'...' - thoughts
"..." - speech
now... lets get the ball(Akimachi Chouji) rolling! grins
Chapter 3: Should I hope again?
From last episode:
'Somebody else is here... Good... time for the evil within me to be killed...'
"Hey, turn around and face me will you? I know that you know i am here." Snapped an irritated voice of a girl at Naruto.
Naruto snapped around to face a girl, who looked no older than him glaring at him with turquoise eyes burning with a flame which reminded him of his friend, Rock Lee.
'Hm... I wonder what jutsu she's gonna use to start this off...' thought Naruto
"Hey, girlie, just letting you know, i won't let you kill me without a fight." said Naruto as he started forming seals with both hands.
"Oh really?" whispered a voice coming from behind his ear.
Naruto stopped forming seals when his hand appeared to be binded by brilliant purple chakra threads.
A few seconds later, several masked ninja's dropped silently from the already surrounded clearing.
Noting that they bore no forehead protectors, Naruto was stunned as to how he could have been overpowered by non-ninjitsu users.
A sharp voice jerked him back to reality.
"Take him away. He will be trialed on counts of attempt to attack officer and tresspassing of neutral grounds."
So... The girl he met before had been an officer.
'This might be interesting...' thought Naruto, as he was hauled away, totally forgetting about committing suicide and such dark thoughts he had a few moments ago.
'Oh yeah, i should ask her for her name. And i think i should count their numbers as well...' Naruto opened his mouth to speak but before a single sound came out, he fell into a world of darkness.
"Looks like that took care of him. Now, listen up everyone. I have no idea if he has any backup whatsoever so... I am going to check it out. Bring him back to headquaters and await further orders from the captain. I'll see you guys later. Any questions? None? Good. See ya." With that, the girl vanished into the dead of the night leaving no evidence of ever being here.
-
'What is a boy of his age doing here in the middle of the forest... a few hundred metres and he would have stumbled upon our hidden village... Oh Kami-sama knows how many of them we've had to kill before they could expose our village... When will this madness ever end...?' thought the girl as she sped through the forests she called home.
"Oi! Mikomi-san!"
Mikomi stopped running and turned towards the direction of the shout.
A soldier in similar dark green flak jacket came rushing into view, "Mikomi-san, the captain requests your immediate presence at HQ. It seems that something big has happened again."
Sighing, the girl nodded and vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Yes captain, you called for me?" asked Mikomi as she swept a gloved hand through her dark purple hair.
"Yes... Mikomi... Our border guards have reported sounds of massive destruction from the west of our village. the council has ordered for you to organise a team of special forces to investigate. And... If you don't mind my saying, the offender you caught back reeks of death... I don't like it..." said the man in uniform, white hair covering his head showing signs of old age.
"Hai... I sensed it too. I don't know what he has done, but I don't think its anything good, given that he is covered in blood... As for the mission, i will move at once."
"Wait! Mikomi!" shouted a man as he slammed open the door.
"Sorry to interrupt commander but may i boldly request that i take over Mikomi-sama's current mission?" said a young man with navy blue hair which was tied into a shoulder length horse-tail at his back.
"Why?" was the statement from the elderly captain. "The council did not request for you."
"But I have relatives from the east, Konoha! I need to go there and check it out! Please Captain Yaroshi... I beg of you, i must go."
A few moments of silence graced the office as the captain pondered.
"Very well Hyuuga Yoshiko... Remember, do not battle unless absolutely neccessary. You are there just to gather information understood?"
"Yes! Yes! Thank you so much captain, I will gather my men and move out immediately!" with that, the man known as Hyuuga Yoshiko vanished with a puff of smoke.
"Well... He sure seems anxious... So... What do i do now old man?" asked the girl rolling her eyes in total boredom.
Frowning at the term 'old man', captain Yaroshi explained that Mikomi had to take over Yoshiko's assignment of interrogating their prisoner. Nodding in understanding, Mikomi headed off to the interrogation room.
Naruto blinked as he opened his eyes... He frowned as this bright light shined into his eyes.
'Damn... What is this justsu? i don't sense any chakra in this light...'
"Oi! Can you people turn off the damn light?" Naruto called out as he tried to shield his eyes only to realise his hands were still binded by chakra ropes.
"Shut up! This is an interrogation chamber. Not some nursery where everything will be adjusted to your liking... If you don't like it, then you had better talk!" Shouted a male voice. "Who are you, what were you doing in our territory? Why are you covered in blood? Spit it out! Now!"
'Hm... Where am i... are those ANBU?... It can't be... its destroyed... I destroyed it already... It can't be...' thought Naruto, as he bit his lip to control sobs from coming out of his tearing heart.
The scene where Iruka fell out from his closet started replaying themselves in his mind, as it raced, showing him memories of Kyuubi. Images of his body throwing aside Genma, crushing Tsunade's arm bones, killing and tearing out throats of ANBU. It was horrible.
Thoughts of Sasuke,
Sakura and Kakashi several hours ago played in his mind. Images of
Hinata blushing around him. Pictures of him and Kiba quarreling. And,
the realisation that his... home.
