Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto: Land of Darkness ❯ Sally Forth Team 7! Begin the Journey to the Darkness Country! ( Chapter 2 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its properties. All royalties go to Kishimoto-sensei. Wish I had thought of such a concept myself though. :(

Onto business, I’m glad to have received seven reviews for chapter one. I know a prologue is supposed to be short but what the heck... I had a lot to put down on paper. Glad to know there’s positive feedback. ;)

Along with this story, I have my Sailor Moon and Digimon stories. So, I’ve been pretty busy. But, now we return back to Naruto Land of Darkness. After this chapter, who knows.

Begin chapter two!



(Cue Naruto’s fourth opening Go!)



Naruto: Land of Darkness

Sally Forth Team 7! Begin the Journey to the Darkness Country!



Office of the Godaime Hokage/Konohagakure/Fire Country

Upon receiving Shizune’s messages, the trio consisting of Team 7 arrived at the office of the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade. Needless to say, they were still dead tired after having to travel and work on a mission earlier in the day. Naruto was visibly tired as he was losing focus and about to asleep standing up. Same with Sakura. Sasuke slightly yawned and awaited for what the older woman was about to inform them.

Tsunade looked at each of them and sighed. This was the team she had reluctantly chosen with every other team, minus Team 10, out on important mission and training assignments. She noticed Naruto barely even awake and groaned.

“Will somebody wake him up?” the Godaime Hokage asked of the other two members of Team 7.

Sakura raised her hand while rubbing her eyes with her other hand. “Allow me.”

With that, the pink-haired kunoichi smacked the sleepy Naruto in the back of the head. The boy reeled from the blow and yelped out. A bump was formed from the exact spot Sakura had struck him.

“YEOW!!”
“You awake now?” Sakura asked, glancing at Naruto with a grin.

“Ow! Did you have to go and do that, Sakura-chan?! I was going to stay awake!”

“Yeah, sure,” she responded cynically and rolled her eyes.

“Anyhow, I’m glad you three would come here on such short notice. We have an urgent matter at hand,” Tsunade informed the trio. “I just received a letter from this messenger hawk sitting behind me. It would seem there’s a problem within the Darkness Country...”

“What kind of problem? Is it that Orochimaru again?” Naruto asked, raising his voice.

“I can’t say for sure but there is trouble brewing in the Darkness Country. However, I do know there are fiends who refer to themselves as ‘blood suckers’ roaming that region. No one, who has ventured into those darkest and mote remote regions have escaped alive.”

“Wait, but isn’t Darkness Country supposed to be abandoned? That’s what I’ve heard from stories in my time in the academy,” Sakura pointed out. “There shouldn’t be anyone living there. Now, you say there are people currently living there?”

“Blood suckers? That’s not what they were referred to from what I know,” Sasuke spoke up. “They were called night walkers.”

“Humph, and you know this how?” Naruto scoffed, glancing over at the Uchiha child in annoyance.

“Unlike you, I paid attention in class. You were probably asleep as usual, loser.”

This insult quickly offended Naruto as he attempted to charge out at Sasuke but Sakura was quick to restrain him. Tsunade cleared her throat and everyone all directed their attention back on her.

“Now, before I continue on, where is your sensei? Kakashi...”

“Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura reminded herself and wondered. “Well...”

Before she could finish, the door opened and everyone glanced around to see the ‘Copy Ninja’ himself standing out waving to Team 7. Sakura and Naruto sweat dropped at once as their sensei arrived... late as usual.

“Hey! Where the heck have you been, sensei?! We’ve been waiting here for thirty minutes!” Naruto exclaimed.

“Sorry, guys but I had fallen out of bed and had to clean my room,” Kakashi shrugged, grinning under his mask.

“YEAH RIGHT!!” Sakura and Naruto exclaimed simultaneously, pointing their fingers at the masked Jounin.

“Late as usual. I’m not surprised,” Sasuke thought. “We were just receiving our mission orders, Kakashi-sensei.”

“I see. Hokage-sama,” Kakashi acknowledged the presence of Tsunade. “Pardon my tardiness.”

“It’s a bad habit of his. Trust us on that,” Naruto muttered.

“In any case, I’m glad you were able to make it on such short notice, Kakashi,” Tsunade nodded, tapping her fingers. “We have a situation over at the Darkness Country. A messenger hawk arrived just now and sent me this letter. Kakashi, please take a look at this.”

