REVIVAL
"Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."
- Carl Bard
Revival Spotify Playlist:
open dot spotify dot com/ playlist / 2MHRRWqU5uFibl2DcpKWa0?si=032wftj5QqK_Vowhdztw3w&dl_branch=1
(Just change 'dot' to '.' and take out the spaces in between!)
Chapter 1 : Hello, Nomad
The hot sun glares down on her back, people clamor around in an organized chaos, vendors shout from all of the dusty corners hoping to get customers. Her limbs tingle in silent discomfort, the large crowd and the noise far too overwhelming for her countryside-grown ears. It will only be for the meantime, she thought, just until I can get myself together again.
Holding up the crumpled piece of paper between her fingers, her eyes scans through the details for possibly the hundredth time that day. Convincing herself that the dread of separation anxiety from her group can be cured with a full stomach, she decides to grab something to eat at a nearby rest stop. Pulling the white norens aside, she gulps at the sight. From the looks of it, hitai-ates glisten all over in the bright midday sun. She's never been around so many shinobis before.
Trying to maintain her composure, she walks over to the nearest empty table she can find by the corner and settles her large rucksack beside her. The old man taking her order was nice enough to smile at her — an oddity in highly urbanized villages — and offer her some green tea on the house. She smiles back in gratitude.
Tenshi, what are you getting yourself into now?
Inspecting her cup, her ponytail falls atop her right shoulder, she picks it up in a lazy manner. Burgundy red this time, huh? Curious glances are thrown her way as she rests her chin on her hand. In hidden villages, the residents don't take kindly to outsiders — much less nomadic ones like her. But this will just be like any other touch-and-go's that she's been on, at lease that's what she tells herself. Except on a much larger scale…and with people who can kill me in a single moment.
Upon finishing her lunch, which didn't help much with the anxious curdle in her stomach much to her chagrin, Tenshi takes leisurely paces to the apartment complex. The building didn't stand out much from the others. It's probably around three floors, chipped faded yellow paint on the outside. But it is home. At least, for the next few months.
A singular white door greets her as she enters with a straightforward signage, 'Office' to the right is a simple staircase.
"Tora Hiroshima," she mumbles.
A careful knock on the door, a booming voice calls from inside, "Come in!"
Hiroshima-san is a tiny woman, hair cut short to her chin, eyes twinkling despite the light wrinkles on her face. Probably around 60 years old. Tenshi greets her with a bow and a warm smile, the older woman barely gives her any attention as she sips her teacup — pinky finger in the air.
"You must be that brain doctor?"
"Trauma Counsellor is the uhm…official term," she offers, "it's a pleasure to meet you Hiroshima-san."
Setting her teacup on the table, she pats the space in front of her gesturing for Tenshi to sit opposite her. "I'm giving this apartment to you for a special price because your neighbor next door is a jounin that I happen to be very fond of. Lord knows that kid needs some company in his life. He's far too much of a loner. However, you need to keep your voice down, no sudden sounds. One complaint, you're off. Understood?" She sips her tea.
Nails scratching against her thumb, she nods. "You've got it, Hiroshima-san!"
Eyes glued to her for a moment too long, the older woman smirks against the teacup. Tenshi gulps, eyebrow raising in silent inquiry.
"You're quite pretty, aren't you?" The crow's feet around her eyes wrinkle.
"O-oh. Um…thank you, Hiroshima-san."
"So, it will be just for three months?"
She nods.
Three months.
After unloading her things from her far-too-large bag, she sighs, obsidian eyes scanning the space. It is a shoe box for sure, but it isn't too bad at all. Always preferring her own space, this break from her group is probably what she needs the most right now. A break from him as well. Twinkling green eyes appear in her mind's vision the moment she goes idle and she can't help but sit there and wonder about the arms that kept her warm so many nights.
Slapping her lap to bring her back to reality, she inhales a sharp intake of air as she rises from the foot of her bed. She's going to be needing some things if she wants her space to feel more like a home.
Konohagakure is definitely foreign to her. Yes, she's been to hidden villages before. Lord knows how many faces she's seen, and 'homes' she's left behind. One of the most interesting sights that's kept her eyes glued are the four giant heads sculpted out of the side of the cliff.
