Despite all that she had been through in the past few hours, this was the most gut-wrenching moment ever. Because in front of her was the root of what caused her beloved Nii-san so much pain and sorrow. Rage and indignation rushed through her veins after her initial fear, and for the first time in Hinata Hyuuga's life, she wanted to kill someone.
*
Kakashi was rather amused at the current situation. He had heard the Hyuuga heiress come and drag Naruto out of the house they were staying at. Using his ANBU training, he tracked them and then hid when Neji Hyuuga flew past him followed by the rest of the Rookie Nine and Team Gai. A few moments later, he heard muffled yelling then a bawling Sakura rush out and sit outside the entrance. When he was thinking of appearing to talk to her, Ino appeared a moment later. The blonde knelt down and held the sobbing girl while crooning nonsense at her. Ino comforted Sakura for a while until Naruto and Sai appeared. They took Ino's place in comforting Sakura. Sai in his awkward starting to feel way and Nartuo in his devotion to the girl he's loved since forever. He caught Sasuke's name from the comforting and something about a kunai and private parts. Sakura smiled a watery smile and Sai and Naruto returned it glad they made her stop crying for the moment. Ino made the comment about going back into see if anyone had gathered any new information and Sai agreed to head back with her leaving two of the original Team Seven members by themselves. Kakashi shifted closer to the two to listen on their conversation.
"Sakura…" Naruto paused, looking at Sakura.
"Yes?" The tears had stopped falling.
"What did you mean about me not having to keep my promise to you?"
Pause. "Because I can see the difference and I don't think the Sasuke I loved is there anymore… And I don't like being a source of pain to you. And I realized after your fight with Pein that…" Sakura looked down then back at the blonde. "I love you and I don't want to lose you."
Naruto looked absolutely stunned while Kakashi simply smiled. 'About time.' He thought while Sakura reached up and cupped Naruto's face with her hand and kissed him on the lips. Kakashi witnessed what caused the Hyuuga heiress's heart to break and then in the next moment realized there were a large amount of people headed their way. He heard some yelling from inside which caused Naruto and Sakura to part and rush inside. Kakashi watched as the Kages approached the hideout. Gaara of the Sand lead the way by a ways with his sister and brother by him followed by the other villages, except one…
Kakashi's brow lowered into a scowl as he noticed Danzo's absence. 'Where is he? I'm going to go get Yamato and then head to the meeting place. Is there a reason he stayed?' Kakashi leaped away at the time Naruto and Sakura greeted Gaara, welcoming him into the hideout.
*
If anyone didn't notice the hate that rolled of the Hyuuga heiress and her guardian at the current time was moronic. Temari decided. The loathing was so strong in their eyes.
"So youthful!" Whispered Rock Lee excitedly about the Raikages entrance while Tenten made a quick glance at Neji before telling her teammate to keep his comments to himself and mental hoped Lee had not gotten any ideas.
"Raikage…" Gaara addressed the huge dark corn-rowed man. "These Konoha shinobi claim Sasuke Uchiha and his team did not kill your brother, Killer Bee. He was apparently too much for them to handle. They left him alive, or at least that's what they claim…" Gaara trailed off as the Raikage walked closer to the group and Hinata and Neji tensed as he stopped in front of them and their teams.
"Are you two Hyuuga's?" Raikage asked as Hinata clenched her fists as Neji held in a growl. Shino, Kiba, Tenten, and Rock Lee all stayed close to their teammate to give support and to also hold them back from attacking the Raikage. Team Hawk watched this exchange with interested eyes.
"So what if they are?" Kiba asked knowing the Hyuuga's were not going to talk to the man who ordered the mission to steal the Heiress away.
The Raikage threw a glare in Kiba's direction before addressing Neji specifically. "Are you Hyuuga's? You're eyes are what are told to hold the Byakugan. Her forehead is not covered with a curse mark but your forehead is covered by your headband. Does that mean you are a branch member and serve this girl?"
"Nii-san does not serve me." Hinata stated calmly, looking up from the ground she was staring at. "He is my guardian." She looked at the Raikage and with anger said, "And I'm surprised you are talking to us right now because, if you couldn't tell, we both want to inflicted pain on you and lots of it."
Everyone's eyes enlarged at Hinata's statement and the Raikage's guards advanced quickly to guard their leader. Neji, nor Hinata, made a move toward the Raikage.
