Hey Readers.
It's me, LivingLie here! I'm back baby! I just have so much homework that I can't write as much as I want to. If I could get payed for writing these chapters I wouldn't leave my freaking room. But alas, I have to deal with cold school buses, all around stupidity and the incompetent students/teachers, and everything else that pisses me off about reality. Honestly, I did get a little bored with my own story; which is so fucking odd, I should be making this as good as possible and I'm failing. So although this chapter isn't going to blow everyone away, the next chapter will, thats a promise. But enough with my rant, without further ado...
Chapter 7: Start of something...
Mask of life
Last time
'I know what your are Naruto the Kimosu, I now know what you can do. (inner sigh) I truly regret putting you in the middle of this Karui but I cannot allow Naruto to align himself with someone like you. If I get a chance to take you both down, I won't show mercy.'
Sarutobi grinned maliciously.
Emerging from her slumber; the blonde fowhawked girl yawned and stretched in her long extravagant bed contemplating what happened that night.
'Ugh, last night was a complete and utter failure. Having my ass kicked in front of everyone by a civilian is just...URG! But that boy, I need to know more about him. He looked so crude, but what he did for that girl; That could...No, was the ballsiest and sweetest thing I've ever seen anyone do .'
Anci left the comfort of her bed, still in her ninja clothes, that she laid in for only three hours due to hear late night. She walked over to the calendar across from her room and looked at the date.
Her eyes shot open wide, and her jaw dropped. She had completely forgotten about the date and who was visiting today, Hastefully she charged at her closet and tried to fit her new outfit as quickly possible. Once said chore was done Anci tried to rush out the door of her mansion but she was too late because she ran into a wall, of sorts.
"Where's the fire gaki?" The old man that Anci ran into said.
"Oh hi Pervy-sensei, Tsunade-sama." Anci responded in a defeated tone.
"Whats with the negative attitude, It's almost your birthday so be happy!" Tsunade said giving a cheesy grin and a thumbs up.
After some vain attempts in trying to escape; Anci invited her godparents inside for a little catching up.
"So, hows it been gaki, got any A rank missions yet like you said you would?" Jiraiya said sarcastically.
"Oh ha ha Pervy-sensi, poke fun of a kid and her dreams." Anci retorted with a slight pout.
After a quick chuckle from the elder parties, the expert medic nin stopped and stared at her goddaughters forehead.
"It seems that you got in a little skirmish last night Anci-chan." Tsunade said with a peaked interest.
"Umm it's nothing, honestly, I just bumped my head while..." Anci was interrupted.
"No offense Anci but your a terrible liar; the powers you received from the Kyuubi should've healed something as minor as a bump in little less than a minute. Now what really happened." Jiraiya said with a slightly serious tone.
Sighing in defeat and knowing that she couldn't possible lie to two sannin, she decided to tell them the (in her mind) embarrassing truth. As the story went on the sannin inched in closer contemplating every word she said as if it were a riddle. Then she got to describing the boy she ran into.
"It was weird. He stood with such confidence but at the same time radiated a sense of unease and trepidation. He fought in such a random fighting style it would be assumed that he, would be defeated with ease, but he was actually beating us without a problem. I had to resort to the Kyuubi to defeat him. But the thing I remembered most about him is the look in his eyes. It held even more conflicting emotions than his body language. When I could look past his mask..." Anci was interrupted again.
"What kind of mask did he have on?" Tsunade inquired
"Ummm. It looked to be a clear mask that fit over his face with straps connecting and keeping on his head intersecting in the back, why?"
"Hmm, interesting."
"What is it Hime?" The toad sage asked.
"Well the mask he had on sounds like one used in a hospital to keep a persons face, that has been extremely damaged, intact and safe." Tsunade explained as Jiraiya nodded in understanding.
"As I was saying before being interrupted for the umptenth time in the past twenty four hours, his eyes were so cold and verging on malice; but when then again all I could feel his pity. And his face was scarred, looked like someone had made him their own personal pin cushion. I guess I feel sorry for you Naruto the Kimosu." Anci meant to say the last part to herself but it was heard by her visitors.
