Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Lightning Kitsune ❯ Is That Snake...Cringing? ( Chapter 3 )

Title: Shadow of the Lightning Kitsune

Chapter: 02 - Crossing Paths

Beta: None

Rating: T (swearing, confused genin, and Harry's new outfit)

Date / Words: Nov 5, 2007 (revised) /1477

Disclaimer: Not mine.

- - / Time Lapse: 1 Year / - -

“Zabuza-san the Demon Brothers have been eliminated. One Leaf genin cell, their sensei, and the target. They're continuing on but their jounin sent a summon dog back- probably asking for backup.”

“A nin-dog, huh? What do they look like?”

There were a few moments of soft hissing, interrupted by a very human snort of laughter.

“Er...mind you that I'm just the translator Zabuza-san. There are three males, one female. The female has head fur- hair- the color of Ice Snake's outer skin- how the hell can someone have pink hair? One dark boy that tastes of anger and hate with a black water bird for head fur. There is a bloody white circle on his back- probably the Uchiha brat from a few years ago. The last boy is walking heat with sun hair and tastes of -” abrupt hissing erupt for a moment before subsiding “foxes. The jounin has old hair, tastes young, has one eye and reeks of dog.”

“I see. Copy-nin Kakashi, A-ranked shinobi of Hidden Leaf, possessor of the Sharingan eye and said to have copied over 1000 jutsu.”

“Sounds right up your alley Zabuza-san. A dark back alley in the seedier part of Mist - itai!”

A black haired boy scowled and rubbed the back of his head. It was surprising the amount of change that could happen in over a year. Once untamable black hair brushed the tops of his shoulder blades in innumerable small tight braids. Each braid was capped with at least one bead of various make; wood, stone, glass, and various precious metals and gems.

The face had matured and sharpened, quickly loosing the last lingering amounts of baby fat under Zabuza's `care'. A long peach and gold scarf, a gift from Haku after his first successful mission, was tied tight around his eyes with the trailing ends falling to his waist. When he first entered Zabuza and Haku's care they decided it was easier and cheaper to train him blind than replace his glasses; that could easily prove a liability in battle anyways.

Having long since resigned himself to being short, he stood confidently with no little amount of pride at a respectable 5 foot 9 inches (a vast improvement over the embarrassing 5 foot 4 inches of last year). A deep olive tan spread evenly over his exposed skin suggesting extended periods of time in the sun with little to no (Zabuza was a sadist, pure and simple) clothing.

He had on camo pants of various shades of blue-tinged greys and browns, wrapped tightly at the ankles. Over them were thin but durable shark skin hunters' boots that protected his feet while letting him feel the ground underneath. A layered shirt of watered, blue spider silk covered a long sleeved metal fishnet shirt. Over all of that was a waist length black leather jacket, left open. (1)

- - / Flashback / - -

When he first arrived he stood out like a sore thumb: short, gangly, wide green eyes, extremely pale skin, a crow's nest of black hair, and foreign clothes. Picked up for his novel appearance and Gatou's entertainment, it was only thanks to his Potter's Luck that he had survived his first meeting with the crime lord.

Wave Country was an archipelago, a clump of islands, some large and populated while others were nothing more than barren rocks and everything in between. The terrain ranged from barren rock to sandy beaches to large damp marshes to forests; in other words it was a breeding ground for snakes of the large and lethal variety. Fortunate for him but unfortunate for Gatou.

An underling had left a low window, near the port, open. Just large enough that a water moccasin variant could gain entry. The snake made his way to Gatou's office; he refused to say how, and curled up to sleep under Gatou's desk. Long story short: Gatou sat at his desk, snake woke up, snake decided to take his frustrations out on the small, pudgy, rat-human that woke him. Harry appeared in the nick of time to calm the snake down and call it off, Potter's Luck kicked in and Gatou decided to spare him, Addendum kicked in and he had to work for Gatou under “Demon of the Mist” Momochi Zabuza.

Up side: he got training from an A-rank jounin; he found a best friend/brother in Haku, and a grudgingly overprotective confidant/guardian in Zabuza.

Down side: he got training from an overprotective “Demon of the Mist” Zabuza and he'd be damned if Zabuza didn't earn his name...bastard.

A lot changed in a year. Harry (or Harii) became faster, stronger, taller, and found some sort of middle ground with his tenant- Shichibi no longer went out of his way to screw with Harry's chakra control, he let Harry's magical core handle that.

Chakra had to be the biggest surprise; he had almost as much raw chakra as raw magic- the only difference being with practice he could tap his chakra whenever he wanted instead of needing a specific focus. Of course, only a year had passed- Haku kindly, but religiously, kicked his ass and Zabuza was still a high A-ranked jounin.

