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Naruto sat by the edge of a lake, still within the village. At that hour, it was normal for the place to be empty. It was early — the rising sun glowing softly, its golden rays touching the earth.
The Uzumaki wore casual clothes, thrown on without much thought. His hair was a little messy, nothing unusual, and his bright blue eyes reflected the light of the dawn.
“Oh, boy, what are you doing here at this hour?”
The rough, tired voice reached his ears, but he wasn’t surprised. He had noticed the old woman’s presence several minutes ago. “It’s still so early.”
Naruto turned to her and smiled.
“I woke up early and came to watch the sunrise.”
“You? Oh, you of all people? You train so much, young man. You should use days like this to sleep in while you can.”
She smiled to herself, and Naruto let out a small laugh — his voice still hoarse from sleep. It was, after all, early morning, and he had woken up just a few minutes ago.
“Thanks for the advice, ma’am. I’ll try that another day, ha ha.”
The woman said goodbye, and Naruto turned his eyes back to the view — to the village he loved so much, the one he and so many others had fought to protect.
It was October 10th, and instead of celebrating his twentieth birthday, he could only think about everything he had lived through during the past two decades. All the tears he had shed, everyone he had lost, everything he had seen in the war — and how much his life had changed since he was ten.
He wished he could celebrate this day beside his father, his mother, and the Pervy Sage. But they were all gone. And it was heartbreaking to watch the sun rise while thinking about everyone who should’ve been able to see it one more time, but couldn’t — victims of the cruelty of the world.
The pain sat in his heart, his throat, his very soul.
Because yes, he did have people beside him — friends, mentors, and an incredible boyfriend — but at the same time, he missed the ones who had been so important to him, the ones who had wanted to see him turn twenty.
Now he was officially an adult… and they weren’t here.
Well, his parents had never really been here. And Jiraiya-sensei hadn’t been there for most of his life. But they were family. They loved him. And he still loved them — deeply.
“Hmm. Are you crying?”
The calm, familiar voice made him glance over his shoulder. Sasuke stood there — he must’ve just arrived, quiet as always. His face was hard to read, but Naruto knew him well. It was worry, disguised as indifference — typical of the Uchiha.
“I’d say I’m just thinking, teme.”
“You can’t even do something that simple, usuratonkachi.”
Even though it was an insult, the small smile on Sasuke’s lips betrayed him. He stepped closer.
“So, what are you doing here?”
When his mind showed him all those who were gone, Naruto felt that old ache in his chest again — the kind that never really fades. The longing, the sadness.
But he also remembered everyone who had stayed by his side. Everyone he still had. Sasuke. Sakura. Iruka-sensei. Kakashi-sensei. Shikamaru. Gaara. Hinata. All of them.
So he shook his head, stood up, and pulled his boyfriend into a hug.
“It’s nothing. I’m just tired,” he said with a small yawn.
“Yeah right. I’m surprised you even woke up on your own,” Sasuke teased, returning the hug.
“Whatever. Let’s go home, hm?” The blond smiled, meeting those phoenix-like eyes.
“Actually, Sakura asked us to stop by her place. The senseis will be there too. Oh, and that guy… what’s his name again?” Sasuke frowned, trying to remember.
“Sai, dear. Sai Yamanaka.”
“That’s the one.” Naruto rolled his eyes at the reply but stayed wrapped in his boyfriend’s arms.
As the two walked away from the lake, he looked back one last time, watching how high the sun had already climbed into the sky.
It was a shame that such incredible people couldn’t be by his side now —
but he was Naruto Uzumaki.
That would never stop him from celebrating a special day surrounded by the people he loved, the ones who were still here with him.
Dattebayo!