The Ugliness of Utopian Dreams

Alpha: Meh when I’m in the mood, I’m in the fucking mood to write. When the ideas are popping that is. Not much to really say. Just new story idea interests me enough to write it out. Don’t know if it will go anywhere are not but we’ll see.

Rated M for a reason, please excuse any and all grammatical errors you may find in this. Do not own, so don’t ask me.

Please enjoy.

The Ugliness of Utopian Dreams

Prologue: “Once Upon a Time…”

A strong gale burst through the small settlement of wooden houses in a small isolated valley high in the mountains ranges of an uncharted territory just a three hour walk from what was once known as Kumogakure.

The sky was thick with gray clouds, blocking out the evening sky and the stars beginning to come out to twinkle.

“Cloudy skies again,” a sienna brown woman of twenty-one pouted with the likeness of a child.

“Karui, it’s always cloudy up here.”

The dark red head smiled; eyes bright and a little glazed over as she ran as much as she could towards Omoi. She embraced her long time friend into a hard bone crushing hug.

Omoi broke the suffocating hug, smirking at the golden eye woman who wore her untamable hair in braids now.

“Careful, don’t hurt yourself,” he stated, dark ruby eyes clearly staring at the small round bulge below full breasts. A bulge, she constantly tried to keep hidden from sight under many layers of blue and brown clothing.

It did get rather cold, high up in this sort of altitude during the summer. The nights were especially freezing up here in August.

Karui gave Omoi a tiny smile before briefly looking down to see her ever expanding belly.

“I know…” she planted a hand there briefly, “So anyway, what in the world are you doing here? I though you would have been a hundred thousand miles away from here by now!”

Omoi rolled the lollipop stick around in his mouth, “Yea, about that. I decided to delay my trip to the new republic of Suna until tomorrow.”

The red head sighed exasperated, “Omoi, you idiot! How are ya supposed to be our current representative if you’re slacking off on the job!”

“Because I wanted to come here to see how you were doing first, and— I was unanimously chosen to take the spot.”

He smirked at his gapping friend, “Close your mouth before flies get in it.”

“You really do worry too much. I have Samui with me and even without her here, I do just fine.”

She crossed her arms, “As you can see, I’m not completely alone way out here in the middle of nowhere. These people are nice folks.”

Karui started the trek back up the stone step pathway to her own small cabin, she called back to Omoi, “Well come on! I’ll make something to eat with what’s leftover while we wait for Samui to come back with from rations.”

Omoi reached into one of his back pouches and pulled out another sucker as he caught up with the younger female. This one was flavored pineapple and cherry.

“I said I came here to see how fat you’ve gotten, not to die from food poisoning.”

“If you have a problem with my cooking skills, then you’re not eating!”

He missed doing this. He hadn’t seen hair or hide of Karui and Samui for almost five months. He had the job of being the unofficially named leader of the new land of Kumo, and the surrounding small countries around its borders; while Karui and Samui traveled around the globe. They never stayed in one place for long. He never knew where they were, they didn’t exchange letters or messages for it was too dangerous.

He didn’t think it was too wise for the red head to travel like she used to in her current condition; but Karui wasn’t going to hear any of it. He didn’t blame her; even with the war over things were no where near being settled. At least with Samui by her side, Omoi could worry a little less.

Samui was the most sensible one out of their small group. He knew it was her that made the decision to come back and settle just on the outskirts of Kumo for Karui’s last trimester.

Despite her claims of making him starve, she put a bowl of leftover rice and chicken vegetable soup in front of him. He was amused to watch her sit down in her own seat across from him.

She glared, “What?!”

“Nothing,” he started eating, “Hmm this is really good, I’ll have to thank Samui when she comes back.”

Karui made a face at him, “I made the soup…” she muttered.

Omoi looked astonished for a split second before smirking, “Well this is one thing you can fix right.”

She huffed, “Just eat it and stop being an ass!”

“When will she be back?”

“She’s been gone for almost an hour; she should be back real soon,” Karui broke a piece of bread and spread some butter on it to eat it.

“What’s the current situation down below?” she asked.

