"I'm gonna kill him."
"No, we're going to be reasonable about this, like the grown adults that we are Naruto."
"He's fucking dead."
"You idiot! Are you even paying attention to me?"
"If I catch him at the stand it's over!"
"He's the Hokage Naruto, and our sensei at that. You know, our dearly beloved sensei?"
He couldn't even register the words coming out of his teammate's mouth without ravenous thoughts eating away at his brain, telling him to beat his sensei to a pulp.
How could Kakashi do something like this? It was truly unbelievable, leaving a distasteful feeling in his mouth. The thought of his sensei even doing something as foul as this was repugnant to the Uzumaki. It left a bitter feeling inside of him, and he wasn't going to let Kakashi get away with this.
"Naruto you need to calm down," he hears Sakura call out from behind, "and slow down while you're at it! We just got back from a mission, we're debriefing together remember?"
They were almost at the Hokage tower- which was good- after hearing what he just heard, there was no time to waste anymore.
He thinks he's hot shit now that he's the Hokage huh?
His blood was boiling to a point that would put white-hot lava to shame, his head empty of any rational thoughts. He's ready to explode.
It's been what- a year now, going on two?! This is abuse of power for fucks sake!
If nobody else was going to speak up-he will. He always had before, and he will gladly do it again.
He was walking incredibly fast, long strides easily closing the small-scale distance between him and the Hokage tower. He can hear Sakura cursing him out, no doubt scolding him for his hardheadedness. And yet, in this present moment he didn't care. Justice needed to be served to the people of the hidden leaf village, and he will be the one to deliver it.
He was in front of the Hokage doors in an instant, barging in with full force, disrupting the tranquil atmosphere of the office. Sitting at his desk, Kakashi looks up from his book with a unfazed look in his eyes.
For some reason this enrages Naruto even more, the trademark carefree expression on his face begging to be smacked.
Behind him, he can hear the approaching footsteps of his teammate.
"Ah, Naruto. I take it that your mission went well?"
He just knows there's a smirk hidden underneath that damn mask, a smirk that won't be there for long. It's almost as if Kakashi knew that he would react like this, as if he were waiting on his arrival with complacency.
Naruto decides against yelling at him, and resolves his anger by trying to converse with his sensei as formally as he can.
"You think you can get away with this huh?"
Kakashi raises a brow at his question, giving him a pointed look. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Anyway, you just arrived from your mission, and I would like to hear a report before anything else."
"Naruto!" Sakura growls beneath her breath beside him. "You need to calm down. It's never that serious."
Tch, nEveR thAt seRioUs.
The severity of this situation was equivalent to that of an A-rank mission. The intolerable fact of them dismissing this issue as if it meant nothing was enough to make Naruto livid. He felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode. Whatever composure he had left was deteriorating at a fast rate, and he was trying very hard. So, so hard to keep the nuclear reaction inside of him from engulfing his physical form. But from the looks of it, the raging emotions inside of him were winning.
Kakashi sighs, no doubt feeling the heat radiating from his chakra. He probably knows that Naruto wouldn't comply with him until he received his answer. Closing his book, the former ninja props his elbow on the desk, face in his palm. "Go ahead, Naruto" he prods with an even tone.
And that was all he needed to hear.
"What was going through your head, huh?! Denying the proposal of having a National Ramen Day? Do you not care about my feelings anymore, Kakashi-sensei? Because apparently you don't. You just don't care about me in general y'know! You claim to improve the stability of Konoha and yet you turn around and do this? You do realize the consequences of your actions, right?!"
Silence perpetuates the room.
"Right?!" he says even louder, unsure if his wrath was heard.
"Naruto, I assure you that everything will be okay-"
"This can't be good for the economy!"
Kakashi gives him a blank stare, tapping his fingers patiently against his temple.
Beside him, he can hear Sakura sighing in defeat, knowing her words will not have any affect on him in his current state. "This is ridiculous. Kakashi-sensei, I can report on my half and Naruto's, if you'd like" she emphasizes his name with irritation.
"Wait Sakura-chan, I-"
"I would appreciate it, Sakura, thank you. And as for you" he turns to Naruto, "Maybe go outside for a bit, and take a breather. It seems like you need it."
