Capítulo 5: Chapter 5
Walking down the street, away from the Namikaze compound, Naruto continued to annoy his friend with false kissy noises, teasing him for his infatuation with a girl within his clan, Izumi Uchiha. Calming down from his previous streak of laughing, he nudged his arm with his elbow, seeing he was upset. "Ah come on Itachi. I believe your infatuation with Izumi-san is something to be cherished. It is quite beautiful actually, for those in our profession to find such a connection to someone who hasn't yet seen the things we have is fantastic. It shows that, despite the horrors we have experienced, there is still humanity within you. 'In the life of Shinobi, maintaining one's humanity is something frowned upon when at war. But, to me, it mattered not. For, I was determined to be more than the kunai they told me I was.' Yonya Jui, The Weapon I Was." Naruto said, throwing out a quote from a book that he found suited the situation while sighting the author and book verbally.
Itachi snickered. "You and these quotes. You've got one for everything huh?" he asked rhetorically as a way of shifting the conversation.
"Not quite, sometimes they just fit rather well." He said scratching the back of his head, smiling in embarrassment.
Itachi nodded. "It would seem as though many of them do." Silence settled in after that while they walked through the streets of the village in the aftermath of the festival. Various pieces of trash from goodies and what not lay scattered around the streets. Vendors from out of the village packed up their stuff, ready to head back to where ever they had come. Nearly midnight, there weren't too many people out and about as everyone left standing were adults who packed into the numerous bars around the village for some late night drinking.
As they walked, they were greeted by the few passing Uchiha patrols who nodded in their direction. All the while, Naruto stuck behind the book Itachi gave him and Itachi gone within his own thoughts.
"Itachi." Naruto said getting his attention. "May I ask you what it is like?"
Itachi raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he meant.
"To be in love." He clarified.
Itachi grunted as is seemingly customary for his clan. "Hn, and you'd assume I'd know?"
"Well, of course you would." Naruto said. "You are in love with Izumi-san right?"
"She is just a friend." Itachi replied.
Naruto looked at him, confused by his denial. "But… you show the signs of someone in love." he said rummaging through his pouch pulling out a scroll. He unrolled it and unsealed yet another book. "Nakami Utzukiya, a marriage counselor of Spring country, wrote a love novel in which the main character states 'I know the signs of a man in lo.."
"You can't get all of your information from fictional writing." Itachi bud in, looking at the book he had in his hand.
Naruto looked at him, still as confused as before. "Why not? It is usually a good source for a different perspective on most topics."
"Right." Itachi replied. "But they are usually opinions of the author. Not proven fact."
"Sometimes that is not always the point." Naruto replied, sending him a smile. "If you would read a few of them yourself, you would discover things about Itachi Uchiha that you may find interesting. You believe you are not in love, but I could wager my life you are." Naruto said looking ahead to the HQ that was now in sight.
"You seem to be in a rush to meet death." He said receiving a chuckle from the blonde as they entered the building.
-break-
Opening his locker to adorn his uniform, Naruto continued the conversation. "The thing about books is that a man could live a thousand lives if he so wished."
"Living one good life in reality seems much more fulfilling." Itachi contended.
"To individuals such as yourself I suppose. For some, hearing what the world means to others is fulfilling as well. Shinobi especially." He debated.
"How so?" Itachi asked, clamping on his forearm guards.
Strapping his black sword to his back, Naruto reached up for the top of the locker, pulling down his mask. "We are subjected to scenes most people wouldn't even dare write about. On a weekly basis, we view scenes depicting pain, sorrow, hatred, and fear, but not much else. For the lucky few, those things come along with admiration." He said, hinting at Itachi. "But, for others, a good book can remind you that there is some good in this world. Without an outlet, we'd loss our minds."
"So, that's why you read them?" Itachi asked, placing his weevil mask on.
Naruto put his tiger painted mask on as well. "We all need something."
-break-
Opening the door to the mission briefing room, Yugao and Hayate were already overlooking a map for the mission parameters. Naruto and Itachi walked in and stood at the opposite side of the table at attention. Hayate and Yugao were seemingly working out the kinks. When they finished, they nodded to each other and got the attention of their young prodigies.
"Ok." Hayate began with two small coughs afterwards. "This mission is a search and rescue. We will be heading into Kusagakure. Our team was requested due to the claims of the enemy possessing some sort of impressive Genjutsu. Weevil's Sharingan is vital." He explained as the black haired teen nodded in understanding.
"When we get through that, there was also a claim of our target being locked within some sort of high classed sealing technique which is where Tora comes in." Receiving his nod of confirmation, he continued. "Our target is the son of a rich merchant, Kyjo Nomo. Mr. Nomo received a letter a few weeks ago offering a trade of his own head for his son's life. Being the closest village, we were offered the mission with major payout. We are expected to face low ranking nukes, C to possibly B class at best. However, along the quickest route, which is the one we will be taking as time is of the essence, there have been sightings of possible S ranks." He finished.
Yugao continued after him. "Remain light on your toes and stay alert. It is a twelve day trip there on foot. We will be taking the trees which will cut it down to eight. Our estimated ETA is two weeks."
Piggy backing off of her, Hayate continued. "That is, of course, if we are able to retrieve the boy within the first two days of us being there. Let's get in, get the boy, and get out. No unauthorized side missions…" he said as Tora and Weevil gave quick bows to their superiors with a simultaneous shout of 'Hai'. The team of ANBU operatives departed five minutes later.
