CHAPTER XI
The Snake
Curious… very curious— the way Kakashi stirred in his seat so uneasily. It seemed unnatural to Naruto's eyes since he never saw his sensei this dejected before: something that made him feel ashamed to think that he was just drowning himself in his own sorrow earlier, unknown to him that there were other people who were more doleful as he. Naruto could literally feel Kakashi's depressing aura mending his own wounds.
"She was perfect," he whispered hoarsely, "She was… everything."
Naruto propped his hunched back with relevance: 'She'? A woman broke his heart? He couldn't possibly imagine Kakashi with a woman, but it seems that the impossible has been finally shattered. His blue eyes concentrated on the frightened man next to him. A broken heart… why is it that women had to be the catalyst of everything?
"Remember when we were on that mission, the last time you were awake? I met her there… she was sweet. She was also unconscious because of some attack…"
Another gulp of sake… another woozy nod… Kakashi shifted on his seat groggily, "I took her in, but not after I tried to find you. Couldn't after a while, until I finally recovered your stiff body in some hidden part of the woods— with that girl under my wing." he chuckled, there was nothing funny about this, though, "You know how hard it is to carry both of you home safely?"
Another swig of sake… Kakashi's face kept solidly still like a cold statue of some kind; like how Sasuke's face was before, "Things happened, things changed, things are still changing—can't accept it, couldn't you, since you missed half of what happened in the whole of Konoha?" Kakashi sounded like he was telling him a fact rather than a question. Naruto looked down his cup remorsefully, "Heh—I also missed that bitch's 'half-of-what-happened' since she literally stabbed me in the back— before we eloped."
… Tentative rain began to fall from Kakashi's eyes and unto his face, which used to be concealed with perfection from everybody and everyone around him, "Juri turned out to be a spy from one of the countries who wanted war against the Leaf… for whatever purposes I can't imagine. I caught her in the very same spot I first saw her… didn't know it was her, though. She stabbed me—and I stabbed back…"
Kakashi finished his very last bottle of strong liquor while Naruto's own bottle stayed half-full. An earthy pause filled them; thrilled them with unbearable apprehension, each of them in their own mental friction. Sighing heavily, Kakashi decided to break the agonizing silence, "And she was pregnant, Naruto."
Naruto's eyes widened. Kakashi— killed his own pregnant wife without knowing it?
"I didn't know that it was her. But she was trying to kill me… she KNEW it was me who was challenging her, yet… she wasn't hesitant on hurting me. Wasn't hesitant on dying either. I felt used. I felt that I can't trust anybody anymore. I lost all sense of justice and only do the missions to gain purpose in my life."
He sniffled loudly, it was obvious that Kakashi was getting quite drunk since his face was flushed, and his eyes were drooping with utter exhaustion and intoxication. It was then Naruto realized that half of what they spent together, sitting in a bar drinking themselves up from dishonor, was spent on silent anguish. Usually, Kakashi would tell him about random stuff… about important stuff… about sensei stuff. But right now, Naruto felt like HE was the teacher instead of him.
Kakashi—the frightened child, still lamenting on the blood he shed… his beloved blood he wasted with his hands, "You can only imagine… the horror… when I pulled the mask off her. I—" Kakashi… what has the world done to you? "I—just… so sorry, Jur-i…"
Kakashi stood up reflexively, tears streaming down his cheeks; his mask absorbing the wetness under his chin. He pulled it back on his face, hiding the whole of his saddened expression and started to walk away—painfully slow—when he stopped. Another moment passed between them— it was like Kakashi was judging his own heartrending words before uttering it. Moments ticked on while Naruto just stared at Kakashi's shaking back. It was obvious that he didn't want to remember again, "Life is just full of shit, Naruto. If it turns its back on you, you turn your back on it…"
Yet Naruto refused to believe, "No…"
"You believe what you want to believe," Kakashi said, "And I believe what I already believe: life is shit."
No, it couldn't be, there must be a brighter side to all this derision. Naruto stared at Kakashi, his mind having a battle of its own. Is life this cruel, or is it his hands that should carry the shame? Finally, one idea stood out and heftily defeated the other...
