Chapter 6: Departure
Sunlight shined into a now empty house, nothing was left except for a bed, a small kitchen, a clean bathroom, and the memories behind these walls.
A young boy ran ask fast as his feet would take him toward the very front of town at the bridge near the gates. A crowd of people had gathered at the front of them, originally Inari wanted nothing to do with any of this.
To him it was more painful than anything in a long time. Yet he still ran as fast as his feet would take him.
He still ran to go see Naruto.
"Don't cry Old Lady Michiru, I promise I'll visit."
Naruto tried to calm the old woman hanging onto him down while she sniffled, "Here, take these!" Michiru shoved a bag into the blonde boy's chest. The blonde boy looked at the bag with a smile, they were some of the vegetables from the harvest.
"Thank you! But please stop crying, it's just just me."
Naruto said while another man huffed at the boy, "You aren't just anyone, you're an important part of this village too." Mr. Murabito spoke while Naruto smiled at the man.
Meanwhile the other construction workers were rubbing their eyes, "I'm not crying you bastard, I'm just expressing manliness in liquid form." Ban said through a light sob while Naruto grinned.
"Yeah right."
The blonde said while Tazuna handed a rolled-up scroll to Naruto, "This is that map you asked for, it covers a large area but it cuts off just after the Land of Stone. You should be able to find a better map on the way." Tazuna said while Naruto shook his head.
"No, this is perfect. Thanks Old Man."
Naruto said while Tazuna nodded his head, "I'm sorry Tsunami and Inari couldn't see you off. She's still recovering and that boy he's… pretty sad to see you go. We all are."
Tazuna admitted while Naruto nodded his head, "I'm pretty sad to go to but it's about that time." Naruto said while Tazuna took a breath.
"You won't catch this old man getting emotional, just when you get out there in the world… be safe."
Tazuna said while Naruto gave the man a salute, "Yes sir!" Naruto exclaimed while the older man nodded.
"Naruto… are you sure you have everything? Do you have money? Food? Clothes? Something to keep you warm when it gets cold?"
Haruna asked while Naruto crouched to the girl's level, "Yup, I sure do. I'm going to be alright!" Naruto replied with a grin while Haruna slowly nodded.
"Hey Naruto… are you going to forget about me?"
Haruna asked while Naruto placed a hand on the top of her head, "Of course not, I would never forget about you Haruna." Naruto said while the girl flushed.
"Listen, when I grow up. I'm going to find you and we're going to get married!"
The girl suddenly yelled while Naruto waved his hands, "Good luck. You have to find me first though." Naruto teased while the girl nodded her head.
Why does he get the feeling he did something bad?
Naruto shook off the thought before he stood back up, "Keep an eye on Inari for me would ya? He's a bit stubborn and a little headstrong but he's got a good heart. Could you do that for me?" Naruto asked while both Tazuna and Haruna nodded.
The boy grinned before he was about to turn around, "Naruto!" Inari yelled, stopping the blonde in his tracks.
"Naruto! The women in the Land of Waves are some of the prettiest in the world! You could find yourself a wife!"
Inari yelled out while Naruto raised an eyebrow at the boy.
"There are plenty of amazing people who work hard every day! People that like you, so you could have all the friends you want!"
"When I get a little older and a little stronger I'll build you the biggest house you've ever seen so you can have a home!"
"You don't have to be alone anymore if you just stay here! I've got your back no matter what happens!"
"Just please…"
Inari ranted while Naruto walked toward the boy, his orange pants were new, his black T-shirt was pulled over a long-sleeved ninja mail shirt. All while a dark blue cloak covered over the blonde.
"Inari…"
Naruto was about to say something but was cut off by another figure looking towards him with a smile.
"I'm with Inari. I want you to stay here too."
A bandaged-up Tsunami spoke while the rest of the crowd looked toward her, "Tsunami! You should be resting!" Tazuna raised his voice while the woman smiled at her father.
"I told you that I was going to say what I needed to say to him and I will."
Tsunami said while she stepped forward beside Inari, "Naruto, in the brief time you've been here you've made more of an impact than you know. I consider you to be one of my own personally." Tsunami spoke while Naruto listened.
"I wanted to thank you for everything that you've done and keeping a smile on your face through everything. I also want you to know that you have a home here where you will never be anyone but yourself."
"Not a monster or a tool."
"Just you."
