Four Letter Words
Summary- Iruka has discovered some unsettling news about his favorite student's treatment, while a former student bemoans her apparent unimportance to her team. Sakura gains a new perspective on life. Kotaro arrives in Fire Country while Naruto and his companions head to their next job dodging hunter-nin along the way!
A/N- This chapter was an exercise in perseverance. It marks the end of 'plot set up', for this arch anyway. Lots of random stuff happens, not as 'dramatic' as other chapters. To make for this, there is an extra's section! So read on my lovely people! Read!
Chapter Twelve: Shop
Like most ninja villages, Sound tended to randomize its patrol patterns. This was as much out of practicality as a way to reduce boredom. Established principle said that any routine, no matter how 'tight', could be studied and countered. Spies would find the second long gaps in guard and use individual personalities to their advantage and break through.
Following this prescribed belief a group of seven sound shinobi were returning from their posts, but in a round-about way so as to give the illusion had there been any watchers that they were simply checking for enemy infringement. Their clothing was nearly uniform in its cool gray camouflage pattern, an excellent choice for the water-logged land. They alternatively leapt from dead oak to ground, spreading apart and reuniting, while communicating with simple hand signs or bobs of the head.
They were headed home after three weeks on the border giving and receiving harassment from groups of bandits and passing ninja. While it would have been child's play to demolish the bandit camps in their neighboring country, where would they then get entertainment on the long, boring, assignments?
"Leader, do you smell that?" One of the ninja asked in mid-hop. His face was concealed by a mask that covered everything but a strip around his eyes. All the members of their group wore the mask making them harder to distinguish to outsiders.
The apparent leader, a jounin level sound nin, rubbed at his mask where his nose should be and nodded. There was a faint underscore of smoke in the area, and when they concentrated they could hear the bickering of scavenger birds. With an almost unnoticed gesture of his fingers the group swerved toward the new factor.
"This place isn't marked for development, is it?" The higher pitched voice gave the owner away as female.
"Not so far as I know."
The seven branched out and closed in on the questionable area. Someone gagged, another laughed tiredly. Two bodies lay in the torn up clearing, both partially eaten by the wildlife. The jounin of the group whistled and hopped down to investigate. "Well lookie here." He nudged a half burned mask with his foot causing the carrion birds to squawk and scatter. "Got to be a hunter-nin of some sort. Material?"
The others joined him, one held up the whole mask from the non burned body. "Animal styling; I'd say ANBU from Konoha."
"What the hell were they doing in our territory?!" The anger was thick.
"More important," the female sneered. "How did they get through without us knowing?"
"I think that hardly matters now. Whatever they were after obviously killed them."
"There could be more." The unknown chunin's eyes shifted to the side. Their leader made a mental note to give him some time off, the constant missions were having a detrimental effect on his reasoning. Though the man's fighting skills were superb his social and analytical were taking a nosedive.
"Unlikely." Leader explained as he took the masks. "Konoha's known for being sentimental. They would have brought their comrades bodies back if they could. I'd say it was just the two of them and they bit off more than they could chew."
A snort. "I still want to know what they were doing here without informing us."
"Doesn't matter at this point… though I am curious as to who killed them. Number two, five, carry the bodies."
"Why? We aren't returning them are we? It's there fault they're here!" One of the ninja did not like the idea of a decomposing corpse riding his back all the way home.
The leader clapped the ANBU masks together. "No, we aren't obligated to return the bodies." He grinned. "But we will be sending back these!" He raised the masks. "Won't it be fun to have the leaf's worrying over it, wondering if it was us or the target that killed their elite nin?"
The rest of the sound shinobi laughed and resumed their travel to Otokagure; waiting to spread the new gossip of the dead foreign shinobi.
Mountain country, named in part by it's proximity to the rocky cliffs and valleys of Lightning, is a small nation characterized by rocky soil and occasional rivers. It's economy base was trading, and it imported most of it's food. Mountain tended to see all sorts of travelers from minor nobles looking for good sculptors to hire to rouge shinobi licking their wounds. Anything and everything could be purchased in the small country if you knew where to go. It was the best place to go when one needed to do some under-the-table dealing.
Kin walked down the streets of Mountain Country's main trading hub confidently, though her head was angled down in thought. Half the night had been spent on the road traveling and Haku had not caught up with them till late morning. The usually calm shinobi had been repeatedly polishing his senbon even though any traces of blood were long gone.
If I was a pawn shop, where would I be? Zabuza left after checking them into a hotel with orders exchange their portion of the goods for cash. In the trading city they were in it should have been simple, but a respectable shop was becoming increasingly difficult to find. I should have stayed with Naruto-sama and Haku. I need some new clothes, too. The effeminate shinobi had practically squealed in joy at the sight of a specialty clothing shop and dragged the blonde into it.
The girl came to a small water way, one of the many that fed the main river running through the city, and cleared it with little effort. Bridges are for sissy's. "Excuse me, miss?"
An elderly woman with her hair in a bun turned, glasses glinting in the light. "Yes, dear? Can I help you?"
"Could you direct me to the nearest antique shop?" Kin lied through her teeth. She didn't want old junk, didn't need it, but more often than not antique dealers would buy and sell. They also tended to know where a good pawn would be. If she could sell her goods, then she would have the cash needed to purchase more supplies of her own. I need new kunai and scrolls.
The old woman smiled; her teeth were sickly yellow. Kin wanted to gag. "So good to see young folk taking an interest in these things. Just down the lane..." The kunoichi memorized the directions and hurried off. She had a sneaking suspicion that the old woman was going to try and trick her into lunch or something.
Around the town people tended stalls and sold any number of interesting knick-knacks; Kin swore she saw what looked like a pair of stone butterflies. The country of mountain bordered Lightning and did frequent business with the shinobi of Cloud, mainly guarding and escort. Kin saw a group of what she assumed to be genin roof-hopping with their sensei in the lead. Her insides clenched as an unidentified emotion bubbled up.
To distract herself Kin ducked into a shady building, though this was more from the light bulb being out than anything else. "Welcome, miss customer. Are you looking for anything in particular?" The manager said with a smile.
Kin ran a hand through her hair and slowly went around the shop. Surprisingly there was a good quality spear on one of the walls, but it didn't interest her. A clay pot contained several wall scrolls of old paintings and a bookshelf sagged dangerously to the side. She finished her circuit and leaned onto the glass counter. "You do appraisal and purchase, don't you?"
