Never Ending Cycle

Worn out and faded

The weakness starts to show

They've created the generation

That we know

Washed up and hated

The system moves too slow

They give us answers

To questions they don't even know



You made it

You played it

Your shit is overrated

You made it

You played it

Your shit is overrated



--Overrated (Three Days Grace)



Chapter Five: Overrated


   Two days, two freaking days, I stayed away from everyone. I made no noise, no sound at all, I didn’t talk to anyone, and I hid whenever I could. Sasuke was the only one that could actually find me and, when he did, he never told a soul where I was. I was really grateful for that. He’d sit with me and stare at nothing. He’d talk sometimes, asking mainly yes or no questions, and try not to pry. It was never in Sasuke’s nature to do more than he absolutely had to. I could tell he was trying though.


   I nearly cried in front of him. For some reason, I felt like it was all my fault that Hotaru balled her eyes out that night; all my fault Jiro took off running from me, all my fault that everything seemed to be crumpling. But the worst of all that was Hotaru. My heart ached at the mere mention of her. I remember her eyes, swollen and bleeding tears, and her face so stricken with sadness. I felt as though I had caused that sadness. I was responsible for it in some odd way. I can’t remember a time when I was so connected with person I had met on a mission.


   Sasuke snapped next to me and made me look up just as a tear ran down my cheek. He looked over at me from the corners of his sharp eyes and snapped again.


   A purple flame erupted from his fingers, just like they had from the dancing women’s. I stared at it as it died out in a smoky blue-violet glow.


   “They taught me how it worked,” He said plainly, “It’s simple. Gather your chakra to your tendons in your fingers and snap. It’ll all be released as a flame,” He did it again to show me, “Try it,”


   I held up my hand and looked at it; its tan color, its slender fingers, its pink nails. I held my hand out and gathered my chakra into the tendons in my thumb and forefinger. I had mastered controlling my chakra long ago, so it wasn’t a terribly hard thing to do. I let the snap go and a radiant blue flame sparked up. A smile spread out on my face.


   “Good job,”


   I curled myself up tightly again and hugged my knees.


   “No one’s talking about you, Naruto. No one’s even spoken ill of you to my knowledge,” He studied me, “Everyone’s upset that you’ve disappeared though,”


   I only nodded and closed my eyes. I didn’t really want to hear it.


   I felt Sasuke grab my arm and pull me to him. I didn’t look at him. He was at a loss as to what to say to me. He suddenly yanked me up to my feet and began to pull me out of the little cavern I had found. I hit and punched him as much as I could, screaming for him to let go. I’ll tell you one thing, Sasuke doesn’t take any shit from anyone.


   My fist beat on his arm as my heels dug into the sandy ground. I lift my fist up for another punch when he caught my wrist and held it above my head. I glared as maliciously as I could. A smirk crossed his face and he leaned in.


   “You lose again, dobe. Why are you so weak?”


   Why was I so weak? I was hitting like a girl; excuse the analogy ladies.


   A low rumbling voice came to my ears; a very familiar voice. I tensed slightly at the sound on instinct. It’s not that I was afraid, just anxious.


   All will be explained


   Kyuubi?.. Kyuubi, what-?


   Do not question me now. All will be explained in time. For now, deal with it. Now is not the time.


   His mighty voice faded out and reality snapped back in. my attention was turned back to Sasuke, who was waiting for an answer. I stuck my tongue out at him childishly. I got another smirk from him. He came closer and I pulled away as much as I could. His grip tightened slightly and pulled me closer to him. Our faces were mere centimeters away until our lips met. His eyes closed and mine widened. I must have been blushing more than that little girl and Hinata combined. My fist unclenched and my arm turned to jell-o. His lips were like warm silk; heated, pulsing velvet. My eyes became half-lidded on impulse. I was so tempted to kiss back, but what if this was just some stupid way for him to distract me? I shivered. A low chuckle resounded as Sasuke pulled away from me.


   “Come on,” And he began to pull me again.



   I was greeted in an unexpected way. Everyone smiled and welcomed me back. The children ran up and tackled me to the ground; some mad because I didn’t find them during hide-n-seek and some upset because I wasn’t around. I wasn’t exactly expecting this. Sasuke walked past me and off into the distance. The children crawled all over me and laughed and giggled.


   “Nii-san, where’d you go?!”


   “Don’t leave like that again!”


