Summary: The H.E.A.T team are on assignment and this time they're dealing with two Godzilla Juniors. It's nurture vs. nature gone crazy especially when a disgruntled artist and a hyperactive ninja (guess who) become parents to giant fire breathing lizards with demon chakra powering up their pipes.
Author's Note: I don't own Naruto or Godzilla the series. This takes place in an alternate universe since I don't know how much damage bouncing baby lizards the size of football fields can make. I've been researching all over the place to make sure this story is believable. My friend and I have also thought up a few running gags to make sure this chapter is full of the funny.
(What happened so far)
"Oh! I see you taught the twins how to beat Sasuke up!" Murray cheered until he realized what he said and frowned, "You know that's not as funny. That don't bend that way right?"
"Mah . . . He looks more troublesome than when he left." Shikamaru lazily droned, hands in his front pockets knowing the gaping hole in the back of his pants was nothing to Sasuke's plight.
"Yuck," I cried finally being able to say something, "This looks worse than when he was taking steroids under Kabuto's care but the whole gene spliced deal is definitely Orochimaru's fault."
"Hey let's get him to Grandma Tsunade," Naruto quipped, "Someone dial 1-800-baachan! Believe it!"
Sakura bravely ran to Sasuke's side. She reached into her Kunai pouch. She pulled out her favorite black gloves. She cracked her knuckles. Round up for the pitch and . . . If Sasuke wasn't in pain before . . .
WA-BAM
. . . Oh boy is he moaning now . . .
"Sasuke you idiot!" Sakura openly sobbed, "You idiot! Idiot! Idiot! WHAT DID THAT SNAKE DO TO MY SASUKE-KUN?!"
She just went from mad to crying to cheery in five minutes flat as she looked up and beamed with a cheery grin saying, "Sasuke looks like hell but I'll make him well!"
Naruto and I respectively cringed. She gets scary around Sasuke. Believe me, the last time Sai said something bad about Sasuke just to test her, she bodily threw him off the Borealis Cruise Ship. Sai flew nearly two hundred feet away. Naruto proceeded to let the poor guy swim for it until I went to knocking skulls together. Good grief, we had to tie extra ropes and bed sheets to a life preserver and Yamato made Sakura throw it Sai's way. Sai had to spend days in sick bay for pneumonia, bruises, and a broken jaw.
Yamato took a deep breath and called everyone's attention.
"Clarity, Sakura, find some way to make a stretcher for Sasuke. He's going to need it. The rest of you, bring our gear back down from the mountain. Something tells me we should set up camp right here."
Kaiju Chaos Kyuubi Style
Chapter 3: New Names Under Lights
KRAK
GYAAAAAHHHHHH
I cringed, never have I ever heard Sasuke scream like that before. Sakura did suggest an anesthetic, but no, Sasuke decided if he was man enough to get mauled by lizards he was man enough to endure anything. Even if that meant Sakura dismembering and reassembling him with her bare hands while I had to pin him down during his screaming. I didn't know which was worse. My heart breaking at the sound of Sasuke in major pain (though he did kind of deserve it), watching in sick fascination as Sakura practically rebuilt Sasuke with the dedication of a sculptor, or be dumbfounded at the fact she was reading "The Scarlet Pimpernel"(1) because she was bored about spending time with Sasuke.
I mean she told me about how much she dreamed about being reunited with the man of her dreams ever since he left Konoha. She told me how much she just wanted to wrap her grateful arms around his, in her terms, sexy shoulders and cry into his chest whether he wants it or not. Yet now she was treating this day like she was treating an unruly patient. Kind of takes the romance out of everything; I mean Sakura being indifferent and Sasuke keeps trying to deny the fact that he's in tears. Personally, as for me, I love him like a little brother, I'm just glad to see him again even though this dose of cold hard reality was not what I had in mind.
"Alright," Sakura cheered, "All done, Sasuke, try to rest and don't move too much. I'll be right back with some dinner or something."
(Somewhere up a mountain)
"Hey, hey, hey, hey," Shikamaru scolded, "You, yeah you, put that down!"
The red eyed one gave him an apologetic glance before spitting out what was once Shikamaru's prized game of Shogi(2). Shikamaru picked up the poor game board. He squirmed under the feel of drool betwixt his fingers. Murray, Naruto, Sai, and even the red eyed one's golden eyed twin popped her head in. Shikamaru dropped the board with a sigh.
"I think we need to find a way to distinguish one lizard from the other." Sai observed, "It's kind of confusing when they answer to the same name."
"Hey Lizard!" Naruto called, by which the two turned.
"Prrrrrrr," Shogi purred.
"What Papa what?" The gold eyed one hissed.
