Naruto One Shots

Itachi - Golden G-String 🍋

Word Count - 2620
Ages - 16 and 17

I sat on the rocks of the shore watching as the waves crashed against them. Listening to the sounds of the deadly sea. Embracing the smell of the salt. There was no better smell to me. A smell of freedom. With every ounce of freedom it allowed me to feel it also reminded me of what I was trying to be free of. That I was anchored down in the same spot for years as wave upon wave crashed down on me. I longed to be as free as the tide. Drift under the sun and find myself in new surroundings each day.

That was a part of the reason I took this job. It allowed me to travel. Little did I know I would still be anchored down in the same spot. But at least they gave me a little more rope to swim with. These days I felt so tangled in that rope that it was dragging me back down with each crash of the waves. I needed to find a way to cut that rope and free myself. But that wasn't in the cards for me. So I longed for those days that would never come. Watching the waves crash against the shore. Picturing that I was somewhere above water and it would never trap me again.

"Care if I join you." I didn't respond but Itachi took that as a silent welcome to invade my space. I wouldn't have allowed anyone else in. But he knew what it felt like to be under the waves. Desperate to escape but destined to drown. "What's going on (Y/N)?" He sat beside me but kept a healthy distance between us.

"The sun is setting against the horizon. Casting a calming orange glow on the ocean that slams against the rocks. It my favorite time of the day. When the true colors can be shown and there is no more pretending the world is perfect and sunny and blue. There as so many different shades and feelings out there. But this. The waves, the color, the desperation in the air. This is my favorite. I love the ocean and can never get it out of my mind. I just want to watch the wonders of the water while I can." I explained what I observed around us.

Itachi was silent at my words at first. He looked over the ocean with me as he tried to find his own peace.

"What do you want Itachi?" I broke the silence asking why he was out here with me. He was bringing me back to reality. I knew what he was doing. But regardless I asked with a soft voice. My voice almost sounded weak. Weak to anyone who didn't know what kind of powers I possessed. But everyone knew. Especially the man sitting beside me. I had made a name for myself that stretched far beyond the ocean. A name that found myself within the Akatsuki. Along side Itachi. Someone I grew up with in the village hidden in the leaf. Someone who knew my struggles that weighed me down. Someone who also fought against the politics that were bigger than our strengths combined.

"I want to know what is going on in that pretty little head of yours. What you are thinking about love?"

"I already told you. I think about the ocean. The escape that the endless waves encounter. They can do anywhere. Be anything. They can be small and timid or big and dangerous. You never know what to expect from the ocean. It's alluring and inviting. The smell of salt draws me in. Deeper and deeper. I feel at home drowning in it. Drowning in the ocean sounds like a perfect death to me. Way better than the drowning I'm already in. The drowning we are already in."

"We aren't drowning kitten."

"How can you say that? I've held the golden g-sting and it isn't what I expected. I had everything I wanted and it came at a cost. The ocean always comes calling for its victims. I put myself in that position. I put my hand into the hellfire to make me feel alive. But you know what Tach? It isn't what I expected and even as I reach for the flame it does nothing to stop the water consuming me. It consumes us all. It takes you, me and the fire we try to hold onto. I'm drowning here baby."

"So what are you doing to do about it?"

"I can't. I can't do anything. I want to cut the damn rope and be free but where will that lead me? Where will that lead you? I want to finally feel free. As free as the golden rays of sun against the ocean. Drift off with the tide and find a new home. But I'm afraid where ever I go I will always be in their reach. That there will always be a rope around my ankle that attaches me to the same damn anchor." I continued to watched the sun set under the horizon of waves as I ranted to him. We had yet to make eye contact or even get closer in proximity.