Transmission # 3-3-7-1. Designate: Night Ride
South of The Wall, Tokyo Metropolitan, Shinogawa Ward
Tokyo Industrial Harbor; Target makes interaction with Fangs
22:15 hrs; November 4, 1963
The crate opens with a large metallic pop, as the rusted bolts creak against a tomb not since opened upon its long odyssey from the east. Inside the goods weren't only American: National French chocolates and cigarettes stamped with the Lafayette symbols and the Marquis d'Orange in gold lettering. Next to them crates upon crates of Australian Kanga lager from Sydney, waiting to be singled out and spilled amid Tokyo's busy bar scene. Italian leather shoes, belts, clothing, and all manner of plastic emblazoned fineries with Il Duce's smug mug upon them all.
Inside the shadowy confines of the cargo container the air is thick with the scent of salt and grease. Naruto rummages through the haphazard pile of goods, till his fingers brush against a red handled katana with a cherry wood sheath and tassel at its end. It's balanced upon a box of two-way radios. Cartons of forty pack Lucky Strike cigarettes were piled to his left, surrounding cases of aromatic rice wine sweetened by fruit from Okinawa, the vibrant colors of their bottles contrasting sharply with the dull metal of the container. Yet, with each item he unearthed, hope flickered.
As he continued to search a stark reality set in - there was still no sign of the medical supplies Tsubaki asked for. Leaving him torn between the thrill of discovery and the urgent weight of his quest.
Then, Zabuza's voice booms out.
"Fourteen minutes to grab what you want and then scram." The voice sounding like gravel thrown into a motorcycle engine. The demon of the hidden mist leans against the cargo, arms folded over his broad chest. "Six minutes docked for the time you were late."
Craning his head to look closer, Naruto struggles to find any of the items he needed. Medical equipment was the primary need; the hospital had been lagging and not much was coming in from Hokkaido. A few more weary steps in, and Naruto calls out. "You sure this is crate 8?"
"You sure this is all the cash? Bag feels a little light." Zabuza mocks as he motions for one of his boys to bring up the sack. A gangly looking man with a shaved head and a stark white mohawk comes up and tosses it over. His boss catches it with a long arm. "I don't know, you haven't been doing a little joyriding, have ya?"
The jibe is met by a few chuckles by some who think laughing meant you could get on Zabuza's good side. But from what Naruto knew there weren't many things "good" about Zabuza, with any side of his being dangerous to be on. "Count it, if you want." He says, before heading in deeper into the cargo. Light from the headlights makes it easy to see the stash. He notices the Metro didn't want for a lot except for the accesses, making it easier to skim off the top. Problem was, though, it looked like none of what Tsubaki needed were here.
"None of the stuff we ordered is here, Zabuza," Naruto grabs the cigarettes, the gin, the whiskey, snags a bunch of the radios and batteries to go with the imported chocolates. There's a box of the flavored ramen he and Iruka liked to share every now and then. Naruto steps out of the crate, looking to Zabuza inspecting the bag. "I'm not playing around, is this the right box?"
The biker doesn't pay him any mind. He upends the bag as wads of rolled up money fall to the pavement. Zabuza looks to be counting, his eyes trying to discern any flaws in number or quality. Granted, Mizuki once did hand Naruto a bag of counterfeits. Zabuza threatened to carve up his face real good next time his northern commie ass pulled another stunt like that again. Thankfully, Mizuki didn't get cute with the money again.
"Zabuza?!" Naruto says with more force than intended.
Dull, glazed eyes silently spin to him, wordless and unmoving like a shark's, probably wanting nothing more than to cut him into pieces and throw him into the harbor. Not a lot of folk had the luxury of talking to Zabuza like that and got away. Because monsters aren't accustomed to doing business - normally they just get their way. No questions asked. Yet, if there was one thing Naruto staked his claim on, it was that Momochi operated under a very strict line: tools were only as good if they got the job done.
Everyone had a purpose.
Everyone had a job.
As true for him, as it was for Naruto. And if he didn't deliver, that was a problem. For both of them.
But just then a voice calls out from the circle where the rest of The Fangs were situated.
"Who the hell are you questioning us?"
It's grating like the sound of nails on a chalkboard, voiced out from a piss-ant kind of man with all sorts of mommy problems. Rolled into an inferiority complex, a bad case of halitosis, and a penchant for never washing the lone riding jacket he wears. Inuzuka Kiba: the poster-child for juvenile delinquents, and well-known for holding up old women and gum ball machines.
He didn't like Naruto, and Naruto didn't particularly like him. They didn't have to. Yet as more time went on, it was becoming infinitely harder not to punch this guy in the face.
"Zabuza's word is word is Gato's word. And Gato's word is as good as gold around here. If it weren't, your hide wouldn't be showing up every week to pay us for candy bars!"
Naruto bites the inside of his cheek as Kiba tries to get a rise out of him. He looks over towards Zabuza once more. "I wanna see the manifest."
Zabuza eyeballs him, torn between amazement and shock the damned errand boy was giving him lip. "I don't need to show you shit." He says with a tone of finality to his bite. "1.200 yen gets you one box - that was the deal. This is the crate you wanted. If you don't like it-" An iron-tipped boot kicks up the pile of cash, with a few of his men giving out surprised gasps; they weren't ones to see piles of money treated as they were. "Clear out."
Dammit.
It did run across Naruto's mind The Fangs could just as well hide the majority of his order, then sell it piecemeal to whomever afterwards at a higher charge. The gang didn't like dealing with a full hand if it meant they couldn't sneak a card under their sleeves, and Naruto knew they were the type to jerk clients along.
"I can't afford to go back without any of the medical supplies I asked." Naruto says adamantly, not backing down despite the rising tension.
It does little to shut Kiba up.
"We don't care what you can or can't afford." Dog-boy barks back, getting a few gruffs and nods in response. He gets up off his customized Skyliner with the sidecar attachment. An overly edgy mutt sits there, growling and baring its teeth; Akamaru looks ready to tear Naruto to pieces at the slightest inclination of his owner. "You've been giving us an attitude when deal is, was, and forever will be a crate a week, and you got this one. That's that. So, the fuck is your problem?"
"Twelve hundred for what's IN the crate, Zabuza. C'mon!"
