AN-1: This is my yearly Spooktober story but instead of vampires like the last three but instead we have zombies. Naruto, Shizune and Tsunade are a couple trapped in the end of the world as zombie infest the world
"Speaking"
シーンブレイク(Scene Break)
[..Pause ...Long Pause]
The Apocalypse Unfolds
The sky is darkening as the once vibrant streets of Konohagakure are now eerily silent but inside the mall life continues as normal. Naruto, Tsunade and Shizune were browsing through a lingerie store, their laughter echoing in the quiet space. Naruto is dressed in a pair of well-worn jeans and a bright orange polo shirt that hugs his muscular frame, holds up a lacy red number with a mischievous grin spreading across his face. His messy blonde hair catches the fluorescent light of the store, giving him an almost angelic appearance that contrasts with the devilish glint in his blue eyes.
"Hey Tsunade.. What do you think about this one" naruto asks, his voice playful as he dangles the lingerie between his fingers. The orange of his shirt seems to make his tan skin glow, drawing attention to the strong lines of his arms as he holds up the garment. Tsunade rolls her eyes but a smile plays on her lips, "Put that back you pervert.. We're here for Shizune.. Remember" she says, adjusting her low-cut shirt, which hugs her ample curves and drawing attention to her impressive cleavage. Her blonde hair is tied up in a high ponytail, swaying gently as she moves. The tight pants she wears accentuated her long legs and fit figure. Despite her exasperated tone, there is a glimmer of amusement in her honey-colored eyes as she looks at Naruto.
"I don't know... Isn't this too much" shizune says, blushing and fingering a silky blue nightgown. She stands there as a picture of elegance in her light-yellow sundress that falls just above her knees. The dress hugs her slender figure, its spaghetti straps revealing her delicate shoulders. Over the dress is a cropped denim jacket, left open to show off the dress's sweetheart neckline. The jacket ads a casual touch to her outfit, contrasting nicely with the femininity of the sundress. Her short dark hair frames her face, accentuating her warm onyx eyes that now looks uncertain as she holds up the nightgown.
"Nonsense!.. Go try it on!" tsunade declares, snatching the garment and pushing shizune towards the changing rooms. Shizune disappears behind the curtain, a commotion outside caught their attention and naruto moves to the store entrance, peering out into the mall.
"What's going on" tsunade asks, joining him. They watch as a woman suddenly collapse in the middle of the walkway and another woman rushes to her aid, kneeling beside her.
"Should we help" naruto asks, concern etching his features. Before tsunade could respond, the fallen woman's eyes snap open and in a flash, lunges at her would-be rescuer, sinking her teeth into the woman's skull. Screams erupt throughout the mall as both were in disbelief, "What the hell" tsunade says, eyes widening in shock.
"Guys?!.. What's happening" shizune calls from the changing room.
"We need to get out of here.. Now" naruto says, his face pale.
"What's going on?!" shizune calls, her voice laced with concern.
"No time to explain.. Get dressed quickly Shizune.. We have to leave immediately" Tsunade replied urgently. There is a rustling of fabric as shizune hurriedly put on her clothes, "I'm coming out now" she announces, pulling back the curtain. Naruto grab her hand as shizune emerges, "Stay close" he warns, his eyes darting nervously towards the mall entrance. The trio rush out of the store with their hearts pounding. The mall has descended into chaos with people running in all directions, screaming in terror as others attack.
"Oh my god!" shizune gasps, catching sight of the gruesome scene unfolding before them. More of the strange but aggressive individuals were attacking shoppers, their movements jerky and unnatural. Blood splatters the polished floor and the air is filled with desperate cries for help.
"We need to find an exit.. Naruto.. Can you see a clear path" tsunade said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. Naruto scans the area with his grip on shizune's hand tightening, "There.. The emergency exit near the food court.. It looks clear for now" he says, pointing. Shizune stumbles and nearly falls as they begins to move, "My shoe" she exclaims, looking down at her untied laces.
"Leave it.. We don't have time" naruto urges, pulling her along. They race towards the exit, dodging panicked shoppers and the increasing number of attackers. The sound of breaking glass and inhuman growls fill the air around them but shizune's piercing scream cuts through the chaos.
"Ahh!.. Something got me!" shizune cries out, stumbling as pain shoots through her leg.
"Shizune!.. What happened?!" naruto shouts, spinning around and his eyes were wide with concern. Tsunade quickly kneels beside her and examines her calf to see a long but angry scratch marring shizune's pale skin, blood trickling from the wound.
"Someone... Or Something... Scratched me" shizune whimpers, her face contorted in pain and fear.
"We need to keep moving.. Can you walk" tsunade said urgently, helping shizune to her feet.
"I think so" shizune says, nodding weakly and leaning on tsunade for support. Naruto's eyes dart around, assessing the situation and the attackers were getting closer, their movements becoming more frenzied.
"I'll clear a path.. Tsunade help Shizune.. Stay right behind me" naruto declares, determination etched on his face. Naruto uses his strength to push away anyone who got too close with his protective instincts in full gear, "Almost there.. Just a little further!" he calls over his shoulder. Shizune winces with each step but grits her teeth and pushes on, "I'm sorry.. I'm slowing us down" she gasps, tears in her eyes.
"Don't apologize.. We're in this together" tsunade said firmly, her arm tight around shizune's waist. They finally reach the emergency exit, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere inside the mall. As they burst through the door, the sounds of chaos became slightly muffled but the danger is far from over.
"The car's just over there.. We need to move fast!" naruto says while pointing, his voice urgent. They sprint across the parking lot, the screams of terror and pain echoing around them. People were running in all directions, some falling to the ground as they were attacked by the strange and aggressive individuals.
"Oh god.. What's happening" shizune whimpers, her eyes wide with horror as she sees a man being torn apart by what looks like a group of rabid humans.
"Don't look.. Just keep moving" tsunade orders, tightening her grip on shizune's waist. As they near naruto's bright orange car, a woman stumbles towards them with her eyes glazed over and blood dripping from her mouth.
"Watch out!" naruto yells, pushing tsunade and shizune behind him. He grabs a nearby shopping cart and shoves it at the approaching woman, knocking her off her feet.
"Hurry!" naruto shouts, fumbling with his keys and the car beeps as he unlocks it. Tsunade helps shizune into the back seat before jumping into the passenger side and naruto slides behind the wheel, his hands shaking as he starts the engine.
"Naruto go!" tsunade urges as more of the crazed individuals begin to surround the car. The tires screeches as naruto floors the accelerator, weaving through the chaos in the parking lot. Bodies thump against the car as they speed away, leaving the mall and the nightmare behind them.
"What... What were those things" shizune asks, her voice trembling. She winces as she adjusts her position, the scratch on her leg still stinging. Naruto's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, "I don't know.. But whatever's happening.. It's not just at the mall.. Look" he said, his voice tight. As they drove through the streets of konoha, they see more scenes of violence and panic. Fires have broken out in some buildings, and people were fighting in the streets.
"It's like the whole city's gone mad" tsunade mutters, her eyes scanning the chaos outside.
"Where are we going?!" shizune asks, leaning forward between the front seats. Naruto meets her eyes in the rearview mirror, "My house.. It's on the outskirts of town.. We should be safer there until we figure out what's going on" he said firmly. As they drive and the streets become quieter, the chaos of the city fading behind them. But the tension in the car remains high, each of them lost in their own thoughts about the horrors they have witnessed and what it might mean for their future.
シーンブレイク
They soon pull up to naruto's modest house on the outskirts of town with the silence almost eerie after the cacophony they'd left behind.
"We're here.. How's your leg" naruto announces, his voice tight with worry and glances at shizune in the rearview mirror.
