Irony is too gentle a word for this situation.
"Yeah, it sucks that he's so secretive about his identity," Zumo huffed, "if I was him I would be telling the whole world who I was!" "Oh please as if someone like you could be Stan Lee," China huffed.
"Why you little-" and cue the playful fighting that his been the bane of this entire trip. Honestly, these two should just fuck and get it over with...wait, that was so wrong. Their 12! ARGH! What is wrong with me?!
I shock my head and sighed. "And you hood boy?" Gembu asked, calling me by the nickname he made for me since I refused to tell him my name. I'm sure he had later learnt it when Ko addressed me before, but I guess his pride was hurt.
"What about me?" I asked.
"Are you a fan of Lee's work?"
I nodded, "I like it a lot."
"Who is your favorite?"
I paused, thinking, before I spoke, "Clark Kent." "Superman, ha, how cliche," Zumo snorted.
"I didn't say Superman Zumo, I said Clark Kent," I told him, "there is a difference."
"What do you mean? They're the same guy!"
I shock my head, "no, they aren't. Superman is the face of strength Clark Kent puts on when flying, when being their saviour. Any ninja can be a Superman, heck Tsunade herself has his strength and a few of his powers. But Clark Kent...he's the most human person on the planet. He cares, he cares so much...he fights and is willing to die for people who once rejected him, he cares...and for that alone, he's a greater hero than Superman will ever be."
They were silent at that observation. Gembu spoke the silence, "it would seem hood boy, that you are quite a fan of Lee's works. I don't think anyone has ever...analysed that hero so well." I shrugged, "I get bored easily," plus I did write the damn character. Well,stole, but who cares about the little details?
We continued for some time after that, eventually reaching a town by the coast that looked onto the sea from the bay. Next to the town was a river that seemed to poor inwards, creating a significant division in the land. The town was called To, nothing too fancy, but it was a resting spot for us before we continued to Genbu's home.
We walked into town and immediately people began to stir, looking at us curiously as we walked inside. People didn't wear anything fancy, dull clothes, a few smiths and sailors from the title I'm seeing, but no fighters.
"Alright team, we'll be staying here for tonight," Ko explained stopping before a tavern called the Fish's eye that was the fanciest inn around. It had a dirty windows, people yelling loudly in the bar below and I think I heard a bottle breaking. Well...at least it had a fresh coat of paint, that's something.
We checked in quickly, Gembu got his own room while we of team 11 had to share. Ko set up watch detail, I volunteered to take the late night watch, since I didn't actually sleep.
That night:
My team and I walked behind Gembu as he walked into the tavern, licking his lips, "I must say I'm starving! Hadn't had a decent meal in days!"
Zumo snorted and whispered, "you just had a five servings of dumplings, what more could you need?"
Lucky Gembu didn't seem to hear him, but unfortunately Ko did. He sent a glare at Zumo shutting him up.
"Ah, there we go," Gembu said sitting down at the five person table before calling for a waitress, "my dear, please bring my companions and I your best meals," he slipped her a hundred ryo note, "oh and some of that high class sake if you have it."
The older woman smiled and bowed, "it'll be ready in a few moments, please be patient," and quickly went to the kitchen to get our order ready.
Ko sat down and motioned for us to do the same. The jonin and Gembu began to talk, making small chat about this village and how many times Genbu's been here. I ignored them, instead focusing on the people around me.
No one too bad, just a few sailors, carpenters and-whoa, what's this?
Saku, Pirate captain Lv- 17 REP- -5 Pirates? Really? I looked at them, it looked like an entire crew was here, and they grumpy by the way the snapped at anyone who came too close, including the waitress. The captain was the highest level, pretty strong dude, but the others...well, they were kind of boring. Nothing too special, just levels tens and fifteens.
Our meal quickly came, it wasn't much, just some bread, soup, a single serving of fish, some rice and for Gembu, a bottle of sake.
"Let's dig in!" the man said happily eating his fill, stuffing his face.
I lowered my face mask and quickly ate as well, keeping one eye on the pirates. They seemed to eye Genbu's meal...no, no meal, his fingers. I turned to my employer and saw his fingers studded with gems.
Saku, the captain began to whisper something. Lucky for me my eavesdropping skill had a range of 35 feet, just within my range. "We'll take those damn rings," the captain grumbled.
"But what about the ninjas?" another pirate asked.
"Three kids won't be a problem, but the big guy, I think he's a special ninja, maybe high class. I think he's a Hyuga..hm," just then the serving woman from before walked by and the captain called her, "miss, we were hoping, you think you can tell us what those ninjas are doing here?"
"Oh? And why would you care to know about that?"
"The lads and I were just worried. Ninjas usually means other ninjas are soon to follow, I'm just worried for my people you know?"
"Well you have nothing to worry about," the woman smiled, "that man has been coming here for years and not once have they caused problems. Though his snoring is an issue."
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