Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Final Fantasy.
P.S. My update schedule is completely random, so good luck trying to predict when I'll update.
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Chapter 9: Upon the Wings of Fire
"Pft!" Sniffed Kiba for the third time as the Genins apprehended their sixth attacker on the same day. He was not particularly skilled by any means, his power only that of a low Chunin, maybe even a Genin. And while with such discipline, none of the Genins are a match for the man one on one, with their powers combined, the man's fate could be nothing but defeat. "What a bunch of weaklings!"
Shino could only shake his head at his friend's seeming unending arrogance. How could he recover that air of superiority so swiftly, when mere hours ago the boy had nearly meet his end at the blade of a nameless Jonin? The said Jonin had been disposed of quickly and cleaning by a single sword stroke from Naruto, a feat that still made Shino on edge. He was not made nervous by the youth's skill or grace; though they were by far the most impressive the bug user had seen. No. What upset Shino was the ease with which the youth took the man's life.
Shino is not the most compassionate of humans by nature, preferring solitude and silence as his companion. Yet the idea of killing did not sit well with the quiet boy, a fact many would have found surprising, given so stoic and unmovable was his disposition. Of course, one must not mistake Shino to be kind by any stretch of the word, it is simply that the thought of taking a life that did not belong to you seems to him an injustice. After all, what rights do you have of ending someone else's existence, when you yourself are just as sinful, just as guilty? And so while he will not hesitate in killing, especially to defend his comrades in arm, he cannot, and will not, take pleasure in such act.
Judging by his friends' expressions and the expression of two adult Jonins in the current group, the act of killing did not please them either. In fact, many times, Shino was certain he could make out Kurenai-sensei, her eyes shut tightly as she decapitated her foe in a particularly gruesome manner. It was a good sigh, that she still could feel guilt.
Such, it seems, is the not the case with Naruto. He is, to his credit, not some blood thirsty loony who radiated killing lust, but the knowledge of that did not appease Shino any. The boy… no… the swordsman seemed almost incapable of guilt, of sorrow at the taking of a life, hell, he seemed incapable of even pity. When his eyes, cold and soulless, beheld the body of the slain, no emotion seems to register, just understanding that another foe had fallen. Certainly it would be unfair as to denounce the boy downright cruel, though the sheer carelessness with which he slew his opponent still made Shino more than a little uneasy. At times it felt awkward and sometimes frightening (although the expressionless bug user would never allow anyone to know of it) to go to sleep knowing that beside you existed one who would snuff out lives without regret or a second thought.
Still, as of now, such an enigma is the only thing that stood between the eight Leaf-nins and certain destruction. So thought Shino as his mind wandered back to Kiba, his loud mouthed associate, who was proclaiming again how the Iwas would rue the day they messed with him. Perhaps being a fool had its advantages, Shino smirked at the idea, at least they are not at all bothered by the prospect of trusting in a cold blooded murderer. Murderer? Nay. An angel of death seemed the more appropriate title.
"When are we going to get there, anyway?" Kiba questioned suddenly, after a glare from Ino caused him to drop the subject of the missing-nins. "Seventy miles seem awfully long."
"At our present speed, taking into consideration the lay out of the forest," Asuma sighed as he took a long drag on his newly lit cigarette. "We should arrive sometime this afternoon, if not earlier. Still, be on the look out for Iwa-nins, we cannot allow our guard down just because we are so near our destination."
"Agreed." Kurenai, who had walked behind the group a little ways, caught up with them. "Once we reach the Fire Country Border, we should be safe from the attack, but until then, we are fair game for the missing-nins."
"Agh!" Ino declared loudly, causing Hinata, who was trudging next to her at the time to jump in fright. "Why are these missing-nins so intent on targeting us anyway?"
"Not missing-nins." Naruto, who, though kept away from the group, had obviously overheard the conversation. "These are loyal Iwa-nins."
Shikamaru and Asuma most nodded, it was just as they had supposed. Although the others, including Kurenai, seemed a little confused as to what had transpired between the three. Seeing the look of confusion donning the others' faces, Asuma decided to explain.
"See, the ones attacked us back there are not missing-nins as we had previously assumed, but shinobis who are in active service to the Hidden Rock." His words were, as he had suspected, greeted by incredulous stares, and so he continued. "They are posing as missing-nins in order to congregate in this area without causing a political rife. If Iwa-nins were to discover in the area, it could lead to open warfare between the Leaf and the Stone, something the Tsuchikage could not afford now. However, if the operation was discovered, but only operated by 'missing-nins' from Iwa, then such calamity would be avoided. Even if we have reason to cast our suspicion upon Hidden Rock, without solid proof, we cannot act upon them."