He nodded, smile still in place. It was annoying and false; Kin suddenly got the brainstorm of the man laughing evilly and rubbing his hands together saying 'it's mine! all mine!' "Of course. We would be happy to take a look at your..."
Kin took a scroll from her pocket and snapped it open. The soft parchment rolled along the glass display and within seconds several necklaces, pins, bracelets, and statues littered the counter. Greedy eyes sparkled as he picked up a small fish figurine and rolled it in his hands. "A very interesting piece, silver and gold plating. Wonderful. See this button here-" He pressed in the fish's eye with finger nail causing the head to shift back and reveal a hallow. "used to store a small amount of poison, perhaps?"
The girl shrugged, the action hiding her misgivings. "I was given a minimum price to bring it back for, how much are you willing to give me for it, all?" Kin waved off a gnat that decided to explore her eyes. She wanted to get it over with and collect their money. There was shopping to do! So many new things to explore in the city and they had all day to do it, but that time was quickly ticking away.
"Well now, that is the question, hmmm? I feel a bit bad about saying this to such a pretty girl as yourself," Kin's eyebrow twitched at that comment. "but I can't really pass up the opportunity. You see I pointed out this beauty because I recognize it."
He waved the fish effigy in the air and set it down, a knowing smile on his face. The glass she leaned against felt cold, and Kin's heart leapt up to her throat. What does he know? Zabuza and Haku were missing-nin. If he called the authorities the cloud shinobi would be flocking to take them down in seconds!
Kin's hands slipped down to her thigh, one finger lightly touching the metal ring of a kunai. The weasel continued his speech about profit, how it was nothing personal, and that he would like to keep things civilized. The girls lips twitched as the handle slip soundlessly into her hand. For the moment, Kin was every bit the ruthless Sound shinobi Orochimaru had them to be. Kin had never been very good at negotiation.
Blood leaked over her fingers and stained the scroll as it dripped off of her hands. She breathed deep and released her hold on the kunai she'd sent up through the man's lower jaw and into his brain. As a civilian with no formal training he had no hope against her, his only card a sense of superiority that had no real foundation. The girl hopped over the counter and began turning out his pockets only to find a few spare ryo and a carton of tobacco.
She stayed clear of the small pool of blood forming around his head like a red halo and belatedly rushed to the storefront to turn the sign to closed. That done she returned to the back and began tapping her knuckled against the walls searching for the safe. Her one responsibility on the team was to basically be their thief and seal expert. Break barriers and whatnot. Might as well get some practice.
The safe was concealed rather amateurishly behind a large painting, and if the door was any indication of the size, Kin estimated it would fit a body. The girl stretched her arms and popped her knuckles. "Time to earn our pay, Kin-chan." She spun the dial and let it revolve once. It wasn't near as complicated as the warehouse safe. She looked back at the cooling corpse behind the counter and snorted. Cheap bastard. Absently as the lock gave a loud click she began humming a song from a play seen before her internment into shinobi-hood. The action both calmed her aggravated nerves and focused her mind on the job. "Hmm. Hmm. Hm. I have sailed the world, beheld it's wonders..."
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Naruto yelled as he ran around the large store, easily ducking under display tables and around racks. Several shoppers paused to stare at the half-dressed blonde boy as he avoided workers and his dark haired minder.
"Naruto-kun!" Haku was finding it difficult not to yell, his practiced serenity pushed to it's limits by Naruto's seemingly random outburst. The fitting had gone well, they had only just finished making the adjustments to the trousers, orange, and brought out the fabric for the robes. Haku already had a few formal robes set aside for banquets and the like as did Zabuza but Naruto did not. Missions sometimes required them to dress for a party and it wouldn't do to have the blonde left out.
With the daily wear out of the way Haku had the tailor bring out several different prints to see how they would look on the bored boy, but he had taken one look at the man and screamed. "Naruto-kun! Calm down!"
Naruto's eyes were flashing around, noticing he had been cornered again. Left and right were blocked by sweating tailor assistants, Haku was approaching down the main isle. He reached for his ninja pouch and smoke bombs only to discover that they weren't there. Blue eyes widened as he backed into a table. No! My things are back in the fitting room! If I try to jump...
"Now!"
Naruto fell forward as a pair of strong hands gripped his ankles and pulled. Haku, which soon revealed itself to be water clone, ran up and took hold of Naruto's wrists. The Haku twins fumbled with him as he struggled, exasperated. "Naruto-kun!"
Naruto wriggled but couldn't get enough leverage to escape. "Traitor..." He muttered but it lacked any real anger.
Haku, the real Haku, brought Naruto's hands behind his back so he could hold them with one hand. "What are you so upset about?" The ice user was annoyed, and though Naruto gave another attempt at escape, didn't appear to have as much fight in him. What was so bad about new clothes?
The head tailor approached with caution, and Naruto watched him with just as much. Haku noted that the pupils had elongated and didn't appear to be returning to normal. Clearly Naruto was still agitated though he wasn't about to try killing anyone. Yet. "He's got needles."
Everyone was flabbergasted. "What?"
"Neeedles!" With his hands immobilized Naruto could only gesture vaguely with his head. The tailor held up a hand, around his wrist was a cushioned strap of pins and sewing needles. "See! Needles!"
I should have brought Kin with us. "Those are for the fabric, Naruto-kun. He needs them to hold it in place while he does the fitting."
"But..." Naruto's eyes watered. Why couldn't people understand how much he didn't like the things? Senbon were okay, they were too big for him to think of as needles, but these were tiny! They would stab into him and burn and not come out. People would keep them inside and they would hurt. He looked at the older boy and spoke in a pleading tone. "I don't like needles. Can't we do something else?"
Haku sighed and directed the boy to the back rooms. "You need robes, Naruto-kun. Anything less than tailor made will be seen as an insult."
Naruto grumbled as extra workers guarded the exit. He eyed the tailor, causing the man to sweat under the scrutiny, as a half-finished under robe was throne on him. Naruto was not pleased and he did not trust the man with the needles. Needles... Hazy memories of his childhood surfaced and Naruto found himself in danger of hyperventilating. He couldn't give a real explanation, how was he supposed to explain his instincts? Needles were bad. Naruto was so caught up in his worrying he didn't notice the tailor sweep in with a pencil and make several small marks on the fabric. The tiny pins slipped in and out as Haku stood nearby. This was both an effort to calm the blonde and keep him from bolting.
