Chapter 25: Cultivation
"Are we there yet?" Naruto whined as he nearly tripped over another tree root.
"Will you stop asking that?!" Sakura snapped. "You have eyes; does it look like we're there?"
Naruto stuck his nose into the breeze and grumbled as he took her advice. Everywhere, to the left, to the right, straight ahead and behind, the terrain flourished with trees, and not the trees he was used to. Unlike the gnarled, gangly trees that inhabited Konoha, these trees shot straight out of the earth like geysers. The branches lowest to the ground were still six or seven feet above Naruto's head. He didn't like them; their leaves were like pins and stabbed his rear every time he sat down, and after two nights in the woods, he didn't know if he would ever sit properly again. At least, they smelled nice and that seemed to make Sakura happy. She carried a bucket of smiles around with her that made Naruto forget about his butt pain. Even when she yelled at him it was more a gentle scolding than her usual tyrannical wailing.
The road to the Hidden Cloud switched between dirt and stone and was well traveled. The tree of them rarely went two seconds with out someone coming down the opposite way.
Naruto grumbled and glared as they passed another guy who stole a look at Sakura.
"How much longer do you think we have?" He asked.
"Maybe a day or so." Sakura put a finger over her lips as she thought.
Sasuke took a turn glaring down the next perv who walked by.
"Sasuke."
He jumped, startled.
"Huh? What?" He grumbled, regaining his composure. He looked to the side to see Sakura eying him suspiciously.
"Are you okay, Sasuke?" Sakura asked her voice full of concern. "You've been awfully antsy…"
"Maybe he's just got a bunch of pine needles down his pants." Naruto smirked.
Sasuke repressed the urge to pummel his friend. In truth, he had been feeling a little jumpy, like there was something he had to do, but couldn't remember what. He rubbed the back of his neck to calm the hairs standing on end.
"I'm fine." He lied. Telling them wouldn't make the feeling go away. Naruto bought the lie, Sakura didn't; Sasuke could see it in her glowering eyes, but she didn't pry.
"Anyway," She began again, "I was wondering how much money we have. I know your job didn't pay very well, but it covered the apartment with some left over, right?"
Sasuke thought for a moment.
"We have some cash, but not enough to get an apartment."
"Awww…." Naruto pouted. "No ramen then…"
"Don't you ever think about anything else?" Sasuke moaned.
"Of course, I do." Naruto retorted. "What the hell is that suppose to mean?!"
"I wasn't implying anything." Sasuke mumbled nonchalantly.
"Why you…!" Naruto shook his fist at his friend.
"Can't you two stop bickering for five minutes?" Sakura sighed. "You're disturbing the trees."
Sasuke and Naruto gave her blank stares.
"Wha…?"
"The trees here are very happy, but your arguing upsets them."
Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other.
"I think she's gone mental." Naruto whispered and Sasuke nodded.
"I heard that!"
They continued down the road as it became steeper and, to Sakura's dismay, the trees began to thin out.
"I'm tired…" Naruto groaned as he stared up into the bright sky. "It feels like we've been walking all day…"
"We have." Sakura informed him as she jumped over a stray rock. "I'd say it's about 7 o'clock right now. But it's hard to tell with it so bright out; we'll have to buy a watch or something in the next town."
"That, and some longer shorts for you." Sasuke muttered as he glared down another passing perv.
The sun had begun to set by the time they reached the next village. The small windows of log cabins lit up as the sun spread a rainbow over the sky like butter. Even at a distance, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura could hear people singing loudly and the clink of glasses toasting each other. The noise of the town only grew louder as they approached it and when they finally hopped off the dirt and onto the paved road, the din was almost unbearable. Everyone laughed and sang as if they had no care in the world.
"Where the hell is this?" Naruto grumbled. His legs hurt from walking and he wanted to sleep.
Sakura dodged a drunken man who stumbled out of a bar on their left and opened up the map.
"Suiyo-Kame." She replied. "It's the last town before the Hidden Cloud Village. We're only about three or four miles from it."
"This is a traveler's town." Sasuke muttered. "Shipments from the ports at Sorano are delivered here, where they bought for the citizens of the Hidden Cloud. All the transactions take place in this village."
His two comrades shot questionable looks at him.
"How can you tell?" Sakura asked.
"The bar I worked in was a hangout for deliverymen. A lot of them travel this route for a living, hauling things back and forth."
"That's interesting." Sakura exclaimed.
"Not really. It's just useless information."
"Maybe this is what you were 'supposed to find.'" Naruto chuckled. Sasuke gave him an impatient glare.
"What else did you find out about these trade routes?" Sakura asked.
"Well, there are two main trade channels; the one and one that goes to the west. The west path, it's called the Ousen Ribbon, which leaves the Hidden Cloud's westernmost side and runs across Sound Territory and Waterfall Territory, all the way to the Hidden Rock Village. Why do you want to know so badly?"
"I dunno. It may come in handy…" Sakura smiled. "Do you know of a good route to Zosho?"
"I only learned about trade patterns." Sasuke shrugged. "And Zosho doesn't fall under a direct trade route that I know of."
