Chapter 050

After managing to haul his ass back onto the dam's main highway Naruto was quickly able to recover the sword dropped by the fallen Crow, the masked samurai he had just managed to defeat in combat, by the skin of his teeth. Sheathing the weapon into its scabbard, which he also found hidden amongst the rubble, the blonde then turned his sights toward the quickest route off of the ruined structure that was once Gato's stronghold and staggered his way down the main road. Clutching at the deep wound across his chest and every other area of considerable bruising and discomfort, Naruto promptly worked out his next point of interest to be the village down in the valley below.

As tolerant as he was towards severe injuries, he still needed to get some proper medical treatment.

Seriously. He had never taken a beating this badly in his life and his head was harder than a cannonball. That samurai was one tough bastard, despite not knowing any ninjutsu or techniques that even required the use of chakra. The guy was just a common thug and vagrant, but with an uncommon skill set. This was definitely a battle the boy was not going to forget anytime soon, and for a couple of good reasons.

One: the whole ordeal had been a whopping reality check. His adventure through this small land and the battles he'd fought showed that there were people outside of Konohagakure that were really powerful in many different ways, as well as cruel, terrifying, merciless, and were just as tough as he was resilient. Naruto came to the realization that if he didn't step up his game from here and started taking things like this a little more seriously; he was going to continue taking a beating on every mission that he went out on.

A little assistance would have been welcome too.

As a result, the jinchuriki vowed that he needed to work even harder to make better use of his skills so that he could avoid a trial like this again in the future.

As for the second issue: that Crow was one of the first people Naruto had actually managed to defeat and kill in a fight. Sure it was an indirect kill, but after his little demolition performance on the dam Naruto was certain that he was responsible for more than the taking of a single life today, and not just his. There were probably people that had still been inside the dam when he destroyed it and, summing up everything that had transpired today, that meant he too was a killer, an assassin…

A shinobi.

Naruto actually chuckled at this.

He was a damn academy student and he was already killing people. Though it would look good on his rep and it eased his conscious knowing that they were all working for the bad guy, it still gave him a funny feeling deep inside.

Anyway, upon resolving to work even harder than before to become stronger and being reunited with his companion Swift flying over from her resting spot to land on his shoulder, Naruto dragged the rest of his wounded hide to the other side of the causeway. Once he made it there and came within sight of the gates that would get him off of the crumbling structure, he was met with a very pleasant surprise.

The sounds of clapping filling his ears had Naruto look up in bewilderment, where from his limp state he saw Tayuya standing in the middle of the road and behind her a whole crowd of villagers. The entire town downstream had all turned out to greet him after hearing the first explosion ring out and, upon seeing the boy's return and his bewildered eyes fall upon them, they welcomed him back with smiles of approval and a hearty applause. The red haired musician joined them with a grin spread across her face as she felt the praise and gratitude from the liberated villagers pour over her head and down onto him.

Naruto looked between each individual cheering him in confusion, seconds before he was suddenly tackled by Tayuya rushing over to him and 'glomping' him in the tightest hug she could muster.

"You stupid, crazy jerk," the red head whispered into his ear before shoving him away. She glared at him with tears in her eyes, "I was worried to death. When I saw you get picked up by that guy…"

"Yeah… I was… kind of getting my ass kicked out there, huh?" Naruto chuckled while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "The guy was WAY stronger than me. I didn't want to use my new jutsu on him unless I was sure I could get him with it, so I waited for the best opening possible. Plus he had a sword. If I stopped moving for a second and didn't use my Jet Hand technique when I did, I would have been killed for sure."

"Well, lucky for you, you weren't, shithead," Tayuya exclaimed while punching him in the chest. The boy winced from the pain, but then watched the worried girl do a complete turnaround and begin checking his injuries.

While the musician fussed over the massive gash across his breast, Naruto was soon approached by the still cheering villagers headed by their town elder. Hiro appeared before the two children with his staff firmly in hand, to which he then bowed towards the blonde haired boy and silently beckoned the crowd into a quiet hush.

"Thank you so very much," the elder exclaimed in visible delight, giving the jinchuriki a warm gaze as did every other man, woman and child present, "Truly. Words cannot even begin to express how much I appreciate what you've done for all of us."

"Aww, shucks," Naruto waved a hand with a painful chuckle. The bruising in his side and the cut across his chest was really biting him. He even had to lean on Tayuya to stop from falling over from all of the damage and fatigue he'd sustained in his fight. "It was nothing. I just wanted to help."

"And you did a fine job. A fine job indeed. You drove Gato from this land and defeated his empire here," Hiro spoke again with closed eyes and a happy gleam on his face. "We are forever in your debt."

"To the invincible stranger!" a bar keeper from the crowd shouted.

"The boy in orange!"

"To the Land of the Great River's savior!" a woman cried out as well.

"We thank you so much!"

"Yes! Thank you!"

More cheers rang up from the people and a small chant was even started amongst the crowd. The downpour of praise had Naruto blushing and grinning in embarrassment, coaxing several chuckles from him as he bowed to the numerous groups of grateful villagers surrounding him.

It was while accepting their thanks he then focused his attention back on another matter, which was the sword he was still carrying.

Taking the sheathed weapon into two hands, he held it out in front of him to show to the elder.

"This was from that Crow guy," Naruto stated with a pleased smile, watching as the old man stroked his beard and analyzed the blade carefully. "He fell into the rapids and drowned. Even a man like him wouldn't have been able to survive a fall like that, and into a torrent as well. His body might wash up further downstream if you go look for it."

Hiro nodded in understanding and leaned further forward. Upon inspecting the sheathed sword up close, he then looked at the child smiling up at him. "You do realize that on top of the reward we wish to give you for saving our country, should Crow's body turn up somewhere on the banks, you are also entitled to the reward for his bounty. That is five million and more…"

Naruto lowered the weapon in surprise. "Wait a sec…" He waved his hands in front of him, appearing startled. "Bounty? Rewards? For saving you guys? Oh, no… don't worry about it." The blonde folded his arms and looked away stubbornly, earning surprised blinks from the entire crowd, the elder and Tayuya. "No way. I can't accept a reward. Not for that. You don't need to."

"B-But…" Hiro spoke up, extending a hand in earnest, "Surely we must find some way of compensating you. This village and country owes you a great deal."

Tayuya gazed at Naruto in astonishment, her eyes shimmering in admiration as she looked at the defiant look drawn upon his face. "He's so selfless and humble…" The sight of his firm state on the matter had her smile.

"Nope!" Naruto shook his head again, earning more slack-jawed expressions from the villagers. "Can't do it and you can't make me."

Hiro, murmuring uncomfortably, withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back. This was going to take something else to convince the boy otherwise. After all, the elder was a man of honor and would go to the ends of the earth to see that even the smallest of issues was settled. He simply could not leave the one alone.

Clearing his throat, he stared down at the boy thoughtfully. "Nevertheless, even if you reject our first offer we must find some way of repaying you for all of the kindness you have showed us. If you need anything for… say… your journey back home or for your friends perhaps… please… feel free to ask."

Naruto continued to keep his gaze locked elsewhere.

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