He signed again and made an abstract gesture. "Basically, a brilliant plan. They would amass forces in secret in order to mount assault upon the land of Fire, and should they fail, no blame could be founded upon their village, due to their missing-nin status." He turned and stared at Naruto in thought. "Am I correct, Naruto-san, in assuming that such is reason why you have come – to investigate this matter at the behest of Hokage… my father?"
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Kurenai raised an eyebrow. The strength of the youth is proven to her, and her comrades beyond the shadow of a doubt, yet it still impressed her that so young a boy could be so trusted by the aging Fire Shadow.
Naruto-kun is so amazing! In her mind, Hinata whispered to herself. She always knew there was something about her friend that is out of ordinary, but to think the composed blonde would shoulder such responsibility already!
Beside her, Ino was thinking along similar lines, though she seemed less than pleased at those thoughts. Ino is by not means, a shallow, frivolous girl. Yet no matter what she used to try and convince herself of Uchiha Sasuke's superiority, it failed time and again whenever she tried to compare the pretty boy to Uzumaki. As much as she hates to admit it, Naruto outstripped by far the so called prodigy in every area she had thought up.
He is a better fighter, a better strategist. He carried himself in a more noble, regal manner than the Uchiha survivor, given the latter's near nobility status. Hell, he is even the better looking of the two, if that amounted to anything.
Agh! Ino felt the irresistible urge to scream in frustration. Why the hell is she letting Naruto get to her like this? For heaven sakes, she knew the boy for barely a day and a half, and already he is invading her every thought. Each time she tried to remember the face of her beloved Uchiha, somehow, inexplicably, the sun kissed blonde's cold visage would surface eventually, replacing the scowling image of the raven haired prodigy. But the worst thing about this whole ordeal is, Naruto did absolutely nothing to cause this… at all.
What the hell is this guy made of? She questioned for the sixteenth time. How is it possible that the young teen could attract the attention of every friggin' female without even trying to? Ino certainly isn't the only girl to have become interested in the glacial youth, she had caught, more than once, Hinata Hyuuga staring dreamily at the boy, when the young heiress thought no one was watching. Heck, even Hinata's Jonin sensei, Kurenai, had stolen a few glances at the boy once in a while. What ever Naruto is giving off, it, like everything else associated with the boy, firmly outranked Sasuke.
Damn it. See? Even now, her thoughts are still on Naruto!
It was only when Naruto spoke up, did her inner rants come to a stop.
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"Not quite, Asuma-san." Naruto explained as he touched an obstructing tree branch, turning the protruding growth to ashes. "It was not an investigation mission that I am charged with…But one of destruction."
Silence greeted his words, until Shikamaru decided to speak, his voice oddly… spooked. "You mean…"
Naruto nodded.
"Correct. My mission was, and still is, the elimination of the Iwas found near the Fire border."
Kurenai felt her jaws drop. Why would the Hokage, one of her most respected figures, charge a mere child to do such monstrous deed? Why would the old man allow so innocent a youth to stain his hands with bloodshed? It seemed so far fetched, even in a shinobi community. Such a notion to her is barbaric, cruelty beyond imagining. To rob a child of purity, what kind of monster would…
"Wait, a kid like you?" Choji seemed to have thought along the same line as the rather large boy blurted out, in a strange mix of choking and laughter, as though he didn't quite believe the youth's words. Hardly surprising. He and his teammates might have faced, and even dealt out death, but in the end, they would not even have dreamed of purposely seeking out such atrocious deed. "That sounds ridiculous."
Naruto smiled softly, though the smile did not reach his eyes, which remained frosty azure. "Be that as it may, such is indeed my mission."
Kurenai wanted to protest, to question the wisdom of allowing someone so young to taste not only death, but carnage. Even the semi-legendary prodigy Itachi, who lead his own ANBU team at the age of thirteen were never charged with so grim a mission, and even then madness still claimed him. What would become of this child, exposed to the follies of humanity so early in his age?
"Do not allow my appearance to fool you, Kurenai-san, for innocence can be deceiving." As though sensing her disturbance, Naruto continued, his eyes resting upon the Genjutsu mistress, piercing and knowing. "Though I would prefer if we do now dwell upon such matters."
Was it Shino's imagination, or did such sadness overtook Naruto for one brief moment as his words fell silent? Whatever maybe the case, Shino knew none of them would sleep easy tonight.
