Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Equality Naruto ❯ Final Arrival ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is a manga, by Masashi Kishimoto…that I in no way own or take credit for.

 

 

Final Arrival!

 

(Six Month Time Skip!)

 

 

“Naruto… you always do this.”

 

“Sorry Haku-chan.”

 

“Stop saying sorry! Just learn to stop before you kill yourself! You promised you wouldn't leave me, and dying while training counts as leaving me!”

 

Naruto looked away hurt by her anger and knowing he was the cause of it. “I'm sorry Haku, I'll be more careful.”

 

She sighed. “No you wont. You'll do it again like always, and I'll find you in the morning half dead like always.”

 

“Awww come on Haku-chan, it's never that bad.”

 

“How would you feel if you had to constantly find me passed out in the snow!?” She snapped.

 

“Ok I'm sorry! I'll leave you a note from-”

 

“Don't bother Naruto. It's fine.”

 

“No, you're right.” He said slightly subdued. “I wouldn't like having to worry about you without a proper reason. I'll do my best to control myself when training from now on.”

 

Haku sighed. “Come on Naruto we need to get to work.” Naruto groaned as he sat up. “Come on get up, you chose to stay out there all night.”

 

“Haku-chan, how can you be so cruel?” He wined.

 

“Because I warned you last night, just like every other night, to leave when I do, but you didn't listen like usual. Now get up!”

 

“Why does the old man open the rink so early?” He mumbled after sitting up and pulled out a pair of black slacks, while brushing his teeth at the same time.

 

“Come on Naruto, he was kind enough to give us jobs.”

 

“Nooo, he only gave them to us after I argued with him, and then his wife told him to be nice.” Naruto stated truthfully.

 

“He still could have said no.” She argued back.

 

“Yeah maybe if he wasn't so scared of his own wife.” He mumbled as he struggled with the two tasks.

 

Hake giggled at him. It was true. The old man was as sweeter than candy when his wife was nearby, but harder than rock when she was out of ear shot. Her giggle turned into a full blown laugh as Naruto fell over while trying to put on his pants. “Stop goofing around silly we're going to be late.”

 

Naruto quickly slid into his pants and threw on his blue sweater with the orange spiral on his back with a blue circle surrounding it, and headed for the door.

 

Haku stood in front of him. “Nametag.”

 

Naruto laughed sheepishly as he rushed over to their nightstand and grabbed the small piece of metal. “Ready!”

 

Haku grabbed Naruto's hand and dragged him out the door.

 

Naruto smiled as he quickened his pace to keep up with Haku. Things had been going well these pass six months. Part of Naruto knew he owed it all to Haku for staying with him, and another owed it to the man and women whom gave Haku and himself a job. He gently ran his thumb across his nametag remembering the days that had lead up to him receiving it.

 

~*~

 

Naruto and Haku had arrived later than expected and been forced to spend their first night in Snow Country huddled together in a dead tree stump to stay warm, but the next day had been surprisingly pleasant. The people around the area treated them like ordinary child roaming the streets; they'd either smiled or ignored them all together and kept walking. It was a new to both of them, and completely welcomed. Their first stop was a large restaurant fill with people of all ages. Naruto and Haku had walked in hesitantly expecting the usual calls of disapproval at their presents, but instead someone greeted them, lead them to a small table, and took their order. It was all so foreign to them that they'd been asked four times what they'd like to order. The rest of the day had gone by quite similarly. They visited store after store, after store, but he'd decided to hold on to what little money they had left.

 

The next few days passed in similar fashion before Naruto noticed that his frog purse was considerably lighter. He knew there was no way he was going to survive on that money alone when he left, it just went faster than expected when he'd picked up his new company. Even with the money problem, Naruto was still in a good mood, because Haku had finally opened up and started talking more. Naruto had voiced his concerns to Haku and she'd come up with the best plan Naruto had ever heard of (at the time that is). They were going to look for jobs. Most of the people they asked started asking to many questions for their taste, while others down right laughed at them, and some just gave them a blunt “No.”. After the first three days of failure Naruto had let his happy mask slip and mumbled out the stupidest thing he figured he'd ever said. “We're never going to get a job, this is hopeless.” After that was said Naruto noticed a sudden change in the air around him. It was Haku and she'd heard him clearly, and looked crushed and was most likely finding a way of blaming herself for Naruto's pessimistic words. It was then that Naruto said something probably equally as stupid, even though it came from the heart. “Even if it hopeless, we'll have jobs by the end of the week, no matter what! And I'll never go back on my word!” He'd save Haku from a depression but put himself in one hell of a situation.

 

They spent the rest of the next day asking owner after owner for jobs and came up with nothing. Naruto had three days left to find them jobs, and that morning he'd gotten some information about a stubborn elderly couple that refused to sell a lodge and ice rink that wasn't making much money due to the shape of the lodge. Naruto decided to place all hid eggs in one basket. He would get this job even if it killed him! The second they'd asked for jobs the old man had given them a sharp “No.” told them to leave. So that's how the battle started. For the next three days Naruto followed the Old m

Man around begging him for a job. The Old Man was as stubborn as Naruto was determined. Naruto followed him everywhere to and from work. That was until the third night, when an unexpected person arrived during Naruto's final acts of desperation.

