Tomoki woke the next morning with a feeling of ambivalence that overwhelmed everything but the heady anticipation of his impending abduction.
A 'B'-rank mission, the thought churned in his head as he tried to encompass all that it meant. I can't understand why the Hokage would think I'd even be capable…or why he'd trust me with something like this.
He puffed out a breath then rose from his bed's sagging mattress and set his bare feet on the plywood floor. A beam of sunlight surged in through the tall, arch-topped window set at the end of the vaulted, bare-framed, gambrel ceiling, and made specs of dust blaze like tiny comets. The new day's brightness made the attic look messier than he remembered it had the previous night, with books and scrolls strewn about the floor, and the strange pieces of furniture that had been here when Ichi had offered this attic to him – a hand-wound record player, wardrobe, a voluminous papasan chair, coat rack and other 'heirlooms' in various states of repair, some wrapped in canvas.
Before he changed out of his pajamas, he straightened the place up a bit, then made his way to the bathroom. A look in the mirror informed him that the bruise along his cheek had faded slightly. Who'd have thought that being a ninja could be so…dangerous? he considered sardonically then tended to his morning ablutions – showering and brushing his teeth.
When he was finished, he dressed, took down his swords then sat on his bed with them laid across his knees. He tried to use this time to meditate, but his restless mind made it all but impossible.
"So what's wrong this time?" Ichi's question played in his memory. "Naruto," he'd intoned as his answer, and then – "how could he fight like that, how could he be so strong after starving for four days, and then beat two animal-spirits, Hsien and Inukaya, who I couldn't beat after three tries!"
His old mentor had frowned sagely, shaken his head then looked at him. "You know very well how," he'd replied in a calm drawl. "His energy is boundless, and you will never be able to match it."
Tomoki had pounded his fist on his tabletop. "It's not fair!" he'd groaned.
"Be grateful instead that you haven't had to pay the price he's paid for that power – how many years of misery. Consider this too, it was because of that nine-tailed fox that lives within him that Abbot Lin had him imprisoned in the first place." Tomoki had only scowled and looked away. Ichi was rarely a reliable source for comfort or easy answers, so the boy supposed he should have known better. "Listen, Tomoki," his mentor had continued, "it's always easier to see the possibilities of other people's gifts than your own. Your way lies down a quieter path, but it is no less than his." The boy's look had been skeptical, but he listened to what the old man had to say. "Naruto's foundation is in self-confidence," the soothsayer had explained. "Yours is in humility."
The boy had goggled tiredly and rubbed his eye. "Humility…," he'd grumbled scornfully, "great."
"Yes, I know," Ichi had laughed understandingly. "It's not what you wished to hear." His mentor had then refreshed his tea and his guest's and drew a contemplative sip. "Paradoxically, young master, there is strength in humility. Discovering it is not easy. I can show you the way, if you wish it, but would prevail on you first to be content instead with what you have and who you are. That is a great achievement for anyone." Their conversation had come to an end then as a patient walked in for their appointment. Ichi had risen and patted Tomoki kindly on the back. "Take some time and think about it."
The boy looked up now and his fingers drummed against his sheathed swords. What had the Hokage said – 'Why not you?' the remembrance blurted in his mind. "Yeah, why not me?" the ninja answered himself aloud.
Gripping handle and scabbard, he pulled a blade free and inspected it. He'd cared for them fastidiously, but lamented how worn they were from hard use. 'Like a lawnmower blade,' Iruka-sensei had once told him. What does losing to Kenshiro mean anyway, his thoughts turned toward the other subject that bothered him, one individual contest in such an artificial environment? I mean, how many real fights are like that – in a sealed room, one on one, with no shadows or objects?
