Sakura's Request
Narichi and Kakashi quickly looked over to see who had been hiding somewhere in the Soba shop who had snuck in without their knowledge. They were surprised to find Sasuke standing next to them and glaring at them. "So what are you two doing here?" Sasuke asked surprised they would actually be able to refrain for fighting for two seconds.
Kakashi looked over at him and said "Ordering lunch, care to join us?" Narichi looked at him and then decided to examine the rest of the Soba shop just in case any of the other Genin twerps were hiding in another dark corner.
Sasuke looked offended and mutterer, "I'm fine." Then he walked away to the opposite side of the restaurant, and sat down in the darkest corner. His table was old and traditional style, the lamp above his table was either burnt out or it might have been hit with a knife a few years ago. 'Uchiha' was carved into the side of the table.
Narichi took a good long look around the rest of the restaurant. It wasn't very lively, but you would think it should be. It was humid Saturday afternoon, and Soba is a wonderful dish to have on hot days, especially one like today. The shop was your standard indoors type place. But Narichi couldn't quite put her finger on why no one was in there. "Hey Kakashi, are there any other Soba places in Konoha?"
Kakashi became confused, "Yeah, but this one's the best. Why is something bothering you?"
Narichi continued to examine the restaurant, "No, it's just not as lively as I would have imagined it to be. We're the only one's here so I'm just a little curious."
Kakashi smiled. "Well I don't eat here much, so I wouldn't really know. But Sasuke appears to eat here quite often," he said seeing the Uchiha name carved into the table. Sasuke had money waiting on the table and the waiter walked up with a dish of Soba, rice, and a hot cup of tea. He took the money and left him the food. Sasuke dug in eyeing the two who seemed to make him uncomfortable.
"That must be his usual, huh?" Narichi said. She began to drift off for a moment and seemed to pop with an idea. "You know what I'll ask him!" Narichi grabbed a pair of chopsticks on the table and unsnapped them.
"What are you doing?" Kakashi asked, "I thought you were going to ask him not eat invisible food."
Narichi passed him a glance then calmed down, "I am. This is kind of a game I played over at Konoha-Zakura No Sei. When people refuse to speak to you, how else can you communicate? Besides I was a year older than him but since he's an Uchiha he should pick up fast." Narichi toyed with the chopsticks and then moved her hands quickly in Sasuke's direction.
Sasuke noticed something flying towards him and dodged it then glared at Kakashi and Narichi. Then he looked over to what flew towards him. In the wall there were tiny splinters of chopsticks along the wall. Sasuke looked at them carefully and read what appeared to be kanji. "Hello Sasuke-kun! o How's your Soba! By the way I was wondering why nobodies in here today. So if you could send me your reply."
He looked irritated and pulled them out. He threw them back over towards Narichi's head, she then caught them on a placemat. Kakashi being across from her read, "Leave me alone!" it was in quite messy writing but it was his first time.
Kakashi picked them out and asked, "So how is this simpler than just walking over and asking a question?"
Narichi smiled, "Because you can avoid people easier than you can avoid flying toothpicks!"
"I see…" Kakashi said. He looked up, "Well looks like we'll see if you're right."
Narichi looked out the window which was right next to their seat. Sakura and Ino were outside spying on Sasuke. They looked at each other and spited remarks, then looked at the door to the Soba shop. They both smiled and stood there. Then suddenly they bolted for the door. They fought for the right to step inside first. Sasuke looked up and saw the commotion then sighed.
The second they both stepped into the room, a net trap was activated. They both were caught in it, but their fury almost seemed to slice through it as fast as their kunai knifes. They calmed down a bit and headed over to Sasuke.
"Hey Ino you pig! Stop following me around!" Sakura yelled at her rival.
"I can say the same to you, Billboard Brow!" Ino growled at Sakura.
They continued to growl at each other as they made their way over to Sasuke's table. He sighed again as he saw them approach and suddenly knifes and shuriken flew towards them. They jumped back and found themselves back at the entrance of the shop. They looked at their feet and found themselves in another net trap.
"Sakura! You're so stupid you fell for the same trap twice!" Ino yelled grabbing her kunai out again.
"What are you talking about! You did the same thing!" Sakura remarked back.
Narichi and Kakashi looked at the two lost in confusion. Both of them thinking, "So this is why no one's here."
