-Her scattering tears had passed—the hands of time were engraved in her beating heart… The people around her were gone, even the baby… What meaning was there to life?
Yay! I got a new chapter up! Finally! Thank you for all of you who waited so patiently! Love you all! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and other holidays. Sorry, this came out a bit late, but I had a whole lot of trouble with the battle scene in this chapter.
Also, I would like to address one tiny little fact that no one seems to remember: Hinata's sister, Hanabi, and their father were NOT in Konoha during the time of Pein's invasion. Just a heads-up because I might just use that in my story, kay? But not right now.
So anyway, please enjoy!
As the crying sounded,
The scattering tears passed…
Were all that just wetting the desert of time?
~The Third Frame~
"Hey, Neji-kun?"
"Yes, Tenten?"
"Why are you keeping quiet about it? About Sasuke attacking the brother of the Raikage?"
Neji sighed. He had no easy answer to that. Heck, he didn't even know why he himself did that. And so he just gave his teammate the excuse he gave himself. "Tenten, if Naruto were to find out, he'd be devastated."
"Yes, I know," the weapons mistress replied. "But wouldn't it be better if he heard it from someone he trusts and not some official or other shinobi?"
"Yes, it would be, Tenten. But . . . I'd like for him not to worry about it for now. When the time comes, he'll find out about it, regardless if he hears it from me or someone else."
"But . . . Sasuke being a part of the Akatsuki… Once Naruto finds out—"
"Right now, it'd be best if his mind is clear. He's got enough to think about, what with Haruno-san's kidnapping."
Tenten nodded her head in agreement. "Speaking of Sakura-chan's disappearance, Ino said she was kidnapped by Akatsuki members. You don't think that they…?"
"If they meet then it's their fate."
"I thought Naruto already set you straight about all that destiny talk!"
"Yes, he did. I'm just speaking metaphorically."
"Oh…" Tenten almost blushed. She felt so stupid. "Carry on…"
Neji sighed once again. "If Haruno-san was to meet up with Sasuke then she will know what to do. If she doesn't then she'll come up with something. You have nothing to worry about. Sakura-san is a smart girl, just like you are. Just like you, she'll find a way to make things work, regardless if she couldn't stop him from leaving the village way back when."
It was Tenten's turn to sigh. "I hope you're right, Neji… I hope you're right…"
✿。.:**:.。✿
"What do you mean?" Kisame asked, a sneering tone in his voice.
"Just what I said," Karin answered, trying to make herself believable. "Their chakra signatures have disappeared. It's almost as if they've vanished into thin air! I can't find them!"
And just a bit to the south of Kisame and Team Hebi's position, Sakura's group hid in the trees above. They had been there for a while, seeing the whole scene play out. Only one thought ran through their minds: why was Karin helping them? They had no answer and, though Karin seemed sincere about helping them, both Isaribi and Sakura couldn't bring themselves to believe the redhead. If it was a trick then it would be horrible for them if they fell for it.
"Karin, are you sure you can't find them?" Suigetsu asked again. "Or did you lose your skill?"
"IDIOT! 'I can't find them' means what it says! I can't find them!" Karin yelled once more. "Would you stop pestering me about it? I haven't lost my skill! I just can't find them!"
Karin might have convinced Suigetsu and Juugo, but Sasuke saw right through her act. He had known for a long while already that Sakura and her group were hidden just a bit away from them. He was about to say something but…
"Heh…" Kisame wouldn't hear anymore of this. He brought his sword to Karin's neck. "Look, girl. The jig is up. I know you're lying."
"What…? What are you talking about?" Karin asked, trying to keep her cool. "I'm a sensor ninja! If I can't find someone, it really means I can't find them! Why would I lie about it? I have no connections to that pink-haired bitch or her group! I don't owe them anything! Why would I even help them?"
"Who do you think you're fooling?" Kisame chuckled. "It's been entertaining, but I've got a job to do, and I won't let your pity towards them get in my way! Now, tell me where the cherry blossom is before I chop off your head!"
Karin bit her bottom lip, trying to plan out her next move while Sakura and Isaribi watched with anticipation for her answer. Would she rat them out or sacrifice herself for them?
The wind picked up, and a lone sweat drop ran down Karin's face. But in the end, her answer was . . . "I don't know where they are!"
