Hello Reader,
Small warning is that this chapter is rather long. There is violence. There is a slight sense of improbability then again we are talking about Harry Potter and Naruto so I guess everything has a sense of improbability.
Oh yeah and vote on poll please, helps stimulate my mind.
Let's begin.
(**)
"Ouch, ouch!"
"Stop moving around!"
"That hurts!"
"No, I was not aware that this hurt in the least hence the reason as to why you are insisting upon screaming and—damn you brat! Get back in this hot spring."
"No, no! Ah, let go Old Man!"
"I will succeed in removing this disgusting filth from your hair and seeing your skin for its natural color!"
"AHHHHHHH!"
(**)
Naruto folded his arms and bowed his head as he pouted at the ground. His blond hair flopped in front of his eyes, shining nicely in the sun. He had been cleaned from his blond hair to his tan toes. Severus stood above him, towel around his waist. He had a red mark on his arm from Naruto's struggles that he hadn't bothered to fix but he was sure that the blond saw his displeasure.
"Stand up," Severus stated, gazing over the boy to be sure that he was clean. The blond hair was nice and yellow, his face was dirt free though Severus wasn't sure why the three lines on his face wouldn't come off—they were probably scars and the rest of his body was also spotless though he frowned at the large tattoo that went around his stomach. Something about it tickled the back of his mind but Severus couldn't bring it to the surface.
"Dress in these," Severus handed him clothing. The boy had expressed his love of the color orange but they were hiding until they were fully out of Konoha so he had gotten the black pants that covered the boy from his hips to his ankles but had orange cuffs. The shirt he wore had a large Leaf Village symbol on the front of it in orange while the rest of the shirt was white. Then the common ninja sandals were given to the boy.
"Thanks Old Man!" Naruto smiled, yanking on the comfy underwear and then his clothing.
"I couldn't allow you to run about in the nude," Severus scoffed as he pulled the green shirt over his head and the black pants next. The sandals turned out to be rather comfortable and made jumping and walking easier to control. Severus slung his bag over his shoulder and pulled a map out to figure out where they were going to go. Naruto smiled at the black haired man and climbed onto the rather large rock behind Severus. After spending around two days with Severus Naruto had figured out that the man was always surly and to generally ignore it unless his mouth did that thin line thing and his eyes narrowed like snakes then it was time for Naruto to stop.
"And until then…" Naruto trailed off, taking the damp hair into his hands and pulling it from the man's face.
"I hope that your mutterings to yourself and your violation of my personal space is due to insanity," Severus said dryly, staring at the map intently.
"Nope, just being me—so where are we going?" Naruto asked, sticking out his tongue as he struggled to wrap his hands around the rather thick hair and then pulled the hair tie around it to create a ponytail. He slid from the rock and stood in front of the pale man, looking at him intently then he nodded to himself. Yes, he looked more like a ninja when his hair wasn't in his face.
"From my knowledge the Village Hidden in the Mist is on shaky terms with the Hidden Leaf so they will not hand us over and this map shows that it is far… we shall go there but we will have to go around—Naruto, NO!" Severus reached out to catch the blond boy who was falling forward. The blond blinked as he found himself on the ground… outside of the shield. Naruto watched as the protection they had been under shattered with a rather loud explosion and bright colors. Severus froze in horror and shock, ears straining to hear anything.
(**)
"Hokage, we have located the Magic User and the Jinchuuriki," the lead ANBU stated. The Hokage turned away from the beautiful village that lay just beyond his window and looked at the man to nod at him. The leader flared his chakra to a point that signaled for the capture team to bring the males forth. Before he turned to leave and fill out a missions report, he paused at the door.
"Hokage, sir… if you do not mind me asking… why are you not concerned that this Magic User has taken the Jinchuuriki and are roaming without any right?" the man asked, very curious. He walked back to the Hokage desk.
