The tree creaked. The branches creaked. The dark forest grew black and impenetrable, starlight the only source of light in the forest.
Naruto balanced on the tree limb, his arms extended to both sides. Naruto looked upward. "Send me out to pick flowers or something, eh? I'll do it! I'll collect them and come back with a demon too! That'll show him!"
The water dripped downward through the trees. The stars shimmered, light reflecting in the deep black pools of the rain.
A clicking sounded along the wood.
Naruto turned around rapidly. His hand reached downward, touching the kunai at his side.
A large form of black inky night clattered along the branch. Eight long, spindly limbs, as though fashioned and carven from wood, shone on the tree branch. Water dripped from the form of the eight-legged terror.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Eh? Shadow Clone Technique!" A series of clones formed on the branches. Smoke puffed upward. Naruto's eyes narrowed. Okay, here comes the demon. I'm ready!
The spider crawled forward. "What is that, hm?" the feminine voice questioned, gentle and polite.
Naruto's eyes widened. What's this? That spider doesn't seem very threatening at all.
"This technique is new to me. What is this? How fascinating!" The spider's emerald eyes sparkled in compound. "This is new. Very new!" The spider spun around. Silver threads shot through the air. The web ran off the tree. The spider shot downward, straight into the depths of the starlit forest.
Naruto grabbed onto the web. Blood ran down Naruto's hands. "OW!" It's really sharp, isn't it?
"Sorry, but I can't have you following me." The spider ran among the trees, bouncing from tree to tree rapidly.
Naruto gasped.
The spider shot impossibly fast through the forest.
Naruto growled. "Like hell you'll escape!" He hurtled over the edge of the branches.
The spider vanished into the darkness.
Naruto gritted his teeth. Naruto ran forward, bouncing over brambles and trees. His skin cut rapidly into pieces. After a moment, the skin regenerated, recovering instantly from the wounds caused by the brambles.
The thread wove through the trees.
Naruto gritted his teeth. Despite all that, I'm losing her now… He forced himself to move faster.
The spider giggled.
The voice grated on Naruto's nerves.
The spider vanished into the darkness.
Damn it! What I need now is sight. If I can find her, I'm sure I can get her and tie her up Naruto reached downward. His teeth, sharpening suddenly, bit into his thumb. The drop of blood fell to the forest floor. The hand slammed downward. A ripple passed along the ground. "Summoning Technique!"
A silver fox appeared beneath Naruto's hand. The hair fell downward.
Naruto rushed forward. His fingers pressed together. "Shadow Clone Technique!" Copied bodies appeared around the forest. There we go. Now, I've got her where I want her and I can smoke her out.
The silver fox rushed forward. Silver flames rose across the forest, rising from the paw prints of the beast.
Naruto ran along the ground. "I'll definitely catch you, you damn spider demon thing!" He turned left, staring at the silk spider thread criss-crossing the trees and path.
The flames rose. Ashes and smoke spread through the air.
Silver thread shone in the air. The woven web blocked the path ahead, a weaving, brilliant path of light.
Naruto scowled. That's a bit problematic. He frowned, studying the thread.
The spider slashed downward, the leg slashing through the hanging thread.
The thread shot upward.
Naruto gasped. He flew upward through the air, the web tightening around his body.
Silk spread along the ground.
Damn it. Naruto gritted his teeth. She must have hidden the webbing beneath the leaves!
The webbing tightened around Naruto's limbs.
The spider crawled forward. "It seems that your magic relies on that hand motion of yours, eh?" the spider inquired politely.
"Let me go, you stupid demon!" Naruto gritted his teeth. His hands adhered to the web.
The fox roared. It leapt toward the spider.
The spider nimbly stepped sideways, skittering on all eight limbs.
Silver flame drove into the ground. Smoke rose. Sparks rose through the sky.
The fox growled. One paw tangled in the spider web, silver web catching up the foot.
"Perfect." The spider spun around. A lash of spider thread shot outward from the weaving legs.
Naruto gasped.
The fox dissipated, smoke rising from the body.
"Now, I shall speak with you at my leisure." The spider turned, the emerald eyes large and curious.
Star
The houses darkened. The white path of stones trembled slightly. The village darkened, shimmering with the discarded light of the stars.
Clacking echoed from the depths of the forest. Eight-legged beasts, drawn by some instinct far-distant, pressed forward, approaching through the stillness.
Nōtō leaned against the side of the watch-tower. His glasses glinted in the light. It seems my thoughts were correct. "Aka."
Aka nodded. He rose to his feet. "It is fortunate you came when you did. We might not have been prepared. A trap like this is outside our preparations. No matter—we'll resolve this matter quickly."
Kōju shivered. Her hands wrapped around her knees. She looked outside, her green eyes darkening. There's that feeling again. I feel cold and clammy. Like I did against Gaara. I can't. No, honestly, I don't want to go out there.
Warriors of the village rushed forward, torches raised.
The spiders turned about in fear, their hearts turning away.
As I thought, they dislike the light a great deal. Nōtō smirked. With that, I've passed the limitation of their power. The spiders shall trouble this village no more.
Webs wove rapidly through the space.
Flames rushed up the webs.
It's fine, it's fine. Like this, there's no chance of them reaching the village, anyway. The flames will damage the webbing.
"Golden Spider Technique: Web of Storms!"
Nōtō's eyes snapped open wide.
Aka gasped.
Sasuke's mouth dropped open.
Kōju tensed, her hand falling to the sword at her side.
A golden spider rushed forward, webbing wrapping up several of the village's warriors.
Lightning crackled along the webs.
The spiders can use ninjutsu? This should be impossible! Nōtō gritted his teeth. "Aka! I'll attend to this monster. You have no reason not to stay behind!"
Aka nodded. I can protect the others more effectively.
"I'll go too." Kōju swallowed tightly. Her hand tightened on the sword. If I can win, maybe I can escape this fear.
Damn that idiot. "Naruto must have run into the forest," Sasuke suddenly realized, her eyes narrowing. "I need to go out, too. If he dies, it'll be my damn fault." Her hands clapped together. Flash Technique.