Castle Guards: A Naruto, Harry Potter crossover
Castle Guards: A Naruto, Harry Potter crossover
By Ammie Hawk
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Harry Potter (sigh), only in my dreams right
AN: This is more like a warning, in this chapter and later ones I use sections from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, it's just to keep track of where they are in the book and how Harry feels about certain things, I'm not claiming any credit for those sections, just borrowing them to help my story.
Japanese: "Blah."
Kyuubi talking to Naruto: "Blah."
Chapter 3: The Hogwarts Express
None of the shinobi got any sleep that night, but they did get all the required reading done. And with Shino and Neji's help, most of them were able to understand most of what they read. It was good to have geniuses as friends.
They were just starting on the more advanced techniques of potion making when they heard shouting from downstairs. The shinobi quickly threw all their books into the trunks provided for them and darted from the room, Naruto and Gaara in the lead. They made it to the hall and realized it was just Mrs. Weasley telling off the twins, though they weren't sure where the second female voice was coming from. With a sigh, they continued to the first landing and surveyed the scene in the entry.
"Naruto!" a voice hissed from behind the blonde.
He turned to the canine ninja curiously, "What?"
"It's Akamaru," Kiba whispered frantically. "The jutsu just wore off, but I can't replace it for a few hours without doing permanent damage."
"Fuck," Naruto almost growled in frustration. "What should we do? We can't leave him here and besides you wouldn't want to do that."
"You could always pass it off as an accidental enlargement charm," Neji suggested. "It would be the type of thing for Kiba to do anyway, either that or you, Naruto."
"Hey, I resent that," Kiba and Naruto shouted in unison, causing the other occupants of the room to look at them curiously.
"Eh, sorry," Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously. "We have a slight problem but it should be alright."
"What is it, dear?" Mrs. Weasley forgot her anger momentarily.
"Well, you see," the blonde shinobi sighed, "it's Kiba's dog, he accidentally performed an enlargement charm on him and we don't know what one he used so Akamaru's kinda stuck being a rather large dog."
As if on cue, the huge white beast charged down the stairs, almost knocking all the shinobi over in the process, and landed quite suddenly next to Kiba.
"Oh my!" Mrs. Weasley covered her mouth in astonishment. "I see what you mean."
"It should wear off in a couple hours," Kiba shrugged.
"We could take care of it for you, dear," Mrs. Weasley smiled kindly at Kiba.
"That's okay," the dog ninja said hurriedly. "He'll be fine and back to normal in a couple hours."
"If you're sure…"
Kiba nodded fervently.
"Harry, you're to come with me and Tonks. Leave your trunk and your owl, Alastor's going to deal with the luggage…. Oh, for heaven's sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said no!"
Akamaru looked at the large black dog and began growling low in his chest. He nipped at Kiba's hand and barked.
"What?! No way!" the brunette looked at the black dog curiously.
"What's wrong, Kiba?" Shino leaned against the wall, and looked between the dog and boy.
"You remember that guy, Sirius Black, he owns the house?"
Shino nodded.
"Well that black dog is him!" Kiba couldn't take his eyes off the dog.
"He's an Animagus," Shino shrugged.
"An aniwhat?" Kiba finally looked at his teammate.
"Later," the bug ninja turned his head slightly, indicating that Mrs. Weasley was once again talking.
"Oh honestly…" said Mrs. Weasley despairingly, "well, on your own head be it! Naruto, Neji, you're with us too."
"Yeah, believe it!" Naruto jumped the remaining ten steps and landed cat-like beside Harry and Mrs. Weasley, almost causing Mrs. Weasley to faint, while Neji calmly walked down them with his hands in his pockets.
Out on the street, Naruto and Neji were lost in their amazement. Never had they seen such wonders as they did in Muggle London. They paid little attention to their companions for the whole walk to the train station, causing the witches and Harry to look at them strangely when they directed questions to them that went ignored.
Once inside the station they lingered casually beside the barrier between platforms nine and ten until the coast was clear, then each of them leaned against it in turn and fell through easily, well except Naruto of course. When he noticed his charge and Neji disappear into an apparently solid wall, he jumped through with a kunai flying into his hand.
