✔ Book 1:Sakura's New Beginning

Chapter 15: Sakura's New Beginning

Hehe, this is fantastic! It's been ages since we've had so many guests around our table." Tazuna said happily as Team 7 gathered around the dinner table to eat.

Sakura was beyond disgusted; Naruto and Sasuke had come back from the training exercise, unsuccessful and even more competitive. Tonight's competition appeared to be who could eat the most in one sitting.

Naruto shoveled rice into his mouth with one hand and ate a lump of bread with the other; he was eating so fast Sakura had to wonder how his body found time to breathe in between mouthfuls. Sasuke was a little more elegant but nevertheless he downed his rice in record time and began tearing apart his bread as though he hadn't eaten for days.

"I WANT SOME MORE!" Both male ninja declared and stood up with empty bowls, seeing that they had tied again the boys began to glare viciously at each other before bending over and throwing up violently.

"What's the point in eating so much if you're going to throw it up?" Sakura asked in annoyance as she tried not to lose her appetite.

"I have to eat." Sasuke replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"And I have to eat more than him; it's the only possible way I'll get stronger." Naruto added and both boys smirked at each other.

"That's true, but puking won't help you." Kakashi said bestowing his worldly wisdom upon his two male students.

The topic of dinner conversation was Sasuke and Naruto's training session and how much they were improving. Naruto was loud and boastful as always, Sasuke quiet but obviously proud; Inari said nothing and preferred to stare at his dinner. Tazuna made fun of the ninja and their 'stupid' training and was promptly scolded by his daughter.

"Hey kid, kid... KID! WHY DO YOU KEEP STARING AT THAT PICTURE?" Naruto's loud voice drew Sakura out of her thoughts as he addressed Inari.

"My name is Inari not kid and the picture is none of your business." Inari replied annoyed and Naruto growled loudly.

Sakura looked up and saw the picture depicted a beaming Tsunami, Tazuna and Inari but in place of a fourth person there was a massive rip.

"It appears there was a fourth person but they've been torn out. Is there some reason for this?" Sakura observed quietly and immediately the three civilians stiffened.

After a few minutes of silence Tsunami spoke "It's my husband"

Sakura sensed this was a sensitive topic for her and decided not to press it any further.

"They used to call him a hero in this land." Tazuna replied and sipped his tea, immediately Inari got up from the table and left the room.

"Inari where are you going? Father you can't talk about him in front of Inari! You know that!" Tsunami said before rushing out of the kitchen to follow her son.

"Is there a story behind the way Inari acts?" Kakashi asked and all heads turned to Tazuna who began to speak

"He wasn't his real father; he came into our family later. But he brought so much happiness; he and Inari were very close. In those days Inari used to laugh all the time, but then all that ended. He never laughs or smiles anymore. Ever since the day everything changed!" Tazuna said as hot tears of anger and sadness fell from his eyes and plopped one by one onto the table.

Team 7 was shocked, this was the first time they'd seen the man they were assigned to protect actually caring about somebody else but himself. The ninja waited in silence for their client to continue.

"The word courage was stolen from this island, we were left powerless, hopeless and Inari suffered the most. Ever since that day ever since it happened." Tazuna said and busied himself with refilling his cup, determined not to look at any of his protectors.