Chapter 20
It was about a year later that the group of three found themselves finally buying their own home rather than renting rooms out of someone else's house. They were still working doing odd jobs on and off, though their main source of income came in from the restaurant that they now ran. And surprisingly nothing could have been more fun for the three former ninja.
As in the first month they had started working there, they had slowly taken over the place completely. Hinata and Yugito cooking up dishes and preparing food while Naruto did most of the other jobs with his clones, keeping the restaurant clean and the Register manned. The manager seeing they were doing so well decided to start up a second shop and leave the first to them. And while Naruto, Hinata, and Yugito still worked under him on paper they were basically left alone to run the place.
Yugito yawn and stretched as she came out of the kitchen. It had been rather slow that morning with only a few customers coming in for food. Even lunch was rather slow today; unlike the normal ten to twenty people they would normally see there were about four. But they knew this was because the ice was breaking around the port and many people were out bringing in the first caught of the season. Looking over at Naruto, Yugito smiled noticing he seemed rather happy with a slow day for once.
Naruto looked over and noticed her saying, "So ever think you would enjoy running a restaurant this much?"
"Never," Yugito said with a small laugh as that was rather true.
"Same," Naruto said looking out the places windows to the port where ships where coming in.
"You think that rebellion we heard about will actually take place," Yugito asked following Naruto's gaze.
"Maybe but it does not really concern us. Doto may be a bit of a prick, but he has left us alone so I am not going to take a side yet if it does." Naruto said as a clone of his cleared off one of tables of someone who had just left after paying.
"You know we will have to pick a side soon either way, Doto's men have already stopped by asking us to join them twice," Yugito said leaning against the counter.
"Yes, but they also know we are well out of their league if it came to a fight," Naruto said with a small smirk.
And it was true, just because they had been working in a restaurant for year now did not mean they were slacking off on their ninja training. Far from it actually, every day when on break or once they closed down shop, they would work on their own skill, keeping them sharp and perfecting them. Then on the weekends it was all day training, since the restaurant was only open a few days a week.
In some cases like Hinata's they would try and work on new skills and remake others. Hinata could not use the Sixty-four Palm Rotation so she remade it into a different form that by far more lethal than its predecessor. Yugito had also in this time had started to take and meet with her own Tailed Beast. It was still slow going like Naruto talks with Kyuubi, but they were working on some deals to make life easier for the other. Though, Yugito was still far from willing to let the cat out of the seal just yet.
A bell chimed as Naruto looked at the front door with a smile walked over saying, "Welcome to the Snow Flake. What would it be for lunch today? And how many will be eating?"
"Just us two, and basic cub sandwiches" came the reply as the men talked to each other.
"Okay," Naruto said directing them to a seat.
Soon taking an order he was back at the register as Yugito went back to cook up the meals for the two men quickly. Naruto yawned listening as the few different people in the building when something was said that caught his interest.
"So you think those Ninja from the Leaf will be able to protect the Princess Yukie?" a male voice said.
Naruto opened his eyes looking around for who spoke and soon his eyes homed in on the two that he had just seated. The other man, Sandayu spoke again, "Yes I am sure of it. I would not have hired them otherwise. Team Nine is considered the best team currently."
"And is it true they have other reasons to visit this land?" the other male asked.
"I am not sure. I have asked the leader and Sensei of the team, Might Guy, about it and he told me he had none, but Neji one of his students might. Though I am not sure why you sent me that message to ask that of the team that I got to help us from the Leaf," Sandayu said slightly confused.
"It is because of the people who run this restaurant is not your normal… group of employees," came the reply.
"How so," asked Sandayu glancing around and noticed Naruto looking out the window towards the harbor again.
"Because the one at the register and the blind one that cooks at both former Leaf Ninja," was the reply causing Sandayu to sigh.
"Then why does it matter if they are likely willing to help former comrades of this team?" Sandayu asked confused and slightly annoyed.
