okay this has to be like very confusing for you all so give me some slack I have been very stressed at school with the musical and a sceduale change.
this goes after the chapter the ends in Boku's POV. this is really chapter 12
It was the next day, and Naruto was at the back of the pack once again trudging tiredly through the sand and heavy dust. When suddenly he sensed something. He didn't know how he sensed it, it was like an itch that had to be scratched, he just somehow knew, so he turned quickly, and in the distance he could see a very large cloud of dust.
He turned to the others. "hold up a bit, I think I am getting something", he then placed his four feet flat, and balanced his body weight equally, then he closed his eyes and listened, he slowed his heart beat to the beat of the earth he felt beneath him, he in a sense became one with the earth as he let his senses reach far beyond what anyone could possibly imagine.
Then it came to him. He felt the rapid quick beats of many men beating as their loud footfalls caused tremors in the earth he heard their quick breath takes as they loped silently towards the five of them. From what Naruto could decipher they were maybe a mile or two away, but gaining fast.
Naruto opened his eyes splitting his contact and the feeling of being one with the earth, he turned to them "They are coming! They somehow caught on!" everyone looked to Toyi, he choked out "lets try and break away from them".
Ichino scoffed, "Like that's going to help, we haven't covered our tracks at all". Naruto studied the sides of the canyon walls. "We could destroy our tracks entirely and cause a large obstacle to slow them down and hopefully shake them loose"
Ainu looked at him then to the walls he was looking at. "The canyon is made of shale and sandstone. A few paper bombs will easily cause the walls to collapse."
Ichino nodded, "yeah I get where you're going with this, and here Goza give me a hand." Goza nodded eagerly and jumped to the other side of the canyon by using some chakra and began to place paper bombs quickly in the weak faults of the rock.
Toyi nodded to Ichino and Goza. "All right, you guys finish up here, we'll scout ahead." Toyi and Ainu then turned and jumped off the ledge and then up to the canyon wall and began to trot up it. Naruto followed them. When he also had reached the top of the canyon he stood once more and looked in the direction of the enemy, they were a quarter of a mile away now, and gaining fast.
Naruto looked down to see Ichino and Goza, both coming up the wall, but half way up Ichino stopped. Naruto, who knew the enemy was even closer and would undoubtedly be able to see them soon, Naruto stamped his paw in irritation. "What are you doing"? Goza whispered loudly to Ichino.
Ichino walked a little ways down the wall then said, "you guys go on someone has to lead them into the trap, and I know what I am doing", Naruto knew they had no time to argue; he motioned to Goza, who regrettably continued up the wall.
Goza was about to follow Ainu and Toyi into the nearby woods, when Naruto stopped him and looked up to Goza. "I will make sure Ichino makes it out safe, but if we are not back by dusk leave us" Goza nodded and continued.
Naruto shrunk close to the ground and watched Ichino, who made a few clones and then jumped out into the view of the enemy, Ichino and his clones sent a few waves of Shuriken, Senbon, and Kunei at them.
When the enemy returned fire, Ichino threw down hundreds of smoke bombs and stink bombs, reducing the enemies' site and making them cough and sputter for a few seconds, but that was all the time Ichino needed to set off the bombs. They exploded, and rained a storm of rocks and boulders onto the Ninja, most escaped but a few unlucky ones were not able to get away in time. The dust cloud loomed over them for a bit, letting Naruto see absolutely nothing.
A few rocks still fell here and there, and the sun was just beginning to penetrate the obnoxious dust cloud, when Naruto seen Ichino. He was in a small alcove where a large boulder had been dislodged, and Naruto could see he was hurt. Naruto who was staying as close to the ground and moving as fast as he could without causing another avalanche of rocks , or being noticed ran to Ichino.
Ichino swore under his breath. "What are you doing? You should be getting out of here with the others."Naruto rolled his eyes and looked at him, "We wolf demons work like real wolves. We never leave a fellow pack mate to die before his time has come."
Naruto looked out again before turning back to Ichino "slide on my back" he said, assessing the large wound in Ichino's leg. Ichino muttered but did as Naruto said. Naruto staggered slightly beneath the weight, but knew his comrade was hurt and needed him.
Naruto looked out. The dust cloud was still hanging in the air, and the enemy was confused and dazed, Naruto rushed, hoping no one saw or heard them. He dashed up the wall and to the safety and enclosure of the woods, and then paused so Ichino could let himself fall from his back Naruto looked at the wound again, "what happened"? He asked.
