Hey there, I hope everyone is doing well so far! Thank you as always for reading this chapter, This chapter is a short one and definitely more on the relaxed side in comparison to all of the hecticness so far with what's coming next I felt like it was necessary. This is the end of the prelude to the Land of Iron and I'm super excited to start that storyline.
Anyway let's get on to the reviews
Krieger Technopriest: Welcome back! Thanks again for reading, also it felt nice and triumphant, didn't it? I got another chapter for you right here!
Dragonkeeper10: I really want to take advantage of a lot of glossed over mechanics when it comes to chakra and jutsu in this series not that the original was bad at it or anything but there are a lot of interesting elements with it that have yet to be explored so I'm glad you enjoyed it. Also it's Danzo of course there's some kind of scheme, there's a lot more going on with this plan than can be seen so stay tuned it's going to get interesting. Naruto and Kurotsuchi have plenty of wandering ahead of them I'm looking forward to it too. Thank you again for reading.
Jagsboy: One of my biggest focuses in writing for action is the combat, you want to make a fight scene engaging because the fight itself tells a story as well I'm glad you enjoyed it. Regarding the investigation into the Uzumaki's I'll leave you to ponder but I've been keeping that in mind as well. Stay tuned and thank you again for reading!
Alexander4443: Thank you again for being here!
Spellbat: The Scorch style scene was one that I had to patiently wait to write because I wanted it to land just right and it looks like it did (Also wanted to take advantage of making something super cool). Regarding the bath scene, I'm a classy man that likes to think outside the box but this chapter is for you. Thank you for reading.
TigrezzTail: I aim to please, glad you enjoyed it. Deidara at this point versus Naruto and Kurotsuchi it wouldn't have made sense for them to win out of nowhere to me while I do have future plans for Deidara it's nothing massive. Thank you again for reading!
eqiunoxhun: Good question, I'll leave that for you to continue reading with but in the meantime enjoy two teenagers being teenagers. Thank you again for reading.
Merak59: You wanted an new update, you got one. Thank you for reading.
Shining Batista: First off I'm honored to receive a review like this one, writing has always been my passion and combining that with a series i'm passionate about meant I wanted to hit the ground running. The beginning of the story was really to act as the hook and it will continue to get better as more and more time passes so I hope you stick around to see it. I'm aiming at this story with nothing but my best and continuing to improve I hope to see you in the next one. Thank you for reading.
Thank you all again for the reviews once more, I'm more than happy to receive any feedback or just hearing your thoughts I'll always make sure to respond to everyone to the best of my ability. Now one other item I wanted to mention before the chapter, this series is rated M for specific reasons. There will be scenes of extreme violence and language being the usual suspects but there will also be a more adult approach to other scenes as well, while this chapter doesn't happen to have anything crazy in the future it will be present.
Just a quick fair warning.
Anyway, thank you all so much once again this chapter is short but I have a treat to make up for it so I'll be seeing you in the next one.
Thank you again for reading and I hope you enjoy.
{...}
Chapter 14: I Trust You
Naruto walked with a slight limp toward the large building ahead, luckily they were really close to the destination he had in mind.
Kurotsuchi leaned on the blonde's good shoulder while she looked toward the building in front of them.
It looked as if it was an old castle with steam from what she assumed were baths rising into the air, cherry blossoms danced around the pair falling to the ground gently.
This place looked incredible.
It looks like being forced to travel led Naruto to a few good places, she could hardly believe this place was a bathhouse.
Naruto slid open the front doors opening to a small reception area, a little further into the room there was a young woman with long orangish pink bunched into messy twin tails sweeping a broom across the floor.
She sighed before she looked up toward the pair entering, "Welcome to- Naruto?!" The young woman panicked while the blonde gave her a sheepish grin.
"Yo, Koyori."
Naruto spoke while the young woman stopped over to the boy before she immediately started inspecting the boy.
"You look awful, what happened?!"
The woman asked while Naruto chuckled, "Fought some bomber artist guy, got my ass kicked and then we kicked his ass." The boy said while Kurotsuchi sighed.
"If it weren't for the fact he retreated we would probably be dead, I'd say he gave us mercy."
Kurotsuchi said trying to remain humble while Koyori gave her a look.
"She's new, your girlfriend? She's quite pretty."
Koyori said while Kurotsuchi gave the woman a surprised expression, "Nah, nothing crazy like that. Escorting her is my mission." Naruto said enthusiastically before he was flicked on the forehead.
