CHAPTER 10: HOME, A PLACE TO TAKE A BREATH
(Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto. I do own my OC's, however)
"Talking / Jutsu"
'Thinking'
'Flashback'
"Flashback talk"
"Demonic voice"
Letter / Emphasis
|Sunagakure no Sato|
The funeral of Chiyo took place the day after Gaara's arrival to the village. Despite the overwhelming rejoice with which ninjas and civilians alike welcomed back their Kazekage and the festive mood that spread like wildfire, Gaara requested that no celebrations were made until the ex-member of the Council received the proper burial she deserved, granting her full honors for her many years of service as a kunoichi as well as for her ultimate sacrifice. The entire village entered a state of mourning and ceased all activity for two days straight as a way to respect Chiyo's departure from this world.
The ceremony was conducted by a priest and only a few individuals were invited to attend, including the members of the rescue team who participated in the mission to rescue the Kazekage. Ebizō, the last living relative of Chiyo, stood the closest to Chiyo's grave as it was customary while Gaara, his siblings, and the rescue team remained a little further away, allowing the old man to grieve his sister's death without disturbing him. By the end of the funeral, the priest asked Ebizō if there was anything he would like to say before the burial concluded, to which he responded "There is no need. The way my sister lived her life tells us more about her than words ever could express,"
Shujinko kept silent for the entirety of the ritual, even when he and his comrades were given the chance to speak. The Ozuma simply had nothing to say about Chiyo. He had barely gotten to know the woman and he just didn't feel like it was his place to do anything other than to show his respects to her. In spite of that, Shujinko did remember Chiyo's last words to him and thought about them from time to time. After all, those words were the message of a dying old kunoichi, who ended up admitting to her many mistakes and did what she could to make it right, sacrificing her life as a way to reach redemption.
After the funeral, Shujinko had his injury checked by Sunagakure's medical staff. Luckily, the gash on his arm was just a flesh wound that carried no significant impact on his overall health, though it left a permanent scar on his left bicep in the form of three ugly lines where Naruto had scratched him. Shujinko was fine with it as he had learned that scars were basically an occupational hazard in his line of work, but the fact that his own friend had been the one who left said marks on his body (albeit unintentionally) made Shujinko feel odd, especially since he could've lost his arm to Naruto had he been less fortunate. He didn't want to think about it right now, but once they returned to their village, Shujinko knew he'd have to find a moment to pull Naruto aside and discuss things like teammates.
Once he left the hospital with his injury taken care of, Shujinko made his way to the entrance of Sunagakure where the rest of the rescue team was expecting him. Apparently, Gaara and his siblings wanted to bid them farewell before they began their journey back to Konohagakure, and unlike a certain silver-haired Jounin that he knew of, Shujinko didn't like to keep people waiting for longer than what was necessary.
He was about to reach the entrance when he heard Renjiro's voice calling after him from the side. Shujinko saw the blonde-haired shinobi leaning against a wall with his arms crossed and an expectant look on his face. "So you're finally leaving, huh?" Renjiro asked as Shujinko approached him. "Too bad you guys won't stick around a bit longer. We could've celebrated the success of our mission over a bottle of sake,"
"I'm not much of a drinker myself, but if I'm being honest, I would've liked to stay here a couple more days and get to know this village a little better. Maybe some other time," Shujinko replied. "Anyways, are you here to say goodbye? That's really thoughtful of you,"
"Why would you assume I came all the way here to say goodbye? For all you know, I'm just lazing about and I happened to see you walking by,"
"Is that so? Well then, don't let me stop you. See you around, Renjiro," And just like that, Shujinko casually turned around and walked away, smirking to himself as he heard a brief sputter coming from Renjiro. He kept walking until the blonde shinobi cleared his throat and called after him again.
"Wait, don't go anywhere just yet," Renjiro told him, to which Shujinko obliged and turned around to meet his gaze. "I… I did come here to say goodbye. I thought I'd be fitting since you and me… Well, you know, we started off on the wrong foot all those years ago, but now we're here as… as…"
"Allies?" Shujinko suggested. Renjiro nodded at him, which brought a small smile to the Ozuma's lips. "Heh, it's actually kind of funny when you think about it. If either of us had encountered someone else during the invasion, things would've probably been a lot different. The two of us could've died at the hands of another ninja that day, but instead, we bumped into each other and here we are, talking about it three years later. I don't know if this is fate or a coincidence. What I do know is that, in the end, it all worked out for the better and I'm glad for it,"
Unbeknownst to the pair of them at the time, this moment between them was exactly what Chiyo was referring to when she said the old shinobi system that had been in place for so long needed to change. Both Shujinko and Renjiro had the opportunity, the duty, and a motive to kill each other when their paths first crossed. That's what was expected of them as shinobi from different villages. However, by choosing to let their enemy live, the two young Genins defied said expectations and went against what they'd been taught to.
Any older ninja would've called them weak, reckless, and foolish, perhaps going as far as to accuse them of treason. Such harsh judgment was only fair considering the brutal reality of the shinobi world. Shujinko himself spent years wondering whether if sparing Renjiro's life had been the right call or not. Now, his doubts had finally been cleared and Shujinko could safely say he didn't regret his decision in the slightest. Killing Renjiro would've been a mistake and he didn't give a crap what anyone else had to say about that.
He knew he couldn't go around being merciful to everyone who tried to attack him, not only because some people didn't deserve it, but also because doing so was another way to get killed in the shinobi world. Be that as it may, the fact that he and Renjiro were alive today, working side by side and watching each other's' backs was proof enough that, sometimes, even a virtue such as mercy had its rewards. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on his behalf, but Shujinko hoped that, in the future, he would have more chances to repeat what he had done three years ago.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you, Shujinko. Something that's been on my mind since the day of the invasion," Renjiro began to say. "Just before you left that alleyway, I asked you why you were letting me live. I mean, I know I only said 'Why', but I'm sure you understood me. You responded with 'You already know why'… The thing is, I didn't know. Not then, not now. You had every right to kill me, yet you chose not to, even though we were enemies. Now that our mission is over, there's no telling when we will see each other again, or if we'll ever see each other again at all, so I have to ask you this before you leave: Why did you spare me that day?"