He couldn't be serious right now. Telling him to go outside? To take a breather? As if he wasn't outside the entire time that he and Sakura were out on their mission.
"Look Naruto, we can talk later about this later at a more appropriate time, when you're ready."
"But this is an appropriate time!" he shouts.
"I said when you're ready. Judging by your tone, I think it's safe to assume that we talk about this later." Kakashi leans forward on his desk,
It was unbelievable. Kakashi sends him out on some pointless mission, only to have him return with the worst news of his life on his birthday weeknd.
Sakura puts a hand on his soldier, a soft expression on her face. "It's okay Naruto. It's obvious that this...problem has taken an impact on your mood. Just go home, I'll take it from here."
Sighing, he makes his way towards the door. Yeah, he probably looks immature right now. The future Hokage shouldn't start unnecessary arguments. But then again, was this really unnecessary? He could picture it now, Konoha having its very own holiday dedicated to ramen. And it was taken away by stupid Kakashi!
He drags himself out of the Hokage tower, and to make things worse, the cool air felt bitter against his face, making him feel uncomfortable. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he starts the path home, lost in his thoughts.
The harsh winds of October blow in his direction, making his neck feel cold, his body turning rigid.
He should probably invest in a scarf.
Sighing, he tries to shrug off his restlessness. No matter how hard he tries, his mind stays glued to the fact that Kakahsi denied such a proposal.
Look brat, it's never that serious. Why are you so worked up?
I'm not worked up.
Suuure, let's ignore the part where you screamed at the two other brats for five minutes straight.
I wasn't screaming y'know!
This must be your hormones taking a toll on your behavior. Your mother went through the same thing once a month for about a week, and so did my previous captor. Hm, I wonder…
What the hell are you even talking about fox!? What are you…
Just what was Kurama getting at? Why bring up his mother? Why did he even bring this up?
His mother...and the previous captor…?
...once a month…
...about a week long…
...hormones?
And then it clicked.
Dammit Kurama!
He can hear the fox's snickering fading in the background to the depths of his mind, and he feels even more frustrated than before. What a major blow to his fragile ego.
Though as he continues walking, he finds the corners of his mouth unwittingly lifting into that of a smile. He imagines that he looks like a doofus to the passing citizens around him, but he had to admit to himself, that was kinda funny. Funny enough to crack a smile out of him.
He can't stay mad forever.
Shuffling through the streets, he takes in his surroundings.
The new, modern buildings of Konoha reached tall towards the sky, towering over the traditional buildings that were newly built from Pain's invasion. The sky, turning from a light blue to a blazing orange, was telling the sun that her time has come.
So the sun begins to set, taking her warmth with her.
And now, its really fucking cold.
To get his mind off of lingering thoughts, he quietly observes what's around him.
Everyday life, everyday people. Society was really something. As baffling as it was, one can only move forward- not back, in this insignificant fragment of an infinite timeline.
Life goes on.
His life will go on.
And as much as he wants to focus on himself, he can't help but to think of the people around him.
People were...everywhere, tending to their own business. They don't even shun him like they used to. Not anymore. Ever since he proved himself of being a worthy shinobi, the entire village respected him. Just like that, in the blink of an eye. As if kicking some random villain's ass was a necessary requirement to be accepted by the village.
Not that Nagato was a villain...or some random guy, but that's beside the point.
The village left him in the dark for so long, maybe sixteen years or so.
He was an outcast, and he was lonely.
A monster to the Hidden Leaf.
Then all of sudden, like a light switch, he was exposed to the bright side of the village, after being left in the dark for so long.
It was so confusing. He acted the same as before. Did the same stupid shit as always, and yet they deemed him acceptable after an event that merely costed his life. Unlike others, he had to earn people's respect.
Naruto doesn't particularly like dwelling on this matter, because deep down, there is a small part of him that feels resentment. He hates this feeling because it reflects a part of him that showed his flaws, exposing his vulnerability.
He got rid of the hate that was buried deep inside him, but negative feelings will always remain, even if it wasn't as strong as hate.
