Hey y'all! Welcome back for the next chappie for Chasms of Sixteen. Yeps, I'm working hard to push out chappies for this as soon as I can. It's just because I know people seem to be enjoying it. So, I might as well ensure y'all have plenty of reading fodder of course. Hehes
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy what happens this time. Please remember to favorite, follow, etc. along with leaving some nice reviews.
Chapter 21: Flutter
A Few Days Later
"Good luck you guys. Have a super journey home," says Tazuna, smiling at his guards for the past four weeks.
The bridge is finally done. All of Wave has shown up to say goodbye to the heroes of the island. Everyone shows their gratitude for keeping the builder safe all this time.
"Keep a good eye on Naruto," Tsunami calls out, knowing how rambunctious the blonde can be.
"Don't worry, we won't let him get into too much trouble," reassures Kakashi, wanting to get away so he can continue reading his book.
He's just at the good part too. Hikari is just about to admit her undying love for Tsukimaru. He can definitely feel it. After that, knowing the characters, there will be a scene plenty full of 'steamy action'.
"Bye Inari! Bye Tazuna! Bye Tsunami! Bye minna-san!"shouts out Naruto, waving to them all as they leave.
Inari sniffer, sad that his friend is leaving. He isn't going to cry though he hopes. Being done with that phase of his life once and for all, Inari wants to grow up to be strong enough to become a hero too.
"Bye Naruto-niisan!" Inari replies, his voice conveying his regret that Team 7 has to leave.
"Bye!" the inhabitants of the Wave call out as the four shinobi that will forever be remembered in Wave history turn to begin to walk away.
"Hey, what should we call the bridge?" one of the workers asks.
Tazuna grins, happier than ever, "I think we can call it… The Great Naruto Bridge! In honor of the hero that single handedly defeated most of Gatou's army and killed Gatou himself!"
A collective cheer raises from the crowd at his words. They obviously approve of his choice. Inari's sniffles turn to barely muffled sobs as his grandfather looks down at him.
"Hey, Inari, don't worry! We'll see your friend again soon," he reassures gently.
Both Tsunami and Inari are confused by this, but Tazuna hastens to explain, "Kakashi told me that the chunin exams are soon. He's going to be entering Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke in them. We can go watch them in the finals to cheer them on. We can also later on speak with them!"
Inari grins when he hears the plan. That's a great idea! It'll be cool to see Naruto fight and win in the finals. Anticipating it, he can't wait for when that'll happen in a couple of months more or less. The memories will still stay with him of what Naruto and his comrades have done for him and the rest of Waves.
()()()()()
"Finally! We're back home!" Exclaims in Sakura in relief.
She's been prohibited from bringing the vast majority of her cosmetics and various things that she perceives that make her look prettier in some way even though she's beautiful without it. Instead she has been told to fill up a handbag with her make-up. If she dares to bring any more along then it might of been tossed out. Some of it has been expensive, not wanting to take any chances. Naruto isn't nearly as overjoyed, having no wish to return to his empty small unkempt apartment. The blonde has enjoyed sleeping on a real bed in a real house with his teammates and friends not too far away. It has been fun eating dinner, occasionally breakfast, and lunch at the kitchen table with the others. It's the closest Naruto has ever been to knowing what it feels like to have a real family. His sensei and both of his teammates picks up on his mood.
"What's got you down Naruto?" Kakashi asks gently, seeing him being quiet and thoughtful, but he never expects to see the cheerful blonde looking almost sinking into depression.
Adjusting his backpack straps before replying, he tells him, "I just guess I got used to waking up to someone actually being in the house with me. I'm going to miss it is all."
Trying to put it in a joking tone, his voice tells of nothing except slight remorse. His eyes match the same bittersweet mood. The only thing that might of betrayed deeper emotions is a brief darkening of the eyes, transforming them slightly into a more indigo shade rather than their usual sky blue. His grin and body posture speaks of optimism though. Not seeming to weigh down. So anyone will only notice that he's acting if anyone is observant enough. This includes those who know him well. Kakashi picks up on the minor change in the shade of Naruto's eyes, but doesn't know what it means, thinking nothing of it.
