"Ah, here we are!" Naruto exclaimed, taking a good breath. "We made it one piece!"
"Of course we did, Snookie." Teah teased him. "Because we have you around!"
"Oh shut up." Naruto rolled his eyes, but grinned anyway.
"The Shamaness lives in that hut over there, I believe." Sakura said, pointing toward a large, traditional hut.
The Hirenshi Village was a small village near the borders of the Fire Country, and was known for its abundance in herbs and medicines that is produced all the time. It was peaceful, but it was near a dangerous village, which often was why it was always a bit dangerous to get close to.
None the less, it was quite peaceful and very serene, surrounded by a water source and forest, and not far was a wide open field.
"All right, then we'll escort you in, Princess." Kakashi teased with a smile behind his mask.
Teah rolled her eyes. "I'm so delighted."
"We'll wait outside and keep guard, Kakashi-sensei!" Kiba said, gesturing to himself, Lee, Shikamaru and Neji. "You guys go inside and do your thing, and we can keep guard out here."
Yamato gave a nod. "Smart idea, Kiba. All right, I'll stand guard with you, and you can go inside with the Princess, Naruto and Sakura, Kakashi."
"Okay, we won't be too long." Kakashi said, and led the three of them inside.
The elderly Shamaness looked up from making a small brew, and smiled warmly. "Oh, Princess! It is such an honour that you have come." She stood up and bowed respectfully.
Teah just smiled shakily, since she wasn't all for Royal gestures. "No need to bow to me, Himekawa-sama."
"Humour her, Teah-nee-chan." Naruto whispered to her.
"Oh, my apologies, Your Highness." Himekawa sat back down. "Please, do sit. I hope you are comfortable."
"I'm fine, it's okay." Teah said, and sat down on a map. "So, you requested an audience with me, correct? What is it that you wanted?"
"I am glad you asked that, Princess." Himekawa said, and held out something in a bag. "Bring these, to the Shaman in your Kingdom, I have wanted to give him my medicines for quite some time."
"Oh, of course." Teah took the bag from her. "I'm planning to go there soon, and make some announcements to my people. I will surely drop these off to him, it's quite an honour, since you are one of the best in the Fire Country."
The old woman blushed and giggled. "Oh Princess, you are far too kind! I greatly appreciate it, oh thank you. I hope to pass my expertise to someone so deserving, because this world needs good medicines, do you not agree?"
"Absolutely I do." Teah nodded.
"I would have expected nothing less, Your Highness." Himekawa smiled warmly and then gently touched her cheek. "With a woman of your kindness and beauty, you will surely find a wonderful man."
Teah blushed a little, looking at Naruto at the corner of her eye. I already have... And he's not interested in me. "I can only wish, Himekawa-sama."
She laughed. "You are quite a dreamer. Please, all of you, you are welcome to stay a little longer. I will have the cook prepare a meal for your troubles."
"It's all right Himekawa-sama, we'll just-" Kakashi began.
"Nonsense! Please, stay. It is not very often that I have such wonderful guests."
Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "If you put it that way, how can we refuse?"
--
At a small home in Konoha, a young teenage boy no older than 16 and a girl, also no older than 16, were outside the house, making out like crazy.
"Oh Kiremaru-kun, shouldn't you be watching your sister?" The girl cooed.
Kiremaru chuckled and brought his hand up her shirt while fumbling to open the door. "No way, Kotoko. She's two, she can handle herself."
"Ohhh, you should be punished!" Kotoko said with a laugh and soft moan. "Ohhhhhhh!!!"
They fumbled inside, and the door shut behind them. Falling against the wall, they continued to make out like crazy, feeling each other up as they made their way to the stairs.
All of a sudden, the back door in the kitchen swung wide open with a very loud creaking noise. The couple paused, freezing in their steps.
"Shit, is someone home?!" Kotoko hissed.
"Stay here." Kiremaru pulled back from her, slowly making his way to the kitchen. "Mom? Dad? Aunt Emiko? Hello?"
