ANGEL IN MY EYES
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Disclaimer: I have never, and will never, own Naruto.
Summary: When Sasuke killed Naruto, Naruto expected to go visit the angels in heaven. He never knew that sometimes the thing you most desire is often found if you just open your eyes...and unlock your heart. Everyone thinks Naruto died. And when the sound attacks a weakened Konoha, a ghost from the past will show them that life will go on, and angels do exist.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZKitsune-fox
Gaki-kid
Oro-huh
Nani-what
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Chapter 2: A Chance of Freedom
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When Naruto woke up, the first thing he noticed was...'Kyuubi, I don't think we're in Konoha anymore.'[1] The events of the day before came back and he couldn't help but feel depressed.
Sasuke's betrayal. Shikamaru's team. His promise to Sakura...
'I failed.'
He then realized something. Didn't Sasuke kill him?
Naruto reached up cautiously to his left shoulder. He noticed that his orange coat was draped over his chest. He touched the area above his heart and hissed in pain when felt raw skin where the gapping hole had once been. Luckily, most of his other injuries had healed.
-Quiet boy.-
Naruto whipped his head to the side as he heard the calm, deep voice. Bad move, now he had a headache. He reopened his eyes as saw the greyish-white wolf, Mingan, placing a wet facecloth on top of the blonde female, Salira's, forehead.
"What..." Naruto coughed, clearing his dry throat. "What happened?"
-Rebirth-
Naruto was shocked. He had never seen Mingan move his mouth, but he was sure that the voice was coming from him.
-Telepathy- Mingan said simply. –You've opened your heart during your sleep. You we're searching for an animal spirit, were you not?-
"Kyuubi!" Naruto exclaimed as he sat up quickly, ignoring the pain and waves of nausea, and searched his stomach for the kitsune's seal.
It was gone.
The fact hit him like a ton of bricks, and he suddenly felt alone in the world.
-Unh.- A voice groaned. –You're too loud gaki.-
Naruto spun his head around a noticed the small orange fox that Salira was carrying earlier stretching and yawning. The small fox opened its slitted blue eyes and uncurled its nine tails.
"Kyuubi?" Naruto asked uncertainly.
-A baka as usual.-
"But...how...I...you..." Naruto stuttered.
Mingan walked over and gently pushed the confused blonde back to the leaf bed using his snout.
-I said 'rebirth'.- Mingan replied softly before turning to look at the female sleeping nearby. –Salira comes from a long line of healers known as the Uriel Clan or the Angels of Light as some like to call them. They're known to be able to heal most injuries, and Salira is one of the few gifted with the ability to revive the dead. But, as you can see, it takes a large toll on her mind and body. She won't be waking up for another couple of days, at least.- Mingan returned his gaze to the blonde and the Kitsune. –And you. You should get some more rest. Most people don't wake up for 3 weeks after being revived, but with your injuries it should have been 4.-
'How long have we been sleeping?' Naruto thought.
-2 weeks.- Mingan said and chuckled as he say the blonde's shocked expression. –Telepathy, remember? Now sleep. That means you as well Kyuubi.-
Naruto chuckled silently as he heard the kitsune's grumbling before sleep claimed him once again.
QQQQ
When Naruto woke up next, he opened his eyes and saw that Salira and Mingan were sitting by a pot being cooked over a small fire, Kyuubi resting on Salira's shoulder staring at the stew in the pot and licking her snout eagerly.
"Ohayo." Salira greeted looking over her shoulder at the recently revived blonde. She scooped some soup into four bowl made of hardened mud. She laid a bowl in front of Kyuubi and another in front of Mingan before picking up the other two bowls and carrying them to Naruto.
She kneeled in front of the blonde and helped him to sit up and turn, so that he was leaning against the tree next to him. She then handed him a bowl before sitting down and eating her own.
Naruto muttered a 'thanks' and started to slowly eat his soup, wincing every few minutes when he had to use his sore and stiff shoulder.
"It'll take a while until you can move your shoulder properly." Salira said softly after watching the blonde wince while moving his shoulder. "Your body has to get used to the new muscles that are there."
Naruto nodded slowly.
"I never did get your name." Salira said laughing lightly. "Unless you want me to call you 'gaki' like Kyu-chan."
Kyuubi twitched slightly at the nickname.
"Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto." The blonde boy said softly, expecting the instant hate.
"Spiral Whirlpool." Salira said thoughtfully, trying to remember where she heard the name, 'Uzumaki', from. "That's a strong name." She then smiled. "Perfect for a strong person."
