DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (NEVER OWNED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE AS WELL)
Ch.25 - Close Inn-counters
Naruto and Ino lingered in their positions, creating a tranquil moment. Naruto rested on the bed while Ino tenderly ran her fingers through his blond locks, evoking a pleasant sensation for both of them. The simple act of being together felt inherently right.
Ino continued to stroke Naruto's hair until a distinct sound interrupted the serene atmosphere – the bathroom doorknob turning. She ceased her ministrations, sitting beside Naruto instead. Shino had finished freshening up, but his injuries still required attention, and they awaited the innkeeper's arrival for their wounds to be treated.
The door creaked open, revealing a young girl they had never encountered before. Her appearance sparked a tinge of skepticism within the trio. The girl seemed to be around their age, perhaps slightly older. The unfamiliar presence prompted them to remain on high alert, maintaining their guards up, just in case. Ino resorted to her clan's telepathic jutsu to communicate with her teammates. "Do you know who she is?" Ino queried both Naruto and Shino.
"I don't know her/Beats me," Shino and Naruto replied respectively.
"Now what?" Ino asked.
"Let's just keep it cool and see how things play out," Naruto responded, his answer appeasing both Ino and Shino. They maintained their composure, choosing silence as their companion.
"Are you three the students of Sarutobi-san from the other room?" the girl questioned them.
"We are. Who's asking?" Naruto replied.
"I'm Misaki. My grandfather instructed me to take care of you guys. Sarutobi-san's injuries were more severe than anticipated, so he asked me to attend to the three of you," Misaki explained.
The revelation of her identity alleviated the tension within the room, yet they remained vigilant, prepared for any unforeseen circumstances that might arise.
"Which one of you wants or needs treatment first?" Misaki inquired.
The three exchanged glances, silently deciding who should be the first to receive medical attention. However, no one took the initiative until Ino had an idea. She proposed that Naruto go first since he had sustained the most injuries during their intense battle with Kimimaro.
"I think Naruto should be treated first," Ino suggested.
Naruto glanced at the platinum blonde, raising an eyebrow. Ino noticed his reaction to what she had just said, "What, Naruto?" she questioned. "I'm fine, Ino. You and Shino should go ahead. I can wait, I promise," he offered, but Ino wasn't convinced. She insisted he should stop talking and prioritize his well-being.
"I'm not the one with the most injuries. Shino has some, but you're clearly the most battered among us. Now, shut up and let Misaki-san treat you," Ino firmly stated.
"I agree, Naruto. My injuries are minor compared to yours. I've already tended to some of them while in the restroom. It's best if you go first," Shino concurred.
Naruto sighed, rising from the bed and approached Misaki, ready for her to begin treating his wounds. "Take off your shirt... uh, sorry but I don't know all of your names yet," she requested.
"I'm Naruto. That's Ino over there, and the other one is Shino," he responded.
"Nice to meet you, Naruto-san. Could you remove your jacket and shirt?" she asked.
Naruto blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and the slight awkwardness of undressing in front of a girl, even with her innocent intentions. He gulped, reluctantly removing his upper clothing and placing them on the bed.
Ino noticed Naruto's blush, a faint twinge of unease creeping within her, though she couldn't comprehend why. Swiftly pushing those thoughts aside, she continued to observe Misaki from her position on the bed.
"What happened to you, Naruto?" Misaki inquired.
"Hehe, well... it's a long story, Misaki-san," Naruto replied.
"I see... Well, I imagine you must be in considerable pain right now. We'll need to clean your wounds, apply antibiotics, and wrap them with gauze," Misaki informed Naruto.
Misaki then requested Shino to fill a bowl with water, which he dutifully carried out. In the meantime, she retrieved a mortar and pestle from her bag. Misaki also produced a handful of garlic cloves, placing them inside the mortar and grinding them into a paste.
Once the garlic transformed into a thick paste, she grabbed a jar of honey and began drizzling it into the mortar, thoroughly blending it with the garlic. This concoction would serve as a topical treatment for Naruto's wounds, harnessing the antibacterial properties of both garlic and honey.
Shino returned with a bowl brimming with water. "Thank you, Shino-san," Misaki acknowledged. She retrieved a clean towel from her bag and dipped it into the bowl. "I apologize, Naruto-san, for resorting to homemade remedies. My grandfather had to employ actual medicine to treat your sensei," she explained.
