Exploding trees.

For your reading pleasure...

Imagine a dream where you were under barrage from exploding trees.

Now imagine a dream where you were under barrage from a man who could make trees explode.

From the Yondaime Story Arc...

Now imagine that you were having a dream where you voluntarily put yourself in a situation that led to you being under barrage from a man who could make trees explode...

Imagine that he made you explode.

Nara's nightmares are not a pleasant place to be.

Valor and Harmony
Chapter 5: Interest

She might have fainted, but that didn't mean she wasn't still freaking out.

For the first time, Uzumaki Narashima understood the full depths of what she'd done that fated day. When she'd entered that clearing and faced off with the Fourth Hokage, she'd done more than test herself against a worthy opponent. She'd effectively attempted suicide. The shock of realizing this had separated her from control of her own body, and she'd fainted. But deep within, her mind was still in shock.

She was shocked, of course, at how fortunate she'd been to survive the incident. Had he not recognized her when he did, she would have been roasted whole. But, beyond that, she was shocked at how much Kazama Arashi--three years her junior--had grown in the years since they'd last seen each other fight. He had been her best friend for a long time, and she'd come to think she knew him inside and out.

My, how wrong she'd been. My, how things had changed.

It had been nearly ten years since they'd met...herself a 9-year-old beginning her training at the academy...and he a 6-year-old runt mourning the loss of his father. The poor kid lived alone in his father's old apartment, and she'd been concerned for his well-being as soon as she'd met him. Her parents didn't approve, so she went to her instructor...and after getting his approval, she was given 30 minutes out of daily training to go check on the poor little guy.

His house was guarded since the attack (and apparently he had caretakers),but that was ok. They were protecting him from killers, not messengers. She knew which room he slept in, and there was a hole in the floor there. That first day, she squeezed a piece of paper through the hole, trusting he'd stumble upon it before his caretakers would.

1 PM, Friday October 4

Hi! You don't know me, but I'm Uzumaki Nara. I'm 9 years old, and I heard about you the other day.

It must be hard coping with what you've been through. I couldn't imagine how much things would suck if my dad died. But I'm a shinobi, and I'd make it. I know you can make it too!

I just thought I'd write...I can't get past the guard at the door. I might be a ninja, but I'm not that good yet! I'll pass by again sometime. See ya!

The next time she'd passed, he'd peeped into the hole in the floor. Bad timing...her note caught him right in the eye as she shoved it through the hole. They'd passed notes back and forth for the next hour.

And that's how they got to know each other. Every day, as odd as it was, they'd pass messages through the hole...and sometimes chat through an open window. But she never saw what he looked like. He never let her see him. He had a cut on his face from the attack, he said, and he didn't want anyone to see it. She accepted that, but there was a trade: she never let him see her either.

So they'd chat about anything and everything. She'd share about her training and how difficult it was...her ambition to serve her village...and her dog Inu. And he'd share about his father...about how loving and caring he was...about how his father had saved his life...and about his own ambition to make his life be one worth saving.

She'd known then that he'd be a shinobi.

He'd entered the academy a month later, she remembered...at least 3 years younger than every other student the academy had ever accepted. And quickly, he'd proven why he had been accepted. He was smart...far smarter than she was, and he'd quickly picked up the concepts of chakra control. She couldn't help but be a bit jealous, and she shied away from him...just like everyone else. She convinced herself that he was fine...that he'd recovered from the low point his life had been at before, and she focused herself on being the best shinobi she could be. No more time away from practice.

It took a year for them to actually speak again...

They'd moved on from learning about chakra to using it, and the first move they'd learned was bunshin no jutsu. Nara couldn't figure it out, but little Arashi definitely could. One day, she snuck up on his little practice area and admitted her weakness.

Entering the clearing where he was practicing, Nara announced her presence with noisy curiosity and frustration. "I don't get it…why are you so good at that? I can't even make one clone, and you're already making 3 at a time…"

The look of shock on his face as he turned to face her surprised her at first. Was he so unused to being spoken to? Nara walked closer to him and prepared to ask for help, but the shocked look intensified as she approached. By the point that she reached him, he was shaking, and Nara's voice stalled to a stop.

