Title: Mornings
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: If you squint and tilt your head to the side my ships are showing.
Ratings: Ficlet, OOC?
Disclaimer: Don't own. Duh.
Notes: If it isn't obvious, this is set several years in the future.
I got a random image of Naruto, in his late teens/early twenties, standing over Konoha alone after reading volume 3 of the manga. Probably spawned from his interaction with Inari.
This is quite short and unbeta'd.
Mornings by Lev
Konoha was quiet in the early morning, the people just beginning to rouse from their beds. For no particular reason, Naruto found that he liked his home best at these times. The shopkeepers, slowly going about their business to prepare their wares for the new day, the smell of ramen wafting on the slight breeze, the Academy students just starting to be dragged from their beds by their parents... It was like watching the birth of the village, a daily cycle, something he knew he could always count on.
If he watched long enough, he could follow Iruka's slow route to the Academy building as he paused to greet former students and his fellow ninjas alike. And sometimes, sometimes -- Iruka looked up, right at him, and smiled. Today was one of those days, and Naruto grinned back.
Near the Yamanaka flower shop, Shikamaru stood. He must have just come back from a mission if the way Ino was clinging to him was any indication. Not that that would last long -- just until Ino had assured herself that Shikamaru had really come back in one, undamaged piece. Then Ino would go back to being Ino.
A few streets away, Sakura had started on the path to the Academy, where she was completing her training in order to become a chuunin instructor. Naruto couldn't think of a more perfect job for her. Not that he'd tried, but she was very well-suited for teaching.
If he hadn't been content to stay in the main village, he would have gone to the bridge where Kakashi had always been late for their training; a tradition the elder jounin didn't seem to have any intention of breaking with his new team of genins. But for now he was happy to sit alone on his rooftop and watch the new day start, the sun warm on his face, breeze ruffling his hair.
Although, chances were he wouldn't be alone for too much longer. It still felt sort of funny, thinking that. Not alone. But it was true.
"We're going to be late if you stay up here much longer, idiot. You do remember what Hokage-sama threatened you with the last time you were late, don't you?"
"Hey, Sasuke, let's go get some ramen!"
"Naruto--"
"It'll even be my treat!"
"Naruto--"
He was undeniably not alone.
