Lost
By
Jacqueloveless
"Naruto, Neji. Go." Kakashi said. I stared at Neji. Neither of us moved, we simply stood there, surveying each other.
"Well? Do something!" Sakura yelled. Neji's eye flicker toward her in irritation, and I made my move.
I ran, silently, swiftly. Fast enough so that I was invisible to the naked eye, but of course, Neji's eyes were different. I realized I'd have to get the first, good, solid hit in, before Neji could activate his Byakugan. Even as I thought this, I ran, full force at Neji. My chakra pumped fist slammed into Neji's face, before I twisted and flung a full force roundhouse kick into Neji's back. He was thrown forward, but I was already there. I punched my fist into his gut, executing a upper cut to his stomach. He flew up, and I jumped, pushing after him to throw my fist into his stomach again, then grabbed his body, tipped us and spun. It was a slightly amateur lotus spin, but it worked as I slammed Neji into the ground, head first.
I jumped back, knowing that, though I was quick and got a good handle on the beginning of the match, it wasn't over. Neji was a rather amazing ninja, he'd pull himself from the ground and attack. I was right.
I watched as Neji jumped up from the crater we had created. "Byakugan!" Neji commanded. I watched as the veins showed around his pale, pupil-less eyes. "Eight trigrams, 64 palms!" He yelled, and his body sprang into movement. "Two palms!" He yelled flying toward me. Before he could land his blow, I had twisted to the left and narrowly avoided Neji's attack. I formed hand seals, then "Fire type; Mythical Fire Flower!" I yelled, and blew fire at Neji. He quickly dodge and sprang away from me. He charged and we began fight with taijutsu. As we fought I tried to think of a way to block Neji's Byakugan.
'His Byakugan deals with advanced sight or whatever… so if I cloud the area… Fog!' I thought. I twisted away from Neji descending fist and form the correct hand signs, "Hidden Mist Skill!" I exclaimed and watched as fog appeared. I heard Neji mutter a curse and realized I was right. If I mask my presence, and keep the fog going, I'll have him. I moved silently, and once I located him, executed my 'Uzumaki Naruto Combo'. I punched and kicked him high up, then before I slammed his body into the ground I used a full body bide, then smash him into the ground.
I released the fog and, breathing heavily, rubbed the tender spot on my stomach where Neji had gotten a very good hit in.
"Naruto…" Sakura murmured, I pretended not to notice that everyone was staring at me like I was a freak.
"Match to; Uzumaki Naruto." Kurenai said, intervening. "Naruto please release your full body bind on Neji." I gave a curt nod and walked over to him, placing my hands on his chest I released the full body bind.
"That's the second time you've beaten me, Naruto." Neji said, surprising everyone by giving me a small smile.
"You almost had me. If I hadn't have thought of fog, I'd have been done for." I said softly. It was true. Neji was an amazing ninja. Chances are, if I hadn't though of the fog, I'd be on my back with no charka left, beside Kyuubi's that is.
"Okay, next up is Rock Lee and Choji!" Kakashi called out; and the matches continued.
We had matches until around 4, then we stopped to eat. I leaned back against a tree trunk and bit into an apple. I had started eating healthier since I last saw Jiraiya. I was enjoying the slight quiet when, Kiba decided to plop down next to me.
"So…" he dragged to 'o' out, "I was wondering, were did you even get black clothing? I knew you had your funeral robes, but other than that, I thought it was all had was orange stuff." I sigh, and thought about not answering him, but, like before, everyone seemed to think they were in the conversation so I simply told them the truth;
"Jiraiya made me buy them." I grunted, my okay mood gone.
"Jiraiya?" he questioned.
"Yeah, the toad sage who I went with the get the fifth Hokage. He said the orange was too obnoxious and if I didn't loose it I wasn't going to learn a new technique, so, I went and pick up a couple pairs of black pants, shirts and standard issue sandals and called it good." I said, hoping the conversation was over; it wasn't.
"And your wearing them today because…" he let it trail off, waiting for me to finish. I good mood was officially diminished, and I'd already answered this question earlier that day.
"What's your sudden fixation with my apparel, dog breath?" I growled.
"Hey! Who are you calling 'dog breath', idiot!" he yelled, jumping to his feet.
