Chapter 29- Kurushimi

Naruto finally emerged from his coma, and Jiraiya wasted no time sharing the news of their impending departure with him. Shanan steeled herself for Naruto's excitement, but the reality still stung. The thought of him leaving, even for his own growth and protection, filled her with a deep ache.

She forced a bright smile onto her face, mirroring Naruto's enthusiasm, determined not to dull his excitement with her own fears and worries.

However, his first words to her upon waking were a heartfelt apology, his eyes filled with regret and sorrow. He wasn't angry with Sasuke for their brutal fight. Instead, he was consumed by a deep sadness that he couldn't bring his friend back, and the weight of feeling like a failure.

But Shanan refused to let him shoulder the blame, her voice firm and reassuring as she told him that Sasuke's departure wasn't his burden to bear. She reminded him that she would never expect him to feel responsible for Sasuke's choices, and that if Sasuke had truly wanted to be there, he would never have left in the first place.

With Naruto back home, Shanan's mood had lifted significantly. Though the ache of Sasuke's departure still lingered, it no longer consumed her every waking moment. Naruto, too, still carried the weight of his absence, but together they fell into a comfortable routine that felt surprisingly natural.

Days were filled with training sessions and casual hangouts with their fellow Genin, while nights were spent cuddled up together, just like old times. However, due to recent events, Shanan found herself reverting to her old habit of only half-sleeping, ever vigilant and ready to respond to any potential danger.

But despite everything, Naruto's spirits remained high and he listened with wide eyes as she told him about her dojutsu and how its awakening had brought an end to her debilitating headaches. And then when she showed it to him, his wonder turned into outright awe, his face aglow with excitement.

Shanan couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, even as she herself remained uncertain about how to harness her newfound ability.

They sat on the floor, facing each other. Naruto leaned in, his face inches from hers as he studied her eyes with an unbridled curiosity.

"Does it feel any different when you activate it?" he asked.

"Um… kinda," she said. "I can feel my water chakra flowing through them. And I can see so clearly – it's like… everything is the same, but… even more! I don't know how to explain it."

Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement as he sat down.

"And even when it's not activated, I can tell when someone's lying to me," she added.

"Really?" His expression fell, and he looked at her with comically exaggerated dismay. "Wait… that sucks."

Shanan burst out laughing. "What do you mean, Naruto? You lie to me?!"

"No way, sis!" His face turned bright red as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I couldn't do that…"

Her laughter died down, replaced by a plain, knowing look.

Naruto's eyes met hers, and they burst out laughing together. "Well, there goes that!" he said, grinning. "Damn… how am I gonna get away with anything ever again?"

"Yeah, right!" she said, laughing. "I already let you get away with everything!"

"Yeah…" he said softly. "You do." He leaned in again. "I like your Sharingan better than the regular one."

Shanan's expression turned thoughtful. "I don't think it is a Sharingan, but maybe…"

"Hmm… Well, try using it on me then!" he said. "Let's see what it does."

"Are you completely insane?" she asked him. "What if I accidentally torture you or something?"

Naruto chuckled. "I don't think Itachi Uchiha does that stuff by accident, sis."

"Maybe the first time he did!" she said. "I bet he sat there with his best friend after school, and his friend said, 'Use it on me, Itachi!' And he said, 'Okay!' And then he accidentally tortured his friend for three whole days like he did to Kakashi, and then he was like, 'Oh, no! I'm so sorry, friend!' But then, secretly, he'd gotten a taste for it and was like, 'That was honestly delightful… I shall now aspire to be a great villain. Muahahaha! I'm Itachi Uchiha!'"

Naruto looked at her, completely dumbfounded, his eyes wide with surprise. He slowly raised his hand to his chin, rubbing it thoughtfully as he said, "There's no way your Sharingan could've made you an even bigger idiot than before… Surely, there must be other uses."

They both erupted into laughter again.

"Come on, sis, just try it. You'll be able to control it. It's your Sharingan, or whatever. And if anything bad does happen, just turn it off." He paused, his voice filled with conviction. "I trust you completely. I know you won't hurt me."

Her gaze drifted off. She recalled how Sasuke had been able to wield his Sharingan with ease, almost immediately after it awakened. Maybe, just maybe, she could do the same. Even if this… thing wasn't actually a Sharingan, the possibility was intriguing. But trying it out on Naruto gave her pause. What if she lost control? His unwavering trust in her only made her more hesitant. Surely, it would be wiser to test her abilities on someone more experienced with dojutsu… just in case.

"You know you want to…" he sang.

Shanan chuckled, shaking her head, before letting out a resigned sigh. "Alright… fine. We can try." His face lit up, but she quickly tempered his enthusiasm. "But I have no expectations that anything is going to happen. So don't get your hopes up!"

He shook his head, a mischievous glint in his eye. "No, no, I won't. But… I have no doubt that it's gonna be awesome!"

She raised an eyebrow. "That's the opposite of not getting your hopes up, sweetie."

"No hope from me," he told her. "I just know for sure you'll succeed is all."

She sighed again, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Scoot a little closer."

