Mythical Night

Chapter XII

The Phantasm of the Grey Hill

Naruto wasn't sure about the whole, let's split up idea while in a spooky creep-fest of a possibly haunted and very deserted town. He had thought about warning them of the possibility of a witch, but he shook that off, they are ninja after all so they should be prepared for anything.

However, as he gave Hinata a reassuring smile, the deed has been done and he and Hinata are no longer with the others. Kurenai had partnered with Shino, while Tsume had gone off with her dog leaving him with Hinata holding his arm and terrified. This way works out well as he'll get some one on one time with Hinata, and though she isn't as shy as she was and actually fights back now, she's still timid and needs some reality served to her, so this is a good place to be with her.

He looked around the spooky town trying to sense any life, but all he got was nothing. It's all a blank. The fog is blocking off his senses, as he couldn't even sense the rest of their team. The fog is obscuring the sky and they can't really see more than several feet around them. They would rather not be in this town, and Naruto could smell death everywhere.

It made him grimace as it was becoming obvious that the town is a death town, and its most likely not long gotten that status. He had to keep alert as he kept getting a paranoid feeling that they aren't alone even if he can't sense anything living, not even a plant as they walked passed a wittered and dead street tree, and some flowers in window boxes.

"Kind of… nice place huh, Hinata-chan?" he suddenly asked making her jump as they walked along the centre of a street with closed shops either side with the odd cracked or broken windows.

She just gave him a look that said otherwise. He sighed and before she knew it ripped her from his arm and turned her to face him. He needs to make sure she'll watch her own back at least because he can't take care of her if he gets into a fight with something.

He'll need her help, and he's spared with her enough to know she is talented and fast, and when encouraged can even free-style her families techniques. He's really impressed with how well she can bastardize her families prized gentle fist taijutsu.

It will be highly amusing to see what her father would look like seeing her actually fight after Naruto had given her some pointers he had gotten from fighting with Kyuu. It's all really about letting your instincts have free reign while at the same time keeping your eyes open.

He had also made it clear that just because she has the byakugan doesn't mean she should use it like it's all she has. If anything, things like her eyes should be the ACE in her backup arsenal. There if she needs that boost of power and technique. If she relies on everything her family teaches so arrogantly she'll never improve on her own merits.

"I know you're scared, Hinata-chan," he said after a few moments thought. "I'm scared too, but I'm not going to let my own fear or yours get us killed. You may think of yourself like Kiba does, or your family does like a pussy-shit weakling, but I know you are strong and powerful, and that given the opportunity you can do anything you set yourself too.

"I've seen how talented you can be, and with advice you've stopped relying on what other people think of you, and you've been showing so much improvement. So don't let your fear get the best of you now. If you weren't afraid I would think you're crazy and potentially suicidal, but you have to overcome your fear as I am, and the others are.

"I bet both Tsume and Kurenai are both just as scared as us and they're older and experienced. It's our fear that helps us out a lot, because without it we wouldn't recognise any danger that we have to overcome.

"If only you believe, don't cower no matter what. You should stand up proud despite your fear, and know that those people who put you down and treat you like crap don't hold a candle to you. Don't hesitate Hinata-chan, and don't ever, ever hold back… when you're striking, don't let your enemy up, kill them without mercy or hesitation because they can and will do a lot worse…

"Shh…!" he quietened her with his finger gently brushing her soft lips with a gentle smile. "I'm not saying it isn't hard, but its time you stop standing in the shadow of others, don't try to please your father or sensei or even me, don't rely on what you know, but more importantly continue learning whatever, and whenever.

"I want you to be proud of yourself and to see the way life is. You're a ninja, and you must become deadly when you need to be and keep an open, clear mind… be your own awesome, Hinata-chan and you don't have to be afraid anymore!"

"B-but I don't know whether I know how, Naruto-kun," she said looking down to her sandaled feet. She spoke surprising calm as her pretty eyes looked around the creepy street.

"You don't need to know how," he replied tilting her face to look at him. He leant down and her cheeks flushed as his lips touched hers for such a gentle kiss. Her eyes had closed lightly while she felt the pressure before he pulled back and they opened to looking into his soft blue eyes. "Just follow your heart and instincts; you've already gotten over your fainting, and improved your fighting confidence in leaps and bounds. I'll believe in you know matter what."