Naruto pumped his good arm into the air, smiling. "OF COURSE! BECAUSE UZUMAKI NARUTO IS GOING TO BE THE FUTURE HOKAGE!" His smile slowly disappeared and his arm slowly sank. "But...that was before I died."
"So?"
Naruto whipped his head to the blonde angel next to him.
After seeing Naruto's confused look, Salira stared at the sky and continued. "Why should death change your dreams? You're alive, are you not? Just because you died and everyone THINKS you're dead, doesn't give you any reason to give up. Kyu-chan told me that you're nindo was 'Never back down or go back on your words'. So why give up now? A man is nothing with out his dreams and beliefs." Salira returned her gaze the blonde a big smile on her face. "Besides! This just gives you another reason to surprise them and prove that Uzumaki Naruto is no quitter." Naruto's eyes started tearing up in happiness. "I believe that you can gain the title, you have the heart and spirit for it."
Naruto threw himself at the blonde and hugged her tightly. Crying tears of happiness. "Thank-you." He said softly.
"For what?"
"For believing in me." Naruto said looking up and giving Salira a big fox-grin. "You're the second one to say that."
Salira looked shocked, but it quickly softened. "Anytime." And she returned the hug. "Come on, your soup's getting cold." Salira said after a few minutes.
Naruto finished his soup and the two blondes return to the fire after Naruto puts on his coat.
Kyuubi crawled up onto Naruto's shoulder –Good to see you up and well, gaki.-
"Kyu-Kyuubi?" Naruto asked shocked.
-No, I'm just an under-grown cat...OF COURSE I'M KYUUBI!- The fox replied.
"But...you're so...small?" Naruto observed.
True, Kyuubi could easily fit in Naruto's two hands. Not including her nine tails.
"I can answer that one." Salira interrupted, staring at the amusedly at the bickering pair. "Kyu-chan," The kitsune twitched. "Didn't have a body to revive or return to, so I just put her into a body of a kitling, but she still has her chakra and powers."
Boy and fox nodded their heads slowly.
-So then, how old is wolffy?- Kyuubi asked innocently.
"Same age as Naruto and me: 13." Salira answered. "The Uriel clan usually is bonded to an animal spirit near birth."
"So Mingan is and animal spirit?"
"Yup." Salira smiled. "He has chakra and a few powers, but other than that he's like a normal, timber wolf, except more bigger, more powerful, and MUCH more cuddly."
Naruto and Kyuubi just nodded dumbly.
Naruto noticed something, or lack of something.
"Where's you hitai-ate?" Naruto inquired.
"Don't have one." Salira replied simply. "I don't belong to a ninja village. The only village that I belong to is my Clan's, but for the past 6 years I've been just wandering about."
"Then how'd you survive out here if you didn't have ninja training?" Naruto exploded.
"I have Mingan, Shiva, and Morio. I know how to defend myself. I just don't have much knowledge on ninja villages and attacks. Never needed them. I have all I need with my healing abilities." Salira shrugged.
"Who are Shiva and Morio?" Naruto asked scratching the back of his head.
Salira pointed to a tree nearby that Naruto never noticed before. Leaning against the tree was a giant boomerang, as tall as Naruto. It was tan in colour with a piece of hard, sharp metal along the inside of the boomerang. At the middle point was a silver triangle. In the middle was a point that extended into swirls at each corner, and two swirls on each side outside of the triangle.
Next to the boomerang was a short sword. The scabbard was dark green with intricate leaf designs on it, while the hilt was navy blue with a turquoise gem at the bottom that resemble the one in Salira's bellybutton.
"The boomerang is Shiva and the sword is Morio." Salira explained.
Naruto nodded in understanding.
Salira sighed. "I don't like killing people." She confessed. "So I usually disable them while Mingan finishes them off. But if I have to then I usually use the boomerang. That's why it's called Shiva. It has the ability to act as a shield to protect a life, and has the blade to take it." Salira shrugged. "And Morio...Morio's special. It was made of mostly forest elements. I know a person that is able to make most weapons from natural substances. The sheath is made of tightly woven vines that she made as hard as lead, but as light as a feather, and the hilt is made of wood from an oak tree. So I gave it a name that means 'forest boy' because it was made from the forest." Salira laughed. "Sorry, I'm probably boring you."
Naruto shook his head. "Not at all. I find it interesting."
Salira grinned. "I'm glad." She then walked towards Naruto. "Here, let me re-bandage your shoulder.