Sakura just noticed Kakashi and Narichi, and grew embarrassed. "Kakashi-sensei and Narichi-san! What are you both doing here?"
"Umm…waiting to eat." Narichi smiled weakly trying hard not to laugh at their attempts to get a foot closer than the other towards Sasuke.
Kakashi looked ashamed, "Sakura should be better than this!" he thought.
They both dropped down to the ground and headed for a table not as close to Sasuke's. Then Sakura waved at him but found she was being mimicked by her rival Ino. "Hey Sasuke-kun!"
They growled at each other. Then Sakura and Ino kept walking closer. Sasuke disappeared once they came within six feet of him. The waiter came up to Narichi and Kakashi and left them with two dishes of rice and Soba noodles. Plus two hot teas. "I need this!" thought Narichi grabbing her food.
"Hey where'd Sasuke-kun go?" the girls asked loudly. He was on the other side of the Soba shop, quietly eating his food.
"You know I think it's easier to avoid toothpicks than it is people." Kakashi commented, as he watched the girls run straight for Sasuke.
Narichi looked pissed, "Well not in Konoha-Zakura No Sei." Suddenly Sakura and Ino stopped moving. They both looked down and saw they were over a trap door. "Ahh!" they screamed as they fell through.
Kakashi and Narichi looked embarrassed that they didn't seem to notice a single one of the million traps within the Soba shop. Narichi continued to eat her Soba, "You know I think it's only possible for a shinobi above the rank of Genin to enjoy lunch here."
"You're probably right." Kakashi said he then snapped his own chopsticks apart. He noticed that Sasuke was a lot closer to their table than earlier. He looked over and saw Sasuke turn his head away. "He wants me to take my mask off doesn't he." Kakashi thought proceeding to slip his mask off. Kakashi thought for a moment, "Hmm…now that I think about Narichi and a few other people are the only one who have seen me without my mask on."
He glanced back over to Sasuke who looked away again. "This will be fun," he thought. Narichi was happily enjoying her Soba when she saw Kakashi gesture to the placemat with the splinters in it. Narichi understood and took them out. She glanced over to an airshaft and threw four and hit the screws that held it against the wall. Kakashi then went for his mask.
Sasuke watched intensely and filled with curiosity. Suddenly Sakura and Ino fell from the airshaft and landed on each other. Surprised Sasuke found he was about to be mugged by his biggest fan girls. "Sasuke! It's great to see you again! Can I join you?" they asked jumping up and stepping over the other to get a step closer. Sasuke ignored then for they were headed straight for another trap.
When he looked back at Kakashi and Narichi they had already paid for their meals and were headed out the door. Narichi and Kakashi smiled at the aggravated Sasuke. Narichi pointed down gesturing that he look at his table.
Sasuke looked down and saw the words, "Well see ya later twerp! o and have a nice day! Narichi & Kakashi." He gritted his teeth and snapped his chopsticks in four. Then he continued to eat and ignored the two helpless girls dangling by their ankles above him.
"Baka!" the two girls muttered at each other.
Narichi laughed, "That was fun! I want to pick on Naruto-kun next!"
Kakashi smiled, "I think that's enough for one day, besides I doubt that Iruka would tolerate our behavior." Kakashi then realized, "Wow were acting like little kids again. This can't be good."
Narichi was surprised, "Iruka-kun? Why would Iruka-kun be around Naruto-kun?"
Kakashi looked at her, "Oh well Iruka and him are always together, besides the fact Iuka's always buying him Raman." (That's the only real place they hang out)
"Hmm…You know I haven't seen anyone of the other shinobi I've grown up with besides you Kashi-kun! Hey let's go meet them all!" Narichi said jumping with glee.
"Wow, you really are just like a kid today! I can't tell you apart from when you where six." He then muttered under his breath, "Well besides the fact you've grown in a certain area!"
"Well I can't help that I want to meet all of my old friends," Narichi pouted about being compared to her kid self.
Kakashi thought for a moment about all of Narichi's other friends and immediately decided that he didn't want to see Gai or the other again for a while. "Well how about this, we can meet one today and the rest later. It's getting late, and besides I think I know where Iruka is." Kakashi said patted her head.
