Disclaimer: Do I look like Kishimoto-san?
A/N: This is a bit of a filler, but seeing as there is to be blood shed and misery in this story, I thought it would be cut to add this chapter.
"INARI!!!!!"
A yellow haired man burst through the front door, conveniently forgetting how to knock. The black haired boy looked up from his lunch to find a group of four standing in the doorway. Beside the blond man stood another man with gray hair and a mask, a black haired man, and a dark haired woman.
"NARUTO!"
Inari leapt at the blond, crushing him in his grip.
"I think you have us mistaken for someone else. I am Akio, this is my wife Ami, and the two men behind me are our escorts, Hideki and Isamu. My wife and I are nobles from the Country of Wind here to meet with the Feudal Lord of the Wave country." Inari cocked his head in confusion. Seeing this, Naruto winked and said, "It's good to see you squirt," and ruffled the raven-haired kid's hair.
"You too, 'Akio-sama'. Please come in."
Inari left the room and returned moments later with his grandfather and mother.
"Ojiisan, Okaasan, this Akio-sama and Ami-sama from the Wind, and their escorts Hideki-san and Isamu-san."
"Ohayo, Tazuna." The silver haired man greeted, hand raised in his trademark salutation. All seven of the sat at a table in the kitchen, Naruto and Kakashi catching up with old friends, Hinata and Sai making new ones.
"So, why are nobles here in this modest town?" Tazuna asked Kakashi.
"We told you, to meet with your Feudal Lord."
"No, I mean, why must you four fake your identities?"
"I'm not allowed to disclose this information, but Konoha greatly appreciates your cooperation."
"Oh. And if you don't mind my asking, where's that little pink haired brat from before?"
"She has her own mission. You know, she's now the captain of her own squad now."
"Huh. Never thought she had it in her. And what about that self-important gloomy kid, what's his name, Sasuke?"
Upon hearing this name, Naruto stopped his conversation with Inari and stared at his hands resting on the table. Hinata wrapped an arm around Naruto's shoulders to comfort him.
"He . . . couldn't be with us.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Did he die?"
"Most likely."
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Hinata
Hinata walked the streets of the town, a basket of groceries hanging on her arm. These long elegant robes bothered her to end. She should be used to them, coming from a noble family herself, but she still felt constricted. The hem was dragging on the ground, absorbing mud like a sponge.
She was awakened from her musing by a scream some distance away. Running towards the scream, she found herself staring down a dark alley at a little crying girl surrounded by a group of four boys.
"Give that to me!"
"No! It's a present from my Okaasan, please!"
The boy snatched the object from the girl's hands and stared at it.
"Aww, how cute, a stuffed bunny! With ears large enough to match yours!" He boxed her ears, causing the girl to scream from pain.
"Now, wouldn't this doll look much better without such an ugly head?"
"No!" With that, the boy tore the doll's head clean off and dumped it in a mud puddle. The girl burst into tears, gathering up the broken pieces of her best friend. Another boy pulled his fist back to punch her, but a hand stopped his blow. Turning around, he found himself staring into a pair of pupil-less eyes.
"Leave her alone."
"Ha, what could a woman do about it?"
Suddenly, a boy behind her pulled a knife out of sleeve and lunged at her. Hinata caught his wrist in her iron grip, and kicked him in the stomach sending him flying backwards. Another boy tried to kick her, but she hit him square in the chest using the jyuuken jutsu. The boy fell in a crumpled heap, hands clutching at hi chest.
"Let's get out of here!" And with that, the boys took off running in all directions. Hinata stooped down before the crying figure before her.
"My name's Hin – uh, Ami. What's yours?
The girl sniffled and replied softly, "Chiyo."
"Chiyo. That's a pretty name. Can I see your friend there?" Chiyo reluctantly handed over the pieces of her beloved bunny to the woman before her.
"Is Usagi-san gonna die?"
"Not if I have anything to do about it."
She pulled back the hem of the robe revealing the shuriken holster attached to her thigh.
"Are . . . are you a ninja?"
"Shh, don't tell anyone, ok?"
Chiyo nodded her head eagerly to the woman. She watched on in wonderment as the pretty lady with strange eyes pulled a senbon needle from her shuriken holster. Using her own hair and the throwing needle as a makeshift sewing kit, she proceeded to stitch up Usagi-san's neck.
"There, you go, all better."
'But how will he heal? He needs to heal."
"Oh, of course. Silly me." She then wrapped up the stuffed rabbit in bandages from head to toe.
"Much better. Remember to change his dressings once a day for three days. Then he'll be all better."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Chiyo dried her eyes and wrapped her little arms around the woman's neck and pecked her cheek.
"Arigato, Ami-san."
The woman smiled back at her. Taking Chiyo's hand, she said, "Let's get you home. Where do you live?"
"On the other side of the town."
"Well, let's go!"
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Naruto
Tazuna sighed as he watched the seconds tick by on the clock on his wall. Oh joy. Yet another unsuccessful day.
Suddenly a yellow blob burst through the front in a most ungraceful manner.
"Yo Tazuna, I finally found you! You see, I turned on the faucet in the bathroom, when suddenly a giant fish leapt through the window and knocked the whole sink clean off the wall so now your house is kinda flooding. Hehe. By the way, where are we?"
"This is my restaurant. Ever since Gatou left the village, I haven't been able to find work as a bridge builder, so I started my own restaurant. But, as you can probably see, it's not too successful."
