Okay quick edit here, I do not own Naruto no matter how I wish I did.
Isn't reading fun!
Chapter1
Its funny isn't it, you hear it all the time "reading is fun; reading is cool and so on." I found out it was all true the hard way. I got hooked on manga through a friend, but one especially got me obsessed, that was Naruto. The pages filled with ninjas pulling off amazing feats both physical and supernatural seemed to draw me into a world that I felt I belonged in. My friends made fun of the fact that I was so obsessed with it that I would call out different attacks during games and so on. I didn't care I finally found something that appealed to me and I was going with it.
One fateful day the most miraculous thing happened I had just finished working at the photo studio. I was walking down the street when I came across a new comic store. I had not even noticed its construction. It was the sign in the large store front window that made me hyperactive. They were advertising the latest volume of Naruto. I was under the influence that it was not supposed to be out for another month or so. I almost knocked the door of the hinges as I burst into the store.
The old Asian store keeper gave me a most disinterested look before returning his attention to the crossword before him. I walked up to him and asked if I read the sign correctly. He nodded and pointed to a shelf on the far side of the store. I reigned in my excitement and calmly made my way over to the shelf. There it was, my most desired object the only copy left I gently reached out and lifted the book. In most anime the screen would have gone hazy with sparkles shining around the perimeter. The book was a great deal larger than the usual manga paperback and more resembled a tome. I went back to the counter and paid for the manga. A small smile crossed the man's lips as he handed me my purchase in a black plastic bag. As I made my way back down the street, I was so enthralled by my find that I did not notice the sign advertising the book fade and eventually completely dissipate, followed shortly after by the entire store.
It was as if life was conspiring against me, when I got home my parents avalanched me with chores; errands and various other hindrances that strived to keep me from my book. Finally the tides of toil and torment abated and I could finally get down to some serious reading. After an entire afternoon of constant activity I was beat but I decided that nothing would keep me from my goal. I lay down, picked up my book and quickly opened the book. My eyes opened wide practically bulging from their sockets. The pages were blank! How could this be?! The book was empty not even a spot of ink graced the pages. Suddenly a wave of drowsiness overwhelmed me and I passed out.
One moment I felt like I was falling down a pit with no bottom. The next moment I impacted with dirt road. I lay there for a moment; I then got up with a laboured groan. I stood hunched over my hands on my knees for support trying to catch my breath. While in that position I looked at my surroundings, it was night time and I was in a dark evergreen forest and judging by the road I was on it was a well used passage. There was no sign of activity in the immediate vicinity so I decided to follow the path and see where it led to. Half an hour later I was beginning to think that I should have waited for morning. In the dark I tripped on tree roots that spread out from the side of the road. I was walking up a small incline when I noticed a dim glow arising from its crest. I sprinted up the climb at a speed I did not know I was capable of, reaching the top I collapsed not from exhaustion but shock. I was standing on a cliff that over looked a massive city that lay at the base of a huge rock face. The rock face itself had five huge faces carved into it four men and one woman. I immediately recognised the area from seeing it so often in the books. It was the hidden village of leaf, I had always fantasised of coming here and now I was. I jumped up and down shouting and screaming like a maniac.
Unfortunately the crest I was standing did not take my actions kindly and upon landing from a jump I felt the earth give way. I was falling from a height of sixty feet and the ground was rushing up to meet me. Acting on instinct alone I hopped from falling rock to falling rock. I got close enough to the cliff I leapt and turned in air and started to run down the cliff side. I realised that I was now under the falling rocks that was not an ideal place to be in a land slide. When I was about ten feet from the bottom I stopped and pushed of the wall with all I had. I flew like a rocket twenty feet parallel to the ground. I was able to flip over and land on my feet my momentum carried me another foot and I used it to turn to face where I came from. At least a ton of rock had been sheared from the cliff and it all crashed to earth. I collapsed this time from exhaustion, I was analysing what I did and deemed it impossible. I sat up and pulled my knees close with my arms holding them in place. I was breathing hard, all the while thinking over my situation. I was the same as when I went to sleep medium height, husky build and pale skin. It was when I looked at my uncovered arms that I noticed some thing was not the same.