- - / End FB / - -

“What about the Demon Brother's poison claws?” Soft sibilant hissing was directed towards Zabuza who scowled down at the large moccasin. “I swear it's like that damn thing can understand me.”

Tilting his head forward to hide his face behind clacking braids, Harry translated quickly into sibilant Japanese. “Fox-Scented Heat's hand was injured with the oily impurity, the poison, but then the smell of fox became stronger and it burned away the scent of impurity and injury. Kyuubi must have healed him. If he's anything like his bastard offspring he'll keep Naruto from dying of outright stupidity.”

Zabuza grunted softly in acknowledgement before turning away to stare into the fire located in the middle of their small camp. “And Zabuza-san?” The jounin tilted his head curtly, “Land Swimmer is fully capable of understanding human speech. It is humans who can't understand him.”

“Shut it brat. What does it have to say about Haku?”

“Ice Snake, Haku, remains safe, no one has noticed his presence yet but we're both worried about Kakashi. Since the Brothers gave away the game he'll be on high alert for any other attacks. He knows they will be coming. The runts aren't much threat but they did send back a request for help, meaning there'll be at least one more jounin on guard, possibly more. I know you don't like relying on my snakes but wouldn't it be better than leaving Haku to potentially be on his own against two jounins and six runts?”

Turning around, the missing-nin appraised his student silently before nodding decisively to himself. Feeling Zabuza's eyes on him, Harry placed Land Swimmer on his shoulders before standing straight facing Zabuza. Smirking to himself, Zabuza beckoned Harry over.

--/--

“WAHH! Kakashi-sensei!”

/ `Stupid Pink-Fur menace. Loud noises, bright color, no predator sense; how live past hatching? Other predators should have eaten; it only bluff. Smells sick, why not dying?' /

Muttering irritably, Land Swimmer reared in the middle of the Leaf team's path and faced Pink-Fur.

/ `“Help me Land Swimmer. Distract big predator and snakelings. Land Swimmer bigger and more frightening than Swamp Log. Smarter and faster than Branch Spanner. Bite better than Quick Strike.” Stupid Fox-Snake. Stupid Land Swimmer. Stupid loud sick Pink-Fur!' /

“Whoa! Kakashi-sensei, check out the size of that snake. What is it?”

“It's a water moccasin Naruto. A specific variant found only in Wave; you can tell from the pattern of the scales. Sakura, you disturbed it- back away slowly and we'll go around.”

“Yes-s K-Kakashi-sensei.”

/ `Stupid Pink-Fur. I eat!' /

“Oi! Watch it Pinky!”

Land Swimmers jaws closeed on empty air as something tackled Sakura to the side. Pushing himself up from the dirt, the braided and blind folded boy scowled and stalked over to the suddenly fearful snake. Helped up by Sasuke, Sakura dusted herself off while the three guys watched the new boy and the snake.

“Kakashi-sensei is the snake...cringing?”

“Snakes can't cringe, dobe.”

“Actually Sasuke, I think it is.”

“Hn?”

“Watch.”

“Kakashi-sensei, shouldn't you be warning that guy about the snake?”

Kakashi shakes his head. “I think he has things under control Naruto.”

Hissing erupts between the boy and the snake; the boy gesturing angrily at the snake.

“Kakashi-sensei, you're seeing this too right?”

“I am but I'm not sure if I believe it. You can only really interact with animals like he is if they're summoned but, only one person currently has the snake contract and he's not giving it up.”

“Then what the heck is he doing?”

“I have no idea Naruto. Look underneath the underneath- he's more than he seems. That's about all I can say right now.”

1 - Let me explain:

Camo pants - think Zabuza's. For better blending with his surroundings.

Shark Skin Hunters Boots - Hunters boots are thinner but with a very durable sole. Better traction and the closed toe protects his feet from snakes, bugs, natural elements found in swamp country, etc. Shark skin, yes some license on my part. However, it is durable, strong, and considering real skin feels like sandpaper, better than average traction.

Spider Silk - Again, some creative license on my part. Spider silk is one of the strongest natural materials in the world. It used to be used as bandages at one point. So, layered spider silk shirt, plus the steel mesh undershirt, my idea of a basic ninja version of a kevlar vest. Good for absorbing slash attacks, not so much from piercing. Blue because he is in Wave country.

Leather Jacket - A, I like them. B, to give him some protection from piercing weapons. Plus, pockets and hidey holes like a chunin/jounin vest provides.

2 - Yes, I am going for a very eccentric, gypsy-esque feel. Harry's opponents underestimate his abilities from his dress while anyone worth while looking at him recognizes the basic threat he provides. There is a basic reason for his hair. Besides providing something else for people to focus on besides him (they will only remember the eccentric hair and clothes, not him specifically), he is literally carrying his life wherever he goes. His money and his memories. And maybe a few ninja tools as well...?