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So this is a fanfic that I came up with a year ago, but I haven't done much with it, so I thought that I might post it up on here and see what you guys think of it (please don't judge me too harshly sweatdrop )

Well, anyway, its set in an alternate reality where ninjas are replaced with gangsters in a 1920s industrial city, where multiple mafia groups run different districts (ninja villages), and practice the art of alchemy (ninjutsu). Apart from rival mafia and rogue gangsters, the mafia groups also have to deal with the Headed Beasts, mythological creatures with different numbers of heads that tell how powerful they are (Tailed Beasts). The most powerful one of them all was the 9-Headed Hydra (9-Tailed Fox), and it attacked in the territory of the Foglia* Family (Konoha Village), until it was defeated by the 4th Boss (4th Hokage) 12 years prior to the story. It tells the story of Gelato* (Naruto), an orphan boy who is training to be iniciated into the Foglia family, where he hopes to climb up the ranks to become the Boss.

*You will note that all the names and places in Naruto have been changed from Japanese to Italian

So, yeah, basically the same story but with the mafia, instead of ninjas. Also based on Roman Mythology instead of Japanese, and I even changed the names of the characters, places, even the terminology... redface

I will have part of the 1st chapter up soon, after I find it, that is! stare

Chapter 1: I am Gelato Vortice

Gelato Vortice's heart was beating rapidly against his ribcage. His feet were a blur against the cement sidewalk as he kept running and shoving people out of his way, and laughing like a possessed demon child. Of all the pranks he had pulled in the past, this was his worst and best one yet.

He stayed up all early morning perfecting it, and later when the sun came up over the towering skyscrapers and smoky factories, it was a work of art. Unfortunately, two bodyguards spotted him and started after him, who were still on his trail now. There were from the house of the Boss, the head of the local Foglia family who ran this part of the city. What Gelato had done to deserve this kind of treatment was reflected on the painted faces of the headstones of past Bosses in the garden behind the house, their features distorted and covered in misspelled words, written by no other than Gelato himself.

Focusing on the present, Gelato noticed that his legs were starting to hurt, and the men in black suits with signature green ties were getting closer. He turned into the nearest alley between two brick apartment buildings and ran towards the tall wooden fence that blocked his way. But he wasn't aiming for it. AS the men nearly caught up with him, Gelato made a huge leap up to the clothesline above him, and grabbed it. Using all his strength, Gelato swung himself up into the air, barely missing the outstretched hands of the bodyguards, and over the fence.

His stomach tightened when he landed on the other side on firm footing, with an aftermath of wobbliness. But he knew they would be on his trail again, so he ignored it and ran towards the end of the alley, but his path was blocked by a person who had stepped out of the shadows and picked him up by the hood of his bright orange jacket. He waved his hands side to side and kicked like a furious cat, but the man's grip was stronger. Gelato looked up and saw that it was Delfino who was holding him, wearing the same outfit the bodyguards had on, but without the dark shades. He had light brown hair tied back into a ponytail, slightly tan skin, and a signature scar across his nose.

"What are you doing here? You were supoosed to meet me half an hour ago for lessons, you idiot!" Delfino said, tightening his grip.

One of the bodyguards then climbed over the fence and walked towards Delfino, while the other one started to do the same. He seemed relieved to see Delfino, but frowned at Gelato.

"Excuse me, Delfino, but that boy is coming with us! He's the one responsible for defiling the headstones of the Bosses!" He said.

Defino's expression didn't change. "I know, and that's why I came to fetch him."

The bodyguard stopped at stood behind Gelato. "But he still needs to be taken to the Boss so the proper punishment can be decided for this...street orphan."

"That has already been decided," A voice spoke from behind Delfino.

Delfino stepped to the side, revealing a short old man with tan skin and wrinkles that showed his age. He wore a snow-white suit outlined in red with a matching tie and broad-rimmed hat, while holding a long pipe in one hand that bore the Foglia family crest, a leaf with a swirl inside it.

"Boss!" The bodyguard said, recognizing the old man. "I didn't think you would need to show up here."

"Don't kid yourself, of course I had to be here, to decree the punishment I have in store for the boy," The Boss said sharply, and turned towards Gelato with a sour expression. "Gelato Vortice, I admire your nerve for committing such a vile prank, but what you lack is loyalty. I could dispose of you if I wanted to, since you're only a Cugine (Not yet a member), but that would ruin the Foglia family's reputation as being 'nice neighbors'. Delfino!"

"Yes, Boss," Defino said, straightening himself.

