Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Crossing to the Other side ❯ Bath Blunder ( Chapter 4 )

The Village Hidden in the Sound

 

Sasuke was still mulling over this strange girls reactions two days after her arrival. He watched her interact with Kakashi and Naruto a small smile for them, Sakura she was wary of, the two women kept their distance from one another without appearing to obvious and for him she reserved a special aloofness he knew himself to exude.

 

“Sasuke-kun would you like to go to that restaurant we passed, I hear it has some of the best fried squid?” The sugary sweetness Sakura normally addressed him with was absent and she wasn't looking at him so much as watching Kat who Naruto was trying to engage in conversation. He was watching the girl to, she was acting like she had never seen a village before in her life and the way she avoided contact with the residents was giving him a funny feeling like he had seen it before but from someone else.

“Hn.” Grunting at her in response he knew she would brush the slight off she always did, and they were both to wrapped up in keeping an eye on Naruto and the girl that Kakashi had to ask twice if they wanted to eat or not.

“Hey you two pull it in. He can take care of himself sometimes.” His visible eye smiling at them.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, “Whatever.” Sakura blushed.

“Hai-sensei.”

Kakashi was just as interested in the girl's reactions as his teammates were; he liked to think he was better at concealing though since he had years of experience doing just that. The pages of his book fluttered in the breeze and deciding it was easier to walk without trying to read he put the book away.

“Alright every body lets find a hotel for the night then we head out in the morning to finish mapping the rest of our section.” Leading the way to the Inn district they found one place that was suitable it had a bath albeit public but it was enough to make Sakura sigh in anticipation and Naruto to grin even wider.

 

 

 

Kat reclined in the hot water of the bath the pink haired girl was with her the men opting to wait until the girls were finished, at the time Naruto grumbled loudly about the injustice arguing that it was a public bath. Sakura being quick to correct his objections with a smack to the top of his head raising a large bump, smiled a warning at him, he would be a fool to ignore. Kat had covered her laughter with a choking cough turning her head while the others just looked on bored. By that time she was accustomed to the seeming ritual, Naruto would say something stupid and one of two things would happen, either Sasuke would call him a baka/ursatonchi or Sakura would smack him in the head or some body part and call him a baka. Kakashi was the only one she had yet to see do anything to the blonde. His friends seemed to have the retribution well in hand.

Leaning on the edge of the pool steam rising all around her she sank lower into the water and reflected on the journey, the three were to all appearances taking in there surroundings and making notes on scrolls which at the end of the day they combined the information each had gathered and put it on the scroll that Sasuke carryed.

The task had the group splitting up during the day which surprised her that they left her at their base camp as each went off in different directions. She suspected that it was during those times they made contact with Bethany and her resentment grew, but she masked it carefully when they returned at varying intervals. She guessed it was to make sure she was still where they left her. Sakura interrupted her musings.

“So, Katsuo-san,” Her eyes lifted to Sakura lazily she was so heavy right now she could fall asleep in the heated water it felt so pleasant, “Who taught you to fight like that?” Sakura's voice was pleasant, light, trustingly soothing.

“My sensei, my parents don't like the idea but don't really care as long as it keeps me in hand they think it antiquated my training.” She grinned at the other girl she didn't know why she hadn't trusted her sooner, as a matter of fact she was a good friend after all what did it matter if she knew what her life was like. “But they don't know I am planning on leaving anyway I wont marry that foul git even to help father, Bethany wants him that's why!” her voice rose on the last, she didn't see Sakura flinch as she continued.

“Oi the bastard thinks I'm a baka but I know. They think I don't but I do.”

“What's that?” Pink hair came into view as Sakura moved closer to her. She could see the other woman clearly now, and yes she could feel concern flowing off Sakura as she leaned against the side of the pool as well. So she felt safe in tell her a few things.

Kat blinked what was she doing, she shouldn't be telling the other girl anything, was she crazy if Bethany figured out she had figured out what was going on she would be stuck and tomorrow was her birthday she had to, what?? She couldn't remember her mind felt fuzzy and all she wanted to do was go to sleep.

“Nothing never mind just..tired.” Her eyes drifted shut and she was asleep before she even finished.

