Hiten quickly released Rinko from his hold, who instantly tried to fight back.
He tried a jab only for Hiten to weave past it and throw Rinko overboard. Rinko couldn't even shout as his body fell into the water with a loud splash.
The crewmates at this came running, abandoning their work to see what happened.
"Koji! What happened? What did we hear just now?" Kato asked,
"G-guys...I-it was Rinko! He fell into the water!" Hiten stammered out, making them concerned.
"He isn't the type to fall down into the water, how did this happen?" Saru asked.
"We were laughing while he was using that rope, then suddenly, a shark bit onto the rope and pulled him overboard." Hiten replied, looking at the two then into the water.
Saru instantly ran to get their diving gear and underwater weapons for dealing with sharks.
'Sharks don't come this part of the waters... especially sharks that could pull someone like Rinko overboard. It's weird..' Kato thought, while the Saru jumped into the water.
"Fine...stay here," he wore the diving gear, "we'll find him."
He was just about jump before Hiten asked, "Shouldn't we ask captain for help?"
Kato turned to look at Hiten, but then simply shook his head and jumped into the water.
Hiten watched the two of them search underwater for Rinko, who was currently in the tight grip of Hiten's clone.
Hiten had created a shadow clone when he had fallen into the water while repairing the boat. That same clone is keeping Rinko hidden away from Saru and Kato while healing his jaw.
"Saru...found him, yet?" Kato used sign language, looking through the water.
"No." Saru replied, before going up to the surface alongside Sato.
Hiten waved at them as he called out to them, catching their attention. "I saw some splashing a hundred meters from here, check over there!"
Hiten pointed towards the other side of the boat. Saru and Kato swam around the boat and checked where Hiten pointed.
They two men found Rinko barely keeping himself afloat, his hands and legs hitting the water weakly from exhaustion.
They held him and brought him back to the boat.
Rinko coughed up water with a reddish tint in it, wetting the deck and concerning the two crewmembers.
"Did you get hurt?" Kato glanced at Hiten, "Was it the shark?"
"No. I...um, hit my chin on the floor as I fell." Rinko held his jaw in pain, before continuing, "I-i...punched the shark. It died on the first hit."
Rinko showed his bruised knuckle, indicating that he fought the shark. Hiten sighed in relief, before speaking, "If your jaw his hurt then, it's best that you rest for a while. Don't you think, Kato?"
"Y-yeah." Kato agreed, before leaving with Saru to keep their equipment back, leaving Hiten alone with Rinko.
Hiten watched them open the door and enter the equipments room, then spoke, "You actually followed the advice my clone gave, you have good survival instincts!"
"You fucking bastard!!! Why did you bruise my hand? Just to make it convincing... Or to threaten me?" Rinko whisper shouted, before holding his jaw in pain.
"I purposefully didn't heal you so you'd stay quiet. Keep talking—and I'll make sure that jaw gets infected." Hiten looking to see if anyone had heard Rinko.
Rinko couldn't resist it as Hiten forcefully grabbed his bruised fist and squeezed it hard, before slinging his arm over his shoulder, leading them into the quaters where the crewmembers were.
---
A few hours passed by quickly, a shamefully small amount of collected fish. The crew decided change course and return back.
The evening sun cast a red tint to everything, almost as red as the blood of the fish that was cut open for dinner.
Hiten kept a close on Rinko who sat beside Kato, the one deep in thought.
"What happened out there? It doesn't add up no matter how much I think about it." Kato whispered to Rinko.
Rinko subtly looked at Hiten before giving the exact same he gave before. Kato nodded and went back to eating.
'Why did Koji want the Captain to help save Rinko? The captain hates Rinko and everyone knows it.' Kato thought looking the at Captain in the distance.
A few years ago, Rinko—the Captain's subordinate was given the job for managing that rope, allowing him to earn even more the captain.
Rinko was soon noticed by the Captain's sister, who left the man she was about to marry to be with him—a non-local.
"Hey Saru...does the captain hates Rinko because he married Captain's sister?" Kato said, quietly so only Saru would hear.
"Oh, you and Koji weren't here, back then. The man she was supposed to marry was Captain's best friend. After this happened, he was heartbroken and left for konoha in search for a job." Saru looked at the Captain with a sense of sadness,
"He basically lost a best friend he grew up with, because...I know it's not Rinko's fault she chose him... But, it's easier to blame Rinko than blaming his sister."
