Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Lost and Found ❯ Pain ( Chapter 3 )

Hi!! I'm back. Sorry for the late update. I will try to keep up with a weekly posting from now since school has reopened. Hope that this chapter will not be a great disappointment, and please excuse any language mistake. Enjoy the story!! (… I hope…)

 

Pairing: Hint of NejiNaru & SasuNaru

 

(())

 

The aged sun had long retreated beyond the horizon, time had brushed passed so quickly that even the moon had grown tired and began to draw its opaque cloud curtain for a little napping time. However the night was still young for the stars, as they continued to dance to the song of the wind on their shadowy stage. Down in Konohagakure, all was quiet. Shops and stalls were closed, villagers and shinobi asleep. Occasionally, a patrolling ninja or two might swept past the streets but their movement so fast that it might have been a play of light. All in all it was peaceful, even surreal, with dim streetlights and stars casting soft glow on the empty streets and gentle wind singing their heavenly song.

 

Suddenly a burst of melodious laughter interrupted the lullaby and a sun-kissed golden head emerged from a brightly lit doorway.

 

“Thank you Thick-brow!! Never would have thought you make such yummy dinner.”

 

“Ah… If Naruto-kun likes my cooking so much, you can come over for dinner tomorrow too. Gai-sensei will be here and maybe he will make us his Special stew of Youth.” Lee moved closer to the blond and gave him a thumb-up and a dazzling smile. “It's a secret recipe that will make you as strong as a raving beast.”

 

Naruto's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and was about to gush how much he would like to try the stew when a kunai whizzed pass, narrowly missing Lee's left ear, and into the dark street. Lee stood wide-eyed, frozen in his `pose'.

 

“Baka! Don't you ever ask sensei to prepare that stew of his again,” A female voice boomed. TenTen, followed by Neji, appeared out of the doorway and stood next to Lee. “The last time he made us eat that disgusting concoction, we nearly died vomiting.”

 

Lee looked indignant, “We did not nearly die vomiting. I even finished the whole pot of it. Gai-sensei said it's the best training food ever, so it must be it.” He huffed and turned away from TenTen.

 

The weapons specialist resisted slapping her comrade's head. Sometime the tai-jutsu expert could be so infuriating… but no one could be angry at him for long. Soon, laughter broke through the night as old friends and new basked in each other's company.

 

Standing at the dimly lit street just outside Lee's apartment, Naruto and his sempais finally bid goodbyes after the light-hearted banter. The lazy moon continued slacking behind the opaque cloud curtain, while the shimmering stars danced joyously on their shadowy stage. It was a picture of blithe and fun, just like two nights ago when the blond was first introduced to the daily dinner sessions his sempais had at Lee's house. Two days later, he found himself the newest member of their gang, much to a certain Hyuuga's delight.

 

“If you want to see him home, you can. I don't need you to walk me home, you know.”

 

Neji immediately whipped his head back and glared at his comrade before looking away; slightly embarrassed at being caught gazing longingly at the direction Naruto had gone.

 

TenTen ignored the glare and Neji's discomfort, clasping both hands behind her back, she started walking towards home. “Aren't you glad Baka Lee is all right now? Although he still seemed depressed at times, at least he won't try killing himself again. Not that he dares… I will make that idiot my personal moving target for training if he frightens us again.” She paused, then turned to give Neji a sly smile. “Naruto-kun seems to be doing fine too. You must be very happy.”

 

Neji remained silent, still not looking at her, neither is he moving from his original position.

 

TenTen's smile faltered to a frown, “I really don't understand you. You have been interested in him for three years. Now that he and Sasuke-kun broke up, why aren't you taking any actions?”

 

She turned and continued walking slowly, perking her ears hoping to catch his answer. Just when she thought the Hyuuga boy would ignore her, she heard his steady strides and caught a soft “Because I can't.”

 

She paused and waited for him to catch up before they continued their way to her house in a few minutes of comfortable silence. Then tentatively, she disturbed the peace again, “Why not?”

 

“He wouldn't want me to.”

 

She halted her movements again. A cold breeze suddenly swept through the nearly empty street, echoing the baritone voice until its monotony was stripped off revealing underlying helplessness. TenTen barely suppressed a shiver, she trained sober eyes on her friend's back and questioned seriously, “How do you know?”

 

The boy ceased walking too. Without turning around, he whispered, “He asked me not to… not to fall in love with him.”

