Chapter 38 - Test of the Body
Naruto couldn't remember the last time he had ever felt so cold.
"It'll be sunstroke," Toshie identified with very little sympathy. "If you can't be arsed to wear the oil that I made for you-"
"The one that smells like something died, you mean? No thanks!" He sat down grumbling and shivering. "Besides, I'll only sweat it off carrying him around all day!"
He was referring to the lifeless body slouched against the rock face.
"Don't start with that shit again!" she warned him.
"I'm just saying!"
The girl's flaring nostrils reminded him of a herd of bulls that had once chased him all the way to the Konohagakure stadium. He could still imagine their sharp horns getting closer and closer to his vulnerable behind. The memory was not one of his proudest moments!
There was a whooshing sound as the Sunan unravelled one of scrolls strapped to her waist. Hand signs and a jutsu call followed. After the puff of white clouds a stack of dried kindling, bracken and moss appeared. Toshie began to tear some small slivers of paper from her log book to add to the contents.
"Whoa, you can make firewood whenever we need it?"
The girl shook her head with mild amusement. She took the dead moss and arranged it into a neat pile. Over the top of this came the smaller sticks she had collected placing them in a tipi formation.
"I've spent countless hours trailing the outskirts of the village gathering anything that will burn. I've stored them away in my ninja tools scroll for the chunin exams, Enjin said they'd be a survival test. Do you have any idea how tricky it is to find anything to make a fire out here from scratch?"
Toshie took larger sticks and placed one on top of the other. Next she rubbed the upper stick between her palms ensuring that the tip was twisting into the stick below. As she continued with her challenge the stick twisted back and forth, faster and faster. Finally the friction caused a spark and a tiny red flame shyly flickered into life. Toshie blew gently coaxing it towards the other bracken.
"Why don't you just use some of your chakra to make a fire?"
"I'm not trained in fire style, dimwit!" she said. "Anyway, we need to save our chakra in case of an attack. There are only two of us in action in case you haven't noticed!"
They both glanced towards Enjin.
Naruto got up and brought the dead-weight closer to the fire. He pinched the other boy's nose and poked his side – there was zero response.
"HEY! SNAP OUT OF IT!" The jinchuriki cried into his silent team mate's ear.
"Will you cut it out? He won't wake up!"
"I still think he's putting it on," he said suspiciously pulling open Enjin's eyelid.
"Don't you remember what the proctor told us?" Toshie asked as she wiggled her frozen fingers enjoying the growing heat.
Naruto thought back to the previous day. The proctor was called Piero. She had introduced the second test as a survival course in the desert. She also made a promise that there would be wild animals, dehydration and hypothermia to enjoy! Alongside this was the problem that one candidate from each team would immediately be incapacitated for the duration of the test. This would be determined at random and thereby said person could offer no support to the squad whatsoever.
"Enjin!" Naruto had exclaimed.
Despite the warnings both of the remaining members of team Katashi were still shocked when the engineer suddenly collapsed onto the ground.
"Don't worry, he isn't dead or anything!" Piero laughed with a full set of sharp white teeth. "Now, let me explain the other rules."
According to the strange woman the goal was for all three team members to reach the ruins of an abandoned temple. This lay approximately in the North West region of the Wind Country desert.
"Should any candidate be left behind the entire squad will be disqualified. If a second team member is unable to continue and complete the task they will also be disqualified."
When faced with the groans of the chunin candidates she had simply stroked a lazy hand through her fuzzy red afro.
"Finally, if any team does not reach the ruins by the end of the third night, surprise, surprise this also results in disqualification. You can transport your live dummy, which essentially is all your comrade is good for now, any way you like!" She'd given a low curtsy before opening the squeaky iron gates. "I wish you all a highly unpleasant stay in the desert. Don't die now!"
Naruto remembered how the teams had reacted in those first few moments. Some squads were well and truly screwed as their fallen team mates weighed more than the other two members put together! Others fared better using jutsu that could reduce bulky weights to be as light as a feather. Some began to assemble stretchers whilst an agitated Naruto simply slung Seibi-shi over his shoulder and started to walk. Toshie had eventually managed to catch him up and point out that he was headed in the wrong direction. After that the Konoha ninja fell into step with the bluette as they travelled on together.
Coming back to the present, had he a full stomach of instant ramen Naruto might have enjoyed listening to the crackle and snap of the fire. As it turned out his neglected belly growled in misery.
Toshie glanced at him and frowned. She began to search the bottom of her rucksack. Her fingers stretched and strained as she sought a distinctive object. They grasped around the smoothness of the silver foil packet which she held out to her partner.
"No thanks," he mumbled.
She seemed cross then, "You need to eat, idiot. Your body can't keep warm if you've got nothing to fuel it with!"
"I know that, but I just don't feel hungry!"
"If you get sick..." she clenched her fists. "I can't carry you both! Don't make me choose between you and Enjin. We have to get through this together or not at all!" Toshie tossed the packet at his feet before turning her back on him.