   “Nii-san made us worry!”


   I smiled at them all. Nii-san… I don’t think it fits me.


   I looked up just in time to see Hotaru fall down to her knees and hug me. Her shadow completely engulfed me as well as her arms. Warmth spread throughout my limbs and comfort wrapped around me. It felt good. A mother’s embrace it seemed. The children smiled and followed her example. I was pretty sure no part of my body was showing because of them. I could barely see. I didn’t hesitate in hugging her back which warranted me a loving squeeze. She pulled away and stared at me for a long hard moment.


   “I’m sorry,”


   I shook my head. “Nothing to be sorry for. I ran off on my own,” I smiled for her.


   She reached up and kissed my forehead. “Don’t do it again,”


   I chuckled. “I’m sure hoping it won’t happen again,”


   I looked around and dreaded what I was about to ask, but it had to come. I was worried.


   “Where’s... Jiro?”


   Hotaru stood and looked around. Neither Kiyoshi nor Jiro were in sight. The mini-Hinata spoke up.


   “J-Jiro-kun was playing with us this morning. He left a little while ago. I umm… haven’t seen him since,”


   Almost on cue, Kiyoshi's voice called out in a grand howl. “JIRO! JIRO, COME ON BOY! THIS ISN’T THE TIME TO BE PLAYING GAMES!”


   Kiyoshi stepped out of a covered wagon and scanned everything. He sounded like an angry father. No doubt he saw himself as one. He was all that Jiro had. They were orphans… Like me. A growl came from his throat and he was gone instantly. Hotaru disappeared shortly after him. If Kiyoshi didn’t know where Jiro was, then something was wrong. A aura of worry sealed itself over everything; it was almost visible. Kakashi and Sakura stayed put with Chinatsu. Sasuke had no doubt found a spot to sit alone and think; honestly I think he's daydreaming, but that's just me. Silence and solitude was always Sasuke’s top priority. But then again, not everyone could go searching for Jiro at once. People needed to stay behind and provide some protection for those who needed it most. I looked down to the children still swarming around me. Why weren't they worried...? Children never seemed to worry. I had to find Jiro; A complusion to apologize is the most likely cause. I smiled at them all and disappeared to the smiles that lit up their features. The first place I checked were the cliffs I had just came from. Better to retrace where you’ve been than search everywhere and exhaust yourself. The water beat on the brown rock and I feared for him. I imagined the worst fate possible on those jagged crags.


   His broken little body washed up on shore with countless cuts and broken bones with his yellow-tan little shorts torn to shreds. Skin would be peeled from his muscle like a banana peel from the core and fish bites would...


   I stopped my train of thought and turned away from the cliffs; concluding that he wasn’t there. Next stop, the stage coaches.


   I searched every single one of those damned covered wagons, even the ones with the ill and pregnant in them, but found no sign of little Jiro. I asked around to all that wished to answer my questions. Most couldn't. Whoever stayed in the wagons had a damned good reason. Some were just plain mad, some too elderly to move, and, to my pleasure, some heavy with children. I thought I would go insane before I found the little guy, but then a woman answered me. Her belly bulged with the life inside her and she smiled sweetly as she talked. Her voice was a bit strained. She was tired.


   “He was here about a half an hour ago. What’s wrong? Did he get lost?”


   I nodded and thanked her. She only smiled and placed my hand on her stomach. I felt a small nub push up against the pressure of my hand. I nearly gasped at the feeling. I’ve never felt anything like it. Most women in the village didn’t really want me near their children or near their stomachs for that matter.


   “You have to find him. In some ways, he’s more precious to us than the child growing inside me right now,” Her eyes saddened and so did I, “Thank you,”


   I nodded. Though I did nothing that deserved thanks, I accepted those words with gratification. “I’ll find him. Promise,”


   Next stop, the patch of palm trees.


   I never realized how dark this place actually was without the fire burning in the clearing. The light spread everywhere when it was lit. The trees stood taller than usual and the green leaves allowed only a small amount of sunlight to peek through. Lizards and small animals scampered from one pale trunk to another. Tropical birds squawked and cawed to one another. I tried to supress all of the noise, though very little of it, down I pushed deeper and deeper into the patch. It was also bigger than I once thought.


   “JIRO! JIRO COME ON OUT, BUDDY!”


