Chapter 13
After another thirty minutes down the beaten dirt tracks of Wave, Team Yamato plus their charge Tazuna, made it at last to the home of the bridge builder.
It was a visibly spacious and well-kept cottage, the only sign that something was wrong was the damaged outer fence, which looked like someone had taken to it with a blade, or several.
"Welcome to my home, such as it is!" said a smiling Tazuna "I would be honoured if you could stay with us for the duration of your mission".
Yamato nodded "I think we will take you up on your offer, even if we didn't, we would be camped around your house anyway, we are here to defend you after all" Yamato gestured to the damaged fence "besides, it seems someone isn't your greatest fan, some deterrence might make them think better in the near future".
Tazuna smiled without humour before standing up and stretching, a popping in his back was easily heard "Then you have my thanks once again, now come, you had best meet my family".
The moment the door was opened, the smell of a country stew wafted past the noses of team Yamato, who were now immediately reminded of how hungry they were.
"Tsunami!" called Tazuna as he beckoned the ninja inside "Inari, visitors!"
The woman everyone presumed was Tsunami came around the corner, wearing a worn white apron and a warm smile.
While the rest of the team was speaking to her, Naruto hung back.
He looked towards the room Tsunami came from 'This Inari hasn't come to greet us yet, is he scared of us?'
As the rest of them bustled around and traded in pleasantries, the stairs began to creak, and then a boy of similar age to team Yamato's Genin started to make his way down the stairs.
Everyone turned and the three Genins eyes went wide.
"Y-you're Inari from the start of the Academy years ago!" Hinata said at a surprisingly high volume.
"Yeah" nodded Shikamaru in agreement "and one day you up and left, we never saw you again. What are you doing way out here?"
Inari frowned at the two of them "That's none of your business, you're not here for Gato are you, it's hopeless you know, no one can stand against him."
Yamato looked amused "We will be the judge of that, boy."
At this dismissal, Inari borderline snarled at them, and made his way hastily back up the stairs, and disappeared once again from sight.
"What's up with him" Shikamaru frowned.
Tsunami and Tazuna tensed "Perhaps later" the bridge builder sighed, his age showing on his lined face "for now, you just sit and relax for a bit wile Tsunami and I finish up some food for us all, it's been a tough day I'm sure."
Yamato nodded "That's kind of you, it's appreciated" he bowed to them and they disappeared into the kitchen.
Team Yamato found places to sit about the small fire in the main room, and as the wind picked up outside and night time rapidly approached, Inari cursed once again, and skimmed a rock from the shoreline into the slowly bobbing ocean.
"Foods up!" called Tsunami into the room where team Yamato sat.
A smile flared up on the faces of those present, they hadn't had a good meal in ages, and they had been too reliant on ration bars, which tasted like slightly flavoured chalk at the best of times.
The group funnelled into the dining room of the house, Uzumaki first, and each sat before a steaming bowl of stew.
They remained at the table for some time, talking for what seemed like hours about this and that until the elephant in the room was finally brought up by Yamato.
"Tazuna, my team said they know that boy, Inari. Which means that he is, or was a Konoha Genin. May I ask why he is all the way out here? I hope the Hokage granted his release, I like you both, I really do" he glanced between Tazuna and Tsunami, briefly apprising both of their reactions "but rogue ninja are a danger, both to other people and the village they served."
Tazuna nodded in understanding "I know, not to worry, the Hokage signed his release himself."
Tazuna sighed and slumped back into his chair, as Tsunami excused herself and gathered the bowls before heading back towards the kitchen.
"Inari always had the knack of adventure about him, we knew he wasn't going to stick around long, even as young as he is."
"A few years ago, another Leaf team lead by a man named Ebisu came to wave for an extended diplomatic mission."
"It was for the intention of having Wave supply the Leaf with a percentage of the lumber we cut here, in exchange for regular Leaf patrols in the area, seen as we are an out-of-the-way people, we found that quite appealing. But negotiations fell through, the Leaf wanted more than we could spare at the time, as we were just starting construction on the bridge".
Tazuna looked towards the empty stairs "This Ebisu was approached by Inari, who asked if he could take him as his apprentice. Ebisu laughed at him and asked him to demonstrate, and to everyone's amazement, Inari was a natural."
"He had been obsessed since the Leaf team had been around, approaching the Genin in Ebisu's team regularly to get them to teach him how to do what Ninjas do, he had learnt how to mould chakra and apparently had quite the reserves, Ebisu couldn't take him right away, but after they had departed, a runner was sent back to us, requesting he appear before the Hokage for assessment".
"Inari asked us, if the Leaf could take him would we let him go, of course, the Hokage assured us that he would be living in great conditions and would be treated well. Inari had always had a good head on his shoulders, so we didn't bar his ambitions".
"Inari had been at the academy for almost a year, he had aced his exams and was hand-picked by Ebisu, his old team having passed into the Chinin ranks, and he needed new students of course."
"Inari was teamed with Ebisu for a long while, and when he finally earned some time off, he came back home for a week".
