A/N: Hello lovely readers. I'm back with the latest instalment of this series. Almost after a year. I'm sorry. I have no excuse this time. I hope the chapter will make up for it.
"Gomen"- Speech
'Gomen'- Thoughts
Gomen - Stress/context words
It was a windy day in Konoha. It was especially windy where they were standing. On top of the Nakano river ravine. All four of them sporting sombre looks on their faces. Well, at least what Sesshoumaru sported was sombre by his standards considering how goofy and aloof he tends acts when not slicing people's throats. The kids had their own versions of it. Naruto looked rather impassive but he had a troubled look in his eyes. He faced away from the others deliberating what's gonna happen next. Shizuka was exuding her usual restlessness aura but looked more irked and apathetic than usual. Nao, who usually looks ready to throw a tantrum at the drop of a hat had a worried look on him.
'Can't believe I'm so useless. I failed to protect my teammate. I was a dead weight in my first real mission. I was a burden to Sasuke these past couple of weeks. Now, I'm the cause of this tension among the team. I know beating myself up about these things won't help but damn it. I can't help but feel everything I've done, everything I've put myself up to these past 4 years was for nothing.' Naruto clenched his fists beyond his own accord, reacting on his feelings for the first time in a while, though unnoticeable.
'What should I do now? He s-saved me right? So...I should thank him for it? But I s-saved him in return as well. So I guess that settles the thing up. And why am I stuttering of all a sudden?' Shizuka thought before mentally slapping herself to return to her usual self instead of acting like a certain demure Hyuuga classmate of hers. 'Granted she's much tolerable than those other useless banshees but her timid nature doesn't sit well with me. Especially the stuttering.' She shuddered internally and did an impressive job of not putting her emotions on display. As good a job as Naruto on his usual days.
'Hmmm...Hmmm...Hmmm...Goddammit. Someone say something before my explodes in this deafening madness. Or maddening deafness? Arrrggghhhhh! I'm already losing my head.'
Sesshoumaru was struggling to contain his laughter, being the only one who's able to read everyone's thoughts in the circle. Nao's thoughts at the end were especially funny, given how he didn't use to care about teamwork or anything even remotely close to it. 'But the boy does have a point. Naruto is guilt-ridden and his self-critical nature doesn't help to it. Shizuka is abashed and I guess her stoicism is out of confusion over what to do. And Nao, well...the boy is worrying about others over himself given how he confronted his troubled relationship with Naruto. Not talking to the other party but within himself is bound to pile up those unresolved issues. But I am impressed he is prioritizing something else over his own feelings. But he can't let them go unresolved for too long either. But first, I need to diffuse the tension here.' Sesshoumaru thought, sighing over how he's really not a great fit to be a sensei.
"Alright. Enough awkward silence. I know each of you has something in their minds to say. So say it so that we can get over this and move on." The blonde spoke, gaining the genin's attention. All three of them were certainly taken back at the sudden announcement. Although they knew better to expect nothing less than such behaviour from their eccentric sensei, they were far too deep in their thoughts to keep in mind the subtleties of Yamanaka Sesshoumaru. They blinked in surprise, letting their austere faces crumble for a moment before going back to their previous selves. Naruto to being the usual stoic yet kindred self, Shizuka to her perpetually annoyed mode and Nao to the edgy brat he usually was.
"You really lack the tact to be an adult, let alone a sensei. How can someone expect any sort of greatness from us if our sensei is such a weirdo." Nao drawled with his eyes closed.
'Weirdo? Lack of tact? Is that so gaki? Well, don't worry. I may choose not to show any but you'll have no choice when I beat the tact into you.' Sesshoumaru thought while smiling all the way. "Why don't we start with the level headed Naruto first."
Naruto raised his eyebrows marginally while looking at his sensei questioningly before sighing in resignation after the older blonde's smile refused to waver. He did have something say. But was a little hesitant to do it. But this was the perfect disguise, wasn't it? Him being pushed into speaking his mind rather than choosing to do it. Made things easier. He gulped, not out of anxiety but out of embarrassment. He worked himself to the bone for as long as he could remember, tirelessly, day and night, without complaining or making excuses just to avoid this moment. But here he was, back to square one.
