Ⅰ
As the boat left the port, the sun cast a warm glow over the water. A cooling, salty breeze brushes against your face, wrapping around you in a gentle embrace. The feeling of traveling on a boat always makes you feel excited and calm. My uncle and my friends all looked at ease as they sat comfortably in their seats.
But as for me, I wish I could say the same thing. With every swift and sway the boat made, I couldn't let go of the fear that was tightening in my chest. The memories of the shipwreck kept playing in my mind. I may not remember how it had happened when the accident took place, but I would rather not, as I could feel the cold water washing over me again, pulling me to the bottom of the sea.
"Are you okay?" Ino asked. She was sitting next to me.
I turned to her and replied, "Y-yeah… I'm fine…"
She raised her brow.
"You sure?" Chouji joined in. He was munching on the prawn-flavored rice crackers. "Your body was shaking."
I didn't notice. Was it that obvious?
Shikamaru gave me a curious look as he pressed on. "Are you… afraid of a boat ride, Darou?"
I quickly looked at my uncle, wondering if it was okay to tell them.
He warmly smiled, encouraging me to be honest.
Over the past few months, my relationship with my friends has grown stronger. It allowed me to be myself, and oftentimes, I felt confident as I talked a bit more with my accent. There were moments when they noticed something peculiar about the way I spoke.
But they mostly find it amusing. Ino would often tease me that I sounded a bit roguish. Like someone who could talk his way out of trouble, and that had happened a few times whenever we received a complaint from our clients for not doing our mission well. I was somehow able to convince them to calm down.
Because of this, I slowly embraced this uniqueness in myself and felt more at ease to show that I am different. For a long time, I had been hiding myself from who I was: an Ijin, a complete outsider to society. I didn't want anyone to know I was a foreigner because I didn't want to be alienated by everyone.
But ever since I confessed to my dear friend Naruto that I was an Ijin, he accepted me for who I was. Maybe it was time to do the same with the rest of them. Hoping they too accept me as well.
I took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "A long time ago, there was… an accident that happened on water…I…"
They leaned forward. Their eyes filled with curiosity.
"I had a shipwreck before I… became part of the Sarutobi clan." I tell them the whole story in full detail. They kept quiet when they listened. It was one of those few occasions when they let me talk without interruptions.
After telling them, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. I looked to my side, and without a word, Ino brought a gentle hug to embrace me.
Taken aback by the sudden gesture, my body froze.
"I-Ino…? Why did youー"
"It's okay." She softly said. She kept repeating it while hugging me gently.
I slowly looked over to Shikamaru and Chouji and saw them warmly smiling at me.
"Darou." Shikamaru spoke up. "It doesn't matter if you are an Ijin or not. You are a Konoha shinobi. Just like us."
"Yeah." Chouji nodded. "You may think that you are an outsider, but we don't. You are our teammate and our friend."
"We would never treat you less. But if someone does…"
"We will teach them a lesson!" Chouji concluded, giving me a thumbs up.
"Do you… really mean it…?" I asked, my voice was trembling.
"We do." Ino replied. She let go of the hug and looked into my eyes sincerely. "We are Team 10. We always stick together. No matter what."
My lips quivered at everyone's words. The corner of my eyes suddenly watered up. I quickly wiped it away, bearing not to cry.
With a small chuckle, I thanked them for accepting me. "Thanks, everyone. I… I had never thought… you guys would be so accepting."
"Hey, you have been Naruto's friend for many years, right? Making sure he had someone to rely on. If I see you treat him fairly, then why shouldn't we? You can rely on us,
Darou. You are a good guy." Shikamaru smirked.
The anxiety I had to confess that I was an Ijin had washed away. It was replaced with comforting confidence, allowing me to genuinely feel that I am one of them.
However, the rocky waves of the boat continued to make me feel unpleasant. I tried to keep it together so as not to be sick.
But then, Ino tapped my shoulder to get my attention. "Wanna take a nap?" She softly said.
"A nap…?" I repeated.
"Yeah." She nodded. "If it makes you feel better, you can sleep on my lap."
"O-on your lap?!" I replied, feeling flustered.
She giggled softly. "There is no need to feel embarrassed, Darou. Like what Shikamaru said, 'You can rely on us.'"
"A-are you sure…?"
"Yes." She nodded, her tone was genuine. "Whenever I had travel sickness, my mom would let me rest my head on her lap. It helps to ignore the rocky movement. So, come on." She gently tapped her lap and guided me to lie down.
I turned my body to the side, lowering my head gently onto her lap. It was warm and comfortable. It began to ease the nausea that was circling in my stomach.
I slowly closed my eyes and began to sleep. Then, I felt my hair being stroked. She whispered into my ear to make me feel relaxed.
"Everything will be fine. You are safe with us." She soothed me.
With the gentle rhythm of her words and the stroke of my hair, I was able to ignore the rocky motion that caused the boat to sway violently. As I slowly delved into my sleep, a warmth started to emerge in me. I do not know what it was, but it was fresh. It was a new kind of feeling that I wasn't ready to name. Only time will tell. For now, I want to hold on to this peaceful moment to rest.
