Everything seemed to go wrong from the minute he woke up but the situation Naruto found himself in, he decided nothing could top that.
It all started when team 7 was paired up with team 8. Not only did he have to deal with SakuraÆs attempts at wooing Sasuke when she wasnÆt training, now he had to deal with InoÆs bitchiness but he could tune them out. Their C-rank they were assigned was simple enough, guard a few archeologists while they dig through some ruins but his plan didnÆt really work when his sharp hearing kept on focusing on the bickering between his crush and her rival but listening to their bickering was preferable to the horrors his eyes currently laid upon.
The archeologists were dead, two whose bodies were literally ripped open while the other three seemed to have disappeared in a pool of blackness. His teammates, Ino and Sakura, had suffered the same fate and he wasnÆt sure if they were alive or not. Chouji had his guts ripped out and as he stared at the black, skeletal figure standing in front of him, his hand gripped on his neck, he had a feeling he was next and yet, as he stared into the black eyes of his assailant, he wondered why he wasnÆt.
He could feel the cold breath flow across his face as the being stared at him. He could almost see almost slight movement of eyes, almost like he was looking him over. Suddenly, his grip on his neck tightened and was pulled closer. This was it, he thought, he would meet his end.
ôSixàeightàtwoàö
He only had a secondÆs confusion before he was promptely dropped onto his butt and saw the figure turn around, ignoring the unconscious Kakashi before he headed for a wall where a large pool of blackness appeared and he stepped in. However, to his utter and pleasant surprise, after he went in, the two female teammates that were previously absorbed shot out and landed on the ground. Instinting kicking in, he pushed his terror aside and rushed up to them, noting the paleness of their skin, like they been in the cold for a long time, and tried to help them but even as he wrapped his jacket and a blanket he found nearby around them, the creatureÆs last words came back to him and he couldnÆt help but think of something very familiar about those three numbers.
It all started when team 7 was paired up with team 8. Not only did he have to deal with SakuraÆs attempts at wooing Sasuke when she wasnÆt training, now he had to deal with InoÆs bitchiness but he could tune them out. Their C-rank they were assigned was simple enough, guard a few archeologists while they dig through some ruins but his plan didnÆt really work when his sharp hearing kept on focusing on the bickering between his crush and her rival but listening to their bickering was preferable to the horrors his eyes currently laid upon.
The archeologists were dead, two whose bodies were literally ripped open while the other three seemed to have disappeared in a pool of blackness. His teammates, Ino and Sakura, had suffered the same fate and he wasnÆt sure if they were alive or not. Chouji had his guts ripped out and as he stared at the black, skeletal figure standing in front of him, his hand gripped on his neck, he had a feeling he was next and yet, as he stared into the black eyes of his assailant, he wondered why he wasnÆt.
He could feel the cold breath flow across his face as the being stared at him. He could almost see almost slight movement of eyes, almost like he was looking him over. Suddenly, his grip on his neck tightened and was pulled closer. This was it, he thought, he would meet his end.
ôSixàeightàtwoàö
He only had a secondÆs confusion before he was promptely dropped onto his butt and saw the figure turn around, ignoring the unconscious Kakashi before he headed for a wall where a large pool of blackness appeared and he stepped in. However, to his utter and pleasant surprise, after he went in, the two female teammates that were previously absorbed shot out and landed on the ground. Instinting kicking in, he pushed his terror aside and rushed up to them, noting the paleness of their skin, like they been in the cold for a long time, and tried to help them but even as he wrapped his jacket and a blanket he found nearby around them, the creatureÆs last words came back to him and he couldnÆt help but think of something very familiar about those three numbers.
Sakura woke up with a start and a scream, her face plastered with sweat as her hair clung to it. Her breaths came in ragged as her mind remembered the grinning, almost laughing, face of the old man that had taken her prisoner not a couple weeks ago. She had no idea why she was suddenly and unexpectedly released, both her and Ino dropped down from the floor and out from the wall. She was at least thankful that Naruto was there to comfort them as the experience left them mentally drained.
