Ruby, wearing her yukata, with her scythe strapped to the back, walked with Naruto. The teens were looking at the village, making note of both how it changed slightly in the last few months since Naruto had been there.
"So, wait, there's actually a public bath here?"
Naruto nods, pointing at the onsen they were passing.
"Whe-where's the volcano?"
He shrugs.
Konoha was not exactly a volcanic area, but it did have underground magma chambers, at least that's what Shikamaru told him. Chances were that the mountains in the desert were once an active system but died off.
Still, a magma chamber was a boon for the village, the local hot spring in the village boasted its rejuvenating waters heavily. Naruto visited them often with his father when they would come to the inner part of the village, the waters had a sort of mystical feeling about them.
It was very hot, but soothingly so.
Stretching a little bit, Ruby sighs in content and looks at Naruto with a smile. "You look happier to be home."
Naruto nods, though he reaches out and gently grabs her hand, he smiles more at her. She giggled a little bit as he brought her closer to himself, both looking at people setting up festival garnishments and the likes.
"Oi, Naruto!" A voice called out, making both Ruby and him turn.
There standing in the crowd was Shikamaru, rubbing the back of his head, wearing casual clothing in the form of pants and a t-shirt. Not many would know it at first glance, but they would be looking at one of the smartest people on Remnant, perhaps the smartest.
Shikamaru walks towards them, looking at Naruto, smiling. "I'm not interrupting something am I?"
Naruto shook his head, pointing towards Ruby, and then at his heart. Shikamaru smiles a little bit and looks at Ruby.
"I'm Ruby, Ruby Rose."
"Shikamaru Nara."
Both shook each other's hand, nodding as they became familiar with each other's name. "So, looks like Naruto finally got himself a girlfriend, what a drag, I'm still the only one single out of our group."
Naruto looked at Shikamaru, letting go of Ruby's hand to get out his notepad, and began writing. "Sai?"
"Oh, right, Sai. Yeah, he's still single, so I guess there's a little hope for me. By the way, I'm leading a research team here in Konoha, apparently, they want to explore The Western Desert a little bit. Unfortunately, looks like our guards aren't going to make it here for another week." Naruto pursed his lips, and then he smiled at Shikamaru's dilemma.
He pointed at himself, then began to write down on the notepad. "There's Sasuke, Sakura, my friends here. We can be your guard duty, for a day."
"Oh no, I couldn't ask that from you all, you're enjoying your time away from work and study. I wish I could, my research facility in Atlas has been slammed. We're looking at the possibility of new forms of power through hydrothermal vents and the likes. Perhaps expansion plans under the ice, theoretical forms of Grimm that could be living there, you know…boring book stuff." Shikamaru told Naruto as he crossed his arms, taking a deep breath, "but then again…I could compensate you for the day."
Ruby rubbed her chin, and then smiles, "we'll be glad to help! Besides, what do they want in The Western Desert."
"Oh, funny that, you see we sent a drone up the other day. We managed to get it further into the desert, but it crashed down near the village, but unfortunately near that gang's hideout too. I'm not too shabby in a pinch, but I can't expect myself to defend everyone at once. The photos on the drone supposedly contain images of a ruin site." Shikamaru explains as he watched Naruto nodding, and then smiles, looking at Ruby.
"When would we leave out?"
"Tomorrow, well, I'll leave you two to your date."
"Okay, nice meeting you Shikamaru."
Shikamaru smiles, waving her off a little bit, "and Naruto better take good care of you. He'd be a fool to lose someone that seems to give off a gentle aura."
Ruby blushed a little bit, rubbing the back of her head, "th-thanks."
Ruby turns back towards Naruto, and smiles, "looks like missions came early."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, then going back to Ruby's hand with his and looks at the morning sun. They slowly began to walk again, looking around the village as she looks at the onsen some more.
"That'd be a good place for me and the girls to go, I guess." She had a blush on her face, a perverted thought flooded her head, "or me and Naruto…"
The Red River, the river that ran through Konoha, was wide inside of the forest. The calm sounding waters, the occasional splash of a fish leaping at an insect, and the sound of two teens slowly kissing filled the setting with life.
