18Of Ninjas and Shadows: Chapter III
XXX
"What's the difference between a man and a monster?
Is it somewhere between I can and I want to?
Is it somewhere between the promises I made
And the fact I couldn't see something getting in the way?
I used to think that I know what I want
Never saw it coming unglued
I used to think that I know what I want
Now it's time to see if it's true
I had so much certainty
'Til that moment I lost control
And I've tried but it never was up to me
I've got no worse enemy
Than the fear of what's still unknown
And the time's come to realize there will be
Promises I can't keep"
XXX
Team seven entered the Hokage's office to accept their thirty-seventh mission, however, the moment the Hokage offered them another pair of chores Naruto and Satsuki lost their heads.
"No!" They shouted simultaneously. Everyone stared at them a moment, none expecting the outburst. Even they seemed surprised, but that was mostly because they actually agreed on something. "Jiji we're tired of D ranked missions, give us something harder."
"We?" Hiruzen asked, eyes scanning over the trio. Sakura and Satsuki both nodded in agreement. "Do you feel they're ready Kakashi?"
"I've only taught them the basics, but they have proven they are capable before. They'll handle a C rank."
Kakashi responded, ruffling Satsuki and Naruto's hair much to their chagrin.
"Very well. I have a trade invoice that's to be sent to Uzushio. There is a Uzu base located at the edge of wave country. You are to give this to the Shinobi stationed there, along with instructions stating it's for the Uzukage and her Council's eyes only. Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" They chanted in unison. Kakashi nodded, then guided his students out of the room. "Prepare for a week-long trip, three days there, three days back." They nodded, looking excited. Kakashi probably should have burst their bubble and told them how boring courier missions were, but he didn't have the heart.
XXX
I couldn't stop the fluttering in my stomach or the race of my heart as we exited the Village gates. This was our first real mission! A plethora of emotions flooded my psyche as I dwelled on what was to come. I know there are more monsters out there. And while Sensei said it was unlikely there would be any combat, the possibility still plagued me.
What if my training wasn't enough? What if I make it but my team doesn't? Should I fight for myself as I always have? Should I listen to Kakashi-Sensei's words? What If I have to choose between saving Sakura and Satsuki? What if they have to choose between saving me or themselves? Would anyone care if I died?
"Hey loser, you're spacing out again."
I turned and looked at Suki gratefully. "Sorry, just a lot on my mind." We had gotten closer over the last month or so. I definitely wouldn't call us friends but we certainly learned to tolerate each other, lest we hear more of Kakashi-Sensei's accusations of veiled flirting.
"Hn, don't worry I'll be sure to beat up the big scary bad guys while you hide behind Sakura. Sound good?" She walked faster to walk beside the mentioned teammate of ours before I could reply. Every time I think we might be getting somewhere she opens her mouth and reality comes rushing back. As if I'd hide.
Unlike her, I'm already a killer. For better or worse.
XXX
Any excitement the trio previously held had long gone, as they ran through the trees on their third day of travel. They never expected it to be so boring, so routine.
Wake up, pack up camp, run, break, run, break, run, set up camp, hunt, sleep, repeat. They did this three times until today. They were now on a boat floating through the fog that hid Wave country from the rest of the world.
Wave country lacked a Ninja village so they relied on Uzushiogakure to give them protection in exchange for access to their trade ports.
Naruto noticed a shadow had cast over them and looked up. "Woah, is that a bridge?" The Man steering the boat nodded his head. "Tazuna and Kaiza's team have been working on it non-stop for the past couple months. It will probably be finished in less than a year at this rate."
"Kaiza is going to be our guide once we make landfall." Kakashi added. Wave didn't receive Shinobi visitors often so they wanted to make an impression on Uzu's closest Ally.
Soon they did arrive at Wave and walked and were greeted by Kaiza, who asked them to stay at his home with his wife, kid, and father in law. Kaiza was a tall broad-shouldered man that stood level with Kakashi. He wore a navy blue shirt with white trimming, along with white pants. He had spiky hair with a rope tied around his head and an X shaped scar on his chin.
He was very friendly, so was his family. Well, except for the old drunk, Tazuna. Thankfully he kept to himself most of the time. Tsunami was Kaiza's wife. She was very sweet and doting to everyone. Inari was a young and naive boy who seemed very happy and excited to see real Ninja. It made Naruto uncomfortable to be given so much attention.
He just didn't understand the small child. They came from such different lifestyles, he was almost jealous of the boy. But he shoved those thoughts aside. Maybe training would clear his mind.
