The Beginning Of Something New
Cheers could be heard by everyone. Laughter was screamed in the air. Smiles were shining brightly like the sun. Especially the ones on stage.
The sun was bright on that day. The snow was already melting away, forming puddles for people to step in. It was a perfect day for the final festival to begin. Three clubs brought out their best. Performed their best, mainly the card club. They went up last and turned up the heat.
There were three matches happening at the same time and in each, different games were played. Naruto and Sasuke were playing speed. Ino and Sakura were playing mix and match. Sara and Choji played, crazy eights countdown.
Their energy wowed the crowd and made them win.
That was about a month ago. It was entering May. The temperature got better. Less people were wearing jackets.
Naruto was staring at his tv with intensity. He looked like a zombie waiting to eat his dinner. During the preparation of the third festival, something unexpected happened involving his anime. It went on Hiatus until this month. He read online about the newest season will be the last and the animation will be updated.
It was a good thing that he had the club to keep him occupied or he would go mad waiting for the newest season. If he could recall, it was finally time for the foreshadowing story to appear. It was hinted throughout the anime.
There was something much bigger in the works involving Yusei and Zane. Along with three more characters.
"Naruto? You do remember you have school today?" Minato asked.
"Yes" Naruto simply replies staring intently at the screen.
"And that your show doesn't start until later this evening?" Minato asked overhearing Naruto speak about the anime every single day.
"Yes" Naruto replies.
Minato stands in front of the island shape counter top looking at Naruto, unsure what else to say. Until Kushina walks in and notice Naruto not ready for school.
"NARUTO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Kushina yells causing Naruto to jump from his seat. "YOU HAVE SCHOOL SOON-"
"Yes mother!" Naruto said quickly running to his room and started getting dressed.
"Ugh...jeez, why does he have to keep me reminding him every morning" Kushina states sighing just waking up and leaning on the counter top.
"Well he has been looking forward to this new season of the rogue hero" Minato said in a kind tone.
Naruto quickly runs out of his room with his uniform on. He hugs his mother from behind and kiss her cheek softly. Then runs to the door and waves to his father.
"See ya later!" Naruto said with a grin heading out the door.
Kushina was surprised when he hugged her out of nowhere. She was cut off guard.
"I guess he really is happy today" Minato said smiling warmly.
"More like lately" Kushina said smiling back hugging herself. "hmm...I feel like we forgot to tell him something though"
"There was something" Minato said looking at a picture near the tv of Naruto with his friends when they first met.
Kushina decided to have it framed. Naruto didn't notice the change. Kushina stared at the picture and quickly remembered.
"We forgot to tell him-!" Kushina shouts causing Minato to flinch.
OOO
Naruto began walking the same route to school. He was grinning feeling the warm breeze rub against his skin. He had his hands in his pockets. He really felt great today. He wasn't sure why. It felt like all the events that happened before this day disappeared and he entered a new chapter.
This day is the first page of his new chapter. Just like how today is the start of the last season of his favourite anime. He turns his head to the left where the stores were. He could see his reflection along with many people who were walking in his direction or the opposite.
He slightly felt a hot breeze brush his right arm. He could see someone with black hair go past him on his right side through the mirror. Naruto eyes widen a bit and quickly turn to his right.
The person wasn't there since he was wearing the exact uniform as him. The crowd of students in front of him made it harder to find that person. There was something that Naruto notice in that person that looked familiar. He needed to get moving before he's late.
He heard that, the card club is going to visit the place where the city festival will be taken place. A field trip away from school is what Naruto thought. His marks hasn't dropped so it's good to take a break once in awhile.
"Hello" Naruto said entering the club room but notice a castle of cards on a table with Ino behind it.
It wasn't just a simple castle. It was 3d. He could hardly see Ino, just her blond ponytail. Sara was in the room too.
"What's up with her?" Naruto asked.
"Our club president entered panic mode" Sara said sighing.
"Panic mode? She has something like that" Naruto said in disbelief.
