Yo...
I've been asked many times, that what is the relationship between Naruto and all 3 heroines of this story.
The one common thing is that he cares about all of them and would go to any lengths to keep them safe. Mikasa's love for Naruto has been revealed, Kushina has developed a liking for Naruto (Though it's still not love) and Rangiku has been in love with him since the first day.
But what about Naruto? Have you ever wondered for whom he has strong romantic feelings?
Well, the answer is in this chapter...
Enjoy...
Chapter 49
The Yellow Spark
She silently observed the bright moon in the sky, her eyes searching for something while she lay flat on the ground.
The sounds of explosions, screams, metals clashing metal were overwhelming her. There was chaos everywhere and watching the panicked look in her comrade's eyes broke her heart.
She saw Izumo and Hana lying injured on the ground, her hands tried to lift her body up only to miserably fall flat on the ground again.
"My chakra..." thought Rangiku tiredly,
The young blacklight could not feel any energy left in her body, she had used all of her chakra in protecting her squad but the enemy was just too strong for her. Rangiku knew all along that she was not a powerhouse, but still she came on this mission to support her comrades.
To protect those people for whom Naruto gave his life, and now as she neared her death she understood just why he sacrificed himself.
Because there was no greater feeling than protecting a friend...she understood it now.
Despite the 3 kunai stabbed in her stomach, she didn't feel any pain. Her blood was spreading on the ground...yet there was a peaceful smile on her face.
"Thank you for everything..."
His last words echoed in her mind as a small tear came in her eye, how she wished to see that face once again...to see that beautiful smile once again. There was nothing in this world that she wouldn't give up...just to see him once again.
"You're a Blacklight...so you're one of us"
A bright smile came on her face as she remembered the moment which made her fall in love with him...
(Flashback: Few Years Ago- Valley of Hell)
Rangiku quickly jumped high in the air as she avoided a straight punch aimed at her chest, her eyes shifted towards the 3 missing ninjas on the ground who were looking at her lecherously.
She cursed herself for getting separated from her team, it was midnight and the bright full moon was hidden behind the clouds as darkness had spread across the entire forest.
"Get her, Yuzu!" said one of the enemy eagerly,
She quickly fired a couple of her chakra arrows towards them, but to her horror the 3 men easily started dodging her attacks.
One of them quickly jumped towards her, but acting on her instincts she quickly twisted herself and without waiting for another moment she stabbed her kunai in the man's head as both of them fell down on the ground.
"You bitch!" yelled the remaining two ninja angrily, as they saw their comrade getting killed.
Rangiku coughed painfully as both the men attacked her in unison delivering painful blows on her. Another powerful punch sent her sailing in the air, as she neared the ground a small tear slipped from her eyes.
She was no match for these two Jounin, she was barely 11 years old...and was this the end for her?
The poor girl crashed on the ground roughly and her eyes saw the two older men glaring at her lecherously.
"Now...let's have some fun!"
"Ye-''
"Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu(Water Release: Water Bullet Technique)"
Two sharp water bullets quickly pierced the brains of the two missing ninjas as their bodies fell flat on the ground.
Another person quickly jumped beside her and lifted her up in his arms. And the first thing she noticed were his bright blonde hair that were glowing brightly in the darkness of the forest.
"Are you hurt?" asked Naruto worriedly, as he quickly started healing her wounds.
She just continued to stare at him and seeing the worried look in his eyes warmed her heart. After all this time, he had finally noticed her...
He flashed her a bright smile as he finished healing her wounds.
"You'll be alright now..." said Naruto reassuringly,
"How did you find me?'' asked Rangiku hesitantly, even now looking into those eyes made her feel something strange in her heart. This strange, warm feeling...
She was surprised when he showed her a few strands of her own beautiful blonde hair...
"You're the only person in Blacklight having such beautiful blonde hair...I was looking for supplies, and sensed your chakra. As I followed your trail, I found your hair which lead me straight to you, Rangiku" said Naruto happily, as a small smile came on her face on hearing his explanation.