"Since he's your pupil, you may punish him in whatever way suits you best," The Boss said, then he turned around and headed back to the end of the alley, with the two bodyguards following behind him.

End of Chapter 1

Chapter 3: Initiation Part 1

Characters:
Mizuki / Mezzaluna

By the time Gelato finished studying, the sun was rising over the smoking chimney stacks of the distant factory. His eyes were halfway closed, and his head rested on an open page in the alchemy book Delfino had lent him. But he realized this too late as he rose, accidently causing the page that was stuck to his face to rip off. He jumped when he saw this, causing the small house he made out of scrap-metal and ragged cloth to fall apart. Then his heart started to panic when he saw the outline of Delfino approaching him in the alleyway. Fearing Delfino’s reaction, he turned away from him and quickly stuffed the missing page into the back of the book, while restructuring his house to cover this up.

“Morning, Gelato!” Delfino said.

“Morning,” Gelato said as casually as he could.

“Did you study that alchemy book I lent you?”

“Yeah, who do you think I am?”

“Sorry, I just know that you have a habit of sometimes not doing what I tell you to do. Can I have it back if you’re done with it?”

“Y-Yeah, sure,” Gelato said, unintentionally stuttering as he handed the book back to Delfino.

“Don’t worry, Gelato, you’ll do fine, just as long as you remember everything I taught you.”

Gelato nodded, and gave Delfino a confident grin as they set off together.

The location of the initiation was in a circular room underneath the Boss’s house, with wooden chairs along the curved walls, occupied by all the major mafia Capos (Captains), a cement floor, and a single lamp which shined on Gelato, who stood at the center of room, facing the high chair in the north side, where the 3rd Boss sat pretentiously. Below him sat Delfino and another gangster with short white-blond hair and eyes as black as night. His name was Mezzaluna, and from what Gelato had heard, he and Delfino had been friends since they were Cugines together. Now they were here to judge the test that Gelato would be put through as part of his initiation.

After a period of silence, the 3rd Boss spoke, “Gelato Vortice, for twelve long years, you have been a troublesome orphan in our neighborhood. There were times when I thought about disposing of you, but Delfino insisted on taking you in as a Cugine, and taught you what it takes to become a part of my organization, including the forbidden art of alchemy that we practice in secret. Now, you must prove your worth to me, but if you feel that you can’t meet my expectations, you may leave now. Once you walk down the path of Mafia, you can never go back.”

Gelato’s face grew serious, but he didn’t move.

The Boss sighed and continued, “Then we will begin the first part of your test. I want you to create three Homunculi (Shadow-Clones) of yourself in front of me right now. They must have perfect likeness and mobility.”

For a moment, Gelato’s face flinched, and then reluctantly, he took out a pocket knife, and began to chant while carving a pentagram shape into his palm: “The air gave me breath, the water gave me thirst, the flames gave me pain, the earth gave me form, and the divine gave me life!”

After this, he turned his palm to the floor and allowed three drops of blood to fall to the floor before turning his palm upward again. Then he said, “Homunculus, arise!”

Suddenly, the drops of blood surged into bubbling gushes that reached up to Gelato’s height, and then began to take the forms of humans. As their shapes became more distinct, the blood gradually disappeared, revealing three replicas of Gelato. They stood straight for a moment, and then fell to the floor like limp dolls. Gelato gritted his teeth, knowing that this wasn’t his strongest spell (technique), while everyone in the room was completely silent, except for the Boss, who made a few short laughs.

Then he said, “Is that the best you can do? Create useless meat-shields that might distract your opponent for a second, and then leave you completely exposed? I’m very disappointed in you. Knowing your alchemy is just as important as fighting your opponent in hand-to-hand combat. That is why I will give you the chance to make up for your failure if you pass the second part of the test. Delfino, stand up!”

While the three Homunculi that Gelato created disentegrated into dust, Defino stood up from his spot and came into the lamps’ circle.

Then the Boss looked at Gelato, “Gelato, I want you and Delfino to draw your knives and fight each other. If you land a cut on him, you will be initiated, but if he lands a cut on you, you fail. The cut must not be fatal, and you may not use any other weapon, otherwise, we will be forced to terminate you.”

End of Chapter 3

Chapter 5: Secrets

As Gelato walked down the street away from the Boss’ house, he saw a group of kids his age in the alleyway next to the street, brooding over the new green ties they got. Then when they saw him, they walked away. Gelato managed to catch some of the things they were saying to each other:

“Isn’t that the orphan kid?”

“It looks like he didn’t pass the initiation test.”

“What a loser! He’ll never become part of the Foglia family, because nobody loves him!”