"Heh, suit yourself!" Kisame said as he raised his sword. But before he could bring it down on Karin, a loud hiss ran through the forest—Sakura's Viper knocking Kisame's Samehada right out of his hand and far from his reach.
But Kisame only smiled once he saw Sakura and her group jumping down into the clearing. "Heh, I knew you couldn't resist returning the favor. It's in your nature to help those who have aided you, am I correct?"
Sakura scoffed. "No matter how good they are, all men are arrogant bastards." she said before turning over to Karin. "If you really want to help me then make sure my ally gets out alive!"
"Wha…" But before Karin could even get the question out, Sakura yelled out Isaribi's name.
"Hai!" was the maidservant's reply as she leaped into the air and kicked Kisame in the face. He slammed into a tree as she landed on the ground, her fists out and in a kung-fu stance.
"So . . . the maid knows how to fight?" Kisame asked as he wiped away the blood he had coughed up earlier before.
"Of course!" Sakura was the one who answer. This time, it was her turn to be arrogant. "Did you really think my mother would choose a midwife who couldn't protect herself?" She turned away from the Akatsuki member. "Isaribi! I expect you to come back alive!"
"Hai, Fujin!"
And with that, Sakura gathered Shion and Botan in her arms and ran out of view. But Sasuke was quick to follow.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Isaribi tried to catch up to the Uchiha, but somebody got in her way—two somebodies.
"Sorry, but we've got a job to do." Suigetsu said with a smile.
"Forgive us," Juugo added.
Isaribi cursed under her breath. She needed to finish this. Fujin, don't look back! Keep running!
✿。.:**:.。✿
Shizune couldn't help but cry. In the form Tsunade was in now, she couldn't help but let her tears fall down. She had been with the gambling lady for years now. She had never seen Tsunade like this. She didn't know if Tsunade would even make it through this, let alone make it through that jutsu.
"Shizune-san, please don't cry… Tsunade-sama wouldn't like it to see you like this."
Shizune wiped away her tears. "I know, Kakashi. But still . . ." She glanced back at the woman laying down on the bed. "Sakura's gone right now, and now even Lady Tsunade is…" She couldn't bring herself to say it.
"She's only in a coma…"
"But even so! The pain I feel is the same as I'd feel if she were dead, maybe even more! I don't know! All I know is that Lady Tsunade is like a mother to me! To see her like this…" Shizune couldn't stop the wave of tears as they rushed out of her eyes.
Kakashi could only console her by putting a hand on her shoulder. I guess now would be a bad time to tell her Danzo is the new Hokage…
✿。.:**:.。✿
As Sakura ran through the forest, she only kept her eyes in front of her. She wouldn't look back—or rather, she forced herself to not glance back at her pursuer. It was only when Botan began to tug on her hair that she looked back but only to see that she could not outrun her ex-teammate.
"Shit!"
That word got her a strange look from Botan.
"I meant, shitake mushrooms, sweetie."
"Oh…"
And with that, Sakura quickly shifted Shion into Botan's arms and shifted them onto her left arm, using her right arm to reach for her Viper. She leaped off of the branch she was on and did an about-face, aiming her weapon at a large branch above them. Her Viper wrapped around the branch and, using her superhuman strength, she pulled the large branch down and right between herself and her ex-teammate. But she knew that wouldn't stop him for long. She withdrew her weapon as she jumped down towards a nearby clearing.
"Botan," she said as she placed him on the ground, her sister in his arms. "This is where we'll part for now, but I promise we'll meet up again."
"Fujin?" he asked.
"Listen to me, Botan. Right now, it's dangerous for you and Shion to be here. I need you to take Shion and hide, okay? Isaribi and I will go look for you once we're done here."
"But…" However, Botan couldn't get a word out because Sasuke's chidori cut through the large branch.
"Go!" Sakura commanded, and Botan ran as fast as his little legs could take him.
Sasuke only watched as the boy carried the baby out of the soon-to-be battlefield. He wasn't going to stoop so low as to take them hostage in exchange for Sakura's cooperation. He wasn't that bad of a guy.
"PAY ATTENTION!" But apparently Sakura didn't know that. The new gash on Sasuke's other arm was proof of that. "Your opponent is me!"
