Chapter 7: Let's Relax in the Village! What?! More Training?!
"Be careful to not overturn the boat," the guide said, stepping into the vessel. He held out his hand to Sakura so she could step in without much effort. Sora and the rest of the team followed, Kakashi being the last to enter.
After several seconds of glancing around, the guide turned to them, his brows slanted in seriousness. "Keep your hands inside the boat. This mist is thick, and it will be hard finding you in this murky water should you fall out," he said in a whisper.
Mist blanketed the air, depriving them of sight. Sora nodded and held onto the side of the dingy, looking around them. He peered through the haze, at the dock as the guide pushed the boat away from the shore. Sakura scooted closer to Sasuke, her eyes glimmered as he glanced at her, and then looked away. Sora grimaced at the hurt expression that covered her face as she stared across the water. 'I wish Sasuke weren't so mean to her.'
Before long, Team 7 would reach the Land of Waves. Sora frowned, his gaze wandering to Naruto. The blonde boy sat next to Kakashi, his face twisted in a sour grimace.
'He's not enjoying this,' Sora thought, staring ahead. They continued down the river in remote silence, listening to the music of the insects on the lily pads. The sound unnerved Sora, causing him to fiddle in his seat. Everything about this place seemed spooky to him.
"We're almost there," said the guide, glancing at them. "Only several more minutes and we'll cross the border."
"Great," Naruto said, slinging his arm over the boat. "It's boring in this thing!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "You're one to talk."
"What did you say?"
"Hey, you two," Kakashi said, his eyes narrowed at the boys. "Calm down. You can beat each other once we reach the village. Tipping the boat over won't do us any good now, will it?"
The two ninjas muttered insults under their breath, turning away from each other. Sakura sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. 'Idiot Naruto!'
Sora cleared his throat, calling attention to himself. "Um, Tazuna? Why is the bridge so important?"
Tazuna turned to him, stroking his long beard. "A while ago, a thug called Gato came into town. The Land of Waves had already suffered much hardship, and looked for any way out of debt. He offered to help many villages in exchange for setting up his business there." Tazuna stopped, breathing deep. "Instead of helping the villages, he began to terrorize them. He drove the villages to the ground with his gangs."
"What a jerk," Sakura said, clenching her fists.
Tazuna nodded. "The Land of Waves is separated from the mainland, so our economy fell. But if I can build this bridge, we can trade with other countries."
"You wouldn't have to rely on Gato's business anymore," Kakashi said.
"Yes."
"That's why he sent assassins after you," said Sasuke, his voice level.
"Yes."
Sasuke shrugged. He just wanted to finish the assignment as soon as possible.
"We're here," the guide said, pointing ahead. The mist began to clear, revealing a half built bridge several yards away.
Sora gasped as they came closer, seeing the span of it. Bricks and straw sat on top of it, abandoned by the workers. 'Gato must have scared them away.'
Reaching the dock, the team unloaded, thanking their guide.
"Now where to?" Sakura asked, looked around. Thick fog blanketed the whole village, reducing the team to peer through it. Fishing boats bobbed in the water, tied to the dock by thick rope. Several small huts sat on the dock.
"We'll stay in my home," Tazuna said, motioning for them to follow. "It's the least I can do to thank you."
Sora's nose filled with the smell of warm bread and spicy noodles. He closed his eyes and inhaled, then exhaled, enjoying the pleasant aroma. His stomach growled as he opened his eyes, staring at the table. Naruto sat next to him, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, his eyes wide in anticipation.
"Thank you so much for protecting my husband," Tazuna's wife said, setting food on the table. A large bowl of rice, noodles and beef lay on the table, filling the house with a homely aroma. She smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her eye. "I can't thank you enough."
"You're thanking us with food!" Naruto said, grabbing chopsticks. "That's thanks enough in my book."
Sora laughed, as Kakashi shook his head. Sakura rolled her eyes, blushing as her stomach growled. Sasuke glanced at her, a slight grin turning up his lips.
"Let's eat. We've got work ahead of us," Tazuna said. The team nodded, then turned their attention to the food. Naruto stuffed rice in his mouth, grinning.
"If you eat like that, you'll choke," Sakura warned, taking small bites. Naruto waved her off and continued eating. She shook her head, picking up a piece of meat, placing it on her plate. 'Naruto is such an idiot. He's so embarrassing! He eats like that all the time!' Sakura frowned, glancing at the blonde boy. She gagged at food falling out of his mouth, watching as he stuffed noodles in it. 'He looks goofy.'
The team continued to eat, occasionally commenting on the food, conversation punctuating their meal. After they finished, they offered to help clean up.