At first Ichino said nothing, but under Naruto's unwavering glare he broke down. "A large rock shard clipped my leg when the bombs went off," he grumbled, and then there was a pause as he continued on and said in a voice filled with both some fear and pain. "How bad does it look?"
Naruto glanced down. On the right leg in the outer thigh region, was a rather large rock splinter sticking out of his leg. Blood was dripping from the wound and Ichino looked pale. Naruto sighed. "Hold still and bite on a branch" he said.
Ichino grabbed one and bit. "I have to get this rock out, the sooner the better," Naruto said. He eased his teeth around the projectile, then, without warning, pulled it out as quickly and painlessly as possible, Ichino bit hard into the branch almost snapping it, as his hands clawed the earth as his entire torso rose from the earth stiffening in pain.
Then slowly the pain receded, Ichino fell lax again, and Naruto spat out the rock and buried it quickly, he had no water to clean the wound and neither did Ichino. Naruto looked once more at Ichino's leg and then lowered his body and started to open his jaw to lick it. When Ichino burst out, "What are you doing?" Naruto glared at him.
"Oh sorry did you want the wound to fester and have your leg amputated?" Ichino relaxed disdainfully against the tree trunk.
"Fine" he said Naruto nodded and began to lick the muddy blood and dirt and grime from Ichino's leg, when it was clean as he could get it, Naruto ripped a bit of cloth from Ichino's pant leg and gave it to Ichino to tie his wound as best he could. I would have to do until he could get Ichino to Goza and the others who had opposable thumbs and a first aid kit.
Ichino got up and put some weight on his right leg. But it pained him, so Ichino had to lean on Naruto again, as they walked through the woods. Finally Ichino spoke "thanks" he muttered.
Naruto nodded "you're welcome". They studied each other for a bit, then Ichino said "you know, you're okay . . . for a wolf demon" Ichino added after a pause. Naruto grinned "please just call me Fluffy, and you're okay . . . for a human".
Ichino nodded. "I am sorry". I was one of those people, who are… threatened by you" he said hanging his head, "it's okay, I can be real scary sometimes" Naruto said Ichino snorted, "but tell, me . . . why did you do all this? You know come to Konoha? Join the Anbu? What do you have to prove?" Naruto looked at him "that I can".
Ichino was silent after that. They both worked together and traveled through the darkening sky until little light could be seen for the trees blocked most of it. By this time, Naruto was relying on his night vision and sense of smell more than anything. Now, Ichino was a strong man, but by now his stamina was wearing thin, his breathing was heavy and he leaned on Naruto more and more. Suddenly he started to collapse; Naruto quickly caught him and dragged him onto his back.
Naruto staggered a bit but continued on. For he too was growing weary, but knew he had to get medical attention for Ichino. Then he smelled Ainu's familiar scent, and let out two warning barks to let them know he was nearby. When he heard the three short chirps for the answer, he made his way to her.
Once Naruto made it through the underbrush, he was relieved to see all three of them safe and sound. He eased himself down so Ainu could get Ichino off his back; Goza gave him food and water. Naruto was ravenous, and ate the meager portion of rice quickly not leaving one grain behind.
Ainu and Goza checked Ichino's leg. Despite the work Naruto had done, Ichino still ended up getting a small infection beginning in the wound. Also a fever was building and he was not responding to anyone. Naruto cursed, knowing this had happened because; he didn't clean the wound well enough.
Ainu comforted him by patting him on the shoulder. "You did well. Ichino could be far worse, remember that." Naruto nodded.
Goza took the first watch that night, and around midnight Naruto got up to do his watch despite Goza's protest, Naruto shook his head "no I am well rested." He said "besides I am the only one who can sense the enemy quick enough," he added.
Goza nodded and went to his sleeping bag. Naruto glanced at Ichino. Who was sweating profusely and fidgeted feverishly in his sleep. Naruto walked over and tilted a canteen to his lips so he could drink, but Ichino only took two swallows then would drink no more. Deciding on not wanting to waste water Naruto sighed and put the canteen away.
He walked over to a fallen tree and jumped up on it. He then once more balanced his body weight and became a part of the earth again. This time the forest was quiet, calm, no one had dared entered it; all was as it should be.
But suddenly Naruto felt another presence. It was not human, nor animal. It had something strange to it, yet for some reason it was also familiar, very familiar.