"Hn… Suit yourself." And with that, Sasuke's sharingan activated.
✿。.:**:.。✿
Naruto charged, his shadow clones right besides him, kunai in all their hands. But Hinata was quick to see this and did a full rotation. And as the shadow clones hit her barrier, they disappeared into smoke one by one, two by two. The real Naruto wasn't there.
He's gotten better… His training is paying off… Hinata's rotation soon came to a stop, her Byakugan scanning the area.
✿。.:**:.。✿
Sakura's eyes raced throughout the forest. Where…? Where…? She couldn't afford to lose this battle. Suddenly, a realization struck her, compelling her to move. She jumped into the trees—and just in the nick of time, too.
✿。.:**:.。✿
Now it was Naruto's turn to look for Hinata. He had planned a sneak attack from above, but she had seen right through that and had taken refuge, completely out of his view. He forced himself to stay calm. He listened closely to his surroundings. The leaves rustling, the birds flying, the water rushing, shuriken cutting through the air…
Shuriken? He quickly did a back flip, dodging the sharp weapons.
✿。.:**:.。✿
Once the shuriken hit a nearby tree, Sasuke saw the plant rot. So . . . she means to kill me… He almost laughed at the turn of events. Almost a year ago, it had been him who was trying to kill her, and it was she who was trying to bring him back. Now it was vice versa.
"I told you to pay attention!"
✿。.:**:.。✿
Hinata's Gentle Fist knocked Naruto right into another nearby tree. However, when he dispersed into a wooden log, she knew she had been tricked. She quickly turned around.
✿。.:**:.。✿
And she grabbed Sasuke's fist before it met her skin. Sakura quickly reached for a kunai, but Sasuke slammed her against the tree. She struggled for a while against his hold.
✿。.:**:.。✿
But Hinata countered by kicking Naruto in the stomach. Once he was down, she charged at him.
✿。.:**:.。✿
But Sasuke jumped out of the way, causing Sakura to hit a mere sapling. But that Sakura turned into a puff of smoke.
✿。.:**:.。✿
During that short time, Hinata had taken the advantage and came behind Naruto then, all according to her little plan—
✿。.:**:.。✿
—Sasuke's sword in her hands, shocking the Uchiha. Since when did Sakura get the chance to take his weapon?
✿。.:**:.。✿
Hinata held the kunai to Naruto's neck and smiled.
✿。.:**:.。✿
"You weren't serious at all, were you?" Sakura asked. "You still went easy on me…"
✿。.:**:.。✿
"Does it matter?" Naruto asked. "You managed to actually beat me, regardless if I held back or not."
✿。.:**:.。✿
Sasuke watched for Sakura's reaction.
Her eyes were watery, the hand that held his sword shook. "I don't know how I can still love you—you of all people… You who killed my mother…" She threw his sword to the side, and she took a step back, but that was her mistake because that was when she felt a sharp pain in her back.
✿。.:**:.。✿
Isaribi felt a pang in her heart. She looked in the direction in which Sakura had gone off towards. I have a bad feeling about this… And she took off running.
✿。.:**:.。✿
"FUJIN!" Botan could hardly believe his eyes when the arrow embedded itself into Sakura's back. He was almost in tears when he saw her fall into Sasuke's arms.
"Why…?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced over to where Botan stood, her sister crying in his embrace. "Why must I be so weak? Am I cursed to forever be unable to protect those I love? I don't understand… Is this really my fate? Am I to be only this strong?"
Sasuke didn't answer. His eyes backtracked the arrow's path, only to be met with a sickening sight. His voice came out as a snarl. "Kabuto…"
Hai = yes
Yay! I finish this chapter! Please tell me you guys liked it! I really can't write battle scenes, and I was horribly stuck on that battle for the longest of times! Switching Sasuke and Sakura's fight with Naruto and Hinata's training session was really the only thing I thought would be okay. Everything else was really, really bad! It doesn't look like it, but I really did work hard on the battle scene! I'm sorry if this chapter really didn't meet you guys' expectations! I'm so sorry! I bet you guys were waiting for something better! Don't worry! The next chapter will really be much better than this one! I promise you!
But nevertheless, thank you for reading and please review this horrid chapter! Also, Happy New Years!