"Just one more-" The man held the final pin's nub between his thumb and forefinger, but as he was removing it Naruto snapped back to the present and shivered causing the tip to cut into the soft flesh around Naruto's armpit. Naruto screeched and jumped backward into Haku's arms. The long haired boy wavered under the sudden weight, sighed, and straightened. "What's the damage?"
Naruto squirmed and buried his face in Haku's neck. Brown eyes inspected the flesh wound, which had already stopped bleeding and wasn't even as bad a paper cut. The tailor stuttered some apologies and stared at his fabric, confused. "Yue! Why are there holes in this?"
"Holes, sir?"
"Look! Almost looks as if some small bug has chewed through it. Go into the back and check the storage rooms." He turned back to his customers, hands open apologetically. "Terribly sorry about that young master. Luckily we should be able to use the measurements and pattern I took on the next bit. Terribly, terribly sorry."
Naruto glared. Haku moved him out of his 'bridal' style and used chakra to reinforce his strength so that the blonde could be supported with one hand. "May I see the damage?" He held out his hand while the tailor dithered for a moment torn between keeping his wealthy customer happy and the shame of trying to use a cloth of inferior quality. Noticing the ice users comical appearance with Naruto hanging off him, and his lack of reaction to it, he offered the pale fabric. Haku turned the cut cloth over to find the ruined area, thinking. I looked at before we used it. It was perfect, and this looks more like the fibers dissolved than anything else. Such small holes.
"Do you need anything, sir?" The tailor asked as he took back half finished robe.
"That will be all. Have the robes and extra outfits delivered to the hotel. Naruto-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"We're done here. Get dressed."
"No more fittings? No needles?"
"No needles."
"YES!" Naruto cheered and dislodged himself, ran to the small pile of his new clothes, dressed, and ran for the door. Haku watched and wondered where all the energy came from, not for the last time.
Donna had little difficulty navigating the packed mid-day streets as the townsfolk went about their day. She tucked her bulging purse closer to her side and directed the quite girl with her with a light touch on the arm; her eyes flashed warningly at a thug. As much as she loved her city it was amazing what went on unnoticed by visitors and the higher-ups. While most places waited for the cover of nightfall to start the disreputable work Takara got into the swing of things around noon.
The woman walking with her tried to melt into her as they passed a dicy character with dirt encrusted nails smelling of smoke, and she frowned in annoyance. Donna stepped up her pace and pulled down her skirt, one of her longer ones, and gave a polite nod to a clustered group of street walkers she knew. Later; the look said.
The made up women pursed their lips as they stared at Donna's companion but quickly resumed their survey of the crowds. To a native the girls were clearly open for business, short mini-skirts, heavy but natural make-up, and their stance all screamed pay me. An outsider, unless they hired a guide, would only see a group of girls with too much time on their hands dressed in skimpy clothing.
"It's not much farther." Donna told the woman, and mentally cursed as she noticed the limp developing. Great. Of COURSE they'd screw up her feet, too. The visibly irritated prostitute reached the borders of the slums and market and turned down a street. "She'll take care of you. Just got out of a bad scrape herself."
She had to wave off several other inquiring looks before they reached the picketed fence, glistening with fresh paint, and rapped the door of an old house. It took only a minute or two before the door opened, but instead of the expected smiling face of her friend she found an expressionless male. Her companion cringed and slunk behind her, she could fell the poor woman shivering against her like some animal. It only renewed her anger at the injustice done, and swore to herself she would find a way to get revenge.
"Is Leslie Fujiko available?" Donna asked behind a wall of indifference.
The man observed for a minute, eyes going up and down her body but not in a suggestive fashion. More like he was searching her, deciding if she was a threat or not. He lingered for a second on her purse and she took note of the sword at his waist. "The lady is in."
"We need to speak with her. Can I come in?"
"Of course." The samurai, for now that she could get a good look at him that was what he was, stepped aside and they entered. "This way."
They walked down the halls, surprising clean for being so close to the slums, into the kitchen. The familiar red head was washing her arms trying to get paint off. "Leslie-chan!"
The woman jumped and turned off the spout, smile blossoming. "Ah! Donna-chan, what brings you here? Who is your friend?" The last question was spoke with a hint of depression as the happy woman took in quivering girls cuts and bruises. Unspoken was the question 'what happened to her'?
Donna shook her head and accepted a cup of coco. "Dunno. Took one look at the poor thing and ripped her out of the hotel. I got her cleaned up, but, she hasn't spoken a word."
Leslie sighed and slowly reached out to the woman, "Would you like something to drink?"
Hesitation, a look to Donna reclining and sipping away, and she nodded. The blonde sat her cup down, face swimming a myriad of expressions. "Since you got this new place, Leslie-chan, I was wondering if you could put her up for a while. I can't really do it myself, and I while some of the girls would be willing she's not exactly comfortable around men."
"...I see. Samurai-san?" The man from before appeared in the doorway. "Could you show this woman to one of the guest rooms?" Leslie took clattering saucer and cup from the woman and set them down. She stared into her eyes. "Samurai-san is going to take you to your new room. He won't hurt you. He will not touch you. Understand?"
She swallowed and glanced from samurai to lady. Leslie almost frowned as an idea occurred to her. What if she doesn't speak out language? What if she's mute, or deaf? Leslie snapped her fingers to gain the poor woman's attention and gestured to the cup and saucer. She pointed to the samurai and then the cup, pointed to the woman and then the saucer. She separated them and put them on opposite sides of the table.
It took some time but between them the two veteran whores managed to get the beat up woman into a bed. They relaxed in a small cozy room. Donna breathed out a stream of smoke from a cigarette. "Tsuki was pissed."
"The gods decided it was time to leave... what were they doing to her?" Leslie asked, because there were hotels and then there were hotels. Those that only used the business as a front, and anything that required a cover had to be bad news. If you couldn't be honest about your work, especially in a town as loose as theirs, it wasn't worth it.
"I'm fuzzy on the details but, I went in their on a call, and on the way out I saw her cleaning the floor. One of her hands was chained to the bucket and... it just wasn't right. She won't talk." A shrug.
Leslie stewed in anger and took a sip of her coco. She loved the chocolate, but it wasn't doing it's job. She needed to get her mind off of things. "What's that in your purse?"
"Huh? Oh! I almost forgot. I keep meaning to give it to you." She snapped open the latch and fought to pull out a mutated turtle plushi. "I know it's ugly as sin but I was asked to give it to you."
Leslie ran her fingers over the soft material of the turtles skin, and marveled at the bits of real shell sew painstakingly into the back. "Wow. I never thought anyone would make a toy of this, and the quality is simply amazing." She looked up at her smoking friend. "Where did you get it?"
