The morning was beautiful, for it was unlike any day before it. The sunrise gave way to many pinks, oranges, and yellows. The clouds were few and far between. While the sun had shown its glorious self to the world, the stars blanketed the sky in defiance.
The wind danced among the clouds, repeating the sounds of birds and animals they heard. Below them, rivers flow into a glorious lake. Water crashing onto the lake's surface, the ripples slamming into the valley the river carved.
In the morning, the rebirth of daytime, all was beautiful but humankind.
Piercing cerulean blue eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light shown by the sun. They stared at the starry yet sunny sky above. A twilight zone, he could say. Focusing on the blurry forms of the stars, he absentmindedly wondered about the stars' beauty. What made them so beautiful?
A few wet coughs interrupted his thoughts. He realized it came from himself and chuckled at his wandering mind. What would once be a full-heart, bellowing laugh was a feeble, wheezing chuckle. Deadman walking, He thought bitterly. Or laying at this point.
It was ironic. Maybe even poetic thinking about it. The world needed both sides of the coin, and if it didn't have both sides, the coin was a coin no more.
He looked over at his brother in all but blood. A bitter, sad smile grew on his face. He had ended Indra's bloodline, and because the world needed balance, he was going with him, ending the legacy of Ashura as well.
He understood why the Sage of Six Paths gave the world chakra, but in his opinion, the sage was too naive, too trusting in humanity's will. It was human nature to scorn what they didn't understand. Shun it, bury it, do anything possible to obtain or destroy it.
A soft snort made itself known, but what was once full of rage and hate was instead calm sincerity. While the sound came from around him, he was the only one hearing it. The stars sure are beautiful, eh, Kurama?
A deep, rumbling chuckle that could shake mountains reverberated around him. Yes, Kit, the stars do look beautiful today. Peculiar that we can still see them, but it's the twilight zone. What are you going to do?
A smile played on his lips while his eyes sparkled in amusement. Yep, it appears I've entered my twilight years... or zone, in reality.
A sigh heeded that remark, and he was pulled into his mindscape. He was faced by the legendary fox himself, Kurama, the Kyuubi no Yoko.
The Kyuubi willed a sake dish into existence, himself manifesting water. Kurama seized the drink. He raised it to the heavens and said, "To Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, Hero of the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Child of Prophecy, and Worst Shinobi in existence."
A burnt, bloodied, and tired Naruto, still managed a smile, albeit a weak one. He smiled about the last remark. The one about being the worst Shinobi in existence. He couldn't even be mad about it. In fact, he was proud of it, 'ttebayo!
Naruto had met Kurama when he was five years old. He had been beaten up by the civilians so viciously that his mind simply retreated farther back from simple unconsciousness. There, he had met his father figure, the Kyuubi.
If there was something Naruto could say, it was that Kurama was the most philosophical of the bijuu. Kurama had created the Ink Release and Fuinjutsu Arts, teaching the first Uzumaki of Fuinjutsu.
Naruto and Kurama had a long philosophical talk about what it meant to be the Shinobi. They decided that the Shinobi must learn to endure pain and suffering. The Shinobi is to sacrifice anything, even of value, for the mission. And that no action, monotonous or violent, was below the Shinobi.
While Naruto was okay with the first, he refused to do the second and third. Kyuubi was initially astonished but laughed at Naruto. The Kyuubi said that Naruto was going to be the Worst Shinobi Ever.
They argued for a long time about Naruto being the Worst Shinobi Ever. However, after participating in the mission to Nami? After learning of the Uchiha Clan's treachery, comprehending Itachi's risk? He came to see it as a compliment.
It wasn't out of disrespect for Shinobi. It was out of the unwillingness to follow those final rules. To sacrifice anything and everything for the mission was to risk your life. Whether it be your allies' life, something of significance, or. To have nothing below them was to do anything. Whether the orders were as straightforward as carrying groceries for a lady to as horrifying as killing an entire city and leaving no survivors. The Shinobi had to comply or suffer the consequences.
"You were wrong about what you said, you know? Me being a worthless shinobi?" Naruto said.
"Sure I was. While you could do all three, you could only truly risk yourself in all those situations, much like Uchiha Itachi. Plus, you'd do the last very reluctantly," Kurama snarked. After learning of the miserable life of Itachi Uchiha, Kurama said that he was the only Uchiha to gain his respect.
Both Jinchuuriki and Bijuu smiled at each other. "Naruto, when you pass on, I need you to remember this; remember who you are, why you fight. Remember why you are the Hero of the Fourth Great Shinobi War and yet the Worst Shinobi in Existence."
Naruto chuckled. "If I didn't know any better, I would think that you had thought a long time about my death. Or that you listened to Gaara's speech."
A mournful look came onto Kurama's face. Naruto would never know how much this world owed him. Naruto was the flame of warmth, the soft fire that would comfort the world for generations. The sparks Naruto's drive will give off will light so many people's way. Kurama truly wished he could see the peace that would follow.
It was unfortunate. Naruto didn't believe he deserved love. He always said that he gave what he didn't want back. Though some pined after him, he declined.
Kurama sighed, but his foxy smile still came through. He coughed into his hand and said. "I'm sorry you couldn't get the happy ending you wanted, Naruto. If it is any consolation, I think of you as my son. Plus, you are by far my favorite human, even surpassing my father."
Naruto's eyes softened, though they were soft and joyful. He then bowed. "I'm beyond honored, father."
And with that, the eternal flame turned dying embers of Naruto Uzumaki, a speck of gold in a sea of blood, gave out to the cold embrace of death. But that was not the end of his story. It wasn't the end of both of their stories. Merely a new chapter in their lives.