He obligingly moved closer as he looked up at her with an expectant gaze.

They sat facing one another, their knees touching, as she stared intently into his eyes. She concentrated on the chakra flowing through her eyes, trying to tap into the power of her dojutsu.

Naruto's eyes were wide, almost entranced, as he gazed back at her. "Oh… wow… this is like, really relaxing, sis," he whispered.

"Shh! I'm trying to focus."

His whisper was even softer this time. "Yeah, sorry. Do you see anything yet?"

"Not yet…" she said just as softly. "Be quiet."

He remained silent, his relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to her intense focus.

The only sound in the apartment was the soft rhythm of their breathing. Anticipation filled the air, the moment stretching out like a hypnotic spell between them. Shanan's gaze remained fixed on Naruto's eyes as time lost all meaning. And just as she felt their hearts fall into a synchronized beat, everything suddenly went black.

A vision erupted before her. Vivid and immersive.

A tall man with vibrant, yellow hair stood beside a woman with long, flowing red hair, her face contorted in anguish. She clutched a similarly yellow-haired baby to her chest, tears streaming down her face as the man's hands wrapped around her shoulders, trying to comfort her. The air was heavy with grief, and Shanan could feel the weight of their sorrow settling upon her.

As she watched, the woman's eyes locked onto the baby, and a wrenching sob tore through her. The man's grip on her shoulders tightened, but he couldn't stem the tide of her sadness. The scene hung suspended for a moment, and then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it dissolved into darkness.

Another vision coalesced around Shanan. The same young couple stood before her once more, but this time, they were impaled by a massive claw, their torsos pierced through as they gazed down at their newborn baby, Naruto. Tears streamed down both of their faces, and blood poured from their mouths as the woman fought to speak.

Shanan's eyes welled up with tears as she moved closer, her heart aching at the sight of them. She followed the length of the claw and saw how it loomed menacingly over Naruto, the tip of it mere inches from his tiny form – halted only by his parents' sacrifice. Her tears flowed freely as she took in the tragic scene and slowly knelt beside baby Naruto, her teary eyes fixed on him. She reached out a trembling hand, and his small fingers wrapped around her index finger, holding tight.

His mother's weak voice whispered words of wisdom, guiding her child toward a future she wouldn't be there to see.

Shanan listened intently, her eyes looking back and forth from Naruto's sweet face to his mother's as she spoke. She felt an overwhelming sense of longing, wanting for him the same happiness, love, and acceptance that his parents desired. As she held his tiny hand, tears streamed down her face, hoping so much that she had made his parents proud, that she had done things the way they might have, and that she could continue to protect and care for their precious child.

As his mother's words grew more urgent, her voice trembling, Shanan felt her own tears fall harder. The mother's eyes pleaded with her baby to be strong, to persevere in a world that could be cruel and unforgiving. Her heart broke for the young family, for the love they'd shared, and for the pain they had endured.

His father's weak voice cut through the silence, a soft smile on his face. "Your talkative mother… has said everything I wanted to say to you, Naruto…" He paused, his chest heaving with effort. "Eight Trigrams…" His voice trailed off, and the scene faded.

The darkness receded, revealing Naruto, still a tiny, fragile thing, standing alone in a squalid apartment. He struggled to eat a packet of dry ramen, his small hands trembling from hunger as he devoured the square of noodles. He held a dirty glass in his other hand, filled with murky water. Trash littered every surface, and Naruto's face, hands, and clothes were covered in a layer of filth.

Shanan's sobs racked her body as she took in the pitiful scene. Why had no one helped him? Why had he been left to suffer like this? The questions swirled in her mind, fueling her indignation.

As she watched him, his glass slipped from his fingers, shattering on the floor. He cried out and tried to pick up the shards with his bare hands – cutting himself in the process. A panicked cry of pain and fear escaped his lips as blood began to flow from his finger. With tears streaming down his face, Naruto stumbled towards the bathroom, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

Her tear-filled gaze followed him, her eyes landing on the droplets of blood he'd left behind. Her sadness and anger swirling together, a toxic mix that threatened to consume her. The scene faded to black once more, leaving her feeling helpless, her heart heavy with resentment.

A new scene unfolded around her, and she saw him again, slightly bigger now, but still so small and vulnerable.

He stood alone outside, surrounded by a world that seemed determined to reject him.

Still, he smiled, excited and hopeful as he watched a group of children playing and laughing together. But as he approached, hoping to join in, the parents turned on him, their faces twisted with disgust and vile hatred. They hurled curse words and threats at him, their voices shrill and dripping with malice.

Naruto's eyes welled up with tears as he backed away, fear etched on his face. He tripped over his own feet and fell backwards onto the ground, the impact sending his tears spilling down his cheeks. Scrambling to his feet, he turned and ran, fleeing the cruelty and seeking the meager safety of his home.

Shanan's tears fell silently as she watched him dash through the door of his apartment, slamming it shut behind him. He dove under a dirty blanket, his tiny body trembling as he bawled his eyes out. He peeked out periodically, his eyes wide with terror, as if expecting someone to burst through the door at any moment. Shanan sat against the door protectively, her own body shaking with silent sobs. She couldn't bear the sight of his scared little face.

