An Attack from Puddle-ducks
I stopped in front of a huge gate. Having wandered around the training ground for a good hour, I had finally come across what I think is the Hyuuga compound. I awkwardly played with a kunai, thinking it stupid to be waiting outside the Hyuuga compound at four in the morning hoping Neji would train me.
The sky was lightening, but had yet for dawn to break and the Sun to rise. A few birds shifted in the trees, but weren't awake enough to begin singing. It was very quiet this early in the morning. Very few people were on the streets.
"K-Kari-chan?"
"GAHH!!--Oh Hinata? You scared the life and afterlife out of me!" I cried, turning sharply and almost, accidentally smacking her across the face.
"Oh sumimasen, I... I didn't mean to startle you. I just... I couldn't sleep and... I was getting some fresh air... Anou... Can I help you?" she said shyly, pressing her fingers together as she looked at me through her lavender orbs.
"Yeah, do you know where Neji is by any chance?" I asked.
"...Onii-san? Hai, I... I'll get him for you..."
"He's your brother?!" I cried in shock, my eyes widening as my jaw dropped.
"Oh no, you see... he... he's my cousin. His father and... and... my father were twins..." Hinata said softly, her eyes downcast and slightly watery. My heart lurched and I wanted nothing more than to hug her until she smiled and the tears went away.
"Hey... Hina-chan, naniga okashii no desu ka?"I said softly, asking what was wrong.
"Oh, oh nanimonai Kari-chan, I'll go get him."
As I watched her run inside I knew it wasn't nothing. I could see she's upset and my heart went out to her.
"Is there any particular reason you're here?" Neji asked observing me calmly, waiting for me to give him an answer. His eyes seemed to penetrate my mind, giving him the power to read my thoughts. Don't be stupid mind-reading is impossible.
"Well, you see I've got a mission, C-rank and was hoping for a little early morning ninja training as you are such a nice sensei?" I said hopefully. He observed me for a moment before nodding.
"I don't see why not, Lee and Gai-sensei were out running around the village on their hands last night. So we've got the first half of the day off while they're in bed. He usually has us up early, working us to the bone and pouring enthusiasm everywhere" Neji said, as we began walking.
"Doesn't sound too bad" I said, thinking to my own, lazy, constantly late sensei, obsessed with reading and interested in not much else. Neji snorted giving me a look of disbelief, it was then I noticed I was inside the Hyuuga compound, on their own private training ground.
"Well let's get started."
"Where've you been Kari, we've got to leave in an hour" a grumpy Sasuke said, opening the door. With a startled look he caught me as I fell forward.
"Tired…" I whined. Neji had worked me to the bone, physically and mentally. My head was whirring with different hand signs, and chakra information about Taijutsu, Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, about Kekkei Genkai and strategy. Oh and so much more…
"Where were you? I woke up at six and you weren't there" Sasuke demanded, trying and failing to get me to stand on my, shaky, weak, Neji-beaten legs.
"Training… Nasty sensei-boy… No… he don't deserve sensei-ness… Oww I ache…"
"You've got an hour until we have to leave. Go… go have a shower or something. I'll get us some breakfast. You look like you need the energy" Sasuke said awkwardly.
"Arigatou… Sas-kun" I sighed gratefully, leaving him in peace, confused, but without having to put up with me for a while.
Refreshed and fed, myself and Sasuke headed to the gate with our things. Naruto and Sakura appeared a few minutes later. Surprisingly, a few minutes after that, Tazuna came with an un-late Kakashi, who chose to ignore Naruto's shock of him being on time.
We turned and walked out the gate. Naruto turned round and lifted his arms in the air.
"YOSH!!" Naruto cheered, grinning from ear to ear.
"What are you getting so excited about Naruto?" Sakura asked looking annoyed.
"This is the first time I've ever left the village! I'm a traveller dattebayo!" Naruto cried excitedly bouncing on the balls of his feet with the hugest grin on his face.
"He grows up so fast..." I said with a slight chuckle. Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"You're the same age as him, he's only twelve" Sasuke said. I looked at myself.
WHAT THE--!? I'M TWELVE!
Or did I just get mistaken for younger than I actually was? No, I looked exactly like my twelve year old self. Okay wasn't I fourteen coming on fifteen? When did I get two years younger? I was shorter, my hair was longer it was down to my butt instead of mid back but it was layered, even though I only had that done a few months ago.
