There was an awful buzzing sound. He coughed out copious amounts of seawater from his lungs which wrecked havoc upon his throat on the way out. Disjointed, Naruto opened his eyes only to be blinded by the scathing yellow sun. As a matter of reflex he squinted, compressing the bright colors into strange hues. He noticed an unusual shade of pink surrounding a white center, two specks of shining green topped off the unusual vista like a jewel. Accommodating to the environment, his eyes widened to reveal that the strange colors were actually a woman kneeling before him. On closer inspection he could see her lips moving. He tried to focus in on her, the buzzing sound slowly dissipated into recognizable words.

"Can you hear me. Can you hear me."

He nodded.

"I thought you were a goner there." She summarized, holding a canteen of water to his lips. "Here drink."

He opened his mouth, tilting the canteen downwards with his hands. The warm water shot down fast enough to make him choke. Most of the contents came flowing back up, spilling all over his already drenched clothes.

"Steady on, there's more where that came from." She took control of the pouring herself. It trickled down smoothly this time; providing much needed nourishment to the dehydrated body left to sizzle in the hot sun for more time than he could remember.

"Where am I?" He asked.

"The island of Konoha."

He shot up to his feet, the newfound energy was spurred by his heart racing like he was about to be hit by that vengeful tidal wave a second time. "Konoha, ahh, I've heard about this place, it's kinda nuts." He said edging back towards the sea.

"Calm down now, everything is going to be okay."

"I don't want to be ritually sacrificed." He whined.

"You're not going to be ritually sacrificed, I promise. I'm Sakura by the way."

He turned his head backwards noting nothing but blue as far as the eye could see. He was going nowhere. Resigned, he tilted back towards her and began hoping for the best.

"Naruto." He pouted.

"Well Naruto, why don't you come with me until you can figure out something more permanent."

"I don't know, I'm not sure I trust you." He said scratching his head.

"Do you have some other place to be. I have more water. And food."

"Food." His ears perked up and right on cue his stomach grumbled.

"Come on." She said smiling, "this way," gesturing with her hand for him to follow her.

"I hope you have lots and lots of ramen!"

"Ramen, is that some kind of fish?"

"Oh boy."

That was slightly dejecting, still, he had little choice but to go along with her, for now. She seemed friendly enough. The island was beautiful. At least what little he saw during the five minute walk from the beach to her hut. The sea was pristine and clear, looking down at the water he noticed small fish swimming around his feet. The sand, soft and white nourished his feet with each step; leaving footprints as if they were the only two people to set foot on the island. The small forest they passed through was filled with life, birds singing hidden behind the rain touched green canopy. He found himself trying to strike away at the happy first impressions as soon as fresh reminders popped into his visage. This island was a dangerous place. He had to leave as soon as possible.

"Here we are, it's not much but it's functional."

"It seems... cozy." He commented lost for words.

"Right... Why don't you lie down, you must be exhausted. I'll wake you when the food is ready." As if reading his mind she added, "I'm not going to kill you in your sleep. Lie down, relax." Not waiting for a witty response she immediately got to work preparing food.

Too tired to argue, Naruto fell onto her bed to little complaint from his weary body. He was out like a light. After a not nearly long enough span of time he was being prodded by his hostess, albeit with the promise of food.

"Wakey, wakey, dinner time."

He looked over to the table, the bowl of food caught his eye. "Is that..." He said getting up to get a closer look.

"It sure is, ramen. I was just messing with you earlier."

"Aww man, this is the stuff! Wait why is there only one bowl?"

"It's not poisoned if that's what you're thinking."

He looked at her face, the chopsticks, then the bowl expectantly.

"Fine." She said resigned. She picked up the chopsticks, grabbed a handful of the contents and began slurping away. "There, satisfied."

"Can never be too careful."

"Dig in, there's even some meat inside."

"I hope it's not human meat." He grumbled.

"You are impossible to please! I saved your life, took you in, went to the trouble to prepare you this food. The least you could do is say thank you!"

His expression turned to something more serious. "You're right. Thank you, Sakura."

She gave him a small nod. "Eat up."

The food was delicious, he hadn't tasted ramen that good in a while. The high seas left much to be desired as far as cuisine was concerned. It possessed a unique flavor, judging by the wafts of the thick gas that flowed into the hut, he reasoned it must have been smoked in some capacity. Cooking that way must be something of an island tradition. It spoke of homely warmth adding to the relaxing ambiance her hut and the island as a whole oozed out.

"Wow Sakura that was great."

"Glad to hear it. Now Naruto, don't be alarmed but it's important that you meet with the Hokage, the leader of the island."

"Why would I want to do that? As soon as I get my new boat I'll be off on my way again."

