Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Life of a Ninja ❯ Chapter 6

Chapter 6

(Several blocks away…)

 

Kyra and Keyoko casually began to enter the forest. Kyra giggled evilly. “I've got something amazing to show you.” Keyoko could tell by her tone that it was going to be something naughty, but continued following none the less. The two of them had gotten bored exploring the streets, so Kyra had suggested exploring the woods. Keyoko, not knowing what else to suggest, fully obliged. Kyra led her new friend until they had reached the heart of the forest. Kyra stopped her as her usual mischievous grin crawled across her face. “Take a look around. Does anything look different to you?”

Kyra placed an odd emphasis on the word `different', causing Keyoko to quickly scan the area. At first glance, nothing seemed out of place. Keyoko relaxed. She'd half-expected something freaky to jump out at her. She took another look around, noting that the trees didn't seem right. They were bent and twisted into unnatural angles and shapes. Keyoko's eyes widened slightly. “Oh my god, you didn't.” Kyra nodded. “I did.” Unknown to Keyoko, Kyra had an amazing amount of control and manipulation over plants and other autotrophs. Like with every village she'd visited, she couldn't resist manipulating the trees into obscene messages and images.

“Kyra, is that one shaped like a penis?!” Keyoko pointed accusingly at a tree a few yards away. Kyra exploded with laughter at Keyoko's reaction. This was obviously a `yes'. Keyoko, desperately holding back her laughter, gazed further at the unfortunate trees. Although these images were uncalled for, they were absolutely hilarious. Both girls found themselves laughing to the point where their faces glowed red. However, their laughter was cut short as a slight rustle issued from a nearby tree. (One that was shaped like a butt.)

The girls grew silent as a leaf nin leapt out of the aforementioned tree. The nin shook his head embarrassedly as he readjusted his dark sunglasses. “Kyra, I can't believe you did this again.” Kyra laughed again as she dashed full speed towards him. “Shino-kun, I missed you!” She nearly knocked him over from the force of the hug. Keyoko found herself laughing as well. Obviously Kyra was pretty well-known. Shino's slight blush was undetectable to her by his several layers of clothing. (You'd think he was an Eskimo.) But he managed to maintain his composure. “Kyra, you really shouldn't mess with the trees every time you come to visit. Tsunade-sama's getting sick of it.” He was sure it was because it reminded her of Jiraiya.

He then looked up to acknowledge Keyoko. “And who might you be, miss?” His tone instantly shifted back to his usual dark monotone. Keyoko grew slightly frightened; he had an intimidating secret-agent look about him. “I'm Keyoko Katara. And you are?” she managed to mask the fear in her tone. Kyra released him as he straightened up a bit. “I'm Shino Aburame, of the Aburame Clan. And I suppose you already know Kyra.” Both girls nodded. “And I suppose you've already figured out that she's quite the trouble-maker as well,” he continued. Kyra giggled and rubbed her head against his shoulder; very dog-like. “Come on, you know you love it.” Shino grew red once more, this time more visibly. Keyoko couldn't help but laugh; the two of them were a cute couple.

(Somewhere near the Hyuuga Manor…)

Mitoko walked sadly away; not caring where she was headed. She'd wanted to hang out with Kaitoshi, but she realized that her friend had only one thing on her mind at the time. She sighed. `Oh well, she didn't need me to find her precious Neji for her. I could take a hint.' She continued walking until a slight rustle to her left stopped her. Suddenly, a bushy-haired puppet leapt onto the path right in front of her. It gave a quick bow before dropping to the ground to break-dance. Tiger began to laugh as Kankuro, puppet-master from Suna, leapt out as well. He landed beside her and smiled sympathetically. “Hey Tiger, what's wrong?”

She waved her hand carelessly; dismissing the matter. “Aw, it's nothing. But Karasu did cheer me up.” Kankuro's smile grew bright. “I figured he would.” He slowly wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “But I was looking for you, anyway. I was wondering if you wanted to get some dango with me.” She laughed again Karasu fall to his knees began begging. “Sure, I'd love to.” With a flick of his hand, Karasu returned to him. After wrapping him up and putting him back on his back, they walked further down the road towards the popular dango stand; not far from Ichiraku's ramen stand.

They reached it shortly and sat down. They made their orders and waited patiently. Since everyone else that was already there was already eating, they didn't have to wait long. As the two of them enjoyed their dango, a pair of familiar voices sounded from behind them. “Yahoo! The dango stand's not crowed. Come on Hinata, let's get some food!” “Kiba-kun, you do not have to be so loud.” A nin with spiky brown hair and a lot of red face-paint entered the stand and plopped down beside Mitoko. Following him was a short violet-haired girl with silvery white eyes that revealed right away of her nervous nature. She took a seat beside the loud-mouth as he proceeded to order for both of them.

Mitoko and Kankuro waved at the newcomers. “Hi Kiba, Hinata, where's Akamaru?” Tiger inquired. Kiba returned the waves as a tiny white puppy poked its head out of the top of his jacket. The puppy yipped excitedly as Kiba replied, “He's not feeling well, so I brought his little runt, Akari.” Little Akari was nearly a carbon-copy of Akamaru, save for the little black spots dotting her tail and paws. Another minute later, they received their food.

