To Erase, Or To Be Erased (5): Naruto Online Characters (Rated T)

On 2017-03-10 13:59:03 ｜ Show this Author Only ｜ Descending Order

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Summary: Kyoma's been in the Land of Waves for a long time. Way too long.
Ugh I keep on adding minor characters... ;-;
Chapter 4 – 1 year later, Land of Waves
“Kyoma.”
My concentration breaks, and the leaf crinkles up instantly. Annoyed, I throw it to the ground.
“What.” I glance over at the man sitting beside me, on the porch. He’s been watching me do chakra exercises (mainly concentrating my chakra into a leaf on my forehead).
Chewing on a * (Honestly, do *s taste good? Are they substitutes for cigars?), Kaiza hums. “You must’ve had some real foresight to decide to book it to Konoha. I doubt this place’ll hold up much longer, the way the economy’s looking.”
“It’s Gato Company, isn’t it?” Picking up another leaf, I balance it on my forehead. “He’s literally blocking all trade now. We can’t even get in or out without being pegged as enemies.”
Tsunami decides at that moment to poke her head outside, shaking her head at us. “Kaiza, stop talking to Kyoma about trade. We’re still here, and still fine. Now come on in for dinner!”
We oblige, filing into the house. Tazuna isn’t back yet from his newest project, but I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Inari, to the contrary, always worries when he doesn’t even show up in time for dinner.
See, he’s kicking the table legs again…
“Inari, Tazuna will be back soon. He can smell Tsunami-san’s cooking from miles away,” I joke.
“Even I can’t smell Mom’s cooking from miles away,” he complains, his feet finally settling down.
Tsunami sets the plates of food down on the currently still table. “As you get older, I bet you’ll be able to smell my food from miles away too,” she laughs.
Inari is completely clueless.
His expression says it all. I can’t even describe his face without trying to imitate it myself.
Kaiza finally sits down with us, expression looking grim. “Kyoma, you’d better eat quickly. We have to leave immediately.”
Everyone falls silent.
Well, I can tell you that Kaiza’s expression was completely different from Inari’s.
“This… this early?” I ask, shocked. “Why? Do I have to go to Konoha now?”
Kaiza takes his fork and stabs it into a piece of fish, carrying it over to his plate. For once, he seems worn out. Dejected. He curses under his breath. “In a few months, Gato won’t allow anyone to go out of the Land of Waves. Neither will he allow any messages to be sent out.”
Ugh. Why, Gato? “So he’s putting guards everywhere starting today?”
Kaiza nodded. “If we wait, any safe exit could be sealed.”
Kaiza and I had been here for almost a year, Kaiza eventually marrying Tsunami. He’d met Inari when Inari was drowning, saving him and fitting right into his life.
It was a relatively new change, but I liked this change. It was actually a real family, living together under one roof. And I’d been part of it for a while. But my newly-found resolve to go to Konoha wouldn’t quell itself no matter how hard I tried.
If I was in Konoha, I’d have a chance to go against Kiri and take revenge. That would probably take a while, but it would be worth it.
But would revenge be worth leaving this family? I found myself also wondering.
---
Climbing into the wooden boat, I look at Kaiza one last time. “I’ll send messages. I’ll always send messages. So… please, send messages back…” I trail off.
I hate how whiny I sound right now. Since when do I ever beg?
It’s fear. Fear of Gato and his influence, of what he can do as the richest man in the world.
Kaiza nods. “I will. And I’ll try to find a way for you to be able to come visit.”
I’m not sure I will ever be able to see Kaiza and his family again. If I ever visit, then I won’t be able to go back to Konoha. I bow my head. “Goodbye, Kaiza.”
He simply waves back as the ferryman starts paddling away.
---
Over the next few years, I’d find Kaiza sending me letters occasionally. It seemed like Gato had given up on that particular enforcement somehow. I wasn’t completely sure of the rules back in the Land of Waves, but I sure was happy to find Kaiza’s letters still delivered.
They stopped coming when I graduated from the academy.
I kept on sending letters back to Kaiza, but no reply ever came. I began to worry about Gato finally finding out that Kaiza sent me letters. But Kaiza was careful about that. He always was. He even told me about it in one of his letters.
In the letters, I always asked about everyone’s well-being, hoping that someone would reply.
They didn’t.
I gave up hope.
But I still kept on sending letters.
And I also dreamt of Gato's face, drenched with blood.
---
I know it would be quite a hassle to introduce myself as a young kid who traveled all the way to Konoha from the Land of Waves. I also know it would be trouble if I tried to kill the two chunins guarding the gate.
So I employ another tactic: rumpling up my appearance, and crawling to the entrance. I even scream out in fake pain as I crawl in from of the shocked chunins, collapsing right then and there.
Predictably, they take me inside. I guess they wouldn’t just leave a kid here to supposedly die.
Well, good for me.
I open my eyes just a crack to see where I’m being taken, memorizing the buildings surrounding me.
Eventually, I’m dropped off at a hospital, where I find myself being seated onto a white bed with white sheets in a white room.
Why is everything so white?!
The nurses look over me, assessing my wounds. I didn’t dare to inflict that much on myself, so I’m just wrapped in some bandages.
One of the nurses also brings over a needle.
Yes, I’m officially done for.
I watch as the needle seeps into my skin—that stings!—in horror.
Keep your eyes closed, Kyoma…
The next thing I know, I find myself getting drowsier… and drowsier… I’m sleepy…
The nurse who administered the shot turns to look at the ANBU who just walked in. “The intruder has been sedated.”
I got caught, didn’t I… are the last thoughts I have before I fall asleep.
This post was last edited by MisakiFuuji at 2017-3-10 14:17