Naruto doesn't get baited into it with Kiba, knowing his hackles are already on airs. Along with the rest of the of bosozoku. Naruto remembers he was told not to haggle, but this wasn't haggling. The Bridge Builder asked as much as he gave, and Tsubaki spoke for him as well as anyone. Mizuki can have his expenses, but this wasn't only to line pockets. "I'm not trying to start something. All I want is what we paid for. That's my job. If I don't get back with anything the Bridge Builder wants, the deal's off. Which means no more bags of cash every week.
"Cry me a goddamn river!" Kiba walks over to the kicked over wads of five-hundred dollar bills, and picks up a wad. He holds it to Naruto's face with a sneer. "You call this cash? Everyone knows Sapporo been hemorrhaging ever since the embargoes hit, and Khrushchev and Mao ain't fronting the bills anymore. Now with that shit in Vietnam, you'll be lucky to get a fucking nickel from them. So this 'payment'-" Kiba walks over and fists a handful of the money. "With inflation ain't even worth half of what it was before."
"What?"
Naruto grinds his teeth into a powder. Fists ball as his nails dig into his palms, and his stomach lurches like a brick's hit it.
News from Sapporo was scarce, the trickle being tightly controlled and contested. But alls one needed to do was look around and you can tell something had been off: resource allocation had been for shit for months, the propaganda machine had been working overtime, party officials came on public channels every night saying the best is yet to come.
"And what is coming is the Revolution's ultimate victory!"
They only said stuff like that when times were tight.
"Hmph, they didn't tell you?" Kiba smiles a toothy grin on seeing Naruto's troubled face. He smells blood, and he pounces. "Nah, why would they? Wasting breath on a stray who doesn't belong is the last thing you people do. They churn and spit things like you out on the daily, huh? Must've trained you up with some fancy tricks to keep everyone entertained. Hey, can you show me one?"
Kiba circles around like a predator who knows there's chink in the armor. Naruto bites his tongue, his cheek, pretty much anything to no unload on this cocky bastard in front go him.Don't let him get to you,his nerves tell him. It was okay, he's fine; Kiba was only a second-pup not fit to lead, who's only got the clout to hang around because daddy went down in a bout of flame. Much like Icarus who got himself burned, Keijo flew too high and burned. Now he was nothing more than a myth for his son to live by, or be warned.
Unfortunately, what the Inuzuka lacked in character, numbers of his gang made up for his ego.
"Come on, one little magic trick. All I'm asking. You can show me one, can't ya?" He asks as he circles Naruto, his spurs jangling with every step. "Walk on water, breath fire, make yourself a double or something. Hell, I'll even pay you." Reaching behind his back pocket, Kba pulls out a crumpled bill and throws it at Naruto. "My contribution to the 'revolution'."
"Keijo's kid is right, errand boy." Naruto's staring daggers at Momochi, but the big man has already moved over to his motorcycle and plopped a seat. The handle of his machete is worn and blackened from extensive use, but the man sits like some content Philistine king. He won't lift a finger to stop this, knowing his warriors needed to have some fun and blow off steam. "You get what you pay for. If the people on your end want more, they're gonna have to give more. Times are tough, so I'll let it slide. This time. But next week Gato's expecting double."
"Double!?"
"And it'll be on a crate WE choose. Security around here's worse. Radar buoys in the harbor, patrol boats, night vision, those American heat scanners. Police and JSDF are no joke now, and our butts needs to stay clean till it calms down." Zabuza says, but Naruto's eyes are too busy keeping watch; the dogs claw the sides of the cars they sit in, one man has his hands primed on the bars of his chopper, another reaches into his jean jacket for whatever concealed weapon they got kept there. Kiba's still circling, strutting around like the proudest rooster in the hen house.
"That's not what was agreed." Naruto reminds, but the snarl falls on deaf ears.
Zabuza shakes his head, and a small guttural chuckle comes up from his burned, infested lungs. "What was agreed to between Gato and I is the only thing which takes precedent here. I look out for his best interests, and he makes it easier for us. Whatever's between you and he is a whole different matter."
"Dogs don't speak for their owners. If that's what Gato wants, I'll hear it from him. Not you!"
The scruff of Naruto's shirt is yanked up as Kiba's arm shoots out to grab him. "This is the attitude I'm talking about! Who the fuck do you think you're talking to like that!?"
"Not you - NEVER YOU!" Naruto pulls Kiba in close with both hands, almost lifting the brown haired boy off his feet as he does. "I wouldn't waste a single second talking to a hollow-brained, moronic, dick-licking, stick in the fucking mud mutt like you. Who should've been neutered a long time ago to save us the prospect of you polluting humanity with more of your bullshit. At least then people would understand you not being able to run your dad's outfit, because you DON'T HAVE THE BALLS!"
A red veil comes over Naruto's eyes as a vision of pain hollow out his mind. The crack of a nose breaking and blood splattering is as intense as looking into the morning sun, and as sharp a wake-up call as the commissar's riding crop. Kiba heabutts him hard and square in the face, so bad it nearly makes Naruto fall. He doesn't, thank goodness. If he did, no telling what Kiba would've unleashed. Least now that he was able to take the hit, stand his ground, it makes Kiba's seething anger take a seat for a moment.
But the boy's fists ball into hammers, his eyes narrow slits of white, while Akamaru is barking in distress behind.
Naruto was told not to haggle, that it was far better to keep a low profile than force something which could only end badly for everyone. Trust is what was needed to make it all go smoothly, and this was the only kind of negotiating The Fangs trusted. Gato and the Bridge Builder can haggle it out on their terms, but this was how Naruto was going to deal with his.
Coming from the North, he was already playing with house money anyways.
She was hanging on every word, disseminating and disassembling all he said for her benefit of the doubt and the party's, too - it's what he figured she'd do, so he's careful not to indulge too much. Truth is best hidden by omission than a cover-up. Lies are too easily unraveled, and makes for a harder story to sell.
Ms. Yuhi's voice gets lost as it trails off in the background.
"In a new round of sanctions implemented by the US Department of Commerce, the Democratic People's Republic faces increasing pressure in light of Daimyo Kaneko's calls for economic aid. DPRJ budgetary constraints following the embargoes have seen a decrease of 83% in exports, as a worsening humanitarian crisis continues to grow worse since Collectivization in '58. Fourth International representative nations have provided much needed support to the Sapporo government, however with the Saigon question now in tow, many in the Northern Committee ponder how aid will be affected going forward. The Co-prosperity Agreement allowing for joint usage of Tokyo's port still stands, but even this has come under fire as provocations these last two months has warranted extra security on hand for harbor activities ..
