Chapter 78: The Broken, The Angry, The Riddle
A few days passed since Nia had experienced what she did in the genjutsu she was tricked into. She was laying in her bed with her curtains closed and sheets just above her lips as tears rolled over the bridge of her nose.
She was still upset over what she had experienced. Still upset that she couldn't get Naruto to come to his senses. Still upset that the beast within him had murdered her in cold blood. It was all so traumatizing.
Like a horrible nightmare, it played again in her mind as if somehow her brain was unwilling to let the images go and in it's attempt to analyse them it made her see it all over again. Simple ideas, simple things she had to get done that day slipped through her mind like so much sand in an hour glass. Her face had an unhealthy look to it and her eyes were hardly open as she stared at the blank white wall in front of her.
She knew the more she tried to suppress it the more it would play again, but she couldn't help it. In moments, she was back in those dark events with the cold blackness pushing in on her.
It had been a while since she had seen the blonde. She needed some space from him and she was glad that he'd give her what she needed and allow her to recollect her thoughts and emotions. He was always so considerate of her... even if she didn't deserve to be treated in such a way.
Her gaze then went to the teddy bear on the floor to the side of her bed. She reached for it and hugged it close to her chest. It was the same one the genin had gave her as a present the night of the festival.
She found herself thinking about his laugh and how it always somehow lifted her spirits even in her most depressing moments. His face had a softness even when it came to rest, as if he lacked the inner bitterness most people clearly had. She thought about how he knows who he is and is comfortable with himself.
She absolutely admired that about him. He was so confident... not arrogant, but assured in himself. He was so ambitious.
He was also inspiring—one of a kind.
She then thought about herself. How she had always believed that she was unworthy purely due to her looks. How she ignored every other great thing about herself no one cared to acknowledge. However, she knew... she knew most were blinded by appearances anyway. There was absolutely nothing she could do about it either.
It was simply human nature but even so, she needed to keep pushing and trying to live another day of her life no matter how difficult. She didn't wanna give up on herself over something so superficial. Something so... fleeting and temporary.
She remembered the times her thoughts were tormentors, a torture only escapable by sleep... which had become fleeting. But then she realized that if she never "replied," if she let them float by like an unanswered call, then in time they would cease. At first they became a little worse, yet soon they ebbed. However, just the noticing brought them back a little, but only a faint echo of what they had been. They were diminishing, those terrifying thoughts. Her mind was more quiet, healthy, and happy.
Silently, she thanked the blonde in her head as he was more of a guide into getting her to actually stop being so hateful towards herself over something she couldn't change. However, as she again thought of him, her skin crawled at the thought of the darkness hidden within him.
She knew it hated her; wanted her dead. Despite that, she wanted to still stay by the Uzumaki. She still believed his light would one day prevail over that dark entity within him.
The clock in her room continued to tick as Nia allowed herself to relax a bit more to repair the damage done to her thanks to the illusion she was fooled into believing was real.
It's not real, it's not real...
Meanwhile, at his own apartment in his room, Naruto had just finished up cleaning a small spill that was on his bedroom floor. He flopped onto his bed on his back as he stared up at the ceiling.
He deeply sighed as he thought about how long it had been since he last saw the Umino girl.
"Man... how long does Curly Brow need to recover before I can see her again? It's been four days already. I feel like I'm dying here..."
Though he spent those last four days with friends and catching up, his heart still ached to be near the kunoichi and comfort her. Not only that, but he was missing the intimate touching and connecting she would give him. However, he understood the two would need space from one another from time to time anyway.
His mind drifted to the times the girl was immensely troubled and reflected back on them.
'Everyone always insults her... they're so dismissive towards her too—even when they try to hide it. They look at her and just automatically laugh or give her a smug smile. She couldn't even tell the difference between a genuine smile and a... err... what did she call it...? Oh! Condescending smile.' He thought to himself, 'And she was so sad... like amazingly sad. No one cared about her. Everyone laughed at her behind her back. She hated herself so bad... she really did want to die. And... she actually tried to do it. They were so cruel to her, ya know?'
~Flashback~
The sky was dark and low with ominous black clouds and wind howling, crying, warning, and baying like a wolf into the night. A crack of lightening rent the air and within seconds the rolling boom of the thunder reverberated overhead. The rain fell, splattering the ground haphazardly. It fell as if from buckets, cascading like a waterfall from the heavens. It pounded on the roof of the small hut Jiraiya, Naruto, and Nia were staying in as if it were demanding entrance.
Inside an empty wooden room with a single candle right in the middle, of it on the floor, Naruto was sitting down with his back against the wall as he kept Nia between the space of his legs and kept her head at his shoulder as he stroked the back of her head with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her back.
'That was really close...' He said to himself as the girl kept her cold shaky hands on the boy's chest, 'She almost did it... she really was trying to kill herself out there...'
For Nia, there was nothing left to do but to gaze around the room with it's brown walls, dappled with a bit of mildew. Although, the blonde was doing his best to comfort her, she couldn't help but feel as though she was being a huge nuisance to him.
"I don't get it..." She croaked as her voice was weak, "Why're you doing this? It would be a lot easier for you to leave me alone, wouldn't it? I have... problems. Why be around someone like me? I don't... understand."
