Halloween month, and here I bring you a short retelling of "Little Shop of Horrors", both the 1960 version and the 1980s musical film - NARUTO STYLE! Summary says it, so just sit back, relax - after getting your favorite snack and drink - and enjoy this holiday treat. :D
Just some mild warnings: swearing, gore, and violence. Some sensuality, the usual. ;)
Disclaimer: nothing belongs to me.
Chapter One
The Sarutobi plant shop, which had existed for close to a hundred years, was more of a home to him than anywhere else. He lost his parents when he was a baby, so despite growing up in the downstairs level, his adopters were everything he asked for - except one of them who unfortunately lived to cause his life hell.
Old man Sarutobi was the kind old grandpa who encouraged him to be himself, while also being stern and making sure he was kept in line. Konohamaru, his grandson, was just like a little brother to Naruto Uzumaki. Both of them were raised by the old man who miraculously lived well into Naruto's high school years...until his death two years ago.
Graduation day would come in the following spring, if only he were here to see it.
Not only that, but despite the fact he had a future set in this shop which was his dream to run as an adult, he was worried about a couple of things which was an understatement.
First of all, the shop itself was slowly declining because of the damned expansion of the modern age, because it seemed people loved the ever-expansion as opposed to the sentimental value in the appearance of small places which withstood the test of time. Old man Danzo, Grandpa Hiruzen's partner and the shop's co-owner, said that perhaps it was time to just let the old place slowly die out and eventually find new ground. It was a blatant disregard for something that was as much part of Konoha's history as it had been HIS home!
Add that the economy played a part in this. So, there were very few of the usual magnificent blossoms from across the country and the world itself. Unless by some miracle...
And then Naruto one day came across it just after the worst storm that passed in Konoha's weather history.
He was at one of the summer festivals with Hinata - one of his best friends since he was a boy when she would often come to the shop for flowers her father ordered - when it happened. There were no words to describe how it took place. Just that there was this cute little stand in the festival just on the edge of town, and maybe it was still his ever-developing, somewhat stupid, and hopeful brain that he agreed to get this thing and swore to do what it took to make things better with it. Hinata was doubtful because of the lack of information they had, but the seller had this to say:
"Feed it with the water of life, but not the kind you assume. It's not my place to tell you what to do with it. Just don't let it get out of control and break the limits. And most importantly: do NOT anger it. It will not be wise to defy its command, lest dire consequences befall you."
A chill had run up his spine at those words, but it was now or never. And here he was now, tending to this little thing in an old coffee can in the secrecy of his bedroom basement, and safely away from old man Danzo's eyes. He wouldn't show that old geezer anything until he got results - or maybe his hand would be forced.
The latter certainly happened when the moon-viewing festival rolled around, and this was one of the crucial times for the Sarutobi shop. Now Danzo was getting on him for facts that were not his fault when he was the one falling behind on taxes, unlike Grandpa Hiruzen. This was Naruto's cue to show him the little thing which was nothing more than a branch that was planted in soil, and no matter what method he could do - every fertilizer, any amount of water - it remained the same and was now beginning to wilt a little. What the hell was he going to do?!
Danzo's words just about sealed his fate, as well as Hinata's: find a solution before the next week ends, or you're both fired.
He was alone that same night, and it was by luck he discovered it - accidentally rather than willingly since he had no damned idea.
He was so upset, stressed to the point of cutting his own finger by accident on an empty soda bottle he'd downed and then slammed into the wall, the glass shards cutting his fore and middle fingers. He hissed in pain, cursing himself, and was about to find tissues when he heard a weak, strange voice call out to him.
"Feed...me..."
Who the - who the hell had that been?! Nobody was there except him, and Naruto wondered if he was going crazy. He looked around and called out, asking who was there, when that voice repeated the phrase. His senses picked up that the sound was close enough...
On the table.
Was he imagining things?! Did that little root of a tree in the coffee can just TALK to him? Was he dreaming? Naruto had to pinch himself hard on both arms to the point of bruising, finding he was awake. Trees and plants never talked, so how -?
His thought process halted altogether when he remembered the first part of the creepy seller's instructions, the gears turning:
Feed it with the water of life...but not the kind you assume.