"Oh duh of course," Murray beamed, "Names, let's give'em names!"
"Hey what's the slow down," Yamato asked until he spotted the brown little goofball, "Oh gee Shikamaru you made a new friend."
"and I just lost my Shogi board," Shikamaru sighed, "Poor poor Shogi."
"Grawwwwwr," The lizard roared as if to say 'what you mention me?'
"That one's Shogi," Sai observed, "but what can we name the female."
Murray snapped his fingers at a bright idea, "How about call Shogi's sister Jira! You know like Godzilla's traditional name Gojira(3) except without the 'Go.'"
"Jira," The gold eyed one responded, tasting the sound of the name on her tongue, "I like it. Call me Jira! Believe it!"
"That's my girl!" Naruto beamed proudly. Shikamaru slapped him upside the head causing the spiky haired blonde to flinch.
"You know Naruto," Yamato warned his orange clad teammate giving him the scariest "ghoul eyes" possible, "It is good common sense to not get attached to the wildlife."
"Grahhhhhhh Scary Boy Scary Boy!" Jira squealed as she backhanded Yamato.
CRASH
Yamato got sent flying down the mountain.
(Meanwhile at the new camp Clarity's point of view)
Sakura practically skipped out the door. Sasuke sulked and I mean big time. Sure Sakura did a wonderful job in healing him. He looked as good as new but something told me, she left an arm and leg broken on purpose to deny him a chance at freedom. I've heard of a ball and chain but this crutch and cast deal is ridiculous.
I tossed Sasuke a bottle of spring water and handed him an aspirin saying, "Here you'll need this." Sasuke downed the aspirin and chugged the water one handed since his other arm was in a sling. I grabbed a few extra blankets and slung them over his shoulders. Sasuke scowled at me but buried himself under the layers as best he could. It was the closest I could ever get to a thank you until Sakura was up the mountain out of ear shot.
"Arigato(4) . . . Clarity," Sasuke whispered, voice hoarse from all that screaming.
"I'm going to be so behind in my training because of this," he snarled before turning my way, "Why didn't you stop them?!"
"Oh, you mean the lizard twins?" I asked as I sat next to Sasuke, gauging him a little before I opened my mouth to speak, "We didn't know what happened to you until that fight. I'm just glad you're alive at all."
"You still remember our little bet?" he asked, fingers running along the tag around his neck, you see this was the person I signed the two way summoning contract(5) with. We made a bet to see who could hold down the spiciest curry and while I had only eaten a little bit. He actually engorged himself to the point he made himself sick. Eventually he couldn't hold it down anymore and since I tricked him into it we called it a draw. He actually comes to crash on my couch most weekends and I stay out of the way as he plots to kill his brother. Yes the bet was stupid but the bond we got out of it I wouldn't trade for the world.
"I remember our bet like the back of my hand but you promised me," I spat unable to hold it in, "You promised me not to let yourself get abused for power and what do I find?! SOME IDIOT WHO JUST WENT NUTS AND GOT HIMSELF CROSSED WITH SOME MUTATED MONSTER!!"
"Clarity, cool it," Sasuke begged.
"Oh no I'm not cooling down now I'M FURIOUS," I screeched and grabbed his hand to shove it in his face, Sasuke was too stunned when I showed him the little fleshy funnels he had in the middle of his palms, "If I weren't behind a camera I'd have literally throttled you for letting this happen to yourself. Wouldn't your brother be proud? You're already one step away from following in his footsteps and getting yourself killed."
I know my words stung but I wanted them to sting. I was mad and I do not take things like that lying down.
"Sasuke, if Naruto were in my position right now; he'd have punched you in the face and beat you to a pulp. We haven't seen you in forever." I rambled though Naruto already did punch him . . . Twice and is actually the real reason Sasuke got both of his limbs on one side in a cast even after the twin lizards tore him to shreds. He tried to get up but couldn't even stand. He was wobbling with the effort.
"Just rest Sasuke," I told him, "Trust me, you aren't in danger. Of course, I could also tie you to the floor than you'd definitely be at our lovely medic's wrath I mean tender loving care."
"As if," Sasuke grimaced, "First I get beaten up by babies and that Idiot suddenly turns around and finds strength I never knew he had. Sssooo, where does that leave me?"
"Selling yourself short for seeking all the wrong kinds of power," I chided, "You need to rest. Even Iruka keeps preaching that jutsus are nothing when a body doesn't get . . ."