He picked it up with a small smile. His eyes reflected the firelight as he took a large bite of the salted beef jerky. Chewing the tough snack was certainly a challenge for his teeth but it tasted quite good. Not as good as Ichiraku ramen with extra helpings of barbecue pork but it was enough to satisfy – for now.
She was beginning to fade with her head bobbing forwards.
"I can take the first watch," he said. "Get some rest."
She nodded and lay near to Enjin. His little sister placed a blanket over both of them and settled down. Her body was shaking with cold for a while but eventually relaxed and fell into a deep slumber.
They always fight like cat and dog, but she's really looking out for him.
The Fourth Hokage's son couldn't help but give a wistful glance at the siblings. Family was such a difficult thing for him to grasp. He'd never had a brother or a sister. Naruto wondered what life might have been like had Kushina and Minato survived, in another time, another place. It didn't help to reflect on these things too often, however Naruto felt safe away from the friends who knew him best. The deep sorrow held in his chest was released for a little while and he acknowledged it. He allowed the regret to surface.
It would be nice if they were here with me.
This lasted for a short time. Before long Naruto wound the emotional threads back around his heart determined to conserve his energy for the day ahead.
In the morning Toshie brushed the sand off her face and yawned. It was just after dawn and time to get moving. They packed up their belongings and set off following the spinning needle of their trusty compass.
Naruto carried his load but not without complaint. His right shoulder was beginning to protest more and more against the additional weight. He decided to give Enjin a piggy back wrapping his arms around his chest and securing them with rope. This provided a little relief at least. The sun travelled too until it was high in the sky bleaching the rocks and surroundings with its strong rays. Relentless heat rose from the sand underfoot smothering him in a cocoon of hot dry air. With every step Naruto could feel his energy being drained and his lively movements becoming more sluggish.
"How are we doing for water?" He asked taking a measured sip from his bottle.
Toshie thought for a moment. "If we stick rigidly to our rations it'll be fine. Everything is under control. So long as our luck holds..."
"You shouldn't tempt fate, you know? Every time someone says stuff like that something bad happens. It's kinda freaky." Naruto let out a tired sigh. "Geez, Enjin's really heavy."
"He ain't heavy," she sulked. "He's my brother!"
"You're not the one that has to carry him," he muttered under his breath.
In the end Toshie took pity on her companion and fashioned a keffiyeh from some spare orange material. She tied it to his head and secured it with the black ninja band. Her tight smile suggested he wouldn't be winning any fashion awards soon!
Afterwards Naruto noticed how his neck no longer ached and his head did not feel quite so hot. The Sunan people had learnt to survive in these harsh conditions for centuries. Every thought Toshie made was linked to conserving their resources and making best use of time. It was she who told them when to rest, how much to drink and what to do. She wasn't particularly bossy about it. Enjin's sister was doing a sterling job, but she was nervous. There was a lot riding on this and the responsibility was heavier than that of the unconscious cargo.
They trudged on, their steps shuffling through the sand now rather than lifting their feet. It didn't seem possible that the muscles in their legs could hurt so much. There was a certain amount of ground they needed to cover before the evening. However as they continued through the sand dunes everything began to look the same. It was hard not to become disheartened when it seemed as if you were not moving at all. The tall golden peaks quivered in the hazy sunlight.
"Umm," Toshie moaned crushing her eyes closed and rubbing them.
Naruto stopped, "Hey, you okay?"
"Just tired," she shrugged him off. "Come on, just a little further and then we can take a break."
An hour later and Toshie's promised break finally arrived. This part of the desert looked like the cracked flag tiles of a roof. The sand had become so dry and brittle that it was actually lifting away. The edge of each tile was curling, reaching up almost in surrender to the sun as a God. A barren tree was the sole plant life here. Its dried up husk and skeletal branches served as a further reminder of the intense heat.
The little shelter available was a shadow cast by the arch of a nearby red sandstone formation. Naruto sat down trying to swallow pieces of a brittle nutrition bar, but it caught in his throat. Even if he had managed to chew enough the source of food was tasteless. His water ration was playing tricks not even tickling the raging thirst he felt.
This desert hates me!
Distracting his crazy thoughts Naruto looked at the map. He caught the name of this particular stretch of desert known as Akuma's bakkubon or 'Devil's Backbone.' It was the quickest route to get to the ruins unfortunately it also meant spending more time in the hottest part of the desert. It was the furthest path from nearby oases.
"We're taking a risk aren't we?"
"Yeah, it's not my first choice." Toshie admitted. She looked tired, perched on the rock with her shoulders sagging. Her hands were clasped together on her knees and there were dark patches underneath her eyes. She stared at the floor, "But if we take the safer route it's more likely that we'll be ambushed. I don't want Enjin to be attacked when he can't even put up a fight!"
"But he does have his sister," he said. "And also Konoha's number one ninja – that's me by the way!"