"What's up with you?" Harry whispered, giving the ninja a strange look.
"Heehee," Naruto chuckled nervously, "nothing much, really. Just wasn't expecting that."
"If you had been paying attention to what the others were saying you would've understood the simple genjutsu disguising the platform," Neji said calmly.
"Don't start on the lecture," blue eyes rolled in annoyance. "There's just too much to take in at the moment. I mean did you see those loud, obnoxious horseless carts?"
"Yes, I saw them," the brunette nodded.
Realizing he wasn't going to get more of a response from his lieutenant, Naruto let his eyes roam the platform of students and their parents. He had to admit there were a lot of people here, it would be easy to get lost in the throng, that is if it wasn't for his ninja training.
He looked back to the opening just as Moody walked through with the luggage and Gaara and Kankuro. They were followed shortly by Mr. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, Sakura and Temari, who in turn were followed by Lupin, Fred, George, Ginny, Shino, Kiba and Akamaru.
The shinobi gathered into a rather tight group so they could discuss their plans before boarding the train.
"So," Naruto began. "We all know who we're following. I'm sure we're going to be split up at some point or another, especially with Kiba and Shino tailing three people."
"Yeah," Sakura spoke up. "Temari and I also have to go somewhere else with Hermione, and I think Ron's gonna be with her, so that puts Gaara and Kankuro separate as well. I talked with Hermione last night," she shrugged at Naruto and Gaara's expressions.
"Okay then," the blonde rolled his eyes. "As I was saying, we'll meet back up at this Hogwarts thing and discuss further plans from there. Dismissed!"
As they finished, they were able to catch what Moody was saying and it disturbed the ninja slightly.
"I'll still be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore," said Moody. "That's the second time he's not turned up in a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus. If only Dumbledore would believe the rumors about those hidden villages, we might get some reliable help."
"What villages are those?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Well," Moody scratched his lopsided nose in thought, "they're rumored to be villages of a magical based ninja." This caused all the shinobi to tense instinctively. "Though most tend to believe that they are mere legends than actual places, since no one has ever found them for the past thousand years or so."
"See," Kiba nudged Naruto. "Aren't you glad you didn't give away our village name last night?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," the blonde shook his head.
"Well, look after yourselves," said Lupin, shaking hands all around, including the shinobi.
Naruto couldn't help but cringe slightly when the wizard got near him, and he wasn't sure why He knew, however, it had something to do with the smell he emanated, as Kiba's nose wrinkled when it was his turn.
"Ever heard of a werewolf, kit?" Kyuubi asked.
'Yeah, why?' Naruto was confused. 'Why are you bringing up fictional monsters at a time like this, you damn fox?'
"Don't be so sure they're just fictional monsters," the fox sniggered. "Considering you've just met one in the flesh."
"WHAT?!" he shrieked, pulling his hand away from Lupin.
"Naruto?" Neji's eyes narrowed suspiciously at his captain.
"Sorry," the blonde bowed in apology to the wizard. "I don't know what came over me. Please forgive my rudeness."
'Damn fox, you couldn't have waited till I was alone to tell me that could you?'
"It's so much more entertaining around others, though," Kyuubi laughed.
'Don't make me come in there and teach you not to fuck with me, Kyuubi,' Naruto mentally glared at the fox, who stopped laughing and glared back.
A warning whistle sounded, effectively cutting in on the mental glaring contest between the Kyuubi and his vessel. The students still on the platform started hurrying onto the train.
"Quick, quick," said Mrs. Weasley distractedly, hugging them at random, including all the shinobi, except Gaara who had backed off immediately, and catching Harry twice. "Write…. Be good…. If you've forgotten anything we'll send it on…. Onto the train, now, hurry…."
The shinobi jumped aboard and waited patiently inside for the wizarding students to join them. They joined the magical students in waving to the people on the platform until they were out of sight.
"He shouldn't have come with us," said Hermione in a worried voice.
"Oh lighten up," said Ron, "he hasn't seen daylight for months, poor bloke."
"Well," said Fred, clapping his hands together, "can't stand around chatting all day, we've got business to discuss with Lee. See you later," he and George turned to head down the corridor.
