"Naruto" - Person Talking
'Naruto' - Person Thinking
"Naruto" - Summons/Bijū talking
"Naruto" - Summons/Bijū thinking
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" - Jutsu
Hey guys, Dom here bringing you another chapter. Again, this is the beginning of the genre shift so it's a little rough add in the fact I just had my Calc midterm it was a pretty horrible time. Well, it's a weird chapter, I'm still learning how to write good comedy but I fell into my angsty/dark style again because I rewatched/read a certain anime/manga. So again, bear with me because it's not a great chapter in my opinion and probably a lot of yours as well, haha. Eh, enough about me yappin eh? You came to read right? Well, let's a go.
A Son Forgotten - Chapter 24
Sitting in the middle of a cabin, surrounded by the two people who "trapped" him, Naruto was doing his best to ignore the stares that were either stripping him of his clothes or trying to find a hint of a lie on his person. Releasing a sigh, he let his thoughts drift back to the moment he was found an hour ago and his subsequent capture afterwards.
"Why'd it have to be me." Naruto muttered under his breath, his head dropping in self sympathy.
"He's a complete 10 Jiji!" The girl should as she circled him, Naruto and her grandfather's brows both twitched.
"Uhh, this is wrong on so many levels you know." Naruto said, doing his best to ignore her as she started to feel up his body.
"Stop that you dimwit!" Her grandfather shouted as he bopped her hard on the head, the girl yelping before glaring at him.
"What was that for!" She shouted, her grandfather and Naruto's eyes twitching at her statement.
"Do you even have to ask." He deadpanned as she simply looked away and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
Soon, they released him and help him to the ground before trying to start up some small talk with him. Of course Naruto simply stared at them before sighing and returning their attempts at talking.
"Eheheh... Sorry about that, I lost myself a bit there. I'm Asako by the way! Asako Kogai!" The girl now known as Asako chirped as Naruto nodded at her.
Asako had a head of straight black hair that ended near her shoulders. Her fair skin was free of any blemishes and had a healthy glow that showed that she was in good health. Her black eyes shone with a mischief and life that matched her tomboyish personality, she seemed to be a little flirtatious and playful from what Naruto could tell. Dressed in a pair of overalls that had the straps undone, showing the dirty white shirt under it only served to enhance her tomboyish appearance.
"I apologize for my granddaughter's horrible behavior, names Naoko, a pleasure youngin!" The elderly yet muscular man now known as Naoko said as he held out his hand, Naruto raising an eyebrow before taking it and giving him a firm shake.
Naoko was a very tall and large man with a fair complexion, a few small and worn scars showing that he was clearly over the age of at least sixty. But the thing that caught Naruto's eye was the fact that though he was bald and had impressive facial hair, he was anything by frail. He was even more muscular then some of the bears he assumed. Behind that stern facade seemed to be a very kind and jolly man who clearly loved his granddaughter and life. Dressed in a gray tank top and like his granddaughter, overalls with the straps undone, he was dressed for the outdoors.
"I'm Naruto, nice to meet you two." Naruto said as the two smiled, happy that he wasn't angry at them.
"So tell me Naruto, what were you doing out here this deep in the forest?" Naoko asked as Naruto sighed, catching their attention.
"I... I got lost." He answered as he dropped his head, Naoko and Asako staring at him blankly before Naoko started laughing loudly.
"Haha! Well, that's nothing to be ashamed about my boy! Takes a man to admit something like that!" Naoko said as Asako giggled, Naruto simply closing his eye as a bit of pink dusted his cheeks.
After telling the two the reason why he was out in the forest, namely the most dangerous part of the forest because of the bears that stalked about.
"So you were trying to get to village huh? Were you going to restock on supplies or something? You don't look like the average traveler with that eyepatch and all, were you pretending to be a hero or something?" Asako asked as Naoko chuckled, Naruto furrowed his brow slightly, causing the two lose their laughter and look at him in a mix of concern and slight fear.
"I... I don't remember anything from my past. I just learned my name a few hours ago and that this eyepatch isn't just for show." Naruto said as they gave him a sad and pitying frown, clearly guilty that they joked about something so serious.
"I-I'm sorry Naruto, we didn't mean to joke about that." Naoko apologized as Asako did as well, Naruto simply brushing them off.
"It's fine, I don't want anything to do with my past life." He said as they looked at him in a bit of confusion.
That confusion soon left when he lifted his shirt. At first Asako squealed and covered her eyes, leaving a gap open for her to peek though while Naoko choked on his saliva. But soon, their eyes widened when they saw a horrific number of scars littering his body, growing pale at the largest one on the side of his body that looked like something had taken a chunk out of his side. After a few seconds, he pulled down his shirt as they remained silent, stunned by memories of what could only be either torture or battle that remained on the young man in front of them.
"Sorry about that, but I figured it's be faster to show you rather then try to explain. It was pretty disgusting huh." Naruto said, a bit guilty that he showed them such an unpleasant sight.
But to his confusion, Naoko put a rough hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently as Asako took his hand. For Naoko, he was a man who experienced war and bloodshed though it was minor. He had seen children captured by slavers and forced to do things that should only happen in nightmares. Seeing someone so young already bearing scars showing years of suffering only served to make him feel for the young man. For Asako, not even in her nightmares would she have imagined someone her age could be so scarred and have such a tragic past. The knowledge that she was trying to hit on him only serving to make her feel worse.
"Ah, it's fine. Thank you for getting me down and everything else, I should be heading out now." Naruto said as he gently removed himself from their grasp as they flinched slightly.
"At least you aren't like that thing..." Asako thought as Naruto turned to face her slightly as he didn't quite understand why she was looking so disgusted.
"So, umm, how about we show you the way to village Naruto? We've collected all of our traps and were going to head back anyway." Asako said in an attempt to dispel the awkward and slightly depressing atmosphere.
"I agree, you were fixin' on heading there anyway right?" Naoko said as Asako beamed a smile at him, the elderly man returning the smile.
"If you both are heading there and wouldn't mind me tagging along, I'd be grateful." Naruto said as he bowed to them, the two quickly blushing at his action and wildly waved their hands to stop him.
"H-Hey no need to bow Naruto! We just wanna help you out!" Naoko said as Naruto rose, his granddaughter and himself releasing a sigh of relief once he stopped.
"If you say so. When are we leaving?" Naruto asked as they both smiled at him as they moved to gather their things.
"Right now! If it's not too much trouble, could you help us carry back some of the game we caught Naruto?" Asako asked as Naruto nodded, moving to care a few of the animals that were trapped.
With that they set off on an hour long trip through the forest, idly chatting with one another about off topic things before Naruto started asking about the village they lived in. Ichiba no Sato, Market Village, was a very popular and economically rich village. Since it was located between Kumo, Konoha and being very close to Kiri, a point at the center of many villages, it had a large amount of traffic subsequently tourism and trade.
"So do you two live in the village or in the cabin back in the forest?" Naruto asked as Naoko chuckled light heartedly.
