Anthem Of My dying Days
Author's Note
- It's only a filler chapter... so, I 'll make it short and simple.
- Especially for readers who want to see Naruto changes into his normal life, I'm afraid that wouldn't happen because Naruto has becoming a rude person, more badass and more advanced in foul-language usage besides being a calm and cool person... thanks to the harsh teachings of Kenshin, Saitou and Yoshinobu. Gomenasai, minna-san!!!
Exclusive Episode - A Midnight's Dream (Naruto and Hinata)
The midnight air in Konoha was a little bit fresh, more fresh than the air in Kyoto which once were filled of the horrorful smell of blood and human bodies laying all of over the streets, rotting and decaying into pieces. It seems that Konoha had achieved peace and solidarity for so long, since the attack by Sunakagure ninjas where Naruto himself had encountered Gaara, the container of Jinchuuriki. If the citizens of Konoha wanted to compare the destruction resulted from that mere attack on Konoha to the bloody wars in Japan, especially Kyoto during Bakumatsu era, they have to think twice or maybe more before comparing these two incidents. After all, these Konoha ninja had never felt the fear that the samurai had felt during their battle during the bloody-era, especially when they have to fight against both Battousai Himura or Miburo Saitou Hajime in the alley or streets of Kyoto.
Naruto had figured it for so long, for he never fought against the other two best sword-fighters in Japan besides Kenshin Himura Battousai. Yes, he had once fought against Kenshin, but it was only during his training. He never saw Yoshinobu performing his dark Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu or Saitou Hajime slashing the enemies with his powerful Gatotsu.
A part from his heart admired them very much since they had shown him the other path of getting stronger according to his Bushido Code, without harming his former comrades... And now it was his own choice to choose the path which is destined for him.
While he was staring up to the sky. thinking about his past as the Kage no Hitokiri and his future as a samurai who served both Konoha and Kyoto, a voice suddenly cut his deep thoughts.
"Naruto-kun, are... you... alright?"
Oh, Naruto was totally forgot about Hinata which insisted on accompanying him just for that night... maybe she was totally bored with the strict principles of Hyuuga Family.
"I'm alright... just remembering my past and planning on doing something in the future...", Naruto continued his deep thoughts while lighting another cigarette.
"Shit, I really have treatened my lungs badly... a piece of cigarette after another... will I end-up being Saitou-kun's clone??", Naruto thought, looking at his burned cigarette.
"Errr, Naruto-kun... It has.. been two times since you mentioned... about the Bakumatsu era in Kyoto... I.. would like... to hear... stories about it..", Hinat spoke in a trembling voice.
Naruto was quite uneasy to tell Hinata about the era that had totally turned his fellowship of the samurai into demons and had slightly almost turned him into the same condition with them, too. He never told anybody in Konoha the specific stories behind the cruel era as an honour to those who had fought valiantly, and those who had fallen during the era. His thought unintendedly laid on Kenshin, which was always haunted by his cruel Battousai Hitokiri personality that he developed all by himself during the era and Saitou, which Naruto always seen visiting the grave of his fallen Shinsen Gumi comrades, especially the graveyard of the late Okita Souji, Saitou's only best friend.
"Naruto-kun...". A voice again intercepted Naruto's deep thoughts.
"Oh, sorry... just remembering my comrades who had fallen during Bakumatsu era...", Naruto exhaled the smoke from his cigarette.
Naruto directed his head to another direction, when he realised that Hinata was watching him with a completely blushed face.
"Bakumatsu era was the era where the Imperialist samurai was fighting against the reign of Tokugawa Families... The fighting took the fighting mostly in Kyoto, because Kyoto is the capital city of Japan during that time... my fellowship of the samurai whom all of you had met just now were the main important characters of the bloody era... Kenshin Himura Battousai was one of the Imperialist Hitokiri specialized to guard the front line during their assault on Kyoto, while both Yoshinobu Tokugawa and Saitou Hajime were among the backbones of Tokugawa samurai forces... Yoshinobu was the leader of Tokugawa Hitokiri Force while Saitou Hajime was the Captain of Shinsen Gumi 3rd Division...", Naruto began his story.
"Wow, you're lucky to have... three of them to be your sensei... I can sense... that there is still... a piece of kindness in their heart... despite of their horror and cruel history..", Hinata added while watching Naruto poured sake into a small cup.