Tsunami spoke while Naruto looked to the side, "The world is a really big place, far bigger than I thought. Far bigger than me it kind of makes a guy really think about his place in it. I know I'm still young but I still don't have a clear grip on my new dream." Naruto looked back toward the bandaged woman while she nodded her head.
"It's a dangerous place, out there I'm sure there will be threats that you'll face that could really hurt you. We'll make sure you're safe in the village and we'll all help to make sure you're taken care of."
Tsunami argued while Naruto looked toward the woman, "This village would also be in danger if I stayed, you saw what happened with those gangsters. That guy was after me and my old team and the village nearly got caught up in that. It's dangerous for all of you if I stayed." Naruto spoke while the villagers watched Tsunami take another step closer to the boy.
"Now those goons are beaten and locked away all because of you, Naruto you are strong enough to have nothing to prove. Life isn't war and it should never be living a life where you have to fight constantly isn't the world that a child should face. It's ok to allow yourself to relax, to put your weapons down. Nothing is going happen now."
Tsunami pleaded with Naruto while her eyes began to tear up, meanwhile the blonde boy looked toward the ground again before Tsunami slowly ingulfed the boy in a hug.
"You don't have to face the world alone anymore."
Tsunami spoke while Naruto hugged the woman back tightly, his eyes looked at the villagers who looked back at him all of them with the hopes that he would agree and stay.
This place had really grown on him since he's been staying here, when he was lost they provided him with a place to stay and rest at. He was given a job, he made friends, he learned so many new things. It was possible for him to stay here, he could continue to farm and fish. He could help them build this place up and really make it comfortable.
A home for these good people.
He wouldn't even have to fight any more against opponents like Banira who would do whatever it took to kill him no matter how low it was. He could have peace and with Inari, Tazuna, and Tsunami Naruto could have a family that loves him for who he is.
Here, Naruto didn't have to be strong anymore.
The blonde boy pulled his head back slowly releasing Tsunami before he looked the woman directly in his eyes before he gave her a gentle smile, Tsunami smiled back before she reached out to touch his cheek with her hand.
"I can't."
Naruto spoke while the smile never left his face, Tsunami closed her eyes and turned away from the boy while the villagers looked amongst themselves with multiple different reaction.
"All of that sounds awesome... but it's also unfair. How could someone like me get this treatment while out in the world there are still people being treated like garbage? When I came to this village to visit I didn't even understand how much I would end up helping it. You all have shown me that there is more to life than just fighting and I am really grateful."
"But I have to get stronger, so when I do travel and someone needs help. I can help them like I did here."
Naruto said while he placed a hand on Tsunami's shoulder causing the woman to look toward him slowly, "I may not have a dream right now but I did realize something while I was trying to save you..." Naruto trailed off before Tsunami inhaled to try to keep her composure.
"I don't want anyone else to go through the things that I have."
"That's what I'm going to fight for at the moment, to make sure that good people like you guys are able to live as happy of lives as possible, Lives without fighting."
Naruto pointed a thumbs up toward Tsunami who sighed before she reached out and placed a hand on his blonde hair, ruffling it slowly and gently.
"I want you to stay here, I want to cook you meals and bother you about potential wives. I wanna be there to help you grow up… however."
Tsunami chuckled before Naruto looked into the woman's eyes.
"I want you to stay because that's what you chose. If you've decided to leave then I accept your decision."
Tsunami said while Inari looked toward his mother, "Mom-" he was cut off by another hand rubbing his hair.
"Live your life that way from now on, don't just do things because it would make everyone else happy. Do the things that will make you happy too."
Tsunami said while Naruto nodded his head before he hugged the woman, "I'm sorry." Naruto said while she hugged him back.
"I know."
Tsunami slowly let go of Naruto who grinned at her before he ruffled Inari's hair. "You'll see me again soon." Naruto said while Inari hugged the boy.
Naruto hugged the boy back before he let go of him as he looked at all of the rest of the villagers smiling at him. Naruto waved before he began to walk toward the bridge, "Naruto!" Inari's voice called out again causing the blonde to turn around.
"YOU CAN DO IT!"
The villagers all yelled toward the boy who grinned back at them.
"Believe it!"
Naruto yelled back while Tsunami held onto the now crying Inari while Naruto took a breath. His journey had to continue onward.
A confident look flashed in Naruto's eyes as he walked on the bridge, he stopped by a pile of flowers and a cracked mask before he clapped his hands together and closed his eyes to honor a friend.