Jiraya bristled at the name and quickly inquired about the boy further.
"Did he have blonde hair and blue eyes?"
"Come to think of it he did, his eyes were ice cold blue and his hair pale sickly blonde."
Images of the night over a decade ago rushed into Jiraiya's head. Orochimaru holding the boy telling everyone in the square that he was the motive behind his (Orochimaru's) actions that night. The initial rage of that night came flowing back into the toad sage and it was made obvious when the killer intent he leaked became overwhelming for the poor jinchuuriki. Before Jiraiya could settle back down and apologize however he was punched right in the head by the godmother which sent him flying clear across the room. Regaining himself the old perv stood and got a tongue lashing from his sannin counterpart.
"What the hell is wrong with you Jiraiya? What the hell was with the loss of self control! You inconsiderate perv you could have choked out Anci-chan!" Tsunade ranted.
"PLEASE STOP PUNCHING ME, UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE HER ONLY GODPARENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE OF THOSE I CAN TAKE!.. Oh and sorry gaki, I kind of lost myself there." The sage apologized.
"It's alright, but why did you go off the handle like that?" Anci asked with sweatdrop that formed on her head after the outburst.
Realizing the situation again, Jiraiya told everyone that he remembered the boy from the kyuubi attack and that this said boy might be him. While Anci sat down in mild shock, the sannin had a quick conference and decided that they would take matters into their own hands since it now concerned their goddaughter. The party of three left the mansion, with the plan to find this boy and get this whole situation worked out and solve the mystery of who this boy really is.
An alley somewhere in Konoha
Karui started to stir. Her eyes were still heavy but much easier to open than the last moments of her consciousness from the previous night. The first thing she noticed before she opened her eyes was that the surface she was laying on was hard and slightly uncomfortable but still manageable. When she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was her savior, and lets just say it was less than savory.
"Umm, hello?" Karui said apprehensively
"Hello, Karui-chan; are you feeling better this morning?" Naruto said in a gentle tone that betrayed his cold eyes.
"I think I'll be alright, but how are you? I remember you getting injured last night."
"Well my leg still hurts but it's nothing I can't handle my dear, but is there anything you need? You're the one that got the full brunt of the jyuuken, because of my shortcomings?" Naruto said slightly dejected.
"Wait your fault, how? He was my opponent it was my responsibility." The redhead said off-put by his comment.
"Why didn't you fight back?" Naruto said monotone
"Because I...um...(sigh) couldn't." Karui said now feeling low.
"Exactly, I should've been there to aid you when you were handicapped. I promised to always help my friends and I failed." Naruto said back in his drunken stupor, than it was silent for a minute.
"What makes you think I'm your friend?" Karui said in a harsh tone, that she wishes she could retract.
"Are you saying that you're not my friend?" The masked boy said as the ice in his eyes softened and he radiated sadness.
"No no no no no no, you are my friend; but I was just wondering why you think I am." The fiery red head said taking cue from her friends eyes, and softening the mood.
"It's simple really. You actually talked to me, you weren't repulsed by my very existence like everyone else in this village. Hell, you've treated me better than the person who called herself my mother." Naruto deadpanned.
The red head jaw hit the floor at this revelation. Not only was this boy discarded by his village but by his own family, and to sound casual about it is something not even a veteran ninja could do. That's when it truly hit Karui what position she was in...
'I in control of this kids entire life..? Heh, he almost went insane just cause I was hurt; that could definitely come in handy in a place like this where you have no friends.' Karui pondered.
"I guess I understand why you care about my well being so much but it still slightly alludes me. What is it that you gain from me, what do I give you?" The redhead asked squinting.
"What do I gain from friendship? Humanity. All I wanted was for someone to be with me; I know it sounds selfish but I...just...don't want to be alone anymore." Naruto gave his heartfelt explanation.
Karui thought with a mile gaze in her eye, letting the words sink and truly take effect. His care for her so quickly in such a short time is creepy and unsettling, but at the same time the most touching thing she has ever heard.
Sighing, Naruto the Kimosu stood up and started to walk out of the tent, when he was stopped by his still prone friend.
