MyFavorite kinda blood would turn ya into a Zombie

Unbeta-ed version.



-Chapter 2



"Do do do do do do, ooh ye-ah." Warbled across the field, his slightly gravelly voice wavered amidst the crackling and popping of the burning turf, I smirk under my face mask, recognizing the tune. He never disappoints to find music to fit his situation... or not. I've come to realize, he just likes to sing.



"-The man in the crowd with the multicolored mirrors On his hobnail boots, Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy Working overtime-" He steps into my sight past the thick column of smoke, blonde hair swaying as he bobs his head and hums the instrumental.



"Mother Superior jumped the gun- Mother Superior jumped the gun- Mother Superior jumped the gun." He turns to face me with a lazy smile, cocks an eyebrow, his arms stretch wide on either side of him and he crows-



"Happiness - is a warm gu-huuu-un! Happineh-eh-ess is a warm gun, momma-!"



"-Bang Bang Shooh-oot Shoot!" Ino harmonizes from her crouched position, never raising her pale blue eyes from her work,



Naruto, engulfed in the song, sways his hips clenches his eyes shut and throws his head back,



"Happiness, is a warm-yes it ii-ees- guuu-uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!"(1) A wire is tripped and a mine explodes halfway down the field, I hit the dirt with a grunt, arms cover my head, we're showered in bits and pieces of meat, droplets of blood, dirt, rocks, and pieces of earth held together by white and yellow grass. (Not in that order)



"GOSHDAMMIT! ZOMBIE MAN!" Naruto howls. I slowly push myself up on my elbows. Naruto's narrowed blue eyes spark between amusement and annoyance, nonchalantly still standing, he turns to me, pouting. "Somehow that made me feel upstaged." I notice he inexplicably has a purple and orange polka dotted umbrella opened over his head, that wasn't there three seconds ago... not a drop of blood on him.



Nonplussed, I glance around to check the individual positions of my fellow non infected survivors. Ino- short corn silk blonde hair tied up in a black handkerchief, pre-zombie shower, had been working on the homemade explosives; she was brushing dirt and gore off the corked Molotov cocktails, carefully placing the cleaned ones side by side.

Lee- grey overalls rolled up to his knees, combat boots with the rainbow (courtesy of Naruto) laces messily tied sat in the back of the truck, checked the guns over and took stock of the ammo.

Last but certainly not least, Naruto- vibrant colors, hair looking like someone had spun it out of sunshine, blue crystal eyes, depths shining as unpredictably as the sea on a cloudy day...tripped over his umbrella he'd been swinging by the handle in lazy circles.



Naruto... ah Well, he was insane when I met him.



I'm slowly starting to believe in him. Haven't quite figured out how he's survived the past four months... but then he does something out of character, like suggesting a combustible blockade on the fourth floor of our old apartment building. Plan of action- Lure (run for your life) the infected to the top floor, set off the' silent' evacuate alarm (drop a match into a bucket of firecrackers) and light the fuses that ran to the homemade napalm and gasoline situated in tarp sacks hanging from the ceiling.

He knocked man sized holes in the walls between apartments and blocked off entrances into certain apartments so the only way to access some of the rooms was the entrances he made, this allowed us to reach the fire escape no matter where we were in the building without having to worry about where the infected could come from. He also set up multiple escape routes that led to normal ways of escape or you can jump from the metal patio on the second floor onto the roof of the Mc Donalds next door and escape through the hole he sawed through the ceiling down into the diner's kitchen.



Well it worked. We got out alive, the apartment and infected within burnt to the ground.



Foresight, he's got it, somewhat. Grace- not so much.



Focusing back on my work, I hear his voice, suddenly uncharacteristically dull,



"Fire doesn't cleanse, it blackens."



I glance up at Naruto, standing in a relaxed stance leaning against his umbrella, his blue eyes half closed, staring off into the direction of the explosion. His eyes slowly slide to meet mine, and his lips stretch into a sheepish grin.



"Silent hill. I was suddenly reminded of that movie."



