Voicefell

Welcome back to another installment to my story Voicefell. There is not much to be updated on as I have started and finished this chapter right after posting Chapter 8 other than there will be an update to the horrible chapter 1 in the near future so please look forward to a bunch of new and important information and character development popping up there. Well here is the next installment of Voicefell.

"Speech"

'Thought'

"Kuybi/Gamabunta Speech"

'Kuybi/Gamabunta Thought'

Disclaimer: All rights, characters, and locations used in this Fanfiction belong to Masashi Kishimoto and I make no claim in the ownership to anything in the story except the plot itself.

*CLANG, clang, CLANG* The sounds of steel clashing in the mist is the only noticeable sound to Tazuna. The Konohagakure ninja he hired had disappeared into the mist after a bout of words with his pursuers. 'I can't follow a thing' he thought in slight fear as the mist was only getting thicker as time progressed thanks to the sea surrounding the bridge and the night temperature dropping. 'I can barely see pinky in front of me' he started to break out into a cold sweat and almost sensing his thoughts Sakura responded to his growing unease. "It's okay Tazuna-san Sensei and my teammates are more than capable to take care of these enemy shinobi and Hinata is protecting Tsunami and Inari back at your house, so stay calm and behind me and everything will be alright." Sakura said while glancing slightly behind her to show Tazuna he big smile on her face.

With a sigh Tazuna relaxed and nodded at the young kunoichi. "Thank you I will."

Kakashi and Tazuna have been at a standoff since their respective students initiated combat and held until Haku trapped Sasuke in his dome of ice mirrors. "Your brat may be from an infamous clan but it seems he has yet to unlock his kekkai genkai, Haku however has showed an adept use of hers since I found her and trained her. Her victory is assured." Zabuza taunted Kakashi who just humphed in response before pulling out a kunai from his pouch on his leg and got in a defensive stance.

"I'll give you the honors demon" Kakashi taunted in turn.

"My pleasure Sharingan Kakashi" Zabuza responded as Kakashi pulled up his hitai to revel his three-tomoe spinning at the ready. They leaped at each other and crossed blades beginning their own grudge match separate to their students determined to kill the other in order to accomplish their mission, as is the way of ninja.

"It's started Hinata." Naruto said to his temporary squad member to her surprise…

A few hours before the construction crew called it a day Kakashi had asked for Hinata and a clone of Naruto to head back to the house to watch over Tsunami and Inari as he was afraid no one was watching them. To which they obliged and for the most part it had been a quite evening Hinata's only concern was why Naruto's clone had stuck around and chose to stick in her shadow at all times. After a little prying Hinata discovered that the Naruto at the house is the real Naruto and he left a clone at the bridge.

"Uhm N-Naruto?" Hinata began. "W-why did you come with me in-in-instead of following Kakashi-sensei's in-instructions?"

With a heavy sigh Naruto hopped down from the counter he was sitting on "Because Sasuke and Sakura are being super weird right now. They are being way to nice and keep trying to push me into conversations about myself which I don't want to have." He responded while rubbing the back of his head and glaring slightly at the floor. "I'm just not comfortable opening up to them yet…" with a slight pause he looked up into a pair of lavender eyes that showed nothing but worry and hope over him "…Hell I don't even know why I am telling you any of this Hinata, could you please forget I said anything." Before Hinata could responded to her emotionally conflicted crush Naruto disappeared from the room leaving her alone.

'How could I forget that you're in pain Naruto, why can't you trust me I want to help carry your burdens.' Hinata thought with her emotions showing clearly on her face. "You know Hinata dear that boy needs help, he is clearly intelligent and if I can make any guess on what his childhood was like from his outburst earlier no one ever taught him how to handle his emotions, kami only knows how long he has been repressing them or handling them in some other self-destructive manner." Tsunami stated from behind the pondering young girl surprising her.

"EEP" Hinata squeaked out in surprise. "Tsunami-san! How long have you been listening?"

"Since the beginning my dear. This is quite a small house." Tsunami had to chuckle at the now embarrassed ninja.