XXX
Naruto slashed at a tree with his kunai, practicing different combinations. He had been at this for an hour now and decided it was time to move onto Ninjutsu. He still hadn't made much progress on the shadow-dark-night- Clone thing. He also hadn't figured out a name for it either. Damn Tobirama Senju.
Kakashi said he was going to teach them a very useful chakra control technique tomorrow, so hopefully, that will help him with his Jutsu as well. Naruto instead decided to work on an original technique that came much easier to him. He saw Kakashi-Sensei teaching Sakura an Earth-Style Jutsu that sent spikes out of the ground and he wanted to recreate it with his shadows.
Kakashi-Sensei also taught Satsuki a new fire technique, but when he moved on to teach the blonde Ninjutsu, he had to end up with a Wind affinity. The only element Kakashi-Sensei wasn't proficient in. Something about it being extra difficult for him because he had an opposing affinity, blah, blah, blah. Yeah right, Naruto asked Jiji about his Sensei since his personality seemed "unique", and the Old Man told him he knew more than one thousand Jutsu. He learned that many Jutsu and mastered four affinities but can't teach Naruto a Wind technique? Naruto wasn't buying it.
Naruto finally got into position going through similar hand signs as Sakura had only to change the final one to a Rat sign. The results were more than pleasing. Hundreds of thick and sharp black spikes erupted from the ground. Each spike was about twelve feet tall, and the spike "forest" he created went on for over a hundred feet in front of him.
Naruto fell to his knees gasping for air. He didn't mean to do that. Hell, he didn't know he even could do that. He felt too dizzy to stand back up so he sat down catching his breath for a moment.
Suddenly the leaves rustled behind Naruto and he instinctively launched a kunai and towards the offending noise. Best case scenario he stops a threat or gets a meal. Worst case scenario he has to explain to Sensei why Suki has a kunai in between her ribs.
Surprisingly it was none of the above. Someone let out a shrill scream then burst out of the tree line. It was a girl around his age. She had messy red hair, glasses, and a Uzushiogakure headband around her forehead. She wore a yellow kimono with black lines along the trimming, (1) along with black pants and dark red Shinobi sandals. Two more figures burst out of the trees. One female, one male. Both had the same straight red hair, while the male's was much shorter and fell against his forehead as opposed to the girls whose was parted. Both had Uzu headbands and black sandals as well.
The girl had dark violet eyes and, wore her hair with a white band. She also wore a purple, sleeveless kimono blouse with yellow trimmings held close by a traditional obi with a long, streaming bow tied to it, mesh armour underneath it and a short white skirt.
The boy was dressed in a long sleeve button up grey shirt and had black pants with Shinobi tape around his shins. He had lighter violet eyes.
The girl kept a blank face while the boy had a smile on his. The original intruder was the opposite of both, she was very emotional and angry. "You almost killed me!"
"You should know better than to sneak up on Shinobi," Naruto replied blandly. Everyone had dropped their guard once they realized they were allies. Except, surprisingly, the previously calm Kunoichi was now looking at him with wide eyes, as if she had seen a ghost. The young Leaf Nin stood up and gazed at the trio. "You're all from the Uzu base around here right?"
The boy nodded his head enthusiastically. "Yeah, Karin-" he pointed to the Kunoichi with glasses "-said she felt a massive chakra spike, so we went to check it out. I'm Enji by the way and this here-" he nodded to the other Kunoichi "-is Hanoka." (2)
Naruto nodded in greeting. "I'm Naruto. The chakra spike you felt was just me training. Now if don't mind, I'm going to turn in for the night." "Wait!" Karin stopped him. "What are Konoha Shinobi doing around here?"
"You'll see tomorrow." After responding he left before they could say anything. That Hanoka girl's look was beginning to give him the creeps.
XXX
The next morning Team Seven arrived at the Uzushio station and gave the Trade missive to the Jonin in charge. Naruto didn't see the Genin he had met the other day. He assumed they were out on duties of some sorts.
Kakashi-Sensei talked to the Jonin for a few minutes but overall it was underwhelming. Naruto was disappointed knowing their mission was pretty much over. All they had left was the same routine traveling.
"Is that really it?" Naruto asked as they walked back to Kaiza's house. "Are we going back home already?" Naruto wasn't sure he was ready to see the glares again. "No Naruto that's not it. Did you forget that I said you three will be learning a new technique?" Kakashi responded.
