Reborn as a Nara

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C H A P T E R       1 1
— The Build Up before a Battle

"Good evening, Tsunami-san, Tazuna-san," Shirayuki greeted, dragging herself into the house with an effort that looked more than she was actually using. As she sat down, she offered her thanks with an almost blank and dazed expression, "Thank you for the food."

Her eyes were lidded, her head hurt, and she felt really drained right now. Shirayuki picked up her bowl of rice and ate at a quick speed, chewing everything shortly before swallowing her meal. Her pace was matched with Naruto and Sasuke, both also eating at a similar speed as her but with different manners.

"So, Tazuna-san," Kakashi called out all of a sudden, "Is there a reason why you're so determined to build this bridge? You told me you were doing it for your family but you hadn't elaborated on it."

Tazuna finished his food before taking a big gulp of his tea. Then, he looked at the table seriously, a tale beginning to weave. His eyes were set on Naruto first, "When Uzushio fell, the Uzumaki weren't the only ones that lost something. I wasn't old enough to care about such things during then but eventually, it became a problem."

Naruto sat up straight, eerily still as his blue eyes fixated on Tazuna expressionlessly. It was an odd look on Naruto, one that Shirayuki wasn't quite sure felt right on his usually expressive face.

"Wave was one of those places to be hit most by the fall of Uzushio, it wasn't noticeable in the beginning. Our stocks began falling, and the trades too. We became poorer as times went by and then Gato took advantage of it," Tazuna paused, he looked solemn as he took a bite of his breakfast.

Shirayuki took a gulp of tea before asking, "Gato, as in the millionaire who is a big shot in the stock market?"

"That's the guy. He isolated us, our already falling finance was completely ruined," Tazuna explained, hands gesturing carelessly as he spoke. "He blocked all our shipping routes to monopolise us."

"But why?" Shirayuki furrowed her brows. "No offence but the only thing Wave is famous for is your seafood. Gato's business, from what I remember reading, barely has anything to do with that type of trade."

Tazuna smiled brokenly, "Wave has an oil mine. A big one."

Shirayuki nodded. Now that made more sense as to why Gato was targeting Wave.

"Once he cut us off from the outside contact, our whole lifestyle pummelled and in the end, we're driven to poverty. The only thing we haven't done is declare bankruptcy and that is what Gato is aiming for," Tazuna continued with his explanation after that. "And once the bridge is completed, Gato's chances of isolating us into bankruptcy would be much lower."

Naruto looked confused. "Why would he want Wave to be bankrupt if he's trying to get stuff from you?" he asked.

"If Wave declares bankruptcy, that oil mine will belong to the first one who grabs it first," Kakashi explained, lowering the porn that he pulled out from god knows when. "So, if Wave declares themselves to be bankrupt, Gato can buy the mine at the lowest possible price without any problems."

Smart, Shirayuki noted absentmindedly.

"So, we began construction of a bridge. Or rather, the bridge was already in construction but we decided that we needed to speed things up," Tazuna grimaced, food now forgotten, "Unfortunately, more and more of the builders are beginning to lose hope. Day by day, I get more resignation letters handed in."

"So, you hired Ninja," Shirayuki hummed with a small nod. "Because that is your only option left, as Gato is serious about getting that mine. He sends assassins to get you. Unfortunately, C-Rank is the highest you can afford to pay."