A/N: I don't own Naruto.
Rewrote this chapters several times. I decided it tell it from Naru's point of view. I hope you guys enjoy it. I will probably go back and rewrite/re-edit the proceeding chapters for clarity and brevity.
Split this chapter into two parts.
Duality
Chapter Three
Naru hesitated for a moment.
The silver haired man was sizing her up, a feeling she was used to. Many visiting nobles and samurai had done the same, but few had done so on the basis of fighting ability. They merely wanted to know if she were capable delivering funeral rites… if such services were needed.
The man had not said the words yet, but the implication was there. The jonin was all but asking her to return to Konoha with the trio, presumably to enlist as part ninja force.
That was a big leap in her mind. It wasn't like she had a rock solid plan other than get away from the temple either. She had made numerous vows as well, vows which did mesh particularly well with the shinobi lifestyle.
The redhead was not as adamant about keeping those vows, but being any kind of fighter could drastically impair or shorten one's lifestyle. What if she was asked to do something she found reprehensible? The three leaf nin were actually quite decent, but they would not be here were they not getting paid to be here.
Her mind raced, barely giving the other man any attention.
Kakashi scratched the back of his head. It was not unprecedented to recruit a foreign shinobi, but the man was hard pressed to name a case where it happened with priest or otherwise. Still, truth be told, Sandaime had always expected the return of a certain person from the cloth.
She probably had more questions than he handle at the moment. Honestly, he was not sure he could them all. After all, there were lines that he could not cross without permission. Besides, there were other "ears" to consider.
"I can't answer all your questions," Kakashi said finally. "But there is no future here for you. Why not come to Konoha and try your hand as a shinobi?"
There was a thoughtful pause on Kakashi's end, before he added, "We'll know immediately whether you have the talent for it. If not, I am sure the Sandaime will take you in regardless."
Naru's head snapped at that. Why would the Hokage be willing to take in a low ranking priestess such as herself?
"This situation," Naru thought solemnly. "It's quite strange."
"You don't even know the half of it," a voice countered.
Sasuke exchanged a serious look with Sakura as they listened into the conversation between their jonin leader and the red headed girl they just met. Kakashi was choosing his words very carefully, so carefully, the eavesdropping duo figured their teacher was aware of their presence.
It was one thing to continue a mission that a client intentionally misrepresented. It was quite another to escort a stranger back with the intention of having her join the ranks…
It was true that an odd number of candidates had graduated from the academy this year, forcing the genin team with the number one student to be shorthanded. It was a rarity, but there were advantages to such a formation. However, was the village that hard up?
"The tree. Just the tree…" Sasuke thought. "She has no control! He can't just bring her back. We don't even know who she is!"
Bringing her back was out of the question in his mind. She did not bring anything to the table and would only take up valuable time from his training with Kakashi.
Sasuke eyed his pink haired teammate, she looked lost in thought, having arrived at the same conclusion.
The next morning was similar to the start of the last one. Once again, Sasuke and Sakura headed out to train in the forest. This time, however, Kakashi was escorting Tazuna to the bridge personally.
"The tree climbing exercise was one of great importance," Naru was told by Kakashi as he left. "Those who can move in battle have the advantage of attacking from anywhere. It also reinforces chakra control skill."
It was true. Naru had meet many warriors and strategists at the temple, it was hard to find those who specialized in anything other than melee and equine. Even the instruction of archery to temple trainees was more vestigial than anything.
The man had promised to give her full instruction on the technique, if she became an official shinobi of Konohagakure. She had said nothing in reply. It was not until recently that chakra control had been a real issue and her effort to re-learn it had strained her relationship with her instructor.
Left alone with Tsunami and Inari, the day had passed easily enough. Tsunami instructed Inari on his school work, as it was dangerous to send the boy to school as of late. As the lunch hour passed, and the day grew late, Tsunami grew worried over Sakura and Sasuke's absence.
It was true that the two were full-fledged ninja from Konohagakure, but to Tsunami, they were children. Children who ran off into the forest with no supplies and children who fought to protect the life of her father and the future of Nami no Kuni. Powerful children, but children none the less. In Tsunami's mind, they were no so different from Inari. Naru included.
"Naru," Tsunami prodded. "Do you think the others are okay?"
