Chapter 13 part 1
Well...
The situation's... complicated. On one hand, everything's fine: we fought off the attack, Gato got what he deserved, Tazuna's building his bridge... But look closer at the details — and things turn a little sour. You don't really feel like celebrating. The mood in the village is the problem. People are scared. And the reason they're scared? Us. The shinobi of Konoha.
It all started when the villagers came to the bridge and found a very... picturesque scene. In soft "rosy" tones. Naruko — under the Fox's fury — hadn't held back at all, and what was left of the bridge had been artistically redecorated with torn-up bodies. Over there — someone's head staring at the sky in silent horror. Right here — viscera swaying from the broken railing. And over yonder — a lovely abstract composition made of about five bodies.
Yeah... Hand on heart — I'll be honest: the moment Naruko was calmed down and dragged somewhere safe, I visited the bushes. Sakurai was already waiting. When the fog finally cleared and all this "beauty" presented itself in its full glory — keeping your stomach under control was... pretty damn hard. Then the locals came running. Not enough bushes for everyone.
So the locals got stuck with all the "charm" of cleanup. Hauling bodies. Washing away blood... Personally — I would've just burned the whole structure and rebuilt. But the architect turned stubborn as a mule — despite his face going corpse-pale, he flat-out refused to torch months of work. So the locals scrubbed. Scraped. And fertilized the nearest bushes with the contents of their inner worlds.
But the real problem is us. Or rather — the fact that we're here at all. People are afraid. Before, they were friendly — now they watch the shinobi guarding them with open fear.
And if Uchiha and Akashi couldn't care less about peasants' opinions — the others aren't like that. Sakurai's been walking around depressed. The villagers won't look at him — leaves the kid frustrated and upset. Me? It's more annoying than anything. I get why they want to keep their distance from dangerous, incomprehensible things. But the one who got hit hardest is Naruko. Plenty of people saw her drenched in blood after the bridge — so everyone knows she was involved. And if the others just get wary looks and people shying away up close — from Uzumaki, they literally run. None of the locals will look her in the eye — they all try to slip out of sight as fast as possible. Conversations die when she comes near. People try to become invisible. And — maybe worst of all for her — even Sakurai's started to obviously fear her. Of course, Naruko wouldn't be Naruko if she didn't act like her usual self. But I can see how forced it is. That smile — way too wide. That cheerful mood — cranked up way too high. Her behavior's practically screaming: "Everything's fine! Everything's great! Nothing's changed! Nothing bad or weird is happening!!! I'M HAVING FUN AND I'M PERFECTLY FINE!!!" And then there's the smell — that sharp, prickly Tailed Beast chakra she leaves in her wake. That tells you more about her real state than anything.
"Mmaa... This is a problem," Akashi drawled during one bandage change. Of course the seasoned jonin hadn't missed what was going on. "Sadly, we can't do anything about how the peasants feel... What do you think, Kaoru-kun?"
"Best thing would be getting back to Konoha fast," I offered — the only option I could see. "The bridge'll be under repair and construction for weeks. I doubt Naruko can last that long. I'll try to calm her down — but as long as the 'trigger' is right here, it won't help much."
"We have to guard Tazuna until construction's done. Can't just leave." Akashi shook her head.
"Then... maybe Naruko goes back alone?" I guessed — and immediately shook my head. "No — that'd be even worse. Send her to Konoha alone, and it'll look like she's being expelled. Like she's the guilty one. That'll hit her hard."
"Ara — and you don't seem bothered by what happened?" The jonin narrowed her eye. "I mean — after what she did..."
"Akashi-san. I've lived next to Naruko for a long time. I've fed her in the mornings. I've sent her to clean up and listened to her lazy grumbling. I've watched her do stupid stuff on a regular basis and then laugh like an idiot about it. I know Naruko. And believe me — she absolutely doesn't deserve this! She's a slacker. A layabout. She's a terrible cook. She's loud, scatterbrained, naive about a lot of things, and she rarely bothers with complicated thoughts. But she's not a monster. Not a demon. Not a beast. She's got a big heart and a pure soul. That's what I know about her."
"Mmaaa... Hm... Mmaa..." Akashi murmured, looking at me strangely. She smiled — and suddenly smacked me on the head.
"Hey!.. Ow!.." Stop! STOP!! Don't ruffle my hair like that! Aaah — leave my hair alone!!
"You're... a good guy, aren't you?" the woman said, smiling.
"Hey — what's that 'aren't you' supposed to mean?!" I protested.
"Mmaa... Just because..." Grr! And what's with that knowing eye-smile?! Quit ruffling me!!! "Ara-ara, you're such a swee— OWW!!"
"Oh, forgive me! It seems I pulled this bandage just a little too tight." I apologize — completely insincere — having finally rescued my head from barbaric treatment.
"Why, you little..." Akashi whispered. I heard it. "OWWWWW!..."
***
"Kaoru-kun — you'll be going to Konoha." The mummy that Akashi had become after bandaging stunned me.
"Huh?!"
"I need to send a report to Hokage-sama, and I completely forgot about it~~" Akashi kept going in that flippant tone. "Oh — and don't worry: Naruko will go with you. As a guard..."
"Ah..."
"Ara — don't worry about me. Thanks to Kaoru-kun's tender care, my wounds don't hurt at all anymore. I can manage on my own from here."
"Ah," I said flatly, staring at her sly squint. What a... gray fox! Gets Naruko out of the village AND foists me off far away at the same time! Though — I guess it could work. Especially since Akashi's right: she doesn't need special care or regular monitoring anymore. And it's a good excuse to head back to Konoha — so Naruko shouldn't worry about it too much. And if she does — I'll calm her down. "Understood. When do we leave?"
