Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto: Zero Chronicles ❯ Chapter 6: Fear is our weakness! ( Chapter 6 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: ZeroGn28 
"We have nothing to fear by fear its slef."
Great now I fear being afried.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Martial Arts / Drama / Comedy / Adventure / Action | Type: Self Insertion | Uploaded On: 06.13.2006 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 239 | Status: Completed
"We have nothing to fear by fear its slef."
Great now I fear being afried.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Martial Arts / Drama / Comedy / Adventure / Action | Type: Self Insertion | Uploaded On: 06.13.2006 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 239 | Status: Completed
Chapter 6: Fear is our weakness!
Den slowly reached out for the door handle. His heartbeat increased, as he noticed the handle had a bloody handprint over it. The sound of a loud clicking noise as he turned the handle made him jump a little.
"Why, do I feel so compelled?" He asked himself as the door swung open, with a loud screeching noise, stopping with a thud against the wall. Another light shined in this room, only a few feet from the door. Den looked down at what the light was shining on, as his eyes widened in absolute horror.
"No." He said in disbelief, staring at Sakura’s lifeless body, which lay before him, covered in blood. "Sakura-chan." He said gasping for air; he slowly stumbled over to the body. "Sakura-chan!" He called out again, hoping for some kind of response. As he neared the body, he felt a tremendous weight suddenly appear in his chest, knocking him to his knees. His eyes quickly examined the body over and over for any hints that she might still be alive. "Sakura-chan, I can save you!" He yelled in a squeaky tone, as He quickly placed his hands over Sakura’s body hovering them only an inch above as a blue light began to emanate from his hands running over Sakura’s body. "Please be ok..." He continued, in a low voice.
"The Setsu power is both a burden and a gift. It can help save life, but it can also destroy the one wielding it." Den’s uncle’s voice suddenly filled the room saying this line over and over.
"What? What is this!?" He yelled, trying to remain focused on Sakura’s body. Again the voice called.
"The Setsu power is both a burden and a gift. It can help save life, but it can also destroy the one wielding it." But this time only louder.
"Why are you saying this?" He asked, shaking his head, and beginning to force more energy from his hands to cover more of Sakura’s body. "Come on, this has to work." He said under his breath. The voice continued it’s taunting as Den began to grow more annoyed every time he heard it. Suddenly he noticed that the blue energy was coming from his gauze that surrounded his arms. A sharp pain shot threw his entire body, as the blue energy began to seep out though every pore of his body. "NO!" He yelled as fear overtook him, along with the pain. He screamed, as he fell over, wrapping his arms around himself, shuddering from the feelings that were ravaging over him.
Zero stood on a tree branch, frantically searching the area for the demon that was chasing him. Suddenly, from a few yards away, he noticed that some tree branches were jostling about off in the distance. Quickly placed his hand upon the sword and drew it again. "I’m not afraid." He said under his breath, failing to grip the sword strongly, due to his unsteady hand. The moving tree branches began to get closer, as the noise of someone leaping to each one grew louder. He quickly jumped towards the tree branch, despite his fear, and continued to get closer to it. As the noise began to grow louder, and closer to him, he jumped at whatever it was that was inching closer. Kicking it with enough force to send it flying to the ground, he quickly jumped after it and swung his sword down upon it with his eyes closed tightly.
"ZERO!" Ryuu yelled. Zero stopped his sword mid-swing and opened his eyes slowly, noticing Ryuu sitting on the ground in front of him, looking at the sword, that was hovering only centimeters from his face. Zero slowly withdrew his sword and placed it back in its sheath. "Zero, you’re still alive!?" Ryuu exclaimed standing up, completely unaware that Zero nearly cut him in two.
"Why would you say something like that?" Zero asked, trying to sound as normal as he could.
"Everyone else: Den, Sakura, Sasuke, everyone. They’re all dead, and it’s my fault..." Ryuu yelled, looking towards the ground.
"What?" Zero asked, unsure of what Ryuu was talking about. Suddenly Ryuu’s eyes widened as he pointed behind Zero, the snake demon he had been running from was behind Zero about to strike.
"Zero, behind you!" He exclaimed. Zero looked back quickly expecting to see the demon he had been running from, but saw nothing. He slowly turned back to Ryuu then back towards where he was pointing.
