow brings joy into your life then you're lucky. For the rest of the world, for me mistakes are terrible. For me it was my end. I was someone who was happy.

"Hey you! Bring some more drinks!"

The ringing of the bell from the group of men and women brought me back to reality. Usually I love to hear the sound of bells. It reminds me of the wind chimes I used to have in my house. At this point in time though, they are so annoying. All it meant is for me to hurry up and serve some more drinks to another table. Today is a long shift and my body feels like it just wants to crash on the floor. I approach the table with the best smile I can put on.

Perhaps it was my fault for not watching my destination carefully enough. Perhaps it was because of the man on another table who let his foot into the walkway too abruptly. For whatever reason, I trip and fall into another waitress. She in turn falls tossing her tray of food onto group I was approaching. In from any other persons view the scene is quite funny. For me, the other waitress and that group of six this is not going to be fun.

"Stupid waitresses! Hasn't anyone thought you at least how to carry food?" A large, plump man rising from his seat says. His head is full of ramen. His body, now vertical, allows for fish, chicken and other assortments to fall off. The two of us are frightened, I probably more than her, but I have to at least look at ease. To calm her nerves and mine. The rounded man with ramen for hair picks up the other waitress by the collar. His cheeks are flushed with anger and his face could make a bull seem tame.

I stand up after. Everyone is staring now. I have to do something. I did the only thing I could think of and that is to pierce the man with a sharp utensil. I really wish I was brave. Any other person could have probably stabbed him with enough force to teach him a lesson. I only did it enough to prick the plump customer. He drops the other waitress, but now his eyes are set on me. Not what I was planning.

My heart must have jumped up into my throat. I don't know what to do now.

"So you are trying to help your friend?"

"Yea that's right. Do you have a problem with that fatty?" really what the hell am I thinking at this point. This man's head turns to the color of a red chili pepper. The ramen on his seems to start sizzling from his anger. "I do have a problem and I think I'll take care of it right now." he says with his gruff voice. "Well then what are you going to do. Hit two girls?" I snap back. My intention is for him hopefully to gain a sense that he is inside a shop with over a dozen people watching him. Maybe he'd regain his composure and leave.

"That's not a bad idea." he says as he unleashes his fist at my head.

Well so much for composure. I should just keep my mouth shut from now on.

My eyes snap close waiting for my face to be rearranged into an abstract art painting. The punch never came though. I open one eye hoping he is just not waiting for me to open my eyes. I let a large breath of air escape my mouth. A slender tall woman from the group had placed her hand over that overweight pig's fist. At least someone in their group has some sense.

"A man shouldn't be fighting girls now. That just wouldn't be right. So why not let a woman do it instead."

Why am I trying to believe that this group of over zealous people has a voice of reasoning? Within a few minutes the other waitress and I are 'escorted' outside. It bothers me in the back of my mind that no one comes to our rescue. I guess there all a little bit like me then. It is a warm night and the rain bedded the area a few hours ago still left its mystical shine in the air. Unfortunately mysticism is not going to be a savior.

With the group of five around me and the waitress so we can not run, the only thing we can do is fight this woman. And fight we did. We fought to no avail. One woman beat us both up. It's so embarrassing I just want to rush away from it all. I pick my head up from the muddy water that I was just thrown in. My long hair flowing everywhere and tangled in knots. My face is cut and my chest hurts. It is hard to get air into my systems. My co worker is not looking so well either. Meanwhile the slender woman just grins at us without a scratch on her.

My ally and I begin to get up for another a futile attempt at living through the ordeal. "If you two get on your knees and beg, maybe I'll go easy on you." she replies grinning from ear to ear. It is something we both detest, but neither of us wants our skulls to be driven into the ground, trying not to get muddy water in our systems. So we sit there on our knees, in the mud, waiting for this woman to cast judgment on us.

My body shivers from being wet. The cool face I had once before is long gone. I despise this fear within me. I am supposed to help my fellow waitress and here I am about to fall apart. The woman calls one of the men from the group over and they hand her a sheath. From that she pulls out a curved blade. My heart stops. This can not be happening.

"So your clumsy," our antagonizer says pointing the sword to my friend, "and your brave." pointing the blade to me. "Well I want both of you to stand up now." We both stand up, our knees clapping together uncontrollably. "I'll make a deal with you. Instead of killing you both, I'll kill one of you. That's just if either of you can come to a decision of who dies."

My heart begins a steady pace and the sweat begins to pour out from my head. What should I do? What should I say? I don't want to die like this! I try to speak, but it feels like my throat is tied with a rope to prevent any sound from leaving. My friend speaks up "I won't leave my friend alone. She saved me in the cavern and I'll stay with her now." Her hand then clasps mine in a firm grip. We are both going to stand our ground together...even if I don't want to.

"How touching. I'll give you to the count of five. Then we'll see if you feel the same. Five..."

Is this how it really ends? Cut down by a woman whose name I don't even know. Because of a folly my life is over? My heart beat begins to quicken.

