Naruto Shippuuden: Arashi no Manako (Eye of the Storm)

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Chapter II: Hawk Eye
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     Walking down the dirt road on the way to… wait, was it called again? Oh no! What was the name of that place I had to go to?!  Kanaha? Konaho? Ku… Ko…. Awww man! I can’t believe I don’t remember it!! I sighed deeply. “Maybe I’ll know when I see it.” I thought to myself. I continued walking along the path before me, while checking my surroundings. Nothing but trees, really, and the few leaves that had escaped from their grasp twirled and danced along the ground by my feet. The slight breeze also helped to pull and tug at the remaining leaves still on the many branches, slowly progressing to winter by every leaf it got. It was still chilly since it was morning time and all, but it was good that I was wearing a long sleeve shirt at least. I would have been pretty freezing if I had been wearing shorts too.
     After what seemed like a long walk, I finally came to the huge great gate of my destination. I looked up in awe at the enormous size of it. It read, “Konohagakure no Sato” at the top. “KONOHA! That’s what it was!” I yelled aloud. At the top of the gate on the banner, there was a foreign symbol to me. It looked like a spiral with a small triangle on it. It probably symbolized Konoha. I then looked at the gate’s doors. They read, “Hermitage” and “Retreat.”
     “Hm, seems like a good place to me.” I crossed into the boundaries of Konoha and strolled down what seemed to be the main road. Hands in my pockets and my head slightly lowered, I passed many people as I walked, looking at each person. There were people gathered around, standing, and walking, with either their family, their friends, or their lover. All of them were laughing, talking, and having a good time. You didn’t even have to know them personally to know that they were happy, you could just tell by looking at them. I smiled and thought, “What a peaceful place. I would love to live here.”
     I then thought of what that mysterious girl had told me. “You need to go help your friend.”
     I stopped. Who was it I needed to help? Why couldn’t she have just given me their name? “But wait,” I told myself. “Will my friend be able to recognize me? Or will I just know it’s them? And what happens when I do find them? What the heck do they need help with?” Lost in my thoughts of unanswered questions, I looked towards the sky, hoping for an answer. A huge mountain looked down upon Konoha, literally. For some reason, five faces had been carved into the mountain. They must have been really important to this town. The first four were men, and the last one was a woman. It was funny though, the fourth guy seemed kind of familiar. “I wonder who he is? Why is it he seems so memorable? Maybe he’s…” CRUSH!!!
     My track of thought was suddenly demolished when a huge heavy object landed on my foot. “Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!” I said out loud in pain as I hopped on one foot, holding my other one. I looked down only to see that a huge box had crushed my poor foot. I looked in front of me to see who had been the culprit.
     “Oh, I’m terribly sorry!” Said the old lady in remorse. “That box was terribly heavy and I am just getting so old, I’m afraid I don’t have the strength I used to have when I was younger.”
     I looked down at my foot. Did that break my toe!? “It’s… ow … ok! Really!” I told her.
     “Please let me tend to your foot! I am pretty good at bandaging and first aid.” She replied.
     “No, no, really. It’s fine! See?” I put my foot back on the ground, putting pressure on it. It still stung, yet it would be ok in a few minutes anyway. I grinned and said, “Thank you anyway though… ugh…”
     “Shiko. Abake Shiko.” She said, knowing I was asking her name.
     “Thank you, Shiko Baa-chan.”
     “You’re welcome…” She looked at me with a raised eyebrow, wanting to know my name!
      “Uh-oh,” I thought to myself. “I don’t even know my name! What am I gonna tell her? Ugh… I gotta think of a name.”
     “I-Itsu! My name is Itsu.” I finally blurted.
     “‘Lost’? My, the names parents come up with these days.” She said, giggling. “You’re welcome, Itsu-san. It’s nice to meet you.”
     “The same to you, Shiko Baa-chan.”
     “Well, I guess I should get going now. I have to get this to the shop right away.” Shiko bent down and tried to pick up the heavy item.
     “Hey, wait. How about I help you out?” I told her. What harm could be done by helping her? It’s not like I was going to be late for something or anything like that.
     “Oh! Are you sure? That would be great! Thank you so much Itsu-san.”
     “It’s no problem, really!” I replied, grinning. I bent down and struggled with the box for a second, but then I managed to pick it up. “Wow, what’s in here? It’s pretty heavy Shiko Baa-chan.” We started walking side by side, towards the shop she had spoken of.
     “Oh, it’s just some fertilizer for the flower shop I work at. We were running low and a shipment just came in today so I went to go pick it up.”
     “Aren’t there any other people who work there? I mean, why couldn’t they have gotten it?”
     “Well, there is a girl named Ino working there too but she was… busy.”
     “What do you mean, Shiko Baa-Chan?”
