Naruto POV
I walked next to Jiji as we headed to Ichiraku talking about the new friends I met today, "You shoulda seen it Jiji! Akamaru jumped up really really high and actually climbed the tree to Shikamaru and me, it was funny to see Shika be surprised y'know!" I grinned
"I bet you were all a sight to behold Naruto... I'm glad you've made some friends today." Jiji smiled as we walked through the marketplace, lanterns were starting to glow. All of them black with yellow flames over an orange fox. I saw everyone putting up the lanterns and watching Jiji and I walk by. Many looking sad, angry, or neutral before they turned around and started making food and treats.
"Jiji... what are those lights?"
"...Today is the day the Forth, The Yellow Flash; sealed away the Kyuubi no Kitsune... So the lanterns show our memory of him... his sacrifice and our thanks..." Jiji sighed
"He was strong?" I asked
"Oh yes... to be Hokage is to be the strongest, strong not only as a ninja but as a leader of all their people... and he was a great man." Jiji smiled sadly
"C-could I do that?" I whispered
"Do what Naruto?"
"Be a great leader..?" I looked up and saw him smile and pull out his pipe.
"Absolutely... you just need to have 3 things." He nodded
"Really?! What? What?" I bounced as we walked into the ramen stall
"Well you need strength of course... and confidence to do what's best for the village..." Jiji sighed
"Don't wander off! What's the last Jiji?!" I growled
"Love... for the villagers, small and big, young and old." He grinned
"Wow... that's a lot of love to give..." I wondered how long before I could love everyone.
"Well Naruto... if you give love, you tend to receive it too...It may be different kinds but there is love to exchange." Jiji smiled
"I love you Jiji." I grinned as I asked for 3 bowls of miso ramen with pork and an egg.
"And I love you Naruto, you're like another grandchild of mine."
"Jiji... how do you love everyone?" I ask
"Hmm... well it could be as simple as a love for a pet... or the love of someone as a soul mate... I suppose it depends Naruto." He nodded before eating his own noodles. I slurped on mine and thought of how I could love all those people. I guess I could start with my new friends...
Shikamaru POV
"Shikamaru how was your day?" asked me
"...not too troublesome." I reply
"Really? You usually call the Inuzuka kid way too troublesome." Dad snuffed while eatting
"We met a new kid today" I shrug, I still couldn't figure out why I'd never seen him... or why it looked like an orange whirlpool was on his forehead.
"Oh? That's rare, who was it?"
"Some boy named Naruto Uzumaki" I replied, I heard mom's humming stop for a moment and Dad's chopsticks stilled for a moment before he swallowed
"Well, did you have fun?"
"Yeah I guess, he watched the clouds with me a bit after we played tag. Then Kiba did get troublesome..." I shrugged again before grabbing my bowl of soul and taking a sip
"Well, be kind to him. New friends are important." Mom said before sitting down with some tea.
"Yeah yeah." I nod
"That's 'yes' and only once young man." She chided
"Right..." I sighed, troublesome...
~Later~
I crept from bed to get some water and heard mom and dad murmuring in the kitchen.
"I'm sure he's stable... the Third is strong enough to keep him at bay dear." Dad said softly
"I know... I just worry. And it's almost ominous..."
"How?"
"Well today? Of all days?" Mom hissed quietly
"Ah... well think of the child... there's no way this burden is a light one... even under secret..." Dad sighed
"...poor child... if only I could trust IT as much as I want to trust him..." Mom sighed sadly
"I will put my faith in the future generation's will of fire; and the Third's judgement." Dad said strongly. "Let's go to bed dear... worry another time."
"Alright Shikaku..." Mom sighed again and left
Dad stayed behind before whispering even softer, "Go back to bed Shikamaru..."
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