Completely rewritten, that is why it took so long that and my other fic. IMPORTANT: MY YOUNG IRUKA STORY IS UP. Thank You The-Lady-Smaell my only reviewer for the story so far. I'd also Like to say that if you go to the search and type in Ravings of A Mad Man, It is the only story on that has this name.
In short my second story, Ravings of A Mad Man is up and running. And Lady is the only reviewer.
Every hidden Ninja village was a beauty in its own right. Each jealously guarded by towering walls. The hidden village of Rock's pocked marked walls was sculpted from the mountain itself. In places its walls were bricked out, the new stone appearing odd against the old.
Behind the gray barrier a large city bustled. Each street timing with life and smothered in color. From one street to the next people milled about, sometimes slithering between buildings to reach the other side. Out of all the streets there was none as loud or large as Rock's market street.
Golden Road, some merchants had taken to calling the winding market. It stretched from north to south and east to west. Its sides packed tight with various stands, each hosting various objects and trinkets. Down the middle were food carts and live stock stands.
The air filled with the stench of human and animal, mixed with the sweet aroma of alcohol and cooking dishes. In loud booming voices merchants called their wares, sometimes yelling out to costumers' with "You there."
To break the monotony of stands, groups of performers stormed the streets. They sang loudly and danced to a verity of instruments. Some performers took up corners or spaces between stands, beckoning passer bys to come and watch them.
Kakashi had been to a lot of market streets, none though were as loud or crowed as Rocks. The kids stood in wide eye wonderment as they took in the road before them. Above them street banners danced in the early winter wind, in front shifting colors of varying sizes that loosely resembled people. Carefully the group merged onto the road via a side street. Kakashi stood just a little behind the others, looking into the flow of people around them. He marked the ninjas and weapon peddlers as possible dangers. Similar he begun rating the others as well, a ninja's preparation for the unexpected. "Kakashi-sensei," Sakura called over the early morning roar, "How about there?" she asked pointing to a shadowy corner. Kakashi blinked clearly having missed the kids' conversation. Sakura sighed, "We have to put on a show," she explained rubbing her temples in annoyance.
"Looks great," he drawled. Slowly he followed the kids to a corner. The corner was between two clothes merchants, both trying to out yell the other.
"Beauties like you," one merchant called to a group of ladies, beckoning them closer. "Should wear beautiful dresses." He pulled out a yellow dress with several frills and decorative flowers running down the left side. "These flowers will enhance your beauty, and you'll have to beat the men off with sticks." The ladies giggled, one even reached out to the dress.
"Bah," the other merchant scoff, "The only thing you'll be beating off are flies. Don't dull yourself with that crap." He suddenly yanked a red dress from under the stand laying it out for the ladies to admire. "This here will brighten your complexion, catch the eyes of suitors. You will be a rose!"
"A rose with thorns," the first merchant countered. He paused looking over toward Hinata who had just summoned the first bit of their puppet stand. Quickly his attention returned to the ladies. "No man wants a thorny flower," he scrunched his face in disgust. "No a man wants a ray of light," out of nowhere a white dress flopped onto the man's table. "Look here," he pointed to some sparkling things on the dress. Kakashi caught the play of light as he drove the first bamboo pole into the ground. Little rainbows danced across one of the women's face as she leaned in. "They'll call you an angel," the man mocked whisper, "A beauty of the sky."
"Yes," the second drawled, "And you'll get that horrible pick up line." Here the second merchant rubbed his shoulder up against one of his pole holding up the tarp, "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven? What woman wants that kind of man?" he asked pointing at the first merchant.
"Maybe we should have picked somewhere else?" Hinata whispered to Naruto, as the merchants continued. Already a small crowd had gathered to listen to the two bicker.
"Nonsense," Sakura replied, "We just have to outdo them."
"Has anyone an idea for our first story?" Kakashi asked making sure the screen was pulled tight. Naruto had been looking into the gathered crowd with a thoughtful look for awhile.
"I have one," Naruto smiled broadly, "Hinata set the fire. Sakura, you and I gather those children. Kaka-sensei, find the rainbow film."
