Nothing Special

Chapter 61

By the time they got back to the Curry shop, the sun was just setting. 

" Hey!" Naruto shouted as they got closer, they saw the three guys chopping up wood. They ran inside to talk to Grandma Sansho.

" Grandma Sansho, I'm back," Naruto announced once they got inside.

" And Karashi is here as well," Lee added. The boy took a few steps forward.

" Oh mother," Karashi breathed as he fell to his knees. " I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

" Please, pardon his behavior, ma'am," Lee requested as he stood beside Karashi. " From now on he is a changed man. He will devote himself to taking over the Curry of Life restaurant if you will let him." She turned around and shoved a plate in front of Karashi.

" First things first, you've got to eat," Grandma Sansho ordered.

" Huh?" Karashi asked.

" Huh?" Naruto asked happily as he appeared by the plate.  " Oh wow! That looks great! If you're not gonna eat it, I don't mind taking it off your hands.

" Actually, I've prepared a plate for everybody," Grandma Sansho informed. " Well, look at him. My, what a piqued little child."

" Oh yeah," Aceso breathed as she looked back to see Ranmaru asleep on her back. " You mind fixing up a plate for him too?

" Make it as mild as possible," Neji requested.

" Actually, I'd like mine to be mild as well," Tenten requested politely. 

" As you wish," Grandma Sansho smiled happily. 

" Mother," Karashi began as he got up and took his seat. " Thank you for the food." He picked up his spoon and scooped some food in his mouth, his face grew a bright red from the spice.

" That's my 300% Special Punishment Curry," Grandma Sansho said. Karashi began to eat it more, his cheeks grew red, his lips got big, and tears streamed down his face.

" Spicy," Karashi commented. " So spicy. But it's good. So good, mama."

" Dig in," Grandma Sansho insisted. " I made enough for everyone. They all happily ate their food, soon night came, and Ranmaru was staring at his plate of food. He looked really sad. Naruto and Acseo sat at the same table as him.

" It's ok," Aceso assured. " She made it real mild." He shook his head. 

" Hey, by the way, when you were traveling with Raiga, you were with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, weren't you?" Naruto asked. " Did you ever meet a guy named Zabuza?

" Uh--Zabuza?" Ranmaru asked as he tried to think about it. " No--I've."

" Oh! I've got it," Naruto insisted. " There was this one with a huge sword wrapped in some bandage thing. And he has these fish eyes."

" Oh yeah, you mean Kisame," Ranmaru recalled.

" Yeah, right, Kisame," Naruto confirmed. " So, do you happen to know where that guy is or what he's up to?"

" Uh-uh," Ranmaru denied. " I heard that he slipped away from the Mist Village. I know his face, but I don't know anything more than that."

" Oh well," Naruto sighed, then he looked at the food. " You still haven't eaten. You want me to ask our host to make you something else?

" I don't need it," Ranmaru denied. " I'm not really in the mood to eat right now."

The next morning came and the others were on the way back to the village.

" Thank you so much for your help," Hachidai thanked them.

 " Yeah, you solved everything," Sangoro added.