Naruto: Faint Smile - CH 107

[Takeshi POV.]

It had been a week since my encounter with Killer B, and seeing he hadn’t bothered ever since, I had decided to just let him be.

As far as my sensei, Jiraiya-sensei was off somewhere doing what he referred to as “important research,” which was code for “spying on women.” Meanwhile, I found myself seated at a small restaurant in the village, enjoying some local cuisine.

The food here was surprisingly good. 

Kumo had a reputation for being rugged and practical, but their chefs clearly knew what they were doing. I picked up a piece of grilled fish with my chopsticks, savoring the smoky aroma before taking a bite. It was perfectly cooked, the seasoning simple yet flavorful. 

Even Tsuki, who was perched on the edge of the table, seemed interested, her tail flicking lazily as she watched me eat.

It was peaceful. Quiet. A rare moment of calm.

Until it wasn’t.

One moment, I was mid-bite, about to enjoy another piece of fish. The next, something wrapped around my waist with surprising force, lifting me clean off the chair. My chopsticks clattered to the floor as I was yanked backward, the world around me becoming a blur.

Before I could fully process what was happening, I found myself being dragged out of the restaurant at a speed that was, frankly, unnecessary. The patrons barely had time to react as I disappeared in a tangle of limbs and confusion.

The culprit? An octopus tentacle.

I didn’t panic, though. That would’ve required me to feel something stronger than mild annoyance. Instead, I glanced down at the slick, muscular appendage wrapped around me, its suction cups clinging to my clothes.

“I see,” I muttered to myself. “So this is happening.”

Not how I pictured my day going… but oh well.

Within seconds, I was unceremoniously deposited onto the ground in an open clearing, the tentacle releasing me with a faint pop. I landed on my feet, brushing myself off as I looked up to find none other than Killer B standing a few feet away, grinning like he’d just won a prize.

“Yo, yo, little brat from the Leaf!
 You left me hanging, causing me grief!
 Been waiting for you to come say hi,
 But you ghosted me, now I’m asking why!”

I stared at him, my faint smile never wavering. “You kidnapped me,” I said, my tone calm.

B laughed, crossing his arms. “Kidnapped? Nah, that’s not the deal,
 Just a friendly grab with tentacle appeal!”

“Is kidnapping your go-to response when someone doesn’t return your messages?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.

“Yo, my brother makes the rules, that’s the drill,
 So grabbing you ain’t illegal, it’s chill!”

I blinked. “I see.”

B nodded, clearly satisfied with his response. “That’s right, little Leaf, no need to fret,
You’re my guest now, don’t you forget!”

Tsuki, who had somehow managed to follow us during the chaos, trotted up and sat at my feet, staring up at Killer B with a look of mild disapproval. I couldn’t help but agree with her assessment.

“So,” I began, folding my hands behind my back, “what exactly do you want, Killer B?”

“Yo, I wanna hang, train, and spar,
 Show me your moves, let’s see who you are!”

“I see,” I said again, glancing at the tentacle that was now retracting back into his sleeve. “And you thought the best way to make that happen was to pull me out of a restaurant mid-bite?”

“Didn’t mean to ruin your fishy delight,
 But you left me no choice, you didn’t do what’s right!”

I tilted my head. “I didn’t realize there was a rulebook for social interactions with Jinchūriki.”

B grinned, pointing a finger at me. “Rule one: don’t leave me in the lurch!
 Rule two: we fight, no need for a church!
 Rule three: respect the octopus, yo,
 Now let’s get started, let’s go, go, go!”

I sighed quietly, adjusting the straps of my backpack. “I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I’d prefer not to spar right now. My sensei tends to worry when I’m dragged off by strangers, besides… you outclass me, by a lot..”

“Yo, your sensei ain’t gotta fear,
 Killer B’s got the kid right here!
 Let’s clash it out, just you and me,
 I promise it’ll be legendary!”

I glanced down at Tsuki, who had started cleaning her paw like none of this concerned her. “And if I refuse?” I asked, looking back up at him.

“Refuse? Yo, that ain’t the way,
 A ninja like you should wanna play!”

I sighed again. Killer B didn’t seem like the type to take no for an answer, and while I didn’t particularly hate the idea of sparring with someone who could kill me with a single hit, I also didn’t want to prolong this rapping debate unnecessarily.

“Fine,” I said, loosening my stance. “You twisted my arm.”

“Yeah! That’s the spirit, Leafy kid!
 Let’s see what you got, don’t keep it hid!”

As he stepped into a ready stance that seemed more like he was about to drop a beat than spar with me, I couldn’t help but wonder how Jiraiya would react when he found out about this. Probably with more groaning and accusations of me being a magnet for chaos.

For now, though, it seemed I had no choice but to humor Killer B. If nothing else, it would be an interesting experience. And who knows? I might even learn something.