 

Naruto was on his knees hands clasped in front of his face begging truly begging the man for a job when a old woman came in through the front door. She shook off the snow form out side and turned toward the living area where Naruto currently in his prayers' position. Naruto had fallen over from the sheer amount of force that came from the woman mouth as she shouted. “WHAT THE HELL”S GOING ON HERE!”Those words were permanently tattooed in his ears, and Haku seemed to appear out of nowhere holding onto his arm. She'd been as quite as a mouse these last three days while following him.

 

Naruto attention focused back on the old woman who was now standing in front of him. “Why are you so insistent on working here.” Naruto didn't really have a good reason so he winged it. “You need help working this place, we need money, we both can work really hard, and Haku-chan lovesice skating.”

 

The women looked over both of them and turned around. After a few, “Kind.” words directed at the Old Man Naruto figured out that the Old Lady was The Old Mans' wife. When the elderly couple turned back around to face them the old man walked over and told them they started work the next day at dawn and shoved them out the door. Naruto barley got his last question out. “What's Your Name!”

 

“It's Mr. and Mrs. Tatami to you!” Naruto went to say something more, but the door was slammed shut.

 

The next day he'd been give his nametag along with Haku. Instantly their life as working people began, at the Drifting Lodge

 

~*~

 

Naruto was pulled from his memories when Haku suddenly stopped, and turned to face him. Naruto looked at her confused. “What?”

 

Haku reached up and smoothed back his hair. “You really should get this cut.” She said softly while pulling the long hair into a ponytail.

 

“Never, Muhahahah!!” Haku rolled her eyes at the maniac like laugh.

 

Naruto smiled as another lock of hair fell to block his vision. Haku sighed as she looked at the color hair he was sporting today; red hair, with blue tips. Haku laughed lightly. Sometimes people came just to see Naruto's hair of the day. It brought in a good bit of business and seemed to keep the customers amused.

 

She sighed as more hair fell to cover his eyes. “I guess it can't be helped. Come on.” She opened the door and walked into wooded lodge.

 

“You're late!” Mr. Tatami snapped upon their arrival.

 

“No we're a whole two minutes early!” Naruto shouted back.

 

“Get to work or I'll firer the both of ya!”

 

Haku rolled her eyes as Naruto and Mr. Tatami continued to argue until she'd dragged Naruto around the corner and out of ear shot. “Stop goofing around and get to work Naruto. Keep this up and one day he really will fire us.”

 

“Aye!Aye! Captain H.” Naruto shouted while snapping his hand up into proper salute, Haku stifled a laugh as she walked off to check on the customers that were staying in the lodge.

 

Naruto ran behind the counter and started making breakfast for the customers that would be down early. He smiled as he watched Haku rush over to him and deliver the morning orders. “Ok Looks like I have my work cut out for me, time for a little extra help.” Haku sighed as she watched Naruto make four replicas of himself, before sending each to a cooking station.

 

“Naruto-kun be careful this time.” Begged Haku.

 

“What are you talking about Haku-chan, I'm always careful.” Haku sighed and shook her head as two of the clones started arguing over the type of seasoning needed for the bacon. `Another day another disaster.' She thought sadly before walking off to light the fireplaces located around the lodge.

 

“Alright you four get to work!” Naruto shouted out to his clones.

 

“You can tell me what to do!”

 

White smoke replaced the body of the smart mouthed clone. Naruto looked at the other clones. “And then there were three.” Naruto smiled when he saw the clones jump back to work. `Good.' Naruto smiled as he too joined in the cooking, while watching his clones closely… After all they were replicas of him.

 

The early birds were making their way down the stairs for a quick breakfast before continuing on their journey or making their way to the ice, and Haku waited to greet them and bring their drinks.

 

The day went by fairly smoothly beside the one or two time Naruto and Mr. Tatami got into an argument over his bushin being creepy. This resulted in a four on one shouting match, before Mrs. Tatami hit Naruto and her husband on the head, thus ending the argument. Haku was impressed; Mrs. Tatami seemed to always know which Naruto was real which should be impossible. Haku smiled as Mrs. Tatami walk over to stand beside her.

 

“Business has been wonderful since you two showed up. I swear you two were just the thing this old place needed.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“No need to thank me. It's true, the week you two showed up business picked up and two weeks after that business was at an all time high.” Haku's smiled at her happily. “For some reason I know it's you two I should be thanking.”

 

`If you only knew.' Haku thought slightly amused and embarrassed as she remembered why business had such a drastic turn around.

 

Naruto had made it his life's mission to advertise the old lodge. He'd used his favorite technique the “Kage Bushin” and mixed in multiple hinges before letting them loose on everyone in the village. By the end of the day the old lodge was the talk of the town. Naruto hadn't used just any hinges. He'd found a magazine which featured beautiful women, men and even fun loving kids from the lodges golden days. Business had been booming ever since.