"Kay!" she smiled. But then realizing she was acting like she did when she was six she pushed his hand away in embarrassment.
"Ok this way," Kakashi said leading Narichi to the Ichiraku Raman Shop.
Meanwhile…At the Ichiraku Raman Shop. "Two bowls of Miso Raman Please!" Naruto said to the old man behind the counter.
"Come' in right up!" said the old man.
"So Naruto how was your day?" Iruka asked.
Naruto grunted, "Well up until lately horrible! Kakashi-sensei made us do some stupid training exercise that sent me running through the forest looking for some stupid dog that was with him the whole time!"
Iruka laughed, "That's nothing. You shouldn't get so worked up about one little training session. Besides it's not like they won't help you in the future, unless you still aren't paying attention."
They received their orders and Naruto asked the old man, "Hey do you think I could have some duck in this? The old man just looked at him and laughed. Ignoring him he said, "Yeah well this past week we've done nothing but those stupid training sessions. They seem completely pointless. Kakashi-sensei says that they're for the missions we'll be doing in a week or so, but I think it has something to do with that stupid woman!" He then dug into his bowl.
"What woman?" Iruka asked surprised.
Naruto looked up from his dish and swallowed, "Oh, Kakashi-sensei's old girl friend or something showed up…like around a week or so ago."
"Girl friend? Kakashi's never had a girl friend?" Iruka said puzzled.
"Well anyways she's like a total Bit…" 'Smack!' "Oww!" Naruto cried not being able to finish his cursing.
"I'm not his GIRL FRIEND! DAMN IT!" Narichi said raising her fist to hit Naruto again.
"Narichi-san!" Iruka said practically jumping from his seat.
"Iruka-kun! It's so nice to see you again!" she said jumping on him.
Iruka blushed when she hugged him, "Wow! What it's been like nine years. You look great! (Notices figure) But you still haven't seemed to change a bit!"
Kakashi said, "See, you're acting more like you did back then."
"Shut up!" yelled Narichi. Then turning her attention back to her other friend, "Well Iruka-kun how's it going?"
"Fine, you?" Iruka smiled still unable to sit down from surprise.
"Well I'm doing great! I'm even a Jonin now!" Narichi smiled.
Kakashi was thinking the whole time, "Now how come he gets the warm welcome but I got your blood thirsty, prepare to die welcome?"
Naruto rubbed his head and opened his mouth, only to close it again when he noticed Narichi's fist hovering over his head.
"Wow that's great, I'm still just a Chunin, but I'm not really surprised that you became a Jonin. You were like top rookie of the year," he then finally was able to sit back down again.
"Well that's probably because of all the training Kashi-kun gave me before I joined the academy!" Narichi said thinking back to all the fun times they had together.
"Kashi-kun? Boy I haven't heard that nickname in a while," he laughed glancing at Kakashi who was a little embarrassed but expressed it with irritation.
"Well its getting kind of late so I guess I'll be heading back now!" Narichi smiled, and then glared at Naruto. Scared he looked away and continued to silently eat his Raman.
"Well are you going to be around for a while, or are you just visiting shortly?" Iruka asked.
"Oh, I'll be around for a few more weeks. I'm on vacation right now, so I'm trying to make the most of it." Narichi smiled, "Well I guess I'll see you around!"
"OK then I'll see you around," Iruka said. Narichi waved good-bye as she pushed the curtains that covered the entrance to the Raman Shop. Kakashi followed but before he stepped outside of the shop he turned back around and glared at Iruka with his only uncovered eye, in a very angry manner.
Kakashi stared at him and said, "Watch your back." Then he smiled and said "Okay!" Iruka flinched when Kakashi said these words and then cautiously watched Kakashi leave shop and followed Narichi out.
"What! Did he just!" Iruka asked himself puzzled. Then he sensed something happening behind him and turned around.
"Umm…Yeah I'll have two more bowls of Miso Raman," Naruto said to the old man.
"Sure coming right up!" the old man smiled.
Iruka jumped up and hit Naruto over the head, "What the hell do you think you're doing! I'm the one who's paying remember!"
Naruto held his head to comfort the pain, "Well since you were so hung up on Narichi I figured I could order you and me another one."
"I was not hung up on Narichi-san! And what do you mean another bowl we haven't finished the first ones."