Arashi's eyes were wide, and he pointed at her, unexpectedly catching her on the nose with his index finger, and watching her eyes cross. "You! You're that girl...the one from the window!" He'd recognized her voice.

Catching her completely off-guard, the little 7-year-old dived toward her and tackled her. She lost her balance and fell, and the little guy wrapped his arms around her and hugged her, burying his face into her midsection. His tears quickly soaked through her shirt. "Thank you..."

And things were never the same after that.

She'd realized not too long later that it would take a much longer time for him to recover. Arashi would always look to his father's sacrifice, and wonder if he had done enough to make himself worth it. It created a void within him...sucking away his confidence and self-esteem. And though she always encouraged him, she'd resigned herself to the fact that he'd never get over it and just be himself.

Whoosh...

Nara's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden rush of air across her face, and she snapped awake. Something grabbed for her legs, and latched on tightly, holding them in place.

Opening her eyes and turning her head forward, her face was tickled by short blond hair, and she realized that he was carrying her piggyback now. She'd awakened for a moment before, and she was certain that then she was over Kotetsu's broad shoulders.

Ironic...after years of her carrying him and building his confidence, something shifted, and he was carrying her. Nara felt her upper body pull away and instinctively reached her arms around his waist and held on tight. Suddenly, she realized he wasn't wearing his Jounin vest...just his Konoha-issued black long-sleeved undershirt. Strong abs pressed back against her arms.

Yes, things have definitely changed.

Arashi immediately noticed when Nara regained consciousness...the change in her breathing was easy enough to pick up on. As he leaped through the trees and back towards Konoha, he quickly adjusted his grip on her. If she was fully awake, he no longer needed to run with his back nearly flat so she wouldn't slide off...she'd keep her own upper body balance. Arashi slipped his arms beneath her legs to steady her, and felt her arms wrap tightly around his waist.

In a deep voice, Arashi pronounced, "The dead has awakened." He felt Nara's arms tighten a bit more around his waist as she tensed up. Whoops. Bad choice of words, considering...

Nara frowned and moaned groggily. "Shut up..." She felt a slight headache come on, and sighed. Her whole face felt itchy and stiff. Since she couldn't move her arms to pick with her face, Nara shifted her head and plopped her forehead onto Arashi's back.

Arashi tensed up. "And just what are you doing?" He could feel her face muscles moving on his back as she opened and closed her eyes and raised her eyebrows. It was a very strange feeling. Was she attempting to massage her face with his back muscles? Arashi did his best to ignore the random movements and focus on making it back. The awkwardness of the moment had combined with the physical work to make him break a sweat.

Nara stopped her random 'just woke up' routine for a moment and looked around. "Where're the others?"

"They know the way back. I had them go ahead and get back to the village." Arashi realized he'd been moving blindly for a moment, and adjusted his course slightly.

So, they were alone. Nara paused for a moment of consideration, and then bent her head down again, this time poking her nose into Arashi's back. She tilted her head slightly to either side, effectively wiggling her nose, and being careful not to break it.

"Umm...you're not going to keep that up the whole trip, are you?" If so, Arashi decided, he'd have to put her down. This was just too awkward. "Seriously..."

Nara got the point and raised her head, resting it on his shoulder. "Nah," she replied weakly, "I'm done. Sorry."

Arashi suddenly felt selfish, but accepted her apology. "No harm, no foul...but if your head hurts we can get you some medicine when we get back..."

Nara calmly and politely replied, "Thanks."

Awkwardness seeped in quickly as silence overcame small talk. Arashi grunted as he changed directions again, and Nara effectively kept her mind clear by focusing on the rushing wind passing through her hair. It was Arashi who eventually overcame the silence.

"Nara?" A question in itself, as though he was unsure of whether she was asleep or not.

She wasn't, but she was tired of talking...tired of thinking today. No response came from her. Arashi sighed heavily and kept moving.

Their relationship had grown awkward, and Arashi suspected he'd find no better time to set things straight than now, out of the city, alone. But, with her drifting in and out of consciousness, what was he to do? "Darn it. What's it gonna take to turn this around?" Arashi seemed to speak beneath his breath, as though he were thinking aloud.