She couldn't stop the small smile as her heart pounded in her chest when they were startled as something clanged to the ground behind them and spun around. They could see a shadowed figure in the darkness of the building as it slowly moved towards them with a soft groaning and gargled noise.

"I… I think it's a person," Hinata whispered as she controlled herself better than she had ever thought she could. If its Naruto who believes in her, she will do him proud and not cower anymore, no matter how nice it was to hold Naruto like she was. "H-hello…!?" she called out as she made to move forward.

However, Naruto stopped her with his hand on her stomach. "Look again, whatever that is smells… like its rotting!"

She paused as veins bulged around her eyes for only a moment before she grimaced back looking sickened. "N-Naruto-kun…" she said shakily. "It's a man… but he looks like he's a walking dead person."

He didn't have a chance to respond as some monstrous hiss came from it and it charged out with scraps of clothes hanging off its cut up and grey skin, and white eyes and a blank-hungry look.

They both jumped back as Naruto plastered it with several kunai in its body. However, that didn't even slow it down. "D-don't let it bite or scratch you, Naruto-kun," Hinata cried out as it came for him. However, it went down as Hinata split its skull with a kunai and it dropped dead at his feet.

Naruto looked to her in surprise. "My kunai didn't even slow it down, and what would happen if it bit me?"

"Y-you become one," she said as she hurried to his side. "I-I've read fictional story books about them. I think it's a zombie, but I never thought they were real. You have to destroy the brain as that controls the body and without it they properly die, or at least don't get up again."

"I see… well I guess we know what happened to the people of this town," he replied as he took her hand and started moving. "Let's get out of here before more turn up… you wouldn't think it's around midday would you," he said nervously.

"Umm… it is really dark, but we'll be fine together," she said before they paused as the ground shook. They looked to their feet to see the cobbled stone path was now dirt and it was swirling around them.

"Shit," Naruto hissed out as he jumped up and to the banister of a balcony above a coffee shop. "Hinata…!" he cried out as the mud had trapped her swirling round like a whirlpool covering her whole body but just creeping up her cheeks and face. "Remember, you are not weak, you are your own power!"

Hinata had been panicking and struggling until she heard Naruto's words. His words flooded her heart as she realised he really does have faith in her. She relaxed as she was completely entombed by the dirt.

Naruto watched in worry for just over a minute near ready to dive in the moment he senses her chakra level drop any further. However, he wasn't ready for it to spike and for what had to be fifty blasts of wind like chakra to burst out in different direction smashing through the mud and splaying it all over.

Hinata landed in a cracked up cobble stone street, windows smashed and covered in dirt. Her clothes are ripped up and her coat is practically hanging off her by a thread and looks to have been burnt away. She was breathing heavily with eyes that held shock and awe. She wasn't even in any kind of fighting stance, which made Naruto's grin widen impossibly.

He was about to jump down when she skipped back and away several times as the mud started swirling again and re-converged before streaking towards her like a wave. She grits her teeth as she moved back around fluid like water as she moved around, her eyes closed as she concentrated. Her hands moved round, cupping with a large gap between them.

Naruto watched in shock as he saw some sparks of blue chakra dancing between her hands like a blue light storming the faster she moved before she paused, her eyes flashing open, dangerous and cold. Her arms outstretched, her cupped fingertips near touching the attacking mud as they cupped open.

The sparks bust into a spherical shape of light and in a pulse smashed straight through all of the mud and sprayed it everywhere before smashing into a shop window, shattering the glass before hitting something inside with a boom and then exploding, setting the shop on fire.

Hinata fell to her knees panting for breath just looking at her slightly singed fingers with her mouth near open, eyes wide and exhausted. Naruto had a similar look as he stared down at her, and looked over at what she had done. He had never seen an attack like that before, and looking at her knew she hadn't either. She had really relied on her instincts and created a new move on the spot, and by the look of it using her own style.

However, he hadn't the chance to hop down and congratulate her as they could only watch as the dirt started moving again, but this time a chilling high pitched laugh came from it startling them. The mud then swirled around with a powerful wind and started forming a seven-foot talk mud man with huge muscles, but he didn't harden, the mud remained moist.

The man looked like it was about to say something when Naruto just swished out between him and Hinata with red flames splashing around behind his grit teeth before he sucked them back as he took a deep breath, which caused the mud man to stop looking so amused and look resigned instead.

