Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Chronicles of a Self-Made Shinobi ❯ Spelunking (4) ( Chapter 8 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Chronicles of a Self-Made Shinobi: Spelunking (chap.4)

Lee sat outside of the cave entrance staring off into the darkness, never once taking his eyes off the gloom. Kakashi was leaning against a tree, reading his book, but couldn't help glancing at the entrance every once and awhile.

Suddenly the cave let out a monstrous roar, as if all the winds had gathered inside and started churning. Lee felt the cave drawing him inside and he stood up, alarmed.

“Kakashi-sensei, what's happening?”

Kakashi snapped his book shut and appeared beside Lee. Together, they waited.

Minutes ticked by into hours, and the sound in the cave refused to cease its thunder. Kakashi was considering going inside when a figure appeared at the entrance and stumbled forward. Shikamaru raised his dirt streaked face. “Quick, take her to the hospital!”

Lee rushed forward and took Kumiko off Shikamaru's back and bolted into the forest toward town. Kakashi supported Shikamaru on his shoulder.

“Wait…” Shikamaru fumbled for the scroll that was crumpled in his pocket. He drew a symbol on it with the blood off his lips.

Immediately the cave stopped its noises and the forest was silent. Shikamaru sighed.

Kumiko woke to white hospital walls. This seems familiar, she thought.

Beside her, Lee and Shikamaru were playing Shogi, and Kakashi was snoring on the windowsill.

“Lee…could you be any worse at this game?” Shikamaru asked, bored.

Lee sulked and turned to check on Kumiko. He leapt up when he saw her looking at him, overturning the table so the pieces scattered to the floor. He hugged her tightly and wet the sleeve of her shirt with his tears.

Kakashi startled awake. “Oh, it looks like you're all better,” he said and smiled.

“Did it work?” she asked.

Shikamaru nodded. “The graveyard was totally cleaned out. I informed the Waterfall leader about the ore deposit and he immediately assembled his people to mine it. He also said he would install a pipe system that directs all the emitted chakra and anything else outside and away from the town.”

Kumiko nodded.

“It's a mission complete. The Fifth was notified.”

“I want to go back to Konoha,” Kumiko said, laying back down on the bed.

Shimakaru nodded, “Me too.”

The Waterfall provided a cart and escort back to the village. Kumiko rode on the edge again, the same way she did when she returned from the Sand. She could hardly contain herself on the way home. This would be twice she returned victorious, her dream was so much closer.

Lee made her and Shikamaru tell the story, obviously so he could spread it around town. Kumiko learned that Shikamaru carried her all the way out of the cave on his back. He had to tie a rope around them, so she wouldn't be sucked away. He made his journey back seem easy, but she knew differently. He had to climb back out of the pit with her on his back. She promised herself that Konoha would know this fact, along with the rest of the story. ..

“I win,” she said after the twelfth time she and Shikamaru played Shogi.

Shikamaru snapped out of his lazy trance with the clouds and stared down at the board. “You…what?”

She smiled. “I…W-i-n,” she spelled for him.

His mouth dropped in shock. She knew she hadn't really won, he was just distracted during this game. But she wasn't about to let it go.

He grumbled and turned away from her. He covered his mouth to keep the smile off of his lips. He wasn't about to let her have the satisfaction of seeing that smile.

“Ch, sooooo troublesome,” he said, and watched the Waterfall's trees lazily pass them by, then change into Konoha's.