“In four days, I’ll be heading out to the New Republic of Suna, Eastern section. I’ll have some of our best for protection, so don’t worry. Eastern Suna is where all the representatives have decided to meet to at least try to come to a consensus on what we are going to do in the aftermath of the war.”

“I heard around that they wanted to hold it in Kumo.”

“That’s right. We practically are seen as the new leaders of the new world, but I declined for obvious reasons.”

Karui paused in her eating to stare at him, “Thank you…”

The world might have seen them like that only because they had won, but it was further from the truth. Then there was the situation with traitors, unresolved issues, and those trying to claim bounties on certain individuals.

“You’re welcome.”

The front door opened with a loud creak. Karui and Omoi looked up from the tiny eating space to see Samui enter the cabin. She was wearing all black with her shoulder length blonde hair in a ponytail.

“I’m back…Good evening Omoi.”

She had one eyebrow raised in question at his unexpected visit to their home. Omoi just nodded as he ate another mouthful of soup.

“Did you remember to get the cookie dough and the ice-cream?”

Samui glowered at the red head, “Yes I did. I don’t feel like hearing you moan all night because of your weird cravings again.”

Karui smiled, “I can’t help it if I get hungry at four in the morning.”

She called to Samui as she put the food away, “There’s some more soup leftover in the pot if you’re hungry!”

“Thanks,” came the ice blue-violet eye woman’s dull monotone.

Samui came to sit down at the table with the other two, “Don’t you have an important meeting to head to in eastern Suna?”

“I do, and I’ll be leaving first thing in the early morning.”

“Hehe, Omoi’s just killing time being lazy, he’ll make it before the fourth day.”

“I see…Karui, next time try not to make too much soup, that rice could have been used to make rice balls.” Samui was quite annoyed with being subjugated to eat the same thing for the past three days.

“We didn’t have anymore vegetables for me to make half decent edible rice balls!” Karui shouted.

“Besides, the chicken was about to go bad if it wasn’t cooked right away.”

Samui just sighed but quietly ate her meal.

“Tomorrow I’ll make us some rainbow trout.”

Samui smiled.

The rest of dinner went on in a comfortable silence.

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

“Hey Omoi?” Omoi paused to put on his other shoe, while looking back at Karui who was walking from the kitchen area. She was still dressed in the same clothes she had on from last night.

“What?”

He seen she had a few boxes in her hands as she came towards him and another one behind her.

“Before you leave, Samui gave me this box to give to you.”

“What’s inside it?”

“I dunno, she said it was a bunch of files that would be very important for you.”

He watched the dark skin woman turn around to pick up another box. This one looking more shabbier and worn out.

“And could you throw this away for me please?”

“Okay, but what are you throwing away?”

“Useless junk…” she averted her eyes, one hand on her broaden hip.

“It’s shit I don’t need laying around here anymore.”

The short hair blond continued to look intently at Karui, studying her body language. Whatever was contained in this box made her uncomfortable.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank—”

Her words were cut off by the soft press of Omoi’s warm lips on hers. She was momentarily shocked, but she didn’t press back. She gently pushed him away from her. She was suddenly starting to feel shy and did her best to look at anything other than the tall man in front of her.

She hugged her shoulders before letting out a sigh, “Don’t do this.”

“Why not?”

She felt the warm press of hands on her left cheek.

“It’s awkward.”

Golden eyes met dark ruby. Karui couldn’t read Omoi’s blank stare, as he continued to gently caress her face. She watched as his eyes lowered down to her belly, he looked conflicted. It was almost like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to touch the expanding mass or not.

He soon came to a decision, and he placed his other hand lightly on her stomach. He could feel the subtle movements of life within her.

“Who’s the father?” he asked softly.

“I told you I don’t know,” she said just as soft.

“Come on Karui, stop bullshitting. Who’s the father?”

“I really don’t know!”

Her voice got louder and louder, “I don’t know! I don’t know! I DON’T KNOW! What the hell do you want from me?!” she yelled at him, knocking his hands away from her.

The brown skinned male said nothing. Karui was almost starting to feel guilty for yelling at him. He looked almost sad.

“The truth.”

She barely heard it.

“The truth is, things would be so much more simple if you were the father…and you’re not. We never slept together.”

“Still doesn’t mean I can’t be in name.”

