Phantomopes Depressed Literature ramblings

Dreams of a child, Regrets of the dead

For as long as Naruto could remember whenever she slept, she would appear in a place surrounded by water, in her company hundreds and thousands of wispy ethereal beings would watch her as she wandered, their faces unmoving and cold, she tried to call out gathering courage and approaching the ghosts of the damned, they did not answer, merely gesturing for her to continue while they continued to watch and observe

As time went on the spirits turned and left their aethereal presence and oppressing existence disappearing with their smokey forms leaving only a few to watch her, Naruto was scared, terrified really, but she found solace among the beach where she would play with the sand the waves lapping at her heels, she refrained from going too deep though, the charred stone, scorched wood, and burnt cloth pushing her away from the inner sanctum of the now desolate city, but she was also curious, she explored the outer reaches of island, running and frolicking around, stumbling across overgrown farms and abandoned ships, deserted houses covered the island's interior, signs of decay marring the city with charred stone and remnants of coal and ash littering the streets, a ghost town she knew from the few books she has read

Naruto gulped swallowing the lump of nervous emotion, she took a careful step towards the archway leading to the center of the city, wary and scared but oh so very curious, she took another and another, onwards she went gazing at the ruins with trepidation and wonder, she's never seen anything like this before, even as she imagined the houses in pristine condition, key differences separated it from Konoha's architecture and layout, while Konoha was large and sprawling with houses made of wood and roads made of dirt, this city uses there was plants growing out of houses moss and grass lining the cracks, birds nested on crevices, and she even saw a deer once nibbling at some low hanging leaves

Naruto's fear slowly washed away as she went and went exploring inside the ruins gazing at the interiors with awe, but it would not last she knew for once the sun sets on this dreamlike plane it would rise again on the waking world and she would be forced to leave. But it was fine for she knows that when she sleeps once more at the end of the day, she would once again return to this place

---------

It was sunny and clear on the ethereal world when she first met her, crimson red hair framing her face, she wore a striking kimono as she walked with grace and dignity. Naruto was frozen in place staring at the lady in front of her, the woman was only one to move the only one to had gazed at her with bright eyes instead of the dizzying abyss that the others did, and when the woman spoke it enthralled Naruto

"Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze", the woman smiled, gesturing for the girl to sit beside her

Naruto gulped taking a tentative step towards the woman clutching her golden locks for comfort

The woman smiled amused, eyes twinkling with flickers of red and gold "Do not fear, do you know who I am?"

"N-No...?", Naruto said staring wide eyed at the woman

She laughed, "My name is Mito, Uzumaki Mito dear child, and I'm your godmother"