updated 30/06/16: this is a combination of chapter 2 and 3 as most of chapter 2 has been deleted

update 23/09/16: part of this chapter has been deleted temporarily. it will be up later.

update 23/10/16: the deleted part is back up!


Part 1: Komorebi

Naruto Uzumaki was a complex character.

At some points in time he would be extremely shrewd, using wisdom beyond his years to perceive details left unnoticed by others. He would also unknowingly foreshadow events and occurrences. Other times he would be like a child, single-minded and stubborn, focused on only what lay directly in front of him.

Naruto Uzumaki was a complex character, so that's why when he would comment about the weather being great right before a storm or the starting of it, many would cast him incredulous glances. He would always wonder out-loud why they were so surprised, and the reply would always be that they expected a sunnier weather to match his preferences.

In the beginning he would frown with bewilderment and contemplate on this small disclosure. When Naruto had expressed his confusion again, but this time in front of Sakura and Sasuke, Sakura noticed and said, "You're so bright. You haven't noticed, but I'm pretty sure everyone that's ever met you had at least an inkling to the warmth that you kind of... give out." She had patted his head affectionately and added, "Plus, with your blond hair and obsession with orange, it's a wonder how anyone can look at you without being blinded."

Sakura and Naruto had grinned, while Sasuke gave a small 'tch' with his lips turning up slightly in amusement.

"So, if that's the reason I'm associated with sunshine, shouldn't Sasuke be associated with a natural disaster? A hurricane or thunderstorm maybe?"

This snappy comment left him with a couple of smacks on the head, a pissed off Sasuke, and an extremely amused Sakura.

But, many times after that he had wondered about the little fact Sakura confided in him. Sasuke made no noise of disagreement when she had spoken, not even a trademark insult, so Naruto had a feeling that she might have been right.

This moment of Naruto's life could be categorized as him being childlike.

There were three types of weather that were Naruto's favourite.

One was the ever famous clear and sunny day. Throwing in a little cool breeze made it better. No one could blame him for loving it, after all, who hated it? The day was the epitome of laziness, with fat puffy clouds that drifted lazily in the sky. The various shapes and sizes would cast images if one looked close enough. The weather reminded him of Shikamaru, and a few times Naruto would lie down with him in silence and content, staring at the sky to just simply forget everything. It was peace; true and blissful.

Next, was the aforementioned weather, the before and the beginning of a storm. Now, like it was mentioned before, Naruto Uzumaki was a complex character so he didn't actually like this time of the weather. Yet he somehow loved it. It was more like he embraced it. The feeling of the ominous clouds accumulating, their colour growing duller and darker by the second was, in Naruto's opinion which contradicted popular belief, not calm at all.

The feeling of calmness almost seemed like a counterfeit to him, almost an illusion. The clouds, to Naruto, was the personification of anger. The way clouds built up silently, gathering, was a lot like how the heart grew darker, duller, and heavier. To him, the clouds did not bring calmness, they brought the only the powerful feeling of anger.

But, he embraced it. He embraced it all because it reminded him of his heart, the way it grew and changed. He embraced it because the sky brought so much raw emotion, so many signs of likeness to himself, that it did not make him feel excluded. It demonstrated ever-changing emotions, how it could be so bright and colourful one moment, and dark as well as intimidating the next. He embraced it because he felt not alone, not the only living item in this infinite galaxy that could be filled with so many controversial and contradicting stages. As strange as it sounded, he related to them. The buildup and then the release... they were so, so much alike.

It brought beauty too, beauty that a clear sky could never deliver. It screamed, it screamed to alert. It alerted everyone about the truth of the world. The skies making the world accept through its sinister and forbidding appearance that not everything is perfect. Not everything is filled with light. Not everything is happy.

The sky at that time brought the bitter reality, and what came with it was sweet, sweet acceptance. So, naturally, he embraced it.

Finally, he enjoyed the sky after a storm. He liked to feel the ease, the way the clouds would either move altogether, towards their next destination, or they would disperse from each other, like pulling out loose ends of a dress. He knew this calm, it was for real. It was not an illusion that would falsely promise serenity but instead pour out rage and sadness. No, this was a calm usually followed by the reappearance of the sun.

This weather brought a different type of contentment, as opposed to the bright, sunny day. It was more a feeling of relief, of knowing that the build up was over, it had finished, and now what was left was the promise of restoring all that was happy and joyful. A small feeling of forgiveness also lingered, signaling the endurance felt through anger, and beginning of something new.

Naruto Uzumaki was a complex character.

But, this observation by Naruto could categorize as him being wise beyond his years.


Deadly car crash leaves one wounded and two killed

Yesterday, September 2, a deadly collision occurred near the Hokage monument involving CEO of Uzumaki and Uchiha Inc. Uzumaki Naruto , a representative of the Hyuga Corp., and an unnamed man.
There were pieces of broken glass belonging to a beer bottle found in the car of the unnamed man, as police suspect drinking and driving to be the main culprit behind the accident.
The head on collision has left the man and the Hyuga representative by the name of Hyuga Neji, dead. CEO Uzumaki suffered a minor concussion and a broken rib, but is expected to make a full recovery.
An autopsy on the body of the unnamed man will be performed soon to determine the truth behind the fatal collision, but the Hyuga family has been angered by the death of their clansman and are at a state of unrest and shock.
"The members of our clan and our family are dear to us," stated Katsumi Hyuga, grandfather to Hyuga Neji as well as the previous head of Hyuga Corp., "Neji was an important member, as well as a genius of our clan, and we will not rest until"
...


