Declaimer: Lovelyanime does not own Naruto. Since she doesn't own him, we should all point and laugh at her. (points at Lovelyanime) Hahahahahahahaha!
Lovelyanime: (tries to attack declaimer) I'm going to kill you!
Hinata: (holds back LA) Pl-please don't a-attack the declaimer.
Lovelyanime: But Hina-chan he laughed at me! He deserves to die! When he's dead it's not like anyone will miss it!
Hinata: I-I know, but you n-need to s-start the chapter.
Lovelyanime: Grr…Fine. For you Hina-chan, I won't kill it and bury it where Sakura's body is. (Hinata lets go) Okay lets see, where to begin. I want to say this will not be a NaruSakuHina story. The last chapter was the last scene for a NaruSaku. It will have NaruHina moments a lot later on in the story, so don't worry. The story is just going through the worse part and it will get better soon. Now, this chapter is about the Zodiac people. It will talk about Ne's past which is kind of interesting. I did not plan for it until a few weeks ago and I thought this story up last summer. So, it will be kind of big for Naruto and some people in Konoha. And Hitsuji, she will be revealed along with Ushi and I. This chapter does not have Hinata, but I hope everyone still reads this chapter. Usually when there's an oc I skip them sometimes. But most of the times I read them and who they are. I hope no one is like me and does that. I hope everyone likes this chapter and reviews. I hope everyone will stay
3/1/07
Chapter 4- Ne, Ushi, I, Hitsuji, Jiraiya
"This will be your room." Tatsu opened a door and inside was a bed, a dresser and a small table next to the bed. There was also a desk on the right with a chair. It was a very large room, big enough for the new member of Zodiac's rats. The blonde man walked into the room with a bag full of his belongings. "It is the second biggest room to mine. It is large of enough for your rats." Tatsu leaned against the door's frame.
The blonde man, whose new name was Ne, put his bad on his bed. He looked to the rat on his shoulder. The rat nodded its head before jumping off the shoulder and ran past Tatsu.
"Yuki has agreed that this will be our new home and is getting everyone else." Ne unzipped his large as he spoke. He began to look for something, but Tatsu did not know what.
"Good. I was wondering, but what village are you from?" Tatsu asked.
Ne stopped what he was doing and did not move. After a few minutes he went back to look for his prized possession. "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? You had to come from somewhere."
"…I lost most of my memory in an incident when I was five. I remember the village a little, but I do not know what village and where it is."
"Oh, I see." Tatsu turned around to leave. "I guess I'll ask Ushi to make you a little something." He left to leave Ne alone to unpack.
Ne continued to look through his bag until he found what he was looking for. He brought out a picture in a picture frame. The picture of a blonde man with blue eyes. He had on a whitish coat over a green vest. Ne looked on his forehead, but did not see a head protector. He was smiling with a young boy holding a white flute by his side.
"Oji-san…"
FLASHBACK
"I have something for you." The blonde man handed a young Ne a box with blue wrapping paper on it. "Happy birthday."
Ne unwrapped the wrapping paper in an eagerly manner. "What is it Oji-san?" He found a black box underneath the paper.
"You'll see." The man told his nephew.
Ne opened the black box and gasped. He lifted a white flute from the box and grinned.
"I know how much you like music, so I got you this." The man chuckled. "You know, your kaa-san use to sing so I understand why you're more into music than ramen."
"You really like ramen, huh Oji-san?"
"Yep! I like it so much, I even want to name my child Naruto!" They both laughed at the joke.
Ne stopped laughing and sighed. "I wish I had a cousin so I can play with them and help train them."
The man grinned. "Then I guess you're in luck. Your obaa-chan and me are having a baby soon."
"Really?!"
"Yeah. So now you get to do those things. Happy birthday Aido." He ruffled Ne's hair with his hand. "I bet if your kaa-san was still here she would be proud of both of us."
END OF FLASHBACK
"Aido." Ne looked on his shoulder to see his favorite rat Yuki.
"Don't call me that anymore, I have a new name."
"Gomen." Yuki looked at the picture in Ne's hands. "You're thinking about your past again?"
"Hai, I wish I could remember more than just my birthday, the day oji-san died, what happened before I met you and, some other things in my past." When he mentioned his oji-san's death, he remembered his little cousin and what had happened.
FLASHBACK
"Where is he?!" Tears were running down Ne's face as he ran inside the hokage's office. In his hands was his white flute.
The Sarutobi stared at Ne and shook his head. "Gomen, demo…He died."
"Nani? Where is obaa-chan then?"
"She died while giving birth."
