I gave you some light
I hope it was bright
To save you from darkness
And those who'd be heartless
For you are my son
With a jolt purple eyes opened quickly and once more quickly shut as the rays of light touched them though not from the sun. No, the intense shock of pain from his chest forced him to wince in response. Biting his tongue to keep from shouting out in pain he gave a sombre glance towards the floor, mind replaying the same five lines again, and again.
Pain was never something he cried over, and he wasn't this time either. Those words hurt so much he'd rather be beaten to a pulp then remember them. Naruto was aware of the irony though, he'd rather be dead then forget the rhyme. Like everything else about her, he simply could not and certainly would not forget about a single aspect of Mikoto.
Stuck in his lamenting, he was caught off guard as his breathing hitched and he started coughing. By the time he had calmed himself a coppery taste was at the front of his mouth, the taste of warm blood came forward to his lips. His head turned on a swivel as the door opened. Lowering his guard at the site of Tsunami it was raised back up as an unknown man in a white coat appeared.
At the presence of Tsunami Naruto finally realized why the room was familiar, he was inside the same room as before. Taking a closer look around he was hooked up to a machine that was steadily beeping along with his heart. His right arm was also attached to an IV drip. It also went without saying, but the tube in his mouth and down his throat was uncomfortable to say the least.
Staring at the man in white Naruto calmly waited as the man checked his condition. Closing his eyes, Naruto opened them rapidly as the same two scarlet eyes as before burned into his mind. The once steady beeping of the EKG sped up, betraying the look of calm on the boy's face.
Standing back and studying the boy the man tossed his arms up in exasperation. "I just don't understand this kid! The entry wounds on his chest are gone ,his bodies no more exhausted than I am, lungs in the final stage of healing. If I encountered this in my life ever again it would be too soon. "
Trying to laugh at the man's predicament Naruto soon found himself coughing again. With a warning to be careful the doctor left the room. "I'll get Hatake-san." Tsunami nodded as she went to sit next to the boy.
"Thank you for leaving a clone behind. If you hadn't..." The redhead merely waved it away.
"Our mission is to protect Tazuna until he finishes his bridge. If something were to happen to you there is a chance he'd go as far as suicide for a reaction. We'd thusly fail the mission, and I hate failing." Taken aback by his comment Tsunami tried to ignore the thought but knew it was possible.
A silence fell over the bedroom. 'Looking' out the window Naruto tried to imagine what it looked like outside, but with a grumble he looked towards Tsunami. Knowing she smiled.
"I haven't seen the sun so bright in a long time. The waves would be something to see." Nodding, Naruto's attention turned to the door. In a matter of seconds Kakashi walked through the door a pensive look on his face. Or rather the part you could see, given the mask and headband.
"Good to see you're awake and well Naruto." Leaning against the door frame he rubbed his head unsure of how to pursue the next topic.
"So...do you remember anything?" Naruto looked at his hands briefly. Shaking his head he shrugged lazily.
"No not really, I remember feeling alot of panic, almost unbearably so. Then everything went black. " he felt the bandages on his chest as if looking for something.
Whatever it was it wasn't there causing Naruto to sigh. "I'm gonna guess Haku's senbon got me in the lungs, and...that I blacked out from a lack of oxygen?"
Naruto didn't have to see the hesitation in Kakashi or Tsunami looking away to know that something more was going on. "Yea that's right."
"What happened to the hunter-nin? To Kurai?" Naruto noticed Kakashi's eye narrowing at the inquiries.
"During your fight with the girl in the mask I was going for the finishing move against Kurai." Speaking carefully Kakashi continued to spin his web of lies.
"She stepped in front of my Lightning Blade and took it straight to the chest. Died instantly." Naruto forced a frown on his face. Mistaken for remorse at someone dying Kakashi sighed.
The unasked question lingered in the air. "As for Kurai... well she got away. Gato showed up not long after with company in tow. She took that moment to leave. Didn't even bother to grab her companions body. As for Gato, the people of Wave lynched him. Grizzly but they hung him in the centre of the village."
A happy but sad smile was Tsunami's response to the mention of the tyrants demise.
