A/N: The long... unanticipated... non-thrilling next chapter to my story. I create the alternate-ish universe here, so complain all you want about some of the ... disturbing things you might read here... You have been warned. Now, read, and head to your doom... (Insert evil maniacal laughter here... Koff... Koff)
Disclaimer: This wouldn't be a fanfic if I could draw as good as Kishimoto, now would it? Plus, this would probably be the story If I had the ownership of the whole Naruto Franchise.
Caution: Contains angst. Not recommended for self-loving narcissist, who would care less if the Naruto died. Sympathizers, have your first aid kit ready, some scenes are too angsty, you might just cut yourself. Maybe.
(Break was here... I think.)
Naruto rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he got up from his bed. He scratched his stomach as he walked towards the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He dressed himself in a black shirt and some jeans before heading out. He'd just get a sandwich on a store on his way.
Naruto felt a little excited, since he was going to see Jiraiya again. He hasn't seen the old pervert in a few months, so he was really happy. Sure, the old geezer usually made more harm than good, but he was a grandfather-figure of sorts to the teen.
Naruto hummed his latest song absent-mindedly, making his way to the meeting place, which was one of Jiraiya's apartments. He barged in the room, expecting the Sannin to be leering at a porn magazine or something. What he saw was burned in his mind's eye, and he almost puked. He regained himself and took a picture at the spectacle that was transpiring right before his eyes.
The Toad Sannin's eyes widened when he saw Naruto in the door way, doubly so when he saw Naruto pull out his phone and take a picture. Only one thing crossed his mind that moment. 'Shit.'
Not one to disappoint, Naruto did what naturally comes next.
"I knew you were 'supposedly' a Casanova even by your looks, but... damn."
"Naruto..." Jiraiya said with venom laced in his voice.
"Yo, granny, I didn't think you would be doing this. And with Jiraiya too!"
"Shut up Naruto. Breathe one word of this and I'll have the whole of Konoha on your ass." The Slug Sannin, blushing furiously, threatened. (A/N: OMFG!! Who here didn't see that coming!? I didn't!)
"Touchy. Actually, I was thinking you two look great." Naruto said, much to the delight of the two. That is, until he said his next line. "For two old people, that is."
The Two Sannin's killing intent filled the room. They were about to pounce on the blonde when he showed them the picture. The two immediately stopped in their attempt, but still grumbled.
"So, what brings you here Naruto? You aren't gonna beg Jiraiya to train you some more, are you?" Tsunade asked after calming down.
"Oh, right, you didn't know about Naruto's little job."
"Job?" Tsunade asked to no one in particular. The boy took it as his cue to explain.
"You see granny, Ero-sennin here didn't just train my mind and body, he actually taught me some other stuff!"
"Other... stuff?" Tsunade echoed as she cracked her knuckles.
"No, nothing like 'that'. Although he did try to teach me that." Naruto said, saving his Sensei from a few bruises. "He taught me plenty stuff, like writing books, cooking, you know, stuff like that."
"He taught you to write books!?"
"Uhh, yeah. I helped finish his newest icha-icha novel. My name was on the back, well my pen name actually." He reached for an icha-icha book that was lying randomly below the coffee table, showing the name 'Minakaze Naru.'
"He... Taught You... To Write... Porn!?" Tsunade said as she glowered at the other Sannin.
"No, I taught him how to write stories. Turns out he has a dirtier mind than me, that's why I let him help me write my novel. He wrote several articles for the 'Ninja Times' magazine, you know."
"Yeah, and did you know Jiraiya knows how to play a musical instrument?"
"What instrument?"
"He plays a guitar, he even taught me!"
"Oookay... We're getting a little bit off topic here. So Naruto, why'd you want to see me so suddenly?" Jiraiya said.
"Oh, yeah, I've got a new song, two new songs actually."
"Really? Well, let's hear it." Jiraiya told his student.
"Wait, why are you telling Jiraiya?"
"Well, I gotta tell my manager slash producer, right?"
"Well, yeah...!! You mean he's your manager slash producer?"
Naruto shook his head and just prepared to play his song. He took out the scroll he used to keep the guitar in and started playing the two songs he spoke about. (A/N: For the first song, please refer to chapter 1, 'cause putting it up here again will be redundant. As for the other one...)
"I think it'll be better if I used an electric guitar, but we'll make do for now." Naruto announced to his audience. (Which were Tsunade and Jiraiya.) He started plucking the strings and started singing.
I never said I'd lie in wait forever
If I died, we'd be together now
I can't always just forget her
But she could try
At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are never coming home
Never coming home
Could I, should I
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever, ever, ever
Get the feeling that you're never
All alone and I remember now
At the top of my lungs, in my arms she dies
She dies
At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are never coming home
Never coming home
Could I, should I
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me
Never coming home
Never coming home
Could I, should I
And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me
For all the ghosts that are never gonna catch me
If I fall
If I fall (down)
Tsunade looked in awe at the boy. She never imagined that Naruto could have some skill beyond those of ninjutsu. Jiraiya smiled as he saw Tsunade enraptured by Naruto's singing.
At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are never coming home
Never coming home
Never coming home
Never coming home
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me
Never coming home
Never coming home
Could I, should I
And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me
For all the ghosts that are never gonna
"Those were really nice songs! If I didn't know better, I'd say I heard you on the radio already. No, I'm sure I've heard one of your songs." Tsunade said as she shook the teenager.