ZZZZZ
He fell asleep. He freaking fell asleep leaning into my shoulder no less! I could feel him sighing into the small of my neck; lungs had taken in larger amounts of air then were humanly possible. It left me kind of touched; it's rare for him to ever do something like that with anybody. It also left me very worried. Oh man if Sakura were to catch us like this she'd get the wrong idea. I mean I love him like a brother, and Sasuke keeps telling me I remind him of his mom for crying out loud! Good grief, I'm not into getting romantic with people I consider family, that's just disturbing. Sakura will still kick my tail end black and blue when she sees this. Too bad I can't move, my legs fell asleep and a certain someone just got real comfortable real fast.
(Meanwhile up the mountain Third Person point of view)
Sakura trudged up the snowy mountain with a lot on her mind. As glad as she was to see Sasuke again, she still had to be realistic. They were far away from home. Murray and Clarity's cell phones had made their own mysterious disappearances and in their place, stood giant baby lizards. She thought they were threats but after the way that big black lizard warmed up to her 'parents' and fought to protect her biological brother, she had no idea what to do anymore. She had a feeling Team Kakashi was going to be in way over their heads.
She distributed chakra along the soles of her feet just so she could stay atop the powdery snow. She giggled at the trail Naruto had left in his caffeine induced craze chasing Clarity. The sight that did throw her for a loop however was seeing a big brown, red eyed bipedal lizard grinning like Naruto carrying everyone else's camping supplies and equipment. Well he dropped half of it while the other half his scraggy onyx skinned sister picked up.
"Shogi, Shogi, you dropped this," the gold eyed one, now named Jira, keened to her excited red eyed brother, Shogi.
"Ah don't mind Shogi," Naruto called to Jira as he kept his own little bag handy, walking cheerfully down the mountain, "He's just happy to help."
"I'm happy to help too," Jira pouted puffing out the cheeks of her triangular long head.
"Hey Naruto," Sakura called with a wave.
"Papa, She-man's looking at you again," Jira shouted, "Are you two an item or what?" Jira of course did not know what the slang word 'item' meant yet.
Sakura twitched, a hit nerve running up her spine as she thought, 'She-man? did that thing . . . just . . . call . . . me . . .'
'YOU'RE GOING DOWN LIZARD LIPS!' Sakura's inner self shrieked.
"Uh . . . Papa," Jira asked waving a hand in front of a stunned Naruto's face.
"SHANNAROO," Sakura roared, going berserk. She blazed up the mountain leaving a flurry of snow at her boot heels. Jira looked up only to get pelt with a chakra powered punch to her stomach that sent her reeling.
Jira slowed back a bit and lunged skyward. Sakura grabbed Jira's tail and tugged. Jira slammed into the snow, camping stuff went flying. Sakura smirked but Jira lashed out a back foot. Her long toes curled around Sakura's boot. Jira slithered forward and into the dirt leaving Sakura screaming from the neck up.
"Are you okay She-man?" Sai asked but too late. Sakura's wrath tripled.
WHAMMO
Sai earned an upper cut launching him thirty feet back from whence he came. Yamato shakily got to his feet from his roll downhill. He gave his sore neck a good rub. Checking for injuries, so far so good he was still alive. Only to have a flying pale ninja come crashing down from the sky.
WHOMPH
Never had the two guys ever been so glad for the extra thick snow fall. Meanwhile the twins disappeared . . . Again. No one knew where they went. Though let's just say it involved a couple of cell phones. Two fresh young minds were about to either put a rescue plan at ease or cause a heap of trouble. Of course no one saw them leave since Naruto was busy trying to yank Sakura up by her hair like a carrot pulled up from the ground.
(Meanwhile at some lab in Staten Island)
A slow day for the H.E.A.T(6) team was pretty much like a bored day in the office sometimes. Randy Hernandez, hacker extraordinaire, was busy killing off an alien hive in his favorite video game! His copper skin glistened, his short black dread locks bounced with his insane button mashing. It never bothered him he was the youngest member of the team. His high score suddenly went to zero when he ogled his long time crush French Secret Service Agent Monique Dupree walk by polishing up an old Wesley Shotgun from her private collection. In fact, it was no surprise to the team that as he turned around on his chair he got twisted in his game controller's wires as he fell out of his chair.
WHUMPH
"Ouch," he replied breaking the silence, "Concrete floors and soft landings just simply do not agree right chicka?" He looked to Monique hoping to get a coup out of her. What he got was the view down the tubes of a Winchester Rifle.
"You're lucky I don't bring bullets," The French/half Vietnamese woman replied with a pronounced French accent, "Otherwise I'm certain Nick would have a bloody carpet instead of concrete flooring." This was her version of joking. Mendel Craven, the heavyset blonde electronics whiz of H.E.A.T. fought the urge to tremble as he forced out a high squeaky nerve induced laugh. Sure Monique was drop dead gorgeous with her almond eyes, short dark hair, rich tan skin and that tank top was reinforcing her well developed hour glass figure very well in Randy's opinion. Of course the last time someone looked at her wrong, she decided to do target practice with live people. She was in a bad mood after getting slugged by a giant white slug that she literally took a machine gun to its head and opened fire.