Naruto pointed over to their bowls. Iruka saw that they were both empty and one laid on its side, "Naruto did you eat them both!" He then saw Naruto point to the ground and Iruka saw that about one serving of Raman covered the floor. He then realized he pushed it off when he saw Narichi.
Naruto smiled when he saw the old man bring their Raman over. Iruka sat down in embarrassment. They started to eat when an evil idea crossed Naruto's mind as well as a devilish smile.
"Hey Iruka-sensei! Can I get another bowl of Raman after this one?" Naruto asked with a plot in mind.
Iruka swallowed some noodles, "No you've eaten enough for today, and you should listen to Kakashi-sensei and eat more vegetables, and other HEATHLY foods."
Naruto's devilish smile grew, "I'll use Sexy no Jutsu…with Narichi's body."
Iruka froze and held in as best he could the nose bleed which slowly began to trickle down his nose. Then he yelled, "DAMN IT NARUTO WHY WON'T YOU GROW UP ALREADY! YOU ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO USE OTHER PEOPLE'S FIGURES FOR YOUR OWN NEEDS. IN FACT YOU SHOULD NEVER USE THAT DISGRACEFUL JUTSU AGAIN!"
Naruto smiled, "You just said 'should'."
Iruka was in an embarrassment/rage state. Attempting to ignore Naruto he continued to eat his Raman.
Kakashi walked Narichi back to Mikasa's inn and left just in time to escape Kuniko's obsessive behavior. Narichi walked through the inn thinking about various things. Kuniko walked up to her from behind and mumbled, "Umm…Narichi-san. I was wondering when you said you weren't dating Kakashi-kun. Does that mean you weren't this morning or that you weren't planning to? I need details about your so called training this morning."
Narichi nervously turned around thinking, "Shit, did she follow us all day. I hope she doesn't think the wrong thing." Narichi turned and saw Kuniko crying. She was kneeling on the floor and looking up at Narichi for answers.
"Please, tell me that you two aren't…" Kuniko mumbled.
Narichi kneeled down besides her and hugged Kuniko to comfort her. "I'm sorry, whatever you saw today was just you're insanity getting the best of you. There's never been more than an old friendship between us. We grew up together and made promises we couldn't keep and stuff, but that's all we've ever been."
Kuniko looked up at Narichi, "You sound as if you're speaking in past tense…Do you really mean what you say, or do you just think you do?"
Narichi was caught by surprise from Kuniko's comment. She stared frozen into Kuniko's eyes which were cold and in pain from a broking trust. "So do you really?" Kuniko cried.
"I'm, I…I'm sure." Narichi said very wearily, and her tone was broken.
Kuniko stood up and wiped away her tears, "I'm really not sure how much I can trust your word now."
Kuniko started to leave, "Wait!" Narichi grabbed Kuniko's arm and she was staring at the ground, "I'm sorry but it's really not what you think, but yes. It's very impossible for me…to have feelings…for Kakashi-kun."
Kuniko flung her arm away and cried, "Do you really mean that!"
Narichi started at the floor, "Yes."
Kuniko watched Narichi look up from the floor. Kuniko began to stare into her eyes. Narichi's eyes showed only pain and suffering for many years. The building up of an unforgotten past that she has never been able to overcome. But only lives for that day, when she will overcome the impossible.
Kuniko wiped away a late tear that started to move across her cheek. She then smiled playfully, "Your eyes…they say otherwise. Well, goodnight…Narichi-san." Kuniko left Narichi in the center of the small, quiet room.
Narichi just sat there thinking to herself. "Am I really that afraid of them? I ran away to prevent them from controlling my life, but it looks like…through fear…they've found a way." Narichi laughed "That's just like…them." Narichi continued to ponder to herself as she stood up and slowly wandered over to her room. Only to cry tears that would never leave her eyes.
The next day Narichi got up early to wander around by herself for a day. She woke up around 4 o'clock to finish all of the chores she could think of from the day before that needed doing. So by 7 o'clock she was cheerfully walking around the empty streets.
The air was fresh and this was to be her day to explore Konoha freely by herself. Ahh…freedom the only one thing, that everyone needs when you've got too much on your mind. Perfect for vacationing. The only thing that prevented her from having an even better time was the fact that you can't do much without a penny in your pocket.
