chapter
CHAPTER THREE
Harry was suddenly thrown from his thoughts and the observations he had been making by a chilling, powerful aura behind him; one that somehow felt incredibly recognizable. It was an echo of the aura he had been feeling earlier; but now it was there in full force. It was an aura that easily dwarfed all the auras Harry had ever felt before; even the aura of nine-tailed kitsune he had seen just moments earlier. At the same time even more hair raising, but oddly more neutral than anything else he had ever felt before at the same time.
Petrified by this aura, and completely baffled as to where he had felt it before, because he was sure whatever had such an aura would be clear in his mind. Harry turned to where the feeling was coming from. Only to find himself starring opened mouth in complete shock, as well as complete horror, at what he saw when he did turn back to the village he had ran from; which was were the aura was coming from.
There behind him, and over the village where the kitsune was, or had been, attacking, was something that Harry was sure would give him, and many others, nightmares for a long time to come. Because standing over a man who was for some strange reason standing on what looked like a giant toad of some sort, and boy did that part cause Harry to look twice, was death itself. How Harry knew this he wasn’t sure but there wasn’t a shadow of doubt in him mind that he was currently looking a death.
Seeing this, and highly confused as to how he knew just what death looked like, Harry decided that now would be the best time to follow his instincts. Instincts which were stronger since he was still in his Animagus form, as he turned and took off running in the opposite direction of the village. Moving even faster as something inside him told him to get away from there, that for some reason death itself wanted him to get away from there.
Heeding this feeling Harry started heading as fast as he could, as far as he could get, from the where he had just been. He knew right then and there that he wanted nothing to do with a village that had upset an obviously powerful Kitsune then called on death itself down upon them. It just didn't seem like the sane thing to do, and despite the many dangerous, often deadly, stunts Harry did, he wasn't Insane; at least he hoped he wasn't.
Harry had been running for a good thirty minutes now and his body was really starting to kill him. As he had long since burn through the little amount of energy he had been able to gain back through his resting; most of which he had already lost before he had even started running in the first place due to the testing he had done.
Now, after he had pushed past that and continued to try to keep running his body was now telling him, hell all but screaming at him. That if he didn't stop soon it would shut down on him; making him stop by force if it had to. Something that would end up damaging his already heavily exhausted body even more then it already was; perhaps even in a more permeant fashion considering how young his body currently was.
Knowing this and getting feeling that he really didn't want that to happen, Harry finally stopped running and started to look for a place he could rest. At least he did now that his instincts now telling him that for the time being he was far enough away from the village he had just fled from.
So, knowing this Harry slowed down his breakneck pace, that he had been going at, and began to look for a good place to hid in. One that he would be preferable not be seen or easily found at. Because Harry knew that, without a doubt in his mind, that the little sleep that he had managed to catch earlier, wasn't nearly enough to help him even partially recover from everything that had happened; not by a long shot.
This is when Harry noticed something that left him wondering how the hell he hadn't notice it before. At the same time, in Harry’s mind it also showed him that he was right about needed to get some rest. Because if he didn't notice this before, especially considering he had been looking for it for a good ten minutes now, then he was really worst of then he had thought. As Harry knew, honestly, that he really should have noticed it; that he would have if he had been fully rested.
What he noticed as the fact Harry was currently looking for places to hide that were large enough for his adult human form. When he wasn’t even an adult any longer, in fact he wasn’t even in his human form at the moment either. Something that he figured he should change as a small child would be a lot less suspicious then a three tailed kitsune if it was spotted by anyone; even if he could move faster while in his fox form.
Only to freeze completely and stop transforming out of his Kitsune form when a certain thought hit him. Again, reminding Harry how exhausted he most be for this to slip past him even as the thought echoed in his head. His kitsune form was a lot smaller than his human form, or at least it was currently, and it would be much easier to hide in; despite the coat it had on him. Which in all honestly the hair on his head matched, so it’d stand out just as much; maybe more so given his age.
Plus, as Harry continued on with this train of thought, in his kitsune form, he’d have at least small means to defend himself with; his small but sharp teeth and claws. Not to mention the slightly higher control he would have over the elements that were now supposed to be under his control; however new that elements may be.
