Open Your Heart By: DJ Rodriguez   (Author’s Notes: Hi, everyone. Listen, this songfic I got in my head when I remembered a song from my Dreamcast, which I still have, game “Sonic Adventures”. The song really reminds me of Naruto here, and I hope to make it show.   I do not own Naruto or Open Your Heart from Sonic Adventures. Now on with the songfic!)   Uzumaki Naruto stood at a mountaintop, gazing across the forest to a large village called Konoha. It had been three years his departure, and now he was just leaving the town. Things had changed since he left, and none for the better for him. First off, people still gave him cold looks and the hatred just burned more brightly in their eyes.   Plus, Tsunade had changed as well. Once she saw on how tough and demanding the Hokage job was, she assumed that Naruto would not be fit to be a leader. Sure a top-shinobi but not a Hokage. In fact, she had some other people in mind that would be a more suitable choice to take her place when the time came.   Haruno Sakura was still there, but now she was fixing up to become Uchiha Sakura soon. The pink-haired girl was ecstatic that Naruto managed to get Sasuke back from Orochimaru in time, and the two became close soon after that. An engagement was set, and soon a wedding date. It hurt Naruto bad, but what made it worse was that he got no invitation from either of them.   The rest of the Rookie 9 had become Chuunins, with Lee and Neji becoming specialized Jounins. Ino was seriously close with Shikamaru, Tenten had become engaged to Neji, and also Hinata was now with Kiba. She had gotten over her crush for Naruto, and focused more on the boy who had tried to get her attention. All in all, his friends lives were more fulfilling then his own.   Kakashi was now an ANBU captain, commanding teams of shinobi for A- and S-Rank missions. Sasuke managed to become his second-in-command even without getting training first. He was the talk of the town, and many people held him up in high respect. All in all, Naruto’s displays of power, skills, and acts were all left in the dust to most of the people in the village.   The blonde shinobi sighed, once again on his own. Jiraiya had stayed behind in Konoha to catch up on his studies, but it was okay with Naruto. “Well, it seems my dreams are over with. Time to search for a new one.” he said to himself as he gave the village one last look before going off. He was now a missing-nin, but he didn’t care.   He was free. He was going to answer to no one else save himself. He was his own man. No longer would he have to endure the hatred and taunting of others, nor the heartache of abandonment. As he walked away, he saw an impending storm approaching. It was then that he ran off when it started to rain.   Thunder, rain and lighting   Danger, water rising   Clamor, sirens wailing  

Its such a bad sign

  As he ran through the forest, he thought on how he was going to survive. He had lived on his own before, but he had the Third’s help. Now, he didn’t even have that luxury. ‘Ah, screw it. I’ll just get a temporary job somewhere, earn enough cash, and then be off on my own. From now on, I go where the wind takes me.’ he thought as he continued to go west towards Wave Country.   Shadows of dark creatures   Steel clouds floating in the air   People run for shelter  

What’s gonna happen to us?!

  As he ran, he conversed with Kyuubi in his mind. A long time ago, he met Kyuubi and saw that it was a girl. The two started out rough in the beginning, but thankfully they warmed up to each other and Naruto found out why Kyuubi attacked the village all those years ago.   The Leaf shinobi invoked her wrath when they attacked her lair and killed her three demon kits. She was desperate for revenge, but alas it was in vain when the Fourth sealed her away. Luckily she ended up in a vessel that understood her and beared her no grudge.   “What’s going to happen now, Naruto-kun? You are going to be labeled a missing-nin soon, and have Hunter-nins after your hide.” she told him. Naruto just gave off a fox-like grin and answered that now he (or they) would take things one day at a time. He was going to still be a shinobi, but in his own way.   All the steps we take, all the moves we make, all the pain at stake   I see the chaos for everyone, Who are we, what can we do?   You and I are same in the way that we have our own styles that we won’t change  

Yours is filled with evil and mine’s not. There is no way I can lose

  Kyuubi smirked back and offered to teach the young man of the demonic jutsus. Naruto was still eager to learn new jutsus, and he took it. However, Kyuubi conditioned that he would learn one of them to perfection and not get seduced by their evil properties. When that was done, he would then learn another jutsu.   Naruto agreed to those terms. The female fox loved Naruto for who he was, and didn’t want him to be tainted by the evil outlook that many of the demonic jutsus had. But for now, that would wait.   {Can’t hold on much longer- But I will never let it go   I know it’s a one-way track- Tell me how long this’ll last   I’m not gonna think this way- Nor will I count on others   Close my eyes and feel the burn- Now I see what I gotta do  

