Ch9
"Speech"
'Thought'
The story (Part2)
A small boy pouted angrily at the reflection that stared back at him in the quiet flow of the river near his favorite location in the woods. Ever since school started, things has been even worse for the tiny ninja as the constant teasing and down talking pummeled him daily and he could no longer stay at home to avoid it.
"I hear that guy's mom left him cause he couldn't do anything right?"
"Wow, thrown away by your own parents, how pathetic."
'thrown away by your parents,' those words haunted his head as he gave it a desperate shake though he knew when he stops, the words will still be there. Sticks and stones and break my bone's but words will never hurt me? Obviously, the one who said that has had a very easy life. Anger, sorrow, hatred, fear, all these are carved into a person through words. For if the clouds high above in the open blues could speak, it would be able to tell how many suffer, cry, die, and even kill from what originated from words each day around the world.
The boy knew that lesson well. He knew the pains words can do and that's why he had never started an argument nor put anyone down purposely. He only defended himself when others came to him and may have muttered a few curses afterwards but never took them personally. Hours later, only the words spoken would remain but the faces would disappear from his mind.
Only two people was in his mind that he hated at the time. Only two and no one else, because those two in particular, he thought he could never forgive for what they had done.
"Why you all haven't even touched your food yet, please, eat, eat!" Kenji laughed, "If would be a waste if you let it cool."
"Right, everyone, let's eat. We can listen to the rest of his story after supper," Kakashi ordered and the three obeyed.
The rest of the supper went smoothly. The thought about his mother seemed to disappear from Naruto's mind as he stuffed more than he could chew into his mouth and gulped it down forcefully, half choking. All 4 figures watched with sweat drops on the back of their heads as the two young rivals fought over the last chicken on the table, only to realize afterwards that there was more left in the pot.
Naruto patted himself upon his stomach with a satisfied expression on his face. "Wheeze, that was great!" he relaxed into his chair.
"Now then Kenji-san," Sakura turned politely, "Will you tell us the rest of your story?"
"Ahh yes, where was I," he looked up trying to remember, "Ah yes, I remember now.
"I was indeed amazed by her healing technique but I was more so concentrate upon her face. I had heard that there are at least 2 or 3 people that looks the same in the world but never did I imagine to such an extent.
" 'Yuriko? Is that you?' I asked, even though I knew the answer could not be what I hoped for, the striking resemblance pulled the words right out of my mouth.
"She looked at me questioningly for a few moments and just when I was about to apologize for asking such a dubious question, she asked me, by any chance, that I may be related to the 2 old folks who lived around that region. I asked her to describe them for me and realized that she was indeed talking about my mother and father.
" 'Do you know where I might be able to find them now?' she asked.
" With a sad shake of my head, I brought her to the cemetery where the two now laid. As we walked there, I told her what has happened and how they did mention you but I did not get what they meant until just now. I also explained that they were my parents and Yuriko was my elderly sister whom when she died, her appearance were very much like hers. She gave a knowing and understanding nod to all that I spoke and I decided to ask her to come over to my inn after the revisit to the cemetery.
"She agreed and came over for the night. Tell me, have you heard of a sword called wave striker?" he asked.
"Yes, and that is partially of what we're searching for," Kakashi nodded.
Kenji narrowed his eyes slightly but then, looking at Naruto, he continued.
"The fact that you all know about the wave striker is a good thing. We spent the night talking, her, my wife, and I. She told me of what truly happened the night of the fire. I thanked her for saving the lives of my father and mother but she in turn apologized for she thought it was her fault that it had happened.
"After the short meal, she paused for a moment before reaching for her bag she had kept within an arm's reach. From it, she pulled out IT! The wave striker sword! The sword which I thought was lost forever along with the fire that night. She told me how a dangerous band of people is after that mighty sword and she had been running and hiding to protect it. Although it gave me small bit of discomfort to see the treasured sword of our country in the hands of a foreigner's hand, especially since it was given to my sister and left with my parents in honor of her death, I knew what she did was correct and merely gave an understanding nod when I took it to my eyes.
"The night was still young when she motioned to the door for her departure. I insisted that she stay for the night but she merely shook her head and thanked me for my kindness and told me how she can not stay in one place for more than a short period of time. I found her clapping her hands and giving a small bow to that Buda over there (Points) when I came back from fetching her, her jacket she had left in the living room. As I made my approach, she turned and gave me a smile before extending her arm and signaled me to open my palms with her eyes.
"That was when she dropped this cross into my hand. I took it with a questioning look of confusion upon my hands. 'What is this for?' I asked.
