Saeko Busujima loved the color red. The sight of it brought her hazy mind some measure of clarity. It was beautiful, she thought. A rich color that made even the dullest of backdrops come to life.
Sky-blue eyes moved to the digital clock resting on a glass table and her lip twitched. It was almost time for her favorite part of the day—school. A long time ago, she dreaded attending Fujimi Academy. It was a chore, another tedious piece of her clever lie. A fake life that she led to protect what she held dear.
'Without you. I would have gone mad.'
"P-Please." A raspy whisper left the lips of the dead. "N-No more."
Saeko's gaze wandered back to the worm groveling at her feet, its only redeeming factor the color sticking to its mutilated flesh. Adachi Narukami was a businessman with a taste for money and girls. A revolting man and this world were full of them.
His purpose served, Adachi would now become a faceless name on her ever-growing list.
"Oh?" Saeko's smile was earnest, pure in a way that defied all reason. "I don't think I gave you permission to talk."
Her blade plunged into his hand again. A wet squelch echoed in her ears and then a piercing shriek. Her eyes shut and she took a deep breath, reveling in the feeling. The worm spat out more blood, made to speak, and she twisted the blade before it could do so. Grinding the flesh and bone—tearing, cutting, pulling it to bits. It screamed again, louder than before, and with that same smile in place, Saeko tore the blade out. A trail of sticky red matter following behind.
"This was fun, Narukami-san, I enjoyed myself. Unfortunately, our time together has come to an end. I can't ruin my perfect attendance record, you understand?" Saeko stood, looming over the sorry man like the shadow of death itself.
"Rot, weakling."
Saeko saw her reflection in those stricken eyes—wide and terrified—right before she rushed the sword into its skull.
A silence settled over the luxurious suite. The expensive white carpet now stained scarlet, forever scarred by murder. In that moment the rush settled, the light in her eyes dimmed, and the nothingness enveloped her in its cold embrace as it always did.
Saeko knew the feeling that came after all too well. It was peaceful the first few times, but after countless names and faces, it only served to echo the emptiness inside.
'That smell...?'
"He shit himself," Saeko mumbled, her nose wrinkled in disgust. Of course, they all did. Why would this one be any different from the rest?
The look in his eyes right before she killed him. That begging, pleading gaze—she hated that above all else. It was the type of weakness that perpetuated this world, plagued its every corner.
A weakness she wished nothing more than to snuff out.
Today would have been a terrible day had she not known he was waiting. At the thought, her smile was back up like it never left.
"I should hurry. I don't want to be late."
The suns rays bathed the clouds in pink and orange hues, filling the skies.
Naruto admired the sight as he walked the path to school, eyes distant and lips curled down. It was a picture-perfect sunrise settling over Japan.
On this day two years ago, he awoke to the sounds of the ocean, alive. He'd stumbled through a jungle of steel and concrete enclosed by a black sky, happened into an old man's shop and almost took his own life.
He should have died back then, but...
"Live on."
At his sides, pale fingers curled themselves into a tight fist. It had been raining all week then, and he'd never felt so alone.
"Oh, is that you, Naruto-san?"
'Right on time.'
The smell of roses swept past. Not like the fillers used in markets, but a rich, unmistakable odor—real roses, groomed by minding hands.
This woman needed no introductions.
"Busujima-san. Good morning." Naruto craned his neck to greet her with a short nod if only to spare himself a headache.
The queen of Fujimi smiled as she advanced, arms at the small of her back, her violet hair swaying behind her in the faint breeze. Saeko was brilliant in a way that felt criminal. Even now he could see their eyes watching her as she passed, those weary, wanting souls. To them she was flawless.
To him, she was a stalker.
"Were you waiting for me again?" Naruto asked.
Saeko tilted her neck and acted clueless, that beautiful smile still in place. "We've been over this, Naruto-san. I'm always here this early. I have many duties to attend to, after all. Yet you continue to astound me. You're late to class almost every day, but you're one of the first to arrive." She held his gaze. "As always, you're an interesting guy, Naruto Uzumaki."
