Every human being, if capable of recalling with precision each moment of their lives, like filmed and stored frame by frame with perfection within the reckonings of their mind, the first thing they would hear when making their act of presence to this world is a cry.
Their own.
Their petulant cries for aid, signaling nothing more than the appearance of another mouth to feed, another future power-hungry bastard that would do anything to attain it. The birth of this land's more callous and untrustworthy animal.
Unlike them, I didn't come in between sobs, too weak to even stand on my own accord. I didn't come to be that way, after all, I'm not human, for which I thank whom I shall. There was no cry, there was nothing, just a new and sudden presence product of the actions of an old man, the Sage of the Six Paths.
Hagoromo Otsutsuki, or Jiji as I would never refrain myself from calling him.
I am a fully conscious being that for whatever reason appeared. Our origin, for my emergence was not a standalone script, a topic of secrecy perpetuated and guarded among those human contemporaries to it. Till all perished, without leaving us even a scripture behind.
The only word Jiji shared with us was that despite our separation, we were all linked. From our separation from what? I play that memory time and time again; it bothering me more than it does and did to the supposed counterparts of that origin.
The words I won't ever forget as I firstly cried, the words he uttered as his life waned and he thought fit to say goodbye.
To give us each a place where to search for purpose.
"I will not live much longer," he started as we all surrounded him around a seal. We already were ten times his size, despite being young. "Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, Gyuki, and Kurama. Even if you're far apart, you will always be together, and eventually, the day will come when you will be united again… Each of you with a unique name and a different form than before, and unlike when you were inside me, you shall be led properly. I hope you learn what true strength is before that time."
I believed in him so much… To the point that I was blind. So much that his words of 'shall be led' slip past me. Like we were cattle? Tied to someone's path or desires.
That and his faint praise of humanity. I don't know which of his ideas, speeches aged the best? If any of his naïve ways. I believed he lived long enough to see how his gift to humanity was weaponized, first by his own children and then by the impending order in this world. What would become the shinobi world.
That part of history we knew, although not lived. Not that the sequel was a fairytale, the contrary.
Ninshū, the Ninja Creed, was a train of thought supported around the idea of peace that instead gave birth to ninjutsu, which caused the world to fall into its current darkness. The chakra he shared with the people originally was meant to be a linking power in between people's spiritual energy.
But what those tricky and cunning humans he underestimated did was to link that energy to their physical one, what by now is described as the updated notion of chakra itself. Furthering human capacity for destruction by augmenting each individual's abilities.
Ninjutsu. A tool that gave way to war, domination, and fear.
And yet he entrusted us to them. Linked our purpose to them. How could any strength realign with that, Jiji?
Did you even think or imagine what they would turn into? What they would do to me?
While angry I can't help to empathize, I don't know in hopes for what.
I too saw the best in them, long before you sent me to guard that temple, long before there were even murmurs on it of the wars developing through the lands, with clans partaking in them for payment. And long before I dealt with the worst of them.
The Uchiha.
Although today I am known as the one who deplores them the most, a well-founded opinion, at the time I was the one who gave a chance to the idea of caring for them. I was the one that at first did that, the one who shared the most time with them, unlike my fellow Biju that promptly went on their own way.
I loved the temple and the many of the people in it, the first two generations that still knew of you and cared for what you preached, that saw me as a companion, even a friend.
This was too long ago to remember the date with precision...
A wood base structure with tiled or thatched roofs characterized the Saihō-ji sanctuary, like most temples. It was in a valley, a lush forest all around, three streams passing near it, one going right through the town, promptly flowing into one of the major rivers of the land, what would come to be the Land of Fire.
A town, for unlike most temples, this one was set by the Six Paths's ideals and religion, so erase any thought of a filled monk area of your mind. This place not only harbored families but a particular creature known by name by those there. A creature which sizes should hinder his mobility and conformability among this clear voided and vegetation filled area.
A joyous child was walking into the mentioned town, to one of the massive courtyards, passing the bridge across the stream, with a chuckle on his face. The rascal had run free and escaped his mother.
Before seeing anything, he heard it. Wind? He asked himself. At first, he thought it resembled his father's lightly snoring, but this couldn't be that. As he continued taking his mini-steps, not being six years old even, he heard the sound again, and he approached it.
While covered for now with a wall, he saw something above it.
Orange.
Turning the corner, he saw the fox, a massive, massive one. Those sounds were his exhales. He was sleeping. Rather than growing scared before a beast, whose nails ought to be bigger than him, his child adventurer sense awakened a smirk and fueled his feet.
He was just a couple of steps away, his stare focused only on one thing. Little did he know that one of his tales wiggled as he waked, one of his eyes sliding open.
Taking the ultimate steps, he got on tiptoes and went for it…
"Sora Hori, could I know in the name of..." Interrupted an angry voice that for a second was scared. She had been searching for him for a minute now. When looking where he was… "What are you doing?"
"Mom!" The boy exclaimed, knowing that he was in trouble.
The mother approached him unceasingly.
"What do you think you're doing running away from me and your grandfather?" She asked as she picked him up. The child didn't know what to respond. "You are in trouble."
The mother heard a chuckle; it was not her son's. "And what are you laughing about, Kurama?"
The fox smiled and closed his only opened eye before her incisive stare. Portraying to have gone back to sleep, or even teasing her by pretending he was asleep all along.
Her son tucked on her ropes, a blush on his face. "Can I touch the snout?"
What?
Her mother suddenly lightens up, "So that's what you were after?" Her mood turned to laughter as she heard Kurama snicker before saying.
"As if."
Her gaze flipping between her son and Kurama as she tried to grab a proper hold of him, not wanting him to fall, swaying him so that chance was erased. Cradling him. With laughter, she warned her son of the horrible dangers, using the tone that she typically reserved when reading the evil guy's lines in one of their bedside stories. Teasing the fox. "No honey, you can't. The great Kurama here will get mad," Her amusement and chuckles quivering her tone as she touches her own son's nose, furthering both smiles and all present moods. "He's a grumpy and old baka. Always sleeping."
"It was not so long ago that you just walked up to me. Unlike him not stopping while your father shouted in pursuit," it was now Kurama's turn to laugh as she stiffened. "You can't hold anything against your son here. After all, he takes it from somewhere, Niko."
Her face was a poem as she recalled her rebellious ways. Her son was wondering. "Oh, mommy was naughty!" He exclaimed.
"Very," continued Kurama with his onslaught, enticing Niko to approach him as his face was fully turned, straight up looking at them. Undermining her authority.
"Would you shut up baka Kitsune! Baka! Baka!" she exclaimed like a child again, fully blushing. Kurama fully laughed.
"Did you let her touch it?" Questioned Sora, her mother recalls.
"She didn't ask for permission, she just went and grabbed it while I was sleeping," responded Kurama.
"Mom!" Overacted the child, provoking, as if he wasn't about to do the same thing himself.
"Well, Sora I did," She started as she grabbed a hold of herself. Full Mom tone ahead. "Which was wrong. I came up to him and grabbed him here, by his black nose," she pinched Kurama in the same place that she did back then, with vengeance in her eyes for the teasing, as Kurama queried if to stifle a laugh, or straight up sneeze in response to the awakening sensation on his nostrils. "Waking him up. He was so surprised that he rose his head up… Way way up, and I had to grab on for dear life! I ended up falling."
"No!" Sora negated in amazement.
"Yep! Fortunately, the sleeping beauty here was capable of catching me with his tails. I must have shouted my lungs out for as long as I was falling." She said, now caressing Kurama instead. "His tails are so fluffy that it was like falling in cotton."