Transmission # 3-3-7-1. Designate: Night Ride
South of The Wall, Tokyo Metropolitan, Shinogawa Ward
Tokyo Industrial Harbor; Port side C - "Initiating Diplomatic Relations"
22:42 hrs; November 4, 1963
First few shots landed like hammers striking against a hot iron. The last ones grew a little lighter as he got tired, floating above just as much as he could suck down air. Jaw was loose, cheek a pulsing bit of fire, teeth definitely dug into his cheek where a blow landed hard against his face. The cut above his eyes dripped red into his vision, blood pooling to run down his face. He ducks a wayward uppercut as he bobs to the left, lands a swift kick in response which sends his opponent staggering. The body shot rocked a few ribs, and knocked the air out, but Kiba was as tough as he was arrogant.
Naruto's strategy was to bide his time, wait for him to tire out, but he didn't know how much longer he could last.
How it was, honestly hand-to-hand wasn't the worst bit of his repertoire; he'd even managed to make Sasuke look bad at times. But Kiba kept coming at him like a dog with a bone to pick, incessant like a mongrel not wanting the last scrap to escape his grasp.
Kiba charges, pushing him back as he lobs kidney shots to his side. Kiba lands one, two, but the third Naruto turns his body at the last second to shift his weight. Kiba loses his footing as Naruto's uses his momentum to push him off, and hit him with a spinning overhead kick. A hard thwack pummels the back of Kiba's head, dazing him as he sees stars. But he's used to getting his bell rung plenty by his ma and older sister; they always said he had a thick skull, which only meant harder beatings when he screwed up.
Backpedaling and keeping his footwork clean, Naruto shuffles to keep distance out from the taller boy's reach. He's bouncing up and down, minding his breathing exercises, keeping his mind clear of nothing else but what's in front of him. Kiba looks unfazed. With a grin on his face, he cranes his neck from side to side in a sickening crack. "Maybe it's the malnutrition, but weren't you ninja supposed to hit hard?" Kiba says, spitting out a glob of blood. "Is this the best you got?"
"Just getting started, sunshine."
His brain couldn't compute how long they'd been throwing punches at each other. Pain clouded his mind into a single focus as the shouts rose in the circle around them, the concussion hammered his head like a bell, and the soldier's pills effects having long since passed. That his nose was bent at such an angle, too, it hurt to even turn his head around didn't help either.
"C'mon Kiba kick his ass!" "Make your mom proud!" "Boss is watching - don't fuck up!" Were some of the calls screamed about. As was such a common occurrence between pups, most of The Fangs thankfully stayed aside. Mostly because no one moved unless Zabuza did, and he was content leaning back in the seat of his motorcycle. "Let the little shit have at it." No one knew which little shit he meant, but even the hounds, incensed by the scent of blood and motion, triggering hunter instincts long since dormant in their veins, daren't move a muscle. Not so long as Zabuza remained silent.
A punch landed flush against Kiba's cheek, pushing him back against the container. Naruto spun to deliver a hard kick to his chest, driving the full weight of his body forward. Kiba slams hard into metal, a loud*THWANG*sounding off before Naruto shoots into the opening. Coming in low, his fist balls into a cannon shot. Like pistons his legs drive upward, sending the uppercut square into Kiba's jaw. It's probably the hardest blow Naruto has ever delivered, nearly clearing Kba off his feet as he's lifted into the air.
Dog-boy slumps, hespits, and staggers. Yet, Kiba doesn't go down.
The hell is he made out of?!
Naruto snags a handful of Kiba's bloodied leather jacket as he winds back for another punch. A fanged smile never leaves Kiba's face, though. Despite half-lidded eyes turning black with daze, bright red lips hiding a broken tooth or two purse together to let out a quick whistle. Naruto hits him again...And again...And again to the point he can feel his knuckles give way. A sharp pang rushes up his arm like blowtorch went off on it.Fuck,he thinks. It feels like he's punching against concrete.
Suddenly, Naruto is keel-hauled by a force which hits him hard in the back of his legs. Steak knives trying to carve out his right calf almost rip him down to the ground. He can't tell if its the sound of his jeans ripping, or if Akamaru really is tearing flesh from bone. The dog clamps down hard and doesn't let go, even as Naruto rains blow after blow against its head. It distracts him enough before Kiba sinks his own teeth into Naruto's wrist. Before he's mauled to the ground, at the last second he crosses his left index finger over his middle. The pain is excruciating it does;t even register to him when he screams out.
Kiba and Akamaru are left stunned, along with the rest of The Fangs, as white tendrils gather around their feet. Where Naruto once stood there's nothing but air and smoke. Everyone is left stunned, except for Zabuza who sees the attack coming from a mile away. A heavy hand rests upon the handle of his danto, the blade which had seen as much combat as he or any other present here. Kiba was a tough SOB, but if there's one thing street fighting doesn't teach you is always be wary of your flanks.
The shadow clones rush him from both sides; Akamaru is the first one to notice and he moves to cover Kiba's backside. At the same moment, Kiba sees the other rushing from his right, and preps to take the attack head on. Rage fuels him to the point his injuries no longer hinder him, no longer make him slow; the more damage he takes, the greater the instinct grows.Pain isn't your master; it's a teacher. Learn from it; take what you want. But never let it control you.
Mom told them this after dad died, when she taught him what it meant to be an Inuzuka, to make sure The Fangs become stronger than they were before. Rag-tags and a handful of miscreant cast-offs with no place to go, the gang was the only safe place these guys had. And Kiba would do anything to make sure it would survive.
"UZUMAKI RENDAN!" Naruto shouts in unison with his clone.
The combo is a simple one, meant to separate a team of two from both sides. Start the slide early, focus their attention on one, not the other. Deliver a strong kick to incapacitate. But the attack is stopped; Akamaru wastes littles time to pounce on the one in front, and Kiba avoids the strike aimed at him.Shit!Naruto's strike goes wild. He misses Kiba, and is met by a steel-toed boot. His head caves in as the sucking sound of blood and cracking bone crunches together. His head bounces off the hard concrete, a few teeth get kicked down his throat, and his limbs seemingly go limp.