"Hey, can I come with?" Kiba asked eagerly.
"Sure," George grinned mischievously, draping his arm around the dog shinobi's shoulders. They had hit it off at the party.
The train was gathering still more speed, so that the houses outside the windows flashed past and they swayed where they stood.
"Shall we go and find a compartment, then?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks.
"Er," said Ron.
"We're—well—Ron and I are supposed to go into the prefect carriage," Hermione said awkwardly.
Ron wasn't looking at Harry; he seemed to have become intensely interested in his fingernails on his left hand. The remaining shinobi were watching the proceedings curiously, two of the teams wondering how they were going to follow their charges if they were going to a special carriage that not all were allowed in.
"Oh," said Harry. "Right. Fine."
"I don't think we'll have to stay there all journey," said Hermione quickly. "Our letters said we just get instructions from the Head Boy and Girl and then patrol the corridors from time to time."
"Fine," said Harry again. "Well, I—I might see you later, then."
"Yeah, definitely," said Ron, casting a shifty, rather anxious look at Harry. "It's a pain having to go down there, I'd rather—but we have to—I mean, I'm not enjoying it, I'm not Percy," he finished defiantly.
"I know you're not," said Harry and he grinned. But as Hermione and Ron dragged their trunks, Crookshanks, and a caged Pigwidgeon off toward the engine end of the train Harry felt an odd sense of loss. He had never traveled on the Hogwarts Express without Ron.
"Hey, you alright?" Naruto asked, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Huh?" Harry looked over at the seven shinobi curiously. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine."
"Well," Temari stretched and grasped the handle of her trunk, "come on, Sakura, let's go find a compartment. You coming, Gaara? Kankuro?"
"Duh," the puppeteer rolled his eyes and followed his sister in the direction Ron and Hermione had gone.
"See you later, guys," Sakura waved and trotted after the siblings.
"Mind if we join you, Harry?" Naruto smiled.
"Uh, sure," the black haired wizard shrugged nervously, though he wasn't sure why, he was comfortable around Naruto and Neji, especially after last night.
"Come on," Ginny told them, "if we get a move on we'll be able to save them places."
"Right," said Harry, picking up Hedwig's cage in one hand and the handle of his trunk in the other. They struggled off down the corridor, peering through the glass-paneled doors into the compartments they passed, which were already full. Harry could not help noticing that a lot of people stared back at him with great interest and that several of them nudged their neighbors and pointed him out. He also noticed that the three shinobi were getting curious and admiring stares from a lot of the female population.
"Captain?" Neji asked, the use of the formal title letting Naruto know the seriousness of his friend's actions. "What happened on the platform?"
The blonde sighed, "Kyuubi told me something that could've waited until later, but he decided to embarrass me"
"What did he say?" Shino inquired with a lift of his brow.
"He told me something about Lupin," Naruto answered vaguely.
"My bugs did not like that man, though he seemed nice enough," Shino turned his head to meet his captain's eye.
"Alright, if you're not going to let it drop," blue eyes rolled up to the ceiling. "Kyuubi told me Lupin's a werewolf."
"WHAT?!" they both hollered, causing their captain's hands to fly over their mouths to silence them.
Harry and Ginny turned to look at them curiously, as well as several other people from the compartment they were passing. Naruto just shrugged and continued on as if nothing unusual had occurred and the others, after sharing a look amongst themselves, followed suit.
In the last carriage they met Neville Longbottom, Harry's fellow fifth-year Gryffindor, his round face shining with the effort of pulling his trunk along and maintaining a one-handed grip on his struggling toad, Trevor.
"Hi Harry," he panted. "Hi Ginny…. Everywhere's full…. I can't find a seat…. Who are these three?"
"Oh, this is Naruto, Neji, and Shino, they're transfer students from Japan. And what are you talking about?" said Ginny, who had squeezed past Neville to peer inside the compartment behind him. "There's room in this one, there's only Loony Lovegood in here—"
Neville mumbled something about not wanting to disturb anyone.
"Don't be silly," said Ginny, laughing, "she's all right."