"What are you going to do about it, arrest me?" He mocked.
"No, but I am feeling rather peckish. I was very busy earlier this morning you see, and I didn't have a chance to eat breakfast or pack for lunch. Perhaps I'll stop by my all-time favorite restaurant tonight? It has been a while." She beamed up at him.
This woman was a devil, a perfect pretender—like him.
"Be my guest, I don't work tonight."
Saeko's smile widened and she giggled. At what, he had no idea.
"And what is it that someone like you does on a night off? Do you prance around with a secret lover? Do you dance the night away? Oh dear, I hope you're not cheating on me, Naruto-san."
Naruto's lip twitched, "You know, you said that last part kind of loud." Out of the corner of his eye, he watched one eavesdropper pass out.
"Did I? My apologies. It was a harmless joke."
Naruto's didn't budge an inch, he knew she was playing again. Her favorite pastime when it came to him. Saeko loved to play harmless games—like following him to work and blackmailing him into a one-sided conversation. Of all the people he'd met in this new world, Saeko was the oddity.
"Would you care to walk with me?" She urged him while leaning forward, breaking through his personal bubble, their lips a few strokes away from touching. A strand of her hair fell and brushed against him, and in that second Naruto was reminded that this same girl attempted to kill him not so long ago.
Anyone else might have cheered at the invitation. He knew better than that. Unfortunately, "I can't very well say no can I?"
Saeko's smile widened. "You know me too well, Naruto-san."
The blond sighed and extended a hand, knowing what to expect. To which Saeko placed her bag in before dipping her head in appreciation.
"Come on."
Saeko giggled again and the unlikely pair began their day as they often did, in the company of the other.
"What will you do with your future?"
Naruto pursed his lips, his eyes following the clouds as the class period went on.
'Why is that still bothering me?'
There was no future for him—not here. At some point he had a dream, a lofty goal he'd shout to the heavens. More to remind himself than anyone else. Now that dream was long gone, too far away for him to ever take hold of.
Or maybe it had always been this impossible. Perhaps this was meant to be? The notion had crossed his mind more than once in the passing days. If that happened to be the truth, Fate was a real dick.
From the corner of his eye, Naruto watched the thick stick of chalk spin as it neared. He could have caught it, hurled it right back, right in-between that bastard's eyes. Instead, it smacked against the side of his head.
That would bruise.
"Uzumaki! Pay attention! You won't amount to anything if you keep that attitude up!"
A chorus of laughter rang out at his expense and he brushed it off with a sheepish grin. "Right, sorry teach."
The impish man snarled, glowering as if that alone would erase his existence.
'Douche.' Naruto thought, breaking the eye contact. They were out to get him.
'Who's to say you still can't? No one is going to stop you.' A dark voice murmured in the back of his head—his own.
Like his shadow, they were always there. Lurking behind every corner. They beckoned him with sweet promises. When the light faded, the blackness devoured everything—until he alone stood surrounded by the dark.
What remained? He asked himself. Who was the coward now?
"Without a purpose, boy. Your life is worthless."
Naruto felt as if today would drag on, more so than any other.
In that instant, the classroom door opened and a red-haired woman waltzed inside, a tight-lipped frown on her slender features. Naruto ignored the smug look on his teachers face or the fact that all eyes fell on him shortly after her entrance.
Scarlet colored orbs cut a clear path toward him and he stood, his things already together. He expected this, but not so soon. She was getting better.
The blond offered a good-natured smile and a short wave, "Good morning, Hayashi-sensei—"
"—Save it!" Kyoko barked, "To my office, Uzumaki!"
He nodded once. "Okay."
Naruto hated being right.
Kyoko's office was decorated with various awards. Rows of trophies sat behind glass cases unscathed and various diplomas were put on display for the world to see. It was her own personal man-cave.