Before anyone could ask any questions, Naruto was already in the crowd weaving children to him. Sakura join a bit slower. As they came back with the first few children Kakashi heard one little girl ask, "What kind of stories?"
"Exciting ones!" she exclaimed as she quickly sat the children a foot from the screen. Once a good group was gathered Naruto began his tale.
Kakashi had to admit the story was captivating, taking him back to the mission in snow country and the princess turned actress. Naruto's voice would drop into a whisper drawing the children in, then grow loud as he told of their fights. Behind the scenes the three of them would move back and forth; placing puppets up at the right moments, saying dialogue at Naruto's prompting, and make loud sounds in way of action. As the story came to a close, Hinata rushed toward the tiny fire box and raised the rainbow colored film. The gathered gasped as bright colors played across the screen. As Naruto finished to the sounds of applause, Kakashi notice that all the people that had originally been listening to the merchants bicker were now watching the screen. Even the merchants had gone quiet and clapped with the crowd.
As Sakura collected the money in a small bag and thanked the people for watching. The others took down the stand and replaced it in the scroll. "There'll be another one tonight," she said happily as the people left, "Please come again!" As the last of the people left, the four of them let out a deep relieved sigh. There had been a few Rock nins who had come to watch the show, thankfully they weren't too curious.
"Okay, we'll split into two groups," Kakashi said calling attention, "Naruto and I will start at the east end. Hinata and Sakura at the south end we met back here by night fall for our show." They nodded and broke into their groups, "If there is any trouble set off a chakra spike and we'll come as fast as we can." Again they nodded and left. Kakashi walked close to Naruto, eyes scanning the stands.
Kakashi huffed, really why did there have to be so many food stands. If a large blinking sign could just pop up and tell him where to look, he'd be most grateful. Of course no such thing was ever going to happen. The sun was just reaching its peak, the markets noise escalating to its highest pitch. The entire village itself rumbled with life, as it battered his ear drums into submission. Next to him Naruto marched forward a frown creasing his brow. The first few stands they'd approach hadn't yielded much information. There were just too many places, too many people and to many rumors flying about. One particular rumor had something to do with a giant moving cactus that had eaten a cat. "This plan isn't working," Naruto said at last.
"It seems that way," Kakashi agreed, "We hadn't taken into account the amount of merchants and their stands."
"I knew Rock was a big trading hub, but not this big," Naruto growled in frustration as he threw his arms up and wide. He ignored the glare he received from a passing woman whom he just missed elbowing in the head.
"Lets look for a bar," Kakashi stopped, already scanning for the nearest establishments.
"One more," Naruto huffed.
"I doubt we'll get anything," Kakashi replied moving toward the bar he spotted.
Suddenly Naruto grabbed his arm and tugged him in the other direction. "This way," Naruto commanded dragging Kakashi down the road.
"If this is a ramen stand Naruto," Kakashi warned, "I swear…" he's swearing was cut short as the stand Naruto was dragging him towards came into view. He dug his heels into the ground, and tug back on his arm. Naruto stopped and turned still trying to pull Kakashi closer. The end result looked a little strange to outsiders. Both men were leaning in opposite directions.
"What's a matter Sensei?" Naruto asked.
"That is not a food stand," Kakashi answered starring at the thing, no things, before him.
Naruto looked over his shoulder, "Yes it is," he replied looking back at Kakashi with a smile, "And some of the best you'll ever get too."
"No," Kakashi argued as Naruto tugged him closer, the yellow dirt beneath Kakashi's feet slid and bunched into tiny piles. "That is not food. It doesn't even smell like normal food." The smells coming from the stand were strange. If he had to describe it, it smelt like sweets, meat and something rotting. There was a verity of other smells as well but to indescribable.
"That's because it's exotic foods from all over," Naruto explained, finally wining the small tug of war, "and the best place to get information on every village."
"How do you know that?" Kakashi asked eyeing a moving pile of goo.
"Iruka told me," Naruto shrugged, "That is from Mist," he smiled at the pile of goo Kakashi was eyeing, "From the marsh lands, they hid in the goo."
"What hides in the goo?" Kakashi asked. He'd been to the marsh lands of Mist a few times before. He still shuttered, the nights in the marsh were the worst.