She slid the door open and pulled her trunk inside it. Harry, Neville, and the shinobi followed.
"Hi, Luna," said Ginny. "Is it okay if we take these seats?"
"Hey, guys," Naruto's brow furrowed suddenly. "What are we going to do if the others show up? There's not enough room in here for everyone."
"We'll manage, as always," Neji shrugged, pushing the blonde into the window seat across from the girl called Luna.
Neji stowed the shinobi's trunks and helped Harry and Neville do the same with the three others. He then took a seat next to his captain.
"You should get some sleep," the brunette suggested quietly.
"I'm fine," the blonde shook his head, trying to stifle a yawn. "What's one or two days without sleep, huh? I'll manage."
"Naruto, it's been four days," Neji sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Don't think we haven't noticed. I can handle things for a while, go to sleep."
"You should listen to him, kit," Kyuubi yawned. "If you don't get sleep soon, I'll make you get some."
"Fine," Naruto muttered, laying his head against the cool glass of the window and closing his eyes, falling almost instantly to sleep.
"What's up with Naruto?" Harry asked, as the blonde began to snore softly.
"He hasn't been sleeping well the past few days," Neji shrugged. "And what with the new environment and all, it's starting to have an effect on him."
"Why hasn't he been sleeping?" Harry's brow furrowed, knowing he hadn't been sleeping well either.
"Stress," was all the long haired teen would say.
The train rattled onward, speeding them out into open country. It was an odd, unsettled sort of day; one moment the carriage was full of sunlight and the next they were passing beneath ominously gray clouds.
"Guess what I got for my birthday?" said Neville.
"Another Remembrall?" said Harry
"No," said Neville, "I could do with one, though, I lost the old one ages ago…. No, look at this…."
He dug the hand that was not keeping a firm grip on Trevor into his schoolbag and after a little bit of rummaging pulled out what appeared to be a small gray cactus in a pot, except that it was covered with what looked like boils rather than spines.
"Mimbulus mimbletonia," he said proudly.
Harry, Neji, and Shino stared at the thing. It was pulsating slightly, giving it the rather sinister look of some diseased internal organ.
"It's really, really rare," said Neville, beaming. "I don't know if there's one in the greenhouse at Hogwarts, even. I can't wait to show it to Professor Sprout. My great-uncle Algie got it for me in Assyria. I'm going to see if I can breed from it."
"Does it—er—do anything?" Harry asked.
"Loads of stuff!" said Neville proudly. "It's got an amazing defensive mechanism—hold Trevor for me…."
As he handed the toad off to Harry, the two awake shinobi shared a look, and silently put up a protective layer of chakra as Neville prodded the plant with the tip of his quill. The shinobi flinched as thick green liquid squirted from the plant. Everyone, with the exception of Shino and Neji, was covered in the green goo. Naruto's head shot up, his face distorted in pain.
"Oh my god!" he looked like he was going to be sick. "Oh my god!"
The blonde jumped to his feet, his hand covering his mouth as he dashed from the compartment. Neji's brow furrowed as he watched his captain's retreating back.
"One of us should follow him," the Hyuuga looked at his fellow shinobi.
"You go," Shino nodded almost imperceptibly. "I can manage on my own."
The long haired ANBU nodded and followed his captain from the compartment. In the hallway, he saw no sign of the blonde and this worried him a bit. Shaking his head, he made a hand sign and activated his Byakugan, looking for a specific chakra signature. There. He smirked and made his way to the end of the car, opening the door he found and entered silently.
"Damn stupid fox," Naruto muttered, trying unsuccessfully to wash the green substance from his hair and clothes.
"Want some help?" Neji offered quietly.
The blonde looked up startled. His blue eyes met the pale silver of his lieutenant in the mirror. He had been so focused on getting the junk off of him he hadn't heard the Hyuuga enter.
Neji smirked at his captain's actions, he hadn't changed much in the past four years they had known each other. 'How had Naruto become an ANBU again?' he wondered silently. 'Oh that's right, he was the strongest ninja in the village, even if he was the biggest knucklehead to ever live.'
"Here," the brunette stepped forward and helped the blonde out of his jacket, setting it beside the sink. "Now lean forward," he commanded quietly.
