31 Chapter 31 : Far From Home

I won't make any excuses for yesterday. ~sob~ I'm...I'm sorry my peeps. lol. Esketit.

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Kenji traveled on and off with Jiraiya for a few weeks. Once he got to know the man, he wasn't so bad. He was a hardcore flirter and Kenji had to manage the money, but his training was no joke. It wasn't straining, but Kenji wouldn't even know it and he would be learning a lesson. Jiraiya got the jist of Kenji's situation through messages from Minato, so he tried to model lessons that would help the boy over time. There was a time frame, given the movement inside the mist, but Jiraiya knew he couldn't rush something like this.

Kenji's first lesson started as a habit he was supposed to adopt. Jiraiya made him stare at himself when he woke up and went to sleep. Whether it be in the water or a mirror, Kenji had to remind himself everyday why he was doing this. What pushed him to live in this world. Jiraiya told him not to use that pain for anger, but fuel to push himself forward and eventually, Kenji would find his place in the world. So every day Kenji forced himself to remember...everything. He tried not to dwell on the pain, but the few happy moments he had in the schoolyard and home. Bonding through hell with his team. He still didn't feel any better though.

Through two weeks, this is all he worked on. He hoped Jiraiya would teach him a few things, but the respect he harbored for Jiraiya through a philosophical standpoint stopped him from asking too much.

The two always walked in silence, like both had a lot on their mind. Jiraiya would occasionally ask Kenji a few questions, probably to tinker with his plan. The two approached a terribly small town. Only twelve homes faced each other on each side. All were about the same size.

"Hmmm, I guess this is a good place to stay for a while. How about it?" Jiraiya cupped his chin in satisfaction.

"Here?" Kenji asked.

"Yes."

"But there's probably not that many women to chase around."

Jiraiya looked like he was powering through mentally. "Sadly no, but that's ok. I passed through this village on my way to the Leaf. I told them I'd bring help. They need it. I want you to live here for three months. I'll arrange you to stay somewhere. Do whatever they tell you and try to form at least some relationship with the villagers. Watch closely how everyone interacts with each other." He grabbed Kenji's shoulder. With every sentence Jiraiya spoke, Kenji dreaded the stay even more. "And lastly, don't kill anyone. Under no circumstances. That's my challenge to you. I'll return in three months to see what you learned. If I'm not satisfied, that's three more months."

Kenji didn't have any room to argue. He was curious what this old man was trying to show him.

"Alright, lets go."

They waded through the narrow dirt road. Jiraiya seemed to know where to go. He probably planned this right when he found this place. The last door on the right was the destination. Jiraiya knocked on the door. To Kenji's surprise, a skin and bone girl answered the door. She barely reached Kenji's waist. The look on her face when she saw Jiraiya was priceless.

She hugged his left leg with what little strength she had. "Daddy!!! The Ninja man back!!!!" A tall, thick man with a rough, unshaven face came to the door. "Oh you're back!" He said.

Kenji's eyes lit up. It couldn't be. "Old man, Is that really you?"

The huge man noticed Kenji, He never forgot his patients. "Well. Your eyes look better."

Kenji couldn't help but notice. The man looked different. Something had happened. And why was he here? His village wasn't that far from the Mist. They had been traveling North for two weeks.

"It's nice to see you again Kenji." The man had found hope again.

"You too, Mr. Kaito."

"And thank you Lord Jiraiya for helping. I can't thank you enough. My neighbors grow restless by the day. We can't take it anymore."

"of course." Jiraiya followed. "However, I won't be able to help. I know that Kenji will be more than enough. His skills are some of the best we've seen in a while." He smiled.

"Oh, no worries." Kaito lowered his head. "As long as we get them back, nothing else matters."

"Please follow me." Kaito grabbed his daughter's shoulder and ushered her ahead. Kenji followed. Kaito also looked a little malnourished.

Jiraiya, however, held back. "If you'll excuse me Mr. Kaito, I need to take my leave. I hope Kenji will be able to help. I apologize for not being able to stay."

"Please. Thank you for everything. If it's in my power one day, I will pay you back." Kaito assured Jiraiya. At least he still had his spirit. Jiraiya nodded and looked at Kenji.

"See you in a few months." He sped out the door and disappeared.

"A few months?" Kaito asked.

Kenji signed. Of course he would do that. Jiraiya wanted to squeeze every bit of human interaction out of Kenji. Especially with the people of this town.

"He wants me to stay here. Help out I guess. Says it's a lesson." Kenji looked around. Not holding much interest in talking.

Kaito smiled like he had a breakthrough. A chivalrous man as himself could guess, at least in the ballpark, what Jiraiya had planned.

"Very well. You can stay here with me if you'd like. But we have a problem." The frown took over.

"What is it?" Kenji asked. Anything he didn't know, of course, had to be figured out. Even as simple as asking someone.

Kaito's son and daughter huddled next to him while he sat on a rug. There wasn't much of anything in his house now, compared to his other home. After some silence of Kenji scoping out the home, Kaito saw a few boys peeking through his window. The curious kids of his neighbor. He forced a smile and a thumbs up. Kenji didn't even have to look to see the exchange.

"Where's your wife?" Asked Kenji. The words that came out of Kenji's mouth were not delicate at all. They contained a little wonder, but without a care for Kaito's feelings.

Kaito signed. "I guess I'll start from when my family and I left our other home." Kaito eyed Kenji, signaling his serious tone.

"You might want to sit, Kenji. This will probably take a while."

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Note : Sorry again. I write this because it's fun to me, but a lot of times other stuff takes priority over that. I should make a schedule or something, but who has time for that. So I really need to know something RIGHT NOW BOI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should I continue with Kenji's part until it's finished (to a point) then proceed with the others or alternate each chapter. I feel like alternating could get confusing, but I think it would be cool if I do it right. Tell me what you think. I'm out. YERRR!