The Way of Heroes
A2 E5/7 The Land Where a Hero Lived. New Heroes Fight for Their Place.
It was a bright shining day; few clouds decorated the baby blue sky. Hammers clanged against metal and men grunted as work boots clumped against steel floor. Tazuna carried a long gray girder across his shoulder, and a towel around his neck, he looked at a yawning Sakura, "Where's that short blonde kid at and the one with the attitude?" Tazuna asked, and Sakura replied, "They're training, climbing trees." Tazuna pressed, "Too tough for you?" Sakura poked her chest proudly, "No... In fact I'm the best, that's why Sensei sent me here to guard you."
"Why'd that monkey kid have to come then? Hey where is that bum pirate anyway?" Tazuna asked, and the pinkette went white as she looked around, finding no sign of the Straw Hat. Tazuna worriedly shook his hardhat wearing head, sighing with disappointment, "You're joking right? Keep that kid away from the workers, I heard he got into it with some marine yesterday; I don't need him scaring any of my work force."
Sakura urgently searched up and down the bridge, and went wide eyed when she saw Luffy. The young pirate fell straight out of the sky, landing right in front of Sakura. He grinned, "Hey Sakura, whatcha doin?" With an angry punch, Sakura screeched, "Trying to guard Tazuna, and you aren't helping!" Luffy pointed out, "Well you aren't doing a very good job, that guy looks real mad at him."
Pointing to an angry, sweating man who held a sledgehammer in one hand and his hardhat in another, he was making his way toward a bent over Bridge Builder. The pinkette ran over there fast, with Luffy not far behind. Sakura managed to put herself in between the man and her employer, folding her arms over her chest. Time to impress Mr. Tazuna! Yeah I'll show that old man what I'm made of! "Sir please stop and state your name and business to me, and then you may talk to Mr. Tazuna. I am his security detail," Sakura stopped the older man, whose tired blue eyes showed far more age than he should have. The man's chest heaved inside his brown shirt, and his blue pants were covered in oil.
He yelled, "Get outta the way girl, this is between me and Tazuna!" Luffy made his way over to Sakura, commenting, "This guy sure looks mad Sakura, is he trying to attack the old bridge guy?" The pinkette whispered, "Not yet Luffy, but he wants to talk to him." Tazuna abruptly brushed his 'security detail' aside, shaking the angry man's hand with a gentle smile.
"Listen Tazuna, I've been thinking a lot about the bridge," The man said, setting his hammer down. "What about?" Tazuna asked, and the worker sighed, "I've decided I want out. I've pushed my luck far enough." Enraged, Tazuna screamed, "What? You're going to abandon this? I talked about this for years with your father; we served as Marines together you know! Our old Navy bosses wanted to fire him, but I took the heat, I figured his family needed it more than me, figured his son wouldn't turn out to be a coward!"
While he seemed to get angry at this comment, but he calmed down before he said anything he would regret. The man added, "I'm putting my life on the line every day that I stay here! Gato and his thugs will come here eventually, and when then we'll all be dead." "You coward! This is our people's salvation! We're the only hope that our country has! The only reason this land hasn't gone completely to Hell is because the Blue Government's tax collectors have all been killed by Gato! The Government can't do anything; we're the people's only hope."
"I'm no coward!" The man screamed in frustration, losing his cool and he yelled again, "You're the coward. You left us for a week getting four ninja and a pirate from the Leaf Village! Gato came and roughed up some of our children, said someone needed to be taught a lesson about obedience. Someone was trying to build a bridge he said! You're the only one with security! What happens when he comes back at the end of the month expecting his usual fee, then he finds out more people have been working on the Bridge! Everyone else has helpless families, terrified every night that as soon as the end of the month comes, Gato will come back and slaughter anyone he feels like could've helped build the Bridge. I stayed because of our friendship, but I'm done after today."
The Bridge Builder stared at the Bridge, "I'm not abandoning this Bridge. You can quit if you want, but don't expect me to do you any favors." He grabbed a loud speaker off the ground, yelling into it, "Listen up men! Our island is poor, and this bridge is the only hope we got. I understand some of you have your doubts, and if you do, let those end here and now! Anyone who doesn't want to save this country at the risk of your lives, leave now! Anyone who stays, I promise will have the protection of some of the finest ninja the Leaf Village had to offer me!" No one left, Tazuna smiled, announcing, "I'm proud of you, now get back to work!"
