Chapter 5
Naruto let out a sigh as he lowered himself into a booth, uncaring of the worried glances he got from the civilians. He quickly put up a genjutsu and took off his mask, reclining in the seat. He looked at the waitress as the curtain opened, letting some of his chakra leak out in a pitiful attempt to comfort her. She did relax slightly, though, so he counted it as a win. “W-welcome, kitsune-san,” a waitress stuttered, “I-I am Akemi, and I’ll be serving you today. What-what can I get for you today?” she bowed.
He beamed at her, “Hello, waitress-san,” he greeted. He picked up his menu and hummed before looking at her, “What do you suggest? This is my first time here,” he asked, placing the menu down.
“O-oh! C67 is the fan favorite,” she said, leaning over with only a little bit of hesitation and pointing to the options, “But I personally like B21. Then many customers say our matcha tea is the best served in the area,” she said.
“I’ll go with that then! One hojicha tea, one matcha tea and B21 please!” he grinned, “Oh! And can I get an extra menu or two please? I’ll be having some people sit with me.”
“Y-yes sir!” she bowed before scurrying off to the kitchen. He grinned as Tetsuya hopped into the booth with him.
“So?”
“The contact just wants you to take out the mayor's son,” Tetsuya shrugged, “He’s next in line to take over the town. But he’s running a trafficking ring and his daughter was taken by him.”
“Ah, okay,” Naruto nodded, “That should be easy.” By then, he’d have passed the genin exams. Learning the glory of the chore-missions will be the next month then they’d be at the wave. Plenty of time to scout out the road, make sure Team 7 gets Tazuna’s mission, and complete his own at the Wave. He’d purposely told his employer that it would take awhile to get all his information and learn the in’s and out’s of Gato’s business and security at the Wave.
He smiled at Akemi as she placed the two cups of tea in front of him. “Thank you, Akemi-san,” he said.
“O-of course! Your food will be out in about 30 minutes,” she said. She bowed and turned to leave before stopping. Naruto tilted his head, did she forget something? Did it have to do with Zabuza and Haku standing outside the restaurant? “Oh, and someone said he would like to speak with you. Should I let him in? He has an apprentice with him. Are these your guests?”
So it did. “Yes, send them both in please,” he said. She bowed and left, moving towards the front of the restaurant. Naruto sighed and sat back up, sipping on his tea as Tetsuya hopped onto the table, settling on the wall and drinking his own tea.
“Who is it?” Tetsuya asked, “You don’t look too worried.”
“Just Zabuza and Haku,” Naruto said, smiling despite Tetsuya not being able to see it. “They seem annoyed,” he said with a snort.
“You probably took away a lot of their jobs,” Tetsuya muttered, “Of course they're gonna be annoyed.”
Naruto shrugged, turning and looking at his two guests. Akemi escorted Zabuza and Haku into his booth, closing the curtain behind her as she left after she asked for their drinks. The two mercenaries sat down and the air became tense. Naruto sighed and sipped his tea. “Momochi Zabuza, Demon of Kirigakure,” he hummed, “I would say this is a nice visit, but chakra doesn’t hide a lot from me.”
“You’re stealing our jobs,” Zabuza growled.
Naruto shrugged, “I’m a mystery. Many people like mysteries.” He looked him up and down, “You have a reputation. They want to know more about what they don’t know.”
“This is my area.”
Naruto sighed, “Look. I’m hungry. Can this wait?” he asked, bringing out a spare menu, “Are you hungry? I’ll pay,” he offered, holding the menu out.
“I don’t need your pity money, kid,” Zabuza snapped, snatching the menu from his hands.
Naruto calmly slid his hands away, “Not pity money, Zabuza-san,” he said, “Simply compensating the money that would’ve been yours had I not been here,” he shrugged, “Besides, I’m one person. There’s two of you,” he said, “Tetsuya can catch his own food. To be fair, I can too…” he shrugged, “Well, case in point, I don’t need money. I just want to make a reputation.”
“Money gets you things,” Zabuza said.
“So does stealing,” Naruto hummed, “So does catching your own food and killing who you need too.”
“Why do you want a reputation?” Zabuza asked.