The really scary thing was I had my fourteen year old bust...
"Hey am I supposed to trust my life to this runt? He's a joke!" cried Tazuna, looking at Naruto distastefully.
"Heh heh, he's with me and I'm a Jonin, you don't have to worry" said Kakashi reassuringly. Naruto sulked for a moment, and then he pointed at Tazuna.
"HEY! NEVER insult a ninja it's a big mistake and I'm one of the GREATEST ninja ever! Someday I'm gonna be Hokage and you're gonna look up to me! My name's Uzumaki Naruto! REMEMBER IT!!" Naruto cried pointing at the bridge builder dramatically. Tazuna took another gulp of his drink.
"Hokage are wise, YOU are puny and brainless. The day you become Hokage, I'll sprout wings and fly" said Tazuna.
"I wanna fly!" I cried happily. Seriously, it's a childhood dream to sprout wings and soar above the clouds. Pshh, keep dreaming baka…
"AAAARGH! SHUT UP OLD MAN! I'M WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO BECOME HOKAGE! NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES! AND THEN EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO ADMIT I'M THE TOP NINJA, EVEN YOU!!" Naruto cried angrily.
Anything huh? So you'd become gay and fall in love with Sasuke?
"Heh! You can become Hokage ten times over, to me you'll still be a nobody, a loser!" said Tazuna.
"Dude he would be a reeeeeeally rich nobody" I said as Kakashi held back Naruto who was, once again, trying to attack Tazuna.
"I told you, you have to protect the client not attack him" said Kakashi exasperatedly.
"Huh?" I said looking round.
I could have sworn I heard… something...
"Say Tazuna-san?" Sakura asked.
"What is it?" Tazuna replied gruffly.
"What's in the bottle?" I asked interrupting their conversation. Sakura gave me a scolding look which I smiled sheepishly at in apology. Tazuna handed it to me. Kakashi raised an eyebrow. I sniffed the bottle, and then drank some. Heck it was strong! I grinned, as the world took a little sway and I almost tripped over my own feet from the sudden light-headedness.
"You shouldn't drink that, you're underage" Sasuke said. I shrugged. He's probably more of a lightweight than me…
"Is it nice?" Naruto asked. I nodded. "Can I have some?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"No, I don't like you" Tazuna said. I giggled at Naruto's annoyed sulky expression.
"Your country is the Land of Waves right?" Sakura said getting back to her conversation.
"Yeah, what of it?" Tazuna said.
"Kakashi-sensei, there are ninja in that country too aren't there?" Sakura asked.
"No, there are no ninja in the land of waves, but in other countries, there are hidden villages with their own different customs and cultures where ninja reside. To the people of this continent the residence of shinobi villages means strength military strength. In other words, that's how they protect themselves and maintain the balance of power within neighbouring countries the ninja villages are not controlled by any government they are independent and have equal status. Now a small island like the Land of Waves has natural protection from the sea so there's no need for a ninja village. The five ancient lands that possess shinobi villages are the lands of fire, water, lightning, wind and earth. They each occupy vast territories together they are known as the five great shinobi nations. The land of fire has the village hidden in the leaves, the land of water the village hidden in the mist, the land of lightning the village hidden in the clouds, the land of wind the village hidden in the sand and the land of earth the village hidden in the stones. Only the leaders of these hidden villages are permitted the name Kage which means shadow. Hokage, Mizukage, Raikage, Kazekage and Tsuchikage. These are the Kage's, the five great shadows that reign over thousands of ninja" said Kakashi. I took another gulp of drink.
"Wha...?" I said, lost half way through.
"Never mind Kari, it'll be a little confusing as you're new" Kakashi said simply.
"Then Hokage-sama is really important!" cried Sakura.
Yeah right, the guys just an old man, if you poke him he'll fall over...
"HEY! You all just doubted the Hokage didn't you?" Kakashi scolded. Naruto and Sakura frantically shook their heads while I simply nodded. Kakashi put a hand on my head.
"Well there are no ninja battles on a C-ranked mission. So you can relax" he said simply.
"So there's no chance we'll run into any foreign enemy ninja or anything like that" said Sakura. Kakashi chuckled.
"Not likely" Kakashi replied. I looked at Tazuna.
"You look suspicious... I don't trust that look..." I said my eyes narrowing. He snatched his bottle out of my grasp.
