Author's Note: I don't know what I'd do without my loyal fans... I'd probably not be writing right now. All of the reviews and followers and favorites are what's keeping this story alive. I just want to thank everyone... "Thank you all so much!"
Question of the Day: What do you all read Fanfiction on? What do you all write Fanfiction on?
Answer: I read Fanfiction on my phone and tablet... And I write Fanfiction on my tablet!
Summary: Imagine your favorite anime. You love it, right? Would you love to live there forever, though? Jalen, a 12 year old boy, doesn't. But is the Naruto world as unreal as he thought? Or is the "real world" the unreal one? Will he survive? Will he ultimately mess up the storyline? Only time, and a substantial amount of sulking, will tell.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I'm currently trying to bribe K. Masashi to let me own a tiny, tiny section of it... But he never answers my text messages. •﹏•
Grey Eyes
Chapter 7
Wednesday, April 18th
"By the way, Mr. Tazuna," Kakashi started, picking up the unconscious body. Tazuna stiffened, already knowing where this conversation was going.
"Y-Yeah, what?"
Kakashi turned, giving Tazuna a sharp look. "We need to talk." He walked over to a nearby tree, throwing the body in front of it. Kakashi swiftly took out a rope from his bag, tying the ninja to the tree. The ninja stirred awake then, looking slightly confused. When he realized where he was and what was going on, he looked enraged.
"Where's my brother?!" He demanded. "What have you done with him?!" I tensed as I heard his demonic voice again, but I didn't feel quite right. I'm still low on chakra, but I feel kinda dazed... I guess that's a symptom of chakra exhaustion.
"This guy is a Chunin from the Village Hidden in the Mist," Kakashi informed us, completely ignoring the snarling man. "His specialty is relentless attack... They keep fighting no matter the sacrifice."
"Answer me! Where's my brother?!" The ninja yelled again. Kakashi sighed, pointing to me. Wait, what?!
"This guy persuaded your brother to leave. Who knows where he is now?" Kakashi shrugged. I tilted my head. Usually, I would glare and yell at Kakashi... But... I just feel...
"Kakashi-sensei," I said, my voice sounding a bit weird for some reason. "I just told him to leave... So he left. There was no persuading done at all."
"Yeah! Jalen was awesome!" Naruto exclaimed, his energy and excitement coming back faster than I expected. "He just looked at that ninja and the guy was terrified! It was amazing!"
The ninja grunted, seeming to be deep in thought. He looked at Naruto and I, then back at Kakashi. He seemed to be thinking his words carefully. "...How did you find out about our ambush..?"
"A puddle... On a clear day... When it hasn't rained in weeks?" Kakashi answered as if it was that obvious. Well... I guess it was...
"In that case, why did you leave it for the Genin to do the fighting?" Tazuna asked.
"I could have taken them out quickly, but then I'd have learned nothing," Kakashi explained. "I had to know who their target was and what were they after." He gave Tazuna another sharp look.
"Hm? What're you getting at?" Tazuna asked defensively.
"This," Kakashi said simply, now sporting a bored look. "I wanted to know if they were after us, ninja attacking ninja, or if they were after you, the master bridge builder. When you put in your request, you asked for standard protection from robbers and highway men. You didn't say there were ninja looking for you... Hunting you down. If we knew this, it would be a B rank task or higher.
"Our task was to simply get you to your destination and protect you while you finished building your bridge. If we knew we'd be fielding attacks from enemy ninja, we would have staffed differently and charged for the cost of a B mission," Kakashi explained. "Apparently you have your reasons... But lying to us is not acceptable. We are now beyond the scope of this mission!"
"We're Genin; this is too advanced for our level of training," Sakura said with an understanding smile. "We should go back... And I really think we should rest anyway since Jalen used that Jutsu and exerted himself." I snorted, but she was right. I don't think I'm gonna be fit to walk...
But... I just can't risk things like this. I'm pretty sure Kakashi should have taken both the ninja out... But I messed that up. If they have to stop traveling because of me... I can tell bad things will happen...