“Ambitions, goals,” Naruto offered, “I heard you had some too.” He watched Zabuza tense, feeling the urge to question and snap and defend himself in his chakra, “I find your cause admirable. Unlike mine, you want to save people.”
“You know nothing,” the mercenary said lowly.
“I know more than you think,” Naruto said, meeting dark brown eyes. “The Mizukage is being controlled. I’m working on that now,” he said, “The Sandaime Mizukage started everything. And Mei-san-” he paused, scanning Zabuza’s blank expression even as emotions swirled in rapid waves in his chakra, “Mei-san wouldn’t mind having you on her side. Having one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist on her side?” Naruto sipped on his tea, “It would help. Not only you but both of your causes.” He tipped his head to Haku, “And help your little apprentice here.”
“Who are you?” Zabuza snapped, slamming the menu down on the table, “Did Yagura send you?” His hand went to his pouch.
“Nope! I’m here of my own free will,” Naruto said, “And for food. Food is better here,” he said, before pausing, “So I heard, at least.”
“Then how-”
“Where do you think I got my red hair, Zabuza-san?” he asked, leaning back. He thought back to his little story he made himself, if only to keep his last name.
“It’s impossible-”
“Not everyone was in the village,” Naruto said, playing his part, “Teams were outside the village when it was attacked by Kiri and Kumo-” Zabuza and Haku flinched, “-and they scattered. Some went in to protect friends, family, obviously.” He paused, taking a deep breath, “Some scattered, knowing it was a lost cause.” He released his breath. He could be a pretty damn good actor when need be. “My parents, two members of a genin team, lost one of their teammates and their jounin sensei.” He paused, looking away, “l[I lost them at age six.”
Zabuza reeled himself in, though was much more sober, “What does that have anything to do with him?” he asked.
“My mother was an expert sensor, I inherited her abilities,” he said, “I can tell a person's abilities and what they feel through their chakra.”
Zabuza nodded, putting the menu down, “Why did you want our attention?” he said, putting his elbows on the table, “You made it clear you were looking for us.” He placed a note down on the table, one Naruto had forgotten about. It was signed with a fancy ‘N’, one Naruto had worked on for a better part of the day.
“Tetsuya is very small and can be very stealthy,” Naruto said, “He may or may not have found out about your job with Gato,” he said, looking away. He sipped on his tea.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Zabuza said.
What did that have to do with anything? Naruto sighed, smiling in thanks to Akemi as she placed his food down. Zabuza ordered some of his own food, looking at Naruto expectantly after she left. He’d gotten a job from a guy, looking for Gato’s head. Gato had wronged his family somehow and his employer had money; enough money to hire someone to bring him his head.
“Gato’s dangerous,” Naruto said, looking Zabuza in the eye, “He’s not strong, but he has his connections and can destroy anyone.” Naruto didn’t remember why he kept chasing the Hokage dream he had as a child. He learned of the piles of work through Tsunade. “One thing money has? Power,” Naruto said, “Something he has.”
Zabuza scowled through his face wraps, “What are you saying, Uzumaki,” he growled.
“He uses anything he can, drags them in with money, and disposes of them to tie off loose ends,” Naruto continued, looking out the fogged window, “He plans on doing just that to you, Zabuza-san.”
“I won’t let him,” Zabuza snarled, slamming his hands on the table.
“He won’t give you the money,” Naruto continued, ignoring Zabuza’s raging emotions, “My sources and my own investigations tell me everything I need to know about a guy like that. My own job tells me just how many enemies men like that make.”
Zabuza stayed silent for a moment. Naruto let him think, digging into his own food as he waited for a response. Akemi-san was right, the food was good. Better than what Naruto could make with the limited resources he has on him. “Why are you telling me this?”
Naruto shrugged, swallowing his food, “I may have selfish ambitions, but I don’t enjoy what I do,” he said, “You can’t either. Someone like you can’t enjoy killing. Many shinobi don’t enjoy it.” He paused, eating more of his food. “I understand to some degree your situation from research.” He paused, thinking over his words, “I want to create an…alliance? For lack of better words, that’s what I’m proposing.”
“For what?”