"You know what it is? I thought it was a joke."
Leslie shook her head and almost sneezed as her curls tickled her nose. "It's the sanbi, the legendary three tailed turtle lord of the seas."
"I don't know where you learn this shit."
"It's not shit, it's real." Leslie snarled uncharacteristically, at least it seemed that way to Donna. The girl had always been so quite and accepting, praying every morning. Like she believed that gods existed and watched over her if she asked. Squirmed at the idea of disappointing someone. The red head continued. "I have you know it was an angel that brought me out of Tsuki's. That's what I'm naming the place, when it's fixed up. Angels Blessing."
"You can't run a brothel with one person."
"I'm not. I got two others from Tsuki's to come with me, and a new girl from out of town jumped at the chance to be 'senior'." She laughed a bit, though the sharpness to her eyes remained as she stroked the ugly toy's head. "Apparently she didn't like working alone and the other places she went to annoyed her by giving too much preferential treatment to the senior ladies."
"Makes sense."
"There's a limit to everything."
The fell into a silence as Leslie went back to playing with the three tailed monstrosity of a plushy. It was far from cute. "Where did you get it, again?"
"That old man that used to have the street stall."
"The stall?" She clutched it to her ample chest, headless of the spikes that pressed against her skin. "This must be another sign from Naruto-sama! He's still watching me!" She squealed happily.
Donna sat back and snuffed out her cig in the ash tray. It was odd, but much more Leslie like than earlier. "I should be off."
"Alright. I'll walk you to the door."
"Are you going to do anything with that," What did she call it? "Sanbi?"
Leslie looked down at the toy, an thoughtful look settling on her. "I'm, not sure. Perhaps... I have to get ready here, first."
Once again, Donna was filled with that sense of change. The knowing that things were happening and it sent her blood thrumming through her veins as she left the soon to be Angel's Blessing. Donna found herself grinning as she ran back to her apartment to change into her work clothes. Things were changing, and fast, if Leslie already had girls ready to work for her. From what I saw in the hall's it's going to be a fancy place too.
There was also something in the religious woman's eyes that hadn't been there before, and when it came out, gentle caring was replaced by fierce anger. May you live in interesting times.
People walked around the market streets at a fast pace, and had there been many more Kin may not have seen them, but Naruto was hard to miss. The orange loving brat with spikes of brilliant gold stood out like a lighthouse on the beach at night, even more so when the brat was arguing with a vendor about the practicality of slugs. Kin slipped in beside Haku with a sharp exhale signaling her arrival. She turned her attention to Naruto's argument while keeping one eye on the small gathering forming around them.
Naruto was gesturing to a display showcasing key-chains of the three major summons, those of the famous sannin of the leaf. "Snakes are pretty cool, I'll admit that, and frogs can be too-"
"Toads! Jiraiya-sama summons toads!" The vendor moaned, evidently whatever logic he had been trying to use only got so far through to Naruto. Haku whispered how the exchange started, after cashing in their bit of the treasure at a money exchange the blonde insisted on doing a bit of tourism. He then stopped a young girl from purchasing a slug keychain, stating that it was anti-girl and stupid. The girl was long gone by the time Kin arrived as he mother had picked her up and dragged her away from the escalating argument.
"Frog, toad. It's all the same, one's just slimier than the other." Naruto paused as if something just occurred to him. "Following that, the same reason slugs suck as a summon would work for frogs too! They're too freaking…" Naruto mumbled to himself. "Porous! Thanks."
The crowd only had a second to ponder on who had received the thanks. Naruto plowed on, headless of the man future business or rumors his words would start. He had a point to make. "I don't know how many times I've dropped salt on the damn homeless things back home. They smell funny for a minute and then shrivel up! Dead. All you have to do is find a way to get the slugs near enough salt and BAM! Not to mention how much a fail they'd be in any real dry arena or the sea. Lot's of salt in the sea."
"Obviously it doesn't matter or the sannin wouldn't have made contracts with them!" Vendor man snapped, near tears. He could just see the figures he made from the sale of Tsunade-hime and Jiraiya-sama themed merchandise blowing away.
Naruto shrugged. "Have you ever heard of someone using logic in a ninja battle?"
Kin wondered at the statement. Naruto had disclosed a fight or two he had before meeting her, in particular the one he found most puzzling. His victory over the jounin by drowning the man. Luck and brains had won that, in a strict skill and power fight Naruto was certain he would have died.
Finally, the dam broke and the man screamed before shouting something nonsensical and retreating into his small store, the door slamming behind him. "Well." Haku said as the crowd dispersed, some leaving Naruto with a coin or two in thanks for the 'show'. "I do believe you've broken that man, Naruto-kun."
"Broken?" Naruto was looking at the money with a happy but confused expression, one that only Naruto could achieve. He then nodded to himself and slipped the money into one of the larger pockets on the side of his new pants. They were his favorite shade of orange with big symmetrical pockets on the side of each leg as well as a series of the straps. One of these straps was currently in use keeping the bottom of the pants rolled up to prevent dragging on the ground. "I haven't broken anything!"
His stomach chose that point to growl, and Kin suggested they find a restaurant and perhaps plan the rest of the day. As they headed for the one of the dining area's of the city Kin asked about her savior's new clothing. He was wearing a black shirt of some heavy fabric, though it was loose, and a new pair of orange goggles on his forehead matching his pants. "I'm not complaining, but why the bracelets and what's with the pants? Aren't they a little big?"
"For his current form, yes, but Zabuza-san has some interesting training in mind once Naruto-kun has proven some skill with the sword. Though I am not entirely sure, I believe being able to shift between male and female will be important." Haku had a soft, pleased smile on his face that a week ago would have been rare. It was a real smile, not a fake plaster mask used to be polite and dissuade worry.
They chose a restaurant solely based on Naruto's nose. He stood momentarily at the entrance, arguing with himself, before Kin subtly herded him inside.
Kotaro liked Konoha. He even liked their hospitals, despite the ever-present smell of disinfectant, because the nurses were cute. He signed the visitors log with an exaggerated flourish and winked at the young woman manning the counter, who giggled. She read his signature and smiled. "So you're the puppet maker Iruka-sensei has sent for?"
"Indeed, my dear. If you would be so kind as to point me in the direction of my patient?" He patted the suitcase containing the sample parts of puppets.
