Where was Naruto?

The war was over, but where was Naruto?

You wouldn't find him aiding the injured, and you wouldn't find him being a shoulder on which those who had lost everything could cry on.

But where was Naruto?

You wouldn't find him at his parents' grave, but maybe there would be a few flowers there, ever so vibrant and orange.

You wouldn't find him at his Sensei's grave, who after so much grief and trial would finally reunite with his loved ones, in a place so far from here yet so very near. The scarecrow had spent all of his life mourning, he deserved an end to his misery.

You wouldn't find him celebrating with his friends, who waited only a few hours for him to show up. His friends who would know very well where exactly Naruto was, but would always feign ignorance.

You wouldn't find him at his apartment, where everything was neat and quiet. A pale orange glow entered through his windows and illuminated the room with an ethereal glow. There was no life here though. But, perhaps there was a neatly folded jumpsuit that screamed of energy on his mattress. And maybe just beside it was a headband. It looked magnificent, shining in the light. Grand and honourable. It screamed of achievement.

But Naruto was not there.

There was a strange quality to how the grasses danced in the wind, hiding whispers of footsteps and the promise of a journey.

There was a strange quality to how the sun set, shining more ferocious than anyone could recall. There was a sparkle in the sky on this day.

They knew that all was well.

But Naruto was not there.

Maybe he had been hidden underneath all this, maybe he had decided to learn what it meant for time to pass. Nevertheless, Naruto wouldn't be seen or heard from for a long time.

Or, perhaps, once in a while, around various places in the continent, people would see shadows, and reports would come of a man, face hidden beneath various articles like a cloth mask covering his lower face and a dull headband covering his forehead and a single eye.

Records of blue eyes and sunshine blond hair.

Where was Naruto?

He had moved on, and so should you.

AN/ Sorry about this, but the new year hasn't stopped me from reminiscing.