But hell, he thinks he has every right to feel this way. He didn't like feeling this way, but he couldn't help it. The same people who are inviting him in their stores and giving him such thoughtful presents were the same ones who watched him starve as a child, scolding him for being a burden to the village, spewing unnecessary hate.
He was only a child. An orphaned child at that.
He never deserved any of the horrible things that he's endured. But apparently he did.
And that shit hurt.
To think that such people would have a change of heart so quickly...
He shakes his head, steering himself away from negative thoughts and emotions. This is not who he is, he needs to stay positive. He's a forgiving person. That's just who he is, and he reminds himself daily that he has forgiven everyone, no matter what they've done to him in the past.
He doesn't hold grudges, that's just not his style.
Forgive, but never forget.
Naruto, you need to direct your thoughts-
"Naruto-senpai!"
Fuck.
Heh. Nevermind.
Just his luck. He turns his head towards the incoming crowd in his direction, the sound of multiple high-pitched voices overpowering his ear drums.
Why do they always appear in crowds?
Should he make shadow clones? He doesn't feel like putting in the effort. So he just stands there and lets the approaching crowd gather around him, and they're so close to him. One girl is tugging at his bandaged arm, with another one tugging his left.
"Naruto-senpai, how are you?"
"I missed you, Naruto-senpai!"
"Are you up for some ramen?"
The same repeated nonsense as always.
Okay...maybe it wasn't exactly nonsense. However, hearing the same thing over and over again from girls you don't even recognize can turn into nonsense.
It goes into one ear and flows out the other.
And he stands there, taking in everything at once. When he does respond, he has to be careful of what he says. If he says even the most jovial things, it would be taken out of context.
The girls are huddled around him, squealing and being overly enthusiastic, touching and feeling him, professing their undying love for him.
So he stands there, letting the girls talk him into an oblivion like he occasionally does. He can't avoid them forever, and it's not like he can be mean to them either.
He thinks there is no escape route.
Until he sees her.
Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe it was fate. It was an odd occurrence lately, always catching her at the most random times. But he doesn't mind.
In the crowd of people he spots midnight blue hair, a rare color only belonging to her.
Her lavender uniform creates a stark contrast amongst the sea of civilian clothing. And she has a banquet of flowers in her hand.
It's like spotting a rose in a field of daisies.
And Gods, was he thankful to see her. He makes a break for it, gently forcing his way through the herd of girls. He feels their hands slip from his biceps. The soft whines and confused questions lingering behind as slithers his way through shuffling civilians.
"Hinata!" he watches Hinata flinch at the sound of his voice, slowly turning around. He can still feel the fangirls presence following him, trying to catch up.
He quickly walks up to her, happy to see her face. "Help me."
She looks at him, a confused look morphing her soft features. Naruto tilts his head, gesturing to the swarm of girls that flooded the streets because of him, heading their way.
"I'm sorry for using you like this, but uh...maybe if they see me talking to another girl, they would leave me alone?"
It could've been his imagination, but he thinks her demeanor dimmed a little bit when he told her he was using her. And he hopes she doesn't take it the wrong way. He's actually happy to see her.
Hinata looks behind him warily and turns back to him. "Okay, Naruto-kun. I'm headed back towards the compound, if that's alright with you..." Her voice sounds ever so soft in his ears.
"Yeah! Let's go!"
As they start walking, he puts his hand on the low of her back, guiding her through the busy streets of Konoha. He turns his head back slightly to see some of the girls halting in their tracks, a stained look on their faces from the gesture he had made. He mentally praises himself- that should keep them away- at least for now.
Content with his small victory, he looks back at Hinata to see if she's okay, and sure enough, she's flushed. Maybe he shouldn't have done that, putting his hand on her back...he reflects that maybe...it was inappropriate, and he should probably move it.
But then again-
She usually acts like this around him, so what does it really matter?
All of these actions, from Hinata and Hinata only, were reserved just for him.
He used to be confused by her antics; the way she would sometimes faint around him when they were younger, or how she would become a stuttering mess when she would speak to him.
She used to be painfully shy around him, but slowly, she opened up to him.
And now that they were close, she still acts the same...the fainting part being an exception.