“Damn it!” Sakura hissed her jutsu had worked but the girl fell asleep before she found out anything that would help them solving this.

Standing she wrapped her towel around her body, she couldn't leave Kat but she didn't want to wake the girl either the little she had learned was disturbing but she knew from experience that there were still arranged marriages and some clans didn't allow women to fight or even learn shinobi skills but this girls level of skill and chakra control rivaled her own, it was a shame, she wanted to help her but she was not naive any more she had more questions and she wondered who her sensei was.

Going into the locker room she found a large robe and dressing quickly leaving her boots and shingaurds off she stepped back into the water and put the robe on the younger woman tying it in the front, now she just had to get her up to the room they were sharing. Sakura not being weak by any stretch of the term wasn't looking forward to carrying her companion upstairs; she was standing over her looking at Kat debating on what to do when her solution walked into the men's locker room.

“Naruto.” She called to her teammate said blonde visibly cringed.

“Oi, Sakura-chan , gomen I thought you guys were gone.” He kept his back turned to her and Sakura felt guilty for all the times she whacked him for appearing to be a pervert.

“Its ok Naruto I need your help.” He didn't turn around but she saw the blush on the back of his neck. “NOT That you Baka.” A whoosh of air from his lungs was her only answer from the blonde.

“Katsuo-san fell asleep before I could finish questioning her I need you to carry her up to our room.” This time his whole body turned scarlet and his hands were clenched into fists.

“But Sakura-chan, she's naked.” He whispered, Sakura's eyes widened so he was worried about that, coming to a decision she took her revenge on him for the village strumpet from earlier.

“I'm going to my room so hurry up.” Pretending not to hear his whispered protest she used the seals to poof out reappearing in their room and struggling not to laugh manically, a knock on the door grabbed her attention but before she could answer it was pushed open to reveal Sasuke.

“What are you laughing about? And why did you use a jutsu to get up here?” His expression was stern but she grinned evilly back at him.

“I just left Naruto down stairs with Katsuo-san in the bath.” Her laughter bubbled up and she clutched her stomach bending forward tears streaming down her face.

“What? Why?” He was turning to leave when Sakura grabbed his arm stopping him.

“He thinks she's naked!” She was laughing so hard now her body was shaking as she fought to keep the sound down low enough. Sasuke's eyes widened ever so slightly.

“I take it she's not then?” His dry tone had no effect on her and he could just guess why.

“N-No!” Sakura had stepped back from him releasing his arm to lean against the wall. Sasuke shook his head, yes this was punishment Sakura style for the stalker girl two days ago he had to give it to her though the blonde was probably standing there right now confused and embarrassed while trying to work out a way out of his current problem.

“Well did you find anything out?” he asked moving on. Sakura shook her head answering, “Not really I want to wait for Kakashi and Naruto so I don't have to repeat myself.” He nodded his head.

“Alright, I'll get Kakashi, Naruto will get here eventually.” A smirk crossed his lips, the blonde was definitely paying for the incident.

 

 

 

Naruto felt his body temperature jack up several degrees and not from the stream and heat from the bath, his towel was trying to tent in the front the whole time he was talking to Sakura, he really thought they weren't in the bath anymore, seeing as how 3 hours was long enough in his mind and then to have them still there one asleep on top of that! Sakura told him to bring Kat up stairs but he was basically naked him self with only a towel for cover.

`What am I supposed to do?' His baser instincts were screaming at him to do what any 17 year old male would do but his calmer self was telling him to close his eyes and find a robe or towel to cover the girl up then take her up stairs. His own modesty was telling him he needed to cover up as well, then an idea hit him,

“Tajjuu Kage Bushin no Jutsu.” Two clones popped into existence “Ok you go find out if she's naked you go get a really big towel or robe.” After giving the order he grinned at his own cleverness he could safely gather his information and not have to worry he had his hands behind his head grinning when he heard a splash, spinning around he saw one of his clones climbing out of the water dripping wet but before it could make it out of the water a flash of white and tan skin tackled the clone sending them both back in the water, steam clouded his vision and water sloshed his feet and he felt when the clone popped, releasing the jutsu on the other he started forward. Kat was sputtering in the center of the pool red hair hanging in her face Hazel eyes flashing, the robe she was wearing sagging open in the front she was glaring daggers into the water around her not seeing him standing on the side watching her.

