When I Look At Him
by Lily Day
People are always asking Tsunade just what does she see in the annoying, ramen-obsessed, hyperactive, demon incarnate that is Naruto Uzumaki.
Tsunade can never answer straight. There is just so much to Naruto. So many layers. Sadly, so few people even recognize that Naruto is a person, a human, not the Kyuubi, that they never take the time to get to know, dig past the first few layers.
On the first layer, Naruto is bright and loud and happy and will be Hokage, no matter what and loves ramen. This layer tends to annoy the shit out of people, discouraging them from learning more. This Naruto can be exhausting, like an overactive puppy. But still, you gotta love him.
On the second layer, Naruto is loyal and strong and trustworthy and will throw every fiber of his being into protecting those he holds dear. The people lucky enough to be included in his heart regard Naruto with a guarded affection, not sure whether they should be open about it, if it would make him uncomfortable because, well, he never really got that much affection. Would he know what to do with it? Tsunade knows where she stands, affection-wise. They tease, they joke, they play-fight. She calls him stupid, he calls her hag and they're friends.
On the third layer, Naruto is lost and lonely and so afraid that no one will see him and he'll be so alone and why can't anyone hear him screaming or are they just ignoring him and why won't anyone just love him? Tsunade knows that Naruto tries his best to hide this part of him. He doesn't want people to see him in a moment of vulnerability. He is a ninja. Ninjas have no feeling. that is why Tsunade waits until Naruto is asleep to pull his head into her lap, stroke his whisker-marks, comb his sunshiny hair with her fingers and tell him that he's wonderful boy, beautiful boy, my baby boy, I'll keep you safe.
Then there is the fourth layer. To her knowledge, Tsunade is the only one who sees this layer. Tsunade alone looks at Naruto and sees... the future. She sees the man that Naruto will grow to be. He will be kindhearted, like Iruka; he will be resourceful(and perverted), like Kakashi; he will be stubborn(and perverted), like Jiraiya; he will be unafraid, like his father, but most of all: he will be Naruto and he will be strong. Tsunade sees the man Naruto will grow to be and she loves him. She loves this child Naruto, with his puppy-fat and gangly movements. She loves the man Naruto that she sees in his sky blue eyes. Tsunade loves him and she will wait for him.
So when people ask just what she sees in Naruto, Tsunade smiles and says, "I see a lot."
People are always asking Tsunade just what does she see in the annoying, ramen-obsessed, hyperactive, demon incarnate that is Naruto Uzumaki.
Tsunade can never answer straight. There is just so much to Naruto. So many layers. Sadly, so few people even recognize that Naruto is a person, a human, not the Kyuubi, that they never take the time to get to know, dig past the first few layers.
On the first layer, Naruto is bright and loud and happy and will be Hokage, no matter what and loves ramen. This layer tends to annoy the shit out of people, discouraging them from learning more. This Naruto can be exhausting, like an overactive puppy. But still, you gotta love him.
On the second layer, Naruto is loyal and strong and trustworthy and will throw every fiber of his being into protecting those he holds dear. The people lucky enough to be included in his heart regard Naruto with a guarded affection, not sure whether they should be open about it, if it would make him uncomfortable because, well, he never really got that much affection. Would he know what to do with it? Tsunade knows where she stands, affection-wise. They tease, they joke, they play-fight. She calls him stupid, he calls her hag and they're friends.
On the third layer, Naruto is lost and lonely and so afraid that no one will see him and he'll be so alone and why can't anyone hear him screaming or are they just ignoring him and why won't anyone just love him? Tsunade knows that Naruto tries his best to hide this part of him. He doesn't want people to see him in a moment of vulnerability. He is a ninja. Ninjas have no feeling. that is why Tsunade waits until Naruto is asleep to pull his head into her lap, stroke his whisker-marks, comb his sunshiny hair with her fingers and tell him that he's wonderful boy, beautiful boy, my baby boy, I'll keep you safe.
Then there is the fourth layer. To her knowledge, Tsunade is the only one who sees this layer. Tsunade alone looks at Naruto and sees... the future. She sees the man that Naruto will grow to be. He will be kindhearted, like Iruka; he will be resourceful(and perverted), like Kakashi; he will be stubborn(and perverted), like Jiraiya; he will be unafraid, like his father, but most of all: he will be Naruto and he will be strong. Tsunade sees the man Naruto will grow to be and she loves him. She loves this child Naruto, with his puppy-fat and gangly movements. She loves the man Naruto that she sees in his sky blue eyes. Tsunade loves him and she will wait for him.
So when people ask just what she sees in Naruto, Tsunade smiles and says, "I see a lot."