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Better Late Than Never Chapter 9 (Seven Tails)
🕑 Added 2025-02-26 18:52:10 +0000 UTCBetter Late Than Never Chapter 9 (Seven Tails)
Naruto flopped onto the slick, mossy ledge with a groan, his dark/red jacket sticking to his skin from the damp mist swirling around him. The hidden spot behind the smaller waterfall was cramped—just a slab of rock barely big enough for two, tucked under a curtain of churning white water. The roar of the falls pounded in his ears, swallowing up the world beyond, and the air carried a wet, earthy scent mixed with something faintly sweet, like sap from that giant Tree looming somewhere out there. He squinted through the spray, grinning as Fuu balanced on a jagged boulder nearby, her green hair plastered to her forehead from their earlier training.
"Man, you're fast," he said, snagging a flat pebble from the ledge and tossing it into the frothy pool below. It hit with a satisfying plop, sending ripples through the misty water. "But I'm still gonna beat you next time!"
Fuu's lips twitched into a grin, her dark eyes crinkling at the corners. She flicked a pebble of her own, watching it skip twice before sinking. "Yeah, sure, loudmouth. You were yelling so much at that waterfall earlier, I bet the whole village knows your big plans now."
Naruto snorted, leaning back on his hands. The rock was cool and slick under his palms, vibrating faintly. "Hey, it's not my fault the thing wouldn't split! And what about you, buzzing around like some ninja bug with those wings? Pretty weird trick, y'know."
She laughed—a sharp, bright sound that bounced off the rocks—and hopped down to sit cross-legged beside him, her damp sandals squeaking against the stone. "Guess I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. Keeps things fun around here. Speaking of weird, though—didn't scare off the Tree Mother crowd down there, at least. They're probably praying extra hard after all your noise."
Naruto tilted his head, scratching at one of his whiskered cheeks. The mist curled thicker as the sun dipped lower, casting faint rainbows across the ledge. "Tree Mother, huh? That's that worship thing Seiji was talking about, right? He said they're all about that big Tree, but I didn't really get it. Sounded like something old folks would be into."
Fuu's grin widened, and she stretched her arms overhead. "Oh, it's way more than that. You wanna know what it's really about? It's kinda wild."
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and tossed another pebble into the water. "Yeah, hit me with it. Seiji made it sound important, but I figured it was just, y'know, a Tree thing. What's the big deal?"
Fuu settled back on her hands, kicking her feet absently as the mist drifted between them. "Okay, so—the civilians here? They think the Mother Tree's the start of everything in Taki. Like, all life, the water, the whole deal. They say it grew up from nothing and gave them this place to live. That Hero Water? They call it sacred—say it's like the Tree's lifeblood or something."
Naruto's brows shot up, and he blinked at her, his mouth twitching like he wasn't sure whether to laugh or gape. "Wait, hold up—they think the Tree made everything? Like, what, it just popped out of the ground and went, 'Here's a village'?"
She chuckled, her grin turning lopsided. "Pretty much! They've got stories about it—say it's been here forever, watching over them. Kinda cool when you think about it, right? A Tree that big doing all that?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head, his blue eyes narrowing as he tried to picture it. A Tree making a village? That's nuts—plants don't just do stuff like that. But Seiji acted all serious about it, and Fuu's not laughing too hard. Maybe there's something to it? He glanced out through the waterfall's spray, catching a glimpse of the Mother Tree's massive trunk in the distance—five kilometers of gnarled bark stretching up into the clouds like it was holding up the sky. It didn't look like just a plant. It felt... big. Alive, almost.
"Okay, that's pretty wild," he admitted, tossing another pebble. This one splashed them both, and he grinned as Fuu yelped. "So what, they just sit around thanking it all day?"
Fuu wiped the water off her cheek, shooting him a mock glare that melted into a smirk. "Not exactly. They pray to it—y'know, asking for protection and stuff. Down at the base, they've got these little altars with flowers and bowls of water. They think it keeps Taki safe. Even say it talks back sometimes, through the wind or whatever."
Naruto's jaw dropped a little, and he snapped it shut, his brows furrowing. "Talks back? Like, 'Hey, good job, guys'?" He waved his hands like he was mimicking a Tree, then snickered. "Bet it's got a real deep voice."
