Those Who Are Lost
Chapter 6
The Shinobi and the Girl
Hello there my fellow Fanfictioners! It's me again! ;)
I present to you the next chapter of Those Who Are Lost and I am hoping that you guys read this preamble just so I can clear some things up.
This story is set after the end of Naruto Shippuden when Sasuke is a wandering shinobi. The events of the Last have happened but this is set before the events of Boruto.
Kouda served in the 4th Great Ninja War and after that he moved to the Lands Unknown and lived in semi-isolation. He wasn't aware of the current Kage and it's not unreasonable to assume that, as a civilan doctor for Iwa, he wouldn't know too much about the Hyuuga or if he would even know of the Byakugan.
Sarada is alive but whether Sasuke is aware of her I am leaving as a surprise and as Sasuke is a wanderer it's plausible that he doesn't know that Himawari is Naruto's daughter.
I hope that this clears up some confusion.
Now then, enough of my prattling so on to the story!
Disclaimer: I do not in any way claim ownership of Naruto or Naruto Shippuden. These are both the rightful property of the God of Shinobi, Masashi Kishimoto and his army of ninja lawyers.
Sae wasn't quite sure what she expected when she caught up to Jinbo but the body of her compatriot wouldn't have been her first guess. Kneeling down beside Jinbo's corpse she examined it briefly before letting out a small huff and slapping the dead fool's cheek. The sound of several footsteps behind caused her to exhale slowly in order to avoid whipping out her blade.
"Sae. We've all arrived and just in time to witness your failure it seems." The words were cold, like a steel blade striking ice.
"Toyohisa-san, it's always a… pleasure to be in your company." Sae couldn't keep from drawling.
"I always knew that the fatso was an idiot. To be killed by a little girl, it's disgusting." Toyohisa spat, as if the bile were in his throat at that very moment.
Getting to her feet the kunoichi turned to face the man. Toyohisa was a tall individual with a mane of shaggy black hair and eyes that seemed to glow a dull crimson. There were many who would think that the man was an Uchiha though she knew that that was hardly the case. Toyohisa's unique eye colour was the product of one of Lord Orochimaru's experiments; one to recreate the Sharingan. Unfortunately the experiment was a complete failure and Toyohisa's eyes were the only result of numerous attempts and many… unfortunate failures.
That didn't stop the man from taking advantage of people's ignorance and he bolstered his visage by donning blood-red armour, making him seem as if he could be a young Madara. He had developed a frightening reputation over the years; the Sword of Oto they called him.
"See something you like Sae?" The man growled out, his eyes narrowing in dark amusement.
"Why are you here Toyohisa-san? Did the Master send you to take command of my quest?" Sae asked with a hint of warning laced into her voice. Instead of feeling threatened as she had hoped the man merely chuckled. The cloaked figures behind him whispering amongst themselves, lost in their own discussions.
"You can relax Sae. I'm not here to steal your glory but rather to help you attain it." Sae couldn't help but feel that wasn't the whole truth in spite of his words.
"Why exactly would I need your help or the help of the rest of the Twelve? The Master knows-" Sae began only to be cut off as Toyohisa held up his hand to silence her. As much as she wanted to Sae knew well enough to hold her tongue.
She and Jinbo may have been members of the infamous Twelve but even she ranked just below Toyohisa, he was the Master's sword after all.
"You're taking too long. You already screwed up the first attempt and expended a great many men and resources to separate the child from her mother and father and you still have nothing to show for it. Frankly I'm surprised the Master didn't kill you immediately when we thought that the girl was dead." Toyohisa drawled, seeming far too amused by what he said for her taste.
Suddenly his expression shifted from one of amusement to one of seriousness.
"The deadline is fast approaching. The ritual site has already been constructed and the stars are aligning accordingly. All we need now is the little bitch and then we can head home with our mission complete." Toyohisa told her.
Beneath her high collar, Sae grimaced. It was all true after all, even she did not want to admit it. She had failed and time was running out. Toyohisa sent her a small smirk before gesturing towards the people behind him.
"As I said though, this is your show. The Twelve Notes of Oto are yours to command… well now there are eleven but you get the idea." He assured her despite gingerly nudging Jinbo's body with his foot.
Turning to the group, Sae peered into the cold darkness looking for the right person.
"Komura-san there you are!" She exclaimed, pleased with her success and her newly promoted authority. A tall thin figure cloaked like the others stepped forward and dipped his head towards her in acknowledgement. In his hand was a long spear with a wicked blade at its tip.
