Title: Art of Living

Author: sky75rk

Standard disclaimers apply.

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Risk Four: Consequences

"Have you seen..?"

"I can't believe it!"

"It can't be possible…"

"…brought back… to life?"

"I've seen it!"

"Walked in front of me…"

Kotetsu ran inside the Godaime's office in a hurry. The door was slammed open and Tsunade woke up with a start. "Tsunade-sama!" he all but shouted. Tsunade blinked, waiting for the weariness to subside. She rubbed her eyes and wiped the drool that slipped past her mouth.

"Wha-what is it, Kotetsu? Did you have to be so loud?" she demanded, folding her hands in front of her and on top of her desk.

Kotetsu panted and took a deep breath. "Tsunade-sama… have you heard the rumors this morning?" he asked his leader.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Why would I pay attention to gossips this early?"

"But the villagers are saying that the Yondaime is here… ALIVE!" there was a hint of excitement in his voice that can't be denied.

It's impossible. The Yondaime died almost seventeen years ago… She told herself. Although Naruto was becoming a close resemblance to the former Hokage, still… she knew that he wasn't that close to be mistaken the Yondaime.

"YO—YONDAIME-SAMA!"

That was Shizune's voice she heard beyond the closed door.

"Shizune-san. Is Tsunade there?"

And that is unmistakably the voice of the Fourth Hokage.

She wasn't all that particularly close to the Yondaime, as she wasn't the teacher of the said genius ninja… who died seventeen years ago.

The door opened, and Tsunade prepared herself to scold Shizune for letting a stranger—and an obvious intruder—to enter the office without her permission. "What d--" the words she was about to say died in her mouth as she stared at the person that was called the Hero of Konoha, the one who saved the village from utter destruction before… "I-I-Impos…sible…"

The man in front of her was the exact replica of the Fourth Hokage…

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They were both a few hours away from the main village by foot. Both of them decided that they should just take their time and walk until they reach Konoha, despite knowing that one of them was MIA since three months ago, without bothering to report to the Godaime after the incident.

The first of the two was wearing a simple plain black, muscle shirt and pants of the same color, and had on his feet the standard ninja sandals. He had long blonde hair and his piercing blue eyes were shining as he smiled while looking at his surroundings. The other was his exact opposite, wearing a long-sleeved white trench coat with its hood covering his facial features. He was also wearing gloves on his hands and any other clothing inside the coat was not seen since the coat itself was buttoned up.

The blue eyes of the man beside him looked at him and spoke. "No one will be able to recognize you when you wear it like that,"

Naruto knew for a fact that it was true. However, he also knew that when they reach the village, people will be talking about ghosts and miracles and everybody who knew him will automatically know whose fault it was. His head was bowed down as they walked, and the aura around them changed.

The blue eyed man sighed. "At least don't hide from them. They deserve to know the truth about what happened, Naruto,"

Naruto raised his head up, but his features still remained hidden under the hood. He preferred to keep it that way before…

"I tried to tell you to stop. But you're so stubborn!" Arashi shot him a glare, which softened when they realized that they were already nearing the village. "I wonder… how everyone would react… when they see me…"

"That they're seeing a ghost from the past," Naruto answered immediately.

Arashi promptly smacked him at the back of his head. Naruto was about to retaliate, but then remembered that he can't. I don't want to risk it. He told himself, and when his father noticed the lack of reaction from the equally blonde boy, he frowned and continued trudging along the way.

As they walked along the rocky paths leading towards Tsunade's office, they felt the stares of the people on their backs. "It's as if they haven't seen you before…" Naruto commented quietly, as they tried to walk faster without the villagers noticing.

"Well," Arashi started. "They haven't seen me for almost seventeen years. And walking beside a mysterious man isn't helping things a bit," he took a sideway glance at his son.

The whisperings started then, when they continued walking, but they ignored it.

"Have you seen..?"

"I can't believe it!"

"It can't be possible…"

"…brought back… to life?"

"I've seen it!"

"Walked in front of me…"

"Is that Kotetsu?" he asked his son, gesturing to the man that had his jaw dropped on the ground. "He's all grown up now…" he mused and Naruto remained quiet as said person collected himself and ran ahead of them.

"Well… that should give Tsunade-san a warning…"

If his friends saw him now, they will wonder why Naruto was so quiet and sobered. But they can't see me anymore… not after what happened.

It was awkward; Arashi felt that despite being a spirit encased in his resurrected bones. But he filled the quiet with his voice that used to be the younger blonde's job…

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Note: This is just the teaser.^^ I'm sorry for not updating for almost 3 years. :P