Kyuubi's Calm Chapter 8: On the Road, a naruto fanfic

No part of this plot, my own characters, or text can be used without my permission. I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, but the plot and Yasu and Akira are my own and copyrighted.

By sundown my bag was all but packed and Akira was well fed and sparkling clean, and we were both fast asleep. I dreamed of Naruto, and Gaara and Shikamaru and Kiba.

They all swam around in my head until I felt an incredible loneliness by the time I woke up, and realized I wouldn't be able to see Naruto for at least a week because he was getting back tonight and I was leaving before that. I re-brushed Akira and packed the last of my bag, slinging it over his back. I'd taken off my headband to clean it and I studied the leaf symbol, realizing it was my closest connection to Naruto. I brushed my finger across it lightly and tied it around my head, pulling it tight.

I sent Akira out the back door, feeling the excitement of my first ninja mission ever. The loneliness followed me still, though. I stepped out into the lobby and found it empty… at least that's what I thought, until a figure moved out of a shadow, panting. Naruto stood before me, and I had to resist hugging him then and there.

"You're back early! How was your mission?"

"I heard you were leaving last night, and Jiraiya cut short the mission. I ran back here to say goodbye and good luck."

"But weren't you forty miles away?"

"Yeah." He grinned triumphantly and my admiration showed clearly on my face.

"Thank you for coming all this way. I'm off soon, leaving at ten. Sorry you can't come."

"Don't worry; I'll be training with Pervy Sage. You better come back stronger than you are now, I'd like to see that."

"I will, definitely. I'll keep up my training." We stopped talking and just stared at each other. My loneliness was extinguished. He'd come forty miles to see me off on a mission. "Will you see me off at the gate?"

"Can't, sorry. I, uh… didn't really get the time off from Jiraiya, I'll have to make it back by noon. I left before he woke up. I'll be in a bit of trouble unless I can come up with an excuse for being missing for six hours." I grinned, and Naruto took a deep breath. He walked towards me and placed his hand on my cheek, really softly. My heart started thudding louder that I wanted it to as I looked into his eyes, then he bent down a little really quick and his lips touched my cheek.

"Take care of yourself Yasu." He backed up quickly, and I wondered if he was ashamed.

"Alright, you get stronger too, ok?" I said lightly, my head in the clouds.

"I will, believe it!" That was the first time I'd hear him say that, and there'd be many more times that I didn't know yet. We smiled at each other and walked out together, blushing. Akira waited for me and I mounted.

"Bye."

"See you." We left in our separate directions. I arrived at the gate with my head spinning so badly that it took me a few minutes to realize I was being spoken to.

"Yasu! You'd better concentrate more than this when you're out on the road!" Iruka yelled from Akira's shoulder. I jumped and blushed.

"Sorry, Iruka-sensei, I was thinking about certain matters. It won't occupy my time while I'm on the road." Iruka nodded.

"It had better not. Now, everyone, time for you to meet the people you'll be guarding. They can fight for themselves a little, but the full responsibility for their welfare will be on you." All the ninja on the mission were gathered: Me and Akira, Shikamaru, Sakura, Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru, and Ino. (I will call this group 'Group' with a capital 'G' so you know who's in it, because I don't like typing all those names out. What can I say, I'm lazy. P) Iruka gave us a short briefing, and Sakura was going to direct us because she had been to the Village in the Waves. When this was done, the caravan came up to the gate from inside the village. There were 18 people and two horses, plus a wagon. Iruka lined up the Group and directed the people in the caravan to choose a protector, three people to one of us.

A young girl, about eight, came to me probably because of Akira. I also got a twenty-year-old-ish couple and I sighed silently. I hoped they wouldn't be making out or whatever.

"Alright! Now that you've all settled, know each other well because you'll be traveling together for the next four days. We'll- sorry, you'llbe starting out in ten minutes, so get everything in order."

"Hi, my name's Izumi." The little girl said. I started to reply when she stopped me. "Can I pet your horse?" I suddenly felt a sibling rivalry thing, and became very protective of Akira.

"Umm… I guess, but he might bite." Izumi pet Akira's head, but I kept composed. Best not to mess it up this early. I took a deep breath and buried my irrational dislike. "My name's Yasu, and this is Akira, my stallion. We'll be protecting you on your journey. I'd appreciate it if you'd heed my warnings, and please be quick about getting in a tight group when I give the order." They all looked at me critically, and I wondered if they believed they even needed me. "I'm not kidding. There are bandits on the road."