"All right team, get some rest. Tomorrow we'll resume training, and later guard the bridge as Tazuna works," Kakashi said, rubbing his eyes.
The students nodded.
Tazuna's wife directed them upstairs. "This is where you'll sleep." She opened the first door by the top of the stairs, four tatami mats lay on the floor, set with pillows and blankets. "You have done so much for us. Please, get your rest."
"Thank you for your kindness," Sakura said, bowing.
The older woman smiled, nodding. "You're welcome." She closed the door, leaving the team to unpack.
"I'm going to bed," Sasuke said, unrolled his sleeping bag.
Naruto scoffed, shaking his head. "What are you? An old man? It's not even 9 o'clock yet."
Sasuke shrugged. "Training starts tomorrow. At least I'll be ready."
"Sasuke's right," Sakura began. "We all should get some sleep tonight. Remember that Tazuna starts building the bridge tomorrow, and there's a chance that Gato might try to stop him."
Sora nodded. He fluffed up his pillow, glancing at Sasuke. Sasuke's gaze shifted from his bed to Sakura. The pink haired girl had already lay down, and now slept. Sasuke shook his head, his lips turning up slightly. He looked at Sora, his brows slanted.
"She falls asleep to easily," Sasuke said.
Sora smiled, falling back on his mat. "At least she can sleep."
"You'd fall asleep too if you stopped talking," Naruto mumbled, crossing his arms. Sasuke sneered at him, but followed his example and buried himself under the covers.
"Where are we going?" Sora asked, following Kakashi through the woods.
Kakashi grinned, motioning towards a clearing. "For training. You didn't think just because we're on a mission we wouldn't train did you?"
"I did," Naruto grumbled, wiping his eyes. He hadn't slept well last night, causing him to be in a foul mood. He kicked up grass and leaves along the trail, stealing glances at Sasuke. 'He thinks he's so cool. I'll show him at today's training, I can do everything he can do. I can do it better!' Naruto caught up with their teacher, his eyes wide. "What are we doing today, Kakashi-sensei?"
"Climbing trees."
Naruto's grin disappeared. Tree climbing? How could that make him a better shinobi? "Well that's stupid—ouch!" he cried as Sakura smacked his head.
"It's chakra training, you idiot!" Sakura tapped her foot on the ground, her hands resting on her hips. "Neji and Hinata can walk up trees already! We're haven't even started yet!"
"Shikamaru can't," the blonde mumbled, rubbing his head. "Neither can Chouji."
"Look at who they have for a sensei!" Sakura said, rolling her eyes. "Asuma-sensei is always slacking off, just like Shikamaru!"
"I think we'll begin now," Kakashi said, leaning against a tree. He patted it, looking at the branches. "Watch."
Sora gaped as he watched the ninja place his foot on the tree and begin walking up the trunk. 'I've never seen anyone climb a tree like that before.' Sora remembered seeing how Tarzan could ride the branches of the trees in the jungle and how excited he had been to see it then. That had been the closest thing to walking up a tree. Sora closed his mouth as Kakashi turned to his students, waving at them.
"How's he doing that?" Sakura asked, gasping.
"Oi!" Kakashi called down. "By focusing your chakra on the bottom of your feet you can climb trees like this. It's something you can do once you are good with chakra control."
"How is this going to make us stronger?" Naruto yelled, crossing his arms. Sora shushed him.
"You need to learn how to control your chakra. Use too much and you'll be left with none when you need it, use too little and you won't complete techniques right. It's about using the right amount of chakra for the needed action." Kakashi closed his eyes as if in thought. "If you can master this, you should be able to master any jutsu." He threw four kunai down. "Mark these to see how far you can get."
Sora looked at the tree, his mind wandering to a different time. He hadn't used trees for much else other than building rafts and playing hide and seek.
"A raft?" Kairi asked, staring at the boys. She placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head. "I don't know if that's a good idea, Riku."
"Of course it is. Haven't you always wanted to see what's out there?" Riku stared across the ocean, tinted orange by the sunset. "I know there's more than just Destiny Islands. I want to see the world."
Sora nodded. "We'll go together." He finished tying the rope around the logs, and placed his backpack on the raft. Sea water lapped at his feet, bringing a cool breeze. Sora breathed in deep, relishing the evening air. He smiled at Kairi. "All of us have always wandered about what's out there. Maybe it's time we do."
Kairi smiled, her eyes wandering out to the sea. "Maybe."
"Everything will be okay," Riku assured her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Sora and I will protect you."
Sora nodded. "We won't let anything happen to you."
Kairi glanced between the boys. "You promise?"
"We promise."
