The Pantheon of Nine
By: Finn Mertenz
A/N: A lot of references in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.
Chapter 109: I'm Not Afraid! The Constraints Of Emotion.
Monday 9:07am, July 26th 58SSP.
Resting her pale face against a soft pillow, Tayuya's red hair was sprawled against her petite body. Laying on her stomach, Tayuya waved each of her naked feet through the air, occasionally kicking her heels together.
Allowing the fabric of her Anbu robe to unravel, Tayuya's black shorts could be seen, clinging to her thighs. This brought attention to a distant chair, stacked towards the ceiling with a pile of hats.
Tayuya was quietly sulking inside of Koyuki's cabin, disturbed only by the constant sways of the ocean. Wrinkling her nose with boredom, Tayuya crossed both arms in front of her face, staring at the wall.
Focused on the broken outline of her silver flute, Tayuya's favored weapon was spread atop a nearby table. The damaged remnants from her battle with Amachi, Tayuya's flute was shattered into two pieces.
Staring at these cracked remains, Tayuya's brown eyes were partially obscured by several strands of red hair. This exposed the blank expression in her eyes, eyes that were usually filled with hatred.
Interrupting Tayuya's mind, the door to her cabin was suddenly opened by Naruto, holding a piece of paper. Closing the door behind him, Naruto scratched his whiskers before sitting down beside Tayuya.
"I'll get you more hats when we reach the Land of Waves. I should be able to finish your list by today." Naruto exclaimed.
Holding the scribbled list of Tayuya's demands, Naruto was met by an awkward silence. Usually, Tayuya would insult Naruto, or make a joke about him, but she was too distracted to care.
Following Tayuya's eyes, Naruto eventually noticed the broken silhouette of her flute, cracked in two. Standing up, Naruto approached this distant object before picking it up with both hands.
"You already broke your new flute? Well, I can help you fix it." Hearing Naruto's mumbled voice, Tayuya flew into a rage.
Leaning up off the bed, Tayuya slammed both fists against her mattress, snarling at Naruto. Tilting her neck to the side, Tayuya was briefly blinded by crimson hair, hiding her entire face from view.
Unleashing a hostile gust of wind from her mouth, Tayuya blew this hair to the side, revealing her narrow eyes. Crouched on both knees atop her soft mattress, Tayuya bared her rabid teeth at Naruto.
"I don't need your help! I can fix it all by myself! I just don't want too!" Tayuya snapped.
Throwing her only pillow against Naruto's face, Tayuya scowled before dramatically falling on the bed. Stretched across her mattress like a limp kitten, Tayuya was defined by her growling face.
Responding with a whiskered-filled smile, Naruto rummaged through Tayuya's flute. Unscrewing one of the disjointed sections, a glimmering razorblade fell atop his foot.
Startled by this revelation, Tayuya leapt to her feet before charging forward, shoving Naruto to the ground. Snagging her razorblade with one hand, Tayuya concealed this sharp edge under her sleeve.
"What did I do?!" Naruto stuttered, quickly met by a barrage of fluffy hats, pelted against his face.
"Mind your own business! I don't need your help!" Tayuya shrieked.
Straining to speak, a fluffy-eared bear hat was lodged into Naruto's throat, forcing him to visibly gag. Continuing her relentless bombardment, Tayuya buried Naruto under a pile of hats.
Sighing with a breath of relief, Tayuya hid her razorblade inside a nearby satchel, tucked behind her bed. Pulled from this moment of suspense, Naruto's head poked out from Tayuya's pile of clothes.
Ignoring Naruto's cute face, Tayuya strolled in front of a distant table, sitting down on a wooden bench. Combing one hand through her crimson hair, Tayuya littered the floor with loose strands.
"Hey, Tayuya?" Naruto mumbled, completely buried to his neck.
Inspired by Naruto's voice, Tayuya rolled each of her brown eyes before glancing outside. Twirling a handful of hair between two fingers, Tayuya was distracted by her own thoughts.
"Why do you carry a razorblade?" Caught off guard by Naruto's question, Tayuya stuttered in response.
"I don't know." Speaking with a casual tone, Tayuya bit her nails.
Crossing both legs atop the wooden bench, Tayuya slouched her back while hiding her face. Staring at the floor for several moments, Tayuya tapped the table with a nervous tick.
"It's just weird, ya'know? You're the last person I would expect to carry that stuff around." Scratching his nose, Naruto glared at Tayuya's back.
