Disclaimer: I. Don't. Own.
Notes: (1) Sasuke is already in Orochimaru's hands but he still doesn't know the sannin's real plans for him. (2) Hinata, Sasuke, and the other chuunins are already seventeen years of age. (3) There will be fight scenes. But I'm sure those will not impress you since I'm not that good in writing action scenes. Sorry about that. (5) There are some parts based on the anime series. (6) Don't expect this story to be purely angst. There will be some fluff in this one.
"Statement."
Thoughts
Chapter 1:
The Soon to be Broken Promises
Rain poured in large torrents.
From Hinata's position, she could clearly see the stream of mixed rain water and blood from her teammates' bodies. Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru lie helplessly on the ground. All of them were bathed with their own blood. Both men's faces were turned on her direction, giving her the view of their horror-stricken expressions. She never thought that even at the age of seventeen, when all of them have grown stronger over the years of so much training, the two chuunins were easily defeated and eventually killed by a traitor.
Tears began to pour out from her eyes though it was hard to tell since her face was drenched with rain water.
Of all people in the world, why did her teammates suffer like this? Was this one of Kami's plans? Why didn't He let those evil beings experience this instead?
"Why are you crying, my dear?"
Anger, frustration, and fear filled her heart as she heard that voice. That snake-like voice which everyone hated to hear, or perhaps feared to hear.
"Y- you!" That was all her lips could say. She didn't stutter because she was nervous. She tripped over her tongue because of the unbearable pain in her heart which seemed to leech all her adrenaline.
She clenched her fists though they were both set firmly on her sides. She also accidentally activated her eye jutsu because of the tension.
Orochimaru's usual slick smile stretched on his lips. He could already smell the scent of victory.
"Didn't you like my surprise?"
Flashback
Hinata, Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru traveled under the gloomy skies to go back to their village. After a very gruesome month of staying in a foreign country to do a Class A mission, none of them retorted about returning home immediately. Even Hinata, who has always been mistreated by her family, seemed to be too excited about staying in the village again.
Naruto-kun...
Oh, there was another reason why she wanted to go back. There was this certain blond boy who kinda has her heart. Just the thought of him smiling at her made her blush and smile inwardly. Even though she grew stronger over the years, she still had her somewhat childish affections toward the infamous Hokage wannabe. She was too into him that his image never ceased to enter her mind every once in a while during her month-long mission with her comrades.
She missed him more than anything in Konoha. She longed to see his smile and hear his voice. Oh my... She was starting to enter the gates of dream land.
"Move a bit faster, Hinata-chan!" Shino called out to her, making her snap back to reality.
Both her teammates were already a few yards away from her, so she has to look at their backs before replying, "Hai!" Gosh. Naruto's charm could actually do a lot of magic even he's at a very great distance.
"Excited to see him, eh?" Kiba mocked, glancing over his shoulder to see her reactions.
"Arf!" Uh oh. Looks like Akamaru wants to join Kiba in his little game.
Hinata blushed, of course. Was it really obvious that she could hardly concentrate because of Naruto? Was it obvious that she was thinking of nothing except Naruto's smile? Oh great. So she was still bad at masking her emotions.
"Ugh... Ah... N- no! I- I wasn't thinking of- of N- Na- Naruto-kun!" Actually, after some years, she managed to get rid of her stuttering. But whenever someone mentions Naruto's name, or if he were actually right in front of her, she couldn't help it.
"See? You said it." Kiba continued to push more buttons.
She gulped. Kiba was right. It came out from her own mouth. Kami, she should have thought of her words first before saying them.
Shino literally shook his head but did not look back at her.
Hinata-chan, what kind of aphrodisiac did that dobe gave you?
Since no one could see his expressions because the two were already behind him, and because his top's collar hid half of his face, he smiled.
"Tsk. Tsk." Kiba clicked his tongue. "Don't get too excited. You'll surely see him in just a little while."
Hinata nodded (but kept her head down to hide her red cheeks) and smiled.
I hope so.
"If you want to see him sooner, then focus." Shino, as the team leader, reminded her.
She breathed.
If you want to see him sooner, then focus, Hinata. All you need to do is focus and move a little faster. Soon, you'll see him... Soon you'll see your Naruto-kun.
She looked up the gray skies and smiled to herself.
When we get to Konoha, I'll tell him... I'll tell Naruto-kun that I love him. I promise.
