Behind Blue Eyes

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did I would hug the characters all-day-long!

7 years ago

"One more push Mitarashi-san!" the medic-nin called over the cries of the purple haired teenager, currently in the final stages of birth. People were rushing about all around them and moans of pain could be heard everywhere. The lights in the ward had long since gone out, the emergency lights holding out despite the tremors rocking the village.

Shouts were erupting from all angles as more casualties poured in through the doors of Konoha hospital. Right now had to be the worst time for a child to be born; for outside the village walls was the Kyuubi no Kitsune, strongest of the demon-lords, facing off against the entire shinobi force of Konoha.

The shinobi were trying relentlessly to hold off the demon until the Yondaime Hokage could arrive to help. It was a losing battle, with every strike of the demon there were more injuries, more deaths. And yet, there inside the hospital the miracle of life was being brought into fruition, despite all that was happening.

The teenager on the bed let loose one final cry before she slumped down on the bed, exhausted and relived, the cries of her new born child joining the din of the packed ward. To some of the wounded, as well as most of the healers, this sign brought hope to their hearts, the will of fire truly at work.

This time was cut short though, as a sudden thunderous roar outside shook the hospital, turning over trolleys and causing the emergency lights to go out as screams fill the wards again. The tremors halted without warning; there was an eerie deafening pause, one filled with foreboding, this torn asunder by an explosion ripping through the hospital.

…

People outside rushed to the scene trying to find survivors in the flaming remains of the building. Many tried with renewed vigour as a yellow flash shot back and forth across the rubble, uncovering hollows in the building where survivors were. Then as fast as it had come, the flash was gone. Unknown to many, this would be the last time they saw the Yondaime Hokage alive.

…

A blinding light filled the night sky bringing with it an overwhelming power. All the shinobi came to an unsteady halt; ready in case their strength was needed once more. An unholy roar erupted from within the light, sending dread down the spines of many a ninja present. However, as the light faded the dried husk of the greatest demon-lord fell to the earth, lifeless and dull. Victory had to come at last. The Yondaime had saved them all.

Cheers erupted from the battlefield, even as Gamabunta was de-summoned. All the shinobi rushed to congratulate the Hokage, only to find his still form cradling a newborn child in his arms. Many of them could not see this seen from where they stood. But the ones that did swore to themselves that they would protect this child, so marked the end of the tragically short reign of the Yondaime Hokage.

A crying child, alone, left lying on a ritual pedestal; a seal adorning his abdomen and the weight of the world on his shoulders. Many too scared to touch him, too many feeling unjust hatred and the ones who cared and knew the truth held away.

There the child lay blissfully unaware of the discrimination life would throw at him in years to come.

Current day

Birthdays, a special day once a year for many, had never been an enjoyable day for the boy, far from it. This day only brought sadness and pain to him. This one would prove no different from any of the others the shock blond child had gone through. This time Naruto was hiding behind a dumpster in some rat infested alley. Hoping above all that maybe, just maybe, the mob of drunken villagers would not be able to find him.

But it was useless, they always could.

All Naruto had wanted to do was get some ramen cups from the store quickly, looking to avoid the festival and all the villagers. However like every year, there were always some groups that got drunk, gathered together, and decided to play 'hunt the demon brat'. The name was lost on the boy; he did not understand why they hated him so much, why they hurt him. No matter how much he pleaded with them, they do not say.

One of the stragglers of the mob staggered past the entrance of the alley, stopping to look blearily down the alley. The boy, shaking in fear of being discovered, curled up tighter behind the dumpster. He waited until he was sure the man must have moved on, risking taking a peek out from behind the bin. There was no sign of the mob straggler anywhere.

Naruto's blood ran cold as he heard an evil chuckle from above him. His head snapped up, there crouched on the dumpster above him grinned the man evilly, the light hair hanging down past his face only adding to the effect.

"Looks like you lose the game again little demon." He muttered amusedly, before calling out to the others, "He's over here! I've got the brat!"

