ANIME/MANGA NARUTO
NEW CHARACTERS AND KAKASHI'S HEARTACHE
Part 1
A bunch of kids were huddled around their invention, slightly put out. It was supposed to be able to transport them into the television network but instead it had just steamed up.
'Maybe we should push this–' started a boy, his finger inches away from a bright red button protruding from the machine.
'NO!' Forty-three voices shouted angrily at him. The boy removed his finger reluctantly.
'Don't touch anything. It must something wrong about the program we chose because some might not work at all,' A girl in a low ponytail said, tapping something into the side of the machine.
'Yeah, due to the government policy, or something of that sort,'
A burst of babble broke out from the group and they started arguing which was the real point of distracting the machine from transporting. A number of people were siding with the problem of the time limit they were able to stay in the television program.
The boy who wanted to push the button was fidgeting with his fingers. Unable to contain himself, he watched his friends carefully then stabbed at the red button just in time as the girl with the ponytail spotted him.
She lunged out and tried to stop him but the machine was activated. A billowing tunnel emerged from the machine's funnel and the kids were thrown into it. They spun around, their eyes taking nothing in.
They could feel their bodies stretching and their faces bubbling, changing into different features to disguise them. Their normal clothes seemed to melt away and replaced with more flowing ones.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, the spinning stopped and the children knew that the transformation part was complete. Since they created and wrote the manual for the machine, they knew its stages clearly. Next was the stage of destination, which they didn't decide yet.
Then, the tunnel reached an end. It burped out the children one by one and swiveled into nothingness. The children couldn't hear their voices and they fell headlong in front a crowd of people, separating them immediately.
'Where?' the boy who had pushed the button fumbled around and a trace of electricity flow through his body.
The rest of them looked up and their mouths dropped open. No, it can't be.
They were in the middle of a battle in the series, Naruto!
The recognized the blonde kid in the orange jersey with his teammates, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno along with their sensei, Kakashi Hatake. The cartoon characters looked positively shocked and their enemies had paused to stare at them. And the enemy was none other than the criminal organization, Akatsuki but without their leader Pain. They were in a chamber.
Just then, a sharp kunai whizzed through the air and headed straight towards the children. Automatically, they brought out their hands to shield themselves and received a surprise.
Red, blue, green, brown and all sorts of coloured shields shot out from the children's palms and deflected the kunai. It shuddered and slowed down, and then it stopped, its tip touching the shield.
A girl who had fired the only red shield was nearest to the weapon. Slowly, she pulled her hand back and the shield bent in, taking the kunai with it. Now smiling, she turned the kunai over using the shield and let go.
It was more unexpected than the Akatsuki expected. The kunai raced at them, a fire tail at its end. But the Akatsuki members acted quickly and disappeared. The kunai hit the opposite wall.
'Ahhh, nooo!' Naruto's voice rang across the chamber. The shields flickered away and the children turned to look at him. He was clutching his head, 'How could you just let them go? It took forever to look for them!'
The girl who had fired the kunai was exhausted after releasing all her strength to pull the kunai. And most importantly, she was feeling snappish, which was something her friends understand completely.
She scowled at Naruto but said nothing. For the first time, the children noticed their changes.
Their faces had changed and transformed into a cartoon form but they were much more better looking and different that they couldn't really tell each other apart. Their garments had changed to, into what most characters in the village of Konohagakure. All of them had rucksacks on their backs too.
Their hair remained the same but the exhausted girl was completely different from the hot-tempered and strong-willed girl they knew. Her hair was strung up in a ponytail and in the colour of reddish-bronze, which made her head looked as if on fire.
She was dressed entirely in black and she wore fingerless gloves identical to Kakashi's. Her forehead just reached his eyes and she had a similar bored look on her sharp face.
'Hey–' a boy called out to her but stopped in mid-sentence as his friend slapped a hand across his mouth.
Ignoring the four people behind them, they huddled together and whispered urgently.
'We can't use our real names! What if someone who knew heard our names?'
'We'll just need to create new ones and keep it like that until we find a way to go back.'
'But, we're don't know any Japanese names so let's think out of the box!'
'What?' the boy who pressed the machine' button exclaimed incredulously.
The fiery-headed girl seized the front of his clothes, 'Well, you pushed the button and you brought us here. So this time, we're in charge of what's in coming and you shut up!' She snarled at him.
'Uh, can someone tell me what's going on here?' Naruto's voice said from in the group. Surprised, they jumped back and refused to look into his blue eyes. But the fiery-headed girl took action and walked forward.
