19. The time before a storm is always calm
Naruto crossed his arms and sighed. "Why did you call me out here?" He leveled the woman before him with a dry glare.
Yuriko giggled, all the while placing her cup of tea down on the table next to her as she regarded him. "Actually, it wasn't me who asked for you. Alice! Come out, dear." She cried.
For a moment no one answered, the garden she loved so much was silent, save for the passing winds rustling the plants — until tiny footsteps made themselves known. To his credit Naruto could have easily dodged her, but if he did so than the girl would more than likely fall, scrape her knee, and then cry for an hour. Knowing that he would somehow have to deal with that too, Naruto decided on letting her tackle him. Her tiny arms wrapping themselves around his waist as she clung to his frame, squeezing for all that she was worth in what one would call a very big hug.
It felt warm, he would admit.
It had been a long time since someone hugged him...
A painful memory threatened to come to life and return him to darker times, thankfully it never came to be.
"Naruto-san!" Alice said happily, a huge smile on her face. "No one's seen you in days and I was so worried because you didn't come back to me and so many people have been talking to me about stuff and some of them scare me and I didn't know what to say to them and I just wanted to hang out with you and Miya-san and not with them but I had no choice until Riko-san found me and she—"
"—Alice, please." Naruto interrupted her rant. "If you squeeze any tighter you might actually hurt me..."
In response, she only buried her face into his shirt and furiously shook it. "Nonono! I'm never letting go of you again! You disappear too much already, and I...I don't want you to disappear forever too!"
Naruto let out a soft sigh before reaching down and plucking the girl away from his person, she fought and flailed about for a moment before finally giving up, instead deciding on staring the blond down. After a wordless clash of wills, Alice finally let out a breath and slouched in defeat; there really was just no arguing with him after all. It's just like Miya-san said, he's a brick wall! She pouted and crossed her arms as he let her down, turning a defiant cheek while making her way over to Yuriko's side.
"You don't have to worry about that," Naruto reassured her, "I doubt there's anything alive or dead that could make me disappear."
Alice only puffed her chest at his words and actively ignored him, taking a seat across from the giggling Yuriko. Naruto only deadpanned at her antics. Alice's attempts to look angry with him were unfortunately for her, pointless, rendered null by the simple act of her swinging her legs back and forth — showcasing bright pink marshmallow sticker socks. He supposed he couldn't fault her for the way she felt though. It was like the nurse said, the girl had grown attached to him — uncomfortably so.
"Alice has been asking about you for almost a day now. I told her you were fine, but she insisted on seeing you for herself." Yuriko playfully winked. "She seems quite taken with you, Naruto." In spite of her apparent anger, the child still managed a small blush at the woman's words; having to turn her head even further so that they wouldn't see it.
Too bad for her they both did.
"Awwwe, now this is just adorable! I didn't know you had it in you! You'd better take good care of her now, you hear?"
If there was one thing Yuriko loved to do, it was tease him. Like a nagging, scolding mother would a son. Frankly, it really irked him. "You're a witch. You would even use children for your schemes." He said. The comment was obviously directed at her but she didn't look the least bit fazed by it.
"If I'm a witch then you must be the devil himself, Naruto."
Naruto only shrugged in response and said nothing else about it. He was about ready to make his exit, thinking his part here was done, when an odd smirk tugged the corners of Yuriko's lips up. Normally that wouldn't bring him any pause, but there was something off about the way she was looking at him. He'd seen that look a couple of times before and it always spelled trouble. At the same time, Alice — who was previously ignoring him — was now staring directly at him, an odd twinkle in her eyes.
Something was definitely up.
"You're both creeping me out..." He trailed off with a raised brow.
From seemingly nowhere, Yuriko was holding onto a pair of scissors, snipping them dangerously his way while outright leering at him. Alice followed the woman's lead, a pathetic attempt at a crazed grin on her too young face. "It's time to take care of that dead animal on your head, Na-ru-to."
The blond blinked almost owlishly. A bit caught off guard.
"Excuse me?"
"Alright, Alice! Go for it!" Yurkio cried, giving the girl a thumbs up.
Without needing to be told twice, Alice sprung from her seat, darted at him and then jumped, pulling him into another huge hug and giving him another squeeze. "I'm not letting go! Not this time! You're going to sit down and get a haircut, Naruto-san!" She ordered, glaring up at him with wide eyes full of some kind of determination.
