Soulfire
03-10-2004, 11:31 AM
As he sat in his chair, his eyes staring lifelessly ahead, Uzumaki Naruto was thinking of what had happened today. Today was the day that broke through the last barrier surrounding his mind... the day that had killed the Uzumaki Naruto that everybody knew.
---
*Flashback*
Standing on the bridge that was their team's appointed meeting place, Sakura was engaging in her usual morning routine of thinking up ways to try and make Sasuke fall for her, instead of Ino. Inner Sakura was having a hell of a good time imagining what might happen today. Even though her chances were near zero, she kept up the hope that Sasuke might just return her feelings today.
As she was engrossed in her thoughts, she didn't hear Sasuke walk over to her until he gave his trademark greeting, a small grunt that she knew only too well. Hearing him, Sakura was brought out of her thoughts.
'Hi Sasuke-kun!'
'...'
Sasuke was spared any further attempt at conversation by the appearance of the only person in Konoha to be hated by almost everybody: Uzumaki Naruto, aka Ramen Man.
'Heya Sakura-chan!'
Although Sakura herself remained silent, Inner Sakura was yelling at Naruto.
'Damn you Naruto! Why must you be so annoying and always get between me and Sasuke-kun! I hate you!'
The omnipresent smile disappeared from Naruto's face as Sakura realised she had actually said that instead of just thought it.
'So... so you hate me. I had been considering this for a while... looks like there's no point delaying it.'
A wave of guilt swept over Sakura as she watched Naruto slump against the side of the bridge, with his back to her.
'Naruto, I'm sorry, I didn't mean t-'
Naruto spoke, but his voice was no longer full of happiness, it was cold and unfeeling, almost like Sasuke's...
'You meant every word, Sakura. You just didn't have the guts to say it to my face. Well now I know how you feel about me, I'm going to pack it in.'
Sakura felt worse than before. He had always called her 'Sakura-chan' before. Now, it was just Sakura. Every time he said her name, he spat it, as if he had to get it out of his mouth fast.
'Pack what in?'
'Kakashi-sensei!'
Kakashi had appeared behind them without anybody noticing. Also, for the first time ever, he wasn't late. But nobody cared about that.
'Pack what in, Naruto?'
'Kakashi-sensei... I... I cannot take any more of this. First the adults, then Sasuke, and now Sakura... everybody hates me! I quit my life as a ninja.'
Everyone was silent as Naruto relieved himself of everything that was ninja-esque. His forehead protector, his kunai... all of his weapons and gear he handed over to Kakashi, before walking back towards the village. The remainder of Squad 7 were stunned into silence, and could only watch as their former teammate disappeared around a corner.
'Kakashi-sensei, we can't just let him leave, can we?'
'It is his decision. His choice to make. However, as his friends we cannot let him think we hate him. Sasuke, go to Hogake-sama and ask him to assign a different ninja Squad to Team 7's mission. Sakura, you come with me and help me sort out the mess you made.'
'The mess I made?'
'You were the one who told him you hated him.'
'I- yes, Sasuke-kun...'
---
Naruto looked over the village. He thought briefly about going for some Ramen, before dismissing that idea. After all, he had just eaten breakfast. With nothing better to do, he decided that he would just go back to his flat and feel sorry for himself. As Naruto was trudging up the stairs towards his flat, he saw a yellow cardboard box scuttle across the brown floor towards him.
'That's really obvious, you know?'
A child's voice came out of the box, as if it was natural for square boxes masquerading as brick and wood to speak as if they were children.
'Leader! Someone said you were no longer a ninja!'
'That's right. My entire team hates me, so there's no point staying one. If my teammates can't stand me...'
There was a bright golden light, before the box... did nothing.
'Baka! Not enough gunpowder this time!'
'Sorry Konohomaru-kun. I'll get it right next time...'
'Anyway, gotta go Leader! Got training soon!'
'Okay, see you guys later. I'm just gonna go home now...'
---
'Why are we here?' Sakura asked Kakashi. She was puzzled as to why her group's Jounin had brought her to a ramen stand.
'We are here, Sakura, because in order to know Naruto and his mind, we have to know Naruto's actions. We have to understand what he does in order to understand him. Two of the special, please.'
'Are you sure? Only that kid likes the special...'
'I am sure. Now Sakura, after we're done here we're going to go talk to those kids that Naruto is friends with. I'm sure they can help us in some way. For being the smartest member of the team, you really don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you?'
Sakura had her head in her hands, and Kakashi didn't need his Sharingan to detect that she was close to crying over what she had done. He thought that she needed some comfort now.
'I'm sure it'll all be back to normal by tomorrow, Sakura.'