Her body stopped shaking as she regained control of her faculties, letting her hands move her hair out of the way. She was at least thankful that she was on leave as she knew that she wouldnÆt be able to really function as she needed. A deep sigh left her lips as she shook her head, tyring to clear her thoughts. She would sometimes see that face whenever she closed her eyes, seeing that grinning, bony face staring at her and she was sure her friend was in the same position. A low moan left her lips as she shook her head again, deciding that she wasnÆt going to get back to sleep anytime soon, she got up and got ready for the day. She wanted to pay a visit to Ino to see how she was doing dealing with this and dealing with the loss of a teammate.
However, fate seemed to have decided otherwise as Sakura went to her door to head downstairs for breakfast, a pool of blackness, the same one that the Old Man sucked her into, quickly appeared on her door and a hand shot out and grabbed her neck, pulling her into the pool and back into the vast nothingness that was the Old ManÆs realm.
OoOoOoO
The passage of travel left Sakura dazed and confused. The only thing she knew is that it was dark and she was sitting on something rough. It didnÆt take her long to recover but when she did, and she noticed exactly where she was, horror started to fill her mind as she realized where she was. ôOh no no no no no no no, not again, not this again.ö Fear motivating her, she immediately stood up and looked around. Unlike last time where she was deposited into a room, now she found herself in a hallway with darkness on both sides. Suddenly, there was a scream to her right and she jerked away, her eyes staring down the hallway while her ears strained to listen but all she could hear was the blood pounding in her ears. Her feet started taking her back, her mind telling her to run and to get out of this place.
However, after taking a few steps back, her back suddenly hit something and before she could stop herself, she looked up and, to her horror, found the skeletal face of the Old Man staring down at her. She screamed in fright and ran, ran as fast as her legs could take her down the opposite side of the hallway. She didnÆt dare look back, all she could do was run but suddenly the entire space shifted and she ended up screeching to a halt before she ended up falling off the edge of a cliff. Slowly she backed up, feeling her heart pound in her chest. She wished that this nightmare would end already, wanting nothing more than to wake up in her nice and warm bed.
A chill went up her back and she swerved around but saw nothing there. Her throat bobbed as she gulped, her feet instinctually taking a step back as she looked upon the vast darkness. She hated this place. She was terrified here and she had no idea what was going on or what was around the next corner. She felt so alone here, so vulnerable and she hated it. Suddenly, she heard a dark chuckle before her and she turned, only having a chance to let out a short scream before the Old ManÆs hand shot out and grabbed her throat and she couldnÆt help the heavy shudder that flowed through her. His hand felt incrediablely cold and her neck felt like it was dying but that was nothing compared to what she felt when she looked into his eyes. She felt like her life was being drained away in those black holes but at the same time, felt like he was staring straight at her. ôWhaàwhat a-are y-you?ö That seemed to produce another chuckle out of him. A whimper came out of her mouth as her body started to struggle as she saw his free hand extended and reaching for her but her struggles was lackluster as his grip seemed to have filled her with an overpowering sense of fear but as his hand gripped her arm, a terrified and painful scream tore from her throat as not only the cloth under his grip dissolved, but her skin blackened and died as the corrosive energy flowed from him and to her.
The pinkette screamed again, this time in fright as his hands let go of her and she fell down an endless void but she didnÆt fall for long as light suddenly swarmed over her and she ended up crashing against something before she felt her momentum shift and she ended up falling again and crashed once again against something but this time, she landed on her bad arm and a fresh round of pain flowed through her and let out one of the loudest scream she ever vocalized, but even as she screamed, her senses were going haywire, one part telling her that she was surrounded by people but at the same time, she could feel that she was still alone, still in that dark nothingness that seemed to be his realm.
Her body stopped shaking as she regained control of her faculties, letting her hands move her hair out of the way. She was at least thankful that she was on leave as she knew that she wouldnÆt be able to really function as she needed. A deep sigh left her lips as she shook her head, tyring to clear her thoughts. She would sometimes see that face whenever she closed her eyes, seeing that grinning, bony face staring at her and she was sure her friend was in the same position. A low moan left her lips as she shook her head again, deciding that she wasnÆt going to get back to sleep anytime soon, she got up and got ready for the day. She wanted to pay a visit to Ino to see how she was doing dealing with this and dealing with the loss of a teammate.