Mendel was trying to piece together poor NIGEL, his beloved "Next-millennium Intelligence Gathering Electronic Liaison" robot. Usually he looked like a neon yellow low tech moped with a bunch of odds and ends tech all over him with a rounded face for eye contact. Mendel was thankful N.I.G.E.L's "head" was intact. The slug had sprayed acid and turned the rest of Nigel into a mess of hardened mush.
"Poor guy," Mendel muttered to N.I.G.E.L, "Whelp at least you didn't get destroyed . . . yet." He fumbled around in his pocket for his inhaler.
"Strong is the force. High sodium is her acid content yes?" N.I.G.E.L asked sounding exactly like Yoda. Mendel threw N.I.G.E.L's "head" hard as he went flying across the lab.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh" N.I.G.E.L screamed just as he was programmed. Suddenly Mendel felt guilty, and ran for the elevator as N.I.G.E.L rolled under Dr. Elsie Chapman's feet.
Elsie's long red hair had a case of static cling. The sarcastic Paleo-biologist fluffed out her oversized green sweatshirt. She loathed the gunk that got all over her brown skinny jeans. Her blue green sneakers were fine. What was freaking her out was a slug that could talk.
"Please pardon my attack on Denver," the little white slug(7) they took as a science sample spoke in the voice of a young woman not even in her twenties, "I'm sorry for creating chaos but Tsunade-sama told me we wouldn't even be able to meet you unless I started destroying something."
KRSH
Elsie dropped her beaker, after she found out the voice came from the slug and not from Randy hacking N.I.G.E.L's voice output device again. Not one to be out said. She wiped a hand over her cheek and decided to give the slug a piece of her mind.
"Oh yeah sure," Elsie sarcastically scoffed with her hands spread wide, "As if mentally scarring half a billion crazed football fans in Denver stadium is not scary enough. I'm happy the Denver broncos are never going to look at escargo the same way again."
The slug rolled and laughed. A helpless smile curled the corners of her x-shaped mouth. She knew these non-ninja civilians could be dense; specially after having to rescue one certain civilian more times than she could fall apart. Still it was an emergency that Tsunade-sama summoned her for. She just didn't have time to enjoy this red head's sharp tongued sarcasm a moment longer.
"Tsunade-sama wanted me to hand a certain bingo book to a Nick Tatopolis if I'm right?"
She peeled her slimy body away to reveal a new leather bound book with the words 'Don't kill highlighted people' written in rustic scribbled English. The white Slug disappeared in a puff of smoke. Elsie's eyes grew to the size of saucers. She frantically scrambled for tongs and a baggie. She picked the slimy book up with the tongs. She cursed the book for slipping and decided . . .
"Ah screw it I'll just grab it with my bare hands." Elsie snorted as she turned the baggie inside out, grabbed the book and turned the baggie outside in again. The evil little grin on her face was priceless. She wiggled the bag between her thumb and pointer finger. She dialed up her favorite little stool pigeon Dr. Nick Tatopolis, the researcher and head of the H.E.A.T team. What made her even angrier was she was put on hold.
(Somewhere on a romantic getaway bound to turn ugly, Third person point of view.)
Nick planned on doing this, he had it all planned and figured out in his head, even Animal got into it. Animal suggested that he take his on again off again romance Audrey Talbot, to the most romantic restaurant in town. Unfortunately it turned out to be a hot dog stand with an amazing view. As long as you looked past the big neon sign for Chuck E. Cheeses. He always told him miracles happened at this hot dog stand. Too bad, Nick never planned ahead right to face Audrey's wrath.
"YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ROMANTIC!" Audrey roared, she dressed in a pink slinky formal dress that hugged her model figure like a bun hugs a hot dog. She tapped the toe of her stiletto blue pumps. Veins were actually popping out of her forehead, "I thought you promised me an interesting evening Nicky."
"Oh ho ho don't stop now Nick," Victor "Animal" Pallotti the loud mouthed Italian-american new Yorker flashed his hundred watt grin with his beloved camera rolling, "This is just gettin' good!"
"Turn the camera off Animal," Audrey quipped before turning to Nick, Nick combed his brunette hair the way he always does, tucked his t-shirt into his loose pants, and tugged uncomfortably at the neck of his open button down shirt he looked at the daimond band in his hand as Audrey continued to give him a piece of his mind, "I can't you believe you take me to this dump of a hot dog stand."
