Disclaimer: I own nothing at all except the fan made characters I create and nothing else at all. All copy rights go back to the original creators of Naruto. That is all.
Update! I'll be posting all the chapters I have completed so this should be interesting I suppose. Please read and review, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what I can do to improve this story, Arigato!~
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Stage 11: Stand Up
"Elfi!" Sakura screamed running through the forest searching for Elfi. Sakura came upon the scene where the fire tornado had been. More than 5 miles of the forest had been burned and nothing but ashes and sot remained. Sakura scanned the area, searching for any sign of Elfi or the enemy. Sakura squinted her eyes at a person standing in the middle of the sot and ash. She wasn't able to tell who it was.
"Elfi!" Sakura yelled as she cupped her hands over her mouth to amplify her voice.
The person's body suddenly became engulfed in flames but the flames quickly died out, revealing the true victor, Elfi. Sakura raced out to Elfi just in time to catch her from falling to the ground.
Sakura began shaking Elfi. "Elfi? Elfi talk to me come on! Elfi!"
"Just give me five minutes…" Elfi trailed off.
Sakura became angry and flipped Elfi's body around so that she could slap her silly. "No five minutes get your ass up now! Wake up!"
Suddenly Sasuke appeared next to Sakura and grabbed her arm, stopping her from hitting Elfi anymore. "Sakura that's enough you might do serious damage to her like that."
"Ugh…," Elfi moaned. Sasuke and Sakura looked at her. "I think I just got whip lash…"
Sakura let out a light chuckle, glad to know that Elfi was ok. "So, what happened to Kasai?" Sasuke asked.
Elfi regained her balance and took a step back from Sakura and Sasuke. "Kasai is no longer needed so she went back," Elfi explained.
"Back?" Sasuke and Sakura questioned in unison.
"Yeah you know back to sleep!"
"Wait, what happened to those two other guys?" Sakura asked Elfi.
Elfi looked around. "Well by the looks of it Kasai incinerated them."
Sasuke and Sakura looked shocked. "Just how did she do that?" Sakura asked in a gasp.
Elfi shrugged. "Beats me but we were both pissed off at those jack asses! They got what they deserved for doing that to Tsu-sama!"
"Speaking of which, just where is she? And where's Naruto and Kakashi-sensi?" Sakura asked, hoping Elfi had an answer.
"Shit, Refi!" On that note Elfi began racing back to where I still laid, practically dead.
Sakura sighed. "What should we do?" Sakura asked turning to Sasuke.
"Go check on Kakashi, I'll go out looking for Naruto." Sasuke explained.
"No need!"
Sakura and Sasuke quickly turned around to see Naruto standing on a tree branch, not far off from where they were.
Naruto jumped out of the tree and walked up to Sasuke and Sakura. "Naruto…" Sakura trailed off.
"Sorry that I made you worry about me Sakura!" Naruto began. "Wait you were worried about me? That means you care about me!-"
"WHAT THE HELL!" With that Sakura began beating the snot out of Naruto, yelling at him about making them all worry about what happened to him.
"Sakura I'm sorry but I had to do something!" Naruto tried to explain, helpless against Sakura's rage. Sasuke just sighed to himself.
"Oh really? Just what was so damn important that you had to leave us here and making us worry about you!" Sakura demanded to know, throwing Naruto to the ground.
"I had to get this," Naruto told Sakura, holding out two pieces of metal.
Sasuke and Sakura gasped. "Isn't that-"
Elfi raced off to the crater, moving quickly to help me. The first thing she did was remove kunais that were wedged in my body. "She's ice cold…" On that note Elfi moved as fast as she could with me to the lake. She didn't even stop once she hit the water, she kept running until she couldn't touch the ground and was floating in the water. Elfi watched in amazement as the water worked its magic on my body. After a few minutes, the water that was being used to heal me mixed back in with the lake. My eyes shot open as I looked frantically around only to find that I couldn't see things that clearly. My body jerked upward as Elfi had me in another death grip hug.