"You're our best hunter. Find the girl and kill anyone who gets in your way. You know what to do." She kept her words clipped and short.
Komura remained silent, merely dipping his head slightly before turning to examine the scene before him as well as the surrounding area. After a few minutes of careful studying, Komura nodded to himself before disappearing in a whirlwind of snow chasing after the trail that had since gone cold to normal senses.
Toyohisa eyed her curiously.
"What happened to the Konoha mutt?" He asked. Sae looked over at him, her eyes shining with mischief.
"His team is dead and he and that glorified puppy of his went running back to the Leaf with their tails between their legs."
Hungry…
She was so hungry but she had to be patient.
Ever since she had escaped from the giant monster known as Jinbo she had kept moving. Only briefly had she considered going to Kudamono in the hopes of obtaining some help. The orange glow on the horizon and the screams and wails stopped her short.
The ninja had already paid a visit to the town.
So Himawari had hugged herself and turned back into the cold winter night. It was only by the will of Kami that she found a cave through all the snow. Trying desperately to keep warm she grabbed whatever sticks and small logs she could find from nearby dead and frozen trees before using some of the tricks Kouda taught her to create a small fire.
From that moment she had spent the next two weeks moving from place to place. The weather subsided and she chose a direction and began heading in it, unknowing of what lay ahead but determined to move all the same. She would survive and she would find a way to the Fire Temple because that was what Kouda had wanted.
Two weeks later
She had travelled far; she could feel the ache of it in her bones. She couldn't be sure how far she had travelled but it was clearly far enough that the weather had begun to change. No longer was the world covered in a blanket of snow for as far as the eye could see.
That first week had been hard, moving from place to place, town to town. Himawari made sure to not stay near others for more than an hour or two before moving on. Despite Kouda's request the girl couldn't bring herself to part with the locket that he had given her. She got what she needed from begging and, when things took a turn for the worse, stealing food, water and other supplies. Actions that had gotten her run out of a few towns and villages.
As she moved further away from the clinic that she called home the snow turned more and more into green with each passing step until finally, two days ago, there was no snow left.
Instead what awaited Himawari was the most wondrous sight she had ever witnessed. Hefting her backpack, an item she had been lucky to get away with at the last village, she began her trek. In front of her was a landscape filled mostly with hills and a few plateaus. It took her a few hours but when she finally managed to reach the crest of what felt like the tenth hill, the view took her breath away. Laid out before her was a magnificent sea, a roiling plain of aquamarine blue and white-foam waves rolling gently towards a sandy beach. It was breath-taking to watch the patterns of the water, to smell the salt on the air and to hear the chirping of the gulls taking flight.
Looking closely she noticed that at several points along the beach there were small huts and amidst the blue there were small one-man fishing boats dotted throughout.
Himawari's eyes frowned in thought even as her stomach made its opinion abundantly clear. Fisherman meant food but with the terrain surrounding her it would be difficult to escape if she was caught stealing. The crime itself carried a terrible price in these lands and she grimaced, remembering seeing other thieves with missing limbs and appendages as reminders of their failures.
The only reason that she hadn't been caught was owing to the fact that she discovered that she had an innate talent for stealth, being able to move unseen amongst stalls and stores alike. On the few occasions that she had been spotted she had always been able to run faster and for longer than her pursuers. Where they would eventually collapse from exhaustion she found that she would only be slightly winded.
Her stomach disturbed her musings with another growl, obviously growing impatient with her. With a small sigh the girl observed her surroundings once more but this time with the intent to find a place to stay. It seemed though that luck was on her side. There a few hills away into the distance stood an old building and it seemed perfect.
Whatever food that she had stored away in her pack was quickly demolished that night, appeasing her belly at least a little. The building she found herself in was apparently some kind of old, abandoned shrine. At the forefront was a large wooden Buddha, its head lying away from it on the second step leading to the main shrine. The walls and floor were thick with decades of dust and there were cobwebs everywhere. The wood was rotted in some places from constant rainfall soaking into it over the years. In some places the damage was so bad as to do away with the wood entirely, leaving a few large holes in the floor. Inadvertently this provided Himawari with the perfect place to hide what little she had as well as any goods that she might be able to procure for herself from the surrounding fisherman's abodes.
Having found her temporary haven and with her belly filled somewhat, she fell into yet another uneasy sleep.
The next day
She got to an early start that day. Now was the perfect time to go and scavenge from the locals as most would have already set sail and begun to work their craft upon the water. That meant that the fish from the past day or two not cooked would most likely be hanging up to dry for future use.