“But you’re just make your love life complicated…and despite all the hell we’re been through with her village. She’s a very nice girl and I think she actually likes you.”

“Yea she is…”

“You should be heading out now,” she said to break the tension.

He nodded, heading for the door, “I’m not lying when I say I used to really like you in that way.”

Karui felt her cheeks color a little, all while looking surprised at Omoi’s confession, “Is that why you kissed me?”

“I was only checking to see if the feelings were still there.”

“And?”

“And I was wondering, what the hell was I thinking?”

“Oh get the hell out!”

She lightly punched his arm in a playful manner. She returned his smirk.

“Stress isn’t good for you in your delicate situation Karui.”

“How can I be stress free with you around all the damn time!”

“I’ll see you and Samui in a couple of months.”

“Heh, my baby will be born by then.”

“Take care of yourself. Tell Samui I’ll look over the files and that I said bye.”

Karui nodded, hugging her friend. She waited outside by the door, watching the young man make his way down the stone step path of the small mountain valley village. She stood there for a few good minutes even after he was long gone and out of sight. The red head went back in then. She saw her blonde companion walking down the steps in a thick plum robe.

Samui knew the youngest and most headstrong of their group was easy to read. It was clear that something was bothering Karui with the melancholy expression upon her face.

“Did Omoi leave?” The ice blue-violet eye woman asked instead.

“Yea,” Karui lazily replied.

Samui furrowed her brow, “What’s the matter?”

“I’m feeling a little drained. I need to lie down…I made breakfast for you, it’s on the table.”

Samui watched the dark red head waddle up the stairs to her own small bedroom. She stood there until her female compatriot was safely up the steps.

She walked into the small kitchen area, which wasn’t much. They had an old black oven with two stove tops, a medium sized refrigerator, and four cabinet spaces to hold their handful of eating utensils. Samui grabbed a plate and a fork, going over to sit at the wooden table where Karui set out everything for her.

“I guess I didn’t need to get this after all.”

Samui had known Karui since they were very young. They were teamed up together, along with Omoi and learned under one of Kumogakure’s strongest shinobi and also one of the Jinchuuriki. Together, the four of them made team Killerbee.

She had never known such an interesting and quirky bunch such as them. They had known how to liven up the atmosphere, no matter where they were. Most people she suspected wouldn’t pay her much attention, for she was severely quiet and reserved, unlike the rest of her old team. Though, even she caught attention from time to time. Not that she minded either way.

Without them, she knew life, well definitely before the start of the great shinobi war wouldn’t have been…fun. They had great times together, she really missed those days. She smiled wistfully; hopefully soon, they could begin to have them again.

The war had certainly changed a lot of them who were involved.

She knew Karui to be headstrong, a loudmouth, a tomboy, abrasive, rash, gullible, optimistic, and very passionate. Samui honestly didn’t know how such a kid was going to make it as a ninja. Time and time again, Karui had proved her wrong and turned out to be an excellent Kunoichi.

Even with all of that, she worried for Karui, during the years of the war. She was an superior kenjutsu user, but the kind girl with a rough exterior would easily break and unfortunately become another casualty of war.

These thoughts were depressing, but Samui had already willed herself to think of the possibility that she was never going to see Karui again.

She had never been so relieved to see Karui alive the day the three of them were reunited. The girl had turned up with child, but she was alive and that was all that mattered to Samui.

Even though they were all around the same age, Samui felt like she was a mother to her teammates, including Kirabi sensei. Thinking of children, the blonde had never once asked Karui anything regarding her pregnancy. She believed Karui will tell them about it when she was ready.

She left that to Omoi, who had a flair for annoying the hell out of Karui from just pure curiosity and little bit of worry. She did accompany Karui as they traveled as nomads until she decided that the two of them stay where they currently were until Karui’s baby was born.

It was soon time for them to find a midwife.

One change, Samui liked about the red head’s unexpected pregnancy was that it certainly seemed to mellow her out. She didn’t say anything to Karui, incase the girl chewed her out for mentioning it. She had noticed how ‘domesticated’ she became, (despite millions of protests from Karui’s own mouth that she would never become ‘old fashioned’) it was subconscious of course and Karui didn’t even realize it herself.

It was…kind of cute.