Hinata tried her best to lessen the distance between her and her teammates. And somehow, she was able to do it. Leaping from one tree branch to another was not a very difficult task, anyway.
After long hours of traveling in complete silence, Akamaru suddenly barked and jumped inside his partner's jacket. The poor dog was shivering.
Shino looked back at his teammates. He nodded at them.
Kiba and Hinata did the same in unison. They completely understood what each one meant even without saying a word. That proves how close they were to each other.
The only female in the group activated her eye jutsu and scanned the area. She knew there were a few people following them. She could sense their presence but could hardly see their shadows albeit her byakugan was activated. Each of the ninjas who were following them moved in a very, very swift motion, it seemed.
"Bad." Shino mumbled and stopped.
"..." Kiba remained silent and eyed a nearby tree.
Hinata followed suit.
"We're surrounded." Shino said as faintly as a whisper but enough for his companions to hear.
Hinata continued to scan the area with her byakugan. "You're right." She already saw the outlines of the chakra of their 'stalkers' since, like them, they also stopped from traveling.
"Show yourselves." Shino courageously commanded. Though he sensed very strong and evil chakras, he didn't show any trace of fear. He was the leader. He had to stay calm and confident if he wants his teammates to respect him and his decisions.
"I don't think that's a very good idea." Hinata said and shifted her body into fighting stance. "I... could sense a group of people with strong chakras."
Laughter echoed in the forest as rain began to pour down from the clouds.
The culprits revealed themselves, which left the three gaping.
"Show ourselves, eh?"
The person whom they least expected to stalk them appeared in the nearest branch. With him was the man who left Konoha for his hunger for power.
Orochimaru, who happened to be one of the ninjas who followed them, licked his lips with his unbelievably long tongue. "I could smell a Hyuuga blood." The snake sannin smiled. "Mmm... Delicious." Orochimaru eyed Hinata, then licked his already wet lips again.
Kiba and Shino stood a foot in front of Hinata as though telling the snake sannin that he would have to kill them first if he wants to get the only kunoichi in the team.
Orochimaru snickered. "So you really think you could match the power of a sannin. How entertaining." He laughed louder. "How heroic, but not enough to scare a legendary sannin."
His companion, who was none other than Sasuke Uchiha, smirked. "They remind me of a fairytale." He paused. "If I am not mistaken, the fairytale is entitled 'The Princess, the Dog, and the Bug.'"
Sasuke, like Orochimaru, had that slick smile across his face. Looks like he adopted the snake sannin's way of smiling after living for years with him.
Kiba clenched his fists. Among the three, he was the one who could be easily angered or insulted. "Oh, the Uchiha traitor." He shot back at the smirking teen. "I never thought I could see you again. I thought your Orochimaru-sama has already eaten you." Kiba mimicked Sasuke's smirk. "What a surprise! Can't believe you still have the guts to show your ugly face after what you did."
Shino eyed Kiba warningly while Hinata held one of Kiba's arms. Both trying to tell the Inuzuka to stop playing pranks on the Uchiha.
"If I were you, I would never dare to get into the bad side of an Uchiha." Sasuke replied and slid his hand inside his shuriken holster. "You might get hurt if you don't choose your words properly, Inuzuka."
"Keh. Let's see who will get his ass beaten, Uchiha." Kiba went to fighting stance, ready to attack the turncoat if ever he'll attempt to do something.
Sasuke was also ready to attack Kiba. He took a step but Orochimaru's arm, which was still paralyzed and could not perform hand seals, blocked his way.
"We are here to get the heiress." Orochimaru glanced at the angst-ridden teen. "Not to kill a dog and a bug."
Sasuke grunted. The snake sannin was a certified pain in the ass. He's such a kill joy!
Orochimaru noticed the disappointment in Sasuke's face, so he added, "But if you want to play with them, then go on."
Sasuke simpered and averted his gaze from Orochimaru to the three ninjas of Konoha. Ever since he saw Shino's skills, he dreamed of beating him up. And now that Kiba was here as well, he could not help but get too excited about the match. Aburame and Inuzuka versus him. That was not a very bad match, wasn't it? Finally, he could test the skills and techniques Orochimaru has taught him on ninjas of Konoha. Damn. He only had Orochimaru's prisoners as test specimens for his powers.
"Why don't you join us, Aburame?" He challenged.
