Dangerous Bond: Clan of Peace

Part 31

Naruto was the first to wake to the smell of charred wood and smoke. As he opened his eyes to the dawn of the sky, ready to take on another day, the blonde suddenly felt exhaustion hit him hard.

His eyes, once bright as soon as he'd opened them, suddenly lost their light as he sighed. He was tired of all the fighting. He didn't want to give up but he simply didn't want to do it anymore.

He sat up and leaned back with his hands on the ground. Staring up at the sky, Naruto wondered what his parents would think of him now. Traitor to the Leaf.

"You're up early" A voice reached his ears.

The blonde turned to find Kakashi perched in a tree with his book in hand. The man was leaned back with a leg hanging from the branch.

Naruto stayed silent as he got up and walked to the base of the tree. He stared up at Kakashi and frowned.

"The sun is nearly up, we should head out soon" Naruto stated. He wasn't wrong. Under normal circumstances, the team would have set out hours before dawn.

"Figured you could all use the extra sleep" Kakashi remarked before turning a page in his book.

Naruto looked down toward the campfire with his team littered around, all sound asleep.

Kakashi peered down at the teenager "What's got you troubled, Naruto?" Kakashi questioned.

Naruto looked back at him "What makes you think I'm troubled?" He raised a brow.

"A few things. You got up early which is unlike you and..." Kakashi shut his book as he peered down at his student "The look in your eyes. I know it well"

Naruto stared at him for a moment before sighing. He jumped up and joined Kakashi on his branch without a word before taking a seat.

"I'm so tired, sensei" Naruto muttered, his voice cracking at the end.

Kakashi kept silent as he studied the blonde. It could clearly be seen that Naruto looked tired. He had bags under his eyes, his shoulders were slouched, but the main giveaway was his eyes. They had no spark in them as they usually did.

"The world was never meant to be this way, Naruto." Kakashi started "There was never meant to be so much innocent blood spilled over wars that could have been avoided"

Naruto's frown deepened.

"But it is the way it is. You cannot control what may or will be. You can only choose how you react to it." Kakashi wisely stated.

Naruto glanced at his sensei with curiosity.

Kakashi smiled "In other words, if someone kicks you down, you choose whether to stay down or get up and fight. Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win but you won't know until you try"

Naruto took a moment, pondering over his words "When did you get so wise, old man?" The blonde let out a small smirk.

Kakashi smiled "It'll be okay, kid. You've still got us"

Naruto smiled as he looked back at his team. His family. His sensei was right.

"Let's get a move on" Kakashi muttered as he stared into the quiet forest. Tsunade would have sent shinobi after them after they woke up.

Kakashi and Naruto jumped down before waking the others.

Naruto helped Itachi while Sakura helped Sasuke.

It was a little embarrassing on Naruto's part as he held Itachi's hand whilst they walked. Sakura, on the other hand, thoroughly intended to enjoy every second she held Sasuke's.