The nurse stood and leaned over the counter giving Kotaro a brilliant smile. Lucky dog. These nurses must love this guy. She pointed down the hall. "Follow this hall way, you'll see stairs on the left. Just up the stairs and to the right."
Kotaro sketched a quick bow and headed down the hall, whistling happily. He had come straight from the hotel to the hospital after getting in, and didn't want to waste time. Had it been any other city he might of waited a day to rest up from travel... but then he couldn't in good conscience head to the hot springs and relax for hours. Business before pleasure and all that.
He knocked on the door. "Umino, Iruka?"
"Come in."
Kotaro clicked his tongue and found himself pinned with a pair of the creepiest eyes he had ever seen. Stressed blood vessels and veins had all but exploded in the man's eyes, turning the white part red while his pupils expanded until they erased all signs of the iris. On top of all that, Iruka's eyes held the blank sheen of blindness like a finishing gloss.
Kotaro shook himself and pushed it out of his mind. He wasn't an eye doctor, it was none of his business. "I'm Kotaro Suzuhara, best puppet-maker in Suna! You have requested my services?"
"You aren't a ninja." Unlike some of his past customers, the chunin sounded more curious than insulted or annoyed.
"I had rudimentary training at the academy but I felt my time was better spent building than killing. If you don't mind, how did that happen?" The puppet maker asked as he prodded at the stump of a leg, noting how it still bled in places. Clean cuts. Amputation.
Iruka shrugged. "Blew myself up. I, uh..." Kotaro was treated to the rare experience of having a grown man blush in his presence. It wasn't to say that old men were appealing, but rather most of Suna's population weren't in the habit of showing weak emotions. At least not those he worked with. "I was hoping to return to duty, but it would be hard without a leg." Try impossible! "Do you have anything that can be manipulated? Of course, I would understand if you don't, Kotaro-san."
The old puppet maker laughed softly and opened his case, removing miniature models of legs and various pieces. "Don't be silly. I'm not a ninja and I don't care two-wits about 'village secrets'. Provided you already know how to make chakra strings?"
"I know the theory."
"If you can't make and maintain them the best I could do is give you a simple stump with a gear that allows the knee to bend."
"I see... can you demonstrate them?"
"Sure." Kotaro took a small marionette, one he sometimes used to entertain children on the road, and tossed it out. It danced in the air and came to a stop on the bed, doing a handstand and walking up the blanket toward the chunin. Iruka leaned over and watched it with strict concentration, his hands flexing and forming thin wires of blue chakra that overplayed Kotaro's and took over the toy. The Umino had closed his eyes and relaxed in favor of focusing on the marionette though the movements were not near as smooth as before. The wooden doll looked more like some kind of bug attempting a bizarre dance. "Well, you can maintain them, even if you can't use them!"
"Is that a compliment, or an insult?"
"Compliment, Umino-san. Why would I insult a client? This opens up many more, fun, possibilities. With enough practice using the chakra threads you could be moving just as well as you used to."
Iruka gave up working with the marionette and Kotaro packed it away. "Not any better?" The chunin said sarcastically. He needed to train harder if he planned to be of any help to Naruto. He needed to get into the top hierarchy of the system, and the only way he could do that is if he got into ANBU. His skill level as a chunin wouldn't make it.
To the Umino's surprise Kotaro rubbed his chin and stared at the not-quite healed stump. "Weeeeell. There is a procedure that has been used a few times, Elder Chiyo pioneered it, but I'm told it's very painful. As a chunin, I would expect you to have enough to survive it, but you would be out of it for days if not weeks."
Iruka's heart sped up as hope dangled in front of him. "I'll do it. How much?"
"You understand that it REALLY hurts. We'll have to cut back into this," he tapped the bandaged stump. "And place permanent chakra strings that we pull out of you're own system and attack to the leg. Only a small handful of veterans have even tried the procedure back home. It will be a constant drain on you're chakra reserves, and if the strings go out you would have to call us back to reattach them."
"I'll just build up bigger reserves, then. I fill like that's all I been doing since I got here." Iruka joked.
Kotaro laughed back. "If that's all you're worried about, I suppose we can do it. But first... how do you feel about senbon launchers? As a puppet limb you have all sorts of hidden compartments and spring-loaded catches in it. I even heard that one retired jounin was using his to keep drinks cold."
"...you can do that?"
The genin of team eight had a day off, or rather, their sensei had a solo mission and they only had a few scrolls to reference for studying. Kiba spent a little under an hour going over his simple raiton technique before calling it quits and pulling his teammates toward the shopping district. Akamaru sat on his head scanning the crowd for danger/deals like a living fur hat.
Hinata held a small notebook to her stomach as she followed her boisterous teammate, Shino beside her. Hinata would have preferred to stay by the stream where they had been training but it was hard to break out of her shell and deny Kiba. Especially when Akamaru whined with him. Hinata of the proud Hyuuga clan crumbled and followed her former classmates now team members back to Konoha proper.
The timid girl shuffled after Kiba only a step behind. "K-Kiba-kun, where are we going?"
"I was thinking of stopping by the pet store, they have really nice raw-hide bones." His grin displayed above average incisors, and a spiteful inner Hinata wondered if it was for him or Akamaru. Then considering their relationship it probably didn't matter.
Shino's fingers lightly touched Hinata's arm to steer her away from the shop. "Kiba, it is rather... pungent in there. We shall wait for you." The bug user and heiress found a shady spot near a fruit stand and stood out of the way. Hinata was grateful for the support and took the break to crack open her notebook.
Kurenai had given them all notebooks during their first team meeting, with instructions to take notes and bring them everyday. Sometimes their jounin would jot down exercises she wanted them to try, but more often than not it contained instructions for jutsu or mission parameters. Hinata was studying a diagram on water walking and tree climbing, and comparing the two.
"Have you progressed with your suiton skills?" Shino asked, the low humming of his insects creating a pleasant background noise to drown out the hustle and bustle of village life.
"A-ah. Some. I c-can move it pretty consistently, b-but getting it to take a-any real direction is still beyond my c-capabilities. A-also I s-still need a water s-source for it to be any use i-in battle." Hinata stuttered, slightly unnerved by the discussion. She knew Shino hadn't taken his lack of an affinity well.
"...carry it around with you."
"E-excuse me?"
"Carry extra water with you at all times." It made so much sense, and was so simple, Hinata's confidence took an abrupt nosedive. Why didn't I think of that?! Hinata shuffled her feet and flipped the page, reading a new set of notes written in their sensei's immaculate hand. It was a mid level suiton jutsu for creating a mist, something that would be to Hinata's advantage considering her byakyugan.
