Impossible
Hey my beauties! Oh my goodness, I didn't expect to get feedback so quickly! Thank you for taking notice in my story, it makes me really happy that people are actually reading!
By the way, I should have warned you some more… My story will be a gigantic spoiler alert to many, many upcoming episodes. So unless you want to find out about… well, awesome stuff… then by all means, read my story! If not, you should probably click away like now…
OKAY NOW THE STORY!
Itachi: I'm still alive… why am I alive—
SHUT UP ITACHI! *climbs on his back* TALLY HO!
Itachi: Get off of me…
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 2: Understand
Team Kakashi was brought to the Hokage Tower as soon as they dropped off the bodies of Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi to the hospital, under heavy guard from ANBU ninja. The ninja were standing in a straight line formation. From the left was Kakashi, Akamaru, Kiba, Shino, Hinata, Sai, Sakura, Naruto, then Yamato.
"Hinata, you will be placed under ANBU watch until cleared by Ibiki."
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Hinata's eyes were gazing at the floor. She felt her heart beat rapidly in shame and panick.
"Demo, obaa-chan! Hinata is Hinata! She wouldn't betray Konoha!"
"Hush, Naruto! And I told you to stop calling me that!" Tsunade squinted her eyes at the blabbering blonde and took a sip of her sake. "It is just standard procedure. Until the elders and I make our decision, we have to keep an eye on her. Obviously, I know Hinata won't do anything but we can never be too careful. Gomen, Hinata."
"It's alright, Hokage-sama." Hinata's hands were bound with chakra absorbing bracelets which stops her chakra flow and keeps her from molding chakra.
"Take her to the Inoichi for interrogation." An ANBU then appeared behind her and began to lead her towards the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force. Hinata wasn't going to get abused or tortured, more like a precaution. The door clicked signaling the departure of the timid girl and the unknown elite ninja.
"My lady, what will happen to Hinata?" Sakura gulped in concern of one of her closest friends.
Tsunade's brows furrowed. Her hands clasped in front of her face, elbows on her desk. Her flawless face was grave. "Worst case scenario; Hinata, along with Itachi, will be executed."
"WHAT?!" The room trembled at Kiba and Naruto's screech. Even Shino's faint voice was heard in their echoes.
"But my lady—"
"Sakura, Hinata is one of my apprentices. If it were up to me, I would not allow such harm come to her. But she knew the consequences when she healed him. She knew who he was and what he was capable of. Human or not, he has the power to destroy lives. And by saving his life, Hinata also assisted him in killing hundreds in the future."
The ominous silence took over the room.
-Page Break-
Hinata felt her mind go numb as Yamanaka Inoichi held the front of her head in his big hand. She felt her vision blur and she felt very droopy. Her eye lids drooped halfway and a slight blush came over her cheeks. A small drop of saliva slid from the corner of her pink lips. But even in this state, Hinata knew what she did. She knew who she saved. She knew the consequences of her actions. But she didn't care. He was dying. And she had the power to save him. Who was she to take a life from a person even if it was indirect. Her will was strong.
Inoichi travelled through Hinata's mind, searching for information. He wandered some more trying to fit some puzzles together. Although she didn't seem much of a threat, Inoichi covered each and every crevice of her noggin. Looking for lost files of criminal life or affiliation with the Akatsuki in every nook of her brain. After a long, long process, Inoichi was satisfied. He released his hand from Hinata's forehead. He nodded towards a man that was standing next to him. The large man sported a few scars on his face.
"She's clear." The scarred man said. "ANBU, escort her home."
"Hai, Ibiki-san."
At hearing this, Hinata bolted from the seat she was just in and out the door. Inoichi smiled after his daughter's friend. He then turned to the ANBU ninja.
"Keep watch of her until Hokage-sama's orders."
-Page Break-
Hinata dreaded this the whole day; coming home.
Hyuuga Hiashi. The head of the Hyuuga clan. The father of Hyuuga Hinata.
The thought of telling her father that she gave life to a killer sent electric waves down her spine. Goosebumps appeared on her skin. The hair on her arms and neck raised. What will he say? Will he be disappointed? Will he revoke my title? His guardianship? Hinata gulped. No... What would Neji say? The indigo haired woman bit her lip and scrunched the hem of her jacket. The ANBU behind her sensed her distress.