Ne's eyes widened. "Iie." He could not believe it. "Why?"
"Aido-"
"Why?! First kaa-san! Then oba-chan and oji-san!" Ne looked Sarutobi with tears still coming out. "Please don't tell me that my cousin died too!"
Sarutobi looked over his shoulder. There, were Hiashi, Jiraiya and some ANBU. Sarutobi nodded his head at Jiraiya, who was holding a newborn baby. Jiraiya walked up to Sarutobi and stood in front of Aido."
"I-is that?" Ne stared at the sleeping newborn. He had blonde hair and whisker marks on his cheeks.
"Hai, it is your oji-san's son." Sarutobi told Ne.
"What is his name?"
"We don't know. Your oji-san never gave us a name before he died."
"…Naruto…"
Sarutobi had a questionable look on his face. "Nani?"
"Naruto." Ne looked up at all the adults. "His name is Naruto."
Sarutobi smiled at the young Ne. "Naruto it is then."
Ne stared at Naruto still fast asleep. "I promise to you oji-san, I will protect Naruto like you protected me and this village. I promise that I will love him no matter what."
END OF FLASHBACK
"It seems I can't keep my promise now." Ne put the picture on the table next to the bed. "But maybe I can look for Naruto one day."
"For now though, this will be our home." Yuki spoke. "These people might be able to help you later on. It is also good we don't have to sleep in that cold abandon cabin. Oh! I just remembered. Everyone should be here in a minute."
"Very good…" Ne continued to unpack his things. About thirty seconds later there was a loud scream. Ne went to the door o see what was happening in the hallway.
There, was a woman with a silver colored trench coat and white on the end of the sleeves and the bottom of the coat. She wore a white shirt and black pants on underneath the coat. She had a waterfall head protector on her right arm. She had her silver hair down to her waist and had black eyes. She had a tattoo of a Z on her wrist. She also had the kanji for Ushi on her back.
The woman screamed as Ne watched her run by him. He watched her retreating form before hearing something else coming down the hallway. Ne looked back to the direction the woman was coming from and saw all of his rats running towards him. Ne sighed and went back into his room. His rats soon came in the room and began to look around their new home.
"Everyone." All the rats looked up at Ne. "You are not to leave this room without mine or Yuki's permission. You cannot scare the people here and do not steal anything like their food from them. The leader Tatsu said if we asked the woman who cooks here nicely, she will make us anything we want." The rats went to talk to themselves, talking in their own language of what they should get.
"Quiet!" Yuki yelled, all rats went to him. "He is not finished talking."
"Aritgotou Yuki-kun." Ne cleared his throat. "I have a new name now, so you all can no longer call me Aido. My name now is Ne." All the rats nodded their heads. "Now, for being able to live here is a payment for the one we have lost, may he lay in peace." All was silent for the rat Tatsu and Tori had killed. "But Yuki and I have talked to Tatsu. He said that he wants us to be in his organization and we have agreed. If they ask us to, we will help fight in battle with them. If any rat in this room does not like any of this, you may leave now."
All the rats were silent and did not move. They did not want to leave. They cared to much for Ne to leave him. He had done so many things for them, him and Yuki both.
"Very good." Yuki spoke. "You can all go back as you were." The rats went back to explore the room and Ne continued to unpack his things. "Are you sure it is okay for all of them to stay here? I mean, the woman in the hall looked terrified of them."
"It will be fine. Tatsu said if no one liked us they can leave. He made a deal with me and he said he is going to keep it. The only way the deal can brake is if I want to leave. No one else can make us leave."
Yuki nodded his head. "Very well then." He looked around the room. This place does seem larger than where we lived."
"It is. Tatsu said this is the second biggest room to his."
"Remember when I brought you to our old home?"
"Of course." Ne looked over at the at the picture on the table. "It was after I lost most of my memories."
FLASHBACK
"Why are we leaving again?" Ne asked a Junnin on his right. There were two other junnins with them and one held a small baby in her arms.
"We are taking you to another village. It will be a lot safer there."
"Did Jii-san say so?"
"Hai, he wants you and Naruto to be safe from harm. The village we are taking are going to does not know about the Kyuubi. So no one will try to hurt you both again."
Ne nodded his head. He looked down at the flute in his hands. It had been about three month since his little cousin was born. Someone had tried to sneak in their home and kill him, but like Ne promised, he protected his little cousin. It was not long before a white haired man came and stopped the impostor. After that, the three junnin Ne was traveling with told him that they had to escort him and Naruto to another village. They were in such a hurry, Ne was not even able to say goodbye to anyone. They had been traveling for a week and had only rested when the sun went down.
