Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Truths ❯ An Ally and a Decision ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: An Ally and a Decision

Sakura had just arrived at the village gate. It was still early and the street lights were the only source of light around. She opened the gate and walked through. She was greeted by a bunch of trees and Naruto sitting in the middle of the path.

“How long have you been here for, Naruto? You look like you’re still half asleep. You did sleep didn’t you?” Sakura asked.

“Yeah I slept, but I wanted to be here earlier, I was hoping this new guy would already be here since we hadn’t seen him in the village. I think I left around four.”

Sakura looked slightly surprised by this. “So you’ve been out here for an hour and a half even when Kakashi said we weren’t leaving until five-thirty. I wish Kakashi sensei was as energetic as you are.”

“What were you two saying about me?” Kakashi asked as he pushed through the bushes by the side of the road.

“Kakashi-sensei! You’re on time. This is weird.”

“Aren't I always on time?”

Sakura quickly reached into her pouch and pulled out two shurikens, tossing one at each of her comrades.

The two of them disappeared in a whiff of smoke.

“You really are as good as Tsunade said,” a voice from off in the trees informed her. How did you know they were fake?”

“Who’s there? Show yourself!”

Their was laughter and rustling of branches as the laughter moved to different locations.

“Face me!”

The laughter ceased and she felt a shiver travel up her spine. Off to her side, one of the bushes parted and there stood a man, hunched over and covered in blood.

She held back a scream. She knew this had to be a fake like the others and produced a third shuriken and proceeded to throw it at him.

To her horror, the man faded away and was replaced with Kakashi.

“No!” she yelled and hid her face in her arms.

It was silent. There wasn’t any sound from the impact, only the wind whistling through the trees. Sakura looked up to see a bewildered Kakashi standing in front of her, unscathed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I threw a shuriken at you. Surely you saw it coming, but how did you dodge it at that distance?”

Kakashi looked more confused than ever. “I just walked through the brush and you swung your arm and screamed.”

“But I saw you. I saw the shuriken.”

“You never threw anything.”

They both turned their heads to look in the direction of the voice. Sitting on one of the branches was a person, half hidden in shadow so that only his mouth showed. Whoever it was throwing a pebble into the air and catching it repeatedly.

“You were under a Genjutsu. Something like that could be the death of your teammate. Lucky for Kakashi that I made you reach into a pocket that didn’t exist.”

“Thank you. But who are you and what do you want?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know. It was only yesterday that you told your team. By the way, they’re all coming; they’re right around the corner.”

Sure enough, no sooner had he finished his sentence than a group of teenagers come around the corner, led proudly by Naruto.

“How did you know? Are you like psychic or something?”

“No. I just saw Naruto, Sasuke, and a bunch of other kids coming this way.”

“You know what everyone looks like?”

The boy rubbed the side of his face with his hand. “Please tell me all of you are this dimwitted. You saw me and you didn’t even realize it. Or was there something in the sky over the roof? Was that net always there or did you not see me standing in the warehouse?”

“It was you that was on the roof.”

“Bravo. I would have never thought you’d guess,” he said sarcastically.

“Sorry I’m late; I went around to everyone’s house and made sure they were up. I didn’t know where you live. Hey Sakura. Who were you talking to?” Naruto said as he walked closer to her and Kakashi.

“Me.” The boy replied as he dropped from the tree and landed softly on the ground.

“And you are?” Shikamaru asked.

“Your teammate for this mission.”

“So you’re the one the old hag was talking about,” Naruto cued in.

“She has a name you know, Naruto. Tsunade, in case you forgot.”

“I would think you should have more respect for her especially considering where you come from,” Kakashi retorted.

“Where am I from that would change what I call her from? So what, I’m American. Got a problem with that?”

“You’re American?” Naruto asked.

“Wow, two geniuses. Why don’t we make it the whole team seven? Sasuke, don’t you have a smart comment?”

Sasuke stood, obviously not listening to a word that was being said.

“Everyone in a line, alphabetical order, Kakashi you two.”

“Excuse me but--”

“I gave an order and I expect it to be followed. Hop to it.”

He stepped into the light. His green eyes reflected brightly against the lamp that lit up the street. His brown hair looked darker than it was due to the lack of light. He was slightly tanned and wore all black. His pants stopped a few inches before his ankles and his sleeveless shirt clung tightly to his chest. Perhaps his most noticeable feature was the scar that ran diagonally across his face.

He began to walk past the group, past Kakashi then Naruto until he reached Tenten. He turned on his heel and walked back. When he reached Sasuke, he stopped but did not look at him. Instead, he turned to face away from him.

Without notice, the boy turned once more on his heel and thrust his fist at Sasuke.

The fist made contact with Sasuke’s face and he fell backwards.