Fuu burst out laughing, rocking back on her hands. "Right? 'Thanks for the flowers, now behave!'" She shook her head, her grin softening. "Nah, but they take it serious. You'll see 'em down there, bowing and everything. It's their way, y'know? Shinobi don't get into it, but the regular folks—they're all about it."
He leaned back, crossing his arms as the mist settled cold on his skin. Bowing to a Tree, huh? Back home, we've got statues and the Hokage monument, but nobody's praying to 'em. Still, they're not hurting anybody—guess it's not that dumb. He squinted at the distant Tree again, its shadowy shape cutting through the haze. The wind picked up, rustling through the mist, and for a second, he swore he heard a low hum—like branches groaning miles away. He shivered, shaking it off.
"Man, that's... different," he said finally, tossing another pebble. "I mean, it's a Tree, right? But if it's giving 'em that Hero Water, maybe it's not just some big stick. Still sounds like a fairy tale, though—Granny Tsunade'd probably say they're wasting their time."
Fuu shrugged, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe. But it's been around longer than any of us, and Taki's still here. Gotta give it some credit, loudmouth. Anyway, it's not like I'm out there bowing to it—too busy flying around, y'know?"
Naruto grinned, snagging another pebble and bouncing it in his hand. "Yeah, you're too busy buzzing at me! Bet that Chomei guy taught you that—he's gotta be some crazy sensei to keep up with you."
Fuu's laugh faltered for a split second, her head tilting as she studied him. Then her grin came back full force, and she flicked a pebble right at his chest. "Oh, you'll see crazy someday, believe it! But yeah, keeps things interesting around here."
He dodged the pebble with a yelp, laughing as it plinked off the rock behind him. Chomei's gotta be a riot if he's training her to be this nuts. Wonder if he's as loud as me? The mist thinned for a moment, and the waterfall's spray glittered like tiny sparks in the fading light. Naruto leaned back, staring up at the hidden sky. This place was weird—Trees that made villages, people praying to sap, Fuu and her tricks—but it wasn't bad. Not yet, anyway.
"C'mon," he said, nudging her with his elbow. "Let's toss a few more before Jiraiya starts yelling. Bet I can hit that rock down there this time!"
Fuu smirked, already grabbing a pebble. "You're on, loudmouth. Loser owes the winner ramen!"
Naruto's grin stretched ear to ear. "Deal!"
.
.
Naruto stumbled after Fuu as she tugged him through the misty outskirts of Takigakure, her grip on his wrist tight and her grin wide enough to show she was up to something. "C'mon, slowpoke—you gotta see this!" she chirped, weaving past damp boulders until the roar of the waterfall faded behind them. The air grew heavier, thick with the scent of wet earth and blooming flowers, and the massive base of the Mother Tree loomed ahead, its gnarled roots sprawling like the legs of some ancient beast. They stopped at a small grove nestled against the Tree's trunk—a cluster of simple stone altars and wooden carvings shaped like the Tree itself, their edges worn smooth by years of hands. Low-hanging branches draped over the space, casting dappled shadows across the ground, and a dozen civilians knelt in silence, heads bowed, their worn clothes rustling faintly as they placed offerings of wildflowers and tiny clay cups of water before the altars.
Naruto blinked, his sneakers scuffing the dirt as he took it all in. "What's this place?" he asked, voice low but still loud enough to earn a sharp shh! from Fuu. Her green eyes gleamed with amusement, and she yanked him down to crouch beside her behind a thick root, her finger pressed to her lips.
"Prayer grove," she whispered, her breath warm against his ear. "Told you the Tree Mother stuff was weird—check it out." She nodded toward the civilians, her smirk twitching like she was holding back a laugh.
Naruto squinted, his brows furrowing as he watched an old woman with gray hair tied in a tight bun set a bundle of purple flowers on an altar. Her wrinkled hands trembled as she murmured something he couldn't hear, her face soft and reverent. A younger man beside her poured water from a chipped cup onto the ground, his lips moving silently, while a kid—no older than five—clutched a wilted daisy and stared up at the Tree with wide, awed eyes. They're really into this, Naruto thought, scratching his whiskered cheek.
"Why're they doing that?" he muttered, glancing at Fuu. "You said they think it's alive or whatever, but what's the point?"
