I'd like to apologize for not updating in a while, due to recent surgery.
Henko P.O.V.
"Honestly, if you hadn't missed that gray-haired guy with the mask, we would have finished the job." Akunin growled at Akujo, who's skin tone had changed from a light orange to a strong red. Familiar popping sounds could be heard.
"If you would have blocked your own attack, we would have infected all of them. It took you that long just to bust open that stupid dome?" Akujo snapped back.
"How about your dancing around with that blonde kid?" Akunin's entire arm burst when he shouted back, shaking the cave's interior.
How long would these two blame each other? This was his world, and in his world, there was harmony. Just the peaceful buzz of his insects. No people. No loud noises, no pollution, no bright lights. He would've sworn he was born in the wrong body.
"Enough. You are aware of how sensitive my eyes and ears are. Your yelling infuriates me and your explosive lights confuse me. I would say it's in your best interest to push any further." Henko declared. His voice bold, soft, yet threatening. It was quiet again.
If it was taking this long just to turn all the people of the Leaf, imagine how long the rest of the world would take. That was time he didn't have. After all, his soldiers were growing restless. If he didn't capture the entire village soon, he wouldn't have enough forces to finish off the rest of the countries. Each day, the infected grew quieter and paler. They grew shorter, centimeter by centimeter. They didn't move, they didn't talk, they didn't stir. Soon they would be the perfect beings. But he needed more perfect beings. He enjoyed the quiet and calming aura they provided. He was glad to offer his children such fine hosts to morph into.
Konohamaru P.O.V.
They day felt colder than normal, but Big Brother Naruto won't escape me again. I swatted at some of the fleas in the air. There are so many today, maybe the Inuzuka's should wash their nin-dogs more often.
"Udon! Moegi! Hurry up! Naruto should just be getting back from the training grounds, he won't suspect a thing!" I called, out of breath from running so hard. But I won't give up, the only way to get faster is to keep going!
"It's not me that's taking so long! Udon's been moving so slow!" Moegi called up to me, barely two feet away.
I stopped to let the both of them catch up. At least, that's what I wanted them to think. I tried to catch my breath and breathe slow so they wouldn't know I was tired, we were only another four minutes from Brother Naruto's complex after all.
Udon didn't look so well, his snot was dripping really low.
Moegi backed up a bit. "Udon, please sniff that stuff up!"
Udon did so, but not before one of the fleas got caught in his snot on the way up.
Never had I seen Udon look so... not tired.
"I just sniffed up a bug!" He screamed. Udon bent over, trying to sneeze it out, it was so small, could it have really been that bad?
Something yellow and pink was running towards us, but I couldn't see it clearly with all the fleas. They started surrounding us, flying around our eyes and ears and noses.
Moegi clamped her hands over her mouth and gave a muffled yell. "It's trying to get in my mouth!"
"Konohamaru! Moegi! Udon! Don't breathe them in, run towards us!" It was Naruto's voice! As we ran the fleas seemed to follow us. The pink thing turned out to be Sakura, who clasped masks over our faces and helped pull us further away.
"Get out of here you bugs! Rasengan!" Naruto yelled, but his voice drifted further away as Sakura carried us towards what looked like the Hospital.
"But what about Naruto!" I tried to pull away, but for a girl Sakura was really strong. She wouldn't budge, reassuring me that he'd be fine. If I'd said that out loud, Moegi would have hit me so hard Uncle Asuma would have felt it.
The next thing I know, we're surrounded by doctors and the Hokage is glowing green chakra all around us. She lets Moegi and I go, but the doctors lift Udon out of the room saying something about him needing to be quarantined and needing immediate help. He's unconscious, but something in his arm is moving!
"Granny Tsunade!" Naruto pushed open the door and looked around. "Did any of them get infected?" he asked in a hurry.
Infected? None of us had colds, not even Udon.
"Udon is unconscious. We're rushing him the antidote now."
Moegi and I looked at each other before she asked, "If Udon is sick, why don't you just give him medicine?"
Sakura looked depressed but she didn't say anything for a while. "This... this is a different kind of sickness."
Nobody explained anything as we left the hospital, and not even Brother Naruto was smiling.
Shikamaru P.O.V.
An emergency meeting of every ninja in Konoha was called, Chunin and up. Even some top rank Genin were there.
"Yamato, now please." The Hokage ordered.
Captain Yamato formed a large wooden dome around the group, and fire style users then lit torches and carefully kept them away from the wooden containment. We could barely make out any faces, the only light available was torchlight.
The Hokage began to speak. "Before anyone asks, this containment is to prevent any further infections. The same precautions have been taken with every citizen and Genin just outside this dome. Recently, these pests have been swarming around Konoha citizens, even Genin."
I see, so it's not just high ranking shinobi anymore. I rose my hand, a new fear appearing in my mind.
"Yes, Shikamaru?" The Hokage asked.
"Well it's just that this is all a distraction. It's like Shogi. His pawns, those two nin that appeared, are slowly advancing onto our side of the board. He isn't just going for the king though, he wants to control every piece. I believe he's trying to take over every country there is, and the Leaf is just the beginning. I also believe, that he's going for you next Lady Tsunade." I finished, frowning and slumping at the our current position.
"Well then Shikamaru, what moves do we have left?" She asked with concern.
Tsunade P.O.V.
Back in her office, the Hokage was making plans for a temporary one unit containment for all Leaf citizens. After an entire month, they'd eradicated all the pests in Konoha, however still had none of their shinobi back that were previously infected. This opponent was strong, if his henchmen were any indication. They had an antidote, but were unsure of its effects on someone long ago infected.
"Lady Tsunade..." Shizune walked into the Hokage's office, with a paper in her hand.
"I've recently learned that without permission, members of the medical unit have conducted tests on prisoners since the first incident with the parasite. They've found that long-term exposure to the parasite causes a transformation, of the host into an insect. I'm not condoning their behavior, but their antidote has cured every prisoner they've experimented on, and they've obtained photographic evidence of each stage of the parasite and host transformation. Here is the file." Shizune solemnly placed the file on my desk.
These experiments were grotesque, as well as the monsters produced from them. The final host transformation was a half human, half insect creature, paler than anything I've ever seen, more eyes than a spider, more devious than anything I've ever seen. Is this what he considered perfect? I wanted to vomit.
"Shizune! Bring me the trashcan!"
Somehow, some way, we've got to get our shinobi that antidote. Even if it means risking my life fighting this enemy. This is one bet I don't plan on losing.