Even though he'd cleaned his weapons just yesterday, he cleaned them again, oiled them carefully and wiped them off. Ah, don't kid yourself, he scolded himself angrily …everyone was put in that same position for a reason. The arena and the match-ups favored some more than others, but still, some rose to the challenge and some fell apart. Naruto improvised, Shikamaru used strategy, and Sasuke won without even using a jutsu. Rock Lee...he paused and looked up as he remembered how bravely he'd fought and what he'd sacrificed in pursuit of his path. That guy's a hero, even though he lost. They should write ballads and epics about him and his fight with Gaara.
The genin raised his blades, one at a time, into the light. He had a few other swords, but they were cheap and made of cast steel – pale imitations at best compared to this pair which were proper weapons crafted of folded, hammered steel, and prepared with all the arcane orthodoxy of the sword-smith's art. They'd served him well and saved his life countless times now, against men and monsters. He could no longer see them as inanimate objects, but what his years of diligent practice had made them – extensions of himself.
So what else is bugging you? he asked himself. You should've done better? You wanted to impress people? Since when did you care about stuff like that?!
The genin bit off a piece of silk thread and held up his sword with the edge up. Ok, so Esmeralda thinks you're worthless…and the rest think you're a loser. You know something: if you pull off this mission, well, that would set things straight, now wouldn't it? He threw out one end of the thread and let it fall toward the blade, then pulled on the other end and watched how it split.
"Yup," he muttered appreciatively, "that's plenty sharp alright." Satisfied, he put on his multi-pocketed vest, filled his canteen, and made sure he was properly outfitted with shuriken, kunai knives, twine, matches, compass and other useful items he might need. Lastly, he tied on his hidden leaf headband, took a deep, preparatory breath then started out the door.
Tomoki's first order of business was breakfast. Normally, he'd just have some fruit, but since he didn't know when his next meal might be he thought he'd better eat something more substantial. His nose lead him to a countered stall – a kitchen called Triple Happiness. He ducked under its ornamental drapery, walked in and took a stool. The place seemed clean and homey. Behind the lacquered, wooden counter was a narrow aisle that fronted a prep table, long grille and two ranges filled with bubbling pots and steaming pans. A lone cook danced between them, alternately stirring, flipping, chopping, mixing and pouring.
As Tomoki leaned his elbows on the counter to wait his turn, the cook hopped briskly toward the other end of the counter to clear away some dishes – piles and piles of them! After the man's second trip, with both arms fully loaded, Tomoki leaned back to look and his eyes fell upon his former academy classmates Chouji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara. Chouji, as always in his green shirt, white scarf and curiously-fashioned headband that split his bushy, brown hair into two thickets, rested his perennially-bandaged forearms over his wide, round belly in great contentment. Shikamaru, tall and lean, with his dark, slate colored hair pulled up in a thick pony-tail, seemed annoyed and anxious to go.
The proprietor returned to them and an argument developed.
"Why'd you eat so much if you didn't have any money?" grumbled Shikamaru in his low, flat voice as he drummed the back of his hand against his friend's meaty shoulder.
Chouji gave him a disconcerted look. "I thought you were gonna spot me," he whined, at which Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"What made you think I was gonna do that?" he asked testily. "You saw how little I was eating!"
The cook glowered crossly at the both of them and folded his ropey arms. "I hope you don't think food's free here!"
Tomoki blew out a breath, reached for a pocket, picked out a ten-ryo coin then rolled it down the counter as the three's disagreement began to escalate. The woman who sat a pair of seats down from him watched it pass before her, then took another sip of her juice. Voices fell silent as the coin stopped in front of the two genin and the cook snatched it before it even had the chance to fall.
Now smiling, he exclaimed, "Guess it's a lucky day for all of us!"
Tomoki's two classmates leaned back and looked over at him, at which he smiled and gave them an acknowledging nod. Shikamaru's expression was dubious, but Chouji beamed. The whorl tattoos on his pudgy cheeks rose. "Thanks, Tomoki!" he gusted. "You saved our lives, or at least a few hours of washing dishes and peeling vegetables!"