"We live in the village my boy, but that cabin is our home away from home when we need to do some huntin' for the restaurant!" He replied as Naruto nodded, Asako doing her best not to stare at him.
"I see, so what do you do for a living beside hunting Naoko-san?" Naruto asked as Naoko smiled at him, Asako also smiling as she moved beside him.
"Our family owns the best restaurant in the entire village Naruto! You've got to come to Umaretsuki and try out our dishes!" Asako said in an excited tone as Naruto's eye widened, getting curious stares from the two.
"I hate to ask this from the two of you but that's why I was looking for a village. I want to become a chef, the greatest chef around." Naruto said as the two looked at him with surprise in their eyes before they beamed a bright smile at him.
"A chef eh? Think you got what it takes Naruto?" Naoko asked in a challenging tone, Naruto's eye narrowing as a small smirk made it to his face.
"I think I do Naoko-san." Naruto replied in a confident tone, Asako swooning slightly upon hearing it while Naoko chuckled.
"Then let's pick up the pace, the faster we arrive the faster we can put ya through the wringer!" Naoko said with a glint in his eye, Asako shivering slightly while Naruto raised an eyebrow.
(Time Skip - One Hour Later)
(Scene Change - Ichiba no Sato: Outside Umaretsuki)
Arriving in Ichiba, Naruto was stunned to see the sheer number of people chatting, laughing, walking, eating and playing in its streets. Naoko and Asako laughing a bit as his surprised look as he took in the sights like it was the first large city he's ever been to. But their laughs dropped a little when they remembered his amnesia and the scars that littered his body, knowing that, that could have actually been the case. Patting him on the shoulder, Naoko regained his attention and gestured for him to follow as they navigated the crowd covered streets to a fairy large and cozy looking building. Turning to face the two, he saw them smile and nod as Asako moved in front of him while Naoko headed inside.
"Naruto! Welcome to Umaretsuki! The best restaurant around!" Asako announced as a few of the passerby's turned and looked at the building before shrugging and heading inside much to their delight.
"I see that you're still trying to promote your tiny little shack as a high class eatery aren't you Asako? A shame that it doesn't even come close to my family's extravagant bistro." A haughty and feminine voice said as Asako tensed, growling as she turned stiffly and glared at another girl around their age.
She had blonde hair that ended near his mid-back, a silky sheen that shone brightly in the light of the sun. Her pale but glowing complexion showing that she was in the prime of her health, she stood a few inches shorter then Asako but held herself in a much more regal way. Dressed in an expensive looking white sundress with blue ribbons adorning it, she was the picture of an "Ojou".
"Grr! You wanna go Konoe!? Just because you're family's restaurant is slightly more popular then mine doesn't mean you're better then me you shrimp!" Asako shouted as the girl now known as Konoe developed a tick mark on her head.
"Who're you callin' a shrimp ya gorilla! Yer just jealous that the all the guys think I'm prettier then ya!" Konoe shouted as her prim and proper image shattered right before Naruto, the taller blonde simply staring at the two now steaming girls as they grinded foreheads against each other.
"Oh, what happened to little miss perfect huh shrimpy?" Asako sneered as Konoe started shaking in anger, eye face turning red with anger and embarrassment.
"S-Shut yer mouth ya pig! Least I don' go playin' in the dirt like you do!" Konoe shouted as Asako turned red at the accusation.
"I-I don't play in the dirt! I go collect the fresh ingredients that I set out traps for you midget!" Asako shouted back as Konoe simply smirked at her, her poise returned as she straightened out her back.
"Sure you do, and I'm sure that you have a boyfriend as well." Konoe sneered as Asako began to tear up as her angry face began to turn into a snarl.
The two of them starting to draw a crowd because of their petty argument, Naruto sighed as he heard someone talking about making bets, something about the "Country Princess" and the "Tomboy Baker". But he also caught a monster or freak that he couldn't quite make out. Shaking his head as he was unable to catch anything else, he finally made his presence known to Konoe when he stepped forward and moved beside Asako, Konoe's eyes widening when she caught sight of him.
Her face growing a bit red when she took in his features, a mix of a boyish cuteness and a teenage handsomeness, Konoe couldn't help but admire how Naruto looked. Finally, she felt something pierce her heart as everything but Naruto suddenly blacked out, while the taller blonde began to be surrounded by sparkles and hearts. But before her delusions could get any worse, Naruto wrapped an arm around Asako as her blush vanished and moved to Asako.
"Kyan!" Asako squeaked as she felt Naruto wrap his arm around her, blushing deeper as she felt the musculature of his arm so clearly.
"Hwah! Konoe sounded out as she felt her dreams die when her newly found prince charming made such a casual move on her eternal rival.
"Could you stop picking on my girlfriend, she's a little hot headed you know." Naruto said in a deadpan, the noise that surrounded the area dying as an out of place wind blew.
"W-What are you doing you idiot!" Asako shouted as she hit Naruto on the head, blushing furiously as she, reluctantly, freed herself from Naruto's arm.
"I thought it would be funny." Naruto said as Asako lowered her head, raising her fist as she trembled.
"You... You inconsiderate jerk!" She shouted as she swung her fist at him, the bystanders wincing, though a few of the women nodded their heads in understanding.
"What's going on out her- Oh! Asako, there you are! What're you still doing out here? The shop needs you t-" An woman said as she talked out of the shop, going from scolding to surprised when she saw Asako holding a boy she'd never seen in a headlock.
"Oh my! Is that your boyfriend dear?" She teased as Asako froze, stiffly turning her head and promptly paling when she saw her mother's teasing smile.
"W-W-Wha! N-No! He's not! H-He's just a jerk I met today! Ask Jiji!" She shouted as her mother just giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as her daughter flailed her arms around.
"Ah. It's an honor to meet my future mother-in-law. I may be inexperienced, but I will do my best to make her happy." Naruto said, bowing to her as her giggles only increased as Asako froze, paler then the moon as another person walked out of the shop.
"Ayase, is something the matter?" A tall man bearing a similar build to Naoko asked as he peeked out of the shop.
"Oh, it's nothing dear. Asako was just introducing her boyfriend to me." The woman known as Ayase said as her husband turned blank.
Slowly, he withdrew his head back into the shop before bursting through the front door with a cleaver and sharpening stone in hand. An ominous smile on his face, he glanced around while sharpening his cleaver before his eyes landed and locked onto Naruto. Making his way over, he simply stared at the young man before he raised his head to meet him, the older man gawking as he dropped his tools when he caught sight of Naruto's appearance.
"W-What?! I-I'll never hand my daughter to a man like you! You look like nothing but trouble!" He shouted as he grabbed and held Asako to his chest to her utter mortification.
"D-Daddy! Let go!" Asako shouted as she tried to detach herself from her father, the man refusing to let go as her mother continued to giggle while Naruto stood staring blankly at them.
Before anything else could happen, loud chuckling could be heard coming from inside of the shop before Naoko walked out, being the source of it. When he caught sight of what was happening outside, he clutched his stomach with one hand and slapped his knee with the other. Walking over to Naruto, he patted him on the back as he wiped away a tear.