He had to get stronger.
For the sake of everyone he cared about.
{...}
"You want to know why I did it?"
"That's what I asked, is it not?"
"How rich coming from you."
"It's merely a question, just like this is merely a conversation."
Tsunade took a long sip of her tea before she set her cup down while facing the man responsible for her most recent actions.
Danzo Shimura.
The bandaged man took a sip of his tea while eyeing the Hokage, "You realize that in your hands hold absolute power, a power that shouldn't be swayed by anyone's will but your own yet despite your apprehension you still decided to fold. Why?" Danzo asked while Tsunade resisted the urge to punch the man across the planet.
He was here to gloat, to prove to her why he was right and why she was wrong. Danzo wanted her to admit he was the better one and while Tsunade's personal pride wouldn't allow that she had to take advantage of the situation.
She needed answers and he could provide them.
"To protect him."
Tsunade said while looking toward her teacup, "Protect him? Sending him out into the clutches of the rest of the world is what you would consider protecting him?" Danzo spoke while Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"Danzo, within hours of the announcement alone, not to mention the article in the papers they already ransacked the boy's home. Keeping him here might as well have been a cage, not to mention in going to great lengths to protect him it would only make their ire worse."
Tsunade's brown eyes focused on the man's face as he sighed, "They are within reason, he is the demon jailer that holds the Nine Tails after all. If the villagers weren't wary of the boy then that in of itself is a concern." Danzo remarked, causing Tsunade to glare at him.
"Now you tell me, why exile? Out of all the suggestions, he could have been imprisoned or stripped of his status as a ninja alone. Why go to such lengths to send him into the arms of a potential enemy unprotected?"
Tsunade asked while Danzo was about to speak, "And don't you dare prattle on about mercy." Tsunade spoke with grit while Danzo chuckled.
"Have you ever heard of Hatred being born to protect Love?"
Danzo asked while Tsunade raised an eyebrow at the saying, "Once an extremely powerful man said these words, they symbolize the true meaning behind hatred. You can't hate something unless you love something else and if everyone that you love hates something then they won't hate each other." Danzo said while he looked toward the table.
"Hiruzen was always too kind to see it but the world we live in and this village must have something they can stand against in order to stand with each other. My only goal is the peace and prosperity of the place I call my home Tsunade."
Danzo said while Tsunade huffed, "A child? Sending him out into the world hoping he becomes some sort of enemy that stands against the village to unite it, how cruel." Tsunade said while Danzo looked up from the table.
"That's where you are wrong Tsunade, I have no wish to make the boy into an enemy. We have plenty of those as is, rather the boy is an unpredictable variable. One that could not be relied on for the purpose of peace for this village."
Danzo said while Tsunade drank down the rest of her tea, "Peace, you would sacrifice even a child for that? I don't think you could even call that peace, all because you couldn't make use of a weapon." Tsunade spoke while Danzo wagged a finger.
"Now you are getting your personal feelings involved, every shinobi is a weapon. They are born and they die for the sake of the civilians of the Leaf and if they cannot complete their task then they are cast away and replaced. A shinobi that cannot fulfill their creed to the fullest is nothing but scum."
Danzo spoke harshly while Tsunade sucked in a breath, he was doing this on purpose and she couldn't let herself slip into his plot. Though there was an interesting piece of information that she gathered from this conversation.
"If we are going to be honest the reason we are having this conversation is because I wanted to thank you."
Danzo bowed his head slightly toward the blonde Hokage while she kept a narrowed eye on him, "I expected more pushback and conflict yet you made the decision that was best for the village exactly how a Hokage should. Keep this up and I may actually start to root for you." Danzo said while Tsunade huffed.
"I didn't do this for you. I did this for his sake as I will any future decisions for the sake of anyone else who lives in this village, even if that includes getting rid of another unpredictable variable."
Tsunade subtly threatened while Danzo smirked at the Hokage, "Remember, this was just a conversation, that is all." Danzo said while he stood up Tsunade stood up as well bowing her head toward him while he did the same.
Danzo turned to walk away from the Hokage who watched him walk a few feet before she spoke, "A last word for our conversation?" Tsunade asked while Danzo stopped walking with his back still turned to her.
"What do you mean by replace?"
