"Wake the bloody up!" An annoyed voice said and lightly kicked the person sleeping to wake him up.

The sleeping beauty answered with a long snore undeterred and flipped to the right side of the bed, chasing after a happy dream.

The black haired boy with pale cheeks groaned. Why was I saddled with the hardest task ever? Cant I go kill someone instead?

He kicked the sleeping boy again, a little harder but to no avail.

He pulled his ears, tugged on his hair, tickled his stomach, slapped his face...none of it worked!

Then he did it all that consecutively.

Still no response.

That-that ugh! He mentally fumed.

He's mastered the poker face like no one else, but this boy irritates him to no end threatining to eradicate his patience.

Calm down! He urged himself.

He went to the kitchen and brought a bucket filled with cold water.

"Wakey, wakey, sweets and cakey!" Sai snickered. This will work for sure!

He emptied the bucket on naruto's head, drenching the blond boy in it.

However, naruto simply stretched and continued to snore.

Of course, how dumb can I be? He face palmed.

"Wake up naruto, I've brought ramen..."

The blond headed boy jolted upright at the mention of his beloved food, all signs of sleep replaced by a lovestruck expression. "Ramen, where?"

"Get up you fool the hokage needs us and we're already late!" Sai rolled his eyes.

Naruto looked hurt, "you tricked me?" And then shouted angrily. "What the hell Sai?"

"Don't give me that look! You'll get over it. Come on freshen up, the hokage requested our presence and you've wasted enough time already," Sai exclaimed.

Naruto didnt look convinced and was still pouting like a kicked puppy, "why did it have to be you? Why couldn't sakura come and get me?"

Sai scoffed. "Believe me I didnt want this either, but its the request of captain yamato. Now, get up! You can grab ramen on our way if you want it so bad."

Naruto face lit up like the brightest bulb and within minutes he was wide awake, dressed and ready to leave.

"I still hate you though,"

"Believe me the feeling is mutual!" Sai exclaimed.

*****

The hokage gazed at the groups standing before her and sighed internally. After her long debate with the mentors about the proposition she have, they finally relented, but their stiff and downcast expression voice their displeasure.

It wasnt easy getting their permission - not that she needed any; after all, she is the hokage but she is not barbaric - especially since it is the service of their students she's asking for. Their duty as ninjas. Their life.

But now guilt stirred, slowly gnawing at her insides for the burden and danger she's about to put these promising yet young ninjas in.

Unfortunately, being a hokage is not all rainbow and sunshine, she has to wear the garb of the bad guy when necessity calls, despite not wanting to, for the protection and safety of all the leaf.

These are difficult times and certain measures must be adopted.

Even sacrificing young ninjas, sending them to their doom?

Kakashi's word lingered, riddled with suppressed anger.

She quelled the thought to submission. She already had her not-so-pleasant discussion with the senseis and got her fill of their disaproval. Kakashi's words being the loudest. The other sensei's put on a decent argument too, but they became silent when she told them of the repercussions - Kakashi included.

It is a necessary evil. Every capable hand needs to be exploited in this venture and these youngsters shows the most potential so far. She said to herself trying to appease her guilty conscience.

So maybe if the mission went smoothly, they can be saved, but even that thought seemed preposterous.

Not all can be saved! War will claim its casualties, and if this endeveavor failed there shall be many.

Lady tsunade, kneeded the space between her eyes to eleminate the persistent hangover. Drat! How many cups did I drink yesterday?

"Hokage, everybody is present, as per your request!" Lady shizone announced soberly.

Sakura interuppted, "not exactly. You see, a certain blond with a love for pranks and a penchant for dramatic entrances -"

Suddenly, a loud puff of smoke with rainbow colors cut off sakura's nervous rant.

"The almighty Naruto Ozomaki, soon to be hokage at your service!"

The said blond stood amidst the rainbow smoke, grinning like a synical old fool with the brightest teeth, his fist thrust up in the air while the other occupants of the room chocked and coughs on the smell of the smoke colors.

A chorus of annoyed ugh, naruto echoed in the room.

"Memorize that name!" He hollered delightfully.

What a funny image of graceful readiness and vigor! She shook her head in merriment.

"I'm still alive and kicking naruto, but your enthusiasm is endearing!" lady tsunade berated jokingly.

"Er...eh...hmm," he stumbled abashed and then said, hoping to cover his mishap, "well you won't live forever, right?!"

Lady tsunade brow raised, a nerve appeared pulsing on her forhead, but didnt comment, she knows that the kid have goood intentions and tend to voice out his thoughts while letting his mouth run loose unfiltered.

However, Saukura did reply with a balled fist to his head. "You idiot!" She hissed.

"Anyway glad you could join us, but for the sake of our sanity and health drop the dramatics next time," lady tsunade scolded, her soft tone diminishing her harsh words.

Naruto looked around while rubbing his head where Sakura's fist made a bump apear. He looked at all the startled faces and the exasperated ones -mainly sakura and kakashi - and shrugged, the happy grin still plastered on his face.

Lady tsunade, a tall, proud figure, full of decision and dignity, gazed at all the people present; at each sensei and their team.

The mentors maintained their stoic expressions unlike the young ninjas who fidgited under the heavy tension, eyes darting all over the place in a nervous twitch, sensing the serious and stiff vibes in the room.

With a heavy gaze and somber tone, she addressed them.

"I've summond you here today to discuss a very grave matter. The words that shall be said will stay among us and in the confines of this room. No one will know what transpires today but you and your mentors. Not your families and certainly not your friends. But before I start, I need you all to be fully commited and ready to lay down your life when necessary. Dont mistake this for a C mission for it certainly is not that- it's much more vital and dangerous."

