Hmmm...this guy is kind of attractive.
His long, blonde hair is tied back into a ponytail, and his bangs cover just one of his brilliant blue eyes.
He gives me a sort of half-smirk as he sees me holding my head as well.
"Try and be a little more careful, un." The man shakily gets to his feet, and I notice two shocking details. One: this man has no arms.
The sleeves where his limbs would normally be protruding from are bloody and ripped as though someone tore his arms right off his body.
The second thing I notice is that this man wears a black robe with red and white clouds on it.
In other words, this man is a part of the Akatsuki.
"You're the one who crashed into me." I huff in irritation, forgetting that I should be scared of this man.
"You best be on your way." The Akatsuki man rolls his shoulders, clearly still sore from our collision.
Either this man does not sense any danger from me, or he just doesn't care.
I feel the location I typically wear the headband, and not finding it, I pray it is close by.
I have a vague memory of it falling off after colliding with the man.
This little 'accident' is probably the only thing preventing the Akatsuki member from taking off my head.
"Why are you out here anyways?" The man suddenly seems suspicious of my intentions.
"There was an explosion and I wanted to see what happened." I shrug innocently.
"You came for the art show?" This man asks in surprise.
"I didn't think there were any villagers around here with such a refined appreciation for art. They're beautiful, aren't they? The explosions I mean." He smiles at me, almost sincerely.
"Too bad I don't have time to show you any more of my work. Art is a bang; beautiful, but only for an instant." He sighs serenely.
See AlsoNaruto: Double Kamui at the beginning, and a Chat group? - Chapter 2Naruto: Double Kamui at the beginning, and a Chat group? - Chapter 3Cheating from Naruto! - Chapter 13An Emperor's Youth - Chapter 19 - redninjalass19"It brightens my mood to meet another true art enthusiast. I'll think of you next time I create a project, clumsy girl." He winks and hums contently as he sets off walking again.
I almost dread this 'next work' of his.
My second-ever Akatsuki encounter and I've made friends with one of them...
The Akatsuki member continues walking away, and I wonder if it would be in my best interest just to kill him now.
I pat around the grass to retrieve my headband and weapons, but when I look up again, this mysterious man is gone from sight.
It is probably for the best.
Should I have failed in killing him, he could have determined me as a threat and reported me to his friends.
Or better yet, he could have just killed me right then and there
Gaara is my main priority right now, anyways.
Shaking these scary thoughts from my mind, I stand to locate my friends.
If the Akatsuki are fleeing the scene, either Gaara is dead or my friends succeeded in saving him.
With the armless Akatsuki's carefree attitude, I suspect that the latter is unlikely.
These thoughts urge me forward, and I head towards the still-smoking zone the Akatsuki member was retreating from.
As dead leaves crack beneath my heavy feet, I realize the horrible reality.
There is a possibility that all my friends are dead.
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Kakashi
Kakashi holds his head in pain as the warm blood oozes from his Sharingan eye.
He sighs as Team Guy swarms him, ensuring that he didn't push himself past recovery with his new move.
Looking past Guy's concerned face, Kakashi spots Sakura carrying Gaara's body to the softer grass and Naruto looking off into the trees.
Funny, his team doesn't seem concerned for him at all.
He rolls his eyes at this thought.
As Naruto stiffens and peers into the forest, Kakashi wonders if he sensed something.
Naruto always does have a sixth sense for trouble. Kakashi thinks as he rests his head in the palms of his hands.
Naruto stands facing the trees surrounding the clearing.
Why is he getting this feeling that something is...hunting him?
He shivers as he turns back to the clearing with his friends.
As he moves back to comfort the injured, a feeling in his chest startles him: it feels like a cat rubbing its whiskers all over his heart.
He turns back to the forest just as a faint rustling begins to occur.
Inside him, Kurama shifts as if awakening again.
What is this? Naruto thinks in a panic.
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A/N: And for your viewing pleasure, dear readers I give you two bonus mini insights. Please enjoy and don't forget to take care of yourselves.
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Bonus 1: Gaara's final thoughts
Gaara sits in darkness, all alone.
Somewhere far away, a light has just faded, and cold begins to envelop him.
As he floats away from his body, he feels like smiling.
He is no longer a monster.
Sadly, the price he had to pay was his life.
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Bonus 2: Deidara's new friend
Deidara sighs to himself as he walks down the dusty, dirt path.
He was certain he lost his arms somewhere around here...
His mind wanders back to that stranger he met in the forest.
He isn't stupid.
He could tell she was a ninja, but he doubted she was higher than a genin rank--not powerful enough for him to feel like dealing with.
Deidara smiles as he realizes they both played the same card: 'innocent stranger'.
Well, they'll probably see each other soon again, no longer as strangers.
I have to go back for that blonde freak anyways...maybe I'll see that cute girl again...
