Chapter XIX
One Step at a Time
True to my word, I stayed by Naruto's bedside all night. In order to be comfortable, I got myself a chair and one of my books despite the penumbra; reading in the dark is tedious and painful for my retina. Of course, I left to drink, eat and go to the bathroom. I'm still recovering, after all.
Exhausted, I had no choice but to sleep a little, although I slept with one eye open. At the slightest suspicious gesture or noise, my body was ready to wake up and react. Luckily, Naruto didn't move an inch. This allowed me to take a rest, tiny it is. Also, the pain in my arm eased enough to forget about it.
Once morning dawned, I started reading. According to his internal clock, he should sleep until noon…
However, a movement demonstrates the opposite.
Seeing Naruto stir, I put my book away. He winces in pain and his sluggish eyelids open with difficulty. His quick blinking betray the state of his still numb mind. When he painfully turns his head towards me, I greet him with a smile.
"Good morning, Naruto."
I cleverly hide my apprehensions; a drop of sweat beads on my forehead. Deep down, I question my decision to stay until he regained consciousness. I'm afraid that it scares the blond more than anything else.
Naruto watches me for an unspeakable amount of time; he looks at me, as if his brain is having trouble translating the information his senses are transmitting. His sapphire blue eyes don't shine, but their intensity makes me feel as if they've hogged the depths of the ocean. I'm bewitched by his pupils of an infinite black, in which I'd get lost forever if I dived into it. A strange feeling takes hold of me as my iris is unable to depart from his.
Naruto breaks this visual exchange when he pulls himself up to sit … with difficulty as his exhausted arms shake and struggle to hold his own weight. He grinds his teeth and utters silent lamentations in response to the twinges that strike him unceremoniously.
"Lie down, Naruto. You're in no condition to get up…"
Before I can help him back down, the teenager shoots me a glare that freezes me on the spot. I don't insist.
Did I make a mistake?
Naruto puts a hand on his abdomen, on his wound that makes him suffer; at that, he gasps loudly. However, his breathing quickly stabilizes and once the crisis is over, he turns his attention to me—rather, to my left arm. I hear him swallow; nervousness seizes his whole being. I already know what he wants. Especially since he confirms it since he opens his mouth to show me his fangs, sliding his tongue over them.
Naruto begs for my chakra.
Which I don't want at all.
And I'm unable to hide it.
"...This can't wait another day...?" I complain in a whisper.
My student lowers his head and extends his palms towards me. Plunged into immobility, he begs me to accept his request.
The memories of his bite resurface in me, in all my being, until I relive it a second time. This unbearable pain; this atrocious fire burning my skin, my veins and my chakra network; those of the electrical currents proliferating in my nerves; my flesh pierced and drilled by his killer fangs; this horrible feeling of my strength leaving me little by little…
I was aware that I had to submit to this torture again, but not so soon. I note with horror that he's hungry every day.
Soon I will have to dig my own grave…
Reluctantly, I surrender with a sigh. Given the catastrophic state of my mutilated left arm, I offer him the right.
"Be gentle, Naruto. I still haven't recovered from your last bite…"
Naruto looks serious, implying that he understood me. His irises light up like fireflies as he takes my forearm. As for me, I stiffen like an iron bar as I prepare for the inevitable. He will sink his fangs into my skin, pouring an imaginary venom that will burn my flesh with its ember heat. Under too much stress, my pulse quickens and starts its mad race. My apprehensions, my anxiety… All that, Naruto notices them.
However, instead of biting me, he examines and feels my forearm with his fingers equipped with sharp nails, which scratch me in spite of himself. I feel as if he's looking for my nerves and my veins… Then, without warning, he sinks his fangs deeply into my arm, which tears me a shudder and a muffled moan.
The pain electrifies me like lightning. A fire spreads in my epidermis, seeping into my boiling chakra veins. The pain is excruciating, sure, but this time, it's tolerable … sort of. With each suck, throbbing twinges pulse through my spine as Naruto devours my chakra. My precious energy is leaving me in a blink of an eye. I resolve to the possibility of fainting in the jail, sleeping on a floor of cold stones which will give me a nasty backache when I wake up…
To my relief, Naruto takes a reasonable amount of chakra and pulls his monstrous fangs out of me, leaving two holes in their wake that has already stopped bleeding. The pain is non-existent if I have to compare it to that of yesterday or that in my chest bruised by my heart beating too fast… However, one detail concerns me.