Naru lazily looked up at the dark haired woman, as she lied on her back near the dining table. She was concerned herself, though more about Sasuke and Sakura than Tazuna and Kakashi. Tazuna often packed a bento, scared to leave the bridge alone for too long. He even paid workers to stay at the construction site at night, sometimes doing it himself with Naru on hand.
Who could blame the bridge builder?
Naru never voiced this thought, but if Gato really wanted to, he could blow up the bridge. She figured Gato was either just that bored or really full of himself. Tazuna was paranoid enough to take care of himself, especially to have gotten so far on his own without even raising a weapon. He had even managed to travel all the way to Konohagakure with three skilled ninja hunting him.
Sasuke and Sakura, on the other hand, were capable enough. Neither had taken food or even water with them though. Maybe they were expecting her to bring it once again. Food was becoming a luxury in these parts though, Tazuna would probably be forced to stop for it on the way home.
"Tazuna has Kakashi looking after him," She replied finally, yawning. "And Sakura and Sasuke have each other to rely on…"
Tsunami finished where Naru trailed off, "And we have you!"
Naru nodded earnestly, not bothering to sit up. Her long red hair was splayed about her and she seemed totally relaxed despite her troubled thoughts. Still, she rose to her feet and walked over to the entrance door.
"I'll tell them you said 'Hi.'" Naru said with her hand gripping the door knob. "Please don't let anyone in unless it's me. You know the emergency escape plan, don't you?"
The older woman nodded, protectively placing her arm over Inari, who seemed uneasy.
Naru ran as fast as she could through the forest. The clearing where Sasuke and Sakura practiced their tree climbing had been empty. The only other place to check was the bridge, where she was currently headed.
The trees began to taper into another clearing, a much larger one than where the genin had practiced. She then noticed a small form lying near the center of the clearing, writhing every now and then discomfort.
She slowed considerably as she reached the figure. A low squeal could be heard as she got closer, only then did she see the series of painful looking slashes across the poor creature, a wild boar. Its blood poured furiously from his wounds and seeped into the ground around it.
She stopped completely when she realized no hunter could have done this to the animal. Nor would he have left it there, not when food was hard to come by. It was unlikely a hunter's knife could have slashed as deeply either.
"No, it was-!" Naru realized with unadulterated panic.
She scooped up the boar carefully in her right arm, not caring about the sudden dampness or stains it left on the side of her outfit. She raced quickly towards Tazuna's home, cursing the concern that drove her to leave Tsunami and Inari on their own.
Sasuke and Sakura watched the construction underway on the bridge that would connect Nami no Kuni to Hi no Kuni.
Sasuke had mastered the tree climbing exercise and although both were eager to learn more from their instructor, Kakashi said it was time to focus on the mission. The intensity with which the man had said the words made the duo wonder if their teacher could sense something in the air.
The bridge was very close to completion after all. They could only watch Tazuna as he barked orders harshly, making arrangements for the final section of the bridge to under way. The base had already been completed and the skeletal frame for the roadway was well under way.
It was well past noon when a strange, thick fog rolled in. Before long, all anyone could see at the construction site was fog and the warped and oddly distant visage of other people. The three ninja braced themselves, knowing what was coming next.
Sasuke and Sakura rushed over to guard Tazuna, while Kakashi stood further away determined to protect all three.
Tsunami heard a knock at the door, rattling her nerves.
It was not the firm but gentle knock of the leaf nin staying temporarily at their abode. It was rough and angry and sinister. Inari seemed to catch this as well as he inched away from the door and closer to her, who was moving towards the kitchen with great haste.
The older, raven haired woman was backing away herself. She remembered the emergency escape plan, but still found herself reaching for a kitchen knife and taking pains to conceal it.
The knock grew louder and louder and angrier and angrier.
CRACK!
The front door splintered apart violently. Two youngish looking men cruelly smiling as they peered into the home and entered, one armed with a blood smeared katana. Fear gripped the woman and child as the men were quick to set themselves upon them, weapons drawn. Tsunami pushed Inari away and actually past one of the thugs as one snatched a handful of her hair.
"You're the daughter of that old bastard building the bridge…" The ruffian with a fistful of her her trailed off.
