Chapter 7:

Night was approaching. Naruto couldn't wait. He was tired of helping out with the wedding arrangements and hanging around waiting for nightfall. The old woman who told stories wasn't around anymore, most likely too busy helping out for the wedding to entertain the children.

Naruto stood by the river staring at the sky. In just a few hours the sun would go down and then they could see some action. Hopefully. He looked back at the inn where Sai still sat alone. The window he constantly sat by wasn't facing this direction so Naruto couldn't see him. But he knew he was there. "Maybe when this mission is over and we go home, he'll be better." Sai was still acting strangely and no one knew why. All they had were guesses.

"Naruto!" Sakura shouted from behind him. She stomped over to where he sat in the dead grass and pulled him to his feet. "There you are! Get over here and help! Neji and I are breaking our backs here and you're just sitting around doing nothing!"

"I wasn't doing nothing! I was keeping watch."

"Sure you were. Now come here." Sakura dragged him over to the busy street and handed him a box. "These have decorations. Take these over there so they can be hung up."

"You know, if I use my Shadow Clones this wouldn't take so long."

"Then why don't you?"

Naruto pouted. "Because I don't know what I'm supposed to do... You keep telling me I'm doing it wrong and I don't know a thing about weddings..."

"Then don't complain, stop saying stupid things and do as you're told."

Naruto took the box over to a man on a ladder who started to hang them up. Naruto started to walk away when he heard arguing. The people in this village seemed to get along better than most so Naruto was curious who could have been bickering.

There were two people in the street pointing in different directions. One was a woman and the other was a man. The argument seemed to be over where the lanterns should be strung. Neither could agree. They also seemed to be arguing about something else but Naruto couldn't make it out. It wasn't a very loud argument.

A hand came down on Naruto's shoulder. It was Haruki again. "Hello, Naruto. I see you've met my mother."

Naruto pointed to the woman. "That's your mother?"

"Yeah," he sighed sadly. "They never really got along but lately it's been much worse."

"Why?"

Haruki gestured to his mother. "Because of her bracelet. It was a gift from my father for twenty years of marriage. She never takes it off. Except for when she's cooking or bathing. One day she went across the street to her friend's house to make lunch and her bracelet went missing. We've been looking for it ever since."

"So what's that got to do with this guy?" Naruto pointed to the man who was arguing with her.

"That man happens to be my mom's best friend's husband. It was his house the bracelet went missing in so naturally we think he's to blame."

"Did he do it?"

"He keeps denying it so we don't know. It's been missing for weeks."

The two ended their dispute and went to opposite sides of the street. Haruki sighed and went after his mother. Though Naruto didn't realize it at the time, inside he knew that Haruki was possibly the busiest person in the village so Naruto had no right to complain about being a little bored and having to carry decorations.

Before he could move off in another direction, Sakura appeared behind him and started to push him off toward the farm. "Hurry up. We have to check in with the farmer up there."

"We do? Why?"

Sakura never explained but she didn't have to. Once they got up there, the farmer knew exactly why they were there. He told Sakura everything she was sent to find out. The farmer was one of the caterers for the wedding apparently.

Once again, Naruto found himself incredibly bored and wanted to bang his head against the ground. He looked around at all the surrounding plants and started thinking. As long as Sakura had her back turned, maybe he could sample a little of the food growing around him. He could use a snack. But as he reached down, he discovered that he wasn't the only one with the same idea. A white rabbit was already nibbling on some of the green plants.

The rabbit's lunch was cut short when the farmer caught sight of it. "Shoo! Shoo! Scat!" The rabbit took off behind the barn.

Sakura watched the rabbit go with sad eyes. "Aw, it was cute."

"They may be cute, but I can't have them eating my crops." The farmer examined the damage done to his cabbage.

"At least it was a rabbit. I saw a toad in the village earlier," said Naruto.

Sakura nodded. "Yeah, I'd much rather have a rabbit in my garden than some slimy toad."

The farmer looked up at them, smiling. "Ah, but they are one in the same. Didn't you know?"

"Know what?"

"The story of the Jade Rabbit." The farmer began to tell them the story. "For many years, the white tiger and rabbit lived together. The tiger was very protective of the rabbit since it was unable to defend itself. One day, his beloved rabbit friend became very ill. The tiger could not help the rabbit so he was forced to leave its cave and head toward the village for help. The villagers, knowing what the white tiger was like, attacked him at once. Even when the tiger posed no threat, the people knew it was dangerous and chased it away.