"I'm tired of walking. I wonna go back home." Ne whined.
"We will be in the next village tomorrow and we will take a rest soon." Said the second junnin as he looked at the sun going down.
"Why don't you play your flute Aido?" The third juunin spoke.
The first junnin glared at the woman. "Iie, that is a bad idea. We…Don't want to bother people around here with your flute."
The woman got what he really meant and nodded her head.
"Why can't we just do this here?" The second Junnin suggested. "We're to far away and no one will find us."
"Do what?" Ne asked confusingly.
"Nothing, he does not know what he is talking about." The first Junnin said.
"I agree with him. No one will find us and if they do we will be long gone." The woman said.
The first man thought about it and sighed. "Fine, I'm tired of traveling with the demon and his cousin."
Ne became scared as all the junnin looked at him. He walked backwards slowly and soon…Everything went dark.
"Aido! Aido, where are you?!"
Young Ne slowly opened his eyes. It was now night and his head was pounding as he lay on the ground. He slowly pushed himself up and sat Indian style. He looked around and found himself in a forest.
"Aido!"
"Who…Who is that?" Ne wondered. It sounded familier and tried to think who it was, but he could not remember. What he did remember was the three junnin. He grew scared as tears came to his eyes. "N-Naruto. Did they-"
"Aido, where are you?!"
"Iie!" Ne stood up and started to run away from the voice. He ran as fast as he could, afraid that those Junnins would find him. "They must've gotten Naruto, what do I do?" Ne then accidentally tripped over a rock and fell to the ground.
"Are you okay?" Came a voice from Ne's right.
Ne snapped his head to his right, but did not see anyone. There was though, a rat white rat with some black fur on it.
"Wh-who's there?" Ne tried to stand again, but his leg was injured from the trip and fell back down.
The small rat walked up to Ne. "Me you human. I am the one who is talking."
Ne became freaked out by this. "I-it's talking!" Ne began to crawl backwards until he reached a tree. "The rat is talking!"
"Of course, for I am no ordinary rat." The rat walked up to the boy and went to his injured leg. A strange light came from the rat to the leg. "I am a demon."
Ne gasped. "B-but you're so small. Aren't they supposed to be big?"
"Not all demons are as big as the tailed demons. I am young too so I have some time to grow."
Ne's leg started to feel better from the rat's healing. When the rat was done, Ne stood back up and walked in a circle. It was all better and when Ne was about to say thank you, another voice came.
"Aido!"
It was the Junnins! Ne knew it was them, he just knew it.
"Here, follow me." The rat ordered the blonde boy and ran. Ne followed as he was told until they reached what looked like an abandon cabin. Ne let the rat lead him inside and he shut the door.
"Aido! Where are you dammit!"
Ne moved a curtain carefully so he could look outside. There, he saw a white haired man yelling for him. Ne thought the man looked familiar, but could not figure out why. Ne noticed he was holding something wrapped up in his arms. The man looked over at the small cabin and began to walk over to it. This got Ne scared and the rat by him noticed this. He went deep into the dark cabin, leaving Ne by himself.
"Aido, are you in there?" The white haired man twisted the doorknob. "It's me, Jir-ah!"
When he opened the door, hundreds of rats ran past him. A little fraked out, the man jumped up and landed on a nearby tree branch.
"I don't think he would be in there with all of those." Ne watched as the man retreated.
Ne sighed as he fell backwards and landed on his rear. He tried to calm down when he noticed he had something in his left hand. He looked and saw he had been holding a flute the whole time. He tried to remember where had gotten it. His eyes widened.
"Oji-san…"
"Are you okay?" Ne looked over to his right to see the rat that had helped him. Ne just nodded his head yes at the rat's question. "Good, by the way my name is Yuki. What is yours?"
"Aido."
"Nice to meet you Aido." More rats came from behind Yuki. "These rats are…Ano…My family you could say."
"Are they demons too?"
Iie, but that is why I am live with them. I help protect them from danger."
"I see…D-do you think you can have them help me find my way home?"
"Where is your home?"
Ne was about to respond, but did not. "I…I don't know…" Tears started to fall down his face. "I don't know the name, I don't know where it is, I-I forgot."
Yuki climbed on Ne until he reached his shoulder. He rubbed his head against Ne's neck. "Please don't cry, everything will be okay. Try harder and I'm sure you'll remember."
