AN: Yay chapter 2! Hope you enjoy! A big thank you to everyone who gave chapter one a read, and especially to those who left comments. I really appreciate it! Hope you enjoy the update :).

The Curse of Suijin Shima
Chapter 2: Kosame

Tsuyu – Day 89

The truth is, I'm really tired. Kurama has been quiet. I think…he's hurting. But I'm not sure why.

The nightmares won't stop. They don't make sense. I just hear this endless cry. A longing, pained sound. It echoes, like it's muffled beneath water. It makes my heart ache for something unknown.

I don't think Tsunade-sama would have approved us for this mission if she'd known. At least not me.

I try not to wake the others, but I think Sasuke might have heard me once or twice. He hasn't mentioned anything, but he didn't wake me for my watch last night. Said he forgot. But I think he just wanted to let me sleep. He never forgets things like that.

He's actually a good guy. He does things like that sometimes, when he's not being a bastard. I want to say I don't need him to, but…I'm really grateful. He's a good friend. I…I'm glad he's here. He'd probably hate it if I ever told him that though. As if I ever would.

If Sasuke challenged me to a spar today…I don't think I'd be able to win.

-Naruto

The trip to the Sea of Spirits took them thirteen days. It was a remarkable pace considering what they'd been forced to endure. Several times their path had been unexpectedly obstructed. They spent in some cases hours searching for alternative routes, with limited vision and energy. A cliff had collapsed on them once, sending a mudslide at them and trapping both Sakura and Naruto beneath a thick layer of sludge. Sakura had been unable to break her way through the wet earth, and Naruto's ankle got caught between several rocks, holding him in place. Thankfully both Kakashi and Sasuke had escaped unscathed and had constructed a pulley system to hoist the two of them out. The four of them had been down for the count after that, and spent the rest of the day cleaning the dirt out of all of their belongings.

Sasuke wanted to say things had been easier once they hit the sea. But the last couple days of their journey were some of the worst. Heavy winds kept them up and at attention at all hours of the day. The waves were a constant obstacle, and it was like fighting against an immovable force to cross into the Sea of Spirits. Escaping the rain was impossible, and Sasuke had long since given up on even attempting to stay dry. All four of them were exhausted and ready to pass out.

As they boated towards the cluster of tiny island communities that formed the country of Kaitei, Sasuke was grateful the journey part of their mission was nearly finished. The skies were grey, as per usual, and a mist hung low over the sea while the rain lightly sprinkled down, surrounding the islands in a strange mirage-like fog.

Kaitei had an unusual land formation. The villages were spread apart in a crescent-like shape, connected only by bridges or thin sections of land, and they almost appeared to wrap around a distant, much larger island mass farther out to sea. The mist made it difficult to see very far beyond the first village ahead, though he could make out the faint hint of a mountain on the horizon, and some vague silhouettes where the rest of the communities disappeared into the haze.

Their boat entered the small river canal that connected with the docks on the crescent's inner side, right at the tip of the northernmost island. Their pace slowed, and Sasuke took in the homes at the edges of the canal, far too close to the water's edge. Some of them were vacant, probably due to the impending risk of flooding. The town looked as though it had once been quite a cheerful place. The buildings were a spattering of different colours, and they had a charming appearance, clumped closely together as they wound around the streets of the town. Sadly, now they looked a bit putrid and washed out. And the sides of many buildings sported stains from weeks of water damage.

As they approached the harbour Sasuke studied the men and women working along the waterside. They were hardened, likely from endless days of seafaring and the harsh saltwater upon their skin. They looked just as worn as he felt, but didn't let it affect the quality of their work, all of them busily hurrying around the wooden landing piers. People shouted various commands while others lifted, moved, and hammered large planks of wood together. There was no such thing as a day of rest for people in these parts.

Sasuke jumped onto the approaching dock, and hurried to tie up the boat they'd rented from the mainland. Kakashi did the same on the stern, and Sakura and Naruto started unloading their belongings from the hull, throwing the bags up onto the wooden planks. Sasuke wiped the water from his face roughly, annoyed when the rain quickly soaked his skin again. He squeezed the rope tightly in his hands, double checked all the other lines, and then pulled a tarp atop the ship and fastened it firmly to the sides. The last thing they needed was to lose their only way home because of careless tethering.