However, fate seemed to have decided otherwise as Sakura went to her door to head downstairs for breakfast, a pool of blackness, the same one that the Old Man sucked her into, quickly appeared on her door and a hand shot out and grabbed her neck, pulling her into the pool and back into the vast nothingness that was the Old ManÆs realm.
OoOoOoO
The passage of travel left Sakura dazed and confused. The only thing she knew is that it was dark and she was sitting on something rough. It didnÆt take her long to recover but when she did, and she noticed exactly where she was, horror started to fill her mind as she realized where she was. ôOh no no no no no no no, not again, not this again.ö Fear motivating her, she immediately stood up and looked around. Unlike last time where she was deposited into a room, now she found herself in a hallway with darkness on both sides. Suddenly, there was a scream to her right and she jerked away, her eyes staring down the hallway while her ears strained to listen but all she could hear was the blood pounding in her ears. Her feet started taking her back, her mind telling her to run and to get out of this place.
However, after taking a few steps back, her back suddenly hit something and before she could stop herself, she looked up and, to her horror, found the skeletal face of the Old Man staring down at her. She screamed in fright and ran, ran as fast as her legs could take her down the opposite side of the hallway. She didnÆt dare look back, all she could do was run but suddenly the entire space shifted and she ended up screeching to a halt before she ended up falling off the edge of a cliff. Slowly she backed up, feeling her heart pound in her chest. She wished that this nightmare would end already, wanting nothing more than to wake up in her nice and warm bed.
A chill went up her back and she swerved around but saw nothing there. Her throat bobbed as she gulped, her feet instinctually taking a step back as she looked upon the vast darkness. She hated this place. She was terrified here and she had no idea what was going on or what was around the next corner. She felt so alone here, so vulnerable and she hated it. Suddenly, she heard a dark chuckle before her and she turned, only having a chance to let out a short scream before the Old ManÆs hand shot out and grabbed her throat and she couldnÆt help the heavy shudder that flowed through her. His hand felt incrediablely cold and her neck felt like it was dying but that was nothing compared to what she felt when she looked into his eyes. She felt like her life was being drained away in those black holes but at the same time, felt like he was staring straight at her. ôWhaàwhat a-are y-you?ö That seemed to produce another chuckle out of him. A whimper came out of her mouth as her body started to struggle as she saw his free hand extended and reaching for her but her struggles was lackluster as his grip seemed to have filled her with an overpowering sense of fear but as his hand gripped her arm, a terrified and painful scream tore from her throat as not only the cloth under his grip dissolved, but her skin blackened and died as the corrosive energy flowed from him and to her.
The pinkette screamed again, this time in fright as his hands let go of her and she fell down an endless void but she didnÆt fall for long as light suddenly swarmed over her and she ended up crashing against something before she felt her momentum shift and she ended up falling again and crashed once again against something but this time, she landed on her bad arm and a fresh round of pain flowed through her and let out one of the loudest scream she ever vocalized, but even as she screamed, her senses were going haywire, one part telling her that she was surrounded by people but at the same time, she could feel that she was still alone, still in that dark nothingness that seemed to be his realm.
She felt cold, colder then sheÆs ever been. The images flowing through her mind as she dreamed was confusing but at the same time, terrifying. She kept on seeing the bony old man, going through walls and swallowing up people in that black pool of his. She heard a terrifying roar echo through the hallways as people ran and it shook her to the bone. Her ears caught the sound of a intercom system, a voice shouting over it but suddenly, it started to be too much for her, the voices, the feelings was starting to overtake her. She covered her ears as she dropped to the ground, curling up as she screamed, the roar of the hidden monster once again echoing through the wall.
