Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Breaking Point ❯ Pieces of a Puzzle ( Chapter 9 )

Breaking Point

 

To warn all of you now so that you're not surprised when it happens, this will be how the rest of the story is written, and all previous chapters are in the process of being rewritten into this format. When they are done and reposted I'll let everyone know, as things will inevitably change because of this.

 

 

P.S. This chapter is kind of dark, and Naruto may seem OOC, but that's the point of it all. Everyone has different sides to them that they rarely show anyone.

 

 

Disclaimer: Since I'm not asleep, the unfortunate answer is that I don't own Naruto in any way, shape, or form.

 

 

Chapter Eight: Pieces of a Puzzle

 

Moving through the trees at a steady pace, Naruto was relieved that this mission had managed to go so smoothly. He'd had this niggling feeling at the back of his mind that something was going to go wrong, but nothing had. Instead they had delivered the list of participating genin to the Mist village for the upcoming Chunnin exams and had left to return to Konoha with no problems. Now they were in the forest surrounding the village and in another hour they would be back home.

 

The thought of being able to relax at his own apartment without the constant worry over the three genin in his charge brought a merry grin to his face as he slowly increased his pace in his hurry to return. A stinging sensation in his neck nearly caused him to stumble and fall from his place in the trees. Clapping a hand to his neck, he stared dumbfounded at the small bug that lay squashed in his palm.

 

Instantly his eyes widened as he felt a feeling of weakness pass through him as his chakra reserves fell sharply. Alarmed at the realization he tried calling the stupid fox to find out what the hell it thought it was doing, but his feeling of dread only worsened when the fox didn't respond to his taunts.

 

Motioning for the three youths to stop his eyes took on a thoughtful gleam as he considered his options. The fact that Kyuubi's chakra had just disappeared bothered him since they'd all used up quite a bit of chakra running through the trees in their hurry to make it home. If they were to get in a fight now, they'd all be in some major trouble especially since the kids had no practical fighting experience. He needed his chakra to protect them but instead it felt like it…had been…sealed.

 

Rapidly flipping through seals, he slammed his bleeding hand down onto a nearby tree branch. A small puff of smoke appeared and he looked down at the small toad perched precariously on the tree limb before him. Crouching down so that he was level with it he whispered quietly. “Gamakichi, I need you to get to Konoha fast. Find Neji and the others and tell them to meet us in the forest just to the west of the village walls okay?” Waiting patiently for the adolescent toad to race off, he turned to look at the three kids once Gamakichi was out of sight.

 

“Something's wrong.” He said in a voice barely louder than a whisper as the severity in his tone grabbed their immediate attention. “From here on, you listen to what I tell you to do. NO arguing with me about anything, understood?” Nodding dumbly, they fell into line behind the blonde as he began to run at a fast pace through the trees back to Konoha.

 

Mentally running through every curse he'd ever heard Kakashi say, his eyes kept a wary look at their surroundings. Opening his senses briefly, he felt reassured at the familiar chakras keeping up with him before he frowned at the unfamiliar ones that were following them at a distance. Unwilling to stop and take the chance that they weren't ANBU he started jumping through the trees faster, apprehension fueling his movements as the chakras behind them slowly closed the distance remaining between the two groups.

 

Holding up a hand in a gesture for the three following him to stop, he hastily performed Kage Bunshin no Jutsu and winced at the noticeable drop in his chakra as three bunshin popped into existence. “Find out who's behind us. If you don't recognize them, then distract them long enough for us to get out of here, got it?” He ordered in a low voice before turning to face the three youths. “As for you three, we need to conserve our chakra so get down to the ground now.”

 

Barely repressing a wince at the reaction his tone earned, he shook it off as he hopped down to the ground with his group. “Ano…What's wrong Sensei?” Looking sharply at Moegi as she nervously voiced the question that had been running through their minds, he sighed before opening his mouth to respond. “We're being foll—.” Cutting himself off abruptly, his face turned pale as he `felt' the presence's of his bunshin vanish as they were dealt with quickly.

 

“Sensei?”

 

“No time! Run!” He yelled as his lips drew together in a grim line. Lagging behind the genin left in his care, his blue eyes hardened with the all too real possibility that they wouldn't make it to the village walls in time. Closing his eyes briefly, he prayed to any god that would listen to him that Gamakichi would find someone in time to help them. “Dammit! Run faster!” His lithe body picked up speed as the genin responded to his command trying to widen the distance between the two groups.

 

Ignoring the errant tree branches that whipped at his unprotected face he quelled his rising panic before anyone could take notice of it. Inhaling sharply he reached into his shuriken holster before spinning around to throw them in the direction of their pursuers. “Where the hell are the ANBU when you need the dumb bastards?” He muttered before his already strained nerves nearly snapped at the sight of his three students stilled forms. “What the hell are you three doing? Did I say you three could stop running?” He snarled before whirling around to deflect the incoming barrage of shuriken and kunai.

 

“Moegi, Udon, Konohamaru, stay behind me and don't get involved in this okay?” Pulling a kunai from his pouch, he held it defensively in his hand as Konohamaru began to protest his orders. “What are you saying! We can't let you fight by yourself.” His body loosened into a fighting stance as he questioned in a somber tone. “Do you trust me?”

 

“Well yeah, but—.” Konohamaru answered wondering where that question had come from.

 

“Then show it by listening to me.” Not waiting for a response, Naruto lunged forward as the first of their attackers appeared from the bushes. The faint streams of sunlight that were able to pierce the forest canopy glinted off of the metal hitai-ate inscribed with a single musical note on its surface. His slight stature proved a blessing, as he was able to outmaneuver the Sound shinobi effortlessly. His fluid movements were like a dance as he put his experience fighting Neji to good use as he dodged or blocked the attacks aimed towards him.

