"Mrrrggglllmgggrrrgl!"
"Naruto, stop fooling around, you idiot! You've been eating far too much ramen haven't you? Its making you even stupider than normal." Sakura asked, a thin frown on her lips as she watched her compatriot fiddling with a plant Hermione didn't recognise and chewing on its root whilst attempting to disclose its properties to them. She felt a bit sorry for him.
"Do they always argue like this?" she asked Kakashi, the two of them staying a few steps back from the trio, he to keep an eye on them and she preferring more adult company, although he did strike her as very quiet and introspect. That suited her for now. Questions about her wouldn't be so easy to deflect until she'd had an opportunity to consider things further and his relative silence provided that space. The jounin replied to her question in a resigned style she was becoming accustomed to.
"I'm afraid so. Their teamwork is somewhat lacking on occasion, although they have their moments." He turned to face her as they walked. "Sakura, as you've seen, has something of a crush on Sasuke, which is completely unreciprocated. Sasuke and Naruto have had their problems, for different reasons, but don't get on. You'll find out more as we arrive in the village."
A sudden squeal from Sakura heralded the appearance of the only person Hermione had seen since arriving here aside from the Konoha four. An elderly man in a traditional hat was hobbling towards them as quickly as he could.
"My goodness, Leaf ninja, please help!"
"Hey, old geezer! What's the matter?" Naruto enquired robustly, bits of plant spewing out of his mouth and leaving a purple tinge on his lips where he'd chewed through bits of flower petal.
"My village. We were attacked. A beast!" he spluttered, erupting into a coughing fit and hunching over in pain, the effort at catching them clearly affecting him.
Kakashi rested a calming hand on his shoulder. "Take your time. What beast?"
"Refugees started appearing in my village a day or so ago, telling of a giant rodent the size of a house. We laughed it off, of course, until it appeared in the distance. I ran for help, but I heard them. Screams! My village!" The panicking man tried to take a breath, taking off his spectacles and polishing them shakily. "Please help us?"
Kakashi pondered for a moment, then turned to Hermione to explain. "I'm afraid this has become a regular occurrence since the war between our Kingdoms thirteen years ago. I don't know what you have encountered in… Britain?" He stumbled over the word. "but creatures like this, some natural and broken from their slumber by fighting, some deliberately mutated for the purposes of combat and some merely undismissed summons from dead shinobi. Well, they have a habit of causing havoc and it is our job, as if we didn't have enough to do, to protect the local civilians."
"I understand", she replied. "Is there anything I can do to assist?"
Sasuke piped up. "Stay out of the way. I have enough to deal with, coping with my two colleagues and their amazing knack of finding trouble."
Hermione smiled at the grim humour but decided to heed the boy's advice, which his sensei was nodding in agreement with. "I can stay with this gentleman and see if there is anything more he can tell us about the other villages?" she offered.
"Agreed", Kakashi said. "Now we must see what we're up against. We're the only team within several miles, so backup is out of the question. We're on our own."
"Ha!" Naruto shouted. "I'm not afraid of some dirty rat. I don't care if it is the size of a house!"
A high pitched squeal came from behind the wooded hills the elderly man had hobbled over and Naruto, wide eyed, leapt forward with a whoop, jumping lithely between trees and finding firm footing on the solid, thick branches, his arms outstretched behind him and the unmistakable scent of trouble waiting to be dealt with in his nostrils.
"Naruto, wait!" Sakura cried, but he was already out of sight. With a strained sigh, she took off after him, wordlessly followed by Kakashi and Sasuke and leaving Hermione with the old man.
~-oOo-~
It transpired his name was Hachiro and now that he'd acquired help for his village, he began to calm down and tell Hermione something of where she'd found herself. He seemed eager to talk to her, particularly when she showed interest in what he was saying.
"Young people these days just want to run around doing things, instead of listening. If they'd just take some time, so much more would be achieved", he confided sagely.
Hermione smiled and bid him to continue.
"I just want to farm my land and do an honest days work, but these shinobi keep fighting and killing one another. I wouldn't care but every time I look out of the window there's a new hole in the ground the size of one of my fields."
"So what do you think of Konoha?" she asked him, figuring she'd use the time with this civilian to her benefit as well as for information about the other villages.
"Big city, lots of people. Not for the likes of me", he muttered. "Sure, they send help if things go wrong, but if it wasn't for those damn shinobi there wouldn't be any problems."
Hermione's smile didn't falter, despite the whingeing and the slightly flawed logic. She knew what it was like for those who got dragged into someone else's battles, but it was foolhardy to think that a land with no protection would prosper. There was always someone with aspirations for power. She knew that well enough.
