Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Guardian ❯ Sapphire ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A/N: wah wahh wahhh. Here is the second chapter of Guardian. This story is the backseat to Requiem of the Living, and I figured that since RotL is at chapter 3 I should update this one. For those who have read it; the next chapter will be out shortly, I have the majority of it written. Anyways, on with the story and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope.

Sakura felt faint. Had this figment of her imagination just introduced himself? She leaned her back heavily against the stone, hands clutched tightly to her chest.

“Wha...What are you?” she asked fearfully.

The boy, Naruto, gave her a bland look and replied, “I already told you. I’m your Guardian.”

She tried to take a step back, pressing herself further against the outcrop behind her. “Okay...but what are you?!”

Naruto looked down at himself as though looking for something out of the ordinary. “Your guess on that is as good as mine,” he said with a charming grin. “Closest I can tell I’m a spirit of sorts. Though I must say, you’re the first one who asked. Can you really see me?”

Sakura growled. Did this thing think she was too dense to see someone shining like a lightbulb? “Of course I can see you! Why, should I not be able to?!” She moved forwards, hands going slack from their previously petrified state and saw the man’s eyes widen.

“Don’t drop that!” he shouted frantically. Sakura stopped and looked down at her palm to see what the mad ghost was talking about.

Innocently laced among her slender fingers was a...necklace? Yes, a thin black cord and a bright, clear sapphire with two beads on either side. It was certainly pretty, but nothing to yell over. She supposed this was what she had mistaken for a light switch earlier.

“Erm...why?” Sakura asked, dumbfounded.

He reached forward hesitantly, and closed her digits around the item. “That pendant is what anchors me to you now. You should wear it.”

Sakura snatched her arm away. “Why?! So you can posses me?! No way!” Naruto scoffed.

“Guard-i-an, remember? I don’t think that includes possession, sorry.”

Sakura blinked. There was that guardian word again.

“What do you mean, ‘Guardian’?” she asked, any fear or anger forgotten for curiosity.

“You know, watch over you. I mean, I’ve never had a charge who could really see or hear me, but I guess it’s the same concept.”

Now Sakura was confused. “So you just follow me around?”

“Yup.”

“For how long?” she demanded. He smiled sadly.

“Until my duty’s done.”

“And when is that?” Sakura asked, quickly becoming frustrated.

“I never know ahead of time. I help to achieve some unknown goal and I’m gone.” he said, but quickly changed the subject before Sakura could comment. “I won’t force you, but you really should wear that. I can’t help you much without it. And please don’t lose it. There would be some problems if you did.”

Sakura looked into his translucent blue eyes, seeing something so sad it almost brought tears to her own.

“Well then,” Naruto announced. “Let’s get out of here, shall we?”. He turned around and made for the dim square of light in the distance. Sakura rushed after him, pocketing the necklace. Once in the hallway they walked in semi-companionable silence; that is, Naruto seemed comfortable and calm, strolling through the corridor as though he knew his way, arm behind his head. Sakura on the other hand was having trouble finding her footing, as dark as it was. All she had to go by was the faint glow Naruto was giving off. Even then, the situation seemed so surreal. For all she knew she could still be in that wretched tent, dreaming. Or Naruto could be some enemy ninja from a foreign nation trying to abduct her to hold ransom or-

Her spiral of thoughts were interrupted when Naruto spoke.

“So, where are we?”

Sakura looked around incredulously. He saw how those men were attacking her. Did he honestly believe she knew where she was?

“I have no idea. I think I should get back to my team though, they’re probably really worried about me.”

“Team?” he inquired. “You’re a shinobi?”

“Yeah, my cell and I are on a mission but I got abducted in the middle of the night and-”

“What village.” Naruto asked fiercely, halting and staring down at her.

A little taken aback, Sakura quickly thought of an answer. “I’m not so sure I should tell you, you could be a mass murderer for all I-”

“What. Village.” He growled, sounding so intense that goose bumps raised on her skin.

“K-Konoha.” she stuttered, almost stumbling over her feet in haste to take a step from him.

“Konoha...” the specter breathed nostalgically, now looking no more menacing then a kicked puppy.

“You’ve heard of it?” Sakura asked, having no idea what spirits knew of the human world.