"It's... Not great.. The pain's getting worse" shizune says, wincing as she shifts.
"Let's get you inside and take a proper look at it" tsunade says with a frown and turning to look at her. They exit the car and naruto quickly moves to shizune's side, "Here.. Let me help you" he said, scooping her up in his arms.
"Naruto!" shizune protests weakly but didn't resist as he carries her towards the house.
"I'll get the door.. Then I'll find some medical supplies to clean that wound" tsunade says, grabbing naruto's keys from him. Naruto gently sets shizune down on the couch as they enter the house, "Stay here.. I'm going to turn on the TV.. Maybe we can find out what's going on" he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Tsunade disappears into the bathroom, rummaging for first aid supplies. Naruto finds the remote and switches on the television, flipping through channels until he finds a news broadcast. A visibly shaken reporter appears on screen with her hair disheveled and fear evident in her eyes, "This is Yuki Tanaka reporting live from downtown Konoha... The situation here is... It's unlike anything we've ever seen.. People are... They're turning into something... Something not human" she begins, her voice trembling. The camera pans across the street, showing scenes of chaos similar to what they'd witnessed at the mall. People were running, screaming, while others move with jerky, unnatural motions, attacking anyone in their path.
"Oh my god" shizune whispers, her eyes wide with horror.
"We don't know what's causing this but it seems to be spreading rapidly.. The affected individuals appear to be... To be... Oh god.. They're like zombies.. They're attacking and... And eating people!" yuki continues, her voice growing more frantic. Suddenly there is a blood-curdling scream that erupts from yuki as a woman grabs her behind and rips into her shoulder. The camera shakes violently, then fall to the ground, showing a tilted view of the street.
"Help! Something's biting me! It's on my head! Help!" yuki screams, as they could still hear the reporter's agonized cries. The screams continue for a few more seconds before cutting off abruptly. The broadcast switches back to a stunned anchor in the studio, who stares blankly at the camera, clearly at a loss for words. Naruto switches off the TV with his face pale. "Zombies?!.. This can't be real" he mutters, running a hand through his hair.
"What did I miss?!" tsunade says, returning with a first aid kit and her expression grim.
"Nothing good.. It's... It's bad out there.. Really bad" naruto replies, moving to help her with shizune's wound. Tsunade begins cleaning shizune's scratch but shizune grabs naruto's hand, "Naruto... That reporter... She said something bit her.. Just like... Just like what happened to me" shizune says, fear evident in her eyes. The implications of her words hang heavy in the air as they all exchange worried glances, the full weight of their situation beginning to sink in. Naruto squeezes shizune's hand gentl with his blue eyes meeting her anxious gaze, "Honey.. You were scratched not bitten.. There's a difference.. We don't know if scratches can... Can do whatever this is" he said, his voice soft but firm.
"Naruto's right.. Let's not jump to conclusions.. The scratch looks deep but it's just that.. A scratch" tsunade says, her brow furrowed in concentration as she continues to clean shizune's wound.
"But what if..." shizune says, biting her lip and is not convinced.
"No 'what ifs'.. We'll keep a close eye on you but for now.. Let's focus on getting you patched up and figuring out our next move" tsunade interjects, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"We need to stock up on supplies.. Food.. Water.. Medical stuff.. If things are as bad as they looked on TV.. We might need to hunker down here for a while" naruto says, pacing the room nervously.
"Good thinking" tsunade agrees, applying an antiseptic to shizune's wound. Shizune hisses in pain and tsunade murmurs an apology, "I'll go.. The convenience store down the street should still be open.. Or... Well.. Accessible at least" naruto volunteers, shocking his loves.
"No! Naruto.. You can't go out there.. It's too dangerous!" shizune says, her eyes widening in alarm. Naruto kneels beside her and cups her face in his hands, "Hey.. It's okay.. I'll be quick.. I promise.. We need supplies and I'm the fastest... Can you hold down the fort while I'm gone" he says, while glancing at tsunade.
"Of course.. But Naruto be careful.. We don't know what's out there" tsunade says, her expression serious.
"I will.. I'll even take this.. Just in case" naruto assures them, standing up and moves to a nearby closet to pull out a baseball bat. Shizune calls out as naruto heads for the door, "Naruto please... Come back to us" she says, her voice trembling slightly. He turns and flashing them his signature grin but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "Always" naruto promises but before he could step out, a thought struck him.
"Wait.. I've got something that might help" naruto said, turning back. He disappears into the garage, leaving tsunade and shizune exchanging puzzled glances but a moment later, returns with a sleek hunting rifle.
"Naruto.. I didn't know you had that" tsunade says, her eyes widening.
"I go hunting sometimes.. Never thought I'd need it for... This" naruto says, checking the rifle's magazine.
"Are you sure that's necessary" shizune asks, sitting straighter but wincing slightly.
"After what we saw.. Yeah I think it might be.. Better safe than sorry" naruto says and his expression turns grim, "I'll be back as soon as I can.. Lock the doors behind me" he adds, slinging the rifle over his shoulder and grabbing his car keys. Tsunade nods while moving to stand beside him, "Be careful out there you knucklehead" she said, her tone affectionate despite the worry in her eyes.
"Always am.. Keep each other safe.. I'll hurry back" naruto replies with a wink and he leans in, giving both tsunade and shizune a quick kiss. With that, steps out into the eerily quiet night. The sound of his car starting up breaking the silence and soon, the headlights disappear down the street. Tsunade locks the door with her hand lingering on the handle, "He'll be okay.. He has to be" she murmurs, more to herself than to shizune. Shizune shifts on the couch and wincing as she aggravates her wound, "Tsunade.. Can you help me to the window.. I want to... I need to see if I can spot him" she calls softly.
"Of course sweetie.. Let's get you up" tsunade says, her expression softening. As they make their way to the window with tsunade supporting most of shizune's weight, they peer out into the darkness. The street is unnaturally quiet with only the occasional distant scream breaking the silence.
"I hope he's okay" shizune whispers, her breath fogging the glass.
シーンブレイク
Naruto reaches the convenience store and his knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he pulls into the parking lot. The fluorescent lights inside the store flicker ominously, casting eerie shadows across the empty lot. He steps out of the car, rifle at the ready and his eyes were drawn to a splash of red on the window of a nearby car. His stomach churns as he realizes it is blood, "Stay calm Naruto.. Just get what you need and get out" naruto mutters to himself. He approaches the store cautiously, his finger hovering near the trigger of his rifle. The automatic doors slide open with a cheerful ding that seems grotesquely out of place in the current situation. Naruto's eyes dart around the store and searching for any sign of movement, "Hello.. Anyone here" he calls out tentatively but silence is his only answer.
"Ok" naruto thought, taking a deep breath. He begins moving through the aisles, grabbing essentials and stuffing them into a shopping bag he'd snagged from the counter. Canned food, bottled water, first aid supplies and anything that might be useful in the coming days. He reaches for a pack of batteries but a sudden crash from the back of the store makes him freeze. Naruto spins around with his rifle raised, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Who's there?!" naruto calls out, his voice steadier than he felt but a low but inhuman growl was the only response. Back at the house as tsunade and shizune have settled back on the couch, the silence between them heavy with unspoken fears.
"Tsunade.. What if... What if I turn into one of those things" shizune said suddenly, her voice small. Tsunade turns to her with her honey-colored eyes fierce, "You won't... And even if you did.. Naruto and I would find a way to help you.. We're in this together remember" she said firmly.
"I'm scared" shizune admits, tears welling in her eyes.