The golden-eyed Jounin frowned a little, not having expected this particular question from Renjiro. It had all happened years ago and Shujinko never thought he'd ever be asked about it, so he hadn't bothered to think of an answer and preferred to leave the thought unattended until it faded away with the passing of time. He could easily tell Renjiro a white lie or a believable excuse to explain why he hadn't killed him when he had the opportunity to do so. It would even be justifiable given how caught off guard he was and Renjiro would probably believe whatever he told him, but the thought of doing so felt beyond insulting and shameful.
In the end, Shujinko decided that the least Renjiro deserved was an honest answer, no matter how unfulfilling or disappointing the blonde shinobi might find it. "To tell you the truth, I don't know why I did it. Back then, I was worried that I might've made a mistake by letting you live, so I didn't want to think about it. I was being immature, but I couldn't help myself. I guess… I guess I simply didn't have it in me to kill you,"
"… But… But we were battling to the death before that," Renjiro said as his eyes widened. "Don't you remember how much we had fought up until that point? We swung weapons at each other, we threw punches and kicks, I battered your face and you battered mine. That wasn't a friendly match between comrades, it was a real combat and we both knew it. You were trying to kill me and I was trying to kill you, so how can you say you didn't have it in you to end my life?"
"Because all I wanted was to protect my own. I was too afraid of dying and I knew you weren't going to stop until one of us was done for, so I kept fighting with all I had. When you were on top of me, holding that knife after using my face as a punching bag, I was sure I was going to die unless I did something, and that's when I grabbed that rock from the ground,"
Upon hearing that last part, a faint tremor traveled through Renjiro's body, who tried to suppress it without losing eye contact with the Ozuma. Despite the two nasty blows to the head that he got that day, Renjiro was able to remember almost everything that had happened to him during the invasion and the days that followed. The sound his skull made when Shujinko clobbered him with a rock and the unbelievable pain that came with it were memories ingrained in his brain. Renjiro had tried to erase them from his mind, or at least, to remember them with less vividness, but it was no use. It was the same as trying to forget his own name.
"I was ready to finish what I had started, but when I saw your eyes, something overcame me. I realized I was no longer in danger, so going through with it would've been… horrible. Horrible and unnecessary. Maybe it doesn't make much sense, and I don't blame you if you don't understand it, but at that moment, I felt that the two of us were so similar that, if I killed you, I'd be killing myself too in some way. I refused to believe that human lives were so worthless that I could just kill a defenseless enemy as if it was no big deal, because if I did that, it would mean my own life is equally as worthless. I guess that's what I was most afraid of and that's why I let you live, not for your sake alone, but for ours,"
…
"… You really have a way with words, don't you?" Renjiro said softly. The Ozuma was about to respond, but he closed his mouth once he saw Renjiro bowing his head down, breathing louder than before and clearing his throat several times. "Even though I eventually learned not to hold it against you, I always thought of myself as unfortunate for what you did to me. If only you hadn't been there when I was with my squad, or if only someone else had fought you instead of me, then I never would've gotten this damn scar or this stupid slurry voice of mine. I spent so many nights awake cursing my luck and praying for bad things to happen to you… But now, I can see I was sorely mistaken,"
"You were mistaken?" Shujinko repeated. "In what sense?"
"In the sense that meeting you was the luckiest thing that could've happened to me that day. Any other shinobi from Konohagakure would've eliminated me on the spot for invading your village. Instead, I came across you, and even after all we fought, you still chose not to kill me. Because of that, I got to go home, see my family and friends once again, and after this mission, our villages are in the best terms they've ever been in since their foundation. You didn't ruin my life like I once thought you had. You saved it, and this scar on my face is proof of that,"
When Renjiro finally raised his head, Shujinko saw he was smiling with eyes that revealed nothing but profound gratitude. He had to admit this conversation had turned out to be far more touching than what he had anticipated, even more so when Renjiro extended his hand to him. Instead of exchanging a formal and gentle handshake, the two teens clasped each other's forearms just below the elbow, acknowledging their camaraderie as allies and brothers in arms.
"Thanks for everything, Shujinko," the blonde ninja said, tightly grasping his forearm. "I hope our paths cross again soon, so that I can finally pay the debt I owe you,"
"Don't mention it. However, you're wrong about one thing. I'm the one who owes you, not the other way around,"
"Really? What is it that you owe me, exactly?"
Shujinko smirked. "A rematch,"
|Three days later|
After leaving Sunagakure, the two teams began their journey back to their village in high spirits, relieved by the final outcome of their mission. Gaara thanked each and every single one of them profusely, swearing to return the favor as soon as the chance presented itself and promising that Sunagakure would never forget how Konohagakure had come to their rescue during their greatest time of need. He also provided them with enough supplies for their journey and Temari volunteered to guide them across the desert to ensure their safety, at least until they could travel through the territory without her help. All in all, it was a nice way to end such a risky and complicated mission, and by Kami, they deserved as much.
There was, however, a tiny little setback.
"Can't you two go any faster?" Tenten complained out loud, voicing the thoughts of everyone around her. Her question was directed at the pair of Jounins who were trudging behind, more specifically, Kakashi and Gai.
As it turned out, using the Kamui twice in quick succession had taken a bigger toll on his body than Kakashi had anticipated. Despite not having suffered injuries or health complications of any sort, the Copy Ninja was positively fatigued and needed to rest, which couldn't happen under the harsh and treacherous environmental conditions of a desert. Of course, Gai immediately took it upon himself to assist his dear rival by helping him walk, placing an arm around his shoulders for support, and staying by his side every step of the way… literally.
What started out as a good deed soon became a burden to Konoha's Noble Green Beast, who was running out of patience after three days of being forced to walk slowly. He didn't mind helping Kakashi as he knew he would've done the same for him had the roles been reversed, but Gai's energetic nature wasn't adjusting very well to the situation, especially when one of his own students was urging them to pick up the pace. By now, the frustration he felt was all too visible on Gai's face, whose brow was noticeably furrowed as he kept grunting and groaning.
