It was rare that any ninja ever got a break from their duties. So when Tsunade offered Sakura a break from training with the simple task of collecting kelp while on vacation, she instantly jumped at the chance. A well earned rest from the constant beatings of the Hokage was well worth collecting a bunch of plants. However, Tsunade had neglected to tell her student where exactly her "vacation" was.
"A swamp?!" She yelled, standing in front of a large that read 'Baku Bog'. "I'm supposed to relax in a muddy swamp!?"
Needless to say, Sakura was not happy with her location of relaxation. There was nothing she could do though. Faced with living in a bog for a week or facing her master's wrath, Sakura regrettably had to chose the first option. She sighed and began to travel along the narrow wooden bridge that led through the tall overgrowth. For awhile, she couldn't see anything with cattails and tall grass but at least she spotted a clearing in the water. A small wooden house with a deck was at the end of the bridge. On the porch of said house was a short plump man. It looked like he hadn't shaven in weeks, and a thin piece of hay stuck out from a missing tooth. He spotted Sakura and gave a hearty chuckle.
"Well I'll be! If it ain't one of them ninjas! Hello there pretty lady, what are you doing here in the ol' Bog?"
"I was sent here by my mistress? Lady Tsunade? And please tell me this isn't where we stay for the night."
"Oh yes. That fetchin' lady. And don't you worry. This place is much bigger then it looks."
Sakura groaned and dropped her traveling bags to the ground. The man kindly picked them up for her and led her inside. Indeed, the house was much larger on the inside. Mostly because there was only one room. Aside from a few chairs, a table, a bed, and a couch, the only things inside were animal heads. Fearsome Alligator and Crocodile skulls lined the walls, there were even huge fish presented on plaques.
"My name's Billy, by the way. I own the only house out here on the Bog. Most people are too scared to live out here. Especially city folk like yourself."
Sakura poked one of the heads of the giant lizards. "Let me guess, crocodile problems?"
Billy gave a snort. "They have something to do with it yes. But what really keeps them away is one in particular. Now pay attention here, we have rules down in the bog little lady. Rule one is you don't go traveling alone out there on the bayou. Crocs and gators are one thing, but ol' Bloodeye is a completely different story."
"Bloodeye?"
Billy unbuttoned his shirt and pulled the collar down to expose his left shoulder. Near his neck, a large portion of his flesh was missing. Bite marks covered the giant scar. It even made Sakura, a trained medical ninja, a bit sick just looking at it.
"I've lived in this swamp for all my life. I've been bitten by crocs and mauled by gators. But let me tell you this. Bloodeye is a monster. He's a big black gator that lurks in the deepest waters of the marsh. Some folks say he's called Bloodeye because when he makes his kill, blood fills the water so much that he goes blind for a bit. That's a load of hooey. His eyes are blood red. Not a hint of mercy in em. I would know. I've met him twice. And if you think my shoulder is bad, you should see what he gave me the last time I met him."
Sakura gulped. So much for a restful vacation.
Billy put his shirt back on and became cheerful again. "Down let's settle down and have us some dinner!"
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