'I'm Fury of Fire. See?' she said. She held out her hand and a red ball of fire appeared. Her friends behind her exchanged smiles. Fury had found out a way to save their cover; one by one, they introduced themselves using normal nouns and adjectives.
'Rush of Air.'
'Whirl of Water.'
'Flash of Lightning.'
Of course, the names had to go with their powers, which they quickly discovered. Naruto and the others were curious.
'Are you using any chakra at all to control the elements?' Kakashi asked. He had remained silently all through and he couldn't help himself.
'No.' Fury replied agitatedly. She sent a ball of fire at Flash, the boy who had pushed the stupid button. Kakashi looked straight at her and she glared. He turned away hastily at Sasuke who was talking to Rush.
'So basically, this machine is a network transporter and where we're moving pictures?' Sasuke said coolly. Rush nodded then pulled the emergency remote control from his pocket. He sighed and tapped the screen.
Fury perked up. 'What is it? Are we able to go back?'
'Not unless you want to be Swiss cheese,' Rush replied sarcastically. Naruto was still confused.
'What? I don't understand.' He moaned.
'Of course you don't, you idiot,' Sakura said to him. 'He meant we are merely characters form a fiction comic book and they're normal people who got transported here. They turned into people like us to blend in.'
Naruto laughed. 'That's impossible! We're not cartoons, we're ninjas!'
Whirl of Water stared at him pointedly. 'Yeah, ninja in a comic book and television. See?' She reached into her rucksack and fished out a box. Fumbling in it, she took out a game card and gave it to him.
Naruto's expression was blank. 'Er, I don't read whatever language this is but I can see my picture.' Whirl slapped her forehead and laughed.
'Oh, sorry, I forgot you were translated from Japanese to English but not on paper!' she explained. Naruto looked more confused and Whirl gave up.
'Hey, guys, I'm starving!' a boy making ice cubes groaned loudly. Naruto brightened up.
'Well, what are we waiting for? I know this really good place for ramen,'
Kakashi hesitated. 'Don't you think we should report to the Fifth Hokage first?' Fury shrugged while the others exchanged worried glances. Kakashi placed his hands in his pockets. 'This should be interesting.
Part 2
'WHAT? YOU BLEW THE MISSION!' The Fifth Hokage's voice thundered at Team 7. Naruto sighed, strongly reminded of the time when the both of them battled. She wasn't a very patient ninja and had a nasty temper.
Rush stepped forward and tried to assure her. 'It wasn't their fault. We just landed on a bad time. You see…' As Rush explained, Kakashi stole glances occasionally at Fury who was flipping through a book casually, not in the least taking in Rush's explanations.
'Kakashi sensei? Are you okay?' Sakura's voice made him started.
He rubbed his neck and smiled awkwardly for he had been staring at Fury for ten minutes already. 'No. Why would you ask?'
Sakura was just about to snap at him when she saw her sensei's eyes flickered meaningfully at Fury. She hid a smile.
Kakashi sensei is in love with Fury, who would have thought someone like him would actually like Fury, as Sakura thought this through, she had to admit that Fury had admirable quality. She was hot-tempered but she took everything, like her sudden power, calmly.
Rush had finally finished explaining to the Fifth Hokage. She looked unconvinced until Naruto shouted out. 'C'mon, Grandma Tsunade, they can't help it. You've got to believe them, you're the Fifth Hokage!'
Something about Naruto's words made the Fifth Hokage relaxed. She trusted Naruto and if he trusted this people, she would follow him. Nodding slightly, she let them go without contradicting them any further about the Akatsuki.
'C'mon guys, I'm all set for some ramen already!' Naruto shouted, beckoning them out of the building to his favourite ramen stall, Ichiraku.
The ramen stall owner and his daughter were shocked at the sudden increase number of guests. His daughter, Ayame hurried to serve them. After a few arguments between the different flavours, they finally decided.
To the children's surprise, they had a thick roll of money in their pockets. Feeling the transporter had given them currency to the village, they happily ordered their lunch.
'Two beef ramen! No, make that vegetable ramen!'
''Oh, shut it! The original ramen is the best!'
'Sez who?!'
It was almost two o'clock when their ramen were ready. The children ate greedily because the journey through the transporter had made them dizzy and hungry. Naruto ate through his usual number of bowls while Kakashi stood off the side, watching his Genins and reading at his novel.
Kakashi was sitting beside Fury but it wasn't his idea because Sakura had given a shove when he wanted to walk away. Half-thinking that Sakura had already figured out his heartthrob, he focused his concentration at his favourite book.