He wasn't dead, but it was the closest he felt to it his entire life.
Kiba delivers more kicks as Naruto's face becomes a bloody pulp neath his boot. Exulting too much in the prospect of a fresh kill, the battle-lust he craves smothers the cries of his gang mates telling him to look out. Dual pops ring out as the shadow clones vanish in a poof, and Kiba's foot cracks into the ground beneath. Picking up his head, a dark silhouette is outlined against the night sky.
Naruto falls from the cargo container, clutching the iron bladed shuriken in the crooks of his fingers. Every bit of hurt felt by his clones, he got twice over. The torrent of feeling burns every nerve in his body and it makes him want to wretch - one of the few drawbacks of the Shadow Clone Technique Kakashi taught. But he breathes in a deep mix of sea air and sweat, blood vessels popping as he acquires his target, and lets fly. Too dumbfounded to move out of the way, the only thing Kiba does is move his arms up to shield from the pointed stars.
Until a blur of white and gray jumps in front of him.
A pained yelp comes for Akamaru as he skids along the ground in a heap, four dastardly ninja stars embedding themselves in the soft underbelly of his stomach. A sad sight, one that makes Naruto hesitate for a split second. But only for a second, because once he lands the kunai in his hands is directed straight at Kiba's chest.
As he mused before: he'd never been so close to death, before his clone dissipated into a whoosh of sulfur and smoke. A sense of feeling was there, though, brushing against his cheek like the pulse of something else. Echoing in his psyche, it rattled him to the core.It'll be fine, he wants to calm himself. Take in a soothing breath to calm his nerves.It'll be fine,he says again before a dark pall hangs on him.It'll be fine...He wants to believe though his heart breaks and adrenaline rushes in.
This is the only way The Fangs understand. They aren't ones to capitulate or communicate - most of Gato's henchmen won't. Living on the edge of life and whatever comes after is how both sides can understand one another. Because the prospect of death is relatable, this kunai which driving into Kiba's forearm is rea; Naruto's intent to do what is necessary is the same as anyone else in their positions.
He wants to live, and damn it all if it has to come down to this...
This isn't right...
It's never right...
I don't want to be like this- it shouldn't have to be like this. But fuck what do I have to do...
The training, the beatings, the need to smuggle a better way of life to people who don't know any better. The State demands results, the Village wants loyalty, Kiba's looking to kill him, and Naruto wants to get out as quickly as possible to make it stop. Yet, he's too late. An arm rakes across his neck pulling him off, another slams and holds him down; boots, fists, and kicks wail into him as an endless stream of pissed off hate doesn't hold back. Naruto's swarmed over as The Fangs rush in, protecting one of their own - the former boss's kid, and more importantly avenging a grave affront to their club.
No one draws the blood of a dog unless it deserved it.
Loyalty has its rewards; Akamaru did what any other other hound bred from the Inuzuka kennels would do. He protected Kiba's back as a good dog should of its master. And The Fangs protected their own - man or beast, because you don't fuck with family. Japan may be a torn to bits country looking for a way back in, much like the majority of young men who didn't have homes after the war. And the gang wouldn't suffer in the same manner.
But all the while Naruto's getting beaten to an inch of his life by the barbarian horde, its leader keeps a close watch along the skyline facing the harbor. Crates lined up and piled above one another tall enough for good vantage points; his gut's telling him to be wary. Errand boy had been looking back and forth for a way out before, and maybe he had one. Somewhere in those high places...
He's calm, cool, no worries scratching along Zabuza Momochi's peace. Impervious to fear and knowledgeable that anyone who wants to start something better have a good reason - and the balls - to back it up. Just so, he pulls the danto from its scabbard, its heavy blade sliding along steel before resting upon his shoulder.
Zabuza's quiet like a statue, breathes like a stone, and watches...Waits...Sees the attack coming before it's there. Knuckles crack white and muscles loosen, fingers grip tightly the hilt of a sword.
They've company, as it appears Konoha's joined the party.
"As relations between the DPRJ and ROJ continue to become a tense point along the DMZ, the Joint Security Area has become serviceable for the first time since the demarcation in 1946. Delegates of South Japan are on-hand and on-site along the border, hoping a dialogue can be meted out between both sides before next year's Summer Games. Emperor Hirohito extends wishes for reconciliation, hoping to bridge the gap between the two states with a 'Ceasefire of Goodwill'. A few points for this proposal, which has gained traction in the National Diet these last few weeks, are thus: the ease of travel between Tokyo Metropolitan and Tokyo Urban for citizens of Japanese descent, the opening of trade lanes and joint use of Tokyo Bay, and perhaps a joint Olympics team comprising athletes from both sides."
"Advisor Shimura Danzo has left today toward Hokkaido to meet with the Sapporo Council, in the hopes common ground can be found between the two nations. At a time where contentions between North and South in other parts of Asia crumble, where the looking shadow of war hovers above, it's at least refreshing to see diplomacy enacted by two peoples of what once was one nation..."
Transmission # 3-3-7-1. Designate: Night Ride
South of The Wall, Tokyo Metropolitan, Industrial Harbor
Port side C; Danger Close Op, requiring immediate EVAC
22:56 hrs; November 4, 1963
Naruto didn't know when the beatings stopped or how long he'd been lying on the ground, but he was thankful for the respite. A few of his teeth definitely felt loose, to counter any more potential jutsu The Fangs targeted his fingers and bent them at odd angles, and his right eye had been pounded to the point he could barely open it. Hell, he didn't even think it was still in its socket when it was over. But what made him groan most, was the feel of fire alighting his cuts and scrapes, and the smell of nitric and sulfuric acid apparent in his crooked nose.
"Gawwwrrr-dammit..."
A fireball falls like a falling comet, scattering The Fangs back towards their bikes. Before the wall of flame goes up between them, Kiba barely is able to pull Akamaru from the blast. A few off his mates aren't so lucky, however; they flail and roll around on the ground, patting nervously to put out the fire which is nigh impossible. An Uchiha secret, apparently, jealously guarded through centuries.
Now it falls to Sasuke as the last of his family to keep its tradition alive.
A black cloak flutters in the wind, cascading down and breaking through the fire. Some of The Fangs look to put up a fight, their dogs unleashed and cudgels, blades, and whatever other weapons they wielded on hand. Looking to maim, not kill, Sauske reaches into his cape. Behind his ANBU mask, red eyes pinpoint and plot before needles fly through the air. All find their mark embedding themselves into hands, wrists, and fur. Without hesitating, Sasuke draws in a large breath before throwing himself forward.
