Summary:
Could a naive teenager conquer the world with his own hands? At the time, Naruto thought so.
Sewing his future with bright lines, forgetting that beneath them lay a crooked, unfinished draft, the Uzumaki earned his golden passport. His meteoric film career launched him to stardom, introducing him to a new reality and making the plans he had made with Hinata Hyuuga gradually fade from his mind.
Fifteen years later and there he was, back in Konoha, realizing that the city as he knew it, as well as the relationships he had once considered precious, no longer existed. His eyes, however, insisted on seeing through the curtain of the past.
Yes... still naive...
"You left a long time ago, Naruto, when this place became too small for your dreams."
Regrets, guilt, unfulfilled desires. Could he fight against the cruelty of time and win back the love he left behind?
High
November 17, 2004
Konoha
It was almost eleven at night when the two bodies slowly separated, panting and satisfied. A camping flashlight, lit and with its focus facing away from them, illuminated that secluded spot of Senju Park with the exact amount of light they wanted.
The car had been parked in such a way as to protect them from the gaze of anyone who could pass by, even though they had never seen anyone use that road or walk along that end of the park. Lying on the red and white checkered tablecloth, they looked deeply into each other's eyes and smiled happily. Despite the heat of their bodies, they were still partially wrapped in the blanket that protected them from the chilly autumn breeze.
Naruto brought his hand to his girlfriend's face and brushed the long strands of hair away from her cheeks before fusing his lips with hers again. His blue eyes, usually as vibrant and intense as the clear sky of a summer afternoon, reflected the night's darkness in a deep navy blue.
The basket, containing the remains of the picnic that had begun when the sun was still high in the sky, had long been set aside. Above it, a small speaker played the soundtrack he had specially chosen for that moment. The volume was just enough to lull them without drowning out the sounds they made.
"Did you like the surprise?"
She nodded, flashing a smile that he thought could light up the entire city.
"Only you could convince me to come up here in the middle of the week and stay so late when we have classes early tomorrow! We could have done this next week, before the holiday."
"Of course not!" he let his shock show in each of the sounds he made, "It's our first anniversary. I couldn't let a single day pass, let alone a week! And we couldn't celebrate anywhere else, it had to be here."
The girl laughed in agreement, and he squeezed her petite body tighter against his, pulling the blanket to wrap them better.
"Besides… we can come again next week."
"My dad's coming back from his trip on Sunday..."
"We need to find a good excuse, then!"
Between giggles and sweet kisses, they devised crazy strategies. As well as a reason to leave their homes, they also needed to be discreet about the unauthorized use of her father's old Mustang.
"Tomorrow, after classes, I'm going straight to the photography club. I think we went a bit overboard today. We took more than thirty pictures during the sunset alone!"
She sounded excited, but he sighed. Covertly processed photo films. Secret dates. Veiled confessions. Gently, Naruto wrapped the girl's left hand with his right and pulled it up to eye level, staring at the orange and lilac beaded bracelet he had put on her a few hours earlier.
"I wanted so much to give you a promise ring. But if I wore one too, everyone would know what it meant, and with the school's non-dating policy… And then there's your dad, what if he finds out and decides to break us up?"
"I don't need a ring. I loved the bracelet, and you also have one! We can tell everyone they are friendship bracelets. We both know what they mean, which is more than enough for me," getting closer, she rubbed her nose gently at his. "The bracelets are even more special because you made them."
"You're the best girlfriend in the universe. Did you know that?" he kissed her forehead tenderly, then pulled away just enough to look into her eyes again, "Have you noticed? Our song is playing."
She smiled and nodded as her ears were invaded by his hoarse, off-key voice, singing along with the music.
"Don't you think it's time you started doing what we always wanted? One day we′re gonna get so high... 'Cause even the impossible is easy when we got each other. One day we′re gonna get so high..."
A soft, melodious laugh was heard, and she then silenced him with her lips.
"That will wake up all the animals in the park, Naruto-kun. And speaking of waking up… It's getting late, I think we should go."
" No," he answered vehemently and wrapped them tighter in the blanket, attacking her mouth with passion afterward.