"Dah . . . Well it was Animal's idea," Nick feebly replied, hands up in the surrender position.
"And I proposed to Lucy right here at this hot dog stand thank you," Animal quipped when he fondly thought of how his wife Lucy did the same Audrey was doing to Nick the day he proposed there.
"Animal turn the camera off," Audrey quipped again, "Nick when I get through with you you're going to be worm food."
"Yeah that is if you could get past Godzilla," Nick voiced when a noise broke the ice.
GRAWWWWRRRRR
"Animal turn the camera off," Audrey quipped, "What's that noise."
"Oh that's my phone," Animal chuckled as he reached deep inside his pocket, "Lucy got it for me since Godzilla ate the last one. Check it out, it's got this speakerphone feature."
"Shogi!" The voice on the other line quipped, "Shogi! Gimme the phone! I wanna call help!"
"Excuse me but who is this?" Nick softly asked.
"Grawr," Shogi roared but the other voice loudly hissed.
"This is Jira, the roar was Shogi," spoke the other voice, Jira, "Is there a doctor in the house?"
"I'm Dr. Nick Tatopolis," Nick answered, "Why did you call?"
"Papa needs help!" Jira roared, "A Monsters beating him up again. She's kind of pink with hideous green eyes. She's scaring me!"
"Okay and this makes sense how?" Audrey asked, "Animal turn the camera off."
"Nuh-ah" Animal grinned, "This is getting interesting."
"The monster just launched papa two hundred feet into the air! He's going to die!" Jira sobbed.
"Hey why don'tcha turn the phone you're on to the scene of the crime so we could see what's going on little girl," Animal joked but the things that trio heard made their blood run cold.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no," A young teenage boy screamed, "Not there . . . NOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"SHANNAROO!" The Monster screamed. Horrible sounds of carnage and battle could be heard in the background.
"That sounds like a mutation," Nick murmured to himself, awestruck at hearing the display of extreme physical power.
"So what are you going to do?" Audrey asked, "You going to run after the little monsters again?"
"Actually, I don't feel like a hot dog anymore," Nick concluded, "We don't have solid evidence of Mutatation activity yet so . . . You want to do Chinese takeout and a movie?"
"Sure anywhere but here," Audrey drawled as she leaned into Nick for support.
"Alleution Islands!" Jira cheered, causing the trio to gulp.
"What did you just say sweety," Audrey deadpanned, "Animal turn . . . That . . . Camera . . . OFF!"
"hmmmmm . . . No," Animal replied, "So you see, I told you miracles happen at this hot dog stand."
(Meanwhile back at the new camp Clarity's Point of View)
I never knew I could be getting heat stroke right off the coast of Alaska. Man whoever starts to really wanting to date Sasuke better be someone with a high tolerance for heat or really hate the cold because his whole body was making the room as warm as a summer day in the sand dunes. The whole inside of the cabin glowed cadmium red with each little burst of flame piping out the blow holes swiveling in his back. Augh, I had to take off my parka revealing my cute little paisley wrap top underneath.
Sasuke's soft breath echoed through my ears. His lungs breathed extra deep, talk about lung capacity. His skin coated in a fine sheen of sweat. Great, I wasn't the only one who felt like a hot dog at a weenie roast. I turned around and shook Sasuke gently by his shoulder. When that didn't work I tried the next best thing.
"Hey Sasuke! B.L.T.!" I yelled, Sasuke shot up like a rocket with a slight wobble of cast encased limbs.
"Where," he beamed perking like the cat hearing the can opener.
"Glad to see you're awake," I crooned while rolling Sasuke into a standing position, "We really need to get out of here before you burn the place to ribbons."
"Don't you mean from ashes to ashes from dust to dust," Sasuke teased, "This is the warmest I've been all year."
"Uh yeah," I quipped slipping on my parka (this is still the Aleutian Islands), grabbing Sasuke and shoving him out the door. "Because you are your own heat source."
Sasuke looked at me like I lost my marbles. Good grief he so needed a crutch or something. Sasuke took one step out the door, slipped and ended up doing the splits! I cringed but the poor guy was bound and determined not to cry! Still the tears held back at the corners of his eyes were really surprising. Was Sasuke actually ever that sensitive to anything before? Oh sure any guy would be sensitive if he got hit in the nether regions but, it made me wonder what that Mutation DNA was really doing to his system.
"Sasuke, what was Orochimaru having you do when you were out wreaking havoc?" I asked as I offered up my shoulder, arm, and a little help up.
"He was having me gather things such as residue, scales, feathers, slobber, blood, and . . ." He shivered at having to gather the last thing for Orochimaru . . . unmentionables.
