Kusari no Naruto

Nineteenth Link

There was a buzz permeating the streets that only grew in the build-up to the Chuunin Exam finals. Naruto was surprised he had never noticed it before, being an annual thing. Then again, before leaving the ANBU he had rarely been in the village for more than a few days at a time. Before that, well, he was a pretty ignorant kid. He left the thought there.

Personally, he disliked it. Although, that wasn't saying much considering the list of things he enjoyed could be counted on both hands, with fingers to spare. The influx of people, the increased noise, the generally happy vibe of people thronging the village; it was nauseating. That was why, on the day of the finals themselves, Naruto lay back on a random rooftop staring up at the sky.

He was enjoying the relative peace that came from having everyone else packed in one location. He was still in sight of the stadium – every Jounin had been informed to be on heightened alert today – but far enough that the presumably deafening cheers and cries of the spectators were a muted hum at the periphery of his senses. It was the most solace he'd had in weeks after nearly going stir-crazy from the lack of missions.

Haku had been an outlet, as always, but even training his strange new bedfellow into the ground could only release so much pent up frustration. Luckily, today also marked the last day of the Yuki's probation period. She had still chosen to continue living with Naruto, but tomorrow Naruto would be free to start taking missions again, including with Haku if she agreed. The Ice-user had been evaluated as a Chuunin weeks ago, but the Hokage had put off making it official so that it would fall in line with the other Chuunin graduates from today's festivities.

"I'm surprised you're not watching the fights," he said abruptly, leaning his head lazily to the left where Nezumi had chosen to perch, legs tucked beneath her gracefully. "No Kenjutsu users catch your eye?"

"They aren't… my students," she replied. Her mask was on today, preventing him seeing the tiny smile she sent his way. He'd gotten good enough at reading her to see it anyway. "I… don't care for the… spectacle."

The blond snorted at that, able to relate. "Finally, somebody gets it."

Nezumi slid closer to him, taking on a more relaxed posture in her own, silent sort of agreement.

"People go to these things expecting to see the next Hashirama Senju, or Minato Namikaze." The name slipped out before he could even stop himself, causing him to scowl before continuing. "Forgetting, that all the real money, the stuff that actually keeps the village going, comes from the average Chuunin and Jounin slogging their way through their daily B-rank. The escorts, the protection details, the forgeries, the political sabotage."

A vicious smile grew on his face. "Don't get me wrong, I love a good fight more than most…"

Nezumi's head dipped subtly.

"…but these sheep are being spoon-fed this idealised, make-believe world where being a Shinobi is nothing but constant life-or death battles." He didn't bother mentioning that was how he would love it to be. Life often wasn't so accommodating.

"Ah," Saru cut in, speaking as casually as if he had been there from the start. Knowing his Taichou as he did, the man might well have been. "We shouldn't begrudge the civilian world their flights of fancy. If this cleaned-up, friendly image is what it takes them to keep hiring us, who are we to argue?"

"The people who actually risk their lives for these people's fantasies?" The blond shot back.

Saru continued, ignoring the snark, and Naruto thought for the first time that he could take some satisfaction that the man could no longer enforce his title. "We must also consider that these exams represent the very public face of our village. While it is indeed up to the common ninja to provide the income that keeps the gears of our little system so well-oiled, the showy, flashy side of things have their importance too. To the casual observer, or the potential client, they reveal a glimpse of the future."