Dust
Dust.
To naruto it seemed that all beings in the world had turned to dust, every piece of the earth, dust. It was dust, dust, dust. It was strangling him as he walked along the trail to the nearest country, which could be three to five days away. His feet were heavy as he dragged them across the surface of the firecountry. It was all dust.
The grass that broke through the surface of the earth, grasping for the sun. desperate – desperate.
His breathing was heavy and tough. To him it was like there wasn't enough oxygyn in the world and he felt like dying. It was all dust, invading him, making his wounds, lungs and head hurt. He couldn't stop though, he had to go on, because he never been one to stop walking.
He never had.
His eyes hurt as well, and he could barely see the road ahead of him. It concerned Jirayia when he grabbed Naruto's arm, the poor man didn't even react. His movements were slow and dull and he looked like he was on the edge of sleeping.
Jirayia sighed. "I'm too old for this" Before Naruto knew of it, his eyes had turned from the ground to the sky above him, which seemed for once bright blue, but then his head landed on something not so soft. A shoulder. He felt the elder man snack his arm around him, as he tried to carry the man bridal style, even though it wasn't that easy when you lacked an arm.
"you should've stayed home kiddo. It's too tough on you"
There was a silence for a while.
"Ero-sennin. How were my father and mother?"
It didn't seem to catch the elder man by surprise and he hoisted Naruto up even more, and smiled at the road ahead.
"your father. He was a great man. You look just like him and he was just as great as you. I knew him quite well and if I have to admit, I've always looked upon him as a son of my own. So I guess that makes you my grandson, doesn't it Naruto?"
He saw the sick looking Hokage look at the sky, with a bright smile on his face. "my mother, my mother, tell me about her"
"Beautiful woman."
"more"
"hahaha, if you ask that of me then. She was a beautiful redhead, a talented ninja as well, but when she was younger she was just like you. It amazes me sometimes what hormones do to you kids when you come of that age. An amazing woman"
Naruto sighed and the sky above him still welcomed him with a cheerful smile.
-
"there's a reason why we die isn't there?"
-
Naruto blinked as if remembering something important.
-
"I mean, if we don't die? What then? If Sasuke had not died, then we wouldn't be here and if we weren't here would that mean the world would be better?"
-
There was the dust again.
-
"death, maybe it isn't that bad"
-
Blue, that was the colour of Naruto's eyes.
Sometimes he wondered whether or not it truly was that colour.
-
Shizune moistened her lips as she gracefully stitched the wound together on the fallen ninja. Pearls of sweat travelled along side her cheek, like water seeking the ocean. Her hair clung horrible to her face and her eyes were tired and red. Fourteen hours with almost no breaks, trying to save many of the fallen ninjas – many had asked for loved ones as they lay there, screaming with pain.
Chouji had asked for Ino, his mother, his father, Shikamaru and food. It was no surprise for the talented medic nin.
Ino had asked for Sai, Sasuke, Sakura, her parents and Naruto…
That had been a surprise.
Shikamura on drugs spoke of beautiful flowery fields, with his child and soon to be wife and Naruto…
She had thought she would lose him.
Tohru had been quiet as the woman had placed bandages around her arms and head. For a girl this young it had been a miracle for her to even survive a battle like this. What a horrific feeling it is. To stand on the side, watching children dying for a futile purpose – or it could seem like that.
Naruto…
He had screamed, cried, even in his sleep – calling for dead friends, for a dead mother… and a dead girlfriend…if Sakura would ever be qualified as that.
Shizune wondered if Naruto blamed himself for their deaths. If so, she would make sure that he wouldn't die doing that – he had helped too many people to die regretting deaths of his important people.
Her hands shifted to the bowl of water beside her and cleansed her blood hands with a swift movement. How come that war never made anyone happy? Of course there were the people who celebrated as soon as the war was over, but how many days and nights would pass before they realised how terrible it had been…
War must be avoided at all cost…
-
"Naruto?"
"I love you"
"yeah"
"how am I supposed to live…?"
"you're bleeding"
"I fought."
"he's dead! He died!"
"…I can see that"
"TSUNADE!"
"…knowing his blood is on my hands"
"you'll die! Die kyuubi! Die!"
"Tohru's parents are dead"
"where did you go!? Why did you leave us!?"
"no!"
"four years…Akatsuki has held me tightly"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"open your eyes…."
"..."
"Sakura…chan?"
-
Naruto's eyes opened slowly as he felt the softness of a bed underneath him. He felt heavy, tired and his body ached. The sight of the ceiling above him made him narrow his eyes though.
This was not the Hokage tower.
Voices reached Naruto's eyes. They were coming from the hallway outside of the room. They were low and whispered in a language foreign to his. His eyes were heavy and he found it hard to even try and understand what it was they spoke of. Was it him? Were they the ones who had spoken so strangely to him?
It seemed like ages before the doors opened, and greeted the bedridden Hokage. Naruto flashed him a pained grin, apologizing for not being able to shake his hand. The man had a pleasant look in his face as he sat down beside Naruto, explaining just who he was.
"I'm the highest ranked in this country and I have heard of you from far and wide, so it quite an honour having you here" his tone turned more serious as the conversation continued. "I'm concerned with this travelling of yours. With the kyuubi poisoning you, Konoha will soon see them with the loss of yet another Hokage. It will not bring harmony to the ninja countries. It certainly will not"
Naruto's eyes flickered from the officer to the ceiling once more. "I know, but that's not much else I can do for the sake of Konoha. If this is going to kill me, then I want to be remembered as one who fought to the end."
The officer smiled. "Jirayia-sama has of that already explained. I would done just as thee Hokage-sama, it just merely concerns me, and I would in all times protect the country of fire, if we of course, are promised protection as well. Our location isn't the best of choices, lying in between countries of vas in size. It would be great if we were to have a mutual agreement and contract."
Things were going so well.
-
"Naruto?"
"I love you"
"yeah"
"how am I supposed to live…?"
"you're bleeding"
"I fought."
"he's dead! He died!"
"…I can see that"
"TSUNADE!"
"…knowing his blood is on my hands"
"you'll die! Die kyuubi! Die!"
"Tohru's parents are dead"
"where did you go!? Why did you leave us!?"
"no!"
"four years…Akatsuki has held me tightly"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"Naruto?"
"open your eyes…."
"..."
"Sakura…chan?"
-
What were those green eyes that greeted him with a smile? "Open your eyes.."
-
FINALLY! After weeks and weeks of homework + crap, I've managed to write a chapter! It's not long! But this will have to do until I'm off for studybreak! :D :D :D :D
If anything's confusing please do ask!