Naruto ached all over especially his right arm which was bandaged in a sling. He blinked his bleary eyes open to see the familiar sight of the medical ward ceiling How many times had he woken up to see that view? A blonde woman came into his line of sight.
"Baa-chan…" He said weakly making her smile.
"I told you not to call me that, idiot" but she ruffled his hair affectionately. "So what happened on the mission? I need someone to explain what's going on."Naruto looked confused then his eyes widened and he moved to sit up but the woman stopped him. "Oh no you don't, you're not moving for a little while longer at least."
Naruto turned to see the top of his bandaged right arm slowly healing from blackened burnt skin to a fresh pink.
"I can't believe it… she did it…" he said in disbelief.
"She?"
"The swordsman got a hit and cursed my arm, after that there wasn't much I could do with one arm… I was dying, I could feel it. The curse was stopping me from healing. I decided to try the new summoning justu I'd been working on as a last resort… Then bam! There was this weirdly dressed girl sitting in a crater, she somehow called this giant spirit wolf to protect her which finally took down Tetsugi. She started talking to herself about not leaving me to die and last thing I saw she was glowing white. Then I woke up here." Naruto explained almost in one breath, watching the different expressions flick across Tsunade's face.
"Wait you said you used a summoning jutsu? What were you trying to summon?"
"Well it was supposed to be combination of sage power and a hybrid natural jutsu I created to summon the spirit of the forest…"
"You idiot!" Tsunade stood up suddenly and began pacing. "So that's what happened! You summoned that girl from another dimension! Instead of summoning the spirit, you summoned someone who could!" Tsunade continued pacing, Naruto just looked stunned. "No wonder she can't remember… the shock of pulling her from one dimension to another must have wiped memories specific to her world, so the strain of remembering two worlds doesn't drive her insane…"
"Wait, what!? She can't remember anything? Is she here?" Naruto said sitting up suddenly then regretting it.
"Yes you dumbass! She broke through my ranks and sailed clean over the wall to get you to the hospital! Almost all of my ninja were rendered completely useless!"
"Woah…" Naruto said half impressed, half worried for her and what it would mean for the village.
"Now they're all out there looking for her and it's your fault! I told you not to use unauthorised Justus in battle!" Said yelled, pointing an accusing finger at him.
"She's hiding somewhere in the village?"
"Yes I don't know how she's doing it though, she's lost and confused, and as soon as you're fit enough to leave you'll be in charge of finding her so you can start to make amends."
Naruto hung his head. I want to find her anyway Baa-chan… She saved my life.
Kimika opened her eyes slowly, she was lying in grass looking up at what seemed to be a dark forest. "What happened?"
Sorry I had to get us out of there so I used a power your body wasn't quite ready for yet.
"Where are we?"
I think we're in some kind of survival training ground, I couldn't sense anyone within, so this old forest seemed the safest.
Kimika looked around at all the gnarly, blackened trees full of scrapes and discarded weapons.
"I need to go back and see if he's alright… I still have some of his things and I want to make sure I didn't mess up and leave part of the curse behind…"
I'm sure you did a fine job, you can go see him but first you need to replenish your life energy before we try that again. In other words, you need to eat something and then try absorbing energy from the forest."
"Okay… though it looks like the forest could use a little energy from me…"
Well that's sort of how it works, a give and take of energies which is why you need food and strength. Try those berries, they're poisonous, but if you purify them they should be a good food source.
She did as instructed and they were delicious, she waited a moment just to make sure the poison had been completely extracted then ate some more. She felt so much better. She left the blade on the floor near Kuruka and walked over to the nearest and probably biggest tree. Branches we broken, parts were burnt off completely. She found herself feeling sorry for the tree.
"It looks like you need some love…" she mumbled putting her hand on the tree's trunk. She felt the bark under her fingertips move and went to recoil her hand but it was stuck in place. She watched fascinated as the bark around her hand grew greener, healthier and more alive. She placed her other hand on the tree and the same thing happened. Life spread over the tree turning it from a blackish hue into a beautiful stunning brown and green giant, full of life once more.