He stood and cracked his back, then hoisted his bag over his shoulder and watched as Kakashi spoke briefly with the dock worker. Kakashi held out his hand a moment later and Sakura tossed him a bag of coins. It was enough to pay their docking fees and purchase a couple rooms for the night.

"Keep yourselves busy, won't be long. Stay out of trouble," Kakashi ordered with a wink before turning and walking into the condensed stone pathways heading deeper into the village.

Sasuke twisted his neck from side to side, trying to work out the kinks attained from sitting in a hunched position for so long. He spotted Sakura wandering towards a nearby onigiri stand and thought about joining her. He was ready for some proper food for once. Naruto was probably hungry too. Come to think of it, his usual groans and grumbles were oddly absent. Sasuke turned around, searching for the signature blond tufts of hair to no avail. It took him a minute or two, but finally he spotted Naruto a fair distance away, over at the other end of the pier. He was standing right at the edge, looking out to sea.

Sasuke walked the stretch, feet clacking against the creaking planks. The rain pelted against his face, falling heavier now that they were ashore, and he tugged his poncho up to shield himself from it.

"Naruto," Sasuke called as he sidled up beside him. There was no reaction. And Sasuke leaned forwards slightly to peer at his face. He was staring blankly out over the water, his hood blown entirely off his head. He didn't even appear to notice the rain hitting his skin.

"Naruto?" Sasuke tried again, and then he leaned in closer and nudged his arm. Naruto flinched and blinked at him in surprise, shaking his head slightly in the rain. For a moment he looked completely lost. His eyes were wide and Sasuke stared at him in concern. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," Naruto stuttered, and then he flicked the pooling water out of his hood and pulled it back over his head before turning away.

"Kakashi's gone to find us lodgings," Sasuke voiced slowly, still carefully studying Naruto's profile. He didn't look any worse than usual. At least not worse than he had for the duration of their trip. And he'd actually managed to get some rest prior to their boat ride. Sasuke had made sure of it. "Let's grab some food and then get some sleep."

Naruto didn't acknowledge him. He was staring out over the water again impassively. Sasuke's expression hardened.

"Naruto."

This time Naruto actually reacted to the sound of his name. "Right, yeah," he muttered. He blinked a few times, and scratched at his head before stepping away from the edge of the pier swiftly and padding down the dock.

Sasuke watched him go anxiously. He'd never seen Naruto space out quite like that before. He glanced out to sea, searching for whatever Naruto had been so enraptured by, but there was nothing to be seen. Just the faint peak of the distant mountain island and the surrounding shifting mists.

Strange.

The rooms Kakashi found for them were small and modestly decorated, but they were dry, and warm, and that was truthfully as good as a castle. It was a relief to have a space inside, even just for a moment. Sasuke let Naruto shower first, but he wasted little time getting in once he was done. He let the warm water cascade down his body for a solid minute after scrubbing every inch of himself clean. It was like a dream.

Sasuke rinsed out his hair a final time, turned off the water, and grabbed the towel he'd draped over the curtain rod carelessly. He dried himself off quickly, and then patted down his hair, slipping into the robes provided by the inn.

It was bliss.

The best he'd felt in weeks.

Sasuke ambled back into the bedroom, draping the towel around his shoulders on the way. He couldn't wait to fall into bed, and hopefully sleep straight through until morning. If that was even possible. His gaze shifted towards Naruto worriedly at the thought.

Naruto had been uncharacteristically quiet ever since they docked. All through dinner he munched away at his food in silence, only joining the conversation when beckoned to. Even then he was sitting silently and staring out the open window, his journal open and long forgotten in his lap. His hair was still wet from his shower, and droplets clung to the ends of the strands before falling onto his shoulders and robe with tiny splatters.

Thankfully the rain had lessened in the last few hours, and only a few stray droplets flew into the room, but the wind was cool, and the air was humid. Sasuke walked over and took the book from atop Naruto's knees, shut it carefully, and set it and the pencil to the side. Naruto hardly moved, not even acknowledging his presence, so Sasuke leaned over and slammed the window closed. Naruto flinched in surprise.

"Hey," Sasuke started, "What was the point of showering if you're just going to sit in the rain like that? Dobe. You should take advantage of the room while you can."

"Ah…yeah," Naruto muttered. He chuckled lightly and rubbed at his head. Sasuke was glad to see him grinning despite how short-lived it was. Naruto hopped down from the sill and padded over to his bed. He shuffled under the covers, spread his legs out dramatically, and propped himself up against the headboard.

