Title: El Bimbo
Author: sky75rk
Spoilers: OOC, self-angst, stubbornness
A/N:
Scientific Basis: (Please read for those who are confused about Naruto's present situation.)
I've been told that the blood gets pumped to the body through the left ventricle via the aorta. Well, that's true, but considering the blood path, the blood would only reach the left ventricle after it travels through the vena cava, right atrium and ventricle, through the pulmonary artery, then the lungs where the blood drops of carbon dioxide and picks oxygenated blood from it, and then moves through the pulmonary vein, the left atrium, and then the left ventricle where it is pumped throughout the body via the aorta before it returns again. So basically, if the blood flow stops in the right ventricle, it is even more fatal since if it does not go into the lungs, then oxygen will not be supplied through the body and carbon dioxide would poison the system, leaving the victim dead or paralyzed.
I guess I got confused when Arrow Heart pointed out the left ventricle fact, no matter how true the fact is, (and I want to thank you for telling me that). I just want to point out that, so there won't be any confusion as to why Naruto has this or that or whatever might happen to him in this fic.
So… are clear on that?
Lecture… out!
Standard disclaimers apply.
Seventh Channel: Ruminations
My love is like to ice and I to fire
Umino Iruka was walking down the darkened road, ignoring the pleas of his student, Konohamaru. For the past two hours, the young "protégé" of Naruto was pestering Iruka to help him pull his latest prank, which was to fill the Hokage's bathroom with frogs and worms and certain other slimy creatures that every female would certainly try to avoid, even if she was the Hokage. However, even after a thousand no's, the kid was still going on and on about it.
Iruka stopped short and faced the kid who was growing up to be almost the exact likeness of Naruto. "Look Konohamaru, for the last time, I won't help you," he said exasperatingly, but the kid still continued to tug onto his shirt.
"But I won't tell anybody that you helped me!" he countered, trying to use his best pout and puppy look that his master tried to teach him a couple of years back. Naruto told him that 'it' never failed.
Well, not this time though. Iruka just detached Konohamaru's hand from his shirt and continued walking. "She summons a huge snail, for crying out loud! How can you still say that your prank would work on her? And she would skin you alive, kid,"
Konohamaru just rubbed a finger under his nose and smiled arrogantly. "Because she's a girl, sensei. Naruto-nii told me that no matter how the Hokage handles a slimy creature, she's still a girl. And girls hate slimy creatures!"
"Honestly!" Iruka turned and knelt on one knee and dropped his hands on Konohamaru's shoulder. "Do you think you're going to get away with every prank you pull? Maybe you shouldn't have hung-out with Naruto so often,"
"I'll always get away with it. After all, I was taught by the best!"
Iruka slapped a hand on his forehead. Kids these days. He thought, still muttering a 'no' to the kid. They continued to walk around, and Iruka was starting to wonder when the kid will give up. It seemed like he even inherited Naruto's hard head on their time together. Iruka sighed and decided to talk to Naruto in the morning to discuss with him Konohamaru's behavior.
"Naruto-nii!" he heard the kid beside him shout and he glanced at where Konohamaru was waving, expecting the blonde youth to run towards them with a smile he usually portrays. "Naruto…nii?" Konohamaru's voice suddenly turned soft as his declaration of Naruto's name became a question. Iruka peered harder, striving to see further into the fog which did not hide the fact that it was Naruto whom the kid saw.
"Naruto!" Iruka started to ran towards the blonde youth, completely worried as he saw Naruto fainting and half-way colliding to the rocky ground.
He caught Naruto in time.
Iruka shook the unconscious boy and decided to take him home instead. "Konohamaru," he turned to call the kid and saw that he was on the verge of tears.
"Naruto-nii… what happened to you?" he whispered to the unhearing boy. Iruka snapped him out of his daze.
"Koonohamaru," Iruka called again. This time, he got his attention. "Get the Hokage and tell her to come to my house as soon as possible,"
Konohamaru sniffed. "Hai!" and then he hurried away.
Iruka then carried Naruto over his shoulders and raced back home. He felt the blonde's forehead, waiting for a sign of fever, but there was none. He noticed the heavy breathings his former student harbored and it worried him to death.
As soon as he arrived, he immediately laid the unconscious boy down the neat bed, and waited for him to wake up.
Naruto stirred. Iruka was alarmed.
As blue emerged from closed lids, he sighed. "How are you feeling, Naruto?" he asked, knowing that Naruto would just say that he's fine.