"Oh, that was worth it! Thanks Naruto, that has to have been the most flustered my granddaughter's been for a while!" Naoko said as Naruto nodded his head, a small smirk on his face as the other simply stared at them.
"Huh." Was the collective thoughts of everyone present as Naoko futilely tried to hold in his laughter before cracking up again.
"Haha! I asked Naruto here to act like your boyfriend Asako, you've always been spouting about how you'll have your prince charming one day so I figured I'd speed it up for you!" Naoko said as Asako lowered her head before raising it again, her face crimson with anger and embarrassment before she cocked her fist back and slugged Naruto.
"DIE!" She shouted as a painful sound echoed around the village.
Nearby, the outline of a small person could be seen watching the exchange as a small smile graced their features before it vanished into an alleyway.
(Scene Change - Ichiba no Sato: Umaretsuki)
Gathered inside of Umaretsuki was a still fuming and red faced Asako, her giggling mother, her relieved father, a chuckling Naoko, a relieved Konoe and Naruto who was idly rubbing his jaw. After the whole fiasco, Naoko explained to them once more that it was his idea and not Naruto's. Once he managed to clear it up, getting a smack from Asako and her father, Ayase invited them all inside as they closed the shop for prepping.
"You're the absolute worst Jiji..." Asako muttered under her breath as she stared with pink dusted cheeks at Naruto who had stopped rubbing the spot she slugged him.
"And umm... Sorry about you know, decking you Naruto but you deserved it for playing along you jerk." She said as Naruto shrugged.
"I didn't really feel it to be honest, I've probably gotten used to getting hit." He said as she quickly lost her angry mood, the mood becoming a little awkward.
"So Naruto, what are you doing in Ichiba?" Ayase said in an attempt to dispel the awkward atmosphere and succeeding.
"Ah, I was looking for a village to start a career as a chef." He said as everyone minus Asako and Naoko looked at him in shock.
"A chef...?" Asako's father, Naoya, repeated as Naruto nodded his head in confirmation.
"That's right, a chef." He said in confidence as they gave him a set of confused looks, obviously not expecting that for an answer.
"If I may, why a chef? Obviously you seem like someone who has experience in fighting." Konoe asked as Asako elbowed her in the side, getting an angry glare in return.
"To tell you the truth, I don't remember anything about my past. When I woke up, I was inside of a river somewhere out in the forest and at that time I didn't even know my own name. I've probably done a lot of horrible things in the past, that's why I want to start fresh and do something I've always wanted to do, which is cooking. I think..." Naruto explained as they gave him a pitying look upon hearing his story.
"Wait, what do you mean you think?" Asako asked as Naruto pulled out his cookbook and showed it to them.
"I found this on me when I woke up, I figured I must love to cook since I had something like that on me." He said as they nodded, Naoya smiling at him as he stood up.
"Well, I can't guarantee you a place here Naruto but I can at least see if you have what it take to cook." Naoya said as Naruto's eye widened in response before he bowed to the older man.
"At least he won't be anything like that thing was, next time I see it..." Naoya angrily thought before he saw Naruto bowing deeply at him, causing him to panic slightly.
"Thank you Naoya-san." He said as Naoya blushed a bit at the display, looking towards his family for help only to see them look away and snicker.
"W-Wait! I-If you want a place to study surely you'd be able to learn more at my family's restaurant!" Konoe suggested as Naruto mulled it over, but before he could answer Asako interjected.
"H-Hold it! He came here first Konoe, and my dad already approved of him staying here to learn so don't go trying to take him away!" Asako said as Konoe leveled a glare at her as she glared back.
"Oh my, it appears that someone if popular! Who knows, you might even snag me Naruto-kun!" Ayase said as Naoya choked on his drink before rushing over to his wife.
"A-Ayase y-you don't mean that do you! I-I'm still young and passionate you know!" Naoya shouted as Ayase simply looked away.
"Oh, is that true dear? I don't remember the last time you took me out though." She pouted as Naoya paled, Naoko chuckling as he led Naruto into the back to help with prepping as the four remained in the front of the restaurant and continued bickering with each other.
Arriving in the kitchen, Naruto took in the sights of the various pots, pans, plates and instruments used to create the dishes that tantalized the taste buds of those who walked in. After getting a good look at what was inside, Naoko patted him on the back and directed him towards the prep room, a room on the side of the kitchen used to butcher and prep the game that was trapped earlier.
"Alright my boy, let's see what you've got. We've got a lot of meat here so don't worry about messing up alright? Just show me what you got!" Naoko said as Naruto nodded, moving towards the sink to wash his hands.
"A chef is only as good as the tools he uses Naruto, if you fail this test there's no hope for you in the culinary world." Naoko thought as he laid out somewhere between three to four dozen knives on the table resting beside the boar.
"Pick your weapon Naruto, a chef is only as good as their tools." He said as Naruto nodded, moving to the table and examining every knife laying down.
Picking up the knives one by one, Naruto tested their weight and feel once before narrowing down his choices. From the nearly four dozen knives that were laid out, Naruto had reduced the number to a meager seven. Beside him, Naoko who was keenly observing him muttered to himself as he saw the knives that Naruto had selected. Taking a quick glance to the pile of rejected knives, he was a little shocked that he managed to discern the top quality knives from the lower quality ones; having a group of low quality knives in front of in and a pile of the best off to the side.
"He doesn't have an eye for knives I'll give him that. He removed all of the Yusuru brand knives known for their incredible durability, the Madai brand knives known for their peerless steel, the Sagan brand knives known for their outstanding flexibility, the Sekiun brand knives known for their perfect weight and the Kinome brand knives which are the most balanced of them all. Absolutely incredible." Naoko thought as he sweat dropped at Naruto's awful selection.
Seeing Naruto utterly failing at the first test he was given, Naoko was a little guilty that he had given him such a wide selection of knives. When Asako had asked to learn how to cook, he had only given her a choice of a dozen knives to choose from. Shaking his head, he debated stopping the test and cutting down the number of knives to give Naruto an easier time, but before he could he saw Naruto reach out and pick up probably the worst knife in the pile.
It was an extremely old, rusted and worn blade which didn't even have a hilt to grasp simply being the tang made of antique metal. Scratching his head upon seeing Naruto handle it with such care and intrigue, Naoko was about to interject when Naruto turned to face him, holding the blade with the upmost care.
"Naoko-san. If I may, could I borrow a whetstone, some abrasive and some time?" Naruto asked, obviously intent on restoring the knife he held in his hands.
"I don't know what you see in that blade Naruto, but knock yourself out. In the back there is an area where we polish up the more worn down and rusted knives, there should be some whetstones and abrasive there." Naoko said as Naruto thanked him, moving carefully to avoid breaking the blade.
Following him, Naoko was about to ask if he knew how to properly sharpen a blade but stood slack jawed when Naruto started aggressively polishing the blade. Moving quickly to stop him from breaking it and hurting himself he stopped and widened his eyes when, in a series of quick and precise movements, the beautiful sound of a blade being sharpened to perfection hit his ears.
