Published at 18th of September 2024 10:53 am

Chapter 109 Destiny's Vow: 2 A Heaviness in the Air

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Naruto paced back and forth outside of Ichiraku Ramen, his usual appetite suddenly absent. Inside, Shion sat at the counter, watching him through the thin curtain that separated the small ramen shop from the outside world. He had said he needed a minute, and now that minute was stretching into fifteen.

She sipped the tea that Teuchi, the shop’s owner, had served her and stared into the cup, trying to suppress the growing anxiety in her chest. Her request had been made. The truth was now out in the open, and the waiting—this agonizing uncertainty—was unbearable. She didn’t regret asking him, but the fear of rejection gnawed at her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Naruto stop, clenching his fists, and take a deep breath. He turned on his heel and walked back into the shop, his expression a mixture of determination and hesitation.

“Sorry for taking so long,” he said, slipping back into his seat beside Shion. He forced a grin, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve been through some weird stuff before, but this... I mean, I’ve never thought about—well, you know—having a kid.”

Shion nodded, remaining calm, though her pulse quickened. “I understand,” she said softly. “This isn’t an easy thing to ask.”

Naruto stared down at the counter, avoiding her gaze. “I’ve never even thought about being a father. I mean, I always just figured I’d focus on becoming Hokage and protecting everyone, you know? Kids were never part of the plan.”

Shion’s heart tightened. She had suspected this might be his answer. Naruto’s life had been full of ambition, battles, and responsibilities. The thought of settling down, of bringing new life into the world, was probably as foreign to him as any other concept.

“I wouldn’t ask this of you if it weren’t important,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “The world is safer now that Mōryō is gone, but that doesn’t mean we won’t face other threats. My line has been protecting the world from demonic forces for generations. I can’t be the one to let that line die.”

Naruto’s expression softened as he looked at her, finally meeting her gaze. He saw the desperation in her eyes, the weight of the responsibility she had carried her entire life. For her, this wasn’t about a simple continuation of tradition—this was her duty, her purpose.

“I know I’ve asked a lot from you already,” Shion continued, “but this is something I can’t do alone. I don’t want to force you into anything, Naruto, but... I chose you because I trust you. You’re the only one who has the strength to help me in this.”

Naruto swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in his throat. The truth was, he had always been someone who wanted to help others. Whether it was protecting the village, saving his friends, or fighting off enemies, he had never turned his back on someone in need. And now, Shion was asking him for a different kind of help—a help that felt overwhelming in a way he had never experienced before.

But he couldn’t ignore the pain in her eyes, the fear that lingered beneath her calm exterior. She was strong, no doubt, but she was also scared. And for someone like Naruto, who had always fought to protect those he cared about, walking away from her now felt wrong.

He let out a long breath. “I still don’t know if I’m ready for something like this,” he admitted. “But... I’ll try to help you figure it out. I’m not promising anything, but I’ll stay. We’ll see what happens, okay?”

Shion’s eyes lit up with hope. It wasn’t a full commitment, but it was something. “Thank you, Naruto,” she said, her voice full of sincerity. “That’s all I could ask for.”

Naruto nodded, his mind still racing. He wasn’t entirely sure what he had just agreed to, but he knew he couldn’t leave Shion to face this burden alone.

As the two finished their ramen in relative silence, Naruto’s thoughts began to drift. What did it mean to bring a child into the world? What did it mean to create a legacy? He thought of his own parents—how they had sacrificed everything for him, how their love and legacy had shaped who he was. Could he ever live up to that?

Later that night, Naruto found himself walking alone through the empty streets of Konoha, his hands stuffed in his pockets. The village was peaceful, the stars twinkling overhead, but his mind was far from quiet.

“Hey, Naruto,” a familiar voice called out.

Naruto turned to see Shikamaru leaning against a lamppost, a lazy expression on his face as usual. He raised an eyebrow when he saw the look of deep thought on Naruto’s face. “You okay? You look like you’ve got something on your mind.”

Naruto hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to share. But if anyone could offer advice, it was Shikamaru. He was the strategist, the guy who always thought things through before making a move. Naruto approached him, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Yeah, it’s... complicated,” Naruto admitted. “I’ve got something pretty heavy to think about.”

Shikamaru sighed, clearly not thrilled at the idea of diving into someone else’s problems, but he didn’t walk away. “All right, spill it. What’s so troublesome?”

Naruto shifted uncomfortably. “Well, it’s about Shion. You remember her, right?”

Shikamaru nodded. “Yeah, the priestess from the Land of Demons. She needed help with that whole demon problem.”

“Well, now it’s more than just a demon problem. She asked me to help her with something else.” Naruto paused, feeling his cheeks flush. “She wants me to... uh... help her continue her line.”

Shikamaru’s eyes widened, and for the first time in a while, Naruto saw him genuinely surprised. “You’re serious?”

Naruto nodded, biting his lip. “She says it’s important, you know? For the future of her people and keeping demons sealed away. I said I’d help, but... I don’t know what I’m getting into. I’m not ready to be a dad.”

Shikamaru scratched the back of his head, his usual calm demeanor returning. “Man, that’s... complicated. I get why she asked you, though. You’re reliable, and she trusts you. But still, having a kid? That’s a big deal, Naruto.”

Naruto groaned. “I know! But I couldn’t just say no, either. She seemed so serious, and I couldn’t leave her with that burden. It’s just... I don’t know, Shikamaru. What would you do?”

Shikamaru sighed again, looking up at the stars as if hoping they’d provide some sort of easy answer. “Honestly, I’d think about what matters most to you. You’ve always been about protecting the people you care about, right? But this isn’t a battle you can fight the same way you’ve fought everything else. It’s a life-changing decision. If you’re not ready, you need to be honest about that.”

Naruto nodded slowly, absorbing Shikamaru’s words. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“And besides,” Shikamaru added with a smirk, “you’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, right?”

Naruto chuckled, some of the tension easing from his chest. “Yeah, I guess I haven’t.”

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Shikamaru yawned, stretching his arms lazily. “Well, I’ll leave you to figure this out. Just... don’t rush it. You’ve got time.”

As Shikamaru walked away, Naruto remained where he stood, staring up at the night sky. He had time, but not forever. Eventually, he would need to make a decision. And when that time came, he knew it wouldn’t be easy.

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