Which was more than he currently had in his human form; something Harry swore he would work on later. But still currently in his human form he didn’t have a his sword, he didn’t have his wand, he couldn’t control his magic, and he didn’t know how his body would now react if he tried to use it to fight the way he knew how; not in the exhausted state it was currently in.
So, with these thought in mind and knowing that his body wouldn't let him run any further Harry went into the hiding place he had found as he climbed into a hole in a nearby tree and fell asleep; praying that no one would find him as he did so.
Hours later Harry was jolted awake by the sounds of someone talking nearby. Curious as to who it could be, but slightly frightened at the same time. As while he had stayed in the form he was in because it was slightly safer he still knew that in his current state he wouldn't be able to do much to defend himself; if only because of how small it was.
Still curiosity getting the best of him, and knowing how valuable information could be, Harry peeked out from his hiding place to see if he could see who was speaking. And get a better chance of hearing just what was going on at the same time.
Only to find out he couldn't because somebody was blocking his view; having stopped right in front of the hole Harry was currently hiding in. But, at the same time, he could hear what was being said. Which was more than enough for Harry at the moment, as he continued to listen to what was being said. Hoping that he would be able to hear something that would help him in some way; either to figure out where he was or what the hell was going on.
"Hey, did you hear about that attack on the Leaf? Apparently Kyuubi, you know the nine tailed kitsune demon, attacked it! From what I heard the Kyuubi came out of nowhere and started destroying the town and nothing they could do could even slowed it down!" This was said in tone that showed just how scared the man who was talking was.
However, the response he got was anything but that. If anything, the man who responded talked in a voice full of awe; and not a little disbelieve. He was also the man that was blocking Harry's hole, there for escape, in doing so Harry could hear him clearer than all the others; something Harry was rather happy about. Even if he was resisting the urge to bite the man in question as he was blocking his escape from the tree.
"Yeah, I heard about that, but did you hear about what actually stopped that monster? I heard that the fourth Hokage entered the battle on that giant toad of his and was able to defeat the Kyuubi…. but that really wasn't what happened now was it?" This was said with a snort from the man, showing he wasn't sure if he should believe what he was going to say next, before he answered.
An answer Harry was listening to with great detail because he didn't, and sill couldn't, believe that a nine-tailed kitsune, the strongest of all kitsunes, could be stopped by anything mortal. Not to mention Harry knew that death itself had been there and there had to be a reason for that.
"Yeah, it's true the fourth Hokage did kill the Kyuubi, from what I heard he called up the god of death himself to do so. He saved lots of lives when he did so. But I heard that whatever he used to call up the God of death to take care of the Kyuubi also killed him, and now the third Hokage has to take up the mantle and become the Hokage again."
Harry at hearing this nearly fell out of the tree he was in and onto the man who was in front of his hole; as said man had moved forward in his eagerness to tell the others what he knew. But somehow Harry managed to stay in the tree and continue to listen in on the conversation; still hoping he would be able to get some more helpful information. Some information that hopefully wouldn't shock him as much as the information he had just gotten had.
"Man, that really sucks I mean the fourth Hokage was doing a great job while he was Hokage. I really got the feeling he would have taken the Leaf to a whole nother level; especially after everything he had done in the war…Though that's not to say that the third Hokage was bad or anything. No, he was brilliant when he was the Hokage. But he is so old now…" Here the man trailed off, and Harry really hoped the other man would continue because he was starting to get some of the information he wanted.
Some of the information Harry felt he would need if he wanted to survive where ever he had landed. Luckily, for Harry, the other man in the conversation picked up where the first man had trailed off at. Making Harry internally thank his luck, which seemed to be attempting to make up for all the other bad luck he had been having lately.
"Yeah I got the same feeling about the fourth Hokage and he really was great in the wars; especially with those Stone Nins and his flash thing. As for the third Hokage, he may be old, but he is still really powerful and is no way, shape, or form to be taken as a joke; in anyway. I mean you can't be made a leader of a ninja village if you're joke and you know this. " The other man didn't seem to want to argue or he most likely of agreed with what was being said, because he didn't even pause as he replied back.
"Yes, I know this, but he is going have his work cut out for him with everything that has happen and it's not going to be easy for him in the least bit; especially with his age. There was a reason he passed the title on after all. You and I both know this so don't deny it."