~o~
So, it wasn't water that fed the plant, and helped it grow over the next few days - which he tested to be safe - but it required blood.
Naruto had mixed feelings: he was exhilarated he found the solution, but it wasn't what he thought it would be. He did not like it in the slightest, and after using all ten of his fingers, he was exhausted and was running out of what to do!
Before this, when he showed Hinata and old man Danzo, they were exhilarated. Who knew what it would be in the end, but it began to sprout some green leaves and red buds, and the trunk itself began to grow thicker...and the strangest thing happened which just about shocked all of them in terms of that part:
It looked like a HUMAN face in the center of the trunk.
"This isn't right," Danzo grumbled. "I've never seen a tree like that. This should not exist...but it's right before my eyes." He never once seemed to smile, but his eyes glittered. "Nevertheless, Naruto, you're to be commended. Put it on display at once."
Normally, he hated doing what the old geezer said, for personal reasons, but this time...who would have imagined that this worked?! Because in time for the opening hour, customers flew in - from the regulars to the newcomers - due to the new attraction in the window, and sales spiked in a day!
Despite the disturbing treatment of the thing, Naruto decided to give it a name: Hina - short for Hinata. And it made the real one happy beyond belief.
However, at the end of the day, when everything had called for a celebration, Hinata announced that she had a date with the local eye doctor. This was enough for Danzo to scowl. He might be a jerk, but at least he was a good judge of character, Naruto would give him that. And also too suspicious for his own good, Grandpa Hiruzen always said.
"Hinata, it's none of my business, but that Oosutsuki boy is NOT a nice one," the old man growled, slamming his palm flat on the counter. "I have enough sensibility to tell you that you deserve better than -"
"But he's a professional, and just what I was looking for to get away from my father!" she protested. "I can't stand one more minute with him, and it's not like I'll have anything to show for it if my dreams don't become a reality. Toneri is a lunatic sometimes, but he makes good money." Now her voice dropped to a whisper, making Naruto's heart crack. Good money, his ass. He dreamed of having that, but what about love? Seldom did those two go together well, and it wasn't like he himself had anything to show for the money part.
He found himself looking the raven-haired beauty over: the dress was in mottled shades of gray, blue, and either dark navy or black, while the waistline was strapped with black leather and studded with silver. Over it was a chic and crisp, tailored white jacket. In her ears were posts of blue sapphires, violet-blue tanza-nights - wait, I forget that one because I'm not good with every piece of women's and men's jewelry - and white gems, while around her neck was a regal blue beauty ringed with white. Finally, her leather heeled boots were also strapped and studded.
But sometimes, he'd see dark rings around one eye, never sticking to one in particular or a bruise on a collarbone. Either way, he hated whatever that asshole was doing to her. If he was strong enough to kick his ass should he ever see his face...
He didn't have it in himself to tell her even now, but not only did her beauty give him that throb in his heart that traveled to the rest of his body, but his brain was fogged every time he thought about her. He dreamt of her if not every night, looked forward to seeing her every day, and she was pretty much the only one to treat him with kindness besides the Sarutobis.
Naruto Uzumaki was in love with her. If only he had the courage and the means to make both their dreams a reality.
~o~
That damned plant continued to grow, to the point where the coffee can wasn't gonna do it anymore. However, he admitted Hina was growing into an interesting beauty. The leaves were greener and shinier; who knew how big they would really get outside the palm of his hand. Those red buds blossomed into ruby-red cherry blossoms with dark purple centers which were almost black.
But after a week or so, he was so tired to the point he felt like he was gonna die. He gave so much of his own blood enough already! Both of his hands were used; he felt it during the day when he had fricking forgotten a funeral arrangement which became an emergency he and Hinata wound up putting together. I feel like my brain is gonna go out soon.
Even Danzo got on his ass, which he confided her in as usual. Sweetly and sadly, Hinata agreed the geezer was too hard on him sometimes, never mind he had a lot on his mind. How right she was, except she didn't know the extent of it. If only he could tell her the truth without being branded a crazy guy.
Hinata knew him better than this: he suffered from low self-image. She happily told him he could use something that he loved so much, and she could use it herself...and it was Ichiraku's ramen, all on her!