Suddenly her hands were released and she stepped back to admire the great oak with a smile. White spores seemed to appear from the trees newly grown leaves and floated down to her. She took another step back and the spores flew into her making her glow white once more, accompanied with a feeling of sudden elation.
"Wow…" She breathed and Kuruka smiled, "Is that the exchange you were talking about? That was amazing! Look at that! It's beautiful…"
Hahaha that it is… you realise you've just given our position away now… but you have more than enough life energy, I would have gone for a sapling myself, but well done.
"Oh crap your right." Kimika ran over to the blade swung it on her back and felt the blue cat jump up on her shoulders, "Let's go."
They vanished in a swirl of blue white light just as twenty agitated ninja descended on the now vacated spot.
Kimika felt her feet hit the ground and she wobbled slightly. She found herself standing in an almost empty hospital ward.
"Woah… that's going to take some getting used to…" She mumbled under her breath as she tiptoed over to the bedside. Naruto lay peacefully on the bed with a newly bandaged arm in a sling. "He's still not awake…" she said quietly, hearing worry in her voice. "Should I try it again just to make sure?" as she said it she brushed the hair out of his eyes again, a habit she seemed to be getting used to. Kuruka jumped from her shoulders and sniffed at him.
No, he's cured, look his arm is healing nicely.
"Oh phew… is he not fully healed yet then?" she untied the cumbersome blade and set it aside so she could sit in the chair at his bedside. She felt herself take his hand without meaning to. "Why is nobody here to see him though… oh right… they're probably out looking for me." She had an uneasy feeling but she couldn't place what it was. There was something different about him… She looked at his face but couldn't see it, she spotted it suddenly and stood up.
What's wrong?
"His jacket… I think we should get out of here, something's up." Kimika mouthed signalling for Kuruka to jump up. Suddenly the chair behind her burst in a puff of smoke and she felt arms wrap around her. Kuruka froze and hissed.
"Wait, I don't want to hurt you, I just want to talk to you before you disappear again." She heard Naruto's voice from behind her as the one in the bed disappeared in a puff of white smoke. She felt both relieved he was okay, but annoyed that he'd grabbed her like this.
Want me to jump him and run?
Kimika shook her head and Kuruka came out of her attack stance with a hiss.
"I will stay to talk if you let me go… and your hand…" Kimika said quietly. Naruto sighed with relief then realised what she had meant and released her with a jolt.
"Ah! Sorry about that." He said stepping backwards as Kimika turned to face him, Kuruka jumping back on her shoulders. She saw how red his cheeks had gone and before she could stop herself she thought, Cute…
I knew it! You do like him! We should get out of here before you fall for any more of his tricks, you're not thinking straight!
"It's not like that! And we're staying, for now." she muttered to the cat on her shoulder. Naruto looked at her curiously.
"How did you work it out?" Naruto asked sounding embarrassed, looking at where his clone had been.
"Your Jacket."
"What about it?" He asked looking down at it and it was Kimika's turn to look abashed.
"I sewed yours back together again… the clone's was perfect." She mumbled quietly. Naruto looked closer at his jacket and noticed the stitches across the parts that had been slashed during the battle.
"Oh wow thanks! You're good, I didn't even notice. I always make a hash of it when I have to sew it up myself." Kimika caught the sadness enter his voice even though he tried to hide it.
"Don't you… have someone who can fix it for you?"
"Hm? No I live alone. Always have."
"Always?" she asked before she could stop herself. She saw his expression change and immediately changed tact "Anyway what did you need to talk to me about?"
"Oh, yeah. First, thank you." His face let out a huge smile which caught her off guard yet again. "You neutralized a threat to the village, saved my life, brought me here and you even kept a hold of the blade-"
"Don't touch it!" She cried holding her hand out in warning. His hand froze seconds before he did. "It curses anyone who touches it unless they are as evil as the blade or can purify it like I can." He pulled his hand back looking sheepish again then rubbed the back of his head with a hand.
