Naruto: Lost In Kishimoto [Book 1]

Chapter Eighteen: Dosu, Kin, and What's-His-Name?

Beth POV

I watched as Sasuke and Naruto lay unconscious next to each other, covered by a makeshift tent of leaves. After an hour of searching, Sakura and I had managed to discover a small overarching cave, a formation that allowed us to hide Sasuke and Naruto from unkind eyes. I had been about to pass out myself when we finally found the small clearing. A lucky find, with room to set a few traps while we regained our strength and looked after Naruto and Sasuke. Sakura wasn't injured, as she had stayed out of the way in the fight against Orochimaru. I, however, had been in the middle of it and had sustained some more than minor injuries.

I had never spent an entire day with Sakura and only Sakura. It was strange, slightly awkward despite us having months together. Even so, the topics of conversation were less then motivating.

"You shouldn't blame yourself over what happened to Sasuke." As much as Sakura wanted to help, she couldn't understand the weight of blame I had already put on myself. I knew what would happen. I could've just taken the deal that Orochimaru proposed, accepted it without question. But I was selfish, unwilling to put Sasuke's wellbeing above my own.

Sasuke looked like he was in agony as he slept, little strands of purple chakra floating around him. Naruto looked more peaceful, like he was relaxed and not hurt, his face calm and hands gently resting at his sides. However I knew better than that.

As Sakura turned her back, waiting to see if anyone was sneaking up on us, I moved over to Naruto. Unzipping Narutos jacket, I lifted his t-shirt to reveal his stomach. I couldn't see the markings at first so, gathering my chakra in my finger tips I lightly touched his stomach. Almost instantly, little black symbols formed a 2 layer circle with a large swirl in the centre. I looked at the symbols trying to remember what I had read in the library. I had gone to the library in search of knowledge of sealing jutsu's. Despite knowing Jiraiya would take the seal off soon, I also knew we needed Naruto now. I was unaware if removing the seal would wake him up or simply make him unconscious longer, but I had to try.

The seal that Orochimaru had performed was a five pronged seal, an odd number when the original seal keeping the Kyuubi within Naruto, was an even numbered seal. I had to remove it or Naruto's chakra would be hard for him to control. Thinking about it for a moment I tried one method that I had read about. Placing my open palm in the centre of the seal I focused my chakra and tried to imagine opening a closed door, the marks began to clear but only for a moment before they sprung back. Naruto wrinkled his face slightly, as if he were hurt by the attempt. Immediately worrying for his wellbeing, I give up on removing the seal, fearing to hurt him further.

Sliding his shirt down and re-zipping his jacket, I moved over to Sasuke. Soaking a new cloth in some cold water, I replaced the cloth already on his forehead, feeling his forehead as I did so. He was still burning up, his face hot and so very pale.

At that moment Sakura turned back towards me, pulling the curtain of leaves and grass that we'd created over the opening, hiding us from sight.

"What's wrong?" I whispered in my quietest voice. She shook her head, immediately letting me know that we were not alone. Focusing my chakra I let out a large wave in all directions hoping to locate the ninja. Sakura watched me curiously. "5 metres away, three of them."

"How do you do that?" Sakura asked curiously. I shrugged.

"No time for questions. Quick get out of the cave. They can't know that Sasuke is hidden here." Sakura nodded as we both exited the cave, quickly running to a nearby tree.

Before long the three ninjas arrived in the clearing. I could only recall two of their names, the girl, a fearful competitor named Kin who used bells to distract her victims before plunging needles into vital points of the body, and Dosu the man in the middle, wrappings covering most of his face, the strange sonic contraption mockingly sitting on his right arm. The other member of the team stood next to Dosu, a smug smile decorating his face.