Naruto struggled a bit — read an entire minute — before letting out a defeated sigh of his own. "Isn't this a little extreme?" He could not pluck her off so easily this time without hurting her and neither could he shake her off. Turning a dry glare to the slowly approaching Yuriko, Naruto could only silently assure her of his vengeance. The thin smile that threatened to tear her usually composed features in half told him she didn't really care.
"When it comes to you nothing is extreme," she smiled sweetly, "now, hold still."
Naruto only shook his head, a bored look on his face. "You underestimate me." Before Yuriko could get another word in, the blond was obscured in colorless smoke that came from out of nowhere. When it finally cleared, Alice found she was instead gripping the nearby vase instead of the stoic blond — who conveniently enough just so happened to be gone. Alice pouted as she slid down the large ornament, disappointment evident in her tone.
"Not fair, Naruto-san is a cheater!"
"That he is, Alice-chan," Yuriko chuckled mirthlessly, "that he is..." Really, she should have expected that one.
A part of her was just glad that Alice didn't ask about the how of it all and only focused on Naruto's disappearance. She didn't think she could explain that one, at least, not without seeming crazy.
Haircut my ass. Naruto trudged through the dimly lit halls of the estate, his hands shoved into his pockets as he stalked toward his now shared living space. So far the day had been a long one, and from what he could tell, few had yet to realize how deep the hole they were staring into really was. Slowly but surely the people here were letting their guard down, he could see it all around him — they thought they were safe. This would only make things twice as bad when the shit actually hits the fan. I don't need to bother with such a trivial thing.
A frown tugged the corners of his lips down. He hoped to have answers by the end of the day. How he was going to train Niki, how he would respond to the Don. Instead he'd wasted most of it lurking about in the shadows and avoiding people he shouldn't even bother avoiding.
It was quite frankly, pathetic. He suddenly stopped mid trek, his eyes staring out at nothing in particular. "What the hell is happening to me...?" The blond mused aloud to himself, bringing out both of his hands and gazing at them as if they were the hands of a stranger. He blinked, and saw them colored red. He blinked again and they were clean.
There were many things he regretted doing, saying. There were many times in his life where if he could, he would go back and change things without a second thought. He was no stranger to guilt. He was no stranger to hatred. But this feeling...it was different somehow. It burned more, struck harder, and dug deeper than any other. It paralyzed him. He'd only felt like this once before in his life, back when he first faced Madara on the battlefield and had been utterly defeated.
Naruto was afraid. He wasn't so sure anymore, about anything. Not anymore at least.
He wanted to keep his promise to Misuzu, and somewhere deep down within, he knew it was what he'd wanted all along. He wanted to live a better life, an enjoyable one, for Hayate. But could he do it again? Could he even do it all? After failing so many others, so many times, did he even deserve a chance at redemption?
Did he of all people deserve to be happy?
It felt as if he were trapped at the bottom of a deep well, like he'd been trapped there for ages looking up at that bright ball of light, of joy and happiness, desperately reaching out for it — curling his fingers, grasping at nothing, slowly withering, but still clinging to that untouchable light nonetheless. Because it was all he could ever do.
I trained until my body couldn't handle it. I studied hard; I asked for help, I went without sleep. I planned, I plotted, I fought and bled...and it still wasn't enough. He shut his eyes, hands clenching at his sides. If I fail again...I-I can't take failing anyone ever again. It's why I don't try anymore...but...a part of me wants to try. A part of me can't help but want to try.
In all honesty, he was tired of being like this.
Aimless.
Broken.
Alone.
It was enough to make him sick. He hated himself. More than anything or anyone else...
...he hated himself.
"There's nothing wrong with holding on, boy. Even of your hands start to cramp and your fingers swell up and turn purple. Hold on for dear life and never let go."
"Y-You need this just as much as she does."
"I'll always love you..."
Naruto's eyes snapped open and a breath escaped him. A memory of his old life, and one of the most painful ones at that, resurfacing...
"This isn't like you! The Naruto I know would never just go out and kill people like that!" Sakura cried, her hands balled up into tightly wound fists, green eyes on the verge of tears as they glared down a pair of downtrodden blue. The white chunin vest she wore that signified her status as a medic rising and falling, an indication to how out of breath she was from all of the yelling.