From where he is, there's not much to make out. Sasuke was too fast, even when Naruto tried to pay attention. Movements fluid like water, every action premeditated and thought of before the fight even begins. Kicks, chops, and punches cut a stream through the surrounding circle. Where by which all the pent up skill and anger that little ball of angst could muster shows through. The Fangs had the numbers on their side - and their dogs, but quantity was a poor substitute for skill.
Plus, Naruto heard more barks coming from behind him.
Kakashi-sensei had trained the ninken to be his most stalwart and able companions on arguably the toughest missions. Possessing skills on par with most genin or chunin from Konoha, they were a veritable ace up Kakashi's sleeve when called upon.
The ninja dogs pursue through the gap Sasuke created to form another layer of protection between The Fangs and Naruto. As Sasuke continues crowd control, the dogs maneuver in a tight half-circle, keeping the opposing dogs at bay. It allows for their gray-haired master to make his way towards Naruto, landing beside his ever quarrelsome student. "Don't move, Naruto." Kakashi says, putting a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I got you."
Yeah, you got me...
Naruto sighs upon seeing his team-captain look at him with the usual lazy, tired expression. Comrade-Sensei Kakashi was ever a hard person to read, regardless of the mask he wore. An old war wound, he told them, given a long time ago and it never healed properly. Maybe - Naruto and his teammates got several differing stories why he never took off the mask. Still, Naruto's been around long enough to know between a 'bored' look, and a 'disappointed' one.
"How were you able to find me?" Naruto asks, as Kakashi helps to lift him up.
"Stupidity leaves a pretty powerful scent, kid." Goes a small little pug; Pakkun pads around their feet, face equally looking as tired and lazy as Kakashi's as it gazes up at Naruto "You're not a hard act to follow, Naruto."
"Guess not." The feeble smile Naruto conjures does little to ease the look in his captain's eye. Kakashi doesn't say a word, but lets loose a long sigh.
If Naruto thought he was in trouble before, his mind could only imagine what it was Kakahsi had in store for him when they got back to Konoha. How much did he know? How much could he reveal? And if this was going to be a recurring problem, was Kakashi the kind of guy to hold this over Naruto's head to Party officials come time for sectional inquiries?
Just then from out of the blaze before them, Sasuke is thrown back. With a hard landing, he sticks to the side of the metal container above them, sword drawn from the harsh blow he defended himself against. Kakashi whistles a command to bring in the ninken, while Pakkun organizes a defensive square. Sasuke falls forward in a somersault, landing on his feet with his blade pointed out. "He's coming," is all he says.
"I know," Kakashi pats Naruto in the chest gently, easing him off before Sasuke takes his other shoulder.
"You really have a knack of picking the one non-negotiable landmine in a sea of bullshit to step on, don't you?" Sasuke says through his mask, before a great swing from Zabuza's sword extinguishes the flames. Coming on like a great white from the depths of a murky abyss, the Headsman's blade shines like a great tooth in a maw of pissed of jaw; The Fangs corralled around Zabuza and their wounded, finding solace amongst one another as they revved their cycles to life once more.
Naruto's too weak to respond, only looking over to Momochi and his sensei.
The Copy-Cat Ninja versus The Demon of the Hidden Mist.
A spectacle conjured up by school kids in the yard, or old drinking buddies far into their cups. Thoughts of it bring thoughts of the great bouts from before, of Miyamoto Musashi or Sanada's braves. Both men stare at each other over what feels like an eternity. Kakashi with a drawn kunai; Zabuza with the large, imposing sword. Clad in his field gear consisting of a gray flak jacket, and black out gear, Kakashi looked more than equipped for a fight when it came to it. Yet, Zabuza ever looked to secure a puncher's chance. Tall frame, long build, a penchant for inflicting and receiving violence; a guy like him doesn't need much to win a fight. Sometimes simplicity is its own advantage.
"Well, well, well; look who decided to show up!" Zabuza doesn't shout, his voice never going above the norm, yet still being readily heard by all. "The man, the myth, and the legend himself. The great Hatake Kakashi has graced us with his presence. And he's brought along his favorite pets, as well."
"Zabuza," Kakashi nods. "Always nice to see a familiar face. Been a while, I guess."
"It has. It really has. And that hurts me." Zabuza slams the point of Kubikiribocho hard into the pavement, lines spider webbing out likes roots in a cracked glass. "I thought you never abandoned your friends."
"That's why I'm here." Kakashi motions the kunai back into its holster, along with easing the ninken. "Whatever issue you have with Naruto ends now. I'm taking him, Zabuza."
"You really think you can?"
Every step Zabuza takes forward, his sword drags along and The Fangs close the circles. The ninken bare more teeth, while Sasuke motions Naruto back. He holds his sword before him, as his red eyes scan back and forth taking all in front of him.
"Listen, no need for this not be civil. Plain and simple, your boy and I got ourselves an agreement here."
"I don't wanna hear about it."
"Where he gives a little something, and we give a little something back. Call it 'equivalent exchange' ' between North and South. A symbol we can all get along..." Zabuza snaps his fingers and Naruto's knapsack is thrown down in front of them. Naruto gulps, knowing what'll happen if Kakashi finds out what is inside.
"Kakashi-sensei *gurrr*...I-I'm...It's not what it looks li-" Naruto fights through his nose, his aching ribs, the coughed up phlegm and so much else before Kakashi stops him further.
"I said I don't wanna know." His sensei says back to him forcefully.
A moment of silence passes as Naruto bites his lips, and looks away. The less said the better. Sasuke hits him with a "dobe", but it's solemn, pitiful sounding, and makes Naruto feels ten times smaller than he was. Zabuza rolls his shoulders, telling Kakashi in the end this really aint nothing, not a thing. "Fine," the big man goes, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "You don't wanna know. Between you and the kid, I understand that. You hash it out however way you will. However, one thing you will know..."
Zabuza tells him of the fight, how things normally go down in such a fracas. Of course, one-on-one affairs are an easy to-do, and Zabuza makes damn sure rules are followed. Nobody butts in unless it's absolutely, one-hundred percent understood a club statute was broken. In this case, one was. "Frankly, not that big a deal between two idiots knocking heads together. Problem is he hurt a dog. That doesn't sit well. What the kid gets in return was payback for that."
