Ⅰ
When I arrived at the main gate, I saw my uncle waiting with one hand in his pocket.
"Where is everyone?" I asked.
"They are not here," he replied.
I knelt to check my bag, ensuring I was fully prepared for the mission. The quiet rustling of my equipment kept my mind busy while we waited for my friends to arrive. As I carefully went through each item, double-checking that I had everything, my uncle broke the silence, drawing my attention to him.
"How are you feeling?" he suddenly asked.
I looked up and replied, "Fine, I guess."
"You sure?" His brow raised. He seemed to have noticed the uncertainty in my tone.
"Well…" I sighed a bit. "I am still a bit nervous, to be honest. I never thought grandpa would send us to assist Naruto's team."
"He was confident we could handle it. However, I hardly agreed. I was about to tell him to reconsider it, but when you said 'Let's do it'..."
"I know." I looked down. "I made a promise to Naruto, and I wanted to save him whenever he was in trouble. Soー"
"It's okay." He raised his hand. "I understand how much you cared about him. You are a good kid." He smiled softly. He then walked over to me and gently ruffled my hair. It felt nice when he did it. His big, warm hand always put me at ease, especially when I felt I might have done something wrong. In this case, urging him to take the mission despite the danger.
Then, a few minutes later, my friends had just arrived.
"Morning, you all." I greeted.
"Morning, Darou!" Ino and Chouji waved.
As for Shikamaru, he just yawned as expected.
"Are you all ready?" I asked.
"I sure am," Ino replied. "I hope I can protect Sasuke-kun from the bad guys!"
"But weren't you worried about it?" Shikamaru chimed in, his brow raised.
"I was." She admitted. "But, when Darou reminded us that we wanted a challenging mission, and the opportunity where I could get close to Sasuke-kunーI say, 'bring it on!"
I chuckled. "Well, you had been waiting for it. It is about time to show him what you are made of."
"Exactly!" She nodded. "Hang in there, Sasuke-kun! I am coming for you!"
Chouji chuckled, amused by her enthusiasm.
But, Shikamaru, on the other hand, sighed deeply. He glanced at me with his head shaking. "You know how to motivate her."
"I like to see her in that mood." I replied, "It spoils the atmosphere if she is gloomy, you know."
"Well, let's hope she does not get into a fight with you-know-who once we arrive there."
"Wait, you meanー"
"Yep." He nodded.
"Hmm… I think she can behave." I shrugged.
With everyone gathered, we were ready to leave. But before we went through the gate, my uncle raised his hand again as he had something important to tell us.
"Okay, everyone. Before we head to Nami no Kuni, there are a few things I need to go over with you all. First, always be alert. This is your first time leaving Konoha. So once you step out of the gate, be alert while traveling on the road. Even when we arrived at the destination. Second, it is to stay together. As we are entering an unfamiliar territory, make sure not to get separated from the group. And third, if something feels off, please let me know immediately. Share any concerns you have. Don't wait until it's too late."
He concluded.
"Any questions?" he prompted.
With the given instructions, we all looked at him approvingly: a sign that we understood.
"Alright, then. Team 10. We are heading off!" We immediately left the village and embarked on our journey to Nami no Kuni.
Wait there, Naruto.
Ⅱ
We needed a boat to get to Nami no Kuni. It is a small island surrounded by the sea, so no transportation can travel by land.
We first arrived at the port, located on the southern side of Hi no Kuni. Many Konoha shinobis visit this harbor when they are assigned a mission outside the Fire Nation. It was packed with people. You could hear them speaking loudly from the top of their lungs, conversing with one another. A local fish market could be spotted nearby. Restaurant owners from all over the Fire Nation go to this place to buy the fish, making the atmosphere both exciting and overwhelming.
My friends and I stood in awe at the sheer sight of it. The energy of the harbor was unlike anything we had experienced before.
"Wow… there are so many people," Chouji said. His eyes went wide as he looked around the place.
"Why don't you all wait for me at the piers?" my uncle said. "I will go and negotiate with one of the captains who could take us to Nami no Kuni."
As soon as my uncle disappeared into the crowd, my friends and I walked over to the piers, taking in the scenery while we waited.