"Happy Birthday dear Menma and Mito… Happy Birthday to you!" the party occupants all sang in unison, cheering as the two blew their candles out. From there, a quieter than usual Kushina cut the massive cake as the women who volunteered to help passed out plates of the delicious sweet to the kids and guests. It was half past midnight so most of the party goers had retired to their homes, trusting that whatever gift they got for the two would be useful in some way.
Kushina's smile had long since faded as she was too tired to even pretend anymore. As Menma and Mito opened gifts, she sat in a chair off to the side, mindlessly staring at something within her line of sight. Glossy eyed and uninterested at the excitement of the two children she has seen for three years straight. She had never felt so annoyed of her two prized children before this point. For whatever the reason was, she just wanted them to quit being so joyful. A clear sign of her exhaustion, she held her tongue.
Minato was at the end of his rope as well. He leaned against the door frame of the backyard, looking in on Mito and Menma opening present after present while the kids surrounding them stared on in awe. Never before had he felt so mentally and physically drained. Having both fought in and commanded an army in war, that was definitely saying something. Who knew mentally kicking yourself in the ass could drain you so much?
After all of the excitement had left the atmosphere and the parents had reached their limit, the party's numbers dwindled bit by bit. Everyone finding it an absolute must to bid the Hokage a good night which he returned systematically, trying to get them out as fast as he could. Before too long, there were only a few remaining stragglers. Mainly those whose wives stayed behind to assist in the cleaning. A little longer and it was just the Uchiha's.
Standing in the doorway, Minato was approached by Fugaku for the first time that night. He was so busy that he didn't have much time to associate with anyone other than his brief conversation with his son. "Well, I assume by your recent mannerisms that you've learned of your sons' success?" he asked him in a knowing tone.
Minato was too tired to decide if it were meant to be a simple statement or an insult hidden within a question, so he went with the former to avoid any conflict. "Yeah… he's amazing."
"Indeed." Fugaku replied. "Those two will far surpass us in time." He continued, gazing out at the view he could see from the porch. "Maybe they already have…"
Minato chuckled at that. "From the things I've heard today, I wouldn't doubt it."
"He is full of surprises, that son of yours."
Minato turned to him. "How much do you know of him?" he asked suddenly.
Fugaku peered at him in questioning. "Depends on what you're asking."
"Well… how strong is he really?... what are his abilities and what not?" Minato stated more so than asked.
Hearing his wife bidding Kushina a goodnight, Fugaku chuckled at the question. "I'd advise going to watch the film of their match within the Chunin exams." He said with a smile. "I warn you now. It is absolutely spectacular."
Minato wanted him to elaborate, but as it had been all day, his luck was against him. "Ah, Minato." Said Mikoto walking over with Sasuke. "Say bye, Sasuke-kun." She said leading him towards the door.
"Goodnight Menma's Tou-san." He said receiving a flick to the ear from his mother. "Ow! I mean, Hokage-sama." He corrected. Mikoto shook her head as he jogged out the door.
"That boy." She said lowly. "What are you two talking about?"
"Just man things." Fugaku said a little too hastily. Before he realized his slip of the tongue, he could feel a chilly presence behind him accented with enough killer intent to make Minato gulp. Turning around, he looked into the playful eyes of his wife.
"Oh, and what would these so called… 'man things' entail?" she asked sweetly.
Fugaku gulped as well, looking over to Minato who avoided his eye contact at all costs. "Uh…" he began, but quickly ended whatever he was about to say as it wasn't wise for his health.
"Are you ok, dear?" she asked still as sweetly as before. "Maybe I should get you home." She finished pushing him out the door gently. "Goodnight Minato." She said smiling at him as well.
Minato watched them go as they linked arms. Fugaku turned back to him with a face he's seen on many men either leaving or headed to war. He'd spare a brief prayer for the man that night. But, he was glad everyone was finally gone.
-break-
Walking into the kitchen, he saw Kushina doing the dishes. He stepped up beside her and began to help her. "I got it." She said with a flat tone that held an underlining of annoyance.
"It's fine. I can help." He said pulling out a fresh rag for drying.
Kushina let the dishes in her hands drop down, clattering against the metal sink, startling Minato. She looked up to the ceiling in frustration, shutting her eyes and taking a breath to steady herself. "Minato?" She whispered lowly. "I said. I got it."
He put the rag and plate down and placed his hands along the edge of the counter to support his weight. His eyes were firmly set on the sink handle that seemed so interesting for some reason. He was thinking of something to say in this situation. No words were coming to mind, but he really wasn't interested in going to bed with an angry Kushina. He had to think of something that could possibly calm her down.
She went back to washing the dishes, simply reaching across the man when she had to. Minato looked at her in thought. Maybe reassurance? "…He doesn't hate us."
"And that makes it better?" she asked immediately as if she had been prepared for that question for a while.
"No, but… maybe it means we have a chance to make it right?" he said hopefully. Kushina didn't seem convinced.
"Make it right?" she asked once again dropping the dishes down. "Make it right!?" she bellowed louder. "What the hell do you mean make it ri-…" she yelled dying off, hearing Mito and Menma walk in. She quickly tightened her lips shut and began aggressively scrubbing at a plate that had been clean for a while now. Minato heard the two come in as well, but his eyes were still on the side of Kushina's face. Mentally pleading with her to talk to him so that they could work through it.
Mito and Menma looked at the two in worry as they had never really seen them fight before. Neither brave enough to say anything, they just watched as Minato turned around and sighed. "Come on you two… it's time for bed." They stood rooted to their spots until he walked over to them, ushering them out of the room. Kushina was left there with her face in her hands and tears falling freely. This life was not going as she had planned out just twelve hours ago. Nothing was right, but everyone acted as if nothing was wrong.
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