So, I hope you guys are enjoying my newest 'creation' as much as you guys enjoyed MIST! I was hoping to combine my Naruto fans and Avatar fans into a sort of CULT. ::Laughs:: Would anyone get super angry if I paired Toph and Neiji? They don't really have any one in their own shows…
Clashing Worlds
Chapter
Two
"Sasuke! Sasuke!" The overly loud voice screeched into what was a peaceful afternoon.
"Naruto, you're too loud. Shut up." The raven haired teen snarled at the other.
"Sasuke-bastard! Konoha has invaders!" The blonde jumped around wildly as if on fire.
Indeed, he had just talked to Iruka-sensei and was off to go see if it was true. He wanted to know for himself if there were really people from out of the village, who weren't even ninja, in the village.
"It's not that amazing stupid. It happened at the Chunnin exam. Remember?" Sasuke sighed. He was sick and tired of the other being so obnoxious when they had one afternoon off from all the missions that they seemed to keep being sent on.
"Well, yeah…but this is different! They have the weirdest ideas! They can do ninjutsu without the hands signs!" Naruto waved his own arms around to show his point.
"Hm?" This had definitely caught Sasuke's attention.
"Yeah! This old man with Iruka, he can blow fire like you but he doesn't do anything with his hands! He just does it!" Naruto was obviously excited, but you could tell by the way he was bouncing around and speaking in an overly quick manner.
"Well, show me then. Prove you're not lying." In Sasuke terms, it meant that he was interested and he was demanding that Naruto show him. Not that hard to figure out, but still a bit prickly for asking something that you want.
"Alright! I'll show you teme!" Naruto raced off, followed closely by Sasuke.
"So, I'm in Konoha," Sokka looked to Lee who nodded encouragingly, "I'm not in Firebender territory," Lee gave a smile that flashed bright white, "and I am in the company of ninja or 'nin'." Lee put up his thumb and happily proclaimed, "Correct!"
Sokka looked back to the black haired teen and wondered what kind of people nin where, but they must have been some strange folk due to this weirdo's clothing and attitude.
"I still don't know why any one in the Earth Kingdom or any of the other cities we've been in didn't know about this place!" Sokka said unhappily.
Sokka was an intellectual who had to know everything's scientific facts before accepting the reality of a situation. He liked to work something through before agreeing to its properties. Sokka liked to test people's limits so that he could know them for later. A very big reason as to why he acted so strangely at times. He was testing their limits and boundaries.
"Well….It's because the ninja have been trained to never been seen or heard. We are a secret!" Lee explained happily but shot up from his sitting position as the door opened. Bringing his hand to his forehead in a very crisp salute, he watched as Tsunade and Shizune walked in.
"Now, lets have a look at our first invader." The Hokage said with a smirk showing that she had no bad feelings about this situation.
"Hey!" Sokka let out a grunt of disagreement as Tsunade grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her.
She ignored his flailings and trying to get free as she secured her grip on him, which for Tsunade meant a lot of pain for those trying to wriggle free of her grasp.
"Ack!" Sokka fell limp as the overly strong woman peered into his eyes and her face settled into the observant Medical Nin that she was at heart. She opened his mouth and peered into the depths that most would be very happy to stay away from. She checked his teeth with a few pokes from a long metal instrument that looked faintly dangerous.
She closed his mouth and turned his head to the side examining his ears, his hair, and for any discolorations of the skin or any abnormalities. Finding the lad fit and ready to go, she let go of him with a smile.
"You still have a bump on your head and you'll be a bit dizzy. Otherwise, you're fine! If you want, Lee can take you on the tour now." Tsunade briskly left the room and Sokka stared after her.
"Who, in the BLAZES was that?!" he shrieked feeling fairly violated in a way that he didn't know he could feel.
"That was our esteemed Hokage. The Fifth, Tsunade-sama and her lovely assistant, Shizune-san." Lee answered with a Lee type of happiness.
"Hokage? You said that was the leader of your village right? The Hokage's a woman!? And…and…and she has huge! Well you know!" Sokka looked quite red as he tried to put into words his shock at seeing such a strong village lead by a very busty woman.