I don't understand. Depending on the size of the wounds and their depth, I should continue to bleed, forced to slap a hand to stop the discharge… Yet, I'm no longer bleeding. At the very least, there's no suspicious redness proliferating on my skin, as if I were poisoned by an acid or a disturbing enzyme…
Weird.
The sapphire-eyed boy wipes his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt, then looks at me to make sure I'm okay.
"It's okay, Naruto. I'm doing well. You don't have to worry about it," I reassure him with a smile.
Naruto gives me a fleeting but sincere smile. Reassured by my words, the teenager lies back, uttering a muffled complaint of pain. He sinks little by little into Morpheus's arms and his face relaxes. His expression therefore conveys a peaceful tranquility.
I risk a cautious hand on his forehead to take his temperature. Aside from a frown, the blond doesn't push me away. At first glance, it seems that the fever has left him. However, with his abnormal body temperature, I can't be sure.
Seeing him so serene, I can only smile. I recognize Naruto in this tranquility that cradles his being; not once would I have suspected that he was suffering from amnesia if our reunion had been smoother, and not chaotic and anxiety-provoking. I have long observed the blond sleeping during our missions in the past. His face is the same, and it warms my heart.
I wait until Naruto is sound asleep before leaving the cell, so that I can take care of my wound and have it examined by Lady Tsunade.
- XxX -
Unlike his first genuinely, nightmarish bite, this one did almost no damage. Other than the trauma in my desecrated chakra vein, Naruto didn't sever any veins or nerves; to this, my epidermis and my dermis are intact. Apart from a small bandage and an ointment to prevent infections, I didn't need any treatment. This precision he showed impressed the Hokage, me with it.
Also, the sapphire-eyed boy greatly limited the amount of chakra he devoured from me. If the next meals are similar, I should survive… However, this puts me in a delicate situation; this weak position causes Konohagakure to lose one of its most powerful shinobis. This bothers me a lot, sows in me this unacknowledged frustration. I don't like to be vulnerable and useless—rather, a burden.
By necessity, if I feed Naruto every day, I will be an ordinary man…
This observation leaves a bitter taste…
Since my student drained me of my strength, I imitated him by stuffing myself under the covers, after having ingested the medicine intended to help me recover my chakra. Naruto will be fine without me until twilight like the other days. He shouldn't wake up or beg for my presence. His body is busy healing, after all. He should sleep all day and just like him, that's what I plan to do. Feeding him with my chakra exhausts me just as much as using my Sharingan.
I then let the boat of dreams take me on its enchanted rivers, on which randomness and the subconscious merge.
- XxX -
A certain routine has settled in since my hospitalization. I wake up in the early evening or late afternoon. The nurses bring me meals and inquire about my condition, if not Lady Tsunade herself. I note that Sakura hasn't visited me. I was told that the video in which Naruto first woke up in his jail left her in shock. I assume she's protecting herself by avoiding me, so she doesn't have that unrecognizable image of him in her head.
This doesn't surprise me. Sakura told me about what happened on The Tenchi Bridge. For a long time, her nights were haunted by this incident forever anchored in her memory. The image of her closest comrade in the appearance of a miniature demon fox was worthy of a nightmare; Naruto's blood mingled with Kyūbi's cloak which covered his body fed with great violence and hatred. I witnessed two tails, she saw four.
I guess the wounds in her heart reopened the moment Sakura saw Naruto animated with similar violence. Well, knowing my student, she will come back when she healed her wounds; I don't have to worry too much. When there's a problem, she doesn't hesitate to talk to me, although Godaime is much more of that role now. Sakura had been a disciple of the Hokage herself for over three years, after all.
Before visiting Naruto, I enjoy a well-deserved shower. I don't bother with my ninja gear and I'm content with my light clothes. However, I put on my headband with which I cover my left eye. Anyway, where I'm going, I don't need weapons.
I venture into the underground, and surprise wins over me once in the observation room. Shikamaru isn't there. Usually, he's at the post in the evening and a good part of the night. I assume he must have been absent or on leave. Unconcerned, I shrug, lingering on the main screen.
Apparently, Naruto is still asleep. However, instead of facing the wall against which the bed is leaning, he's on the other side. Is it random? I can't say; with him, we must expect everything. One of the men in white coats rushes to hand me a glass of water, which I then have to offer to the teenager.
I then enter the lair of the beast.