"Oh, 'idiot', that's very original! You know what, dog toy, I was having an okay day and was in a pretty good mood, until the likes of you showed up. My god! I don't question every move you make! Leave me alone!" I shouted, jumping to my feet as well.
" Aw! The poor little demon boy can't take a couple of questions! What's wrong? Demon have a tummy ache?" he taunted. This pissed me off more, how the hell did he know about Kyuubi.
"Ah, so you know? Obviously someone didn't tell you the rules. Your not allowed to talk about it." I said simply, trying to stay calm.
"Not allowed to talk about it? And what if I do?" Kiba said, "What if I tell everyone what you are!"
"What happens if you do? Well I really don't care if people know or not, it's not my fault that it's there, so it doesn't bother me. I mean it's not like you all don't act like I'm a freak and ignore me anyway, so what's the point. But for the fun of it, I could show you what a really demon is like." I said, growling out the last part, menacingly.
"W-what?" that got his attention.
"Would you like me to show you? It would be very easy." I said simply, enjoying myself.
"Naruto." I turned my head to see Kakashi standing near me, his body language cautious.
"Hn. Don't worry, I wouldn't waste my energy on him." I said simply. "Are we done for the day?" I asked.
"Yeah, you can take off anytime you want." he replied.
"Oh, good. Well, see ya." I said simply and jumped up into the trees and took off toward home.
---Timeskip---
The sweat poured off my body as I woke, startled.
"Bad dream." I muttered, as though someone was around to care. I shifted uncomfortably for a moment, debating on whether I could go back to sleep or not. Not. Shoving the covers back I slide my feet down to the cool wooden floor of my bedroom. 'Shower', I thought and head for the bathroom.
"Naruto! Naruto, wake up!" the voice sounded panicked, and female. I jogged toward my door, only half-dressed.
"What?" I asked, swinging the door open. I didn't expect Sakura to throw her crying self on me.
"Sasuke! Sasuke is running away to join Orochimaru!" My eyes widened in surprise.
The rain was cooling, despite the wetness. I was only half conscious, but I knew I was going to die. The hole in my stomach was a testament to that. I laid there, the mud slick underneath me, the rain sliding down my face. I was aware of his headband, the one I had place a scratch in, laying by my head. 'Bonds.', I thought 'They mean less than I thought.' Death was calm.
"He'll be alright?" it was whispered.
"I'm not sure. There was some severe damage, but he's on fluids and I've repaired him the best I could." a female voice responded. I knew that voice. I knew the first one too. Who were they?
"How bad was it."
"Bad."
Who were they talking about?
"Naruto." the gravely male voice was closer, "Naruto, your going to be fine. Your strong." a warm hand took mine. It was large, calloused, and heavy. Jiraiya. "You gave us a scare, but you'll be fine, you'll see." he sounded as though he was trying to reassure himself, more than me. Chapped lips touched my forehead. Where was my forehead protector, why was he saying these things? Wetness dripped into my hair from my forehead. Rain? No. Tears. Sleep was too hard to fight.
"Is he better?" a male voice asked.
"Tsunade thinks so. It's hard to tell with Kyuubi." Jiraiya.
"What does Kyuubi have anything to do with it?" the voice asked again. It was a gentle voice, one I knew I heard before. One that had comforted me before. Why can't I place the name, the face to this voice?
"Its trying to repair Naruto itself. It destroys certain medicines that he's given, making it more difficult."
"Oh…" the gentle voice sounded distressed, "Has Kakashi or Sakura been up here yet?"
"No." Jiraiya responded, his voice hard, " a few people have. Asuma and his team have been here, and Kurenai and hers. The young Hyuuga girl is here often, though she mostly sits outside the door. Gai's team was here, though Gai hasn't returned from his mission. A few towns people were here, but just for a little bit. There isn't much to say to a near comatose nin." he said his voice lessening. There was quiet, but I knew the other man was there, because every once in a while a sob would break the quiet.
The bright light assaulted my eyes. The beep of a the monitor that was hooked directly to my heart, was steady and even. I glanced around, the best I could. My body was strapped down due to the seizure I was having in my sleep. I remember a lot of confusion and blood. Then, Sasuke. He was gone. I closed my eyes briefly. Let the pain wash in, then out. I became aware of the hand loosely holding mine, and the soft snoring I knew belong to Jiraiya.