" Her smile faded away and her face changed to a more focused look. 'I would like to as a favor from you,' said she.
" 'Anything that I can do, I shall,' I replied firmly.
" 'I need you,' she began, 'to hold on to that cross on me for some time. In the years to come, a person shall come in seek of me and that person will not seek me to harm. When that person come, I want you to give that person the cross. He shall know what to do."
" I was about to ask some more questions but she turned, walked out the door, said, 'May the Gods be with you," and disappeared into the fog. And so, I have had this cross ever since."
Kenji took a deep breath and glanced over at Naruto who was gazing down upon his dessert dish, still thinking about the story he had just heard.
"and I believe that person is you, Naruto-kun," Kenji smiled and slid the cross across the table to the young boy, "Who can seek less harm to Yuriko-san then her dear child," he laughed.
"H..how did you…" Naruto looked up with surprise.
"Young boy, I could tell just by the look on your face. Plus, each time I mentioned her name, you seem to squint with remorse. I'm starting to age now and with that comes wisdom. I may no longer be as well off as I was at those times but I'm not just getting these white hairs for nothing you know," he gave an energetic laughter.
"Did she tell you what I'm suppose to do with this?" Naruto asked as he raised and lowered the cross, trying to look at it from every angle possible.
"That, she did not say. The reason to why you're here is because of your mother, is it not? Something bad has happened to her from the looks in those eyes and you are now looking for her? Did your mother tell you anything about the cross before whatever it is that happened to her?" Kenji asked, leaning forward and resting his chin on the back of his hands.
Silence
"I'm sorry, it probably isn't my business," the old man apologized.
"No, she didn't tell me anything," Naruto replied, then flipping his head up with a bright smile he finished off. "Don't worry about it, I'll figure out what she left me this for and what message it contains in no time!" he exclaimed.
"Outta boy! I'm sure you will!" Kenji said jerking his thumb up, holding a large smile upon his face.
The moon shined faintly through the fog. Naruto sat on the back stairs, staring upon the light, softened by the cool night mist, which was different from what he was use to for in Konoha, the light was sharp and bright and no mist to soften the blow. Even so, it gave him the same suiting feeling he always got when he looked upon the stars which gave him a smile when he needed one most. Dangling the small cross in his hand, he watched it sparkle in the soft light of the night.
"You're still awake Naruto?" Kakashi's familiar bored voice came to him from the side.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto looked up.
The two both looked back at the sky with the same eyes and a moment of silence rang through the air.
"Got something you want to talk about?" Kakashi asked.
Silence again.
"I use to hate my mom and dad…" Naruto whispered, "because they had abandoned me. At least, I thought they did. The kids at school would always tell me that, every time when I'm about to forget about it. But now, I don't know what I think about them any more. I still hate them, but at the same time…I can't really explain it."
"I see," Kakashi looked at the boy pensively. Despite how serious the matter sounded, the boy still held his usual easy going smile. "You know what Naruto. To tell you the truth, I was reluctant of this mission and that sword. The sword has been lost for years and no one has seen it. Now, we've got the first clue that lead to it and it's only been 2 days."
"The first clue?"
"Your little pendant there," he replied.
"Huh?"
(A room in the inn)
Sasuke looked out the window upon the same moon the 2 figures below was looking at. He bit his lips hard and slammed his fist upon the table he sat on. It's been just over 1 year since his last…confrontation.
Sasuke fell to the floor with a heavy thud as blood trickled from his head. Itachi watched from the air, still breathing heavily from the fight. Landing back on the ground, he stuttered slightly but managed to stay standing. He had lost all control to his left arm and was badly wounded.
"Sasuke," Itachi spoke quietly, "You're still not strong enough!"
Sasuke's eyes flared open angrily and looked up from where he laid.
With a chuckle, Itachi began to walk away.
"Hold it!" Sasuke shouted and watched his brother stop. "Why do you let me live?" he demanded.
Silence
Itachi glanced back then returned his focus to the front and disappeared.
'Why…what does he want me alive?' Sasuke thought, releasing his lips and biting his teeth together. 'Does he actually think that I will never surpass him? Am I just so insignificant in his eyes?' His fist grasped the empty air tightly.
End…
A short little chapter, I hope you liked it. Also, thank you to everyone in all your supports! I'm very happy about you guys liking my story
Reviews:
Shina-lim: Thank you, unfortunately, due to my tests, I haven't been able to update recently. But I hope you will continue to enjoy the story!
Kist: Thank you for that pointer and so, I changed the summary now. Thank you again
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