A woman-cave.
Naruto frowned, 'I should say something.' They'd been sitting in silence for about three minutes now. Things were getting eerie.
"Are you going to tell me why I'm here?" He asked her, leaning into his fist, obviously bored.
Kyoko was waiting for him to speak up. "You know exactly why you're here. Why you're always here, giving me a damn headache!" She flipped over two face-down papers on her desk, revealing blurred images of him asleep on the school roof. "You cut class, trespassed, and took a nap!"
"Yeah, that's me," Naruto said, nodding again.
Kyoko looked ready to shake him. "You can't keep doing this! You're going to get expelled, Naruto! I swore I would help you but only if you started showing some initiative!" She picked up one of the pictures and pointed to his sleeping form. "This! This is not showing initiative! You're a third-year student, you need to figure something out. We're in the second term, Naruto! You're running out of time!" By the end of her rant, she was gasping for breath.
Naruto couldn't help but raise a brow at her unusual behavior.
"Wow, usually you're pretty intense, but this is—"
"—Shut up. Just...shut up. I'm in no mood for your stupid satire." Kyoko let out a long-winded sigh, crumbling the picture in her hands in her grip and pressing her fingers against her temples.
"Fair enough. So what's it going to be this time? A Time-out? Cleaning up the school?"
"You're insufferable." Kyoko glared. "You're going to clean up the courtyard this weekend with the Recycling club. I've already talked to the Dean about it. Next time, it's a suspension. You can't afford to miss any more days either. You understand, don't you?"
"Yeah, I got it. Thanks for your help."
He made to leave, only for her to cut him off.
"Hold on, we're not done! I need your word, Naruto. I promised I wouldn't give up on you and I haven't, now you have to promise me something."
The nerve of this woman. A wry smile spread itself wide over pale skin, 'And I thought I was selfish...'
"Naruto." The redhead warned, watching his reaction. "You have to promise me or next time you're on your own."
It's true, he was running out of time. Kyoko didn't know how right she was. "How long have I been seeing you?" He asked, ignoring her question.
"Seven months now. Why?"
Naruto managed a hollow laugh.
"You'd think by now you would have some kind of idea. Shame." Kyoko wasn't sure what he meant, but she recognized he was mocking her. "I don't want to miss my next lecture, notes are kind of a pain. I'll see you later, sensei. Have a good day."
With those parting words, Naruto closed the conversation and fled the room, closing the door behind him before she could retort. He then shoved his hands in his pockets, whistling a light tune while he rounded a corner and headed to his next class.
'Maybe I'll take the scenic route.'
By the time Kyoko decided to follow after him, he was gone.
The sky was red. It was seething, like a mad god.
Below it, a land steeped in gore.
The fighting had finally settled, somehow, and as tired blue eyes took in their surroundings a single question rose.
'What is this?' His entire body shook, lungs set ablaze and burning still, vision blurry and growing dark. Images swirled in his head, faces he'd soon forget. The life leaving their eyes and the horrified looks etched onto their expression.
'Where am I?' It was silent, like a cemetery at midnight.
No.
This is a cemetery.
"It's red." Men screamed, their limbs missing. Blown or burnt or cut off, ugly bits of gore dangling from the horrifying wounds.
Where the skies that lorded above them met the Earth they shared at far off point in the distance, shrouded in silvery clouds, was the sun. A big, bloody-body that was out of reach, its large shadow threatening to consume them.
He looked down, avoiding the sight, and found more of it. On his hands, his clothes, the floor...
"It's all red."
There were few things he feared. The feeling welling up in his chest right now at this very moment—it scared him the more than anything.
Nothing. He felt empty, lost, void.
He felt nothing at all.
"Naruto," Kakashi's voice came from somewhere, "we won."
The words sounded. They drove him wild.