I quirk an eyebrow,



"Understandably, we've been provided with gore, monsters, fire and death. That aside, we're trying to set up camp here, Naruto. You're supposed to be keeping watch." Naruto sighs and turns back to the flamed barricade smothering one half of the field, another of his ingenious sudden ideas, the flames and smoke hid us from view and normally the infected liked to stay away from fire.



"I am keeping watch. I saw that zombie coming before he went and exploded." I finish with the wire, cut the excess with the heavy metal pliers and stand.



"Saw him coming and said nothing. Wow, way to keep your friends alive. Let me guess, you were evaluating the zombie's potential, like with fred."(2) Naruto 'tch-ed' dismissively and walked forwards to examine the wire.



"Fred was a massive success, before you guys went and killed him. I was learning so much. I learnt so much."



Naruto's slightly whiney rant was cut into by lee's low emotionless voice,



"To what end, Naruto? Are you going to figure out a cure? As soon as the infected bite someone and their saliva enters the blood stream, we usually only have about nine or ten seconds before we lose another comrade to infection and gain a new threat. Keeping Fred was counterproductive to surviving. The only things you've told us about what you've learned from fred is that apparently the infected's slight cognitive loss is due to the virus attacking their nervous system, like an animal with rabies."



Lee inspected a 30 round AKM clip before sliding it into the metal ammunition box and closing it with a clunk. He looked up at Naruto and frowned.



"How does that help us, at all? So we know it's like rabies, why it's so easy to get infected when bitten because they don't swallow their own saliva, does that knowledge help us survive? Does it prevent you from killing them, hold you back from protecting yourself because underneath their crazed homicidal fronts they're just sick humans." Naruto looked slightly mollified; he stood for a few minutes in silence with closed eyes and said softly



"I... I would never let you guys get eaten. I wouldn't willingly get myself bitten either. When it comes down to it, you guys or them, I'd definitely choose my friends." He opened his eyes, smiling he turned to lee.



"C'mon eeyore, you don't honestly think I'm stupid, do ya?" Lee snorted and went back to organizing the ammo.



"You're more reckless than stupid Naruto." Ino smiled warmly, walking up with an armload of her explosives to store them in the truck bed.



"Don't get so caught up in pitying the zombies that you let yourself get hurt."



Ino and Naruto, are the only two who refer to the infected as zombies. I suppose it's because they still have a problem with killing them. Ino doesn't fear them enough, that will change over time. Naruto however, well... as I said before, Naruto is just insane.



"Well I've been thinking 'bout- All the places we've surfed and danced and- All the faces we've missed SO let's get- Back together and do it again"(3) Naruto's singing again. Ino sits on the back of the truck and hums along, legs swinging, Lee's head bobs back and forth almost imperceptibly and Naruto's grinning like mad as he sways to the beat in front of his friends in the truck.



"Dooo do dooo DO do dooo!" Ino giggles before jumping up from the truck bed. The side of Lee's mouth is quirked up and he's watching Naruto and Ino dance around each other giggling and laughing while trying not to trip over each other's feet. I can feel my face set into a comfortable grin. Naruto, amidst all of this, brings us so much peace, and reminds the other two that it's ok to act carefree, enjoy their youth.



I sound like Gai... I grimace and run a hand through my prematurely grey hair.



"If you guys are finished, I'd like to scout out the area before calling it a day. Lee and Ino did it in the last town, so this time it's you and me Naruto." Naruto stops moving abruptly, Ino slams into him and both of them to tumble to the dirt. Ino's head shot up and she craned her neck to talk to me.



"Kakashi, we're low on water. And Naruto and Lee used up the last of the gun cleaning solvents last week. We had to use the shotgun a lot in that forest while it rained, I dried it immediately after but had to strip the lubricant off and we didn't have enough to re-lube it completely-"



Ino carried on, looked like she was ticking off a list in her head so eventually I just had her write down what we needed. Naruto asked if we could pick up some cup ramen as we slid into our underarmour(4) shirts. I pause, to appreciate the undershirts. Damn fine shirts.



