SHIBUSEN SIDE
Characters: OPEN, Shibusen side
Location: Shibusen underground barracks
Rating: R
Time: September 1-15, 2019
Description: Both sides have exchanged news about their respective blast from the past. What does everyone think about it?
( SHIBUSEN SIDE )
Location: Shibusen underground barracks
Rating: R
Time: September 1-15, 2019
Description: Both sides have exchanged news about their respective blast from the past. What does everyone think about it?
( SHIBUSEN SIDE )
It wasn't the first trip he'd made above ground by any means, and he sure as hell wasn't the only one doing it. Naruto paused beneath the minimal shade offered by what remained of an alley overhang, pack shifting over his shoulder, and arm lifting to wipe beads of sweat from his brow. September, that was supposed to be cold out right? It had a smile pulling at the edge of his mouth.
So- he really had gotten used to Death City.
In his own opinion, ten years hadn't treated Naruto as badly as it had others. Yeah, he'd lost friends- some who'd passed on, some who'd betrayed them, and some who'd been taken- but he'd carried on. He'd gotten stronger, taller, and maybe a little quieter. He'd still kept hope. And with the news that had come in mere hours ago, the gossip turned reality- people from the past? As far as Naruto was concerned, it was as much reason to keep holding on as he could ask for. Count on Shibusen to keep throwing surprises their way.
Naruto shifted the pack for a second time, weight readjusting on his back as he leaned forward, glanced around the corner. Made sure the path ahead was clear. The bunker wouldn't be far off now, and bringing the supplies in had been taking long enough.
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The most that had changed about Kazu was probably his voice. When he was younger, he was all indignant squawking or shy stuttering. There was still plenty of both, but now there was a third tone that reflected the long years he'd been fighting, a tone that sounded tired and wary and in-command all at once. He was using that tone now, trying to keep it measured, not wanting to surprise Naruto by yelling. He knew he himself got jumpy, sometimes--okay, most of the times. But it was pretty chickenshit to admit loud noises made him flinch.
Otherwise, Kazu looked more or less the same, though his hair had maybe gotten a little longer, and somewhere there'd been a clear graduation from skinny teenager to lean adult. he'd clearly been above ground for sometime himself, either fighting or doing some hard running.
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It didn't matter in the end, how much training Naruto had done or how familiar he was with his surroundings, how comfortable he was with his own strength. The approach of another person was all but tangible, and it never mattered what side they were on when it came down to it- because it always made his skin crawl. It was habit more than anything else that his fists had tightened at his sides, only to loosen as soon as the words hit the air.
Naruto half turned, a genuinely bright smile on his face for the greeting that followed, one hand lifted. "Yo, Kazu." Now if there'd been one person he hadn't expected he'd come to like so much, it'd be that bastard hands down. What had been childish rivalry had somehow evolved, and though Naruto could hardly pinpoint the exact moment that everything changed between them, he couldn't bring himself to care. Sure he'd still ride the guy about one thing or another from time to time- maybe just to try and get that serious expression to soften, but the fact of the matter was, Kazu had become someone he counted on.
His gaze lowered, just enough to give the other a good once over. "You alright?"
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That was not necessarily true. He was tired, but his uncharacteristic soberness came more from his mood. He tended to get like that after he came from the MW zones and his A-T started loosing speed--not depression, exactly, but more like disappointment, maybe frustration. As much as Shibusen was his home, it rankled him, being boxed in.
His friendship with Naruto had helped, a lot, especially when Kazu thought he was going to go crazy withpowerlessness. It was hard to stay down around someone with a face like Naruto's.
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The bright smile tapered off at his admission, Naruto's gaze traveling just enough to take in his companion's expression. It was no secret that Kazu had, cooled over the years. From what he'd known of him when they were young, they'd both been hot headed- but he couldn't recall ever seeing the other with the same air of seriousness that bore down on him now. It wasn't something they'd ever really discussed, the things that had happened to change them both. But Naruto imagined that the story- well, it didn't really need to be told for the other to know what had happened. What was going on. What their thoughts would inevitably return to.
"Man, you've gotta work on that," He began, head half bowed and smile thrown haphazardly over his shoulder. "You've gotta be the worst liar ever." His arm reached out, just enough to shove amicably at Kazu's shoulder before shaking his pack noisily. "So c'mon already. You gonna help me carry this or what?"
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Sometimes Kazu really did hate how obvious he was. The war had happened to everyone, one way or another, and sometimes Kazu just felt like he was advertising more than his due. Naruto hadn't gotten away much better than him, but the other at least seemed to bear himself with more optimism.
"What, you carried it all this way, you're just gonna quit on it now?" He scoffed, but even so was already reaching to take some of the burden.
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There it was, the characteristic flair up between them that no, didn't really accomplish much of anything and sure as hell wasn't serious- but was an excuse for them to be loud regardless. Naruto didn't consider himself the most observant guy around, but he figured he'd have to be blind to miss the tension that built around Kazu, something he always attributed to being fenced in by the city's limits- Shibusen's limits. The cause didn't matter as far as he was concerned, and Naruto had mounting frustrations of his own to be sure, so whether the mock fighting between them was handwaved as unnecessary noise by others- well. He'd take whatever chance to vent he could get.
It took the edge off regardless. "Who's quitting huh?!" He railed, one fist raised in Kazu's direction and accusatory scowl spreading over his face. "You're the one being lazy around here! You've got those flying shoes or whatever anyway don't you?" More volume than venom, but even so, he was sliding a pack to his companion's shoulder.
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"It just means I get more work done in less time." He taunted, taking the pack and rolling several yards in front of Naruto, just to fuck with him. The goading and hollering was familiar, an easy, welcome relief to come home to--it was part of what made Shibusen his home, despite its flaws.
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"It's called running'ttebayo," Naruto chirped after him- one arm raised as though he was urging their goading into a fistfight. He hopped forward just enough to throw a kick at space Kazu'd just vacated before his pace quickened, falling into a job beside him. He tossed a smirk over his shoulder. "How're you still so lazy, huh?"
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