He stole a glance at Fury who had finished her ramen and was, once again, flipping through her own book. He couldn't read that language but couldn't help feeling that Fury had some things in common besides his coolness and her heat.
Returning to his book, Kakashi saw Sakura gave him a slight evil smirk from behind her ramen. He frowned at her and she looked away from him.
Their lunchtime took nearly two hours. Then, the children followed Kakashi and his team to their training field. Sasuke was suggesting a battle with one of them since he saw their extraordinary, non-chakra powers.
'I don't really think we're all that non-chakra.' said Fury simply.
Sasuke shot her a suspicious look. 'Can you prove it?'
Fury brought her hands in front of her, ready to perform a jutsu. However, Rush grabbed her hands.
'Fury, wait, what if we don't HAVE any chakra or even manage a hand sign.' He advised her urgently. Fury frowned a bit then removed her hands from her friend's grip.
'I've seen the series a hundred times, I'm sure I can pull it off.' Fury answered. She adjusted her fingers and decided to perform the common jutsu.
'Shadow Clone Jutsu!' Ignoring Naruto's awed gasp, Fury closed her eyes tightly.
POOF. BANG.
Two shadow clones of Fury stood beside her, appearing behind a cloud of smoke. They let out proud 'Ha's and high-fived. The others gaped at her and her clones.
'Wow, you used my signature move! Alright!' Naruto yelled, punching his fist in the air. The Furys smiled at him then poofed into thin air.
The real Fury folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at Rush. He looked dumb then grinned suddenly. Kakashi looked stunned. When he thought that Fury said they used no chakra to summon up their powers, he thought that they had ZERO chakra.
But, it seemed that they had special reserved chakra all along. Sasuke released a small smile. 'So, who's ready for a battle?' Rush stepped forward and cracked his knuckles.
'I am.'
*
Sasuke tried to draw breath but the second attack of Rush's Air Slice Jutsu crossed his chance. He had to dodge it and reached behind his back.
Rush created an air force field as Sasuke's shurikens headed straight toward him.
'You show them, Rush!' Whirl and Fury shrieked. Kakashi began to wonder if Fury and Rush had a crush on each other. Deciding to confront Whirl who seemed to be Fury's best friend, he turned back to the match.
Sasuke scowled and started to perform his signature move. 'Fire Style, Fireball Jutsu!' A streak of fire burst from his mouth, causing Rush to jump aside and burning his shirt.
'Oh yeah! Show them what you've got!' Sakura cheered while Naruto stood beside her with a grin on his face.
'Not bad, huh, your Sasuke?' Fury said in an amused voice. Sakura flushed then leaned closer to her.
'Me? What about Kakashi sensei? He's the one in love with you!' Sakura shot back. Fury eyebrows contracted and whispered back to Sakura. 'What d'you mean?!'
Sakura smirked and said in a very low tone that Fury had to strain her ears. 'Just look at his face whenever you talk and when you and Rush are in conversation.' Realizing what she said about the last part, she looked a bit surprised. 'Hey, you don't like Rush by any chance, do you!' She shouted the last part.
Everyone's head including Sasuke and Rush's whipped around to look at the pink and red-bronze heads bent close to each other.
'Oops!' Sakura slapped a hand to her mouth while Fury's face was now a color of a burning fire.
Flash spluttered while some other boys joined him. 'No kidding! He's her crush since–'
'Shut up!' Fury spat at him. A ball of flame shot across the ground and reached Flash's shoes. He yelled and the others fell about laughing. Kakashi's expression tightened and he pretended not to have heard their conversation.
Fury remembered Sakura's words and darted a glance at him. She couldn't help but felt a bit suspicious – Kakashi was apathetic as usual and he was looking far off.
'Get up! It's not funny!' She looked back at her friends who were bursting from giggles and Rush's pink face. He gave her a fleeting smile but it disappeared quickly.
Sasuke couldn't help smiling too even though he was too cold to care about love relationships. 'I guess that's it for today then!'
Fury opened a folded scrap of paper and consulted it. 'Erm, our house is somewhere in the middle of a forest. I guess we'll have it. Now!' She snapped at Flash who was chuckling and pointing at her, his shoes singed.
Sakura dragged Naruto and him to another direction from the departing children. 'I don't know if you've noticed it but Kakashi's in love with Fury!' she murmured in a soft tone, looking at Kakashi who was standing motionlessly at his spot.
Sasuke made an impatient noise. 'Yeah, I noticed it alright. He's got this strange look every time he looks at her.'
Naruto tried not to look surprised. 'Poor guy! I think Rush and Fury like each other but Kakashi sensei's got a chance.'
