The Life of Ki (Naruto Fanfic)

Homecoming: Part 2

I slowly approach the clearing of the explosion.

The dust has finally settled, but everything still smells of smoke.

There is no sound coming from the location, and that is even more unsettling.

None of my friends are ever this quiet.

Either they have moved on, or something bad has occurred.

Thinking little of it, I push through a few low-hanging branches to step into the clearing.

The sight that stretches before me is a knife in the chest.

Am I too late?

In good news, my friends are all alive—at least I think... 

Guy, Neji, Tenten, and Lee all stand around Kakashi who is pressing a hand to his eye.

Aside from the blood oozing from Kakashi's eyes, no other Konoha ninja is terribly injured.

Sakura is helping an old woman I've never met to her feet, and Gaara's lifeless body lies on the ground not more than a few feet from me.

All of this is painful in a way, but it isn't until I see Naruto that the ache in my chest begins to throb painfully.

His eyes are passionate but dulled with the weight of sadness.

For a moment, his eyes seem to pass right through me, but as they refocus his jaw drops.

"Naruto!" I burst out excitedly as I outstretch my arms for a hug.

"Ki?" Naruto mouths my name as though no one else should know I'm there.

He takes a slow step towards me, and I'm overcome by the look in his eyes.

How to describe his look?

Shock, hope, and even...love?

Yes, tremendous amounts of love.

I always knew Naruto cared deeply about his friends, but this kind of passion is overwhelming.

I barely have a chance to blink before Naruto tackles me.

"Ki? I-it is you!" Naruto shouts in awe as he embraces me in a hug.

I'm not certain if it is because of me, or because of Gaara's seemingly lifeless body, but the boy is crying.

"Long time no see," I say as I embrace my friend.

No one else moves an inch and it quickly gets awkward.

Naruto still hasn't let go of me, and I don't suspect he will anytime soon.

Neji is the first to snap out of his trance.

"You're back?" Neji asks bluntly.

It's probably the dumbest thing that's ever come out of the guy's mouth.

Tenten snaps out of her shock as well and rushes to hug me. "Ki! It's been so long."

Not much later, Neji, Tenten, Sakura, and Lee are embracing me as well, shouting welcomes and asking where I've been.

"I'm just happy to be back with you guys," I say with a small smile.

As everyone ensures I'm real, my eyes wander from my friends to Gaara's body.

It's clear he didn't make it, or else Sakura would probably still be trying to heal him.

The old woman I've never met, but who appears to have accompanied the Konoha ninjas, shuffles to Gaara's body.