Chapter 11:
While returning to the Leaf, Umi and Naruto exchanged information and were able to fill in the gaps as to what went on prior to Sai being bitten.
Naruto and Sakura were surprised to learn that vampires could go decades without food if they entered a state of suspended animation similar to hibernation. That explained why Umi didn't have to feed as often and why the male vampire didn't starve after the villagers left the area to protect themselves.
It seemed after the village was deserted, the male vampire likely went into a hibernating state to conserve energy and need for food. During that time, people either stumbled upon the castle or intentionally went there to investigate, found him asleep and decided to remove him from the area. Either they didn't think the vampire was still alive or didn't care.
"There are few of us now, but we make it a point of knowing each other. I hadn't heard anything about him in a while, but obviously he developed a reputation, feeding off villagers like that. Figured it was only a matter of time before humans came after him. Still, risky business, trying to transport a hibernating vampire like that. No wonder your friend got bit. I'm surprised others weren't involved as well."
"We were just asked to transport the crate for our mission," said Sakura. "We didn't know what was in it."
"Sounds to me like someone might have wanted to send that crate to an enemy or something so the vampire could feed on their village instead. If they thought it was just a corpse, they probably would have just chucked it in a ditch or something. Wouldn't ask for someone to transport it," reasoned Umi.
"You think they knew a vampire was in it and intended for us to get bitten?" asked Naruto, horrified and angry.
"Well, that or you were just transporting it to a place where it would be properly disposed of and didn't tell you what was in it because of your reaction," Umi theorized. "It's just as likely that whoever hired you thought it could have been a vampire and were too chicken to do anything themselves or weren't equipped to and hired you to transport it to someone who could. People will outsource to people who can better handle certain situations, after all."
"That's probably what really happened," said Sakura, gazing sideways at Naruto. "After all, they told us not to open it and have the people they were sending it to handle it from there. They were probably experts. We don't have to go thinking it was a trick or weapon or something like that. We were just bringing it to someone who could slay a vampire."
"Then why not get that person to do something now?" asked Naruto.
"Because then your friends would be stuck like this forever?" Umi asked with a raised brow, thinking Naruto might have forgotten the whole reason she was coming to the Leaf with them.
"No, I mean couldn't they stop the vampire or know something about how to cure people without killing anyone?"
"Not really," said Umi. "It's easier to kill a sleeping vampire than one that's aware and fighting back. I bet whoever this person is would say you're on your own the second they find out the vampire's awake and head for the hills."
"This is the best plan," said Sakura, thinking about their friends. "We have to cure everyone."
"Definitely the best plan for you guys," said Umi. "You're not the ones risking your life."
"Have we told you how much we appreciate what you're doing for us?" Naruto said with big sparkly eyes.
"Well, I guess I can't say that exactly. After all, if the vampires don't intend to turn you, they'll rip you to shreds. And if too many go after you at once, they'll drain you dry before you get the chance to turn."
Whimpering loudly, Naruto's sparkly eyes turned to waterfalls of tears. "Why'd you have to go and say that?" he wailed.
When they reached the main gate of the village, a thick fog shrouded the Leaf in an eerie gray cloak. The buildings and streets were scarcely noticeable, as if being erased with each new vampire added to the growing population. It was less the Leaf Village they recognized and more the ruins of a ghost town. The two shinobi were actually afraid to enter their home. A vampire could come sprinting out of the fog at any moment and leap upon their necks.
On guard, all three noticed the vampire sprinting towards them from the fog, mouth agape and ready to bite, just as they thought. Their foot dug into the ground as they launched themselves at the trio with a loud hiss. Naruto covered his neck with both hands and took a step back out of fear. Remembering the earlier battles with vampire shinobi, Naruto did not want to risk getting bitten by fighting them head-on.
Umi stood her ground and reached out her arm, catching the vampire by the neck and slamming them into the ground with strength that rivaled Sakura's. The vampire lay where it was and didn't move.
"Are they…?" Sakura began, looking at the vampire on the ground.
"Don't worry," said Umi. "It'll take more than that to kill a vampire. We're a lot more durable."
With his hands still covering his neck, Naruto peered cautiously around the foggy village. "There's bound to be more of them. Better find the head vampire and beat him fast."
Gazing into the fog, Umi nodded, getting serious. "Yeah. Better get moving."