"Amazing..." Naoko said as he admired the way Naruto sharpened the blade, his movements being harsh yet effective, like watching a duel between samurai.
Tightening his grip on the tang of the knife, he tilted it slightly and slit its length across the whetstone as the sound of a light chime made it to his ear. A small smile appearing on his face, he repeated the process until the chime became a clear sound. Reversing his grip on the tang, he shifted his body and began repeating the process with the abrasive stone, wearing away the rust that coated the knife's blade. Soon, instead of rusty brown it started to chip away to reveal a moonlight white that seemed to make all light shone upon it pale in comparison.
Finally, after nearly half an hour of sharpening and abrasion, Naruto stood and wiped the sweat off his face and stared in awe at the knife in front of him. A peerless white colored blade with a silver trim that shone brighter then the stars, it was the epitome of a perfect blade. While it was missing a proper hilt, it didn't deter from the fact that the blade itself looked flawless. In appearance, with the decades perhaps even centuries of rust that had accumulated on it gone, it was revealed to be a knife styled as a kiritsuke. Turning the knife over in his hands, Naruto let a smile drift across his face as he held it by the tang, the knife feeling perfect even without a hilt in his hands.
"W-What!?" He heard Naoko shout behind him, turning and flinching a bit in surprise when he saw the Kogai family standing and looking at him with wide eyes.
"T-That knife, i-it's beautiful!" Ayase commented as she marveled at the knife, taking in its glow.
"Naruto... I've never even seen a brand of knife that even comes close to looking that beautiful." Naoko admitted as he examined the knife in Naruto's hand, stunned that such a beautiful knife existed in their restaurant.
"Ah, I'm not finished yet." He admitted as they looked at him in confusion, but then realized that indeed the knife was incomplete still missing the hilt.
"Wait, you're not finished? Are you a freaking blacksmith or something!?" Asako shouted, voicing the question that danced in her family's mind.
Shrugging his shoulders, he moved the bin of ruined and unusable knives before picking out a simple maple handle and prying the remains of the blade out. Gently inserting the tang into the groove, Naruto began to hammer and bond the two together before finally finishing. Holding up the knife, he let out a content sigh and gave the newly forged knife a few swing before nodding in contentment as he turned and smiled at the Kogai family, Asako blushing while her parents and grandfather smiled.
"So, do I pass the first test Naoko-san?" He said as Naoko chuckled loudly, moving to pat him on the shoulder.
"Pass? You completely destroyed it! I've never seen anyone actually make a knife let alone a beginner! Let's get you started on the next test, we've got half an hour until we've gotta open the shop again!" Naoko said as he led Naruto back to the prep room while Asako and her parents remained outside.
"You like Naruto-kun don't you Asako?" Ayase said in a teasing tone as Asako turned red at her mother's statement.
"N-No! I don't! I-I was just a little impressed that he did that! That's all! I'm still mad at the dumb prank him and Jiji did!" She shouted as her mother giggled, Naoya going in as he chuckled at his daughter's excuse.
"Hey, so far I approve of him Asako." Naoya said as Asako froze, her eyes widening as Ayase covered her mouth to stifle the giggles that wanted to escape.
"D-Daddy!" She whined as her parents moved back inside laughing at her expense, Asako grumbling under her breath as he also went back inside.
Back inside the prep room, Naruto and Naoko were getting started on butchering the boar that was trapped earlier in the day. Laying it down on its side, Naoko explained the various types of cuts and their purposes to Naruto as Naoya entered and began to butcher the other animals that were brought in. With Asako and Ayase they were in the section of the kitchen reserved for baking as they started on prepping the ingredients for the desert courses.
"And that's the gist of it Naruto, think you can take care of this guy here?" Naoko asked as Naruto nodded, picking up his knife and going to work.
In a quick and fluid movement, Naruto made a small incision on the stomach of the boar before following through with each stroke before he carefully removed the skin of the boar as Naoko stood a little stunned at how quick and precise he was, after all it had taken him the better part of a decade to learn how to do the same. Then, he started cutting through the boar like it was made of butter, his knife easily slicing through the meat without any resistance.
After ten minutes he had successfully finished butchering the boar as Naoko smiled at him before patting him on the back as Naoya grinned at him. Quickly gathering the freshly butchered portions, Naoko gestured for Naruto to follow him into the kitchen as Naoya also made his way in with them. Glancing at the clock, the two older men grimaced as they saw that there was less then twenty minutes left until the start of their dinner service. Exchanging looks, they nodded to each other as they moved to the stove.
"Naruto, come'ere. I want you to try and make this dish here. If you're able to make it and have it taste good, I want you to help us with tonight's shift." Naoko said as Naoya nodded, Naruto straightening up his back as he nodded.
"Here you go Naruto, the dish is '"Wild Boar Shogayaki" with the boar cooked extra tender." Naoya said as he handed Naruto a recipe.
"Understood." Naruto said as his tone shifted, Naoya and Naoko flinching when he went from kind and amiable to cold and sharp like a switch.
After receiving his task Naruto set out to the nearest unoccupied station and began reading over the recipe. Quickly memorizing it as it was a relatively simple recipe, Naruto moved to fetch the needed ingredients as he took an apron off the rack and pulled it over himself. Taking out his knife he went to work on the boar loins, slicing them into quarter inch slices before lightly pounding them with the flat of his knife, placing them off to the side once he was finished. Grabbing another bowl he started work on the marinade for the pork, putting together sake, miso and sugar before finely slicing up about a tablespoon of ginger into a bowl before whisking them all together.
Getting a tasting spoon, he tested the marinade and nodded before setting the spoon into the sink and moving the sliced boar loins into the marinade, allowing it to sit for a few minutes as he washed the used and now unneeded instruments, clearing up precious space. Grabbing a pan, he cranked up the heat on the stove and put in some oil as he smashed a piece of garlic before finely dicing it. Seeing the oil in the pan began to dance, Naruto grabbed the bowl with the marinated boar loins and placed them in the pan.
Moving quickly as a straw droplet of burning oil grazed his cheek, sending a wave of heat and pain through his body, Naruto grabbed an oxheart cabbage and began to julienne it as he grabbed a plate off of the stack nearby. Shifting his body to turn the slices of boar, Naruto grabbed the cutting board and placed it into the sink while using the flipping the pan, a brilliant flash of oil, meat and steam filling the air as Naoko and Naoya looked on in awe. After five minutes of cooking, he took the pan of the heat and arranged the plate as it looked in the menu; a piece of the boar shogayaki on top of a bed of the julienned oxheart cabbage and rice.
"Order complete." Naruto said as he wiped off the sweat of his head with a towel, moving the dishes to the sink as he started washing them while Naoya and Naoko tasted his dish.
"Hmm!" Both of the sounded out as they took a bite of his shogayaki, a mouthful of flavor filling their mouths as they slowly chewed.
Savory, aromatic and not too overbearingly sweet, the marinade caramelized around the outside of the meat, giving it a heavenly mahogany glaze that was redolent of ginger and earthy miso. Like they had requested, the boar was much more tender then it usually would be, the two linking it to the light pounding that Naruto gave it earlier. Wiping the smudges of sauce away with a napkin, they beamed a bright smile at Naruto who had finished with the dishes and looked towards them for confirmation.
