DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (IF I STEP ON A BUG IN THE PAST, MAYBE I'D OWN IT)
Ch.60 - Mourning Waters
- Near the Border of Kawa no Kuni -
(Morning)
As Team 10 trekked toward Kawa no Kuni (Land of Rivers), the sun beat down warmly, casting dappled shadows through the leafy canopy above. A gentle breeze stirred the air, carrying the sweet scent of foliage and earth.
To their left, a sparkling river meandered through the countryside, its waters glinting in the sunlight like liquid diamonds. In the distance, verdant hills rolled into the horizon, cloaked in a lush carpet of greenery.
Despite the anticipation of their mission, the serene beauty of the borderlands of Kawa no Kuni (Land of Rivers) provided Team 10 with a tranquil escape, allowing them to momentarily forget their duties and simply bask in the peaceful atmosphere.
As Team 10 approached the border of Kawa no Kuni (Land of Rivers), they were met with a line of armed guards. These guards, adorned in the typical attire of samurai, stood as vigilant sentinels at the country's edge. Asuma noticed the distinctive insignia adorning the sode (shoulder armor) of the armed guards. It was unmistakably the emblem of Hi no Kuni's (Land of Fire) capital, Shikigahara.
"Halt... State your name and business here," one of the guards commanded as Team 10 approached the border of Kawa no Kuni (Land of Rivers). Asuma stepped forward, his expression composed as he answered the guard's inquiry.
"I'm Sarutobi Asuma, and these are my students. We're Konoha (Hidden Leaf) shinobi, sent here to deliver some packages," Asuma replied, his voice steady as the guard observed them with a discerning eye.
"I'm guessing this is a mission then, yeah?... Mind if you show me some paperwork to back it up?..." the guard asked, his tone businesslike. Asuma reached for his pouch and retrieved the mission scroll given to him by the Hokage (fire shadow). Handing it over, he watched as the guard unfurled the scroll and scanned its contents before rolling it back up and returning it to him.
"This package you guys are delivering, we need to open it up for a sec," the guard declared, prompting Asuma to look towards Naruto. Without hesitation, Naruto retrieved a scroll from his pouch and placed it on the ground. With practiced precision, he performed the necessary hand seals and invoked the Kaifu no Jutsu (Unsealing Technique), causing a puff of smoke to reveal two crates.
The guards wasted no time in prying open the crates, revealing their contents—red chili peppers. The guards then proceeded to remove the lids of both crates, revealing that they were filled to the brim with red chili peppers. Without hesitation, they began to pour out the contents onto the ground, causing Ino and Naruto to gasp in shock.
"Hey!" Ino protested, her voice filled with indignation.
"What the-" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Just making sure nothing's hidden underneath the peppers," one of the guards explained bluntly, earning a glare from both blondes.
After a thorough inspection, the guards confirmed that all was in order. "All set, the four of you are good to go," the guard announced, before turning his attention to another traveler seeking entry into Kawa no Kuni.
Ino couldn't help but protest, "Hey! Aren't you going to help clean this up?..."
"I'm kinda busy here, besides it's your cargo," the guard retorted, before refocusing on his duties.
"Unbelievable..." Ino muttered under her breath, her frustration palpable.
"Yeah, what a bunch of jerks..." Naruto remarked, echoing her sentiment with a shake of his head.
Asuma sighed, a hint of frustration evident in his voice, as he urged his students to let the incident slide and take care of the spilled peppers themselves since the guards showed no intention of helping. It took a few minutes of laborious effort before Team 10 was able to finally leave the checkpoint behind.
Once they were far enough away and out of earshot, both blondes began to vent their annoyance and frustration.
"What the hell's their problem, Asuma-sensei?!" Ino exclaimed, her irritation palpable.
"I know, right?! Those guys are jerks," Naruto chimed in, echoing Ino's sentiments with a scowl.
Asuma, ever the voice of reason, offered a calming perspective. "They're just doing their jobs," he explained.
"Their job is to piss people off?..." Naruto retorted sarcastically; his frustration evident in his tone.
Asuma raised a hand. "Okay, fine. They didn't have to do that, but it's better to keep our heads down and let it slide. We don't want to have any problems with border patrol now, do we?..." he reasoned.
Reluctantly, Ino and Naruto nodded in agreement, though their annoyance still simmered beneath the surface.