He looked at the quitter in front of him, he explained, "These people believe in the Bridge. Our country will stay as it is, until this Bridge connects us to the Mainland. Commerce, trade, money, hope! That's what we're building here today! This is our dream, and if you don't want a part of this, our land's new history, leave right now."
"There's not gonna be much hope when we're all dead when your 'fine' ninja run away like the Marines," the man commented, and Luffy jumped forward at this notion, firing, "Hey! Those are my friends you're talking about! Even if they did run away, I'm not a ninja, or a Marine, or even a pirate yet, but I never run away! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates, and you better believe that I won't let anyone die here, as long as I'm breathing on this Bridge, NO ONE WILL DIE!" The Rubberboy grinned, spinning his straw hat on his finger, and he watched as the man nodded, confidence restored in his still tired eyes.
The Way of Heroes
As the Sun had gone down, purple and orange hues decorated the forest as both Naruto and Sasuke heaved for breath on the ground. Naruto asked the sky, "Why is this so hard?!" While the Uchiha looked up at the tree where he'd been climbing all day, and he looked at the plant across from his, Naruto's plant, and saw something he didn't like. How could Naruto have gotten higher than me?!
It may have only been by a half inch, but to the Uchiha, that was unacceptable. It seemed Naruto hadn't noticed, because if the blonde had, Sasuke wouldn't have heard the end of it. I'll have to get higher before he notices... Only to see that Naruto had already started going up again. In a rush, Sasuke ran onto the tree, carrying himself only half way to where he'd been last time.
The Way of Heroes
Tazuna wore his broad cone shaped straw hat, and carried a small sack across his back. He walked next to Sakura, with Luffy on his opposite side. The pinkette instinctively held her bag close with her hand, and asked, "Where are we going Mr. Tazuna?" "You wanna eat don't ya? We've got to pick up some things for dinner," Tazuna answered, and Luffy begged, "Really? Can we get some meat? Please please please?"
Seeing the Rubberboy kneel on his knees begging for food angered Tazuna, who slapped the back of his head and growled, "Get off the ground ingrate, people are hungry here." Sakura looked around as she paused, waiting for the Bridge Builder and the other half of the guard convoy. She noticed a surprising amount of beggars in the streets, walking with signs like, 'Out of Work Marine, Need Food' and 'Wife Killed by Gato, Need Food' and 'My Children are Dying, Hungry'. The pinkette nearly cried at the sight, and sniffed as she saw a boy run with a string of sausages and someone chase him with a butcher's knife. The butcher would have to lose several dozen pounds before he would catch up to the thief. Sakura stared at two boys, each deeply sad, sat next to each other, one was crying while the other was barely holding back his tears. Sakura wondered, What's wrong with these people?
"Here we are," Tazuna said, pointing into a store as Sakura lead the way, and a still begging Luffy followed, holding his growling stomach. A tired and hoarse shop keeper greeted, "Welcome to the store Tazuna." Sakura noticed all the food, taking it all in with a glance. She wouldn't have needed training to do so. As she saw the vegetables in an instant, or the lack there of veggies, Sakura was again reminded of the troubled times that the Village faced.
Luffy had a different view of the little amount of food, "Gross! Veggies! Where's the meat, Store Guy?" The shop keeper shrugged and explained, "Young man, the meat is at the butcher's shop, but he doesn't have much I'm afraid. None of these stores have been doing well since Gato arrived."
A shady looking mustachioed character grinned as he eyed Sakura's bag, and got ready to snatch it when she felt a hand reach near her rear and then in the next instant; Sakura had turned around and the man was flying backward, nose bleeding and teeth loose. His hat had fallen off, revealing a shiny bald head. Luffy asked, "What's the matter Sakura? Did he try to eat your meat?" "For the last time, I don't have any meat you idiot!" Sakura reminded, punching Luffy in the head.
A while later, outside the store in the streets again, Tazuna complimented the pinkette, "You really surprised me back there. You must really be a ninja then. Girls around here don't usually fight like that." Missing the compliment, an irate Sakura ranted, "They should! Something is seriously wrong here!" Feeling another hand tug at her rear, Sakura angrily turned and yelled, "Hey Buster -" Only to notice the accused.