"Where do you think your going Naruto, you can't honestly think you can just leave me here!" Karui said in a comical rage.
"I'm going out to get you some sort of medicine or remedy to help you out of your current state. I regret leaving like this but I promise it'll be short excursion." The Kimosu quickly made his exit, with a raging Karui left behind.
"GET BACK HERE TEME! YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE!" Karui shouted again, then huffing in defeat turning her limp body as much as she could and while muttering something.
'Well... at least this better than that goddamn jail cell. *sighing* come back quickly Naruto...kun.'
The hooded boy made his way through the town via dark corridors and alleyways, while avoiding sight all the while. It had actually been an hour since he left his 'house' and he couldn't for the life of him think of where to go or what to get. This was the first time he had to deal with an injury inflicted upon by a Hyuuga, and it was on someone else to make matters worse.
This was his friend though, and if she needed help, come hell or high water he would make sure he would do whatever it took. Ending at that thought, the Kimosu rounded a corner and crashed into another person. While our blonde protagonist hit the ground the wall he hit stood tall. Gazing up from the ground Naruto noticed what he ran into was a person so he quickly started covering his face with his hands.
"Are you alright?" Came a monotone voice from on high.
"Sure, I'll be making my leave now." The Kimosu regained his vertical composure, and as he tried to walk away he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You look severely malnourished and injured. It wouldn't be right for me to leave a civilian alone."
"Look sir, I have a friend that's in worse condition than I, so I would appreciate it if you got out of my way so I can get her medicine." The Kimosu said with a slightly darker voice.
After mulling it over the mysterious man came up with a solution.
"Although I'm not an expert in medicine but if she's severely hurt, I will attend to her."
Naruto was taken back by this greatly. Someone just offering help without a second thought, now that was truly new. But could he trust this offering? Could this just be another ploy to take him away from his friend, or is this man being honest.
"First I need to know, what's your name?" Naruto inquired.
"The name is Shino, Shino Aburame." Shino answered.
Without any other promising option, and with a the fastest time needed to complete his quest Naruto reluctantly lead Shino back to his little shelter. On the walk back it was quite, way to quiet; someone had the break the ice. Seeing as how the skin and bone Kimosu was already uncomfortable walking with this stranger, learning about the stranger might prove to lighten the tension and maybe grant him a new friend like his Karui-chan.
"So Shino... Your last name is Aburame right? Isn't your clan a specialists in insect jutsu?" The Kimosu said breaking his normal quiet character.
"Hmm, you seem to know your people..." Waiting to hear his acquaintances name.
"Naruto, Naruto the Kimosu."
"Gruesome? I've never heard that last name before. But perhaps... Is it safe to assume you're an orphan?" Shino said in his monotone.
"Your also quite perceptive. Yes, I've been an orphan my entire life with no friends. And the first one I've ever made is hurt and I'll do anything to help her recuperate, and stop anyone from hurting her further." Naruto said with his fists clenched and his voice screaming with determination.
"It seems you care very deeply for her, I now understand your skepticism in trusting me with her. Can I ask another question Naruto-san? Why do you hold your hands in front of your face, why do you hide?" Shino asked bluntly.
"I'm not called Kimosu because it sounds cool."
Using his highly adept deductive reasoning (and common sense) Shino was able to decipher the meaning behind his new acquaintances dialogue.
"It's cruel how people come up with conclusions of someone else they've had little to no contact with, and then let that prejudice dedicate themselves. Honestly I see it as almost pathetic."
"I see that you know a bit about being shunned from society."
"I wouldn't go so far as shunned, but socially ostracized works well enough."
"Is it because of the bugs?"
"Yep, they seem to offset people."
"You're preaching to the choir, people look at my face and held south for the winter."
"..."
"Heh" They both laughed at the dark joke.
When the duo arrived at the mini bomb shelter like home, the Aburame seemed puzzled, because the place oozed an aura of 'random crap'. Entering in the shack they are treated to the sight of Karui sleeping. Walking carefully over, the masked boy gently shook the sleeping red head out of her slumber and introduced to Shino. After a few minutes of apprehension between the former Kumo-nin and the insect user soon dissipated after she witnessed how easy her paranoid defender was around him.
