Unexpected Allies and New Plans
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Tazuna's House
After a grueling day of shopping, spending a lot to get spare food, Tsunami and Inari got to work on dinner. Oda sat down on a small cushion, reading through as much material Kakashi had provided him about this new world. He made it his duty to his people to learn as much as he could. The matters at hand, as painful as it was to admit, were more pressing. Zabuza was first on his list. He was a true criminal, but he had acted in a code of a form. Clutching an ancient pendant around his neck and rubbing it, he hoped that somehow, he could fix things. The opening of the door cut his concentration as Tazuna rushed in a fright.
"What the hell happened?" Oda asked, gripping the old man. His face gripped with horror.
"Zabuza was on the bridge. Naruto held him off long enough for us to escape, but then I saw another flying beast heading that way." Tazuna said between puffs.
"They're gonna die!" Inari yelled.
"No, they are not. I've seen Naruto and his team in action. They aren't going to go down that easily." Oda told the young boy firmly.
"What should we do?" Tsunami asked worriedly.
"Hold down the fort. I'll go investigate." Oda said, grabbing his bladed shield and hammer.
"But what about you?" Tsunami asked, stepping up to the ancient king.
"My dear. It is my duty as a King of Seaheart to use my strength to protect those that can't. I failed long ago against vampires in the past, I shall not fail again." Oda said sternly, looking down at her.
"Please be careful." Tsunami said meekly.
"I shall." Oda answered with a simple smile.
"Mom, do you like him?" Inari asked curiously.
"I-Inari! Go close the windows now!" His mother answered a bit flustered.
"Momma and Oda sitting in a tree! G…" Inari said, his voice trailing off as the boy had some fun.
"Honestly, that boy sometimes." Tsunami huffed as Tazuna shook his head at the boy's childish antics.
Without another word Oda headed out. Though he did have confidence in his new allies, he did have concerns. To face the undead on top of such a powerful criminal? Oda rationalized he likely could beat Zabuza, but he wanted to avoid the conflict with the man if possible. As he ran through possibilities in his mind, he opened the door. Only to find team 7 with Zabuza and Haku in tow.
"Hello, Oda-san. Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Kakashi asked.
"Save you. From him. What the hell is going on?" Oda asked, pointing to the missing nin in their midst.
"Who the hell are you?" Zabuza asked back, looking up at the massive man.
"Someone who can kick your ass despite being an old man." Naruto shot back, pain accenting his normal sarcastic tones.
"Quiet runt, or I'll break your jaw to shut you up." Zabuza growled.
"Don't hurt Naruto-dono after all he's done for us, Zabuza-san. That's no way to treat a potential ally." Haku sharply said back.
"You're lucky you're useful." Zabuza growled as the gaggle of shinobi entered, causing Tazuna and Tsunami a fright.
"I refuse to let this monster into my home! Not after what he did last time!" Tazuna in a panicked fright said.
"Try and get rid of me, bridge builder." Zabuza quipped, before Oda stepped in front of him.
"I will get rid of all of you if you don't calm down and act civilized." Oda warned sternly.
"What makes you so sure you can do that, big man?" Zabuza replied with a smirk beneath his bandages.
Faster than any of the shinobi's eyes could track, Oda's hand went around Zabuza's throat. Then, as if he was lifting a simple bag of groceries, he lifted the missing-nin off the ground. Zabuza gripped the ancient-blooded king's arm, feeling the firm grip on his throat.
"Is that convincing enough for you?" Oda asked dryly.
"Is that… all you've… got…!?" Zabuza choked out.
"You asked for it, not me." Oda said, as he tightened his grip further.
"Regret…! Regret…!" Zabuza choked out, trying to loosen the grip the massive redhead had on his throat.
"Now then, fair demon. Will you try to act in a more human-like manner now?" Oda asked with a surprising level of calmness.
Zabuza's response was simply to punch Oda repeatedly in his forearm, trying to force him to let go. However, as if expecting this kind of resistance, the king continued his slowly tightening grip on his throat. The others in the house stood there in horror at the sudden shift they saw in the normally regal, cordial noble. Oda's royal blue eyes however remained locked on the insolent scoundrel in front of him.
