Scroll 08: The Island of the Iron (Part 1)

Hyuuga Neji was standing in the middle of the empty mission room. He was told to be here this morning to meet the Hokage. Twenty minutes had passed and he didn't even wonder why the Hokage hadn't shown up yet. She was a busy woman, and to be added with the current events, he wouldn't be surprised if she wouldn't show up for another hour. But his expectation was proved to be wrong when he heard the door opened and saw the blonde woman walked in.

She wasn't with her assistant as usual; maybe Shizune was doing things for her when she was giving mission to the Hyuuga. Her face seemed tired and all people knew why. But she managed to sit down calmly and elegantly. There was a pause before she spoke,

"I'm sorry to call you this early and busy morning," she apologized with a tired tone. Neji knew why she apologized. At times like this, villagers were rebuilding their destructed houses and the Hokage thought that she had bothered his house rebuild process by calling him to do a mission or two.

"That's all right, Hokage-sama. They're fine without me," he said, referring to his family.

"If you say so, let's get to the point," her face grew serious, almost completely hid her tiredness, "I want you to investigate an island called Tetsujin near the wave country, at one of the Nami country islands. There have been many reports of missing people that came to the island. Our client just wants you to investigate first. So don't do anything more than that. If you've collected enough information, come back here as soon as possible."

"Yes, I understand," he replied surely and strongly to indicate that he was ready.

"Oh, there's one more thing. Even though this is an investigation, this mission considered to be a class B mission so be careful. Any question?" she asked as her brown eyes stared to his face.

He went silent for a moment to think. His teammates weren't going to join him because their strength was needed for the village. He searched through his brain for something to ask and found it.

"Hokage-sama, is there time limit for this mission?" he watched the Hokage struggled a bit with her own emotion before answering his question.

"I don't want to press you, but our client wants the information at least a week from now. He was worried for his sister's wellbeing," she said as she avoided his gaze by looking to the floor.

Neji nodded silently. As if the Hokage wanted to end this as quickly as possible, she took out a stack of clipped papers from her desk and threw it to Neji who caught it easily.

"You can find the details of the island and its surroundings there. Choose your tools wisely, and prepare yourself for any condition. Now, if you excuse me, I have to leave now." Without waiting for Neji's answer, she left.

Neji glanced at the front page. There was a picture of Tetsujin Island that was taken from the sea and the picture of its beach. The island sure was not the look-horrible-don't-get-near-or-you-will-be-eaten-ALIVE type. In fact, it was beautiful. From far away, at least.

He flipped the page and found the island's description. Tetsujin Island was well-known for its metal resources. It produced the best metal for weaponry and armory. The owner was Kinjiya Hayame, the rich boy who have electronic tools factory. The strong and stubborn radios they used to communicate with each other at missions were bought from his factory and they weren't cheap. No wonder why the boy owns an island full of metal mine.

He flipped some page and found the missing people's file. Almost all of them were fishermen and miners, last spotted at the sea near the island or at the beach. Except for one woman with long chocolate brown hair that was braided into three braids with green eyes decorated her beautiful cream colored face.

Apparently, she was the client's sister. She ran away from home and ended up missing. She last spotted near the island so the client presumed that she was missing like other fishermen and miners. He flipped the papers to the last page and found the client's information.

His name is Kosomaru Futaba. The boy has cat-like green eyes and long black hair with silver bangs. The hair was long enough to be tied into small ponytail. He appeared to be a naughty boy who gives trouble to his older sister. Neji wouldn't be surprised if one of his sister's reasons to run away from home was him.

After he packed his things (many shinobi would need binoculars to spy but for him it was a useless weight) he immediately set off.

.oOoOo.

"What have I gotten myself into?" asked Futaba mentally. He was sitting on a big log of a tree, near the houses at the small fishermen village. His reason to be here was more than one. First, he was waiting for the leaf shinobi he and the villagers hired and second he was here because of the escaped captive named Arsunta. He really didn't want to do this, but…

flashback

"You want me to— what?" he asked with an unbelieving tone.

"I want you to retrieve Arsunta," his teacher, Koetami, repeated for him.