"So what seems to be your ailment...?" Shino Inquired the problem and her name.
"Karui, and...well I can't move because my chakra points have been closed." Karui answered.
"Your chakra points are closed, what did you do to anger the Hyuugas?" Shino asked sounding amused.
"You assume I did something wrong, It wasn't my fault any of this bullshit happened." The red said getting angered.
Silence ensued until the Aburame lifted his arms and a flood of bugs came rushing out of his jacket.
"What the hell are you doing?" Naruto the Kimosu shouted.
"This is part of the healing method Naruto-san. My bugs will spread out over her body and go to her chakra points and siphon chakra back into her system. It should speed up her natural healing process if not completely recover her chakra and her put her system back to the way it was, this is in theory however. So now Karui please be calm, because I'm not sure how you'll feel during or after the procedure so I apologize for the discomfort before hand." Shino stated.
As Shino was giving his special, Karuis' entire body was swallowed up by his bugs. It was obvious she was nervous her stomach could be seen moving rapidly. As the bugs engulfed her, the look of discomfort grew on her face until about three minutes in, she shrieked in pain. Naruto being ever so protective of his friends was about to deck Shino for doing this to her but he remembered what Shino had said about the unknown consequences of the procedure, so all Naruto could do was watch his friend writhe in pain. After about ten minutes the procedure was done and Karui was still lying down regaining her breath.
Blood dripped down his hands from his fingernails digging into his skin from inside his clenched fist, Naruto whispered a promise a promise to himself.
'Never, never will I let someone hurt you like this again Karui-chan.'
Naruto then leaned in and whispered his promise into the still panting red head. Her eyes widen at the promise but only a little, and a shade of red marked her cheeks. As Naruto sat back up and looked at Shino.
"Thank you so very much for helping Karui-chan. You're a good friend" And for one of the few times in his life Naruto gave Shino a genuine smile.
"No problem, I am a ninja and this is what I'm meant to do. But one thing bothers me, these injuries could only be caused by a Hyuuga, why in the world were you both attacked by them."
The Kimosu glanced over at his now recovered friend who nodded an affirmative and started to speak.
"Well I guess since you helped me, I should provide you with an explanation. Well I think that I should admit first that I was formerly a Kumo kunoichi..." Kauri explained
If Shino didn't have his hood, shirt collar, and glasses on, a wide variety of facial expressions would of been on display. From shock to anger was expressed (albeit still very lax), but that's still something coming from a stoic person like an Aburame. The most off putting thing for the insect holder was that his own Hokage, the one he called leader, would actually participate in an action that could be considered nothing less than slave trade.
What also scared him was how much brutality was involved in this case. Karui was no sooner transported into and then she was already injured by Anko. She was then threatened with death by a Hyuuga guard, then almost killed by a branch member! The whole mess with that clan would have to be dealt with at another time and place. This whole situation was just overload.
But the ever curious brain of the Aburame didn't stop there, his attention was turned toward Naruto.
"Naruto-san after all of this I'm glad you consider me a friend, and although I understand this might be abrasive, but I need to know...Why you're in the condition you're in." Shino said calmly while treading lightly on thin ice.
This caused Naruto to bristle, flinch, basically every nervous reaction Naruto went through. He started to recede into himself and go into another mental collapse when he felt a hand on his knee. He looked and saw Karui giving him a kind smile that reassured Naruto that he wasn't alone and that he would have support. Taking a deep breath in Naruto started.
"Well, everyday was like the last, they all involved the beauty Totra and my surrogate mother Futaku..."
Authors corner:
I am so sorry for cutting it off there but I just felt it needed to end there. I will be adding an action sequence in the next chapter, and also so odd-curveballs for the climate of the story so stay tuned for that. Since I'm on Christmas break I hope to be able to add a lot more chapters (at least 3) so I'm really excited and I hope you are. I also want to say that if someone could give me an idea for omakes or just how to start one that would be great! Cause I'm just stuck when it comes to writing comedy. Anyway I hope to see your reviews and your smiling (figurative) faces! See ya next chapter!
-LivingLie
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