"There’s nothing, there." He said looking back at Ryuu.
"What do you mean nothing is there!? Its right behind you!" Zero looked back and still saw nothing then turned to Ryuu again. This time, though, he noticed something different, a reflection in his eyes that showed a demon-like snake right behind him. Checking again, he still failed to see the demon. Suddenly, he realized what was going on. Zero walked over to Ryuu, bashing him on the head; with such force that Ryuu fell backwards. Reactively jumping up, he stared toward Zero angrily. "What the hell, did you do that for!?" He asked still agitated, rubbing his head. Zero looked around then back at Ryuu.
"Where’s the demon now?" He asked. Ryuu looked at him puzzlingly.
"The… demon?" He asked. As he suddenly remembered the creature, that was about to kill Zero. He quickly looked toward its last location, noticing that it was gone. "Where did it go?" He asked looking about frantically, as Zero let out a slight laugh.
"I think it’s gone, but I’m not sure for how long. I don’t know who is putting these Genjutsu’s on us but-" Be fore he could finish his sentence, Ryuu quickly interjected.
"Someone? More like the forest itself." He continued, looking around in the area.
"Forest?" Zero asked, unsure of what he was getting at.
"This forest is a Genjutsu forest created by my clan as a training ground, as well as exploit our enemies fears." He then quickly searched his neck with his hands. "Looks like Umeko-sensei, knew that my snake pendent would have made the Genjutsu here void." Zero looked at him puzzlingly.
"You had a pendent?" He asked tilting his head to the side.
"Yes, I just never bothered to show it off to everyone." Ryuu said, before pausing a moment, and continuing. "By the way, she lied to us. Even the deepest part of our Genjutsu forest, is only thirty-minutes from the village. She just wanted us to think we were really far off, and expected us to be too preoccupied by the Genjutsu to realize the truth. Though I’m not sure, why the Genjutsu didn’t affect you fully. Had it been in full power, we wouldn’t have been able to see each other at all." Ryuu said looking up at Zero with a questioning look on his face.
"I don’t know..." Zero said looking off into the distance, as his demon stood next to a tree, no longer with a look of bloodlust, but what seemed to be a look of sorrow.
"Well, the good news is, Den-san is most likely caught in one as well! Me and you could win, and just leave him here." Ryuu added standing up and dusting himself off. Zero stood silent for a moment before becoming curiosity overtook him.
"This forest, it plays on our fears right?" He asked looking around.
"Yes, since I don’t have my pendent. It will bring our nightmares to life; it’s pretty strong, people who wander in here are sometimes found dead, from the fear alone." Ryuu said cracking his neck wondering why Zero was asking such a question. Widening his eyes a bit, Zero continued his question.
"And if you feared, death itself, what might happen?" He asked quickly darting his eyes around to examine the surrounding area. Ryuu thought for a moment before answering.
"Well they would die. I guess." He answered unsure of the answer himself. Zero jumped up onto a branch to get a better view.
"Then we can’t leave Den-san here, then." Zero shouted. "We have to find him and fast. I estimate we have already wasted about five hours in this place, for all we know he might be dead by now." Ryuu looked around for a moment then back up at Zero.
"Zero-kun, do you really think he is weak enough to die from a Genjutsu. Even if it was death, whatever it was that was trying to kill him would have to catch him." Ryuu answered looking around just as Zero did beforehand.
"You can’t run from what a fear if what it happens to be within yourself." Zero said taking off into the trees. Ryuu looked around only briefly, before running after Zero from the ground.
Den lay rolling in pain next to the lifeless body of Sakura. "Sakura-chan…" He said gasping for air again. "I’m… sorry, I cant save you..." Suddenly his heart felt as if the pressure from his chakra was going to crush it. Letting out a shriek of pain, he noticed that the bloody Sakura was sitting up staring at him with lifeless eyes. "Sakura… chan?" He managed to ask, still grinding his teeth from the pain.
"You let me die…" Sakura’s body said, but the voice sounded distant as if not from her body but from another place far away. "You failed me. You are to weak." She continued. Den couldn’t help but want the pain to over take his body and destroy him. Hearing her say such things brought him pain unmatchable to the physical pain he was feeling now.
