Author’s note: So I ‘won’ NaNoWriMo this year, which is to say I came in at over 50,000 words in a month, writing 1,666 words a day, every day, on an original fic. Whew! Didn’t know if I could do it! But I’m so glad I did! (AnoNaruto, did you do nanowrimo too? If you did, I hope it went well!)
So to celebrate, another preview of Chapter 28. I’ll be working furiously now to get it finished. Hope you enjoy…. It’s one of my favorite scenes.
Preview from Chapter 28 – The Stolen Child
Naruto crept up the long side of the building to a cart angled at the edge of the storefront. He quietly crouched down under it, tucking himself into the shadow of a wheel.
He watched feet come and go, listened to the chatter. He needed to figure out who was the storekeeper. Inching closer, he peered up through the wheel, trying to see clothes, faces, anything that would give a clue. But where he was he could only see up to their chest, no higher.
The big man in the front of the store looked like he could be the owner, but he wasn’t sure….
“Oi! Good morning! What can i offer your little man today!” Bingo. The shopkeeper. Naruto blew out a low breath in relief.
There was some mumbled conversation, then another man stepped into his view, carrying an infant. Naruto could see round arms and legs, and a patch of black hair.
The shopkeeper stepped closer, admiring the baby and asking questions. Naruto only caught fragments of it.
“No, not what his ma wants, but I prefer Katsuro,” the father said, jostling the plump little legs.
The storekeeper made some approving sound. “That’s a good, strong name—”
The father hoisted the baby just out of Naruto’s sightline. “Because you’ll be my ‘victorious son’ won’t you?” he cooed. “Won’t you?” The baby let out a hungry bawl.
“Oh ho! A hungry boy! Well, I’ve got just the thing….” The shopkeeper threw back an arm to his store.
Just then, a pebble bounced of Naruto’s shoe. Turning quickly, he saw Itachi motioning from the end of the long building. He had a full sack in his hand.
Naruto scrambled out of his hiding spot and dashed down the dirt path beside the building. Itachi frowned at his echoing footsteps.
“We’ll have to work on that. Come on, let’s go.”
From there they traveled swiftly, never staying two nights in the same place. They moved through dry days and wet, sometimes eating, sometimes not. When they were close enough to a town, they tried to gather as many supplies as they could carry.
The plan, carried out successfully at the first store, became routine. Naruto went to the front while Itachi gathered what they needed. And he no longer felt a twinge of guilt about it. They needed supplies, these men had more than enough. Naruto was doing what he needed to do to survive. That was all that mattered.
And through their travels in those first weeks, in those silent stretches when Itachi’s black heels would blur in front of him, endlessly pounding over the anonymous terrain, Naruto thought about that baby.
He wondered if the father had his way. Or if the baby went by another name now. Naruto realized it was the only other name he could remember, outside of his own and Itachi’s. He never knew names at the orphanage, he realized bitterly.
He had been repeating the name in his head for a few days when Itachi asked him again about the final detail of his disguise one night.
“Have I picked a name?” Naruto cleared his throat and set his bowl down beside their tiny campfire. ” I, uh, have been thinking…thinking about the name…Katsuro.”
“Ah,” Itachi said quietly, peering at him over the orange flames. Naruto did not know whether he approved or not. “I think it suits you,” he said decidedly. “You will be Konoha’s ‘victorious son,’ after all. Just not how they expected.” Itachi smirked to himself and continued eating his meal.
Naruto looked down, immeasurably pleased.
“Katsuro…. Katsuro….” he said softly, digging his toes into the black dirt beside the fire circle. Enjoying the sound in his ears, the warmth of the fire, and the feeling that in the darkness, he had done it. He’d thrown off the last shackle from Konoha. He was finally free.
01 Dec 2011 No Comments
NaNoWriMo winner, plus a preview!
Author’s note: So I ‘won’ NaNoWriMo this year, which is to say I came in at over 50,000 words in a month, writing 1,666 words a day, every day, on an original fic. Whew! Didn’t know if I could do it! But I’m so glad I did! (AnoNaruto, did you do nanowrimo too? If you did, I hope it went well!)
So to celebrate, another preview of Chapter 28. I’ll be working furiously now to get it finished. Hope you enjoy…. It’s one of my favorite scenes.
Preview from Chapter 28 – The Stolen Child
Naruto crept up the long side of the building to a cart angled at the edge of the storefront. He quietly crouched down under it, tucking himself into the shadow of a wheel.
He watched feet come and go, listened to the chatter. He needed to figure out who was the storekeeper. Inching closer, he peered up through the wheel, trying to see clothes, faces, anything that would give a clue. But where he was he could only see up to their chest, no higher.
The big man in the front of the store looked like he could be the owner, but he wasn’t sure….
“Oi! Good morning! What can i offer your little man today!” Bingo. The shopkeeper. Naruto blew out a low breath in relief.
There was some mumbled conversation, then another man stepped into his view, carrying an infant. Naruto could see round arms and legs, and a patch of black hair.
The shopkeeper stepped closer, admiring the baby and asking questions. Naruto only caught fragments of it.
“No, not what his ma wants, but I prefer Katsuro,” the father said, jostling the plump little legs.
The storekeeper made some approving sound. “That’s a good, strong name—”
The father hoisted the baby just out of Naruto’s sightline. “Because you’ll be my ‘victorious son’ won’t you?” he cooed. “Won’t you?” The baby let out a hungry bawl.
“Oh ho! A hungry boy! Well, I’ve got just the thing….” The shopkeeper threw back an arm to his store.
Just then, a pebble bounced of Naruto’s shoe. Turning quickly, he saw Itachi motioning from the end of the long building. He had a full sack in his hand.
Naruto scrambled out of his hiding spot and dashed down the dirt path beside the building. Itachi frowned at his echoing footsteps.
“We’ll have to work on that. Come on, let’s go.”
From there they traveled swiftly, never staying two nights in the same place. They moved through dry days and wet, sometimes eating, sometimes not. When they were close enough to a town, they tried to gather as many supplies as they could carry.
The plan, carried out successfully at the first store, became routine. Naruto went to the front while Itachi gathered what they needed. And he no longer felt a twinge of guilt about it. They needed supplies, these men had more than enough. Naruto was doing what he needed to do to survive. That was all that mattered.
And through their travels in those first weeks, in those silent stretches when Itachi’s black heels would blur in front of him, endlessly pounding over the anonymous terrain, Naruto thought about that baby.
He wondered if the father had his way. Or if the baby went by another name now. Naruto realized it was the only other name he could remember, outside of his own and Itachi’s. He never knew names at the orphanage, he realized bitterly.
He had been repeating the name in his head for a few days when Itachi asked him again about the final detail of his disguise one night.
“Have I picked a name?” Naruto cleared his throat and set his bowl down beside their tiny campfire. ” I, uh, have been thinking…thinking about the name…Katsuro.”
“Ah,” Itachi said quietly, peering at him over the orange flames. Naruto did not know whether he approved or not. “I think it suits you,” he said decidedly. “You will be Konoha’s ‘victorious son,’ after all. Just not how they expected.” Itachi smirked to himself and continued eating his meal.
Naruto looked down, immeasurably pleased.
“Katsuro…. Katsuro….” he said softly, digging his toes into the black dirt beside the fire circle. Enjoying the sound in his ears, the warmth of the fire, and the feeling that in the darkness, he had done it. He’d thrown off the last shackle from Konoha. He was finally free.
by tricksie in Preview