The Fox Girl
summery: Naruto's new mission takes him and his team to a village where the children disappear at night. Things become complicated when it's discovered that something has been taking the souls of the young villagers. He has to fight to protect his friends and return the souls that were taken from them.
Naruto and its characters belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. This is just a fanfiction. I make no profit. This was just written for fun. The only thing I own is my imagination and the OCs that appear. Like the Fox Girl and assorted others.
Chapter 1:
The carriage rolled along in the sunshine under the blue dome of the sky. The carriage jolted and swayed so much on the uneven road that Naruto bumped his head several times. The deep dark red lacquer of the coach looked almost black in the shade of the woods. The driver didn't wear a uniform, choosing to dress as a normal civilian instead. The carriage was by no means fancy or expensive. It was so small, only one horse was needed to pull it.
Its hooves clopped along the road rhythmically. It trotted over a slight dip in the dirt which caused the wheel on the right side to dip low then up again, jostling the ninja inside.
Naruto bumped his head for the fifth time in the past hour. "Ow!" He sat up straight, rubbing his skull. "I'm so sick of this."
Shikamaru didn't bother opening his eyes when he addressed the blond ninja beside him. "Don't sit with your head against the window like that. You know it's going to happen."
"It's the only way I can be comfortable. We're cramped in here."
It was true. The carriage was only meant for four people or less. They had managed to squeeze in five. Shikamaru sat beside Naruto with barely two inches of space between them. Neji, Lee and Sai sat on the other side, pressed shoulder to shoulder. There was no room for their belongings so they stashed their bags in the trunk attached to the back of the carriage. Since they didn't have to walk all the way to their mission and they had plenty of time, most of them decided to take a rest while the carriage rocked them from side to side. Naruto tried to take a nap, too, but kept getting woken up every time his head banged against the wall as the wheels went over a bump in the road.
So far, it seemed only Lee was actually asleep. Shikamaru kept his eyes closed but it was clear that he was still awake and able to answer Naruto.
"If it bothers you that much, then get out and walk," said Neji who had his eyes closed as well. He wasn't sleeping either.
"I don't want to."
"Then don't complain."
The carriage rode over a narrow stone bridge. Naruto could see the brook from his window, the water sparkling like a sheet of diamonds. The narrow path took them further into the woods. The path sloped steeply up through the trees, pushing Naruto back into his seat. The ceiling of leaves cast shadows on the faces of everyone in the carriage.
Another bump in the road and another bump on Naruto's head. Naruto opened the window and stuck his head out to yell at the driver. "Take it easy with all the bumps! I'm going to have a concussion!"
"Naruto, don't," warned Neji.
"What?" he asked, closing the small window. "I'm sick of bumping my head."
"Don't piss off the driver. We're lucky to have gotten a ride at all."
"It's because of Shikamaru, really," Sai chimed in. He wasn't sleeping either. Just resting his eyes.
It was true. Shikamaru happened to be leaving on a mission at the same time as Naruto's group. Shikamaru was traveling by himself and a man who happened to be going his way offered him a ride. Shikamaru knew the man from a past mission and took him up on it. Knowing that Naruto's group was heading the same way, he offered to bring them along.
Naruto was grateful to have a ride to their destination. However, he didn't want to keep bumping his head every time the carriage shook one way or the other. He tried to cushion his head with his hand but it wasn't very comfortable.
"We're almost there."
The woods thinned and disappeared. A few minutes later, the village came into sight. Naruto pressed his face against the window to have a better look. Wooden houses everywhere. They were good sizes, too. The buildings were close together, giving the village a cozy appearance. It put Naruto at ease, too. He felt safe here, as if it were his own home.
The carriage stopped and Naruto's head went forward into the glass. "Ow! Damn it!"
"We're here." Neji stood up from his seat, stretching. He tapped Lee on the shoulder to get his attention.
The four boys stepped out into the sunlight and stood around the carriage. Lee and Naruto were looking at the village. It seemed so peaceful. Why would anyone call for aid here? Everything seemed fine.
Naruto slowly turned his body, taking in everything around him. The trees, the buildings, the tiny pond by a flower bed.
And that.
Naruto stared straight ahead at a large mountain in the distance. It was colored green so he couldn't tell it apart from the trees at first glance. The woods ran along the east side of the village and stretched toward the south, extending for miles. The trees thinned out in places, creating large gaps which made it easier to see the layout of the land. There seemed to be a path leading toward the mountain, but it was hard to tell. It was clear now that it wasn't an enormous tree but a mountain covered with plants and trees. Naruto couldn't judge the distance very well, so he couldn't tell how far away it was. He decided that if it wasn't a tree then it must have been a long ways away.
"Shoo! Shoo!"
