Disclaimer: See Prologue
Author's Note: See Profile for response to reviews…
"ABC" - Spoken
ABC - Thought
'ABC' -Bijū Spoken
'ABC' - Bijū Thought
ABC – Book Excerpts
&&&& - Scene Change
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Stranger Than Fiction
Chapter Four: Gemini
Every time… every time, I practiced Sensei's taijutsu I'm always left depleted of chakra. At the time, it took everything I had to control the amount released with each blow. Of course, I remember him saying that I should accept its use as an assassination style in my hands, but I couldn't help but want to try and learn to use it like he did.
As, a result of my stubbornness I would always end up passing out from chakra depletion. But, this was one time where I was glad for it.
Awakening to a soft voice in my ears… I awoke to a vision unlike anything I had experienced before or since… She was a goddess…
Now, I can say that I'm blessed to know some utterly beautiful women… but, none held a candle to the beauty at my side… so like any red-blooded male I did what was expected of me… I stared like a fool.
"Is my face really that fascinating?"
Her voice was as soft as it was gentle and all I could do was nod. She giggled at my reaction and it caused me to turn a deep shade of red.
"Well, I'll leave you to your sleep… I was just worried you'd catch a cold."
"Worried… about me?"
She looked at me a bit puzzled before smiling and giving a quick nod.
"Thank you."
She simply shook her head and went about her business. I sat there watching her gather herds and before I knew it I was helping. She gently lead me threw the process, showing me which where medicinal… I kept stealing glances at her and she continued to gently laugh them off.
"So, why are you out here all alone?"
"Training…"
"Are you some kind of ninja…? I noticed your headband."
"Yeah, I am… I was practicing a super secret style my sensei taught me… It's super cool and super deadly."
I couldn't help but try and impress her, yet now that I think about it… I sounded like such a kid.
"What are you training for… you look pretty strong and manly as it is."
I couldn't help but blush at her words… I had never had such a long conversation with a girl before… well, besides Chibi-Hime… and I was constantly trying to make sure I didn't say anything stupid.
"Yeah, well, there's always someone stronger… so I need to get stronger too and stay focused."
"But… Why…?"
Her question was innocent enough but the answer it brought forth surprised us both… the resulting conversation would change both our outlooks.
"Right, now, it's cause I have to prove something to a certain person… but, its also cause I need to be strong so that someday I may become the Soul of my village. Then everyone who looks down on me will have to realize how wrong they were."
She looked me over as if she was trying to find fault in my words… I did the same, trying to see why she would doubt them…
"And… are you doing this all for that certain person or for your own sake…?"
"What…?"
She caught me off guard with that one and I guess my face showed it, as she started to laugh... it was soft and free… it made me do the same and then she spoke so suddenly that I nearly missed it.
"Do you have anyone special in your life?"
I just sat there as the true implication of those words hit me all at once… did I… if I did what did it mean… if I didn't what did that… before I could think on it any further she continued.
"When someone is protecting something that is truly precious to them… they can become truly strong… stronger than they ever imagined… as strong as they must be."
Her words where strong, firm, and true… Our eyes meet and I smiled… not that phony smile that was my shield… no, a true smile… an honest smile… and she did the same.
In that moment they came to me one by one… My precious people, Old Man Soul, Sensei, Hime, Chibi-Hime, Scar, Cyclops, Avenger, Cherry Blossom and now, her.
"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean."
She nodded and proceeded to gather her things.
"You will get stronger… stronger than you can ever imagine… I know we'll meet again."
Standing she flashed me one last beautiful smile before beginning to leave… I realized that I hadn't asked her name, but before I could she spoke…
"Oh, I think you should know… I'm a boy."
I was shocked… I was confused… but above all else… I was happy… I had made a new friend and I knew he was right… I would get stronger and we would meet again… I just had no idea how soon.
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They where dead… Momo and Avenger… both died defending us… both dead by our hands… Cyclops was still unconscious and Cherry Blossom was guarding our client.
And, we where left both craving revenge… Sensei's "forbidden" taijutsu at the ready, I charged at him… I could taste his demise.
Gemini charged at me… all fear or regret gone… only a need for vengeance driving him on… We were mere feet apart when we felt them… Stopping side by side, we turned to see them.
The bastard responsible for all of this had arrived bringing about a hundred bandits and mercenaries with him… his sick laugh filled our ears and our eyes meet… needles and kunai where drawn… with a nod it was then agreed…
"What a mess… only two little ninja left… this'll be…"
It was all he'd manage to say before Gemini's needles had pierced his eyes and I lopped of his head. Standing back to back, before his headless corpse, we where surrounded by his men and we laughed…
"You're all going to die."
"For Momo… not a soul shall leave unscathed."
We charged into the crowd making short work of the ones we encountered… He plunging needles into their vital spots and I using Sensei's style freely for the first time, while hidden within the mist that surrounded us… We were making short work of them but the numbers weren't in our favor.
Meeting again in the midst of the horde, our backs together once more, I looked at him over my shoulder and smiled.
"I'm sorry about Momo."
"I'm sorry about your friend."
A couple of fools charged us and with a palm to the chest and needles to the throat they were down.
"You know if we had met someplace else… we would have been friends."
"Yes… I believe that too… Kyu, I…"
"It's all right… we'll go down together…as brothers"
"Yes… brothers."
With a final nod and smile we charged head long into our fate… but it was not to be.
"What the…"
Arrows came flying into our midst and we turned to see that the villagers had arrived. Now, with an awakened Cyclops they where preparing to attack…
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu…"
Suddenly the numbers of our saviors was greatly added to by dozens of Cyclops's clones. The bandits finally wavered and decided to make a hasty retreat.