"She was carrying triplets— Naruto." Kakashi's pained voice continued amongst all Naruto's confusing battle with himself,
So he left: still broken, still wretched—such a challenge; such an obstacle to hold on his tearing sinews—Naruto knew he didn't want to turn out like that. Yes, he felt ashamed: ashamed for his own selfishness, ashamed for his present temperament, and ashamed by cursing God. No, life wasn't full of shit. Life is just… filled with circumstances where one must strive to survive: Eat or be eaten; live or be forgotten; become somebody or have no purpose at all—all must strive to perfection, including the subject of life.
While Naruto was cursing life for making Sasuke take away all his dreams of achievements, Kakashi was cursing his life for making his OWN existence take away all his dreams of happiness. He promised himself that he'd live again… for Sakura… but instead he became one of the walking dead, just like Kakashi who was profoundly broken hearted; dull and disgraceful. For shame, Naruto—for shame… this recklessness of his must be stopped. He'll live again, for Sakura, only for her and not for the Hokage title—not anymore.
So Naruto left the bottle half-empty, never wanting to touch another alcoholic beverage again for his sake and hers, for his new purpose in life was to make sure Sakura was happy. After all those thoughts of disgrace it was then he realized that he had been unconsciously walking towards the bridge where Team Seven usually met with their sensei… many, many years ago. He stared at his own swirling reflection in the river, his arms propped against the bridge's stiff railings. His reflection… it's been a while since he scrutinized his present looks… he looked old, older even. It's strange how your looks can change when the person inside haven't. Naruto was shocked to see the other man in front of him: was that really him? He remembered that his face used to reflect happiness, control, and self-confidence. Now it just seemed empty enough to be filled with anything but bitterness.
His eyes suddenly widened: he could hear something hidden from the gossamer curtain of leaves just beside the bridge. Strange… very, very peculiar indeed. Who dared stalk him in this time of night?
'It's nothing,' Naruto told himself, eyeing the bags under his eyes since he barely even slept anymore. He just usually lied down on his bed, doing nothing but lament over his failure.
… shkch…
Another noise, a shuffle, from behind the bushels of foliage… just ignore it, it's nothing…
"ZUU!"
That is, until an arrow shot from out of no where, latching itself in Naruto's exposed back and piercing the whole of his stomach—a critical area. Blood flowed after the wound and Naruto felt that his life was being pulled out of him.
Yet he stayed motionless and unperturbed…
'Definitely nothing at all,'
Naruto stole a lazy glance at the noise. Somebody dared injure him behind his back? Damn. Too bad he's gonna die… the stranger is gonna die a painful death, indeed. A sneering head gained definiteness amid all the confusing leaves, each colored with heavy darkness and evil green. Slowly—oh so slowly—his body appeared beneath the shadows of the ominous night— Shaz…
Surprise, surprise…
"Meh… you're not so tough after all!" he said. Naruto just kept silent, raising one eyebrow and seemingly not feeling the arrow bleeding him dry, "That'd teach ya' to kill my BROTHER!"
Shaz reacted quickly: reaching behind him, he seized his bronze-colored axe which still bore the color of tainted blood, and will now surely shed this asshole's own blood. He spread it fully to his side, showing Naruto the monstrous blade (reaching the length of two feet), smirked, and ran towards him in full speed, radiating with a heavy killer intent. Naruto still remained motionless, though, still stooping above the railing with ease and indolence while Shaz let out a war cry.
-SCHK-
The axe struck Naruto's back, the edge of the blade coming out from his chest and increasing the amount of blood on his jacket. The blood gave Shaz the right hunger for flesh, yet still Naruto remained motionless… STILL he remained indolent! Shaz needed his victims' blood filled with fear! Fear from him! Not this kind of emotion: bore, weariness— the very emotion painted on Naruto's face while Shaz continued to lash out on his body mercilessly. And then he suddenly realized… that he was striking no one—
He looked at his poised axe, poised as if it just shot at Naruto's lenient flash. There was none of Naruto's wet blood anymore… just the dried red crust of Shaz's past victims.
Smoke… there was smoke everywhere. Naruto disappeared from… smoke? The odorless reddish smoke gained solidity instead of dissipating, making Shaz loose his sight of everything around him. Where had Naruto gone? One minute he was slashing at the blonde with no mercy… and now the tables have surprisingly turned. Shaz forced himself to relax, a trickle of sweat prickling his lips. How did he escape with those kinds of wounds? Two wounds from his back, a side wound under his right armpit… one from the neck… how?