"Sakura-chan, I—"
"—Don't! Please...don't, Naruto..." Her lower lip quivered before she spoke up again. "It's not fair! It's just not fair, Sasuke-kun disappears and you—you get turned into this! It's not fair! Not to me, not to us, not to you!" She yelled, shaking her head furiously. "Why...why did it have to be you...?" She trailed off, her tear-ridden eyes freezing him in place.
It was the first time they'd seen each other in months. The last time he saw Sakura, she was crying to him about Sasuke's sudden disappearance, and before he could console his teammate he was dragged away and inducted into the newly re-born Anbu Root program as its ultimate weapon-to-be. After that Danzo declared war on both the Sand and the Sound villages, and he hadn't seen much of her or any of the rookies since. Gradually, they were all sent out into the front-lines just like he was. Some lived, others died. As time went on what was nine was cut down to a mere five within the span of seven months. He didn't even have time to mourn them.
And here they were — comrades, teammates — face to face again after months apart. She was crying again, it seemed like that was all he and Sasuke were ever good for, making her cry. He already knew what she was referring too. It wasn't a secret after all. The first Shinobi his age to ever earn A-Rank status in three different Bingo Books; Naruto Uzumaki, the Slayer of the Bloody Leaf. His body count was quickly reaching his late fathers.
There were so many things he wanted to say to her, but... "I—I have to go, Sakura-chan." He averted his gaze. He couldn't meet her eyes any longer, not now, not like this.
Sakura was the same, she hadn't changed. It made him happy and sad to know that. She still hated the sight of blood, couldn't stomach killing, and above all else, she still held that innocent glimmer in her eyes he was beginning to learn to spot out in other people. The same glimmer he'd probably lost long ago. For a time, people could look at him and see what he saw in her right now, but those times had passed.
He silently brushed past her, his hand about to open the flap of the tent while the other reached for the mask clipped to his side before she spoke up, her words barley above a whisper.
"You're leaving me too...and win or lose; you won't ever come back..."
Naruto's brow furrowed together. Before he could react, a pair of arms gently wrapped themselves around him, rooting him in place, and he found himself being pulled into a warm embrace.
"It was so much fun you know...going on missions, having adventures with you two. You were my friends...my family. I didn't know it at the time, but you were..." Sakura choked back another sob as she spoke. "I'll always treasure those times..." Naruto shook in her arms and his breath hitched at her last words. "I'll always love you, Naruto."
The Earth shook and rattled, and idly, Naruto realized that they were under attack. Whatever surprise they had in store for the current Mizukage was spoiled and they were the ones taken by surprise instead. The last thing he saw before a seal burned at the back of his neck and demanded that he come, was Sakura's smiling face, and the love shimmering in those bright green eyes.
It was the last time he would ever see her again.
Her words that day, the look in her eyes — both stayed with him for the coming months. And after she died during a raid on the joint Mist-Earth Alliance stronghold, that look haunted his every waking moment, even when he closed his eyes he would see her, see the love in her emerald orbs and his heart would weep. Because of that he could not find rest, no matter how hard he tried. And the sleepless night became all the more common.
Looking back on it now he supposed her death was what started it all. After Sakura died, Naruto began to question everything he'd done and everything he would do. Kakashi had immediately taken over his training after that and from then on out, a revolution was in the works to usurp the by then power-mad Danzo. His hands fell limply to his side and for a moment Naruto just stood there. He could see her face, but just like all the others, he couldn't remember what the sound of her voice was like...
It was soft...no, it was loud. He chuckled darkly to himself. It was always so damn loud...how could I forget something so loud? How could I—
"Naruto...?"
He blinked and Rei was in front of him, waving her hand in-front of his face, worry evident in her expression. When she saw that he finally responded the brunette backed off a bit and smiled apologetically. "Sorry," she crossed her arms defensively, "I was on my way back to my room when I saw you sort of just...standing there, so I figured I'd—"
"It's fine..." He murmured, still staring out at seemingly nothing.
Rei raised a brow at the strange way he was acting, well, stranger. It reminded her of back at the apartment before he suddenly saved Alice's life, when the defeated look in his eyes was more prominent and noticeable than ever before. That was the first time she realized that there was more to Uzumaki Naruto than meets the eye.
Much more...
"You don't look fine. Are you sure that you're okay?" Rei asked, eyeing him suspiciously. He did look fine, not scratch on him, as always. So then...why does he look so bummed? Is it...is it because of gramps? She visibly sobered at the thought. Of course, that has to be it!
