TFSW: Chatper 3: At Nightfall

Chapter 3: At Nightfall:

"There's a certain Slant of Light
Winter Afternoons"
Emily Dickinson



The night was frozen – and freezing – as Sakura hurried down the roads of her hometown. White smoke was emanating from her pink nose as she breathed, and she was hugging herself tigthly. Not a sound could be heard; there was no wind, and no life moving in the night's dark shadows. As she walked passed the small wooden houses*, she would sometimes hear faint voices, laughter, and see a splash of light illuminating the ground from the curtained windows.

As she walked past a pub, she heard angry voices shouting at each other, breaking the silence winter commanded to the night. She shuddered as she heard a noise of smashed glass, and took a quicker pace, anxious to get away before a fight exploded. Like any major town , night in Konoha gave her a different face than what most of the citizens were used to; much like one's reflection in a distorded mirror...

She was still far from Naruto's house as she walked past the gate of Paster's park, the town's main green area. The name came from a bloke she had studied in Medecine Studies with Tsunade, that had invented some sort of important medic' jutsu, but she couldn't really remember what...*
Well, not that it mattered anyhow. She continued her way, walking past the green fence and dark trees, and feeling the soft scent of pine trees burning her nostrils from the cold.

That was when she spotted a presence behind her. She turned around, strangely uneasy – not frightened at all – and tried to see who ever could be lurking behind her back. As he walked under a streat lamp, she recognised Naruto.

Warm spread to her cheeks as a smile streched her lips. She hurried to him; her footseps were echoing loudly on the pavement and excitment was making her ears buzz; it felt as though silence had never exited.

“Naruto!” she called to him, a grin on her face. He raised his head. That was when she noticed how he had been walking – his hands deep in his pockets, head hung low, as though something was troubling him. Yet a smile lit his face at her sight.

“-Hey Sakura-chan,” he answered as she put a hand around his shoulders.

“What's wrong, you baka? This isn't the face of someone who just found his Sensei again. I thought you would be dancing all around when I'd see you.”

At her words, Naruto's small smile weakened, and his shoulder's slumped down a bit.
“Right,” he muttered. “But I'm just a bit a tired, it's nothing wrong.”

Sakura stopped, and looked at her friend with attention. His eyes were lined, and
his hair seemed to have not met a brush since ages. The knot of his headband was weird, sticking out at some parts, as though it had been made hastily. Wo-ow, something was wrong indeed, if he couldn't even tie his beloved headband proprely!

“Being tired never stopped you from smiling before” she said slowly, tugging at his arm. “Come on, Naruto... If there's anyone you can talk to, it's me!”

What was all of this about? Was it Sasuke's death? Had he finally seen Hinata's attention towards him and had started feeling guilty? She somehow did not like that thought. Or was something wrong with Jiraya that she didn't know of?

Naruto grimaced.

“-It's nothing wrong... Like I said, I'm a bit tired... I haven't slept much since you came to see me to tell me E-Ero-sennin was back.” She stared at him.

“-Naruto... Is something wrong with Jiraya-sama?” His lips quivered.

“-No, not at all... It's just...” He looked as tough he was unsure what to say; and then he gave up to her inquistive stare. “You remember when you went to get me, so Baa-chan could tell me he was alive? I was exhausted... And it felt – and still does – surreal, like a strong dream. Like this is all bullshit and he's not back. I know it's stupid, and makes no sense. But... I can't help it and...” He yawned. “and I'm exhausted. I haven't slept much since. It just feels...” - He seemed even more tired at this - “As if he wasn't back at all. As if this is just a huge dream. And it makes me... Somehow lost.”

“-Oh...” Sakura was unsure what to say, and Naruto just stared into none-space. Well, this was a paradox, as you can't stare into none existing being, because it doesn't exist, which is the point, and... Whatever.

“-Hey...” She whispered, taking him by the elbow. “You're right, this is stupid... He is back, Naruto; I saw it, you saw it, and every one you met knows it now. There's nothing to be afraid of!” As he gave a weak smile, she punched him – not hard! A friendly punch! - on the elbow. He gave a start and looked at her
worriedly.

“-You're not going to start hitting me, are you, Sakura-chan? I'll stop worrying if that's what you want!” he said, anxiously looked at her fist. She groaned.

“-Of course I won't, you baka. I'm not a brute, am I? Don't look at me like that, I am not!” she snapped, pulling him a faint grin. “Geez, Naruto... No wonder Tsunade-sama called me to you! I've never seen you like this. Say...” she suddenly asked, a doubt growing in her mind. “How much have you slept yesterday?

-I haven't” he said, yawning once more. “But I slept around four hours the day before, so that's all right.”

She rolled her eyes. “Four hour's allright, is it? No wonder you're exhausted. Well, I'll cook you a meal and then you can go straight to bed, and get another four hours sleep.”

Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up. “Hey, I heard Ichiraku's staying open every night this week... Would you like to go eat there instead? Or at any other restaurant? Just the two of us, and yummy ramen... My treat!” he added hastily, a grin on his lips.

She stole a look at him. No way he was serious....

His eyes were wide open in an attempt of puppy-eyeing, his mouth was cimented in a huge smile... He was serious.

“-Dear God, Naruto... You look dead from exhaustion! You're not going any where else then bed, right now!” His smile turned into a small pout.

“-Whaat? No, I swear I'm ok! I can stay awake for a coupke more hours, no problem!

-Like hell you can. And even if you could, I'm sorry, but I've been given orders.

-I'm the Sixth Hokage!” She grinned at his insistance.

“-In training, yes. I'm sorry to say, Tsunade-sama's orders still prevail over yours.

-In training, right,” he snorted. “That didn't stop her from sending me to that meeting in Suna in her stead... I'm enough of a Hokage to have to go to boring five-hour-long meetings, but not to decide my own rythme of sleep?” Sakura laughed, her pink her flying around her face as a cold blast of wind surged around them.

“-Well, yeah, 'seem's like it.” Naruto looked down with a whole hearted grimace... That finished into a huge yawn. Sakura smiled to her friend, kindness in her eyes.

“-Say what... You go to bed and get – let's say – ten hours worth sleep, and I'll go to Ichiraku's with you tomorrow for lunch.” Naruto looked up at her, an incredoulous smile on his face.

“-Just you, me, and ramen. But it's your treat,” she said, winking. Naruto grinned.

“-Deal.”


*This was the area that Yamato had rebuild after the war against Pein, and it was know filled with cute, warm and japanese-type of cottages. Never heard of japanese cottages? Oh, come on... Well, admittingly, me neither, but it seems at least Yamato did!


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