   Vines swung back and hit me in the face as I swatted them away. Bugs buzzed about my head. I was secretly glad I didn’t live here. I think I’d go crazy if I did because damn this was annoying as hell. Not to mention, damn near as hot as it too. Loud slapping noises boomed through the area from me hitting the bugs on my arms and legs. I was getting more and more worried by the second and all these bugs were good for tension relief.


   “LET GO!! PUT ME DOWN!!” A son’s voice cracked and squealed as loud as it could strain.


   I froze and looked around. That was Jiro’s voice!


   “JIRO!” I called and took off in the direction I thought he was.


   Low mutterings were all the followed and sounds of struggling came soon after. I began to slow again at the sight laid before me with my eyes wide.


   Itachi


   Jiro was held off the ground with his mouth covered. His cheeks were stained with fearful tears with red swollen eyes to accompany them. His light blue hair clung to his cheeks and head from sweat. His skin was paler than normal; flushed from horror. His little muscles visibly jumped under his skin. He was probably Closter phobic. Even the binds of Itachi’s arms were too much for the little guy to handle. His pants were torn and frayed. Small cuts decorated his skin. He looked like a stranded victim of some horrible accident.


   Itachi… looked worse in my eyes.


   His sharingan was flared and seem all the more deadly, and deeper red, than usual. His long ponytail laid lazily on his shoulder while teasing his pale collar by blending in with his black décor. The red clouds and moon were a horrible contrast to the bright, clean, unstained environment around us. His dark aura seemed to swirl its way around me. It was frigid enough that it made me shiver automatically. It seemed to be a mechanical thing. I swatted at the invisible onslaught. Though cold, it burnt my skin and left red marks, only visible to my eyes, on my skin. His porcelain skin sparkled with his chakra, just waiting to strike. The tips of his violet nails nipped at Jiro’s cheeks as he held onto his miniature face.


   I kept a good distance away from him. I had to think of a way to get Jiro back to the others!


   “Long time, no see, Naruto-kun,”


   I spit at his feet and glared at him. Jiro struggled weakly in his arms. How long had he been struggling with him?


   “I see your manners haven’t impro-”


   “Shut up and let Jiro go,”


   “What will you trade?” He stated, unfazed by my interruption.


   “I’M NOT GOING TO BARGAIN WITH YOU!” I roared.


   “You’re not in any position to bargain anyway. You’ll play by my rules and do as I tell you,” The glint of a kunai blinded me for a moment, “Or he dies,”


   My eyes widened. He wouldn’t seriously… This was Itachi after all. I backed away a bit, but had no intention of just leaving. I went to reach into my pouch to get a kunai of my own.


   Itachi pressed the kunai’s tip to Jiro’s tiny neck threateningly. To spite me, the small, gray knife gleamed in the nonexistent sunlight. A bright yellow shine casting fake trustworthiness upon the shadows around us. I stopped in mid-motion and glared at him again. Strangled sobs came from Jiro as he looked at me. He was so pitiful looking; so helpless.


   “I’ll strike a deal with you, Naruto-kun,” He scanned my face for any hesitation, “Come with me and I’ll let the boy free,”


   “How do I know you’ll stay true to your word?”


   “You don’t, but we all have to take risks sometimes,”


   Itachi leaned down and gently rested his head on Jiro’s, almost lovingly. A smirked curled at his thin lips. His free thumb stroked Jiro’s frightened and pale cheek. Jiro and I visibly shuddered.


   “He almost reminds me of my little brother. Only slight differences in appearance, but they’re no different in attitude. No wonder you seem so attached to him already, Naruto-kun,” He paused and his smirk deepened, “What will it be? Cooperation? Or the boy’s life?”


   Jiro looked up at me pleadingly with his puppy-like emerald eyes. He was only a little kid… He was only a little kid… I couldn’t tell him no… I fell down to my knees and stared at the ground in front of me. Itachi and I both knew he had won. My blue eyes looked up from the white earth to glare at him one last time. Itachi seemed pleased with my surrender, but he made no move as to letting Jiro go. And for good reason too…


   My eyes traveled over to Jiro. No longer was I greeted with fear, but dull and lifeless eyes. No sparkling tears in those emerald depths, no hidden happiness or hope, no fear brimming at the surface. The emeralds had paled at the sight of danger. I couldn’t even see his chest heave in anxiety. It was a new sight for me. Even as a ninja, I’ve never seen one so young look so… gone…


   It wasn’t new for Itachi. He killed his entire clan; save for his little brother, Sasuke. Did he regret that now? Is that why he spited me by harming Jiro? He did say… he reminded him of Sasuke…


   A dull thump was the only answer to my questions I got as Itachi threw the small boy’s body in front of me. All I could do was stare… No scratches, no bleeding, no nothing, what did he do? Snapped that little neck like a twig? Rage wasn’t even close to the emotion I was feeling right then. Horrible depression wasn’t even close to what I felt for Jiro.