"I’m... I’m Sorry…” He said reaching out towards her. The lifeless, unblinking eyes began to come closer to Den’s and she continued to taunt him with her words.
"You failed me!" The voice became louder and louder. Den tried to place his hands over his ears and close his eyes, but it did nothing. The voice continued to boom through his head, and when he closed his eyes, all he could see was her lifeless eyes staring back. Suddenly he felt a jolt of pain in the back of his head, and slowly the image of her eyes and the physical pain he was feeling began to fade away.
"Am I dead…?" He asked himself, out loud. Suddenly he felt someone place their hand over his shirt and pulling him off the ground. "What’s going on?" He yelled, to which nobody replied. Unable to see who was lifting him, the fear began to reiterates itself, before being shattered by someone’s laughter.
"Open your eyes Den-kun." Zero’s voice rang, embarrassment took over, as he slowly opened his eyes, to see Zero lifting him up by his collar.
"Was I dreaming?" Den asked looking around for the body of Sakura, which haunted him so.
"Well sort of." Ryuu said quietly. Den looked to see Ryuu standing three feet away from Zero, trying not to laugh. That’s when Den realized they were still in the forest that Umeko left them.
"Wait, what are you guys doing here? Did you guys already go back… and came to get me?" He asked, as his spirits began to shrink, from their elevation upon realizing he was only dreaming.
"No." Zero said, dropping, Den to let him stand on his own. "Umeko-sensei lied to us." Den looked at him puzzlingly.
"Lied? How?" Den asked.
"We are only thirty minutes, walking distance, from the village. In a forest, created by my clan. Though, It’s surrounded by a Genjutsu barrier, even though Zero-kun wasn’t affected very well by it.” He said, before finishing “You continue to surprise me Zero-kun." Ryuu added rolling his eyes. Zero smirked slightly, but it quickly disappeared.
"Genjutsu? So everything I saw was-" Den began before Zero interrupted.
"You’re worst fears brought to life, complements of the Hebi clan.” he said quietly.
"But, why didn’t you guys just, leave me?" Den asked again still unsure of the situation.
"Don’t look at me." Ryuu said, folding his arms and leaning against a tree. "He made me come look for you." Den then looked at Zero.
"But why?" Den asked again. Zero smirked again.
"Because, after traveling in circles for a few hours by myself. It’s no fun not having you and Ryuu to kick around, and just one of you wouldn’t be enough." Zero responded, turning around and walking away from them both. Ryuu got off the tree and began to follow him as Den quickly followed after them both, still a bit bothered from the earlier events. Several moments of complete silence passed, as they neared the exit of the forest. Zero looked back from time to time, at what Den thought, was to make sure they were following, but was really the demon that Zero could still see following from a very far distance.
"They seem to have figured out your little game, Umeko!" Munori said, finding it hard to suppress his laughter.
"Oh shut up." Umeko said in a sad voice looking down into the thick forest. "Its not over yet, they might still fail. Just like the rest!"
"You, and that Kakashi fellow aren’t too different. Well besides the fact that you’re annoying in an annoying way, and he is annoying in a cool way." Munori said beginning to laugh again. Umeko stood up angrily and slammed her foot on his head.
"Shut up you senile, old wolf." Umeko shouted, staring off into the distance over the tall trees for a few moments, deep in thought. "They are about to reach Konoha, lets see if they can figure out the rest of my little test, then!" She barked, moving her hair from her eyes, though the wind blew it back again.
"I hope they do. Then you can finally have some responsibility around here." Munori said closing his eyes. "You’re too lazy, to be a ninja." Umeko’s face suddenly changed from a calm look, to an enraged look.
"That’s it you dumb wolf! If they do pass, somehow, I’m going to teach the Zenhi how to summon you, So he can annoy you in my absence!" She yelled slamming her foot onto his head again, and even harder this time. Munori began to laugh so loud, that it seemed to shake near by mountains.
"You should stop acting like you don’t want him to pass. I saw the sword you gave him, Ume-" Munori began, before being slammed harder, yet again, on his head by Umeko.
"One more word out of you Munori, and I will summon… Mushi!" She yelled again.