Naruto looks unhealthily tiny in his form fitting long-sleeved black shirt. He's small for his age though he's developed a four pack over the previous months. Running from the infected is good motivation to keep in shape. Me and surprisingly, Naruto, take extra care to make sure that we are never low stocked on food. I suspect Naruto just doesn't like going hungry. He was a little pudgy when we first met him, but the past four months have stripped all fat away, leaving only muscle and bone. His structure is small, long legs, hairless chest and face. If I didn't know I'd get punched for it, I'd almost describe him as feminine.



"Well? Can we?" oh yeah, I forgot he'd asked a question.



"We're supposed to go to a grocery store anyways. If we see some we'll pick it up. Ah, and Naruto, four or five boxes will do, no need to take all they have stocked."



He enthusiastically began stretching, I following suit, it's a good idea to warm up before heading out. Never knowing what will happen; your fore-instinct should be caution. We finished up and start assembling and donning our other equipment. Elastic forearm protectors and Nylcot jackets, we wear jean cargo pants and boots, Naruto placed his dentist face mask over his nose and mouth, every precaution being taken, and we finish getting dressed. I waver between the glock and a rifle. Naruto without hesitating picks up a rifle and slings it over his back while placing ammo in his pants pockets. We won't need much, we're more likely to distract any infected we find with a flare and escape than actually engage them, but if there's only one or two in the stores we need to visit... well.



"mmKakashi, you should take the glock." Naruto spoke from beside me, steadily loading his rifle. He slid five small bullets down into his gun and clicked the safety off and on before cocking the metal handle in the side of the gun back and forth, which placed a round in the chamber ready to be fired. He finished by checking his safety, then turned and smiled expectantly at me through his mask.



I don't spare him a glance as I pick up the semi-auto pistol and start loading it. He makes a noise like he's repressing a snort while giggling, Sounded painful actually.



"Be careful you guys." Lee's monotone and Ino's chirpy voice in unison see us off.



We follow the main road through the desolate town, staying in the shadow of the buildings, constantly checking each other's position. First store we hit is the gun store, or more specifically, the army surplus store. It was vacant, and predictably, most of the weapons and ammo had been cleared from the broken glass littered display cases and gun racks, but we didn't need the guns so much as the brushes and bottles of gun lubricant that were in abundant supply near the counter. Naruto exclaimed over a neon orange hunting jacket, I cut that idea down before it took hold in his head, telling him there are equally easy ways to advertise his presence, least of which banging pots and pans together while singing the national anthem at the top of his lungs. He gets my drift and leaves the reflective jacket on the rack with a regretful parting glance.



The hardware store is well supplied and almost untouched, furthering my belief that people are idiots. We're nearing the back of the store, Naruto tugging lightly at every display doorknob screwed to the wall he sees. Sometimes I worry that this kid is OCD. He just up and does things randomly, giving no explanation at all. Sometimes, I can figure out his reasoning, but more often than not, he does something that has me double taking so fast I develop whiplash.



I haven't come across any saw blades, last item to find and we're done here, next stop, grocery store. I walk cautiously to the door labeled 'only store personal beyond this point' there should be saw blades in stock in the back. I spare a quick glance back at Naruto, he's standing by a nail gun display, blonde hair falling around his face, blue eyes examining the sign boasting the durability of the low priced item.



I whistle lowly, his eyes jerk away from the sign and rest attentively on me, I motion to the door and hold up my hand with four fingers raised. He winks his understanding and clicks his rifle's safety off bringing it to his shoulder steadily. He'll stay, cover the front while I go inside the store room, if I'm not out after four minutes, he'll follow me in. Hopefully, I'll just have gotten lost in the dark room. I raise the Glock to my hip, slowly opening the door.



Living like we have the past four months, you develop instincts, quirks, I suppose I have to admit we've all gotten a little ocd, but these habits help keep our mind calm, our senses on the present, our thoughts clear. One of mine is instinctively sniffing the air for the smell of gasoline upon entering foreign territory, and over the weeks, I've eventually been able to distinguish the metallic scent of blood.



