Things we do for love

Chapter 14

Right now, Naruto was eating ramen. He had met Kiba and Shino a little while before, while he was looking for Sai. He was shocked and happy to see how much they had grown, though a little disappointed that he wasn't able to recognize Shino.

However, in his defense, Shino's outfit now covered him almost completely. He couldn't just recognize someone from his forehead, could he?

However, right now, he was worried. He remembered his and Sasuke's conversation a year-and-a-half ago.

"Naruto, Orochimaru isn't as weak as we thought. During the Chunin exam and the invasion, he wasn't even about a tenth of as powerful as he really is. Him switching into a better body has made him a whole lot stronger. We need to be careful."

Now he knew that he shouldn't underestimate a Sannin. He was extremely powerful, hell, he might even surpass the sannin in terms of raw power, his tailed beast mode went toe-to-toe with Jiraiya's sage mode. However, they were all over 50 years old. Jiraiya was the one who aged the most physically. Tsunade, being a Medic, knew how to keep her body in tip-top condition. And Orochimaru was 19 years old, or rather, in a 19-year-old's body.

Even with that, Jiraiya was the stronger one out of him and Tsunade. And Jiraiya had told him that Orochimaru was even stronger than him now.

So yes, he was nervous. He couldn't go full-tailed beast mode, due to the fact that he still hadn't conquered the darkness inside him. He didn't know why or how. He just knew.

All of a sudden, he felt a hand on his head. He turned to see Iruka smiling.

"Iruka sensei! How are you?" asked Naruto with a smile.

"I am fine. Now tell me, why are you so troubled?" asked Iruka.

"What? I am not troubled..." said Naruto, trying to dodge the subject.

"You are so deep in thought you didn't sense me. Your bowl of ramen is still half-filled and you aren't even eating. You are zoned out, and that smile of yours was fake. I know you like the back of my hand Naruto," said Iruka with a smirk.

"I guess I am caught..." said Naruto with a chuckle. He loved this about Iruka. No matter how hard Naruto tried, nothing could work. Iruka always knew what Naruto was feeling.

"So... what is troubling you?" asked Iruka.

"Well... it's just that I can't go full-tailed beast mode even now. If I go full force now, I will most probably lose control. It's got to do with the darkness inside me. however, no matter how much I suppress it, how much I try to get rid of it, I just can't..." said Naruto, frustrated.

"Say... Naruto, can the light exist without darkness?" asked Iruka.

"No..."

"Can Days exist without night?"

"No..."

"So how do you expect goodness to exist without evil?" asked Iruka.

"B-but..."

"Naruto, you know the greatest thing about humans, or any living being at that?" asked Iruka.

"What is it sensei?" asked Naruto curiously.

"We are not perfect. That's what makes us beautiful. You see, it's the flaws that give us our strength. Like the one being inside you. Even he is not perfect, you must know that by now. He is prone to get angry, and act like a jerk." 

"Hey that was rude!" said Kurama from inside.

"However, as you, and by now I, know, he is also one of the most kind-hearted, bravest, and strongest soul. That's what makes Kurama great. That's what makes you great. You both have flaws and yet you overcome those."