Seeing that punching wasn't working, Zabuza tried kicking Oda in the stomach repeatedly. However, even this was in vain. His blows didn't even make the redheaded king flinch. Finally, as his face began turning blue, the Kirigakure no Kijin began tapping his hand on Oda's forearm in surrender.
"I give…! I give…!" Zabuza choked out, trying to keep from passing out.
"A wise decision." Oda answered with a smile, setting the missing-nin down gently and letting go of his throat.
Zabuza immediately began taking in big gulps of air, gasping desperately like a fish out of water as he tried to catch his breath. Coughing a bit, the man known as the Kijin glared at Oda weakly.
"You just… caught me off guard…! That's all…!" Zabuza coughed out, trying to save face and preserve his pride.
"Would you like to try again?" Oda asked cordially.
Wisely, the eyebrowless Demon backed down. Everyone else in the room stood there in utter shock at what just unfolded.
"Tsunami my dear, be an absolute doll for me and get some refreshments ready. Simple ones with some tea will do for now." Oda asked politely to the daughter of his host.
Tsunami simply nodded nervously. "Y-Yes, Oda-sama…" She replied, going into the kitchen to whip something up.
"Now then, everyone. Do please have a seat. We have a strategy to discuss." Oda said, turning to the crowd of stunned folk before him.
Of course, they all chose to obey. Zabuza even willingly took his sword off of his back and propped the nearly seventy-pound blade against the far wall, not wanting to take a chance at pissing off the man who had nearly choked him to death with singlehanded ease any more than he needed to.
"Now then, since we have made a good faith acquaintance with our mercenary ninja friends here, we can now write them out of the opposing forces equation and move on to our next phase of operations." Oda said, sitting at the head of the table, flanked by Tazuna and Kakashi.
Normally, the Kirigakure no Kijin would've had a biting response to that. However, after being nearly strangled like a six-foot-tall chicken, he merely grumbled under his breath.
"So, what's the plan, Oda-sama?" Sakura asked, pointedly ignoring the grumbling, Demon.
"Now we move to take Gatō out of this equation, by turning him to our side as well." Oda answered simply.
The sound of a plate hitting the ground from the kitchen and shattering on impact could be heard as soon as Oda said that.
"Are you okay in there, Tsunami?" Oda asked, turning towards the kitchen.
"I-I'm fine! I just dropped a plate, that's all…" Tsunami nervously replied before going to get a dustpan and broom to sweep up the shards of tableware.
"Are you nuts!?" Naruto blurted out.
"I fail to see how the products of a nut tree have anything to do with this conversation." Oda said, raising his eyebrow.
"For once, I agree with the knucklehead. That idea is insane." Sasuke replied with less of his usual stoicism.
"What is the problem here? Unlike Targos, Gatō is a human. With human desires we can negotiate with." Oda said, confused at his compatriots' behavior.
"Gatō is a criminal. He is a drug dealer, smuggler, and a murderer. He is the reason that bridge isn't built, and we suffer! Why would we want him on our side!?" Tazuna roared.
"He is a shipping magnate, is he not?" Oda asked.
"Yes. I fail to see how those changes anything from what he's already done." Tazuna huffed.
"Is there something that we don't understand about this, Oda-sama?" Haku asked, confused at what the titanic man was poking them for.
"Are you getting at what I think you are…?" Kakashi asked, one visible eyebrow raised.
"What do you think I'm getting at, Kakashi? I'm dying to know." Oda asked with a curious tone.
"That, as a businessman, it should be possible to convince him that doing legitimate business with this land would be more to his benefit." Kakashi replied.
"If he could understand that, then he would have already." Tazuna bitterly said.
"He is a short-sighted man, Tazuna, and has done plenty of horrible things. However, he is also a successful man. He understands business, even if he doesn't always see the opportunities in front of him. Clearly you don't either." Oda answered.
"What are you getting at? This bridge is the only way we will finally get prosperity again." Tazuna said.
"It is an avenue yes, and will greatly help this land, but it's not its sole source of prosperity. Inari my dear boy, bring me a trade map that I know is in your grandfather's office." Oda said to the young boy.
"On it!" Inari said, scampering off with haste.
"How do you…?" Tazuna asked, confused.
"These shinobi aren't the only ones who can operate without being perceived." Oda answered with a cheeky smirk.