Naruto is already observing me; he looked up before I even arrived. His sleepy, little eyes stare at me for a long time. After recognizing me, the blond falls back on his pillow to continue his slumber. He's truly exhausted. It's as if he had accumulated fatigue for days and days. At first glance, my student has never slept soundly since he has been here; his fearful temperament coupled with his feeling of insecurity must be to blame. Not to help, he just had a sleepless night.
Since I don't intend to leave right away and Naruto continues to sleep like a log, I settle down at his bedside to read the Make-Out Paradise, narrowing my eye. With my rather calm and reserved nature and the silence to which he's enslaved to, I hardly know what activity to undertake with him. I can't start the discussion either, and that makes it difficult for me.
We were close, but our relationship wasn't as intimate as it was with Sakura. All we did together was missions, training and eating ramen at Ichiraku; to that, we had formal and uninteresting talks… We never found ourselves face to face, just the two of us…
It's only now that I become aware of the situation he's currently in; days of having nothing else to do but come face to face with himself. I wonder if he has any sense of time or boredom. If he's been sequestered all this time without any source of entertainment, he may have lost interest in keeping himself busy or passing the time. I must say that his emotions are difficult to decipher.
Sometimes, Naruto changes position while mumbling incomprehensible things. He's dreaming, that's understood. I wonder what his dream is about and what he may be dreaming of given the circumstances. Maybe I'm in the latter, who knows?
All in all, he doesn't snore or have restless sleep; a tendency Naruto had when he was exhausted, especially after gruelling training. I won't be sorry. I don't want to find myself in the middle of devastating flames in this narrow and poorly ventilated place if he were to sleepwalk. According to Tenzō, it's a real waking nightmare. He revealed to me that once, Naruto attacked him with a Rasengan while I was sleeping peacefully next to all of it…
I don't know how the racket didn't wake me up that day…
I have time to read a few chapters before Naruto leaves dreamland. Mechanically, we plunge our gaze into that of the other. He rubs his eyes as he sits down. Unlike this morning, he doesn't wince or show any signs of pain. Meanwhile, I hand him the glass of water.
"Slept well, Naruto?" I ask, my nose in my book and fully aware that he won't answer me.
The blond grabs my watery offering and drinks it down in a few gulps. He contemplates the emptiness in front of him, then directs his eyes on me. He stares at me and it makes me uncomfortable. Will he beg for my chakra again…? I hope not; I will definitely lose consciousness if it's not death that takes me.
I refrain a start when Naruto begins to move abruptly. He gets rid of the glass by dropping it on the ground. He lifts the sheets, inspects them thoroughly and looks under the bed; he's looking for something… As for me, I watch him nervously, on my guard.
He slips a hand under his pillow and finds the object of his desire: his shinobi headband. He sketches a happy smile while tying his headband on his forehead. I feel as if he's laughing with joy, but his voice remains silent; at that, his ebony tail waggles happily, betraying playful excitement.
What just happened makes me as mute as him. A feeling of happiness invades me and rocks me with light. In these expressive behaviours, I manage to recognize the old Naruto; despite his amnesia, his personality persists and resurfaces when he's comfortable. I smile back.
Suddenly, curiosity seizes my student. He looks at my book with far too much insistence. When he pulls himself up to glance inside, I quickly pull my book back. Immediately, he frowns and tries to snatch it from my hands. This forces me to put it out of reach by raising my arm. My heart is racing and my cheekbones are overheating.
I'm willing to bet that he can still read. He has already read through a few drafts in the past, and I don't care; it's not the kind of thing a seventeen-year-old should read, especially one of the late Jiraiya's books. Also since I don't want him to know exactly my tastes in literature … or anyone else, for that matter.
Frustration overwhelms Naruto, who looks at me coldly, beating his rotten tail in displeasure. I'm in the grip of a similar emotion, and my patience flies away.
"Enough, Naruto!" I grumble as I stand up. "I won't leave you my book, whether you like it or not!"
His azure irises light up for a breath; at that, he growls, annoyed. I don't intend to give in to his whim despite the risk of him igniting on fire. I must deepen this bond of trust with Naruto, of course, but I must also maintain a certain authority over him; otherwise, it will quickly get out of hand…
This growing tension is broken by the mechanical rumble of the door.
Subconsciously, I'm relieved that this puts an end to this incipient and dangerous argument between me and my student. Because of the smells that stink the place, I can't trust my nose to know the identity of the person who is about to enter.
As for Naruto, he immediately arches his back. The hairs on his tail ruffle, including his blond hair that suddenly seems thicker to me. His face is twisted wildly and ugly, baring his fangs. As the teenager begins his symphony of aggressive hissing, he hurries to get behind me and stare apprehensively at the impending and unwanted intrusion.