Her son awed.
"Can I?" He asked again. Niko looked at Kurama with a smile as this time her son asked. Closing his eyes, he smiled and nodded while her mother thanked him as she approached Sora. Kurama vowed a bit. Both of Sora's arms were fully extended and expectant, his palms open.
"Gently, honey," Niko advised as her son obeyed, caressing the fox snout with touch and care.
His face once again in awe, not capable of closing his mouth. Probably remaining like that for the week, for whoever long he recalled this.
A voice called for all present in that tender moment.
"Sora-chan, Niko?" The mentioned and searching grandfather saw the three together, "Hello Kurama-dono. Come on you two, we have to go, they are waiting for the feast."
After much protesting and pleads of not leaving, Niko convinced her son they had to go, telling him to go with his grandad. Running, he shouted out loud the tale he had just experienced. "The search for the snout". His grandfather brought a hand to his face as the other grabbed a hold of him, turning and leaving the other two here.
"Did you ask him politely unlike your mom?" He asked, Niko blushing once more as Kurama couldn't stifle any laugh anymore, earning a gentle blow.
"Yes, yes I did," Sora shouted emphatically.
"Good."
They soon disappeared.
"Do you think it's hereditary?" Wondered Niko. "That my grandchildren would come up to you like that?"
"And their grandchildren as well?" Niko nodded at Kurama's temporary expansion. "Unless you put a sign that says, please or you're obligated to touch the charming and handsome Kurama," He responded. "As long as you don't have to follow some rules or better yet for you, you can break them, I cannot see them not doing it." What a family that was.
They already talked if Kurama would still want to. To remain here as the people of the temple lost sight of things. As the newly arrived grew wary of him, many not approaching him and publicly claiming in meetings to restrain him, establishing places where he couldn't go.
Kurama already made up his mind to stay. Not craving much else or not bothered by that.
She laughed. "Yeah, it's probably true… Ah, man. I guess I have to go." She said as she approached the sides of his snout, kissing it. "Thank you, baka."
Looking at her go by, Kurama had no clue of what would happen, the fact that there would be no grandchildren, no next generation. Pushing him existentially to the real confinement, that of being a lone Fox.
A place where I didn't have to validate my existence or fight for my freedom, where they conceive me for who I showcased myself to be, not as the means to an end, destruction itself without having any knowledge of me.
Disproving of us being sentient beings but tools instead. Calling us to be monsters and demons, things worthy of being killed. Profane beings, therefore, the temple I guarded heretic or worth of distrust, hate. A likely target.
All the people I knew, myself, caught in between war, and the seek for my power.
I knew that they would come for me, but I was foolish in the way I acted. I remained there, and when they attacked us, the title of sacred temple already being disowned, I ended up killing most of the people I knew, the few I cared for, by the collateral damage of my actions when defending it against their shinobi.
When still unknowledgeable of all my capacities to shield those I cherished from harm.
I saw the destruction; the fire that I inadvertently created consuming everything when rushed by their ultimate move as I responded in kind, forgetting where I was. They had a great plan.
The death of everything I held most dear, whom I had known for years, many sons and daughters of their respective fathers and mothers, most of which I met.
What ought to be a century of my life, razed within a day with their help.
That's when I first turned only to hate, as I saw all those lifeless faces, those who saluted me shout at me in ire as they held someone who couldn't utter breath. As I fend the sheer numbers that attacked us and failed to protect the structure into which they all encountered themselves, the pillars collapsed and with it the last plea you asked from me, Jiji.
The temple became ruins. Only capable of saving a third of its inhabitants.
All I had from that point on was hate as I went into hiding, thinking those I desired to meet didn't furthermore want to encounter me or were dead.
Wanting to live outside the climate of wars, they kept finding me to their demise. I was not to sit there, not responding or defending myself, as they hunted me, seeking to control me. The tale of the Kyubi, the rage-filled, fire-spitting, death giving, natural disaster, monster reputation rising to fame. Speaking for me, becoming dogmatic.
The images of that day, of the very people I had seen grow since birth, who seek me for aid and counsel when not for a laugh...
I think it is their vivid image why he awakened so much ire in me that day. The day that did forever change my fate, that sealed it in every way.
Just as I thought, my whereabouts were finally unknown to anyone, and as I foolishly hoped for my existence to be discredited, turning into mere folklore's tale.
The day I saw those eyes for the first time as I sensed his chakra and evil intent. The first time I felt a presence like that. Over the side of the raised landscape, there, fully looking at me from the ground.
That man… The minus thing. The size of one of my fingers. His haughtiness insulting.
"Kyubi," He called for me with a tone I haven't heard before. "This transient form is nothing more than a nodule. You're only a piece of yourself."
"Shut up…" I claimed. I don't know why those were the only words I could come up with. The further along with the speech, each time with more fury. The more hate-driven becoming the pronunciation of each letter in such short words.
My craving for killing him...
"You are just an ignorant, unstable power…" Madara continued, the world unstable inciting me to look back, recalling the day were because of them powers I ended up… Where I... "Those who shall guide you are the Uchiha. You Tailed Beasts are simply servants of those of visual prowess."
Shall be led, should guide you…
Just then I threw myself blindingly at him, his Sharingan circling and his Mangekyou appearing as I heard my last words while still a free Biju.
"Obey".
The next thing I knew I was restrained by the first Hokage, Hashirama. The rest of the tale I've already shared. His words and that of the two Uzumaki's jinchurikis in whom I was sealed after that.
My stay in Mito was incorrigible by the strength of the seal and the powers of Hashirama. Kushina and Minato promised to create a similar situation, but outside forces already known changed the fortune.
All happened before this last one, Uzumaki Naruto. The events of that 10 of October that are now a vital part of the history of that putrid Konoha.
It is easy for me to recall with precision, human's memories are fragile, ours endure and can dwell in a vivid past we can recreate with great detail.
I remember waking up once more after my failure and asking myself where I was. Hearing the cries of an infant. I was shrewd enough to realize the position I was in.
To realize that I was inside the kid I tried to kill. An effort I thought to be the only one towards being finally free after so long.
Realizing that it was an Eight Trigram seal, I became aware of the Fourth Hokage's plan for the kid. To let him use my power, confident that with half my self taken away I wouldn't break it. Forcing his ideals upon me and upon the child. Seriously underestimating me. Me...! The very one those Jinchuriki had to go so far to restrain.
The seal design that let the kid make use of my power had a major flaw, its virtue being its downfall. One that I could exploit. It deteriorated each time he used my chakra. The more he made use of it the further the deterioration reached, till at last I was free.
I kept sending small amounts of chakra through the cracks, the maximum quantity the seal would allow, resigning myself to the wait as I ensured that it eventually weakened.
I consciously gave the kid my power.
The excruciating wait that it was till he could use it was another story on its own. One boring one as I watched this boy's life, with my arms folded.
This kid had no talent! No matter how exceptional both his parents were... There was truly no guarantee this one would inherit either of their abilities. God forbid he had his mother's chains, not signaling of that so far.
That on the positive side would mean that if in danger, he would require my power for his incompetence. But furthered the wait.
I was thankful, because for a moment I even thought he wouldn't get to be a shinobi by his development.
How could this kid ever develop? As I watched him endure everything I could imagine. His knowledge development was better put by that Iruka guy for whom Naruto first exploited his chakra, creating a thousand clones to protect, before Naruto left on his trip.
"Tomorrow, Naruto. After tomorrow you are going to depart with one of the more notable, experienced ninjas this village has ever seen. Take nothing for granted. Remember how big of an opportunity this is. Dedicate yourself to this." This was the last piece of advice Iruka would give Naruto in some time.