"Hinata-san, is there something the matter?"
"N-no… I just don't know what f-father will say…"
The elite ninja said no more as this was a personal problem and he wished not to interfere. He had heard of the Hyuugas cruel ways. Traditional but still cruel. Young Hinata didn't deserve to be a part of a family so heartless.
Arriving at the Hyuuga ghates, the ANBU bid his farewell and leapt into the trees. Hinata audibly gulped as she shuffled towards the grand gates. She greeted the gatekeeper with a 'konichiwa' made her way towards her father's office, practicing what she would say in her head. She slipped off her shinobi sandals and walked into the hallways, listening to her feet padding on the wooden floors. Still in thought of her speech, she ran into someone with long brown hair.
"Nee-chan!" Hanabi wrapped her arms around Hinata's petite body. "You're back!"
Returning the gesture, Hinata couldn't help but smile at her little sister. "Yes, Hanabi-chan. Where is father?"
"Oh, training with Lord Hard-ass outside." Hanabi crossed her arms nonchalantly. Hinata's eyes widened at her sister's foul mouth.
"Hanabi-chan, as soon as my meeting with father is over, I will have a talk with you." Hinata sternly put her hands on her hips and scowled, trying to look as threatening as possible. It succeeded if looking like a little girl that is pouting and having a tantrum counted as successful. Hanabi rolled her eyes and smirked.
"Sure, nee-chan. Sure." Hanabi smiled slyly before walking away. Hinata shook her head with a smile of her own.
Hinata turned her head as she heard a series of grunts and metal against metal from where her and her sister trained. She built up some confidence and courage and slid the wooden door that separated herself from her father. Unfortunately, Hinata applied more force than necessary and slightly chipped the wood. The two Hyuuga males halted their training and raised a brow at the Hyuuga girl before covering it up with a stoic impression. Neji resembled her father in a very disturbing fashion.
"Hinata. What is so important that you interrupted Neji's exercises?" Hiashi's tone sounded more of a demand than a question.
"A-ano… Hiashi-sama… I-I," Hinata knew that her father hated her stuttering. It showed signs of a weak person. Over the years, her stuttering habits were dropped but were immediately picked up around the presence of her own otou-san.
"Spit it out." He made sure to dip his voice in some acid.
"Hiashi-sama…" Instead of 'spitting it out', Hinata raised her hands to show the chakra absorbing bracelets that were still tightly bound around her wrists.
His brows pushed together in anger, outrage, and most of all, disappointment.
"What is the meaning of this, daughter."
Hinata frantically searched for something or someone to help her. Her gaze landed on Neji who looked completely impassive but his eyes said otherwise. It read concern and worry. And a tad bit of curiosity. Understanding the panick in her identical eyes, Neji kneeled on one knee in front of his uncle, waiting for permission to speak.
"Yes, Neji. Proceed."
"Hiashi-sama. I would like to speak to Hinata private, if you will allow it." Neji said monotoned and was still kneeling.
"Your request is granted." His solid gaze never broke from his daughter's shaky one. "But I expect an answer afterwards."
Neji stood up as Hinata bowed hesitantly to her father before speed walking back into the mansion. Her heart beat against her chest. She basically ran to her room, her eyes itching to release fat tears. Neji followed her. Upon reaching her sanctuary, she attacked her bed and covers and hid under them, creating a tiny quivering lump in the middle of the mattress, forgetting about her cousin.
"Hinata-sama," Neji slid the door of her room shut. "please, talk to me. What happened? And why are you wearing those? What did you do? Are you okay?" His voice was pure curiosity and worry.
"Oh, Neji-niisan…" her eyes were now puffy and red. The Hyuuga boy sat at the foot of her bed. His softened eyes were stunned as Hinata allowed herself to hug him tightly around his waist and began sobbing.
"N-neji-n-niisan… I-I… I'm such a f-f-failure… I h-have d-disgraced th-the Hyuuga n-name…" she continued to blubber in his sweaty black training shirt. He snaked and arm around her shoulders and gently stroked her hair with the other.
"Shh…" Neji cooed. "Tell me everything."