The two stood within the wide, luxurious halls, what was now becoming a common meeting place for the randoms of their unlikely band of survivors. Rei brought a hand up to her shoulder and began to nervously rub it, biting her lower up as she tried to come up with what to say next. The last time he'd been like this she called him pathetic — and he agreed. This time, she wanted to say the right thing.
...but, what could she say to him of all people?
"Uhh, hey...I know it sucks right now, and we've both—Hey, wait! Where are you going?!"
Before she could finish, Naruto silently brushed past her. He didn't respond to her calls at all and instead wordlessly turned the corner and vanished from her line of sight. She made after him, but found that the second she turned the very same corner — he was gone. Rei searched the halls for another minute or so before letting out a discontent and tired sigh. It wasn't like she would ever actually find him anyways.
At this point I should have expected as much. She mused to herself with a frown marking her delicate features. Still...I'm a bit worried. The look in his eyes, it was a bit different than anything she'd ever seen from him. It was darker, duller, and even emptier. Just what the hell is going on with you, Naruto?
When Kyoko next awoke, it was on a soft bed, with a fresh pair of clothing replacing her bloodstained ones and a large bandage wrapped around her head to slow whatever bleeding might have threatened her life. She craned her neck, wincing at the pain, and spotted Yamada asleep in the bed over. His own body wrapped in bandages and a peaceful look on his face. The redhead let out a breath of relief at the sight of him and eased her head back onto the pillow, tears threatening to spill as she reveled in the fact that they were finally safe.
"It's good to see that you're up. I was beginning to worry."
Kyoko flinched at the unfamiliar voice, her eyes darting on instinct toward the speaker. She half-expected to see that man again, looming over her with a disgusting smile, but was happily proven wrong. It was a man, but one who's face most everyone in Tokonosu had seen at least once before. The face of its stoic leader, Takagi Souichiro.
"Takagi-sama...?" She spoke up, mildly surprised at how her voice came out hoarse and scratchy.
Exactly how long had she been out?
He nodded once and Kyoko was mildly surprised when he reached over and handed her a cool glass of water. Under normal circumstances she would have been outright embarrassed at how greedily she drank its contents down, but at the moment she could only drink and cry simultaneously. These past two days had been utter hell. Part of her almost wanted to end it now before it got any worse, but she was too much of a coward to actually go through with it.
As if reading her mind he answered her question.
"You've been asleep for the past eighteen hours..." Kyoko almost choked as she gulped down the water — that was almost an entire day! He allowed her a moment to collect herself before continuing. "You were both heavily injured. Honestly, it's a miracle you made it back here at all. The details don't matter now though, what matters is you made it. And more importantly, you are a hero, Hayashi-san. You saved a life on this day." He gestured to the sleeping Yamada. "Most people, most adults, they would have abandoned this child...but not you. You are a brave and kind soul, and are more than welcome to join us here."
Her hands were shaking, she noted absently as she handed him the empty cup, and a single nod was all she could manage in response. The crying made it hard to see let alone speak.
"You are probably feeling very overwhelmed at the moment. I will give you some time to yourself. If you need anything, I've stationed a guard outside this room. You need only call for him." Souichiro stood and bowed once before he left the room, quietly closing the door behind him so as to not disturb the boy. He didn't need to stay and watch her piece herself back together; the best thing for her right now was privacy. No doubt she went through a lot just getting here.
Meanwhile, Kyoko couldn't stop the shaking. In spite of how hard she tried, she could not fight her body. Her entire form quivered and shook as she faintly recalled the 'how' of how she got to this point.
That man...
He slaughtered everyone like they were cattle.
Shido, Kawamoto, Tsunoda — they were all dead, bludgeoned by the sick bastard — and she was next. He approached her with that sick smile, his arm covered in blood and sticky gore and just as he was about to end it, he suddenly froze up. Then she blinked once and he was gone, like a bad horror movie flick, leaving her and a distraught Yamada behind to gaze upon the mutilated bodies of their allies. The teen couldn't take what he'd seen and passed out shortly after.
Her shaking intensified. The things he did to them, the way he moved. Kyoko had only seen one person ever move like that...
Her hands clenched, fingers gripping at the edge of her blanket as she fought to suppress both her rage and her fear. This time she would confront him!
"...the biggest traitor in recent history! The slayer of Root..."