"But how come they still needed to know who you are, Asuma-sensei?... Don't they know you worked for the Daimyo?..." Naruto questioned; his brow furrowed in confusion.
Asuma offered a shrug in response. "I'm pretty sure they know who I am, I just think they don't care. Protocol is protocol, Naruto. Besides, I don't work for the man anymore, another reason why they shouldn't care," he explained, hoping to quell any lingering resentment.
"I still don't get why our client hired shinobi just to deliver peppers," Naruto remarked, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.
"It's not our job to wonder why our client did something. Our job is to simply do it. That way, you don't have to waste time fussing over things that don't matter," Asuma explained, his tone firm yet understanding.
"I guess that makes sense, but what's so special about these peppers anyway?..." Naruto wondered aloud; his curiosity piqued.
"I have no idea. Why don't you ask our client yourself? We're almost there anyway," Asuma suggested, gesturing towards the top of the hill in the distance where their client awaited them.
- Moments Later -
After what felt like hours of walking, they finally reached their destination—a quaint shop nestled amidst the countryside. A wooden windmill stood tall beside the shop, its weathered blades turning lazily in the gentle breeze.
Above the shop's entrance, a sign hung, its letters weathered and faded yet still legible: "Inochi no Kare Ya" (Curry of Life Shop).
The team pushed open the creaky wooden door, causing the bell attached above it to jingle softly, its cheerful chime echoing through the cozy interior of the shop. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the comforting aroma of spices and simmering curry.
The interior of the shop was warm and inviting, with shelves lined with jars of colorful spices and ingredients. A large pot bubbled away on a stove in the corner, filling the air with the tantalizing scent of curry. Wooden tables and chairs were scattered throughout the room, each adorned with vibrant tablecloths and flickering candles.
At the sound of the bell, the shopkeeper emerged from the back room, wiping her frail hands on her apron with a warm smile. Her eyes twinkled with kindness as she greeted her visitors. "Welcome to the Curry of Life Shop! What can I do for you today?" an old lady with glasses said.
"You must be our client, Ono-san. I'm Sarutobi Asuma, and these are my students," Asuma introduced, gesturing towards his team. He then looked at his students, prompting them to introduce themselves.
"Aburame Shino, pleasure to make your acquaintance," Shino said calmly, offering a polite nod.
"I'm Yamanaka Ino, it's nice to meet you, Ono-san," Ino chimed in with a warm smile.
"The name's Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto exclaimed energetically, flashing a wide grin.
"My, my... What a lively bunch you are indeed," the old lady remarked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"But just call me Grandma Sansho, I find Ono-san a bit much," Grandma Sansho chuckled, her laughter filling the air.
"I see... In any case, we're Konoha (Hidden Leaf) shinobi and we've come to deliver some cargo here," Asuma explained as he turned his attention towards Naruto. Naruto mirrored his sensei's actions, unsealing the crates they had brought along the way. Grandma Sansho approached the crates and inspected the contents with a smile of approval.
"Excellent, these certainly are the peppers I need! Thank you so much!" Grandma Sansho exclaimed gratefully.
"Don't worry about it, we're just doing our job," Asuma replied with a nod.
"Sansho-obasan, I got a question if you don't mind..." Naruto spoke up, curiosity evident in his tone.
"I don't mind at all! Ask away!" Grandma Sansho encouraged.
"I've been wondering, what's so special about these peppers anyway?..." Naruto inquired; his interest piqued.
"Ohhh, I see... Well, these aren't just ordinary peppers... These are called kaji togarashi (fire chili pepper), native to Hi no Kuni (Land of Fire) and only grow during certain months. Even just adding a tiny bit of these will make any dish have some kick!" Grandma Sansho explained happily, sharing her knowledge with enthusiasm. Naruto nodded in understanding, absorbing the information eagerly.
"I must say, you shinobi-folk do work fast! Since all of you came all the way from Konoha, the four of you must be hungry then? Don't worry, it's on the house!" Grandma Sansho offered graciously, her hospitality shining through.
"Are you sure we wouldn't be imposing, On- Sansho-obasan?" Asuma corrected himself with a respectful nod.
"Nonsense! So! What can I get the four of you started with today?..." Grandma Sansho asked with a smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth and anticipation.
