I do not own Naruto or the song Metal Heart.
No, I'm still working on all my other fics. I've finally gotten on track with Memories Lost and the newest chapter for The Dingo Ate My Baby is nearly finished. But . . . I love this song, and it just got me thinking. And so, yet another Naruto fic!
METAL HEART
prologue
Losing the star without a sky. Losing the reasons why. You're losing the calling that you've been faking, and I'm not kidding.
It's damned if you don't and it's damned if you do. Be true, 'cause they'll lock you up in a sad, sad zoo. Oh hidy hidy hidy what cha tryin' to prove? By hidy hidy hiding, you're not worth a thing.
Sew your fortunes on a string and hold them up to light. Blue smoke will take a very violent flight, and you will be changed and everything, and you will be in a very sad, sad zoo.
I once was lost but now I'm found; was blind but now I see you. How selfish of you to believe in the meaning of all the bad dreaming. Metal heart you're not hiding. Metal heart you're not worth a thing.
-cat power
Take him, Tsunade. You know you can do something about this.
Pause. Shuffling of papers.
I can't do this, Jiraiya, and you know it. Even if I could, I wouldn't. What makes him so special that I should save just his life? What makes him more important than a stillborn baby or another shinobi lost in battle?
Pause. Step. Grunt.
Tsunade, don't be stupid. You know better than nearly anyone the size of his potential. Why would Akatsuki spend so much of their time on him if he weren't? He could be a great ally for this village, greater than even the Fourth!
So could anyone. No one can be compeltely sure of another's fate or future.
Fist slam against wood.
Damn it, Tsunade! Save him or I'll . . . I'll. . .
You'll what, Jiraiya? You'll kill me? You've become to emotionally involved with him, as have I. I have to be fair, though.
Pretend it's your brother, Tsunade. Pretend it's Dan. Just save him. Make up for your—
Get out, Jiraiya. Just get out.
Pause. Step. Step. Step.
But leave the boy here.
So you'll do—
Get out.