 

Haku gasped as the older woman hug her to her side. “Keep up the good work.” Haku nodded before the Mrs. Tatami walked away. It was the first time someone other than Naruto was so forward with their feeling for her.

 

~*~

 

Night had fallen over the Lodge and Naruto and Haku were relaxing on one the couches just like many of the customers.

 

Nights were slow and people tended to just relax and watch the stars quietly. Naruto usually made two bushin and had one hinge into Haku before sending them off to bring people their warm beverages, while he and Haku moved into their usual position. Naruto sat between Haku's legs and leaned his head back on her shoulder, while she pulled his hair to one side, and played with it while they talked.

 

Tonight was no different from any other except for the small blizzard taking place outside, which only made everyone feel a little more cozy. They started off with their usual talk of weird things they saw during the day. Naruto was in the middle of telling Haku about a particular loony; who insisted he was friends with Santa Claus and Rudolf was actually a girl. When the main door was thrown open with a deafening crash making everyone in the establishment jump three feet in the air.

 

“What the hell?” Naruto mumbled.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~

 

Anko was pissed. She'd lost the little brats trail shortly after reaching a bridge where a kid was left dead. Originally she'd thought it was Naruto and had a slight panic attack, but it turned out to be some random chun-nin from Hidden in the Mist, but shortly after she'd lost complete sight of her preys trail and her none of her summoning were situated for the extreme cold.

 

“Stupid kid.” She mumbled bitterly. Anko made her way towards a nearby village.

 

After a week of questioning she still had nothing to go on. “Damn this kid must be a genius or have some of the best luck I've ever seen.” Anko sighed once again as she started moving to check the stores bordering the village. After another long day of nothing she stopped outside of a women's bathhouse. `Maybe the Kid's a pervert' Smiling at the B.S. excuse to use the bathhouse she went in. Anko walked out of the bathhouse nearly two hours later feeling refreshed, but no closer to her goal.

 

She'd entered two more side stores before passing the bathhouse once again. A small itch in the back of her mind made her go back and question the person manning the desk.

 

“Have you seen this kid?” Anko watched as the woman looked really closely at the picture while squinting their eyes.

 

“I think so.” Anko raised an eyebrow behind her mask.

 

“You think so?” Anko asked skeptically.

 

“Well when I saw him he had white hair.” Anko nearly did a happy dance before calming her nerves.

 

“Did he say anything about where he was going, and if possible a better description of him.” Her voice was calm, but she was desperately hoping for a positive answer.

 

“Well I never really spoke with him…” Anko's optimism went up in flames. “,but I did over hear him talking about money for a boat.”

 

Anko frowned. `Money and for a boat?'… “Can you tell me anything about him, anything out of the ordinary or just something that would set him apart?”

 

The woman brows scrunched together as she concentrated on the two week old memory. “Nothing special really. Besides the white hair he looked fairly normal. Now the girl he was traveling with was a completely different story.” Anko's head suddenly snapped up.

 

`Second person, I never saw any signs of a second person.' “Are you sure he was traveling with this girl?” Anko frowned as the woman nodded. `So you've picked up company.' “What was so strange about the girl.”

 

“Oh my, she was filthy when she came in here, and so quite. When she came out though it was like a Cinderella story, except for the fact she was wearing boys clothing. I mean really, the girls now don't know how to dress properly. She almost ……..” Anko tuned the talkative woman out as she smiled at her strongest lead yet. `I'm coming for you runt!' Anko abruptly thanked the woman in the middle of her rant and disappeared in a swirl of smoke.

 

~*~

 

Anko shivered as she made her way further north. `The only place left to go by boat was Snow or a round about way back to the main land.' She thought as the cold continued to nip at her. `I doubt the kid would go back so soon.' Pulse she had a predatory feeling her pray was just up ahead and she was closing in fast.

 

~*~

 

Less than a week later Anko was making her way toward the northern shore of Rain Country when trouble stuck. That's why she now sat inside a village playing the part of a village whore. It seemed the ninja in “Hidden Rain” had gotten word of a foreign ninja lurking around. Since then search parties had been formed to look for her and she was forced to hide herself for nearly a month. When she finally did reach her destination and confirmed Naruto and the girls' presence she immediately tried to find a boat heading to Snow country. As luck would have it. During this season boats were forbidden to try and go north; due to the deadly ice, that in the past had sent many ships, along with their crew and passengers, to the frozen depths of Davy Jones Locker. The next boat didn't leave for four months.

 

So she waited.

 

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Ok so this is my longest chapter yet, for this I expect at least 10 reviews before I continue posting. Spiderman 3 can't wait! Venom! Party this weekend! Other than that, I think I got a perfect score on my Math test today, I even finished first checked my answers twice and I was fifteen minutes late. Weird 536 is so easy. I love Gundam Seed Destiny! So anyways just review.

 

Till Next Time…