"What are your qualifications?" –The man.

"I've traveled on my own for a while, and fought off as many as three bandits with only Akira when I was as young as eleven." The couple looked accepting, and Izumi just kept petting Akira. I childishly told Akira to get up on his back legs and make a small leap to keep Izumi away, and she stood by the couple. "Are you guys related?"

"No. Izumi's parents and aunt are in that boy's group (she meant Shikamaru). By the way, I'm Rei (the girl) and this is my boyfriend, Osamu." They shook my hand carefully, and I could tell they were a little nervous about Akira. It'd be for the best if I told them a little of his nature.

"Akira is no ordinary horse. He is as much of a ninja as I am, just without the headband. Don't worry, it's like you have two ninja to look after you." We chatted until it was time to go, and the leader of the caravan sent the horses off. The Group fell into traveling position, two people at the front, two at the side, and two at the rear. I got the front because of Akira, and we walked down the middle of the path. Kiba was the other one traveling at the front, and he remained hidden at the side of the path, as well as Shikamaru, who was traveling at the back. He would come in handy if we were ambushed, because of his shadow techniques.

We traveled easily for a couple of hours, stopping once for lunch. It was quick and mostly quiet, with small conversations as we got to know each other. My group split up to eat, Izumi went with her family and the couple went off into the woods a bit. I sent Akira after them and watched Izumi myself. When the twenty-minute lunch was over Akira followed Rei and Osamu back, carefully watching them.

We continued for a while, until the sunlight seeped through the trees at a five o'clock angle. Akira and I sensed something, and we quietly passed it back along the ranks, and Sakura told the caravan leader because he was in her group. We walked a few more minutes in peace until a cry from the leaves around us sent the caravan horses into a panic. I let Akira calm then as our Group mobilized.

Ten bandits fell from the trees in a circle around us, and there was a moment of stillness. Everyone charged, and I took on three bandits, just blocking them all. Kiba dropped from the trees above and took down two by landing with one foot on each of them. I knocked out the third distracted bandit and we put them in a pile, Akira joining the fight now. No bandits ever got close to the caravan and we didn't even have to use any chakra. Shikamaru stayed concealed, and we left the bandits knocked out in the roadside bushes.

The travelers in the caravan held a new respect for us now, and Izumi came out and tugged on my shirt.

"Thank you for protecting us Yasu. I'll make sure to listen when you tell me to get together with Osamu and Rei." I smiled: finally they believed I could protect them. I saw Osamu and Rei watching me through a window in the side of the caravan. I waved slightly and they returned the gesture, thanking me silently.

"No problem, it's what I like to do." 'It's my job' just didn't sound right, and it was fun to actually protect these people. We moved on well until a few hours after sunset. It was coming to the end of summer and the days were getting shorter. Everyone in the caravan fell asleep and we allotted night watches. This meant we'd lose 1/3 of the time we normally had to sleep, but it was all part of the mission. I had first watch with Ino, and second watch would relieve us at midnight.

I sat on top of the caravan, watching Akira graze and then fall asleep. A few leaves fell and I amused myself by trying to catch one. After I finally had one, I just sat by myself on top of the wagon, thinking. I was interrupted out of my reverie by Izumi crawling onto the roof.

"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?" She crawled across the roof and sat right next to me. I considered what I should say, and figured the truth. She was only seven or so… I forgot.

"I'm thinking about someone back in the village."

"What about him?" How'd she know it was a guy? Was it in my voice? She turned her eyes to me, and I glanced at her. She was really, really listening. It had been a while since anyone besides my teachers and Akira had given me this much attention.

"A boy, that was on a trip, but he came forty miles to see me off on this trip. He… kissed my cheek, too."

"Do you like him?"

"Yeah, but there are others, too. I don't know who to like, because I'm pretty sure at least three guys like me. It's so confusing, because I don't want to hurt any of them, but I don't know who to choose, and how I'll know if he's right. It's like 'point and choose, and if it's wrong there's no second chance'." Izumi sighed.

