*This is CANON to Natsumi's backstory and continues where the EXTRAS chapter Lady of Serpent and Smoke leaves off*
Natsumi slipped through the gates while the guards' backs were turned and she hid in the forest, then held out the scroll in front of herself.
I'm going to really do this... I'm going to trust that woman I've just met so that I can become stronger...
She bit her lip.
This seems like such a bad idea. What if she's not someone that I should be trusting? What if this is going to be really dangerous?
She blinked, then furrowed her brows.
I can't think like that. I want to become stronger so that Naruto doesn't have to get hurt protecting me anymore... I'll do whatever it takes and train like crazy to look after him and defend him from all those people who give us nasty looks and say bad things about him... so I definitely can't back out of this, no matter what. Naruto's been looking out for me all this time... I can't just run away from this chance.
Natsumi nodded to herself, then smiled faintly.
Alright. I'm gonna do it.
She sucked in a large breath and carefully opened the scroll slowly. Her eyes widened as she looked it over.
It's... just black?
She gingerly touched the blackened paper and the world around her became inverted and dark. Her breath caught in her throat and she quickly turned all around.
What is this?! What just happened?
She glanced down at the scroll as it shifted to become a glowing red orb, illuminating her negative surroundings with the only color. It hovered in front of her and then slowly moved on its own, heading north.
This must be what Oto-sama meant about the path opening up.
Natsumi followed after the orb through the forest , walking until her feet ached, until it stopped in front of a large stone serpent. Its large mouth was opened and hollow as the entrance. The orb stopped just inside the cave and hovered in place.
She exhaled slowly and bit her lip.
I-It looks creepy!
She shuddered and hugged her arms close.
I've come this far. I can't complain now.
Natsumi sighed and walked over to the orb. As she approached, its light dimmed and it turned back into a scroll again, rolled itself up, and set down gently into her hands. The world returned to its ordinary appearance and Natsumi blinked as her eyes adjusted again.
Weird...
She looked deep into the darkness of the cave and slowly went inside, stopping after a moment to look at the flat wall in front of her.
A dead end?
Her eyes fell on a small hole in the stone and she leaned closer to examine it.
It looks like it's been intentionally carved out... it must be some kind of keyhole. But, where is the key?
Her eyes widened slightly and she looked down at the scroll.
Maybe this is it?
She cautiously pushed the scroll inside of the hole until a small click sounded, then slowly turned the scroll counter-clockwise. A portion of the wall opened to create a doorway and Natsumi stared at it.
A secret door!
She took the scroll out of the lock and slipped inside the doorway as the stone shut behind her, now finding herself at the stop of a a long, stone spiral staircase. Crystals embedded in the ceiling illuminated the stairs in a faint glow as Natsumi descended the stairs.
She stepped off at the bottom into a large, circular chamber. Larger crystals on the ceiling glowed to provide light and Natsumi looked around.
There's almost nothing here...
She swallowed the lump in her throat, then spotted the alter in the center of the room and approached.
Okay, now all I have to do is follow Oto-sama's instructions...
She set the scroll down on the alter and unrolled it, then winced as she bit down on her thumb, then wrote her name on the scroll in the blood.
Alright... I did it just like she said to... She bit her lip. Now what?
A section of floor beside the alter opened and a fountain rose from below. Yellow-green liquid dripped from the stone snake's fangs into the basin mouth. The fountain's slitted eyes held rubies and Natsumi shuddered.
It's almost like its watching me...
Writing appeared on the snake's upper lip and Natsumi leaned closer to read it.
You who believe you are worthy, drink from my maw.
Natsumi blinked and looked back at the fountain.
I have to drink that?! What is it, even?
She dipped her hand into the liquid, scooping some out as she sniffed it.
Well, it doesn't smell like anything.
She sipped it cautiously and blinked.
It's almost like... syrupy water?
She read the inscription again, then sighed and looked down at the puddled liquid in her hand.
Here goes...
She poured every last drop into her mouth and wiped her hand on her shirt.
Is that it?
