DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, any characters affiliated, the fact that Neji's birthday is July 3rd, the "Are we there yet?" game (shudder), a monotone, an evil scalpel of chakra, the word 'ggaakkg', random thoughts, a long, silent conversation, Dr. Mario, extreme focus, or an unorthodox Hyuuga.
A/N: OH MY GOSH! THE FINAL BOOK OF 'THE SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS' IS OUT! (runs out of room)
Itachi: (poofs into room)...Seeing as how I am barely in this story, I have taken over part of the author's notes. If there are any problems, keep them to yourself. Otherwise you will have a very bloody future. Now. Before Esperwen left, she mentioned something about this being the last day that she could post before the weekend. I'm assuming this means that she'll post two chapters today.
A/N: (runs by) IT'S TITLE IS 'THE END'! OH MY GOSH! I MUST FIND IT! (leaves)
Itachi: ...hn. By the way, 'glomp' is a word that means something along the lines of 'hugs from behind', and is usually a kind of affectionate attack. 'gordon lacey', you are an imbecile. Also, I am not really Deniizu's father. Far from it. Esperwen was simply being an idiot and made me out of character. ...That should be the end of this headnote then.
The third day was a nice, sunny, summery, not-too-humid day. Just perfect for a quasi-casual walk on a path in the woods. The third day marked the objective of reaching the half-way point on their map between Thyme and Leaf. The third day also just happened to be Neji's birthday, but nobody paid attention to that. It's not because Neji is a rotten person (ok, he is at this point, but that doesn't count), or that Teams 8 and 13 are lousy, negligent people. It's just that the third day happened to be the rebirth of the 'Are-we-there-yet.'
"Are we there yet?" Bikto asked.
"Bikto, we've only been marching for half an hour, and it's still pretty early," Goudon complained, "Can't you just leave this off until later?"
"Well? Are we?" Bikto prompted, completely ignoring his older brother.
"No," Michiko said calmly, while carrying Aramis as they walked.
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"Bikto, could you please stop?" Shino asked in a monotone.
Bikto thought for a moment; he didn't know if Shino was in a good mood or not, so he didn't know if he could press his luck and continue. He also didn't know how good of a fighter Shino was, since the skirmish from the day before couldn't really indicate anything.
Korii, with his Byakugan, could see that Shino was completely tense. Not simply the wary-tense that one becomes when on their guard; more like suppressed-anger-tense. Out of respect, Korii didn't check Shino's eyes, but he could guess that they looked hard.
I can prevent a fight, or I can let this spin out, Korii thought, Bikto is probably going to continue his act, and I'm, personally, not in the mood for this. Not to mention the client isn't supposed to be harmed.
"Bikto, don't," Korii said in a completely dull voice.
"I'd advise against asking-" Goudon tried to add, but Bikto spoke right over him.
"Are we there yet, chaperone?" Bikto asked, turning and nudging Michiko's arm for an answer.
"No," Michiko answered, still calmly.
Just two more days and it's over, Michiko thought, Two more days and I can punch his face in.
That's kind of violent for a future medical ninja, Deniizu thought to Michiko wryly.
Hey, if Kabuto can make a scalpel using chakra, I can make a stone mallet with my fist, right? It's only fair, Michiko protested.
"Are we there yet?" Bikto asked, oblivious to the girls' silent conversation.
I get the next hit, though, Deniizu thought, So leave something for me to beat up. ...And Korii; he wants to finish.
What about Kiba? Michiko thought, "No, Bikto, we're not there yet."
No, Kiba doesn't actually want to hurt Bikto.
Is something wrong with him?
He wants to kill Bikto. There's a slight difference, Deniizu explained.
"Are we there-ggaakkg!"
Bikto stopped walking and keeled over, clutching at his throat and gagging.
"I think he's choking," Korii observed, not bothering to stop or turn around.
Kurenai sighed and walked past Goudon and Pooriin to check on Bikto, thinking, This is the worst team effort to protect that I have ever seen...hey, he's choking on a bug...
AHA! TAKE THAT, BIKTO! IN YOUR FACE, CHATORA-BOY! GET 'IM, KIKAICHU! AHAHA!
I like dinner. These walls are slate-coloured. The fire is orange. Food is good.
Michiko, you always have such random thoughts.
But food is good! Especially when you prepare it yourself.
I wonder how Shino would react if he knew what you were thinking, Deniizu thought slyly, swallowing another mouthful of sandwich.
You wouldn't dare, Michiko thought, scandalized.