"That's why I keep it hidden, so no bothers me about it." Tayuya spat out.
Holding her chin with one hand, Tayuya couldn't stop biting her nails, a distinct sound that polluted the room. Pierced only by Tayuya's nervous tapping, this red-haired kunoichi was breathing through her nose.
"That doesn't make any sense... Why go through the trouble of hiding it?" Naruto tilted his head to the side.
Stomping onto both feet, Tayuya promptly kicked her wooden bench to the floor, punching the nearby table. Grabbing another handful of hats, Tayuya hurled these fuzzy objects at Naruto, bouncing off his face.
"Because I said so! I can handle it by myself!" Tayuya seared with rage.
Charging forward, Tayuya abruptly tackled Naruto to the floor, created an explosion of fluffy hats. Wrestling under this rainfall of garments, Tayuya pinned Naruto in place, scoffing with triumphant.
Allowing strands of red hair to drape across Naruto's face, Tayuya held each of his hands against the floor. Distracted by her own laughter, Tayuya didn't even notice how close she was to Naruto.
"Please, tell me why you have it." Naruto cut in, robbing Tayuya of her joy.
Leaping off Naruto's lap, Tayuya sprang to her feet, crossing both arms in front of her chest. Shoving her foot against Naruto's stomach, Tayuya earned an audible groan in reply.
"I said no! I don't need any help! I've always done this by myself!" Tayuya shouted at full volume.
"Even if it doesn't help you... I think it will help me." Rubbing his stomach, Naruto struggled to speak under Tayuya's foot.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Tayuya sighed after hearing Naruto's voice, lowering her pale face. Obscured by various strands of red hair, Tayuya released a hostile snort from her nose.
"I keep it incase I lose all my other weapons. Incase I need a way out..." Slurring her sentence, Tayuya couldn't look Naruto in his eyes.
Staggering backwards against a rustic shelf, Tayuya was caught in a moment of panic. Searching for the right words to say, she bit her own lip out of frustration.
"A way out? Out of what? I thought you were happy?" Muttering this statement, Naruto leaned up off the floor.
Flinging her arm through the air, Tayuya swept a shelf-full of books and vases to the floor. Magnified by a sparkling eruption of glass shards, these shattered remains were flung across the room.
"That's because you don't understand me! No one does!" Shrieking with anger, Tayuya didn't even acknowledge the glass in her feet.
"I don't care what you say, you're a little kid! I'm an adult! You'd never understand!" Grinding her teeth together, Tayuya grabbed the collar of Naruto's outfit.
Panting a breath of rage, this gust of air forced Naruto's whiskers to rustle. Looming over Naruto, Tayuya was defined by her waist-length red hair, clinging to her static-filled outfit.
"I could try." Whispering his reply, Naruto was dropped to the floor.
"Whatever... Sometimes, I just feel like everything is too much trouble." Tayuya spoke with a solemn tone, staring at her feet.
"If I carry that blade around, If I know there's a way out... It helps." Rubbing the side of her arm, Tayuya glanced at a distant wall.
"I thought you didn't need help? Naruto murmured under his breath.
Met by a rabid snarl from Tayuya, this red-haired kunoichi hurled a bundle of hats at Naruto's face. Stomping her foot against the floor, Tayuya's flat chest swelled with each breath.
"I don't! That's why I keep it hidden!" Tayuya snapped.
"But why are you so unhappy? You have so many hats." Naruto exclaimed.
"Because I'm tired of you helping me! I can do everything by myself! I always have!" Shouting her words, Tayuya was fuming.
Disturbed by the constant swaying of Koyuki's ship, Tayuya gripped her tiny waist with both hands. Undaunted by her small size, Tayuya was enthralled with rage, the only emotion she understood.
"I don't need anyone! I don't rely on anybody! I grew up faster then anyone else!" Twitching as she spoke, Tayuya narrowed her brown eyes.
Instead of waiting for a response, Tayuya gripped her table before flipping it over. Spreading half-eaten food across a mixture of shattered glass, Tayuya clenched each of her fists.
Crawling onto one foot, Naruto propped himself up against a wooden chair, exposing his violet eyes. Inspired by his vibrant Rinnegan, Tayuya's chest became flustered, reaching out with both arms.
Wrapping her hands around Naruto's throat, Tayuya's face was possessed by a sadistic expression. Tightening her grip with each second, Naruto didn't even react to Tayuya's strange display.
