I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.
Bugs, Bugs, and...Oh Look...More Bugs
Naruto sat on the log and looked around. The others had all gone to bed but Naruto was still awake, dreading the moment they got back and he would have to leave. He wasn't sure who to miss first, much less who he would miss most. Finally he decided to try to sleep and went into his tent. Less than fifteen minutes later, he had to use the bathroom, as if he needed another reason to not sleep.
He left his tent and silently made his way into the trees. After a few minutes, he heard a river and followed the sound, for lack of anything better to do and because he wanted a drink while he was at it. He reached the river and found a group of large rocks blocking the view of the waterfall he could tell was present. Just as he reached them, clouds covered the moon and suddenly he could only barely see. He did what he had left his tent to do and decided to just head back when he heard a splash. He silently turned toward the river and climbed up one of the rocks until he could see, then froze.
There was a single person on the river. It was a female, from what Naruto could see through the darkness. He could tell that she was moving but couldn't see what she was doing. Suddenly, the clouds moved enough for the girl to be silhouetted. She was training, although, no way Naruto had ever seen. She was going through the motions of a slow-motion shadow spar mixed with what looked like a dance. In addition, every time she moved, she released a pulse of energy that drew water from the river up around her before it drifted back down creating a glittering cloud around her that looked like diamond dust.
As he watched, she began to spin and the water around her did the same as more joined it. Naruto's mind had gone blank but finally began to wake up. The girl had a familiar short hime-style hair cut and had a slim build. She was a bit shorter than Naruto, if he wad judging the distance between himself and her correctly, and Naruto couldn't help but notice that she had a fair-sized chest, which was perfect for her build. Naruto forced those thoughts away and began to climb up the stone further, planning to call out to them to see who it was. Just as he stood, however, his foot slipped and knocked several smaller stones loose. He sighed in annoyance and looked back at the river in time to see their foot disappear into the trees.
He sighed and rolled his eyes then walked back to camp and climbed into his tent. After another hour he finally managed to drift off to sleep. All to soon he was being shaken awake by Hinata.
"U-um, it's t-time to m-move," Hinata stuttered.
Naruto yawned and stretched then nodded and Hinata left so he could get dressed. Naruto changed quickly and left his tent, having his clones pack it up while he stood beside Kiba and Shino.
"You'll never believe what I saw last night," Naruto yawned trying to think of who could possibly have been out in the woods the night before.
"Let me guess," Kiba grinned. "Ramen, your dick with the help of a magnifying glass?"
"Funny," Naruto growled. "Actually, it was a girl. Out in the woods, on the river. She was dancing, or training, I guess. Every time she moved, she used chakra to make the water move with her. She was beautiful."
None of the boys noticed this but Hinata froze, nearly dropping the bag she had been picking up.
"You're so full of shit," Kiba grinned. "No one can do that."
"It's not impossible," Shino stated. "In theory anyone could do it if they were used to controlling their chakra. To be specific about one example, I'm fairly certain almost any Hyuga could do it. They fight using chakra alone."
Naruto's eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch but before he could say anything, a clone walked over with his stuff and Hinata arrived with hers. They began to move but Naruto soon fell back a bit. After a moment, Hinata fell back to join him.
"Is everything okay?" Hinata questioned.
"Fine," Naruto smiled. "Just thinking. Come on. Before they decide we're plotting their deaths."
They caught back up and Shino led them to the edge of a cliff. The cliff was a near perfect circle and easily three hundred feet high. At the bottom was an extremely dense forest.
"Down there, I assume," Naruto guessed.
"Correct," Shino nodded. "Come on."
And with that, he began to walk down the side of the cliff. Naruto shrugged and followed him and the others did as well, Kiba carrying Akamaru on his back. After several minutes, the wind began to blow. At first it wasn't much but soon their altitude allowed for several hundred miles per hour winds. Shino had his bogs hold him to the cliff face, Kiba used his arms to steady himself, keeping Akamaru inside his jacket, and Naruto was able to keep himself stationary with his chakra alone. Hinata, on the other hand, was unable to keep herself on the cliff and was launched by the winds. Naruto threw one of his kunai to her and she caught it, then he handed one to Shino and teleported to Hinata, catching her before teleporting back and barely catching himself on the wall before righting himself holding Hinata against him as the wind fought desperately to throw her again.
"WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS WIND! ! !" Naruto shouted over the wind and Kiba nodded motioning for Shino to back away.