"I'm sorry. I...I didn't play my role that way I wanted to or was expected to. I failed when my team needed the most and..." It was hard. Harder than he thought it would be. He thought he was prepared to do it. But it got harder as each word left his mouth. It wasn't just an apology anymore for him. He was left bare saying those words and it felt the lump in his throat was getting bigger and bigger with each passing moment. But somewhere deep within his mind, he knew he was doing the right thing. He needed to do it. Despite it being hard. No, because it was hard. He needed it to be hard. So that he can remember this moment and push forward. To reach a point where he doesn't have to stand in this very position again. "...was nothing more than dead weight. I couldn't protect my teammate and if not for-"
"Oi!" Shizuka interrupted, turning the three males' heads towards her. She was glaring indignantly at the Uchiha, almost as if trying to bore holes into his eyes with hers. "I don't care how you feel about yourself for what you did or didn't. Hell, you could be as useless as the pink-haired banshee for all I care and I still wouldn't complain about you. Feel free to think of yourself as a high and mighty Uchiha but don't you DARE think I need your protection. Get it through your thick pride." With those words, the redhead Jhinchuriki stormed off. Nao's worried look returned hearing Shizuka's alarming tone.
Naruto didn't react. He didn't so much as flinch or bat an eye her words. He just stared intently at her. He could feel the contempt she held for him through her sneer. Her ragged breathing and abrupt walkout further amplified Naruto's assumption of Shizuka's impression of him. He didn't respond. He stayed perfectly still as he, along with his sensei, silently stared at the disappearing form of Senju Shizuka.
"Shizuka-chan...!" Nao whined and thought of following her but refrained at an afterthought. That being wondering how Naruto would react to this. Nao wasn't the biggest fan of Uchihas but he knew enough to know Naruto wasn't your typical Uchiha. But that tirade was bound to earn some ire. He wanted to sigh in relief noticing no sort of reaction from Naruto but he knew better than that. Naruto's face being impassive doesn't mean he doesn't feel anything. He's just that good at hiding them. He couldn't let it be like this. Naruto or not, the Uchiha had a history with the sort of rage and madness they possess. He can't let it come to that point. If there was one Uchiha he was confident about having a meaningful discourse, it was Naruto. Funny how bipolar his impression of his rival was. He walked up to Naruto who noticed him and looked him straight in the eye, letting Nao know he had his undivided attention.
"Look Naruto. I...I'm sorry for what Shizuka said to you. She shouldn't have spoken the way she did. Especially after you risked your life to protect her. I'll apologize on her behalf. But I feel you have to know something about her. Just so you understand why she said whatever she did. Ever since she was a child, Shizuka was always treated like glass by Kaa-chan. She was barely let out of the house and her interaction to people outside of the family was very limited. Kaa-chan's overprotective nature made her feel weak. She wasn't. She never was. If you ask me, she's one of the strongest persons I know."
"Her status as a Jhinchuriki was revealed to her when she was 6. I can't imagine how terrifying it must've been to her then, coming to terms with the fact that she had a monstrous bijuu which is feared throughout the world within her. To live knowing that most of the villagers either hate her or are afraid of her because of it and nothing more. To listen to your classmates' parents tell their kids to stay away from you, it crushed her. Through all of this, she weathered it without complaining and giving up. She distanced herself from others to avoid being hurt like before. She worked hard to prove herself strong, so she can break free of Kaa-chan's watchfulness."
"She scorns others in an attempt to avoid being scorned by others because of something she's even not responsible for. She knows the villagers' impression of her won't change no matter what. What she wants is, if they're going to hate, they should hate her for something she did. That's her way of coping with the cursed fate thrust upon her. That's why she tends to act out. I remember when we used to play together as children, she used to be so lively. She had a smile that just brightened up the gloomiest of days. I wanted to see her like that, always smiling. I wanted to treasure that precious smile. But her 6th birthday wasn't too far away."
Nao had tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to spill at the slightest of push. But contrary to his tears, he a smile on his face. A melancholic smile. Something which felt very familiar to Naruto. It was the same smile that he usually has, the only one he ever had in the past 4 years. The only thing that made him smile was the memories of his deceased family. "Anyway, I just want you to forgive her for her words. That's all."
