What You Wish For [Complete]

The Voices Inside of My Head

Naruto looked forward to his son as they ran. You're conflicted, Kurama said quietly.

Yeah. We shouldn't interfere with this place too much, but if what Mitsuki said is true, then this Ansei kid is a dangerous entity.

So was Obito, Kurama pointed out. He was changed. Naruto sighed deeply and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was staring at the fox. You changed him. You can most likely change this kid too. He's a Jinchuuriki as well. Naruto sighed and crossed his arms. You do not want to save him, then?

It's not that, Naruto grumbled. There's no such thing as too far gone. Mitsuki is young and doesn't understand that. There's no way Ansei is beyond hope.

Then why are you conflicted? Kurama asked with a long sigh. Naruto closed his eyes and shook his head. He was selfish, he knew. He didn't know Ansei at all, and he didn't want to kill him either, but he also didn't want his son to suffer the same mistakes he had as a child.

Because we can't save him. Naruto answered finally. Kurama opened a single eye to stare at his vessel. That was a very un-Naruto-like thing to say.

How so, kit?

We can't take him to our world, Naruto said. Even if we were to reform him and help him out of the darkness, he still has to face this world's consequences. Not everyone is as forgiving as our Konoha. I don't know a lot about this place, but from what Boruto has told me, it doesn't seem like this Konoha is as kind as home.

So, we leave him in the darkness?

Naruto sighed and pulled out of the fox's chamber. He knew the answer to that question. They couldn't leave Ansei in the darkness. But...

...No matter what we do, this will end in heart-ache, Kurama finished his thought. Trust your son, Naruto. He is just as stubborn and foolhardy as you always have been. It is quite annoying. Naruto giggled softly at the fox's endearing tone and ended the conversation. They would save Ansei, and then they would go from there.

*******************

I hate you.

I'm sorry, Ansei thought. He stared sightlessly at the ceiling, listening to Himawari snore softly in an uneasy sleep. He wished he could comfort her.

Who cares?!

I do, Ansei retorted silently. The voices were relentless that night. Maybe it had to do with the fact that he would most likely die tomorrow.

Of course that's why! The voice reacted to his thoughts. We've worked too hard to die like this, little brother!

Maybe it's time to just give up. We knew we weren't going to make it to see the peace, Ansei reasoned without really caring. Tomorrow he died, and then the voices would finally stop. He did regret not being able to see Boruto one more time, but he had one final gift for his half-brother. His hand wrapped around a broken stone, sharpened to a deadly point. The fox would return one day after his death, that was sure, but Zetsu was impatient and all the pieces were here. He'll let her go and I won't kill myself and make his life a lot more difficult for a while, Ansei thought with a nod.

Are you a fool?! Did you honestly think we would die at the end of this, Ansei?

My name isn't Ansei.

There was a vicious laugh. Oh, you want to be called "Maro" now?! Will that change this mess you got us in to? Zetsu would have spared us if you had just stuck to the plan!