Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Crossing to the Other side ❯ Escape ( Chapter 5 )

Land of Waves

Sunlight flittered though dappled leaves a small brook bubbled running its coarse in the silence of the woods, birds sang there songs and other wilds animals scrounged and forged for food all was peaceful and calm the wind moved the trees branches.

Dark clouds gathered overhead suddenly blocking out the suns rays a chill filled the area, the birds where silent huddled in their nests, and all other wild creatures ran away or hid. The air pressure shuddered as something immense and powerful shifted and shoved itself into existence. The trees on the edges bent backwards like a giant was pushing them away, the wind whipped and howled and at the last second just before the trees themselves would have snapped under the pressure they swung back forcefully as the sudden change in pressure disappeared and in the center of the clearing kneeling in a small depression was a hooded and cloaked figure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inn The Next Morning

Kat woke to the worst headache in her life, the pressure sat above her right eye and radiated to the back of her skull. She lay for several seconds keeping her brain from formulating any coherent thoughts so as not to tax her already aching mind rubbing, her temples she sat up slowly and immediately regretted it. Her stomach roiled and she bent forward her face in her hands her forearms resting on her legs fighting the urge to vomit from the pain in her skull and groaned.

“I guess I don't need to ask how you feel this morning?” in response Kat groaned again managing a disgusted glare for Sakura. She didn't know why or what but she felt it was the other girls fault that she felt so shitty this morning, she heard movement and felt the other approach her and she looked up sharply leaning away from the hands Sakura had extended to either side of her head.

“Don't.Touch.Me!” she ground out, her jaw clench as she fought another spasm of pain and closed her right eye squinting up at the pink haired kunichi.

“I just,” Kat held up a hand palm first in front of her face firmly while pinching the bridge of her nose with the other. She knew she was being irrational but her head hurt so badly and she was never one to want to be touch especially when she was hurt. Sakura nodded even though she was pretty sure that Kat wouldn't notice it and walked back to her bed she made quick work of repacking and dressing.

“We'll be leaving in a short while so hurry if you want breakfast before we leave other wise it will be trail rations.” The kunichi stopped herself from saying any more, the girl was being stubborn she could have helped with the headache. `Even Sasuke-kun isn't this stubborn!Sharron!' She left the girl holding her head to get her own meal sure in her own mind that the other wouldn't be making an appearance in time to eat.

 

Kat's stomach growled telling her she needed to eat, it had only been a few minutes since Sakura's departure and her head was slightly better to the point where she could move around without feeling like she was going to puke. Being cautious in her movements so as not to make the pounding worse she dressed folding her bedding and picked up the pack that she acquired the day before at Naruto's insistence. She smiled at the pack he had actually bought it for her since she didn't have any money proclaiming it an earlier present and though she grinned at him she silently vowed to pay him for it later. The pack itself was nothing special it was sturdily sewn together and the straps were wide enough to sit comfortable on her shoulders she knew because Naruto made her test it before selecting it.

She couldn't help her growing attachment to the blonde he seemed so innocent and sweet and open, telling about how happy he was they had the same birthday. Her thoughts trailed off and took a darker turn; today was the day if she was going to escape now was going to have to be it. Food would be a problem since she didn't have any money but she was pretty confident in that she could hunt something squirrel wasn't that bad. Making up her mind she hoisted the pack to her back the tension she felt eased and her headache dissipated a little more, her stomach growled again this time she ignored it going to the open window she slide it open farther and looked out. She was in luck a tree was just out side the window a short jump and she was climbing down the branches, it was still dark out but a tinge pink and red from the rising sun could be seen on the horizon. Picking a direction Kat headed off at a brisk jog to put distance between herself and the village before they realized she was gone. She felt a nagging sense of guilt which almost, almost, made her stop and turn around but the thought of Jesise curled her lip, boiling her blood, and squashing the guilt and the very attractive blonde running though her mind she kept moving.