That man knew Naruto, knew who he was and what he could do — what he'd done. A traitor and a merciless killer, that's what he'd called Naruto. That was why, this time for sure, she would confront him! He was a danger to everyone around him, especially if he had whoever it was that killed her group after him, hot on his trail too. A frightening image of that disturbing smile flashed in her mind again and almost sent her into a panic attack. There was no doubt about it now...if he didn't leave then Uzumaki Naruto would be the death of them all.
And she would not be letting that happen!
Naruto let his head fall back against the modest couch in the center of the room and groaned. Next to him, Niki sighed.
"I still don't approve of this..." She mumbled, her eyes fixated on the television in front of them, a rerun of a popular movie playing for the fifth time today.
"Yeah yeah, indecent. Whatever. Just let me rest for a little bit, will you?" He murmured, running a hand through his long blond hair.
"...You really do need a haircut. I wish you'd listen." She stated pointedly, watching the neck length locks fall over his ears.
"I wish people would stop saying that I need a haircut. I wish people would mind their own damn business. I wish—"
"Okay, I get. I'll shut up now."
Naruto managed a half-smirk at her choice of wording and nodded in thanks. When the silence returned and all he could hear was the backdrop of the movie, Naruto let himself ease up a bit and released a long breath he'd been holding for most of the day.
Niki blinked when she heard him, sparing him a glance only to quickly realize that that was a mistake. Because the second she laid eyes on him Niki realized once again — thanks to their close proximity — that Naruto really was handsome, in his own way. She never failed to notice actually, but rather chose to ignore it in favor of focusing on why she didn't like him instead. Then it hit her all at once.
She was sharing a room with a guy, an attractive one at that. She'd seen him half-naked; she was sitting with him now, watching a movie on the couch...
...like a couple...
Her cheeks turned an impressive shade of pink. I-It's only because he's a boy! She told herself, and it was the truth. Niki had never been good with boys in general. The one guy who tried to approach her ended up having to take her to the hospital because she'd passed out mid-confession. Needless to say, she was terrible with guys. So of course being this close to one at all times sent alarms flaring in her head. Even so there was nothing she could — or better, there was nothing she would do. They'd sat there for almost twenty minutes in silence, a rather comfortable one at that, before Niki decided to stop twiddling her thumbs and finally decided to speak up on what was bothering her.
"Hey, Naruto?"
"Hmm?"
"Why..." she seemed conflicted, "why don't you ever talk about yourself?"
Naruto cracked a single eye open at the question.
"That's because there's nothing to talk about."
"B-But that's not right. You have to have something. A past, friends, a family? Something! You—you have to have something..."
Naruto's piercing gaze looked right through her and into the depths of her very soul, like always.
"I don't. I don't like to talk about the past, I don't have any more friends, and I'm an orphan."
Her breath hitched at that last part. That was news to her. "You're an orphan...? I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories..." She trailed off, pealing her eyes away from his and finding interest in something else. He didn't seem to really care though, but then again, he always looked like he didn't care.
Naruto snorted.
"It's fine, it's in the past and I don't think about the past anymore." He was lying of course. He thought about the past all the time — hell, he practically lived in it. "Just let me take my nap, damn it." It was his way of ending the conversation before it started to tread on thin ice, which it most certainly was.
There was nothing she could say to that.
An orphan... She sneaked a glance at him, her lips forming into a thin line. Hearing that, it makes a little sense. Why he is the way he is. A life without a family. Without someone to rely on, someone to have your back when things got rough. It would make a chiseled stone out of anyone. Even her own parents, who never provided the love she so desperately craved, still made sure she lived a good life. At the very least she was never left wanting.
Naruto was alone. He was alone from the start. It made sense, but...
It still isn't enough. There's more to it. She studied his features intently and came to one conclusion — he was a ghost, the true embodiment of the walking dead. He was linked to this world by heavy chains of regret, and by a lingering sentiment that coiled and clung to his body like a snake and would never let go so long as he breathed. The more Niki thought about it the more she believed it. Uzumaki Naruto was a ghost. He was dead on the inside. As much a walking corpse as any of Them.
But, why? Why would Misuzu care so much about someone like you? I—I just don't understand... Niki sat and mused on the fact for longer than she probably should have.
A hundred different thoughts crossed her mind, and time passed quickly all the while as she sorted through them. By the time she realized that the credits had finished rolling on the screen, her eyelids felt like dumbbells, and without putting up much of a fight she gave into her need of sleep. She was too tired, and her body was sore from last nights 'jog', not to mention she barley got any sleep because of his spontaneous decision to move in with her.
