Blonde Hair Under a Harvest Moon
Chapter 2
The Valley of Forget-Me-Not
Early the next mourning Naruto was woken from his slumber by the old pervert. The old hermit had a wide smile something Naruto found calming. Naruto knew that Jiraiya had found out something and was eager to help him.
"did you figure something out Ero-sennin" asked Naruto
"Why yes I did after I looked my map over three or four times I came to a conclusion" said Jiraiya
"what is that?" asked Naruto
"The entire shinobi world hates your guts there is no where in the shinobi world you can live in happily" said Jiraiya with a smirk
"then why are you so happy I'm screwed" yelled Naruto
The outburst made Jiraiya smile even more this was the Naruto he knew and loved.
"I'm happy because I know a place that is outside the world of shinobi" said Jiraiya
He unfurled his map and showed Naruto the hand drawn line in-between the mountain range far away from the nearest shinobi nation.
"It is called Forget-Me-Not valley as far as I know I've being the only shinobi to enter the village. About ten years ago I saved them from a bunch of bandits after I got lost in the mountains. it's a tiny coastal farming community so to thank me they gave me a deed to a farm out there and said if I ever want to settle down I could." said Jiraiya.
"so I would be a farmer" said Naruto
"Yes but that doesn't mean you should stop training yourself someday they might need someone like you but a life of a farmer is not all bad." said Jiraiya.
Naruto looked at the man unconvinced. The change from shinobi; a killer for hire to a farmer; a caregiver, was quite a transformation.
"plus have you heard about what farmers daughters do." said Jiraiya with a lecherous grin
"Shut up you pervert! Besides, despite that the place sounds nice, once they find out what I am they'll do the same thing the village did." said Naruto sadly
Jiraiya looked at the boy he was obviously scared and nervous about people now. One could hardly blame him though considering the night he had been through. Jiraiya's face went serious and he looked down at the boy.
"Naruto I know these people and I can promise you one thing. If they found out about the fox they could give a rats ass they understand the concept of a Jinchuuriki and if anything the sympathize with them. So why don't we head there so you can live a better life." Said Jiraiya
"How do you know" said Naruto
"Because I do please can you trust me on this one." said Jiraiya.
"How can I trust anyone. over half the people I trust tried to kill me last night. So what makes you any different." yelled Naruto.
Jiraiya stopped as he thought what he should say next. He was originally going to tell Naruto about his relation to him after he gave Naruto the scroll. But as Jiraiya looked at the boy whose asking for some conformation that he could trust the old pervert. Jiraiya decided now would be the best.
"because I'm you Godfather" said Jiraiya in whisper
"what?" said Naruto
"I'm your godfather, in fact I was coming to the village to give you this" said Jiraiya as he handed a scroll to the boy.
"your father told me to give it to you when you turn 17, he also told me to have you grow up in the village, if I had known your fate would have been this I would've taken you and broken that promise. but the third said he could handle it and I needed to maintain the spy network for Konoha so I left it to him." said Jiraiya
Naruto was shocked here his sensei was telling him he was a part of his family. Tears fell as he looked at his sensei with eyes full of hurt. Guilt then racked its way through Jiraiya.
"Why didn't you tell me when we first meet that you were my godfather" said Naruto
"because you would've asked about your father and he had clear instructions not to tell you until you were 17. Also you were young back then you would've yelled at the top of you lungs at me and most likely hate me for abandoning you. You needed training to protect yourself so I chose to hide it. Looking back at those decisions they just add to the list of failures I have." said a guilt stricken Jiraiya.
Naruto then got up and stare coldly into the eyes of Jiraiya. The white haired man cringed waiting for the rant Naruto would unleash.
"don't ever say that training me was a mistake and failure" yelled Naruto
Jiraiya looked at the boy surprised that instead of saying I hate you it was in essence a thank you.
"If it hadn't been for your training I would have had to spend three more years in that village. Plus I wouldn't know what it's like to have a grandfather that's always there for me. And if I got nothing other then that out of my training, it would still be a success." finished Naruto.