"Thanks..." said Rangiku gratefully,
She was surprised when he gently lifted her up in his arms and quickly started jumping across the trees.
"W-what are you doing?" asked Rangiku hesitantly, and he chuckled a little on seeing the slight blush on her cheeks.
"Taking you back to my hideout. My team's there...you can stay the night with us. This forest is dangerous..." said Naruto honestly,
"Even if I'm from another team?" asked Rangiku suspiciously, it was true that all the cadets had divided themselves into 3 man teams in order to survive in this forest.
Time and time, they fought against each other in order to claim ownership over the little amount of supplies in the forest.
"This fight was different, it was a battle between the enemy and my comrade. You're a Blacklight...so you're one of us" said Naruto innocently and gave her a wide thumbs up.
She was touched by those words, even in this cruel, dark world...among all the bloodshed, killing, hate...Naruto was like a ray of hope for her. His pure heart and his helping nature made her like him more and more.
But...
"Ne, Naruto...do you dislike me?" asked Rangiku sadly, every time she tried getting close to him...the farther he would get.
"Why do you think that?" asked Naruto curiously, as she bit her lip showing her nervousness.
"You always seem to ignore me..." said Rangiku sadly, and he smiled on hearing that answer.
"Because I knew you were strong, in spirit and body...you're a unique ninja, Rangiku" said Naruto truthfully,
"But I could not defeat all the enemy ninja...I am weak" said Rangiku defeatedly, as he landed on the top of a tall tree.
Naruto looked at her for a moment, and noticed her low self confidence in her eyes.
"You're strong, in your own unique way. Rangiku, you are different from most of us...it doesn't matter if you cannot kill every enemy, what matters is that you are willing to fight for your country and comrades. And you are like a ray of hope for me...we live in a dark world where everyday we witness tragedy but watching your smile, listening to your jokes brings joy in my life. I really like you...Rangiku" explained Naruto happily,
Tears slipped from her eyes on seeing the affection which he had for her in his heart.
"Naruto..."
"I already told you before, you are a part of our group...my friend. No matter what trouble you are in, I'll always come to save you" said Naruto truthfully,
The young boy smiled when she hugged him tightly as more and more tears slipped from her eyes. He slowly put his hand on her left hand as a small seal got engraved.
"I'll never let my comrades die..."
(Flashback End)
She clenched her fists tightly, she was not going to give up!
Rangiku was surprised when a strange seal glowed brightly on her left hand as she felt a tremendous amount of chakra being restored in her body. So, much power...she had never felt such strength in herself before.
Her gaze shifted towards the Kinkaku unit standing a few feet away from her squad...most of her comrades were tired, even Mikasa was barely holding herself together.
"My body is still not strong enough to handle that power...if I use it now, my life..." thought Rangiku seriously,
All these years she had tried to make herself physically strong in order to handle the special power in her body. Her chakra was unique and granted her unimaginable strength.
But with this new chakra flowing through her body, she could do this...
BOOM!
Mikasa was shocked when a tremendous amount of energy exploded around her. She was even more surprised when she saw Rangiku's entire body being enveloped in a bright blue chakra cloak.
The wounds on her body healed instantly, even the Kinkaku unit and the remaining Blacklight were astonished with this power.
Rangiku's cold silver-blue colored eyes shifted towards the enemy forces who were looking at her. Her hands quickly performed a set of hand seals, as she channeled large amounts of chakra across her body.
"I'm not weak...and I won't be defeated by the likes of you!" said Rangiku furiously
Wild gusts of wind started blowing in the entire area, dust and dirt flew in the air as the pressure of Rangiku's chakra increased more and more.
"I will stop you...no matter the cost" thought Rangiku with determination, as her KI increased.
"Kill them all" ordered one of the Kinkaku,
BAM!