"Well... I guess heading back is the right move."
"No... We should keep going," I decided, nodding at my own words. They all turned to look at me, so I continued. "Basically, it's our 5th day traveling. If we don't hurry and get to the Land of Waves, it's obvious that guy's brother will try and attack. And I'm sure he has a very reasonable excuse as to why he lied..."
Everyone slowly nodded as they took in my words. Kakashi told us we'll be traveling across water after tomorrow... So it was obvious continuing was the right thing to do... It would be a real waste to turn back now.
"But what do we do with him..?" Sakura asked. Kakashi brought his head up and pondered this question.
"I think," I started out loud accidentally. "we should kill him." I instantly brought my hands to my mouth, cursing myself for what I said. I obviously wasn't going to kill him, so I shouldn't have said that! But... What else are we supposed to do? He was trying to kill us...
Kakashi stared at me in that bored expression of his before sighing. "You're spending way too much time with Anko..." I stubbornly turned away, a scowl on my face. "Everyone, go on ahead. I'll catch up with you in a little..."
"What are you going to do, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked. Kakashi gave her the look. "O-Oh..."
...
I'll never feel safe around Kakashi again. I mean... I didn't see him kill the man, but I could feel the difference in the air when he came back. I'm surprised he was able to muffle the scream... I'm sure he buried the corpse with an Earth Style Jutsu... I wonder how he killed him, though? I bet he snapped his neck; less bloody.
No one would even stand by Kakashi. Tazuna was the closest, and even that was far. Naruto was frequently looking all around us, making sure the other ninja wouldn't attack. I'm sure I would be able to sense him, but it's a little reassuring to have an extra set of eyes watching.
I obviously walked beside Naruto, my hand resting on my dagger. I wouldn't kill him if we manage to knock him out, but I won't hold back if he comes near me or Naruto. He'll be in the afterlife with his brother... That's a promise.
Friday, April 19th
We were on the boat to the Land of Waves, now. After waking up we almost immediately made it to the water, everyone getting on a kinda small wooden boat. The man that was taking us there warned us that we needed to be quiet. Everyone just nodded; that wouldn't be much of a problem.
I'm actually pretty scared of boats, though. I love the rain... I love showers... But drowning is my worst fear. I wonder why..? So, as you might already know, I'm still pretty tired from using all that chakra, and I'm scared; I was deadly quiet.
The mist was so, so thick... I'm surprised it didn't choke us! You couldn't tell if it was night or day... If you looked up all you saw was grey. Grey...
"This fog is so thick... You can't see anything," Sakura whispered, probably trying to start a conversation. Ever since Kakashi came back... We've been a little quiet.
After a moment of silence the man taking us to the Land of Waves said, "The bridge isn't far now. Our destination's just ahead; the Land of Waves."
I looked up and suppressed a gasp when I saw part of the bridge. It was humongous..! I can't really explain it, because it's a giant bridge, what more do you say? But... It's the biggest thing I've ever seen... Tazuna is trying to finish this thing?! That goal seems a little impossible...
"WOAH! IT'S HUGE!" Naruto shouted, madly grinning. Since we were so quiet, it was much louder than it should have been...
"Wha-?! Quiet! I told you no noise!" The man rowing the boat yelled/whispered at Naruto. "Why do you think we're traveling like this, huh? Cutting off the engine and rowing... Moving through the dense fog... It's so they don't see us!" Naruto cupped his mouth with his hands almost instantly. Sakura and Sasuke turned and gave the blonde an irritated look while Kakashi gave Tazuna that This Is All Very Suspicious look. It was mixed with his usual bored look, making him look a little stupid.
"Mr. Tazuna," Kakashi started. Tazuna jumped from suddenly having Kakashi's attention on him, but slowly brought his head down. Kakashi continued. "Before we reach the pier, I want to ask you something." Tazuna didn't respond at all... He just kept his head down, his hat hiding his face from everyone. "The men who're after you... I need to know why. If you don't tell us, I'm afraid we'll have to end this mission once we drop you ashore."