Jiraiya looked at the boy with gratitude, despite that it sounded like an angry rant it was a very sincere thank you and I trust you. He then packed the giant scroll to his back.
"so you want to try Forget-Me-Not valley out" said Jiraiya with a grin on his face
Naruto merely nodded back and joined his sensei. The boy was still nervous but he seemed more optimistic. Maybe just maybe the valley would be the place for Naruto. A place we he would find some true genuine happiness.
The two travelers headed north towards the northern mountain range. The range was one of the highest and most desolate places in the world. As far as anybody knew no one had come out of that mountain range alive. This was why it was the border of the shinobi world if shinobi feared to cross the range then it was too dangerous to visit let alone inhabit.
As Naruto looked at the ranges he was scared. It had taken them a couple of months to make it to the range and now the mountains winter storms were screaming. Snow and sleet were the site that welcomed the two travelers.
"Are you insane why do we have to go through the mountains in the winter." yelled Naruto
"because it makes us harder to track remember this is outside the shinobi countries so you won't be tracked down by hunter-nins and Akatsuki. But if they saw us go in during the summer they might have followed us in making Forget-Me-not valley a useless hideout." replied Jiraiya.
With such a valid argument Naruto could not reply and simply followed the hermit into the mountain range. The trek was extreme, the cold made their muscles numb to the point where they felt like slabs of dead meat they had to carry around. The blizzards made visibility almost zero and the sleet burnt their faces.
Naruto felt like they were going in a circles but every time he asked if they were lost Jiraiya merely told him that was a good thing since he was the only one who knew the way and any pursuers would most likely wander until they starved to death. A month had past since the two had entered the mountain range and it was now officially the middle of winter. This only brought more intense blizzards and colder temperatures and Naruto was now questioning his decision to go with his perverted sensei. As far as the blonde could tell they were still stuck in the mountains but Jiraiya kept saying it would get better.
Then slowly but surely the weathers intensity started to decrease. Soon blizzards and hard wind turned to flurries and soft breezes. Then the snow disappeared altogether the cold still remained but is was much more bearable even so much that temperate plants could grow in the weather. Then sound of the coastline could be heard.
"we're almost there just over this hill and across the bridge." said Jiraiya
"about time I thought you were lost the entire time." said Naruto.
"do you doubt me so much. Come on I'm the manliest man in the world. traversing these mountain is child's play for me." said Jiraiya as he did a little jig
"you're also the biggest pervert in the world and with amount of times you've been hit in the head because of it I'm still surprised your brain still works." deadpanned Naruto.
Jiraiya stopped his jig a glared at the boy
"your mean you know that" pouted Jiraiya
The two then went into a staring contest and broke into silent laughter and continued over the hill. As the went down the other side of the hill Naruto got his first look at his new home. It was a quaint little town but it had a warm cozy felling to it. As they crossed the bridge Naruto looked down at the waterfall beneath it. The view allowed one to see the river turn into a bay in the ocean further down the stream. As the two headed into town Naruto saw the small assortment of buildings, everything a town needed, a doctors office, an inn/restaurant, a bar, and a few residential houses and an open air market. It was quite early in the mourning and the little town had yet to wake up so the two quietly made it through the town and started up a hilly road that ran parallel to the river.
After climbing the hill for a short while they took a left and came to a small plateau that had be carved out of the hillside. The perimeter of the property was lined with trees to make it seem like it was secluded despite the fact that it was not a far walk from the rest of the town. A barn and fodder silo with a fenced pasture stood in the middle of the farm. With plots of land meant for crop growing on along with a chicken house were placed on the far edge of the property. On the edge close to them were some old buildings. a food storage building and a tool shop for holding farm equipment in. Finally off in the corner of the property where the buildings end and the crops begin, stood a shack of a house. It was plainly obvious that the shack had seen better days and was probably condemned.
"how am I supposed to live here the house is falling apart." asked Naruto.
"You're right I know what we should do." said Jiraiya
The man walked over to the building and slammed his hand to the ground using a Doton Jutsu to destroy the house.