As she handed him the message, Kakashi took the piece of folded paper and opened it to begin reading carefully. His eye moved after each and then they narrowed. He faced Tsunade and crumpled the paper in his hand.

“Darkness Country... So, there are apparently still survivors there,” Kakashi said. “I’m surprised. I had thought their villages had become abandoned many years ago. These blood suckers... If there are any, they are the ones currently occupying that territory.”

“This possibility is very likely. No one has ever ventured into the most remote areas for years,” the Hokage stated, pointing out the obvious fact.

“So, you want us to go there and scope this out?”

“That’s right, Naruto. And I want you to find the messenger. Ask him or her about the current situation. We need to know who or what we will be dealing with. Now, Kakashi, can you and Team 7 carry out this mission? I know you’ve just returned from one yesterday and you are not fully rested up. But, we’re currently low on efficient teams and manpower as we speak. There’s a chance I might send Asuma and Team 10 to possibly assist you.”

“Hmmm, I think we can manage this ourselves,” Kakashi stated, smiling under his mask. “These three are qualified to undertake such a dangerous mission. Naruto has already been under Jiraiya’s training and uses the Rasengan. Sasuke has his Chidori and Sakura has improved since her preliminary match with Ino. We are willing to accept this mission.”

“You bet! Count me in! I haven’t had a challenging mission or even an above C-rank mission!” Naruto exclaimed, grinning. “How about you guys?”

“Count me in, too,” Sakura replied, nodding her head.

“Might as well. I want to see what we’ll be dealing with,” Sasuke responded to the female Hokage. “And I’d like to know if he is there.”

Tsunade nodded her head and turned around to place a reply letter into the hawk’s carrier. The hawk cried out and flew straight out the open window to return back to the Darkness Country. Sitting back down on her seat, she glanced back at Team 7 to give them the approval to take the mission.

“Very well then. You are to immediately go. Be careful since you are entering uncharted territory. Naruto. Sasuke. Sakura. Kakashi. Good luck and be on your guard. You have my blessings.”

“We’re right on top of it, Tsunade-baa-chan!” Naruto grinned, hand saluting the Godaime Hokage respectfully.

Upon hearing ‘baa-chan’, the Hokage tried to calm down and not let her anger get the best of her. Naruto noticed a bit of agitation on her face and slowly backed away. He walked out with his other two team mates and Kakashi out of the room. With that, he closed the door behind him and let out a sigh of relief.

“That... was close...” Naruto said under his breath. “If I had stayed in there, she would have knocked me the heck out!”

“Naruto, you shouldn’t address to Godaime-sama like that!” Sakura scolded the fox boy. “Call her Godaime-sama, Hokage-same or even Tsunade-sama. But the first two would be more preferable!”

“Now, now, at least we managed to get out of there,” Kakashi assured them. “Naruto’s even lucky not to face the wrath of the Godaime-sama since she has a soft spot for the boy.”

Sasuke glanced out the window and noticed the sun rising above the Konohagakure. His eyes narrowed as thoughts of the ‘man’ who has been searching for came to mind. The image of his one and only brother, Itachi, came to mind.

Just then, Sakura’s voice interrupted Sasuke’s frame of thought as she approached him.

“Sasuke-kun? You ready to go?”

He merely acknowledged her with a nod. “Yeah...”

“Ha! Darkness Country, here we come!” Naruto declared, running down the hallway.

The trio watched their fellow team mate quickly run down the hallway and back to fetch his belongings for the journey to the mysterious Darkness Country. Sweat drops dripped down their foreheads.

“Um, well, I suggest we get ready then. Meet me at the front entrance you two,” Kakashi stated, walking down the same hall Naruto used.

“Yeah...” Sasuke and Sakura responded at once.


Naruto’s Home

As he entered his solitary home, Naruto sat down to grab the items he would need for the trip to the Darkness Country. This included his pajamas, snacks, bottled water, a survival and medical kit and lots of ramen packages. Yes, he really needs his ramen for his trip.

“There we go! Ramen and lots of it!” Naruto grinned, stuffing the packages into his backpack. “Let’s see. Am I forgetting anything?”

Observing his entire home, he noticed how much of a mess it was. Scattered clothes on the floor and empty ramen boxes left sitting all over the den. Needless to say, Naruto hasn’t had the time or put any effort to cleaning up his home (considering the missions he’s been on). Then, he had just noticed garlic sitting on his kitchen counter.