Hinata began poking her fingers and looking at the floor. Her thoughts clearly showing on her face. "Let me tell you a story Hinata" Tsunami started "A long time ago in the land of whirlpools before the time of ninja there was a crumbling castle and in that castle lived a king from a time long past. He was named Nayamasu. Nayamasu was the king of nothing, he was born of nothing, felt nothing, and owned nothing other than his decrepit crumbling stone castle. Now despite his circumstances the one thing his did possess was un-parallel knowledge and wisdom. This however did not mean he knew everything. How he came to have such knowledge and wisdom no one will ever know, but the fact he has such knowledge and wisdom is traveled far and wide due to a simple peddler he helped. This peddler found himself stranded on the land of the whirling tides after a great storm nearly sank his meager ship, the fact such a small merchant ship survived at all is a miracle of kami. However, this peddler had a very sick child at home that needed him to come home to pay the doctor to cure her. Hence why he partook in such a dangerous sea voyage to quickly sell goods. Lost and afraid he may never make it home the peddler wanders around the island hoping to find any human settlements for help. Much to the Peddlers dismay he found no such settlement the only building he had stumbled across was the weary crumbling castle. Something made him want to go explore it despite its decrepit and eerie look and when he pushed open the mahogany doors he found a lavish and warm interior that has been well taken care of, he followed the grand hallway that led to an even grander chamber to his amazement the chamber was quite simple it had four fireplaces each placed in one of the cardinal directions. And the towering walls were lined with book after book after book. In the middle of this all was a single man, quite pail and frail looking, sitting at simple mahogany writing desk writing another book to go onto the wall. Making the connection the man reached out and grabbed a random book off the shelf and opened it to find that the pages have yet to be filled out. "Excuse me sir?" the peddler called out. Nayamasu in shock to hear the voice of another jumped and looked in surprise at the man before him. After some inquires Nayamasu discovers the Peddlers life story and how he came to be in his castle of nothing. Deciding to help the man he climbs to the top of his tower of bookshelves and grabs a single book from the very top. To the peddler he looks and says "this is a book of herbs in here lists the location and the treatments of several herbs that can cure your daughter and help her live a long life. All I ask in return is you use this book to save many more lives than just your daughters as I cannot leave this castle." The peddler gladly excepts the book and heads on his way. Nayamasu also tells the Peddler of a safe passage way to cross through the whirlpools during this spring season. The Peddler makes it home and heals his daughter thanks to Nayamasu's book he then fulfils his promise and travels across continents healing many ill people. The Peddler became known as a great mythical healer who can cure any ailment. One day he is called upon by a countries princess to cure its king and her brother the prince who have fallen severely ill to a desease no man has been able to cure, but to no avail no matter how hard the Peddler looked he could not find the cure in his book. The Princess was distraught at the thought of losing her beloved father and brother she began to lose hope. The Peddler could not bear to see a country torn apart at the loss of its beloved king after the announcement that the Peddler could not heal him was made. Having faith in the man that once saved his and his daughters life with the gift of a book, he told the princess of Nayamasu and how to reach him. With the last bit of hope in her heart she set out to the island hidden by whirlpools retracing the path the Peddler took to leave the island many years ago. She reaches the location the Peddler described to her and to her amazement there stood a grand castle the likes of which she has never seen before, it was more grand and beautiful than any castle owned by any other king or emperor. When she enters the building, she is greeted by the same grand hall the Peddler was greeted to many years prior, the same towering room, now filled with many more books as there was now an inner circle of bookcases surrounding the single mahogany writing desk, and in that desk, was a young, strong, and handsom looking Nayamasu. Different to the description provided to her by the Peddler she called out to Nayamasu by his name. He stops his writing and looks to meet the newcomer's eyes. "How may I help you?" He replies. The princess tells Nayamasu her story and pleads with him to share the knowledge to save her father and brother the king and prince. Nayamasu pause for a moment and denies her request because he does not know a cure for her father or brother either. She becomes distraught, but before she can shed a tear Nayamasu explains. "I am an existence of nothing I feel nothing, I need nothing, I own nothing. I just reside in this castle to house my knowledge and wisdom that garners itself anew each day inside my head. In time, the cure will come to me but at this time I know not of such knowledge. However, I am afraid I will not live to see you request come true as despite how I look, I myself am quite ill. My knowledge and wisdom tell me it's so because I have felt nothing for so long. I am teetering on the edge of insanity and rationality and will soon take my own life." Nayamasu stated with a straight emotionless face. This fact greatly disturbed the princess and she decided she would help Nayamasu. She could sense his grief, this is a man who knew nothing about human interactions, in all of his great knowledge and wisdom he still can't discern other people's emotions. He was clearly lonely. The princess decided that she would not leave him alone. The princess informed Nayamasu that she would leave the island and return before the end of spring. True to her word she did, come the first changing of leaves signifying the coming of Autumn and end of Spring three massive ships docked on the sandy shores outside the castle. Onboard these ships were hundreds of the princess's people who were willing to follow her to this new land and settle anew. Amazed and touched emotionally by this act Nayamasu felt determination well within him, it was new and scary and exciting for Nayamasu to feel something