Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Masks and Smiles ❯ Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its original characters. Only the characters that are new in here are my own. I hope that's enough… Please don't sue me o.o;;;

 

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“Are we all set? Let's go.”

 

The four of them stood up from the side of the road, finishing the last of their noon meal. That morning, the had set off without a hitch, and though traveling a lot slower than usual for the ANBU, seeing as they had a twelve year old girl with them, they had covered a satisfying amount of distance from that morning to noon. Now, having rested up and eaten, they were ready to set out again.

 

Through out the trip so far, Kakashi's team had managed to get along quite well. Akina and Hiro became quick friends, both of them being more open than the other two, but Kakashi and Isano still managed to join in on their conversation.

 

Walking at a steady pace towards the next town, Hiro turned to Kakashi.

 

“Kakashi-san, when should we expect any attacks? The trip so far has been peaceful, but we can't really expect that peace to last very long can we?”

 

“No, we can't. We managed to leave without too many people knowing, but the enemy will be quickly notified of our absence in Konoha. We can most likely expect an attack by tomorrow, if not tonight. Remember to always be on your guard. Tomorrow, we'll start traveling in formation, but for today, I believe we're safe from any immediate harm.”

 

“How strong do you think the enemy will be?” Isano asked.

 

“I'm not exactly sure what to expect. The first few attacks will probably be from chuunins, to test out our strength. But since we're dealing with a run-away heiress, especially one to that amount of wealth… very powerful people will be after us.”

 

Hiro turned to Akina. “Akina, exactly just how wealthy is your family, if you don't mind my asking?”

 

Akina stared at the ground. “Very wealthy. My family owns a large line of weaponry shops. Since there are very many shinobi and samurai and other fighters in this country and continent, weapons of many kinds are in high demand. Most of the weapon shops in this country and several outside of the Fire country belong to my family. The Ichikawa household is very successful.”

 

Hiro nodded. “Then we can expect those powerful shinobi. Your family sounds like it has enough money to hire power.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The group was silent for a moment.

 

“It must have been very lonely,” Hiro said quietly, “to be the only heiress to a large wealth. I expect there were more people trying to use you than trying to be your friend…”

 

“No, not at all!” Akina exclaimed. “I mean, yes, of course there were people who tried to use me, a lot more than I would like… but I have friends… very good friends. The kind that would risk their lives for me, and I for them.”

 

“Oh?” Hiro asked, interested. “Who are they?”

 

“Oh, you wouldn't know them… or you might… they -or at least she- are very powerful shinobi. You may or may not have heard of them; even though they're powerful, they've been working for my father as my… bodyguards, though I consider them more as friends.”

 

“You've got me very interested, Akina. Are you going to tell me who they are or will I have to use force?” Hiro teased.

 

“No… even if you do use force, I won't tell you,” Akina said very solemnly. “I promised them I wouldn't tell their names to anyone until the right time comes.”

 

The ANBU were surprised by the answer.

 

“Are you sure that's a good promise to keep?” Kakashi asked. “You said they're working for your father, what if they end up being the ones coming after you under your father's orders?”

“Oh, they wouldn't do that. I trust them with my life. Even though they were hired by my father, they don't particularly like him, especially At- I mean one of my friends. They would have left my father years ago if I hadn't been stuck there. They wouldn't come after me in attack no matter how much my father offered to pay,” Akina said confidently.

 

“I hope you're right…” Kakashi said.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~

 

The feeling started that night, when everyone was asleep. Kakashi was the only one up, it being his turn to keep watch. He was staring at the fire, absentmindedly stroking it with a stick. Staying up was easy for Kakashi; he did it so often anyway, kept awake by his nightmares.

 

He was lost in his thoughts when the feeling started creeping up on him, the feeling of being watched. At first, it was so insignificant that he didn't even notice. But through years of being a shinobi, he knew the feeling of being watched as well as anyone.

 

Frowning, Kakashi looked around the campsite. Nothing seemed out of place, nothing except the feeling. He then looked outside the campsite, where the light of the fire didn't reach.

 

They were camping in a small clearing inside the forest by the road. Not wanting to sleep out in the open on the road, but not wanting to stray too far from it, they had set camp up about a quarter mile off the road. The forest surrounding them seemed very thick that night. Suddenly there was a small rustle to the side. Kakashi spun around and stared at that spot. For a second, Kakashi thought he saw a pair of amber eyes stare back at him, but when he blinked, they were gone. Gathering his chakra to his nose, Kakashi tried to sniff out the possible spy. Nothing. Not a hint of a scent of a human within a quarter mile radius of the camp. Just the smell of the night creatures and… a wolf. That was probably what Kakashi saw. The eyes of a wolf.

 

Kakashi sighed, both in relief and exasperation. This was going to be a long night.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~

 

That morning, before the group set out again, Isano called Kakashi and Hiro aside.

 

“Last night, during my watch, I felt something watching me. I don't know if maybe I'm being paranoid, but I don't think we're alone anymore.”

 

Kakashi frowned, “I felt it, too…”

 

“So I'm not the only one?” Hiro asked.

 

“You too?” Kakashi frowned in thought. “Last night I thought I smelled a wolf. I saw it watching us, or at least I think that was it. Maybe that's what you felt? The wolf watching us?”

 

“Maybe… if it was only a wolf… then we're not in any trouble are we?” Hiro asked.

 

“But, do you feel that right now? I think we're still being watched,” said Isano.

 

“Yes… I feel it. No wolf would watch us all night…” Kakashi gathered his chakra to his nose again. “I don't smell anything, at least nothing human. But the wolf is still there. Not close, but it's still there…”

 

“Should we tell Akina about it? I don't want to scare her,” Hiro said.

 

“No, don't tell her, at least not yet. But stay on guard. Today we travel in formation. I'll take the lead and try to smell stuff out every now and then. Isano, I want you to walk next to Akina. Make sure to keep an eye out for anything coming her way. Hiro, you're last. If anything happens, first make sure Akina and Isano don't need assistance, then help me. And keep an eye out for anything coming from behind.”

 

“Hai,” said Isano and Hiro.

 

“Alright then, let's move out,” Kakashi said, just as a wolf's howl cut through the morning.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~

 

“They're moving now,” said the second person.

 

“Should we follow them now? Or should we wait? We can't get too close to them, they'll notice us,” said the first person.

 

“I think we should wait a bit. They've noticed our little friend spying on them last night. They must be on high alert now.”

 

“Anyone would be if she had been watching them all night. Hope she's not too tired.”

 

“Oh, probably not. She's probably done this at least a hundred times, hasn't she?”

 

“… let's go,” said the third person.

 

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