Naruto didn't see or hear anyone last night. If he did he didn't know what he would do.
So when first light appeared he got up and made to change and make something to eat as he skipped dinner last night. (For obvious reasons). He had to make his way to the academy again this morning. He was so out of it yesterday that he was mostly nodding off and being scolded. Today he was going to try to be more attentive for the teachers sake and maybe his.
He wanted to go to the academy and learn to be a ninja. So much so that he he wanted to be Hokage. He wanted to be truly seen and the best ninja ever.
So with that in mind he left his dreary apartment.
On his way he looked up towards the sky. There were some rain clouds coming in, big grey blobs steam rolling by. He should of brought his umbrella he thought. He'll be regretting that later.
Reaching the building, yet again being early, he made way in shizura-sensei's room. He made a promise today that he wouldn't fall asleep even if he wanted too.
Stepping into the room he mumbled out a quick good morning to his teacher who silently nodded and went back to what she was previously doing before.
Hopefully they wouldn't have a pop quiz today as he nodded off the other day.
He ended up in the same seat as yesterday. Usually he does like to sit in the front as it makes him feel like he's center of attention. But again today he didn't want to be bothered.
Over the next few hours our little Naruto did in fact end up falling asleep through two of his classes. Once being told to sit outside of the classroom for snoring. He did manage to keep his promise to Shizura-sensei though.
During the lunch/recess period Naruto decided he was bored of sitting and watching the other children play. He walked up towards a group of girls who were playing with some wildflowers. He like to do that too.
So with some confidence he strolled over to them.
"Uh-what are you guys doing?"
One of the girls who had deep brown hair and eyes looked up at him causing some deep root anxiety as she started to squint her eyes at him. Almost like sizing him up and trying to see the filth within him. Knowing him, probably.
Surprisingly she answered. "We're making flower crowns, and we don't want no nasty boys ruining them." At the end of her sentence she turn up her nose.
"Oh I like flower crowns too. I wouldn't hurt them." Maybe he thought if he told them this they may let him play with him.
But all good ideas are turn away as one of the other girls, the one with the soft golden honey color hair leaned over to whisper to her other friend with the black hair.
"I think I know him."
"Yeah, he's that boy with the whiskers. My mother says not to play with him."
Naruto's building hope was slam back into his chest. He should have guessed making friends wouldn't be easy.
All three girls stared at him without saying anything. He took that as his cue to leave. Behind him as he walked he heard the sounds of laughter.
The academy let out two hours later and he made his way home, having nowhere else to go and not being hungry. Plus it was raining now and he didn't have his umbrella. He didn't necessarily want to go back to the dark stifling place, but it beat being wet.
Right before he turned the corner to get on the street he lived on a girl ran out in front of him. Trying not to ram into her, his body almost looked comical as his limbs started going every which way.
"Oi, watch where your going!" He knew it was probably an accident, but still.
"Sorry." She had her head down and was wearing a long rain coat with the hood up. Her jacket was a bright red thing with a simple daisy design, making it look cute.
When she looked up she was pale. Paler than he ever seen someone before. And from what he could see she had black hair and dark green eyes. Overall she was pretty. She was most likely a civilian as he never seen her at the academy.
"Who are you?" She asked. She had a high pitch voice making her sound very young. She might have been younger than he was.
"Uzumaki Naruto! who are you and what are you doing outside?" He was curious. He was going home, but the direction she was going was to the houses that were under construction nearby.
"I'm Saori!"
"Uh..." She looked nervous now.
"I was going home, but I can't seem to find my house. My mother must be worried about me."
He debated whether to do something to help or just go sorry your on your own. In the end he decided he could live with being in the rain a little longer, it wasn't like it was pouring. Almost as if to mock him a bright flash of lightening litter the sky followed by a rumbling boom.
"Do you need some help then?"
She taken to looking at the ground again, but had turned her eyes to him at his question.
"Really! That would be great!" She gave him a big grin.
Staring at her smile and wondering what this warm feeling is he felt himself start to grin too. Maybe...he hoped, he could make a friend with Saori.
"Are you sure you live here?" Satori and him ended up in the neighborhood with all the homes that were under construction. Some of the building were old and being fixed up, but nobody lived on this street here anymore or so he thought. Almost all the houses on the street were brand new from the growing population of Konoha.
She nodded. "Yeah, I recognize that home there."