and it moved him to tears. The princess approached Nayamasu as he stood outside his castle's grand doors peering at the flood of people moving to make a new home at the foot of the castle. "Why?" Nayamasu asked the princess "Because no one should have to be alone" she replied. The peddler followed behind the princess and after the brief exchange of words between the two he gracefully bowed and presented Nayamasu with the book he once gifted the man. Nayamasu only excepted the book in return after the peddler regaled how he save innumerous amounts of lives with the book and that someday soon he will return to the island so his daughter can come meet her savior. Nayamasu replied to the man saying he never doubted his promise with the man cause not long after his departure Nayamasu began to feel better and look better and the castle seemed to change and revert to its once former glory. Nayamasu chalked this up to his health and castle reflect how his knowledge and wisdom are affecting the world. Many days have passed since the princess brought the people to this hidden island and a town was being quickly built around Nayamasu grand castle the only ones to reside in the castle are Nayamasu, the princess and her father and brother who she brought along the voyage to hopefully be healed by Nayamasu. Nayamasu felt determination once again stir in him and this time he acted, because of his vast knowledge and wisdom he had suppressed all of his emotions, it was not that he had none, rather he chose not to feel them. Nayamasu out of character decided to research and create the cure for the princess's two family members instead of whittling away doing nothing waiting for it to pop in his head like so much before. Several weeks had gone by and many sleepless nights Nayamasu finally created a cure for the dying king and prince, quickly he found the princess and gave her the cure. "With this you may now return to your kingdom with your father and brother and citizens, thank you for teaching me something but there must be many still back on the mainland waiting for your return." The princess looked at the small vial Nayamasu had handed her, delighted that her family will be saved. However, she had to fight back the turmoil inside as this man was already pushing them all away. She called Nayamasu a grand fool and for all his knowledge and wisdom he still knew so little, these last weeks the princess had watched over Nayamasu's struggle and attempt to cure her family, the long nights, and failure after failure to create a cure but through it all he smiled and the princess came to love and admire that smile. As did all the people who came to live on this secluded island as they watched Nayamasu's progress from afar. The princess had fallen in love with this strange all-knowing man and wanted to spend her life with him. For the first time in his existence Nayamasu felt confused and a lack of understanding, he thought that the princess and her people would want to return to their homes. Seeking guidance for the first time in his life Nayamasu sought out and presented his questions to the peddler the only man he came to talk to regularly. The peddler laughed out in ecstasy at the situation. "My dear Nayamasu it seems you still have much to learn about people, everyone who came to this island on those ships choose to come here and make this island their home, to send them away means to destroy their homes." Nayamasu at first did not understand but took the peddlers advice and went to go talk to the village people. Nayamasu learned about humanity and all of its emotions and feelings and in turn he began to feel even more as well. The people had showed Nayamasu all of the progress they have made in their small town, how they are using the islands unique resources to its fullest, many of the men in charge of construction came up to Nayamasu to get his opinion on the future plans they had for expansion. One man even came up to Nayamasu to ask him if he was willing to lend out books in his library. Through these interactions Nayamasu came to understand the people's happiness towards building a new future here. With this epiphany Nayamasu quickly searched for the princess, he had to apologize. He found her in her father's and brother's chambers he stood outside the door and listened in as she was explaining to her two family members what had transpired and why they were in this new land. Nayamasu walked away giving the family some privacy. The day had passed and the family had finally emerged from the chamber, the king was first to come discus with Nayamasu to which he extended his eternal thanks and made many promises to the man, none of which Nayamasu had any interest in, he needed no gifts as his castle provided all he needed, he needed no money as there was no place to shop, and he needed no labor as he was content on waiting for the people on the island to develop at their own pace. The king seemed to notice this and made one last offer to Nayamasu. "I can see everything I have offered means nothing to you, and judging by your past experience you will not ask for anything in return. Then I will offer you something you cannot refuse. I will give you my daughter as a means to help you rule over these people and as a sign of friendship between our two nations, well my nation and your town that may one day be a nation." Seeing nothing but benefits in having the princess stay Nayamasu agreed on the condition that the princess agrees of her own will. The king called his daughter to the grand library where the king and Nayamasu had been talking earlier, the king informed his daughter of his proposition with Nayamasu. The princess only thought for a moment before she agreed to stay. Nayamasu instantly went on his way to make preparations for her stay leaving the father and daughter to say their goodbyes. The next day had come and the king and prince left with the Peddler as their guide to return to their kingdom leaving the princess in the hands of Nayamasu. To which Nayamasu turned to the princess and asked her for her name. "My name is Hinata" she replied. Nayamasu laughed at the irony and the princess looked at him in confusion. "Your name means sunny place" he said while catching his breath "you have truly made island my sunny place and for that I thank you." Hinata smiled at him and leaned over to give him a light kiss on the cheek before running away like a small girl. These events lead to the creation of a great nation the princess Hinata and Nayamasu got married a few years later and ruled over the island as it prospered in peace."