Naruto only replied with a gentle tone, "Because... you only have these problems thanks to everyone else not leaving you alone. It's not your fault you feel this way. All your sadness and pain... you really can't help it, ya know?"
Nia didn't say anything. Her eyes had frozen over like the surface of a winter puddle, robbing them of their usual warmth. The sadness flowed through her veins and deadened her mind. It was a poison to her spirit—dulling her, killing off her other emotions until it was the only one that remained. It was as if a black mist had settled upon her and refused to shift, and no matter how bright the day was she would feel no sun and hear no bird song. For the world was lost to her and she knew of nothing that would bring it back into focus.
And yet... she was alive. However, as an empty husk of a shell. Internal pain. A disease. A disorder. Things she loved most were thrown aside, trashed from the mind. Memories covered and caked her mind with emptiness. Sorrow was the new smile in her eye. Tears replaced the sunshine. And life was dark, for what seemed to be forever to her.
"Curly Brow," She heard the genin speaking to her again with a small voice as neither wanted to wake Jiraiya who was in the room next to them sleeping, "Why... do you care... so much about your looks? Why can't you have your mind on something else for a change?"
"I just... can't." The girl answered, "I wish... I could, but..."
She then buried her head at the crook of Naruto's neck then confessed, "It determines... everything about myself. My life... my worth... friends... everything. I... feel worthless. I feel like no one will ever care for me or would ever feel the need to have me around. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I'll always just be... seen and remembered for my hideousness. I'll never be acknowledged for anything but my appearance. Everything that I am—my abilities, my personality, my mind, everything that makes me who I am as a human being... it means absolutely... nothing. Only my appearance matters."
She then took a moment to breathe then continued, "I feel like a creature... not a woman. I feel like something that needs to jump off a cliff. I feel the need to hurt myself and to take my life. There's no place for me. I'm worthless to everyone... even when I try to be strong... I can't handle it for too long. There's no escape... I just want to perish. I wish I was never alive to begin with, I wish I was never born, and I wish I was dead... I just wanna be in that total darkness I remember being in before I came into this horrible planet..."
Naruto paused and sighed. "Don't... say that."
He casted his gaze onto the fire atop the candle as his eyes darkened.
"Why?" His voice sounded more pained than anything, "I don't get why you continue to feel so miserable over something you can't do anything about! You can't change the size of your eyes, the size of your nose, the shape of your lips, the shape of your head, and the texture of your hair! You just can't, ya know! So I don't get why you're so-"
"THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M SO DAMN UPSET!" Nia unexpectedly raised her voice and pushed away from the blonde as he had managed to bring tears into her eyes once more, "I CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING NO MATTER WHAT!"
Naruto just looked at her with startled eyes as he saw the complete hopelessness in her dark brown eyes.
He began to remember how Nia was always too scared to look at herself in a reflection because she didn't want to see if those words said to her were completely true. She didn't want to prove everyone right—That she didn't belong anywhere.
Who would want to feel like that?
Who would want to think like that?
But that was all Nia knew... So that's what she became. The person who wished for everyone to want to be around. The person who everyone, or at least most-some people would find gorgeous. The person who thought they were beautiful themselves.
But... she didn't. She still didn't think she was worth it because every time she saw her reflection, she didn't know who was staring back. She didn't understand why she was so sensitive... so weak-minded. All she knew was that she wanted to feel cared for. To be important. Maybe even to be loved romantically, but above all that, she just wanted to be... normal.
"Curly Brow." Naruto said, reaching a hand out towards the broken girl, "Here, just let me help you feel better, ya know?"
"Shut up!" The girl cried, swatting his outstretched limb. "No one helps! They only make it worse. Depression isn't something you can put a band aid over and say it'll be okay. Its not as simple as that!"
The kunoichi's tears stained her face once more as she felt her chest tighten, "Depression drags you into this pit and never lets you go. No matter how hard or how long someone's rope is that they throw to get you out, something always cuts the cord so you plummet right back down to the ground. You get hurt with each attempt to get out, more and more dirt covering you as you try! Why can't you see that?!"
The genin narrowed his eyes as Nia kept venting out her frustration to him.
"There is no band aid large enough or absorbent enough to cover it." Her voice took on a more gentle tone. "And I just want to let it all go... I don't want to be stuck in that pit anymore, I want to be in the field of flowers right out side the hole... I want to be free." She fell to her knees, a few tears falling from her hazel eyes. "I want to be happy, but can't find it. It's like I'm playing hide and seek with someone all the way across the world and winning will let me be free. It'll never happen..."
She then looked down with eyes that had no luster in them whatsoever.
"It's... hopeless." She stated as the window blew open, letting in some rain and the chilly wind.
Immediately, Naruto went to close it and made sure it was completely locked.
The hut was no warmer inside than out. Ice crept across the windows as if spun by wintry spiders.
It was going to be winter, yet no snow had fell from the sky so far that year. Wind rattled the guttering and rain crashed against the single wooden pane window—the dark lullaby of an abrupt storm.
Nia, feeling drained, pressed her back up against the wall before sliding down till she was sitting on the floor. As she did so, Naruto noticed small amounts of blood leading to where she was at and was surprised to see that there was a rather large splinter in the sole of her left foot. And from that puncture, blood still continues to leak from it.