"It's ok," said Tomoki casually, then turned as the cook rushed up to take his order.
"What'll you have, 'big money'?" he asked eagerly.
The genin cocked his head toward Chouji. "I'll take whatever he had," he replied boldly, then added, "Just one plate though."
"Eels and eggs it is!" the cook agreed and spun away before his young customer could catch him.
"So what's this about?" inquired Shikamaru as he walked up to Tomoki. "I mean, you never have anything to say and now you're buying us eats? What gives?"
Tomoki, unprepared for an inquisition, explained coolly, "Just trying to be nice."
"Come on, Shikamaru," Chouji intervened on their benefactor's behalf.
"It seems weird, that's all," his teammate continued warily.
"Oh, well, if that's how you feel," said Tomoki, rising to the genin's suspicions. "I'll just spit in your face next time."
Shikamaru and Tomoki stared holes through each other while Chouji shook his head and cursed under his breath.
"Hey!" the cook hollered. "The only beef in here is stewed or barbequed, anything else you take outside!"
The tall ninja's hard expression broke into a smile, and Tomoki's quickly followed.
"Hey," said Shikamaru agreeably, now apparently satisfied, "thanks for breakfast."
His stocky companion shrugged with exasperation then socked him in the arm. "What is wrong with you?" he bellowed. "Why didn't you just say that in the first place?"
The two complained back and forth as they sat down on either side of Tomoki just as his meal arrived. 'Eels and eggs' meant grilled eel and scrambled eggs, and actually looked quite tasty.
"So what brings you down?" asked Shikamaru, this time genially. "Never saw you in here before."
"I'll have to eat good if I want to heal up," replied Tomoki between mouthfuls. "Hey," he remarked to Chouji, "this is really good."
"You see?!" agreed Chouji, who leaned forward to announce to his teammate: "That's what I've been trying to tell you!"
Shikamaru grunted. "It's your own fault," he criticized. "What were you thinking anyway? Trying to take on Kenshiro like that -- your aiki-jutsu against his metal-element fist. Not a smart move."
"Yeah," the young ninja sighed. "That's what I'm told, and I'm starting to believe it. Maybe I'll know better next time." He took another bite of his eel, then some eggs. He glanced at the dark-haired genin and put aside his envy. "That was nice work, by the way," he managed, "beating that sound village kunoichi."
Chouji groaned, then said, "Do you guys have to talk about the chunin exams?"
Shikamaru laughed. "Sorry, it's kind of a sore subject," he explained then canted his head toward Chouji, "for some of us!"
The three talked awhile longer, before Chouji and Shikamaru were summoned by their sensei's gruff voice, "Hey, you two!" All three turned toward the dark haired and bearded face of Asuma Sarutobi, who stuck his head in under the drapery. "Are you going to hang out here all day?!" he growled. "I hope you ate enough to last awhile, 'cause you've got serious training to do!"
His team cringed at the idea and gave Tomoki desperate looks. "Good luck," he muttered supportively.
Chouji slid off his stool and trudged off as if to a sentence of hard labor, followed by Shikamaru whose expression turned hollow. "What a drag," he lamented.
Having eaten, Tomoki walked and thought about the two ninja and what the Hokage had said about giving him 'latitude'. An idea occurred to him and he looked upward in thought. I wonder if that includes getting some help? Shikamaru's really smart, he considered. Someone like that having my back would be a great thing. Chouji would be good too. He was brave enough to fight that killer, Dosu, even if he did lose. The genin wet his lips as he found a wall and started to do some light stretches to waken his still-slumbering limbs. Sakura? he mulled the idea over. Yeah! She's quick and inventive, and thinks on her feet. Or Hinata, maybe? She's nice enough, and her byakugan's an awesome power! If I'm going to be kidnapped, she could easily follow me from a distance. He froze with a sudden realization and he nodded. Kenshiro would come. He knows he owes me. Or Chiaki, maybe…
For a moment, he envisioned a whole army of ninja accompanying him, but then one by one they fell away. I don't know, he reconsidered. Shikamaru's got not just one but two tough opponents to face in less than a month. I couldn't ask him to drop his training. Even if not for that, he imagined events as they would unfold: "Hey, guys," he would say to Chouji and Shikamaru with a face a-glow with enthusiasm, "I bought you breakfast so how about you join up with me on a super-dangerous 'B'-rank mission?! Tomoki replayed it in his head a couple of times to see if he could imagine that either of them would reply with anything other than a fit of hysterical laughter. Sakura and Hinata? he weighed, as his hand-selected conscripts continued to vanish. I don't even have a clue where to find them now. They're probably off training or something, same with Kenshiro and Chiaki.