"Sasuke-kun! Sora-kun. Look up here!" Sakura called from somewhere above. Sora looked around until he found the pink haired girl waving at him.
He grinned and waved back. 'She's already at the top?' "That's awesome Sakura!" Sora frowned, realizing he had slacked off while thinking. He had to get training so he could get stronger. 'So I can find Riku and Kairi!' He looked around for Naruto and Sasuke. "Where's Naruto and Sasuke?"
Sakura frowned, pointing to a tree behind him. Sora turned around to see both boys several yards away lying on the ground, breathing hard. 'I guess it's harder than it looks.' He frowned, his shoulders sagging. If Sasuke couldn't get it down how could he? He glanced at Sakura. 'If she can do it, I can.'
Sora clasped his hands together, focusing on the chakra in his body. 'I have to concentrate it into my feet like Kakashi said.' Directing chakra felt strange to him, as if waves of energy moved inside his body. He had never felt anything like it before. 'I can feel it moving toward my feet.' He walked toward the tree, closing his eyes. 'I need just the right amount of chakra. Just enough to connect with the tree.' He placed his foot on the trunk, inhaling. He took a second step, then another.
"You're doing it Sora!" Sakura said, clapping her hands. She cheered him on as he continued up the tree.
Sora opened his eyes, the sun almost blinding him as he stared straight ahead. 'I did it.' Sora scratched a mark in the trunk, grabbing onto a nearby branch. He swung himself on top, grinning from ear to ear. He had really did it! 'Riku would be so jealous!'
"How'd you do that?" Naruto yelled, shaking his fist. "You cheated Sora!"
"No I didn't!'' Sora yelled, crossing his arms. "You're just mad because you can't do it!"
Naruto growled, pushing up his sleeves. "I'll show you!"
Sora watched as Naruto backed up several paces, his eyes on the tree Sora sat in. He began to get a back feeling. "Uh, Naruto, remember not to use too much—" he yelped as Naruto collided with the tree, shaking it. Sora grabbed onto the trunk, trying to regain his balance. "Naruto!"
"Haha! I got farther than Sasuke this time," Naruto said, wiping his forehead. He held the kunai tighter and backed up again.
"Naruto you're supposed to climb the tree!" Sora yelled.
"I am climbing it." Naruto grinned. "I'm just doing it my own way!"
Sora braced for impact as Naruto ran up the tree halfway, his lack of chakra control caused his feet to split the bark as he ran. 'Not good.'
"Naruto stop you'll break the tree!" Sakura screamed, waving her fist. "You'll hurt Sora-kun you idiot!"
Naruto marked the tree again, then flipped back, landing on the ground. 'One more time and I'll be at the top!' He gathered his chakra into the bottom of his feet, and breathed deep, trying to control his beating heart. 'If this is what it takes to be Hokage, then I'll do it all the way! With all I have.' Naruto grinned. This would be it. He ran as fast as he could, picking up speed. He ignored the yells from Sakura and bounded up the tree toward Sora.
He didn't notice that the bark below his feet had flew off from his chakra, or that the tree seemed to tilt to the side. All he saw was the top of the tree. "Eh?" Naruto gasped, as the tree swayed. He looked behind him to see the trunk almost severed. 'Darn.' He yelled as the tree began falling toward the forest floor, hanging onto the trunk. The crash reverberated through the forest.
For several moments, Naruto saw nothing but darkness. 'My head hurts.' He heard voices above him.
"Idiot."
"Sasuke?"
"Yeah?"
"Naruto! Are you okay?" Sakura cried, running to him. She knelt beside him, shaking him. "You're bleeding!" She tore her hands away from his chest where red liquid had started to leak through.
"Sakura-chan you really do care about me." Naruto coughed, grabbing Sakura's hand. Her eyes watered as she rested her head on his chest.
"Don't die you idiot—Naruto..." Sakura growled, her demeanor changed in an instant. She sniffed his shirt. "This is juice!"
Sora winced as the smack echoed through the woods, leaving a bright red mark on Naruto's face. He sighed, shaking his head as Sakura continue to hit Naruto. 'I thought he had been hurt.'
"You hid a juice box in your shirt!" Sakura yelled. She raised her hand to hit him again, but Sasuke stopped her.
"Leave him alone. His stupidity might rub off on you."
"I'm not stupid!" Naruto said, sitting up.
'No Naruto, you're more than just stupid.' Sora thought, grinning at his blonde friend. He leaned on his Keyblade. 'He's something entirely different.'
Hello! I'm so sorry for getting this chapter out late. I had some very interesting things going on concerning the house and babysitting. I hope that you all continue reading it and forgive me for being so late!
Painterofemotions