And damn it, he was napping! So she would too! It was only fair after all!
With that, she closed her eyes and let the couch eat her. Niki was asleep in no time at all.
Kouta scrambled back, the pistol in his hands gripped tightly as he shuffled through the thankfully empty halls, a bag full of food in his other hand. Hopefully it would stay that way. The most Kouta had seen of other people since his arrival here were a few of the guards and servants that were scattered about doing their jobs. He was more than okay with that though, it was much better than running into any of his friends or any of Them — at the moment he didn't think he could face them, or anyone really, with the way he was now.
A frown marked his face at the thought.
That word stuck out to him — friends. Were they really friends? He considered them as such, but did they the think of him like that?
Did it even matter...?
Friends...people to care about...it will just get you killed. At the thought, he grit his teeth and he doubled his pace. I need to get back!
Kouta slid on his heel and made a sharp left, a crazed and desperate twinkle in his muddy brown eyes. Unfortunately for him his plans for a quick getaway were ruined when he ran into a much bigger man with two more men of similar size at his side. The teen fumbled and fell onto his behind, his bag and gun both falling on the ground next to him as a result of the unintended collision. With a groan, he tried to make sense of what had just happened. Only for his body to freeze up when whoever had bumped into him spoke.
"Hey, you alright kid—whoa, is that a gun?!" A rough and deep voice cried. The man's darkly colored eyes moved from the groaning Kouta to the weapon a few inches away. "Where the hell did you get a gun?! You shouldn't be running around with something like that!"
Kouta's eyes snapped wide open and he quickly looked up at the three adult men towering over him. He watched the apparent leader reach out to grab his gun and practically screamed at him to stop. "No! Wait, please! I know it isn't a toy! But need it to stay alive! I-I'm no amateur, I-I've used them before! So please..." He begged them.
The man stopped and sent him a questioning look. "Are you joking? This isn't a toy! This can kill people!" He barked, ignoring Kouta's cries all the while and picking up the polished brass, admiring it for half a second before tucking it into his hip. "I don't know how you found that, but next time bring it over to one of us kid. A gun is a weapon for an adult. You shouldn't have to dirty your hands. Besides, you're safe here. You don't need this." He patted where the gun now rested and smiled.
Another of the men extended a hand to help him up. "Sorry about that, we really should have been more aware. We're guards after all." He laughed boisterously and grinned, scratching at the back of his head with his free hand.
Kouta didn't respond. He didn't laugh or smile or take the help. He just stared.
"N-No...I—I need that..." He muttered, fogged up glasses hanging by his nose, showcasing his wide and bloodshot eyes for the three to see.
"Hey...are you alright, boy?" The man who extended the offer retracted his hand after the teen refused to respond. "We—we should probably get out of here, Hajime-san. He'll be fine on his own."
"Without that gun he shouldn't be a danger to himself or anyone else. Let's move out now or we'll be late to the meeting." The third spoke up.
"Yeah..." Hajime nodded. He hesitated for a moment after that, before finally deciding on what to say. "Keep your head up kid, everything is going to be okay from here on out. Trust us adults!" He thumbed him up and then left with his two comrades in tow. Leaving Kouta behind, alone and defenseless.
My gun. My 'safety'. He grit his teeth even harder, to the point where he could feel them chipping away from the force. Those fucking idiots! They don't know anything! Safe? Trust the adults? What kind of bullshit is that?! He snarled. They don't know a damn thing! We aren't safe! We're all going to die! We're going to die and turn into those fucking things and rot! His anger had him shaking; his entire body felt like it was on fire.
And then, as if a giant tub of water had been dropped over him, it was gone. The fire was doused and it was over. Kouta sat there for what felt like an eternity, alone in that massive hallway that seemed like it stretched on forever until finally he stood and dragged himself along.
I need to get back... He had more guns, one wasn't such a loss. It was his only handgun...but he supposed when it all came tumbling down on them; he would just find that man's dead body and take it back from him then. Yeah... His features darkened. That will work just fine.
When Naruto stirred from his sleep, his eyes fluttering open, they met a rather peculiar sight. Niki's head had somehow found a pillow in his shoulder, her long silky hair draping his arm and her body leaning onto his. Her lips slightly parted and soft breaths escaping her in a rhythmic fashion. She was out in every sense of the word. Naruto swore he could even pick up on faint snoring. Without disturbing her, the blond stealthily escaped her grasp, his arms holding her up as he gently eased her head onto the couch pillow before sighing.