Naruto created a clone who walked downward a bit and formed a Rasengan, blasting the cliff then doing it again and again until it had formed a cave deep enough for the wind to not reach inside. Naruto and the others made their way inside and Naruto set Hinata against the wall since she had used up her energy trying to keep herself on the wall. Kiba collapsed against the wall and Shino stood beside him, not having really used any chakra at all. Naruto, on the other hand, created a few clones to tunnel down to the ground for them, rather than risking the wall again. Then, he sat beside Hinata who had fallen asleep.
"What?" Naruto questioned catching Kiba's glare.
"Nothing," Kiba growled.
"If you've got something to say, say it," Naruto growled back.
"Alright," Kiba growled. "I don't know why she chose you. What's so special about you?"
"There's nothing special about me," Naruto growled. "But what and who are you talking about?"
"What is Hinata to you?" Kiba demanded.
"Hinata?" Naruto questioned slightly confused. "She's one of the best people I know. Someone I'm proud to call a friend."
"No, Naruto," Kiba growled. "I didn't ask what kind of person she is. What is she to you?"
"She's one of my best friends," Naruto stated. "I'd give my life for her. More willingly than for you, at the moment."
"So that's it?" Kiba growled. "Just a friend? Do you have any idea what you are to her? She-"
"Kiba!" Shino snapped. "That's enough."
Naruto suddenly tensed and stood, picking Hinata up gently.
"Time to go," Naruto growled. "If you're done bitching."
Kiba growled in annoyance and Naruto began to walk backward down the slope the clones had made. The others followed and soon found themselves walking vertically down the side of the tunnel, Naruto holding Hinata against him and walking backward. As the tunnel began to slope back the way they had come, Naruto walked sideways to the other side and continued and the others followed suit. As they reached the ground, Hinata stirred and Naruto set her on her feet.
"Shino, I assume you have a plan to find a specific bug egg in this place," Naruto stated.
"Actually yes," Shino stated. "The bikochu will lay its egg the day after a rainstorm. Once we find it, we will simply put it in with the sample."
"What's it look like?" Naruto questioned.
"It is a black beetle with blue eyes and a nose about as long as its body," Shino stated.
"Like that?" Naruto questioned pointing.
Shino looked and saw a massive insect matching his description. Shino tilted his head slightly then shook it.
"It does give you a good idea what we're looking for but that one is not a bikochu," Shino stated. "Bikochu are only about two inches long including their nose."
"So how do we find it?" Naruto questioned.
"We search," Shino stated. "It should rain soon so we will need to work fast."
Naruto nodded and sent out a dozen clones to search for the bikochu while Kiba began to search largely by smell and Shino by a jutsu that drew bugs to him. Hinata tried to activate her Byakugan but was too weak to be able to from lack of chakra. She collapsed but Naruto caught her.
"S-sorry," Hinata apologized.
"It's alright," Naruto smiled. "Leave the searching to us. You just rest for the trip back."
Hinata nodded and Naruto walked over to a nearby stream to set her down so she could rest. Then he sat down beside her, making he blush and Kiba scowl furiously.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kiba questioned.
"Searching," Naruto stated. "My clones can transfer their thoughts and memories to me when they are released. If they find the bikochu, I'll know."
"Well why don't you help them then," Kiba growled.
"What you don't think we can find it in time?" Naruto questioned. "How many trees are here Shino?"
"About six thousand," Shino stated.
Naruto created enough clones for there to be six hundred of him running around and then looked to Kiba and smirked.
"One of my clones can search a tree in ten minutes," Naruto stated. "Should be just under two hours. Happy?"
"Help," Kiba commanded. "Now."
"What's wrong Kiba?" Naruto grinned. "Want to fight again? Does Big Bad Kiba want a rematch?"
"Enough," Shino finally said. "We have enough to do without Naruto killing Kiba."
"Naruto killing me?" Kiba scoffed. "I'd destroy that little fucker!"
"You really have no idea who he is do you?" Hinata questioned.
"What do you mean?" Kiba questioned.
"I fought Danzo Shimura you dumbass," Naruto snorted. "You can't touch me."
"Danzo?" Kiba questioned.
"He was a traitor from our village who could likely have given all three Sannin a run for their money fighting them all at once," Shino stated. "The fact that Naruto is alive is a testament to his power. Sasuke and Itachi did well also."
"So did Shisui," Naruto stated.
"You had four people fighting one and you lost?" Kiba snickered.