He sighed as he finished his stretches, then looked toward the towering rock-cut monument of the four Hokages that overlooked the city. Who does that leave, he continued, Naruto? Yeah, he might be dumb enough to sign up for this…even though he's got to fight Neji. Tomoki smiled, then scowled at the idea and dismissed it. The conclusion settled over him, I guess I'm on my own again. I sure wish I had more time.
Flexing his fingers, he forced himself to accept the circumstances then started down the road to the practice fields along which, he knew, his abductors waited.
Tomoki hadn't gone far when he felt a presence. He froze and shut his eyes. "Hey, Naruto," he mumbled as he turned around and found himself nearly nose to forehead with the shorter genin.
"Hey, yourself!" Naruto barked back in his raspy tenor. He was clad in his usual raiment – orange pants and jacket, which was blue at the shoulders and with a high, white collar. His eyes blazed like sapphire flames. "How come you've been so hard to find? What, are you avoiding me or something?"
Tomoki closed his eyes as he admitted guiltily, "…yes."
Naruto's mouth opened slightly and his eyes widened as he fell back a step. His upset expression tore through Tomoki, knowing it was the last thing his friend deserved. Naruto clenched his jaw and forced a hard look in his eyes. "Why?" he asked in a voice that crested plaintively with emotion.
"I just…couldn't face you. I let a lot of people down. I let myself down, Naruto," Tomoki explained with a wince. "And I let you down too."
Naruto's yellow eyebrows furrowed. "You idiot," he spat. "Did ya think I didn't get why you lost; why you didn't use your swords?" Though his words disparaged, his voice ached with understanding. "Did ya think I was too stupid to understand? Come on, Tomoki. You don't have anything to prove to me."
Tomoki's expression squirmed as he dragged a sleeve across his brow. "Thanks, Naruto," he managed, quiet as a whisper, then stood there dumbly for a moment and swallowed. "So," he began hurriedly, desperate now to change the subject, "what have you been up to since your win?"
"Oh, yeah!" Naruto exulted. "I got this new trainer, Jaraiya. He's great, even though he's a crazy old pervert!"
"What?!"
"Yeah, yeah," the blond genin illuminated, "he's taught me an awesome summoning jutsu and how I can use my chakra to walk on water!"
"Wow," said Tomoki, startled. "That sounds great…really. Of course, you should be training hard. You've got to fight Neji in less than a month now."
"No sweat!" Naruto proclaimed as he raised both fists up before him. "By then I'll be strong enough to make him beg for mercy!" Tomoki laughed, overtaken by his friend's enthusiasm. "What about you?" asked Naruto, "'Going to the training fields again?"
"Yeah," Tomoki prevaricated nervously. "That's right…exactly. Just…going to get some practice in, you know." He made a sweeping motion with his hand then, with a lopsided grin, said, "Gotta stay sharp…get it – sharp?"
Naruto gave him a sideways look. "Uh…yeah, sure," he began guardedly then ceased and crossed his arms.
Both genin stood in uncomfortable silence. "Well," Tomoki forced himself to say, "I guess we'd both better get going."
"Yeah," agreed Naruto with a peculiar intonation as he turned, took a step and waved his hand in farewell. "See ya 'round."
