Titanium (SasuNaru)

6.Shinpaku

"A hero is a man who does what he can."

    -Roman Rolland

~

"So... Hokage-sama..what is the cure ?" Everyone was silent, waiting for the answer anxiously.

"We need to sacrifice Naruto Uzumaki's heart and hope the curse will accept it."

That certainly wasn't what they had expected.

~

Naruto felt sluggish and sore all over as he opened his gray eyes. Looking at the room, he noticed he was alone. 'For once.'

No, he loved being around people, being pampered and cared for. It was a nice change for when he was a child, when he had no one except the Sandaime and Iruka.

Naruto still felt a little bitter about his childhood. Everyone just cared about the Kuuybi, not that he was actually a living, breathing person, no no, he was the jinchuuriki. Has been, is now, and will be. Well at least until he dies. 

He has to 'enjoy' his last few days, because it was painfully obvious he was going to die in a couple of days. His whole body was sore, he was always tired, his physical appearance looked horrible, with no longer shining blond hair, but matted silver hair. No longer were his eyes sapphire blue but hollow gray. His once tanned skin now looked like he was Sai's cousin. 

Naruto sighed. He felt tears burning in his eyes, but refused to let them fall. He had to be strong, even when he was weak. 

He swung his legs from under his blankets, and felt the cold floor with his feet. He shakily stood up, leaning to the walls for support. He felt his legs wobble, but he took a step, and another. He felt himself falling when he reached the window, which had been his destination. Now sitting at the cold hard floor, he gripped the window sill and pushed himself up. 

After struggling, he managed to sit on the window sill, and sighed, feeling cold sweat forming. His body was protesting every move, but he just had to see his home, Konoha, once again before his time ended. He wanted to feel the open breeze and smell the flowers from the flower bedding under the window. He wanted to see the Hokage monument, his father's face, looking back at him. He wanted to hear the children laughing while running and playing.

Naruto opened the window with shaky hands, feeling the cold sweat slippery against the white wood. Once the window was open, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The gentle breeze of the wind ran through his hair and the cherry blossom's sweet scent overwhelmed his senses. He heard children laughing and shouting to their friends. 

Suppose it was a good day to be alive, he hummed sardonically.

~

Sasuke stared at the Hokage. "So if 'the curse' feels like Naruto is needed in the world, he can stop the curse once and for all ?" He asked. Tsunade just sighed.

"Yes and no, the curse is sentient, to my knowledge, it'll test Naruto. If it feels like Naruto's heart is needed, then the curse will vanish." At the many bemused faces, she continued. "I mean, it's not that the curse will end just because Naruto is physically strong, but if his heart is pure and needed, it'll stop it. Like the markings on his body said, pest control. Those not needed will be eradicated. " Shikamaru frowned and narrowed his eyes. Sakura was the once breaking the silence.