WHY am I always so busy nowadays? T.T It absolutely kills me to try to keep up with everything. Seriously. The bad part about all this is that I forget what I want to say. (sweatdrop) Sigh...Well folks, hope you enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Nami tailed the cat through the woods towards an open field. The sun had already begun to set, and Nami was afraid she'd lose the cat before it led her to its master. Luck was on her side.
The cat climbed up a man's leg and into his arms. The man, who stroked the cat while looking intently at its fur, didn't even seem to notice Nami until she was five feet away. That was when he finally looked up to see her panting heavily, sweating like an ice cube in the sunlight.
"You…Are you…Yousai?" Nami gasped between breaths.
"And if I am?" Yousai said coldly. His cat hissed at Nami.
Nami drew back for a second, but straightened her posture and said, "I heard you fix swords."
"That's the commoner way of saying it…but yes," Yousai nodded. "And what does that have to do with you?"
"I need you to repair mine," Nami said.
"I will not do it."
"What? Why not?"
"Why should I?" the old man countered.
"Because…!"
"Oooh…Well isn't that a convincing response? Young lady, I don't have time for nonsense. I live a very demanding life, and I'd like to get on with it." The man turned his back and started to walk away.
"HEY!" Nami shouted, running over to the man and reaching for his shoulder.
THWACK!
Nami bit her lip. Her hand recoiled and her eyes narrowed. What the…this old guy's strong!
"What?" the elder snapped.
"Give me a reason why you won't repair my sword?" Nami ordered. "Is it money you want? Do you want me to do something?"
"I don't help bratty teenagers like you," Yousai said plainly. "Kids with no manners and who have no sense of the people around them aren't worth anything. Selfish people should do things on their own. You, my dear, are one of them. I can tell."
"You think you can make false accusations after talking to me for ten seconds?!"
"Yes. I do."
"Look, old man, you watch it," Nami said angrily, "You know what I think?"
"No, and I don't particularly care."
Nami was steaming. "I think you should take your OWN ADVICE! You know nothing about me!"
The old man smirked a bit. "Oh really? I'll tell you what, girl. If you can beat me, I'll fix your little sword. If I win, you must become my maid for the rest of your life."
"WHAT?"
"That's right. I do everything myself, but it'd be nice to have a maid around to do some work for me. I wouldn't expect you to cook, though. You'd probably try to poison, wouldn't you?"
Nami clenched her teeth. "One question. This isn't gonna be one of those old geezer tricks where you don't tell me what I'm supposed to beat you in and it turns out to be something you're a master at, is it?"
"No, no…Well, you're only half right. I'll tell you what we'll be competing in…It will simply be a hand-to-hand battle, weapons allowed. Seeing as you're a Konoha kunoichi, you shouldn't mind. And I am a master at combat."
Nami almost laughed out loud. "You wanna fight me?"
"Confident, are you? Well then, it shouldn't be hard for you to pin me down then, is it?" Yousai said, setting his cat on the ground and taking off his overcoat to reveal a basic shinobi uniform.
"All right, if you say so," Nami shrugged. "Get ready, old man, cuz I'm taking you down!"
"We'll see about that, little girl."
Nami immediately ran at the man, intent on using only taijutsu against her opponent.If I only knock him out, he won't get too injured… She threw a punch towards Yousai's stomach, but to her surprise, he blocked the attack with his arm, which revealed to her that he was wearing arm guards. Nami ducked to the ground and swung her leg, but Yousai merely evaded by jumping into the air. Upon landing, he slammed his arm towards Nami's face, but she quickly blocked it. However, the blow was enough to send her skidding backwards on her feet slightly, putting a short distance between the two.
"Don't look so surprised," Yousai said, "That was nothing. You can't beat me with mediocre taijutsu."
"I'm just getting warmed up!" Nami grimaced and decided she'd just have to pin the old man down. She made several hand signs and called, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Two clones appeared to her left and right. The three weaved in between each other, but Yousai just stood as if he were waiting for something to happen. One of the Namis targeted his head while the other aimed to tackle him down and the last came towards his legs. He dodged the first one and jabbed her in the back, kicking the one coming towards his stomach and evading the third. However, as the two clones poofed out of existence, the true Nami slammed her hand into the ground shouting, "Doton: Waru Chi no Jutsu (Earth Style: Splitting Earth Technique)!"
Yousai's eyes flickered for a split second as a crack appeared in where he stood. He gave a hefty leap backwards just in time to avoid falling into the huge rift in the field. As the ground continued to break, the area was split in half, creating a dark pit in between Nami and Yousai.
