Hey there all, sorry for the late update this time around I just got back from a big trip that lasted throughout the usual update day so in return I'll do something for the next update. Anyway this is the first chapter of the next arc of Naruto Kokai I was pretty excited to write this one as you could probably tell but a quick note I wanted to add before you proceeded with reading.
This arc takes place 6 months after Naruto was banished from the Leaf Village but only two months after the training he did in the Hidden Sand with Temari. This is where the canon is deviated from completely.
Super quick note, so lets get to the reviews.
I wanted to start with a few comments that came in that acted as actual reviews from prior chapters, first off thank you all so much for your feedback I appreciate it and will keep it in mind going forward I noticed a lot of the same things when reviewing previous chapters going forward I'll keep those pieces of advice in mind. Thank you.
ghust95: This is actually a super interesting point, it's funny you bring that up since it will end up being something focused on a little later for right now I'll say that ever since Naruto's date with Temari he's become more aware of things like romance and the opposite sex he's no expert by any means but he's starting to think about it. In regard to the ending you'll just have to wait and see.
Alexander4443: Thank you! I'm still trying my best to do better with writing the story, I apperciate you reading it.
Spellbat: To your first point, pairing wise I'm really up in the air about who will be who but I appreciate the answers and total get you on both options. To your second point who is that masked figure indeed, you'll have to wait and see because things aren't as they seem in the regard.
TigrezzTail: The mysterious end will remain mysterious for right now, I also like being able to highlight the different yet similar personality types characters have when they interact with each other. It always makes the dynamic more interesting.
glad: Hey there, welcome back. I hope to see you in the next chapter as well. Thank you.
Nathir: I like this theory of yours, who knows anything could happen when it comes to that. This story is about Naruto and his struggles while trying to find his own peace so it's definitley something that could shake things up.
shinigami101505: Thank you! I hope to see you in the next one!
That's all for reviews for right now but if there is anyone who doesn't want their name displayed next to their review in the story just let me know and I'll refrain I just wanted to directly answer reviews for the person who made them.
Thank you all again for your reviews I always make sure to look over each of them to answer them in the best way possible. I appreciate the constructive criticisms and questions so keep them coming.
Lastly, this chapter is going to be a longer one since there was a lot to focus on as this is the introduction of a much-anticipated character I wanted to write.
Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy.
-Ken
{...}
Chapter 9: The Girl From Stone
-2 Months Later-
It had been weeks.
She had been lost for weeks.
It was supposed to be a simple mission, take down the Sound Village remnants, destroy their hideouts, go home and get a step closer to her promotion. Yet after running into an ambush and being separated from her assigned team, she's now stuck trying to figure out where the hell she even is.
The young female huffed before she pulled out her map again, the map was an incomplete one meant only for the Land of Rice where the Sound Shinobi were supposed to be hiding out.
That meant that the map back home was with one of her teammates.
Which meant she was extra lost.
The young woman huffed again before she kicked a rock in frustration.
"Damn it why me!?"
The young woman yelled into the sky before she ran a gloved hand through her black hair, she took a breath. "I'll just find a town and get an updated map back to the Land of Stone. Simple. Super easy." The girl spoke to herself trying to ease her own nerves before she picked a direction and started to walk again.
Kurotsuchi, 16 years old and a Hidden Stone Village Tokubetsu Jonin who was only a few A ranked missions away from a promotion to a full-fledged Jonin.
Temperament usually calm and careful, temperament now?
Irritable… Very irritable.
A part of all of this was highly embarrassing when she really thought about it, she was extremely capable and even praised for her tenacity and intelligence. Yet she was the one who was lost, even worse was when they send out a search party, she was going end up being rescued.
The cherry on top?
Because of the ambush she technically didn't even have her mission completed yet.
At this rate she was going to end up going home a failure and be set back from getting that promotion she was vying for.
The young woman had nothing but good reasons to be as frustrated as she was but she wouldn't give up. The minute she found a good map, first she was going to annihilate the Sound shinobi, then she was going to make it back to her home on her own.
No rescue.
No coddling.
No failure.
Smelled like a recipe for success to her.
Now if only she could find a town in enemy territory that wasn't plotting her untimely demise. Kurotsuchi kept walking through the forest periodically checking on her map, so far she was headed in a good direction. At this rate she'll be in town in a couple of hours max, the girl couldn't fight the excited smile on her face before she jumped to the trees.
Might as well shave a few minutes so she could get right back to her task at hand. The black-haired girl jumped from tree to tree, her ponytail swayed as she went from one tree to another.
The smile on her face stuck while she could already feel the map in her hands.
Though it was odd in a sense.
Normally she wouldn't care but she also remembered she was in enemy territory here in the Land of Rice.
Why was it so quiet?
Another foot launched off of a tree branch before Kurotsuchi's pink eyes widened, the girl quickly ducked her head back narrowly avoiding an extremely thin shuriken wire.
The girl flipped before she landed back on the ground, "As soon as I started having doubts!" Kurotsuchi yelled before she brandished a kunai glaring toward the bushes.
"Looks like you really are up to snuff."
Another voice spoke from the bushes before three puffs of smoke appeared in front of the girl's vision. Three shinobi each one with their headbands bearing the music note symbol of Hidden Sound shinobi.
"We've been tracking ya for a while, we figured since you were lost we'd do ya the favor of at least making it quick."
One of the ninjas cackled while Kurotsuchi glared, "You should have known better, now you're going to have to pick a few spots for me to bury you and your friends here… don't worry though I'll make sure to put you in the ground next to them." Kurotsuchi threatened while the ninja huffed at the girl.
"The only ones you should be worried about burying are those weak teammates of yours. At least you look like you'll be entertaining."
The ninja said while Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth, "...You bastards …killed them?" Kurotsuchi growled while the Sound ninja shrugged.
"A little too quickly if you ask me."
He taunted before Kurotsuchi's hand slapped against the ground, suddenly sharp rock spikes shot from the ground directly under them.
The three ninja barely avoided the rock spikes before Kurotsuchi lunged after them, "You die for that." Kurotsuchi growled before she threw multiple kunai at her targets.
{...}
The normally peaceful forest on the outskirts of a village in the Land of Rice was shaken by the conflict of four shinobi, the battle raged causing the landscape to be morphed by multiple jutsu.
"Earth Style: Stone Spear!"
Kurotsuchi yelled while her palm was extended outward, earth broke away from the ground and gathered in her palm creating a spear that she spun deflecting another earth style jutsu.
Her spear shattered in the process while she jumped backward, "Wind Style: Wind Torpedo!" One of the Sound ninja yelled before Kurotsuchi narrowly avoided a blast of air.
The black-haired teen pulled out a kunai that was wrapped in a paper bomb throwing it toward her assailants.