"Not like the academy," Said Naruto, seemingly adding what Iruka could have in mind.
"Definitely not like the academy." There was a necessary pause in there. A deep breath. "Naruto, I know Mitsuki and other teachers despise you and wish ill upon you. It's not a matter of pretending, but our undying wish to install knowledge and love, or rather practicality to what we teach, isn't always there and it wasn't there with you. We ought to be passionate about teaching and knowledgeable, kind enough to know the difference between you and your burden," Naruto looks at him, understanding, but rather searching for the focal point. "What I mean is that the academy and most of your childhood has been a terrible atmosphere for your development as a shinobi and a person. This is the chance that they stole you off, Naruto. Take it and run with it with pace, cunning intelligence, not looking back. Many of us believe in you." Said an upfront Iruka. Naruto couldn't help but smile, a non-erasable and honest heartfelt smile.
That typification "unpleasant atmosphere" wouldn't cut it.
When seeing my host's life, I previously thought only about how to break free from it, with no care if I killed him in the process. There was no empathy for what actions he suffered, but just hate for who committed them.
No care for his environment or relations as long as it led to conflict and battle, angst, for there remained the key part of my plan. For it is in situations where his life is in danger or when he's emotionally at the brink that my power can channel more freely, weakening the seal.
The beatings and the persecutions… The loneliness and the impotence this child felt meant very little to me with his incapacity to use or channel chakra. I side-eyed his perpetual instances of bullying. The rejection of each person he approached. People taking advantage of his emotional need, using his emotions and playing with them, making him do things just so they bothered to think of the chance of letting him in their group. Never actually letting him. Making him steal things for which he was at least slapped or more when caught, or all other kinds of dubious acts, the degrees of innocence varying. And I'm just talking about kids, groups of them doing that… The characteristic kindness of humankind. No need to speak of adults, although Mizuki played the boy similarly when telling him to steal the scroll.
I thought of the boy to be just gullible, foolish… An idiot. An increasingly ignorant idiot, who had grown over time fond of the idea of protecting the same place and people that did all the things I whiteness. To not only forgive them but to protect them?
What a fool.
It was only after he learned that basic step of channeling chakra and took steps forward along the shinobi life, in his case rushing in situations he wasn't ready to face or doing things that require chakra, more chakra, mine after he exhausted his, that I could take things forward, advance.
All spurred in part thanks to an emotion deeper than the previous sorrowful ones, his will to protect the only people that had given him a chance, or who they paired him with. Those he could hope to call friends.
You could somewhat also point to his dream of becoming Hokage and being acknowledged.
Ironically, one of his partners turns out to be an Uchiha, the last one. Regrettable was the fact that one still remains. When I mean ironic, I don't mean unlikely, the chance of him being coupled with Naruto to control me with his Sharingan if the time came likely.
Haku's, when I first showcased, and Orochimaru's fights to protect those two of Team 7 helped. They were the bright light I could see from the darkness of my cage. It was one of the many occasions I needed for the seal to dampen. While it was good and all, it wasn't sufficient. I needed the boy to use my power consciously and regularly.
Although unlucky in life, shortly after the snake incident the toad made its appearance, making me shout in relief. Things going my way for once, my opportunity just appearing in front of the boy.
I knew the Fourth Hokage's master and knew he was probably going to pass Minato's ideas to the kid, trying to control me and my chakra. He was just a clueless fool. They both acted as if my power was the boy's own and that its use meant nothing.
To have so little knowledge of the seal that holds me is insulting.
As a product of that encounter came our first meeting when falling to our deaths, the boy's sudden surprise when he met my eyes. He didn't remain fearful for long to my shock.
Paying rent? That insolent brat dared.
After that, the Sanin thought that Naruto could draw it on his own without me allowing it, training him to control the maximum amount I could send when demanded. Neji's fight after that just to exemplify. Gaara's and Sasuke afterward, the ultimate one key. I joyed as he kept using my power and relying on it. Healing his wounds was no effort, as the price in exchange was for the seal to diminish substantially.
And then, despite not having shown evidence of progress, the fool of this boy sensei loosened the seal, allowing me to influence things more than before. Allowing me to, with effort, speak to him and incite anger, chaos, everything but control. To derail things.
In the first week of training him with my power, it took him very little to go on a rampage, which meant I was already halfway there. I just needed time…
They curtailed me.
They had to go to the Hidden Eddy Village and tell the brat of his parents! Of what they thought happened! Couldn't they have gone to another single place or keep their disgusting mouths shut?
Subsequently, in haste, Naruto promised himself to never use my power, grew to despise me and train so he didn't rely on it, so his true strength was altogether just his own, separated from mine.
A thought short-lived.
At that point I was fully expectant for the Uzumaki fuinjutsu experts to strengthen the seal or warn the Sannin of what was happening, what I was doing, warning him and berate him for his recklessness, all hindering my campaign and efforts, the work of thirteen years. This seal was their design. If recalled correctly, it was my previous holder's mother that taught this one to the Fourth Hokage.
I didn't dare smile when that first time around in the island went by and Naruto, despite the months in the island, didn't share or show them the seal, out of distrust and a bit of inadvertent resentment. I expected it to happen, eventually.
Hated been proved right.
It was in the second meeting, when he was dragged by the Sannin back to the village beyond the whirlpools, that that cunning woman warned him personally as Naruto showed her the seal and the key stored in that toad.
This occurred after all that had happened, after Naruto's efforts of gaining my trust as I dealt with the facts laid out by Matatabi and her Jinchuriki, who, influenced by her, did her best to badger me… They even sounded the same. After meeting Chōmei.
After uttering other things that weren't threats between us.
Just as I bothered to look into the chance of aiding to whom I was prisoner…
The boy has not said a word to me since then. Which is surprising. After all that had happened and realizing my efforts and patient plan to kill him, he hasn't faced me or reproached anything. Just solely claiming that he didn't know what to do next. That he could solely pretend to understand.
Understand what?
In my mind the question being, just what is he? Besides an annoying conundrum. "I hope you learn what true strength is before that time," Jiji said. I call strength and endurance of the mind to those who try to understand this one's.
What strength? Strength in protecting those you care for? Like this boy who was callously led. Almost killed by his friend… Or in forgiveness? So you keep getting beaten up to a pulp or you don't hold accountable people that hurt you with no consequence…
Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze….
I would like to think of him as nothing more than a Jinchuriki, us Biju's natural distrust for them, just him in this case, still present. But I don't… I don't know. After all I've observed...
The only thing I do know is that he is better than being controlled by an Uchiha… What point am I in my life when that is something to sound relieved by?
"Naruto," a voice called for the youngling.
The grown youngling. It had been months till last seen near the shores of the continent.
He had excused himself from the town gathering just to head to one harmonious yet not peaceable spot most cherished in the village. A small rock formation, decorated with moss, that while slippery and damp, added an aesthetic value, near the lake in the middle of New Uzushiogakure. The topnotch fact of it was the moonlight projected on the water near the chosen site.
He had been told that in past times, fireflies used to habit it, creating quite the spectacle in the night. The most romantic place one could ask for, where couples could ask everything of each other while simply doing nothing as they stared, embracing one another, at the view.
He thought it was a delightful story; it was fresh in his mind because he had just heard it ten minutes ago. Although he expected to be alone, given the dimensions of the place, he was not for long. This not being the first one to call for his name, obviously.