Instead of hiding under the bed, he preferred to hide behind my back. He feels safe with me, that's for sure. In his eyes, my person is a much more effective protection than the underside of his bunk.
It doesn't take long for me to recognize Shikamaru by his sluggish gait and his jaded face; obviously, he has an idea in mind.
"Easy, Naruto. He's not an enemy," I whisper, hoping he will calm down.
Carefully, Shikamaru approaches the bars of the cage. Mechanically, I come to meet him on the other side. The growls gradually subside and glancing over my shoulder, Naruto stays close to me and is on his guard; he observes the other boy with big suspicious eyes.
"Calm down. I mean you no harm," he says to the blond, raising his palms.
"What are you doing here, Shikamaru?" I ask.
"I wanted to test his reaction in your presence," he sighs as Naruto falls into silence, although his throat is still vibrating.
"I thought so," I admit, watching my student, whose eyebrows are so furrowed I can't see his eyes anymore. "There's a lot of work to be done, of course, but that he can be so close to you is already a good start. That said, you aren't here just for that, am I wrong?"
Shikamaru nods. Then he frowns, looking around the room, puzzled.
"Don't you think the air is rather heavy? I mean, more than usual?"
Now that he says it, it's true that the air is particularly stuffy … more than normal. I have a vague feeling that the weather is stormy and that it will soon break out, although we're inside and the good weather is rocking Konohagakure. Maybe the ventilation systems are faulty? Is the natural warmth that Naruto gives off—voluntarily or not—to blame? Odd.
Not worried, I just shrug my shoulders.
"Anyway," Shikamaru sighs before changing the subject. "I've been thinking about this genjutsu thing for a while. It takes relatively developed intellectual capacities, even for the basics. And we both know that Naruto is dead last in the matter, not to forget that he's not the sharpest kunai in the pack."
"I see what you mean," I nod. "Genjutsu has no secrets for me and it's very difficult to trap me with it. Still, I wasn't able to break his technique. I want to believe that chakra devourers are specialists in the matter. But reaching this level in a month, without any training, I find it hard to believe."
"How so...?"
"According to the Intel I've been able to glean, it was said that their eyes outclassed those of the Sharingan. The genjutsu he bewitched me with… This fact is probably true."
A silence.
This realization generates a lot of unacknowledged anxiety in me. I was completely at his mercy and what terrifies me the most is that I didn't realize it. Naruto stealthily cast a spell on me that kicked in much later. There were these strange symptoms of biting cold or tingling under my skin… However, how could I know that I was under genjutsu...? These symptoms in question lasted only a few seconds. I don't know if I'd be able to rival his irises with mine, if I had to protect myself from his eye powers one day…
I'm pulled from my thoughts when Naruto shyly clings to my arm. At his touch, I jump; I faced a sudden shock of static electricity which didn't bother him. The sapphire-eyed boy cocks his head to take a closer look at the other teenager. His expression is less aggressive and his hair is back to normal, though his stern and cautious demeanour persists.
Shikamaru notices Naruto's curiosity, but doesn't comment. He reaches into his pocket to show me an object: the Chinese puzzle I saw the other day.
"I thought we could test his brain with those."
"Wouldn't it be more appropriate to start with something easier?" I sigh.
"Maybe, but it'll keep him busy for a while," he replies, handing me the kingou wooden rope puzzle. "He must be dead bored in there. Besides, buying another one is a drag…"
I pick up the puzzle to examine it more closely—imitated by Naruto, who inspects it with his deep blue irises. Knowing him, I doubt he can figure it out. Nevertheless, I agree with Shikamaru; keeping his mind busy can only benefit him. It would've been a long time that madness would've taken hold of me within these four walls.
"Why don't you try to solve it, Naruto?" I suggest, offering him the object.
Naruto doesn't hesitate to take it in his hands to look at it from all angles.
"It's a kingou wooden puzzle. You have to remove the ring from the gear without breaking the rope or damaging the equipment," I explain to him.
He frowns as he utters a complaint; he seems unconvinced to me. Unable to do anything more, I judge that it's time to leave.
"I will come back tomorrow. I need to rest."
When I turn on my heels, something frantically wraps around one of my legs and in response, I almost stumble. I see that this thing is Naruto's tail holding me back and preventing me from leaving. The latter tightens its grip more and more and compresses my leg until I'm prey to worrying tingling; my limb is choking and the blood is struggling to travel through my veins. I'm amazed at the flexibility and strength of this powerful and prehensile tail.