He thought that she acted this way towards everyone, that she had finally grown out of these weird little actions, however he later learned that this wasn't the case.
He saw the way she interacted with other people. She talked with others with such ease. He saw the way she mingles with people who are close to her- team eight, Sakura and Ino, their senseis, and her clan. Hell, she was even casual with new people.
Almost as if she was a carefree individual...so what makes him the exception?
As they advance throughout the village, he keeps his hand on her back, just to see if she will say anything. He also peeks at her every now and then, just to see if she'll notice and deflect, like she usually does.
It was confusing, catching her gaze just to lose it again. Like she purposely wants to avoid him. But that couldn't be it, if she makes an effort to actually speak to him.
A composed posture and eloquent speech is how she presents herself to other people. Something akin to that of a princess.
And yet...it's like she malfunctions whenever he's in her proximity. The small invisible tiara that's on top of her head is toppling with each sentence she speaks to him, threatening to fall and expose her true stumbling self.
Such peculiar actions...reserved for only him. Naruto Uzumaki.
Yeah, she's definitely a little weird. But then again...he kinda likes it. Though only a little.
Fine, maybe a lot-tle.
And when he does small gestures like this here and there, teasing her slightly to the best of his abilities, it incites a reaction out of her that makes his insides feel hollow.
He likes the fact that he alone can break her character,
Her articulate speech becoming a sputtering mess
How she becomes flustered underneath his gaze,
The way her face turns a flushed red when he compliments her,
Soft, faint blushes that captivate her cheeks.
Or that cute little pointy thing she does with her fingers, even though she doesn't do it anymore.
He soon figured out that he finds amusement in teasing her.
It was all for him, only him. And he feels special because of it.
Yeah, he sounds like a greedy bitch, but he doesn't give a fuck.
Who else gets this special treatment? Literally no one, and most likely it'll stay that way. He doesn't particularly know why she acts this way around him only, but he's not complaining.
He never did, and he never will.
Such special attention has always been directed towards-
"Um...Naruto-kun?"
He snaps out of his thoughts from hearing her voice. He notices that his hand is still on her back, but only this time it's dangerously close to her rear.
Quickly, he retracts his hand, scolding himself for almost touching her ass. Nervously scratching his neck, he apologizes.
"It's okay," she smiles, averting her gaze to the ground.
"Sooo um, what you got there?" he redirects the conversation.
"Oh! These are flowers for Neji's grave."
Right. The two year anniversary of the end of the war. Which also happens to be the date of his birthday.
Something pinches in his heart at the mention of Neji's name, and he's unsure about the sudden uneasiness. Was it because he died on his birthday?
Because there were so many important people who died...on his birthday.
He shakes his head, dispersing any lingering presumptions. Negative thoughts will only kill his mood, so he branches off on the topic of flowers.
"Ah, sunflowers...no white flowers this time?"
"Do you mean white lilies?"
"Oh that's what they're called," he says thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "Well then, yeah. Those."
"Every now and then I like to switch it up" she smiles, gazing at the flowers in her hands. "Maybe one day I'll buy them both-the sunflowers and white lilies together. Hopefully it won't look tacky."
"Tacky?"
"The color scheme will be off."
"Yeah but white goes with anything, so I think it'll look good y'know." He watches her brows furrow, contemplating his words.
"That may be true, but think of it this way; you have to be observant of the small details, looking at all the colors that make up a sunflower or a lily."
They're walking a little slow, being caught up with passing civilians. He becomes impatient, he kinda has a need for speed. And so he slows his pace, moving behind Hinata, placing his hands on her shoulders, and beings to guide their trail.
"...a sunflower has yellow petals, with disk florets that are a deep brown. White lilies look how they sound, but their stamens can be a mahogany color depending on the flower. All together, I feel like the colors will clash."
"I think it'll look good. Kinda like a rainbow y'know."
"A rainbow?" she tilts her head towards him, though he can only see the side of her face.
Her side profile is really nice, and he stops himself from tracing the outline of her face with his bandaged fingers. That sensual smell that's devouring his nasal cavities was starting to make him feel lightheaded. In a good way.
Imnotapervertimnotapervertimnotapervert.