"This was the first real chance to talk we've had...the only time since then that she hasn't been in deep pain and completely emotional." Some kind of deep self-contempt seemingly slipped into his voice. "She was talking fine in public...and then I had to ruin it by showing her that. I should have been more considerate, but I really didn't think about it." He got quiet for a moment, as if considering something, and Nara carefully regulated her breathing, attempting to imitate sleep...

Apparently it worked. Arashi began to speak again, almost as if talking to a third person. "She's distancing herself from me...she thinks I haven't noticed, but it's hard not to. I was always the one disappearing for missions and such...but since she left my place a couple of weeks ago...we're in the same city and we hardly even see each other."

Those words hit Nara in the teeth. It wasn't really planned, but she knew she wasn't making any effort to see him, and in fact was avoiding her usual hangouts. Was she really doing it to avoid him? Nara had never thought about it.

"I don't know...I don't know what to do anymore." Something in his tone suggested that he wanted to throw his hands in the air in frustration, but since his hands were holding her legs, he didn't. His voice wavered slightly, and she realized he was praying...pouring out his soul. "Kami-sama, help me understand what I'm doing wrong..."

Nara forced back a frown. She regretted that she'd ever attacked him, of course...but now she saw something more. Her actions since then...the fear she'd shown and the careful (if unconscious) distance she had taken from him...the posing in public and acting like everything was the same...even though both of them knew how awkward things were in private...those had hurt him more than any physical attack she'd done.

"You know I'm really trying. I just...don't know where to begin anymore. I'd do anything for her. She's my best friend...and for a long time, my only friend. I don't want to lose her over one mistake." Arashi paused, and felt himself begin to get misty-eyed.

"It's like that one time back in the academy...when I joined, my one friend just disappeared. I wondered if I'd ever have a friend again once I became a ninja..."

Nara's ears perked up. Was he talking about what she thought he was talking about?

"When the letters stopped coming, and I stopped hearing her voice, I was so sad...I remember thinking I should stop, and maybe she'd come back, and then I realized how stupid that sounded. Backing out would mean being a coward. But I did have one wish..."

Nara struggled to keep her breathing the same as silenced washed over them. The wind tossed a drop of water onto Nara's face, and she suddenly realized that Arashi was crying.

"I wished I'd never become a shinobi in the first place," Arashi wheezed out. "...that I'd never even tried. Then she'd have kept passing by always..."

That was a cut to Nara's soul. She'd literally had no clue that her presence had helped (and her absence hurt) so much. Am I doing the same thing to him now that I did then?

"And sometimes, when I think about this, it makes me wish I had never become Hokage either. Then none of this would have happened. I would have been content to be in ANBU, and she never would have attacked."

Nara sighed inwardly. I've caused Arashi so much trouble...

Arashi carefully cleared his throat, attempting to avoid shaking his body in such a way that might stir her. "Now that I am Hokage, I cannot look back. I won't let my personal life get in the way of my mission...no matter how much it hurts." The confidence seemed to stir back into his voice again, if only for a moment.

"Kami-sama, here is my prayer: strengthen me so that I may be true to my words and my commitment. Be with her and help her understand how much I value and appreciate her." Arashi took a deep breath and calmed his emotions, knowing that he would have to wake her and talk to her soon. "And help me as I try to tell her what I've told you. Ame--"

"Ay-men." Uzumaki Nara lightly squeezed Arashi's sides, pronouncing an end to his prayer in unison with him. No point in keeping up this ruse. I've run away from my problems enough.

Arashi took a deep breath before responding. "I had a feeling you were still awake."

Nara frowned, holding back her emotion. Refusing to cry audibly, she released a hand from Arashi's waist and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I know."

Arashi sighed. He'd said just about everything he could say...the ball was in her court now. Arashi focused on his legs for a bit, redirecting them once more and letting his quickly-beating heart worry about itself. If he kept getting distracted by other stuff, they'd circle Konoha instead of entering it...

Nara considered the situation fully. The words he'd said were pained ones...expressions of the frustration and pain he'd felt through all of this. Yet, she appreciated how he really felt, and she appreciated the fact that he'd said it all. No matter how intentional it was that she hear it, he'd bared a huge portion of his life to her, and she was amazed at his heart. During all of this, he could have been angry and jaded...he could have killed her, or ignored her...but instead, he was praying for her. Despite all the things she'd done, he still cared about her. It amazed her even more, considering this entire situation was all her fault. Once before, she'd cried realizing that...but this time the tears were of joy and appreciation. Still, she had to ask.