"Fine," the blonde answered and his mind proved him correct once again.
Iruka chuckled at this. "I would've brought you to the hospital, but after the last time, I figured you would be safer here, than there,"
How comes it then that his cold so great
Iruka stood up and went out the room, when he returned, he was holding a glass of water and he handed it to Naruto. The blue-eyed youth took it automatically. "Are you sure? I heard you just returned from numerous missions, so I assume you're drained. But if you were so tired, why'd you have to go out at night?"
"It wasn't only because of the missions, Iruka-san," a voice interrupted, before the blonde had the opportunity to answer. "It's more complicated than that,"
Tsunade entered the room and behind her was Konohamaru, who held the same curious and at the same time, concerned look that Chuunin teacher held. "What do you mean?" Iruka voiced his question, and Naruto stiffened.
"Tsunade-baabaa, don't--"
"No, Naruto. You can't keep hiding these things any longer. You need help,"
"No, I don't. I can get on by myself,"
Tsunade sneered. "Oh really? So maybe that's the reason why Iruka-san found you fainting on the streets then, because you can take care of yourself?"
Naruto halted. He didn't have something to retort. Damn.
"What's this about, Hokage-sama?" Iruka asked again, as Tsuande began checking on Naruto.
"Naruto needs to have an operation as soon as possible,"
"What? Why?" Iruka asked, disbelieving the words that came out of the Hokage's mouth. He knew Naruto was fine. Why the hell does he need to be operated?
Tsunade sighed and returned the equipments she brought with her. "Because if he doesn't get one soon, it's either he's dead or paralyzed. This careless kid here got a blood clot stuck on his ventricle and the only way to remove it so the blood could flow freely to his lungs, is by surgical methods,"
"N-no way," Konohamaru mouthed. This wasn't happening to his idol. Not his idol, not to the person he admired the most!
"I'm afraid that is the case. Also one of the reasons why this kid was out most of the time," Tsuande finished explaining. Iruka was frozen on his seat as was the kid who practically worshipped the blonde. Naruto just stared at his hands, uncomprehending.
Is not dissolved through my so hot desire
"You didn't have to tell them. I told you, I can raise the money on my own!"
Tsuande gripped the blonde on the upper arm, her grip hard and strong. "Stop being so stubborn, brat! Why don't you try accepting other people's help for once! You can't do anything alone!"
Naruto yanked his arm away from her grip. "I don't want to bother anyone with my problems…" he trailed off, wanting Tsunade and the other people in the room to understand his situation.
Tsuande dropped her arms on her side. "Either way, I want to tell you that your body can't handle any missions from now on. It appears that the clot started to block almost three-fourths of your ventricle. If this keeps up, I'm sorry to say that oxygen won't be supplied to your lungs anymore…" Tsuande stared at him with pleading eyes. "Please take care of yourself, Naruto,"
"But… I can handle it! I'll even do D-class missions! Anything! Just please… don't take me out of doing missions. I need that money!" Naruto's voice was panic-stricken, and his voice was steadily rising. "How do you expect me to have that operation if you take out my only source of income?"
Iruka tapped the Hokage on the shoulder. "You said that he needs to take the operation, right? How much will that be?"
"Iruka-sensei!"
"About half a million, Iruka-san,"
Brown eyes widened. "What! Why so expensive?"
Tsunade sighed loudly and blew a strand of hair out if her eyes. "I wouldn't have charged anything if only I could do the operation by myself. But I need a team of doctors and nurses who would assist me, and they don't want to do anything for Naruto without any payment," she explained. "And if I try to reprimand them, people might hate Naruto more because of a term called 'favoritism'," she added with another sigh.
"You shouldn't have treated me differently, Tsunade-baabaa," blue eyes were hidden under a mop of unruly, spiky blonde hair, but by the tone of his voice, it was clear that he was on the verge of breaking down.
Iruka interrupted and replied to Naruto's reaction before Tsunade can. "What do you want Tsunade-sama to do then? What do you want all of us present here to do then? Do you want us to hate you too?"
"That's not… that's not what I meant,"
Iruka then turned to face the blonde and sat on the side of the bed the blonde was now sitting on. "Don't worry Naruto," he said, ruffling his hair affectionately. "I'll find a way to get the money,"
"Me too Naruto-nii!" the silent boy now butt-in, vowing to help his idol any way he can.