The place where he swore to protect. The place which he called home. The place where he swore to become... Hokage...
"Its gone now... Its all gone now..." Naruto whispered to himself as tears started streaming down his face.
The officer in the room strained to catch his prisoner's words. When he failed to do so, he shouted again in anger,"Hey! Damn Kid! if you want to ever get out of here in one peice, you'd better co-operate with us and tell us what the hell were you doing in the preimeter of our village!"
At the tone of the officer, Naruto recalled Tsunade's words.
"SHUT UP! To think i thought you cared... You don't even know Iruka-sensei"
"You're right. I don't but it doesn't change anything now," Tsunade
said coldly, as she stood up, turned around and walked away, leaving a
sobbing Naruto behind.
This thought caused Naruto to burst out sobbing.
The sudden turn of events shocked the officer, who then turned off the lamp and left the room, not knowing what to do next.
Mikomi walked down the hallway only to see the interrogation officers walking in circles in front of the coffee machine.
"Hey guys. What are you guys doing out here?" Mikomi asked, curious as to why the officers came out so soon.
"The Kid's crying... Damn, i think i'm becoming soft after having my own children..." said the officer who shouted at Naruto.
'So... these guys aren't as emotionless as they made themselves out to be...'
The thought made Mikomi fight back a giggle, as she turned the knob to enter the room after telling the officers she would take over them for the rest of the night.
"Hey there... You alright?" asked Mikomi in a concerned voice as she looked at the pale face of Naruto.
Naruto chose not to answer.
'They're better off killing me... I know it... I don't know what to do again... Oh father... how dissapointed you would be of me...' Naruto's heart tore apart as images of the Yondaime frowned at him. 'Maybe if Jiraiya didn't tell me my father was the one who sealed this... this monster in me... Maybe it would have hurt less...' Again, tears pooled up in his eyes...
Mikomi looked at the blonde with curious yet sad eyes. In her mind, she asked herself,'Oh kami-sama... why do us young people bear all the burdens of pain and sorrow these days...'
With a sweep of her hand, the chakra binds around Naruto's hands vanished.
She placed her hand on the shoulders of Naruto and said, "Hey, whatever it is, don't worry... Just tell us anything you know. Everything will be just alright..."
Naruto shook his head.
"No..." he muttered, "Nothing is alright..."
Not knowing what he was talking about, Mikomi shook her head saying, "What could possibly go wrong?" in a carefree manner.
"I KILLED MY WHOLE GODDAMNED FUCKING VILLAGE! THATS WRONG! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHATS WRONG!" burst out Naruto, tears falling freely down his face as he spat out those word, his face torn by anguish.
Shocked, Mikomi quickly gathered what cool she had and retorted,"Well, at least that explains the blood..."
"Well... I'll leave here to pull yourself together before i talk to you again tomorrow. And I will, talk to you tomorrow. If you need anything, just ask the guard. Say that Mikomi is in charge of you."
With that, Mikomi turned around and left. However Mikomi wasn't as calm as she made herself out to be. Her mind was swirling with emotion of her past.
Mikomi's flashback, 12 years ago.
-
"Mikomi-chan! Its your fifth birthday! Here! I got a present for you! Mikomi-chan...?"
Her friend eyes widened as Mikomi surged with a bright orange red chakra, as though flames were consuming her.
Her eyes opened with slits that showed keen red eyes of fire. A screech was heard as the red chakra burst out from Mikomi's back. The chakra formed the shape of brilliant red wings.
Everyone in the town was shocked by the loud screech that would even put a lion's roar to shame.
Mikomi's parents rushed into their daughter's room to find the seal of a pheonix burned deeply onto her right shoulder. The seal of a pheonix resembled two fiery wings and a arrowhead at the base of the wings. The seal itself was burning with blue flame.
Fear overcame them, for they knew that the seal of the pheonix was weakening. Before they could do anything, the body of Mikomi exploded in birlliant fire red chakra, giving the chakra a shape.
The shape of the pheonix. The pheonix of death.
The shape screeched again before releasing a wave of burning chakra which incenerated the entire village. The flame of the pheonix rose til it reached the clouds in the afternoon sky, blinding everyone who saw it, temperorily til it died down.
The only survivor of the village was a girl who just turned five year old, with no records at all except for her name and date of birth and blood type. A girl who had wiped out everyone in the village, yet didn't even know what happened...
'Just like the boy... yes... Just like him.' thought Mikomi as she felt the mark of the pheonix embedded on her shoulder. Recalling how the pheonix forced to take control of her body, tears silently fell down Mikomi's cheek.
'My name... is hope. Why do i bring others nothing but misfortune?... This boy... Just like myself... I must get him out of his hell... I must!' At this current resolve, she marched off to her superiors office.
-
"Yes... yes... understood. Yes. Okay. Goodbye."
Sighing, the elder captain of the special forces termed as night-stalkers put the phone down, a frown deeply set in on his forehead.