"No?" she asked in between the kiss, feeling his smile against her lips.
"No. We'll only leave after I've loved you once more."
Ending the kiss, they looked at each other again. In the dark night, Hinata's eyes shone like small silver moons, with no trace of the lilac hue present in the daylight.
"I love you, 'Nata. This is just the beginning of our 'forever' ."
'Cause we are gonna be
Forever you and me
You will
Always keep me flying high in the sky
of love
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
March 5, 2022
Konoha
"Okay, let's recap. Today, we are starting with camera three…"
The new director's agitated hands revealed her state of mind. She had built a solid career, overcoming every obstacle along the way on her own merit. She was confident in her work, having proved countless times to herself and others that she was good and capable, but to be alone in charge of that show for the first time on that very day was a tremendous responsibility.
If she were to list the factors responsible for her anxiety, she would start with the show itself.
Moegi Kazamatsuri had been a fan of Killer B since she was a little girl, when he was still trying to make it as a rapper. His songs without rhythm and lyrics of dubious quality were among the few things that made the taciturn girl laugh, and when his musical career failed, she let herself be overcome by melancholy. Years later, when Talk With Bee premiered, the then-high school student wasted no time and applied to be a stagehand. With a lot of insistence, she was accepted as a gofer and spent an incredible two years alongside her idol. She was mainly responsible for fetching cups of coffee. Still, as a bonus, she became familiar with all the steps of the show's production, listened to discussions about the best title sequences, and could give her opinion about some video cuts. That's how she found her vocation.
When she had to leave her internship to study Cinematography in Osaka, Moegi took a letter of intention to hire signed by B himself, guaranteeing she would have the opportunity to officially join the crew as soon as she had the necessary qualifications. Years after her return, she expected nothing less than perfection from herself.
The second factor was the presence of her predecessor in the audience.
After almost ten years with the crew, the last six of them as director, Hinata Hyuuga had left the network for good the previous week. She was considered a behind-the-scenes legend in the television industry, and her fame went beyond the borders of Japan, being directly responsible for Killer B's meteoric ascent on streaming networks by changing the show's format.
At a time when television channels were still struggling to maintain their hegemony, Konoha's hitherto small Channel 12 gained worldwide visibility when Talk With Bee commenced being presented in English and retained the presence of a studio audience, but also allowed interaction between the show's host and the viewers at home in real-time. Coupled with the presenter's irreverence and spontaneity, it was impossible to predict the course of an interview. B discussed food with fashion designers, performed duets with politicians, danced with athletes, and had in-depth dialogues, which were more like therapy sessions, with environmental activists. And the public loved it.
It was an honor to have this great icon present at her debut. Hinata would be one of the evening's interviewees, as she was leaving the entertainment industry to pursue a long-held dream, and Moegi could not be happier for her friend. She knew, however, that she could not make any mistakes. Nothing would pass her mentor's clinical eye.
The third anxiety factor was the surprise guest.
The show consisted of four blocks, each reserved for a guest. However, more than one block could be set for just one interview for special occasions or guests. It was customary for all interviewees to be announced in advance, but only Moegi and Killer B knew the identity of a surprise guest that Saturday. The first two blocks were assigned to him, the following to Hinata, and the last would feature a local flower producer.
The team monitored some audience figures in real-time, a thermometer of the interview's progress.
The broadcaster's own streaming platform usually peaked at three and a half million online viewers during the most hyped interviews. Still, the expectation surrounding the surprise guest meant that, at that moment, almost five million people were waiting for the show to start. One of the social networks broadcasting the live show and the most popular video platform already accounted for more than seven million connections each.
Being the guest who he was… Moegi had no doubt it would be possible to break the world record for the most viewers in a live broadcast on each available platform.
She would not fail. Focused, she continued to guide her team.
"I want camera four following the guests' reactions. Cameras five and seven should focus on the right side of the studio audience. Cameras six and eight, left side of the audience. We have to be flawless."
(...)
Backstage, Temari no Sabaku was giving the final instructions to the photographer and the two camera operators who accompanied her.