Shino's brows furrowed. "Don't be too confident, Uchiha."
A swirl of visible black chakra surrounded Sasuke's form. His canines were revealed as a very mischievous smile stretched on his lips. "Don't tell me you're scared."
"Why should we?" Kiba snapped up as his own blue chakra came out of his body.
"Kiba, you must not give him what he wants." Shino ordered as he gave his comrade a 'don't-do-that' look.
"Shino-kun is right. Don't fight him." Hinata whispered and offered a look of pure concern to her aggravated friend.
Hearing the chit chat of the three, Sasuke decided to interrupt. He hated waiting, anyway.
"Seems like nobody wants to battle with me. I guess I have to bargain, then." Sasuke glanced at Orochimaru. The look he gave the older ninja seems to say 'you know what to do'.
A bundle of chakra filled strings snaked around Hinata's ankles. It suddenly closed the distance between her legs which outbalanced her.
"What the-." Hinata mumbled as she felt the mysterious snake-like material which wrapped her legs together. When her balance failed her, she felt another bundle of gleaming blue strings wrap across her torso. Together, the strings pulled her down from the tree.
Hinata screamed her teammates' names as she slowly fell from the large tree branch.
"HINATA!" Shino and Kiba yelled in unison as they saw the kunoichi being consumed by the darkness of the forest below them.
She was falling down…
Down…
Then disappeared in the shadows.
Kiba glared at Sasuke menacingly, his teeth gritted. "How dare you… You cold blooded traitor!" His fists shook violently at his sides.
"You want her?" Sasuke mocked. "Fight me, then." The dark haired teen then let himself fall backwards into the abysmal forest.
Shino sighed. "Looks like we don't have any other choice."
With that, both shinobis jumped down to the forest, following the over-confident Uchiha into the never-ending darkness.
Hopefully, Hinata-chan's alright. I'll kill them if they'll try to do anything on her. Kiba thought as he ducked into the darkness.
As their feet landed on the wet ground, they immediately saw Sasuke. He was looking at them, his arms crossed beside his chest.
"What took you so long, weaklings?" Sasuke asked, a yawn escaping his lips. "I should've slept first."
"Don't be so cool, traitor." Shino warned, an evil smile on his lips. Somehow, he thought, it would give Sasuke the impression that his attempts to scare them with his sarcastic lines were useless.
"Yeah right." Sasuke responded, the black chakra still around him.
"Shino! Kiba!" Hinata hollered. She was behind the Uchiha traitor. Rather she was bound on a trunk of a tree behind Sasuke. Her arms were on her sides, her wrists in level with her neck. Her ankles were bound together. The bundles of strings were around her waist, ankles, wrists and neck. Kami, she was completely paralyzed. She was also soaked in both sweat and water. That was absolutely why her clothes stuck on her skin quite well.
Shino eyed his teammate. He noticed that the girl was struggling. The shimmering blue strings were tightening which chokes her to death.
"Let her go." He said in a voice torn between a plead and a command.
"I will." Sasuke replied as his cursed seal activated and changed his appearance from the Konoha heartthrob to a demon. The jet black hair became a bit gray and grew until it reached half of his back. The white of his eyes became gray as well and his onyx orbs were still charcoal black but the pin wheels of his sharingan turned red. His pale skin was also replaced by gray. "If you defeat me."
Hinata was closely watching the Uchiha's transformation. So this is why Naruto-kun seek for him? She couldn't believe her eyes. The reason why Chouji, Neji, and Naruto chased the Sound Four and got almost killed is this? This monster?
"Monster!" Kiba yelled, his fists shaking terribly due to too much anger and frustration. "So you left Konoha for that!"
"Shut up, weakling." Sasuke said. "You wouldn't understand. Nobody would, anyway."
With that, he performed hand seals and threw a few –twenty to be exact- small fireballs at the two members of Yuuhi Kurenai's team.
Shino and Kiba shifted their bodies into fighting stance.
Kiba commanded Akamaru to join him. The dog then transformed and mimicked his master's physical attributes.
As the twenty fireballs approached them, they noticed that after the wind and rainwater extinguished the fire jutsu, twenty shurikens were flying straight to their direction, replacing the twenty fireballs.
It was not his original jutsu. Shino noted mentally.
The three evaded the weapons, of course. However, they were quite surprised when strings came near them and bound them on separate trunks. But of course, the attack was way too ordinary for the seventeen year old chuunins. It was too impossible to kill them with such pathetic attack.
