Don't own it!
Chapter Six: Rescuing a monster
Naruto woke with a start though he didn't know why. A quick look around made it clear it was still night and his comrades were fast asleep. When he didn't see their sensei he got out of the make shift sleeping bag and searched around the clearing. Finally he looked to the skies and found him sitting on the tip of a very tall tree. Though Naruto couldn't be one hundred percent sure, it looked as though Kakashi had his mask down. This was something the boy just had to see up close so he did his best to climb up as stealthily as he could, not making a single sound. At the very last second he quickly jumped up onto the top, but found it empty. Kakashi appeared behind him and knocked him upside the head.
"Dunce," he said quietly. "You can't sneak up on a jonin kid."
Naruto gritted his teeth and turned around. Kakashi's mask was back over his face.
"Don't call me kid!"
Kakashi scratched his head and gave his famous bow eyed smile.
"Well... I can always call you—"
"Naruto!!"
Kakashi suddenly looked like a fond mother would look at her child. It freaked Naruto out.
"So what are you doing up here anyway?" he asked his lip twitching.
"I could ask you the same thing," said Kakashi airily. "Don't tell me little Naruto got scared!"
Naruto's vain showed on his temple and Kakashi quietly chuckled. The blond was about to say something when his master's expression suddenly changed. Kakashi looked up at the ddark blue sky with sadness in his eyes.
"Naruto... have you ever liked something, but at the same time hated it?" he asked.
Naruto was taken surprise by this sudden change in his Master's demeanor. Again... it was really freaking him out.
"Uhh... I don't really know what you mean..." he finally got out.
Kakashi faintly smiled.
"I didn't think so," he said more to himself. "Try to go back to sleep Naruto. You'll need all your strength tomorrow."
Before the genin could say anything his master had vanished.
* * *
The villagers of Kiri gathered in the village center, eagerly awaiting the start of the three day execution. It would take three days because the shaman had to read a very long scroll of incantations as the targeted body is in the process of dieing. This was meant to break the prophesized curse the demon wolf had cast.
"Move it demon!" ordered one of the jonin guards.
The woman was led to her execution in chains surrounded by jonin and a few hunters. A few more stood around the gallows. Though she may be weak at the moment, they were taking no chances. There was no telling what she might try. As it was, she could hardly walk and there were still some small areas were the bones in her arm were visible- it hadn't healed over yet. Her arms themselves were still fractured at certain points as well. It was a gruesome sight, like a walking zombie all caked in dried mud and blood. Before the noose was put around her neck, Imako's arms were tied behind her back in an awkward manner that made it clear they weren't whole. She hissed at this, but couldn't do much about it... yet. The noose was set and the floor panel lowered so as not to break her neck and kill her instantly. That would have been an irreversible disaster. She made a point of showing this didn't bother her in the least a she wasn't particularity short of air. Two of the guards took up a prepared weight and bound it to her legs. The other end was tied around a stake to make sure she couldn't swing it and use it as a weapon.
"Fools," she sneered.
Lord Mizukage- who wasn't too far off, was pleased to hear the strain in her voice as the weight did the trick.
* * *
"Alright you three, listen up," said Kakashi notably serious.
His students stopped packing and walked up to their Master. It was plain this day would bring some action.
"We're going to arrive in Kirigakure today and very likely find our missing nin," he said. "The thing is I know for a fact they're not going to hand her over without a fight."
"Then there's no chance of us winning!" said Sakura. "We can't go up against an entire village- we couldn't even win against you Master Kakashi! This would be suicide!"
'Does he want to get rid of us?!' yelled inner Sakura.
"Sakura kinda has a point Master," said Naruto.
"Then you die trying!" said Sasuke coldly. "I for one won't slip up!"
"Noone's going to die," frowned Kakashi. "I've already come up with a plan so everyone shut up and listen."
* * *
The shaman had begun muttering the incantations as the large crowd around the gallows shouted angrily at Imako, reveling in the growling demon's pain.
"Oh cool an execution," came a voice from far back. "Come on, let's watch!"
A strange blond boy pushed himself to the very front with a pink haired girl in tow.
"Yeah... let's," she muttered.
'I can't believe I let myself be talked into this!' fumed inner Sakura.
Both had pocketed their hitai-ate to prevent suspicions from arising. As it were they were just two strangers watching the execution. When they finally had a clear view both gaped.
"That's horrible!" whispered Sakura.
"Not just that," said Naruto, "She kinda looks like Master Iruka!"
"Just look at the state of her," Sakura said quietly. "Is she even still alive?"
When Imako snarled and struggled especially violent it erased all doubts in Sakura's mind.
"We have to stay focused," said Naruto in hushed tones. "It's just a coincidence, there's no way they're related. Look Sasuke's in position."