The bomb detonated before Kurotsuchi started weaving hand signs again, "Earth Style!" The black-haired teen couldn't finish her jutsu before she dodged a water slash.
The Sound ninja got into close quarters while Kurotsuchi pulled out her sword from its sheath resting on her back. Her blade clashed with a kunai while the ninja grinned from behind his slashes clearly aiming to kill the girl brutally.
Kurotsuchi deflected another slash before she leaned backward avoiding a sound ninja shooting out from the ground.
"Earth Style: Subterranean Voyage!"
The Sound ninja yelled again before he went into the ground again digging through it while the ninja with the kunai advanced again.
Kurotsuchi spotted the third trying to flank her before she grinned, "From below huh?" The black-haired teen did a double backhand spring slapping one of her palms on the ground.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!"
The ground erupted with spikes causing the ninja that jumped in the ground to jump back out of it while the other two jumped away from the onslaught of spikes. Kurotsuchi followed up with a flying kick to one of the ninja, the man groaned as he blocked it causing them both to slide back.
The black-haired teen took a deep breath while she weaved hand signs, "Earth Style: Stone Gun Bullet!" The teen yelled before she shot a large stone projectile from her mouth toward another one of the ninja.
The stone hit the ground beside the ninja who dodged it only for them to narrowly avoid the rock spikes that shot out of it. Kurotsuchi continued to apply pressure to the ninja she was attacking with her sword viciously slashing at the ninja defending with his kunai.
"Earth Style: Rock Slide!"
One of the other Sound ninja yelled while his foot stomped the ground, the earth opened up shooting rocks from it. Kurotsuchi spun her blade deflecting a swipe from the sound ninja she was attacking, she turned around toward the flying earth while taking a breath.
"Fire Style: Mist Blaze Breath!"
Kurotsuchi breathed out hot air from her mouth that sparked a few times before it ignited into a small explosive flame blasting the flying rocks apart. She didn't waste a breath turning back around toward the ninja she was attacking, resuming her assault. Her swipes were precise and each one was poised to kill while the ninja defending against her was struggling against her attacks.
'Seriously?! She's been fending off the three of us all this time, I thought she was just some small fry but…'
The sound ninja thought to himself as he watched one of his allies try to flank her from the side, but the girl spun in place slamming the top of the Sound ninja's head with an axe kick shoving his head into the dirt. Kurotsuchi quickly recovered slashing her sword toward the Sound ninja she had her focus on with a glare in her eyes.
The Sound ninja struggled to defend against the aggressive blows before he suddenly felt the back of his left foot get kicked by the girl's foot to anchor herself down, his sights were immediately met with Kurotsuchi positioning her blade over his heart pushing down.
'She's some kind of monster!'
Kurotsuchi yelled while she used her other leg to kick in the back of his knee of his other leg causing him to lose balance while she kept herself up using his body. Her sword still pushed down dangerously close to his heart puncturing his shirt before he looked into the air.
"DWON!"
The ninja screamed into the air while another one of his comrades slid over, Dwon quickly weaved hand signs before he leaned back.
"Wind Style: Great Scream of Despair!"
The larger man yelled before a blast of air shot out of his mouth slamming into Kurotsuchi just stopping her blade from running through the ninja's chest. The pink eyed teen roared fighting through the blast of sound still trying to bring her blade down into the chest of her opponent.
Her footing slipped from the sheer amount of pressure sending her flying backward, Kurotsuchi bounced on the ground before she rolled further, her sword sliding even further past her. The girl groaned before she tried to stand but quickly fell back to the ground, an intense ringing went through her ears causing her to place her hands on them.
"Fuck!"
Kurotsuchi yelled while the three ninja approached her, "That was close, a second later and I would have been dead. Nice shot, Dwon." The shorter ninja said to the taller man who huffed.
Kurotsuchi pushed herself off of the ground and staggered toward her discarded weapon, her steps were sloppy and disoriented.
"Your equilibrium is totally scrambled girl unlike us Sound ninja who are trained to resist the effects of sound based jutsu you are completely useless. You aren't going anywhere while your eardrums are still rapidly vibrating like that. I'm surprised you can even move."
The ninja taunted while Kurotsuchi kept moving toward her sword, 'Don't stop, keep moving.' The black-haired girl pushed herself closer.
'Don't stop damn it."
'Come on fight! Keep moving!'
The teen kept moving toward her sword in her disoriented vision, she could feel a bit of fluid building up in her ears. She knew it was blood, but she couldn't die here she refused, she had to keep fighting.
She had to win!
Kurotsuchi felt herself plummet back to the ground after her foot hit something, her pink eyes tried to focus on the thing she tripped on. It was a black sandal covered foot sticking out of the bushes. Kurotsuchi briefly looked at the body part in horror, that foot must have been from another one of their previous victims.
'Keep going!'
Kurotsuchi yelled in her mind while she dragged herself on the ground her sword was nearly back in her hands. "It's over, Stone Ninja, time to go." The ninja said while Kurotsuchi's hand grabbed her sword, she had the best grip she could manage on it before she pointed it toward the three approaching ninja.
'Once I gather my bearings I have to be quick, once I kill the big guy, I can take care of the other two.'
Kurotsuchi didn't even realize how close they were, the distance was too little and she was still disoriented from taking that sound blast head on. She could barely focus while the ninja looked toward her, one of them was already weaving hand signs.
"I… My name is Kurotsuchi… I'm a ninja from the Land of Stone… I refuse to die at the hands of scum like you!"
The black-haired teen yelled before she held her trembling blade in her hand as tightly as she could toward the men.
"I refuse!"
The girl yelled while the other two ninja step out of the ninja in front of them both as he took a deep breath. Kurotsuchi tried to form her own hand signs using one hand but she still didn't have her full grip back. The breath halted in the lungs of the sound ninja while a figure stood in between herself and the small group.
The figure was wearing black sandals.
Kurotsuchi slowly looked up toward the face of the mystery person, instead all she saw was a book titled 'Make Out Paradise Volume 1' clinging to it. With spiky blonde hair at the top of his head, he was wearing orange and black pants, a sleeveless orange gi-like top with a thin long sleeve ninja chainmail shirt underneath.
"Who the hell?"
One of the ninjas asked while the book slid off of the figure's face, he had whisker-like marks on his face.
The blonde yawned before he looked around at his surroundings, "Oi, I'm napping here. If you got some kind of issue with me, give me 5 more minutes… also which one of you was the wise guy who kicked my leg?" The blonde asked while everyone else looked at the teen with confusion.
The blonde looked toward Kurotsuchi who flinched slightly, she had no idea what it was but there was some kind of strange air about this guy that disturbed her.
Like he was extremely dangerous.
"Guess I'll just kill you to-"
The ninja was cut off by a heavy kick to his gut that knocked the built-up breath out of his mouth faster than he could register. The fire style jutsu he was ready to fire came out of his mouth as a small weak flame as he gasped for air. Another kick sent the ninja flying backward into multiple trees before crashing and kicking up dust further away.