Naruto reassured her that it was alright, expressing his gratitude for receiving any form of treatment. He offered a thumbs-up and a foxy grin, which Misaki found endearing. With that, she commenced cleaning Naruto's wounds, using the damp towel to gently wipe away the blood and foreign debris. Naruto winced in pain as the stinging sensation heightened.
"Let me know if it hurts, alright?" Misaki advised Naruto.
"I'm fine, it doesn't hurt at—OWWWW! all...," Naruto's embarrassed tone slipped as the pain overcame him.
"Just bear with it a little longer. This won't take much time," Misaki assured him, resuming her careful cleaning. Once she finished, Misaki applied the garlic-honey paste to Naruto's wounds, causing a lingering but less intense stinging sensation. She diligently spread the mixture across his body, realizing the extent of his clothing's damage from their battle with Kimimaro. Naruto felt disheartened, having already ruined one set of new clothes he and Ino had acquired recently.
After applying the antibiotics, Misaki retrieved gauze from her bag and began tightly wrapping Naruto's wounds, preventing further bleeding and safeguarding them from external elements. The dressings would act as a protective layer, warding off infection and averting any aggravation. Now, she needed to address the bruises.
To tackle that, Misaki employed a salve infused with arnica, a herb she had readily available. Naruto wasn't familiar with the herb's properties, but he could tell considerable effort had gone into preparing it. Misaki gently applied the salve to his bruises, evoking pain as her hands met his tender skin. She adjusted the pressure, aiming for a gentler touch.
Naruto marveled at Misaki's proficiency in treating injuries, contemplating how useful it would be to possess such a skill. He recognized his own tendency for clumsiness, though Ino might argue that he was more than just a klutz. Naruto resolved to explore this particular field further once they returned to Konoha, assuming he emerged from this mission alive.
With Naruto's treatment complete, it was now Shino's turn. Misaki followed a similar procedure since Shino's injuries consisted of scratches rather than cuts. With Shino taken care of, Ino became the last in line.
Ino emerged from the fierce battle with the least amount of injuries, her only affliction being a scraped knee for she was urgently seeking distance from Kimimaro. Misaki swiftly came to her aid, tending to the wound with a damp cloth. Delicately, she cleansed the wound, removing the traces of blood and dirt to stave off the threat of infection. As Misaki noticed Ino flinch in pain due to the stinging sensation, she empathetically apologized, "I apologize for the discomfort, but this will only take a short while," she reassured her.
"It's alright. I'm grateful for your assistance in treating my teammates. Thank you, Misaki-san," Ino responded with gratitude.
"Please, it's my pleasure. I'm just relieved that I can offer my help whenever it's needed. Your friend over there, the blond one, handled it like a champ," Misaki giggled.
"Yeah... That's Naruto for you. He's always ready to face any challenge head-on, even though he can be reckless and a bit foolish at times. Shino, on the other hand, knows how to navigate tricky situations. It's Naruto I worry about," Ino confided in Misaki.
"Why's that?" Misaki inquired, curious to learn more.
"I have no doubts about Naruto's abilities. It's just that I fear there might come a day when he encounters something he can't overcome, you know? He can be too impulsive and rash for his own good, I suppose," Ino explained with genuine concern.
"I understand... It seems like you hold a deep care for Naruto-san," Misaki remarked.
"I do... He's important to me, after all," Ino replied, her voice filled with sincerity.
In a moment of silence, Ino and Misaki continued their interaction as Misaki tended to Ino's wounds. Finally, Misaki declared, "Well, it appears we're finished." Yet, their tranquility was abruptly shattered by a sudden banging sound echoing from downstairs.
- With Asuma Earlier -
Asuma anxiously awaited the arrival of the innkeeper in the confines of his room. To pass the time, he decided to indulge in a cigarette, but not before considering whether smoking was allowed within the premises. Struggling to recall any such prohibition, he proceeded to light one, ensuring to crack open the window to prevent the room from suffusing with smoke. Though the scent of tobacco might linger, Asuma had a cunning solution. He planned to employ a subtle wind-style jutsu to disperse the odor, a technique he frequently utilized before Kurenai's visits to his apartment. Failure to do so would undoubtedly land him in hot water.
Just then, the door swung open, revealing the innkeeper, who carried a bag brimming with various medical tools and supplies. "Apologies for the wait, Sarutobi-san. I had to summon my granddaughter to tend to your students while I address your wounds. I hope that's agreeable to you," Kunio inquired politely.
