Dream Skirmish

Chapter 9

"Urgh, I'm unearthly hungry today... I'm even starting to feel fat from all the eating I've done today..."
"Don't be silly, sis." Naruto beams happily. "You haven't eaten THAT much."
Blacky sighs softly, her eyes scanning their surroundings to make sure no one is peeping on her brother while he does his business and gets changed into his sleeping attire. "If you say so..."
"Hey, Blacky? Can I ask you something?" Naruto asks with an unusually quiet and cautious tone.
"Sure, what is it?"
"...who do you think is following us? And why?"
Silence grips her as a shudder runs down her spine, forcing goosebumps to form on her skin. "I... have no idea..."
"Do you think Pervy Sage knows more?...I haven't asked him yet."
"He probably does, bro, but he won't tell us... if he had any intention of being honest about the situation we'd both already know."
"Hmm." The young blond steps out from behind the tree, rubbing his chin suspiciously with squinted eyes. "You're probably right... why do adults always lie to us?"
"Because they think they're protecting us, when in reality the truth would help us prepare better. Either way, it's your turn to keep watch."
Her younger brother nods and watches her as she grabs her clothing and moves behind cover. He quickly averts his eyes towards their camp where Master Jiraya is currently getting drunk and struggling to get their fire started due to being intoxicated and distracted by his own book. Even though Naruto is meant to be a lookout the thoughts of who could be pursuing them and why won't leave his mind.
The siblings head back to their camp, Naruto instantly lying down and forgetting about all his worries as sleep gnaws at him. His older sister watches in amusement as their teacher finally gets a few sparks going before mumbling curses under his breath as a soft wind kills the tiny flame.
"I think you're just going crazy, there's no one around." Blacky states as she gets their campfire started using one of her fire jutsus.
"I'm telling you, I saw someone and they were clearly watching us."
"Us or Naruto?"
The Sanin remains silent for a moment, giving his answer some serious thought. "I'm not sure to be honest... all I can say is that no one has been interested in me before you two joined me on my journey. So, my best guess is that it's either you or your brother that they're interested in."
The young woman scoffs, "why on earth would anyone be interested in me? I'm just a regular ninja."
They both look over at the sleeping figure near them, snoring louder than a stampeding herd of cattle as a bitter silence engulfs them. The man sips his Sake, his legs crossed and his dark eyes slowly wander back to the script in his free hand. Blacky proceeds to make herself a late night snack of rice and fish to fill her unusual appetite.
"You don't actually believe that, do you?" Jiraiya finally breaks the silence with a question that almost sounds like a statement. "You can't tell me that you actually believe yourself to not be special in the least."
"I do. What's there to be special? I suck at taijutsu, I can't resist genjutsus even if I know it's fake I can't break it, I only have fire release and I can't ever keep anyone I care about safe..."
The Sanin looks at the young woman, staying silent as she seems to go into a rant about herself and waits for her to finish before speaking up. "Blacky, I may be an old man-"
"A perverted old man."
"I let you finish, at least give me that much as well."
Her green eyes briefly find his. "... sorry... continue."
"I may be an old man, but I'm not blind. There is something exceptional about both of you. I'm not sure what is yet, but you're both different from most others I've met. Kids with a future and a big part in things yet to pass."
"Really? Then why don't I feel special?"
"Because you're clearly still hung up on a past mistake that's still haunting you and may I hazard a guess that it's also what caused your injury?"
"....did Naruto tell you?"
Jiraiya shakes his head. "No, I can tell that it still pains you... you hide it well, but I can see the aching faces you pull sometimes or that little twitch in your attacks that nearly causes you to slip up."
Blacky nods slowly, abruptly ending their conversation by not replying, but instead breaking her chopsticks apart to eat. Exhausted by her cold demeanor the Sanin bids her goodnight and lays down to rest, his arm draped protectively around the script of his next erotic book. Memories of her failure bring faint tears to her eyes and the young woman clenches her fist in anger.
'...I will kill him... even if it takes me a lifetime... I will kill Kabuto for what he's taken from me...'