"I know sweetheart.. I am too.. But we'll get through this.. We always do" tsunade says, pulling her close and careful of her injured leg. As they hold each other, both of their thoughts turn to naruto, hoping against hope that he would return to them soon, safe and sound. Back in the store and naruto's heart races as he hears the inhuman growl. He tightened his grip on the rifle, his eyes scanning the dimly lit aisles.
"Come on show yourself" naruto mutters under his breath, trying to keep his voice steady. Suddenly does a figure stumble out from behind a shelf. It was the store clerk but something was terribly wrong. The man's skin is pale and mottled, his eyes clouded over with a milky film. Blood drips from his mouth as he lurches towards naruto.
"Oh shit.. Hey buddy.. You don't look so good.. Maybe we can talk about this" naruto gasps, taking a step back. The clerk only responds with another guttural growl, picking up speed as he approaches. Naruto's mind races as he didn't want to hurt anyone, but this wasn't a person anymore. It was one of those things they'd seen at the mall, "I'm sorry.. I really am" naruto whispers, raising his rifle. With a deep breath, squeezes the trigger and the shot rang out, deafeningly loud in the confined space of the store. The clerk's head snaps back and he crumples to the ground. Naruto stands there for a moment with his hands shaking. "Fuck.. I can't believe I just did that" he mutters, running a hand through his hair. But he knew he couldn't dwell on it. Tsunade and shizune were waiting for him, counting on him to return with supplies.
"Gotta move.. Gotta get back to them" naruto told himself, grabbing his bag of supplies. He rushes towards the exit and naruto couldn't shake the image of the clerk's lifeless body from his mind. He bursts out of the store, gulping in the cool night air.
"This is real.. This is really happening" naruto said to himself as he sprints towards his car. He throws the supplies into the backseat and jumps behind the wheel, his hands still trembling slightly as he starts the engine.
"Hold on Tsunade.. Shizune.. I'm coming home" naruto murmurs as he peels out of the parking lot. Naruto's heart races as he speeds through the eerily empty streets. The silence that had settled in is unnerving, broken only by the occasional distant scream or the sound of shattering glass. As he nears his house, a sense of unease begins to creep over him. Pulling into the driveway and naruto kills the engine but sits for a moment, listening. The quiet is oppressive, almost suffocating. No lights were shining from the windows of his home and there was no sign of movement inside.
"Something's not right" naruto mutters, grabbing his rifle and the bag of supplies. Approaching the front door and his unease only grows. The silence is too complete, too absolute as he reaches for the doorknob, half expecting it to be locked but it turns easily in his hand.
"Did she not lock it... Tsunade?!.. Shizune?!" naruto calls out as he pushes the door open, his voice echoing in the stillness but no response comes. Naruto steps inside and the house is dark, the only light coming from the living room TV.
"Tsunade?!.. Shizune?!.. Where are you guys" naruto calls out, his grip tightening on his rifle. He moved further into the house, the living room is empty, the couch where he'd left shizune is now vacant. A first aid kit lay open on the coffee table, its contents strewn about as if someone left in a hurry.
"Tsunade!.. Shizune!.. Answer me please!" naruto calls again, louder this time. Naruto's heart is pounding now, fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins. He checks the kitchen, then moves towards the first floor bedrooms, his footsteps echoing in the empty house.
"Come on guys.. Where are you.. This isn't funny" naruto mutters, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. He reaches the hallway of the second floor but a faint sound catches his attention. It is coming from the main bedroom with a soft, rhythmic thumping and naruto freezes, straining his ears.
"Tsunade.. Shizune.." naruto calls out once more, his voice barely above a whisper. The thumping continues unabated and naruto swallows hard, while raising his rifle and slowly approached the bedroom door. His hand shakes slightly as he reaches for the doorknob.
"Please be okay" naruto whispers several times, steeling himself for whatever he might find on the other side. With trembling fingers does naruto slowly turns the doorknob and pushed the door open. The sight that greets him is one that makes his blood run cold. Shizune is straddling tsunade on the bed with her back to the door but tsunade's arms were laying palm up and she wasn't moving. Naruto's heart pounds in his chest as he calls out, "Tsunade.. Shizune" he says, his voice trembling with fear. Slowly does shizune turn her head towards him but a chill runs down naruto's spine as he sees her face. Her usually warm, gentle eyes now hold a vacant but almost glassy stare. A disturbing smile stretches across her lips, revealing teeth stained crimson.
"Hey baby.. You're back" shizune said in an unnaturally calm voice, her words slurred slightly and blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Naruto's grip on his rifle tightens with his knuckles turning white. He struggles to process the horrifying scene before him. Tsunade lay motionless beneath shizune, her blonde hair splayed out on the pillow.
"Sh-Shizune.. What's going on.. What happened to Tsunade" naruto stammers, taking a hesitant step forward.
"Oh nothing to worry about.. I was just having a little... Snack" shizune says with a wider smile, her head tilting at an odd angle. The implications of her words hit naruto like a punch to the gut. He feels bile rising in his throat as he realizes what must have happened. The woman he loved, the kind and caring shizune is gone. In her place was something else entirely, something dangerous and unpredictable. Shizune slowly moves off the bed, her sundress stained with blood. She stumbles slightly, catching herself on the bedpost. Her eyes seem to hold a flicker of recognition, "I feel weird baby" shizune said, her voice surprisingly calm and tinged with an unsettling giddiness.
"I think... I think that scratch turned me into a zombie. But I still have my mind somehow.. Isn't that fascinating" shizune continues with a small, eerie smile playing on her blood-stained lips. She giggles softly, a sound that sends a chill down naruto's spine. Her eyes are glassy but sparkle with an unnatural excitement. Shizune takes a wobbly step towards naruto, her movements jerky but purposeful.
"It's like I'm seeing everything through new eyes.. I can feel this... Hunger.. It's overwhelming but also exhilarating.. Don't you think it's amazing Naruto" shizune muses, her head tilting to one side as she examines her bloodied hands with curious detachment. Her gaze snaps back to naruto, a mixture of affection and predatory interest in her eyes. She reaches out towards him with her fingers twitching slightly, "Come closer darling.. I want to show you how it feels" shizune coos, her voice a chilling mix of affection and hunger. Naruto's hands tremble as he raises his rifle, pointing it directly at shizune. His heart pounds in his chest, a war of emotions raging within him. This is shizune, the woman he loved but she wasn't herself anymore. Shizune tilts her head with her blood-stained smile never faltering, "Would you kill me Naruto.. Could you really pull that trigger" she asks, her tone eerily calm.
"I-I.." naruto begins, his mind racing for an answer but movement behind shizune catches his eye. His breath hitches in his throat as he sees tsunade starting to twitch as slowly and painfully does tsunade begin to sit up. Naruto's eyes widen in horror as he sees her neck, torn and mangled, blood still oozing from the wound.
"Tsunade?!" naruto whispers, his voice barely audible. Shizune giggles with the sound sending shivers down naruto's spine, "Oh looks like our lovely Tsunade is joining the party.. Isn't this exciting Naruto.. Now we can all be together... Forever" she said, turning to look at the blonde woman. Naruto's mind races, trying to process the nightmare unfolding before him. Shizune has transformed into something between human and zombie, and tsunade is gravely injured and possibly turning as well.
"Shizune please... This isn't you.. We can figure this out we can..." naruto pleads, his voice cracking.
"But it is me Naruto... It's me but better.. Stronger.. Hungrier" shizune interrupts, her eyes gleaming with an unnatural light and takes another step towards him but her movements becoming more fluid, more predatory. Naruto's gaze darts between shizune and tsunade, his heart racing. Tsunade is now sitting up fully, her blonde hair matted with blood. She locks eyes with naruto but instead of recognition, there is only a primal hunger.