"It is simple. This Magic User is no danger to us unless we pose a danger to him and his new responsibility. Have the assigned team try to negotiate with him, it will probably not work but it is the thought that counts," the Hokage chuckled. The ANBU looked at him as if he were crazy though his mask hid any sign that he doubted his leader's thoughts.
Then he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving the leader to smile wistfully to himself.
(**)
Severus dashed through the trees swiftly, pushing his body to the fastest it had ever gone which was pretty fast. Severus was a fast runner to Naruto's surprise as he clung to the man's back. He felt odd from the juice that Severus gave him but the man said it made him less of a burden to his back.
"How come we can't fly?" Naruto said into the pale ear before him.
"Saving magic," Severus answered without breaking his concentration. He had to look forward and avoid the branches, leaves, protruding roots and anything else that could cause him to fall or trip. He jumped through some trees and looked at the clear field, it was empty of all life but Severus had a feeling that that he was mistaken so he put Naruto down and slowly stepped into the clearing, pulling his ward behind him.
"They're here…" Naruto whispered.
"How do you know?" Severus murmured back. Severus had a similar feeling but that came from the fact that he could… feel the chakra that the ninjas all secreted like millions of ants crawling on his skin.
The blond looked at him with an odd expression and simply pointed to his head. Severus put it to the back of his mind as the trees and bushes suddenly came alive and half a dozen ninjas in a varying amount of clothing surrounded them.
Severus felt his heart speed up in his chest. He was scared; he could not lie and say that he wasn't because Severus was very scared. He had no fighting knowledge that included hand to hand combat unless it was basic street fighting. Ninjas would demolish him without truly trying. They were strong, extremely fast, and had multiple tricks… the only way to win was to retreat. Severus frowned, he hated to retreat.
"I guess you're not gonna save magic?" Naruto asked as he felt long arms wrap around his torso. Severus pressed his lips together and shot into the sky like an arrow. Severus only had a second to realize that something was wrong—they weren't following him—before his entire body was on fire and a shriek ripped itself from his throat. He bounced off whatever was hanging in the sky and wrapped his body around the silent brat, protecting him as much as he could from the short fall that knocked all the wind from Severus' lungs.
"Akio, your jutsu worked! He will not be flying away. Magic User you should give up or we might accidently hurt your frail magical body," a very loud and obnoxious voice shouted. Severus forced himself to stand up, looking down to see that Naruto was unconscious but didn't seem to have been hurt by the 'jutsu' that had definitely harmed Severus. He then looked at the man that had spoken and blinked, slightly horrified by the green leotard and orange leg warmers that burned his eyes.
"What are you wearing?" Severus blurted, making a mental note to not ever lose to this man—especially while he wore such a… absurd outfit. It would be embarrassing to his very core if this outlandish man turned out to be his doing.
"I told you that your new look was ridiculous Gai," the silver haired man from the hospital yawned. The man with the very shiny bowl cut looked insulted and turned to the other man, eyes shining with tears.
"Kakashi, my youthful rival, do not attempt to act so cool and bored—my clothes are fashionable because I am the Mighty Handsome Beast of the Leaf!" the man shouted loud, making Severus' ears hurt more than his body. The Potions Master took a deep breath and looked around at the three ninjas that were crouched down and staring at him. They were waiting for him to attack or try to run while one was like the two others, not really concerned.
"We were told to capture you alive but accidents can happen to Magic Users what with their frail bodies and less than nimble movements," a man with pale, pale eyes and long brown hair practically snarled. Severus sneered, not intimidated by the long haired male that stood with his arms folded. Severus had a feeling that he stood this way because he didn't find Severus to be any threat. The Potions Master smirked to himself as he shifted Naruto to one arm and slid his other hand into his poach. 'This man will learn that Magic Users are not weak and I am a threat,' he thought. He quickly pulled out a round glass and smashed the contents into Naruto's forehead. The glass broke then dissolved along with the blue liquid into the boy then he threw the weightless child into the air.