They stood in comfortable silence until Kiba came barreling out of the shop, and as predicted he had two of the bones. They were larger than either of his teammates expected. "Anyplace you guys want to go?"
Remembering Shino's obvious suggestion, Hinata spoke up. "Do you k-know where they sell containers, l-like canteens or something?"
"Why? You need a new one?"
"N-no, but I w-would like an extra to help w-with my water techniques."
"Oh. Makes sense. What do you think, Akamaru?" The dog barked and pointed his nose. "To the camp-gear store!" And the boy began pushing his way through the masses of people, an action that went against everything Hinata stood for. Shino privately thought that as annoying as Kiba could be, he was refreshing and acted as a sort of glue to the team.
He dragged Hinata out of her safety zones and could interpret Shino's silence as well as any Aburame.
"Yamanaka!" Kiba growled, having been pushed back the top kunoichi of their age group. The blonde wasn't wearing her usual purple gear and had not been immediately recognized. She glowered at him from her spot behind a light post and crouched down.
"Quiet! Or I'll rip off your ears and make you eat them." Ino hissed and turned around, watching a group of woman talk by a small fountain. Her fingers weaved into the sign of the hare and immediately team eight was confused by an influx of sound.
"...so I told him if he didn't come back with the ring I was going to divorce him. I mean, can you believe he would lose something like that?...It's terrible! Wedding rings aren't cheap, to think he would value your relationship as so little..."
Kiba blinked and stared at the gossiping couple, then channeled a portion of chakra into his ears and found himself getting the old biddy's conversation in stereo. "What are you doing?"
Ino dropped the seal, and with it the jutsu, and grinned superiorly at the dog user. "I'm practicing my techniques. What are you doing." She grimaced at the bones and favored Hinata with a condescending look. "I feel sorry for you, at least my teammates are housebroken."
Kiba's face went red. "Y-You bi-" Anything more was cut off as Shino pinned one arm behind his back and covered Kiba's mouth with a free hand, careful to avoid being bitten. She's a leaf-nin Kiba, we don't go fighting with the ladies.
He nodded respectfully to Ino. "Yamanaka-san. Hinata. I believe Yamanaka-san will be more than willing to help you." The two boys vanished.
"My, my. Shino's got the dark and mysterious thing down, huh? What did you need help with?" Ino grinned as buddied up next to the Hyuuga, invading her personal space quite easily. Hinata noticed she had put on weight but declined to mention it.
"I-I need to get a container for water... not a canteen! I j-just need a small one for water t-techniques."
"Is that so... how about a gourd? They're not common around here so you wouldn't mistake your jutsu water for drinking water! And they make them all sorts of colors." Ino began dragging Hinata to her favorite specialty shop. "When did you start learning water jutsu anyway?"
Hinata marveled at how Ino could maintain conversations without receiving answers. It reminded her of Naruto. Strange, that. "Um. Since Kurenai-sensei let us test for our affinities."
"She let you do that already! I have to practically threaten out sensei just to get anything useful... like that spying technique. Cool, ne? I wonder is I can get Asuma-sensei to test us..."
The room was brightly lit, with an upbeat atmosphere at odds with the under-table dealings that went on inside it. Zabuza declined a fruity beverage as his soon-to-be employer lit up a cigar and slid over a contract. Saiga was a businessman and a professional, much like Zabuza himself. They didn't bother with empty threats or promises.
The feared demon of the mist read over the contract, and highlighted a few sections he didn't necessarily agree with. "Why the time limit? You are the legitimate heir, are you not?"
His employer puffed on the cigar, not disturbed. "It is, complicated, Zabuza-san." Saiga was almost forty, old as far as shinobi were concerned, but he wasn't a ninja. He was by trade a merchant, and the uncontested lord of several holdings in the Lightning country until recently. "While I do not worry that the feudal lords will hurry to usurp my position, as they do not yet have enough fabricated and circumstantial evidence to evict me, things have been getting tiresome of late."
"Tiresome?"
"We have narrowed the possible locations of the scroll down to one abandoned town, Kiyono, though the locals have taken to calling it Shikyo. At first I hired on day laborers, but several have gone missing in the underground tunnels. Anyone that searches at night hasn't been seen again. I am of the opinion that something may lurk in the darkness, and such require the assistance of skilled people such as yourself."
"And if you hired from a village the feudal lords would get wind of it and stop you."
"You see my problem, Zabuza-san." Saiga rested his cigar on the ashtray and took a dumpling from a serving girls tray as she sashayed by. "I trust we can handle this discreetly."
Zabuza pointed to the passage on the time. "You said you were not in a hurry, but this only gives three days until the time limit. It will take two to prepare and arrive."
Saiga sighed. "I understand, and I will not hold you to the time but... I am told it is a very good suggestion to finish before then. That is what the locals believe."
"We make our own timelines." The ninja pointed further down. "And this?"
"That sum is not satisfactory? I was to understand it is the equivalent of an A-rank mission in most villages..."
"No. I just don't want money as payment. If we succeed, you become an official lord of Lightning, yes?" Saiga nodded, thoughtful. "You may consider our work a favor. Of course my men and I will require lodgings for a time afterwards."
The man brushed a few crumbs from his business suit. "Very well. I shall have a new contract drawn up with your terms. Will that be all, Zabuza-san?"
"For the moment." The larger man replied smoothly and cracked his neck, causing a pair of guards to tense. The waitress came around again, this time with plain rolls. Zabuza took one and loosened the bandages around his mouth showing off sharpened teeth. "Three follow me."
Saiga stood and motioned for his retinue to follow. "Rooms will be prepared... I have never found my people to lie, Zabuza-san." The aging man frowned, the look uncharacteristic on his strong features. "And I do not see why they would about this. It is strongly recommended you attempt this soon, and during daylight hours."
Zabuza simply gave him a lazy grin. At most a wild animal had taken up residence in the town, and it would be child's play for seasoned shinobi to get rid of it. The name, however, was amusing. Death. The perfect place for a demon to live. Zabuza let out a slow chuckle at the thought and left a tip for the waitress. It was silver bracelet.
In another world Naruto would have been called a pervert and beaten within an inch of his life for daring to go to a bathhouse'; the woman's side anyway. As it was he had never been to one before as the shower in his apartment worked perfectly fine, hot and cold water, and he didn't want to risk the cold look he imagined the other bathers would give him. Being naked and totally vulnerable didn't exactly encourage him to try it, but since he was with friends who wouldn't desert him when parents came around he could relax. On their side of the baths.
