The southern edge of the Land of Fire traded in dense forests and large cities for shorelines and small villages, rich in the scent of salty air from the nearby ocean. Naruto ran with a silent sense of urgency, the sun dipping below the horizon as he finally reached the small oceanside village. The small oceanside village lacked any distinguishing features to set it apart from any other village in the area, and was hopefully unaware of the situation in the wider ninja world. If Naruto wanted to find information and supplies for his escape from the Land of Fire, this seemed like the best place to start.
The salty air filled Naruto's lungs as he slowed his pace, the shoreline coming into view with its calming rhythm of crashing waves. This small oceanside village seemed a world away from the turmoil he had left behind in Konoha. Its nondescript appearance gave him hope that he could blend in, if only for a little while. Using the transformation jutsu, he took on the form of Yamada; while Naruto couldn't summon the man anymore since his escape from the nation's capital, he could at least take on the man's form.
Naruto, now in the guise of the former mercenary, entered the small village. There didn't seem to be any signs to denote the names of the village or streets, but Naruto took some comfort in the villagers' nonchalance towards his presence there. After the earlier pursuit by Konoha, Naruto had been feeling pressured the entire journey to the village, afraid that at any moment he would be forced into a fight against Konoha that he couldn't win.
Naruto found what he was looking for near the center of the village: a modest inn with a lively tavern on the ground floor. It was the sort of place travelers and locals alike would gather, share meals, and trade stories. Perfect for picking up information without drawing too much attention to himself. He entered the tavern, nodding briefly to some of the patrons who looked at him when he entered, and sighed in relief when they went back to paying attention to their tablemates.
Picking a seat in the corner, he put his back to the wall and tried to relax; wouldn't do if he was noticed being on edge.
A barmaid approached his table, clothes ragged from years of work. "Get ya anything, dear?" She asked him, a notepad in hand.
Forcing back the desire to order ramen, Naruto looked over the small menu on the table. "I'll do the fish special, blackened. And water to drink." He ordered, handing the barmaid some ryo he had luckily managed to take with him during his escape. The barmaid nodded, going back to put his order in with the kitchen staff.
As Naruto waited for his meal, he took the opportunity to scan the tavern more closely, noting the diversity of its patrons. Fishermen, with their sun-beaten faces and calloused hands, spoke loudly over mugs of ale about their day's catch. Merchants, weary from travel, discussed routes and trades. There were even a few faces that seemed to belong to wanderers or ronin, individuals who didn't fit neatly into any category but shared the same tired eyes that Naruto felt mirrored his own.
The blend of conversations created a tapestry of noise that was oddly comforting. It reminded him of the bustling streets of Konoha, yet here he was an unknown, just another face in the crowd. Part of him disliked that it was still Yamada's face he was wearing, wishing he could find a place where he could walk around with his own whiskered cheeks without fearing Konoha pursuing him.
The barmaid returned with his meal, setting down a plate of blackened fish that smelled enticingly of spices and char. "Here you go, dear. Let me know if you need anything else," she said with a smile that seemed genuine despite the long hours her job undoubtedly demanded.
"Thanks, it looks great!" Naruto replied, his stomach growling in anticipation. He began to eat, the flavors a welcome change from the simple and often cold meals he'd been subsisting on during his flight. As he ate, he kept his ears open, letting the fragments of conversation wash over him in hopes of catching something useful.
As luck would have it, some men at a nearby table, slightly inebriated from their evening's indulgences, began to converse in what they must have thought was a whisper. However, their version of hushed tones was anything but, allowing Naruto to overhear every word with minimal effort. He subtly repositioned himself, leaning back casually to catch the unfolding dialogue better without drawing suspicion.
"Yeah, I'm hearing it's a complete mess down in Wave," one of the men remarked, his words slurred just slightly as he flagged down the barmaid for another round of beer. "Ol' Kohaku, you know, the trader who's always bragging about his deals on fabrics out of Iwa? He just got back from Wave and was ranting about thugs at every turn. Said he had to cough up so much in tolls that his whole venture ended up in the red."
"That's absurd! And the Wave Daimyo, what's he doing about this mess?" questioned another at the table, his brow furrowed in concern and disbelief.
The first speaker cast a wary glance around the room, ensuring their conversation remained private. Naruto seized this moment to appear engrossed in his meal, a well-prepared grouper seasoned with an array of spices that he was honestly finding himself enjoying. The cautious man, seemingly convinced they were not being eavesdropped upon, leaned in closer to his companions and lowered his voice even further. "Here's the kicker – it seems the Daimyo's turned a blind eye to the whole situation. These aren't your run-of-the-mill highwaymen; they're on Gato Corporation's payroll."
A collective gasp went around the table, the name 'Gato Corporation' evidently striking a chord. "The Gato Corporation?!" one echoed in disbelief, his voice a mixture of fear and fascination. "I've heard some messed up stories about them, but I always figured they were just rumors..."
The informant shook his head gravely, his expression grim. "No, it's all real, at least if what's coming out of Wave is anything to go by," he confided. "Staying clear of Wave might be the best move for now. We might feel the pinch from lost trade opportunities, but at least we'll be alive to complain about it."
Naruto's heart raced as he absorbed the information. He had never heard about the Gato Corporation before, but it was clear that whoever they were, they were making the Land of Waves practically a no-go zone. Maybe it would be a good place to hide from Konoha? On one hand, the presence of Gato Corporation meant increased danger; on the other, it meant that the people of the Land of Waves were in desperate need of help—help that he could potentially offer.
The conversation at the nearby table continued, but it had already shifted away from the troubles in the Land of Waves, moving on to local gossip. Naruto, however, remained deep in thought. He knew that taking on the Gato Corporation would be no small feat. He knew nothing about them, but if they were able to make even a Daimyo look the other way to their crimes didn't that mean they were really strong? And yet, wasn't it such challenges he had always dreamed of facing, back when he aspired to be recognized as a hero in Konoha?
Finishing his meal, Naruto realized his path was becoming clearer with every passing moment. The Land of Waves didn't just represent a hiding spot away from Konoha's reach; it was a chance to stand for something, to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. It would be dangerous, possibly the most perilous venture he'd undertaken yet, but wasn't that what being a ninja was about? Taking risks to make a difference?
Leaving behind a tip for the barmaid, Naruto made his way past the tables of other patrons and headed towards the exit, already slipping out of the thoughts of anyone who saw him. Stepping out into the cool air, Naruto felt a resolve steeling within him. The Land of Waves was his next destination, not just as a refuge, but as a place where he could finally make something of himself. He had chosen the Edo Tensei because it would make him the strongest ninja; but what was the point of being the strongest if you didn't use that strength?
As he made his way out of the village, under the cover of darkness, Naruto knew that the road ahead would test him in ways he couldn't yet foresee. But for the first time in what felt like forever, he was moving forward with a purpose that felt right. The Land of Waves awaited, and with it, a new chapter in his journey—one that might not redeem him in the eyes of Konoha, but could offer him the chance to become the ninja he knew he could be.
AN: Short chapter, I know, but I just wanted to get something out there. Been focusing a lot more on my Sekirei fic but didn't want this one to get neglected. I promise more stuff will happen next chapter.
Also is anyone else not getting any email notifications from Fanfiction? Got a couple reviews, private messages, and followed fics update without a single email and I already opted in to notifications twice now to make sure it stuck.