"Fine, fine." Munori said, with a slight whimper. "You win, I’ll shut up." Umeko stared off towards the trees again, seeming to be lost in thought once again.
"They found there way out!!!" Umeko yelled in disbelief. Munori made a grunt sound, in an attempt to restrain himself from speaking. "What!?" She yelled seemingly, angrily at Munori, noticing his restrained voice. "You might as well say it!" Munori opened his mouth slightly but stopped. "What? Criticize me again? Go ahead!" She screamed again.
"They aren’t moving." Munori said suddenly. Umeko looked back towards the forest and Konoha, noticing that her three Gennin stopped short of their goal.
"Oh, are they going to battle it out! That would be a failure, but at least it would be fun to watch!" Umeko shouted gleefully, as her spirit seemed to rise.
"I don’t think they will." Munori said, watching very closely, with deep interest in what would happen next.
"Well?" Den asked impatiently staring at the goal that lay less then ten feet from them. Zero sat down on the ground and folded his legs and arms.
"I’m not crossing it!" Zero proclaimed closing his eyes.
"What!?" Ryuu asked, completely surprised by Zero’s decision.
"You heard me." Zero continued impatiently. "I’m not crossing it, you two can." Zero said turning his back to the goal.
"And why not?" Den asked folding his arms over his chest.
"Because, isn’t it obvious? Pass or Fail, it will not be any fun without you two around. So I’ll just fail, that is the only good option, if we cant all be on the same team." Zero said nodding to himself slowly. Zero and Ryuu exchanged glances again.
"But just a few moments ago you tried to-" Ryuu began before Zero interrupted.
"I told you! You can go ahead and pass, I’m staying here, with or without you guys. Being a team of two would just be lacking too much to have any fun!" Zero yelled nodding to himself yet again. Ryuu looked at Den for a moment then shrugged his shoulders and sat down next to Zero turning his back to the goal as well.
"Alright, Zero-kun, you have my vote. You’re right it would be no fun with just two of us." Ryuu said agreeably, nodding in also. Den stared at them for a moment.
"But, but..." Den looked at the goal then back to his friends, over and over. "But… Oh just forget it." Den said in a tone of resign, as he sat on the other side of Zero and turned his back to the goal. "So are we just going to sit here for the remaining three hours?" He asked looking at Zero and Ryuu. Zero looked up at the sky.
"That’s the plan." He replied. Den slowly hung his head as Ryuu and Zero began to laugh.
Den slowly reached out for the door handle. His heartbeat increased, as he noticed the handle had a bloody handprint over it. The sound of a loud clicking noise as he turned the handle made him jump a little.
"Why, do I feel so compelled?" He asked himself as the door swung open, with a loud screeching noise, stopping with a thud against the wall. Another light shined in this room, only a few feet from the door. Den looked down at what the light was shining on, as his eyes widened in absolute horror.
"No." He said in disbelief, staring at Sakura’s lifeless body, which lay before him, covered in blood. "Sakura-chan." He said gasping for air; he slowly stumbled over to the body. "Sakura-chan!" He called out again, hoping for some kind of response. As he neared the body, he felt a tremendous weight suddenly appear in his chest, knocking him to his knees. His eyes quickly examined the body over and over for any hints that she might still be alive. "Sakura-chan, I can save you!" He yelled in a squeaky tone, as He quickly placed his hands over Sakura’s body hovering them only an inch above as a blue light began to emanate from his hands running over Sakura’s body. "Please be ok..." He continued, in a low voice.
"The Setsu power is both a burden and a gift. It can help save life, but it can also destroy the one wielding it." Den’s uncle’s voice suddenly filled the room saying this line over and over.
"What? What is this!?" He yelled, trying to remain focused on Sakura’s body. Again the voice called.
"The Setsu power is both a burden and a gift. It can help save life, but it can also destroy the one wielding it." But this time only louder.
"Why are you saying this?" He asked, shaking his head, and beginning to force more energy from his hands to cover more of Sakura’s body. "Come on, this has to work." He said under his breath. The voice continued it’s taunting as Den began to grow more annoyed every time he heard it. Suddenly he noticed that the blue energy was coming from his gauze that surrounded his arms. A sharp pain shot threw his entire body, as the blue energy began to seep out though every pore of his body. "NO!" He yelled as fear overtook him, along with the pain. He screamed, as he fell over, wrapping his arms around himself, shuddering from the feelings that were ravaging over him.