"Kazama Arashi, why do you even care anymore?"

Arashi didn't answer. She took it that he didn't quite follow the question, and elaborated.

"Most men..." No. That doesn't do it justice. "Most people in your situation would have calloused their hearts by now and run from me. I myself would have." It was a bit of a push for her to picture herself in his shoes, but she knew herself...and she probably would have given up long ago on her panicked friend if the tables were turned. "Considering how bad I've treated you, why do you even care what I think of you anymore? Why are you still helping me?"

Arashi paused for a moment, and then replied. "No matter what you've done or haven't done, you are still my friend."

"How's that?"

Arashi made a decision right then. Screw the paperwork! I've got something more important than paperwork to handle. Noticing where he was, Arashi stopped and landed in a treetop, and slowly lowered Nara back onto her own two feet. Stepping away from her, he walked toward the end of the branch and looked out over the city of Konoha. They had a good view of the an gate, but were not quite there. Arashi opened his mouth to speak, and hoped his words would come out with clear meaning.

"When I was six, at the moment that I most needed help, someone was there for me...sending me letters...chatting with me for hours sometimes...helping me face myself, even when I wouldn't face her. I'll remember those days forever." Arashi turned around and faced Nara, immediately locking eyes with her. "We've both changed since then, of course, but I will never forget who was there for me when I needed it the most. You don't even realize it, but you've always been looking out for me...and I appreciate it." His green eyes twinkled as he looked into hers with appreciation. Nara smiled back as if to accept his thanks, her eyes still a bit puffy and red from crying, but Arashi continued to speak, stepping forward.

"The reason I stick around...is because I see the opportunity to return the favor." He noted the surprise in her blue eyes, but continued on. "You underestimated me...we've both admitted that. But you've underestimated yourself as well. I think I've been put in a position where I see more of you than anyone else does...maybe more than you do." Curiosity twinkled in his eyes as he considered his friend, and the smirk on her face told him that she didn't believe him. "You see what you've done recently and begin to falter...but I see you for what you've always been."

Arashi took another step forward as Nara's face switched from skepticism to surprise. They were only a step apart now, and a single tear was running down Nara's face. "You're loyal...you stand by your friends even when they don't stand by themselves." He took another step forward, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "And you're hard on yourself...more so than anyone else. That's why you did what you did...and that's why you haven't forgiven yourself for it. You have your rough edges...everyone does. Every piece of wood has its splinters. But you expect more of yourself than a carpenter does of his chairs..." He noted when her cheeks started to redden. "Nara-chan...you're one of the best ninjas I know, and you're the best friend I've got. I just want you to know everything's forgiven...and you can let go now. Seriously."

Arashi swept his hands behind Nara, and pulled her to his chest. He wrapped her up in a strong hug and closed his eyes, and she squealed in surprise. He took a deep breath and spoke again, his words coming out like verbal happiness, full of confidence and authority. "I love you, Uzumaki Narashima...and nothing you do or say is going to change that."

Nara felt a warm smile cross her face as she buried her head in his chest and melted in his strong arms. Warm tears flooded her eyes, and she closed them and remembered his words...

"The reason I stick around...is because I see the opportunity to return the favor."

"I love you too, Arashi-kun. Thank you..." Nara couldn't shake the similarities between now and their first in-person meeting...lots of crying and emotion governed both occassions. Not only that, but something about this felt to her...like she was only now really seeing Arashi for the whole of his being. It was like knowing a person only through their words, and not their actions...much as he knew her back then. Nara wrapped her arms around his back and squeezed tightly. Their warm, heart-felt embrace lingered on for a minute or so.

Nara stifled a chuckle as she considered her own doubts from before that first meeting--as well as her doubts from now. Both times she'd abandoned him...it wasn't because of her jealousy. While she was a bit jealous of his abilities, she would never have ditched him for that. No...Nara realized now it was because she felt inferior. It was because she suspected he'd surpassed her enough to no longer need her. Well, somewhere in the middle, without even noticing it, she'd lost some of her self-confidence, and he'd stepped up to help her like it were a natural part of his character. Unexpectedly, she began to need him. And she was ever so grateful for the fact that he'd noticed before she had...

