Disclaimer: I have no ownership, claim, affiliation…Um, Naruto ain't mine.
This is what he wanted, was it not? To protect his village, to be acknowledged, to be something, doing something other than destroy and alienate? Not the same person, someone different. These people he now protects. Those who once shunned him, feared him, wished him gone, now love him, respect him, follow him. Is it fear? Is it wrong to hold these people in contempt for past discretions?
Forgive things, but never forget. Lessons learned.
Smiling laughing, feeling warm inside. He remembers that once. Yashamaru…barely a whisper on his lips. To be on the outside watching while They talked, hugged and laughed together. That ache in his chest has returned.
He's alone in his own mind now and he admittedly feels lonely without the other. Unstable, unpredictable, cold. He hears the whispers. Is it fear?
These feelings, long forgotten over the years. That ache in his chest has returned. Do They love him? The trepidation is still there, the guarded words and sideways glances. Too afraid to ask how he feels, after. Dead, resurrected, revered, lonely. The lives he has taken and to be given the life of another?
That ache in his chest has returned. It's stifling, the walls are closing in. The ache is starting to be unbearable. Is it fear? Do they love him? Yashamaru, a life given to him so he may live…
He wants to run, to hide, but the ache is so strong he cannot move. He buries his face in his hands and gives in to the ache in his chest and weeps. The feelings long forgotten over the years…
Years of loneliness, not being loved, a dead mother, hatred from a father, an uncle that betrayed him, being on the outside while They talked, hugged and laughed. Dead and given the life of another to live. Being free of the other…He weeps.
They stand in the doorway, stopped in their quest to take him away from work for only the short time They know he will allow. They watch him. Indecisive of what to do being faced with something so…
Instincts…They walk over to his desk and each lay a hand on a shoulder. He flinches just so, but does not pull away. They want to know what's wrong, but he just shakes his head. They kneel beside his chair and encircle him with their arms as he continues to weep.
This is what he wanted, was it not? To be acknowledged, loved and cared about. To feel warm inside. No more trepidation, guarded words and sideways glances. To be on the inside while they talk, hug and laugh. To be alone in his own mind. To be willing to give his life for others. Yashamaru…a name boldly said from his lips.
Forgive, but never forget. Lessons learned.
Author's note: These characters are a wee bit, or more, out of character. But that's the joy of fan fiction, is it not? This is my first step into the world that I love and spend so much time in, so I thank you for taking to time to read.