Obviously, my student refuses that I leave, and he holds me back against my will; his neutral, but anxious face convinces me of this.
"You have to let me go, Naruto. Otherwise, I won't be able to give you my chakra. Don't worry. I won't be far, okay?"
Naruto lowers his head, hesitates. In this silence that drags on, we wait. I don't want to rush him and cause him stress. I hope he makes the right decision; I don't want to force him against his will and thus, upset or disappoint him.
Fortunately, after a painful time, he finally frees my leg and my veins, which can bring blood back to this area. According to the veil of sadness on his face, he reluctantly gave in. In order to silence his anxieties, I risk a soft hand in his blond hair. He jumps, but he doesn't push me away.
"It's gonna be all right, Naruto. I'll be back. I promise," I whisper sincerely, smiling.
I therefore leave the jail, leaving the feral boy behind and I join Shikamaru on the other side. Before continuing on my way, I take one last look.
Worry devours my insides and turns my heart upside down. This sudden attachment to me isn't at all normal; technically, he's only known me for about three days, and he clings to me like it's been weeks… I understand that he doesn't want to be like a lost soul, but still; he shouldn't trust me so quickly. I sincerely fear that he will develop an attachment disorder…
I'm not the only one who thinks so, since Shikamaru questions me and shares similar fears about it. This kind of thing can cause separation anxiety disorder in him and throw him into mental distress if I'm not around. Worse, he could very well reject any contact with others and accept only me. The traumatic events he has experienced are more serious than anticipated; it's not to be excluded that there are after-effects, thus explaining the reason why he becomes attached to me too quickly.
And if that turns out to be the case… It implies that I will be the only one able to provide him with chakra…
I will sadly remain captive to this deplorable state of weakness which directly threatens my shinobi career…
- XxX -
Naruto observed as the only human he trusted abandoned him there. Whenever he was with the one named Kakashi, this other rather hateful human came to snatch him away from him. He could not understand the reason why Kakashi was kindly agreeing to follow this human with malicious intentions; he refused to believe that Kakashi was acting on his own.
The first time, Kakashi was unable to defend himself because of him; he had devoured Kakashi's chakra and therefore, his precious strength. Naruto had almost taken too much from him out of greed; there was something special in this chakra and it could not be explained. Instinctively, he knew this chakra was unique, although he did not know why. This unique chakra was tender, sweet and divine. One thing was certain, he was still asking for it when he had finished his meal.
Naruto had not had time to savour this euphoria that rocked him with its sweetness that this human had suddenly entered what was his home. Panicked, he took cover. The fear of being hurt had completely paralyzed him. Trapped in his own flesh, Naruto fumed to himself that he could not do anything to help Kakashi when the other came to kidnap him. In his helplessness, he watched Kakashi disappear.
Condemned to silence and loneliness, the blond had convinced himself that Kakashi would never return. He had convinced himself that he would be alone again in this cold room, in which there was nothing but despair and darkness. He had dived into a nameless wrath and had an unspeakable hatred towards these humans whom he hated in the depths of his heart…
Then, a powerful emotion overwhelmed him when he saw the familiar face reappear. The evil that was corrupting his soul had dissipated and Kakashi's presence had driven away all the dark clouds that were shrouding his judgment. Kakashi gave off a dark light that swept away the oppressive darkness and loneliness.
Gradually, Naruto became attached to this glow and longed to follow it, no matter where it went.
It was a beacon of hope that he clung to.
At this precise moment, now, his heart was screaming at him to fight against the damn metal bars that held him prisoner, to scream until he was out of air in the hope that Kakashi would come back to his side. He wanted Kakashi to get him out of this hell, to take him with him and away from here. As long as Kakashi was here, Naruto was not afraid of the unknown, outside of the only world he knew in what was his home.
However, Kakashi's last words swirled in his fragile mind, giving him absolutely no mental respite.
I'll be back. I promise.
It was a promise.
Kakashi would return as Kakashi always had and Naruto clung to that promise as if his life depended on it.
Alone in the darkness, the sapphire-eyed boy got interested in the strange object given to him by Kakashi. At first glance, it belonged to the other human, but it was Kakashi who gave it to him and not the other. He did not know why Kakashi wanted him to solve what looked like a puzzle and Naruto did not care. If he could please Kakashi by accomplishing what Kakashi told him to do, that was all that mattered.