"Kakashi-sensei!" I yelled, but shut up completely when his gaze landed on me. I didn't want us to stop the mission, but I didn't want Kakashi to kill me... I'm torn between conflicting feelings..!
"...I have no choice but to tell you," Tazuna sighed, looking up at us. "No... I want you to know the truth. Like you said; this is above the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man who casts a very long and deadly shadow."
"A deadly shadow?" Kakashi pirated. Tazuna slowly nodded. By now, everyone was sticking their noses into this conversation. "Hm... Who is it?"
"You know him, at least I'm sure you've heard his name before. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world; the Shipping Magnet, Gato."
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. "Hm? Gato? Of Gato Transport?" Tazuna nodded. "He's a business leader... Everyone knows him..!" Kakashi continued. Wow... Is this Gato really so bad..? And why would he want Tazuna's life?
"Who? Who? What? What?" Naruto was shaking in anticipation; he was definitely into this conversation. But... If this Gato person wants Tazuna's life... And we're here to protect his life...
That means this Gato person is bad... And that he's also going to have to try and kill us..! Meaning... He's our enemy...
"Gato... Is a very powerful tycoon from a famous company, that's true. But below the surface... With the same ruthless methods he uses to take over businesses and nations... He sells drugs and contraband," Tazuna informed.
"What's contraband?" I asked him.
Instead of Tazuna answering, Sakura did. "They're basically items that are illegal to have. Duh! Don't you know that?!"
"If... If I did know..." I placed a hand on my forehead, trying to calm down. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking, bitch. And I asked Mr. Tazuna, not you..."
"It doesn't matter who you asked! You didn't know, for some odd reason, and I informed you! You should be a little more grateful, you damn moron..."
I huffed and turned away. I need to just stop before I push this dog off of the boat. I'm pretty sure she can't swim... And then she'll be all wet and miserable for the whole day... Yeah... That would be pretty nice..!
"Anyway... That girl's right. He sells drugs and illegal items using gangs and ninja," Tazuna told me. "It was one year ago when Gato first set his sights on the Land of Waves. He came over to our island and used his vast wealth to take total control of our transport and shipping. Anyone who tried to stand in his way simply... Disappeared."
I shivered at the tone of his voice. It was cold and his face was grim... I wouldn't be surprised if some of his closest friends disappeared. Actually... I have a strange feeling someone that he knew and cared for disappeared... I don't know why...
"In an island nation a man who controls the sea controls everything; finance, government, our very lives!" Tazuna seemed to be getting a little agitated... I can only imagine the hardships he must have been facing. "But there's one thing he fears: The bridge!"
Ah, yes... Of course. If you make a bridge then everyone he loves will die! If you make a bridge then all his money will disappear! Making a bridge is a monstrosity..! Why would you ever do such a thing?!
"When it is complete, it will join us to the land and that will break his control," Tazuna explained. "I am the bridge builder."
"So that's it," Sakura said in a kind of patronizing way. "Since you're in charge of the bridge, you're standing in this gangster's way."
"That means... Those guys we fought in the forest... They were working for Gato," Sasuke summarized. Wow..! The mute talks!
Naruto nodded in a way that made it looked like he understood completely, but the bit of sweat on his forehead told otherwise. He was confused... I can tell.
Kakashi shook his head. "I don't understand. If you knew he was dangerous, knew he'd send ninja to eliminate you, why did you hide that from us?" Oh, yeah..! He could have just hired some stronger Jounin, or something! Then we wouldn't be in this situation. But... I feel like he has a really good reason...
"Because the Land of Waves," he looked down. "Is a small, impoverished nation. Even our nobles have little money. The common people who are building this bridge, they can't pay for an A or B rank mission; It's too expensive! If you end the mission when you drop me ashore... There will be no bridge. They'll assassinate me before I reach home."