"Tsunade?!.. Can you hear me" naruto whispers, his voice trembling.
"Oh I don't think she can understand you anymore darling.. You see.. I was so hungry and her flesh... It was irresistible.. I should've scratched her instead.. Then she could join us properly" shizune says, licking her lips and savoring the memory.
"What do you mean 'join us' Shizune.. This isn't right.. We need to get help.. We need to..." naruto said, feeling bile rise in his throat.
"Help?!.. But we don't need help Naruto.. We're evolving.. Becoming something... More" shizune interrupts and tilts her head curiously, "Don't you want to join us.. To feel this power" she says, reaching out and her bloodstained fingers inches from naruto's face. Behind her is tsunade stumbling to her feet, swaying slightly. Her eyes, once warm and full of life, were now cold and unfocused. She takes an unsteady step towards naruto, joining shizune in their advance. Naruto's back hit the wall and he is trapped between the two women he loved, now transformed into something he barely recognized. His hands shake as he grips his rifle, torn between his feelings and the instinct to survive.
"Please.. Please don't make me do this.. There has to be another way" naruto begs, his voice breaking.
"Oh Naruto.. There is another way.. Just let go.. Join us.. It's so much easier than fighting" shizune coos, her smile widening and showing her blood-stained teeth. His hands tremble and suddenly, the weight of the rifle feels unbearable. With a choked sob does naruto let the weapon clatter to the floor. His legs give out and he slides down the wall outside their bedroom, burying his face in his hands.
"I can't... I can't do this" naruto whispers, his voice breaking. Shizune pauses with her head tilting to one side as she observes naruto's distress. For a moment there is a flicker of her old self that seems to shine through the eerie calm that has settled over her.
"Honey it's me" shizune said softly, her voice gentler than before. She kneels down beside naruto, "I know this is scary but I'm still here.. I'm still me" shizune says, her bloodstained hand hovering inches from his face. Naruto looks up with his blue eyes swimming with tears, "Shizune" he asks, hope and fear warring in his voice.
"Listen.. I have an idea.. I'll lightly bite you.. Just enough to infect you.. Then you'll keep your mind like me.. We'll be together and then we'll find a way to fix Tsunade" shizune says, a small smile playing on her lips. Naruto's gaze darts to tsunade as she stands but swaying slightly, "But... But Tsunade.. She's..." he says, her eyes were unfocused.
"I know.. I know.. I went too far with her.. But we can fix it Naruto.. Once you're like me.. We'll be stronger.. We can find a cure for her" shizune said, her voice tinged with regret. Naruto swallows hard with his mind racing, part of him knows this is wrong as he should run, fight or do anything but give in. But another part, the part that loves these women more than life itself, wanted to believe shizune.
"You promise.. You promise we'll save her" naruto asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course darling.. We're family aren't we.. We'll figure this out together" shizune says and leans in closer, "Just a little bite and Then we'll be together forever" she murmurs, her breath hot against naruto's neck. Naruto closes his eyes with his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel shizune's lips brushing against his skin, her teeth grazing his flesh and in the background, hears tsunade's low but inhuman growl. As shizune's teeth begin to press down but naruto's mind races. Suddenly does a wave of dizziness wash over Naruto as his vision blurs and he feels himself slipping away, "Shi... Z-zune..." he mumbles, his voice barely audible as darkness engulfed him.
シーンブレーク
Naruto regains consciousness but finds himself lying on the cold floor. His head is throbbing and for a moment, struggles to remember where he was but slowly, the events come flooding back and he bolts upright, his heart racing.
"Easy there honey" a familiar voice said softly. Naruto's eyes dart around the room, finally landing on shizune but to his surprise, is wearing clean clothes and her hair neatly tied back. She is kneeling beside tsunade, who lay still on the bed with shizune carefully tending to the wound on the blonde's neck.
"Shizune?!.. What... What happened" naruto croaks, his throat dry. Shizune turns to him with a warm smile on her face and it is the same smile he has always loved but now it sends a chill down his spine, "You're back honey.. And infected like me" she said cheerfully. Naruto's hand flies to his neck and feeling for a bite mark, "But... I don't understand.. You didn't bite me" he says, to his confusion and found nothing. Shizune turns to him as her eyes gleam with an unsettling mix of affection and something darker, "Oh but I did honey.. Just a light nip.. Enough to give you the infection.. You'll start feeling the changes soon" she said softly, her voice filled with a strange tenderness. Naruto's eyes widen in disbelief and frantically searches his neck again, "I don't feel anything Shizune.. There's no mark and no pain..." he says, his fingers trembling.
"It's there.. Trust me.. The infection works in mysterious ways.. Sometimes the bite barely leaves a trace" shizune assures him, her smile never wavering. As she speaks does shizune continue to tend to tsunade, who lay motionless on the bed. The blonde woman's eyes were open but unfocused, staring blankly at the ceiling. Shizune's hands move with practiced precision as she cleans and bandages the ugly wound on tsunade's neck.
"How do you know.. Is... Is she okay" naruto says hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"She's stable for now.. The infection has made her docile.. Which is making it easier to treat her wounds" shizune says, her expression softening as she looked at tsunade. Naruto watches as tsunade blink slowly, her only reaction to shizune's ministrations and it is unsettling to see the usually vibrant and strong-willed woman so passive.
"But you said... You said we'd find a way to fix her" naruto said, his voice cracking slightly. Shizune pauses in her work and turns to face naruto fully, "We will fix her honey.. But first we need to understand what's happening to us.. Can't you feel it.. The changes beginning inside you" she says, her expression is a strange mix of sympathy and excitement.
"I don't feel anything different Shizune.. Please this isn't right.. We need to get help.. We need to..." naruto says, fear creeping into his voice but shizune closes the gap.
"Shhh... Give it time darling.. Soon you'll see things my way.. We're evolving and becoming something more.. Isn't that exciting" shizune interrupts, placing a finger on naruto's lips and her touch is cool but sends an involuntary shiver down his spine. Tsunade stirs slightly on the bed with a low but inhuman moan escaping her lips. Shizune immediately turns her attention back to the blonde woman and moves back to the bed while cooing softly.
"It's okay Tsunade.. We're here.. We'll take care of you" shizune murmurs, stroking the older woman's hair. Naruto watches the scene unfold with his mind reeling. He couldn't reconcile the gentle and caring shizune with this new and unsettling version before him, and tsunade being reduced to this docile state.
"I... I need some air" naruto stammers, stumbling to his feet. His legs feel weak and he wasn't sure if it is from the shock or something else.
"Of course honey.. Take all the time you need.. We'll be right here when you're ready to embrace your new self" shizune says, her smile never faltering. Naruto staggers out of the room but could hear shizune's soft humming and tsunade's occasional groans behind him as his mind races with questions and fears. Stumbling down the hallway does naruto's hand unconsciously found its way to his rifle, gripping it tightly as if it were a lifeline. He makes his way outside, the cool night air hitting his face but it did little to calm his racing thoughts. Under the pale moonlight does naruto stare at his free hand, turning it over and examining it closely.
"Am I... Am I really turning into a zombie now" naruto whispers to himself, his voice trembling. He flexes his fingers, half-expecting to see some visible change but everything looks normal. Naruto's heart pounds in his chest as he presses his hand against it, trying to feel his heartbeat.
"No... No.. This can't be right" naruto mutters, his eyes widening in panic. He couldn't feel anything, no steady thump of his heart, no rhythmic pulse beneath his palm.
"Shizune!.. Shizune.. Something's wrong!" naruto calls out, his voice cracking with fear. He hears shuffling from inside the house and moments later does shizune appear at the doorway. Her eyes are still unnaturally bright and locked onto naruto, "What is it honey.. Are you starting to feel the changes" shizune asks, her voice eerily calm.
