Our Story {Kakashi X Reader}

|Part Nine|

|YOU|

The fog on the water was low-lying and dense. Looking over the edge of the boat I could barely see the water below us. It was incredible that the man steering the boat knew where to go.

"The bridge isn't too far off. Our destination, the Land of Waves, is close," the man said.

As we drifted through the water, a large structure emerged through the milky pillow of fog.

"Wow," I said softly.

"It's huge!" Naruto stated in a much louder tone.

"Shush! Didn't I tell you no talking?" The boat driver whispered aggressively. "There's a reason we're traveling like this. Killing the engine and rowing, travelling through the thick fog. It's all so that they don't see us."

Naruto slapped his hands over his mouth and I could feel Jin scoot closer to me.

"Mr Tazuna," Kakashi said in a hushed tone. "Before we reach the shore, I have to ask you something."

Tazuna kept his head hung while we all waited for Kakashi to continue.

"Those men who are after you, I need to know why. If you don't tell us, I'm going to have to end this mission by leaving you on the shore."

Tazuna grunted. "I suppose I have no choice but to tell you. As you said this situation is outside the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man, who casts a very deadly shadow."

Kakashi stretched out his legs, resting one of his feet against the outer edge of my thigh. I don't think he noticed it, but such a simple action made my heart flutter either way.

"A deadly shadow, huh?" He muttered. "Who is he?"

"You know him, or in the least you've heard of him. He's a very wealthy shipping man named Gato."

"Gato?" I repeated in surprise. "Of Gato's Transport? He's a very well known business man."

"Who's this guy?" Amari asked.

"Gato is a very powerful tycoon from a famous company. However, under the surface he works with the same men to take over businesses as to smuggle drug and contraband using gangs and ninja. It was about a year ago when he set his sights on the Land of Waves. He came here and used his wealth to take over our transports and shipping. Anyone who stands in his way simply disappears."

The boat swayed with Tazuna's last word and Jin gripped my hand.

"You doing okay?" I whispered.

He nodded. "I just hate water."

I let him nestle against me before returning my attention to Tazuna.

"In an island nation, the man who controls the seas controls everything. Finance, government, our very lives, but there's one thing he fears. The bridge. Once it's complete it'll join us to the other nations and his control will break. And I am the bridge builder."

"I see. Since you're building the bridge you're standing in this gangsters way," Sakura said.

Amari crossed his arms. "That means those guys before were working for Gato."

"I don't understand," Kakashi began. "If you knew he was dangerous and knew he'd send ninja after you, why would you hide that from us?"

"Because our nation is a small and impoverished land. Even our nobles have little money. The common people who are funding this bridge can't afford a B or A-ranked mission."

"Sounds familiar," Kamina mumbled under his breath so that only Amari and I could hear.

Tazuna continued. "If you end this mission when we reach the shore, there will be no bridge. Gato's men will assassinate me before I even reach home."