The back door was wide open, but no one was there. It just swung lightly from the breeze coming from outside. It was dark out by now, and very quiet, other than the soft sounds of the night. Cautiously approaching, Kiremaru looked outside toward the backyard, and saw nothing except for a few fireflies. Carefully grasping the doorknob, he shut the door.
Standing behind the door after it closed was Jason, who had hidden in the pantry nearby, unnoticed.
"Oh my God!! Oh my God!! Kotoko!! Go get he-" Kiremaru was cut off when his throat was slit, blood pouring out of the wound and his mouth.
Jason watched as the boy fell to the floor, bleeding to death, as a scream came from the doorway. It was Kotoko, having witnessed the bloody murder. She ran and tried to escape, but Jason had caught up to her, grabbing her roughly by the hair.
"Let me go, you sick freak!!!" Kotoko yelled angrily, thrashing and screaming. She bumped into his stomach, causing the machete to drop to the ground.
When Jason moved to pick it up, Kotoko took it as a moment to free herself and shove him back, with little effect, but it bought her some time. She grabbed the machete and promptly stabbed him in the chest with it.
Jason paused in his steps, and then looked down at the puncture as if he were a robot. Blood was pouring out, but it didn't affect him at all. He grasped the handle, and slowly proceeded to pull it out as if it were just a sewing needle.
Kotoko ran toward the door, and was about to open it when the machete suddenly went flying and pierced through the back of her head, the end of the blade coming out of her forehead and going into the door. She shook a few times, and then went limp also.
As Jason went to go and pull the machete out, with some difficulty since a good portion of the blade was now lodged into the door, he then heard footsteps behind him. Was there someone else in the house? He turned around, and his eyes behind the eye holes of his Hockey mask widened with surprise.
"Jason...my special, special boy..." Pamela said lovingly, coming from the doorway of the kitchen. "You've done pretty good...but now mommy needs you to go somewhere else."
Jason tilted his head and listened to her respectfully. His eyes brimmed with trust and love, all directed toward his mother.
"My special boy.... Go to the Village of the Sand, and let those naughty children taste the very meaning of punishment! Go Jason, go and teach them a lesson! Let them see you, Jason...there's no need to hide."
If Jason had a "normal" brain functioning, he probably would be getting suspicious by now. Since he didn't quite pick up that notion very well, or very fast for that matter, he just gave a slow nod and then managed to dislodge his weapon.
"Go Jason...make mommy proud, just as you always have. I know you can do it, my special, special boy." His mother said softly, backing into the kitchen.
Jason reached out, trying to touch her, but then she was gone. Tilting his head in confusion, he gave a short shrug and then left the house through the back door.
--
"Genjutsu successful, sir." Himetsu confirmed to his Boss.
"Excellent work, Himetsu." Fujisaki sneered. "Now then, Yakita, prepare the very jutsu to bring him there."
"Right away, Boss!" Yakita said, and went to go and do just that in the next room.
Fujisaki stared into his crystal ball, as he watched the vision of Jason now going through the backyard of the house to get out of there. "Not as much as I would have wanted him to kill...but it did stir up a good amount of attention... One down, a few more to go." He then paused. "Mokira!"
One of the seven men instantly came to his side, saluting. "You called me, Boss?"
"Take a scout, and go to the Hirenshi Village...keep an eye on the Nine-Tails, and the Princess. We will hatch a plan, and kidnap the Princess."
"Understood, Boss." Mokira nodded and then left the room.
"Kukukuku....everything is going according to plan....and before long, the Five Great Shinobi Countries will be mine!"
--
"What?! What do you mean murders?!" Tsunade exclaimed, abruptly standing up from her desk. "When did this happen!?"
"Just today, Hokage." Said the ANBU Captain, taking off his mask and wiping the sweat off his forehead. "The victims were two jounin, and seven teenage civilians. We don't have any leads as of yet."
Tsunade sighed heavily, slinking into her chair. "Any witnesses?"