Naruto blew out a huge flamethrower of red and orange flames that melted the cobbled street and the glass of shop windows it was wide enough to set shops and homes alight while it baked the mud man. He let up his attack and looked at the mess he had caused, the shops ablaze and the mud man crumbled with a simple shuriken.

He sighed with a smile as he turned and helped Hinata up to her feet, as she needed a breather, the huge fires he set lighting the street through the fog as it looked to retract from the flames. He didn't know what that meant, but maybe fire is the fogs enemy or something like that.

He then got a shock as he really paid attention to Hinata now she could stand after spending all that chakra. Her dark blue tee shirt was torn enough to show bandages wrapped around what would certainly be a nice bust, but the bandages are making her seem flat while wearing a jacket like hers, but if he were to guess, she is bigger than any girl from their class.

"That was awesome, Hinata-chan," he told her after a moment of staring with a wicked grin that turned sheepish.

She was surprised as she looked to him from the blazing fires as she was going to congratulate him on his fire technique. She had never seen such a huge fire move like that before when she realised what he was looking at with her arms flying up to cover herself, which made her coat finally fall away.

"Y-you really think so?" she finally asked, bright red in the cheeks and hoping he doesn't mention anything else.

"Of course," he readily agreed. "And Hinata-chan, embarrassment can get you killed. I've took note of the beauties you're packing and doing that is most certainly hampering your movement and breathing, so from now on you won't go out of your way to hide the fact you are a beautiful girl with a beautiful female body, understand?"

She looked down in both shame and embarrassment before letting her arms drop, her cheeks red but she nodded vigorously anyway. "I-I'm sorry Naruto-kun," she said looking up at him with watery eyes. "I-it's just, just that… I don't like…"

"People staring at you?" he asked her, understanding, and she nodded. "If people stare they stare… you are awesome and shouldn't pretend to anyone. You can just ignore the rude jerks," he said pulling her into his arms before leaping them both onto a roof the other side of the fires. "Let's go and see whether we can find you a new coat or something, shall we, hopefully some clothes your size too?"

She nodded with a smile as he held her hand and tried to ignore the zombies he took them from as they hopped from rooftop to rooftop until they landed on a terrace of a large and regal looking house quite a way from the fire he set. The window door led into a large bedroom and she was surprised that Naruto didn't break the window but picked the lock.

"After you Milady," Naruto said with a smirk and he held the door open for her. She couldn't help but blush as she entered the large bedroom. Naruto followed and looking around its obvious, the room had belonged to a young woman.

However, they hadn't a moment to look around when both Naruto and Hinata almost jumped back out of the window as a girl not taller than Hinata with short messy brown over her ears and down to her neck. She has silver eyes wearing and light blue kimono barefoot with a large darker blue sash around her waist tied in a large elegant bow behind her and a blue headband on top of her head. She was up close, her face in theirs glaring at them each in turn with Hinata hiding behind Naruto, rightfully freaked out.

"Oh great!" she said in anger. "I can't even die properly, and now a couple of idiots are braking into my room to rob me!" she said angrily as she went and swiped at Naruto to slap him only for her hand to pass through him.

Naruto could only stare at her in shock as she just went on ranting angrily. He could kind of… well sense her while she's so close, and when her hand passed through him it felt cool and made his skin quiver with goose bumps.

He looked closer and grimaced as he realised she is so pale she doesn't look like she has blood in her, which is likely true. However, on the right side of her neck is a huge wound of teeth marks with dripping blood that soaked her right sleeve, and down her arm staining some of her hand in a few places. Naruto knew what this could be, but didn't know how to help her.

"I'm so sorry," he suddenly said, which caused her to stop yelling at him and really look at him for a moment before looking away. He looked over to a built in closet up against one wall, he could see blood leaking from under the door, she grimaced as she, and Hinata just watched him walk over and pull the door open.

The closet was just a place that stored some games, and old toys, but it was her lifeless body lying bloodied on the floor that took his attention, and he looked back at the girl while she looked away. He really noticed now that she doesn't have the kind of substance that a human would and it made him feel sick as he crouched down.