Kurotsuchi's eyes widened at the spot where the ninja just flew while the other two were left speechless. The blonde suddenly crouched in front of Kurotsuchi whose blade still trembled slightly in her hands.
"Your ears…"
The blonde said while Kurotsuchi felt the blood run down her earlobes, the teen in front of her reached his hands out gently placing them on her ears. The girl flinched at the touch again before she felt her vision beginning to focus, her grip stopped trembling before her vision cleared up.
The first thing she saw was a fox-like grin and bright ocean blue eyes.
"Yo, so I'm guessing they're the bad guys right?"
The blonde asked while Kurotsuchi nodded her head slowly, the boy nodded his head before he looked back toward the other two ninja.
"Fine then, once you can get on your feet don't move too fast."
The blonde said while Kurotsuchi shook her head, "Wait a minute, who even are you?" Kurotsuchi asked while the blonde gave her another grin.
"Naruto Uzumaki, your friendly wandering ninja!"
Naruto chirped while the girl just blinked at him, her eyes focused again when she noticed both of the other ninjas dashing to attack Naruto from both sides. "Quit screwing around!" Dwon yelled while he swiped his rock blade while the other ninja swiped his water slash, before Kurotsuchi could yell Naruto already jumped into the air.
The two attacks missed before Naruto landed back on the ground, extending both of his palms out just in front of their chests.
"Wind Style: Gale Separation."
Naruto said simply before strong gusts of wind shot from both of his palms launching both men into the trees before the blonde glared at the taller man's direction while he recovered from the air blast.
The taller man roared while he charged toward Naruto who kept glaring toward the sound ninja approaching.
"Earth Style: Armor!"
Dwon yelled before his body was encased in earth creating an armor around him, the taller man then charged at Naruto.
Naruto sidestepped the earth covered ninja before he weaved more hand signs, "Earth huh?" The blonde said to himself before Dwon turned around again.
"Hold still, you bastard!"
The angry man yelled before a heavy foot slammed against the bottom of his earth covered jaw.
The stone cracked until it broke sending Dwon into the air, Naruto narrowed his eyes again before wind gathered around the bottom of his feet.
The blonde blasted into the air quickly spinning slightly past the rising sound ninja before another blast of air shot from Naruto's foot again slamming the enhanced kick into the earth armor again shattering it.
Dwon crashed into the ground while Naruto landed, the blonde boy then leaned backward from a sudden water blade being shot toward him.
His vision turned toward his attacker who was weaving more hand signs, "Water Style: Executioners Wave!" The sound ninja yelled before he shot out a large amount of water from his mouth.
The water rose from where it was shot before shots of water quickly came out of the wave extremely fast. Naruto moved across the ground quickly, still slightly hovering from the wind gathered under his feet.
His finger weaved his famous hand sign before adding an additional hand sign summoning three clones.
"You know the deal boys!"
Naruto yelled to his clones while he dodged the raid fire shots of water gunning toward him, his clones nodded before they pursued the sound ninja. The ninja quickly brandished a kunai before he flipped away from a flying kick from one of the Naruto clones.
The trio surrounded the ninja before they started attacking him all at once, beginning to overwhelm the ninja. The sound shinobi blocked and dodged multiple attacks before he ducked under a kick, he used this opportunity to slash one of the clones.
The clone leaned backward from being cut before it erupted into a vicious upward draft of wind, the other clones also exploded into gusts of wind sending the ninja flying into the air.
Naruto blasted into the air toward the flying ninja before he kicked him even higher into the air.
"U!"
Naruto said while more clones were summoned following suit in kicking the sound ninja into the air.
"Zu!"
"Ma!"
"Ki!"
The clones yelled before they disappeared while Naruto spun bringing an axe kick down into the exposed gut of the beaten shinobi.
"Naruto Barrage 2.0!"
Naruto yelled while the ninja blasted back toward the ground smashing back into it kicking up dust and creating a large crater.
The ninja twitched in the crater before Naruto landed again, in front of the crater before he turned around toward a heavily damaged Dwon. "You! What the hell are you?!" Dwon yelled while Kurotsuchi watched Naruto point a finger toward the Sound shinobi before he pointed his thumb back to himself.
"For you. I'm a demon."
Naruto answered with a glare causing Kurotsuchi to look toward the boy with a slightly shocked expression.
Meanwhile Dwon growled before he weaved hand signs again, "Earth Style: Armor!" The sound ninja was covered in earth again before he charged at Naruto once more.
Naruto quickly pulled out shuriken before he threw them at the charging ninja, the shuriken bounced off while Dwon kept charging.
"Your little tricks won't work on me again, you little bastard!"
Naruto narrowed his eyes before he threw more shuriken before weaving a hand sign.
"Shuriken Clone Jutsu!"
Naruto yelled before three shuriken suddenly multiplied and became fifteen while they started sticking into the earth armor. Dwon stopped in place keeping his arms over his face while the shower of shuriken pelted against him.
Naruto kept throwing shuriken and multiplying them causing Dwon to slide backward slightly.
"It's not over yet."
Naruto said before he pulled out a single blade, he jerked the blade downward causing it to extend into a large four bladed shuriken.
"Demon Wind Shuriken!"
Naruto yelled while he threw the large shuriken that multiplied into three while flying toward earth-covered ninja blocked the three shuriken, the force of them hitting him causing his arms to move, opening up his guard for a moment.
The one moment was all Naruto needed while Dwon looked down at his chest where he spotted a single kunai. The Sound ninja's eyes widened when he spotted the paper wrapped around the handle of the kunai.
His head looked up toward Naruto who was preparing to dash toward him, Kurotsuchi felt a change in air pressure before suddenly Naruto was no longer in front of her.
Instead, before Dwon could even react to pull the kunai out of his armor, Naruto's palm was already pressing against it.
"Wind Style: Explosive Gale Palm!"
Naruto yelled before a heavy blast of wind slammed into the Sound ninja while the paper bomb wrapped on the kunai detonated.
Kurotsuchi covered her eyes from the dust that was kicked up from the explosion before she looked back toward where the blonde was standing. Dwon was in another crater close to his other fallen ally, Naruto sighed before he walked over picking his book off of the ground.
"Aw dang it, I lost my spot."
Naruto complained while Kurotsuchi blinked at the boy.
What the hell was this guy?
"You ok?"
Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi made eye contact with the boy, her dark pink eyes met his innocent looking blue ones.
"I'm fine."
Kurotsuchi responded while being cautious of the boy while the blonde sighed, "Good, these Sound guys are pesky especially with attacks like those." Naruto said before he extended his hand out toward Kurotsuchi.