"Oh, is that so?" Raikage asked raising an eyebrow.
"I would believe anything she says right about now. Hell, she tracked down the four of us and took us down. She threatened Sasuke Uchiha about blinding him for life." Suigetsu spoke from his corner. Heads whipped around to him and the Raikage's focus shifted back to the reason he was here. Sasuke Uchiha. But first…
"YOU, took down THEM?" Raikage pointed toward Team Hawk.
Hinata grinded her teeth before pushing out an acid, "Yes."
"Raikage, do you not think us women can't hold their own?" A female voice asked from the entrance.
"Mizukage … I did not mean to imply such a thing but one lone ninja taking out four Akatsuki members? Very unusual."
"So?" The Mizukage finally came into view. Dark auburn hair was tied on top of her head with the rest cascading down her back and a large bust which made some comparison to Tsunade. A boy the Nine's age appeared by her carrying a large sword like Suigetsu.
"Holy shit." Tenten muttered. "Where do they get these swords? I want one now." Suigetsu snorted at the comment, while everyone else besides Neji and Rock Lee raised an eyebrow at the question and turned their attention back to the conversation between the two Kages.
"Didn't your brother? According to these ninja, he did. Can we just get on with the reason why we are here?" The woman asked bored. "I want to get out of this frozen place. It makes me miss the rain…" she muttered while pulling her cloak around her tighter.
"Hmph. Is his Sharigan deactivated or contained in some way?" The Raikage asked seriously the young group in front of him.
"Yes. Hinata deactivate the Sharigan with her Juuken when she captured Team Hawk." Shikamaru informed the Raikage. "Otherwise I'm sure we'd all be experiencing something very unpleasant right now."
Raikage snorted. "I'm sure. That Hokage of yours has an interesting ability with an Uchiha eye. Sushi? Sasha? It starts with an…"
"Shisui Uchiha." Saskue snarled from his position. "His name was Shisui Uchiha and he was the first Uchiha to die, by order of the Konoha Council to my brother. He was my brother's best friend. That god-damn bastard!" Sasuke glared ahead while everyone else froze in shock.
Hinata quickly moved over to the Uchiha to press on a point, releasing his neck from being paralyzed. Uchiha quick turned his head to the Hyuuga to glare at her while she simply looked blandly back. The Kages raised an eyebrow at the Hyuuga's actions.
"Tell us more. Now." Naruto spoke to the Raikage. "Because if have him and Madara out freely roaming about, we're screwed. Many people's lives have already been fucked by these guys."
"Wait… you know about Madara?" Juugo interrupted, confused from his position on the floor.
Naruto looked pained for a moment before he spoke. "Yes. My father informed me who he was and his crimes. He also goes by the name 'Tobi.' Madara was the true force behind the Akatsuki, not Pein, he was just a puppet…" Naruto trailed off and then started again. "Danzo… His deeds go past the Uchiha Massacre. Him and the Amukage killed a group of Rain shinobi during the Third Great War. He used his Root ninja to do this…"
"Hey! We can get Karin to Danzo, she can get the bastard to confess! Can't you Karin?" Suigetsu stated while smirking at Karin. The red-head glared back and gave a very stiff nod while mouthing two words that should be said in polite conversation.
"Your father, Dope?" Sasuke asked while raising an eyebrow. He was slightly relieved to move his head and face. The blonde looked at Sasuke and gave him a pained smile.
"Almost going crazy with the Kyuubi had its rewards. I got to meet my father, the 4th Hokage." Gasps erupted from the room and several 'Duhs' echoed through the minds of geniuses. "He stopped me from removing the seal of the Fox and he talked to me." Naruto looked away from Sasuke and Sakura reached over and squeezed Naruto's hand.
Hinata noticed the action and felt her heart clench in memory of the kiss she witnessed earlier between the two. She bit her lip and moved her eyes to Sasuke, who was looking at Nartuo with some sort of emotion in his black eyes.
"Can we get back on topic?" Temari asked from beside Gaara. Everyone looked to her and the leaders nodded.
"Can we agree that the Konoha shinobi have Team Hawk under control?" Gaara asked.
Mizukage nodded and Raikage sneered while the Rock leader stood back and muttered something about young people and vaguely nodding.
"What about Killer Bee? He hasn't come back to the village."
"Have you ever let him go out on his own before?" Gaara asked.
