A boy of about fifteen years ran down a long, orange, spiral-looking hallway. The boy has a long black bandanna with a white metal plate with a leaf carved into the middle, symbolizing Konoha, the village of which the young man is from wrapped around his head, blonde sun kissed spiky hair, ocean blue eyes, tan skin, three whisker marks on his left and right cheeks, an orange and black jacket with a white tassel on the left side and a short sleeved black t-shirt with a flame symbol on it under the jacket, and a blue crystal attached to a string under the jacket as well, a gray backpack, orange pants, a shuriken holster on his right leg with a weapons pouch on the back on his leg, and black ninja sandals worn by the people of Konoha. This young man's name is Naruto Uzumaki, the current jinchuriki (Tailed Beast Container) of the Kyuubi (Nine Tailed Fox). Naruto noticed a bright light at the end of the hallway and so Naruto ran until he tripped.
"Damn it!" Naruto cursed as he got up before he got up fully and kept on running as fast as he could before he eventually made it outside where there were three people outside.
One of them was a girl the same age as Naruto with shoulder-length, bubblegum pink hair with a red bandanna with a metal plate with a leaf carved into the middle on top of her head used to accentuate her face, emerald green eyes and fair skin. She wears a red qupao top, pink elbow protectors, black gloves, a pink apron skirt, a tanto (short sword) as well as a medical pouch on the left back of her skirt, black spandex shorts with a shuriken holster on the right leg, and black, low-heel, calf-high boots. This girl's name is Sakura Haruno. She stared up at a something on what appeared to be a roof.
Next to Sakura was a boy about a year older than Naruto and Sakura. He has very pale skin as well as short, straight black hair. He wears a black bandanna with a white metal plate with a leaf carved into the middle of it, across his head. He wears a short black jacket with red straps and also carries a tip-less tantō on his back. The rest of his outfit consists of a high-collared midriff shirt, black pants, shinobi sandals and gloves with his index and thumb fingers exposed, most likely to facilitate the use of his drawing based techniques. His jacket has a long right and short left sleeves. He also carries a small backpack with his brush, scrolls, and ninja ink in it. This boy's name is Sai. He also stared up at the roof as well.
Naruto ran up to them and turned to see what they were looking at until his eyes went wide in realization…
There was a male about the same age as Naruto and Sakura on top of the roof as he merely stared at the three at the bottom. He had fair skin, short, spiky, chin-length black hair in the shape of a duck with bangs that hang from both sides of his face, onyx eyes. He wears a white long-sleeved shirt which is open at the torso with a smaller version of his clan's crest, the Uchiha, on his collar. He wears dark blue pants with a blue cloth hanging from halfway up his stomach to his knees along with black arm guards that covers his forearms and stretches up to reach his upper biceps. He also wears a purple rope belt around his waist, tied in a bow, in which he carries his sword. This person's name is Sasuke Uchiha.
"…Sasuke…" Naruto said in pure shock as he stared up at Sasuke. After all, this was the person that Naruto had spent 2 ½ years training for in order to bring him back to the village of Konoha. Sasuke was Naruto's brother, not in blood but in bond. The two had originally hated each other as kids but as they were put on a ninja squad together, the two formed an incredibly strong bond until the criminal, Orochimaru, had given Sasuke a curse mark which would make Sasuke seek Orochimaru out for power. This, in addition to Sasuke meeting and getting defeated by his brother Itachi, led Sasuke to leave Konoha and seek Orochimaru for power. Along the way, Naruto had caught up to him. The two engaged in an epic battle and while Naruto did his very best to bring Sasuke home, he was unsuccessful and Sasuke left, swearing to get the power to defeat Itachi, who slaughtered his and Sasuke's own clan. Two and a Half years past and after training with another Sannin, Jiraiya, Naruto had went through so much to find Sasuke including battling Orochimaru and even giving into the kyuubi's hatred in order to ascertain the whereabouts of Sasuke's location. And now here was Sasuke…staring down at Naruto and the others…
"…Naruto? So you came too…" Sasuke merely stated as Naruto along with Sai and Sakura said nothing as they still stared at Sasuke.
"Does that mean Kakashi's here as well?" Sasuke asked Naruto and the others.