"Gato had moved in about a year after Inari had left. He started by squeezing protection money from small businesses, and before long, he had the whole of wave under his thumb. That was when Inari's step father, Kaiza showed up. He was a great man, the best. He was proud, loyal, a hard worker and he instantly caught the eyes of both my daughter Tsunami and Gato at the same time".
Tazuna smiled "A big storm broke out one day, and the harbourmaster hadn't been able to shut the docks gates quickly enough, due to some damage caused the evening before."
"A large wave broke over the top of the barrier, the same barrier that Inari was stood by. Inari was always enamoured by the power of the sea…maybe he was just caught off guard, I don't know. The wave took him over, swept him over into the sea."
"Kaiza demonstrated how much he cared for our community that day, he dove in after Inari, who had hit his head against the side of the gate on the way down, and was unconscious. Kaiza was able to keep his head above water while the dockhands got a rope down to them and they were hauled out. I'll never forget the look of determination on his face."
Tazuna's eyes hardened "It was brave, but also foolish. Over the next few months, Gato kept provoking him, coming to this house, causing trouble in town…until Kaiza had had enough, and spoke out against him."
"So what happened to him?" asked Yamato, afraid that the answer was all too obvious.
Gato beckoned them to follow him, as he made his way to the kitchen window, which overlooked the rest of the village less than five minutes away.
"See what you make of that that there" Tazuna pointed to the town square, a trickle of people walked by a wooden structure in the centre of the square, not even looking at it.
Hinata activated her Byakugan "I-is that a cross?" she spoke, her voice a whisper.
Shikamaru blanched "They didn't?"
Tazuna nodded grimly "Kaiza had a motto, something he always told Inari when Gato's thugs came looking for trouble. If something is truly important to you, even if it's heart-breaking, even if it is sorrowful, you keep on trying and trying, even if you lose your life, you keep on protecting it, with these two arms. Then even if you die, you leave behind the proof that you are a man, forever".
Tazuna leant against the wall and took a deep breath before continuing.
"Everyone knew that was his motto, and so did Gato. He strung him up there one summer afternoon, separated him from the arms that so protected this village, and killed him…but not before making sure that the people of wave knew who did it. He was left there for a couple weeks, his thugs guarding the cross with swords and their glares…there was barely anything left of him by the time Inari got back"
"Dad…please" Spoke Tsunami, who had been stood by them in the kitchen, reliving her nightmare through the voice of her Father, her face was pale, and her eyes downcast.
Tazuna held her hand in both of his "I'm sorry dear" he shook his head "Kaiza's death shook us all, but when Inari got to the scene, he fell apart".
Everyone was silent.
"Don't you get it!" yelled Inari from the stairs "Leave, leave Gato alone, or he will kill you too, and everyone close to you!"
The temperature dropped suddenly in the room, and Hinata shivered.
In an instant, the metalwork about the fireplace bent inwards with a shriek, and Naruto stood silently, his mouth drawn into a line.
His metal formed a single sentence 'Thank you for the meal', and with that he stood and left the house quietly.
"W-what just happened?" thought Tsunami out loud.
"Excuse me" Hinata stood and bowed before leaving after her friend.
Yamato shook his head to himself.
Shikamaru stood and looked to Inari "Naruto was born an orphan and went through hell every day of his early life. He was born with nothing Inari, with no one. Just remember next time you open your mouth, there is always someone who is worse off than you."
He started towards the door, but turned round one last time "At least he fought for a better life, and didn't wallow in his situation. You think like that for too long, it will consume you."
Hinata and Shikamaru emerged into the chilly evening air, still moist from the sea spray that carried in the wind.
"W-where do you suppose he went?" Hinata turned to Shikamaru, who was looking towards the roof.
"He's up there" Shikamaru pointed.
"You're sure?" Hinata asked quizzically.
"Positive" smirked the Naara "I tagged his shadow as he left, just in case".
Without waiting for a response, he approached the wall and began to walk up its surface, Hinata followed closely.
As they stepped over the roofs overhang, they saw their runaway blonde lent against the chimney stack, his arms crossed and his face sour.
The two approached him, and he turned to them, his eyebrow raised as his metal formed words that glinted in the moonlight.
'I'm fine you know, I only removed myself for Inari's sake'
Shikamaru smirked "Yeah, yeah. He still got under your skin though, that much is obvious. You sure you're alright?"
Naruto exhaled, and his arms uncoiled from each other.
'I don't know, I just got damn angry, things have been this way for years here, and they really did nothing about it, nothing?'
Naruto shook his head 'It just doesn't seem right'
Hinata smiled warmly "Then perhaps, we can help them then?"
"I think that's the idea Hinata" Shikamaru frowned "Tazuna hired us, knowing what we would be up against, Gatos anti-ninja deterrent, Zabuza Momochi, that mysterious Anbu, and the Demon Brothers. One way or another, we had better be extra careful when we watch the bridge."
He shook his head "on another note, don't let that snot-nosed brat get you down, don't forget you have us on your side, we aren't going anywhere, remember that."
Naruto beamed at them and scratched his head 'Thanks guys…it means a lot'.
Now reunited, the trio went back inside to rest up for their first day guarding the bridge. Meanwhile, the ninja with the Anbu mask watched them intently from the treetops, and Sasuke sprinted through the night, with Kakashi by his side.