The two Kunoichi of the team perked up at this. "What is the technique Kakashi-Sensei?" Sakura asked. "Today, you all will be learning to walk on water." As he said this he side stepped off the bridge leading to Kaiza's house. His students were all surprised to see the change of terrain hadn't slowed his pace at all.
"This is a required technique all Genin must learn before becoming Chunin. It follows the same rules as the tree climbing technique, but instead of connecting you'll be repelling. Make a Ram sign and focus a steady flow of chakra to your feet. Don't worry about the waves fluctuating the water, as long as the surface tension remains the same you should be fine. Go on, give it a try."
Sakura paused before stepping off the bridge, what are the chances they nail this on their first try? Her teammates, however, despite their intelligence, allowed their competitive drive to overwhelm them and tried to get the technique done before the other could.
*Splash* The moment Naruto's foot made contact he fell in. Satsuki lasted slightly longer but lost her balance as the ripples from Naruto's fall changed the surface. *Splash*
"Ah, the joys of teaching. Aren't you going to give it a try Sakura?"
"I think I'll start at the shore where it's shallow."
"Atta Girl."
XXX
Sakura got the Technique down surprisingly quick, Satsuki following a few hours after. Naruto nearly had to skip dinner in order to finish the exercise before the day was over. Thankfully as Sakura was sent out to notify him that his food was ready, he managed to get the walking part down. He wouldn't be able to fight on water yet, but it was a start.
The local family and team seven all sat down together at the table for dinner. They were enjoying their last moments together before Team seven took off. Inari still had endless questions about the Shinobi lifestyle.
"Hey, Naruto?" He asked with a tilt of his head. "Yeah?" "How did you get that scar on your face?"
"Inari!" His mother, Tsunami, interrupted. "Don't ask rude questions, however, he got that scar is his business and his alone." Naruto was grateful for the out. Inari looked down in shame, and while Naruto wanted to tell him it's alright, he felt he would have to share the story if he did.
After dinner, Naruto went back out to continue training. He was now practicing jumping. While his landing was wobbly, so far it was successful as long as he didn't push too much chakra into his leap.
"You know there is such a thing as overtraining." *Splash*
Naruto emerged and made his way to the dock where Satsuki was sitting dangling her bare feet in the water. "I need to stay concentrated when it comes to chakra control exercises, or else I lose control." Naruto said as he sat down next to her.
"I know, that's why I did that."
"Tch, thanks for the help Suki." The midnight haired girl looked down at the use of her nickname. So far he was the only one to use it. The only one to treat her like she was an equal. Like she was any other Genin.
"It's getting cold and you're soaking wet, you should go inside before you catch a cold." She said kicking her feet watching the moon and stars distorted reflection in the water as it rippled and contorted like young dreams. "I don't get colds, but your concern is heartwarming."
"Why is that? Is it connected to the same reason you got that scar?" She asked. "Sorta, not really. It's complicated."
"Everything seems to be with you. One day you're going to have to tell someone."
"Like you? You won't open up to anyone about your past."
"That's because everyone already knows what happened to me."
"But that's not everything is it?" He said, finally looking up at her. She met his eyes and was taken back by the question. "What do you mean that's not everything?"
Naruto realized his mistake, he couldn't let any sensitive information escape, even if she deserved to know. "I.. I just meant that there's more to your life than just a sad story. You have at least a sliver of personality right?"
"Hn." Was her only reply.
They sat there in silence, enjoying the night's beauty for a few more minutes. "I'm going to bed now. You should too. There's water in Konoha too you know."
"Yeah, I'm coming."
XXX
Team Seven all waved goodbye to their hosts as their boat sailed away from shore. Naruto was going to miss this. Being treated with kindness. Being treated as though he were an equal. As though he was human and not a demon.
Naruto reflected on his first real mission experience, although most of it was mundane he still enjoyed it. He dreaded the inevitable D ranked missions and detesting glares to come.
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a clicking noise after landing on a tree branch. He looked down to see what it was, only to come face to face with an explosive tag smoldering away.
"Naruto move!" Satsuki shouted from behind him. The following explosion blinded her view of him and when she could see again she only saw ash marks against the broken trunk of the tree.
"Satsuki snap out of it," Kakashi said to her right. She turned to see him with Naruto under his right arm. "That trap was set by a rogue Shinobi. We all need to stay focused, I'm sure they'll be here any second now. Don't engage anyone with a headband on, leave them to me."
Unfortunately, after he set Naruto down the bandit group did arrive and all of then had headbands on. Three had Uzu headbands with slashes, they all had Jonin or Chunin jackets. There was also two Taki headbands with slashes, they didn't have vests. A tall man with a nasty scar along his left arm and red hair stepped forward.