“Gato?” Naruto offered, “Maybe future jobs. I’ll help you with whatever I can, but only if it’s mutual,” he said, placing down his chopsticks.
“Why me?” Zabuza asked.
“I’m not a good person,” Naruto said, ignoring the clenching of his heart at the words, “I want to do something my parents would be proud of.”
“So helping us is a way to make yourself feel better?” Zabuza snapped.
Naruto shrugged, “Yeah, pretty much.” He smiled at Zabuza, who reeled back in confusion. Not many people would admit to wanting to make themselves feel better to the person they are using. “You are doing everything you're doing for a noble cause.” He glanced at Haku, “More than I can say.”
Zabuza stayed quiet for the moment, Naruto took the chance to eat his food, watching as Tetsuya drew a tic tac toe bored on a napkin and jumped in front of Haku, drawing an ‘x’ in the top left corner. Naruto snorted as Haku quickly started playing.
“Why are you taking an interest in Gato?” Zabuza asked as Naruto finished his food.
Naruto looked up, “A job, duh,” he said, wiping his mouth, “He messed with a guy with money. Money is power in the political world.”
“You know about my own job,” Zabuza said, leaning back as Akemi came in and placed his and Haku’s food down, “Thank you,” he said to Akemi, who bowed and quickly scurried out of the room. “You know I’m going to be paid to-“
“Kill Tazuna, yes, nothing said about protecting the bastard,” Naruto shrugged.
Zabuza undid his bandages, eating his food. Naruto glanced over at Tetsuya and Haku, smirking at the multitude of tic tac toe boards on the napkins. “I was hired to kill Gato,” he said. He paused, shifting in his seat. He did a little bit of research back in his time, something he actually tried to research ever since knowing about his heritage. “Waves and Uzushio were close before. I want Waves to grow once again and even possibly gain an alliance with Konoha, as respect from Uzushio. That bridge is their best bet.” Naruto paused, taking a breath before continuing, “I want to partner with you. What I ask is simple: act like you're trying to kill Tazuna, but don’t actually kill him. Soon, I’ll be heading over there after I finish one other mission to start disrupting Gato’s plans.”
“So you want me to double cross my employer,” Zabuza said, narrowing his eyes.
Naruto nodded, “I do,” he affirmed. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll give you my pay.”
“Why would you give me your pay?” Zabuza asked, glaring suspiciously at Naruto.
“Gato’s done some despicable things, Zabuza-san. Things I don’t agree with and things that should never happen,” Naruto shrugged.
Abused children, taken advantage of the money situation, taken advantage of girls and women.
He met Zabuza’s eyes, not blinking once even as Zabuza let some of his chakra come out and probe Naruto’s own chakra.
Zabuza let out a sigh a few minutes later, “Fine. But if you don’t hold up your end of the bargain-“
“Don’t worry, I want as few enemies as possible,” Naruto said, “We’ll meet on the road and again at the Wave.”
“You got yourself a deal kid,” Zabuza sighed, fixing his wrapping and standing up as he finished his food. Naruto grabbed the check Akemi had placed down, placing down the needed cash before standing up as well, putting on his real mask and stepping out.
“A pleasure,” Naruto smiled, bowing his head.
“Shit,” Haku cursed, glaring down at the board as Tetsuya won, drawing the final line.
“He cursed,” Zabuza muttered.
“Hah! I won! 23-21!” Tetsuya beamed.
“We will have a rematch, Tetsuya-san,” Haku said, standing up, “And I will not lose.”
“You can try,” Tetsuya said, hopping onto Naruto’s shoulder, “See ya, Haku-chan!”
“A pleasure, Tetsuya-san,” Haku said, bowing slightly.
“We’ll be in touch,” Naruto said, looking up at Zabuza.
“You better,” Zabuza muttered, stalking out. Haku followed him, bowing to both him and Tetsuya slightly.
“I think that went well,” Naruto smiled.
Tetsuya nodded, “Haku is a lot better at tic tac toe than you,” he said.
“Hey!” Naruto scowled at him as they exited the building. He ignored Tetsuya’s snickering, smiling to himself. Zabuza has always been rational, deals can be made with him. All he ever wanted to do was save Haku.
Good thing Naruto wanted the same thing.