Naruto,

I would like to make this letter as brief as possible, as the dead should not talk. If you are reading this, it means I have passed and became a soaring bird. But, everyone will die, and dying does not mean I have written you a letter simply due to an urge. This letter means that, I, in fact, have passed on without completing a futile and important job.

Now I apologize, because I was unable to do my work, I am about to request a favour which will be a heavy burden upon your shoulders. Although I could have asked this favour of you when I was still able to see you, I had a fair idea that I could handle it myself. In addition, you already carry numerous burdens and this would just be another you would not deny.

Hinata-sama is to be wed to Ōwashi Kazahana. The arrangement, as you would know, is unknown to Hinata-sama but she, of course, will not have the heart to turn it down. If Hinata-sama refuses, she will be demoted from the main family and given the title of a branch member. This is not the reason, as you might have guessed, why Hinata-sama would accept the marriage proposal, and the elders are quite aware of this. If she refuses, the position of Ōwashi's wife will be given to Hanabi-sama.

Ōwashi is arrogant, spoiled, rude and his treatment towards Hinata-sama would be nothing but harsh and unforgiving. He is the son of the daimyō of the Land of Birds, meaning without his father, he does not hold a penny to his name. He has no sense of kindness and empathy, and a person like that would surely be an awful match for Hinata-sama. But, she is willing to throw away her happiness for the sake of her sister's well-being.

The only way the elders would agree to not let her be wed to Ōwashi would be to find someone of a higher caliber, someone more worthy of entering into the Hyuga family. Kazahara may not have the ideal traits, but he possesses power, wealth, and a valid family background. That is all the Hyuga look for, but finding someone better. especially one they can agree upon, is a tedious task.

Again, I apologize and I know it does not carry much sincerity as I can never show you my guilt and gratitude for accomplishing what I am about to ask of you. Gratitude because I know, even it means traveling to the ends of the Earth, you will fulfill this deed.

Marry Hinata-sama.


"Why?"

"Because I was forced to."

Silence.

"I don't need to lie to you and tell you 'I love you', because lies like that might bring together a marriage, but will break apart friendship."

A shaking body sucked the air around her, as if it would bottle within her and manifest into courage. Doing just the contrary, the air only seemed to deflate the voice, as it inquired shakily, "Who forced you?"

"Someone who knew happiness would not disappear with this arrangement. I may not love you like a spouse, but I cannot bear losing you as a friend."

The owner of the quiet voice, that reminded many of the moon, listened on, staying silent. Unbeknownst to everyone, including the moon herself, her voice was always the one to compromise. Everyone was aware of the shy demeanor , the kind behavior and the respectful nature the moon possessed, but no one was aware of the selfless and altruistic qualities that also existed within the being. All except one.

That one person, it wasn't really a surprise that he had figured it out. His sharp eyes so shrewd and astute, almost like a bird that judged a worthy prey before swooping in, would make one wonder how some could directly stare into his eyes without feeling the need to claw their eyes out. The searing gaze could lacerate out emotions within the person, and always, consistently without fail, they would discern the bad. Always the bad because the ruthless cage the world had put him in made him wary.

The moon was filled with 'bad', the bird had discovered in the past, as the malice for her continued to grow. As the years passed, however, he discovered what he thought was 'bad' were merely flaws. Now, one would think that the two are one and the same, but this keen being was not like others. 'Bad' was incompetent, irreplaceable, and filled with what the light could never reach. However, a flaw was a mark of imperfection.

The moon had many flaws. It was too affectionate, too generous, too giving, too gracious, too selfless. But, it was not bad.

One other, the bright, shining sun, was beginning to slowly understand the true nature behind the moon. The sun was just as insightful as the aforementioned cold and calculating bird, but, instead of seeing the bad, he saw nothing but good. He believed flaws could be good and flaws could be bad. It all depended on what one considered the definition of flaws to be and what they planned to do to erase them. And he thought he knew everything about the moon, all the good, yet there was so much, so so so, much he didn't know. But, from what the bird had taught the brave and canny sun: what was already known wouldn't always be what was right.

So, the bright yet shrewd sun also noted that the moon had many flaws. It was too affectionate, too generous, too giving, too gracious, too selfless. But, he now discovered his difficult job to discern what flaw he considered good and what bad.

Being too selfless? He still didn't know. But, what he did know was that her time of taking that responsibility was over. He was sick to his stomach realizing the countless times she had showed that infuriating trait. It was his turn to wear those shoes. He would take over the reigns and see what it meant to see through her eyes. The sun didn't realize he was simultaneously being too empathetic, but he didn't give it the slightest thought.

He would be the one to be selfless. He would do it. Didn't matter if his own happiness was trampled along the way, it didn't matter.

The truly unfortunate fact about this predicament was that he was blissfully unaware that he had declared all of this. Unaware he took upon this silent role unconsciously. He believed the current situation that had placed him alongside the moon was all due to him keeping a promise. He had a simple equation in his mind that is illustrated as follows: fulfilling promise equaled to being selfless. That was all to it.

The truth, what he actually meant, was: being selfless equaled to fulfilling promise.

It was rather inauspicious that the true equation was stored in the back of mind, behind false lies, emerald eyes, and ramen noodles. The true formula was in front of indigo hair, pearl eyes, and a soft smile.

After all, selfless acts were never spontaneous.

"I do not want t-to force y-you. W-when the time comes, I..." a deep breathe that echoed endlessly, this time the air managed to give her confidence, although a slight quiver remained, "I know you will tell me the real reason. Who forced you, and why. The complete truth."

Poor ill-fated, unselfish girl.

He doesn't know himself.