Tayuya didn't want help, she didn't want to rely on other people, because she's never had anyone else. An orphan for as long as she could remember, Tayuya never had a childhood.
Concepts like trust or love were completely foreign to Tayuya, she never had time to develop them. The only pride Tayuya had was her skill as a kunoichi, but that was just a swallow wall.
Struggling to squeeze the life out of Naruto, Tayuya couldn't stop her hands from trembling. This constant twitch eventually spread to her legs, barely able to stand with a downcast face.
"You can never understand me... Because I don't understand myself." Mumbling under her breath, Tayuya's arms fell limp, but she continued to grip Naruto's throat.
"I thought life was supposed to be easy, fun... I wanted a world without pain, without regret." Sliding to the floor, Tayuya buried her face against Naruto's stomach.
Pulling the loose fabric on Naruto's outfit, Tayuya's trembling hands yanked his attire. Shaking both shoulders with an eradicate twitch, Tayuya felt like a helpless child.
"No body ever wanted me. So I hope they all die." Spitting these words out, Tayuya was muffled by Naruto's stomach.
Filled with the familiar emotion of rage, Tayuya's trembling abruptly stopped, replaced by a searing hatred. Tayuya didn't just hate the world, she also hated herself, and everyone else.
Digging her nails against Naruto, Tayuya's hatred grew more profound with each moment, grinding her teeth. Overwhelmed by repressed emotions, Tayuya couldn't feel the glass in her feet.
"Then why did we kiss?" Naruto asked with a hushed tone, but Tayuya didn't hear him.
"No body cares if I exist. So they can all die." Groaning against Naruto's stomach, Tayuya's eyes glimmered with a red aura.
Grinding her teeth with such force, Tayuya's mouth began to bleed, dripping streams of blood from her lips. Wiping this crimson liquid across Naruto, Tayuya stained his black robe.
"Then why are you holding me?" Naruto spoke out, but Tayuya ignored him.
"My life will never get better. I should just die." Panting without end, Tayuya could taste the blood in her mouth.
Without warning, Tayuya's burst of hatred was dampened by her own thoughts, clawing the fabric of Naruto's outfit. Tayuya developed an odd addiction for Naruto, a habit from their time together.
Tayuya didn't want to rely on Naruto or ask him for help, but she just couldn't push him away. And that's because Tayuya didn't want Naruto to leave, she wanted to stay with him.
"Then why are you here?" Brushing one hand through Tayuya's hair, Naruto caressed her like a child.
Finally roused from her mind, Tayuya pulled her face from Naruto's stomach, glancing up at his violet eyes. Strangely, Tayuya's eyes were engulfed by a tint of red, matching her hair.
"Is it... Is it okay for me to be here?" Barely able to speak, Tayuya reached for Naruto.
Focused on Naruto's face, the same face that casually shot her several days ago, Tayuya's hand instantly froze. Hovering mere inches away from Naruto's face, Tayuya recoiled backwards, crawling across the floor.
"No! No! You betrayed me! You betrayed my feelings!" Shrieking with insanity, Tayuya ran out of the room.
Shoving the door open, Tayuya dashed through a wooden hallway, stumbling upon Isaribi and Karin. Pushing these girls to the floor, Tayuya charged upstairs, reaching the mist-covered deck of Koyuki's ship.
Blinded by faint rays of sunlight, Tayuya raised both arms in front of her pale face, obscuring her discolored eyes. At the same time, the distinct sound of seagulls could be heard, polluting the air.
Straining to open her eyes, Tayuya noticed that Koyuki's ship was engulfed in a dense layer of mist. Climbing a wooden sail, Tayuya eventually pierced this thick fog, allowing her crimson hair to sparkle.
Gasping with shock, Tayuya gazed upon the Land of Waves, encompassed by a constant flow of trading ships. A minor nation, the Land of Waves had seen much change over the past two months, and even more to come.
Ten minutes later.
"Oh boy, I'm so excited... What do we do?" Paku exclaimed, clapping both hands together.
"Don't ask me, I've never been here." Kahyō muttered in response.
Each of these Yuki clan members were standing in the freshly constructed ports of Kai. Naming their new capital city after Kaiza himself, the Land of Waves paid homage to their ancient protector.
But more than just a new city, the Land of Waves was now stocked with a fully-realized shinobi village. Organized by Zabuza Momochi, this legendary shinobi found a place for himself in this distant land.