Narichi drooled over the smells of fresh food being let out into the young air, "Oh if only I could have some of those, and those…" Narichi wandered from store to store admiring the trinkets and foods that lured her in. But since she again forgot to make breakfast for herself, she dreaded the fact she didn't bother to steal spending money while at Kakashi's apartment.
She continued to wander around until she found herself in front of a rather large casino. "Don't go in. Don't go in! Don't go in!" Narichi found herself screaming inside. She had heard stories from Jiraiya about Tsunade and how she's a horrible gambler. And also about that, taboo the booze, sex, and money. It was something along those lines but anyway, for Narichi, ever since she was a kid, she's looked at casinos as a 'place of interest'.
Narichi slowly tried to inch herself away from the bright lights and sparkly looking signs that instantly held all of her attention and freewill with its small form of simple old man type games of chance. "I really shouldn't go in, after all of those stories. I could maybe…just look around real fast. Hey! It's not like I have money or anything. They can't do anything to you if you haven't got the money right?" thought Narichi slowly moving closer to the store filled with the aromas of smoke, sake, and MONEY! (What more could interest a person, if anything they start young with all the lights and stuff)
Narichi made her way to the window of the casino. It was called 'Tanuki's Greed'. Narichi saw it and thought, "I'm guessing not many people win here. Hmmm, let's have a look see." She peered into the dark windows of the casino to see if it was filled with drunks or more civilized human beings.
"Half and half," muttered Narichi seeing that the drunks stayed at the bar while the slightly more civilized men stayed at the tables and slots. Someone walked out of the casino and looked at Narichi peering in.
"Can I help you Miss?" asked the man. Narichi turned to see who was muttering gibberish, for her hearing seemed to have been warped by the attention grabbing building before her. The blond haired kid looked in his early 20's. He wore what she believed to be their uniform. It was just a standard red jacket and neat black pants. Bow tie and white under shirt.
"Oh, umm…sorry I was just taking a peek inside," Narichi said stumbling away in shame.
The man looked at her with a confused look, "You can come in and try something. It's pretty fun!" He smiled trying to persuade her into entering.
"But I don't have any money," Narichi said in doom.
"So you really do want to come in," he smiled. He looked at Narichi again and examined her. "You're over 21 right?" he asked with an idea in mind.
Narichi looked insecure and a little pissed, "Yes, barely but yes." She was thinking, "How dare he! The nerve of this guy! Well I guess I'm a tad bit immature for my age, but with a body like this! He's nuts!"
"Ok! You can try a few games. We can give you a loan, were…kind of part of a bank. So you can take money out and play a few games. But I warn you don't spend too much." He smiled.
Narichi was filled with hope, "Really! I've always wanted to try gambling!" Her eyes were all and big sparkly. Narichi didn't seem to have enough sense to figure what was wrong with want she just said, 'I've always wanted to try gambling!'
The guy just could stop smiling, "Ok then. Just come with me. Oh by the way my name is Takeda, I can help you out with anything you need."
Narichi happily said, "Oh, thank you Takeda-kun." Takeda showed Narichi inside. Narichi looked around and headed straight for the slots, card table, and dice games. Takeda grabbed her arm and pointed over to the money exchange counter.
"You can't spend what you don't have. Now I'm going to monitor how much exactly you spend. I'll calculate your winnings and your losses." Takeda said walking her over to the counter.
Narichi followed in dumbfounded silence. Takeda said a few words to the clerk at the desk. The clerk looked at Narichi and smiled. Narichi had the uncanny feeling that something was very wrong with their kindness. "Ok so how much do you want to spend?" Takeda asked.
Narichi thought for a second, "Well this is my first time so…"
Narichi was cut off by Takeda, "Oh that's right! First timers should always spend a ridiculous amount! With all that first timers luck! So how about, oh 1,000,000 yen, doesn't that sound good to you?"
Narichi blinked, "But that's like way too much! (If estimated about 900,000 dollars) I seriously don't have that money. What if I lose! How would I pay you back?"
Takeda just laughed it off, "You don't have to worry about that kind of thing now. Here just take these chips and try some games out. You'll have so much fun, it won't matter how much you win or lose it's a bargain. Besides I can tell you've got luck swirling all around you waiting to come out."