"How do they treat foreigners?" she asked.
"Aaha", Hachiro grinned, "I could tell you weren't from around here the moment I got my breath back and my glasses stopped misting up." He took them off and polished them again, using the time to consider his answer. "Well, I can't say I ever saw anyone who looked quite like you, but there are always several weird and wonderful people of all colours, shapes and sizes traipsing up and down this road. With all the troubles we have, these ninja folk like to keep in touch now and stop any problems before they start. Don't always work though." He laughed throatily.
"For example?" Hermione prompted.
Hachiro looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Did you not hear me say there was a giant rodent?" He continued on, regardless. "Between the beasts, rogue ninja, bandits out to rob a hard working farmer of his honest coin and those darn shinobi training in the woods…." He paused for breath. "Did you know one of my cows was hit with an exploding dagger? I was picking bits of it out of the undergrowth for hours, I was!"
Hermione gritted her teeth. "So this is relevant to foreigners, how?"
"Its obvious, right? Go back home. Much safer, I'm sure."
She sighed and began to wish she'd insisted on showing more of her hand with Kakashi, rather than wasting her time with Hachiro. He wasn't about to stop, however.
"When I was a youngster, I met a lovely young girl. Now that I think about it, she looked just like you, she did."
Hermione instantly perked up. "Really?" she asked.
"Oh yes, strong legs, big hips, tall, big.. er…you know", he pointed to her chest. She raised her eyes skyward but didn't stop his story. "She had your eyes, too. I'll never forget her, took my breath away she did, she was so different."
Hermione's interest was now firmly on the answer to her next question. "What happened to her?"
"Oh, I remember everything. Chopped her head off, they did, put it on a pole outside the village hall. She was a spy, you see. Proved it, they did. She had maps and everything and she had a pointy stick which spewed fire." Hachiro beamed at her toothily. "Seemed a bit harsh, considering the things these shinobi get up to, but then one rule for one, another for the enemy, right?"
"This pointy stick?"
"Buried it with her. She didn't have a head any more, so didn't seem a problem considering nobody else could get it to breathe fire or whatnot."
"I see. That's fascinating", she told him.
"Isn't it? Buried about a mile outside Konoha she is. Kids go to her grave and scare each other with stories about her. Anyway, I shouldn't be worrying you with tales of head choppings. Different times now, lots of funny looking folk about, not just you!"
Hermione decided a change of subject was in order before Hachiro started getting suspicious about further questions on her 'lookalike'. He probably wouldn't, but she didn't trust anyone here yet and this lead sounded promising. The corpse would no doubt be beyond recognition, but magic wands, for she was hopeful the 'pointy stick' would turn out to be just that, would last for years beyond the life of their adopted owner.
Returning to questions about the huge rodent yet confident he wouldn't know much, she began her interrogation of Hachiro.
~-oOo-~
The massive rat stood on its hind legs, pawing angrily at the three genin who spun and leapt around and about its gigantic flanks, liberally throwing kunai into its flesh and allowing Kakashi to observe its movements closely, ready to step in should the creature threaten his young protégés more than it was currently managing. A small crowd of villagers gathered in a nearby field, watching the battle play out. Their initial cheers at the arrival of reinforcements from Konoha had subsided, the creature clearly too big and strong to be defeated by normal means. There was now an impasse. The rat couldn't keep up with the young ninjas, yet the damage they were causing was so small as to be insignificant. Also, Kakashi considered the village and its inhabitants too close for comfort considering the scale of damage the beast had already caused. Fortunately nobody had been killed, but several houses had been crushed and two unfortunate cattle had been devoured whole by the hungry creature. He called out to the young Uchiha.
"Sasuke, use the last of your explosive tags. They should be enough to distract it and allow us to move it away from the villagers."
The genin complied, sending three at once. The rat swiped two away, the tags exploding harmlessly in mid air, but one found its mark in the sensitive flesh between its claws. With a muffled 'crack', it left a bleeding hole in the rat's paw. Emitting a piercing squeak, it propelled itself towards Sasuke, who had already made his move back into the comparative safety of the woods. Kakashi grimaced behind his mask. The tags were of a decent strength and had barely made a mark on the beast, only serving to antagonise it. Fortunately, the target of its wrath was escaping quickly, the gifted boy almost flying through the trees with the rat giving chase, its lumbering form still being peppered from behind with kunai, neither of the other two genin following his instructions well and not getting too close for fear of taking a hit from a massive claw. Now and again Naruto would get a little annoyed and start shouting obscenities at the creature, but thankfully it appeared it was only a 'natural', yet freakishly large animal and not a summon, which would understand him and only become more aggressive, perhaps using unique powers it hadn't yet shown. Kakashi needed to think on his feet.