"At this rate, we're gonna become old geezers by the time we reach Konohagakure," Naruto muttered. "It's not like I blame Kakashi-sensei for the state he's in, but it's so annoying having to wait for those two turtles to catch up every ten minutes,"
Shujinko opened his flask and took a swig of water before putting it back in its place. "Well, let's look at the bright side. The desert's border isn't too far away now, and from then on, we should be able to move faster. That's what I'm counting on, anyways,"
"Say, Shujinko, you have a summoning contract, right?" Naruto asked him. "When we were chasing after Deidara, I remember seeing you fly around on the back of a hawk. Can't you summon one of those birds here and ask them to give Kakashi-sensei a ride to the village? That would take care of the problem right away,"
"I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than that, Naruto. It's true that I have a summoning contract with the hawks, but as far as I know, they don't like to interact with anyone other than me. It's a bit hard to explain. Besides, my chakra is still pretty worn out from our fight with the Akatsuki. If I try the Kuchiyose no Jutsu now, I might end up like Kakashi-sensei or worse, so we'd just be replacing one tired guy for another,"
Sakura gave her teammate a surprised look, not having been made aware of this earlier. "I didn't know you had a summoning contract, Shujinko. When did that happen?"
"Years ago, actually. It was when we were dealing with Zabuza and Haku during that mission in Nami no Kuni, or at least that's when the summoning contract was made valid. Apparently, me awakening the Karura Tensei for the first time was what sealed the deal, although I wasn't told about it until much later. Back then, I was advised not to attempt the Kuchiyose no Jutsu since it required more chakra than what I had, but that's not an issue anymore,"
"I never thought the idea of flying would ever sound appealing to me, but right now, I'd do anything to get a move on and leave this place once and for all," Tenten said with a sour expression on her face before turning around. "Oi, hurry up, will you?" she yelled, holding both her hands at the sides of her mouth to amplify her voice.
"Tenten, I don't think it's wise to get Gai-sensei too riled up," Neji warned her. "You already know how he is. Once he feels the pressure, he's capable of responding in the most riddicul-"
"D'AAAAAAAHH!"
The unexpected screams of Kakashi alerted the group of young shinobis, who immediately turned around to see what the hell was going on. Shujinko's first thought was that they were being ambushed by enemy forces or that his sensei had been attacked by a wild animal of the dessert, but unfortunately, he and his friends were greeted by a much, much ghastlier sight. Hatake Kakashi, the famous Copy Ninja, the feared Sharingan Warrior, former captain and leader of his own ANBU team, was helplessly being given a piggyback ride by a radiant Gai. If that wasn't enough, Shujinko could've sworn he heard the sound of trumpets making a charge bugle call somewhere in the distance, which added a surreal level of weirdness to the whole thing.
…
'What a terrible day to have eyes,' the Ozuma thought, cringing at the painfully embarrassing scene he was witnessing. Similar thoughts ran across the minds of everyone else, including Kakashi, who couldn't remember the last time he'd been forced to endure something so degrading and pathetic.
"… Oh, I get it now!" Lee exclaimed all of a sudden. "Gai-sensei, this is a training exercise, correct?"
In response, Gai flashed his student a grin bright enough to resemble a pearl necklace shining under the sun. "If you are all so eager to see some speed, then that is exactly what I will show you! On your marks, get set, GO!" Before anyone could question him, the Taijutsu expert began to run as fast as his legs would allow him to, raising wide clouds of sand with every step. "What's the matter, slowpokes? Can't keep up with me? I'll see you at the finishing line!" Gai shouted before letting out an exuberant laugh.
Kakashi didn't share an ounce of his enthusiasm as he flailed around on Gai's back, wondering what had he done to deserve such humiliating treatment.
|Konohagakure no Sato|
"Oi, Kotetsu, where are those dumplings I told you to get on your way here? We're already halfway through our shift and I could really use a snack," Izumo said as he paced around the village's entrance post, opening drawers in search of the sweets he was craving. When he didn't find any, he turned to his friend and stared at him disapprovingly. "Wait, let me guess. You forgot to buy them. Again,"
Kotetsu, who was sitting by the table with his face buried in his arms, raised his head just enough to meet Izumo's gaze. "Sorry about that. I was running late and I didn't have time to stop by the dango store. I don't wanna think what Tsunade-sama will do to me if I miss guard duty one more time. But hey, I was the one who bought us refreshments when we were on patrol last week, so that makes us even, right?"
"Okay, fair enough," Izumo conceded. "So, are you finally going to tell me about your night at the bar? Judging by the way you look, you didn't have just one bottle of sake,"
"Meh, you know how it goes. You keep pouring yourself drinks and everything's fine. Before you realize it, the bottle is empty but you're still feeling fine, so you order another one, and another, and another after that. Anyways, that's beside the point. Do you remember Chitose, that chick I've been telling you about? Well, she was at the bar with a couple of her friends, girls' night out sort of thing. When I saw her walking in, I knew it was my chance to go talk to her, so I finished my cup and left the table to do just that,"
"Chitose… Oh yeah, I remember now. She's from the Inuzuka clan, isn't she? Hana's second cousin or something like that,"
"Yup, and don't ask me how, but at one point, she was sitting at the counter table all by herself. Perfect opportunity to offer a lonely girl some company, right? So I get up and walk over to where she is. She doesn't see me until I'm standing right next to her. You know I've always been a smooth talker, so when she asks me what I'm doing, I look her in the eye and say-"
"Hold up a second," Izumo cut him off, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the entrance outside. "Did you hear that, Kotetsu? I think… I think there might be something coming our way,"
Kotetsu scoffed. "Come on, Izumo. You know I hate getting interrupted when I'm in the middle of telling a story. It totally ruins the ambiance. Like I was saying, I go up to Chitose, I look her in the eye and say-"
"NEARLY THERE! JUST A BIT FURTHER!" the pair of Chunins heard someone yell from afar. Thinking that they were being attacked, Izumo and Kotetsu immediately stepped out of the entrance post with their weapons at the ready, but all they saw was an incoming cloud of dust closing in on them. It wasn't until Gai reached the village with Kakashi on his back that they were able to recognize them, which only made them feel even more confused than they already were. "Yes! Victory is mine! The power of youth triumphs once again!"