"Just a few, Hokage. Some witnesses say they saw a very tall man wearing a Hockey mask committing the murder on the three boys outside the newly opened Tavern on the east side. I'm not sure if it links to the other murders."
"Well get back out there and keep investigating! And find this guy, take him in for questioning, I don't know, do something!" Tsunade shouted, frustrated.
The ANBU Captain nodded and bowed. "Understood, Lady Hokage." He then left her office.
Taking a bottle of sake from her drawer, Tsunade poured herself some and drink it down.
"This is going to get really stressful..."
--
After having eaten a very hearty dinner with the Shamaness, she'd invited them to stay the night so that they wouldn't have to go back to Konoha in such dark and dangerous conditions. Kakashi accepted after having protested in vain for a good five minutes, and so now they were all walking around or going to their rooms for the night.
Naruto sat quietly along the wrap around walk of the Shamaness's place, eating an apple and looking a little mournfully toward Lee and Sakura, who were chatting animatedly. He was struck with jealousy as he watched them, feeling an empty feeling in his gut.
"Hi there, Naruto."
Looking up, he saw Teah standing above him, and dressed in a long, silky nightdress borrowed from the Shamaness. It came with a short-sleeved slip that tied in a little bow at the front. She smiled and sat down next to him.
"Hey, Teah-nee-chan." Naruto smiled at her. "What'cha doing out here?"
"I wanted to sit outside for a few minutes, look up at the stars...and I saw you here." Teah shrugged lightly. "You all right?"
Naruto glanced back toward Lee and Sakura. Lee was now chuckling and caressing Sakura's cheek as she blushed and giggled. With a sigh, he looked away.
Following his gaze, Teah glanced toward the two, and then looked at Naruto. "Oh, I see. ...I'm sorry, Naruto."
"Huh?" He looked over at her, a little confused. "Why are you sorry?"
"I know how you feel about Sakura, and I can see this pains you." She said softly. "The last thing I wanted was for you to get hurt like this."
Blinking, Naruto couldn't help but stare at her for a few moments, and then he started to laugh.
"Gosh Teah-nee-chan, you worry too much!" Naruto uttered, bringing an arm around her. "It's gonna take more than that for me to fall down into a big, sad world!"
Just like you to hide your emotions. Teah thought.
"Naruto, it's okay, you don't have to hide it." Teah said sweetly.
"Well...yeah, I know, but I guess...well, I just gotta learn to accept these things. I mean, she liked Sasuke way back when."
"You do realize it was one-sided, don't you?" Teah said, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Not really, I was just yelling at Sasuke to be nicer to her." Naruto shrugged. "Now Lee. Sure I'm bummed, since I really do want Sakura to like me..." He looked down in sadness. "I'll get over it, Teah-nee-chan. I do have a spine. I've made it through worse and here I am now, right? With good friends and great teachers who are all like a big family to me. I know Sakura will always be my friend, so it's not like I'm gonna lose her completely."
Teah blinked at him, surprised at his words. She couldn't have expected anything less from Naruto, who although had a very tough, tragic life, and yet was able to bounce back and move on to make his dreams come true and create a life that he WOULD be happy with, and keep his friends close like a family. Even today she still admired that about him, and wanted to think like that.
Naruto...I wish you could look at me like you look at Sakura... Teah thought sadly.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Naruto tilted his head to the side as he saw her looking like she wanted to cry. "You okay?"
"H-Huh? What?" Teah snapped out of it and glanced at him. "Oh, oh. Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking, that's all. ....Actually, Naruto, I..."
"Well hello there, you two." Kakashi said as he came up to the two of them. "Oh, did I interrupt something?"
"No! No!" Both of them said unison.
The masked copy ninja chuckled. "Whatever you say. But anyway, I just wanted to tell you both to get to bed soon, since we'll be taking off bright and early tomorrow after breakfast. So goodnight, and sleep well, kiddies!" He teased and then walked off.
Naruto rolled his eyes and stood, helping Teah to her feet. "Guess we may as well go to bed."