"Four..."

My eyes search the whole area. There has to be some way of escape. Someway. Somehow. Where are our other workers? Where is the tavern manager? Are they really going to just let us die like this?! My friend's eyes are also searching for any means of escape too. Our hands remain in our grip. My heart begins to beat much more vigorously.

"Three..."

This can't be how it ends. I hate my life here but I still want to live. I can't do anything. My body lays hear dead, just waiting for wild animals to gnaw at it. My heart begins the pace of a pro runner. My friend has closed her eyes now. Maybe I should do the same.

"Two.."

The woman raises the sword over us. I start to remember how I got to this tavern. The only way I survived before. It was a pathetic way. I can't die here. There has to be some way. A shinobi would have been proud if they could move as fast as my heart is beating at this moment. If she doesn't cut me down now then my heart will probably explode in the next few seconds. My whole body trembles. My friend and I never release our grip. I am short of breath. I wish my body would do something to save my life right now. Anything I don't care what.

"One!"

The blade came down in a flash. The next moment surprises everyone, including myself. With the grip I have on my friend, all my strength is used to pull her directly in front of me. The blade took its victim in her and I am left unscathed. You should be careful what you wish for.

I didn't want this to happen. I didn't want to die, but I didn't want to betray her either. The slender woman is surprised as I am. I didn't mean for it to be this way. My body just acted on it's on like so many months ago. The blood drips off the sword as the woman begins to cackle at me. Her laughter sent shivers though my body and shame to my heart. My fellow waitress clutches her chest with both hands from her prone position. One of her eyes glares at me. It shows confusion, anger, and sadness. The same look I didn't want to see ever again directed at me. "Well it seems your friend is nothing more than a coward." the woman says between her cackling.

Those words. They feel as if she just cut right through me with the damn sword. "Well since your the only brave one here you'll have to take your friends own punishment too." this slender harlot coolly says to my prone friend. With that, the woman turns the hurt waitress on her back. A loud shriek came from my friend's mouth as the blade came down again, this time slicing her back. I just stand there. Like a damn useless fool that I am. Watching as my friend, whom I tried to save, taking my beatings. Why did I have to be so afraid? The tears began to swell at my eyes as I thought of this.

The bloody blade is then pointed at me. "Run little girl. I don't kill cowards. But your friend here may have a different opinion. The scars that she has on her body now are your fault." The woman cackles with that stupid voice of hers. My body takes over at this point. I spin around and run.

Leaving the area, leaving that fat bastard that started this and that stupid harlot that ended it. Even leaving my once friend behind. She must hate my guts by now. What a great friend I am. I want to turn back. I want to go back and do something to get her out of there. My body will not let me. This damn fear keeps me running into a forest where it is only me. I only stop when my foot trips over a stone. I seem to have a knack for tripping at the wrong times.

Once I pick up my head from its new home in mossy stagnant water I look at the reflection. It used to be a face of pride and prestige. A face of beauty of with many friends and loved ones. Now as I try to move my dark hair out of my eyes I only see a coward. One who has no friends. Who has fallen from grace. A person who deserves to die but is too afraid to accept that fact. The tears that held back for so long comes out like a stream.

"Why couldn't I be different?" I say to myself as I pound my hands on the ground. The streams in my eyes will not quit. It doesn't matter though. I am alone anyways.

"To be different is what you want?"

I guess I'm alone. The voice is soft, but strong at the same time. It came from ahead of me. My eyes slowly look up from the small green pool to see this man before me. How could he have been in front of me without my knowledge? He kneels down on one knee so we are almost the same height. With one pale hand he gently eases my face to look at his. The man then uses his other hand, covered by his kimono, to wipe away my tears, the mud, the blood and whatever else that is stuck to my face.

"Do you want to be brave?" he asks.

I am still in shock that this person actually cares. He is no normal man. His clothes are that of the wealthy class. A class that I used to know. His skin is white like the moon that is half seen from the clouds in the sky. His hair is dark that it could easily blend in with the night sky. Even in the dark though, his eyes are radiant. They are not like any other person's eye that I've seen. They are strong. They are courageous. Eyes that I wish I had.

The man then returns to his standing position. I stay looking up at him from the floor. I am curious about him. I also am slightly embarrassed by this man finding me like this. Considering what has happened tonight though, that should be the least of my worries.

"You have a gift that I like."

Me a gift? The only gift I seem to have is running. He must be mistaken, but I don't know what to say to him.

"Follow me girl. I will make you strong. You will never have to fear again."

He turns away from me and begins to walk away into the forest. No fear? His words begin to chant in my skull like a mantra. I stand up. Could I be getting a chance to correct my mistakes? When I thought of it I don't mind going with him. I surely can not go back at the cavern after tonight's' events. I'm tired of putting up some false mask of bravery. I want to actually be brave like this man. I chase after him.

I don't know what the future holds for me now, but I do know one thing. This isn't a mistake.