All the more reason he was in love. She could have asked for something crazy expensive like she'd grown up in, but she wanted something as simple as noodles and any sweets out there. Who could ask for anything better?
Unfortunately, that night, he met the new nightmare in his life between him and Hinata.
Toneri Oosutsuki arrived to pick up none other than the girl for a date that had to come at the last minute, depriving him of his chance with her. Seeing the guy caused his blood to boil: the snow-white skin and matching blue-hinted hair, those eyes which were similar to Hinata's but bearing bluish rings. And the guy recognized him immediately from the advertisement of the "Hina". Also, never mind the fact they were closed, he barged right into the store so he could see the tree which had grown to be nearly as tall as the three of them together...
...and was now planted in a much bigger pot of less value than lacquerware.
"Oh, and now that you've seen it -" Poor sweet Hinata never got to finish her sentence when Oosutsuki rounded on her, eyes flashing white fire as he towered over her, then took in the modest outfit she was in: the fitted gray tee joined with a matching skirt patterned with wine-colored roses. Wine and roses...perfect romance. But the god of assholes doesn't deserve that or HER.
To Naruto's rage, Oosutsuki latched onto Hinata's tee by the collarbone, pulling her close so her body was flush against his. "You have the nerve embarrassing me in front of your 'friend' like this, princess. Also, you'd better hurry home and change into that sexy black velvet piece I got you recently - the one with the cutout front. You gotta train them some time," he told Naruto with a calm smile he whiplashed to in a heartbeat. Underneath his calm, Naruto Uzumaki wished he had something to crack his skull in; if he would take his hands off his woman like that...!
When they were both gone in the bastard's classy silver shit pile, he was left alone to his thoughts once again, even repeating them in frustration aloud to Hina the plant: you should see more of the way he treats her, my friend. She deserves a true prince who will rescue her, and love her unconditionally for who she is, just like in those fairytales. Not a sadistic motherf - mother of hell like him. From what I hear, he's a total disgrace to the ocular profession.
Weirdly, despite how crazy the world was and the fact this thing thrived on blood, at least he got this guy as a friend -
"Aw, shut yer trap, Naruto boy! Feed me now! I'm starving like a bitch, so go out and get me something if your weak lil' body can't take it no more," Hina barked, "his" face twisting in the core of the trunk, the branches about waving like mad. "Don't get me that less bloody steak you humans eat! Fresh blood and nothing less! Feed me whoever you can go find; you can do it, Naruto!"
No matter how scared he was, how tormented - my God, I'm being forced to kill someone just to keep Hina big and strong - or how much he wanted to refuse, he knew the consequences if he were caught, and not only was it society, but that seller's instructions.
By the Japanese gods, what the HELL had he gotten himself into?!
~o~
His conscience was lost, and you can blame Hina's persuasion.
"Ya think everything was a coincidence, Naruto? It was destiny that you bought me at dat festival! You can't get out of this now that everything you want is coming true: dinner out for every meal, the car of your wants, a much bigger and better house than this shit shack run by that greedy old geezer - and the girl!"
If he kept feeding the tree, his willing slave, then he'd get everything he ever wanted - and suddenly he had a terrible idea as to who was more befitting of getting chopped up and fed to a hungry, larger-than-life tree. And Hina pointed that out himself, in terms of witnessing it across the street where Hinata had her apartment on the first floor...the scene of him slapping and shouting at her silhouetted in the window.
Naruto Uzumaki snapped then and there, biting his bottom lip to the point of literally drawing blood.
Many called it karmic justice, because of how this "victim" treated a certain lady who deserved better if she was too petrified of leaving him. The guy was so calm and cold that you'd never see an explosion coming.
But the one who fed his body parts to Hina the tree didn't directly kill him; when he confronted Toneri at his office late that night, the guy exploded and came at him, only to be accidentally impaled on his own tools. Still, Naruto was so freaked out that he blacked out mentally in terms of trying to figure out what to do with the body.
Toneri Oosutsuki was nothing more or less than plant food.
Been difficult to get him to the shop, and all it took was an axe the store had in storage, and the rest was history. Naruto thought he'd puke by the time he cleaned everything up.