I don't realize how much I've tensed up upon recognizing that scent until I try to take a step forward and stumble. My legs are painfully locked and I'm forced to take a few minutes to calm down, I can feel Naruto's gaze on me. I straighten my back and turn my head slightly to the side to reassure him, giving him a slow nod to confirm and convey, be calm, don't panic, be wary- Watch out. My eyes don't leave the dark opening; I can barely discern towering metal racks holding planks of wood and whatever else they'd have in stock back here. I'm watching for any movement as I slowly step into the room, I slide a black metal flashlight from the depths of my back pack and keeping the head pointed at the floor, flick it on. The beam uncovers a sawdust littered floor, boot prints and what looks like dog prints outlined into the sawdust, just great. An infected dog is about five times worse than any infected human.



I allow myself to breathe a little quicker, feel the adrenaline start pumping in my veins; I might need that extra kick to my reflexes. I slowly make my way through the cavernous room, stepping lightly, breathing quietly, I step from behind a shelf into a sliver of light shining almost blindingly to my eyes that had adjusted to the dark, I turn my head away and blink a few times to clear my vision. I place a hand to shadow my eyes and peer in the direction of the offending light; I just barely grasp the realization that I'm looking at the outline of a neck and a torso before I'm slammed into a shelf, flashlight and gun flying who knows where, wood digging into my back. I grunt and struggle against the forearms keeping me pressed tightly back by pressuring my neck and abs, panic and adrenaline speeding my heart, I realize there are voices frantically shouting as I try to bring one of my legs between those of my attacker. He's tall, well built, and obviously not infected or I'd have been bitten by now.



"Stop! Itachi, Stop it! He's not infected!"



"That doesn't make him not a threat."



I understand that there's two separate voices from behind the man trying to asphyxiate me, both male by the sound of it. I've succeeded in bringing my leg between my attacker's, unfortunately he notices and twists my body around to slam me face first into the wall on the right side of us. I groan, I can feel warm blood trickling down my lips and chin from my nose.



"Itachi!" a warning shout, then a more familiar voice, though the tone unfamiliarly cold and commanding made chills run up my spine.



"Let go of Kakashi." I feel the pressure on my back lift, and I turn around shakily, bracing myself with one arm against the wall. I bring my other arm up and cup my nose. Yep, it's Naruto. There he stands in the shadow of the stocked shelves, blue eyes narrowed, rifle pointed at the man named 'Itachi'.



Naruto's eyes cut at the two standing in the light, his voice still chillingly devoid of his usual cheerfulness.



"Who are you, why'd you attack Kakashi if you knew he wasn't a zombie?" One of the males snorted. The other brought his hands up and in a guilt laden voice babbled



"We're sorry, it's just, you know, with the infected you have to strike first and he just came out of nowhere and we hadn't heard him walk up or anything and usually it's only the infected that surprise you like that, and-" he was cut off by the other male, who crossed his arms and growled out



"We won't hurt you or 'Kakashi' moron. Stop pointing that gun at my brother." Naruto's eyes widened slightly, he turned his gaze back at the man standing beside me and, wouldn't you know it, the little idiot smiled.



"Sorry, just making sure. Kakashi, that's alot of blood! Here, hold still and I'll-" He swept his backpack off and bent down to dig around in it, emerging with a bottle of disinfectant, medical tape and cotton gauze, He grinned up at me and trotted over, ignoring the three men who stared at him. I stand nonplussed at his sudden bipolar mood swing and let myself be patched up, keeping an eye on the three. Itachi walked over to stand by his, I'm assuming, younger brother who was one or two inches shorter but had the same dark eyes, ebony black hair and equally pale complexion. I examined each of the three at my leisure while Naruto cheerfully bandaged my nose, humming another random song while he did so. Honestly, this kid has no fear, but even as I thought that, I could feel myself relaxing. Naruto was humming, smiling, somehow, that made things relatively ok. Naruto peeked up from his work to glance at the three, sending them a curious glance and a question.



"What's your names?"



The babbler stepped forward, a concerned look in his coffee brown eyes,



"Um, I'm Iruka Umino, would you like some help with that? I'm really sorry-"



Naruto waved his hand dismissively, he'd finished and was placing the medical supplies back into the backpack. I reach up and tentatively touch the neat bandage on my nose.