Who won? He looked around, eyes frantic behind the mask, desperate in their hunt for the winner. He searched, engraving the torn battlefront to memory so that he would never forget, and all he could see, taste, touch—was red.
A hand placed itself on his shoulder and Naruto flinched.
"What now?"
He felt those cold fingers squeeze him as if to reassure the idea that everything would be okay.
"We go home."
"Naruto!"
Dark blue eyes fluttered open and Misuzu's scowl was the first thing they greeted. Dazed and confused, Naruto could only utter out a weak, "What?"
At the sight of his half-lidded expression, Misuzu groaned and fell back against her seat. Making a show of it by crossing her arms over her chest and opting to glare at a nearby bookshelf.
The library had never been more exciting.
"If you're going to ignore me at least don't make it so obvious!"
Naruto watched her for a second, offering an apologetic smile in response. "Ah, sorry. I didn't sleep very well last night." Or any night, but the bags under his eyes told that story for him.
Misuzu spared him a glance and then she sighed, "You're the worst, making a cute girl like me dot over you like this."
Naruto wanted to protest that he didn't ask her to do anything, but she would ignore any argument he made and somehow this would be his fault again. So as all wise men did, he kept his mouth shut.
"A-Anyway. I need you to focus, you're struggling with English." Her eyes bounced to the next thing, never meeting his own. "Mid-terms are coming up so—"
"—You're nervous." Ever since this little study session began she'd been acting stranger than usual. Avoiding his gaze, stuttering, easy—easier—to stir. "Yesterday too."
Misuzu eeped at his linear approach. "W-What are you talking about?" She tried to play it off, but he saw through it easy enough. "D-Did you bring lunch today?"
"No." Was the instant response.
Misuzu smiled a little at that as if expecting it. "As I thought! Lucky for you I've learned a lot about those terrible habits of yours, Naruto. You're not doing anything about them anytime soon, so it's time I step in!" She grinned, reaching next to her behind an obvious stack of magazines and producing a bright bento box.
Neon orange, with blue polka dots.
"Ta-da! I made it last night! Well, Nikki helped me, she's a much better cook than I am. But that's beside the point! The point is, you don't take care of yourself. So I will! I'm going to bring you lunch every day from now on!"
There was a tiny piece of him that resonated in her presence. It was small, the size of a chip, and it hurt more than it helped. Something ached, and strangely enough, it felt good.
"Thank you," Her smile brightened, "but I'll be fine without it, Misuzu."
The second the words left his mouth the sun fell from those lips.
"No." She said, her eyes narrowed. "You're not allowed to turn me down! I slaved away for hours making this. You're going to take it." She pushed the bento his way across the table, and he slid it right back.
"Nope," Naruto repeated himself.
"Yes."
"No. I don't—"
"—Yes," He was set to respond when Misuzu interrupted him, "take it and I won't bug you for the rest of the day! How's that sound?"
Misuzu didn't know what she was doing. He wasn't what she thought he was. There was nothing left of him to help—nothing worth saving. No matter what she said or did that would never change.
At this point, she was hurting herself.
"No," Naruto pushed it back with a little more force, his eyes losing all mirth, freezing her in place. "We've been over this before. I don't need your pity."
Silence.
"...Is that what you think it is? Pity? You're such an idiot. A liar and an idiot."
Naruto narrowed his eyes and his lips fell into a thin line. Misuzu was always like this, thinking she could do and say as she pleased. As if her kindness somehow gave her the right to overstep her boundaries and pry into his life.
It was pointless. Whatever she had to say meant nothing.
In spite of that, he took the bait nonetheless.
"How exactly am I a liar?"
"It's all you ever do," Misuzu went on, biting her lip. "You're the biggest liar I've ever met."
She was upset for whatever reason. Naruto wasn't too sure anymore.
"You're a liar too. Aren't we all?" He shook his head, "Besides, you didn't answer my question."