Sakura looked off to the right to see Sasuke leaning against the side of a building. Suddenly a heavy gust of wind swept across the scene and everyone gasped. Hanging by the noose was a pink haired girl where are demon wolf was supposed to be. Naruto pointed to where Sasuke used to be and shouted.
"Over there! She switched with my girlfriend!"
"After her, the demon must be stopped!" shouted Mizukake.
'Demon?' wondered Naruto.
All of the hunters and other ninja took off after Imako as she ran into the forest. Naruto, a hunter nin and an old man who hid his face under a large straw hat helped Sakura from the noose and discreetly vanished the other way.
* * *
Sasuke ducked behind a boulder and dropped the illusion before jumping back out.
"Help over here!" he shouted.
At once three hunters and a jonin surrounded him.
"She went that way, hurry she's insane!"
The four ninja nodded their thanks and disappeared in the direction Sasuke had pointed to. Sasuke smirked and headed the other way.
* * *
"I can't- believe- that- actually- worked!" panted Naruto as they dragged Sakura to a boat hidden in the mango grove.
"We were lucky you didn't blow it!" said the hunter equally breathless.
"Quiet both of you!" snapped the man under the hat.
The odd trio set the barely conscious Sakura into the boat and rid her of her bindings. They jumped when Sasuke suddenly skidded out from a brush. He motioned for everyone to be quiet. A group of chunin ran right by.
"Come on, I can't keep this up for much longer," urged the man with the big hat.
Everyone quickly got into the boat. The thick fog gave them cover enough to make it out into the ocean, but their luck ran out.
"You there, stop!" came a shout from up ahead.
"Oh no!" gasped the shinobi hunter.
"Stop, you're surrounded! Remain where you are and prepare for a search!"
"We'll be discovered, what do we do?" asked the hunter panicked.
Suddenly everyone turned back into them selves as Kakashi's strength wore out. The task had been to big and too long for his sharingan eye and he whipped out, falling overboard.
"Master Kakashi!" shrieked Sakura jumping to the side of the boat.
"Sakura no!"
Sasuke's warning had come to late and the boat capsized throwing them all into the water after Kakashi. A sudden violently strong current grabbed hold of them and dragged them farther away from the land, helpless to aid them selves or keep a hold on their comrades.
Another chapter yay. Weird rescue, but hey, it worked... almost. Will our heroes live to eat another bowl of ramen or are their noodle slurping days over. Find out in the next chapter! He he he, couldn't resist. Thank you for reviewing the last chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading.
Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf
Chapter Six: Rescuing a monster
Naruto woke with a start though he didn't know why. A quick look around made it clear it was still night and his comrades were fast asleep. When he didn't see their sensei he got out of the make shift sleeping bag and searched around the clearing. Finally he looked to the skies and found him sitting on the tip of a very tall tree. Though Naruto couldn't be one hundred percent sure, it looked as though Kakashi had his mask down. This was something the boy just had to see up close so he did his best to climb up as stealthily as he could, not making a single sound. At the very last second he quickly jumped up onto the top, but found it empty. Kakashi appeared behind him and knocked him upside the head.
"Dunce," he said quietly. "You can't sneak up on a jonin kid."
Naruto gritted his teeth and turned around. Kakashi's mask was back over his face.
"Don't call me kid!"
Kakashi scratched his head and gave his famous bow eyed smile.
"Well... I can always call you—"
"Naruto!!"
Kakashi suddenly looked like a fond mother would look at her child. It freaked Naruto out.
"So what are you doing up here anyway?" he asked his lip twitching.
"I could ask you the same thing," said Kakashi airily. "Don't tell me little Naruto got scared!"
Naruto's vain showed on his temple and Kakashi quietly chuckled. The blond was about to say something when his master's expression suddenly changed. Kakashi looked up at the ddark blue sky with sadness in his eyes.
"Naruto... have you ever liked something, but at the same time hated it?" he asked.
Naruto was taken surprise by this sudden change in his Master's demeanor. Again... it was really freaking him out.
"Uhh... I don't really know what you mean..." he finally got out.
Kakashi faintly smiled.
"I didn't think so," he said more to himself. "Try to go back to sleep Naruto. You'll need all your strength tomorrow."
Before the genin could say anything his master had vanished.
* * *
The villagers of Kiri gathered in the village center, eagerly awaiting the start of the three day execution. It would take three days because the shaman had to read a very long scroll of incantations as the targeted body is in the process of dieing. This was meant to break the prophesized curse the demon wolf had cast.
"Move it demon!" ordered one of the jonin guards.