"You son of a bitch," Naruto growled. "Shisui died fighting them. And there were two, one of whom could absorb any jutsu you hit him with and then Danzo who could have fought the First Hokage and lived to tell about it."
"Yeah right," Kiba snorted.
"U-um guys?" Hinata spoke up.
"Naruto's right," Shino stated. "Danzo has always been hailed as a great shinobi, even after his defection."
"Guys," Hinata tried again.
"There's no one in the world that could fight the First Hokage and live," Kiba stated. "Even Madara Uchiha died fighting him!"
"Guys!" Hinata shouted to get their attention.
They all looked over at her and their jaws hit the ground. Hinata had a bikochu sitting in her hand.
"How do you have a bikochu?" Naruto questioned.
"It just flew over while you guys were arguing," Hinata stated. "Maybe it liked your conversation."
"That was easy," Shino stated.
"Now we just have one thing to deal with," Naruto stated inclining his head toward the three shinobi that were currently watching from behind the trees under cover of the Chameleon Jutsu.
"Right," Shino nodded. "What would you suggest."
"We could always ask nicely," Naruto grinned. "Or, I could go say hello."
"Not a great idea," Kiba stated. "It's going to rain tonight and it's getting late. We should make camp for now and all go greet our new friends tomorrow after Hinata has recovered her chakra."
"Good idea," Shino said. "For now, we should find a more open area to camp in so we can see them coming if they try to take our bikochu."
"Agreed," Naruto nodded looking around and smiling. "There's a clearing with rocks for cover if we have to fight about a mile that way along the river. Can you walk?"
Hinata nodded and he helped her up and they all made their way through the trees to the clearing. The river ran along through one side of the clearing and the other side had several large stones that they could easily escape through or fight from in the event of a battle. Naruto and the others went to get the camp set up while Hinata went to the river to get water to cook their dinner with. After finishing setting up both his and Hinata's tents, Naruto climbed to the top of one of the rocks to see why Hinata hadn't gotten back yet and froze.
"Shino, Kiba!" Naruto shouted already running toward the river.
They both followed without question and saw the problem. The pot Hinata had taken was smashed and Hinata was gone. When they arrived, they found a note on the inside of one of the pieces of the pot in some form of solidified dried goo.
The message read, "Bring the bug or the bitch dies. Three miles north at the top of the cliff."
"What is that?" Naruto questioned.
"No idea," Kiba stated. "It reeks though."
"What should we do?" Shino questioned.
"What do you think?" Naruto questioned. "We go save Hinata and leave the bikochu somewhere they won't find it."
"Where?" Shino questioned.
"Same place you always hide your bugs," Naruto grinned.
Shino nodded and pulled the bikochu out of the box and his own bugs greeted it and led it into his sleeve. Then Shino nodded and they all turned north just as it began to rain. It quickly went from a light drizzle to a steady downpour that was hard enough to hurt and quickly began to cover the ground in a layer of water. It also made the river rise rapidly.
"Come on," Naruto growled. "Let's go greet our friends."
They all sprinted into the trees and after a few minutes, reached the cliff. They looked up at the top and could already see the wind pushing the rain almost horizontally about halfway up to the top. Naruto grinned at the others then sprinted forward and up the side of the cliff, the others just behind him. As they climbed, the wind grew stronger until all three were barely able to stay on the cliff face. Finally, they reached the top of the cliff and sprinted north until they reached a cliff. They ran inside and found the three ninjas waiting with Hinata encased in a cocoon of the same stuff they had written the message with.
"Let Hinata go," Naruto demanded.
"Do it," the leader, a female with shoulder-length brown hair with a single lock falling onto the right side of her face and going over her right eye just a little bit, steel-grey eyes wearing an altered, purple kimono dress with red trimmings, a yellow sash around her waist, and thigh-length stockings that merged into her sandals, ordered.
Suddenly, both of the other two, a man with black hair, beard, and mustache with the hair spiked up slightly on the sides and the beard pointed and a light grey cloak and another man with long blond hair in a flat-top mullet with a faded green poncho and a black shirt and pants under it used a join summoning jutsu to summon a gigantic bee. The bee flew past the three Leaf Village ninja knocking them down then spat the same goo that had been used for the message and Hinata's cocoon, trapping them in the same cocoons as Hinata.
"Now, how about we renegotiate this trade," the woman grinned leaning Hinata toward the river that was rushing past to a waterfall that fell down the cliff they had just climbed. "Either you give us the bikochu, or I let go and we all wave goodbye to your pretty friend."
"We don't have it," Naruto growled. "You should already have figured out that we weren't going to give it to you. We released it."