Misuzu stood, and turned her back to him, her long bangs shrouding her features. Wordlessly, she grabbed her things before finally reaching for the bento laying in-between them. She stopped mid-way, fingers dangling in the air, and then she drew her hand back.
"Do what you want with it. If it means anything, I hope you take it with you."
Naruto didn't call out to her even as she left the study. He was hushed, watching her walk away through the glass door, books pressed to her chest and chin held low.
He did that to her.
It was always him.
The light of the sun slanted onto the walnut colored tile of the room through the open window, drawing the shadows closer to him. Naruto wasn't sure how long he sat there, staring at a small box as if it were a bomb primed to blow. Until at last, he reached out and took it.
'I'm just hungry.' Naruto told himself, fingers pulling back the tiny bow. He let the string fall and removed the cap. "Stupid girl." He muttered, before digging into a home-made bowl of his favorite.
Ramen noodles.
Saeko swung her legs back and forth, a smile on her face as their eyes met. "I'll have the usual."
Naruto scowled, "One Ebichiri, no chili. Coming right up."
The inside of the Wind and Sails were bare save for another customer, a regular of Hayate's, and her.
Somehow he anticipated this.
"Oho! Nice to see you again, girl! Out to steal my little duckling's heart are you?" Hayate reared his head out from the back-door, grinning all the while, his cheeks colored red. Drinking on the job was his practice.
"Likewise, Kakazu-san." Saeko returned the greeting with a brief nod.
This was the third time this week, she was getting bolder.
Naruto made to walk past his boss and try to put some distance between them, only for Hayate to bring up his arm and block his path.
"Don't worry about it. I'll whip this one up real special for yer lady friend, you get to chatting her up! You need friends, you damn emo!" He paused, "Did I use that right?"
The blond would have kicked him out of the way, right in the balls, but that would cripple the old coot.
"You'll pay for this."
Hayate's grin threatened to split his withered features in two. He was excited today. "All in good time. Remember you're coming back to have dinner with mine tonight. Don't walk out on me and pretend you forgot, got it, boy?"
"Pardon me, could I get some more water please?"
Hayate elbowed his arm, "You heard the lady, lad! Get her some water or you're fired!"
Irritable old men ruined his life and they continued doing so, even in another world. With a sigh, Naruto grasped a nearby cup, filled it with ice and water, then brought it to the beaming heiress.
"Thank you, Naruto-san."
"How did you know I'd be working today?" He asked her, leaning forward on the counter that separated the two, dim blue eyes pinning her in place.
"Well, that's easy. You're a big fat liar!" His lip twitched. If Saeko noticed she didn't comment on it. "I'm teasing! Although, you know you can't-fool me, Naruto-san. I make it my responsibility to keep an eye on troublemakers."
Naruto snorted at that, "I'd say you do more than keep an eye on me."
"True, but then again, you are you."
The blond pursed his lips and wrestled back a sigh, "I'll be right back with your food."
Naruto managed a single step, only for Hayate to burst out from the kitchen, a proud grin on his face and a steaming plate in his hands.
"Don't you worry! I've got it, boy!"
Naruto would have strangled him if he could.
'Damn old man.'
"Oh my, it looks delicious!"
"Of course it does!" Hayate never missed the chance to gloat. "I made it myself, after all! You see, these hands have seen countless battles, girl! They've endured all kinds of war, but none greater than that of the culinary! A battleground of passion where victory is never assured! And I am a champion of this art of war, where the taste buds of my customer is my joy!" He snickered and then took another swing from his bottle.
"You're scaring the customers," Naruto said. The one that is, who appeared more inspired than anything.
Hayate hung out with strange folk.
"Hajime-san! Forgive me! Here, I'll make a fresh one on the house for you!" The old coot clambered to the back, a fire in his eyes. Hajime blinked once, then shrugged his shoulders and waited for a free meal.
Lucky guy.
"Your boss is eccentric as always," Saeko noted.
"He's something alright..." His gaze fell on her again, "So, cash or credit?"