Blue eyes spared the television a glance after. The movie's halfway through again... He cursed the fact that he'd actually passed out. A rare and bitter smile came to life on his pale face. I really have gotten soft. Without thinking about it, the blond made his way over to the bathroom — intent on taking a shower. He quietly shut the door behind him, undressing all the while, and then tossed his dirty clothes into laundry bin while giving the fact that they still had staff working a moment of his time. The thought instantly perished when the warm water hit his back.
Naruto brought his hands up again, watching the trails of water run down his palms and fingers — and then it was blood. Sticky red blood, with an underlining grime that reeked of failure. Gods, he was filthy. He didn't know how long he spent in that shower, never actually cleaning himself. When he stepped out into the modest bathroom it was foggy. So foggy that he couldn't even see his own reflection in the tiny mirror above the sink.
There was barely a day left for him to decide on what to do and how he would do it.
It shouldn't even be this hard in the first place.
Should he go with Souichiro? The man rubbed him the wrong ways at times and he was a bit of an extremist, but he wasn't a bad man at all. He was honest, cared about his family and friends, and really did want the best for those around him. It wasn't like Souichiro had it out for him. He was just like Yuriko, concerned over his well-being for whatever reason. They opened their home up to him after all. They helped forge his papers. They helped him blend in.
He did owe them.
But I shouldn't get involved. These people...they aren't my problem. And if I make it my problem, it'll drive me insane. His options were too depressing. Live alone and die a slow, inevitable death, or fail all over again and be driven mad as a result. He didn't particularly favor either of the two.
His free hand clutched at his naval and he grimaced.
I just can't catch a break...
Naruto let out a soft sigh and wiped the mirror clean, and for the first time in a long time, he took a good look at himself. He stared for almost a whole minute at the stranger looking back at him through those jaded blue eyes. He looked sick, he noted.
Pale skin, deep bags, and his hair...
Naruto brought up a finger and playfully pulled at his wet hair. I can barely see my face underneath it all. It really was long. He remembered a time when he hated letting his hair get long. When he was younger, it filled him with painful thoughts, made him think that he looked a little bit like the Fourth — a little too much like him.
If I failed at being a weapon. If I failed at being a hero. If I failed at living a normal life. Then...what is it that I can be? What can I do?
He stared at the person in the mirror hard, as if they would answer him. Although silence was all he got in return for his efforts.
"What the hell happened to you, Uzumaki Naruto...?" He whispered to himself.
Yuriko sat in her garden, a book in one hand and a smile on her face as she read along. Reading was one of her favorite pastimes. It both freed the mind and instructed it at the same time. With every book, with every story told and character met, Yuriko felt as if she was slowly growing to understand the world around her a little more each time.
The sun was beginning to set, and in spite of the ongoing apocalypse the day had been a peaceful one.
"Neh, Riko-san, how come we can never see the stars in the sky?" Alice asked next to her, peering up at the slowly changing sky with curiosity ablaze in those wide violet orbs.
The girl had been spending quite a bit of time by her side, although Yuriko suspected it was mostly because Alice had a sweet tooth the size of the city and she continuously provided her with treats. At first she was just interested in the child who Naruto had supposedly saved, but quickly found herself enjoying her presence regardless. It was a nice change from all of the frantic and crazed civilians she'd been dealing with earlier in the day.
Her brow furrowed and she frowned.
Those people are getting restless. Everyone is getting restless. She fought back a sigh. We need word from the power-plant soon or we'll lose control of the more rebellious ones.
The people they had saved were starting to wonder why they weren't allowed inside the estate. Why they and their families had to be outside at night in the tents so close to Them. When she explained that the rooms were reserved for workers and guards they calmed down a bit, but it wouldn't be long before one of the children was spotted. They might not be aware of it, but Saya's friends were currently getting the V.I.P treatment for helping bring their daughter back home safe and sound. The same however could not be said about others.
"Because our city is too big, our light blocks out the light of any stars in the sky."
Alice pondered on her words for a moment before her eyes twinkled in delight and a brilliant smile overtook her childish features.
"Wow," she breathed out, amazed, "so you're saying that we're even brighter than the stars?!"
Yuriko blinked. She'd never really thought about it that way, until now that is. A soft giggle escaped her. Hmm, the youth really is amazing.
"That's right, Alice. Our light is so bright that it covers up the the very stars themselves." She played into her child-like wonder, finding it irresistibly cute. If only more adults held on to the kid inside of them. The world would be a much better place.