"All of us had at least a bit of cruel and sad history behind us... but I have pity on Yoshinobu more than other two Hitokiri, since he had to suit his life into a local citizen's life after being exiled from Tokugawa Family castle... his father even hired some samurai to kill him to avoid him spreading bad news about the Tokugawa Family, but yet he acted so cool and cold-hearted...".
"All hope become despair...". Naruto smirked as he sipped his sake.
"Let the dragon chooses its own path of life, let no question asked about why and how it chooses the path...".
"Naruto-kun... the phrases... it's full of meanings...", Hinata spoke as she joined Naruto watching the beautiness of the shining stars in the sky.
"...just like the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu itself, full of meanings and perceptions...", Naruto began to pour some sake into his tiny cup.
Hinata observed Naruto from his legs up to his hair. To her, Naruto now is a bit matured from he was before. His way of speaking and his attitude has changed from a talkative and energetic ninja-boy to a samurai which is full of serenity and wisdom. Unlike his harsh and mocking way of conversations with other ninja, he turned to be polite during his conversations with Hinata as Hinata always showed him compassion and the love he had never cherished before.
"Naruto-kun... There's something... I like... to tell you...", Hinata spoke, a bit of trembling.
"Yes??"
Hinata always wanted to tell Naruto about her feelings, but she couldn't. She always kept blaming herself on that. Sometimes, she envied Sakura for being admired by Naruto, during their past moments as Konoha genin. She hatred towards Sakura rose highly when Sakura denied Naruto's love and kept on chasing Sasuke which showed not even any feelings towards her. Naruto was right in his perception about love. Love is blind...
"Do you still love Sakura-dono??"
"Hinata, there's no room for love in my heart for now... I just can't reserve even tiny spaces in my heart for love right now...", Naruto slowly lit another cigarette.
"What's... your perception... about love... so far??".
"Why don't you just take a look on that miserable Sakura?? Insane and unorganized, hallucinating about Sasuke... her total foolish love towards that fuckin' brat Sasuke is just too high, and the love had destroyed her life once and for all... of course I wouldn't let that ruined my life..."
"Naruto-kun..."
"Yes..??"
"Would you accept me... if I tell you now... that I'm trully madly deeply... in love with you??", Hinata wisely arranged her words.
And those words shocked Naruto just like his heart was stabbed by a kunai.
"Oh, shit... no wonder she kept on blushing if she met me anywhere...", Naruto thought while remembering his meets with Hinata when he was a Konoha genin.
"Hinata, you belongs to the prestigious Hyuuga Family. Do you know that your words just now can cause bad implications to you yourself??"
Suddenly, Hinata cried as her tears running wildly over her cheek.
"Naruto-kun, when... you fled away.. to Japan... I almost killed myself... My heart was broken to see... you're living a miserable way of life...".
"Hinata, I'm not rejecting you for sure... but if your family know about that??"
"They knew about it... That's why Hiashi-sama replaced me... with Hanabi as the Hyuuga heir..."
"Oh my god... you... ", Naruto couldn't continue his words further, when he watched Hinata sobbing.
Naruto suddenly recalled his conversations with his fellowship of the Hitokiri, just before he went back to Konoha.
(flashback)
"Sometimes what we are doing now accidentally broke the heart of those who always loving us with the deepest of her heart...", Saitou spoke before he lit his cigarette.
"Saitou-kun, a romantic words from a well-known Miburo No Ookami Shinsen Gumi... this world of love and romances is not suitable for us, isn't it?", Naruto lit his cigarette as he slowly sat beside Saitou, watching the sky.
"Hey, of course I'm expert about it... after all, I have my own wife now...".
"What the hell..!!! Wait, you've married... with whom!!?? She is surely a buddha with a pure heart, isn't she?? No wonder she can tame you easily!!!"
"Never ask anything about my Tokio Takagi, a daughter of Aizu Daimyo, Takagi Takeshiro... She's a mix genetic of Buddha and devil... when she's angry, you'll be dead meat for sure... I've once being a victim of her anger, being Gatotsu-ed on my shoulder by a wooden sword is the best example...", Saitou voiced, in anger.
"Wooo, evil... okay, back to our conversation..", Naruto expressed his words, in admiration for Tokio which was abled to tamed a deadly wolf just like Saitou easily.
"Never break the heart of those who totally loved you with her pure clean heart..."
" Nani?? You always call yourself the Miburo Shinsen Gumi who once reigned the streets of Kyoto, killing the evil samurai violently!!!! Yet you expressed love poems in the most disgusting way I've ever heard!!!"