Another scream tore from SakuraÆs throat, this time tearing from her throat as her body shot up from the hospital bed, her eyes wide with horror. Her eyes remained wide open even as the scream died, realizing that she wasnÆt in a hallway anymore, now seeing the familiar walls of the hospital. She looked down and saw herself on a hospital bed. The realization calmed her down a bit and her body relaxed a bit. However, it was then she realized that she had a vice-like grip on her arm. She looked down and a gasp left her lips as she saw the black handprint on her upper arm. It was then the memories came back to her, the memory of being dragged through that pitch-black darkness, coming face to face with the old man again, and feeling extreme pain on that arm where he grabbed it.
ôWhat the hell did that bastard do to me?ö She whispered to herself as she examined the handprint. It didnÆt seem like it was attached to her skin as she couldnÆt feel a difference between that and her skin but there was something she could feel, a presence beside her inner voice, and even she was silent, in her, a small presence, but a presence nonetheless. ôWhy canÆt that damn bony bastard just leave me alone?ö
ôThatÆs precisely what I would like to know.ö
A yelp came from her throat as a deep voice spoke to her, her body jerked backwards as her head jerked forward, her eyes caught sight of a stern looking man staring at her. Her own eyes caught sight of the scars that lined his face and it was then she realized who was sitting in front of her. ôMorino Ibiki?ö
ôI see you remember me.ö
ôHow could I forget? You terrified the entire class.ö She frowned when the man laughed, remembering the time when they went to the I/T department and went on a ætourÆ of the place. ôWhere am I?ö
IbikiÆs laughter died down and a serious look came onto his face. ôYouÆre in the hospitalÆs maximum security wing. WeÆre concerned about his interest in you and the fact that he was able to get to you so easily.ö A shudder went through her as the black nothingness came back to the forefront of her mind. She hated that place, it made her feel so scared and alone.
ôHasàhas he taken anyone else?ö
ôAs far as we know, no. Has he said anything to you?ö
ôN-no, only thing IàI really remember is the pain when he grabbed me.ö Her hand went to the mark as she said this. ôThat placeàitÆs so dark in there. YouÆre alone but you can feel that someone is watching youàhunting you. I couldnÆt thinkàI couldnÆt do anything but run and hope he doesnÆt find you.ö A weak chuckle escaped her lips as she stared into the eyes of the interrogator. ôHe couldÆve killed me you know? He had a tight grip on my neck and I thought for sure he was going to kill me.ö
ôAnd yet youÆre still here.ö
ôAnd I donÆt know why. He wants me for something but I donÆt know what. He spared Naruto and now me? WhatÆs going on?ö
ôWe donÆt know but we are going to find out. You just focus on rest right now.ö
Another scream tore from SakuraÆs throat, this time tearing from her throat as her body shot up from the hospital bed, her eyes wide with horror. Her eyes remained wide open even as the scream died, realizing that she wasnÆt in a hallway anymore, now seeing the familiar walls of the hospital. She looked down and saw herself on a hospital bed. The realization calmed her down a bit and her body relaxed a bit. However, it was then she realized that she had a vice-like grip on her arm. She looked down and a gasp left her lips as she saw the black handprint on her upper arm. It was then the memories came back to her, the memory of being dragged through that pitch-black darkness, coming face to face with the old man again, and feeling extreme pain on that arm where he grabbed it.
ôWhat the hell did that bastard do to me?ö She whispered to herself as she examined the handprint. It didnÆt seem like it was attached to her skin as she couldnÆt feel a difference between that and her skin but there was something she could feel, a presence beside her inner voice, and even she was silent, in her, a small presence, but a presence nonetheless. ôWhy canÆt that damn bony bastard just leave me alone?ö
ôThatÆs precisely what I would like to know.ö
A yelp came from her throat as a deep voice spoke to her, her body jerked backwards as her head jerked forward, her eyes caught sight of a stern looking man staring at her. Her own eyes caught sight of the scars that lined his face and it was then she realized who was sitting in front of her. ôMorino Ibiki?ö
ôI see you remember me.ö
ôHow could I forget? You terrified the entire class.ö She frowned when the man laughed, remembering the time when they went to the I/T department and went on a ætourÆ of the place. ôWhere am I?ö
IbikiÆs laughter died down and a serious look came onto his face. ôYouÆre in the hospitalÆs maximum security wing. WeÆre concerned about his interest in you and the fact that he was able to get to you so easily.ö A shudder went through her as the black nothingness came back to the forefront of her mind. She hated that place, it made her feel so scared and alone.