"Of course, I don't mind at all. Thank you for your kindness, Kunio-san. It's greatly appreciated," Asuma expressed his gratitude.
"Do you mind if I asked how the mission went?" Kunio asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Things didn't go according to the plan, to put it mildly. We got into a bit of a scuffle, as you can see. It seems that Gato has hired the services of one of the infamous Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shu (Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist)," Asuma recounted.
Kunio paused, taken aback by the mention of that notorious group. It took a moment for him to digest the information before he resumed their conversation. Kunio had heard of the group, considering Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests) wasn't too far from Mizu no Kuni (Land of Water). "I see... Does that mean you intend to abort the mission?" Kunio inquired.
"Abort? Absolutely not. My team and I will see this mission through. Gato has hired a dangerous individual, all the more reason to deal with him," Asuma responded resolutely.
"Thank you, Sarutobi-san. I'm counting on you. If Gato remains here, the local residents would be forced to seek shelter elsewhere, as his presence severely impacts business. Moreover, I doubt Gato would allow us to leave that easily. This inn is all I have, and I don't know what I would do without it," Kunio confided.
"And why is that?" Asuma inquired.
"I am an old man, Sarutobi-san. I can no longer practice medicine. I also have a granddaughter under my care, as her parents tragically passed away in an accident when she was just a baby. I wish to spare her the burden of working at such a young age and have chosen to work in her place so she can enjoy her childhood, she means the world to me, Sarutobi-san" Kunio explained, his voice tinged with genuine concern.
Asuma empathized with Kunio's predicament, further fueling his determination to fulfill their mission in Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests). Countless lives were at stake—families that relied on their daily toil. Gato was essentially robbing these families of their sustenance.
Kunio commenced treating Asuma's wounds, the cuts not severe enough to warrant stitches but their number far surpassing those inflicted upon Naruto. Employing the same procedure his granddaughter had used on the students, Kunio employed actual medicine instead of improvised herbal remedies. He tended to Asuma's bruises along the way, taking his time to ensure thorough treatment. "I believe that concludes the last bruise, Sarutobi-san," Kunio declared.
"Thank you, Kunio-san. I truly appreciate—" Asuma's words were cut short as a loud banging resonated from the door downstairs.
"OPEN UP! I KNOW SOMEONE'S IN THERE!," a voice bellowed from below.
Asuma immediately recognized the voice as belonging to Gato's men, who were undoubtedly searching for him and his team. While Asuma wasn't overly concerned for his own safety, knowing he could handle himself in dire situations, he worried about the well-being of both Kunio and his granddaughter.
"Listen carefully, Kunio-san. You haven't seen us, understood? We'll handle things from here and make our escape. But rest assured, if things take a turn for the worse, we'll come to your aid," Asuma explained urgently, retrieving his wallet from his pocket. Extracting a roll of Ryo, he pressed it into Kunio's hand as a gesture of gratitude for the treatment rendered to him and his students.
"I understand. It can't be helped, I suppose. I wish you and your team the best of luck in accomplishing your mission. May Kami watch over all of you," Kunio responded. Asuma nodded in acknowledgement, swiftly gathering his belongings before rendezvousing with his students in the hallway.
As Asuma exited the room, he discovered his three students already prepared to depart. He was relieved that he wasn't the sole individual alerted by the commotion downstairs. Although the banging had been quite thunderous, he commended his students for their vigilance.
"Are you all ready to go?"
"Yep" Naruto affirmed.
"Good. Follow my lead," Asuma directed as they made their way to the end of the corridor, eventually opening a window and escaping through it. Ino went first, followed by Shino, and finally Naruto. Once all his students had safely exited the inn, Asuma swiftly joined them, leading them deep into the surrounding woods. With their wounds tended to, their focus now shifted to devising a new strategy to vanquish their earlier adversaries. After confronting Kushimaru and Kimimaro, Gato and his men would prove to be relatively easy prey for their skilled team.
- With Kunio -
Kunio took a deep breath and descended the stairs, determined to put an end to the relentless banging at the door. As he reached the entrance, he found two men waiting impatiently.
"Yes?" he said, attempting to maintain his composure.
"What the fuck took you so long, old man?! Your hearing must be shit if you can't hear us from downstairs," one of the men grumbled.