Sakura glared at him. 'How does that work out, idiot?'
Naruto slammed his fist on his left palm. 'That's it! The both of them didn't like others to know their feelings so they avoid each other. But their love can't expand because they daren't talk in secret so that means Kakashi can cut in and make Fury like him!'
Sakura and Sasuke exchanged glances, none too impressed. 'When did you become the love expert?' Sakura snipped.
'After spending about a year's time with the Pervy Sage.' Naruto replied.
'So let's make sure Kakashi sensei has the confidence to make out to her!' Sakura declared then froze as Kakashi turned around to face them. His hands were in his pockets and he was looking bored.
'I wonder if Fury would really prefer him with this attitude, not to mention the unemotional problem.' She thought. Sasuke looked away from Naruto who was snickering.
'I don't think I'll be a part of this,' he said quickly. 'Not after what happened when we tried to unmask Kakashi.'
Sakura was disappointed. 'That was a minor mission. This is serious!'
Naruto stopped laughing to contradict Sasuke. 'Yeah! You don't want Kakashi to grow all alone, do you?'
Sasuke groaned softly and close his eyes. 'His personal love life is not my problem at all.' He replied scathingly.
'What if Kakashi suddenly marries and let us free?' Naruto pushed teasingly. Sasuke opened his eyes and turned rigid.
Part 3
'Aye, eee, aye, eee, aye, aye, aye, Fury's in luuuuurve and there's not denying, however hard she's trying, there's no hiding…' Center of Rock sang after they had found and settled in the house.
Fury snarled and fired flaming balls at him. Laughing, he raised his hand and a slab of rock blocked the fire. Rush raised an eyebrow.
'Give it a rest, Center, so what if she likes me?' he said. The others froze, shocked by this sudden honesty. 'We're just friends now. She deserves someone better, if she fancies them.'
Fury gave Flash and Center a half-triumphant glint with her fiery eyes. She made a mental note to thank Rush after this. It was true, she had given up on him but she had already fancied another person.
She had been hiding it because she felt sure her friends would definitely laugh at her. She had fallen in love with Kakashi. When Sakura announced his feelings out loud to her, she felt pleasantly happy and contented.
Whirl shot disgusted looks at the boys before whispering to Fury. 'Talking about relationships, don't be mad at me, but I think Kakashi fancies you. He was looking at you with this far-off look!' The sides of Whirl's mouth twitched.
Fury faked a cough then drew her friend aside. 'For the record, he does. Sakura told me,' she added to Whirl's amazed expression. 'And as my best friend, it would help a lot if you won't tell the others that I liked him too.' Whirl hid a smile in the shade of the trees but she couldn't deceive Fury whose eyes saw through the dark shadows.
'I know it's funny to like a cartoon but it can't be helped.' She retorted.
'Well, ask him out!' urged Whirl. 'Pretend you're lost in the village and accidentally on purpose bump into him then spend a lovely moonlit night together.'
Fury eyed her ruefully. 'You've been watching too much teen drama again, haven't you?' Whirl shrugged helplessly. Her friend sighed. 'Fine, I'll do it.'
'Yes! Don't worry, I'll cover for you.' Whirl assured her.
Fury went back to the yard where the others were having a competition of catching different elemental balls. Unable to resist the urge, Fury conjured a fireball and tossed it to Flash who electrocuted himself.
'Where are you going?' He yelled at her, tending his burned hands.
'Finding a bookstore,'
'I want to find one too!'
'No, you don't!' Whirl snapped at him, aiming a water ball at his palms just as they crackled with electricity. Squeezing their eyes, the others knew that Flash had managed to electrocuted himself. Again.
Fury slipped away secretly and sighed with relief. She looked around the village, amused. Then, she past a store and stopped suddenly as she heard her name being called.
She turned around and saw Kakashi walking out of a store called The Pink Bookstore. Remembering reading a story where the bookstore took place and what kind of books it sold, Fury's skin tingled.
Kakashi's right eye was shut, which meant he was smiling. Fury smiled back then watched him curiously as he tried to stuff an orange-covered book in his pocket.
Kakashi raised his eyebrow. 'Don't you have like a training session at a time like this?' Fury rolled her eyes.
'The most training we ever get is power fights.' She
'Okay then.' Kakashi moved aside and walked away, leaving her standing in the middle of the street. He couldn't express his feelings towards her, not just yet.
'Fine.' He heard her mumble and strolled off casually.
Back at the house, Fury had arrived just in time to hear her friends deciding a name for it. For some reason, the name Power House seemed to have a big affect and attract plenty of laughs.