"Oh Refi I'm so glad you're ok! I'm so sorry that I got to you so late!" Elfi jerked my body back so she could look me in the eyes. "Just what the hell were you thinking? If I hadn't found you when I did you would be dead now! You're supposed to be the smart one so start acting like it! You're not to ever do anything like this ever again! Do you understand me?"
I stared at Elfi for a long while, dumbfounded. It was one thing to see Elfi, after all I thought I had died but after hearing her lecture me like she just did…I couldn't help but laugh at her seriousness. She looked at me as if I had gone mad. "I'm sorry Elfi," I began as my laughter died down to just a smile. "I just didn't want to see anything bad happen to anyone, especially you because of me..I couldn't live with it-"
"Yeah, yeah I know I read the note you left us!" Elfi exclaimed as she cut me off. "What's going on anyways? What's gotten into you?"
I looked away from Elfi and sighed, knowing that she deserved an explanation to all this. "You remember back on the bridge, when Zabuza and Haku died, right?" I began. Elfi just nodded her head to what I was saying. "When I thought I had lost everything something happened to me. I'm still not exactly sure why but well…I don't know how to explain it so that you would understand.. Even I don't quite understand this." I admitted.
"Well just do your best!" Elfi encouraged me, wanting to hear what I had to say.
"Well, there's like another person living inside me. Only he's not a person, he's more of a demon and well he claims that he's my-"
"Anigeka, right?"
I stared at Elfi, shocked at this. "How do you know-"
"I know because I have an Anigeka as well." Elfi told me, cutting me off once again. I stared at her, shocked. "It was actually my Anigeka that killed off Yatsumeko and Huyzu. After I saw you like that I just went ballistic and I called Kasai to kill them." Elfi looked away from me, looking as if she were truly guilty of using her Anigeka.
"I'm sorry, I never knew, or even suspected you were dealing with something like I'm going through," I said in a monotonous pitch. I still couldn't grasp what I had just heard from Elfi, the shock was overwhelming.
Elfi sighed. "No this is more of my fault," Elfi began. "From the moment I looked into your eyes on the bridge I knew something terrible had gone wrong. I didn't want to believe it was an Anigeka that forced you into a state like that. Anigekas, that I've come to know aren't like that at all, I should have known it was an Anigeka and helped you sooner and I'm sorry it took me so long to realize this."
There was a pause of silence. I held my breath, taking all this in. Elfi didn't need to apologize to me about anything. After all it was mostly my fault for being so weak. I could feel the guilt coursing through me once more. Elfi spoke once more, "You're just now finding your Anigeka, that's the first step, the second step is becoming partners with umm…Who did you say your Anigeka was?"
"He calls himself Gogyou."
"Oh so you have a guy! My Anigeka, Kasai, is a girl! Maybe that's why yours is more aggressive and harder to get along with!"
"What does gender have to do with-"
"Elfi! Refi!"
Elfi and I looked to where our names were being called, after I had been cut off for the millionth time. "We found Naruto!" Sakura exclaimed, waving to us.
"That's great!" Elfi exclaimed gleefully. I sighed in relief. "Refi," I turned to Elfi once more. "I'll explain Anigekas more later but for now let's go home, k?" Elfi said with a smile. I smiled back and nodded.
"Hey! Refi! Look what I've got!" Naruto called to me. I looked over at Naruto. My eyes grew wider than my head. In his hand he held the two metal pieces to my Mist head band, or what was left of it. I swam as quickly as I could to the shore with Elfi and snatched the two pieces of metal from Naruto's hands. I held them close and examined them to make sure no other damage had been done to them. "I'm sorry I only could get the metal pieces, I couldn't find the fabric anywhere and I looked hard. I'm also sorry about leaving you here with those creeps but after they dragged me away I ended up on the hill and when I was there I saw those metal pieces." Naruto explained. "I know they mean a lot to you so I knew I had to bring them back to you and-"
"Naruto thank you!" I yelled, cutting Naruto off as I glomped him. "Thank you so much for getting these pieces for me! I'm eternally grateful!"
