My Song to You

3

It's been seven years since Naruto lost the only other mother figure besides Shizune. Throughout those years everything went downhill. Shizune had become too busy with new children that were getting dropped off over the years. Naruto had stopped singing, he stopped pay attention in his lessons. Everything seemed dark to Naruto, as if it weren't worth it anymore. Shizune had tried everything she could to get Naruto back to his usual hyper self, but all her efforts were in vain. Naruto had lost interest in life. He'd stay locked in his room unless it was time to eat or have lessons.

When Naruto would come down from his darkened room full of papers and dirty clothes Shizune took the chances to clean up. She would find papers balled up and scattered over the wooden floor. She had gained a habit to unroll them and read what was written. Every time she did her heart would break. Naruto had been writing to Tsunade about his day or what happened over the week. She once read a letter to Tsunade wishing he had gone with her to the far-off land Shizune had told him about.

After that day Shizune just picked up the papers and kept them in a box in her own room. She thought of ways to make things better after reading them at night, but then she'd read that Naruto didn't want to have fun without his granny. Shizune was at a loss as to what to do. She tried talking to him, but he'd brush passed her and go straight to his room. Shizune would check on him before heading to bed and she'd find him messing with the necklace Tsunade had given him.

Naruto's once bright hair was now a dull mustard color. His gleaming azure eyes were now the same color of the polluted ocean. His smile never reached his ears. He had dark bags under his eyes and he had lost some weight. He looked as if he was lost in the world. Naruto didn't have his sunny personality anymore either. His conversational skills were now just 'yes' and 'no'. He didn't play with the kids he saw growing up, he just looked passed them.

The kids who had grown up with Naruto thought something happened to him while he was at the hospital with his broken leg that he got from trying to get to the far-off land he told them about. How wrong they were. How innocent they were. Naruto wished he could be as unknowing as them. He wished he could have gone with Granny. Wished he could have made her better for real with his singing like she had said he did.

The once happy birthdays he had spent were now dark and awkward. Shizune had told the children that Naruto didn't want a party because he was a grown up. In reality it was the day Tsunade passed away and Naruto didn't want to celebrate his life when another ended. He didn't want anything but for his granny to come home. He wished she'd walk through the door laughing at the top of her lungs with that strange guy holding her up. He wished she'd laugh at him and tell him that he was a dummy for believing she was gone. None of it happened on his birthday. Not a single letter from where ever she went. No call. Naruto was starting to believe that Shizune had lied to him.

When Naruto turned twelve Shizune had told him that she had a surprise for him. It would make up for Tsunade not being there. Naruto fought back saying he didn't want anything. Shizune insisted and took Naruto to the room of magic, the room was really the room were future parents spoke with the child of their choice. Naruto continued to fight back but got pushed inside. Huffing Naruto turned knowing there was an adult in the room. To his surprise there was none, just a television screen and a DVD hooked up to it. There was a note with instructions to be followed.

Naruto did as the paper said and sat in the only chair in the room. The screen bleeped on and strange fleshy looking balls came into view. Grossed out Naruto covered his eyes. Then his heart sank as the video played on.

"Is this stupid thing working? Yeah? Alright." Tsunade's voice came through the speakers.

Naruto peeked through his fingers and saw the smiling face of his Granny. He slowly took his hands off his face as she started to talk again.

"Hey you stinkin' brat. It's your birthday! And your twelfth one at that! Grats kid. Now listen to me and listen well. Are you sitting?" Tsunade asked to which Naruto nodded and leaned over the table to be closer to the screen.

"Alright well I wouldn't know anyway...god why are these things so hard to say? Anyway, look Naruto, I am dead if you're watching this. I'm not going to sugar coat any of this. If Shizune told you I went to a faraway place that doesn't accept letters or calls, it's true. I probably died from laughing too much. That's not at all wha-" Tsuande was paused as Naruto took in the information, she had just thrown at him.

Naruto knew of death since Shizune had taught him about it during his history lessons about past people. She wasn't coming back then. All his birthday wishes wasted on hopeless things. Naruto wiped the oncoming tears and continued the video.

"What I wanted to say. Naruto, I have already told you that you are my child. But there are other parents out there for you. They may not be perfect, and they might not be two parents, or a man and woman. If someone comes to adopt you, please give them a chance. You are a very special boy and I'd love to see you happy. Don't stop singing either. If I find out that you've stopped, I'll tell my boss to throw a giant rock at you, got it? I love you Naruto. Never forget that. Now lemme get off this thing before I start crying." Tsunade laughed the last bit and the video stopped.

Naruto sat there crying as he had been through the nights he couldn't sleep.