Claiming the title of 1st Namikage, Zabuza established himself as the protector of Kai. Shrouding the entire village in a constant mist, Zabuza enjoyed his status as an elite and high ranking shinobi.
"Don't worry, I know who we're looking for." Naruto cut in, standing beside Paku.
Dispersed by a running group of young academy students, these shinobi-in-training all wore a paper Naruto mask. Trailed by a single kid, wearing a Gato mask, these playful children ran through the crowded docks.
"Get back here! You're cutting class!" A familiar yet odd voice could be heard.
Accidently charging against Naruto, the youthful silhouette of Inari was knocked on his backside. Groaning under his breath, Inari prepared to insult his strange opponent, before recognizing Naruto's whiskers.
"Big bro!" Leaping to his feet, Inari wrapped both arms around Naruto, barely reaching his chest.
Still just a child, Inari had evolved from fishermen to shinobi, a cadet at the Naruto Academy. Boasting the lowest grades in his class, Inari had taken a great deal of inspiration from Naruto.
Defined by black eyes and his spiky black hair, Inari's skin was sunbaked from constant exposure to the sea. But, Inari still wore his white and blue-striped bucket hat, a gift from Kaiza.
Matching his hat, Inari wore an ankle-length jumpsuit with blue-tinted camouflage, blending in with nearby mist. Also, Inari wore the swirled headband of Kai around his neck, designed by Naruto.
Similar to his jumpsuit, Inari wore a pair of blue-tinted shinobi shoes, contrasting his black wrist-guards. Finally, Inari had various satchels strapped against the back of his waist.
"Who's cutting class?" Naruto mumbled, earning a casual handwave from Inari.
"Don't worry about them. If they stay gone for too long, Haku will track them down. And scar them for life." Inari spoke with experience.
Interrupting this conversation, Paku instantly grabbed Inari by the waist before violating his personal space. Shocked by this display, Inari was left speechless by Paku, creating a deep blush across his young face.
"Haku?! Where?! Where!" Paku pleaded, shoving her face against Inari's.
Stuttering a timid reply, Inari pointed down the road, forcing Paku to evaporate into a gust of snowflakes. Screaming a complaint through the frigid air, Kahyō charged after Paku, disappearing from sight.
"That was actually pretty cool... I want to do that." Inari admitted, scratching the side of his neck.
"But anyway, what brings you back so soon?" Speaking with a friendly tone, Inari crossed both arms in front of his chest.
Since Naruto's previous adventure over two months ago, the Land of Waves had enjoyed unprecedented wealth. Gifted with security, commerce and food, the Land of Waves was unshackled from their ancient plight.
"Haku, actually. I owe Princess Koyuki for her ship, and she wants to be on good terms with your nation." Naruto exclaimed.
Releasing an ear-grinning scoff in reply, Inari raised an iconic thumbs up towards Naruto. Grabbing Naruto by his wrist, Inari led this blond-haired shinobi through the streets of Kai.
"Looks like you gotta talk to my step-dad!" Inari chuckled with joy, running through a crowd.
Five minutes later.
"Uuuh." The stern voice of Zabuza Momochi could be heard.
Rubbing the bridge of his mask-covered nose, Zabuza was adorned in the ankle-length attire of a Kage. Basked in a pale tone of blue, Zabuza's Kage hat was draped against the back of his neck.
Rubbing one hand through his spiky black hair, Zabuza was seated in front of an ornate desk. Positioned inside the center of a stone citadel, constructed by Tazuna himself.
Exposing the sharpened outline of his legendary Kubikiribōchō, this sacred blade was propped against Zabuza's desk. Surrounded by endless stacks of paperwork, Zabuza's mind was completely fried.
Suddenly, the door to Zabuza's office was kicked open before Suigetsu charged into view. Lunging across the room, Suigetsu was defined by his shark-tooth grin, jutting out from his lip.
"Zabuza Momochi! I challenge you for your blade!" Suigetsu chuckled with delight, leaping forward.
Caught at the last moment by Naruto, Suigetsu dragged his feet across Zabuza's desk, struggling to reach him. Yipping like a young dog, Suigetsu drooled at the sight of Kubikiribōchō, a legendary blade.
"We're here for help, not a fight." Naruto muttered, earning a depressed sigh in response.
Standing up from his desk, Zabuza towered over Suigetsu, forcing the white-haired shinobi to swallow a wad of spit. Falling to the floor, Suigetsu crawled behind Naruto, hiding from view.