Naruto tore his eyes away from the distant mountain and back to the carriage. Neji was standing behind it, collecting their bags from the back. Something scampered into the trees and away from the group.
"What is it?" Lee asked.
"Nothing. Just an animal. It was sitting on the trunk in the back so I chased it away."
"Why? Maybe it wanted a ride."
"It could have chewed through the bags."
Shikamaru stuck his head out the carriage door. "Here, give me my bag. There will be room up here for it now that you're going to be gone."
Neji handed Shikamaru his bag. "Thanks for the ride, Shikamaru."
"No problem. Good luck on your mission."
"Same to you. Good luck with things in the Sand."
Shikamaru moaned. "Yeah, yeah... I'd rather not be going at all. Too hot and sandy. But they want me to go over some things with them."
"It shouldn't bother you that much since you'll be in that carriage," said Naruto.
"Think again, Naruto. This carriage can't make it through the desert. The driver's just taking me to the outskirts of the desert then going on his way. That's where we part."
"Oh."
Shikamaru set his bag on the seat and said his good-byes, closing the door. The carriage pulled away down the dirt road and behind the buildings.
Neji, as team leader, ordered the team to follow him. "Let's find the one who called us here. The village headman must be nearby."
The village headman, a plump older man, didn't take long to find them and sat down to explain what they needed to have done.
The children of the village were disappearing each night in small groups and none had yet returned. This had been going on for a little over a week. No one knew where they were or where they were going, but they were certain that someone was taking them. The villagers were positive that the children weren't leaving on their own accord.
"Are you certain that they are not simply running away?" asked Sai. "Or playing some sort of adventure game?"
"No, the children here aren't like that. They had no reason to run away. Everyone is very happy here. We have plenty of food and everyone is treated kindly. There are even animals, wild ones, beyond this village. They know better than to leave and walk right into that. It's dangerous. There are bears and all sorts of things. Besides, I might be able to consider such a thing if it were a couple of children, but all of them? There must be something going on."
"What if the kids got together to do this as a group? What if this is a large prank or something?" Naruto offered his thoughts.
"No. The children have nothing in common with each other. Some don't even play together. We've even asked the remaining children if they knew what was going on and they said that they didn't. They even looked concerned."
"They could have been lying to cover things up," said Naruto.
"It makes no sense," said the headman. "Even if this was a prank, even if they were running away, the way they are doing it makes no sense. The ones that left a few days ago left behind their friends. Why would they do that? Wouldn't they go together? Some children even left with people they didn't normally hang around with. It would make more sense if they actually knew each other. I'm certain that someone is taking them away."
"How do you know that for sure?"
"Because the children left without taking anything with them. Some even left behind their shoes. If they were running away, wouldn't they at least take those with them? They didn't even pack things for a trip anywhere. I'm sure someone took them. I want you to find out who did and bring the children back to us."
Neji nodded his head. "You can trust us. We'll do our best to find them and return them safely to this village. Is there anything else we should know that may help us with our mission?"
"The children only disappear at night. Some parents have even taken precautions and lock all the doors and windows at night. Some even sleep in the same room as their children. And the children all vary in age. But so far, only children between the ages of two and eighteen have been taken." The headman looked them over. "You seem to be in that age group, so please be careful yourselves."
"Don't worry about us. We'll be fine."
The headman sighed, looking out the window to his right. "It's so strange. All of it. Plus also, only a few children leave on any given night. Not all of them. Some nights, four disappear, some nights six. Others, ten. The numbers vary as well. But the thing is, no one has seen anyone lurking around the village. No one even sees the children leaving. It's as if they vanish."
"I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of this."
And that began their long day of interviewing villagers and searching the area for clues. Neji used his byakugan but could find no sign of any children anywhere other than the ones who still remained in the village. None of the families had anything in common. Some had children who didn't play together and others who did. Some were older and younger. Some were the same age when they left together in groups. Some had pets, some did not. Girls and boys alike were disappearing but they shared nothing that would indicate a pattern. They lived in different houses, some with and some without siblings. Some houses had siblings who left together and others who did not. Some siblings were still in the village worried over when their brothers or sisters would be returning. Some left with their siblings, and some left the following night. Again, nothing was the same.
By the end of the day, everyone was tired and frustrated. Tonight, Neji wanted to observe the village and see what happened at night. They would do it in shifts. Lee and Naruto were up first. Then Sai and Neji would take over around three in the morning. With any luck, they would see where the children were going or even who was taking them away.
It was after midnight and Naruto could hear Lee snoring on the floor beside him. Naruto kept watch from the window of the house they were staying in. The village headman had room to spare so it only seemed fair that they stay with him tonight. He even fed them a good meal and gave them a room to share.