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"Target confirmed… wait for my command." Growled the seasoned Jonin as he watched the Leafs with angry eyes. He was surprised that for two measly Genin teams, these eight… nine… were able to hold back two full waves of assault, not to mention the countless Chunins and Genins that had fell before hand. Slowly, his vision came to rest at the head of the procession, the two Jonins that no doubt lead this band of riff rafts. No doubt once they are taken down, the rest of those children are easy picking.
A smile spread across the Jonin's lip as he fantasized the multitude of pain he would inflict upon those brats once they fall to his hands. He was, after all, not called the 'Child Lover' for no reason, grisly as that reason might be.
In his macabre desires, the man did not notice the blonde boy stop and gazed up at his hiding spot, a cold smile adorning his pale lips, before joining the rest of the group. It would be his, and many other Iwas' undoing, as they would soon discover.
"Be careful." Naruto's soft whisper carried over to the group, who tensed immediately. When Naruto gave out a warning, it meant the enemy is ready to strike at any second. No chance must be taken. That, and the fact the group became rather jumpy at his presence, since the boy made the terrifying revelation.
Kyuubi, how many of Iwas are there? Naruto called out in his mind, trying to reach his tenant. He is not disappointed as the machine like voice, though like him, laced with subtle emotions, replied.
Fifty two Jonins and seventy five Chunins. The great fox frowned in concentration. I fear, due to their number and scattered location, that simple Area of Effect spell will not suffice, and due to this world's limitations, the more powerful spells are no longer in our command.
Naruto agreed. If worst comes to worst, we may well need to call upon theiraid.
Indeed. Kyuubi nodded, after much consideration. Though the amount of Mana required to bring forth one of their number may prove painful, it will not be beyond what healing aid I am able to lend. Still, be cautious of your actions.
With that, the titanic beast once more withdrew into his sanctums, leaving Naruto in utter silence once more.
"Get ready." He commanded as the Genin group slowed down their pace, bracing themselves for the battle to come. "There are over a hundred of them."
"What?" Asuma exclaimed softly, as not to alert the watching Iwas. "How are we suppose to hold back so great a force? I may be a seasoned Jonin, but even I cannot do anything against this kind of opposition!"
"Do not panic." Naruto interrupted his words. "As long as you follow my instructions, you will yet survive… prepare yourselves, them come now."
As his words fell dead, there from the bushes, the trees, and from thin air, shinobis appeared, dressed in typical ninja fashion and sporting scarred hitai-ate of Iwa. There would be no doubt what these men are… Missing-nins. At least, on the surface. Before they could speak, Team 8 and 10 launched their assault, catching many of the Jonins unawares. Some times, it was polite and respectful to allow your foe time to speak, and other times it is a situation of life and death. This is painfully obvious the latter. Barrages of Jutsu were cast in all directions, many of them hitting their marks dead on. And although the Stone-nins were caught by surprise, they were seasoned fighters and so after but a moment, recovered from their shock and mounted their counter attack.
Naruto danced amongst the thicket of things, his blade nearly invisible as it drew blood all around him. Ninjas fell wounded left and right, blood spurting from their chest and appendages. Those who were foolish enough to lock weapon with the blonde found themselves subjected to unimaginable forces, their kunais and swords shattering beneath the sheer brutal strength of each blow, sending them flying.
A single shinobi dashed pass Naruto's offense, and just as he was about to plunge his kunai into the damned brat's chest, fire erupted where Naruto stood, incinerating the man's body. As the fire quelled, bolts of lightning shot out from the young swordsman's blade, weaving amongst the frightened shinobis. As they ran for cover, massive pillar of ice rose unannounced, impaling many who did not manage to dodge in time. They died with surprise in their eyes.
"Damn!" Asuma swore as his trench knives slashed through his foe, cutting the man in half. That had been close. If he had stepped back one second too late, then it would have been him lying in that pool of blood. It was time to take this fight to the next level. The Jonin decided as he performed his trade mark technique.
"Hien!" At the command, his trench knives blazed with Chakra, which slowly grew into the shape of blades, extending the reach of the already dangerous weapon.
With a war cry, Asuma charged into a mass of Jonins and Chunins, his blades swirling around him in a azure blur. Blood flew all about him, some his and some his foes'. There was a reason why he, Asuma Sarutobi is the son of the 'God of Shinobis', and these Iwa-nins are about to find out, in a most painful manner.
