The Art of Family
Prologue: Naruto's Feelings
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Obviously.
Info: Naruto is eighteen. Sasuke has left the village and is roaming the country with his new little troop. Sakura-chan is still in Leaf, working for Tsunade. No real manga plot will be involved, beyond what I just told you. ...So far as I know, anyway.
- - -
They sat in a circle around the ancient scroll, pouring over it in the dim candlelight. They whispered to each other despite the fact there was no one around to hear them.
It was hot; swelteringly so. The window air conditioner sat silent on it's sill. The alarm clock was unplugged from the wall. Even his refrigerator was unplugged for the moment.
There could be no electricity in his house. It would disrupt their...experiment.
Naruto looked into the familiar faces of his companions, his eyes narrowed with determination. The one to his right gave a nod. The one to his left gave a wink and victory sign. The one across from him merely smiled.
Naruto smiled proudly at them, his heart thumping loudly against his ribs.
He took a deep breath, and as one, he and his Kage Bunshins raised their hands. They preformed the seals quickly, whispering the ancient; odd sounding words they had practiced diligently. The scroll that lay before them began to glow, then tremble around it's edges. The candle blew out. The crinkled and age-browned paper began to curl into its self, shuddering violently with every word the four Narutos spoke.
Without warning, it caught flame. The four Narutos did not seem surprised. They stared intently at it, never breaking their flow of words or actions.
When at last the final ember extinguished, Naruto let out a sigh, relaxing his shoulders. The other Narutos did the same, stretching their arms and wrists a bit.
There was a pop, and where the old scroll had once burned, another scroll; exactly like the first down the ink spots in the right bottom corner; appeared. Naruto grinned, picked it up in his hands – it was still warm to the touch – and held it to his heart.
The other Narutos closed their eyes. One licked his lips nervously.
The first Naruto – the real Naruto – took a deep breath and said; "Kazoku no jutsu!"
The apartment was filled with light. It blinded him, making him yelp as he dropped the scroll to cover his eyes. It hovered before him, then sunk easily into his chest, unnoticed by either him or his trio of Bunshins.
The light winked out abruptly. He couldn't bring himself to drop his hands yet, nor to open his still stinging eyes for several agonizing seconds.
"Who on earth unplugged all the appliances?!" an exasperated female voice said from his right. "And why are we on the floor? Why are the lights out? Anata, what is going on?"
"I have no idea," a soft, male voice said from his left.
"'Kaa-chan, why is it so dark?" a little girl's voice chimed in from across from Naruto.
Naruto's breath caught in his throat. He lowered his hands slowly, his eyes wide and searching.
In front of him sat a child. Her hair was long and in pigtails, he couldn't see her properly in the darkness. She was looking around in surprise.
The apartment came to life with a rush of light. Naruto grimaced; as did the little girl across from him. "That's better!" the same female voice said.
Naruto looked towards the light switch and upon the gentle figure of his mother.
She wore white sandals on her feet, with pale pink polish on every little toenail. He looked at her hands and saw that she wore the same polish there. She wore a blue checkered dress that came to her knees and flared out a bit, with a white cooking apron on over it. Her hair was light brown and plaited, with the braid laying over her left shoulder. Her eyes were a soft green, and her smile simply light her entire being.
She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.
The person on his left rose. Naruto looked to him next, his eyes widening and breath catching.
The Fourth Hokage stood before him, looking curiously around the apartment. He didn't wear the long white coat that he was always pictured in; but instead a simple black turtle neck and pair of slacks. His blond hair was as wild as Naruto's – if not wilder – and his eyes were just as blue. Looking at the man, he wondered how he had missed the resemblance.
"Nii-chan?"
Naruto reluctantly looked away from his...his...father?...to the little girl. Her hair was as blond as his and her eyes were the same green as her mother's. She wore an orange dress with blue flowers printed on the hem. She was looking at him with worry, her little hands fisted in her skirts. She couldn't have been more than seven.
"Are you okay, Naru-nii-chan?"
Naruto's throat closed. His eyes burned as tears collected in them.
He..he could have been an older brother. He could have had this girl for a sister.
He looked up at his father, who had moved to stand next to his mother.
He could have had parents.
If only...if only...he hadn't...
Inside of him, Kyuubi was laughing.
Naruto had never really hated the demon fox.
Until now.
The tears slipped down his cheeks, splashing onto his hands.
"Nii-chan!" the little girl cried, alarmed.
Before he could turn back to her properly, he found his arms full of her. She had leaped across the floor and flung her little arms around his neck.
"Don't cry, Nii-chan!" she said quickly, hugging him tightly. "Midoriko is here to keep you happy, ne? Ne?"
"Naruto-kun, what's the matter?" his mother asked, kneeling down beside him. Her hand was warm against his back, rubbing between his shoulders.
Naruto swallowed a sob and hugged his...little sister, shaking his head. There were no words – no words to describe what he was feeling.
He had a family. If only for a little while.
A strong hand fell into his hair, ruffling it.
He looked up into his father's smiling face and that sob finally broke through.
His...family.
- - -
Okay all, this is an experiment. This is the first time in many years that I will be uploading an incomplete fic.
The truth about this little fic, is that it's okay without an ending. I feel that way, anyway. I'm NOT saying I'll never finish this. I'd love to finish it. It just won't drive me mad if it isn't finished.
It's just a cute little story about Naruto and his family. I've already written the next chapter and am working on chapter two. I really need a beta – so if someone wants to torment me; please apply in your review. ''
As it is, please enjoy "The Art of Family."