And yet he sure is acting like one. But it's not his fault!
"Keep your eyes on the road, Hinata," He squeezes her shoulders, " and yeah! You said the colors will clash right? Rainbows have vivid colors that are completely different from one another. And yet, in the end-product, all of them together create something beautiful."
"T-thats...well…"
"Just know that it won't look tacky. Anything done by you will never be tacky, y'know."
He can't tell what she's thinking right now, but he hears a soft "Thank You...Naruto-kun" come out of her.
"Still thinking about doing sunflowers only?"
"Yes, but next time, I'll put both in reminisce of you."
Reminisce.
She's too nice for her own good.
"Nooo Hinata! You're doing this for you." He jabs a finger in her shoulder, causing her to giggle.
A mischievous plan pops into his head. "...are you ticklish, Hinata?"
She halts their tracks. "Naruto-kun…" she starts off with a warning. "We're in public...and no! I'm not ticklish!"
This sounds like the perfect opportunity to tease her. "Oh, we're in public? And what happens when we're all alone?" he smirks.
Her face flushes a crimson color, and he watches her burn. The worst part about all of this? Is that he lets her burn.
It's enjoyable, really.
"Okay, okay...if you dont wanna draw attention to yourself, then why did you...well I don't know…" he pulls her closer to him, his arms snaking around her figure, his fingers pressing deep into her stomach, "...stop so dramatically? In the middle of walking" he murmurs in her ear. "You caused a scene by yourself y'know..."
"Naruto-kun- please! D-don't do this here" she must've heard the panic in her voice, because she lowers her tone down to a whisper, "there are people already looking at us."
"Why do you care if they're looking?"
"Just what are you trying to get at here!?"
She's struggling to get loose from his hold.
"This."
And then he presses his fingers into her stomach, delicately lifting each finger one by one, just to press them back into her clothed flesh again. She hunches over, and he does so with her, not stopping his fingers' movements.
Her body attempts to jerk away from him, but his muscular arms were preventing her from escaping, trapping her in.
She's giggling to an extreme extent, but he wants her to laugh.
"N-Naruto-kuun..y-you...stooop- ah!"
He's tickling her harder now, jabing at her sides repeatedly at a fast pace, her body involuntary twitching from the assault.
He looks up to see that people are, in fact, staring at his childish antics, but it's nothing that he wasn't used to.
"What was that Hinata?" he continues to tickle her, sliding his fingers up and down, leaving every inch of her body with an invisible mark. "You should speak more clearly..y'know."
She's full on laughing now, and it's music to his ears. He finally stops, satisfied with the reaction that he got from her. Letting her body go, he takes a step back, giving her some space.
She comes down from her high, taking in large breaths. Somehow in the midst of all of this, she managed not to squeeze the life out of her flower banquets.
Hinata lifts her head, and playfully glares at him.
Yeah, he had a feeling she wouldn't be mad.
She musters up the energy to stand up to him, even though she's short as fuck.
"You!" she points at him accusingly.
"Me?" he looks around incredulously, as if he didn't just attack her in public.
"I cant believe that you- you just…!" she doesn't even know what to say right now. She's a complete sputtering mess...right before him. Not to mention how red she is.
Yeah, only he can do that...create such a reaction out of her.
He watches her take a deep breath, redirecting her thoughts. She gives him one last glare, before she turns around and continues her journey home.
He watches her walk as he stands there rooted in place, eyeing her full figure.
There was something about her presence that he couldn't pinpoint-and he really wanted to figure it out. As he watches her walk further and further away from him, he ponders-
Wait a sec.
She's walking away from him.
"Hey! Hintata, wait up!"
Naruto catches up to her, walking along her side.
"So um...back to our previous conversation. Are you only taking sunflowers?"
"Of course I am...but I want you to be included this time. I'll be sure to tell Neji-niisan about it, and that wonderful comparison you made. Very poetic."
"What? The rainbow thing?"
"Mhm" the Hyuga nods.
"You think I'm a poetic person?"
"Um, well...actually no."
He puts a hand over his heart, a mock hurt expression on his face. "Your words pierce right through my heart Hinata."