"Unfortunately, Kakashi-San couldn't be here. But, I'm here in his place. We, Team Kakashi are going to be taking you back to Konoha." A man said as he walked towards where Naruto, Sakura and Sai were. The man has short brown hair and black, almond-shaped eyes. He wears a happuri-style forehead protector that frames his face, a green flak-jacket, navy blue pants and a navy blue long-sleeved undershirt which fit his neck all the way up to his chin. He also wears his pants halfway down the shin, with bandages covering the rest and the standard ninja sandals worn by every ninja of Konoha. This man's name was Yamato.
"Team Kakashi, huh…?" Sasuke said as he observed the four ninja.
Sai had reached for his sword and held it up to where Sasuke was, shocking Sakura.
"Sai! I knew it!" Sakura yelled angrily shocking Naruto and Yamato while Sasuke merely stared down at the group.
"So he's my replacement then, is he? He was sprouting some kind of nonsense about protecting the "bonds" between Naruto and me. One more pansy for the group, quite the fit I'm sure." Sasuke said astonishing Sakura as she looked at Sai.
"…Huh!? Sai, wasn't your mission to-"Sakura was about to ask Sai before he answered.
"It's true. My top-secret mission was indeed the assassination of Sasuke-Kun. But, those orders don't matter anymore. Now I want to think and act for myself. Because of Naruto-Kun, I feel like I might be able to remember something…Remember how I used to feel…Something which I can't help but feeling was very important to me…" Sai said to Sakura shocking Naruto before Sai looked up at Sasuke and continued.
"I may not know you all that well but there's a reason why Naruto-Kun and Sakura-San chase after you with so much passion…In order to prevent their bonds with you from breaking…In order to keep them intact, they're doing everything they can. I still don't have a very good understanding of it myself, but you Sasuke-Kun, you should know why!" Sai finished as Sasuke closed his eyes before replying.
"Oh, I did know. And that's why I severed them!" Sasuke said shocking Naruto, Sakura, Sai and Yamato as he began to reminisce about the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre along with the time that he suffered his humiliating defeat from Itachi.
"I have other bonds I carry…" Sasuke said as Sakura, Yamato and Sai looked at Sasuke questionably while Naruto's expression turned to pure anger.
"Fraternal Bonds, forged through hate…" Sasuke said as he thought of Itachi once again…
Flashback Begins
"Let me tell you why you're weak…It's because your heart is lacking…lacking in hatred…" Itachi said to a hurt Sasuke as he held him by his collar to a wall.
Flashback Ends
"Having too many bonds causes one to lose focus…weakening their strongest wish, their greatest desire." Sasuke said to Naruto frowned as he remembered his fight against Sasuke 2 ½ years ago.
Flashback Begins
"You never had any parents, any brothers…so what would you know about me anyway…" Sasuke began as he was pinned to a rock.
"You were along from the very start! So why the hell would you know what I've been through!? Huh!? It's because of my bonds I had that I've suffered! How the hell could you possibly understand what it feels like to lose all that!?" Sasuke yelled as he kicked Naruto off of him.
"Parents or a Brother…You're right…those are things I can't understand…" Naruto said as he looked down…
Flashback Ends
"…If that's true…" Naruto said as he looked down.
Flashback Begins
"Why…Why would you go so far for me?" Sasuke asked Naruto as he looked down at him.
"Because to me…You represent bonds that I've waited so long to wait!" Naruto said as he smiled at Sasuke before he continued, "And that's why I'll do anything I can to stop you!"
Flashback Ends
"If that's true, then why…" Naruto said as he thought some more.
Flashback Begins
"If that's how it is, I'll just have to sever those bonds!" Sasuke said before getting ready to fight Naruto.
Flashback Ends
"Why didn't you just kill me back then!? Is that what you call severing bonds, Sasuke!?" Naruto yelled at Sasuke who merely said nothing.
"Naruto…" Sakura said in astonishment.
"The reason is simple…It's not that I couldn't break my bond with you back then…" Sasuke said as he began to think of Itachi some more…
Flashback Begins
"You, just like me…Possess the potential to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan…But there is one condition…You must kill…Your closest friend…" Itachi said to a seven year old Sasuke before he left…
Flashback Ends
"I simply didn't want to give him the pleasure of seeing me attain power by submitting to his plans." Sasuke explained to Naruto who looked at him in shock before continuing.