"Seal," Sasuke said, holding out the journal and case to him pointedly.

Naruto's eyes widened slightly, and his mouth opened in surprise. "Oh, thanks!" He sealed it quickly before plopping it down on the bedside table beside him.

Sasuke watched as he fiddled with the blankets, fluffing them up a bit as he eased down beneath them. He rolled around and kicked his legs out from beneath them at the edges before settling into a comfortable position.

"Are you…," Sasuke trailed off. When Naruto turned to look at him, the rest of his question got caught in his throat. He stared down at Naruto's wide blue eyes, fully focused on him. He wanted to make sure nothing was wrong, but for some reason, the words just wouldn't come. "Forget it," Sasuke muttered, and then he turned off the light and crawled into bed.

His eyes flashed open at the sound of a strangled noise, and Sasuke's sharingan activated immediately as he mentally readied for an attack. He flicked his gaze to the right, searching the dark room for any signs of an intruder, but there was nothing. Nothing except for the shifting form struggling against the blankets in the bed beside him.

Naruto was clearly straining against them, and his head flipped to the side atop his pillow. His eyes were tightly closed, but the rest of his face was a mask of pain, and Sasuke sat up quickly. "Naruto," he called, but it had little effect. The blond continued stirring in his sheets, mumbling now, and Sasuke frowned at the sight. "Naruto wake up, it's just a dream," he tried again.

There was silence for a moment, and then Naruto's body tensed and he screamed at the top of his lungs. Sasuke flew from beneath his covers. His foot caught in the blankets and he shook it free and practically sprinted across the room. Naruto was fighting against the sheets now, his legs kicking beneath them, and the screams wouldn't stop coming. There were half formed words, though nothing intelligible, mixed in alongside his desperate gasps of air.

"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, pressing his hands against Naruto's shoulders and forcibly holding him in place. "Naruto, wake the hell up!" He shook him slightly, urging him to escape the nightmare desperately. Naruto woke with a strangled wheeze, and he reached out and grasped Sasuke's robes tightly. Sasuke supported his weight, and wiped some of the sweat from the sides of his face. "It's okay, it's okay," he whispered. "It was just a dream."

"A dream," Naruto gasped. His eyes were wide and red, with slits down the middle, and his body trembled slightly from the aftershock of whatever had happened to him in his mind.

"Yes, a dream."

Sasuke stared at him warily. He was still gasping for air, and he glanced around the room fearfully as his irises slowly faded back to their usual crystalline blue. Sasuke had seen him suffer through a few nightmares, but nothing had brought on such screams and obvious bouts of terror before.

"Sorry," Naruto panted. He eased himself into a sitting position, and Sasuke helped straighten his robes.

"It's okay."

Naruto swallowed and looked down, hands tightening in the sheets at his sides. He was still shaking slightly and Sasuke was at a bit of a loss. What did one usually do in this sort of situation? Comfort the person? It wasn't exactly one of his strengths. He thought about the many nightmares he'd had in the past. As a child his mother had held him and rubbed his back, encouraged him to share his thoughts and speak about his worries. But now, the last thing he ever wanted was another person to see him in such a state. He wondered if Naruto was the same.

"Do you…want to talk about it?" he asked with hesitancy.

Naruto looked straight ahead and avoided meeting his gaze head on. "I…I can't really…remember," Naruto breathed, but a moment later he grasped at his heart like he was in pain. Suddenly a tear ran down his face and Sasuke felt his throat constrict in panic as all of his muscles seized. What…what was going on? He didn't know how to deal with this. He didn't understand what was wrong.

Naruto wiped at his cheek hastily and slumped forwards. His sagging hair blocked Sasuke's vision of his face, but he'd already seen more than enough. Sasuke cleared his throat, but didn't say anything. He sat next to Naruto slowly, and the mattress sank beneath his weight. It took him several minutes to convince himself to wrap an arm around Naruto's back and rub at his shoulder.

Both of them sat there stiffly, but eventually Naruto sucked in his lower lip and leaned into the embrace. Sasuke held him tighter in return.

"You two look a little rough for wear," Kakashi commented as Sasuke and Naruto strolled up to the small inland lighthouse they'd decided on as a meeting place. They both grunted a greeting and sneered at Kakashi moodily.