Taking in the boy's small appearance, Sakura judged the assaulter to be 5, and blushing as he had been caught. He smiled, holding his hand out and asking, "Please..." Seeing his eyes line up with her bag, Sakura glumly pulled out a small carrot, giving it to the overly skinny child. Her teal eyes locked with the boy's, and for a second, she almost cried. The boy ran away after murmuring, "Thank you! I'll remember this!" Tazuna explained, "Since Gato's arrived, everyone is forced to live like that. The children suffer, and the adults are afraid to stand up to him. They've lost all hope. That's why we have to finish the Bridge. While it will bring commerce and trade, more importantly it will bring courage. It will restore the spirit of our people, and I will not let that die. When that bridge is finished, people will start to believe again, they'll believe that they can live with dignity again. We can't let Gato stop us and win. Even if he has an army."
Sakura stared at the ground, Sasuke, Naruto, we have to help them! Luffy grimly locked eyes with the Bridge Builder, promising, "Don't worry old man, we won't fail you. These people will be free by the time I leave here!"
The Way of Heroes
In the dark of the wood, Naruto and Sasuke ran up their respective trees, reaching dizzying heights and Naruto dropped quickly. He marked his spot, and panted as he watched the brunette race up the plant. He's still climbing! How's that possible? He got ready, and took another go. Naruto ran up the tree, and soon enough, as he made it half way to the spot he'd been previously, Sasuke fell, gracefully landing on his feet as usual. It seems like I'd only just caught up with him, now he's catching up with me again! This time he's going to get higher than me again!
Sure enough, as Naruto hit the ground, Sasuke saw that the Fox Ninja had indeed surpassed him, this time by an entire inch! Then, as Naruto took a deep breath, Sasuke took note as he made a hand sign and thought, I can't let him win. Inside Naruto's own mind, he had similar thoughts; I can't let Sasuke beat me again. I'm gonna be Hokage, this is gonna be easy! Believe it! I just can't think about Sasuke, I'll lose my concentration.
Unlike Sasuke however, Naruto recalled his own studies with Sakura, who taught, "You have to focus on the tree, and you can't do it if you get too emotional. You have to relax, that's how you get steady Spiritual Energy. The tree will provide all the Physical Energy for the move." Naruto grinned, That's it! This time I'm gonna go all the way to the top!
Outside the visible spectrum as energy audibly cracked slightly around him, a powerful yet focused energy enveloped the bottoms of the blonde's sandaled feet. However, breaking Naruto from his own world, Sasuke called, "Hey Naruto!" The blonde tripped just as he started running toward the tree, he angrily shouted, "What's the big idea Sasuke?"
"Well uh, the thing is..."
"The thing is what?" Naruto, annoyed, asked impatiently. He folded his arms and peevishly scowled at his comrade, What's this about? He never talks to me... What could he be up to? Sasuke's eye twitched slightly, and he mumbled, "You - uh - ya know, asked Sakura for advice the other day... So what did she tell you?"
Grinning, Naruto realized the hold he had over the Uchiha, he slyly remarked, "Oh that? I'm not gonna tell you..." As the tension rose while the two locked eyes, a loud crash came next to them and Luffy bounded into both of them, knocking the rivals over and into the dirt. The Future Pirate King laughed, "You guys must be really dumb! Climbing a tree with no hands is ssssoooo easy! Watch this!" The Rubberboy showed off his talents, stretching one leg over an extremely high branch, and after wrapping it around, he shot up into the sky and bounced back onto the branch with his grappled limb. "Oh wait... You guys don't have Gum Gum powers do you?"
The rivals twitched in agitation, and Sasuke called, "What do you want Luffy?" "Oh yeah you guys are supposed to come and get dinner, Kakashi wanted me to tell you," Luffy answered, slapping himself in the forehead for not remembering. Luffy jumped off the high branch challenging, "Race ya there!"
Sasuke and Naruto barely got up, staggering as they started walking. Sasuke grumbled, "Idiot." Naruto added, "Who does he think he is? Trying to say he's faster than me? I've been training all day." Sasuke rolled his eyes and shot, "Oh please, he's trying to see if he's faster than me. We all know that I've been training so much harder than you today and that I can still beat you in a race."
"You're on Sasuke!"
"You must be dreaming if you think you can beat me!"
