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My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth.
Psalm 121:2
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The chilly night waned in a flash, thus, dawn had rekindled. The royal blue skies slowly ebbed, slowly transitioning into a porcelain white with no indication of a sunrise. Due to the persisting winter, the majestic view of the ascending sun had been postponed, and the denizens of Konoha could only wait eagerly for the departure of this arduous season. In all honesty, only the elderly were unnerved by the prevailing cold, since they had to tend to work under the harsh climate, while the children contrasted largely, traversing the canvas with untamed jubilance, and frolicking in the billowy snow. This was the ordinary norm of any winter in Konoha.
However, today was a sharp juxtaposition from normalcy.
As mentioned, the elderly "would" exhibit unnerve, but today, that didn't appear to be the case.
Why?
Today was a free day in commemoration of the festivities tomorrow...
Tomorrow will be a new year!
As such, everyone, old and young, projected excitement and thrill for the arrival of tomorrow, engaging in a vast array of activities and fun!
A deluge of mist enveloped the premises, veiling the heightened exuberance of the bourg as it reverberated with the lilts of animated chatter and laughter.
...
Outside of the village, several kilometres away, were 2 silhouettes trotting through the thick snow. Enshrouding the landscape was an impenetrable fog, obscuring the features of not only the surroundings, but even the anomalies that trespassed on the grounds.
Were they allies?
Or were they spies?
"Ahhh, it's freezing here!" Muttered a lively, feminine voice, yet the tone was tinged with vexation.
"I told you, didn't I? We could've waited till next week, but you're the one who was adamant on returning for new year," intercepted a hoarse pitch, evidently peeved.
The unfolding discourse proved that these people were residents of Konoha.
The lively female asserted, "Hey, I was just saying. How could I not come back for the new year?"
The man snapped back, "Yeah, I understand, but Aiko dear..." The man paused, halting right in his tracks. As we magnify into the scene, a sole individual can be discerned with narrow, repulsive eyes that cradled a sharp distaste for the horrendous weather, and are further accentuated by his knitted brows. His short, spiky black hair ruffled wildly against the malicious breeze, and his complexion seemed to pale into a miserable distortion, evidencing his lethargy. Beside the man was a youth, who emitted confusion at the sudden halt of his father's steps. His features were obscured by the cowl of his oversized coat, revealing only an arched brow, and youthful orange eyes.
Other than their outsized attire, the only resemblance between this father-son duo was their... suffocating aura, oozing with annoyance.
The annoyance seemed to be more prominent with the father though.
The annoyance of the vicious weather threatened to tear them internally. The duo so very craved a steaming hot bath to dispel the contaminated coldness. While the youth's posture seemed normal, except for carrying a wheelchair on his shoulders, the posture of the father was rather... strange. His back arched slightly forward, and his arms seemed to be positioned behind... a posture that conveyed his back was broken, or...
He was carrying something...
Or rather, someone.
The female whom he carried on his back had long, flaming orange hair, and blazing orange eyes. In contrast to her husband, her eyes brimmed with vigour. Her skin tone was fair, and in all honestly, she was quite a gorgeous woman. With a rueful smile, she seemed to anticipate the words her husband was about to voice.
The haggard husband bellowed, "... I HAD TO CARRY YOU ALL THE WAY HERE!"
Upon roaring, it seemed as though vitality had been restored within him... Only temporarily though. He seemed like he may kick the bucket any moment now!
He whined in a strained croak, shoulder slouched, "Ahhh, what a drag! I can't wait to get home."
The husband and wife duo went by the names, Nara Kenjiro, and Yamanaka Aiko. The little companion was a child of theirs, named Yamanaka Fu and he was 8 years old. His blazing orange eyes resembled Aiko's.
The laidback Aiko smacked Kenjiro's back, and flippantly vocalised, "Yes, and I'm sorry for making you carry me."
"Tsk, what a drag," Kenjiro lipsmacked.
Aiko, pressing deeper against Kenjiro's back, teased, "Come on now, you're carrying someone like me. Show some energy."
She tried to soothe the mood, but it only seemed to go to deaf ears as she was met with silence.
Fu, observing the interaction, could only facepalm in revulsion, stemming especially from Aiko's nitwitty remarks. As a mere 8 year old, he felt like an adult here.