"Yes, Hokage-sama does have a very big presence, but she is very nice! She took care of me personally after a rather large battle a while ago!" Lee answered, filling in Sokka's blanks with a more Youthly response.
"But, but a woman!" Sokka couldn't quite escape the fact that she seemed to be stronger than him. He'd never met a woman that could out muscle him. Only out bend him and out smart him. He'd rather prided himself on his strength in body alone.
"Yes, a very smart and beautiful woman." Lee grinned at Sokka and then urged the other to stand. "Come on! Tsunade-sama said I could take you on the tour I was asking about earlier! You must see the rest of the village!" Lee almost bounced to the door in excitement, he was fairly certain he'd just made a wonderfully youthful new friend.
Zuko stared at the gray haired man and closed his eyes for a few seconds and then opened them again. Breathing in deeply, he noticed that the man was still there, only he was watching him this time. The intent stare was hard upon Zuko's face and the Firebender felt his pride well up as he realized this man was staring at him while he was injured and unable to defend himself properly. Getting angry at the thought, Zuko started to breathe in slowly and surely, gathering strength and fire in his lungs should he have to fight the other away in a moments instant.
"What are you doing?" the man named 'Kakashi' asked, tilting his head slightly as if he didn't understand.
Zuko stared at the other and then tried to sit up. His skull pounded with a headache worse than any before and he closed his eyes. Covering his eyelids with the palms of his hands, he scrubbed at his face trying to get used to the pain. Using a breathing meditation his Uncle had taught him, Zuko steadily began to adjust to the pain and use it to fuel his movement.
"I'm trying to sit up." Zuko growled out and looked up to the other with a glare.
"Well of course!" Kakashi sat back into a wooden chair that creaked with the sudden weight.
Zuko wasn't sure if he liked this man at all. His behavior was so off kilter to those he'd ever known before.
"Who are you?" Zuko asked, looking around himself. He saw nothing that looked familiar in any way, shape or form.
"I'm Kakashi. I am a teacher here in Konoha Village. Who are you?" Kakashi gave with a pleasant conversational tone of voice.
"Zuko." He gave a quick glance to see if Kakashi made any gesture that he recognized the name at all. Seeing no reaction, Zuko was fairly certain that he was now dreaming. Who didn't know of him?
"Ah, Zuko." Kakashi said pleasantly and then happily stared at the young man.
Zuko, quite put-off by this seemingly insane man began to wonder if he was dead and this was his own personal punishment for all the sins that he had committed. About to ask why Kakashi was staring so intently, he was interrupted by the door slamming open to reveal a busty blonde woman as well as a more meek black haired one. Zuko stared as the taller woman made her way to him. She scowled at Kakashi and then took a hold of his head.
Zuko, very startled by this, jerked in astonishment that she would touch him in such a manner. She twisted his head back and forth to look into his eyes, his ears, and his mouth. He felt her run her fingertips up the side of his scar and circle his eye with her fingertips.
"Odd, a fire scar that hasn't faded." She mumbled to herself and continued on with the violation of Zuko.
"Hey!" Zuko tried to protest but what rudely cut off as she shut his jaw rather forcefully with a finger and then lifted his chin to look at his neck. Seeing that there was no bruising or swelling, she smiled.
"I pronounce you healthy!" She said happily and stepped back to admire him.
"You really are a fine young man. Very well trained. Alright, Kakashi, I want you to find someone to keep an eye on him. I don't mean you either, I want someone you can rely on. I have to use you for a mission later. Report to me sometime this afternoon. Giving you a set time would be like trying to nail down water." Tsunade opened the door and left as briskly as she had come.
"Who in the spirits was that woman!?" Zuko demanded angrily, rubbing his jaw where, surprisingly enough, a bruise was forming due to the brute strength the woman had exuded.
"She is our Hokage. She is the leader of this village." Kakashi answered lazily and then stood. Stretching, he looked at Zuko. "Well come on, we've got to find a babysitter for you." Kakashi laughed at the look Zuko shot him.
