Ghost Hunt
By An Angel In Tears
A/N I am inspired. Surprisingly. I did start to write another Halloween fic but I gave up because it began to go in a different direction as to the way I wanted it to go and it involved killer sheep which apparently isn't too good for your mind when you have a phobia of sheep.
I should also include this in the story aswell. This isn't going to be one of your average all out gore and horror stories. I'm using references I've seen on TV, such as 'Most Haunted' strangely enough so please don't complain if you have been following the story and then it didn't live up to the expectations you wanted it to be.
Enjoy this, I suppose.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, never have and personally know that I never will. Boo.
-x-
"What?"
"You're going to go to these locations and prove that there are no ghosts there whatsoever," came Tsunade's sharp reply, a smirk developing on her face at the growing surprise and horror growing on each of the ninja's faces who were standing in front of them. It was an odd mission, of course but somebody had to check out these few locations. Some of the villagers were increasingly growing more and more scared as more horror tales came out and the only way Tsunade was going to get them to be quiet was to send a group of her ninja's there. No big deal seeing as this was only for one night and anyways, ghosts didn't exist anyways.
Three locations… that's where the rumours were springing up from, and before complete and utter panic swept over Konoha, Tsunade wanted this nipped in the bud so it couldn't go any further. An old mine shaft which had been left derelict a mile or two outside of Konoha was one of the prime targets she wanted this group of ninja to pay a visit to. Seriously, why would anyone want to send people there? Of course, people who decided to pay a 'visit' to the old mine came back frightened, complaining of freaky noises and rocks hitting them. As if. Ghosts did not exist, and they never would, right? Serves the people right for being hit by rocks if they did exist, seeing as though they would probably dealing in business in the Black Market.
Next spot was a forest, medium in size. It wasn't located in the most convenient of spots if you liked your forests, and it wasn't really close to any useful routes. There were maybe one or two homes located near it, but that was it. Of course, more old tales plagued that forest, but most of them were just old legends which nobody paid attention to anymore as they ceased to be true. Tsunade had never been in that forest so she couldn't brag too much about it.
The third and final location was an old castle from times way before Tsunade could remember. It didn't host royalty or anything like that nowadays, but a small family who seemed to be blessed to have stumbled on this as a home. Well, blessed if they didn't mind being cut off a lot from the outside world as it appeared that a lot of their guests were now 'spooked' from returning. Their imaginations really were running wild, weren't they?
There was a genuine reason to send the group of ninja to the first location as she was being paid for it. In a way. It would shut the complaining villagers who were beginning to panic, and Tsunade was managing to gain money from it by some crook who came complaining to Tsunade. Well, it was money and it would keep some of the ninja's demanding missions quiet for a few hours. The second location sort of had a genuine reason, but Tsunade was just sending the ninja's there for the fun of it if she wanted to be honest. And the third location… one of the family's guests came to Tsunade complaining of unusual things happening and rather than sending out a whole new group… why not send the same group? It meant that they'd be gone for a whole night as strangely enough, all three locations were close to one another and it just meant less paperwork!
As Naruto opened his mouth to speak again, Tsunade cast a warning eye at him.
Uzumaki Naruto.
Nara Shikamaru.
Inuzuka Kiba.
Hyuuga Hinata.
All of the ninja had been specifically selected for this mission regardless of who they usually went around with, regardless whether they liked this or not. Naruto because he would instantly be able to cheer the group up if something just happened to happen or go wrong. Shikamaru was there because he would be able to come up with some sort of logical conclusion to anything that happened, which would help to put the over-reacting villagers minds to rest. Kiba was there mainly because of his acute sense of hearing and smell which would probably come in handy somewhere in this mission. It didn't take a genius to realise the reason why Hinata had been placed on this mission. For her byakugan. She had been chosen over Neji as Tsunade felt that Hinata, although she could be a tad spooked, would be able to diffuse any situation that blew up between Naruto and Kiba.
