(Naruto) Hokage's Choice XI
Wandering down a path, I nearly left the village when I noticed Hinata. I could just make her out, walking beside Tenten, and far behind them was a gated area. Massive trees loomed there, ancient things with plants growing all over them. Bird songs and the guttural animal calls filled the air as I approached them.
“Is that the garden?” It didn’t seem like one, to me. Especially with the fence that surrounded the enclosure.
Hinata shook her head and as Tenten scoffed, “That place? I wouldn’t take her to a place so dangerous.”
I just realized how deep Tenten’s voice sounded now. A jutsu, perhaps?
“Our g-garden is f-f-further to the r-right.” Hinata pointed and I could see the faint outline of Sakura trees.
“Oh, I see.” Another place to search, but that could wait till later. “By the way, are you related to Hyuuga Neji?”
It was like a switch had been flipped. She deflated slightly and Tenten glared at me. “Don’t mention his name.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know.” This didn’t seem good.
Hinata gave a faint smile. “It’s…okay. I-I’m fine. H-He’s my c-cousin.”
“He should never have been born.”
“T-Tenten, you d-d-don’t mean t-that.” She looked at the other girl almost sadly.
“…Do you know Lee?”
Tenten sighed. “What did he do this time?”
“Nothing, why?”
“…really? He tends to take things too far.”
Remembering his penchant for self-punishment, I gave a wry smile. “I noticed that.”
“Even for things that were not his fault.” This time she sounded like she was remembering something, an irritated but tired look on her face. “The fool.”
Another bell gonged twice-maybe I should destroy that thing-and the pair started again. “Sorry, there’s an important meeting right now.”
Without another word, the two quickly trotted back to the village.
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Hokage’s Choice
Chapter 11-Learning to fly
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Where to go next? Simple question, too many answers. I stood beside the gate, shivering slightly at the strange sounds that escaped every now and then. Even worse was the heavy silence that occurred in between the noises. Odd creatures lived there and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to ever enter the place.
Though, given the nature of the game, I probably would. Hopefully with companions-there is no way I could survive there on my own.
The path that Hinata and Tenten came from went a little further-I could see it heading higher and higher up the mountain. Maybe it was even the same one with the faces.
Turning, I started to follow it. There would be a good view there, for sure. One that would let me at least get an idea of the layout of the village and the land.
As I headed higher, I noticed there were less vegetation and the path didn’t split at all. The garden was probably not this way, so where did those two actually go?
-x-
To: Uchihacorps
From: SUchiha
Message: Back off
I should have known you would be there. However, I can handle myself and any issues that arise. I do not require your help as you are not involved. Nor have you been for quite some time.
As well, do not presume to tell me what to do with my job. I know what scans to run, I know what to do when nothing appears. I have a team of analysts to give me advice-they are here to view the situation. I do not need someone to interfere who only has a limited understanding of what is occurring.
I suppose I should mention that the idiot scared the girl far more than necessary. I gave him a simple message to say to inform her of the situation. He was the best choice-as you know, he is far more comforting and kind than I am. It should have kept her calm but alert. However, the idiot then realized that she wouldn’t understand fully what was going on and deviated from the message. While his reasons are....justifiable and reasonable, her vitals are not as calm as they should be due to this. Now there are other factors to include in the scans.
She is making slight progress with the games-not as much as expected or needed, though. At this rate, she’ll have to be pulled out before she finishes the game.
-x-
I wandered a little until I reached the summit of the mountain.
The view was...not breath-taking or awe-inspiring. Not any of those things I hear everyday. Instead, it gave me a sense of where I am, of who I was.
Of the place I had wandered in.
I could see the people walking, hear the children laughing. There were ninja running in and out and villagers visiting from far away.
For some reason, I felt like protecting this small haven, this isolated sanctuary. It might not have the best people or be completely perfect, but it wasn’t all that bad either.
For about an hour, I sat there, just staring out at the scene.
Then I noticed that the ground was rising to meet me.
-x-
“This isn’t good, sir. It seems like she’s about to restart again.”
“...how much longer, do you suspect?”
“...I am not sure yet, sir. Damage report has been confirmed. However, there is no complete sense on how long she has left.”
“What? What do you mean? Come one, you can’t-”
“Naruto, shut up. Now, you, take a small team and work on this. I need an accurate estimation.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sir, an anomaly has occurred. Please watch screen one.”
“....”
-x-
I flew. For a few brief, heart-stopping moments, I flew. Gravity was pulling me down, but I couldn’t feel it. All I could see was the open sky, the approaching ground, and the looming mountain.
If I closed my eyes, if I ignored reason, I flew.
Then reality returned, fear grasping my heart with claws, and each breath became a challenge.
(I was going to die. I was going to die. I was going to die. I was going to die. I was goi-)
Suddenly, I felt an arm wrap around my waist, and felt something shudder as I suddenly stopped. I might have been the one shuddering-it hurt to stop so quickly-but it might have been the arm as well.
It must hurt to stop something my size. If we weren’t ninjas, I know we would have broken something. Several somethings.
Well, if we were ninja, I probably wouldn’t have been saved either.
Gasping, I turned to feel soft blonde hair.
“Na....Na...” I tried to catch my breath, tried to get my chest to expand once more. “Nar...uto?”
“Sakura-chan,” he sighed in relief, already recovered. “Looks like I got you in time.”
“....tha...nk...you.” I closed my eyes for a moment. “Thank....you.”
“No problem,” he grinned as he started to walk up the mountain. Setting me down safely, he hovered over me. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah, much better.” I glanced around, trying to figure out what happened.
“What happened?”
“....I think I was pushed. Probably someone trying to make this look natural.” I shivered, slightly. “Let’s go down, ok?”
I didn’t want to stay in this lonely spot anymore.
-x-
“Sir, did you catch that?”
“Yes. Did she actually....?”
“As far as I can tell, she did.”
“Sasuke, that was-”
“Shut up, Naruto.”
“...she’s doing good, isn’t she?”
“....better than I expected. She actually managed to use it. For a few seconds, but still....”
“Better than you, even.”
“Shut up, Naruto.”
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