The oceanic view from the piers was calming as we could see the crystal clear water stretched before us. We could still hear the bustling voices coming from behind. However, our minds were preoccupied with the view. A sharp contrast from the lively energy of the dockside market to the serene embrace of the sea.
"Look at the water, guys!" Ino exclaimed. Her eyes sparkled. "It's so clear! I never imagined the sea could be this calming!"
"Yeah, it's nice," Shikamaru agreed, though his voice was heavy with drowsiness. "So nice that it's a perfect spot for a nap." He was lying on a wooden bench. He closed his eyes as he was getting ready to take a nap.
"Oh, come on. Are you seriously going to sleep right now?" She raised her brow. "Why can't you just enjoy the view for once?"
"I've got to keep my chakra in check, Ino." he replied. "With all the running we did to get here, I was about to get knocked out."
"Knocked out? Really?" She crossed her arms.
"Yep." He lazily replied.
"It was just fifteen minutes of running through the woods!"
"And that got me almost knocked out." he dryly remarked
She sighed. "You are impossible, you know that?"
"So I have heard." He murmured back, not bothering to open his eyes.
"Let him be, Ino." Chouji chimed in, his words slightly muffled while munching on a bag of chips. "We will need his brain once we arrive there. And you know how cranky he could be if he didn't get enough sleep."
"Hey, I am not cranky Chouji," Shikamaru argued, keeping his eyes shut.
"Well…" she tapped her lips thoughtfully, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "You are right. I should have known how important his beauty sleep is. I am sorry,
Shikamaru. Can you forgive me?" she apologized in a joking tone.
We could hear him groaning as he rolled onto his back. He muttered something under his breath that we couldn't understand, but we knew what he had just said.
The two softly chuckled at the sight, covering their mouth. This lighthearted and teasing camaraderie within the group always eases a serious situation. It uplifts our mood, giving us a momentary breather we need before facing whatever challenges lie ahead in the Nami no Kuni.
However, my mind was somewhere else. My gaze was drawn to the ocean, evoking the very day when I survived the incident. The vivid colors of the sea began to fade, replaced by a pitch-black void. I could feel the cold water all around me, pushing in from every side. My legs began to tremble as the memory of the shipwreck overwhelmed me.
I was drowning. I could taste the salty seawater flooding into my mouth, dragging me down to the endless depths of the ocean. It was surrounded by total darkness, and I felt… alone.
But then, out of nowhere, I could hear my name from a distance.
"Darou? Darou?"
It was a girl's voice. It became stronger and stronger until I noticed who was calling me.
It was Ino.
"Darou, are you alright?"
My mind returned to the present. I turned my attention to Ino, and I saw her face, etched with concern.
"Yeah," I replied, forcing a smile. "I am fine."
"Are you sure?" She approached me. "I tried to call you a couple of times, but you were spacing out..."
I looked at Chouji. He had the same expression as Ino's. The same thing can be said about Shikamaru. He rose from the wooden bench, glancing at me as well.
"Oh… umm… I was…"
"Alright, you all!" We heard my uncle's voice. It came to a halt as we turned our attention to him. "Sorry for the delay. I didn't think it would take this long," he rubbed the back of his head.
"Did you manage to secure the ride, Asuma-sensei?" Chōji asked, leaning forward with interest.
"Yes. But…"
"But…?" Shikamaru prodded, standing up from the bench.
"There's something I need to tell you. I have some good news and bad news."
"What's the good news?" Ino asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The good news is I made a deal with a captain who is a local of the island. He has agreed to take us there on his boat."
"And the bad news?" I asked, sensing there was more to it.
"The bad news is we can only go when the fog is thick."
"Fog?" Shikamaru tilted his head, puzzled.
"Yes," my uncle nodded. "The situation in Nami no Kuni is a bit complicated. A man named Gato has taken over the region, and his control is tight."
"Gato? Who is he?" Ino asked.
"He's a businessman," he replied. "He owns a shipping company and has a reputation for using brutal force to get what he wants. The captain I met said it's best to approach the island when the fog is thick. It will allow us to avoid detection from Gato's patrolling crew. However, we have to wait for the fog to roll in for a couple of days…"
"A couple of days?!" I burst out. "We can't afford to wait that long! We need to get there as soon as possible!"
"I know that. But with the way things are right now, there's no other way to get in safely except getting the permit issued by Gato's company."