Kakashi and Shikamaru must have evacuated the village, given the state of things, but they couldn't be sure. The survivors could have been in hiding or the vampires could have picked them off before anyone was able to leave the village. Naruto and Sakura hoped the vampires hadn't attacked while they were gone and wiped out the rest of the people, Kakashi and Shikamaru included.
Naruto was prepared with several clones, but he knew it was only a precaution. He had sent one ahead to scope the street to their right. The clone noticed several second and third-story windows had been broken. Vampires had clearly shattered the glass to get at their prey. Abandoned shopping bags were in the middle of the street and someone's apartment door was wide open. The clone was just as frightened as the real Naruto, seeing all this and wondering where a vampire could be hiding.
He got his answer when something bit him on the neck and he popped.
Naruto clasped a hand to his own neck and shuddered. "I didn't even sense them," he told the girls. "They're way too sneaky."
Umi motioned for them to stop, on high alert. After a tense pause, a dozen vampires sprang out from different directions to attack them.
Naruto used his clones to provide cover but none of them lasted long. Sakura used her strength to punch as many as she could away from them but one vampire took advantage of her outstretched arm and tried to bite her before she could pull it back for another punch. Naruto's clone sacrificed itself to cover her and she punched the vampire as far away as her strength would allow.
Umi jumped into the air, delivering one spin-kick after another to knock them back. It seemed she was a really good fighter. "We have to keep moving. I'm sure the head vampire can sense me if he's nearby."
"Then these guys will leave us alone while you fight?"
"Uh…"
"You mean we'll have to fight these guys on our own when you're having your battle?" Naruto snapped, knowing they would be at a disadvantage.
"Well…"
Naruto's clones popped repeatedly as something came their way at an alarming speed. More vampires were on the attack and Naruto was running out of clones. Naruto decided to take a risk and use a different jutsu to blast them away.
He turned to meet his enemy, raising his arm. "Rasen- Iruka-sensei?!" Naruto's attack fizzled out the instant he saw the face of one of his oldest friends and teacher.
Iruka smiled at him in a friendly way. Everything about him was Iruka, albeit the icy blue eyes. "Naruto, what are you and your friends doing?" he asked casually. "You shouldn't be out in this fog. Come on. I'll treat you to some ramen."
Why was he talking like this? So normal. This had to be a trick. There was no way Iruka was oblivious to what was going on. He had to know. He must have been trying to fool him into thinking everything was ok. To let his guard down.
Although, the allure of hot ramen with his sensei like old times was too big of a pull to resist. To take a break from all this fighting and fear to enjoy his favorite meal was too good to pass up.
He could just pause this game for a bit and…
This wasn't a game. He was fighting vampires and Iruka was one of them. This was a trick.
Naruto broke eye contact and jumped back, realizing how close he had gotten to Iruka while in that altered state. "No!" he shouted to make sure he wouldn't get sucked back in and took a fighting stance.
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Iruka asked, still smiling at him. He sounded like he was trying to calm an angry child. "My treat. Ramen. Piled high with pork and chewy noodles. That savory, rich broth running down your throat. I know you want it."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Naruto covered his ears. Iruka was still trying to tempt him and it was starting to work again. "You want my throat is what you want."
"More of what's in it, actually." Iruka licked his lips. He was starting to drop his façade. "Come on, Naruto. Listen to your sensei."
"No! You're not my sensei! Not anymore. Not until I free you."
Iruka's smile faded. "Who says I want to be? Better yet, who says I'm not already?" He bared his fangs and lunged towards Naruto who jumped aside. Iruka spun around and made another lunge for his neck. "I am free, Naruto. I've never been better in my entire life. You could feel this good, too, if you just let me."
"No!" Naruto struck Iruka in the head but that didn't do much. When Iruka made another attempt at Naruto's neck, Sakura punched him and sent him flying.
He stood up, not seriously hurt, despite how hard she punched him, and hissed. "You're making it harder on yourselves than it has to be."
Umi stood in front of Naruto and Sakura, but not to shield them from Iruka. Someone else had joined them, gliding silently and coming to land beside Iruka in the street. It was the head vampire, drawn to the raucous in an otherwise quiet evening.
"Oh-ho," he said upon seeing Umi. "I must say, I did not expect to see you here. If you wish to colonize this village, I'm afraid you're too late. I've already laid claim to it."