-Page Break-
"Hiashi-sama."
Neji kneeled in front of his uncle's office door, even though it was shut.
"Enter." A deep voice boomed.
A very hesitant Neji slid the door open and folded himself neatly in front of his uncle's desk where he was writing on documents.
"Hinata-sama is under ANBU watch until tomorrow."
Hiashi stopped his writing. The vein that was pulsating in his forehead cued Neji to continue his story.
"During her mission, Hinata saved a rogue ninja from their death. She found him lying on the ground near his doom and Hinata-sama healed him." Neji paused and looked straight his uncle's identical eyes. "Hiashi-sama, this is your daughter we are speaking of. It is something Hinata-sama would do. She is kind-hearted and gentle and forgiving and she values the life of a stranger over hers and—"
"Get her in her now." His voice was venomous. His face was incredibly impassive but his eyes were spewing rage and anger and his voice was coated with the most dangerous poison. His pale eyes burned into Neji's. "Now."
The younger Hyuuga clenched his fist into his knee. He closed his eyes for a second and sighed. "Yes, Hiashi-sama." He bowed before leaving to deliver his cousin.
Ten minutes past and Hinata was suddenly being pushed into the room with the angry looking Hyuuga who seemed to have calmed a bit but still angry.
"Hiashi-sama." Hinata bowed and didn't get back up until given permission. Hiashi grunted signaling her to straighten herself. After doing so, she folded herself just as Neji did not a few moments ago. Hiashi landed his glare at his daughter's frame.
"Daughter. Neji informed me of your failure. Tell me why you have chosen this path?"
Hinata chewed on her lip and fought back the urge of fidgeting her fingers. She could feel her eyes were on the verge of tears once more. "I—"
"Look at me when you speak, Hinata." Hiashi's voice was cold.
Slowly lifting her red eyes into view, she timidly set her eyes into her father's furious ones. "I couldn't let h-him die… Father, it is my duty as a healer to s-save a person from death. I will become a murderer if I choose not to heal t-them when they had the chance to live in my hands." Hinata inwardly slapped herself for stuttering.
"Hinata, you are a shinobi. Healer or not, you are still a murderer. You kill for the good of our village. You kill because it is your duty."
"Father…"
"Do not interrupt me! Now tell me… Who is this rogue ninja?"
Hinata couldn't bear to look him in the eye. Instead, she looked at the bare wall behind his head. She tried to make her lips form the words but no sound came. Realizing her throat became dry as the desert, she swallowed. After lubricating her throat with her saliva she croaked, "Uchiha… Uchiha Itachi."
The head of the clan's eyes widened in shock, then fury.
"Hinata, you fool… Our village would have been that much safer from the hands of the Akatsuki. Not only did you save him but he is here."
"I'm sorry, father…" Her eyes fell to the ground. A few tears slipped and she quickly dried them with her sleeve. "But I simply cannot hurt someone who hasn't hurt me."
"Hinata… As reckless and naïve as you are, I am proud of you." Hiashi bit his tongue. Getting those words out wasn't exactly a picnic. "You are not physically strong, I would know. But you are strong in your heart… You will be an excellent clan head one day." Hiashi's eyes softened then they were shut. Hiashi's aggravated features restored itself to the normal emotionless mask. Hinata gaped at her father. Never was she once recognized as 'strong'. She was never in that category. And here she was, having her father state that she was. The Hyuuga head took a glance at the heiress.
"You are dismissed."
-Page Break-
Itachi was sitting in the dark room. The damp, stone floor froze his feet. No light in sight. His body was aching in pain. His eyes stung as if alcohol was being poured into them, a dull pain in his chest as if there was a hole there.
So this is where you go when you die.
Suddenly, he felt the pain wash away from his chest but the piercing sting in his eyes stayed. He sat in the darkness for what seemed like hours. He recalled what happened in the previous events. Sasuke had killed him. Itachi closed his eyes even though it was pitch black already. His younger brother finally received his vengeance. Even though it is a lie… But Sasuke doesn't have to know. Just as long as he is happy and alive. Just as his thoughts were processing, a bright light in the room snapped him out of here reverie.
Am I going to the afterlife?