Naruto rested his chin on his palm, staring at the dark night sky. Nothing was moving. He didn't need Lee to keep watch with him. He must have been tired from all the training he had been putting himself through lately so Naruto couldn't blame him for falling asleep so soon. He managed to last up until a few minutes ago. His snoring didn't bother the other two, who, used to sleeping around either Naruto or Lee, had gotten into the habit of wearing earplugs. They were both light sleepers anyway. When it came time to changed shifts, all Naruto had to do was tap them on the shoulder and they would wake up instantly.
Naruto was so bored, he thought he was going to be the next one to fall asleep. It was a still night. Not even the wind was blowing. The animals had grown silent as well. All the buildings were dark and quiet. He had the window open, just in case he needed to get outside quickly. What he wouldn't give for a breeze just to have movement. Or even a firefly. Anything.
That's when he heard something. It was faint at first but grew stronger. He listened hard, trying to make it out. It almost sounded like a whistle. Or a bird. He leaned his head out the window for a better listen.
It was rhythmic, whatever it was. Almost like music.
Wait. It was music. Someone was playing a song in the night.
It was close by. Naruto opened the window a little further and climbed outside, quickly putting on his shoes. He stepped into the plants growing against the side of the building which tickled his toes. He moved away from the house, turning back only to make sure the window was still open, just in case he needed to get back quickly. He walked into the street and looked around.
The street was deserted. All the houses were dark. Could no one else hear it? He expected at least one light to flash on and a curious person to peer out the window. Everything was calm and quiet. No one else seemed to notice the music playing in the dark.
The music swirled around him, filling his thoughts with wonder and his heart with joy. This music was pleasant and soothing, like rain or a waterfall.
Now very curious, he started wandering through the street to find its source. At the very least he wanted to know what sort of instrument was producing such a wonderful sound. He still couldn't place it. He looked back at the open window and at his friends sleeping inside. He could easily get back inside if he wanted to, and with the window open, he could always shout for help if it was needed. Naruto turned away, wanting to continue his search.
Further down the street, he noticed movement. Could that be the musician? As he approached, he realized that it was the village children. Three of them, at least. Two girls and a boy, all younger than himself. The boy wasn't wearing shoes and one of the girls was wearing slippers. The other girl had on a pair of boots. Both girls were in their night clothes and the boy had on a jacket. It looked like they had just climbed out of bed to investigate. Apparently, Naruto wasn't the only one who heard the music.
They all met in the middle of the street, peering around curiously. Everyone heard the music but could not tell where it was coming from. Whatever it was, it was loudest at this spot.
It picked up. The music was getting faster. Now Naruto could tell what it was. It was a flute. That was why he mistook it for a whistle when he first heard it.
Naruto tapped his foot unconsciously on the ground as he listened. "That's kind of catchy." He nodded his head to the beat. What a great sound! He never thought a flute could sound so happy and joyful. The rhythm made his heart skip a beat. He kept time with his head. He slapped his hands against his thighs. He couldn't resist.
The children joined in. They turned to each other and giggled. This was fun! It was just like being at a concert. The two girls held hands and danced in a circle, laughing. Naruto watched them with a smile. It looked like they were having a lot of fun. Now he wanted to join them. He tried showing off some of his dance moves. The girls and boy watched him with bright smiles and big eyes. Naruto's dancing was impressive. He really didn't know what he was doing. He just did what he felt like. He even tried break-dancing. This inspired the boy to do the same. Now they were dancing with each other while the girls watched and clapped their hands in time with the music.
Then the music started to fade. Whoever was playing was starting to leave the area. They stopped dancing and clapping to listen. It may have been leaving, but the music lingered in the air, as if beckoning.
The flute sang an invitation, and the group followed. Tempted by the sound of the flute, Naruto left the village with the three children and chased the music.
It was magical. The song that was playing was unlike anything they had ever heard before. It promised joy and a life free of pain. An enchanting sound irresistible to those who bear deep wounds within their hearts. It made them feel alive and happy. It brought reassurance and promise of love. It was impossible to turn it down, so they followed.
They followed it out of the village and up the road. They followed it off the path and into the grass. Past the bushes and shrubs. Beyond the hill and the trees.
The music grew stronger with every step. They followed it up the hill and along a stone path leading toward the mountain. The village was shrinking away, hiding behind the trees. Naruto no longer looked back. He just wanted to follow the music and find out where it took him.
It led them to the base of the mountain. The music was now very strong. As they neared the mountain, a stone wall began to move. They stopped to watch it pull away from the rest of the stone like a door being pulled by an invisible hand. The stone wall stopped and a breeze caressed their faces. The music continued to play but was slowing down.
Was the musician inside?
