Shino was tired. Not only in the physical sense, but in the mentally drained one as well. For someone as logical and sensible as himself, Shino would've thought he'd been prepared to survive something like this. He had the brains to do it, but for some reason he can't think straight out here.
He's been wandering around these woods for hours, which wasn't a very good decision on his part. He isn't sure where he's going, or where he even wants to. Situations like this were always better off if you had a team, instead of just one person who had no idea what he was doing.
Shino has friends, he can't deny that. But there was no way of knowing where they were by now, or if they were even okay. Ino was already dead and gone, lifeless and nothing but a corpse. It's hard to believe, but that's just how death works, he supposes. He sighs, and steps over an anthill in his path, which brings his thoughts somewhere else.
The so called weapon that he'd gotten was a bug catching kit- the kind that children played with in their backyards. It wouldn't have any use, but he'd kept it anyway for no particular reason. This game really was designed to pit them against each other, so the weak would have no choice but to go after someone so they'd get a good weapon, while the stronger and luckier one killed them like it was nothing.
It wasn't fair, but neither were the majority of aspects in life.
He pushes his glasses up further on his nose, and lets out a deep sigh. No matter what, he is going to keep trudging forward. Maybe if he has some time to think, he'll come across a loophole. There's the obvious answer looming in the back of his mind, something he doesn't want to acknowledge. Kill everyone else, so his life may be spared. If Orochimaru honors the rules, of course.
Everything about that snake man irked him to the very core. Now, Shino didn't like very many things, hated most in fact, but Orochimaru bothered him on a larger level. He knew this game was much deeper than what it appeared to be on the surface. It was no doubt a sort of punishment.
Shino knew their old principal Sarutobi wouldn't have agreed to this. The old man was kinder than most, and had empathy that couldn't be challenged. Every student was special to him, no matter their past or predictable future. Even when the infamous Itachi Uchiha was enrolled in their school, the principal hadn't made a big deal out of it. He'd treated Itachi like any other child and done so without prejudice.
Tsundae was no pushover either. Shino knew that this whole thing couldn't have went down without a fight. Perhaps, she'd been threatened. Humans were strange when it came to their own wellbeing. It was either the student's lives or hers, something that wouldn't have made a difference in the long run anyhow. In the end, we are all selfish beings.
With these thoughts in mind, Shino continues to walk at a steady pace. Frames of pink and red streaked sunshine peer through the spaces left by the towering trees. He notices the shadow of each individual leaf, while various colored beetles land in one swift motion upon them. Hm, maybe he could catch one for the hell of it. Back at home, he had actually been quite fascinated by bugs.
He enjoyed poking and prodding them, finding out every little detail about their species. It wasn't anything more than a hobby for him, but his father had been a researcher in the same field. Sometimes his mother liked to joke that the ants marched down the family tree. It's almost humorous that his old favorite pastime would come back to haunt him at a time like this.
Shino kept walking until he was sure he'd covered a great distance. He made sure to keep his footsteps nearly silent, but what was the purpose? Stealth was still something he knew was important, however someone could kill him anyway. By now, he was sure it was mid morning by the way the sun was rising. No later than eight or nine at the most.
It was strange, how he hadn't seen anyone yet. According to the map, he was moving closer and closer towards the ocean, yet there hadn't been another soul in sight. So, he kept waking through the vast forrest, seeing nothing but towering trees. Shino was getting rather sick of all these damn trees.
His body stiffened when he began to hear something. It sounded very similar to a choked sob, and it was louder than what someone would emit if they knew killers were nearby. Whoever was blubbering nearby must've been pretty stupid, or just wasn't thinking.
Shino took the next few steps more carefully than his previous, and the wailing got even louder. He didn't have a death wish yet, so he decided to hide. He ducked behind a nearby tree and clutched unto the thick bark, before slowly leaning the upper half of his body to the side to get a good view. Whoever was out there, they were close.
What he saw made him nearly gasp, and that was quite a feat for Shino. The first thing he'd spotted was a few strands of purple tresses, which no doubt belonged to Hinata Hyuga. She was limp in the arms of someone he knew very well; Kiba Inuzuka. A flood of tears were cascading down his friend's face, and his small body was wracking and heaving with sobs.
The way Kiba was sobbing wasn't the kind of crying you'd do if you something minor happened. It wasn't the sort of crying someone did because they failed a test, or got in a fight with their best friend. It was the sort of sobbing that one does when they feel the highest form of anguish imaginable, and Shino had never seen it before. Perhaps, if he'd had any emotions like a normal human, he would've felt sorry for Kiba.
