Konoha encampment; Outskirts of Nanao
Naruto again stood at the edges of the camp, observing the crumbling walls of the old outpost/city as he watched the enemy ninja frantically work through the night to bolster the defenses to a respectable degree.
Foolish really.
The strongest defenses were little better than an inconvenience if manned by an exhausted army whereas a single hill could be held by a well rested and alert one.
He didn't really know why he did this…he could easily send a scout to watch and report the enemies movements. But for some reason he preferred to do the mundane task himself. Perhaps because he found it more effective that way, or perhaps simply because it helped him mentally prepare for the coming confrontation.
Perhaps it was just simply one of his...quirks?
Was that what Kakashi had called it?
He mentally shrugged, whatever the reason, he found this to be one of his few indulgences.
However, over the last day or so he felt a strange…ache. Like a gnawing feeling in his chest. He didn't know why really…his troops were in position and ready to lay waste to the coalition at a moments notice, his scouts hadn't reported any change in Iwa's march to Kumo's borders in the north and Suna was still in a civil and military turmoil. No help was coming for them and there was no reason for this feeling, no reason for concern.
Perhaps because of the enemy themselves…desperation breeds determination after all. The tides could always turn at a moment's notice. He could not let down his guard, especially against these opponents.
He was startled out of his thoughts when he felt a small drop fall onto his cheek. He looked up to the dark sky as they rumbled with thunder. Like battle drums overlooking the battle to come...
It had rained that day too.
Naruto again found himself walking to the flower field, it had become something of a ritual really. Every day whenever they were both in the camp, they would meet in this field. They did not always speak, sometimes they did not have to.
The sky rumbled, as if it was growling as it released the waters held within it, the heavy shower falling like sheets
The battle today had been more brutal than usual, the Kusa-nins had holed themselves up in a local village and had taken refuge in the homes of civilians…in the ensuing chaos many combatants and non combatants lost their lives, something that was weighing heavily on the mens morale
He found her where he always did, her eyes were closed, staring up to the sky as she basked in the cool drops that fell over her skin, running down her face and for a moment Naruto could have sworn those were tears.
He stepped forward, ignoring the flowers he crushed under his feet as he made his way closer.
Finally, when he stopped at her side she spoke.
"This weather…its nice." Her voice was melancholy and Naruto could hear the strain there and he realized that he had not just been imagining her tears.
"Why do you cry Yoshino?" He questioned. "What was done today, was necessary. There is no reason to cry over it."
She smiled, still not taking her gaze from the black clouds even as lightning streaked through the sky, illuminating everything for a brief moment.
When she spoke, her voice was heavy and Naruto realized again, how very different others were from him. Unlike himself, she carried the deaths with her, every flame she snuffed out was yet another weight on her heart. She carried them, he discarded them, like petals to the winds in a storm, never to be found again.
"When one is a figurehead for the soldiers…you can never show weakness. If you show weakness they will weaken because of it…you can never let your emotions get the better of you…because then that will make them worry. You must be their pillar of strength…you must be the one to keep their resolve strong."
She took a deep breath as her smile widened slightly.
"But…here….in this rain…I'm free."
"I do not understand. What do you…" He began but stopped as she walked forward and embraced him, her hands clinging to his cloak, it was almost desperate in nature as she held him tight.
"Yoshino-san?" He questioned in a confused tone as she held him tighter.
"Just…hold me Naruto…just for a little while…just until the rain stops"
He was confused by her need for physical contact from him, but…decided to comply and slowly wrapped his arms around her as the rain fell over them…
Naruto watched the rumbling clouds as the memory of that day washed over him, he looked back to Nanao once more before swiftly turning on his heel to walk back to camp.
Yoshino sighed silently as she sat in her tent, swirling some sake in the saucer she held in her hand. Despite what she stated…she knew…and she was sure Kenpachi knew as well, there was a very real possibility Naruto would not accept their surrender. They had become close, at least slightly, and betrayal was not something anyone handled well.
'I can only hope…' She pleaded as she fingered a small necklace, in the design of a butterfly between her fingers. Smiling softly at the memory of just how she had gotten this pendant, and Kenpachi had gotten the marble Buddhist beads he held everywhere.
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