Uzumaki Naruto

It was pure chance that Naruto heard the voice–the cacophony of panicked thoughts in his mind having diminished to a steady background buzz as he focused on slowing his breathing. His heart seemed intent on beating its way out of his chest and his lungs felt too small, too tight, yet they were racing a mile a minute to keep up. He knew this feeling, recognised the signs for what they foretold. His hand clutched at his chest.

In and out. In. And. Out. 

His children were counting on him and he couldn’t afford to fall apart now. His eyes scanned his surroundings in order to distract himself, trying to put a face to the familiar voice that had called out his name. It was dark, the moon high in the sky, but Naruto found Itachi quite easily in the dispersing crowd. 

Still focused on steadying his breathing, Naruto met the other halfway. No longer was he weary of the man who’d once threatened his life, not since he’d seen the latter at the wedding, both with Ino and Sasuke. He’d seen the way Itachi looked at Ino–completely and utterly smitten (though how he’d managed to look that way without appearing dopey was beyond Naruto)–and while Naruto had been told that he could be quite dense when it came to matters of the heart, he knew there was no way someone could fake that look. And then there was how happy Sasuke seemed to have his brother back. Clearly, there was more to Itachi than his past.

Was he… alright?

Perhaps it was because Itachi wasn’t able to get as clear a view from here, but was the younger hyperventilating?

Without his immediately realising it, Uchiha Itachi had begun to move, his act of closing the distance between himself and Naruto being one that was motivated by worry.

The pair had not exchanged a great deal of words between one another during their time at Iwakiri, or even before that, but now– now they were the only tie the other had to their past lives. It was strange to say, but it was almost as though there existed a silent understanding for peace between them- at least, for now. This odd limbo of trust and distrust would remain so long as there was no word or action to tip the scales.

“–Slow down, Naruto-kun,” was what he found himself advising after meeting Naruto halfway. Instinct. Natural instinct from caring for so many after all this time. It was only fortunate that the boy had calmed some since just a moment ago. “We’re at Pendulum. Pendulum City. It’s located at a world called Atlas.” Surely the boy ought to know?

Quietly, it was then that his heart sank the slightest inch.

Naruto wouldn’t have asked him about Sasuke and Ino if he was aware of their whereabouts.

At Itachi’s reply, he felt his already leaden heart grow heavier, and wasn’t able to stop the sigh of frustration that pushed its way past his lips. His index finger tapped out an agitated rhythm against his thigh. First Boruto and Himawari, now his friends too... He felt like he was losing everyone he cared about. He had to find them. 

“Oh okay,” was all Naruto could think to say in reply; the fact that he hadn’t even bristled at being called an idiot or retorted with some far from snappy comeback was enough to cue anyone in on his current state of mind. Padding silently after Neji, Naruto peered around the dojo. How long had Neji been here for him to come into ownership of a dojo, he wondered before voicing his question out loud at the other’s back. 

They entered the office, and Naruto watched Neji busy himself with picking up discarded papers off the ground. Naruto was about to reply that he wasn’t hungry, when his stomach chose that moment to growl, low but loud in the otherwise quiet room. He flashed the other an embarrassed smile, while in his mind he tried to recall when his last meal had been. He hadn’t had anything in the morning… And nothing the night before either. Huh.

Wrinkling his nose at that, Neji deftly tossed the spicy shrimp one over the desk, making to stash the chicken and then rethinking. Shrugging, he finally stood, setting down the two plain white cups and his own ramen.

“Just the one, I’m afraid,” he said, nodding to the one he couldn’t imagine himself ever buying. He hated spicey food, always had. Maybe it was a package deal? “And white blueberry it is,” he said. He kept his teas on his desk, and so he gingerly sat at the desk, cross legged on the chair and measured out the mix into the two tea infusers on hand.

As he prepared, Naruto spoke and Neji huffed a small laugh. “Of course not,” he said, straight faced as the kettle started to sound, “I would wait until at least five thirty.”

At that, he reached for his kettle and started pouring - first his ramen, then the teas than he slid the kettle to Naruto to deal with his own ramen. The clock on the wall told him it was just past 10PM - “do wait the three minutes, Naruto,” he said, recalling a few cases overeager eating.

He reached out, grasping the handle of the kettle to pour the hot water into his own cup of ramen. It gave him something to focus on, as he told Neji the reason he’d turned up at the dojo.

“Boruto and Himawari are gone.” Saying the words didn’t make them easier to accept. “I haven’t seen them since we came here, and it’s... They’re my responsibility and they might be lost somewhere. I know what it’s like to be alone and scared, and I promised I’d make sure they never felt that way.” He sighed, placing the kettle back down. His hands returned to his lap, balled into fists. 

His voice was softer when he spoke next, but tight with hope. “I want to believe they’re back in their own time but I can’t know for sure. And I just– I don’t know what to do y’know?”

Steam curled out from the lid of the cup. A beat of silence passed. 