But still… why was the eight tails container so… interested in me? If anything… Jiraiya should be on his radar, not me.

—-----------------------------------------------------

[Two hours later.]

The sparring match left me feeling... tired. Not completely drained, but definitely more fatigued than I had expected. Killer B was relentless, his fighting style as unpredictable and wild as his personality. The man fought with an energy that defied logic, his strikes fluid yet powerful, his movements almost playful but calculated beneath the surface.

Even with the fact that I could read his chakra, predicting his moves, even though he was keeping the fight at my level, had been beyond difficult.

Still, I held my own—for the most part, sure he was holding back, and basically indulging me, but I did good. While I wasn’t on the verge of collapse, I wasn’t exactly fresh either. Tsuki, of course, sat off to the side the entire time, watching us with mild disinterest, occasionally flicking her tail like she had better things to do.

As we finished, Killer B stood tall, grinning from ear to ear. “Yo, kid, you’ve got moves, no doubt,
 But there’s something inside you, holding you out!”

I tilted my head slightly, my breathing still a little heavy. “Holding me back?”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s what I said,
 Something’s locked in your heart or your head!”

I paused for a moment, considering his words. Was he being metaphorical? Philosophical? Was he talking about Teresa? 

The man had been rapping nonstop for the better part of an hour, so it was hard to tell if this was another one of his rhyming quirks or if he was actually making a point.

“Locked in my head...” I murmured, trailing off. “I don’t see how that’s possible, but I suppose I could try meditating on it.”

Now that he mentioned this…, I hadn’t talked to Teresa in a long time… I wonder why she’s been so silent. Ever since my fight with Zabuza.

Before I could process what was happening, B slapped the back of my head—hard enough to make me blink in mild surprise.

“Yo, I don’t mean that lame meditating,
 I mean facing yourself—no hesitating!”

I stared at him, my expression calm as ever. “I see,” I said evenly. “But I don’t see.”

Killer B chuckled, crossing his arms and leaning down slightly so we were eye-level. “You gotta face the real you, my bro, The one deep inside, the one you don’t know.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re speaking in riddles, I thought your gimmick was rapping and kidnapping.”

“Nah, nah,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s simple, you see,
 I’ll break it down, ‘cause that’s what I be!”

I waited patiently, my faint smile still in place, as he gestured dramatically with his hands, clearly enjoying himself.

“You gotta look inside, face what’s real,
 Find the truth of your power, that’s the deal!
 It’s a literal thing, not just in your head,
 And once you do it, your limits are dead!”

I tilted my head again, letting his words sink in. “So... not philosophical, then.”

“Nope!” B said, clapping his hands together. “Literal as it gets, little dude. You’ve got somethin’ in there that needs sortin’ out.”

“I see,” I said, though that wasn’t entirely true. “And how, exactly, do you propose I do that?”

“Don’t worry, bro,” B said, slapping a hand on my shoulder. “Your big bro Killer B’s got you covered!”

I blinked, glancing at the hand on my shoulder, then back at him. “Since when are we brothers?”

“Since I decided you’re cool,” he replied without missing a beat. “You’re a weird mix, man—kind yet emotionless, quiet but sharp, calm and collected but still fun. You’re like... a puzzle wrapped in a riddle, and that makes you interesting!”

Tsuki let out a small, unimpressed meow from her spot nearby.

I considered his words for a moment before nodding slightly. “I suppose that makes sense.” it didn’t… it totally didn’t.

“Darn right it does!” B said, grinning. “Now, don’t you worry about a thing, ‘Cause your big bro’s Killer B gonna make you a king!”

“I’m not entirely sure I want to be a king,” I replied. “That seems like a lot of work.”

“King of your own power!” he clarified, throwing his arms wide like he was presenting some grand concept.

I nodded again, though I still wasn’t entirely sure what he meant. Killer B seemed to operate on his own wavelength, and trying to make sense of him was an exercise in futility. Still, he didn’t strike me as the type to steer someone wrong—at least not intentionally.

“Alright,” I said. “What’s the next step?”

B’s grin widened, and for a brief moment, I wondered if I should be concerned. “The next step, my bro, means a big ass turtle,
 But don’t you worry, you’ll do your best!”

“A big ass… turtle, huh,” I repeated, my tone flat.

“Yup! Just trust in ol’ B,
 I’ll take care of it, you’ll see!”

Tsuki yawned, clearly unimpressed with the entire situation.

I glanced down at her, then back up at B. “Very well,” I said. “But if this ends with me being thrown into another lake, I’m filing a formal complaint.”

B laughed, slapping my back hard enough to make me stumble forward slightly. “You’re funny, kid! I like that style, Now come on, let’s walk a while.”

He… reminded me of Shisui, a bit… but somehow more tolerable.