"Well of course you did! He is the top music artist in Konoha right now. You do know the name 'Minakaze Mikura' right? I'm sure you've heard it on the radio, or from someone from the tower, I imagine one of your helpers, or one of the younger ninjas." Jiraiya said as he showed a picture of a guy who had blonde hair pinned down by clips some glasses over mismatching eyes, one blue, one red, wearing a denim froufrou jacket over a black shirt with a white swirl on the center, black pants and some red and black sneakers while holding a black electric guitar. (A/N: Hmmm... Emo Naruto... Hmmm... is nice! )
"Wait, you're the Mikura!? But you look nothing like him!" Tsunade said as she compared the picture with Naruto.
"Of course he doesn't. Could you imagine the chaos it will bring if the whole village knew Mikura's, or Naruto's, true identity? What do you think they'd do?" Jiraiya rationalized. The Slug Sannin nodded, understanding the point.
"But still... Shit Naruto, you look way much better in this picture."
"Thanks, I get that a lot." Naruto said with sarcasm dripping in his voice.
"No, really. Anyways, so what'd you think?" Naruto asked Jiraiya. The Sannin laughed.
"Well what do you think?" Naruto looked darkly at Jiraiya. Jiraiya just smiled, making Naruto angrier with him.
"Why the hell can't you just say yes or no?"
"Ah, well. You know me. I just luuurrvve playing mind games with you."
"Aw shaddup. When are we recording?"
"I don't know. I'll call you when I get the details. So, where you off to now?"
"I don't really have anything planned right now, so maybe I'd just get some Ramen and then go home and write songs. Why?"
"Oh, nothing. Just checking."
"Huh? Whatever. See ya later Ero-sennin, Granny!" Naruto yelled as he exited, leaving the two sannin alone. Tsunade's face scrunched up in a look of concern and pity for the boy.
"It's... worse than I thought. I knew Naruto held his sadness inside himself all this time... but, I never thought it was to the degree that he could fake a smile and make it look so... believable."
"That's not the worst of it. I've heard him plenty of times cry himself to sleep during our trip. He may be persistent, but... everyone's got their limits. I just never thought Naruto would reach his... Poor kid...After all he's been through... I guess happiness just happens to a select few." Jiraiya said, obviously pitying the boy. "He's suffered enough as it is..."
"I know..."
(Break was here. Maybe. Or was it?)
Naruto wandered around town after he left Jiraiya's pad. He wasn't really hungry so instead of going to Ichiraku, he just went and had a stroll.
He thought about his life so far, immediately wincing as he did.
'My life's... fucked up. That's the best summary I could come up with. Heh, even Kiba's dog has it better than me.' He thought, smiling grimly at the point he has shown himself. 'All I ever wanted was a little love... Guess love just isn't my kind of dish.'
He asked himself why he asked in the first place. He knew even before he asked that he'd be rejected, again, for the nth time. So why? Why bother hurting himself?
'I'm just a martyr, a masochist even. I mean, promising her that I'd do anything for her? I guess I really am stupid. I just wish that... for once... maybe just once... she could've given me a chance... I'm not asking for much... just a few dates...' He smiled melancholically at himself. 'Hahaha... Yeah
right... as if she'd ever give me a chance... She's sooo hung-up on Sasuke that she purposely ignored the fact that Sasuke came back with a girlfriend in tow...'
'...I'm thinking too much like a girl... Hehehehe...' He laughed hollowly inside his head. '...Ahahaha... I'm way in over my head... the chance of me and her together... will just have to live inside my head... in my dreams... where I can't be a burden to anyone anymore... I'll just play house with my imagination...'
He was broken out of his thoughts when he heard someone call his name.
"Yo, Naruto!" Naruto turned around and saw Shikamaru, Kiba and Chouji.
"Yo." He smiled, putting on his smile. He knew that they wouldn't be able to see through it. "Where are you three going?"
"We were just about to go get some ramen, wanna join us? It's my treat." Shikamaru asked his friend.
"Nah, I got some work to do. Maybe some other time?"
"...Sure man. Catch you later." Shikamaru said, before waving to Naruto. 'Something is wrong with Naruto. I mean, Naruto? Refusing FREE ramen? He only does that when... Oh...Shit.'
(Break here, sadly.)
Sakura woke up, her eyes blood shot, tear streaks riding down her face. She looked better when she was sick. She didn't even know what to do anymore. 'Maybe I'll talk to Ino. She'll understand.'
She got up and did her early morning routines, but it was painfully slow and lifeless. Sakura phoned her friend as soon as she was finally dressed. She waited for a few seconds before the other end picked up.
"Hello? Yamanaka Residence, Ino speaking."
"Hey, Ino-pig..."
"Hey forehead, what's up?"
"Can you come here today? I really need to talk to someone right now. Please?"
"Well... okay. I'll be there in about half an hour. Want me to call everyone else?"
"Y...yeah. That'd be nice. And Ino?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"No problem, Sakura."
(Break here.)
A/N: What could I say? Misery luuurves me, so much it gives me inspiration. Well, sort of. Sad songs do help. Anyways...
What will happen next? What did Shikamaru mean? Who is Sasuke's mystery squeeze? Why Am I asking you (of all people)? Tune in next chapter to find out! Shocking observations and truths with no base whatsoever!
...Oh, yeah, before I forget, review the story people. The story gets better with reviews, you know. And as usual, constructive criticism and flames will all be accpeted, but ignored at the same time. (except constructive criticism.) Song was Ghost of you by My Chemical Romance.