“WHERE ARE YOU,YOU BAKA?!” she shouted, Naruto knew who she was talking about it was him, thinking quickly he spoke praying the girl hadn't got a good look at the clone.

“Are you ok Katsuo-san?” She blinked up at him red hair shoved out of her face tucked behind her ears while her bangs dripped in her eyes. Her eyebrows drew together sharply as she took in his appearance. He was dry as a bone the bandana he and the others wore gone his shaggy blonde bangs hanging down, blue eyes regarding her with concern. She tilted her head down slightly and to one side slanting her eyes up at him.

“What are you doing here?” She growled at him still suspicious, he grinned rubbing the back of his head.

“I came down to get in the bath, I didn't know you were still in here sorry.” His smile faltered as she continued to scowl at him, anger written in every line of her stance it didn't help his train of thought that her robe parted open like that exposing skin and cleavage, she must have realized what he was staring at and looking down her body turned bright red she clutched the robe closed.

`Damn.' He thought then immediately grimaced `Now I'm starting to act like the pervert.' Kat was glaring a hole at some point just beyond and over his head.

“Fine, whatever.” Still clutching the robe front sloshing though the water to the steps at the side using her other hand to keep the robe from floating up and reveling more of her to the boy.

She had to appreciate his body though, it was finely muscled broad chest and flat stomach tapering at the hips a trail of darker blonde hair disappeared under the towel he was wearing and his legs. `WOW!' her mind screamed this was so unfair on so many levels damn Bethany for her cruelty. And to be woken up by some stranger groping her was bad enough especial when the person she thought she had knocked down INTO the water was standing on the side dry, it was mortifying.

Climbing the steps leading out of the water she kept her back straight once she was high enough out of the water she didn't have to worry about the robe floating up revealingly, she let go of it, unfortunately it was longer then she realized hanging past her feet now that it was free of the water, stepping on the front edge of it she would have face planted on the stones but instead her forehead was pressed to a warm chest, her eyes moved forward to note a sprinkling of fine blonde hair strong hands were holding her arms. Noting the same sprinkling of fine blonde hair on his forearms `Natural blonde.' whispered in her mind and a giggle threatened to break loose.

Before she could push off from him though he stood her back up pink on his cheeks, her right hand was still pressed to his stomach just above the towel, they stared at each other for several long minutes hazel eyes unable or more to the point unwilling to look away fromr the most stunning pair of blue eyes she had ever seen in her life, before reality crashed on her head with a vengeance and she snatched her hand back like it was on fire.

“Oh Shit, sorry, sorry!” she stammered out drawing back, she dodged around him before he could open his mouth and was dressed and up the stairs while he was still standing by the bath a glazed look to his eyes the bath completely forgotten.

 

 

 

 

 

“Naruto why?” Kakashi stared at his old student who was wearing a shade of pink close to Sakura's hair color as he told them what happened at the bath. Kat had returned sometime before grumbling about being groped by a certain blonde her face crimson and her hair wrapped in a towel.

“I didn't it was a clone.” He turned innocent, embarrassed eyes on his teammates hoping they would understand.

“And How exactly isn't it your fault, baka?” Sasuke asked. He knew his friend could be an idiot but did he really think they would fall for that innocent act.

“Don't call me that, I didn't know he would grab her…” he trailed off turning redder.

“What did you tell them to do exactly?” Kakashi asked patiently.

“I told them to see if she was naked.” Sakura glared at the cowering blonde as she stood over him steam rising around her.

“HOW CAN YOU BE SO STUPID!!” she shouted

“Now Sakura, its really not his fault if he didn't specify How to find out.” She turned her ire on her former sensei and with a coldness that was frightening raised a fist at the both of them.

“That Is NO Excuse!” The boy flinched at her words trying desperately to sink into the floor while the silver haired Jounin took a step back from the irate medic.

“Gomen Sakura-chan.” Holding his hands over his head hoping against hope she wont resort to violence.

