Naruto: Vengeance

The wind was warmer here.

It didn't cut like in the mountains.Didn't carry the stench of war.

It just… moved.

Soft.Simple.

Naruto didn't like it.

Because it made him feel.

Fū found him first, sitting at the base of the cliff near the tidepools. She didn't ask permission—just sat beside him, legs crossed, humming.

"You're not as mean as you pretend to be," she said.

Naruto didn't look at her.

"But you're still an idiot."

Still no response.

She pulled a seashell from her pocket and flicked it at his shoulder. "You saved me. You didn't have to. You didn't kill me. You didn't use me. You… saw me."

He turned then. Just a little.

"You were the first."

Her voice trembled.

"I'm still here. I'm not leaving."

A pause.

Then Naruto said:

"I know."

Tenten approached next. At the training rocks above the cove.

She challenged him to a duel.

He didn't answer.

She threw a kunai anyway.

It missed on purpose.

"You're strong," she said. "Stronger than anyone I've ever seen. But I think you're lonely."

He turned slowly, Sharingan flickering, but fading.

Tenten shrugged.

"I won't say I understand. But I want to. If you'll let me."

Naruto stepped closer.

Then handed her the kunai.

Handle-first.

A silent nod.

And left.

Ino found him near the fire later, watching the girls laugh.

"You're afraid of them," she said softly, sitting beside him.

"I'm not afraid of anyone."

"Not of their strength," she corrected. "Of their hearts."

He didn't speak.

She reached for his hand, didn't grab it—just hovered close.

"I don't want to be your weapon. I want to be your person."

Silence.

Then Naruto whispered:

"Then be stronger."

"I will."

Hinata came at sunset.

No words.

Just her presence beside him on the edge of the dock.

After a while, she asked:

"Do you hate me too?"

Naruto turned.

His voice was hoarse.

"I never hated you."

"Do you care about me?"

He hesitated.

Looked down.

"I care… that you're still here."

She smiled through quiet tears.

"That's enough."

Konan came last.

When the others slept.

She stood beside his tent, eyes reflecting the moonlight.

"Are you going to run?" she asked.

Naruto's gaze didn't waver.

"No."

"Are you going to let them in?"

"…Not yet."

"But one day?"

A long pause.

Then—

"…Maybe."

Konan stepped closer.

"I'll wait."

She kissed his cheek.

And walked away.

That night, Naruto didn't sleep.

He stood by the tide. Watching stars.

The wind touched his hair.

And for the first time—

He let it.

He whispered to no one:

"They're not tools."

"They're people."

Then, a pause.

And softly—

"…People I trust."