In an age of kunais and katanas, very few people use such an obscure weapon as the trench knife. Of course, as the Iwas soon discovered, these buggers can be quite painful, if used in the proper manner. As a wind element by nature, Asuma is an all out offensive fighter, coupled with his Chakra laced weapon, the man could slice apart boulders, let alone flesh and bone. As the last shinobi fell dead, Asuma looked up from the massacre, over to where Naruto stood, a massive lotus of ice blossoming around him, upon whose pedals were imbedded the body of numerous enemy shinobis.
Well, at least the boy kills with style. Asuma shook his head. Father, what kind of monster did you unleash?
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Kurenai, being a Genjutsu mistress by trade, preferred long range combat, where her techniques have longer time to take effect. Unfortunately, when it comes to short range, especially hand to hand combat, the red eyed woman is rather lacking. Certainly, she could hold her own against any a man when it comes down to it, but unlike most of her associates and companions, her arsenal of techniques is not quite suited for such situations.
Still, for some one of her nature, she is holding up remarkably well against tides of enemies. Laying the air around her with one Genjutsu after another, most of her foes became fairly easy picking once they fell trap to her techniques. And the few that were able to keep a clear mind is soon disposed with some of the more generic Jutsus, and occasionally a good knee to the groin.
Suddenly, the red eyed beauty let out a pained scream as a single kunai imbedded itself into her leg. Turning, she saw to her horror a massive shinobi standing over her, his face contorted by hatred. With a savage roar the shinobi produced yet another kunai, and brought it down with considerable force, seeking to end the life of the raven haired woman forever. "DIE, YOU BASTARD LEAF!"
Fortunately for Kurenai, her time is not yet up, for even as the dreaded weapon made its fearful descend, a single hand, unblemished and delicate, caught the giant's wrist with deceptive ease. The giant stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend how anyone in this world could match his brute force. His gaze traveled from the offending hand to the face of the one who had accomplished such impossibility, and what he saw there seemed to shatter his entire world.
A child no older than twelve stood beside him, restraining his struggling arm with all the ease of a man holding a feather. No emotion flickered across the youth's visage as he gazed calmly back at the man, though malice and killing intent were plain in his eyes and his action.
In silence the youth pulled back his other hand, and struck like lightning. Kurenai, even with her discipline, could barely catch the blurring outline of the arm as it slammed into the burly Iwa-nin's chest. There was a loud and resound crunch as several ribs broke off, blood dripping from the corner of the nin's mouth. A second later, the flesh began to sizzle and peel away as Naruto's fist glowed a brilliant red. The man's dying screams is only punctured by the smell of burning flesh as fire consumed him whole. Although the ordeal lasted barely a second, it seemed to the victim an eternity.
"Are you alright, Kurenai-san?" Naruto asked as he gave a cursory examine over the wounded area. The Jonin nodded and winced as she tried to take a step. It would seem the injury was worse then she thought. Before she could react, Naruto had extended a hand towards her, glowing with green 'Chakra'.
"Cure." The boy commanded as a soothing wave of green washed over the young female adult. Kurenai gaped speechless at the boy. First the strange blonde had proven himself an unrivaled fighter, now that same blonde had just demonstrated a technique that only the most skilled medic-nins could use. Standing up, the Genjutsu mistress gazed wonderingly at the retreating cloaked figure. Who is Naruto? In her mind, the same thought that had plagued her young charges again surfaced.
"Naruto!" Asuma cried in alarm as even more shinobis began to press towards them, forcing the eight Leaf-nins to form a rough circle. In his distress, the man had let go the respectful suffix that are usually attached to names, though given the current state of things, that could hardly be considered an important matter. "I hope you have a miracle stored somewhere!"
Naruto sighed as he studied the advancing forces. Though the Iwas, now down to fifty or so, had kept their distance, they would not be kept back for long, with such numerical advantage on their side. Though the Leaf shinobis had put up a valiant battle, they are no match for so many a numbers. The Genins would be no help here, although their abilities had served them well against Chunin, they would have been no match against the more powerful Jonins that now remained. And while both Kurenai and Asuma could hold their own against multiple opponents, they are hardly at a state to continue such a battle, especially since many of the foes now are just as skilled as themselves.
Naruto sighed. Alone against these Iwas, he would have suffered no difficulty in dealing with the waves of assailants. But to ensure the survival and safety of the Leafs as well is a far more difficult matter. Unlike the former scenario, where his mind could focus solely upon the battle at hand, the latter and current scenario required his divided attention.
It would seem there remains little choice for him, but to call upon their aid.