"What do you mean by that!?" Naruto asked.
"There's no need for me to tell you but like I said, I severed my bonds with you all on that day 2 ½ years ago." Sasuke said
Naruto clenched his fists as he looked up at Sasuke and tried to smile.
"Heh…Severed your bonds? Quit talking crazy! No matter how much you deny it, I can feel the bond between us! It's not severed! All those years ago and even right now, you and I are connected!" Naruto tried to reason with Sasuke who merely looked at Naruto with apathy.
"Our bond…The bond I finally found with you…It's not something you can cut loose so easily!" Naruto finished.
"I won't turn back!" Sasuke said alarming Naruto, Sai, Sakura and Yamato as he went for his sword.
"If that's how it is, I'll just sever this "bond"!" Sasuke said making Naruto's expression turn to pure anger.
"Naruto!" Sakura said.
"Naruto! Maybe we should-!" Sai tried to suggest Naruto before Naruto interjected.
"Yeah…If that's the way he's gonna be…we'll just have to take him back by force!" Naruto said to the others as they nodded their heads before getting ready for the impending fight.
Sasuke merely stared down at the four ninja as he went for his Katana while they braced themselves.
"I'm taking you home…NO MATTER WHAT!" Naruto yelled to Sasuke.
"Hmph…you won't be able to put a scratch on me…" Sasuke said as he took his sword out of his sword holder and suddenly appeared behind the ninjas!
"What the!?" Sakura asked.
"When did he!?" Yamato asked astonished.
"So fast!" Sai said amazed.
"Come back! Sasuke!" Naruto yelled after getting over his shock as he tried to punch Sasuke but was unsuccessful.
"Damn!" Naruto said before he tried to kick Sasuke.
Sasuke saw this, grabbed Naruto's leg and threw him away.
"Naruto!" Sakura and Sai said as Naruto flew.
"Hmph, you'll all be easy." Sasuke said as he held his sword.
"Are you sure about that? Wood Style: Domed Wall Jutsu!" Yamato said as before planks of wood came out of the ground and lunged at Sasuke before completely covering him in wood.
Sasuke easily broke through the wood and as he jumped in the air…
"Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!" Sai said as he painted on a scroll and as soon as he was done, several art style beasts jumped from the scroll towards Sasuke…
Sasuke cut the art beasts easily before noticing Sakura coming towards him, fist in hand, infused with Chakra.
"I'll help to bring back, Sasuke-Kun too!" Sakura thought as she had a chakra, infused hand ready to hit Sasuke, however, Sasuke dodged the punch and grabbed Sakura's hand and threw her back, not noticing Naruto appearing right behind Sasuke…
"Gotcha!" Naruto said as his fist made contact with Sasuke's cheek!
"Tch!" Sasuke said as he was knocked back but landed on his own two feet.
"Are you all really that eager to make me mad?" Sasuke asked as wiped his mouth.
"Sasuke! Stop it already!" Naruto said to Sasuke.
Sasuke however made a handsign and said, "Chidori Stream!" before slamming his electricity-filled hands into the ground aimed right at Naruto. An electrical discharge flew in every direction at the ninja, as Sasuke made it.
"What is this!?" Yamato says as he narrowly got out of the way.
"Such power!" Sai said astonished as he moved out of the way as well.
"Naruto!" Sakura yelled worriedly while she got away from the electrical discharge.
"Don't worry, guys!" Naruto said as the electrical charge aimed right for some.
Naruto dodged the electricity, however, Sasuke still made it follow Naruto who kept on dodging it.
Sasuke made the electrical charge bigger in the direction of Naruto who was racking his brain of what to do until it came to him.
Naruto suddenly slid across the floor as he made a hand sign.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as many different clones of Naruto appeared and protected him from the electricity.
As the electricity hit the clones, a big smoke cloud appeared making everyone cover their eyes.
"Ugh!" Yamato said.
"What happened!?" Sai and Sakura asked simultaneously.
Out from the smoke came Naruto with a fist that connected straight into Sasuke's jaw.
Sasuke flew back until he came back on his feet.
"Tch!" Sasuke said as he spit blood.
"Why…can't you understand…Sasuke!?" Naruto said as he remembered the fight that he and Sasuke had at the final valley all those years ago.
