The Risk

The Risk

By Nine Tailed Vixen

Chapter 2

Racing to the area where he was supposed to meet his two trainers Naruto was suddenly overcome by a strange sick feeling in the back of his throat. He stopped for a moment and rested on the branch of a tree, stomach was clenching in an unpleasant way. Looking around he realized that he was near Old Lady Kata’s Orchard. She was this crazy old biddy who simply loved to grow endless amounts of fruits and vegetables. Once or twice a year she would hire ninja to help her harvest her crops. Not only did she pay for the labor but she also let the ninja take home as much as they could carry (needless to say team 10 was never hired after the first time).

Naruto thought that a little side trip wouldn’t make him too late so he took a 90 degree turn and headed for Kata’s Orchard. In his rush he had skipped breakfast and didn’t remember eating supper last night either. He was probably just completely starving and his body was just trying to give his head a shake. He hopped the fence marking her property (it didn’t keep thieves out; this is a ninja village after all). He made for the nearest apple tree when a rock was thrown at him. Unlucky for him she was sitting on her porch and saw him enter.

“Hey, you little monster, what do you think you’re doing trespassing on my property?” She yelled at him from her seat. The way she said it made it less of an insult and more of an endearment, but she was one of the few.

Knowing that he was caught he turned towards her and started walking with a sheepish smile on his face. When he was about half-way there he stopped dead in his tracks and his face turned a disgusting shade of grey.

“Brat?” Kata stood from her seat.

Naruto fell to his knees with a series of dry heaves. Tears stung his eyes as his stomach contracted painfully, trying to vomit out something that wasn’t there. Naruto’s head swam. He closed his eyes in hopes that when he opened them he could see straight again.

When he opened his eyes Kata was looking at him from across the table. She got up and placed a cup of odd smelling tea in front of him along with some dry toast and homemade jam on the side. Just the thought of eating anything made him want to vomit all over again.

“Sip the tea and nibble on the bread. It might be hard but it will make you feel better, dear. You don’t have to have any jam. Did you have breakfast yet today?” Kata asked him.

Naruto feebly shook his head as he scraped some crumbs off the toast with his teeth and swallowing a sip of the tea that tasted too herbal for it own good.

“Well that’s the problem then!” Kata declared, “My daughter used to do the same thing, skipping breakfast an’ all and oh how sick she would get near lunch!”

Naruto smiled. He rarely received such hospitality from the villagers and was grateful for it.

Kata dabbed a damp cloth on Naruto’s face, wiping away the sweat. Naruto took another bite of the toast and found that he really was feeling back to his normal self again.

“Thanks, old lady.” Naruto croaked out as he stood to leave. “I’m sorry that I caused you such trouble.”

“No worries, child.” Kata smiled as she walked him to the door, “Now don’t you forget to eat breakfast…oh wait!” She turned back into her house returning later with a small bag.

“What’s this?” Naruto asked as he took the bag as the old woman held it out to him.

“It’s that special tea that I just gave you, perfect for breakfast!”

Naruto waved good-bye as he bolted top speed towards the place where he was supposed to meet Kakashi and captain Yamato. He was really late now!

By the time that he arrived the two of them we’re looking none too pleased. “You’re late.” Captain Yamato stated as Naruto ran up to them, sweat dripping from his body.

“Ah, sorry, sorry, an old lady invited me to breakfast and wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Naruto explained.

Kakashi gave him a weird look before bursting out laughing. Realization dawned on Naruto too and he began to laugh.

Yamato looked between the two of them and wondered what the joke was.

0o0o0o0o

After training, Naruto had made a little progress with his new jutsu but it was still nothing remarkable. Naruto was practically shaking from the effort of molding his charka. He was running on empty.

“Are you going to be alright, Naruto?” Yamato asked his new student, concern etched in his features. Both he and Kakashi have been noticing something off in their protégé. He was beginning to strain his control on smaller amounts of charka. Sure he still had supernatural amounts of the energy but the amount that he was controlling was getting smaller.

Naruto looked at Yamato, “Yeah, of course I’m fine, why?”

“No reason.” Kakashi answered, “But Yamato and I are taking a few days off.” Yamato’s eyes widened slightly but hid it, although Naruto caught the movement anyway. Kakashi continued, “He and I have something else we need to look into. Go home, Naruto. Have a meal and then go to bed.”

“But—“Naruto tried to say.

“Go home.” Kakashi said before disappearing in a puff of smoke with Yamato.

“‘Go home’ yeah right.” Naruto jeered before running over to training block 17, hoping that Sai was still there.

Naruto sighed in disappointment. It looked like Sai had already left. Naruto looked at the length of the shadows. Of course he had left: the sun had just set.

Naruto was about to turn to go home when he found kunai at his throat. A familiar scent hit his nose and he knew who it was. “Nice try, Sai.”

“If I was an enemy, you’d be dead, or worse.” Sai said condescendingly.

“But you’re not. So do you think that we’ll work on tai-jutsu tonight? I don’t think that my body is up for charka manipulation tonight.”

“If you're like that then perhaps we should take it easy tonight, you know maybe we could just grab a bite to eat instead? My treat.” Sai said. He had also noticed that Naruto was steadily getting weaker.

“No way! First Kakashi and Yamato, now you? I’m fine, why won’t anybody believe me?” Naruto shouted. This was really getting annoying, he wasn’t just some porcelain doll, and he was probably just getting influenza, nothing to worry about! Without warning he charged at Sai, kunai drawn.

In the blink of an eye he was face down in the dirt with Sai’s weight holding him down. “If you were fine” Sai breathed into his ear, “then we wouldn’t be in this position, would we?” Naruto gulped as he heard the smile in the other man’s voice.

A sudden sniffing sound came to Naruto’s attention. “Are you smelling me?” He really could not believe what Sai was doing. He was weird but Naruto didn’t think that he was that weird.

Sai got off Naruto’s back and helped him to his feet. “Come on.” Sai insisted, “Let’s go eat.”

Naruto grumbled as he followed Sai. “You better damn well be paying”

Sai just chuckled and looked to the sky.

0o0o0o0

Naruto got home at a fairly decent time that night but yet he was still completely exhausted. He slowly stripped out of all his clothes and walked naked into the shower, not even bothering with any lights. When he reached his bathroom he almost screamed. Two red eyes were looking at him. Naruto immediately switched on the lights and saw to his amazement another face that was looking back at him.

He had seen his own reflection staring back at him. No red eyes…they were still as blue as ever. Naruto laughed at himself for his stupidity before stepping into the shower.

When he went to bed that night he noticed the moon was an odd shade of red that night and couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

Just as Naruto was about to go to sleep he caught sight of his glowing red-eyed reflection. It smiled at him. Naruto knew for certain that he was not smiling. Just as he was about to get up the reflection charged at him and his whole world went black.

To be continued…

0o0o0o0o0

A/N: I hope that this is at least getting a little interesting.

Please I would appreciate Reviews, even one-worders like “good” or “bad” would be great. That way I know that people are reading this.