He convinced himself that Kakashi would come back sooner. He convinced himself that Kakashi would reward him with his visit and his delicious, mystical and unique chakra in the whole world. With Kakashi, there was no fear or pain, and Naruto could not live without that comfort now.
The teenager returned to his resting place. Lying on his back, he analyzed the object more closely. He turned it around, touched with curiosity the softness of the wood, the roughness of the rope and the coldness of what was once alive. He inhaled the strange smells that kept the wood alive, even after it died. It intrigued him. Subconsciously, he hoped that Kakashi's delicate scent had anchored there.
In his mind, the image of Kakashi appeared to him; his silver hair blending with the white of his harmoniously pale wintry skin; his deep black eye; the scar marking his torn out eye; the garment that hid the lower part of his face and made Kakashi mysterious and special…
Then, Naruto set to work. As Kakashi had explained to him, the object should not be destroyed and then, Kakashi would be angry if he damaged it. For the first time since he had been sentenced to this cage, in what was his home, Naruto's mind was stimulated and occupied with the puzzle. He devoted all his time to it, and a fierce determination seized him.
If he succeeded, Kakashi would be proud of him.
If he succeeded, Kakashi would come back to see him.
If he succeeded, Kakashi would silence his hunger.
- XxX -
After a good night's sleep followed by a day of rest, I go to Naruto's cell when dusk is on the horizon. Contrary to my old habits, I'm on time; this sudden punctuality surprises me. I don't have the energy to walk all the way to the Memorial Stone to let my old demons haunt me by needlessly dwelling on the past and my mistakes over and over again. Besides, Naruto is my priority right now.
In all this, I also have to save my strength since I have to feed Naruto with my chakra. He's surely impatient for my imminent arrival. Curiosity takes hold of me regarding the puzzle; I wonder if he has progressed at least a little.
I will soon find out.
In the observation room, I greet Shikamaru with a wave of my hand and him with a nod. The latter sketches a small smirk. In response, I raise an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?" I ask as the youngster shrugs before crossing his arms behind his head.
Perplexed, I glance at the screens. As usual, Naruto is lying on his side, facing the wall. His black tail wags in all directions and without stopping; I detect impatience or discontent, or maybe a bit of both. Since Shikamaru intends to remain silent, I don't insist. Logically, this is related to Naruto.
Could it be that he managed to solve the puzzle...?
Impossible… I mean, not so soon.
I therefore enter this place bathed in darkness, in the lair of the beast.
Immediately, Naruto hurriedly jumps out of bed to meet me, happily wagging his tail. This time, his smile doesn't leave his lips; he's happy to see me, that's understood. However, I note that he's hiding something behind his back… Since his shinobi headband is still firmly tied on his forehead, I don't know what it could be…
My brain forbids itself from believing that's the resolved kingou wooden puzzle.
Although my student is only inches from the bars, I choose to trust him as he trusts me. After all, trust goes both ways and I'm willing to bet that he remembers my words about it. I'd be the worst liar if I decided to go back on my word. He's unpredictable and unstable, yes, but I have to reciprocate.
With caution, I enter the jail. As for Naruto, he patiently waits for me to be inside to hop up to me.
"What is it, Naruto?"
The blond lets out silent laughter before eagerly handing me what he was hiding. I'm flabbergasted. In his hands, I recognize the wooden ring of the Chinese puzzle. Paralyzed from head to toe, including my breath, I slowly scan the room and see it, on the bed, the puzzle, and it's intact. In utter astonishment, I blink many times as Naruto watches me with eternal patience.
Incredulous, I take the said ring and examine it briefly with touch, as if to make sure it's real. Knowing the old Naruto, he would've been pissed off long ago, complaining aloud that this is impossible. Not only did this Naruto manage to find the solution, but he did it in record time; taking into account his brain power, it's almost a miracle.
The hypothesis I believe in is that the teen perceives the world differently, and that his thoughts are different from the past. He may have developed a keener attention to small details; since this object works the sense of observation, it makes sense. Nevertheless, boredom must have played a crucial role in his success. He had plenty of time to focus on it, with no distractions to slow him down.
His face so bright, his dazzling smile, his exacerbated joy and his eyes filled with hope… I can only be proud of him. I feel as if we have advanced in leaps and bounds.
Smiling, I slip a hand into his blond mane.
"Well done, Naruto. You can be proud of yourself."
This time, he didn't jump.
On the contrary, he expected it.
Since in return, he smiles even more.