*thud* *thud*
'Two of the special: Testicle Surprise. Try and guess which animal the bollocks belong to!'
Even Kakashi looked petrified.
'Perhaps we had better come back another time... preferably in another reality.'
*End flashback*
---
As he sat in his chair, his eyes staring lifelessly ahead, Uzumaki Naruto was thinking of what had happened today. Today was the day that broke through the last barrier surrounding his mind... the day that had killed the Uzumaki Naruto that everybody knew. Now that he knew that Sakura hated him, he had no reason to live anymore. The whole point of his plan to become Hokage was so that Sakura would recognise him. He didn't care what the other villagers thought. Only her opinion mattered. But what she had said today had melted through his dreams of the two of them in love...
He completely ignored the knock at the door.
'Dammit Naruto, let us in!' came Sakura's voice from the other side.
'And why should I? You're just going to hurt me again!' His voice was shaking, and he struggled to keep it understandable.
'Naruto, please let me in!'
Silence. Naruto just didn't respond in any form...
'Leader!' There was Konohomaru on the other side as well. 'Leader! Either you open this door or you won't have a door left!'
Naruto growled. 'You wouldn't dare, you little shit!'
'I guess it's time for Operation Gunpowder, then!'
'Wait, wait, I'm opening the door!'
Unfortunately, nobody could hear him say that over the sounds that the trail of gunpowder was making. Naruto opened the door just as the spark reached the explosive, and was flung back into his flat by the force of the explosion. He landed on his small table, breaking it and falling through to the floor.
'Naruto!'
'Leader!'
'Fuck. Hurts... like... hell.'
Kakashi was nowhere to be seen.
Sakura was panicing as she ran to where Naruto lay. Konohamaru was already there, pulling the various bits of the table away to get to him. Naruto was busy pulling the bits of table that had stabbed him out of his body. The Nine-Tails' healing powers were already getting to work, but it would take a while to return him to normal after this, as Naruto had both stab and burn wounds. To be blunt, he looked like kebab meat. But he was still alive, which was all that mattered to Sakura as she flung her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
'Oh Naruto, I'm so sorry for what I said to you earlier today! Please forgive me! Please! I never meant to hurt you! I'll do anything!'
'No need, Sakura...chan. I forgive you.'
Sakura looked up at Naruto's face, blinking tears out of her eyes. 'Seriously?'
Naruto smiled down at her, before kissing her forehead. 'Seriously.'
It was only when Naruto looked at her again that he noticed something odd about Sakura.
'Sakura, you're... blushing?'
'So warm and soft...'
Realising what she had just said made Sakura blush even more.
'What is it, Sakura-chan?'
'I just realised what I'd been missing all this time. You're kind, sensitive, happy, friendly... everything HE isn't.'
'Sakura-chan... do you... like me?'
Sakura said nothing. Her only answer to Naruto's question was to kiss Naruto with all the passion she could muster. They were like that for several minutes, as Konohamaru sneaked out the door.
'Well done, Leader. You were right during the exam... she does love you.'
As they broke the kiss, panting for breath, Sakura stared at Naruto's face. It had seemed worse earlier... far worse. Naruto could see she was suspicious, and knew that he had to tell her the truth.
'Sakura-chan... there's something I have to tell you. I know you're wondering about my wounds, right?'
Sakura just nodded.
'Well... it's a little hard to say this, but... I have a demon sealed inside of me.'
Sakura looked stunned, before finally smiling at Naruto.
'Funny man... I thought you were serious.'
Looking at Naruto's solemn face, however, disturbed her slightly.
'You... ARE serious?'
It was Naruto's turn to nod.
'Inside of me resides the Nine-Tails, sealed by the Fourth Hokage. It is the essence of that demon that grants me such fast healing.'
It was as if a christmas tree had just had its lights switched on inside Sakura's brain.
'So everyone hates you... because they fear the demon. Now I see!'
'Not quite, Sakura-chan. Some people think that the demon will break free and escape from me, others think that it will corrupt and take over me... but some fear that I am the demon itself.'
As he was speaking, Naruto was letting tears flow down his face. It felt good to be able to talk about the demon, and let someone know the truth. It felt even better that the person in question was Sakura, and even better still that she had been so intimate with him. However, Naruto did not know how Sakura would react to the awful truth that he had 'It' sealed within him.
'Sakura-chan? Do you hate me now, because of what I am?'
Sakura smiled, wiping Naruto's tears away for him, before snuggling up to him and whispering into his ear.
'Of course not. I love you for WHO you are, Naruto-kun.'
They went to kiss for the second time that day, but were interrupted by Kakashi poking his head around the door.
'I take it this means you're not quitting, Naruto?'
'I haven't decided yet. I may just take a holiday.'
