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The Canalized River	By : susanna Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 944 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
A/N
at the end of the chapter

Chapter
Nineteen: On his own

After
leaving the inn Naruto had travelled jumping from tree to tree until
he got tired and kept missing branches and falling down, then he had
gone on foot until he stumbled over every root and every stone that
were in his way. It was almost noon when he lied down to sleep where
he was, not even taking time to look for a safe spot, and he woke up
in the evening, got some water boiling for his instant ramen, ate and
then continued his journey.

It
was at nightfall when full realization of his situation struck him.
There he was in the wilderness, utterly alone, with nothing but a
vague aim before his eyes, finding Sasuke, and he did not know where
to look, but only had a general direction: Southeast. If he did not
find him, or if Sakura was right and he was chasing a dream and if
Sasuke pushed him away again, then he'd be really lost.

“I
will find him”, he told himself. “There is no way that I
won't. And he cannot reject me again. He's not that cruel.”

Naruto
had never shown any talent for the classical skills of a ninja,
stealth and espionage. He had always aimed to be a strong fighter,
most of all a short distance and close combat fighter, strong,
brave, courageous, open, honest, always to be found where it was most
dangerous. He did not mind using his kagebunshin as a feint, but
apart from that he hated deception with the full force of his heart,
and even when it came to using kagebunshin, he preferred using his
true self for the feint and seeing the astonished look on his
opponents' faces when they discovered that the Naruto that had stayed
behind in the safe place actually was only a kagebunshin.

For
him, feints were not a way to show intelligence, but a form of
deception and cowardice.

He
had never learnt to be good at tracking a person either. He lacked
patience, an eye for small signs, and he had no special talent, as a
heightened sense for smell or a sense for chakra.

But
travelling with Jiraya for two and a half years had taught him that
there are skills that can make up for the lack of these talents: The
gift to socialize easily, and getting into a nice chat with anyone
after a few minutes. This had been Jiraya's talent and his way to
gather information, and it would be Naruto's way as well, only that
Jiraya also made use of alcohol and sex, and Naruto felt too young
for both of them.

So
this night he did not camp outside but when he came to a town, he
stopped on his journey and found himself an inn where he could spend
the night. Tonight he would allow himself this luxury, he told
himself, next time he would try to find a place where they would let
him work in exchange for food, drink and a bed...

He
went to his room, unpacked his things, ate his meal that he had asked
to be brought to his room. Later he went downstairs to the main room
of the inn and joined the other guests. He even had some beer: the
landlord did not seem to care that he was still underage. Anyway, he
did not intend to get drunk, just to blend in, and this was much
easier with beer than with milk or even water. He drank slowly, as he
was not used to the bitter taste yet, and he did not order a second
beer.

General
conversation was about local politics, and of course here he could
only listen, but later it turned to the abysmal performance of the
Fire Country's national football team against the Earth Country in
last week's qualification match for the world championship, and then
Naruto joined in: He had watched the match together with the rest of
his team when they had been staying in town – actually that
night they had even decided against camping because of the match. The
houses created by Yamato's Mokuton Jutsu did not contain TV sets.
Only Sakura, who felt that football was beneath her, and Kakashi, who
preferred to read, had not joined them.

Naruto
had a very clear opinion of the team's general performance, and even
a clearer one of the particular performance of the nominal first
scorer of the team, and soon he was ranting about the quality of
football in the Fire Country that really sucked given that they were
one of the Five big ninja nations. (Maybe the alcohol had a share in
this.) All the guests were listening to him, and when he had finished
no one had to add anything.

They
returned to their own subjects again, only one man invited Naruto to
another pint of beer, and asked to be allowed to sit next to him at
the bar.

“You
are quite young”, he said. “And you are already
travelling on your own. Is this not a bit dangerous?”

Naruto
shook his head. “Not for me”, he said. “I am a
shinobi, and I am on a mission. I can protect myself.”

If
he had really been on a mission he would have never said this. Though
probably the alcohol had played him a trick again.

“I
wonder if they don't overdo”, the man said. “I have often
wondered that they send youngsters as yourself or even little kids on
dangerous missions or into war, but they say that it's safe because
they are always under the protection of grown-up ninjas. Yet now I
see you being on a mission on your own, and just a week ago I saw
another young boy who was already leading his own team...”

Naruto
froze: He had found a trail, but it was cold. The man did not seem to
notice his reaction but continued to talk.

“If
I had kids, I would not allow them to become ninjas. I mean, nothing
against being brave and courageous and defending the country, but
training kids as mercenary soldiers before they are old enough to
judge whether their mission is morally acceptable or not, that's not
okay for me.”

“I
am old enough”, Naruto said. “I know about right and
wrong.”

“So,
can you? So tell me, is your present mission right or wrong?”

“The
rightest of all: I am going to rescue a friend.”

“Good
luck with this”, the man said. “This cannot be too wrong
at least. But you are a bit too careless: I might work for Akatsuki.”

“You?”
Naruto said, startled that the stranger seemed to know that Akatsuki
was looking for him. “Akatsuki? No, you are not wearing a black
cloak with red clouds.”

“I
might be one who is not a full member yet but only works for them...
But you are lucky, I don't work for Akatsuki. I am a friend of
Jiraya, and he told me about you – or rather one of his
messengers did. He also has a message for you.”

A/N:
I know that yesterday's chapter was very short.
When I wrote the story I thought it cool to have such a short
chapter; now I am not so sure any more. Still I did not want to spoil
the effect with an answers-to-reviews-section that is longer than the
chapter itself...

Concerning Sakura in chapter
seventeen: I let her act in a way that I thought realistic. I am glad
that I only have to write her, not to judge her.

Spoon: Thanks for your
compliments for chapter seventeen! Your patience will soon be
rewarded.

Halskr: Thanks for your
kind remarks about chapter seventeen!

LadyRonin: Thanks for
reading and commenting! About Naruto's team not telling him that
Sasuke stepped in: They were too far away to see it. (Sorry, if I
have to rewrite this story, clarifying this point will be on top of
the list of priorities.)

The kyuubi – well, don't
forget that it's a demon.

Lexjamandme: Sorry about
chapter eighteen. :-D

Concerning Sakura... Well, again
it is some questions that won't try to answer here. I hope that my
story will give some more materials to think about it...
- 18
- 19
- 20
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The Canalized River