Book Two: Nozomi's Purpose- Chunin Exams: Lullabies of The Villages!


Authors Notes

Underlined means it's being sung or written, in this chapter it is sung. Probably won't do that later on but... Now here's the chapter!

End Authors Notes


Naruto and I walked back to the Mansion alone. The medical-nin were already there but they weren't playing cards as usual they were all whispering urgently. When Naruto and I entered the room they stopped talking.

They all looked at us. I had never seen them all so serious.

"Where's Sumi?" I asked.

"Yeah. Are those two still asleep?" Naruto asked.

"I thought they were with you." Grandma Tsunade said.

"Guess they're both still asleep." I said. "Night."

I didn't go to my room. I went to the library. The Senju Clan Library was where I used to spend most of my time. I paused in front of the tall wooden doors. The Clan symbol was carved into it. I pushed them open slowly. They didn't even creak once.

I stepped into the large library. The library almost took up half the Mansion. Although only a sixteenth of its vast shelves were filled. It was purposely done like this. I walked down the long narrow aisle. I stopped when I reached the back of the library. The white grand piano sat waiting there for me like always. I ran my hand along the keys. wiping off the dust.

I pulled out my favorite piece. 'Lullaby of The Flame'. It was the first piece I had learned to play.

I let my hands glide across the keys. I sang the lyrics as I played.

"Hush now.

My dear little one.

The sun has gone down,

but the flame still burns,

in your heart.

And it will until you're dying breath.

And throughout your life,

Pass it onto the next.

The Will of Fire,

Shall glow on.

Lighting the way for all time..."

It was a short piece but it was my favorite.

I put the lullaby away and pulled out 'Into The West'. (Yes the same one as in 'Lord of The Ring') It was a totally different feeling when I played the piano than when I wrote poems. When I write I'm putting my thoughts down and concentrating but yet letting myself go. But when I played... It was totally different. I just let my hands glide across the keys, I didn't have to think at all. It all just flowed.

I stopped after an hour. I sighed and looked out the window that went from floor to ceiling. The moon shone brightly through it. There has always been something about the moon that fascinated me, calmed me.

Sumi... What are you talking about with that strange woman...?

That' s what I want to know.- Fu

Hey Fu. This is some weird life we lead isn't it?

You can think that again- Gaara joined the conversation

Why are those four keeping secrets from us?- Fu

They don't think we're ready to know whatever it is that they are discussing

It's still annoying- Naruto butted in

Looks like the gangs all here then-

YUGITO?- Fu, Naruto, Gaara and I

Since when have you been able to do this?- Gaara

I just figured I'd try after you kids told me about it.- Yugito

What do you think they're discussing?- Fu

I have no clue

Beats me!- Naruto

These Tails are a real pain- Gaara

Aoko's been acting oddly...- Yugito

Oddly?- Gaara

Yeah, she's been looking over her shoulder a lot as if she's expecting someone to come and take her away or something...- Yugito

Come to think of it Kitsune's been doing that too...- Naruto

I don't know why but I started playing 'Lullaby of the Flame' again.

"Hush now.

My dear little one.

The sun has gone down,

but the flame still burns,

in your heart.

And it will until you're dying breath.

And throughout your life,

Pass it onto the next.

The Will of Fire,

Shall glow on.

Lighting the way for all time..."

You can play the piano?- Fu

You can sing?- Gaara

Yeah, Nozomi's been playing for as long as I can remember- Naruto

Do you know 'Lullaby of the Clouds'?- Yugito

Sure, hold on.

I pulled out the song from the trunk where I keep all of my music.

"Look out the window.

The clouds have come down to you,

so you may sleep in peace.-"

I stopped. I noticed the shamisen had joined in. Who's playing that?

I am. Sorry if it's-

No it's alright. I was just curious. I cut Yugito's thoughts off. I started over.

"Look out the window.

The clouds have come down to you,

so you may sleep in peace."

Yugito had started singing as well.

"Knowing that they are here,

to take you home,

and fill your head with gentle,

Dreams.

Now drift off among them,

And dream adoring dreams,

Of tomorrow.

For tomorrow's all we have.

And tomorrow,

The clouds shall come down again,

To take you home..."

What about the 'The lullaby of the Desert?'- Gaara

I pulled out the song sheet.

"The desert winds and storms,

rage as does my love for you.

It protects the Village,

as my love protects you.

The desert appears void of life,

But look closely,

And you will see it is alive.

Protect the life that exists here,

For it is fragile..."

Wow. I have never heard that one. Do you know the 'Lullaby of the Waterfall?- Fu

Who said I was taking requests? Yeah I know it. One minute.

"The water hurries,

To a steady beat.

Giving you this lullaby.

Listen to the voices that have gathered,

Just to sing you to sleep.

It never stops singing,

As I will never stop loving you.

The waterfall keeps flowing,

to sing us all into a deep slumber.

Now listen carefully,

My voice is there too..."

Yugito didn't play during this one, apparently she didn't know it.

My mom used to sing that to me.- Fu

I remember my mother singing me 'The Lullaby of the Flame' to me...

But didn't she die two days after you were born?- Naruto

Yes but... It's all I had so I guess it kinda stuck... I clutched my breast plate.

Well it's obvious these four aren't going to wake up any time soon so let's go bug them- Naruto

I can go with that- Gaara

What the heck

I do owe that little kitten any way- Yugito.

I got up and put the sheets away and walked back down the long narrow aisle. The moon light flickered as I passed in between bookshelves. I walked to my room just by moon light not bothering to turn on any lights.

I saw Sumi was still sleeping. "Lazy butt." I crawled into bed after a shower. I cuddled up to Sumi like she was a teddy bear. I was asleep in minutes.

Yugito, Gaara, Fu, Naruto and I stood in the clearing.

I pulled my compact out.

"They can't know about the Akatsuki yet." Sumi said. She sounded like they had been arguing.

"The runts have a right to know, Sumi!" Kitsune yelled.

"They aren't ready! They've already had so much thrust upon them..."

"FINE! BUT IF NARUTO AND I MEET ONE AKATSUKI MEMBER I'M TELLING HIM THE TRUTH!" Kitsune roared. "And I don't care what you say, Sumi. I won't have Naruto in the dark. He's been in it his whole life and I won't allow the runt to in it any more than he has to be." Kitsune turned away from his sisters and brother.

"We've been here all day." Cho said quietly.

"Your Jinchuriki must be worried about you." Tsukiko said. "I am sorry to have kept you so long."

"Do not worry about it, Tsukiko." Shukaku said. "We needed to know what you have told us."

"I still-"

"Don't worry about it." Kitsune said. He was still furious with Sumi. He turned and walked into the bushes.

"I agree with Kitsune." I heard Aoko say as I closed my compact. "They're coming."

"What have they been talking about?" Yugito asked.

"Something about the Akatsuki and they were arguing on whether to tell us about it. That's all I heard."

"Should we pester them into telling us?" Naruto asked.

"I think we should just let things unfold." Fu said.

"All in favor of bugging them?" I asked.

Yugito, Gaara and I raised our hands.

"Looks like we bug the crap out of them until they tell us." I said.


Authors Notes

So what do you think of the lullabies? I have them all in another fic. 'Lullabies of the Naruto World'. If you have a suggestion for one feel free to share! I give credit where credit is due!

With Authorly Love,

Freewolf17