"Oh please, the only way you could beat me is if you were dreaming!" Naruto quipped, and the race was on, as both driven ninja passed the Rubberboy, who was shocked as he was outpaced by the tired shinobi. He laughed, and sped up, cackling as he ran next to the rivals. This high spirited competition was what he thrived on. Luffy yelled, "Gum Gum -" Then stretched his arm onto a tree, and shot up into the sky, coasting until he couldn't be seen anymore by either ninja.
The Way of Heroes
Their race long over, now the rival genin mowed down their own bowls of food, scarfing the vegetables and bread like they were going out of style. Tazuna chuckled at their foolish competition saying, "This is fantastic, it's been ages since we've had so many guests at our table." Both Naruto and Sasuke jumped up, holding their now empty bowls victoriously shouting, "I want some more," in sync. They locked eyes the unadulterated contest between them made Sakura pause from her own consumption. Luffy however, who sat between Naruto and Kakashi, didn't seem to mind at all, as he himself was gnashing loudly on the bread.
Suddenly, both Naruto and Sasuke sat down, turning a sickly shade and coughed up the food they had just ravenously devoured. Sakura shouted, "Don't eat so much if you're gonna puke it up!" Sasuke wiped his mouth, explaining, "I - (belch) - Have to eat." "And I have to eat more than him," Naruto growled. It's the only possible way I can get strong enough to beat him, the Fox Ninja thought to himself, and Kakashi stood in agreement, "That is true, but puking won't help either of you."
With dinner complete several minutes later, Luffy glugged down several cups of tea, shouting at Tazuna, "Where can I get more of this leaf juice?" The Bridge Builder silenced, "Shut up kid!" Sakura, ever observant, stood on a stool and commented on a family portrait on the wall in front of her, "This picture Mr. Tazuna, part of it is torn off. Is there some reason for that? It looks like there was someone else in the picture but they got torn out; I mean that's kind of strange isn't it?"
The Pinkette turned, looking directly at the Old Man's grandson, "Inari you kept glancing at it all throughout dinner." Tazuna and his family all cringed at the mention of the picture, tension not helped by Sakura's pressing of the issue. This was not lost on Kakashi. Noticing everyone was looking away, Luffy stealthily snatched Tazuna's cup from in front of him, drinking all the 'leaf juice' out of it noisily.
Tazuna's daughter stopped washing dishes, whispering, "It's my husband." The Bridge Builder murmured sadly, "They used to call him a hero in this land." Inari got up from the table, leaving without a word. His mother turned, going after him and asking, "Inari where are you going?" Just before going out the same door that her son had, she scolded, "Father you can't talk about him like that in front of Inari! You ninja should just mind your own business!"
Tazuna winced at his daughter's words, knowing them to be true. Luffy wondered, "Why's that kid always crying? He never laughs or anything! I tried to talk to him but he doesn't believe in himself!" Kakashi asked in mock suspicion, because he knew his feelings were true, "Hmmm... I wonder if there could be a story behind this. Mr. Tazuna, care to explain?"
Tazuna did care to explain, beginning, "He was Inari's step-father, but for a long time he was never home, always out at sea going on voyages. When he came back for the last time, he and Inari became very close and he took care of my family when work was slow with bridges." Naruto sighed, listening to the story along with Sasuke. Shaking with sadness and anger, Tazuna choked out, "Back - in those days - He used to laugh all the time. But then - then - all that ended,"
The ninja and the pirate watched as tears fell freely down on the Old Man's cheeks, who went on, "He never laughs or smiles. Not since the day that everything changed. The word courage was stolen from this island. Heroism left with the Marines soon after. Powerless, hopeless, and Inari suffered the most. This land lost its spirit. Ever since that happened... Ever since that day."
"Tell us, what happened," Kakashi coaxed, and with his message successful, Tazuna continued, "First you need to know about the man. His step-father, the man who taught us the word courage, a hero for this land." Naruto gaped in awe, "A hero, really?" "You can decide that for yourself. It was years ago..."
The Way of Heroes
A young Inari screamed as two boys slightly bigger and older than him held him in skinny arms. "Poochie! Poochie no!" He cried, watching as a third bully held his small white dog. The boy with the dog ignored Inari's protests, "That's not his name; from now on his name is Shooting Star! He's my dog now." Inari argued as the small dog yipped, "No he's not he's my dog! His name isn't 'Shooting Star', he's Poochie and I've had him since he was a puppy! He's my friend and he doesn't belong to you!"
