NARUTO: THE VILLAGE DOUSED IN RAIN

© NARUTO / Masashi Kishimoto

Scroll Twelve: "Blank Stares: A New Setting To Look At…!"

While Ena was unconscious, a vicious hissing noise was coming from deep within her. She didn't know what was happening, or who the hissing emitted from, so she spoke.

"Who's in my mind?"

T'is I, the one who gave you the curse mark.

Rasped the intruder.

"You bastard! Get out of my head! Leave me alone!"

That I cannot do.

"And why not?!" Ena retorted sharply.

You lust the thrill of killing.

The voice informed.

And as long as I can feel it in you... the need to kill... the curse mark, and I, shall remain.

"That's not true! I don't want to kill… I just have to--it's my duty! How else can I protect everyone else?! It's kill or be killed!"

And you enjoy it.

"No! You can't assume that!"

I can… because it's true.

And at that moment, Ena shot up in a furious shock and bellowed a fierce, "SHUT UP!!!", alarming everyone around her.

Katone and Kiri were frozen in their respective places, Sakura was clamped onto a disturbed Sasuke, Risu and Syrin were trying hard to relax their unsettled faces, and Naruto was wide-eyed. At the look of their dazzled dispositions, Ena wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and clamped her lips tightly together, afraid that she might blurt out something unintentionally again. She began to fold the sleeping bag she had been laying upon, and placed in inside the bag it had belonged to--Sasuke.

She handed it to him, and Sakura, who was still fastened to his left forearm, jerked backwards as the black-haired Kunoichi approached them.

"Sorry," Ena mumbled weakly, "I guess I've just been feeling a bit anemic… But now that I'm better, we should head for Genki-Itai, we're getting behind schedule as it is."

No one said anything, but they eventually all shook off their perplexed temperaments, and began walking.

'It's funny,' Ena smiled contemptly to herself. 'At first, all they could do was stare at me, but now they refuse to even give me a passing glance…this trip is turning out to be a complete disaster... for me, that is.'

And as Ena was dousing herself in her own woes, Sakura asked a series of endless questions to the requestees.

"So," the rose-haired Kunoichi bluntly started, "give us a little more info on this Sea Demon guy, er, Umiya Kairyu…Because us leaf ninja haven't got a clue about him, besides the fact that he's killing off your village."

Syrin dug into her pockets and pulled out a small photo of an elderly looking man, about in his late fifties, with gleaming green eyes, and icky, greasy-looking black hair, slicked back in a coif. She gave it to Sakura who passed it around.

"Umiya Kairyu is on the verge of becoming a multi-millionaire by the signing of a contract in which demands the creation of a purchasable canal. He may look like a legitimate businessman, but in all truths, he's a vile, murderous criminal who employs assassins and teams of shinobi to do his dirty work.

"He's started his ruthless empire of drugs and contraband by taking over our village... and who knows, if he makes enough cash, he might buy out the whole country. That sick-o lives by every low and vicious trade known to man.

"It was just four years ago that Kairyu set his sights on Genki-Itai. He came under the guise of a business venture, but that's when the violence began, and in no time at all, he'd taken over our whole village. He had a stronghold built by our people, and when its completion drew near, the rain clouds poisoned our once sunny skies, and showered down ever since.

"Slowly, and if not more rapidly, Kairyu is sucking the lifeblood of our village, and as soon as you know it, Genki-Itai will be completely engulfed by water. But not only is it receding in land, but all of our prosperities--money and crops--are decreasing as well. And if we don't hurry, all will be lost. Risu and I do our best to rebel against this tyranny, but it's difficult since everyone else is afraid, and will not help. Money for our families is also a problem, but using what we had left, we posted our mission on the Konoha boards and here we are now."

Sakura, Sasuke, Katone, and Kiri nodded, following every word and piece of information. Naruto, on the other hand, was doing his best to keep up. However, Ena was falling behind, her bicep aching with every step she took. The tattoos weren't spreading but the pain was just as bad.

