Do I Have A Purpose Anymore?
Chapter 3: Troubled Times Ahead
Tazuna and Inari were giving Naruto a tour of the town, as a crowd of people followed closely behind them. The trio walked at a leisurely pace with Naruto taking in the surrounding area with awe. Stores, hotels, and restaurants littered the main street and every building thrived with the sense of newness. There were people everywhere; eating, talking, walking, and the blonde shinobi realized that the bridge had done more than just bring commerce to this small country.
It had also brought life and hope.
Even now Naruto was surprised by how much had changed in the past few years. Gone were the dilapidated buildings and starving orphans. Gone was the silent, eerie dreariness that seemed to seep into your bones with every step. In its place was a whole new town, fresh and lively with action, exactly the way it should've been from the beginning if not for Gato's tyranny.
It took quite a bit of time to get to Tazuna's house due to the large crowd, but at last they made it and when Naruto saw the house Tazuna gave a gracious bow to him and said.
"Here we are my humble abode!"
Naruto gawked at the size of the bridge builder's home. In no way, shape, or form could the castle that stood before them be called 'humble.' The house was probably bigger than Naruto's whole apartment building, and twenty times nicer. From the outside it looked like a traditional Eastern home, complete with black-trimmed sliding doors and windows. Dozens of bushes and plants surrounded the complex and opening the black cast-iron gate fencing in the yard, Tazuna waved for him to enter.
"Come on in, no need to be shy! I've already told Tsunami that we might be having guests." Still in shock, the missing-nin walked up the long narrow pathway leading to the front door, marveling at this large palace like home before saying with wonderment.
"Whoa, how did you get such a huge place? What happened to your old house?"
The man let out a loud sigh, glancing over his shoulder at Naruto, and his tone held just a trace of regret.
"To be honest, I'd wanted to stay right where I was. However, after completing the bridge and being voted village chief by the residents, they all insisted that I move into a home fit for my position." The blonde nodded his head, eyes still wandering over the vast property realizing things had definitely changed since the last time he had been here.
"Tsunami, guess who's here!" Tazuna called out, unlocking and sliding open the front door to the mansion. A young, black-haired woman poked her head out from around the corner.
"Naruto-kun, you really are here!" she gasped, obviously surprised by his presence. He blinked a bit, amazed at how she still looked the same, even after these years.
"Hey Tsunami-chan, it's good to see you too."
She gave a courteous bow to him, as did he to her.
"Please, come in, I'll have some tea ready for you all in a moment." Just as quickly as she had come the brunette woman disappeared again. Naruto blinked at how fast she had moved. Tazuna noted this and gave a small shrug before commenting.
"You heard her; this way."
Tazuna then led them through the house, as Naruto took the chance to study the interior of the mansion. If it was possible, the inside was even more impressive than the outside. Large, colorful wall scrolls hung from the pristine white surface of the walls, and various pictures of Tazuna and his family sat on the smooth wooden surfaces of the tables.
Naruto recognized most of the photos from the old house, but he was surprised to see one of him, Inari, Tsunami, and the rest of Team 7 at the official finishing of the bridge party they'd held the night before their departure. He smiled sadly, as he noticed that he and Sasuke were smirking at the camera with matching grins arms hanging over each others' shoulders in a rare display of camaraderie. It was hard to believe that they'd fought to the death, not once, but twice, and that he had ended up as the one who left the village, whilst Sasuke had ended up perfectly happy and content there.
Ah, such poetic irony. He hated irony.
Inari noticed this, and nudged his friend in the side, a worried expression on his face.
"Naruto-niisan, are you alright?"
Naruto blinked twice, then shrugged his shoulders and smiled, as he returned his gaze to the picture.
"Ah, it's nothing, I was just wondering when this picture was taken."
"Oh, that? I took it right before you guys left. I could get you a copy if you'd like."
The blonde shinobi gave a small sad smile, before somberly saying.
"That's alright Inari; I don't need any reminders of my past life anymore."
The young boy looked at Naruto with confusion before his grandfather's voice called out.
"Inari, why don't you go help with the preparations for the party outside in the courtyard, while Naruto and I talk for a bit."
"O-ok grandpa." Inari hesitantly replied, before looking back to Naruto who nodded his head in appreciation.
Satisfied that everything was fine, Inari sprinted away, while Naruto jogged to catch up to Tazuna. The two men walked down the corridor until they reached a large, open porch overlooking the backyard. Tazuna motioned for Naruto to take a seat on the throw pillows surrounding a low table.
"So, Naruto, what brings you back to the Wave Country?" The bridge builder asked, plopping down on the pillow at the head of the table.
Naruto gave a small sigh.
"As you said before, I've left the Leaf village."
Tazuna nodded sagely, as he took a swig from a nearby sake cup.
"Yep, but I would like to know exactly why you left?"