A grey segmented growth that reminded of and earth worm ran down the outer side of my arm. It continued down to my wrist where it branched of into five lines that ran from it down to each finger. I looked at my palm there was nothing there I then touched the line. It wasn't a growth, it felt more like metal I even flicked it to make sure and it resonated like fine steel. I got up and noticed the clothes I wore were new to me. The shirt I wore was long; it was dark grey with silver details at the end of the sleeves. In the centre it had an abstract form of the yin and yang symbol. Below it I wore a deep blue long sleeved jersey. I wore black long pants and steel toed boots. My glasses were still on my face but were different they seemed to wrap securely around my head. I felt my forehead and found a tendril of the same substance running to the ridge above my nose. There were also two lines that ran from under my ears and ran down my cheeks in line with my eyes.
I was checking the rest of my body finding tendrils all over it, when a hand rested on my shoulder and I once again went on instinct using a substitution jutsu, but not knowing how I did it. The kunai thrust at me hit a log instead I appeared and two shadow clones surrounded the attacker. It was an ANBU ninja he wore an owl like mask along with the usual uniform of that class. I had the clones charge in while I came down from above. The two clones where three feet away and I was closing in fast, the attacker started to spin quickly. I recognised the move and had the clones jump to meet me in the air, just as an attack that would have knocked all three of me down hit nothing but air. I righted my self and the clones cupping their hands gave me a boost to go higher into the air only to come down with a crushing blow. My timing was perfect and I caught my assailant in the jaw, or would have if he had not side stepped me and poked a specific area in my arm. The arm went numb and my attacker quickly moved in to attack my back this time. His fingers hit their mark but came into contact with something it did not expect. A layer of steel blocked the fingers from reaching the target area. I rose to my feet as the layer of steel that originated from the growth on my body spread. My opponent backed away a few steps trying to make out what was going on. It did not take long as he charged in again.
"Neji wait!" I shouted holding my hands out wards in a submissive attitude. He came to a stop obviously thrown off by the fact that I knew his name.
"How do you know that name?" the masked figure demanded, stepping forward.
"Wait I mean no harm I am lost and was just looking for somewhere to rest," I replied waving my hands frantically.
"You lie," said Neji charging at me.
"Wait!" I shouted leaping as far as I could from him. I flipped backwards in mid air placing a hand on a large rock and pushing off of it but some thing came along with it. When I landed I held a four foot long war hammer made of stone. I stared at it for a second before I realised Neji was upon me. I simultaneously brought it into a defensive position deflected the blow and brought the head upwards. The blow was not powerful enough to break bones but it was enough to send Neji skyward.
Like the ANBU he was supposed to be he used the attack to his advantage. He landed six feet away and charged in still using the momentum. I brought the hammer overhead and slammed it down hard. The earth beneath it splintered causing Sanbiku to lose his footing. I quickly did another jutsu and caused the earth to hold him. I rested the hammer on my shoulder and walked over to the trapped ninja. I stooped down so I was face to face with the ANBU.
"Neji, I expected you to do better. You weren't focused, strange for you. I don't know how I know this but you aren't feeling well are you?" I said and removed the mask from his face. Sure enough he did not look to good. His eyes were blood shot; his nose was running he looked a mess. The surprise was this was not Neji, I never saw this person in the manga before. He did how ever belong to the Hyugaa clan since he possessed the same white pupils hereditary of anyone in that bloodline. I felt something on my skin and noticed the steel flowing back into the growth. When the last bit of it flowed inward the hammer crumbled to dust in my hand, I looked at the trapped ninja again smiled, "If I were your enemy I would kill you right about now wouldn't I?" I felt a pressure on my Adam's apple. It was a kunai, and holding it was a copy of the ninja I had captured. My eyes opened wide, I looked back at the earth prison only to see a puff of smoke, and I grinned even more, "I should have known better. That was a clone all along; it was just to test me to see what I could do. It was not meant to beat me."
"Very good, now who are you and where is the ninja I was pursuing?" demanded my captor. The pressure on my neck decreased slightly just enough so I could speak properly.
"Well my name is Andrew; I like reading, taking long, urk!" I started but then the pressure increased again.