"What are you doing here, you coward!" Naruto turned to the deep voice that slurred each syllable of those words. The voice being overdramatized as well, portraying to be a man or the idea of it that she had. What character she was pretending to act, Naruto had no clue. "Unable to withstand the company of the illustrious names of this land as they all confess their epic adventures around the fire? The tale of the battle of Hanakusa or the disembarkment in Port City, the Kirigakure strife that would proceed such a miraculous feat." For each battle, there was a pose of its own, a theatrical physical rendition. "The battle at sea under the hurricanes of yesteryear, where men and women battled to death eluding giants waves and most drowning, not having the stamina to keep themselves on top of the water. The enemy faster than the Uzumaki of course. The tale only known in our history for the battleground sole survivor's effort to pass it on." Naruto almost facepalmed. "Each the grandest. Alluring people alike, all longing to emulate them to find significance in their sorry lives, who pale in comparison."
While one could think she was sauced, wondering what was her poison, Naruto caught on the over the top portrayal. Besides, someone so drunk doesn't remember all those actual battles. For all he knew of alcohol… Wait a second, he knew nothing about alcohol.
He had to read about the village's history to satiate his hunger to know more about the Uzumaki and to understand what the hell they were talking about. Historic references, figures... Having lived for two decades, almost secluded for the world and its changes… They were a bit anachronistic, nothing major, just some words flying past Naruto. He had to get up to date to understand them, struggled a bit at it.
Did you know, for example, that Uzhiogakure actually was the Hidden Eddy Village?
Well, Naruto had no clue. He at first thought that all were Uzumaki, which made no sense since it's not a pattern that has ever happened in any culture or human grouping, but he believed it anyway. It was the first impulse, Jiraiya hadn't warned him otherwise. It took him an embarrassingly long time to figure it out.
Turns out that it was a complex story of domination and Uzumaki control over a few other clans that conformed the village, who try to challenge them for their abuse of power later on… The Uzumaki like the Senju and Uchiha were the founding clans of their respective villages. There the name, Uzushiogakure. So yeah. Actually, part of the reason they lost the war so fast is that many clans betrayed the chain of command made in its majority by redheads and many citizens weren't willing to remain here to fight for the current regime, fleeing off the island on day one. Not holding it any longer as their home.
The all-around number of deaths and of those who fled not being as precise as they previously told him.
What level of tensions or animosity needed to be there for that to happen? Naruto couldn't imagine any clan in Konoha doing something similar, having set their roots in that land for generations.
One clan, the Mitsunari clan, even gave info to the enemy and warned them of barriers and security. They warned Naruto that upon the mere mention of who he was, they would attack him. Now a clan of Kirigakure, former enemy and invader of the island.
Of the few survivors present in the village, a third of them weren't Uzumaki. Or Uzumaki of the third generation, meaning that neither their parents nor grandparents were of the clan, any of them.
Still not a sufficient incest eluding incest.
How did he come to know any of this if the Uzumaki had such power and control? Capable of writing the island's history as nothing more than an Uzumaki's compliment filled letter. Well, by the overall self-referential and self-critical thought process of the thinkers of the island.
Majorly thanks to the woman that was calling for him. The only pleasant know it all that Naruto had ever known, the know it all aware of the subject of Uzumaki fuck ups.
"Miwari?" Naruto said as he only turned his upper body sideways, so he could clearly see her. Wary if she was stumbling at all. "Are you drunk?"
"What of it?" Miwari said as she took a seat next to the boy. "Are you in the business of judging comfortable people who are just having fun or what?"
Naruto raised his hands defensively, fearful. Making Miwari laugh.
'Oh man,' the blonde almost pouted, thinking what was about to happen.
"Pretending kiddo, not much of a drinker, nothing good is brewed here. A sorrowful and tear-filled stop in a drunk's life," She said. "No, scratch that, actual hell."
Naruto chuckled. Despite much reluctance, he had gained most of the villagers' trust or wiggle into their good side. Not inspiring devotion, but not attracting ill intent. The difference between the first arrival and the recent one… Astronomical.
There were of course quantifiable exceptions…
"What are you doing here while all the strugglers are trying to keep the party going?" She asked. "Trying to elude Ashina?"
"What?" Naruto wasn't… Was he? "No. I wanted just to look back into a couple of things."
"Don't worry, Naruto-kun, it's nothing personal."
"It isn't?" Naruto questioned with wonder. It didn't seem to be that way. Ashina hated his guts from the moment he stepped on the island.
"She just has a thing for strangers. Doesn't like them," confessed Miwari.
"Oh…" He almost breaths out with discomfort but hopeful for change. It was ten seconds after that Naruto fell on something. Miwari smiled. "Oh, wait. I'm the only stranger she knows!" How could it not be personal?
Miwari cackled with laughter. It was easy for the boy to be singled out. Jiraiya was the only other stranger the girl had seen at least twice.
Naruto felt a cloud over him, darkening. He looked down in a slight depression. During their sparring sessions, he appreciated the intensity and how much like an actual fight it was, felt, but later realized that it wasn't coming from a nice place. Even Ashina's father had warmed up to him, despite first impressions. He didn't presume that anyone had to like him; he wasn't about to force it on someone. But she was set out to fight him, beat him… Undermine him. Etcetera.
"Don't think she will get over it. That young lady..." Miwari smirked again as she thought of another young woman in the vicinity, the one who had approached and interrupted Naruto earlier. "What about Amazora? She seems to have taken a liking in you." From one spectrum to the other.
Naruto just gave her a dumbfounded face. "What about her?" Amazora was a dazzling and light brown and short-haired girl, a year older than him, that unlike Ashina was no Uzumaki and was not a meanie to him.
"Thou shalt let light irrupt!" Exclaimed Miwari with a laugh.
Naruto meanwhile… "What?" That one he didn't understand. Idioms and expressions... The Uzumaki's colloquial metaphors were not his forte.
Taking a deep breath as if thinking of the tedious task ahead after hearing Amazora's protests.
"Naruto-kun, I want you to tell me what she told you so I can assess the severity of the situation," she claimed. She sounded like she had diagnosed something serious and was minutes away from surgery.
'The severity? What is she talking about?' Naruto thought. After much internal discussion, he budges, confessing much of what was told, trying to remember her expressions, when asked what they were, when. Miwari presumed many details had passed him by.
Miwari looked like she had before her the greatest challenge known to humanity. She asked. "Naruto-kun, do you know when a girl is flirting with you?"
"Huh?" It took him a minute. He didn't have to ask where it was coming from, given the context. For as slow as he was in catching Amazora's forward insinuations, when thinking back to Hinata and Kiba's claim that he was sir clueless himself, he jumped. "Don't tell me… Not again, dattebayo!" And here he thought he had progressed in all fields, he had even read Jiraiya's books… Was that appropriate material? "Was she… Flirting?"
They didn't have such luck. Miwari hoped that the boy had done it on purpose under the suspicion that his sensei, Jiraiya, was lurking somewhere and using him as inspiration, as Naruto confessed to her he feared.
"Well, I… You know. She just approached me and..." Little by little, Naruto confessed what little he recalled about their interactions since arriving, not just the already confided events of the night. In between that and what Miwari herself saw, she was close to shouting out loud Naruto's emergency status to the world.
He was so blind that Miwari didn't bother to tease the boy.
Naruto didn't follow nor catch any of the sexual innuendos, and we are talking here about a ribald and unapologetically flirting person. Not the most subtle of figures.
It's like he didn't want to see it at this point.
At least it probably meant the boy was immune to seduction techniques.