Zero stood on a tree branch, frantically searching the area for the demon that was chasing him. Suddenly, from a few yards away, he noticed that some tree branches were jostling about off in the distance. Quickly placed his hand upon the sword and drew it again. "I’m not afraid." He said under his breath, failing to grip the sword strongly, due to his unsteady hand. The moving tree branches began to get closer, as the noise of someone leaping to each one grew louder. He quickly jumped towards the tree branch, despite his fear, and continued to get closer to it. As the noise began to grow louder, and closer to him, he jumped at whatever it was that was inching closer. Kicking it with enough force to send it flying to the ground, he quickly jumped after it and swung his sword down upon it with his eyes closed tightly.
"ZERO!" Ryuu yelled. Zero stopped his sword mid-swing and opened his eyes slowly, noticing Ryuu sitting on the ground in front of him, looking at the sword, that was hovering only centimeters from his face. Zero slowly withdrew his sword and placed it back in its sheath. "Zero, you’re still alive!?" Ryuu exclaimed standing up, completely unaware that Zero nearly cut him in two.
"Why would you say something like that?" Zero asked, trying to sound as normal as he could.
"Everyone else: Den, Sakura, Sasuke, everyone. They’re all dead, and it’s my fault..." Ryuu yelled, looking towards the ground.
"What?" Zero asked, unsure of what Ryuu was talking about. Suddenly Ryuu’s eyes widened as he pointed behind Zero, the snake demon he had been running from was behind Zero about to strike.
"Zero, behind you!" He exclaimed. Zero looked back quickly expecting to see the demon he had been running from, but saw nothing. He slowly turned back to Ryuu then back towards where he was pointing.
"There’s nothing, there." He said looking back at Ryuu.
"What do you mean nothing is there!? Its right behind you!" Zero looked back and still saw nothing then turned to Ryuu again. This time, though, he noticed something different, a reflection in his eyes that showed a demon-like snake right behind him. Checking again, he still failed to see the demon. Suddenly, he realized what was going on. Zero walked over to Ryuu, bashing him on the head; with such force that Ryuu fell backwards. Reactively jumping up, he stared toward Zero angrily. "What the hell, did you do that for!?" He asked still agitated, rubbing his head. Zero looked around then back at Ryuu.
"Where’s the demon now?" He asked. Ryuu looked at him puzzlingly.
"The… demon?" He asked. As he suddenly remembered the creature, that was about to kill Zero. He quickly looked toward its last location, noticing that it was gone. "Where did it go?" He asked looking about frantically, as Zero let out a slight laugh.
"I think it’s gone, but I’m not sure for how long. I don’t know who is putting these Genjutsu’s on us but-" Be fore he could finish his sentence, Ryuu quickly interjected.
"Someone? More like the forest itself." He continued, looking around in the area.
"Forest?" Zero asked, unsure of what he was getting at.
"This forest is a Genjutsu forest created by my clan as a training ground, as well as exploit our enemies fears." He then quickly searched his neck with his hands. "Looks like Umeko-sensei, knew that my snake pendent would have made the Genjutsu here void." Zero looked at him puzzlingly.
"You had a pendent?" He asked tilting his head to the side.
"Yes, I just never bothered to show it off to everyone." Ryuu said, before pausing a moment, and continuing. "By the way, she lied to us. Even the deepest part of our Genjutsu forest, is only thirty-minutes from the village. She just wanted us to think we were really far off, and expected us to be too preoccupied by the Genjutsu to realize the truth. Though I’m not sure, why the Genjutsu didn’t affect you fully. Had it been in full power, we wouldn’t have been able to see each other at all." Ryuu said looking up at Zero with a questioning look on his face.
"I don’t know..." Zero said looking off into the distance, as his demon stood next to a tree, no longer with a look of bloodlust, but what seemed to be a look of sorrow.
"Well, the good news is, Den-san is most likely caught in one as well! Me and you could win, and just leave him here." Ryuu added standing up and dusting himself off. Zero stood silent for a moment before becoming curiosity overtook him.
