Captain Blues: The Stage of History changes and we enter Taki. It's time to start the show!
Shinobi of the Dark Moon
Mini Chapter (II): The Bridge
Fū's mind raced as she walked in between Naruto and Hinata. She wished that it was due to the conversation she had last night with that mysterious woman, Renna, but despite the chilling cold she still felt from that meeting last night, what was on her mind was the village beneath the Eiyū no ki (The Hero Tree) that loomed in the distance.
A part of Fū didn't want to return home.
Takigakure no Sato was….less than friendly. After experiencing warmth and friendliness in Konoha, she wasn't exactly ready for everyone, especially Naruto and Hinata, to see everyone treat her as a virus in her home village.
"Fū, you've been pretty quiet since we left Shirahana no Ya," Naruto whispered. "In fact, both you and Hinata have been quiet since we left. Is everything alright?"
Fū turned to Naruto and gave a weak smile. "I'm fine, Naruto-kun," Fū replied. "I'm just…I have a lot on my mind…But you haven't been too talkative yourself, Naruto-kun. Anything you want to talk about?"
"I wouldn't even know where to start," Naruto admitted with a tiny smile. "I just hope it all gets easier soon…"
Fū offered a stronger smile and replied, "I hope so t—"
"Whoa, that's a big-ass tree!" Kiba exclaimed from ahead of them.
"It seems Kiba finally noticed the tree," Naruto said with a slight smile.
"I don't know how he was so late in seeing it, considering Eiyū no ki is blocking out the sun," Fū grumbled.
"Kiba is very oblivious sometimes," Shino softly spoke from behind the group, startling Fū.
Naruto snorted and said, "You know, that actually makes sense, Shino."
"Still, it is amazing to look at," Shino noted.
"That it is," Hinata murmured.
"All of you seem very quiet compared to yesterday," Shino commented. "I do not mean to pry but is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine, Shino-kun," Hinata answered. "It was just a long night."
"What Hinata-chan said," Fū confirmed.
"Yeah, a really long night," Naruto sighed.
"It wouldn't be due to the three of you sneaking out last night, followed by that cold snap, would it?" Shino asked.
Naruto, Hinata, and Fū stopped in their tracks and turned around to face him.
Fū watched as Shino turned his head and murmured, "I am very observant of my surroundings…."
Before Fū could say anything, Kakashi's voice called out, "Alright everyone, we are close to Taki. Let's put a speed on things!"
The door to the Yamanaka Main house opened and Ino, with her little kit in her arms, stomped out of it, with her mother following after her.
For the past hour, Ino had heard everything her parents had to tell her and she was sickened. Not only with them but with the village at large.
How could they treat Naruto, the child the Yondaime wanted to be seen as a hero, so awful? He had done nothing wrong and yet he was treated so cruelly without even knowing why was horrid!
And it only made her guilt even worse.
"Ino, please come back inside," Iila urged as she rushed to walk beside her daughter.
"I'm gone," Ino told her mother with a scowl on her face.
"I know you're upset at us, Ino-chan, but we had no choice," Iila told her. "We tried. We tried so hard."
"You didn't try hard enough!" Ino exploded. "He was a child who didn't even know while everyone else did? I get why the secret was given, but the fact that he wasn't even aware and was being bullied and cast out like a pariah? That's fucked, you know it!"
"Watch your mouth," Iila chastised and then sighed.
"And what's worse, you two knew this and didn't offer anything to him. You didn't even push me into being his friend. You just…Left him to his own devices!" Ino continued. "What if I was in his position? Would you both pretend to not know me and leave me alone to the fate of these people?!"
"That isn't fair," Iila whispered.
"I don't know if I can look at you, at Dad, or any adult in this village the same way. I don't even know if I can look at myself in the same way…" Ino whispered, more to herself than her mother. "I'm out of here."
"Ino, sweetie, you can't just leave," Iila said but Ino shook her head and stomped out of the modestly sized Yamanaka residence.
"Come on, girl," Ino whispered. "Let's go back to Naruto's…"
The kit looked up at her and then offered her arm a tiny nuzzle, which made Ino smile.
At least she wasn't in this alone.
Takigakure no Sato.
Home of the Eiyū no ki, a large tree that once every one hundred years, the dew from the tree that Taki's villagers called the Eiyu no Mizu (The Hero Water).
The village itself sat beneath the large tree, where only a bridge separated the village from the large landmass that Team 7 and 8, along with their escorts, stood on. "That is one narrow bridge," Sakura noted with a frown.
"N-Narrow but it is strong enough for a-all of us to walk across j-just fine," Shibuki stammered.
"I can't wait to see what this village looks like," Kiba said as he observed the giant tree. "I must say, looking at this tree, I think Konoha is incorrectly named. This village is more hidden in the leaves than ours."
Kakashi chuckled while Kurenai turned to the group of Genin and said, "Be on your best behavior, everyone. We are Konoha's representatives during this mission and we must act as such."
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei," Team 8, plus Sakura obeyed.
Sasuke let out a dismissive hum while Naruto nodded.
"Alright team, let's move ahead," Kakashi commanded as he took the first step on the bridge and walked ahead, followed by Shibuki, and then Sakura, Kiba, and Sasuke.
Fū then walked onto the bridge after them, with Naruto, Hinata, and Shino following her. As the group walked, Naruto asked, "Hinata, Fū, both of you left the hotel last night?"
"We did," Fū answered.
"For what reason?" Naruto asked.
"A-Ano," Hinata began. "We went for a walk. To get to know each other more."
"Just a walk?" Naruto asked as he turned to her, missing the sigh of relief that Fū let out.
"Y-Yeah," Fū stammered.
"I guess that makes sense," Naruto murmured.
Shino let out a small hum from behind Hinata and then said, "I suppose. It's just convenient that you two left shortly after Naruto…"
"Coincidences d-do happen, Shino-kun," Hinata murmured.
"A mighty coincidence," Shino murmured.
Naruto looked unsure but then he sighed.
Whatever they wanted to hide, he wouldn't push them on it. But Shino was right, it was very coincidental that they left so soon after he did…
He sighed.
He shouldn't so distrusting. Fū has done nothing but be his friend and Hinata has always been friendly to him. He should have some trust in them…
But still…Why did it feel so wrong?
"Fū-chan…What can you tell us about your home village?" Hinata inquired.
"Taki is…a village," Fū reluctantly began. "It's not as big as Konoha or anything. Pretty modest in size. Before Shibuki and his dad, Shibuki's grandfather ruled the village, we actually had a pretty powerful clan as the rulers of this village. The Suisei clan."
"Suisei clan?" Naruto asked. "Who are they?"
"They were skilled with many weapons, including their prized possession, the legendary Sword of Night and Flame," Fū continued. "Everyone adored them and their family for their actions during the Second Shinobi War. From what the history books say, Shibuki's grandfather was envious of them and their legendary weapon. So one night, he and the rest of his shinobi, attacked them in the middle of the night. The Suisei clan was slaughtered, save the daughter of the noble, who managed to escape with the famed weapon. While he failed to get the weapon, he won the village that night."
"Suisei," Hinata murmured. "I know someone with that last name."
"You do? Small world…But it's probably wise to not say that name in Taki. They don't have fond memories of the Night of Fallen Comets."
"What else can you tell us about Taki?" Shino asked.
"Truthfully, not too much," Fū sighed. "I'll probably be a poor tour guide here. So, I apologize right off the bat."
"Why?" Naruto asked.
Fū shrugged and said, "I'm not really liked in Taki….Simple as that."
Captain Blues: And that is that. The next chapter, we will see Fu in a rough spot so be warned.