Aiko added, "And I even said we could plan to leave in a week. You're the one who seemed to be content with the travel plan."
As though anticipating this response, Kenjiro blurted, "Yeah, and then you started crying in my ears all day, and whined about how you would return to Konoha if you had both legs..." Kenjiro's pitch rose in annoyance, "... And you've been annoying me non-stop, what choice did I have?"
Aiko made a large pouty face, before shifting her delicate head in another direction, unable to refute her husband's statements. Her reluctance to indulge further was a rare sign that her persistence would lead to defeat, meaning this was a needless conversation in the first place. Simply put, she refused to face defeat in this conversation; hence, she opted for silence.
Fu, unable to handle their tantrum, truly felt he was the liable adult in this situation, despite being a mere 8 years old. Taking a step forward, he caught the attention of both parents and beckoned, "Tou-chan, Kaa-chan, can we go?"
Kenjiro affirmed, "Let's go." As such, the family strode forward. Aiko planted her head on her husband's robust shoulder, and attempted to raise his psyche; her tone was a gentle whisper, beguiling and seductive, "Let's make a baby when we get back."
The sluggish stride immediately came to a halt, and once again, Fu glimpsed at his father, whose lethargy dissipated, and eyes regained clarity. His lips parted, allowing mist to pass through his lips, and he commanded, "Fu."
Taken aback, Fu gulped at the uncanny morph in demeanour. The persona Kenjiro adopted was akin to when they were on the training grounds, and respectfully, though Kenjiro may be blindly perceived as lazy, he was a surprisingly strict instructor. Fu stammered, "Y-Yeah dad?" The youth was truly unnerved by the aura shrouding the man, and entered a state of reminiscence that shared the untold memory of brutal training, causing him to lurch back.
Kenjiro declared, his tone authoritative, "We're gonna up the pace, and get there in 5 minutes."
"E-Eh? Wha-"
Before Fu could inquire about the sudden proposition, Kenjiro propelled forth at breakneck velocity, kicking the snow behind with tremendous force, unknowingly cloaking Fu in all white. However, Fu wasn't one to be caught lacking, and his heightened vision caught his speeding father in the distance who showed no signs of constraint.
Shaking the snow off his body like a dog, Fu dug the soles of his feet into the billowy snow, and he too, vanished from sight, adamant on catching up to his... ironically exhilarated father.
It was a truly baffling turn of events. One would wonder why the usually lazy, and tardy man, was suddenly turned on!
***
The village, known as Konohagakure, seemed boisterous today as most stores decided to close for the day, and everyone was prompted to engage in fun and laughter. The usually dutiful adults brimmed with fervour, and the joyous occasion reverberated through every nook and cranny of Konoha. Bearing witness to such a wonderful tapestry would bring a smile to the faces of even the most stoic. Not a single lackadaisical individual was seen in sight, as everyone united with all their relatives, and immersed in traditional and cultural festivities; one such popular attraction was the Shrine.
As we delve into the antique bourg, overflowing with vigour, one extravagant, yet all too familiar house looms in the distance. The aromatic fragrance of the flowers on the front porch served to make the terrain more inviting; it was meticulously maintained, as signified by the absence of snow, showcasing their vibrant colours, and rhythmically swaying in response to the ample zephyr. Ushering into the warm confines, the premises truly did not disappoint, as every nook and cranny seemed devoid of blemishes, yet not a single sound could be heard, which meant no one resided in here... That's how it would be perceived, if not for the courageous warcry of a tenacious youth!
"HUUAAAARRRGGHHHHH!"
The obnoxious holler immediately shattered the ambience of the room, with an echo lagging behind, depicting significant vocal strain. The source of the shout appeared to come from behind a sliding glass door, which was left slightly ajar. Once again, as we enter the outside world, we are besieged by the biting chill of winter, as its contaminated fangs urge to plunge into our essence, thus, casting us into an inescapable void of sickness.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
A familiar yellow-haired youth seemed to pant heavily, and with each exhale, a wisp of mist escaped his lips. He was donned in a long-sleeve orange t-shirt, and midnight blue tracksuit, with an arm extended, and fist curled into a ball. The stance he assumed was a punching motion, directed at a red-haired man who directly welcomed the manoeuvre. The scarlet-haired man had stopped the punch from the youth without breaking a sweat. In contrast, the youth let out laboured gasps, before collapsing, and submerging in the fluffy carpet of snow. With outstretched arms, he remained languished and completely drained from the training. Heavily fatigued, he gazed upon the porcelain white skies, and his eyes seemed to cradle a tint of annoyance as he lampooned over the ineptitude of his performance.
