A Decision

The once bustling Jingshen stood in a stagnant silence. Where there was once the cheer of the villagers and delectable scent of food there was now a stifling emptiness in combination to a stale wind.

Noon was growing nearer, and yet Naruto lacked the energy or the motivation to do anything. Since the incident, Naruto had slumped on a familiar set of swings he had enjoyed since his toddler years. A nostalgic smile formed on his lips as he recalled how much fun he had with the villagers as they showed off different swinging tricks with and without airbending. Those were great times. Listless blue eyes swept over the playground and his momentarily cheer faded away. The quietness was a beast that ripped at his very heart. Jingshen never felt so unlike home before.

He couldn't even dredge the will to rage against the unfairness of it all. Only hurt remained. For the hundredth time that day, his mind replayed the moment that he realized how utterly alone he was. Naruto had stood helplessly as the only life he had ever known faded into the cool night. Was this to be his life now?

The rumbling of his stomach interrupted the storm raging in his heart. He hadn't had a bite to eat since last night, but he wasn't in the mood for food. Now didn't seem the time to worry about something so minor. Hunger was the least of his problems. Instead, he lingered there in a stubborn moroseness.

His thoughts floated to Yangchen. He wondered what she was doing now. Was she worried about him or had she moved on? What would she think of him now? Naruto didn't have to think too hard on that last question. She would've been saddened by his attitude. Throughout his mentorship she had always emphasized the need of one to take care of oneself, be it physical or spiritual.

Guilt swirled within him until he could take it no more, "Fine. I'll eat something."

And so Naruto dragged his heavy feet through the village to rummage. He didn't have to look very hard. Each shop had stored away the longer lasting foodstuff and prepared the perishable items. It made for a lonely banquet that he could barely stomach.

Delicious smells lingered in the air but were stale to his nose. Even ramen failed to better his mood. Without the warm smile of the chef or the teasing chuckles of servers, ramen was just noodles in soup. His downtrodden eyes stared back at him from the broth. Naruto turned away.

When he finished his meal, he had no further distractions. He couldn't stomach a second bowl.

Without the clattering of his bowl and utensils, the silence returned. It was a poison seeping into his bones now. The village was duller and worn compared to yesterday. It was unrecognizable, but then again, so was he. Master Yangchen would never believe that the lackluster kid was the same one that she had mentored for years. The Naruto of yesterday would've loudly proclaimed how he would overcome this problem.

There was something almost menacing about the silence within the village. It made the place feel less like a home and more a prison with a sole inmate. As Naruto walked, he could hear a haunting song of animal cries from the forest. He was sure that the beasts could sense the unease and emptiness. They probably watched with growing appetites. Naruto shivered at the possibility.

It was funny how perspective could warp even memories. He tried his hardest to not think about the fact that he hadn't known a living person for years. Even with that truth revealed, he would give anything to be with them now. If he could go back to last night, he would've done everything in his power to follow them regardless to the dangers to his physical self. Nothing could be worse than the hollow isolation that flooded his spirit now.

In time, Naruto reached an entry point of the Over Brush. With a poor showing of bending that the masters would shake their heads at, he reached the upper levels, though he nearly slipped from the edges. Leaves had already piled over the path with no one traversing them. His heavy steps rang painfully loud in his ears. Disliking the sound, he picked up the pace, hoping to leave the sounds behind.

When Naruto reached his door, he just stood and stewed in the quietude. There was no energy in him to even bother. What was the point? His room would be just like everywhere else in this miserable place, empty.

The soft ring of wind chimes caught his attention. A door stood ajar a couple of doors away from him. It was the door to Jiraiya's room. For all the years he had known the man, Naruto had never seen even a peek into his room. A muted curiosity pushed him to enter.

Jiraiya's room was messier than his room ever got, though that was mostly because of Master Yangchen's chiding when it got past a certain point. The room smelled strongly of ink and aged paper. Hand drawn portraits fitted on stands occupied the center of the room. It was a marvel to see such fine skills, though the variety of subjects was small. Each portrait was of a beautiful woman in different situations and different smiles. Naruto was not a purveyor of art, but even he could appreciate the time and effort put into the works. There was not a stroke out of line or an expression that didn't pop out.

Naruto was most affected by the painting of Master Yangchen with her scolding but serene smile. The masterful work done made it feel as though she would place a comforting hand on his shoulder. It was nothing less than awe-inspiring.

The walls of the room were covered with maps and even more maps. On closer inspection, the maps were of the separate nations, with the maps growing progressively detailed. It was almost a timeline told by the maps themselves. Villages and cities expanded or disappeared, even some landmasses were added or removed. What stories these maps could tell if only they spoke.

What caught his eye was the largest map in the room. Unlike the others, this map was of the entire world, each of the separate nations there. Jiraiya's shorthand littered the scroll with annotations that pointed to lost regions and interesting trivia.

Without conscious thought, Naruto traced his hand over the scroll, feeling the rough surface and slight elevations caused by illustrations. His fingers lingered over the different air temples that he had heard so much about since his youth.

Now he realized the world was large. There was so much more to it than his little piece of home. Perhaps his loved ones were gone, but there was still a world of people for him to know. An unexpected excitement bubbled and exploded inside him. And a full grin settled on his lips. Yes, he knew what he would do now. Adventure awaited him.

Naruto spent the next hours packing away as much as he could. Most of the modern maps, alongside the giant one, were the first things he packed. In a feverish pitch of energy and anxiety, he stuffed his clothes, gear, and food. One would understandably mistake his packing for a large party, but he continued to pack more and more.

His appetite grew alongside his anticipation. The food he had left to cool was devoured and he could hardly fathom leaving so much ramen go to waste. A new energy lifted the dour fog over the now empty village and it felt like a festival for one.

Gusts of wind blew back and forth as he clamored to get as many items as he feared he needed. The last thing he desired was to fly all the way back here for some minor item he had forgotten. Carrying a lopsided pile of luggage, Naruto made his way to the bison field. The bison eyed him with an amused curiosity. They wondered what the tiny human was up to today.

Naruto stopped in front of the grazing Chomei, "Hey buddy. Guess what, we're going on an adventure. It'll be you, me, and the open airs. We'll see the world! What do you say? Are you with me?"

Chomei yawned.

"Great!" he said, deciding to take that as her approval. He set up the saddle and tied the luggage to her before leaping on.

"Yip yip," he cheered.

Chomei rose to the sky.