((A/N: Ick... if it is indeed possible, this chapter is worse than the last.
I can't take it! The plot's too…. too… generic! A-and! The OOC!! It's all so horrid! The grammar isn't even that good!
I curse my friend for asking for such a pitiful story… I have to follow the outlines st for me! Outlines! With this to work with… even I can't do much…
-sigh- I'm being over-dramatic, yes, but I really hate how this is turning out, it's just so… I dunno… ick…))
Ironic Happiness
Arriving in a forest near the Sound, they were ambushed by a large group of Sound-nin…
"Byakugan!" Hinata activated her blood-limit and assaulted one that had decided for some incredibly dumb reason that Akamaru was an excellent target. Akamaru barked in acknowledgement before going to where Kiba was.
Taking out the nin she had just attacked, she was forced to duck as a large amount of shuriken flew over her head, whirling around she attacked what seemed to be randomly, but in reality, she had seen her opponents location with her Byakugon before turning.
"Oh-ho… a Hyuuga," a slimy voice said from the trees, Hinata turned and faced it in time for her eyes to widen when she realized a Kunai was headed her way.
Jumping out of the way and into the trees she headed in the direction it had come from, after pursuing for a bit she felt something crinkle beneath her feet, her blood-limit saw the exploding tag in time to jump, but not in-time to avoid the brunt of it.
Dizzily, she stood up and realized she was surrounded by five or six sound-nin.
"This is gonna be fun…" the sleazy voice from before commented, before charging.
Still dizzy, Hinata defended and attacked the best she could, 'One down…' turning with Hyuuga speed and grace she whirled on the rest of them…
After accomplishing the difficult task of two more she found herself pinned to a tree by one of the Shinobi's, a kunai digging into her throat slightly, while the ninja's other hand busied itself with another Kunai that stabbed her in the shoulder.
Crying in pain would do her no good; she decided as she quickly and efficiently hit a vital point on the human body, causing him to collapse. Hurriedly finishing him off she continued.
"Th-that's all of th-them…" her vision blurred, "I-I have to ch-check on Kiba and Sh-Shino now… no… time t-to… faint…" despite her effort, she found herself waking up what she hoped was only a few hours later.
"K-Kiba-kun? Shino-kun?"
'No! I can't fail this mission! What if they're worried? They could get hurt if they're not putting their full attention into their fights!' Hinata looked around for a bit fretting before she activated her blood-limit, 'I can't find them even with the Byakugan! How far did I wander?!'
A sound to her right caused her to jump out of her skin; turning her head she called out her teammates names again, hoping it to be them.
Nope… not her teammates…
Well, not unless they were eaten by the giant snake she now faced.
'A snake...' her body was petrified, she couldn't move, much less think strait. The snake continued to stare her down for what seemed like forever, a thought struck her, 'Snake... Orochimaru-san uses snakes(according to the report)... perhaps...?' "O-Orochimaru-san? Uchiha-san?" she called, hoping and fearing that one or both of the two would appear.
'What if... what if the snakes are the ones here and Orochimaru is attacking Kiba and Shino?!' fear struck her at the thought.
The snake slithered closer to Hinata, she could have sworn it looked almost sinister, 'No…' she closed her eyes, 'No… I-I can't die now… I have to save Kiba and Shino!'
Suddenly, a figure jumped in front of her, slicing the snake in half with a simple movement. Hinata heard it, but didn't believe it. Slowly peeking her eyes open she blinked as she recognized the features that had not changed much in his time training with Orochimaru…
"U-Uchiha-san…" it was whispered so quietly she hardly heard it herself, but it was proven he heard something as he turned around and looked at her.
"Hn... a Hyuuga huh? Could have sworn they were made of tougher stuff."
"Uchiha-san!!" shocked and scared, Hinata nearly forgot her mission as she tripped and fell on her bum due to the surprise of Sasuke suddenly appearing.
Nearly.
Looking up and Sasuke with as much courage as she could gather, she spoke "Uchiha-san, I-I have to br-bring you ba-back to Konoha... pl-please c-come peacefully...?"
He raised an eyebrow, "I see... that is why the heir of the Hyuuga clan is here? To take me back?" he sighed, bored with the direction of conversation, "What's your name?" he looked her skeptically, a humoring look adorning his features.
Taken aback by his question she answered without a second thought, "Hinata..."
"Hinata, eh? So why would you want me to go back?" he looked into her eyes, the same look of mild amusement on his face.
"A-ano..." she was at a loss, why did he even want to know? "B-because... I-I was sent o-on a mi-mission to retrieve yo-you with..." her eyes widened, "Shino! Kiba!" Rushing to her feet she activated her blood-limit again in hopes of finding them in order to be of help.