A knock on his door suprised him. "Come in."
He looked suprised as Mikomi walked in. Before he could say anything, Mikomi went straight to the point.
"I want to request to adopt this child as my younger brother. I know what he has been through and what he has done."
"Request denied." the captain said without hesitation. "You know what he has done. He cannot be allowed to go and destroy more people."
"Sir, with all due respect, its precisely because he no longer will kill anymore people which is the reason i want to take him in." Mikomi countered.
"He already has his heart torn into many pieces... please sir, he... is like myself... burdened by something we did not wish for... nothing anyone should have... what he needs now sir, is not punishment. what he needs, is someone who cares."
The captain paused at that to think.
Sighing once again, he said, "Hang on Mikomi, let me make a few calls..."
"Hello, Kazekage-sama... we have got hold of the destroyer of the leaf... yes... affirmative. I called because Mikomi, the chosen bearer of the pheonix has requested to take in the destroyer of the leaf... yes... I understand. yes... okay. it will be done. okay. goodbye."
Turning around to face Mikomi, the captain sighed again.
"Oi, old man, stop sighing. It won't do you any good. Now, spit it out, yes or no?" Mikomi asked impatiently, a frown darkening her beautiful features.
"Shut up with the 'old man' shit... The Kazekage said its alright that you take him in. He also says he will personally come down and ensure the destroyer of the leaf gets what he deserves."
"Alright! Thanks for the trouble old man! See ya later!" Blowing a kiss at the elderly man, she turned and ran down the hallway closing the door with a loud slam.
"Yo kid, you're coming with me! Lets go. I think you need to get a bath and some fresh clothes. Your old clothes stink..."
Naruto looked up in suprise and just stared at the beautiful girl, mouth wide open.
"Oi! I said come with me! What do you think you're..." her sentence trailed off as she noticed his expression on his face.
"Ano... I bet no one has ever treated you this nice before! come along now! I'll treat you to Ramen at my place!" Mikomi smiled widely and started dragging a protesting Naruto along.
-
When they reached Mikomi's home, Mikomi was still full of energy and insisted on Naruto eating.
"Why are you treating me so nicely...? Do you know what I am...?" asked Naruto in a voice that trembled with anguish, his azure eyes downcast.
"Nani? Well... its because... you really remind me of myself." replied Mikomi simply.
With that answer, Naruto's head jerked up in suprise, his eyes this time, reflecting the rays of the sun, showing Mikomi all his pain, sorrow and anguish. 'Blood vessels were all over his eyes, beautiful cerulean eyes...' thought Mikomi silently.
"But do you realise what i've done...? I've killed all those whom i've held dear to me... I've let my father down... I've let Tsunade-bachan down... Its all my fault..." whispered Naruto, as the seemingly endless tears started pooling in those beautiful eyes of his again.
Unable to bear it any longer, Mikomi held him tight and kissed him fully on his lips, tears collecting in her own eyes.
'Oh kami-sama... what am i doing? This feels so... right...' thought Mikomi as her tongue explored his mouth.
'nani! what is she doing! hm... this feels really good...' thought Naruto as he let go of his suprise and kissed her back.
Unknowing to both of them, they had tears streaming down their cheeks.
Naruto, breaking the kiss, took a step back and shook himself.
"Gomen... I don't know what am I doing... Sorry... I am so sorry..." He whispered, not daring himself to look at the eyes of the kunoichi.
"Its alright. I just couldn't take it anymore... You were in so much pain... Besides, it felt really good... that, you gotta admit!" said Mikomi cheekily as she blushed crimson knowing what she really did.
"Urm... Do you even think its right? I mean... You are supposed to treat me as your brother... Ano... not that i didn't like it but I..." stammered Naruto as he shifted his weight uncomfortably from left foot to right foot and vice versa repeatedly before being cut off by Mikomi.
"Well... I've checked up on your records and... whats four years between friends?" said Mikomi.
'Oh... so she knows who i am already... if i ever get accepted by anyone again, its her. if friends, then by kami-sama, so be it!' thought Naruto happily, letting go of his past.
Though Mikomi said that, her heart ached, wishing that they could be more than friends...
"Oh well, I did say I would treat you to Ramen right? Lets get going!" shouted Mikomi happily as she dragged Naruto to the door happily and into the sunlight.
'This looks like a beautiful day.' Naruto thought happily as he looked at the clouds. 'Lets hope kami-sama will allow me to start my life all over again here...'
Little did the two notice and angry pair of lavender white eyes trailing after them, the owner of the white eyes then swore, " I will have my revenge!"
The end.
To be continued.
Chapter 4: Betrayal
Not too angsty this time i think... I tried to add in more emotions. D
I hope its better than last time.
And, the Kurenai part in the precious chapter, its stance, not st21.
Some error probably occurred during the upload.
RR please! I hope to get more reviews this time!
Thanks to Kunoichi dreamer and zaivon! your reviews really encouraged me to post up this chapter soon.
Thank you so much for your support! I love you guys!
ero-jounin