 

“Good morning Sakura-chan.” Naruto called to her as she entered the lounge, she grinned at her teammate. He was handsome she admitted if she weren't in love with Sasuke-kun she very well could have falling for him, he loved her, was always worried about her feelings she remembered all those years ago when they were 13 and he made his promise to her to bring Sasuke back to her. Then she hadn't seen the pain it caused him to make that promise to her, now she could see the shadow of that pain every now and then. So she did the only thing she could think of to make him smile his real smile.

“Good Morning Naruto-kun.” His shocked look made her feel warm and guilty all at once and the hesitant but genuine smile he gave her with bright blue eyes made her heart ache. `I should have done this sooner, to think something so small could make him so happy.' His smile grew, “Thank you, Sakura-chan.” He whispered in a small voice before looking away turning his attention to his bowl of ramen. Sasuke and Kakashi said nothing choose not to taunt the blonde. Naruto however couldn't be happier Sakura had called him Naruto -kun and even returned his greeting it was the best birthday present he could have gotten, the only thing to make it prefect would be for Katsuo-chan to come and tell him happy birthday.

“Oi Sakura-chan where's Katsuo-chan?” as he spoke they all turned to the stairs behind the kunichi.

“She should be down soon, she woke up with a headache.” Sakura meet blue eyes filled with concern.

“Last night?” blonde eyebrows drew together in concern.

“I think so, she wouldn't let me help. I think she thinks I may have had something to do with it.” Shrugging her shoulders Sakura set down to her bowl of hot cereal sighing at the honey scent wafting up at her.

“Well that's to bad.” Kakashi remarked a bored look to his brown eye before turning back to his book.

“Hn.” Offered Sasuke before both he and Kakashi tensed, Sakura caught the aura the same time as they did even Naruto was alert.

“Damn it.” Sasuke hissed out.

“What?” Naruto asked before he could stop himself, he knew what it was and he ignored the rolling of the Uchiha's eyes as he grabbed up his pack and along with the others headed out the door after paying their bill.

 

 

 

 

Kat was making good time she had covered maybe 4 miles in 30 minutes heading south and east, when she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Coming to a halt by a huge tree she dropped her pack to the ground and drew one of the kunai she `borrowed' from Sakura. It didn't take long for the group following her to show themselves. The leader was a rangy man he wore a headband similar to what Naruto and his friends wore the only difference was the symbol etched on the metal, four squiggly lines with a deep slash though the center his clothes where also similar to the man Kakashi but where he was black and green this man was black and gray his hair was black and styled the same, she would have been amused by the color difference in the two men if it weren't for the look in his cold hard eyes.

“Well girlie what are you doing in our woods?” Sizing them all up she noted the katana the woman standing behind him wore she was dressed in fishnet that ended at her knees and elbows she had black waist length hair the part that framed her face however was green and the kimono she wore over her fishnet barely covered her and was a vibrant red. Her violet eyes traveled over Kat's body giving her a slimy feeling. The last man was a monster in size his shirt sleeves were ripped off and tattered to give his massive arms room to move he to wore the black pants that Kat had noticed seemed to be the thing most men wore along with the headbands, they all wore black open toed sandals.

“I'm headed home.” She meet the mans gaze, the length of the kunai resting on her forearm which was held at her side, as she watched them. It was the woman how moved first she lunged forward to pin Kat to the tree she was standing in front of, instead of catching hold of Kat the woman found her fingers closing on air then she grunted as Kat's foot planted itself in her gut latching her backwards to her companions.

“YOU… BITCH!” The woman wheezed staggering to her feet.

“Kimri if the girl is to much for you I will finish this.” The leader spoke drawing his Katana. The woman Kimri glared at him but didn't say anything and attacked Kat again she wouldn't be fooled again the girl knew some thing's and he had told them he wanted her alive she didn't necessarily have to be walking though.

Kat was busy gauging the woman's next attack and wasn't disappointed when all the woman kept doing was grab at her clumsily well if she wasn't going to take this seriously then Kat would, she swept her leg around kicking at the woman's head and the woman ducked under her leg and grabbed at her again, she punched her hard in the face knocking her back again this time breaking her nose blood sprayed into the air and the woman's companions laughed as she clutched her nose.

“I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BIT..” the man backhanded her sending her flying again unconscious before she hit the ground.

