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Sasuke wandered out the door to find Naruto humming to himself while watering the flowers. Shocked at how Naruto was taking pleasure in the odd work he stood a moment and watched the full absorbed Naruto before picking up a watering can and joining him. Water sloshed out of the can as Sasuke tried in vain to put more water into the plants than on his shirt. A look of concentration on his face, it took him a few moments to register Naruto's mocking laughter.
"What's so funny, Naruto?" Sasuke tossed the half empty can aside, splaying water across the brick walkway, and his pants.
This only succeeded in make Naruto laugh more, until he was rolling on the floor. Sasuke turned his head in annoyance. Naruto was finally able to control himself when he spoke. "Haven't you ever watered plants before?"
Sasuke's face twitched a little. "No, I haven't."
This time Naruto's amusement was replaced by surprise. "Really'?"
Sasuke looked away. "Its not like I ever had the need, or want to care for plants, Naruto. Or anything else."
Naruto picked up the Watering can and took it over to the pond, and refilled it with water. When he stood back up, he turned around. "I'll teach you then." There was more of a look of pity on his face than of cheer.
Sasuke looked away angrily. "I don't need your help Naruto."
There was a brief moment of silence before anyway spoke. "If you don't learn, then who is going to pretend to be a Gardener, hmm?"
Sasuke choked on words. "Gah?"
Naruto shoved the can toward Sasuke. "Here . . . " Sasuke tentatively took the can as Naruto stood behind him and guided his arms. "Its really easy, you just tilt it a little, you don't have to dump the whole thing out at once, not everything is solved by force Sasuke. You have to be gentle with plants."
As the last of the water was emptied from the tin, Sasuke turned to face Naruto as his arms were released. "How do you know so much about plants?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Its kind of a hobby . . . "
"And I thought you two were cool."
Both Sasuke and Naruto turned to face the voice. Jaki jumped down off of the wall and landed in a patch of flowers. Naruto waved his fist around angrily, "Get off of those you! Your crushing our flowers!"
Jaki looked at his feet, "Oops." he leaped onto the brick path and smiled widely, obviously attempting to seem disarming. "Sorry about that . . . "
Naruto waved his fist around at Jaki. "What are you doing here anyway? And how did you know how to find us?"
"Umm . . . maybe because . . . . I live here?" Jaki stuck his tongue out an Naruto.
Naruto replied by sticking his tongue out too. Sasuke gave a look of despair and moved his hand over Naruto's mouth. Unfortunately, Naruto didn't retract his tongue in time and ended up licking Sasuke's hand. Naruto Started spitting as Sasuke wiped his hand on his pants with a look of disgust. "Look, you must know your way around town pretty good, maybe you would be willing to act as our guide."
Jaki held up his finger. "Under one condition."
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Jaki strolled out into the street, wearing Naruto's jacket. Behind him were Naruto and Sasuke, Naruto looking more than a little unhappy. He crossed his arms and looked off to the side as he entered into the sunlight, or thought he was. Sasuke stopped in his tracks as he entered the open air. The entire village was covered in a dense
fog, denser than it had been the previous night. As they followed Jaki through the mist, pointing out various shops and food marts, Sasuke and Naruto remained more impressed at the town itself, which had seemingly been built with the fog in mind. No building was farther than five feet from the last, insuring that you could find anyplace without getting lost.
"So, how long have you lived here, Jaki?" Naruto was still admiring the scenery, or rather, the lack of, as he started a conversation.
"I've lived here as long as I can remember, before my dad died, he told me that I was born in another village. I tried to get him to tell me about it, but he never said anything more."
"How did he die?"
"My brother killed him."
Sasuke's attention focused on the conversation immediately. "When did it happen?"
"A few years ago."
Sasuke's attention was now focused on the boy as he asked question after question. As the mist around them started to take a pale red color, Jaki led them back to the Green Flower Inn.
Bifuteki was waiting outside. "So . . .what do you think of our little town?"
Naruto nodded to him. "Its amazing . . . I've never seen anything like it."
Sasuke nodded once. "Every building uses the fog to its advantage in some way or another."
Bifuteki puffed his chest out in pride.
"Yep, this town proves that man and Nature can help each other exist in ways never thought possible"
Jaki rolled his eyes and started to walk inside. "Right, old man . . . . that's pushing the envelope a bit though . . . "
Naruto and Sasuke said there good byes to Bifuteki, and started to head inside, when Sasuke remembered something and turned back around. "Hey, Big man, I need a map of The area. something tells me that those Oni know we are here . . . . jut call it a ninja's feeling."
"You can find them anywhere."
"No, I mean outside the city, away from the tourist attractions."
Bifuteki nodded, and left.
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