Kurotsuchi looked at the hand before she lifted herself back to her feet, "You have experience dealing with these guys?" The black-haired teen asked while Naruto nodded his head.
"Oh yeah, groups of them are littered all over the Land of Rice and some spots in the Land of Hot Springs too."
Naruto said while he flipped through his copy of Make Out Paradise trying to find his last spot he could remember.
"Are you hunting them down or something? What village are you a part of?"
Kurotsuchi began to interrogate the blonde while he looked toward her, "Yup, they're bothering the villagers who live around here, also I'm not a part of a village… you're also welcome by the way." Naruto said while Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"Saving your life, usually that comes with a thank you."
"You didn't save me, I clearly had that under control. Once my bearings came back to me I would have killed them."
"Oh yeah? Looked to me like you were the one about to get killed."
"You saw wrong, it was a cheap shot from a few low ranked scum. I had it."
"Maybe if you weren't playing around with them you would have."
"Playing around!? Those ninja deserved slow and painful deaths… they… they probably killed my squadmates…"
"...I'm sorry."
"..."
Kurotsuchi stayed silent while Naruto looked at the path ahead of them, "Up there is another village that we can get you to so you can finish recovering." The blonde offered while the blacked haired teen narrowed her eyes at the boy.
"Why should I trust you?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Because I just helped you. I seriously don't mean any harm." The blonde said while Kurotsuchi brandished her blade pointing it toward the boy.
"You're an unaffiliated ninja meaning you are most likely a missing nin. You could be leading me to some trap."
The black-haired ninja said before Naruto sighed, "I get it, but seriously I'm not here to hurt you." Naruto said while Kurotsuchi huffed.
"It's a ninja kill ninja world."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto lifted a finger, easily moving away the girl's blade.
"It doesn't have to be with me."
Naruto responded while Kurotsuchi noticed how easy it was for him to move her sword from his direction.
She didn't want to admit it but he was right.
Even after the thing he did she still felt disoriented, she wasn't in any current condition to fight even if she wanted to. "Come on, I'll take you there." Naruto kindly offered while Kurotsuchi looked between his hand and the small smile on his face, he was dangerous yet.
He seemed like he was being legitimate.
"Fine. You pull anything and I'll kill you."
Kurotsuchi stated matter of factly while Naruto's hand dropped, "You're just a ray of sunshine aren't you?" The blonde said with a small grin while the girl huffed.
"I'm just careful, this world isn't as nice of a place as you try to be."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto chuckled, "Hopefully I can fix that a little." The blonde said while he started walking. Kurotsuchi watched the boy's back for a moment before she started to follow him, he looked like he knew where he was going.
Besides, she needed to get a new map anyway.
The black-haired girl looked toward the ground before she huffed.
"...Thank you."
Kurotsuchi said as lowly as possible trying to make sure Naruto didn't hear it, unfortunately the grin he shot at her meant she failed.
"You're welcome."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi reddened in embarrassment. She, the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage.
Was in debt to an idiot.
{...}
"Here we are, Jasmine Village. At least it should be according to the map."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi looked around the village watching the villagers bustling around with their daily lives. The village wasn't a very big one, certainly nothing like the Hidden Stone Village but at the same time it seemed a little homely.
She could hardly believe that a place like this could have existed in what was considered enemy territory.
"Let's find a doctor to take a look at your ears."
Naruto said while the black-haired girl raised an eyebrow at the blonde, "Doctor? I don't need one, I feel fine. What I need to find is a larger map. Let's just find a cartographer." The girl said while Naruto gave her a look.
"We can't just ignore the fact your brain was shaken up, I learned that little trick from someone I know but it's just supposed to help, not completely fix it. Let's make sure you're at 100% before we start running around again."
Naruto said with a slight grin on his face while Kurotsuchi groaned, it was a kind gesture sure but all of this was slowing her down. She needed to make it back to the Hidden Stone Village after exterminating the remnants of the Hidden Sound.
Then finally get back to her promotion and regular life.
"Come on, trust me."
Naruto said with a reassuring smile while Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes at the boy, "I literally just met you today." The girl quickly responded back while the blonde shrugged.
"All the more reason to."
Naruto pushed while Kurotsuchi sighed, "I hope you know that doesn't make any sense." The girl said while reluctantly following the grinning boy.
She was only going to this doctor because she knew small injuries could have costly consequences.
It had nothing to do with the happy go lucky hobo ninja.
The pair eventually made it to the village doctor, thankfully his little office was practically empty meaning they were able to check in rather quickly. Kurotsuchi was now sitting on the examination bed waiting for the hopefully not a quack doctor, the girl was tapping her fingers together in the meantime.
This was the first time she had ever gone to a doctor outside of her own village, whenever she was injured before simple first aid was all that was needed before she got back home.
That on top of the fact that she never really liked the doctor's office made her a little nervous. Her dark pink eyes flicked toward Naruto who had his nose stuck into the book he seemed to be intently reading.
"Make-Out Paradise?"
Kurotsuchi found herself asking out loud causing the blonde boy to quickly look up from his book he tried to hide a little.
"Yeah? What about it?"
Naruto said quickly, causing the girl to raise an eyebrow, "A little suspicious hiding it like that… You reading porn or something?" Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto rapidly shook his head.
"Oi! It's a book, a guy like me can read too! Besides, I'm not the one sitting nervously in the doctor's office."
Naruto fired back causing the tips of Kurotsuchi's ears to turn red, this guy was strange but he was perceptive. Not to mention for a little while now she feels like her guard has been down around this guy, it's most likely an aftershock from the attack she took earlier.
That's what she decided to blame.
The sound of a chuckle brought her back from her thoughts while she looked at the blonde, he was laughing.
He was laughing at her.
She wasn't even doing anything funny, the girl gave the boy a slight glare not even noticing that she had begun to relax.
"Miss Kurotsuchi? Mr. Naruto?"
An older gentleman walked into the room in a lab coat while the two teens looked toward him with curiosity. "I apologize for being late, I had to wrap up a home visit for one of my patients. I hope all is well?" The doctor asked politely while Kurotsuchi looked toward Naruto who looked back toward her before he looked at the doctor.
"I think so, my friend here was hit pretty badly by a jutsu that might have shaken her brain or something."
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened slightly, "That sounds awful, let me go ahead and get a quick scan of her to try and detect any problems." The doctor asked while he ran a hand through his grayish brown hair before approaching the black-haired teen.
Kurotsuchi flinched slightly before the doctor gave her a reassuring smile, "May I?" The doctor asked while the teen narrowed her eyes at the man before she looked toward Naruto again who nodded his head.
"Make it quick."
Kurotsuchi said while the doctor nodded his head before a light green chakra started to channel through his hand. The older man hovered his chakra-covered hands close to Kurotsuchi without touching her directly, allowing the chakra to trace her.