"Naruto. Please marry my daughter!" Naoya shouted in a happy tone as he placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders, the blonde flinching at his action.
"My boy, I leave my granddaughter in your capable hands!" Naoko said as he patted Naruto on the back, the blonde now sweat dropping at the antics of the older men.
"...I'm going to kill them..." Asako muttered under her breath with a bright red blush on her face as she did her best to shape the namagashi in her hands.
"Ufufu, well you didn't say "no" Asako." Ayase teased as the namagashi in Asako's hand immediately got crushed.
"Speaking of killing, that pest still needs to die. Maybe if I mix in a less noticeable poison it'll actually eat it this time." Ayase thought as she returned to prepping the last of the sweets.
Finally, the time had come for Naruto to take his first step into the culinary world. Donning the apron from earlier along with his knife, he was patted on the back by Naoko and Naoya as they smiled at him, the blonde returning it as Ayase headed towards the front of the restaurant to open up shop. Once the sign was switched from closed to open and the doors were unlocked, controlled chaos could only be described as customers flooded in and filled out their respective places at the tables. Then the orders starting coming in, at that moment the real battle began.
(Time Skip - A Few Hours Later)
"One order of shogayaki and nikujaga! Extra rice!" Naoko shouted as Naoya and Naruto moved about the kitchen, never losing pace with the seemingly endless stream of orders that came in.
"Saba shioyaki and miso soup finished." Naruto said as he placed the order on the tray as Asako took it out the door.
"Naoya! Where's the tonkatsu and tempura!" Naoko yelled as Naoya placed the dishes on the tray, Naoko nodding his head as he returned to cooking.
"Asako, tonkatsu and tempura ready to head out!" He shouted as Ayase glanced from over the counter to see Asako struggling with the finished dishes.
"She's getting swamped dear!" Ayase said as Naoya and Naoko grunted in a bit of frustration and concern.
"Shogayaki and nikujaga, extra rice." Naruto said as he placed the order on the tray as they grimaced slightly, hoping that it wouldn't go cold.
Seeing that they were beginning to get backlogged on their orders, Ayase was about to shift positions and head out to start serving and waiting on the tables but blink in surprise when Naruto adjusted his apron and wiped the sweat off his forehead with a towel before he picked up the tray of the tonkatsu and tempura along with the order he had just completed. With the grace normally gained only through many years of service, he moved towards the doors and out of to the dining room.
"Heh, that kid is something else." Naoko said as he returned to cooking, Naoya and Ayase smiling before returning as well.
Inside of the dining room, the situation hadn't changed over the course of the past few hours. Still a controlled chaos, Naruto got a stunned and quickly grateful look from Asako when she saw him walk out with the dishes but promptly stumbled when she saw that he wasn't using a cart but balancing the trays on top of one another. But her shock quickly left when he moved about in a quick and fluid manner, delivering the meals and collecting the dishes and trays that were finished and unused by their customers. Moving back to the kitchen to drop of the used dishes in the sink, he grabbed a water pitcher and moved back out to refill water.
"W-Wow... He's good..." Asako thought with a light blush on her cheeks before quickly snapping out of her funk, then she returned to relay orders to her parents but not before sneaking one more glance at Naruto conversing and catering to the customers.
Moving from table to table, Naruto made a few seconds of small talk before taking the orders of the people seated. Nearing another table, Naruto narrowed his eye when he saw someone stick their foot out in an attempt to trip him. Sidestepping with an unusual show of grace and skill, he avoided the foot and heard its owner make a noise of surprise. Ignoring them, he quickly jotted down the orders of those seated at his current table before turning only to jump slightly when he felt someone pinch his rear.
"Oh, aren't you just the cutest thing!" A feminine voice said while giggling, Naruto turning briefly to see an older woman in her mid-twenties giving him a predatory look.
Doing his best to ignore her, Naruto was soon the subject to teasing by the female population in the restaurant. From inside the kitchen, the three inside could only smile wryly at the various attempts of the single and even married women and girls inside to cop a feel of his rear. From her position refilling the water pitchers, Asako resisted the urge to voice her anger at the " floozys" harassing her Naruto.
"Do you see him? Isn't he dreamy!"
"I know, that eyepatch gives him that bad boy look and it fits him perfectly!"
"I wonder if he's single, he has to be if he's that young right!"
"Oh hush you, you're way too old for him!"
"Ufufufu, I wonder if he's on the menu!"
"I'm gonna die out here." Naruto sighed as he stepped back into the kitchen, Ayase giving him a sympathetic pat on the head before taking his notepad as Naruto gave her a grateful smile.
"Thank you Ayase-san, I'm afraid I'll be eaten alive if I stay out there any longer." Naruto said as he fixed his apron once more and took up his original place by his station.
With the reversal of roles, the rest of the service time went by relatively quickly. Though there were a few complaints from a few of the women about getting water spilled on them, the dinner service went without any other problems. Now gathered inside of the now empty dining room, they all celebrated another day well done. As the wound down from the slightly stressful service, they all turned to Naruto who was blankly nibbling on a cookie and sweat dropped seeing him so nonchalant.
"I must say Naruto-kun, you seemed like a natural in the kitchen cooking and out there serving." Ayase said as her family agreed, Naoko grinning brightly at him as he patted him on the back.
"My boy, I want you to keep that knife! It'll be a memento of your time here, and maybe you can pass it on to my great grandchildren!" Naoko as they all agreed, but Asako froze in the middle of shaking her head before burning up.
"J-Jiji! What the heck are you saying!" She shouted as Naoko chuckled, wiping away a tear from his eye.
"In all seriousness though Naruto, what do you say about settling down here for your career as a chef?" Naoya asked, getting the others to focus their attention onto him.
"Thank you for the kind and generous offer Naoya-san, but I can't. I want to see the rest of the world and what it has to offer before I settle down and open shop." Naruto said as Naoya gave him a smile in return, Ayase and Naoko also smiling though Asako looked upset.
"B-But you can learn about a ton of different foods here! A lot of people from all over come here you know!" She said in an attempt to persuade him to stay, her parent's smiling a bit sadly at her attempt.
"I know Asako, but it's not the same as experiencing food in its natural environment." He said as she nodded sadly, her flames obviously dampened.
"So... What are you going to do now?" She asked, Naruto glancing up at the ceiling before answering.
"I think I'll ask Konoe-san if I can cook during a diner or lunch service, to get a little more experience before I head out." He replied as Asako paled, her face frozen in mild horror.
"W-What?! Why would you want to go over to that shrimp's place!" She shouted as her parents and grandfather snuck out, leaving them to talk alone.
"Because I want to experience the world of food Asako-san. Learning in one place will no doubt give me a vast array of knowledge about that one place but it'll stagnate me in the end." He said as she nodded sadly, Naruto giving her a reassuring smile.
"Hey. I'll be back some day ok? I promise to visit in the future." He said as Asako's eyes brightened up a bit.
