Chapter 5: Undercover Uncovered

Examining the pulse of the village turned out to be not as easy a task as it sounded. Not that Naruto had any real preconceptions about it, yet somehow he still was surprised by the challenge it turned out to be.

Part of the reason was that the village was small enough that most people knew just about everyone else in the village. As he was playing with kids, he tried to keep as close as he could to the parents so he could catch any useful hints regarding their state of mind as they talked while observing their little bundles of joy.

The parents sometimes sent questioning looks his way, either because he was not a child they recalled seeing before or because he was unusually close much of the time. He did manage to evade suspicion since he was just a child in their eyes, and most people don't keep track of all the kids running around a village, just mostly the grown-ups.

When he wasn't playing with the kids, who weren't a very reliable source of knowledge, he walked around the village, appearing to minding his own, unimportant business. While the kids spoke their minds when asked, they predictably weren't articulate nor certain what to say when asked about their situation and what their parents felt or thought about it. Half the time, their spirits were dampened and even outright angry at Naruto for talking about stuff like that when they could try having as much fun as possible, which Naruto could relate to all too well.

So Naruto decided to wander around and even doing a quick job for a merchant or craftsman as a courier or instant light-labour help (though he could lift heavier loads than the average kid due to his ninja training). This was when he gathered the most intel. It granted him access to areas he otherwise would not have a reason to hang about in and people weren't afraid to talk about their problems if the only ears present besides their own were that of village children.

Naruto very briefly considered visiting his new friends at the brothel, but thought better of it. For one, they wouldn't recognize him and it wasn't worth him revealing his cover. Secondly, anyone seeing him enter the establishment would more than likely be appalled and investigate why a minor went into such a place.

As Naruto guessed, it took the majority of the day to gather enough information to form a relatively informed opinion of their state of mind. Deciding that he had earned a break, he went and bought himself an ice-cream, even though it was outrageously priced. The vendor was happily surprised that Naruto paid him, his business was hurting bad since parents, much less their kids, couldn't afford to enjoy his tasty products.

While sitting down on a bench and enjoying his purchase, he was joined by a slightly elder teenager.

"Hi, there!" Naruto greeted friendlily.

"Hello." The teen politely returned sitting down, leaving a couple of feet between them.

A pleasant silence settled between them. Naruto was still licking the quickly melting treat when he noticed that the teenager beside him was reading a book. A book about medicine.

"Watcha reading?" Naruto asked as if he was an oblivious kid.

The teenager turned his head and replied with a kind smile. "I'm reading a book about medicine and related flora."

"Related flora?" Naruto asked, though he knew about the subject.

"Yes, flora, and sometimes even fauna, have medicinal properties to help people get better when hurt or sick. In some cases, they can even cause hurt in people if done right, or wrong, depending on who you ask."

"Who'd want to do that part right?" Naruto asked, faking shock.

"People in the business of killing or hurting others." The teenager replied matter-of-factly.

"You mean... like that Gato-teme?" Naruto asked with childish anger.

"Well... probably not him personally, but people who work for him, possibly, yes."

"Really? How do you know that, uhh...?" Naruto inquired, leaving the end open for the other teenager to fill in.

"Haku. Yuki, Haku." Haku supplied. "And I don't know, I just said what I believed based on what I do know about the man."

"You know about him? What's he like?" Naruto queried, once again like a curious child.

Haku chuckled lightly before responding. "I don't know any more then the next person." Haku replied truthfully. "I know that he's a despicable tyrant with an insatiable greed and hunger for power. He has no qualms doing anything he thinks is necessary to achieve what he wants."

"Like murdering Kaiza-san for standing up to him." Naruto said bitterly.

Haku regarded the, up till then, bright boy briefly before nodding. "Yes, things like that. I take it you knew him?"

"Kaiza-san? Who here doesn't know about him? But I'm not related to him or anything in case you're wondering." Naruto replied smoothly.

"I see." Haku said. "Tell me, what was he to you?"

Naruto inwardly became nervous. He didn't know all that much about Kaiza and his inquires around town didn't involve him, nor did people speak about him. His memory being still a touchy subject, no doubt. But keeping it generalized while still being convincingly passionate about it hopefully would do the trick.