"B-but! Why I have to disguise as a villager and hire a ninja?" he asked as he hoped his teacher would give an acceptable answer.

"Did you forget? Arsunta was a ninja. A great kunoichi if what I heard is right. We never fought a ninja before so it'll be useful to have one or more ninjas around. Beside, you've to disguise as a villager and request for other missing people so that you're less suspicious-looking," said Koetami, matter-of-factly.

He sighed as he figured that his teacher was right. They've heard about ninjas but they've never fought one. "And why me?" he asked again.

To his surprise and anger, Miyabi was the one who answered his question. "Because you're a good liar; the most skillful one we've ever met."

"Oh, shut up ice cream man. Your complimentary doesn't make me feel happy," he grumbled like an angry wolf.

"Why should I listen to you, catty boy?" Miyabi replied with a fake hurt tone. It was clear that he was teasing him.

"My cat-like eyes don't guarantee that I have cat elements! Mind your own business, ice cream man!" he said furiously.

"I should be the one who said that!" Miyabi yelled. He could yell louder if his wounds didn't stand in the way.

Before the fight could continue further, Koetami butted in. "Now Futaba. Leave now and do what I said to you."

"Yes, Rikuchi-sensei…"

end flashback

"Eeehh…" groaned Futaba as the memory repeated over and over again in his head. Normally, Miyabi would have been the one who was sent to a mission like this. But since the said teen was gravely injured, he was the one who took the worst effect.

Damn it! It didn't take a moron to realize that Rikuchi-sensei was aware of his capability that exceed Miyabi's and other students. But why did she send him despite the fact that—

"Excuse me," a male voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and saw a teenage boy in his age was standing in front of him. The teen's shadow loomed over his body. Futaba looked to the eyes and surprised to find a pair of white and blank eyes. He had never seen such eyes before. They promised a cold and fast death for those who trespass him.

"Yes?" he asked as he cautiously examined the other teen's features. Long brownish hair, a forehead protector with a leaf symbol engraved on it, and ninja attire. Even a turtle would realize that the teen was a ninja, a very skillful one according to Futaba's fighter instinct. Could he be—?

"Are you Kosomaru Futaba?" he asked with his cold voice.

Futaba nodded. "Yes, I am. And you must be the ninja the villagers and I hired."

The teen nodded. "My name is Hyuuga Neji. I'm a jounin ranked shinobi from the Konoha village. I come to this village as you requested. Pleased to meet you," said the teen named Neji as he bowed with respect. There goes the formality.

"Pleased to meet you too," said Futaba after hesitating a bit. After he said that, neither he nor Neji talk. They were searching for words to say. Finally, Neji broke the silence.

"So? Should we go to the island?" asked Neji.

"Umm, yeah. We can go to the island with my boat," "Well, my rented boat," he added in his mind. "Let's go," he continued then.

When they were walking, Futaba could feel Neji's eyes were staring at him intently. "Why is he staring to me?" asked him mentally as all his hair on the back of his neck stood up.

When they arrived at the wooden boat, Futaba began to think of how he operates the machine. He was taught how to do it recently but the ninja's presence made all of it slipped out of his mind. "Come on, all you need is just to pull the wire," the man in his memory said.

"Yeah, just pull it," he mumbled so softly until Neji didn't hear him. He clumsily pulled the wire over and over again without success. Seeing the fruitless effort and didn't have the patience, Neji decided to help.

"Do you need help?" and without waiting for the answer, Neji took the wire and pull it with his power. The motor made some weird noise before started. Now, the grumbling noise of the motor filled the place.

Neji turned to him. "You know how to drive a boat, do you?" the ninja asked.

Futaba was taken aback by this question. "Why did you ask?" he replied without answering Neji's question.

"Because you look as if you've just touched this machine recently…" Neji answered.

For one thing Futaba had to take a note to, never underestimate a ninja's observing skill. He found that lying wasn't going to help him so he decided to tell a good half lie.

"Well, I usually drive a sailboat. My sister is the one who uses the motor boat," he said half lying half true. It was true that he could drive a sailboat. Well, all onmyouji have to master that skill. The problem was, in Reigakure there was no all sorts of machine.