"Well, the runt is all grown up." Zabuza spoke out, strolling around his desk.
Looming over Naruto, Zabuza crossed both arms in front of his muscular chest, lowering his face. Gazing directly into Naruto's eyes, Zabuza could sense the weight of chakra that filled them.
"I sure am!" Inari cut in, jumping atop Zabuza's desk.
Using this wooden base to increase his height, Inari stood taller than everyone else in the room. Enjoying this prestige for several moments, Inari was soon pushed to the floor by Zabuza.
"Ignore my step-son... He can be a handful." Zabuza sighed.
"Fat chance! I'm the only reason you and mom got together! We both thought you were a monster!" Inari protested.
A side-affect for his new found affection, Zabuza was almost a completely different person. He was married man, he was father and he was a Kage, but above all, he was still an elite swordsmen.
"I actually brought some shinobi with me, to help out with your village." Naruto explained, met by an inquisitive eyebrow.
"The Yuki clan up north heard about Haku, and they wanted to reach out. So they sent some supplies." Going over these stages of events, Zabuza groaned with approval.
Walking towards the distant door, Zabuza encouraged everyone to follow, strolling into a stone hallway. Shuffling through this narrow passage, everyone trailed behind the 1st Namikage.
"That gives me an excuse to get away from the paperwork... Before Haku gets back." Zabuza breathed a sigh of relief.
"What should we do, boss? It took Naruto over two weeks to get here!" Inari interrupted, poking his head over Zabuza's shoulder.
Gripping his mask-covered chin with one hand, Zabuza didn't even react as Inari clung to him. Humming under his breath, Zabuza soon approached the front door of his office, stepping outside.
"Take the rest of the day off." Zabuza declared.
"You and your friends can stay at my place, it's the least I can do." Speaking with sincerity, Zabuza snapped his own neck before walking down the street.
Grabbing Suigetsu and Naruto with one hand, Inari dragged these shinobi through a large crowd. Rushing to the docks at full speed, Inari was already planning a sleepover.
Thirty minutes later.
"You're insane! You're completely out of your mind!" Inari shrieked, stomping his foot against the ground.
Standing in front of Karin, these arguing figures were positioned in a large aisle of DvD's. Leaning closer with each word, the entire store listened to their argument.
"If you seriously think Count Kunoichi is a better movie than Shinobi Zombie 7, I can't even talk to you." Shrugging both shoulders, Inari rolled his eyes.
Shaking her face from side-to-side in protest, Karin held both arms against her small chest. Pushing her glasses up with one hand, Karin glared at Inari with a condescending expression.
"The characters are so well-written in Count Kunoichi, and the author knows how to break the fourth wall at just the right moment." Karin proclaimed.
Throwing his hat to the floor, Inari shouted at the top of his lungs, forcing the store to fall silent. Shoving his nose against Karin's, this was the closet Inari had ever been to a girl.
"Breaking the fourth wall?! I hate that! It ruins immersion!" Inari complained.
"Says you! You're just an expository plot device our author uses to show progression!" Karin snapped.
Dispersing this conversation with a hostile snort, Tayuya stomped into view. Adorned with her fuzzy panda hat, this smiling fabric deeply contrasted the frown on her face.
"You're both a bunch of losers... Pick your lame movie and let's go already." Tayuya complained.
Walking through the background, Gaara, Suigetsu and Jūgo each held a stack of DvD's. As this occurred, Isaribi anxiously twirled her fingers together, using fresh bandages to hide her scales.
"What about this one? It's my favorite horror movie." Naruto intervened, holding a DvD box with both hands.
Squealing like a school girl, Inari and Karin both jumped for joy after seeing Naruto's decision. This flamboyant display also garnished the attention of Tayuya, struggling to look at Naruto.
"Swamp Ninja?! Yes!" Inari and Karin screamed in unison.
Grabbing this DvD and charging to the front counter, Suigetsu, Gaara and Jūgo were all gathered by Karin. Ignoring these words, Tayuya downcast her face, concealing her red-tinted eyes.
"A nice horror movie sounds fun, right? That sound help?" Naruto spoke out, leaning in front of Tayuya.
Inspired by Naruto's voice, Tayuya grinded her teeth together before brushing him to the side. Running to the front of the store, Tayuya was trying to forget the entire day.
Three hours later.
"No! No! Don't go in there! Don't do it!" Karin screamed at a big-screen TV.