"My name is Pa Chinko, you can just call me Dr. Pa if you'd like. That's what the rest of the village likes to call me."
Pa said while Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Dr. Pa huh? Are you the only doctor around in this village?" The blonde asked while Pa nodded his head at the boy.
"Yes… once this village was filled with medical ninja, however ever since the appearance of the Hidden Sound our numbers have been dwindling."
The good doctor said while Naruto and Kurotsuchi's eyes both widened at the name of the Hidden Sound.
"Because of them, I'm the only doctor in Jasmine Village. It's a little tough but I try to make it work as much as I can."
The older man smiled while Kurotsuchi's eyes darkened, "The Hidden Sound… are scum that need to be taken care of, don't worry. Once I leave this village..." Kurotsuchi's fist clenched at her side.
"I'll make sure to kill every single one of them."
Kurotsuchi said while both the doctor and Naruto gave the girl a look, Naruto had almost forgotten. Each of the hidden villages were different in their ways and values, in Kurotsuchi's eyes they were only targets to eliminate.
Sitting at this doctor's table right now was a shinobi.
"While I appreciate the thought… I haven't really thought of anything like revenge… it seems a little counterproductive."
Pa spoke while Kurotsuchi quickly looked up toward him, "They took your people, your friends that are possibly dead now. They deserve retribution." The girl spoke while Naruto stood up from his seat.
"The priority should be protecting the people. Senseless killing won't help them."
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes at the boy, "Listen, I don't know what kind of whimsical life you lived before but as long as we are shinobi we must be prepared to end the lives of those that risk the ones that threaten our villages." Kurotsuchi said coldly while Naruto gripped his hand into a fist.
"I get that but-"
"I'm glad that you two are keeping us in your thoughts."
Doctor Pa interrupted the potential argument between the two teens, "Miss Kurotsuchi, unfortunately due to the scan I've just done over your body. It looks like there is still residual damage from whatever attack hit you." The doctor spoke calmly while Kurotsuchi blinked at the man.
"Nothing life threatening thankfully but until you fully recover any harsh movements like combat could harm you further. I would recommend at least 2-3 days of rest."
Pa spoke while Kurotsuchi shook her head, "2-3 days? That's not right, I can't just stick around and do nothing. I have a mission to complete, is there a way to speed things up?" Kurotsuchi asked while the doctor shook his head.
"This is something we have to let your body settle on its own, your eardrums are still healing meaning your equilibrium will remain off until they've repaired themselves. An operation on that is too delicate for an old man like myself, my apologies."
Doctor Pa apologized while Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth, "I don't have time to-" the black-haired teen was cut off by money being passed to the doctor.
"2-3 days right? Do you guys have an inn here that we would stay at in the meantime?"
Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi gave the boy a flabbergasted expression, "I believe so… this is also too much for a simple checkup." Doctor Pa said while Naruto just grinned.
"It's fine, she's going to be OK after some rest right?"
Naruto asked while the Doctor meekly nodded his head, "Listen. I have to get back on track and complete this mission as soon as possible." Kurotsuchi tried to argue while Naruto gave her a look.
"You have to rest, tearing yourself apart for the sake of a mission won't do anything for you."
Naruto spoke in a serious tone causing the girl to huff, the blonde was waiting for her to fight back but surprisingly she didn't. "Thanks again Doctor Pa, we'll see you again in a few days for another check up for that green light!" Naruto spoke cheerfully while Kurotsuchi groaned again, the older man smiled at the pair of teens.
"Of course. Rest well."
The doctor said while Naruto nodded before Kurotsuchi bowed her head slightly.
"I'm sorry…"
The girl said while the doctor gave her a look before he smiled, "I understand what it's like to have something so important that you would risk everything for it. But you have to remember to take care of yourself too." The doctor said while Kurotsuchi nodded.
The pair of teens bid the older man farewell before they made their way to the nearest inn based on his directions. Naruto looked over at the girl who was attempting to hide the effects of the attack, she was quiet.
Her expression looked pretty sad too. The blonde felt bad because he could understand what she was probably thinking, that she was some kind of failure of screwing up. However, she also had her own pride so even if he wanted to say something nice she would probably shoot him down.
The pair made it to the inn before getting their room, they both began to unpack Kurotsuchi more reluctantly than Naruto.
Her pink eyes focused on the boy's back while he took out his sleeping items from his bag.
"Why?"
The black-haired girl asked while Naruto turned around, "Huh? Why what?" Naruto asked while the girl looked toward the floor.
"You called me your friend back there… you don't know me and I don't know you. How does that make us friends?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto tapped a finger on his chin, "You seem like a pretty good person. I like good people, so I hope we could at least be friends. You're a friend to me." Naruto said while he continued unpacking.
The boy heard the sound of a sword unsheathing before he fully turned around, Kurotsuchi had her back leaned against the wall while her blade was pointed toward Naruto.
"How am I supposed to trust you? Some perfect stranger who hails from no village. I'm dangerous just as much as you are, one little slip and I could kill you in a moment."
Kurotsuchi threatened while Naruto gave the girl a look before he looked at her sword, "You… you are so dark." Naruto laughed while the black-haired teen glared.
"What's so funny? I'm being serious, we are both ninja. If the day we fight isn't today it could be tomorrow."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto sighed, "I never really thought about it like that… I always really wanted to become a ninja for the recognition honestly." Naruto spoke while he looked into the girl's eyes.
"I think if I wasn't a ninja then I would probably be… a fisherman? No, a farmer. Eh? Maybe a florist or something like Ino."
Naruto rubbed his chin while Kurotsuchi kept a narrowed eye at him, "Why does that matter?" The black-haired teen asked while the blonde shrugged.
"I guess it doesn't honestly. I'm a ninja now so that's done with, I think what does matter is why someone decides to become a ninja."
Naruto said while the pink eyed girl looked to the side, "Right, this is the part where you lecture me about being a ruthless killer and how I should find a better purpose as a ninja. Let me tell you, my path was decided a long time ago and I embraced that. I became a ninja knowing the consequences and the things I would have to do." Kurotsuchi explained while Naruto just watched her.
"No matter how many enemies I have to kill in order to make sure my people still have a home to go back to. I'll do it in a heartbeat, if that makes me wrong then… I guess I'm just wrong then."
Kurotsuchi slowly lowered her sword while Naruto sighed, "There's nothing wrong with that." The blonde spoke while the black-haired girl glared wavered a bit.
"You really love your home huh? Yeah, me too. It's tough being so far away from it and everyone you care about. I get it."
Naruto answered soberly while Kurotsuchi completely dropped her sword, keeping her eyes on the blonde.
"I want to be a ninja now because I want to help people, you want to be a ninja to protect your loved ones. While you are way more violent than me with that, that's still your ninja way right? It's a damn good one if you ask me."