"When they saw the whole village had decided to take action many of the flunkies Gato had hired decided to turn tail and run." Naruto nodded at the story. 'The last part was true at least. What a terrible liar.'
Naruto had a broad smile or rather in his mind he was. Everything had worked out then. Kurai's apprentice was dead, she herself was in the wind, and the mission was over. 'For me, the most disappointing thing is I have no idea what the hell is wrong with me. Everything else went to plan as expected.'
"If you guys don't mind. I'd like some alone time. Maybe I'll take a nap." Kakashi eye smiled. Giving a glance to Tsunami he motioned for her to join him.
"Need help with making Lunch Tsunami-san? The mother nodded with a gentle smile.
"Sure I'd love an extra hand in the kitchen."
Tanzaku Town
Wrapped in a thick cloak Kurai made her way down an alley. Unsure of what she was looking for she kept walking into the darkness of the alley's confines. Turning another corner she was met with the view of a figure even taller then herself. With her well trained eye even in the dark she could see this man was simply packed with muscles. Reaching under her robe her hand never reached her shoulder, the mans hands gripped her at the biceps and held her in place.
"Let go of me you muscle bound filth!"
Ignoring her the man ripped the cloak off and stared her in the eyes. "What flower only blooms once?" Her body relaxed at the phrase and she nodded.
"The lonely blue rose." Tensions dropped completely and the man bowed before her. She was put off guard by the action. "Kurai-sama, please follow me." Stepping backwards she motioned to be silent. As soon as she had the man before her must have noticed it too. There was someone else in this alley. Based on the ANBU's body language it wasn't an ally of any form. Jumping to the man's side a person took her place almost at the same instant, blade shimmering in the light of the moon.
With a blast of smoke Kurai's massive weapon came into her hands. Prepared to retaliate, her companion motioned for her to stay back. Rushing the dark assailant, the man reared back his fist. A glowing shade of blue struck out across the ground at his attack. The ground cracked and shattered under the assault.
Leaping away in silence the stranger positioned himself on the wall of a building. A light from said building flickered on and the assassin slid down the wall, back to brick.
"DO YOU PEOPLE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME I-!?" A angry fist started shaking wildly as a man in his late fifties leaned out his window only for the stranger to throw a lightning jab into the man's face. Flipping up and through the opening the figure made to escape, Kurai made to pursue as she heard the resident cry out in pain.
Reaching the window, the woman lept away as the elderly man stumbled towards the window's opening, hands swiping at air. With a roar the ANBU's hand slammed into the poor man's face as he flew across the brick siding.
Nodding at her ally Kurai launched herself across the alley into the home entry. Catching a flash of the person's clothing she rushed out the door. Pulling her blade back she pulsed chakra through the metal, with a push of effort she spun the sword through the doorway, cutting through the surrounding brick, and out into the night air. With a wet sound the Executioner's Blade struck into the ground anchoring the assailant to the cobbled road. Not three feet away from the incident a woman tossed her handbag at the incident with a shout of panic.
Landing in the road Kurai raised her hands in a placating gesture. Her hands tensed as the ANBU dropped beneath the woman, head already in his hands. Kurai's arms went limp as the innocent woman's neck twisted.
"No one can know we were here." With a sigh Kurai grasped the hilt of her sword only to pause as the figure's head turned around in a physically impossible way. Rasping the assailant spoke.
"The elder's legacy can't escape! I was the first but I will not be the last, PRAISE ASHURA!" Cursing Kurai tried to pull her blade free as the man began to glow orange. A look of panic formed on her face as she stared the trap down. "Kurai-Sama!" In the next instant the ANBU was upon her, arm in her stomach and throwing her away from the blast. Her eyes shot open as the blast enveloped the behemoth of a man.
Sliding across the ground, her body came to rest, she started scrambling onto her hands and knees. When the smoke cleared she was greeted to the sight of the man panting as his skin returned to a faint tan from a dark brown.
"H-h-how did..."
With a weak laugh the man placed his hands on his side as he took a deep breath in. "These muscles aren't just for show Kurai-sama." It was then her ears caught the sound of multiple feet bounding on the ground.
"Quickly we must leave." Nodding the ANBU lead the way.
