Yup, it's me again, screwing the studying for my exams (I'm so gonna regret that later) and writing this. Well, I didn't plan to update this for at least five, more days, but I got a sudden inspiration and decided to write it, falling behind with my studies in the process, so I hope you're going to like this one.
I'm glad most of you enjoyed the kimono part from the previous chapter as it was one of my favorite as well. On the positive side, more girls in kimonos are coming up (sorry to all Kasumi fans though, she's the only one that won't put one on). But romance fans will most likely be happy with this one, coz that's the part that'll develop the most in this chappie.
I hate to be a spoiler, so I guess I'll just stop there. I must admit however that I'm way more happy about how this chapter turned out then I was from the previous one.
So, without further to do, please enjoy the next chapter of "Shinobi Story":
Chapter #9: Dark Clouds Gather
Title Page: Naruto and Hinata are sitting on a branch in the park and the Hyuuga heiress is resting her head on the boy's shoulder as she sleeps, smiling and blushing at the same time.
Naraku stretched himself and yawned. The hour was still pretty early for him, so he rubbed his eyes to shake the sleep from them. As his vision became clearer, a blush appeared on his face, coz right before him stood both Tamao and Hinata, again in their kimonos from yesterday. But above that, this time also Hinako put on hers: a green one with sliver branches all over it and a big, yellow ribbon tied on her back.
"Naraku-sama, you're already awake!" yelled the green-haired girl happily. "This'll make it way easier! We're going to the festival and we're hoping that you'd join us!"
"Festival?" asked the former leaf-nin, still a bit unconscious. "What festival?"
"Temari-san told us about it…" replied Tamao quietly. "Festival of the Wind… it'll take place in the Suna for the next, three days… I-it's to celebrate the forming of the H-hidden Sand Village… there'll be games and fireworks…" but with that she blushed and lowered her head as she realized Naraku was looking at her surprised.
"Okay, but why are you going at this hour? It's like eight in the morning…"
"The festival begins at that hour exactly!" replied Hinako happily. "Come on, Naraku-sama, everyone will go! Kankuro already gave me his word back there that he'll show up and Gaara-san also said he'll drop by as soon as he'll finish his work… Yari and Kasumi will tag along as well…"
"Are you seriously thinking you'll convince Kasumi to join us?" asked the former leaf-nin with a little annoying smile.
Hinako rethought what she just said and then corrected: "Yari will tag along as well… I'm sure that the pinhead will join too…"
"And what about Shikamaru and Temari?"
"T-they already left…" replied Hinata shyly.
Naraku stood there for a moment and then, with a sigh, turned around and headed to his room: "Okay, I'll go, just give me a moment to bath and all…" and with that he disappeared behind the door.
About an hour later the former leaf-nin was already walking down the streets of Hidden Sand Village in his usual outfit along with the three girls in kimonos and Naruto, who still haven't awaken completely.
As they reached the main square, located in the middle of Suna, Hinata got stunned by all the decorations and costumes that appeared before her eyes: everywhere she saw Chinese lanterns (A/N: just as a note, I know that China doesn't exist in 'Naruto' world, but it's just how those things are called) in all colors and every, single one of them had a golden kanji for 'wind' painted on it.
Ribbons, that were hanging from the buildings gave her an impression of a rainbow that was falling from the sky. Some of them even had words written with silver letters on them, most of which talked about wind.
All around stood stands with different purposes: some were selling souvenirs and costumes, others were for games like tossing a ball at the bottles that stood on the table few meters away or dart-throwing.
Most people had masks on their faces, which usually represented desert creatures, like vultures or vipers, but there were also raccoons, lions and even dragons. Naruto just couldn't help himself and bought a fox mask.
"What's with all the masks?" asked Hinako as a man wearing a tiger costume passed her. "I mean, what those have to do with wind?"
"Cooling wind can often be the last hope of those who travel through the desert…" they all heard a voice and as they turned in the direction it came from, they was Temari walking around with Shikamaru. The Sand kunoichi had her hands wrapped around the lazy shinobi's arm, who had his head turned away as if he didn't care, but Naraku couldn't not spot a blush appearing on the shadow user's face. "Those costumes are supposed to show that the chilling breeze is the savior for all creatures… well, nowadays it's not kept in a tradition, coz the masks represent every, living animal, along with those that doesn't exist on the desert, however in the older days you could only buy desert animal masks…"
The Sand kunoichi was wearing a violet kimono with silver leaves all over it, along with the big, dark blue ribbon on its back, Shikamaru however didn't wear any, casual clothes, as Naruto thought, it was because it'd be too troublesome for him to put them on.
