Chereads / Naruto Painter / Chapter 2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Chapter 2

Entering the Prison

Like all those coming into the prison, Naruto was brought directly to the warden so the man can have a few words with him. Aside from getting to see the face of the criminal, the warden likes to know whom he will be housing. He says it help him decide what to do with the prisoner and to remind them why it's bad idea to misbehave.

However when the young man was brought before him he couldn't believe his own eyes, yet the child's report is right in front of him. It's telling him he's exactly whom he is dealing with. Naruto Uzumaki, 6 years of age! He thought it was a misprint but apparently he was wrong.

Then there's his malnourished state as the kid is still in chains.

'How did they find handcuffs his size?'

At least it explains why he's so short as he watch him having trouble getting on an adult's chair.

"Get the cuffs off him." orders the warden.

The guards quickly complied, they didn't like the scene any better. They helped him sit in the oversized chair that's usually reserved for criminals. No matter how they see it the child looked as innocent as any other child. Sadly as orders dictates, the child will be put in his prison thus among other convicts.

As he reads the report in detail, it says the boy is a 'demon'?! It made his eye twitch over his already skeptical expression. He wondered exactly what they thought he or his prison could do against a 'real' demon. Perhaps it's just a nickname like one of the swordsman of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi. Ninjas and their silly names, naming themselves after gods or demons.

Then again real demons (Bijus) are special cases handled by ninja villages. Yet, would they send one to his prison?! Nevertheless, before he met the boy the warden did take precautions by having extra guards. Ordering special overtime if he has to.

The report also says the criminal was convicted by his involvement in mass killing. If the information about his demon status wasn't far-fetched enough, the warden thought he's getting some kage level ninja into his prison. Hence, you can forgive his surprise when a kid no more than 6 years of age showed up.

It took some convincing down the channels (Konoha ninja to prison guards, then guards to the warden), they were nevertheless ended up taking the kid. The paperworks are all there and despite how many they check, the kid's photo and information were accurate.

"Are you kidding me, what kind of sicko are you people?"

The Konoha ninjas remain stoic.

"This came directly from the Hokage and the council."

"There's no way we can take him, the prison isn't built for someone like him."

"Look, here is the paperwork. There's no mistake."

The guards had to double, no, triple check that there's no mistake but sadly everything's there.

Of course, similar scene happen with the warden. Like the guards, the paperwork is all there and the kid is now part of their responsibility. It had seals from every Clan and civilian in the council, including the Hokage. Despite having to do their job, it was nevertheless a painful sight to him trying to get on an adult's chair that's normally reserved for hardcore prisoners.

The warden was skeptical when he first read his file. As mentioned, it says he's a demon thus made him wonder why one would send one to his prison. Then again the warden had seen stranger things hence why he had his security on full alert regardless what it meant. If that's not strange enough, it also says that the kid was responsible for the Uchiha massacre.

No matter how he looked at the young man, the warden could not see the murdering psychopath in him. He had been the prison's warden for over 20 years, he had seen liars, killers, murders including those seriously insane but Naruto is anything but any of them. Sadly he's just a warden and his responsibility is his prison as well as the prisoners within his facility.

Since he had little influence to Konoha's council, there's no much he can do about it. Especially one that's signed unanimously by the whole council including the Hokage. Not to forget the fact that each and everyone of them had much higher political standing than he does. Hence, questioning their decision wouldn't be wise, let alone the council as a whole.

He could go to the Fire Daimyo, then again what grounds does he have to challenge a ninja village's verdict. Sympathy? He has over a thousand of prisoners, and some he too considered were innocent. Hence in the end there's very little he could do but his job.

His guards help lifting and gently place the boy in his seat, he's obviously too short for an adult's chair. Keeping his emotions in check, he put on his warden image.

"Uzumaki Naruto, it says in here you were convicted for your involvement in the Uchiha massacre."

"Can you tell me your side in this?"

If he's expecting an explanation, he's sadly mistaken as Naruto wouldn't even look him in the eye. In fact he has been like that since leaving his home as the guards helpfully brought it up. Sighing in defeat, there's never preceding of his situation as he's totally lost in what he should do. By law he should process the kid like any of his criminals but deep down he knew the child is innocent just as any normal child.

He knew there's always corruption but for a powerful village such as Konoha and the entire council to condemn one child is simply unthinkable. Had the kid been a deranged serial killer he could understand but both his instincts and guts told him otherwise. Just what had happened to Konoha's justice system, the once so called strongest but noble and peace keeping village.

Then again adding the kid to his prison is the least of his problem as there may be a riot not just in his own men but maybe the prisoners too. His guards may throw up by the injustice of the system thus not listening to his orders. Whereas his prisoners, they would be equally furious. Among some of them there are some that were wrongfully convicted, but to see one so young among them would outright disgust anyone.