   Red. That’s what I saw. Dark red; symbol of anger and anguish in one. The red chakra of Kyuubi, the nine-tailed demon trapped within me and most powerful of all legendary nine.


   I reached out for him, for Jiro; his limp form, his dull eyes, his robin’s egg blue hair, his tiny limbs, everything. The red aura was rising. It swirled around my fingers as my hand buried itself into his hair. Itachi’s darker aura was scared away by Kyuubi’s. I didn’t have tears enough for Jiro. I think I regret that. After all, I cried for Haku. Why couldn’t I cry for this petite life in front of me now? This. Departed. Life. The only reaction from me was my pink lips trembling. They were trying to call tears, but they wouldn’t call back. Why wouldn’t they call back or come?


   I so wanted to pull his body close and cradle it; let Kiyoshi find me there with him, let him yell and scream and cry as he saw his last family member dead in my arms, let him yell at me for being so weak, let him call me a monster. I was used to it after all. But most of all, I wanted him close to me just to prove to myself he wasn’t gone, that breath still circulated in his childish lungs and that his immature heart still beat strong.


   Before I could even move him, cold fingers wrapped around my chin and forced my gaze upwards. Now it was time for my skin to be nipped and bitten by those purple nails. I was greeted with the sharp, hypnotic points of the Mangekyou and they were greeted with my fiendish eyes bleeding red into the aquatic blue pools that were so innocent on my face until the demon arose.


   My body instantly tensed as I fell deep into the red and black world constructed by the skilled craftsmanship of Itachi’s mind.


   I hugged myself as the words poured directly into my brain. I could hear them without them ever passing into my ears.


    Monster!


   Heathen!


   Don’t listen to them, Naruto. Shut your ears to them, Naruto. Be strong. They don’t understand, baby.


   I remember that voice… Who’s was it…? Who are you? Where… are you?


   A jolt of pain ripped through my chest as I curled into a tight ball. I think I screamed into my knees.


   I was young again. I was crying again. I was… alone again… I only stood there with myself, looking down at the former pathetic person I was. No people, no landscape, just darkness and red. My younger self was red. I wanted to hug him, pull him close and whisper secrets to him. I was… alone again… I didn’t want to be alone again… Alone… with only my own company to keep.


   KAA-SAN! NO! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE!


   Kaa-san…?


   A receding back and the smell of tears; the smell of water and forest. I heard a waterfall roaring close to me, but also very far off. I felt wetness on my face and clothes. Wetness on my eyelashes. I was….. Crying, but… so was someone else. I could almost taste the other’s tears.


   You’re such a special boy, Naruto. My special baby boy, always my special baby.


   KAA-SA~N!!!


   My own childish voice rang in my ears and nobody heard me. It hurt physically and mentally. The scream hurt my ears because it got so high-pitched. I wasn’t just yelling anymore. I was freaking out; my younger self. I don’t remember the last time I screamed like that except… now


   KAA-SAN!!! Another high-pitched scream; desperately crying, near hyperventilation.


   Another wave of pain shot through me and I fell back into reality; or what I thought was reality. My hands were to my ears. I didn’t want to hear anymore! No more red, but everything was darkening. Yes, make it go away. Kyuubi was receding back into his cage. His growl was dying lower and lower and lower in my ears until I couldn’t hear him anymore.


   Silence engulfed me as fast as the darkness…


   A second felt like eternity and I think it might have been. Nothingness. Silence. Aloneness. Darkness. Helplessness. Hopelessness… Breathing?


   I heard shallow breathing, a child’s shallow breathing, and a rhythmic heartbeat; relaxed, sleeping heartbeat. Thump-thump, thump-thump.


   Jiro. He was ok.


   My special baby boy, Naruto. I will always keep you close.




A/N: I would say I was improving… and maybe getting a bit angsty?? Haha…. Maybe. Well I hope I did well. Nothing to say here. So ja!