Nami didn't wait for Yousai to catch his breath and reached into her holster. She brought out several kunai and sent them forth. Then she quickly followed with a set of hand seals while Yousai dodged the projectiles that thudded at his feet.
Yousai was about to move when he came to the realization that he couldn't move. He peered down and saw the faint, thin strands of twine attached to the weapons Nami threw earlier. The way they had been aimed wasn't at him…They had been positioned to trap him!
"This is the end, old man!" Nami shouted victoriously, flicking her fingers and forcing the twine loose for a split second, then wrapping them completely around Yousai's body. "Hi Muchiutsu no Jutsu!" The twine on her fingers immediately turned into the guide towards Yousai for the flames. The man stood still, eyes closed. Just as the flames reached his body, he suddenly broke free, his skin and clothes burnt slightly.
Perfect timing…Nami raged. Most wouldn't have been able to break free at the right moment as the twine was being devoured so quickly. But Nami wasn't about to stop; she had already started another chain of seals. "Hi—"
Suddenly, Yousai appeared in front of her and grabbed her hands, which were currently in the tiger seal. He kicked her in the stomach suddenly, sending her across the ground backwards.
"You idiot," Yousai said, "Have you no view of your surroundings? It's afield. Use fire jutsu and you'll set the whole area aflame!"
"That's the plan," Nami said as she started running…in the direction OPPOSITE of Yousai.
Before Yousai could contemplate, he heard a cry of, "Katon: Hara Tobihi (Fire Style: Field of Leaping Flames)!" He whirled around to see a kage bunshin which had just popped out from hiding herself in the grass. "When—?!"
Nami watched from a safe distance as Yousai was engulfed with flames along with her clone, a satisfied grin on her face. The moment Yousai had closed his eyes when he was trapped in twine was when she created the clone and hid it within the tall grass. The old man was a goner. She won.
Nami's smile faded.
"OLD MAN!" Nami instantly dashed towards the heightening blaze, beads of sweat shooting down her face. She slapped her hands together and shouted, "RELEASE!"
The flames dispersed into the air, leaving the field blackened and burnt. There was no sign of Yousai.
"Old man! Hey! Where are you?!" Nami called with fear in her eyes. She heard footsteps behind her and turned around eagerly, "Old man—" her expression fell. It was only the cat. "What…have I done?"
---
"So…You've never been attacked by anyone of Rai?" Migite said, sounding surprised.
Midori shook her head.
"Strange…"
"Why is it so strange?" Midori questioned.
"Well, there are still some of the Rai who are bitter towards the remainders of Hikari," Migite explained. "You know, destroying the country and nearly all its inhabitants put them on the black list of the countries around them. It wasn't good for making alliances with other countries at all. It put everyone on edge."
"So that's why there are some groups in Rai that want to dispose of all the Hikari," Hidari said. "But its strange they never made an attempt on your life, especially since you kept your original surname andare the owner of the Hikari Suishou. I mean, we've seen our friends attacked over the years, and they were better disguised."
Midori decided not to mention the fact that she had returned to the Narutoverse just recently.
"Perhaps they wanted to be dramatic and kill off all Hikari members and thenthe heir to the Hikari Clan!" Hidari gasped, looking at Migite. "You know, Migite! Like in that movie!"
"It's plausible!" Migite agreed.
"Then that must be it!"
Midori stifled a laugh. "Er…Don't jump to conclusions…"
"We're back!" a deep voice called as the door opened.
"Nii-san's back!" Hidari and Migite chimed as they jumped up from their spot.
"A third brother?" Midori questioned, turning her head to see the new arrivals; a tall man about eighteen with long, black hair and gray eyes with a seventeen-year-old girl with the same black hair cut short and blue eyes standing next to him.
"He's not really our brother," Migite explained, "He's actually our second cousin's brother! His name is Kenage and this is Shizuka, his fifth cousin twice removed! Can you two recognize this person?" he gestured towards Midori who had a blank look on her face, her mind boggled, trying to follow Migite's explanations.
"…No…"
Hidari and Migite almost fell over. "Midori! It's Midori!"
Kenage blinked. "Midori?" He stepped forward and tilted Midori's head up, examining her facial features. Midori had a nervous look on her face, trying to avoid Kenage's piercing eyes. They're almost as intimidating as Neji's… she thought.
Finally, after what was probably only five seconds, Kenage removed his hand from her chin and placed it atop her head, making her feel hopelessly short.
"Well, what do you know?" Kenage smiled quietly.
"U-Um…" Midori stuttered, glancing at Hidari and Migite for help.