'Not good enough,' Naruto frowned internally.
Invading his reddened ears were brisk steps nearing him, and before long, his vision was substituted by a man with long scarlet hair, profound scarlet eyes, and a smile gracing his lips. Extending his arm, he gestured, "Alright Naruto, let's go in. We're done with training for today."
Naruto accepted the heartfelt gratitude and grasped his uncle's hand, to which his uncle effortlessly lifted him. The duo were none other than Uzumaki Naruto and...
Namikaze Hayato.
Hayato acknowledged, "You've improved immensely Naruto. I've definitely noticed major improvements from the first time we met, and I'm proud of you."
However, Hayato found he was only met with negligence, as Naruto directed a downcast gaze on the earth, prompting him to knit his brows together. As such, he called in a questioning pitch, "Naruto?"
Snapping from his reverie, Naruto turned to his uncle, and stammered, "Y-Yeah?"
Hayato inquired, "What's wrong? You seem dull."
*TROT* *TROT*
More footsteps followed suit, but the one in particular this time seemed to carry an ominous weight. The uncle and nephew duo turned to the source of the unsettling trot, presenting a gorgeous female whose beauty was tarnished by agitation and fury. Her facial contort caused the generally nonchalant Hayato to shudder, as though expectant of backlash. The beautiful maiden, clad in a black jumper, and baggy tracksuit, intoned, "Don't tell me you've overexerted Naruto's progression."
She was none other than Uchiha Kaede.
Her tone oozed with malice, such that Hayato stumbled back a couple of steps in fright. Raising his arms in surrender, he admitted, "O-Okay, maybe we did go a little over the top this time."
Naruto wryly chortled at their conversation, to which Kaede spared a sharp, scrutinising glance. Before Kaede could voice her concerns, Naruto intercepted, "It's okay, I'm fine. I just..."
A sharp whistle was injected with the soft breeze, before Naruto continued, "I wanna get stronger."
Ever since training had started, while initially, Naruto was fond of the results, lately he felt as though he had been stagnating. That miserable feeling was only amplified when he faced defeat against Sasuke once again. Naruto, much like any other youth, sought for strength.
He craved it!
And with his head jumbled up behind this singular notion, Naruto was unaware of his drastic improvements that left even Hayato astounded. Hayato sighed, before patting the youth's head. Naruto turned to his uncle, who commented, "Naruto, everything tends to take time. As your mentor, I've noticed you've gotten considerably stronger."
Retracting his hand, he continued, "I've increased the intensity of your training by a lot in the span of 3 weeks, and as your mentor, I must say you've improved." With a jovial grin, he added, "I can tell that you might even be able to outshine me in the future."
Naruto's eyes glinted at his uncle's words, and his gleeful expression returned, and he confirmed, "WOAH, REALLY? EVEN MORE AMAZING THAN YOU OJI-CHAN?!"
Hayato, flexing his biceps, challenged, "You're still a far cry from reaching my level, cuz I won't let you beat me."
Naruto declared, "I WILL BEAT YOU OJI-CHAN, AND BECOME THE HOKAGE."
Hayato played along, "Haha, I'd like to see you try."
The formerly aggrieved Kaede smiled at the duo, and now she seemed to be at peace of mind. With a clap, she earned the duo's attention.
*CLAP*
Hayato and Naruto turned to Kaede, who wore a breathtaking smile as she approached them. She instructed Naruto, "Naruto dear, go and have a bath. We're going out later."
Bolstered by the precept of a family outing, Naruto broke into an ecstatic grin, before bolting indoors, and following his aunt's command. However, the dubious Hayato questioned, "We are? Where to?"
Kaede grinned, and suggested, "How about we go and meet sensei? It's been a while, hasn't it?"