"Shame," the woman said before releasing Hinata.
"Hinata!" Naruto shouted as she shot past through the water. "You BITCH!"
"You could have saved her if you had brought the bikochu as we instructed," the woman stated. "We warned you. You're going to be last, though."
Naruto grit his teeth as the Nine-tails' chakra began to roll off of him and began straining against his cocoon, which began to stretch slightly as hairline cracks ran through it. The blonde man noticed the cracks first and drew a kunai, darting forward to stop Naruto from escaping. Before he could get there, a kunai landed in front of him and exploded, forcing the blonde to back away. Then, Hinata landed in front of Naruto, taking a defensive position.
"You're alive?" the girl questioned. "Damn it. Kill them all! We'll find the bikochu ourselves."
All three summoned a swarm of bees and sent them after Hinata. Hinata took a stance with her left hand at her side and her right forming the Seal of Confrontation and her left foot just in front of her right gathering what little chakra she had. Naruto instantly knew there was a problem and Kurama confirmed it.
"She's going to die if she does that with her level of chakra!" Kurama warned.
"Hinata no!" Naruto shouted.
"What's wrong?" Kiba questioned.
"She's going to die if she uses a jutsu from lack of chakra," Naruto stated. "Whatever she regained she used up escaping!"
"We have to help somehow," Kiba stated.
"Send her my chakra!" Kurama ordered. I'd rather not die because the only person able to fight is out of chakra!"
Naruto followed Kurama's instructions and blood red chakra began to fly off of him and in every direction, the majority disappearing but a bit shooting into Hinata.
"Protective Eight Trigrams, Sixty Four Palms!" Hinata said moving her hands around herself in a blur, nearly invisible hair-sized blades of chakra extended from her palms which she used to shred the bees before they could reach her.
After a moment, the woman summoned the giant bee again and it tried to catch Hinata with the goo only for Hinata's jutsu to block it making it look as though there was a dome around her. Naruto was quickly running out of energy and Kurama had begun counting backward from twenty for when Naruto would die of chakra loss.
"Nineteen."
Hinata was swarmed by bees again.
"Eighteen."
She began shredding them, dropping them right and left.
"Seventeen."
Hinata finished the bees and blocked another shot of goo.
"Sixteen."
The giant bee shot toward her and slipped past her defenses smashing her backward and into the wall. After several seconds she stood as the three ninja summoned more bees.
"Six."
Hinata began her jutsu again as the bees swarmed her, more and more joining them.
"Five."
Hinata finally finished the swarm and began to block yet more goo.
"Four."
The giant bee shot toward Hinata as the goo was just settling to the ground around her.
"Three."
Hinata's jutsu hit the bee, stopping it in mid flight.
"Two."
The bee flew backward into the three ninja knocking them all into the river and falling on top of them. Hinata ended the jutsu just as Kurama reached one and the chakra stopped, Naruto passing out instantly just as Shino and Kiba broke out of their cocoons, Shino's bugs having freed all three of them.
"Naruto!" Hinata shouted stumbling toward him, also out of chakra.
"Wake up Naruto," Shino said shaking him.
Naruto groaned and opened one eye just as the bikochu left Shino's coat and Kiba put it back with the sample.
"Are you okay?" Kiba questioned.
"Yes," Naruto groaned sitting up and regretting it as the nausea hit him. "But transferring chakra without direct contact is extremely risky. At best, with absolutely perfect chakra control, eighty percent of the chakra you send will be released into the world instead. Hinata was getting about ten percent or less."
"Why would you do that?" Kiba questioned.
"Would you have preferred I let Hinata die?" Naruto questioned.
"Fair point," Kiba sighed. "Now what?"
"We head back to the village," Shino stated.
"One problem," Naruto smirked. "There's no way in Hell me and Hinata can walk back right now. I'll be fine if I can sleep for about three hours straight. Hinata, on the other hand, will need a lot more rest."
"I'll carry Hinata," Shino said. "Kiba, let Naruto rest. No hitting him, yelling, or unnecessary roughness."
"Why do I have to carry him?" Kiba questioned.
"Because it's either that or my bugs will be carrying you after I plant extremely volatile parasitic insects inside you," Shino stated.
"Alright then," Kiba said picking Naruto up in a piggy back. "Let's get going shall we?"
Naruto smirked and nodded a thank you to Shino who simply picked up Hinata and began to run toward the village. Kiba followed and both Naruto and Hinata passed out.
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