"There are better ways to answer you Knucklehead, girls feel a type of way about that stuff."
Koyori scolded while Kurotsuchi looked at Naruto who was rubbing the back of his head before she gave him a small smile. Soon the pair found themselves in another room, Koyori had dragged them both there and began treating their wounds.
Kurotsuchi tried to hold back her laughter while Naruto was being treated, he complained about how he would heal normally while she argued back that it was a waste of chakra.
The black-haired girl figured that Koyori thought it was some kind of technique rather than the chakra of a tailed beast.
Yet.
The woman treated him kindly almost as if she was his older sister, it was sweet in a way.
"OW! You totally slapped that on purpose!"
"It's a heat-based adhesive, I had to make sure it stuck properly."
"I call bull!"
"Quit whining!"
Koyori and Naruto went back and forth before she reached her hands out and gently placed her thumbs on Naruto's temples.
"You really took a beating out there huh?"
The woman asked a little solemnly while Naruto shrugged, "All in a day's work." The blonde said while Koyori sighed.
"Naruto."
The woman said while the blonde kept grinning, that technique that he used on her a little over a week ago to help rebalance her equilibrium must have come from her.
"Alright, get out and change. I've got to treat her wounds now."
Koyori said dismissing Naruto while the blonde looked toward Kurotsuchi.
"She needs some privacy, no pervy stuff in my sight."
Koyori said while Naruto groaned, "Ain't nothing pervy about it, I just want to make sure she's ok." The teen asked while Kurotsuchi looked back toward the boy.
"You can do that later, now get. Get."
Koyori shooed out Naruto who walked out of the room, Kurotsuchi sighed in response while Koyori chuckled.
"I don't know how you deal with him all the time."
Koyori said while Kurotsuchi shook her head, "Believe it or not, he's not that bad." The black-haired girl commented while the older woman stuck her tongue out.
"Gross."
Koyori joked while Kurotsuchi waved her hands, "Wait, not in a weird way, he's just really kind." The girl clarified while Koyori just grinned in response.
"When I first met him, Naruto was in shreds. I could tell he was a ninja just by looking at him, but he was also very kind. Eventually I got used to him visiting at least 3 times a month, this makes his second time this month and he's already bringing around girls."
Koyori exhaled out of her nose while Kurotsuchi kept her head down.
"Is it really possible for someone to change?"
The black-haired teen spoke out loud while her thoughts went to Naruto, the orange haired woman looked toward the girl. She could see the slightly twisted expression of guilt on Kurotsuchi's face, someone so young carrying around so much.
"Don't ask me. I just met you and you've been pretty decent so far so I'm biased, you may have better luck with your companion."
Koyori said while Kurotsuchi looked back toward her, "How so?" She asked while the woman grinned at her.
"Because he knows you."
Koyori left the girl with those words while Kurotsuchi sat through the rest of the bandaging process silently processing the words. Shortly afterward the blonde boy tugged at the obi of his Yukata while the paper screen door opened revealing his companion.
She was wearing a yukata as well, hers was a deep purple color covered in a red lotus flower design. Naruto blinked while Kurotsuchi did her best not to make eye contact.
"Stop being gross in my hallway."
Koyori commented while Naruto narrowed his eyes at the woman, "Buzz off!" He yelled while the girl only chuckled in response.
"Naruto knows where the baths are, I've got a few more clients to attend to so he'll act as your guide… while being on his best behavior "
Koyori said allowing the last part to trail off to get a reaction out of Naruto.
"Not all guys my age are perverts! I happen to be a perfect gentleman, you meanwhile are being creepy living your own love life through a couple of teens!"
Naruto shot back only to receive a empty wooden bucket to the face, "Hurry up and show her the baths!" The woman yelled while Naruto rubbed his face.
"Fine, let's go Kurotsuchi."
Naruto grumbled while the black haired girl chuckled, "And Naruto…" Koyori said, causing the blonde to turn toward her slightly.
"I'm glad you're ok."
The woman said while Naruto looked toward the ground for a moment before he looked back up and gave her a grin.
"Believe it."
The boy gave her his catchphrase before he turned around to guide Kurotsuchi to the area for the baths.
Koyori smiled before she turned back toward the front of her store.
{...}
"Are these all hot springs?"
Kurotsuchi asked curiously while looking around while Naruto nodded his head. "Yup! I've gotta tell ya these are the best! Whenever I come by I always get a meal and a quick soak." Naruto said while they walked along the warm cobblestone floor toward the rest of the baths ahead.