"There's nothing to forgive. She was right about what she said. The way I am now, I have no right thinking I can protect others. Especially someone like her. I was usele-" Before Naruto was able to finish, he was interrupted, in a rather extreme manner. Nao delivered one of the most powerful punches he ever conjured from within straight to Naruto's jaw, making the latter fly a few meters away and roll in the dust a few times before coming to halt.
The black-haired boy coughed up dust before he could even gather his bearings. Just before he tried to push himself and stand back up, he was unceremoniously turned over onto his back. Nao held him by his collar and tugged him closer until their faces were inches apart.
"Listen to me you whiny prick. Stop wallowing in your self-pity parade and WAKE UP! You know why you got your butt handed to you back then? Because you're too cocky. You thought you can bluff your way out of the academy, pretending to be a weakling while you actually intend to be the strongest? Give me a break. You lost your strength the moment you decided to do that. You may have improved over the years but your stubbornness prevented you from staying at the top. Your refusal to compete against those at the top left you with no way to measure how strong you are. Without it, you might as well be a nobody." Nao growled in disdain before letting go of Naruto's collar, not so delicately.
Through all of this, Sesshoumaru was laid under the tree shade with his legs crossed over one another in the air.
"You both too huh?" Kakashi drawled, looking at the gleeful faces of Kurenai and Asuma, who looked way too chirpy at the prospect of sending their students into a 3-day death trap. Asuma just smirked with a lit cigarette in his mouth while Kurenai, who was drunk off her ass, was clinging onto Asuma's shirt, acting way different from her usual calm, almost broody persona.
"Yeah. I'm sure they'll be able to handle themselves in there." Asuma said before releasing a puff of smoke. "Plus, it'll be a good learning experience. Rumour is that Sunagakure has accepted the invites apart from other smaller villages while Kumogakure and Iwagakure rejected as usual. And we already know about Kirigakure's civil war so no point in expecting them either."
"Yeaaaaah...hic...Aaaaand, I and Asuma will finally some much needed time together." Kurenai slurred while giggling coyly.
"Of course Kakashi, my eternal rival. They realize the youthfulness of their precious students and decided to let it uncage. That's what chunin exams are about. A grand celebration of Konoha's youth." Gai proclaimed loud enough for everyone in the bar to sigh in exasperation at Konoha's green beast's antics. "You should too," he added with a thumbs up at the end.
"Don't you think that's rich coming from you to suggest we push our students in while you held back your own team a year?" Kakashi said, almost ready at sweatdrop at whatever Gai was about to say.
"I think you should Kakashi-kun."
Kakashi snapped his back to see Sesshoumaru sipping on his sake cup. "Sesshoumaru-sensei?" Kakashi blinked. "When did you get here?"
"What do you mean? I've been here from the start."
...
...
Kakashi snapped his head back towards Asuma who was gaping openly, his cigarette falling down on the counter. Kurenai looked completely sober and detached from Asuma, adjusting her dress and hair. Gai was smiling with all his overly shiny teeth on display. He returned his gaze towards the older Yamanaka.
"Are you putting your team in this year's roster?"
"Sure am."
"Hmmm...Can I ask why?"
Sesshoumaru smiled at that. Not a smile of satisfaction or delight but pure sadistic mirth. "Because sometimes, to teach someone to swim, you just gotta throw them into the ocean Kakashi-kun."
'Huh! That weirdly makes sense. Maybe mortal danger will actually push Sakura to take her training seriously. Or get her to give up the shinobi life. Either way is good I guess.' Kakashi mused, imagining life without a Sakura who is completely useless or not around him anymore altogether.
'Yup. I will throw them to a pack of hungry wolves if need be to unite those dysfunctional brats.' The Yamanaka before continuing to sip his sake.