"Hey." I whispered, surprised by the hoarseness of my voice, I cleared my thought lightly, "Hey, old man." I said a bit louder, squeezing his hand.
"Huh? Wh-wha?" His white head came up off the bed, his eyes focusing. "What? Naruto!" He yelled and I was pulled, the best as possible, into a hug.
"Well, everything is healing up nicely. We can get you discharged in about three days." Tsunade said.
"In a hurry?" I murmured knowing what that meant.
"N-no." she said trying to sound firm and sure. "I just want to see you out of the hospital."
"That's cheerful speak for the elders want me out of the village as soon as possible." I informed her. Her smile dropped. "It's alright. Where am I going?" I asked softly.
"With Jiraiya. He said he'd train you…" she carried off, checking charts that she'd already checked.
"For how long?" I asked the unsaid question.
"Years, Naruto. Oh, those bastards are sending you away for years." she said, angry tears rolled down her face as she bit her lip. I smiled slightly and opened my now unbound arms. She fell into the hug.
"Your sure you have everything?" Iruka fussed.
"Yes. I have it all. All that's worth taking at least." I said.
"But you bag is so small…" Iruka fretted.
"I have a shirking jutsu. It makes the items smaller and easier to pack. I'll be fine. I've got Jiraiya to look after me." I glanced over and happened to catch what Tsunade was saying to him.
"… I swear, if he comes back a pervert, I'll break off your…" she broke off noticing my grin. She shot him one last threatening glance, then placed her arms around me in a hug. I reached my arms around her and pressed my face to her neck. We release and I smiled at her, and Iruka. The only one who knew about my departure.
I stepped back, side by side with Jiraiya. Lifting my face to the rising sun that was appearing over the Hokage Monument. I smiled, but wasn't able to stop the soft sigh from escaping my lips.
"Come on Naruto, let's go." Jiraiya called.
"Yeah… See you guys." I said softly, then took off after the toad sage.
---Time skip; 5 years later---
Time. Time changes a person. It's been three years since I separated from Jiraiya. Three years of being alone, except for the occasional people I would meet. I traveled, country to country, village to village, trying to find someone who made me feel less alone. People, people grow hard when no is there to talk to. I've grown hard, private. I've learn so much more than I ever thought I would. Now, there was nothing left for me to do, other than return to Konoha, and report back to the Hokage.
I trudged along the gravel path that lead the to village I was born to. My hands were slid into my pockets, my walk was a practiced casual, yet dangerously threatening stride. I saw the gates and stopped briefly. There would be guards at they're post, nin that would rather be doing something other than checking in new, foreign ninja. They could easily be avoided, but I was in the mood for fun.
I continued walking, and went past the gates. I didn't stop at the desk, but continued to walk until I heard the ninja at the desk call, "Sir, sir. We need your ID and information before you can continue." I turned, and watched a slight tenseness take over they're bodies.
"ID?" I asked aloud as though I was just a regular nin who lived there everyday and had simply gone for a stroll.
"Yes, sir. ID, information and you'll need to be searched for weapons. It's standard policy for foreign nin entering the village." the man replied.
"Foreign? Whatever made you think I was a foreign nin?" I asked calmly.
"Your not wearing a headband, and I've never seen you before." the man responded.
"Hm. I suppose that's reason enough." I said softly. I reached into my pocket, and pulled out the only two things I'd need. ID and a headband. Three years ago, I got my ID renewed, right before I left to travel alone.
"Thank-y." He'd read the name, his eyes widened, then darted between me and the photograph.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, knowing exactly what he was doing. He was trying to place the name with the face. Impossible. I looked almost nothing like I once did.
"N-no. Everything is in order, just… just let me stamp this…" he murmured and began filling out a form. Slammed a stamp on the form and handed it and my ID and headband back. "Have… a nice, a nice day." he muttered. "Please keep the ID , headband and forms on you until you see the Hokage."
"Will do. Bye." I said, letting my voice go gravellier than normal. I kept walking, as though I had no care at all, all the while letting my dark aura get darker.
Okay. It's been almost a year. And I'm sorry, but I hope you liked this chapter, I'll get the next up asap, but I have a lot going on. Next chapter you all get to read about how different Naru looks and how everyone reacts. I hope my fight scene at the beginning was good. Read and Review please.
JacqueLoveLess