Alo every body! It is I the lost one who has returned to tell the story… Gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen… I'm saying it as an apology for taking so long. Gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen… Okay…. Gomen… okay…. Now I'm over and so will you since I just finished the story! Yay! I made it a bit longer so that you could have a little bit of a better story.
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine… He's Sasuke's…. ;P
Chapter 2 "Market time"
In the back of the stone building that was the home to our hero was a grove and great trees that lined the yard to give the illusion of a small yard, but just beyond that natural fence was a brook followed by a small storing shed. Degradingly, the women of this certain household despised the very presence of the blonde but had to tolerate it if they would remain with their comfortable life style. The old hag did indeed give him his own little tower on the most deserted and ugliest wing of the house. But, even though Naruto was so far away from them, he could still hear them screaming his name in the middle of the night with obscene suggestions that they expected him to actually do. One time Sakura had a craving for fish in the middle of the night and forced Naruto to actually get up, go to the river, catch a fish, clean it, cook it and serve her in the freakin middle of the night! He was always peeved about that little episode she pulled on him. How the heck was she getting craving in the middle of the night when she wasn't even pregnant? With that thought, he prayed to god to help make sure that he wasn't around when she was, because that was the scariest thing imaginable to him. He preferred his time at the shed because at least he had to make Sakura walk all the way out and across the river if she needed something so bad. She usually didn't because she doesn't want to put in the effort to walk 'all' that way.
But at this time, we find our poor hero in the yard after his morning chores. Oh how the days dragged on not to different from this one. Waking up five in the morning to cook that women's food and to do simple morning chores. They all refused to do one ounce of work in this place. Oh, woe was our little hero.
'Stupid Tsunade-baba' Naruto thought foggily as he lay exhausted by next to the wood chopping stump. Sweat dripped down the side of his face as he tried to ignore the upcoming second head ache of his day. Attempting to move an inch was harder than it has ever been in his life. After five minutes flew by, Naruto tried once more to move his body.
'My arms feel like jelly' at his second attempt to move his arms an inch off the ground only to drop them again against the cool dirt beneath him. Un-wanting to move for the rest of his life, Naruto just relaxed and thought about nothing. Keeping his thoughts far away from the throbbing feeling from his hands. Not only were they wrinkled but now they had blisters, one blister for every finger trailing all the way down the lining of his palm.
Letting the wind wisp through his hair, Naruto just relaxed for the first time in what seemed like his whole lifetime. Completely exhausted and, yet, somehow he felt like he was finally at peace. The shade of a nearby tree creped over him while the sun decided to change its position while Naruto was slipping between sleep and contentment.
Then as if on que, three little mice came walking in a line. Lee first walking in army fashion with a toothbrush on his shoulder. Choji next, wabbling along, his toothbrush strapped to his back with a piece of string he must of found somewhere. Last but not least, Shikamaru trailed behind, dragging his toothbrush as if it was the scum of the earth that was trailing behind him. All lined up in front of Naruto and saluted in the most adorable way. Kiba came running out of the house, the hand duster still strapped to his tail except it was now full of dust. Stopping only to bang his tail on the side of the house to rid himself of the dusty brush and trotted over to stand next to the mice. Naruto wearily lifted one eyelid to peer at his little cadets. Naruto gave a mock salute from where he was standing.
"At ease men," Naruto waved his hand outward. Immediately all of the animals plopped down exhausted. The mice decided Kiba was the best pillow they ever had and used him accordingly. Kiba would've protested if he had the energy to but for now, he simply did not care. A wind came and blessed them with its cool comfort and wrapped them all in an blacked of icy splendor. The rustling of hanging dresses brought Naruto senses about.
"Damn dresses. They're annoying all by themselves, without the girls even in them!" Naruto scowled while pondering what else he had to do today. The mice and the dog started snickering like there was no tomorrow. Agitating the blonde, Naruto was filled with a temporary adrenaline rush, sat straight up, yanked of his shoe and threw it toward the animals. He obviously missed them all and the shoe landed with an unceremonial thud somewhere in the grass. This just caused the animal to laugh hysterically at the teen's antics. After a while he mentally went through his checklist for the day. Washing…check…Chopping…check…stones…check…windows…check…drapes…check…groceries…..
'Damn!' Naruto mentally screamed. The hardest thing on the list wasn't even out of the way. Everything about this day seemed to hate him. Begrudgingly, the boy sighed and sat up. Cracking his neck on each side before standing to reclaim the shoe he threw. The creatures of the house watched him curiously as he went about his task. Only after placing the shoe back on his feet did Kiba bark and wimper to the blonde. Naruto turned around and smiled for a second then retreated back to the house.
Stopping only to wash the sweat and dirt off his face in the copper basin next to the back door, he grabbed a wooden weaved basket and started putting some food in it. Flinging a black cape with a hood that drapped down to his lower back over his shoulders and tied it in the front, Naruto thought of what else he needed to take with him. Glancing up, he saw the little sealed jar on the highest shelf above the door, Naruto retrieved just a bit of money he saved from that spendy mother of his so they would at least have food to eat the next day. Just as he was about to walk out the back steps, a rock magically made itself known and tripped the boy so that he landed flat on his face. 'This day definitely is out to get me.'
The town was nothing fancy but it was simply beautiful at the same time. The castle was gigantic sitting on top of a hill that seemed to expand out gradually so that the castle itself would look like a mountain from a distance. The castle liked its scenic view so it kept a large portion behind the castle as open and spacious as possible with rivers and tree groves stretching for about a mile. In front of the castle was the stoned town with its many different sections. The winding streets seemed to snake their way all around the town, never knowing where they're going unless you lived there all your life. In the front of the castle, there was a great fountain and past that fountain was a long street that came to be known for it's marketplace for tourist and citizens alike.