"G-guys," she croaked. "Wait up..."

But they didn't seem to hear for their voices were dying into the distance.

"HEY!" Ena screamed, regretting it, for the mark throbbed and caused her to falter to her knees.

'This sucks,' she thought. 'Maybe…maybe they'd be better off without me…'

Suddenly a hand stuck out in front of her face, and the black-haired Kunoichi looked up.

Naruto was beaming down at her, with that goofy grin of his.

"C'mon Ena!" he said, "we can't go without you now, can we?"

Ena blushed a light pink. "Uzumaki-kun…"

"Besides," the blonde added, "I owe you one for the river incident."

Taking his hand, she got to her feet and smiled from ear to ear. "Thanks, Uzumaki-kun. I needed that. But can you tell me something?"

"Sure," he nodded.

"Why was everyone looking at me with such fear?" Ena asked lowly.

Naruto's bright and chipper face darkened. "Because… you were moaning in you sleep…and…"

"And what?!" Ena exclaimed, eager to know more.

"And hissing," the blonde shivered.

That's when the horrible truth dawned on the black-haired Kunoichi--she was slowly becoming like him… slowly becoming the thing that she has been soughting to destroy.

Along the horizon, the fog was thickening, and a black silhouette was forming…

"There it is," Risu whispered, "Genki-Itai."

Naruto began to sprint ahead. "Awright! Finally! I was beginning to get sick of staring at stupid trees all day! Gotta love the change in scenery! I'm gonna go scope it out!"

"Naruto, wait!" Risu warned, but it was too late.

The hyperactive knucklehead ran headfirst into the fog and vanished in an instant. The last sound he made was a hurtling scream and then a large "splash."

Risu shook her head in empathy, and Syrin chuckled lightly. "Risu warned you, Naruto. You should've looked before you leapt… into the water, I mean."

Sasuke and Sakura reluctantly went to aid their obnoxious teammate, while Katone and Kiri apologized to Ena.

"Sorry," Katone spouted sheepishly.

"Same here," Kiri piped.

Ena tilted her head in question. "What for?"

"For ignoring you during your time of need! You were moaning and suffering and we just sat back and watched!" the candy shop heir cried.

"Yes… we're horrible friends! But if you could just reach deep down into you soul and forgive us…?!" Kiri sobbed.

Ena laughed until tears formed at the side of her eye lids. "Of course I forgive you! Plus, it's not your fault. This curse mark is driving me up the wall! So no hard feelings, 'kay?"

Both Kunoichi agreed and hugged their other member, hollering, "TEAM 13 FOREVER!" and then sweatdropping at their childish antics.

Later, the group of young shinobi reached the outskirts of Genki-Itai in awe. Only the tops of buildings were visible, and small, dinky, bridges allowed passage… But the biggest jaw dropper of it all was the height of the water and everything that was submerged within it...

Homes... shops... fish... and bones… And it only increased as the relentless rain added to it all.

Ena mouthed a silent "wow" and whispered, "I know it might be horrible but this is an amazing sight…"

"Yes," Risu exhaled sadly, "but all true terrors are blinded by beauty."

...

I'm becoming the very thing I want to destroy... I'm becoming a monster.

I've always liked this chapter best, for the fact that Ena's weakness comes to light--she hates being alone. (Even though she has always, somewhat, been alone.) And the fact that her comrads cannot hear her pleas and stare at her strangely gives Ena insecurities and a slight self-conscious attitude. More of Ena's weaknesses come to play later, however, especially in the Shippuden spin-off I finished up last year. But there's always room for a character to improve, I think. Though I have to admit that, over time, Ena's character has gotten weak!! She's become more human, and less shinobi like... (I wonder if that's a good or bad thing??)

So that's it for this week... maybe. I have Spring Break numero uno these next 7 days, so I might update more! Therefore, please stay tuned and review, everyone!