Ride - I'd live for you (and that's hard to do)

The first couple of days after the news got out that someone regrew Hiroshi's fingers were pretty busy for her. Between healing, she liked to take walks around town in which she helped others that needed a hand. At night, she meditated to understand better her powers. The third day of doing so, she was so distracted she forgot to sleep, but wasn't tired at all. Kurama confirmed that if she meditated regularly, she won't need to sleep, which was awesome.

Though she still enjoyed sleeping, she felt it was better to spend the time practicing her new techniques. Then, two hours before dawn, she spent it meditating to regain some of her vitality back.

After all, her plan was to gain some notoriety, so she needed to control her new powers better. People would only listen to her words when her power was recognized.

Despite what many would think, she was not blind to how the world works. This was an eat or be eaten world, where the rule of strength was law. If she wanted to change it and turn it into something more peaceful, she needed personal strength, political might, and allies.

She had the first. Now she only needed the other two.

So she healed, helped, and made connections with everyone. Not only to help her further her goals, but because she honestly liked to help others and make them smile. So despite Kurama's words of her being a 'busybody', she honestly enjoyed it.

She met many nice people, after all.

By her eighth day of staying in the village, the doctor came back.

His name was Eiji. He was a stout, but cheerful man. He looked honestly happy for the people of the village, but the troubled gaze he gave her when her patients told him about how she could regrow limbs was telling.

His apprentice, Yoshiro, invited her to have some tea with his master, four days after he returned. On the way, he told her that the doctor had a bit of trouble walking, which explained why it always took him so long to do the trip to the forest, even with his help.

When she went inside his home, she offered to help him with his leg problem, wanting to gain his trust. Instead, the troubled look didn't vanish, but increased. Then the man sighed, asking his apprentice to make them some tea.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked, curious. After all, the man was happy about the people of the village and their lack of injuries, new and old. She could discern emotions, so she knew there was no envy or malice in him when the others told him.

Eiji grabbed his cane and stood up. She wasn't sure what he intended to do, but she was surprised when he bowed deeply.

"Wait, what? Don't bow, Eiji-jisan! Please—"

"I'm really thankful for what you did for my neighbors and friends." Naruto was confused and flustered. She wanted to say it was unnecessary to bow, but he continued, "However, I'm sorry, but I need to ask you to leave this village."

Naruto stopped her flailing, her hands slowly going to her sides. She was surprised, not because she wanted to stay here forever; she planned on leaving soon. Still, she wanted to ask why.

"Is it something I did?" she asked, serious. Her time practicing with Kurama's abilities made her able to discern emotions better, and she knew that the man felt remorseful and concerned.

Eiji looked up and sighed. "Partly. Before coming to the village, I've been hearing around about a powerful healer in a nearby town that could heal anything and regrow limbs. At first, I didn't believe it, but now that I've seen Hiroshi's fingers, I know it to be true and will not be surprised if the news continue to spread to other villages, maybe even managing to reach the daimyo."

"Oh," Naruto let out, finally knowing what this was about. "You're worried my reputation will bring trouble."

Eiji finally sat down, leaving his cane next to him, just in time for Yoshiro to come back with the tea. Obviously he has heard what they were discussing, because he looked worried.

"I am worried. After all, this is just a simple village with simple people. I apologize if I'm being rude after all you've done, but…"

"No, no. Don't worry. I understand." She tried to smile, but only managed a quirk of lips. "I was planning to leave after you returned, so it's okay."

"If you need anything, feel free to ask. It's the least I can do to thank you."

Naruto shook her head. "No, don't worry. The villagers didn't accept when I told them it wasn't necessary to pay me back, so I've got some money and provisions."

The man seemed truly sorry, so Naruto comforted him. "Really, I'm okay. I'm actually glad the nice people here have someone like you protecting them."

She finished her tea and prepared to leave, but before she did so, she had to ask, "Do you want my help with your leg?"

The man waved a hand. "I couldn't ask that of you when I'm telling you to go."

"You're not asking, though. I'm offering," she said with a smirk.

Eiji laughed. "Okay, okay. Sure you don't need anything though?"

Naruto thought about it as she transformed and healed his leg. It wasn't until she saw him walk normally that she said, "Actually, if you've got a map, that would be awesome."

Eiji nodded. "I've got one."

He signaled his apprentice to retrieve it. When Yoshiro returned, Naruto opened the map. She searched where she was and, with the help of the old man, she found it. She then pointed to a town west of where they were. It wasn't that big, but she could choose from there if she wanted to go to Frost or Rice country.

"If anyone comes and asks for me, tell them I'll be here."

Eiji blinked before smiling and nodding. He looked relieved to have a direction to point at in case someone did come looking for her, which made her realize the double edge of being too famous without the backing of a Hidden Village: Everyone wants a piece of you.

'Let them try,' Kurama said from inside her mind. 'We will show them who not to mess with.'