Chapter 6: Ichigo
A young girl with fire red hair whimpered lightly as she did her best to hide behind a log. Hoping beyond hope that she wouldn't get caught by the sound nins that where close by. Her heart beat furiously as the two sound chunins grew closer to her hiding place and it took all of her will power not to cry out in fear.
"Hey, Nikaido!" One of the boys called to his male teammate. "I found some little girl!"
The other boy, Nikaido, sauntered over to where his companion was pointing, easily making out the girls fire red hair among the green and brown brush. He chuckled darkly. "Not much of a ninja is she, Jaiya?" He asked rhetorically. "How's about we teach her a lesson in stealth?"
"Kyo," Ichigo whimpered as the two genins slowly approached her thriving on the fear that radiated from her body. "K-Kyo…somebody…"
Jaiya smirked as he reached out his hand to grab her.
Ichigo's body quivered. "Help meee!"
"Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu!"
The two boys' screams were quickly drowned out by the roar of the flames that licked dangerously at their bodies. In a panic the two ran around frantically trying to rid their bodies of the fire. Not watching where they were going they didn't even notice when they ran into each other, fortunately sending them into a near by pond where the fires where instantly extinguished.
"Ichigo!" Sakura shouted as she ducked around Sasuke's protective figure to dash to her frightened cousin's side. "Are you okay?"
"S-Sakura-chan," Ichigo sobbed. "I can't find Nii-chan!"
"It's alright," Hinata soothed as best she could. "I'm sure he's just fine."
"What are you doing out here anyway, Ichigo?" Naruto asked in confusion. "The Haruno estate is over there." He pointed to their right where the Haruno family crest was just barely visible on the waving flag which resided on the flag pole atop the main house.
"Nii-chan said it wasn't safe so he brought me here and told me not to leave unless it was with somebody I knew really well."
"You can come with us."
The others turned so suddenly they lost their balance and fell to the dirt. "Really, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked her eyes wide. "She can?"
"But I thought Hikari-nee said not to talk to anybody?" Naruto put in.
"Baka," Sasuke responded as he rolled his dark eyes. "We already broke that rule by stopping. Besides, she never said that we couldn't bring anybody."
"And she's all alone," Hinata added. "And since she's seen us she could be in big danger here. Hikari-nee said that too, remember?"
"That's why she told us not to talk to anyone," Sakura explained to the still confused Naruto.
"Ooohhh. Now I get it! Since she's seen us the bad guys could take her and hurt her to find out where we went, so the only way to keep her safe is to bring her along!"
"Exactly," the other three said in unison.
"Come on Ichigo," Sakura said as she held out her hand. "We have to get you out of here."
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When Hikari finally awoke she felt as if she had been sleeping for an eternity but still needed an eternity longer to feel fully refreshed. "Dang," she muttered. "What'd he hit me with?"
"It's a seal."
"Waiiiii!" Hikari shrieked, not expecting anyone to answer her. "Itachi!" she gasped as she clutched her rapidly beating heart. "Don't do that!"
"Sorry," The long haired jonin responded without turning to look at her, his gaze fixated out of the single window in their cell.
"Where are we?" Hikari asked as she cautiously stood, trying not to make herself too dizzy. "It looks familiar."
"That's because we're in the Hokage Tower."
"Hokage Tower? Why are we here?"
Finally Itachi turned away from the window to face his frazzled companion. He tried to suppress the smirk he felt rising as he saw her usually silky white hair standing on end and floated about her due to the static created by sleeping on the cushy carpet. Turning away once again Itachi cleared his throat before he felt composed enough to answer. "Probably because he wanted to keep us close. You know, once bitten, twice shy and all that."
"Hm," She paused for a moment before she spoke up again. "What's a seal?"
"Huh?" he asked as he glanced at her over his shoulder. "What do you mean?"
"When I first woke up you said, 'It's a seal.'" She responded. "So, what's a seal?"
"Aa," Itachi said in response. "What he 'hit you with,' so to speak, is a seal that is positioned on our shoulders. I've never heard of anything like it though, so I can only assume Orochimaru created it himself. That aside, I believe it is a type of chakra created 'poison' of such. Most probably used solely for canceling the use of chakra, but I'm not really sure. I haven't had much time to study it."
"Oh," Hikari said somewhat deflated. "Well that sucks."
Itachi rolled his eyes. "The extent of your vocabulary is astounding."
Hikari shrugged and was about to answer when the metal door to their 'cell' swung open fiercely. "Hello," the guard stated blandly. "Orochimaru-sama would like to see you."
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Yume cursed again as he tried and failed to summon his chakra. Nothing. "I can't believe I underestimated him so badly. I knew that he wouldn't come here unless he was sure of victory." He sighed dejectedly and leaned his head against the wall. "Because of my arrogance the whole village is lost, and…." He closed is eyes and a picture of his only child swam through his mind's eye. "Naruto-chan, gomen nasai."
The door to his holding cell opened and Kimimaro walked in a pair of chakra enforced hand cuffs in his pale hands. "Yume-san," he called softly. "I have been ordered to escort you to Orochimaru-sama. Please stand."
Yume nearly growled as he glared angrily at the pale man before him. "I do not wish to see that snake."
"You will address him as Orochimaru-sama," Kimimaro responded, hints of anger flashing across his normally inexpressive face. "And should you not comply you will lose the Uchiha and Haruno heirs as retribution."
Yume's eyes widened in fearful, disbelief. "Hikari? Itachi?" He questioned with a slight tremor in his naturally strong voice. "Where are they? What have you done with them?"
"If you wish to learn, then you will comply with my request."
Against his better judgment Yume stood and held out his hands for Kimimaro to bind. "This way, Yume-san."
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"It feels strange to leave," Hinata whispered softly as she and her friends stood atop the combating statues that guarded the entrance to Konohagakure.
"Yeah," Naruto put in, unnaturally reserved. "I miss everyone already."
"We have to go," Sasuke said sadly as he forcefully turned away from the sight of Konoha so far off in the distance. "We have to go and get stronger so that we can come home."
"Sasuke-kun is right," Sakura added dully. "We have to go."
"Were do we go first, Sasuke?" Naruto asked as he reached out unconsciously and grasped Hinata's quivering hand.
"According to Hikari-nee-chan's map our first stop is……the Hidden Sand village."
End chapter 6
Kaliea: is it just me or are these chapters getting shorter? T.T Gomen if they are! Oh don't forget to review!
Review Answers:
Danny-171984: Wai! I didn't mean to disappoint you honest! And you have to remember that you don't know exactly what happened between Yume and Orochimaru! It really isn't as bad a loss as it seems!
Jays Arravan: Thanks, I'm a bit self conscious of my fight scenes. And yeah, something like that.
iluvanime493: mi-mi-tsu! (se-cr-et)
Susan: was it as good as you seemed to have hoped it would be? ;)
wyldcat: arigato!
Ang3lix: there will be. After all, it's there story.
Juya: Yes that is correct! However I can't tell you much cause it would spoil a lot.
Crazy-antman: Thanks, and is this soon enough?
Hikari-chan-sasusakukawaii: Hehe. mi-mi-tsu! (se-cr-et)
CatzPoSt: Maayyybeee. I'm not tell'n
Animeli0us: Kay:)
Dragon Man 180: Heheheheheeee.
Thanks to all who reviewed! Your soo cool T.T I just love ya all! Blah! Fluff. Hehe ;)