The Strength Of a Shinobi.

Prologue.

Naruto's life had never been smooth.

From the moment he first realized he existed, he'd been exposed to all manner of hostility from all around him. Hatred was aimed at him everywhere he went, and everything he did to gain approval was met with nothing but scorn.

It was bad.

The villagers of the hidden leaf hated him because he held the stuff of their nightmares within him. Thirteen years ago, the nine tailed fox, a monstrous construct made of pure corrosive chakra ,unleashed hell on Konoha, killing hundreds and wounding more. It left destruction and mayhem wherever it breathed, and without the interference of the Fourth Hokage, all would have been lost.

That beast made his life, hell. The villagers hated him because it was sealed in him.

They hated him even more when he lost it.

Because then, they realized that they'd lost an incredibly military  asset. The Shinobi council, made of heads of the great ninja clans within the leaf turned their anger on the boy, neglecting him, leaving him to the mercy of the civilian council.

Thus, a life that had been dangling on the edge of a figurative abyss was shoved over through the 'promise of a lifetime '

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Beneath the sound of the sea waves was the sound of a bottle of sake being chugged. The lips over which the potent beer was passing through were puckered, dry and stinging, but the owner couldn't care less. Once the bottle was  empty, he tossed it to the floor of the boat, before his old eyes stared at his young passenger.

"Are you sure about this kid?" He asked, his throat raw from continuously chugging.

"Would I have made it this far if I wasn't sure?"

The annoyed sound of a young boy answered. Though the old man had told himself he was used to the boy's tone and method of speech, his eyes narrowed at the response.

"I'm asking because you have a very high death risk if we continue, I mean, even I have a higher chance of surviving than you."

"That is, assuming that the defenses set up during the time of their demise weren't all destroyed." The young boy responded.

" There's a reason not just  anyone visits these ruins  kid. It could be because of those nasty seals they set up back when the village still stood."

"Seals that were breached when the village was attacked. Perhaps the reason no one visits is because, there's simply nothing to see or take." He answered.

"Then why do you, at a very high risk of your life, want to see it?" The old man asked.

"Because I'm dying." Was the short answer.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Is it because of the.."

"Usually, when a Jinchuuriki looses their tailed beast, they automatically die on the spot. But, my father, the man who sealed the demon within me, placed a contingency in the case that happens. I don't know how that worked, but it involved pulling all the nine tails chakra that had been amassed in my coils throughout my life. Even though it worked, the process wasn't pretty."

"It's what led to you-"

"Yeah" he answered" it may have given me a few more months to live, but it also left me crippled as a Shinobi."

"In more ways than one" the old man added his eyes falling to the stub that used to be the boy's right arm. The youngster narrowed his eyes and covered the stub with his cloak, a frown settling on his face directed at the old man" sorry, that was insensitive of me."

"Yeah, it was" the boy bit back, his teeth bared, then after a moment of silence, sighed deeply and looked away" let's just get this over with."

"The only reason I'm doing this is because you saved my village. You risked your life to save my people, my daughter and my grandson. My nation. This is my way of settling that debt."

"What are you spouting off right now old man" the boy asked with that same air of irritation.

"I know I promised to take you only close enough to not be pulled in by the whirlpools, but I lied " he said.

"What?"

"I'm going with you all the way." The old man responded with a warm smile on his face.

"What!"

"Yep "

"But you just said it yourself, this is a suicide mission."

"For you that is." The old man said with a haughty laugh " not only am I a super carpenter and bridge builder, but I'm also a seasoned sailor. I know how to avoid those damned whirlpools better than anyone."

"But....but..." The once bright blue eyes stared at the ageing eyes of the drunkard and the argument that had been stirring within him just dissipated " ...why...?"

"Because if you go there alone, you will die. And when  you die, I wouldn't have paid you back, and when that happens, I will automatically be in the list of the many people in this life who've let you down. I don't want to be in that list. It's a shitty list."

A drop of salty tears hit the deck, and the smile on the old man's face grew softer and warmer. His heart clenched when he saw the way the boy was so moved when someone could actually risk his life for him. He raised his huge calloused hand and patted the boys head, his thick fingers sinking into the boy's spiky blonde hair.

"You've been through a lot Naruto, so much more than I would have ever been able to handle." He spoke, his voice uncharacteristically soft" If you're on your last days, you deserve to spend them with someone who actually cares about you."

"W...what about, Inari and...and .. Tsunami?" The boy asked.

"I told them I'd see them for dinner. " He said with a smirk adorning his face" it may not be today, or tomorrow, but one day, we'll all sit down and have a hot meal together."

"That's not right!"

"Neither is letting you die alone in a ghost village!" The old man bit back, then sighed" Naruto, the land of waves wouldn't be where it is right now, enjoying the peace and prosperity if it weren't for you. Tsunami and Inari would've been dead if you hadn't gone back and saved them. This is my way of repaying what you've done for us, for me. I promise I will not leave you alone to die. "

The boy looked up at him, tears gushing from his eyes endlessly, and in that moment, the old drunkard could see that young innocence that had been clouded by the pain that dulled his cerulean orbs.

"Now suck it up, you unpredictable knuckleheaded ninja. We sail for the village hidden in the whirlpools, and believe me, the view is literally breathtaking just when the whirlpools consume you." He said.

The boy let out a chuckle while wiping his eyes with his remaining hand.

" Thank you, Tazuna."

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How was it...good, better or best?