"R-Really?" She asked, Naruto simply nodding in response.
"Yeah. Now, I should get going. I need to find a place to stay for the night." He said as Asako straightened up, quickly checking for any signs of her family.
"W-Well, i-it's already pretty l-late and all you k-know! W-Why don't you just stay h-here!" She suggested as Naruto shook his head in the negative as she deflated a bit.
"Thanks for the generous offer Asako-san but I can't accept any more of your kindness, you've already done so much for me. Have a good night." Naruto said as he exited the building leaving Asako to sulk slightly.
"That jerk..." She muttered before freezing, feeling stares on her back before slowly turning around and growing red.
"How bold of you Asako." Her mother said as she covered her mouth with her hand as a bit of pink dusted her cheeks.
"That's my girl!" Naoko said as he chuckled softly, giving her a grin.
"My little Asako is growing up too fast!" Naoya said while crying tears, covering his eyes with his arm.
"Y-YOU DUMMIES!" She shouted as she charged them, the three laughing while heading upstairs.
(Scene Change - Ichiba no Sato: Outside Umaretsuki)
Releasing a sigh, Naruto took a look at the knife in his hands with a small smile gracing his face. Placing it back into the case Naoko gave him, he placed it in his backpack before setting out for an inn. Walking through the village, he was a little surprised by the night life, the village changing from a grand shopping area to a village of bright lights and drunks. Shaking his head when he saw a group of men approaching a group of women who were obviously there for paid comfort, he was about to pass an alleyway when he heard someone coughing as the sound of flesh hitting flesh met his ears.
"The fuck are you smiling about you creepy little bitch?" An angry voice said, Naruto narrowing his eye as he moved closer.
His eye narrowing even more upon hearing the pained sound, Naruto headed into the alleyway and felt his blood boil when he saw a group of young adults gathered around something. Moving closer, he tightened his fist when he saw then kicking, spitting and insulting a young girl with bandages wrapped around her eyes. Without thinking, he moved into and grabbed the shoulder of the young man who had his leg wound up to kick her, making him stop and turn to face him.
"Eh? What do you want punk? Can't you see we're busy here." He sneered at Naruto before ripping free from his grip.
As he was about to bring his leg forward Naruto acted. Slugging the man in the side as the sound of something cracking echoed loudly in the alleyway, he cried out in pain only to be cut off abruptly when Naruto connected a brutal straight against his temple, sending him crashing into the young lady who was standing beside him. As soon as the man started falling, his companions moved to attack Naruto only to meet the same fate. Ducking under a wide and sloppy swing, Naruto grabbed the man by the wrist and rose, driving his fist into his elbow, the weak snapping as he cried out in pain.
"W-Who the fuck are you!" The thug shouted only to lose the breath in his lungs as Naruto drove his fist into his abdomen before shoving him to the ground.
"I'm a chef." Naruto replied as he felt someone approaching from behind him, turning to see a woman swinging something at him.
Bringing his arms up, Naruto grunted in pain when he felt the piece of wood one of the women used as a makeshift weapon connect with him. Grabbing it, he ripped it from her grasp before pulling back and slamming the tip of it into her face, the sound of her nose breaking and her scream alerting a few of those who were close to the alleyway. Turning, he slammed the piece of wood against the head of another man who tried to take his back. Finally, seeing that they were clearly outmatched, the remaining three people picked up their fallen companions and left.
Tightening his grip on the piece of wood, he snapped it in two before dropping it. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he turned and moved to tend to the girl who was getting beaten when he arrived. When he saw her visibly flinch and brace herself for another beating but when he saw the sad and resigned smile on her face he couldn't stop the growl that escaped his throat. But when he saw her tense more, he forcibly calmed himself and crouched down near her.
"Hey... I'm not going to hurt you." Naruto said as in as gentle of a tone as he could muster, the girl tensing slightly before turning to face him.
"That's... What they said too..." She said in a whisper so quiet Naruto had to strain his ears to hear.
"Those people were nothing but scum. I promise I won't hurt you, I swear on my honor as a chef." Naruto said in a gentle as he held out his hand, mentally cursing when he remembered the fact she had bandages wrapped around her eyes.
Moving closer, he gently and slowly reached out and touched her hands. Seeing her flinch and recoil slightly but still keep her smile at his touch broke his heart to pieces as she braced herself for the feeling of pain. Trying once more, he was met with a less extreme reaction as he saw that she didn't recoil from him touching her hand but still remained tense.
"See, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help you." He said in a soft tone as she stiffly raised her head slightly, Naruto biting back another growl when he saw the bruises that marred her face.
"Y-You promise?" She asked in a slightly louder whisper, Naruto gently squeezing her hand as a sign of reassurance.
"I promise." Naruto said in a soft and gentle tone, the rage felt simmering down as he felt her tighten her grip on his hand a bit more.
After fifteen minutes of trying to earn her trust, he had finally succeeded and was sitting beside her, tending to the cuts and bruises that covered her body. Tending to her in such an awkward silence unnerved even Naruto, but it was broken when she decided to speak up.
"Thank you for helping me." She said in a polite and sincere manner with a smile on her face, Naruto gritting his teeth when he saw it.
"Any human being would have done the same." Naruto replied after calming himself, trying to keep the disgust out of his voice.
"Why were they beating you?" He asked after a few moments of silence, the girl flinching upon hearing his question as her smile changed from a happy one to a sad one.
"Because I'm cursed..." She said in a sad tone, her smile reflecting it as Naruto widened his eye.
"Cursed? What do you mean?" Naruto asked as he gently applied another dollop of healing ointment onto a nasty bruise on her cheek, rubbing it in softly.
"It's because my eyes were different. When I was born, my father left my mother and I, and soon after my mother abandoned me." She said as Naruto simply stared at her in a mix of horror and shock, unable to believe that a parent could actually do that to their child.
Then, she started to slowly unwrap the bandages covering her eyes as Naruto felt a few tears escape his eye. In place of her eyes were destroyed and disfigured orbs with bits of gray mixed in with them. After a few seconds, she rewrapped the bandages and looked away from Naruto with a sadder smile on her face.
"Ah, I'm sorry. That was probably disgusting huh. When I heard that my mother hated me because of my eyes, I... I poured lead into them to get rid of them. But... She never came back. And soon, everyone else started to hurt me so I left too." She said as Naruto furiously wiped away the tears from his eye before continuing to treat her.
"Why... Why the hell did they do this to you? You can't be more then ten years old." Naruto said through clenched teeth, batting away the tears that laced his eyes.
"It's because I'm cursed, no one wants a child who's cursed." She said in the same sad tone, Naruto simply unable to comprehend the stupidity and idiocy of the people who forced her to do this.
"But I'm not sad!" She said in a happier tone, Naruto snapping his head up in shock at hearing her actually say that.
"W-What? How can you say that? After all you've been through..." Naruto asked as she gave him a happier smile then before, his eye widening upon seeing it.