Ruby was kissing Naruto sensually, both he and her were more focused on each other than the environment. Breaking the kiss, Naruto kissed Ruby's cheek and smiles as they nuzzled each other. Hugging each other, slightly swaying in the wind, as if they were slow dancing to the sounds of nature.
It was romantic, spiritual in a sense, and fulfilling.
Taking a deep breath, Ruby smiles as she looks at the little picnic area she had set up. They had gone to her inn and got the stuff, made out a little bit there, and just continued that activity in front of The Red River.
Taking a seat on the ground, Naruto cuddled with Ruby against a tree, and she watches as a Cax runs across the ground. "This place is beautiful Naruto, is this where you caught the fish?"
Naruto nods, pointing at the stump he had sat on, taking a deep breath, his gaze fell into a sort of saddened look. She saw this, looking at him with a frown, as she cuddled closer to him.
"What's wrong Ru?"
Naruto pointed at his necklace, then to the stump, and sighs.
"Oh…you miss him badly, do you?"
Naruto nods.
Ruby then looks at him, and then slowly moves to where she was laying against the tree holding him. It was a little bit awkward at first, but she couldn't put her finger on it, she could feel that he was in pain. Perhaps he never had the chance to fully let go, unlike her.
"Naruto," she feels his eyes look up at her, "it's okay if you want to cry. I know, it may seem like it'll ruin the moment, but…I won't think less of you."
"You have a right to grieve, and I think…you've been pushing it back a while."
Naruto nods nodded, tears brimming at his eyes.
Naruto looks at the stump, she saw right through him, and he bit his lip. Slowly, but surely, tears spilled from his eyes as he felt the emotions come crashing around him. He spent most of the childhood training, even after his father's death, and working.
His mother was the one to let go, but he never got the real chance to. Slowly, but surely, choked sobs made its way out of him.
A younger Naruto, not so much younger, stood by his father's bedside. Slowly, he felt the man's hand go cold. Tears spilling out his eyes, struggling to even speak the words father, something now impossible to him and such.
Kushina was wailing as she clutched her now dead husband, while Naruto slowly began to shut down. His face was expressionless, he couldn't fathom it now that he had just lost his father. His hero laid on his deathbed, looking up at the air, his eyes open until Sarutobi closed them.
"It is done…sleep now young one, no more pain." Sarutobi himself was tearing up, but he knew of this harsh reality, it was nothing new to him. "Sleep…sleep…the eternal dream awaits you."
Naruto walked away from the bed, slumping against the wall, sliding down as he just clutched his knees closer to his chest. Never had he felt so…empty, like someone had taken the very soul he had out of him. Slowly, he watched his mother cry out his father's name.
He just wanted to be able to say "papa" but knew it was impossible, he felt ashamed.
Naruto was bawling, all of it hit him, the pain that he had been feeling so long. The emptiness inside of him, the need to constantly push himself. He just wanted to cloud over it, put something of a barrier of his feelings, so he wouldn't have to feel this pain.
"Pa…" He chokes, surprising Ruby as she heard his raspy attempt at speaking, "pa…"
Ruby held Naruto's hands as she made sure to lay her head on his shoulder, "shh…let it all out…"
She coos him, she caressed his hands, she comforted him as best she could. However, she felt the reality smack her in the face that the very same thing he had be withholding from himself throughout his childhood was so that he couldn't let anyone see this pain he held.
She was the only one, this was what probably could be the most intimate thing Naruto could've ever had shown her. The weakness that was his inability to grieve over his father, something he probably never showed his own mother.
Slowly, his sobbing stops and both didn't know why. It was a like a calm wind washed over them, slowly, Naruto and Ruby both closed their eyes as they held onto each other.
A man, transparent, was sitting next to them. He held a guitar in his hands as he looks at the children by him. His blonde hair waved in the wind that was in the area, his blue eyes trained themselves on his own son.
Naruto ears fluttered a little bit, but the man knew that his son couldn't see him. He was one with the world once more, but that was fine because he knew that he could hear him within his heart. Slowly, he took a deep breath, a habit that he had gotten while alive.
He never needed to breathe, he never felt the pain, the cancer was gone.
Smiling, he begins to strum his guitar, "you'll never know."