“I do apologize, but your presence has been requested by my employer.” He bowed before rushing towards her Kat jumped back her kunai flashing up as his katana swung in an arch for her legs steel grated on steel and she glared at him their faces close she could see out the corner of her eye the monster moving to get behind her.

“And who is your employer?” she asked calmly bringing her knee up for his groin only to be blocked by his knee instead of dropping her leg like he obviously expected her to do she hooked her leg into his and shoved hard with her other leg while pulling with the one hooked into his, she didn't think it would work at the least she was expecting to over balance him enough to get away but to actually send them both over surprised her as well as him she took advantage of it and flipped as they fell landing on her feet in a crouch away from the giant what happened next surprised her, the giant was charging her she was preparing to jump away at the same time she felt hands grab her ankles it was the woman Kimri grinning up at her evilly, she missed the blur of black and green slam the giant away she was to busy thrusting another punch at Kimri's head freeing herself. Looking up she saw the dark haired shinobi and the leader facing each other the man removed his weapons from his gray vest and threw them at Sasuke.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!” Kat launched herself at Sasuke who was working his hands in some type of pattern as the leader threw 3 shuriken at him, she didn't think acting on instinct she tackled the boy before the shuriken reached him and they thunked harmless into the tree behind him. The smell of smoke tickled her nose but it didn't register in her brain.

“What the hell?!?” she growled at him rolling to her feet to face the man again he was on his feet coming for her when for the second time some one got in between her and her opponent. This time it was a black and orange clad back with blonde hair and board shoulders. Naruto was running at the man so she didn't see his opponent's hands or realize that the sudden additions to the fight all looked just like him, she couldn't however miss the orange and black additions or that they were all Naruto. Her jaw dropped and she stared, she couldn't move Sasuke was up again facing off against the woman Kimri she was forming seals with her hands but Sasuke was faster and taking a deep breath launched a huge fire ball at her with his Katon: Goukakyuu No Jutsu the woman barely hand time to alter her attack to defense using Doton: Doryo Dango it didn't last long however and crumbled but it allowed the woman to use the smoke and debris as cover to escape. Naruto had dispatched all the clones by then and Sakura using her precise chakra control ruptured the ground enough to trip the monster up trapping him briefly before he to fled having meet his match in strength. Kat watched all this her jaw slack as the Naruto clones slid into his opponent kicking him high into the air while shouting.

“U-ZU-MA-KI!!” the real Naruto leap up on the back of a clone spun in the air and brought his right leg down across the mans chest finishing with a shout of “NARUTO RENDAN!” his clones vanished as the man came down hard creating yet another crater and throwing dirt in the air. It all toke less the a few seconds and the fight was over.

“Shit he used a replacement.” Naruto growled as he landed staring down at the log now in the crater disappointed.

“Baka.” Sasuke grunted before turning around, Kat's face was white her jaw slack and he was convinced that at any second she would either scream or pass out or possibly do both.

Kat was stunned she looked at all of them her mind was working she was sane but she couldn't figure out what had just happened. People didn't breath fire, or have super human strength or copy them selves it wasn't possible. Sasuke was standing directly in front of her waving his hand in front of her face and she hadn't moved.

“Sakura I think we have a problem.” He pointed to Kat who looked well blank. Naruto joined them concerned for the girl, Kakashi scanned the area with his Sharingan some times his team forgot to do the important things even more so when they faced an opponent that was weaker then them. He listened with half an ear directed at them while he reviewed in his mind all they had heard, the silver haired Jounin now knew some one was pursuing the girl and they had enough money to hire miss-nin to track her down. Now the question was not would they help her because undoubtedly they would but what had she done or what did she know that had this level of fighter coming after her.

“Katsuo-san can you hear me?” Sakura waved her hand in front of the girl, she could tell she wasn't physical hurt but something about the battle had rattled the stoic girl causing this reaction. Her eyes meet Sakura's they where the muted blue ringed in black and for a brief moment some thing else, then the unfocused gaze solidified and Kat sat hard on her butt looking up at them eyes wide.

“What are you people?”