"Oi! Naruto!"
A large scar covered man bellowed from his bath causing Kurotsuchi to jump while Naruto grinned at the man.
"Hey Gendo!"
Naruto greeted with a brief wave while the large man raised an eyebrow at the blonde, "Ah, brought back a conquest I see? Attaboy!" Gendo yelled while Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Quit making it weird! She's my friend! Enjoy your bath already you geezer!"
The blonde yelled while the man laughed heartily at the younger man.
"Do you know everyone who comes here?"
"Well I wouldn't say everyone but I've met a few regulars here and there."
Naruto spoke with Kurotsuchi while she gave the blonde an amused look, "Where are we going by the way? Aren't the baths in that direction?" The girl asked while pointing in Gendo's general direction.
"Those are the regular baths, since you're pretty banged up I paid for the medicinal baths. They help better with healing."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi raised a curious eyebrow while they kept walking toward the area of their baths. She then caught sight of the water in the open-air section of the bath, it was a white mintish color hot spring.
"Here we are, so the women's bath is the one right next to this one. Don't worry it's walled off and I'm not one to peek so you should be able to just enjoy."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi looked at the large wooden wall, "Thank you." The girl thanked while the blonde nodded his head.
"Of course."
Naruto said before they stood there looking at each other, "Sorry, I know that we're literally a wall away from each other, but it feels kind of weird separating huh?" The blonde voiced while Kurotsuchi laughed a little.
"Right? I know we're safe here but after the fight I feel a bit antsy not having your back."
The girl said while Naruto sighed before gently placing his hands on her shoulders, "It'll be ok, we'll soak for a bit and meet up in the room. Then we'll eat some good food and get plenty of rest." The boy reassured while Kurotsuchi looked at the wall again before she nodded.
"Then… I'll see you in a bit?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto nodded his head, "Yup, just take your time." He said before he started walking toward the bath, leaving Kurotsuchi to stand there for a moment before she started walking toward her respective bath.
Naruto stripped off his yukata while submerging himself in the warm waters of the hot spring, he felt the medicine soaking into his skin. He felt his body almost forcibly relax at the sensation of the warm water intruding to his sorest areas. The boy sighed as he sat in the pool looking up toward the sky, the dying light of the afternoon had become a starry night without him even noticing.
It was beautiful.
This was probably the closest he could ever come to what peace would look like, he's been through a lot in all of his time journeying around the ninja world.
It was like he had gone through so much yet so little, another crazy thing was that he was countries away from Konoha.
He never would have imagined that his life would turn out like this, in another time he probably would have been completing a mission and making his way back home to prepare for his big trip with Jiraya.
Hanging out around Shikamaru, training with Lee, going to the shop TenTen started working at to bother her.
Checking in with Sakura.
There were so many things that he could have been doing that he isn't.
Yet there are things that he has done, he helped the Land of Waves village grow and prosper while learning how to fish and farm.
He journeyed across the desert to get to the Hidden Sand, where he trained with one of the toughest teachers he's ever had. He got to see his friend and kiss a girl for the first time in his life. He's tried new foods, fought all sorts of enemies.
His life has been hectic but he wouldn't trade anything that he's done for anything in the world that goes for both the good and the bad.
Naruto's thoughts then went to Kou, he wondered how the boy was doing now that he could try to live normally.
Was he happy?
What is happy?
It's such an odd question, at one point he could have answered that question with a confident answer and at another point a not so confident answer. He had plenty of time to answer the question but first he knew he had to ask it.
What does happy mean to him now?
Naruto kept gazing at the night sky while his thoughts went to Kurotsuchi.
She's unlike anyone he's ever met in his life so far, in a sense that she was so different than everyone else. Everyone that he's been around for the longest time has always had some bigger goal than just being a ninja. Those things about themselves that made them who they were, that made them human in a sense.
Kurotsuchi on the other hand was driven by nothing but her ninja way to the point where she couldn't even imagine normal life.
Yet she was one of the most human people he's ever met.
She endures, but she cries. Even when he himself had been ready to throw away that human part of himself for everyone else's sake. She pulled him out.
Kurotsuchi saved his life in a way not many did.
All while she herself was struggling with her own internalized pain, she was incredible.
She wants to be human.
Now he does too.
He had her to thank for that and the best way to thank her was to find a way to make that come true.
What does it mean to be human then?