At this point their talk was cut short as Naruto brought over their food. Sitting it down he could not help but say at this time, "That is because of the reason we left."
Sighing he spoke again looking at Sandayu first, "Because Sandayu we will need more man power than just what that team you hired has."
"Singe, you are taking a real gamble if you think we would help," Naruto said taking a seat as he finally recognized the second man..
"Yes, but would you have done any different?" Singe asked turning to look at Naruto.
Naruto sighed, "No I probably would not have."
Sandayu sighed, "So tell me some about you and your friends. I must admit I have not heard anything at all even if you are as powerful as Singe claims."
"The three of us all hail from two different villages. The Leaf Village is where Hinata and I come from; Yugito though comes from the Cloud Village. When I was banished and forced to leave for supposedly messing up another Ninja's mission, Hinata quit being a Ninja and joined me and we set course for here. Then on route through the Land of Lighting we picked up Yugito who was forced into the life of a missing Ninja when her own mission went wrong," Naruto said explain as it was basically all public knowledge if you asked to look at any records.
"And your skills," Sandayu asked.
"We could most likely beat any team that you hired from the Leaf Village," Naruto said.
"I see. Would you be willing to help us then?" Sandayu asked.
"Depends on who is on the team you have hired," Naruto said, "And if our manager would be willing to let us take a few days off."
"He would, I already talked to him before I even brought Sandayu here," Singe said.
"That still remains as to which team he hired," Naruto said.
"Team Nine. It is Guy, Neji, Lee, and Tenten," Sandayu said.
Naruto sighed nodding rubbing the bridge of his nose before he spoke, "I see. I will talk to Hinata and Yugito to see if they wish to help."
"Thanks," Sandayu said as he and Singe went back to eating as Naruto vanished back into the kitchen.
Naruto ducked the moment he entered into the kitchen as a meat cleaver passed right over his head. This was normal for this kitchen as when Yugito or Hinata needed something they would call out for it, if the other had it and it would be thrown to the other. It was a small reason no one else was willing to work with them, for fear of the flying blades hitting them. In this case Hinata caught it right before it hit the wall and went on chopping up some meat that would be used that night's special.
"Hinata, Yugito we have a special request," Naruto said getting both of their attention.
"What might that be Naruto?" Hinata asked not even looking away from the meat she was working on.
"Like Doto henchmen, we have been asked to join the rebellion. But unlike Doto side we were asked to join them by their current leader Sandayu," Naruto said.
"Don't see why we should," Hinata said slightly annoyed.
"Yes I know but here is the catch they have the princess with them to help lead the rebellion, and to make this even more tricky we would have to be working with a ninja team from the Leaf Village, if we did join" Naruto said as the room went quiet.
Hinata stopped and looked at Naruto before sighing as she put down the meat cleaver asking, "Who?"
"Team Nine. Your cousin's team," Naruto said simply.
"I see, fine we can help them," Hinata said turning back to her work as she tossed and onion into the air before sheared it in a second with chakra threads.
"Why do you want to help them," Yugito asked semi surprised at this looking at Hinata.
"Because it is time for the Leaf Village, and my clan to realize what they lost when they banished you, Naruto," Hinata said smiling turning back to the group before throwing Yugito the meat cleaver.
Yugito caught it and blinked, "What makes you think that they will care? Or even try and send a squad or two to try and collect you."
"Because if we work directly with the princess for this mission. So when she become the new leader we will have her direct protection, and if the Lead would try anything then they would be risking war with the Land of Snow," Hinata said.
"That reason is rather… questionable if it would truly happen," Naruto said.
"Maybe, but we also know short of an Anbu team we should be able to take down just about anyone that comes against us even without her permission," Hinata said with a small smile as she got a nod of agreement from Naruto and Yugito.
"So we will help then?" Naruto asked.
"Yep I want to," Hinata said.
"I guess I shall help as well," Yugito said.
"Okay I will let them know we shall help them, and be ready to leave tomorrow." Naruto said before making a clone to and had it leave the restaurant to let their manager know what had been decided.
