Friday, February 18, 2011

Everthing (short story)






I wove my way along the barely visible path, careful to keep my feet from unnecessarily treading upon and killing the abundant vegetation. The trail I was attempting to follow had been almost completely erased from months of non-use. Prickling vines of wild blackberries had already begun to claim the unused soil and patches of leafy green clovers broke through the muddy ground every few inches, not to mention the limbs of fallen trees that littered the forest floor, all threatening to trip my cautious feet.

I grinned as I recognized the winding wall of tree limbs a few meters ahead that separated me from my destination. My feet involuntarily paused in front of the maze of moss-covered branches as I examined the barrier for any sign of weakness.

There.

A small hole in the barricade opened a few feet to the left of me, very near to the ground. Without a second thought I collapsed to my hands and knees and, ignoring the squelching mud and clinging vines, crawled forward. Dangling spider webs tangled themselves in my messy, strawberry-blonde hair, joining the countless brown twigs and vibrant green leaves that already crowned my tresses.

No matter. I could take a shower later, after I'd reached and returned from my destination.

My lips stretched in an excited, almost childish grin as the sound of bubbling water reached my ears.

The pace of my crawl quickened as I saw the exit of the leafy tunnel. Carefully hoisting myself upward so as not to rip my dirt-covered clothes, I gazed with unmasked excitement at the scene before me.

The wall of mossy branches stretched around me on all sides, leaving only a small, little knoll, maybe three- or four-meters wide. A three-foot wide stream bubbled from a break in the branches, cascading down into a small pool before rippling on in a winding path and exiting through a small, inch-high opening in the opposite wall. The brook was too wide to leap, and, even if one did manage to make it, there was the danger of slipping on the opposite bank where a pool of water-saturated mud lay in wait for the unsuspecting hiker.

Recalling my previous visits, I turned and skipped down the bank to where a sizable tree lay across the water, having been previously concealed by a small rise and fall in the land. I reached my sandal-clad foot forward, delicately testing the log for any sign of an invisible, rotten-core. The only sign of my intrusion was a small tremble along the trunk.

My smile grew as I placed my full weight on the fallen tree that was still as strong as ever. However, I fleetly skipped over the limb for fear that it would roll over and dump me into the placid water that appeared too peaceful to disturb without incurring the wrath of some nature spirit or nymph.

A ripple of wind fluttered through the trees, brushing them ever so slightly out of the way so that a soft, yet surprisingly blinding beam of light delved into the knoll, decorating the stream, leaves, and mud in sparkling, ever-changing patterns of wonder. Revealed in the sudden bright were a trail of the imprints of deer's hooves, all sizes: buck, doe, fawn. But no human footprints. It was only me.

I closed my eyes as a sigh of contentment escaped my lips and I twirled slightly on my toes. No, scratch that. It wasn't only me. It was never only me. It—this was everything.

And I loved it.

                    _______________________________________________________


Hey, peoplz!  KobaltWolf here.  I've recently been taking a writing course and this short-story was an assignment to practice descriptive language.  It was supposed to be only 100-words, but turned into about 600 because I wanted to express something of a theme.  Anyway, Everything actually describes a real place in the forest near my home.  It's amazingly gorgeous, especially on sunny days.  Also, it's a great place to practice my tracking skills because the mud captures the prints of everything that it touches.


Peace out peoplz!

KobaltWolf

Thursday, February 17, 2011

October (V2 haiku)


October fragrance
Dance, dance across reddened leaves
Teasing birch branches.

___________________________________________________

Hello peoplz, KobaltWolf here.  SO sorry for not posting in two weeks.  Life has recently decided to attempt to annihilate me. *grumbles*  Too much stuff to get done and not enough time to do it.  Anyway, I've been having writer's block on Gift of the Outcast Chapter 7, so don't expect it for about another three to four days.  I've found that Kyo has been tending towards Mary-sue, so I'm working on downplaying her abilities to make her seem more realistic.

Also, for those who have been reading my blog since its beginning, you might have recognized the title of this piece.  NOTE: This is not like my previous haiku, which was also entitled "October".  They have similar themes, but are completely different (and yeah, I know that's a contradiction).


Peace out!

KobaltWolf

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Gift of the Outcast: Chapter 6 (story)


NOTE:  All chapters can be found by going to the labels gadget on the right side of the page and clicking on the label of the chapter number you wish to read *example: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, etc.*

DISCLAIMER:  I do not claim to Naruto or any of its subsidiaries.  This is simply fanfiction.  However, I do own my OCs.



Hello peoplz!  Finally got this updated.  So. . . .YAY!  *grins like a maniac*  I'm pretty pleased with this installment.  Hopefully you like it as well.  And here's the dictionary:

teme -- an insult.  Literally translated as 'bastard.'  Sometimes read as 'fool.'

