Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Chronicles of a Self-Made Shinobi ❯ Trouble at the Mist (2) ( Chapter 13 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Chronicles of a Self-Made Shinobi: Trouble At the Mist (chap 2)

An hour later Kumiko met Shino outside the gates of Konoha, lugging two large suitcases in addition to her backpack.

“You brought too much,” Shino stated.

She frowned at him. “Who knows what kind of spells that door or whatever has got on it. I had to bring everything I thought I would need. That's a lot of stuff.”

He didn't answer and instead picked up the heavier suitcase and began to walk down the path. Kumiko ran after him.

“Arigat..."

“The Fifth sent me along with Kakashi-sensei because I am the strongest and most skilled tracker on my team," Shino said, interrupting her. "This was one week ago. Once there, it wasn't hard to find the entrance to the rebel group, but it was blocked. Not just by a spell, but other things as well. I searched for another entrance but there was none.”

“You and Kakashi-sensei? Odd combination…hmm…was it so hard that the great Shino couldn't figure it out. I heard you're pretty strong. Heh heh, how does it feel to…”

Shino turned and glared at her and she backed away.

The Hidden Village of the Mist was a few days away. Shino didn't talk much, so Kumiko enjoyed the fresh air. It felt good after so many days fixing Mikomi. She couldn't wait to take her out for a ride again.

While daydreaming, Kumiko slowed down, and when she looked up again Shino was standing in the distance staring at her. She ran up to him. “Gomen…I was daydreaming.”

He humphed and turned around.

“Ne, Shino-kun. What's wrong?”

“Nothing. ”

She put her arm around his shoulder. “Don't be so dry Shino-kun! Learn to have fun!” she rubbed her knuckles on the top of his head.

His eyebrows twitched and his face turned pink. “Don't do that.”

He shrugged her off and continued walking. Kumiko couldn't help but laugh and follow after him.

The sun set and they stopped for the night. Shino set up a tent while Kumiko rummaged through the things in her bag.

“You should start a fire,” he told her, rolling out his sleeping bag.

She grinned and pulled out a small metal sheet and laid it under some logs on the ground. “Give me your hand.” She grabbed Shino's hand and placed it on the sheet, fire sparked to life in the logs and she removed it. “Easy,” she said, satisfied.

Shino stared at it.

“Shino-kun…let go of my hand?”

The sky darkened and the night grew cold. Shino had fallen asleep inside the tent, but Kumiko was awake and wandering the clearing. Something felt odd. She peeked out of the bushes down the quiet path; nothing was making a sound. Carefully, she placed her bag on the ground and pulled out a small metal rod. Her fingers smudged it's perfect surface and she held it in the palm of her hand.

Footsteps sounded from down the path. She fell to the ground and watched cautiously, waiting. They grew heavier, then softer, and she couldn't tell if they were coming toward her or away. When she was about to return to the camp there was a voice by her ear.

“Tricked you.”

She whipped her head around just before there was a sharp pain in the back of her head, then nothing.