"I need no one to look after me! Least of all, a bunch of barbarians, which this village seems to be made of!" Zuko felt his temper flare and that brought heat and smoke to his palms.
"Relax, the babysitter is there to make sure you really aren't spies. They aren't for you, they are like your jailors!" Kakashi smiled happily in the way only Kakashi can.
"What?!"
Gaara closed his eyes as if he were asleep. He was still mildly disturbed by the unknown village passing through his lands. They were due to arrive in Suna at nightfall. Gaara breathed out in a low sigh. He was imagining all his worries and stress's were being let go with the air that was being released out of his lungs. It was a type of meditation he used to practice as a child. It helped him attain a state of mind that wasn't sleeping, but more of a slow awakening.
"Gaara?" the hardened voice of his sister asked, demanding his attention.
"Did you hear what I said? All contact with the Iron Country has been lost. Their letters talk of a strange illness and darkness that bleed into their lands and then suddenly, nothing. Do you want us to investigate? There might be an epidemic…" Temari threw down said letters in irritation.
"No. If it is and epidemic, I do not want it to spread here." Gaara said softly and did not open his eyes. He was still thinking as to the situation that would arise tonight.
"Kankuro, where are the strange travelers going?" Gaara demanded of his brother.
"Konoha. Or, that's what is seems since their on a straight path towards there. They haven't given us anything to go off of as of yet." Kankuro was sitting with his feet on the table, and he was picking his teeth with a piece of wood.
"…" Gaara opened his eyes and squinted in the dying sunlight. He'd made his decision.
"I am going to take a party out to go along with these people. I want to know what they want and why they are here. I will have them volunteering information before long." Temari almost winced at the implied violence, but she knew it was necessary since these strange people might be enemies.
"Alright, who's in charge while you're gone Kazekage-sama?" Kankuro asked, looking faintly more interested that his stone cold brother would personally take care of something instead of just ordering him or Temari to do it for him. It wasn't like he was arrogant, he was just busy with the rest of Suna.
"I want Temari to remain in my stead. Kankuro, you are coming with me. We will be taking a team you pick out." Gaara stared at Kankuro.
"Got it, got it. I'll go pick up some people then." Kankuro stood, and cracked his spine as he stood.
"Where do you want us to meet you?" Kankuro shook his head back and forth, cracking the vertebrae as he did so.
" Outside of Suna. You'll find me." Gaara said and stood as well.
"See ya Gaara. Have fun." Temari called sarcastically as her brother opened the door and left behind her other brother.
"…" Gaara didn't reply, but kept forward.
"It was a joke." Temari groused and turned back to the paper work mess that Gaara had left for her.
Gaara stood in the setting sun with his infamous gourd strapped to his back with the worn and used leather. He had his arms crossed over his traveling garb which was immensely different than his Kazekage clothing. It was a combination of protective, thick canvas like material to defend the body inside against the wind and sand. It also had a gaping red shirt that was on top of black jutsu heating and cooling mesh that looked strangely like fishnet.
Gaara was practical, not stupid.
He would never admit to even thinking it, but he looked down upon the teenage nin for wearing the clothes that made their bodies look good but do nothing to protect them from the harsh desert environment. He didn't think they needed to be bothered with until they could find out for themselves that it was a death wish to walk into the desert at any time with important parts of their bodies showing like their stomachs.
"Gaara." Kankuro stated as he appeared at his brother's side in a flash of chakra smoke. He looked back to the painted male and looked farther to look at who he'd brought.
"I've tacked on three people to this party. I didn't want more than would be noticed. I don't want to start any kind of power play, you know?" Kankuro started with the introductions before his brother could reply. It wasn't like he planned to in the first place though.
"First, I brought Ashton. She's a very capable spy because of her social skills with unfamiliar situations and the ability to blend in with her families special jutsus." Gaara nodded in approval. Ashton also followed orders and he wouldn't have to worry about her trying to be a hero in the desert. People got killed doing just that.
