Naruto stood there, sweating, unsure of what to do. Run? Substitution? Lie? Yeah…let's go with that…Confident in his lying abilities, Naruto breathed deeply and looked into the girl's eyes. It was always good to look in the other person's eyes; it made the lie more believable. In this case, however, it wasn't a good idea. Naruto had his gaze locked with hers, and couldn't move once again. This time, however, the gaze wasn't choking. In fact, he was breathing just fine-quickly-but fine. No, this gaze made it hard for Naruto to come up with a decent lie. It was like she could see write through him. "I, um, gotta go…my ramen's getting…cold," The girl smiled at him.
"You need to get to the Hokage's,"
"Yeah-because of you,"
"How's that?"
"Whaddaya mean 'how's that'?" Naruto said, frustrated. He pointed to the wall the girl was standing next to. She looked over at the wall, a wanted signed plastered to it. She touched it gently, tracing her face with the blade of her finger. "Whoops. Looks like I'm in deep. Heh, it looks just like me too," She smiled, and Naruto could have sworn she was almost admiring the picture. He blew a huff of air. She turned back toward him, and caught his gaze. Suddenly, the evil smile appeared in Naruto mind and he rubbed his chest.
"Listen you-"
"Koretto,"
"Wha..?"
"Koretto. That's my name."
"Okay-listen Koretto, I don't know what you want with me, but you're a wanted criminal here. Everyone's looking for you. Did you see the price on your head? I shouldn't even be talking to you right now! If Grandma Tsunade sends the Anbu to look for me, game over for you. "Naruto breathed heavily trying to make his way around her. As she continued to block his path, she stood contemplating her next action. Seeing no way around her, Naruto plopped himself on the roof and decided to get some answers.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm running away from the Akatsuki,"
"Aww, isn't that cute. Bad girl has a sense of humor,"
"…"
"What do you want from me?"
"I came to check up on you,"
"I haven't seen you in four years,"
"What are you talking about? I don't ever remember meeting you."
"That's because I never look the same. I was the woman who gave you money for ramen. I was the little girl you helped that was lost in the forest. I was the robber you fought with because I kidnapped Konohamaru. I have always checked up on you, even when you don't realize it,"
Naruto paused to study the girl. Thinking he had no more questions, she leaned against the wall and pulled out a cigarette. "Those are bad for you," he commented. The girl chuckled. "No matter what nonsmoker I smoke in front, they all say that same thing. You would think they could make up something new," As the cigarette came close to the end of its short lifespan, Naruto couldn't help but notice the red embers as they flew off it when Koretto flicked it gently against her fingers. Then he remembered.
"You-how have you been 'checking up on me lately?" He asked, sweating. Koretto gave him a sideways glance and return to her smoke. "Are you responsible for the dreams? Are you doing this on purpose?"
"You're having dreams about me? I'm flattered."
"Hah! You are making me have those weird-ass dreams! They're your fault!" Naruto stood up, pointing an accusing finger at Koretto. "I didn't say that," Koretto responded, throwing the bud on the ground and crushing it into the concrete of the roof. She started to walk away, and Naruto surprised himself by following. "Where do you think you're going?" Naruto asked. Damn it, where are the Anbu? Naruto looked around furiously, tagging after the girl. He suddenly felt a slight push, as if he walked into something and it pushed him back. Which, in fact was the case, since Koretto had stopped walking.
"Naruto," she said suddenly. "What?" he asked, his heartbeat speeding up.
"Do you hear music?"
Naruto stopped and listened intently, and after a couple of seconds he could he a song playing. Singing, guitar, drums, a normal song by a local band. He new the tune. It was about the night life in Konoha, and how rebellious teens would sneak out of there houses to go have some fun. He liked the song, but there was something weird about it. It almost sounded like it was playing…in the back of his brain.
Koretto turned to face Naruto, and the night scene behind her started to melt away into a dark mess. "What are you doing to me?" Naruto asked, his voice strained as he tried to stop his dizziness. Behind the melting scenery, he started to see that he was still in Konoha, but it was a little while after he had escaped from Sakura and Neji. It was almost sundown. The music playing in his head began dimming until it was nonexistent. "What was that?!" Naruto barked.
"My Genjutsu. You're not late at all," she continued. "I'm coming with you to see the Hokage,"
"Whaaaaaat?"
"The only way I can get to the Hokage and straighten out this mess is if I go with you, they won't let me in on my own."
"I don't know…what if you try to pull something?"
"Fine…Here. Take this to the Hokage and then come back and get me," Koretto said, handing Naruto a letter. "I'll be here on the roof when you return…you've got two hours," she turned to walk away, but then stopped and turned toward him.
"Oh, and Naruto,"
"Yes?"
"You'd better give that to Tsunade-sama. If you don't, I'll just have to haunt your dreams some more." And with that, she was gone in a puff f smoke, leaving Naruto alone on a roof, turning to make his way to Tsunade's to deliver the white haired stranger's message.
A/N: Yay! She has a name! (which means 'people of victory', btw) So I added a 'lame excuse for you, ElementalDragonSwordsman. Was it lame enough? XD
-Junko