The circles were especially dark beneath Sasuke's eyes that morning. He hadn't been able to fall back asleep after Naruto's nightmare incident. He spent the rest of the night sitting up against Naruto's headboard thinking. Naruto, at least, had managed to fall back asleep, but it hadn't been a restful night for him. He'd shifted atop the bed endlessly while Sasuke brushed the sweaty strands of hair away from his face and tried to soothe whatever was haunting him away.

In the morning when Naruto woke he stared up at Sasuke groggily. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and then flushed before turning away. Sasuke wasn't sure what to make of it. His heart skipped slightly, and he hadn't been able to slow the rapid beating ever since. The two of them hadn't said a word to each other while they dressed and ate, and even now, they awkwardly avoided looking at each other.

"The hell is wrong with you two," Sakura muttered under her breath. But when no answer came, she sighed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever, let's get going, there's tons to do."

She wasn't wrong.

There had been extensive damage to the docks and several of the homes right at the water's edge. It didn't take long for the group of them to mingle with the townsfolk, setting to work on helping them rebuild what they could in the midst of such rainy weather. Sasuke spent much of the day assisting the fisherman mending their boats. He strung up the sails, patched up holes, and heaved the heavy masts into place on ships where they'd broken away.

He listened to some of the conversations as he worked, learning that resources had become sparse in the weeks prior. The fisherman had been struggling to get enough product to feed the local people and trade to mainlanders, and as it was one of the island's primary sources of income, they were struggling to keep afloat. It was the same for many of the townsfolk. Bad weather meant lack of tourism as well. Their economy was largely dependent on such things, which meant it was nearly impossible for them to make a living.

After lunch Sasuke made his way over to help Sakura, who was busy building a rock barricade to keep the water from overtaking the lowest parts of the land. She took a break to heal one of the worker's injuries, and Sasuke settled beside her and passed her and the worker a drink purchased from a nearby stand.

"Thank you, both of you. Your help means the world to us," he said. "The name's Takuma by the way."

After brief introductions, Takuma spent a few minutes talking about the village and his life as dock worker. He'd started as a sailor, but found the lifestyle too harsh and difficult for his family. Now he stayed ashore and worked from the island helping to moor ships instead. He was a friendly man, and he smiled at them genuinely even as the rain plastered their faces throughout the afternoon. At one point Kakashi and Naruto joined them, and together they made quick work of the rest of the barricade.

"As much as I appreciate having you lot around, you might wanna head to the villages just south of here, over the Kiri Fukai pass," Takuma mentioned as he packed up his supplies for the day. "They were hit pretty hard recently, lost a lot of homes." He stood and looked to the south regretfully. "The only way to get there is by boat now. What with all the rain. Actually, if the bridge hadn't already been under water, I reckon the last typhoon woulda blown it out anyway," he added.

"How long have you been getting the storms?" Sakura asked.

"Not long. A few months maybe. The water levels have been getting higher for several years now though," Takuma commented. "We've been lucky here. The peninsulas have protected us from the worst of it." He pointed to the northern most part of the village, where the land curved around the harbour just beyond the lighthouse and then to the southern end of the town where another large land mass inched out, creating an effective barrier for the densest part of town. "But lately there are storms so often it's hard to keep up. We might have to relocate soon. I'm afraid we'll end up under water too if this continues much longer."

He sighed sadly and looked out at the water. "It'll be hard to leave. It's home, after all."

Takuma left them with a low bow and another slew of thanks, and the group of them huddled close together as they headed into town for a meal.

Sasuke met Naruto's gaze then. It was the first time they'd acknowledged each other all day. He looked a bit uneasy, and tired, likely in part from the long day as well as the night prior. Sasuke tilted his head at him, silently asking if he was okay. Naruto smiled and nodded, but when he looked away the grin quickly slipped from his face.

The following day Team 7 rented a smaller boat to make their way south. The coastal seas were too rough and the tiny rivers that were safest for travel didn't accommodate anything much larger than a simple skiff. It was a tight fit for the four of them, but they made it work.

Even before they reached the village it was apparent that things had been hit far worse in these parts, even inland. Several downed trees blocked their way through the Kiri Fukai pass, and Sasuke had to repeatedly disembark to cut them away and clear a path. He spent the rest of their time travelling watching Naruto and trying to figure out what was going on with him with little success.

