Chapter 6: "Where is Naruto Uzumaki?"

"Hold on a second—Has anyone seen Mr. Naruto Uzumaki?" Rei Miyamoto suddenly asked.

At that moment Rei says that Takashi Komuro suddenly can't believe that they had forgotten about Mr. Naruto Uzumaki. He recalls the last time he saw the Guidance Counselor.

Shortly before the zombies attacked the Fujimi Academy, Takashi, who is skipping class, met with Saya, who was nagging him over the fact that Rei, his childhood crush, was dating his best friend, Hisashi Igou. Moody, Takashi remembers trying to find a perfect spot to be alone, to avoid Saya's nagging. It was when he sees something happening at the front gate.

Takashi witnesses Kyoko Hayashi, Teshima, and a couple of other teachers going to the front gate to confront a strange man. The man is one of "them," and he bites Teshima, who subsequently dies, turns, and would bites Kyoko, if Mr. Naruto Uzumaki didn't shoot Teshima with a gun.

Now in that moment, Takashi never seen anyone shoot somebody. But he never seen Naruto with a gun, especially shoot someone. It was someone he never seen before. Someone he though he knew. Yet he didn't had time to think on the subject as he senses something bad was going to happened in the school unless he doesn't hurry, and he was right.

The school was in utter chaos. There is mass amount of death around them—to make worse, "Them"—Zombies were walking around. Right now, he and Rei had met other survivors of the school. Saeko Busujima, Saya Takagi, Kohta Hirano, Shizuka Marikawa, and Kyoko Hayashi.

After casually greeting each other and dealing with Saya's breakdown, they barricade themselves in the faculty room. They decide to take a break and formulate an escape plan out of the school. Takashi asks Shizuka if she has her car keys, but they realize her car wouldn't be big enough for all of them. Kohta points out the minibus in the parking lot, and Takashi decides that they can take the bus to their houses to make sure their families are okay, and then find somewhere safe.

It was when Takashi notices that Rei, who is watching a news program on the television, is worried, and they turn the volume up to see what it is. The reporter on the program begins to talk about the government declaring a state of emergency but is cut off when corpses behind her become "them" and attack. The program cuts to the news studio. After seeing reports of the same situation all over the world, Saya concludes that it is a pandemic. Since they have no way of knowing how long the pandemic will last, they decide to focus on finding their families. That is when Rei mentions Naruto's name.

"I—I hadn't seen him since he order me straight to the nurse office," says Kyoko, before turning to the rest of the group. "He'd says he was going try help save as many people as possible! What about the rest of you?"

Kyoko was talking to Saeko, Saya and Kohta, Saya replied "No, I hadn't seen Mr. Uzumaki. He could be dead!"

"No! I don't believe that!" Shizuka snapped. "I don't believed Naruto is dead!"

"Yeah, Miss Marikawa is right!" Kohta agreed. "There is no way Mr. Uzumaki is dead! No way!"

"How would you know?" Saya challenged Kohta on that subject. "After what happened here today, there is an unlikely chance Mr. Uzumaki is dead!"

"He can't be dead!" Kohta insisted. "There is no way Mr. Uzumaki is dead!"

"We still don't know where he is you idiot," Saya retort. "Sooner or later, Mr. Uzumaki is going ended up getting killed by these monsters like the rest of the teachers."

"Naruto is going to be all right," Shizuka replied. "You see—"

She stops herself. She almost revealed to everyone that Naruto was once a veteran combat soldiers in the Japan's Self-Defense Forces Army. Since coming to Fujimi Academy as guidance counselor, Naruto really didn't want anyone to find out that he was a soldier. Respecting his wishes, Shizuka was careful to maintain his secrecy.

"—a soldier?" Kohta finished the nurse's words, without thinking.

Everyone who heard that looked back and forth to Kohta and Shizuka, confused.

"What do you mean a soldier?" Rei asked, looking puzzled. "Mr. Uzumaki is not a soldier."

The others noticed how nervous Kohta and Shizuka, and Takashi asked "Was our guidance counselor really an ex-soldier."

"Yes—he was," Shizuka admitted. "Naruto was once a member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces Army. He was once part of Special Forces Group."

"Special Forces Group?" Saya repeated, looking surprise. "Are you're telling me Mr. Uzumaki was once a member of the Special Forces Group."

"Special Forces Group?" Takashi repeated. "What's that?"

"It is the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's special forces unit," Saya explained. "It was created by the by the then Defense Agency to counter terrorist activities and deter guerrilla-style attacks on Japanese soil and to conduct military operations against guerrillas or enemy commandos. My dad had hired several former members of the Special Forces Group to serve an elite bodyguard within the family."

"I didn't know Mr. Uzumaki was a former soldier of Japan's Self-Defense Forces Army, especially begin an ex-member of Special Forces Group," says Takashi, who was startled to hear this information about Naruto.

"Neither of us had," says Saeko. "Yet he has good reason to keep it a secret."

Turning to Kohta, Saeko says "Strangely you seem to know about Naruto's former profession."

Kohta got a little nervous and says, "It's a long story."

"A long story is another time," says Kyoko. "Right now, we need to get out of here as soon as possible!"