Naruto's ears perked at the sound of splashing, his head was about to whip around but a familiar voice stopped him.
"Don't turn around."
Kurotsuchi spoke while Naruto stopped before he turned his head back forward.
"H-hey Kurotsuchi, what brings you here? Your bath is on that side."
Naruto spoke nervously while he listened to the water splash behind his back, "This bath is mixed so it should be ok right?" She asked while Naruto slowly nodded his head.
"I said earlier that… I was feeling a little antsy without having your back…"
Kurotsuchi's voice was soft, softer than Naruto has ever heard it before it made his breath hitch while the sensation of skin touching skin sent a shock through his body.
She had placed her bare back against his resting against him.
"That's better."
She spoke while Naruto shakily nodded his head, the two teens sat in the bath together, their backs touching in an almost comforting silence.
"I-"
"Thank you."
Kurotsuchi spoke in a gentle tone that Naruto never expected to hear from her while his eyes widened, "I once had a team… We were all Genin together before we all got promotions to our respective new areas but we remained a team in our own right. Still eating together after missions, still talking about good times that would never come to pass." the girl spoke while Naruto silently listened.
"Akatsuchi is kind of like you, though nowhere near as hardheaded but he's kind and driven. While Deidara was my idol… If there was anyone in the world I wanted to be like in the future it was him. He always had this look in his eyes that made him seem like he was always moving ahead with dreams far bigger than any else."
Her long black hair that was tied into a bun gently brushed the top of the blonde's shoulder as she began to relax against him.
"When he bombed the village, I was in shock… I refused to believe it until I had to. The sight of Deidara on the back of that hawk and the face that he made, that satisfied look… It made me feel like I failed him and I failed my village. I let that betrayal turn me dark, I stopped allowing myself to feel things outside of how I should for the sake of my home."
"I lost myself in what I had to do, because I couldn't live with what I lost."
Naruto kept staring toward the sky while a dry chuckle came from her mouth, "I didn't want to feel it again… to get my hopes so high about letting anybody else in only to be let down by them. To be betrayed again, so I pushed everyone else away to do it myself." the girl explained while she closed her eyes taking a big breath.
"Then I met you."
The words made Naruto nearly turn to look toward her but he didn't because he promised he wouldn't, he instead opted to turn his ear toward her slightly.
"You gave me a dream, you fought alongside me, you never allowed me to give up. For that you don't understand how grateful I am to you… I want to be human now Naruto. I hope you're there for wherever that journey takes me next on my way back home."
"Naruto…"
Kurotsuchi turned, placing a hand on the boy's back before resting her forehead on it.
"I trust you."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto felt his body relax despite her touch on his skin in this vulnerable moment leaning into it before she had shifted placing her back to his again.
"Thank you."
Those were the last words that were spoken before the pair sat in another comfortable silence.
{...}
Naruto sighed loudly while sliding open the doors to their room they were staying in while at the inn, Kurotsuchi's eyes widened slightly at the room they were staying in.
It was a medium sized room with tatami floors with furniture pieces across the different parts of the room giving it a very traditional atmosphere while their futons were a little further away with a decent amount of space between them.
"This place is incredible so far, are you sure you didn't spend a fortune on this?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto laughed in response, "No, Koyori is just showing out. You're the first other person I brought with me and you're a girl she's teasing me big time for the wrong idea." the blonde said, causing Kurotsuchi to nod quietly.
"Dinner will be here soon, I made sure to leave Koyori with the order. I'm sure you're going to love it, so be prepared!"
Naruto exclaimed confidently while Kurotsuchi blinked before she chuckled, "Alright, I'll look forward to it then." the black-haired girl responded while Naruto sat down quickly at the table in the middle of the room while Kurotsuchi joined him.
They sat at the table for a few moments before Naruto looked toward Kurotsuchi running her hands through her long hair, she's always had pretty hair when he thought about it. While she herself only thought of it as a byproduct of her being lost in herself, Naruto couldn't help but admire it.
He kind of wanted to run his own hands through it too.
"Hey Naruto… Could you do me a favor?"
"Yeah sure, what's up?"
"Could you braid my hair for me?"
Kurotsuchi suddenly asked, causing Naruto to nearly spit take at the girl's words, was she some kind of mind reader or something?
"Huh?! Braid your hair? Why all of the sudden? And Why me of all people?!"
Naruto loudly questioned while Kurotsuchi chuckled, "I didn't even realize that with my hair growing so long I accidentally wore the exact same way Deidara mentioned something about it during the fight… So I wanted to change that." the girl said while Naruto rubbed the back of his head.