Naruto answered with a grin while Kurotsuchi gave the boy a surprised expression, "You… you really are some porn reading idiot aren't you?" The black-haired girl said while Naruto huffed.
"It's not porn! Sure it's a little pervy here or there but it's seriously a good story! My old sensei used to read this…"
Naruto trailed off while he picked up his book, "I kinda missed home so I decided whenever I saw a copy at another village I would pick it up and try it out. Yeah, it has its dumb moments and pervy ones but it's got heart." The teen spoke while gently holding the book.
"...Why don't you have a home anymore Naruto?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto looked back up toward the girl slowly, the expression on his face made her want to eat her words.
Instead it morphed into a sad smile.
"'Cause I'm a screw up too."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi's own expression fell a bit, "The good news is, now I'm able to help as many people as I want. That includes you now too." The boy said before he pointed a thumb to himself.
"You are looking at the sole proprietor of Naruto's wandering ninja help service!"
Naruto exclaimed while Kurotsuchi gave him a look, "My mission after we leave this village is to get you back to your home." The boy said while Kurotsuchi blinked.
"Why? That has nothing to do with you, I can make it back on my own."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto nodded, "This world is a massive place, I'm learning that everyday I'm out here. You'll need someone to have your back in case anything happens." Kurotsuchi sighed at the response.
"It's a dangerous place no matter how many people are together, it would make no difference if I was alone."
"Being alone is lonely isn't it?"
Naruto quickly replied to the girl whose next words stuck in her throat at the boy's sudden response.
Lonely?
She never thought about being lonely.
She was a ninja, a Tokubetsu Jonin, with multiple missions under belt that she's completed. Then again, she didn't accomplish every single one of those missions alone.
Even when she did missions by herself she still had her home and her friends to look forward to seeing.
Was that really what she was feeling?
Alone?
Her pink eyes looked at the blue ones of the bright boy sitting across from her.
"You've been alone for a really long time haven't you?"
Kurotsuchi suddenly asked this time not caring about holding her tongue to herself, genuinely for a moment wanting to know the boy.
"Yeah… I'm used to it. That's why you won't have to be."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi felt herself relax again, in all honesty she's been tired for a while but the adrenaline and the nerves had been keeping her going.
This guy had so easily helped melt away a lot of that stress.
"...Fine."
Kurotsuchi agreed while Naruto grinned widely, "Alright! Mission: Bring Kurotsuchi home is a go!" Naruto cheered while the girl watched the boy energetically jump into the air.
This guy was mysterious, but he wasn't an awful person.
Maybe just for a little while.
She could trust him a bit.
{...}
The pair made their way to a tavern where Naruto had decided they would get dinner before calling it a night. Kurotsuchi reluctantly agreed, still a little frustrated about her current condition.
They entered the establishment before quickly grabbing a table, Kurotsuchi lazily looked over the menu while Naruto read it eagerly.
"You look pretty excited for this to be your first time here."
Kurotsuchi said suspiciously while Naruto looked up toward the black-haired girl, "That's because lately I've been in a bunch of new lands with a lot of time. I get to try new food from all over the place, like the Land of Hot Spring's soup dumplings." The blonde practically drooled at the thought of them while Kurotsuchi huffed at the boy.
Naruto caught the near chuckle in her breath causing him to grin, "You got a preference for anything?" Naruto asked while the girl looked at the menu seriously.
"They have pretty decent looking rice bowls here, though I should probably just grab an Onigiri."
Kurotsuchi pondered while Naruto slapped his menu down, "Right! Rice bowls it is, I wonder if they have any Tonkatsu?" Naruto excitedly shot his hand up while the teen girl sighed.
Shortly afterward the pair were introduced to their prospective meals, Kurotsuchi had the Beef Bowl meanwhile Naruto lucked out and got his Tonkatsu.
"Thanks for the food!"
Naruto exclaimed before he clapped his hands together, Kurotsuchi gave the boy a small glare for being loud, while she looked around the rest of the tavern. Oddly enough instead of glares the rest of the customers surrounding them had intrigued and excited looks on their faces while whispering to one another.
"Huh."
Kurotsuchi voiced outlook while Naruto happily munched away at his food, "Holy crap, this is amazing!" The blonde continued to wolf his food down while Kurotsuchi started eating her food as well.
"Hey, that Jutsu that you used back there. Where did you learn something like that?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto chewed his food before he swallowed, "Which one? I used a few back there." Naruto answered while Kurotsuchi drew a line on the table.
"The one that made you move insanely fast, when you were blasting through the air and on the ground?"
The pink eyed girl asked while Naruto nodded his head, "Ohh, that's Gale Step." The blonde responded while stuffing another piece of fried pork in his mouth.
"Gale Step? I never heard of that one. Is it some kind of Hiden?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto shrugged, "I wouldn't call it all that but I made it so I guess you could say it's an original?" The blonde stated nonchalantly while Kurotsuchi blinked.
"You… created a jutsu?"
The black-haired girl asked while Naruto nodded his head, "Yup, I wanted to call it Blast Step or Raging Wind but my teacher at the time said those were stupid. So I settled for her sake with Gale Step." Naruto said while Kurotsuchi tilted her head at the boy.
They were around the same age if not he was a little younger yet he had already created his own jutsu? Sure she developed her own spin on techniques and improved them but even she had yet to create a new jutsu.
This guy…
Was he some kind of prodigy or something?
"How long did it take you to master it?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto swallowed a bite of rice, "I still haven't fully mastered it honestly, but it took a solid 4 months just to use it. Another month was spent specifically on control so I can at least use it." The blonde explained while Kurotsuchi kept an eye on him.
What rank was he when he left his village? It wouldn't make a lot of sense for a ninja like him to be abandoned like this. He was an asset with tenacity and a scarily large chakra pool.
Why has he been alone all this time?
"What about you?"
Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow, "What about me?" The girl asked while Naruto pointed his chopsticks at her.
"You know like, What's your village like? Can you really use that sword? What was your team like?"
Naruto asked innocently while the word 'Team' hung in the air for the girl while the image of a young blonde man standing on the back of a large white hawk filled her vision.
And the smell of smoke filled her nose.
"I don't have a team."
The girl suddenly responded while Naruto looked down toward his rice bowl, she also must have had it really rough.
"What rank are you?"
Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow, "What? Trying to figure out how much a bounty for me would be?" The girl spoke while Naruto waved his hands.
"Huh? No of course not I was just- "
Naruto stopped the minute he saw the small smirk the girl had on her face while looking at him.
So she does have a sense of humor after all.
"I'm currently a Tokubetsu Jonin, which is basically a really high Chunin that has Jonin like skill in their specialty. My specialty being combat and covert intelligence."
The black-haired girl answered while Naruto nodded, "That means you're super strong right?" Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi shrugged.
"You could say."
The girl resisted the urge to cockily grin while Naruto rubbed his chin.