 

The chilling breeze continued its assault in the empty street, casting soft words into ghostly whispers that resounded around the teens. Up in the sky, the stars held their breath as they watched the play unfold.

 

TenTen frowned, “Naruto said that? You told him you like him?”

 

“No but… he is afraid to get hurt again.”

 

“If that is so, then the more you should let him know that he is loved.”

 

Neji lowered his head and sighed, “He doesn't need my kind of love.”

 

“Neji…”

 

The boy pivoted to face his friend with cool pearly eyes before softening them and lowered his head as his mind conjured an image of a certain blond. Giving a wistful smile, he whispered, “For the past three years, I have stood from afar watching him and sometime protecting him. But… he doesn't know it. All he knows is the distance between he and I.” Neji lifted his head and stared TenTen in the eyes, “This distance will not disappear in a day or two. It is a gap that will only close if both of us wish it to be. Uzu… Naruto wouldn't want it now. Not after what he has just gone through.”

 

Neji then turned away and started walking in a slow pace, signaling the end of their conversation and continuation of their journey to her house.

 

TenTen's frowned deepened, clearly unhappy at how her friend dealt with the situation, and was about to holler her thoughts when the cold wind threw back the sorrowful whisper, “I am contented with the special distance between he and I that is ours alone. I've love him for three years, I don't mind waiting for a few more or even just guard him by his side for the rest of my life.”

 

The stars quivered at those words and the breeze warmed slightly in admiration for the boy. TenTen sighed, no knowing what to think of her comrade's action, she wasn't really sure how to deal with this delicate side of her friend. Without a word, she jogged up to Neji and the two fell into companionable silence for the rest of the journey.

 

Finally the duo reached their destination, and TenTen turned toward Neji with a smile. “Thanks for walking me home… mmm…” She hesitated and nervously bit her lower lip.

 

Neji frowned at his friend's indecision. “What is it that you want to say, TenTen?”

 

She looked away from those pearly eyes before chosing her words carefully, “About you and Naruto-kun… you know… You don't need two people to close a gap. One person can do it too, he just have to take the initiative to walk towards the other.” Forcing herself to meet slightly narrowed twin pearls, she continued, “and you don't really know what Naruto-kun is thinking. Maybe when you cross the distance to him, both of you will be surprise with what you may find. Don't deny him or you the chance to find out what lies at your meeting.” TenTen then gave a bow and turned towards her door, leaving her stunned team-mate the time and space to think about her words.

 

The dimly lit street at such late hours seemed devoid of any movement, even the ancient time looked as if it had frozen at a stand still. The stars in the sky watched anxiously, wondering what the boy will do next. Suddenly a strong gust of wind, seemingly impatient with the boy for standing too still and thinking too much, tore through the street, tossing its victim's prided braid into the air.

 

Neji closed his eyes and turned away from the sudden wind, only to open them to find himself looking towards the only lighted apartment in the other end of Konohagakure.

 

… Naruto's apartment

 

The lazy moon finally chose to show its face, gliding out from behind the cloud curtain, it bestowed the boy with a silvery path, hoping to lure the boy to the lighted house.

 

Neji stood mesmerized, staring at the light at the end of the moonlighted path and feeling the wind pushing him to where he had longed to be. “Are the wind and the moon guiding me to you, Naruto?” The soft cooing of the wind brushed his ears, whispering encouragements for him to answer the beckoning of the light.

 

Hesitantly the boy took two steps forward, only to pause and halted his movement. Then as if waking up from a trance, he shook his head and broke the spell. “I have got to stop thinking everything is tied to fate and destiny,” the resigned whisper echoed through the empty street. Giving one last look at Naruto's apartment, Neji reluctantly turned towards his own home.

 

The wind continued its assault on the boy, angered at the turn of event. Opaque cloud curtain fell over the moon again, as it hid away in disappointment. Even the stars drew their cloud curtains, all refusing to watch the boy as he walked further away from his light. The street darkened and the wind soon died down, eventually the sole light that had unknowingly been the center of the play too disappeared into the night.

 

(())

 

Warm morning sunshine cascaded through the window onto the slumbering form. The figure whined and tried to hide away. The almighty sun frowned at this, worried that its favorite blond was still too upset to accept its gifts. Gingerly it peeked through the cover, hoping to see his face. The boy growled at it and snuggled deeper into his cover. However the sun had seen enough for its frown to turn to a smile, the features of boy were not of pain but irritation. The golden orb glowed with delight and sent the little birds to sing a song to spread its joy.