"What life throws upon you."
A young Minato carries a young Kushina in his arms, he smiles as she looks at him. Slowly, both kiss as he carried her and walked along The Red River.
"I know it's not easy but take your time, you'll never what life throws your way."
Minato was laying next to Kushina, rubbing her swollen stomach, he smiles as she cuddles closer to him. "I hope it's a girl…"
"I hope it's a boy," he was met with a flick, "ow?!"
"It'll be a girl…"
"It'll be a boy…
Both looked at each other, with Minato kissing her cheek, "I'll love him regardless…"
"Her…" Kushina corrected him.
"But, know, that you were my sunshine. My only son, the apple of my eye, and I love you."
The wailing of an infant filled a small room, Kushina hard breathing was replaced with excited giggling as she saw her son for the first time. Slowly, she takes hold of him, Minato standing to the side sobbing with a smile on his face.
"Time will be tough, life will be rough, but you'll it'll be easier as it goes…just let it all go."
Minato held Naruto's arms as the infant tried to walk for the first, only to stumble and fall over. "Almost there, C'mon, you can do it, buddy!"
Minato and Kushina watch as Naruto gurgled in laughter as he got back up, slowly, trying to stand and walk. Finally, after a few more tries, Naruto got up and walked with very little help.
"He's got it, Minato, he's got it!" Kushina exclaims as Minato let's go of his son's arms.
"It'll be hard, I know, things will turn blue."
Minato was looking a piece of paper, his son was celebrating his seventh birthday, all the while his doctor papers read back what he dreaded. Slowly, he took a deep breath and looked at his son from inside of his study.
Sliding the paper under the desk, he would forgo the treatment, he didn't want to be some skeleton walking around on his last legs and not able to live life with his son.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you." Minato walks in, holding Kurama in his hands, "happy birthday dear Naruto."
"I just hope this gives time and comfort, you've worked hard enough…rest easy. I wish even now for many things."
Minato stood at the doorway, with Kushina, shaking Taiyang's hand. He watched as his son took Ruby's hand and began to walk away from the house. With Minato inviting Taiyang in for a cup of coffee or some tea that his wife would be making.
"Time will keep moving forward, there is no reverse, an endless amount rise to beings."
Minato looked at his son as laid on his deathbed, watching the boy shut down a little while his wife cried. He couldn't talk, the edges of his vision were slowly dimming, tears brimmed at his own eyes. This was the end, and it didn't want this way.
However, time waited for no one, but slowly he found himself able to smile. "I love you, my son, please…don't be afraid to let me go…"
"But, one thing will always remain the same…" The ghost of Minato looked at his son, now sleeping in Ruby's arms as she did as well, "I'll love…no matter what life throws my way, my little sunshine."
"Life, like my song has no rhythm.
Strife will come for you, and a schism will be made whole.
I know not what the future may hold.
But, I know that you must be one thing, and that is bold.
If anything, cover the place in your heart, that hole."
With someone that you'll kiss, hold, and love."
Go on now my son, fly away, from here like a dove."
Naruto's eyes fluttered open, looking around, he found that he and Ruby were laying in each other's arms. Slowly, he gets up, stretching. He felt warm, upon looking at the stump, he saw several fireflies flying around it.
"Papa…" Naruto clutched his chest a little, "thank you…for everything…"
Walking over to the tree stump, Naruto knelt and wrote in the soft dirt by digging it out a little bit. "Forever with you…Naruto…your son."
Walking over towards Ruby, she was snoring softly as he picked her basket and placed it to the side as he laid back down next to her. Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward and kiss her forehead. Snuggling close to her, he watched as her eyes open.
"Na…ru…to?" she murmurs and fully opened her eyes, "you alright?"
Naruto nods, cupping her cheek, something was different about him, his aura was a much brighter orange then it had been. Smiling softly, she clutched his hand, "Naruto…please don't ever ball stuff up inside again."
He nods, kissing her gently, and mouths to her. "I promise."
Taiyang sighs, watching his daughter being carried from the river by Naruto, he had spied after he noticed they had been gone for a while. Both had just fallen asleep, no foul play involved, he wasn't too concern other than the fact that both weren't ready in his mind for any type of activity involving intercourse.
