In the evening
The evening air in Tazuna's home carried the scent of freshly cooked rice and warm broth. The dim glow from the oil lamps flickered against the wooden walls, casting soft shadows across the room. The sound of chopsticks tapping against ceramic bowls filled the silence as Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke sat around the low dining table, enjoying the meal that Tsunami had kindly prepared.
As Naruto slurped down his food with enthusiasm, Sakura's gaze drifted toward the far end of the room. Her eyes landed on a framed photograph, one that had been torn at the edges—its missing portion clearly showing that someone had been deliberately ripped out of the image.
Curiosity got the better of her.
"Excuse me, why is there a torn picture hanging here?" She asked, looking at Tsunami and then at Inari, who had been staring at the damaged photograph throughout dinner.
Sakura studied the image more closely before speaking again. "This torn part... it looks like someone was deliberately removed from it. That's the feeling I get."
The moment the words left her mouth, the entire atmosphere of the room shifted.
Kakashi resisted the urge to facepalm, mentally sighing at Sakura's lack of tact.
Could she not read the room?
He kept his expression neutral but shifted his gaze toward Tsunami, who had paused mid-motion in the kitchen.
After a moment of silence, Tsunami finally spoke.
"It's my husband..." She said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness.
Tazuna placed his chopsticks down with a heavy sigh, his face shadowed with sorrow.
"He was a man who was once called a hero of this town."
The room fell into silence.
Inari, who had been quietly clenching his fists under the table, suddenly pushed back his chair and stood up. His face was hidden beneath the strands of his dark brown hair, but the way his shoulders trembled slightly spoke volumes about his emotions.
Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
"Inari! Where are you going?" Tsunami called after him.
Inari ignored her, his footsteps heavy and filled with frustration. He reached the door, slamming it shut behind him as he stormed off into the night.
Tsunami's hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her eyes shone with frustration as she turned back toward Tazuna.
"Father! I'm always telling you not to talk about that person in front of Inari!" She snapped, her voice filled with anger and grief. Without waiting for a response, she hurried after her son.
The house fell silent again, the tension lingering in the air.
Tazuna's old hands trembled slightly as he rubbed his face. His expression was strained, as though fighting back the weight of old memories. He took a deep breath before exhaling shakily.
"Damn it..." He muttered, his voice thick with emotion.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura remained silent, watching the old man with somber expressions.
Finally, Sakura broke the silence.
"What happened with Inari?" She asked hesitantly.
Kakashi, who had been watching the exchange intently, spoke in a calm voice.
"It appears there's a good reason behind all this."
Tazuna nodded slowly, his old eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Inari once had a father... not related by blood."
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged looks, while Naruto sat still, his blue eyes watching Tazuna with an unreadable expression.
"But they were just like a real father and son. They got along so well..."
Tazuna's voice cracked slightly, but he continued.
"Back then, Inari was a child who laughed all the time."
Naruto's gaze softened.
"However..."
Tazuna lowered his head, gripping the edge of the table.
"Ever since that incident with his father... he changed."
His laughter disappeared. His light faded.
A tear finally escaped Tazuna's eye, rolling down his cheek.
"The word bravery... was eternally stolen from the people of this island." His voice was barely above a whisper now. "And from Inari..."
Sakura, Sasuke, and even Naruto sat frozen, taking in the weight of his words.
Kakashi's single visible eye darkened.
"That incident?" He asked, his voice low and serious.
Tazuna looked up, his face lined with grief but his eyes burning with determination.
"To explain what happened to Inari..." He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the painful memories.
"I must first tell you about the man who was once called the hero of this land..."
"Hero?….."
"It was around three years ago…." Tazuna started to recount all the experiences Inari and the village went through.
Of course, Naruto already knew about it, but he still listened.
A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the occasional creak of the wooden floor and the soft clinking of dishes as Tsunami moved about in the kitchen.
The dim candlelight flickered, casting long, wavering shadows against the walls as Tazuna's voice faded into a weary sigh.
He had finished telling the story.
The tragic tale of Kaiza, the hero of the Land of Waves.
Sakura sat quietly, her usual curiosity replaced by a solemn expression. Even Sasuke, who rarely showed interest in anything outside of his own ambitions, remained silent, his sharp eyes reflecting the weight of Tazuna's words.
"Ever since then, Inari has changed… as well as Tsunami… and the townspeople…" Tazuna finished in a disheartened manner.
Naruto, however, simply sat with his arms crossed, head slightly bowed.
His mind was somewhere else.
He thought back to Inari's bitter words at dinner.
"Hero? That's just stupid. There's no such thing!"
He had seen the look in Inari's eyes—anger, resentment… and pain.
Then he thought about how the boy had stormed off, retreating to his room without another word, slamming the door shut like he was sealing himself away from the world.
Naruto chuckled, finding the boy both cute and funny. He stood up and stretched, planning to go outside.
"Where are you going?" Sakura asked.
"If you are thinking about training then you better forget it. You should also rest your body or it might be dangerous..." Kakashi said.
"I'll prove it," Naruto said as he grabbed the door handle.
"Prove what?" Sakura asked.
"I'll prove that there are heroes… in this world," Naruto said as he walked out the door.
He had no interest in being a hero, he was even disgusted by being called one... but for the sake of the kid, to let him smile again, he would have to do it.
After coming out, Naruto turned towards the door and inscribed a mark on it, and then left towards the forest.
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