 

Naruto burrowed even deeper into his cover and pressed his pillow over his ears. When he realized the overly-bright sunray and nosily chirping birds weren't going to stop disturbing his sleep-in, he started cussing in every language he knew and dragged his tired body out of his cover into the pool of golden ray on his bed. Giving a soft yawn then stretching lazily with both hands folded behind his head, he soaked up the warm glow that he had just been cussing at and fluttered open his eyes. Beautiful cerulean orbs gazed sleepily at the pale yellowy dyed ceiling while his sluggish mind struggled through the rust and clogs to come up with something to do on his day off.

 

“Maybe I will train today,” He chirped.

 

`Hey Dobe… Get up sleepyhead. Don't think you don't have to train today because it's your day off.'

 

Naruto flinched and shut his eyes tight. A cold pale hand had suddenly gripped his heart and wrenched it hard. Images of ebony hair and intense gaze assaulted his mind, pale hands ghosted over his now shivering skin and cool whispers of a certain phantom drowned out all sound. He felt the icy nails of the hand dug into his heart, reopening scars that hadn't fully healed. Tears began to well up at the pain but he bit his lower lip to keep them away. Blood from tore lip fell in place of the tears and Naruto fought the piercing hand back into the deepest recesses.

 

“Stop thinking about him” His voice so desperate and soft, barely audible to even himself. Clutching his blanket, he forced open his eyes, hoping that his mind would stop the mental images when he saw no Uchiha in his apartment. Frantic blue eyes darted around his own home, not even trusting the sole sanctuary he had. Finally, when his mind took in the empty apartment, he began to relax.

 

“Baka… Haven't you gotten over that bastard? Didn't you try so hard to keep him away from your mind for the past two days? Don't think about him anymore.”

 

Naruto clawed his hands through the golden locks in frustration before sitting up in the pool of sunshine that had suddenly lost its warmth. Closing his eyes again, he tried breathing deeply, hoping to ease the hurt in his heart and calm his mind and soul. Erratic deep breathing finally slowed to a regular pattern, Naruto opened his eyes and focused them on his dirty room—a room that held many memories of a certain dark phantom. Taking a shuddering deep breath, he muttered, “I need… I need to get out of here… Ichiraku… ramen...”

 

Without another word, the blond jumped up of his bed. Swiftly, he changed into his black T-shirt and orange baggy pants, then tied his Hitate around his forehead. After getting properly dressed, Naruto stood in front of his bathroom mirror and stared at his reflection. A young teen with a whiskered cherub face, crowned with tousled golden locks stared back at him. It would have been a familiar face of Uzumaki Naruto of Konohagakure if it was not for the melancholic grayish-blue orbs and cherry lips that lacked the normal luster of a smile. Raising both hands, Naruto slapped his cheeks hard. His eyes closed and cheeks stung at the impact, but when he reopened his eyes, his `prefect' mask was in place. Satisfied with the smiling teen he saw, Naruto whipped around and headed straight for the door, not even dare sparing a glance at his own apartment.

 

(())

 

High above in the azure ether, the blazing sun gifted the land with golden elixir of life and growth. Precious sunray washed over the earth, bringing new life and supporting the old. In Konohagakure, majestic trees and crawling undergrowth sought and fought to soak up the treasured sunshine, even the pitiful weeds strived for the gift for survival.

 

Among them, stood tall a beautiful orange flower — a weed that most had thought to be a pest. However regardless the harsh treatments and terrible situations, it stubbornly fought against all odds and eventually grew into this strong and exquisite flower that could brighten anybody's day. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a navy blue sandal appeared and crushed the flower, leaving it battered and bruised. The owner of the sandal did not even acknowledge the damaged he had caused but continued walking away, leaving the poor weed to struggle on its own.

 

Navy blue sandal maintained a steady stride until its owner reached a shady old shack where people would visit for sweets and other confectioneries. The owner of the sandal-a boy of fifteen-halted his movement and gingerly leaned back against the wall of the worn building with folded arms across his chest, apparently waiting for somebody.

 

Seconds passed with the boy standing perfectly still before emotionless dark gazes suddenly darted toward another old shack some distance away. The dirty overused cloth with the word `Ichiraku' and the tempting smell of thick broth, the boy thought he could smelt even at his position, indicated that it was the ramen shop he had once been very familiar with. An emotion flickered through the cold gaze, before keen eyes focused back at the stall, searching for something… or someone.