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Kurenai felt she was dreaming. She isn't the only one. It was as though the entire world is engulfed by fire, the leaves and trees turned to ashes in milliseconds by the all consuming inferno, an inferno whose source is none other than Naruto himself. The boy is surrounded by the terrible aura of power, one that easily dwarfed every other Chakra source for miles. And yet, somehow, the Chakra Naruto emitted felt strange, unnatural. It was not the blue Chakra the Jonin sensei was used to, it was a shade of the most brilliant vermillion. Not the red of the Kyuubi, mind, which called to mind the memories of blood and slaughter, but a red that burned most vibrantly, full of life and a terrible thirst – the redness of flames.
It wasn't her imagination, thought the shaking Genjutsu mistress as her eyes rested upon the glowing youth. For all around him, beneath the burning Chakra, the grass withered and began to burn, as did the trees and the low hanging vines. The air simmered beneath the supernatural heat, a heat that somehow, the gathering shinobis could not feel, though its presence seemed certain enough.
Then came the thunderous sound as Naruto began to speak, his voice echoing across the jungles, into the darkening skies above. It was a voice of ancient flames, raging silently within its chains.
"I call upon thee, ancient deity of fire! Appear before me, and unleash thy burning rages. Come forth from thy realm of infernos, Hell fire! Ifrit!"
There came a loud roar as the earth before Naruto cracked and crumbled, fissure appearing across the land. From forth the wounds of earth spewed magma, spilling onto the surface, melting away all that it touched. Then, without warning, a pillar of scarlet flames shot up into the heavens, parting the clouds and bathing the world in its terrifying radiance. Within the pillar of destructive light there formed a massive, bestial shape. With a primal roar of rage the beast stretched to its fall height, scattering the flames that once birthed him.
Twin massive horns sprouting from its monstrous head and angling behind him, eyes the color of raging storm, its bronze colored body encircled by clouds of fire, it seemed to all truly a creature not of this world. A demon from the darkest pit of hell, bringing with it the fires of eternal damnation.
"Your will, summoner?" Growled the fierce creature in question.
"Destroy them." Naruto said, pointing a figure at the petrified Iwas. "Leave none alive."
"Your will be done." The creature bowed its head, then looked up again. Fire erupted from its mouth, from its extended hands, from his feet, and every part of its body, until the infernos enveloped it. Slowly a single flame covered fist was raised to the heavens, a massive sphere of blistering heat forming in the burning palm. The Iwas and the Leaf-nins stared, mesmerized by Ifrit's awesome strength, their body unmoving as they beheld the slow expansion of the orb of conflagration.
With an earth sundering cry Ifrit brought the sphere down into earth, creating a dome of fire that enveloped all it its appalling grasp. Nothing was left behind in its wake, neither rock nor stone or flesh. Everything with in hundreds of meters became nothing more than ashes, a blackened cleaning that bore witness to the other worldly power that was.
The Leaf-nins, shielded from the blast by Naruto, the only ones to have survived this unstoppable onslaught, stared speechlessly at the annihilation their blonde companion had caused. It felt surreal, as though they were still part of some waking nightmare. Slowing they turned, trembling, to Naruto, who knelt on one knee a little way from them, supported by only his nodachi. Smoke rose from his bodies, his robes tattered, revealing black patches of burnt flesh.
As I thought. Without material, I could barely control the Mana flow of my body. Naruto thought as he stared at his ashen hand. I hope I would not again relish such unpleasant experience in the future.
Fortunately for the boy, even as his mind wondered, he could feel the strange Mana of the Kyuubi repairing his body, rejuvenating his dead cells and stimulating cellular replication. Normally, such healing process would have shortened the span of any human, but for Naruto, charged with Mako, his body structures had been altered beyond recognition, and so the powers of Kyuubi held little negative impact upon him. It would seem being inhuman had its occasional perks.
"Is everyone safe?" Naruto questioned. The others nodded dumbly, not trusting themselves to speak.
Naruto sighed as he rose. Now would be a good time to depart from them, it would seem. Slowly he rose into the air, and turned to face the travelers once more. "My mission is accomplished, and the outpost is only a short distance away. Now, then, I shall take my leave of you."
Yet even as he was about to take off, a timid voice interrupted his flight, a voice he identified as belonging to the shy Hyuuga Heiress.
"Arigato… Naruto…kun." She whispered, though her words nonetheless reasoned the solemn boy.
"Yeah!" Ino said, walking up to the stuttering Hinata. She did not know why she did as she had, she did not know what nameless impulse spurred her to such an action, but looking back on it years later, she knew beyond doubts she had done the right thing. "Thanks, even if you are a little holier-than-thou."