"No.. No.. It's not that Shizune.. I can't feel my heartbeat.. It's... It's like it's not there anymore" naruto says, shaking his head vigorously. Shizune's lips curl into a small smile, "Oh Naruto.. That's perfectly normal.. Our bodies are changing and evolving.. We don't need those old human functions anymore" she said softly, stepping closer to him.
"But... But how am I alive without a heartbeat" naruto asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
"We're beyond that now darling.. Can't you feel the power coursing through you.. The strength.. The freedom" shizune says, reaching out and gently taking naruto's hand in hers.
"This isn't right Shizune.. We need help.. We need to find a cure for all of us" naruto says, pulling his hand away and taking a step back.
"There is no cure Naruto.. This isn't a disease to be cured.. It's the next step in our evolution" shizune says, her expression hardening slightly. As they stand there, locked in a tense silence, a low groan echoes from inside the house.
"I... I need to think.. Just... Just give me some time" naruto said, his grip tightening on his rifle.
"Of course honey.. Take all the time you need.. We'll be waiting for you when you're ready to embrace your new self" shizune says, her smile returning. Shizune turns and goes back inside as naruto finds himself alone in the moonlight, torn between the love he feels for these women and the growing horror of their situation. He looks down at his rifle, then back at his hand, wondering what his next move should be. After a few moments of internal struggle does naruto take a deep breath and makes his decision. He couldn't leave them and with hesitant steps, makes his way back into the house. The living room is dimly lit, casting long shadows across the floor as naruto's eyes adjust to the darkness. Tsunade is sitting on the sofa and dressed in clean clothes, her blonde hair neatly combed, hiding the gruesome wound on her neck. The sight of her, looking almost normal, makes naruto's heart ache.
"Tsunade" naruto calls softly, approaching her with caution. She turns her head towards him, her movements slow and mechanical. Her eyes are usually sharp and full of life, were now glassy and unfocused. It is as if she was looking through him rather than at him. Naruto kneels in front of her, his hands shaking slightly as he reaches out to take hers. Her skin is cold to the touch, reminding him of his own lack of heartbeat and swallows hard, fighting back the rising panic.
"Hey.. It's me Naruto.. Can you hear me" naruto whispers, his voice cracking. Tsunade blinks slowly with her lips parting as if to speak but no words came out, just a soft but barely audible groan. Naruto feels tears prickling at the corners of his eyes and squeezes her hand gently, willing her to respond, to show any sign of the strong but vibrant woman he knows and loves.
"We'll fix you Tsunade.. I promise.. We'll find a way to make this right" naruto said, his voice filled with determination despite the tremor of fear.
"There's nothing to fix Naruto.. This is who we are now.. The Adam and Eves of a new race" shizune says from the doorway with her voice soft but eerily calm.
"But look at her Shizune.. This isn't Tsunade.. We can't just leave her like this" naruto says, his eyes pleading. Shizune steps into the room with her movements fluid and graceful. She kneels beside naruto, placing a hand on his shoulder and her touch is cold, just like his and tsunade's.
"Naruto honey.. I told you we'll fix her.. But right now.. We need to focus on our safety" shizune said softly, her voice a mixture of affection and urgency.
"What do you mean" naruto asks, confusion evident in his eyes.
"The mindless ones could be coming.. We need to leave this place before they find us" shizune says, darting to the windows and a flicker of concern crossing her face.
"The mindless ones?!" naruto echoes, his grip on tsunade's hand tightening involuntarily.
"The zombies who've lost all sense of self.. They're dangerous even to us.. We need to go somewhere safer" shizune says, her expression serious.
"But Tsunade... She's in no condition to travel" naruto says, looking to tsunade as she stares blankly ahead.
"We don't have a choice.. Get your things Naruto.. We're leaving" shizune insists, her voice taking on a harder edge.
"I... I don't know if I can do this Shizune.. It doesn't feel right" naruto says, hesitating while torn between the urgent need for safety and his concern for tsunade's wellbeing.
"I know it's hard honey.. But we have to protect ourselves if we want to help Tsunade in the long run.. Trust me okay" shizune says, her expression softening. After a moment of internal struggle does naruto nod slowly, "Okay.. I'll get my things" he whispers, his voice barely audible. Shizune's hand slides from his face to his arm as he stands and gives it a gentle squeeze, "That's my brave boy" she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Naruto casts one last look at tsunade before heading to gather his belongings. As he moves through the house, his mind raced with questions and doubts. With a heavy heart does naruto begin packing, all the while acutely aware of the eerie silence that has fallen over the house, broken only by the occasional soft groan from tsunade and shizune's hushed preparations. Shizune appears in the doorway as he zips up his bag, ."Are you ready honey" she asks, her voice unnaturally calm.
"Yeah I guess so" naruto replies, his voice heavy with uncertainty and slinging the bag over his shoulder. They make their way to the living room, where tsunade sits motionless on the couch.
"Come on Tsunade.. It's time to go" shizune says, speaking in a soft and soothing tone. Naruto watches as shizune gently helps tsunade to her feet. The blonde woman sways slightly, her movements sluggish and uncoordinated as it breaks naruto's unbeating heart to see her like this.
"I'll get the car ready" naruto said, his voice barely above a whisper. He quickly makes his way outside, fumbling with his keys as he approaches the vehicle. As he opens the back door does shizune emerge from the house, all the while guiding tsunade along. The sight of them moving slowly across the yard as tsunade's steps are uncertain and jerky, makes naruto's chest tighten with emotion.
"Easy now.. Naruto help me get her in" shizune murmurs as they reach the car. Together do they carefully maneuver tsunade into the backseat. Naruto's hands shake as he reaches across to secure the seatbelt around her. Tsunade's blank stare fixes on some distant point, seemingly unaware of what is happening.
"There we go.. All snug and safe" shizune said, her tone eerily cheerful.
"Shizune.. Are you sure about this.. Maybe we should..." naruto says, running a hand through his hair.
"We don't have time for doubts Naruto.. We need to leave... Now" shizune interrupts, her voice taking on a harder edge again. As if to emphasize her point, a distant moan echoes through the night air and naruto's head snaps up, scanning the darkness beyond their yard.
"Okay.. Okay" naruto said quickly, moving to the driver's side. Shizune slides into the passenger seat, her movements fluid and graceful in stark contrast to tsunade's earlier struggle. Naruto starts the engine and catches sight of tsunade in the rearview mirror. Her head lolled to the side, eyes unfocused, a thin line of drool escaping from the corner of her mouth.
"Where are we going" naruto asks as he pull out of the driveway, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"Don't worry honey.. I know a safe place.. Just drive north for now.. I'll guide you" shizune says, placing her cold hand on his arm. As they drive away from their home, leaving behind the life they once knew. Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that they were heading into something far worse than what they were leaving behind. The occasional soft groan from tsunade in the backseat serves as a chilling reminder of their new reality.
シーンブレーク
The streets were eerily quiet as they make their way through the city. naruto's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his eyes darting from side to side, scanning for any signs of danger but suddenly, a scream pierces the night air, making him jump.
"Shizune did you hear that" naruto asks, his voice trembling.
"Yes honey.. Look over there" shizune says, her eyes fixed on something in the distance. Naruto follow her gaze and in the dim light of a flickering streetlamp, could see a group of mindless zombies tearing into a screaming woman. The sight is horrific and naruto instinctively slows the car. The woman's terrified screams pierce the night air as the zombies swarm around her. Her clothes were torn, revealing bloody gashes where the undead have already sunk their teeth into her flesh. She frantically tries to push them away but for every zombie she manages to shove off, two more took its place. One of the zombies is a former businessman in a tattered suit, has latched onto her arm and is tearing chunks of flesh away with its rotting teeth. Another is a once-motherly figure now reduced to a snarling monster, has its hands buried in the woman's long hair, pulling her head back to expose her throat.