Naruto shook his head. "You don't need to do that, sensei! I'll be fine. I can raise the money! I'm already almost half-way there!" he tried to convince the two to stay out of his problem, but it fell on deaf ears.
"Let us help you this time, Naruto" Iruka said finally, in a voice that Naruto found hard to say no to.
Naruto gave up and smiled thankfully, despite of still thinking of ways how to earn money without having any missions. "Arigato,"
But harder grows the more I him entreat
Neji stared at the fallen notebook on the floor and cursed. He hadn't expected such answers from the blonde and frankly, it made him even more curious. Why did he need money so much? Why was he hiding so many things from them? Why wouldn't he accept other people's help? Why was he denying himself of redemption? And other questions that went on bombarding his mind killed him. He wanted to know answers!
As he looked out the open window, he saw that the night turned into day, as the sun peeked out the eastern sky. Neji had not slept a wink at all, but he didn't mind.
He picked up the forgotten notebook and placed it on top of his desk once again. He went into the bathroom and cleansed himself, deciding to return the notebook back to the rightful owner after his morning patrol.
He slipped inside the bathroom and ran the water hot. It relaxed his tensed muscles. He suddenly felt the need to punch someone. But there was no one around, so instead, he punched the bathroom wall and made a crack on it. Naruto… why do you plague my mind so? He wasn't aware of when the blonde became a huge part of his life. It just started out as mindless interest, and then he became concerned about his well being, then…
Salvation… I'll make sure to give it to you. Since Uchiha clearly wouldn't do anything just yet. He told himself; his calculating mind considering other options on how he would save the blonde from utter misery.
And vaguely, he wondered if the Hokage would give them any missions soon.
The pale-eyed Hyuuga immediately went out his house and sprinted towards the blonde's apartment, skipping his morning patrol. Before he knocked on the door, he had been standing there for at least ten minutes, debating against himself whether he should face the blonde now or just wait for the right time. Then resolving that nothing will be fixed if he wasted time, he came upon Naruto's apartment and was now knocking on his door.
The door which no one was answering.
He was hesitating to use his Byakugan on Naruto, feeling that he was again infringing on the blonde's privacy. What's the matter with me? I already violated his right to privacy when I read his journal.
His damn journal.
Neji clenched his fist tightly and used his bloodline limit. He gazed through clutter after clutter of scrolls just waiting to be stolen on the floor of Naruto's apartment, but he failed to see the person he was there for in the first place. Ichiraku came to his mind after that.
He turned his back and started going to the direction of Naruto's favorite place in Konoha. He watched as the villagers scurry about their own ways, not minding about anybody else except their own well-being. And the thought of this made him remember the time when Sasuke betrayed the village for his own selfish deeds.
He doesn't deserve to be forgiven. It was what he wanted to say to the Hokage when she pardoned the Uchiha's insolence. Naruto should've just left him alone, why is he such a persistent kid anyway? And this was what he thought when Naruto went out without authorized permission, to pursue the dark-haired traitor.
But now…
Now as he ponders over the whole ordeal, he understood why the blonde was so stuck up with the Uchiha leaving. And he wouldn't have cared a bit if the circumstances were the same as before. However, after seeing the deteriorating happiness that Naruto everyday consumed, he couldn't just leave Uchiha doing his own way while Naruto just stood beside him and encourage him all the way while inside, he was having a hard time fabricating smiles for the dark-haired youth.
Sasuke is selfish, that he came to know. Sasuke wanted everything for himself, even if he doesn't take notice of it yet.
And that made him more livid towards the Uchiha.
Even if Sasuke was keeping the blonde to himself without even realizing his selfishness, even if he was drawing out the love and kindness that should've been given to Naruto instead, even if he keeps on returning the tears of Naruto, the tears that the blonde wants to remain unshed until now… he wouldn't; couldn't and shouldn't heed it now.
Because Sasuke was not important to his life right at this moment. It was Naruto.
And he would assure that he would make Naruto happy, without being as selfish as Uchiha.
He turned to the corner, and saw no one eating at the ramen stall. His mind told him another place.
Hokage's tower.
Not wasting any time, he proceeded to jump up the rooftops, his eyes ardent to see the blonde-haired youth once again.
He plopped to the ground, walking briskly as he saw the tower coming into view.
But not until he saw Sasuke in front of him, staring at someone who was undeniably…
"Naruto,"
Or how comes it that my exceeding heat
"Nii-chan," Konohamaru poked Naruto's side. "Nii-chan, you're going to be alright, right?"
