A disturbance disrupted the hazy cloud that had penetrated my mind. In a state of disconcerted awareness, I could detect it. Something sizable had entered the chakra field that I had dispersed within a mile radius upon my imprisonment those many years ago. A few shinobi, judging from their developed chakra systems, though three of them were less complex than the other. A deep rumble of amusement escaped my chest and I flinched as it ached after so many years of lack of use.
They were coming closer, following the tunnels that led down to my underground chamber. Did they no longer know what lay down here? That I was down here? More than a few decades had passed, I knew hat for certain. Surely their elders had warned them. Then again, humans had such short life spans after all, at least two generations must have passed by now. Perhaps they had forgotten me. How unfortunate for them.
A few more feet down and they would come past a door, my door to be exact. If only one of them would be so curious as to enter. . . hopefully my skills at deceiving hadn't grown rusty over the years. My cheek muscles twitched in a resemblance of a smirk, this could very well be my ticket to freedom. Come closer little shinobi. . .
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"Naruto! These tunnels haven't been touched since the first Hokage, don't go around kicking the walls!" A pink haired kunoichi smacked her teammate soundly across the head. "Do you want to cause a cave in?"
"Waaahh! Sakura-chan!", the blonde teen rubbed his head furiously at the blooming pain. "I'm just so bored!"
Team Kakashi had been assigned to investigate through the ancient tunnels under the Hokage mountain. Since the Third Shinobi War, Konoha had become quite prosperous as the largest village in the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Prosperous enough to look into improving their base defenses. The Sandaime wanted to see how well the tunnels would fair as a safe house in case Konoha came under invasion. Indeed, the tunnels dated back to the First Shinobi War, and they had already found many rooms that held invaluable objects from the time period. It appeared that the tunnels had been used almost like a treasure house for Konoha's precious objects. Various weapons that were made from precious materials, or held untold amounts of sealed chakra were scattered throughout the dank rooms. Scrolls of all sorts, that hid a wealth of information were uncovered from their dusty shelves. Of course, Naruto and his fellow genin had been pulled back by their sensei upon figuring out that they concealed taboo information. Overall, once the treasures were properly catalogued and stored away, the tunnels would be the perfect safe house for civilians and weaker shinobi.
"Ooooh, looky! Another door!", Naruto giggled, mischievously. He ran up to the wooden panel and rubbed his hands together with a wide grin. Kakashi, the silver-haired sensei, sighed for the umpteenth time during their mission. "Naruto, don't do anything yet. The door could be a trap like the last one."
A black-haired genin made himself known by a huff. "Dobe."
Naruto pouted at the mention of the incident. He had gone barreling through a door by himself and had become trapped by a genjutsu that created the illusion that Naruto was in a maze. It took the help of his teammates to get him out. It wasn't like he had gotten himself caught on purpose, it had been by pure surprise that he found himself wandering aimlessly through halls, even though he had been actually just standing in the same spot looking dumbfounded. "Shut up Sasuke-teme! That wasn't my fault! I knew the whole time that it was a genjutsu!"
Sasuke merely rolled his eyes at the blatant lie and Sakura snorted, "Yeah, I'm sure you did. That explains why you were standing there for ten minutes before Kakashi-sensei released you."
Sticking his tongue out childishly, Naruto turned back to the door stubbornly. "Can I please open it Kakashi-sensei? Pleeeaaasee!"
The jonin simply sighed again. "Sure, I guess. Sakura, Sasuke, please be on alert in case Naruto is incapacitated again." The two gave a quick nod and positioned themselves for whatever was behind the door.
Kakashi nodded to Naruto, who giggled loudly and proceeded to push against the door with his shoulder. A loud creek erupted from the moving panel as it slid back, and the three peered into the darkness. Naruto began to step in, but Kakashi raised a hand, halting him. "Let me go in first, since the door wasn't trapped then there must be a trap further in."
The silver-haired man raised his hand, concentrated, and let chakra fill it, receiving a glowing light in his palm. Holding his hand high, the jonin leaned into the room carefullly, his students looking over his shoulder in curiosity. They saw a small chamber that looked like it had been carved out of the mountain. Unlike the other rooms, this one appeared very roughly carved and less decorative. Whereas the others had been designed with depictions of various Fire Country nature scenes and picture stories narrating the formation of the Village Hidden in the Leaves in their walls, this one was left with deep gouges in the stone walls. It was almost like someone had made this room quickly for whatever reason.