"Ok-ay."
The house she was referring to was older and decrepit. The paint that once was beautiful now looked faded and cracked. The door in front looked as if one good gust of wind could knock in down.
Speaking of gusts of wind it looked as if one would knock Saori down as well. She was swaying a little and would stumble every once in a while.
"Saori, are you okay, do you need to sit down?"
She looked behind at him and shook her head making the rain pellets fly everywhere.
"No thank you, I'm pretty sure we're almost to my home."
He was glad she said that.
He was cold.
A few minutes later Saori exclaimed in jubilation that she found her house. Bringing out a sigh of relief from him. He was happy to help, and make potential friends but he didn't want to get sick from being outside in the elements too long.
"Oh Naruto, do you want to come inside to warm up? My mother might even have some snacks for us to eat." She sounded very happy and excited by the prospect of him coming in.
"Oh I uh-" he was worried her mother would recognize him and tell him to get out and never speak to her daughter again. He didn't want to lose a possible friend.
She must have seen something in his eyes because she smiled even wider.
"Mother will like you. You helped me after all."
"Please come inside!" She was begging now. He can't say no to that.
He ducked his head slightly. "Okay."
"Great! Mother makes this wonderful tea-
He couldn't believe there was a house that looked like this in the neighborhood. It was certainly older, but it was beautiful and huge! Compared to the other buildings this was a gem. Yes there were some finished reconstructed homes but nothing like this.
It was two stories and have a large yet modest yard in the front and what also look like in the back as well. The color was a nice tan with big windows on the front. It looked like it could fit a large family and gave off a happy feeling. The curtains were drawn closed but he bet it was as lovely inside as outside.
He was right.
Blossoming colors were everywhere. Pinks, reds, greens, blues, you name it. It gave off a friendly feeling to any spot you looked.
Despite the cheery colors it was freezing indoors. He almost couldn't feel his finger tips. Although that probably had to do with being outside for so long.
He was so cold. Maybe he could take Saori up on the offer of a warm cup of tea.
"Mother! I brought home a new friend." Saori started pulling her shoes off and ran towards the kitchen where a pleasant scent came from. He could hear her rambling about him helping her.
"Alright, let's welcome our guest then." A soothing voice called. A tall women came out of the kitchen area carrying a apron that she must of just took off. She had black hair like Saori but with beautiful light brown eyes. She have off a kind aura and had a small smile on her face. The smile was directed towards him. He blushed.
"Hello, I'm Uzumaki Naruto! This was it. She would know his name and kick him out.
"Hello Naruto-kun! I'm Kagome, welcome to our home." She continued with her smile never faltering. He blushed again.
"Thank you for having me." The old man Hokage told him about manners before. He hopes he does him proud.
"Come inside the dining area I'll prepare us some tea and snacks to warm you both up." She directed to the room she came from and he followed her.
Hopefully he get warmer.
"Oi Naruto! I told you my mother would like you!" She looked pleased with herself for some reason. He smiles in response.
"Are you able to stay for a while? Maybe we could play in my room." She looked towards her mother in question..
"You can unless Naruto-kun has other obligations to attend to." That was the answer.
"Oh I can stay. I live alone anyways." He said bitterly, then immediately scolded himself for saying it like that in front of his hosts.
"By yourself?" Kagome asked with a worried look.
"I'm an orphan and instead of staying at the orphanage I live on my own." He never had anyone look at him with worry before besides the old man. He felt warmth in his chest.
"That's horrible, you can stay as long as you want." She nodded to herself. Almost like saying and that's final.
"Thank you Kagome-san." He really was thankful and happy.
Saori came over to stand next to him bouncing on her heels and keeping the same excitement. He noticed something about her her though. She had yet to take off her coat. It was wet and her hood was still up. He looked towards the ground and saw a trail of water to where she was. He was surprised she didn't take it off or that her mother didn't make her.
Not his business, so whatever.
"Can we go play now while you make tea mother?"
Her mom wave her off with a smile. " Yes yes! I'll call you out later."
That was all Saori needed and she took off down a hallway nearby.
"Come on Naruto!"
With a grin he followed after her.
45 mins later after drawing in Saoris room Kagome called out for them from the kitchen.
Coming in the room they saw a lovely display of vegetables and fruits with onigiri on another plate. It looked and smelled delicious!
They quickly setted themselves around the food and waited for Kagome herself to come over too.