Curious, Naruto picked up a menu laying on the table.
"Oh, I know the problem!"
"What?"
"Not enough Ramen duh!" Naruto promptly earned himself a smack on the head for that.
Some time later, after much arguing over ramen and redecorating, Naruto and Tazuna stood eagerly awaiting costumers. The menu was now entirely devoted to ramen, and images of steaming bowls were painted (poorly) on the walls. However, none seemed to arrive. Quite peeved by the time and money spent redoing his restaurant, Tazuna sent Konoha's #1 hyperactive knuckle-head ninja the most deadliest of death glares.
"Nani?"
"It's. Not. WORKING YOU BAKA! First you come in here with some crackpot story about a fish destroying my house, and now I waste money on nothing! Why they didn't kill you at birth I'll never know."
"Yeesh, you don't have to get so mad. Hmmm, what to do? Oh, I've got an idea!"
"I bet you ten bucks it won't work.'
"You're on!"
A family of three was on their way to the grocery store when they stopped a new-looking ramen stand. Through the window, they could see that the entire restaurant was full, ever single table taken. And at each table sat a person eating – no – inhaling a bowl of ramen.
"Wow, this place must be pretty good."
"Yeah, let's try it."
Soon, people were lined up around the block eager to get a taste of what must have been very good ramen.
"Wow Akio, you're bunshins must've worked."
"I guess they did. You owe me ten bucks."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Snot-nosed brat."
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Sai
Sai leaned against the railing staring out at the bridge on the water. It seemed so peaceful, yet so grand. It shot itself out from the background, demanding attention from the onlooker. Strange indeed. It melted so perfectly with the village, seemed somehow so perfect for it. Yet, somehow, something about it grasped at your heart, leading your eye towards it. Perhaps it was the sheer beauty of the bridge. Or perhaps part of its past that lingers in the present. Like a work of art, it stood out. This would make a nice painting.
At length, a stranger walked past and took note of the man standing by himself near the water.
"Nice bridge isn't it?"
"Hai."
"You're one of the Sand nin here, right?"
"Uh, hai."
"This bridge is called the Great Naruto Bridge. A perfect name in my opinion." Sai was taken aback. Surely he did not mean Uzumaki Naruto. And surely he didn't mean a piece of fish cake.
"Why is that?"
"Well, you see, nine years ago a man named Gatou took hold of our village. He monopolized trade, and through his control of the market sent us into poverty and oppression. Then, Tazuna the bridge builder came to our village accompanied by four Leaf ninja. Tazuna built this bridge to give of freedom of commerce, but the villagers lived in fear of Gatou. It was the bravery of one ninja, Uzumaki Naruto, that inspired us to fight back against Gatou and gain our freedom."
"I see. A very fitting name to be sure." So, Team Seven had been to this town before.
Now he understood it. The reason for the bridge to be so . . . commanding that is. It was the message of hope and courage it held. A nice painting indeed.
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Kakashi
Kakashi walked the streets alone, his nose stuck behind an orange book. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed things. Things like children playing, wearing more than rags and consisting of more than skin and bone. Things like buildings with walls, and doors with hinges, and windows with glass. Things like grocery stores with more than two pieces of celery. Things like hope in the eyes of the people he past by.
This placed had changed considerably. Life seemed like more than suffering to these people now. Such happiness could be seen everywhere, but he could not enjoy it. He found his thoughts wandering to a place far beyond the reaches of this Country of Waves. He found he could no longer even concentrate on the words in his book, compelling though they were.
A small child bumped into his leg and fell to the floor. Without looking up from his book, he helped the child up to his feet and continued walking. A woman accidentally knocked a box out a window above him. Without averting his gaze, he caught the box and set it on the floor. Someone yelled something at him, but he pretended not to hear. Thoughts were buzzing in his mind that he just could not shake.
Throughout dinner, Kakashi sat to himself, not touching his food and focusing on the same page of text he had been reading hours ago. Someone, probably Tsunami, was scolding him for reading such scandalous material at the table. But he didn't pay heed. What was wrong with him? A shinobi was not to let himself get so distracted. It was dangerous.
Later that night, Kakashi found himself sitting on the balcony overlooking the ocean, his perverted book finally away from his face. But he could not enjoy the way the moonlight played off the water, making it glow with ethereal beauty. He was worried.
No, he shouldn't be worried. She was a top nin for kami-sama's sake. But, then again, so were They. No, he musn't doubt her. He knew he underestimated her. Everyone did. Which gave her incredible advantage over adversaries. But They would not make that mistake. Why should he be so worried about her though? There were many other of his friends on many such dangerous missions.
The sound of shoes against wood reached his ears as a figure approached from the warmth of the house. But Kakashi didn't bother to look up.
"Kakashi-sensei, may I talk to you?" The voiced reached his ears revealing the owner to be Hinata.
"Sure."
Hinata sat down on the balcony next to her teacher. Several minutes passed as both tried to admire the serene beauty of the endless water before them.
"Kakashi-sensei, what sort of mission do you think Sakura is on?" Astonished, the copy nin turned to face his pupil.
"I don't know, but it must be concerning Akatsuki I'm sure."
"Do you think she'll be alright?"
"I know she's your friend, but it's not wise to underestimate her Hinata."
"I know, but I can't help it. I have this bad feeling that I can't shake."
"So do I."
A/N: There are two ways this story could go. It could have a relatively "happy" ending (which would be a little longer probably) or a tragic ending. Tell me what you think!!