Tsunade said with a cold grit to her tone while Danzo kept his back on the Hokage, "Good day, Tsunade." Danzo spoke before he walked away from the little table they were sitting at together for their 'conversation.'
The woman let out a heavy sigh before she groaned, "I'm getting tired of having to play politician and laced words all the time, I wanna go home and drink… yet my day still appears to be nowhere near over yet," Tsunade said before she turned around.
"Isn't that right Kakashi?"
Tsunade said while the gray haired jonin suddenly appeared from the treeline with a look of mock surprise on his face, "Oh Lady Tsunade, a little far from the office today don't you think? Someone's going to catch you trying to run off and gamble at this rate." Kakashi said while Tsunade rolled her eyes at the younger man.
"What are you doing here?"
Tsunade asked in a mock curious tone while Kakashi shrugged, "Just passing through, I was hoping since you were out in the open that Jiraya would be somewhere close. I was going to ask him about the next installment of the series." Kakashi said while waving the book in his hands.
"Does that include Shikamaru too?"
Tsunade chuckled before she pointed her fan toward another tree, the lazy boy revealed himself with a groan, "High class shinobi are such a drag, I was trying to enjoy the view of the clouds from a different angle I guess." Shikamaru half assed while Kakashi shot the boy a look.
"Half-baked lies aside, do you two realize what being detected could have caused? It looks really bad from certain angles, ones I'd like to avoid if possible."
Tsunade spoke while Kakashi shrugged, "Did Danzo explain the same thing to his Root agents perched around the treeline too?" Kakashi said while Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the jonin.
"And what? If they made a move, you would have started a civil war?"
Tsunade said while Kakashi nodded his head nonchalantly, "To protect my Hokage, I would." Kakashi spoke while Tsunade's glare softened.
"With all due respect I didn't come here with such honorable intentions, I wanted answers as to why Naruto was banished."
Shikamaru stated bluntly while both Kakashi and Tsunade gave the boy a look, "I'll admit, I was curious as well." Kakashi said whileTsunade slapped her forehead with a palm.
"There's need to know information for a reason and if you didn't need to know then you wouldn't."
Tsunade said while Shikamaru nodded his head, "Yeah and there should be a need to know about Danzo's plans with the Jinchuriki too right?" Shikamaru said while both Tsunade's and Kakashi's eyes widened.
"Naruto's isolation wouldn't make sense otherwise, leaving him out in the open to the clutches of the enemy would be stupid unless he was never in the clutches of the enemy in the first place."
Shikamaru spoke while Tsunade grimaced, she's met her fair share of ninja in her time but when it came to Shikamaru he's one of the ones who she could admit scared her. His intellect was nearly unchallenged not to mention his ability to quickly piece things together.
Knowing Kakashi as well she would have figured the man would have come to a similar conclusion as well, it just had to be the two most difficult ninja she could think of that happened to be 'passing by' today.
"Listen, what has been said here will never leave here. No matter what information is gathered without proper evidence it means nothing, it's just a baseless accusation. While I can't deny your thoughts I can't just run with them either."
Tsunade said while Kakashi closed his book, "With all due respect Lady Tsunade there's nothing wrong with a little manhunt now and again. Who knows there could be a threatening rogue ninja out there that requires tracking." Kakashi spoke hinting at his thought process while Shikamaru nodded.
"Believe it or not that idiot is one of my friends and if there is any way to get to the bottom of this and fix it all that's the path I want to take."
Tsunade looked at Shikamaru before she narrowed her eyes at him, "Why? It'll be a lot of effort and you'd be against pretty extreme odds at all time, know you that shouldn't be appealing at all." Tsunade shrugged while Shikamaru held out a shogi piece.
"Because he would do the same for any of us."
Kakashi and Tsunade both looked at the determined expression on the black-haired boy's face with the pawn shogi in his hand, Tsunade allowed a smirk to appear on her face.
"Both of you are dismissed, this conversation stays here. As for any particular missions in the future, come to me if you find any that interest you, I'm happy to review them."
Tsunade commented snidely while Kakashi and Shikamaru nodded before they both body flicked out of sight leaving Tsunade alone." Looks like we've got another set of knuckleheads willing to work with us Jiraya. It makes me almost want to steal Shikamaru's catchphrase…" The wind blew gently while her brown eyes reflected the bright afternoon sun in them, her thoughts led to a loud blonde before she smiled.
"I hope you're ok out there Naruto. I hope you know that we will never stop fighting for you either."