At current, Naruto was leaning over the edge of the boat, dragging his fingers through the water. It rippled behind them in a series of swirling patterns, and his gaze followed them listlessly. He only sat up when the thick forest began to grow sparse at the river's edge, revealing a series of sandy beaches and several spaced out homes built along the water. Sasuke's gaze shifted too, and his eyes widened when he spotted a series of three homes next to each other, all of which lacked roofs. Apparently Takuma hadn't been kidding.

They docked at a small river basin harbour and a local helped rope them up and get them ashore. There was lots of broken wood around, and Sasuke noticed a collapsed walking bridge on the other side of the harbour.

"Shinobi? Thank goodness, we could really use your help," the woman stated, before holding out her arm for Sakura to grab onto. She was broad shouldered and strong, likely from hoisting around ships and gear for days on end.

"What happened here?" Sasuke asked, grabbing onto her arm after Sakura. She heaved him up out of the boat, and he nodded his thanks.

"A tsunami hit, just a few days ago. Worst one yet. Lost a quarter of the village," she explained. "There's quite a few people still unaccounted for." Her gaze darkened then and she stared down at her feet for a moment. "My husband...," she trailed off sadly. A moment later she breathed in through her nose and reached out for Kakashi. "Well never mind that." She gave them quick directions, guiding them to lodgings before getting back to work.

Unfortunately, space was limited due to the displacement of so many villagers, so the four of them were forced to share a single room. They didn't waste any time settling in, instead dropping their belongings and heading towards the path leading to the coastline.

It was evident just how bad the situation was immediately. What was likely once an extensive beach suitable for resorts and visitors on vacation was nearly decimated. The large pier built for fishing vessels was completely destroyed. Several ships had capsized beneath the water and the docks were torn apart amongst them. Pieces of wood and metal floated in the waves still crashing against the shore. There were huge chunks of homes missing, and people struggling to pull belongings and debris out of the water. Sasuke understood why they'd been directed to dock inshore instead.

Sasuke hurried to help the people at the edge of the water alongside twenty or so of Naruto's clones, gathering whatever they could reach. By midday Sasuke had given up on attempting to stay dry, and he discarded his poncho and clothes, stripping down to just his combat leggings. He jumped into the rough waves to work on hauling things out from the deeper waters. He spent hours lugging heavy planks of wood, bags, books, whatever he could find, using chakra and jutsu to loosen the items from the sandy sea bottom and lessen the strain on his body. It was hard work, but he continued on.

Despite his fatigue, he was managing fine until something knocked into him as he dove beneath the surface. He turned towards it and flinched in surprise at the sight of a body suspended in space. It was bloated and pale, eyes open and staring ahead unnervingly. It's hair wrapped unforgivingly around its neck, clearly long dead. Sasuke gasped, inhaling by accident, and he struggled up to the surface to cough the water from his lungs. As he caught his breath, his eyes searched the waves around him, widening as he realized he was completely surrounded by floating corpses. The vicious result of a ship caught in a tsunami at sea. The changing tide must have washed them all in. Sasuke swallowed and held back the vomit that wanted to surface.

He'd seen plenty of dead bodies in his time as a shinobi, killed half of them himself, but there was something about the scene that greatly disturbed him. These people were family to the villagers ashore. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers. They were good people. Kind people. They didn't deserve this. Sasuke thought of the dock woman who had first greeted them, wondered if her husband was among them.

He closed his eyes for a moment, solidified his resolve, and got back to work.

Sasuke spent hours from that moment on doing little more than dragging dead bodies ashore. He passed the first one off to Naruto, who gasped at the sight of it, before looking towards him in surprise. Sasuke gritted his teeth, and croaked, "There's more." Naruto nodded slowly, dropping his gaze towards the corpse warily, and he grimaced before hoisting it up over the sand and rocks. He was already standing and waiting solemnly when Sasuke arrived with the next.

As the skies darkened beyond the clouds, Sasuke collapsed atop the edge of the boardwalk that still remained. It had been an extremely difficult day. He stared out at the horizon, not a single hint of the sun visible as it set, and wondered what it would have been like in such a place under different circumstances. He tucked his feet beneath his body and glanced down at the waves crashing against the wooden posts and rocks below. He would have put his toes in the water, sat back and enjoyed the view. Now…there was an unquenchable desire to be dry instead of drenched down to the bone. And also the fear of what might float up against him at any given moment.