Fuu leaned closer, her shoulder brushing his as she kept her voice low. "The civilians pray before it, shinobis are allowed to pray, but no one really does, and the civilians are happy about it. They say ninjas stole its power ages ago." She rolled her eyes, but her smirk softened into something quieter. "That Hero Water? They think it's the Tree's gift, and we took it for ourselves. Kinda why they're so mad at us all the time."
Naruto's nose scrunched up, his mouth twisting in confusion. "Stole its power? From what I understand, the Hero Water can make you very strong for an hour before the effect runs out, why wouldn't shinobis use it, what is the point of having it and never using it just because it comes out of a giant tree?"
"Yeah, well, they don't see it that way," Fuu said, shrugging. She pointed past the grove toward the village sprawled below the Tree's shadow. "Look at the houses—see how it works here?" Naruto followed her finger, his blue eyes narrowing as he scanned the layout. High up on the Tree's trunk, carved into the bark, were sturdy wooden platforms holding sleek ninja homes—sharp angles, polished roofs, and lanterns glowing warm against the afternoon haze. Closer to the base, shinobi barracks and training grounds hugged the roots, their walls reinforced with stone. But further out, beyond the grove, civilian shacks dotted the muddy outskirts—ramshackle huts with thatched roofs and cracked walls, pushed so far from the Tree they nearly vanished into the mist.
"The closer you are to the Tree, the more important you are," Fuu said, her tone dropping a notch. "Shinobi get the good spots—better houses, better food, better everything. Civilians? They're stuck out there, scraping by. Always have been. The only civilians who have houses in the same level as the shinobi houses are those high in the Religion, and the Great Priest, his house is in the same level as those of Jonin Rank."
Naruto's brows shot up, and he tilted his head at her. "Wait, so they're all poor 'cause they're not ninja? That's messed up!" It sounds like Konoha's backward sometimes—some jerks there acted like I was trash 'cause I wasn't from a big clan. But this is worse.
Fuu nodded, her smirk fading as she stared at the distant shacks. "Pretty much. I don't get it all myself—why they even bother with this Tree Mother stuff. Guess it's 'cause shinobi have it better, and they don't. Believing in this..." She waved a hand at the altars. "It gives 'em a way to feel better, y'know? Like the Tree's on their side when no one else is."
Naruto chewed on that, his gaze drifting back to the old woman as she pressed her forehead to the altar, her lips trembling with quiet words. Feel better, huh? he thought. Guess that makes sense if your life sucks. But still—praying to a Tree? How's that supposed to fix anything? He scratched his head, the idea bouncing around in his skull like a bad ramen order. "So they think it's gonna... what, help them out? Like some kinda magic?"
"Maybe," Fuu said, her voice softening. "They've been doing it forever—say it keeps Taki safe, gives 'em hope. I dunno. I always thought it was kinda dumb growing up." She paused, her fingers picking at a loose thread on her sleeve, and her eyes flicked away from his. "Kids around here didn't like me much—used to throw rocks, call me the 'Tree's mistake.' Said I didn't belong 'cause I was... different."
Naruto's stomach twisted, and he went still, staring at her. Fuu's face stayed calm, but her mouth tightened just enough to betray the hurt behind her words. Rocks? he thought, a flicker of anger sparking in his chest. That's like those jerks back home—always glaring, whispering I was a freak 'cause of the fox. She's like me. He swallowed, his voice dropping low. "Yeah... my village hated me too. Didn't even know why back then—just knew I was alone a lot."
Fuu glanced at him, her green eyes widening for a second before softening. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something but then closed it, her smirk creeping back as she nudged him with her elbow. "Well, look at us—couple of outcasts sneaking around a prayer grove. Bet they'd hate that."
Naruto huffed a laugh, the tension in his gut easing a little. "Yeah, they're missing out—hanging with me's way better than crying to a Tree." She gets it, he thought, glancing at her sidelong. She's loud and weird, but she's tough. Kinda like me, minus the green wings. He smirked, ready to toss out another jab, but the words stuck as he caught a glimpse of the kid with the daisy standing up, his tiny hands clutching the flower like it was gold. The sight hit him funny—soft and heavy all at once—and he rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly restless.
"Uh, so..." he started, shifting awkwardly. "They really think this Tree's gonna fix their houses or something? 'Cause that'd be cool if it worked."