Naruto smiled, ruffling the kid's hair like how Iruka did to him. "Course I am! Why wouldn't I be? You silly kid!" he told the sniffing boy. However, his mind betrayed his words. He didn't know if he will be fine or not in the end.
"Honto?"
"Honto,"
Konohamaru wavered and then grinned. "You better be! Or else I won't forgive you! Ever!" he told the blonde boy who was also grinning at him.
The kid stood up. "I'm off then," he said and Naruto stood up as well. "I'm going to ask for a mission from the Hokage," he told the blonde boy and Naruto just looked at him in mild surprise. "I'm going to help you raise the money, nii-chan," he whispered, tears threatening to spill from his eyes once again.
Naruto smacked the kid on the head. "You're such a crybaby. Now stop spilling unwanted tears and let's go! I may be out of commission for the time being, but Baa-chan didn't prevent me from accompanying my favorite student right?"
"Un!" Konohamaru nodded, and then the insult settled on his mind. "I'm not a crybaby!"
Naruto just laughed at that.
Is not allayed by his heart-frozen cold
Naruto glanced at the forlorn kid walking beside him and he felt angry at himself for getting in the mess that he should've avoided. He followed Konohamaru to the tower where Tsunade warned him not to enter until he was truly well and alive.
Konohamaru stopped. Naruto gazed at him quizzically. "What's the matter?" he can tell that the kid who idolized him so was having trouble coping up with the current situation. He never told him to help him in the first place, but he was happy at the thought of him helping a person with a demon sealed inside of him. And no matter how badly the villagers talked about him or how rude their actions were towards him, Konohamaru didn't think otherwise.
"Nothing, just…" Konohamaru drew off. "It's just that… I don't want you to die nii-chan,"
"I won't. Now go in there and I'll wait for you here, ok? Stop being such a drama queen,"
"Un!"
At that, the blonde just leaned on the wall beside the door of the Hokage's office, his mind still trying to find ways on how work without the Godaime Hokage knowing about it. Stupid Neji. Stressing me where it would lead me to no good.
Yes, he blamed the Hyuuga for being out of commission; yet, the words that he spoke to him last night struck him the most.
Isn't redemption what you really want?
He wanted redemption. Hell! He'd even kill if it would save him from his prison cell. But he didn't want Neji to know about him wanting to be saved. And he didn't want Neji to be the one to hand it to him.
He wanted Sasuke to be the one to save him.
Just like how he saved him from the darkness that almost consumed him before.
However, that was selfish of him. He told himself again and again that he shouldn't want anything in return. That he did it for Sasuke, not for his sake. That it was wrong of him to expect Sasuke to love him back just because he does. And it was unfair to Neji. If he wanted to hand to him in a silver platter the salvation he wanted, he should just probably accept, and be happy that someone cared enough to give it to him.
But still he hoped…
Just like how he hoped when he went after Sasuke; that the dark-haired boy would return to them… to him. He hoped that Sasuke valued the bonds they had built with each other and that he valued having people around who love him and looks up to him.
Bu hoping would not get him what he wanted, what he needed… And the situation at hand was different than the one he handled before.
He stared at the open road, cursing himself that he can't cross paths with it in the meantime… or maybe for the rest of his life if he wasn't careful.
He valued his life now that he had something to live for.
He steadied his vision, as he noticed that all he was seeing was blurs of colors, mingling together to form blobs that he couldn't care less about.
He closed his eyes, opened it and saw…
"Sasuke?"
But that I burn much more in boiling sweat
He didn't know what to say anymore.
He didn't know what to say to his best friend, or how to act. He didn't know what he felt for him at all.
And with the entrance of a certain red-haired nin from Hidden Sand, things were going out of hand.
It wasn't like he liked Gaara in the same way Gaara 'claims' that they were the same. And it also wasn't like that he was doing something major to stop the red-haired boy from advancing towards him, which added to his confusion about himself. Advancing? You are out of your mind Uchiha. Since when did you accept guys advancing for you?
Though deep inside himself, he knew it wasn't like what he usually thinks.
And he was angry. Angry at the thought that after Naruto told him what he felt, it was like he didn't say anything at all. That the things were the same and none of those words came out of his mouth.
That he was just lying.
He hated the people who lied to him.