The sound of angry shouts and the pounding of footsteps filled the air, as the group turned running back to the alley. Soon, the boy was surrounded. Nowhere for him to run, nowhere for him to hide; he stood to face his tormentors, hands trembling in fear.

"Hey everyone, I think the little shit is trying to act tough." A voice from crowd called out, which brought about a round of cruel laughter.

"Yeah but it's shaking with fear, pathetic." Another spits out as the laughter died down, jeers of agreement rising up in its stead.

An arrogant looking guy stepped forward out of the crowd, a smirk across his face and an air of confidence around him, his eye's the blood red of the Sharingan with only a single tomoe adorning each. The crowd seemed pleased with this turn of events, a mighty Uchiha with their cause.

"These 'demon' are your final few moments," he declared regally, "You shall never darken this village with your presence again."

Cheers of agreement rose from the crowd, as some threw bottles at the child, a lot smashing and all cutting him and dazing him. Drenched in alcohol and bleeding profusely, the boy tried to think back to his academy lessons as little help as they were, he took a stance and tried to focus chakra his around his body.

The man in front of him could not help but barked out a laughing. To him this was pointless, though he could not deny, it made this all the more amusing.

"Listen here Brat. I am of the one of elite clans in Konoha; An Uchiha. Who do you think you are to attempt to stand a chance against me?" The Uchiha disappeared from sight and the boy found himself slammed against the wall, held by the neck a good two feet from the ground.

Naruto felt his chest burn with pain, his lung crying for air. He coughed up blood; he could not see himself leaving this place alive. His vision began to fade so he focused more chakra into them, helping it become clearer again, a stabbing pain pierced through them but he pushed it down.

The man's eyes widened with a little shock as looked into the defeated child's eyes. A cold determination filled the Uchiha's face; he reared back and started to form seals. He smiled coldly at Naruto before taking a deep breath.

"And so, I bid you farewell little demon, burn in hell. Katon: Goukakyuu no Jut..."

The Uchiha never got finish his technique, due to an ANBU was crouching in front of him with his blade buried to the guard though his chest. The ANBU's Weasel masks surface cold and emotionless porcelain shining in the moonlight.

"Itachi how could you, you traitor. How could you go against your own clan? This was what the Uchiha council ordered." The man asked 'Itachi' in a rattling voice.

"You are a disgrace Shusui(sp?). You have gone against Konoha, which is treason. Your only fate can be death. Goodbye old friend." Itachi said in a monotone voice devoid of emotion, wrenching the blade from the man's chest and letting the lifeless corpse fall unceremoniously to the floor.

Itachi turned to the mob of people, staring them down with a cold gaze. He cast a Genjutsu on them, stealing their consciousness from them. He sent up a signal flare, and then walked over to the boy who was holding onto life by a thread and picked him up.

Jumping to the nearest rooftop, Itachi looked down into the boys eye's and removed his mask. A smile crossed his young features. He thought about the irony of those eyes and the stirring of trouble they would bring to the village.

"You are safe now…Uzumaki Naruto."

With that he made his way from rooftop to rooftop towards the newest hospital in Konoha as fast as his legs could possibly carry them.

…

Upon arriving at the hospital, Itachi landed in front of the venerable Sandaime. Bowing his head to the elderly Hokage, he handed over the severely injured boy.

"Hokage-sama, I…" he began but was silenced with a wave of the old man's hand.

"I saw what went on Itachi; you did well to restrain yourself. Now, you know what you must do, I have let this go on for far too long…For what it is worth I am sorry Itachi." The tired looking Hokage sighed. Looking down at Naruto he said, "The innocent must survive."

"Hai Hokage-sama." Itachi bowed then disappeared from sight.

The Hokage turned to rush the boy into the hospital, but not before whispering into the wind, "Tonight justice will be met. As terrible as justice must be."

I decided my older writing needed sprucing up. I did not quite realise how bad it really was. Cringe worthy indeed.