"Curly Brow, you're hurt." He kneeled and observed the wound.
"I know..." The girl replied slowly, "I don't care though."
"When the heck did this get into your foot?"
Nia turned her head away apathetically, "...Who cares?"
"Grr..." Naruto furrowed his brows and clenched his fist, "Would you quit that already?! You're starting to piss me off, ya know?!"
Immediately, Nia snapped and glared at him, "Then just leave already! I told you I had problems! You're doing this to yourself!"
"No! I feel like the second I turn my back, I'll find you dead when I look back at you!"
Nia just groaned, "I'm not going to kill myself, all right?! I'm just going to live out the rest of my non-purposeful life! I'm practically dead anyway! I'm like a freaking zombie for goodness sake."
Naruto's eyes softened.
She's in there, I know it, but it's like she just took a huge step back from life. I want to reach in and tell her it isn't hopeless, but she won't believe me. I want to rekindle her heat but her insides are too damp with numerous tears. I always knew she had pain inside, but now its visible on her face and I wish it would go away. I know that's a selfish want, people have a right to their pain, they don't ask for it—it just arrives like the gift you never wanted, but still...
The blonde reached for his bag in the corner and began digging through it. When he found what he was looking for, he opened the box and grabbed a medicine gel.
"Okay, I'm going to pull this thing out, all right?" He told the girl as he placed his hand on the piece of wood in her foot.
Nia didn't say anything.
Sighing, Naruto then counted to three and yanked the splinter out as Nia winced a little. Immediately after, he poured some water on it, cleaned the blood out, then began to rub the medicine gel on the injury.
As he did this, the girl just gazed at him.
Why was he being so kind? Why did he care about whether or not she'd take her life away? From what she remembered, she practically known him for a little more over a month. They'd talk a lot, but even so...
"No matter how many times you tell me that you think of us as friends and whatever, I still don't understand you." She told him as he began to wrap her foot up with a bandage, "I told you my head is completely messed up—I have serious mental issues. My heart is extremely dark and shattered to a point where it's unfixable. I can't feel anything besides sadness, self-hatred, bitterness, envy, anger, and a whole lot of other negative emotions. No sane person would deal with a person like me, so you should just let me be."
"Well, I guess you're gonna have to think of me as crazy," The boy replied as Nia just gave him a look, "Cause I won't give up on making you feel better no matter what, Curly Brow."
He then tied the ends of the bandage into a small bow at the front of Nia's foot then gazed up at her and gave her a reassuring smile.
"That's why I'll be here for you... even when... you're a bit off like this. You're in pain, but... I feel like you're one of those where if given enough love, they'd be one of the most amazing and kind-hearted person on the planet, ya know?"
Nia wanted to scoff but as she tried to, she suddenly realized she couldn't find her voice. She felt her cheeks flush hot and her stomach became heavy. Her heart pounded in her throat, threatening to break out. Naruto's eyes wandered around the room as he felt a sudden awkwardness on how he said his last sentence. However, Nia stayed locked on him.
The genin rubbed the back of his head as he sweatdropped, "Erm... let's stop with all the crying and try to get some rest while we still can."
His eyes flickered to Nia's as she turned her head to the side to avert her gaze—the sudden rosiness of her cheeks gave the boy the feeling she was feeling uncomfortable too.
Despite that, he cupped her face in his hands. The blonde then began to wipe the stains of her tears made on her face away with his thumbs.
"Listen..." He said softly as he made the kunoichi face him, "I... don't mean to hurt you or anything when I say I wish you would just get over your insecurities and stuff. I know I'm being a bit selfish and even a bit... insensitive when I say, but the truth is..."
Naruto averted his gaze away as his cheeks were suddenly kissed pink like that of a spring rose. His blush seared through his cheeks and for a minute he thought his face was on fire. He suddenly felt awkward, coy, and even bashful.
"When I see how sad you are... or even when you cry, I..."
Nia just looked at him with widened eyes. He was being so strange. So different. So... captivating.
"I... feel a deep hurt inside, ya know?" He finally told her how he felt as his bangs covered over his eyes, casting a dark shadow over them also, "You sound... so broken. So lost... and so extremely hurt... like your sadness really can't be fixed..."
He wanted to say more but his nose grew very red at the tip; then, his mouth screwed itself around by his left ear. Gradually, his face wrinkled till it resembled a withered crabapple; and finally, if one listened intently and watched closely, they could hear small sniffs and see two infinitesimal drops of water issue from the nearly closed and wrinkled eyes.
A single tear slid down from his warm, ocean-blue eyes, followed by another one, and another one, until soon, a steady stream of salty tears flowed it's way down his cheeks, releasing the sadness and sorrow that has been held inside of him for all that time but still he did not make a sound.
Remorseful. Guilty.
That was how Nia felt at that very moment. Remorse etched at her heart. Guilt gnawed like a worm at the core of an apple. It washed over her like the long slow waves on a shallow beach. Each wave was icy cold and sent shivers down her spine. How she longed to go back and fix her mistake, but now that was impossible. There was no way back—she had caused a perfectly innocent and seemingly pure-hearted guy cry for her sake.
"I..." She opened her mouth to speak though her throat felt as though it had a lump.
