Art of Living

Author: sky75rk

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Risk One: Involvement

There he was, standing over the monument where the names of all those who died for Konoha was engraved. Most of them felt like they were taunting him, as the names from different clans struck his head with one thought: they were killed by the demon he holds within him. It was not his fault, he knew and he believed. No matter what other people spit in his face, he was different from the fox demon. And right now, he knew that the fox demon was also different from what they thought it was.

In his mind, he talked to the demon, asked him what the past looked like, how the people reacted to their own losses. The demon complied, showing him images of family members wallowing themselves in their grief, barely overcoming the feeling of losing a loved one. He saw one Umino Iruka, silently crying with his bowed head, his fists shaking as the last of his family were buried. He saw the anger lurking beneath those usually caring brown eyes and at that, Naruto was almost thankful that the chuunin learned to forgive him by the time he was able to think. Almost. How could he not notice the longing look that Iruka always gives him every time he leaves? Naruto was certain that those looks states how he missed not having his family beside him. How he lost them in the brutal war against a powerful demon.

He saw the villagers' tears cascading their faces, and he could feel their sadness. And yet, he did not know what it felt to lose a family. He came close, when Sasuke left the village in search for more power, but it wasn't as near as feeling the death of a loved one. It was different. He came back.

The rain was pouring now. The blonde left and headed towards the burial of the Hokages. There were, of course, not many who knew about the exact place of the cemetery, but after learning one important fact from the Godaime, he went to extreme measures just so he could visit the grave of the only family he knew.

The Yondaime.

It stunned him so much, when he learned the truth. Anger and resentment filled his veins when he discovered that the fourth sacrificed his only son just so he can save the village. But he cleared his mind, and rid himself of these thoughts immediately. He realized that the fourth gave his own life for the sake of many an action that he himself vowed to do. Why become a hypocrite, if he was also willing? In the end, Naruto thought, better him than any other innocent child.

But the awareness gave him new set of feelings.

For the first time, he knew how it felt to lose a family member.

Even though he did not know his father, he ached to be with him. To hear his voice and to play with him, to have him teach him some techniques… the longing was intense.

"I wish you could see how far I've come, father," he whispered as he knelt in front of the grave of his father.

The wind blew frighteningly chilly, and the blonde suppressed a shiver. Yet, he continued talking. "If only you could see me, watch me as I become stronger… I hope you are proud of me. I'm following the footsteps you laid down for me… I hope… I--" he tried to choke down a sob. "I miss you, father. Even if I didn't know you or have not met you… I want you to know that…" he faltered as his voice lowered down a notch. "…I love you,"

The wind died down. I love you too, son.

Naruto froze, and the wind suddenly became alive again, and he felt a hand touching his shoulders in a most protective way. It was cold, and there was another presence beside him, one he couldn't decipher who. Slowly, he brought his head to his side, just to catch a glimpse of the person who called him his son.

"No… it can't be," he muttered. "There's no way… there's just no fucking way…" he couldn't finish his sentence coherently and he gazed up again, his own blue eyes meeting with another set of blue.

"I've been waiting for this time, son. The time where you come and awaken your abilities…"

-Continued-