“Yeah,” Naruto answered distractedly, eyes searching the ground in front of him. He looked up suddenly, watching her imploringly. “What year is it there?”

“137” she said slowly. Naruto’s eyes widened, and Sakura was surprised to see moisture collect in them.

“Fifteen years...” he mumbled. “I thought it was much longer then that...”

Sakura felt like she was intruding on a private moment for him, but she really wanted to be back with her team. “Excuse me?”

The look was off his face and he smiled confidently at her. “Sorry. I think the exit is this way, about a quarter of a mile. From there it should be pretty easy to find your group.” And he said nothing else.

As Sakura walked behind him again, still picking her footing carefully, she wondered how she managed to get caught in such an off situation. As unbelievable as it was, it could be possible that Naruto wasn’t quite human. How else could she explain his aura and the slight luminous of his skin? And those ninja hadn’t seen him in that room...as though we wasn’t even there.

The murky walls were chilling her skin and she hoped they’d be done with this mission soon. Kakashi would be upset, but once a task was jeopardized by a shinobi being captured they were to return to the village to report the happenings as soon as possible.

Just when Sakura was beginning to wonder if she’d ever breath fresh air again her footsteps, for Naruto didn’t quite walk on the ground perse, she noticed, stopped echoing. They moved around another small curve and Sakura was nearly blinded by the natural light spilling from the mouth of the cave. It was daylight out now, and the forest beyond was dappled in glorious green hues, complete with birds chirping merrily and the soft humming of bees.

As soon as they stepped out of the dank area, Sakura gasped in relief. It was much warmer out here, and much easier to breathe. Judging from the altitude of the sun hanging lazily in the sky she figured it was about three p.m. She didn’t know if that meant it was the day after she was knocked out, or perhaps even more.

She let out a sigh. “Well, we’d better get looking, I guess.”

Naruto looked at her strangely.

“What?” She barked, irked.

“Konoha shinobi. You could surely do something to speed this up. Flares, bright jutsu, something like that. This doesn’t feel like a hostile area.”

Sakura thought about what she could do, trying to figure the best course of action. “Our mission right now involves possible dangerous situations. I’d prefer not to endanger my team with something flashy...I could head to the nearest river and hang around there for a while.”

Naruto looked perplexed. “What good will that do?”

Sakura smirked. “My team is composed of some fairly talented ninja. If you know anything about Konoha, you’ve heard of the Hyuuga, I’m sure.”

“Ah, you have one of them. Very well. Unless I’m mistaken there should be a river about ten minutes from here to the east. I might be able to help from there.”

They started walking again, though with the cheery environment it was in a more at ease silence. After just a few minutes Naruto stopped again.

“You never told me your name.” he said, looking sideways at her with those haunting eyes. In the daylight he didn’t seem to glow as much, but it was creepy how she could faintly see outline of the tree behind him through him. She knew it was probably wrong to tell him some information when she wasn’t entirely sure of his intentions, but the way his slender eyebrow arched in a way that was so masculinely delicate and how his earnest eyes purely displayed sunlight, she found it hard not to be compelled to trust him inherently.

“Sakura.” She said without hesitation. “Haruno Sakura.”

Naruto smiled in a way that made her wonder if she’d ever seen someone smile truly happily in her life and continued next to her.

As Sakura trudged along she marveled at the workmanship of his clothing. They weren’t modern by any stretch of the way, but they were made of something she had never seen before, and though they were walking through dirt and the occasional mud, and her own shoes were filthy, making her glad she was wearing shorts, he remained untouched. It was then she decided that though she didn’t know what he was exactly, he was most definitely not the same as her.

Water was heard trickling and soon a deep stream came into view. Sakura made a noise of contentment, glad that this whole mess was now at least close to over and skipped to the edge and dived in, the sun-warmed water feeling wonderful against her skin. After throughly observing the aqua environment until her breath could no longer support her, Sakura broke the surface of the water again, gasping for air.

Naruto stood there looking very amused. “You’re finished?”

Sakura laughed heartily. “What was your plan, Mr. High and Mighty?”

He made a pouting face and answered. “I was going to scout for your friends and lead you to them, but now I’m not so sure I will.”

“Hey! That’s not fair!” She shouted.

The ethereal boy flopped onto the ground, resting his hand on a fist. “They’re headed this way. I’ll bet your Hyuuga spotted you.”