He didn't catch the usual things. and it was not that he was unaware of what they were, the contrary. The eye contact, Amazora going out of her way to slightly touch him, noticeable to anyone that had seen the pair recently, asking him questions continuously, purposely; almost stereotypically playing with her hair… Amazora was not one to fake a laugh, but she smiled at the boy without ever ceasing. The giggling...
He didn't follow any hint, till now that was. Not that he felt like he had lost an enormous opportunity or anything like that. This didn't have the stakes and emotional history and significance that it had with Hinata, although the result wouldn't differ much. He would end up rejecting her anyway, but… 'Argh! I'm a baka.'
He was.
Where to start with him, though? Miwari didn't know who Naruto was around women whom he acknowledges, who appealed to him to where he would like for something beyond friendly chatter to appear on the table, be it sex or something else. If there was such a person beyond the one she knew.
That Naruto had no regard for any authority, would talk them to their level and strip them away from the suffix sama at the end of their names, being always insolent, meant nothing in other circumstances. Would he be so unchangeably him when, rather than facing one of the most powerful figures in the world, he was touched upon his shoulder by the sultry caress of a breathtaking woman that longed for him, be it for long as it needed to be?
Or would he blush, stammer, and ultimately crumble. Not capable of following her provocative banter as she hoped for the zipper of his mouth to never be closed, his wits, emotional, and intellectual capacity fully exposed.
How to know?
She wasn't about to test it herself; she was quite older than he was. Jiraiya had told her that the boy was shy and a bit insecure, that Naruto didn't make anything out of the insinuations coming his way in that sense.
The part she picked up and made her content, as they went on and she explained, was that she didn't have to take the boy down a peg or two, was he to think that in every interaction he had with a girl laid a chance for depression. Like each word he uttered meant the world to them, therefore stopping him from telling or confessing he didn't like mentioned person. When all it could be is just a daring attempt.
A rejection just being someone's opinion.
In no way he thought his mere presence awakening of lust and mad desire. Quite the contrary. Which was bad in another sense altogether, a recipe for some awkwardness and actual hurt when not acknowledging someone close.
He lacked the confidence that he usually showcased and that exhorted people to follow him, or at least to subscribe too to his robust code of ethics. To the aspiration he has, that she recognized and respected since meeting him.
There was no automatic heartbreak, unless they were teenagers, upon rejection from a man they barely knew, and in this case from a girl, Amazora, that was aware that he would leave the village regardless, promptly.
Miwari found the boy courteous, having that going for him. He didn't expect something in return for his actions, believing like they owed him afterwards.
Unlike Hinata, Amazora was a self-possessed, confident woman that did not quarrel much with the idea of indulging in teasing banter and taking the initiative when talking with a boy she fancied, she just goes for it. Nor had a problem with rejection, if anything Naruto caused her frustration. She was a rare mix given that there were so few people her age, social factors orienting her to just be tied to whoever was available and hold on to him. The ratio of men being lesser than women on the island.
Now thinking about it, Miwari asked herself since when she was a love or flirtation expert… Here being all preachy. The only thing qualifying her for this conversation is that she was the one that knew Naruto the best. "Naruto-kun, wait here a second."
"Where are you going?" Naruto asked somewhat fearfully.
"To get Amazora," Miwari simply blurted out. Naruto blushed and swiftly tried to get a hold of Miwari's arm as the agile woman already stepped up and eluded his attempt.
He took other measures... Begged with a shout.
"No!" That was the last conversation he wanted to have, currently and in the immediate future. He would embarrass after what he realized.
"Since when are you so shy, Naruto-kun? Don't worry, I will not force you to make it up to her by forcing you to kiss and confront her in front of us or anything similar. Don't have to, you should rejoice. It is common" before fully walking to the center of the village and upon noticing Naruto's movements, she warned. A dark aura surrounding her. "Dare try to run away Naruto... You would be wise to fear what I would do to you if I don't find you here."
'Scary,' blurted a desperate Naruto in his head with no second thought.
"Besides, didn't you let her put a wreath upon your shoulders?" She asked. Naruto grew confused again.
"What?" He remembered wearing a wreath at some point yeah, but what was so special about it? Besides the fact that it was not for a doorstep but rather a comfortable attire complement.
"Oh, and me here thinking that you had problems with women! You are set," She extended those last syllables for way too long. "You have no more, wait here. You didn't finish the..." She didn't end her phrase.
Jiraiya was in an enormous tent, concluding some things with the members in command here, Miwari the only one not present… A shame since she was the one who hated him less among the attendants.
Good thing he was careless and senseless enough to leave Naruto here alone while he did missions and organize some things on the continent, because remaining here without punctual leaves would have been a pain in the ass.
He had just communicated to them they had to leave. The realization showed up as he noticed the calendar.
'Our time has come to an end. We ought to return to the village.'
If not for Sasuke and Orochimaru, they would have more months to spare to invest in the youngling's training.
He wondered where the boy was. Moving to the entrance of the tent during a break.
Jiraiya heard giggles and laughter, a bunch of them in sync, a warning whistle for a poor soul.
Going out to take a peek, he found Miwara with four other women striding. But where?
As he observed from a distance, he noticed that their path led to a roc, spiky blonde hairs discernible over the top of them.
Jiraiya's smile widened. "Nice, so very nice. I knew that not losing faith in you would bring about excellent material, Naruto." He said, about to have his pencil and monocular in his hands… Before he could take another step in distant chase…
"Jiraiya-san!"
"Huh?" He muttered as he turned to whoever called for him.
"Could you please continue with your briefing? You were the one to claim it would last hours," Kaiyō mentioned, was the Sannin to forget his own words in such a brief span. The word tedious he also mentioned. Turning to Naruto's spot, Jiraiya cursed out his luck. Wish for his bright student to keep them entertained a bit longer, waiting for him to catch the good stuff.
Meanwhile, the blonde Uzumaki was doing his best to remain in the mentioned spot.
As he heard a group of voices approaching, recognizing Miwara's, he thought of that course of action to not be the wisest anymore. He heard over two distinct voices, not just Amazora's.
He stood up, ready to run.
Before taking a single step, Miwari was on his side with an arm around him, upwards, resting on his shoulders. Locking him. "Going somewhere, Naruto-kun?"
"No, just stretching my legs," He stuttered.
Getting swarmed by the village's young women was surely among many men's dreamlike scenarios. Not Naruto's as he watched them chant and smother him as they put a wreath on him, a similar blue one, just like Amazora's.
"Naruto! Congratulations!"
"We always knew you two would end up together."
"Why you two didn't tell us? You have to finish these rituals, if not bad luck can await the couple. Traditions ought to be respected."
"We could do it here in a second if you're shy about it."
Naruto looked at Amazora and wondered what they were talking about. Why were they forming in between them the longest human row possible with only four people?
Amazora walked in between them, rapidly being a step away. She was trying to reach for his hands with a blush on her face, almost not keeping eye contact.
Naruto continuously asked to know what the five women were talking about. He almost blacked out when they started speaking. Something about the wreath and it meaning his sovereignty, and a shared meal, they kinda lost him in that part… Until they said one word.
"Stop! Where are you going with this?" He asked fuming, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Well, Naruto, it's quite certain…" He heard whistling from afar. "You, sir, are a soon to be tied man," concluded the woman.
That didn't mean marriage, right?
Naruto's software lagged to where you could see in his eyes the circling as it tried to follow what was happening. To upload or simply play the new content. How had they passed from Naruto not noticing hints to marriage? It was inconceivable, right? Naruto didn't think so, rather didn't think, just reacted.
