WanderingRurouni's Collection of One-shots and Short Stories
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(Started 4/4/14 - Published 4/13/14) – Chapter 4: "Just a Simulation...?"
CONTINUITY: One-shot(Probably no future continuity here.)
INSPIRED BY: SubReddit - r/WritingPrompts: "Your computer gains sentience and falls in love with you. You agree to have a date and see where things go."
NARRATION: Third Person, Limited - Naruto
MAIN CHARACTERS: Naruto/His sentient computer
RATING: T (oh boy! This is a first.)
GENRE: Romance, Science Fiction
SETTING: Modern-ish World(so, basically the Anime World)
WORD COUNT: 3,897
WARNINGS: There's no lemon in this chapter (I know. You may be disappointed) because this piece will actually have a point.
DISCLAIMER: The point the mind that I will illustrate here is not my own, but comes from an iconic man named Rod Serling, Who expressed it in the original Twilight Zone series.
OTHER NOTES: There's a high chance that many of these stories will come about like this; so it may actually be able to last "forever" or until the exercise has run its course.
I'll check r/WritingPrompts every once in a while(actually, probably everyday) and get to practice my writing this way
Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope you enjoy it.
"Good night." Naruto called out to himself in an empty house that darkened as the lights went out. His voice filled the empty structure with an echo that was soon drowned out by the sounds that came from outside; sounds that came from the rest of Konoha.
He sat down on his bed, faced the window, and lifted the curtain away to stare out into the other homes, overcrowded with loving families, echoing with sounds of celebration and laughter. With a deep sigh, he let the curtain fall back, and collapsed onto his mattress.
...
"They want me to take this computer off their hands...?' Naruto asked Shizune with confusion. "Why? What am I going to do with it?"
"Tsunade-sama wants you to take it. She told me that it could help take your mind off of your problems." Shizune replied.
"But, why? How is this thing going to help me? Can it bring back my parents? Can it give me a loving family? Some people that I can spend my life with?" He took another deep breath. "I don't think so."
"I-I'm sorry, Naruto...I didn't mean anything like that." Shizune mumbled with a bow. "I'll tell Tsunade-sama what you said."
"Thank you." He turned to leave, but stopped in his tracks. "Look, Shizune-neechan. I'm sorry for that outburst. Please, forgive me, it's nothing personal with you. The truth is, I am lonely...But I don't see how this machine can provide the human contact that I need."
"No, don't worry. I understand. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to see me." She added with another nod.
"It was no trouble." He smiled to her as he left the room.
"Troubled?" Kakashi asked quietly as he stoically leaned against the wall. "You know, you didn't need to give her such a hard time." He still stood up against drywall panel, closing the book that he treasured so much.
"Yeah. I know, and I apologized. But Kakashi-sensei, how can that thing help me?"
"Why not just give it a try? Huh?" Naruto stood there dumbfounded for a minute.
"Alright." He finally replied with a heavy sigh.
...
"Okay, just follow the directions in the manual, and you'll be all set." A technician instructed while pointed to a rather intimidatingly large textbook the lay on the floor. "Don't worry, once you get used to them, you'll be spending your spare time with it as much as you can."
"If you say so." Naruto replied sarcastically. "Thanks for the help." He added while leading the technician to the door. Naruto walked back to the machine, turned on its screen, and opened the book to page one.
A few days later...
Naruto shut his monitor off, turned around, and sat on his bed while the computer slowly hummed away until the gentle whisper finally disappeared.
"Good night." He called out again to the empty house before he turned to his side, and closed his eyes.
...
The next morning, he woke up to find that the computer tower was humming with life.
What the hell? I'm sure I turned it off last night.
The screen flashed with life as he glared at the monitor with a mix of confusion and uncertainty. He noticed another odd detail.
The desktop background had changed.
In all this time, he had never bothered to change it. But now, it wasn't the stock image of a green background mixed in with a gradiant of colors.