Danzo grumbled "good riddance" under his breath, when the police came to the shop because Hinata Hyuuga was the girlfriend of the "missing ophthalmologist", and the only close connection he had since there were no family or relatives left to even MISS him. Foul play was suspected based on his equipment scattered about, but nothing concrete to name a suspect or what happened to him...but it was disposed of down the nearest drain I could find, and that was his doing even if it was an accident. It caused Naruto to chill up his spine.
His thoughts came to a panicked halt when he realized how distressed Hinata was and that she needed someone to hold her, be there for her. Wrong timing and selfish as it might be, he decided to take long-awaited action. He was going to be a man for the first time in his life.
First, he dared to ask her if it really would be terrible if something did happen to Toneri. She was shocked, but after a few breathless sobs, she did answer that it would be nothing less than a miracle!
"Naruto, it would save up money on bandages and salts that I always used to cover up what he'd do to me. But I - I'd still feel guilty! What if something happened to him? It'd be all my fault because I...secretly wished it!" Both hands flew to her soft cheeks in shock.
She...she secretly dreamed of something happening to that monster. "Well, Hinata, maybe you shouldn't spend one more minute thinking of that jerk. There's plenty of other guys who would love to be with you...nice guys. You deserve that after everything you've been through. I bet you hardly had one if there ever was." Which he doubted very much, and he could name these few he knew of: that creep Oosutsuki, her father, and her cousin. And he never had a girl who cared for him back the way he knew he wanted, the way Grandpa Hiruzen always talked about.
"And Hinata, you got nothing to be ashamed of. You should also stop dressing up the way he wants you to, and just be yourself. I like you just the way you are; I always have," Naruto said passionately, boldly dropping to his knees before her, making her gasp. "You're the nicest girl I've ever known, ever respected, and still do." He took her hand into his right then and there.
There was a very long pause, and in that time, the tears were rolling down her cheeks, letting only him see that. It made his heart soar and sway like the flowers in the wind. To hell with how cheesy and expected that was.
"Naruto...it was always you. I - I never thought I deserved such a sweet guy like you. I really wanted to tell you so many times, but you're right: all those men did me wrong. Toneri never treated me as the person you know me as. Oh!" She swooped to kneel in front of him, taking his face into both her hands.
"I dream of you mowing our lawn, me keeping the house as it should be, having a warm meal I made myself for us both - and any kids we will have! I want to marry you someday, either soon or a year from now!"
He just about cried with joy at the same time they started sharing a heated lip-lock. How many times had he dreamed of this?!
He was in such a fog-headed mood - in a great way - that Hina congratulated him and opened the door for him to let him down into the basement bedroom at the end of the day...
...but he had an unexpected guest waiting for him, having a gun on him and listing what he knew about: the little red dots on the concrete outside which he idiotically should have cleaned up, and the silhouette of him hacking something up the previous night.
Naruto Uzumaki was in the deepest shit called trouble than he'd ever been in his life. His heart blew up, and the pieces fell into his stomach.
He saw the BLOOD.
He saw me chop up Hinata's abusive boyfriend.
I got nowhere to run!
"Yes, old man Danzo! I chopped him up to pieces, but I didn't KILL HIM!"
And did the old creep listen? Nope, and that was not the end of it when he cornered him upstairs with the gun still pointed at his back and went far as to blackmail him this way: he'd get Naruto a one-way ticket out of Konoha, let him lay low for a few decades - that means I'll never see Hinata again - and take care of Hina the tree for him, on the condition he learned the secret to caring for it.
Naruto was both scared and enraged that his big enemy dared to do this now, but before he could say anything, the branches of the tree behind him extended and poked his back, getting Danzo's attention, and the rat whirled around to see the horror that awaited for him in the form of the trunk's mouth opening wide for him, craving his flesh and blood.
The tree here is one from Japanese folklore, known as the Jubokko AKA "vampire tree". The God Tree is inspired by it. :D EEEEEE it was nightmarish to read about, and you can just see elements of it in the Naruto tree we know. My God, to think it was conceived out of lifetimes of warfare; if that's not nightmare fuel, I don't know what it is.
So, yeah, this story is more the 80s film version in terms of dialogue and scenario, and I love that one more. :D
REVIEW AND GIVE LOTS O DETAIL, LOVINGLY SO! :3