Chereads / After The Last / Chapter 4 - Chapter Three

Chapter 4 - Chapter Three

"The New Team Eight"

Naruto was walking down the village's streets heading his way to the Hokage's Office for a new mission. He had passed by different stores and restaurants. Most of the people whom he had passed by greeted him with 'good morning' or greeted him with a smile.

The village has changed a lot after the war.

He thought but, he couldn't ignore the fact that some of the people had not yet recovered from the previous war that Naruto and his comrades had brought to an end. He felt sad about the thoughts crossing his mind. He had passed by a very familiar store.

"Here, take it! Leave my store immediately, you monster." The man pushed him outside his store and threw the mask at him. The poor little young boy grabbed the mask. He left the store and ran away. He was crying. He was so sad and lonely. Everyone sees him as a demon who had cursed their village.

Naruto reminiscing the old days. Everything has changed. He was now acknowledged by everyone in the village and was loved by them. He bumped on to a group of girls chit-chatting. They even asked him for an autograph and took a photo with him. He was like a celebrity. He thought to himself. He remembered how he was jealous of Sasuke back then, he was so famous among the girls and acknowledged by everyone. He thought it was fulfilling having the attention of everyone to him now he realized it was only quite annoying.

***

"Kakashi-sensei, what is my mission all about?" He asked.

Kakashi slightly tilted his head and smiled at him. He put the back of his hands underneath his chin, still smiling at him.

"Actually, this mission is not only for you. I have prepared a team to come with you." Kakashi declared.

"Who are they?" Naruto asked.

Suddenly the door opened and revealed the people behind it. A barking dog greeted them.

"Yo Naruto!" Kiba said. Kiba entered the room with Akamaru. Next was Shino.

"Shi-no..?" Naruto muttered. Shino remained silent and lastly, Hinata entered the room.

"Hinata?!" He blurted. He was surprised seeing Team 8 together.

"You will be going on a mission with them," Kakashi said.

"Alright! This mission is going to be easy!" Naruto boasted.

"You can't boast like that because Hinata is here, idiot!" Kiba looked at him so pissed off. Akamaru and Shino kept silent. Hinata just smiled at them. Naruto gave him a sour look. Kakashi laughed at them.

"Okay, enough with your childish fight." Kakashi interrupted them.

"Anyways, Kakashi-sama what our mission is all about?" Shino broke the fight between Naruto and Kiba. All of them paid attention when Shino spoke.

"Yeah, what is it all about anyway?" Naruto repeated.

"The Princess from the Kingdom of Blue Moon asked this mission," Kakashi muttered.

"Kingdom of Blue Moon? Where is that place located though? It was my first time hearing such a place." Naruto blurted. Kakashi grabbed a map and pointed to the exact place.

"The Kingdom of Blue Moon is located between the Village of the Stars and the Kingdom of the Crescent Moon. Based on her message, a group of unknown ninjas tried to abduct her. Fortunately, she managed to ask for help before it's too late for her. She was asking for enough security before the very important occasion in the Kingdom comes." Kakashi explained.

"I see." Shino and the rest of them nodded as a response.

"The Princess personally asked you for this mission, Naruto. She mentioned it in her letter. She also sends this scarf and a photo of the kingdom. She said it will be helpful for you to successfully arrive there. I thought that she was trying to say that you needed the help of trackers to get there that's why I choose Team 8 for this mission." Kakashi added.

They nodded as if to say they understood what Kakashi had said. They immediately left the office and prepared for departure. They started moving towards the village's gates. Upon leaving the village they started running and jumping off trees.

"Never thought that you would be this popular, Naruto. Imagine, a Princess personally asks you for this mission."  Kiba blurted.

Naruto looked at him with a weird face and he started teasing him.

"Ah.. maybe you are jealous Kiba because I am more popular than you," Naruto muttered and left out a short laugh.

"Shut up, idiot! I ain't jealous of you." Kiba replied with an irritated face. Hinata laughed at them and Shino remained silent. Naruto kept on teasing him.

"Hinata, you should be more careful with this guy from now on..." Kiba blurted.

Naruto was shocked and confused at the same time about his statement. Hinata was a bit confused too.

"What do you mean, Kiba-kun?" Hinata asked him.

"Yeah, what do you mean by that? Why Hinata must be careful of me? You weird guy!" Naruto feeling so annoyed by Kiba.

"Never mind," Kiba replied with a boring look.

"So are you gonna fight like that until we arrive?" Shino interrupted them.

"Oi Shino, tell him something. Kiba is acting strange." Naruto said. Kiba was irritated and shouted at him.

"I am not acting strange, you idiot!" Akamaru just helplessly watching his master bickering with Naruto.