"Yup" Sara replies.
"Why?" Naruto asked.
"You remember her new title?" Sara asked.
"New title…" Naruto said thinking. "Oh, the long awaited answer"
"Yup, she was supposed to answer Nejis question after the festival….but, someone got cold feet" Sara said with a glare at Ino who continues making her castle.
"Oh...well doesn't that answer the question" Naruto said softly.
"Hm?" Sara said until seeing the rest of the members enter the club room.
"Hey-" Sakura said until seeing the beautiful display of cards. "What is she-?"
"Don't ask" Sara replies quickly.
"When are we leaving?" Sasuke asked.
"When Anko arrives" Sara answers. "She will be our driver"
"I can't wait to see where going" Choji said smiling.
"Should be a fun trip, better than being stuck in a room all day" Sakura states.
"A car ride with Anko" Naruto said getting chills. "Why do we have to-"
"Have to what?" Anko spoke behind Naruto gripping onto his shoulder tightly.
"N-nothing" Naruto stutters with a scared smile.
"Good, get your things everyone...time for us to leave" Anko said then turns to the card castle. "Can someone get the queen out of her castle?"
"Uh?" Ino said popping her head out.
OOO
Anko rented out a minivan. Naruto got the passenger side seat next to Anko. He wasn't too happy about it. Neji and Choji sat next to each other while the three girls were sitting at the back. Ino and Sakura had the window seat.
The weather was nice. They were traveling along side the beach. Sakura and Sara wanted to spend time in the water but Ino was to deep into her thoughts to really enjoy the scenery. Sasuke was leaning against the window about to doze off while Choji was eating potato chips.
"Is everyone enjoying the ride?" Anko asked.
"Ya" Choji said with a big smile.
"Ya" Naruto mutters while looking out the window.
"How long until we get there?" Sakura asked.
"About ten minutes" Anko answers.
"So I'm wondering...why are we going to the festival now?" Sara asked seeing how the festival is about two weeks away.
"Well...the city festival is unique and huge. Ever since the end of the third school festival, preparations started being made, the events are being planned and all kinds of fun stuff" Anko said smiling. "I can remember it now...the rigd games I had to force my way to win, the food that gave me an extra belly, the fireworks that lit up the sky...the dancing and the best part...the haunted forest trial"
"H-haunted f-forest" Sakura stutters.
"An extra belly?" Choji said with drool imagining a table full of food.
"Fireworks" Naruto said softly staring at the sky.
Ino was to in thought of Neji's confession to really pay attention to Anko. Until her eyes spotted another minivan alongside theirs. She could see the driver had long spiky grey hair. She jolted from her seat when Anko honked the horn which made Sasuke open his eyes.
"HEY KAKASHI!" Anko screams after rolling down Naruto's window.
Naruto leaned all the way back on his chair fearing that Anko might throw him out. However, seeing the position she is in now, she had her head directly facing Kakashi without looking in the front where cars are shifting lanes constantly, that's the least of his worries.
"Are you crazy!?-" Naruto said until she saw a devil look on Anko's face.
"YOUR SAYING IM A BAD DRIVER!" Anko shouts into Naruto who shivers seeing how she was swaying the car from left to right.
"ANKO-!" The three girls hugged each other, shaking in fear. "LOOK FORWARD!"
"Bfft" Anko said with a pout looking at front with chubby cheeks.
The car return to normal causing everyone to breath out. Kakashi also did the same fearing for their lives and prayed for their safety in his heart. He gave a simple wave to Anko and sped forward like a real race car driver. Shifting from lane to lane.
"...I don't know who is lucky...us or them" Naruto thought seeing silhouettes of people through the window of that minivan.
"Anko? Do you know him?" Ino asked curious.
"Of course...he's a teacher...well..you probably don't see him often because he's off somewhere reading his….." Anko said stopping herself and tried thinking of a proper word to say. "Love novels alone"
"We should have seen him in the halls...he's hard to miss" Ino said lightly blushing, thinking about how handsome he is.