The four of them then walked towards the counter, where a sign hanging from the ceiling listed all the dishes they served. Unsurprisingly, all the dishes were curry-based. They couldn't help but chuckle at the thought that even the glass of water might be infused with curry spices, though they hoped otherwise.
The variety of curry-based dishes was diverse and somewhat overwhelming, especially since none of them were particularly well-versed in curry. Asuma and his students deliberated on what they wanted to order, exchanging hesitant glances as they tried to make a decision.
After a while of deliberating, Shino simply opted to order one serving of curry yakisoba, declining Grandma Sansho's offer to add a bit of a kick. This left Ino and Naruto undecided, both blondes looking to each other for guidance on what to order.
"What're you gonna get, Ino?..." Naruto asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm still deciding, be quiet," Ino replied tersely, her patience wearing thin.
"You think the curry ramen tastes like miso char siu?..." Naruto pondered aloud.
"I don't know..." Ino sighed, her frustration evident.
"Or maybe I should order the curry katsu, what do you think?..." Naruto continued, earning another sigh from Ino.
"For the last time, Naruto... I don't know much about curry. Just try one out and see for yourself," Ino replied, her tone exasperated. Naruto shrugged and turned to Asuma, who was still contemplating his order.
"Ne, Asuma-sensei... What're you gonna get?..." Naruto asked, curious.
"Probably the curry donburi or something," Asuma replied, pointing it out on the menu. Naruto noticed something else beneath it—Inochi no Kare (Curry of Life). It was the same name as the shop itself, piquing Naruto's curiosity.
"Sansho-obasan, what does the 'curry of life' taste like?..." Naruto inquired.
"Oh! That's our specialty, that's why we named our shop after it! Though be warned, we use AT LEAST 10 kaji togarashis (fire chili peppers) in each batch. So, expect it to have some kick to it," Grandma Sansho explained with a chuckle.
"Hmmm... I've decided, I'll have one please!" Naruto declared with a grin, excitement bubbling within him.
"Great! What about the two of you?" Grandma Sansho turned to Ino and Asuma, awaiting their orders.
"Get the 'curry of life' as well, Asuma-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed eagerly.
"I'm not really a big fan of spicy food, Naruto..." Asuma replied with a hint of hesitation.
"Oh, come on... It can't be THAT spicy..." Naruto retorted, his excitement undeterred, but Asuma remained silent.
"I'll tell you what, Asuma-sensei... Let's both order it, and whoever eats the least is the loser..." Naruto proposed, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"You're making a bet?..." Asuma asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
"Yeah! So?... Are you in or what?..." Naruto pressed on eagerly.
"Okay... If you win, I'll let you buy as much ramen as you want once we finish this mission. But if I win, you'll have to run errands for me for a week..." Asuma proposed, a hint of challenge in his tone.
"Deal!" Naruto agreed confidently, his competitive spirit ignited.
"You seem confident, huh?..." Asuma remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"I'm no slouch when it comes to spicy food, Asuma-sensei! I eat lots of spicy ramen at home, so this is nothing, dattebayo!" Naruto declared proudly, his grin widening.
"So, one order of curry yakisoba, one order of curry udon, and two orders of the 'curry of life'. Anything else?..." Grandma Sansho asked, jotting down their orders.
"Some water as well, please," Ino requested politely.
"Got it. Make yourselves feel at home. I'll get those started for you; it'll only take a couple of minutes," Grandma Sansho assured them, her warm smile filling the room with comfort.
- Moments Later -
"Order up!" a young man announced as he emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray laden with steaming dishes. With practiced ease, he placed each dish on their table, arranging them neatly. Then, he fetched four glasses and began to fill them with cold water.
"By the way, I'm Kasai and I'll be your server today. Oh, and sorry for the holdup. It's just me and okasan today..." Kasai introduced himself, his voice friendly.
"Don't worry about it. I hope everything's alright, though..." Asuma replied, concern evident in his tone.
"Things are fine for the most part. Okasan wanted me to be the one who brings over your food. She thought I might as well introduce myself since you guys will be helping me out with some stuff. But for now, enjoy your food," Kasai explained with a smile as he left the table, leaving a sense of warmth in his wake.
Shino and Ino seemed pleased with their food, but Asuma and Naruto appeared hesitant to dig in.