Neji examine the teen in front of him as the wind blew his hair. His byakugan found something strange about the boy's chakra flow. The chakra didn't flow in chakra way. The chakra took wire shapes and waves around his body that made the boy looked like he was wearing a transparent haired ape costume.

"Is there something wrong?" the green-eyed teen suddenly asked. His expression seemed to be asking: 'is there any rice on my face?'

Neji shook his head. "No. I was just thinking of how long until we reach the island." He lied, of course.

Futaba looked to be relieved. Neji bet the boy had been having Goosebumps because somehow many people found that his stare is sometimes gives spooky feelings, though it wasn't like he didn't know the cause.

"Well, it should be fifteen minutes until we could step our legs to the island," Futaba answered with a much relieved tone. They were silent for a minute before Neji decided to say something.

"Are you scared of me?" he asked.

"Huh?" the green eyed boy was surprised. It was a short moment before he answered, "Um… yes a little. Ah, no, I think I'm just uncomfortable around you, that all."

"You don't have to lie," said Neji calmly. He was used to the people's behavior that fear and respect him.

"What makes you know I'm lying or not?" the boy asked coldly. Neji was a bit surprised by the tone. He didn't expect such a cold voice would come out from the boy's mouth. "My teacher said that I shall not judge people by its appearance. Don't think that you're so great until all people feared you. I've just known you, so it'll make sense that I'm just uncomfortable around you, won't it?" asked Futaba.

"I'm sorry." After he spoke his apology, they were silent for the rest of the trip.

Neji immediately hopped off the boat when they were arrived at Tetsujin Island. But just when he was going to leap off, he noticed that Futaba was off from the boat too.

"What are you doing?" Neji turned and asked.

Futaba switched his attention from the rope he was holding to Neji. "As you see, I'm tying the boat, so it wouldn't loose to the sea when we leave it."

"What do you mean by 'when we leave it'?" the ninja asked as he narrowed his eyes. This boy wasn't planning to do something foolish, was he?

"What are you talking about? Of course I'll follow you. Do you expect me to leave you alone in this island and sitting like a useless duck when probably my sister is in danger?" asked Futaba as he became more and more believed Miyabi's words about him being the greatest liar the older boy had ever met.

"Do you think I would let my client face danger? I thought you rent my skill so you won't have to increase the missing people number!" he was confused. Very confused. Why this guy went all the trouble to pay a ninja when he was planning to go himself?

"Look, don't ever compare me to those cowards at the village. That phrase may goes well with them, but not to me! I pay you so I'll have you to help me find my sister!" Futaba said as he placed a hand on his hip, while his brows were furrowed to express his anger.

Neji held the will to sigh. He knew he won't win this, because even if he sent the boy back to the village, the boy would come back here again. And he certainly couldn't let the boy wandering alone in this mystery island, since Futaba appeared to be not the type who would wait. He had no option left except letting the boy followed him.

"Fine. But I won't be responsible if you're injured or dead. My job is to investigate this island, not protecting my client," said Neji plainly. He expected that Futaba was going to be scarred by the lack of protection and go back to the village. But he was wrong.

"That's fine with me. I can take care myself," the green-eyed boy said confidently. My God, Futaba never ceased Neji's amazement of his stupidity.

"Don't say I don't warn you," Neji tried persuading the boy again. But he met a big negative.

"Nonsense. I'm a manly man who's strong enough to not blame people for my own mistakes. (Yeah, a strong-headed boy who thinks he's adult already when he doesn't have a good beard like Asuma-sensei, thought Neji) Besides," his gaze hardened, "rather than arguing uselessly, should we get going?"

Neji didn't bother to say anything more, he just nodded. He waited until Futaba finished tying his boat which didn't take so long at all. While the boy was doing his job, Neji found a question that he couldn't find the answer. He stared at Futaba so long, calculating the boy's moves to get his answer, even until Futaba finished his job.

"What are you looking at?" Futaba asked menacingly when he (again) felt Neji's eyes on him. Both of the boys thanked mentally that either of them got different gender. One would be uncomfortable and the other would have the pervert image.