She would cry, but her eyes could no longer create anymore tears—she had became dehydrated.
Naruto didn't meet her eyes as he was just too emotional. It was the first time Nia had seen him cry.
"Naruto..." Nia tried anyway to get his attention, "I'm... sorry, okay? I didn't know I made you feel this way—I didn't know I could make you feel the way you do."
He didn't respond so Nia kept going.
"I uh... I..." She was at a loss of words.
She didn't know how to respond to the sight of someone, especially a guy, shedding tears for her. It was incredible. Unbelievable.
Nia placed her hand on his cheeks and brushed his tears away with her thumbs like he had done for her. This seemed to finally get the genin to look at her.
When he did, she decided to throw away the negativity she was feeling at the moment for his sake and gave him a warm smile.
"Thank... you," She managed to say as she did her best to make him feel better, "Thank you for caring about me... I really... appreciate it, Naruto. You're extremely... kind-hearted."
Seeing a sudden change of heart in the normally depressing girl, the blonde used his hand to rest it upon Nia's then slowly began to give her a heart-warming grin as well as his face became that of a rosy color.
As this happened, he quickly pulled the girl into another embrace and held her tightly to him.
"Just... try to keep enduring, all right?" He told her as he felt a huge amount of relief wash over him when the kunoichi nodded, "I swear you'll feel a lot better in time, ya know?"
With her face beating red hot and her heart thunderously pumping blood into her veins, Nia's hands trembled as it latched onto the back of Naruto's jacket.
As he held her close to him with an arm wrapped around her shoulders and him gently rubbing her arm, Nia felt a heaviness in her stomach. However, despite that, it fluttered at the feeling of her body pressed against his. She sunk into the warmth of his embrace, appreciative of the simple gesture. His touch made the room warmer somehow, her future within its walls seemed a little less bleak.
This one moment was enough to make the two feel more closer to one another. It was a strong enough moment to make them question about their feelings for a very brief, yet short moment.
~End Of Flashback~
Naruto only smiled upon the memory as he placed his hand on his heart. However, it wasn't the exact memory he was fond of, but the progress made between Nia and their relationship since then.
'That was a long time ago...' He thought as he got under his covers and placed his head on his pillow, 'Man, that was back just before it began to snow a bit and now it's almost been a year now. Fall is about to be here.'
The boy gazed out the window to his left as he just admired the moonlight shining through to his bedroom.
Too bad I haven't seen her though... I wonder if she's sleeping right now. If not, maybe she's thinking about me too?
Looking to his right, his eyes then landed on the picture of his old squad a few years prior.
'And then there's Sasuke...' He sighed as he thought about the last time he had seen his friend, 'Man... I just hope he's okay wherever he is. Hopefully, either Sakura, Kakashi, myself, or Team Seven in general passes through his mind at least once in a while. Who knows? Maybe he's staring at the full moon right now like I am?'
With that, his mind then focused on Nia for a bit again before he closed his eyes and eventually drifted off to sleep.
•••
The next day, at a random restaurant, Naruto sat with Team Kurenai at a wooden table as they were discussing the mission they had just came back from.
"Hinata, that's awesome!" The boy praised the girl next to him as soon as he had heard her side of the story about the mission, "That byakugan of yours is really useful, ya know?"
Hearing this, Hinata smiled to herself as she began to blush a bit, "T-Thank you, Naruto."
I'm so happy... he praised me.
Watching this, Kiba began to have a glimmer of hope for his female teammate.
'Good, good.' He thought as he clenched his fist and grinned a bit, 'That's the way, Hinata! If you keep this up, Naruto will definitely-'
"Hey, Kiba," Shino interrupted his thoughts and said quietly behind his hand to the boy to his right, "Naruto... something's not right about him today. He looks... bothered."
The Inuzuka looked across from him as the blonde indeed looked quite perturbed. His eyes were focused on his lap and he had a long face. Not only that, but he wasn't exactly as talkative as usual.
"Yo, Naruto." Kiba crossed his arms as the genin made eye contact with him.
"Yeah...? What's sup?" He responded slowly.
"What's with the long face, man? Why're you looking like you're all in your feelings? Aren't you happy to be able to speak with us again? We haven't spent a lot of time with you for a while."
"Erm..." Naruto lowered his eyes again, "It's just... uh... don't worry about it. I'll be okay."
"How's Nia?" Shino calmly asked as he assumed something was up with their relationship.
'Nia?' Kiba sighed in annoyance, 'She's the whole reason he looks all sad? Man, get rid of her already.'
"I haven't seen her in the past four days..." The genin answered, "She's super upset about something. She really wouldn't stop crying, ya know?"
"Why is she so upset, Naruto?" Hinata asked softly.
"Pervy Sage said it had something to do with the genjutsu one of his toads put her in. He says that I should give her time to collect herself... she... wanted that also."
"Genjutsu?" Shino became curious, "What kind of genjutsu?"
"I don't know, but he says he wanted to test something and by the end of it, Curly Brow was all emotional and seemed extremely spooked and a bit paranoid. I've never seen her look so distressed before, ya know?" Naruto answered.
"It must've been a really horrifying kind of illusion she was in..."
Hinata looked to her left as she watched her crush sigh.
"Four days... seems like forever."