Beautiful.
BAM!
A painful force collides against her abdomen making her gasp in surprise and agony. Yellow, blue, and orange enters her vision. It was a child. No more than twelve with the most crystal cerulean eyes she's ever seen, like the still ocean on a warm day.
"I'm sorry, Onesan," he says, voice husky as he looks up at her.
Tenshi bends down in front of him, hand resting on his shoulders. She offers him a warm smile. "What's wrong, little guy? Why are you in a hurry?"
Hand buried in spiky golden hair, his eyes crinkle as a sheepish smile emerges from his features. "It's nothing. Just pissed off one of those old man vendors again."
Raising an eyebrow, she looks at him in inquiry.
"Well, I was buying some cup ramen and the sign said 10 ryo each! But when I lined up for it, he told me that it's worth 30 ryo," he starts, "It's ridiculous! I would never pay that much for cup ramen. The lady lined up in front of me paid 10 ryo!"
She bites her inner cheek, eyes steely as she rises up.
"Take me to him."
"Onesan, you really don't have to do that."
"Take me to him."
"Okay." He watches her with curiosity as they walk alongside each other, her hands in tight fists.
If there's anything Tenshi hates more in this world, it's bullies.
They walked a few blocks before Naruto pointed at the vendor. "You really don't have to Onesan, I've been taking care of things myself for a while now."
The words resonated in her heart like needles. That should never be the worries of kids like him. Long white mustache and a frail body, the old man vendor looks no more threatening than a squirrel.
"Excuse me, sir," she calls out, she points at the child, "may I know why you happened to charge this child triple the expense of said cup ramen?"
"I did no such thing," he denies.
"Let's go Onesan." He pulls on her hand.
Taking out an envelope filled to the brim with money, she waves it in front of him. The man gives the look of a salivating dog with a piece of beef.
"This is 1000 ryo," she says, eyes of crowd surrounding them glued on the commotion she is causing. Lips pursed, Tenshi points at the stall right beside his with a young lady probably around her age in charge. "Miss, I would like to buy all your cup ramen for my friend over here."
The kid watches her with widened eyes and parted lips, mirroring the expressions on the crowds faces. Except for the lady vendor whose eyes lit up as she gave her the money. "Right away, Miss!"
"Next time you mess with my friend…," she looks down at him.
"Naruto."
"Naruto," she repeats, eyes dart straight at the old man, "you will regret it."
Gulping, he remains silent. Speechless at her little exhibition. Naruto watches her with stars in his eyes.
Walking down the streets, they each carry ten plastic bags filled to the brim with cup ramen. Enough to feed an entire village, as Naruto once said through a grin.
"Onesan, you were so cool back there! You really didn't have to do that," he says.
"It's nothing Naruto-kun. I'm happy to help," she smiles back, "You can come to me anytime, understood?"
After walking up a few flights of stairs, they enter his apartment to drop off the bags. The space was around the same size as hers, smells expectantly of cup ramen, with trash all over the place.
"This is me. Thank you again so much, Tenshi Onesan!"
"Anytime, Naruto-kun. What will you be doing now?"
"Well, I'm supposed to off to meet with my team," pointing at his hitai-ate with a thumb and a grin of pride, "I'm a very busy ninja, as you can see."
"Absolutely. I won't take up much of your time then, Naruto-kun," she does a casual salute at him, a gesture he appreciated.
"Yosh! Time to go," he says hands balled into determined fists, footsteps bouncier.
Tenshi was still unsure of this boy's safety after their little scene from earlier. "Where are you headed?"
"The training ground!"
"Perfect," she claps her hands together, "I was headed that way anyway."
"Perfect!"
"Mhm!"
The boy pauses, eyes trained on her. She copies his expression. "What's up, Naruto-kun?"
"How do you know where the training ground is when you just got here?" Suspicious cerulean orbs stare in her obsidian ones.
"Because I already had a quick tour when you bumped into me?" she says with mental crossed fingers.
He stares holes into her for a moment even longer. Shortly after, a large grin greets her. "Of course! You're probably right. We should hurry then or else Sakura's going to kill me!"