“Thank goodness. I can’t wait to get back home.” she said as she got out of the water to dry on a dark rock nearby.

“I’ll bet. So while we wait, how are things in Konoha?” the blonde asked eagerly.

“I don’t have much to compare it to, but our economy is good. Everyone loves the Hokage and I guess everybody is happy.”

Naruto smiled another one of those smiles and nodded. “That’s good.”

“Why do you want to know?”

She was gifted yet another smile, this one sad again. “I lived there, once upon a time.”

Before she could question him any more, Sakura heard someone in the distance.

“This way guys. We’re almost there.” That was Kakashi-sensei’s voice!
“Sensei!” Sakura called. “Over here!”

Emerging from the trees was first Sasuke, face holding the usual guarded expression. Following him was a relieved looking Hinata, and then was Kakashi. She heard Naruto gasp beside her and looked at him. He was staring at Kakashi as though he had, ironically, seen a ghost.

“Sakura-chan!” He greeted jovially, waving to her. “We’re so glad to see you. What happened?”

Sakura flushed embarrassedly. “I went out for some air last night and I woke up in a cell...I only just got here.”

The jounin nodded, pleased with her answer, but then asked, “That was two nights ago, but what are you carrying?”

“...What?” Sakura’s luggage was with Sasuke. All she had were the clothes on her back.

“The aura of the missing item. It’s coming from you.”

Sakura gasped loudly and reached into her pocked, procuring the necklace. The sapphire gleamed brighter then any diamond and reminded her of Naruto’s gaze. She looked over to her new companion. He was now standing next to Kakashi, a head shorter, and looking into his face.

“What is it, Naruto?” The kunoichi questioned.

Before Naruto had a chance to answer, Kakashi’s eye snapped up from the jewelry in her hand to meet her own.

“Naruto?” he asked in a hard voice. “What are you talking about?”

Sakura was about to answer, but Naruto had tried to tap Kakashi on his arm, falling through him. She burst out into laughter.

“He-he’s right behind you!” she giggled. Kakashi abruptly whipped around. He didn’t appear to see anything.

“Sakura, have you gone insane? No one is there.”

Naruto grinned and moved back to Sakura, crossing his arms and observing with an ecstatic grin dancing on his lips.

“Tell him I said the getup looks real good on him” The semi-invisible boy said. Sakura repeated his phrase cautiously. The silver haired man’s eye widened a fraction.

“Say he’s become a crotchety old man.”
“He says you’ve become a crotchety old man.” Sakura laughed. Kakashi pushed his hitai-ate to his forehead and revealed his Sharinghan. Sasuke and Hinata watched him with inquiring looks.

As the pupal dilated and the commas started swirling, he gasped, showing more emotion then Sakura has ever seen on his face.

“Naruto?!”

Naruto chuckled in a way that Sakura felt deep in her bones and shot him a victory sign.

“Man, do I feel young!”

At this time, Sasuke had decided to apply his kekkei-genkai also, followed by Hinata.

While Sasuke just looked mildly shocked, Hinata seemed ready to keel over.

“Talk about seeing your ghosts from the past, eh?”
Pos t Note: Sorry about the shortness...It’s just 8 pages instead of my usual nine. I thought this was a pretty good point to stop though. About the year thing: Like I said last chapter, I have virtually the entire history of Konoha as it will be seen in this story mapped out. The year system works from Shodaime’s founding of Konoha, thus beginning at 0 then. Therefore, an actual universal year system is fairly uncommon and difficult to decipher. It will be explained in-story in the coming chapters though, so nothing to worry about. But just so no one is confused, the main way I altered the timeline is that I changed Yondaime’s role. He was still Yondaime, but was trained by Sandaime, and in turn trained the Sannin. Again, it will be explained : D.

I really do like this chapter. It’s pretty slow, yes, but overall...XP. So...apparently Naruto and Kakashi know each other, huh. Woo. This will be fun to continue. Yep. Naru/Saku are so cute together. Next chapter we’ll see just how Naruto and Kakashi are connected, the return to the village, and a whole bunch of other junk. Man, will Sakura look crazy talking to someone no-one can see. Ahaha. Please review and leave me your thoughts.
-hanyoupup