And then she laughs even more. And if all of the nicest sounds in the world could be compressed into one, it would be her laugh. It was so elegant and sweet, of course a sound as nice as that would come from her.
"Boom! I just made another poetic sentence. I could follow in Pervy Sage's footsteps and continue his legacy, that's just how poetic I am y'know." He flashes her a cheeky smile.
She rolls her eyes, that smile of hers never leaving her lips. "So you're willing to write...those types of novels as well."
He knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Hell no," he scrunches his nose, face grimacing. "Hinata, what type of guy do you take me for?"
Unexpectedly, she snorts. Not like a pig or anything, but those types of snorts that are stifled to prevent another one of her boisterous laughs from coming through.
"Woooow. Okay, okay. I see how it is. I never thought I'd see the day Hinata, out of all people, would laugh at me" he deeply sighs, a hurt tone masking his voice.
"No wait! I never meant to-"
"Hinata!" he steps behind her again as they continue their path, shaking her shoulders "I'm just messing with you."
"I knew that.." she quietly mumbles, making him laugh.
He was enjoying their conversation so much that he didn't even notice the large compound in the distance, finally coming into view.
"So, you coming over tonight?"
He casually throws it out there, hoping she would say yes. Nowadays studying alone can be a bit...lonesome.
"You just got back from your mission, Naruto-kun. Maybe you should rest, and replenish-"
"Nah, I'm good. If it's you that's coming over, sleep can always wait, y'know."
From the looks of her face, he knew he'd get a reaction out of her, because now she's a blushing mess. He didn't really intend on saying such sappy crap, but the words just came out, as if acting on their own authority.
You're such an idiot.
He ignores Kurama's words.
"I don't know...plus your birthday is tomorrow right? You might want to rest, so you can be energized and um…" she cautions.
"Look Hinata. Just come over."
"I really don't think-"
"Ugh, come on" he huffs out, "what's stopping you huh?" He probably sounds like a whiny, spoiled brat. Which probably looks so uncool to her, but he doesn't care. From what he's hearing, is that she wasn't coming over.
She cowers under his scrutiny, and he doesn't know whether or not he's being obtrusive. Maybe he's making her uncomfortable? Or maybe she doesn't want to hang out with him. Two possibilities-in which they both suck.
When she doesn't answer, he becomes a little worried. "Is something wrong?"
He watches her eyes dance around the scenery before him, looking at everything but him. She shuffles her feet a bit, and plays at her hair with her free hand. He steps closer to her, just to hear her better, if she says anything that is."It's just that...I know you've been studying for a while, but I don't want you to think that I think that you can't rely on yourself to do the work…"
Okay, what?
He's not sure if it's his stupidity that's stopping him from comprehending the words that just came out of her mouth, but he's going to handle this situation in the best way that he can.
"I'm gonna be upfront with you...I have no idea how you arrived at that conclusion."
"It's nothing…"
He sighs for the umpteenth time today. "Hinata" he begins, "we're friends right? Just repeat what you just said… but maybe dumb it down a little bit so I can understand y'know."
"See! It's that!" she said with conviction.
What in the hell!
Girls can be very confusing.
"Hinata, you're killing me." he puts his hands on her shoulders and shakes her lightly, repeating the same action as before, "work with me here!"
"I don't want you to think that you're…'stupid'" she looks into his eyes. "You compare yourself with me all the time in aspects of knowledge. I just want you to know that I think of you as a very intelligent person."
Oh.
Well now, how was he supposed to respond to this? Because as of right now, her words were actually piercing his heart.
"I'll work with you next week, I promise. Tomorrow is a Friday...you know, your birthday. Take a break from the studies, and enjoy yourself."
She turns around, and starts heading towards the entrance. Abruptly, she stops directly in front of the doors, her hand hesitantly twisting the handle. "Oh, and one more thing."
He looks at her, waiting for her response.
As soon as she turns her head, Naruto is instantly met with a genuine smile- a smile that can melt all of one's troubles away. "In case I don't see you tomorrow, I just want to say...happy birthday, Naruto-kun." And then she disappears behind the doors.
It was finally his birthday today.
His nasty nineteen as Ino would call it.