It was these drying fish that were her target. If she could just grab a few then that might be enough to get her to the next village. From what she knew, the Fire Temple was located on the westernmost border of the Land of Fire, far to the East. Since her escape from the ninja Himawari began to slowly make her way eastward in hopes of locating the monk Kouda had spoken of, Sora.
Himawari knew that if she could just find Sora then he might be able to tell her about her family, about who she is and then she could finally start putting the pieces together.
Himawari shook her head, determined to focus on the task at hand. Hiding behind a trio of barrels, she decided to risk it and peered over the rim of the barrels to get a quick peek at the hut's door.
She could see the rack where several fish hung from hooks, left to dry in the sun but that wasn't the concern. It was the sounds of loud snoring coming from the man sleeping on the chair next to the rack that was the problem.
Taking a deep breath she moved forward and attempted to snag herself some breakfast and some rations.
It turned out that her nervousness was nothing to be overly concerned with. The closer she got to the local man the more she noticed the smell that was wafting through the air. It made her nose wrinkle, the smell originating from the man's breath and the bottle that hung limply from his hand. In the end, stealth was the last thing on her mind as she merely walked past him and took what she needed and walked away. Stopping, Himawari hesitated before quickly walking back and into the drunk's home before emerging a minute later, cradling a jug of water under her arm even as she balanced it with the fish in her arms and a small, tied sack of rice hanging from the string between her teeth.
It took all she had to stop from giggling at the simplicity/ stupidity of it all. Maybe things were finally turning around. Looking up she could see the shrine that was her shelter on the hill ahead of her.
It was time to eat.
Running into the shrine, Himawari immediately made her way to the one of the broken floorboards where she had hidden her supplies. Setting down the food and water carefully, she then lowered herself into the hole and reached for the backpack letting out a small 'yes' of success when her searching digits found the pack.
Pulling it closer to her and letting the sunlight streaming from the doorway into the hole, illuminate her prize, she unclipped the pack and began digging around its contents searching for what she needed. It only took her a few moments to find the small pot and small twigs that she needed to start a fire and boil the rice and cook the fish. With a small heave she lifted the pot with the sticks now placed inside it, out of the hole and onto the floorboards. Pushing the backpack into its original hiding spot, Himawari proceeded to lift herself out of the hole with a small 'huff' of effort.
It was at that moment that she froze. Himawari wasn't quite sure what was wrong but there was something off and it sent a chill down her spine. Slowly she stood up and raised her head, looking immediately to the building's entrances to find the source of her unease.
She wasn't alone anymore. But there didn't seem to be anyone lingering in the doorways so she shook it off as mere paranoia.
There's no way that they could have followed me this far.
Reaching down, she picked up the pot only to drop it to the floor a moment later and fall backwards with a yelp of surprise and fear.
He was difficult to make out, seeming to blend into the shadows between the streams of light almost effortlessly. It was a man, lying on his back in front of the broken Buddha, his arms behind his head and a sedge hat covering his face, blocking the sunlight from shining directly onto him. Resting at his side Himawari noticed a sheathed sword in a scabbard as black as night. The stranger's clothes seemed ragged and worn, as if he had been wearing the same set for a long time and there were numerous holes poking through the poncho he wore as a blanket.
Seeing that the man wasn't making a move towards her, Himawari shakily got to her feet; her fists clenching so hard her knuckles were turning white. She was terrified but she wouldn't let him know that and decided to try and turn that fear into anger instead.
"W-who are y-you?" Instead of outrage as she had hoped her words instead came out as a nervous squeak. This only caused her cheeks to rapidly redden in embarrassment and she prayed that he interpreted that as warning.
"Don't worry… you're in no danger. I'm just passing through and needed a place to stay for a while. I've had a long journey." The stranger told her, removing one of his hands, a hand she noticed was entirely wrapped in bandages, to lift the tip of the sedge hat slightly and get a better look at her. Obsidian eyes and locks of raven-black hair tied back by several strips of cloth were all that Himawari was able to make out from her spot on the opposite side of the room.
Despite his words, Himawari could almost feel the fear in her blood as it coursed around in her veins so she tried again.
"Get out!" Thankfully this time she managed to keep it together and her voice came out stronger than before albeit at a whisper this time.
At this the stranger's eyes narrowed sharply but Himawari couldn't be sure whether it was out of amusement or anger and, to be safe, reached for the handle of the knife she kept tucked away behind her back.
Removing the sedge hat the man sat up slowly, gripping his sword in one hand he placed the end of the sheath on top of the fallen Buddha head and leaned on the blade, peering at her almost curiously over the sword grip.