Still, no luck.
"K-Kiba-kun... Shino..."
"Hmm... so you want to find your teammates right?" he was still staring into her eyes, "How badly do you wish to find them? How far will you go and do to find them, Hyuuga?"
Hinata was surprised by the voice, having forgotten the Uchiha's presence entirely, she turned and answered his question, "T-to protect those I-I care about? I-I w-would do anything U-Uchiha-san."
"Even at the cost of your own life?" he raised an even more amused eyebrow, his cold eyes not portraying his reasons for asking such questions.
Her eyes widened, but she nodded, "H-hai Uchiha-san." she faced him then, "Demo... th-they would b-be sad if I-I were to d-die... thus, I-I would pr-prefer to k-keep my li-life..."
"But you would give your life for them if needed for their sake?" he grinned sinisterly at her, "Maybe, just maybe I might help you..."
She nodded her head slowly, wondering what Sasuke had planned.
"Okay, follow me..." he turned around and began to walk.
Hinata began to follow him, still scared, 'What am I doing? H-he's an S-class missing nin! What if he's tricking me? But what would he gain from that? He could kill me at any point in time without breaking a sweat... no! No Hinata you've got to believe in yourself!! If he were to turn on you, you won't go down without a fight! Demo... wh-what if he wants my life in exchange for my friends...? What am I going to do?'
She looked at his back as she followed him and wondered one other thing...
'Why'd he kill the snake?'
He looked back at her and noticed the worried look, smirking, he spoke "Don't worry, I don't bite(much…) and I don't intend to kill you…(yet) there is no need for me to do that currently." he continued walking.
'Then why the questions...?' She shook her head, no need to worry about it now. Her thoughts concentrated on Shino and Kiba, 'Will they be okay...?' continuing walking she activated her blood-limit in hopes of catching sight of either Shino or Kiba(hopefully both).
After a while, he stopped suddenly, causing her to bump into his back. She took a step back and apologized before he turned around and looked at her, "I'll save your friends for you... but what will you do for me?" he looks into her eyes again.
She froze... what did she have...? Money? She doubted he wanted something so fickle. The clan? She could never give that and hurt those she loved.
What does she own that could possibly be enough for both Kiba and Shino's lives...?
"But you would give your life for them, right?"
She looked away, her choice clear "Myself."
He continued to stare her down, a smirk twitching at the corners of his lips, "Hmm? What was that?" he heard what she said, but wanted to be absolutely positive.
"My-myself. It i-is all I-I own that c-could po-possibly be enough..." her head lowered as she spoke.
Sasuke nearly broke out into a grin. That went smoothly. Inwardly he celebrated, after all, he always had liked the shy Hyuuga, "Alright, we have a deal… Hi-na-ta-chan" he pronounced her name playfully, as he turned around and kept walking, leaving a completely shocked Hyuuga in his wake.
'Did I play right into his hands?!' was the first choked thought to cross her mind before something else settled in it… 'ch-chan?!' he sounded downright... cheerful to boot! Her eyes widened in shock as a fine blush spread across her face from being spoken to so informally by Sasuke. Backing up two steps before remembering why the deal was made she nodded(still red as a tomato) and started walking in the direction they had been going before, to shocked to say anything more.
Deciding to tease her further he leaned his head over his shoulder as he walked and spoke, "By the way, Hinata-chan, you look adorable when you blush." Despite the evilly playful smirk across his face, he had said it as monotone as a robot.
That was it for poor Hinata, she overloaded
"E-eh?!" the blush that had faded over a little time grew twice as strong, "N-nani?! A-ano! U-Uchiha-san! W-we ha-have t-to rescue K-Kiba and Shibo!! I m-mean Shino!" walking into a tree due to embarrassment was probably not the best idea... "O-ow!! A-ah! Um!" wobbling slightly she tried to straiten her walking as to not land on her bum.
As entertaining as watching her stumble around was Sasuke stood behind her a held her shoulders to steady her, "You okay, Hinata-chan?"
Oh cruel kami, why did he have to tease her so?
"A-ah... I'm al-alright... w-we need to r-rescue Shino and K-Kiba though..." she gave a light smile to show she was alright as he helped her up and hoped they could rescue Kiba and Shino soon.
"Yes, and we are almost there too." As they continued down the path a building came into view, "Are you ready?"
"I-I'm ready..."
They entered the building carefully, not wanting to direct attention quite yet.
((A/N: …and to top it all off, a pitiful attempt at a cliff-hanger! T-T I'm really hoping someone(other than my friend, he's loving this) is enjoying this story…))