Finally, after Naruto fell asleep, the scene faded to black.

A new vision appeared around Shanan, and she witnessed Naruto and Sasuke locked in a brutal battle.

Naruto's desperation was palpable as he fought with every ounce of strength he possessed, his eyes pleading with Sasuke to return home. But Sasuke's transformation was terrifying – his skin had turned a grayish hue, and his eyes burned with malevolent intent.

Sasuke's punches and kicks rained down on Naruto relentlessly, each blow landing with precision and cruelty.

Shanan fell to her knees, her tears flowing freely as she watched Naruto's determination slowly give way to pain and exhaustion. Despite the beating, he refused to give up, begging Sasuke to come home, his voice hoarse from shouting.

But Sasuke showed no mercy to him, his attacks growing more and more vicious with each passing moment. Naruto's cries of pain and desperation grew weaker, his body battered and broken. Finally, he went limp, his eyes rolling back in his head as he lost consciousness. Sasuke's assault ceased, his chest heaving with exertion as he loomed over Naruto.

Just as Sasuke began to speak, everything around her dissipated like a cloud of smoke.

Another shift, and Shanan's tears began to fall as soon as she saw Naruto. He was only five years old, fragile and alone, sitting on a swing surrounded by darkness. The same clothes he'd worn when she first met him hung loosely on his small frame. His eyes were fixed on the ground, his face a heartbreaking picture of despair and loneliness.

The swing creaked gently as he swayed back and forth, his small hands gripping the rope. Her heart broke as she watched him for several silent moments, frozen in sorrow, as his tears fell unchecked.

Finally, she wiped her tears and composed herself, taking a deep breath before speaking softly. "Naruto…"

His eyes lifted, his face shattered and pleading for help. Shanan's smile was gentle as she knelt beside him, opening her arms in invitation. He swiftly tumbled from the swing, crashing into her with a desperate hug.

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close as he buried his face in her shoulder, his small body shaking with loud sobs. She held him for several moments, letting him cry it all out.

"I'm so proud of you. Naruto…" she whispered softly. "You'll always be my sweet little baby. And I am always going to love and protect you." His arms squeezed around her, holding her tighter.

The vision faded away, and Shanan blinked, the ache in her heart lingering long after the image disappeared.

Naruto looked up at her, tears streaming down both their faces. He spoke softly, his voice filled with wonder. "Wow… so that's what it does, huh?"

She nodded, the movement almost imperceptible. She still felt the weight of the visions along with guilt for not being able to shield Naruto from the painful memories. "I'm so sorry you had to see that…"

"Are you kidding me, sis?" he asked, a small smile on his lips. "I got to see my parents… and hear them say goodbye to me. My dad was so tall… and my mom…" His voice trailed off, and he laughed softly. "They were really great."

Shanan's smile mirrored his and she nodded in agreement. She could see the mix of emotions on his face, but beneath the sadness, there was a sense of peace and closure.

Naruto's eyes filled with gratitude. "They would love you, I just know it," he said, his voice trembling. He paused, his gaze drifting downward. "I forgot what it was like… having people be so mean and scary to me all the time… I can't believe I used to eat dry ramen like that, but… I guess I couldn't cook it myself back then, could I?"

Shanan's face shook as she shook her head, her eyes welling up with new tears.

"Then you came along, sis…" he continued. "And you didn't care if anyone said anything mean to you. You weren't scared of them. You became the scary one for me." Tears streamed down his face as he remembered. "You kept me clean, and you fed me, and taught me everything I know." His voice broke, and he sobbed, his words barely intelligible. "I love you more than anything…"

Her face crumpled and she sat up, pulling him into another tight hug.

"I'm sorry I don't say it enough," he whispered through his tears as he held on tight.

"That's okay," she replied. "You know I say it enough for both of us."

They hugged quietly for several moments, the only sound Naruto's muffled sobs.

Finally, he leaned back and looked at her sincerely. "I won't go with Pervy Sage if you don't want me to," he said. "I can stay here."

Shanan let out a soft sigh, knowing he'd seen through her excited facade. She shook her head at him, gently wiping his tears. "Stop, Naruto," she said. "Don't ever hold yourself back for anyone, not even me. I'll miss you like crazy, but you need to do this."

He sat back down, wiping his nose on his sleeve as his mind drifted back to the visions. "I know you've been thinking about Sasuke a lot," he said gently. "It just sucks you'll have to miss both of us… and I'm sorry you had to see him like that."

Her tearful gaze locked onto his as she shook her head gently. "That wasn't Sasuke, Naruto. That was… something else entirely." Her voice cracked under the weight of her sorrow. "I fear that Sasuke… might be…" The last word caught in her throat, and she couldn't bring herself to say it. Even as grief and mourning consumed her, her deep sense of loss impossible to put into words.

Naruto's eyes widened in horror. It wasn't anything he wanted to acknowledge, though the haunting image of Sasuke in his mind only served to add to the implication…