"Ah, four days is nothing," Kiba sneered, "Don't tell me you actually miss her, Naruto."
The genin lowered his head as his bangs covered over his eyes, "I... do actually."
At once, all eyes turned to him.
"I know that you guys don't really know her that well and Kiba, I know that you especially don't care for her just because of her appearance, but... even if you guys may not care... I do. I'm worried... about her."
"Naruto, it's not like that at all." Hinata responded quickly, "Just cause we don't know someone as well, doesn't mean we don't care at all about them."
"Hinata's right," Shino nodded, "And that's because-"
"Man, don't carve me out to be the bad guy!" Kiba interrupted as he had became offended, "I haven't even done anything to her."
"Like hell you didn't!" Naruto unexpectedly raised his voice and glared at the Inuzuka before pointing a finger at him, "When I'm with her, all you every try to do is bring her down. You may not use your words, but you act like such a bastard when in her presence."
"Excuse me for not liking ugly chicks. I can't stand to look at her so I love to make fun of her and treat her badly. Got a problem with that?" The Inuzuka felt no shame and shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course I do!" Naruto stood out of his seat and clenched the boy's collar, "Quit talking crap about her! Stop trying to make her feel worthless, Kiba!"
Shooting himself out of his seat also and gripping the blonde's collar as well, Kiba shot back, "Oh yeah? And what're you gonna do about it? Fart in my face again?"
"That AND I'll whoop you just as bad as I did during the chunin exam, you mutt!"
"HA! Don't make me laugh! You just got lucky and you know it! I'll use my fang over fang and drop you in an instant!"
"Oh yeah? How about I shove a rasengan down your throat instead?!"
At this, Kiba pressed his forehead against the blonde's as Naruto pushed back just as hard.
"I dare ya to try and beat me, Naruto!" The Inuzuka lifted his left sleeve.
"All right! How about I embarrass you in front of all these people too while I'm at it?!" The genin taunted.
"Kiba, Naruto... please, let's all try to calm down, all right?" Hinata tried to be the diplomat of the situation.
"Hinata, don't side with this guy!" Kiba felt betrayed, "You have no idea what he's been doing with-"
"Kiba!" Shino said sternly as he tried to once more prevent Hinata from hearing news she wouldn't wanna hear.
"No! I think it's about time we-"
"Hinata, let's go." Shino had to forcefully yet gently remove the girl from her seat and lead her outside.
"Shino, hold on." The Hyuga didn't like this but was far too gentle to do anything about it.
"Naruto!" Kiba slammed his hand on the table as Akamaru began barking, "I don't get you, man! Why don't you go for a prettier girl?! Drop that girl already, man! She's not even hot!"
"She's hot to me! I don't care if you find her attractive or not!"
"What?! She's not even your type at all! I'd rather have you date your own sexy jutsu rather than her!"
"Well, I'm not changing my mind about her! Just deal with it, you jerk!"
As the argument grew more heated, everyone in the restaurant began to turn their heads at the boys.
"Seriously, don't you feel ashamed to be seen with her?" Kiba placed a knuckle on his hip, "You wanna be hokage, right? Trust me, it would be far easier for you to be chosen hokage if you have a woman everyone thinks is sexy, by your side."
"Listen, Kiba!" The blonde slammed his hand on the table, "First of all, there's no shortcuts to becoming hokage! Second, I couldn't care less whether everyone thinks she's hot or not! I'll never let anyone influence my feelings for her when they don't even know her personally, ya know! Third, my feelings will never change anyway!"
Hearing this, Kiba's blood boiled and he just kept going on and on about how he shouldn't be with the girl only due to her appearance. He talked about her hair, her choice of clothing, her eyes, her nose, her face shape, her body structure, her smile, her eyebrows, her lips—everything except all the other things she had to offer to the genin.
Her love for example. Or her loyalty, her kindness, her forgiving attitude, her support, her gentleness, her selflessness—how she always put his needs above her own, the way she listens, or how she cries for him or even with him, how she makes him laugh or smile—just all of the many other great qualities that everyone practically always ignored in a woman they found unattractive at first glance.
"I could just go on and on, Naruto!" The Inuzuka wouldn't keep quiet, "The girl you should be with is-"
"JUST SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY!" The blonde's eyes became red as he became furious and could no longer keep his cool, "I LOVE HER, DAMMIT! DEAL WITH IT, YA KNOW!"
Immediately, Kiba was at a loss for words as was everyone else in the building.
Anger boiled deep in the genin's system, as hot as lava. It churned within and he knew that if he didn't calm down soon, it would become too much for him to handle. He was getting ready to be as mad as the time Orochimaru had spoke of Sasuke while him, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato were on the bridge to hopefully get information out of Kabuto—though that attempt was a failure.
However, the pressure of his raging sea of anger nearly forced him to say things he did not mean, or to express thoughts about his dog-loving friend he's suppressed since the Inuzuka even insulted Nia for the first time.
He knew he had to get out everyone's way before he could possibly erupt in his furious state. Noticing the sharpening of his nails and the fangs of his new canines, the boy immediately closed his eyes and attempted to calm himself. He was afraid this feeling wouldn't pass. He was well aware he could really hurt people if he didn't do so quickly.
It took him a moment, but eventually he was able to return to normal. However, his eyes felt heavy.