After a half hour of crying and trying to remember where he was from, what was his last name, who was the man and Junnins from earlier, still nothing. Yuki had decided for Ne to go to sleep and got the rats to bring him a blanket. They would try to help him remember tomorrow and look for the boy's cousin.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Naruto maybe dead now. But that will not stop me from looking." Ne was done packing.
"That's good." Yuki said. "Now, lets go ask that woman Tatsu was talking about so she can get you some new clothes."
Ne nodded his head in agreement and was about to leave, but stopped. He went to pick up the picture that made Yuki confused.
"What are you going to do with that?" The demon rat asked.
"You'll see." Ne walked out of his room and shut his door behind him he walked down the hallway until he saw the same woman from earlier. This time, she was holding a broom in her hands and had a killing intent coming off of her.
"Did you see some rats coming down here?" Ushi asked. "I know they're around here somewhere."
"They are in my room." Ne said.
"Good, now I'll go in there and take care of them."
"Don't!" Yuki spoke. "They are our family. You mustn't kill them."
"Ah!" Ushi took a couple steps backwards. "It talked!"
Ne glared at Yuki. "Do not scare are new teammate like that. We want to make a good first impression. Wait to speak until I tell them about you." Yuki nodded his head in understanding. Ne looked back to Ushi. "Gomen na sai, he did not mean to scare you like that. But what he said is true."
"S-so you are the one who brought them here?" Ushi asked shakily, freaked out that a rat had just talked.
"Hai, but there is nothing to fear. I told them to not leave my room without my permission."
"Good, I don't want those things all over the place."
"I understand. I was wandering, do you know where person Ushi is? I need to ask her a question."
"Well go on and ask. For I am Ushi, the mother-like figure around this place."
"Oh, Gomen na sai. Tatsu had told me there were two women in this organization. So I was not sure."
"To know who everyone is, just look on our backs and read." Ushi turned around and showed Ne the 'Ushi' on her back. "See what it says?"
Ne stayed quiet. Ushi turned back around and gave him a worried look. He was all quiet all of a sudden and she did not know why.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"I…I can not read." Ne told her. He was never taught how to read when he was younger since he did not go into school yet. That, or he just can not remember how when he lost his memories.
"Nani?! Why is that?" She asked curiously.
"…I just can't." Ne said, with a little hint of annoyance in his voice.
Ushi sensing the annoyance did not go farther questioning about his reading. "So what is it you wanted to ask me?"
"Tatsu says you are the one who makes everyone's uniforms. I was hoping you could make mine look like this." Ne lifted the picture of his uncle to the woman.
Ushi stared at the picture, wondering why he would want to look like the Yondaime. She knew about the Yondaime and only met him once when he came to her village. She had talked to him for a little bit when he came to a restaurant her family owned. She looked back at N and noticed they looked kind of a like.
"Ano…I don't think I can make a vest and you have to wear a trench coat. That's what the people in Zodiac are going to wear."
"Well, I want to look different then. I will repay you if you make mine look different."
"Hmm…" Ushi thought about it for a moment. "All right then. You have to help me decorate this place some more and help do some of my chores until your uniform is done." She held out her hand. "Deal?"
Ne looked over at Yuki who nodded his head. "Fine. I will accept." He took her hand and shook it."
"Good. Now follow me, we need to do some laundry." Ushi then lead Ne and Yuki down the hall until they came to a green door. "If you have any dirty clothes, you have to put them in here for me to wash them. Now, everyone here has their own colored basket so no one's clothes will get mixed up, kay?"
"Hai, but which one is mine?" He asked Ushi opened the door. Inside was eight baskets of clothes, each being a different color. There were some other empty basket in the right corner. Ushi walked over there and thought for a moment.
"Hmm…What color should you be?" She looked around at the empty baskets. "Ah! How about yellow?" She picked up a yellow basket to show Ne. He nodded his head yes before Ushi picked up another basket, "You will have two baskets to put your dirty clothes in. If one of them brakes, I will give you another one." She set the yellow basket back down and picked up a red one with clothes in it. "Okay, grab the brown basket over there."
Ne looked around and spotted a brown basket full of clothes. He picked it up and looked back at Ushi, waiting for what to do next.
"Okay, now follow me outside. We're going to go to a nearby stream to wash the all these." Ushi said as she walked out the door and headed down the hallway. She looked back to see Ne shutting the door behind him and quickly catching up to her.
They made it outside and saw the sun was going to go down soon. Ushi told Ne they had to hurry before it was night to wash the clothes. She had to hurry to make everyone dinner and she could not afford to make it late.
"Okay, just listen to my instructions and make sure no clothes go down stream." Ushi said as she set the basket she had been carrying on the ground.