“Heh, I almost forgot the garlic for my ramen!”

As he snatched the garlic, he opened up a plastic bag and placed it inside to keep it nicely tucked. He dropped the bag into his backpack and headed out the door.

“Hmmm, these blood suckers... Oh, why didn’t I pay attention on that stupid lecture? Ah, oh well. I’ll know what they are when I get there!”

Walking out the door, he put on his shoes and closed the door behind him. Naruto locked it up and started downward toward the village’s entrance. The sun was already appearing in the horizon with its radiant rays shining down across Konohagakure.


-

Elsewhere in Konohagakure, Kakashi had gathered his belongings and was preparing to move out to the entrance. He hopped down from the top of a roof and swiftly landed without injury. He stopped and felt the presence of a man whom he was familiar with. It was Jiraiya.

“A-ho, Kakashi! I heard you and your team were going to the Darkness Country. I overhead the conversation she gave you and those kids when I was outside.”

“Yeah, we’re on our way over there now. First, I have to get there before I do...”

Nodding his head, the Toad Sennin responded with a serious look. “Kakashi, you and your team must be careful upon entering that land. Recently, before returning here, I crossed near the darkest and most remote areas of where shinobi were reported to have disappeared. I don’t know whether Orochimaru or even Akatsuki members will be around there but these night walkers are not toe be overlooked. If what the rumors are said to be true, they will no doubt seek you out.”
“Yeah and we’ve just received a message from an apparent survivor. We have to get there to find this individual to get some answers before anything happens.”

“Then, you and your team must hurry then. I have no doubt Naruto will hold his own with the Rasengan technique. If these night walkers are anything like the Akatsuki, Naruto’s life will be put at risk since he does possess the Kyuubi inside of him. Don’t forget that.”

“Well said. You seem to know a lot about the Darkness Country. What did you see upon entering the land?”

Clearing his throat, Jiraiya answered and explained the sightings on his journey across that land. “Well, for starters, I saw no activity from shinobi. The land was tranquil and peaceful at day. However, by night, I’ve felt uneasy and demonic activity. Nothing even remotely human. I was lucky to have passed that land.”

“Did you get a good glimpse of these creatures of the night?”

“No but I can say that I saw eyes. Red, flaring eyes... They look at you with hungrily.”

“I suppose they knew you were one of the three Legendary Sannin. They didn’t want to mess with the great Jiraiya.”

“You bet’cha!” the Toad Sennin grinned, proudly pointing a thumb to himself. “Even a bunch of night freaks are ever going to mess with me, Jiraiya-sama!”

“That’s good to know. Oh, well. Look at the time. Those three must already be at the entrance and they’re going to jump on me for being late again. Take care,” Kakashi said, waving out to the older man and jumping on top of a roof.

Watching the Copy Ninja hopping across neighboring roofs, Jiraiya maintained the serious look on his face and looked up at the rising sun.

“Hopefully, they can make it there before sunset...”


Entrance of Konohagakure


Team 7 stood waiting together with their belongings for their sensei. Once again arriving tardy, Kakashi jumped off a tree and waved to the three Genin.

“Sorry I’m...”

“DON’T EVEN GIVE AN EXCUSE!” Naruto and Sakura exclaimed at once, their eyes angrily narrowing at their sensei.

“Sorry, sorry!”

“Can we get going now?” Sasuke spoke up, glancing ahead at the forest. “Approximately how long will it take to get us there?”

Kakashi rubbed his chin and ‘Hmmed’. “We’ll be going west from where we’re currently positioned. The Darkness Country comprises a small section of territory between the Wind and Fire Country. The area we will enter will be down south. This will our first time to enter this land. So, I suggest we stick together. Naruto. Sasuke. Sakura. Are you three prepared for the journey we will embark?”

“Like I said before, I’m ready and willing, Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto replied.

Sakura smiled and answered without hesitation. “No arguments there.”

Sasuke merely smirked and ‘Hmmmed’ in response. Kakashi knew that what this kind of response meant.

“Good, now, Team Kakashi... LET’S MOVE!”

With that, the Jounin and the three Genin vanished from the spot. They quickly jumped out into the forest and jumped across the tree branches. Their perilous journey into the Darkness Country now commenced.