 

His eyes finally rested upon a figure clad in black and orange, sitting at the stall with his back to him. Slightly warmed ebony eyes eagerly took in the visage of sun kiss golden locks and slender physique, memories of how they had felt on his skin still fresh in his mind. Unconsciously, the teen's stern feature had softened slightly and his tensed posture relaxed significantly.

 

`Dobe…'

 

Originally firmly folded arms fell limply to the side of black clothed body, as the teen kicked away from the wall of the confectioneries' shop. Carefully he placed back his stoic mask before making to move towards the ramen stall.

 

`Dob…'

 

“Naruto-kun”

 

Navy blue sandal halted its movement while dark gaze narrowed at who had joined the blond. The cease at his forehead deepened when he espied the image of a boy whom he had always detested.

 

`…Him… What is He doing here?'

 

From where he stood, he saw the one that had stolen his heart turned away from his ramen to see who had called his name. The frown that twisted the teen's fair face faltered for a second when ebony gaze took in the beautiful large cerulean eyes and adorable whiskered cheeks. However, irritation returned full force with vengeance when he saw the blond's face brightened with a smile.

 

`Why is he smiling at Him?'

 

Dark gaze narrowed to a glare, while air particles surrounding the teen crackled and bristled at his on-coming rage.

 

`Why is he even smiling?'

 

`We just broke up three days ago, he should have been upset and crying… Not smiling.'

 

Pale fists clenched so tightly that nails dug into skin and chakra flared in murderous fury. Coal-black eyes, fed by the flame of his anger, burnt to a fiery crimson as navy sandal stepped towards `Ichiraku'.

 

“Sasuke-kun…”

 

The dark teen once again halted his advance, recognizing the soft girly voice, and let out a low growl of irritation.

 

“Sasuke-kun… Are you alright?”

 

He forced his eyes closed to calm down when he heard the timid shrill voice right behind him.

 

“Sasuke-ku…”

 

“I'm fine.” Fair stoic face turned toward the concerned face of a bubbly pink-haired girl.

 

“Oh…” Emerald gaze moved away from cold dark eyes before the girl gave a strained smile. “I… erm… I'm sorry I'm late. Hope you haven't been waiting for too long.”

 

“Let's go” The tone of the voice remained cold and emotionless.

 

“W..what?”

 

Chilling ebony orbs bored into nervous green. “Let just get away from here.” The boy turned to walk away, not caring if the girl was following him or not.

 

Sakura stared at the moving back of her long-time crush in disappointment. Her heart grew heavy with each step Sasuke walked away from her. Even with the very short exchange they had, her body felt drained and tired. Heaving a sigh, she turned her head toward `Ichiraku' and stared longing at the boy in green.

 

`If only…'

 

Stubbornly, she shook her head and darted her gaze to the blond the green-clad boy was talking animatedly with. Her emerald eyes hardened in anger at sight of the vixen she blamed for Sasuke's cold attitude toward her. Resisting a curse, Sakura whipped around and began her way after the boy she had chosen.

 

The high-strung particles finally relaxed when the boy led the girl away, but before they could fully calm down for a peaceful afternoon, an unnerving presence made itself known.

Somewhere among their mist, a frigid dark gaze hid amid the crowd, keeping a careful scrutiny on the trio in `Ichiraku'.

 

(())

 

TBC???

 

I have to apologize for the boring chapter because I really find myself getting stuck a million times writing this. Also, sorry for the extremely slow pace in events, I tend to ramble a lot and even when I finished writing 3000+ words of something, the story didn't seems to proceed much. The next chapter (I hope) will be interesting, with a little confrontation and a little NejiNaru fluff (very subtle but at least something). So please don't give up on this fic just yet.

 

Another thing is I don't really have a very clear idea on how this fic will continue so I need your help in a little vote.

 

Would you prefer the story to become a

 

Hyuuga focus story (meaning Hiashi, Hinata, Hanabi… join in to make Neji's life more miserable while he tries to get Naruto to open up)

Or

 

Uchiha focus story (meaning Itachi, Sasuke and their heritage help Naruto to love again)

 

I know option (b) has been VERY overused but I got stuck with the idea because of the current manga storyline and I have something to say in Itachi-sama's honor (I kinda like that guy). However, if more people prefer option (a) then maybe I'll just write a one-shot on what I think is going on in Itachi's mind when he massacred his family.

 

Thank you again for reading this fic. Reviews will be greatly appreciated.