"It all started with a giant fire bug which . . ." Sasuke shamefully bowed his head at this, "Well, you're looking at the results. He promised me Kabuto could reverse whatever's been done to me which means he will not, and he wanted someone down in those harsh environments meaning me. It's supposed to be a secret. You tell Naruto or anyone else about this and I promise you I won't be able to protect you or anyone from the white snake's wrath."
"Well you don't have to be totally ashamed," I soothed, "Lean into me a bit; take the weight off your broke leg, you're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for."
"In what," Sasuke growled, his chakra spiked, telling me we were going to have company soon. Good grief, he's such an introvert. I rolled my eyes.
"I don't know," I chuckled, "Maybe in the fact you've the gumption to actually say you worry about others for once."
"I do not!" Sasuke snapped.
"You do too." I snapped back, "and I quote 'You tell Naruto or anyone else about this and I promise you I won't be able to protect you or anyone from the white snake's wrath.' That came from your lips Sasuke so don't give me any lip saying that you're not that kind, loving kid I know you are."
"Of course I'm not," He snapped, "I just like being cold, cynical, and . . ."
WHHHHHHHHHHHH
A cold wind whistled by sending Sasuke the shivers. So much for the ultimate heat source. I leaned Sasuke against a tree before I ran back inside, unsealed a few sweatshirts and an extra jacket from my art kit. Yes I usually use these things for smocks but since we were out in the middle of nowhere it was better warmth than nothing. I ran out and Sasuke Uchiha was already hobbling away.
"SASUKE UCHIHA," I roared using his full name, Sasuke sweat dropped and started hopping faster, "You get back here now!"
"Make me Harp-eek!" Sasuke squeaked.
WHOMPF
I just hit him with a rock. He shook it off and started to army crawl away.
I jumped him and a big fight ensued. Sasuke struggled, punching with his free hand. He sent a kick to my face, causing me to back up a bit. Having enough, I jammed my boot heel into his broken leg.
SCREEEEEEEEE
That last scream didn't even sound human. I kneed him in the gut. Sasuke struggled to keep me from forcing his head into a sweatshirt. Well too darn bad, it's not going to be my fault that he catches a cold. I stomped on the outside of his foot. His ankle twisted as tears sprung a leak in his eyes.
"What were you thinking making me wear this," he spat as I shoved a second sweatshirt over his head, "I am not a doll for your amusement." If Sasuke's other arm wasn't in a sling I wouldn't have been able to sock him one in the gut.
FWOK
"You are going to dress properly like it or not," I quipped as Sasuke clutched his queasy stomach, "I don't care if you're even half bug, half idiot, this is the mountains. Never sacrifice function for fashion."
"Is this even necessary," Sasuke uncharacteristically whined, The outer shirt I picked out for him literally had the logo, 'HUG ME' written all over it. His cheeks turned as pink as the little hearts appliquéd into the sleeves. "I'm not your stupid doll."
"Yeah you're right your not my doll, but you're still one of the closest things I have to a bratty little brother," I chirped ruffling Sasuke's hair while he let me help him into the jacket that he demanded I zip up before he gets caught in a girly sweat shirt that said 'HUG ME.' Too bad I didn't tell him that the back of the jacket also said 'HUG ME.' I ought to know, I sewed it there myself.
GRAHHHHAAWWRRR
GAAAAAARRRRRRRR
A couple roars caught my ears, along with the high pitched hissing sound of chakra. Naruto, Sai, Yamato, and Sakura excluding Shikamaru looked like they'd been run through the ringer. Naruto was limping a little with a hand at his tail bone. Sai kind of swayed a little and Yamato was barely able to hold him up. Sakura just stormed in looking frazzled. Sasuke decided to take a step back to avoid being launched 200 feet into the air. I was about to ask what happened to them, but Naruto placed a finger to my lips.
"Sakura happened," Naruto answered, "After Jira opened her big fat mouth."
"Jira?" I asked with an arched eyebrow.
"What you mentioned me?" the gold eyed one asked.
"It was troublesome having two babies answer to Lizard all the time so we named the male Shogi and the female Jira." Shikamaru beamed which in his case was more like a light bulb going out.
"I'M NOT A BABY!" Jira whined.
"Oh yeah?" Shikamaru dead panned a grin spreading across his face, "Then how old are you."
" . . ." Jira thought and thought but once she figured out how old she really was, "No comment,"
"Good," Shikamaru toned stretching before folding both arms behind his head, "I rest my case."
"I'm not resting mine there's something I forgot uphill." I confessed, "Besides a little talk I want to have with everybody later. Right now, to the mountain top!"
"You're going back up the mountain!" Shikamaru whined, "But we already brought everything back from the old campsite. What can you possibly forget up a mountain?"
