Chapter 197: The Cursed Island
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 197: The Cursed Island
Six hours later, waters near the coast of Kame Island, Land of Water.
The little boat they were in, was moving side to side, every time the rower pushed against the murky waters.
"Are you sure that toad was able to get the girl home?" Yamato asked.
"Of course. Gamatatsu is very reliable," Naruto assured the Jonin.
But Yamato didn't seem convinced. After leaving the hideout, he had offered to escort the poor girl back to her village, but that would require them to deviate from the most optimal route. Naruto had instead proposed summoning one of his toads to take her there safely.
"That toad didn't seem very reliable…" Yamato didn't want to say it outright, but the toad appeared to have some sort of mental deficiency and spoke in a strange way.
"You worry too much. Gamatatsu is more competent than he looks," Naruto said confidently.
In truth, he wasn't entirely sure himself. He'd only summoned Gamatatsu because the little guy had been pestering him endlessly about giving him something to do and was becoming annoying.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, Yamato," Kakashi added. "All members of the Toad Clan are carefully trained by their elders."
"If you say so…" Yamato muttered.
"Hey, if you're that interested in her well-being, you can check on her once the mission is over," Naruto teased, noticing Yamato's concern for the girl.
Yamato's face flushed slightly. "I do n—"
Suddenly, the small boat shook violently, cutting him off. The three Jonins turned to look at the old fisherman steering the vessel.
"What is the meaning of this?" Kakashi asked when he noticed they were no longer moving forward. His voice was calm but firm.
"Yes, why are we stopping here?" Yamato added. He was seeing nothing but black water around him.
The old fisherman grunted and pointed to his right.
Although, with the thick mist surrounding them, it was difficult to see whatever he was pointing at.
"Kame Island is right over there. But this is as close as I'll get to it," he declared.
"We paid you to get us to the island, not to leave us in the water," Naruto pointed out.
The fisherman glared at him. "I told you before, that island is cursed. We've already lost six fishing boats this year. I won't get any closer. You ninjas can walk on water, can't you?"
Kakashi squinted. "I think I can see the shape of the island through the mist… we should be very close."
"That's what I told you!" the old fisherman huffed. "I'm not a crook. The island is right there. You should have no trouble getting to it. As for leaving it… that's up to you."
"Do you really think it's cursed?" Yamato wondered aloud.
"Some say it's cursed, others say there's a demon resting under its waters… Honestly, I don't care which one it is. I just won't risk my life to find out. I have a family to provide for," the old man said firmly.
"Fair enough," Kakashi said as he stood and jumped off the boat. "Well take our leave here then."
His feet touched the water, but he didn't sink. "We can travel like this for a short distance."
"Okay then..." Yamato nodded and followed suit.
"Ahh!" The old fisherman almost fell over when he saw Naruto's body begin to levitate.
"What the... you can fly?!" Yamato exclaimed. He hadn't witnessed this technique before, as he'd missed Naruto's earlier displays when he just got back to the village.
"I can float," Naruto corrected. He would only truly fly once he reached the 'Nascent Soul' stage. Only then would he be powerful enough to fully defy the laws of the Heavens.
This was also the point when 'Heavenly Tribulations' became a factor, but that was a concern for the future.
The three of them began moving toward the island, with Kakashi and Yamato walking on the water and Naruto hovering just above it.
"I know you can walk on water too. It's one of the few things I can claim to have taught you. Are you just showing off?" Kakashi asked.
"Didn't want to get my sandals wet," Naruto replied.
"I see land!" Yamato exclaimed.
As they drew closer, the thick mist parted slightly, revealing the coast of the island less than fifty yards away.
"I've been to the Land of Water a few times. The mist is always an issue, but I've never seen it this thick," Kakashi commented.
When they finally reached the shore, the mist thinned just enough to allow a few yards of visibility. The ground was dark and wet, with no vegetation, it was just dirt and jagged rocks.
"What do you think Orochimaru wants from this place?" Yamato asked. "I can't imagine anything of value being here."
Kakashi glanced at the sky. The sun was already setting. "We'll find out soon enough, but we should rest for now. Wandering this place in the dark isn't a good idea."
Yamato nodded in agreement. The mist already made visibility a challenge, and darkness would make it impossible to navigate. They would easily fall victim to a trap if they did that.
Kakashi settled on a rock. "Let's hope whatever they're here for, takes them more than a day to complete…" He turned to Naruto. "Can you sense any presence on the island?"
Naruto shook his head. "The mist is interfering. I can't sense much at all."
"What do you mean? It's just water," Yamato said, puzzled.
"It's not just water. There's chakra mixed in it," Naruto explained.
Hearing this, Kakashi uncovered his Sharingan and scanned the surroundings. "He's right… This mist isn't natural. Someone or something is producing it."
Yamato recalled the fisherman's words about the island being cursed...or harboring a demon.
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