"Can we get to the point already? I want to know when I can start cutting up vampires again…" Zabuza replied boredly.
"Patience, my demonic vassal. There is a time and place for violence." Oda answered him.
"I'm just going to ignore that 'vassal' part…" Zabuza grumbled.
"Do you want to ignore my wonderful grip around your goose neck again?" Oda asked in an inquisitive tone.
"... Vassal works. I can get behind that…" Zabuza replied, quickly changing his tune while pointedly ignoring Naruto stifling laughter.
Just as the king and demon finished establishing their employment relationship status, Inari ran in carrying a giant map. Rolling it out neatly on the table, it displayed the entirety of the region with both land and maritime trade routes on it.
"Now then. The Land of Waves sits in an ideal location as a trade hub. It connects several Maritime routes going west and east, and a great harbor. This also allows for inland goods to be shipped abroad. Both the bridge that you're building, and Gatō's shipping business if aligned would allow for wealth and prosperity beyond what both of you could imagine." Oda explained.
"Even if that's true, there is no way Gatō would agree with this." Tazuna stubbornly said.
"A man so obsessed with profits he would kill? If giving up on his criminal enterprises for the prospect of greater legitimate profits is what he might need to do, then I think he will. I was trained in many things. My kingdom has held a similar position to the Land of Waves as a trade hub." Oda said.
"Alright… If you think you can do it, then fine." Tazuna sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"So, we have a demon, an ice dude, and now a crime lord joining us to defeat a vampire dynasty. Old man, you ripped us off big time on this mission." Naruto said, looking at Tazuna with a dirty look.
"If I had the money, I'd pay you! But I don't!" Tazuna roared back.
"Can we please keep calm and not kill each other?" Oda asked.
Later in the Center of Town
Oda rubbed his temples as he walked through the seediest part of town. He left Kakashi in charge of keeping the peace, but at this point he questioned if the silver haired shinobi could handle all of that. Zabuza and Tazuna would be pains on their own, on top of his own team. If the place hadn't turned into a charnel house by the time he got back, then he'd probably consider it a miracle. Clutching the pendant for good luck, he tucked it into his shirt as he found Gatō's residence.
"Excuse me gentlemen. Is this Gatō's residence?" Oda asked the thugs at the front door.
"Why do you wanna know, Fire Brain?" One of the goons sneered, insulting the redheaded king.
"First off, I'm more of an air element guy personally. Secondly, I am here to discuss economic and diplomatic terms with him on behalf of Tazuna." Oda explained simply, trying to remain civil in such an uncivil atmosphere.
"Why don't you take your 'economic and diplomatic terms and shove 'em? The boss ain't interested!" The other thug replied."
"Very well. You can then explain to your boss how he missed out on the economic boom of the century in my absence. I bid you two a good day." Oda said and turned on his heels. This was all overheard however by Zori.
"Hang on there, big man! What was that you just said?" The former samurai replied, stopping Oda.
"I merely was explaining to your lovely ground floor employee's that Tazuna wishes to discuss diplomatic and economic terms with your lord. However, since they clearly were put to guard his residence as being some of his most trusted followers, then I guess Lord Gato doesn't want to improve his coffers this year. Forgive my intrusion." Oda said, trailing his explanation along like a fisherman with bait.
The sharply dressed ronin glared at the two guards before looking back at the massive, fiery haired king. "Right this way, please." Zori replied surprisingly politely.
"Thank you, my good sir." Oda answered with a polite bow of his head, before following him in.
As he did, he noticed the surroundings. It found it frankly garish in its presentation, as if simply to show off wealth for wealths sake. Purple, copper, and black do not work in a color combination. The company was also less than inviting, getting a lot of looks from mercenaries and thugs. At the door to Gatō's office, Waraji had a killer stare directed at Oda as the two walked up.
"Aw thanks, Zori. You gave me someone to fight. You're really a good friend." Waraji said with a villainous smirk.
"Keep it in your sheath, Waraji. This guy's here on business with the boss." Zori replied in mild annoyance at his partner and friend's antics.
"Why would the boss want to see this muscle head?" Waraji asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because Tazuna apparently has terms that'll help the boss out in the long run a lot more than being a criminal will." Zori said back.
