Chapter 5 – The Fishing Village of Wave
Author's Note: Thanks Nithi Velu for the suggestion!
Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters do not belong to me
Previously on Secret Keeper: Team 7 accepted the mission of protecting the Bridge-builder Tazuna in his return trip to Wave, and completion of the bridge. What was supposed to be a low C-rank mission, however, is turning out to be anything but. So far, they have encountered the Demon Brothers and the Demon of the Mist himself!
"Sensei!" Sakura cried out, startled.
"Relax, Sakura-chan," Naruto sighed, "it's just chakra exhaustion from over-using the Sharingan, it's not a natural dojutsu for sensei, so it drains his chakra faster, probably why he keeps it covered with his hitai-ate."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about, dobe?"
Naruto ignored him, moving his hands into a familiar cross sign.
"Kagebunshin no jutsu!" he called out, creating a couple of clones, who wasted no time in pulling Kakashi's arms up over their shoulders.
"Umm, Naruto? What are you doing?" Sakura asked, staring at the clones.
Frowning, Naruto turned from collecting his backpack.
"Are you serious, Sakura-chan? We're in the middle of nowhere with a client who's apparently got a contract on his head, and our sensei's down'n'out for who knows how long, not to mention the MASSIVE, loud battle that's just taken place! We need to move, now, before someone else comes along! Kokyaku-san, how far out of the village are we?" Naruto asked.
Tazuna frowned for a moment.
"Recon if we continue on at t'same pace as earlier, we're still got abou' half a day's travel." He announced, causing the genin to deflate.
"Oi, dobe, how long can you carry Sensei?" Sasuke asked as he closed his pack, having finished collecting as many weapons left from the battle as possible.
The blond snorted causing the others to look back at him again.
"Wrong question teme," he said, forming a seal with his right hand. "The real question is how long can y'all keep up?" he finished with a grin, before setting off down the path, his clones following close behind. The Uchiha snored, before motioning for Tazuna to go next, watching as Sakura hurried up beside him.
They'd barely been walking for an hour before Sakura started lagging, and pretty much demanding that they take a break. However, before it got too annoying, they were met by a horse and cart heading to the village. It only took a moment to arrange a lift, the driver only too happy to help the bridge-builder.
And so it was the small group for four Konoha ninjas arrived at the small village of Wave. As the cart rolled down the dirt track masquerading as a high-street, Sakura openly gaped at the dilapidated buildings and rolling dust bunnies.
"What happened here?" she asked, unable to understand just how the village had been allowed to almost fall apart.
Tazuna sighed.
"It started with the fall of Uzushio during the Second Shinobi War, Wave lost most of it's income, as unlike Konoha, the Shinobi lived over'in Uzushio and the Civillians here'in Wave – in fact, Uzushio used to be just t'other side o' that there hill," he explained, pointing to a large hill opposite them. "Wave itself used to reach it, but over time, the village has shrunk. But, the final nail in the coffin was Gato." Tazuna shrugged, as if to say 'what can you do?"
Their conversation was interrupted by the cart stopping in what looked like an abandoned market place.
"Sorry, mate, this's it," the driver said, climbing down to meet a small group of villagers.
Thanking him, they climbed down, Naruto once more creating a couple of clones to carry Kakashi, before falling in behind Tazuna as he lead them off down a sidetrack between what looked like a couple of deserted warehouses.
"Not far now," Tazuna proclaimed, heading towards the woods just outside the village.
"Umm, Tazuna-san? I thought you lived in the village?" Sakura questioned hesitantly.
"I do. Most of the villagers live in the village, it's just because the village has shrunk, so the houses ar'now on t'outskirts." Tazuna shrugged. "This used to be the main market, spanning several blocks." Tazuna gestured towards the surrounding buildings.
"Oh," was all Sakura could say.
The rest of their walk to Tazuna's house was completed in relative silence, broken only by Tazuna's explanations of where everything was.
Arriving at Tazuna's house, they were welcomed by Tsunami, his daughter. After checking that yes, they had already eaten (while riding on the cart), she took them upstairs to the guest rooms; Sakura was not happy to have a room to herself, why couldn't she share with her Sasuke-kun?
Rolling their eyes at her dramatics, the boys were quick to thank their hosts and head to their room, Naruto's clones setting Kakashi comfortably upon a futon, before popping as the boys settled down for the night.