Narichi thought about her life for a moment. There was this one time when she was little. Kakashi and she would play Janken matches (rock, paper scissors). Even if they played 100 matches Narichi would always lose. Except for that one time...
Flashback
A young Kakashi and Narichi were standing in the training grounds of Konoha. "Let's play Janken, whoever wins gets to choose who will be it for tag. Ok?" Kakashi smiled at Narichi. (It's Tag! With kunai knifes! If you get stabbed it's because you were careless. Just kidding)
Narichi smiled, "Alright! But I'll win for sure this time!"
Kakashi patted her on the head, "Sure you will. Let's say we do it two out of three. But instead the only way I win is if I win all three, so you only have to win one of the three tries. Sound good?"
Narichi said, "Umm ok, but why don't we just play like we normally do? This way you're just being nice to me."
Kakashi smiled at her again, "Yeah but everyone could use a couple of extra tries every now and then. Ok ready?"
"Yeah!" Narichi cheered jumping in the air.
Kakashi and Narichi hid their hands from each other's view, "Ok, one, two, three Janken!"
Narichi and Kakashi pulled out their hand when sudden Narichi slipped and fell to the ground. Kakashi stared at her as she hit the ground, he held out his fist as 'rock' and saw Narichi's even though her face was smashed into the ground, she held her fist above her head which turned out to be 'rock' as well.
Kakashi helped Narichi up and laughed. "What is it Kashi-kun?" she asked rubbing the dirt off her face and her clothes.
"Well this is the first time you've ever tied with me. And you just happened to do it in a really clumsy way." He smiled and patted her head. She was smiling too, "Ok, well we still have three more tries to go."
"Janken!" they yelled and pulled out their hands. Kakashi had 'paper' and Narichi actually had 'scissors'. Narichi stared at her fist in amazement. "I did!" she cheered jumping up and down. Kakashi smiled and Narichi jumped on Kakashi's back. Narichi looked down at Kakashi and said, "You're it! Okay?"
"Ok," Kakashi smiled as he carried her off to play tag.
End Flashback
Narichi looked over to Takeda suspiciously, he smiled back at her as if he was reassuring her that everything would be ok. "Uh, I guess so…" she mumbled, "But so far it's always been nearly impossible for me to be able to win anything."
Takeda's smiled grew (If that's possible), "That doesn't matter! It only means you're more likely to win."
"Ok," Narichi said then she skipped over to the card tables and noisy slot machines.
The manager walked over to Takeda, "Hey! Takeda good job. Looks like you really know how to persuade the suckers. Boy am I glad I hired you."
"Yeah I know, well I better monitor her losses," he smiled.
The manager looked surprised, "Wait you don't mean to…" He was answered be a nod from Takeda. "Well I'm sure with her looks we can roll in even more customers than usual," he laughed.
It didn't take more than 10 minutes for Narichi to lose every single chip given to her by Takeda. "Oh, boy I guess I really suck at this, huh?" Narichi mumbled.
"Worse than I could have ever imagined," thought Takada. "Well that wasn't so bad, 100 games 100 losses. It may not come out as good, but for a first timer you got in 100 games in 10 minutes." Takeda smiled.
Narichi drooped in her growing negative karma, "Ok, I think I'll be going now. Bye!" Narichi waved.
She bumped into a very familiar outfit that she hadn't planned on ever wearing. Takeda said SMILING, "Now because you failed to even win our money back, we need you to work here until you have paid out your loan entirely."
"What! But you said I didn't have to worry about that!" Narichi fell back as the red uniform came closer.
"I said that back then, now is when you have to worry about it. Anyways there's a restroom over there. Go change and then you can start serving drinks and dealing cards and stuff. If you want you can fork over any tips you receive from the customers that will save you some time, but you only get paid about 75,000 yen an hour. So you'll probably work from now about 10:30 till 10:30 at night." He smiled as Narichi unwilling took the tiny uniform and slid away with a black cloud hovering over her head.