"As if. Come on Zori, let's cut him up and be done with it. He's having us on for a laugh." Waraji said, as he began to strut up to Oda with unearned swagger.
'Why did I get partnered up with this idiot again…?' Zori mentally questioned.
"A katana and no wakizashi. How the mighty samurai has fallen." Oda said in a blunt manner.
A vein nearly popped in Waraji's head as his anger reached a boiling point. "I'm gonna cut you up like a hunk of beef, you overgrown, red-haired gorilla!" Waraji roared out, charging in while drawing his blade.
"So, what does that make you, an orangutan? With those top knots, you're not doing a very good job." Oda answered dryly, side stepping the simple charge of the ronin.
"DROP DEAD, RED MONKEY!" Waraji yelled, slashing with his blade.
With elegance and speed so rarely seen in these parts, Oda uses his armored gauntlets to block the wild swings. Each swing clashing with the ancient metal caused great plumes of sparks to fly off. Finally, after Oda had had enough of these delays from the lesser men, decided to end this. Catching the blade of the bloodthirsty ronin's katana between his index and middle fingers and his thumb, Oda hit Waraji with a palm smash to the gut that knocked him into a wall.
Zori sighed at this. "Should've seen that coming, Waraji." He told his partner, who groaned in pain.
"Terribly sorry for the mess." Oda said in an apologetic tone.
"It's fine. Let's just take you to see the boss and get this over with." Zori replied, leading him to Gatō's office.
Opening the door, behind a short, squat desk sat an equally squat man of middle age. Small black spectacled eyes looked up from a paper to see the two before him, apparently not caring to hear the ruckus outside. Eyeing Oda, he gave a smirk, before motioning for Oda to take a seat at a cushion in front of him. Oda nodded and did so, surrounded on all sides of the room with armed guards.
"Welcome to my humble abode. And you are?" Gatō said, greeting him with a cordial and slightly slimy tone.
"I am Oda Shang, King of the kingdom of Seaheart, and representative on behalf of the Land of Waves. You, I believe, are the man known as Gatō." Oda politely responded.
"I am. What business do you have with me?" Gatō asked, his curiosity piqued.
"A chance to turn this land into a prosperous trade hub and provide you with a wealth of new legitimate business opportunities." Oda answered.
Gatō laughed at this. "I get all the wealth I need and want to do this. But please, humor me." He replied mirthfully.
"You control the waves and the shipping in this region. That I can commend. It takes a mighty man, if not necessarily a tall one, to accomplish such a great feat. Yet you deny yourself the potential of the trade from the land. You claim to have all the wealth you need, yet you squat yourself in squalor." Oda said in a respectful, if a hint contemptuous, manner.
Gatō's brow furrowed in thought at this. Though he caught the subtle barbs thrown his way, the redheaded stranger did have a point. Trade from this land, due to it being a potential major shipping center, could get him more money without having to risk going through illegitimate means. Had he been cheating himself out of fattening his own pocketbook without even knowing it…?
"Consider this. Have you ever stopped to look at the design of the bridge Tazuna is building?" Oda asked.
"I have. I may not like the old fool, but he knows what he's doing as an architect." Gatō replied.
"If you notice, it is quite tall with the supports being wide from each other. Widen enough to easily allow ships to pass under it and not cause a traffic jam. Tazuna was considering ship born trade the entire time." Oda explained, seeing he's getting somewhere.
Gatō had a look on his face, one showing that he was considering what Oda was saying. "You have my attention…" The shipping magnate said, signaling for Oda to continue.
"If you, instead of attempting to kill or sabotage Tazuna's work, tolerate him enough to help him build the bridge faster… Well, you now have access to the Land of Fire's vast inland markets. In fact, by turning the Land of Waves into a prosperous trade hub for all, that means that the people here become customers, not enemies. Why engage in war Gatō when peace can produce so much more coin?" Oda said, trailing his voice whimsically into his question.
The short criminal businessman smirked at this. "I like the way you think, Oda-san." He replied.
"Course I imagine things between you and the people here will always be rocky, considering your past actions. However, one never can start too early to turn things around. True tolerance is having differences, yet still being able to put it aside towards a common goal. In this case, the prosperity of all involved." Oda said, trying to gauge his thought processes on some of the finer details.