As Temari explained the reasons behind the masks, Naraku turned to the stand that was selling masks and noticing the ones he wanted, he picked out some money to buy it. As the merchant took the money, he gave the former leaf-nin three masks in return. The young Monodane walked over to the three kunoichi and gave each one mask: a tiger one for Hinako, a rabbit for Tamao and a fox for Hinata.
The green-haired girl took the present and smiled widely to the boy, but the other, two girls just grabbed their masked and bowed, trying to hide deep blushes that appeared on their faces.
"Well, sorry but I guess we'll be leaving you to yourselves…" announced Temari as she looked to one end of the square. "I see a tossing stand where you can win a big, raccoon mascot… come on, I want one…" and with that she dragged Shikamaru with her, making him blush a bit more and saying 'why all women are so troublesome', making Naruto held back his laughter. "Oh yeah, remember to be here in the evening…" the Sand kunoichi called from afar. "The fireworks are gonna be great!" and with that she disappeared with the lazy ninja in the crowd.
"So I guess we should find ourselves something to do too…" said the whisker-marks as he kept staring where Temari and Shikamaru just disappeared. "Lets look for some ramen stand!" and with that he threw his fist to the sky.
"Ramen stand?" Hinako's eyebrow went up. "How can you even eat that junk?"
"Don't insult RAMEN!" yelled Naraku, making the green-haired girl sweat dropped and think to herself: "Well, nobody's perfect…"
Tamao only giggled and then her eyes stopped at a certain stand. She walked over to the former leaf-nin and pulled his shirt a little, thus gaining his attention: "Um, Naraku-kun…" and with that she pointed at the stand.
The young Monodane smiled under his nose and turned to the blonde: "Oi, Naruto, what'd you say if we'd check our strength? Tamao-chan just noticed the hammer challenge… the loser will have to treat everyone to the food they like best…"
"You're no, weak ass!" replied the Kyuubi container with a smile.
---Some time later at the Kazekage Tower---
Gaara was sitting at his desk, signing another document. Today has surely been a long one. He yawned slightly and then looked out the window, just to see Yari standing in it, dressed in her kimono which was light blue with small stars around her left hip and few, big ones on her right shoulder. It had a large, red ribbon wrapped on the back and the redhead also noticed butterfly clips in the girl's blue hair. "Wha…?"
"You're still here?" she interrupted him in an annoyed voice. "Don't think I'll let you just sit here, when the Wind Festival takes place! Come on, I'm taking you with me…"
"I can't…" replied the Godaime, blushing slightly. "I have duties and…"
"Blah, blah, blah…" the kunoichi interrupted him again. "Eleven years ago you said Kankuro got sick and you had to take care of him… I'm not letting you off the hook this time around! I want a pink bear and you're going to win it for me!" and so she grabbed the boy's hand.
"But I'm not properly dress…" the redhead tried to defend himself.
"Don't worry, when you're going to walk around with a chick like me, no-one will even notice you…" she joked an pulled him harder, finally managing to make him get up from his chair. "Move it, before Shikamaru wins all the mascots for Temari-san!"
"About that…" responded Gaara with a smile. "I don't think you should be worrying…"
"Alright, that's it!" announced the kunoichi. "Either you'll go on your free will or I'll have to resolve to… drastic measures!"
"You wouldn't dare…" responded the Godaime with both fear and happiness appearing on his face. Yari only answered with a grin. "You would…" he sighed and walked over to the window, smiling. "I kinda knew someday I'll regret revealing that to you… I'll get you back for terrorizing me with it when we get back…"
"Whatever…" replied the blue-haired girl with a smile. "Just win me that pink bear!"
---Back at the Festival---
Naruto threw another dart at the balloons, yet missed again. Naraku placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder, holding back his laughter: "It seems that you lost again… I have no idea why you're so desperate to win that panda, however as I see it, there's no way you're going to make it…"
"I'll get it this time!" assured the whisker-marks.