"We even brought your coffee thermos down the mountain," Yamato added holding up my thermos betwixt his fingers. I looked at him like he lost his mind.
"That's not what I'm talking about," I mused aloud, I went to where Sasuke was hiding in the shadows and hoisted him over my shoulder the same way a man does a fifty pound bag of rice. Seriously, Sasuke really needed a crutch or something, but I wasn't going to let him hobble away either. He glowered at me while Naruto openly fell to the forest floor laughing.
"Hahahahahahaha," Naruto chortled his eyes leaking, "Nice outfit Sasuke, what'd Clarity do make you wear a girly sweat shirt?"
"Shut up!" Sasuke fumed while Sakura was suppressing the urge to strangle me or giggle at the fact Sasuke had on a jacket with the words 'HUG ME' sewn on in Curly q letters on the back.
"Hey Clarity what're you doing with Sasuke get back here," Shikamaru ordered, picking up the pace. I glanced at my watch, still at least twenty minutes to go. I remembered one of the shinobi rules Naruto's teacher Kakashi told me about was never leave a prisoner unguarded but worse yet "never take a traitor with you." If anything, There was nineteen minutes to go and if sending a bunch of already haggardly tired ninjas on a wild goose chase was enough to kill time so be it. At least they were out of ear shot further up the mountain.
"Clarity what are you planning?" Sasuke hissed; Sai had an inked rat on my tail.
SPING
Sasuke threw a kunai at the rat as it melted into a blob of fresh ink; force of habit for the traveling ninja always taking out a tracking device. Sasuke's already done this to six actually make that eight cell phones of mine when I told him I could track his chakra signature via the Google Earth app. Hey for him it was a bad habit he picked up while avoiding rabid fangirls. For me it was advantage of having 53 kg of cartable security. Sasuke is no light weight. My back was hurting like Hades in a handbag. Of course, what better bait to use on team Kakashi than their pouting long lost buddy, yes?
"Urgh," I growled with the effort of kneeling down so Sasuke could put his good foot down and stand better. I could feel Sasuke's whole body leaning on my sore shoulder as I rose to check the clock on my cell phone. Sasuke already had a hand to his sword. I flinched at the slight flux of chakra.
"Oh no you don't," I quipped putting my hand on the hilt of his snake sword, "You kill my phone; I hurt you; kill me and the lizards might just start getting a taste for humans."
Sasuke blanched at the thought of becoming lizard food for Shogi and Jira. Speak of the lizards here they came running now. Jira, thinking this was all a big game, decided to grab Sai and hoist him around by the seat of his pants. Sakura was on the war path, eyes blazing and knuckles cracking. Shogi with his vulpine grin had Shikamaru by his chunin vest and was dangling him around like a sock monkey. Naruto suddenly barreled past the group with a rasengan ready for my face. Yamato came just in time to grab the hot head by the collar.
"Hold it everyone you know the deal," Yamato chided, "Kill the client and we fail the mission." I checked the clock of my cell phone before looking to the sky with a silent grin, countdown over. The light show had just begun.
"What is with you!" Sakura fumed as she grabbed me by the scruff of my Parka. Sasuke almost face planted. He grabbed my shoulder and struggled to stand.
"Oh just admiring the view up there." I answered, pointing my finger skyward.
At least seven pairs of eyes, human and lizard alike (my eyes included), looked up in awe at the smoky billowy stream of light up in the northern sky. A kaleidoscope of colors swirled across the moonless night like steam rising from a nice hot cup of mint chocolate coffee. As the colors swirled and danced I grabbed my DSLR camera and began snapping pictures. Shikamaru found a good patch of ground laid back and enjoyed the show. Sasuke's mouth was doing a good impression of an angler fish. Sakura had that glittery look in her jade eyes that she normally gets when seeing the sun set or when she sees the dog Akamaru chase off the annoying neighborhood cat at 3:00 A.M. The corners of Yamato's lips went down, his bottom lip jutted out as he got into this thinking pose wondering if Kurenai could use this image in any genjutsus. Sure, Naruto would've loved to give Sasuke heck for finally showing emotion on his face but he was too busy staring dumbstruck. Then there's Sai, whose face became so blank, arms gone limp, and if he turned to his side and stuck out his tongue, he'd look like a zipper off a polar bear suit.
"Oy Sai," I called and went to snapping my fingers in front of his face only to get no answer, "Oh Saaiiii . . . Sai? . . Sai . . . YO SAI!"
"NANI!" He snapped, spinning around Kunai in hand. I grabbed his wrist and let him struggle a little until he knew it was me in front of him. Sai was raised to be in this ANBU group known as ROOT and believe me having an emotionless killing machine as an art apprentice really tests one's patience. I don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that he's been finding his emotions. Lately it's been a bad thing that he rigged my art supplies to explode on contact. Most studious guy I ever met. Still his social graces are a haphazard work in progress.
