The Untold Uzumaki

Chapter Five: The Assassin of the Mist!

There was nothing but the sound of the waves gently colliding with the side of the boat. There was fog everywhere. The boat had barely even rocked, as a villager paddled us through, towards the village.

"This fogs' so thick, you can't see anything!" Sakura whispered in front of me. I just looked away, and at Naruto, who sat at the head of the boat, staring.

"The bridge isn't far, now." The rower said quietly. "Our destination is just ahead; the land of waves. Naruto leaned forward a little, as if it would make him see through the fog quicker. I looked at Kakashi for a moment, who sat next to me, and then looked up. I saw a huge dark shape, and then I knew, we were here. The shape was a shadow of half of a bridge. I noticed the machines carrying steel beams, and supports as well.

"WHOA!! IT'S HUGE!" Naruto yelled.

"Wha-? Be quiet! I told you, no noise! Why do you think we're traveling like this, huh?" He scowled. "Cutting off the engine and rowing? Moving in the dense fog. So they don't see us!" We were silent for a moment, until Kakashi spoke.

"So, Tazuna. Before we reach the pier, I want to ask you something." Tazuna kept his gaze at the bottom of the boat, silent. Kakashi continued after the silence. "The men who are after you. I need to know why. If you don't tell us, I'm afraid I have to end this mission when we drop you ashore." It was silent and then Tazuna just grunted.

It was silent for a moment, when Tazuna barely looked up.

"I have no choice but to tell you." He realized. "Hmm, no. I want you to know the truth. Like you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man, who casts a long and deadly shadow."

"A deadly shadow?" Kakashi asked. Tazuna didn't respond. "Hm. Who is it?"

"You know him. Or at least, I'm sure you've heard his name before. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world. The shipping magnet, Gato."

"Huh?" Kakashi asked immediately. "Gato? Of Gato Transport? He's a business leader, everyone knows him." Naruto sat forward.

"Who, who? What, what?" I rolled my eyes a little, and pulled me knees up, listening.

"Gato is a very powerful tycoon, from a very famous company, that's true. But below the surface, with the same methods he uses to take over businesses and nations, he sells drugs and contraband, using gangs and ninja. It was one year ago, when Gato first set his eyes on the land of waves, he came to our island and used his vast wealth to take total control of our transport and shipping. Anyone who tried to stand in his way simply...disappeared. In an island nation, a man who controls the sea controls everything; finance, government, our very lives..but there's one thing he fears. The bridge. When it is complete, it will join us to the land, and that will break his control. I am the bridge builder." He said, apparently feeling to point it out again.

"So that's it. Since you're in charge of the bridge, you're standing in this gangster's way." Sakura realized.

"That means, those guys we fought in the forest, they were working for Gato." Sasuke pointed out.

"Ooooohhhh ummm.." Naruto put his hand to his head. I sighed loudly.

"Duh! You guys point out the obvious so much, I swear." I said, and looked at Kakashi, who ignored me.

"I still don't understand, if you knew he was dangerous, knew he would send ninja to eliminate you, why did you hide that from us?" Kakashi asked cautiously.

"Because the land of waves is a small and povertish nation. Even our nobles have little money." There was a pause. "The common people who are building this bridge, they can't pay for an A or B-ranked mission. Its too expensive. If you end the mission when you drop me ashore, there will be no bridge. They'll assassinate me before I reach home." He grew quiet for a moment.