Naruto plopped down at his side, clothes thoroughly drenched. His hair hung down over his face lifelessly, and his expression was downcast to match it. Sasuke heard Sakura and Kakashi settle in behind them, listened as Sakura sighed and shook out her hair. He lacked the energy to even think about walking back to the inn.

"Hey!" a haggard voice called out from behind them. And Sasuke tilted his head back to look. An older woman stood inside a seaside restaurant booth, waving them over with rapid arm movements. "Yes you folk, come here, under the awning."

They shared a few looks, and then heaved themselves up off the boardwalk slowly. The four of them ambled over, stretching out their aching muscles on the way. There was a hanging sign creaking back and forth in the wind with the words Shiori's Skewers engraved in the wood and painted in bold colours. The booth was empty apart from the woman, presumably Shiori herself, and a man finishing a meal at one end.

"Get yourself out of the rain, that's it, take a seat," Shiori commented and then she set several dishes down on the counter in front of them. Sasuke eased himself atop a stool, and breathed in the smell of whatever was cooking, suddenly noticing just how hungry he was. He leaned over the counter and glanced at the contents of the dishes curiously. There was steamed rice, a variety of smoked meats and vegetables on sticks, then several sauces for dipping. His stomach growled loudly, and he felt his cheeks redden.

"Smells great," Kakashi complimented, and he moved to pull out some ryo, but Shiori waved him off.

"Don't worry, my treat," she insisted. "Don't be shy, take what you'd like."

Naruto teetered forward on his stool, fingers gripping the edge tightly between his legs. "For real?" His eyes were wide with excitement, and he reached out first, filling his plate immediately before biting into one of the skewers. Sasuke smiled before reaching to do the same.

"That's very generous. Thank you," Kakashi said, before clapping his hands together and offering a little bow. They ate their fill, and shared stories with Shiori about their journey. She hung on to every word avidly, occasionally jumping in with an anecdote or memory from her earlier years, and Sasuke found he enjoyed listening to her wizened tone.

Shiori reminded him of his great grandmother, who was a very old woman around the time of the Uchiha massacre. She had spent much of her time at the family shrine. His memory of her was a little fuzzy, but he recalled the feeling being around her had given him. A sense of comfort, home, and family, and she had offered a wealth of knowledge far beyond the scope of his mind. As Sasuke stared at the deep set wrinkles upon Shiori's face and listened to her speak of the travellers who came before them, the tenseness of his muscles eased, and he leaned on the counter serenely. It was the first time Sasuke had truly relaxed in some time.

"I've never seen so much rain before," Sakura commented as the water pellets picked up in pace, rapping against the awning aggressively before ebbing away. "It's been…rainier than usual even in Konoha, but nothing like it is here."

"Ahh…The water gods are angry, it is to be expected," Shiori hummed, and Sasuke glanced towards her interestedly.

"Gods, heh. As if they ever existed. Don't listen to her, senile old woman," the man sitting further down the booth interjected, and Sasuke eyed him curiously.

"And what do you propose is causing this never-ending torrential downpour?" Shiori spat. "Have you a better explanation?" She put her fists on her hips and stared at him like she was chastising a child. He shifted in a disgruntled way and grumbled as he took the last bite of meat off his skewer. With a final huff he stood and sauntered away.

"Pah," Shiori huffed. She let her arms fall back to her sides before leaning over the counter. "These parts used to be rich with spirits of folklore. But many have cast such beliefs away."

Sasuke chewed on the piece of meat in his mouth, eyeing the man walking away before returning his gaze to her. She sighed and started cleaning up the empty dishes left behind.

"Can't blame him I suppose. It's hard to have faith in the midst of conditions like these. But the gods have never existed for us, they simply are," she stated.

"What makes the gods angry?" Sakura asked. She was already finished eating, and sat with her hands folded beneath her chin, hanging on to Shiori's every word.

"Who's to say? It could be many things. If you seek answers about the gods, you must search out those who know," Shiori said.

"Like who?"

Shiori smirked slightly and leaned in a little closer. "Heh, inquisitive, aren't you," she muttered. "There are a wealth of creatures that may know, many of which would sooner eat you than speak with you." She eyed each one of them individually as if expecting them to let the subject go, but none of them backed away, all staring straight at her. "You are not afraid?"