"Well...dig in you two."
They did just that.
After a few minutes of only hearing munching Naruto decided to start a conversation..
"Ah, are you guys the only people that live on this street? I didn't see any other ready homes and there were no other lights." He was curious about that since he and Saori stepped foot into the neighborhood.
"Oh we have many neighbors. Saori is friends with all the kids here. Isn't that right darling?"
Saori swallowing her mouth full nodded quickly. "Yeah, maybe you can come over again and you can meet everyone else."
He was confused. All the home were either being constructed, redone, or were in shambles. He saw! This was the only house that was finished or at least he thought so. They didn't walk all the way up the street so he could be wrong.
"How far down are their homes?"
Saori looked at him and smiled. "They live in the house next door." She sounded very sure of it.
He saw the house next door. It was barely standing. No windows or even a door. He highly doubted there was someone in a place so dangerous. Against his judgment he went along with them.
"I see." He didn't.
There was an awkward silence for a while. Only soft chewing sounds being heard.
A minute later naruto wanted more water so he made to stand up and grab his glass to go to the sink. He stood up while at the same time Saori was starting to reach over the table to take another onigiri. His hand hit her head making the hood of her still wet rain coat get knocked off.
Everything stopped. Naruto held his breath and stared. He suddenly remembered he was still very cold. It never felt more prominent until now.
Where Saoris hood was covering she had a large gapping hole on her skull. He could see everything! The blood. Her brain. There were bits missing and the area pulsated with every second.
He could almost hear it pulsing.
Bump-bump...bump-bump...bump-bump
Maybe that was his heart instead.
It was so loud.
Saori hand that was reaching for the food remained hovering and didn't move. She slowly moved her eyes towards him. He shivered. Her green eyes looked bright like deadly acid. Get too close and you'll get burned.
"Are you okay Naruto?" She sounded innocent enough, but he couldn't concentrate with the gaping whole in her HEAD! This was like with the man in the mirror all over again. Was he truly being punished? He just wanted a friend!
"Yeah, I-"
"I-" he kept stuttering.
Everything was so cold. Saori and Kagome looked pale, wide eyed, and confused. He was slowly backing away from the table. Around him the scene
started to change. Once a room filled with a glorious aroma and bright colors of wildflowers began to wilt.
The walls cracked and splintered leaving dents and holes showing the now pouring rain outside. His stomach clenched, the food of the table no longer looked pleasent to the senses.
He felt sick.
Rotten long forgotten food laid out before him. Mold and decay already set in.
What was wrong with him?
Why him?
"Naruto-kun?"
He had to leave now. His breathing became laboured and his eyes darted to the way he came to where his shoes were. He looked down at his feet. They were filthy from the dirt and rain.
He turned around and started to walk to the once entry way.
"Oi Naruto! Where are you going?"
Would they let him leave? "I remember I had to visit someone tonight and need to get back." He tried to look apologetic, bit he figured it came off as more of a grimace.
Satori looked disappointed, she put her head down showcasing the bloody mess on her head. She walked towards him though and let a small smile grace her features.
"We will play another day right?" She was in front of him and reached out a hand to grab his shoulder. He flinched hard away and she look hurt, but finally accomplished touching him.
He realized despite being in close proximity to her for the past hour or so this was the first time they made contact.
She was freezing.
He started to feel light headed and images popped into his mind.
A girl playing on a rainy day in a once beautiful neighborhood with her friends. Boys and girls alike. She had the same raincoat on and she was running through the road.
As she was playing she didn't see the horse and cart and slammed into the animal.
The majestic animal roared back and-
A thud, than silence.
Dead silence.
Naruto was silent and didn't move. Saori in front of him started tearing up.
"Oh, I see."
She did.
Naruto thought she should do something. Instead of the fear he felt with the man in the mirror, now he felt sad. She died in an accident and her mother was left by herself to suffer alone. Childless.
He bowed his head.
"I'm so sorry Saori and Kagome-san."
Naruto did something surprising, he wrapped his arms around Saori. Shivering and feeling like the life was being sucked from him. He held on though.
He stayed like that for a few seconds and backed up from her.
Saori and Kagome behind her looked different. They became brighter. Not blinding, but a sheen to them. Naruto watched as they slowly disappeared. Sad smiles on their faces.
He was alone left with a rotted house that once was so beautiful.