Kato turned to noticed Hiten and asked, "Did you know about this, Koji?"
He nodded.
'So that's why he said to ask for Captain's help...maybe he has forgiven Rinko—or at least doesn't blame him anymore. I'll ask him later.'
---
The boat reached the port as everyone began packing up.
"Yo, Koji! Make sure he gets home and sees a doctor soon. The boss will fire us if we don't catch our quota next time." Saru said, before walking away.
Kato decided to go home and see his Mom once before going to Captain's house. He watched Koji take Rinko away, saying something to him that was inaudible from where he stood.
The sun was setting and it would get dark soon, Kato chose to pick up the pace and started jogging his way home, buying medicine for his mother on the way home.
Sato entered his house and left the medicine where he always kept them, before going into his mother's room.
"Ma! I brought your stuff, eat it before sleeping, okay?" Kato said, his mother turned to look at him and brought her ear closer to hear better.
"I BROUGHT YOUR STUFF! EAT IT BEFORE SLEEPING." Kato shouted, his mother was finally able to listen as she gave a soft smile.
'Old age really does mess up your hearing, huh? It's getting worse. Just two more years... Kiku will come back after completing her studies in Konoha and I can start a family of my own.'
Kato left his house and jogged to Captain's house, that doubt in his mind was like an itch that needed to be scratched.
A few minutes later, he reached his house and looked through the uncovered window.
The door creaked open and someone came out, "Your bad habit of peeking through windows will get you beaten up by a woman one day."
Goro, the captain stood there, holding a half eaten sandwich and a bottle of beer.
"Sorry, for coming at this time, I have something I want to ask you...about you and Rinko." He hesitantly said.
Goro had not heard him properly and already walked back into his house, leaving the door open for Kato.
"Just get on with it. I have to sleep soon."
"What happened between you and Rinko—"
Goro turned immediately, the beer bottle crushed within his grip, making Sato flinch and back off.
"What is the deal between you guys?" Kato internally crossed fingers for making home safe after this.
Goro's fleshy fist crashed into Kato's face, creating a nasty sound and another as Kato fell to the ground.
"That's not your business to know." Goro said with a calm voice, as if he hadn't punched Kato.
Goro nodded as he slowly stood up, holding his chin in pain. 'Damn Koji! H-he...'
"Is there anyone else you are here for? If not, then get lost." Goro said with an hint of anger.
He had already gotten into legal problems by beating up his subordinates when they poked their nose in the wrong place, he couldn't afford to do it again.
"Do you know if there are any powerful sharks in the waters we went in today?" Mentioning Rinko again would be bad.
"What kind of powerful? Bite strength, muscle power, sheer mass...be specific." Goro said, the effects of beer loosening its control.
"Uhh...the kind that can bite onto a rope...and then, pull a chakra enhanced person into the water?"
Goro's eyebrows furrowed as he grit his teeth in anger,
"That lying son of a bitch! There are no such sharks in there! Aside from some eels there's nothing out there that can pull it off." Goro said, taking another beer bottle and was about to walk out.
"Where are you going?" Kato followed him.
"I'm gonna report that asshole to Kaiyo Harvest, and get that strike removed from my record!" Goro's words felt like they would give no room for negotiation.
Kato stopped pursuing and chose to change paths, heading to Rinko's house instead.
He reached the modest house in a few minutes, the sound of children's laughter reached his ears and a mother's scolding which had no affect.
Kato quickly glanced through the window, seeing the family inside, lively as usual.
*Knock* *Knock*
The door opened and a woman with deep dark circles came out, holding a three year old girl who was trying her best to jump out of her mother's arms.
"Uhhh...where is—Where's Rinko? Is he home?" Kato asked, making her tired expression turn into surprise.
"Was he supposed to come home today?" She asked, the little girl in her calmed down—for now.
"IS HE NOT???" Kato said out loud, his concern spread over to her.
"What happened to Rinko? Why do you look like this?"
The child, scared by the atmosphere came to the verge of crying.
"Um," Kato held his head, taking a deep breath, "It's no big deal, he just...he just got hurt a little while working today. Koji was supposed to bring him to you. I'll check his house to see what's the issue."
Kato bowed before running away, making more anxious than ever.
She looked at her children for a second, hoping they won't fight while she was out, changed her clothes and headed towards Koji's house, although, at a much slower pace.
---