“Its not me you should apologize to Ass!” she turned her attention back to him and pointed out the door. “Katsuo-san is downstairs at the restaurant.” The look she directed at him told him in no uncertain terms that he better not do anything else to the girl. Scrambling up from the floor Naruto ran out of the room like the devil himself were chasing him, Sakura smirked turning back to her remaining teammates a fire in her green eyes. The look made even the cool exterior of the Uchiha draw away from her.

“Sakura what are you planning?” Kakashi asked leery of her now.

“Nothing.” She answered innocently while rubbing her hands together, it severed the dobe right she was going to enjoy his squirming for a little while longer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kat was currently sitting in the aforemented restaurant a bottle of sake sitting in front of her that some man ordered for her. Having to get back in her dirty clothes before getting the chance to wash them was bad enough especial after Sakura had promised to loan her a change of clothes so she could it was made worse since the guy who decided to gift her with sake was trying to talk to her. She didn't mind at first and even refused the drink but he insisted going so far as to sit down beside with another cup and proceeded to fill them both. She gritted her teeth the mans black hair was spiked up and he had a scar that ran down the middle of his face from right temple to the left side of his jaw, the tissue of the scar pulled his lip up at the corner making it look like he was sneering.

“So you here by your self?” he attempted to sound suave she rolled her eyes thinking `Oooh That was smooth.' He took he silence as an affirmative putting his arm behind her resting it along the chair back.

“Drink with me its rude if you don't.” dull brown eyes winked at her and the smell of alcohol made her wrinkle her nose.

“No thanks, I don't drink.” His hand touched her shoulder in an attempt to pull her close when another voice she recognized spoke.

“She said no.” Naruto smiled down at the man before picking up the bottle and taking a pull from it. “ But I don't mind.” The man looked at him with clouded eyes and she could tell he was trying to work out in his stupor whether to attack or not. She didn't want a fight and so opted for a little deception.

“Oh honey, I'm glad you found me I was waiting for you so we could head back home.” Taking the hint Naruto helped her up from her chair putting an arm around her waist as she leaned into him. The man drawing his own conclusions about them stood and moved away mumbling an apology. The pair headed to the door still locked together, once they were outside Naruto released her a blush heating his face and hers.

“Thanks.” She whispered looking straight ahead. He rubbed the back of his head a grin on his face one she was starting to see was a habit for him.

“Don't worry about it, you'd have done the same.” She arched an eyebrow at him and he laughed, “Well maybe not the exact same thing.” They walked down the road for a little ways in silence before Kat's curiosity got the better of her.

“So what were you doing there?” The sun was setting behind them and it lit his hair up giving it the appeance of a halo and casting his face in semi-shadow.

“I was looking for you.” His half grin told her was nervous and she caught her self staring at his profile. “I wanted to apologize about the bath.” She stopped then and turned to face him fully.

“What do'ya mean, it wasn't your fault?” Both eyebrows were raised now and she was looking at him intently as the blush on his face grew and he was rubbing the back of his head so much she wondered if he would rub it bald. When he didn't answer she turned and continued walking back to the Inn. He let her get ahead of him before jogging to catch up.

“Tomorrow's my birthday.” She announced after more silence, Naruto tripped and almost fell on her doing a little hop skip to avoid the collision. She glanced at him as he caught his balance again.

“I'll be 18.” Her voice was deadpan like she was handing out a death-sentence. He knew how that felt he didn't normally celebrate his birthday either, it was then he grasped what she was saying and his eyes grew wide as he meet her gaze.

“Tomorrows my 18th birthday too!” He was grinning at her like a fool and Kat furrowed her brow deciding if he was lying or not. His smile was too sincere and honest and she could tell that he wasn't lying how she knew that was hard for her to describe she just did. He was already moving on excitedly.

“ We can celebrate together, I've never had a birthday with some one else this'll be great!” his enthusasium was hard to ignore and Kat found her self grinning back at him.

 

Back at the Inn Sakura was explaining to Kakashi and Sasuke what she had discovered so far and how she planed to find out more, she was going to use the same jutsu since the other woman seemed to respond so well to it other then falling asleep at the end.