"Where…?" Akio squinted as the blond jinchuuriki disappeared without a trace. The Magic User smiled and held up his hands, both of them holding three vials each. His black eyes blazed with fire and Kakashi had a distinct feeling that this Magic User was not going to go down without a fight.
The soon to be battlefield was silent as the black haired man observed his opponents. Severus knew that these ninjas could easily kill him but they had said that he was to be caught alive though how damaged didn't seem to matter according to the white eyed man. Severus would not allow them to catch him while he still had oxygen in his lungs.
"Get him," the pale eyed man growled. Severus threw five of the vials into the air then shook the other vigorously. He threw it at the oncoming three ninjas. One of them jumped high in the air but was knocked out cold as they hit the jutsu above them hard while the others were caught in the rainbow explosion that encased them in some kind of crystal. Severus caught the falling vials and smirked at the long haired man.
"Yo," Kakashi said next to him, startling Severus into whirling around. He found the taller man to be nose to nose with him, causing Severus to kick out a bit like a girl. The Potions Master had been lucky and caught the man right between the legs. Kakashi's one eye widened in an almost comical manner, one that Severus couldn't help but smile at—it was the man's fault for not thinking Severus could hurt him. Severus sensed an oncoming energy behind him and ducked in time to not be kicked by the 'Handsome Green Beast'. He caught Kakashi in the shoulder instead.
"Oh my ally! I am so sorry for hitting you!" Gai shouted. Severus stood straight and started to run only to gasp in pain between his clenched teeth as two fingers dug themselves deep into his stomach. Chakra exploded from the two fingers and Severus found himself flying backwards, rolling on the grass quite a distance from the man that had attacked him. Severus coughed, ignoring the blood that dripped from his mouth and onto the green blades below him. He pressed his tongue onto the top of his mouth and faced the man that had attacked him.
"I will handle him, find the boy Kakashi and Gai," the pale eyed man said as the two remaining ninjas stared at him, slightly more cautious. Severus nodded slightly it was good that they felt this way so if Severus was captured then they would know to fear him in future instances. He winced as his stomach tightened and blood dripped down the side of his mouth.
"One hit and you are already bleeding internally. Your magic doesn't work without a channel, does it Magic User?" the man taunted.
"You… are a Hyuuga—Gentle Fist. You use two fingers to hit chakra points or important nerves that causes intense pain that is only heightened due to the chakra you expel when performing your move," Severus stated.
"A Magic User that has knowledge is a little of a surprise," the Hyuuga said. "That will not help you in this case Magic User."
"That is not my name. You may call me Severus… I might be the last thing you see," Severus snarled with his blood tinted teeth bared. The Hyuuga's face hardened and he darted forward, hands back and then fingers forward. "I suppose you do not like being taunted you bigoted—."
Severus put his hand out, directing it right in front of the blow and nearly cried in pain as chakra exploded from the hit and it had to have broken something in his hand but he held tight—this man was going to hurt and capture him and Naruto—he had to do this. Severus pressed his tongue hard upwards and blew out the gray powder that filled his mouth.
"AHHH!" the Hyuuga screeched as the powder went right into his eyes and in his nasal passages. Severus jumped back and pulled another potion from his bag and tossed it at the agony filled Hyuuga. The man fell to his knees and then his face, unconscious.
Severus surveyed the space. It was quiet and the wind blew gently on the oddly undisturbed grass. He turned to stare at the two women inside the crystals. They were dying, more likely than not. There was no air inside the crystals and hopefully the stirring ninja that had hit the jutsu would figure that out and release them. Then there was the Hyuuga…
"Your eyes are very important to your fighting. You cannot work without them… I suppose you will not be of use to your village any longer," Severus closed out all feelings that could be associated with guilt and staggered over to his fallen vials and slowly looked at the remaining ones, happy that he hadn't had to use them. Severus picked up one and uncorked it then threw it into the air. He stared at the sky and watched as Naruto slowly came into view and fell soundlessly and smoothly onto the ground. Severus staggered to the blond and fell to his knees beside him.