"Second, I have Marr. He's a specialist in planting traps and devices. He also is good body guard, considering his size." Gaara noted that Marr was a larger than average man; tall, wide shoulders, and a more heavyset frame than the light-as-sticks ninja types. He was the person that people used as the base of their formation because he could keep going no matter what happened. Gaara approved of his brother's choice again.
"And third, we have Sarren. She is a berserker." Kankuro left it at that. A lot of the village knew the berserker family of Suna. They were used as fodder for wars until they realized the true potential of the blood line. They were a farming family who spent too much time underground with the fumes from the desert pervading their senses and bodies. After a while, it just made them crazy. The entire family was like this because the entire family worked for the farms under the sand. It was hard work, but very well spent. The berserkers had explosive tempers, though not hardly compared to Gaara's sudden and far between outbursts, but the family was considered as lethal as a sandstorm in itself. Fast to anger and fast to fight. Gaara was unsure about this one, but he trusted his brother's choice, even if he didn't say so.
"…Lets go then. We'll meet them as they come by. It seems they do not plan on stopping by Suna." Gaara told the others.
Flitting out of sight, the party was now on their way. It was the beginning of a change that many would remember for a long, long time.
"I….I'm so sorry, I didn't m-mean to…" Hinata stuttered badly in the face of Toph's rage. It was noticeably shaking Hinata that her cousin could be so rude on first meeting. She hadn't meant to interrupt their talk, but it had sounded like it would escalate to violence if she hadn't stepped in.
"I wanted to apologize for my cousin's rudeness. We did not know." Hinata bowed deeply, knowing the other could not see her, but being respectful all the same.
Toph glared somewhere off to the right of Hinata and let out a disgruntled noise. "Tch, I don't care. Just more rude barbarians making fun of people." Toph glared angrily in the direction of the male who had dared to touch her.
"Don't come any closer! I swear, if you don't back up this moment, I will bring this entire place down on your head!" Toph hissed out between gritted teeth as Neiji made a move to examine the other again.
"Oh really? How are you planning to go and do that?" Neiji smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. What could a girl of this small petite nature do to possibly try and bring down a Konoha building. Built to last and last through even demon attacks.
Toph growled angrily, almost like a wild animal and lifted her arms. With a quick jerk of her hands and a twitch of her feet she forced a good section of the ceiling to crack and fall where Neiji had been only mere seconds before.
"I'm warning, I am so totally NOT in the mood for this right now!" Toph glared at Neiji as his vibrations paused behind his cousin, Hinata.
"How did you do that? No hand signs, no jutsus," Neiji looked on at the girl in disbelief. "What are you?" Neiji felt his anger and hate drain away to pure fascination. It was just like him to immediately turn to something he could learn and absorb from others to make himself stronger. This small package of what seemed like a weak blind girl was really a fire cracker, just waiting to take off.
Katara stared at the ceiling as she tried to ignore the man in white standing next to her. He'd roughly told her to lay absolutely still until he was done. Nothing was hurting her, so she obeyed his command, seeing as she couldn't move anyway. He seemed to be emitting healing water like her own only it was more like air. It was more like mist was shaped around his hand healing her chest and neck.
"Uhm… Can I come in yet?" A familiar voice asked softly.
Katara smiled from her position as Aang could be heard whining not very far away.
"But why? She's awake now isn't she?" His voice rose and lowered with a normal rolling pitch.
Katara closed her eyes and could feel the warmth of the healing taking place in her body but this helped her concentrate on who was talking to Aang.
"Not yet. She's being healed and if the medi-nin is distracted, she could have something bad happen to her." A soft voice chided gently. It sounded almost like her when she was teaching Aang about some form of politeness or necessity for human behavior.
"Alright…" Aang gave in and Katara could hear him collapse in a heap in the normal way that he used. It was a small part of Aang that Katara found faintly amusing. It went with his silly tricks with his Airbending and the odd jokes he used to try and make her laugh on a bad day. It was just another thing about Aang that she found endearing.
"Wh-…What IS it?" Chouji asked himself as he looked at the huge beast. It was easily as big as a small house and as wide as one as well. It currently was staring back at him just as intently as he was staring at it.