"My name is Kogamaru Kurai-sama, Kogamaru Saijin. A pleasure to meet you."
Naruto sighed as he inhaled the dust of the ROOT base. Looking at the door in front of him he sighed again. Opening it he entered Danzo's personal quarters. Looking over paperwork the man glanced up from his workload. Pushing forward a paper the man pointed at it, "This is your application for the chunin exams starting in a week. I took this from Kakashi as he couldn't find you after the hospital discharged you."
Naruto nodded as he prepared to reach for it. Halting him Danzo gave him a pointed looked, if you accept this you must work with your team to succeed. These are not exams to be taken lightly." With a sigh the man leaned back in his chair. Besides that I wish you the best, and I'll be seeing you at the finals."
With another nod Naruto left the room. Giving the paper a look on the front and back his shoulders slumped. 'I guess things could be more worse. Not sure how exactly but they could be."
Walking across the central bridge he glanced up at the ANBU walking straight to him. Raising an eyebrow as he got closer he raised a quick question, "Need something ANBU-san?" When the person was within arms reach Naruto lept back as they reached out, hearing Kari give a shout of warning. As fast as it came Kari was in front of him sword entering its sheath. "Vacuum Tear." Tetsuo's arms grabbed Naruto and threw him away from the intruder. A thin shimmer began to cover the body as the person raised their arm towards Naruto.
"A-Ashu-" The person's sentence was cut off, falling to their knees, as the explosive notes underneath their vest went off. Contained by Kari's technique the only remnant of the assassin was a charred spot on the bridge. Rushing to his side Kari began fussing over him, causing him to deadpan.
"Well cherry-kun you sure know how to welcome people don't you?"
Turning around Naruto rolled his eyes at the name, before him stood Kurai and Saijin. Looking closer he could see flecks of blood on her sword, and on her soot from some form of explosion. Taking a breath he shook his head. "Now is not the time for this shit." Running his hand through his hair he looked towards Saijin, and with a wave of his hand Kurai was whisked away by the goliath.
"Kari thank you first and foremost. Secondly," grabbing the sides of his head he ruffled his hair. "How the hell did this almost happen!?" By now the entire base was abuzz, the Root forces searching for anymore intruders. Later that night their search would find the body of one of the new recruits. In his death he would leave behind a twin sister, a pair of orphans whom Danzo had found in the land of Tea.
While it indeed was only one person, it had still been one person. This would only be seen in one way by Danzo. The man considered every single child he took in, as his own. To lose one was as if you were attacking himself.
He didn't take that sort of act without an answering retort. Whether with blood or word.
(PoV Change - First Person)
I ran a hand through my hair, taking a deep breath. I raised a hand. Halting the beauty before me, keeping her from speaking.
"I haven't been home for half a day and someone is trying to kill me." Giving her a pointed look she returned it without a moment's delay. Almost seems like she wants to yell at me?
"What?"
I could see her shoulders start to shaking, following after I heard her laugh. No I mean really laugh. Not a sarcastic one or a nervous one. No, a serious, from the body laugh. Seems to make sense that it made me upset, someone not half an hour ago had just tried to kill me. If you weren't aware laughing isn't exactly the best reaction to an assassination attempt. Nearly bit one of my tongue's clenching a fist.
But it was clear, or at least to me, that she wasn't laughing at someone trying to kill me. The energy she gave off wasn't... wasn't like that.
Finally taking a breath she gently held her sides as she tried to calm down. "When I first saw you, I figured you for an upstuck boring brat. So far nothing has followed that thought. Almost like trouble goes out of its way to find you."
I grinned. "Wouldn't that make you trouble?"
Her eyes briefly widened, closing before she laughed again.
There was something about that laugh. It made me want to hear it again, or I'd want to laugh myself. The room quickly became awkward with silence. "So what now?"
I looked up at her, probably with a dumb look on my face. "Right, kinda forgot about that. Kami herself huh?" I drummed my fingers on my arm. Kurai looked me in the eyes from across the room. "We both know for a fact, she doesn't intervene with humans anymore. The last recorded sign of her presence was millennia ago."
She just answered her own question, no seriously, "You just answered your own question. She's 'our' god she can do whatever she wants."