Naruto's house was among one of the oldest in existence among this old kingdom, so it was nestled near the castle yet had it's own little portion of the back section of the kingdom. It faced the town so the walk was never that far, the road leading to his house though was very well hidden. You couldn't even find the road to Naruto's house unless you knew where it was, but even then you would have a difficult time finding it. Out of this mysterious road, a blonde head popped out to make sure the coast was clear. He was not really favored in this town so he had a tendency to hide his vibrant hair. The cloak he was wearing was common place in this village so he could be mistaken for almost anybody.
Walking the road that would lead him to the market place. Everyone was bustling and chattering so much that they didn't even notice when Naruto walked out of the back alley and into the street. Keeping his head low enough so they couldn't see him but he could tell who they were and where he was going, headed towards the less busy side of the street. Here an old woman smiled as she saw him approach. The woman was hunching forward from age and sitting on a stool. Draped in an old dusty purple shawl and a crinkled black dress. Her grey hair was pulled back in a small bun in the back of her head and her nose was adorned by old square shaped glasses. The booth set up around her was adorned with many different items from the odd and peculiar trinkets to everyday groceries and clothes. Naruto smiled and waved at her as he approached. The only ones that ever seemed nice to him was the old people. This gave Naruto a sense of respect to why the elderly should be honored. They were the only kind people in the world. Everyone else was just too difficult.
"So young noble sir," the old woman cackled, "With what can I help you with today?"
"How many times must I tell you to not call me that ma'am? I don't think that it really suits me," Naruto said while scrunching his nose.
"But I had been brought up referring to people by their proper classes. Have been all my life and I don't think I will change that now," She glanced at him through her spectacles, "Besides, I think a good noble sir should be referred to by his rightful title."
Naruto blushed a bit at this comment. Arguing with this woman was all but useless. She's called him young noble sir for as long as he could remember. Glancing around, he saw some foreign girls giggling and looking at him. He hated when other people heard her comments because as soon as they asked some locals about him, they would change their minds immediately. Sighing at this thought, he ignored them and continued with his business.
"Sorry Obaasan," Naruto snickered, "I just need to get the usual groceries. Our supplies are getting low yet again."
There was a shrilly voice coming from down the road that the boy knew all too well. Glancing towards the noise, the blonde saw the three women of the house looking very snooty in front of a vender. Shamelessly spending the money on jewelry and make-up. Sighing once more he looked back towards the old woman.
"Those females are going to buy us out of house and home. It's hard enough as it is without them flaunting around and buying every pretty thing that they don't even need." Naruto sighed and tilted his head in exasperation.
"Yes those spoiled, fake, scanty, with was but never will be royalty are a pain to my sight. Oh how could the gods place such a nice young noble with such horrid girls I will never know," the woman shook her head from side to side.
"Because the gods are out to get me as well as everyone else in this village. Well, except you obaasan."
"Surely I can't be your only friend. How could a nice strapping young man not have friends. This is just ridiculous." She frowned.
"It doesn't really matter, Obaasan. That's just how the world works." He said spinning his finger in little circle toward the sky.
"It's just not right."
"Oh well, here's the money I owed you from the last time. I didn't mean for it to take so long for me to pay you back."
"But Naruto, you don't need to pay me back. I'm a rich old woman who doesn't really care for the trivial riches of the world. I'd rather give all my belonging to you instead of the spoiled brats that I have as grandchildren. They don't even have time to visit me!" She stoke a tragic pose with her hand over her head and the other clenched over her heart.
Laughing at the strange woman who was trying to cheer him up the blonde said, "Thanks Obaasan, I needed a good laugh."
"Oh!" exclaimed the old woman, "I almost forgot! Would you like to work for me for a while? You earn some extra money. But you got to promise me that you will spend it on yourself and not of those foolish women you call your family."
"Okay…, I promise," Naruto eyed her suspiciously. He needed the money but wasn't sure if he wanted to get it that bad.
"Alright, young noble sir. What I need for you to do is deliver some of the stuff I got to the castle kitchen. Do you think you can handle this?"
"Of course I can Obaasan! You can count on me!"
"Well I don't know…."
"Obaasan! That is not funny!"
"Hahahaha, I would rather say that you are very funny!"
Naruto stuck his tongue out at the woman while she cackled from looking at him. Reaching under the desk she pulled out a brown package that was tied up with string. Handing it to the boy who placed it in his basket and was about to set off when the woman called him back.
"Why don't you leave those groceries of yours here so that you don't have to lug those around all the time. I know your tough and all but it would look more professional without a basket of vegetable on your side. When you get to the side entrance, you are to walk straight down the first corridor, take a 3 lefts, one right, walk down the stair case, take three rights, two lefts, go down the third corridor and proceed to the big wooden door at the end of the sixth corridor. Can you remember that?" she gazed at him for a moment.
"Yeah, right, right. Just make sure you don't sell my groceries to anybody. I need that basket," Naruto eyed her before smiling with a grin that split his face in two. Waving at her, he dashed towards the castle at top speed.
"Or was it just the second left and down to the oak door lined with bronze…. Hmmm…" she pondered to herself. "Oh well, he'll eventually ask for directions since I sent him the wrong way. Oh well, what's done is done. At least he'll get a first class tour of the castle."
Gleefully the old woman went about her tasks completely forgetting her thoughts of the blonde when the next customer showered up at her booth.
TBC….
Author's note: So how did you guys like my story. Please, review on my story. Sorry for taking so long and I got all the rest of the story in my head I just need to type it down. I expand it as I go. Hope you're happy with this one. Fans of my other story… I'm getting to that. Thanks for those who are loyal. I would give you something but then I'm don't like giving things away so I guess I won't. Just review and I'll think about typing faster.