Tsunade spoke to herself before she started to make her way back to the Hokage Tower to return to her office.
Their fight has just begun after all.
{...}
Naruto had been dashing from tree to tree for a solid several hours toward his next destination on his world tour, this next destination being one he hoped would allow him to continue to get stronger so he could keep fighting.
The blonde suddenly felt his stomach growl before he stopped on a tree branch, "Guess it's lunch time huh?" the boy pulled out his bag before he jumped back down to the ground.
"I guess I'll do veggies again? May I could catch a rabbit and make some stew? Man, knowing how to cook kind of sucks, now that I'm better there's just way too many options."
The blonde groaned before he started to pull out multiple vegetables, he still had plenty to last him for his trip before he even needed to restock. If rationed properly Naruto may have some left over even when he gets there.
The boy was excited at the prospect but before he could dig in, he felt a familiar feeling like he was sinking within himself.
A feeling that could only mean one thing.
"Brat."
The visage of the Nine Tailed Fox appeared before Naruto while the blonde groaned, "Oi stupid fox! Could you not interrupt lunch! I'm going to starve to death dealing with you!" the blonde complained while the fox just growled.
"How did you do it?"
Kurama asked while Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Do what?" He asked genuinely while the fox was becoming quickly annoyed.
"My Chakra, you forced it out of me while fighting that weak garbage who placed you in that flimsy genjutsu!"
The fox roared while Naruto remembered the sensation before he nodded, "Yeah? So what if I did? You gotta pay rent!" Naruto shot back at the fox whose claws scraped at the bars of his cell.
"Don't try your luck boy, I'll consume you bones and all without even blinking. You shouldn't be able to do that this early, especially with the amount of control you displayed with it."
Kurama growled while Naruto sighed, "Someone important to me was in danger, I didn't have a choice besides I was so angry and hurt. I didn't even know I was doing it." Naruto kicked at the water on the floor while Kurama huffed.
"I should have figured of course a child like you wouldn't have a single clue as to what you did, I want you to remember something. Don't you dare get cocky now that you can display some level of talent, the minute you take out more chakra you can handle I'll take full advantage of the situation and destroy everything."
Kurama's voice rumbled while Naruto scratched his head before he pointed at the fox, "You're jealous aren't you?" the blonde teased the fox who blinked.
"Jealous of what? Some insignificant child pulling at my chakra because he needs to be saved again?!"
Kurama growled while Naruto shook his head, "No, you're jealous because this means once I get that figured out I don't even need to speak to you anymore. Once I master it your chakra is as good as mine and they only thing you can do is growl alone in your cage." Naruto taunted the tailed beast who growled at the boy.
"You insolent-"
Kurama was cut off by the now serious look on Naruto's face as he looked at the demon, "I won't leave you alone like that though." Naruto spoke while the fox's eyes slightly widened in surprise.
"I don't want your pity boy."
Kuruma rumbled while Naruto huffed, "It ain't pity, I just realized something. You and me we're in the same boat and always have been." Naruto sat on the ground before he looked at his palm.
"We're both demons."
Naruto spoke more solemnly than the fox was used to hearing, Kurama listened while Naruto spoke to him.
"Despite that we both wanna live and we're stuck together. I ain't asking you to like me but I won't leave you in here to suffer alone all the time, I'll pop in just to mess with you every now and then."
Naruto slapped his hand against the water while the fox quietly watched the boy whom he detested sit in front of him.
"Why?"
Kurama asked while Naruto looked up at the large fox glaring down at him, "Because we're both just a couple of lonely demons. I know what it's like and from now on I won't allow anyone else to go through that. That includes you too." Naruto spoke while the tailed beast's glare slowly went away.
"From now on we're going to set some better ground rules! Rule one, stop trying to eat me and destroy stuff randomly! Rule two, when I pull at your chakra for something I'll let you know in advance! Rule three, no matter what happens we both need to make sure we survive through this until the very end. Got it?"
Naruto pointed toward the fox who huffed, "That's absurd, you can't just go making rules all of the sudden. What makes you think that I, Kurama would care for the opinion of a human child?" Kurama spoke before Naruto shrugged.
"Maybe you should have thought about that before you got yourself sealed in me huh?"
Naruto gave his fox-like grin to the beast who groaned, "One additional condition. Should you find yourself in a dire situation where you are near death, I will gain control of your body until we are safe." Kurama suggested while Naruto paused.