"Normally I'd let you go since you're not a caravan, but when the Copy-nin himself stumbles across my neck of the woods I know it must be the gods finally giving me my just dues."
"To think Jirou of the Whirlpool would be degraded to a common bandit. You're a disgrace to Shinobi everywhere." The Uzu-nin merely grunted in response. "Leave him to me. Get rid of the children."
Once he finished giving instructions, he and Kakashi disappeared into a blur of sparks, as kunai collided.
Naruto was ready, he knew he would come across more monsters seeking for power or wealth. He had prepared his whole life for this moment. One of the Taki-nin went for Sakura while the another went for Satsuki. The two Chunin split one went for Naruto the other seemed to be watching the Taki Genin in case they needed help.
The Uzu Shinobi opened up with a Water-Style Jutsu that was a swirling stream rocketing towards Naruto. Naruto's Shadow immediately reached up and from a half dome around him. While it shielded him effectively it ate away at his chakra reserves. No other Nara solidified such a large shadow for defense Jutsu, only precise tendrils for offense.
While Naruto was hidden he attached his feet to the branch he was on and hung upside down launching shuriken at his opponent, trying to catch him off guard.
Sadly the Chunin just replaced himself with a log and continued his assault.
Naruto narrowly dodged a couple more Water-Style Jutsu, jumping from branch to branch. He then decides to land on the forest floor, maneuvering through bushes. The Uzushio-nin had no choice but to move in close, however the moment he landed in front of Naruto to cut him off he was frozen in place.
Naruto wasted no time sending a shadow tendril to pierce his heart. He flinched when he looked into the eyes of his opponent as he coughed up blood, falling to his knees.
Naruto knew he had to do it. But he was scared of how thoughtlessly he executed the rogue Ninja. He snapped out of it when he heard Sakura cry out. He saw her falling after impacting a tree, and went to catch her. She was unconscious when he caught her, but at least she was still breathing. He set her down behind a tree before heading to see who did this to her.
He saw an Uzu Chunin now fighting Satsuki in Taijutsu. It seemed both Kunoichi made quick work of their Genin opponents but Sakura had been knocked out swiftly by the Chunin.
Satsuki saw Naruto approaching and put some distance between her and the Chunin. She quickly sent off a Fireball Jutsu at the rogue-nin who, just as she hoped, blocked it with a Water Wall Jutsu. The collision caused an explosion of hot steam, and under the cover of the fog Naruto sent his shadow and bound the Chunin freezing him in the spot.
They had practiced this move dozens of times in training. And while it usually also consisted of Sakura blocking off escape routes from Naruto's shadow with an Earth-Style Jutsu it seemed the Chunin hadn't suspected the unique clan Jutsu.
Naruto let go of his Jutsu just before Satsuki delivered a quick kick to the head knocking the man unconscious. She wouldn't have to face the guilt Naruto has been plagued with since he was six. Not today at least.
The two Genin just stop there for a moment looking at each other relieved they won. "You two are quite exceptional for your age aren't you?"
The duo froze before turning to the voice. It was the Uzu-nin, he was bleeding and bruised but he was alive. That meant Kakashi-Sensei had lost. The elite Jonin who kicked all three of their asses in training had lost to this guy and now they had to face him.
"Don't worry, your Sensei isn't dead. Thanks to that pretty little eye of his, he's wanted alive until Kumo or Iwa can surgically remove it. Who do you think I should sell him to?"
No, Naruto wouldn't have it. He wouldn't let people like this do as they please. He went through the hand signs he had been practicing and then slammed his hands into the ground. His shadow pushed forward flat against the ground spreading. Until suddenly spikes began emerging from it at all angles. Piercing wood and leaves unbiasedly. The Jonin was taken off guard by this and seemed to be swallowed whole by the array of shadows weaving through the forest.
Naruto fell to one knee panting on the branch he stood atop.
Had he done it?
"You are one hell of a powerhouse kid."
No, he hadn't.
After his Shadow had retracted it revealed the red-headed Shinobi inside of a barrier. There seemed to be a seal array on the branch he was on.
"But when you have been in this business for as long as me you have a trick for everything. Look, it's nothing personal. This is just the world we live in. All Shinobi kill for money. Just cause you listen to some guy wearing a hat doesn't make you a good guy. Now give up."
No. No, no, no. That wasn't true, he was a monster just like that man over four years ago. He had to be. That was how Naruto's broken mind had rationalized the world around him. Now this man was trying to blur the lines between man and monster.
