Chapter 39

Itsuki's POV

I stared at the cracked ceiling that was threatening to fall over me at any moment as dust poured over me. My legs and arms were numb, I can't even lift a finger. I could feel myself as cold as ice yet I couldn't feel the pain on my stomach that has been pierced with iron rods.

Moving my eyes to the side, I saw the child I saved kneeling, his glasses cloudy from the continuous crying over my body that was soon to be corpsed. I twitched a smile, one that I don't really usually show.

"Don't cry...", I whispered, my voice hoarse.

The boy's tears fell on my cheeks which rolled down on the dirty floor.

"Hic! B-but! Nii-chan! Yo-you're--", he stiffled another cry as snot run over his nose.

"You're a man...don't cry...", I let out a small gasp in between my sentence.

"Nii-chan!", he continued crying.

I just heaved a sigh until I heard the walls crumbling, my eyebrows were furrowed trying to get up only to fail.

'At this point we're both gonna die.'

"Udon...run...", I groaned.

He stopped weeping and looked at me, his eyes wide in shock, the life in them gone.

He shook his head frantically. "N-n-no! I won't leave you here someone's gonna save us! I'm sure. So don't tell me to go away--!"

"Just shut up and run!", I shouted, desperate to save this boy from being buried with me. I look to the other side, the small exit closing, being blocked by debris.

"NO! I don't want to! If I leave, you, you will die!"

'This brat.'

He was right. But, I don't want to let him die when he's just a kid, barely a ninja.

The wall crumbled beside us startling the two of us. At this point of time, I suddenly remembered something. "Udon, you have a dream right?"

He looked up at me and I smiled looking at the small light that was peeking out of a small hole.

"Y-yeah...", he wiped his tears, nodding. "I want to become a shinobi."

"Good. I'm jealous...you see I don't have a dream.", I start, he stopped hiccupping his breathing now calm.

"I want to become a shinobi who will protect his loved ones."

But, there is only one person who fits that loved one.

The ceiling above me cracked and I took this chance to rip away my own flesh just so I could push Udon away from me as blocks of debris fell upon me. I was trapped in the dark, without seeing, hearing nor feeling anything.

It didn't hurted the slightest bit that it felt strange to me.

When I opened my eyes, I stood surprised at the scenery infront of me. Stars filled the blue sky as I stood on top of the distilled water that revealed my reflection.

I didn't have any wounds nor injuries. I was completely fine, unscathed to be honest.

I snickered closing my eyes as I finally realized I died.

"Yo Itsuki."

The familiar voice made me stop on tracks.

Not moving.

"Oi! Baka-Itsuki! We're not having a mannequin challenge here!"

That annoying, loud and boisterous voice that could only belong to him. I questioned my sanity whether I was hearing a ghost or not then I realized we were both one.

I mustered up the courage to look up, my gaze softening as tears fell from my eyes. He stood there, his body fully intact, his red hair was as red like the last time I saw them. He looks so healthy, full of life, no problems or worries could be seen through his face.

"Kenma..."

"Did you missed me so much that you chose to visit me personally?"

A chuckle escaped from my mouth as I wiped the tear drops away. "Sorry...did I arrived too soon?"

He showed me his infamous grin. "Yeah! You idiot! I thought I would wait for decades! Who knew it would be in just a couple of months!"

I laughed slightly. "Yeah...", the light in my eyes slightly died down when I remembered I left someone very dear to me. "But...if I knew I was gonna be here today, I should have atleast gave a proper goodbye."

I suddenly felt a heavy smack on my back, I had to scratch it to ease the pain.

"Leave them with your ashes, don't carry those regrets in the afterlife.", he adviced as he wraps his arms around my neck.

I smiled at his gentle touch until he suddenly began squeezing the life, if there was still one, out of me.

"C-can't breathe!", I tapped his arms and he pulled back, his hands on his waist.

"You were truly an idiot!"

I touched my throat carefully as I desperately gasped for air.

"But, you gave your best, didn't you?", he turned away as he crosses his arms. "That's all that mattered."

He looked back giving me a thumbs up. "You truly are a great shinobi!"

I smirked and gave him a taunting look. "And you remained as a loser."

"Shut up!", he ponted an accusing finger at me.

"Tomatoe.", his face flushed red in anger at my comment.