Naruto obediently leaned down over the sink, as Neji ran water down the drain. When it was warm enough, the brunette pressed his captain's head into the stream of water. Naruto tensed slightly as the water rushed over his head, but soon relaxed as his lieutenant began massaging the green slop from his neck and hair.
Neji ran his fingers through blonde spikes, reveling in how soft they felt against his fingers. He never would've thought Naruto would take such good care of his hair. But then again, how well did he know his captain's personal life. Not as well as he would like, he decided. What was he thinking? This was Naruto, his friend, his captain, how could he be thinking about things like this.
"Um, hey, Nej," the blonde's voice cut across his wandering thoughts, "are you almost done, the water's starting to get cold."
"Huh?" Neji shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Sorry, yeah, you're good."
"Damn it," Naruto cursed as he dried his hair with the hand towel above the sink. "My jacket is ruined. I guess I'll have to burn it. Know any good jutsus?"
"I'm sure we can figure something out, captain," Neji smirked. "Though I think nothing we can come up with will be as good as the Uchihas' but we'll manage."
Naruto stiffened slightly, the towel pausing its movement through his locks. Blue orbs glared at the long haired brunette. Then without another word his hands began flashing in a quick series of hand signs. A moment later the jacket burst into flames and was reduced to ashes instantly.
"Not as good as the bastard, huh?" the blonde cocked a brow in challenge.
"I concede," Neji shook his head, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "You are far superior to the Uchihas."
"That's what I thought you said," Naruto smirked, but couldn't hold it and broke out laughing.
He finished drying his hair quickly and then threw the towel on the edge of the sink.
"Come on," he threw his arm around the brunette's shoulders, still chuckling. "Let's get back to the others, I'm sure they're all worried about me."
Neji allowed himself to be led back to the compartment, where they found Ron and Hermione along with their guards. Gaara and Sakura both sent the pair a curious glance as they slipped back into the compartment.
"What happened?" Gaara raised a non existent eyebrow in Naruto's direction.
"Damn green goo almost made me sick," the blonde beamed. "But it's all good now, Neji here helped me get rid of all of it."
"Green goo?" a pink brow rose in confusion.
Before anyone could answer her, the compartment door slid open once again. A pale boy, with equally pale blonde hair stood there flanked by two beefy teens who, in Naruto's opinion, reminded him of the two criminals from his hometown, Fuugin and Raigin.
"What?" Harry said aggressively, before the pale teen could open his mouth.
"Manners, Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention," drawled the blonde. "You see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments."
"What the fuck?" Naruto rounded on the blonde. "What's your problem bastard, he didn't even do anything to you?"
Pale blue eyes traveled over the shinobi before him, seizing him up, finally coming to the conclusion that his lackeys could take him. "Who are you?"
"Naruto Uzumaki," he said with a smirk. "Remember it, fear it, for it could be the last name you'll ever hear."
"Naruto," Neji chuckled beside him, placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Remember, we are on a mission here and we don't have permission to kill innocent bystanders, no matter how much of a prick they are."
"Damn it!" the blonde growled, which caused the teen in front of him to back away slightly. "What the fuck is a prefect anyway? Not that I care, you can't really do much to me, you're even more of a prissy boy than Uchiha."
There was a collective gasp from the shinobi at the mention of the traitor. It was usually a dangerous thing to mention the Uchiha in front of Naruto, but as it was said shinobi who said it, it was even more alarming.
"Naruto," Gaara reached out a hand to comfort his friend, but quickly withdrew it at the look Neji shot him, telling him not to interfere.
"What did you call me?" pale eyes narrowed in warning.
"I called you a prissy boy," the Kyuubi vessel smirked. "And you know, if looks could kill, I think I'd have a boo boo on my little finger (1)."
"Yeah," said Harry, finally coming up with a comeback, "but you, unlike me, are a git, so get out and leave us alone."
Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville laughed, while the shinobi were trying to figure out what was so funny about what Harry had said. Malfoy's lip curled.
"Tell me, how does it feel to be second-best to Weasley, Potter?" he asked.