But then, his thoughts were interrupted when he felt somebody loom behind his back.
Naruto!
What?
Naruto grabbed Shaz's neck with a heavy force and was glad to hear a couple of bones knitting from his hand's force. He quickly threw Shaz off the bridge and unto the twisting river beneath them…
-SPLASH-
Shaz fell down the river with a heavy splatter, his axe accidentally slashing his left hand on the process. He sputtered around, trying to gain balance while Naruto stood over him with a confident smirk, his body devoid of any bruise or wounds of any kind…
That bastard…
"Iwa Bunshin no Jutsu…" Naruto proclaimed condescendingly, while Shaz just looked at him with his eyes wide, "An original of mine."
"You…"
-CCSSHH-
A couple of hands grabbed his neck from the water. More hands clutched at his arms, legs, torso, and stomach, pulling him down into the water, trying to drown the awestruck victim.
"And that's Kagebunshin no Jutsu," Naruto smiled smugly, he was so good…
Shaz struggled underwater, but Naruto's clones, maybe six of them, grabbed a kunai from their belt sacks and raised their arms, about to stab Shaz to death underwater and stain its purity with his wicked blood.
Upon the bridge, Naruto looked over his prey with furious eyes and sated lips, smiling to himself with pride, "I haven't lost my touch after all," he whispered,
The struggling in the river ceased… and the river began to bubble.
Naruto looked at it with bewilderment: looks like he wasn't the only one with a surprise. Something large suddenly took form within the depths of the river of blackness; something… treacherous and unpredictable. He guessed that his clones were destroyed since six explosions beneath the water further increased with the much bigger explosion.
A dark force seemed to slither under the bridge he was standing on. Naruto ran to the other side of the bridge and looked deep under the water… nothing. Nothing yet…
Silence prevailed…
Naruto could hear his own drastic heartbeat, which pulsated like a ghastly drum, but he wasn't nervous. Not nervous, because he knew he must live. His heartbeat told him so, and the creatures hidden from the depths of midnight whispered in his ears that his purpose was Sakura now…
He WILL live…
But as the shadow of death emerged above his pate, he felt fear appear within him bit by bit, and he knew that deathly feeling well. He felt it many times before, but this time it was different. He knew that Shaz doesn't use the power of chakra… so what power did he use? What and who is more powerful between them and their techniques? Naruto sniffed once—twice—and smelled it: that vulgar smell of… reptile. Could it be that… Shaz is what Bosatsu referred to as…
-VOOSH-
… The Snake…
The blackish snake towered above him, raining water above his head, and hissing curses at the blonde. Naruto stared at it, dumbfounded at first, but then moved with great agility, that when The Snake threw itself on the bridge, Naruto was auspicious to have missed its deadly, venom-dripping fangs.
He landed on all fours on the other side of the bridge, facing front on the forest and ran! He ran as fast as he could—but he wasn't running away from the fire… he was going to fight it with a hellish inferno instead. It was then he was reminded of Manda and his fight against it… that time, Sasuke was controlling Manda.
The Snake hissed once and followed after Naruto with his objective standing clear: kill him. KILL HIM! The words repeated in its head, the voice so overwhelmingly powerful that no folly would ever stop his purpose for vengeance: kill him! Destroy him! Murder him! – to a bloody mass of NOTHING!
Naruto screeched to a stop and smacked the ground with his palms, "KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU!"
He waited for the jutsu to work… but it… it DIDN'T! What the… HELL! That jutsu he used to perform with simplicity… that jutsu which he never failed to work… COULDN'T WORK NOW!
The Snake did another hiss of rage, and Naruto started to run again… he had another trump card in his sleeves…
"HEY, JACKASS! YA' THINK YA' GOT ME?"
The Snake roared a spit out a horrible roar of taunt, seemingly saying: "TRY ME!" It opened its mouth very wide, ready to jab at the blonde with its dripping fangs…
-BOOM-
The world around it shook with fear and dread: was Naruto struck down? Was he dead, or did he have the chance to live again? The Snake took its fangs off the dirt, rocks and severed trunks and roots of trees fell down the ground and into the deep incision it made, yet there was no blood anywhere… but…
"KAGEBUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"
Five clones appeared from the trees and unto its slimy back. Naruto's five clones grabbed each of their kunai and slammed it in The Snake, hissing blood flowed from it, but merely like a mosquito bite, The Snake ignored it and tried to take Naruto's clones off its back.