"This sucks!" Narichi thought looking at herself in the mirror. She hated the tight outfit which for some reason was in her size. Unlike Takeda's uniform, Narichi couldn't stand the differences between the two. Narichi's uniform was a tight white blouse with all of those little flurry things at the collar and the folded cuffs at the end of the sleeves. It had a small red vest which reminded you of the medieval times in Europe, the things that nobody could breathe in! Then last but not least, a black mini skirt. "Do they really want me to wear this. It's not very work friendly unless…" Narichi thought back to all of the smiles she received on her way into this mess. "No way! Those damn perverts! They can't be meaning to use me. They must have planned this from the start. I'll get Takeda back no matter what it takes!" Narichi vowed. Then after receiving looks from women inside the restroom she slowly moved outside.
"Oh! Narichi-san come over here!" called Takeda.
Narichi's eyes began to turn yellow as some drunks started cheering her on. "I'll kill them all!" she thought, "Later when I'm off duty."
"Okay! Let's start you off for a few hours at the bar. Now remember tips can really help you out." He smiled handing her a tray and notebook/w pen.
Narichi swiped it and left towards the drunks. "I'll be finished with these bozos in no time! I'll make them give me tips!" Narichi started taking orders and about 10 threats of, "Don't even think about pinching my ass!" and "Spill your drink on purpose again and you'll be in a whole lot of pain!" she had made about 350,000 yen within three hours. From fancy tricks that seemed to reel in men who wanted a show from the outside.
She stuck to cards and seemed to win enough money for the casino. That after she played about 10 games of poker with all high rollers and won! They decided to let her go.
Once she came out of the restroom in her normal clothes Takeda rushed up to her. "Hey Narichi-san! Here take this." He said handing her some hand full of cash.
"Huh? Hell no! I'm not taking out another loan! Forget it I'm gone!" she stamped towards the door.
"No listen you don't have to gamble it away. You earned this. From that last game when you wiped those guys clean. The boss and I agreed that you should get some of it. You the most interesting person to have ever been so bad a one end of the table but amazing at the other. So here it's about 10,000. Not much but I know you don't have anything," smiled Takeda.
Narichi stopped rushing away and accepted the money, "Thank you." She looked at Takeda again and said, "You know you make too much of a convincing salesman."
"I know." Takeda laughed.
Narichi waved good-bye. But instead snagged her hair on a lever to one of the slot machines. "Oww! Hey help me get this off!" she cried.
Takeda looked at the machine, "It won't come lose. If you want to pay about 100 yen to play this machine it might come loose."
Narichi sighed, "Fine!" She popped in a 100 yen coin and pulled the lever releasing its grip on her hair. "Ok well see ya later!" Narichi waved good-bye figuring the machine would just eat her money.
Takeda ran up to Narichi and gave her a 100 yen coin, "Here."
"I don't need any more charity," Narichi pushed away the hand.
"No you won you money back it was a draw," Takeda smiled.
Narichi froze, thinking back to that past moment she said, "Let me see it!" Narichi ran up to the machine and sure enough there were three of the little things in a row. None of the important ones but she got a draw. "What's the best game with the most amount of money to win!" Narichi demanded.
Takeda pointed to the back of the building. "That would be that big, shiny wheel over there. Hey wait you're not planning to blow your money again!"
Narichi smiled, "I just want to test my luck!" She headed over to the back end and sat herself down in front of the wheel. "Ok I put all this money on that times 1,000 thingy!" Narichi smiled and slapped the hand full down.
The men at the table looked at her and laughed. Narichi just kept smiling she still had the 100 coin in her pocket but all was good. The woman at the wheel spun it and around and around.
"I'm sorry Miss. You've lost. But since you placed a bet on the 1,000 one. You can try again one more time." The woman was about to spin again.
"Wait could you add this coin to that pile?" Narichi smiled the woman placed it in with her other money. The wheel was then spun around again and Narichi won. 10,000,000 yen! Narichi then left the casino and headed back over to the shops she pasted earlier that morning. Takeda was left stunned by her string of luck while his manager scolded him for bringing her in there.
"He, he, got you back Takeda-kun," Narichi said looking through the window as Takeda's manager sent him off to do degrading work. "Thank you Kakashi-kun," Narichi thought to herself, "Now I can spend my own hard yearned money, on…FOOD! Narichi quickly rush over to all of the food stands and ate herself sick. She was so happy.
Meanwhile Sakura was walking around shopping with her mother. She was admiring the little shops while her mother bought food and supplies. Sakura looked up from a love magazine and saw Narichi wandering around from store to store buying a few things at every other one.