"Shut up, Malfoy," said Hermione sharply, as Naruto's hands clenched into fists.
"I seem to have touched a nerve," said Malfoy smirking. "Well, just watch yourself, Potter, because I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you step out of line."
"Get out!" said Hermione, standing up.
Sniggering, Malfoy gave Harry a last malicious look and departed, Crabbe and Goyle lumbering in his wake. Naruto shot a glance at Gaara, in some sort of wordless communication. He then left the compartment, giving a sideways open handed wave as he did. Neji sat in his seat, his arms crossed, and glanced down at a watch on his wrist, then stared at the now closed door, courtesy of Hermione slamming it
Naruto followed the trio of apparent bullies for a full minute till he had enough of their cackling laughter. He approached them and latched onto Malfoy's arm with a less than pleasant grip.
"Might I have a word," he smiled charmingly at the two goons on the side.
"Let go of me," Malfoy snarled, but then winced as the grip on his arm tightened slightly.
Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward to defend their leader. They were quickly sent on their way by a subtle hint from the blonde shinobi, yeah, he kicked their butts and sent them flying to the other end of the car.
"Now, Malfoy, was it," Naruto smiled, "I didn't like your attitude back there. It reminded me of a bastard I know, and I just don't deal with that well, considering he's a fucking traitor."
"What are you going to do about it," Malfoy looked him up and down again, though not as confident without his two lackeys, "freak?"
"Freak?" a blonde brow rose in question. "Is that the best you've got? I've heard better. Anyway, don't let me catch you acting like that again, or I'll have to do something more than talk with you about it, okay?"
He patted the pale blonde on the head and slowly made his way back toward the compartment. He stopped for a few minutes when he spotted Kiba and Akamaru in a car with Fred, George, and a boy with dreadlocks.
"Hey guys," he greeted cheerfully.
"Hiya Naruto," Kiba waved for him to enter. "You know Fred and George right? And this," the dog ninja indicated the boy with dreads, "is Lee Jordan, their friend."
"I don't think we were properly introduced last night," Fred reached out his hand and Naruto shook it. George and Lee followed suit.
"Uh, Kiba, shouldn't that 'spell' have worn off of Akamaru by now?" the blonde asked, giving the brunette a pointed look.
"Uh, um, uh, it should wear off soon," Kiba bit his lip nervously.
He subtly slipped his hands into his jacket and immediately the large white dog was enveloped in smoke. When it cleared, the puppy Akamaru stared back at them curiously.
"I'm gonna have to remove the jutsu every night, so no lasting damage will be done," he sighed.
"That's fine," Naruto smiled. "So what are you all up to in here? Hopefully, Kiba's not being a bad influence on you."
"The ideas for pranks he's thrown out so far have been rather childish, if you ask me," George scoffed. "We've done most of what he's done before."
"Is that so?" a blonde brow cocked, as a smirk twitched at Naruto's mouth. "Well, he is only a novice in that area after all."
"Oh, and you're an expert?" Fred crossed his arms disbelievingly.
The two shinobi shared a look and both burst out laughing, causing the three wizards to look at them curiously.
"Naruto has had our village up in arms since he was seven," Kiba composed himself enough to reply. "Our poor sensei was always tying him up to keep him in class and out of trouble. I think his greatest achievement was when he graffitied the mountain faces of our village leaders."
"Psh, that was so long ago," the blonde waved dismissively. "I think my best is my transformation, you know the one I made when I was twelve."
"That one turned me off girls forever, thanks for the reminder," Kiba laughed.
"What did you change into?" Fred asked innocently.
"A girl," Naruto shrugged.
"A very beautiful, naked girl," Kiba corrected, causing Naruto to grin.
"That one made Iruka sensei threaten to stop treating me to ramen."
"Oh the tragedy," the dog ninja said sarcastically.
"Eh, what's ramen?" George asked curiously.
"Oh my god, you don't know what ramen is?" Naruto clutched his heart and fell into an open seat. "It is only the best food in the entire world."
"If you say so," Kiba rolled his eyes.
Naruto looked at him scandalized, "Traitor! You like ramen too, you just don't have the guts to admit it, or are you more partial to dog biscuits?"