"Well.. I don't really do hair, so I don't know if-"
"It has to be you."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to."
Naruto nearly smirked at the young woman using his own words against him, "It won't be perfect, I can't even say it would look good." the blonde said while Kurotsuchi had already moved to sit directly in front of him with her hair pulled back.
"I didn't ask for perfect Naruto, I just asked if you could braid my hair."
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto audibly gulped before he nodded, taking her hair into his hands gently, it was soft. Far softer than he imagined it would feel like in his hands he gave her hair a few test touches before he took a deep breath and began to braid.
He would ignore the way her shoulders rose and fell as she breathed gently, he would ignore how her scent blended with the medicine from the bath filling his nose with a gentle aroma, and he would ignore how it seemed like she was getting closer to him with every moment.
All for a long simple single braid.
"I uh think you're good."
Naruto said barely concealing his embarrassment while Kurotsuchi took her hand and moved the braid over her shoulder so she could look at it.
A small smile appeared on her face while she looked at it.
"Good job."
"No problem."
Naruto responded while Kurotsuchi turned toward him, oddly enough he was done with her hair, yet she wasn't moving. Instead, a hand landed on his chest gently tracing a quickly closing wound that seemed to still be healing even after the bath.
"Does it hurt?"
Kurotsuchi asked, watching the wound close before her eyes while Naruto looked at his chest where her hand was placed.
"Sometimes…"
Naruto trailed off while he looked toward her pink eyes, they were filled with an expression that he hadn't seen from her before as of yet. Soon his eyes trailed toward her bandages under her kimono covering her chest and ribs.
"Are you still hurt?"
Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi looked up toward him before she looked at her bandages slowly exposing themselves from her loosened kimono, she took a breath before she rolled her shoulders allowing the kimono to fall off of them.
The obi kept the kimono on from her waist however her shoulders and bandaged upper half were exposed, her skin on her shoulders was pale while she gingerly touched her ribs.
Naruto's hand reached out to grab hers to prevent her from touching them any more to avoid her hurting herself, her hand wrapped around his guiding it to her side touching it gently all the while keeping eye contact with the blonde.
"It still hurts a little…"
Kurotsuchi spoke in nearly a whisper while Naruto noticed the space between them becoming more and more absent, his hand held onto her side gently while blue stayed on pink. Her fingertips dragged on his chest, never leaving it while her free hand cupped his cheek.
"I-"
Naruto was cut off by the sensation of her forehead touching his Kurotsuchi then moved her hand to the back of his neck gently pushing his face closer to hers, the blonde felt a heat rush through his body while their breaths began to mingle.
He saw her half-lidded eyes while he was nearly on top of her, her hand pushed on the back of his neck closer to her face still.
This wasn't like anything he had felt in his life.
With Temari at that time it felt like fireworks, but right now with Kurotsuchi. Their lips hadn't even touched yet and Naruto felt like the summer sun had been shining in his chest with the amount of heat moving through his body.
He felt as if he didn't want to let go for anything, if this interaction was some kind of battle then.
He lost a long time ago.
Kurotsuchi's hand on the back of his neck moved to his hair on the back of his head gently stroking it while gently pushing, Naruto meanwhile tilted his head allowing his nose to brush past hers allowing their lips to share a phantom of kiss.
It was so close to being one.
"Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, I have two orders of soup dumplings and plenty of te-"
Koyori nearly dropped her tray at the sight in front of her before the eyes of the two teens shot open, Nartuo and Kurotsuchi immediately separated, clearing their throats.
"It's totally not what it looks like!"
"Yeha we were just checking each other's bandages!"
"Yup bandages!"
"Plenty of bandages!"
The two teens exploded into a storm of excuses while Koyori went from shocked to an expression of satisfaction silently dropping off the tray while quickly exiting the room.
"Don't have too much fun!"
"KOYORI!"
Naruto roared after the young woman who cackled while running away from the room, meanwhile Kurotsuchi touched her lips before a tiny smile formed on her face. "The dumplings are here, I'd rather not try them for the first time cold." the girl said while the blonde sighed.
"Fine…"
Naruto trailed off while he sat in front of her, he watched her fix her kimono while he took the top off of the dumplings. That was close, any longer and he wasn't sure what was about to happen… Not that he knew what to do next anyway.
"They smell amazing."
"Yeah, when these are the best things you've ever tried I'll try my best keep my 'I told you' so to myself."