"We have to help her!" naruto exclaims, reaching for the door handle.
"No Naruto.. We can't" shizune says, her cold hand shooting out and gripping his arm with surprising strength.
"But... But we can't just leave her!" naruto protested, his eyes wide with horror as he watches the scene unfold.
"Naruto listen to me.. We're like the mindless now.. They'll kill us too if we try to intervene.. Plus it is too late" shizune says, her voice is eerily calm. The woman's eyes, wide with terror and pain but quickly extinguished as a zombie sinks its teeth into her neck, silencing her screams with a sickening gurgle.
"We still had our minds!.. We could've helped her" naruto says, disbelief etched on his face.
"We do.. But to them.. We're just another meal.. We smell like death to them now Naruto.. They won't distinguish between us and the truly mindless ones" shizune replies, her eyes locked on his. Her gaze drifts back to the grisly scene outside and a small, unsettling smile play on her lips as she watches a zombie rip another chunk of flesh from the woman's arm.
"It's survival of the fittest out there now.. And we my dear.. Are the next step in evolution.. We mustn't risk ourselves for those who can't adapt" shizune adds, her voice taking on an almost dreamy quality. Naruto feels a chill run down his spine at shizune's words and the eerie calmness in her voice. He grips the steering wheel tighter, trying to reconcile this new, cold version of shizune with the kind, compassionate woman he had known and loved. From the backseat does tsunade let out another soft groan as if agreeing with shizune's words. Naruto glances at her in the rearview mirror, his heart aching at the sight of her vacant expression.
"So what.. We just... We just let people die" naruto asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
"For now yes.. We need to focus on our survival and on finding a safe place.. Once we do that.. We can figure out how to help others.. But right now.. We're in no position to save anyone" shizune says, her expression softening slightly. Naruto's hands shake as he grips the steering wheel tighter and presses down on the accelerator, speeding past the horrific scene. Tears blur his vision as the woman's lifeless body twitches and jerks on the ground. To his horror, sees her eyes snap open, now milky white and devoid of humanity. With unnatural strength, pushes herself up, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. Naruto caught a glimpse of her in the side mirror. The woman's throat has a gaping, ragged wound, blood still oozing from the torn flesh. Large chunks of her arm were missing, exposing bone and muscle. She stumbles forward, her mouth opening and closing in a silent, hungry scream.
"Oh god.. She's... She's turning" naruto whispers, his voice cracking. Shizune leans forward with her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror in an unsettling manner, "Fascinating isn't it.. The speed of the transformation.. The resilience of the infected body..." she murmurs, her voice eerily calm but there is a glee. Naruto shoots her a horrified glance, unable to comprehend her detached curiosity in the face of such a nightmare. He presses the accelerator harder, desperate to put as much distance as possible between them and the newly turned zombie. As they sped away, the image of the woman but now a monster, burns itself into naruto's mind. He knows it would haunt his dreams for nights to come, a stark reminder of the horrors they were facing and the fragility of human life in this new, terrifying world.
"This isn't right" naruto mutters, more to himself than to shizune.
"I know honey.. But this is our reality now.. We have to adapt if we want to survive" shizune replies, her voice gentle. As they drive on, the city around them seems to descend further into chaos. Fires burn in the distance and occasionally they would see groups of the mindless wandering the streets or chasing after the living.
"Where are we going" naruto asks after a while, his voice hoarse.
"There's an old military bunker about fifty miles north of here.. It should be secure enough for us to hole up for a while" shizune says, pointing ahead. Naruto nods and focuses on the road ahead but would they find safety. The car speeds on through the night, carrying its three passengers towards an uncertain future, leaving behind a city falling into darkness and despair. They soon approach the military bunker, the first rays of dawn begin to break over the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the landscape.
"We're almost there.. Be ready for anything Naruto" shizune said, her voice unnaturally calm. Naruto nods with his grip tightening on the steering wheel. As they drew closer, could see signs of destruction around the bunker of abandone vehicles, scattered debris and ominous dark stains on the ground.
"Looks like there was a fight here" naruto mutters, slowing the car as they approach.
"Park behind that truck.. It'll give us some cover" shizune says, her eyes scanning the area. Naruto did as she suggests and carefully maneuvers the car into position behind the truck. As the engine dies, an eerie silence falls over them, broken only by tsunade's occasional soft groans from the backseat.
"What now" naruto asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
"We need to clear the area.. You take point.. I'll watch our backs" shizune replies, reaching for the door handle.
"What about Tsunade" naruto asks, swallowing hard and reaching for his rifle.
"She'll be safe in the car for now.. We need to make sure the area is secure first" shizune says, glancing back to the docile blonde. As they step out of the car, the cool morning air hits naruto's face. He takes a deep breath while trying to steady his nerves. The silence is oppressive, broken only by the occasional distant moan or rustle of debris in the wind. They move cautiously towards the bunker entrance with naruto leading the way with his rifle at the ready but suddenly, a figure stumbles out from behind a wrecked jeep, its movements jerky and uncoordinated.
"Naruto.. Take care of it" shizune hisses like a master would a slave. Naruto's hands shake as he raises his rifle, aiming at the approaching zombie. It is a man or what used to be a man, dressed in tattered military fatigues. As it lurches closer does naruto see the milky white eyes and the gaping wound in its neck.
"I... I can't" naruto whispers, his finger frozen on the trigger.
"You have to.. It's us or them now Naruto" shizune urges, her voice taking on a harder edge. The zombie is getting closer, its jaw working soundlessly as it reaches out towards them and naruto closes his eyes, before taking a deep breath and pulling the trigger. The shot rings out and echoes across the empty landscape with the zombie crumpling to the ground, motionless.
"Good job honey.. Now let's get inside before more show up" shizune said, her tone back to being eerily cheerful. They make their way to the bunker entrance as the heavy metal door is ajar, creaking ominously in the morning breeze.
"Stay alert" shizune warns as they step inside. The interior of the bunker is dimly lit by emergency lights, casting long shadows across the corridor. As they move deeper inside does naruto hear shuffling sounds coming from one of the rooms ahead.
"Shizune" naruto whispers, gesturing towards the sound. She nods, moving silently alongside him and as they approach the room, could hear muffled voices.
"...think they're gone" one voice says, vaguely female.
"I don't know but we can't stay here forever" another voice, also sounding female. Naruto and shizune exchange glances but naruto slowly pushes the door open, his rifle at the ready. Inside are two women huddled in a corner, both were dressed in military uniforms, their faces pale with fear and exhaustion. One has long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, while the other sports a shock of pink hair.
"Don't shoot!.. We're not infected!" the blonde one cries out, raising her hands.
"Who are you" naruto asks, lowering his rifle slightly.
"Private Ino Yamanaka.. And this is Private Sakura Haruno.. We... We're all that's left of the squad stationed here" the blonde replies, giving a salute.
"What happened here" shizune asks, her eyes scanning the two women.
"It all happened so fast.. Some of our men got infected during a supply run.. They turned inside the bunker and... And..." sakura says and her voice trails off, choked with emotion. Ino places a comforting hand on her shoulder before continuing the story, "We managed to seal off this section but we've been trapped here.. We thought everyone else was dead or... Or turned" she explains, both remembering. Naruto feels a wave of sympathy wash over him, "It's okay now" he said, trying to sound reassuring. Shizune shoots him a sharp look but said nothing, "Is the rest of the bunker secure.. We need a safe place to stay" she asks, addressing the two privates.