"See ya," mumbled Tomoki who watched his friend go, looked skyward, then closed his eyes. He sucked in a breath to call out, but thought better of it and continued on his way.
Tomoki ran at a manageable pace as he made his way up the road that lead from Konoha to the practice fields. He felt deeply wretched for having lied to his friend. How had the Hokage put it – equating truth with respect? What does that say about what I think about Naruto? he chided himself. Don't I owe him better than that? Hasn't he earned it? The genin shut his eyes and tried to force the subject from his mind. What's done is done. You can make it up to him when, he corrected himself, if you get back.
He continued up to the crest of the next hill, following a route he'd taken thousands of times, and saw up ahead a boxy, open-bed, pick-up truck that was pulled off to the side of the road. An old woman wrestled with a flat tire.
The ninja nodded at once with understanding -- all but certain that this age-old set-up would have taken him completely by surprise, had he not been forewarned. Here we go, Tomoki thought anxiously as he approached. Just be cool…not too friendly, not too aloof.
"Pardon me, madam," he announced himself. "Please, allow me to help."
"Oh!" the woman startled convincingly and looked up at him. "Thank you so much!"
Tomoki smiled tightly and looked her up and down. She was a bit taller than he, pudgy and middle-aged. Her round-cheeked face was smudged from hard work, and she looked back at him with deep, brown eyes. Dark hair, flecked with grey, hung from her head. "Not at all," he replied carefully as he looked around then knelt toward the tire. He took a glance, then diagnosed: "Yup…it looks like you hit a nail."
"Oh, dear," she offered and put her hands on her hips. "It makes sense, though. I passed some construction a little ways back."
Hmm…nice little detail, the genin thought, then rose. "My name's Tomoki," he said plainly.
"Easy, easy," she complained with a gentle laugh. "I'm not deaf just yet. My name's Uiko, and I'm glad you came along when you did."
"'Glad to meet you," he offered.
"And you," she said with a smile, then folded her arms. The boy knelt and raised his hand to one of the bolts. "I've got a tire-iron right here, Tomoki," Uiko pointed out.
A tire-iron, he mused glumly, just what I need – another blunt-force trauma to the head. Tomoki mugged a smile. "Keep it. I don't need it yet," he remarked slowly. When the impact he'd expected didn't come, he closed the thumb and forefinger of his left hand around the first bolt. The muscles of his arms quivered tensely for a moment and his tendons jumped, then he extended a little of his chakra into his fingertips and the bolt gave way at once, spinning almost clear of the thread.
"My goodness!" the woman pealed and stared at him in wonder. "I had no idea a boy your age could be so strong!"
Tomoki brushed aside her praise. "It's nothing," he replied. "I am a ninja, after all."
"Yes," she agreed, "I got that from your swords and headband. Still, it's amazing." She canted her gaze upwards. "I've seen you little kids enter the academy when you're eight or so, and you run around and do your little punches and kicks, and it's just so cute! Then, all of a sudden, you're not kids anymore. You're highly-trained genin with real responsibilities."
His eyes flickered. "You have a keen understanding," Tomoki observed and unfastened another bolt, this time with his right hand.
A few minutes went by while the boy helped the lady. He removed all the bolts, then used her jack to raise the truck off the tire. All the while they chatted about mundane things like the weather, where each other was from and what they had planned for the day. Tomoki then took the old tire down and replaced it with the spare, using Uiko's tire-iron to put the bolts firmly back in place.
"All set!" he piped as he pulled the retracted jack out from beneath the wagon, then secured it in a compartment behind the cab. "That should get you to where you're going."
She looked at him and smiled gratefully. "I sure do appreciate 'cha'."
"Ok," said Tomoki who smiled back. He waited a moment then went on, "I guess I'll just be going now."
"Me too." The woman nodded, then offered, "Have a good day."