"I was just wondering," Neji said calmly, even after he was caught staring for the second time, "can you cope up with my speed?" he put his hand under his chin as he examined the boy's lack of muscles body, "I don't have any intend to insult you, but as you see, I'm a ninja and you're not. Or maybe I'm wrong?" he quickly added when he saw Futaba's annoyed face.

Neji remained calm expressionless even though the other boy's face screaming: 'what does he think I am?' and the gestures that kept telling him that one wrong move would make the harmless looking boy slit his throat with bare arms. He learned one thing though; this boy had a sensitive case concerning his pride.

"I don't know your standard, but I'm the fastest traveler around my age in the village," Futaba snorted as he mentally snickered and insulted himself, "Yeah, a big fat liar with fast legs. What a reputation to hold."

"If you say so — don't bother to shout when you can't follow me," Neji said. Then he immediately jumped to the forest and lost from Futaba's sight before the later could say something.

"How could I shout if he was out of sight in a few seconds?" Futaba grumbled. But it was no mater. He could and would catch up with the shinobi in mater of seconds too. Without wasting more time he followed Neji.

Both of them unaware of the fact that there was someone who watched them from the time they set foot on the island…

.oOoOo.

Neji run through the dense forest as he used his byakugan to look around and sometimes focused to some place behind him. Futaba hadn't shown up yet. Maybe it was a bad idea to immediately jump out of the scene. But it appeared that he was wrong.

He saw a small black dot behind him that slowly but surely grew bigger and imitating human shape. It wasn't long until he recognized that the dot was a familiar boy; a very angry Kosomaru Futaba to be exact.

Neji saw the boy's mouth was trying to say something along the trail: "Hey, wait!" and he immediately stopped and wait for the boy.

When the green-eyed boy finally reached his place, Neji could see that he was panting lightly. He decided that the flush at the boy's cheeks was caused by anger and heat.

"Why did you stop?" the boy asked with a clear annoyed tone.

Neji was confused. What was this boy want actually? "You told me to wait, so I wait for you."

"I said: slow down! Not stop!" Futaba yelled.

Oh my God. This boy was really tearing his nerves. He mentally thanked to whoever was up there about his patience's denseness gift.

"Whatever," he grumbled. He recently decided that if he argued more, his patience was going to grow thinner and thinner.

"Don't just whatever me! Where are you going, anyway?" Futaba asked.

"A high place," Neji answered simply.

Now it was Futaba's turn to be confused. "Huh?"

"I want to have a good view of the island. The first step of investigating searching somebody is: getting familiar to the area then calculates the possibilities. That way, we don't need to comb every leaf to find our target," he explained it as simple as possible.

Futaba nodded in understand. Don't blame him for didn't understand the situation. Usually, he would use his shikigami to search somebody or something but in this mission, ninja rules.

They continued the journey without much more hassle. From his observation, Neji found that the forest was so silent. No wild animals, beast, or whatever. He expected there would be at least a snake but he found none. Not that he wanted to face those beasts, but from his experience, a place that was too silent usually hiding troubles.

When they reached a high place, Neji immediately used his byakugan. He didn't notice that Futaba was trying to communicate with the forest spirits.

"I saw a cave. Should we start searching there?" the Hyuuga asked — unintentionally broke Futaba's concentration.

"Huh—? Umm… yeah. A place good start," stuttered the boy.

Neji paid no heed to the boy's surprise and immediately started to run again. Futaba followed and they were silent again in the rest of the journey. After a while, they finally reached the cave. Mining tools were scattered around, indicating that the cave was a mine. From the brief examination, Neji and Futaba felt something strange. The tools weren't left behind. It was as if the users vanished at the moment they used or carry the tools.

Futaba narrowed his eyes into slits. Strange, he couldn't detect any spirit presence. It was as if something blocked his sense.

They wasted no time to argument and entered the cave. After a moment, they found that the cave was quite simple. They only need to follow the railway and they wouldn't meet a dead end. But all of the easiness didn't last long.