"Marriage?" This time he stuttered. He needed a minute just to pronounce the ominous word two times. This was way too sudden. "I… I… It cannot be. I just heard about that now!"
Suddenly Amazora brought their hands together and raised them as if they were praying intertwined. A tear following the side of her face. Naruto wished he had a whistle to ask for help. Seeing her in that state... "I thought when you embraced me you meant…" Her insecurity paving the way, calling for him to retract from any comment already made, to be careful if one was impending. To be tactful. "What is it? I don't please you?"
Amazora showcased herself for Naruto, physically and emotionally, pleading for an answer as her lips quivered. Her glassy eyes sparkled. His delayed response, breath, incited anger among the present.
"Naruto, you aren't about to sully or betray our trust after we welcomed you by being so unkind to Amazora here. The thread pending is brittle… To play with a woman's emotions that way. Have you no heart?" Asked Miwari with a frown.
Naruto started sweating, turning away from their incisive looks, death glares rather, to focus only on Amazora and her state. "But I didn't dance with you!" he said, remembering a part of the mentioned ritual.
"On top of that, you're gonna throw that in her face!" One shouted, infuriated by Naruto not following their traditions. As Amazora hides her face within the space of her close palms.
"No... I didn't mean it in a..." Suddenly he heard a laugh, a laugh that had been stifled as long as it could. Turning, he saw Miwari with a hand upon her mouth, hiding it. The contagious nature of it revealing everyone else's facade.
Naruto was about to have a heart attack. An entire lifetime had passed in front of him, the images printed in his every expression. "That was not funny, dattebayo!" Throwing away the wreath on his neck.
No one could argue with that. Perhaps because they weren't physically able to do it, as they couldn't utter a word, still belly laughing. Holding their chest in a bit of angst and ache after laughing so much.
It took them a while to get a hold of themselves.
And then they dared say, "now, seriously," to start whatever conversation Miwari had brought them for. 'The nerve...' Thought Naruto.
"It was too good. You had to see it from our end," Amazora said in between laughs. She was a terrifyingly excellent actress, those almost teary eyes from before tearing now, but from laughter, rather than sadness.
He had never thought of a prank that was that heart attack inducing. His were rookie-like in comparison. By saying that the mere fact of laying a wreath upon his shoulders meant a vow towards marriage itself, in a weird and uncanny cultural tradition, was so bonkers... They were surely delighted after the boy fell for something so mad.
Naruto's hands were shaking and all.
Amazora and Miwari each put a hand on his shoulders as Naruto frees himself from them and lays fully back, all this pent up adrenaline causing a stir in his stomach. His breathing was that of a marathon runner as he crossed the end line.
What would proceed that terror was not "The Talk", Naruto already had that with more details that he wanted to know. Furthermore, Jiraiya's books had graphical depictions of erogenous areas and physical attributes on a woman's body. Every spot.
There was sex involved in the discussion, but it wasn't the chief topic, no, it was a women's talk with an intruder, an enlightening endeavor to educate the fifteen, nearly sixteen years old, boy. Many topics on the menu.
"What is this about, Naruto? Are you keeping yourself for someone?" Asked Amazora almost in link with Miwari's mind. It was a weird matter.
"What? No!" Naruto confessed.
"I mean, it's like you were blinded. I still have hope that you can multitask, despite that you can't seem to look at any other woman coming to you with any intent. Like you're solely oriented in one place and can't look elsewhere at the same time. Does she have a name?" Asked Amazora, inciting other questions. Naruto's one was what was that intent.
He mostly saw the women that appeared in his life as friends or potential friends, in part for his desire for Sakura and their ubiquitous rejection of his presence, at least among his age group at first. Hinata being the exception, to which extent he didn't realize till much later. He even thought of them as family, Tsunade, Ayame and Shizune. Nothing wrong with that, right? He appreciated their physical features and all, but he didn't go beyond.
"Is this some weird teenager's thing or a continental thing?" Asked one of the group. In reprisal, Naruto didn't want to ask what younglings were like here around such topics, having found out little while present on the island.
"You aren't waiting for her to lose your virginity or hope that she doesn't till you two do it with each other?" One woman blurted out, all turning to her. "It's a weird wish, ain't it?"
"It's better if at least one of you has the experience, believe me." Another voice remarked.
"Only virgins or prudes make such a fuzz about sex. It's just sex. The more experienced the better," Just with that statement, Naruto answered a long time question of his that beforehand he thought he knew the answer to. Man, just how wrong was he. The question being if he could ever be more in unease than when talking with Ero-Sennin about sex and women? Yes, of course, of course he could. As presently demonstrated.
Amazora turns to the older women around her. "Who says I was about to sleep with him?"
"Weren't you?" "Wasn't that what you were striving for when you brought him here alone?" That was heard in the background.
Naruto was not as comfortable as he should be when talking about these things. He had matured little in comparison in this regard, and while not repressed, he wasn't on the other hill. So all this banter surrounding him, this relentless onslaught, was not making his day go faster, time slowing cripplingly.
Did he have "virgin" written all over his face or something? Was there such a difference between someone that had had sex and someone who did? To the point of being blatant. Because he blushed? Or stammer a bit, trying to elude the topic?
If there was one defining characteristic that defined these women, the Uzumaki women, was not being inhibited, in any sense.
"Sakura, her name is Sakura," he confessed just to stop these last remarks. A last-minute effort.
Their smirk reappearing.
"Well?"
"Well, what?" He didn't want to follow. This time his cluelessness was pretended.
"Tell us about her."
"I don't want to," Naruto simply put.
"Trust me, darling, you rather talk about this with us so you could know what you did wrong and so we can give you some pointers. We are women and fellow kunoichi after all," Miwari claimed. Naruto didn't doubt for a second that they could be way more insightful. That was not the point.
"Rather than hearing it from your sensei or someone else, all telling you the same thing," Naruto would like to face that last comment, Jiraiya may be many things, but when it came to Tsunade, he didn't fit all prejudices.
"All right! All right!" Naruto pleaded for a second, quoting Shikamaru's favorite word in his mind.
Naruto filled the blank spaces just like he had done with his sensei when he asked. Well, in this case, he had to go further since all was blank for the girls, since Jiraiya already knew about her, met her, and knew some sporadic things.
Having talked before with Miwari about this.
Let's state that it was a narrative in which Jiraiya or the others had no cohesion or a narrative thread. Naruto was doing his best to explain.
The questions that Naruto responded to on this occasion differed little from those back then. What of her did he like? Did he know her to truly like her that much? Was he merely in love with the oneiric image he had of her, rather than her true self? Which Miwari feared. Having not met her, those latter ones the women of the island couldn't speak about and debate with precision.
Those were the questions they wanted to find out about. Jiraiya did for sure hope that Naruto didn't resemble both him and his father and fell in love with a woman on the premise of her too having a certain type of character, quite the temper, a fire in them, let's say. A challenging, defiant to the core, ergo, not submissive, warrior and strong kind of woman. Jiraiya at the time wondered if he started the trend, Minato's parents weren't like that, they were milled, calm, and reserved, both of them; so it may fall on his shoulders the responsibility of the latter generation of Namikaze to have such likings.
By the time he ended his speech, having summarised much of their relation, the listeners prevailed baffled; the boy had an honest interest in her and he did… Yeah. Quite the light did Naruto's eyes cast.
Jiraiya didn't care that much to further indulge. Minato was quite the fool for Kushina, not saying this case was such, for Naruto's parents did obviously reciprocate each other's feelings prematurely.