Life in Penitentiary

True enough as Naruto was escorted to his cell, there were prisoners shaking their heads at the injustice of convicting a child. Some of the more vocal ones were furious as they start throwing things at the guards. Unfortunately this act only scares the young man as he tries to look as small as possible. He's used to be hated within Konoha, hence his misinterpretation.

Unknown to him, for once their anger wasn't directed at him. Then again he wouldn't had known as he did recognize a few that came from Konoha and they were especially vocal about it. He had heard of the word 'demon' so many times, he can filter them among the other rackets and screams. Every time the word were heard, he couldn't help but cringe as he recall the events that comes after.

Those fools thought fate had finally gifted them an opportunity, hence why they couldn't help but to smirk viciously. All this time they still blame him for their misfortune thus why they were jeering at him loudly. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! The demon's finally ended up where he should be."

Of course, these idiots didn't think they are also in the same boat.

"Watch yourself demon! We will be coming for you."

"The Hokage can't protect you anymore. There's nowhere to run or hide."

"Just you wait you demon, you will see us very soon. Ha, ha, ha."

Apparently there's quite a few of them as they all want a piece of him.

This of course was not missed by the guards and the warden. Thanks to the special circumstance, the warden came personally to see which of his prisoners could be troubled by their new inmate. He should have expected it as it's those from Konoha that react most violent and vocal. Like the document referenced, they too refer him as the 'demon'.

The guards hurried him along in hope he wouldn't hear any more but the voice continues to echo around the prison thus making it even more eerie than it already is. Unlike the other prisoner's angry shouts, those threats are not empty and they are more of a promise. The two guards escorting him look to one another as they silently vowed to keep a better eye on him. Their only regret was they couldn't take away his fear.

As much as they wish to watch over him, they couldn't be there with him all the time. Then again the prison isn't small either as they couldn't follow him wherever he goes. Not to mention there being number of blind-spots thus how sometimes even the guards wouldn't know about them.

However, before they leave they gave him a little advise.

"Hey kid, we will do our best to watch over you."

"Just stay in the guard's line of sight as much as you can, ok?"

He reassure him by giving him with a light squeeze over his shoulder.

It helped a little as Naruto knew he can at least count on the guards. They are like some of his Anbu guards in Konoha. Unfortunately like his home village, he knew they can't do everything as they can't watch him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The other times he will have to make do with any place he could squeeze himself into.

True to guard's promise, the warden kept a full security alert for next couple of weeks as precaution. Extra guards were posted everywhere in case of an uprise and a few extras to watch over the boy. Despite that it didn't stop those from Konoha from trying something on his first day.

They thought they could still boss the kid around like they did in Konoha without consequences. Obviously they were shown the error of their ways. One of them managed to get behind him during lunch time and kicked him. It result in our Naruto sprawling all over the kitchen along with his tray full of food.

Besides wanting get the kid in trouble, he couldn't handle the demon getting extra helpings. He thinks demons like him doesn't deserve anything humans worked themselves to create. He smirked because he expect the demon to be lucky to avoid punishment let alone another meal. Normally had this happen to any prisoners, the others would have just laughed.

However, since the victim was only a child, only disgust were shown on their faces. Then again his actions only brought the guards over, one look at the scene they immediately knew whom was the culprit.

"What happened here?!" obviously it was directed at him.

"The stupid kid was clumsy, he trip on his own feet." he glared menacingly at the blond daring him to say otherwise.

"No need to ask the kid, we have seen the whole thing. We were only giving you a chance to explain yourself."

The prisoner could only stare back speechless but the guard was not finished.

"Since you like wasting food so much, then obviously you don't need to eat."

"Go grab a mop and clean up the mess you made."

If he though it's the demon that should be punished he was mistaken. So grumbly he made his way for the cleaning equipment knowing he will go hungry for the day. He made sure the demon suffer as well as he knee him in the head just as he passes by. To say the guard was furious would be an understatement.

As a result the man was rewarded extra baton strikes and bruises for his efforts. For once, the other prisoners were on the guards side as none object to the vicious punishment. Obviously the guards needs to be more vigilant if they seriously wants to watch over the boy. They will soon find out just how far these fools would go to hurt him.

On the other hand, unknown to those from Konoha their actions will only alien themselves from the rest of prisoners. Had they been on right mind-set they would have seen it but thanks to their own arrogance they expected everyone to agree with them. It's just so unfortunately they were no longer in Konoha and people here have better common sense than those back home.

Over the week, the guards caught their every attempt as they try every means to make the child miserable. A few were locked in solitary for it, yet even when they come out they continue to blame the kid for their own actions. The guards that release them heard their almost silent promises "Just you wait, you f*****g demon." They can only shake their heads in disgust and report what they've heard to the others and the warden.