SpiderFox
Story by Nezumimaru
Written by SkippingZombie
Adopted by Aikuchi Shikaku
Chapter 4: "Inari Stands"
Disclaimer: SZ-Not mine, still, it isn't.
N-Wish it were.
AS-Bah, I'd just muck it up if I owned it. And you won't even bother reading or watching it.
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-5 Days Later-
Kakashi returned with Sakura and Tazuna in tow to Tazuna's house. As they entered they caught sight of a strange scene. Naruto and Sasuke were sitting at the table, both with some of their clothes draped on chairs. They were obviously playing strip poker, and if Sasuke in his boxers was any indication, Naruto was winning by quite a margin.
"Four of a kind" Naruto placed his hand down, smirk crossing his lips. Sasuke grumbled disdainfully, but was saved from further humiliation when the two of them noticed the new onlookers, especially when Sakura squeaked at seeing her crush in this state of undress.
"Yikes! I thought you three'd be gone 'till dusk!" Naruto pulled his shirt back on, and Sasuke took his pile of clothes into the next room.
"What the hell were you doing?!" screeched Sakura. Although, technically, she didn't really mind the spectacle of Sasuke. In fact, she wondered how Naruto had coerced Sasuke into playing. "Cha! Probably with blackmail, or something sinister."Inner sakura speculated.
"I was winning." grinned Naruto proudly. "And I was training Sasuke in trying not to broadcast his next move or intention, a skill that many shinobi need to learn. A ninja needs to be prepared for anything, anywhere, anytime! We need to be strong in every way to kick Gato back down to hell!"
"So why were you playing strip poker?" The pink haired kunoichi asked Naruto with some heat in her voice. Naruto shrugged non-chalantly.
"'Cuz people tend to get better a lot faster when under threat of pain or humiliation."
Kakashi was very impressed with Naruto's gambling skills, although his training methods might not be the best, in his opinion. His train of thought was interrupted, though, as Inari showed up.
"Why should you waste your time training? You can't make a bit of difference. The best man in my eyes was powerless against him. What makes you so different? HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING SPECIAL?! YOU'LL JUST DIE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!" Inari screamed with tears streaming down his face, and he fled outside. Tazuna was about to follow, when Kakashi held up his hand.
"Let me speak to him. Please." Kakashi excused himself from the room, and walked into the late afternoon sun. He quickly found Inari, sitting on the edge of the deck, sniveling.
"Tazuna told me, Inari. I know about your mentor and surrogate father." Kakashi had been told about Inari's 'dad' a day before, when he asked Tazuna. Inari's mentor and 2nd father had been killed fighting for righteousness against Gato's power.
"You've got to understand that Naruto knows what he's doing. He's been fighting to survive most of his life. He understands the risks."
"He doesn't understand how… it feels to lose…" Inari stopped mid-sentence and buried his head in his knees.
"He does, Inari. Naruto really does understand. You see…" Kakashi told Inari the story that Naruto had told a few nights before. Kakashi told how Naruto's life had been a struggle since he was a child. He told how almost everybody that Naruto had known was killed. He explained that Naruto was completely alone in the world.
"Then how… how did he not end up like me?" Inari had stopped crying and was staring back at Kakashi's one eye.
"What do you mean?"
"He's not weak like I am. He's so sure of himself. He's strong, and I'm… pathetic. I can't stop crying." The tears had returned.
"Then stop. You can grow strong, just like Naruto. You can be as strong as you want, if you are willing to work for it."
Inari hugged his knees and considered the thought. Then he said. "Thank you for telling me," stood up, and walked back inside the house, up the stairs, and returned to his room.
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It had been nearly a week since the protective ninja had shown up. Tazuna and Tsunami had grown quite used to them. They fell into a sort of routine. They shouldn't have relaxed, however, for today would be quite different.
Sasuke, Kakashi and Sakura had gone ahead with Tazuna to the bridge, leaving Naruto behind to oversee Tsunami and Inari. The day started out pretty normally, until high noon, when things began to fall apart.
Ok, since SkippingZombie's having technical difficulties at home, I will be continuing this chapter. I apologize in advance if the quality decreases. – Nezumimaru
AT THE BRIDGE
As the three ninjas and their ward arrived at the bridge, they found all the workers were all unconscious. With their wounds that they had and lack of beer bottles, they ruled out drinking on the job. So what could have done this?
"About time you showed up. I was getting impatient."
The four turned around to see Zabuza and his "hunter-nin" companion. Kakashi motioned for Sasuke and Sakura to get into a defensive stance around Tazuna as he drew a kunai from his hip holster.