Even he'd noticed the way Kiba had loved Hinata. More than his dogs, more than his friends, more than illegal music and video games. Teenage love is often regarded as ill-fated and temporary, but Shino had to admit that the two would've worked out nicely. During the past few months, he'd assumed they'd hook up soon enough. They'd get married, have a couple kids, and live in a nice big house surrounded by family and dogs.
He'd never expected it to the end like this.
Cold heartless bastards like Shino weren't suited for confrontations like this, but he still stepped out from behind the tree and walked up to Kiba, who was so stricken with grief he didn't even notice.
"Kiba," He starts off, not really knowing what to say. Kiba ignores him and continues pitifully sobbing, lost in a trance. Shino doesn't know how to feels to lose someone, and he'd hoped he never would, so his condolences are somewhat forced. He hesitantly sinks to the ground beside Kiba and lightly touches his hand. It's an odd gesture, he knows, but he can't really do anything else because Kiba won't let go of the corpse.
Shino is once again ignored, so he tries to pry Kiba away from Hinata- or what once was her. It's no use, Kiba won't let him. His sharp and tear filled eyes are at still pointed at the arrow in her forehead, like he's trying to erase it from his memory.
"Kiba, get ahold of yourself!" Shino states, more assertively than before. He understands that Kiba has lost a precious person, but now he's almost hysterical. Shino can't just sit back and allow this to happen, Kiba's putting them both in danger by his behavior. With a tighter hold than before, Shino manages to pry Kiba's arm off of Hinata's clammy skin, ripping the fabric of his jacket in the process.
Kiba's eyes go even wider than before, and he gives Shino a dazed look. Sorry can't even begin to describe what Shino will have to say to get out of this one. It's something he will regret, yet it's something he has to do. Holding onto her wouldn't bring Hinata back, and it had only turned Kiba's crying into pitiful screeching similar to a wounded dog while the sight of her dead body gnawed at his heart.
"Say your farewells, then I plan to help you find a safer location. Whoever did this to her could still be lurking nearby. It isn't easy for you, and I never said it was, but you must leave this behind. Dry your tears and pull yourself together." Those few sentences seemed like more words than Shino had said in an entire lifetime. He'd never been one for talking, and found the interaction to be a waste of his time. Now was when it really mattered.
Kiba clenches his fists, and his eyes begin to glow with newfound fury. "B-Bastard! You don't understand how I feel! How much this fucking hurts!" As always, Shino didn't understand. All he could do was be here, and if he had to be the subject of Kiba's rage, so be it. If fists would fly at him, he wouldn't even bat an eye. That was what friends were for, he supposed.
"Hit me if you wish. Take your anger out on me, your sadness. I will bear it." So Shino gets off the ground and puts his hands up in surrender. Kiba can only stare, until he slowly gets up on his wobbly legs and aims his fist straight for Shino's face.
"It isn't fair that she had to leave me! It's bullshit and it isn't fair!"
The pain comes quickly, but Shino's face still stings with the initial impact moments later. Kiba hit him hard, yet not hard enough to cause any damage. Just hard enough to make sure he felt something.
"I know." Is all Shino says, before Kiba lowers his hands to his sides and stays silent.
"Let's just go, I can't look at her any longer." Kiba is clearly trying to keep his emotions locked up for Shino's sake, but he can see right through it. Despite knowing this, he only nods and starts to walk back towards the path.
Grief was a strange thing.
On the outskirts of the island's endless forest, there was a warehouse. It wasn't marked as anything but an empty lot on the map, so most people chose to avoid it since it seemed to be void of any necessity. However, three girls were huddled in the corner of the building, holding on to each other for dear life.
It was still somewhat dark outside, which gave the warehouse a dark glow. A thick dust coated the floor, and the ceiling seemed as if it would collapse at any moment. There was nothing inside except abandoned merchandise, something that had happened to cover the girls pretty well. Sure, the place smelled like mold and mildew, but it was their only option as of now.
Suzumebachi, Koyuki, and Isarabi were some of the classes's more popular girls. Though, in a situation like this, they were almost completely useless. Two of them had gotta useless weapons, and Isarabi had no desire to harm anyone with hers, no matter what. She had gotten a trident, something similar to what a mermaid was use. It was a shiny blue color, and coated with shimmering metallic paint. The tips had apparently been heavily sharpened, and could easily pierce through two or three people.