"Because I had a little sister. When she was born, she wasn't cursed like I was. When my mother left, she took her with her. My sister didn't have to go through what I did, so I'm grateful for that!" She said with a bright smile on her face, Naruto just staring at her in shock before a somber smile made it to his face.
"You're pretty amazing you know that. I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to smile after going through what you did." He admitted as she made a little noise of surprise before giving him a shyer smile.
"N-No one's ever said that to me... Thank you." She said in a bit of a bashful tone, her smile reflecting it as Naruto smiled back.
As they continued to talk, Naruto continued to apply the healing ointment to her as she started to open up to him more. As the clouds parted overhead and the full moon revealed itself, coupled with the lights of the night life he got a better view of her. She wore a dirty and tattered pink colored cape which has two brown buttons that allowed it to fully close around her. Underneath, she had on a tarnished purple dress that reached just below her knees, torn and ripped at the ends. She had long, silver hair that extended below her waist and reaches nearly reached the bottom of her legs. Her forehead was covered by her uneven bangs and she had a small nose and mouth. Then the most distinguishing feature about her was the fact she wore a whitish, gray blindfold that covered her eyes. Overall, has a light skin tone but like her clothes was covered in patches of dirt due to her living in poverty.
"Umm... If I could, could I feel your face?" She asked, Naruto blinking in surprise but giving her the ok.
Gently reaching over, she softly felt and traced his features as a smile lit up her face causing Naruto to smile in return. When she felt his eyepatch, she flinched a bit as before gently tracing the outline of his eye. After about a minute she removed her hands folded it in her lap as her cheery smile never left her face, Naruto's also never leaving as well.
"I'm sorry that I made your face sad, but I didn't mean to." She said in a slightly regretful tone as Naruto shook his head softly.
"Hey, it's nothing to worry about." He said in a reassuring manner, causing her to brighten up a bit.
"But now I know both your voice and your face, and I have to say that you're very much my type." She said in a bashful tone as Naruto laughed softly, a bit of pink dusting her cheeks as she giggled as well.
"I almost forgot, I'm Naruto." Naruto said, a little embarrassed by his late introduction as she smiled at him.
"Hello Naruto-san, I'm Hisako! I choose my name myself!" Hisako said in a happy tone, Naruto biting back the growl in his throat at the knowledge that her parents refused to even name her.
"Say Hisako, it's getting late. Where do you live?" Naruto asked as her smile faltered a bit making him frown.
"Anywhere really, as long as I can find somewhere warm it's fine." She said with a smaller smile, Naruto tightening his fists before taking a calming breath.
"Hey Hisako, I now it's really sudden and kind of creepy but why don't you come with me?" Naruto asked as she flinched a bit in surprise, clearly not expecting him to ask that of her.
"W-What? I-I couldn't Naruto-san, I-I would just be an inconvenience to you! And, you don't want to be with someone who's cursed like I am." She said in a sad tone, putting up a faltering smile.
"Is that what you really want though? To remain here and continue to have people hurt you? I know I just met you but... I just can't let that happen. And hey, I'm cursed too remember." Naruto said tapping his eyepatch loud enough for her to hear as she gasped slightly, bringing her hands up to her mouth.
"N-Naruto-san..." She whispered as Naruto turned to look at her, his eye widening when he saw small dark marks start to appear on the bandages near the corners of her eyes.
"H-Hisako, did I say something wrong? P-Please don't cry, I didn't mean to make you cry!" He said in an attempt to apologize, Hisako wiping a few of the tears that managed to escape being absorbed into the bandages before giving Naruto a smile that made the stars seem pale in comparison.
"I-I'm sorry, but I-I'm just so happy. I-I'm happy that someone actually w-wants me." She said in a broken way, hiccupping as Naruto felt his heart ache.
Seeing her start to break down in front of her, the smile that she held up for so many years finally fading away into what she truly felt, Naruto acted on instinct and moved to embrace her. Tensing when she felt his arms wrap around her she slowly relaxed and started to cry, her lips trembling as she did her best to hold her sobs in. But eventually, the castle around her heart that she had built up and fortified over the many years of trying to survive finally came crashing down as a golden headed battering ram broke down its walls.
Grabbing his shirt, she pressed her face into his chest and let all the years of suffering, pain, misfortune, misery and solitude she had accumulated out as Naruto simply held her close. Rubbing her back softly and gently, he stood tall and unmoving even though he was crying himself. After the seconds ticked to minutes, Hisako had finally calmed down and had fallen asleep in Naruto's arms. Picking her up bridal style, he couldn't help but smile at how at peace she appeared. Making sure that he had all of his belongings, he headed towards the nearest in with Hisako in his arms intent on a good night's rest.
"Get that thing out of my inn right now!" An angry innkeeper shouted at Naruto, the blonde resisting shattering his jaw with every ounce of willpower he had.
It had been like this for the past hour, the two or rather Hisako, getting rejected access to stay at the inn. When he questioned or rather demanded to know the reason, they all simply stated that they didn't want to drive away their other customers by having a cursed child on the premise. Growling, Naruto resorted to returning to the spot he found Hisako and huddling against the wall with her, wrapping her up and ensuring that she was warm with a thick blanket from his backpack. Soon, his raging anger died and turned to a low simmer when he took in her peaceful expression.
"This is one fucked up town..." Naruto muttered under his breath as Hisako snuggled deeper into his chest, the blonde simply smiling before keeping watch for the night in case something like before happened.
(Time Skip - A Few Hours Later)
When the sunlight broke through, Hisako felt a lot warmer and safer then she had in the entirety of her life. Feeling the sun's rays on her face, she let out a content yawn before feeling herself leaning on someone. Then the memories of what happened last night came back to her; the usual begging and subsequent beating and insults but that all changed when her knight arrived and saved her. Naruto, a kind hearted person who was three years older then her had saved her and even offered her a place by his side.
"Mornin' sleepyhead." Naruto said in an amused tone as she turned a bit pink before she smiled brightly at him.
"Good morning Naruto-san!" Hisako replied in a happy tone and smile, Naruto smiling back at her.
"Come'on, we need to get some supplies before we head out on the road." Naruto said as she nodded, standing a little bit awkwardly while Naruto rolled up the blanket and fastened it back onto his backpack.
"Alright." Hisako said in a slightly hesitant tone, Naruto taking notice of it but choosing not to ask her about it.
Offering her his arm, she smiled as she took it and held onto it as if it were a lifeline. Walking through the bustling streets Naruto narrowed his eye when he felt Hisako tighten her grip on his arm, taking note that a few of the villagers who were smiling at him yesterday were now looking at him with distain and disgust. When he was about to enter a shop, Hisako was "accidentally" shoved and fell onto her knees. Growling slightly, the young woman who pushed the blind girl down instantly scampering away when he turned to glare at her.
Helping her up, she offered him a small smile before reassuring him that she was fine. Taking her word for it, he was once again about to enter the shop when the shopkeeper stopped him, glaring hard at Hisako who had a smile on her face as Naruto simply glared at her. Soon a crowd appeared, a lot of them jeering and making snide remarks about Hisako as Naruto started to shake in anger the only thing keeping him from lashing out being the fact that it would leave Hisako alone. But then he saw one sight that made his heart sink.