"RAAAAAAH!" To make things even more ridiculous, Lee also made his appearance, running and shouting like a maniac until he arrived at the entrance. "And mine is the second place!"
…
"What the heck is wrong with them?" Kotetsu asked.
"Beats me," his partner replied. "Those two are just something else,"
000
"You're saying Naruto did this to you?" Tsunade asked as she examined the gash on Shujinko's arm, paying close attention to the way the wound reacted to her Medical Ninjutsu. Shizune was there as well, watching the procedure while writing down observations on a notepad. The three of them were in a lonely operation room, where they could discuss matters in private and away from prying eyes.
After receiving all the details regarding the rescue mission from her student Sakura, Tsunade was pulled to the side by Shujinko, who said he needed to talk to her about something and claimed his injured arm as a motive. At first, the Godaime Hokage dismissed Shujinko and told him to get treatment from any other medical ninja who was available, as she had a lot on her mind right now and his injury wasn't a problem that required her level of expertise. She quickly changed her opinion, however, when Shujinko told her the reason he requested her attention had something to do with his teammate Naruto and the mission they had just returned from.
"… Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shujinko answered after a moment of hesitation. "Just to make it clear, at no point did Naruto mean to do this. He was being controlled by the Kyūbi at the time and was unable to recognize me. This wouldn't have happened under normal circumstances, so please, don't punish Naruto for-"
"Don't worry, I understand. Naruto would never hurt a comrade, much less a teammate, without acting under the influence of something as dark and powerful as the Kyūbi. I suppose the Kazekage's temporal death was enough to drive him over the edge and the demon inside of him took advantage of that," Tsunade said. "Is Naruto aware of what happened?"
The Ozuma shook his head. "I don't think so. Naruto doesn't seem to remember anything he did while he was in that state, and if he does remember, I definitely haven't heard him talk about it. I was planning on telling Naruto the whole story once we came back from Sunagakure, but I thought you deserved to be informed of this, so I decided to come to you first just to be safe,"
A few minutes later, Tsunade stopped transmitting chakra to her hands and grabbed Shujinko by the elbow to take a closer look at his injury. At first glance, it didn't seem like a big deal in particular, just a flesh wound that was slowly beginning to cicatrize. However, it was more complex than that. Instead of simply being minor lacerations that would heal on their own given enough time and care, the three cuts on his triceps were also burn marks that damaged the skin, as if Naruto had slashed Shujinko's arm with a hot knife. If she were to make an educated guess, Tsunade would say this was most likely due to the chemical components of the Kyūbi's chakra that Naruto was cloaked in when he attacked Shujinko. It was the only explanation she could come up with, anyway.
"You did the right thing bringing this to my attention. Not just the injury, but how you got it as well," the Godaime Hokage said before turning to face her assistant and right-hand woman. "Shizune, bring me more bandages and start working on an ointment. Use enough ingredients to produce a batch meant to last for seven days. Once you're done, leave everything at the door and wait for me in my office,"
"As you wish, Tsunade-sama,"
Once Shizune had left the room, Shujinko gave Tsunade an uneasy look. "How bad is it?"
"Nothing too serious if that's what you're wondering. That ointment is just a precaution to avoid possible infections, but the wound itself seems fine," she reassured him. "Let me ask you something. Both you and Kakashi witnessed Naruto getting out of control during the rescue mission and you even got hurt as a result. From what I understand, the Kyūbi getting a hold of Naruto is an emotional response that he cannot control. In your opinion, how much does it take Naruto to reach those limits? At what point does he allow the Kyūbi to dominate his will?"
Shujinko cast his gaze downwards as he began to recall everything that had happened. Since he was being asked a question from the Hokage herself, he wanted his answer to be as thorough and as precise as possible, especially since the Kyūbi was the subject of the matter. "Honestly, it's hard to say. Naruto began to feel the influence of the Kyūbi once we found out Gaara was dead. He was furious, but he wasn't completely beside himself at first. It's like he was able to retain some rationality despite his anger. But as soon as that red chakra appeared, Naruto turned into a… a beast. If Jiraiya-sama hadn't given that seal tag to Kakashi-sensei, it would've been a disaster,"
Tsunade listened to the Jounin's every word with utmost attention, thinking how to deal with the situation. As much as she cared about that blonde idiot, she couldn't ignore the fact that he carried the Kyūbi inside of him and the danger it represented. Through no fault of his own, Naruto was the owner of a destructive power he couldn't control. Something needed to be done about it, because if not, there was no telling how many atrocities could happen the next time anger overcame the Uzumaki, which she feared might come to pass sooner rather than later after what Sakura had told her.
According to her student, Sasori was supposed to meet with one of his spies in seven days. This spy of his was an undercover agent who had joined the ranks of Orochimaru, working as a henchman while providing the puppeteer with knowledge from the inside, and their next meeting was going to take place in the Tenchi Bridge. Tsunade didn't know how reliable this information was or why Sasori had spent his dying breath telling Sakura about it, but if this was true, then they had to take action and capture this spy before it was too late.
At the same time, the possibility of this being a trap was all too plausible. What if Sasori's intentions were to set them up and have them meet the rest of the Akatsuki instead of a spy? What assurance did they have that the spy was even real in the first place? And if the spy indeed existed, how did they know Sasori had given them the correct time and place of the meeting? To top it all up, Naruto had heard all of this while it was being discussed and the boy was dead set on going there, knowing full well it could be an ambush. He claimed that if they could find and capture this spy, they might learn more about Orochimaru and maybe even find some clues to Sasuke's whereabouts, which made it all worth it in Naruto's eyes.
If Naruto went there and they discovered the meeting had been a ruse all along, what then? Would he snap and suffer another breakdown? Would the Kyūbi take over him a second time? With Kakashi out of commission and Jiraiya away from the village, who else could keep the Bijū inside of him in check?
"Tsunade-sama, what would be the next step?" Shujinko asked. "Should I tell Naruto about what happened?"