Shino, Kiba, and the Akamaru-transformed-into-Kiba turned out to be just a swarm of black insects and disappeared into thin air.
Hinata smiled. Her teammates were stronger than what the Uchiha thinks them to be.
"I knew you'll do that, scaredy cats." Sasuke stated to nothing in particular. The three were nowhere to be found so he made his voice loud and clear to make sure that the shinobis would hear him. "Are you already afraid? I haven't shown much yet."
Another swarm of insects appeared and eventually surrounded Sasuke's frame.
Sasuke, seeing the group of very small black insects, smiled wickedly. "How pathetic."
A combination of black and violet chakra swirled around him. With one swift motion, he killed Shino Aburame's insects.
"Is that all you can do?"
"Akamaru!" Hinata shouted as the Akamaru-turned-Kiba fell on one side of the tree and cried weakly. It then transformed back to Kiba's dog partner in a puff of smoke.
Kabuto, the gray haired Sound ninja, revealed himself from behind the tree where Hinata was bound. He was holding a bundle of strings with his right hand and a bloody kunai with his left.
"That was very brave of the little puppy." The Sound nin remarked. "Imagine him sneaking behind your back to free the heiress."
Are they already that desperate?
The Orochimaru-like smile stretched on Sasuke's lips. "Sneaking, eh?" He then eyed the Hyuuga whose body was still intact with the trunk. "Punish her, then."
With pleasure. Kabuto pulled the strings in his right hand.
Hinata gritted her teeth as the strings on her neck and wrists tightened. It choked her even more. How she wished she could help her teammates but what could she do? She could neither move nor even breathe, how could she be of use to them?
Kiba, who seemed to appear from nowhere, tried to plunge a kunai on the traitor's throat. But, as expected, his attempt was in vain. In a mere split-second, Sasuke was already behind him.
That was… fast.
And before Kiba could turn his head to see the monstrous Uchiha, Sasuke hit his back with so much force that Kiba flew straight at the muddy surface. He hoisted himself up and leaned his palm on the dirty forest floor to support his weight.
He coughed.
It was blood.
Sasuke sighed an obviously fake sigh. "I'm getting bored. Where's your friend? Don't tell me he got scared and just ran away."
While Sasuke was stating his not-so-long speech, a small group of insects managed to surround his neck and eventually acted as a rope to choke him.
Struggling to breathe, Sasuke let his eyes roam around and search for the person who summoned those hateful insects. As his eyes landed upon a branch, he saw Shino –the ninja who is responsible for choking him.
Shino's arms were outstretched and from his sleeves, more insects were coming out.
"Bastard!" Sasuke shouted at the one who summoned the insects.
"Overconfidence kills the cat." Shino said as a matter of fact.
It was then Kiba stood up from the ground. Though he could hardly stand on his feet, he managed to charge a kunai at Sasuke's back. It was his chance, anyway.
Sasuke screamed in so much pain as he felt the kunai. He turned his head to see the weapon, but, to his surprise, Kiba's knuckle collided with his temple.
Hinata smiled inwardly. Somehow, she felt proud of her friends for being able to do this to Sasuke.
You're underestimating them, Uchiha-san.
"You fools." A pair of hand-like wings appeared on Sasuke's back.
Kiba, who was to attempt to stab another kunai on the shinobi's back, stopped himself as another level of transformation happened on the Uchiha.
"What the-."
Kiba's eyes widened. Now, the Uchiha wasn't a monster anymore. He was already one of Satan's sons! Sweat grazed the side of his face and he gulped. The enemy in front of him had a stronger and more evil chakra. If they found it hard to suppress him before, how would they stop him now that he was stronger? Added to that, he was injured and exhausted while Shino was almost out of chakra.
Shino's and Hinata's eyes widened.
Now what?
After Sasuke's transformation was complete, he faced Kiba first and smiled wickedly at him. "How do you like this one, Inuzuka?"
The monstrous creature disappeared. And before Kiba knew it, Sasuke was already in front of him. Sasuke then kneed his former classmate at the Academy.
Kiba fell on the floor, his hands placed on his ribs. He felt his bones broken. Five ribs, perhaps.
"Kiba!" Hinata shouted as she saw what Sasuke did to her friend. How could he?
