Chapter Eight
Just Another Day
Knock knock knock
Naruto snorted when his door was knocked on a few times, blinking wearily as he felt drool in the corner of his mouth down his chin. His tail moved about a few times before collapsing to rest between his legs as he tried to find his watch for the time. He didn't even have the decency to wipe his chin as he tried to look for the accessory.
"Nathan, it's morning. We are about to open."
Even as Stephen spoke through the door, he could barely believe the time on his watch - which he found on the side table that had an empty water bottle. "Why in the fuck is it nine in the morning?"
"You said you wanted to train the Princess and Helsa in their new jobs."
Naruto yawned as let his head fall into his pillow, scratching the back of his head as he stretched his legs so far that his feet were shaking violently. He found out that the drool that was on his chin had not stayed there and now he had spit mushed against his forehead.
Charming, Naruto. Downright sexy.
It seemed that it was that moment that Stephen's words made its way through his brain and processed for him to understand.
"Oh fuck, I have to train Charlie-hime and Helsa-chan!"
He launched himself out of beg, tripping over his feet as they got tables in his blankets and sheets, and he collapsed on the floor with a short groan. He got to his feet in front of his dresser when he finally detached from his bedding and opened his drawers for his clothes. He pulled out a simple navy blue v-neck and black drawstring streetwear pants.
He slipped out of his boxer briefs from yesterday and changed into a fresh pair before putting the shirt and pants on. He slipped long black socks on before slipping his feet into his black non-slip. closed-toed sandals - which was hard to find down here as most just wore sneakers or boots.
He left his room and quickly made his way downstairs to the landing of his restaurant. He could already hear the jingle of the door opening from his place in the back.
"Hello! Find yourself a seat! We will be right with you!"
Naruto snorted when he heard Charlie's bubbling voice excitedly speaking to their customers. He could already imagine in his head her bright aura clashing with the more subdued auras of those who just came to drink. That tended to be most as he ran his business better than those around him, at least that's what he gets from the slurred speeches of the more vocal clientele.
His beer prices are kept only slightly above average, which is more than enough to make a profit from, and his food is certainly no fine dining, but it was the deals he gave to his customers that kept them coming back. His beers are a decent price and while they are not the cheapest around, he made sure that his clients know that for every two beers they buy they get the third free. That's not something new, but other restaurants only allow the deal once per person per day.
He kept it in perpetuity, letting his customers get their free third beer for as long as they keep drinking. What's even smarter is that by the time they realize how deep they're in their bottles, they're already drunk and are then looking for something to eat. Like, say, the nacho chip platter or the juicy bar sliders that are made at the bar.
Wasted customers are the best customers.
That is the words Naruto reminds everyone every day with a grin on his face. It's not even the money he enjoys gaining; it's the satisfaction of watching these people fall into their vices without realizing that it's part of the very reason they were all down here to begin with. Watching them drown in their emotions and their regrets, especially newly arrived Sinners, it made him chuckle.
It's not funny watching these men and women wallow in their Sin, but the contrary. He hurt for them, especially tasting and seeing the emotions they went through as they tried to numb it through his bar. He is more sarcastically amused at the fact that these poor souls are still sent down here for the pettiest reasons.
There are plenty of people like Stephen here. Poor bastards.
With a shake of his head, he created a dozen clones wordlessly and they went to their stations without verbal orders. It was in the kitchen where he found Helsa leaning against the table in her uniform while inspecting one of his claw nails. She had a frown marring her face and, if he had to assume from the noisy work coming from Tayuya in the background.
"You both will have to get along or I'm kicking both of you to the curb," Naruto told the girl as he walked up to her. "I don't want to be mean but I will not have you guys ruining a good thing we have going here."
"Other than seeing you," she stopped speaking for a second before sighing. "Other than being here with you, there's no other good in my eyes."
Naruto frowned at the flare of pink when she paused before being replaced with beige. Why cowardice? "The good that I see is all of us taking care of each other in this shitty place filled with shitty people. We make sure each of us has a place to come to where we are safe and we are loved. If we can't do that for each other… then there is no point trying to survive the Exterminations."