Yuriko watched Alice's features brighten and felt her smile grow. The poor girl seemed genuinely hurt when Naruto had made his escape earlier and had been silent for a good while now. Only munching on her snacks and lazily flipping through the manga that was given to her without a word. Much like herself really, except she was enjoying an herbal tea instead of a bag of chocolate-wafers.
"Aren't you two peas in a pod?"
Alice was startled, but she wasn't — it had happened too many times for her to react now. Yuriko knew that voice and she knew him, however much he hated to admit it. She did in fact know him.
"Oh, you came back? That's odd. By the way that's a rather outdated American expression." Yuriko said, absentmindedly taking another sip of her tea.
"Naru—I-I mean..." Alice perked up at the sight of him, but quickly remembered what had happened and instead blew a raspberry his way. He could only deadpan in response.
"I did..." He trailed off, a bit unsure of how to proceed next. He was already beginning to regret this. Dark blue eyes darted to the clippers laying on the table and she followed his gaze, and then met it. Naruto couldn't help but frown at just how satisfied she'd looked when it all clicked.
"Say no more. Please, have a seat." She even stood and let him have her spot. Her book and tea left abandoned. "Alice, be a dear and fetch me some water."
Gingerly, he approached the chair. When he was seated and ready, Yuriko draped a long piece of cloth over him and tied it behind his neck, then she went to work. With every snip, he watched a strand of blond fall. Snip. Snip. Snip. More of his hair fell, this time in clumps. Alice had returned in a hurry, rather speechless and a bit confused at why he came back, but still happy nonetheless. The girl sat in-front of him over the grass for the entire twenty-seven minute haircut — yes, he counted — her legs crossed and a dumb smile on her face, although gradually, it wilted away into one of astonishment.
By the time Yuriko was done, even she let out a small gasp.
"Oh..." Was all she could manage.
Naruto didn't bother asking what was wrong and instead answered the question on his mind for himself by reaching out and grabbing the mirror that Alice was now offering him, a strange look on her face. He put it up and blinked at what he saw.
I look younger. Was the first thing that came to his mind.
Where before his hair was almost long enough to pull into a ponytail, the usual spunk matted down by the length and draping itself over his eyes and face. Now it was short. A little shorter than when he was twelve if he could compare it to something. The spunk was back too; his hair was a bit more vibrant now, a purer blond. His bangs barely touched his eyebrows and now much of his face was showing.
"You look great..." Yuriko whispered from behind him, a hand placing itself over his shoulder and giving a reassuring squeeze. He looked his age. Like a boy of seventeen should.
Not a merciless killer.
Alice nodded furiously alongside her. "You look totally different! Ten out of ten, Naruto-san!" She thumbed him up and grinned.
Naruto didn't respond to either of their comments. He didn't even bother to shake Yuriko's hand off. He just stared at himself for the second time in that day, amazed, that same finger coming up to tug at his hair again. I look younger... He touched the faint lines marking his cheeks and felt the skin. It had been a very long time since he'd seen himself like this...
What exactly did this mean?
He never bothered with a haircut. No time, no interest in his appearance — in himself. It was just training field after training field, battle after battle. His body was a weapon and he kept it sharp, but his looks? So long as it didn't get in his way he couldn't have cared less. So why care now?
"I'll always love you, Naruto..."
Those were the happiest times of his life. When he was on Team Seven he felt as if he truly belonged somewhere for once in his life. It was rough at first but with time they bonded. Through life and death moments they grew closer. They watched each other's backs. They'd slept in the woods together, spent days and nights with each other for weeks on end. They challenged each other, took care of each other, and looked out for one another.
They were a team...
They were his team.
And one by one...he failed them, and at the very end he couldn't even manage to die right. Sasuke was probably in whatever hell awaited people who planned on taking their own lives waiting on him. He was probably unbelievably pissed right now, wondering where he might have ended up. A laugh almost left him at the thought. The stuck up prick probably deserved it.
"N-Naruto-san...?"
He blinked at the sound of his name being called, and then took note of the wet feeling running down his cheeks. Curiously, he brought the same finger that tugged at his hair up to his eye, and was rather surprised to feel water.
He was crying.
Crying with a blank look on his face.
"Yeah?"
"Are—are you okay?"
He looked at Alice and nodded, in spite of the tears running down his face.
"I'm fine."