Fuinjutsu -- a branch of jutsu that focuses around the sealing of chakra, living beings, objects, as well as a wide variety of other things within another object

Arigotou -- thank you

Godaime Hokage -- fifth Hokage

Sannin -- a shortened version of the Densetsu no Sannin (the Three Legendary Sannin.)  A group of extremely powerful shinobi consisting of Tsunade the Slug Princess, Jiraiya the Toad Sage, and Orochimaru the Snake Sannin.

Baa-chan -- grandma

sake -- a type of Japanese alcohol.  A favorite of Tsunade's


Kuchiyose no Jutsu -- summoning jutsu.  A jutsu used to summon an animal or an object.




                   Chapter 6








“DIE!”

The greenette's stare locked on the incoming female Jonin, whose fingers were tightly clasped around the hilt of a dangerously glinting katana.  Her face had dissolved into one of intense resignation and concentration.

Know you're place.

CLANG!

Deidara shot forward in his chair. “KYO!”

And the Jonin's companions just stood there, like the teme they are.  Staring with those damn Bambi eyes.

And Deidara screamed.

“What are you yelling about, baka?”

The blonde's mouth closed, abruptly slicing off the sound.

Silence.

His shoulders slumped.

“Thank you. I already have one heck of a headache, I don't need it made worse by you're freakin' screaming.”

After a moment, a wry smirk twisted the Akatsuki bomber's lips. “You really have a flair for the dramatic, un, Kyo-kun.” He glanced back towards the Jonin's two allies.
Why didn't I notice that before?

Ice sparkled on their skin, the dancing flashes barely visible in the dank lighting. A few feet away, the Jonin herself was splayed out, her face buried in the dirt and her katana spliced cleanly in half.

“What can I say? I'm an actress at heart.” The greenette stepped into his line of vision, a triumphant grin painting her face.

His gaze dragged across her form. “Your arm, un.”

“Huh?” The smile promptly faded.

“Your arm. It's black, un.”

“Oh, yeah.” She sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head with her good hand. The other flopped limply at her side.

Dead.

“Stupid baka of a Jonin had some nasty poison on her.”

“It stopped spreading, un.”

She raised an eyebrow at the serious tone. “Yeah, why?”

“How.”

The greenette cocked her head ever so slightly. “Froze it.”

He half-smiled. Hm. She's grown.

“What are you grinning about?”

The blonde started violently as Kyo's curious face filled his vision.

“Gah!” Deidara squeaked as his chair wobbled dangerously, before collapsing backwards. He winced as he prepared to meet the floor.

Then he stopped.
“Smooth.”

The blonde slowly opened one eye so as to glower at the smirking girl above him, her hand clasped around his wrist.

“Whatever, un.” He snorted, daintily turning his chin away.

CRASH!

“Ow.” Deidara moaned from his place on the ground, rotating his head as if to make sure it was still attached.

Kyo glared down at him. “I think you mean thank you.”

“Not re—oomph!”

The greenette slowly ground the heel of her boot into the Akatsuki member's chest.
“Alright, alright! Arigotou, un.”

She grinned and snapped her fingers. “Now that's more like it.”

He rolled his eyes.

Kyo knelt beside him, examining the softly pulsing chakra seal on the bottom of the chair. “Hm. Pretty strong. Fuinjutsu master most likely.” Concentration marred her face as she traced the glowing design with her index finger. Suddenly, a spooky smile spread over her face. “This might hurt a bit.”

Deidara paled. “You wouldn't da—KEH!” The blonde shot into the air as an explosion of orange and blue shot from the hand of his kneeling companion, the energy being immediately absorbed into the suddenly blindingly bright seal. Within a second, the chair was blasted to smithereens, seal and all.

The greenette sheepishly twisted her bottom lip as she glanced around in the resulting dust. “Deidara, you there?”

Then she looked up. “BWA-HA-HA!” She collapsed onto her back, laughing madly, her good hand clutching her stomach.

Deidara was gripping the ceiling with chakra-charged hands and feet. His golden-blonde hair stuck up in a rather unruly fashion and every muscle in his body tensed, pressed to the concrete. All-in-all, he was doing a very good impression of a cat. He moved his head so as to glare at his companion. “Are you done yet, un?”

She held up one finger as she continued to chortle, shaking wildly.

A tick mark appeared on the blonde's forehead, before he sighed with resigned acceptance, dropping to the ground. Stumbling slightly on impact, he leaned against the nearest wall so as to steady himself. “We should move, un.”

