Prologue:
He woke up with a scream in his throat. The pain ripped through him with a pulsating throb starting where his heart was and radiating outwards.
He closed his blue eyes as sweat ran down his forehead and he tried to even his ragged breathing. Slowly sitting forward more to run his left hand over his face to wipe, as if to wipe away the nightmare.
Every day this week he'd been plagued with nightmares. Though, he thought to himself, he shouldn't complain…it had only been a week since the end of the war. But it was over, and he hated the fact that his dreams hadn't stopped with the change to peace.
He lowered his left hand from his face to look around his apartment, noting the clock read just after 2:00 am. He continued his scan of the darkness, flaring out his senses to check for intruders. Sensing none he decided he needed to get up and maybe go to the all night mart for a snack. He had ramen but he wanted a popsicle suddenly and had no reason not to go and get one.
He swung his legs over the side of his mattress and stood. He was dressed well enough for a midnight run to get food. Shorts and a T-shirt wouldn't offend anyone so he slid his feet into his sandals, grabbed his keys and walked out.
The walk to and through the mart was uneventful, the cashier, barely awake himself, didn't speak a word to him as he paid for his purchases. He strolled lazily away and to the park around the corner where he sat on one of the many empty swings. Pulling out a popsicle he again flared out his senses to check the surrounding area to check for unfriendlies…or friendlies. He was not in the mood for a chat right now. Sensing none he ripped the packaging off with his teeth, letting the wrapper fall to the ground for now. Taking a bite of the cold treat he sighed in relief as the coldness seemed to ease the pain that was still fluttering in his chest.
He became lost in thought while his treat started to melt. He thought of each of his friends and how they must be coping with all the changes in their lives. The grief was still fresh for all of them but so was the determination to work on reconstructions. Time leaves nothing unaltered.
He smirked at the voice. Looking down at where his right hand should be. I know that better than anyone…I've gone from Naruto Uzumaki, most unpredictable ninja, to Naruto Uzumaki, one handed ninja extraordinaire.