Alternative Naruto- Jinchuuriki Tales

Chapter Four

With this... unusual company, was it the first time Haku ever drank wine or ate chocolate, much Naruto, Gaara and Yamashita's surprise. All four had stopped in the afternoon into a cave just outside Kiri.

Haku had noticed the taste in the air that signified rain and storm so they took shelter into a nearby cave and now it was dark and raining. They had a fire roaring and cooking Ramen with the pots Naruto brought and some water from their water supply.

And then Yamashita decided to play truth or dare.

"Nee-chan, what're you doing?" Naruto asked, all three boys watching with curiosity as the oldest of their group mixed some cheese and chocolate into the prawn flavored Ramen, an evil grin on her lips that caused the boys to shudder as a bad feeling set over them.

"This," Yamashita pointed at the brown... stuff in the pot. "Is the forfeit when we play truth or dare." Gaara's face paled and Haku's had a slight look of horror.

Surely she wouldn't make us eat this? Haku asked himself, but soon he'd realize that she was deadly serious.

"No way, I'm not playing you crazy onna!" Naruto cried out, only to be cut off when a spoon of the stuff was forced into his mouth, Yamashita holding onto his nose, forcing the poor blond boy to swallow the stuff.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Gaara whimpered, his face turning slightly green.

I guess she is serious. Haku thought with a sweat drop rolling down the back of his head, which had been brushed by her earlier. I think this girl has a split personality, first she's serious and then she's stuffing food which I'm sure shouldn't be edible down our throats and laughing like a mad scientist.

"...Hey, that was actually pretty tasty!" Naruto exclaimed, snatching the spoon from Yamashita as he finished off the rest of his Ramen. I have the strangest traveling companions. Thought Haku as multiple sweat drops ran down the back of his head.

It was later at night when the four Jinchuuriki decided to explore the cave they found, they stared in awe at the rock on the ceiling, which was shaped like dripping water or like icicles. Sharp rocks, not at all worn down was the floor, Yamashita and Haku noticed the lack of worn footpaths in the cave, which hinted lack of human or animal contact within their hiding place, much to their relief. The four also found crystal clear water, which was bubbling and warm.

"It's a hot spring," Haku murmured. All four looked at each other and then hastily pulled off their clothes and jumped into the water, enjoying the warm and soothing water, causing the tensed muscles to relax, soon all four started to clean themselves.

"Don't we need soap?" Gaara asked after a while, Yamashita got out, a large burn-like scar covering her shoulders and, Gaara guessed, about two thirds of her back.

"I took some from the ship a couple of days ago, it's in my bag." Yamashita left, leaving the three boys alone in the hot spring.

"...What do you think caused the scar on nee-chan's back?" Naruto asked after a moment of silence.

"I don't know," Gaara replied. "You don't think someone hurt her, did they?"

"I don't think so," Haku replied. "But we shouldn't pry, she'll tell us when she's ready." The dark haired, feminine looking boy told his companions wisely, seeming older than his eight year old self truly is.

"You're right, but I'm worried about nee-chan." Naruto murmured not unhappily, but in obvious concern, something Gaara nor Haku knew how to soothe.

"Hey twirps, I'm back!" Yamashita called, her pale skinned and skinny form easy to see in the dimly light cavern.

Another affectionate nickname for us, Haku and Gaara thought with a sigh.

"Hey, I'm not a twirp!" Naruto yelled, his temper coming to play. Yamashita smirked, four bars of soap in her hands, two in each skinny hand.

"Here Fox, you get the orange one." She tossed the soap to Naruto, who scrambled to catch it. "Gaara, I got you the yellow one!" Yamashita passed him the yellow bar of soap. "Haku, you get green." Haku took the bar of soap gratefully, smelling the green bar.

It was one of the few nice things Haku had ever owned, his parents were poor and could rarely afford soap. It smells like... mint. He thought, surprised at the nice scent coming from the soap. Where did she get this?

"It smells like bananas!" Naruto exclaimed, looking over the soap with a funny look on his face.

"Mine smells like oranges and mangoes," Gaara added, his face showing a look of surprise on it.

"Yeah, they're scented, I picked 'em out cuz the clean smell will last longer, Haku's smells like mint and mine smells like bubblegum." She showed her blue bar of soap to them. "Now, let's get scrubbing!"

"What about our hair?" Naruto asked, Haku did have to admit, most people needed Shampoo to wash their hair, something he was sure none of them had.