"This forest, it plays on our fears right?" He asked looking around.
"Yes, since I don’t have my pendent. It will bring our nightmares to life; it’s pretty strong, people who wander in here are sometimes found dead, from the fear alone." Ryuu said cracking his neck wondering why Zero was asking such a question. Widening his eyes a bit, Zero continued his question.
"And if you feared, death itself, what might happen?" He asked quickly darting his eyes around to examine the surrounding area. Ryuu thought for a moment before answering.
"Well they would die. I guess." He answered unsure of the answer himself. Zero jumped up onto a branch to get a better view.
"Then we can’t leave Den-san here, then." Zero shouted. "We have to find him and fast. I estimate we have already wasted about five hours in this place, for all we know he might be dead by now." Ryuu looked around for a moment then back up at Zero.
"Zero-kun, do you really think he is weak enough to die from a Genjutsu. Even if it was death, whatever it was that was trying to kill him would have to catch him." Ryuu answered looking around just as Zero did beforehand.
"You can’t run from what a fear if what it happens to be within yourself." Zero said taking off into the trees. Ryuu looked around only briefly, before running after Zero from the ground.
Den lay rolling in pain next to the lifeless body of Sakura. "Sakura-chan…" He said gasping for air again. "I’m… sorry, I cant save you..." Suddenly his heart felt as if the pressure from his chakra was going to crush it. Letting out a shriek of pain, he noticed that the bloody Sakura was sitting up staring at him with lifeless eyes. "Sakura… chan?" He managed to ask, still grinding his teeth from the pain.
"You let me die…" Sakura’s body said, but the voice sounded distant as if not from her body but from another place far away. "You failed me. You are to weak." She continued. Den couldn’t help but want the pain to over take his body and destroy him. Hearing her say such things brought him pain unmatchable to the physical pain he was feeling now.
"I’m... I’m Sorry…” He said reaching out towards her. The lifeless, unblinking eyes began to come closer to Den’s and she continued to taunt him with her words.
"You failed me!" The voice became louder and louder. Den tried to place his hands over his ears and close his eyes, but it did nothing. The voice continued to boom through his head, and when he closed his eyes, all he could see was her lifeless eyes staring back. Suddenly he felt a jolt of pain in the back of his head, and slowly the image of her eyes and the physical pain he was feeling began to fade away.
"Am I dead…?" He asked himself, out loud. Suddenly he felt someone place their hand over his shirt and pulling him off the ground. "What’s going on?" He yelled, to which nobody replied. Unable to see who was lifting him, the fear began to reiterates itself, before being shattered by someone’s laughter.
"Open your eyes Den-kun." Zero’s voice rang, embarrassment took over, as he slowly opened his eyes, to see Zero lifting him up by his collar.
"Was I dreaming?" Den asked looking around for the body of Sakura, which haunted him so.
"Well sort of." Ryuu said quietly. Den looked to see Ryuu standing three feet away from Zero, trying not to laugh. That’s when Den realized they were still in the forest that Umeko left them.
"Wait, what are you guys doing here? Did you guys already go back… and came to get me?" He asked, as his spirits began to shrink, from their elevation upon realizing he was only dreaming.
"No." Zero said, dropping, Den to let him stand on his own. "Umeko-sensei lied to us." Den looked at him puzzlingly.
"Lied? How?" Den asked.
"We are only thirty minutes, walking distance, from the village. In a forest, created by my clan. Though, It’s surrounded by a Genjutsu barrier, even though Zero-kun wasn’t affected very well by it.” He said, before finishing “You continue to surprise me Zero-kun." Ryuu added rolling his eyes. Zero smirked slightly, but it quickly disappeared.
"Genjutsu? So everything I saw was-" Den began before Zero interrupted.
"You’re worst fears brought to life, complements of the Hebi clan.” he said quietly.
"But, why didn’t you guys just, leave me?" Den asked again still unsure of the situation.
"Don’t look at me." Ryuu said, folding his arms and leaning against a tree. "He made me come look for you." Den then looked at Zero.
"But why?" Den asked again. Zero smirked again.