"We think so.. We sealed off the infected areas but we haven't dared to check the rest of the facility" ino says with a nod.
"Alright.. Naruto go get Tsunade.. We'll set up here for now and then clear the rest of the bunker" shizune said, her voice taking on a commanding tone. As naruto turns to leave, catches a glimpse of confusion on ino and sakura's faces. He knows they have questions like about who they were, about tsunade's condition, about what was happening outside but those answers would have to wait.
シーンブレーク
"Come on Tsunade.. We've found a safe place" naruto said softly, helping her out of the vehicle. Tsunade stumbles slightly as she gets out, her movements still uncoordinated. Naruto supports her and guides her towards the bunker entrance but as they approach, couldn't shake off an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"It'll be okay.. We're going to figure this out" naruto murmurs, more to himself than to tsunade. They enter the bunker with the heavy metal door creaking shut behind them. The dim emergency lights cast long shadows as they make their way through the corridor. Naruto's ears strain for any sound, any indication of what might be happening deeper inside. They near the room where he left shizune, ino and sakura but naruto hears muffled sounds, and he instinctively tightened his grip on tsunade's arm.
"Shizune.. Is everything okay" naruto calls out hesitantly but there was no response. The uneasy feeling in naruto's stomach grows stronger, "Stay here for a moment" he whispers, gently leaning tsunade against the wall. With cautious steps does naruto approach the room. The door is slightly ajar and as he pushes it open, the scene before him makes his blood run cold. Shizune is standing in the center of the room, her back to the door. Ino and sakura were on the ground, their bodies twitching slightly. Shizune turns at the sound of naruto's entrance, a unsettling smile on her face.
"Ah Naruto.. You're back.. Good timing" shizune said, her voice eerily calm.
"Shizune... What have you done?!" naruto shouts, his eyes darting between shizune and the two women on the floor.
"I've welcomed them into our family darling.. Just like I did with you" shizune says, her smile widening.
"But... But you said..." naruto sputters, stumbling back.
"I said we needed to adapt to survive.. This is how we adapt Naruto.. We grow our numbers.. We become stronger" shizune interrupts, stepping closer to him. Ino groans with her body jerking as she starts to push herself up with sakura remaining motionless but naruto could see her fingers twitching.
"This isn't right.. Shizune we can't just... We can't just turn people without their consent!" naruto said, his voice shaking.
"Oh honey.. You still don't understand do you.. This is a gift.. We're saving them from becoming mindless" shizune says with a head tilt, regarding naruto with a mixture of affection and disappointment. Shizune kneels next to ino and strokes her hair gently with cooing sounds. Naruto watches in horror, torn between his loyalty to shizune and his moral compass. He glances back at tsunade, who is still leaning against the wall in the corridor, her blank stare fixed on some distant point.
"Shizune please.. This isn't you.. The Shizune I know wouldn't do this" naruto pleads, his unbeating heart breaking. Shizune stands up and faces naruto fully, "The Shizune you knew is gone Naruto.. This is who I am now.. Who we all are" she says, her once warm and kind eyes now hold a cold but predatory gleam.
"Embrace what you're becoming Naruto" shizune says, her hand outstretched. Naruto backs away as he glances at tsunade, then at ino and sakura. The weight of the situation crashes down on him and he realizes he has a crucial decision to make.
"I... I need some air" naruto stammers, turning and rushing out of the room.
"You can't run from this Naruto.. Sooner or later.. You'll have to accept what you are!" shizune calls out as he runs down the corridor. Naruto bursts out of the bunker, the cool morning air hitting his face. He gasps for breath, his mind reeling from what he has just witnessed. The sun is rising higher in the sky, casting a deceptively peaceful glow over the ravaged landscape. He leans against the bunker wall, sliding down until he is sitting on the ground and lets out a choked sob.
"What am I going to do?!" naruto whispers to himself, staring out at the world that has become a nightmare. The weight of the situation presses down on him, threatening to crush his spirit. He lifts his gaze to the sky, watching as the sun continues its ascent, oblivious to the horrors unfolding below. In that moment as the warm light touches his face does naruto feels a surge of resolve. He knows what he has to do. His eyes fall upon a fallen soldier nearby, a pistol still clutched in the corpse's rigid hand. Naruto pushes himself to his feet and walks over to the body. He hesitates for a moment before gently prying the weapon from the soldier's grasp.
"I'm sorry.. But I have to end this.. We don't belong in this world" naruto murmurs, both to the fallen soldier and to himself. The weight of the pistol feels foreign in his hand but naruto steels himself. With determined steps, makes his way back into the bunker. The dim emergency lights casting eerie shadows as he moves through the corridors. He approached the room where he'd left the others but could hear shizune's voice, soft and soothing and pauses at the doorway, peering inside.
"There you go Tsunade.. You'll be more comfortable here" shizune says, helping tsunade into a chair, her movements gentle despite the monstrous acts she's committed. Naruto's grip tightens on the pistol and takes a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. This is shizune, the woman he loved but she wasn't herself anymore. He steps into the room with the pistol firmly at his side. Shizune turns at the sound of his footsteps with a smile spreading across her face.
"Naruto.. You're back.. I knew you'd..." shizune said, her voice filled with warmth that didn't reach her eyes. The gunshot echoes through the room, cutting off shizune's words. Naruto watches in horror as she crumples to the ground, her body twisting unnaturally as she falls. The bullet had found its mark, piercing through her left eye with terrifying accuracy. There is no exit wound, the deadly projectile lodged somewhere within her skull. Shizune's remaining eye is wide with surprise and pain, staring blankly at the ceiling. The other is a ruined mess, a grotesque mixture of blood and tissue where her eye had once been. A thin trail of crimson begins to seep from the wound, tracing a macabre path down her cheek. Naruto's hand shook violently with the pistol suddenly feeling impossibly heavy. The acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air, mixing with the metallic scent of fresh blood. He couldn't tear his gaze away from shizune's face, a face he had loved, now forever changed by his own hand.
"I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry Shizune.. But I couldn't let you hurt anyone else" naruto chokes out, his voice barely above a whisper. The words feel hollow, inadequate in the face of what he has just done. Tears stream down naruto's face as he turns towards the two women on the ground. They were slowly regaining consciousness, their movements jerky and uncoordinated. Ino's eyes flutter open, unfocused and glassy.
"W-what's happening" ino mumbles, her voice barely above a whisper. Naruto's hand trembles as he raises the pistol. He didn't know these women other than their names but the sight of their suffering tears at his heart, "I'm sorry.. I wish... I wish there was another way" he said softly. Another shot rings out and ino's body goes limp and sakura stirs at the sound, "Ino?!.. What was that noise" sakura calls out weakly, her eyes struggling to focus but another shot rings out. Sakura falls on ino with the light fading from her eyes and blood coming from her temple. Naruto feels a wave of nausea wash over him. He stumbles back, leaning against the wall for support. The weight of what he'd done crashes down on him and he slides to the floor, the pistol clattering beside him.
"I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry" naruto whispers to the silent room but his gaze comes to rest on tsunade. Her blank stare unchanged, seemingly unaware of the tragedy unfolding around her. Naruto staggers to his feet and grabs the pistol, before kneeling down in front of tsunade, looking into her vacant eyes. For a moment, thought he saw a flicker of recognition but it is gone as quickly as it had appeared.
"Tsunade.. I'm so sorry it came to this.. I... I hope you can forgive me" naruto whispers, reaching out to touch her cold cheek. Naruto raises the pistol one last time, pressing it gently against his own temple as he leans in close to tsunade. Their temples touch, and for a brief moment does naruto close his eyes, remembering happier times.