She snapped her chopsticks in half and smirked, "How about a date?"
This time he did sigh. Saeko was just as bad.
No, even worse.
"You keep talking like that and you'll give one of your admirers a heart-attack."
"Do you not like me, Naruto-san? Am I not good enough for you?"
"Cash or credit?"
Saeko was good—too good.
"I appreciate you walking me this far."
"We made a deal." Naruto followed behind her, "You'd better not be lying to me."
She stopped and faced him, squinting like an owl as her lips curled up, an underlying test concealed behind that luscious smirk. "Or what, Naruto-san? You'll do what exactly?"
Saeko was unusual in a lot of different ways. The way she wandered, walked, perceived the world—it was all opposite of what he expected. Unlike the rest of them, she was awake and free of captivity. More than anything, she was strange because of her infatuation with him.
Like Misuzu, Saeko believed that she too had the freedom to over-step boundaries.
"I'll kill you."
A canopy of stars sat above them, lighting up the dark skies. A halo of light glowing in the very center.
He meant every word.
Saeko's lips moved once, twice, then they shut. She sought his gaze and he stared right back until at last, she'd found whatever it was she was looking for.
"I suppose this is where we part ways." What was it that she wanted to tell him? "Have a goodnight, Naruto-san, thank you again. I'll keep my word, don't worry."
Saeko closed the conversation right there by dipping her head and turning her back to him without another word. Muffled footsteps waning as she began the long trek home. Naruto followed her until her form was engulfed by the blackness and he could see it no more.
He stood there, the streetlight projecting its shadow over him. He tilted his head up and gazed out into the great beyond.
'Fate, huh?'
What a bunch of bullshit.
"N-Naruto-boy! You're late!"
That unmistakable smell of booze struck his senses as soon as the door opened and Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose in response.
"You reek."
"Hayate! You give that young man some space!"
"Ki-Kiriko-chan!" The drunk swayed, shifting to face the woman following him, "T-This ain't just any k-kid! This here's that kid!"
Amber eyes moved to where he stood and sized him up in that split-second. "Oh? Well then, welcome to our home! Come in, Naruto-san!" There was a kindness to this woman's smile, a worldliness that he'd seen in Hayate several times before.
"Thank you." The blond muttered, taking his shoes off and slipping into what was given. Kiriko guided him along with a stumbling Hayate leaning on her arm for support. Blue eyes observed the face of that tired old man and noted a rare calm,
'You look happy.' Was it that simple?
"I hope you don't mind but my husband and this one were a tad impatient, so we had to start without you."
Naruto shook his head a no.
"P-Please, h-he was with h-his girlfriend! I-I doubt he cares!" Hayate teased in-between hiccups, sparing the blond a playful wink.
He made a face, "Hardly."
Kiriko observed the exchange with no shortage of amusement. "You certainly get along well, that's for sure."
"I wouldn't call forced labor getting along." Naruto retorted as they entered the living room where two more people awaited them, a man and a girl about his age.
Kiriko shrugged her shoulders before calling out to the new faces, "Tadashi-kun! Our guest is here, let go of the meat, dear. Rei, drop the curry and introduce yourself!"
It was at this point that it hit the fan.
Rei Miyamoto was having a lousy day, or rather a lousy year. The potential scandal between her father and that slime-ball Shido, being held back, Takashi and Igou—the list went on.
Needless to say that things had been rocky, but they were getting better. It was a sluggish process and often drove her insane, but they were getting better.
Igou and her were doing well and her father stopped seeking the details of her failing. In another year or so this would be water underneath the bridge. At least that was what she hoped. There was only one loose end.
'Takashi...' Rei bit her lip.
This wasn't the time to dwell on those thoughts. Tonight was family night, something she valued more than anything else. Time spent with her whole family was rare and she cherished every minute spent together.
Also, the curry was the bomb.
