The Weapon Known as Shinobi (Part 2)
SHIORI'S POV
Inari pulls me along with him. We're running
"Naruto and the others are fighting and risking their lives while the rest of us do nothing. We've gotta fight too" says Inari
"Oh" I stare admirably at him
I smile
"Alright then" I say
We stop by a house and start knocking
"Hello" I knock
"Uncle Kinshi. Hurry! Come to the bridge with me. We don't have to hide any longer. If we all fight together, we can finally take Gato down. And I know we can" says Inari
"No Inari. I've given up fighting. Fighting is for heroes. Like your father. See what good it did him? Isn't one dead hero enough?"
I stare sadly at Inari
"What will fighting now bring us, but more fallen heroes? And more regrets? No Inari, my heart is already full of enough regrets. To last a lifetime"
"Well. I don't want to live a life of regrets either. And that's why we gotta fight! I know you care about everyone in the village and so do I. You and mother and grandfather and everyone. That's why we have to fight" Inari says confidently
"All my life I've been a coward. But now I know the crying and hiding from things that we're afraid of doesn't make them go away" Inari says, then runs away from the house
"Wait up Inari!" I say as I chase after him
"Hurry! Come to the bridge!" Inari yells
"Please join us!" I yell "Come to the bridge with us"
We go to another house and knock
"Is anyone there? Hello? Come to the bridge with us and fight!" Inari yells
"Hello?" I knock
"What do we do now? None of them would even open their door to listen" Inari says sadly
"Don't worry about it Inari" I try to cheer him up
"Well then. If no one else would help"
Inari and I return to their house
Inari grabs a crossbow and a helmet
"You're not doing what I think you're doing are you?" I say nervously
"Well someone's gonna do it" he replies as he puts on his shoes
"It's too dangerous. I'll go" I say
"I'm coming with you" Inari says seriously
"Don't be ridiculous. You're not going to the bridge all by yourselves" says Miss Tsunami
"We have to go by ourselves because none of the others will come with us. We have no choice"
"You shouldn't go at all"
"Inari" I whisper as I stare at them
Inari picks up his crossbow and walks towards the door
"Stop this. You're only a child. What do you think you can do?"
"You're right. I am just a kid. But a kid who knows what it means to stand up and fight. I'm my father's kid"
"I'll look after him" I say to Miss Tsunami
"No. Inari, Shiori, wait"
Inari opens the door. We're about to step outside, when we see all the people standing before us. We gasp
NARUTO'S POV
Gato’s men charge at us. We just stand here looking at each other
Then, a kunai lands in front of the tugs. We look at the direction where it came from. We see Shiori, her hair dancing in the wind
“Shiori!” We yell
“There’s one little thing you’re forgetting about! Before you set one foot in our village, you’ll have to go through all of us!” one of the villagers yells
SHIORI'S POV
We head to the bridge. We see a bunch of men charging at Kakashi Sensei and the others. I throw a kunai in front of them. They look up and see me
“Shiori!” they yell
“There’s one little thing you’re forgetting about! Before you set foot in our village, you’ll have to go through us!” a villager yells
"Yeah!" The rest shouts
NARUTO'S POV
All of the villagers are lined up with weapons, Inari and Shiori at the front and center
Everyone starts cheering
“Inari!” I’m puzzled but happier to see him
“Heroes usually show up at the last minute, you know” Inari says with a smile
“They all came. The whole village” Tazuna whispers, tearing up
The tugs starts hesitating whether to attack or not
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" I exclaim
"Shadow Clone Jutsu! Kakashi Style"
"Still want to fight?" Kakashi Sensei and his clones asks
The tugs quickly runs to their boat
“Victory!” Inari exclaims
Everyone follows with shouts and cheers
SHIORI'S POV
I walk towards Sasuke and hug him. He wince in pain. I loosen my grip a little
“Sorry I'm late” I say
“Yeah. You could’ve arrived sooner” Sasuke smiles at me
We notice everyone goes silent. We look to see why and see Kakashi Sensei carrying Zabuza our way
Snow starts falling
"Imposible!" a villager say in disbelief
"Huh? Snowing at this time of year?" another asks
“Impossible!” says one of the villagers
“You were always at my side. The least I could do is to be beside you at the end. I know it cannot be, but...I wish I could go to where you have gone. How I wish I could join you there…Haku” Zabuza says weakly
“He told me. Where he came from…it was always snowing all the time” Naruto says through his tears
“Of course. His spirit was as pure as the snow. You never know, Zabuza, maybe you will join him there. Who’s to say" Kakashi Sensei says to him
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
We set a grave for Haku and Zabuza as a memorial
“Is that really it Kakashi Sensei?” Sakura asks, kneeling by the cross
“Shinobi are all merely tool in the hands of destiny. No point wondering whether it’s right or wrong. It just is. It’s the same in the Village Hidden in the Leaves"
“Well if you ask me, if that’s what being a ninja is all about, something’s out of whack. Ughh” Naruto turns around to face us “Is that why we go through all this training? Just to end up like them?”