Naruto sighed in contentment as lazy clouds of steam whirled around her shoulders up to the sky. The bathhouse was designed with an outside portion styled like a hot springs, the ceiling was partially removed to allow airflow but it was expensive to maintain heating on the large pool and so the bathhouse Haku had picked out was expensive. But they deserved a little pampering.
"That feels good." Naruto remarked as Kin massaged her shoulders expertly, having taken a full course in kunoichi tactics. The blonde was sitting on a rock, her hair out of the customary pony tails hanging loose. She looked over to Haku, who had minor misgivings about going in with the girls, but gave up for two reasons. One, his features were so feminine the males would keep staring. Two, it was rather easy to pull a towel around his chest and play the part. It was much more interesting to listen to the women gossip.
Naruto's ears tingled, and she whipped her head around. It was soft, in the barely there sort of way, but she was sure it wasn't her conscience. Her conscience didn't giggle like that, and it had decided to take a nap after hearing about the bathhouse. Giving a mental shrug Naruto leaned back into Kin's hands, happy that she was with people that liked her.
Her eyes snapped open and she twisted, her ample chest bumping into the other girl's. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Pursing her lips Kin took her masters lead and channeled chakra to hear ears. Very faintly she caught a soft giggling punctuated by what sounded like scribbling. Strange. "Someone giggling?" She questioned in a whisper. "It's a little like they're in a concealment genjutsu, I think."
Naruto turned back around but Kin didn't resume her massaging. "So I'm NOT crazy."
I wouldn't say that... "It could just be someone on the men's side."
As a natural male, Naruto took offense to that. Had she fur it would have been bristling. "No male would be caught dead making that noise in public." Her blue eyes glassed over, a sign that she having one her internal talks with herself. "Gross. There's a pervert on the loose!" And he's watching me! He's watching Kin-chan!
Blue bled to purple. "I'm going to go find him." Naruto spoke with a slight growl. Her conscience didn't like perverts either, for an entirely different reason. "That's visual rape." The voice growled as it woke up from it's slumber. "And any kind of rape is bad."
"So there's a peeping-tom." Kin stated matter-of-factly as she walked around the edge of the heated pool toward the door. Haku watched with a perplexed look and she waved him off. "I'll help!" Her new found feminism, nurtured by her companions casual embrace of the female form, demanded retribution.
The two girls headed for the locker room to retrieve weapons, in Naruto's case. Kin quickly toweled off and slipped on a shirt and skirt foregoing the usual under things. Her weapons holster was strapped to a bare thigh while Naruto only wore her towel as her hands held kunai. "He's outside, looking in from the alley."
The man didn't pay much attention to anything but the girls he peeped on, so it was pathetically easy to sneak up on him. His white hair and red outfit tickled Kin's memory and caused her to pause, but Naruto had no such issues. She tapped his shoulder lightly. "Excuse me!" Her voice squeaked in practiced cuteness.
"Hmm?" The man turned showing an aged face with red markings. His eyes came level with Naruto's breasts as she leaned over and bulged out of their sockets. "Glory to Kami! What a beautiful babe!" His demeanor changed immediately. She tried to slide to the side to wrap and arm around the blonde.
Kin was sneaking up around him, without a genjutsu. SNFS strikes again creating the perfect distraction. "You are a pervert." Naruto stated, her fingers twitching with the need to impale the old man with something.
"Oh ho ho. Not just any pervert! I am the famous author of the beloved Icha Icha series, and the greatest SUPER PERVERT of them all!" The pose he struck was ridiculous. Kin took the opportunity to let her body run on autopilot as she tried desperately to think of something sweet. Like kittens. She couldn't let any killing intent leak out and warn the disgusting man.
Naruto had no such qualms and shuffled backwards as her kunai came down into his thigh, smiling all the while. Her inner voice crooned in triumph, before cursing as the body poofed away into a log. "Damnit!" She marched back to the bathhouse front, ignoring the whispers and points directed at her naked form, and tried to think. Something the self proclaimed super pervert had said reminded her of something.
She looked down at her bouncing breasts. "Icha Icha... isn't that the book the old man used to read with the orange cover?" Lights went on. "He's the idiot toad summoner!" Naruto dropped her towel to the tiles and grabbed her soap from the wooden bucket. For the first time she felt dirty. The way he looked at her, it wasn't surprise or disgust, it was something else. Every instinct screamed at her to run or kill. Preferably both.
"You okay, Naruto-sama?"
"I'm fine." She scrubbed, hard. If I ever see that man again. I'm going to kill him.
Her conscience, ever aware of just who Jiraiya of the sannin was and what he could do, agreed. "We will kill him."
END... or not. Chapter Twelve Extra's Ahead!
Deleted Scenes:
1. They were given metal bowls before being led to a four-seater table and told to build their own bowl. Naruto jumped up and shuffled into the lunch line, his mouth salivating at the selection of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, and scallops. He piled his bowl with chicken and shrimp before moving to the spice selection.
Others in line laughed as he took time to sniff each offered seasoning before making a face and discarding it, to the annoyance of the workers, or tipping it on top of his meat. Behind him Kin and Haku quickly picked out the seasonings they were familiar with and liked. Next was the veggies, of which Naruto took none despite Kin's efforts.
Naruto watched the chefs sear the food over a table-sized pan, he sneezed a few times, fascinated.
After receiving their order Haku checked for poison, as he didn't trust a hunter-nin to sneak something in, and they ate. Naruto finished first and kicked his feet in boredom as Kin and Haku discussed their next destination. The docks and attached market, or the movies? Kin was rather fond of the idea to check out the local bathhouse, preferably one of the better ones. She also had her eye on rather girly outfit.
"You cut your hair." Haku commented as Kin tucked a few strands behind her ear; rice and chopsticks halfway to her mouth.
"Um. A bit, it was getting rather annoying to brush with the split ends."
"You washed it to. Professionally."
Kin stared at him and swallowed, wondering for what would not be the last time how a male could be so girly. No woman she knew could eyeball hair that well, at least not without a close look. "There was a bit of blood on it..." She hedged, not wanting to explain her disaster of a mission. The design of the case indicated the body wouldn't smell for a while, and if no one went in the store looking for him they might never find the old leach for months! Years even!
Haku gave her a smug smile. "What would you say to seeing the Princess Fuun drama? Heard it's supposed to be a great blend of romance and action." The ice user suggested, picking up the former discussion with all the grace of a mountain cat.