Ne nodded his head as Yuki jumped off his shoulder. The rat went under a tree to relax since he most likely will not have any when they go back. With all those rats, how is he able to get his beauty sleep?
It had been a while and now Ushi was putting up the wet clothes on some tree branches. They needed to dry and she did not have a dryer. Tatsu had said he was going to put in electricity back at the cave after her and I were down renovating it. Then he said he was going to buy her some things for her kitchen and a washer machine and a dryer.
Ne also helped hang the clothes without any complaints. Ushi thought he would whine or something like the rest of the guys in Zodiac. She was happy since if he did she would become annoyed as hell and punch him to the moon. She had done that to Tori after he said he was never going to do some women's work. If I did not stop her, Tori would have had to go to the hospital.
Yuki meanwhile, was enjoying the peace outside. His eyelids were getting heavy and he felt very sleepy. He was about to go to sleep when he smelled something. He lifted his head and looked around.
"Ai-Ne!" Yuki called over to the blonde.
"What is it?" Ne stopped hanging the clothes and walked over to Yuki.
"I smell blood."
Ushi was hanging up a shirt when she heard Yuki. She was going to question him about it when she saw someone. There, a large black ram was walking with a sleeping girl, around the age of twelve or thirteen, was on its back. The girl had dark blue hair (not as dark as Hina-chan's) in two long pony tails. She had a waterfall headband in her hands while another was on her forehead. The girl also had dried blood all over her clothes, face, and arms.
The ram that was carrying the girl saw Ushi and Ne. He quickly ran towards them for them to help. Ushi though, was thinking he was charging at them to attack. She about to go into a fighting when Ne stopped her by going in front of her and saying "Don't." She stared at him confusingly, not understanding why he stopped her.
"Just wait until he is close enough." Ne told Ushi.
The ram came closer and closer, making Ushi think if they would be able to get out of its way in time. She soon let the thought go when she saw the ram slow down and made a stop in front of Ne.
"Excuse me," the ram spoke, out of breath. "Can you please help us?"
"Hai!" Ushi said as she went to get the girl off his back. The ram knelt down so it would be easier for Ushi.
Ushi laid the girl on the ground and examined her.
"I don't see any wounds." She said. "What happened to her?"
"I don't know." The ram said. "She had summoned me and I found her with blood all over her. I had also saw two of her teammates behind her."
"What happened to her teammates?"
"They are…They're both dead."
"Nani? They are both dead and she is still alive, unharmed?" Ushi took a moment to think. "Did she kill them herself?"
"I don't know. When I asked her what happened, she just cried."
"How long ago did this happen?"
"Yesterday."
"I see…I think we should get her cleaned up. I'll wash her in the stream. Ne, you go back to the cave and tell everyone to prepare for her arrival. Tell Tastu to get her my clothes and that I don't care they might be a little big. Bring them here along with some soap. Tell I to get some food for her since it looks like she hasn't eaten. And last, tell Tori to stay out of everyone's way and keep his damn mouth shut!"
Ne nodded his head and ran back to the cave. Yuki stayed behind as well so she could see if the girl would be okay.
"All right, now to get this blood off of you." Ushi was taking off the girls' bloody clothes when she noticed her company…Which were both male. "You two! Turn around now!"
Yuki and the ram had realized she was talking to them and did what they were told. They turned around, not wanting to see the scary woman mad.
Ushi had lifted her(with her undergarments still on) to the stream and put her body in it. She waited for Tatsu to arrive so she could clean the girls' arms. Tatsu did come and gave Ushi the soap and turned around like Yuki and the ram. Ushi was done and put her clean clothes on the girl. The clothes were big on her, but it was good for now until Ushi was able to make some clothes that'll fit her.
After getting her dress, the girl slowly opened her eyes. They were light blue and were also red from what looked like crying to much. She looked off into the distance as if she was hypnotized by something.
"H-Hikaru…Ren…" She whispered before closing her eyes again. She went back to a deep sleep as Ushi held her and comforted her like a mother would for her child.
Ushi lifted the girl back up, only to be taken by Tatsu. He held the girl in his arms and asked what was going on. Ne had only told him to come here with new clothes and some soap. Ushi explained the things she had learned from the large ram before heading back to the cave. The clothes that were drying were still there and Ushi said she would return for them with Ne.
"Ushi! I got the food!" Ushi looked to see who was talking to her as she arrived to the cave.
The man had long red hair that almost reached the ground and his eyes were squinted a little. He was a large man and his purple trench coat, with yellow at the end, that almost did not fit him. On his cheek was a Z tattoo and on his forehead was a grass headband with a slash going through. On the back of his coat was the kanji for I. He ran towards Ushi and Tatsu in as fast as he could.