"There was this crazy snake lady in my old village who was one of those too, she's pretty tough but a giant weirdo."
Naruto explained while Kurotsuchi huffed, "Aren't you the weird one? Who takes a nap while reading porn in the middle of enemy infested woods?" The pink eyed teen countered before Naruto pointed his chopsticks at her.
"It's not porn! Also I have a legitimate excuse, I was tired because I just got back from-"
Naruto was cut by the doors to the tavern swinging open, there a tall brown-haired man with a Guy Fawkes style mustache entered the establishment quickly.
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
The man yelled while Kurotsuchi's head quickly turned toward the man at the front, Naruto meanwhile was halfway through chewing one of his last pieces of Tonkatsu.
"I seriously can't believe that it's really you!"
The man excitedly started to approach their table while Kurotsuchi discreetly pulled a kunai from her pouch. She suddenly felt a hand grab on to hers gently preventing her from pointing it toward the excited man.
"He doesn't look like bad news, besides no combat for you right now. Doctor's orders."
Naruto spoke quietly while Kurotsuchi's eyes flicked in between the blonde and the still approaching brown haired man. The girl huffed before her hand relaxed, "You trust people way too easily." Kurotsuchi complained while Naruto chuckled.
"He has a goofy mustache, what harm could he do?"
Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes at the bottom while the brown-haired man finally reached the table placing a hand on it.
"Welcome to Jasmine Village, I wish someone had told me you would've been here if that was the case, I would have had a welcome party for you."
The man spoke while Naruto tilted his head at the stranger, "Welcome party? Sorry, who are you again?" The blonde asked while the man blinked before he laughed.
"I can't believe I was so excited I forgot to introduce myself, I am Kagiri the current Village Head of Jasmine Village."
Kagiri introduced himself while Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow, "Leader of the village? I thought the Land of Rice was mostly filled with gangs of Yakuza." Kurotsuchi spoke while the brown-haired man sweat dropped at her harsh assessment.
"That's actually part of the reason why I wanted to thank Mr. Naruto, ever since he showed up at one of the outpost towns he's been cleaning up the gangs that have been tormenting the surrounding towns and villages."
Kagiri bragged while Naruto scratched the back of his head, "I wouldn't say all of that, no one deserves to be bullied by anyone. I'm here to help people, that's all." The flustered blonde said while Kurotsuchi's eyes softened looking at the boy.
He wasn't kidding about doing that, thinking about it Naruto could be the reason while the couple of weeks she was lost that the journey was smooth for the most part.
Her pink eyes still focused on the excited brown-haired man, there was still something about this guy that was off to her.
"Your contributions to the Land of Rice are recognized, I just never thought that you would cross through here as well. I'll tell you what once you finish your meal, how does a proper tour of the village sound?"
Kagiri offered while Naruto looked toward Kurotsuchi who was giving him her usual cautious look.
"Sure, that sounds fun. We needed to find a map guy anyway."
Naruto accepted while the black-haired teen sighed, Kagiri rubbed his hands together with a large smile on his face.
"Great! I'll return shortly!"
The excited man exclaimed before he walked toward the back of the tavern, Kurotsuchi gave Naruto's foot a nudge getting his attention.
"Huh?"
Naruto spoked while Kurotsuchi looked toward the back, "Is it just me or does he seem really sketchy?" Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto shrugged his shoulders.
"It's good to be cautious and all but we don't have any proof of anything crazy so let's just take it slowly."
The blonde smiled while the black-haired teen looked around watching the villagers whispering excitedly about the blonde teen.
"If you let this go to your head and it gets us captured or killed, I'll kill you."
The pink eyed girl threatened while Naruto grinned in response, as promised Kagiri returned to their side and proceeded to give them a tour around the village.
Though the village was smaller than the usual hidden one it still wasn't without its own charms and beauty.
There were multiple shops that sold different wares, Kurotsuchi wasn't really interested but surprisingly to her Naruto was. Even the small things like fishing ware and farming tools, even a little flower shop they passed where Naruto lingered for a few moments. As a ninja Kurotsuchi never really allowed herself time to have hobbies, it was mostly just training and missions.
However, the blonde guy who was a Shinobi just like her was getting excited over what she would call basic unimportant stuff.
It made her curious about the type of life Naruto had lived before this one.
How did he live before he met her?
"Next we'll be passing through the plaza to the cartographer, it looks like you'll be moving soon huh?"
Kagiri asked while Naruto nodded his head, "Yup, I got another important mission I've got to take care of. I may be back to cross through in case my journey takes me here again." Naruto answered while Kurotsuchi looked toward the smiling blonde.
He was serious about that.
"That's fine, that means next time around we'll get a do over on that welcome party."
Kagiri said while Naruto shook his head, "I mean a welcome party sounds awesome but I seriously don't need one." The blonde spoke while Kagiri patted the younger boy on the back.
"Nonsense! Naruto… your efforts have protected the place I call home. I've always understood that certain sacrifices have to be made for the sake of the greater good. You place your life on the line everyday just to make the lives of these people better."
Kagiri waved his arm showing off the multiple villagers carrying on with their daily lives seemingly undisturbed.
Naruto looked around at the kids playing and adults working hard together on their daily tasks, a smile slowly grew on his face.
"You earned it."
Kagiri said while Naruto paused at the words, Kurotsuchi noticed the boy's hand clenching into a fist as he took a breath.
He looked grateful.
Naruto…
"Now then, let's get you to the cartographer. I'm sure you'll be on the move once your friend here recovers."
Kagiri said while Naruto nodded his head, "Right." The boy said before he turned to follow the man while Kurotsuchi did the same.
The sound of a multiple feet landing suddenly caught the attention of the trio, Kurotsuchi glared at the target of her vision. Three Sound ninja stood in the middle of the plaza, Naruto went to react to them but stopped when he noticed it.
There was a bloodied child in the arms of one of them.
"We'll be back."
One of the ninja said before they disappeared in a puff of smoke, "Hey wait!" Naruto yelled while the child dropped to the ground roughly.
"I'm going to grab the kid, Mr. Kagiri could you call Dr. P-"
Naruto's words stopped in his throat when he saw the look on the face of the normally jovial brown-haired man. In his eyes, Naruto could only see an expression he had become accustomed to.
Disgust.
"Hey…"
Naruto said while he slowly stepped forward, his eyes darting around at the villagers and the children. They all stood in the same spot, their eyes glaring at the kid. Each one of the people in the village place had the same look.
Disgust.
"H-hey, that kid… he's hurt. Why are you all just standing here? Why are you just looking at him?"
Naruto's voice trembled while the villagers said nothing. The sound of silence filled the air, Kurotsuchi turned toward the brown-haired man.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto continued looking around, "This place is my home… to protect it certain sacrifices have to be made for the sake of our peace." Kagiri spoke while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened.