"NO! NO! NO! I WAS ONLY JOKING! I LOVE YOU REALLY TAZUNA-SAN!!" I cried hugging the poor guy while trying to reach the bottle.
A little while later we walked over a bridge. Naruto was in front, then me, then Sasuke, then Sakura, then Kakashi and finally Tazuna.
Me and the client had come to an agreement that I could have some more later.
Bored, I dropped back so I was behind Tazuna and Kakashi. Sasuke did the same. Maybe he was annoyed with Sakura, I dunno. I looked round.
Why was there a random puddle on the ground? It was nice and sunny.
I looked round at Kakashi who nodded then kept on walking. Not that he got particularly far…
"NANI!" Kakashi cried as chains wrapped around him.
"ORO!?" Naruto gasped.
"WHAT!?" Sakura screamed. Kakashi was ripped to shreds. My eyes widened. Kakashi's remains fell to the ground. Sakura screamed horrified.
"OH NO YOU DIDN'T!" I shouted pulling out a shuriken, adrenaline overpowering my fear. My heart pounded in my chest as my eyes darted left and right. Something told me Kakashi was fine, that he was too smart to get killed so easily.
"KA-KAKASHI-SENSEI!!" Naruto cried. Two wild looking ninja appeared behind Naruto.
"NARUTO! GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU REJECTS'!" I shouted. I jumped up flinging my shuriken at them, pinning their chains to a tree. Sasuke speedily threw a kunai into the middle of my shuriken, trapping the chains in place.
We both landed on the two ninja. Sasuke kicked one, while I kicked the other as hard as I could.
Thank god for martial arts training, thank god for horse riding building up strength in my legs, thank god for Neji!
Note to self: Hug Neji until he turns blue and buy him his favourite food
The chains came lose and the two ninja ran past me and Sasuke towards the others. One went for Naruto and the other went for Tazuna and Sakura.
"Stay behind me!" Sakura cried pulling out a kunai and taking a defensive stance in front of Tazuna. I appeared in front of Sakura, thinking that Sasuke would go for Naruto, but the Uchiha appeared in front of me. My heart froze as I turned to look at my hyperactive team mate. He was frozen with fear, staring in horror as those claws came closer and closer…
"NARUTO!"
Kakashi appeared at my scream with both ninja in a headlock.
"Hi" Kakashi said simply, as though he'd just gone to the bathroom quickly and had not just been ripped to pieces.
"Kakashi-sensei you live!" I cried in relief.
What a drama queen geez...
"Huh? But he was-? WHAT!?" Naruto cried noticing the sliced up log, he gawped at his sensei's substitution jutsu.
"KAKASHI-SENSEI YOU KILLED A TREE!" I cried. All present besides me sweat dropped.
"Naruto, sorry I didn't help you right away, I didn't mean for you to get hurt, I just didn't think you'd freeze up like that" said Kakashi. I ran over to Naruto.
"You're hurt!?" I cried worried, I took his bleeding hand in mine.
"Good job Sasuke, very smooth, you too Sakura. Not bad Kari, the Hokage was right about you" said Kakashi.
"Hey..." Sasuke said, looking over at Naruto. I was slightly surprised to see a smirk on his face. Was he actually going to be nice?
"Yeah?" Naruto replied, looking just as surprised.
"You're not hurt are ya? Scaredy cat" Sasuke said mockingly. Enraged he had insulted my friend, I thwacked him around the head
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?" Sasuke cried holding his head and giving me the mother of all glares.
"Leave Naruto alone, you baka! It wasn't his fault! It could have happened to anyone, even YOU! In fact you've been cut on the shoulder Mr. High-and-mighty Uchiha!" I said over Sakura's screams of "SASUKE-KUN! ARE YOU OKAY SASUKE-KUN! KARI HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO SASUKE-KUN!"
"GRRRR SASUKEEE!!" Naruto shouted.
"Naruto! Stand still! These ninja have poison in their claws, we need to take it out of you quickly, you have to open the wound and remove it. It's in your blood, so don't move around, that spreads the poison. By the way Tazuna-san..." said Kakashi.
"Yeah, what?" Tazuna asked.
"We need to talk" Kakashi said in a cold serious voice I hadn't heard him use before. He usually spoke in a light, airy, carefree tone. I glared suspiciously at Tazuna. Something was fishy and this time it wasn't Tora's breath...
