Lights Down Low

Makoto Decided he had Thoughts that Needed to be Heard.

"Am I passionate or obsessive?

That's a matter of perspective.

You can make a quick decision,

But your opinion is subjective.

Am I eccentric or insane?

Demented and deranged?

I won't argue with the claim,

That I'm particularly strange.

See, the way that we perceive,

It shapes the way that we believe;

But let us not deceive ourselves,

Things aren't always what they seem.

Sometimes I'm like a raging river,

And other times, a silent stream.

Is what we see reality?

Or is it just a vibrant dream?"

Jimmy Osborne

___________________________

"So, how was your day?" Makoto asked, settling in front of his not-so-tiny siblings.

Naruto was too busy shoveling ramen into his mouth like a starved dog, ignoring him completely. Makoto rolled his eyes.

Children.

"It was good." Sasuke answered, popping a cherry tomato in his mouth and biting down so the flavor exploded on his tongue. "We did mock battles today. I won."

"Only because I was pretending!" Naruto defended, sending ramen noodles flying across the table. Asami flicked one away from her plate of sushi, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Makoto sighed, wiping away the food with a rag that he always kept on hand.

Raising little monsters really teaches you a thing or two about preparedness.

He loved their "leftover binge" that they did every week or so. When all the food was pulled out and served buffet-style. It was one of the only days they all were home, and even then someone sometimes missed it.

He imagined that the day would soon be rather lonesome, with his brothers soon becoming Genin.

They grow up so fast.

"Why are you even pretending, Naruto?" Makoto asked. "Shouldn't you be trying your best?"

At his words, Sasuke and Naruto both sat up straight with matching mischievous smirks. Makoto bit down a smile. He loved it when Sasuke looked so happy. Rare as it was.

It was happening more and more often as the boy learned to forgive and let people love him, and love him in return.

Therapy was a great idea. Makoto had genius ideas sometimes.

"You've done it now." Asami whispered in amusement. Oh no.

"Well, Shikamaru was telling us what teams we'd most likely end up on, based on past pairings and how the teams usually work.!" Naruto started.