"Unable to find help in that village, the white tiger went in search of another village. Sadly, there were no other villages nearby and time was running out. The rabbit grew weaker and thinner. The white tiger was determined to save his friend but could do nothing.

"Then, on the night of the full moon, the white tiger was visited by the Lady of the Moon. He begged the Lady of the Moon to help the rabbit. She looked the rabbit over and told him sadly, 'The rabbit will die. It is too weak and will not survive.' The white tiger pleaded for her aid, knowing she was the rabbit's only hope. After a long time, the Lady of the Moon said to him, 'There is one thing I can do to save its life.' She plucked something from inside her sleeve and gave it to the rabbit. "It is Mugwort. It will grant the rabbit immortality.'

"The Mugwort not only gave the rabbit immortality, but gave it back its strength as well. The rabbit became healthy again and its life was spared. However, the rabbit's body began to change and wrinkle. Instead of fur, the rabbit was now covered with warts and bumpy skin. The rabbit had been turned into a toad. It was the only way it could remain an immortal. Looking at the rabbit's grotesque appearance, the white tiger recoiled, convinced this was not his friend and prepared to attack. Then he stopped realizing it was still the rabbit, just in a different form. The white tiger picked up the toad and knew at once that it was still his beloved friend. Its appearance didn't matter so long as he was alive."

Sakura and Naruto listened to the whole story without interruption. When the farmer was finished, Sakura spoke. "So the rabbit was turned into a toad?"

"Yup," said the farmer, taking the eaten head of cabbage out of his field. "That's why they're both. Why do you think toads croak the way they do? They're sending a message to people that they were once a rabbit. They've been telling their story since the very beginning."

Naruto thought about it. The farmer was right. When they croaked, it sounded like they were saying 'ribbit' which sounded a lot like the word 'rabbit'. '

Sakura shook her head. "Funny, because I heard a different telling of that story. The Jade Rabbit lives on the moon, not with a white tiger. Are you sure that's the story?"

The farmer straightened up. "My dear girl, the story continues. After thanking the Lady of the Moon, the white tiger left with the rabbit. Though the rabbit would not die, its life was now in constant danger. News spread of the rabbit's immortality and many wanted that power. The white tiger and rabbit were hunted constantly. If the rabbit was ever captured, its captor would gain immortality as well. If the Mugwort were ever taken from the rabbit, it would become mortal again and die. That was the only thing keeping him alive. Knowing the rabbit's life was in constant danger, the white tiger returned to the Lady of the Moon pleading for her help again. If the rabbit remained with the white tiger it would continue to be hunted. The land was no longer safe. The Lady of the Moon offered the two a sad solution. 'If the rabbit comes with me, he'll be safe. He'll live on the moon, far from their reach.' The white tiger was happy to hear that his friend would be kept safe, but they would never see each other again. What a terrible price. But it was for the best. And so the white tiger willingly gave up his friend to the Lady of the Moon."

Naruto's hand popped into the air, gaining attention. "Question. Uh... so did the rabbit-toad change again? I mean, is it still a rabbit or is it a toad forever?"

"That is never explained. However, people assume both ways. It could be a toad still or it could have changed back into a rabbit."

"So it just lives there with that woman now on the moon?"

"She promised to keep the rabbit safe and care for it. And if the white tiger was good, he would be allowed to visit the rabbit," the farmer explained. "That's how the story goes at least."

Sakura nodded. "That sounds more like the one I've heard. But these are all myths. There's bound to be some variation."

Naruto looked between the farmer and Sakura and pouted. "Am I the only one who hasn't heard these stories before?"

Night fell over the village and the people returned to their homes. The shadow intruders would be showing up at any moment now. Everyone agreed that Sai should remain inside the inn and not be allowed to leave. He would only interfere with the mission like he did the night before. They only had a few minutes before the trespassers left and they couldn't afford to waste any time.

It was decided that things would go a little differently this night. "We'll allow them to enter and keep a close eye on them," explained Neji. "They always leave in the same direction so this time we'll follow them and see where they go."

"Didn't we try that the other night?" asked Naruto.

"This time we'll be prepared. Someone will stand by the forest in order to get a head start. As soon as they start to leave, we won't try to prevent it. We'll follow them as soon as they begin to move. Hopefully we'll find out where they're going and see who's behind all this."