"If you're worried that I'm some sort of criminal on the run, I can assure I'm not. I left the Leaf village because, because…..things, things have changed for me over the years Tazuna-san and the changes in my life weren't as prosperous or beneficial, as they have been for you. I, I really don't want to go into details about why I left. You just have to trust me when I say that staying there brought me no joy anymore, only pain these past few years. I just don't want to hurt anymore Tazuna-san that's all, can you understand that?" Naruto said in a choked and stammering voice.
"I can understand that Naruto and I trust you. Why don't you stay here in the Wave? Everyone would love for you to call our land your new home. In fact you could stay here, we've got plenty of room and it would make Tsunami and Inari very happy if you did"
As Tazuna was making his offer to Naruto, he heard Inari shouting some unintelligible babble into the loudspeaker outside and the crowd cheered in response.
"I appreciate the offer, you have no idea how much it means to me. As much as I might want to stay here, I can't. Konoha isn't just going to let me walk away. They'll be sending ANBU squads out to hunt me down and it would only be a matter of time before they tracked me here. I won't put all of you or your home in any danger because of me. So, I'll have to be leaving again very soon."
"You can at least stay for the celebration can't you?"
"Yes, I can stay for that, but before Inari gets the party started I need to ask do you know of any good mask makers in these parts?"
Tazuna's brow crinkled in thought, as they heard more unintelligible babble from Inari outside.
"Well, there is this one guy I know and he lives on the outskirts of town, but he isn't cheap and rarely comes into town.
"Then I guess I'll have to go to him and you don't have to worry about expenses." Naruto replied with a grin, as he pulled out a large pouch of coins before adding.
"I am sorry I won't be able to stay longer old man."
Tazuna gave a small hic at Naruto's apology before smiling and declared.
"Ah, that's all right my boy! Just the fact that you have returned to visit us, is good enough for this old man! Now let's get the guest of honor to his own party!"
(Hours later)
The celebration was in full swing, with nearly the entire populace of the Wave Country present for the bash. Naruto leaned against the wall, quietly drinking a cup of sake, whilst a tall girl with dark hair clad in a traditional white kimono looking to be about 15 was talking to Tazuna, who looked to be getting drunk by the minute.
"Now, what's with 'The Great Naruto Bridge'? Surely this 'Naruto' didn't do anything great enough to get a bridge named after him."
"I'm quite curious about it myself." said another, this one a man, taller than the girl, and in his mid thirties with a clean shaven face, chiseled features and cold piercing black eyes. He too wore a kimono, much like that of the girl's. Although it seemed that he was ignoring them, Naruto's shinobi instincts were subtly focused on these two strangers, as the girl raised her eyes expectantly at the old man. It wasn't everyday that someone got a bridge as huge as that named after them. Tazuna laughed loudly, mouth opening wide in genuine mirth, as he gave a small hic.
"Well, it's not his physical strength that really affected our town. If that was the case, we'd have named it 'The Great Kakashi Bridge.' That was his sensei's name. Instead, it was what he did for our country emotionally that made a difference." The girl tilted her head, glancing at the man in disbelief.
"Emotionally? What the hell's that supposed to mean, you old-"
The man placed a hand on her shoulder and shot her a disapproving glare, as he gave it a squeeze.
"Suki, that is quite enough." Giving a small bow to Tazuna, he apologized.
"Gomenosai Tazuna-san, please continue."
Tazuna was more than happy to do so, as he took another swing from the bottle he held in his hand.
"Well, in a way, he united us all and gave us the strength to fight against Gato and his financial oppression. It wasn't until Naruto arrived that our town was able to flourish, and as such, the villagers and I found it fitting to name it after him. After all, the bridge is uniting us with the rest of the shinobi world."
Tazuna paused as if remembering something, before turning to the navy haired girl, who was now looking at Naruto.
"But what brings you two strangers here?" The girl blinked but the man shrugged slightly, her frown deepening by a minuscule amount.
"We are merely simple travelers passing through your fine homeland, but may I ask do you know where we could find this Naruto you speak with such reverence about?"
Now Naruto was intrigued and detaching himself from the wall, he stalked over to the man, making himself known to the two strangers.
"That would be me, what about it?" The old man's smirk widened, and a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.
"Naruto, do you know these two?"
The blond shook his head.
"I do not. Perhaps they would introduce themselves?"
As he said introduce, he reached behind his back for the hilt of his blade, making the unspoken threat quite obvious. The man saw it as well, and bowed deeply, the girl following suit albeit a bit reluctantly, a second later.
"Ah, so you are Naruto Uzumaki, no?"
Naruto gave a firm nod.
"You already know this. But what business do you have with me?"
He now raised himself up and the girl mimicked him giving the man beside her a glare for making her bow, but she was silent as he spoke.
