A Konoha Fairy Tale

A/N: the long awaited update!! i recently stated in another story that i had a cute idea for this one, but the truth is, i have a cute idea of how fairy tale naruto can use the rasengan, and it made me excited because some time ago, i realized that in my stories 'Here's to the Fox' and 'Kitsune no Yomeiri' naruto couldn't use the rasengan because he'd never studied under jiraiya. but now i have a way around that!! so naruto can use it!! YATTA!!

anyway, on with the story.

whatever tags i put here last chapter still apply

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Chapter 2: In which Naruto meets a coral reef
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Naruto marched down the sea road toward Konoha. Iruka had informed him of the direction as he’d stood on the beach in confusion, and now he was several days into his journey. And what had greeted him on his way surprised him. There were so many people and so much to do that Naruto’s head was spinning.

But luckily the sea road stuck close to the coast and only passed through small fishing communities, filled with kind people that didn’t suspect he was a sprite. Naruto had never been treated so kindly before, aside from Iruka, always cursed for being something he couldn’t help. It was truly an experience.

Currently, the sea road was winding between the coast and a vast forest. Naruto recalled Iruka once telling him that Konoha was “hidden in the leaves,” and he wondered if this was where he should enter the trees. But something he hadn’t realized was that in sprite form, he was more human than not, and Naruto was hungry. And the sea was so close, filled with fish that could feed him.

His stomach made a strange noise again, and Naruto wandered over to a nearby beach. The water was clear, but Naruto became confused when he saw no fish. His reflection showed that his face was scrunched up in question, and then Naruto noticed a shelf-type structure hugging the coastline below the water. It was a coral reef, Naruto noted, so there should be fish somewhere.

Naruto stood back and began to take off the orange garments the Sun Goddess had given him, not wanting to get them wet. He left on the strange under garment that covered what he knew to be the male reproductive organ – the things he learned from sailors and merchants! – for he knew that one should be modest enough to leave some things hidden when in a human form.

Making sure to carefully fold the clothes and set them aside, Naruto entered the water. He took a deep breath and submerged himself, swimming closer to the reef. He rested his hand lightly on the coarse material as he peered into the crevices, quite glad the salt wasn’t irritating his eyes. He figured it must be because he was a water sprite, and as he continued to search the reef, Naruto took a hesitant breath. He was pleased and excited when he found he could still breathe underwater.

“What the hell are you looking at, usuratonkachi?”

Naruto jumped in surprise, as well as he could in the water. He swung his head around, looking for the source of the voice. But he was alone in the small part of the ocean, save for the coral reef. Naruto’s eyes widened and swung back to the reef.

“Were you speaking to me?”

“Is there anyone else around here?”

Naruto smiled when he realized he’d stumbled upon another water sprite. “Hi! My name is Naruto, and I was looking for some fish!”

“Hn. There are no fish here.”

Naruto wasn’t sure, but he thought he heard some trace of sadness within the ethereal voice. “Really? But you’re a coral reef.”

“I know what I am, thank you. But… what are you?” the reef asked in mild curiosity.

Naruto grinned. “I’m a whirlpool, the largest maelstrom in the sea off the Land of Waves!”

The reef didn’t say anything, but it did make a sound that Naruto associated with a snort. Then it asked, “So, what are you doing here?” The tone was cold, but again it sounded like the reef genuinely wanted to know.

“Ah, well, on was on my way to Konoha when my stomach started making this funny noise. And I’ve never had to eat before, but Iruka told me it happens to sprites and humans, so I though there’d be some fish in the reef, since I know fish are edible.”

“Well, there are no fish here.” The reef sounded cold and distant again, but Naruto didn’t think anything of it.

“Why?” The reef said nothing, and Naruto was about to leave to find some other type of food when a shadow cast itself over the water. Naruto’s first reaction was to swim to the surface, and when his head rose from the water, all he saw was a shadow disappearing into the forest. He was thinking of following it when something brushed against his floating foot. Looking down into the water, he saw seaweed off the reef reach for him once again, so he dove back under the small waves.

“Did you want me? I was going to follow whatever that shadow was. It might have been good to eat.”