Kin shrugged. "I don't really have any experience with film, sounds boring to me. Sitting in a dark room for hours... not doing anything."
"I haven't seen many myself, the first one I went to was for work, but it was enjoyable. Across the Universe it was called. I couldn't stay for the whole thing, my target suffered a tragic chocking fit during it, but I liked the music."
"I don't think Naruto," Kin looked at the empty seat of the blonde and cursed. "Did you notice where he went?"
"I thought he went with our waiter to the bathroom but... there." Haku pointed past a row of potted plants and Kin cursed under her breath. What is he doing?!
Naruto hopped back and had one of the steel bowls in a hand. The sound ninja watched in amazement as people clapped at the small blonde, who was throwing bowls at a rapid pace at every gong in the store. "They allow this?"
At the table over a native twisted in his seat and laughed at the two surprised ninjas. "'Course. This always happens," he paused as another round of gongs sounded. "If you ever complain of boredom they let you throw the bowls. Didn't you notice how dinged up they were?"
Kin sighed and rested her chin in her palms. "I guess I vote movie."
2.They stood in comfortable silence until Kiba came barreling out of the shop, and as predicted he had two of the bones. They were larger than either of his teammates expected. "Anyplace you guys want to go?"
Remembering Shino's obvious suggestion, Hinata spoke up. "Do you k-know where they sell containers, l-like canteens or something?"
"Why? You need a new one?"
"N-no, but I w-would like an extra to help w-with my water techniques."
"Oh. Makes sense. What do you think, Akamaru?" The dog barked and pointed his nose. "To the camp-gear store! Away!" And the two shot off into the distance where dog-boy and boy-dog would fight crime and triumph over evil. And that means Hokages.
3.Haku watched with his companions as the creepily old man giggled and drew. It was disturbing. A wicked, evil, idea formed in the effeminate boy's mind as he approached the elder. Haku knew full well who it was doing the peeping, he had memorized the bingo-book. Jiraiya of the Sannin, writing of the best selling Icha Icha series, and toad hermit. Apparently they forgot to comment on his peeping habits.
Haku took full advantage of that and motioned for Kin and Naruto to stand down. Sometimes the best revenge was not found in a bloody victory, but subtle speech. Like a snake Haku leaned down and wrapped his arms around the sannin. "Wouldn't you rather look at me, Jiraiya-sama?"
The man turned away from his peep hole and grinned, "Why you were one of the prettiest in there! Sadly, however, my tasted run in different direction." He made circular motions with his hands over chest apologetically. No need to be mean, after all.
"I-I see." Haku's acting skills were superb. "But you do think I'm pretty, right?"
"Of course! You got a face that would launch a thousand ships!" Jiraiya did not need a crying woman to draw attention to his activities.
"Oh. Well... opps." The towel dropped, showing Jiraiya just how manly his woman was.
Haku would remember the moment fondly for the rest of his life. Jiraiya's face went white, his body seizing up. Little choking sounds could be heard in the back of his throat. Going in for the kill, Haku sidled up to the frozen sannin. "I'm so glad you think I'm pretty."
He fell over, twitching. Jiraiya had one final thought before his world went black. The world is a large and mysterious place.
A Four Letter Words Short Story: Ouch! Or why Naruto's dislike of needles borders on psychotic.
His body hurt all over, but it wasn't his fault. It was the stuuuupid land lady not telling him the handrail was getting replaced. She knew he liked to slide down it when he went down the stairs; it was all her fault!
"Broken wrist, lacerations on left side, a few cracked ribs. I think you got off lightly from that fall." The doctor-man said as he removed his wrinkly cold hands from Naruto's small chest. "We'll have to split the wrist and disinfect the cuts."
Behind the white coat a young male nurse, just out of the medical school, made notes on a clipboard. "Standard IV, sir?"
The doctor backed up and brushed his hands on his coat as if he were getting dust off of them. Naruto wasn't surprised, while the man had been professional during the check-up his face upon entering the sterile room had been typical. Disgust and annoyance if not cold indifference, and Naruto preferred almost anything to the indifference. It made him feel like he didn't exist.
"I think a light antibiotic solution would be better, some of that stuff he landed in..." The doctor grimaced.
The nurse nodded and made another note as the doctor left to check up on other, less infamous patients. The man dropped the chart on a counter and rifled through the cooled cabinets until he found a plastic IV bag. Naruto watched him work nervously as a long tube was attached to the clear packet, the packet was then connected to a hanging metal thing. It reminded the blonde boy of the mobiles that hovered over the cribs at the orphanage, only scarier. "What's that?"
The man declined to answer, evidently decided to take the route so many others chose when dealing with the demon container. Ignore it, and maybe it will go away.
"Right hand." His voice spoke up, holding out his own expectantly. Naruto hesitated for only a second before giving it. His left was still cradled protectively in his lap.
A brown bottle was tipped onto a cotton swab and Naruto shivered as his hand was cleaned. His skin was feeling tingly afterward, and he recognized the alcoholic cleaning solution from his own cabinets. It usually hurt on his cuts, but maybe the nurse knew something to make it not hurt?
Naruto's relief was short lived as he was asked to make a fist as the nurse kept up pressure on his upper arm. As his veins began to stand out a silvery needle was jammed in. Naruto screeched and tried to take back his hand but the nurse held on. "Calm down you brat! It's the IV! Doctors orders!"
"It fucking hurts!" If the nurse was surprised at all by the trash talk from a five year old he didn't show it. "Get it out!"
As a short wrestling match ensued, the IV needle jiggled causeing the young boy to howl in pain. The nurse grabbed a roll of tape from his pocket, intended for use in securing the needle anyway, and quickly used what field training he had in tying the young boy to the bed. Naruto was crying as the needle was righted and held in place by gauze and white tape. His wrist was pulsing with fresh pain.
"Little snot." The nurse growled as he untangled himself from the boy and fixed his hair. "More trouble than you're worth." He dropped the tape into a drawer and checked off something on the chart. A sly grin formed on his face. "What's this? Looks like you haven't had any shots! Terribly overdue for a rabid animal like you."
Blue eyes glared defiantly. "I don't need shots."
The nurse smirked, left, and returned minutes later with a tray of syringes and drug cocktails. Naruto's yelps were muffled by a dishcloth rag as the needles pierced his skin and the nurse smiled cheerfully.
End of short story. I myself hate IV's, it hurts when they go in, stay in, and come out. My hand was sore all day when I got one.