Sage

Ch.15

"Still thinking about that girl?" Naruto and Shizuku were currently sitting in the small dojo that had been provided for them by the master of the small temple. It was small and sparse but the floor was at least covered in Tatami mats so it was comfortable. The man himself was kindly; although Shizuku had to put up with the fact the man was a complete pervert, and not all that ashamed to admit it. She now knew why the man would have no trouble with what she was wearing. Even in her rather short time with Naruto she had continued to develop, filling out her clothing a bit more.

"I don't know how I can't; did you see what that man was doing to her?" Shizuku just nodded silently as she rubbed at her neck thoughtlessly, just the image of that poor girl with her body clenched in agony would stay with her for a while. What might have been even worse was that when she was finally released her face almost immediately dulled, becoming submissive and lifeless; it had obviously been done to her before.

"But it's not like there's anything we can do right? Like the man said he was punishing a Shinobi of their village, if we went against that they would kick us out, or worse." Naruto didn't acknowledge the statement but his eyes narrowed more than usual. Ever since they had come back from the training ground the boy hadn't cracked a single smile, it was incredibly unnerving to see the usually calm and kindly blonde appear so...

She wasn't sure, angry wasn't quite right, she just couldn't imagine Naruto ever feeling angry and he didn't look it; at least in her experience of the emotion. Cold might be better, his eyes were steeled and even though he would look around occasionally Shizuku could see he was deep in thought, no doubt going over what exactly he could do to help the girl. Sometimes she was almost sad that Naruto had such a kind heart, he would never knowingly allow somebody to be in such pain; she could tell it almost physically pained him not being able to help.

"But why would they do that to one of their Kunoichi, surely it can't be good for them?" Naruto fisted his hands as his head dipped a little lower; she was sure if his Shakujou wasn't safely over by the wall he would be threatening to crack the wooden staff.

"It wasn't that; she was a Jinchuuriki." The violette just looked up in shock, the cloak of oppressive and powerful Chakra around the girl suddenly making far more sense.

"Like you?" Naruto just nodded grimly; he hadn't known though until he saw the cloak itself. Before that the Bijuu Chakra within her had been heavily suppressed; maybe if he had the Byakugan he might have seen it.

"There were faint traces of Chakra all around the ground in that area, no doubt a seal to stop her leaving." Slowly the dots were starting to connect, like why the girl seemed so desperate to run away but never did. "He wasn't punishing her because she had misbehaved; he were punishing her because he could." Naruto knew he look of twisted satisfaction the man had in his eyes as he mercilessly tortured the girl; it was the same as the man who had taken his most precious people from him. Shizuku just looked horrified, her head falling to stare at the floor as she struggled with the concept.

"But why?" Naruto sighed as he finally looked up, his col hardened eyes softening for a moment with sadness and melancholy that looked far too old for a boy his age.

"Because people make no effort to understand that we are not the creatures sealed inside of us. It was the same with Gaara." Shizuku nodded, she had been told of the redhead's treatment in Suna. The only reason the former Ichibi container wasn't in the same situation as Fuu was probably due to Suna lacking the necessary seals to do it. "However I think it is even worse with Fuu." Shizuku just looked at him helplessly; she wasn't a ninja, or even a monk; she had only just begun using Chakra and didn't know what to do.

"So what do we do?" For the first time that night the smallest of smiles crept up on Naruto's as he gazed out of window at the silhouette of the great tree.