OPEN YOUR HEART, ITS GONNA BE ALL RIGHT}

  In a few days, Naruto made it to Wave Country. The town was more lively then when he last visited, which was pretty long. What really surprised him was the name of the bridge, the Great Naruto Bridge. When he arrived in town, a statue was set up in the middle of the busy place and it was of him, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. Of course, his figure was built a bit more majestically then the rest.   “I see you are admiring our town heroes, sir.” a voice called from behind. Naruto spun around and was facing Tazuna, but he looked different then before. He was decked out in expensive robes, which looked made him look better then the other outfit he had on.   The old man took a good look at Naruto’s face, and was shocked to see that the great hero himself had returned. “N-Naruto?! Is that really you?!” he exclaimed. The blonde shinobi gave him the trademark fox-grin, and coming behind Tazuna from around a corner was Inari and Tsunami.   Ancient city blazing   Shadows keep attacking   Little children crying  

Confusion, hopeless anger

  The powerful shinobi found himself at Tazuna’s house, which was now much larger and expansive. Inari was delighted in seeing his friend/hero return, as was Tsunami. In fact, the whole village was in awe at seeing their hero return.   Naruto was sitting down at a table enjoying a hearty and filling meal with the family, and he heard Tazuna tell him the story on how the town become more enriched. When Naruto and his team left all those years ago, the town was still in a rut and bandits kept attacking. But, now they had the courage to fight back and face the future.   “The bandits soon left and our economy with other villages started to grow and flourish. Sick people were made well by the doctors, food become more available, and more people took up more professions. We owe you a great deal, Naruto-sama.” Tazuna finished his story.   I don’t know what it can be but you drive me crazy   All your cunning tricks make me sick, you won’t have it your own way   {Repeat}  

OPEN YOUR HEART… AND YOU’LL SEE…

  Naruto was glad to see that this town was thriving and healthy due to him and his former team. Inari asked why he was back in the Wave, and that is when things got more somber. The blonde told them that he had left due to the village and his former friends deserting him, and his dream to become Hokage shattered.   Tsunami quietly asked “What will you do?” Naruto took off his forehead protector slowly, and held it up for all to see. “My answer is this, Tsunami-chan. I will no longer be a shinobi of the Leaf. Rather, I’ll be a hero to all.” He then dropped the forehead protector to the ground, signaling that his old life ended.   “From now on, I’m just Naruto. I’ll get recognition like I dreamed of, but not just in Konoha. I’ll be recognized all over the land! I’ll protect the weak and helpless my own way, just like I did before.” he stated boldly and loudly. Tazuna approved of this, for now in his eyes Naruto was a man.   If it won’t stop, there will be no future left for us   Its heart is tied down by all hate, gotta set him free   I know it’s a one way-track- Tell me how long this’ll last   Close my eyes and feel the burn- Now I see what I gotta do  

GOTTA OPEN YOUR HEART, DUDE!

  ~Epilogue~   Eleven years has passed since Naruto’s permanent departure from Konoha. The Leaf Village was just not the same after the blonde shinobi left. Tsunade was really hurt that Naruto left without saying goodbye, and sent Hunter-nins after him to RETREIVE him back. Alas, all the Hunter-nins she sent came back sporting bruises from head to toe. Busted up, but alive.   Sasuke and Sakura lived out their lives in peace, and had children of course. The Rookie 9 also had families of their own, but one thing rose above all else. Their children were hearing stories of a man who was a hero to the rest of the world, who protected the weak and innocent from evil nins and boss lords.   They were starting to admire this hero, especially the little girls. This hero had traveled all over the world, becoming stronger and saving people’s lives from missing-nins and bandits. He had blonde hair, three whisker marks on his face, deep blue eyes, and having a heart of gold. His name… Naruto.   {Repeat}  

OPEN YOUR HEART, ITS GONNA BE ALL RIGHT

  (Author’s Notes: Silly I know, but I just felt like writing this. Please be gentle in criticism. If any of you would like to continue this, or at least make a story on how Naruto becomes a hero, be my guest.   R&R, no flames, enjoy, and leave long reviews!)