“Y—y—yeah,” she chuckled. “You're right.” Her voice had sobered by the end of the sentence. “Do you have any clay?”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah. They let me keep my explosive detonating clay while being tortured because they trusted that I wouldn't use it to blow them to freakin' little flaming pieces, un.”

Kyo pouted.

“Fine, fine, un. No, I don't have any.”

She slouched, muttering some choice words under her breath as she slowly glanced around the room.

A sigh escaped Deidara's lips. “Well?” His voice was impatient.

“I'm thinking!” she snapped, beginning to pace.

The blonde reclined against the wall, contemplating their options. There's no way she could make it through the wall. She good, but she can't make art. Door's too risky. Ceiling? Nah, the structural integrity of the place would collapse in an instant. Of course, that would make a pretty amazing explosi—

“WHERE ARE THOSE FREAKIN' BRATS!”

. . . .scratch that.

The blonde's head whipped towards the door, instinctively reaching into the tatters of his cloak. Oh, that's right. My clay's gone. He flashed a glance towards Kyo. The greenette was in a defensive stance, a kunai clenched between her teeth.
He stared at her dangling, black arm.

This isn't good. Neither of us are in the condition to fight. Especially not with—

“THERE YOU ARE!”

The Akatsuki member cringed in spite of himself. Glaring at him from the previously half-destroyed door, stood a rather irritated looking Godaime Hokage, Tsunade.

“DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS FREAKIN' PLACE COST, YOU BRAT?!?! I GAVE UP A MONTH'S WORTH OF SAKE JUST TO BUILD THE FREAKIN' THING!”

No, she look downright murderous.

The greenette's face screwed up as she opened her mouth.

Close it. Close it. Please close it.

“Just how much sake do you drink? Don't you know it's unhealthy? Pocky is a much better ha—“


“SHUT UP!”


BOOM!


The pair barely had time to jump before the floor beneath them was ripped apart. They anchored themselves to the rapidly cracking ceiling, glancing down to where the Hokage stood, her fist buried in the ground and arm still glowing with green chakra.

Kyo turned towards her companion. Oh. She mouthed.


He glared.

Then she grinned. Of all the things she could have done, she grinned. She freakin' grinned.


“Too slow!” The greenette's mocking voice rang through the room as she dropped down the now still floor.

You've got to be kidding.


Deidara shot her a 'shut-the-heck-up' look. It was promptly ignored.

Kyo plowed on. “I mean, you're one of the Sannin right? I've heard of you! You're supposed to be some super-awesome-kick-butt kunoichi. But,” she paused, slowly cocking her head, “all I see is some old, frail, baa-chan.”


Oh, she just had to add that.


“DIE!”

The blonde Hokage shot forward, making a beeline for the green-haired kunoichi, fist pulled back and a look of pure anger marring her face.

She's totally drunk.

CRACK!

Deidara's eyes flashed downward, locking on Tsunade form. The Hokage's fist was smashed into the wall. Kyo crouched beneath her, completely unscathed.

And she's still grinning.

And then the wall exploded.

Shrapnel tore ravenously into the concrete, one particularly large shard burying itself mere millimeters from Deidara's head as he clutched his ringing ears. The blonde's sparking blue eyes widened minutely as several clouds of dust dislodged themselves from the rapidly spreading spider-cracks along the ceiling.

Kuso.

The Akatsuki member fled to the floor as a tremor shook the building, dodging a spray of pebbles.

Of course, Tsunade, in her drunken, sake-induced state, was completely unaware of the impending danger. Her fists were practically flying as she attempted to annihilate the greenette before her, but the chikushou brat just kept dodging, a sick grin plastered on her face.

“You can do better that that!” the girl mocked, playfully sticking her tongue out.

BOOM!

Another wall fell to the Hokage's wrath.

Deidara hissed as several sections of the ceiling collapsed, each one larger than the former. He quickly wove through the shrapnel, eyes darting nervously as wall after wall tumbled to its doom.

What is that baka doing?

Kyo was just grinning like a maniac.

Teme.

Of course, he knew the greenette was slightly insane, but suicidal? Not likely. She was more the type to cause others to become suicidal.

He coughed, eyes watering as dust flew through the air. The corners of his mouth turned up in an ironic smirk as he stumbled, legs wobbling mutinously. How far the bird has fallen. The tongues of his hand-mouths nervously swiped their tongues from side-to-side.

BOOM! BOOM!

Tremor after tremor shook the underground bunker as each of the Hokage's chakra-charged punches connected with concrete. Kyo blurred with speed, locked in a ferocious dance with Tsunade's rapidly flying fists. Both the girl and the woman seemed oblivious to the collapsing structure.

Which they are causing to collapse.

He growled under his breath.

CRACK!