Thank God he's not…sharp.
"Who is this Sakura? Is she your girlfriend?"
Red traveled up his face at the slight tease, smoke coming out of his ears. "NO! NOTHING LIKE THAT," he scratches the back of his neck as he shuts the door behind them, "She's just my team mate."
Deciding not to make the boy blow up into tiny bits from all the pressure trapped in his body, she chuckles instead. A few meters before reaching a clearing, Naruto waves at his friends before turning back at her. "This is where I'm at, Tenshi Onesan!"
"You take care, Naruto-kun."
"Of course," he says, "the future Hokage always has to be." He beams at her. Just as he turns, he rolls atop a small rock and Tenshi reaches out her arms in response. Luckily, he lands on his foot and they both sigh in relief.
He turns at her, a sweat drop on his forehead. "Whew, that was cloOse," he shouts as he trip on his own foot tumbling into a ball and into the river.
"Naruto, you idiot!" Sakura — Tenshi infers — shouts.
He rises to the surface with the tail of a fish sticking out of his mouth. Tenshi chuckles to herself and waves him a goodbye.
The sun poses straight overhead, the heat growing more scorching. Her feet lead her to the nearest grocery. She greets the lady behind the counter.
Three people inside, not too many. This is good.
She makes a beeline straight to an aisle full of assorted plates and utensils. Oddly enough, they are positioned by the literature section. She shrugs at the thought and grabs a basket.
Pots, check. Pans, check. Plates, check. Cups, check. Alright, looks like I got what I need.
Turning around, a flash of army green and a hard surface greets her. And a lot of silver. He stops his complete fall by palming the shelf, the books and magazines scatter along the floor. He sighs.
Wow, I have been bumping into everybody today. She curses to herself.
"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," she says, bending down to pick up the items off the floor. He bends down across her to help.
"It's nothing," the man mutters. That's when she gets a good glimpse of him.
Ninja. An adult ninja. Her body shivers at the thought, his attire making her stomach twirl, unwanted memories springing out of her.
Obsidian stares into obsidian. He wasn't much taller than her, but an air of experience mists around him. Adjusting his hitai-ate over his left eye, he must have noticed her discomfort because shortly after, his visible eye curls into a smile. Or at least, she thinks it is.
"I'll get going now," he announces, his footsteps clumsy and lazy for a shinobi — much less from the Leaf.
Tenshi's eyes continue to linger on his back until he steps outside and is out of view now.
"How weird…"
After some mindless shopping, putting essentials into her basket, Tenshi makes her way to the cashier. As the lady calculates her items, a poster catches her attention.
Icha Icha Paradise the bestselling book is finally adapted into film! Grab your tickets here now!
Icha Icha Paradise? She purses her lips in dismissal. Not my cup of tea, but some of the Oji-sans in the Group seem to like them. She chuckles to herself as she remembers them going nuts over the book series. That cinema will be filled with 60-year-olds, I guess.
"Would you want to buy a ticket for the advanced screening?" the lady offers.
"Hm?" she asks, thoughts cut off by the older woman's voice.
Lifting a worn-out orange book with a cover identical to the poster behind her, the lady — God bless her — smiles at her without any judgment. "It's only 20 ryo if you want."
Heat floods her face at the sight as she scans the room for any sort of person noticing her little embarrassing moment. A familiar face pops out! The old man vendor watches her with widened eyes, this time with what looks to be his granddaughter in tow. He turns her away from Tenshi, shaking his head at the sight and muttering somewhere along the lines of 'no wonder she has terrible manners' and 'what a shameful woman'.
"You should really book ahead," the woman adds, making everything worse, "tickets are selling out fast. Don't worry, we also have a lot of women customers." She winks at the statement. "However, none really your age. But I'm not here to judge."
And in that moment, she wanted the ground from under her to open up and swallow her whole. Anytime now.
Author's Note: Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying the chapters I've been putting out so far. This story has been in my mind for quite some time now and I hope I can continue to at least offer you something easy to pass the time with through this pandemic. Hope you're staying safe! Please favorite, follow, and leave me a review! I'd love to reply and interact with you guys as much as possible. :)