"Well, I aim to make it mine," Umi said, standing firm.
Iruka hissed at her, showing his devotion to his master. The head vampire raised his hand and Iruka backed off. He looked to his right, studying his master's stance. Understanding what his master was feeling and thinking, Iruka became submissive and shrank away without a sound.
It was strange seeing Iruka behave this way. Naruto never imaged he would ever see Iruka act like he was afraid of being struck by someone of supreme authority.
The head vampire lowered his hand, giving Umi an unwavering gaze, his face serious. "Am I to understand this is your intent?"
She nodded. "I challenge you."
"I see. It is as it appears. You do know once a challenge has been issued, there is no going back."
Umi kept her eyes on him, her expression as serious as his. "I challenge you," she repeated.
Iruka looked from Umi to the head vampire. Without looking at Iruka, the vampire gave a single nod. It took Naruto and Sakura a few moments to realize what this exchange was, thinking it had something to do with the challenge. In actuality, Iruka was asking permission, which the vampire just granted him.
"I see you are committed. Very well. Then I accept."
Faster than their eyes could track, the head vampire dove at Umi and slammed into her with all his might. The two soared in a straight line down the street and into a building. Umi and the head vampire broke out of the building through a side wall and from there into the air where they delivered blow after blow, shrieking and hissing at each other.
"Think she'll be ok?" Sakura asked, trying to track their movements.
"For everyone's sake, she better be," answered Naruto.
Sakura looked away and called out a warning, seeing something move behind Naruto while they were distracted. It was Iruka again and he managed to tackle Naruto to the ground, pin him and bit the side of his neck.
This was the permission Iruka was asking for. The vampire had given him the ok to indulge himself to his heart's content and savagely attack any remaining humans he could find.
POP!
"Those clones are really starting to annoy me," Iruka said in irritation and then turned his attention to Sakura.
The real Naruto was running down a different street to get as far away from Iruka as he could. He did not want to fight any of his friends. Especially ones who knew his weaknesses.
"Oh, Naruto," someone sang his name.
He stopped running and saw Sai standing in the center of the street, his body illuminated by a streetlamp. When it flickered, Sai was just a shadow with glowing blue eyes and toothy grin. The enveloping fog and flickering light only enhanced his frightening aura. He truly looked like a monster.
Naruto started to take a step backwards to flee. Sai dashed down the street, intent on preventing it. Before they collided, Sai jump, flipped over Naruto and landed behind him with a scroll unfurling from his hand. "Super Beast Scroll!"
Naruto had to combat ink lions and a rampaging Sai at the same time. He fended them off with his kunai, dodging and weaving as his enemy leapt around him. Once the ink lions were gone, something else came shooting off the scroll to attack him. A snake. He sliced it in half before it could coil around him and then another lion came his way.
Seeing Sai back up to paint some more, Naruto tore through the lion, slashed the scroll in half and snapped the brush so Sai couldn't use either one anymore. Rather than be upset, Sai was laughing. He let his writing tools fall away and laughed like they were playing a really fun game. He was enjoying their fight too much for Naruto's comfort. He had never heard Sai laugh like this and it was more scary than it was annoying.
Naruto wanted to avoid close combat if he could, but Sai made that impossible. "Is that all you got?" Sai taunted, leaping around Naruto playfully. "Come on. Show me the strength of the great Hero of the Leaf."
Naruto took a swing at him and Sai leapt over his head and landed behind him, tapping him on the top of his head. Naruto took another swing at him and Sai allowed the hit to land on his shoulder. Naruto wasn't willing to go for Sai's face just in case his knuckles grazed his teeth. Sai was unaffected by the blow and laughed at Naruto's reaction. He grabbed Naruto by the front of his jacket and threw him down the street.
The throw was something Sai would never be able to do before acquiring this strength. Naruto tumbled end over end before slamming into the front of a local store and falling into an outdoor display.
"Come on, Naruto," Sai called hauntingly. "Don't tell me that's all you've got. The great Hero of the Leaf must have much to show."
Fleeing on his hands and knees, Naruto used the overturned displays to conceal his movements. He had to keep his distance or risk being bitten. If he went all-out, he could risk drawing more vampires to his position and end up fighting even more. He had plenty of chakra, but needed to preserve as much of it as he could to produce clones and substitutions should any fangs get too close.