Sakura's expression was grim. "How much do you know about this island?"

"Nothing good."

"Well there's something you need to know about. To be accepted as a male citizen here, it requires you to complete certain trials."

"So, why are you telling me this. I'm not looking to become a citizen."

"You'll have to. The first and foremost rule on this island is if you step foot on shore." She bit her tongue, "you're... not allowed to leave."

"What? That's crazy, I thought it only applied to locals." He stood up walking backwards and accidentally into a chair.

"Now calm down, I wont let anything happen to you I swear."

"I gotta get out of here." He bolted out of the hut and back towards the sea in mindless panic. Being stuck on this island, that wasn't about to happen; even if he had to swim his way out.

He noticed her giving chase, he ran faster losing her for moment in the trees. He could see the sea in the distance and also... some other people who weren't so distant. They were looking right at him menacingly.

"What do we have here?" One man said beating his fists together.

"Looks like an outsider. I hope you weren't trying to escape." The other man said.

"Yeah, because that would be against the rules and we'd have to make an example of you." They both broke out into maniacal laughter.

"Hey, guys I don't want any trouble." Naruto said frozen.

"Trouble, it would be no trouble to offer you up to the gods." One of them said all too happily for his comfort.

It was going to be like that. Fine, he thought. They weren't getting in the way of his plans to escape. He picked up a large stick lying on the floor. "Okay bring it!"

These types of people existed everywhere, but usually they just wanted money. Here, they wanted his life for the sole reason that he was trying to leave. They couldn't even confirm it was true but they had no problems offing him anyway. Were they really this devoted? Or maybe it was simple blood-lust. This place was dark beneath it's lush exterior.

Suddenly, two more men appeared out of the trees with sadistic grins smudged on their faces. "Remember we want him alive, we wouldn't want him to die too soon." They brought out knives, the sunset rays reflected off the metal blinding him temporarily. As he regained his vision he saw them charging like an angry mob brandishing their weapons out in front.

"What's going on here?" A familiar female voice asked from behind giving off a commanding presence.

The men stopped in their tracks. "Sakura, we were just punishing this outsider. He was trying to leave."

"Was he now? I think that's for the Hokage to decide."

They all looked at each other until the one who appeared to be the leader replied. In a show of deference he lowered his head. "Yes of course."

"Go on now."

They scampered off to wherever they came from and Naruto exhaled.

"It's about time you got here, those nameless goons were about to sacrifice me!"

"What are you talking about, you were trying to get away from me you idiot!" She made a fist with her hand and rubbed her knuckles into his scalp.

Naruto whelped out in response, "ahh please stop!" She used enough force to drive him to the floor.

She sighed. "I don't know how good of a swimmer you are, but you'll never make it out of here without a boat. Come on, I really do have to take you to the Hokage. Don't worry I wont let anything happen to you." She held out her outstretched hand for the floor bound blonde to take as a sign of trust.

"No ritual sacrifices?"

"No ritual sacrifices."

He took it and she led him on for a sunset stroll in the direction of the Hokage's residence. He was back to square one again, with little choice but to take her at her word that he would be safe. Whatever that word meant on this island.

"So about these trials..."

"Oh yes, I didn't get a chance to explain them because someone decided to run away." She dug her eyes into him with murderous intent.

"Your not mad are you?" He was genuinely scared, expressions like that weren't funny in a place like this.

"Mad? I'm furious, the death you were about to experience was completely avoidable. There's already a shortage of men on the island. Most of them fail the trials and you can guess what happens to them then."

"They're... ritually sacrificed?"

"That's right."

"Sakura... I thought you said that wasn't going to happen to me." His voice cracked from fear.

"It's not, because you have me to help you. " She said with a certain amount of pride.

It wasn't entirely reassuring, but it was comforting to know that it seemed someone was on his side. "I guess with he shortage of men on the island they all get multiple women." He said changing the subject to something in his opinion much more pleasant. Thinking about such a prospect caused his eyes to widen without even knowing it.

"Absolutely not. Infidelity is strictly prohibited, punishable by... you know what. You choose one wife once you complete your trials and you stick with her. End of story."

"That's too bad and kind of a brutal punishment if you ask me."

"Cheating is horrible Naruto." She said without blinking.

"Still..." He responded, she glared daggers into him which made him reconsider his next words. "What happens to the women that don't get chosen? They're deprived of any kind of intimate relationship and they don't get to continue their bloodline."

"Exactly. Getting selected by a man is the trial that women have to face" She looked down at the floor with a grim expression. I myself wasn't chosen... and all the men are taken."

He chuckled, "not any more."

If you want more, you know what to do ;)