"Rei, drop it! Seriously!" Her mother's words snapped her out of a food-induced daze. "Huh?" She drew her face away from the bowl in her hands and met a dim shade of blue.
"We have a guest." Kiriko motioned to the pale blond next to her. "This is—"
"—Naruto Uzumaki." Rei finished with narrowed eyes.
"Greetings, a pleasure to meet you." The tone was dull, dry, and lacked any actual enthusiasm.
This was Naruto Uzumaki, no doubt about it!
Rei snarled at the sight of him in her home, with her family, "What the hell is this guy doing here, mom?!" She demanded.
Like that the mood did a complete one-eighty.
"R-Rei-chan!" Tadashi cried, "What's the m-meaning of this?!"
"It's cool. I have that effect." Naruto said, that same indifferent expression plastered on his features.
Rei knew of Naruto Uzumaki, and who didn't? He was infamous. The lousiest student in the history of Fujimi Academy and its number one offender. Naruto was the poster-boy for everything Rei that despised. The worst of this world packaged into one person. People like him and Shido were why she was trapped in a mess like this in the first place!
"I'll tell you what." She spat out, glaring at the blond with all the ferocity she could muster. "This guy is a criminal, dad! He's hurt people and acts up at school! You should be arresting him, not hosting him! Damn it, this is rid—"
"—Rei!" Kiriko's voice sliced through the tension, "That's enough."
Her mother's smile was spread thinly over her features. Rei wasn't foolish enough to cross her at this point. "Tch, fine. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Ha ha! S-She's got you, boy!" Hayate taunted the blond from the back, laughing at the lineup of insults while leaning on his son for support instead.
"H-Hm, a criminal y-you say? Is this t-true, father?"
"Ha! That kid is as much a c-criminal as I am!" Was the drunken response before Hayate cracked open the second bottle of the night and took another sip, and then another, and so on.
Kiriko tilted her head at his remark, "That's actually a bit worrisome." She muttered, turning to the blond. "At the very least, I hope you won't abuse our kindness, Naruto-san. I'll be watching."
Naruto spared the tall woman a glance, taking note of the odd glimmer in her eyes. "I won't steal anything if that's what you're asking."
Kiriko cheered, a bright grin on her face, "Fantastic! Then please feel free to dig in! Welcome to family night, Naruto-san!"
Rei feared for the rest of her evening.
Coming back home felt wrong. The very moment he stepped into his plain apartment, Naruto felt the difference.
It was colder, duller.
This wasn't a home—it was a crypt.
"Stupid old man. I told him I didn't want to go."
In those few hours, he was once again reminded of everything that he lacked. Now it was all the more obvious.
He cast his clothes while stalking to his room and when he found the bed, he fell back on it, dark eyes following the ceiling fan as they'd done so many times before.
It was all the same.
Every day was exactly the same.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep this up, Kurama..."
He lay there. The shadows of the past dancing in the corners of his eyes—tormenting him.
Until at last, he fell asleep.
This had always been his favorite spot. From here he could see the whole village. Seek shelter in its quiet umbra. Atop the head of the Fourth Hokage, Naruto rested, opposing the light of the full-moon. He looked out over his home, a single question in mind.
"What was it? I can't remember."
Did it even mean anything anymore? He was strong.
It didn't matter how he got here, only that he did. The only path worth taking is the one you make yourself, those were Danzo's words. A future worth living in that he would shape with his own two hands, damn the consequences.
It was what he promised.
So then, why? This barren feeling in his chest. It wouldn't go away.
Naruto peered out into the home he fought for and found no love in spite of how hard he tried. The village was asleep. There was only the void. He sat at the edge of oblivion, overlooking a halo of darkness. It opened up underneath him, called out—beckoned him to take the plunge.
And why not?
"This time for sure."
A dozen thoughts ran through his mind, and they each ended in I don't care.
So he jumped.
The winds sped past his face. His body flailed like a rag-doll, and he shut his eyes.
It was the right thing to do.