Amidst the chaos, I came to a decision and made my move. Grabbing Gemini by the shoulder I threw him towards the edge of the unfinished bridge…
He looked at me with confused, hurt eyes… but, I couldn't waver not if this was going to work.
"Now, for you…"
I charged forward, drawing a kunai and plunging it into his midsection… Our eyes met for only a moment before he was gone… plummeting over the edge to the waters below.
"Kyu… was that necessary?"
I turned around to find Cyclops standing there; he had a sad yet understanding look in his eye. Sighing, I walked past him towards where Avenger laid with Cherry Blossom crying over him.
I felt so helpless… so worthless… and then I saw it… a twitch of the hand… and then I knew I was right… Pulling her off of him, I pulled him up and shook him awake.
"Kyu… why are you touching me…?"
"Oh… sorry…?"
I drop him unceremoniously on his ass causing him to look up at me with that scowl of his, just as Cherry Blossom bops me over the head causing me to fall atop him.
"Oh… I'm sorry!"
I look up at her and smile before pulling her down on top of us. She was pissed for only a moment before pulling us both into an embrace. I looked over her shoulder at Avenger, who gave me a smirk and a nod.
At, which I smiled… I then knew that it was all right… that I had made the right choice…
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Two weeks had passed and it was almost time for us to head home. Our mission complete, our team intact, overall it was a success.
But, it was not without it's loses… Momo was dead… despite being a Missing-nin; he was a fine example of what it meant to be a true shinobi.
A large chunk of our innocence was taken from us… in our first real mission; we had faced death, a questioning of our ideals, and made it through relatively unscathed.
Standing before the graves I suggested we dig for Momo and Gemini, the second being empty, we said our final goodbyes... Cherry Blossom then asked a question that was more than appropriate…
"Were they right about what it means to be a ninja… are we all really just disposable tools…?"
"A Shinobi shouldn't be concerned with a reason for their own existence… it is merely important that we exist as tools for our village to use as they see fit… it's as true for us as it is for any ninja anywhere else."
Cyclops's answer just didn't sit right with me… I had been told as much by Sensei during our talks, but to witness and experience it… I didn't like it and I would voice as much.
"I don't agree… not for one second… we're more then tools… we're more than skills, jutsus, and bloodlines… if that's what it means to walk the path of a true ninja… then I'm going to create my own path… my own destiny… my nindo."
I looked at those gathered around me and I saw the surprise in their eyes. It dawned on me that I had let my mask slip and yet… they were now smiling…
"Well, said Kyu…"
"Yeah, who knew?"
"Dobe…"
As, we prepared to leave I asked to stay behind a little longer, they all nodded and let me be. Once, I was sure we where alone I called out to him…
"You can come out now…"
"I heard what you said… I like it."
"I meant it… you're more than your bloodline… I'm more than what people see… we're not tools… and I'll live my life proving it."
We were silent for awhile both just enjoying the others company… but the sun was setting and my team returned home in the morning.
"I'm truly sorry about…"
"I know… I thought I was worthless… I had provoked you… I wanted death. He stepped in and showed me that I had value beyond that of a tool… of a weapon… I thank him for it."
"Still… he's gone and my friend lives."
"Well, I could always kill him… make it even, if you like?"
I stood there stroking my chin as I contemplated his offer… doing this succeeded in bringing back that soft, free laugh that I love so.
"Nah… he may be a bastard, but I like having him around."
I offered him my hand and he gladly accepted, we shook not as rivals or friends but as brothers…
"Here… I expect to hear from you every once in awhile."
"I promise… so, I guess this is goodbye?"
"For now…"
We parted ways as two kindred souls… knowing that out there was someone we could trust… someone we could turn to… someone who would understand… someone I'm proud to call – My Brother…
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Kakashi watched Sakura as she read. The truth of what happened in the Wave was surprising to say the least. Naruto had managed to not only save Haku's life but do it under his nose. Kakashi couldn't help but admit he was proud of the boy.
"He… They knew each other… Haku's alive…?"
"It would seem so… that Naruto is something else."
"Yeah… yeah, he is."
Sakura sits there looking out at the three training posts that rest before them and smiles at the memories they bring. But, at the same time she wonders how many of those memories are false…
Did I ever really know him…? Did I ever get to see the real Naruto…?
Kakashi, as if able to hear her question, stands, offering her a hand. Helping her to her feet, they look out over their training ground together - the remaining members of Team 7.
"Naruto was… Naruto… He may have had secrets, but how he felt about us and those around him was anything but hidden. I think… we were all simply blind to how deep those feelings ran… or from where they came."
Sakura is shocked. Leave it to Kakashi to state the obvious, even if it wasn't obvious until he said it. Laughing, she starts to walk off; turning around she smiles brightly.
"I'm going to go home and start back from the beginning… I-I want to know him… I want to understand…"
Kakashi nods, as Sakura turns and heads off, looking back at the Memorial Stone once more, he then vanishes, thinking, That we all do… I wonder how many will see 'underneath the underneath' to see the truth within his fiction...?
Seconds later, laughter can be heard through out the field…
Momo… he called the "Demon of the Hidden Mist"… Momo…
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Hinata was nearing the end of the fourth chapter and could not believe what she had read. Her three year old sister was kidnapped, only to be saved by an eight year old Naruto. As, thanks her Father agreed to train and prepare him for life as a Ninja. Most shocking of all was something she didn't think was even possible, but if these words are true is…
"Naruto knows… the Jyuuken (Gentle Fist)…?"
To Be Continued…