"What was that, baka?" Kiba growled, his claw-like fingers twitching to throttle the blonde.
"You heard me, dog breath," Naruto grinned at him, but then as if remembering something sat up in his seat. "Oh shit!"
"What?" the brunette looked at him confused.
"I told the others I'd be back in ten minutes," the blonde sprang to his feet. "Neji's gonna be pissed, I've already been gone fifteen."
"You're so dead," canines flashed in a grin. "Not only is Neji there, but Gaara is as well, and he'd kill anything that crossed his path. Later Naruto."
Naruto sprinted from the car and ran as fast as the other people crowding the halls would allow. As he reached out for the handle of his compartment, the door slid open almost violently. He cowered slightly from the fury emanating from the brunette in front of him.
"Uh, hi Neji, what's up?" he chuckled nervously, his hand rubbing his neck.
"Where have you been?" Neji's voice was ice.
"Uh, well, you see, I saw Kiba after I relieved my tension and then you know…." The blonde shrugged, knowing he was in trouble.
"You said ten minutes, Naruto," silver eyes narrowed.
"I know," he cowered. "I lost track of time."
"Damn, Neji's scary when he wants to be," Harry whispered to Ron, but Naruto heard him as well.
"Back off, now," the kitsune vessel growled, sounding just like the fox inside him.
Neji took a step back, recognizing the tone of his superior. "Hai!" he saluted and bowed his head in respect.
"I don't answer to you, remember that."
"Forgive me," the brunette returned to his seat, unable to meet the blue eyes before him.
Naruto shrugged as he returned to his seat beside the window.
The weather remained undecided as they traveled farther north. Rain spattered the window in a half hearted way, then the sun put in a feeble appearance before clouds drifted over it once more.
"I hate weather like this," Naruto sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Why's that?" Harry asked curiously.
"It reminds me too much of my best friend," blue eyes scanned the sky.
"Wouldn't that be a good thing?" Hermione looked at him confused.
"To be reminded of the traitorous bastard?" the blonde scoffed. "I think not."
"Naruto," Gaara reached over and placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder.
"Thanks Gaara," Naruto smiled slightly at the Kazekage.
The others in the compartment wisely let the subject drop.
"We'd better change," said Hermione at last, and all of them opened their trunks with difficulty and pulled on their school robes.
"Why do we have to wear these dresses?" Naruto complained, looking down at himself in disgust.
"You'd better get used to them," Kankuro smirked. "Your dream job requires similar robes."
"Grandma Tsunade never wears them," the blonde pouted.
"Drop it," Neji shook his head. "For now we conform, as is expected of us."
At last the train began to slow down and they heard the usual, or at least what the shinobi assumed to be usual, racket up and down it as everybody scrambled to get their luggage and pets assembled, ready for departure. Ron and Hermione were supposed to supervise all this; they disappeared from the carriage again, followed closely by Temari, Sakura, Kankuro, and Gaara, leaving Harry and the others to look after Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon.
"I'll carry that owl, if you like," said Luna to Harry, reaching out for Pigwidgeon as Neville stowed Trevor carefully in an inside pocket.
"Oh—er—thanks," said Harry, handing her the cage and hoisting Hedwig's more securely into his arms.
They shuffled out of the compartment feeling the first sting of the night air on their faces as they joined the crowd in the corridor. Slowly they moved toward the doors.
The shinobi were separated from Harry, Neville, and Ginny as the crowd pressed in around them. They didn't mind too much as Kiba, Sakura, Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara joined them at one of the waiting carriages. They all piled inside.
"What do you think those weird horse things are?" Naruto asked curiously, peering out the window at the leathery looking creatures.
"No idea," Shino shrugged. "Probably the first of many strange things we shall see on this mission."
"Maybe. I'll just ask Harry or Hermione," the blonde leaned back in his seat, "one of them is sure to know. Anyway, anything happen on the train?"
The others all shook their heads.
"Okay then," Naruto smiled. "We're gonna meet every night after midnight to report anything. And every weekend we'll find somewhere to train. If this changes, I'll let you know."
1. When I was younger, my foster dad used to say that whenever we'd glare at him.