"Agreed." Kurenai smiled, a rarity for the serious kunoichi. "We don't know what you hid from us, and we will not inquire. But no matter what, we still owe you our gratitude, and our lives for what you have done. So." Taking a deep breath, that brought to attention her rather generous assets, the sensei of team 8 bowed. "Arigato."
"Meh." Kiba grumbled, rubbing his nose with an index finger. "You're not bad, I guess."
Others too, following their example, soon offered their own words of thanks.
Naruto looked startled by this, then, to the surprise of all, smiled. Not his usual humorless smile, mind, this time, the smile had reached his eyes.
"Your welcome." The soft whispered continued to linger, even as the boy took off into the distance horizon.
Unknown to the vanished youth, long after he departed a single thought had remained in three kunoichi's mind. A thought that would prove, in the future, the metaphorical fall of the blonde.
Wow! Naruto-(san/kun) is HOT when he smiles!
Damn you, Uzumaki Naruto. Damn you.
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Omake: Danger
Sephiroth had a good day. A day of maiming and killing and burning down random villages and leaving behind survivors who hate his guts and would eventually defeat him in some spectacular show down or other by utilizing cheap limit breaks that shouldn't even have shown up because the limit gauge was not filled.
All in all, it was a good day.
Then he felt the beckoning. The irresistible urge to unfurl his wings and descend before Cloud and his party of strange and unrealistic beings that by all logic should not exist in a shower of sprinkling lights and choir music, performing a super secret healing art Sephiroth didn't even know he had and relief them of their pain.
The silver haired lunatic blinked. Where had that thought come from?
Meanwhile, half way across the world, which meant oh, about fifteen minutes of walking on foot (Gaia is a astoundingly small planet), Cloud and party is busy engaging nameless cannon fodders turn based style and losing numerically based health. Yes, they are not losing blood or anything, because that would just be ridiculous. I mean, what kind of person bleeds when they are cut by sharp claws instead of losing hp? No siree, numbers are the way to go.
At the moment, Aerith is in the middle of casting her limit break, Great Gospel, while Cloud and Tifa waited patiently for their ATP bar – the tiny gradient bar that ironically controlled their entire known universe – to fill. Strangely enough, the enemies, for reasons the author cannot comprehend, did nothing to take advantage of the fact that their foes are motionless due to cumbersome gaming mechanics. Instead, they stood where they eye, glaring at Cloud, but doing nothing to harm him because everyone knows, acting out of turn is blasphemous and could result in whiny reviewers plaguing the internet about how unbalanced the game is. Nope, the dragons will stay right where they are, thank you very much.
Which means Aerith is the only one doing anything, while Cloud pondered on the meaning of life, and why monster drops Gils when they die. Really now, why would monsters, who have no pockets or any kind of accessories to carry items in have items in the first place? However, as the blonde turned to face one of his companion who would die anyway, there seemed to be a troubling expression upon the young woman's face.
"Aerith, what's bothering you?" Apparently, ATP bars did not restrict one's ability at conversation.
"Um…" Aerith frowned and continued to look up in the sky, where the angels are descending and healing everybody. "One of the angels seems… well, odd."
"Yeah." Tifa joined the conversation, not wanting Aerith to hog blond bishonen all to herself. "I mean, I thought angels have two wings…"
"And they are supposed to be white." No, Aerith did not mean anything racist by that, since she is neither Caucasian or African American or Asian or Latino or any other ethnic group to begin with. Seriously. She's friggin non-human, people!
Then it dawned on Cloud.
"SEPHIROTH!" Blonde swordsman screamed in half anger, half horror and revulsion. Anger because Sephiroth is crazy like that, and horror because he discovered only too late that the silver haired pretty boy is wearing nothing, and I mean nothing under the gown.
Three pairs of eyes were blinded on that day, and had to have a fourth teammate who apparently resides in the middle of nowhere when he/she is not called on, cast twelve different healing spell on them. It was agreed by all that none of them would ever speak of the Great Gospel again.
Incidentally, that, my children, is why Cloud decided to pursue Sephiroth through two entirely different Square Enix game franchises and a CG movie.
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Preview:
Shadow lurks and deceptions abound as the Chunin exam draws near. Can the Leaf-nins survive the coming trials, or will the darkness of sand and sound consume them? Next time: Fell deeds awakens, fire and slaughter.
XXXXXXRead and review, guys, but no flames, okay?