"Dunno, maybe. C'mon—let's get outta here before they catch us spying. You're loud even when you're quiet." Her grin flashed again, bright and teasing, but her eyes lingered on the grove a moment longer, something unreadable flickering in them.
Naruto stood, stretching his arms over his head as the mist curled thicker around the Tree's base. The civilians' murmurs faded into a low hum, blending with the rustle of leaves overhead, and the air felt heavier now. Weird place, he thought, shoving his hands in his pockets. Weird people. But Fuu's alright— He followed her without looking back.
Later
Naruto spends the next four hours training with Jiraiya, still trying to cut the waterfall, but has no luck yet. His sensei reassured him that it was normal that he could not do it right away. Even a prodigy would have problems with this part of the training, but trying to cut a Waterfall wasn't the only training he was doing; he was still working on his seals; he wanted to get better at them, he remembered Kosuke telling him that the Uzumaki Clan were known for their seals, he had even hinted that is own mother was one of the best seal masters in the world. Naruto did not know much about his mother, but if she had been really a master, then he wanted to become one as well, even if the road towards A Seal Master involved many accidents, and most of them were quite painful.
After two more hours of fighting clones of himself, Fuu found him and asked if he wanted to hang out again.
They had returned back to her spot. The waterfall's roar amplified every sound, bouncing off the slick rocks and filling the silence between him and Fuu, who sat cross-legged a few feet away, fiddling with a twig she'd snapped off a low-hanging branch.
Naruto glanced at her, his blue eyes narrowing as she hummed under her breath—a cheerful little tune that grated on his nerves. She's too happy sometimes, he thought, flicking another pebble with a sharp plop. Like nothing bothers her. Bet that Chomei guy's got her all hyped up again. "So," he said, breaking the quiet, "you training with that Chomei sensei tomorrow or what? You keep talking about him like he's some big shot."
Fuu's head snapped up, her green eyes widening before a laugh burst out of her, bright and unrestrained. She dropped the twig, clutching her stomach as her wings shimmered faintly behind her. "Chomei? My sensei?" she managed between giggles, her face scrunching with delight. "Oh, you're too good, Naruto! No, no—he's not my sensei. Chomei's my... well, she's my friend. The one inside me. Y'know, the Seven-Tails?"
Naruto froze, the pebble slipping from his fingers to clatter onto the ledge. His mouth dropped open, and a cold jolt shot through his chest, sharp and familiar, like the first time he'd heard the word Kyuubi. "Wait—what?" he choked out, his voice cracking. "You mean... Chomei's a Bijuu? Like, a tailed beast?" His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms as her words sank in.
Fuu nodded, still grinning as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Yeah! She's awesome—why I can fly, why I'm me. She's not some demon or anything, just... my buddy." Her tone was light, casual, like she'd just said the sky was blue.
Naruto's face twisted, his brows slamming down as a hot surge of anger flared in his gut. "You're crazy," he snapped, shoving himself up to his feet so fast the ledge rocked beneath him. "Bijuu aren't friends—they're monsters! Killers! Like the fox that wrecked my life!" His voice rose, raw and jagged, cutting through the mist as he pointed at her. She's gotta be kidding—this isn't funny!
Fuu's grin faltered, her eyes narrowing as she stood too, brushing dirt off her knees. "Whoa, hold up—Chomei's not like that," she said, her tone sharpening. "She's been with me forever, kept me from falling apart when no one else cared. She's not a monster—she's kind!"
"Kind?!" Naruto barked a laugh, bitter and loud, his hands balling tighter. "You're out of your mind! The Kyuubi killed my parents—slaughtered 'em before I even got a chance to know 'em! You think that's kind? It's a demon, Fuu, and yours is too! Kyuubi is inside my gut and because of him. My childhood was crap!!" His chest heaved, the words spilling out like poison he'd held too long. She doesn't get it—Bijuu ruins everything. They're not pets!
Fuu's jaw tightened, her wings buzzing faintly as she stepped closer, her face hardening. "That's your fox, not mine! Chomei saved me—when kids threw rocks, when I had no one, she was there, talking me through it. She's not tricking me—she cares!" Her voice trembled.
"Tricking you is exactly what it's doing!" Naruto shouted, his fists shaking at his sides. "Monsters don't care—they destroy! You think it's all nice and sweet 'til it turns on you!" He paced the ledge, the mist swirling around his legs like it was trying to hold him back. She's blind—can't she see it? They're all the same!