Naruto still had so much he needed to learn.
"Come on Naruto! I've never seen you run out of chakra before, get up!" Naruto finally looked at Satsuki. She was right. They needed to save Kakashi-Sensei and Sakura and get home.
Home. Naruto never put much meaning into that word. But now he could describe it. Home was the falling leaves and stone statues in Konoha. Home was Jiji and his stories, Yoshino's cooking, Shikamaru's dry humor. Home was Team Seven.
Naruto stood up slowly pulling himself together. "Alright, you go from the left I'll drop from above. Remember dual wield in training? He only has two arms to defend himself with, we can overwhelm him." Naruto may not be as smart as his cousin, but when it came to on the spot battle strategies he always shined.
Satsuki nodded and pulled out two kunai one for each hand. She jumped onto a tree to the left and then launched herself at the rogue-nin. Naruto followed with an overarching leap aiming both his kunai at the top of the Jonin's head as he engaged Satsuki.
Unfortunately, the Jonin caught on to their plans immediately and jumped back before nailing Naruto with a spinning back kick to the head, his shadow not able to block it while in the air. Naruto crashed into a tree trunk before landing on a branch. His head was spinning like a top as he struggled to rise from the bottom. Eventually, he regained his composure and saw Satsuki amazing holding her own against the Jonin.
He rushed to join her but when he arrived she was backflipping towards him, barely dodging a front head kick. "Ah, now I see why the Copy-nin was teaching you. To think I would meet two Sharingan users in one day."
Naruto wasn't sure what he was talking about until he turned to Satsuki. She had two burning red iris, with two tomoe spinning in each eye.
Naruto froze on the spot. He remembered those eyes. Those eyes that promised death and pain. Jirou capitalized on his momentary pause and flipped through a gamut of hand signs. "Fire Dragon Jutsu" he called out silently before sending the scorching blaze at impossible speeds at Naruto.
Naruto re-lived it all at that moment. He was just a small naive six-year-old boy in the wrong place at the wrong time. Satsuki shouted in the distance but Naruto heard none of it. This was it. It was all finally coming to an end.
A ring of flame the color of rose's as it turned ashes to ashes; Naruto closed his eyes and waited to fall down. But nothing happened. He waited and waited, for what felt like an eternity, but still, nothing came. When he opened his eyes he was met with a Kunoichi in an Anbu uniform with no mask and flowing red hair facing away from him. There were chains wrapped around what seemed to be an amber, iridescent barrier surrounding the two of them.
She turned her head towards him and gave a huge grin. "Heya kid, you just leave this to me you know."
"Wha-what the hell are you doing here!?" Jirou now looking incredibly alarmed shouted at Naruto's savior. "My office gets stuffy, I like to take the occasional mission. And this one was personal. To think my own head if Anbu would give up his position to become a common thug. You got quite a few screws loose you know."
"The whole system is broken and you know it! You sent my daughter on that mission when I warned you not to. She died just to protect some rich Noble!"
"And I'm sorry for your lost Jirou, but that was the most extreme circumstances nobody could have predicted would happen. Now on account of your past service, I'm offering for you to come peacefully."
Jirou spat on the ground towards her and began flipping through hand seals. The red-haired Kunoichi sighed. "That's what I thought."
He sent an enormous water Jutsu swirling towards them. Once it hit the barrier it merely went around it. Naruto began to worry about Satsuki but when he turned to where she had been standing, she was nowhere to be seen.
After the Ninjutsu passed the Kunoichi let the barrier fall and sent her chains at the rogue-nin across from her. He leapt and dodged just barely avoiding them. The moment he landed on a large tree branch to the right of them he was trapped in a purple barrier. Seal scribe was glowing beneath him. Suddenly four Anbu with Uzushio symbols on their foreheads emerged from the ground at the corners of the barrier.
"That was your own trick Jirou, you must be off in more than a couple of ways."
Suddenly Satsuki emerged along with another Anbu. Naruto let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. "It's over…" he said under his breath.
"Yes." The Kunoichi responded much to his surprise. "Yes, it is."
XXX
The three of the Anbu went back to Uzushio with either body scrolls or tied up captives. Naruto hadn't seen it but he was pretty sure they killed that Jonin guy. It was standard practice after all.
He thought about the man's words and his exchange with the Kunoichi as he sat around the campfire. Sakura was helping out in any way she could. She felt bad about losing, but the kind red-haired women ensured her that if her Sensei couldn't handle the fight she shouldn't have even been near it.