"Hmph!" Sasuke said before getting ready to fight once more.
"At this rate…You'll…!" Naruto said before charging at Sasuke who punched Naruto back in the face making Naruto hit the ground.
"Ugh!" Naruto said as he spit blood.
"Naruto!" Sakura, Sai and Yamato said.
"You really haven't changed at all…" Sasuke said as he stared down at Naruto who got up once again.
"What the hell's wrong with you!?" Naruto said as he glared at Sasuke.
"I have my own path to follow! Stay out of my way!" Sasuke said.
"Orochimaru just wants you as his vessel!" Naruto retorted.
"Doesn't matter. As long as I achieve my goal, that's enough." Sasuke replied.
"I'll protect the bond between you and me, no matter what!" Naruto said as he fully got up.
"Hmph. If that's what you think, then all I have to do is sever that bond." Sasuke merely stated pissing off Naruto.
"I'll never let that happen!" Naruto said as he threw kunai and shuriken at Sasuke who deflected them easily with his sword.
"I will bring you back!" Naruto said staring at Sasuke with a newfound determination in his eyes before suddenly appearing right before Sasuke, shocking him.
"What the!?" Sasuke asked shocked.
"Take this!" Naruto said as he punched Sasuke with a chakra infused fist straight to his face.
Sasuke wiped the blood from his mouth before standing up with his head down.
"It looks like you've gotten stronger…but it's no use. However…" Sasuke said making Naruto look at Sasuke confused.
"Enough talk!" Sasuke said as a three totem Sharingan appeared in his eyes.
Naruto didn't have enough time to become shocked as Sasuke suddenly appeared behind him!
The two boys then traded punches, blow after blow, punch after punch, until Sasuke appeared with his sword about to decapitate Naruto but Naruto dodged it narrowly and as Sasuke had his sword drawn, Naruto punched Sasuke straight in the jaw towards the wall of the hideout.
Naruto then lunged on top of Sasuke and had Sasuke pinned to the wall making the two males glare at each other.
"Did that wake you up yet!?" Naruto asked pissed.
"You're still such a child, Naruto!" Sasuke yelled before throwing off Naruto.
"Fire-Style! Fire Ball Jutsu!" Sasuke said before a ball of fire came right at Naruto who was seemingly burned by it!
"Naruto!" Yamato, Sai and Sakura yelled in concern.
"Ugh!" Naruto said as he felt the fire and in order to not make it burn his body, he suddenly roared as his whisker marks became more pronounced and his blue eyes turned into red eyes with slits!
The fire ball technique had turned into smoke, going all over the area, making everyone cover their eyes.
"What just happened!?" Sakura said as covered her eyes, amazed at the powers she saw displayed.
"Naruto used the Kyuubi's power to destroy the Fire Ball Jutsu." Sai said as he covered his eyes as well.
"I hope he doesn't go to four tails again!" Yamato said as his eyes were covered.
"Tch!" Sasuke said before noticing a blue ball of light in the smoke.
As the smoke went away, it was revealed to be a clone of Naruto and the real Naruto. Both were holding the Rasengan, a spiraling deadly powerful jutsu!
Sasuke had sent a chidori or electrical charge through his sword.
"Now I'm gonna take you back!" Naruto said.
"It's over!" Sasuke said as he prepared his Chidori, a lightning style jutsu with chakra so great that it becomes visible and produces the sound of many birds chirping.
The two then stared down at one another before lunging at each other.
"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled.
The two then roared as their ultimate jutsus collided with each other!
The power emitted from the jutsus was so powerful it created a dome around the two!
Everyone had to cover their eyes so they wouldn't be blinded by the light of the dome.
"Ugh!" Sakura said as she covered her eyes.
"Such power!" Yamato said with his eyes covered as well.
"Is this Naruto-Kun's power?!" Sai asked covering his eyes.
Both teens struggled to get the upperhand over the other…however, both boys barely noticed a white light came from their jutsus as both were to fixated on overpowering one another.
"Not yet!" Sasuke said as he tried to make his Chidori overpower Naruto's rasengan.
"I won't give up…NO WAY!" Naruto yelled as he put every last bit of strength into his rasengan which overpowered Sasuke's chidori!
Naruto's rasengan was so powerful that it actually knocked away Sasuke's sword and knocked him away!