Hermione had finished questioning Hachiro, who essentially confirmed to her that the reason for the disappearances was due to the huge rodent currently rampaging around the countryside. He named the village she and her acquaintances had come from amongst two others further down the road away from Konoha, the rat following the scent of the refugees and their livestock from village to village. This was a relief to her, simply for the reason that it was not her who had caused people to vanish from sight. It also exonerated her from fault in the eyes of the locals, which, considering Hachiro's earlier comment about decapitation, made her feel somewhat safer. What a strange place.
"Hachiro, I think we should return to your village and see whats playing out", she told the elderly farmer, who blanched and gave her a fearful look.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea", he responded.
She gave him a reassuring smile. "Whatever is happening, I'm sure Kakashi and his team have it under control. They seem very confident and capable."
"I'm sure they are, but that thing. It was enormous!" he replied, voice wavering.
Hermione fixed Hachiro with a stare. "If we stay here, your friends and family will think you a coward. Besides, I want to see what these young shinobi are capable of. All this talk of huge holes in the ground and exploding cattle is making me intrigued."
"Fine", he responded, still not keen. "We'll go, but on one condition. If the rat comes this way, you distract him while I run away."
She gave him a contemptuous glare. "Hide behind women a lot, do you?" Sighing at Hachiro loudly, she set off down the road to her companion's village, the older of the two hanging back and constantly looking about, as if he was about to be eaten alive.
It didn't take long to locate the shinobi squad. Hermione marvelled at the sheer size of the beast they were battling. When upright, it towered over the highest trees in the forest. As she dismissed Hachiro, who hurriedly shuffled away towards his waiting friends, she continued on towards where Kakashi was moving slowly and steadily across the fields, intending to join him to help wherever she could, from a reasonably safe distance of course. She wasn't crazy enough to attack that thing without her wand. Hermione gasped as one swipe of the rat's paw knocked a tree clean from its roots, propelling it end over end until it came to rest on the path she'd just walked down. She caught up to the shinobi captain. "That thing needs finishing quickly, otherwise your team will run out of stamina."
Kakashi had apparently noticed her come up behind him, despite having his full attention of the fight ahead. Never removing his eye from the scene, he grunted and replied. "Indeed, although they may surprise you, especially Naruto."
"Can I trust you, Kakashi-san?" she asked him. This drew a further grunt.
"That depends on you, Granger-san. With respect, I'm not the one with the flimsy story."
Hermione laughed briefly. "You don't know the half of it. However, I have no agenda here beyond finding my way home. I wasn't entirely honest when I told you of myself."
"That was obvious."
"I will discuss it further with you when we reach Konoha, but now, allow me to assist."
Intrigued, the jounin gave her an enquiring look. "So, how do you mean to do that?"
The witch simply smiled and closed her eyes, mouthing the words to the spell she thought most appropriate. Some magic didn't require a wand. Her evolved animagus form was one that fell into that category.
The villagers, thronged together for mutual comfort and safety, saw the strange looking young woman disappear and in her place, a fat looking cow popped into being. Much rubbing of eyes ensued, but this was a strange day and the bounds of credulity had already been stretched. They had more pressing things to concern themselves with, although a few parents had to attempt explanations to their children much later. None of them managed a satisfactory one. Kakashi, however, thought in a manner much more suited to the role he filled and immediately saw what Hermione was trying to achieve. Grabbing his radio, he called out to his team. "Naruto, Sakura, get his attention back here. We've laid a tasty trap for him."
A single 'Hai' came, the two genin speaking in unison as they immediately threw their own remaining explosive tags into the back of the rat, who had been pursuing an increasingly exhausted and ragged Sasuke through the forest. It squeaked angrily, the sound causing everyone to cover their ears and cringe, but the charges had the desired effect. Spinning about, the creature bounded back towards the other shinobi, who by now had just cleared Kakashi and were retreating quickly. As it attempted to catch up, it noticed something from the corner of its eye and scrabbled to a halt, kicking up several tonnes of earth in the process.
Hermione, in her best cow voice, 'Moo'ed loudly. She now had the rat's enormous eyes focused exclusively on her and her thick, juicy body. As it settled on all fours and opened its mouth to sweep her into its gaping maw, she saw a blinding flash of blue light.
"Chidori!"
Two genin leapt and grabbed her just as the massive head of the rat, or at least what was left of it, collapsed on the spot where she'd been standing with a huge 'CRUMP!'
As she returned to human form, her arms and legs splayed out and two thirteen year old ninja laid on top of her, she thought to herself, "Oh boy, this is gonna take some explaining…"
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