Oh, damn... I was right. That's a really good reason. I'm not the type of person that would merrily go on their way knowing that the man you've spent a bit of time with is being killed. I may act indifferent to everyone besides Naruto, but I truly don't want them to die.
"But... Don't feel bad about that," Tazuna said a little cheerfully. "Of course my sweet little grandson will be upset; he'll cry grandad! I want my grandad!"
"A-Awww..."
"Oh! And my daughter will condemn the ninja of your village, denouncing and blaming you for abandoning the life of her father and living her life in sorrow," Tazuna said matter-of-factly. "Ah, well... It's not your fault. Forget it."
"Awwwww..."
Naruto, Sakura, and I looked at each other guiltily. We all had a mental connection for a moment that basically said, "We can't do this! We really can't do this!"
Kakashi tapped on his ninja headband, thinking it over. I swear, if he says that we'll leave him... I'll never speak to Kakashi again. Ever..! "Well... I guess we have no other choice," Kakashi sheepishly smiled. "We'll have to keep guarding you."
"Oh~ I'm very grateful," Tazuna said, looking a bit astonished. But I could see it..! I could see the glint of victory in his lying eyes!
"We're approaching the shore," the rower suddenly said. "Tazuna, we've been very fortunate; no one has noticed us so far."
"Nice going."
We began rowing into what looked like a tunnel. There were lights on the ceiling to direct us to keep going forward, but that was the obvious way to go with the bright light at the end of the tunnel. It looked so much more clearer than where we just left, and it effectively told me it was daytime outside still.
"Wow," I mumbled, looking around as we left the tunnel. The water was so clear that I could see every single detail of my face looking at it! There were trees growing out of the water, too! The air was so clean and fresh that I just wanted to take a deep breath. I resisted the urge, but it didn't stop everyone from realizing how infatuated I was with this place. It looked heavenly..!
We stopped by the pier and everyone got off one by one. I was the first to get off; I didn't want to be on that boat anymore than I needed to. There were poorly built houses around us in a variety of different colors. I sense that people live here, though...
"That's as far as I go," the man said, still on the boat. "Good luck."
"Right," Tazuna nodded. "Thank you for taking such a risk."
"Just be careful." And with that he started up the engine and rode away. We all watched him leave... He was a brave man... It would be a shame if a ninja just suddenly killed him for helping us.
"Okay. Take me to my home, and I mean get me there in one piece," Tazuna ordered. Aww... I was kind of hoping that this was the village. I guess I can't get a break, huh?
"Right," Kakashi nodded, and we were now walking to the forest. There was a trail, so we weren't just going forest hunting, but I'm still wary at how Tazuna can easily remember how to get here. He's only came to our village once, right? It doesn't make much sense...
An hour later of just walking through the forest... I sensed it. It was the most troubling chakra I've ever sensed. I felt more than just in danger... I felt like I was in a life threatening situation. Well, duh... But it was just awful. My legs were practically shaking a hole into the ground... I couldn't grab my dagger because I just felt frozen. I felt like he was looking at just me..!
I slowly turned my head to look directly at him, or his hiding spot. He was hiding in the bushes... If we walk a little more he'd have a perfect chance to attack!
Kakashi noticed that I stopped walking and turned around, giving me a skeptical look. I just slowly pointed to the bush that the ninja was hiding in... And Kakashi seemed to completely understand almost immediately.
He didn't do anything about it, though... He just whispered something to the bridge builder and the old man slowed down his walk. Naruto suddenly rushed up ahead, making both Kakashi and I gasp in shock. He's gonna attack Naruto..!
"Over there!" Naruto exclaimed, quickly taking out a kunai and throwing it at a bush. It was the wrong one, though... The one with the ninja was on the other side of the trail..!
I waited in pure agony for the ninja to attack... But he never did. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was sleeping.
"Hmph... It was just a mouse," Naruto said when nothing popped out of the bush, bringing a hand to his hair and trying to look cool.
"Mouse?! Yeah, right! Everyone can see through your stupid act! You're so obvious it's embarrassing!" Sakura yelled. I expected Kakashi and Tazuna to say something, but they just had a grim look on their faces.