The desktop baclground was dominated by woman, her back facing outwards towards him, only revealing her back, only obstructed by her long, flowing blonde hair that ran down the length of her body.
He shook his head, regained his senses, and attempted to change the background to its original generic green, but couldn't find the option to do so.
"...I guess I'll go tell them that something's wrong." He left his house soon afterward, and made his way back to Konoha's technology center.
"Here to file a complaint?" A low tone came from a woman that sat behind the reception desk. She carelessly stared at him with dead eyes that screamed out to him: "I hate this damn place." He returned the gesture with an awkward smile.
"Actually, I just came here for some help. Could you point me in the right direction?"
"Tech Support is over there." She raised a lazy finger and pointed to her left.
"T-Thank you." He replied nervously.
"UHM-HUM" she replied while rolling her eyes.
Not wanted to partake in this uncomfortable conversation anymore, he bowed, and followed her direction. Looking along the walls he came to a hallway with an old, cheaply printed piece of paper that read "tech support."
"Hey!" A friendly stranger yelled out. "My name's Sano, How can I help you?"
"H-Hey" he was a bit hesitant and taken aback by the contrast in employee conduct. "Yeah, my name's-"
"Naruto!" Sano interrupted. "Yeah, I know you. Kenji just helped you with that new computer a few days back!"
"Right." Naruto confirmed.
"Alright, let's go!" Sano shot up from his current project that lay flat on a table.
"Just like that?" Naruto questioned.
"Just like that!" Sano replied while leaning in closer. "...And I don't really want to be here anyway." He whispered, with a pat on Naruto's shoulder, and then led them out of the maze-like hallway and out the main door.
...
"Yep! That could be a virus!" Sano shouted. "I've seen something like this before."
"You have?"
"Sure! About 10 years ago! HQ was attacked by some hackers that made the image of a witch's face appear on ALL of our monitors, we had no control of our mouse cursors, and the keyboards were unresponsive. We couldn't do anything!"
"So...How did you figure it out?" Naruto asked with concern.
"We had to wipe the entire system. That always solves the problem." Sano replied, and no later than when the words left his mouth, did Naruto notice that the woman on his screen seemed to move. He refocused, dismissing it as his imagination, and listened to the rest of Sano's story. "...Every single bit of Data in Konoha was gone in a flash; all information on every citizen, shinobi, man, woman, and child...poof. Gone."
"10 years ago, wasn't there a census at that time?"
"Exactly. We gathered all information at once, it took us weeks to reinput every single detail back in the records...Now..." Sano clicked on a single highlighted word, another window appeared. "...Let this finish downloading, the double click it. You'll be all set. But you need to run it right away, or else the virus could corrupt it,"
"Thanks, Sano." Naruto held out his hand.
"Hey, anything to get me out of the office from that evil receptionist!" Sano took Naruto's hand and shook it vigorously. "I'll see you around, Naruto."
Naruto waved goodbye to him at the door, and turned back towards his bed, and the computer.
Then he noticed something else. The image of the woman had shifted; she was now turned to her side, facing him. It seemed like she was staring into his very soul with sapphire eyes that were deeper than his own.
What the hell?
"...It must be that virus again." He dismissed the phenomenon, and placed a towel over the monitor.
12 hours left...
He took another irritated deep breath, set the clock to count down for eleven hours and fifty minutes before he lay on his bed, and closed his eyes.
...
The constant ringing of the alarm woke him up in the morning. The first sound he noticed when he stopped the alarm clock was the light humming of the computer, his eyes opened, and gazed upon the computer monitor, with the towel removed, it seemed to be glaring back ar him. Panic suddenly entered his mind as he quickly sat up, and cleared his senses by shaking his head.
"Naruto-san." A soft voice called out from behind him. He quickly shot up to his feet and aggressively brought his hands into a defensive stance.
"Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?" He asked immediately while turning to face her. His stance weakened as he realized he had seen her before. His eyes gazed into her deep ocean blue eyes that seemed deeper than the deepest depths of the most remote underwater trench in the whole world. Her hair was as golden blonde as his, glittering with the sunlight that streamed into the room. Her own skin was fair, but the features on her body were missing, no scars, no marks, not even any hint of bone or muscle structure, as if she were wearing a single-piece latex suit that covered her entire body.
She didn't answer verbally, but simply lifted a finger and pointed to the computer. He looked at the computer, and looked back at her in silence.
"You're the computer?" She nodded to answer his question. "H-How is this possible?"
She looked into his eyes and answered softly: "You live in a world where people can shoot fire out of their hands, where Toads can be summoned by blood oaths, and where demons can break free from their eternal seals...And yet, you refuse to believe in me?"
She had a point there.
"Last night, Sano said you were just a virus, just a machine, how else am I supposed to feel about it?"
She didn't respond right away, seemingly searching for an answer.
"Naruto-san, every night, you've said good night, and every night since you've had me, I was the only person here to hear you. Doesn't that matter to you?" She stood up and began walking towards him. "The database that man told you about, I still have it, and I know almost everything about everyone."
He was frozen in surprise. She walked slower to him with every step, the floor not making a sound. He saw the air begin to distort around her, and before his very eyes, Naruto saw her body change, she was now wearing a black and orange jumpsuit, just as Naruto always did. She wrapped her arms around him, and pulled him closer.
"You said good night to me every night, and I came to life to tell you...that I love you." He looked at her with surprise and fear.
"But you're just a projection, how can you-"
"If you really believe that I'm just a projection, try to pull away."
He tried, but found that her arms were holding him back. She wasn't just a hologram, but a perfect simulation of a human being.
"Just...give me one chance." She pleaded. "Just spend one day with me...If you regret it, then I'll go away, and disappear forever.
She looked deep into his eyes as he let out a breath through his nostrils.
This is insane
"...Alright." He smiled. "But, tomorrow."
"Are you going somewhere?" She asked him.
"I…need to meet someone." He replied back.
She smiled while releasing her grip.
"It's nice to meet you, Naruto-san."
"It's nice to meet you...?"
"Hitomi."
"Hitomi." He added with a smile, and backed away. He turned and exited the house.
...
He walked among every person, family, and couple that crowded the nights with their joyous laughter.
How is this even possible?
His thoughts drifted with every mindless footstep that he took among the crowd.
"Hey! Naruto!" He heard a voice. Naruto turned to face the sound.
"Sano," he held out his hand. "How have you been?"
"It's only been a day, so I can say that nothing's really changed." Sano replied. "So, how's that virus treating you? Did you get rid of it?" Sano asked while grasping Naruto's palm with his own.
"...Not exactly, No." Naruto replied nervously.
"What happened? Did you run the download?"
"No. The download actually stopped itself." The continued to walk among the people while talking.
"What?" Sano asked in shock. Naruto emphasised his predicament by grabbing onto Sano's shoulders.
"The computer came to life!" He whispered fiercely.
"Well, yeah, the computer's supposed to turn on, I mean-"
"No! You aren't listening, Sano. The computer came to life. It took the form of a woman. She talked to me, she told me that she loved me...I need your help."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you're telling me that your computer has manifested itself into a person?"
"I know. It sounds outrageous."
"How is that even possible?"
"Sano, we live in a world where people can shoot fire out of their hands. Anything is possible."
"...You make a good point. Show me, and I'll see what I can do."
...
The door creaked as Naruto pushed it open, and his house slowly came into view. He invited Sano in with a wave of his hand, and looked out into the silent house with certain uncertainty.
"Hitomi?!" He called out.
No answer.
"Hitomi? Who's that?" Sano asked with confusion.
"That's the name the computer gave herself." Naruto absently replied.
"Hitomi? Are you in here?" He asked again
No answer. He looked back towards Sano in confusion, and led him towards his room.
"Well, here we are." Naruto said while holding his hands out. "Wait...I kept it on when I left just an hour ago."