Naruto was huddled near the back of the bookstore, his back against a shelf as he restocked the comics section. It was his first day on the job and The Archive had received a few boxes of the latest DC and Marvel comics earlier that day. Since it was his lunch break, Naruto figured he might as well get things sorted; he had no real appetite anyway, and this spoke volumes of the state he was in. 

He was grateful that the owner had even decided to hire him. He could only imagine how he looked when he’d come in to inquire about the job–blue eyes dull and the undersides of his eyes smudged black from lack of sleep. It wasn’t so much this place rather, it was the loss of his powers, the fact that he still hadn’t found some of his friends, and most of all the disappearance of his children. Really, the only reason he’s been looking for a job was so that he could continue to provide for them when he managed to find them–he still believed he’d find them eventually, of course. He had to.

The bell above the store entrance chimed, signalling that a potential customer had walked in. 

Odd, he was pretty sure he’d flipped the sign to ‘Closed’. Still, he saw no reason to send the customer away; he wasn’t having lunch after all. 

He stood up and called out, “Hey, feel free to look around ‘ttebayo. If there’s anything you’re looking for, I can help ya out.” A chuckle as he stepped out from behind the shelves. “Well, I’m new so I’m probably about as familiar with–”

He stopped talking the moment he caught sight of a shock of bright blue hair and a feral grin. Almost instantly, his mood was further soured.

Books upon books lined the wooden shelves of the store, all of which were in pristine condition, indicating their newness. Funny how this loud-mouthed klutz got hired for this snooty place- it looked like it’d suit dry, uptight bastards to the nth degree. He knew a certain flying rodent who would begrudgingly lock in a job for himself at this so-called archive.

There was an audible click when Grimmjow set a foot down.

“Don’t tell me, after everything we’ve been through together, yer gonna give me the cold shoulder? I’m crushed.”

A soft, mocking snigger pushed past his lips, the Sexta entertained for the moment.

It was a shame he’d been completely cleaned out of all of his powers- there was no way for him to immediately assess which dupe would provide him with at least a bit of a challenge. Last he recalled, this bonehead had a very unique brand of reiatsu; it was almost as though he had another creature caged inside of him, potent and volatile. Was it the same way now?

Safe bet was that he was as human as the rest of them. Damned Rusty would have made sure of it.

Pity.

Speaking of kids...

Naruto folded his arms across his chest as he contemplated the Grimmjow’s offer, still wary despite the other’s seemingly nonthreatening stance. In fact, from what he’d learned of Grimmjow from their brief encounters, he’d say that his former roommate was being uncharacteristically cordial. Naruto hazarded a guess that the other had gotten his powers taken from his as well. The thought provided him with little comfort; Naruto knew better than to underestimate his opponents. His guard remained up, as did the glare he continued to level at the blue haired man.

He felt a yawn work its way up his throat, not because he was bored, but because the lack of sleep was finally catching up to him. He clamped his lips shut, knowing full well that yawning right now would probably incite the other’s temper, and while he rarely passed on opportunities to rile up those who annoyed him, he also knew that revealing how tired he really was was just another weakness Grimmjow was keen enough to exploit. 

Seconds passed in uncomfortable silence as Naruto debated whether or not asking Grimmjow about his kids was a good idea. It probably wasn’t... But he was growing more desperate each passing day. Still, this could all be some ploy on his former roommate’s part...

It most certainly was not; her son and his wife were housed at 2-1B, which was situated just beside her new home.

The mother paused, dark eyes brushing past the furniture in the living room to the wooden door several feet away from her. Now, who could that be…? 

Sarada was upstairs in her bedroom, so perhaps it was one of her sons?

Except… It was neither Itachi nor Sasuke, but the blond, bright-eyed son of the deceased Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato. Mikoto blinked, mildly taken aback as she opened the door a touch wider.

“Hi Mikoto-san!” He exclaimed, perhaps too loudly considering the distance between them. Sometimes (often) he got too caught up in the moment, and forgot to moderate his volume. 

Ino patted the little bulge of her stomach as she sat on a park bench. It was a nice day, but unfortunately, she had to give up her usual training because she had been carrying very special cargo for a while now.

And speaking to it.

Just as Naruto was about to start on his fifth lap, having caught his breath, he spotted a familiar figure on a nearby park bench. He bounded over, a loud greeting already perched on the tip of his tongue when he heard Ino’s words, her tone tender.

“–soon find out Naruto is waaaay cooler. Please like Naruto, ne?”

He blinked, surprised, but unable to ignore the small swell of pride in his chest and the accompanying warmth; Ino thought he was cool. A quick glance around confirmed that there was no one else, aside from the two of them, in the vicinity. Who was Ino talking to?

Valentine’s Inspired Memes

Valentine’s Inspired Memes

“Never? Well, there’s no shame in that.”

“You’re still so young; you have plenty of time for romance. Come, sit. Let me teach you how to bake a few sweets so you’d be ready for White Day.