"Naruto… Naruto…" Severus shook the boy until the blue eyes slowly opened.
"What… Severus-chan what happened?" Naruto asked as soon as he spotted the three ninjas around them. Severus twitched at the sound of a very childish, very feminine honorific but a sharp pang in his belly stopped any protest he was going to say. He had to act fast.
"I put you to sleep with a small prick by a mild poison then I turned you invisible before the battle. I did not need nor want you to become leverage. During the battle a Hyuuga caught me unawares, damaging several organs and breaking my hand. Now I need you to listen Naruto… listen to me carefully," Severus brought one of his hands to the blonde's face and looked deep into the deep blue eyes. He needed Naruto to see how serious he was.
"Okay, what is it Old Man?" Naruto asked, eyes concerned. Blood was dripping from the pale man's mouth and Naruto was honestly frightened for his life. He had heard what the Hyuuga clan was capable of, their blows could kill with one well-placed attack.
"The potion I am about to take will cause me to cut down our travel time and get away but Naruto… when we reach the next village I will be weak. I am sick now but this potion will nearly kill me. When we stop, use these gold pieces to get a room and other necessities. To stop the effect of the potion I need to digest this potion," Severus held up the pink glass and repeated his last statement twice more until Naruto said it back to him. He pressed the glass into Naruto's hand firmly and closed his slightly chubby fingers around it then he handed over the pouch holding a hefty amount of gold. Hopefully Naruto would know how to negotiate.
"Old Man… I don't want you to take it… can't we just surrender?" Naruto pleaded, holding tight to the vial and the money.
"Naruto I do not wish to see your leader. If you wish… you can go back. I will be sure that you arrive at your orphanage but I will not end up under your leader's control. I am a stranger, a Magic User…" Severus trailed off and played with the phial that was in his own hand. Naruto's brows drew together and he threw himself into the black haired man, tears brimming his eyes as he nodded for Severus to drink his traveling potion.
"What about them?" Naruto asked, nodding towards the fallen warriors.
"They will take care of them," Severus stated, looking at the ninjas that were running full speed at them. Obviously they had realized that their teammates were not fighting any longer and were coming back. Severus hurriedly swallowed the leather flavored liquid and shuddered as a burning heat filled his body and every nerve in his body came to life. He wrapped Naruto tight against him and took off.
(**)
"Wow…" Kakashi was actually shocked for the first time in his life. He had never seen anyone or anything move that fast, he didn't think that Gai's Eight Gates could match that kind of speed. Speaking of Gai, Kakashi turned his head to the man whose mouth was wide open and his eyes even wider.
"I…" Kakashi smirked as he realized that Gai was actually shocked silent. He looked at the clearing and saw that Ai was weakly banging against the crystal that contained the black haired Akio; it was obvious that she was trying to free her.
"Magic… User said… can't breathe. They can't breathe," Ai whispered as Kakashi pulled out a kunai and stabbed into the suffocating binding. It immediately shattered with a magnificent noise and rainbow shards that punctured the other and caused it to break too.
"Thank… you," the freed ninja took deep breaths, face regaining color slowly but surely as he fell backwards and simply stared up at the blue sky. Akio had stumbled from the crystal and fell into the green haired female in front of her. She hugged Ai tightly then pulled back to look over her sister. Ai held in her tears as she realized that her sister was still breathing and alive.
"The Magic User got away?" the ninja asked calmly, still staring up. It wasn't really a question. It was more like a statement as if the ninja simply wanted to get his head back by rambling whatever was at the back of his throat. "This was a C rank mission… it should have been easier than cooking ramen. Then again if it was believed that the Magic User wasn't dangerous then they would not have assigned three powerful ninjas."