Standing near the front of the crowd as Konoe and Asako as they glared at Hisako, throwing insults at her as they didn't notice Naruto. But when he turned around to face them, their eyes widened before Asako took a hesitant step forward after a few seconds of gawking at him.
"N-Naruto...? W-What are you doing with that thing?" Asako asked as Hisako held onto him tighter, Naruto simply gritting his teeth as he leveled a hard gaze at her.
"She's a person, not a thing Asako-san." Naruto said in a stern tone as Asako flinched, clearly not expecting him to speak to her in such a way.
"She's dangerous Naruto! She hurt some of the villagers a few years back! It's those eyes she has, they're freaking cursed!" She shouted as more of the villagers shouted to back her up, Hisako's smile faltering by a great amount as a frown marred Naruto's face.
"Is that what you honestly think? Is that what you all think?" Naruto asked in a low tone, getting various shouts in response.
"What do you think kid!"
"She's always driving away my business when she standing outside my shop, I'm sick of it!"
"The only homeless person here and she's a freak!"
"She's a monster! She's the one that hurt my loving husband!"
"She's better off dead!"
"She's a monster! The fact she hides those cursed eyes of hers is proof enough!"
The more shouts and jeers that Hisako received the more her smile faltered before it became a thin line. Seeing that Naruto's rage started to bubble to the surface as chakra started to surge through his body, heightening his senses to an inhuman level. When he caught sight of Naoko, Naoya and Ayase in the crowd he knew that he had to leave.
"...You think she's a monster too don't you?" He asked in a level tone, directing the gaze towards Naoya, Naoko and Ayase, the three flinching but steeling themselves and nodding their heads.
"She's nothing but trouble Naruto. When I offered her some bread she took it before spitting it out and throwing it back in my face." Ayase said in a level tone, her eyes glaring at Hisako.
"But... It was poisoned..." Hisako said in a whisper, Naruto being the only one to hear it with his enhanced hearing.
"When I offered her a place to stay at the restaurant she gave me a deep cut and running off after ruining a lot of our equipment." Naoya said in an angry tone as Hisako shrunk more.
"You tried to hurt me..." Hisako whimpered, tightening her grip on Naruto as he grit his teeth.
"Naruto my boy. Listen to us. We may all sound like we're heartless but it's not without cause. Ever since she arrived, Kiri has been breathing down our neck about purging all Kekkai Genkai. Someone told them that we were harboring someone with one and it's her. She's causing our village to lose revenue, tourist and our safety. If she was gone we wouldn't have to worry about any of this." Naoko said as Naruto finally snapped.
Snapping his head up, everyone instantly felt an oppressive weight fall upon their shoulders as their eyes widened upon seeing his eye. Instead of the mirthful and charming navy it had been, it was now a disgusted and hateful dark violet. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out the knife he made before throwing it at Asako's feet to the Kogai family's shock and horror. Tightening his grip on Hisako, he gently led her out of the crowd before turning to face them once more.
"I'm honestly disgusted that I even thought about settling down here. You're nothing but a bunch of heartless monsters you know that? And for the record, I'm cursed as well." Naruto said as a gasp when through the villagers.
Picking Hisako up bridal style, the younger girl squeaking at the sudden action, Naruto sprinted out of the village with speed only seen in ninja. As he left, a few of the villagers muttered something along the lines of "good riddance" though the Kogai family stared with wide eyes in the direction that Naruto left, Asako and Ayase having tears run down their faces. Making his way over, Naoko picked up the case that held Naruto knife before opening it. As he looked at it, it had seemed to have lost the glow it had the day before and when he picked it up it shattered. Lowering his head, let his eyes drift closed as Asako wept behind him as Naoya and Ayase tried to comfort her.
(Scene Change - Outskirts of Ichiba no Sato)
After having nearly ran three kilometers straight, Naruto slowed as he caught his breath. Seeing that Hisako was nearly pale with fright, he eased her down to a standing position as she held onto him for dear life. As he helped steady her, they remained in an awkward and uncomfortable silence before she broke it once again.
"Naruto-san... Why did you do that for someone like me? You... You could have had a lot of friends in the village if you just left me." Hisako said in a quiet tone, a sad smile on her face as Naruto frowned.
"I don't abandon people for idiotic reasons like that Hisako-san. If protecting you meant I lost my chance at being a chef in Ichiba then so be it." Naruto said as he squeezed her hand gently, her lip quivering a bit at his statement.
The awkward atmosphere from before disappearing, they continued on the road before Naruto looked over and stifled a laugh as Hisako's hair was strewn about in a wild way. Hearing him snicker, she tilted her head and reached up only to blush when she felt the source of his snickers. Turning away she tried to fix her hair only serving to make it a bit more messy. After a few seconds, Naruto moved them to a shady spot under a large tree to help her as she blushed when she felt his fingers run through her hair.
"Umm Naruto-san, can I ask you a personal question?" Hisako said, breaking the amiable silence that they were sitting in.
"Hmm? Shoot Hisako-san." Naruto said as she smiled, Naruto returning it as she looked down.
"Not to be rude but... W-What exactly are you? Are you a hero of justice or a knight who rescues princesses?" Hisako asked as Naruto paused in the middle of fixing her hair, Hisako immediately about to apologize when she heard him start to laugh softly.
"A hero of justice? A knight? No way Hisako, I'm pretty far from those things, I just did what I thought was right." Naruto answered as Hisako nodded, fidgeting a bit before turning once more.
"Umm, so what are you then Naruto-san?" Hisako asked as Naruto smiled a bit, though it didn't completely reach his eyes like before.
"Me? I'm just your ordinary everyday chef!" He answered as Hisako made a noise of surprise before giggling, Naruto raising an eyebrow in return.
"What? Don't think I'm chef material?" He asked as she just giggled harder, Naruto eventually laughing as well.
"No, I just didn't think that a normal chef is able to do the things that you did Naruto-san." Hisako said as she continued to giggle, Naruto rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Well, I guess I'm a little different from the ordinary chef then." Naruto answered as Hisako nodded in agreement.
"I think so too..." Hisako whispered as she leaned into him, savoring his warmth as he continued to comb her hair.
A Son Forgotten
And there you guys go. Another chapter bites the dust, and hopefully you enjoyed as much as hoped you did. Again, it was a mess right? A mix of things that kind don't go that good together. And if you guessed that the anime/manga was Black Bullet, you get to be an OC. Yay... Nah, I'm kidding but maybe in the future. But eh, tell me what you all think alright? Till next time, stay awesome.
For the OC's, I had a bit of trouble with em.
Naoko is based off of Tomio Ookawa from Shiki but a lot more buff and jollier, well until you know.
Asako is based off of a generic black haired tomboyish anime character, couldn't really find anythin that fit her
Naoya is based off of the generic black haired anime dad
Ayase is based off of the generic black haired anime mom
Konoe is based off of the generic anime Ojou
Hisako is based off of the Blind Girl from Black Bullet, that's right, I love her so dang much man...