Shino and Ino's dishes looked appealing and quite scrumptious, their vibrant colors and aromatic scents tantalizing the senses. The curry yakisoba boasted a colorful array of vegetables and tender noodles, while the curry udon shimmered with savory broth and plump noodles.
However, Asuma and Naruto's dishes presented a stark contrast. For something named "curry of life," it sure reeked of death and looked like one bite of it would send someone straight to the afterlife. The "curry of life" resembled a pool of black goop or tar slathered atop a bed of white rice, chunks of what seemed to be meat drowned in the ominous sauce. Wisps of steam emanated from the dish, adding to its intimidating aura.
Despite their initial hesitations, Asuma and Naruto braced themselves and picked up their utensils, steeling themselves for the challenge ahead.
"So... This is the 'curry of life', huh..." Naruto remarked, eyeing the dish with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"You seem hesitant, Naruto... Already changed your mind?" Asuma teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
"O-Of course not! Just, uhmmm... Y'know?... Letting it cool down a bit, dattebayo! H-Hehe..." Naruto stuttered, trying to maintain his bravado despite his nervousness.
"If anything, maybe you're the one who's hesitant. I don't see you eating yours yet..." Naruto countered, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.
"I-I'm doing the same thing as you, Naruto..." Asuma replied, his own attempt at confidence faltering slightly.
Moments later, both sensei and student decided to finally tackle their food. Asuma and Naruto exchanged a hesitant glance before simultaneously taking a spoonful of the "curry of life."
"Down the hatch, I guess..." Asuma said, trying to mask his uncertainty with a casual tone.
"I-Itadakimasu (to humbly receive)..." Naruto said, his tone nervous.
Both Naruto and Asuma bravely took a bite of their respective curries, chewing slowly as they braced themselves for the taste explosion. However, as the fiery spice hit their taste buds, their eyes widened in shock, and their faces flushed bright red. Intense sweating broke out on their brows as they struggled to contain the overwhelming heat.
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They both yelled simultaneously, the sound reverberating through the shop. Naruto, overcome by the heat, toppled backwards from his seat, while Asuma's head thudded heavily onto the table in defeat.
Despite the chaos, Ino and Shino remained unfazed, continuing to enjoy their meals. Ino swiftly called for more water just for Naruto and Asuma to drink later on.
- An Hour Later -
Under the warm sunlight, Naruto, Shino, and Ino joined Kasai at the back of the shop, where they embarked on a mission to aid in the creation of Grandma Sansho's garden. Together, they worked tirelessly, hammering nails into wooden posts to build a sturdy fence around the garden perimeter.
Amidst the rhythm of their work, Kasai turned to Naruto with a request. "Uzumaki-san, can you pass me a wooden plank from that pile over there?" he asked, gesturing towards a stack of lumber nearby.
Naruto nodded and reached for the plank, handing it over to Kasai without a second thought. As Kasai extended his hand to accept the plank, the movement caused the tray he had been carrying to shift, momentarily revealing the scars that marred his arms and hands.
This piqued Naruto's curiosity due to the sight of Kasai's scars. "Whoa, Kasai-san... What happened to your arms?..." he blurted out, unable to contain his curiosity.
Kasai's expression faltered for a moment before he offered a sheepish smile. "Ah, these?... It's just part of the job, I guess... Working in a kitchen can be pretty rough sometimes since I have to fill in for my older brother. He knows more about cooking than I do, so yeah..." he explained, his tone light despite the somber topic.
Ino and Shino, who had been focused on their own tasks, glanced over at the conversation, their attention drawn to Kasai's scarred arms. They exchanged a silent glance, a shared understanding passing between them as they took in the sight.
"Hmmm... Seems like we don't have enough wood to finish the fence. I guess we're gonna have to chop down some trees then," Kasai remarked to the three of them, who nodded in agreement and agreed to accompany him.
- Near Katabami Gold Mine -
After hours of traveling back and forth and chopping down trees, the group decided it was time to return to the shop and continue their work. By the time they made it back, the sun was nearing the horizon, casting a golden hue over the landscape. Kasai pushed a heavy wheelbarrow overflowing with lumber, while Naruto summoned a couple of clones to assist in hauling the remaining wood they had gathered.
As they walked along a path that overlooked a deep mine below, the group's footsteps echoed against the rocky terrain. The mine entrance yawned darkly, shadows creeping in as evening approached.