It's slightly disturbing that Naruto has been acting in such a way that he might of sworn is severe depression. The words he speaks hint at such, but his tone of voice and body posture at the moment say something completely different. Sasuke feels a slight pang of something in his heart upon hearing what the blonde has to say. No, it's not pity. He's had a far harsher life than he has, being sure that anyone doesn't pity those who are better off than the other person. It's more like he feels that he can relate almost. He, too, won't have anyone to say good morning to him when he wakes up or to talk to at meals.
"Well, ja ne! I've got somewhere to go," announces Kakashi, breaking the awkward silence as he waves to disappear in a poof of smoke.
"Hey, Sasuke-kun," squeaks out Sakura in what she thought is a seductive manner. "Do you want to go on a date with me?"
Looking over at her crush, who she's certain feels the same way about her, but is too shy to admit it. It just means she has to help him, not expecting him to be ignoring her though. Instead of his lips forming the words to accept her invitation all she sees is his back as he walks away to the Uchiha manor. Sakura hears footsteps starting behind her, turning to the source she sees Naruto start sprinting after Sasuke. She at first expects him to scold the raven for being rude to her as he surely might of in the Academy, but instead he just falls in step beside the third member of their team.
()()()()()
"Kakashi, you said something earlier about the mission rising in difficulty suddenly. Explain," commands the Hokage.
Sensing that the Hokage is serious, Kakashi pockets his little orange book as he looks at the old man in the eye, explaining the attack by the two demon brothers. This also includes how Naruto in particular has acted. The Sandaime Hokage is clearly feeling a conflation at hearing this news, understanding why Kakashi and his team hadn't turned back. Doing so would've been immoral and his team would've probably complained, knowing Sasuke and Naruto. Also, Tazuna would've certainly been doomed. But he's heard of Gatou and his recent demise, knowing that he wouldn't have been an easy opponent to defeat. Naruto's skill level is also uncanny. A genin isn't able to detect a chunin; especially one who's training as an assassin.
"That's where it starts to get strange," says Kakashi, causing the hokage to raise an eyebrow in question. "Our client misinformed us of the mission. He was building a bridge to the mainland, which would destroy Gatou's monopoly. The weird part of that is that Naruto somehow knew about it ahead of time. He's been able to figure out that anyone; especially a bridge builder requesting an escort to Wave probably wasn't worried about bandits so much as assassination attempts from Gatou. He knew enough about the amount of control Gatou has over Wave and even of the small rebellion that's trying to undermine him by finding alternate means of transport. That isn't even in files kept for shinobi usage…. So, there's no way he could've gotten that information unless he has connections in the underground."
The Hokage sits back in his chair to let it all sink in. It's indeed disturbing that the blonde knows fairly well of the fact that it has been a falsely ranked mission ahead of time. The mystery surrounding the blonde just grows ever deeper along with being more complex every time he tries to figure it out.
"Why hasn't he inform you of this before you were all attacked?" Inquires Sarutobi.
"He said he was bored and wanted a real fight apparently. He was confident in his ability to win. He then switched the subject from his motives to the fact that we were already committed. Also, he managed to get Sasuke and Sakura to agree with him," reports Kakashi, going on to explain the events that lead up to just before the fight with Zabuza.
The Hokage has been surprised when Kakashi says that Naruto is able to sense two chunin that specialize in the art of assassination. He's actually assumed that it's a survival instinct that he's picked up from Kurama. But to be able to sense a jounin that specializes in the silent killing technique? Either Naruto is skilled on his own or that is one hell of an instinct, unable to this stunned since Naruto used his Sexy no Jutsu to steal the Forbidden Scroll. After pausing to let the Hokage absorb what he's said so far Kakashi continues, telling the Hokage of Naruto's knowledge of the sharingan along with how he has been able to trick Zabuza.
Troubling, Sarutobi thought in concern, furrowing his brows in contemplation about all of what the report entails.
Settling back to listen to the rest of Kakashi's report, he's especially shocked by the fact that Naruto has befriended Haku beforehand. He agrees with Kakashi that the story sounds a little fishy. Though it also feels disturbing how Naruto has seemed to shrug off the fact that he slaughtered upwards of a hundred people even if they were low life thugs.