The first man, of average height, wore a bonnet and distinctive vertical slits as markings beneath his eyes. He carried a sword, a clear sign of his proficiency with it.
The other man stood slightly taller, shirtless, with an elaborate tattoo adorning his body and an eyepatch concealing one eye. His brown hair was tied up in an intricate topknot, and he too carried a sword strapped to his back.
"The name's Zori, and this is Waraji. We have some questions for you, old man," Zori addressed Kunio.
Kunio despised these men for their association with Gato, understanding that they were merely fulfilling their job requirements. However, their apparent enjoyment of their work only intensified his distaste for conversing with them.
"And what might those questions be?" he replied, his tone laced with reluctance.
"Have you seen any Konoha shinobi around town lately? One was an adult male with a beard, accompanied by several Genin. Two of them were blond, and the other had dark brown hair. Do those descriptions ring any bells?" Zori inquired.
"No, I don't believe I have. If that's all, I must attend to other matters now," Kunio responded, preparing to close the door. Yet, Waraji intervened, blocking Kunio's attempt by slipping his foot inside, much to Kunio's surprise.
"Not so fast, old man. I think Zori and I would like to inspect each room in your establishment. I suppose that won't be a problem... right?" Waraji asserted, his hand casually resting on the hilt of his sword, a veiled threat.
With a resigned sigh, Kunio reluctantly agreed, granting the duo entry into the inn. Zori and Waraji proceeded upstairs, diligently examining each room in their pursuit of any hidden secrets they believed Kunio was withholding.
The first room they inspected appeared vacant, showing no signs of recent occupancy. The subsequent rooms yielded similar results. Finally, they arrived at the rooms Asuma and his students had occupied moments earlier.
However, Kunio had anticipated their arrival and instructed his granddaughter to tidy up the rooms while he dealt with Gato's henchmen. It was a stroke of foresight on Kunio's part, and he had thoroughly briefed his granddaughter to prevent any slip-ups.
Zori and Waraji continued their intrusive search, thought their efforts bore no fruit. They eventually returned to the hallway, where Waraji noticed the open window at the end, raising his suspicion.
"Oi! Old man, why is that window open?" he questioned.
"To let in some fresh air, of course. Why do you ask?" Kunio replied, feigning innocence.
"Never mind... Let's go, Zori. There's nothing of interest here, and we're wasting our time," Waraji declared. They both descended the stairs and departed the premises altogether.
Kunio let out a sigh of relief, grateful that he had managed to deceive the two intruders. He then recalled Asuma and his students, silently wishing them luck. "Good fortune be with you. The people of Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests) are counting on you," he thought to himself.
- With Zori and Waraji -
"Oi! Waraji, am I the only one who feels like that old man is hiding something?" Zori queried, turning to his companion.
"What the hell are you talking about? We just checked every damn room. What more do you want?" Waraji retorted.
"Don't you dare take that tone with me, you dumb fuck. I'm just making sure. Gato-sama warned us that he wouldn't be considerate the next time we screw up," Zori explained.
"And that was your fault, you imbecile. You forgot to lock the damn warehouse before we left," Waraji argued.
"OH YEAH?! And what the hell did you do then? I practically did everything that day. The least you could've done was remind me, you lazy ass bastard," Zori snapped back.
"OH YEAH?! WELL SCREW YOU!" Waraji erupted, grabbing Zori by the collar and pulling back his fist, ready to strike.
"Go ahead, punch me! I FUCKING DARE YOU!" Zori retorted, reaching for his sword in retaliation.
The two adversaries glared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, until Waraji released his grip on Zori's collar.
"That's what I thought, you pussy," Zori sneered.
"Fuck you," Waraji spat back.
"So, are you gonna join me to go back and double-check, or what?" Zori asked, a hint of impatience in his voice.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming, just so you can shut the hell up," Waraji grumbled in response.
- Back at the Inn -
"Hey, grandpa? I think one of them left this behind," Misaki informed her grandfather, handing him a kunai.
"I see. We'll hold onto it and return it to them when they come back, but for now, put it in the lost and found box," Kunio instructed his granddaughter, who promptly followed his orders.
As Kunio wiped down the counter with a damp cloth, he noticed Zori and Waraji returning to the inn. An uneasy feeling settled within him, fearing that they might discover the kunai in the lost and found box if they continued snooping around. Hastily, he made his way toward the box, intending to hide it in a more inconspicuous location. However, before he could do so, the chime of the shopkeeper's bell signaled the arrival of another customer.
