The First Part Last ~Naruto Fan-fic~

Chapter 6

The water, the fog, the absolute silecne... Minari knew this enviornment perfectly well and loved it. She could smell the salt on the water, and the cool air from the fog soothed her always throbbing head. It was a place like this where she had once found a home with one of the best friends she could have ever asked for. But Minari had made the decision to go back to Konoha. She didn't regret that decision, not in the least, but sometimes she wished she could come back to a place like this and see her friend again.

Currently the team was sitting in a small boat, crossing the water that seperated the land of fire from the land of waves. Naruto sat at the front of the boat, arms crossed. Minari sat next to Sasuke with Sakura close by as well in the center of the boat while Kakashi and Tazuna took up the back. The driver of the boat looked over the water, even with the thick fog, knowing exactly where he was going.

"The fog is so thick. You can barely see anything." Sakura commented. It was quiet again, Naruto seemed to be sniffing the air, a tell tale that he was bored. Minari was in a state of utopia surrounded by all that water. Now, Sasuke noticed her grin and the way she rolled her head back and forth, like she was laying on a comfortable pillow, and found it strange how she reacted to the environment.

"The bridge isn't far now. Our destination is just ahead, the Land of Waves." The boat driver said. Naruto leaned forward, trying to see. The vision of the bridge slowly began to form as they got closer and closer. It was unfinished yes, but the structure in itself was amazing.

"Whoa! It's huge!" Naruto practically yelled.

"Quiet! I told you no noise!" The driver whisper/yelled. "Why do you think we're traveling like this, huh? Cutting off the engine and rowing, moving through the dense fog. So they don't see us!" Minari held her hand over Naruto mouth.

"Mr. Tazuna. Before we reach the peir, I want to ask you something. The men who are after you, I need to know why. If you don't tell us, I'm afraid we will have to end this mission when we drop you ashore." Kakashi threatened. Every one of the ninja in the boat stared at Tazuna, waiting for his answer.

He looked up. "I have no choice but to tell you. No. I want you to know the truth. Like you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man who casts a very long and deadly shadow." Tazuna looked a Kakashi pointedly. "You know him. Or at least I'm sure you've heard his name before. He's on of the wealthiest men in the world. The shipping magnet, Gato."

"Huh? Gato? Of Gato Transport? He's a business leader, everyone knows him."

"Gato is a very powerful business tycoon from a famous company, thats true. But beneth the surface, with the same ruthless method he uses to take over businesses and other counries, he sells drugs and contraband using gangs and ninja. It was one year ago when Gato first set his sight on the Land of Waves. He came to our island and used his vast wealth to take total controle of our transport and shiping industries. Anyone who dared stand in his way just simply... disappeared. In an island nation, the one that controles the sea controles everything. Finance, government, our very lives! But theres one thing he fears. The bridge. When it is complete, it will join us to the land and that will break his conrole. And I am the bridge builder."

The four young ninja sat around each other with minds filled with lines like, oh, now I get it. "So that's it. Since you're in charge of the bridge you're standing in this gangstares way." Sakura was in fact very preceptive.

"So that means those guys we fought in the forest, they were working for Gato." As well is Sasuke. Naruto on the other hand was very confused and Minari just really didn't care.

"If you knew he was dangerous, knew he would send ninja after you, why didn't you hide that from us?" Kakashi asked.

"Because the land of waves is a small impoverished nation." Tazuna looked down saddly. "Even our nobles have little money. The common people who are building this bridge, they can't pay for an A or B ranked mission. It's expensive. If you end the mission when you drop me ashore there will be no bridge. They'll assasinate me before I reach home." He seemed to catch their still uncaring expressions, especially Minari's. "But, don't feel bad about that. Of course my sweet little grandson will be upset, he'll cry 'Grandad! I want my Grandad!'" He hightened his voice to resemble that of a child's. Naruto and Sakura's resolve began to weaken. "Oh, and my daughter will condem the ninja of the hidden leaf village denounceing and blaming you for leaving her Father, living her life in sorrow." Now even Sasuke began to feel bad. "Oh well, It's not your fault, forget it."