Bat’s Canyon Ridge/Darkness Country


Meanwhile, sitting near the ledge of a gorge of a near 20-foot tall canyon, the female shinobi looked down at the deep valley. Deep down the gorge was a beautiful flowing river that gradually carving out the valley. Across the top of more canyons were arid areas. The winds blew against the land with dust collecting in the air.

The girl felt the cool winds blow against her face as she closed her eyes. Untying the bun on her head, she let loose her hair and allowed the powerful winds to blow her hair back. She deeply sighed and removed the black outfit top to reveal a dark purple sleeveless, silk orange shirt and long, black fishnet arm sleeves on both sides. As she took off her pants, the girl revealed a pair of black krew pants with holes around the knee area.

Kneeling down, she opened up her bag and pulled out a pair of wooden shuriken. These were crafted by her own hand but now she was running low on the weapons. More vulnerable than ever, she was left with no choice but to call for assistance. She knew that this was going against her own honor code to ask for help, especially from Konohagakure. But, there was no other choice.

“Oh, Tobi-chan, I hope you’ll get here soon,” she sighed, sitting down with her arms hugging her legs. “I can’t believe I am actually going against my own code. I’m the only survivor since the fall of Yamigakure but I suppose faith has managed to keep me alive for this long. If only my family had lived on but they had to keep me alive for a reason. Why?”

Reminiscing her painful past, the female put her hands over her head and tried to clear away all of the negative memories. The deaths of her entire village massacred. Since then, the night walkers have been hunting her and she had managed to survive after each encounter. Until today. She knew that her time had come and death would soon to seal her fate.

“If I’m to die before Konohagakure can send anyone, then so be it. I just feel terrible for having them to waste their time to find me.”

Deeply sighing, she lied back on the rocky surface of the gorge and looked up at the beautiful blue skies. During the day, she was safer and could easily move out to the forest to search for food. She would do this nearly every three days before dark. Before the night walkers would roam the dark land for their fitting meals. By hiding within the caverns and setting up traps, she would remain safe. If there was one advantage she had over these creatures, it was her wits and ability to think ahead.

“Oh, geez, I’m so hungry,” the female grumbled, rubbing her stomach. “Well, it is safe. It won’t be until another thirteen hours before nightfall comes. It wouldn’t hurt to actually move out... No, then there’s the darkest remote regions. They can still lurk within those areas. Damn and that’s where I can find my favorite meal, the Yamigakure mushroom. Good thing they’re the most edible mushrooms one could find and they’re not poisonous either. Eh, well, there’s always the fruits from the trees.”

She slowly got off the ground and looked out into the distance. Flocks of beautiful blue birds flew across the skies over the lush forest. Her eyes observed the scenery and sighed deeply. Picking up her bag, she reached down and pulled out a kodachi.

“Well, might as well begin harvesting for fruit and get it over with. Until then, maybe, I could run into the Konoha ninja team sent to find me. Time to eat!”

As she said that, the female jumped off the ledge and dropped down to the canopy of a nearby tree to begin finding the available fruits growing. She had plenty of time and no need to worry with nightfall only a long time to come. However, she still remained cautious and unaware of what truly maybe lurking within the darkest remote areas of the land.


Dark Remote Area in the Southwest/Darkness Land

At least 15 miles from where the female was currently located, there was activity brewing in the darkest remote areas of the forest territory. A group of black clad shinobi jumped down and stood standing ahead of a cavern. The area was haunting and not exactly a place where anyone would want to live ideally. However, for some, it was a suitable pocket remote area and protected them from the rays of the scorching sunlight. This was an isolated territory currently occupied by the proclaimed night walkers, or blood suckers, as people refer to them.

The five black clad men walked forward into the cavern and unaffected by the eerie darkness. They narrowed their eyes and stopped to find a figure standing out in front of them. They kneeled down and bowed their heads.

“We apologize for being late, Mikon-sama,” one of the shinobi spoke up with nervous guilt.

“You understand how bothersome the retched sunlight can be when we’re not careful?” another shinobi spoke up.

Stepping out of the darkness, a slightly buxom-shaped female appeared before the five shinobi. Her skin was delicate and pale. Her lithe body was one of the most notable features of her figure. Adorning below her neck and shoulders was a black tube top with her ‘busty’ bosom pushed up. Her legs were tightened with purple silk-material tights (similar to panty hose) and black boots adorning her feet. Her hair was long (reaching down her back and past her shoulders). Her eyes were golden and flaring with thin irises dilating. She wore black lipstick and her long fingernails painted the same dark color. Protruding the sides of her head were a pair of bat wings with another pair folded up behind her back.