Itachi closed his eyes once more, feeling energy enter his body. A bright flash overcame his field of vision causing him to squint. Suddenly, his eye lids felt extremely heavy and the soreness in his body returned. Groggily, he forced his eyes to open. His vision was still blurred due to his illness but his other senses were returning. The stench of sterile covered him and the room. He was engulfed in a white room. Itachi concluded that he was still alive and in a hospital.
Damn… Why am I still here? How can this be?
Itachi, with huge difficulty, tried to hoist himself up on his elbows and finally into a sitting position. A pounding headache clouded his mind. He felt his arms were numb. Slowly, he lowered his gaze to his wrist and there sat two silver bands on them. He could feel his energy being pulled into them.
Chakra absorbing bindings.
"So you are finally awake, eh, Uchiha-san?" a voice of a woman's voice rang through the room causing his headache to thunder. Itachi glared at the blonde woman whose voice was incredibly loud.
"Hm, Lady Hokage." Itachi's eyes finally focused enough to recognize the blurred outline of Tsunade. Her usual green jacket was draped over the chair she was sitting backwards in. She held a bottle of sake in one of her hands and her pigtails were untied and swept onto one of her shoulders.
"Do you know why you are here?" The half drunken Tsunade said in a lower voice. With a 'hn' the blonde Hokage continued. "Well, one of my apprentices saved you."
"What is his name." Itachi will obliterate the shinobi who dared return him into the wretched world full of war and hatred. He unconsciously gripped the white sheets under his hands.
The blonde kunoichi took a swig from her bottle. "Her name is Hinata. Hyuuga Hinata. You should be thankful that it was her that was there instead of Sakura. Che, that she would have finished you off." Tsunade grinned stupidly.
"I did not ask for her to heal me." Cold, like his eyes.
"Well, here you are." Tsunade gestured to Itachi's whole body. She smirked at the scowling man. "What's the problem? Is there something wrong with living?"
Itachi did not answer her question. "Why am I here in Konoha."
"Hm… Well, if I tell you, you can't leave." Itachi seemed unfazed but Tsunade continued. "Your group thinks you're dead."
Dead? Well, then… Guess I won't be leaving any time soon.
"You are to be kept a prisoner here for the remainder—"
"Tsunade-sama. Would you like to hear a story?" Itachi's cold onyx gaze stared back into her glazed-over amber ones.
"A story?"
"Yes. A story of the day I left. The day I murdered the Uchiha clan."
"I don't need you to tell me. I know what happened. In the dead of night, Uchiha Itachi, the prodigy of all prodigies, sneaked into his family's homes and slaughtered them. But keeping your brother alive because he was not worthy to kill yet." Tsunade's face picked up a serious one.
"Well, that is half true. But would you like to hear the true story?" The Uchiha averted his eyes out the window, carelessly watching the blurred clouds swirl.
Tsunade's blonde brow cocked. She nodded her head forward to show that she was listening.
One explanation later…
"That Danzo-bastard…" Tsunade threw her empty sake bottle out the window, hearing a thonk as it went out.
"You cannot tell Sasuke. Or anyone for that matter. Only I have the right."
"Why not Sasuke?"
"It's best that he did not know."
"Alright… But I will talk to the damn elders. I will try and persuade them into letting you stay in the village as a civilian. You are going to be stripped of your shinobi duties but—"
"No need. I will be dead in the hands of my brother anyways."
"But Uchiha-san—"
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama demo this is something I must do." Itachi closed his eyes, meaning there was no room for Tsunade to argue. Finally giving in, Tsunade gave a long sigh and stood up. The professional medic-ninja reached into her pocket and unwrapped a syringe.
"Here. These are extremely strong sedatives. It will put you out for a couple of days. You have to look like a rogue criminal, right?" Her lips curved into a smirk. Itachi offered his forearm to her and she gladly accepted it. She plunged the syringe into his skin and pressed the clear liquid into his blood stream. "I will see you in four days."
Itachi could feel himself fade away. Four days. In four days, he will see his brother. In four days, his brother will get his revenge. In four days, he will be dead.
Author's Notes: Ahhh, I didn't really like this chapter a whole lot but I did my best. Hey, thanks for reviewing and all that goodness! Yay!