"Come out, come out, Naruto," Sai taunted, walking slowly up the street. "Let's have some fun."
The cart Naruto was using to hide behind lifted up and Sai stood on the other side, holding it one-handed. He grinned when he saw Naruto staring back at him with worried eyes.
"Found ya."
The battle between vampires raged on around her, but Sakura didn't have time to stop to see who was winning. Not even when they plowed into the building right next to her, sending up pieces of roof shingles and wood along with a deafening bang. Iruka hadn't stopped chasing her since the vampires started their duel. It was everything she could do to dodge his attacks.
Sending kunai into his shoulders didn't slow him down. He acted like he felt no pain and kept coming. She threw a punch at him but he always tried to receive it in the mouth so he could bite her even if it meant getting hurt in the process. She would either have to pull away before that happened or quickly change her aim before his teeth got too close. Every now and then, he would grab her fist and try biting her but she always conjured up a substitution before he could infect her.
"You're a smart girl, Sakura," he taunted her. Before this, he wouldn't speak to her at all and just snarl. "You understand risk and probability better than anyone. You must know your chances against me. Against us. Just give up. You have no chance."
It was a scare tactic. She understood that. No matter what, she wouldn't let him distract her. She had to believe they stood a chance. Umi could do it. She just had to put her faith in Umi the way she did Naruto.
"Behind ya!" Iruka shrieked and tried to claw Sakura across her back when she moved out of the way of his fangs. She managed to move in time but he didn't give her a chance to adjust her footing and went low, ramming his shoulder into her ribs to knock her off the ground. She wouldn't be able to dodge easily in the air and went for his chance.
She used the blow to her advantage by using the momentum to flip backwards so his fangs sank into the heel of her boot instead of her leg. She used her other leg to kick him away from her and landed on the ground unscathed.
"Smart girl, like I said." Iruka picked himself back up and wiped some dirt off his chin. "One of my top students. That said, how long do you think you can keep this up? You may have excellent chakra control and strength, but let's be honest. All that requires energy. Eventually, you'll run out of steam and be unable to move. All this dodging is taking a toll on you, isn't it? All those punches, too."
Sakura didn't want to let it show, but he was right. She was already out of breath just trying to evade those fangs. Iruka's speed and strength had been enhanced, just like everyone else. She didn't know how much longer her body would be able to keep up. Her muscles would eventually weaken and, no matter how much she wanted to keep going, her body would just stop listening and be unable to move.
"You're already weakening, whereas I haven't broken a sweat." Iruka stood tall to display this fact. If words weren't enough to intimidate her, perhaps showing her physical proof of their difference would be more effective.
Iruka charged again at her with his mouth wide open. Would his fangs graze her this time? He just needed to bite her once and it didn't matter where as long as he broke the skin.
Sakura grabbed a trashcan lid and placed it between them, leading Iruka to believe she intended to use it as a shield. In a way, yes, but not the way he believed. Sakura's fist collided with the lid, driving it into Iruka's face. He was sent backwards into a fence with a crash.
This was how she could protect her hands from being bitten: punch through an object.
The noise from the battle had drawn more vampires to Sakura's location and now she had to fight five at once. She tossed up as many objects as she could and punched through them to attack the vampires. Boards of wood, metal sheets, trashcan lids and just about anything else she had on hand. She couldn't stop moving for a second, never giving the vampires an opening.
"Hurry up, Umi," Sakura pleaded quietly. She couldn't keep up this pace for long and if more vampires came, she would be overwhelmed.
"Naruto. You're making this harder than it has to be," Sai called as he walked up and down the street, searching playfully for Naruto.
The shinobi in question had taken shelter in a building, though he wasn't sure what kind of building it was. He just dove into any crevice he could to hide from Sai. All he knew was in was made of wood and had no windows. Judging by all the metal tools laying around, it was probably the backroom to some store or possibly a shed.
He tried to stay as quiet as possible. He knew how to conceal himself but Sai could sense him using other means.
"You cut yourself, didn't you? I can smell your blood."
Naruto saw the cut on his hand and stuffed it in his mouth, hoping Sai wouldn't smell it if he got it back in his body somehow.
Sai had defeated all of Naruto's clones and he was afraid to use more in such a small space. As long as he didn't do anything to attract attention to his whereabouts, Sai wouldn't find him.