However, Naruto had little time to celebrate because as the smoke from the jutsu dissipated a small black portal appeared around Naruto, shocking everyone!
"What the!?" Sai asked.
"What is that!?" Sakura asked shocked.
"A portal!" Yamato stated amazed.
"How did a portal appear?" Sasuke asked himself as he got up shocked at what he saw before barely remembering a white light emitting from their jutsus as their Chidori and Rasengan clashed.
"It must have been then!" Sasuke thought to himself in realization.
"Naruto get away from it!" Yamato said to warn Naruto who looked back too late…
"What the hell!?" Naruto said as he tried to get away from the small portal but was too weak to do so due to overusing his strength…
"Dammit!" Naruto cursed as he was slowly being taking into the portal.
"Naruto!" Sakura, Sai and Yamato said as they tried to save their ninja friend but was unsuccessful due to his whole body being taken in the portal before it closed and disappeared leaving a shocked Sakura, Sai and Yamato in wake.
"I can't believe it…" Yamato said dumbfounded at what just happened.
"He got sucked in a portal…" Sai said unable to comprehend the situation…
"I can't believe it…" Sakura said as she started to feel great worry for her beloved ninja comrade.
"Hmph! You all aren't bad after all." Sasuke said casually as he put his sword in his sword holder before jumping on top of the hideout roof shocking Sakura, Sai and Yamato.
"…!" Sakura, Sai and Yamato said at Sasuke's casual attitude.
"But the "game" ends now." Sasuke said.
"That attitude!" Sakura said.
"Does that mean-?!" Sai began to ask himself.
"He…he wasn't fighting seriously!?" Yamato said in shock.
Sasuke suddenly made a hand sigh and lifted his left arm into the air…
"I'll erase you all once and for all!" Sasuke shocking shocking everyone.
But before Sasuke could actually do anything…
"I wouldn't use that jutsu, Sasuke-Kun." A voice said. The owner of that voice appeared and held Sasuke's left arm. The man was tall, had pale skin and a long face with pronounced cheekbones, golden eyes with slits in his pupils, purple markings around his eyes and fang-like teeth, thus giving him a snake-like appearance. He wears a grey garb over a black polo and black pants with a large purple rope belt around his waist ending in a large knot behind his back and also wears blue tomoe-shaped earrings. This man's name is Orochimaru.
"Hold on!" Yamato said shocked.
"That's!" Sai said shocking as well.
"Orochimaru!?" Sakura asked astonished.
"You are not using that jutsu, Sasuke-Kun." Orochimaru said to Sasuke who looked at Orochimaru blankly.
"Let go." Sasuke rudely said to Orochimaru.
"Now, now! I've told you before, watch your tongue with Orochimaru-Sama!" A male said as he appeared right by Sasuke. The man has ash grey hair in a ponytail and wears black-rimmed glasses with circular lenses covering his onyx-colored eyes. He also wears a dark purple shirt with a high collar, a white undershirt, dark purple fingerless gloves with armored plated on the back of each hand, a white cloth wristband worn at an angle, dark purple pants, blue sandals, and a shuriken holster on his right leg. This man's name is Kabuto Yakushi.
"Why did you stop me?" Sasuke asked Kabuto.
"You know what Akatsuki is up to, don't you?" Kabuto asked Sasuke who merely looked at him.
"We want the good people of Konoha to take care of many of the Akatsuki as possible…even if it's just one. Besides, if the other Akatsuki members interfere, then you'll have trouble getting your revenge, right?" Kabuto asked to Sasuke who scoffed.
"That's a pathetic excuse." Sasuke replied bluntly.
"But surely you'd allow it if it meant increasing the chances of your revenge succeeding by even 1 percent, right?" Kabuto asked Sasuke who replied with nothing.
Orochimaru released Sasuke before saying, "Let's go."
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled in hopes of her voice reaching Sasuke.
Sasuke however looked down at her with pure indifference before vanishing in smoke along with Orochimaru and Kabuto.
After Sasuke was completely gone, Sakura, Sai and Yamato looked down in sadness not only because they failed their mission but because their beloved friend Naruto was gone.
"Naruto…Sasuke-Kun…" Sakura said as the tears streamed down her cheeks helplessly.