"Hey, that's enough you two. We're here for a mission. Stop fighting already." Hinata told them. Both Naruto and Kiba calmed down. Naruto grabbed something from his bag. It was the scarf.

"Hey Kiba! Here, smell this." He called for him and hand over the scarf. He focused his nose on the cloth and he also let Akamaru sniffed at it. They had already outdoors the Land of Fire and heading their ways to the Village Hidden in the Stars. They stopped for while, it was getting dark soon. They looked for an inn to spend the night.

A fresh morning air surrounded the area. Naruto was seen yawning and Kiba stretching his arms.

"Alright! Let's go!" Shino ordered. Akamaru barked in agreement. They suddenly disappeared and started jumping off trees. They were heading to the Blue Moon Kingdom. They had already left the Village of the Stars. They were currently passing through the forest of the Blue Moon Kingdom.

Akamaru barked. Kiba sniffed. Kiba and Akamaru turned left and the rest followed them.

"Seems like they already have a lead to the Kingdom," Shino muttered.

"Hinata..." Naruto called for her. He gazed at her smiling. Hinata understood what he meant and nodded.

'Byakugan!'

She activated her Byakugan.

"Do you see anything?" Naruto asked.

She focused her sight up to 20 kilometers ahead. She saw a castle-like structure. Hinata confirmed it was the Kingdom of the Blue Moon. It was exactly the castle in the photo sent by the Princess.

"I can clearly see the castle," Hinata muttered.

"So we're almost there?" Shino asked. Hinata nodded at him. They kept jumping off trees for eighteen more kilometers.

They stopped at a huge gate with a Moon symbol in the middle. They had arrived. A group of soldiers approached them. They asked them what were their motives for coming to their kingdom.

"We are Leaf ninjas. The Princess asked for us here." Shino politely replied.

The soldiers nodded. The man whistled and the huge gate opened.

They let them got in and led them inside. Upon entering the kingdom, the four of them dropped their jaws.

"This kingdom is so huge!" Kiba muttered in amazement. They were mesmerized by its beauty as well.

The soldiers ordered to follow them. They were heading to the castle's entrance. They had arrived. The doors opened. Then again, the four of them were amazed at what they were seeing.

"This castle looks like a galaxy," Hinata muttered. The ceiling looked like a night sky. It had tiny sparkling lights like the stars and there was a big shining moon at the center of the castle that illuminated a certain spot in it. They couldn't believe their eyes. The place was so magnificent.

A group of women approached them. They bowed their heads as sort of greetings.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Blue Moon. Are you the Leaf Ninjas asked by the Princess?" An old woman asked them. They nodded as a response.

"I see." She replied.  She turned her back to the women behind her and gave them a nod. The old woman seemed to be the head of those attendants. The old woman stared at Hinata. Hinata felt a bit anxious and then she looked away.

"Let us guide you to your compartments. You have traveled from a faraway land. You must be tired by now." The old woman muttered. They nodded in agreement.

"Wait a minute!" The old woman stopped for a moment. She was switching her gaze at the three men. The three of them were confused about her gesture.

"Who among you is Naruto Uzumaki?" She asked. Naruto was a bit surprised. He raised his right hand and spoke.

"Me."

The old woman nodded at him.

"Alright then, follow me. You three guide them to their compartments." The old woman ordered. The three young ladies nodded as their response. She led Naruto to the other side of the castle. He was separated from his comrades.

"Hey wait granny, where are you taking me? Why did you separate me from my friends?" Naruto asked.

"Do you feel suspicious of me?" She asked him. Naruto was shocked at her statement.

"Actually no. I am just wondering." Naruto replied.

"This is an order from the Princess." She muttered. Naruto tilted his head and painted a confused face. The both of them stayed silent until they had arrived at Naruto's compartment.

"Your meal will be served later. Have some good rest." She bowed her head before leaving. Hinata roamed inside the compartment. It was so huge. She remembered Toneri's castle.

It was as huge as this...

she thought.

She put her things and sat on the bed. A thought of Naruto entered her mind.

"Naruto was separated from us. I wonder what's going on over there." She muttered.

"This room is huge. It's bigger than my apartment." Naruto muttered and was amazed at what he was seeing. His body flopped on the bed, he fell asleep.

***

Consecutive knocks from the door awoke him. Naruto lazily stood up and walked towards the doorway. He opened the door while yawning.

"Uwaaaaaaaa" he stumbled out of surprise. The old woman was standing in front of him. He immediately stood up and greeted the old woman.

"The Princess wants to meet you. Be prepared." The old woman told him and then she turned her back to him. She left Naruto in confusion.

Who the heck is that Princess?

He thought.