Kurai's face practically screamed sadness. I think the only thing that could have said it any clearer would be actual tears. Did I ever mention I dislike crying women?
Well rather the only one I was ever around was Mikoto... That's beside the point!
"Then what do we do? Why am I here?" I could hear the tone change as if it wrote itself out to me screaming "Hey I'm angry!"
"I had to have my only companion killed, because she told me so!" Didn't expect that.
"I killed my own sister because Kami told me too!" Didn't expect that either...
"You want to know what it's like only having one other person in the world mean something to you. Only for someone to ruin EVERYTHING!" My mind became a haze of anger, sadness. All those emotions I spent so much time on keeping under a firm boot, keeping from getting out, started to surface.
But it stopped dead.
"So what do we do then huh?! What's Kami's almighty plan? Are we supposed to have sex?" ...or that!
"No no no no!"
I scrambled to my feet as fast as I could, trying to stop her from undressing. By the time I was across the room the obviously taller woman already had her armor, her loose tank top not far behind.
Not gonna lie I was stunned by the sight. So much so I tripped, yay. I ran face first into her chest, knocking both of us to the floor. Somehow ending up on the bottom I found myself glaring up at her. Something was at the back of my mind making the anger resurface once more. The rage was so sudden and intense I didn't notice the brief clarity of my sight. My hand snapped to her mouth, preventing her from speaking.
My glare must have become more intense, or something of the sort. She stiffened in my grasp, eyes widening.
With a snarl I finally lost control of the rage I so deeply despised. "Do not ever assume I of all people, have no clue what that situation is like!" It must of started here but I'm still not sure when. I was crying.
"The only person I ever loved, ever had, that only cared for my well being was taken from me!" I tightened my grip on her face. "The only person I could ever hope to see as my mother was killed, but not just by anyone! No she was killed by her own real flesh and blood, whom I called brother!" If it was even possible I became even more angry, the thought of Itachi melted away any sadness.
A memory rushed me, faster than any bolt of lightning.
(Flashback)
"You two are brothers from this day forward. No fighting!" A frustrated Mikoto stood over the pair of Itachi and Naruto, fan in hand. Said redhead was rubbing his head free of pain.
"Naruto you must accept this, and Itachi you must understand this. You two must care for each other as if you were brothers by blood." She sighed as she knelt before the duo. "I love you both. You are my world. You are everything to me. Seeing you fight, always bickering, hurts me." Placing her hand over her heart, the two boys flinched at the sight of her crying.
"You two, life isn't always fair. Infact as you get older, you'll realize that life is full of disappointment, cruelty and hate." Wiping away her tears she smiled at the boys.
"But if you have someone important to you, you can overcome the hate, with love. The cruelty with kindness, and beat disappointment with satisfaction."
Itachi gave Naruto a sideways glance before sighing and messing up the boy's hair. He then looked at his mother, "I guess we can." Then he turned back to Naruto.
"It's not my fault I'm smarter than you Naru-chan!"
"Hey!"
Mikoto couldn't help but smile at her two boys. 'Acceptance isn't always easy, but they'll get there eventually.'
(Flashback end)
My hand froze, I slowly pulled it away and wrapped my arm around Kurai. Removing any apprehension I embraced the half naked woman before me. Any anger I'd been building was fading away replaced by sadness. I hated these memories of mine. They only served to make me feel lost in the world.
Pulling us back up her arms wrapped around me and held me in return. "Seems we've both been hurt. Guess I got a little carried away." By now my defenses were nearly broken, my body was trembling. I knew she knew, her embrace became lighter. Her hand ran its way through my hair.
By now I couldn't stop, couldn't help, but start sobbing into her neck. "Why does it feel like my world is splitting apart?"
"If that's the case then I'll use mine. I'll use it to put yours back together."
Her body trembled just as mine once was. The exhaustion was setting in, the curtains of darkness washing over me. But I heard her words. There was a different tone to them. Unlike us, it was different. Angry once again?
No it was resolve.
"I promise Naruto, I'll make us a new world. Where we can be happy."
I felt a shift in our bodies and she kissed my forehead.
"I promise."
yep, you guessed it, more editing as of Sept.14, 2020