"Use the soap to wash your hair," Yamashita replied with a blunt voice that stated how much she thought about it, -nothing- as she washed her legs.

Haku washed off his body, scrubbing as hard as he could, getting off as much grime and dirt as possible. He couldn't remember the last time he had a bath or washed even. It was a relief for all four to be able to get that clean and before they headed off tomorrow, they'd have another bath.

It was harder to wash the soap out of their hair than they thought, but with antagonizing patience, they managed to get every last soap sud out of their hair.

By the time they came back to camp, the fire was almost gone and Yamashita had to put new logs on and take extra time starting the fire again until it was big enough to warm their little campsite. It was still snowing hard outside and Haku mentioned that these storms could last for days or even weeks or months.

"In that case, we'll just have to sit it out and wait." Yamashita had replied, sitting back on her coat with a lazy sigh of satisfaction.

"I wouldn't mind living here," Gaara said suddenly, causing the other three to look to the youngest of the group. "We can hunt, use furs for clothes, we have the springs for baths and we have each other!"

They all sat in silence, considering the tempting idea of living in this isolated and remote area where they wouldn't be judged, discriminated or hated for existing.

Gaara was thinking about the peace, although he'd never be able to sleep, he'd still have company. Yamashita, Naruto and Haku weren't just friends, they were family.

His real family never cared much, he saw that now, not like the gentle, kind and evr patient Haku.

Or the hyper, energetic and warm Naruto, with his short temper and amusing arguments with Yamashita.

Or Yamashita even, although she can be mean and crude, she cared in her own way, she let them follow her without a complaint, she looked after him and kept him safe and hugged him close to her when she slept.

Although asleep and didn't know what was going on around her, she made him feel safe. He couldn't ask for more than that.

Naruto thought about friends, although he didn't have many and Yamashita and his friendship was kinda... strange, they were the best of friends, able to confide anything to each other.

Naruto realized suddenly, how much he didn't need Konoha, he had his precious people with him and they cared for him. He didn't need to become Hokage, or to become a great ninja to show who he was.

Sure, he needed to know the skills of a ninja so he can protect Yamashita, Haku and Gaara, but he was happy now, the way things were.

Haku was happy wherever they stayed, as long as they were with him. The four were a strange group, Yamashita the leader, with a 'diamond in the rough' personality.

Naruto with his ever understanding eyes and hyper personality that when he looked at you, it made you feel warm, just knowing he cared.

And then there was Gaara, the quiet boy who would listen to whatever anyone said and in his own way, cared for all four, the little things like smiling and holding one of their hands when they were sad or scared, just well... making them comfortable.

Yes, Haku wanted nothing more than to stay there forever with his... family.

Yamashita thought about it, she wanted to stay there, she really did. But what about the seals? If they stayed, none of their seals would be properly fixed. What if one of them lost control? What if they killed themselves over using chakra or hurt some innocent passer by?

It would give them away, they'd be found and followed, forced back to their villages and become even more miserable than they were before.

No, Yamashita knew she could never do that to her little ones. She wanted them to be happy, she wanted to be happy. Whether the Priest existed or not, she wasn't sure, but they had to try.

With her mind set, Yamashita voiced her thoughts.

"No, we can't stay." Seeing the sad faces she sighed and explained her thoughts and the consequences on what could happen if they didn't leave for the Priest.

"This isn't fair!" Naruto exclaimed, tears in his eyes. "Doesn't Kami-sama care what's happening? Why is this happening to us? He couldn't exist if there's so much suffering in the world!" Haku and Gaara gasped in surprise, both being religious it was a shock to hear what Naruto said.

"It's not that he doesn't love us, Naruto." Yamashita answered, scowling slightly as she thought about what to say. "I doesn't matter if we exist, Kami-sama had us made so we had free will, free will to survive, free will on whether to take revenge or to care but either way, giving us free will means no interference from him. Either way, we're on our own."

Reality crashed down on the three boys and even heavier on Yamashita, it seemed almost impossible now to find the Priest, gain respect or live a happy life. But Kami-sama gave them the free will to carry on or just whine in the dust. None of them were going to sit around and whine about it, with their goal set in mind, Yamashita left the cave, taking a knife with her to hunt.

Sorry, kinda rushed this one. I managed to find an internet connection from where I'm camping, yay! Anyway, I probably won't update for two or three days. Sorry about that folks!

Read my other stories too if you're bored.