"Fair enough… so what are you going to do with it?"
"I… don't know. I need to put it somewhere where it won't hurt anyone ever again."
"Okay, Baa-chan can sort that." he saw her confused look "Oh the Hokage I mean, the woman you met earlier."
He calls the leader of the village Baa-chan? I think I like this kid, he has guts.
"Also I guess you want to know what's going on and why you're here and stuff." He saw both the girl and the cat perk up at that. "Uh… it's my fault. I messed up a jutsu and summoned you from another dimension… I'm really sorry. I'll help you get back there somehow… or at least help you regain your memories…" he looked up at her with anguished eyes then sat on the bed and put his face in his hands. "I messed up good this time… I won't blame you if you don't want to speak to me now, or never see me again."
Kimika stood in shock for a moment. Then she walked over and sat on the bed next to him. Again before she could help herself her hand was on his back reassuringly.
"It's okay… I can see you didn't do it deliberately… at least this is something that can be undone, it's not like you blinded me or made it so I couldn't walk again. I've just lost my memories, I can make new ones and find my old ones in my own time. For now though, I'm Kimika. Nice to meet you." She finished with a smile.
He looked up at her his eyes slightly red then smiled back and with no warning pulled her into a hug.
"Thank you, I won't let you down!" Kimika felt her face heat up and Kuruka snigger again as a voice rang through the corridor.
"NARUTO! I know you're healed enough by now, get off your lazy ass, fix what you've started-" Tsunade banged through the doors "-and go-!" She stopped as she saw what was going on inside the room "…find her…" She said quietly.
Naruto sprung back looking horrified. Tsunade puffed herself up again and bellowed "NARUTO! What are you doing to that poor innocent girl! She's confused! How dare you take advantage of her!"
"Ah!" Kimika said as she stood up and Naruto scampered backwards into the corner.
"I wasn't!" Naruto said panicking. Tsunade stepped forward menacingly cracking her knuckles and suddenly Kuruka grew to the size of a tiger, taking up the whole bed, putting herself in the way.
Come on! Say something before she pounds him! He's still injured!
"Ah! He wasn't! He was just explaining everything, then gave me a hug to comfort me." She said twisting her words slightly to cover for him. Tsunade looked across at her then stopped and the tension lifted from the room. Kuruka shrank back down to a non-threatening size.
"How are you feeling? Are you dizzy or faint or feeling weak at all?" She said suddenly changing and completely ignoring Naruto, or so she thought. "I apologise for the idiocy of some people."
"I'm fine, no memory yet though."
"Hmm… have you remembered your name?"
"No, but for now I'm Kimika and this is Kuruka." She said indicating the blue cat that jumped up on her shoulders once more.
"The spirit of the forest I presume?" Kuruka inclined her head once and Tsunade did the same. "I have many questions but they can wait, first I have to call off the search and do something about that." Kimika thought she might have been talking about Naruto again then saw she was looking at the blade still propped up against the wall. "Kimika-san, could you carry that blade and follow me, you too brat." She said glancing at Naruto. " …and Kuruka-sama if you could make yourself a less conspicuous so to not alarm the villagers I would be grateful".
Kuruka, who was obviously pleased at the suffix she put on her name, turned into a normal looking grey striped tabby and Kimika felt her get heavier as a result.
They followed Tsunade through the hospital corridors as she barked orders for the teams to head back and spread the word that the target is not a threat. She still had curious glances or people would back away. But that might just have been from the cursed blade and its doubtless reputation.
As soon as they left the hospital four ninja flanked her. She looked around and faltered, thinking that she had been tricked, then felt a warm hand grab hers. She looked up wide eyed at the smiling blonde.