"Hoi baka-yarou, every samurai need a woman who can tame his strong desire to kill... as an honourable man, we need woman to take care of us, to make us happy and to treat our injuries after we've come back from war... how can you fight against these simple rules of life?? every man needs a woman in his life... even Okita Souji which always fought valiantly had a mistress to pleasure him every night..."
"Are you saying that we should reserve places in our heart just for love??"
"Why, yes... even your Kenshin-sensei has a lover now, her name is Kaoru Kamiya... Yoshinobu whom you recognized as the most craziest Hitokiri you ever seen, plans to marry a member of Okashira Kunoichi on this upcoming summer, her name is Omasu... Ha, another best example... Do you know Aoshi Shinomori??"
"yes..."
"He is now secretly in crush with an annoying new leader of Okashira Kunoichi, Misao Makimachi... See, a man can't always stands on his feet... sometimes he need a woman who can pleasure his heart, love him totally with her pure heart..." Saitou added, before he quickly hid his cigarette under the bench where he sat just now.
His face was showing a great sign of fear as he saw a well-dressed and cute woman about in the age of 25, walking towards him while holding her wooden sword.
"Is that your Tokio...?", Naruto asked.
"I'm afraid, yes...", Saitou replied, in trembling voice.
"Tokio-chan..."
"Saitou-baby, are you smoking? How many times do I have to tell you not to smoke, hubby??", Tokio asked politely while showing her evil face.
"Your wife?", Naruto asked Saitou before bowed politely at Tokio.
"Yes...", Saitou replied, in fear.
"Oh, Naruto-kun... nice to meet you here, smoking along with my lovely Saitou-baby...", Tokio politely bowed, before dragging Saitou home.
"For the first time I beg you Naruto, please save me... She's gonna Gatotsu me after this... Tokio, please spare my life, I cannot live without cigarette...", Saitou spoke, trembling in fear.
"NO, Saitou-hubby!!! You'll be punished severely tonight.. no soba and the most important thing, no sex for you tonight!!!", Tokio spoke, dragging Saitou back to their house.
"Hei, I need soba tonight... hungry..."
"No lame excuses...", Saitou heard the soft but cruel voice of Tokio as he saw Naruto waving his hand to him.
"Iterasshai... goodbye, Saitou-kun...", Naruto shouted loudly, only causing Saitou to fell fear more and more.
(end of flashback)
The environment became silent for a minute, before Naruto finally surrendered.
"Hai, I will never win against the feelings of love, even though I tried my best to avoid it...", Naruto sipped his sake.
"Naruto-kun..", Hinata stopped sobbing.
"I promise I will take care of you for my entire life, even from your Hiashi-sama...", Naruto poured again some sake into his tiny cup.
"Naruto-kun...", Hinata's face was completely blushed as she hugged Naruto tightly. Her heart was in deep happiness to know that Naruto also had a same feelings of loving her, too.
Slowly Naruto whispered into Hinata's ear.
"I love you, too... Let the stars be the witnesses of our blooming love tonight...".
"Yes, Naruto-kun... I knew this day will arrive, and tonight finally my wish become true... the man that I used to watch him from far distance once upon a time ago is now hugging me...", Hinata cried in happiness. The feelings of happiness that can't be changed with money or anything precious in this world.
Hinata always prayed for this moment to come, and it finally came... although in another weird way for Hinata herself.
Another moments of love and romances had bloomed again, even though it was between two different status, a samurai and a kunoichi. But again their pure love overcame everything, everything that blocked their ways.
Hinata will be remembering this moment as the most happy moments she had spent with Naruto in her life.
Will Hinata shares her story about how Naruto and her spend the night watching the sky while hugging each other, with Sakura, Ino and Tenten? Time will tell us everything...
- End of Exclusive Episode - A Midnight's Dream -
Author's Note
- Nothing to say... TT (completely touched with romances stories of Naruto and Hinata)
- Stay tune for Episode 8 - Fake Tales of Konoha
- Hint - act 1 : In front of Konoha Main Building - Naruto and Kenshin fighting to test Naruto's skills and swordsmanship
act 2 : Konoha Hokage Office - Yoshinobu and Tsunade discussing about Naruto
act 3 : Ichiraku Ramen stall - Saitou and Kakashi along with Sai and Sakura in quite long conversations.