Sasuke clenched his fists. Hard. So hard that his neatly filed nails threatened to break his skin and make his palms bleed. 'That bastard...' He thought as he looked at Naruto nursing his reddened jaw while explaining what happened earlier today. Sasuke was furious. Enraged. And also a bit confused. Which is why he isn't breaking Nao's limbs right now and instead, helping his brother who was nonchalantly holding an icepack to his face while talking animatedly. He was somewhat angry at Naruto too. Disappointed maybe. He loved him very much which is why it was difficult to watch him like this. Something like this would've been unimaginable 4 years ago. Kato Nao landing a punch on Uchiha Naruto? Blasphemy. Heresy. But times have changed and by the looks of it, for the worse. But the most disappointing aspect was the question of how it turned out like this? He knew it started after the massacre. Something like that was bound to have serious ramifications. But unfortunately, it appeared to have the exact opposite effect on Naruto as opposed to him.
The incident triggered the innate potential and resolve he had, his hatred for Itachi fuelling them. Every morning, he would wake up hating Itachi and go to sleep mourning his parents and clan. His goal became very clear and precise. Hunt down Uchiha Itachi, kill him and avenge his kins death. But he wasn't stupid enough to think he could just do it with the way he was. He needed to get stronger. Much much stronger. He wanted to catch up to Naruto and keep moving ahead along with him, side by side until there were only 2 Uchiha left. Him and Naruto. But that seemed like a faraway dream now.
Naruto seemed to have lost his potential. Or was it resolve? He didn't know. Because Naruto was never around enough for it to be clear. He woke up early, left home, skipped classes, barely managed his academics together and returned home late at night. At first, Sasuke didn't question, thinking it was his way of dealing with the grief. Days passed and nothing changed. He stayed silent but kept an eye on Naruto and his behaviour. Days became months and something did change. It was Naruto. He changed. His behaviour changed. The way he talked, the way he smiled, the people he interacted with. Everything was different with him.
He always knew Naruto was the better amongst them both. He was like Itachi in many aspects. Well, the Itachi who didn't murder their parents and the whole clan for sake of power at least. Composed, always smiling, picking up on things better than fish to water, and a fundamentally profound person from a very young age. He expected Naruto to surpass Itachi in terms of clout one day. Because he had the same look that Itachi possessed. But that was no longer there. His eyes seemed vacant and shallow. Or deep but concealed. He couldn't quite figure it out. Whichever it was, nothing good came out of it. The most infuriating thing about all this was that he felt like an outsider with his own brother, not knowing or understanding what exactly was going on with him.
That was until...
"Hey, Sasuke?"
"Hn?" Sasuke looked questioningly at Naruto's pensive face. Not downcast. Pensive.
"You were right."
"About what?"
"About me deliberately botching my academics."
"Hn."
...
"So why did you do it?" Sasuke asked after a few moments of silence, moving closer to where Naruto sat, taking a seat in front of him. This was the first time Naruto decided to talk about it. Never did he respond with a definite answer in all his previous attempts. 'Something changed. I can see it. He is present in this room today.' He was always present in this the room, but only physically. 'He doesn't have the barren look in his eyes anymore.' Sasuke thought, waiting for Naruto to respond.
"I'm not sure either," Naruto replied, his gaze averted. "I made a vow to myself after the incident. I had a goal in my mind. And to achieve that goal, I felt I should focus only on that and nothing else. The academy, the exams, the taijutsu practice, all of it seemed...pointless. I already knew everything they were gonna teach. It felt like staying or conforming to it will only hold me back."
"If that's the case, then why didn't you ace the exams? Since you already knew everything." Sasuke retorted challengingly but not doubting Naruto's words even a little. But it did hurt his pride a little to hear his brother say what he worked so hard for these past 4 years was pointless.
"Because I know how teams will be formed. They will always look for balance. Had I not botched my exams, I'd have ended up in a team like you, with the dead last. So I planned ahead. If I performed averagely, I was bound to be on a team with another strong candidate. That way, we'd get harder missions faster and I'd gain better experiences." Naruto replied smugly, barely containing his smile from breaking out.
'You sly little...' Sasuke thought while he himself struggled not to smile. "But why are you telling me now?"
"Because I want you to-"
"Fight me."