"You don't have to choose now, you know." I stopped, stunned. She was right. Why was I making this so complicated? It wasn't like I'd settle down and marry one of them; I had my whole life to live, almost. Thank goodness for children's simple minds. I relaxed and started talking to her like a good friend, like 'what have you done lately' and 'what are you into'? She eventually yawned.

"You should go get some sleep; we have three more days of traveling to go."

"I'm not tired." I patted her on the head: she was just so cute now. I just kept smiling, so she sighed and crawled back into the wagon by a hatch in the roof. "Thank you for talking with me Yasu. It was fun."

"Thank you for listening so well. It's been a long time since I've met someone who listens that well." She smiled and ducked under, closing the hatch above her.

My shift ended without a hitch, and I traded off my position to Hinata and Kiba. I fell asleep under the parked caravan on my blanket from Akira's pack. When morning came I was woken up by the third shift, Sakura and Shikamaru. We ate breakfast and were moving in minutes.

That day passed rather uneventfully, except for I was the leader that hid in the trees. I practiced my fire jutsu and my chakra control on the trees, occasionally standing upside-down on one. After lunch we met another caravan with twenty people and two guard ninja. They asked to travel with us, and we shrugged, keeping a wary eye on them.

Nothing much happened, but that night came the first real battle. I had second watch, and an uneasy feeling. Akira stood by my side by the horses tied to the side of the wagon. The other caravan also had night watches, but they were regular people. I had no idea where their ninja were, and that unnerved me. Akira snorted and Shikamaru, on my watch tonight, landed next to me.

"The other caravan's ninja are circling us. Wake the others, this'll be rough." I hastily got to my feet and woke the rest of the Group, as well as the leader of the caravan. He woke his people and explained there would probably be a fight. Silently they gathered their weapons and put the children and women into the caravan: they were sleeping outside because of the 'added security'. I shoved Osamu and Rei over into a group with Izumi's family, and told Akira to go warn the horses and make them stand still the whole time.

As I crept around the caravan I thought I saw something move, and went to examine the area. I saw an odd rectangle and immediately recognized a paper bomb. I ran to the door of the caravan.

"Everyone out! There's a bomb on the wagon!" I whispered, and they all started making noise. "Shut up and just get out quickly and quietly!" They leapt out one by one, and the enemy ninja fell upon us at that time. I saw them come, three of them. I figured there were more ninja amongst the other travelers in the other caravan, unless they were all ninja. I deflected some thrown kunai and gathered my group together.

Soon the caravan was split into six groups and we fought our way away from the wagon. I set Akira to free the horses tied to it, and he shoved everything inside the caravan out the open back, just before the caravan exploded. The shrapnel flew and we protected our groups. I made three water clones and sent one to help Akira move the stuff he'd saved while the other two joined me in protecting my charges.

The others in my Group were holding out alright and we all moved our charges toward the pile of stuff. I pulled a little of Akira's chakra and made ten more clones, disguising some as other members of my team. After we got organized, the enemy ninja darted into the trees to reform their strategy. In the break of fire we herded everyone together and stood in a circle around them. The children were on the inside, adults on the outside, all in a small tightly packed group. I told them to sit down, and my charges hastily obeyed my command. Others followed their example and soon we had eighteen people in a small area.

Akira stood by me, flicking his ears around for the enemy ninja. His ears locked on a sound and everyone turned toward it. Ten ninja burst from the shrub and attacked, only to be held off by my Group and the clones we had made. I noticed Akira heard something else from the opposite side, and two more ninja burst from the shrubs from behind the group, where I was. I battled one as Akira took on the other with his teeth and hooves.

It was a short battle from there; Akira killed the two ninja by deadly-accurate kicks to their chests, and Shikamaru caught everyone in his Shadow possession. He slowly took the shadow possession away from his teammates he'd captured by accident and the enemy as they were secured. We looked over the ninja after they'd all been dealt with. I called back my water clones and Akira went after the two horses that had escaped. Ino and Sakura examined the other caravan, finding it empty except for some food and other stuff.

We moved everyone into the new caravan, and I found they looked at us now somewhat fearfully.

"Go back to sleep. Remember, we're not gonna let anything happen to you guys. We'll keep the caravan moving forward through tomorrow, so just sleep. You are all safe; the enemy has been dealt with." I calmed them all down, but they still seemed anxious. I closed the doors softly, pausing. "We checked this caravan out, it's entirely safe, and bigger, and newer. Goodnight." When I closed the door, I heard Izumi speak.

