Fuck my head hurts. What happened?
"Look out, someone coming!"
Before I can even register where I am or who yelled, I am lifted off the ground and thrown several feet. I hear bones break before I feel the pain shoots through my arm.
"Fuck!"
Shaking my head, I open my eyes. Blood. Everywhere. I am in the middle of some god forsaken battle. On instinct I pull out a knife? From my pocket.
'What is this strange knife, and how did i get here?'
I think before I crawl to a nearby tree and prop my back against it and try to get my bearings. To my left, where i most likely was before I awoke is the remains of tents and a firepit. A single person, probably who yelled the warning is engaged in high speed combat with an enemy.
'How are they moving so quickly?!? How can I keep up with them? Where the hell am I? Wait. Why do i feel like this? This is unlike me.'
As i finally begin to recover, I think back to my past.
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[I know this is an info dump, but I want to describe my MCs past once. Maybe a flash back here or there where it will be more character driven then story telling. But this time its more like the MC is describing his life as a narrator. This is my first time writing, and if its boring work with me and help me get better yeah? At least it isn't a translation. Also feel free to point out errors, misspelled words, and plot holes. While I will correct the first two if I feel like it, the last I will try and turn plot holes into hidden plot. Also no patreon or anything I am just writing this to cure boredom.]
I was born in Italy, in the year 1947. My father was a US Navy Corps man who was stationed in Italy after the war. My mother was the daughter of a Italian soldier who was rescued by my father during the war.
Growing up in Italy during the 50's was hard with my heritage. Though I never realized this, as I was a born sociopath. My parents were the only people I ever truly appreciated throughout my entire life. Let me make this clear, I appreciated the usefulness lf others sure, but that was only until they were no longer benefiting myself. This may seem harsh to you, but I didn't give a fuck.
After my father passed away from injuries accrued during his long career in the military when I was 16, I took up work in one of the local mafia gangs. The man who recruited me later told me he regrets bringing me in, not because I wasn't fit, but because I took to it way to well.
This went on until my mother passed away. I was 25 at this point. The year was 1972. I still remember my mother's last words to me.
"My son, my beautiful baby. Listen to you mother. When I die, go find your father's family in America. Go live a life you can be proud of. Find a lovely woman, marry her, and have children of your own. I know you might find this tedious. You have always been different. Do this for your mama."
She always knew about my ties to the mafia. She didn't care. She loved me all the same, and for that I would try.
I slowly worked my way up in the organization, by the time I finally made it to America I was already a well known button man.
[Hitman for those that dont know/dont want to look it up.]
I primarily did these jobs as I felt nothing for those I sent off. It made few friends, but the respect was always there.
Things in America were.. different. Traveling to other countries was always disorienting, between the cultural and societal differences, language, and just how the people acted. However, Chicago in 1978 was a nightmare. Between the gangs, mafia, and police brutality your day could be ruined at the drop of a hat. Thankfully I only spent a short time there, before I made my way to Las Vegas. The boss of the time wanted me to go.. Take care of a few goons who were skimming a little to much off the top. I found that Vegas had plenty of people that needed to be visited by yours truly. I ended up staying here for several years, finally getting a legit job as a pit boss/enforcer for one of the big casinos under our umbrella.
It was here I finally met the one woman I could stand for more then a few days. She was one of the dealers at the casino when I first arrived. One day I caught her running a scam with a known card counter. When I confronted here she didn't even flinch, just told me to get it over with. While I never truly felt emotions like others, I wanted to. I used my connections to have the man disappear, putting the blame completely on his shoulders, and married her the next year. We had a kid that same year. He was born in December of 1979.
Life went on like this until the crackdown on the Mafia in America. When the feds finally came to my doorstep I knew it was time to jump ship. They already had a rico case on most of those in my "family" and offered me a chance to rat in return for a reduced sentence. This was in 1989. I turned them down, and in the end only spent 10 years in prison due to good behavior, and because a lack of evidence for most of my crimes.
When I was released, I came home to a cold house. My wife, while understanding, had grown distant with the years. My son, now 20 years old, barely knew me. The world had changed, and i knew I could no longer get by the way I had. Thankfully, after years of saving money I had appropriated from my targets, i was set for life. I bought a local business, and offered to launder money for the "family" in return for my "retirement". It was the only way I didnt get bullet in the back.
During a routine checkup in my late 50's, my doctor began to suspect I was an undiagnosed autistic. After being sent to a psychologist, at the demands of my wife, I was clinically diagnosed as a sociopath with autism. This explained my lack of emotions, yet my almost pathological need for routine, and structure. The autism is probably the only reason marriage never failed.