"… Not for now, at least. I need some more time to figure out what our choices are and how best to proceed. Naruto will learn the truth eventually, but I don't think telling him now would do anyone a favor. If he starts to ask questions, be as truthful as you can, just make sure to omit the part where he attacked you. I know that Kakashi taught you to place your trust in your comrades, a teaching that I agree with and share, but sometimes, trust can be broken when met by blunt honesty,"
Despite giving her an affirmative nod, Shujinko couldn't say he was in agreement. Perhaps he was failing to see the bigger picture, but from where he was standing, withholding the truth from Naruto wouldn't do him any good and could even create problems down the line. Still, whether he liked it or not, the Hokage was giving him a command and it wasn't his place to debate her on this. He just hoped that Tsunade was making the right call and that Naruto wouldn't blame him for not being sincere from the beginning once he heard what really happened.
"In any case, I want you to rest for the time being, Shujinko. There's a very important mission coming up and I need you to be ready once you're summoned for it. Since Kakashi is in no shape to lead a squad, I will assign another ninja to act as a temporary team captain, as well as someone who can fill the spot that Sasuke left available when he abandoned our village. After all, Team 7 was formerly a four-man group, and I'm sure we can find a decent replacement, one that doesn't turn his back on his teammates to go follow a bloodthirsty maniac such as Orochimaru,"
000
|Later at night|
After finishing the last of his vegetable soup, Shujinko let out a sigh of pleasure, feeling his stomach tickling with the delicious food he was enjoying. The table he was sitting at was full of different dishes just waiting to be devoured, all of them cooked by the tender hand of his mother. The members of the Ozuma clan were gathered to celebrate Shujinko's safe return from his mission, something that didn't happen very often given how busy life could get for a working family at times. Even Nanami had joined them, although the young kunoichi didn't seem to share much of the festive mood that the occasion called for and was more of a quiet attendant rather than an active participant.
"I'm glad to be here with you all," Shujinko said as he reached for a jug of water to refill his cup. Since his Jounin garments had been sent to the cleaners, he was currently wearing a more casual outfit that consisted of a short-sleeved, cream-colored kimono shirt with the Ozuma crest embroidered on the back, and a pair of dark grey pants. Shujinko's time with Tenten had influenced his new fashion choices to some extent, even though he would never admit such a thing. "It's nice to spend time at home after being gone for days,"
"And we're happy to have you back with us, sweetie," Masumi responded with a warm smile, grabbing a large wooden spoon and extending her other hand to her son. "Would you like some more rice? You must be hungry with all that running around you've been doing,"
"Sure. Thanks, kaa-san,"
Nanami watched as her mother took Shujinko's bowl and dumped a generous scoop of steaming rice on it before passing it back. "How come Shujinko gets to eat more than us?" she asked calmly, but with an underlying tone of disapproval in her voice. "I thought you said we all get one serving of everything and that's it,"
"Don't be like that, Nanami. Your brother just returned from a long mission outside the country. There's nothing wrong with giving a little more food to someone who deserves it. Besides, this is a special occasion, so everyone's free to eat as much as they want," Masumi replied before sliding a ceramic platter with meat across the table to where she was. "See? I even made that roasted salmon you like so much. Dig in," At first, it looked as though Nanami wasn't interested, but once the aromatic scent of the dish reached her nose, she caved in and got herself a slice of salmon, much to her mother's satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Daichi was sitting at the head of the table, sipping on some green tea after eating a modest amount of food. Due to his harsh upbringing, Daichi had been forced to develop a small appetite in order to subsist, something that stuck with him even after he fled from his clan. Now that he had a family of his own, he put an effort into eating more in order to express his gratitude to his wife and to set a good example for his children, but no matter how good the food was, Daichi found it difficult to eat more than what he strictly needed.
"I heard your teammate came back to the village after being away for three years with Jiraiya-sama," Daichi began to say. "Is that true, Shujinko?"
"Yup, Naruto is back alright. He played a big role in the Kazekage's rescue mission too. In fact, I don't think we would've been able to pull it off without him. It's good to have him around, it feels like the old days again,"
Masumi raised an eyebrow. "… Huh, that's funny,"
"Funny? What do you mean by that, kaa-san?"
"Nothing, it's just that I remember hearing all sorts of stuff about that Uzumaki Naruto, mostly from our neighbors and other parents from Nanami's class as well as yours. They used to say he was a no-good troublemaker and that the Academy shouldn't have let him graduate, that he had no business being as a ninja, and that he'd never amount to much. I was inclined to agree with them, but then he became a ninja, and after some time, people stopped badmouthing him as often as they once did. Three years later, that very same boy helps save the Kazekage's life," Masumi said, exchanging a furtive glance with her husband before setting her eyes on the salad bowl in front of her. "I suppose that, in the end, he's not as bad a ninja as everyone made him out to be,"
Far from getting upset with her, Shujinko understood his mother completely. If anything, he used to be guilty of thinking the same as her during his years as an Academy student, that Naruto wasn't cut out to be a ninja. Back when they were kids, Naruto was the overconfident class clown who never seemed to take anything seriously, so none of his classmates took him seriously in return. His test scores were awful and he didn't have the slightest bit of talent in anything related to what he was expected to learn. Shujinko saw him fail over and over again, so the only conclusion he could gather was that Naruto was simply a failure, not out of spite for him or anything, but as an objective fact.
Against all odds, Naruto ended up becoming a Genin. Then the bells test came along, and the mission of the bridge in Nami no Kuni, the Chunin Exams, the invasion, Sasuke's rescue mission, and other instances where the Uzumaki proved his worth beyond Shujinko's expectations. Other people, shinobi and civilians alike, were slowly picking up on his growth and Shujinko was happy for it. His teammate may have flaws, but he had more heart and guts than almost anyone he had ever met.
The rest of the dinner was spent making small talk and trying out a handful of desserts upon Masumi's insistence. Shujinko and his mother carried out most of the conversation, with a few comments and questions from Daichi here and there. Once all of the tableware was cleaned and the leftovers were properly stored for future meals, the young Jounin excused himself and went to his room upstairs, coming back with his wallet and keys. "You're heading out, Shujinko?" his mother asked. "It's a bit late to go outside, don't you think?"