"The marsh worms," an aged voice answered. An owl looking woman stepped out from the back of the cart. Her eyes just managed to peak over the rim of the shelves. "They are a big hit around Mist and Grass," she wheezed, "When ya cook them right, they make the most lovely popping noise. Almost like popcorn." She laughed then turned to point at the bags hanging above and behind her, "We offer a verity of marsh worms flavors, if you don't want to cook them yourself." She turned back blinking through her overly large glasses. "Or you can have Marsh Stew," she smiled wider revealing pink gums.
Kakashi dared to ask, "What's in Marsh Stew?"
"Well," she licked her crinkled lips in thought, "We take that there goo, throw it into some boiling water, add a little seasoning, and put it in a bowl."
"So pretty much you eat the boiled goo and what's ever in it," Kakashi Clearfield.
"Sure do," The aged woman answered with another gummy smile. Kakashi blinked at her unsure how he should react to the information. It was somewhere between disgust and wanting to run away.
"YATTA!" Kakashi jumped a little at Naruto's sudden outburst, "Look Sensei," he was holding some kind of slimy apple, "They have bittlepattel."
"What?" Kakashi's eyes drooped into a deadpan look.
"I know, strange name," Naruto laughed, "But it's good. Iruka loves these."
"They're from an oasis in Sand," the woman squeaked, "That slime is as good as any water you can get and the meat is just as juicy."
"My," Naruto paused, "Father," he picked up with a fond smile, "Loves these." He explained to the woman. "Whenever he goes to visit Sand he takes a few of these with him. Says they're better than water bottles."
"Smart man," she grinned, "Where's your father now?"
"You wouldn't happen to cook meals here too, would you?" Naruto asked sniffing the air, "We're awfully hungry." Kakashi frowned at Naruto's abrupt change in topic, but the woman didn't seem to mind.
"We sure do," she pointed to the side of the carriage she had come out of. Naruto pushed Kakashi toward the side since he wasn't moving. The other side of the cart had a small high bench that set just before a long window. Through it Kakashi caught a glimpse of a young woman busily working on something out of sight. As they drew near she looked up with a wide business smile.
"Welcome," she chimed, "You're the first customers of the day." A sudden squeal ripped through the air, followed by grunting. Kakashi's eyes widen at the sound and looked at the lady for an explanation. She only titled her head her smile widening, "What'll it be?"
"I suggest the Marsh Stew," the old woman popped up next to the young lady.
Naruto tapped him on the shoulder and pointed up where a long menu was hanging. "No thank you," Kakashi said as some more strange noises sounded from somewhere behind the women. "I'm suddenly not that hungry."
"Joey," the young woman yelled, "How many times have I got to tell you? Kill them quietly, you're scaring the customers."
Kakashi wasn't scared, he'd killed things before and heard a verity of sounds from the dying. This just wasn't his cup of tea. He preferred to be able to recognize his food was all. "You'll have to excuse my Sensei," Naruto sighed, "He's a little bit uncultured." Brat, Kakashi thought, if he continued to talk about him like that. He'll be doing pushups until his arms fell off. "He doesn't like to step outside his comfort zone."
"Nonsense," the old bat wheezed, "You must try the Marsh Stew. It's good for you. It has all the proteins a young healthy man like you needs."
"Think I'll pass," Kakashi replied politely.
"Yumi," the old woman turned to the younger, "One batch of Marsh Stew."
Besides him Naruto giggled, "I'll have number 4 Mollie-Tolly Rat-a-Tata."
"Oo, you get our last Rock Rat too," Yumi smile, "My father-in-law and my husband are out catching some now. There's a high demand for them in Sand and some of the coastal villages of Wave. Wave in particular, like the glow slugs you can find in the caves around the mountains."
"Rock Rats?" Kakashi toned in confusion, it was official this place was strange. He'd seen a lot of things in his time and heard a lot of strange things, but this little stand was really something.
"They're huge naked rats that have this kind of crunchy texture to them," Naruto explained, "Ero-sensei like this dish."
"Oh," was all Kakashi could say still trying to make sense of everything so far. Really they should get back to gathering information. They'd already wasted enough time as it was. Mentally he begun mapping his way back to the bar that he had seen earlier.