It was also the anniversary of the war. Two years of peace amongst the five nations.
Is there supposed to be some alternate feeling? He always thinks that there should be some spawning point with each birthday he has, and yet...that moment never comes.
He doesn't feel any different. He's still a little pissed about the rejection of the ramen day proposal. But he'll get over it.
He's tempted to yell at him. Because he's sitting right across from him.
He chose one of the new restaurants in the heart of downtown Konoha. It was kind of fancy, and a bit pricey. But it's a special day today, right? He deserves this, he thinks.
They're all seated around a low rise table, and there was so much food on it. He narrows his eyes, wondering who's paying for what.
"...you have to agree with me Sakura-chan. It's my birthday after all."
Sakura only shakes her head at him, her pink tresses swaying from side to side. "This place is way better than Ichirakus."
"Take that back!"
"Sai even agrees with me."
"I was never in this conversation," Sai calmly with a smile on his face.
"Alright now, let's not try to cause any ruckus while we're here alright? We're all grownups, and I-"
"Yeah, yeah, we know already! Pass the gyoza would ya?"
Kakashi sighs behind his mask, "it's like they never listen to me anymore."
"What!?" Naruto stops chewing mid sentence. "Of course we do! Sakura-chan, what's that phrase he always tells us? Something about…"
"Scum?" she sticks up her eyebrow.
Naruto lifts his face up, pridefully. "There's only one thing worse than scum..."
Sai nods agreeably. "A child."
"What?! Sai no!"
"I think I heard enough from you two," the pink haired medic growls, turning back to her food.
"Well, I'm glad you remember...some things. So changing the subject...did you visit the memorial sites today, Naruto?" Kakashi says.
"Of course! I paid my respects."
"That's good." Kakashi nods, "when you're Hokage, it is crucial to show great respect for those who gave their lives for this village."
'When you're Hokage.'
Not If, but when.
To hear those words come from the very Hokage himself, just goes to show how far he's come. Who would've thought? Two Hokages on one team.
"Of course Kakashi-sensei!"
"Sooo," Sakura starts off, "You doing anything after this?"
"Nope! Just chilling in the condo y'know."
Sai scrunches his face, obviously confused by the Uzumaki's words.
"You mean your apartment, Naruto?"
"Same difference."
"Sai, don't listen to him." Kakashi butts in.
Sakura frowns at his statement, probably waiting for a real answer.
"Look, I don't know what to tell you, but there is nothing going on."
"Nothing huh?"
"Nothing at all!"
"That sounds very depressing, Naruto."
"Sai, when was the last time you celebrated your birthday?"
"I don't celebrate birthdays."
"Yeah? Well um... I don't know how to respond to that y'know."
Sai looks down at his plate with confusion. "I don't see the significance of birthdays anyway. And I think it's rather meaningless. The actions are pretty stupid as well."
"...the actions?" Naruto questions, slightly annoyed that he even asked this question.
"The guest will circle around the birthday person, something similar to a cult. And then The food of your pick is placed in the center of the table, the most common choice being a cake. And then a song that is important to the ritual must be sung in order to commence the new beginning of one's stage in life. It sounds a little demonic."
"Bullshit! Where did you read that?!"
"That's actually a very interesting way to put it." Kakashi ponders.
"Why am I stuck at a table with idiots" Sakura deadpans.
"Aaawe you love us," Naruto slings an arm over her shoulder, giving her a side hug. From his peripheral vision, he can see the tiny smile on her face.
"Unfortunately."
"That's a good enough answer for me."
It's very late out.
October chilly nights strike once again.
Pitch black. That's all he sees when he looks at the sky.
The stars look like holes with light shining through them, a deep black replacing the once blue sky.
He's walking the empty streets of Konoha, it's not so lively anymore.
It's quiet, dark, and cold.
There are no kids to look out for, because they're not running everywhere,
There are no people to shuffle pass by, because they're inside their homes, tending to their families needs,
There are no street markets, because they're shut down for the night, the merchants will reign the streets in the morning.
He needs to take a walk, because he can't sleep. His thoughts were plaguing his peaceful mind once again. His brain is aching, these headaches feel like shit.