Ⅱ
"Darou," A soft voice awoke me from my sleep. "It's time to wake up."
With a gentle nudge on my shoulder, I slowly rose from Ino's lap. Rubbing my eyes to clear the lingering haze, I glanced around to see that we had arrived at the port of the Nami no Kuni.
It was eerily quiet. Unlike the bustling hub back at the Hi no Kuni harbor, there was no sign of activity going on at the dock. It was as if there hadn't been one for a long time, making the place almost deserted.
As I tried to stand, the drowsiness from the sleep hit me. I stumbled, but Ino quickly reacted to catch me before I hit the ground.
"Take it easy, Darou." she said. "You just got up."
When I looked at her, I realized how close our faces were. I immediately turned away, not wanting her to notice how flustered I was. "S-sorry, Ino."
She softly giggled as she helped me stand. She gently patted my shoulder and replied, "There is nothing to be sorry about."
As we stepped off the boat, the solid ground beneath my feet felt strange at first. After so many hours on the boat, I had to adjust my legs to get back my sense of the ground's stillness.
Fortunately, it didn't take long to regain my footing. Soon, I was able to stand firmly on the wooden piers.
"I should get going," the captain said. "Tazuna-san's house is at the far end on your right. You can't miss it."
"Understood," my uncle replied. "Thanks for the ride."
The captain waved us good luck before departing. His boat gradually disappeared into the horizon.
After he left, we made our way to Tazuna-san's house.
Ⅲ
Walking down the residential area, I glanced around to understand the situation. Knowing Gato's control over the island was fierce, I had no idea how bad it was until I saw it for myself. As I carefully observed the people on the streets, the answer became painfully clear. Their heads hung low, with their shoulders slouched. Etching with despair on their faces, not a single one of them walked normally.
The buildings in the area weren't in good shape. Windows were boarded up with wooden planks, and the paintings were peeling off the wall.
There were a few shops doing business. But among them, you could see the shelves displaying a few items with outrageous prices.
Outside the shops, especially on the streets, there were a number of people living. Cardboard boxes and tattered blankets were everywhere on the side, serving as a makeshift shelter. The people who lived in those shelters were mostly children. They hugged themselves to keep their body warm, despite their clothes being torn and worn. Their instinct to survive the next day was the only one that kept them going. In order to live under the ruthless rule of Gato's regime.
There was a mix of admiration and jealousy when they looked at us. Seeing how well-dressed we were, we could sense that some of them were eyeing our belongings, waiting for an opportunity to snatch them away.
My friends and I stayed close together. We couldn't afford to let our guard down, even if we felt pity for them. It could draw unwanted attention to us, causing a commotion that could thwart the mission.
Then, in the distance, we heard an argument going on. As we looked ahead, an elderly man was being thrown to the street. A group of three men stood in front of him with their arms crossed. From the way they stood, it was obvious they were a bunch of goons who were causing a ruckus at the inn.
"What kind of sake was this?!" One of them complained.
"It tastes like piss!" The other spat on the floor. "We were expecting something decent to drink!"
The elderly man quickly knelt on the ground and begged for mercy. "I am so sorry! Please forgive me!"
"Forgive you?! You think we are going to forgive you?!" The grunt pulled the elderly man's collar, carrying him up high.
"We are going to teach you a lesson, old man. You should be thankful that there are customers like us to come and have a drink! I mean, look at this place! It's a dump! But you happened to have a lovely daughter here. So, instead of beating you up, we'll take her away."
The two goons head back to the inn and violently grab the young lady's arm. She begged them to let her go, but the goon's grip was firm.
The elderly man pleaded not to do it. But he received a punch in the stomach and was dumped onto the street.
I couldn't bear to watch it as I slowly reached for my katana. However, my uncle stopped me from doing it, shaking his head to the side.
"No." He strictly said.
"But, uncleー"
"We are here to assist Kakashi's team. Nothing else." His tone was cold, yet his logic made sense. If we did try to save the daughter from the goons, it would only make things worse. Gato would soon find out we came to this island under his nose.
As the goons took the daughter away, their figures faded into the corner. I swallowed my throat. Knowing how difficult it was for me not to intervene, I slowly looked away.
"Darou…" Ino quietly said, her voice was soft. She gently touched my shoulder as she tried to comfort me.
But then, there was a cry from the corner. Two men were thrown violently against a wooden wall, their bodies slumped to the ground.
From the same corner, the daughter came running and rushed to the elderly man.
"Father!" She cried.
"Yumi!" The elderly man opened his arms wide and hugged his daughter tightly.
The third goon desperately crept away from the corner and begged the attacker not to hurt him.
The attacker's face was hidden beneath the hood of a brown-colored cloak. Standing there menacingly, the cloaked figure picked the goon up and locked their gaze with the goon.
The goon's body was trembling in fear. It was as if the figure's deathly glare had pierced straight through him, causing his limbs to shake uncontrollably.
A long silence stretched between the two. As the tense atmosphere was hanging in the air, we all thought that the goon would be killed on the spot.
However, the attacker released their grip, dropping the goon to the ground. The goon quickly ran away, leaving his beaten-up comrades behind.
