Chapter 2: Fire Nation Spies
"A-a-Argh" Hinata yelled in pain. "What happened" She said in heavy voice.
"Are you all right Hinata?" Naruto asked with fear he might hurt her. He was lying on her.
When the scroll exploded he shielded her against the explosion. But it never came, and he landed hard on her. Because of her recent fight with Pein, she wasn't completely healthy. Her chest was still bandaged and it still hurts.
"Did I hurt you?" Naruto asked again.
"N-No, I don't think so, my chest didn't hurt, but my back "Hinata answered grasping for air.
The smoke began to fade away and the surrounding started to be more obvious. Naruto thought they were lying in debris, or rubber. But they were lying on cabbages.
"My Cabbages" unknown voice yelled. "Oh no my cabbages, again, no no no. This is the third time this week" The man began to cry.
Why did you destroy my cabbages" The man yelled at Naruto and Hinata with angry and desperate voice. He pointed to the ruined cart, the cabbages were lying on the ground.
Naruto helped Hinata on her feet and then he turned to the man.
"I am sorry old man, but there was an explosion and we must somehow land on your cart." He began to apologize to the merchant.
The old man wanted to say something, but he was Interupted by Hinata.
"Na-Naruto" Hinata said and grabbed Narutos sleeve. "Where are we?" She gestured toward's the unknown surroundings.
Then he noticed, they were no longer in Konoha, hell they weren't even in civilisation anymore. All he could see was mountains, lakes and large Forrest's. They were standing on the side of the road. They were couple of merchants around. They began to get closer to the old man's cart. Some of them were rather amused by the man's unfortunate fate. But most of them stared din disbelief on the two teens.
"What happened" couple of them yelled
"You just popped on the Lees cabbages. When the old man hear that he began to cry even louder.
"Are you Fire benders" one of merchants said to them, with angry tone."
"No, they are obviously earth benders" another merchant tried to calm him. „Did you see that dust cloud?"
"Wait, what is Bender, we are no benders." Naruto yelled at the merchants
"Where are we?" Hinata asked.
"Where are you? Did you girl lost your mind?" The cabbage merchant tell her, still sobbing.
"You are in earth kingdom, on the main road to the Ba sing se"
"What is Ba sing se?" Naruto and Hinata asked at the same time.
"What is Ba sing se?, are you Fire nations Spies?" one of the merchants accused them.
"Fire nation?, you mean fire country where is Konoha?" Asked Naruto nervously
"Konoha?, I never heard of such place" Said the cabbage merchant.
"What?, can you at least point us out to the fire country?"
"Fire nation spies, I knew it" Yelled one of the merchants
"Wait we are not spies" Naruto tried to explain. But the merchants already started to grab they're pitchforks and grabbed Hinata's hand and ran towards the Ba sing se. The merchants tried to pursue them, but they were no match for the young agile shinobi. After a while of running Naruto and Hinata stopped, and tried to come up with plan, how to get back to Konoha. But they didn't even know where they are. All they knew was that they are in earth kingdom, whatever that means. And the Ba sing se should be further along this road. „Probably a village, or the city" Naruto wondered. If they wanted to get home, the Ba sing se is probably their best chance. They walked several hours discussed a variety of theories about how do they get here?.
"Couldnt it be kuchiyose jutsu?" Asked Hinata. Naruto was kind of the expert in this area, he learned how to summongamabunta in his 12 years, then he saved Konoha by the improved sage reverse kuchiyose no jutsu.
"It is probably, but it didn't felt that way." Naruto began to explain „
„even the most advanced summoning techniques has their own limits"
"To summon a Human it takes full concentration of several sages attached to your flow of chakra, and we could teleportabout 75 kilometers, not much further."
Hinata was astonished by the Naruto's knowledge. As much as she loved him she really didn't expect this from him.
"What do you think?" Asked Naruto, but Hinata was away in her thoughts.
"E-eh-The Pein had incredible power, he managed to bring all dead people to life, and he stopped you in a nine tailed form." She manage to stammer
"Yeah of-course you're right Hinata. As clever as always" He smiled. She smiled back
"Didn't you feel anything?" Asked Naruto.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked back.
"My chakra, I feel kind of different" Naruto said "As if something isn't right"
"Yes, I think, I know what you mean" I've got this feeling about an hour now "And I have a headache"
"Me too, wait I try something" Naruto stopped his movements "kage bunshin no jutsu" He yelled.
It was a mantra. By saying it out loud his brain could immediately associate various muscle movements much needed to proper control of chakra. Chakra is of-course needed in every ninja techniques and even in close combat styles. If ninja didn't use chakra, not only he wouldn't be able to use any ninja technique, but his movements would be slower and weaker.
When Naruto did necessary hand seals nothing happened. Naruto flicked his head in disbelief "why does it not working?"