"Do you remember Princess Kazahana Koyuki?"
Naruto blinked in surprise at the mention of the name and of course Tazuna took it the wrong way.
"I see Naruto's moved on from Sakura-chan. I'm glad you're seeing someone else and a princess to boot, good choice!"
The Jounin missing-nin gawked at the old man in bewilderment as he thought.
'What the hell was he trying to imply?'
Tazuna cackled wildly at the look of confusion on Naruto's face before saying jovially.
"Just kidding my boy!"
Luckily for Tazuna before Naruto could rake him over the coals, Tsunami chose that moment to walk into the room with their drinks.
"Oh, did I miss something?" she asked, setting the tray down on the large table before taking a place next to Naruto.
"No!" Naruto grumbled in irritation at not being able to reprimand her father for his teasing insinuations in regard to him and Princess Koyuki.
Finally the man decided to introduce himself.
"I am Asaki, and this is my niece, Suki. We bring you word from Princess Koyuki ."
Asaki then pulled out a white envelope from the large folds of his sleeve, and handed it to Naruto, who promptly opened it, as he recognized the seal of the leader of Spring Country.
"We are here on her behalf, as Princess Koyuki asked us to seek out the hero who saved her in the past and urgently requests his presence in our land once more."
He gave a small nod as he read over the letter, and looked at the pictures attached to it.
Naruto,
If you are reading this, then Asaki and Suki have succeeded in finding you. I'm sure you are wondering why you have been given this?
Naruto now looked at the pictures, and let in a sharp intake of breath, as he looked over the pictures that depicted fires, and terrible blizzards ravaging the Spring Country. And in one of those pictures he saw an all too familiar face. Even though the face was heavily scarred, he recognized it immediately, his eyes narrowing at the sight of a man brutally slaughtering a villager….. Dotou.
Now he returned to reading the letter with earnest, as he thought with alarm.
'Oh Kami, how did he live?'
Dotou is alive. He has been wreaking havoc upon our lands and we have tried all methods to rid ourselves of him. But all the other villages that we requested aid from have turned us down. Naturally, we asked the Leaf for aid, but the team they sent was never seen after they pursued my uncle. All those were sent out against Dotou either came back in a coffin or were never seen again.
Sasuke visited recently in search of you and it was then that I learned you had left the Leaf village. I don't know why you've left the Leaf village, but if you did, I am sure you had a good reason. I took a chance that you might have gone to the Wave Country remembering you telling me about your first mission as a Leaf shinobi when we both were imprisoned by Dotou years ago, before you rescued our land. This brings me to my reason for sending Asaki and Suki to you. I ask you this not as an employer, but as a friend. I ask- No I BEG of you to come to Spring country and help free us from Dotou's tyranny. Please Naruto-kun, save my people and our land once more!
Give our land hope once again as you did before.
Kazahana Koyuki
Naruto felt rage simmering in his body, but maintained control, as he neatly folded the letter and looked to the two messengers and calmly stated.
"No."
The two Spring representatives were taken aback.
"W-What?" Suki stammered, whilst Asaki was in a state of shock.
Naruto repeated himself and tossed them back the letter, but kept the photos.
"I said no."
Suki looked ready to go at him right then and there, but Asaki held her in check.
"Naruto-sama, why are you refusing to come to the aid of our princess? I have a boat waiting and we could be back in the Spring Country within a day."
Naruto snorted as he turned his back to them, arms crossed over his chest.
"I refuse. Now be gone, before I do something you might regret."
Asaki sighed as he looked to Suki.
"Very well then, here is the address of a boat we had ready for your use, should you change your mind, Naruto-san." The missing-nin took it, but paid them no heed.
"I won't be needing it."
Asaki sadly shook his head, as Suki venomously hissed at the stubborn nin.
"Is this the great Naruto, the one that our princess always spoke so highly of? I expected someone more...kind. You are not him!"
With that stinging comment, she turned and with Asaki following her stormed out the door, quietly closing it behind her.
Naruto rolled his eyes and spat as they left.
"Irritating girl, reminds me Sakura, good riddance."
Tazuna cast him a drunken glare, whilst a confused Tsunami protested against his gruff and rude response to the messengers.
"Why did you….?"
Naruto held up a hand to silence her question before he showed them the picture again and pointed to the red ring on the man's finger and said.
"The reason I refused them is because this Dotou is an impostor. The Land of Spring may be in danger, but it's the Akatsuki who are lying in wait for me. I'm not yet ready to face them, so it's best for them to think I'm not coming, then to give them a time-line and fall into the trap that is waiting there for me. I will help Princess Koyuki, but when I do I have to be ready for an all out war when I go there."
(Hours later)
The party had finally wound down, and Naruto knew that he could stay no longer, as the last of thee guests bid their goodbyes.