It was small, light, and easy to wield, yet Isarabi refused.
"I won't hurt anyone," She'd protested, whenever she'd found the weapon in her bag. "I won't play their stupid game. Maybe I'll get hurt- I might even die. But y'know what? I'd rather die innocent than a criminal."
Which lead the girls to their current situation; totally screwed. Koyuki had gotten a disposable camera, and Suzumebachi had gotten a jar of honey. Not exactly something they could defend themselves with. It was only a matter of time till someone found them, and then it was game over. The girls had always been best friends, but deep down, they all knew they deserved this. They skipped school, treated people like they were worthless, and flat out disrespected their teachers and parents.
In a time like this, they could only hope to redeem themselves by sacrifice. Wasn't that the only way they could pay for their crimes? There was no getting out of here, that was obvious. No one wants to die, but sometimes it's better to accept it than live your last moments in denial.
Like clockwork; the huge doors concealing them were pulled open. Heavy footsteps pounded against the dark floor, revealing themselves to also be a group of three. Two boys, and one girl. Dosu, Kin, and Zaku. People even more rotten than the so called troublemaking girls.
A soft click was heard- the drawing of a knife.
"Come out girls," A rough yet feminine voice drawls out, almost like she's about to start sweet talking them. "We aren't going to hurt you."
"Just kidding!" One of the other two cackles. "We're definitely killing you."
"Hush your babbling Zaku, it'll go by quicker if you don't make them scream." This voice is much deeper, making him sound even more threatening. The three girls huddle in even closer, if that was even possible. Their bodies were so close, that they were practically in a dogpile. All three of them shut their eyes, already knowing what was coming.
The girl, Kin, moves one of the unopened boxes. A wicked grin spreads across her lips when she spots the three that were hidden behind it, causing her to raise her knife once again.
"Shall I do the honors?"
They were afraid, but who wouldn't be?
"I wanna do it, but I guess you can have these three. I mean, there's gonna be plenty more."
"Good, I was just itching to end these cowardly bitches once and for all." And with that, the sharp blade slices into Isarabi's neck. The pain is unreal, and then all of a sudden it's gone. She feels heavy, then tired, and then nothing at all. Koyuki is next, following Suzumebachi. They all think of similar things as they fade out, of the things they should've done while they lived, and the things they could've done.
The knife makes a slick, squishing sound as it's pulled out from the newly cut flesh. It's soaked in blood, but Kin doesn't even flinch at what she's just done, or the bodies lying before her. She just wipes the knife on the side of her cargo pants and starts digging through their things. Zaku joins her and offers her a cocky grin. All three of them view this as a prize rather than an immoral deed.
"Didn't know you were such a seasoned killer."
"What can I say? Orochimaru taught me well."
On the other side of the island, Sasuke rested. They'd began the trek over towards the lighthouse, and Sasuke had ended up just about falling right over from exhaustion. So, they'd taken a detour. Naruto had climbed one of the tall, towering trees, and perched himself on one of the thicker branches. Sasuke did the same, except he chose a sturdier one.
By the time he'd made it up that high, fighting sleep had become nearly impossible. The world was nothing but a green blur, mixed with dots of blue if he looked up high enough. There was no denying that he was tired, worse than tired. If he'd been in any other state, the lull of the waves hitting the distant shore would've made sleep come easier, but there was just too much on his mind.
Eventually, he becomes too exhausted to fight it, and his eyelid begin to droop. Before he sleeps, there's only one thought on his mind.
Itachi.
Karin, Sasuke, Suigetsu, and an upperclassman, Jugo, were all seated on the couch in the tiny apparent belonging to the Uchiha brothers. Karin had a blunt rolled in one hand, sending wafts of thick smoke dancing through the air. She had a dopey grin on her face, and every bit of makeup she'd had on had been smeared off. Suigetsu was laughing at her, with his own blunt held between his fingers.
Normally, this would've been hard to come by, but Jugo had covered them this time. It was a Saturday, which meant they'd all be free of school, and Sasuke's older brother. Itachi worked weekends, something that Sasuke and his friends would forever be grateful about. He couldn't catch them if he was out of the house, now could he?
Sasuke hadn't smoked much, since he actually had better judgement than the other three. Still, there was a faint buzz lingering in the pit of his stomach, that made him crave it even more. The room spun slightly when he stood up, causing him to fall right back down on the couch and into Karin's lap. Her skirt was short- far too short, which made Sasuke slightly amused (If that was even possible) She was always trying to flaunt herself around him. It just never worked.
"This is one way to show those old farts in the big offices who's boss, yeah?" Suigetsu snorted, blowing a trail of smoke as he laughed. Sasuke was in his right mind just enough to know that Suigetsu was totally baked. Worse than usual.
"Yeah yeah yeah, we're freeing this country, one blunt at a time." Karin snickered. Sasuke hated her laugh, it was just always so annoying. Especially now, she sounded like a pig. Jugo only smiled at them.
"Shut the fuck up, Karin." Sasuke finally added, promptly snatching the blunt right out of her hands. He took a long drag, just because he felt obligated to. Now, Sasuke wasn't much of a stoner. He didn't enjoy the earthy smell, or the smoky taste it left behind, but he enjoyed the high it gave him. An escape from life, and all his troubles.
"Oh Sasuke, you're so cruel!" She cried, putting a hand over her chest like he'd just wounded her, while trying to expose her lacy bra in the process. Yep, she was almost as bad as Suigetsu when she got high. Which could be considered a world record, probably. Sasuke ignored her and took another drag, not really noticing that she'd began to run her fingers through his hair.
"Look at the lovebirds over there," Suigetsu nudged Jugo. Jugo was usually the reasonable one out of the group, so he caught on very quickly that Karin's interests were purely sexual and that she didn't have much of an attachment to Sasuke. He didn't judge her for it, and only nodded. Sometimes it was better to stick with the crowd rather than beating them all like the last bunch of kids who decided he was a good guy to have around.
In her current state, Karin didn't have much control over her urges. Her mind was fuzzy, and she acted purely on hormones and desire. As her high dragged on, so did her needs, and she couldn't get her mind off Sasuke. He and Suigetsu were talking about a party or something in the background, and she seen it as the perfect opportunity to drag her hand over to his, where it was resting idly on the side of the couch.
Sasuke's ever so observant eyes noticed the gesture, and picked up on just how nicely her tiny hand fit in his large one. It seemed platonic and innocent, so he kept chatting with Suigetsu. Karin led Sasuke's hand up to around her collar bone, then stopped to give him a sultry smile. He could only stare at her in disbelief, and was about to start spewing curses at her- when she did something he'd never forget.
She dragged his hand straight down to the corners of her lacy pastel bra that was nearly hanging out of her top, and let him grope her breast right through the fabric. He didn't really get anything out of it, despite Suigetsu's excited mumbling that he was getting lucky. At the same time, he knew he should've smacked her hand away, or given some indication that tits turned him off. Yet, he let her do it.
His hand went even further, going past the bra and right towards her breast. His heart beat wildly, and he knew it was wrong, but at the same time he craved the desire to be fixed. To just be another heterosexual like everyone else instead of a gay freak that people would be afraid of. His hand finally touched her breast, and he had to admit they were a nice size, even if he didn't appreciate them.
His fingers grazed the tip of her exposed nipple, causing her to moan and start leading his hand to grope her again. Suigetsu's face was crimson red, as him and Jugo watched from the other side of the couch. Neither of them knew what to do in a situation like this. Just when Sasuke started to squeeze again, the front door opened.
"Sasuke, I'm h-" When Itachi saw the two sitting on the couch, in such an embarrassing position, he dropped his groceries to the floor and gasped. His face turned as white as a ghost, and he looked from Sasuke, to Karin, to the blunt in Sasuke's free hand. Sasuke had never seen Itachi look so.. Disappointed. Sasuke quickly jerked his hand back, trying to calm himself down. He felt like he would puke at any moment.
"I..." Itachi finally spoke, his voice laced with sadness. "Get out of my house, all three of you." They only sat there and stared at him in shock, not really knowing how to respond. Finally, they rose from the couch and stood. Suigetsu shook his head at Sasuke before leaving, and all three of them shamefully left under Itachi's fearsome gaze.
"Itachi, I didn't mean to-"
"Save your excuses for later Sasuke, we need to talk."
"Talk? About what?"
"Sasuke, I'm sick. Very, very, sick."
His whole world began to shatter.
33 Students remaining
Author's note: This is late, so so late. I have no excuse except I've been going through a really hard time in my life, and it's hard for me to do anything, yet alone write. Plus the ending of Naruto was really dissapointing, I mean like it sucked some serious balls.