The road he was currently on was a dangerous one, that meant that he would possibly have a lot of situations where he could be near death. Meaning that the Nine Tailed Fox would have multiple chances to take over.
"Fine! That's cool with me."
Naruto said while Kurama raised an eyebrow, "Should you really accept so easily? I could do anything at that time to ensure our safety." Kurama warned while Naruto nodded his head.
"True but I plan to get super strong so I don't have to rely on you as much so I'm not worried about it. You'll practically be begging me to almost die."
Naruto taunted while Kurama growled at the boy who extended his hand toward the orange fox, "We got a deal?" Naruto asked while Kurama lifted a finger.
"A contract is a serious deal for demons, if you are so sure then I will be as well. Try your best not to get us killed."
Kurama spoke while Naruto nodded his head, "Yep! Now put 'er there roomie." Naruto joked while the fox rolled his eyes.
"If that's what you wish."
Kurama's claw completely missed Naruto's hand instead stabbing into the left side of his chest with his fingernail causing him to wake up in the real world again.
"Dumb fox, I'll show you."
Naruto grumbled while his stomach growled, "Right, lunch." The blonde said as he went to gather up his vegetables.
He noticed a few animals gathered by some of the vegetables eating into them, the boy had the urge to snatch them up for a meal but decided not to.
"Guess you guys are my lunch buddies for the day huh?"
Naruto said before he opted for several apples he had bought in the market biting into one while the animals ate a few of the loose vegetables together.
After his lunch break Naruto found himself on the road again. If he was going to make it there in a reasonable time then he had to keep trying moving.
The blonde dashed with a confident look on his face, up until now he didn't ever really think about what was truly next in his life.
Sure, he always wanted to be Hokage but he never thought about a life where he wasn't one.
This burden was also his freedom now.
He was going to make the most of his banishment from the village and live on and see his friends.
That also brought another thought to his head.
What was his dream now?
Naruto dashed past another tree branch before he started wracking his brain on the thought. Now that he could do pretty much anything, that meant that there was so much that he could do. His new dream had to be something that was special, special to him and a thing he had to work hard for.
The boy groaned while thinking about it before he shook his head and shrugged.
"I'll worry about that later."
Naruto said aloud before he noticed the change in the grass, before it was a lush green now it had become a yellowish color. The blonde smirked at what this prospect meant, he was getting closer and closer to his destination.
He looked behind himself at the large forest before he sighed.
Goodbye Land of Fire.
Hello Land of Wind.
Naruto nodded before he tightened the makeshift headband from Inari on his arm before he huffed.
"Alright!"
The blonde yelled before he started to dash forward jumping from branch to branch full speed ahead.
{...}
"So, it's true… the rumors."
A completely bandaged man asked while a white-haired young man nodded his head at the bedridden man.
"Yes Lord Orochimaru, that means he's out in the open, nearly defenseless."
The white-haired man Kabuto spoked before Orochimaru chuckled, "Oh Tsunade, you're slipping." Kabuto watched as the man coughed before he looked toward the door.
"Should we tell him?"
Kabuto asked while Orochimaru pondered his protégé's question, "Not right now, wait until he gets a little stronger. Then we can let the friends have their little reunion." Orochimaru coughed again while Kabuto nodded his head at his master.
In another section of the hideout a dark-haired young man stood in the middle of a large room surrounded by scorch marks and fallen monsters.
His eyes held the Sharingan and his hands held a blade while he glared nowhere in particular.
A visage of a Naruto filled the boy's vision before he placed his sword back into its sheath.
"Idiot."
Sasuke Uchiha said to himself before he went to exit the room he was training in, his eyes red with the Sharingan.
Elsewhere Shikamaru was walking along the street with Neji while holding onto his shogi piece tight in his hand. Fighting for his friend and conspiring against a council member was a lot of work and frankly a drag. However, for the blonde idiot who would never give up no matter what.
What kind of friend would he be if he didn't put in the work to meet Naruto halfway?
At the park Sakura laid on her back exhausted while Lee ran over to check on the tired pink haired girl.
Balancing her training between Lee and Lady Tsunade was taxing and certainly pushing her to her limits. However, this was nothing compared to what the other two were probably putting themselves through. She wouldn't just give in, she had to keep trying and keep fighting if she was even going to stand a chance at bringing those two back home.