However, both the 'girl' and Hinata screeched as the body suddenly moved and lunched at Naruto, but he just moved his left hand in the way, the girl bit in, but with his chakra, her teeth weren't strong enough to do more than pierce his skin, drawing blood. She was hissing, and her eyes pure white with blood shot red.

He looked back to see how terrified Hinata looked but looking to the 'girl' she couldn't look away, her eyes large and bubbling with tears that he knew she couldn't shed. "You shouldn't watch this," Naruto said softly. However, she couldn't look away, but Hinata surprised him as she moved in the way, tears flowing from her eyes.

Naruto turned back to the 'girls' body and in one swift movement snapped her delicate neck. He could practically feel the twin flinches from behind as the huge crack reverberated around the room before all was silent. He picked up the body gently and he moved her onto the bed and carefully wrapped her in a sheet.

"T-thank you," the girl whispered quietly as he looked to her. "I… I was bitten by the window," she said shakily. "It didn't have much of a grip and feel off the balcony. I just ran and hid, but I guess I was already dead because, I've watched for a few days now, when it started… one bite, and then…" she trailed off looking to Naruto's bloody hand.

"N-Naruto-kun," Hinata said in panic, her eyes watering more. "It, I mean… you were bitten."

Naruto laughed and rolled his eyes. "A monster's venom won't kill me, Hinata chan," he said smiling but she just didn't look convinced. "I am the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, barer of a power far greater than the walking dead. I can already feel my blood destroying the venom with ease."

"O-Oh, Naruto-kun," she said as she went to throw herself into his arms but he stopped her.

"I don't want to get this stuff on you, Hinata-chan," he said to reassure her.

"T-that's why the villagers… they know…"

"Yeah," he agreed with a shrug. "But I've finally started coping with that crap and getting over it. They can be morons all they want, but generally I believe a lot of people in Konoha are smart enough that given the opportunity they will realise jealous, selfish pieces of shit have just led them astray."

"I know what a Jinchuuriki is," the girl suddenly said looking at him in awe. "I hear they're prisons… living prisons for the greatest monsters on the planet, the Bijuu, then you have the power to stop them, to get our revenge!" she begged hopefully.

Naruto sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed looking at her while her hope diminished as his blue eyes just held a sadness before looking down for a moment while he wiped his hand clean on the bed sheets to show it had fully healed over. "I cannot get your revenge," he said as he reached out and so gently touched her cool hand, almost really feeling it. "But I will bring you, justice, and take whatever Dark Sorcerer did this out!"

Her hope returned, as she really looked at him her pale cheeks tinting a duller white. "T-thank you, N-Naruto-kun isn't it?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah," he quickly agreed. "And this is Hinata-chan, and together, we'll put an end to this… what's your name?"

"M-my name is, Yukina Shiratori, but you can just call me Yukina or Yuki for short if you like," she answered brightening a little. Though, how bright can you get when you've just died, and know your body turned into a zombie and some stranger just snapped your neck. "Why exactly are you guys in my room anyway?"

"Oh," he said nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "We were here to look for some new clothes for Hinata-chan."

She looked over the other girl surprised she didn't notice how ruined her clothes are as she nodded her head, sighing. "OK, OK, you can have whatever you need; it isn't like I'll be needing them being a freaking ghost."

"R-really, you don't mind?" she asked in surprise.

"Na," she answered again, shrugging. "I don't mind at all, like I said I can't wear them anymore, so go ahead. I have a few things that would look great on you, but…" she looked closer. "Wow, your boobs are huge compared to mine," she said sadly, as she squeezed her small chest while Hinata looked uncomfortable and blushed. "But I have some things that were too big in that area, they might be a little tight still, but I think that will look great."

She then turned to Naruto. "Ok, Naruto-kun, you can help me pull the things out of my wardrobe while, Hinata-chan gets out of her rags…"

"B-but I…" Hinata stuttered out blushing worse than ever, her heart pounding painfully in her chest just thinking about it.

Naruto hopped up from the bed and glanced out at the small town to see the street crawling with zombies, and a huge fire still blazing down the street they were in earlier. He just shook his head and turned back to them.

"I think it would be best not to go outside," he said giving her a look.

Yuki nodded her head too. "And leaving the room will mean having to deal with those in the house," she said looking out of the window. "And I'll guess that you guys set that street on fire, and don't want to do that inside."