Naruto then went back out into the main part of the dinner and smiled at the two as Sandayu spoke up, "So are you willing to help?"
"Yes we are willing to help," Naruto said, "But we shall not be ready to go till tomorrow morning. Is that okay with you?"
"That would be more than good enough, we still needed to get the Snow Cats ready to go and loaded up," Sandayu said smiling as he took another bite of his sandwich.
"Okay, I where shall we meet up then?" Naruto asked smiling.
But before Naruto could get an answer in through the front door walked all of Team Nine that froze seeing Naruto. Lee looked happily shock as did Guy, Tenten looked confused why Naruto was here of all places, while Neji looked at Naruto slightly annoyed.
Naruto looked at them before smiling, "Welcome to the Snow Flake, would you like a table, or a fight."
"Neither actually, I was just looking for Sandayu here, but I must say it is a pleasant surprise to see you here Naruto," said Guy smiling.
"Likewise, I was just learning about your mission from your friends here, and was recruited with my team to assist you." Naruto said as one of the few people came to the register to pay.
"Really now, and why would he think we need more help," Tenten asked confused.
"Because Singe here Sandayu's friend has seen my own team train," Naruto said with a chuckle as after he had bid the customer a good day.
"You make it seem like your team is stronger," Neji said looking slightly annoyed at Naruto.
"Yes we would be, though I might ask, Neji what are you so mad about." Naruto said then asked.
"Because you kidnapped Hinata from the Leaf Village as revenge for your banishment," Neji said semi angrily.
"Oh is that what they say about Hinata leaving," Naruto said slightly surprise.
"Yes it is, now return her," Neji said getting into a stance.
Naruto sighed leaning against the counter looking slightly annoyed, "Do we really have to fight?"
"Yes if you do not show me to her right now," Neji said.
And as if in responses to Neji's threat a rather large steak knife came flying out of the kitchen door towards him. Naruto watched it as it pass down the middle of the dinner and right by Neji cutting his hair. Before suddenly it reversed direction and flew back towards the kitchen. Everyone turned their eyes to the kitchen door and noticed Hinata holding the knife that had just flown across the room. She was wearing basic clothing and wearing an apron with metal loops on it where she had other knives where she then placed the knife she had just thrown in one of the two open slots.
"Hello cousin. Why are you trying to cause a fight in this restaurant?" Hinata said sounding very annoyed.
Neji blinked, this was not the same Hinata that had been taken nearly a year ago, "I am not. Naruto was not willing to return you so I was going to find out by force."
Guy blinked noticing that Neji seemed to be backing down from that glare. Guy then looked at Hinata and blinked noticing something seemed different about her, and not just how she held herself either. She was more powerful than before, that much was certain considering the trick she just did with the kitchen knife.
"I see," Hinata said turning back and went back into the kitchen.
Neji blinked in slight surprise, this was indeed not the Hinata he knew. She would have never been that forceful or intimidating let alone willing to attack him seemingly out of nowhere. Neji then heard some chuckling and looked back over at Naruto and noticed he was trying to contain his laugher at seeing that seen.
"What is so funny," Tenten asked confused.
"To see Hinata put down Neji that fast without even actually laying a hand on him other than with a kitchen knife of all things. It is some much of a turnaround compared to the last time they each faced the other down," Naruto said getting hold of himself again as he continued, "But as you can see, Hinata is not under my control at all. So trying to make her leave this place might be very bad for your health Neji. As you can see she is no longer the weak girl you once thought she was."
"Though of the group she still places below me or our other teammate in terms of skill and strength, so you can guess just how strong the team is considering she just basically beat you Neji," Naruto said smirking at this.
"We can see and thank you for your help," Guy said nodding to Sandayu, "We will be waiting at the docks for your return seeing as you are in more than safe hands."
Sandayu nodded and went back to eating as Naruto smiled and noticed more people enter into the restaurant, "Welcome to the Snow Flake, my I take your order for the day?"