The woman spoke in a seductive manner while kneeling down with a hand on her chest. “Mmmm, yes, that sunlight can be very bothersome. Indeed... Here, here, allow me to comfort you.”

As she pressed herself against the second shinobi, she swiftly grabbed his neck and...

SNAP!!!

The mistress named Mikon dropped the lifeless shinobi and delivered a crushing blow by stomping his head using the heel of her boot. The other shinobi murmured amongst themselves and slowly started backing away. Mikon glared menacingly toward them and licked her lips.

“I hope you aren’t thinking of abandoning us. You surely still serve a purpose. Now, be good little boys and follow me.”

Turning her back on the shinobi, the mistress noticed sixteen torches tilting on the sides of the wall (eight on each side). She grabbed a torch and started walking down the dark path. The ninja crew accompanied the mistress down the hallway and turned left to walk down a long stairwell.

-

Deep underground, and below the stairwell, was a damp lair. The lair was nearly shrouded in darkness if it had not been for the flickering torches siding several wall sections.

There was a throne sitting at a corner with a pair of red eyes flaring. They looked up and noticed Mikon leading the band of shinobi. A smile twisted across the shadowy figure with a pair of long, hyper thermic fangs revealing.

The seated figure, who apparently appeared to be the headmaster, remained silent. “...”

Mikon noticed the ‘figure’ and jumped down from the stairwell. She stepped forward and kneeled before the headmaster. “Father, there have been no day walkers for the past three months. We are running low on blood meals. Feeding on wild animals in the forest will not be enough. Even you, as strong as you maybe, still need the best nutritional blood to maintain your good health. Now, there are rumors that shinobi from other lands maybe arriving in the Darkness Land.”

Upon hearing this, Mikon’s father tapped his fingers together and smirked. “Is that so? Do you know from which lands they will be coming from?”

“Rumor has it that a band from the Fire Country, specifically Konohagakure, are southeast from our current location. Yes, and there is supposedly more coming this way. Father, do you possibly think they may find our underground lair?”

“I doubt it, my daughter. However, they just may find our brethren roaming the forests. Nevertheless, this is our land and we have the home field advantage. You at least know that much, Mikon?”

Nodding her head accordingly, Mikon responded. “Yes, father. I should never doubt our own race.”

“Besides, I doubt even the Konohagakure are aware of my existence. They would only be aware of the activity from our shinobi. Now, the way I see it... These will be fitting meals...”

“How about a suggestion, father? Why don’t we feed on them and make them one of us. With Konoha ninjas on our side, we can build a stronger army.”

The headmaster thought this idea for a moment and realized how much better it would be to employ potential shinobi from Konohagakure. He acknowledged his daughter’s idea.

“We’ll do just that but let’s wait for our prey to arrive. We’ll attack them when they least suspect it. You understand?’

“Of course, it would be foolish to attack head on and without a plan. Do not worry, father. You leave everything to me. I will not let you down.”

The figure kneeled down, still remaining concealed in the shadows, and lifting her chin up with a finger. She looked up into his flaring crimson eyes and heavily breathed. Closing her eyes, her father kissed her on her forehead.

“You will not let me down. For you will be the next to ascend my throne for I decide to step down, Mikon.”
“Father...”

“Now, with my permission, I will allow our very own day walker subordinate to accompany you. Do make sure he finds potential ninja prey...”

Mikon glanced over to a corner and scowled at the presence of a young boy standing at the corner of an column. “You mean HIM? Father, why should I lower myself to leading a pathetic and soft-hearted coward like him? He clearly has no business being one with us!”

Chuckling under his breath, the headmaster glanced over at the boy. “That’s the fun of it, my daughter. Don’t you see? He has been cursed being related to our blood kin and I am forcing this against his own will. It’s either serving us or watching his beloved mother being tortured. Now, which do you prefer?”

“Humph, I’d rather see that whore scream out in writhing agony than spend two minutes wasting my time with this disgrace of our race.”

“Please, Mikon, this boy is special for one reason. He is one of us but at the same time he isn’t a full blood. He has the ability to walk amongst the light and the darkness. Sunlight is no mortal enemy to him. We are cursed to never walk amongst the day walkers but just think how easily it will be for him to mate with the day walker females. They’ll be giving birth to a new race of our kind.”