The group was in a cave that Korii and Inel had led them to; they would stay there for their third night. Michiko was writing in a cloud-covered notebook by the fire while eating, and Deniizu was sitting at the very end of the cave, eating her own dinner. Pooriin was doodling on the page that Michiko wasn't using, while Goudon's red tabby, Athos and D'Artagnan sat watching nearby; Athos and the cat were on the ground, while D'Artagnan was on Pooriin's head. Korii and Shino were sitting near the cave mouth, discussing the next day's journey while Aramis listened, and Inel and Bikto were playing a game of Shougi near Deniizu, with both of Bikto's cats watching. Goudon was already asleep, with his white cat napping on top of his stomach, and Porthos lying on his back beside Goudon, snoring; it was already getting dark outside. Kurenai was examining one of her scrolls while sitting on her sleeping mat, and Kiba and Hinata were out on guard duty.
Michiko had been lying on her stomach; now she rolled over and sat up. Pooriin looked up at her friend, and saw her and Deniizu in a staring match. Deniizu raised her eyebrows and had a slight smile on her face; Michiko looked completely serious. Pooriin furrowed her brow, and Athos and the tabby watched Michiko, all three wondering what was happening; D'Artagnan merely jumped down from Pooriin's head and reached for a pencil with one of his paws. Michiko shook her head almost imperceptibly, and Deniizu cut her eyes and looked at Shino pointedly before looking back at Michiko. The three observers looked back and forth between Michiko and Deniizu, trying to figure out what was going on, while D'Artagnan managed to get his teeth around a pencil. Michiko slowly raised her pen like a sword, pointing at Deniizu and simply holding her pose there, looking menacing. Deniizu smiled casually, got up slowly, and deliberately started walking towards where the co-leaders were sitting; Pooriin, the red tabby, and Athos watched her, all three still not understanding what was happening. D'Artagnan stuggled with the pencil, trying to make a mark on the still-open notebook. Michiko jumped up and made as if stepping towards Deniizu, then froze, still pointing her pen, with her head slightly tilted to the side and a look on her face that screamed, "If you do I swear...!" Athos stood and pawed at Michiko's leg with a whine, as Deniizu gave Michiko a small salute and continued to walk towards Korii and Shino.
"Deniizu, no!" Michiko exclaimed, throwing her pen at the telepath.
Pooriin and the tabby flinched at her sudden outburst, and D'Artagnan accidentally bit through his pencil. With a growl, he dropped it and went to find Michiko's pen, just as Deniizu tapped Shino on the shoulder.
"Hey, you guys should eat dinner," Deniizu said sweetly, "It's getting late."
Michiko froze with a non-plussed look on her face, then let herself fall onto the ground in relief.
I wouldn't actually tell him, Deniizu thought to her, laughing inside.
"What's that all about?" Korii asked, raising an eyebrow at Deniizu after seeing Michiko fall.
"Nothing," Deniizu answered dismissively, with a vague hand motion.
Shino shrugged the matter off, and both he and Korii got up to get food.
"You are so weird," Pooriin said, looking at Michiko with an affectionate smile.
Michiko raised and turned her head just a little, to show Pooriin that she was smiling too, but that look soon vanished when the whole cave heard Akamaru barking and growling outside in the distance. Aramis, who was closest to the opening of the cave, barked fiercely, and looked as if he wanted to run out and join his friend; doing this woke up Porthos and Goudon. Kurenai, Inel, Korii, Athos and Aramis all stood at the cave's mouth, listening hard. Akamaru's noise was joined with a short bark, a howl, and another short bark. Korii and Kurenai turned to Michiko questioningly.
"That was Kiba," Michiko said brusquely, getting up, "Someone's attacking."
"Ok, then," Korii nodded, "Inel-sensei, Kurenai-san, Deniizu, let's go. Shino, you're the leader here. Michiko, you also have to stay and protect the clients. Also, I need you to lend me Athos; if he runs back here, we need help."
Deniizu joined the two sensei and her teammate at the cave's opening, and all four turned back to Michiko, waiting for her. Michiko scowled a little, and Korii knew why.
"The medical nin on a team is the last to jump into a fight, because her talent needs to be protected," Korii said quietly.
"Because of her weakness, she's next to useless," Michiko whispered vehemently, then turned to Athos and spoke in her normal voice, "You heard him, boy. You're up."
Athos stood on his hind legs with a bark and leaned against Michiko.
"Fight for me, ok?" she requested quietly, patting him on the head as a goodbye.
With another bark, Athos went back down on all fours and trotted to the rest of Team 13. Inel and Kurenai quickly walked out into the evening; Korii followed close behind with Athos at his heels. Deniizu gave Michiko, Kurenai and Shino a quick salute before hurrying after her team. Michiko sighed, then kicked a loose stone on the ground before turning back to the fire and her notebook. D'Artagnan was sitting proudly beside it with Michiko's pen in his mouth, and she could see why.