"why you do that for now I don't even have that" yelled Naruto.
"would you quiet down you'll wake up the entire town and besides you're going to build a new one anyway." said Jiraiya
He then to out a sealing scroll and released the contents. A large bundle of construction timbers and other building supplies appeared in front of the duo. Jiraiya then pulled out some blueprints for a house and handed them to the blonde.
"You use the Kage no Bushin and you'll have it built within the week." Said Jiraiya.
As Naruto looked at the blue prints the two heard a voice coming from the road.
"who's over there that is private property ." said the voice.
"I know its private property I own the damn place" said Jiraiya
"yeah right I know the person that owns this place personally and his name is… Jiraiya?" said the man
"in the flesh, I'm glad to see that your still around Griffin" said Jiraiya
The two older men walked towards each other and shook hands.
"so finally settling down Jiraiya." Griffin asked.
"nope I decided to give the property to a person less fortunate than myself. Griffin I would like to introduce you to the new owner of this farm Naruto Uzamaki." said Jiraiya as he motioned for Naruto to come over.
Naruto timidly made his way over to the man. Griffin was a burly brown haired man with a thick goatee and strong arms that knew the meaning of a long days work. Naruto put out his hand extending a handshake to Griffin.
"nice to meet you sir" said Naruto uncharacteristically polite.
"Nice to meet you young man." replied Griffin
"Griffin here is one of the village elders so he knows how the village works better than anyone." said Jiraiya.
Naruto merely nodded and showed his respects to the man quietly
"a shy quiet boy is he" said Griffin
"Hardly once he gets settled in he'll be loud and extremely outspoken" said Jiraiya
"what's that supposed to mean" yelled Naruto pointing an accusing finger at the old hermit
"see what I mean, anyways I was wondering if you could help the boy settle in. help him get the farm set up and everything" said Jiraiya
"yeah sure in fact tomorrow we got a livestock ship bringing animals and supplies he should be able to buy some and I'll show him around town." replied Griffin
"Livestock ship where does it come from." asked Naruto
"it trades with the elemental shinobi countries we import goods we can't produce and bring in new livestock to prevent inbreeding and we export goods to get a little extra money brought into the village." answered Griffin.
Naruto froze as he at the mentioning that a ship comes to port. He then glared daggers at his pervert sensei before jumping at the man attempting to hit the hermit.
"you made me walk through that entire mountain range in the winter when we could've just got on a ship and rode here." yelled Naruto.
After a brief struggle Jiraiya grabbed the boy by his collar and raised him to his eye level
"the reason we did not go through the port is it was to risky. The ship is disguised like a ship from the lighting country so no one will know where the ship is truly from. If someone we didn't want seeing us saw us get on that ship then there would be a large chance they try to find out where it goes and next thing you know, missing-nins, bandits, and god know what else would start flooding the bay here and good-bye Forget-Me-Not." said Jiraiya.
Naruto now released from Jiraiya grip calmed down. He had to agree with the logic but something told the blonde that Jiraiya just like to torture him and what better way then to be dragged threw a dangerous mountain range in the middle of winter.
"good now that you've calmed down why don't you take a look around while Griffin and I get the documents to finalize transfer of owner ship over to you. Meet us at the bridge in about an hour and the documents will be official alright." said Jiraiya
As the two men walked off Naruto walked towards the building of his farm and his new home. Once the two men were out of earshot the blonde, Griffin decided to ask if the boy was who he thought it was.
"Jiraiya is that the boy from you home village, the one that holds the fox." asked Griffin
Jiraiya could only let out a sigh
"yes he is, some bad things happened a couple of months back" said Jiraiya.
"what happened" asked Griffin
"there was a law in Konoha that no one was to speak about Naruto's tenant to the people of his generation so he could have a chance an a happy life. unfortunately some one broke the law and all the friends he had betrayed him and attacked him in the middle of the night. When I found him he was running for his life shrunken stuck in his back and he had broken ribs. I knew I needed a place for him where he could live happily and I thought Forget-Me-Not would be a good choice." said Jiraiya
"don't worry the people here understand what a jinchuuriki is and will welcome him with open arms. With the stories you told us of the boy we couldn't help but feel for the boy." said Griffin.