“Ok you know what to do Naruto should be here any minute with Katsuo-san, Sasuke-kun?” she looked at him questioningly he rolled his eyes at her but left to get the Dobe before he walked into the jutsu Sakura prepared. Kakashi took his spot just outside the window clinging to the wall via chakra to the bottoms of his feet. Several seconds later Kat walked in the room oblivious to the trap set for her, she was already groggy and tired but for some reason it got worse once she was in the room, she saw Sakura-san sitting on one of the two beds in the room yawning.

“Ohayo Katsuo-san.” Sakura yawned again and lay back on her bed folding her arms behind her head.

“Kat please I like that better.” Kat yawned she felt fuzzy and making her way to her bed she lay down as well, she did however want to talk to Sakura having the overwhelming urge to tell the other girl everything.

“Sakura-san I like you, your nice I don't know a lot of ni—yawn-ce people.” Sakura watched the girl under her eyelashes it was working `CHA! I knew it would!' inner Sakura shouted.

“Really?” She asked in a cajoling tone.

“Yeah, my father and mother want to be rid of me if I don't marry tomorrow they'll kill me.” A giggle bubbled from the other girl and Sakura looked at her a single tear was trailing down one cheek, which surprised her.

“Well I guess they will miss you after all,” She was cut off abruptly by a harsh laugh coming from Kat.

“No they really wont, but I know why, I know why,” the girl repeated herself and Sakura felt a chill go up her spine whose parents would do that. “I have something that makes them afraid of me something they want to control by Jesise-kun.” Her lips curled back from her teeth in a feral snarl. Sakura wanted to keep the jutsu going but was afraid of what would happen if she pushed the other girl this turn of events was unnerving.

“So who was your sensei?” she asked directing the others attention to something less likely to waken the girl from her jutsu.

“Oh,” her forehead scrunched as she concentrated she didn't really want to talk about him he was a pain in the ass and it was his fault she was in this little game of Bethany's. Sakura watching her saw the struggle on her face now she was really curious she was fighting the jutsu every time she brought up the girls sensei and acting on a hunch she stood up walked over to the other girl and pushing chakra into her hands held them over the girls head, Kat's eyes were closed so she didn't see Sakura standing over her. She was feeling more and more sleepy, a warm pleasant lasatude was soaking into her brain and sleep was keeping her eyes from opening.

Pushing gently into Kat's mind Sakura found a barrier of the girl's own making, it was solid and pushed back against her intrusion, concentrating harder and focusing her chakra to a thin needle she put slightly more pressure behind her push and made it passed the barrier into the girls when something happened. Pain laced back to Sakura and she cried out as she was flung backward the jutsu dispelled instantly. Kakashi jumped though the window and caught Sakura before she hit the wall Sasuke and Naruto rushed into the room at the flair of chakra. Kat's eyes flew open flashing red up at the ceiling her back arched off the bed and she screamed once before falling back on the bed a wall of black energy circling her obscuring her completely from view.

“SAKURA-Chan!” Naruto shouted looking at the pink haired kunichi. She was shaking in Kakashi's arms so much he was worried his visible eye wide. Sasuke activated his Sharingan and looked at the black energy surrounding the girl on the bed Kakashi raised his forehead protector and studied the mass as well.

 

Inside the black wall Kat's body lay prone on the bed but in her mind she was looking at the man that started this mess she was in.

“Ryuu Katsuo you were sent here to help.” She stared hard at her sensei a thousand names for him sprang to mind.

“Hold it RIGHT THERE!” she shouted at him it didn't even faze him.

“What the HELL are you talking about?” The white haired man regarded her levelly before speaking.

“I did not put all of the information in the seal I placed on you before sending you back but I will now give you the information that I do have. You are of this world and existence, 18 years ago a great demon attacked the village of Konoha the Yodamine of the village gave his life to save his home at great cost not only to himself but his son.” As the man spoke images flashed though her mind of things she had never seen a huge animal with nine tails and the face of a fox with long ears stood tall above trees its snarling was deafening and a man in a white coat with blonde hair stood atop a huge frog facing the animal. Other images followed and her sensei continued, “ His son holds the seal of the great beast but his life was not the only child's life to be altered that night on that night with the sealing of the Kyuubi another newborn infant was forced out of this plane and into another.” More images flashed and she saw herself as a baby, “Though this plane and the other are not linked it was your body and existence being forced into another that opened this gateway it has since sealed back. You are now in the plane you were born to but you must help the Kyuubi vessel.” She stumbled back falling on her butt hard and stared up at the man in front of her confused and angry.