Crouched atop a fluffy carpet on the floor, Karin didn't even notice as Inari checked out her butt. Scratching the bridge of his nose, Inari's face was polluted with a faint blush.
Sprawled across the nearby floor, Jūgo, Suigetsu, Gaara and Naruto were enthralled with the spooky movie. Also, Isaribi and Tayuya were stretched out on a nearby couch, watching from a distant.
Despite the twisted experiences of their youth, everyone in the room was horrified by the Swamp Ninja. Illuminated by distorted beams from the TV, everyone in the room was sprawled in flickering lights
Defined by a continuous scream for help, the sound of bubbling ooze polluted the room. Magnified by an eerie black screen, Isaribi crawled behind the couch, looking for safety.
Amidst this moment of horror, Tayuya was shaking with anxiety, pinning both knees against her chest. Hiding her bundled array of emotions, Tayuya pinned both hands across her nervous face.
Pierced only by the sound of rainfall, bombarding the roof of Zabuza's house, Tayuya's feet began to tremble. Roused by a pillow against her head, Tayuya glanced up, gazing at Karin's smug face.
"What's wrong? Are you afraid? Little girl." Karin teased, giggling with delight.
Swelled with a sudden rush of rage, Tayuya leap off the couch, tackling Karin against the wooden floor. Rolling in place for several minutes, these wrestling kunoichi forced Gaara, Jūgo and Suigetsu to move.
"No I'm not! I'm not afraid!" Tayuya shrieked with a rabid tone.
Slamming Karin's skull against the floor, Zabuza's TV lost all power, replaced by a loud screen of static. This harsh sound hastily disrupted the wrestling kunoichi, followed by an eerie silence.
"I'll check the power. It's probably because of the storm." Inari proclaimed.
Standing up, Inari rushed towards a nearby lamp before flicking it on, but nothing happened. Grabbed his chin with an inquisitive hum, Inari tried to open a window, but it wouldn't budge.
"That's weird... I open this all the time." Talking to himself, Inari investigated the entire house.
Startled by a sudden strike of thunder, Tayuya accidently hid behind Naruto, before pushing him away in anger. Concealing her face behind both knees, Tayuya couldn't stop herself from shaking.
Poking her head over Tayuya's shoulder, Isaribi glanced from side-to-side, shaking with fear. Adjusting her glasses with one hand, Karin released a confident snort from her nose.
"Don't worry, everyone. I'm sure Tayuya knows exactly what to do." Teasing her rival, Karin displayed a wide smile.
Instead of responding with words, Tayuya gripped her twitching head with both hands, biting her own tongue. Dragging a pair of nails across her skull, Tayuya's downcast eyes became blood red.
"I can't get outside! All the doors and windows are locked!" Inari panicked, running in front of the TV.
Without warning, the entire house was polluted by a blood-boiling scream, causing Isaribi and Karin to hug. At the same time, Suigetsu, Jūgo and Gaara leapt to their feet, filled with confusion.
"Was-... Was that from the movie?" Naruto asked.
"Yea. But that doesn't make any sense, the movie is right here." Suigetsu remarked, holding the DvD box with one hand.
Seeping through walls of wood, a hazy mist shrouded Zabuza's living room, earning an accusatory glare from Inari. Sinking deeper into her crouch, Tayuya didn't even acknowledge this approaching mist.
"Oh no! It's just like that movie! Witch Samurai!" Karin panicked.
"Everybody! Run upstairs!" Inari pleaded, escorting his guests to the stairway.
Pulling Tayuya's trembling hand, Naruto dragged her upstairs, rupturing out from a thick fog on the floor. Barricading the stairway behind him, Inari rushed to a nearby window, but it wouldn't open.
Groaning with interest, Jūgo reached out before punching a hole through Zabuza's window. Yanking his arm free, Jūgo gasped as the window instantly healed itself, engulfed by red chakra.
Panting for air, Tayuya jerked her hand from Naruto, sliding onto both knees while staring at the floor. Running through the background like a headless chicken, Karin squealed with concern.
"Oh no! This is bad! I'm the comedic side character! That means I go first!" Karin exclaimed.
"And you two! You're the cute romantic side couple! So you're next!" Pointing at Isaribi and Suigetsu, Karin's chattering jaw hit the floor.
"Calm down... I'm sure Zabuza is just messing with us." Naruto muttered an excuse.