Everyone was shocked when Rangiku teleported straight in front of the enemy forces and punched one of them as the man was sent sailing hundreds of feet away, even after colliding with several trees he couldn't stop.
"I won't let you kill my comrades!" yelled Rangiku passionately, as she blocked a sword slash from another Kinkaku.
"Those words..." thought Mikasa in shock, she could see so much of him in Rangiku...
Even Genma was surprised by her will, it just showed him that Mikasa was not the only one who truly loved and admired Naruto. To think, Rangiku would go to such lengths...
Rangiku quickly flipped in the air evading a sword strike, she quickly formed a hand seal with her left hand while firmly grabbing a kunai in her right hand as several Kinkaku soldiers swinged their swords towards her.
"Jinton: MueishÅ (Swift Release: Shadowless Flight)"
SLASH
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Anko was astonished when Rangiku disappeared in a bright flash as showers of blood erupted across the Kinkaku unit. 7 enemy soldiers hysterically cried in pain as their throats got sliced mercilessly.
"She killed 7 of them..." said Shizune hesitantly, she could not believe the scene her eyes were showing her...as panic spread across the enemy unit.
The Kinkaku unit quickly started searching for the mysterious blonde girl, but before they could even move another bright flash passed right through them and another 4 of them fell flat on the ground.
"Where the fuck is she?" yelled one of Kinkaku angrily,
"I can't see the bitch..."
"Akki...sense her location, now!" barked a tall Kinkaku furiously,
"Captain...Akki's dead!"
Mikasa couldn't believe what was happening, more than half of the enemy forces were killed in two strikes...was this the power that was classified in Rangiku's files?
All these years, she always felt that Rangiku was quite average to be recruited into Blacklight...she was an expert marksmen, but now she understood why the blonde girl was chosen to be a Blacklight. Her speed was even faster than Mikasa...hell any other Blacklight too.
However she was alarmed when the Kinkaku leader jumped towards Anko and was just about to slice her head off.
SPLASH
Anko just freezed in shock as the man's head was crushed like a watermelon spraying his blood across her entire mask, as Rangiku jumped on him from above and thrashed the Kinkaku captain straight in the ground making a large crater.
"You will not harm them..." said Rangiku painfully, as she coughed up a lot of blood.
Anko noticed the girl's clothes were torn from various places, even her shoulder bone looked a little misplaced...
"This power is killing her..." thought Anko worriedly,
"Raiton Rakurai no Jutsu (Lightning Release: Thunderbolt Jutsu)"
Rangiku instantly grabbed Anko and disappeared quickly as several lightning bolts destroyed the position on which they were standing.
Anko was surprised when she found herself sitting on a tree branch that was 50 feet away from her squad's position.
"Cough"
Her eyes widened in shock when she found Rangiku crouching on the branch and the poor girl was constantly coughing up blood.
"You need to stop...it's killing you" said Anko quickly,
"Naruto...your will shall not be extinguished. It's my turn now..." said Rangiku passionately,
Before Anko could even stop her comrade, she disappeared in a bright flash and quickly appeared before the remaining 8 Kinkaku soldiers who charged towards her.
"Thank you, Naruto...your death has made my dream even more clear" thought Rangiku calmly, as she made a final hand seal ignoring the pain in her chest.
"BIRD!" yelled Mikasa urgently, as she spotted a monstrous chakra flowing across Rangiku's body and her comrade charged straight towards the enemy forces.
"I am expendable...and I will take all of you with me!" yelled Rangiku furiously,
She was surprised when someone put a gentle hand on her shoulder instantly stopping all her accumulated chakra.
"That's enough...Rangiku"
Every soldier in the area was surprised when a mysterious person emerged from a dark vortex and quickly placed a small seal on Rangiku's shoulders. Mikasa's eyes widened in shock when she saw the same dark black cloak with red swirls on the person's chest.
His face was covered by a spiral orange mask...hiding his identity.
But she could never forget those eyes...