Sakura nodded in acknowledgement. Naruto's stomach grumbled loud enough for them to hear it over the racket of the town. He groaned and hunched over his hollow stomach.
"Sorry, Naruto." Sakura grinned spitefully as they passed a lively Karaoke bar. "We need to save our cash to get a place to stay."
"But I'm too tired to hunt for something…"
"I'm sorry," She patted his head, "but there's nothing we can do."
Sasuke took a quick glance behind them and smirked.
"Maybe not."
-
The Karaoke bar shook as the contestants for the Daily Sing-A-Thon wailed, brutally butchering lyrics to cheesy love ballads. From a small table in the back of the room, Naruto cringed.
"I hate you." Sakura hissed as she pinned a #12 button to her halter top. "I hate both of you."
"You should consider yourself lucky." Sasuke muttered. "They only accept twelve entries per contest. We got here just in time."
"Yata!" Naruto cheered. "We get to eat out!"
Sakura sulked.
"Don't worry, Sakura-chan!" Naruto grinned. "You'll win this thing easy!"
Sakura just glared at him.
"I think I'd rather starve."
"Next up, Number 10! Azutarou!"
The place roared with laughter as a large, burly man covered in tattoos stepped onto the stage and began to screech like a dying animal.
"It's really not going to be hard for you to beat these people, Sakura." Sasuke reassured her. "Unless the point is to get the lowest score possible."
The score rang up for contestant ten: 39. The rowdy crowd cheered for him as he drunkenly stumbled off the stage.
"Wow, that's really high for someone who sucks so much." Naruto dug into his ear with his pinky. "This is going to be a clean sweep. Ramen-sama, here we come!"
"Next is, Number 11! The reigning champion of this competition! Madoka-chan!"
The bar went wild with hoots and cheers as a girl not much older than themselves walked confidently up to the microphone. Her light blonde hair cascaded like the sea over thin shoulders. Her build was strong and the white, thigh-length white dress accented her curves perfectly. Sakura's intimidation turned to jealousy as she watched Naruto and Sasuke gawk at Madoka. She pouted and glared at the newcomer, who opened sparkling, pale blue eyes and began to sing.
Within seconds, Sakura's jealousy evaporated and replaced by a great sadness. Madoka's song spoke of unrequited love and betrayal; her voice floated in the air so smoothly, it took her to another place altogether. Sakura's heart bled for this person she didn't know as if they had been friends since birth and was reminded of her own unrequited love not so long ago. Sakura turned to look at Sasuke, who also seemed mesmerized by the singer, and sighed wistfully. She'd almost forgotten the feeling of loving someone who could care less. The song ended like a whisper and was greeted by the yelling and screaming of her adoring fans.
"Uwaaaah!" Naruto laid his chin on the table as the score board lit up: 90. "Sakura-chan, how can you beat that? It was incredible!"
Sakura slapped him on the head.
"Ow!"
"I have to win, right? Don't you want to eat?" Without waiting for an answer Sakura skipped off to the stage.
She passed Madoka on her way up. A tense moment floated between them, and then the two went on their way.
"And last, but defiantly not least, Number 12! Akane!"
Sakura jumped up tree stairs and took the microphone. She gritted her teeth against the memory of Madoka's song. Screw unrequited love. She'd conquered it once; she didn't need some blonde-haired retard bringing all that pain back inside her. She had people to love now, who loved her back. Her past didn't matter anymore, but for a good laugh with those she cared about.
"Go Sakura-chan!" Naruto cheered from the back.
"Dumbass." Sasuke muttered. "She's going by 'Akane.'"
"Erk." Naruto looked up at the stage.
A dull murmur rippled through the crowd as Sakura stood on the stage. Naruto didn't care if what they said was positive or negative; he thought Sakura looked radiant. Her hair was mussed and she was covered in dirt; a scab in comparison to the clean-cut Madoka. Her shorts had patches of mud and blood, her white mesh top was no longer white, but Sakura still shone like a star. Her face was prettier than Madoka's, her skin more radiant, her smile more pure, and underneath this all, Naruto saw the person who woke up next to him everyday, who lovingly slapped a bandage over his wounds and who made him breakfast that very morning. Naruto blushed and became entranced even before she began to sing.
Sakura took a deep breath and let all her feelings out. Her guilty joy that, while her parents were dead and her friends at home were crying over her, she was having the time of her life. Loneliness had become thing of the past. The empty, gaping chasm left by the death of her parents evaporated when she was around her best friends; they were her family now. She took all of these emotions and pressed them into lyrics.
She opened her eyes as the song finished. A shocked silence fell over the establishment, then, starting with Naruto in the back, a deafening cheer washed over the crowd like a wave. Sakura winced at the sound, not sure whether to be happy at her success or sad at her cracking ear drums. The score machine behind her beeped three times as it calibrated.
Beep
Beep
Beep
…
92.
-
Naruto cheered as they left the bar, his adrenaline pumping, a bucket of cash nesting in Sakura's arms.
"That was so cool, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura laughed in embarrassment.