Helsa was stunned by the blonde's words; not only did he provide and take in more than anyone else, he also thought of his fellow Sinners wellbeing more than anyone else. On top of that, she finally heard something about how he felt about the Exterminations. It wasn't much, but from it she could gleam just a bit into what he saw of the annual culling.
From his tone she could hear that he was not defeated but he felt… tired. There was something underneath of what she was shown, something greater than twenty-four hours of survival, and she wondered if he knew what it was deep down. His eyes did not show much beyond love and care as he was caught up on those he cared for and how he was willing to protect them from anything.
And he has.
He, not even an Overlord or any extremely powerful demon, has not only survived two going on three years of Exterminations but also helped others. He's lost one person, Kris, and that was because the man was on the other side of the city in his own apartment when the time reached zero. He was caught while protecting a Sinner child from one of the Exorcists, getting a heavenly spear through the gut, and bled out on the sidewalk.
He was found by Naruto that night when the day ended. After that day, he made sure that everyone he employs and cares for has a spot under his roof. He has even entertained the idea of expanding the restaurant apartment for more rooms especially now that his business was gaining more traction.
"I understand, Naru," Helsa grabbed his hand and gave a squeeze. "If it makes you happy, I will work things out with Tayuya so we can get along. Just know that she has to meet me in the middle."
Naruto grinned and nodded his head. "Don't worry, I promise you guys will be best of friends!"
"Find a seat and Stephen will be right with you!"
Charlie beamed joyously at the hellborn couple and extended her arm to the dining room. They looked caught off guard, likely wondering what the Princess was doing in a bar and grill uniform and greeting them. They wouldn't say anything, simply following the girl's direction into the room with dumbfounded expressions.
The Princess, on the other hand, was excited about her first day with her job! She had been so excited that she didn't even sleep for more than a few hours! She was really thankful her parents sent her here to work for Naruto and meet people.
Don't get her wrong, she loves her parents and her home, but she was getting sick of only being allowed out of the mansion with supervision. She couldn't do anything on her own because they were afraid of what would happen to her. She wanted more than the rooms in the mansion and the time spent with a bunch of bodyguards in the City.
Seviathan would have never provided an experience such as this.
The thought made her mood drop a bit, her eyes looking at the floor downcast as she remembers what her ex did. She never would have expected that the person she genuinely loved would have cheated on her, not only during the time they were together but at her own party! Like, how could someone be so cruel!
But Naruto will help her enjoy her time here!
The thought easily brought a smile to her face as she thought about the younger blonde. He was easily the nicest and most sane person she has met that is a Sinner, maybe even more than angels? If not more, his aura and attitude is exactly what she would think of the heavenly Winners and angels. Then you have his unique power, something that was overwhelming in pressure but nothing that was as vile as Satan's full demon transformation.
So why is he here in Hell?
"Penny for your thoughts, Kōtaishihi Denka?"
Charlie beamed at the voice and twirled around to find the blonde looking at her with a small smile but a concerned gaze. How long had he been there? Did he see her during her entire internal thoughts? Or did he come by recently?
"You're spacing out again, Charlie-hime."
The girl jumped and looked at his eyes to see him tilting his head now. "O-oh, I'm sorry. I've been a little distracted just now. But I'm good now!"
Naruto smiled softly and nodded his head, even though he could see the turmoil in her aura and face, but he didn't press her into explaining everything. She will talk to him when she is ready and she wants to. Until then, he will be here for her whenever she desires it.
"How is the job so far?"
Charlie appreciated the change in topic and grinned widely and bounced on the balls of her feet excitedly. "It's so fun! I love greeting everyone and helping them to their seats!"
"That's good to hear," Naruto laughed out loud. "But remember, if anyone starts getting aggressive or you feel threatened in anyway, come get me and let me handle it. This is my restaurant and I will deal with things such as that, all right?"
Charlie tilted her head at that as she hasn't had any problems with customers yet. "Are violent customers common?"
