MTL NOVEL Chapter 10: Storm
The sun had begun to set, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape as Naruto and Kisame emerged from the Land of Lightning. The air was crisp and clean, filled with the sweet scent of blooming cherry blossoms. However, the serene atmosphere was lost on Naruto, whose mind was consumed by the events that had transpired.
As they journeyed back to the Akatsuki hideout, Naruto's silence was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within. His eyes seemed to gaze into the distance, his thoughts replaying Killer Bee's words like a haunting melody. The memory of Killer Bee's battered form, lying helpless on the ground, lingered in his mind like an open wound.
"You're a jinchuriki like me... why are you working with the Akatsuki? You know they're after the power inside you too..." The words echoed in his mind, the last phrase repeating like a mantra: "you too... you too."
Kisame's voice cut through the oppressive silence, breaking the spell that had held Naruto captive. "Hey, Fox Kid, it looks like it's going to rain soon. We better pick up the pace." Kisame's eyes scanned the sky, where dark clouds were gathering like an ominous omen.
As they ran through the forest, the trees seemed to close in around them, their branches creaking ominously in the growing wind. The air was electric with anticipation, the scent of ozone hanging heavy over the landscape.
Kisame's voice rose above the din, his words piercing the silence. "Hey, kid, I'm talking to you! Naruto, answer back!"
Naruto's response was barely audible, his voice a low, distracted murmur. "Right."
The storm was closing in, its presence mirrored by the turmoil brewing within Naruto's heart. The weight of his loyalty, the burden of his secrets, threatened to consume him whole. As the darkness gathered, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing at the precipice, staring into the abyss.
The rain poured down on them like a relentless curtain, shrouding the landscape in a misty veil. Kisame's voice cut through the din, his words laced with a hint of seriousness. "We better hurry up, kid." He glanced at Naruto, his eyes seeming to bore into the younger ninja's very soul. "Listen, kid, that feeling inside is just reality's way of reminding you of the consequences of your choice."
Naruto's response was terse, his voice barely audible above the pounding rain. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'd appreciate it if you kept quiet."
Kisame shook his head, a low mutter escaping his lips. "Kids..." His gaze turned serious, his voice taking on a tone of gravitas. "If you're still conflicted by your actions, then maybe, kid, you're not cut out to be Akatsuki material."
Naruto's eyes flashed with anger, his low tone dripping with venom. "Will you shut the hell up, Kisame?" The rain beat down on them, drumming against the earth like a primal heartbeat.
Kisame's grin was a flash of white in the darkness. "Speak up, kid, I can barely hear you." Naruto's gaze locked onto Kisame's, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity.
In a sudden burst of anger, Naruto's fist shot out, connecting with Kisame's jaw in a spray of blood. Kisame's head snapped back, his eyes widening in surprise. He stumbled, Killer Bee's body almost falling from his shoulder.
Kisame's grin returned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's it, kid! Let those emotions out! They're weakening you, holding you back!" He tossed Killer Bee's body aside like a sack of potatoes, his bare upper skin visible beneath the rain-soaked fabric.
With a flourish, Kisame took a fighting stance, the Samehada at the ready. The rain swirled around him, casting him in a dramatic, eerie light. "Come on, give me your best shot!"
Naruto stood frozen, his chest heaving with exertion. Kisame's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Then I'm coming to you!" In a flash, he attacked Naruto with the Samehada, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Naruto dodged the attack by a hair's breadth, his eyes locked onto Kisame's. "You don't ever shut up, do you?" he snarled. "Then I'll shut you up!"
Kisame's laughter was a manic, gleeful sound. "Yes, this is exactly what I want from you, that reaction!" The two ninjas clashed, their movements a blur of speed and violence. The rain pounded down on them, casting the battle in a misty, surreal light.
As they continued to spar, Kisame's superior durability and Naruto's depleted chakra reserves gave the former a decisive upper hand. Naruto's movements grew increasingly erratic, his exhaustion etched on his face like a canvas of fatigue. Kisame, on the other hand, seemed to dance around Naruto's attacks with effortless ease, his eyes glinting with a knowing spark.
Naruto's breathing grew labored, his chest heaving with exertion as he stumbled forward, his legs trembling beneath him. Kisame's gaze never wavered, his expression a mask of detached curiosity. With one final, desperate lunge, Naruto collapsed at Kisame's feet, his body spent, his chakra reserves depleted.
Kisame knelt down beside Naruto, his voice low and measured. "How do you feel now, Fox Kid?" he asked, his eyes probing Naruto's exhausted features. Naruto's gaze drifted upward, his eyes welling up with tears as he struggled to articulate a response.
"I...I don't feel anything," he stammered, his voice barely audible above a whisper.
Kisame's expression remained impassive, his voice devoid of emotion. "That's right. That's how you're supposed to feel. I discarded any emotions I had a long time ago, when I fled my village. I have no remorse. This world is too messed up."
Kisame's words hung in the air like a challenge, his gaze boring into Naruto's very soul. "Remember, kid, don't ever show anyone your struggles. Don't ever let your feelings and emotions be visible through your expressions. You joined the Akatsuki because you believe in its vision. Now, remember, everything you do, and everything that happens – good or bad – is crucial for that vision to become a reality."
Naruto's gaze dropped, his eyes fixed on the wet earth as Kisame's words cut deep, striking a chord within him. The rain continued to fall around them, drumming against the earth like a mournful heartbeat.
Kisame's voice broke the silence, his tone firm but measured. "Now, get up. Let's get going , we're gonna be late."