“What is the reason for that?” Sasuke asks
“Judging from what you told me about these two, I know how Haku feels” I say
“What do you mean Shiori?” Sakura asks
“You know, about one’s purpose and how they live for someone else’s dream” I answer
Sasuke looks at me seriously
“Wait, are you talking about you and Sasuke?” Naruto asks
“Not really. I’m just saying you respect someone so much, you’d follow their every command. There’s someone like that to me in my clan” I say
“Can we stop talking about this now?” Sasuke says akwardly
“What’s the matter? Jealous?” I ask teasingly
“Hn. No” Sasuke turns his head away from me
“Well, it’s a question without an answer. And that is something we Ninja have to deal with everyday of our lives, like Zabuza and the kid”
“Okay! I’ve just come to a decision! From now on, I’m finding my own Ninja way. A way that’s straight and true without any regrets. From now on, I’m following the way of Naruto!” Naruto declares
"Eh! *Chuckle*" Kakashi Sensei chuckles
"I still can't believe Haku turned out to be a guy though. I was jealous for nothing" I say
Everyone laughs. Except Sasuke, who's smirking
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
"We could never have finished the bridge without you. I can’t tell you how much we’re going to miss you” Mister Tazuna tells us
“Do be careful” says Miss Tsunami
“Thank you for everything”
“Now now. Don’t get all choked up. We’ll come back and visit real soon” Naruto tells Inari, who’s looking down and tearing up
He shakes his head
“You swear you will?” Inari asks, his voice trembling
“Of course. You know, it’s okay to cry if you want. There’s nothing wrong with that. Go for it” Naruto says, getting emotional as well
“Who says I want to cry? Anyway, if there’s nothing wrong with it, then why don’t you go on and cry?” Inari yells
“No. You first" Naruto tries to act tough
"Forget it” Naruto turns around and they both start crying silently
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
We start walking from the finished bridge to the mainland
“As soon as we get back, I’m going to let Iruka Sensei fix me up a whole mess of ramen to celebrate a mission accomplished. Oh! And just wait till I tell Konohamaru about all my adventures! The kid’s gonna worship me” Naruto declares
I chuckle
“Hey” Sakura calls
“Yeah?” Naruto asks
“Not you Naruto. Sasuke, when we get back, you want to go out and do something together?”
“I don’t think so. Thanks” sasuke answers
“Oh. Okay” Sakura says disappointedly
“Hey Sakura, we could do something together if you want” Naruto says
“Hey, that was a private conversation! Beat it!” Sakura punches Naruto
I move closer to Sasuke
“I don’t have any plans to accept her invitations. You know that” Sasuke says, looking up ahead
“I know” I reply
“Hey Sasuke” I call
“Yeah?”
“I’ve been thinking. Can you do me a favor?” I ask
“What is it?” He moves his gaze to the corner of his eyes to look at me
“Can you teach me the Fireball Jutsu?” I ask
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?” I asks curiously
“I want to learn more Ninjutsu and get stronger. First I want to learn the Uchiha Clan’s key Jutsu. Besides, I need to learn it because I’m gonna be an Uchiha someday” I say confidently
“Hn. Sure, alright” Sasuke smirks