Naruto laughed. "Ok, ok you're welcome! Get off me now!" Naruto yelled, pushing me off him. I sat on the ground and stared at the pieces and cried out tears of joy. Even though my head band had been destroyed it truly meant a lot to me that Naruto would go out of his way to get these back just for me. I swore to never let anything happen to these pieces of metal. I would always keep them with me.
"Ahem," Sasuke said as he cleared his throat. We all turned to him. "I hate to rain on the happiness now but Kakashi-sensi is…Well…." We all looked past Sasuke to see Kakashi on the ground, not moving much. We all got up and raced to his side. "Don't get all worked up, he's still alive but he's been paralyzed." Sasuke explained.
"Think you can fix that Refi?" Sakura questioned. I stared at Kakashi's body, taking note of the cuts.
"Did some kind of poison enter his body through these cuts?" I asked Sasuke.
"Well it looks like it." Sasuke replied apathetically.
"Geez Kakashi-sensi, how'd you end up like this?" Naruto questioned.
"He's paralyzed Naruto, he can't talk." Sakura explained.
Naruto just laughed at this. Elfi joined in. "Prayer jutsu!" The water from the lake sprang to life and soon engulfed Kakashi's body. We all watched closely to see what was happening. The cuts disappeared and the water dripped off of Kakashi's body. Kakashi regained consciousness.
"How do you feel sensi?" Sakura questioned.
Kakashi tried to talk but only random noises came from his mouth. "He's still paralyzed?" Naruto questioned, dumbfounded.
"But how? Tsu-sama why didn't your jutsu work?" Elfi asked, turning to me.
"Looks like my Prayer jutsu can only heal injuries and restore health, it cant cure everything…." I noted.
"Ok so what are we supposed to do now about this?" Sasuke questioned.
I sighed. "I have no clue."
"Wha?" Naruto, Sakura and Elfi questioned in disbelief.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Naruto demanded to know. "You're a medical ninja but you can't get rid of Kakashi-sensi's paralysis?"
"We'll be right back, k guys?" Elfi told Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura as she grabbed my wrists and pulled me away from squad 7.
"Hey wait, where are you going?" Sakura called after us, standing up.
"Don't worry we'll be right back!" Elfi yelled back to Sakura as we disappeared into the trees.
"Great now what are we supposed to do?" Naruto asked Sasuke and Sakura.
"We wait for them to come back, duh dope." Sasuke told Naruto as he walked over to the nearest tree and sat under it.
Naruto huffed in anger. "Don't worry sensi, they'll figure out some way to get rid of the paralysis." Sakura tried to reassure Kakashi. Kakashi looked at her but let out a sigh and looked away from Sakura, hoping she was right.
"Elfi!" I yelled for the billionth time. "Elfi Damnit!" On that note I ripped my wrist out of her hand and stopped dead in my tracks. Elfi stopped and faced me. "Where the hell are we going? Why aren't we trying to figure out how to help Kakashi with the others?"
"I brought you out here because you need to start talking with Gogyou and ask him for a new technique." Elfi explained.
I stared at Elfi with my jaw dropped nearly to the ground from shock. "Are you kidding me? I can't do that!" I began. "Gogyou is nothing but a ruthless monster! Why would I ask him for help!"
Elfi sighed. "See this is why you can't control Gogyou because you don't accept him as a part of who you are. Once you've accepted him it'll become so much easier!" Elfi explained. "When I first heard Kasai talk to me I was scared out of my mind and I thought I was going crazy but I still accepted her as a part of me! She's not going anywhere and she's going to be with me for the rest of my life! So just suck it up and learn to live with him because you're never going to get rid of him!"
'She's right about one thing you know.' I jumped at the sudden sound of Gogyou's voice. 'I am a part of you and I'm never going to go away. You're stuck with me. But of course she's wrong about you controlling me I mean come on, how do you expect to control me when you can hardly control yourself?'
"He's talking to you isn't he?" Elfi questioned, watching my facial expressions carefully. I nodded slightly. "Anigeka's can do that. They can only be heard by their host and the host alone so you'll never have to worry about anyone hearing your conversations with your Anigeka. Also whatever knowledge you have your Anigeka will know as well. But for now this is what you have to do," Elfi began. "You have to sit down, close your eyes and get into a mediation type state. That way you and Gogyou can talk face to face about whatever it is you need to discuss."