“Yes, father but what about obstacles in our way? There’s still the matter of the Orochimaru and of course the Akatsuki.”

“Give us a little time to build our new army and they, too, will be dealt with.”

“Yes, father...”

“Now, let’s wait until dusk comes. Adam, will you come forth?”

No reply came from the boy standing within the darkness. Mikon became offended with this lack of respect displayed, stepped over and delivered a slap across his face.

“Answer my father, you pathetic disgrace!” she hissed, baring her fangs and sharpening her claws. “ANSWER HIM! Answer him or I’ll slit your throat!”

“Mikon, that’s enough. Please, let your ‘brother’ speak.”

“Humph, whatever you say, father,” she reluctantly gave in and stepped back.

The figure stepped out from the shadows and revealed himself. He appeared to be a young boy, possibly the same age Naruto and his friends (13 years old). His hair was light brown with tints of golden locks and green pupils made up his eyes. His facial features resembled femininity but he was still a physical male. His body was covered by the same black shinobi outfit as the others serving under the headmaster wore. Like the other shinobi, he wore a pair of zoris for his feet. Attached on his right leg was a shuriken holster. By looking into his eyes, there were hints of sadness, despair and inner turmoil.

“Adam, are you ready for tonight’s hunt? There will be some shinobi coming from the Konohagakure. Are you willing to carry out the hunt and bring back meals to feast upon?”

The boy merely nodded reluctantly. “Yes...”

“Good and this is perhaps your most important assignment. Do not fail me. My daughter will accompany you and watch you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Damien-sama.”

“And you had better not hold me back! After all, I am second in command after my father!” Mikon scowled once again, grabbing the back of Adam’s hair and whispered into his ear.“If you weren’t so special, I would have torn that pretty girly face off a long time ago.”

“Mikon, enough!” Damien bellowed out in order to his daughter.

She released her grip on the boy and scoffed. “Yes, father dearest...” Mikon crossed her arms.

The concealed Damien sat back down on his throne and chuckled. “Ke, ke, ke ke. Let’s make no mistake. This is a hunt we will never forget. Now, to wait until dusk and the feasting shall begin, my children.”


Outskirts of Darkness Country/Near the Forest Area/Southern Region


At least fifteen hours had passed since Team 7 had departed from Konohagakure approximately at 6:00 a.m. It was now 8:17 p.m. according to Naruto’s watch. The team settled near the forest area and decided to camp out to rest for the night. Kakashi kept an eye for any suspicious activity. Sasuke collected wood for set up the fire while Naruto and Sakura pulled out food packages from their bags.

Holding a bag of ramen, Naruto drooled and hung it overhead. “Oh yeah! This is going to hit the spot!”

Sakura opened her soda can and drank down the contents of the orange-flavored beverage. “Mmmm, good thing I brought my favorite flavor drink!”

“The fire wood’s ready,” Sasuke said, performing a hand seal and blowing out a tiny dose of his Goukakyuu no Jutsu to torch the wood pile.

“Ah, yeah! Now I can heat my ramen up!”
Sakura noticed Kakashi staring out into the forest and approached her sensei. “Kakashi-sensei? What’s the matter?”

“Just keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Don’t forget we’re entering uncharted territory. Which is why we should rest tonight and head out tomorrow morning.”

“But that survivor. Who knows if he or she...”

“I wouldn’t worry. If this messenger had been living out here this long, I have no doubt he or she has adapted to this type of environment. We’re the ones who should watch our backs,” Kakashi stated.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Sakura! How about sharing some ramen with me!” Naruto called out to the pink-haired kunoichi.

Deeply sighing, Sakura glanced back at her team mates and smiled. “I’ll be right there, you two!”

“No, somehow I get the feeling someone is watching us,” Kakashi thought, his eye observing the dark forest. “Who is the question...”

-

Watching Team 7 from within the forest was a black clad ninja. The eyes of the ninja narrowed directly at Kakashi’s team and pulled out a pair of shuriken. In a split second, the lone shinobi vanished out of sight.

-

Once Kakashi turned his back, he walked over to meet with Team 7 to discuss their plans for tomorrow. Before he edged closer to the camp, four shuriken came hurtling toward him. He quickly reacted to the incoming spinning blades and pulled out a kunai to block out the incoming shots. His eye narrowed forward to find a shadowy figure. Team 7 jumped out in front in alert to join Kakashi in defending their camp site.