     “She was mad at one of her team mates since he went into the shop and mistakenly ate one of the flowers, thinking it was some sort of food. She was yelling at him and so I thought it was best I got the fertilizer. I didn’t want to bother her, or worse, have her yell at me.”
     “Team mate…?” I whispered to myself.
     “Ah, that’s right, I noticed you didn’t have a Konoha forehead protector. You must still be in the ninja academy. Am I right?”
     “Ugh… riiight.” I told her, unsure of what a ninja academy was. However, I didn’t want her to know that. I don’t want to make any fuss in Konoha. It’s already a nice and peaceful place, why would I want to disturb that?
     “We’re here! Let me hold the door open for you.”
     I walked inside the tiny flower store. I guess that Ino girl’s teammate must have left since there was only someone at the cashier. It must have been her. I waited patiently for Shiko Baa-Chan to come inside. “Where do you want it?” I asked, shaking. The box was making my arms hurt and I think they were falling asleep.
     “Just set it down over there.” She said, pointing at the northwest corner of the store.
     Happily I rushed over to my destination and set it down as fast as I could. Huff, huff, I panted as I sat on the box.
     “Shiko Baa-chan!” Yelled the girl at the main desk. “Why didn’t you tell me to go get the fertilizer? You know that’s my job!”
     “Well, you were just so busy will Chouji-kun that I thought I could get it. Luckily I had Itsu-san here to help me.”
     “Oh? Why hello Itsu-kun! I’m Ino! Yamanaka Ino!” She winked.
     “Ugh… nice to meet you.” I said, worried. This girl was pretty scary.
     Ino was whispering to herself… “He almost reminds me of Sasuke-kun!”
     “Sasuke?” I said quietly.
     She giggled and walked over to me. “Well, Itsu-kuuun. Thanks so much for helping Shiko Baa-chan.”
     “Yes, thank you very much Itsu-san.” Said Shiko, bowing.
     “It was no problem. Don’t worry.” I smiled. A peace and warm comfort fell over me. Helping people is such a great feeling.
     “Please, take this as payment.” Said Shiko, handing me three small coins.
     “No, really, that’s not necessary.” I told them.
     “Please, I insist. For all of your hard work, you deserve something for yourself.”
     I was hesitant at first, but I eventually gave in. “Ok, if you insist. Thank you Baa-chan.” I said, taking the money from her. This would actually come in handy though, since I didn’t even have any money of my own.
     “You’re very welcome.” Replied Shiko.
     “Well, I really have to be going now though. There’s someone I have to… find.”
     “Oh? Who is that??” Asked Ino curiously. A sad look fell upon my face. I wish I knew myself.
     Shiko sensed the uneasiness. “It’s ok Itsu-san. You don’t have to tell us.” I smiled at her understanding. Walking out of the door, I waved. “Goodbye!” I told them both.
     “Goodbye!” They both said. “Don’t be a stranger! Come back and visit sometime! Or come and get some flowers!!” Back on the road, I started walking down it again. No sooner had I started walking, however, did I notice somebody’s shadow. I looked up. A tall boy in an orange suit with blonde hair and blue eyes stood in front of me. He had strange whisker marks on his face and a black band around his forehead. On the black band was the embedded mark of that spiral-like symbol I saw on the front gate of Konoha. It must be a forehead protector for someone who graduates from that ninja academy!
     The boy looked at me with a straightforward stare. He pointed at me. “You! Who are you!?” He said. I stood there, confused. He spoke again. “I know almost everyone in this village but I’ve never seen you! If I’m going to be the Hokage someday, I’d best get to know everyone in Konoha. ‘ttebayo.” I was still confused. What was a Hokage??
     “I saw the good deed that you did for Shiko Baa-chan. That was pretty noble of you.” He said.
     “Um, thanks?” I replied. Who was this guy? And what the heck, was he stalking me?? Just then, my stomach rumbled.
     “Looks like you’re hungry, have you ever eaten at Ichiraku Ramen before?”
     “Ugh… nope.” Well, whatever that place was, it sounded like a good place to get food.
     “Well, let’s go there now! It’s my most favorite place to eat in the whole world. I know you’ll love it too.”
     “Sure… ugh… what is your name?” I asked. “Wait a minute,” I thought to myself. “Was he my friend that needed help? No, he couldn’t be. I am sure my friend will recognize me.”
     “My name is Uzumaki Naruto and someday I’m going to be Hokage! Dattebayo!”
     “Yeah, a Hokage, what is that?”
     Naruto gasped in horror. “What?! How can you not know what a Hokage is? Don’t you live here in Konoha!?”
     “Actually… I don’t know.” I said. It was time to tell someone. I thought I could tell this Naruto person. He seemed like a good guy. Somehow I felt I could trust him.
