The Uzumaki's Sister

MooMoo Of The Mist

We were silent on that boat ride, moods suddenly dwindling to apprehension from the fog that surrounded us.

"This is quite some fog. I can't see ahead," Sakura stated.

"No, really?" I thought.

I turned my head to the bow, watching as my nii-chan looked on ahead into nothing. He stared into that abyss of fog and barely flinched at it. I looked on as well, but something crawled its way into my spine, sending uncomfortable shivers up and down.

Kakashi and Tazuna, as well as the boatman, were at the end of the boat, opposite of Naruto-nii. We all sat in a suspenseful silence until the boatman thankfully broke it.

"The bridge should be visible soon," he says. "When we reach the other side of the bridge, we'll be in the Land of the Waves."

I turn my head again and stare into the fog, a noticeable form started to appear from its cloudy clutches. The unfinished bridge was coming into view.

"Uwa~!" Naruto yelled in awe, "It's huge!" (Uwa means "wow")

"H-Hey! Please, keep it down," the boatman scolds, sweat dripping off the side of his face, "I took my boat out so the fog could cover it and I'm rowing with my hands instead of using the engine. If they find us, we'll be in deep trouble."

My teammates look shocked—especially Naruto-nii who's covering his mouth with both hands—as they realize how true this mission really was. Huh, now that I've noticed, I've been extremely quiet, too.

"Tazuna-san," Kakashi-sensei starts, making us all turn to him, "I want to ask you something before we arrive at the pier."

Tazuna stays silent and hides his emotions with his straw hat that was kept low.

"Who's after you?" I interrupt, speaking for the first time in a while.

"And what is their reason for coming after you?" Kakashi adds, "If you don't tell us, then our mission may end when you make landfall."

It was really a threat, but Kakashi-sensei said it so calmly, I would've thought that it was a simple conversation.

A moment of silence washes over us as we stare at Tazuna. It looks like he won't tell, but low and behold, he lifts his head and finally opens up—only a little though.

"It appears I have no choice but to tell you... Frankly, I'd like you to listen." -Tazuna

"Just as you said, this may be beyond the scope of your mission. Actually, I am being targeted by a terrifying man." -Tazuna

"A terrifying man?" I question. He was being vague. There are many terrible men out there. Kakashi seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"Who?" -Kakashi

"You guys have probably at least heard his name before. A shipping industrialist by the name of Gato." -Tazuna

"What? Gato... of the Gato Company?" Kakashi asked, sweating slightly. His pupils seemed to have constricted into tiny specks. "One of the world's richest men?"

"Nani? Who?" Naruto-nii asked curiously. I wanted to ask the same question but knew he'd say it first. He was, however, ignored by everyone as Tazuna continued speaking.

"Yes... On the surface, he's the chief executive of a shipping company... but underneath, he's into drug-trafficking and deals in contraband using gangs and ninja to do his dirty work. Moreover, he runs a despicable business, ruthlessly taking over businesses and enterprises.

It was about a year ago when that same man first set his eyes on the Land of the Waves... He used his wealth and violence to enter this country, and before anyone knew it, he had taken complete control of the island's maritime transportation and shipping. Having a tight grip on the ocean, in an island nation like the Land of the Waves, means having control of finance, the government, the people... everything. The only thing Gato fears... is the completion of the bridge... that has been under construction for some time now." -Tazuna