"Don't worry, it's just to stop anyone getting too close to the blade. We don't want anyone else getting hurt. Though to be honest the Aura is enough to stop some, luckily the sheath stops most of it." He said to comfort her and glanced at their guard's faces. She saw they didn't look happy being there and probably wouldn't be if it wasn't a direct order from the Hokage.
At the back of her mind she could feel the cursed aura rolling over her and looked across at him.
"Does it not affect you either? The aura thing I mean…" She asked him quietly, very aware that he still had her hand in his.
"No, not really. I have enough chakra of my own to ward it off. As long as I don't touch it I'm fine, and I don't want to get cursed again anyway…" he looked down at the arm that he had put back in his sling.
"What's chakra?" She asked him innocently and he looked at her dumbfounded and dropped her hand in the process. Even the four ninja around her eyed her in confusion.
"You don't… know?" her face reddened "Do they not have it where you're from? Or maybe it just has a different name… or you've forgotten…" He rambled to himself then looked up horrified as Kimika lowered her head. "Ack! I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that. Uh, Chakra is like a source of power, most of us have it inside us which allows us to perform jutsu, like the clone I made earlier…. A jutsu is like a ninja technique…" He added when she looked confused by the word.
"Well I don't know if its chakra… but I can do this purifying thing so far, which is how I cured your arm and sterilized the water to clean your wounds and how I could eat the poison berries in the forest… I'm still getting used to it though…" She said trying to earn back some face.
"So you- wait. You cleaned my wounds?" He looked at her wide eyed. Kimika felt her face heat up but didn't say anything. She looked around at anything else instead.
"She did a good job too, I meant to thank you for that." Tsunade turned to look at her with a smile before they walked into the Hokage's building. Naruto stared at her and when he saw her blush he felt one on his own face grow.
"Um… thanks…" He mumbled just loud enough for her to her.
"Don't worry about it" She mumbled back keeping her face deliberately facing forward.
He's blushing by the way
"Shh.." she said quietly and was rewarded with several sideways glances.
"You two follow me down here, rest of you find Jiraiya and Kakashi and tell them where to meet. Dismissed." As soon as she finished her last word the four men surrounding them vanished.
At the bottom of the stairs they were lead into a dungeon looking room with barely any light. Kuruka suddenly turned back into her blue white form and added some light to the room. Without a word Tsunade pulled out a black scroll and unfurled it on the floor in the middle of the room.
Suddenly two men appeared at her side, one big and stocky with wild white hair and a Kabuki outfit. The other was just as tall but thinner and wore the traditional village ninja attire, with grey hair which pointed upwards, his headband slung over one eye.
I wouldn't like to have to fight any of those three…
Kimika raised her eyebrows and glanced at Kuruka in surprise, and noticed Naruto watching her from the corner of her eye.
"Woah that's some nasty blade…" The bigger man said seriously then focussed his eyes on Kimika and smiled "Well hello there pretty-" and was rewarded with a smack across the head by Tsunade.
"Jiraya, Kakashi, I need your help sealing this up. You too Naruto. We can use your abundance of chakra to make sure it stays sealed, no sealing for you though, you need to rest that arm. Kimika if you could just stand back while we prepare the seal.
She nodded and stepped back as Naruto put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and with a smile walked over to the three.
"Hey Ero-Sennin, long time no see. I've got a few new techniques to show you since last time."
"Naruto, I see you brought a girl back with you this time, good job. As should be expected from a student of mine." He winked with a thumbs up.
"Huh- wai- she-"
"Shut up the lot of you." At Tsunade's words they all fell silent and the one eyed ninja seemed to smile underneath his mask. No one spoke until they were set in position.
"Kimika, if you could place the blade on the seal in the middle of the scroll and then stand back…"
Kimika nodded, set down the blade then sank back against the wall. Instantly each corner room glowed blue, but Naruto's was the most blinding. She could feel the immense power rolling through the air almost electrifying yet exhilarating. She watched as the blade seemed to sink into the scroll then it wound itself up and sat there with a piece of paper with a strange black squiggle on it.