"You expect me to actually talk to this guy?" I questioned confused.
Elfi nodded. "Now do what I said and don't stop until you've come up with a new technique to cure Kakashi's paralysis. That'll be your first step!"
I gave Elfi a nervous look. "But what if things don't go so smoothly…And Gogyou happens to take control of me like he did on the bridge?"
Elfi smiled. "I'll stop him just like I did before, remember?"
Gogyou laughed at Elfi's response as if it were some kind of joke. 'There's no way I can lose to the likes of her. After all she is fire and I am-'
"Elfi," I began, cutting off Gogyou. "You have to remember Gogyou is the Anigeka of water but you and Kasai are both fire. That'll be a huge disadvantage!" I tried explaining to Elfi.
Elfi did nothing but smiled. "Remember back on the bridge when you and I fought each other? Even though I am fire and you are water I still didn't lose to you. Never underestimate an opponent Refi." Elfi warned.
"But you didn't win that battle either! It ended in a draw!" I defended. "I know that you aren't supposed to underestimate an opponent, I learned that well but I'm just saying. Gogyou's fighting tactics are nothing like mine."
"There's nothing to worry about Tsu-sama!" Elfi put her arms on my shoulders. "I trust in you and I trust in your strength!"
"Elfi…" I trailed off.
"Right! Let's get to work already!" With that Elfi pushed me down to the ground in a sitting position. "Now you two talk! I'll be right here!"
I sighed. I didn't want Elfi to put so much faith in me but I couldn't change her mind. I did as she instructed and went into a meditation type state. I soon found myself surrounded by total darkness once more, just like the first battle with Huyzu and his goons.
'You're friend seems a little too…oh what's the word I'm looking for?' Gogyou questioned himself, his body materializing before my eyes.
'Confident?' I answered back in a questioning tone, know that she was.
'I say she's more of stupid and a fool.'
'Watch what you say about her,' I warned.
Gogyou laughed at me, his body fully materialized in front of me. I glared at him. 'Oo did I strike a nerve?'-
'Look I'm not here to play games with you. Based on what Elfi has told me, you should already know why I'm here.'
'Indeed I do but I don't think I'm going to just hand over a new technique like that weakling Kasai.'
I bit my tongue on what I was going to say to him and rethought my words. 'Explain to me just why can't tell me this new technique.' I demanded to know.
'It's really simple actually. I just don't feel like giving out that kind of information to you.'
'Look, Elfi said that the next step in this is for us to become partners-'
'Yes I heard her say that but I doubt you're very excited about it,' Gogyou joked.
I sighed to myself, frustrated. 'I just want to get this over with so just give me the damn technique.'
'How about we come up with a compromise?' Gogyou suggested with a sinster feel behind the words he spoke.
'What do you mean by compromise exactly?' I inquired. I didn't like how the sudden mood and even the feel of things had shifted to something darker.
'It's really quite simple actually. You have been on your own since those other two ninjas got themselves killed, correct?' Gogyou asked.
'Those other two ninjas have names, it's Zabuza and Haku, firstly and secondly no you're wrong about being alone, I have Elfi, Naruto and the other leaf shinobis. They've been here since Zabuza and Haku died.'
'Right, right but here's what I've noticed. You've become weaker since Haku and Zabuza died, both physically and mentally.' Before I could ask him what he meant, he continued with his speech. 'Before the leaf shinobis came into the picture you were becoming the perfect killing machine. Zabuza and Haku were teaching you very well the ways of a true shinobi but now you're ten times more emotional than when you first got here and on top of that you have to rely on the leaf shinobis to bail you out of every tight jam you get into. You've nearly died 3 times in the past day or two since those two have been dead!'
Gogyou had a point even I couldn't deny. Even if I hated him, even if I hated the idea he could possibly right about anything he spoke of the truth. It had felt as if I had gotten weaker, as if I was slipping, losing my edge. I felt like I was a whole new person and this person I didn't even really like.
