The sound of moths hitting the street lamp was the only sound you could hear as naruto crept down the

street, keeping to the shadows to keep the unwanted eyes away from him for he knew that if someone were

to see him he would come home bruised and bloodied.

This was a constant occurrence for him and it had taken months to become quiet enough to make it home without a beating.

Sneaking past the fifth Street lamp naruto saw what he was dreading the ninja that liked to lead the "fox" hunt. It was a game that happens every couple of weeks but there's always this one day of the year that is the worst and it's always around week two of October.

Standing stock still he looked for a way around the two ninja who were standing under the next street lamp.

Looking around he finally saw an escape route backing away a good distance Naruto climbed the picket

Fence that stood a meter and a half tall and let out a gasp of surprise when he fell to the other side.

Getting over his initial surprise he stood and silently jogged down the side of the house he found himself at keeping his distance from the ninja.

Soon the trees and buildings started to thin out and naruto could see the orphanage, he was late he knew so he wasn't going to risk entering the house and waking up Mistress he looked towards the tree just outside the orphanage and made a bee line for it.

Climbing the familiar wood he layed against the trunk wondering why mistress seemed to hate him more than all the other kids, as far as he knew the only bad thing he had done was take something to eat without permission.

He thought this was unfair as he was starving having not had anything to eat for a week and a half and all the other kids got to eat every day.

Closing his eyes he fell into a restless sleep.

When morning came I was woken by Mistress who was shaking the tree so violently that I dropped like a stone right out of it and landed on the ground.

Mistress was a huge woman with strong muscley arms and a face with high cheek bones and small beady, narrowed eyes.

Glaring down at me as she gripped my dirty and matted blonde hair in her meaty fist, I cried out but otherwise stayed quiet as she dragged me inside by my hair purposely making sure my small skinny frame hit every corner we passed.

Once we reached the kitchens my head was in pain and I had a headache coming on not to mention all the new bruises I now sported.

Mistress glared at Naruto. "Get to work demon before I have to punish you for getting home late AND not working." She spat.

I nodded my head knowing that one punishment would leave me with scars and that I would probably die if I got two.

So I walked over to the bench to see what the wretch had in store for me today.

Collecting the chore list he quickly skimmed it.

Breakfast

Mowing

Fixing roof

Getting shopping

Naruto knew that it would take all day to finish the list and by then naruto won't have time to go into town and talk to jii (sp?) Jii

Getting to work naruto worked non stop late into the night. He had a hard time getting on the roof for a three year old but it otherwise went smoothly.

Once the list was completed naruto looked at his hands and admired the purple bruises that now blossomed there.

It was 2am now as naruto tiptoed to his room under the stairs and into the basement.

Feeling particularly sad Naruto started wondering why it was always him who got beat and him who didn't get food.

Finally naruto came to the conclusion that he must be a monster that deserves punishment. With this thought in mind naruto decided he would do his best to make up for being a monster.

he would do everything in his power to make up for his continued existence.