"Kasai-san, you mentioned earlier that you were still learning to cook, right?... So, who usually does the cooking then?... Sansho-obasan?..." Naruto inquired.
"Well, okasan used to do all the cooking not until my older brother learned how to cook as well. He got so good at it that he basically handled most if not all the cooking while okasan would supervise him or sometimes lend a helping hand," Kasai explained.
"But where's your brother though?... I don't think we saw him earlier," Ino asked though Kasai was silent, as he was about to answer Ino's inquiry, a loud voice could be heard from afar.
"WAHHHHHHHHHH! W-WHY?!..." the voice cried out, piercing the tranquility of the surrounding countryside.
Shino, Ino, and Naruto turned their heads towards the source of the distressing sound. Down below, near a desolate mine, a group of mysterious figures in hooded cloaks were solemnly carrying a casket towards a freshly dug grave.
"Why does such a good man have to die?!..." the voice lamented once more, echoing through the air with a profound sadness.
The group of hooded figures paused beside the open grave, the casket resting on the ground as if in final tribute to the departed soul.
"It's sad... So, so sad!..." the voice continued, choked with emotion.
"I remember now... The first time I saw you, you showed a lot of promise... Your eyes, they were so full of ambition and determination... It's such a shame that the world won't ever get another chance to see those eyes..." one of the hooded figures reminisced, his voice heavy with grief. With solemn determination, the group began to lower the casket into the waiting earth, each shovelful of dirt a somber tribute to the life that had passed.
"What's going on over there?..." Naruto's voice broke the silence, his curiosity piqued by the scene unfolding below.
"L-Look away, Uzumaki-san," Kasai's voice was shaky, and also tinged with an undercurrent of urgency.
"Huh?... But why?..." Naruto's confusion was evident, his eyes still drawn to the melancholy spectacle below.
"J-Just do as I say, Uzumaki-san. We have to go...," Kasai's words held a note of urgency and anxiousness, though the mystery of the situation lingered in the air. He gestured to Ino and Shino, indicating for them to avert their gaze from the solemn scene unfolding below. With a sense of foreboding, he urged them to focus on returning to the shop, aware of the impending storm hinted at by the dark gray clouds gathering overhead.
- Down at the Mines -
(Earlier)
Amidst the mining activity, a young man toiled away with a pickaxe, his expression fraught with anxiety, constantly scanning his surroundings for signs of danger. As the other villagers busied themselves with their labor, he seized every opportunity to plan his escape. On a previous day, he had stumbled upon a narrow crevice that offered a secret pathway out of the mines, leading to an exit on the far side of the mountain. Fortunately, he had managed to return to his work in time to avoid suspicion, narrowly escaping detection.
The crevice, initially too tight a fit, had left him injured from squeezing through. Determined to widen the passage for easier access, he swung his pickaxe, breaking more stone to enlarge the gap. Suddenly, a sharp yell pierced the air—a guard had spotted him.
"OI! YOU THERE!" the guard bellowed.
Fear gripped the young man's heart as he hurriedly covered his excavation with large stones and dirt, trying to conceal his work. He feigned diligence, his grip faltering and limbs trembling with anxiety as footsteps drew nearer. To his relief, the guard passed by him, singling out another villager.
"What do you think you're doing, punk?!" the guard shouted at the bewildered villager.
"W-What? Did I do something wrong?" the villager stammered, clearly frightened.
"Don't play dumb with me!" the guard roared, seizing the villager and forcing him to the ground. A frantic search of the villager's pockets uncovered a nugget of gold.
"Well, well, well... What's this, then, huh?!" the guard jeered, ignoring the villager's pleas for mercy. With callous indifference, the guard dragged the villager out of the mines, the echoes of the villager's desperate cries fading into the distance as promises of reform echoed through the air.
"Looks like there's going to be another funeral..." remarked another villager nearby, his tone heavy with resignation.
The young man, his heart still racing from the narrow escape, released a heavy sigh of relief. Though he had narrowly avoided detection this time, the constant fear of being caught weighed heavily on him.
(A/N: Apologies for the late upload, had to focus on studying for an important exam but I just took it earlier today and it went pretty well, hopefully I get a high enough score. Anyway, yeah, hope y'all liked this once and see y'all on the next one. Take care and cheers! ^^)