'There is no denying what you spoke of is true,' I began, Gogyou satisfied with my words but they burned worse than acid. 'Yes, I have become more emotional, even more physically weaker than I originally was before I met the leaf shinobis but this all happened after you appeared for the first time so the leaf shinobi aren't the only ones to blame in this.' Gogyou didn't seem too thrilled with my words but I could still sense there was something more he had in mind, I just couldn't put my finger on it. I let out a long sigh, with frustration very evident. 'Just get to your point, what is this compromise that you mentioned earlier?'
'I will train you myself, teach you the techniques, the secrets of the water arts. I could make you so much stronger than you are right now and I could make you one of the strongest elements there are out there.'
'I thought we've been over this, there's no way I'm gonna let you control me like some mindless pawn of yours-'
'Just hear me out, ok?' I sighed and stared at him, listening to whatever else he had to say. 'Yes there is a small catch, in order for me to teach you all the things I know about the water arts, you will accept me as a part of your existence, of who you are. Also, I will help you do away with all of these emotions, if you get your heart attached to anyone like your heart was attached to Haku.' My heart sank to my feet at the sound of that.
'Well I can tell by your facial expression that you don't want to go through that again, so let me teach you to harden your heart, let me teach you what it means to be a true shinobi! I will make you strong, I will never die and I will never leave you. In a way, I'm the only one who will always be here.'
Such irony in the words he just spoke were the only words I could think of as he finished his speech. I took everything into consideration. I didn't ever want to feel the way I had felt when Haku died. Maybe it would be best to distance myself and harden my heart. My mind was a violent whirlpool of confusion. But there was one thing I knew. I was running out of time and I had to help Kakashi-sensi. Once more I let a long sigh escape my lips as I shut my eyes. Gogyou was a demon, it was true and maybe he was just twisting his words and only saying what I wanted to hear. 'I've got a couple of conditions for you,' I began, my eyes still closed. 'You are not to take over this body without my consent, I don't want you to go off on a murder spree and make the village see me as a rouge ninja. I don't wish to become a monster in the eyes of those whom I have some feelings for. I will accept you as a part of me but it will take time. I need some time to see if you are something I want as a part of me. Also, you are not to lay a finger on my friends no matter what. Do what you will with this body and my mind but leave them out of it. If you give me the technique I need right now, I will begin to abide by this compromise you've proposed.'
With that, I opened my eyes and looked into Gogyou's eyes. He held his hand out to me. 'Then it looks like for now, we can call each other partners then.'
'If you use the term loosely I suppose so,' I reached my hand out to his and grasped it. It felt neither cold nor warm. I felt nothing. 'Partners.'
Gogyou grinned a smile as gentle as an angel but the intention behind it was as wicked demon. It felt as if I was making a deal with the devil himself. A blue-green aurora began pouring out of Gogyou's hand. I watched carefully just what was happening. The blue-green aurora began flowing through the tips of my fingers and spreading throughout my body, like a river that empties to an ocean. It felt peaceful, gentle and this made me feel uneasy. Gogyou's eyes shifted from an ocean blue color to an teal color. He concentrated on his hand, making sure I got every ounce of information and the skill to perform this new technique. The aurora slowly faded away and Gogyou's hand dropped to his side.
'You now have the power you seek. You may call it whatever you wish but you should know what this technique can do and it's limits. Maybe this will help you from being so reckless.' The darkness began slowly fading and with it Gogyou followed with it. 'We'll be meeting sooner than you think, Refi. Goodbye for now, partner.' He spoke to me as if we were long lost friends. That made my blood boil but I was grateful for having this new technique. I followed the light and soon I was back with reality.
I sighed and stood but, Elfi sitting up next to a tree in front of me, watching me carefully. "I take it things went smoothly then?"
I nodded. "Let's head back now, I'm sure the others are wondering where we are."
"Right." Elfi and I walked in silence. Part of me wanted to tell her everything that happened in that confrontation with Gogyou but part of me wondered if she already knew what had gone down. The last time I confronted Gogyou, Naruto could hear every word I said to Gogyou. I left it alone and focused on the things I had to do. I couldn't get the word 'partners' out of my head, it was just too much right now.