ôHasàhas he taken anyone else?ö
ôAs far as we know, no. Has he said anything to you?ö
ôN-no, only thing IàI really remember is the pain when he grabbed me.ö Her hand went to the mark as she said this. ôThat placeàitÆs so dark in there. YouÆre alone but you can feel that someone is watching youàhunting you. I couldnÆt thinkàI couldnÆt do anything but run and hope he doesnÆt find you.ö A weak chuckle escaped her lips as she stared into the eyes of the interrogator. ôHe couldÆve killed me you know? He had a tight grip on my neck and I thought for sure he was going to kill me.ö
ôAnd yet youÆre still here.ö
ôAnd I donÆt know why. He wants me for something but I donÆt know what. He spared Naruto and now me? WhatÆs going on?ö
ôWe donÆt know but we are going to find out. You just focus on rest right now.ö
In every land, there are myths and legends that are associated with each land. From the water nymphs in the land of Waves to sentient fire beings in the Land of Fire, there are always some kind of legends. In Suna, however, Sabaku no Temari and her team discovered that at least one methodical being actually existedàand was currently hunting them.
For what seemed like the millonith time, Temari cursed in her mind as she heard the distant sound of rock and rock grinding together, the sound of the monster chasing them. Her and her team have had the unfortunate luck to run across the being during their trek over mountains that wouldÆve allowed them to cut some time off of their trip. They quickly discovered his hostility and ran but the fucker was quick, matching their high speed and slowly picking off her once-team of nine people down to three. This was supposed to be a simple C-rank mission but the mission was the last thing on her mind as her and her remaining teammates tried to get to safety from the seemly indestruable and fast monster. Her team had tried to kill the stone monster but each attack either doesnÆt affect him or avoids it entirely. The jounin assigned had quickly ordered a retreat before he got killed by the creature snapping its neck.
She heard the sound of a scream but didnÆt look back, knowing that the next sound would be the sound of his neck snapping. She got her confirmation the next as the sickening sound of his neck snapping came to her ears but she resolved herself to push like never before. She was close to an outpost and once she got there, she would be safe. She was coming up to wall but it didnÆt impede her as she was able to take her fan and launch herself from the ground. She didnÆt weep for her teammate that she was leaving behind. In the face of such a ruthless enemy, going back to save him would only get them both killed. The outpost was nearby and after she got up to the top, she could launch herself and glide the rest of the way to the outpost.
Her feet landed on a small ledge and she was in the process of charging up for another launch when she caught another sound, this time the sound came above her. She looked up and to her horror, found boulders tumbling down toward her. She cursed and redirected her aim, sending herself flying toward the opposite side of the mountain. She knew she couldnÆt stay in one spot so as soon as she landed, she pulled back her fan to launch herself straight up in the air. It would rob her over 80% of her chakra but it would be worth it to stay out of reach of that monster. She swung her fan down and felt herself fly into the air. She let her eyes close as she felt the wind rush by her, feeling oddly at peace.
However, that peace was soon interrupted.
Her flight up to the skies was cut short as she felt something hard and solid grab onto her. A pained yelp came out of her mouth as the action hurt her body in more ways than one but as she look forward, her body froze in shock. Her eyes caught sight of her attacker, hard green æeyesÆ staring at her as his grip remained. She didnÆt dare blink, her breaths coming in short as she realized that her end was here. She just wished that she had more time to spend with her brothers. Suddenly, there was a cracking sound to her right and her eyes seemed to have blinked on their own accord but when she opened her eyes again, her attacker changed position from staring at her to looking to its left. It was then it occurred to her. He only moved when she blinked, she, and presumably her team, never looked back while they were running. In fact, she never even saw it move. She was dead anyway so she decided to test so she blinked againà
àand was promptly dropped onto her butt.