Naruto looked at his shoulder. He never even realized that it was wrapped in bandages. He watched as she ttok off his jacket and unwrapped the bandages gently, her fingers soft examining the smooth skin underneath.
"I don't believe it." Salira exclaimed softly. "The wound's completely gone. It would usually take 3-4 weeks after a person wakes up for the wound to be completely gone." Salira looked Naruto in the eye and smiled. "I knew you were special. You're destined for great things."
"Was that why you saved me?" Naruto asked sadly.
"Among other reasons." Salira replied vaguely. She started massaging his shoulder, trying to get the muscles loosened up. "When I travel, I usually let the wind and stars guide me and I think that the winds of fate led me to you. On thing that my sensei taught me was 'never turn you back on the winds of fate, or you will never know where the currents may take you.' I live by that saying." Salira smiled. "And that saying led me to you.
"Also," Salira continued sadly. "I was tired of travelling alone. Sure I got Mingan, but sometimes you just need human company, ne? Completely selfish, I know, but, there's something familiar about you, I just can't place my finger on it. Maybe we've met long ago, or in a different life." Salira laughed. "You're probably tired of hearing me babble on and on. So why don't you tell me a bit about yourself. What ever you're comfortable with. And don't worry, Kyu-chan already told me about your special bond with her."
"You knew?" Naruto asked confused.
"Oro?"
"You knew about having me being a demon, and you still accept me?"
"WO! WO! WO! What's this about being a demon? YOU are no demon! KYU-CHAN is no demon! Kyu-chan is an animal spirit! Demons are born from hell! Kyuubi was trying to find her kitling that ran away and came across the Hidden Leaf that THOUGHT she was a demon and attacked her." Salira explained roughly before her face softened. "And why wouldn't I accept you. You're nice, kind, strong, and have a big heart." Salira smiled.
"Thank-you."
"Oro?"
"For saving and accepting me. Not many people my age have."
Salira laughed.
"NANI?"
"I should be the one thanking you."
"Oro?"
"You're the first person my age that I've been able to talk to." Salira smiled.
"I guess we both have a lot to be thankful for, huh?"
"Yeah, we've both been lonely for so long. All we needed was some human contact." Salira finished massaging Naruto's back and went to a bed of leaves nearby. "We should get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us, that is, if you and Kyu-chan would like to join us."
Naruto gave his biggest fox grin.
"Do you even have to ask?"
Laughter filled the campsite as the fire was put out and everyone went to sleep, never knowing of the path that had been laid at their feet, and their destiny that lay just beyond the horizon.
TBC
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What do you think? Should I continue? Read and Review please.
I HAVE A PICTURE OF SALIRA IF ANYONE WANTS TO SEE IT! Give me your email address and I'll send it to you.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
[1]-From the Movie 'Wizard of Oz', Dorothy says "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
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!!16 REVIEWS!! (faints) I don't think I've ever had so many for the first chapter.
clicke-hope you enjoyed the picky.
LostDesertWolf-what are you confused about and I'll see if I can clarify it.
Reader-I wouldn't normally care if someone says that the fic is a Mary-Sue. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST CHAPTER!! WHAT? And I mean what do you know about Salira? If you don't like my ficcy or my characters then DON'T read my story! I'm not forcing you to do anything.
One thing that REALLY pisses me off is when people tell me my characters are Mary-Sues or Larry-Stues, but they don't tell me why they think that. So please:If you want to criticize my story don't just say it sucks. Tell me why is sucks. That's all I'm asking.
Arekuruu-inabikari-no-She- I hope this helps a bit. Probably doesn't...BUT THAT'S OKAY.
Keri2004-I gave you a piccy right. (sigh) I can't remember. If I did-I hope you enjoyed it. If I didn't-let me know and I'll send you one.
Thanks for the support!
Kitsune-Kyuubi-LOL Glad you like it!
Zorlac-I don't have a website to place the piccy on so if you want the picture can you give me your email address and I'll e-mail it to you. Sorry 'bout that.
Yum- I'm glad you find it yummy...I mean original. ENJOY!
bLack- I know what you mean. I read it while I was half way through typing this chapter, OH WELL! What can ya do? Lets just say it starts at the end of Manga 227 and the beginning of 228, where Naruto...gets...stabbed. (SOBS oceans of tears) AHEM (cough) sorry 'bout that.
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I KNOW I should be working on Rurouni Shinobi and My Very Best Friend, but...this just popped into my head...stupid brain.
Anyways, tell me how you like it.
PHEOX