"Aww, this one sucks, there's nothing in it.", Naruto whined in disappointment as he looked around. Kakashi, taking a few steps in, shook his head, and pointed at one corner. "It's not entirely empty Naruto."
Naruto followed where his sensei's finger was pointing and saw, what looked like, a figure hanging on the wall to the right of the door. The figure twitched slightly as the light shone upon it. Upon the light hitting it's form, a feminine voice echoed in the small room. It was rough and grinding, yet still easily discernible as a woman's voice. The four Konoha shinobi were shocked at this discovery and took defensive stances at the sound.
"Would you mind shining that light elsewhere, a hundred years without sun can do wonders to your eyes." the voice spoke slowly and sarcastically. Kakashi narrowed his eye, yet complied with the figures wishes. "Well now, this is certainly a suprise. Who are you?"
Despite the light shining to the side of her now, they could see that she was chained up. Taut shackles pulled on her wrists and a large one wrapped around her waist caused her to be lifted over a foot from the ground on the wall. Odd carvings, were spread out behind her. Pale skin peered out from under layers of dust, while black hair tipped with unknown colors fell down her shoulders in clumps, and something like rags covered her body. It seemed like she had been here for quite a while.
"Depends on who's asking. Who is the hokage for Konoha in office?", she countered his question with one of her own. Kakashi, though perplexed, saw no harm in answering her question and stated, "The Sandaime, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and I am Hatake Kakashi, a jonin shinobi for Konohagakure."
Interesting, Konoha's already down to it's Third Hokage. Much time has passed, I wonder if these four would be willing to release me without too many questions. . . That silver haired one seems to be the leader of this group, it will be him that I'll have to negotiate with. . .
"What is your name and why are you down here? Since I have answered your questions, it's only polite if you do the same.", the silver haired one, Kakashi, was speaking to her again. He looked like a peculiar man. A mask hid his lower face while a hitai-ate covered his left eye. The authority in his voice confirmed her suspicions, he was the leader. And he was the one who she needed to sway. His idea that she should be polite to a human scum such as he was insulting however.
Such pettiness would get her nowhere on the other hand, so she spoke. Revenge against the children of the humans who imprisoned her would have to wait. After all, she had waited a hundred years, a few more minutes would not break her patience.
"My name is Ryuu Kaminari, and as for why I am here, I would be glad to answer if you would unshackle me." She threw out the bait a little, hoping he would take it. He didn't.
"As much as I would love to release you, I'm pretty sure the Hokage would like to hear of this before any immediate actions are taken. The caves here were known to be uninhabited-" He paused abruptly, looking her over under the small light he held in his hand. Unconsciously, he moved it closer and saw her entirely.
Golden green eyes met his with slitted pupils, like a snake's. Up close her skin appeared to be slightly scaled, though barely noticeable. Thin, black, spike-like growths protruded from her temples and farther up on her skull. These ran back to her hair line, creating a mane-like effect. Pointed ears poked out from the sides of her head, pulled back in a reproachful way. An aristocratic nose held flared nostrils, it's end upturned slightly. Claws were elongated from her fingertips, looking quite deadly and sharp. The rags that covered her body appeared to be the tattered remains of a once expensive kimono. She hissed at his refusal, the small, yet classically sculpted lips pulled back, and pronounced fangs showed themselves in anger. Overall, she looked like a cross between a human and something reptilian.
"-not only that, but you don't look quite friendly. Wouldn't want to release something harmful near the village, now would we?" Kakashi made his eye curve up in the semblance of a smile. She simply growled in irritation at him.
Kakashi straightened up and glanced his two students that were smart enough to have stayed near the doorway. "Sakura, Sasuke, find the Hokage, tell him of our situation and that his presence is needed. Nothing is wrong, just inform him of what we found.", Kakashi commanded. Sakura opened her mouth to argue, but a sharp look from Kakashi forced her to turn and make her way back to the village. Sasuke quickly followed, though not eagerly, leaving Naruto and Kakashi with Kaminari in silence. Well, in somewhat silence anyway.