"Because, after traveling in circles for a few hours by myself. It’s no fun not having you and Ryuu to kick around, and just one of you wouldn’t be enough." Zero responded, turning around and walking away from them both. Ryuu got off the tree and began to follow him as Den quickly followed after them both, still a bit bothered from the earlier events. Several moments of complete silence passed, as they neared the exit of the forest. Zero looked back from time to time, at what Den thought, was to make sure they were following, but was really the demon that Zero could still see following from a very far distance.
"They seem to have figured out your little game, Umeko!" Munori said, finding it hard to suppress his laughter.
"Oh shut up." Umeko said in a sad voice looking down into the thick forest. "Its not over yet, they might still fail. Just like the rest!"
"You, and that Kakashi fellow aren’t too different. Well besides the fact that you’re annoying in an annoying way, and he is annoying in a cool way." Munori said beginning to laugh again. Umeko stood up angrily and slammed her foot on his head.
"Shut up you senile, old wolf." Umeko shouted, staring off into the distance over the tall trees for a few moments, deep in thought. "They are about to reach Konoha, lets see if they can figure out the rest of my little test, then!" She barked, moving her hair from her eyes, though the wind blew it back again.
"I hope they do. Then you can finally have some responsibility around here." Munori said closing his eyes. "You’re too lazy, to be a ninja." Umeko’s face suddenly changed from a calm look, to an enraged look.
"That’s it you dumb wolf! If they do pass, somehow, I’m going to teach the Zenhi how to summon you, So he can annoy you in my absence!" She yelled slamming her foot onto his head again, and even harder this time. Munori began to laugh so loud, that it seemed to shake near by mountains.
"You should stop acting like you don’t want him to pass. I saw the sword you gave him, Ume-" Munori began, before being slammed harder, yet again, on his head by Umeko.
"One more word out of you Munori, and I will summon… Mushi!" She yelled again.
"Fine, fine." Munori said, with a slight whimper. "You win, I’ll shut up." Umeko stared off towards the trees again, seeming to be lost in thought once again.
"They found there way out!!!" Umeko yelled in disbelief. Munori made a grunt sound, in an attempt to restrain himself from speaking. "What!?" She yelled seemingly, angrily at Munori, noticing his restrained voice. "You might as well say it!" Munori opened his mouth slightly but stopped. "What? Criticize me again? Go ahead!" She screamed again.
"They aren’t moving." Munori said suddenly. Umeko looked back towards the forest and Konoha, noticing that her three Gennin stopped short of their goal.
"Oh, are they going to battle it out! That would be a failure, but at least it would be fun to watch!" Umeko shouted gleefully, as her spirit seemed to rise.
"I don’t think they will." Munori said, watching very closely, with deep interest in what would happen next.
"Well?" Den asked impatiently staring at the goal that lay less then ten feet from them. Zero sat down on the ground and folded his legs and arms.
"I’m not crossing it!" Zero proclaimed closing his eyes.
"What!?" Ryuu asked, completely surprised by Zero’s decision.
"You heard me." Zero continued impatiently. "I’m not crossing it, you two can." Zero said turning his back to the goal.
"And why not?" Den asked folding his arms over his chest.
"Because, isn’t it obvious? Pass or Fail, it will not be any fun without you two around. So I’ll just fail, that is the only good option, if we cant all be on the same team." Zero said nodding to himself slowly. Zero and Ryuu exchanged glances again.
"But just a few moments ago you tried to-" Ryuu began before Zero interrupted.
"I told you! You can go ahead and pass, I’m staying here, with or without you guys. Being a team of two would just be lacking too much to have any fun!" Zero yelled nodding to himself yet again. Ryuu looked at Den for a moment then shrugged his shoulders and sat down next to Zero turning his back to the goal as well.
"Alright, Zero-kun, you have my vote. You’re right it would be no fun with just two of us." Ryuu said agreeably, nodding in also. Den stared at them for a moment.
"But, but..." Den looked at the goal then back to his friends, over and over. "But… Oh just forget it." Den said in a tone of resign, as he sat on the other side of Zero and turned his back to the goal. "So are we just going to sit here for the remaining three hours?" He asked looking at Zero and Ryuu. Zero looked up at the sky.
"That’s the plan." He replied. Den slowly hung his head as Ryuu and Zero began to laugh.