"Leave... her alone." He told his friend in a low growl, "You're my friend, but... if you hurt her in any way, I'll-"
"Naruto! Kiba!" Sakura suddenly came running toward the two boys yet didn't notice the strain in the whole small restaurant, "Geez, I've been looking all over for you guys."
"Sakura." The blue-eyed boy was a bit surprised to see the pink-haired girl, "Hey, what's up?"
"Lady Tsunade... she wants you guys to meet up with her right now."
"A mission?!" The two boys was surprised to hear as it felt like forever since either of them had been on one.
"I don't know, but that girl you like now is there too, Naruto."
"Curly Brow's there?!" The genin grinned a sheepish grin and immediately took off running to where he was needed.
Meanwhile, Kiba and Sakura sweat dropped as they watched how fast the blonde sprinted out.
"Ahem!" The waiter coughed into their fist as the two teens faced the man, "I believe you owe me money..."
"Oh, come on!" Kiba groaned heavily as he realized he was the only one of the four who ate still in the restaurant while Sakura just giggled into her hands as the boy was forced to pay the bill.
Meanwhile, Naruto slammed the door open to the hokage's office as his eyes immediately locked onto Nia who was actually in the room as Sakura had said.
"Curly Brow!" He ran to her as she turned and gave her a near bone-crushing hug, "Curly Brow, are you okay?! It's been four days, ya know! Did you miss me like I missed you?!"
"N-Naruto..." The girl struggled to breathe as the boy wouldn't let her go, "Y-Yes I m-missed you, but... ugh, y-your crushing me..."
Quickly after hearing this, Naruto let the kunoichi loose as she took that chance to catch her breath. Meanwhile, everyone in the room only had their eyes on the two as all waited for the last two called into the office.
Soon, Kiba, along with Akamaru, entered the room as Kiba apologized for the lateness. Along with the hokage and her assistant Shizune, stood Iruka, Jiraiya, Hinata, Shino, and Yamato also.
"Nia." Tsunade eyed the somewhat still distressed girl to the front of the room.
"Yes, Lady Hokage?" The teen tried to appear ready for anything.
"I'll be giving you your first mission for this village today. This is going to be a B-rank mission. Are you ready for the task I'm about to give you?"
"Of course, Lady Hokage."
"Shizune." Tsunade turned to her assistant.
"Yes, My Lady." Shizune, who was carrying her pet pig in her arms, handed a scroll to the kunoichi.
"Today, this village has received a threat from a village quite far from here. However, at the end of this scroll contains some sort of riddle," The hokage explained as she intertwined her fingers and rested her chin atop of it, "Neither Shizune, Jiraiya, Iruka, nor I are able to decipher what the rest of this threat is stating."
"A riddle, huh?" Nia became intrigued and unrolled the scroll.
"Nia," Jiraiya spoke as he had his arms crossed, "I know you're still trying to recover from what you experienced a few days prior, but we both know how much you enjoy these sorts of things. From what I remember, you're actually pretty good with solving riddles and deciphering codes."
"Oh, I wouldn't say all that." The girl was flattered.
"No. Jiraiya is right," Iruka stepped in, "Ever since you were little, you did have a knack of solving these sorts of things. Not always, but you're better than most at deciphering these sorts of things."
"Oh yeah, that's right." Naruto remembered something, "I forgot all about that."
Your diary said some things about how you enjoyed solving those things...
"Normally, we'd bring in Shikamaru or even Neji to help us out with these matters, but they're busy with other missions their teams have been assigned to." Shizune talked, "But since we heard from Jiraiya and Iruka here that there's a chance you may be able to interpret it, we thought we may give you a crack at it."
'Hmph!' Kiba crossed his arms smugly, 'As if she'd be able to figure that thing out... if I couldn't do it, there's no way she'd be able to do so either.'
"I'll take a read and try my best, ma'am." Nia landed her eyes on the paper and began to read out loud.
"Bring me two that are not of a person nor animal," It read, "They that are within the two worlds yet are both living in the third. They that are of the air yet are balanced amongst the two worlds. Though be warned, one shall be of the first world and the other shall be of the second world. If you should bring two that are both from the first world or from the second, I shall slay all who I have captured and this land will be spilled with blood. You have until the day the goddess has come for justice to bring me what I wish for."
Finished, Nia thought to herself carefully as she cupped her chin with one hand.
"Interesting."
"As you've read, this person has an entire small village taken hostage." Tsunade informed everyone, "However, we're not quite sure exactly who we should choose to carry out this mission of saving these villagers due to being stomped by this riddle, you see."
'They that are within the two worlds yet are both living in the third... Neither a person nor animal... Balanced amongst the two worlds... Goddess of Justice...' Nia continued to analyze the threat before something struck her and her eyes widened, 'Hold on! Could they possibly be referring to-'
"Man, beats me." Naruto crossed his arms behind his head, "I'm terrible at these things."
"Of course you wouldn't be able to solve anything," Kiba mocked the blonde.
"Kiba, don't say that to Naruto." Hinata said softly.
"I'm just saying it as it is. Get off my back already, Hinata."
"Why don't we see you try and figure out that riddle then, Kiba?" The genin placed Inuzuka in the spotlight as he refused by saying he was above doing such a thing.