"That's what you said last time…" reminded Hinako. "And the one before that… and one before that… and before that… oh, and before that… and lets not forget…"
"I get the point…" Naruto interrupted her, crossing his arms. Just then they heard balloons popping and saw Hinata taking the huge, panda mascot from the owner of the dart game stand. "Hinata-chan?" the blonde's blue eyes widen in surprise as he saw Hyuuga heiress walking towards them and carrying a panda that was at least as big as herself in her arms.
"That's what I call good aim…" the green-haired girl complimented her. "A girl turned out to be better then you… if that's not pathetic, I don't know what is…" she joked, turning to Naruto and then winking to the white-eyed girl.
Hinata walked closer to the loud mouth and handed him the bear, her face completely red: "H-here you go, N-naruto-kun…" she managed to say shaking slightly.
Naraku only slimed under his nose at the sight, as he handed Tamao ice cream that she wanted. The girl's face turned red just like Hinata's, she however managed to hid it with the rabbit mask the former leaf-nin bought her earlier: "T-thank you, Naraku-kun…" she bowed before turning around and lifting her mask up in order to eat her ice cream and avoid her face being seen by the young Monodane.
"But this sucks…" announced Hinako, looking at both pairs. "Where's the Love Tunnel or something?" and the moment she said so, everyone's faces turned red, except her own. She smirked and then added: "I wanna ride it with someone!"
"In stead, why don't we go to the Fortune Teller?" purposed Naruto as he pointed at a nearby tent. "It could be fun…"
"No need for me to go there…" replied the green-haired girl playfully as she wrapped her hands around the young Monodane's arm. "I know my future is with Naraku-sama…" and with that she stick her tongue at Tamao, who blushed slightly as well as gave her companion an angry look.
Naraku only sweat dropped, completely clueless as to how he should react. "I don't believe in fortune telling…" he finally said, freeing himself from Hinako's grip. "Lets go eat that dinner Naruto owes us…" and with that a wide grin appeared on his face, which made the blonde lower his head at the thought how much he'll have to spend.
---Somewhere in Suna---
Kasumi walked with hands in her pockets through the streets of the Hidden Sand, heading towards the main square. She was wearing her usual clothes though. "Why in the world am I even doing this? It's just some lame festival… and there's no way in hell I'm putting a kimono on!" but just then she stopped and looked over her shoulder at the hooded man that just passed her. "Just now… and those eyes…"
---Meanwhile, outside Suna---
"So, you're telling me you allowed him to escape?" asked a grim voice of a figure that was hidden in the shadows of the tent. The figure was looking with shining, red eyes at the sound-nin who was kneeling before him. He didn't dared to answer, so he only nodded his head.
At seeing that the figure stood up front the throne-like chair it was sitting on and walked over to the scared sound-nin. As he came to the light, it appeared that he had medium-length, gelled up, raven black hair and his eyes were now red. He was wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned at the top and black pants, along with the typical, Sound rope-like belt (A/N: sorry, I have no idea what it is really, but all the sound-nins has it… except Kabuto). The man also noticed a fang earring in the man's left ear and a golden hilt of the sword that was attached to his back.
The raven-haired grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up: "You dare return to me alive without completing your mission? Do you even realize who you let escape? That man is one of the most dangerous, Konoha survivals…" he announced, his voice still cold, yet besides that emotionless.
"F-forgive me, Sasuke-sama…" begged the sound-nin, gasping for air.
"Forgiveness…" began the crimson-eyed man. "Is not one of my traits…" and with that he snapped the man's neck and let him fall to the ground. He then turned to another sound-nin that was standing right beside the throne and ordered: "Split our forces… send half of them south, I've just received orders from Kabuto… the other half will head towards Hidden Sand… this time, I'll take care of him personally…" and with that he exited the tent.
---Meanwhile, far away---
Hinato and Hanone walked inside the cave and instantly shadows surrounded them. A thick mist was covering their way, hiding every single stone. Neither of them stopped however, they walked forward, easily avoiding all the obstacles, until they reached a wide cavern with stalactites hanging from above and stalagmites raising from the ground.