It was large, but still smaller than him; it walked on four paws, but would sometimes stop momentarily and stand on two. It was older from what he could tell and all the while it scouted and scurried about, Naruto could not put a name to what exactly it was. He decided to investigate; he jumped down from the log and tracked the creature.
Naruto crept carefully making sure to stay downwind and quiet. He leaped up into a tree then looked down to get an over head look. It was pudgy and furry and it moved around slowly on its short legs, but with purpose. It was a dark brown but had stripes from the top of its head to its tail.
Naruto finally realized it was a Badger he was looking at, but not just any Badger. This Badger was unlike any he had ever seen. He knew this because, one, it had pure bluish white eyes, telling him that it was blind, and most blind animals don't live long, and, two, it was humming under it breath in a humans' tongue.
It finally paused, then looked up exactly where Naruto was and said once again in a human voice, "Well, are you going to watch an old one like me all night or come down and introduce yourself?" Naruto couldn't believe the old geezer found him, but he cautiously jumped down.
The geezer scurried up to him, but Naruto backed away a few inches, the badger humphed and said "I'm not going to eat you, I just want to meet you" then proceeded to sniff him out, Naruto was extremely uncomfortable.
Finally the old Badgers nose stopped twitching he then jumped and laughed "oh-ho! What do we have here? a wolf demon been many years since I met one of them!"!
Naruto stared, mouth agape. "H-how do you know?" the Badger smirked, showing off what few teeth he had remaining. "Boy, I am a trained healer and seer, and a Badger at that. I know many things".
Then just as suddenly he turned away, "so where have you been my friend"? Naruto couldn't understand this crazy old coot, and then he realized that the Badger had said that he was a medic. Naruto ran after him. "Wait you said you're a healer!" the badger nodded "aye, that's right, why? You have something need healin?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes my friend, he's hurt." the Badger looked towards him acting as if he could see "what kinda friend you have"? Naruto sighed. "He's….he's a human, but he's very sick and needs help."
The Badger shrugged. "Well it will give me an excuse to clear that old big log in the back of my cave. Bring him; it's been a long while since I had company."
Naruto couldn't believe his luck. "You'll help me!... Wait . . . why?" once again the Badger smirked. "Boy, you have to learn to listen. I just said I needed to clear off that old log and that I needed company. Besides, were demons. We help each other out".
Naruto was amazed. "You're a demon?" The Badger scratched its chin then said "are you stupid? Of course! I'm a demon! What else would I be?" Naruto hung his head in embarrassment. "It's just . . . , I never thought I would meet another" he finally said.
The Badger nodded. "Yeah I see where you're coming from. Not many of us left in this world, but there are those select places where we strive and live in peace and posterity. "The rest of us who can't find those places. "We have to make do with what we got."
Naruto nodded understanding the Badger's wisdom. "Shall I go get my friend then?" The Badger nodded. "I'll come with you; see what the damage is anyway." Then without a word he jumped on Naruto's back. "Now, mush," he said smugly. Naruto sighed but continued back to camp.
When he got there the old Badger hopped down and went to Ichino. When Ainu awoke and saw the Badger, she quickly gave a warning whistle. Everyone else woke up and started to go into attack mode as they were trained to do, but then stopped when Naruto gave the 'all clear' bark. They relaxed but were still very wary of the Badger.
The Badger was busy checking all of Ichino's vitals. All the while the others moved closer to the strange creature they never saw before. Finally Goza said, "What the heck is it."?
Without missing a beat the Badger looked up and said, "I am a medic and friend, here to help. What's it to you, you big Baboon."? Ainu and the others chuckled, while Goza sulked.
"Your wolf friend here met up with me while I was gathering supplies." When I told him I could heal he begged me to look at your friend here." Naruto began to sulk as he muttered under his breath "I did not beg."
Ainu asked "Can we trust you"? Naruto answered for the Badger. "Yes, we can. He is kin". The Badger nodded. "Right, the youngling has learned that we demons look out for each other." When the Badger was done with Ichino he said "you, big boy, carry him and you" he said turning to Naruto again with an eerie accuracy. He kept looking at Naruto with those blind eyes then without warning he jumped upon Naruto's back. The Badger grinned from ear to ear then crackled out "mush", Naruto grunted but did as the Badger wished. Naruto and the Badger waited first for Ainu, Toyi, and Goza to be ready before continuing on to the Badger's cave.