“Good things never last for long.” She sighed, taking a sip of her tea.

Samui only hoped this babe will keep this ‘mellow’ Karui around a little longer.

She smiled then, “Karui wouldn’t be Karui if she didn’t retain some form her own abrasive nature.”

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Omoi was traveling for a good five hours. He met up with three of the chosen men he decided to accompany him on his mission to Eastern Suna for the summit. They were elite ANBU officers of Kumo. Two men, one woman, their identities completely hidden.

They were just at the cusp of Kaminari no Kuni, heading into Oto. The group of four was taking a quick twenty-six minute break in the woods before heading west.

The three ANBU members quietly conversed amongst themselves, leaving Omoi alone. He was grateful for it. His mind had been wandering about the boxes he was given from Karui.

He sat with his back against a tree. Taking a kunai, he opened one to find stacks of folders with papers and a few scrolls. The folders clearly had Samui’s handwriting on them. He was definitely going to go over these. They seemed to be reports from missions she and other ninjas had done over the years. Looking closely, he could tell these were reports of soldiers already dead.

The thing that really had his curiosity; was the old worn out journals he found in the old worn out box Karui wanted him to throw away.

He knew it wasn’t any of his business. It really was not his place to dive in his friend’s business. Whatever had happened in the span five years to Karui was her business, and when she was ready to, she would tell him and Samui.

He was curious for why she would want to throw her journals away. Was it really painful to keep these around? It had been some painful years, after their separation. The deaths of many friends and family, country after country being thrown into civil war.

Did they serve no more purpose? Or perhaps what was written down in these had nothing to do with her detainment in Konoha?

He knew he was doomed when he opened that damn shoddy ass box. Why oh why couldn’t he just leave well enough alone?

Omoi, stuck a blueberry sucker in his mouth and taking the same kunai, he ripped the strapped that kept the dusty green book with Karui’s name etched in katakana on its cover locked.

Well, the good side to this was, if her writings had anything to do with what happened during her plight as a prisoner of war in Konoha, it could prove useful in the long run…and he wouldn’t be kept in the dark anymore.

The bad side?

It was going to eat him up inside and he’ll have to explain to Karui what he’s done and pray that she doesn’t take away his ability to walk.

There was still some minutes left to spare before they moved out again.

Opening the book, Omoi found nothing much of importance, just Karui randomly dotting down stuff out of the blue. Missions, her teammates, some doodles. Stuff from before the fourth war.

Until he got to an entry that caught his eye, it was one right before the separation…

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

I’m bored, I’m so damn bored! Tch! I suppose I should write something down in this thing. I don’t want Kirabi sensei’s present to go to waste for nothing. Though seriously what the hell was he thinking when he brought me a journal for my birthday?

Did he think I was going to spend my time coming up with rhymes?! I mean I love R & B as much as he does, but not everyone has as much…excitement over singing like he does!

Though I gotta feel kind of bad for the people defeated by a Jinchuuriki while he sings haha. I wonder if sensei is really alright his time, where ever he is. I sorely didn’t appreciate that damn stunt he pulled the first time around.

But with things having escalated the way they are, I’m really worried about that can’t rhyme worth a damn teacher of mines.

Ah, I’ll be so glad when we reach Kumo! I’m dying for a dip in the hot springs. Also, the three of us will be in safe territory. We’re just a couple of hours away from one of the neutral countries before heading into Thunder.

It’s almost surreal, but anyone in our field should have known it was inevitable to avoid war. The moment our Kage went head to head with the traitor of Konoha, it would be the spark for the Fourth Great Shinobi War.

Things didn’t get out of hand at first, it was slow like a burning flame on wood, then as time moved on it grew like a rapid forest fire.

For a minute, many of us had hope that maybe just maybe we could avoid war. The whole entire world had come to put its trust and faith into the one called Uzumaki Naruto. Everyone believed that since, he was the one who took down Pain, he would be the one to also take down Uchiha Sasuke.

How so very wrong they were. Everybody believed in him, even Samui and Omoi had given him a chance. But I didn’t. I refused…I mean I almost did.