"Agreed," Kakashi nodded though he started to tune out the man as he continued to talk to himself and the sky. Kakashi shook his head and walked over to Gai who was turning Hiashi onto his back. Kakashi's eyes widened then fell back to their normal bored state as he observed the Hyuuga's face. It did not look good. Blood was slowly dripping from the closed lids while the man himself was simply still. "Well then…"
"He is alive. I believe that Hiashi underestimated the Magic User," Gai said, calmly for the first time that Kakashi had known the man.
"I guess this makes him an enemy?" Akio asked, grabbing Ai's hand and pulling the green haired ninja to Hiashi's side. The kunoichi was a medic-ninja more times than not so the way she clung to Akio made sense seeing as this was her first mission that contained any real danger. Ai was one of the best medics and was amazing at subduing and healing those around her so she made a perfect member of the team… only now her sister nearly died right in front of her.
"I am not sure. He might still be a neutral case," Ai murmured, finally pulling herself from her sister and forcing to kneel by the fallen ninja's side. She placed her tanned hands gently on his chest and her hands glowed blue with chakra. "He will be fine… his heart is strong and his lungs are perfect and his chakra flow is steady but… I do not think that he will be able to see after this."
"Okay, he's an enemy now," Akio said firmly.
(**)
Severus had taken his Flash Potion several times for various reasons but he never got over the amazing feeling that it filled him with. Colors blurred and merged together to make a beautiful canvas right around him. The ground felt as if it did not exist, the water merely tickled his bare feet than anything else. His hair was blown straight back and the height in his arms barely registered to his brain which was working in overtime along with his heart which beat with a loud steadiness that pounded in a soothing rhythm in Severus' ears. Severus loved this exhilarating feeling of being fast enough to circle the world, fast enough to outrun light, rain, and trouble. It was a freedom that came close to being better than flying without a broom or creating a potion.
Then Severus crashed.
Well it wasn't really a crash. It was more along the lines that he stopped because he recognized that he was in the right location and as soon as he stopped, Severus knew that he would not be able to start again. The world felt as if it were ripped from right under him and Severus found himself falling down, down, down into a deep hole of darkness and despair.
"Old Man! Stay up!" he heard a voice from far away. Severus blinked and looked up into blue eyes surrounded by spiky blond hair and tan skin with cat like whiskers going across both cheeks. "Here… drink this. Come on!"
Severus was drowning. He was drowning in a pink liquid that tasted oddly of… it tasted like tired. Severus started to spit it out but something slapped over his mouth and forced the liquid to stay inside his mouth until he swallowed by reflex.
And then Severus was back in his body and on a somewhat soft mat. Severus blinked around at the softly lit room. It wasn't small but was by no means large either. It was just enough room for a child and a rather thin man to coincide comfortably. Severus turned his head on the soft pillow to see Naruto staring at him hard before smiling brightly and crawling towards him and his mat.
"You tried to spit it out you know," Naruto said out of the blue. Severus nodded, not very surprise. He looked at his body and realized that he was half naked with a bandage around his hand and new bandages around his stomach.
"I shall be a mummy by the end of this week…" Severus sighed, poking at his bandages.
"The medic said that you were fine. Oh yeah and you were out for about… one day. We're in Suna," Naruto said, grabbing a large bowl of something steaming. Severus shook his head when the blond tried to hand him some and threw the covers off his body. He stretched upwards, cracking his back with his efforts.
So Naruto had used some of the money for him to receive medical treatment seeing as he had no pain in his hand and little in his belly. At least Severus had not under or overestimated how long he would have to run to land in the Village of Sand. He winced as he felt the disgusting feeling of not being clean.
"A bath would do me great justice and you have yet to take one… have you?" Severus stared at the blond. Naruto's face turned ashen with horror as he set down his food and stood up, holding up both his hands as if to negotiate with the man.
"Now… Old Man… we can do something—NOOOOOOO!" Naruto shrieked as Severus lunged.
(**)
The End
I wanted to end on a light note. I hope that this was enjoyed. Also my understanding of little boys is limited but children tend to not like baths for some odd reason.
So, anyone thinks they know what I'm gonna make happen next?