Tsunade strolled forward and picked up the scroll and tucked it inside her robes.
"Good work, I'll see you at the meeting in an hour. Dismissed." Both male ninja eyed her and Kuruka curiously then vanished. "Come on you two." They followed in silence then she led them into a room which must be her office. She left to put the scroll in a separate room then returned and sat down resting her chin on her fingers.
"Right, let's get down to business. Firstly I think you should keep the fact that you are from a different dimension to a need to know basis. Secondly, everything that happened before you arrived and the sealing of the blade, is classified. Also Kuruka-sama if you could try and stay inconspicuous in public I would be grateful." She sighed and looked across at Naruto.
"As this is your mess, I hold you completely responsible for her, even if that means she lives at your place and you sleep in the forest." Naruto was about to complain but she silenced him with a look. "Also your wage from the last mission will go to her as compensation. Finally, Kimika, I would like to instate you as a ninja of Konoha, you will be indispensible in certain… circumstances… and also would stop people prying into your private life a little."
Kimika looked wide-eyed but pleased at the faith she was already receiving, and Naruto was just stunned.
"Umm… thank you. I don't feel right taking Naruto's wages and things… I'll manage. I'm well adapted to living in the forest."
"Nonsense, you can take Naruto's apartment and deal with the money as you see fit. I think that is all for now, we can discuss other events when you've both properly rested. Dismissed." And she waved them out with a smile.
They walked out of the front doors with Kuruka back in grey tabby cat form as she tied her new leaf headband in place.
"It looks good on you." Naruto said quietly scratching his cheek and looking away.
"Thanks, here." She held out the notes in her hand.
"Oh no I can't, you did kill him in the end, so it's yours."
"But Kuruka just finished him off, you weakened him."
"How about half and half then?"
"Sounds good to me" Kimika said with a smile and handed the right amount over. Naruto looked grateful, then pointed in the direction they should start walking.
"So…" He asked after a moment or two. "can you and… Kuruka was it? Actually talk to each other then?"
"Yes… It's a sort of connection we have… I'm not sure how to explain it, I can hear her from inside me, as if she's part of me." She said looking apologetic at her lame explanation.
"Oh… actually I can understand that…" he said sadly looking down suddenly.
She was about to say something when a voice came out of the shop on their right.
"Oh No! Mum's gonna kill me!"
"Ino-san?" Naruto said curiously glancing at the shop front. It was a flower shop by the looks of it.
"Did you want to have a look?" Kimika asked spotting Naruto's concerned face. He glanced at her then nodded. Inside she saw a girl with long pale blonde hair with her face in her hands next to a dead looking bonsai tree.
"What's up Ino-san?" Naruto asked walking up to the counter and Kimika trailed behind.
"Huh? Oh Naruto… Well, Mum left me in charge of looking after her bonsais and as you can see…" She waved a hand at the tree.
"Oh crap… yeah she's gonna kill you." Naruto said blankly. Ino looked annoyed then Kimika took a step forward.
"Um, I can help if you like…" She said quietly. Ino looked at her curiously.
"Sorry, are you new? I don't think I've seen you before."
"Ah no I just arrived, I'm Kimika." She said with a small smile.
"I'm grateful for the offer but I don't think there's much you could do." She said dejectedly.
Kimika's smile widened to everyone's surprise and she took another step forward. She felt her power concentrate to her index finger, she was getting better at controlling it now. She touched the trunk of the tiny tree with her finger as it glowed white. Suddenly it spread from her finger till the whole tree was a fresh browny green and pink blossoms began to bloom. Naruto and Ino looked astounded.
"Woops, I went a little overboard…" Kimika commented as she brushed the blossom with her finger.
"Wow…"
"I didn't know you could do that." Naruto said then jumped as tiny orbs of light floated up from the tree and into her chest. "er what was that?"
"The orb thing? I thought that was that chakra stuff you were on about?" Kimika said confused.
"Uh- no. that's something completely different. I have no idea what that was."