"I dont know?" said Hinata "try it again"
"Byakugan" Hinata yelled, her eyes brightened.
Naruto tried his jutsu again, but nothing happened.
"I see?, you're chakra flow is disturbed, it is like this environment is sucking our chakra out of our bodies."
"So we can't use our jutsu?" Naruto yelled in horror.
"N-No, I meant we can, but it would need much more chakra" Hinata said
"Kage bunshin no jutsu" Naruto yelled, but this time he put ten times more of his chakra in this move. Suddenly a clone appeared beside Naruto. Naruto cheered loudly, but the clone disapiered after a minute.
"Hinata, what happened? " Naruto asked
"It seems that you're clone can last a limited time in this environment"
Naruto grabbed Hinata's shoulder "You mean I can't create bunshin that can last more than a minute?"
Hinata all blushing said quietly "It was 30 seconds"
Naruto yelled in disbelief "damned"
"This was amount of chakra I normally put in rasengan"
Hinata tried to calm Naruto "But you have big reserves thanks to Kyubi, i-it shouldn't affect you as much" Hinata smiled.
"you're right" Naruto smiled back "Nothing to worry about" His grin was even bigger, and he put his hands behind his head, how he normally does. But deep down he was concerned.
They walked several more hours, along the road, when they heard a movement.
"Byakugan" Hinata mumbled and her eyes focused on the area further along the road.
„What is that?" Hinata didn't recognize the object.
"I-It is a big metal vehicle, and it is coming to us fast."
"Maybe it is traveller, we can ask how far Ba sing se is"
"Wait Naruto. Maybe it is probably better to hide, it certainly doesn't look friendly" Hinata said, but it was too late, the transport was about a 300 feet far and there was no way they would manage to hide undetected now. Instead they tried to look as normal as possible.
"Remember, don't mention the fire nation" Naruto whispered to Hinata
"Right"
The vehicle stopped about right in front of Naruto and Hinata. The doors opened shortly after.
"Who are you" said soldier. It was a really big man, dressed in red metal armor, and big full helmet.
"Kind of weird" Naruto thought.
"Hey there fellow eh-emm-Sandman" Naruto grinned tried to look as normal as possible.
"Sandman" yelled the soldier. "I am not some filthy earth rat, I am commander Koru and you will be calling me .."
"Commander Koru, why are we stopping here, we have an Avatar to catch"
"Princess Azula" Commander said "We encountered some suspicious people, they certainly look strange"
"Strange huh" Azula said in high arrogant tone and she jumped out of the transport.
"May, ty lee with me."
The girls were somehow good looking Naruto thought to himself. But he began to feel like he's betraying Hinata somehow, so he stopped this line of thoughts.
"Why are you bothering my transport, what is so suspicious about you? Hmm"Azula said in even more arrogant voice.
"They look weird" said Mai
„But the blond guy looks kind of cute "Ty lee said and blinked at Naruto. Hinata shot her a cold glance.
"awww, so sad you are blind" said Ty to Hinata and tried to hug her
Hinata wanted to push her off and punch her in the throat, but she though it would be probably better if they didn't recognize her as a threat.
"Look at they're clothes" said May "They aren't obviously refuges, and they are dirty, yuck"
Naruto checked his clothes and tried to understand what is wrong with it?
"w-We are trying to get home" Hinata said "M-Maybe you can help us?"
"Me why would I help you? You know, it doesn't even matter, The boy is dressed in yellow, it insults me"
„Take him in the custody" She ordered
"No!" Hinata yelled
"awww, he is your boyfriend? Isn't he" Big smile appeared on her face.
"Fine, have it your way, SOLDIERS, take the girl!" Soldiers emerged out of the vehicle and surrounded Hinata. But she didn't even flinched
"No, you won't take her" Naruto remembered how Hinata got hurt when she tried to defend him the last time. He won't going to let that happen again. He clutched his fists and took three near by soldiers in a blink of an eye. And, hurried to help Hinata.
"You have some fight in you, Mai, Ty!" Azula ordered
The girls sprinted towards Naruto. Mai threw five kunais to Naruto. It was a standard tactic, she assumed they are probably benders. First she forced him to defend himself with earth, or water, this would make a blind spot, then she would circle around and finish him up close. But she never expected what he did. He reached into his belt pouch and throw his own kunai back. Loud cling was heard as all of Mai's blades went down. This put Mai in disadvantage. She failed to create blind spot and now it was obvious where is she going to attack next, and Naruto knew it.
She prepared another five blades in her hand, and she was ready to throw them, but before she could do anything Naruto was already right in front of her, he grabbed her right sleeve and diverted Kunai's into the ground. He held out his right hand and prepared to attack.
He didn't want to kill her, he just wants her out of the combat. He put a little bit of chakra in his punch. Small amount, but still more than enough to knock her out. This would work if they were alone, but on the last second he could see Ty lee dangerously close at his flank. He let go Mai and shielded his body.