I was running towards Ushi in a panic and he did not notice his pet on the ground. I accidentally stepped on her tail, making her squeal and him falling to the ground. He made sure the food was okay, knowing Ushi would get angry if her food was wasted. It was all okay and checked his pet.
His pet was a little pink pig. The pig had bright blue eyes and a long strand of blonde hair over its right eye. Tied on to her tail, was a purple bow. If Naruto or his friends saw the little pig, they would say it looked a lot like someone they knew. (coughInocough)
"Oh Kagura-chan!" The man picked up his pet and hugged it. "Papa is sorry for stepping on you! Papa didn't mean to! Please forgive papa!" Tears were rolling down his face in a Gai and Lee manner.
The pig, named Kagura, also had tears coming down her face as she snuggled closer to her 'papa's chest.
"Please don't get in papa's way again like that! I know you're hungry, but you know how scary Ushi can be! You remember the last time she hurt papa!"
"I! Give me the food now!" Ushi ordered, getting really irritated with I. "This is an emergency!" Ushi lead Tatsu and the ram towards her room where the girl could rest. Yuki then left to find Ne.
"Huh?" I looked at the girl in Tatsu's arms. "Oh! Gomen na sai!" He put Kagura on the ground and got up to his feet. He picked up the food he got before he followed Ushi to her room.
When they entered the room, I had noticed that Ushi's room was bigger than his. When started to complain to Tatsu, he just said that Ushi works harder around here than anyone else. I was going to say he does work too, but Ushi interrupted him. She told him to give her the food and go get some water. I mumbled some things like 'I can't believe I stepped on Kagura's tail' and 'I have to make it up to her or she'll hate me forever.' Tatsu and Ushi just ignored him.
Ushi tried to wake the sleeping girl gently. The girl slowly opened her eyes. She looked around a little and was frightened when she saw Ushi and Tatsu.
"Hikari." The ram got closer to the bed. "Do not be frightened. These people are here to help you."
The girl named Hikari calmed down a little and relaxed. She noticed the her head was lying on Ushi's lap. She sat up on the bed.
"Where am I?" Hikari asked, almost ordering.
" Your at our hideout." Tatsu said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Your ram here came to me and my friend. I washed you in the stream nearby and gave you my clothes." Ushi said
Hikari looked down. It was true, she was wearing new clothing. She looked back at Ushi. "Arigotou."
"It was no problem. I couldn't just leave you like you were." Ushi smiled at the young girl.
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?" Tatsu asked.
Hikari thought about it, what had happened? She was on a mission with her teammates and they were headed home. When it was getting dark, her teammates were setting up camp while she went to get some fire wood. When she returned she…
"No…" Hikari whispered. Her eyes widened when she realized what she had done.
"Did you do something?" Ushi asked. But the only response she got was silence. Ushi sighed. "Maybe you can tell us tomorrow when you're ready. Right now you need to eat." Ushi handed her a plate of fruit and vegetables. "This is all we have since we got them out of the forest. We have been thinking of going to the village nearby for groceries. I hope these are good for now"
Hikari just nodded her head and nodded her as she grabbed the plate. She took little bites of the food on her plate. I came in with a glass of water and handed it to Hikari. He soon left with Tatsu following him. The only ones in the room now were Ushi, Hikari and her summoned ram.
"Are you going to be all right?" Ushi asked after minutes of silence.
"Hai." Replied Hikari before taking the last bite out of her fruit.
"So tell me about yourself." Ushi took the empty plate from the girl and puts it on the side table.
"…I'm a gennin from the village hidden in the waterfall."
"Oh yes, I saw your headband. I left it by the stream so I can wash your clothes later when I get the clothes I was drying."
"Was…Was there another headband I was holding?"
"Hai, I left it with yours so don't worry. Was it one of your teammate's?
"It was…His name was Hikaru.
"Hikaru? That almost sounds like your name."
"I know…"
"Why is that?"
"…We just do." Hikari's eyes were filled with tears.
"Oh, okay. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked about him."
"Iie, it is all right." Hikari wiped her eyes with her right hand.
Ushi stood up from the bed and picked up the plate and cup. "I'm going to go clean these. You lay down and rest; I'll be back in ten minutes." Ushi went out of the room and closed the door behind her.
"Hikari?" The ram spoke.
"Hai Hiro?" Hikari looked at the ram.
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I think so. Why?"
"I'm going to go back now and I don't want to leave you if you're not okay."