"Of course not!" Naruto blurted. "We're shinobi after all!"

She grinned at them eagerly. "Well then, you're in luck." When Shiori beckoned them closer with a finger the four of them huddled in together and leaned over the counter. "Many mythical beings are said to live in the regions surrounding Kaitei," she began, her voice deepening slightly as she started her tales. "It's not called the Sea of Spirits for nothing."

Naruto shoved closer, practically knocking Sasuke from his stool in his excitement, and Sasuke stole one of his skewers and held it out of his reach tauntingly before shoving it into his mouth.

"Firstly, there are the wani. Great sea monsters that are said to take on a variety of shapes. Some say they look like crocodiles, except ten times the size. Others say they slink along the bottom of the ocean floor like a snake slithering through sand," she told, and she mimicked the motion with her arms. Naruto watched her eagerly, while Sasuke raised an eyebrow with some scepticism.

"Have you seen them?" Sasuke blurted, and Shiori threw her head back and laughed heartily.

"Me? Impossible! Do I look like the seafaring type?" she asked, gesturing to herself wildly. "Besides, it would be an immense feat to witness a mythological creature and live to tell the tale! Take Koromodako for example. A named beast, with long tentacles it uses to crush its foes. It is monstrous in size, big enough to engulf an entire ship!" Her arms flew out to the sides, and Naruto flinched backwards. "It's incredibly deadly, but thankfully prefers to spend its time alone in the deepest and darkest of waters. Should a human ever encounter it, however, they certainly would not survive." Shiori paused for a moment, looking at all four of them intently. "There are hundreds of other beasts like it. I could go on all day. But in these parts, we're known for the mermaids of course."

Naruto beamed and Sasuke narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He remembered reading a story once with mermaids in it. They were beautiful creatures that frolicked in bays and bathed in the sun on rocks. Like humans, but with shiny scaled fish tails. They were so beautiful that they lured lovesick sailors into the sea. It sounded like pure fantasy. He scoffed without meaning to, and Shiori looked towards him swiftly.

"You do not believe me?" she asked mockingly.

Sasuke fidgeted atop his stool and shifted to the side before muttering, "Mermaids aren't real."

"Why do you think that?"

"They're just stories, for kids, to keep them from drowning and stuff," Sasuke insisted.

"There are many stories out there. But all stories are based in reality," Shiori claimed. She stared at him and then pointed at him sternly. "You hail from Konoha, correct?" After he nodded she stood up straight and crossed her arms. "You have your own folklore do you not? Of great tailed beasts made from chakra and created by gods. Myths telling of men and women who possessed legendary power. To people like us, simple rural folk, even your shinobi gifts sound impossible, but we've seen them plain as day."

Sasuke thought on her words for a moment before meeting her gaze. "Tell me, do you believe in those beasts?" Shiori asked, her stare boring into him and Sasuke glanced towards Naruto unwittingly. How could he possibly deny it when the living proof sat right beside him? Naruto was staring at his empty skewer, and twisting it between his fingers pensively. On the surface he may have looked like a regular shinobi, but Sasuke knew what power lay dormant within him.

"I do," he murmured.

"If huge tailed chakra beasts walked the earth hundreds of years ago, why is it so difficult to believe there are other creatures of lore in this world?" Shiori's point rang loud and clear inside his mind. Just because he hadn't seen something did not mean it did not exist. In fact, he'd seen plenty already that would suggest he be willing to expect just about anything. He wasn't sure why Shiori's stories were so difficult for him to believe.

Sasuke lowered his head, feeling suitably lectured, and Shiori relaxed, leaning forward onto the counter again with ease.

"Where can we find a mermaid?" Kakashi pried. He'd been rather silent through the entire conversation, likely studying their surroundings in great detail. Kakashi was much more perceptive than he appeared at first glance. Despite his careless demeanour, he was always working, always thinking ahead. Even then he was facing away, leaning back against the counter as he stared at a booth selling artefacts across the way.

"Difficult to say," Shiori admitted. "As time goes on, these creatures have learned to stay away from us humans. It will be hard to find one, if any still exist, and even harder to get it to speak with you if you do. However…," She sighed and leaned back slightly.

"The best place to start would be Kaika Cove, if you dare."

Kosame: Light Rain

AN: Thanks again for reading!