"But what about Mr. Uzumaki?" Takashi protested. "If he's alive somewhere, we can't just leave without him."

"Don't worry Takashi," says Kohta. "There is no way Mr. Uzumaki would get easily killed!"

"He's right Takashi," Saya agreed. "The guys from Special Forces Group that my dad hired are professional, tough and dangerous. They been referred to as Japan's Green Berets and Delta Force for a reason. If Mr. Uzumaki is a former Special Forces Group, then he's going to be ok."

0o0o0

Gathering their supplies together, the group decided to make their way to the parking lot. However, they knew that getting out the school would not be easy. It was still crawling with Zombies. However, outside the school's limits was their families waiting for them. And there was no way in hell they were not going let these things stands in their way.

While walking through the rooms, hallways and stairs, they noticed a large number of dead bodies, Zombies, lying around, along the way. From the looks of it, it's almost as if someone used a knife and stab their brain, to keep them down for good.

Takashi suspected that Naruto was responsible. It really amazed him that the guidance counselor was really a former member of the Special Forces Group. He recalls his conversations with Naruto. The man was a decent and respectful man, who is willing to listen to everyone. Not to mention having a compassionate side.

And just a few minutes ago, he found out that Naruto was a former soldier for the Japan's Self-Defense Forces Army. He wondered why Naruto kept it a secret. And he wondered why he never mention about it. It was side he never to existed in the guidance counselor.

On their way to the front entrance of the school, the group was alert of a scream from out of nowhere. Looking down below the stairs they see five students struggling on their own against a large number of Zombies. Takashi recognizes some of the students. One was Takuzo, his girlfriend Naomi and Kawamoto. Takashi and the others wasted no time to come to their rescue.

Kota eliminated a couple with his homemade gun from a distance. Takashi, and Saeko fought in close range, killing any zombie they face; Takashi with his baseball bat and Saeko with her wooden sword.

In a matter of minutes, all the Zombies are dead.

"Thank you." One of the girls said with deep relief.

"Have any of you seen Mr. Uzumaki?" Rei asked.

"No, we hadn't," Takuzo replied. "We were too busy fighting for our lives to see any survivors around."

"Did any of you get bitten?" Saeko asked. "These things spread their infection through bites."

"No, none of us had not been bitten or infected," replied Kawamoto.

"Well, if none of you had been bitten then you're welcome to come with us," says Takashi. "We are getting the hell out of here!"

With the two groups of survivors now becoming one, the united made their way to escape the school. The course was very slowing and careful. The last thing they wanted was to catch the dead's attention. Yet, when they reach the stairway, they are forced to stop when they find a group of "them" blocking their way.

"We need to be very careful." Saya warned everyone. "Those things, with their superior hearing, despite their blindness, will be on us before we can escape to the parking lot!"

"Then I guess I'll go first to test this theory of yours!" Takashi offered.

"If you're going then I'm coming with you!" Rei says.

"Me too!" Saeko also volunteers.

"No!" Takashi replied. "I think this can work when I'm alone! Just stay quiet and stay put!"

Takashi stepped down onto the bottom floor. He slowly made his way down the stairs as others all watched from the top of the last flight of stairs. He quietly walked out to the center of the room and began holding his breath as the undead moved past him. One came close enough to nearly bump into him before it slunk past him down a hallway.

From the looks of it, it seems Saya was right. These things were blind. They were using their superior hearing to react to sound, and like a pack of wolves, they hunted for their prey.

It was when Takashi spot an abandoned bloody shoe in the middle of the floor and idea came up. Picking it up, he took aim and threw it down one of the nearby halls managing to land it against an already busted window on one of the classroom doors.

The glass broke from the impact of the shoe and every zombie in the lobby that heard it began moving toward the sound of breaking glass. With the zombies distracted, Takashi waved for the others to come down and join him and they quietly made their way to the front doors of the lobby and out into the courtyard.

Just when they think they're home free—one of the survivor from Takuzo's group, managed to crack his weapon, a metal rod, against the stairway railing. The hollow pipe designs the school used was an excellent conductor of sound and with that simple act the boy had literally rung the dinner bell.

"RUN!" Takashi cried.

They ran as fast as they could while trying their hardest not to be caught and cornered. Yet the Zombies were hot on the trail.

They need to get to the parking lot. To the bus. It's their only chance to survive and escape.

They manage to arrive in the parking lot. And were able to sees the bus from distance. Yet they were a couple of zombies in their way. They had fight their way through to get to the bus.

"Takuzo! Look out!" Kyoko shouted a warning.

It was too late. Takuzo was eventually surrounded by Them. Though he succeeds in killing one of Them, another grabs his sports towel and refuses to let go, causing the boy to drop his bat.

Takuzo tries to punch it away, but it proves unrelenting and bites his arm, followed by another who bites the other arm. Heis tackled to the ground while letting out an agonizing scream.

"No!" Naomi cried out on horror. "Takuzo!"

"Naomi...Run!" Takuzo shouted his last words to his girlfriend before he is overwhelmed.

Yet Takuzo's words didn't seem to reach Naomi. She was about to go to Takuzo's direction when Saya stops her.