Sakura brought herself back to her feet before she gave Lee a thumbs up causing the black-haired boy to pump a fist into the air before he yelled with joy.
Kakashi placed flowers by the memorial stone before he placed a palm on it, he was silent before a smirk came to his masked face. The jonin turned away from the stone where he spotted the visages of Obito, Rin, and Naruto running ahead again. Kakashi huffed before he stuck his hands in his pockets following after the visages, fool him once shame on you, fool him twice shame on him.
Kakashi assured himself at that moment that there wouldn't be a third time.
Ino walked around the store floor of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, checking the flowers and keeping track of inventory.
The young blonde looked down at her clipboard before she marked it moving on to the next bunch. She stopped at the sight of a lone flowerpot with a white flower in it, the flower still standing tall. Ino smiled at the flower before she looked at the clear blue sky above her, somewhere out there Naruto had to still be alright.
She didn't believe in superstition but a part of her believed that the flower was a representation of her fellow blonde.
As long as it was standing strong, so would he.
The general consensus in the Leaf Village for a few ninja was the safety of the friend that they lost.
Just like he would never give up on them, they would never give up on him either.
{...}
It was just supposed to be another day of possible one of the shittest jobs a ninja could take in this village.
Patrol duty.
However personally she was starting to feel a little overwhelmed officially being the oldest of the Kazekage's children. Temari kept her eyes squinted while she walked along the wall above the front gates of the village.
It looks like another light sandstorm was passing through, she probably should have left with a cloak to wear over her usual attire. It was a light one though so she wouldn't worry about it too much right now, besides walking all the way back seemed like a pain.
Temari kept her eyes squinted while her fan slightly shifted on her back, just when she was about to move ahead she spotted a figure approaching from the distance.
Finally, something interesting. It might be a messenger from another village, though it was odd it looked like they were traveling alone. Temari watched as the figure came closer to the gates, the sand blonde's eyes narrowed before she jumped down.
Well, if it was an enemy, she could at least get the practice in, Temari landed kicking up sand before she pulled her battle fan from her back.
"Stop right there and state your business!"
Temari yelled while pointing her fan at the figure who stopped a little ahead of her, their blue cloak swayed in the wind while goggles covered their eyes.
He looked sketchy but for some reason he also looked familiar, Temari carefully watched as the figure pulled the goggles from his face revealing blue eyes.
Temari's eyes widened while the blonde figure gave her his classic foxlike grin.
"It's been a while huh?"
{...}
Yo Ken here, I'll move the notes to the bottom of the chapter from now on with this story and hopefully it helps it flow a little better. Anyway thank you again for taking out the time to read the story, it looks like we're getting closer to the end of this first arc I had lined up with story before we move into the next arc.
I figured since we're getting closer to the end of the first arc that I would do a double upload for chapters 5 and 6. This is the sort of wakeup call for Naruto before he starts moving forward toward his own path genuinely, from here the adventure and action will only ramp up but I expect that I'm going to have a little fun with those.
In the meantime, I wanted to mention a couple of things really quickly, regarding jutsu I won't complete drop hand signs but I won't write them out all of the time whenever a jutsu is performed. I'll also be creating new jutsu that will be basic or regional depending on where Naruto is at in the world but I will also be using the canon jutsu as well in a mix of techniques just to add more variety to the story. I do not plan on going overboard... lol
Secondly, Naruto will have companions on his journey. Who those companions are I won't spoil yet but I figured a few have figured out who one of them is going to be. This also isn't a harem fic, while there will be some elements admittedly the situations would end up more like Love triangles if anything.
Lastly, I want to dedicate myself to keeping Naruto as in character as possible further on down the story he may change based on his journey in a way that he would mature but not fully darken I hope that makes sense I just want to take a different angle than the usual betrayal stories. Naruto will be receiving his due throughout his journey but it will mostly focus on the world and how traveling around it and meeting so many people could affect his character all the while Naruto dedicates himself to becoming stronger and finding out what his new dream would be.
Sorry for the long blurb but I wanted to put this out here, I'll also continue to reply to any reviews or questions in these sections. I'm always appreciative of any review that are sent and will be sure to read and respond to any that show up so feel free to review and I wanted to say thank you again for the reception of this story.
I'm glad it's one you can read and enjoy.
Anyway I'll see you in the next one, thank you again for reading and I hope you enjoy.
-Ken