“It was probably Itachi. He’s the only thing that comes by here anymore.” The reef sounded sullen, and Naruto felt he needed to comfort it somehow. But before he could say anything, the reef spoke again. “I know you’re going to ask, so listen well. I used to be joined to another reef along this coast. He was my elder brother. One day a water snake slithered too close to him, and his sharp edges sliced it open. In retaliation, the snake transformed into sprite form and used a Forbidden Spell of Hinata to change my brother into an animal. Itachi had to leave the water, or drown.

“Then the snake ate all the fish that lived in me and told me that he would kill any other creature that sought shelter within me, as well. So I have been scaring fish away from me for years, and sometimes… it can be very lonely.”

“If you’re so lonely, why don’t you ever leave?”

“Where would I go?” the reef groused bitterly.

Naruto brought a finger to his chin, his face scrunched up in thought. “I know!” He smiled brightly at the reef. “You can come to Konoha with me!”

“Konoha?”

“Yeah! Iruka told me to go there to speak with Kakashi, and then I wouldn’t be unhappy anymore! You should come, too! Maybe Kakashi can help you find a way to keep that snake away from you!”

Naruto was grinning maniacally, thinking what fun it would be to have company on the long journey. He and… the… reef…

“What’s your name anyway?” Naruto asked the reef.

It bubbled for a minute, pockets of air spurting out of its crevices, telling Naruto it was irritated by the question. “Why should I tell you my name?”

“I’ll need to know it for our journey, of course!”

“Who said I was going with you?”

Naruto’s face fell into a wounded frown. He’d been hoping that he’d found a friend to journey with, and even if they never saw each other again after getting to Konoha, that would be fine; Naruto would have a mate by then. But he was very alone right now.

“I’m sorry that I jumped to conclusions, reef-san. I’ll be on my way. But you should still know that Kakashi’s said to know many things, and I’m sure he can help you.”

Naruto cast one last glance at the reef before swimming for the surface and climbing carefully out of the water. He walked to his clothes, confused to find a piece of rough, yet soft, material big enough to surround his body laying next to his outfit, along with another set of undergarments. Naruto smiled when he realized they must have come from Hinata-sama.

Then his eyes caught onto another bundle of clothes, these blue and white from what he could tell. Another large piece of material lay with the bundle, and Naruto wondered what they were for. No one else was going on the journey…

A splashing noise from behind him had Naruto turning abruptly, and his eyes widened. Before him stood a pale sprite, limbs thin and body lean, with black hair that stuck out in the back and deep black eyes that stared at him in return.

He blushed when he realized the sprite was naked, knowing it was wrong that he was staring so. But Naruto couldn’t help it. None of the humans he’d seen in all his centuries had ever looked as beautiful as the sprite before him. He idly wondered where the sprite had come from…

Naruto’s eyes widened yet again. He turned back to the other sprite. “Reef-san?”

“Sasuke.” The sprite scoffed when Naruto looked on in confusion. “My name is Sasuke.”

“Oh? Oh!” Naruto smiled brightly at Sasuke. “Nice to meet you, Sasuke! I’m glad that you decided to come with me!”

“Tch, whatever, dobe. I’m just going to talk to that Kakashi you mentioned.”

Naruto’s eyebrow twitched. “Did you just call me ‘dobe,’ teme?” They locked glares so fierce Naruto swore small crackles of electricity passed between them. Both looked away at the same time, ‘hmph’-ing in arrogance and crossing their arms over their chests, which Naruto realized were both still bare, as was the rest of Sasuke.

“Are those for me?” he heard Sasuke ask, and he blushed and quickly nodded his head. They dressed facing away from each other, and soon they found themselves on the sea road.

“Start walking, dobe. I don’t know the way to Konoha.”

Naruto gave a small glare Sasuke’s way before turning away from him. He stood in front of the other sprite, hands on hips, chest puffed out confidently as he cheerfully cried, “Neither do I!”

“What?”

Naruto heard the eye-twitch in the calmly asked question. But without a glance back, he pointed his finger expertly down the road, one hand still glued to his hip, and added, “But I’m sure it’s somewhere down this road!”

And then his stomach made that noise again.


TBC


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sasuke - reef (remember, that's romanji, not kanji)

in answer to a question: a helix is a corded strand... like dna, which is a double helix. basically, it's a twisty, spiral shape.

i think this might end up being so very cute!! thanks for reading!!