driftfleet

Who: Uzumaki Naruto & All the people.
Broadcast: Open Network Post
Action: The Hospitality Deck, and maybe the poor unsuspecting people of SS Huntress. (????)
When: 6th February

[Waking up in a place he didn't recognise, but knew instantly was nowhere like back home was unfortunately, a familiar feeling.

Waking up without his right arm, also, happened not to be an unfamiliar sensation. The fact that it had been healed, and all of his clothes repaired however, was as new for him as it was pleasant.

Naruto's understanding of the importance of his communicator, and surprisingly - the way it worked hadn't concerned him in the slightest, but it's several hours after his arrival on board the hospitality deck that he finally chooses to direct his attention to it. Fed, watered, and as clued up on what was going on as he could ever be without someone to direct his questions at left him here.

As soon as he starts recording his transmission, he gets right to the point. There's no familiar smile on his face, in fact - he looks bored. Fed up, probably. Their fight had ended, things were supposed to be getting better but now he's here.]

Know there's gotta be someone out there who can tell me what's up. Ain't Adstring, and it ain't Asgard. Who's controllin' everything? Who do we have t'fight this time? Why's it dark out. A guy called Madara didn't try an' steal the moon or something, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Will there ever be a good time?]

I ain't felt anythin' either. I did just get here though.

[and he's - you know, him.]

Guess we just gotta wait and see, huh? I ain't that worried. If your stuff's being controlled, everyone else's is too, y'know?

[ His feelings on Naruto's intelligence aside, he actually does take his opinion on board. Naruto's generally more in tune with his own body and surroundings than Sasuke is whenever he uses his sage abilities, after all. ]

Aa, perhaps.

Regardless of what the case is, I'll find a way around it. I'm not going to remain limited. [ Just don't let him rip his chip out. ]

[... Oh boy.

Very briefly, there's more than a hint of his frown. Telltale signs of his concern because even if Sasuke doesn't want to kill him on the spot any more, he is still Sasuke. Sasuke who hates being told what to do. Sasuke who hates feeling inferior. Sasuke who-- would probably quite happily try to take that chip out if the opportunity arose.]

As long as we work together... we'll work it out.

[ 'As long as we work together'. Ah, and there's the rub, isn't it? Something Kakashi had always been so ready to criticize them over, a lack of coordination that they've managed to fill in over the years but there are still cracks in their partnership.

And nearly all of them put there by Sasuke.

He's able to rely on Naruto now but that doesn't answer the question of whether he truly wants to or not, silence reigning for a moment or two longer as he simply watches the small changes in Naruto's expression. ]

... I understand. I'll keep pushing myself and trying to use them in the meantime. Something may change.

[Naruto barely recalls Kakashi's comments about the two of them. Only that they should be working together as a part of a team, if that's what they intended to do and somehow, they'd managed it.

Things might not have been as easy as they could have been, but they could work together almost flawlessly. Almost.

Sasuke's ability to trust was flawed, and Naruto had never found it in himself to chide him for it - not really, and especially not now that he knew the things he knew. About Sasuke himself, about his family, Itachi, Obito. Complex things, but simple... to Naruto.]

Yeah. Don't think you know how to stop pushin' if you ask me.

Don't tell me you're about to say I should be easier on myself. Isn't that hypocritical?

[ Maybe, but the ways in which Naruto and Sasuke have pushed themselves has always been very different. There's a reason why Sasuke's response to the occasional failing is a pinch of self-loathing and a renewed intolerance for himself instead of solely becoming more determined, as is Naruto's preference. ]

Well.

[He was going to - but maybe he won't now. Maybe.]

There's a bunch of stuff we don't know about this place, that's all.

[So talk to him. Actually. He'll just have to make sure he's around all the time, right?]

Perhaps, but there's no sign that refusing to test our powers and instead languishing here is in any way safer than keeping ourselves sharp. Control's been wrested from us in this situation, after all.

I ain't sayin' y'need to stop training and whatever. Just don't try gettin' everything back if it doesn't work.

We just gotta work together.

[In case you misheard him the first time.]

Working together isn't just about me relying on you to cover any of my weaknesses. It's also about me being strong enough to do the same for you.

I'm not doing anything reckless as it is anyway.

[Rolling his eyes over here.]

You are that strong! You'll be as strong as you gotta be.

[His faith is endless.]

You might though.

[ ... that actually causes him to pause because in some small way it helps, far more critical of himself than a compliment or two is going to fix anytime soon but Naruto isn't trying to be flattering. He's just being himself.

As always. ]

I told you about this because I thought you should be aware, not because I need to somehow be encouraged about it.

[He wasn't trying to encourage you to do anything, dumbass! He's trying to make sure you don't try to rip your head off to get rid of that dumb chip and explode into a zillion pieces. He likes you in ~~two~~ one piece.]

I'm just tellin' you what I think.

[ He actually pauses to further regain his composure, a sigh held back just behind his teeth. ]

... Fine. In that case, I've heard you.

[ ... ] I wasn't expecting to see you and I haven't been here long. Things are just tumultuous right now.

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