He blocks the kick, but it still tossed him back a few feet's. Mai observed Naruto. She watched how he attacked, how he defended. He was definitely no ordinary refuge, his attacks was fast even for trained soldier. Although Mai's main weapons were throwing knives, she never lost a fight in close combat. She had no longer her usual annoyed face, she was serious now.
Hinata watched how Naruto fight with the girls.
"This is bad" She thought to herself, when she saw another dozen soldiers approaching her from the transport
"I must do something" She said to herself
The soldiers no doubt thought she is blind thanks to the natural color of her eyes. For them she looked like a helpless girl. The soldiers left they're guard down when the two of them grab her hands in order to cuff her.
"They are so close to me" Hinata said to herself. "Perfect"
Faster than they could react she hit both of them, one with each hand. The pain was excruciating.
"Arrgghh" They cried as they fell on the ground.
Azula heard the noises behind her, but when she turned Hinata was already almost at her. She could not react properly in time. All she could do, was a quick jump sideways.
She was safe, there was no way Hinata could hit her properly now. On Azula's face appeared wide smile.
But Hinata smiled back. All she needed was a light touch.
Enormous pain surged through Azula's arm.
"What was that?" She thought, she barely touched me" questions began to piled up in Azula's head. "Soldiers" She yelled as Hinata was closing by again.
Big fireball appeared behind Hinata. Without Byakugan it would be too late to react. She jumped sideways as the fireball race behind her.
She landed on the ground near the fire bender. She quickly spun around and throw kunai on the soldier who shot the fireball. His armor produced loud ring and he fell on the ground.
"They are using fire techniques, but I didn't see any hand seals" She thought to herself.
Naruto was fighting with Ty lee now. Her superior acrobatic skills were making him impatient and irritated. But he didn't losthis temper, he couldn't afford to make a mistake. May was throwing blade one after another at him, he couldn't stay on one place too long. The girls were working perfectly as a team. They didn´t give him a moment to rest. Naruto couldn't take this pace forever. His head was still buzzing from the kuchiyose. He was tyred even when he was still in konoha, and on top of that this new environment messed up with his chakra. Even the basic ninja moves were difficult and clumsy.
It was more and more difficult fighting with them. They were studying his moves, and Naruto was more and more tired, but he still managed to check how is Hinata doing.
She was fighting Azula and several fire soldiers. He saw at least 10 of them on the ground and Azula was clutching her arm tightly. Naruto was impressed, Hinata seemed to be winning.
"Naruto, more transports arriving" Hinata yelled. He could hear the vehicles immediately.
If they wanted to get out of there alive, now is probably the time. He told to himself. He grabbed two of his smoke bombs and tossed them on the ground.
Pooffff
Grey and red cloud of smoke appeared and spread with enormous speed. Naruto used the confusion on the battlefield to his advantage. He escaped the girls and raced towards Hinata, using the smoke as a cover. He could hear soldiers sweeping the area. He didnt waste time. When Naruto exited the smoke, the first thing he could see was a couple of soldiers. Obviously surprised as he was. He moved fast, in a second he was next to them. He knocked them out quickly and grabbed Hinata's hand. They raced to the Forrest on the other side of the road. They circled around the big metal transport which was in the way. But Azula was behind it.
"Going somewhere?" She yelled, and stood in the combat position.
Hinata knew what was coming, she saw that before. The fire soldiers use this stance before they fired a fireball at her. She was ready to jump aside. But Azula didn't shot fireball, she created an enormous wall of blue fire and shot them against the ninja's. Hinata could feel the heat immediately. It was too late to avoid, Hinata froze on the spot.
„There is nothing we can do" She thought
Naruto noticed Hinata stopped. He raced towards her and gave her a strong push.
Hinata flew a couple of feet's, outside the danger zone. She landed on the grass, but when she looked up, she saw Narutoburning in fire.
poofff
She felt an arm on her shoulder. It was Naruto.
"Come on, get up"
She immediately realised, it was a bunshin. She had still a tears in her eyes, but she felt relieved. Naruto tossed another smoke bomb to shake down the pursuers and they disappeared in the woods.
"What was that" asked Ty lee, did you see them, he was burned, but he immediately appeared elsewhere. It mussed have been a bending of some sort.
"They were no benders" said Mai, "But they had a real skills"
"Yes, they did" said Azula, she was clenching her arm. Still in pain.
"Azula are you all-right" ask Ty lee "Did the blind girl hit you?"
"Please, she barely touched me" Azula said confidently, trying to sound as if nothing serious happened. She couldn't show she was in pain.
"Besides, she wasn't blind. I saw her eyes, they were different, as if she could see in me" She thought aloud.
"Maybe she could see your dark soul" Ty joked
Azula laughed, as she shut the door of the vehicle behind her