I suddenly felt the energy to move go through my body. I slipped out a kunai and charged at Naruto, standing defensively in front of him. I threw the kunai straight at the spot where the ninja was hiding, and I felt his chakra spike. I suddenly sensed him in the trees, but before I could do anything Sakura stared to yell.
"Damn it, Jalen! Don't just do random things like that!" Sakura yelled, waving her fist at me.
"There's a ninja here, you stupid cunt!"
"Yeah, right! You're just acting like a stupid kid!"
Kakashi walked over to the bush where I threw the kunai at and started to inspect. I ignored Sakura and looked, too, gasping as I saw a snow rabbit. I almost hit it with my kunai... I almost killed a defenseless animal!
Sakura gasped, too. "Jalen! Look what you did!" I ignored the pink haired dog and started to think. I know that this snow rabbit wasn't the one giving off that strong chakra... And that spike in chakra before I threw the kunai... Meaning...
He must have used the Substitution Jutsu..! And he's above us!
"Look out!" Kakashi shouted. I looked up and almost fainted when I saw a giant sword spinning in the air about to cut our heads off. The only reason my head didn't get cut off is because I actually did faint a little and the sword missed my head by, like, an inch!
I fell to the ground and desperately looked around, seeing if everyone else was alright. Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna was fine... They were all still on the ground. Kakashi was already up, looking up at a tree. I followed his gaze and gasped when I saw a man standing on top of his sword. The sword was stuck inside the tree... It was the sword that almost decapitated all of us.
The man... No... I remember him... Zabuza! Zabuza is a tall and muscular man with pale skin, short and spiky black hair, brown eyes, and small eyebrows. He's wearing bandages like a mask over the bottom half of his face, and he's wearing his Hidden Mist ninja headband on the side of his head. He's not wearing a shirt for some odd reason, the only thing covering his chest being a belt. He has on baggy pants with stripes, wrist warmers, and matching elbow warmers.
This guy... Looks dangerous.
"Well, well... If it isn't Zabuza Momochi; rogue ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist," Kakashi started, casually putting his hands in his pocket and walking up to the tree. Zabuza glowered over Kakashi, but an idiot could see the glint of amusement in his eyes.
Naruto suddenly sprinted past me, heading for Zabuza. Kakashi brought his arm out and stopped the boy from going any further, much to the boy's annoyance. "What are you doing?!"
"You're in the way," Kakashi said simply, his voice serious. "Get back."
"But, why?!" Naruto yelled, glaring daggers at both Zabuza and Kakashi.
"He's not like those other ninja. He's in a whooole other league," Kakashi told the kid. "If he's our opponent, I'll need this," he brought his hand to his face and grabbed his ninja headband. I-Is he going to show his Sharingan? I gotta see this... "This could be treacherous..!"
Author's Note: Yeah... I really wanted to write more, but I wanted to hurry up and update. And... Yeah. I hope you all liked this! Read and Review! And don't forget the question of the day! Oh, and this story has been added into 2 communities! Yay! Bye nii~!
R.T.R:
war sage: Arigatou~! ╰（￣▽￣）╭
Firetrail: *crys with you* I know... It's terrible, isn't it?! π_π I really want him to get his memories back... But having his memories erased will shape his character and lead to a lot of conflict. And stories with conflict is the bomb! You'll see in later chapters!
Kage Kurai: Are you the only one answering my questions? I think you are... ˍAnyway, I love reading your answers! Your dream of killing Sakura and living happily ever after just made me flat out burst out laughing! And you actually gave me a very good idea... Poor, poor Sakura...
susannahblack19: I'm glad you're liking my story! Your reviews just make me get beettteeeerrr! ╭（′▽‵）╭（′▽‵）╭（′▽‵）╯ Yeah!
.awesome3612: Well, he wasn't exactly favoring him... Naruto IS the only jinchuriki of the Hidden Leaf Village. Anyway, thanks for liking the story!
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