And So, I Wait
Chapter 3: Prelude to a Masterpiece
oOo
The next day, we miss the mail call when Naruto is distracted by a trio of academy students, apparently students he's met before. Watching him give them pointers is tragically hilarious. He brashly tells them that even if a "creep" like Orochimaru shows up, they shouldn't surrender their pride as ninja. I quietly laugh, thinking about what would happen if Orochimaru ever fought this guy.
I happened to mention it, when the orange-clad genin was wheeling me back to my "mother's".
"I've actually fought Orochimaru," the blond finally admitted, and my eyes found his. Despite years of training, despite my own fervant belief in Lord Orochimaru's infallibility, I see no lies in his eyes as he continues. "I've met him twice in battle. Both times, he won, but I survived. The next time we meet, I'll win. I need to save Sasuke."
And despite my inflexibile belief in my lord, Saiyuna agrees with him. His eyes show the horror of someone who knows exactly what it is to fight my master, and he is honestly looking forward to his next fight. He wants to clash with my master, fist on fist, his chakra against the Snake Sannin's.
He doesn't just want to spirit Sasuke away... He wants to steal him right from in front of my master's face, rob my Lord's prize from right in front of him.
Saiyuna is amazed. Tayuya shivers, wanting to run screaming into the night,
I've felt my master's chakra just once, and the feel of it was terrible. It was like a wet, heavy wool cloak draped across my senses. It blinded me with fear and made me want to just flee, writhing and just hoping to throw that feeling off.
The thought of someone willing to face that for anyone, it amazes Saiyuna. It's pretty fucking impressive to me, too. As much as I don't want it to. As much as I hate it. For all his faults, this blond has some balls. And watching him with all of those kids, I have to admit he's got a lot more heart than I'd thought anyone in the hidden leaf could have.
Saiyuna doesn't deliver her letter for a second day.
I don't care.
oOo
The second shock comes not from Naruto himself, but from a casual movie rental.
Like most girls, Saiyuna was a pretty big fan of Yuki-hime and her companions. Screw it. I liked watching the movie, screw anyone who says anything otherwise. The story was desperate and uplifting, a true tale of someone fighting against the odds to win through for everything that was right and just.
So what if I was a ninja of the sound? I was still a girl, damn you!
Saiyuna, like other girls, heard the stories about how the second movie nearly got cancelled. I was surprised when Sakura, my caretaker's habitual shadow, grew bored when discussing the sequel. Until she produced the damning photo, that is.
The rumours had Yuki-hime's actor being played by the actual princess of the Hidden Snow, Kazahana Koyuki. The wildest of them had a trio of Konoha genin facing off against the Hidden Snow elite, with one of the Konoha genin (and not his jounin sensei!) facing off against Kazahana Dotou and finishing the bastard all by himself!
Then Sakura showed me a picture of Yuki-hime herself kissing an injured Naruto on the cheek whilst the latter was injured, in a hospital bed. I was already numb by the time the movie was released on DVD. When Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru returned from another mission claiming to have saved the world from an oppresive regime I already believed.
Because I remembered.
Because... I knew.
Kazahana Dotou was rated at the same ranking as Lord Orochimaru himself. My Lord was infinitely smarter and more skilled, but with that chakra armour the Snow Ninja was equipped with, he stood on equal ground with the most elite.
And in glorious widescreen with 5-speaker surround sound , I could watch him defeated by a genin any time I felt like watching it. The documentary played it up like Naruto was the driving force behind the expidition, but I knew better.
He was just one third of a trio. I didn't need to hear of the Gelel cult's leader to know that Sakura and Shikamaru performed above and beyond their duty to quell the nation-wide rebellion. No matter how powerful he was, Naruto was just one boy. His companions were just as extraordinary as he was. Together they'd changed the face of history.
For Saiyuna and Tayuya, it was a relavation.
For Naruto, it was just another mission. Even as he packed to go on another, Saiyuna tried to show him that he was being used. I agreed. His power was too special, too unique, to throw at every country in peril. What business of Konoha's was it if another country went to hell?
I've never felt smaller than the time he turned to me and gave me his response.
"Konoha depends on every other country. In a way, we keep the world safe. It's my duty to make sure that the world is as safe as I can make it... righ, Saiyuna?"
How could I argue against the logic that lead the youth before me to face down my lord in one on one combat? Even considering my own loyalties, I had to acknowledge his sheer audacity. No other ninja could possibly pull off the sort of victories his team achieved with him as their leader. In three missions beyond his country's borders, Naruto had freed three countries from opression and forged a powerful alliance with the new leaders.
Even as an unquantifiable variable, he was an irrefutable element of his country's political makeup. Saiyuna pondered the inexplicable miracle that was a ninja who could retire at fifteen years old, and have his achievements lauded from one end of the world to another.
Tayuya wondered just how much further he would grow.
As he bid me farewell before a three year training journey, I knew I couldn't mail my letter. Not without seeing him one more time.
oOo
Author's Notes:
Continuing on...
Look, I've written three chapters in a night. How much more Authors Notes can you expect?
Cheers,
Gaming Ikari