"Don't worry about me. If I need you I can just summon you."
Hiro nodded his head and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Hikari stared at where the ram had stood. She was alone now in the room. After just a few minutes, someone opened the door.
"Ushi! Why the hell am I supposed to stay in my room for the rest of the night?" Tori came in. "What did I do…This…Time…You're not Ushi."
Hikari stayed silent, not sure if she should talk to the boy. She did not think it was a good idea and wanted the boy to leave. She pulled her knees up to her chest as she glared at Tori.
"You must be that girl I was talking about." Tori walked up to the bed and climbed on. He sat with his legs criss-cross. He held out his right hand. "I'm Tori, what's your name?"
Hikari looked at his hand for a second before finally deciding to take it. "Hikari."
"Hikari, huh? That's a nice name." Tori grinned at her.
"Glad you like it is since I sure don't."
"Huh? Why not?"
"It reminds me of someone I don't like." She looked down at the bed. She really did hate Hikaru and glad that he was gone. But part of her will care for him and she wished he was still here.
"Really? That's to bad…Oh! I know! I heard that you had a summoned ram. You summoned it, right?"
"Of course I did, who else do you think it was? My imaginary friend?" She looked at him with an angry 'you are such a baka' look.
"Er…Gomen na sai." Tori saw her glare and did not really like it. "Anyway, why don't I call you Hitsuji? Is that okay?"
"I guess so."
"Cool, so…Want do you want to talk about?"
"I don't want to talk."
"Okay then you can listen to me. I'll tell you about everyone here."
Hikari thought about it. She did not know these people and she could learn who they were if he told her about them.
"Fine." Hikari said as she prepared to listen.
Tori grinned, glad that he had someone his age to talk with. And a girl at that! Maybe she would want to be his girlfriend? She was really cute and she seemed pretty cool to him. He started to tell her about the people in Zodiac.
Meanwhile…
Jiraiya was at the front gates of Konoha. He was about to leave for another endless search. He brought out a picture of Arashi and a young Aido. Next to Arashi was a blonde woman. She was holding Aido close to her, as if she did not want to let go. He had sworn that he would look for Aido, for Naruto.
FLASHBACK
"You're leaving to look for him again?" Tsunade asked Jiraiya. He had come in to say goodbye to her and would be back to help Naruto train some more. "It's been years and we don't know what those junnins did. They might have killed him."
"I know. I was lucky I got there in time to get Naruto. They had told me they did something to him and threw him off in the forest somewhere." Jiraiya said.
"Then you had killed them all on the spot after they would not tell you where they left him." Tsunade brought out her trusty sake and poured it into her cup.
"I looked everywhere in that forest and two of the closest villages." Jiraiya sighed. "I'm not giving up though."
"You've looked for him while looking for Oroshimaru, during Naruto's training, and even after doing your research you'd look in the same village. You know they might have killed him."
"I know, but that's not stopping me. I'm not going to stop just because of that."
"Why are you still looking Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked before taking a sip of her sake.
"Because of Naruto."
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya questionably. "For Naruto?"
"Hai. He thinks he has no family and is alone. If I do this, things will be different for him. And Arashi will also be happier in the afterlife; seeing his son finally reunited with Aido." Jiraiya headed towards the door to leave.
Tsunade chuckled a bit. "Well Jiraiya, I hope you find the boy this time. Good luck."
END OF FLASHBACK
Jiraiya put the picture back into his pocket. He looked up at the cloudless blue sky and smirked.
"I'll find him and bring him back to Konoha Arashi, just wait and see…"
End of chapter
Ne, Ushi, Tora, U, Tatsu, Mi, Uma, Hitsuji, Saru, Tori, Inu, I
Rat, Ox, Tora, U, Dragon, Snake, Uma, Ram, Saru, Rootser, Dog, Boar
Lovelyanime: There, all done. I had decided to make Ne's rat a demon since it didn't seem to be a bad idea. And his name being Yuki? I just wanted to name him something and Yuki came to mind…Then few minutes later I had finally realized it was the name of the guy who can turn into a rat on Fruits Basket. I felt like a baka there for a moment for not realizing it. (lol) Then I had decided if I call him Yuki, why not call the other animals in here the names of the other Fruit basket characters. So Kagura and Hiro are named after the people on Fruits Basket. Okay, Ne being Naruto's cousin? I did not think of this until like a month ago. I had planned he would kind of look like Naruto before, but then that had came to my mind. Yeah, Ne can't read but someone will teach him soon. Now Ushi, she does not really fight that much. She's always to busy working around the hideout cleaning and cooking. She's the mother-figure of Zodiac and you don't want to mess with her. She will chew you out if you do anything to make her mad. My friend made a joke of her since she's the ox. He said something that she makes the beef or whatever. I got kind of mad at him for a while. I, he's suppose to be kind of funny in this story. He has a pet pig that looks like Ino(lol) I couldn't help myself but to do that. Hikari, or Hitsuji, is kind of mysterious right now, but what happened before she arrived will be revealed in the next chapter.