Naruto and the children approached the opening in the mountain and cautiously peered inside. It was a short tunnel. And light. They entered the mountain and as soon as they did, the music stopped playing.
Naruto's jaw dropped. The children gasped.
This was the inside of a mountain?
It was enormous! It was as bright as day and there were plants growing along the walls, turning everything green. There were trees, too. The branches stretched to the dome ceiling which was covered with flowers and green vines and thin branches. The ground was carpeted with green grass so soft, Naruto thought it was made of cloth. There was a pond, too. And a waterfall trickling down a wall of stone into the pond.
Not only that, but there were children. Children everywhere. They were climbing trees and playing in the pond. They were chasing each other on the grass or napping in the corner under a tall shady tree. They were all dressed in their pajamas, but didn't seem to care.
What really got Naruto's attention was everything other than the plant-life and the playful children. There were games everywhere. It looked like a carnival. And wooden buildings displaying steaming trays of food on their counters. There were other stands, too. All of which had food and charging no money for anything. Cake, ice cream, candy... and a huge chocolate fountain! Naruto's mouth watered just looking at it.
There were more activities than he could count. One in particular was hanging over his head. There were kids on harnesses climbing on a jungle gym suspended in the air above him. A tightrope, a rope ladder, swings, all sorts of different platforms. It was like being a monkey. That looked like so much fun. There was even a zip-line with children zooming by from one side of the dome to the other at great speed.
Naruto stared at the vast wonderland before his eyes. There was so much to do. This was going to be a blast! Naruto and the three children charged in with huge smiles and scattered, cheering.
There was so much food! Naruto stuffed his face full of dango, taiyaki, shaved ice, yakisoba, yakitori and takoyaki. And this was just his first course. Cotton candy was next, followed by a huge slice of watermelon and grilled corn on the cob. The venders were absent at every stand, but there were signs saying they could help themselves. Everything was free.
After eating half his weight in junk food, Naruto investigated the games stationed throughout the area. Ring toss games, scooping fish, darts, and even lottery games. Naruto won several toys and two masks. He even won himself a necklace made out of seashells. The card flip games were tons to fun, too, but those didn't come with prizes. Spinning tops were another. He didn't mind if those didn't have prizes. It was a lot more fun to simply play the games. The children were very impressed with his skills when it came to some of the games. Other games they ended up showing him. There were other games they played, too. The girls jumped rope, betting their newly won toys on who could jump the longest. The boys played kickball and tag. Even the girls joined them and split into teams.
A cluster of buildings caught Naruto's attention. They were small forts with only one window and a curtain in front of the door. He looked inside and found a world made out of pillows and blankets. It looked like a pillow fort. Everything was plush. There were stuffed animals, too. The walls one the outside were clearly wooden, but on the inside, they were covered with soft foam and cloth. The ceiling had no lights, making the room dark, with only a couple faintly glowing stars attached to the ceiling. There were several children sleeping inside. This must have been an area used for napping. It was very peaceful in here. When Naruto was tired, he returned to this place and curled up for a nap.
When he woke up, it was back to the fun. Lots of food and games and anything else that came to mind. It was endless. He played with the children, he played by himself. He ate junk food, he ate good food. He drank from the chocolate fountain, which he worked down with a glass of water. The chocolate was too thick to drink straight. But that didn't mean he couldn't dip whatever he wanted into it and eat that. He tried strawberries and bananas. Then he tried takoyaki and noodles, which turned out to be a weird combination. However, cucumbers and apples turned out to be pretty good. He played in the pond next, splashing the children who came to join him. They spent a lot of time fishing for frogs. They were illusive, which made it even more fun for Naruto. He tried teaching the kids what to do. A couple of young boys claimed to be experts and gave Naruto instructions. Few frogs were actually caught. The boy who caught the first one chased the girls around with it, trying to scare them. It ended when one of the girls pushed him into the pond and he was fished out by Naruto.
Naruto sat down under a tree to eat his snack, making a mental list of what to do next. There were still so many activities to do. Some he hadn't gotten to yet. Some he had already done but wanted to do again. The zip-line was amazing. He couldn't wait to do it again. It would be his fourth time.
He happily munched on sweets as he thought of what to do next. This place was fantastic. He was eating sweets that would only be served during a special occasion. Right now, he was chowing down on a plate full of mochi. Some were bigger than others, taking up his whole palm. He picked up one of the bigger ones and held it up to his mouth.
He paused. The color of the mochi caught his eye and he stopped. It was pink. The color of a cherry blossom.
Why did the color distract him so much? He had seen pink mochi before. Why would this be any different?
Pink mochi. Pink. Pink...
Why did this bother him so much? Was he forgetting something? Something important?
Things have started happening in the first chapter. Yay!
Please review. Thanks! ^-^