The woman was led to her execution in chains surrounded by jonin and a few hunters. A few more stood around the gallows. Though she may be weak at the moment, they were taking no chances. There was no telling what she might try. As it was, she could hardly walk and there were still some small areas were the bones in her arm were visible- it hadn't healed over yet. Her arms themselves were still fractured at certain points as well. It was a gruesome sight, like a walking zombie all caked in dried mud and blood. Before the noose was put around her neck, Imako's arms were tied behind her back in an awkward manner that made it clear they weren't whole. She hissed at this, but couldn't do much about it... yet. The noose was set and the floor panel lowered so as not to break her neck and kill her instantly. That would have been an irreversible disaster. She made a point of showing this didn't bother her in the least a she wasn't particularity short of air. Two of the guards took up a prepared weight and bound it to her legs. The other end was tied around a stake to make sure she couldn't swing it and use it as a weapon.
"Fools," she sneered.
Lord Mizukage- who wasn't too far off, was pleased to hear the strain in her voice as the weight did the trick.
* * *
"Alright you three, listen up," said Kakashi notably serious.
His students stopped packing and walked up to their Master. It was plain this day would bring some action.
"We're going to arrive in Kirigakure today and very likely find our missing nin," he said. "The thing is I know for a fact they're not going to hand her over without a fight."
"Then there's no chance of us winning!" said Sakura. "We can't go up against an entire village- we couldn't even win against you Master Kakashi! This would be suicide!"
'Does he want to get rid of us?!' yelled inner Sakura.
"Sakura kinda has a point Master," said Naruto.
"Then you die trying!" said Sasuke coldly. "I for one won't slip up!"
"Noone's going to die," frowned Kakashi. "I've already come up with a plan so everyone shut up and listen."
* * *
The shaman had begun muttering the incantations as the large crowd around the gallows shouted angrily at Imako, reveling in the growling demon's pain.
"Oh cool an execution," came a voice from far back. "Come on, let's watch!"
A strange blond boy pushed himself to the very front with a pink haired girl in tow.
"Yeah... let's," she muttered.
'I can't believe I let myself be talked into this!' fumed inner Sakura.
Both had pocketed their hitai-ate to prevent suspicions from arising. As it were they were just two strangers watching the execution. When they finally had a clear view both gaped.
"That's horrible!" whispered Sakura.
"Not just that," said Naruto, "She kinda looks like Master Iruka!"
"Just look at the state of her," Sakura said quietly. "Is she even still alive?"
When Imako snarled and struggled especially violent it erased all doubts in Sakura's mind.
"We have to stay focused," said Naruto in hushed tones. "It's just a coincidence, there's no way they're related. Look Sasuke's in position."
Sakura looked off to the right to see Sasuke leaning against the side of a building. Suddenly a heavy gust of wind swept across the scene and everyone gasped. Hanging by the noose was a pink haired girl where are demon wolf was supposed to be. Naruto pointed to where Sasuke used to be and shouted.
"Over there! She switched with my girlfriend!"
"After her, the demon must be stopped!" shouted Mizukake.
'Demon?' wondered Naruto.
All of the hunters and other ninja took off after Imako as she ran into the forest. Naruto, a hunter nin and an old man who hid his face under a large straw hat helped Sakura from the noose and discreetly vanished the other way.
* * *
Sasuke ducked behind a boulder and dropped the illusion before jumping back out.
"Help over here!" he shouted.
At once three hunters and a jonin surrounded him.
"She went that way, hurry she's insane!"
The four ninja nodded their thanks and disappeared in the direction Sasuke had pointed to. Sasuke smirked and headed the other way.
* * *
"I can't- believe- that- actually- worked!" panted Naruto as they dragged Sakura to a boat hidden in the mango grove.
"We were lucky you didn't blow it!" said the hunter equally breathless.
"Quiet both of you!" snapped the man under the hat.
The odd trio set the barely conscious Sakura into the boat and rid her of her bindings. They jumped when Sasuke suddenly skidded out from a brush. He motioned for everyone to be quiet. A group of chunin ran right by.
"Come on, I can't keep this up for much longer," urged the man with the big hat.
Everyone quickly got into the boat. The thick fog gave them cover enough to make it out into the ocean, but their luck ran out.
"You there, stop!" came a shout from up ahead.
"Oh no!" gasped the shinobi hunter.
"Stop, you're surrounded! Remain where you are and prepare for a search!"
"We'll be discovered, what do we do?" asked the hunter panicked.
Suddenly everyone turned back into them selves as Kakashi's strength wore out. The task had been to big and too long for his sharingan eye and he whipped out, falling overboard.
"Master Kakashi!" shrieked Sakura jumping to the side of the boat.
"Sakura no!"
Sasuke's warning had come to late and the boat capsized throwing them all into the water after Kakashi. A sudden violently strong current grabbed hold of them and dragged them farther away from the land, helpless to aid them selves or keep a hold on their comrades.
Another chapter yay. Weird rescue, but hey, it worked... almost. Will our heroes live to eat another bowl of ramen or are their noodle slurping days over. Find out in the next chapter! He he he, couldn't resist. Thank you for reviewing the last chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading.
Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf