Sapphire09: I wonder when I last updated this...

xXxSPICAxXx
by Sapphire09

The Meeting

"This is the Aerodome, a place to port airships, private or public airship," Obito said after they land and come out from the airship. The Konoha ninja can't help but to stare in awe to what they see. Airships parking in different part of the Aerodome, few airships look just the same, few other totally different.

The Aerodome itself is huge. There are also attendants in front of every part of the harbor. They almost thought that they're dreaming, since almost everything is very foreign to them.

"Come on. Our picker is waiting at the North Gate," Obito said as he led them to the North gate. They keep glancing around them when they walk. They notice that there are many… human-like-but-not-entirely-human creatures around them.

There's one group that consist of human-like creatures but have blue skin, pout, a horn on their forehead and around twice their size. There's also other that have long rabbit ears, with long limb and pointed feet, though there's not many of them, only one or two.. Then, there are also creatures that have pom-pom bobbing atop of their heads and bat-like wings on their back, standing on their two feet or floating around. There are also some other creatures that have lizard-like appearance or boar-like. At least the outfits that people wear weren't that weird. Not too different, at least. But, still…

"Am I seeing things?" Sakura whispered to her teammates. "If you are, then so are we," Shikamaru muttered. Kakashi can't believe for what he sees. Ninja is supposed to expect the unexpected, but this is just ridiculous! Jiraiya, Sai, and Obito can only chuckled inwardly for their expression.

"Aah, Hello Obito… and Mr. Jiraiya also Mr. Sai?" a feminine voice said when they were outside the Aerodome, but the voice said it in slightly weird accent. They turned towards the source of voice. There, a female with silver long hair that falls to her hips and long rabbit ears, with dark skin is standing near them. She wore white long wide-sleeves with silver breastplate with white cloth that fall to her knees, making it looks like a mini dress. She also wore silver stiletto heels.

"Ah, Miss Lynn. It's good to see you," Jiraiya said politely, when Sai just bowed. The other ninjas can't help but to stare at her in bewilderment.

Jiraiya then fake a cough and makes them realize that they have been staring. They then bowed in apologize. She only chuckled a little and asked, "My my, they are some cuties. Are they the representative that you have been talking about?" she asked politely again.

"Yes. They are. Would you like a brief introduction?" Jiraiya offered. "That will be lovely," she said. Jiraiya then gestures them to introduce their self. So Kakashi begins.

"I'm Hatake Kakashi. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said politely.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke said indifferently.

"Haruno Sakura. Nice to meet you," she said cheerfully.

"Hyuuga Neji. It's nice to see you," he said politely but still stoically.

"Troublesome… Nara Shikamaru," he grumbled.

As all of them introduce their self, Lynn smile began to fade as each of them said their name. After Shikamaru introduced himself, Lynn's smile is nothing more but a restrained small smile, only in order to be polite. She then turns to Jiraiya and walks up to him.

"Mr. Jiraiya, can you please explain the reason why you choose them? Sai, I can understand. But them?" she asked not too nicely in whisper, so that the other ninjas can't hear her. Jiraiya then state the reasons without missing a beat, as if he was practiced his answers.

"I choose Kakashi, Sasuke, and Neji because of their strength and ability. Shikamaru because of his IQ and Sakura because she is the best medic we have, second only to the Hokage," he said. Lynn narrowed her eyes. "Are there no other better candidates?"

"Nope. They're the best ninjas we can bring," Jiraiya said. Lynn is about to say something, but Obito cut her shortly.

"Just let them be, Lynn. Whether they will be approved or not is not our matter. As long as they can find the cure for the disease, I don't think I have anything to argue," he said. Lynn then sighed lightly. "Very well, then."

She then turned to them again and put another restrained smile. "Well, it seems it's my turn to introduce myself. My name is Lynn from the Viera race. I'm from the Fifth Division and I'm the fourth seat. I have been assigned to take you to the place where you will stay," she said politely.

"Now please, follow me." Lynn begins to walk ahead of them, followed by Obito, Jiraiya and Sai following closely, so they have no choice but to follow them too. After they leave the Aerodome, the can see how big and… foreign, the city is. So many things that's new to them. They, or at least Sakura, are hoping they can take a walk around.

"Don't worry. After the deal, he will take you around the city. If the deal is a success, that is," Obito said as if he was reading their mind. Jiraiya, however, looked at him in surprise. "Really!? Wait, did you said that without thinking or he did say that himself?"

"Well, he said it himself. However, that can only means that your negotiation won't be easy," he said. The others perk up upon hearing that. "Why? Who's he, anyway?" Neji asked.

"No time to explain. We're here," Lynn cut off their conversation. They have arrived in an empty alley that shaped like a circle not too far from the Aerodome. The size is around 60 inches in diameter. "Here… where…?" Sakura asked when she sees nothing but concrete ground with one human-sized crystal colored in bronze at the middle. "And what is that crystal doing here?" Sakura asked again.

"Now do everything as I said," Lynn said, ignoring Sakura's question.

"Stand closer to me. Don't stand more than 1 meter distance from where I'm standing." The others obeyed, but Obito. He keeps on holding something like an earpiece on his left ear and a cell phone on his right hand while having his eyes narrowed. "That means you too, Obito," Lynn said.

"Lynn… I'll catch up later. I need to make sure on something," he said before he runs away to the city and disappeared from view.

"Where is he going?" Sai asked curiously. Lynn only stared at where Obito headed before answering, "I think to the Central Headquarter. Now, just stand near me and brace yourself. This won't be so pleasant," Lynn said irritated. She then holds out a black crystal and held it closer to the bronze-colored crystal.

"Mirágia Island," she said before a white glowing circle with symbols appeared beneath them. The ninjas were startled when the circle appeared.

"Stay where you are and relax yourself. Don't be stiff or you'll face the effect later," Jiraiya warned before they can jump out from the circle on instinct. Hearing that, they stayed where they are and trying to relax. The black crystal that Lynn held floating to the bronze-colored crystal before it touched and the black crystal turned green. The smaller crystal then molds into the bigger crystal before shining a bright green light when it reached the center of the bigger crystal. The circle then glows green and soon they can feel like they were pulled in every direction. They didn't remember anything after that.

"You guys alright?" they heard Jiraiya asked when they finally come to their senses. Slowly, they open their eyes, to see a worried Jiraiya and a stoic Sai.

"What happened?" Sakura groaned as she gripped her ache head. The others also began to get up. "You guys lose consciousness for awhile there. No surprise, though. It was your first experience with the warping procedure, after all," Jiraiya said as he helps them stand.

"Warping?" Neji asked curiously. "The thing that happened minutes ago? It's a Warping—Teleportation in our term. This place can only be reached by using the crystal, so want it or not, you have to endure it. Don't worry, though. You can rest all you want once we arrive there," Jiraiya said again.

"Now that you're conscious, can we move on now?" Lynn said, making them remember that she's also here. They then look around them. In front of them is a forest, but what lay behind them is a cliff, and they can see the top of Altaira City from where they stand. "What the-!?"

"This island is located separately from the main city, called Mirágia Island. This place is your host's private island. This is also the only floating island existed besides Altaira," Lynn explained. "Our destination is up ahead, deep inside the woods. Now please, follow me," Lynn said as she moves towards the forest.

"Wait, you mean we're not there yet?" Sakura exclaimed. "Why didn't you teleport us straight to the destination? It'll save more time," Sasuke said confusedly. Lynn then glanced back at them. "Too bad it's impossible," she said.

"Huh? Why?" Kakashi asked. Lynn sighed heavily. "You really don't know anything, do you?" she muttered. "Follow me into the woods. You'll understand once you see it."

They then follow her into the forest. Once they stepped into the forest, they can feel the drastic change of atmosphere. '…Huh?'

"Look around you," Lynn said after a few steps inside the forest. They're not too far from the entrance, yet in every step they take, the more drastic the atmosphere change. When Lynn asked them to look around, they do as told.

What they see is quite hard to describe, but it seems like aura, or even chakra, that flowing freely in air.

"What you see is called Mist; naturally occurring energy, found in almost all regions of the world, affecting all living things, the climate, and even the land itself. There are marked regional differences in the amount of Mist contained in the atmosphere and soil. While typically invisible to the naked eye, high densities of Mist will occasionally manifest in very visible phenomena like what you currently see. However, the highest concentrations of Mist can do damage, leading to over-rapid changes in the environment, and violent behavior among animals and those more sensitive to the Mist's effects," Lynn explained

"So, that means this place is one of the regions that have high density Mist?" Kakashi confirmed. Lynn nodded. "Yes, but some of the Mist here didn't occurred naturally, but because of your host, the First Division Captain, wanted it. He found a way on how to make the Mist density on the region he wanted higher. That is why I cannot teleport you all straight to the destination, because of the Mist that covered the woods around here acted like a barrier around the house."

"You mean… we have to pass though this heavy atmosphere?" Neji asked. "Of course not. The Captain made a pathway that's free of high density Mist. It's not too far from here. Follow me," Lynn said as she moves out again.

"Hey, how come you're okay from this Mist? It's even hard for us to breathe here," Sakura said while gasping lightly. "Who said that I'm alright? I can only go this far to be comfortable. More than this, I will be super edgy. My kind, the Viera race, is one of the creatures that are sensitive to the effects of the Mist," she said.

"It's all only because that you never encounter Mist like this before," Sai said. "There isn't much Mist to begin with in Elemental Nation, almost none, so it's might hard for you to adapt with this kind of environment. Gradually, you'll get used to it, though."

"Sai is right. It was hard for us in the first time too. So, I don't think it was abnormal. We need to get going, though. You guys are already tired from the teleportation, you'll be fatigued if you stay in the Mist of this density," Jiraiya suggested. "We do need to get there as soon as possible. I'm worried about them," Lynn said as she walks away. They began following her then. They were confused by her words, though.

'Who are they?'

~A hallway somewhere in a silent mansion~

"You 'lright?" a boy around three years old said to a guy in his eighteen, holding to a red paper ball with both hand and holding it in front of his chest. He has short pitch black hair with long bangs framing his face. He wore black Japanese-syled top and white shorts. He also wore simple straw sandals.

The guy the he's talking to is wearing black turtleneck sleeveless shirt and orange vest that went mid-waist with long sleeve. The vest has silver linings and also silver calligraphy symbols on the back. He wears orange cargo pants with black boots. "Yeah… I'm alright," he said to the boy.

"Don't push yourself too hard, 'kay? You're the only one that's..'alright' right now. I won't know what to do if you're …," he didn't continue, but the older one knew what he is talking about. "You know…. The others left this morning… Missions, they said…," the boy said again. He then looks up to him. "Are you sure you're okay…?"

The guy then put his hand on the boy's head and patting him lightly. Their foreheads are touching.

"Don't worry… Yuu," he said, smiling soothingly. "Let's play again."

Yuu then brightened up. "Then, let's play tag!" he exclaimed happily. He ecstatically running around, but then he suddenly tripped near the fence. His small body slipped through the holes of the wooden fence and automatically, he fell down.

"YUU!!" the guy reached to him, but then suddenly his sight blurred, before he felt a throbbing pain on his head. He then fell down too. He reached Yuu's arm, and he pulled him to his embrace. The unimaginable pain makes him unable to concentrate. Having no time to think on how to stop the falling, he switched their position, so his body can shield the child from the cold, hard floor.

"NARUTO!!!"

And so, they fell straight from the third floor to the first floor.

Lynn's rabbit-like ears twitched as she stopped abruptly. The group is already halfway towards the destination. Jiraiya that noticed her stopping, asked, "What's wrong?"

Lynn narrowed her eyes before she shake her head and replying, "No. Nothing. It's only my imagination." She then continues walking forward, though she still can't shake the bad feeling she had.

"By the way, where's that pink haired girl?" Lynn asked. They then look around to notice that she isn't anywhere near them.

"Wait, she was here not too long ago!" Kakashi exclaimed. "Where is she!?"

Lynn's eyes widened as her ears caught a girl's scream. "Oh…no. I hope it's not because she met one of the Espers," Lynn said as she began do dash deeper into the woods. The ninjas follow her as fast as they can when they see her dash out of the pathway.

Soon after, they found Sakura paralyzed in fear in front of a giant golem. "A..aahhh…," she breathed as her eyes widened in fear. The golem lift one of its arm and about to hit Sakura, but Sai managed to save her in time. "Sakura-san, snap out of it!" Sai yelled. That woke Sakura out from her paralyzed state. "…Sai..?"

"Ugh!" Lynn growled as she lifts the sleeve of her right arm to reveal a hidden short bow. She then began shooting the golem with it, but to no avail. Sasuke and Neji also began attacking, but their attacks also futile. Shikamaru tried to bind the monster with his Kagemane no jutsu, but it's also fruitless. Sakura, that's already calmed down, went to attack, but she also failed. However, before Jiraiya and Sai can attack, the golem suddenly petrified and runs away.

"Huh?" most of them exclaimed when they see the golem turns and went away. Lynn's senses picked up that there's something that scared the golem. Lynn turned her head behind her, to see just the thing she's afraid to encounter.

"An… Esper…" she breathed. The others also look up in surprise.

There, in front of them, there's something that looks like one weird old geezer standing on an equally weird platform. "That's Exodus, The Judge-Sal, one of the three guardian of this place—WATCH OUT!!" Lynn yelled out when she see that Exodus is preparing to attack using Comet. She quickly pulls the others to where the attack can't reach them, helped by Jiraiya and Sai.

After the attack was done, she quickly attacks using her hidden short bow. Still didn't make much damage, though. The Esper then moving closer to them, and now they can't run away or hide anymore. Just when Exodus is about to attack, they heard a loud bang. The Esper suddenly stopped and falls down.

"Now's your chance! Run! It will be up soon!" someone behind the fallen Esper said. Jiraiya, Sai and Lynn quickly pull the others away, so they didn't have the chance to see their savior.

When they're back at the pathway, they stop to catch their breath.

"Are you guys alright?" the same voice asked. They turned to see the speaker. "Yes, we are. Thank you, you came at the right time, Raphael," Lynn said her gratitude.

Raphael is a guy around 17-18 years old, with short straight dark grey hair. He has red bloodshot eyes, making him looks more menacing. He has stoic facial expression. His outfit is purely in black and silver. He wore black wide-collared shirt with short sleeve that reminds them of Akatsuki cloak, but in pure black and short sleeved, like Sasuke's old shirt. Silver vertical line can be seen right in the middle of the shirt. He also wore black suede gloves and black pants, also black boots. On his collar, there's an emblem shaped in circle, made from pure gold. On it carved a weird symbol that looks like a hanged figure.

"But still… Why are you here?" Lynn asked.

"I suggest that you go in haste. Obito-san contacted me earlier to check on the Captain. He said there might be something that went wrong," he said seriously. Lynn straightened up. "What do you mean?" Jiraiya and Sai also tensed up.

"He called the mansion, but no one's answering. He kept trying for three times," he said. "Wait… the only thing that's possible… could be…" Lynn muttered, before her eyes went wide.

"In the third attempt… he can't connect at all."

"We need to reach the mansion NOW!" Lynn exclaimed as she suddenly dashed through. Raphael is following behind her, followed by the Konoha Ninjas.

"Hey, what happened!?" Sakura asked. Most of them didn't know what's happening, and suddenly they're dashing in a speed that can match Lee! If not because they're top-notch ninjas, they wouldn't be able to catch up.

" I 'dunno, but it seems something happened at the mansion. I think I have an idea, but I can't tell you now…," Jiraiya said. They look at him in curiosity, but decided to ask him later when seeing his worried, but unsure face.

Soon, they're out from the woods and arrived in a clearing with concrete floor. When they look to their front, they see a big mansion that's in a weird, but beautiful design. All of it is painted in white.

"We must hurry!" Lynn said, snapping them out from their trance. They then dashed towards the mansion. Lynn tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Grrh!" she growled in frustration.

"Let me," Raphael said. He took a deep breath, before he kicked the front door open. Lynn and Raphael then rushed inside.

"Is it okay for him to do that…?" Sakura said lowly to the others. She still examining the fallen door, which for her that the word 'gate' will be more suited, considering how big the door is.

"Come on. We need to follow them. I'm kinda worried…" Jiraiya muttered as he and Sai went to follow Raphael and Lynn. "Yeah…," Sai added to himself. Kakashi, Sasuke, Neji, and Sakura soon follow them, out of curiosity then worry. Even Shikamaru is tagging along. He's kinda suspicious on who exactly the host is, and he's hoping that whoever that is, is not the one he had in mind.

'It'll be suck and very troublesome…,' he thinks as he glanced towards Sasuke, Kakashi and Sakura. 'Very troublesome, indeed.'

When the finally catch up to Raphael and Lynn, they notice that both of them are restless. "Why is everything so silent…. Where's everyone…?," Lynn said to herself. They notice that that is true. Everything, ever since they came in, is too silent. No one's complaining about the door, or their rude entrance… Nothing.

"Damn this big mansion!" Raphael said lowly. Anger and worry clearly etched onto his face. "To the hell with it… YUU!!" he yelled as loud as he can. "YUU!!! N—mmph!" his mouth clamped by Jiraiya. "Calm down! Don't-"

"Finding them is more important than that! Who knows what happened to them right now! Especially—" he shouted. Just then, a small rabbit-like creature hopped down and landed right in front of them. It looks like one of the creatures they saw in the A—what was the name again?—dome. Orange pom-pom bobbing atop of its head and a small pair of bat-like wings are visible on its back. The creature wore white shirt with dark-blue overall-like outerwear.

"Please calm down, kupo! Both of them are alright, kupo!" the small creature said in attempt to calm them down. "…Dawn?" Raphael, Jiraiya, and Sai said slowly in mild surprise. The others merely raised their eyebrows. 'What a cute creature!' Sakura thought.

"Yes, yes! Don't worry! The little one and the Captain are fine. Both of them are in the Captain's main lounge, kupo!" Dawn said cutely. Jiraiya and Sai sighed in relief.

"Can we see them, Dawn?" Jiraiya asked. The cute rabbit-like creature seemed to think before it nodded.

"I think, kupo. I'll lead you to them, if you want," Dawn said.

"Can we come too?" Shikamaru asked suddenly. "It'll be good if we know the captain now. Who knows when we can meet him, or her, later," he reasoned. He can see Jiraiya gulped.

"Okay," Raphael answered. Shikamaru then see Jiraiya's surprised face. "But, we'll have our eyes on you. If we think you did, or said something we think inappropriate, we will make you leave by force," Raphael said again, now with venom. The ninjas nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure about this?" Jiraiya whispered to Raphael. He only nodded surely.

"After all, they are bound to know. Sooner or later won't change anything."

Sapphire09: I'm very sorry for not updating this. I have my focus on Conflicts and Thousands of Masks...

I hope you'll still want to review....