Struggling to no avail against the dual pairs of arms holding him in place, Inari grunted before stopping to catch his breath. The bully hollered, "Just shut up." Tossing the dog into the water, Inari screamed, "POOCHIE!" "See what happens when you don't follow your master's commands stupid dog?" The bully taunted as the pup started drowning near the docks where the kids were standing. He ordered, "You can let Inari go now..." His underlings did as they were told, releasing Inari from their grips.
The boy walked towards the bully angrily, asking, "Why did you do that? My dog is gonna drown!" "If he really is your dog than jump in and save him. Be a big hero and save your friend." The bully said, patting his hardhat before head-butting Inari in the chest. Wind knocked out of him, Inari fell to his knees. The bully pressed, "After all that big talk, you're not gonna let him go under are you?" I gotta jump in and save him, Inari thought, but the bully was tired of the boy's unsure desire.
Taunting, "He won't even help his precious little Poochie!" The bully said, circling to Inari's trembling back. The jabs fell on deaf ears as all that Inari knew was what he was thinking, I can't... I can't swim. Poochie is gonna drown if I don't save him though. I'm scared, I'm sorry Poochie. Inari stopped, and watched with the bully's as his pup yipped and cried for help as it tried to push himself up above the water for air.
The bully laughed, "If you make such a big deal out of him, then go get him!" Rocketing Inari off the pier and into the deep water with a vicious helmeted head-butt, the bully howled with enjoyment as his victim splashed into the sea. One of his cronies, one with blue hair and a Marine hat on commented, "I think you went too far this time Akane, I mean he could really drown or something." Inari screamed in terror, "HELP PLEASE!"
Akane shook it off, "Forget about it." The hatted follower wasn't so sure, "I don't know -" He couldn't finish his argument, as his superior grabbed him, savagely pulling him close as he whispered, "The strong survive while the weak die Miso. You say one more word, and you're going in next. The right of the mighty is they get to reign of the weak, I am your boss because I'm stronger than you, so I get to do whatever I want."
Inari coughed, choking on the salty sea and howling, "I don't wanna die! Somebody help me!" Interestingly enough, Poochie learned the Doggie Paddle just as Inari went under, abandoning his former master. Inari's burning eyes watched as his canine companion shook himself dry as he reached the beach shore. Akane and his goons looked concerned, with Akane ordering, "Shooting Star is running away! Get him!"
When Inari came to, he was drying underneath a blanket next to a small fire on the beach, still squishing around in sopping wet clothes. A strong voice asked, "You wakin' up huh?" He saw a strong, tanned man with an 'x' shaped scar on his chin and a rope tied around his head. "I had a little talk with those kids Inari, they won't bother you again. Here eat," The man said, gesturing with a nicely cooked fish that had been skewered by a sharp stick. Inari wondered, Is this for real?
"You're my Step-Dad Kaiza right?" Inari asked, taking the salty smelling fish out of the man's calloused hands. "Yeah haha, I'm back from my last journey," Kaiza chuckled, and Inari poured on the questions, "Really? Are you my dad? Was your adventure fun? What did you do? Did you fight any pirates? Where's your Marine clothes? Are you and my mom still married?" "Woah calm down there Skipper, have a bite to eat and we can talk after that," Kaiza said, dodging all the questions.
"When I was growing up, dogs would never abandon their owners. They would stand by their masters. But then again, you abandoned the dog first. So what can you really expect?" Kaiza asked, and Inari stopped eating the fish, whining, "I really wanted to save him but I couldn't. I can't swim. I was just so scared, I don't have any courage. I just froze, I love Poochie and I wanted to protect him but I couldn't." Kaiza smiled knowingly, relaying, "Don't be so hard on yourself. When I was your age I was scared too. But then I saw these brave heroes fighting great battles just over the horizon, they waved their flags with pride and they fought day in and day out to protect the thing they cared about most. Always remember this: "Destiny, fate, dreams. As long as there are people who seek freedom in this life, these things shall not vanish from the Earth." When you have the freedom to love something, you need to protect that with both arms. Even if you have to put your life on the line, fight for what you believe in! You can be a hero! Never give in!"