"You're huge!" Chouji said with an almost childlike glee. It was an animal of some sort, he could tell for certain. But it had six legs! It resembled a bison but at the same time, was completely different! The bison seemed to be eating the grass in his and Shikamaru's field. Chouji crunched on a chip and stared in rapt attention at the huge animal.
The bison suddenly leaned down and sniffed at Chouji. Laughing at the huge gusts of wind that was buffeting his hair, Chouji held out a small handful of chips.
"Want some?" He asked, and when the animal let its huge rough tongue catch the tiny morsels he laughed again. "You like that huh? So do I!" Chouji sat on the ground and took another chip into his mouth. He tilted his head and watched as the bison did the same. It sat and then lay on the ground in front of him with ground shaking thumps. As the bison settled its girth on the grass and seemed to yawn, he was suddenly surprised to feel something climbing him.
"Hey!" Chouji complained as a small and furry face appeared next to his own. A monkey of some kind was resting on his shoulder. Chittering happily, the large eared animal took a handful of chips for itself and stuffed them into its mouth.
"I guess you like them too…" Chouji let out a sad sigh. He was going to have to share so much food to feed both of his new friends. It really was worth it when no one else but Shikamaru seemed to talk to him.
"I wonder what your name's are?" Chouji asked himself and bit into another chip. The animal on his shoulder wrapped its long tail around his neck and then proceeded to crawl into his lap to chitter excitedly as it played happily with the almost empty plastic bag. Chouji automatically squeezed another one open with a small 'pop' and carried on to dig into the newest bag.
"I guess you belong to the new people." Chouji had heard a rumor that a bunch of strangers were found on the edge of the Konoha Forest. He hadn't believed it until right now, seeing as how these animals wouldn't have gotten here in the first place if they hadn't been brought by people from somewhere else.
"Well, you can stay with me, until we find your friends." Chouji grinned good naturedly and settled in to watch the clouds roam the sky with his two new friends.
"Iruka-sensei! Iruka-sensei!" A loud and slightly obnoxious voice yelled out over the crowd.
"Naruto?" The scarred teacher answered in confusion as he heard his late pupil's voice.
"Over here!" Naruto could be seen waving frantically at his old teacher with a large fox grin covering his face.
"Naruto! What are you doing here?" Iruka asked happily. He didn't get to see Naruto that much anyways, so it was always a pleasant surprise when he did get to meet the much too happy boy.
"I wanted to show Teme here that I was telling the truth!" Naruto laughed as his teacher sighed. He was sure that Naruto was going to drive the pale and dark haired teen away with all his talking and bluffing but it hadn't happened yet. He was almost sure that they would either kill each other one day, or they would somehow get along and then the world would end. He was rather hoping for the latter since Iruka had a soft spot for both of his late pupils.
"Oi, Dobe. You haven't shown me anything yet." Sasuke spoke softly and crossed his arms over his chest. He was rather skeptical of the idea of anyone being able to produce fire without the necessary hand signs or charms.
"Yeah yeah, hold on a minute!" Naruto complained as the other huffed in annoyance.
If he was going to be dragged all the way out here, it better have been for a good reason. If this was another of Naruto's stupid tricks or another attempt at his blasted humour, he was going to leave and figure out some way to make the other's life more miserable than he had already been making it.
Maybe he would flaunt that Sakura wanted him and not Naruto. Then again, that didn't work the last time strangely enough, so Sasuke would have to ponder this one.
"Well Sasuke. I'm afraid Naruto is telling the truth this time. It's rare and certainly fascinating, but this man can produce fire without the signs or jutsu cards. It's an ability that he says belongs to an entire country of people. He actually wanted to talk to you about your heritage. I told him you are especially good with your Fire Ball Jutsu and he sounded quite interested." Iruka didn't tell Sasuke that the older man, Iroh, also had inquired about teaching the young teen. Iruka didn't know if Sasuke was up to such a strange and new idea of people from the outside world who weren't used to their ways being in direct contact with him for long periods of time.
"Che, we'll see." Sasuke glared at his older teacher.
"Yes, we will." Iruka sighed. This was the makings of a very long day.