"It's too late for him!" Saya says as she tries to stop Naomi from running into her death.

Yet Naomi refuses to leave behind the boy she loved to die. She escaped the Saya's hold and fled to her inevitable death.

"I don't understand it! Why would she go in if she knew he can't save him?" Saya asked herself as she watch the girl run towards the Takuzo's direction.

"Some people would rather die with the ones they love" said Shizuka, understanding the girl's motives. She suddenly thought about Naruto and hope he all right.

Takashi was the first to reach the bus, opening the door before he calls out to Saeko as she kills another zombie along the way.

"Everybody inside!" Shizuka yelled before she turns her full focus on the controls were. "Uhh okay, brake, clutch, gas..."

"Are you sure you know how to drive this vehicle?" Kyoko asked Shizuka, looking at her with a dumbstruck look on her face.

It was when Kohta spots a group of students heading their way, shouting "Hey guys! I think we're about had some company! Look!"

Everyone turns to the direction where Kohta was pointing. They see a group of students heading their way. Rei's eyes widen immediately when she recognizes the one of them: Shido Koichi, the only man she hates in the world.

"Leave him!" Rei suddenly retorts.

"What?" Takashi reacted with confused look on his face.

"Leave him Takashi!" Rei persisted. "He's too dangerous to have with us!"

"Everybody heads to the bus!" Shido shouted as he stopped and let his students go first.

It was without warning, one of the students from Shido's group, who was wearing glasses, tripped on his own feet. He flew into the ground landing next to the Shido's feet.

"I've sprained my ankle!" the boy in glasses cried out, as he grabbed the hem of Shido's pants, "Mr. Koichi! Please help me!"

Shido looked down at the boy in disgust, pushing on the bridge of his glasses he gave the helpless boy an evil grin as he replies, "In this kind of situation there is no need for the weak!"

Pulling his leg away from the boy's grip, Shido then curb stomped the boy in the face breaking his glasses and nose. He then ran towards the bus while the boy he left behind is under the mercy of the hungry Zombies.

Angry that Shido made it, Rei stare at Takashi and says, "You're going to regret this!"

Takashi was still confused of why she hated the man.

"Everybody is in then! Miss Marikawa we can go now!" Saeko said as she motioned the busty blonde doctor to start driving.

Shizuka started the ignition, switching the handle to drive, Shizuka was ready to head out when Kohta suddenly shouted "Hold on! I see Mr. Uzumaki!"

Everyone on the bus look out and see someone still left alive. He was making his way out of school's front door.

The moment Shizuka saw him she almost cried in joy, glad that he was still alive. Unbuckling her seat belt, she jumped out of her seat to make her way to the door but was stopped by Saya and Saeko.

"Miss Marikawa, you can't go out there! It's too dangerous!" Saya warned him.

"But Naruto it out there!" Shizuka persisted in desperation.

"Mr. Uzumaki!" Rei shouted through the window of the bus. "We're over here! Just come to this direction!"

"Leave him!"

Everyone turns to whoever says that. That someone was Shido Koichi.

"What did you just say?" Kyoko reacted with a shocked look on her face.

"I said leave him!" Shido insisted. "He's already dead!'

"What are you talking about?" Kohta angrily responded. "He's out there, alive!"

"I say he's already dead!" Shido raise his tone. "He's been bitten!"

Everyone was stun from what Shido. Begin bitten means you're going to turn into one of Them. Shizuka refused to believe at she retorts "That's not true! Naruto is not infected!"

"She right!" Kyoko agreed with Shizuka. "I was with him, and he was not bitten by any of those things out there when they attack the school!"

"I saw it with my own eyes!" Shido pointed out. "He gotten bitten by one of the monsters!"

"You're lying!" Takashi responded with disbelief. In his mind, it can't be Naruto Uzumaki. Not him! Not him too!

"You don't believe me?" Shido challenge them on the subject. "Asked them! They saw it happen!"

Shido pointed to the students that were with him.

"It's true," says the first student in Shido's group, known as Tsunoda. "Mr. Uzumaki gotten bitten by one of those things."

"Yeah," another student, named Kurokami agreed. "We saw it happened when we were in the school."

"You're lying!" Shizuka responded with a weak defense, paled at this acknowledgment. "You're all lying!"

"Shizuka!" Kyoko sympathized as she knew how the nurse really feels for Naruto.

"It's true we saw him get bit by one of those things! Can we just go now?" One of Shio's students, named Miura, yelled out from the back of the bus.

Shizuka was devastated. Completely devastated. All her life, she was finally having chance with Naruto, and it was not just the sex last night. Deep down, she imagined spending her whole life with him. Now those chances have been thrown out into the window.

Knowing that the infection was inevitable, and there was a powerful chance he might turn and pose a risk for everyone on the bus, a tearfully Shizuka took her seat back and slowly once again started the bus.

She tries to take one last time to look of Naruto. Something inside her tells her not to and keep driving. If she even once looks at him for a mere moment, she will crack and go rush to him anyway.

"Naruto—forgive me!" Shizuka thought with tears as she drives away the mob of zombies, away from the school not looking back. "Forgive me!"