"Highly unlikely...he's stealthy like a ninja….usually avoids the halls and students" Anko replies.
"My kind of teacher" Naruto thought seeing how he does the same thing.
"So, I assume he's going to the same place we are?" Sasuke asked.
"Oh right...forgot to tell you…" Anko states. "Your not the only club participating in the festival from our school"
"Wait what? Isn't only the winner of the school festival only participating in the city festival?" Ino asked.
"Yes...has the main event however, there are chosen clubs that will be the one helping out as staff in the festival" Anko answers. "And If I remember correctly, the chess club was chosen"
"The chess club" Ino and Naruto thought remembering that night when they entered their club room.
"So there just helping out" Sara states.
"Basically...you don't need to worry about them" Anko said stopping the car. "Just worry about the other card club participating"
"The other?" Choji said confused.
"You don't mean" Sasuke said softly.
"You met the club members before...which got you two in trouble" Anko exclaims.
"Kabuto" Naruto thought didn't think he would see him in the festival. If he can recall, his club should have been disbanded.
"I thought they were disqualified?" Ino said.
"I guess...there must have been….a deal made" Anko replies getting out of the car. "But we're here now"
Everyone got out of the vehicle. The first thing they saw were the short hill of steps. The ocean can be seen in the left of them. The waves were mild and disappearing when they reach land. They could see people carrying boxes and equipment up the steps. They could see vendor stands being set up. There were a few tents as well being prepared.
"wow...I didn't think so much has been done" Ino states.
"Well, this is an important festival...not only its for enjoyment" Anko said shifting her eyes to Naruto who look deep in thought, staring at the ocean. "But brings people together, creating memories that will stay with you forever"
Anko smiles and walks to the top of the stairs. Everyone begins to follow except for Naruto who couldn't stop thinking about Kabuto. If he is here that means, things will end badly. He doesn't know how to stop him. He turns his head and notice someone familiar at the corner of his eye. The boy with the red short hair.
"Gaara" He thought seeing him walking with his classmates in a group of four. There was someone else he didn't recognize with long short hair and green eyes. Ino noticed that he wasn't following the group but before she could call him, he was walking off a different direction.
"Where are you going?" Ino asked following him. His expression was bothering her. It turned back to when she first saw him. The two were minutes away from the group, exploring a different part of the festival. A mini forest that was slightly slanted. Ino was afraid of slipping but saw Naruto hiding behind a bush looking straight ahead.
"Naruto-" Ino calls him softly but he ignores her.
He reaches to his side, crouched down like him and stared at what he was staring at. Her eyes widen a bit when she saw a big group of students from the other school all together surrounding Kabuto and his club members.
"Thank you all for coming today" Kabuto starts with a friendly smile. "You made this happen...from your support, we were able to make it to the largest festival in the city….Now its time to finally bring out our true purpose of this club...that's why you are here is in it...for the dollar…being able to get paid by winning...I can assure you that...you will get much more than you have gotten before….besides the main event..there will be an underground matches where you will get to gamble to your heart's content...However, there are roadblocks we must move out the way but you dont have to worry about that"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and smirk evilly.
"We have the strongest members in our club, no club can stop us...they will lose and our reputation will grow to the point where everyone must decide whether to join us or...lose everything" Everyone began cheering.
Naruto and Ino were shocked. They didn't think Kabuto would go this far. Ino could see Naruto clenching his teeth. He wanted to do something but, there is so much people. The moment he makes himself known, who knows what they will do to him. Ino couldn't believe Kabuto changed into this money hungry person. However its more than just money, it's the power to control.
OOO
On a tree branch a few minutes away from the group that gathered around Kabuto, a boy with a fox mask was laying on his back with his arms crossed behind his head and legs overlapping each other.
"Ok...this area should be good...we need to be sure we have a clear route for the haunted trial-" said a female voice who looked up at the fox masked guy. "What did I tell you….WAKE UP!
A clipboard was thrown to the boy's head causing him to fall into the bushes.