"Ok," said Tomoki through a tight smile, "you too." He began to walk away. Awaiting attack, he took five paces, then ten, then twenty. Just what is going on here? he thought as he cursed under his breath in mounting frustration. I did everything right, so what gives! The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. I got all worked up, all ready to go and they didn't spring the trap!
Like a weathervane before a storm-front he turned, one-hundred and eighty degrees and marched back – five paces, then ten, then twenty. "Excuse me, Madam Uiko."
"Oh!" she startled, for real this time he thought, and raised a hand to her cheek. "Tomoki, was there something else?"
The boy frowned and rubbed a hand down his face. "Yeah, you could put in that way. There is something else – didn't you forget something?" he intoned impatiently.
Uiko's eyes widened, then she looked quizzically at Tomoki's stern countenance. "I'm sorry?" she ventured.
"Well, sure," answered the genin. "You did come here to kidnap me, right?" His expression was careless as his eyes searched hers. They noticed the way her pupils darted, the tension of her posture, and the tiny bead of sweat that fell along her temple. If he'd had any doubts about her before, they were gone now.
She wet her lips and smiled disarmingly. "Now, how did you know that?"
Tomoki looked at her calmly. "I'm a ninja…see," he gestured at his accoutrements, "swords and, uh…headband."
Uiko's brow furrowed and she shook her head, genuinely perplexed. "This is so awkward," she confessed. "I really don't know what to say."
"Well," Tomoki suggested, "you'd better say something to your two teammates. All this conversation we're having is bound to make them a little crazy. But you can signal them that I won't put up a fight."
"What?" she stammered then looked at him pointedly. "So…you want to come with us?"
"That's about the size of it," confirmed the boy with a shrug. "I think I need a little change of pace."
Uiko, bewildered, shook her head. "I've never heard of anything like this," she grumbled. "I mean, what kind of ninja wants to be kidnapped?"
Tomoki rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air. "What difference does it make?!" he groaned. "Did your masters tell you to find out what mood I was in or did they tell you to go and get me?"
"Well…"
"Ok then, let's stop wasting time!"
A dark figure dropped just then from the truck's undercarriage and rushed at Tomoki, tall and spider-like. Reflexively, the genin sidestepped the takedown. One arm hooked under the man's elbow while the other extended into his jaw. Tomoki then pivoted sharply and threw him, heels over head to the pavement where he landed with a thud. The boy looked at his attacker, a uniformed but unidentified ninja, and noted his bald head, stern, warlike brow and fierce, scarred face. It was a wonder that he could throw someone like that so easily, he considered. Maybe my techniques are getting better.
The boy spun back to the alarmed Uiko and held up his hands. "This isn't necessary, you know," he prevailed.
She looked back at him, then upward in alarm. "Reona, stop!" she ordered.
Tomoki cursed as he turned and sprang away from the attack he'd known would come from the treetops. Throwing spikes struck then clattered off the concrete where he'd stood and traced his path in rapid, staccato rhythm. A kunoichi followed after them – a lithe, athletic young woman in a grey uniform with vivid red hair, who wielded a staff. She alighted upon the ground in a pose then leaped with her weapon whirling at Tomoki; his hands went at once to the handles of his swords.
Suddenly, there erupted between them a plume of multicolored smoke. When it cleared, all could see Naruto Uzumaki, standing there, blocking the downward stroke of the strange ninja's staff with two kunai knives crossed in a scissors block. The blond genin flung the end of the staff aside, spun on the ball of his foot and kicked her hard in the midsection. Reona's breath gushed from her body as she flew backwards and slammed into a tree; bark crumbling from the impact.
"Aha!" Naruto exulted as he turned toward Tomoki, with an expression and voice that burned and boomed like a fireworks display. "I knew you were up to something – hogging all the fun, like usual!"