"Sakura-San…" Sai said as Sakura and Yamato looked at him.
"Well look at the bright side, we still have six months left before Orochimaru can take Sasuke-Kun's body…" Sai said as Sakura wiped her eyes in realization.
Sai continued, "Also, I'm sure where Naruto-Kun is, he'll be fine and besides, he's pretty strong, you know, so don't worry." Sai finished with a genuine smile making Yamato smile at Sai since Sai's changed since they first met him.
Sakura smiled at Sai as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Thank you, Sai…" Sakura said gratefully.
"Looks like this is just the beginning…" Yamato thought with a smile before continuing, "All right, we should head back to Konoha now and let Tsunade-Sama know about Naruto getting sucked into the portal as well as the mission failure." Yamato finished.
"Right!" Sakura and Sai said before they left but before they started the long road home all Sakura had on her mind was one thing…
"Naruto…Wherever you are…I hope you're okay…" Sakura said before walking home with Sai and Yamato.
Meanwhile, now on another Planet
It was a sunny day in a place called Beverly Hills, California and three girls were walking home after having to complete yet another dangerous mission. The reason being is because these three girls all worked for WOOHP (The World Organization of Human Protection) which is a worldwide spy agency designed to fight crime and diffuse any crises that happen anywhere in the world.
"Man, all these missions! I wish there was a time where we were mission free!" One of the girls complained. This girl is tall, has blonde hair, blue eyes and is wearing a red cat suit. This girl's name is Clover.
"Yeah, you're right, Clover, but we have to keep the world safe if we want to actually be mission free one day." Chuckled another girl. This girl had long red hair, green eyes and is wearing a green cat suit.
"Ugh! All these missions are getting too easy! I wish something more interesting would happen!" another girl complained. This girl has short black hair in a bobcut and light brown eyes and is wearing a yellow cat suit. This girl's name is Alex.
As Alex said that, the sunny sky suddenly turned dark and cloudy and even blocked out the sun and the weather even turned extremely windy alarming the three girls.
"Ugh! What's happening!?" Clover asked.
"What is this!?" Alex asked as well.
"I don't know!" Sam said.
However, little did the girls know that they were about to receive their answer as a portal suddenly appeared in the sky.
"What is that!?" Clover asked astonished.
"It looks to be some kind of portal!" Sam answered.
"Well what's a portal doing in Beverly Hills?!" Alex asked dumbfounded as what she's seeing.
As Alex asked that question, a ball of fire the size of a human suddenly appeared out of the portal as it got smaller and smaller shocking the girls…
"What is that?" Clover asked.
"A fireball?" Sam asked shocked.
As the supposed fireball came out of the portal the portal grew smaller and smaller until it eventually shrunk and went away…
After the portal was gone the human looking fireball hit the ground hard as it made a hole in the ground, shocking the three girls…
"Okay, can someone tell me what the hell just happened!? Also, what the hell hit the ground!?" Asked a confused Clover.
"I have no idea but maybe we should investigate it to see if it's anything good or bad." Replied Sam as Clover and Alex both nodded their heads in agreement.
Sam, Clover and Alex then went to observe what was in the hole only to find a boy around the same age as them in the hole…He has a long black bandanna with a white metal plate with a leaf carved into the middle wrapped around his head, blonde sun kissed spiky hair, ocean blue eyes, tan skin, three whisker marks on his left and right cheeks, an orange and black jacket with a white tassel on the left side and a short sleeved black t-shirt with a flame symbol on it under the jacket, and a blue crystal attached to a string under the jacket as well, a gray backpack, orange pants, a shuriken holster on his right leg with a weapons pouch on the back on his leg, and black sandals. As the girls looked as the boy more closely, they discovered that he was dirty and covered in scratches.
The things that got the girls' attention the most was the weird attire the boy wore, his headband and finally, his whiskers…
"Okay, who is this guy and why does he have whiskers?" Asked a confused Sam.
"Who cares about his whiskers, they totally make him look cute~!" swooned Clover as she tried to hide her blush along with Alex.
"Cute, yes, but I'm very curious who this guy is too. He doesn't look hurt too bad so let's take him in until he wakes up." Sam suggested.
"Yes!" Clover and Alex cheered before they picked up the boy and carried him into their house with one thing on their mind, "Just who in the world is this boy?"