'Sakura? What do you think of all this?'
Sakura grinned, tweaking Naruto's nose playfully.
'A holiday sounds good.'
THE END
---
*Flashback*
Standing on the bridge that was their team's appointed meeting place, Sakura was engaging in her usual morning routine of thinking up ways to try and make Sasuke fall for her, instead of Ino. Inner Sakura was having a hell of a good time imagining what might happen today. Even though her chances were near zero, she kept up the hope that Sasuke might just return her feelings today.
As she was engrossed in her thoughts, she didn't hear Sasuke walk over to her until he gave his trademark greeting, a small grunt that she knew only too well. Hearing him, Sakura was brought out of her thoughts.
'Hi Sasuke-kun!'
'...'
Sasuke was spared any further attempt at conversation by the appearance of the only person in Konoha to be hated by almost everybody: Uzumaki Naruto, aka Ramen Man.
'Heya Sakura-chan!'
Although Sakura herself remained silent, Inner Sakura was yelling at Naruto.
'Damn you Naruto! Why must you be so annoying and always get between me and Sasuke-kun! I hate you!'
The omnipresent smile disappeared from Naruto's face as Sakura realised she had actually said that instead of just thought it.
'So... so you hate me. I had been considering this for a while... looks like there's no point delaying it.'
A wave of guilt swept over Sakura as she watched Naruto slump against the side of the bridge, with his back to her.
'Naruto, I'm sorry, I didn't mean t-'
Naruto spoke, but his voice was no longer full of happiness, it was cold and unfeeling, almost like Sasuke's...
'You meant every word, Sakura. You just didn't have the guts to say it to my face. Well now I know how you feel about me, I'm going to pack it in.'
Sakura felt worse than before. He had always called her 'Sakura-chan' before. Now, it was just Sakura. Every time he said her name, he spat it, as if he had to get it out of his mouth fast.
'Pack what in?'
'Kakashi-sensei!'
Kakashi had appeared behind them without anybody noticing. Also, for the first time ever, he wasn't late. But nobody cared about that.
'Pack what in, Naruto?'
'Kakashi-sensei... I... I cannot take any more of this. First the adults, then Sasuke, and now Sakura... everybody hates me! I quit my life as a ninja.'
Everyone was silent as Naruto relieved himself of everything that was ninja-esque. His forehead protector, his kunai... all of his weapons and gear he handed over to Kakashi, before walking back towards the village. The remainder of Squad 7 were stunned into silence, and could only watch as their former teammate disappeared around a corner.
'Kakashi-sensei, we can't just let him leave, can we?'
'It is his decision. His choice to make. However, as his friends we cannot let him think we hate him. Sasuke, go to Hogake-sama and ask him to assign a different ninja Squad to Team 7's mission. Sakura, you come with me and help me sort out the mess you made.'
'The mess I made?'
'You were the one who told him you hated him.'
'I- yes, Sasuke-kun...'
---
Naruto looked over the village. He thought briefly about going for some Ramen, before dismissing that idea. After all, he had just eaten breakfast. With nothing better to do, he decided that he would just go back to his flat and feel sorry for himself. As Naruto was trudging up the stairs towards his flat, he saw a yellow cardboard box scuttle across the brown floor towards him.
'That's really obvious, you know?'
A child's voice came out of the box, as if it was natural for square boxes masquerading as brick and wood to speak as if they were children.
'Leader! Someone said you were no longer a ninja!'
'That's right. My entire team hates me, so there's no point staying one. If my teammates can't stand me...'
There was a bright golden light, before the box... did nothing.
'Baka! Not enough gunpowder this time!'
'Sorry Konohomaru-kun. I'll get it right next time...'
'Anyway, gotta go Leader! Got training soon!'
'Okay, see you guys later. I'm just gonna go home now...'
---
'Why are we here?' Sakura asked Kakashi. She was puzzled as to why her group's Jounin had brought her to a ramen stand.
'We are here, Sakura, because in order to know Naruto and his mind, we have to know Naruto's actions. We have to understand what he does in order to understand him. Two of the special, please.'
'Are you sure? Only that kid likes the special...'
'I am sure. Now Sakura, after we're done here we're going to go talk to those kids that Naruto is friends with. I'm sure they can help us in some way. For being the smartest member of the team, you really don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you?'
Sakura had her head in her hands, and Kakashi didn't need his Sharingan to detect that she was close to crying over what she had done. He thought that she needed some comfort now.
'I'm sure it'll all be back to normal by tomorrow, Sakura.'
*thud* *thud*
'Two of the special: Testicle Surprise. Try and guess which animal the bollocks belong to!'
Even Kakashi looked petrified.
'Perhaps we had better come back another time... preferably in another reality.'