'Found the bookshop?' Flash and Whirl asked. Fury walked into her bedroom and shut the door. Flash shrugged but Whirl could sense something wrong. And just at that moment, Fury shoved a note from under the door.
Picking it up, Whirl read it curiously. 'He's definitely not interested. Who cares? I've been wrong about boys before.' She had scrawled. Whirl felt a slight twinge of disappointment and anger but let it go. Fury wasn't the type to let her crush slip out.
At that moment, Rush and the others were nailing a board into the ground. The name of the house was written over it in charcoal. Fury listened to their quarrels and hammering noise peacefully.
She was a normal girl at her own world but right here, she was a ninja and ninja she will be. She stood up and shuffled to the window. A heavy-looking shape was plunging straight towards her window.
She dodged just in time as a hammer crashed through her window. She picked it up angrily and looked out the window with its broken shards. 'Who did that?'
'Not me!' all the boys yelled. Fury growled then heated the handle of the hammer. It rose up in the air then spun out of the window and straight towards the boys. They yelled and the hammer made contact with Center's hand.
'It was you!' she bawled then stepped out into the yard in top speed.
'Wait! It was an accident–' Center's explanation was cut short as Fury lunged at him, her left hand holding a spinning ball of fire. He ducked and put his hand to the ground.
A slab of rock shot up and knocked her out of the way. She flew into the sky then backflipped neatly back onto the ground. Center pressed harder on the ground. More rocks shot up from the ground and each one nearly hit Fury as she jumped over them.
'Wow! That's so cool!' Naruto's voice startled them. Center stopped summoning up rocks and the fire died in Fury's hand. He was accompanied by Sakura, Sasuke and, Fury saw with burning rage, Kakashi.
'What is this? Some kind of ritual battle?' he said without expression.
'It's none of your business.' Whirl snapped at him. He looked surprised and turned away to look at the board. Center flapped a hand and the rocks wormed back into the ground. A girl, Spread of Green, pointed two fingers at the messy ground and fresh grass sprouted rapidly.
'Did you want something?' Rush asked hostilely, pretending that the fight had never happened.
'Yes!' Sakura shouted out in relief. She moved over to Fury who smiled at her and dragged her to their group.
'Really! There's no plenty of time.' Flash said and received a sharp sting as Whirl's water hit his ever-crackling hands. 'Ouch!'
Sakura hadn't heard his comment so she kept pushing Fury. Naruto helped her then Kakashi and Sasuke walked back down on the path. Fury released herself from the pink and orange-haired Genins after the house disappeared from sight.
'What are you doing?' she said furiously.
Naruto shook his head. 'Not us. You and Kakashi sensei!' Sakura nodded eagerly.
Kakashi turned around and fixed his pupils with a serious look. 'Oh. Is this why you three dragged me here?'
'Leave me out of this.' Sasuke cut in scathingly, his hands in his pockets and a haughty look on his face.
Sakura gazed pleadingly at her sensei. 'Please, Kakashi sensei. Just let us take you to a place and we'll let you figure it out.'
Kakashi looked annoyed. 'I'm not entering into your games, S–' Naruto gave him a shove but he didn't flinch. He sighed and decided to follow the Genins, hoping they weren't planning some romantic fad for him and Fury.
Finally, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke stopped in front of a set of gates. They let their sensei and Fury go and sped off, but not before saying, 'Good luck!'
Warily, Kakashi opened the gates and groaned. Fury bit her lip in exasperation. They were in the Leaf Village's hot springs. Fury burst out unexpectedly, 'Really, do they really think we're going out?'
As she said this, a middle-aged woman zipped in front of them and pulled them in, muttering, 'Tut, tut, don't you know leaving the door open will let the cooling steam and peace flow away.' Then she turned to them brightly and they were forced into a vacant spot.
'Enjoy.' She said cheerfully. She locked the door and chuckled.
Fury shrugged her shoulders. 'Well, I don't care if Naruto and the other two plans to have some relationship coming between you and me, but I won't pass up an opportunity like this.' She said then disappeared into a changing room.
Kakashi couldn't help but admire her coolness. He had expected to blow up then realized that Fury had refrained doing this in his presence. Flushing, he decided to follow Fury. After all, one dip couldn't hurt, would it?
*
Fury sighed peacefully as she dipped herself into the steaming water. This was more relaxing than she had thought.
Suddenly, she heard a light sound of another person coming into the water. She froze in horror, willing it would not be whom she expected. She tried to scrabble up and get out of the pool.
Too late. Kakashi's silver hair bobbed from behind the steam and she lowered herself into the water, praying he had not seen her. But with his headband gone, his Sharingan was active and he could feel her hesitating nearby.