"I wasn't aiming for Akamaru, he jumped in the way of Kiba." Sasuke keeps a firm hold on Naruto as he fires back. "Besides, Kiba sicked him on me first!"
"A mutt will do anything to protect one of their own. Fighting one of us means you fight them as well."
"Yeah, and where the hell is yours?" Naruto asks, before being quieted down by Sasuke squeezing hard on one of his pressure points.
A deep chuckle comes like coal ground in a furnace. It sounds too uncharacteristic for the man, but also seems to fit him quite well. Like the smallest inference to his life could be so be so comically inconsequential. "Heh, he's somewhere. Likes to go for long walks on his own, so I give him a long leash. Even so..."
"Even so, we're done here." With a quick whistle and on Pakkun's orders, the ninken slink back into the shadows. Kakashi motions over to Naruto and asks if he's able to keep up with them back to The Wall or if he needs help. Naruto says he can, but...
"My bag. Kakashi-sensei, I-I gotta...I have to..."
Sasuke tells him to keep quiet, as Kakashi gives Naruto a knowing glance. Turning without a word, his sensei moves to picks the knapsack off the ground. No questions asked, but ever keeping Zabuza in the periphery of his eye; the swordsman wasn't a foolish man who picks fights for the hell of it, but just in case Kaksahi minds the seals in his hands. The slightest hint of electricity flutters between his fingers as tiny bits of chakra flit about his skin.
"Oi, monkey," Zabuza calls out to Kakashi - the nickname held history between both men, alluding to a familiarity held in a mythical past. Naruto and Team 7 knew only as much about their captain as he let on, which was the bare minimum at best. "The boy may be done here, but damn it all, if it's not a moment in hell frozen over where you and I share the same ten feet again." Sparks fly as Zabuza kicks up the sword in a great heave and points it directly to Kakashi.
"Politicians don't know how to talk to one another like us regular folk. We're cogs in the machine churning about, spinning without a care till the next day comes; tools to be used till we're cast off for the next shiny object comes along. So, who better to initiate a little diplomacy than us two? C'mon, wouldn't feel right letting a chance like this simply pass us by."
"I don't care for politics or talking, Zabuza." Kakashi says as he gets up underneath Naruto's arm. "Whatever kind of past between you and I should stay there. History's got no business affecting today."
"History is the only thing we got."
Sirens call from the far reaches of the harbor security center, as flashes of red and blue come forth from one of the three roads connecting Tokyo Metro and Urban together. Checkpoints between both sides may be cleared out, but Gato's sway here means it'll mostly be National Party Commission goons coming to inspect. And if so, it'll be in accordance by the perimeters of the joint use agreement for the bay. It WOULD require JSDF personnel to arrive on scene, to 'regulate and observe', which would mean news crews, cameras, and then their asses will be plastered all over the JTV nightly report.
The blade lowers with a disgruntled snort; futility weighed heavy on his mind as Zabuza considered the options. Tonight isn't the night to air out dirty laundry. He knows. Some of the boys looked too ready for a fight now, and Zabuza couldn't guarantee things wouldn't escalate further if they stuck around. Not with those blood red eyes staring out at them past the white ninja mask. He didn't have a deathwish, which tangoing with the Sharingan most certainly was. Besides, Kiba was beside himself trying to help Akamaru, being practically on the verge of tears putting the dog in the sidecar. Tsume will definitely have words with him after considering.
When the last of The Fangs pull from the area, Kakashi takes Naruto from Sasuke and plops him onto his back. Being piggybacked while his sensei cleared almost thirty yards per jump wasn't a good feeling, but Naruto didn't have it in him much to complain. Nor did they have time for basic first aid - speed was their best asset, and they needed to press the advantage while the dark of an early morning still cloaked them. Naruto just had to focus pumping chakra through every breath he took.
The ninken brought up the rear, while Sasuke sped ahead and paved their way forward. His eyes were better than theirs at night, and with the lights of a silent city guiding them westward, it made for a quicker trek than most. To be safe, they avoided Tokyo Urban. Questions need not be asked, and the more attention that Konoha will give because of this wouldn't look good. Bureaucracy didn't make things more efficient, it simply meant more hurdles before getting home. So, it was to edge of Tokyo Metropolitan, and after a ninety-three mile run to Konoha.
For Kakashi alone it would be nothing but a jog, but dragging Naruto turned it into a nuisance, with stop and goes avoiding patrols. It was particularly worse closer to the Sixth Army Base, where Sasuke seemed to tense with every spotlight passing overhead. "If we're not catching their scent, there's no need to worry." Pakkun reminded, too. Still, Naruto could feel Kakashi begin to get nervous. Only until they hit Konoha's perimeter does his captain finally acknowledge his presence.
Sasuke was going to take him to his dorm, he tells him. From that point, Sakura will wait till the coast is clear for her to sneak in. She'll tend to his injuries, so at least by tomorrow morning he won't look like ground meat. "Last I heard, you were on confinement. Don't worry about the hospital, I'll put in paper work I came to get you. But you're going to follow through with his punishment. Understand?" Naruto was silent, waiting for Kakashi to bring up anything about tonight. He doesn't, though, and proceeds to lead them through.
The few furnished lights from the Village peer like glimmering stars among the tree line. Generators hum in the distance as the water wheel pumps in electricity keeping the majority of the village quiet. A bad thing; a lot easier to sneak with the sound of Soviet Minsker fields huffing along, than the hydroelectric generators they installed. And with the night being so still, you could even hear the snores of dozing chunin as they passed the gates.
Luckily, with the help of the ninken and Karachi's skill they cleared the entrance.
At that point Kakashi waved them off; Sasuke and Naruto knew the drill, and the dogs had to be returned before the pack was noticed missing. Pakkun hopped atop Bull's head - the large bulldog with a head the size of a watermelon, telling Kakashi they'll find their way back. The pug bid his farewells, and gave Naruto a wink.
"You got nothing to worry for, Naruto." Pakkun told him. "The Fangs got one thing right and it's this: dogs protect their own. S'why we went out tonight. We got your back. Read me?"
Naruto gives a weak smile, before Sasuke drags them away; he wasn't particularly a guy for sentiment, and plus there was no time to waste.