"Sorry kaa-san, I have an appointment to keep," Shujinko replied with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll come home early, though not too early,"
"An appointment? What kind of appointment are you…" Masumi then stopped talking, and after realizing what her son meant, she gave him a knowing look as if the two of them were partners in crime. "… Oooh, now I see. Sure, go ahead and have a good time. Just make sure to send her our regards, okay?"
000
Knock, knock.
"Finally," Tenten said in a slightly huffed tone, getting up from her couch with a swing of her legs. After stretching her back a few seconds, she went to answer the door, stopping by a nearby mirror to make sure her face and hair still looked presentable. Once she opened it, Tenten saw her boyfriend standing in front of her with one hand behind his back, clearly hiding something and acting way too innocently about it. "You're late," was the first thing the kunoichi said to him, keeping a neutral facial expression.
In response, Shujinko gave her a cheesy grin and brought his arm forward, revealing a small takeaway box that he jiggled up and down. "I bought dumplings for my dumpling,"
The corner of Tenten's mouth twisted into an involuntary smirk and she let out a snort of amusement, which let the Ozuma know he was out of trouble. "Unbelievable. Come on, get inside already," she said. Shujinko entered the small house and the two of them went to the living room to enjoy each other's company over snacks. Just like her boyfriend, Tenten had also put on a casual and cozy outfit instead of her usual attire, wearing a black sports bra underneath a pink, loose crop top with short sleeves, as well as black leggings that reached down to the middle of her calves.
Shujinko opened the box and left it on the table before taking a seat on the couch, making himself comfortable. Tenten plopped down next to him and grabbed one of the dumplings, which she began to eat while resting her head on Shujinko's shoulder, who placed an arm around her. The Ozuma didn't bother to speak to her while she was eating, for he knew how much of a sweet tooth she had and it was better to let her finish her snack in peace before starting a conversation. It was just one of Tenten's quirks and Shujinko had gotten pretty used to it at this point.
After swallowing the last bite of her dumpling, the weapons expert made a yummy sound and licked her lips. "That's just what I needed," Tenten said before looking at her boyfriend. "You're not gonna eat?"
"Maybe later. Kaa-san made dinner back home and she went all out, so there's not much room in my stomach right now," Shujinko explained, which brought a greedy little smile to Tenten's face. More dumplings for her. "So, that was quite a mission we just had. I never thought the day would come where we would have to rescue the Kazekage together. It still feels strange thinking about it,"
"I was just going to say that. Like, isn't it weird? One day, we get attacked by Sunagakure, then three years later, we're sent to save the leader of the same village that attacked us. Funny how that works, but hey, at least everything worked out in the end. I'd much rather have Sunagakure as an ally instead of an enemy,"
"Yeah, me too. And with Gaara as the Kazekage, our relationship with Sunagakure is bound to improve… Speaking of which, do you remember when we bumped into each other at the end of the invasion and how busted up my face was?"
Tenten blinked in surprise. "Of course I do. I even had to help you out since you couldn't walk on your own. To be honest, cleaning all that blood you had on your face wasn't the most pleasant experience, but seeing how messed up you were, I just couldn't walk away without doing anything," she said, grabbing another dumpling and splitting it in half. "Where's this coming from, anyway?"
"Well, believe it or not, that blonde guy who was with us during the rescue mission we just came from, the one with the scar on his face, is the same guy who did that to me three years ago. His name is Inaka Renjiro, and you can trust me when I say I was not expecting to-"
"Wait a minute, what?" the kunoichi stared at her boyfriend with her eyes wide open and her mouth hanging agape, not realizing she had dropped her half of the dumpling to the floor. Shujinko would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't amused by her reaction, especially since there was no way Tenten could've seen that twist coming. "Are you saying you had to team up with the ninja who messed you up during the invasion? No, that… that can't be true. You're just kidding me, right?"
The golden-eyed Jounin let out a chuckle, which only made his girlfriend grow even more confused. "I swear I'm not lying. It didn't take me long to recognize him, and when I did, it was one of the most awkward moments of my life. Renjiro probably felt the same way too, even though I didn't bother to ask him about it," Shujinko made a pause to bend down and lift the dumpling that Tenten had dropped, acting as if he was talking about the most mundane of occurrences. He blew a couple of times to clean the dumpling and dipped it in some ponzu sauce before taking a bite. "Oddly enough, he and I work well together in the battlefield. We even have a similar sense of humor. I think you'd approve of him,"
"For someone who punched your face to a bloody pulp, you really seem to get along with this Renjiro guy," Tenten said, frowning heavily at him. "Look, I understand that you had no other choice but to fight by his side this time around, but shouldn't you be at least a little angry at him? Call me resentful if you want, but if someone did to me what he did to you, I'd certainly hold a grudge against that person,"
Shujinko stared back at her, and this time, he adopted a more serious attitude before responding. "Believe me, if there's anyone who should be holding a grudge, it's him. I know Renjiro battered my face pretty bad, but he got a lot worse in return,"
"How do you know that?
"You saw that big, ugly scar on his face, right? Care to guess who gave it to him?"
"… Oh,"
The two teenagers then began to discuss some aspects of their mission, such as how Tenten had to fight against a literal clone of herself and how Shujinko had to summon Asuka to help him chase down Deidara at some point. Normally, they tried to find other conversation topics that didn't include their missions whenever they were hanging out together, but this one was so wild that they couldn't help talking about it. When Tenten asked him how his arm had gotten injured, Shujinko hesitated for a couple of seconds before telling her it was all thanks to Deidara, which he supposed was the truth from an indirect point of view. Fortunately, his girlfriend didn't try to push for more answers and the Ozuma managed to swiftly change the topic without making it look suspicious.
Tenten was just talking about her father's weapons shop when she suddenly got up from the couch. "I just remembered I have something special to show you. It's in my room somewhere. Wait here while I go get it, okay?" she said, to which Shujinko nodded. Once she turned around, the young Jounin sat there in silence and focused his gaze on Tenten as she walked away, keeping his eyes on her at all times. There were many reasons why Shujinko was attracted to Tenten, such as her beautiful face, her fierce temper, and her skills as a kunoichi. However, now that both of them had grown up, Shujinko had increasingly begun to take notice of something else.
