The Outlaw

Chapter 4

Naruto stood on the kitchen. Three years ago his father had hired Iruka Umino to take care of the house and cook the meals. But Iruka was much more than a servant. He was also the closest thing Naruto had to a best friend, which was the reason Naruto had decided to let Iruka know about his little plan to reform Gaara. Gaara spoke so little that trying to determine what had motivated him to become an outlaw was going to be impossible when Naruto had to sneak around to talk with him. Naruto needed several hours of uninterrupted time.

"I'm thinking that you're playing with fire," Iruka said. His accent reflected his homeland of Ireland, He was practically a man of the world, having traveled here by herself on a large ship.

Often Naruto felt like a child when he compared his freedom against that which Iruka's family had granted him. He certainly couldn't see his father letting Naruto travel across a river by himself-much less across an ocean.

Naruto watched Iruka bustle around the kitchen putting away the dishes he'd washed after breakfast. With his hair pulled into a high ponytail, Iruka looked older than his twenty-one years.

"But you'll help me, if I manage to pull it off?" Naruto asked.

Iruka came to an abrupt halt and planted his hands on his hips. "Manage to pull it off? When have you not managed to get your way, I want to know?"

"Where the outlaw is concerned. Honestly, Iruka, talking with him is like pulling teeth. It takes a lot of effort but you don't get much for it."

"I didn't think you were supposed to talk to him at all. If your father finds out about last night--"

"He's not going to find out," Naruto assured him. He knew Gaara wouldn't tell. And Naruto had deliberately run into Zabuza that morning on his way to the cookhouse. Zabuza promised not to say anything, although he confessed that he'd been watching them with an eagle eye. He'd also warned Naruto not to approach Gaara again.

"I know I was a little bad," he conceded to Iruka. "I wanted to visit with Duchess, and when I saw Gaara standing there I should have come right back to the house, but no harm came out of my talking to him. Except I want to talk with him some more, but I need you to help me with my plan."

"All right I'll help you, but make a note in that dairy you keep that I've got strong reservations about this crazy scheme of yours," he insisted.

With a delighted smile, Naruto threw his arms around Iruka. "Thanks, Iruka. I promise we'll have fun."

"I'm not so sure about that," Iruka said, wiggling out of Naruto's embrace.

"You'll see. Meanwhile, why don't you start to prepare a picnic basket for later this afternoon?"

He winked at Iruka as he headed out the door. "In case I manage to pull off my plan for today, I'll come back and help you finish after I talk to papa."

Naruto strolled down the hallway toward his father's library. Each morning before he headed out to the country courthouse, he met with Zabuza and Naruto's brothers to discuss the day's work schedule. If he was to succeed with his idea, he needed to catch them before his father adjourned the meeting.

Last night he'd been unable to sleep after returning from his midnight excursion to the corral. He simply couldn't get the outlaw out of his mind.

From his father, he knew criminals emphatically stated they were innocent even when they were obviously guilty. What sort of man was Gaara Sabaku not to deny his guilt?

He hoped to have a clearer idea by the end of the day. He thought it imperative to understand the criminal mind if he wanted to practice law someday.