Fuu crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You don't know her—you don't know us! Chomei's not some rampaging beast. She's got a heart, Naruto—she laughs with me, pushes me to be better. What's your proof they're all bad?"
Naruto stopped, his head snapping toward her as memories flooded in—dark, jagged flashes he couldn't shake. "Proof? How about Gaara?" he spat, his voice dropping low and rough. "Met him at the Chunin Exams—guy couldn't sleep, not ever, 'cause of Shukaku. That damn raccoon thing made him nuts—gave him a thirst for blood so bad he'd kill just to feel something! Suna hated him for it, treated him like garbage. That's what Bijuu do—they wreck you!"
Fuu flinched, her wings stilling for a moment, but she didn't back down. "Gaara's not me," she said, her voice steady despite the crack in it. "Shukaku's not Chomei. She doesn't push me to hurt anyone—she keeps me sane! When I was alone, she'd hum to me, tell me stories. You're judging her for stuff she didn't do!"
"Then you're naive!" Naruto roared, his face flushing red as he stepped closer, glaring down at her. "You think yours is different? They're all the same—chaos waiting to happen! Kyuubi took everything from me—my family, my home, my whole damn life 'til I clawed it back! Gaara's a mess 'cause of Shukaku, and you're standing there pretending yours is some cuddly pal? Wake up, Fuu!"
Fuu's eyes flashed, her wings buzzing louder as she shoved a finger into his chest. "Don't you dare call me naive! I'm not pretending—I know her! Chomei's not perfect, but she's not a killer either. Maybe your fox and Gaara's raccoon did awful things, but don't lump her in with 'em—she's mine, and I'm hers!" Her voice broke, raw and fierce, and her cheeks flushed with anger.
Naruto slapped her hand away, his own eyes burning as he leaned in, his eyes had turned bright red with dark slits. "You're out of your mind! They're all monsters—every last one! You're just too soft to see it!" She's nuts—how can she trust that thing? It's gonna turn on her.
Fuu's breath hitched, and for a second, her face softened, her gaze searching his. "I thought you weren't like the others," she said quietly, her voice cutting deeper than her shouts. "Thought you'd get it—being different, being hated. Guess I was wrong." She stepped back, her wings flaring as her expression hardened again. "You're the naive one, Naruto—thinking you know everything."
Before he could snap back, she spun on her heel, her wings buzzing furiously as she launched off the ledge. The mist swallowed her in seconds, leaving only the fading hum of her flight and the echo of her words. Naruto stood there, fists clenched, his chest heaving as the waterfall's roar filled the silence. She's wrong, he thought, kicking a pebble off the ledge so hard it cracked against a boulder below. Bijuu don't care—they destroy. She's gonna learn that the hard way.
The ledge felt emptier now, the mist curling tighter around him like a cage. The rushing water pounded in his ears, drowning out everything but the heat in his veins and the sting of her parting shot. He punched the boulder beside him, causing it to crack like glass, "Stupid... flying idiot."
Naruto stormed away from the waterfall, his sneakers slapping the muddy ground. His fists stayed clenched, knuckles stinging from where he'd punched that boulder, and his chest burned with the leftover heat of his fight with Fuu. Stupid... naive idiot, he thought, kicking a stray rock so hard it skittered into the haze. Thinks she knows everything—Bijuu aren't friends, they're curses! The roar of the falls faded behind him, replaced by the low hum of the Mother Tree's presence, its massive shadow stretching over the village like a weight he couldn't shake. He didn't know where he was going—just needed to move, to clear the mess in his head—but the mist thickened with every step, and soon he was weaving through twisted roots at the Tree's base, their gnarled shapes looming like silent guards.
He ducked under a low branch, his breath huffing out in sharp bursts, when a faint ping vibrated against his chest. He froze, glancing down at the wooden token the guards had given him the moment he had entered the village- a small, carved thing hanging from a cord around his neck. It buzzed again, louder, a shrill chime cutting through the quiet. "Leave this place," a tinny voice crackled from it, flat and mechanical. Naruto's brows shot up, his fingers brushing the token as he squinted into the gloom. "What the—?" Is it some kinda warning jutsu? The air felt heavier here, damp and cool, and the roots twisted tighter, forming a tunnel that sloped down into the dark beneath the Tree.