Between bites, Kiba switched conversing between Hinata and Tiger. His focus was back on Tiger. “So, how ya been?” Mitoko shrugged. “Not much, just hangin' with my buds. Oh, and Kaitoshi's back. She even brought a waterfall nin with her.” Kiba's features shifted in an instant as he nearly dropped his stick of dango. “Kaitoshi, but wasn't she murdered along with the rest of her clan, except Sasuke? Tiger shook her head. “Nope, she's alive and well. If you don't believe me, go find her. She's hangin' with Neji.”

As if on cue, Neji and Kaitoshi, holding hands, entered the dango stand. Kiba's mouth hung open as Hinata pressed her palms to her mouth. “K-Kaitoshi, you're alive?! But, how?” Kiba's face suggested that he was about to lose his mind. The couple took a seat and picked up a menu. The female Uchiha looked quite embarrassed as she turned to face the others. “Yeah it's me; sorry I've been gone so long.” She then turned back to the menu, issuing her order. Hinata's shock shifted to a sympathetic smile. “We all missed you so much Kaitoshi-kun.” Neji nodded, his arm snaking around her shoulders. “Yeah, more than you'll ever know.” Her face became dusted with crimson.

A few seconds later, Kyra, Shino, and Keyoko entered the stand. (This stand is pretty popular) Shino issued a quick wave to everyone, beaten down by Kyra's larger cheerier wave. Kyra took a hold of Keyoko's arm. “Hey guys, in case you don't know, this is Keyoko. She's all the way from Taki, and she's gonna stay with us for a while.” Keyoko waved, taking a seat beside her new raven-haired friend. Kaitoshi gave her a cheery smile. “Yeah, and she's also the one who healed my little brother's curse mark.” Keyoko grew slightly embarrassed, waving carelessly. “Aw, it was nothing.” A small applause soon followed.

The nine nin, and nin dog, sat enjoying their dango over pleasant conversation, until obnoxious yelling sounded from Ichiruki's. “More Ramen, believe it!” A loud groan escaped the throats of all, as Kaitoshi hatched a sinister prank. “Hey guys, we should all totally prank Naruto after lunch. Who's in?” Everyone's hand shot up, except for Shino and Hinata. The suspicious Aburame shrugged. “Sorry guys, I've got a bunch of errands that I promised my mom I'd do. See ya.” With that said, he sauntered out of the stand. Hinata stood up as well. “I'm um, sorry but I… I will be busy as well. Good bye everyone.” She dashed out of the stand, quicker than most would except from her. Kaitoshi shook her head, a slight frown crossing her features. “Poor Hinata, with that gigantic crush of hers on Naruto, she'd never prank him.”

Once everyone had finished their lunch, they left the stand to prepare the prank. Kankuro was to buy some ramen and keep it safe for now. Kaitoshi and Keyoko found a suitable tree and rigged up a device made from Kyra's vines as ropes. With assistance from Tiger, Neji, and Kiba, the device was ready within minutes. Kiba sent Akari to give Kankuro the signal. The tiny nin puppy found Kankuro and issued a distinctive yip. Kankuro nodded, attaching his chakra strings to the bowl of ramen he had been guarding. As Akari returned to Kiba, Kankuro dangled the ramen from the tree he was sitting in; the bait was set.

Exactly as planned, Naruto, who was just leaving Ichiruki's, smelled the ramen and came running. “Ha ha, it must be my lucky day! Free ramen!” Kankuro manipulated the ramen backwards into the forest, with the absent-minded blonde boy following. Further and further Naruto followed, unknowing of the trap he was just about to walk into. Seconds later, his foot caught a hidden rope beneath the scattered leaves at his feet. This triggered the trap, dropping a large net upon him before pulling him upwards. He was ensnared instantly, hanging dumbly from a tree. A frown deepened his features as he did what he was best at; screaming at the top of his lungs. “What's the big idea?! Someone, get me down!” A roar of laughter issued from behind the tree he caught in. A minute later, the perpetrators revealed themselves, red from laughing.

Naruto now looked pissed at the fact that this was a prank, not an attack. “Get me down, ya jerks! And who the hell are you three? If I don't even know you, you've got no right to prank me!” He pointed accusingly at Kaitoshi, Kyra, and Keyoko. (He'd already met Mitoko) Kaitoshi frowned deeply. “You've got a lot of nerve, ramen-for-brains! You seriously don't recognize me? I'm only a year older than you.” He shook his head dumbly. She sighed before activating her Sharingan. “Does this help any?”

Naruto scratched his head. “Nope.” This earned him a whack from Keyoko's trident. “How could you not recognize the Sharingan, you idiot! I'm not even from here, and I recognized it. This is Kaitoshi!” Naruto rubbed the spot on his head where he'd just been whacked gingerly. “S-sorry, I don't have very good memory.” Kaitoshi sighed yet again as Keyoko slipped her sliver trident back into its holster. “By the way, I'm Keyoko and that's Kyra.” She pointed to Kyra who was currently too preoccupied with manipulating a flower to reply. Keyoko looked back to Naruto. “And you're a dumb ass who's just been punked.” She laughed, causing the others to join in, and led the group away. Poor Naruto was left to hang there while pondering why people he hardly knew and didn't even know would do such a thing to him.

Once the group had left him behind, they stopped walking. Kiba and Kankuro brought up that they'd just remembered something they needed to do at home, so they departed from the group. The others were left to stare at one another for someone to suggest what they should do next. Finally, Neji spoke up. “Well Kaitoshi, since you're back now, I suppose Tsunade-sama should be informed as well.” He then gave Kyra and Keyoko a quick side-glance. “And I believe she should be informed of those two as well.”