He doesn't know why, but the headaches are worse tonight.
He doesn't want to face his thoughts, he wants to suppress them like he usually does, because that's what he's good at. So why are they winning?
Why does he feel so defeated?
Why does he feel so afraid?
It's a new chapter in his life, he should feel happy, excited, ready.
And yet-
He feels weird, anxious, nervous.
His thoughts are screaming at him, taking his peace away. He doesn't feel like he's falling apart, but he's drowning again, and he's scared to breathe.
What's going on kid?
I don't know, Kurama.
You don't know?
Just clearing my head.
I think you do know.
Maybe...talk some sense into me.
Hm. I always do and you never seem to listen.
Sorry.
He catches himself thinking about Sasuke a lot. What's that bastard up to?
Is redemption doing him justice,
Does he regret leaving the village,
Does he find comfort in temporary solace,
Will he travel the world someday, like Sasuke?
Is the world in his hands, does he have it all figured out?
Really, does he?
He comes across a bench, and sits down. Crouching over, he stares at his toes, at the black of his sandals.
His thoughts are racing. It's like he can't concentrate on a single one. They're all racing each other in an endless loop, it never stops.
It's very quiet tonight, and for a long time, he contemplates going back to his apartment. He should probably get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.
But then again-
Why does he feel his childhood memories slipping away from him? Like sand slipping through his fingers, it was hard to grasp, hard to pick back up.
Are they running away from him? He doesn't know. But he knows one thing for sure.
He won't chase after them.
It's exhausting. He feels his old self slipping away, and he's not really happy about it. But there will always be one thing that lingers from his childhood, something that will remain with him forever.
Loneliness. At the expense of his childhood.
He is happy, he thinks. Just not happy enough.
Is there something missing?
Is there something more to life that he wasn't receiving?
He achieved his goals, he made his loved ones proud. And yet-
Something was missing.
Why else would he feel so...empty?
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't even recognize the other presence that sat next to him. He feels the familiar chakra engulfing him, and for a little, he basks in its warmth.
It feels refreshing, almost.
He already knows who it is without looking up. "Iruka-sensei," he acknowledges.
"Why are you here? Did hell freeze over or something?"
"Nope. My heat works just fine, thanks for the concern, y'know."
"Hm."
He looks at the ground a little longer, too tired to meet his sensei's gaze.
"This is a familiar site."
"Heh, tell me about it."
Silence erupts between them.
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Iruka places a hand on his shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze, and Naruto swears-
At that moment, this small gesture was the greatest feeling in the world.
He drags a hand through his hair, down to the nape of his neck. He feels like he's overexaggerating
He doesn't know how to exactly put it in words, so he explains parts little by little, hoping that the pieces connect, praying that it just makes sense.
"Ah I see…look at me Naruto."
With the little energy he can muster, he looks at his former teacher. "You are going through the early stages of adult life. I had the same thoughts as you when I was nineteen. I wanted to be an academy teacher, and teach little kids to become the best ninjas they can be,
Being a ninja is our destiny. We can change it however, whenever. Nothing is stopping us from achieving the possible. You're doing it right now aren't you? Then you will be alright."
"Yeah, but-"
"Why is there a 'but'? What's stopping you from being happy? From enjoying the complexity of life? You're not really living if all you experience is happiness. Anger, sadness, guilt, fear, happiness...without these emotions, you wouldn't be you, Naruto. Never invalidate yourself and what you are- who you are.."
"I feel like i'm missing something."
"Then you haven't lived to the fullest extent."
Naruto frowns at the statement.
"Live for us, Naruto. Live for those who will die for you. Live for those who gave their lives for you, and live for those who will live for you."
Live...for me?
"I know it sounds weird, but you'll understand in the end."
Naruto looks up to the stars, pondering his sensei's words.
"Alrighty then, I think it's time for me to head back home. You coming with?"
"I think I'll stay here for a little."
"Okay." Iruka smiles at him standing up, and Naruto flashes him a real smile. He was thankful that Iruka stumbled upon him.
"You have a good night, alright?"
"I promise."
"You better keep that promise. I'll see you when I see you.
Happy birthday, Naruto."
