The morning sun had finally broken through the thick, foggy clouds that had blanketed the town. Warm beams of light filtered down, casting long shadows over the buildings and streets. The town, still recovering from the turmoil of the civil war, seemed to be slowly waking from its long slumber as the townspeople continued their daily routines.
On the docks, the bustle of loading and unloading cargo was in full swing.
"A little bit to the right!"
"Careful, we don't want to deliver damaged goods!"
"Alright… that'll be enough."
Steve, a middle-aged merchant with weathered features, barked out orders to the crew of his ship. His tone was a mixture of frustration and nervous anticipation as he worked to make sure everything was in order.
He had made a deal with the mysterious blonde man, Naruto, the day before, but Steve wasn't sure if the man would actually honor it. He wasn't used to dealing with people who had power and money in the way Naruto did.
"A-ano… Steve-san," a middle-aged crew member approached Steve hesitantly, scratching the back of his head. "I'd like to receive half of my pay before we set sail. I need to send some money home to my family…"
The request came from the crew in a low murmur, as others began to gather around. "Yeah, Steve-san," another sailor chimed in, "We all want our share upfront, just like you promised. We can't risk heading out without some money."
Steve clenched his fists, clearly torn. He knew it wasn't right to promise half-payment, but with most of his crew afraid of leaving the town and the threat of the civil war looming, he couldn't afford to anger them. He had no choice.
"G-guys…" Steve stuttered, but he didn't get a chance to finish as a new voice interrupted.
"Steve, here."
Steve turned quickly to find Naruto standing there with a bag in hand. The blonde's calm demeanor didn't match the unease in the merchant's stomach.
"Naruto-san!" Steve exclaimed, a bit relieved but still unsure of what was going on.
Naruto walked up to Steve and handed him the bag without ceremony. "What's this?"
Without a word, Naruto leaned in, his voice a quiet whisper that was just for Steve's ears. "That's a hundred thousand ryo. Use it well."
Steve froze for a moment, his heart racing as he processed the weight of what was in his hands. One hundred thousand ryo? That was far more than he had expected or needed. His eyes widened in disbelief, but he quickly regained his composure. He wasn't the most successful merchant for nothing.
"Naruto… Thank you," Steve stammered, bowing deeply. "You've helped me more than you know."
Naruto flashed him a grin, turning toward the deck as if it were nothing. "No need to thank me yet. I'll be back to check on things later."
Steve followed Naruto, still somewhat in shock, but grateful nonetheless. The crew's voices echoed behind them, each man relieved to see the promised money coming through. The ship was nearly ready to set sail.
As they reached the deck, Steve bowed again, his voice full of gratitude. "Naruto, if there's anything I can do for you, anything at all, please let me know. As long as it's within my power, I'll do it."
Naruto turned to face him, looking out at the mist-covered sea stretching out before them. The fog was beginning to lift, revealing a clearer horizon. He seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before speaking.
"I'm planning to start my own group," Naruto said, his voice steady but carrying a sense of purpose. "A guild, per se. And I want you to be my first member."
Steve blinked in surprise. "Guild?" he repeated, still processing what was happening.
"Yeah," Naruto said, his smile widening. "You've got the skills to help me run it."
The merchant paused for a moment, confusion crossing his face, but then a glint of understanding appeared in his eyes. He had nothing to lose. His business had been on the decline for years, and now here was a chance for something bigger. Something more than just selling supplies.
"If you say so, then so be it," Steve said, still unsure but willing to give it a shot. "But what's the name of this organization, Naruto-kun?"
Naruto scratched his chin, pondering for a moment. The sound of waves gently rocking the ship in the background was almost rhythmic, as if pushing him to make a decision. Finally, he spoke.
"We'll be called… the Snarling Wolves!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Naruto had a fleeting sense of regret. Snarling Wolves? That sounds so cheesy…
[System Notice!]
[Create a name for your guild!]
[Name:** The Snarling Wolves]
[Guild name updated!]
[Guild leader: Naruto Uzumaki (Namikaze)]
[Guild members count: 1] (leader doesn't count)
[Guild points: 100]
The moment the system confirmed the name, Steve's eyes widened. "Snarling Wolves? Wait, isn't that the flag flying in the center of town? The wolf with the sharp teeth?" He glanced back toward the distant shore where the town was slowly disappearing into the mist.
Naruto laughed, clapping Steve on the back. "Heh! Of course. This town is under my protection. That flag is a symbol of the guild now, too."
Steve smiled, a new sense of purpose filling him. "Snarling Wolves, huh? It has a nice ring to it."
'Nice ring? I created that name on a whim,' Naruto thought but his grin grew. "You'll see, Steve. This will be big. You'll see."
After that, Steve took the bag of ryo and immediately went to the crew, paying them in full. There was no need to break his promise now. The crew cheered as the money was distributed, and the atmosphere aboard the ship shifted from tense to jubilant.
They were finally getting what they were owed, and more importantly, they were setting out on a journey that would take them beyond the war-torn coastlines.
As the sails caught the wind and the ship began to move, Naruto joined the crew in their celebration. The sound of songs, clinking bottles, and laughter filled the air.
Naruto took a sip from a bottle of beer to keep up the appearance, though his tolerance for alcohol had long since surpassed that of any regular person, thanks to Alucard's training. Still, it was nice to be part of the crew for a moment. It reminded him of his roots, of how he had once lived on the fringes, just trying to survive.
Later, as the sun climbed higher in the sky, it was lunchtime. The crew had settled into a relaxed routine, some manning the sails, others keeping watch. Naruto and Steve sat at a table, their meals in front of them, but the conversation was more important than the food.
"So, Steve," Naruto began, breaking the silence between them, "What side are you on in the war?"
Steve looked up from his food, his eyes darkening slightly. "Oh, you mean the civil war? I'm siding with the rebels, of course. The bloodline users haven't done anything wrong. The Mizukage is just abusing his power, trying to wipe them out."
Naruto nodded, relieved that they were on the same side. He didn't want to waste time convincing Steve to switch allegiances. The war was personal for Naruto, but it was clear they shared a similar sense of injustice.
"Rebels too," Naruto replied simply, not elaborating. He wasn't interested in explaining all the reasons behind his decision right now. There was no need to get into the details.
Steve nodded, but then the merchant's gaze turned thoughtful. "After you've delivered your supplies," he asked, "What are your plans? Will you keep on doing this? Delivering goods to the mainland?"
Naruto leaned back, his arms crossed. "It's not about delivering goods anymore," he said quietly. "I've got bigger plans in mind."
Steve raised an eyebrow. "Bigger plans?"
Naruto looked out over the ship's railing, his eyes narrowing as he saw an island in the distance. "I'm going to end the civil war."
Steve blinked. "Wait… end the civil war? What do you mean by that?"
Naruto's eyes glinted with determination. "Once I reach the mainland, I'll make sure the fighting stops. I'll put an end to it, once and for all."
Steve was silent for a moment, clearly processing Naruto's words. He had heard of powerful figures before, but something about Naruto's confidence told him that this wasn't an idle boast.
"I see," Steve murmured, finally smiling. "I guess I'm glad to be working with you, Naruto-kun. If you can pull that off, the world will be a different place."
Naruto's smirk returned. "It will be. And we'll make sure of it."