Jolted by an abrupt boom of thunder, Isaribi jumped into Suigetsu's arms, twirling her fingers together. Inspired by her own fear, Karin also leapt into Suigetsu's arms, knocking him to the floor.
Suddenly, the wooden ground morphed into a bubbling pool of slime-covered swamp water. Rushing to aid their friends, Naruto, Jūgo and Gaara all struggled to pull them loose.
Forcing his violet eyes to bugle, even Naruto's Rinnegan couldn't overwhelm this dense liquid. Grasping Karin's arm with both hands, Naruto's feet were stained with swamp water.
"See?! See! I told you! Comedy goes first!" Karin squealed, pulled below the murky water.
Followed by Suigetsu and Isaribi, this band of friends were completely swallowed by the floor. Reverting back to a wooden surface, the previous puddle of water vanished from sight.
Distracted by her own meltdown, Tayuya twitched as Naruto combed one hand through her hair. Pushing him away, Tayuya leapt to her feet, rubbing both eyes with her trembling hand.
"Are you okay? You've been acting weird all day." Naruto mumbled, earning a viscous elbow-jab to his stomach.
"I'm fine! Everything's fine! Fine, fine, fine!" Tayuya spat her reply.
Catching of glimpse of Tayuya's blood red eyes, Naruto's mouth fell open, murmuring under his breath. Walking away from Naruto, Tayuya raised one hand towards the ceiling.
"Listen up, losers! I'm in command now! Because I'm the only person who isn't afraid!" Causing her chest to swell with each word, Tayuya could barely speak.
"That's it! I know why this is happening! It's because of Is-..." Cut off midsentence, Naruto was interrupted by the sound of broken glass.
Spewing out from the distant window, streams of murky swamp water reached inside the room. Contorting around his body, this water gripped Naruto before dragging him through the air.
Rushing to Naruto's defense, Jūgo, Gaara and Inari tried to free him, but the water was too strong. Traumatized by this sudden appearance, Tayuya staggered against a wall, panting for air.
Yanked outside, the broken window was instantly repaired by red chakra, stealing Naruto from his friends. Striking the glass with streams of sand, even Gaara couldn't break outside.
The storm was so intense that it blotted out the sun, shrouding the Land of Waves with a foreboding darkness. Engulfed by a swirling vortex of thick mist, Zabuza's house was isolated from society.
Enthralled with rage, Jūgo punched a massive hole through the wooden wall, quickly healed by strange chakra. Flipping a table over with contempt, Jūgo could barely control his frustration.
"Does anyone know what he was gonna say?" Gaara spoke out.
Met with a booming chorus of thunder, Inari, Jūgo and Tayuya all shook their heads in response. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Gaara was already anxious about the long night ahead.
Five minutes later.
"If we can't get outside, we can still turn on the circuit breaker." Inari explained, standing in front of a small vent.
"This airduct leads to the basement, when we get there. We get power back to the house." Unscrewing the vent, Inari detailed his plan.
Looming in the background, Jūgo, Tayuya and Gaara all stood over this small child. Standing like a giant, Jūgo's face was infected by hesitation, looking at the small vent.
"I can't fit in there..." Muttering his words, Jūgo scratched the back of his head.
Scoffing in reply, Tayuya crawled into this narrow vent, using her petite body to wiggle down the shaft. Trailed by Inari, Gaara dropped his gourd of sand before shuffling inside.
Shoving both arms ahead of him, Jūgo dented the entire vent on entry, crushing the fragile metal with ease. Submerging his head and shoulders, Jūgo's legs were soon concealed from view.
"This is pretty tight, even for me." Tayuya blurted out.
"It's the best our village can afford! Don't mess it up too bad! Or my step-dad will kill me." Inari cut in.
Shifting through narrow passages and corridors, this group of friends crawled for what felt like hours. Breathing a sigh of relief, Tayuya was interrupted by the distinct sound of skittering paws.
Rupturing out like a tidal wave of black fur, hundreds of red-eyed rats scurried through the vent. Swarming Jūgo, Inari, Gaara and Tayuya, these frantic shinobi cried out in panic.
Puncturing the vent with a single punch, Jūgo forced the ceiling to collapse, knocking his friends to the floor. Landing in Zabuza's kitchen, Gaara, Inari and Tayuya were surrounded by thick mist.
Rescued from their previous predicament, Jūgo completely vanished from sight, consumed by rats. Leaving each of his friends with an odd sense of desperation.
Stuck in a hostile environment, Inari knew that something was terribly wrong.