This was Kaiza, a simple man with a simple mind, who followed his heart wherever it led him. He sailed across the seas, before finally staying here in the Land of Waves. After that day, Inari and Kaiza were inseparable. The boy had never known his real father, so it wasn't a stretch to think he was replaced by Kaiza in his life. He looked up to him, followed in his footsteps like a real father.
The Way of Heroes
Tazuna recalled, "He spent so much time with my grandson and daughter, I started treating him like a son despite our political differences. Then when his Village needed him, he became something more. A father to this Land and all her people, and a master ship builder."
The Way of Heroes
Buckets of rain thundered against the tin roof, and a soaked man in a cone shaped straw hat busted into the brightly lit kitchen where Kaiza and Inari sat talking. The scared man screamed, "We've got trouble Kaiza! The Flood Gate is open and the water's rising fast! If we don't stop it soon then the Lower District will be underwater!" "WHAT?" Kaiza asked in shock, and Inari looked at him begging for an explanation, "Father?" Kaiza pointed and yelled over the storm, "Inari get me some rope, hurry!"
Now outside by the Flood Gate with two dozen townspeople, Kaiza pushed himself out into the front of the crowd, Inari close behind him. "One of us has to swim out there to pull the Gate shut!" An old man shouted, and someone argued, "It's impossible! No one can make it through that current!" The old man responded, "If we do nothing the whole district will be wiped out, it's the only way!" Kaiza calmly tossed his own straw hat away declaring, "I'll do it." One of the townspeople screamed, "Don't be foolish! Think about your wife, and Inari! Think about it!" "I am," Kaiza said and turned to Inari, "Don't worry son, this is our Village so we've got to do everything we can to help." "I will protect this Land with both arms!" He declared, jumping from the edge of the platform the men stood on, diving into the water.
As he struggled against the angry riptides of the sea, Kaiza remembered what he'd said to Inari all the months ago, As long as there are people who seek freedom in this life, these things shall not vanish from the Earth. Inari nervously watched as he looked from the rope that was tied to the metal railing, to his Step-Father's end where he would be under the water. It was a few moments of worry before all the villagers sighed with relief as they saw Kaiza's head emerge from the water. Even if you have to put your life on the line, protect what you care about with both arms.
I won't fail, so long as I believe in myself and what I'm fighting for. NEVER GIVE IN! Slicing through the water, Kaiza grinned as he reached the gate, and he heard Inari yell, "FATHER! I knew you could do it!" The townsmen cheered, and one cut the rope and ordered, "Alright! MARINES! Pull the Gate closed!"
The Way of Heroes
"From that time on, Kaiza taught us all the meaning of courage and Inari was even more proud to be a part of this family, to be a part of this Land," Tazuna said, "But it wasn't long after that Gato showed up and took over, ruining the hope that Kaiza brought us! He terrorized the whole village, slaughtering the Marines and bribing those that survived, others he allowed to escape like cowardly dogs. I knew Kaiza wouldn't have any of it when he came back from his fishing trip with Inari."
The Way of Heroes
A pool of cold and sticky blood splashed around strong, but weary and hungry legs. It was a dimly lit warehouse, wood all around it. Three dozen men surrounded Kaiza, who was tied to a long pole, and was being beaten in the back by a long piece of plywood. Gato laughed sinisterly at the man's plight, sneering, "You may have taken my whole gang on, but you failed miserably. What's that you said? You want freedom? Dreams? You're willing to protect these stupid things with both arms you say? Idiot."
Kaiza stared down his captor, spitting blood at him, and he made a direct hit. "FOOL! Your arms aren't much use now are they? You still have that defiant look, but fortunately, my boys Dasher and Happy can take care of that nicely." As a man behind him kicked him down, Kaiza looked up just in time to see two enormous men, one scowling and the other grinning with two 'dash' like marks on his cheek, wielding equally gigantic hammers. They sent the huge weapons crashing down in sync, and a howl of agony shot out of Kaiza's mouth.