      So, I told him. I told him almost everything. What I wouldn’t tell him about was that girl. He may have thought I was crazy or something if I told him about her. But as we ate at Ichiraku Ramen together—which was really delicious---I explained it all to him. When I was finished, he just sat there for a moment, sitting really still. He must have been letting it all soak in.
     “But…” Said Naruto. “I heard you tell Shiko Baa-chan that your name was Itsu.”
     “I know,” I replied. “I wish I could have told her my real name. If only I knew what it was…” I swirled my ramen around in my bowl. “Hey, Naruto… who is the fourth guy up on that huge mountain?”
     “Hm? Oh, you mean Yondaime? He was the fourth Hokage.”
     “Is he still around or something? Out of all of those faces up there his seems to be the one that stands out to me the most.” Naruto suddenly looked sad at the mention of him. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.
     “Actually, he died protecting Konoha from… a monster.”
     “Oh, I’m sorry, Naruto.”
     “It’s ok…. Ugh… Hm… we need to think of a temporary name for you. At least until you remember who you are. ‘ttebayo.”
     “True…” I said, thinking of something to use.
     “Well, you’ve already called yourself ‘Itsu’ so you may as well use that.”
     “Good thinking, Naruto. But ugh… what am I going to do about my amnesia?”
     Naruto thought for a moment. Seconds later, he hit his fist into the palm of his hand. “I’ve got it!” He shouted. “Tsunade no Baa-chan!”
     “Tsunade no… Baa-chan? Who is that?” I asked.
     “Come on! We have to go now before she gets too busy! Dattebayo!” Naruto took out his signature frog wallet, left money for both him and I, then grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to go see the Godaime Hokage.


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     “TSUNADE NO BAA-CHAAAAN!” Tsunade could here his voice coming in even through the door. She placed her hand on her forehead and rubbed it, as if she had a headache. “Come on in, Naruto.”
     Naruto and Itsu stepped in, followed by Shizune. “He requested to see you immediately, Tsunade-sama. He said it was really important,” Said Shizune as she walked toward the Godaime’s desk. “And here are the files you requested.”
     “Thank you, Shizune. You are excused.”
     “Thank you, Tsunade-sama.” Replied Shizune as she bowed respectfully and then left. I got a good look at her. Her face was carved into that big mountain! Then… all of those people must have been a Hokage.
     Tsunade was the first to speak. “What is it this time, Naruto?”
    “Well, it’s about my friend Itsu here!” Naruto grabbed me and pushed me in front of himself.
    “What is her name again?” I whispered to Naruto.
     “Just call her Tsunade no Baa-chan. That’s what I call her.” He whispered back.
    “A-hem. Ugh… Tsunade no… Baa-chan?----”
     “THAT’S HOKAGE-SAMA TO YOU!!!” She bellowed. “Naruto!! That applies to YOU too!” Wow, this lady was even scarier than that Ino girl!
     “I’m sorry. Hokage-sama, you see…” Naruto then placed his hand in front of me, signaling me to stop.
     “Look, it’s like this……” And so he told her. He told her everything I had told him. When he was done, the great lady Hokage sat with her eyes closed, thinking it through.
     “So, Itsu? Is that what you are calling yourself?”
     “Yes, Hokage-sama.” She thought for a second more.
     “How much do you know right now? Like, do you know any jutsus?”
     “Actually,” spoke Naruto. “Before I told him, he didn’t even know what a jutsu was, or even a Hokage.” Tsunade looked surprised at his discovery.
     “Fine then. Naruto! I’m assigning you as his sensei! Until this boy remembers anything of his past or if any one can recognize him, I’m leaving you in charge of him. Got that?” Stars lit up in Naruto’s eyes. He was a sensei?! Oh how happy it had made him!
     “NARUTO!!” Shouted the Slug Princess. He snapped out of his dream state.
     “Yes, Tsunade no Baa-chan!” That angered her slightly, but she ignored it.
     “I’m counting on you to teach Itsu the basics. You are dismissed.” Naruto and I headed out and started on our way to go get some “kunais” and some “shurikens,” whatever those were.
     “She was pretty scary, don’t you think, Naruto?”
     “Yeah, well, she can be pretty cool too. ‘ttebayo.” Just as we were at our destination, Naruto stopped walking and then started waving at someone. “Oy! Kakashi-sensei! There’s someone I want you to meet!” shouted Naruto.
     I looked at the guy he was waving at. He had a green vest on, wore mostly blue, with spikey white hair, and a mask that covered his face. His Konoha forehead protector also covered his face as well, but only the left side. He was buried deep within a book. When he looked up, he waved at Naruto. Then, when his eyes met mine, he seemed to almost be in a state of shock. He almost looked like he was in fear…. Afraid of me, perhaps? No, he looked like… he looked like he had seen a ghost or something.
     “O-OBITO?!?!”

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To be continued…!!
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