That last word stung Gelato’s heart, and he ran as fast as he could up the fire-escape on the apartment a little ways from his home, and onto the edge of the roof where he sat down and watched the people walking up and down the street below him. The sun was at its high-point, and the heat made Gelato flinch, but he didn’t care. Then a pair of footsteps caught his attention, and he looked up. It was Mezzaluna, standing over him.

“I’m sorry about the test, Gelato, and wish to offer my condolences,” Mezzaluna said, smiling in a friendly manner.

Gelato didn’t say anything, and looked away while Mezzaluna sat down next to him.

“What Delfino said was harsh, but he has his reasons. Like you, he was an orphan as well. His parents both died fighting the nine-headed serpent when it attacked our neighborhood twelve years ago, and was left to fend for himself. He was so lonely, and craved people’s attention, so he became a prankster, just like you did, but every night, he cried himself to sleep, which I imagine you do too.”

“What I do privately is none of your goddamn business! Now what are you really here for?”

“So you noticed,” Mezzaluna chuckled. “I actually came to offer you something that might help you get in favor with Delfino, so he can initiate you into the family.”

Gelato’s face lit up. “What is it?”

“Well, I don’t have it on me, but if you can get it, that would be helpful.”


Later that night, when the crescent moon was rising over the Boss’ house, all was quiet except for the shuffling of Gelato’s feet. He bypassed the guards posted at the front gate without much difficulty, thanks to a new spell that he invented himself. After unlocking the front door using a lock pick, he stepped into the parlor, and was about to make a right into the study when he noticed the Boss sitting in there, reading a book with some reading glasses. He didn’t seem to have heard the door opening.

With firm hands, Gelato made various hand-signs in concentration, and then he whispered, “Transfiguration: Mafia p***y!”

The blood running out the Boss’ nose was enough proof to show that he performed the spell correctly, and giggled with a girlish voice as the Boss fainted. Then in a flash, Gelato was back to normal. He searched the bookshelves, until he came to an old book covered in green leather with alchemic symbols on the cover. He put it into the knapsack that Mezzaluna gave him, and sneaked out through the open garden window.

As the Mafia men started swarming the house, Gelato was far away, running through a maze of alleys and streets until he came to a junkyard that was situated next to the railway line. It used to be his favorite play-spot when he was little, but now used it to seek seclusion from everyone else. Leaping over the fence with no problem, he walked over to a smooth patch of dirt, and sat down. The title of the book was The Forbidden Bestiary written in gold letters on the spine. Then Gelato turned to the table of contents, and his eyes widened when he saw the title “How to create multiple Homunculi” and flipped to it.


After reading the chapter, he started to practice it, and his practice was interrupted when Delfino came up behind him and grabbed him by the hood of his jacket again. An angry grin came across Delfino’s face. “I thought I’d find you here, Gelato! You don’t know how much trouble you’re in right now!”

“But what did I do wrong? Mezzaluna told me to take it!” Gelato said, struggling meaninglessly.

“Mezzaluna? You’re not lying, are you?” Delfino’s grip tightened.

“No, it’s true!”

Then Delfino let go of him, and Gelato showed the book.

“Mezzaluna said if I memorized this book, I could learn some cool spells that’ll make you have to convince the Boss to let me join the family.”

“Gelato, do you realize what kind of book you have in your hands?”

“Isn’t it an alchemy book? I’ve already memorized a spell in here, and I can’t wait to show it to you!”

“Not right now, Gelato! That book is—

A series of gunshots fired nearby, and Delfino quickly threw Gelato to the side as a bullets grazed his arms and legs, causing him to fall back into a pile of rubble. Then out of the shadows, Mezzaluna appeared holding a silver pistol in front of him and a Tommy gun strapped to his back. His grin was malicious.

“It’s a good thing I got here in time. Otherwise, Delfino would have tried to steal the book from you.”

“But why would he have tried to take it? He’s my teacher,” Gelato said, fighting the tears.

“Sure he’s your teacher, but deep inside, he hates you.”

“Hate me? What reason does he have to hate me? Sure I’ve pulled pranks and don’t listen to him from time to time—

“No, no, he doesn’t hate you for those petty reasons. It’s something about you personally, and everyone knows except for you.”

“No…don’t tell him, please,” Delfino muttered, trying to stand up.

“It was a pact that was made twelve years ago, and it’s the reason why nobody hangs around you.”

“Mezzaluna, stop!”

“That nine-headed serpent that attacked our neighborhood…is inside you.”

Gelato couldn’t believe his ears. His hands went numb and the scale-marks on his cheeks now felt colder than before.

End of Chapter 5