Toshie brightened slightly at this, "Thank you, Naruto."
When they were about to go on their way another squad came into view. Instantly Team Katashi was on full alert. It was a group of three young women with headbands from the Hidden Stone. Having not met anybody else this far into the journey they were surprised.
"Hi," said the tallest of the group. The newcomer had orange hair that stood perfectly on end. It looked as though an electric volt had been sent through her scalp. "The name's Inferuno," she said. "This is Yakekoge and my dummy here," she referred to the smaller ninja being carried on her back, "is my sister Blaze."
"Naruto, Toshie and Enjin," he said briskly. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" The stranger considered. "You're the first signs of life I've seen in over two days and all you want to say is what do I want? Thanks." Her voice was thick with sarcasm. "Phew," Inferuno put down her sleeping sister and began to crack the kinks out of her spine. "So heavy, feels like I'm trying to carry an elephant or something!"
"We need to get going," Toshie stood up abruptly and reached for her satchel.
"Talk about a jumpy bunch!" she sat down, retrieved a flask and took a few sips.
The girl known as Yakekoge had long red curly hair that spiralled down her face. She looked at the water with longing. "May I have some?" she squeaked.
"No," the answer was sharp. "I'm carrying Blaze so I have the most water. You'll just have to wait."
Yakekoge's disappointment was cruel to watch. She swallowed and then touched her lips. "But I feel so sick. A little water couldn't hurt-"
"I'm in charge and I said, no."
Naruto couldn't help it. Watching the red head so obviously dehydrated and suffering in the heat touched a nerve.
"You can have some of mine," he offered the bottle.
"Naruto!" Toshie scolded him immediately. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"It's just a little water. I can miss one ration and stay on my feet!" He protested.
Yakekoge hesitated only for a second before accepting. "Thank you so much. You're very kind." After drinking the smile of relief brought out the green in her eyes. Naruto grinned back in return.
"You're an idiot," Toshie snatched the water away and screwed the cap on tightly. She fastened the buckles on Naruto's bag and threw it to him. "Let's move!"
"Alright, fine." He sulked, picking up both his satchel and Enjin once more walking behind his guide. "See you round, Yakekoge."
After leaving the other squad behind they picked up the pace and walked on. Naruto could sense that his partner was not very happy about the appearance of the other three. Even though every glance behind confirmed they were not being followed, she was still on edge.
"It was just a bit of water, Toshie!"
"Shut up!" she snapped back.
They continued in silence marching on but Naruto was aware that something wasn't quite right. He couldn't put his finger on it but it was as if Enjin was becoming heavier and heavier. The blond was reluctant to trouble his comrade with the news unfortunately after three hours his body decided to give out instead.
When she heard the thud Toshie's heart sank.
I knew it!
Naruto was on the ground face down in the sand. She untied Enjin and then rolled the Konohan onto his back. Looking him over she was shocked to discover the colour of his face was now similar to a tomato! This however was not the worst of it. When Seibi-shi felt his forehead it was bone dry and no longer sweating.
"Take some water, idiot."
But Naruto shook his head. In the next moment she pinched his nose closed and prised his mouth open. The blissfully cool water cascaded down his parched throat and he was forced to swallow. He knew full well that he'd received more than an average ration and yet he still felt thirsty.
"Right, get back on your feet and I'll carry Enjin for a bit." She sighed. However when Toshie tried to move her brother his weight was akin to an elephant! She was astounded it was inconceivable for a human being. "I can't move him!"
"I'll do it," Naruto rolled up his sleeves and attempted to hoist the body up. He too however was taken by surprise. "What's going on?" he said a creeping sense of unease working its way up his spine. "He was never that heavy before. This isn't right."
"YOU THINK?" Toshie exploded. A series of swearing and cursing followed as she paced up and down the golden sand.
"Toshie, it'll be okay." He said feebly.
"It'll be that stupid water bottle," she said thrusting both hands inside his satchel. Toshie recovered the bottle and twisted it open. Inside the smell was disgusting and as she turned it upside down nothing but ashes came spilling out. With a rising panic she found that the rest of the water supplies inside Naruto's backpack had succumbed to a similar fate. The only water they had left was the half empty flask that Toshie owned.
Naruto was horrified the full scale of their situation dawning on him.
"I think they managed to cast a jutsu on Enjin too. Has he been getting steadily heavier?" When he nodded she blew out a breath through gritted teeth. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were mad at me. I didn't want to bother you!"
"Well, fat load of good it's gonna do now!" she hissed. "Why couldn't you have just left when I said? For fuck's sake, Naruto!"
"But we can still make it to the ruins, right?"
"No, we're not going to make it to the ruins!" She screamed at him. "At this rate we're not even going to survive getting out this desert!"
Author's note - Things don't look too good for Team Katashi, do they? I'm not exactly a sun worshipper either! Please review if you like or if you have any suggestions to improve let me know.
All the best until next time...
Allybee