Elfi and I emerged from the forest and were back to where we originally were. "Finally you're back!" Naruto exclaimed, jumping out of the tree he had been laying in. Sasuke got up from the tree he sat under and Sakura stayed sitting next to Kakashi-sensi.
"So, you know how you're gonna fix up Kakashi?" Sasuke questioned.
I nodded and walked over to Kakashi's body. His eyes shifted to mine and I could see the worry and doubt in his eyes. "Sakura, please step back and let me work." Sakura nodded and obeyed. "Don't worry Kakashi, you'll be back to normal soon enough." There was a moment of pause. All eyes fell on me in anticipation. I took a breath and let my hands move. "Water style, Angel's Antidote jutsu!"
Suddenly, water vapor from the air began forming a light coat of water around Kakashi's body. Slowly, the water encasing Kakashi's body began slowly slipping through the small pores of Kakashi's skin. Soon enough the water coat was gone and inside Kakashi's body. The water inside Kakashi's body was like an extension of my own two hands. The water moved quickly to find the paralysis parasite. The water closed around the parasite as my own hand began closing into a fist. I pulled my hand upwards, casing the water rise through Kakashi's pores once more, with the parasite. The water flowed out of Kakashi's pores like mini water falls. Soon the Kakashi laid in the puddle of water with drown parasites.
I held my breath, hoping it worked. Kakashi slowly rose to his feet, moving around every muscle he could. "Refi, you did it!" Elfi and Naruto said simultaneously. Relief washed over me like waves rolling onto a beach. I felt so happy.
"Well Refi, you did well, thank you for your help," Kakashi said with a smile through his mask. I couldn't help but stop smiling. Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and Sasuke felt relieved as well, even if he didn't show it.
Elfi held her hand out to mine. I stared at her. "Come on Refi, let's go to your new home, the leaf village!" I was shocked. I looked around at the other leaf shinobi. They all looked as if they had the same idea in mind as Elfi did. I was so happy I felt that I could cry. I reached out and grabbed Elfi's hand.
Abruptly, everything became stationary once more. Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi had vanished and in Elfi's place stood Gogyou, staring down at me with that smile once more.
"Remember the compromise we had Refi, don't forget about it." I watched his face in horror. I tried to pull my hand away but his grasp was too tight. "I'll be seeing you soon, partner." Gogyou taunted. I squeezed my eyes shut and flinched in fear.
"Tsu-sama?"
My eyes snapped open and I looked back to see Elfi once more, my hand death gripping her hand. Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto stood by her as well, all having the same expressions on their faces. "What's wrong?" Elfi questioned.
I sighed and regained my composure. I yanked her arm, nearly making her fall to the ground. Naruto grabbed Elfi's other arm to help steady her as I pulled myself to my feet. I let go of her hand as I stood bathing in the sunlight that somehow became brighter than I remembered.
Kakashi chuckled and pulled out his book. "Well now, looks like our work here is completed."
"Alright! Mission accomplished!" Naruto exclaimed, jumping around.
"My first major mission, and I passed it!" Sakura whispered happily to herself. -inner Sakura- 'Cha! Now there's no way Sasuke doesn't see my skills and beauty! He'll be mine in no time!- Sakura giggled happily to herself.
"Humph, I've had enough of this place, let's go back home," Sasuke said aloud. Everyone silently agreed.
"Tsu-sama, from now on you're staying with me! Come on, let's get going!" Elfi said with new found enthusiasm.
Elfi grabbed my wrist and began dragging me wherever she wanted to go. "Elfi I don't think you're going the right way!" With that, everyone followed Elfi until somehow we ended back on the newly completely bridge. Inari and the rest of the townspeople were waiting to see us off and soon I was on my way. On my way to my new home and my new life, in the leaf village.
'If only you knew just what you're getting yourself into.' Gogyou said to himself with a devilish smile playing across his lips. 'You may be leading for now but you'll be dancing along to my song, soon enough.'
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