"He was... a hero. My friend, Inari, was his adopted son and he really, and I mean really, looked up to him and said he was really great with lots of stuff. And the way I see it, even if he died for it, he did try to stand up to Gato, which was awesome all by itself."

Smiling, Haku commented. "You admire him for protecting his home."

"Yeah, exactly!" Naruto agreed, completely truthful.

Haku leaned a bit closer an said, smiling "Do you know what makes a person truly strong? Truly admirable?"

Looking straight at Haku, Naruto responded with a determination that had Haku lean back slightly in surprise.

"Yeah, I do. And it's not just one thing either. Love and faith."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Haku said, happy, if not a tad shocked, to hear such strong, wise words from a young boy.

"If you love someone, you'd do everything in your power to keep them safe. If you have faith in yourself, you can do anything you set your mind to. If people have faith in one another, then that potential is multiplied several times. It's as simple as that." Naruto said fiercely.

Haku's smile turned into a small but pretty grin. "You are absolutely right. What is your name?"

"Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto answered with confident pride.

"Naruto-kun, what you just said, I could not have said better. I can tell that you will become a strong individual in the future. Very strong." Haku said while rising up to walk away. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave. I need to return and tend to someone who's ill."

"Okay. Well, take care and I'll see you around, Haku-san." Naruto called as he waved.

"Oh, by the way." Haku said, turning to face Naruto. Only, Naruto was already running away and wasn't able to hear what the elder teen was about to say. Said teen pouted a little for not being able to mess with the boy. No doubt he was unsure about Haku's gender, being androgynous in appearance, and voice, and Haku liked to mess with people's minds whenever possible regarding that.

Later

Naruto returned to Tazuna's home just in time for supper. Before showing himself to the others, Naruto retrieved his ninja garb and made a quick change. Supper was, once again, a rather quiet affair, until Asuma asked, "How did things progress today, Ghost-san?"

Looking at his sensei for a moment, Naruto nevertheless replied. "Well, I'm thinking that there's enough to work with, but we should be ready for any setbacks no matter what."

Asuma nodded in understanding. There was potential for a successful revolt, but also a risk of too much fear for any considerable reaction. Asuma really hoped for the reinforcements to arrive before noon the next day at the latest.

"It'll be worse..." Inari spoke lowly.

"What?" Naruto asked, not understanding what he was referring to.

"It'll be worse than 'setbacks'." He replied, slamming his palms onto the table as he stood up, glaring at the black-clad boy. He almost shouted in his anger as he elaborated. "It will be you getting crushed like ants beneath the boots of Gato's army of thugs!"

"Inari!" Tsunami scolded, but Inari took no heed.

"I'm serious, mom! These guys need to learn that there's nothing they can do before they get themselves killed and make things worse for us because of it." He then turned back to Naruto, who wondered what apparently made him the main target of the boy's ire. "Why?! Why did you have to come here and act as if you are the solution to our problems? News flash! You aren't the first ones to try and get rid of Gato. You wont be the first ones to die trying! You wont be the first ones that will have failed us, not just by dying, but by bringing Gato's wrath down upon us afterwards!"

"That's enough, Inari!" Tazuna raised his voice this time. Still, Inari did not listen. He went on as if Tazuna hadn't uttered a word.

"You!" He indicated Naruto, as if he was the source of his anguish. Then briefly glanced at the rest of them before refocusing his glare and speech. "You all should never have come here, you should just leave us alone. You're not strong enough. There's not enough of you. You don't have a clue about what to do. You haven't the slightest idea at all!"

During all this, Naruto's eyes remained impassive, but nonetheless fixated on the troubled child.

"All of you." Inari then said in a quieter tone. "I bet you all come from some rich clans that have no worries in the world. Spoiled, safe, happy." He growled out the last words in seething anger. "You have no idea just how hard life can be. What suffering is like. Do you? Any of you?!"

It was at that statement that Naruto's eyes closed and, though unseen, anyone could tell that a grimace or a seething grin of anger was behind the mask.

Those who knew Naruto was expecting an outburst of some kind, the family didn't know what was about to happen, but they were worried that something... unpleasant was about to take place.

Naruto was very upset by the boys words, particularly the last ones. His initial reflex, which he managed to squash before it happened, was to blow up and tell the boy off, and not in any gentle terms.