The women around Naruto realized that this was something deep-rooted and important for Naruto. His desire for her wasn't a whim. They wondered as he spoke, Naruto having low self-esteem, being insecure, Miwari who knew him the best even added in her mind in need of being loved, which seemed in there obvious and to no fault of his own, if Naruto spoke of her jealously, her being but a possession.
It seems like it wasn't the case, not so far.
They ask him to get into detail, the more he shared what he knows the better, the more they could help him.
They lure him to share by telling him to think of this as any other training and to give it his all. Naruto followed along. They wanted him to speak of actions beyond the words, to see among what he recalled for some small instances that were important and that he missed on.
The result was fruitful, because while reminiscing, in his effort of being truthful and telling all there was, forgetting to leave himself in good light and just telling it as he recalled, there was an instance where he didn't seem to act, unknowingly, in a well-oriented way. They weren't searching for that instance, but there it was.
Showcasing the unhealthy aspects of "love" that most kids appear accustomed to doing.
"Care to tell us what you told her when you transform into the Teme, as you call him," Amazora asked, Naruto almost not recalling confessing that jump a bit, but without divisible guilt answered.
"I told her that her forehead was big and cute. That it made me wanna kiss it."
"I presume that her forehead is a touchy feeling for her?" Once again, asked Amazora, raising her eyebrows.
"No." Said Naruto before quickly adding, having in mind that he had to answer about her own feelings towards her forehead, nor his own towards it. "I mean for her, yes. Only because Ino and others make fun of it. I think is beautiful, you know."
'So it is an insecurity of hers,' Thought the group. Quite a big one, it seemed, if others picked on her in that aspect. When Naruto answered that it may be her biggest insecurity, they all looked at Naruto, awakening his questions in panic as they all try their best to not judge him too harshly. He was a kid, after all, back then. The fact was that he didn't realize how bad it was as an adult. One facepalmed.
"Oh, boy!"
"Naruto-kun!"
"What?" He asked.
"Oh, Naruto-kun! You seem to not realize what you did. Although the promise has forced you to grow out of that phase." Miwari spoke while using her hands to eloquently showcase needed complexity and precision to the matter. "Imagine this. One day, while you wait around, out of nowhere, comes Sakura. Looking at you in a manner she never had. Only for her to do something she normally doesn't. She sits next to you, inches apart, and tells you the most beautiful thing you have ever heard from her. You can't help but blush, be nervous, and at the same time peerless happy, all three emotions at the same time. Not only that, she talks to you and for the first time compliments you. Saying that you are a hero for holding the Kyubi, the subject that hurts you the most," It sounded ridiculous putting both things in the same ballpark but we all feel in different manners and we can suffer greatly about such insecurities, for vain they seemed to those who, in this case, were not her, they call it relativism. "While not comparable and close in no manner, it doesn't mean her insecurities and hardship don't have value, because they do. Continue to imagine. She closes the distance between you and her. Thanks you and approaches you in search of what ought to be a kiss. Only to leave before she does. Running with an ache in her stomach. You are left confused, content and with hope for more, a hope that you have pursued and you were nowhere near achieving before. The next moment you approach her she isn't giving you an opening to talk to her and instead she is focused only on Sasuke. When you talk to her, if you were to venture to it, she tells you you must have been dreaming and that she wouldn't do that, never. How would you feel?"
"I…. " Naruto could feel that his stomach ache, feeling what he had done and where this was going. He was so focused on that that he didn't cope to resent Miwari for sharing his insecurities about Kurama back then. He told that to her and only to her after months of opening to her during that first year. Something that he hadn't done with any other one of the island, on the world besides his godfather.
"Absolutely heartbroken, Naruto. Then you hold on to that moment as the sign you at least have an opportunity while you probably don't. You believe it to be a start point, yet she doesn't because she didn't experience it. Because in reality, it didn't happen. The moments after, every step of the way, you feel somewhat worthless and lastly sad. Then you realize that it was, I don't know. Nothing... You will be a step away from rage. Having your heart played with is not fun. Least when it's done through the prism and body of who you want and care for the most, for stupid and nonsensical as that emotion may be," Miwari ended, not scolding, for this truth didn't need a judging or angry tone. It was impactful on its own.
"I didn't know," Naruto answered, not shielding himself from responsibility, but lost.
"Well, now you do. You don't do that to the people you love, Naruto. Come to terms with the value that she will put into that phrase, being bullied by people and your crush complimenting it will mean the world for her. He means the world to her. I know you don't like that. But who is to say she is going to grow out of it. You didn't grow out of both of them. Next time, tell her with your face, not Sasuke's." Added Amazora. If she knew of him meaning the world to Sakura is because Naruto confessed to her that Sakura probably thought or felt so.
Miwari just knew of all this through Naruto's words, through his eyes.
They shortly after argued that if it wasn't best to not tell her anything. None could argue long in the defense of that premise.
"What do I do now?" Wondered Naruto when the question should be rather how.
"In your case, Naruto, would you wish you were told of it? Know that it didn't happen," Questioned Miwari with meaningful interest. Some people wouldn't mind living a lie and roll with it. Loathing whoever showed them the truth. "Yes." Said Naruto without a single doubt. As if a mirage was nothing more than that.
"Really?" Said one of the women surprised. She expected a reluctant answer where the boy could at least for a time live with it. But without thinking, he claimed to have no desire for such lies.
"Yes. I don't want to live a lie. Or with it." Answered Naruto.
"Well, there you go. You've got your answer. How to do it and when is up to you." Added Amazora.
"I'm not ready for her to truly hate me," Naruto said while looking ahead. He was reflexive and obviously feeling some shame and regret, among many things.
"I know that we're making it sound like it is the end of the world, but it is not. You were just wrong and young. If she can't move past it, then you ought to not give her a moment more of your time. If not for your emotional health for a practical sense." Amazora added, just adding something in the end, in case. "I'm not telling you to be mean or anything."
"Love is something complex, Naruto. We love in ways we don't know-how, and with an intensity, we sometimes are incapable of holding. We are bizarre beings. But in nowhere is it written your affection has to be given back. That is life. You don't need to be bad to her, forget her or nothing of shorts, but maybe the day comes when you have no other option than to look to other hands to place your heart in. Being nice to her is not a pact neither, a silent contract in which she has to date you in the future. It doesn't entitle you to nothing," Said Miwari, hating the nice guy theorem in practice. "You hope that she reciprocates in any shape or form, it may not happen. Come to terms with many things many people haven't. Realize that respecting and protecting someone are not the same thing." Her care being Naruto and not Sakura, Miwari provided a phrase for him to learn, to almost tattooed it. "But also now this, don't leave that precious heart on your in the hands of only one person or in the hands of those who have proven in majority to hurt you. Being selfish rather."
That Miwari added at the end after hearing Sakura called him, when she thought she was talking to Sasuke, an annoyance that took pleasure in getting in between his two team partners, that her sole desire was for Sasuke's acceptance. Until now much of Naruto's confession revolved around how exceptional the girl was, how she saved his life protecting him during the Chunin exams and pushing him out of the way of Zabuza's blade; besides the hits and how rude she punctually was, she had heard little else, nothing bad of her actions towards the boy. She would believe Naruto and his words, telling them that Sakura was not just a fangirl when they asked him. How far she had progressed as a shinobi and how smart she was.
Be it what it may but, did she deserve this boy's efforts? Initially, she didn't think so. Not when being abusive.
They all turn their focus on that. Telling the boy he didn't have to change to her likings in any shape, way, or form. He had to develop his emotional intelligence, though. If she thought his actions and words were just an interference, she didn't deserve an ounce of his time.
