Vision of Truth I: Cat and Fox (Naruto)

The Battle on the Bridge

Chapter 13: The Battle on the Bridge

The evening after meeting the stranger in the forest, Naruto and Sasuke were both late for dinner. Before we could worry too much, however, they both walked through the door. Naruto appeared exhausted, and his arm was slung over Sasuke's shoulders so Sasuke could support him. Now that was unexpected.

Naruto slowly lifted his head and grinned. "We both made it. We climbed all the way to the top."

Kakashi nodded. "Good. Now we move on. Starting tomorrow, you're both bodyguards for Tazuna."

"Alright!" Naruto tried to lift his arms to cheer, but since he was still attached to Sasuke, he sent the both of them toppling to the ground.

"Ugh, you're such a loser," Sasuke groaned.

I laughed along with everyone else. "Good to see you two getting along," I said.

The two of them got up and took their places at the table. Soon, we were all full with another fabulous meal. While Tsunami cleaned the table, Tazuna talked about the final week or so it would take to finish the bridge. Then he asked as why we stayed to protect him even after he lied to us.

"'Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage,'" Kakashi said. "'But under the wing of a strong leader, cowardice cannot survive.' That was a quote from the first Hokage."

"That actually makes some sense," I mumbled. Justice was almost as important to me as truth. Perhaps I had been too quick to dismiss the Leaf Village.

Inari stared down at his empty plate. "But why?" he said softly. Then he slammed his hands on the table and stood up. My eyes widened when I saw the tears streaming down his face. "All this stupid training is just a waste of time. Gato's got a whole army. They'll beat you down, and they'll destroy you! These cool things you all say, they don't mean anything. No matter what you do, the strong always win and the weak always lose."

"Just speak for yourself," Naruto muttered, his head resting in his arms on the table. "It won't be like that for me. You got that?"

"Why don't you be quiet? Just looking at you makes me sick! You don't know anything about this country. You're just butting in! Always laughing and playing around. You don't know what it's like to suffer and be treated like dirt!"

Naruto stilled while my yes narrowed at the kid. "Listen to yourself whining and complaining like some sorry little victim! You can whimper all day for all I care. You're nothing but a coward." He lifted his head to look straight at Inari.

"Naruto, you went too far!" Sakura chided. Naruto merely stood up and exited the room.

"Inari's the one who went too far," I said. At that the kid started breaking down and ran off in the opposite direction. I stood up, but Kakashi placed a hand on my shoulder to stop me from following.

"I will talk to him," said the jonin. "You take care of Naruto."

I opened my mouth to protest but then closed it again. It was probably for the best. I nodded and then walked into the next room after Naruto. I found him on the far side, staring at the room with his arms crossed. My heart clenched. What was I supposed to say to him?

"Do you think he's right?" Naruto said without turning around. "Do we have a chance of winning? Is it possible?"

I thought hard about the question. Though I sympathized with what Inari had gone through, I could not base my answer on feelings; there were facts that had to be accounted for. I took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "A long time ago, the greatest, most powerful nation in my world colonized a land across the ocean. Over time, the nation oppressed the colonists - not unlike Gato and his army. No one would have thought the colony had a chance to stand against the superpower that ruled them. But...