"That… thing. Is the cost of that peace. Why should we do anything with it that might ruin that?"
Kagiri spoked while Kurotsuchi felt a heat move through her body, she was disgusted, she was angry. "You bas-" Kurotsuchi was cut off by wind blowing past both her and Kagiri, Naruto was no longer in the spot in front of them.
Instead he was already picking the wounded boy off of the ground.
Kurotsuchi could feel her skin crawl from the feeling that was coming from the boy, the glare on his face was one she didn't think someone like him was capable of.
If looks could kill, Naruto would have been a mass murderer.
Wordlessly Naruto looked at the white-haired boy with a gentle look, he started walking toward Dr. Pa's office. The crowd slowly stepped away from the blonde holding the boy, trying to make as much distance between him and them as possible.
"He's holding that monster."
A person spoke while Naruto kept walking forward with the kid in his arms.
Kurotsuchi glared before she followed Naruto to Dr. Pa, the entire time she tried not to look at the boy's face.
Or the tears that quietly fell from it.
{...}
"He's currently stabilized."
Dr. Pa spoke while he washed his hands from the blood on them, Kurotsuchi nodded at the man before she looked toward Naruto.
The blonde was sitting beside the bed just watching the slowly breathing boy.
"Does this happen often?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Dr. Pa sighed, "Unfortunately, this child is usually returned at the front of the village with all sorts of injuries… and I always take care of them." The doctor spoke while Kurotsuchi nodded.
"Why?"
Naruto asked, speaking for the first time in hours, "He's well…" the doctor tried to speak before Naruto stood up from his seat.
"Why are they treating him like he's some kind of monster?"
Naruto spoke with a growl in his voice while Kurotsuchi stepped forward placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder.
"Naruto."
The black-haired teen spoke sternly yet gently while Dr. Pa looked down toward the ground before sighing.
"This boy has a special ability… one that's extremely valuable to the Hidden Sound. This boy has chakra that has the ability to heal the wounds of others."
Dr. Pa spoke while Naruto and Kurotsuchi's eyes both widened, "What? How is that possible?" Kurotsuchi asked while the doctor shook his head.
"Honestly we don't know for certain, I have a personal theory that it had something to do with his mother."
The doctor spoke while Naruto tilted his head. "His mother?" Naruto asked while the doctor nodded.
"She was once one of my patients, one day she suddenly appeared in this village tattered and pregnant. She never spoke much about her past but I'm sure horrible things were done to her."
"She gave birth to the boy and intended on raising him here where he could be safe. Unfortunately, the Hidden Sound showed up, they terrorized the village until she agreed to go with them."
"They would take her and bring her back every 3 days and it kept the peace in the village until the boy turned 4 years old."
Dr. Pa explained before he ran a hand through his hair, his fist then clenched slightly to his side.
"...Then she stopped coming back, she had a similar ability to the boy but his is far more potent."
"So to protect this village, the villagers agreed to have the boy take her place. In return the last medical ninja being myself would be able to stay here."
The older man looked slightly distraught while telling his theory while Naruto looked toward the resting boy.
"That's awful."
Kurotsuchi growled while her hand made its way to her pouch, "We don't have time to wait to wipe them all out." The black-haired teen spoke while Naruto gave her a look.
"Kurotsuchi. They'll get what's coming to them, I'll make sure of that. What's messed up is how this village treats him despite his sacrifice, he's just a kid."
Naruto spoke with a slightly trembling voice, Kurotsuchi looked at the blonde before she relaxed her hand.
"I wish it didn't have to be this way, these people are scared, and this boy is their only asylum."
The doctor spoke while Naruto looked toward the boy, "I'm taking him home, where does he live?" Naruto asked while Dr. Pa nodded.
"He lives on the outskirts of the village."
The doctor spoke quickly while Naruto nodded before he gently lifted the resting boy from the table. "Dr. Pa." Naruto spoke while the older man looked toward the blonde teen.
"Thank you."
Naruto turned walking away with the boy in his arms while Kurotsuchi looked toward the doctor giving him a slight bow before she followed. The walk there was quiet, way quieter than usual her pink eyes couldn't stay off of the blonde's even facial expression.
This guy was unlike anyone she had ever met before, in just a day she's seen so much of him his hopeful side, his cheerful side, his funny side, and now this darker side.
The way he spoke made him seem like some naive fool who had whimsical views on how the world worked. Looking closer, he's seen his fair share of horrors as well. The pair eventually made it to an old house; it was more accurate to call it a big shed. It was decrepit and uncared for, Naruto sighed.
"I expected this."
Naruto then walked toward the building while Kurotsuchi looked at its state before she followed suit. The inside of the house was a bed of hay and a few other assorted trinkets, there was also a wall with scratched on in each one higher than the other as if the boy was measuring his height.
Naruto slowly laid the boy on the hay while Kurotsuchi touched the wall.
"Let's let him get some rest."
The black-haired teen said before she looked at the boy's sleeping face, she turned to leave but Naruto stood in the same spot.
"I can't just leave him alone."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi turned around, "As far as the villagers are concerned, they don't want to deal with him and the Sound ninja will be returning in 3 days. I'll have to recover as quickly as possible to execute them, he'll be safe here." The girl tried to reassure the blonde.
Naruto quickly took off his gi top revealing the black t-shirt he had on underneath it, he also removed his mail shirt before he sat down on the hay.
"You have the keys, right? You can head back to our lodging and get some rest. I'll come and find you in the morning."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi blinked at him, "Naruto, he's safe. You brought him home and he'll get to sleep. You don't have to stand guard of him even here." The black-haired teen explained while Naruto looked at the boy.
"Like I said… I can't just leave him alone."
Naruto spoke while he laid back on the hay next to the boy, Kurotsuchi looked at the blonde for a few more moments before she huffed. Naruto heard another form hit the hay before he looked over at the other side of the boy spotting Kurotsuchi.
"He's probably cold in this thing."
Kurotsuchi spoke before she got comfortable, Naruto watched the girl before a small smile appeared on his face. "I'm sorry for losing my temper." Naruto apologized while Kurotsuchi looked at him from the other side of the sleeping boy.
"I lost mine too, nothing to apologize for…There's something about this kid that means a lot to you isn't there?"
Kurotsuchi genuinely asked while Naruto nodded his head before he looked at the resting boy.
"Yeah."
The blonde responded simply while the black-haired teen watched him keeping his gaze on the boy..
"You're such a weird guy."
Kurotsuchi said before she laid back down on the hay while Naruto chuckled before he laid down as well.
"Yeah, I guess I am."
Naruto responded before the small home went silent, the two teens and the boy slowly fell asleep under the moonlight that peeked into the room. A rare peaceful expression grew on Kurotsuchi's face.
One she hadn't experienced in weeks.