*End flashback*
---
As he sat in his chair, his eyes staring lifelessly ahead, Uzumaki Naruto was thinking of what had happened today. Today was the day that broke through the last barrier surrounding his mind... the day that had killed the Uzumaki Naruto that everybody knew. Now that he knew that Sakura hated him, he had no reason to live anymore. The whole point of his plan to become Hokage was so that Sakura would recognise him. He didn't care what the other villagers thought. Only her opinion mattered. But what she had said today had melted through his dreams of the two of them in love...
He completely ignored the knock at the door.
'Dammit Naruto, let us in!' came Sakura's voice from the other side.
'And why should I? You're just going to hurt me again!' His voice was shaking, and he struggled to keep it understandable.
'Naruto, please let me in!'
Silence. Naruto just didn't respond in any form...
'Leader!' There was Konohomaru on the other side as well. 'Leader! Either you open this door or you won't have a door left!'
Naruto growled. 'You wouldn't dare, you little shit!'
'I guess it's time for Operation Gunpowder, then!'
'Wait, wait, I'm opening the door!'
Unfortunately, nobody could hear him say that over the sounds that the trail of gunpowder was making. Naruto opened the door just as the spark reached the explosive, and was flung back into his flat by the force of the explosion. He landed on his small table, breaking it and falling through to the floor.
'Naruto!'
'Leader!'
'Fuck. Hurts... like... hell.'
Kakashi was nowhere to be seen.
Sakura was panicing as she ran to where Naruto lay. Konohamaru was already there, pulling the various bits of the table away to get to him. Naruto was busy pulling the bits of table that had stabbed him out of his body. The Nine-Tails' healing powers were already getting to work, but it would take a while to return him to normal after this, as Naruto had both stab and burn wounds. To be blunt, he looked like kebab meat. But he was still alive, which was all that mattered to Sakura as she flung her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
'Oh Naruto, I'm so sorry for what I said to you earlier today! Please forgive me! Please! I never meant to hurt you! I'll do anything!'
'No need, Sakura...chan. I forgive you.'
Sakura looked up at Naruto's face, blinking tears out of her eyes. 'Seriously?'
Naruto smiled down at her, before kissing her forehead. 'Seriously.'
It was only when Naruto looked at her again that he noticed something odd about Sakura.
'Sakura, you're... blushing?'
'So warm and soft...'
Realising what she had just said made Sakura blush even more.
'What is it, Sakura-chan?'
'I just realised what I'd been missing all this time. You're kind, sensitive, happy, friendly... everything HE isn't.'
'Sakura-chan... do you... like me?'
Sakura said nothing. Her only answer to Naruto's question was to kiss Naruto with all the passion she could muster. They were like that for several minutes, as Konohamaru sneaked out the door.
'Well done, Leader. You were right during the exam... she does love you.'
As they broke the kiss, panting for breath, Sakura stared at Naruto's face. It had seemed worse earlier... far worse. Naruto could see she was suspicious, and knew that he had to tell her the truth.
'Sakura-chan... there's something I have to tell you. I know you're wondering about my wounds, right?'
Sakura just nodded.
'Well... it's a little hard to say this, but... I have a demon sealed inside of me.'
Sakura looked stunned, before finally smiling at Naruto.
'Funny man... I thought you were serious.'
Looking at Naruto's solemn face, however, disturbed her slightly.
'You... ARE serious?'
It was Naruto's turn to nod.
'Inside of me resides the Nine-Tails, sealed by the Fourth Hokage. It is the essence of that demon that grants me such fast healing.'
It was as if a christmas tree had just had its lights switched on inside Sakura's brain.
'So everyone hates you... because they fear the demon. Now I see!'
'Not quite, Sakura-chan. Some people think that the demon will break free and escape from me, others think that it will corrupt and take over me... but some fear that I am the demon itself.'
As he was speaking, Naruto was letting tears flow down his face. It felt good to be able to talk about the demon, and let someone know the truth. It felt even better that the person in question was Sakura, and even better still that she had been so intimate with him. However, Naruto did not know how Sakura would react to the awful truth that he had 'It' sealed within him.
'Sakura-chan? Do you hate me now, because of what I am?'
Sakura smiled, wiping Naruto's tears away for him, before snuggling up to him and whispering into his ear.
'Of course not. I love you for WHO you are, Naruto-kun.'
They went to kiss for the second time that day, but were interrupted by Kakashi poking his head around the door.
'I take it this means you're not quitting, Naruto?'
'I haven't decided yet. I may just take a holiday.'
'Sakura? What do you think of all this?'
Sakura grinned, tweaking Naruto's nose playfully.
'A holiday sounds good.'
THE END