It was a more a statement than actual question, but Tsunami held her tongue, even as he painfully twisted and yanked on her hair. Inari froze, unwilling to abandon his mother, though unable to help her.
"We're here to tie up loose ends," The other thug stated. "We're gonna crush the rest of Kaiza's family and Nami no Kuni will finally be Gato's for the takin'!"
Tsunami's hand gripped the knife tightly and slashed the first thug's arm, forcing him to let go of her hair in surprise. She rushed towards Inari as the second man lunged for her. A gloved right hook flew through the air, carefully timed for the lunging man. It caught everyone off guard and sent the receiver careening into the cabinets of the small kitchen.
"Naru!" Tsunami and Inari shouted in unison.
The girl quickly pounced on the other man knocking him out rather easily.
Naru turned and smiled weakly. "Thank goodness I found you in time. Who knows what they would have done to you two otherwise."
Tsunami got a misty look in her eye as she held Inari tightly. Once again Naru had saved her family, near effortlessly too. Inari was beaming and ran to hug his savior once again.
Naru frowned, "Tsunami, could you fetch those herbs I used for my arm? My little friend needs medical attention."
With that the teen pointed towards the shattered door, where a wild boar was lying. The poor beast was badly cut up and honestly did not look like it would make it. Regardless, Tsunami nodded and rushed off to get the herbs.
Naru proceeded to search the two unconscious men and began to bind them with their own rope. Shaking, the redhead struggled not to think about what use the men had intended to use them for.
A clang echoed through the mist filled air.
The point of origin undetermined, though it sounded relatively close. The roar of water soon resounded through the area, but the mist was making it difficult to determine what the cause of it was. Kakashi had long ago disappeared into the shrouding mist to face the Demon of the Mist. It was a stressful situation for the two genin.
A sebon came whizzing through the air suddenly, coming dangerously close to Tazuna's face. The old bridge builder nearly stumbled back as a smallish figure rushed in with kunai drawn, ready to attack.
Sasuke knew that he had to protect Tazuna and Sakura as well. He knew the future of Nami no Kuni depended on the survival of the bridge builder. He smirked despite himself though.
Standing before him, as if to challenge the Uchiha was the supposed hunter nin… The very same one who had spirited Zabuza away before their arrival the first night at Tazuna's home. The teen genius nearly shook with excitement, taking the other nin down would be a worthy challenge.
Before the figure drew any closer, Sasuke lunged at him. Leaving Sakura to defend Tazuna on her own. Momentary panic crossed the face of the pink haired girl as her teammate abandoned her and their client.
She was kunoichi, but to simply abandon her there with Tazuna and run off into the blinding mist… Sakura gulped, thinking "Protecting Tazuna is my main priority now…"
Naru came to a stop upon seeing the bridge in the distance, panting.
"Almost there," She thought tiredly, eying the bridge.
The site stretched out before her eerily quiet, fading into an unusual fog. She was not too surprised given the attempted intrusion on Tazuna's family and home, but the fog was impenetrable. She sincerely hoped that the trio of leaf nins were protecting Tazuna and the bridge.
She took a step closer when something caught her eye on the water near the base of the bridge's support column.
"A boat?"
She stopped and closely examined the water, indeed spotting a large rowboat anchored at the first support column from the shore. A figure disembarked and disappeared into the obstructive mist.
"That's bad!" Naru cringed.
There was no reason for anyone to be near that position. She scanned the bridge's vincinity and noticed several more boats sailing outwards towards other support columns presumably. The distance and the mist obscured good portions of the bridge and seawater.
"They're going to collapse the entire span!" She realized suddenly.
It was perfect.
In one catastrophic swoop, Gato would kill all the workers and Tazuna and with them the hopes of thousands in Nami no Kuni. There would be few left in the village with the ability to engineer and execute such a plan. Not to mention that Tazuna had sunk many of the town's resources into the project.
Gato really would rule over the land!
Gato had to have been desperate because of Tazuna's ability to quickly erect a bridge that would connect to Hi no Kuni and the older man's success in seeking out the Leaf ninja. Naru looked down at her left arm, still bandaged and in a sling. If she failed to act, many would die. She removed the sling and began to test the muscles in her left arm.
It was time to fight, no matter her fears and worries.