"That's a sign of affection from Kenage!" Hidari announced. "So you remember now, eh, big guy?"
"Where in the world did you find her?" Kenage questioned.
"We ran into each other while she was on a mission with these two guys," Migite explained. "Which reminds me, you're still on the mission, right? And you're gonna set things straight with the guy hunting down Master, right Midori-chan?"
"Uh, right."
"You don't sound very reassuring."
"Don't worry, I will!" Midori mustered.
"That's more like it!"
It was then Master poked his head through the doorway and said, "Kenage! Shizuka! Do you know when Kentai and Tegoshi are coming back?"
"No," Kenage replied, "But knowing them, not until dinner."
As Midori watched the other Hikari members talk, she couldn't help but feel a bit left out. They were like a family with their master, and in a way, she had created them without even knowing they would be 'related'.
I guess nothing ever goes exactly as planned… Midori thought with a smile.
---
Nami had lost track of time. She'd been sitting in the burnt field for who knows how long, wishing she hadn't gone so far. All she had to do wasdefeat him, and yet she didn't stop herself from ending the battle in the worst way. She watched the cat roam around what was left of the field, a sinking feeling in her stomach. "I'm sorry, cat…" Nami mumbled as she stood. She started walking towards the cat to pick it up, "Your master's…" Suddenly, she stopped. The cat was walking towards the edge of the crack and peering down into the dark abyss.
Nami ran over and looked down. Her eyes widened. "O-Old man?!"
Sure enough, Yousai was taking his sweet time walking up the side of the 'wall' of earth. As soon as he reached the top, he bopped Nami's head with his fist and shouted, "What did I tell you?! Now the field is completely burned away! Stupid, stupid, stupid…"
"H-How are you alive?!" Nami questioned.
"Haven't you figured it out, girl?" Yousai said, raising an eyebrow. "I happen to be able to channel my chakra quite well. If I weren't a shinobi, how do you think I managed to push back your attacks?"
Nami couldn't argue with that logic. "I guess I'll be leaving now." She passed him, ready to start her journey back to Konoha.
"Where do you think you're going?" Yousai questioned.
"Back home," Nami said. "I lost, didn't I?"
"That's right," Yousai agreed. "But…"
Nami stopped in her tracks and whirled around eagerly. "'But'?"
"You destroyed my favorite field," Yousai frowned. "I'm not letting you get away that easily."
"…Eh?"
"And the deal was that you'd become my maid," Yousai added. "I didn't forget."
Nami gaped. "Bu-bu-bu-bu—" she stuttered frantically.
"BUT," Yousai continued, "I didn't win. So I think we'll have to compromise. You must come out from 6 AM until say…4 PM and do the tasks I give you for a month."
"A month?!" Nami shouted, outraged. "NO WAY! More like five days! A week, maybe!"
"Three weeks!"
"One week!"
"Two weeks!"
"One and a half!"
"Two months!"
"One!"
"Deal," Yousai said with satisfaction.
"Good! W-Wait a sec…" Nami winced, realizing her little mistake. "Crap…"
"Well, little girl," Yousai smirked, "I will see you here bright and early tomorrow morning."
"No…" Nami gasped, dropping to her knees. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
By the time Nami got back to Konoha, it was late. Very late. She trudged into the apartment and called, "I'm home!" That's weird…the lights aren't on. She looked around for any sign of life, but she concluded that no one was hone.
Then, she spotted a note sitting on the table. She unfolded the paper and started to read.
Guys,
I left with Shikamaru and the others to hunt down Hidan and Kakuzu. I didn't tell Tsunade about Asuma's death, but I'm gonna try to prevent it. I know what you're thinking, but if I told her, she would've stopped the mission, but this mission's important and I couldn't have stopped it. I won't let anyone die this time.
Kyoko
"…That idiot…" Nami murmured, crumpling up the paper and tossing it in the trash on the way out the door.
I'm not gonna lie. Everything with Hidan and Kakuzu is going to be troublesome. But it's something I want to do, so I'll do it! XD
For anyone who's interested, I'm converting the old NNJ into a manga (for practice, really) and the details will be on AizoAnime as soon as I get to it...which will probably be tonight or tomorrow. Of course...You guys have probably learned by now that I'm not that great at keeping my word with updates...So I apologize if I waste your time. :( I really don't mean to, it's just that a lot of things pop up at the last minute and I'm really bad at setting my priorities straight. -.- So let's hope I can get some productive stuff done, okay? Anyway, thanks for sticking around and bearing my horribleness, everyone! Love you all!
-HM