Wonders and Miracles
Disclaimer: I still have yet to find the legal papers necessary for me to own Naruto. Darn.
Author's Note: I have a magical eight ball of wonders! Actually, it's just a cheap one that came in a party Bag, but hey. It rocks. Some quotes in here is taken from Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Warning: Religious stuff is gonna be all over this story, so if you're gonna get offended, don't tell me about it or don't read it. And if you do tell me about it, don't yell at me.
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"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution."-Bertrand Russell
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Blood was splattered on the walls and steps and a cloying, overhanging coppery stench clung to the very contours of the walkway. Naruto's empty stomach gave a lurch at the sight and his eyes widened when he saw a familiar braided bracelet that Kiba wore religiously stained crimson lying on the steps. Kiba wouldn't have simply left it there. It had been a gift from his sister. Naruto turned and saw Sasuke's gasping with dry heaves by the wall.
The blonde placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You gonna be okay?"
Sasuke wiped his mouth with the back of his shaking hand. "I will be. It might take a while."
"There's no bodies…"Naruto murmured as he studied the stairway.
"That means they got out, Naruto. They're okay."
"No…That's worse actually. Who would have the power to kill gypsies on this scale, but not do so?"
"Burning massacre…"
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Kankurou and Temari struggled against the bonds that held them tight to the stakes. Wood was piled around all the gypsies' feet, up to nearly their ankles. They'd been confiscated of all weapons and most of the others had stopped fighting. They'd nearly found Naruto and the Uchiha kid when the new captain found them.
They'd fought so much and Temari remembered seeing that genius boy's,-what was his name? Shikamaru- shoulder being sliced open and Kiba had nearly lost a hand. Temari herself felt her back stinging with pain from where someone had slashed her. They'd gotten a good few hits on the guards as well, almost killing a few. Key word being almost. The guards' weapons had been slathered in sedative poison.
"These things before you," It was that bastard captain, Orochimaru. "Are guilty of witchcraft, thievery, murder and vandalism. I'm sure you have all seen the pictures depicted on the walls of the city."
Shikamaru felt a thrill of anger at the last two. They'd done no such thing and Naruto hadn't painted anything wrong and certainly not on commonly used roads. He felt the ropes that held him and Iruka tighten and he knew that Iruka was also getting mad.
Orochimaru approached them and shadowing him, on the steps of the wooden structure that they were all atop of was Fugaku and Shikamaru's anger grew and hatred began to boil his blood. The man had sentenced his own son the pyre! What kind of man did that? And he'd even planned it to be the finale-his son and Naruto being burned before the entire square.
"The time has come gypsies. You all stand upon the brink of the Abyss. There is room for slaves in Germany however. You can choose either a life in the mines or the fire." Orochimaru told them.
Gaara, the one closest to him, spat in his face, the usually calm expression darkened with resentment. The sea foam eyes were currently blazing, and his siblings' expressions matched. Kiba, Shikamaru was sure, was just as furious as the rest of them, but had broken his arm and had his opposite hand nearly cut off. He didn't have any energy left.
Orochimaru drew back, white face drawn in fury. "The gypsies have refused to repent. The evil souls of these witches have put the entire city in grave danger. For this city and for their own salvation, they shall be cleansed with fire, back where they belong." With that, Orochimaru took a torch and lit the straw and wood at their feet, smoke curling into the sky.
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Sasuke was holding Naruto back with whatever strength he had. "Think, Naruto! What can we do?"
The sapphire eyes focused on him. "We can stop this or at least try! That's my family up there! I can't abandon them now!"
Sasuke felt the muscular arms tense before the blonde broke free completely. Sasuke swore and ran after him. It was harder for him to get through the crowds because he wasn't as short as the blonde and people had the aversion to his race. Sasuke felt the need to strangle Naruto once again as Naruto leapt right onto the stage.
"I'm sorry guys. I never meant for this to happen."
"You, gypsy! Get down from there!" Fugaku called.
"Yes, your Honor. Just as soon as I free them."
"I forbid it!"
Naruto's eyes narrowed into twin slits of ice blue before he jerked a dagger free from a sheath on his wrist and sliced Shikamaru and Iruka free. The blonde turned to face Fugaku again. "You speak of justice yet you are cruel to those in most need of your help!"
Had Sasuke not been watching, he wouldn't have noticed Naruto surreptitiously sneaking the dagger into Shikamaru's hands, which carefully slipped to the others and cut them free.
"Mark my words, gypsy. You will pay for this insolence." Fugaku shouted angrily.
Naruto grinned a Cheshire cat grin. He bowed, all showman now. "Well then, it appears that our dear Captain was wrong about us, ne? Murder, thievery…I'm sure if you look inside your households, you'll find some things that were taken from us that weren't there a few days ago. And murder of course, at the very least attempted. So apparently, the only vermin I see here…" Naruto tossed the coils of rope that had been cut at Fugaku's feet, "Is you!"
"Captain! Arrest them all, but start with the blonde boy."
Orochimaru nodded and beckoned forth a company of men. The guards moved forward threateningly. Naruto grinned at the others, who returned them.
"Let's see… there's one, two, four, five….So there's twelve of you, and only…."Tenten considered their group. Only a few of them were really in any shape for combat, "And only seven of us."
Sakura frowned falsely. "Oh, what's a poor gypsy to do?"
The girls simultaneously vanished in clouds of rainbow smoke, the boys leaping out of the way.
Fugaku and Orochimaru shielded their eyes. "Witchcraft."
Naruto whistled, drawing attention to him and Gaara. They were standing on the tarp that covered one of the many stalls, balancing easily. "Hey guys! Over here!"
"Get them!" Three guards followed them, trying to climb up the poles that held up the tarp. Just as they seemed to be able to reach them, Naruto and Gaara cleanly flipped off in unison, like they'd practiced beforehand. The guards continued to try and jump down, but got tangled in the resulting mess.
Kankurou distracted a few by leaping up onto the ropes used for the gallows and swinging into about four of them. The girls easily confused about six of them by dancing around and stealing their spears in the timeframe. Then Kankurou, who'd grabbed a large blanket that Naruto had thrown him, tied them all up, making one drop a metal hat. Sakura grinned, catching the hat, and the girls bowed, much to the applause of the crowd. One man came at her on horseback, but she threw the hat like a Frisbee, knocking him clean off the horse and Sasuke had to duck to avoid having his head cut off. He looked behind him to see the hat embedded in the wood a good inch or so and whistled low. Mental note to self: Never get on her bad side.
Sasuke looked around and found he couldn't find Shikamaru or any of the ones injured. It had been a distraction…and now the others were gone as well. Disappeared like smoke. A familiar hand on his shoulder and another gently on his mouth tugged him backwards. "C'mon, teme. Let's go."