"Kakashi, do you think it's possible that Naruto got information on the mission from this friend of his? They might have coordinated it specifically so that they might have a chance to meet face to face," suggests the Hokage.
Kakashi's visible eye widens because he hasn't thought of that possibility. But how can that have come to pass? Before he can ask any questions the Hokage continues with what he needs to say to the jounin, knowing that Kakashi has a past with being a former student of the deceased Fourth Hokage.
"Naruto came in shortly before I assigned the mission…. He specifically requested a higher level mission. He gave good reasons for such. I granted his request. His wording lead me to decide to choose a lower level mission that genin would be able to easily accomplish. If they failed a jounin would be able to do. The Wave mission is of course the best choice," elaborates the Hokage to him through his musings.
The Hokage is right. The whole thing sounds a bit off. But why does Naruto go out of his way to arrange to meet with a cohort of a missing nin even if they have known each other?
Before Kakashi can muse any more, The Hokage captures his attention, "Hatake Kakashi, I'm going to assign you the at the least A-ranked mission of observing Uzumaki Naruto to find out what's going on. The mission may rise in level at any given time without warning."
The jounin is mildly surprised. After all, it isn't everyday he gets assigned a mission to spy on his own student. Then again it isn't everyday he has the jinchurriki of an extremely powerful and intelligent demon as one of his students either.
"Hai, Hokage-sama," obliges Kakashi, taking his mission scroll before poofing off to his apartment.
()()()()()
Naruto has to jog slightly to catch up to Sasuke. Knowing that unless Murphy has decided in the past five minutes to actually cut Naruto some slack for once it won't do any good to ask Sasuke out on a date. It probably might only serve to creep the raven out to make him even more withdrawn from Naruto. So, the blonde just walks silently along.
"Why are you walking beside me?" Asks Sasuke after a minute or two of the two of them strolling towards the Uchiha compound.
Pouting, Naruto replies, "'Because I feel like it, teme! I can do whatever I want."
Raising an eyebrow, Sasuke merely 'grunts in response to this. Strangely enough, he finds it kind of slightly cute when the blonde pouts in such a childish manner. Sorrowfully that he hasn't managed to entice an actual conversation out of his crush, Naruto lapses back into silence. It's quite comforting, actually. The birds flying around chirp merrily, adding to the background noise of the village itself. The walk also gives Naruto time to relax, clearing his head of any circling anxieties. It won't do any good to be stressed out while he's trying to decide how to save his precious people, after all.
Hearing the chatter of the various creatures, mainly birds, which has originally surrounded them suddenly stop, Naruto halts in his tracks. As a street child he's learned to avoid the Uchiha manor. Only civilians and ninja dare to venture near. Street kids, wild animals, and strays all keep a good distance for even domesticated animals are extremely uneasy around the place. There's something not right that hangs in the air that always has. Perhaps it's the cloying touch of the past, knowing death still haunts the halls of it from that fateful day many years ago.
"Why are you stopping, dobe?" Sasuke wants to know.
Naruto looks around nervously, knowing that this place has that effect on him, "Just habit, I guess."
Sasuke can see that it isn't all that sincere though. Knowing that Sasuke can tell he's fibbing has Naruto drop his grin, guessing he needs to tell him something to placate his curiosity about what he truly feels. It's not something he wants to do, but guesses that he needs to in order to build enough trust between them.
"Street kids are given a warning by each other to not go near the compound is all. I grew up with that pounded into my head. Never go any nearer than where the birds and other creatures go. Don't you ever notice the fact that no undomesticated animals will go near the place?" Asks Naruto simply.
Sasuke shakes his head, "It's been that way forever. Why do I need to take note of it? Why do you have a street kid's warning imprinted in your mind?"
Sighing, Naruto has been wishing that his past will never, ever come up in a discussion. Further proof that Murphy loathes him or just takes sadistic pleasure in torturing him. Though he guesses that he needs to divulge some of it in order to further please the Uchiha, not wanting him to poke any further about it after this hopefully. It's not a given that it won't be given a prod at again, but at least he can speak about it now in the midst of someone that he trusts well enough.
