Okay. Your background becomes a little more violent, said the elder god.
"How does that help?" asked Naruto.
You were shunned, therefore you sought attention. When that attention turns violent, you seek to avoid that attention. You become sneakier. You still prank, but learn subtlety and are never around when the prank occurs. With the increased intelligence and speed that Jiraiya's filter allows you to attain, you walk the path of the Rogue. You become a shadow amongst the shadows.
"Where is he?!"
"He went that way!"
Naruto smirked as he used an old pallet to clamber up over a wall and into someone's private garden.
"I thought I saw him over there!"
"Damn fox! I'll get him for this!"
"What did he do this time?"
"He saw the prices I charge regular customers, figured out how much I was bumping his prices, and confronted me on it yesterday! Today I found my ledgers were gone through and the profits I haven't been reporting to the tax office were GONE!"
"Uhm, do you really want to shout that to the neighborhood?"
"Oh. Good point."
"He must have gone this way!"
Naruto grinned as he turned to back out of the brush.
The man who'd suddenly appeared there looked imposing.
Naruto froze, looking up at the thickly built stranger, stopping when he got to the bandaged eyes.
"A thief who punishes the unjust, eh?" asked the blind man.
Naruto remained silent.
After a moment the large man chuckled. "Child, you have talent and a start on the proper path. Listen to me though, and I'll train you to go beyond anything you even thought possible."
Naruto tried to sneak to the side, and while he was sure he hadn't made any noise - the guy's head followed his movement.
"They called you 'fox'," mused the man. "By any chance are you Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Uh, yeah," said Naruto, giving it up as the blind guy was following his movements anyway.
"Good," said the large man with a grin. "I can't tell you why, it's against a law, but I owe you. Come back tomorrow about this time and we'll see if we can't hone those skills."
"Why is that guy helping me?" asked Naruto. "I don't even know him!"
Most of the village doesn't hate you, it's just that those who DO tend to stand out so much more. This particular person was a thief whose career was cut short when he was blinded during the attack by the fox. He's heard and actually understands that you are not the fox, but the prison that holds the fox. You would never have met him were you not hiding in his garden. And so the world changes.
tinkle!
THWACK!
"Ow!"
The large man sighed. "You have to be able to move quickly but in subtle manner. If you disturb any of the bells, someone whose pocket you were picking would feel it. Speed will come with practice. Just concentrate on not ringing the bells."
"That's why you need chakra control. Once you manage this, you can walk on walls or trees. Of course, being a thief - walking is not enough. No, you'll have to run at full speeds. For now though, walking is fine."
"This is harder than the rice paper."
The old man chuckled. "Yes. But I think you're capable of better. Try."
"Yeah, I... huh?"
"Yes, she's watching you again. Just blow her a kiss."
"EEEP!" THUD!
"I thought that would work."
"Why did she faint?"
"Some secrets you are not ready for, young apprentice."
"Lord Hokage-sama! The Mystery Bandit struck again!"
The Hokage put aside the large pile of paperwork. "Again? What did he do this time?"
"He apparently stole the poisonous snakes that Kasumachi the streetvendor uses to protect his warehouse and left them in Butaniku's kitchen."
"I see," said the Hokage, leaving the desk. "I should investigate personally I suppose."
"The thief left this outside the Torture and Interrogation headquarters," said the chunin, handing a notebook with a note taped to it to the Hokage.
[Dear ANBU, Jiro Kasumachi has been a bad boy. He is a spy for Village Hidden In The Clouds. Please take care of this matter. Sincerely, Anonymous.]
The Hokage sighed. "Is he one of the spies we knew about, or one of the spies we did not know about?"
"He was suspected," said the chunin. "No evidence before this though. It also appears that Butaniku has been selling his 'prime cut pork' but using low quality pork."
"I should investigate that too," said the Hokage, sighing at all the time this took away from sitting at his desk and dealing with all that paperwork.
"...I really don't think that's necessary, Hokage-sama," said the chunin.
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(Posted Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:13)
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