They'd never been this close to each other before, and Nara suddenly realized just how much taller than her Arashi was...larger in general, in fact. He'd really grown over the last few years...he was probably 6 feet tall...a good 4 inches over her, maybe more. Nara pulled back from the hug for a moment and looked into his eyes. It was like looking into the eyes of an older brother...honest and true, heartfelt love shined in his green eyes like jewelry on a girl's neck. Nara suddenly felt overwhelmed with gratitude, and she got up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

Arashi's cheeks reddened and he opened his eyes in surprise. "What was that for?" Even as he said it, his smile broadened.

Nara smiled and looked directly into his eyes, her blue eyes shining with love as well. "For being you. That's all." Kami, she could feel herself blushing...

Arashi felt his cheeks start to turn deep red too, and chuckled, unwilling to turn away just yet. A moment of contented silence passed between the two of them before Arashi reluctantly turned back towards the city and sighed. "I suppose I should get back to the paperwork now..."

Nara moaned. "Awwww...I didn't think you'd go back there now..."

Arashi turned and looked at her funnily, raising an eyebrow. "And what exactly did you think I'd do? This is my job, after all..." He turned back towards the city.

Nara chuckled and walked up to him, wrapping a playful hand around his waist and lightly tickling his abs. He tensed up a bit, and she chuckled. Still ticklish, I see...some things never change. "It's already 4 in the evening...I figured you'd want to spend the rest of your day with your old friend...catch up on old times...and new ones."

Arashi turned and looked at her with a smirk, holding in his laughter. His entire expression had Don't think I won't tickle you back written all over it. "That would mean double the work tomorrow..."

Nara stuck her tongue out and poked his bellybutton with her index finger, daring him to tickle her back. She became well aware of the fact that there was little to no give in his six-pack. "You old man...it'd also mean double the pleasure today."

Arashi held in laughter and opened his mouth to respond, then paused thoughtfully. She sure is having fun playing with my abs today...Arashi turned to her, his emerald eyes curious and probing, his smile electric. Between chuckles, he pronounced, "Nara-chan, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were flirting with me."

Nara raised an eyebrow in surprise, and then playfully clowned him, trying not to give away her evil (and childish) plot by her expression. "Gee Arashi, you can tickle me back...but don't make me--" She cut her words short and pounced, tickling him in earnest with all her fingers. "LAUGH!"

"A--aa! Stop it!" Arashi collapsed onto his side, and she quickly pinned him down, making him squirm beneath her quick fingers.

"Is it flirting to welcome your best friend back by tickling him?"

Suddenly, Nara's hands froze, and Arashi took a deep breath in, laughing. A part of Nara's brain that apparently hadn't been working switched on, and her face struggled to hide its panicked declarations. Wait a minute...yeah it is! He's right! I AM flirting with him!

End Notes

Okay so I lied...I said I wouldn't write any more until the weekend, but when I'm on a roll it's really hard to stop...well anyway, I need to get to homework so these notes will be short. As much fun as I have writing these two characters, I wish this one could keep going forever...but it's nearing its conclusion and I've only got 2 or 3 more chapters before the end. The next one's in tandem with this fic's running mate, Strength of a Nation. SoaN will cover the day from Arashi's POV, while this fic will cover Nara's. As such, I'll probably work to get them both out the same night. Which means it could be a while until I get those done.

I actually had to go back and toy with this one a bit (and may yet again)because my first independent read thought Nara and Arashi were actually going to hook up right there in the tree, when really what I wanted was for them to be friends again like old times. As a result, there's a small possibility that it's disjointed and I didn't notice...but for some reason I doubt it. It's hard to catch stuff like that when you know what it's supposed to sound like, though.

I've normally been one that encourages people to review and replies well, but I've never flat out demanded it or anything, other than the first chapter of SoaN (which was the first thing I put on the site).This time, I have to make a huge request. If you've got an opinion on this story in general, or this chapter, and you're still reading, PLEASE review! I've written a lot of stories, but I've fearfully avoided anything that involved developing a love interest. I want to know if I'm doing this love thing any justice! And someday, I hope to be a professional writer, so I'm quite curious as to my progress. PLEASE let me know what you think.

In review, PLEASE REVIEW!