The genin dorms Naruto still lived in weren't far from the Village center. They were situated along the northern part of the cave, where a compound of four towers, like a mini castle, covered roughly five acres of hewn rock. Sasuke has little trouble getting in - the security here being less than manageable considering most operators stick towards the chunin and jonin apartments.
Again, for 'ethical concerns'.
"Well, well, look at you, all set to be the coolest kid on the block again! You sure you can handle all these rugrats?" Sasuke chides with a small laugh.
Naruto rolls his eyes - well, at least the one which isn't swollen. "When are you gonna take off that stupid mask? Or better yet, keep it on. Makes it so I don't have to see your ugly face."
"Tch, dobe."
Crickets sing their song into the night, running with the flow of the river and whisps off the steam pipes. The dormitory is dark and asleep, a lullaby of a dark, cool morning giving it a restful look despite knowing certain few commissar guards are roaming the halls inside. All their to administer curfew in case somebody had the bright idea to sneak off.
"You really think it's worth it? Acting like this is part of why you're being held back, Naruto." Sasuke leads them into a side entrance toward the right of the compound, moving off toward Dormitory Building 1. "You've got too much talent to have it wasted like you don't care. You can't be my rival if you're acting like a child constantly."
"Fuck off, Sasuke." Naruto spits another gob of blood and spit - Comrade Proctor Ebisu didn't notice. He was too busy filing away paperwork at his desk as they sneak through the meeting area. "Just because you're Anbu doesn't mean I can't kick you're ass."
"Sure, says the guy who can barely walk. How's that for a rival?"
Naruto grits his teeth and winces with every step they take up the stairs. Not far goddammit, you can do this. "Yeah, yeah -*argh*. Make your -*ow* jokes. But hanging out here aint so bad, the kids do think I'm the coolest. So I'm at least -*gargh* sonnuva - I'm at least doing something right."
Sasuke raises his eyebrow behind his mask at Naruto, before looking around the corner. Good, they were in the clear still.
"The coolest? Really?" Sasuke puts his hand over Naruto's mouth as another pained gasp comes. Naruto had half a mind to bite down, but his jaw was too far gone for it hurt anyone but him. "Says the guy who just got his ass handed to him by a bunch of thugs?"
"Exactly!" Naruto says through his pained grin. "They see me as a hero. Not just some elite ninja, Mr. Serious ANBU."
Eventually, they're able to traverse through the creaking floorboard hallways to where Naruto's dorm room is set. The hallways exudes a serene elegance, its polished floors shining softly in the filtered light that streamed through the delicate shoji screens. The faint scent of tatami mats lingered in the air, mingling with muted sounds of semi-functioning pipes and whispers. Intricate wooden beams arched overhead, their craftsmanship a testament to the interior design of the compound lasting since the Tokugawa era.
Before Sasuke leaves Naruto, his friend shakes his head and finally takes off the mask.
Sasuke's face is impassive and perfect in the near dim lighting. Stone-cold and impervious, yet still exhibiting a fire of youth in that damnably perfect jawline, cheekbones, and damn near perfect everything else. His angular features convey a sense of intensity and determination, as the pale skin contrasts greatly with his dark tussled hair, framing his face and sweeping down just above his eyes. Which are now the color of onyx - his Sharingan deactivating hours ago.
Naruto didn't need to be the most observant guy in the room to know what Sasuke was thinking. Their friendship bordering upon a hateful rivalry requiring a few surprises and beatings along the way, getting them to the point where now they can stand one another for more than a few hours. Naruto liked to think it was because - deep down - Sasuke actually maybe sorta really wanted Naruto to be his best friend.
Which Naruto was.
But a look for those serious eyes and the strength of their friendship went deeper than simply being on the same ninja team as the other when they only twelve years old.
Sasuke shakes his head and sighs. "Until you get tired of playing babysitter here, and take your role seriously in the Village," Sasuke hands Naruto's knapsack over, received in shaking hands; hope is Sakura will come soon, because his fingers very much feel broken. " You'll miss the thrill of 'real' missions. You wanna make a difference? Act like you can shoulder it then."
As Sasuke leaves, Naruto stands in the doorway of his room, heart heavy with mixed emotions. He could say something clever and quippy, call Sasuke a jerk, tell him that cats suck or whatnot. But the weight of his friend's reprimand echoes in his mind. Because Naruto understood the sentiment, even if a simmering resentment bubbled underneath the surface. Smuggling, though unconventional, was making a tangible impact here, even if it wasn't the kind that Sasuke, Kakashi, Sakura, or even Iruka could appreciate. After all, if he could carry hope and resources back and forth in a single bag, what did that say about Sapporo's struggles to get shipments enough through to help everyone?
The thought nagged at him as he clenched his fists, torn between the desire to prove himself and the urge to defy the expectations of those he cared about.
Transmission # 3-3-7-1. Designate: Night Ride
North Side the Wall, Tokyo Urban; Hidden Village: "Leaf"
Tower 2, Genin Compound; Comrade-Commissar Haruno tends the wounded.
01:00 hrs; November 5, 1963
"...And with that our broadcast tonight is finally concluded. From everyone here at JTV center, thank you for joining us tonight. We'll be sure to keep you up to date later this morning. But until then, I'm Yuhi Kurenai telling you all to stay informed and stay safe. Goodnight!"
The flicker of the television set turns off, and the glow of the "pretty woman" vanishes into a dark nothing. Only the smug reflection of Sakura is left on screen as she smiles confidently, glad to be finally rid of the capitalist propaganda being spewed into her ears. "That's enough of you," she says satisfied, before moving to the rest of Naruto's room, cleaning up the last bits of trash strewn about.
Absolutely, amazing, she thinks. How can someone live in a pig-sty like this, and never get sick is beyond her. She almost gagged upping finding the milk carton three weeks past its expiration out of the fridge. Not to mention all the wrappers from the rations jelly packs he stuffed into his mouth. Honestly...And he had the audacity to tell her not to bother with it all, that it was only going to get messy again anyways.
But is he for real?
No, Sakura wouldn't have it. She wasn't one to give up once putting her mind to something. Even if it was past one in the morning, and she herself longed for her own bed to sleep, cleaning Naruto's room now became a priority. Because someone had to do it.