If anyone knew what it was like to suffer, Naruto did. His life before he met his sensei and father-figure was, in one word, horrible. Being treated as an outcast, a pariah, a pest to be avoided or even exterminated if given the chance. Having to bear that all on his own, with virtually no one to call a friend or a loved one to help him through it all. He even came close to dying right before Yokai came along.

Naruto was willing to bet that Inari didn't have to endure any of those hardships. He did appreciate that Inari's life wasn't easy by any standard. But he was badly in need of some... corrective view adjustments.

When Naruto spoke, his tone was cold, yet had no true malice within it. "Kid, I understand you better than you can imagine."

Inari was about to blow a gasket but Naruto's eyes suddenly sprung open and were fixated on Inari's own with a stare so focused and icy that Inari was stunned into silence.

"Yes, you have been dealt a bad hand in life. No one can tell you any different. But you need to understand that there are always those who have had it worse than you. People who have suffered in ways you wouldn't even find in your darkest nightmares. Let me put it into perspective for you." Naruto said as he rose from the table and gestured for Inari to follow him.

Asuma was initially unsure of Naruto's intentions, but it dawned upon him as the pair went into the next room and closed the door.

'I hope you know what you're doing, Naruto.' Asuma thought as he glanced at the people who remained in the room. Tsunami was very worried that Inari was going to be hurt, but herself didn't dare to say or do anything against her protectors and possible saviours. Tazuna was of the same mind. The Genin were concerned and confused as to what Naruto was going to do. Shikamaru had an inkling as to what Naruto had in mind, however.

In the adjoining room, Naruto turned around to face Inari, who was noticeably nervous.

Inari, himself, thought that maybe he had gone too far. But the part of him that stood for his pride and anger wouldn't let him back down. He saw it as his right to let them have it, they were the ones in the wrong, after all. Still, the prospect of being beaten by their protectors because of his mouth naturally wasn't an attractive notion.

What actually happened left Inari stupefied.

Naruto kneeled so his face was even with Inari's, and pulled his mask down, revealing to the boy what was hidden.

Whisker marks.

A moment later, Naruto replaced the mask before speaking again with a neutral tone.

"Where I come from, I am hated and despised. Always have been since I can remember, probably for as long as I have lived actually. I was hated enough that people not only openly showed it in their attitudes, but also in their actions. I was not allowed to buy stuff at the normal prices, I had to buy them at several times the price. Sometimes I wasn't even allowed to buy stuff at all and thrown out of shops because of what I am.

There were times when people riled themselves up to the point that they took a more active approach in their mistreatment of me. They ganged up and hunted me with makeshift weapons and torches so they could hurt me, or even kill me if given the chance. Once, they even came close to succeeding.

During all that, I was alone. No one wanted to be my friend. Even if they wanted at first, their parents forbid them to and then turned them against me, most of them anyway. The only people I knew that cared about me was the village leader and a couple of kind ramen chefs that fed me and gave me what love they could without needlessly risking the ire of the people."

Naruto's tone never wavered during his recounting of his life so far. Inari was listening with rapt attention, his own anger and troubles momentarily forgotten as he listened to this strange guy with whisker marks.

"Were you... hated because of your whisker marks?" Inari tentatively asked.

Naruto scoffed at that. "Feh! Hardly, Inari-san. What they hated me for was, and is, what gave me them."

"What is it? What... are you?"

"I... am a Jinchuuriki." Naruto said, his eyes firmly locked onto Inari's.

"W...what's a Jichurningki?"

Biting his lip briefly to keep himself from laughing at the child's mispronunciation, Naruto answered in a level tone, something which took all his self-control to manage.

"A Jin-chuuri-ki is a person that has a great tailed beast sealed within themselves like a prisoner in a jail."

"A great tailed beast? What the heck are those?" Inari asked, unsure whether to be awed or weirded out.

"They are titanic animals made of pure energy. Big enough to cause tsunamis with a strike of one of their tails, level smaller mountains with the force of their attacks and cause earth-quakes by simply roaring in fury."

Inari decided to be awed at that point.

"Like I said, I am a living prison for one of those beasts. Sealed within me with a strong seal to keep it contained. I'm unsure whether it is normal for Jinchuurikis, but I happen to have a signature of it, in a manner of speaking, which is what you saw on my cheeks.