 

Stabbing his kunai into the last of them, his head snapped up at the panicked yell behind him. Cursing vehemently as another one slipped out of the bushes close to his genin, he concentrated a quick burst of chakra in his feet to reach them first. His chakra nearly depleted from that, he was too slow in raising his blood stained kunai to block the incoming attack.

 

He stubbornly pushed away the blinding pain that threatened to overwhelm his senses from the sword wound on his stomach. Twisting his body, he bit his lip at the burning sensation his movements caused as he evaded yet another attack. Worry swelled as the flow of blood from his wound steadily increased from his attempts to protect the three behind him. Hissing as the sword pierced his shoulder, he immediately swung the hand holding the kunai up and felt a vicious sort of satisfaction when his kunai met flesh.

 

Lashing out with his foot he sent the other man sprawling to the forest floor as he pulled the sword out of his shoulder. Grasping it uneasily in one hand, he swung it down to point threateningly at the unprotected throat. “Why did you attack us?” He asked, his breathing harsh from both the exertions of the fight and his nearly nonexistent chakra. A vein in his forehead bulged unpleasantly as he met the fallen man's stubborn eyes. “You can tell me now and I'll kill you quickly.” He said his blue eyes holding a hostile gleam in them. “Or your other option is that I take you back to Konoha and you can tell Morino Ibiki.”

 

His mouth stretched into a triumphant smirk as first recognition of the name dawned in the other's eyes than full-blown panic set in. “You're in Orochimaru-sama's way.” The man finally spat out, tossing a hate-filled glare up at the petite blonde whom simply nodded in acknowledgement. “You three” he said quietly. “Turn around.” Waiting for the sounds of the three turning around, he struck hard with the sword in his hand, watching impassively as the red blood pooled on the forest floor. Leaning down, he removed the hitai-ate adorning the dead man's arm before straightening and tucking it into one of his pockets.

 

A low moan escaped his lips as the pain and exhaustion slammed into him forcing him to one knee. Grimacing, he pulled a couple of bandages from his pouch and hastily fixed them around his wounds before forcing himself back to his feet. Ignoring the worried looks aimed at him; he started to walk off in the direction of the village. “We need to keep moving. I doubt that was the last of them.” He tossed over his shoulder, his words causing them to follow behind him quietly.

 

Coming to a small clearing, he paused for a moment to look up at the sun guessing at the time from the sun's position in the afternoon sky. Casting a glance behind him, he hid a small smile at the three lying haphazardly on the leaf covered ground. Sobering his mind wandered to the Sound shinobi that had ambushed them only fifteen minutes earlier and where the rest of their group could be hiding. Discreetly feeling his wounds, he made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat as his hand came back coated with a sticky layer of blood.

 

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he blinked his eyes rapidly trying to dispel the black spots dancing in his blurry vision. Shaking his head with a barely audible sigh, he tilted his head to look back at his charges that were still resting on the ground. “Time to go.” He said gently his expressive blue eyes taking in the weary look on their young faces as they slowly pulled themselves off of the ground to trudge along behind him.

 

Absently winding his way through the thick foliage, his mind wandered to thoughts of Gamakichi and whether the small toad had found his way to Konoha. The forest had never seemed so threatening before, and idly he wondered if this was how Kakashi-nii had felt all those times they themselves were in trouble. Hiding a wince as he felt a fresh trickle of blood slide its way down his body, he felt increasingly thankful that his clothing was now black instead of the garish orange.

 

Hearing a branch snap behind them, he held one hand above his holster as he peered into the darkened foliage surrounding them. Sapphire orbs widened in fear as his ears caught faint whispering from the underbrush even as he shouted out in alarm. “Get out of the way!” Throwing themselves to the ground, they looked up to see a large ball of fire hit the place they had just vacated. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a small pill before popping it into his mouth and swallowing it dry.

 

Stretching his fingers as he felt the effects of his only soldier pill lift his chakra levels to a manageable amount, he squeezed Konohamaru's shoulder soothingly as he stood up from their place on the ground. “Jump back into the trees and stay there, the second I finish this.” He murmured quietly as his hands flowed smoothly into familiar seals as he called out. “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!”

 

Mentally calculating the time they'd spent running in the forest, he figured that it had been close to forty-five minutes since he'd sent Gamakichi for help. Staying hidden behind a tall tree, he watched closely as his bunshin were one by one being popped out of existence. His eyes began to feel heavy as he called up more Kage Bunshin and his chakra levels began to drop again. Hoping that the sounds of fighting would draw the attention of anyone in the area, he continued to use his Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, steadfastly ignoring the alarming rate at which his chakra was diminishing as the fight wore on.

 

Tightening the bandages around his still bleeding injuries, he stepped out from behind the protection of the tree he was using as shelter. Looking up with what he hoped was a comforting face, his heart sank at the frightened faces hiding up in the trees. Tearing his gaze away, he looked apprehensively towards the area where the last of his bunshin were putting in a valiant fight.

 

“Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.” He said under his breath as he threw the last of his shuriken towards the two shinobi advancing on him. Easing into his taijutsu stance, he gathered himself mentally before charging in to fight again. Knocking one of them unconscious he turned to face the last one when he was met with a fist. Flying back he slammed into a nearby tree with a sickening crunch as his arm snapped behind him. Sliding slowly to the ground, his vision turned blurry as he tried franticly to force his body to move. A large hand reached down to grab the collar of his shirt before lifting him up into the air. Cerulean eyes glaring defiantly at the man holding him, Naruto's shoulders sagged in relief as familiar voices could be heard coming close.

 

“Naruto!”

 

His friends were finally here.

 

TBC…

 

And that would be all for right now. I need to sort out the rest of what's going to happen and I really wanted to post this to let you all know I'm still alive so there you go.