Tsunami finished the grand tale and saw she had Hinata's complete attention.

"Tsunami-san, what is the name of this story and why have I never heard of it before?" Hinata inquired.

"This is the story of the founding of the nation of whirlpools and the reason you never heard it is because it was a children's story for the children of Uzushiogakure which was destroyed in the second great ninja war. My great-grandmother would tell me this story when I was little and she was a survivor on the villages destruction. To answer the last question the name of the story is The Tortured's Sunny Place." Tsunami responded in kind to Hinata. Little did either of the women know that Naruto had listened to the story the entire time and was just enraptured by it as Hinata was, mostly because it was the only story the Hokage ever told Naruto when he was a child however he felt that some crucial details were missing but he let that thought go.

"Why did you tell me this story Tsunami? Hinata asked still confused to the purpose that is was shared with her for.

"Well because I see a lot of Naruto in Nayamasu they are both intelligent, but both see to be emotionally distant from others. It is clear to me that he needs someone to teach him to change and maybe make a few friends along the way." Tsunami started "Plus you two would look adorable together so please start dating and in a few years from now have some kids and bring them here so I can play with them." Starry eyed and full of mischievous mirth Tsunami looked as Hinata turn a bright red from embarrassment and nearly fainted.

The secret listener hiding from sight also turned an unnatural shade of red and thought of what the would be like. Taking a cue from his prankster container Kurama decided to engrave that thought into Naruto's subconscious so he would dream about it for a couple night in a row. "Hehehehehehe" Kurama couldn't contain his is giggling (yes fox demons can giggle to) at his own genius. 'What's so funny Kurama?' Naruto thought back to the demon's sudden laughter. "Oh nothing of importance Kit, you will know in due time." And with a hurried trepidation at being discovered for a prank Kurama cut off the connection to Naruto and tried to disappear in his cage. Thankfully Naruto thought nothing of it and shrugged at the strange fox demon.

Suddenly Naruto's eyes widen in surprise and he goes fully alert. Jumping down from his spot he scares Hinata and Tsunami who were sitting at the table still casually chatting with each other.

"It's started Hinata." Naruto said to his temporary squad member to her surprise.

"What's s-started Naruto?" Hinata inquired she, herself becoming on edge as she noticed how tense and alert the object of her affections was.

"Zabuza and the Hunter-nin are on the bridge, Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke have engaged them and we need to go help. Hinata gave an affirmative nod in return and the two of them get ready to run out the door to go help their fellow ninja when suddenly the front door is cut open and in their way is two of Gato's thugs.

"Well isn't this a surprise!" Naruto blurted out loud at having to face the two thugs.

Well here is another chapter I know this probably isn't the action you were looking for but tough I'm the author muhahahaha, I promise all the action will come next chapter. Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying the return of Voicefell. Also, a huge shout-out and thanks to windwolf777 who went through and spell/grammar checked all of my current chapters it really means a lot that you took the time to go and do that for me as it is probably my weakest area in writing, so once again thank you, thank you, thank you. Any-who thank you all for staying around and until next time please follow/favorite/review as well as enjoy chapter nine of Voicefell.