"She has a point, Hinata-chan," he agreed rolling his eyes at his friend/girlfriend. "I told you to quit being too embarrassed. It could get you hurt. I'm not going to just stare at you no matter how hot your bod no-doubt is, OK?"

She was still blushing but nodded her head, still scarlet cheeked. "O-OK, Naruto-kun, Yuki-chan…"

"Let's see now," Yuki said looking around as Naruto opened the closet and draws for her. "This jacket," she said as he pulled out a thin leather yellow jacket. "It should fit fine, now these hipster trousers," she said as he pulled out the beige slacks. "And this sports top thingy will be a little tight, but better than those bandages, they're way too tight. Then we have this cute black top and finally, I've never actually worn these boots before… she looks about the same size as me, so…"

They had turned around to see Hinata just waiting, naked, turned around but Naruto could admire her great ass as he gulped and placed the stuff on the bed next to his blushing partner, and adjusting himself. His eyes flickered to see a mirror to one side at the right angle to see her beautiful and firm breasts, and her very large stiff pink nipples before he turned away to see Yuki giving him a look while Hinata started getting dressed.

"B-but, my sandals are fine, Naruto-kun," she stuttered out, which caused him to look around just as she was pulling on the hipsters, and getting a glimpse of her lovely looking area from behind before looking away, Yuki giving him a knowing look but choosing not to say anything.

"Y-yeah, well, boots are better," he replied as he tried to be the gentleman and not take any extra peaks at her wonders. "Toes are really fragile, so it makes sense to protect them."

"Oh, I see," she replied and didn't say anything more for a short while. "I'm… I'm finished now," she finally continued.

Naruto turned and gave Yuki a look as she had watched the whole thing complimenting Hinata, and he couldn't help but agree that with her bust defined in this outfit she looks splendid. He smiled at her while her cheeks had lightened to a soft pink. The clothes hugged her perfectly and made him smile as she looked down at her prominent chest and fidgeting with her fingers.

"Now that's the Hinata-chan I want to see more often," he said grinning at her softly. "The strong and awesome Hinata-chan who won't let other people stop her from being who she can be…!"

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," she said with a sweet smile. "You've been so kind to me even though I was, when I thought you didn't know I was… you know…"

"It's fine, Hinata-chan," he said smiling. "As long as you remember, from now on, you just come and hang out with me, or cuddle if you like."

"She's your stalker?" Yuki suddenly interrupted looking both amused and with hearts in her eyes as she realised what went unsaid. "That's kind of sweet in a weird kind of way, if it were the other way around it would be creepy. And why haven't I passed over to the other side yet?"

Naruto looked to her with Hinata, shrugging. "I don't know," he said looking thoughtful. "Maybe you have unfinished stuff to do or something, or maybe you can't rest without your murders being brought to justice… or at least killed."

"Damn," she said pumping her right fist into her left palm. "What the hell am I going to do until then? I can't even touch anything; it's going to be highly annoying!"

"You know that a soul bound to the Earth like this is made up of kinetic energy, right?" he asked while she shook her head and looked confused and Hinata looked just as confused. He sighed rolling his eyes, but then he has an ancient being to chat to at night for a month or more, most nights that knows a lot of things. "It means you're made up of psychic energy, which with some practice will allow you to do things like… I don't know the particulars but it should allow you to touch things, turn invisible, all of the normal ghostly pros I guess."

"Oh, well, thanks for the heads up," she said smiling softly. "Naruto-kun, Hinata-chan, after… when… well, I'll be gone so… can you both get my body and give me a proper burial, please?"

"Yeah, of course," Naruto agreed with a sad smile while Hinata nodded her agreement. "It will be beautiful, but very small… I think…"

"I know all of my family is dead," she said sadly. "But just you and Hinata-chan would be great, thank you."

"You're welcome," Hinata said trying not to start crying. "We'll make sure to do our best for you."

"I know you will," she said with a smirk. "Though, if you do die, you can come haunt my house with me if you want!"

"We'll try better than that," Naruto said as he opened the door to the balcony and stepped out with Hinata before looking back. "Rest in peace… Yukina Shiratori-chan," he finished closing the door behind them to look down at the zombies and groan.

"L-looks like we'll have to get passed them first," Hinata said as she took one last glance at Yukina to see her waving sadly before looking back to the zombies with a tired sigh.

To Be Continued…