"Kill him too" yelled the Kinkaku in unison, and jumped towards the mysterious person and Rangiku.
"You're annoying..." said the person bluntly, as his dark red eyes spinned quickly.
"Kamui"
Rangiku was amazed when all the 8 Kinkaku soldiers were absorbed in a strange dark vortex, she turned around but one look in the man's eyes made her take a step back in fear.
"It can't be..." said Rangiku in shock,
Mikasa and Genma quickly jumped beside the man and placed their tanto on his neck, they even leaked a little KI.
"Who are you?" asked Mikasa seriously, why the fuck did he have those eyes?
"You already know me...Mikasa," said the person calmly, and he slowly removed his spiral mask as Mikasa and Genma took a step back.
"Impossible..."
"You're dead..."
For there standing in front of them was their ''deceased'' friend Naruto Namikaze. Before Mikasa could even digest the shock, he quickly walked past her and kneeled before Rangiku.
Without a word, Naruto placed his hand on her chest and a bright green colored chakra glowed. Rangiku couldn't believe her eyes, as he slowly healed her wounds.
"Are you alright?" asked Naruto worriedly, and tears came in his eyes when he noticed her wounds.
"Naruto..." said Rangiku hesitantly, was this a dream or was he really alive?
"We're the same..." said Naruto sadly, and she was touched on seeing the tears in his eyes.
"A world without my friends is just too much for me..."
She remembered his own words, her trembling hands gently grasped his face...and tears came in her eyes as she realized he was alive.
Everyone was surprised on seeing the scene in front of them, they were even more surprised when Naruto fiercely hugged Rangiku.
"It's the same for all of us..." said Rangiku tearfully, as he gently caressed his back.
"Don't ever think of pulling a stunt like that again!" yelled Naruto emotionally, he could not lose her...
"Naruto..."
"NEVER AGAIN!"
Shizune was delighted on seeing him again, and watching the feelings he had for Rangiku really warmed her heart. Maybe, just maybe...
Iwashi blushed brightly when Rangiku removed Naruto's face mask and quickly kissed the boy silencing any protest which Naruto wanted to raise.
"Is it really him?" asked Izumo weakly, words couldn't describe how happy he was on seeing his friend again.
"It is him..." said Iwashi happily, as he noticed the seal on Naruto and Rangiku's hands.
Everyone quickly rushed towards Naruto and surrounded him and Rangiku, the only person who was still standing in her place was Mikasa Ackerman.
And watching him kissing Rangiku broke her heart...
"Naruto..."
Author's Notes: End of chapter.
I know it's like a semi cliffhanger, how will Mikasa react? Just what was Rangiku's power? How the fuck did Naruto know about their situation? All these questions will be answered in the next chapter.
I bet many of the hardcore NaruMika fans (Even you, Stana) can't accept this fact...but it's the truth that Naruto has romantic feelings for Rangiku. Everyone keeps saying NaruMika...but NaruRang has the most romantic scenes in this story. If you have read the story carefully, then I have shown that Naruto truly likes Rangiku
(Their little dinner, the emotional scene on the ship, the two more scenes in this chapter)
The reason why Naruto likes Rangiku is rather simple.
She's normal.
Yes, Rangiku is a simple girl and that is her biggest advantage over the 2 other two heroines. She does not have personal issues like Mikasa, and neither is her situation remotely similar to Kushina. Rangiku is cheerful, bubbly, notorious...and never hides her feelings. And now that her power is explained...you can't claim that she's weak too.
From the beginning of this story, Naruto was more interested in simple things: like the love of a father, some true friends, etc. He never cared about status, fame, or anything else...so over these years (specifically after Armin's death) he got attracted to Rangiku like a moth to flame. Plus, Rangiku is the most beautiful heroine (I've posted her picture, so go check it out).
And even I like this couple the most...
So, all different pairings fans...now is the chance to say your thoughts, you can even defend your pairing or suggest something about your pairings.