"Hey, that's Narichi-san. Why isn't she with Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura trailed her with her eyes. She looked over at her mother hidden behind bags of food and things. "Hey mom I'm going to go on my own for a while. I'll see you back at the house."
Her mother yelled behind the mountain of brown paper bags, "No Sakura-chan! Get back here and help your mother with these bags!"
"I'll see you later mom!" Sakura yelled rushing off to catch Narichi. Narichi was carrying a small bag with whatever you wanted to guess was in there. Sakura seemed puzzled about Narichi, she always seemed to have a question for her that she could never bring out to ask.
Sakura stayed behind Narichi following her. She stayed about 20 steps behind. Narichi didn't seem to do much out of the ordinary. Just every snack shop she stopped at she bought food and munched on it as she went to more stores.
Narichi finally reached the end of the market place. She walked down a long old dirt path slowly moving closer and closer towards the center of town. Sakura sneaked around hiding behind every random thing like how Konohamaru follows Naruto.
"Why am I doing this! It's almost like I'm following her around. I usually do this to Sasuke, but now it feels more like…stalking?" Sakura began to confuse herself with her previous obsessive thoughts for Sasuke. She hid behind a trash bin and suddenly noticed Narichi stop. The wind picked up dirt on the road as well as her hair, which blew parallel to the ground. As the dirt rose and turned to dust in the air Narichi turned around and faced Sakura's trash bin.
Narichi was munching on an Okinawa Dango that was half way in her mouth. She stared almost mesmerized by the placement of trash can. Slowly Sakura heard her footstep kick up dirt. They came closer and closer. Sakura was frozen in fear of being caught.
Narichi swallowed the last of her Dango and raised her hand over the trash can. Sakura flinched. Narichi then dropped a crumpled up bag into the trash can then turned back around and headed towards the setting sun.
Sakura sighed with relief, "Good she hasn't found me. Wait! Why am I doing this again? What's with me today?" She mumbled slowly making her way in the same direction as Narichi.
It was still somewhat early afternoon. Narichi headed further and further west into the Konoha village. Sakura noticed they were in the more poor part of Konoha. Children slept in the streets and begged for food and money. Sakura began to feel rather depressed and thought, "Why is Narichi-san coming here? There aren't really many good people or things in this area."
Sakura watched as children gathered around Narichi holding out their hands for anything that might make their lives the slightest bit easier. Narichi smiled and gave them all large hand fills of money and bags of different treats that she collected while shopping, "Take care of each other now."
They all lit of with hope and hugged her saying, "Thank you!" then they ran off to their mothers.
Sakura thought, "Wow Narichi-san so caring." A young girl then tugged at her dress.
Sakura turned around and handed her some candy. The little girl smiled and said, "Thank you," then raced off after the others.
Sakura turned around and saw Narichi make her way further away from Konoha's main district. "Where is she going?" thought Sakura.
Narichi walked into the trees and Sakura followed. She found herself in a clearing and there was a large boulder and what looked like an old burned down building. There wasn't much of the frame left standing, but there were scorched ruins that lay shattered along the ground. Narichi went on the other side of the ruins near the boulder. She kneeled down at what appeared to be a shrine.
Sakura then hid herself behind the boulder. Narichi finished praying and stood up and leaned against the boulder, "You can come out now Sakura-chan. You must have a lot on your mind to have followed me this far."
Sakura surprised slowly stepped out into the open and glanced at the shrine only a few feet away from her. "Umm I'm sorry for troubling you. I just…umm, well was kind of wondering…if?"
"What can I help you with?" Narichi asked smiling.
Sakura looked up at Narichi, "Well…do you think you could maybe train me a bit?"
Narichi was surprised, "Huh? What! Why do you want me to train you?"
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Tanuki- Raccoon/Badger creature; known for slyness
Okinawa Dango- A really, really tasty Japanese donut thing. It's like a plain cake donut but tons better!
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Oni-Onigiri Here!
Well I'm happy to tell you a little bit about the next chapter, 'More of Narichi's past revealed!' What does the nosey Sakura really plan to do when Narichi agrees to train her for a day? And why are some Anbu who are returning from their mission in a barely living state? And why does this news cause Narichi to tremble with fear and anger? Find out next time! Please Review Me!
Well Oni-Onigiri Out! o