"I'll write the report today. You'll head out tomorrow morning." Akashi closed her eyes.
"Fine." I nod. "Just don't think that when I'm gone you can ignore your regimen, Akashi-san! I'll leave your medicine — with a schedule. And trust me: I will know whether you followed it or not!"
"Ara-ara..." Did that sound... mournful? Or did I imagine it?
Morning. Next day. The sun was already dragging itself lazily up the sky.
I woke up — performed the short morning ritual to Amaterasu-sama, so ingrained it was basically automatic — then left my room. The house was mostly still asleep. Only Tsunami was already up, flitting through her endless village-housewife duties.
"Good morning, Tsunami-san," I greeted the young widow.
"Oh — good morning, Seishi-sama!" She bowed her head with a welcoming smile.
"Please — none of that 'sama' stuff, Tsunami-san!" I raised my hands in protest, a little embarrassed. It's just awkward — being called "Lord Priest." And in general — the villagers treat me differently. Even though I came with "those shinobi." You could even say I'm the only one they still talk to exactly like before — even after the bridge. It's strange logic, but I get it: in their eyes, a priest is a priest. Shinobi are shinobi. The idea that one person could be both? Just doesn't compute. Which, to be fair — is true. Not many people know about monk-shinobi. Though... Sarutobi Asuma — Asumi, I mean — she belongs to that order of warrior guardian-monks. The Ninso. But that's an exception — and even then, not a full one. Sarutobi's already left the temple — probably doesn't spend her days strengthening her spirit. And the Ninso aren't exactly numerous — one little temple somewhere in the south of the Land of Fire (if I remember right), maybe two dozen souls at most.
Well — doesn't matter.
"If you insist, Nagisa-san," the woman nodded. "Are your friends still asleep? Is there anything I can do? Would you like something to eat?"
"No, thank you. But — there is something I'd like to ask."
"Of course! What is it?" Tsunami responded instantly.
"See, Tsunami-san — I have to leave the village today. Deliver a message to Konoha. And since I'll be gone — I'd like to ask you to keep an eye on Akashi-san and Sasuko-chan. No problems expected with Sasuko-chan — but Akashi-san? Honestly? She's not the most responsible person when it comes to her own health." I spread my hands guiltily. For some reason, I feel a little embarrassed saying this. Akashi — I'm blaming you for my awkwardness. "I'll leave some medicine — but I'm not confident she'll follow the schedule. So — can I count on your help?"
"Umm... I understand." Tsunami thought for a moment, then smiled. "Dear me — I never would've thought a grown, serious woman like Hatake-sama couldn't keep to a regimen."
Tsunami laughed — cheerful — covering her mouth with her palm in that coy way she has. And she's so young... even having a child hasn't touched her grown-up beau—
WILLPOWER!!!
"Ara — she's like a child sometimes," I complained, faking sorrow. "Needs constant watching. But I'm trying to train her. Sometimes it even works. Surely the luck gods are on my side in this righteous mission."
"Indeed!" The woman giggled. "Well then, Nagisa-san — I'll look after your 'child.' And... oh! When do you leave? If you wait — I'll pack you some food for the road!"
"No need to trouble yourself, Tsunami-san." I tried to rein in her enthusiasm. "I think we'll head out in a couple of hours. No rush."
***
After parting with Tsunami, I took a short walk around the area — just to keep busy. I'd packed everything yesterday — just woke up a little earlier than planned.
"There — that's done." I mentally ticked a box in today's imaginary to-do list. "Now Akashi definitely won't be left unsupervised. Next item: wake up a certain sleepyhead."
And I threw myself into it with full zeal. Problem is — rousing Uzumaki takes more than a shoulder shake. No — it's a real battle!
"Mou — what's up, Koru-chan?!.." Naruko grumbled, trying to hide behind her pillow. Her previous defense — the blanket — had already been mercilessly confiscated by me. Yes. I have no mercy. No complaint or plea will stop me!
"Naruko — get up!" I try to confiscate the pillow too — but Uzumaki clings to it like a drowning woman.
"I wanna sleep! C'mon, Koru-chaaaan!.." The blonde whined pitifully.
"We! Leave! In! A-an-hooour!!!" Slightly bending the truth there. It's just — making her move otherwise is... difficult. A yank. Another yank. Aaaand... Got it!!! I land on my ass, clutching the last sleeping item to my chest. "You need to wash up and get dressed."
"Boo... Bakoru's a meanie!" Naruko complained, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her fists.
"C-cute." I swallow. Conscience stirs: how could I wrong this poor little angel?! But reason crushed it — no shame for my actions, no compassion for the poor dear. No!
"Ahem." Weakness purged — I return to the plan. "Ah — and here..."
"KYA?!" The girl shrieked as a wet towel landed on her head and a cascade of cold droplets ran down her neck.
"Now you'll definitely wash up." I smile at my minor mischief. Of course she takes care of herself — but I never stop teasing her about it, since she used to forget all the time. Now — time to retreat. "Anyway — get dressed quick and come down for breakfast. I'll be waiting."
"Mouuuu! Koru no baka!!!" was hurled after me. And it actually lifted my mood a little. Naruko's so energetic in the morning! A joy to behold. At least with a "start" like this she won't be so gloomy right from the get-go — distracted from the village problems.
Okay... think I forgot something. Ah — right! Last check on my patients. One more lecture for Akashi about her regimen, and a look at Hedgehog-chan's throat. Let's start with her.