When my granddaughter was born i was 62. I for the first time since my mother passed felt a true connection. It wasn't like those normal people feel, I can't even describe it. I almost felt something, and that was something I latched onto. I doted on her like every grandparent does, I particularly enjoyed watching the anime she got into in her teens. This startled my wife and son, as in all the years they knew me I never enjoyed tv or cinema. Her favorite, and coincidentally my own for different reasons, was Naruto. She enjoyed the first season, and how it seems so bright and funny. I however enjoyed tbe darker side of the show. I could easily see the depths that were hidden in the background. I particularly enjoyed reading books and such about the lore that wasn't touched upon in the show.
This leads to the last memory I have. It was the night of my granddaughters High School graduation. The class of 26. I was there before it even started, which is probably the only reason my granddaughter, and her friends, are still alive. Just as the students walked into the auditorium, I heard screams followed by gunshots.
As I was i worked for the mafia for years i understood how dark and terrible humanity could be. I always carried the same gun I had since my father died, his military issued M1911A1. Before I even registered, I was sprinting at the door.
When I busted through i saw him, a man no older then 20. Hair disheveled, face gaunt, and the anger in his eyes. He had just finished reloading a pistol as I trained my gun on him. I pulled the trigger 3 times, as i always did. As he dropped, i heard another magazine click into place. As I tried to turn he leveled his gun and fired. His first few shots missed, allowing me to finish turning and aim. Around the same time as his first bullet clipped my shoulder, I fired. My shot struck his neck, and he fired one last shot which hit me in the chest.
I dont remember much before I was in the ambulance with my Granddaughter. I heard they were able to save the second shooter, and that i was critical. As I began to fade, I told my granddaughter something similar as to what my mama told me. Then nothing.
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Finally my head clears, I begin to notice things in missed. The headband on my arm with a leaf, the shape of the kunai in my hand. A hand which is much smaller then I am used too. I was in a war, and this was definitely the Ninja world. My left arm, right leg, and left ankle are broken. And most of all, fear. Overwhelming fear the likes I had never felt.
"Help..."
I hear a faint cry to my right. Dropping the kunai, I use my one good legs knee and my unbroken arm to slowly crawl to the voice. *gurgle*
As I reach him i hear him choking on what I can only assume is blood. I struggle to help, but I have zero medical experience.
"He...lp.. me.."
He whispers as he frantically stars into my eyes, desperation painted on his face as he slowly passes out.
I collapse next to him, just realizing I can barely breath.
"Must have broken a couple ribs." I say as I lay there catching my breath.
'What the fuck...'
Is my last thought before another explosion happens and dust engulfed my entire vision. Silence finally falls on my surroundings. 'Fuck, I hope who ever attacked us didnt survive.'
I try to see what happened, but the dust still hasn't cleared. It was at this point I realized the sun was rising, as it created a haze through the dust.
*crunch*
A foot step, right behind me. As I roll frantically to evade, I hear,
"Relax, if i wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."
A man with white hair and body armor says as he lifts me on his shoulder. And I see the leaf headband on his head. He smiles as I look at him.
"You are going to be ok, with me hear nothing can go wrong!" He says as he walks towards the remains of our camp.
"What happened?"
I ask when he finally puts me down in a clearing.
"I dont know, I heard the first explosion as I was traveling to the front. By the time we arrived, the enemy was fleeing."
It was only now I realized there were others in the clearing with us.
"Don't worry.. hm hm hm. He is dead." I hear from behind us, as a body is dumped onto the ground.
"Seems we have some spies running around... from Iwa... perhaps." The man who i now notice is a younger Orochimaru says as he looks at Jiraiya. Suddenly I feel a hand press against my shoulder.
"Broken ribs, arm, leg... Nothing life threatening, but you wont be ready for battle anytime soon. Damn, a concussion too. You look like shit." The lone woman, Tsunade says as she begins to heal what she can.
After about 30 minutes, the chakra fades from her hands, and she lightly smacks my shoulder as she finishes stabilizing both the man who was fighting earlier, and the other genin that nearly died. Seems that final explosion was caused by my teammate, nearly killed himself to force the enemy to retreat. As a squad of 2 genin and a chunin, we were on a C rank patrol mission.
"You got unlucky, seems like you got ambushed while returning from patrol. Sloppy." She says as she stands up.
"Thank you Lady Tsunade. I was asleep when it happened, awoke just in time to brace for the first explosion." I say meekly.
"Well, we are in a hurry. When your able, and your comrades wake up, make your way to konoha and report what happened. We have our own mission." Tsunade says as she jumps to the tree-lined and fades into the distance.
"Don't let it bother you, that's just how she is. Its always a pleasure to watch her leave though, eh?" Jiraiya says as he lifts his eyebrows in tandem.
"I'm leaving." Orochimaru says as he looks disgusted and leaps away.
"Wait!! I'm coming too! Orochimaru wait for meeee!" Jiraiya yells as he also disappears from sight.