The cloaked figure then walked to the couple and threw a small bag in front of them.
The elderly man noticed it. He slowly took it and opened it to see what it was. To his surprise, it was a bag filled with gold coins. A small fortune that could help rebuild the run-down inn.
"Thank you so much! Thank you!" He knelt on the ground. His daughter did the same, bowing down deeply as she thanked the figure for rescuing her.
The attacker began to walk away without saying a word. However, the moment they noticed us watching from a distance, they stopped and stared at us.
It felt like an eternity as the figure's gaze lingered. We kept our alert high, but we were not sure what the figure might do to us.
But the figure resumed their leave, disappearing in the distance.
"Who was that?" Chouji asked.
"I don't know." My uncle replied. "But I had a feeling we might meet him or her again soon."
"Troublesome," Shikamaru remarked, scratching his head.
"Let's hope they are not hired by Gato." Ino said, her tone was cautious. We all nodded in agreement as we continued to head towards Tazuna-san's house.
Along the way, a strange yet familiar feeling stirred within me. It triggered when the cloaked figure looked at usーmore specifically at me. Underneath the hood, I managed to catch a glimpse of the figure's mouth, smiling at me. It was a kind of smile that a person has known you for a long time. A smile that somehow made me feel that I could… rely on them.
What was that…?
Ⅳ
Upon reaching the house, Uncle Asuma stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Coming!" a voice called from within. A few moments later, the door was opened. It was a woman who responded to the knock. She had dark, long hair that fell to her shoulders. Her eyes flicked up and down as she gazed upon us. When she noticed our headbands, a warm smile spread across her face.
"You must be the ones Kakashi-san had sent for help," she said.
"Yep, that's us," my uncle confirmed with a nod.
The woman stepped aside and welcomed us in. The interior was simple yet cozy. A faint scent of salt from the nearby sea blended seamlessly with the inviting atmosphere.
Once we were inside, she began introducing herself. "My name is Tsunami. I am the daughter of Tazuna, the bridge builder. Thank you so much for coming."
"No worries, Ma'am." my uncle replied. "We'll do our best to protect your father."
We then introduced ourselves to her, and we all greeted her politely.
While the introduction was underway, I noticed a small boy peeking at us from the stairs. He was wearing a fisherman's hat with a green-colored overalls. I gave a wave to greet him. But he quickly went up the stairs without a word.
Tsunami looked back and caught a glimpse of it. She softly sighed before turning to us. "That's my son, Inari. He is umm…" she paused, her expression clouded a bit.
My uncle held up his hand, understanding what she was about to say. "He must be nervous with strangers like us. Coming to stay at your place. But rest assured, everything will be fine."
"Y-yeah… nervous. Thank you." She nodded. But her tone betrayed her reply. It was as if there was a deeper reason why her son returned upstairs without greeting us.
Suddenly, we heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It was Naruto. His eyes widened when he saw us in the living room. He rushed up to me and brought his arms to give me a hug.
"How have you been, Darou?! Was everything alright on your way here?" He excitedly asked.
"It was okay." I replied. "Though the boat ride was a bit shaky."
"Shaky? Did you get seasick?" He asked.
"Oh, no. I slept. Thanks to…" I stole a glance at Ino.
She caught my eye and responded with a playful wink.
I quickly looked away, trying to hide my blush.
Naruto looked puzzled at what had just happened. He looked back and forth: between me and Ino. "Did… Ino do something to you?"
"Well, ummー"
"Ino." Sakura interrupted. She came down the stairs with her hands resting on her hips.
"Well, well, well." Ino crossed her arms. "How are you doing, Sakura? Were you able to handle yourself here while I am not around?"
"I was." Sakura replied, a smirk on her face. "I am doing it just fine, Ino. I don't need you to be around."
"Okay, but let me know if you need any help. I would gladly help you if things get hard." Ino teased.
"You wish."
The two began to stare at each other, slowly turning into a glare. We could sense the air start to crackle between the two like a static.
Part of me wanted to step in and diffuse the growing tension. But my instinct held me back as it might worsen the situation. My friends and I exchanged concerned glances, wondering if we should let this go on.
However, the brewing storm didn't last long, fortunately. Kakashi-sensei came down to the living room while being carefully guided by Sasuke.
"Kakashi!" my uncle noticed him.
The girls broke off their heated glare as they turned their attention to Team 7's Jounin.
"Asuma…" Kakashi-sensei responded weakly. "It's good to see your team arrived here in time."
"Well, we came here as fast as we could. How have you been?"
"A bit better," Kakashi-sensei replied. "But, you can see I can't walk without a crutch so…"
"He pushed you to your limit to use your… Sharigan (写輪眼) then."
"Yeah..."
"Hmm…" my uncle crossed his arms. A thoughtful expression drew across his face. "But since he has been taken care of by the Hidden Mist's Anbu (暗部), there shouldn't be a problem. From what I heard from the old man, he's already dead, right?"
That's what we had heard before setting off to come here. However, Kakashi-sensei shook his head. His eyes narrowed with a grave seriousness. "No, he is still alive."
