Talk
"If I worked to build a bridge and used all my clones as laborers, you would have to pay me for each clone, no?"
"In theory, that's right" Thinking for a moment, Tazuna clicked his tongue and continued "I hadn't thought about how useful it could be for construction, it's a pity it can't be used by civilians. Life would be so much easier for them."
"It's not as easy to use your clones as you think" Shaking his head, Sasuke continued "It fatigues you too much mentally and consumes too much chakra, so it's not feasible."
"Naruto-niichan can make thousands of them!"
"And that's because Naruto is a monster who maybe has more chakra than the Hokage himself" Snorting, Sasuke continued "People like this idiot don't exist many anymore, so you can hardly see someone using the clones like he does."
"Come to think of it..." Frowning slightly, Tazuna turned his gaze to Naruto and stared at his crimson hair "Your last name is Uzumaki, isn't it?"
"Um."
"So..."
"Yes, I believe I am the only remnant of the Uzumaki clan in the village, though there are obviously more on the outside that have been saved" Nodding with disinterest, Naruto continued "And it is because of my genetic legacy that I can create so many clones"
"I understand."
"Uzumaki clan?" looking at Naruto doubtfully, Inari asked "What is that?"
"It was a group of very powerful people" Rubbing his grandson's hair, Tazuna continued "But they were attacked by many evil people"
"Why are they powerful?" Cocking his head to one side, Inari asked.
"Remember that scroll where you can put things inside it?" Looking at the boy with a slight smile, Naruto asked.
"Um."
"That scroll works based on a seal made by the Uzumaki clan. Just like the explosive scrolls, and well, pretty much a lot of the seals and ninja tools that use chakra came from the Uzumaki clan."
"Oh..." Nodding still with a confused face, Inari asked "But doing that doesn't sound very powerful, does it?"
"It's just a part of it all" Chuckling, Naruto thought for a moment and continued "In this ninja world, there are gigantic beings in animal forms that have enough power to destroy an entire country with just one of their attacks"
"Really!?" Opening his eyes wide, Inari asked in disbelief.
"Really" Nodding, Naruto continued "And those beings, they were only afraid of two clans in this world."
"The Uzumaki?"
"That's right, and that's because the sealing techniques they had were so powerful, even they couldn't resist."
"And what's the other clan?"
"You see that arrogant fool next to you" Pointing towards Sasuke, Naruto continued "He also comes from a very powerful clan, although he's clearly not as strong as I am"
Letting out a mocking laugh, Sasuke just folded his arms and snorted.
Turning his gaze towards Sasuke, Inari watched him closely and muttered "He doesn't look that strong..."
"Inari!" gently patting her son's neck, Tsunami smiled sheepishly towards Sasuke "I'm sorry."
"It's okay" Shaking his head, Sasuke turned to Inari and continued "The best thing for a ninja is to be underestimated."
"Never forget that" Nodding, Naruto continued "If they don't expect you to have skills, they'll let their guard down and everything will be easier"
"Um!"
"And don't be like these two fools. Be restrained, attentive and careful" Smiling towards the boy, Sakura commented 'Noisy people never make good ninjas'
'I seriously doubt it' Remembering the duo with thick eyebrows, the first hokage and the perverted sage, Naruto shook his head and thought as he smiled to himself.
"Um."
"We've arrived!" Looking at the giant bonfire in the center of a place surrounded by hundreds of people, Tazuna smiled broadly as his eyes sparkled at the sight of the happiness on everyone's face.
Looking at the numerous giant tables surrounding the bonfire with several meters of distance while sumptuous dishes were seen everywhere, Naruto turned his gaze to the villagers in the area and watched as they laughed and conversed with slightly blushing faces while shaking their simple ceramic cups.
"This looks great" With a smile on his face as the giant flames of the campfire reflected in his blue eyes, Naruto laughed openly and continued "And I see lots of seafood!"
"And lots of Sake!" with the same glee, Tazuna and Naruto stared at each other, and with a rare unspoken understanding, they both started running towards the place.
"Sigh" Shaking her head while smiling at the sight of the duo running while laughing loudly, Sakura looked at the faces around her and commented "Looks like someone ravaged the food."
"Wait for me!" letting go of his mother's hand with a big childish grin, Inari quickly ran towards the duo in the distance while shouting.
Laughing as her soft gaze watches the trio in the distance, Tsunami shook her head and smiled towards Sakura and Sasuke "Come on, today don't be shy and enjoy all you want."
***
"C'mon, c'mon, 'ave a shwig, even jusht one." Hugging Naruto's shoulder while his face was red and his eyes slightly clouded by alcohol, Tazuna shook the ceramic cup in front of Naruto and continued "It'sh really delishush!"
Having a slightly bulging stomach from eating so much, Naruto stared at the drink in front of him and thought about it for a few seconds, then received it and drank it all in one gulp.
"God!" Shaking his head as he felt the alcohol burn his throat, Naruto handed his glass to Tazuna and asked "What the heck are you drinking old man!!!? This is pure alcohol!"
Pa Pa
"Hahahahaha!" laughing openly as he pats Naruto's shoulder hard, Tazuna finally let him go and commented as he staggered over to the drink table "Thish ish alkohol for mensh!"
Shaking his head while smiling, Naruto turned his gaze to his surroundings and observed in pleasant atmosphere surrounding him.