"There's only one problem. Certain… business associates of mine in the area will be very unhappy with me if I do this. They may even come after my men and I." Gatō replied, a bit fearfully.
"A business associate starting with T and ending in Argos?" Oda asked, bemused at the man's sudden cowardice.
Gatō was shocked at this guess. "H-How did-" He started only for Oda to interrupt him.
"I have a long and bloody history with that one. On the divine bloodline of my forebears, I will ensure your safety from them." Oda said with a quiet strength.
Thinking for about a minute, Gatō eventually nodded. "Alright, Oda-san. If, and only if my safety and greater profits can be guaranteed, then tell Tazuna that I'm willing to negotiate if he is." He replied.
As if on cue, in the outer room there was a great commotion. Soon, screams and blood curdling cries could be heard, as the torn in half corpse of a guard slammed through the door. Stepping in was a strigoi, smaller and surlier than most Oda had seen, walking in like a hungry hound. Fangs flaring and drool oozing out in savage hunger. Gatō sat there terrified, cowering behind his desk. Yet despite all of this, Oda sat in the same position, not even bothering to turn around.
"Gatō, you traitorous rat! I'll drain you dry of your blood and feast upon your wrinkled, dried-up flesh!" The vampire snarled out before lunging at the diminutive tycoon.
However, he stopped on a dime mid lunge, as if he had hit some invisible wall. The more it tried to get closer, the more pain and agony it showed. Finally able to take no more, it backed up out of whatever range this strange aura had. Finally, Oda turned around, revealing the pendant around his neck. The anger and rage the vampire had turned immediately to horror and unyielding fear.
"What's wrong, my good sir? You look positively ill." Oda said ever so sweetly.
"Y…. You can't be alive! That's impossible!" The vampire replied in a panic.
"Oh, indeed I am. Do you know what god this pendant is referring to?" Oda asked with a smirk.
"S… Susanoo…" The vampire whimpered out in terror.
"Very good. Now I need you to let dear old daddy Targos know something from his good friend Oda, okay? Can you be a pal and do that for me?" Oda asked, his smirk growing to a small smile.
Looking like it was about to shit bricks, the vampire nodded fearfully.
"Tell that monstrous abomination you call a father that I intend to finish what I started all those years ago. Your wretched line will be cast into the fires of extinction, and no more of your dynasty will harm this world any further. Now begone you undead mongrel, before I bring the curse of the god of storms upon every fiber of your unholy being!" Oda let out in a booming, commanding voice, as if the god of storms himself had come to earth.
Terrified out of its mind, the vampire scrambled to its feet and ran out of the room. It was at that moment that Gatō crawled out from underneath his desk to take a peek to see if it was safe.
"I… Is it gone…?" He asked in sheer terror.
"It is my good man. You have nothing more to fear from him. So, do you feel your safety is properly looked after now?" Oda asked.
"I'm more than convinced now…" The short shipping magnate replied.
"Good. At least that little bastard was good for something. He was terrible at hiding his presence." Oda said as he began to stand up.
"It's going to be a pleasure doing business with you and Tazuna, Oda-san. Truth be told, I hated those freaks…" Gatō replied, seeming more at ease now.
"I am glad to hear that, Gatō-san. Trust me, I've never liked them at all anyways. I bid you a good night, and pleasant dreams. I'll make sure Tazuna gets the good news." Oda said with a smile, before turning on his heels and leaving. No guard stopped him, no one made a fuss. Finally, a King got some damn respect around there for once.
It's been a while, but I did warn about these side stories they can be inconsistent on updating. However, we should be back to a bit more normalcy. Fingers crossed. Regardless this chapter was a blast to write. I know Naruto is a series most famous for its action, but letting the characters be themselves and interact is so God damn good too. Now a word from my co-writer quick.
Uzumaki Ricky- Finally, after all this time, we're back! Sorry we didn't give you a new chapter sooner, true shinobi fanatics. Things have been hectic on our end. But we're finally back and ready to give you more! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Next chapter, we are about to go back to the action we love from Naruto. Our new coalition of heroes and questionable personalities will be tested in a massive brawl in the city itself. Tune in next time for "Big trouble in Little Waves."