A/N: Thank you to new readers and reviewers! Hopefully I can continue to keep your interest with future chapters.
Light danced across the leaves. The star's light poured downward, striking the leaves at various angles and coloring the trees various shades of light crimson and golden.
"So how'd you become his brother?" Naruto questioned.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Probably by being born to the same mother and father. Seriously, don't you even know that?" she remarked, sighing loudly.
The red-dappled leaves fell across the path.
"I was adopted," Nōtō replied. He reached upward, brushing his fingers across the side of his neck. A large red mark shone in the neck.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. He stared upward into the trees. I hope those demons don't show.
Sasuke blinked, raising an eyebrow. Really?
"I was found in the woods. A demon child, they called me—but a demon child of dark places can be raised and taught. It has not yet become a full-grown demon of dark places. Its knowledge and heart can be changed."
Naruto blinked. "Wait, you mean—"
"I told you I wasn't from Hidden Leaf originally." A rare smile graced Nōtō's face. He pushed his glasses up on his nose.
That's not it. He's really a lot more like me than I thought. Naruto smiled tentatively, looking upward at Nōtō's face.
Sasuke frowned. She glanced around the buildings.
Children stood on the upper buildings, looking downward at the figures weaving through the trees. Ragged clothes covered their body.
Do I recognize it? This feeling.
The flames burned in the alcoves. Sparks flew through the air. Smoke rose in the sky. The huts of bamboo and strips of wood glimmered, shining in the reflected light from the stars.
"The North Star Village." Nōtō smiled faintly. He stepped forward, his smile fading as he looked into the darkening woods. "My former home."
Sasuke frowned. Staring up at the children, she reached upward, her hand covering her eye.
The tomoe whirled around in a circle.
Sasuke frowned. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Their bodies…"
"What?" Nōtō questioned, turning around and looking at Sasuke.
"Their chakra systems are stunted." Sasuke tilted her head to one side. "No, it's more like—it's being overwritten?"
Naruto frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Black along the body. The bodies of those children are damaged." Sasuke closed her eyes rapidly.
The eye tomoe disappeared. The eye color returned to Sasuke's usual black.
"Still, this… how the hell did all of this get started?" Sasuke questioned, turning her head in a circle.
"Hurry up." Nōtō studied the roads. He glanced over his shoulder.
Aka stood behind the group, his arms folded across his chest.
Sasuke winced.
Naruto hurried along.
Kōju looked sideways, studying the huts.
A small child, their cheeks painted with henna, raised their hand swiftly, pointing at Kōju. The child whispered something beneath her breath.
Kōju turned her head swiftly to the front. She swallowed tightly.
White stones lined the path to the hut. A giant hut, crafted from darker bamboo than the bamboo found elsewhere.
Naruto swallowed tightly, looking up at the dark hut.
Nōtō pushed open the door.
"They're healing!" A woman with wild grey hair stepped to the front of the hut, shooing Nōtō rapidly.
Nōtō extended his hand. "We've brought medicine." He reached upward, undoing the straps on his backpack.
"Go! We will heal it ourselves!"
Nōtō scowled.
"Let him in, Mother," Aka requested. He stepped out from behind the group, his expression serious and sour.
The woman scowled, glaring at Nōtō suspiciously. She stepped slightly to one side.
Nōtō stepped forward. He shoved past the woman. "Where is Ek?"
"Dead. We burned his body two days ago."
Nōtō gasped. "Truly? What happened to him?" he questioned, his brows drawing together. "He was strong of heart. I find it hard to believe he so easily died."
"His body turned black as he treated the children." The woman raised her hands. "I have the same marks."
Black blotches covered the hands.
Nōtō frowned. "This doesn't seem like any disease I have seen."
Kōju stepped forward. "Let me have a look." Her small hands extended toward the woman's.
The woman flinched. She looked suspiciously at Kōju.
Nōtō lowered his hand gently. "This is a healer."
Kōju held out her hands.
The woman frowned. Reluctantly, she extended her hand.
Kōju pressed her fingers against the black blotches.
The blotch popped. White pus oozed outward, trailing from the hands. The woman's face flinched.
"These look like a spider's bite back home." Kōju frowned. "Well, the symptoms are the same."
The woman gasped.
Aka turned his head. His black eyes flickered. "You're sure?"
Kōju nodded her head.
Nōtō scowled. He muttered something under his breath.
"The spiders have gained guidance again?" the woman demanded harshly.
"I think so." Aka nodded.
Naruto folded his fingers together.
"It's like the first time the star fell, then." Nōtō frowned. "We'll have to send scouts into the darkness."
Naruto's eyes widened.
Sasuke frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Kōju studied the black splotches. Her eyes narrowed. It's not infestation, at least. At least new spiders are not going to be born from here.
"Demons came on that star."
Sasuke gasped.
"Spiders grew large and intelligent. They knew paths of shadow and winter. They hunted us. They lived in the darkness." Nōtō pointed toward the darkness, his expression blank and calm.
"And…?"
"We hunted them unto their end." Nōtō scowled. "I was still young. In time their numbers dwindled, until the matter was dealt with. Was the star finally destroyed?"
"Not under our command."
Nōtō spun around. "I said to destroy it!"
"That is the work of Rahu."
Nōtō slammed his arm against the wall. "You idiot! Don't you understand how stupid that was—"
"The star is a gift from heaven. You still have the pieces, don't you?" Aka questioned quietly. "Do not judge when you yourself carry those pieces."
Nōtō fell silent. "Let's talk outside," he requested at last, his expression icy and cold. He glanced over his shoulder at Naruto.
Naruto stared blankly back at Nōtō.
The pair stepped outside. The door closed behind the pair.