The Way of Heroes
The next day in the beautiful morning Sun, Kaiza was hanging limply, tied to a huge cross. His arms were gone, replaced by two stumps of wood which had 'Dreams' and 'Destiny' written on them. Gato marched with Qi, Yu, Happy, and Dasher in tow, the short mob boss called out, "Listen up, this man Kaiza has questioned my little organization. From now on for the rest of the month, that's 21 days people, if anyone tries to feed him or assist him in any way they will be killed. If he survives the next 21 days, my men and I will leave this Land alone. But if he can't, I will reign supreme. That's the deal we made last night. If anything happens to him, if anyone talks with him, or if he attempts to disturb the order of this land, I will have him killed. Anyone else who tries to do so will also be killed." Gato pointed to the large metal barbed fence between the townspeople gathered and his men and Kaiza, "My men electrified this fence, so don't even try to get him out that way."
"I'm a fair man, so just as long as no one attempts to cheat out of our little game, I will leave if he lives for another 21 days," Gato confirmed, and he began to walk away. Inari almost ran into the electrified barrier between him and his father, only stopped by an old wrinkled hand from Tazuna's side. The boy balled, crying, "DADDY! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ARMS?"
Gato turned, angry, but Kaiza cried a single tear out of his one good eye, screaming, "FIGHT INARI! BE A HERRRRROOOOO!" Gato pointed ordering, "Execute him." All of his men barring his swordsmen and Happy and Dasher pulled out pistols, and militantly made a line right in front of the fence, aiming their weapons at the crucifixion. "Let this man be an example of what happens to anyone who questions me or my men." Firing a half dozen times each, the men chuckled and walked away as the limp dead flesh hung in ribbons from the cross and ropes. Someone from town would take care of the garbage later.
Inari screamed, "DADDY!" He sobbed, not knowing where he was or hearing the terrifying silence of the townspeople, or the rowdy triumphant partying of the townspeople. You told me... That you'd protect me and this Land. They said you were a hero; they made me believe you could stand up to anything. Hope, dreams, fate, destiny! All just lies!
The Way of Heroes
"Since then, Inari's changed. So did Tsunami and all this Land's people, everyday it's like the Land itself is mourning the loss of spirit," Tazuna said, and Naruto remembered everything that had happened, recalling the tears and the negativity that Inari had shown all of the Leaf heroes. They all understood the boy more now.
Luffy got up from the table, an even, grim look in his face as the Straw Hat's shadow covered his eyes. Sakura asked, "Where are you going?" "I'm gonna go kick Gato's ass." Luffy stated, and walked out of the house soundly. Everyone was stunned, but Kakashi recovered first, "Naruto, go after him, make sure he doesn't do anything more stupid than usual." The blonde started after him, but fell onto his chest, and moaned as he felt soreness throughout his entire being. "Never mind, if you or Sasuke push yourselves any harder, it could kill you. You've used too much Chakra lately."
Naruto tried to get up shakily, "I'm gonna prove that it's true. That in this world, there are real heroes!" Kakashi got ready to set out after Luffy, and he ran after the Straw Hat. The Sharingan Ninja soon caught up with the berserk Rubberboy, grabbing him from behind and tackling him.
"Don't move," Kakashi whispered as he sat on top of the pirate. "SHUT UP! That boy, Inari! He doesn't believe in heroes anymore! I have to show him that there are real heroes out there!" Luffy screamed, now crying hysterically**. Kakashi patted the sobbing boy on the head, "The way of heroes is a long and tiresome one Luffy. You can't always solve your problems with fists and fighting as soon as you feel the urge. A hero has to fight when everyone else gives up yes, but they cannot act alone. Gato and his men are too strong for you, and while we all walk this Way, we all must deal with this fact. We cannot do everything alone. Even the greatest of men have the greatest of struggles, and the greatest of friends to back them up. You will become the King of the Pirates, but you can't fight Gato right now. Do you understand?"
Luffy nodded, and Kakashi left the kid's back, and he watched as the boy left. Kakashi thought to himself, You will find your way Luffy, and even if you don't think it does, you will find yourself on the Way of Heroes.
* I decided to give Haku Armament Haki for two reasons: 1) to show how much more powerful he was than the genin and Luffy, and 2) it fit his particular fighting style.
** This is obviously a much different Luffy than in canon, mostly because of his youth and inexperience right now. He's not quite levelheaded enough to form his own crew yet, but he will get there.
*** Also I promise that Naruto's questions of Kakashi's title 'Friend-Killer' will be addressed soon.
Thanks for the view, see ya next week, and please remember to read, review, and get your game on!