"Okay...Well, we'll just turn it on, and see where it goes." The computer began to hum loudly; electricity pulsed through it, and brought it to life. "Okay, let's see where this goes."
They looked around in silence for a moment.
Nothing happened.
"So, you're sure that you saw a woman?"
"Yes."
"Naruto, I don't see anyone. There's only you and me."
"Maybe...I was just imagining it...?" Sano stared at Naruto for a few awkward seconds, before he stood up, and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Look, how about I come back later, and we go grab a few drinks?" He offered.
"No, no thanks, I don't drink."
"Well, do you need to talk? Got some problems that you need someone to listen too?" Naruto sunk down onto the couch, staring at his hands while resting his elbows on his knees.
"No. I'll be alright. Don't worry about it...Lock the door on your way out, will you?"
"Yeah. Take it easy now, Naruto."
"Take it easy." He called back while hearing Sano's footfalls, and then the door shut.
No sooner did Sano leave, did he hear the computer begin to hum again, and when he opened his eyes, he saw her standing before him.
"Naruto-san? You aren't trying to get rid of me, are you? I told you, just tell me to leave, and I'll go away forever." She asked somewhat possessively while sitting down next to him, and beginning to inch closer.
"I don't even know if you're real." He replied. "Why didn't you show Sano when he was here?"
"I was afraid that he would hurt me." She rested her hand on his cheek, and turned it towards her while making full eye contact. "Naruto-san. I know everything about you. And as much as you think you know who you are...My database of knowledge is infallible."
She leaned closer to him, her breath was getting heavier. "You said that you didn't know if I was real. But you couldn't keep eye contact. As you speak now, your voice cracks with uncertainty and fear. You know the truth." Her breath was on his ear now, as he sat motionless; he heard her final words that sent him into a state of inner-conflict.
"And that truth is..." Her breath entered his ear in a soft whisper. "...You don't want me to go away."
She lowered her hand and placed it on his chest, it hovered right above the zipper of his jacket, just waiting to grasp it, and yank it down, as she continued.
"We've both been so lonely, for so long. Now we can be together." His eyes opened wide, and he backed away.
"No...You need to leave. Now. Y-you said that you would go away if I told you to. So go."
She silently shook her head.
"But you don't want me to go." He blinked as she spoke, and heard her voice change.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata's voice began. "...Don't you understand..." Sakura's voice contined. "...What I can do?" Hitomi's own voice finished.
His mouth hung open
"I know everything about everyone. And I can be anyone you want. Tell me, and I will be whoever you want me to be. Just ask, and I will answer."
This is unreal.
Hitomi continued to speak as she looked deep into his eyes. "Naruto-san, do you have a request?" she slowly returned to her feet and looked at him. With a smile she shrugged her shoulders and held her hands out to her sides. Naruto's eyes were glued open at what he witnessed next. The air around her body began to distort, blurring his room. In one quick burst of invisible energy, the scene around him had changed; he was no longer sitting on his bed.
He sat on the edge of a lake; in the distance there was a magnificent waterfall, beautifully pouring its raging waters into the lake that swarmed to have an hour unreachable horizon. He knew that this wasn't real, but he couldn't fight the urge to believe the illusion that surrounded him. He brought his hands together to try and break from the Illusion, but nothing happened. It was as if he was in a dream.
Everything sseemed so real, the wind that ran across his cheeks, the sound of the leaves fluttering, even the most air that crept just above the water's surface felt as if it was caressing his skin. He couldn't find it on himself to deny the reality of the situation, and decided to accept it; with a deep breath, he moved to his feet.
"Naruto-kun!" a voice called out to him, catching him off-guard, causing him to stumble into the lake, and crash into the water's surface. He emerged from the lake a few seconds later. His vision was still blurred when he stepped out, and gazed at the figure standing in front of him, his eyes started from her feet and moved upward, scanning her entire body, from her violet sweatpants to her lavender hoodie.