"...Naruto..." Teah began softly.
"Mm? Yeah, what's up?" He turned back around to face.
"...I...I...."
A rush, an impulse, or maybe a passionate desire, she didn't know which one it was, but it did make her grab Naruto to her and lean down, kissing him on the lips.
Naruto's cobalt eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the sudden attack of affection, and he had no idea what to think. One of his closest friends was now kissing him. Kissing him! Friends didn't kiss! It made no sense, why was she doing that? It was kind of odd too, since she was at least 4 inches taller than he was.
He thought to push her away, which seemed to be the only logical thing to do, but he also didn't want to hurt her feelings, or make her feel bad. She was a pretty good kisser too...wait, did this mean she liked him? It had to be that, because Teah didn't just go around kissing her friends for no reason. Even she didn't have all the immorality in the world to do such a thing. Had he been oblivious to her affections all this time?
His heart leaped when he felt her tongue trace along his lips, it was so surprising that he opened his mouth and her tongue came wandering in, slowly exploring his mouth. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before, and it wasn't unpleasant either. In fact, her kiss was really nice. She was soft, but hungry and passionate all at once.
Naruto didn't know what came over him, but he found himself bringing his hands up to run his fingers through her raven hair and kiss her back with equal fervor.
How it happened, even she didn't know. Nothing seemed to be explained as they kissed under the moonlight.
--
"Who says we have to go back so quickly? Days like this don't come very often, and we should take the time to smell the roses. Life's short, you know."
"Using my own philosophy against me, are you?"
It was the next day, and along Oasis Park, a beautiful park that was recently built in the outskirts of the Sand Village after diggers had hit a nice, cold water source. So it became known as Oasis Park, and with the help of other resources, it became a beautiful green space with lots of trees, palm trees, shrubbery, fresh grass, and the water source in the centre of it all was drinkable. It was a very refreshing place, family-friendly, and just relaxing.
Casana Kusabana giggled and came around, throwing her arms around Deidara's neck. "Only to tell the truth." She smiled.
Chuckling, Deidara kissed her on the nose. "You're terrible."
"I know I am." She winked and kissed his cheek before pulling away. "Besides, it's nice to have a tropical oasis in this forsaken desert!"
"Good point." Deidara admitted thoughtfully. "And we already finished our job, and reported to the Leader, so we've got some time to kill before we go off to Konoha."
"You said it. C'mon, there's a tropical drink stand over there, let's get some-" She was cut off by the sound of a loud CRACK coming from somewhere nearby.
Puzzled, Casana looked to her left, and what she saw made her blood boil and her eyes widen with terror.
A group of little kids, between 4 and 6, were playing around together under a large tree that was leaning over dangerously, its trunk cracking. Four of the kids had run out of the way, but one of them, a little girl no older than 5, had tripped and fallen. But by the time she would be able to get up and run, she wouldn't be able to make it.
And the teenagers babysitting them weren't paying attention!
--
Those babysitters were going to pay dearly for not paying attention to children. It was almost major deja-vu of the very event going back to 1957.
Parting a branch aside, Jason moved in toward the teenage babysitters, who he'd seen arrive with the children, so he knew they were responsible for them, but what he saw next made him freeze in his tracks and even colour him surprised.
A blur of black, red, and brown came practically out of nowhere, rushing toward the little girl. A young woman, no older than 17 or 18, picked up the child with one arm, and then placed her other hand up against the falling tree trunk to stop it from falling. He watched with confusion, amazement and surprise as this happened, and how the tree didn't fall on her.
Casana braced her feet against the ground, holding back the falling tree trunk with added strength of her chakra, and holding the child with her free hand.
"Okay, you're safe." She said to the child, letting her go.
"Wow...thank you! That was so cool!" The little girl said, and ran to the babysitters.
Casana then let the tree gently to the ground, so that it would be taken care of later. But she wasn't finished yet. In fury and disgust, she marched over toward the teen babysitters.