"Who cares! You saved me from certain death! Thank you so much!" Ino dived over the counter and hugged her. Kimika froze for a second then hugged back.
"Woah weird clothes… "she commented as she pulled back, "I think you should pick up a less revealing outfit if you're gonna be a ninja here… just saying. Naruto! You should take her clothes shopping! I have to go put this back before Mum gets home, she should be here any moment. Oh Kimika-chan. Here have this." And she pulled a pot down off the top shelf. "We've never managed to make it bloom but I have the feeling you could. You can have it as a thank you. Gotta go!" and she ran off into the back room carrying the bonsai tree.
Kimika and Naruto shrugged at each other and left the shop. Kimika looked down at the almost lifeless plant and decided to wait until she'd settled until she checked it out. Then she assessed her clothes.
"Do you think I should buy some different clothes?" She asked him innocently. He glanced at her looked swiftly at the clothes then looked away and scratched his cheek a little as his cheeks turned pink.
"Uh… well I don't think the people of this village are used to… that kind of attire. It might be safer for you to pick up something different." He said awkwardly.
Kimika was puzzled by his words till she spotted a villager eyeing her up with a lecherous stare and Kuruka hissed at him. Naruto was still averting his eyes until he met another lecherous look and glared the man down until he hurried away. Kimika felt herself smile.
You know, I like this boy toy you've picked up, he's useful.
"He's not-" she said out loud then managed to stop herself.
"Hm?"
"Nothing! Uh, just talking to Kuruka… I keep forgetting she's talking inside my head…"
"Oh right… Well the shops are just down here… although I don't really know where to start… Oh! Sakura-Chan!" Naruto waved at a girl with pink hair. She turned to look at him holding a three year old with black hair.
"Oh Naruto, hi." She returned a warm smile and the three year olds face lit up.
"Unca-Na!" she beamed as Naruto ran over and ruffled her black spikes.
"Yup, uncle Naruto to the rescue! How's my Nami-chan?" He grinned back at her. Sakura's face twitched.
"Don't you mean my Nami-chan…" she hissed under her breath. "Naruto what do you want…" She said resigned but not annoyed.
"Oh it's not for me it's for Kimika-san, she uh… needs a change of clothes, she's new here and doesn't know what to get… and well…you know me and shops…" Sakura looked between the two of them curiously then nodded sadly at him as he finished. Kimika glanced at him wondering what their meaning had been.
"Okay, give me 10 minutes I'll go pick something up, stay here with Nami and don't teach her anything stupid!" Sakura turned her back and began walking away when Naruto stuck out his tongue at her. Nami giggled and Sakura turned back angrily and Naruto played innocent.
Kimika watched in fascination as he played with the little girl, Nami was completely captivated and laughing frequently. All too soon, Sakura returned with a bag and smiled at the pair who were now rolling around on the floor.
"Here we are Kimika-san, these should fit you, I hope you like them. Oh and I put in a few extra bits you might need." She said with a smile.
"Thank you so much" Kimika said smiling. Sakura's smile widened.
"Don't worry about the money, I've put it on Naruto's tab."
"What!? That's not fair…" He said finally looking up.
"Tsunade said it was your fault she's stuck here, so you're paying." She said briskly. Naruto pouted but gave in and handed the now struggling two year old back to her mother. "Say bye to uncle Naruto and his friend Kimika-san." She cooed to Nami
"Babye!" and Kimika waved as they walked off and were lost in the crowd.
"Shall we head to mine then?" he said then his stomach rumbled loudly. Kimika laughed before she could help herself.
"Hahaha I think we both could do with some food, how about this place? It smells really good." She said pointing at the shop front. Naruto looked up at Ichiraku Ramen and grinned.
"You have taste."
[Author's Comments]
Thanks for reading! XD I have written at least 10 chapters with no end in sight, but I'm not sure whether to put it all up yet. I think it needs more editing :) Let me know what you think XD