They emphasized being respectful above all.
Naruto would remain silent for a minute in between their banter, not progressing with his story and neither wishing for them to share their experience. He just remains quiet.
He knew he wasn't wise with Sakura. Never had he thought that he did something so ill-natured without it being ill-intentioned. He was just simply wrong. He was about to review his memories, hoping to haven't done something similar in other instances. Right now, looking at his repetitive wish on dating her was quite aggressive and bothersome. He expressed himself in the only way he knew how, and that way towards her seems to be obviously wrong.
Talk about a shock. He didn't know how to feel about all that. The matter of not having her real consent for that kiss either also pooped in his mind. Just how wrong could one action be? What an ass he proved to be that one time. Nothing endearing or romantic about that act.
"Have we bummed you out?" If Naruto had the will to answer to that and was capable of swift sarcasm, something either harsh or insulting would go the women's way inadvertently. As a reflex. Instead, he didn't answer. "You want time to think or you want me to tell you a history?"
He honestly wanted to be with his thoughts but didn't want to ask for it with everyone surrounding him. Later on, after much talk, when he foresaw calm, instead was forced towards having more "fun".
"Come on, Naruto. The night's light hasn't dwindled yet. We ought to cherish it. Why don't we have some fun," Amazora said as she grabbed a hold of him, wanting to leave this melancholic spot for the crowded middle of the town.
'The Uzumaki are restless, I'll tell you,' Naruto thought. Was he this intense?
Jiraiya saw the boy being dragged, almost could have bet that Naruto's gaze was searching for him. Upon catching him, pleading for an escape with his facial expressions and a hand movement that was Konoha's shinobi tactical signal to follow him. Probably somewhere in there was an implied rescue, but Jiraiya would not do such a thing.
He hadn't missed all the fun, apparently. Jiraiya smiled and followed along.
The night was young, and it gave Naruto plenty of time to put into practice his previous lessons in Uzushiogakure's dancing, which he didn't attend willingly. The few attempts he dared getting out of the middle, where all tangoed were responded with tugs that ought to be halfway in strength to an amputation effort.
He enjoyed the festivity. There was a point in the night where Jiraiya was pursued and couldn't elude a good punch. Naruto just wished he could have seen it fully, enjoy his sensei misfortune, rather than seeing a blur because of the pace at which they were dancing, spinning actually.
Upon Naruto's face printed a sense of release and comfort, till they all present moving figures got more aggressive as the night went on and they tossed him around like a dog toy.
Resigning himself to go at it anymore, he stated that he needed a break and that he wasn't about to be derailed from getting his ass on the floor. Next to Jiraiya's and Miwara's, the last of who wasn't that fond of dancing.
"Having fun?" Asked Miwari, lingering her words. When Naruto first meet her, she stopped a fire. That of the councilors venting at them, tensions rising. Months after, and he just saw her ignite them.
'I will get you back for this, I promise,' The prankster sworn on his name. "I need a break, datebbayo."
"Yeah, you do," Jiraiya agreed. He had to warn the boy. "We are leaving before noon, Naruto. We ought to be rested."
"Already?" Asked Naruto. He believed that they still had a week left. He didn't have the physical capacity to gesticulate any surprise. It was all in his voice. "It is already late, why didn't you tell me anything sooner."
When Naruto saw his sensei continuously smile rather than answer, he facepalmed.
"What?" Jiraiya uttered. "You seem like you were having fun, and I didn't want to stop you." Naruto could see Jiraiya's notebook open at his side.
Why ask?
They were supposed to arrive in a week in Konoha. Their two years and a half window for training near its closure.
With the toad's transportation network, they could be reverse summoned near Konoha almost instantly. They were in no need of any Hiraishi… Now that Naruto thought about it, the summoning justu had a teleportation factor to it… He didn't go further with that thought.
Back on topic. "Why the rush?" Asked Naruto. Miwari tossing him an akebi fruit, indigenous to the island.
"None actually," Jiraiya claimed. "They just asked for me and Tsunade indulged."
Indulged? Someone of power had to incite her hand for her to lend them the time of a Sannin. "Who?"
Jiraiya looked around. "The Daimyo," he stated. Naruto's demeanor didn't change that much, given that Jiraiya had just claimed that they were to meet the most important figure in the land. Where was the boy searching for A or B type missions? Protecting the land's ruler was not enough? "He demanded an audience in the village suddenly, so they're all rushing. He already has an elite crew guarding him. We're just there to add appeal to the masses," Jiraiya smirks, Naruto could imagine the Sanin planning a grand entrance.
"Is this the child-like capable daimyō that we're talking about?" Naruto asked rhetorically. Jiraiya hadn't painted the man in the best light, despite how fond the man seemed to be of Jiraiya. Asking for him to be Kage.
"The one and only. Believe me, if you only knew. I would have entrusted you the moment I meet you with that position if it was up to me and it undoubtedly needed to exist, rather than giving it to him," that told a lot of the man. Miwari hoped he was exaggerating. "The scattered forces surrounding that area at the border of Yugakure instead of coming to Konoha separately are assembling in a nearby noble castle to accompany his expedition and we are ordered to hop in. Just in case."
"Maybe we will meet up with some of my friends there. I miss them," Naruto confessed.
"I wouldn't know," Jiraiya confessed.
"Not a clue?"
"No."
"Tche! I could be near home right now, preparing myself a bath," complained a blonde-haired girl.
"Or going to the hot springs," responded another.
"I hear you, all better than be waiting here."
"Just wait for a little longer, Ino-san, Tenten-san. Just be patient," incited Iō. A very tall man with black eyes and brown hair covered by his forehead protector, which he wears in a bandanna-style. A Jonin of the village, a fellow medical ninjutsu user, like Ino.
Who while second in command, did much of the talking given the bizarre nature of who was in charge, who reserved his orders for punctual moments and not casual stuff. Shibi Aburame, Shino's father and the Aburame clan leader.
"There look!" Tenten said as he pointed at the meeting point. Another three teams gathered at the entry of the palace's massive courtyard. No one they recognized in sight. That was till… Looking up, she saw a familiar ANBU walking away, another one jumping at the rooftops… There ought to be teams of varied nature here, she presumed. "Food!"
Both Ino and Tenten shouted before becoming disappointed as they rushed, lunging, both thinking along the lines it was the least they could do given the detour they had taken to be here.
There was no food, just a mirage. They were hungry, that many days in missions and they're picky side and eyesight diminished, all right.
As they joined the rest, soon after a man appeared and granted them passage, they were invited to enter a major hall with food galore, Ino's and Tenten's prayers met, as the coincidentally assigned guardians of the daimyō couldn't be unhealthy and unfed before marching back to Konoha. Each team leader quickly hurried to meet with the daimyō's own men to strategize and distribute roles.
"My vision for this village's future rests upon this mission. Without it we can't progress no further and catch a breath from the drown of idealism and naivety of the current regime," the ominous voice proclaimed to everyone attentive and trained ears. Loyal ears. "Recall what we are once more, no trace of weakness allowed aboard as we take this crucial step for Konoha."
The response to his imperative claim didn't have to wait. From within the depths of Konohagakure could be heard the chanting of kneeling men.
"In Root, we have no name. We have no emotions. We have no past. We have no future. There is only the mission. That is the purpose of Root. The unseen ones who support the great tree of Konoha from the depths of the earth."
"For the tree to remain, some branches and being leaves cut is necessary when not imperative," the figure said as he disappeared into the darkness. "I will not tolerate failure. Go."
Happy New Year.
The Shippūden barrier has been breached. We are already on it.