'Really, a hothead like you dipping in water?' he called out mockingly and stopped on a ledge. Her reddish-bronze hair cocked a little, giving her place away. Kakashi smiled behind the cloth he had wrapped around his nose and mouth.
As silent and swift as he could, he made his way to her.
Fury was looking heavenly from the steam. Some of her oddly coloured hair had dropped from her hair and the flicks framed her face. Her shoulders, pale and smooth, were visible to Kakashi too. She wasn't aware of his presence yet.
'The both of us really should get out more often,' he hissed into her ear.
She gave a small yelp and backed away from Kakashi who was grinning at her. She lost her footing on the rocks and slipped. Quick as lightning, Kakashi caught her hands and pulled her up.
Fury raised her head and stiffened when she saw how close the both of them were. His nose was actually a few millimeters apart from her. He was still grasping her hands, reluctant to let go. She blushed and tugged them away from him.
'Can you do me a favour and move away a little?' she said in a small voice. Kakashi raised his eyebrows as if saying why should I?
'Please?' Fury added. Kakashi sighed and stepped away from her. He leaned against the edge and watched Fury edging away, her pale back glistening with hot water. Without meaning to, he reached out and stroked her.
Fury stopped moving and readied herself when she felt Kakashi wading towards her. She turned her head. He was staring at her with a soft look in his dark eyes. Suddenly, he bent down and tugged the cloth away from his face. His lips landed on her cheek.
His hands moved in the water and grabbed her slim waist. She flinched but pressed closer until he could feel her chest heaving nervously. He nudged her with his nose and whispered, 'Hey, calm down, this is just the beginning.'
Fury managed a small smile. 'All I know is that you're an extreme pervert!'
Kakashi let out a soft laugh and stroked her waist. He tipped Fury's chin and his kiss fitted perfectly on her mouth. She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed back. Kakashi suddenly realized that she was almost as tall as he was and felt a bit surprised. Apparently, all the girls he didn't like was tall too, and very nasty.
But Fury, she belonged to him right now. Then he remembered wildly of the familiar feeling. He unhooked her hands and backed away, mumbling, 'I'm sorry,'
Fury turned quickly and got out of the water before Kakashi could raise his head. He melted into the foggy steam and reappeared again, striding slowly beside the pool, fully dressed.
Fury tied her headband on her head and knocked at the door. 'You can let us out now. We're done!' A key was fitted into the keyhole and a reassuring click came. The both of them walked out the gates.
Part 4
Whirl jumped out from her hiding place as soon as the three Genins disappeared down the path. She looked at the hot springs gate despairingly, wondering if Sakura was right in the head about this.
'Are you going in?' a cool voice said from behind her. She jumped and spun around.
A young ninja in his mid-twenties was gazing at her enquiringly. He had brown eyes and shoulder-length hair with the same colour. His Konoha headband was worn backwards above a dark blue cloth cap. There was a senbon in his mouth. Whirl frowned at his somewhat attractive and familiar.
She shook her head and replied. 'No, it's just that I saw Naruto and his teammates standing here a while ago.'
'Naruto? That kid from the chunin exams?' he asked incredulously.
At the mention of the chunin exams, Whirl suddenly remembered, 'Wait, you're Genma, aren't you? The prospector of both chunin exams?'
He raised an eyebrow. 'Yes, I am. I've never seen you before,'
'I'm Whirl of Water. I'm not from around here. You see…' Whirl explained while Genma listened patiently. He was more interested in her looks but he took in what she said.
'And you can't go back?' he asked. Whirl shrugged. He pressed her on, 'It's getting dark, and the forest is probably quite dangerous. Maybe I'll walk you home.'
'That would be nice.' Whirl said graciously. She clutched his hand and turned. 'Here, I know a shortcut.'
As her hand touched Genma's, he felt a warm and pleasant feeling squirming in his insides. Whirl didn't seem to notice so she hastily made her way around the trees. Genma took her hand and removed it gently.
'Oops!' Whirl blushed furiously but he smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
'Do you happen to have anyone special to you?' he asked, making conversation.
Whirl considered his question then realized what he was on about. 'No, not really. My friends are just mainly my friends.'
'You want to go out sometime?' Genma moved closer to her and murmured. 'With me.' He added quickly. Whirl hesitated.
She had most of her classmates crushing on her but no one of them was this courageous. No doubt she was good-looking but she had good intentions. Genma had liked her for it but she couldn't really go out, not when Dense of Earth was still keen to please her.