Tension thrumed in every crevice of the room contaminating the air and affecting the stance of everyone present. They all went rigid, their body burdened by the heavy words spoken.

"But, hokage-sama, we are ninjas and danger is expected in our line of profession, what's so different about this mission? We've undergone many dangerous ones so far." Shikamaru questioned, his tone full of hesitation.

"True. But as ninjas risk level and your abilities are measured to ensure readiness and the least amount of danger, thats why we assign you tasks matching your class. However, now I ask you to go beyond that. The task you are about to embark on - if you accept that is - is higher than your level of expertise and abilities. And in there lies the danger and risk. Believe me if I have a choice I wouldn't be asking this of you, but we are short on allies and your mentors are already assigned to their tasks in this grand mission, unfortunately I need more arms.

Your mentors recommended you as the best of the best, but the choice is left to you to decide. This is not your burden to shoulder or your responsibility to handle, so If you choose to decline this quest, we understand."

"If you refused to not partake in this, you have my word that you shall not be ridiculed, looked down on or shamed. You shall not also be demoted or suffer in any way or form. However, if you decide to join, you should be aware of the dangers you are placing yourself and your loved ones in. The things at stake are not limited to your life but the continuous existence of our world. You will face ancient evil and unfathomable devilry you have not heard of or encountered before. Its nothing like you've ever experienced."

She continued. "For that we have given you a choice to forfiet, your mentors definitely didnt agree to your participation, but they know how dire the situation is. So please, dont take the matter lightly, you should be both physically and emotionally invested as well as capable, otherwise, you'll be dead before you know it!"

A moment od pregnent silence commenced. The hokage then addressed the boy who asked, "for that, my dear shikamaru, its not ranked criminals you'll be hunting or some lost treasure you'll be seeking, the danger lies in the consequences failure poses."

"So, let me get this straight. We have an enemy out there threatining the lives of innocent people - possibly everyone in this world and its up to us to stop it, did I get that right?" Sai exclaimed.

"Yes, however, its not that simple."

"Then it's settled," naruto decided in a feiry exclamation of determination and confidence. Several others nodded their consent as well.

"Don't be too hasty naruto, I adimre your courage and goodness - all of you - but take a moment to assess what you are getting into. I can't promise you anything in return, for such a deadly task and saying that eternal glory will be your reward seems insulting for even if you survived, you'll learn that scars stick with you forever and no amount of appraise and promotions will erase the horrors you've witnessed." She added, in a tone of musing surprise.

Lady tsunade can see the wheels of conflict turning. The fight between duty, honor and fear. Their eyes reflected their contemplation, balancing the pros and cons with the little time they were given.

"Are we allowed more details," Eno questioned.

"I guess it's not much of a secret so I shall tell you. After all, you'll know sooner or later."

Lady tsunade opened the drawer in her desk and took out an old parchment.

It was wrinkled and yellowed with age, so fragile and thin the paper creaked under her touch.

"Listen carefully, for this prophecy will be the one you can thwart evil with,"

"W-wait...evil? Prophecy? Will we be after some ancient myth?" Guy spoke wide eyed.

"Sources tells us that it is far from a myth, Guy. Evil forces are hiding...scheming and we've sensed some unrest that proved our suspicion correct. Don't worry I wont send you off on a goose hunt...or I might once I have the right clues!" She winked to ease the tention.

She took a last look at them to make sure she has their attention and then started reciting the contents of the old parchment.

"When the moment comes that mountains move, the forest shrinks and rivers shiver, a duel shall end an age of pain but call upon the evil.

It shall be then, when the wicked one returns, the false sister and the children of darkness shall mark a vicious war, to claim the protector, the guardian, the immortal.

Once fire burns like ice, a woman will mend the broken bonds. But a betrayal shall cause an age of sin and fury will cloud the mind of the innocent."

"That doesnt give us much to work with!" Kiba protested and naruto nodded all hints of fun and happiness replaced by seriousness.

Lady tsunade narrowed her eyes at the interruption,"there's a second part, they are placed seperately." She fished out from the same drawer another similar parchment and read.

"Thus beware the deadly rose, once unleashed, you shall feel its thorns,
The anger, the hurt,
And all the bottled thirst,
Will come awake.
But heed this seeker of the mist,
only a change of heart
Can concur this."

Neji shook his head. "I think if we wracked our brains for ideas we can interpret something," he then addressed the hokage, "unless, hokage-sama has already interpreted it."

Lady tsunade shook her head in dismay.

"Who was it given to and by whom?" Tenten questioned. "Who does it address?"

"Slow down I'll tell you what I know, but does that mean you all are in?"

Every single head in the room nodded in affirmation, their stance changed from one of hesitancy to determination.

Lady tsunade and the senseis couldn't be more proud.

"Okay. Listen carefully, this prophecy tells us that there is a person out there who is both the bane and cure," she turned to naruto and gazed steadily at him, "and you know who it is!"

Naruto threw his hands up in surrender and shook his head. "I didn't do anything this time I swear!"

"Its not you Naruto, it's Eve."

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Hi, again my Naruto fans!

So what do you think?

We are getting to something here, aren't we? ;)

Who is excited for the big revelations?

But first we have a lot of things yet to be unveiled and this story is far from over ;)

I hope you are liking the journey so far!

So here's the prophecy and some clues. We know it revolves around Eve (Duh!) But what can you understand from it? I want your theories!

Ps: I'm writing this story without outline, I find that frustrating and flexible, so any idea you have might be used to ulter the events *wink wink* so dont hesitate to voice your theories :D

Alright, next chapter will feature our lead characters. So stay tuned!

Fun fact: all my chapters are above 2000 words, so have fun reading long chapters XD

Vote, comment, share, fan, whatever you like ^-^

Love,

Your naruto friend,

Eva.