Sasuke walked, heading for the Hokage's tower to meet with Gaara for the next mission they had. It was strange at first, when Tsunade suddenly told him that Gaara of the desert would work with him for the time being. And when he heard that Neji was to be the dobe's partner… he was more perplexed than ever.
And it didn't help that he opposed the Hokage's decision by shouting that he wouldn't accept such separations; which bothered him more than ever since he should just be fine with Naruto being separated from him. It was bound to happen sooner or later anyway.
It should've happened sooner than everybody thought, when he joined Sound in attempt to get more power from Orochimaru for him to eventually give his brother the taste of death. But it ended as rapidly as it came, when he encountered a certain annoying and persistent blonde youth, who pursued him and persuaded him to return to Konoha.
And he fought back, with the intensity of his anger being redirected at Naruto that ended up with him feeling guilty at almost killing the — probably— only guy that refused to give up on him no matter what.
And he should've known by then…
He should've seen by then…
He was too blinded by rage to even see that there are people whose standpoints were resting on his fists. He failed to see that in his hands, he was carrying the weight of the hopes and dreams of other people which was heavier than his anger for his brother.
And it was Naruto who brought back his eyes to witness the truth.
And what did he do in return? Walk away without any proper words to accompany what he means.
What did I mean by walking away then? He asked himself, adding yet another problem that remains unsolved. He continued on his way, realizing that he hadn't seen after Naruto who was offensively assailed by Gaara in the training grounds. And Naruto did not make any move to retaliate.
And it bothered him.
Last night…
Last night, he saw Naruto smiling at him, happy to see him, mouthing the words 'I'm home' for him to acknowledge that he's back. He wanted to spend some time with him and Sakura. And he wanted to. He had been waiting for the blonde to return to Konoha so he could talk to him. Until he saw Neji from behind, and all his convictions were blurred away by the sudden rush of resentment towards the Hyuuga, who didn't do anything to refuse being partnered with Naruto.
Last night…
Gaara led him away from Naruto… and he let himself be led away. Being fueled with an emotion he didn't quite know.
Last night…
He showed his aggression by venting it out to Gaara, furious with him for leading him away from the one he wanted to talk to, when he himself knows that he let the red-haired nin do what he wanted. And he still had the guts to tell Gaara that it was his fault, indirectly.
Sasuke bit his lower lip. He cannot understand his actions any longer, and he still kept his feet rooted on the ground, not wanting to make any move. He raised his head up, arrogant and over-confident. The only Sasuke he ever knew. The only Sasuke he ever trusted.
And as he entered the building, he noticed no one else but…
"Naruto,"
And feel my flames augmented manifold
-Continued-
A/N: The sentences in bold keys (Fire and Ice), which you probably already guessed is an eight-versed poem were written by Itsuki.
Okay, I want to thank the following reviewers who really made my day, and of course, reply to them.
Momochi Zabuza: Wow, you reviewed channels 3-6… I guess that first two channels are really boring, maybe that's the reason why I only have few reviews… anyway, thanks for saying that my story deserves more reviews than the ones I already got. But I'm still thankful that I get some people to read this, at least. Even though only some reviews… and I hope it's clear why Naruto needs that money… and another thing… you really like a jealous Sasuke don't you?
Jewelclaw lady of wind: wow… another new name in my review list… -smiles- something good will happen? We'll see…
Silent Victory: woah, how in seven hells did I entertain you in the middle of English class? I must be missing something here…anyway, short? It was because I'm out of ideas… well… not really I just wanted to make it that way…
Strawberries and Napkins: hey… you're helpful… at some points… but your reviews give me life… all my reviewers' review give me life… so please don't get tired of this story!
Bloodofakiller: we'll see what pairings this will end up with… but you gave me a great idea… believe it or not… thanks!
Ly: I know that Gaara is confusing… it's hard to write about him without being OOC so I don't put him out much…
CatC10: hey… thanks a lot for your compliment and for adding me to your author alert list… you see… I've been writing mostly angst stuff, cause I don't have a sense of humor… heh, it's just that, I like writing angst…
Kurisuteru-chan: Woah… another new name in my review list… heh, thanks for your compliment regarding the entries in the journal… actually, I was hesitant about the journal thing since I already read far too many stories using that plot… but… I needed it! So… yup… that's about it…
Uzamaki Liliana: you'll know what pairings it will be if you continue reading this!
One last thing… how many of you thought that the person who caught Naruto out in the street was Sasuke? Come on! Be honest!
Review?