"That's what I thought."
Shino, on the other hand, seemed to have noticed the smirk plastered on Nia's face.
"Nia... you're smiling," He announced as everyone turned their attention to the kunoichi, "I take it you figured everything out?"
"What?! No way!" Kiba was stunned, "There's no way she was able to understand all that!"
"No," Jiraiya responded, "You can rest assured that that riddle has been deciphered. She only smiles like that when she's completely confident about something."
"And remember," Iruka added in, "I've said Nia has a better ability than most when it comes to thinking outside of the box. Believe me when I say she's the person to go to for missions such as this one."
"Well then," Tsunade straightened up in her chair, "Is this true? Have you figured out what this scroll is telling us to do?"
"Yes, Lady Hokage." The girl confirmed.
"Good, let's hear what you came up with then."
"Right," Nia nodded as she then spoke, "For starters, the three worlds this letter speaks of are: Heaven, Hell, and earth—as they are usually what people refer to as the three worlds. Heaven would be that of the first world, Hell would be that of the second, and Earth would be that of the third."
"Really now..." Tsunade became intrigued as did everyone else.
"Yes." The girl continued, "When it spoke that you shouldn't send a person nor animal, don't take that literally. They do indeed want you to send two people to where they're at but you can't just send any two people. They have to be very specific people."
"What're you getting at?" The beauty questioned.
"Are you guys familiar with the zodiac?"
"The zodiac?" Iruka raised a brow, "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything, actually," Nia giggled a bit, "They're the twelve constellations that lie along the annual path of the sun across the sky... this whole threat is entirely about that."
Everyone payed attention as the girl kept going.
"In this particular instance, when the letter states that they want you to send the two people that are of the air, they are referring to one of the signs whose element is that of the air."
"In other words: Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra." Shino began to catch on.
"Exactly." Nia confirmed his words.
"Okay so, if the person is referring to one of these signs, which one those three would that be?" Yamato questioned the girl.
The kunoichi only glanced at him, "It's all in the next few words that came after: They are of the air yet are balanced amongst the two worlds."
"Oh!" Shizune caught on as this suddenly made sense to her, "They're speaking of Libra, aren't they?"
"Precisely."
"Hold on," Tsunade tried to wrap her head around that answer. "Shizune, what exactly made you think Libra?"
"Well My Lady, according to the signs, Libra is the one whose symbol is represented by that of the scales. In other words, Libra is a sign where the seasons are balanced. Many believe it to be that of a righteous sign."
"I see," Jiraiya nodded as he began to understand also, "But how can we be sure it's absolutely Libra? Why can't it be Gemini nor Aquarius?"
"Because of the first sentence of the riddle and the last one as well," Nia answered confidently, "When they say that you shouldn't send someone who is a person or animal, they're referring to the zodiacs symbol."
"Eh?" Naruto scratched his head, "I totally don't get anything you're saying, Curly Brow."
"Keep quiet then, would ya?" Yamato softly bumped his elbow against the genin.
"When you look at the symbols of the zodiac, you'll notice that they have either a person or animal to represent that sign. For example: Cancer is a crab, Taurus is a bull, Virgo is The Maiden, Gemini is The Twins," Nia then looked Tsunade in the eye, "However, out of those twelve signs, only one symbol is represented by neither a person nor an animal. Rather, the symbol is that of an inanimate object."
"The Scales..." The hokage was dumbstruck.
Nia nodded, "As for the last sentence, it speaks about the Goddess of Justice. Libra is often referred to as the sign of justice, harmony, and balance. It's a sign which is that of a peacekeeper. From what I've read, the scales is held by Astraea, who is known as the Goddess of Justice."
"Sounds reasonable enough," Shino responded as he had his hands in his pockets, "However, can you explain what Libra has to do with the three worlds you mentioned earlier?"
"I'd like to know that as well," Kiba said with a tone that sounded as if he had an attitude, "Explain that!"
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to know as well." Hinata replied as well though with a much gentle approach than her teammates.
"Just think about it," Iruka's cousin tried to not sound rude, "When the riddle says that the two are within the two worlds but are residing in the third world, it's saying that the two Librans are physically on the earth but one's heart is of heaven and the other is of hell."
As everyone carefully listened, Nia then stated, "Basically, what this person wants us to do is send two people who were born under the sign of Libra, where they're at. However, one has to be that of heaven and the other of hell. In other words, one whose heart is mostly pure and filled with light while the other has not necessarily an evil heart, but a heart that has quite a bit of darkness and is tainted with negativity."
"Ah," The Toad Sage came to a conclusion, "So then when the person said that if we bring two Librans who are of the same worlds, he would slaughter the villagers?"
"Yes. If we bring two librans who are both of heaven, so to say, we might as well send our condolences to those poor people they got captive. It has to be a Libra of heaven and a Libra of Hell. A positive Libra and a negative Libra."
"Hmm..." Tsunade thought to herself.
"Nia," Shizune spoke up, "According to the riddle, we have until the day the Goddess of Justice appears before this person slaughters the small village. Is there any chance... you have any idea what exact day their speaking of?"
Again, all eyes were on the kunoichi.
"Yes... I do," She nodded, "They're saying we have until the first day of Libra season to bring them the two Librans they wish for."
