Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Fireflies over Rice Paddies ❯ Chapter 1

～＊～

 

Pain. That was all there was. I passed out and awoke more times than I could countã€which at this point, was anything more than three. By coincidence, this was how many attackers beat me, growling out insults before resuming with even less mercy. They hit me until I was sprawled; back up in the dirt, unable to protect myself. As if I could to begin with; these were trained ninja, as I knew all too well.

 

It seemed as if this went on for hours, though it was probably closer to half of one. I lay there, unable to escape or fight back. There was no use in struggling or trying to talk them out of this, and so she was better off playing unconsciousness, hoping they'd simply lose interest.

 

~

 

"This bag isn't even worth it anymore. We should just kill her now." One of the men surrounding her said as he jabbed at her belly with his foot.

"The slut needs to pay." The second one hissed through clenched teeth.

"You are just jealous because she wouldn't let you up her skirt Yama-kun." The first ninja chided. "And it is a good thing too, she ended up being a whore to begin with." He spat on her bloodstained face, still goading no reaction from the woman on the ground.

"As I said, let's kill her now." The third ninja shot out, turning the pole he held around, a small blade attached that he pointed at her.

 

The woman suddenly moved, surprising the three men into a step backwards as she sat up slowly, tucking her skirted legs beneath her. She was covered in various blood and dirt stains, scratches visible on her bare feet, attesting to how far she'd run to get away from them. Her clothes were torn, a few joints were off, and a few joints seemed to have been created where things should not bend. It seemed though that even without multiple injuries, she would not be what was considered pretty. She wasn't even necessarily bad looking, simply… plain. She would have made a very good farmer's daughter, or village vendor. The only thing the least bit remarkable about her was her eyes—an impressive dark green color, seemingly lit from within.

 

At least, they were normally. As she looked around at her situation they were cloudy, blurred, as they settled on a mid-distance point, not looking at anything in particular. Her right eye was swollen half shut and ringed with bruises, and both were surrounded by her own tears and blood. She didn't make a sound, more asleep than anything else, not registering the people around her.

 

"Look the whelp is getting up." The second ninja, Yama-kun, notified the other two. "Don't move, cunt." He warned the woman on the ground, shoving her back down. Her face slammed against the ground, eyes still open, air rushing out of her lungs.

 

She lay there, unmoving, for a few seconds, catching her breath. "I...." she started in a hoarse voice before a coughing fit, a good portion of blood expelled from her lungs before she started again. “Just.... leave me alone.....”

 

"And keep your mouth shut" the first ninja said stepping on her head to make her shut up.

 

“Yama….” The woman rasped, feeling her jaw pop with the weight, addressing the one that she could see from her place on the ground.

"Come on, let's just kill her and get this over with." the third tried to reason, hefting his pole.

 

“I won't...” she continued, struggling against the foot holding her down. “Plead… with you… Not for my life…”

 

Something seemed to trigger as she said this, launching multiple kunai, aimed precisely at where the ninjas stood, managing to not put a scratch on the woman.

 

~

 

They yelled then, as I felt something land hard by my hand. They all stumbled back, forgetting me in the apparent panic. My hearing was faulty, distorted as I tried to analyze the situation.

 

“Shit ……… that!”

 

“Damn…… Grass…… attacking… now?”

 

Giving up on that plan, I felt around until my hand hit the weapon that had landed near it, holding it up as I got shakily to my feet. I gripped it tightly with both hands, ignoring the warm sticky sensation dripping slowly down my arms as I tried to search my attackers out by sound. I yelled something then, though too this day, I do not know what. One of them, possibly Yama, yelled as well, and I felt them leave, gusts of wind rushing past me.

 

I think I stumbled then, legs collapsing under me. I didn't get to fall, however, as strong arms caught me, ripping the weapon from my hands and lifting me unceremoniously. The blood spun in my head, dancing and pulsing, before my mind finally blanked out as he ran, silent as a ghost.