A fist punched its way through the wood inches from Naruto's face and he inadvertently screamed. Sai cackled and punched again and again, loving Naruto's fear. He wanted to scare him. This was so much fun. Naruto tried using clones again but every one of them was defeated in an instant. There was nothing he could do.
One hole after another appeared and Naruto crawled as far away from them as he could, metal digging into his back. He had nowhere left to go.
"Ahh!" Umi cried out, slamming into the ground. The head vampire kicked her and then stomped on her shoulder. He was certain he had won the match.
"Pitiful. But I suppose it's to be expected." The head vampire picked Umi up by her hair and held her at arm's length. "Now we know what a true vampire is."
Umi moved her lips up and down but the head vampire couldn't make out what she was trying to say. He saw tears in her eyes and assumed she was crying and begging for her life.
He moved her closer to hear what she was saying. "What was that? Are you begging for mercy?"
Umi's lips moved again. A tear ran down her cheek.
He moved just an inch closer.
Umi drove her arm into his chest with all the strength she had in her. He shrieked and dropped her but her arm was still stuck in him. When he looked at her face, the tears were gone and a murderous gleam took their place. It had been a trick to get him in closer for the perfect shot.
"You wretch!" He tried to stab her in the same fashion to ensure she would not survive to claim victory. He would not allow her to become the new head vampire.
She used her other arm to slice off his head, her hand chopping through his neck like a sword. She pulled her arm out of his chest, pieces of dust clinging to her finger. The vampire was already withering away. He was nothing but a pile of soot already being blow away by the wind.
Umi stood and inhaled deeply, savoring victory.
There was nowhere left to go in the wooden building or what was left of it. Another fist came flying through, creating a massive hole, and Naruto covered his head with both arms. "Please, Sai, no!"
Nothing happened. There was no animalistic shriek or hiss or snarl or anything. Just silence.
When he looked up, he saw Sai's hand held out to him. It wasn't threatening. It was a hand offered to him in assistance.
Naruto hesitantly took Sai's hand and was pulled out of the rubble and onto the street.
"You ok?" Sai asked.
"Uh…"
Sai was smiling at him. He still had fangs but his demeanor had changed.
"Are you ok?" Naruto returned the question with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I'm ok," Sai answered. "Wanted to make sure you weren't hurt."
This didn't seem like a trick. Even so, Naruto had to ask, "You don't want to bite my neck and make me a vampire anymore?"
Sai shrugged. "Not really." His head swiveled to look into the distance. "I want to go over there, though."
Something must have happened during their fight. Sai was no longer as animalistic as he was a few moments ago. Naruto didn't sense any deception from him either. Instead of a primal need to feed, Sai's eyes held within them a serene grace that Naruto hadn't seen for a long time.
"Umi must have won," Naruto muttered to himself, hopeful that was the case.
Naruto followed Sai to the exact place Umi was standing, instinctively knowing where to go. He hopped from one ledge to another before dropping down to land right in front of Umi. He did not kneel but he was looking at Umi with awe, a resounding reverence swelling within him.
"Did you do it? Did you win?" Naruto asked, focused more on Umi than Sai at the moment.
"I wouldn't be standing here if I didn't," she answered, brushing herself off. "I take it this is one of your friends."
"Huh? Oh. Yeah. This is Sai." Naruto glanced to his left where Sai was standing with limitless admiration pouring from his eyes. Sai truly seemed to be seeing Umi as his queen.
Umi nodded and told Naruto, "Him acting like this is proof that I am now the head vampire. He's inherited my will and I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Otherwise, he'd be slashing away at me like before," Naruto said, a grimace on his face. Seeing such malice in Sai's eyes was something Naruto never wanted to see again.
Umi turned to address Sai. "Gather all the vampires in the Leaf Village and bring them to me at once," she ordered.
"Yes, Mistress," Sai responded and went off to do as he was told.
"It's just that easy?" Naruto asked, seeing Sai obediently hurry off.
Sakura rushed over and pointed back the way she came. "Naruto, all the vampires have lost their will to fight. I was swarmed and they just stopped." She saw Umi standing there and understood what had happened. "So now what?"
"Now we can change your friends back to normal," declared Umi. "I just instructed all vampires to come to me so I could reverse the transformation. Your village and its people will be the way it was once more."