"At least three a day, but they can be placated most times," Naruto confirmed truthfully. "But don't worry, that's why I handle it. I can understand the problem faster and easier and provide the solution without risking the safety of all of you and my restaurant."
Charlie nodded her head. "I understand, Naru."
Naruto smiled and chuckled softly at his nickname. "Okay, Charlie-hime. I'll leave you to your job, I have to go look for a new supplier for my restaurant. The last one I had to cut ties with."
And I plan on pranking that bastard.
He had the bottle of magnesium in his jacket already and was going to head out. He had a bunch of clones here that could last the entire day and then some to help watch over and train Charlie and Helsa. He doubted anything would happen but it was always good to be prepared for the worst. It is Hell after all.
"Okay, Naru!" Charlie grinned and waved goodbye as he left. "See you when you get back!"
"Team Three reporting for duty, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade swirled her cup of sake around as she lazily read a mission report sheet in front of her. It was from the new Team Seven and their mission into Kusa's territory while looking for Orochimaru's hideout. Nothing new, but I know he's there.
Tsunade had not aged physically in the last two and a half years. Her technique has kept her beautifully youthful even if she felt the stress weighing on her mind. The only change is in her attitude, which has grown much colder in the timeframe since losing her distant cousin.
Truthfully, she didn't even want to stay as the Hokage after losing Naruto. The system of which she had condemned, only to be brought back by the boy's conviction, and yet she had to lose him too. She couldn't remember how long she had grieved his death, still does sometimes, but she does remember the alcohol-fueled hazy days and nights spent trying to move on. But no matter what, she can still see his corpse in her mind.
The autopsy she conducted herself had given much into what happened in the battle. The chakra depletion, taking into account how long he had been dead, was extensive and critical to any normal Jonin let alone a Genin. Marks along his hands and arms, the neck, the face; and finally, the fatal wound in the chest. A lightning-based attack if judging by the residue chakra and charred skin.
The Chidori. It was clear at that point that Sasuke had killed Naruto with no remorse. He had even taken the time to slash his headband and leave it by the blonde's corpse. No one dared to fight her when she declared him a missing nin with a dead or alive bounty well over triple his actual worth.
"Hokage-sama."
Tsunade looked up to see Guy standing in front of her with his three students. They were just watching her, their eyes soft with sadness and… pity.
"I apologize, Team Three. I was reading a report." Tsunade did not care if the lie was convincing or not, she knew none of them would call her out on it. "I have a mission for you right here. Simple patrol and scouting, so prepare for a week, but be prepared for the worst. With the other hidden villages losing their Jinchuuriki, there is no doubt that we may be a target at some point."
"Understood, Hokage-sama." Guy took the mission scroll and bowed.
Tsunade waved her hand to shoo the team away after they bowed, downing the rest of her glass before putting it on her desk. Once the team was gone, she sat back in her chair and just stared at the wall of the previous Hokage. Hers was there now too, right next to Minato. The only one not seen is Hiruzen, who is flipped around to face the wall.
She stared at the Fourth for a long time, her hand reaching up to her breast and grabbing the jewel that hung from the cord around her neck. She had gone through much of her sensei's prior records and notes in an effort to learn about Naruto. It was in those records that she learned of his parents, and of what had been done to him in order to fabricate a loyal future.
Denying your successor's last will in order to create a weapon. How could you, sensei?
She couldn't even look at the man's face anymore, going so far as having the curtains of her office drawn together so she didn't have to see the monument. The village her grandfather and great uncle had forged was usurped by the deranged desires of her sensei's generation. If they were alive to see it, they would just burn the place down and start from scratch.
I hope you are relaxing in Heaven, Naruto. I will meet you again, I'm sure.
The old ways that were taught to her by her grandfather is the only thing that kept her looking forward. There was no way that Naruto, as young as he was, would be condemned to Hell. Purgatory may need to burn away the sins he committed in his line of duty but, according to his official record, he hadn't even taken a single life up to his death.
There was no place he deserved more than Heaven, right?