Sasuke then placed a foot against Kiba's broken ribs.
Kiba's eyes widened as he screamed in pain, agony, and panic.
"I told you to choose your words properly, didn't I?" Sasuke stated and applied more pressure to Kiba's torso. "Next time you talk to me, know your diction."
Shino then charged at the iniquitous Uchiha. He tried to hit Sasuke at the neck with the side of his hand. But it was in vain. Sasuke managed to prevent the attack by means of lifting his arm and using it to protect his vulnerable part.
He payed his attacker a glance. "You grew weaker." Sasuke then countered the attack by grabbing Shino's wrist with the same hand that blocked the attempted hit. He powerfully pushed Shino on the muddy ground. When he was already on top of the Aburame, he fumbled inside his shuriken holster for a weapon.
Hinata's eyes widened.
Kami, please.
She could not speak. Not that she was choked but because she was too scared to do so.
Sasuke raised a kunai in the air, ready to stab Shino whichever part he wanted to.
"NOOOO! PLEASE!" Hinata screamed in terror. Sasuke could not be this violent… He was Naruto's former teammate… He must have something common with Naruto… He must have even a little pity inside him…
Sasuke heard the plead, but it seemed as though he loved hearing her scream, so he plunged the kunai straight at Shino's abdomen. Blood spluttered everywhere.
"UCHIHA-SAN! PLEASE!"
Shino gritted his teeth and then… his spirits sunk into oblivion.
Sasuke left the weapon on Shino's stomach. He began to hit the insect master's face with his fist, determined to break Shino's skull.
"NO! STOP! UCHIHA-SAN! PLEASE STOP!"
She could only beg him to stop torturing her friend for she could do nothing except that. She couldn't take what Sasuke was doing to her companion. He has no right to take Shino's life… Or Kiba's… If only she could, she would kill this arrogant shinobi and let him taste what he does to her friends. She'll kill him! She will!
"STOP IT!"
Her face was already wet with cold rainwater and hot bitter tears. As usual, she was left crying and useless. Why does this scenario happen every time? Her teammates would fight to save her and she would just cry in one corner because of seeing her comrades suffer.
"SASUKE! STOP IT! STOP!"
But Sasuke would not listen to her cries. It seemed he was enjoying every moment of it.
"Stop." It was the only time Sasuke listened. He did not hit Shino. It was an order of Orochimaru. He has to abide with his commands so as to not get in the bad side of the sannin. "We already have what we came for. Stop wasting your time on that bug."
Sasuke stood up. He then transformed back to the normal human (in physical state) Sasuke.
End of Flashback
Tears were still unceremoniously flowing out of Hinata's eyes. She couldn't help it. What had happened a few moments ago has not yet sunk into her mind.
Shino… and Kiba… Dead.
How could she accept that painful fact?
"Monster." She whispered to herself but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Her features darkened as she looked down.
"What did you say?" Sasuke questioned as he looked up to her on the trunk.
"MONSTER!" Hinata shouted, looking straight into Sasuke's eyes. "YOU'RE A MONSTER!"
"I'm not." Sasuke stated casually as he wrinkled his nose. He acted as if nothing happened… As if he hadn't taken human lives.
"Y- YOU KILLED THEM! YOU KILLED SHINO AND KIBA! MONSTER!"
Sasuke walked a few steps toward her. He then looked at their captive. "I told you I'm not." His fist crashed with her stomach. "Let her go."
As the strings freed her body, she immediately clutched the region he had hit. She fell on the floor, feeling the unbearable effect of what Sasuke did.
So this is how it feels…
She looked at her teammates' lifeless bodies… then at the face of the one responsible for their death.
"M- monster…" She breathed. "I… I'll kill you s- someday." She closed her eyes and mustered all the remaining strength in her body. "I promise."
I'll kill you someday. I promise.
He smirked. He took the statement as a joke. She could not possibly kill him, couldn't she? She was the Hyuuga weakling. And he was the Uchiha prodigy. How could she match up with him? He could kill her in a matter of seconds.
She could never even scratch me. He joked mentally.
He stared at her now muddy face. "Come and try then." With that, he forcefully hit her back with the soles of his sandals.
Then, her world became dark.
Bebe's Corner
I just hope you like this one. I know the fight scene was bad. Sorry 'bout that. Anyway, I think you already have an idea what will happen next.
Have a heart. Leave a review.