"We know how they work," she began, indicating the show's team, "looking for group reactions; they want to show laughter, tears, and hysterical shouts. We will have access to all these shots later, and they can be used freely in our documentary," she smirked. "Today, you'll remind me why you're so well paid."
"Are we looking for something specific?"
Temari's smile widened.
"We are looking for an extra sparkle. Something that would go unnoticed among the public but overflows emotion when isolated. It's up to you whether you want to keep an eye on the audience directly or on the monitors, but I need to use all your sensitivity to find that sparkle. And not just today, but throughout the project," she took a sip from the bottle of water in her hand. "We don't want to produce a standard documentary. We're not going to put together a bunch of well-known images from his career. We want to show where he came from, the story behind the difficult story everyone already knows, the origin of the values he follows to this day, what makes him smile…"
"…and how does he get panties wet."
The team erupted into laughter but promptly suppressed them when they realized Temari's accusatory look.
"Now it's not time for fun, Deidara!" the blonde sighed, "Get something outstanding today, and I promise I won't complain about your jokes for a week."
Her fellow blond flashed a rogue smile and winked at her.
"You have a deal, boss!"
The four of them had their attention diverted by the director's approach.
"Everything's ready. We'll be on the air in five minutes."
"Thank you, Moegi," Temari said, then turned to her team. "You three can go to your positions. I'll call the Big Guy."
(...)
At thirty-three, Hinata had left the insecurity of childhood and the anxiety of adolescence behind. Having faced problems and adversity that could easily destroy the integrity of most people, she had learned to face the world with her head held high without ever losing the sweetness that had accompanied her from a very young age.
Nothing, however, could have prepared her for that moment.
The studio was dark, and the audience was waiting in silence when the bright sign ON AIR went on. Two drums began to beat the rhythm of the Jinchuuriki Song , an original Killer B song composed exceptionally for the TV series Menma . The host's deep, intense voice, singing live, reverberated through the room.
"One, with terrible bags under his eyes, Shukaku
Two, with a silky voice like a cat, Matatabi
Three, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura"
The story of the ninja who never gave up had become a global obsession, and its twelfth and final season would premiere at the end of that year. In addition to the composition, Killer B made special appearances from the seventh season onwards in a homonymous role deemed crucial to the development of Menma, the main character.
"Four, together with Yonbi for 40 years, Roshi
Five, tough and powerful, Han
Six, reserved and dressed in a kimono, Saiken"
Those present chorused along to the music. Hinata's heart began to beat faster. That couldn't be true. After all that time, she was back to being an apprehensive teenager.
"Seven, the heart-warming kunoichi, Choumei"
She felt her extremities tingle, and her legs go numb. The air coming in through her nose was no longer enough, and she began to suck it hard into her mouth.
"Eight, he's got killer rap skills, Killer B"
One of the spotlights came on, illuminating the tall, burly man as soon as his name was mentioned. He was performing the Jinchuuriki dance, with his arms raised above his head, swaying his hips and turning slowly until his back was to the audience. The chanting of those present turned into shouts as more and more people gave in to the anticipation, solving the riddle of who the surprise guest would be.
"Nine, he is Namikaze Menma"
The second spotlight lit, casting its light on a blond man almost as tall as B and performing the dance steps in sync with the presenter. With every twist and turn, the slightly tight jeans showed off his thick and shapely thighs and butt, eliciting sighs and causing more frenzy. The two remained with their backs to the audience for a few moments, still swaying their hips as the audience's screams increased. The choreography soon continued, and they faced the audience, who went wild as they confirmed that that was indeed the actor responsible for bringing Menma to life.
Hinata's hands trembled. She would never forget that smile...
The noise of the audience was deafening.
For a few seconds, Hinata forgot how to breathe.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the extraordinary Naruto Uzumaki!"
Notes:
That's it for now, just an introduction 😊
Their song is "High", by the British duo Lighthouse Family
I've been following some discussions recently and have realized not everyone loves giant chapters as much as I do. I promise I'll try to keep the posts to a reasonable length, but you can pull my ear if I go overboard.
I hope you enjoyed it! See you in the next one ❤️