'I don't know.' She finally said. 'I got most people trying to ask me but I don't really fancy them and I really don't want to hurt their feelings.' She stopped walking and Genma followed her. 'But, none of them really asked me and they just have normal crushes. Crushes just come and go.'
Genma smiled. 'So is that a yes?' Whirl smiled and hooked her hand through the crook of his arm. They continued striding down the midst of the forest. The thick trees hiding them as Genma pecked Whirl on her forehead.
Kakashi seized Fury's hand and gave her an apologetic look.
Sighing, Fury slipped her hand away, trying not to hurt his feelings. 'I know why you freaked out in the hot springs.'
'You do?' Kakashi's voice was hopeful.
'If you become close to someone you really care about, and if they should die, then you'll get the feeling of pain and remorse that's unable to get rid of. It's more easier to keep relationships simple and keep distant with others.' Fury murmured softly. 'You're a fiction character to me and trust me, I've done research on you.'
Kakashi cupped her head in his hands. 'I'm touched but I think it would be nice to feel true love again.' he whispered, his voice full with regret and reminiscence his closest friends dying in front of him.
Slowly, he let his hands slip from Fury. She sighed again and turned away so that he wouldn't see the tears that she was trying to hold in. 'I want to like you but I feel like I know you too well. It would be selfish if I let you feel the pain again.'
'You're right but you're not from here. Your powers can protect you from death.' He said, closing his eye and breathing heavily.
'Maybe, but I can't make any promises that I'll stay forever.' Her reply came like a cold knife plunging into his heart. He opened his eye and saw that Fury was already walking into the forest. He hurried and fall into step with her.
She had a sad and angry look on her face. Kakashi stepped in front of her and hugged her tightly. Surprisingly, she didn't pull away but hugged him back. Kakashi felt sure that something warm and wet dripped onto his dark blue long-sleeved shirt.
He pressed his lips to her ear. 'Fury, please don't cry, please don't cry.' His words hit him like a metal stone. The exact words he had said to his friend but different in another way.
Obito, please don't die, please don't die, Kakashi moaned, looking at his best friend.
Kakashi, promise me to protect Rin with your life, promise me, Obito breathed out then laid on the rubble, his eyes like orbs and his body lifeless.
'OK, I won't.' Fury's warm voice clung to him and he buried his head in her shoulder, trying to shake Obito's dead body from his head.
The next thing was a complete blur as Kakashi shoved Fury onto the leafy ground and started kissing her madly. She kissed back and he was suddenly seized by a strong desired urge to love and protect her forever.
Part 5
Fury woke up with a pounding headache. She was lying on her bed. She breathed slowly and tried to recollect her thoughts.
After Kakashi had finished kissing her, she was feeling rather tired. Fury rubbed her sore head then remembered Kakashi's strong arms insisting to carry her home. She looked out of the window and wildly glanced at the clock beside her bed. It was midnight.
The others weren't around. Fury assumed that Kakashi had carried her back in secret, wanting to avoid questions. Smart, she thought grumpily.
Suddenly, somebody knocked on her door softly. She paused then threw off her covers. Realizing that her upper shirt-dress was gone and she was only in her long-sleeved shirt and black tights, she gasped. Kakashi had actually took care to dress her for bed.
Flushing a little, she made her way to the door. Whirl's voice came to her like a lightning bolt, 'Fury? Are you awake? I need to speak to you–' Before she could finish, Fury had thrown open the door and pulled her in.
She looked at her friend's clothing awestruck, 'Wow, he actually undressed you for bed.'
Fury flushed deeper. 'How do you know about that?' she demanded in a hiss. Whirl shrugged and sat down on a chair.
'I met him when Genma went back. I offered to help him but Kakashi denied my offer and carried you to the window of your room.' she explained, flipping casually at Fury's books.
Fury's mouth dropped open. 'Genma? That prospector?'
It was Whirl's turn to blush. She gave a hacking cough that didn't deceive Fury at all. 'Er, yeah. He met me and we kind of got along. You were with Kakashi then.' She fumbled.
Fury grinned and sat down on her bed. 'He asked you out?' When she nodded, Fury let out a soft laugh and starred at Whirl impressively. 'Amazing! All you had to do is bump into an attractive guy who gets mesmerized by you and in a few mere minutes, he's asking you out!'
Whirl looked awkward. 'He wasn't mesmerized but I won't pretend that he isn't good-looking. With that brown eyes and shoulder-length hair,–'
'He's just like you.' Fury finished, grinning from ear to ear. In a weird way, Whirl was actually perfect with someone like Genma whom she knew to be cool, calm and rarely annoyed. Like Whirl. His brown features made the both of them looked more like a couple.