"Quit stalling and tell me where the person I was chasing went!" commanded Sanbiku.
"I don't know, where was the last place you saw him?" I asked rubbing the back of my head and smiling.
"He should have been there," replied the ANBU pointing to the pile of rubble that fell from the cliff, "but he would have dodged the land slide like you did."
"Actually I don't think he did," I stated noticing a bloody hand sticking out from the debris.
"Great," mumbled the shinobi removing the kunai from my throat.
"Thanks I thought maybe, HEY!" I shouted as Sanbiku lifted me from the ground spun me. My back was to him and the kunai was once again to my throat.
"March," commanded my captor, this was followed by a bout of coughing. Let me tell you nothing is as scary as having a razor sharp kunai held to your throat by a coughing person. Luckily it did not last long.
"Um, sir I will happily go peacefully just please put a way your weapon before you start coughing again," I said nervously looking at the keen edge held to my jugular. I heard sniffling behind me and slowly the kunai moved from my throat.
"Very well, but you will stay in front of me," replied the masked ninja.
The journey was quiet; not for lack of trying I attempted to pry some info from my captor. I guess the cold did not help his already anti-social demeanour. We walked for about an hour in silence before we arrived at the enormous wooden gates that were the landmark for anyone visiting the village. I was awestruck at the sheer size of the gates. Two ninjas stood at either side of the gateway. They appeared to be around my age; one was male and was incredibly muscular. The other was female and had a sword on either side of her waist. Upon our approach they left their post and halted me.
"Hey Sanbiku, this the guy?" asked the big muscle bound guy.
"Looks weak to me," quipped the sword carrying woman. Who was giving me the once over. Upon catching my eyes however she seemed to shy away. Her hand went to the sword on her right, "What are you staring at?" she demanded.
"Sorry, I meant no offence." I replied holding my hands up by my shoulders, noticing the big man ball his hands into fists. "I was just curious why jonin are manning the gates instead of the regular chunnin?"
"Senkari, Junpei stand down he's my prisoner," said Sanbiku removing his mask and wiping his nose with a handkerchief. "The other one is no longer a problem."
"Sanbiku you really don't look so good," I added.
"Why do you care? If you're his prisoner that must mean you are a threat to our village," retorted Junpei.
"Calm down Junpei," replied Senkari. I took this opportunity to catch a proper glimpse of the kunoichi. She was a few inches shorter than me with snow white skin and raven black hair with red streaks interspersed among it; that reached inches below her waist. The odd thing was that though she wore it loose not a single hair was out of place. It seemed to move like a cohesive unit. Her face was heart shaped and had hazel coloured eyes. Her upper lip was full while her lower lip was thin. She did not wear any make up. She wore a black long sleeved shirt that billowed from below the elbow. Over this she wore the many pocketed jacket traditional for jonins. Her legs were clad in an olive green pair of pants that puffed below her knees. Her lower legs were rapped in bandages and she was wearing black sandals. Here forehead protector hung from the hilt of the sword on her left, while a silver bell on a chain hung from the right.
"Why?!" replied the giant of a man as he stared down at me. Then as if recollection set in he turned to her. I took this chance to study him as well. He was tall easily over 6 feet tall and extremely muscular. His skin was deeply tanned; he wore his hair in a skull cap with his forehead protector holding it in place. I noticed that their ha a hole in back of the head gear where some of his hair poked out; it seemed to be braided and clumped together by a single rubber band. He wore a black tight short sleeved shirt the odd thing was there seemed to a length of thin material that ran from the waist to the end of the sleeve. He had padded arm guards on his fore arms. He had a pair of welding goggles hanging from his neck. His ears were sharply pointed and were wider than normal. His legs were clad in a similar fashion to Senkari except he wore nothing on his feet and his toe nails were really long. "What you getting from him?"
I turned to the female jonin. "He's bewildered, confused more than anything. He means no harm to us." Senkari looked me in the eye and I could have sworn I saw a small smirk tug at her lips.
"How'd you do that?" I asked awed by the fact this woman just figured out what I felt by looking at me. Before I could get my answer Sanbiku grabbed my arm and began to drag me away.
"I don't have time for this, I need to take you to see the Hokage right now." He growled as I tried to keep pace with him.