"Oh Claire-sensei is that you?" He asked, "It's so wonderful to freak you."
Yeah he has a way with words. I already got used to that. I asked, "Do you have your camera?"
"Hai!"
"Then go shoot pictures! Believe me, you never know the next time a beautiful show like this ever happens again." I chirped
"Well actually it happens every year from September 22 to March 22 in the northern latitude regions whenever it gets dark!" Sai beamed, causing me to face palm.
"Oh just grab your camera and shoot some pictures before you ruin the moment!" I snapped, causing Sai to jump, he looked around nervously scratching his cheek a little, "and what're you going to say?"
"Um . . . Ah . . . Ah," Sai stuttered at a loss for words.
"SPIT IT OUT DUDE!" I roared.
"Can I take a picture of myself and all my friends?" Sai asked.
"Why didn't you say so before?" I chuckled, "Here, you can borrow my tripod. This is how you set the timer, and there's a good spot over there. Just point click and shoot."
"Can Jira, Shogi and . . . And. . . Sasuke come into the picture too besides you of course?" he asked, oh now that struck a chord, I mean awkward, yes, but I've never had anyone ever ask me if I wanted to be in a picture before. Usually I'm just there.
"What how to book have you been reading now?" I asked. He reached into his bag and grabbed a dog eared paperback called "How to Ask of Others: A guide for requests and thank you."
I shook my head laughing, "Sai take it from someone who knows if you're going to just say something, say it from your heart. Trust me, that's one little pro-social lesson no book can teach you, but yeah sure, I'll call Sasuke and the twins over." I ruffled Sai's black hair as I turned to catch Shogi and Jira. Sasuke was still using me as an impromptu crutch.
"Clarity I don't want my picture taken," Sasuke hissed in my ear, "Especially not in this girly jacket." Oh yes Sasuke still never quite learned how to swallow his pride, at least not in public . . . Yet.
"Sasuke don't be such a downer," I hissed back, "Just enjoy the moment. Good grief, you're not the only one who looks like a wreck. I've still got egg gunk down my back, stains from falling down a tree, and dirt all over me. Personally I think I'm ready for my close up." Sasuke split his sides laughing as I continued. "There you see, just smile and you'll look fine."
Sai got the picture that he wanted of the group under the Northern Lights.
Yamato stood in the back with a stoic smile a little behind Sakura and her tentative approach at a cute girly grin. Naruto and I proceeded to give each other bunny ears by our grin split faces. Sasuke wobbled off balance a little, his zipper broke opening to reveal the 'HUG ME' sweatshirt underneath the jacket. Shogi and Jira were out in front of the team giving Sai a bone crushing hug. Yet the one thing to light this picture up was the glow of the northern lights. Who would trade a picture like that for the world?
Entertaining Footnotes: This is just a refresher or just a few clues and hints for those that may be unfamiliar with either Naruto or Godzilla: the Series. I also included a few hints on how Clarity ended becoming familiar with the Ninja World.
(1) "The Scarlet Pimpernal"-A classic book written by Baroness Orczy who got inspired by seeing some guy in a London Subway Station. The series has been a big hit ever since. Let's just say the guy was the "batman" or avenger of his time.
(2)Shogi-Shogi is actually a form of Japanese Chess. The chess pieces are exactly the same color but they are also shaped into an arrow like shape with the kanji for the pieces on top.
(3)Gojira- Godzilla's original Japanese name.
(4)Arigato-Japanese word for Thank you. I've certain you've heard it in sayings such as "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto"
(5)Summoning Contract- In the Naruto Ninja World, you can sign an animal contract to summon certain animals to help you in battle. Jiraiya has the toad contract. The third Hokage has a monkey contract. Yet the contract created in this story between Sasuke and Clarity is a reverse Summoning Contract, original only to Clarity in Konoha. Sasuke is able to reverse summon himself and anything he wants with him over to anywhere around Clarity's vicinity. Rumor has it he can also reverse summon Clarity but I have yet to see that happen.
(6)H.E.A.T- "Humanist Enviromental Analysis Team" or as the overall public calls them, Monster Hunters.
(7)The Little White Slug-Okay I know this is a little cruel but I want you to guess at who the slug is. It's actually apart of a summoning contract. It just tickled my fancy to have this famous Naruto Character attack Denver Stadium. I've got nothing against any sports teams or Denver but we've had plenty of other cities attacked such as New York, or Tokyo. I decided why not have a problem in the "Mile High City" for a change besides the wild traffic.