A/N: I wanted to play around with dialogue snippets to simulate Naruto going in and out of consciousness. Let me know if it works!
It's too bright.
"–too rough with them."
A bump in the road.
"–like it can breathe. "
Galloping.
"–beings–"
Galloping, galloping.
"–remember what they–"
A dip, in consciousness.
"–remember other humans–"
Bump.
"Why are you defend–"
Gallop.
"Naruto"
A slip, in consciousness.
The darkness is not much better. Colors in the dreamscape burn bright, and Naruto often wonders if it's because the mind sharpens the memory, or if too many of their own are singed with flames. They don't even need to look around to take their first step forward; they've dreamt this same day ever since it happened.
They walk towards a wooden doorframe leading right into Bunker 113. It is teeming with little boys and girls, easily double the occupancy number etched on the wall. The higher-ups had asserted that the children's stature, half that of the men these bunkers were meant to hold, meant it could carry twice as many. No one pointed out the holes in their logic or the hardships their decisions could cause; they'd made bloodier choices than bunk beds. And so 300 children were held in Bunker 113. Three hundred little hostages, with no one left to miss them.
Naruto's little steps are tentative with fears of playground bullies and weird new kids as they approach the entrance to the room. They want to freeze right there. Turn around and run away. But, if that was an option, none of them would have been there in the first place. As it stands, two guards flank Naruto, who stands just hip-height of their grown-up statures. They bump heavy knees at Naruto's back until, finally, the kid cooperates and enters the room. Their mission complete, they turn back to where they came from and slam the door behind them.
The kids are kind. Every child that can spare one throws a smile toward Naruto and their scraped-up hands wave for Naruto to join in on their kick-the-can games. The ones lying around in their two-child, one-man beds shuffle closer and whisper their tiny greetings. Not one says 'welcome'. The bunker–for all it stands for–and the children–for all they've been through–are full of life. Of course, half of them are dead on a technicality, but then, who hadn't lost a piece of their humanity in this bloody war? Who cares who was dead or not? They're all dead now.
Konoha had been fighting a losing war for years, too prideful to place the lives of its people ahead of their victory. To the higher-ups, it was all a game of chess, and they were world champions. But numbers were dropping fast, and war has always been won by the side with the most pawns to expend. So drafts were sent out, and the people without enough money to buy their way out of it went first. But discriminate cherry-picking of the poor and powerless only gets you so far against an enemy tired of losing. The higher-ups didn't care at first; they had a whole country of soldiers to waste. But soon enough, even the men at the top dug to the bottom of their cannon-fodder barrel, and the rich and powerful—greedy with spending—had spent their way to the assured end.
Everyone had thought it was finally over. That finally, finally, the country would surrender. It would have been a costly end, with the lives of so many parents gone and the many more concessions they'd have to make in any peace treaty. But at least they would have had enough of loss and could begin rebuilding.
There came another round of drafts. Each household, at least one member. "Contribution," they'd called it. For the sake of victory and a sign of loyalty to the country, each household was to contribute a life. What it really was was a death sentence. Death for the crime of underprivilege. Most packed little satchels full of heirlooms or photographs. A few whose parents had survived long enough to send back letters decided to die right there in the comfort of their homes. None expected to survive the war. With all of the adults gone, it was the children this money-driven draft conscripted next.
A/N: The main premise of the dialogue snippets is Neji and Sasuke fighting over how to treat vampire Naruto. An extra detail here that really emphasizes their stances on the subject is Sasuke using 'they' to refer to Naruto whereas Neji uses 'it'