“What. IN.THE.HELL. HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!” she was screaming her throat hurt and her head was pounding again.

“You must find this young man, help him to fulfill his destiny to be Hokage, you will not be able to return to your family in the other plane with the last of my power I sent you home to Konoha and have died in the process. You have family in Konoha who will love you and watch over you as you have always wished U,” he didn't finish her body shook she felt pain and clutched her head again coming back to consciousness slowly reluctantly.

 

Just as suddenly as the wall of black energy appeared it was gone revealing Kat lying on the bed her face white her breathing shallow, everyone's eyes widened Sasuke blinked his coal black eyes deactivating his Sharingan as Kakashi covered his. Sakura moved to examine the girl cautiously she had recovered quickly from the attack almost as soon as the black disappeared and that worried her she filed it to the back of her mind for later study.

20 minutes later she was sitting on her bed again her team was sitting on the floor and the one chair in the room, she was shaking her head.

“Well she's breathing but I don't know What happened, when I pushed into her mind at first I hit a rather good barrier then once I got passed that just before this flash of light I saw what looked like a seal.” Naruto sitting on the floor beside the girls bed raised understanding eyes to look at Sakura he understood the implications the best and for a brief moment Sakura could see the haunted look deep in his blue eyes and she cringed inward.

“Why did you push into her mind in the first place?” Sasuke demanded quietly she made a face at him, “ Because I am trained on how to and I was going to do it anyway.” Kakashi raised his hands before Sasuke could argue further.

“Sakura can handle herself Sasuke, she is a trained Medic-nin,” Sakura gloated, “But Sakura this was dangerous and you should have waited until you had help. What would have happened if you where hurt or worse killed it was stupid and could have hurt the team.” She flinched and looked down no matter how old they got Kakashi's criticism meant a lot to all of them more so since Sasuke's return 3 years prior.

“Hai- sensei.” She blushed pink on her cheeks composed herself and looked back up. “I agree it was a bad idea to do it here but I felt this needed to be done before we return to Konoha.” Her voice firm she meet his gaze evenly the strong kunichi shining though.

“In that case its good we'll be heading back tomorrow morning then.” He smiled at them though his mask Naruto whooped jumping up startling them.

“Naruto you Baka.” Sakura growled at him. Sasuke grunted at the boy but a smile tugged on his lips.

“Well go get some sleep we head out early.” Kakashi left the room, Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto looked at each other the grin on the blondes face making the other two reluctantly smile back at him.

“Why are you so happy ,dobe.” Sasuke asked his face returning to its normal stoic expression.

“Katsuo-san's birthday is tomorrow!” Both blinked at the blonde shinobi.

“When did you find that out?” Sakura was stunned she had had no idea but it didn't surprise her that Naruto could get that kind of information people just opened up to him excepting him as a friend without almost any thought and she envied him that but was also glad he could since his childhood had been so rough.

“Earlier before we got back!” His grin widened before falling into a worried expression.

“What's the matter?” She demanded seeing the stricken look.

“I haven't got her anything yet.” And with that he sped out of the room in search of a gift. Sakura fell over in shock only he would worry about some thing like that after everything else, beside her she could hear Sasuke choking a laugh back without much success and mutter dobe under his breath before leaving to follow the blonde.

Sakura pushed her self up and glanced at the sleeping girl across from her, she would sleep peacefully enough and be able to travel with them tomorrow provided nothing else happened.

Sakura shrugged her shoulders easing back onto her bed and closing her eyes she would worry about tomorrow, tomorrow all she wanted to do now was sleep and get back in a few days to get Tsunade-sama's opinion on this whole affair. She yawned turned on her side and fell into a peaceful sleep.