"You're telling me… that I'm trespassing? That this place is your home?" Despite his questions the man actually seemed quite bored by the whole situation. Nevertheless dark eyes remained focused on her.
"T-that's right!" Himawari replied weakly, biting her lip and seeming to wilt under his gaze.
Letting out a small grunt, the stranger lay back down and returned the sedge hat to its former role as a sunshade.
"Then meet your new tenant." Himawari gaped at the man's actions and his audacity, her mouth opened and closed repeatedly like a fish on land.
"Smells like we're having fish and rice for breakfast… don't take too long because I'm starving." At this comment, Himawari's face felt like it was turning red-hot with rage.
The nerve of this… this… this man!
Letting out an annoyed huff Himawari deigned not to reply and instead gathered her pot and food and moved outside to make a small fire so she could begin cooking.
Just today… then I can move on.
Sasuke wasn't quite sure what to make of the girl. It was an amusing coincidence that somebody else had already decided to make this shrine their own shelter. It was almost comical, her expressions as she took notice of him and then her reactions to every word he said.
What caught his interest was the flash of white in her eyes when she turned livid. It almost looked like…
As soon as the thought entered his head the Uchiha crushed it. It was impossible for the Hyuuga to lose a child, especially as far out from the Elemental Nations as this.
The girl stormed out and Sasuke let out an almost indiscernible chuckle. Resting for a few more minutes he got to his feet and began a few stretching exercises. Letting out a slow exhale the Uchiha moved outside to join his new roommate for breakfast. After all, she was kind enough to bring some for him.
"I think you haven't been here much longer than me." Sasuke told her casually taking a seat on the top step and laying Kusanagi across his lap, watching as the girl rubbed two sticks together on a small pile of logs, trying to use the friction to start a flame no doubt. The girl didn't reply and instead began rubbing the sticks together more furiously than before. It took a few tries but eventually she was able to get a small fire going.
A few minutes of silence fell between them as they both stared into the flames.
"What gives you that idea?" It was surprising that she replied but it had been a while since he had had any sort of conversation with another person and though he would never admit it, it felt strangely pleasing to speak with someone even if it was a child. It was because of this that Sasuke felt the need to keep the conversation going.
The girl got to her feet and fetched the small pot. Pouring some water into the pot she waited until the fire was warm and widespread enough before gently placing the pot onto the pile, taking care to ensure that the pot didn't smother the fire she had placed it on top of.
Resting his head back against the wooden banister Sasuke closed his eyes, still tired from his trek through the previous night.
"The wood was still damp. That's why it took so long to start the fire. It means that you haven't had the time to properly cure the wood." He kept his explanation as short and simple as he could, not caring if the girl understood what he meant.
The girl replied with a 'Hm' before going silent once more.
There was a gentle breeze on the wind. It felt wonderful on his skin and he made sure to enjoy it before it died down. Idly, he could hear the sounds of the girl preparing a meal; adding rice to the water and skewering fish and placing it over the flames. The sound of scales crackling as they crisped sounded like music to his ears and his stomach grumbled quietly.
It seemed as though the girl heard it because she let out a small huff of indignation.
"This isn't for you." She told him pointedly to which he replied with a small grunt.
Silence fell save for the sounds of her removing and preparing the food and after that, only the sounds of her biting into the fish. Sasuke said and did nothing, content to merely enjoy the morning.
He raised a single eyebrow when he heard the girl sigh before there were some shuffling sounds and then the strong smell of cooked fish wafted in his face.
"Here." The girl mumbled quietly. Cracking one eye open Sasuke took in the sight of the clearly charred fish on a skewer that was being offered to him. His eye roved over to the girl but she was pointedly avoiding looking at him, her head bowed as if she found her shoes to be the most interesting thing in the world.
"Thanks." He told her before taking the food from her. The girl merely nodded before moving back to sit in front of the fire.
"I'll get some bowls just now for the rice when it's ready." She called out just loud enough for him to make out.
Sasuke said nothing and bit into his food, grimacing at the taste but saying nothing to the girl about it.
Silence fell as the two focused on their meals and on enjoying the sun shining on the sea before them. It was just the two of them in that moment, ignorant to the designs that fate had planned.
Just a shinobi and a girl.
Well there we have our introduction! I originally planned to combine this chapter with my next one but it ended up being far too long for my tastes so I decided to split them instead.
I hope you guys enjoyed it. If you did please leave a review for me.
See you next time with Chapter 7 of Those Who Are Lost: Duels and Deals