She looked between the inscription and the scroll again.
What am I supposed to do now?
Natsumi's eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat. She coughed hard, gasping for air as she stumbled and leaned over the alter. Her vision blurred and she cried out, writhing as a searing pain shot through her body.
What's happening?! It feels like I'm on fire!
After a moment, the pain subsided and she drew in large gasps of air, her body trembling as it recovered.
"W-What was that...?" She muttered and stood slowly, rubbing her head. She froze, holding out her hands in front of her and stared at them.
W-What...?!
The backs of her hands were covered in purple-red iridescent scales that spread to cover her forearm as she watched. She stepped back in surprise, her stomach twisting into knots.
What is this?! I'm turning into a snake?!
"Your time begins now."
Natsumi jumped and looked all around. "W-Who's there?"
A secret door opened to her left and the voice hissed in laughter.
"You'd better hurry up and start the trial, little one, if you want the antidote."
"Antidote?" Natsumi stared down at her arms, then looked at the fountain. "I-It was poison?"
"Tick tock."
Natsumi gulped and turned toward the new doorway, slowly moving toward it.
I have no choice... if I don't want to turn into a snake, I have to go through this...
She stepped into the new chamber and the door shut behind her. She bit her lip and trembled in the darkness and cautiously stepped forward.
I can't really see anything...
She froze in place as the floor beneath her illuminated in a seal. A sharp pain surged through her and she cried out. Once it faded, she blinked quickly and her heart began to race.
I can't see! My eyes don't work?!
She stumbled, holding out her hands to hit the door.
"Please! Let me out!"
She covered her mouth and shook.
I... I can't even hear myself!
She screamed loudly, recovering her mouth.
It's no use... my ears aren't working, either. That seal must have done this...
She walked forward with her hands outreached as she shuffled slowly across the room.
What am I supposed to do in here? There has to be a way out.
A heavy blow knocked her down and she coughed and sat up.
W-What was that?
Another strike knocked her back and she lifted herself off of the cold stone floor.
Am I supposed to fight whatever this is?
Another attack and she was thrown against a wall, sliding down as she recovered her breath.
Another attack and she was thrown against a wall, sliding down as she recovered her breath.
But how can I fight something that I can't see?
She closed her eyes and pursed her lips, holding her head to protect against a volley of invisible punches.
Think...Think... How can I see something without seeing it?
The attack stopped and she slowly uncovered her head.
Where did it go?
Natsumi got to her feet and shuffled forward again.
Is it over?
She exhaled and shook her head.
No... it can't be. I haven't done anything yet. This is supposed to be some kind of test. I can't pass it if I don't do anything.
She stood in place, controlling her breathing until her heartbeat slowed.
I feel... something in the air. It's almost fuzzy... like electricity.
The prickling on her back intensified and her eyes burst open and she quickly moved as something brushed by her.
I dodged it!
She closed her eyes again, calming herself once more.
If I can just do the same thing again...
The prickling sensation covered her right side, accompanied by a faint image in her mind.
I can see... something. It's like a ball of blue smoke.
She moved to the side and the form only brushed against her. She stepped out of its path again and again and the image in her mind became clearer.
It almost looks like a person now.
Natsumi smiled faintly, turning toward her opponent with her eyes closed, and rushed toward it to shove it hard against the wall. It dissipated as soon as it touched the stone and Natsumi opened her eyes.
It's gone?
She blinked and her senses were restored. As her eyes adjusted, the seal on the floor was glowing again and faded as a door across from her opened.
I passed?
She grinned to herself.
I don't know what I did, but I did the right thing!
Natsumi glanced down at her arms, gulping as the scales now reached her shoulders, and covered the tops of her feet and ankles.
It's spreading really fast!
Natsumi hurried through the door into the next room and stared up at the ceiling full of glowing crystals.
They're so beautiful! Almost like real stars...
She stepped forward and stopped as her foot touched a tile on the floor.
The tiles have crystals on them, too. What am I supposed to do now?
She looked between the ceiling and tiles as she thought, then held out a foot cautiously.