"that's good to hear but I still think it might be a good idea if he was the one to tell them. He's a little scared of people having his trust. Who could blame the poor kid being stabbed in the back like that. So could you keep his tenant a secret ok." said Jiraiya.
"that would be fine. He'll tell everyone when he is ready but I would like to tell him I know of his situation to show that we don't fear what he is." said Griffin
"that would fine, we'll do it when I give him the papers on the bridge." said Jiraiya.
The two then went to Griffins home and got the paperwork in order, it did not take very long and soon the two were in Griffins Bar enjoying some drinks and catching up.
Back at the farm Naruto had decide to look around a get used to his new home. As he searched the tool shed and shop he found that he had all the tools needed to work the fields, everything from hoes to milking machines. As he searched the next building he found multiple freezers that were used to store food, each one labeled for the type of good, a meat locker with a butcher block, vegetable freezer, even a refrigerator designed for milk. He also found a small bedroom setup for guest and work hands. He was glad he had a bed to sleep in before he got his house built. He then moved to the barn, stalls that could house anything from a pig to a cow were present with a alley in the middle that would allow him to herd the animals out into the pasture for exercise. He then lastly looked at the chicken house. it was in essence just a shed but it had water and feeding troughs along with and incubator to keep eggs warm to hatch into new chicks.
The hour had soon passed and Naruto made it to the bridge to pick up the papers. As he made it to the bridge he saw the two men looking out to the ocean from the bridge.
"I envy you Naruto you now have access to this view any time you want." said Jiraiya
Jiraiya then handed a scroll marked Uzamaki farm deed to the boy then ruffled his hair.
"she's your problem now boy, I'll come back to check up on you once in while but I need to be going." said Jiraiya
"can't you stay until tomorrow and then you can leave on the boat" said Naruto sadness in his eyes.
"you know I can't do that Naruto. if I did that someone might notice me and might find out where the boat is from namely Akatsuki." said Jiraiya
Naruto upon hearing the name of the organization after him looked at Griffin scared that he would ask questions.
"Naruto I know about the Kyuubi I could tell because you match the description that Jiraiya gave me when he was last here. Don't worry no one else knows and you can tell them when you are ready they will not fear you. In fact I wouldn't surprised if they admire you for going through so much and turning out the way you do." said Griffin
Naruto merely nodded and gave the man a silent thanks before he turned his attention to Jiraiya. He walked up to the man and gave him a hug. As Jiraiya returned it he could feel the boy shaking. Jiraiya knew the boy saw him as his only remaining safety net and now it would soon be gone. This thought sadden and gave pride to Jiraiya. He was sadden that he was the cause of the boys nervousness but was also prideful that the boy trusted him so much that he would react like this to his departure. As he broke it he ruffled the blondes hair one more time.
"Naruto, be strong, be healthy and find happiness Ok." said Jiraiya.
"I will, Jiraiya-sensei" said Naruto
Jiraiya smiled and turned away from the boy and headed over the hill. The hermit was slightly water eyed that Naruto would make sure that the last words he heard were ones that show he respected him and cherished him as an important person in his life. Right before he disappeared over the hill he turned around and gave one final wave to Naruto and Griffin.
"it's times like this I'm glad to have the honor of calling that kid my Godson." Jiraiya said to himself as he made the trek back through the mountains.
Naruto waved to the old man until he couldn't see him any more.
"he's a good man isn't he." said Griffin
"if by good man you mean perverted, lazy, money grabbing, catcalling, loyal and kind then yes he is a good man." said Naruto.
Griffin chuckled at the answer he had received from the boy. Hopefully the boy would find a good life here.
"good I'll come by and get you up early so you can get everything you need for the farm tomorrow." said Griffin
"good I'll see you then." said Naruto.
The two parted ways and soon Naruto made it to his farm as he made his way into the small bed in the food storage building he shifted to his side.
"goodnight home" were the last words he uttered before he drifted to sleep.