"If you at least put in a little effort every day it wouldn't get this bad." She says, moving about with a gentle urgency. Her hands organize the clutter seemingly mirroring the chaos of teammates life. A stray kunai here, an open drawer there, empty ramen cups picked up and tossed into the trash bag. "And you have the audacity to ask me out every week? Ugh, no girl would ever be caught dead here. And if one were, it's because it'll be a crime scene."
"Okay, now you're being ridiculous," Naruto says before placing the chrome-plated headset about his ears. " Clearly, If I were to kill somebody, I wouldn't bring their body back here in my room. Isn't that like Rule 34 of Article II or something."
"Rule 87 under Articles X and XI, 'Disposing of evidence and conducting proper diligence at the scene'." Sakura corrects him.
"Oh, well, good thing you know then."
"Naruto!" She fumes, but is instantly shushed.
"Shhhh, Comrade-Proctor Morino is still walking the halls."
To hell with Rule 87 under Articles X and XI - she was going to strangle him and leave his body under all this shit.
But before she's able, Naruto busies himself rummaging through the beat-up bag. When he showed her what was inside, it made her positively livid. By rights Naruto should be impounded and sent immediately down to the Commissar's office for punishment. Theft was one thing, but bringing inthis much contraband over was strictly prohibited under policy 13E, Article IV, proclamation "Kazan" of the State Mandate. Even showing this to her puts him in an incriminating position.
Her, too, for that matter
Yet, Naruto's unfazed. More interested in fiddling with his Jai-gun record player and the outlawed record he holds, than considering the repercussions of his behavior.
And this tears Sakura apart.
The rules of their world echo in her mind, and she feels a tug-of-war within. A promising trainee in internal services, she was trained to uphold the status quo, but as a friend, she was deeply worried. It wasn't that Naruto was becoming less like himself. Rather, he seemed to be spiraling more into a state of unwieldiness. Where before his once vibrant antics had an "off-switch", now it felt like there was no stopping them. How they went beyond the pale of mere attention-seeking, but felt more and more like someone trying to fill a growing emptiness. Not even talks of becoming Hokage, once a source of inspiration, seemed devoid of their former significance. It was sad, because it seemed like something deeper was bothering him. Something she couldn't identify or write-off as easily as before. "He didn't have any parents telling him right from wrong", "he was a troublemaker", "he looked different, therefore he wanted to be different."
These were a few of the excuses she made for him in the past. To her it made Naruto a lot easier to read, and in doing, more bearable to withstand.
But now the carefree boy she grew up with was morphing into a man she barely recognized, and with each item she set in order, a growing sense of urgency to reach him before it was too late grew within.
When she finishes, Sakura grabs hold of her bag; it was one of the scant few first aid kits she had. The rest needed replenishing, yet they've been handing her old, leather-bound medic bags held over from the 50's. As she moves over toward the door, Naruto sees this and breaks from his trance. Wrestling the headset off his ears, he says, "Wait, Sakura-chan, hold a sec?"
"Naruto it's late and I'm tired." She tells him.
"I know, I know; but this won't take long. Here." His face is so innocent and restful, it makes her cringe she tells him off a little harsher than necessary.
"I don't have anymore time to waste with you, Naruto. Training starts early again for us tomorrow."
Naruto looks a little dejected, used to being shot down by her before. But his soft smile rebounds quick when he offers her the headphones, the small sound of a tune heard playing within. "I get that, but...Well, wanna listen?"
The gesture startles her. Not knowing if it was because, again, Naruto should know better, having her listen to banned Western music after hours in his room; or that she hesitated. Was she curious? Would it hurt? It's only music, what would it matter? These thoughts flew across her face, and Naruto saw. For a moment as she reaches out her hand, he thinks she'll take the headphones, but instead she brings it up to her face.
"Good night, Comrade Uzumaki." Goes her mechanical response as she holds her salute.
Naruto's soft smile breaks into a chuckle. He nods his head, and returns the salute per protocol as it is required of him to do so. "Good night, Comrade-Commissar Haruno." He says, eyes lingering about her stern countenance. Steely brown eyes, terse mouth, the mole hanging just below her right eye - she looks like a character found on dozens of prop-posters seen throughout the Democratic Republic. She was the provider, a caretaker, a symbol for the thousands of women devoting themselves to the household, the State, and the Party itself.
But if you asked Naruto, there was something so much more to her than that.
As there was more to him, also.
Not that it mattered to anyone here, of course. Understood in Konoha all had their places and roles, duties to uphold, along with the responsibilities of forging ahead till tomorrow. Common belief is they would all be in it together, for the new world benefits from the coexistence of brothers and sisters together. But ss Sakura leaves him and he's left alone, a part of him isn't so sure anymore...
"Tomorrow together..." He says aloud, before fitting the headphones back on his head. The rich and powerful vibes of the guitar take him away, far from the phrase felt more and more like an alien sentiment.
Would tomorrow have guys like Kiba, Zabuza, The Fangs, Gato and everyone else, too? Is that a world I'd want to be a part of? Would I even be allowed to be with them?
Naruto lands in his bed in a tired shuffle, muscles and thoughts finally put at ease as the painkillers and soldier pills work their stuff. The rock and roll bangs aloud in his hears, and for him it gives an odd sense of relaxation. The beats, the feelings, and the emotions he gets listening to it paint an image of a faraway beach. Nothing but him and the waves. The wind about his face, rolling up and down a white shoreline, pouring out to a deep ocean blue warmed by a bright sun.
This is the kind of tomorrow he was looking for. A place with absolutely no worries. Somewhere hanging below a rainbow, palm trees dancing, life nothing a simple breath at a time. Everyone would be there. Sasuke and the stick up his ass, Kakashi-sensei with the dogs, Iruka and the Ichiraku ramen stand. And Sakura-chan, too. Hopefully. But the offer should;t come from him. Better Sasuke, because he's the only boy Sakura listened to...
Or liked...
Or loved?
Chalk it to another thing Sasuke beat him to, and this time without even trying.
"Meh, whatever. It'll be fine. Ain't nothing, not a thing." Naruto sighs, thinking maybe it'd be better if Sasuke wasn't there with them. "Jerk can find his own beach. My daydream, my rules."
And as the soothing harmonies lull him closer to sleep, a peaceful smile graced his lips. Because in this moment drifting into a world of dreams there was solace chasing waves with the ones he loved. Free and unburdened.