Things As They Were (Naruto!Founders X Reader)

Ch 3: Wandering Help

        "Do you think it's fair?" You suddenly disrupted the still silence, stroking curly strands of hair on the boy laying on your lap, as you continued to watch the sky's color bleed from orange to purple. The sunlight was slowly leaving Konoha's grounds, with the night tucking the village with its darkness like a blanket, urging it to retire for the day.

"Hm?" Shisui uttered out, dazed with fatigue from his recently completed mission. With the Naka waterfall's loud rushing water, you would've missed the sound he emitted, if only you weren't anticipating it. It was the only white noise of the Naka cliff tonight.

"Do you think it's fair?" You repeated, not pausing from brushing his head with your fingers.

"Think what's fair?" He asked, adjusting his position to look up to you. You let him, before you resumed stroking his hair.

"That children should fight in wars waged by their forefathers," You clarified. He let out an amused snort, temporarily ridding his exhaustion.

"C'mon, do you really have to ask that? What do you think?" Your best friend already knew what you'd answer.

"I mean, we're fighting for our futures too, aren't we?" You expounded, then sneering, "I just don't get why people just can't make peace already. I'm starting to think the antithesis of peace is pride. They should know what they did wrong and make up for it, instead of prolonging it like this," You ranted, before your nine-year-old self realized it came out painfully naive.

But then... it's that simple in the end, wasn't it? The only obstacles to world peace were communication and understanding-- something most Kages lack with how much they value their pride.

Shisui let out a contemplative hum, drawing it out to let you know that he's thinking of a response.

"Hmm... I don't even know if there is such a thing as justice in the shinobi world," He stated honestly, as you stared down at him with intrigue. "We fight believing in our own justice. But if the enemy is doing the same thing, who's right?"

You pondered over his question, before your face made a solemn look.

"I don't think it matters who's right," You said somberly, your hand stopping its repetitive motion on Shisui's head. Instead, you moved it on the boy's cheek. You felt his breath hitch from your touch, before relaxing as you let your thumb brush on his smooth, warm, alive skin; something you can no longer do with your recently deceased brother. "All that matters to me is who's left."

~*~*~

'There's hostile intent a few miles away, heading towards our direction,' Groaning, you sat up groggily from your disturbed sleep, before instantly recovering your usual vigilance. Such a shame; your recent dream was an exception to your usual nightmares. Nevertheless, you heeded Kurama's warning and stood up to pack your camping gear, making sure not to leave any traces of your presence. If it weren't for the Kyuubi's ability to detect negative emotions, the enemy would've been a lot closer before you could detect them.

'How many?'

'Twenty-six.'

'And they're all heading this way, huh? That means they're heading towards the same village we're going for,' You concluded, well-aware of pillagers running rampant during this time. 'We have to get there before them.' With a bite of your thumb, your blood activated your self-made sealing scroll and stored your camping supplies.