More specifically, he had begun to take notice of her girlfriend's body and how much he enjoyed looking at it.
Now seventeen years of age, Tenten was no longer the same girl Shujinko had met when he first entered Hirokoto's weapons shop looking for a new set of kunais to buy. Her body had naturally matured into that of a young woman, which was in great physical shape after all the training she and her teammates had gotten from Gai. Apart from being taller than before, her hips and bust had acquired more size and curves. She had also put on more muscle while still retaining most of her previous slimness, resulting in a balanced and healthy physique that was ideal for a kunoichi. On top of that, years of running, jumping, and squatting, had granted Tenten a strong pair of toned legs and a well-developed lower rear.
Shujinko wasn't sure when did he start paying attention to these things, but what he did know was that staring at Tenten's body never got boring, and if he was being completely and utterly honest with himself, he had to admit he wished to see more of it. He wondered whether if having these desires was completely normal or if he was actually more of a pervert than what he gave himself credit for, and he couldn't think of a single person with whom he'd feel comfortable talking about it. His parents were… Well, they were his parents, and sensei or not, he doubted Kakashi would be interested to know about his student's hormonal impulses. Masao sounded like the best choice for him, but he was too busy running his business as of late and Shujinko didn't want to waste the man's time with this own problems.
The Ozuma had to shake those thoughts out of his mind once he heard Tenten walking down the stairs. His girlfriend came back holding a three-section staff, also known as a sansetsukon, with the exception that this one had blades similar to that of a scythe attached to both ends. Shujinko's eyes widened a bit, for he had never seen that kind of weapon before, even though Tenten had introduced him to plenty of them over the course of their relationship. "Woah, where did you get… whatever that is?"
"Not bad, right? I bought this beauty off of Iō about two weeks ago and it arrived here yesterday. He came up with the design concept, though he still hasn't found a name for it, so I just call it 'bladed sansetsukon'. Not exactly original, I know, but watch what I can do with this thing," Tenten proceeded to swing her new toy around with masterful expertise, producing sharp whistling sounds every time the blades cut through the air. It always amazed Shujinko how good his girlfriend was at handling weapons, even those she'd never held before. Once the demonstration was over, Tenten left the bladed sansetsukon on the back of her shoulders and held it there with both hands, smirking confidently at the Ozuma. "So, whatcha think?"
"It sure looks cool and all, but it's a bit eccentric for my taste. I think I'd rather stick to my boring old kunais and shurikens," he replied with a smirk of his own. Just before his girlfriend could go on a rant about how he should consider upgrading his arsenal, they heard the entrance door opening, and they both turned around to see Tenten's father walking in.
Shujinko immediately straightened his back and waited until the man entered the living room to greet him properly. "Hey there, tou-san," Tenten said with a warm smile, leaving her weapon leaned against the wall. "Shujinko and I just returned from our mission. Did you miss me?"
"You know I did, sweetie, and I'm happy to have you here again," Hirotoko responded. His facial features hardened as soon as he saw his daughter's boyfriend standing next to her, who was smiling amicably at him. "Shujinko,"
"Welcome back, Hirotoko-san. I'm glad to see you," Shujinko said while bowing his head in a courteous manner. "I heard from Tenten you were out in a business trip. How did it go?"
"It was alright," was all the answer he got. The friendly expression on Shujinko's face remained in place until Hirotoko left the living room to unpack his luggage, quickly turning into a grimace. He looked back at Tenten, who gave Shujinko an apologetic look for her father's rudeness and dismissive attitude towards him, an attitude that couldn't be less warranted and that embarrassed Tenten for not being able to do much about it.
During the three years he'd been with his daughter, Shujinko's relationship with Hirotoko had barely improved in spite of the Ozuma's efforts. Hirotoko wasn't some tyrannical patriarch who wanted to control every aspect of Tenten's life and wasn't going to forbid her from being with whoever she wanted to, but he sure as hell had no intention of bonding with Shujinko or even hiding his lack of approval, which had garnered nothing but complications over time. Not even Tenten, who loved her father dearly, could excuse the way he treated her boyfriend. She'd discussed with Hirotoko many times, asking him to please show Shujinko a little bit more appreciation, but her pleas continuously fell on deft ears.
When Shujinko and Tenten got together, he promised her he would earn her father's respect in order to make their relationship more stable and compatible. He wasn't going to back down from his promise, but he was growing increasingly more deterred after years of receiving almost nothing but rejection. No matter how hard he tried, nothing Shujinko ever did was good enough to meet Hirotoko's unreasonably high expectations, to the point where the Ozuma wondered if Hirotoko was being a jerk to him for the sole sake of it. He understood that any father would be concerned with anyone who dated his daughter, but they'd been going at it for three years straight and it just seemed unfair at this point. It honestly made Shujinko want to tell Hirotoko to go to hell.
The couple spent the rest of the night under the careful gaze of Hirotoko, who observed them all the way from the kitchen while pouring himself a few cups of sake without even offering one to his guest. His pretext was that he was parched after traveling all day long and that a bit of alcohol helped him sleep better at night. While all of that could be true, it was more than evident what his real intentions were, which was why Shujinko didn't bother to stay much longer. Once he and Tenten ran out of dumplings to eat, the golden-eyed Jounin got up from the couch and said his goodbyes to Hirotoko, who answered with an uninterested grunt.
"Want me to walk you home?" Tenten offered, to which her father stopped drinking immediately. This didn't escape Shujinko's notice, who smiled broadly.
"It would be my pleasure," he replied. The Ozuma even extended his arm for Tenten to take right in front of Hirotoko. The frown on the man's face was so heavy that it almost seemed like his eyes were closed, which only brought Shujinko further joy. 'How do you like that, old man? Mind if I borrow your daughter for a while? I want to have some alone time with her if it's not too much trouble,'
Of course, Hirotoko wasn't about to yield without protesting first. "Is that really necessary? Shujinko is a grown man and a ninja on top of that. I think he's more than capable of walking home all by himself. Besides, it's getting late and you still haven't told me about your latest mission,"
"That's right, I haven't, which is why I'll tell you all about it… as soon as I get back," his daughter replied as she led Shujinko to the door. Shujinko was tempted to turn his face around and wink at Hirotoko on his way out, but he knew what kind of chaos would ensue if he did that, so he decided against it and walked out of the house without causing drama. He did, however, made sure to intertwine his fingers with Tenten's right in front of Hirotoko before shutting the door close.