'BAKA!' The Snake said within Naruto's mind, 'YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN DEFEAT ME!'
"YES!" The original Naruto exclaimed, still concealed in the thick depths of the forest,
"RASENGAN!" this time, several clones jumped over The Snake's head, each with their powerful Rasengan glowing inside their palms…
—SCHOOM—
And burst, I say… EXPLODED on The Snake's head! Screeching out in shock and pain, The Snake's upper body fell to the ground with a deep rumble while Naruto's clones had their left hands poised on a hand seal—the fight wasn't over until Shaz was in pieces, "IWA BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"
More clones appeared next to Naruto's Kagebunshin duplicates with a throaty crackle, like pebbles were when it was all covered in a box together, yet it was quicker in sound, and louder, too.
The Snake recovered from its attack and started lashing out again with its head and tail, hissing even more with incense; still seething with revenge, 'DAMMIT! THAT HURT!'
Hissing once again, it launched its fangs, its mouth wide open once more, but it was merely striking on clones… where was the real Naruto?
"Kushiyose no Jutsu!" one clone exclaimed, but the Frog Boss failed to reach his command…
-BLAM-
The clone disappeared with a pop when The Snake's heavy tail dropped on his pate, and still it lashed out even more, his furious quakes throwing trees and rocks up in the air with it landing down to the ground with a mighty plop (even striking some of Naruto's clones). The real Naruto, who was still concealed, started with another trick of his. He prayed that this would work: "SWAMP OF THE UNDERWORLD!"
-KKKUUUU-
The earth rumbled beneath Naruto's prey and crackled beneath it. Some dark colored substance appeared around The Snake, and even threatened to sink it in like quicksand…
'CHUU—UZUMAKI NARUTO!' The Snake spat, and then hissed with its reptile-like tone, "SAMBUGOU TA JUTSUU!"
… and then, around the darkened swamp, water flooded around the forest, snaking around trees and drowning every living thing in its wake. It was like a tidal wave of pure destruction! The swamp under it dissipated from the massive amount of water, and a whoosh of air followed from a tidal wave created by The Snake's tail, and threatened to throw Naruto off the tree he was in.
'INTERESTING DISPLAY OF POWER INDEEED!' it mocked,
A hefty pause followed the air as it tried to perceive any sign where Naruto was. The water around it started to splash, shivering from the monster's weight and scale. The Snake growled in frustration, 'INTERESTING, UZUMAKI NARUTO!'
"RASENGAN!"
Naruto appeared from his hiding place and lashed out at The Snake, but at the same time, it opened its huge jaws so wide, that even an elephant can fit in, when it heard his shout, not suspecting the deadly sphere swirling in the blonde's hand…
The world seemed to go in slow motion as Naruto realized that his aim was targeted right into the snake's orifice… the snake's jaws which were wide, and its fangs clear and huge compared to the whole of his arm. He was gaining in closer, yet the monster didn't know that its jaws were in danger… its head was in danger…
He was beguiled to pull back, but couldn't. He COULDN'T pull back… his jump was in full force: filled with confidence but was now filled with dread. Dread for the creature's opened maw—dripping with acidic venom. Naruto just sucked his breath and let destiny lead his flight: right into the jaws of doom— an onerous task indeed. His stomach twirled again and again with the thought of his possible death—
'Dammit...' he thought, cursing the fate's lack of altruistic display…
…
Silence occurred.
A deathly and torpid silence. The silence of the world who wept for the dead was silenced with suspense…
A stony solitude, much like what he felt in the forest before the field of butterflies…
'Dammit…'
Naruto plunged deep into the sea below him while The Snake's severed head fell down with him, its blood flowing after like a dastardly tail.
There—he silently fell into darkness.
… Sakura-chan…
AN: And, at last, Chapter Eleven has been entered. I hope you guys like it... and another cliffhanger enters the scene: Is Naruto dead?Is he alive? Am I screwin' your brains? I am... don't trust me. Thanks for the past reviews, and I dedicate this to GoneKrazy. Thanks, dude, you're a real friend. By the way: Please Review and I hope you like it.