Kyrie: Heyheyhey! New chapter guys! Hope you like it...
Naruto: This better be good...
Chapter II
The Whispering Wind
Rays of light emanated from the windows as Naruto woke up from his sleep. He had no memory whatsoever of what happened last night. The morning started as any other morning, he woke up, took a bath, dressed up for his next assignment, took a glance at his team's picture, and exited his apartment.
"Um, good morning Naruto," Unconsciously, Hinata averted her eyes when her greeting prompted a smile from Naruto.
"Hey," Naruto still didn't understand why Hinata refuses to look at him when he glances at her.
Kiba stood from the bench he was sitting on, Akamaru tucked inside his fur jacket. "Great, everyone's here."
"Let's get going." Shino adjusted the strap slung on his shoulder, put his hands in his pockets, and walks toward their destination. They were assigned to find another Beekochu (Author's note: I'm not sure of the spelling, but this is the beetle they searched for when they were attacked by the um, bee people).
Kiba's POV:
Hi, I don't think I'd have to introduce myself. It's going to take us quite a time to get to the forests, and the early part of their journey was done in silence, apart from the few barks Akamaru made. The utter silence made me uncomfortable, very uncomfortable. I can't take any more of this.
"Hey," Naruto broke the very fragile silence. YES!
"What?" I replied in a very annoyed tone, alluding to the fact that I'd rather have a conversation with Naruto than do nothing.
"Doesn't that itch?"
"What itches?"
"The dog in your jacket. Doesn't it itch? I mean, they have ticks you know?"
"Akamaru does not have ticks." Of all the questions Naruto could ask… well, at least it's better than him not talking at all.
"I'm just concerned you know."
Concerned?
Concerned? It's not like him to be… concerned.
"What do you mean you're concerned?"
"Nothing"
Naruto's acting pretty strange today. I wonder what he had for breakfast.
Well, I guess it's up to me to change the topic or else risk another minute in complete silence.
"Uh, Shino, did you bring the container for the beekochu?" I obviously can't think of anything right now.
Shino looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. "Of course," He patted the container at his side. Okay, not a good topic.
"How long do you think is it before the rains fall?" This should be a good topic. Nobody can resist topics on weather.
"I think we have only a day or two before the monsoon falls and a further day to search for the beekochu or else we'd have to wait for another year." In the corner of my eye, I notice Naruto's eye twitch when Shino said 'another year.'
"The only factor we have to consider is the time." Shino continues, "If we don't find the beekochu by then, "our search is useless."
I get a wonderful idea. "I can give another factor."
Shino and the others look at me. They are not used to me testing Shino's knowledge on insects.
Finally, Naruto's curiosity got the better of him. "What?"
Carefully, I set the trap: "You"
This further confused Naruto, there was a second's worth of silence before he continues: "How?"
The trap is sprung! I quickly inhale and with my lips put together, I make a very loud sound: "PFFRRRT!"
The fart sound was met with varying reactions: Shino suddenly coughed, Hinata chuckled very discreetly, and Naruto… well…:
"Shino, did you bring everything we need?"
Shino, his eyebrows furrowed, now looked at Naruto.
Hehehe.
Naruto is now trying hard to change the topic. He won't get away that easily. Cautiously, I set another trap for the unwary Naruto: "Yeah Shino, did you bring the rubber stopper?"
Naruto heaves a sigh, feeling safe for the moment. Then, his expression changes from being calm to confusion. He looks at me and says:
"What for?"
My hand shakes as the pressure inside me increases: "for the hole"
Naruto was completely confused: "What hole?"
I can't contain myself any longer. In a very loud voice, I answer:
"YOURS!"
Shino coughed more violently this time, Hinata chuckled once more and I released a roar of laughter. Naruto, on the other hand, was now silent as a wall. Poor guy, I'd hate to be in his position. Laughter followed him like an aura for the next hour of so, leaving me almost no time to breathe.
Finally, Shino cleared his throat and spoke: "We're here."
Already? But I was just getting starte—
"I remember what the beekochu looks like!" Exercising the better part of valor, Naruto flees, I mean, goes to search for the elusive insect., leaving the three of us to ourselves.
Naruto's POV:
THAT JERK!
WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?
HOKKAGE?
HA!
HE'S NOTHING BUT A SMELLY, SPINELESS, JERK WEARING A JACKET MADE FROM POSSUMS!
THE NEXT TIME HE MAKES FUN OF ME I'M GONNA…
"Naruto…"
What was that? I'm sure I heard a voice.
It was whispery. I'm not sure if it's male or female.
"Naruto, don't you remember last night?…"
Wait a minute… did something happen last night?
In a flash of thoughts, I was reminded of what happened the night before.
"Uh, wh- who are you?" I turn around a few times, waiting for a response.
"It doesn't matter yet. Sasuke is near. I will show you the way, all of you…" the voice seemed to come from every direction.
"All of us?"
"Your comrades. You will need help…"
"You're not afraid of ghosts are you?" Kiba was sceptical of what Naruto just told him. They were now standing where Naruto heard this 'voice'.
"We're wasting valuable time," Shino reminded. "It's just pure luck we found a beekochu last time."
"I'm telling you, he knows." Naruto was mildly irritated that the others didn't believe him. Hinata, on the other hand, was not the type who would disagree with anyone. She merely whispered, "Naruto"
"Well," Kiba yawned, his left hand covering his mouth while his right stretched. "Where is he?"
"I— I don't know." Naruto suddenly found himself asking whether or not he really heard something.
"Follow…"
"Did you hear that?" This time, Naruto heard the voice coming from his right.
"I don't hear anything." Kiba was growing more concerned by the minute.
"Did you get enough sleep last night?" Shino wondered whether Naruto was crazy.
"Come on!" Naruto blindly followed the whispers of the wind, leaving the others running in his wake.
Not long after, they entered a forest of giant trees. And at the base of one of those trees was a building half submerged in the soft soil.
"I advise you exercise caution… I will now leave you to do what you must."
"Naruto, hand me Sasuke's forehead protector." Kiba whispered as the others surveyed the surroundings.
"Here," Naruto handed Kiba the forehead protector. For a moment's pause, Kiba got a good sniff of the forehead protector. Then he sniffed the air.
"Naruto, Sasuke's not here." Kiba's face was serious.
"It's been three years." Naruto said, "Maybe his scent changed."
"Highly unlikely," said Shino "you can't just change the sweat you've been producing all your life."
"See?" Kiba wanted to leave. The place was a little too strange for comfort.
"Although," Shino continued. "with proper diet and conditioning, it is possible.
Hinata secretly used her Byakugan as the others quarrelled. She looked at the surroundings. She made sure that there was nobody around them, and then she looked at the inside of the building. It was made of many chambers, most of which merge with a central hall that ran through the center of the structure. But what baffled her was that she saw no people within the entire structure. No doors, no furniture, no traps… nothing. It seemed that the building was abandoned for quite a time. And for the first time, she had a deep feeling of doubt whether they should have followed Naruto here.
However, within the innermost chamber, someone has already felt their presence. And he has told of Oruchimaru of their 'visitors'…
Naruto: I've seen better...
Kyrie: I wasn't asking your opinion..
Naruto: You should...
Kyrie: Anyway, the next chapter's gonna be a monologue of one of the main characters... I hope you stick around for that...
Naruto: And don't forget to write up a good review before you leave, you know... what you think's gonna happen, how do you find his writing, name, address, birthdate, favorite animal, color, first love, first kiss...