000
"I'm so sorry about earlier," Tenten said in a tired tone of voice. "Tou-san is… Well, you already know him,"
She and her boyfriend had just reached a small kids' playground after walking through several streets of Konoha. Even though both of them were a little too old to go to playgrounds, this particular one was a nice, quiet place that provided plenty of privacy at night. Shujinko and Tenten had made a habit of stopping by there every once in a while to relax and get some fresh air without anyone disturbing them.
"I mean, he doesn't even try to keep things civil with you. Is that too much to ask? Your dad might not be the most talkative guy ever, but he's never made me feel unwelcomed or anything like that, and your mom is a complete sweetheart. Why can't he be more like your parents? It's not fair that you have to put up with my dad when you've done nothing wrong,"
"It is what it is, I guess," Shujinko responded with a shrug of his shoulders. He wasn't going to deny what she'd just said, for they both knew it was the truth and there was no use pretending otherwise. Being sincere with one another was part of every healthy relationship, especially in the case of ninjas, who were used to lying and deceiving people in order to get what they wanted. "It's not like this is anything new, Tenten. I knew what I was getting into when we started dating and so did you,"
"Maybe, but that doesn't make it okay, much less when this has been going on for three years now," Tenten pointed out. "You know, part of me thinks I'd be better off moving out. I love my dad and all, but I can't stand him when he treats you like this. Things would be simpler if I had a place of my own,"
This made Shujinko go wide-eyed. "Woah, Tenten, are you sure about this? Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered, but you don't have to move out of your house just for me,"
Tenten frowned at him, an embarrassing blush adorning her cheeks. "I didn't say I was all for it, just that I was considering it. And besides, it wouldn't be just for you, mister egocentric. Sooner or later, I'll have to move out anyway. I can't stay with my dad forever and I'm already seventeen, so I might as well start looking for options now and hopefully find a good spot to live in before someone else beats me to it. I've checked a couple of places out these past few weeks. Nothing too fancy, but being picky is a luxury I can't afford, not with my Chunin salary,"
As he listened to his girlfriend, the golden-eyed Jounin thought about how things would be for them if Tenten didn't have to live under the same roof as Hirotoko. She was legally allowed to do so due to her age and her shinobi rank. Naturally, Tenten would have to start paying for everything, including rent, food, water, electricity, and other similar expenses that came with being independent. At the same time, they would no longer have to worry about having a parent, or anyone else for that matter, keeping an eye on them and they'd be free to do as they wished. In order words, they would have almost complete privacy, and what could be more valuable than privacy in the life of a young couple?
"In any case, I'm still mulling it over. I need to save up more money before I do anything. This independent adult stuff is more complicated than I first thought," Tenten said before letting out a sigh. "Sorry for ruining the mood, but maybe the two of us should head home. I don't have the energy to hear tou-san ramble about the irresponsible youth of today. It was nice while it lasted, though,"
"Sure, I understand. But before you leave…" Shujinko slowly placed his left arm around the back of Tenten's waist, pulling her closer to him as a suggestive smirk grew on his face. "… Aren't you forgetting something?"
Not being one to decline such an invitation, the weapons specialist smirked back while two of her fingers began to walk up Shujinko's chest before stopping at his collarbone, never breaking contact with those golden eyes that she liked so much. "Am I forgetting something? Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. What are you gonna do about it?" Shujinko responded by closing what little distance remained between them, reaching Tenten's lips with his own. With his free hand, he brought her chin up and kissed her eagerly while Tenten matched his enthusiasm, grabbing the hair on the back of the Ozuma's head and reeling him in closer to her.
Unlike the time when they were kids, Shujinko and Tenten were now more than comfortable showing the affection they had for each other. Back in the day, holding hands and sharing small pecks was as far as they were willing to go, and they did so only when they were completely alone. Now that they were older, the pair of them could express themselves in a more passionate way, though they still made sure no one was looking at them. Kissing in public was something that was frowned upon, which was why the two ninjas frequented secluded places just like the one they were in right now where they wouldn't be seen by anyone, and even if they were spotted, no one would recognize them.
As the veil of the night cloaked the young lovers, the Ozuma allowed himself to get lost in the sweet sensation that Tenten's lips created, savoring every second of it. The life of a shinobi was often short and full of dangers, dangers that forced them to put their lives on the line on a regular basis. Shujinko accepted this as something he had to deal with, which was why he had learned to enjoy every moment he got to spend with his loved ones, and being with Tenten reinforced this more than anything else ever could. He sometimes wondered if what he felt for her was love.
Maybe he did love her, or maybe not. But what Shujinko had no doubts about was that, if what he felt for Tenten wasn't love, then it had to be something pretty damn close to it… and right now, he was happy with just that.
Aaaaaaaaand that was chapter 10. Hope you all liked it.
Once again, I'm sorry for taking so long. I got a new job recently and I'm still learning how to keep a balance between work and classes. Hopefully, the length of this chapter can make up for the delay.
Well, the Kazekage Rescue arc is finally over. I wanted to focus on Shujinko's personal and domestic life after the craziness of the previous chapters, because after all, even ninjas have a life outside of missions. As the title of this chapter suggests, it was time to give Shujinko a break before the start of the next arc, and if you ask me, the best place to do that is at one's own home. We also got to see Shujinko's father Daichi once again, as well as Hirotoko, who is Tenten's father (an OC).
How did you enjoy Shujinko's quality time with Tenten? I've been meaning to write a scene about them for so long and I'm glad I finally did. Speaking of which, I want to address something here: As you probably noticed, this is the first time I've ever described (from Shujinko's perspective) Tenten's physical appearance in a more, shall we say, "mature" fashion. Just in case it needs to be clarified, her description comes from the observations of a 16-year-old guy who's been with her for three years. At that age, hormones are running wild and we all get interested in the opposite sex, so don't blame Shujinko for being a teenager lol.
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Ja ne!