"What were you thinking?!" She scolded them as if they were children themselves. "That little girl almost got crushed to death by that tree and you weren't even paying attention!"
"Well, like...it's like, not our fault." Said one of the girls, clearly a ditzy airhead.
"Hey, chill out bitch." Said one of the boys. "She's fine now, isn't she?"
"That's not the point!" Casana poked him in the chest. "YOU irresponsible morons weren't paying attention to children, and you call yourselves babysitters!? Always, ALWAYS watch the children when you're responsible for them! Boy, if I hadn't been there to see it, you would've been in major trouble."
"Don't you talk to Paul that way!" Said another girl.
"Yeah, so shut up, you stupid bitch!" Said the other boy.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did I make you guys angry for calling you out on a stupid mistake that YOU made? Well I'm sorry, I fail to see the logic and right for YOU to be angry." Casana mocked, and cracked her knuckles. "You're all in for a major punishment."
"W-Wait, we should talk about-"
Deidara watched from where he was standing, drinking a tropical smoothie, as the sounds of punches and yells of agony were heard. He yawned and then looked at a pocket watch he was carrying.
Watching from the trees, Jason was pretty amazed that someone had actually called them out on them being naughty. He didn't catch a lot of the words she said, but he heard "punishment" and that enough told him to take care of those teenagers...after she was gone, of course.
"Let that be a lesson to you." Casana told them, walking away from them. She smiled sweetly as she reached Deidara's side. "C'mon, I want a smoothie too."
"Sure thing." Deidara chuckled and they walked off.
--
"You are NEVER watching our children again!"
"I'll see to you never babysitting again!"
"W-We're sorry!"
"No excuses! You're fired!"
"You are the worst babysitters ever!"
"Your parents will hear about this!"
The four babysitters stood helplessly, all sporting some bruises and a black eye, as the parents of the children came took the kids and headed off home. It was getting later in the afternoon by now.
"Great, so now what?" Said one of the girls.
"Let's go get some beer, I'm tired of this." Sighed one of the boys.
"Hey, I'm gonna go take a whiz, wait for me!" Said another boy, going toward some bushes and trees.
He zipped down his fly and did his business, whistling a little.
"Man...what a dumb bitch, how dare she get us in trouble...it's all her fault. I'm gonna go find out where she lives, fuck her, and kill her." He said to himself.
Suddenly, Jason was right behind him in nearly a flash. Seeing the shadow falling over him, he didn't have enough time to react as Jason swung his machete with so much force and swiftness, it sliced the boy in half at the waist. Both halves fell to the ground in a bloody mess.
--
"Okay, like, it's been like, a while. Where is he?" Said one of the girls.
"I dunno, we better go find him." Said the other boy.
They all went toward to where they'd seen the other boy go to, and they figured he may have gone a little deeper into the trees and shrubs, at least until they then found his remains.
"AAAGGH!! LIKE OH MY GOD!!!!" Screamed the airhead girl.
"What happened to him?!?!!" Cried the other girl.
"I don't know, something killed him! C'mon, we gotta get out of-"
His sentence was cut off with a blood curdling yelp when the blade of a machete pierced through his chest, and a giant foot knocked him down to the ground. He tried to get up, but Jason placed his foot firmly on his back to keep him in place and then grabbed at his head, twisting it and proceeding to rip it from his shoulders. The girls could do nothing but watch and scream in terror and before long, Jason had ripped off the head of the boy, and tossed it into the trees.
He turned his attention to the two girls, and picked his machete up from where it was struck into the ground beside him. One girl tried to back away, but she didn't get a chance as the machete was thrown and struck between her eyebrows. She stumbled and then fell to the ground, dead.
"Like, no! Get away!" The other girl pounded at his chest pathetically with her fists.
Unfazed, Jason grabbed her head and twisted it around 360, and then turned it back around to face the front, and then kicked her legs, very roughly, to make her fall down.
Taking his machete from the other girl, he stared at the crimson blood on the blade and then walked off.