"So you guys must get a lot of customers?" Naruto asked. Kakashi doubted it; the woman had said that they were the first of the day.
"Oh yes," Yumi laughed, "Usually at night. A lot of nins like to dare each other to eat some of our more exotic foods." Of course they did, Kakashi sighed already thinking of a possible challenge for Gai. "Here in Rock their favorite dare is the spicy bark beetle and the hairy leaf bug. They have a thing for tree bugs," she finished. Kakashi grunted, the Rock nins were probably imagining themselves munching down on Leaf nins.
"So you hear a lot of rumors then?" Naruto pressed resting his chin on his raised hand. He leaned forward placing his elbow on the table and took on a total nonchalant attitude.
"All kinds," the old woman broke in, returning with a tray of meat.
"Well, I've been hearing rumors of a Leaf nin lately," Naruto continued looking at the tray that was placed before him.
"Little Leaf!" Yumi exclaimed excitedly, "Oh isn't he brave, taking on that nasty Eiji-sama." That last statement caught Kakashi's attention.
"Little Leaf? Is that what they're calling him?" he asked.
"M-hmm," she sighed dreamily, "They say he managed to sneak into the ninjas head quarts and steal some important scroll."
"He almost got away with it too," a young boy suddenly sat down beside Naruto. He had some red splatter caked on his left shoulder and some odd color smudges on his cheek.
"I heard he hid the scroll though," Kakashi threw in unsure whether that was true or not.
"Sure did," the boy, presumably Joey nodded, "Right Gram. That guy last night said it. Eiji-sama is trying to get the Leaf nin to tell him where he stashed it."
"M-hmm," Gram nodded.
"He was captured on the boarder of Fire wasn't he?" Naruto asked taking a bite of the meat before him. It gave off a loud crunch to which Naruto sighed. "This is good."
"Thank you," Gram beamed, "I'm not sure. Some say Grass, others Mist. Either way he got pretty far before they managed to catch him."
"And have they gotten anything out of him?" Kakashi asked rejoining the conversation.
"Not that I know of," Yumi said thoughtfully, "But you know who might know?"
"Oaky," Joey piped in, "He's place is actually right across from the interrogation building. He says that's where the best business is for a bar."
"Oaky's a regular of ours whenever we get into town," Gram explained as she set a steaming bowl in front of Kakashi, "Now eat up!" Kakashi had completely forgotten about his forced meal. He stared at it wearily for several seconds before looking up. All of them were watching him now. Slowly he reached for some chop sticks.
"Thank you for the food," he said weakly, as he broke the sticks a part. Even slower he reached into the bowl when a small dilemma struck him. If he did this all slow, then he'd reveal his face. So it was either continued to be weary and risk exposures to strangers and Naruto, or do his lighting dash sticks move and risk being poisoned by whatever was in this dish. To show face, or not to show face? Within a space of a second, Kakashi tore down his mask shoved a chop stick worth of green goo and gods know what into his mouth and replaced his mask, much to the disappointment of Naruto. Once that was done, he begun to chew slowly taking in all the odd textures within his mouth. It was slightly slimy against his tongue. Bits of gummy pebbles squashed against his teeth and burst open. The taste he thought should really be repulsive, the feeling sure was, but no. "This," he begun already shoving another mouthful past his lips, "Is amazing!" It was sweet and bitter at the same time with just enough spice to enhance the flavor.
"See, I knew you'd like it!" the old woman laughed loudly.
"How much for the meal?" Naruto asked as he finished his own meal.
"On the house," Gram smiled her gummy smile.
"Thank You so much for the meal," Kakashi and Naruto bowed as they left the odd stand behind.
"Come again," Joey called after them with a wave.
Finally, they had gotten some information. Oaky, whoever he was, Kakashi was going to find him. Naruto smiled and turned to Kakashi who was busily thinking of ways to kidnap the man. "He's still fighting Kaka-sensei."
"Yes, lets meet back up with the others and discuss how we're going to obtain our next batch of information," Kakashi commanded. Naruto nodded, a large smile stretching his face in two at the thought of being one step closer to getting Iruka back.