Hinata: Please review everyone. It will help a lot by…Making LA-san and I very happy.
Lovelyanime: Yeah, you don't want Hina-chan and I be sad do you? (does a Hisoka puppy-dog look)
Polls! (I don't know who should be paired up with who so I need your help! Here are your options)Ushi/I
Ushi/Tatsu (I'm leaning towards this, but I want to see if everyone else wants it to)
Hanabi/Tori
Hitsuji/Tori
Shikamaru/Ino
Chouji/Ino
Kiba/Ino
Shikamaru/Temari
Ne/Temari
You suggest one and I'll think about it
Reviews!
Turok1- It'll be a Naru/Hina. This chapter was the last scene of a Naru/Saku, I promise. I don't like Sakura that much so it's defiantly not going to be a Naru/Hina/Saku.
Maned Wolf Goddess- Thank you. I kind of like stories that start out sad too, they're pretty cool. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon.
JSai- Thank you. I'm glad it sounds interesting to you. I hope you liked this chapter.
Ikasury - (reads plans for Sakura's demise) Hmm…Interesting. And I agree with you. I hate it when she goes near him and acts like that. It makes me rally sad for Hina-chan, it makes me want to cry. (I'm serious, it does make me want to cry most of the time) And I kind of like stories when like Naruto dies, sometimes with Hinata, but it makes me want to cry and go after the people who wrote it. And I'm glad you liked the last chapter and hope you liked this one too. Id didn't like the Naru/Saku scene myself, I even felt like dying while writing it. And you're right, thank you for real friends! (glomps chibified Kiba, Neji, Shino too) I know Hanabi might seem a bit ooc. She does act mean when other Hyuuga's are around, but in truth she cares for her sister. Hanabi barely spends time with Hinata and tries to get her attention by doing something to get her mad. That's what I usually do to my sister(lol) She lives in a different state and spends her times with friends. Even though I'm 15, I'm needy(starts crying) She moved and left me alone with my little brother that gets me mad everyday! Oh well, I get my anger out on Sakura so I don't have to get in trouble by hurting my brother (even though the little gaki deserves it) Err…Sorry, kind of got off the subject. Hiashi, he's starting to finally feel guilty for what he has done to Hinata for all those years. I'm glad you liked Mi, Inu, and Ne, they're a couple of my favorites too(others are U, Uma, Hitsuji and Tora) Thank you for telling me what story I was thinking of. I thought he brought back the rats, but I couldn't remember. The story does kind of gets worse, but it does get better like you said.
HinaNaruFAN987- Naruto is an idiot, but that's what makes him Naruto. Naruto might get beat up. I'm not sure if he should and if he does, I don't know who…I'm thinkoing Neji should. Oh well, just have to wait.
RagingDragon04- This story is not going to be a Naru/Saku, last chapter was the last scene of it. I hate that pairing too. Naruto will end up with Hina-chan, but that won't be until a really long time. That was a pretty good little story you wrote in the review. But don't be to hard on Naruto, he has a reason for doing this to Hina-chan. And the Hiashi part…That was cool. Someone should've done that sooner to him. I've revived all them already to my and everyone else's disappointment. And how dare Naruto to go through my stuff to look for my sword! That's how he got to my pocky isn't it?! He went in my room and stole them both! I had that sword in my closet and he steals it along with my pocky! Now he's going to pay!…But since you brought my sword back I won't. Thank you for giving it back to me.( walks up to Naruto and grabs box of my pocky to find it empty) But since he ate all of my pocky he is going to have to pay for that. (beats up Naruto) When Hinata joins Zodiac, she will wear something Naruto and any guy would like. I want Sakura to die but I can't. I'm sorry…The little puppy dog look is cute but I can't….Gah! No wonder Hisoka-kun uses that all the time! I'm sorry…I'm glad you like the new characters and thank you. Only like one othr person said I was a good author, so thank you very much for saying that. It's cool I gave you an idea for your new story. I read your story and it's pretty good. I'm sorry I haven't left a comment, but it wouldn't let me. I'm really sorry I couldn't. Hope you liked this chapter…RD-kun.