"We'll be together again I hope" naruto murmurs with tears streaming down his face and tightens on the trigger. The final shot echoes through the bunker, leaving behind a silence that speaks volumes of the tragedy that has unfolded within its walls. For a moment, all is still, the air heavy with the scent of gunpowder and death but then a soft rustling breaks the quiet. Shizune's fingers twitch with her body slowly stirring and several jerky movements, pushes herself up. Her right eye blinking rapidly as if trying to clear away a fog while blood trickles down her left cheek, following the contours of her face like macabre tears.
"W-what" shizune thought, her right eye sweeping across the room and taking in the carnage before her. Naruto and tsunade lay slumped together, a single bullet having ended both their lives. Nearby are ino and sakura's bodies on top one another, their eyes staring blankly. A low but guttural sound escapes shizune's throat as she stumbles to her feet. Her movements were unsteady, her balance thrown off by the loss of her left eye but her remaining eye holds a cold but calculating look as she surveys the scene.
"Oh Naruto.. What have you done" shizune murmurs, her voice a chilling mixture of disappointment and anger. She takes a shaky step towards the bodies of her former lovers, her hand reaching out as if to touch them but she stops short, her fingers curling into a fist.
"You squandered my gift.. I offered you eternity.. A chance to evolve beyond this weak and mortal form.. And this is how you repay me?!" shizune hisses, her voice growing stronger with each word. She reaches up to touch the left side of her face, her fingers probing gently around the wound. She winces slightly as she feels the sticky warmth of blood but there is no exit wound. The bullet is still lodged in her skull.
"Interesting.. It seems even a shot through the eye can't stop me now" shizune murmurs to herself, a cold smile playing on her lips. She turns her attention back to naruto and tsunade's bodies with her remaining eye narrowing, "You always were too soft-hearted for your own good.. Couldn't you see the beauty in what we were becoming" she sighs, her voice a mixture of disappointment and frustrated affection.
"You could have been so much more.. We could have ruled this new world together" shizune continues, kneeling beside them and her cold fingers brushing naruto's cheek.
"And you my dear Tsunade.. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you back fully.. Perhaps if Naruto had given us more time..." shizune adds, her gaze drifting to tsunade and for a moment, a flicker of genuine sadness crosses her face. She stands up with her movements becoming more fluid as her body continues to heal itself, adapting to the loss of her left eye. Shizune walks over to ino and sakura's bodies, "Such a waste.. You two could have been valuable additions to our family.. Strong.. Capable... A shame Naruto didn't give you the chance to fully turn" shizune mutters and tilts her head as she examines them, "I wonder... If the infection is still active in your bodies.. Perhaps it's not too late after all" she adds, her brow furrowing in thought. She kneels beside ino's body, examining the gunshot wound. The sight is grim and far worse than she had initially hoped. Where there should have been an intact skull, there is instead a catastrophic wound. The bullet has torn through ino's head, leaving behind a devastating path of destruction.
"Oh.. The brain... It's completely destroyed.. I guess you aren't like me" shizune breathes, her excitement fading into disappointment. Her fingers hover over the ruined mass of tissue and bone fragments. The damage is extensive, far beyond what even their enhanced healing abilities could repair. Shizune's remaining eye narrows as she considers the implications, "Such a waste" she murmurs, her voice tinged with genuine regret. She turned her attention to sakura's body, hoping for better news but as she examines the pink-haired woman, her heart sank further. The bullet has found its mark here too, leaving no chance for revival. Shizune sits back on her heels with a heavy sigh escaping her lips, "It seems Naruto was more thorough than I gave him credit for.. He made sure you two and Tsunade wouldn't be coming back" she said, a hint of bitter admiration in her voice. She stands up slowly with her gaze sweeping over the bodies of ino and sakura, "I'm sorry.. You deserved better than this.. A chance to evolve and become something greater" she said softly, surprising herself with the sincerity in her voice.
"Damn it Naruto" shizune thought, her mind racing and considering her options. With ino and sakura beyond hope of revival, her plans for expanding her family have hit a significant setback. She would need to adapt, to find new potential recruits for her vision of a better world.
"Well.. It seems I have more work to do than I thought.. But that's alright.. After all.. Nothing worth having comes easy does it" shizune said, straightening her shoulders. With those words doe she step out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the corridor as she set offs to explore the rest of the bunker. The room falls silent once more, the bodies of naruto, tsunade, ino and sakura left behind as grim testaments to the tragedy that has unfolded. Shizune moves cautiously through the dimly lit corridors, her remaining eye adjusting to the new limitations of her vision. Her senses were on high alert for any signs of danger or other survivors. She couldn't help but mutter to herself as she walks, her voice a mix of frustration and determination about naruto's foolishness.
"First things first.. I need to take care of this" shizune thought, her fingers brushing against the wound where her left eye had been and she winces slightly. After a few minutes of searching and shizune finds what she was looking for, the bunker's medical bay. She pushes open the door, revealing a well-stocked room filled with medical supplies and equipment.
"Perfect.. Now let's see what we can do about this little... Inconvenience" shizune said, a small smile playing on her lips. She rummages through the supplies, gathering what she needs. She sits down in front of a small mirror and begin to clean the wound, her movements precise and efficient despite the awkward angle and her impaired depth perception.
"You know.. I always thought Tsunade was the better as Doctor.. But look at me now.. Patching myself up after losing an eye.. I bet she never had to do that" shizune said to her reflection. As she works does her mind wander to the others she left behind in the room and a frown creases her brow as she considers her next steps.
"I'll need to find some willing or unwilling recruits.. Maybe there are others here in this bunker" shizune mutters to herself, her voice low and thoughtful. Her remaining eye gleams with a mix of determination and curiosity, "This place must be big.. There could be survivors hiding in other sections.. Scared and alone... Perfect candidates for my new family" shizune muses, carefully applying a bandage to her wound.
"And if they're not willing... Well.. I'll just have to be persuasive" shizune continues, her lips curling into a small smile as she imagines the possibilities. Once she has done the best she could with the wound, does she stand up and look around the room with her eye falling on a small bathroom attached to the medical bay.
"Time to get cleaned up.. Can't lead a new world order looking like this" shizune declares, stepping into the bathroom and turning on the shower. As the water cascaded over her, washing away the blood and grime, closes her remaining eye and let out a long sigh.
"Oh Tsunade.. I wish you could see what I've become.. What we could all become.. You'd be so proud" shizune whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of the water. Shizune wraps herself in a towel after the shower and makes her way back into the medical bay. She spots a locker in the corner and opens it, revealing several sets of military fatigues.
"Well when in Rome" shizune chuckles, pulling out a set that looks like it would fit her. Shizune catches sight of herself in the mirror once more. The military fatigues gave her a sense of authority, of power. She straightens her back and lifts her chin, admiring her reflection. The empty socket where her left eye had been now covered with a makeshift eyepatch, giving her a fierce, battle-hardened appearance.
"Now this is more like it.. Time to build a new family.. A new world.. And this time no one's going to stand in my way" shizune said with a satisfied smile. With renewed determination, shizune turn and walks out of the medical bay, ready to face whatever challenges this new world might throw at her. The bunker stretches out before her, full of possibilities and potential new recruits for her growing family.
The End?
AN2: Here we are another Spooktober story. You probably wonder why Shizune survived and Naruto, Ino, Sakura and Tsunade didn't. The simple is the virus worked differently on her eye and not she's functionally immortal. Shizune was scratched and she killed Tsunade making her a docile zombie and Naruto, Ino and Sakura were lightly bitten. This is just a one-shot but if there is a high demand with ideas on how to continue. Let them flow, if not oh well. Thank you for readying and Happy Halloween.