Preparing to Set Out

"Yeah!" Samu Kokaze nodded. "I have to go out for something."

"Go out?" Naruto exclaimed. "Out of the village?"

Samu Kokaze glanced at the astonished Naruto beside him and nodded calmly.

"There's a carving job that requires me to leave the village to complete. I was just heading home to prepare. Do you want to come with me?"

Walking through Konoha's streets with Naruto, Samu Kokaze turned and asked.

"Leaving the village... I'm so jealous!" Naruto sighed, clasping his hands behind his head.

"What's there to be jealous of? Once you become a ninja, won't you be able to go out all the time?" Samu Kokaze said with a laugh as he looked at Naruto's envious face.

"That's true! But who knows how long it'll take before I become a ninja!" Naruto's eyes shifted, and he suddenly perked up. "Feng! How about taking me with you this time so I can look around?"

"No." Samu Kokaze refused without a second thought.

"Why?" Naruto asked miserably.

"I have serious business to handle this time. It's not like I'm going sightseeing." Samu Kokaze rolled his eyes at Naruto.

"Oh... okay!" Naruto's face was full of dejection.

Seeing Naruto's disappointment, Samu Kokaze could not help shaking his head. With Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, leaving the village was simply impossible. That old pervert, the Third Hokage, who peeped on people with a crystal ball every day, would never agree.

Naruto was only downcast for a moment before quickly returning to his usual energetic self. "How long will you be gone this time? Have you told Ino and the others?"

"Probably no more than a month?" Samu Kokaze said uncertainly. "Early this morning, after I finished dealing with the things Shikamaru brought over, I went straight to the Hokage to post the mission. I haven't had time to tell Ino and the others yet."

"I see!" Naruto nodded upon hearing that, though he seemed to be thinking about something again.

The distance from the Hokage Building to Samu Kokaze's home was not far. Amid their playful bickering, they returned home in no time.

"We're home!"

Looking at the signboard engraved with the words Samu Carving Shop, Samu Kokaze, who had spent two days lying in the hospital, called out sentimentally.

He stepped forward and pushed open the door. The wooden door creaked loudly. Seeing that the house was still fairly clean despite not having been tidied for two days, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Come in! What are you standing outside for?" Samu Kokaze called when he saw Naruto staring blankly at the doorway.

"Huh? Oh!" Naruto snapped out of his daze and ran inside.

"What were you thinking about just now?" Samu Kokaze asked Naruto as he entered the room.

"N-Nothing!" Naruto gave an embarrassed laugh and changed the subject.

The reason I'm embarrassed to find someone else to play with because you're leaving is way too lame. I can't say that at all!

Naruto screamed wildly inside his heart.

Seeing that Naruto was still somewhat distracted, Samu Kokaze shook his head. He went into the inner room, took out a large bundle that had long been packed, and emerged with a string of keys in his hand.

"Naruto!" Samu Kokaze called out as he left the inner room and saw Naruto standing motionlessly in the middle of the house.

"Huh? What is it?" Naruto turned around as if startled awake.

"This is for you! I'll have to trouble you with watching the house while I'm gone."

Samu Kokaze casually tossed the keys in his hand over and spoke as he watched Naruto catch them in a fluster.

"The keys!" Naruto looked down at the keys clutched in his hand and replied happily, "Leave it to me, Feng!"

"Okay! Then that's it. I'm off." Somewhat laboriously, Samu Kokaze hoisted the heavy bundle onto his back and headed for the door.

"Wait... wait!"

Seeing Samu Kokaze about to leave, Naruto hurried over to stop him. "Aren't you going to say goodbye to Ino and the others before you go?"

Samu Kokaze looked helpless after being stopped and pointed at the pile of letters on the counter. "If any of them come looking for me later, just give them the letters according to the names written on them. This matter is urgent, so I really don't have the time."

"But..."

Naruto shouted after Samu Kokaze, who had already walked out the door.

"I'm leaving everything to you, Naruto!" Carrying the huge bundle on his back, Samu Kokaze turned and flashed a hearty smile.

Naruto watched the figure gradually disappear into the distance, then looked at the key in his hand. He suddenly realized that he seemed to have... maybe... probably... been tricked?

He closed the door and looked at the letters on the counter inside, swallowing hard.

Konoha's village entrance.

Samu Kokaze, carrying a massive bundle, sat on the ground panting as he waited for Guy to arrive. The Tanaka Clan's caravan had originally planned to travel with Samu Kokaze, but he had driven them away.

Samu Kokaze did not trust them at all right now. If enemies really attacked, it was entirely possible that while Guy went out to fend them off, someone inside the caravan would try to assassinate him.

Though Samu Kokaze was not afraid of ordinary assassinations.

There were quite a few people coming and going at Konoha's entrance. The ninjas stationed on either side of the gate occasionally cast curious looks toward Samu Kokaze. After all, it was strange for a seven- or eight-year-old child to be carrying such a huge bundle alone.

Ignoring the gazes around him, Samu Kokaze occasionally saw carts loaded with goods entering Konoha as he waited.

Bored as he stayed where he was, Samu Kokaze recalled Tanaka Keishi's incredulous expression yesterday when he said he would personally help. The corners of his mouth could not help curving into a smile.

Clip-clop... clip-clop...

The sound of hooves striking the ground rang out. Hearing it, Samu Kokaze's eyes lit up.

It had to be said that although the Naruto World had household items like televisions and air conditioners, people basically traveled on foot. There were no cars or trains at all; their technology tree had gone completely off in some unknown direction.

This carriage had been left behind by the Tanaka Clan's caravan before it departed. Otherwise, the thought of carrying such a huge bundle all the way to the Capital of the Land of Fire would have given Samu Kokaze quite a headache.

The hoofbeats came to a stop in front of Samu Kokaze. The white horse, which had not yet had enough fun, snorted unhappily.

Bang...

A figure jumped down from the driver's seat at the front of the carriage. Seeing who it was, Samu Kokaze smiled and walked over. "Uncle Keishi, you're here."

The newcomer was Tanaka Keishi. As the caravan's leader, after the betrayal by members of the caravan two days ago, Tanaka Keishi had not returned with the caravan. Instead, he had stayed behind to serve as the guide leading Samu Kokaze to the capital.

Samu Kokaze had agreed to let him stay because he posed no threat. As an ordinary person who had never refined chakra, Samu Kokaze had a hundred ways to kill him.

"Master Samu!" Tanaka Keishi bowed slightly after getting down from the carriage, calling out respectfully before straightening his somewhat wrinkled shirt.

"You don't have to be so respectful! Just call me Feng." Samu Kokaze said with a smile.

"Courtesy must be observed. Master Samu is willing to risk his life to help the Tanaka Clan. You are the benefactor of our Tanaka Clan."

Tanaka Keishi's face was full of gratitude.

"That's not nearly so exaggerated. Brother Yoshikado has helped me a lot too."

Samu Kokaze waved his hands exaggeratedly, then walked back, lifted the bundle, and tossed it into the carriage compartment.

Looking up at the sky, Samu Kokaze said to Tanaka Keishi, who stood unmoving at his side, "There's one more ninja I hired. Let's wait a little longer. He should be here soon."

"Oh! He's here!" As soon as he finished speaking, Samu Kokaze saw snowflakes rapidly sweeping toward the village entrance and called out.

PS: My colleagues are going out for dinner together tonight. I might end up drinking until who knows when, so there'll only be one update tomorrow. Sorry! o(︶︿︶)o Sigh.