I wonder if I can just easily cross over.
Touching her foot onto the tile closest to her, she drew it back quickly as it vanished and revealed a pit below filled with spikes. Her eyes widened slightly and she covered her mouth and took a step back..
S-Skeletons?
Trembling, she pressed herself against the closed door.
I have to be careful and find the right path, or else I'll wind up like that person.
"Which stars do we follow?"
Natsumi looked around the room at the voice, but found nothing.
I don't see anyone at all, but that's the same woman's voice from before.
She bit her lip and looked around again. "I don't understand. What do you want me to do?"
No reply came and Natsumi hugged her arms close.
I have to think...
She looked at the crystals above her.
'Which stars do we follow,' she said... so, maybe... are these supposed to be stars?
She squinted as she looked them over, and her eyes widened.
Of course! They're laid out like a map of the stars.
She lifted a hand to point.
There's the horse... the water jar... the archer... the maiden... the little fox.
She frowned and lowered her hand slightly.
There's something wrong... it doesn't look quite right. Something's missing.
"'Which stars do we follow...?'" Natsumi repeated softly to herself as she named the constellations in her head. "Which stars...?"
She smiled and looked down at the tiles.
"Of course!"
The people who built this place and took these trials worshipped snakes.
She looked up again, then nodded to herself.
The answer is the Serpent. That's the constellation that's missing.
Natsumi turned back to the tiles and her smile grew.
This one is easy. All I have to do is step on the tiles so their crystals look like the snake constellation.
Walking carefully, she stepped on a tile, and the crystal embedded there glowed brighter. She stepped on another and another, moving across the floor until she reached the other side. Resting her hands on her hips, she smiled at the glowing constellation on the floor.
It's a good thing I really like astronomy, or else I would have fallen into that trap.
The wall behind her opened to reveal the next door and she turned to face it.
As long as it stays like this... it's not too hard.
Natsumi stepped into the enormous round chamber and examined the statues all around her of snakes, ranging in size from a human to reaching the ceiling far above.
"There's nothing else here?"
She frowned slightly.
This doesn't make sense...
She knocked softly on one of the statues as she passed it and looked around.
I don't see anything else in here and no clues at all.
Hissing echoed around her and she stood rigid in place and trembled.
What... was that?
She turned to look over her should and paled as the statues, one by one, came to life.
Oh no.
She backed away to the center of the room, gulping as dozens of pairs of slitted eyes watched her. Her heart pounded as she stood perfectly still.
I can't fight them! I'm not strong, and there's nowhere for me to hide... What am I supposed to do?
A large snake lunged and snapped at her, barely missing as she turned and ran. The snakes' eyes widened and they followed after her, surrounding her quickly and growing more agitated. She breathed heavily and shook as she looked around.
There's no way for me to fight them, no where to hide, and no way to escape. And they get more aggressive the more I try to run.
She froze and stared at the snakes as they watched her, hissing, but remaining in place around her.
They... get more aggressive the more I panic. She swallowed, then sucked in a deep breath. If I can just calm down... maybe they will, too.
Natsumi took several long breaths and clutched her hands tightly as she closed her eyes.
In... and out. In and out. Calm down. Remember, those people weren't afraid of snakes. They wouldn't have been afraid.
She opened her eyes slowly and the serpents had moved away from her and coiled themselves back into their original positions.
It worked?
She exhaled and the largest snake bent its head down to look into her eyes with its own. She winced as it drew closer, then shut her eyes tightly.
I am not scared. I am not scared.
The snake exhaled hot, smelly air into her face and she shuddered and slowly opened her eyes. She lifted her hand up to it, then gently placed her palm on the creature between its nostrils. It flicked its tongue at her, tickling her stomach, then lifted its head up to press its nose against a hidden switch on the ceiling.
A door opened on the far side of the room and the snake met Natsumi's eyes and nodded slightly.
I did it.
She nodded back at the snake and watched as it returned to its stone form. She winced and looked down at herself, watching the scaling creep up her arms and legs.
I have to hurry!