"Oi! We're back, old man. We decided we wanted to double-check things before we go," Zori declared.
"S-Sure... But please be quick. I plan to close up shop soon," Kunio responded, attempting to deflect their attention.
"Close? But it's only 4 in the afternoon," Zori questioned, sensing something amiss.
"W-Well... I'm not feeling well, and I'd like to get some rest. That's why I want to close the inn," Kunio explained, his voice betraying nervousness as he avoided facing them.
Both Zori and Waraji found Kunio's behavior suspicious, prompting them to question him further.
"You're acting strange, old man. Turn around," Waraji demanded, his tone carrying a hint of hostility.
"I beg your pardon?" Kunio stammered, his anxiety mounting.
"Turn... Around... I'm not going to repeat myself, old man," Waraji warned, his impatience growing evident.
With a gulp, Kunio reluctantly complied, still clutching the box in his arms. Zori's sharp gaze fixed upon it.
"What's in the box?" Zori inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"N-Nothing of significance," Kunio replied, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple.
"Give it to me," Zori demanded, his tone turning more forceful.
"May I ask—" Kunio began, but he was abruptly cut off.
"I SAID GIVE IT TO ME, YOU OLD BASTARD!" Zori's voice reverberated through the room.
Meanwhile, Misaki, from another room, had been observing the escalating argument in the lobby. She cautiously cracked open the door, peering through the gap to see what was unfolding. Her heart pounded as she witnessed her grandfather being harassed by Gato's henchmen.
"Don't make me count to three, old man. Hand over the box, and no one gets hurt," Zori threatened, his patience wearing thin. Kunio hesitated, reluctant to surrender the box, when he noticed Misaki peeking through the door. Desperate to convey a message, he tried to signal for her to flee the inn as swiftly as possible.
However, before Kunio could act further, Misaki accidentally bumped into a table, causing a vase to crash onto the ground with a resounding shatter. The loud noise alerted both Zori and Waraji to her presence.
"RUN, MISAKI! RUN!" Kunio shouted to her.
"Waraji, don't let her get away!" Zori commanded, prompting Waraji to chase after Misaki in an attempt to prevent her escape.
Misaki did her best to flee, but Waraji swiftly caught up to her, firmly gripping her arm. She struggled to break free but was too weak to overpower him.
"LET GO OF THE FUCKING BOX, OR ELSE SHE GETS IT!" Zori bellowed, instructing Waraji to draw his sword.
Terrified, Kunio relented, releasing his hold on the box. As Zori took possession of it, he flung its contents onto the floor, causing the kunai to tumble out.
Taken aback by their discovery, Zori glanced at Kunio with a smug expression. "Well, well, well... Look what we have here: a kunai and a liar," he remarked.
"I'm truly sorry. Take me, but please let my granddaughter go. I'll do anything," Kunio pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Tough luck, old man. You could've just told us the truth, and now both you and your granddaughter will pay for it," Zori coldly responded before knocking Kunio unconscious. Misaki screamed, but her cry was abruptly cut short as Waraji also rendered her unconscious.
"Call for backup. Gato-sama will be pleased to hear about this," Zori declared, confident in their supposed victory.
(A/N: Hey there, been a while yet again. I do apologize for it, this time I have no valid reason for that (I renovated my room a bit but I don't think that's a valid excuse). Inspiration was lacking lately for me which was why it took so long to update. I did receive an anonymous message, and boy it was fascinating, to say the least. Someone told me that I was one of the slowest authors they have ever seen, I do not deny that but I did clarify at the beginning that I might upload irregularly. I feel guilty for not uploading as much as I can. But the thing is, there is no rhythm to writing if you get what I mean. Sure I can stick to an upload schedule but that kinda pressures me. I suppose I can force myself to upload more but I feel like I'll just be uploading shit (I don't even know if my writing is good enough but you guys seem to enjoy it for what it is). And another thing, I am doing this as a hobby, I am not being paid for doing this haha and that's okay. I enjoy writing but I don't want it to be an obligation cause that ruins the fun for me so I hope you guys understand). Also, YBorn thanks for the review, I also got a question if I write gender-bent. I haven't tried but I think I can whip one up in due time. That's all, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, cheers! ^^)