Currently, as the group stood, Hinata was standing with her arms at her sides, her eyes seemingly flickering towards Naruto every so often before focusing back on Tsunade. Naruto was still oblivious to any attention given to him from Hinata, still surprised and disgruntled from the 'mission' Tsunade was giving them. Kiba was still keeping his attention on Tsunade, although it was wavering a little bit seeing as though Tsunade had restricted him from bringing Akamaru on this mission for some reason or other. Shikamaru couldn't care less, as a yawn escaped from him.
This so-called mission was going to be troublesome, even if the duration of it only lasted a night.
"Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Hinata, Nara Shikamaru, Uzumaki Naruto, as Hokage I grant you this mission. Do not fail me," Tsunade commanded, making sure that there were going to be no more childish complaints from a certain blonde ninja.
"Yes ma'am."
-x-
After briefing them on what would be expected of this mission, the four-man team was dismissed, with the group deciding to meet at the front gates in five minutes. The way this mission went, they wouldn't need a change of clothes but they were each planning to take a few extra kunai and shiruken in case of an attack. A shinobi can never be under prepared.
The sun was still in the sky, although it was starting to lower and paint the sky in a faint tinge of pink that usually wouldn't be so prominent to any member of the group. The only reason the mission was given to this group which averaged as a Chuunin ranked group was that they would be travelling about at night and a genin squad wouldn't be adequate for that just yet.
At the first stop, the old mine, the group knew fully well what to do, which would take an hour at least. It didn't take a genius to figure out what was going to happen and just how it was set to happen.
The second stop would be a little shaky, although Shikamaru had already formulated a small plan in his head about where the main areas of the forest were, and how they were going to be targeted. If anything, that area was going to be a bumpy ride for the group.
The third and final stop, the castle which had a family inhabited in it already, was probably going to be the easiest one of all so not much effort was going to be required there which was lucky for the group.
Actually, this mission was so basic it wasn't going to require barely any effort at all other than swiftly moving from location to location.
Oh, what fun they were going to have.
-x-
The sun was still in the sky, although one who was particularly observant would have noticed by now it was a little lower than it had been previously when the group had left Tsunade's office. One by one each member of the squad arrived in a few minutes of each other. Hinata arrived first, followed by Shikamaru, then Kiba. The end of the ten minutes that the group had allocated themselves was coming to an end with no sign of Naruto.
"Where is he?" Kiba sulked, still a little disgruntled over not being able to bring Akamaru on the mission. And the fact that he had to wait for Naruto wasn't making things any better. The group was silent in response. Hinata pressed her fingers together in the usual fashion she did and Shikamaru didn't seem to care less as to where Naruto was.
Three seconds to go to the ten minutes was up. Well, it was useful to keep a record of the time which passed by.
Tick.
Tick.
"I'm here!" cheered the voice of everyone's favourite hyperactive ninja, Naruto. Not that he was as hyperactive as he was when he had first became a genin, but traces of the hyper activeness he did possess were still there in almost everything he did.
"About time," Kiba grunted, pushing himself up from the wall next to the gate which he had been leaning on.
"Konnichi-wa, N-Naruto-kun," Hinata greeted, her stutter once again growing prominent in her voice. At least she didn't stutter as badly as she would have usually done around him she noticed, as a small blush tinged her usually pale face pink.
Shikamaru gave a small nod of recognition towards Naruto. He had been appointed leader during the mission briefing, regardless of whether he wanted that role or not. Even so, Shikamaru had began to expect that role in a mission seeing as how Tsunade had a tendency to appoint him as leader. I guess she didn't enjoy the thought of change all too much now. It probably explained why she always kept that same appearance up day after day.
Naruto was grinning, cheerful enough now that the group had finally come together for this useless mission. Tsunade-baa-chan must be going senile to even consider this a mission for him. He was going to be future Hokage after all, right? And he should be using his time to rescue Sasuke!
"Can we go now?" he soon found himself whining, before realising that whilst he had been once again daydreaming of becoming Hokage and rescuing Sasuke, the group had already departed without him with Shikamaru and Kiba at the front with Hinata reluctantly trailing behind.
"HEY. Wait up!"
Oh joy.
-x-
A/N Review please? Constructive criticism would be nice, and complaints for me to hurry up and post the next chapter. Also, should I delete this? Let me know! Thank you.