Since arriving at the party along with Sakura and Sasuke, these people have been nothing but hospitable and receptive at every turn.
Always making sure they eat well, always making sure to include them, and practically treating them like kings at every minute.
Approaching a table, Naruto looked at the giant oysters with a delicious white sauce on them and took one, then picked up a lemon and added a few drops to it.
"This really is delicious" Arriving next to Naruto, Sasuke took an oyster and murmured.
"Have you eaten them before?"
"Our family wasn't a big fan of seafood, so we only ate meat."
"I guess I won't be able to walk normally tomorrow, so maybe I'll just go rolling" Patting his stomach while laughing, Naruto turned his gaze to the distance and observed Sakura surrounded by a group of girls as they chatted happily "I didn't think she'd blend in so well"
"They do nothing but idolize her" Pouring lemon, Sasuke turned his gaze to Sakura and continued "With that personality she has, she couldn't be happier"
"What surprises me here is that they didn't surround you."
"The night wouldn't have been so pleasant if it had been" Bringing the oyster to his mouth, Sasuke even slurped the juice from the shell and wiped his mouth with a silk cloth in his hand "I saw you drinking alcohol"
"They say there's nothing better for digesting food."
"It tasted good?"
"I felt like I drank pure alcohol" Shaking his head, Naruto continued "My throat still burns."
"..." Nodding silently as he took another oyster, Sasuke raised his gaze towards the giant bonfire that was still burning even though it had been hours since they arrived and remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze towards Naruto and commented "This place... is nice"
"It is" Smiling slightly, Naruto continued "The villagers are a close-knit and friendly community who constantly help each other... I honestly find it amazing that despite the fact that they were suffering misery and famine not long ago, only a while later, they have been able to fully recover and are able to continue enjoying their lives normally... these people really are admirable."
"Naruto, could you help me for a moment?" Approaching Naruto with a slightly flushed complexion from the alcohol in her blood, Tsunami smiled sheepishly and pointed to the sleeping boy on the ground by the campfire "There's a cold wind coming in, I'm worried he'll get sick and I can't carry him by myself."
Knowing full well how drunk Tazuna is too drunk to help, Naruto nodded and wiped his hands, then turned to Sasuke and pointed towards the drunk Tazuna "Take care of the old man while I'm gone. He's still our client until we cross that bridge."
Not looking at Naruto as he pours lemon into his oyster, Sasuke nodded with disinterest.
"Let's go" Smiling towards Tsunami, Naruto walked over to the sleeping Inari and carefully carried him in his arms, then walked quietly into the forest.
Looking up and gazing at the starry sky, Naruto sighed "It really is a beautiful sight."
"Aren't the stars the same everywhere?" raising her eyebrows, Tsunami asked with amusement.
"Yes, but no" Shaking his head, Naruto continued "Konoha has a very large population surrounding it, and the lights keep everything lit up all night long."
"And what does that have to do with the stars?"
"The more light in an area, the less stars you see."
"Really?"
"You've never traveled outside your country?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I had many opportunities to accompany my father when he had work in other countries" Looking up at the stars, Tsunami was silent for a moment and continued "But I was never really interested".
"You're not curious about the outside?"
"Once in a while, but it's not my thing" Shaking her head, Tsunami continued "I'd a thousand times rather cook myself a delicious dinner and tuck myself in while reading something fun than have to go out getting cold or hot on the road, having to dread every day of travel in case bandits or ninjas attack us and having to travel hundreds or thousands of miles just to see something that is very likely not to interest me in the slightest"
Laughing, Naruto commented "You've thought this through."
"I have a lot of time on my hands" Letting out a laugh, Tsunami turned her gaze to Naruto and asked "And you? Do you have plans to travel the world?"
"I told you I just want to be happy" Shrugging his shoulders, Naruto continued "I honestly don't know how I'll make it. I don't know if I should settle down, travel and meet the world or who knows what else... but until that day comes, I must make sure to clear the dangers that beset me, and for that I will inevitably have to have a nomadic and chaotic life."
"How does someone so young have so many problems?"
"The same I would like to know" With bitterness, Naruto continued "You don't know how much I would like to simply be at peace... I don't know, have my land, live with my people and I could even have my own crops... a simple life, but warm, I ask for nothing more"
"And why don't you do it? You could leave the ninja world and just be an ordinary civilian."
"When I talk about dangers that beset me I'm not talking about the dangers that come with being a ninja" Shaking his head as he sighs, Naruto continued "There are literally a lot of very powerful people who are after me, and if I don't get strong enough to defend myself, my end will be miserable"
"Rival villages?"
"Something like that."
"It's hard to know that at any moment they can come after you" Lowering her gaze, Tsunami muttered "Even sleeping well isn't possible."
"You're glad about the end of Gatoh?"
"I honestly didn't feel much about it other than relief."
"You didn't hate him?"
"Of course I did, after all he caused a lot of harm to my family, but that doesn't mean I celebrate his death or anything similar either" Thinking for a moment, Tsunami continued "You can say that apart from the fear and hatred I had for him, there is nothing else. So naturally, once he died, all feeling disappeared, and as for his death, it's just another death of a stranger that I don't care about in the slightest"
"To celebrate his death is to give him part of your thoughts and at the same time recognition."
"Exactly."
Looking up again to the starry sky and watching for a while as shooting stars can be seen from time to time, Naruto quickly lost himself in the beauty of the moment and the road remained silent.