“Kakashi-sensei?! What is it?” Sakura asked, reaching down for a kunai.

“We’re under attack, aren’t we?” Naruto said, his face tensing up and holding a kunai in his right hand.

Sasuke glanced at the shadowy presence ahead of them. “Look ahead, everyone!”

They spotted the black clad shinobi swiftly moving around and blending in with the shrouded darkness. However, the ninja was unaware of whom ‘he’ was dealing with. The ninja quickly performed a hand seal and appearing around the shinobi were five more exact replicas of the original.

“This one can do the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu?!” Sakura exclaimed.

Naruto growled angrily and performed a hand seal. “No way! Two can play it that game! KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!!”

“Naruto, wait!” Kakashi called out to the fox boy.

“Another Kage Bunshin no Jutsu user?” Sasuke thought, watching the Naruto clones closing in on the shinobi’s clones.

“Everyone, in case Naruto is in trouble, we will spring in and lend him a hand,” Kakashi ordered. “But then again...”

“Then, again, what, Kakashi-sensei? We don’t know if Naruto can handle this by himself,” Sakura said.

“That shinobi was able to perform the Bunshin no Jutsu. But he would lack the near unlimited chakra supply Naruto possesses due to having the Kyuubi inside of him. However, if my suspicions are correct, this shinobi is the messenger that sent the letter... Naruto, doesn’t even know yet!”

“Ha, you think you can perform a Bunshin when I’m around?!” the Naruto clones called out at once. “Why don’t you show me what you’ve got!”

The shinobi and his clones smirked underneath the masks while each clone performed a hand seal. Each of the fists were channeling a form of chakra, which transformed into the apparent form of a owl.

“ATEMI NO ZUKU!! Strike of the Owl!” the shinobi howled out.

With that, several of the shinobi’s clones took out several of Naruto’s clones with quick succession with the owl-shaped chakra. Naruto retaliated by charging out with his remaining clones and striking down the shinobi’s clones. Each of them clones exploded into clouds from each other’s attacks. As the clones were busy fighting one another, the real Naruto and the shinobi jumped up into mid-air.

The shinobi hurled out two shuriken at the fox boy, who countered them using his kunai. Naruto cried out and immediately grabbed the shinobi by the wrist. Just as he was about to punch the ninja, the black clad shinobi wrapped ‘his’ legs around Naruto’s neck and came dropping to the ground while slamming the Genin to the ground. Naruto gasped out as his body slammed with tremendous force. He struggled once the shinobi applied a tight grip around the boy’s neck with ‘his’ legs.

“Ack... Let... go.... you...” Naruto choked out.

Before the shinobi could deliver a final neck snap to seal Naruto’s life, a kunai was tossed directly for the enemy by Sakura. The ninja rolled to the side as the kunai landed inches away from Naruto’s head. The fox boy freaked out and kicked away madly.

“HEY, WATCH IT!”

“Get away from Naruto, you!” Sakura called out, dashing across and glaring at the lone shinobi. “Who are you?”

As the shinobi tried running away, he was stopped once finding Kakashi standing in front of him. The Copy Ninja looked down at the shinobi and crossed his arms. The ninja looked the other direction and saw Sasuke preparing to attack. There was nowhere for the lone ninja to go. The clones had already dispersed after clobbering one another.

“Looks like there’s nowhere for you to go, my friend,” Kakashi stated, his right eye looking down at the lone ninja.

“Looks like those night walkers are onto us. I say we interrogate him and force him to talk. He probably knows the whereabouts of the messenger,” Sasuke said.

Sakura helped Naruto to his feet. “Whoever he is, I don’t like him! Trying to kill me like that!”

“Yeah and for using one of my favorite Jutsus!” Naruto pointed out, looking at the ninja.

Kakashi cleared his throat and put his hand over the ninja’s head. “Actually, that HE you guys are referring to is actually a SHE!” The Copy Ninja removed the mask off the shinobi’s head and revealed her to be the brown-haired girl from earlier.

A shocked expression crossed Naruto’s face as both his eyes and mouth gaped open. “WHAT?! THAT NINJA IS A GIRL?!”

“Another kunoichi?” Sakura gasped, glancing over at the girl. “So, she’s the survivor who sent that message but she... she’s our age it seems.”

