"Hey Kiyoshi, can you still, ya know communicate?" asked Naruto. He knew this time Kiyoshi was actually surprised, and the bleach blonde nodded. "Can you teach me?"
Naruto smiled as Kiyoshi nodded, and Kiyoshi gave a small smile back. Naruto unwittingly gained a trust worthy friend.
Suddenly, the door of the carriage slammed open.
"All right, ass wipes, get the hell up. We've arrived."
Continued:
"All right, ass wipes, get the hell up. We've arrived."
They were lead to a building, their cuffs around their ankles attached to a long chain that was held onto by a greasy balding man with a bad comb over. Naruto hesitantly walked forward, his head down slightly. Nao pushed him lightly from behind, making sure he kept going.
Under his breath, Nao explained, "You have to keep walking Naruto-kun. If you fall out of line or slow down too much, they will think you are damaged merchandise and will-"
A strangled scream was heard before a loud 'thump', they stopped and watched the body be dragged away.
"Kill you," finished Nao, Naruto looked back at him and Nao said, "Always keep your head forward unless you want your head forced that way and hit."
Ringo observed Naruto as the boss was gently explaining things. Something about that kid just wasn't normal. His reactions to the dead body were completely the opposite of how an almost four year old would act; he could conclude that Naruto has seen dead bodies regularly. The boy knew the Hokage personally, something many of people would kill for, just to have the type of connections that came with it. And add that together with the scars… to survive all those vital blows, the kid was either damn lucky or something else.
"Aniki," whispered Ami quietly. "What are you thinking about?"
Ringo did not look back at his sister as he answered, "Just that Naruto is a damn lucky kid to have survived all those blows."
Ringo felt a tap on his hand and he looked up at the spiky haired figure in front of him, before his eyes redirected themselves to his hands. The two siblings looked up at each other after Kiyoshi was done, before turning back to the front rather quickly. "What are you thinking, Aniki?"
"That Naruto is the unluckiest kid I have ever met," answered Ringo. Kiyoshi and Ami nodded in agreement.
"Maybe you should stop trying to figure out Naru-chan and start figuring out how we aren't going to be sold this time. Start using your big brain, smartass," whispered Kawaii harshly behind Ami. Ringo turned around stiffly, sweating slightly.
"You scared him, Kawaii," stated Ami with a giggle.
"Good," answered Kawaii with a smirk, looking up at the lavish building they were approaching.
Naruto gasped slightly, never of having seen a building so big before, a western style one at that. Nao chuckled slightly, "Don't get too excited, we are only here for a few days."
"What is it?" asked the fascinated blonde.
"It's the slave trade auction house. We go there to take a bath, wash our clothes, and then to get auctioned off," answered Nao, looking at Naruto and was confused as to why Naruto looked confused at what he said. "Any questions?"
"What's a bath?" asked Naruto. The kids all snapped their heads up to look at him.
"You don't know what a bath is?" asked Nao shocked. "Don't worry Naruto-kun, we'll show you?"
As they entered and walked through the building, Naruto stared wide-eyed at the large pillars and elaborate statues and paintings. They were lead to a huge room with a hot spring built into the floor, and their chains were removed. Nao began to undress as well as the other kids, and he motioned for Naruto to do the same, wrapping a white towel around his waist.
"Now, you get in," said Nao, lifting up the small boy and dumping him in the water, smirking. Naruto glared up at Nao as Nao got into the spring.
"Ah, how I love the springs," sighed Ami in content, swimming around the spring.
"Good for you," muttered Kawaii, looking at the water in distaste before getting in. "My skin turns all red. I hate the springs."
"Shush, Kawaii-chan, I told you to stop being a pessimist around Naruto-kun," said Nao in a commanding voice.
"Hai, boss," answered Kawaii, recognizing the tone Nao had. Nao nodded in approval, before going back to helping Naruto with his bath.
"AHH! Damn you, Kiyoshi!" yelled Ringo, standing up, his entire body red and dripping wet. Most stared at his naked form before he blushed deep red and pulled his towel back up and slipped into the water. As soon as most everyone looked away, Ringo pounced. Kiyoshi let out a silent scream and fell into the water.
"Boys, don't kill each other," said Nao, not looking up from Naruto. The two boys mock saluted.
"Hai, boss," they answered, Kiyoshi in sign language, before Kiyoshi grabbed Ringo's hair and pulled. Ringo yelped and tackled the bleach blonde. A large splash was heard as well as Kawaii's, Ami's, and Naruto's giggling. Nao smiled lightly, amused by his pseudo family and their new addition.
A half hour later, the six kids stood in front of a crowd of people, standing on top a stage.
"This next set of six is ages of about four, six, seven, eight, nine, and eleven. Each is in top physical condition. Mental condition is slightly above average. Scars are minimal on each, except one whose scarring is extensive. Behavior is above average. We will start the bidding now."
"10000," called a woman, her hair short spiky and an obnoxious shade of died yellow.
"20000," called another woman, her face old and stern, and her hair in a white braid down her back.
Bids came out higher and higher until… "70000000."
Everyone in the room turned to see a tall brown hair man. His eyes a light green and his kimono made of the finest silk. He walked with grace to the front, his eyes on Nao the entire time. No one said a word as to go against or out bid him. In the black of the kimono, he looked slightly pale and his eyes sunken. At around thirty five years of age, the man had faint wrinkles around his eyes and mouth.
"Well, may I take them?" asked the man. The auctioneer nodded dumbly to the request as the man handed the bag to the auctioneer. "Very well then."
The brunette man motioned for the two male servants following him, and they, without a word, toke the chains and lead the six out the door. Into a carriage they were lead, it was fancy, with the finest fabrics. The brunette man sat across from them on the other seat.
"I am Lord Masakazu," stated the brunette. He stared at each of them sternly. "And you will address me as so."
They looked at him blankly, and Masakazu crossed his legs with the patience of a Lord. He let out a breath of irritation. "Well, how about this, I make it my business to know everything about my servants possible, so introduce your selves, your age, and say how you became a slave in this system. If your answer is not satisfactory, you will be punished. Understand?"
The five looked over at Nao, waiting for his approval, except Naruto, who kept his eyes lowered.
"My name is Nao, I am eight. I was taken into the system for the reason I was alone at the time," stated Nao emotionlessly, schooling his expression except for the distrust in his eyes.
Kawaii toke the hint and went next, "I'm Kawaii, age nine. I ran away and got taken here."
Ami went next after getting nudged by Kawaii, "I am Ami, I'm six. My brother and me's village was burnt down by bandits. Any kids that survived were sent into the system."
"I am Ringo, I am eleven. My sister is Ami," stated Ringo, pushing his glasses up with two fingers. "This is Kiyoshi. He is eight today. Kiyoshi is mute, his father toke that ability away from him. He was sold by his father."
Masakazu looked over at the blonde child beside Nao, with an almost leering look in his eyes, "Who are you?"
"Naruto, I'm three and three quarters. I just got out of the hospital and was taken here," answered Naruto.
"Welcome, Nao, Kawaii, Ringo, Kiyoshi, Ami, and Naruto. I expect you all to work very hard in my home," said Masakazu.