"Screw that," he muttered, shoving the token under his jacket as it chimed again. I'm not scared of some dumb noise. He pushed forward, curiosity edging out his anger, and slipped into the tunnel. The light dimmed fast, swallowed by walls of gnarled roots that pulsed faintly with chakra, their surfaces slick with moisture. The air smelled of rot and earth, sharp enough to sting his nose, and his sneakers squelched on the uneven floor. This place is freaky, he thought, his eyes darting around. What's down here they don't want me seeing?
A glint of metal caught his eye—a shinobi headband, half-buried in the dirt. He crouched, brushing it free, when his gaze landed on something else: two bodies slumped against the roots, their civilian clothes torn and stained. Naruto's stomach lurched, his breath catching as he stumbled closer. Their skin was mottled with strange burn marks—black and jagged, like lightning had scorched them from the inside. Their faces were frozen in wide-eyed terror, mouths open in silent screams. Dead, he thought, his heart thudding hard. What the hell happened here?
Low voices drifted from deeper in the tunnel, and Naruto ducked behind a root, his pulse racing. Two shinobi guards stepped into view, their Taki headbands glinting faintly in the dim light. "More cursed seals," one muttered, his voice tight as he knelt by the bodies. "This is getting outta hand—chakra's all wrong on 'em." The other nodded, his jaw clenched. "Looks like overuse... but how'd civilians get this kinda power?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his fingers digging into the root. Cursed seals? Overuse? he thought. Sounds like some jutsu gone bad—maybe that Hero Water stuff? Before he could puzzle it out, a sharp voice cut through the haze. "What's this outsider doing here?" Elder Shuu strode in, his gray robes swishing against the damp floor, his lined face stern and shadowed. Seiji followed close behind, his priestly calm unshaken, though his dark eyes flicked to the bodies with a flicker of something Naruto couldn't read.
Naruto stood, brushing dirt off his knees as his token buzzed again, ignored. "I, uh—just wandering," he said, forcing a grin despite the churn in his gut. "Didn't mean to crash your party." Crap, they look mad. What's with these guys?
Shuu's gaze hardened, his lips pressing into a thin line as he loomed over Naruto. "This is a restricted area," he snapped, his voice low and clipped. "Outsiders don't belong here—especially reckless kids sticking their noses where they shouldn't." His eyes flicked toward the empty space beside Naruto, and his scowl deepened. "Like that girl—always causing trouble. Get back to Jiraiya, now, before you make this worse."
Naruto bristled, his fists clenching again as Shuu's words stung. He means Fuu! "Hey, I'm not some kid—" he started, but Seiji stepped forward, raising a hand with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Peace, Elder," Seiji said smoothly, his voice soft but firm. "He's just curious—new to our ways. I'll handle the prayers for these poor souls." His gaze lingered on the bodies, then slid to the roots, where faint glowing seals pulsed beneath the surface. Naruto caught the look—a quick, sharp glint—and frowned. What's he staring at? he thought. Something's off about that guy.
Shuu huffed, his stern face twitching like he'd swallowed something bitter. "Fine. But keep him out of here, Seiji—this isn't his mess to stumble into." He turned, his robes snapping as he marched back into the tunnel, leaving a heavy silence behind. The guards shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between Naruto and the bodies.
Seiji clasped his hands, his calm mask settling back into place. "You should go, Naruto," he said, his tone gentle but edged. "These roots hold secrets not meant for you." He nodded toward the exit, but his eyes flicked to the seals again, a shadow crossing his face.
Secrets, huh? Those burns—something's seriously messed up here. He glanced at the bodies one last time, their charred skin searing into his memory, then turned and trudged out, the token's chime fading as the mist swallowed him again.
He emerged out of the tunnel. His mind raced, replaying Shuu's scolding and Seiji's weird stare. Cursed seals, dead people—sounds like ninja crap gone wrong. Naruto did not understand what was happening in this village, and a part of him wondered if this was something that he even needed to look into. The Village of Waterfalls wasn't his home; he was just here with Jiraiya to train and get better, not to solve murders.
Yet, despite saying that to himself, a part of him thought back at Fuu. She was stupid, but she was still like him, and he didn't like the thought of leaving this place without knowing if Fuu would be safe after he left.