The moment they entered, they saw a huge figure appearing in the mist. The man that stood before them was at least one and a half of a typical, human size and had large hands from the elbows to the tops of his fingers. "You're late…" he said in a loud voice.
"What took you so long?" another voice came and this one belong to a female, who was hanging from the ceiling, with her feet on it. She too was hidden in the mist and the only thing you could tell about her was that she had red eyes and long hair. "Don't tell me you weren't able to complete a simple mission like the one you were send to do…"
"Mind your own business, Aki…" Hinato replied coldly, without even looking at the hanging girl. "It was Resshin-sama's order and we had no choice in that matter…"
"Did you now?" another voice was heard and this one belong to a man who was sitting on a large rock, He too was hidden in the mist and the only thing that could be told about him, was that he had spiky hair. "That Naraku guy has to be strong then, since he managed to defeat both of you… maybe Resshin-sama will allow me to have some fun with him?"
"First of all, Toge, he didn't defeated us both…" corrected Hanone. "We never fought him… and further more, I doubt you'd be able to kill him on your own… in a one on one fight, you'd most likely get instantly killed…"
"Not a problem…" responded the one called Toge. "It's not like I care about life, since I don't have much of it left anyway…"
"But even with your limited time, you're still of use to us…" announced another voice, which belong to a man who stood at the far end of the cavern and from the shadow of his figure you could tell he had long hair and was wearing an outfit with wide sleeves. "Do not forget why you are here…"
"Now that's not nice…" came a voice, which belong to a large man, full of muscle, who had a strange ring attached to his back with few balls placed in it. From the shadow of his figure you could also tell he was bold. "You know Resshin-sama took him for different reasons…"
"The reason for Toge to be here is of no importance…" reminded another voice which belong to a figure of normal, human size with spiky hair and some weird-looking things attached to its back. "What I'm interested in is why did you allowed the Monodane to live? You should've finished him before Resshin-sama arrived… quite disappointing…"
"You're saying you'd do better?" asked Hanone, turning to the figure.
"Surely…" replied the figure immediately.
Hanone was now boiling and was ready to jump straight at the figure, when suddenly a man appeared between him and Hinato, who placed his arms around them. He was wearing a violet cloak with a hood on his head, His eyes were black and you could spot a hitae-ate with the slashed symbol of the mountains used as a belt. "Now, now…" the man said. "The last thing we need is to get into fights before Resshin-sama's arrival…"
"Whatever…" responded Hanone, calming down and looking around. "But there are two people missing… where are Hasaki and Tsumeko?" he demanded.
"They have… other business" replied the last figure, a tall man. "They went with Resshin-sama's allowance… Tsumeko was really happy that he got his agreement… it's been a long time since he visited his home village… and speaking of Resshin-sama…" and with that he pointed with his head at the other end of the cavern.
There Resshin slowly walked inside and looked around. A small smile appeared on his face as he announced loud enough for everyone gathered to hear him: "Well, well, well, everyone really came… even though I gave you orders, I didn't expect for you to manage, Aki… Saikyou…" and with that he turned to the figures from which one was hanging from the ceiling and the other was the large man with huge arms. "But since we're here, I believe there's no point in making a long entrance… lets begin… the secret meeting of Juusan Akuma…"
And this is where this chapter ends. A lot is to be revealed in the next. Hope you enjoyed it. Please leave me a review once you're done.
Well, no jutsu encyclopedia this time around, however I can give you another character profile. Lets do Hinako this time:
Name: Banrai Hinako
Name origins: her first name, written without the –ko at the end can be translated simply as 'chick'… I figure it'll fit perfectly as she was thought to be very attractive. Her clan's name, Banrai, in this case should be translated as 'heavy thunder'.
Birth Date: 13th of February
Age: 19 years old
Blood type: 0
Height: 150,3 cm
Weight: 42,8 kg
Rank: currently not specified, when she left her village, she was a chuunin
Village: Hidden Cloud (Kumo Gakure)
Techniques (used so far): none
Favorite food: sushi
Favorite color: green
Family: she doesn't like to talk about it, but those who know her a bit heard that she has an older sister named Hinato (which you already met) and stories about her mother, though she never spoke her name
And that's really that for this time. Hope you liked it. Please leave me a review. Pretty please.
Best wishes and until next time, hopefully.