"In other words," Yamato responded, "The twenty-third of September, am I right?"
"Exactly."
"The twenty-third?" Tsunade was a bit anxious, "But that's... less than a week away."
"That's... Ino's birthday." Hinata exclaimed.
"That's right... but I sent her team on a mission just a couple days ago..."
"Then... who else in the village is a Libra?" Shizune questioned as she looked around.
"Typically, the Libra season lasts from the twenty-third of September unto the twenty-second of October," Iruka explained as he gazed at two specific people in the room, "To be frank, we have our two candidates in this very room?"
"Indeed we do." Jiraiya cracked a smile as he looked at his pupils.
"Eh?" Naruto pointed at himself naively, "What you all looking at me for?"
"Stop being so stupid!" Kiba pointed at the boy as well, "Isn't your birthday October 10th?!"
"Yeah?"
"Naruto, that means you're a Libra." The Hyuga girl told the boy.
"I am?" He then became excited and began punching the air, "All riiiight! That means I get to finally kick some bad guy butt, ya know! It's been a while since I've been on a mission."
"So then," The female sannin sighed, "Who would be the other?"
"She's standing right in front of you." Iruka was referring to Nia, "Her birthday is the same as Ino's—the first day of Libra season."
"Interesting," The hokage liked the relief of not having to go through the trouble of searching for any ninja who were a Libra, "Now... who is of Heaven and who is of Hell?"
"Naruto is the Libra of Heaven, Ma'am!" Nia declared immediately much to the blonde's objection.
"Wait a minute, Curly Brow," He placed his hand on her left shoulder as she turned to look at him, "You can't just go and declare something like that. For all we know, it can be the other way around. Besides, I'm the one who carries the Nine-Tails in me, therefore-"
"This is a matter of the heart, Naruto," Nia told the boy, "Your heart is in much better condition than mine is. They need two people who are opposite of one another to head to where they're at. There's no denying that out of the both of us, you have more of a positive, optimistic personality while I have a more negative, cynical kind of one."
"Therefore, she would be the Libra of Hell." Jiraiya said plain and simple.
"Hold on now," Iruka stepped in, "That just sounds bad! Nia's not evil or anything."
"She isn't, but she would represent the dark side of a healthy Libra." Jiraiya replied, "Iruka and Naruto... we both know of it to be true. Naruto is what a libra should be while Nia... is that of a libra whose personality was tainted with darkness and became even depressing yet not necessarily evil at all."
"Yeah, but-"
"It's okay, Naruto. It doesn't offend me at all. I know I'm not a horrible person but you and I are opposites. Therefore, we're needed for this particular mission." Nia gave a gentl and calm smile.
The blonde took a deep breath in then out, "You're right... we're needed to save those poor villagers, ya know?"
"All right then!" Tsunade gave a stern look, "Nia!"
"Yes!"
"You will be captain of this one mission."
"Wait, if she's captain then-"
"Yamato, you'll be escorting everyone to this small village and providing shelter while heading there and back. However, for this mission, you will listen to Nia's orders as she is the one capable of solving these riddles in sure the enemy has laid out for us."
Yamato slumped his shoulders, "Oh boy..."
"Um..." Nia gathered the courage to face everyone then bowed, "I know I'm new here and I know I'm not familiar with you all and what you can do, but... even so... I hope you'll give me a chance to lead this mission. It's for the lives of those poor captured villagers and their children. I promise to do my best."
"Curly Brow..." Naruto saw the amount of courage she had to gather within herself to face everyone and get them to rely on her for just one mission.
As he stared at her, Hinata's eyes glanced over at him as she watched him be impressed by the girl's sudden courageousness.
She narrowed her eyes as she wished for him to give her the look he gave to the Umino girl.
Naruto...
"This mission requires that of sensory ninja, so Team Kurenai well be assisting in this mission. As for you Naruto, you were only assigned to this mission due to the face that I needed you more in this mission than I did with that of your own team. Now I see that I've made the right decision as you're absolutely needed for the success of this mission." Tsunade told the genin.
"Hold on," She only raised a question in his mind, "Does this mean Curly Brow is in Kurenai-sensei's team or Kakashi-sensei's"
"Actually Naruto," Shizune spoke for the blonde woman, "Nia's not really on any team. She's more like a free agent—or, she's the only shinobi in the village that'll be going on missions with different teams every now and then."
"EH???" Everyone was confused.
"How the heck is that supposed to work out?" Kiba questioned.
"Well, let's say she's on your team for this mission, then on her next mission, she's on Naruto's, and after that, Shikamaru's. Something like that."
"Oh..." Everyone sweat dropped.
'Welp... I better get used to talking to people quick.' Nia thought to herself as she knew her shyness had to throw itself out the window.
"All right, now!" Tsunade became serious and ordered with immense authority, "No more chit-chatting! On you all go!"
"YES!" Everyone stood tall as they answered.
----
A/N - Geez this chapter was long with 9,000 words lol. I got carried away.
Anyways, I hope you guys all enjoyed this! Thanks for reading! Please comment and vote and have a great day ❤️
QOTD:
1. Favorite part?
2. Favorite Line?
3. First NaruNia moment you fangirled/fanboyed about in the story (or whatever earliest you can remember)?