"No need, all done. You all right there Kakashi? I don't think it was broken, just smashed pretty good." I blink steadily for a moment, gathered my thoughts, then allowing myself to smile down at the beaming Naruto I answer,



"I'll be fine." I turn my gaze to the two mute brothers, both pairs of their coal eyes were trained on Naruto.



Oblivious, Naruto stood and slung the backpack back around his shoulder, held a hand out to Iruka and smiled his 'I'm not entirely certain what to do now, so I'm just gonna wing it' smile. Iruka's answering smile was gentle and hesitant, but he firmly shook Naruto's smaller hand. I find myself slowly appraising him, noticing his eye color is the same as his shoulder length hair which is pulled back into a spiky ponytail.



"It's nice to meet you, despite the circumstances." He turned his ponytailed head and warm brown eyes to glance at me and my mouth develops a mind of it's own.



"Naruto and I are just passing through; we're heading to the grocery store next to pick up some things then we'll be heading back to our camp." Naruto glances at me, one fair haired eyebrow raised in surprise at the question I'd hinted in my sentence… hell I was a little surprised myself.



In this world, the more does not make the merrier, the more people In a moving group at once, if anything, makes you a bigger target, more backs to watch, more people to worry about getting infected at once. But even as I berated myself, I could see with a sinking feeling the gears whirring behind Naruto's azure eyes, and when he jerked his head up, eyes shining victorious, blonde strands flailing as he turned and grinned approvingly at me, I knew I was sunk. I couldn't take back the offer once posed, especially where Naruto was concerned.



Iruka looked slightly confused, he kept turning to glance uncertainly at the two figures behind him, said two looked like they were contemplating the offer.



"Do you guys have any weapons? I don't think we should all go to the grocery store at once, but I could take two of you back to the campsite and one of you could go with Kakashi." Naruto crowed excitedly, again I'm surprised at how clearly and thoroughly he thinks at times.



Itachi slowly nodded his head and for the first time he spoke in a low voice,



"I'll accompany you to the grocery store, my little brother and Iruka will go to your camp, Naruto. We don't have any firearms, if that's what you mean." Naruto nodded and without hesitating handed a slightly surprised Itachi his rifle. While absently digging around in his pockets for the ammo he placed his backpack into Itachi's unoccupied hand and unzipped it, digging around inside probably looking for flares.



"Wait a minute kid, Kakashi had a gun, that'll be enough for them both. What'll we do if we run into some infected while you're taking us to this camp or whatever." Naruto flinched. The younger brother uncrossed his arms and frowned at Naruto, who was a couple inches shorter than him. Naruto, obviously not intimidated by the height difference turned slowly and growled at him.



"Who are you calling a kid? I'll be 19 this year! Besides, I have a name so use it!"



I sigh, and look around for the glock that had fallen from my hand when Itachi slammed me against the wood racks. Finding it under a metal cart I check it over before sliding it into its holster on my hip.



"You're 18…" the younger brother's tone and face is incredulous.



"Yes! Stop looking at me like that you jerk! Just because you're taller doesn't mean I won't knock your teeth out for making fun of me!"



"Hn. Moron You couldn't even reach my teeth."



ooh this kid is asking for it. Naruto is unpredictable when he's riled. I lean against the wall watching with amusement while Naruto tenses and clenches his fists.



"Bastard!"



Iruka yelps and grabs a hold of Naruto's jacket before he can launch himself completely at the smirking younger brother.



"Sasuke, leave Naruto alone! Naruto, please calm down!" Iruka is struggling with the flailing cursing Naruto, who is stronger than he looks, especially when he's mad. I glance at the watch attached to my backpack and decide it's time to break it up despite how amusing it was to watch.



"Naruto, we don't have time for this. Sasuke, Naruto's very good at evading the infected so don't worry your pretty little head over getting attacked." I grin in reply to the black glare he sends me and turn to the older brother, who looks faintly amused.



"Well, then, shall we?"



TBC...



(1)Happiness is a Warm gun by the Beatles.



(2)All will be explained… later.



(3)Do it Again by the Beach Boys



(4)Google Underarmour if you want to see what they look like. It'd be under sports wear.