Everyone looked astonished including Kakashi who saw this coming and made an attempt to stop it. His attempt was stopped short by the boy’s other hand that was clutched around his wrist.

“Don’t try to stop me from doing what I decide to do,” he said, turning to look at Kakashi. And in case you’re wondering why I did that, I don’t tolerate threats. Especially those geared toward girls.” He pushed Kakashi’s hand away and looked back at Sasuke who was sprawled on the floor.

“What is he talking about, Sasuke?”

“I have no clue,” he answered as he got to his feet.

“Oh let me guess, amnesia? How about you tell him what you said to Sakura. I seem to remember you saying that you never regretting almost destroying Konoha something else. What was it again… ah yes, ‘If you ever get in my way, I’ll kill you’”

“Is this true, Sakura?”

Sakura looked at Sasuke nervously, trying to decide if it was the right thing to say or whether it would just make things worse. She looked over at the mystery kid and heard a voice not unlike his in her head.

Tell them the truth. He will not hurt you. I’ll make sure of it.

This was insane, she was hearing voices but she knew it sounded a lot like Alek’s and she looked at him.

He nodded and her mind was made up. “Yes, it’s true.”

“Then after this mission, we will bring Sasuke before the Hokage and have her decide his punishment. Now, we have other matters to attend to. We must now go over the mission, what will be entailed, what is expected, and what to expect.”

“Recently there have been attacks on all of the minor countries. These include the Sound, Waterfall, Rain, and Grass villages. Notice a pattern?”

“They’re surrounding us,” Shikamaru answered. “They’re trying to cut us off from as much help as they can. They’re obviously trying to separate us from the rock country as well. They must not have too much man-power or they would be going after larger countries.”

“What’s your name anyway?” Naruto interrupted.

“If you must know, my name is Alek. What does it matter to you?”

“That’s a stupid name.”

“Well it’s better than what your name means. Spirals, in case no one told you. By the way, you should use the Kyubi’s chakra more often. When you do, it puts a strain on him and makes him easier to control.”
“How did you know?”

“I know everything I need to know. Getting back to the task at hand, why would they want to separate us from the rock village? That is our mission. We have to sneak past the enemy lines and into the rock village. We have an ally waiting on the other side that will help us once we’re there.”

“This is going to be hard to do. Sneaking eight people through enemy territory.”

“Yes. This is why the mission is so dangerous. But we have a plan. My information tells me that this group has overlooked a village. Just one, but even this could be risky. We are not in alliance with this country. The Fire country would not easily let us pass without letting all hell break loose.”

“Is there any other options?”

“Not unless you plan on plowing through the enemy’s front lines.”

Shikamaru lowered himself to his haunches and made a diamond with his hands. A few minutes passed in silence while he thought.

“Not likely. The grass practically welcomed them to take over. They wouldn’t help us.”

Shikamaru looked up at Alek.

“I can read minds amongst other things.”“I see. But a frontal attack might be the last thing they’d expect. They think they’re so powerful that if anyone wanted to get past they’d go around. Surely they would have devoted a small group to each country, undercover so as not to attract unwanted attention.”

Alek went to speak but stopped before the words reached his lips. A bird was flying towards them, a peregrine falcon. It landed on Alek’s shoulder and rubbed against his cheek.

“Hey Bud. What’s the matter? Kay send you?”

The bird cooed softly.

“I see. Is he in trouble?”

The bird cooed again and turned around to show a small backpack attached to its back. Alek reached in and pulled out a small letter.

“I’m afraid we have no choice now. We go to Fire village. Kay’s there and my insider is dead. Bet he killed at least fifteen of their Jounin though.”

“How?”

“Let’s just say he had a very dangerous mind. My team specializes in Kinjutsu.”

“But they’re illegal.”

“That’s why they call them Kinjutsu. I am from another village, far away from this place. Our village is the village of Mind. It’s a small village, but what we lack in numbers, we regain in power. Most of our jutsus don’t give the enemy a chance to move before they’re hit.”

“I’m not too sure about this whole idea. Something about it just doesn’t seem right, like we’re missing something.”

“Well if you must know, that’s because Naruto’s already started ahead.” He pointed behind him and saw that Naruto had indeed begun to leave without them.

“Let’s just get this over with, I’m getting tired of sitting around listening to this idiot,” Sasuke remarked.

“You shouldn’t be talking, you nearly destroyed this village and for nothing.”

“That’s enough from both of you,” Kakashi said. “Now you will set aside your differences and focus on the mission. From this point on, we must rely on teamwork. And the only way that will happen, is if you cooperate.”

“Come on you slowpokes!” Naruto yelled from a distance.

“One thing’s for sure, this mission won’t be easy.”

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And we come to the conclusion of chapter 2. I write to please so tell me what you think about it, even if it’s negative, just tell me what to improve on.