After giving Naruto a piece of his mind yesterday, Nao promptly left the place without looking back. He spent the rest of day training in his in-house dojo, trying to rid himself of the frustration that kept hanging around only to find Naruto standing outside his house at daybreak, waiting for him apparently. When enquired about his unannounced presence,
"Follow me."
was the only response he got. He didn't understand the request, as he liked to call it, seeing it was the only way he'd bring himself to do that without getting his ego hurt over being ordered like that. But curiosity got the better of him and he did without a complaint.
'Why'd he ask me to come here so suddenly? I thought he wouldn't even talk to me for a while after what happened yesterday. Maybe he's taking me to a secluded location to beat me up? Heh. Like that would ever happen. But seriously though, what's up with him today. Something about him feels different from before.'
Thoughts like these whirled inside Nao's head as Naruto led him to the east side forest, tall lush trees canopying the entire region in darkness, with the occasional sun rays getting past the thick green foliage. Nao was sceptical about Naruto's actions but trusted his instincts and kept following till they reached a small clearing, which by the looks of it was definitely not natural. He observed Naruto who stalled in the centre of the clearing and turned back to face him before making that absurd request.
"What?!"
"I want you to fight me Nao." Naruto said in a calm yet assertive tone. His eyes seemed sharper than ever, his usual indifference completely gone.
"I always assumed you're very bad at cracking jokes Uchiha. But this..." Nao replied, pointing to Naruto and his surroundings dismissively, "this is very funny. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some real training to do instead of wasting my time around here." The blonde said before turning around to leave the exact same way they both came in.
"Are you chickening out, Kato?"
Nao stopped in his tracks, his one leg still mid-air before coming back down into its previous position. Of the five words Naruto spoke, two of them stuck out to Nao. First was the chicken taunt but more importantly, his clan name. Never did he hear Naruto call him by that. He knew and interacted with a lot of Uchihas, at least before the massacre, none of the said interactions being friendly or cordial by any means and it was more of a tradition for him and the Uchiha kids his age to refer each other by clan names. They practically spat the names out in contempt for he was a part Senju and there was no way either of them was backing down from the generational rivalry just because his father isn't a Senju. He was very well, the last male alive with Senju blood flowing within. He was the sole bearer of the Senju clan's honour in this rivalry. But picking on bottom feeders was never his style. He always went after the top dogs which happen to be Naruto and Sasuke. Sasuke more recently but his oldest rival was and will always be Naruto.
Out of the many interactions between him and Naruto, before and after being placed in the same team, never did Naruto call him 'Kato'. It was mostly just him calling Naruto by his name and occasionally, his Senju side sparks out to call him 'Uchiha'. It was never out of aversion though. The one person he made an exception for in that regard. It was more of a friendly taunt. Why? Because, out of all the Uchihas, Naruto was the only one who embraced the concept of mutual respect, at least to a certain extent if you ask him. The others were too arrogant for their own good, Uchiha Sasuke being the prime example. But Naruto wasn't like that. He was different from the rest. Sure, he looked like the rest for the most part. The long black hair, the stoic face and ridiculously good looks but his eye...they were different from the rest. Not only in terms of the colour but what they project too.
The usual onyx eyes of the Uchihas had pride and insolence in equal measures. But Naruto's were different. His eyes contained confidence, curiosity and sincerity. When the Uchihas spoke, they would practically drool smugness like mutts but Naruto spoke with tact and modesty. That's why he respected him more. Not just his power but the character wielding the power. That's why Naruto was his goal. To be like him. To surpass him. Naruto embodied what a Hokage should possess if his father's words were any indication.
But today was the 1st time Naruto taunted him back. Taunts were usually his thing. He usually tried to unnerve Naruto with his jeers and gibes. Naruto always responded with actions rather than words. But today was different. Different and better. Because Naruto taunting means he decided to climb down his high horse and meet his opponent eye to eye. This was his way of showing humility. But why? Nao didn't bother. He slowly turned around with a wicked gleam on his face, cracking his knuckles.
"Don't think I'm gonna go easy on you just because you're rusty Naruto."
"I insist you don't. I can't estimate my current level if you bite the dust after one shot." Naruto retorted with an impassive look.
