Naruto pouted as he sat by the pond kicking his little feet in the water,
"Naruto, i finally found you"
Naruto turned on her with a glare but then looked right back to the water,
"Whatever"
Rin sighed with a patient smile as she edged her way to the edge where he was sitting and also dipped her feet in the water. The summer days were hot but the water was refreshing, this was a nice spot.
"I heard you ran away from lady Kushina today…"
He ignored her,
"You know she's gonna kill you"
She had to stifle a laugh as she watched him visibly shiver at the thought,
"She just!... She keeps telling me stuff about that stupid fox! What does it matter?! He's a dumb demon who got caught and i'm the one that got stuck with him!"
Rin sighed. Naruto didn't stay in the village for long. So when he did he received extra training lessons not only from his father but his mother who often told him how he should better control the fox. She wished she knew how the seal on her was done. It was far more intricate in it's separation and bonded them well, but it was a part of those missing memories she didn't have.
"You know Naruto, Learning to control the beast is much better than just ignoring it…"
Naruto scowled,
"Yea? Cause i heard it's a super dangerous monster that no one can control. So why not leave the stupid thing alone?"
Rin looked saddened. She too at one point thought that as well,
"That beast inside you… is not a bad creature."
he frowned muttering as she looked at him,
"Could have fooled me…"
she smiled,
"Naruto"
She looked into the blue eyes still too large for his head,
"The bijuu were once calm creatures that lived life in peace. But human greed and fear have filled them with a hatred that is not easily healed."
Naruto looked at her and she wondered if he thought she was lying. She didn't even remember where the words had come from but it seemed like the truth
"I believe in you Rin"
And she felt a strange rush of nostalgia run through her like an underwater current. She smiled as she placed a gentle hand on his hand,
"You can see past that hate, and one day... maybe you can be his friend"
Rin was always saying weird things like that. Telling him things like forgive and let go.
"It's not your fault. Sometimes the people we want to save we can't and the pain burdens us."
Another life lesson from Rin by the pond lake. After they had all reminded him that he had been the one to hurt his father. And that he had caused a mission failure Rin was prepared with a quote of the day.
"You can hurt ya know. Cry about it, take a break, even run away sometimes…"
He smiled at the last one. He was running always it felt like. Running from the fear that chased him like the hounds of hell. He glared at his reflection, but was just running okay?
"But you have to come back."
He blinked looking over at Rin in wonder as she smiled as if remembering something,
"Because there maybe someone out there only you can save."
Don't give into hate, keeping going forward. Those were the words she had taught him. Those were the things she had left for him…..
But now she was dead….
Couldn't he hate a little?
Couldn't he give into the despair and kill like she had been killed?
He could feel the chakra leaking,
It would be too easy. Gaara was just laying there as if waiting, hoping someone would… Couldn't he be the one to do it?
He lay Rin down gently and his feet moved to stand and walk. The direction he already knew but he still wasn't sure what to do. Those seafoam eyes that always looked at him with kindness and admiration now looked at him with sorrow and unfathomable regret. They were begging him to end it. Pleading with him…
Wasn't it okay then?
Naruto stopped in front of Gaara. He had never seen Gaara so covered in emotion.
"i...I…"
Would he apologize?
Naruto thought,
No, would it matter was the question. Because no matter how many times he said sorry the corpse that lay a few feet back would never bloom with life. Tears fell down his face.
There would be no more life lessons, or chilling by the pond. No one who would chase after him and speak kindly. No one who just listened… First it was his mother, and now...Rin. His father had suffered and now Obito… There was no fairness in this world…
So killing him… it would be fine right?
Naruto raised a Kunai,
"You… you said you were my friend…."
Whatever hinge was holding the last bit of Gaara broke because he was now sobbing.
"GAARA!"
"GAARA!"
Temari and Kankuro yelled as they saw Naruto above their little brother with a kunai, they would never make it in time…. They would not be able to save him…
"Me too…."
Gaara froze as the hand holding the exit from his pain shook and the Kunai dropped,
"Me too…"
And Gaara didn't want to think it was possible. He didn't want this innocent person to commit this sin.
Naruto fell to his knees in front of Gaara, Rain beginning to fall as if response to their feelings.
"You're my friend... too"
Gaara didn't want to be forgiven because there was no way he should be forgiven...not by this person…. Anyone but this person…
"That's why…. no matter what i….want to be on your side…"
This person… he had no right to be forgiven… not by this person…
"Alright! I don't know if i'll be hokage but imma rootin for ya kay. I'll help ya protect your important people and you help me!"
This person…
Naruto cover his eyes trying to will the tears and pain to stop,
"If you still...consider me that… please…"
This person…. Gaara cried….
"Live"
Was too cruel.