Yoshino smiled as she gently traced the petals of a flower. She had found this field near their encampment shortly after they had placed it, and for the last month or so came here every night. It was beautiful and calming, reminding her much of Ame's delicate flower gardens, the tropical nature of the country made it so that a variety of wildlife and plant life could thrive easily even within the city limits.
She sighed but the sound of footsteps caught her attention, she turned, gripping one of her chain whips instinctively before she caught sight of the familiar mask
She smiled, though she knew it would not be returned. "Naruto-san, what are you doing here?"
"You have been leaving the encampment often of late, I found bit prudent to follow…"
She hid a frown at that. She knew the reason why he had followed…he wanted to make sure that she wasn't leaking information to the enemy. While she was insulted by the insinuation she also knew that not taking such precautions was foolish.
She would let it slide.
She made herself smile a bit more before she sat down and motioned for him to join her. He walked over, but didn't sit, merely standing by her side.
"I like this place." She spoke, whether it was to herself, or to him he didn't know, but he still felt compelled to ask…
"Why?"
She smiled and gestured to the field that lay before them. "Its beautiful here…the troubles of the world don't reach this place…" She took a deep breath as she paused. "And even if its for a moment…I can be at peace."
"Hn." Was his monosyllabic response as he knelt down cradling one of the delicate flowers with his calloused hands. "You find beauty in these?" His tone was neutral as he spoke. "Their beauty is fleeting…soon they will wither away into nothingness."
She smiled kindly, pitying the poor boy that had been turned into this, but she wouldn't show it…she wouldn't dishonor him like that. "Similar to our own lives don't you think?'
He turned towards her then, the slited eyeholes of his facemask not allowing her to see the calm pits of ice as they stared into her own dark brown ones.
She smiled again before looking up at the sky. "Our lives, just like these flowers are fleeting, Naruto-san…we're here today, but what of tomorrow…will we still be here? No one knows…that's why we must cherish each special moment that brings us peace…" He said nothing instead turning his gaze to the sky.
She smiled as she looked upon his form of crimson and black, smiling in something akin to fondness. 'Naruto-san...' She thought. 'I know…that somewhere you have a kind heart…they haven't succeeded in taking that from you…and hopefully they never will.'
They remained there, at peace.
Flashback end:
Beside her small form, Kenpachi watched as her form visibly sagged, as if a great weight was on her shoulders, he knew why. He too, was not in any way looking forward to the conflict to come. He remembered that boy, and despite that they had met mainly on the field of battle or near one, his memories were nothing but amiable with the young man.
Flashback:
"That wound you received yesterday has not yet healed…you should return to the camp. I will keep the enemy occupied here." Naruto spoke calmly to the larger man that stood beside him.
Kenpachi smiled but it came out more like a grimace as he rubbed his bandaged chest. "I cannot allow you to do that Naruto-san. You see, we must hold out until our reinforcements arrive, and though you are strong my men do not know you, seeing me here, will raise morale and help them all fight better."
"If you do not rest then it will not matter because you will die regardless. Then where will their morale be?"
Kenpachi sighed, the boy didn't understand. He placed his arm on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto-san look at those men behind us." He spoke calmly, almost in a fatherly tone. Naruto did as asked and looked behind him to the 40 or so ninja that went about preparing themselves for the coming battle.
"Now please tell me, what do you see?"
"Men preparing their equipment.." He answered simply.
"I will tell you what I see…I see comrades, comrades with families waiting for them back home. People worth protecting…if it helps them return to their families- to their lives-I will gladly sacrifice my own…remember that every comrade is precious and must be protected."
He paused for a moment before he spoke again. "When one is fighting to protect, not destroy…that is when ones true strength is revealed…remember that Naruto-san."
And now they marched against him it was…distasteful to say the least…
The leader of Taki was brought out of his thoughts as a loud crash and dust cloud appeared infront of them. There was a loud cry of "AMBUSH!" Before three large snakes appeared from the cloud of dust and slammed into their forward ranks and hundreds of Kunai and Shuriken rained down on them as Konoha ninja began leaping down from the thick tree canopy.
Naruto knelt on the head of one of the summoned snakes, his feet sticking firmly to the creature's head with chakra. One of his swords was unsheathed, glinting in what little light cut through the trees above.
The snake beneath him thrashed violently, lashing out with deadly poison and razor sharp fangs, scales like black chainmail as they deflected kunai and Shuriken all too easilly.
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