And so they waited. Sure enough, the shadows appeared and flowed into the village like dark waves. Sakura stood at the opening of the forest to get a head start when they started to leave. Neji and Naruto remained in the village to watch the shadows. No one tried to stop them. Tonight they were quiet observers.

Still unnerved by the shadow figures, Naruto kept his distance while he watched them walk through the streets of the village. To amuse himself until they left, he flicked small stones at them and watched them pass through as if the figures were made of mist. The stones would get bigger as time went on. Now he was tossing ones the size of his fist at them. He started to dig in the dirt for more rocks to throw.

Neji called Naruto's name. He hurried back to the footbridge where Neji was waiting. "Get ready, Naruto. They should be leaving in just a few moments."

Naruto nodded, still carrying a large rock in his hands the size of a bowling ball. He wanted to see what would happen if he dropped it on one of their heads but Neji called him away before he could.

The shadows started to turn and head back the way they came. They got ready to chase after them.

Something croaked loudly by Naruto's foot and felt something slimy touch his toes. "Eeeeahh!" Naruto threw the rock out of his hands, needing them for balance as he kicked his leg straight out several times to get whatever it was off of him.

"Ow!" Neji howled, jumping up and down holding his foot. So that's where the rock landed. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Something touched me!" Naruto wailed, pointing at his leg.

Neji, still hopping in place snarled. "It's just a stupid toad! For crying out loud, you should be used to seeing them by now! You summon them."

Naruto looked at the toad clinging to his ankle. Its throat puffed out as it croaked again, staring at him with big dark eyes. Naruto frowned. This tiny little toad is what startled him? How embarrassing. He reached down and peeled the toad off his foot. "This is your fault, you stupid little..."

"Naruto!" Neji pointed. The shadows were already on the other side of the river and Sakura had run into the forest after them. "Come on! Hurry!"

They ran into the forest in pursuit of the shadow people. It was so dark, Naruto could barely see anything. The forest had gotten thicker. Branches whipped Naruto's face and arms and shrubs and roots tangled his feet. He ran even after he had lost sight of them. He didn't stop until he heard Sakura's voice.

"Naruto!" she was calling him. Naruto changed directions and found Sakura wandering around the woods looking lost. "There you are, Naruto. Did you see where they went?"

"No, I lost sight of them a long time ago."

"Same here. It's almost as if they vanished. And there's no one out here but us."

Neji appeared beside them. "Well?"

"Nothing. They're gone."

He groaned looking down. "Again? How does this keep happening?" Sighing, Neji turned, expecting the other two to follow. "Let's head back. I couldn't find anything either. We're the only ones out here."

"We'll have to come up with another strategy." Sakura and Naruto followed him back to the village. "I still can't believe our lack of progress..."

"Yeah. I know."

Back at the inn, Sai was sitting in his favorite chair looking out the window. He stood up when he saw them head to their rooms. He followed Neji and Naruto without a word. Neji removed his headband and tossed it beside his bed on the floor. He was in a sour mood after once again making no progress. All he wanted to do was go to bed and not do anything for a while.

Naruto went to his own bed, taking off his jacket and throwing it on the floor. Sai stood watching him. Naruto started to climb into the bed beside Neji. "We're getting nowhere fast, aren't we, Neji?"

"Good night, Naruto." Neji didn't want to speak anymore and he didn't want to be reminded of these facts. He just wanted to go to bed.

"Yeah, ok. Good night." Naruto got under the covers. He looked at the foot of his bed and noticed that Sai was still staring at them in the dark. "Sai, go to bed."

Sai stood for a moment then moved. He crawled between Neji and Naruto, snuggling them.

"Your bed!" they both shouted and shoved him to the proper place. Sai wordlessly climbed into his own bed and faced the window.

"Weird little freak..." Naruto grumbled. "He's so perverted."

Sai faced him. The moonlight outside the window made his eyes look as if they were glowing in the dark.

His glowing eyes made Naruto feel uncomfortable. They weren't scary, just creepy. As if Sai's eyes were replaced with the eyes of another. Maybe they wouldn't have been so creepy if Sai had stopped staring at him with them. "Sai..." Naruto started. "Are you ok?"

"White tiger."

"Yeah, yeah. Got anything else to say?"

Sai smiled in the dark.

"Ok, fine. Good night." Naruto turned over. He didn't like the idea of having his back face Sai, being such a vulnerable position, but he couldn't stand looking at that face anymore. Those glowing eyes or that fake smile which didn't look so fake anymore.