"We figured you'd show up again. Our six-armed friend saw through your little act, so sorry if you were expecting us to be surprised." Kakashi looked over his shoulder to his students. "Stay with Tazuna. Zabuza and I have some…unfinished business."
Zabuza chuckled, "Ah, I was hoping to have the element of surprise actually, but no matter, I will finish you this time. Oh, and you should be a little more worried about your students, because this time, I'm not alone! Haku!" With that, the fake hunter-nin dashed forward, throwing several senbon at Sasuke. He swiftly drew a kunai, deflecting the senbon with ease.
He called to Sakura, "Take Tazuna and back away, this is my fight." He and Haku then went into a deadlock, his kunai vs. his senbon. Sakura didn't need to be told twice, as she motioned Tazuna to the edge of the unfinished bridge while Kakashi and Zabuza exchanged blows and Sasuke went into a speed match with Haku.
AT TAZUNA'S HOUSE
"Inari! Could you come help me with the laundry?" "One sec, momma, I'm washing my hands!"
Naruto had left the house momentarily to set traps around the perimeter, leaving Tsunami and Inari to do house work. Inari continued to wash his hands thinking about what Kakashi told him just the day before. Suddenly, a loud crash was heard from the entrance hall, followed by an even louder scream. Inari quickly ran to the living room to find two strange men with swords over his mother who was backed into a wall.
"Old man Tazuna's daughter, eh? Gato wants you as a bargaining chip, so ya better come nice and easy like." said one of the men, who had clown-like eye liner on. Inari froze, and did the only thing he could think of, "MOMMA!!" Not the brightest thing to do.
"Wah?" the other man, who wore an eye patch, turn to see Inari. "Hey, Zouri, should we take the kid, too?" "We only need one hostage, Waragi." Waragi smirked, "How unfortunate then," he then started to draw his blade, "for the kid, heh heh heh."
Tsunami then yelled, "STOP!" The two men turned to her, "If you even touch my son, I will bite through my tongue and drown in my blood, so what will you do for a live hostage then?!"
Zouri turned back to Inari, "Ya better be grateful to ya ma, kiddo." Waragi just grimaced, "Ahh, but I was dying to cut something up!" But he sucked it up and took Tsunami by the arm. "Come on, let's go!" The two thugs forced Tsunami out the door, leaving Inari, who had started crying.
'Why am I so weak? Why couldn't I do anything but cry?' He then remembered what Kakashi said, about how he could be strong, like Naruto, and what his dad Kaiza said when they first met, about how even if you are weak, you can be strong if you're defending what is precious to you. 'I know what I gotta do, I gotta stop crying, I gotta be strong, like Dad, and Naruto…' And with that, Inari raced out the door, after Zouri and Waragi.
"Wait!" He called out to them. "Hey, the brat's back…..Can I cut 'im up now?" Zouri sighed, "Yeah, I guess." He drew his sword with his partner, "But let's make it quick. Boss hates ta be waitin'." The two made a quick slash each to Inari, but he turned into a log with a poof. The two were shocked.
"Substitution Jutsu?" Suddenly they felt a slight tug at their legs, but before they could see what it was, the found themselves hanging up-side down, all strung up in a very sticky rope. At least they thought it was rope. Then they felt something hit the back of their necks, making them pass out unconscious. Someone chuckled from the shadows of the house.
"Hope you guys have a good nap!" was all they heard before Naruto slipped from the shadows outside Tazuna's home, and into the light. Inari looked up at his savior.
"Naruto!" Said spider-nin looked back at him. "Ya did a very brave thing, Inari. Stupid, but brave none the less." Inari huffed with indignity.
"Though, you did distract them enough so that I could string them up. Good work!" Naruto placed a hand on Inari's head, and ruffled his hair; the spider-nin felt pride for the youngster.
"You're growing up, ain't ya?" Inari grinned. Naruto turned away. "Go take your mom back inside. If Gato's thugs showed up here, then they're bound to be at the bridge, too. That's where I'm heading. Ja ne." And with that, Naruto leaped off towards the bridge, to the final confrontation.
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SkippingZombie--Yeah, sorry for the long wait, I had technical troubles. But I'm working on chapter 5 once it's past!
Nezumimaru--I also apologize for the delay. I hope you find this chapter to be satisfactory to your liking. Please read and review. We both would like to know how we are doing.
Aikuchi Shikaku--Some minor editing, again. Not much to report here. Stay tuned for the next chapter.