'Oh, this is good. This exactly what I wanted. Finally, I'm gonna beat this bastard while he's serious and surpas-' Nao's thought ended abruptly when Naruto, who within his vision a moment ago suddenly disappeared. A strong kick connected right to his face before he could even move his eyes to try and find. The immense weight behind the kick spread throughout his face and sent him flying towards the nearby trees, crashing one, two, three and almost the fourth before hitting the ground at the base of the tree with a loud groan.
'Bastard's gonna pa-' The same thing again, only this time, the kick connected straight to his unguarded gut. He hacked up blood from his mouth as his body got stuck between the kick and tree, inflicting more pain to his already bruised back.
"After all that talk, all you can do is get lynched like that? And you called me cocky yesterday."
Nao was in pain. His head throbbed, his vision was partially blurred and his gut wrenched so bad he could feel his breakfast rising up. But what hurt him more were Naruto's words. He did call him cocky yesterday and getting his ass handed to him like this would mean he's nothing but a trash talker who couldn't back up his words. His pride was at stake here. He needed to prove to Naruto, that what he told him yesterday is true. He needed to get back up and beat the shit out of Naruto if he wanted to walk in the streets with his head held high.
Despite the agonizing pain, Nao manoeuvred his legs to throw Naruto off balance. Naruto, who unlike Nao, was functioning at his 100% in a long time, was clearly able to sense the blonde's intentions and jumped up to avoid the sweeping kick aimed at his legs. But what he didn't anticipate was Nao regaining his footing so quickly and already charging at him with a ferocious glare and a rather cocky smile for someone who coughed up blood a few seconds ago.
Naruto always knew. He knew Nao's impression of him. It was very contradictory and oxymoronic. A kind Uchiha. A respected rival. A peer he wished to surpass. Something that he really wasn't. Was he kind? He didn't care. Was he his rival? He never bothered before. Was he the blonde's peer? Whatever Nao's understanding of Naruto was, it never mattered to him. It was irrelevant. Irrelevant to the goal he had. He made a vow to himself, 4 years ago, to never be in a helpless stage ever again. To never fail to protect the ones he should. To be strong enough to do that.
He needed better exposure for that. Stringent and harsher training, better discipline and firmer resolve. He can't waste time playing ninja in the academy anymore. He didn't have enough time to improve in by the academy's generic and ill-defined standards. No. He needed to grow fast. But both his requests for early graduation and ANBU transfer were denied by the Hokage. He didn't bother arguing. If the village didn't let him, so what, he would do it himself. He would stop attending classes, train himself and would barely do well enough to pass in tests so that he can become a genin and continue on his path. He wouldn't want to fail and hold himself back from doing missions. The training was fine but missions are where you gain real-time battle experience. That is where you find real progress. The last mission was a total bust for him but doesn't mean he didn't learn anything from it. Far from it.
'There are strong people out there. Even stronger lay beyond them. I can't fall behind them. I won't let what happened repeat itself. I will become stronger because I am already...' Naruto thought, looking at Nao who finished weaving hand signs for his next move.
"Doton: Doryūsō"
'...Strong.' Naruto thought before disappearing from his spot in mid-air where he should've effectively skewered by spikes made of condense mud and stone that protruded from the ground beneath him, which was exactly what crossed Nao's mind before being stomped into the ground, again. He lay flat on his back in a crater made by the impact. Every bone and muscle in his body ached, especially his torso and ribs where the previous kick landed.
It took a while for the cloud of dust to clear but when it eventually started to settle down, Nao, through his one-eyed vision could make out Naruto's standing silhouette on the edge of the crater, looking down on him.
'So strong. So fast. I couldn't see him move. I couldn't see him hit me. But damn it, they...hurt.' Nao thought, groaning in pain, clutching his midsection in a frail attempt to ease the pain which most definitely required medical assistance. 'How the hell...' cough cough 'is he so strong? He beat me up just like that day 4 years ago. He humiliated me then and now too. Nothing's changed. Damn it!' he cursed internally, thinking back to the time he thought Naruto was taking him to a secluded location to beat him up and wanted to kick himself for laughing it off but felt Naruto accounted for that as well when crushing him into the ground.