Tomoki's jaw dropped and his shoulders slumped as he stared. After a moment he drew himself up, raised his hands and let them fall to his sides, then started to laugh. "Give us just a second, would you?" he said to Uiko, who was helping the ninja with the mean looks to his feet with unusual delicacy. The bruised warrior scowled, shouted curses and fought her assistance.
"Hey," growled Naruto. "What gives, anyway? Who are these losers?!" Tomoki grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back a couple of steps; Naruto protesting the whole way. The taller genin then leaned close to his ear and explained. "What?" gasped Naruto in wonder, "A real 'B'-rank?" He leaned aside to look past Tomoki's shoulder. "And all you got to do is go with these weirdoes?"
"Um…well, yeah, pretty-much."
Naruto gave him an eager, toothy grin. "Count me in!" It was more of a demand than a request. "Come on, Tom-tom," he began to state his case. "Missions are supposed to have teams of three, so you gotta take me."
Tomoki frowned. "What about Neji?"
Naruto mugged, then quipped, "You can take him next time."
"Very funny," replied Tomoki dryly. "You know that's not what I meant."
"Ah, come on!" Naruto cajoled. "If I'm going to be Hokage, then I gotta be able to take on challenges!"
Tomoki shook his head, but he'd already given up. "Why fight it?" he asked himself. "Ok," he summed-up jovially to his abductors, "let's go."
Uiko gave the two of them a distressed look. "Both of you?" she squeaked. "You can't be serious?"
"Think of it as two-for-one," Tomoki illuminated, "a limited time offer."
"This is crazy!"
"Well, it's either that, or we can fight."
The bald ninja stepped forward and thumped his chest with his fist. "We're not scared of you," he announced brazenly, "some puke with noodles for arms and a yellow-haired midget!"
"What did you say!?" Naruto snarled, his face red with rage as he stamped towards him. "You wanna fight, cue-ball? Come on! Let's go! Right now!"
Tomoki's cheek twitched at the insult, but restrained his teammate with a glance and an expression that reminded him of their mission. Uiko did the same with her recalcitrant soldier. "Don't stop me, woman!" he protested with a roar. The muscles of his arms and chest rippled. "I can take 'em both out!"
"Ha!" answered Naruto past Tomoki, who put his shoulder into his fellow genin's chest and dug in with his legs. "Keep dreaming, baldy-locks!"
"Cease!" Uiko shouted, which stirred some sense into her teammate. Gradually she gathered him and Reona beside her, then explained. "Remember yourselves, you two. Remember what we came here to do. It's important for any ninja to be adaptive."
Tomoki nodded then glanced again at Reona, who he noticed was strikingly beautiful, all but sure he saw a trace of tears in her eyes. "Let's try this again," he ventured then bowed. "I'm Tomoki, but you already knew that. This is my friend and 'colleague', Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto snorted and turned his head disgustedly.
The woman gave him a self-conscious smile and returned his bow, as did Reona. "My name really is Uiko…Uiko Matsuda," she began politely. "These are my fellow ninja, Reona Sato and Fugo Takamatsu." Fugo scowled and cracked his neck, restrained but unrepentant.
"A whole team, just to grab me," Tomoki observed as he picked a residual particle of eel from between his teeth with his tongue. "In a way, I'm flattered. May I ask – who are you and what is it you want me for?"
"Yeah!" piped Naruto testily. "What makes him so special?"
Uiko regarded them. "You've been real good sports about all this, but I've been directly instructed not to reveal any of that. It gets a bit…complicated." Her brow lifted as she smiled. "I guess, if you're coming with us," she teased, "you'll find out before too long."
"Sure," replied Tomoki. "Why ruin the suspense."
Naruto gave him a slit-eyed, sideways glance. "Whatever," he grumbled.
"Naruto," the taller genin couldn't help but chuckle incredulously. "Are you actually jealous about this?" He looked at Naruto who gave him a stern look and crossed his arms behind his head with careless disinterest. "Aw, come on, you got kidnapped last time. It's my turn!"