Chapter 14
Posted 6/16/15
It was evening. A gentle autumn breeze floated through the air. The breeze carried the smell of tulips. It carried laughs. It carried chaos. It carried the smell of iron. The smell of blood. It carried screams. It carried shouts. It carried death.
At a dirt intersection, the bodies of men and women peppered it surface. People ran. People fell. In the center of this chaos, a young blond boy laid on his side, face bloodied, crying in pain, tears rolling down in droves.
Men is masks struck down those who ran away. None escaped. None survived. The bodies of men and women laid on the ground, bleeding out their life force. Some in kimonos. Some in flak vests. None survived.
It was morning. Hare looked around, panting greatly. A short distance away, Crow watched. "Hare, are you alright?"
Hare looked around.
There are no bodies surrounding me. There is no blood. No death. A nightmare. A memory. Crow asked how I am feeling. I feel like crap. I hate that memory. I hate what happened. I am glad though, what became of it. The fact that I'm here.
"I'm fine Crow. Just a bad dream," Hare spoke.
"Naruto, don't lie to me. I am confident of what you saw in your dream. Remember, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here," Crow stated firmly. Naruto nodded weakly in response. Crow then continued, "You didn't give your report. What did you find?"
"Lighting is indeed getting increased iron imports, a fifty percent increase from our last number, four months ago. Almost all of it is going to Cloud black smiths. They are preparing for something. We already knew that they've had increased militarism, but these imports are close to war time levels. I have full details copied down."
"Very good. Bear right now is following his final lead, before we head to Karasu. With the numbers were already getting, I believe we might be facing a war in our near future. Hopefully, with current intelligence showing that Rock is still in peace time production, they might support us along with Mist in pressuring Cloud to back down. Did you find everything you need, or is there more leads you need to follow."
Hare responded, "I have everything."
"Good," Crow stated, "We will leave eighteen hours after Bear gets here. That will give our clones time to finish their business." Hare nodded, before Crow continued, "That was your first kill Naruto, correct?"
Crow's eyes bore down on Naruto through his mask. "Yes," was Naruto's answer.
"Remember, I'm here," Crow stated, before he left the room.
You're not here now Crow.
The group of five ANBU were silent. No wind could be heard from their passing, no step as they ran made a sound. After several hours, Bear spoke, "Can we stop for food, I spotted a deer several seconds ago."
Crow stopped the group and contemplated for a moment. "Get the dear bear, for we all love the bears we eat."
"Will you cut it with the puns," Cat spoke up with an exasperated tone.
"Although words can cut men down, they cannot cut stupid animals, who cannot understand them," Crow responded. A groan could be heard from the rest of the group. "Anyways, Bear, go get the deer. Venison sounds good."
Bear nodded, before he backtracked from where they came. Fifteen seconds later, Bear drops the deer on the ground. Its neck was in an unnatural position. Bear they went on to field dress the dear, organs flying through the air as he did. Tiger then spoke, "Bear, as much as I appreciate a good show, I would rather avoid eating in this horrible smell."
Bear shrugged in response. Soon, the deer meat was chopped up in various styles, some was minced finely, some was in strips, some in slabs. Hare then muttered, "I'll take a sausage and a steak."
Bear promptly stuffed the minced meat into a magically cleaned intestine, before tossing the sausage along with a slab of meat to him, saying, "Cook it yourself."
The others promptly made their meals, before savoring into them. Cat spoke, "I wish I remembered my spice set."
Tiger scoffed before saying, "You're the only ANBU that ever brings a spice set on missions."
Cat retorted, "It's because I am one of the few ANBU with a personality."
Crow then commented, "If you consider yourself as one with a personality, then I must be the embodiment of a personality, but I think I'll leave that to Gai." A shudder shook through the ANBU.
After half an hour, Crow spoke up, "We'll stay here four hours. With that in mind, we should reach the village late morning tomorrow." The rest of the group simply nodded, and then found trees to sleep in. "Naruto," Crow called out.
"Yes sir," Naruto responded.
"Follow me," Crow gently ordered. Naruto did so, and they started walking away from the general area of the group. "Naruto, how are you feeling?"
Naruto let out a sigh, before responding, "I am fine sir."
"What have I said about lying to me."
"What do you want me to say!" Naruto demanded, "That I can't forget the face of man, as he fell down in terror! That it's ingrained into me! I'm ANBU, I shouldn't be emotionally disturbed..."
Naruto was cut off as Kenshi Kagemori hugged him. "Naruto, you never have to bear any burden you have alone. I cannot rightly say that it will ever get better, though it may be easier to forget the faces. Just remember, don't take lives unless it is for the village. Never take a life for your own pleasure, only take a life, when it is for those you care for, for those that care for you, and for the village."
Tears fell from Naruto's eyes behind his mask."Yes Kenshi, I'll remember," Naruto sobbed.
Authors Note
Chapter 14 is done. As of right now, I have slightly over 850 views. Please give reviews so I know what I'm bad at, as this is mainly practice for my novel writing.