It is night, and a black curtain almost seems to have fallen over Konoha, a curtain of rain and overarching clouds that threaten Naruto to walk back faster. Dripping off the fluorescent orange of his tiger-lily-colored umbrella, the tear-shaped droplets barely miss his face, only dampening his coat sleeves.
You cannot face me. I am Nature, I am that which no man has harnessed, I am that which cannot be restrained, that will break out of every container known to your puny species.
I am your nightmare, your dreams and I am your reality.
Most of all, I am all you do not know, and that is why you cower.
As he steps into puddles, his shoes growing slowly wetter and wetter, he whistles to himself as the lonely street stretches out, dark and lit only by the occasional street-lamp. It is a simple tune, continuous and basic, over and over and over again the same melody. Familiarity is comforting.
Perhaps it is fate that causes him to stare down at the next puddle he is about to step into, perhaps it is just an occurrence. But as soon as he does see, he halts, fear-stricken, stopped by the visage in murky water.
Don't make any sudden moves, he tells himself, and, tilting his umbrella slightly downward, prepares to use it as a weapon.
"Don't be afraid." The figure in the puddle, cloaked in darkness behind his own reflection chuckles. "I swear, you're such a jumpy little guy, aren't you?"
Begrudgingly, Naruto turns his head.
An overlarge hat and scarf cover the features of the man, while giant leather boots, drenched with rainwater, plod on the concrete of the road. His body wrapped in a long trench coat, his hands encased by white gloves holding onto an umbrella that blends into the night, his is the appearance of an enigma, the stranger, the unknown.
"Who are you?"
The crinkles in the scarf seem to show a proud smile beneath them. What does this man really look like, beneath all that casing and secrecy?
"You can call me Six."
"Is that your real name?"
"What is real?" Another chuckle, and an arm swinging around his shoulders, a comradely gesture from a stranger.
"Buy me a drink."
"What?" Naruto turned to the faceless hat and scarf, ears buzzing.
"Buy me a drink, I said." Six stated, releasing his hold on Naruto's shoulders nonchalantly. "You may find it helps you someday."
…
So there they sat, the two men, chuckling away raucously after the pleasures of about six drinks. Naruto's cheeks had long turned red as beetroots, and Six's laughter was still ringing after having heard twenty different renditions of pop songs, Naruto-style. In short, Naruto was actually enjoying himself, even if he was playing drinking games with some guy he'd just met.
"So, I hear you're with some girl named Sakura, eh?" Six chortled, feet stomping as he downed the next pint vigorously, his scarf staining with the froth of the beer.
"Yeah, she's the best, especially in bed, not to mention she can cook and clean and still be adorable!" Naruto yelled over the sound of his own drunken mind.
"She probably completely whips you all the time, am I right?" Six clapped his arm on Naruto's shoulders, breathing alcohol into his nostrils through the opening in the scarf that showcased his mouth of uneven teeth.
"Nawww. Sakura's gentle and caring and not the least bit feisty. A complete housewife in the making. Maybe I should pop the question soon, get 'er a big ring or whatever. Emerald maybe, it'd suit those pretty eyes…"
"Sakura's not feisty?" Six's voice, tinged with a sudden desperate urgency, flooded into Naruto's hazy consciousness.
"Yeah. What, you think I'd let myself be whipped around by some girl?"Naruto snorted through a new mouthful of vodka. "Pfft."
Six abruptly stood up, pushing his chair into the bartable with a new steady hand, almost as if he had become sober in a matter of seconds. Or more likely, that he had never been drunk to begin with.
"Whatsa matter?" Naruto shouted after the retreating figure of Six. "We were having a good time…"
"I found something I have to do." The anger in the voice was unmistakable, cold and furious, causing Naruto to drop his glass onto the table with a hard thump. "See that you get home in one piece, you worthless drunk."
How strange, thought Naruto as Six, feet moving hastily with some unknown purpose, exited the bar.
Ugghhh. The beginning of a headache lifted him, shaking and throbbing, out of the chair and through the door.
Review please ;). All feedback is accepted.