He took a deep breath before stretching his hand to me. "Let's just go, dumbass."

I reached for his hand and the moment I did. I found myself beneath the shadows of a tree, surrounded by fields of flowers.

"You're finally home, Itsuki.", two warm voices called out for me.

I stared in shock at Kenma as he nodded for me to turn around. Tears welled up in my eyes once again as I stare back at my parents.

I ran towards them, my legs shortened as I take smaller steps. Oxygen filled my lungs once again, it felt so surreal that I began to laugh, something I thought I have forgotten to do. My figure shifted to the body of a child as soon as I jumped and found myself in their arms.

"I'm home! Kaa-san! Tou-san!"

Naruto's POV

The rain poured down, showering us with its cold tears like it was weeping too for the mourning of the late third hokage and the all the other respected shinobi who died while protecting this village.

According to the shinobi rules, one must not show any emotion despite any situation. I was squeezed out of my tears that I couldn't even twitch a muscle on my face. 

I placed the white lilac flower on top of his grave, praying silently, remembering how he used to get stressed at me for pulling pranks every single day on the most unpredictable time, leaving me with bittersweet memories.

'Jiji, thank you for everything. You were the very first person who treated me like a family. I won't forget you and I'll surely become the hokage one day, believe it! So watch over me!'

I left the memorial stage getting down the stairs passing by Sasuke, remaining silent. I stood behind Iruka-sensei, beside him was Konohamaru who was crying on the shoulders of Lhexi-chan as she kneels down to his level while she embraces him in her arms.

There was not a single emotion displayed on her face that was patched with several gauzes as she held Konohamaru gently. I don't know how she could keep a poker face under these situations.

"He was just fine yesterday! He was fine-hic!", Konohamaru blubbered, his face buried on Lhexi's clothes.

I tried to look away as I clenched my fists in frustration. The smiles on our faces died down when we heard he passed away in his sleep. I couldn't even say goodbye. Anything that I would say or ask for infront of his grave is nothing but, mere words because it's far too late.

As soon as the memorial service was over, I walked on the streets of Konoha, looking around at the debris that replaced houses and shops that stood here yesterday. The rain stopped and a ray of sunshine brought warm to the cold Konoha.

From the bottom of my heart, it signified hope.

I looked to the front to see Sasuke and Sakura-chan waiting for me. A small smile crossed my lips as they motion me to walk faster with a smirk and beam on their faces. Running towards them, a brand new color painted my life, just like the faint last layer of the rainbow.

Alexa's POV

My breathing hitched as my eyes snapped open, breathing deeply while sweating vigorously. I felt a funny feeling in my throat leaving me immediately dashing towards the bathroom, throwing up nothing but, water.

I inhaled painfully with my right hand on my lips wiping the squalid away as I flush the toilet with my other hand. Turning on the faucet, I splashed my face with water before staring back at my reflection on the mirror only to step back the next moment.

"What the...!"

The usual deep lavender color of my eyes were gone replaced with glowing golden eyes, three blue circles on my irises. I trailed the bottom part of my eyelashes staring dazingly at her.

"Seiryuugan..."

It can't possibly be...I touched the mirror, feeling a little awry.

I felt the strength in my body quickly fading away and I immediately pressed my palms on the corners of the sink to support myself.

"What's...happening...?"

A stinging sensation on my eyes followed afterwards before I finally realized that the cause of my wear out body was the Seiryuugan. Stopping the direct flow of chakra into my eyes, I dropped on the floor exhausted and burned out like all my energy was sucked away.

Questions filled my head almost forgetting about the serious injury on my bandaged abdomen. I was fatigued, sleepy and hungry as I look outside the window at the rising sun, raining warm rays on the nearly crushed Konoha.

"It's been two days, huh?", I talked to no one in particular as I sat by the window, looking at the Hokage head statues, especially on the Third Hokage.

I remembered every single sin that I've commited with my hands. Especially when I killed him. I killed him, I finally killed him.

"Once you kill me...forget about revenge and move on.", his words were raspy as if his voice was taken away, dried the water off it till it became sand and brought it back.

He laid down peacefully on his deathbed, a white shallow waft appearing on his oxygen-mask device that was attached to his face to facilitate his inhalation.

"And if I don't?", I asked, turning and twirling the sword on my hand.

