Chapter 2
Public spectacles were the worst because it brought together so many different people, mostly rich and snobbish, who kicked urchins aside as they walked down the street. On the other hand, it meant there was more money in circulation and more food was being wasted. It was prime pickings for starving young children.
Zaku reefed feverishly through a bin where someone had just thrown a half-full box of noodles. His hands closed around the precious box and he shoved it inside his jumpsuit, racing back to his home to eat it in peace. He looked well-fed compared to the skinny boy from a month ago. Ayame had made a deal with the urchin: her chichi would give the boy all leftovers as long as he told no one, otherwise dozens of urchins would be crawling over the place looking for food. Life on the streets was survival of the fittest. Zaku had agreed and Ayame had given him the dregs from bowls of ramen, half-finished bowls, bowls that customers deemed unsatisfactory and many more. The boy ate well for the first time since he was a child and had grown a few inches. He'd filled out and his ribs weren't as visible as before. Even his muscle mass had increased and he was stronger.
No one was snooping around his home when Zaku returned and he huddled over the noodle box, shoving it into his mouth quickly. What he wouldn't give for a piece of bread to eat with it, but bread was a lost luxury to him. He was content to slurp his noodles quietly and go to sleep with a full belly, rather than one that ached with hunger.
The back door opened and Ayame exited with a steaming cup in her hands. "Here," she said kindly, "I brought you some fresh-boiled tea. Would you like to drink inside the shop?"
Zaku stared at her, noodles sliding off his chopsticks. She'd asked him to go into the shop? "No thank you. I don't want to scare away your customers. I'll have the tea though."
She smiled as if expecting his answer. "That's okay." He accepted the tea and gave a close-lipped smile, embarrassed about his grotty teeth. Ayame placed her hands over her lap and bowed, eyes sparkling as she went back into the shop. It was the busiest time of the year and Teuchi was working double-time to cook his ramen, yet she'd taken the time to give tea to Zaku the urchin. His heart ached with the gesture and he blew on the tea to cool it down. He'd had her tea once before and it was delicious.
Night soon fell and Zaku ventured from his home, poking his head around the side of the shop, Teuchi hadn't made his usual leftovers delivery and Zaku suspected that there weren't any left. It had been a busy day since the final fights of the Chuunin exams began tomorrow. The shop was empty now aside from Teuchi, Ayame and a boy who Zaku knew by sight only.
The blonde boy looked squeamish and stared at the bare bench, listening to the sounds of Teuchi cleaning his equipment. Ayame was placing mouth-watering delights in a bowl and she smiled at Zaku as he came around the front. She picked up the bowl and handed it to the blonde boy, who looked surprised at her kindness. Teuchi and Ayame smiled at the blonde boy as he grinned and lifted his chopsticks, the squeamish look leaving his face. He raised a prawn to his mouth and stopped, turning his head and looking Zaku straight in the eye. Embarrassed, Zaku backed away and turned to go, but the blonde boy called him back.
"Hey kid, you want some?"
Zaku stared at the blonde boy, eyes wide. The boy held out the prawn kindly and Zaku hesitantly approached, accepting the prawn. He raised it to his mouth and bit, closing his eyes at the intense flavour.
"Thank you," he whispered. He snapped his eyes open and scurried away, face red. Ayame whispered behind him.
"It's okay Naruto, he's just really shy."
Zaku collapsed on his cardboard bed and closed his eyes in an attempt to still his racing heart.
o.O.o
Many people were pouring into the arena to watch the final fights. Zaku heard from Ayame that Naruto, the blonde boy, was fighting today. He wished he could watch, but urchins weren't allowed. Instead he skulked around the entrance, watching the rich people with their fat wallets stroll in. Teuchi had gone in a while ago, claiming that he wanted to see his favourite customer fight.
Naruto was nowhere to be seen. Zaku turned and wandered away, only to nearly run into a man flanked by two ninjas. He gasped and dived out of the way, grunting as he rolled uncomfortably on the ground. That was the Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sand. The Kazekage turned his head and fixed Zaku with a look that chilled him to his bones. It was a familiar look and the urchin suppressed a shiver as he crawled pathetically away from the powerful ninja.
The Kazekage watched after Zaku as he ran away, a thoughtful look on his cloth-hidden face.
o.O.o
So, the brat was alive.
He was much older, of course, but he still looked the same as he did six years ago. No amount of time could make him forget the face of the one brat that had defied him. The one who refused to follow him and fled like the coward he was.
Who wouldn't want power? Power was the key thing he could provide and that boy had refused. Had he mistaken the lustful look in the brat's eyes? Was it something else? Whatever the case, the boy was still alive and that was nearly enough for the snake-nin to tear his costume off, march over and rip the boy's head off. No, he would bide his time. First he had to kill the Hokage and destroy Kohona. The plan was set: his Genin had been sacrificed, the Sand-nin and Sound-nin were in position and Gaara was ready to go. Afterwards he would address the brat. Perhaps he could kill him with a Snake Mouth Bind Jutsu, or a Chakra Scalpel Jutsu. It would need to be painful. He would make the boy regret turning his back and running away.
No one refused Orochimaru.