Chapter Text
After receiving the goal set by Shinigami, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi started to work harder. Naruto, without much success, tried to get through to Tsubaki again. Even after that, he practiced with her kusarigama form as much as he could. Sakura worked with Lady after showing interest in firearms, specifically pistols and handguns. She even started to learn a particular fighting style called gun kata. They even learned what would happen when Sakura charged the muzzle with chakra. Kakashi, once he started to recover, started to get back into shape by practicing the katas from his father's Silver Fang style that mostly helped supplement his ninjutsu. He also started to train with his sharingan uncovered in order to get used to and minimize the drain on his reserves.
As a precaution, after he got permission from Shinigami, he informed Hiruzen on the situation at hand. They were currently awaiting a response as they continued on with their current mission of protecting Tazuna.
Lady had given to each of her new companions a pistol, from her arsenal, as a sign of trust between them. After showing each of them how to use one, as this corner of the Bermuda Triangle was a little mixed up in terms of technology (seriously, they have computers and tvs but the earliest forms of muskets in their Land of Iron), Lady also tried to help with the mission by body-guarding Tazuna's family while the rest of them were with the bridge builder.
Their time at the bridge also helped with their training as well, with Naruto using shadow clones to help replace workers who quit on Tazuna, Sakura helping to expand her reserves by using the tree climbing to reach under the bridge for certain spots to stablize, and even Sasuke getting some muscle training in by lifting concrete and logs. Kakashi was doing his best to set traps around the bridge to ward off saboteurs. Naruto, using his pranking expertise, helped.
"Alright, kids," Tazuna called, "Lets call it a day."
The clones gave an affirmation then dispelled. Naruto comically held his head in pain from information overload. "How many times do I have to say 'not all at once'?!"
Sakura and Kakashi snickered at this, and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
After packing everything up and hiding their supplies from anyone who would report it to Gato, they headed through town. Kakashi had allowed Sakura to bodyguard Tazuna while shopping, while he, Naruto, and Sasuke went back to the house to relieve Lady and rest up.
When Tazuna and Sakura arrived at the market, she noticed the minimal amount of groceries in the stand, also noticing that most, if not all of it had bruising. It looked as though Gato was limiting resources to starve out the outliers of his take over of Wave.
"This is horrible," Sakura exclaimed, "How dare he treat other human beings this way!"
"That's how it is with men like him," Tazuna answered, "They bleed people dry until they conform. And those that last 'too long' end up as examples. That's what happened with my second son-in-law when he rebelled and was executed in front of my daughter and grandson. It's why Inari isn't very confident in the bridge. Not that I blame him."
They grabbed what they needed and started to head towards the house when Sakura felt someone grab at her kunai pouch. Her hand shot out and grabbed the perpetrator before flipping them onto their back. "Please don't try that. I don't want to hurt you."
The man jumped back up and pulled out a kitchen knife.
"Yeah, well what do you know?! I bet your all comfy and relaxed back in your rich village full of stuck up brats! Screw you girl! My family is hungry, so just give me your valuables!" he said, brandishing his knife.
Tazuna got between them and said, "There's no reason to do that, friend. Once I'm done, Gato won't be able to strangle us anymore. You just have to have hope."
The man's face suddenly fell, "There is no hope, old man. Its not worth the trouble." He then turned and walked off, unable to continue with his assault.
The depressed features on the man disheartened the pair. Sakura tried to reach out to the man as he walked away from them, when Tazuna just put his hand on top of hers. "Let him go, young lady. C'mon, lets head home."
Sakura, downtrodden, just nodded and headed to the house with the older man.
When they returned, Naruto was meditating with the kusarigama in his lap again, Sasuke outside to practice tree climbing, and Kakashi was reading a book that he had borrowed from Lady, given to her from her friend Trish. For once, it wasn't Icha Icha, it was a journal of Devil Arms, the subject having caught his interest during the talk with Shinigami and Dante.
Kakashi snapped the journal closed and set it aside. "Welcome back, you two. Took longer than usual, something happen?"
"Nothing important, Hatake-san," Tazuna answered. He walked to the kitchen and gave the groceries to his daughter.
Kakashi shrugged and picked up the journal.
That was when Naruto's eyes snapped open and he gasped, sweating heavily. He caught his breath before leaving to take a shower after putting Tsubaki away into his weapons' pouch. Sasuke arrived after, covered in scratches and dirt from falling off the tree he was practicing on. He then took his bath after Naruto finished his. Sakura looked at Naruto with a concerned expression, her eyes asking how he was progressing with the sealed girl in his kusarigama.
"She certainly isn't making it easy," Naruto said, answering Sakura's unasked question, "She keeps pushing me away. On the bright side, I'm getting closer. But it's slow going."
"You'll get through to her, Naruto-kun. Just keep at it," Sakura encouraged.
"I hope so"
"Dinner is ready, everyone," Tsunami called from the kitchen.
After dinner, Naruto and Sakura ended up going to bed with plenty of worries. They vowed to themselves that they would do what ever it took to succeed.