See, what Uzumaki Naruto did accomplish was doing nothing more than stalling the inevitable for as long as he could! He had stopped the fighting between Raikage-sama and Sasuke. He had seemed ready to face him, but the Uchiha had yet again evaded him. The other Kages and their body guards had showed up a minute too late. Sasuke was already long gone with team hawk.

The poor sap seemed so torn…I probably won’t ever know what that boy really means to blondie and his pink crybaby of a girlfriend; but one look into his pained eyes and I start to empathize with him.

He wasn’t the only one who knew how it felt to lose someone. At this point I had already believed the worst, even though I was the most vocal about being optimistic that Kirabi sensei was still alive.

To admen himself for Sasuke’s actions, Naruto offered to team up with us to search for Kirabi sensei, and exchange that Raikage-same leave Sasuke in Konoha’s hands to deal with alone.

The second time he pleaded to Raikage-sama for Sasuke, I grudgingly started to feel a tiny…TINY speck of respect for the blond bastard. He amuses me though. Instead of falling to pieces like he did before, he could have done this sooner and avoided looking like a complete ass!

I wonder how Konoha had to deal with his eccentric behavior. In any case, he won our Kage over. I didn’t believe for a second that I was going to get along with any of team Kakashi while we searched for our sensei. I suspected that the crybaby wanted to punch my face in for some reason. Like I cared! That girl had some major issues, can we say bi-fucking-polar?! She couldn’t decide whether she wanted to have the hots for Blondie or for the traitor.

I know I could be over the top when it came to hitting the crap out of Omoi, but damn! Sakura’s beatings on Naruto were just fucking brutal! Sure he was annoying, and maybe a few of the hits were well deserved but sheesh, she could get overly excessive; but Blondie seemed to love the abuse…probably an in the closet masochist that one.

At least my hits were ALWAYS WELL DESERVED!! Omoi pisses me off and I know he does the shit on purpose! He’s going to find himself at the end of my foot if he doesn’t stop toying with me about my tits! I got tits damn it! You just can’t see the fuckers with this armor on! What is his obsession with tits anyway? If he wants tits, why don’t you mess with Samui!?

Sai was a guy I was surprise to get along with first. Socially inept, it was then I learned that, Raikage-sama, Omoi, and Samui had put their faiths into an unstable source for help in finding Kirabi sensei. At first I wanted to strangle him for his crass nickname, but then I laughed when I learned he has no damn social skills at all.

Heh, Bitch was far better than being called ‘Ugly’ any day. Of course I gave him his own medicine. Seems he didn’t take too well to being called ‘Rainbow Queen’ if you know what I mean. Truthfully, I didn’t think he would even get it.

It took a while, after me and Sakura threw down, man does she have serious insecure issues! We became friends. For some unfounded reason, the easily jealous crybaby must have thought I was out to steal Blondie from her tight hold on his unbreakable leash.

Um sorry, no! At the time, I couldn’t half stand him. Respect? It grew, once you’re forced by your traitorous teammates to say sorry and make nice playing in the damn sandbox…literally! And I was going to apologize…I WAS!!

But crush? ON NARUTO!? Pinky had an over the top imagination I swear.

Well after a month and a half of searching for that no good son of a bitch that had us worrying for NOTHING!! Everything was cool.

I for one felt very good, once I beat the shit out of my own sensei for pulling that fucking stunt! Our world was on the edge of a war and that bastard wanted to go off and play Karaoke?!

Samui, Omoi, and me made sure we got sensei for every dime he had.

And like promised, Kumo, Suna, Kiri, and Iwa, let Konoha deal with Sasuke. Konoha allowed Naruto, Sai, and Sakura to deal with Sasuke. Everybody else would try to hold off the rest of Akatsuki.

That had to have been the biggest mistake the world could have ever made.

They put their faith in him, they called him the ‘destined child’. How sadly ironic, that the same one everyone believed would bring our world to peace…Envisioning that utopia that he seen in his eyes for our world….would be the same one who would betray it.

His bond with Uchiha Sasuke was stronger than anything ever known.

Uzumaki Naruto was obsessed with the guy!

His obsession mixed with his vision of a utopian world was going to crush this world for many, many years.

And maybe his own mind…

Again, I feel torn. I don’t know what to feel for Uzumaki Naruto anymore…

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Alpha: and the prologue is done!

Until next time :D