He weakly closed and opened his eyes halfway. "If you focus on doing what you should do without the heed of what you want to do...you will lose sight of who you are."

"I have already forgotten that girl I used to know when you took everything away from me!", I hissed, rage vibrating in my chest. "The likes of you should have never existed! Everything started after you awakened the beast inside me! Blame your coward and fickle minded selves for bringing the downfall of your own village you sought to protect!"

"There would be nothing left if you seek vengeance only tragic. You will take everything but, you will gain nothing."

I placed my hand on my nape, rolling my head back as I began laughing like a crazy maniac. "You're truly an old fool aren't you? Ofcourse I'd be happy once I kill all of you!"

The grin on my face died down when I saw the his eyes, looking at me with pity. My eyes twitched in irritated indignation.

"How dare you?! Don't give me that sympathy! I don't need you to feel sorry for me!", I screamed my lungs out as I clutch my upper chest tightly. "Let me look at your desperate expression! Fear me! Hate me! Fill those eyes with detest and terror!"

"Were you...", he coughed in between his sentence. "...always like that...? You were terrified...scared for your own life...weren't you?"

My grip on my katana loosened as I take a step back. "Shut up!"

"You were terribly frightened and yet you had the courage to come to this village yourself, all to fill that sorrowful heart with satisfaction believing you were hungry for revenge."

"I said shut up!"

"It wasn't revenge, was it?", he asked and I shook my head from side to side covering my ears screeching loudly as the next words come out of his lips. "You were desperate for the love that you once lost."

I was taken aback, my eyes going all around the room.

"No...No...! You're wrong! I...I...didn't...", my voice lowered down as realization struck me like a bullet.

"Naruto...", I looked at the dying old man at the mention of his name. "He was able to atleast change you the slightest bit, didn't he...? That boy...he has the power to change the people around him...including you..."

I let out a small sound, pulling away my eyes off him to the full moon. "Heh...sadly you'll die without seeing him reach his dreams."

"I don't deserve such a magnificent and honourable thing. I have done countless unforgivable deeds towards that child...that his parents would never be able to forgive me..."

"Yondaime-sama and Uzumaki Kushina? Hah! You're right! They will surely not forgive you for letting him live his life all alone in loneliness.", I turned my heels around meeting his look. "How about this? I'll have the privilege of killing you myself and you'll die together with your sins but, it doesn't mean you're forgiven. You wouldn't mind it right? You old geezer."

He closed his eyes waiting for death to fall upon him. "I've lived a long and unsightly life behind the covers of a respected shinobi... Finally, this pitiful old man will finally meet its end..."

My blade reflected the light illuminated by the moon as I set my katana right before his neck. "So...my dead clan shall be remembered as villains and you despicable murderers will be renowned as heroes? Fuck you."

"Live a happy life, Lhexi...and once you do...don't take it from others...", I slowly raised my katana. "....I have one first...and last request..."

"What?", I asked void of emotions.

As soon as he finished muttering his last words, I finally brought an end to his life. I gave one last look at his peaceful serene face before closing my eyes as I tilt my head upwards.

"It's finally over, right? Asuna?"

No one replied as if no one was there.

"Asuna?"

All I heard was the melody of the wind.

"Hey...quick playing jokes...it's not funny..."

It felt like she disappeared into thin air together with her vengenance. And when she did, she forgot to take me.

If I were to describe what I was feeling, the words devastated nor broken is not enough to portray it.

Emptiness.

I don't know if a human is even capable of feeling nothing.

I came here all alone, and without Asuna, the only person I considered my other half, I'm left all alone once again.

It's over but, why am I crying?

I took everything and yet, I gained nothing.

I lost Asuna and Itsuki.

My own actions took the life of my beloved friends.

But, even if I acted sad about it, nothing would change. Even if I cry about it, nothing would change.

"I'm so lonely...", I sobbed into tears as I hug my knees to my chest.

A/N

I love Itsuki so much that I killed him off to prevent his sufferings in the future and also so I could give him a happy afterlife in heaven. And I feel sorry for Lhexi (Girl, stay strong! You're the main character, ya need to endure it a bit.)

They're two sides of the same coin, Itsuki found his home while Lhexi lost hers.

Any theories how our OC awakened the Seiryuugan? Well she actually already awakened it in the past...Asuna I mean.

Feel free to comment down below.

I love reading your them.