"What are you? You look kinda freaky ya'know?" Naruto asked bluntly. He had crept closer as his sensei had and was looking at her up and down. The strange looking woman glared at him. "I believe I just told you my name, you would do well to use it. As for what I am, I have no doubt my kind haven't been seen for quite a while so it would be no use explaining it to a simpleton like you."
The blonde huffed and rolled his sleeves up in a way of showing how ticked off he was. "Why I outta-! I'll show you who's simple ya lizard thingy!" He sprinted forward to punch her but Kakashi swiftly caught him around the middle.
"Now Naruto, is that really any way to treat a prisoner?", Kakashi chided, holding the struggling preteen as he looked at the woman pointedly. "You know, if you want freedom, then you probably shouldn't insult the people who hold you captive."
Kaminari merely scoffed and rolled her eyes. "The idiot shouldn't be so sensitive, and that was quite rude. You don't just ask someone what they are. It's simple etiquette."
"Yes. Well, Naruto here never really held much in the ways of etiquette. Nevertheless, you should try to cooperate a little with us." Kakashi did another eye smile, releasing Naruto. The blonde only jumped away from his sensei and stuck his tongue out at the thinly veiled insult.
While this is amusing, it seems like my escape is not happening any time soon. I can only hope that this Hokage of their's knows little of supreme beings other than the Tailed Beasts.
Yes, she had noticed the suppressed chakra of the damned Kyubbi in the blonde. The Nine-Tails and herself had clashed more than a few times when the fire demon had tried trespassing on her family's territory. Good to know that the bastard had been contained in a human. Though her situation wasn't any better, at least she wasn't confined in a vessel and having her chakra sucked upon against her will.
She was drawn out of her thoughts by a hand on her left wing. Her ears pricked up at the sudden sensation and her mind went on full alertness. That human, Hatake Kakashi, was currently stroking it with a confused look in his single eye. Naruto, out of curiousity, did the same, leaping back when he felt the leather-like material.
"I-it's real! She's got wings!" Naruto yelped, pointing a shaking finger at her. She disregarded him, as did Kakashi, who was still touching her wing.
"Do you mind?", Kaminari asked in irritation, a slight rasp to her voice. She could practically feel his human stench starting to cover her wing, which she was quite protective of. If only she were free, never would human touch her so casually, let alone on her wing! She coveted her wings because of the heightened sensitivity of the skin that made them up. They allowed her to augment her flying to the slightest change in wind direction or speed. Even now, each ridge of this human's fingerprint could be discerned by her. However, despite her disgust, the warmth from his hand was greatly appreciated. It had been years since she had been granted any heat, trapped underground in this damp cell.
Kakashi glanced at her through the corner of his eye. "Huh? Sorry, your wings are quite interesting. I thought they were actually carved out of the stone." He continued observing, running the pad of his finger over the many veins and spread out bones. Also, he was completely ignoring the killing intent rolling off the creature who's personal space he was intruding upon. Soon, his warm finger was touching a ticklish spot and she had trouble keeping her body from squirming. Being ticklish was not a way to show that she was a powerful being to her enemies. And right now, this masked human and his blonde idiot were her enemies.
"Yes, I'm sure they're quite interesting. Would you stop touching it now?" she requested in a clipped tone, growling in anger. This time her voice reverberated through her chest, showing her displeasure on a new level. His eye widened a little and he held up his hands at her tone. "I apologize. I'll back off." He stepped a few feet back and leaned against a wall.
Naruto was still reeling from the odd feeling of touching her wing, and was looking at her in complete wonder and disgust. "So can you fly and stuff? That's so cool! I wish I could fly! I could do so many different jutsu's from the air! Hey! Did you know I plan on becoming the next Hokage?" The blonde quickly forgot his discomfort and looked up at her in excitement. Then, much to her misfortune, he began going on about ramen.
Kaminari's eyes were wide from this human's unplanned monologue. What in Kami's name? She looked over at Kakashi, completely flabbergasted at the unseen turn of the conversation. He simply chuckled. She returned her eyes back to the loud, orange sunspot and gritted her teeth as he showed no signs of ceasing to list the different places he had eaten ramen.
Great, she was stuck here with a babbling human for however long. Eternity in darkness seemed to be more appealing at the moment.