When the smoke cleared enough for Nao to see Naruto's face, it still remained stoic as before, as if nothing happened in the previous minute which clearly showed how far apart the boys were in terms of combat strength. "You called me weak yesterday. You've been doing that for the many years in fact. But yesterday was the first time it seemed you actually believed I was weak. That's why I asked you to fight me. To shatter any beliefs you held that I am weak."
'Bastard. So he was showing off. All this while, he was this strong and still...I will break every bone on his body and make him eat his words. I swear.' Nao thought, the blood rush no thanks to the enraging words Naruto spoke, only making his achings worse.
"But don't get me wrong Nao. I didn't do this because I felt insulted by your words or I wanted to prove myself stronger than you. I just wanted to make you understand that I'm not weak. You and I are on the same team. If we want to successfully finish our missions without ending up in the hospital, cooperation among us is vital. For that, we need to understand each other better. I always thought you understood me better than most, despite acting otherwise. But yesterday was different. That is why it was important I do this."
"hehe.." gluck "Teme...Stop acting...high and mighty. You still...haven't seen...my best." Nao replied, coughing and breathing in between.
Naruto walked into the crater and stood over Noa, shielding the latter's eyes from the sunlight.
"Hn. You were indeed right when you said that me not competing against the top left me with no standard to measure myself. A very crucial error my part. Thanks to you I realised my mistake. I constantly need to assess my level in order to grow further. So please feel free to fight me whenever you want to. And from next time, be at your best so that people don't mistake this for attempt murder." Naruto said while holding his hand out to Nao.
Nao wanted to slap the hand away. He was trashed mere moments ago without him landing a single blow on the opponent. This was worse than 4 years ago. His pride was wounded worse than his body. He should've rejected the helping hand. But one look at the smiling face of Naruto and all thoughts of pride and strife vanished. There was something very intriguing about the way he smiled. The faintest curving of his flat lips at the corners contrasting the bright glow of his face. Something which he had never seen before. A smile radiating candour and earnestness about him. It wasn't a mere helping hand. It was his way of initiating something Nao never expected to happen. The beginning of a friendship.
"Why?" he asked, as he looked up the smiling Uchiha's face, with a hint of hesitation.
"Because everyone has their own goals. You, me, Shizuka... It's only fair we help each other in achieving our goals, right? We can't do everything by ourselves now, can we?"
Nao looked at his feet, he sat upright with his hands supporting his possibly sprained back. He stared contemplatively while Naruto held his hand out despite the blonde's dawdling. Nao gave one last look towards Naruto before extending his arm.
Later that night
"Can't believe I'm being employed by the same village who's Kage I tried to assassinate before," Kakuzu said while looking at the briefcase filled with cash in his hands.
"The past is inconsequential. The present is uncontrollable. But the future...the future holds the most value. Because it can be moulded however we choose to." Danzo replied. "When it concerns the future, the past plays no role whatsoever, unless we choose to include it."
"Fufufu.." Orochimaru chuckled, the middle man who arranged this meeting, clad in his Akatsuki robes. "Past is inconsequential you say? Isn't that hypocritical coming from you, considering how you planned and eliminated the precious Uchiha clan because of their pasts?"
Danzo remained silent. Kakuzu shifted his gaze between Orochimaru and Danzo with narrowed eyes, clutching the briefcase's handle tightly by his side. Orochimaru retained his usual challenging smirk.
"Although...I'm not saying it was unwarranted. I mean, all your actions are for the betterment of the village, aren't they Danzo-san?"
"That's enough Orochimaru. Our work here is done. The required payment is received and the contract is approved. We're leaving." Kakuzu said before turning around hastily. 'Can't afford any reckless skirmishes here with a dozen people surrounding us. The risk is too high to do anything now.'
Orochimaru gave one last glance to the stone-faced warmonger before curtly following his fellow mercenary out of the very obvious trap that was laid out of them in case they tried anything. 'Maybe some other time. We have too much else to focus on for Danzo to be a priority now. How gullible. Fufufu.'
E/N: That's a wrap for this chapter. Apologies once again for such a long delay. But please leave a review if you liked the chapter. Reviews are writer's encouragement. Seeing people enjoy our works only makes us want to improve what we do. Thanks for the patience and have good day. Until next time.