"Hm...you drew some nice squiggles, pup. It kind of looks like black ramen."
Bleh...black ramen...I don't even like black licorice. But burnt marshmallows are good.
Team 13 met a sorry sight when they came to the place where Kiba and Hinata had been keeping watch. Hinata was curled up on the ground in the fetal position, clutching a kunai, hiding her face and trembling. Akamaru was bleeding from his left shoulder and right flank but still defending Hinata, and Kiba was trying to guard Hinata's other side with a very obvious limp. There were three bandits, none of which were the ones from the day before; there was a girl in a green tunic with a dark blue belt, a girl that looked like the one from the day before, only with longer hair, and a boy dressed like Dr. Mario only in black. All three were attacking Hinata and Kiba with no scruples whatsoever. Kurenai and Korii were the first to start running; Kurenai saw her student in danger, and Korii saw his cousin being attacked. With a curse, Korii activated his Byakugan just as Deniizu and Inel started running.
"Hinata, get up!" the older Hyuuga yelled, launching himself at the Dr. Mario lookalike, "Forget your fear; just fight!"
Back to the cave!
Goudon, Bikto, their four cat companions and Pooriin all sat at the back of the cave, with the three dogs sitting protectively around them; Porthos was in the front and center, D'Artagnan was at the right, and Aramis sat at the left in front of Pooriin. Shino stood at the cave mouth listening for and trying to sense anything that might be a threat to the team's clients. Pooriin had been helping Michiko remove the medical 'obi'; now Michiko folded it carefully and placed it in her giant bookbag before joining Shino.
"You took it off?" Shino asked, not turning away from the outside when he heard Michiko reach him.
"I have to be a fighting ninja right now; not a healing one," Michiko said, taking out a kunai for each hand before adding softly, "Maybe a killing ninja."
Shino turned his head, almost imperceptably, towards Michiko. He saw discontent written all over her face, but wasn't sure why.
Am I always going to be left behind? Michiko was thinking, gripping her kunai hard, Will I always be so useless? Michiko blinked and sighed, I sound emo in my thoughts...tsk...I just hope I don't have to actually...kill...
Is she afraid? Shino thought, seeing a dead look in Michiko's eyes.
Shino stepped a little to the side so that their arms were touching, and Michiko looked up at him questioningly. His head was turned; he seemed to be looking straight at her.
"You don't have to be afraid," Shino said in a voice quiet enough that the Chatora couldn't hear.
"I'm not really," Michiko answered with a shrug, equally quietly, "I just...wish I had a better part in this mission."
Shino raised an eyebrow.
"'A better part'? You're directly protecting the client-"
"Yeah, I know, I know. It's an honour to be the one trusted enough to be the last line of defence," Michiko rolled her eyes and looked out of the cave, the grip on her kunai tensing again, "I love being the guardian of those that don't need me."
"Michiko..." Shino said unsmilingly.
"I know. 'A true shinobi does not think of personal gain, but of the mission.' I am thinking of the mission."
Then you wouldn't be thinking like this, Shino thought, You'd be content with what you have.
Michiko looked at Shino and he turned away, a slight frown forming and his torso starting to turn away from Michiko to just slightly show his back.
He doesn't agree, Michiko thought, annoyed, then felt resigned, But of course. His clan is incredible; this is how they fulfill all of their missions so flawlessly. Extreme focus.
Back to the fight!
Korii was getting very annoyed with 'Dr Mario'; somehow, the slightly shorter boy was continually dodging and staying out of range of Korii's Juuken. Trying again with his left hand, Korii almost managed to get the boy, but at the last second he still twisted out of the way and threw a kunai at Hinata.
"Damn this shit," Korii growled, catching the kunai by the handle before it could get past him, "Screw the Gentle Fist style!"
Kurenai glanced at Korii for a second before turning back to her and Deniizu's opponent, the brown-haired girl.
That Hyuuga is using a kunai and curved sword to fight, she thought, surprised, He's certainly unorthodox.
If Korii-kun can fight untraditionally, then I should be able to at least do something, Hinata thought, still shaking on the ground, ...but I can't...
"Whoa!" the black-clad bandit exclaimed, when Korii almost gutted him with the dagger, "Just a little longer, everyone! Hold on!"
"Hold on for what?" Kiba snarled, while Athos and Inel protected him and Akamaru where he sat, resting. But he received no answer.
A/N: No answer! No answer! The world is ending! Doom and destruction for all! Oh no! AAAH! ...I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND 'THE END'! (runs out)
Itachi: ...review, before I kill your family. And your family's family. And your friends. And your friends' families. And that guy that was sitting beside you on that plane trip? Him too. So please, review.