Speaking of Kakashi he had apparently been trapped in some sort of seal that drained his chakra. These redheads seemed awfully fond of them. The lady who had saved them gave him a lecture and hit him in the head for his mistake. They seemed to have met before, judging by the familiarity. Although Kakashi was much more respectful to her than she was to him. She treated everyone as though they were a close friend.
The aforementioned Kunoichi happened to be coming towards Naruto now. "Hey, you alright kid?" she asked before sitting down next to him against the tree. "I'm fine, it's Naruto by the way."
"Oh, my bad hehe. My daughter always says I get too carried away with things and forget about the basics of human interactions." "Was she serious?" "My name is Kushina it's nice to meet you Naruto." She said smiling down at him.
Now that he had a closer look he thought she was pretty, she had violet eyes and a pale complexion. "You look a lot like a Kunoichi I met the other day Miss Kushina."
"That was probably my daughter then, what was her name? Oh, and please, just Kushina. You have no idea how many formalities I have to deal with."
"Sorry, Kushina. Her name started with an H I think."
"Yup, that's Hanoka. She's a lot like you, all quiet and serious."
"I don't think there's anyone quite like me." "For better or worse."
"Probably not. Judging by the mark you left on that forest, you pack quite the punch Blondie." She ruffled his hair. Naruto was tempted to stop her but it felt nice to be coddled once in a while.
"Apparently not enough."
"You were up against a Jonin, you can't expect to match that."
"Unlike other Genin's, I serve a purpose, I can't afford to not meet expectations. I'm meant to be able to stop anyone, anything."
Kushina's smile dropped at this. She knew who Naruto Nara was. She was the one who ensured his seal was stable after all.
"Well screw those expectations you know! I think you did great, and I can't wait to see how you grow over the years." Naruto just stared at her kind eyes.
He decided he liked this Kushina lady.
"I know Shinobi life can be complicated but you just need to stick with your ideals."
"What if you aren't sure about your ideals anymore?" The blond asked.
"Then go with your gut. What makes you happy Naruto?"
Naruto looked over to Sakura feeding Kakashi-Sensei against his will. And Satsuki gingerly pouring the soup Kushina made into her own bowl. Kushina smiled as she followed his gaze.
"Follow that feeling Naruto, protect whatever makes you happy, whatever makes you whole, and stand by it through thick and thin. You'll never question your ideals again, I promise."
With those words, she left to join with her Shinobi. Naruto thought about what she meant. "Makes you whole" Naruto wasn't sure if he'd ever get there, but he knew that meeting these new people, being with his Team, certainly added pieces.
He shifted his gaze to the sound of footsteps crunching against the dirt. Satsuki sat down next to him and offered a bowl of soup. "Eat something, before you end up like Kakashi-Sensei. That Jutsu you used had to have drained a lot out of you."
Naruto nodded in thanks and began eating. "That's how it happened isn't it?" Naruto looked up at her in question. "Your scar, it was a fire Jutsu, right? You froze when he used one." Naruto lifted a hand and rested it on his left eye. "Yes. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, heard some things I shouldn't have. And this is the price I paid."
"But why do most people glare at you then? I thought you got it because you did something wrong."
"People are scared of what I am not what I did. ...and maybe they should be."
"But why?" Naruto just remained silent staring at his food.
"I used to look up to him you know." Naruto glanced at her in confusion. "My brother, I used to adore him. He was always the perfect kind older brother. My father used to praise him endlessly. Then all of sudden he started acting weird and angry. A month later he killed everyone. It never sat right with me. He said he did it to test his power, but he was never interested in power, or ranking, or showings off before."
Naruto just continued to stare not daring to open his mouth. "One day I'll find out why, and then I'll kill him just like he did to mother, to everyone."
They both sat there in silence for a moment. Naruto finally took a deep breath and told her. About the tailed beasts, about Jinchūriki and their purpose. About the Nine-Tails.
"I think he was my Father."
"Who?"
"The Fourth. He was on my Mother's Genin team. And I look just like him"
…
"We're both pretty fucked up huh?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, I'm glad that at least we're fucked up together."
They sat there the rest of the night in silence. Leaning on each other's shoulders. As they began to fall asleep Naruto let out one final whisper, a feather brush against the nighttime ambiance.
"Thank you Suki…"
XXX
Beta'd by: VeldtRevengeance
1. It's Kushina's outfit when she was younger.
2. She's not OC look her up
Quote is from Mike Shinoda. I was going to write my own poem but his already fit what Naruto went through perfectly.