"They're Chunnin from the village hidden in the mist, their speciality is relentless attack, they keep fighting no matter what the sacrifice" said Kakashi.
Now I had Sweet Sacrifice by Evanescence stuck in my head. Good thing I love Evanescence!
"How did you know about our ambush?" one of the ninja asked.
"A puddle on a clear day, when it hasn't rained in weeks" said Kakashi. I noticed that!
"In that case why'd you leave it to the genin to do the fighting?" Tazuna asked.
"I could have taken them out quickly, but then I would have learnt nothing I had to know who their target was... and... what they were after" said Kakashi.
"Hm? What are you getting at?" Tazuna asked.
"This... I wanted to know if they were after us, ninja attacking ninja OR if they were after you, the master bridge builder, when you put in your request, you asked for standard protection from robbers and highwaymen, you didn't say there were ninja after you if we knew this, we would have made it a B rank mission or higher, our task was just to get you to your destination and protect you while you finished building your bridge, if we knew we would be fielding attacks from enemy ninja, we would have staffed differently and charged for the cost of a B-ranked mission, apparently you have your reasons but lying to us is not acceptable, we are now beyond the scope of this mission" Kakashi said.
"We're genin, this is too advanced for our level of training, we should go back and I really think we need to go and treat Naruto's wound and get the poison out as soon as possible, back in our village we can take him to a doctor" said Sakura. She seemed to think Sasuke was indestructible.
He was hit too Sakura... Stop making Naruto sound troublesome.
"Hm... Naruto's hand could become a problem" said Kakashi. "I guess we should go back to the village."
Angrily Naruto pulled out a kunai and stabbed it into his hand. I gasped in alarm as blood rushed down the back of his hand.
"Why am I so different! Why am I always... GRRRR!" Naruto cried angrily.
"Naruto stop that! What are you doing!?" Sakura cried.
"I worked so hard to get here! Pushing myself so hard until it hurt! Training alone for hours, anything to get stronger to reach my dream..." he said. I put a hand on his shoulder, hearing the emotion in his voice. "I will never back down again and let some one else rescue me! I will never run away and I will not lose to Sasuke! Upon this wound I make this pledge! Dattebayo!" Naruto said. I smiled.
"You tell 'em Naruto" I said softly, knowing how much he meant what he said.
"Bridge builder, I will finish this mission and protect you with this kunai knife and Kari-chan..." I looked at him confused. "I'm going to protect you too! Don't worry I'm gonna be fine!" I smiled.
"Thanks Naruto" I said, proud to know him.
"Naruto uh... that was really cool how you took the poison out and all... demo... if you lose anymore blood you're going to die" said Kakashi.
Naruto went pale and clammy as sweat poured down his face. "Good idea to stop the bleeding now... seriously!" said Kakashi. Naruto screamed, running around like a headless chicken.
"NO! NO! NO! I'M TO YOUNG FOR IT TO END LIKE THIS! NO! NO! HELP!!" Naruto screamed.
"Show me your hand" said Kakashi taking Naruto's hand. I looked over Kakashi shoulder anxiously.
"Naruto you've got a self-abusive personality its called masochism!" Sakura scolded.
Kakashi gasped, noticing Naruto's hand was already healing.
"Um... Um... you have a really serious look on your face am I okay?" Naruto asked petrified. I pulled out some bandages and took Naruto's hand from Kakashi and wrapped it.
"Uhh, yeah you should be fine" Kakashi said. "Once you've done that Kari, if you could see to Sasuke quickly? We'll go on ahead" Kakashi said simply walking over to Tazuna.
"There ya go Naru-kun! You were very brave!" I said kissing his forehead. He blushed crimson. Sakura had to drag him after Kakashi and Tazuna, seeing as he kinda had... I dunno been paralyzed? Traumatised?
"Ok Mr, your turn" I sighed walking over to Sasuke.
"I don't need your help" he grumbled. "Worry about yourself" he said with a glance at the slight rip in my Capri's.
"A needle and thread'll fix the tear and it's only a little scratch. You on the other hand have a deeper wound and you can't suck the poison out, unless you have a really freaky double-jointed-ness and you know how hard it is to bandage things one-handed" I pointed out. He blushed, grumbling to himself.
"Don't tell anyone about this" he said glaring. I rolled my eyes.
"Would I? Geez your adoring fans would eat me alive... Now stay still..."