SIX

Naruto felt the burn before he saw the fog. He jumped back, pulling his eyes from Her and Her friend as they began to run. How couldn't he have noticed? The entire meadow was covered in an acidic mist. It began to grow exponentially, swirling in the centre, twisting and thickening. It reminded him of a giant snake. Naruto looked around him. The other five unseen guards where lying on the ground, their blood boiling as it oozed out of them.

The fog swirled and moved toward him. Naruto took a step back, a clear signal crystal clutched in his hand. He was out of his league.


Sasuke slipped into the shadows near the south gate. The guards at the entrance seemed restless. They kept their eyes on the forest beyond, their hands firmly on the hilts of their swords. The gunmen above already had their guns primed. Had they finally begun to feel the presence that Sasuke had warned the General of?

A bright light engulfed the sky. It was as if the sun had exploded within the blackness of the night. Sasuke shielded his eyes. The signal. His heart stilled. Her guard had failed Her. She was in danger. He stood, oblivious to the others as the signal light faded back into the night sky, and walked toward the gate.

"Sasuke?" a guard called. "Return to isolation!"

Where? Sasuke looked out into the woods. The trees where so thick the moonlight couldn't penetrate their entangled branches. Where? Panic rose in his throat like acid. Where? A guard's face blocked his view. He couldn't take in any details. His sight was awash in colourlessness. Everything was a blur.

"Contain him! Return him to isolation. Squad Gnus go to the signal. The rest seal up all entrances!"

Where was She?

Sasuke felt hands grasp his arms, pulling him from the gate. NO! He had to find Her! He pulled against his human restraints. His heartbeat increased. Where was She? Strength coursed through him. He had to protect Her! Sasuke growled. Who where they to stop him? With a mighty roar, Sasuke twisted his arms out of their grasp and grabbed the guards by the throat. He would protect what was his. The guards gurgled and gasped, their hands clawed at his skin, and he felt how frail their throats were.

A scream cut through the night air.

Sasuke's sight cleared and he saw the guards struggling for breath in his hands. His comrades. His friends. His eyes widened and he released them, taking a step back. He looked at them and they looked back in fear.

"I…" What had he done? What could he say? Sasuke ran passed them. It didn't matter. He ran through the gate. Only She did.

Sakura looked back as a light appeared in the sky. It was as if the night sky had opened up to reveal the sun. Her feet slowed to a stop and she turned around.


"Sakura? What are you doing?" Hinata screamed, grabbing Sakura's hand and trying to pull her back into a run.

Sakura didn't move. "Didn't you see that light?"

"Yeah, but I'm not stupid enough to go towards it. Now, c'mon, we have to get out of here!"

"You go," Sakura said calmly as she ran back toward the meadow.

"Are you out of your freaking mind?" Hinata shouted and ran after her. "Sakura stop!"

She didn't. She couldn't. Somehow she knew that she had to go back. That the meadow was the way forward. Suddenly arms wrapped around her and she fell to the earthy ground as Hinata tackled her.

"You idiot!" Hinata yelled. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Do you want to die?"

"He'll be there!"

"What?"

"The boy! My guardian, or whatever, will be there."

Hinata sat up, letting go of her friend. "That doesn't mean you should go running head first into trouble."

Sakura pushed herself to her knees. "But I have to go."

"And what are you going to do when you get there? You don't know how to fight and whatever that was it clearly wasn't human."

Sakura looked at Hinata. She understood her friend's fears. They were true. What could she do? She knew absolutely nothing about fighting. She wasn't even very strong. But not going, not trying to help, it burned a foul taste in her mouth. It felt like cowardice.

"I can't," Sakura said quietly as she looked down at her muddy hands. "I have to-"

Her words were cut off as Hinata pushed her away and screamed in pain. The fog had caught up with them and was engulfing Hinata. Her skin was reddening and she tore at her back. Sakura launched herself at Hinata, pushing her friend out of the fog.

She felt the fog wrap around her. At first it was cool, wet. Then it began to itch, and then burn. The burn intensified as it crept inside her. Deeper and deeper. It burrowed into her body. Someone was screaming. Was it her? She didn't know. She couldn't move. She could only burn. Burn alive.


A thin fog covered the forest floor. It burned Sasuke's legs and feet as he ran through it. The pain only pushing him to go faster. He didn't run to the meadow where the signal had burned, but further west of it. It was where She was. When he had first seen the signal he had panicked and lost control of his senses. Her scream had pierced him and cleared his mind. Nothing mattered to him but Her, and his weakness had caused Her pain. It was unforgivable. But he knew where She was now. He could sense Her again. He would protect Her. He would become stronger.

A body came into sigh as Sasuke pushed through the fog. Black hair. Her friend Hinata. Her clothes were burned through, exposing her blistering skin. Sasuke knelt beside her and felt her throat for a pulse. It was faint, but steady.

Sasuke stood and looked around. Where was She? He could feel Her. She was close, but where? His heartbeat increased. No. Don't panic. Sasuke closed his eyes. Inhale. Exhale. You have more than just eyes. Inhale. Exhale. Inh—Sasuke paused. There was a sweat, earthy smell lingering within the fog. It was like awakening in a secret garden on a warm spring morning. Where was it coming from? Sasuke turned, opened his eyes, and walked into the acidic fog.