Naruto teased while Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes at the boy before she picked one of the dumplings up with her chopsticks. It felt weird, usually dumplings were solid but this one felt like at any moment it would burst with broth.
The pink eyed girl gave Naruto a look while the blonde nodded his head enthusiastically before shoving one in his mouth. She watched him exhale steam from his mouth before making a satisfied noise while chewing.
She then ate her dumpling.
Flavor exploded in her mouth while she nearly spat in surprise, it was super-hot but it was delicious. While the filling portion was smaller, that gave it enough room to properly marinate in the soup that filled the rest of the inside of the dumpling.
Kurotsuchi made her own satisfied noise while Naruto gave her a smug look.
"Told you so."
"Thought you said you wouldn't?"
"I tried my best."
Naruto said with a big toothy grin while Kurotsuchi chuckled before she grabbed another dumpling, the two of them ate the dumplings together with satisfied looks and laughs as the night began to pass by.
Soon after Naruto was straightening out his futon while Kurotsuchi was sitting on top of hers, her eyes made their way to the katana she had leaning against the wall. She looked down at the floor for a moment before she clenched her fist.
"Do you believe that people can change… That I…can change?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto paused, keeping his hands pressed down on his futon, his head turned to slowly look at the girl beside him while an inquisitive look appeared on his face.
"I think you can."
Kurotsuchi looked back toward the boy while he nodded his head before he turned to look out of the window directly at the moon.
"However, that's just what I think, there's only one real way to prove it… We have to go out there and give it our best shot. That's what being human means right?"
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi blinked before she huffed, "I guess it is huh?" Kurotsuchi said while Naruto shrugged. The girl chuckled before she laid down still facing Naruto.
"Good night, Naruto."
The girl said while Naruto gave her a smile.
"Good night Kurotsuchi."
{...}
Leaves blew in on a gentle breeze while an outreached hand gripped at seemingly nothing, the boy smiled while he was bumped on his shoulder.
"You alright?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto nodded, "Hell yeah." the boy said while the girl pulled out a map tracing her finger on it. "It looks like the fast route will take us through the Land of Iron from there the Hidden Stone is pretty much a straight shot. I'm guessing if we minimize stops then we should be there in a week and half." the pink eyed girl said while the blonde nodded.
"Land of Iron huh? Isn't that the place with all the Samurai?"
Naruto said making sword swinging motion through the air while Kurotsuchi chuckled, "Yeah but it's neutral territory, kind of a no man's land for conflict, we should have little to worry about since we're just passing through it." the girl said while the blonde nodded.
"You think they have any good food there?"
Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow, "Another place to mark off of your worldly cuisine mission?" the black-haired girl teased while the boy nodded.
"Of course, it's my current dream to try out food from all over the world. My favorite is still ramen but maybe I could find a new favorite… Hell maybe during this journey I could find my next big dream."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi gave him a thoughtful look before she smiled, "I don't have a single doubt that you'll find it. I'll be there to help remember?" the girl said while Naruto gave his own surprised look at the girl ahead of him.
The visage of himself wandering alone had been overtaken by the sight of the girl in front of him, he paused for a few moments before he chuckled.
"Yeah… you're right."
The boy said as he caught up to Kurotsuchi punching his fist into the air.
"Onward!"
The blonde yelled while the pair began walking following their map taking them closer and closer to the Hidden Stone village, all the while leaves blew being carried by the wind past them into some unseen distance far ahead of them.
{...}
The sound of heavy rain danced on the top of the roof of the establishment while Koyori rushed around making sure her store was in shape for the sudden storm, the hot spring baths were covered, all other patrons were in their rooms, and now she just had to flip the sign as closed for the night.
"It's been a little while but I sure hope those two didn't get caught in this… Even though they could use it as an excuse to cuddle up. Ah young love."
Koyori sighed whimsically while the sound of the door sliding open caught her attention, "You came just in time, I was about to close… Need some shelter from the rain?" the woman said while walking to the front she looked up and spotted a mask that had a faded red purple flame-like design on top of the white base.
Long hair seemed to drape behind the mask while the figure loosely wore a cloak barely concealing a strange mark on her stomach, Koyori watched the woman fish in her cloak to reveal a picture. The organ haired woman felt the air around her change.
As if the atmosphere became colder and heavier.
Whoever this person was, they were not here for shelter from the rain.
They were clearly looking for him.
"Naruto Uzumaki… Where is he?"