"Aww, why do you have to go, Naruto-niisan?" Inari groaned in complaint, as Naruto ruffled his spiky black hair.
"Sorry, Inari, but I've already put your family at too much of a risk." He wrapped the boy in a hug, and then did the same with Tazuna. When he came to Tsunami, he allowed the woman to give him a peck on the cheek before asking.
"Will you come back?"
He shrugged as he placed his hand on the doorknob. "Perhaps one day I can, farewell to all of you."
Then he was gone, as he walked through the door and into the night.
The old man jumped visibly at the sudden appearance of Naruto in his workshop and was about to protest when the clinking sound of a large bag of 100 gold coins hit his table silencing the mask-maker.
"Make me a mask." Naruto sternly ordered.
The old man nodded as he counted the 100 gold coins and inquired.
"Any specifics?"
Naruto handed him a design on a piece of parchment and his tone held no question as to what he wanted.
"I want it to be unbreakable, and if it can change my voice, that would acceptable also."
The mask-maker gave a low whistle as he gazed at the design.
"This is very intricate and I'll have to use my finest materials to meet your requests on the strength and voice altering capabilities."
Naruto was not in the mood for trivial details.
"How long?"
The sagely old man rubbed his chin as gave his estimate.
"12 hours, I would say should do it."
Another large bag of 100 gold coins hit his table and Naruto coolly commented.
"That's yours if you can do it six hours."
The old mask-maker nodded his head in agreement, as he knew he could produce the mask in that amount of time. He would just have to actually work at a more accelerated rate than the normal leisurely pace he took with his work. Naruto took up a seat in the corner of his shop and leaning back closed eyes, as the sound of the old man working droned on in the background.
Nearly six hours later the aged mask-maker held up the mask, and a smile was set upon his wrinkled features, as he called out.
"This is the finest piece of material I've ever crafted, go ahead lad, put it on."
Naruto took the mask and placed it over his face. He was amazed at how smooth it felt, almost as if it was a second skin. When he spoke, his voice sounded like a mix between his and the Kyuubi's.
"Perfect, you deserve a tip." Reaching behind his back, he now tossed the man another equally large pouch of money before adding.
"I may require your services again later."
The mask maker took a puff of his pipe and nodded once, as he eyed the generous sum of money he had been given this night and commented appreciatively.
"If you keep paying me like this, then I'll make masks for you and you only!"
"A wise choice and you will tell no one of my presence here…understood!"
The wizened mask-maker gulped nervously at the underlying tone of what would happen to him should he reveal to anyone that Naruto was here on this evening. However, his fear soon abated when more money was droppedonto the table to emphasize his point. Again the mask maker nodded in understanding.
Naruto then turned and walked out into the night, leaving the stunned man to count the generous sum of money he had been given this night.
(Later on the road)
The sun had just risen when Naruto stopped walking, as he felt some familiar chakra signatures.
'I knew baa-chan would send someone, but you, why did she have to send you?' Naruto painfully wondered to himself.
Naruto then turned around and the mask was on his face, making his ANBU opponent pause with concern when he saw Naruto's now crystal blue eyes behind it, the whites of his eyes black where they should have been white. Seconds later, he ran through a series of hand-seals and Naruto's masked fangs curved upward in a grin, a sad grin as he found himself bound in place, unable to move.
Or so the ANBU Jounin thought, until Naruto cracked his neck from side to side, and gave a bitter laugh, opening his fangs, and making him a truly fearsome sight indeed. The blonde missing-nin then reached behind his back and pulled out his massive blade, holding it with his right hand, while leaving his other hand free to make hand seals, should he need them before remarking.
"Shadow possession, pitiful, don't you have any better tricks than that Shikamaru?"
The Nara gulped apprehensively, as he heard Naruto's mutated voice and saw the scratched leaf headband that was now around his neck. Shaking off his anxiety and mustering up his courage the ANBU Commander ordered with authority.
"Naruto, you're coming back to the village, don't force us to make you go back!"
Naruto slowly shook his head and unexpectedly the ANBU team suddenly found it very hard to breathe, as the air grew thick with Naruto's oppressive chakra pressure.
'What the hell? This can't be Naruto!' All of them thought while struggling to maintain themselves.
The missing-nin noticed the startled look on the face of his friend and gave a small chuckle as he began to swing the blade in a slow circle, smoothly and effortlessly before asking with devious mirth.
"Well then Shikamaru, shall we begin our little dance?"
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Author Note: Well, if you made it this far, then congratulations for surviving the dreaded filler chapter of the story. Not very exciting I know, but necessary to set up the future storyline of the tale. I hope you all can find something positive to say about the chapter and will leave a review. If nothing else it will let me know who survived the reading and who didn't? Thanks again to everyone for all of your support and your reviews; it's much appreciated by me.
Take it easy and be good!
Kingkakashi