Just something to tide you over until the next chapter comes out. And I promise, I am working on it.

Disclaimer: I don't own, you don't sue.

OMAKE: SHRINE TO THE SANBI


Tazuna glanced cautiously over his shoulder as he kneeled on the sandy ground. He was a few miles out from the village, close to where the grave markers had been placed for Zabuza and his young companion. There was nothing in those graves though, only Zabuza's sword had been found, and was planted in between the markers.

The nuke-nin however, were not the reason Tazuna had stolen out of his home like a thief in the night. Dark eyes focused on the shrine he had set up just above the high-tide line, where he had been offering tribute to the strange creatures that had helped to save his village that horrible day on the bridge. Lately, the offering had been going missing, and he was hopeful that tonight, he might s something.

He took a deep breath before arranging the offering in the shrine, some of the best fish the island had to offer, and a bottle of sake form his own stash. He clapped his hands twice in order to call the attention of the gods, before bowing his head in prayer.

He didn't know how long he had been waiting there, kneeling before the shrine, before a flash of light penetrated his lids. He opened his eyes with a start, only to yelp and fall back at the sight of flame bobbing in front of his nose. A pair whirled around the first, a flurry of blues and green dancing in front of him. Only for them to part and drift around a tall form standing of the shore.

Tazuna yelped again before throwing himself onto the ground, prostrating himself before the demon. The brief glance had confirmed that this was the one who had walked on the waves, proclaiming Gatou's life as forfeit for his crimes against Wave. Now that he was in front of the creature, his carefully planned speech became naught but ash on his tongue.

A rough-skinned hand rested on his shoulder. "Na need ta fear me," a gravelly, familiar voice offered. Gingerly, Tazuna raised his head to look straight in the black eyes of the Sanbi.

The demon was dressed more casually tonight, a simple blue and green yukata, almost blending into the blue of his skin. Those glassy black eyes were almost kid though as the Bijuu backed up a step, nodding to the human. "Ah knew it. As soon as Ah saw ya, I could see mah son's descendants in yea," he declared, head titled to the side. When Tazuna noticeably paled at this, the demon head up a hand. "Do nat fear, it is only a minimal about of mah bloodline within yea now. But It is enough for me ta see."

A gulp. "Is that why you came? You came to the bridge because I was there?" he ventured.

The Sanbi laughed,a sharp bark like a snapping branch, or bone. "Ah minor reason only. Just be glad my descendant, tha Ah was in the area. And tha it was only Gatou and his men who bled into the water tha day," he said, slipping backwards into the water, the waves lapping around his ankles. "And the one who attacked the men, has already returned to his lands."

"Wait!" Tazuna called as the Sanbi moved to leave. "What am I to tell the villagers? Many of them are scared that you'll attack us next!"

Flickers of flame blinked in and out in the darkness as the Sanbi strode over the water. "Yea are a part of mah territory, there is nothin' ta fear from me." Dark eyes glanced over for one last time. "Yea and year' people are mine, and I protect what's mine."