"Do that everyday and we'll never go hungry again!"
"Stupid. Sasuke sneered. "We're not staying here. Tomorrow, we're heading over to the Hidden Cloud Village, finding Kouji, and then we're headed south to Zosho."
Naruto grumbled and sulked.
They picked up dango from a street vendor and found a youth hostile to stay at. Sasuke and Naruto split off from Sakura as they headed toward the boy's dorm. They chose a bunk among the already sleeping customers and Sasuke's neck prickled again. He had the lurking feeling like something was squeezing around his neck.
Maybe a bath will help… He thought.
"C'mon Naruto." He dragged his friend away from his bed.
"Why…?" Naruto groaned.
"Because you reek."
Naruto sighed and followed him out. The bath was relatively empty, only three other people managed to come out this time of night.
"Ahhh…" Naruto sighed as he sank into the hot water. "This is nice."
Sasuke waited through the pool, his muscles flexed uneasily. He was ready, but for what he didn't know.
Even as they got out and went to retrieve their clothes from the community wash-dryer, Sasuke's nerves still hadn't calmed down. He put a hand to his forehead and sighed.
Maybe I should ask Sakura about this…
Just then he heard the door to the laundry room open and feet shuffled across the tile. Sasuke passively looked up to see a young boy, between the ages of 12 and 13 staring back at him. Their eyes met. The boy's grew wide with fear. He stumbled backward through the door, and his footsteps echoed through the hall as he fled. Sasuke stared blankly at the door, swinging freely back and forth.
"What the hell was that about?" Naruto wondered. He checked behind them to make sure the kid wasn't shock by something there.
Sasuke turned to Naruto.
"My Sharingan's aren't on by mistake, are they?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Maybe you're just that ugly."
Sasuke ignored the opportunity to hit Naruto. They retrieved their clothes, redressed and walked back to their bunk.
-
The young boy stumbled across the barren, dark streets of the Hidden Cloud Village, sweat beading down his face. He dashed by stores and shops, turning into an alley where he dodged a dumpster and was rudely yanked out of his pace by a hand grabbing his collar. The attacker slammed him against a wooden wall and held a long kunai sharply to his neck.
"What's a little shit like you doing here this time of night?" A growling voice echoed from the darkness.
"Stop it, Mitsurugi-taichou! It's me!"
"Eh? Oi, Tsubara! Hold up that lamp for me!"
The boy squinted as a blinding light speared through the darkness.
"Holy crap!"
The boy felt himself being tossed to the ground. A burly teenager glared down at him, the shiny forehead protector gleaming off his forehead.
"Runt! What the hell are you doing here!? You're suppose to-"
"I have to see Kouji-sama!" The boy coughed as he picked himself off the ground.
"Eh? Wha-?"
"It's urgent!"
The teenager scooped the boy up in one arm.
"Fine! But he's going to have my head for this!" and dashed off.
"C'mon, Tsubara!"
They reached a pothole, guarded by two more teenagers, who both saluted the larger one. They jumped down into the sewer and moved silently through the vast tunnels until they came to a small, clean cavern. Twenty or so others, all between the ages of 10 and 17, dashed around the small, dark cave, going in and out via the connecting tunnels. The cavern ended at a desk and a tall chair, guarded by two more soldiers. Mitsurugi brought the boy up to the table and saluted the back of the chair.
"At ease." A voice echoed from the chair. Misturugi did as he was told. "What business?"
"It's Tarou. He says he has important news for you."
"Well, Tarou?" The voice responded.
"Kouji-sama," the boy panted. "that guy, that guy Ku-san was talking about, he's here!"
"… Go on."
"He's staying at the youth hostile in Suiyo-Kame!"
"…" The seated individual seemed to be thinking.
"Misturugi." He said suddenly. The large boy jumped.
"I want you to follow up on this, send Tsubara or Mihara. If he truly is that guy, do not engage; report back to me immediately."
"Yes, Kouji-sama." Mitsurugi saluted again and began to bark orders at various individuals.
"As for you, Tarou," the seated speaker said, "What about your mission?"
"I… I.." the boy stuttered. He looked away and blushed. "I haven't found anything yet."
"Very well, resume your mission. Don't worry about this intruder, I'll deal with him."
Author's Note: Oooo... suspenceful! Can you handle it!? Oh, btw dango are japanese sweets; they're quite good. :) As always, I'd like to thank the readers! I love you guys! and I apologize for all the typos! If I had the time, I'd get a beta reader, but I don't. >. .
Where is Kakashi!?: I've been getting this question a lot, and well, if I told you, that wouldn't be very much fun, now would it? ;) I can assure you that he isn't doing nothing that's for sure!
Last Chapter's Battle: Yes! I know it was lame! but there's not much else it could be at this point: Naruto just doesn't knowhow to use a swordwell enough to make the fight cool yet! Learning is a process and I can tell you, he won't stay lame forever... but that's all I'm going to tell you! It wuld be really lame if I made him insantly genius, which rarely ever happens.
Next Chapter:Sasuke's conflict!Just who the hell is this Kouji guy!?