“Well, this is interesting and she survived out here this whole time?” Sasuke stated.

“Tell me. Who are you and what is your name, miss?” Kakashi asked the girl. “Apparently, you are the one who sent that messenger hawk?”

Nodding her head, the girl sighed. “Yes, it was me. My messenger hawk, Tobi-chan, came back with the reply letter from your Hokage. I’m sorry for attacking you but... It was the boy with the blonde hair I aimed to attack.”

“Huh? Come again?” Naruto was clueless.
“Why Naruto though?” asked the Copy Ninja. “Is there any reason?”

“I am taking precautions. I can’t be sure whether he or you three are night walkers. You see I am a demon slayer,” the girl said, introducing herself. “My name is Hayabusa Ai. I am the last survivor of the now extinct Yamigakure. Yes, as you can see, I have been living out here since the destruction of my village seven years ago. The night walkers were the ones to destroy my village and that has inflicted wounds to my heart that have yet to be healed. I’ve grown to despise them and all demons, including the ones hidden inside the bodies of those like this boy over here!”

As she pointer at Naruto, the fox boy scowled and retorted at Ai. “Look! Don’t you go blaming me for what happened to your village! It was not my decision to be one with...”

“Naruto, that’s enough!” Kakashi scolded his student.

Without any hesitation, Ai seized the opportunity and charged directly at Naruto with a kunai in hand. She pushed past Sakura and tackled Naruto down with a kunai inches away from his throat. Naruto was taken back by the overwhelming physical strength the girl had but it was no surprise considering the training and demon slaying she had accomplished over the last few years.

“GET OFF OF ME!”

“Not until I kill you. Your kind is a plague to this world,” Ai screamed out and leaned closer to him while whispering into his ear. “You’re a demon since I’ve heard of a yellow-haired boy with a Kyuubi sealed inside his body! You are that boy.”

Naruto gasped as he noticed the sorrow and burning hatred in her eyes. He somehow could understand the sorrow she had to endure. “Sadness? She has sadness in her eyes... She also knows about me having the Kyuubi inside of me? She... She’s looking at me with those hateful eyes the people used to give me!”

Just then, before Ai could slit the boy’s throat, Sakura rushed out behind her and applied a full nelson hold to restrain her (wrapping her arms from under Ai’s armpits and holding her up).

“Leave him alone!” Sakura exclaimed, restraining Ai. “Please, Ai-chan, we’re not the enemy. Naruto is no enemy. He came here to help you!”

“Let me go!” Ai screamed, kicking away and elbowing Sakura in the gut.

Kakashi quickly appeared beside Ai and put a hand behind her neck. “That’s enough. We did not come here to start a conflict. You sent us the message. Now we expect you to at least cooperate and explain what you know about these night walkers. Oh and don’t even think about attacking Naruto or you’ll be dealing with us.”

Sakura coughed, holding her gut. “You got that right... Shoot, that girl has some strength in her.”
“That’s expected of a demon slayer,” Kakashi replied. “Isn’t that right, Ai-chan?”
Ai looked away and scoffed. “That isn’t any of your business.”

“Tell us about these night walkers,” Sasuke spoke up. “Tell us everything that you know.”

Naruto looked at Ai and dusted himself off. “I don’t care whether you like me or not but I came here to help you since you asked us.”

Ai eventually gave in and sat down. “Fine. Since you asked and I did sent that letter, I will explain everything you need to know.”


(Fade to Black)

End of Act


Next Time

Ai Explains it All! Team Kurenai and Team Gai Encounter Night Walkers!


The end of act two. Ai has been introduced in addition to the villains of this story. What are you thoughts on Damien and his daughter, Mikon? I tried to portray Mikon as the revolting, slutty mistress. Damien’s real form will be revealed in the upcoming chapters. That and the introduction of Adam, a half breed blood sucker.

Now, Naruto and Team 7 have met the Ai. Not exactly their idea of a first-time greeting. :P

More on Ai and the villains will develop as this story progresses. Speaking of villains, there’s a chance we might see Orochimaru and Kabuto appear at some point.

Anyhow, next time, Ai explains her background and the enemy to Team 7. Mikon and Adam prepare their hunt. Also, we’ll see Team Kurenai and Team Gai (excluding the injured Rock Lee) appear in the next act. Plenty of more action to come! :D

That’s all. I’ll be working on Digimon Fusion next time.

Leave me a review! Peace, I’m out!