A few moments later we stood in front of the office of the Hokage, the most powerful ninja in the village. There were four before this one all deceased. Sanbiku knocked on the door then waited for a reply.
"Come in Sanbiku," answered a sultry voice.
The ANBU opened the door and pushed me inside. He immediately dropped to one knee. I stood there for a second looking at the person before me. Sanbiku glanced up then grabbed my arm and pulled me down. "Show some respect," he hissed.
"Please rise Sanbiku," said the person behind the desk. I remained in my kneeling position for fear of angering either one of the two people in the room. "Well get up, why are you still on the ground?" came the voice from over the desk I picked up a tone of frustration in the voice.
"I apologise Godaime Hokage Tsunade sama," I replied rising, when I stood up I noticed her staring at me I quickly lowered my gaze.
The person who sat behind the desk would make any man drool with desire. She had long pale blond hair and a creamy skin complexion. To say she was well endowed would akin to calling the Great Wall of China a fence. Her face had soft angular features; in the centre of her fore head was a dark purple gem. She looked more beautiful in person than she did in any of the books. Her name is Tsunade and she is the Current Hokage of the hidden village of leaf.
"So Sanbiku who is our guest, and how does he know my name?" inquired Tsunade though I was staring at the floor I could feel her gaze upon me.
"He is no guest, I caught him during my pursuit of my previous target," answered Sanbiku, "He states he was lost, as for his knowledge I cannot answer that he even knows my nephew's name."
"Lost in the forest? So late at night? That's very dangerous," said Tsunade in a very suspicious tone, "Most try to avoid it with fervour. So tell me how you came to be in such a predicament?"
"I would be happy to but you would not believe me if I did," I said scratching the back of my neck. Sanbiku suddenly grabbed the same arm and twisted it causing me to grimace from the pain.
"The Hokage asked you a question," he snarled, "Now answer her!" he demanded and twisted my arm more, which caused me to yelp.
"Sanbiku, stop that right now," Tsunade scolded.
He immediately released my arm I moved it back to my side, "I apologise, the flu has me rather quick-tempered" he replied.
"Don't worry about it," I replied rubbing my arm, "You want to know where I came from? Alright," I took a deep breath and charged into it, "I came from another dimension." I looked at Tsunade then at Sanbiku, they did not seem in the least surprised, "Well you two are taking this a lot better than I expected."
Tsunade stood up from her chair walked around her desk until she stood before me, "Sanbiku do you think he is telling the truth? Or is he trying to cover his tracks?"
"Since our first encounter he has proven trustworthy, even to the point of showing concern for my health. Senkari also did not sense any ill will towards us in him," answered the masked ninja, "Come to think of it I did notice some odd activity in the sky moments before I encountered him."
"Yes but do you think we can trust him?" the Hokage asked looking at the ANBU. Sanbiku seemed to pause in thought then looking me in the face and nodded. I could not repress a smile; it meant a lot to me that the ANBU thought he could trust me. Now I had to make sure to never betray it. Tsunade then leaned closer enough I could get a good whiff of her perfume, "What are these things on your face?"
"I don't know myself but it's all over my body," I replied.
She stood straight again, "Sanbiku around what level do you think he is?"
"From our scuffle I would say some where between chunnin and special jonin, he was able to create shadow clones as well as deflect one of my attacks, he also pulled a hammer from a rock," replied Sanbiku he said the last line with a bit of disbelief.
Tsunade turned to me and said, "Impressive, however you look tired…" she blinked then continued, "You never did give your name."
"I apologise," I said rubbing the back of my head, "My name is Andrew."
"Well Andrew welcome to my village I hope you like it here," said Tsunade, "Tomorrow at one 'o' clock you will return here and give me a detailed account of tonight, is that understood?"
"Yes Hokage sama," I replied.
"Good now we need to find you a place to stay for the night," said the Hokage tapping her chin. She looked over to Sanbiku.
He noticed this and said, "I am sorry Hokage but I am not well I do not think it would be wise,"
"That's alright, however I want you to rest until you get better. In your state you are likely to get yourself killed," replied Tsunade.