"Well of course on missions! Otherwise he is a valuable weapon…" Growling erupted from Naruto and Gaara had a look that his siblings hadn't seen since before the Demon was removed.
"No wonder!" Naruto snarled out clenching his fists. "He's your brother! You shouldn't think of him just as a weapon. He probably ran away!" Sai and Sakura held Naruto from attacking the Raikage while Temari and Kankuro eyed Gaara and watched him visibly shut down his emotions. The Raikage looked undisturbed by the outburst.
"So. That is solved…" The Mizukage spoke. "But what at the rest of the Akatsuki?"
Naruto calmed down and shifted his focus to the Mizukage. "They are done for. Pein is dead and Konan… Konan went to bury his and another comrade's body. The last of the Akatsuki is before you except for Madara and his informant Zetzu."
"We only joined this group because Madara felt that I owed him. And tracking down the eight tails was that assignment. I personally don't like being a lap dog of someone else. They get in the way of my goals." Sasuke explained. Raikage raised his eyebrow at this and dismissed the Uchiha. The Konoha shinobi inwardly relaxed as they saw this as a sign that the Raikage had moved on from wanting to destroy the Uchiha.
"We'd better get back and relieve Ao from watching Danzo." Mizukage informed no one in particular.
"We need to send for ANBU. We'll leave a squad here and the others will take Sasuke's team to Konoha to inform them." Shikamaru stated and turned around to Hinata who had not moved from her spot beside Sasuke. "Hinata, you will be in charge of that group. You captured them and I say you bring them in." Hinata eyes enlarged at Shikamaru's words. "Choji and Ino, do you guys care if you stay to be part of the squad that guards Danzo?"
Choji and Ino made a motions of their acceptance and Shikamaru turned back to the Kages. "There you have it. Team Ten will stay and Teams Eight, Seven, and Gai will escort the prisoners back to Konoha. Everyone got that?"
"Hai." Everyone responded and grouped up. The Kages looked at each other and turned to head back to the meeting. Gaara and Naruto exchanged words then a handshake, Temari and Kankuro waved good-bye to the Konoha shinobi, and Team Ten stood by the entrance waiting for the Suna group.
As soon as everyone left, everyone turned toward Hinata.
"So, o fearless leader. How are we gonna do this?" Kiba grinned broadly. "I vote for knocking them out then carrying them back to Konoha!"
"Hey man! That isn't very nice! We've done everything you've asked!" Suigetsu interjected.
"Wait!" Sakura suddenly swung a backpack off her bag and dug through the contents until she held up what appeared to bracelets. "We can use these. They allow for a little chakra flow but they can emit a shock that will paralyze the wearer if they receive a command from the person who placed the bracelets on them."
"Good." Hinata spoke up. "We will use them. Everyone pair up next to the ninja they were guarding earlier after getting a chakra bracelet. After that, I or Neji will come around and unblock the points."
Everyone nodded at the instructions and headed over to Sakura to grab a bracelet. Hinata watched as Shino and Kiba placed the bracelets on Suigetsu and began to walk over when Kiba motioned her over. Hinata walked around to the backside of Suigetsu and activated her bloodline. Veins bulged as she quickly found the points and struck them quickly pushing the chakra blocking the points out of them. Suigetsu slowly stood, first stretching, then turned and faced the Hyuuga.
"Thanks Hyuuga. I hope that never happens again." He told her with his usual grin.
Hinata nodded in response and smiled at the pale boy. She saw Sai motioning for her and she walked over to him. She repeated the process she did with Suigetsu and the man was able to stand. She saw that Neji had taken care of Karin and Sasuke and they were currently stretching. Karin appeared to be hovering about Sasuke, not making a sound but flailing about wildly.
Kiba walked up behind Hinata and whispered in her ear, "I think you can let her talk now. Just say next time it will be permanent next time." Hinata glanced at her teammate before heading over to do what he said. She quickly walked up to the girl and tapped her shoulder. The girl whipped around and glared at the Hinata.
Hinata calmly poked the girl in the voice box and stated, "If you say anything remotely insulting, I will make sure you'll never talk again." and walked to the center of the room.
"Everyone! Let's head out!" Hinata called to the group she was in charge of. There were choruses of yes and finally. The Konoha shinobi headed back home, the place they had just left previously that day.
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Dis: Naruto, I do not own. Kishi do.