"Don't worry; the strong ninja are on our side." Soon after, I felt the tension ease. Akira came back with the other two horses, and I hooked them up. They were two geldings, smaller than Akira, and dark brown, but good horses. They pulled the caravan for a while, but they got tired quickly. It was bigger than the last caravan, so I hooked Akira up between the two of them and in front. When Akira started pulling, the other two started slacking off until Akira scolded them with a sharp squeal and by biting at their necks.

The caravan moved on through the night, and my Group surveyed our injuries and losses, as well as gains. We lost our wagon, and Kiba, Ino, and Hinata were injured. Kiba had a minor gash on his arm which was wrapped easily. Hinata was bruised on her sides and torso, so I wrapped her up and applied some healing paste. Ino had a long cut all along her back, but it was only a quarter-inch deep at the most, so it was bandaged and antiseptic was applied. We got a new caravan, and with Akira pulling we were making good time. The horses were moving at a walk, so they weren't getting tired.

At sunrise I called the horses to a stop and let everyone climb out for breakfast. I anchored the wagon and unhitched the horses. I ran over the two brown ones, and they were fine. I called Akira over as the other two grazed, and was suddenly scared. Akira had a large gash across his back, probably from when our wagon exploded. It had been sealed from the heat, but now it was beginning to bleed.

A back injury could cripple a horse. I examined the full extent of the gash, and determined it would leave a good scar, but it wasn't life threatening, as long as Akira took it easy.

"Akira, why didn't you let me know about this?" He lowered his head and sniffed my hand. I sighed and took an apple out of my packs. Akira happily munched on it. "Doesn't that even hurt you?" Akira just kept eating. I sat at his feet and watched his eyes.

They showed he was very clearly feeling the pain, but his prey-animal instinct was keeping him from showing the weakness. I put some antibiotics and salve on his injuries, and bandaged them by putting a large gauze 'pillow' over the gash and securing it with a bellyband. When breakfast was over I carefully hitched Akira to the wagon, and we made it all the way to the lunch stop.

When I unhitched Akira for the break, he looked around for danger, then laid down, sighing. He'd never been this tired before, and I couldn't let him keep pulling. I'd never tried it before, but maybe I could transform into a horse. I gave Akira a big apple and he ate it happily. I examined his wound again, and it was healing quickly. I reapplied the bandage and left him to graze as I ate with Izumi's family, and Rei and Osamu practically stuck to my side now, after last night.

After lunch was over, I transformed into a horse, making a water clone to tie me into the wagon. I didn't tell anyone of my plan, except Sakura, because it was unsafe to do something like this- they might leave me tied to the wagon if more enemies came, and if I changed back I'd be tangled in the harness and vulnerable.

As a horse, I was brown, and about as big as Akira. I took his spot at the front of the lineup, and Sakura made an excuse for the 'fourth horse's' presence. My clone walked by me, pretending to lead me. As the caravan began moving, Akira walked, untied, by my side. The wagon was difficult to pull, but with the other two brown horses' help, it was a lot easier than it could have been.

My shape as a horse gave me a strange, joyful feeling. I pulled the wagon enthusiastically, and felt my muscles ripple under my fur, and neighed once, to see what that was like. Akira spoke to me, as well, in horse language. It was much more direct, and he scolded me for going too fast. I snorted, irritated, but slowed down, telling him he'd better not correct me unless it was dangerous. I then realized I was tiring out the other horses, so maybe it was all for good reason.

I pulled the wagon until nightfall, when I changed back to myself after my clone unhitched me. Akira was healing remarkably quickly, and I wondered if there'd even be a scar. His wound already looked like the hair had been pulled off, only.

Well, sorry I can't write fight scenes. Also, has anyone noticed that we all kind of view the scene differently in our own mind? I mean, when I write this, I see it as an anime, and I have all the details that I try not to write too much, but you all see it differently anyway. Should I keep a broad scenery (like countryside, or warm, or sunny) or a specific one (forest, seaside)? Oh, I am WORKING ON CHAPTER 10 RIGHT NOW. It'll be done as soon as I can get a significant amount of stuff in there. I hardly planned this fanfic, and am writing for sole-ly myself, although I'm glad you enjoy it and any constructive critiscism or critiscism is helpful.