Naruto: The Birth Of Fenrir and his Keeper

Caleb sat on the lawn in front of the small town house that he had once called his home. He didn't have many found memories of the house and he'd be the first to admit that he'd always fantasized about what it would be like to simple walk out the front door and never look back, but those thoughts had always remained just that, thoughts. He'd never had the courage to leave. Afterall, its not like he had anywhere else to go or anyone else to turn to, so he'd let the fantasy of running away from home rattle through his mind from time to time but he never let them find purchase in reality.

He flinched as the front door was thrown open, banging against the wall so hard he was surprised that the stained glass hadn't shattered on impact. He looked up as the man he called father glared at him from the door way.

"I told you to get lost boy, why are you still on my property?!" The clearly drunken man took another swig from the bottle in his hand before pointing at Caleb.

"You turned 18 today and that means I don't have to look at your damn face anymore. You always reminded me of that damn bitch and I couldn't be happier to get rid of the last god damn thing she left for me to deal with." His father stumbled out onto the porch before throwing the now half empty bottle at him.

"I said to get off of my damn property boy!" 

Caleb scrambled to his feet, memories of what happened when he didn't obey flashing through his mind as he stepped onto the curb. He looked around at the houses next door, certain that someone must have heard what was happening with the way his father was screaming like a raving lunatic. This wasn't the first time his father and made a scene like this, but this was the first time that no one seemed to want to come out and reprimand him for keeping such a racket so early in the morning. 

He tuned out his fathers screeching, focusing on the windows of the neighboring homes until he came to a realization. It wasn't that no one was paying attention, the slightly ajar curtains that shook from time to time was more than enough to let him now that people where indeed watching from behind them. No, they all were watching, they just didn't plan to step in and 'help' anymore. 

Caleb laughed to himself, what else was he really expecting? He knew full well that none of the people around his home truly cared about what happened to him. The only reason they bothered to reprimand his father was so that they had an excuse. So they could keep telling themselves that they were 'good people' doing their part to 'help' a poor child. Of course, Caleb had figured out a long time ago that no one really cared

Even if they threatened to call the police to report his fathers actions, or promised to get protective services involved if there wasn't any improvement in his treatment, no one ever saw it through. Even when Caleb had drawn up the courage to call them himself to beg for help, it was these same neighbors that had denied that there were any problems that needed the intervention of the law. He could still remember the beating he got when his father was sure that the nice lady, who Caleb had placed his hopes of salvation on, had left for good.

He took one more look at the house, the odd flecks of paint that where peeling off the porch, the broken porch swing that he'd use as his bed when his father was especially irritated. The broken window that he'd patched after his father had broken while he throwing a bottle at him. The wind chimes he'd made from his fathers discarded bottle caps that he'd collect when he cleaned the house, the one uneven step that you had to hope over that his dad would always trip on when ever he came home drunk from the bar-

The tears that hadn't made an appearance since he was 8, when he promised himself not to cry anymore, flowed freely once more. 

Sure, this place didn't have many found memories for him, but in all his memories this house was there, and now he most likely wouldn't have a chance make anymore memories here ever again.

He turned away from his home tears still streaming down his face and started walking down the street, his fathers mad laughter seemingly mocking him as he went. 

***

Caleb wandered around for a while not sure of what he was supposed to do. He was in a daze, the realization that he was now truly alone starting to settle in. His tears had long since dried and the cold morning air had started to seep into his thin frame. He wished he'd at least grabbed his jacket when his father had barged into his room before tossing him around like a sack of potatoes.

The loud groan form his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten any breakfast either and unless he planned to lose even more of the weight he'd barely  managed to put on, he'd need to get something in it and fast.

He made his way towards town leaving the residential areas behind him. Maybe he'd be lucky to find someone's unfinished breakfast left at a table by the dinner. It wouldn't be the first time he'd had to coble together some scraps to make sure he had a decent meal, another one of the many skills he'd developed thanks to the neglect thrown his way.

He was lucky enough to find a half eaten burger and a half empty cup of coffee, it seemed the fates had decided not to give him to hard of a time today. After making quick work of his feast he made his way to the fountain in the middle of the park. It was a nice place to calm down and think. He'd spent a good few evenings just sitting next to it listening to the sounds of rushing water while he lost himself in his own head.

He sighed as though about what he needed to do now. Obviously he'd have to go back and get a few things from the house. If nothing else, he'd need to get some clothes, maybe a few blankets to keep himself warm at night and he definitely couldn't leave his legal documents with his dad. Knowing him he might come across them and end up tossing them into the fireplace and using them as kindling.

Thankfully he'd already graduated from high school a month ago, and though he hadn't been the top of his class, it shouldn't be to much of a stretch to find some work if he looked hard enough. Worse case scenario he'd end up doing some odd jobs like mowing lawns or something. 

The more he thought about it the more he realized things didn't seem that bad? Sure he was homeless now but it didn't really change anything besides where he'd end up sleeping at night. If any of the other guys his age from his graduating class had been put out the way he was, they definitely wouldn't know what to do, but he was different.

Everyday for him was about survival  and he'd already been doing just fine on that front anyway. This was just another bump on the rough road of life he'd already been treading. He'd already come this far, no reason why he couldn't go further.

In the depths of Caleb's eyes the ember of hope and determination that had started to dim slowly grew into a smoldering flame. If living with his father hadn't been enough to break him then striking out on his own wouldn't be enough to break him either. 

With renewed vigor Caleb clenched his fist and smiled to himself, every thing was going to be okay.