At the time of my birth, this beast somehow came around to my village, attacking anything and anyone in sight. Long story short, someone powerful stopped it by sealing it inside of me. Thus saving the village... but all but condemning me to a life of suffering and constant threats to my life."

Inari was completely blown away by the story. It took a moment for him to collect his thoughts enough to ask. "But... why hate you for it... You should be..."

"Seen as a hero?" Naruto supplied with a mirthless chuckle. "The pain and loss the people felt as a result of the beast's attack, not to mention that they are not in-the-know of how seals work, led them to take out their aggression on the one that held the object of their hatred. In time, the lines blurred and they simply saw me and the beast as one and the same. They chose not to view me as a hero, in favour of a scapegoat to punish.

So you see, Inari-san. There are always people who have had it worse."

"Who could have had it worse than you?" Inari asked before he could stop himself.

Chuckling at the question, Naruto said simply. "Dunno, but I'm willing to keep an open mind about it. As I hope you will from now on, right?"

Inari looked down in though, as well as some remorse for his earlier actions.

"I'm... sorry for what I said before, Ghost-san." Inari said, a tear slowly running down his cheek. Naruto could tell it took a lot for Inari to say it.

Laying a hand on the younger boy's shoulder, Naruto spoke. "I forgive you, Inari. And although it isn't really my place to say it, I think you should say it to your family too. You may have had a right to be angry about what's happened to you and your village. But you have not exactly helped things with the way you've been acting. Take it from someone who's been there. I caused a bit of trouble for my sensei because I was an attention seeker, and I thought I deserved the attention that I craved. But I learned my lessons well, thankfully before things became problematic."

Inari pondered what Naruto had said for a moment, before nodding in solemn and remorseful agreement.

"One more thing, Inari." Naruto said seriously. "What you have just seen and heard, you have to keep to yourself. Don't mention any of this to anyone, not even your family. The kind of ninja work I do is... more dangerous than most other ninja stuff. And my and my comrades' enemies would love to get their hands on any information about us. They absolutely cannot learn that you know what I look like and especially not why. So keep it to yourself, that's the best way to protect yourself and your family."

Understanding enough to see the seriousness of the situation, Inari promised to not say a word. Clapping Inari encouragingly on the shoulder, Naruto gestured for them to return to the supper table.

Upon seeing them return in better spirits, everyone was relieved and the rest of the supper was consumed under a more amicable atmosphere.

After supper, Hinata approached Naruto privately and asked him, "W-what did you say to Inari-kun, Na... Ghost-san?"

Looking back at her with a somewhat tired gaze that still held some mirth within them, Naruto replied. "I basically told him my life's story. Well, the gist of it, anyway."

Her eyes widened at that. "Y-you told him that, just to g-give him p-perspective?"

"It's more than giving perspective, Hinata-chan. The way he was going at it with his negativity was downright destructive to not only himself, but everyone around him. Had I been a lesser person, I'd have probably done something... wrong in answer to his outburst. He really struck a nerve, but I could understand him enough to not be too angry with him. But I also understood that he needed a reality-check so he could move on, so his family could feel better... and..."

"A-and?"

"...And so I'd feel better, by helping someone else who's gone through pain." Naruto said sadly, yet his eyes were still possessing a smiling look.

Touched by Naruto's concern for a child he only just met, Hinata's own eyes began to moisten with tears.

"Y-you did a w-wonderful thing, N... Ghost-kun."

Chuckling at the affectionate addition to his code-name, Naruto rubbed his neck in his trademark gesture of embarrassment.

"Aw... shucks, it wasn't that big of a deal."

Hinata surprised him, however, by giving him a loving hug.

"Yes, it was." She said softly. She then let go of him before heading to her room to retire for the night. "Good night, Ghost-kun." She said before disappearing into the room. Naruto barely managed his own "Good night." before the door closed.

He was still not used to hugs, particularly from the female half of the human race. And for some reason, this hug felt... separate from any other hug he felt before. He didn't know what to make of it. He correctly guessed that he'd have to make use of one of the techniques he learned from Yokai to help him get some sleep tonight, or he'd be up all night pondering about it.