"I spent several years as a kid on the streets. I ran away from the orphanage I was staying in at the time when I was three. I wasn't able to get an apartment until I was six," he tells him, staring at the ground as his hands hang limp by his sides.
Sasuke can tell that it isn't a subject Naruto likes to bring up. Probably he might never have guessed that Naruto has lived on the streets at anytime.
"Well, see you tomorrow then, dobe," says Sasuke, turning to leave to go back to his haunting, empty clan compound.
Seeing Sasuke walk away, Naruto hesitates for a split second before calling after him, "Wait! Sasuke!"
The raven turns back to face Naruto, looking slightly annoyed, "What is it, dobe?"
Naruto has absolutely no plan whatsoever for him to make up something on the spot, "We haven't gotten paid yet for our mission. I'm hungry….. I've been wondering if you might be able to buy me some ramen?"
It's true. He's indeed rather hungry. Although he can stand it. They also haven't gotten paid yet for the completion of their mission. Naruto is out of money due to trying to barely manage to pay his rent. Not wanting to impose on the kind owner of Ichiraku Ramen, he hopes that his teammate might be able to help him out.
"Dobe, why can't you use your own money?" Sighs Sasuke out of slight annoyance.
"Because I'm broke, teme…. Unlike you, I actually have to pay rent…. The landlord drove up the prices again recently. I haven't had enough extra money after paying bills and everything to buy food," he sheepishly explains out of embarrassment that he has to admit to being dependant on his friends.
Sasuke has actually never taken into consideration that Naruto might be out of money, "Hey, dobe, how do you get by before you became a ninja?"
The blonde might of been paying for food, rent, and bills out of his own pocket. Academy students don't get paid.
"Ichiraku-jiji usually gives me a free meal every now and then. Iruka-sensei has helped me get some of the necessities such as clothes. I also receive a monthly pension from Hokage-jiji that used to pretty much cover the rent although that's probably going to stop soon now that I'm a ninja. Anything that wasn't covered by charity I either did without, scavenged, or stole. I was never good at begging. So, that's not an option," Naruto replies nonchalantly although despite the outward appearance of not caring he inwardly is struggling hard to not look angry or annoyed at past situations.
Sasuke has officially learned something about the blonde that he has never suspected. Well, Uzumaki Naruto is known as the most surprising shinobi.
"Fine, dobe, I'll buy you something to eat since if you starve to death I'll just end up stuck with an even less useful teammate, if that's even possible," declares the Uchiha, not showing any reaction to the recent revelation about his teammate. "But I'm not buying you ramen. If you don't eat healthily. Your body won't be able to function as well as it can because of malnutrition."
Naruto is overjoyed that Sasuke has accepted his offer. Although it does trouble him that Sasuke wants to buy him something other than ramen. The owner of Ichiraku Ramen is the only one that doesn't serve him spoiled food, not overpricing him.
"But Sasuke!" he whines, eyes growing wide. "I want ramen! Not anything else!"
Sasuke scowls at him, not about to buy anything as cheap as ramen, "No. It's bad for your health to eat ramen every day."
The raven doesn't even know why he's bothering to buy his blonde teammate any food whatsoever. Normally he usually just ignores the blonde to keep on walking. What is up with him recently? Deciding to stow that away for further contemplation later, he guesses that he'll sort it out later when he has some alone time. Itachi always told him that emotions aren't necessary. That they only get in the way. But what if he's wrong? What if his older brother has been telling him lies all along to protect him?
"But Sasuke! Ichiraku Ramen is the best…. Their ramen has healthy stuff in it, too! I'll even buy a vegetable ramen if it'll get you to take me there," pouts Naruto.
Sensing that the blonde isn't going to back down any time soon, Sasuke sighs, "Fine, but only because I don't feel like standing here for hours on end arguing with you. Now come on."
"Yay!"
Oks, that's the end of chappie twenty-one. It's just oh so adorable how Sasuke and Naruto interact at times. Hmm, perhaps why this is still on my favorite ships list. I think this one works all too well for this story. Hehes
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed. The next chappie will be out shortly whenever I have it finished being revised. Hopefully that won't be too long of a wait for it though. Until then, please remember to review, darlings!