The Naruto Before Christmas

Chapter 9
Liftoff


Halloween Town
Christmas Eve
9:56 p.m.


The entire town had come out to see it happen. It was almost time for Jack and Naruto to take off into the night. The band, directed by the mayor, played 'Santa Claus is coming' as the excitement grew. The mayor then turned to the coffin sled as it opened. Then, like a vampire arising to wake, lifted Jack in his full Sandy outfit with Naruto coming up the steps beside him. But everyone started to chuckle a bit at his headgear. Since he couldn't get a Sandy Claws hat, Naruto decided to substitute with his cute little bedtime cap. (You can see it best during the anime episode before Zabuza attacked the second time.)

Meanwhile, Sally was trying not to be seen as she was making her way through the crowd to the well with the fog juice in hand. Suddenly someone bumped her and the jar rolled from her hands. She gasped as it went to the ground, sighed in relief as it didn't even crack, and then gasped again as it was stopped by a foot. She looked to the owner's head to see Hinata who picked up the jar to read it's label. Sally looked on as Hinata lock eyes with her. She then smiled as she tucked it under her arm.
"Where do you want me to put it?"

Shortly later, Hinata and Sally discreetly melded into the crowd and clapped as the others also did so for the King and Prince. The mayor then pulled out and unfurled a paper and started to read it aloud.

"Think of us, as you soar triumphantly through the sky, outshining every star, your siloettes dark spots on the moon. You who are our pride, you who are our glory, you who have frightened millions in our age, you who have... uh... devastated... the souls... of the living?"

At this point, fog had billowed out every passageway of water and had settled so very thick that the mayor could barely read his speech which was now right in front of his face. And this did not bode well with either the Halloween Kings.

"Oh no!" Jack exclaimed. "We can't take off in this! The reindeer can't see an inch in front of their noses."
"This fog's as thick as... as..." one of the vampires started sadly.
"Jellied brains!" a monster finished just as sadly. Whereas for Sally and Hinata, they wiped their foreheads in relief.
"There goes all our hopes" Jack spoke sadly as he sat down.
"There goes all our dreams, all our plans!" Naruto added as he sat down beside him.
"There goes Christmas," the corpse kid finished as he started to cry.

Everything was ruined. And nothing could fix it. Not even that bright light that cut through the fog as it was followed by a series of barks once it came near Jack and Naruto. ... Wait, what?
"No Zero," Jack commanded sadly, "Down boy."

That's when Naruto noticed the light that was Zero's nose. "Zero!" Naruto spoke in astonishment, "What a bright nose you have! All the better to light our way!" This caught the attention of everyone as Naruto pointed to the front of the reindeer. "To the front boy!"

With that, Zero barked happily as he went foward, and Jack's face honestly couldn't have lit up anymore that it was now. Everyone started to cheer as Jack pulled out a whip. "We're off!" he shouted as he cracked the whip at the reindeer. And with that, they took off into the night as they became nothing more than illegible bots in the night. And everyone was cheering in excitement. All except Sally and Hinata as they left the group. Nearby the musicians played depressed music before Sally began to sing.

Sally:

I sense there's something in the wind,
that feels like tradgedy's at hand.
And though I'd like to stand by him,
can't shake this feeling that I have.

The worst is just around the bend,
and does he notice,
my feelings for him?
And will he see,
how much he means to me?
I think it's not to be.

Hinata just couldn't help but sympathise with Sally for her concern and hopelessness for her love Jack, especially since it was like her with Naruto. She breathed in a bit before she decided to sing as well.

Hinata:

What will become of my dear friend?
Where will his actions lead us then?
And though I'd like to join the town,
Within their greatest moment proud,

Try as I may, it doesn't last.
And will we ever,
end up together?
No I think not,
It's never to become,
For I am not, the one.

Both girls then sighed in sadness as the music came to a slow and sad ending. It was all out of their hands now.


Honoha: Kyuubi's den


Sasuke and Sakura could barely try, but they managed to stay awake. Not that there was any point to do so. The 'Kyuubi' was cackling as he finished his latest work of painful art. But the mere description of it would cause this fic to have to be bumped up to 'M' rated. He then held out his clawed hand and his red chakra mist came upon them again and healed them except for the pain. Now he will do it all over again. For the sixteenth time. In the last 30 minutes. Nearby, Kiba and Akamaru had just woken up from fainting at the gruesome sight again. They saw that Kyuubi was about to do it again, so they did themselves the favor of fainting again so they won't have to see it.

Kyuubi was about to make the first cut with his chakra scalpel when the only door that served passage busted open. Everyone (except the dogs,) looked in surprise as the image became clearer. It was a short figure in a monk robe, the hood was up and his face was veiled in shadows. The figure then slipped his hands out of the sleeves to show pale white arms. But what was most interesting were the two odd rings that were on each of his middle fingers. They twitched and suddenly his hands were covered with odd blades. (Think the blades Ed uses in Full Metal Alchemist.) The metal was pitch black and at once a killing intent unlike any ever before erupted amongst the group. Kyuubi started to sweat as the figure lept into the air to begin the battle.

There was only one thing he muttered as he began to attack.

"Checkmate."


Date of Update: 12/16/06

My sincerest apologies for this extreamly short update, but look at the bright side! This means an extreamly long next chapter! Now please, keep sending your ideas, and stop sending me private messages! Place them all in reviews! Squirrely wrath!

Unknown Alias status: Signed out