"That priest is an unknown quantity, a foreigner who is not loyal to Konohagakure," stated Danzo.
"Actually, he's been pretty straightforward," said the Third Hokage.
"He is defying your authority," said Danzo.
"He's willing to listen," said the Hokage. "More than some people."
"Konoha is a NINJA village," pointed out Danzo.
"Which has civilians as part of the population," noted Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Come on, Danzo. What's the real problem you three came in with? You were there that day. His fuuinjutsu barriers took an attack by four tails of the Kyubi. If it had been five he'd have been killed by the backlash, but that's still pretty impressive for someone with no chakra."
"The problem, as you put it," said Homura Mitokado, "is that That Boy is hanging around that shrine."
"Oh?" asked Hiruzen Sarutobi. "I'll have to look into it."
"So, you have him doing exercises and give him someone to talk to?" asked Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting down on the bench and watching the six year old sweeping leaves.
The priest next to him nodded. "A little direction, a little conversation, someone to talk to - all within the duties of a priest."
"I see," said Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Not training him to be a priest then?"
"No. You ninja like your secrets, and part of a priest's job is keeping secrets - but it rankles sometimes. Kid should know at least something of his parents." Arano Uzumaki shook his head. "Kid hasn't even remarked on our family names being the same. Anyway - kid wants to be a ninja and get everyone's respect. All I do is tell him to look at the elite ones. What do they do? How do THEY act?"
"You answer questions with questions?" asked the Hokage, sipping on the strange concoction. A strawberry milkshake it was called. Strangely refreshing on a hot summer day.
"Yes and for the same reason you do, mostly," said the priest. He stopped and looked to the side. "Also part of the priest thing."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smirked and said nothing as the priest got up, walked over to the bushes and peered down into them. "Oh my. A foreign spy! Here to steal my recipes, no doubt."
"Eh?" asked Naruto as he saw something was going on.
"I am not a spy!" said the little girl, getting up.
"Is that pink hair a fashion or do you have one of those bloodline things?" asked the priest. He shook his head at the girl still standing in a bush. "Never mind. NARUTO! One of your friends came by."
"Eh?" asked Naruto, about to protest he didn't have any friends.
"Hokage-sama?!" squeaked the little girl.
"Ah, one of Naruto's friends? Well, maybe you should make her a milkshake as well," said the Hokage.
Naruto had found TWO places where people didn't look at him with those cold eyes and turn away.
Ichiraku's was one such haven.
This shrine with the little temple was a second.
The Hokage didn't look at him like that, but some of those in that office area sure did.
And now he was making FRIENDS. Or at least associates or something because apparently one of 'em had been told not to "associate" with him - but nobody'd said that about not going to the shrine.
The priest had told them that this sort of thing was called a "loophole" and that ninja used things like that all the time. In fact, it was very much a ninja thing to find these loophole-thingies and use the heck out of them!
First it had just been him hanging out there and playing on the swings and monkey-bars and such that had been set up in one corner of the yard. Then Sakura-chan and Hinata-chan and Shikamaru and Choji and then Ino-chan. Not everybody showed up all the time but they showed up sometimes.
Something odd had gotten his attention though. The priest put a bowl of ice cream before the little door on that shrine. Which was apparently one of them offering things. But when he'd gotten close enough to peer in and see what kind it was - the bowl was EMPTY.
How weird was that?
"Inari has a sweet tooth."
"WAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" yelped Naruto, leaping into the air and landing while clutching his chest.
The priest was standing there, looking faintly amused, tugging at the end of the long mustache that dangled past his chin. "You have to work on your awareness skills, young ninja-to-be."
"It ain't that," protested Naruto. "It's you're too sneaky!"
"Ah, as to that," the priest looked around and picked up a small insect. "I simply become like this leafhopper. Part of the background and easily overlooked. I am told that many ninja do the same thing."
"Well I'm gonna learn how to do that!" declared Naruto. "Then I can surprise people too!"
"We shall see, young leafhopper. We shall see," said the priest, holding his hand out and letting the insect leap free.
"What the hell?" simply said Homura Mitokado.
"Some sort of joke?" guessed the not-amused Koharu Utatane.
"'Services available'," read off Homura from the sign. That part was fine though a bit odd in a shrine.
| Services Available Today: Minor Healing______100ryo Major Healing______500ryo Curse Removal_____special Advice_______________Free Good Advice________200ryo Confessions__________5ryo Fuuinjutsu________special |
"Ridiculous," said Koharu.
"Preposterous," said Homura.
"I pay taxes," said the priest, emerging from the shadows.
Koharu twitched slightly, not having detected the priest.
"What has that got to do with anything?" asked Homura.
"Money has to come from somewhere," said the priest. "Donations dropped off a bit since my clansman started coming by."
"'Clansman'?" asked Homura despite knowing full well who was involved.
"Naruto Uzumaki, who isn't a direct relation but you already know that," said Arano Uzumaki. "I also make ice cream, shaved ice, do fortunes and ceremonies - prices negotiable on that last. I'm a bit busy with planning the Sage Day celebration. You're welcome to attend. There will be cake."
"'Cake'?" asked Koharu, managing a bit of sneer in her voice.
"It's not a lie," said the priest. "That's one of the restrictions on me, you know. I can't lie. One reason among many why I'd never make it as a ninja."
"Hmph," said Koharu dismissively.
"Why cake for Sage Day?" asked Homura.
"I have it on good authority he liked cake," Arano told them.
Arano-san was busy with preparations for something.
Three little kids who had been playing tag had ended up in an area they hadn't explored before.
"Do you get the feeling we're being watched?" asked Sakura Haruno, age eight, ace academy student to her greatest rival for the position of top kunoichi.
"Byakugan," said that rival. She looked more carefully. "There's an energy running through these but I don't think it's chakra."
"Huh," said Naruto. "I think Arano-san said these were 'totems' of some gods or such."
Sakura examined one. Foreign writing that looked kind of like romanji on each of them. She felt the 'watching' sensation was coming FROM these carved wooden poles.
"'Sif'," said Hinata, reading one as she puzzled out the odd font. "'Maiden of battle skill, her strikes swift and true, to protect one must sometimes kill, to defend one's precious few.'"
"Huh," said Sakura, considering that as she passed several of them to stop at one at apparent random. "This one says something different. 'Inari. Agriculture and wealth, sneaky fox of ancient lore, artisans and health, but guardian at core.'"
"They're all different," noted Naruto, finding himself next to Hinata as he examined one. The picture carving was of a muscular man holding a hammer high. "This one's 'Thor. Patron of heroes bold, storm and thunder the foes to smite, in fiery cave or icy cold, be worthy to wield his might.' What's that mean?"
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:32)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.