"How do we get it?" Chouji asked.
My uncle looked at him and began to rub his thumb over his index finger.
"How much?" Ino asked.
"More than we could afford. Heck, it is half of the payment fee for an A-ranked mission."
Our eyes widen in disbelief.
"That much?!" she exclaimed.
"Yep." my uncle nodded, with a sigh.
"Hmm…" Shikamaru crossed his arms, deep in thought.
"What are you thinking, Shikamaru?" Chōji asked.
"I'm just… wondering." He then turned to me and grabbed my arm. "I'm gonna borrow him."
"W-Wait, Shikamaru. What are youー."
"Just follow me," Shikamaru replied. The two of us left the others behind as we walked further away from the piers. We were heading towards the dockside market. But before we entered the area, he stopped his steps and turned back to me. "Now I want to ask. Your Eagle Vision. It can detect the item we need, right?"
"Umm, yeah?" I replied.
"Okay. Now, when you walk into the market, can you…" he whispered into my ears, which took me by surprise.
"Wait. You want me toー"
"Yep." He nodded.
"But isn't itー"
"I know. But we are shinobis. We sometimes have to get our hands dirty." His logic made sense, very calm when he explained it.
"Well, I understand that, but…" I shook my head, letting go of the hesitation I had."Fine. I'll do it. But it might take some time to find who has it."
"Don't worry. I'll tell the others that you went to buy something from the market for the trip." He reassured me with a smirk.
"More like borrowing it for the trip." I corrected it as I let out a chuckle. I then headed to the dockside market and began the search.
Ⅲ
As I slipped through the crowd, I quickly turned my vision on. With my scarf pulled up to cover my lower face, I moved silently, not drawing attention.
It was very chaotic at the market. People were pushing around, making way to buy fresh seafood from the fishermen. In every direction where you go, you can hear their loud cry, trying to get the attention of the passersby.
It added another layer to the overwhelming atmosphere, making the market even more lively when you were actually there. It can get you lost very easily with so many people around you. To be able to find the right target who had the permit could take me a lot of time.
But it didn't bother me. I kept my focus while I looked left and right. As a shinobi, I had to be patient.
A few minutes later, I was able to find the target. It was a man dressed in wealthy attire. At first glance, he seemed to be a businessman. He must have an important business deal to make in the Nami no Kuni. Assuming he intended to meet Gato on the island, I am sorry to say this, but we have a far more urgent appointment to attend.
Unaware of my presence, I approached him quietly behind. I quickly snatched the permit from his back pocket and then headed back to the piers. Along the way, I bought a packet of prawn rice crackers for the trip. With hours of travel ahead, a little something to snack on would certainly help keep us going.
Ⅳ
Returning to the group, I saw Ino's eyes light up as she spotted me. "There you are!" she exclaimed. "What took you so long?"
"Oh, you know how packed the market right? There was a line to buy a packet of prawn-flavored rice crackers." I replied casually.
"Really? A line?" she wasn't convinced as she crossed her arms.
"Yep." I held up the packet of crackers and handed it to Chouji.
"Thanks, Darou!" Chouji appreciated. "These crackers look delicious!"
"Indeed, they are. The store owner said that these are the best. And…" I paused. "He also gave me this in the mix." With a quick flick of my wrist, I revealed the permit, letting it spin deftly between my fingers.
They were all surprised when I got the permit in my hand. Shikamaru, however, had a knowing smirk at the corner of his lips, nodding approvingly
"You got the permit?!" Ino asked, her voice tinged with astonishment. She quickly ran towards me and took it from my hand. "How did youー"
"The owner liked my honesty. I was just complimenting him on how well-stocked his store is and the impressive variety he offers. He was planning a business trip to Nami no Kuni later on. But since Gato's got the island under his control, he decided it wasn't worth the trouble and handed me this."
"Just like that?" Chouji asked as he began to munch on the prawn-favored crackers.
"Just like that." I then took the permit back from Ino's hand and gave it to my uncle.
My uncle examined it closely. His experienced eyes scanned the details and nodded with an approving glance. "I'll have a word with the captain. Get your things ready."
He left behind us as he went to meet the captain.
After that, he came to tell us our ride was ready. We quickly boarded the boat and left for the island.