He just would interrupt it, playing it off as an accident if they had started, but was genuinely happy to see Naruto caring for his daughter. "Better take good care of her, or I'll smash your teeth in…son."
Frowning a little bit, he just watches the fireflies fly away from the stump, over towards him surprisingly, and they just seemed to dance around him. Closing his eyes, he could see the visages of a blonde-haired man standing in front of him. A smile laced on his lips, he was reaching out towards Taiyang, the man smiled and reached out.
Only to feel hair despite him gripping the man's hand in his mind.
"You can feel them, can't you, spirits?" Taiyang was interrupted from the haze as he saw Kushina come walking out of the brush, "I knew you would spy on my son. I'm not angry since I did the same thing, I love him…but he can be impulsive sometimes as well.'
Taiyang sits on the ground, with Kushina taking a seat by him, and both looked at the river. "My husband and I got married near here, had our first kiss here and such. The Red River is an ancient river, it runs despite the land around it dying, it's like life itself…always finding a way."
"What did you mean by spirits?"
"My husband's soul lingers here, it's his special place…as well as my son's."
"How so?"
"This where they fished, trained, slept sometimes, and where Naruto learned to play the flute."
"Didn't your husband play guitar?"
"Yes, …how'd you know?"
"I saw a blonde man with a guitar strapped to his back before you interrupted me."
"He says hello, I think he's well aware of who you are…"
Taiyang sighs, "look…Kushina, I don't really subscribe to all that religious stuff."
"It's not about religion, it's the natural order of things. Life, energy, aura…chakra, whatever you will call it. It continues forward, from this life to the next, to another world if possible. The natural order of things is a balance, no greater or lesser force, everything in tantum with itself." Kushina points at the stars, "even our universe must be balanced…"
"You're an interesting woman…"
"You remind me of him a little, always such a worrywart."
"Huh?"
"Stop hiding away from what you feel, you haven't grieved her haven't you?"
"No…no I haven't…"
"Why?"
"I had to be strong for Yang and Ruby."
Nodding, Kushina smiles as she looks at her marriage necklace, "I will always miss my husband…but I take comfort that he is here."
"So, this time of year, is it especially for the spirits being able to be closer?"
"Yes, it's near the most sunlit time of our world, our Summer Solstice."
"So, how does this affect anything?"
"It fills the world with life, have ever noticed?"
"Not really…no."
"Well, you will, you just got to visit a forest everyday…"
"D-do you think I could see her…here…"
"Summer?"
"Yes…"
Kushina smiles a little bit, bringing her hand onto Taiyang's and patting it, "she's out there…she's waiting for you."
A figure in black was standing to the side, dressed in all black, the feminine figure stood in the desert. Looking up at the moon, her black sclera betrayed her silver eyes, slowly she sat in the sand. Looking at her hands, slowly, she focused hard.
"Do you think you can free yourself from me?"
"I have to at least try…"
"Why, why try so hard…love is temporary…"
"Love isn't temporary, what would you know of it…witch."
"I know that you're powerless even now and that I could snap your daughter's neck like a twig if you disobey and try to free yourself."
"You…may…hold my body," Summer speaks in strain, "but…you'll…never…hold…my heart."
"Pathetic…" Salem's voice filled her mind as everything went dark, slowly her silver eyes turned red. "I suppose I will have to…lock you further in that cage."
Inside of a cage, in her soul, Summer smiled a little bit. "You are just mad…because you know…there is a way to beat your control…and one day…I'll be free."
"I'll be free…and I'll stand there with my daughters once more, and I'll be the one drape them in wedding flowers…greet their future husbands…and you'll just be alone…" Summer struggled to speak, black veins appeared around her, "and I want you to know this…Salem…no true love can ever be extinguished…most of all…a love for one's family…"
Slowly, Salem managed to gain control, she stood over her crystal ball. Growling as she felt her black sun mark glow a dark purple. Breathing hard, she looked at Tyrian, who was standing beside her. The scorpion man had a smile on his face.
"Tyrian, in the next few months, Vytal…you will go…and bring me, Ruby Rose."
"Can I have her eyes?"
"Alive…"
"Damn…yes, my goddess."