"Yeah, I know that, but he will be able to get it done. He’d wouldn’t have taken the hat back up otherwise. Besides think about all the sale opportunities there are going to be at the leaf now. I mean we're going to make a bundle with all the things they are going to be buying. After all, they will be buying a lot of stuff to replace what they lost and it's going to be like walking into a goldmine. Me and you are really going to make away like bandits with all the stuff we have to sale." The first man excitedly whispered as he started to daydream about all the money he was about to make. Unfortunately, the man he was talking to didn't seem too quiet agree with him and though he was crazy if the tone he replied back in meant anything.
"What the hell are you talking about with this We!? There is no we! I am getting the hell out of here as soon as I can, and I suggest you so the same; just as quick. I mean look at the bad streak of luck that the leaf has had lately… that's not going to change anytime soon; I know it isn't. They must have angered something powerful, some type of god, or something like that, to have luck like that. But it doesn't matter to me what they did all that matter to me is that I know that I am not staying there, and no amount of sales or money is going to get me to say otherwise! My life, and my family’s life is worth more than that!”
As he said this, Harry heard the man moving around and after peaking through his hiding place which the man had been blocking was now no longer standing as close as he had been. Harry could see that the man in question was quickly packing up his carts and putting away all his goods.
Obviously, at least to the watching kitsune, wanting to get away from the village as quick as he could. Especially after he had been able to have a good conversation, with what Harry was guessing was, an old friend. A friend that didn't seem to agree at all what was being said, or the actions the man was taking, because soon he started shouting at the other man; making Harry's ear pin back against his head in discomfort as he did so.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN? DON'T TELL ME YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN ALL THAT BULLSHIT. I MEAN COME ON SURE THEY HAVE HAD A STEAK OF BAD LUCK, BUT IT HAS GOT TO END SOON…." Here the man stopped shouting and started to try to persuade the other man into stay.
"And it has probably ended already. I mean the attack was stopped before it got to bad right? Their village wasn't that badly damaged and they have a good leader…they have the third Hokage leading them, man. So, doesn't mean that show that their luck is now looking up? Just like ours will be if we stay here. I mean think about it. Think of all the money we would earn. More money than we would ever make anywhere else.” Here the man paused and stared off into space once more as he thought of the money he felt that he would soon be making. Before shaking his head to clear in and once more began attempting to persuade his friend into staying.
“Plus, at least here, we wouldn't have to worry about all those bandits and missing Nins attacking us out of the blue like we would have to out there. Hell, if we do go anywhere else, we’d have to higher someone to protect us and even then, it would still be up in the air. Because both of us know that those missing Nins are more active now than they ever were before. Now, come on you think on this and use your common sense. Let's stay here!" Only for the one, he was trying to convince to keep packing while saying in a tone that said he wouldn't be swayed otherwise.
"No, I can't. I just keep getting a bad feeling about this place, and I can't stay here while I have this feeling. I'm going elsewhere but I promise I will come back a visit my friend…I just really can't stay here; not right now. This place just makes my skin crawl for some reason."
Harry in his hiding place began to think, he knew he needed to come up with a plan and needed to come up with it quick. As he got the feeling that he had an important choice to make; one that would affect the way his future turned out. But even as he felt like this, Harry wasn't quite sure what he should do at the moment; after all he did have a couple of choices open to him.
Should he go back to the leaf, a place Harry honestly didn't feel like was safe for him to go to yet, with the man that was going back to said village. In the hopes, he would have a safer trip and find out more information about the place he landed in.
Or should he go with the other man to where ever he may be heading towards and hope that it turns out for the best; while gaining information as he traveled. And if he did go with either man should he do so in his Kitsune form so that he remained unseen and there for be safe. Or should he use the fact that he looked like incredible young child to his advantage and act like a small scared child while pretend to stumble upon them so that he can get safe passage with them to where ever they were heading?
Sighing as he thought of all of these plans and all the ways they could go bad Harry began to wonder if he should just stay in the tree and hide there until he died; or at least he did for a second or two. But in the end Harry knew he couldn't do that, and that he needed to go through with at least one of his plans. So, with that in mind Harry climbed out of the tree. It was time he put his plan, or at least the one he had chosen, in to action and to do so quickly; so that he couldn’t talk himself out of it.