'Don't tell anyone! Especially Dense!' Whirl said shrilly. Fury gave her a promising wink and looked at the door.
'Dense still wants you to like him, huh?' she said sympathetically, remembering the headstrong and short-tempered guy trying to impress Whirl. Unfortunately for him, he failed and luckily for Whirl, he annoyed her even further. Whirl brushed back her shoulder-length hair and sighed.
'Does he know you're going out with Genma?' Fury pressed.
Whirl scowled but looked contented. 'I'm not going out with him yet and no, Dense does not know. He would probably freak out and tell everyone about Genma. Your secret would probably be out by then too.' She said, reaching for a box of cards. She fumbled in it then found a picture of Genma Shiranui.
Fury snatched the box from her and covered it quickly. 'There's too much print-outs of Kakashi for you to gawk over.' She mumbled. Whirl grinned, pocketed the Genma card and headed out of the bedroom.
'Oh, and before I leave,' Whirl poked her head out from the door and winked. 'Kakashi told me to give you a message. He said he wanted to meet you,' she added before leaving.
'When?' Fury asked but she could hear Whirl shuffling back to her room.
She smiled to herself and got into bed, throwing the blanket over her. She hesitated then looked at the plain blanket, as if she could see Kakashi smoothing his hands over it. She turned over then fell asleep.
'Fury, Fury, wake up!' a familiar masculine voice whispered to her urgently.
Fury reluctantly opened her eyes then sat up, groaning at her lack of sleep. It was the crack of dawn. She turned and suddenly found herself in Kakashi arms. He smiled down at her and she gasped.
He quickly leaned closer until their noses touched. 'Shush, I wanted to see you before the others wake up.' He said lovingly, stroking her upper hand.
'Well, you came at the right time. Dense and Scream would probably be up by now.' She replied sarcastically. Kakashi just smiled at her and brushed her cheek with his masked lips.
He pulled her to her feet and led her to the open window. He put a leg on the sill and jumped out. Fury followed him and they jumped over the forest's trees. She moved closer to Kakashi until their shoulders touched.
He took her hand and steered her to another direction. Fury saw a gleam of water from the direction he was taking her. With amazement, she realized he was leading her to a river.
They jumped the last branch and landed on a small hill, overlooking the sunrise. Kakashi put a hand over Fury's shoulders and hugged her tightly. He pressed against her cheek, 'Let's just enjoy the sunrise.'
The sky was slowly turning pink and yellowish. The cool air blew at the couple. Fury leaned against Kakashi's shoulder, enjoying where she was right now.
Suddenly, he removed his hand and turned around to face her. His hand was moving to his mask and another clutched at the bare skin above Fury's fingerless gloves. She clung back as his lips crashed into hers. They fell back onto the soft grass, or at least Fury did.
It felt like he was eating away at her lips but Fury didn't mind. It wasn't every day a guy like Kakashi comes along and starts kissing you as if you were his long-lost lover.
When they finally pulled apart, Fury remembered Whirl. She looked up at Kakashi who was brushing her annoyingly parted fringe. 'What do you know about Genma?' she gushed. He looked surprised.
'Not much, except that he's tall as me but much lighter. His personality is similar to mine but he doesn't wear a mask since he always has his senbon in his mouth.' Kakashi said, a sarcastic tone in his voice. Fury had to suppress a laugh.
'I don't like him.' She grinned, slipping her hand into Kakashi's. 'He likes Whirl. He asked her out yesterday.' Kakashi gave a light laugh and widened his eye.
'Genma fancies your friend, huh?' he said, amused. 'He usually keeps to himself but to be drawn by Whirl is news to me. But Whirl has the looks to set anyone in a trance.' He commented.
Fury nodded. 'That's what I told her. Apparently, she likes him too but she's got a lot of boys going after her already.' She said. Kakashi shrugged and supported himself with his elbows as he looked at the clouds.
'Not surprising. But she's not my type – too calm, cool and good.' He said, a bit scathingly. 'I prefer someone with more character. Like you,' he murmured in a soft tone that touched Fury very much. She kissed him affectionately.
He sat up and patted her ponytail then planted soft kiss on her head. He stroked her face lovingly and settled his hand at the back of her neck.
'I don't want to lose you, ever.' He said seriously. She nodded and gave him a kiss on his head in return.
'I'm not that easy to get rid of.' She said lightly. Kakashi smiled then gave an amused 'Hmm,' as her stomach rumbled. She blushed. 'I forgot to mention that I have a big appetite especially in the morning.'