As soon as Naruto fell asleep, he started to have a dream. It was the strangest dream Naruto had had in a long time. He was walking in total darkness. There was no distinction between the floor and the sky. There was no way to tell where the walls were or if there were any. Everything was painted black. He kept walking.

Out of the darkness, a tree appeared. In that tree sat a young man. As Naruto drew closer, he could make out who that man was. "Neji?"

He looked down. "One-hundred days and nights."

"Huh?"

Neji clung to the tree with both arms. "I shall not come down until then. I am strong and all shall see me as such. I am wise."

Naruto's legs carried him away, watching the tree slip away along with Neji's voice. Something tight wrapped around Naruto's arm and carried him away and set him down. The tail of the kite untangled itself and flew off. Now he was standing in front of a puddle of water which didn't reflect any of the darkness. It was as pale as the moon. From that puddle rose a girl dressed in a flowing garment and jewels in her pink hair, as if she were prepared for a magnificent wedding.

"Sakura?"

He had never seen Sakura look so beautiful before. She looked like a goddess. "Ask me anything your heart desires," she told him, her soft lips matching her pink hair.

"Well, I'd kind of like to know where I am."

Sakura shook her head. "You know so little."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm stupid. You tell me all the time."

"I say you know nothing, which is different." Her robes began to wave as if she were floating under water.

"Whatever. I just want to leave."

"You cannot leave until everything is put right. That is your mission."

"Mission? Yeah, but... I thought we were just going after the guys who keep coming here. The shadow people."

"They are not a threat."

"They're not?"

Sakura nodded. "What must you do when something is lost?"

"Uh... Find it?"

She nodded. "Shall I tell you a story?" Before Naruto could answer, Sakura started to sink into the water.

"Wait! Wait!"

"Come see me when I am full." Sakura's head vanished beneath the water's surface and was gone. The pale water was gone as well.

Naruto stood where he was, waiting to see if she would return. When she didn't, he bent down and started feeling around for the water. His body began to sink. With nothing to grab onto, Naruto was forced to watch himself sink into the dark ground. As soon as the surface was up to his neck, he stopped sinking. Was he in water? It didn't feel like water. As he searched for a way to escape, he heard footsteps. He turned his head and saw someone coming closer.

"S... Sai?"

It looked like Sai but as the same time it didn't. He was wearing the same clothes as he did on missions and he was as pale as ever. Only his pale skin was covered in white stripes and he had a long furry tail. Just like a tiger. His eyes were glowing like a pair of twin moons. He crouched by Naruto's head and smiled at him.

"Sai, help me out of here."

He only smiled and moved his face closer to Naruto's. "Do you know where I am?"

"Huh?"

"Can you find me?" Sai reached forward and stroked Naruto's cheek. His hand felt heavy. "Missing? Or lost?"

Before Naruto could answer him, Sai opened his mouth. It was full of pointed fangs. He had moved closer then suddenly moved away. He was getting further and further away though his body wasn't moving. It was as if Naruto was the one moving. Even though Sai was getting further away, he could hear his voice getting louder and louder, calling his name.

"Naruto. Naruto. Wake up, Naruto."

"Huh?!" Naruto's eyes snapped open. Sai wasn't the one calling him. It was Neji. He was looking at the Hyuga upside-down. Naruto was laying side-ways, taking up two beds. His pillow was over his neck and the blanket was wrapped around his arm.

"You certainly move a lot in your sleep. Deeply, too. I've been trying to get you up for the past couple of minutes."

"Oh? Sorry." Naruto untangled himself and sat up in bed. "I just had the strangest dream. I've never had anything like this one before. It was so weird."

Neji was already heading out the door to get something to eat. He had no interest in hearing about Naruto's dream. His job was only to wake him up. Not to listen to him.

At breakfast, Naruto helped himself to a little of everything on the table. Neji was finishing up his first helping and showing no signs of having anymore. Sakura on the other hand was grabbing a second helping of soup and a muffin. Remembered in his dream, Sakura said to see her when she was full. What did that mean, he wondered. Maybe he should find out.

As soon as she took a bite out of the muffin, Naruto leaned across the table and asked, "Full yet?"

Thinking he was implying that she was fat, Sakura gave him the first punch of the day. Naruto went flying backwards into Sai's favorite chair, which he was currently sitting in. The chair wasn't broken and Sai was not injured. He smiled at Naruto and gave him a pat on the head then went back to looking out the window.

Cool dream, huh?

Please review. ^-^