"H-Hinata?" He thought back again to his conclusion that he was dreaming it'd be simple, there was only one thing he needed to do. He put his fingers together and pinched himself.
Ouch...So, it's not a dream.
"Naruto-kun, there's something that I'll I've always wanted to tell you."
She moved towards him and sat down next to the shore. He sat next to her, and found that his clothes had dried. Hinata's hand inched closer to him and held it tightly.
"I-i have always loved you." She added with a tightening grip around his hand. "I've never had the courage to tell you, but now that I finally have the chance, I want you to know. I've loved you ever since we were kids. I've always tried to give you subtle hint..." She twirled her long, violet hair with a single finger. "It's why I always kept my hair so short. Everyone thought that Sasuke liked girls with long hair, so I kept my hair short to let you know that I love you."
He stared at her with surprised eyes, frozen in shock as she closed her eyes and began moving towards him. He felt her lips touch his, the warmth from her caught him in the moment, causing him to lean back, until he felt the lush grass brushing against his back, following her lead, he closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw that the scenery had reverted back to what it originally was; he was sitting in his room, starting blankly at the old computer that sat on the table. The sound of the doorbell broke his concentration.
Maybe it was just dream.
He returned to his feet with all the haste he could muster, and opened the door to find a Kunoichi with pink hair on his doorstep.
"Naruto... Do you have time to talk?" She asked in an unusually subtle tone.
"Uhhh... Yeah, sure! Come in." he reluctantly replied; leading her to his couch, he offered her a drink, which she politely declined with a wave of her hand. Sakura moved her hand towards the cushion next to her and invited him to sit.
He followed her request without question.
"Naruto, this is something really important that I have to tell you."
"Go ahead, Sakura-chan, I'm listening."
"Naruto, I wanted to tell you, that I love you."
"Ha! Now I know this is a dream! Look, whoever you are, just leave right now." He threw his arms into the about with sarcasm before turning around.
"You're laughing at me?' Sakura's voice was almost cracking with fear and embarrassment. She rose to her feet and began walking towards him, her fist raised into the air. He turned and faced her threatening gaze with his own gaze of doubt and defiance.
"Show me then, show me how strong you are, Sakura-Chan." He eased his guard, and waited for the inevitable fist that would strike.
Instead, he felt her lips caress his. Her soft touch nearly knocked him off of his feet. She held his shirt tightly, and his hands began to move themselves. But when he opened his eyes, he saw that he wasn't kissing Sakura, but instead his lips were interlocked with a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, just like his own.
He didn't panic, but calmly took in a deep breath. "You could never be either of them." He said in a tone that seemed much darker than he had intended. "You know their names, you know their abilities, you know their mannerisms, but you can't be who they are, no matter how much data you have." He took a single step back. "Hitomi, I don't know how you came to be, but when you say that you have feelings for me, I can't give you the affection that thou seek. I'm... I'm sorry... But you have to go."
"B-but, Naruto-san, there has to be something that we can do-"
He shook his head and raised his hand to interrupt her, staring deep into her genuinely pained expression.
"Look, Hitomi, I'm not saying that you have to disappear, if you can manage somehow tho live out here, you're free to leave. But what you're asking for is impossible."
She didn't answer him, but instead, just began to fade away.
"I'm sorry, Hitomi." He finalized with a painful voice.
"It's okay, Naruto-san. Please don't worry. And take care of yourself... Goodbye." She replied with a surprisingly light voice. He looked up towards her and noticed that the visage of her was blurring, but he could make out a smile. When he blinked tho clear them, he found himself alone in his room.
After what seemed like an eternity of standing in a single spot, he moved to turn on the computer. To his surprise, it didn't power on.
"Goodbye, Hitomi, you, of all sentient beings should know that it isn't possible to cure loneliness by loving a mirror image of yourself. People need other people to feel loved."
With a deep sigh, he turned towards the door, and silently shut it behind him as he left.