A yelp came out of her mouth again as her butt made contact with the ground but she quickly regained her senses and looked back upàonly to find her attacker moved and is now staring at the mountain wall, specicialy a part of the wall that seemed to have a blackened crack. She blinked again and suddenly he was gone. She quickly got up and inspected her surroundings, fan at the ready but it was all for naught as it was nowhere in sight. She waited but it never came back nor did she hear it. Was it really gone and she made it out of this intact? Taking a deep breath she turned and continued back on the path for the outpost. She knew she wasnÆt safe until she got back to the protection of the outpost.
For what seemed like the millonith time, Temari cursed in her mind as she heard the distant sound of rock and rock grinding together, the sound of the monster chasing them. Her and her team have had the unfortunate luck to run across the being during their trek over mountains that wouldÆve allowed them to cut some time off of their trip. They quickly discovered his hostility and ran but the fucker was quick, matching their high speed and slowly picking off her once-team of nine people down to three. This was supposed to be a simple C-rank mission but the mission was the last thing on her mind as her and her remaining teammates tried to get to safety from the seemly indestruable and fast monster. Her team had tried to kill the stone monster but each attack either doesnÆt affect him or avoids it entirely. The jounin assigned had quickly ordered a retreat before he got killed by the creature snapping its neck.
She heard the sound of a scream but didnÆt look back, knowing that the next sound would be the sound of his neck snapping. She got her confirmation the next as the sickening sound of his neck snapping came to her ears but she resolved herself to push like never before. She was close to an outpost and once she got there, she would be safe. She was coming up to wall but it didnÆt impede her as she was able to take her fan and launch herself from the ground. She didnÆt weep for her teammate that she was leaving behind. In the face of such a ruthless enemy, going back to save him would only get them both killed. The outpost was nearby and after she got up to the top, she could launch herself and glide the rest of the way to the outpost.
Her feet landed on a small ledge and she was in the process of charging up for another launch when she caught another sound, this time the sound came above her. She looked up and to her horror, found boulders tumbling down toward her. She cursed and redirected her aim, sending herself flying toward the opposite side of the mountain. She knew she couldnÆt stay in one spot so as soon as she landed, she pulled back her fan to launch herself straight up in the air. It would rob her over 80% of her chakra but it would be worth it to stay out of reach of that monster. She swung her fan down and felt herself fly into the air. She let her eyes close as she felt the wind rush by her, feeling oddly at peace.
However, that peace was soon interrupted.
Her flight up to the skies was cut short as she felt something hard and solid grab onto her. A pained yelp came out of her mouth as the action hurt her body in more ways than one but as she look forward, her body froze in shock. Her eyes caught sight of her attacker, hard green æeyesÆ staring at her as his grip remained. She didnÆt dare blink, her breaths coming in short as she realized that her end was here. She just wished that she had more time to spend with her brothers. Suddenly, there was a cracking sound to her right and her eyes seemed to have blinked on their own accord but when she opened her eyes again, her attacker changed position from staring at her to looking to its left. It was then it occurred to her. He only moved when she blinked, she, and presumably her team, never looked back while they were running. In fact, she never even saw it move. She was dead anyway so she decided to test so she blinked againà
àand was promptly dropped onto her butt.
A yelp came out of her mouth again as her butt made contact with the ground but she quickly regained her senses and looked back upàonly to find her attacker moved and is now staring at the mountain wall, specicialy a part of the wall that seemed to have a blackened crack. She blinked again and suddenly he was gone. She quickly got up and inspected her surroundings, fan at the ready but it was all for naught as it was nowhere in sight. She waited but it never came back nor did she hear it. Was it really gone and she made it out of this intact? Taking a deep breath she turned and continued back on the path for the outpost. She knew she wasnÆt safe until she got back to the protection of the outpost.
Since I'm getting into this more, I thought I create a thread here for my writings. With the vast universe that is SCP, there is potential to write and I'm hoping to tap that.