“GAH!” Deidara shot to the side as a two-ton boulder of concrete and steel crashed just millimeters from his previous position. The blonde was knocked into the wall from the resulting air displacement. A wince crossed his face as the tell-tale sound of a cracking spine echoed through the room.

Really?

BANG!

He whirled towards the thundering boom, only to hiss as his vision was blinded by a flood of light. As his pupils contracted, he clutched his face blinking rapidly.

Oh.

He glanced up, a knowing smirk on his face as he stared at the gaping hole that now adorned the chamber's outer-wall. The two opponents had dropped out of sight, though several large booms and a long line of non-story-appropriate swears could still be heard.

She is smart.

The blonde sprinted forward, charging his leaps with chakra as he attempted to outrun the quickly imploding building.

Thud!

Deidara flew from the opening and skidded to a stop. He gripped the ground with an almost maniacal pleasure, fingers uprooting the grass from their furrows.

Free.

Something whizzed past his face, slicing several of his yellow hair strands in half. His eyes flicked to the side, regarding the offending kunai that had buried itself in the ground a few meters away, blood glinting off it's surface.

It wasn't his.

“Oh, you're going to pay for that one!”

The Akatsuki member dropped into a crouch at the menace in Kyo's voice. She stood opposite Tsunade, both breathing heavily. However, Tsunade was not streaked with blood. The Hokage launched herself forward, visage marred with rage.

Unfortunate.

The greenette flashed a hand-sign. “Kuchiyose no Jutsu!” 

Kyo vs. the Spandex (Gift of the Outcast Comic)



*click for larger size (I recommend this)*

Okay, I just HAD to do this.  In case you're wondering, this is a scene from my story, the Gift of the Outcast.  Specifically, it's from Chapter 5 (link: http://kobalt-board.blogspot.com/2011/01/gift-of-outcast-chapter-5-story.html) where Kyo defeats the evil known as SPANDEX *shudders.*  In case you're wondering, green spandex is the mark of Rock Lee and Maito Gai, two rather eccentric shinobi of Konoha.

Poor Deidara-kun looks rather disturbed.  XD.

It should be noted that this is a quick half-hour comic, hence the terrible quality.  I was really bored. . . . And I'm almost done with Gift of the Outcast Chapter 6, so I'll be posting it either tonight or tomorrow. 


Peace out peoplz!

KobaltWolf

Monday, January 31, 2011

Setsuko (fanfiction image)


*Click image for larger view*

Okay, I FINALLY got something posted.  I've been rather inactive, except for putting the finishing touches on Chapter 6 of Gift of the Outcast.  (It will be out soon, I promise!)

Anyway, this is a character in a new story I have been brainstorming.  And don't worry, even if I start publishing this new story, I will forge on in my other projects!  Now, before I introduce you specifically to this character, I believe that a little background info on the story itself is necessary.  Basically, it is a Naruto fanfiction set in the present day, after all the events in the actual canon.  The plot revolves around the fact that, at some point in shinobi history (don't want to reveal any spoilers, so I will be purposefully vague) part of the shinobi population's chakra was sealed, reducing them greatly in power.  This in turn forced into hiding.  In the present day, an underground of shinobi is the only remnant of their once great civilization.  The legends of the ancient masters have faded into wives-tales.
However, a select few are dedicated to reviving the ancient powers, so as the shinobi can once again rule over the world:  the Akatsuki.

*NOTE:  This (possible) story will contain a completely new set of Akatsuki and Jinchuuriki alike.  Though, there will be some connections to canon characters, such as Uzumaki Naruto himself as well as the original Akatsuki.*

The woman pictured here is named Setsuko and will be the protagonist of the mentioned fanfiction.  She is the leader and reformer of the Akatsuki, having pulled it back together after its disbandment hundreds of years before the start of the story.  I you didn't draw this from her expression, she is the deceptively sweet type who has a habit of slitting people's throats when their backs are turned (think Road Kamelot from D.Gray-Man except a little more 'round the bush about destruction.)

Also, I am NOT promising that I will continue this story, I just wanted to draw the character.  Also, I know the summary and character profile sounds REALLY corny and slightly Marry-Sue-ish, but please don't judge it before you've read it.  I suck at summaries.  

And now, onto the image itself (yeah, yeah, I know.  Long post.)  I am rather pleased with how Setsuko turned out, especially her hands, which, I might add, took forever.  Total time spent:  7 hours.  I'm not exactly sure what the background's about, but I needed to make something, leading to this.  The little balls of light kind of relate to the meaning of the word Akatsuki, which is dawn or day-break.  You know, with the whole light thing. . . .  The green swirlies are just random things I whipped up so as to relate to Setsuko's green and purple color color scheme.



I'm tired, so Peace peoplz!

KobaltWolf