They found a large gap that separated the way and blocked their movements. The gap was large until a great shinobi like Neji was forced to admit that he couldn't jump over the gap. Futaba kicked a rock into the gap to examine the gap's depth and they found it was a long time before it hit the ground. Surely it would be hurt if they fall.

"So, what are we going to do now?" Futaba asked.

Without answering, Neji took off his backpack and opened it. He inserted his hand and took out a bundle of thick ropes. The Hyuuga thanked mentally that he was a calculative person. He tied one of its ends with a large hook and prepared to throw it.

Futaba watched the ninja did his action with curiosity gleamed in his eyes. He heard that ninjas' levels of physical abilities are above them. Surely throwing something from far away was a simple task for them.

As he expected, Neji succeeded in one try. The hook stuck on one of the wooden logs that supported the cave. Neji pulled it to check its strength before tied the other end to another wooden log.

"Well, who goes first?" he asked.

Futaba shot him a glare that yelled: "Should you ask? Of course it'll be you!" and upon seeing this, Neji replied immediately with a "Fine, I will" look.

The shinobi walked across the rope bridge without any difficulties. When he reached the other side, with his byakugan he could see that Futaba was battling with himself between the "I won't walk across this dangerous bridge" and the "I should walk across so I can continue" choice.

Neji decided that he should push Futaba. Futaba was like Kiba or Naruto that didn't accept insults to his skill. So it wouldn't hurt to try his theory.

"What take you so long? Are you afraid?" Neji asked. His words echoed in both cave and Futaba's ears. The other boy's brows twitched in anger.

"HELL NOT! I WAS JUST PREPARING MYSELF!" Futaba shouted so loud until Neji sure that the shout could be heard at every corner of the island.

Even though he shouted that, inside, he was cowering with fear. In Reigakure, there was no training like this. He was taught to cross sea using a rope but not crossing a gap using only one rope. Again, he can use his shikigami. But he would blow his cover if he used one of his onmyoujitsu skills.

He took a long and deep breath before mentally swearing to himself, "Okay, what I need to do is walking with a great sense of balance and NEVER look down or I'll reach the end of my life. Yes, that's all. You can do it Futaba! Calm yourself! They surely called you as one of the best students not for nothing!"

After a moment of steeling himself, he began to step on the rope. The thing bent down, making Futaba gulped. It was as if he stepped on a sand eating terrain. He kept his eyes focused to the other side or Neji's eyes as he began to walk.

Futaba was doing well until both of them heard a loud noise that resembled a firework explosion noise. The green eyed boy felt something buzzing behind his back while Neji saw something flew straight to the rope behind the other boy.

Before anybody could realize what it was, Futaba fell. His fall wasn't cause by lost of balance. The rope was severed, that was the cause.

Neji immediately react. He jumped to catch Futaba and succeed. But he didn't succeed catching one of the two rope parts. They fell down quickly like steel being pulled by magnet. Their bodies felt like floating but their mind kept telling them that they were in a grave danger if they don't react quickly.

While Neji was busy thinking quickly about problem resolve, Futaba instinctively draw something in the air and did hand seals. He didn't and couldn't think about his disguise anymore. What his main concern was how to prevent his dead.

Neji noticed that Futaba was mumbling strange words. His eyes found that the hands of the other boy had formed a strange seal. Before he had the time to think, Futaba shouted the last words of his chain of spell in their language.

"Form a net of ivy o Spirit of Forest!"

For a moment nothing happened. Then Neji heard grumbling sound and the next second ivies sprouted from the hard earth wall and formed a net like thing to stop their fall. They landed comfortably on the net and were stunned from the recent event especially Neji who had just witnessed Futaba's onmyouji skill.

They were silent for a moment before Neji spoke, "What… have you done?" He managed to breathe that question instead 'what had just happened?' question.

Futaba realized that he had just blown off his cover. "Oh, crap," he mentally cursed.

.oOoOo.

It's done -whew!- being a Senior high school student means doing a suicide to your imagination and your will to write. This chapter is being shorter than I want but if I don't update sooner you'll forget my story. Maybe I had to make the chapters short so I could update more regularly.

Be nice reviewer, please — and sorry if my story is bad. Gotta go and work with my geography homework.