"Um, Hokage?" came a voice from the intercom box on Tsunade's desk, "The guards from the gate are here to give the last report for the night."
"Hmm, please send them in Shizune," answered Tsunade pressing the reply button on the machine.
Senkari and Junpei entered the office, Junpei sneered at me while Senkari smirked at me again, then she turned her attention to the leader of her village and the smirk vanished. The four ninjas started talking and I took in the sights. The large bay windows in the office offered an amazing view of the village. I picked up three more scents. Tsunade's which smelt like strawberries and herbs it dripped of seduction yet retained a maternal quality. Then one that smelt a crisp autumn breeze full of serenity but also concealed hidden power. The next one had the smell of fruits; it felt reckless but seemed kept in check by the focus of a predator. The final one was the most alluring. It had the smell of a bouquet of roses. The scent had an almost empathic quality to it, but was also disciplined and honed.
"We have one more matter of business," I heard Tsunade say. I looked toward the group of shinobi and noticed they were all staring at me, when she continued they turned back to her, "Our new friend needs a place to stay to night. It is too late to find him an apartment. Sanbiku is under the weather so I need one of you two to have him as a guest. So who will it be?"
Junpei was about to speak when Senkari interrupted, "I don't mind if he stays with me," I noticed she glanced at me before she continued, "Junpei's place is too small to support both of them anyway."
Junpei stood awe struck, he quickly regained his composure and said, "You sure Sen? I mean you don't even know this guy,"
"Why Junpei I didn't know you cared? Yes I'm sure it will be fine," answered Senkari.
"Well I'm glad that's settled now we can all go home," stated Tsunade.
We exited the office and made our way to street level. We said our farewells, as I turned to follow Senkari I felt a hand grasp my arm.
"It's almost too bad, been a while since I had a guest. Tomorrow at one don't forget" Tsunade whispered in my ear. I gulped down a pocket of air and hoped she did not notice the reddening of my face. Then the hand was gone and I noticed Senkari waiting for me. I quickly caught up to her and we started walking, "What did the Hokage tell you?" she asked.
"Just reminding me about our meeting tomorrow," I replied quickly.
She stopped and so did I, she looked me straight in the eye, she perked her right eye brow then said, "Being reminded of a meeting does not cause the feelings I getting from you. However you are entitled to keep some secrets." When she finished she turned forward and continued walking. I stared after her for a few moments and then followed after her.
An hour later we arrived at an apartment complex. We walked up to the third floor and down a narrow hall the entire place was quiet as a tomb. I leaned close to Senkari and whispered, "What time is it?"
"About eleven," she replied.
We came to a door near the end of the hall Senkari pulled out a key and opened the door. We took of our shoes in the passage as tradition demanded. The apartment was small but felt cosy; it had two rooms and was reasonably furnished. "Well, seeing as I am the hostess I offer you the bed," started Senkari.
"I can't accept it, it would go against what I believe is right. You have a lot of responsibilities and need a good nights rest," I interrupted.
"Um okay, but if you need the bathroom I recommend you use it now. Seeing as it's connected to the bedroom," replied Senkari. She went to say something more but I interrupted again.
"I'm good, but it's late and I am sure you are tired," I said looking at the couch it seemed well cushioned I would hopefully not be in too much pain in the morning; I turned my attention back to her.
Senkari's mouth hung open slightly; she then collected herself and said, "Very well, if you do need anything please feel free to ask." With that she went in to the bedroom and shut the door. I settled down on the couch and stared at the ceiling. Hoping Senkari did not think me rude; I did not mean to appear so. I just get nervous around women; especially very pretty ones.
I turned on my side and soon I felt the haze of sleep fall over my eyes and they closed. No sooner had I done so than my eyes opened once more. Sun was shining and it was filtering through curtains. Something was different though, I was not on a couch I was in a bed and I was not in an apartment I was in a room. A room I recognised, it was my room, in the world that did not have ninjas. A dream, it was all a dream; I was back in a world I did not feel I belonged in. Worst of all she was dream. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my right eye the got out of bed and got ready for another day of a life I took no joy in.
All reviews are welcome, please do review I need encoragement to keep writing on a regular schedule. If I don't get it months will pass before I write again