DISCLAIMER: I can barely even spell 'Kishimoto'. You think I could come up with something this awesome? Hardly...
Ha! Its actually been updated! And what an update it is...this is the single longest chapter I have ever written for any story I have here on Fanfiction! Pretty cool, huh? So go grab a tasty beverage and get comfortable, 'cause this is a long read...
Hope you find it amusing! Oh, and I'd recommend glancing over the last part of the previous chapter if you have an extra minute. This chapter jumps right in from where the last one left off, so unless you're reading this whole fic straight through, I'd suggest you go and re-read a little bit. :)
Alright, alright, I'm done talking. Have a good read!
From her newly acquired vantage point, all time ceased to flow as the young Byakugan heiress gazed down upon her beloved. A shallow rasp passed by her lips as she soaked in the image of Naruto partially engulfed by a demon's unrelenting fury.
The young man immediately took notice of her horror-stricken countenance and stayed his hand, drawing it back with a look of anguish.
Of course she was afraid. He was a monster after all, deserving nothing more than to be hated and feared; something that should never have been, something that didn't deserve to have such beautiful amethyst eyes travel the full length of his crimson-ravaged frame.
Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, both ashamed and embarrassed that someone should see the terrible truth of an abomination made flesh.
"Hinata-chan, please...run. I'll fight it off as long as I can, just...get out of here!"
With those final words firmly addressed to a darkness so far reaching, the male shinobi began to push himself away from the peaceful presence at his side.
Hinata could feel her heart swell with grief, fully aware that he must feel all alone, devoid of anyone whom he could share his pains and sufferings with.
The weight of a sorrow-laden soul drew her small form forward, intent on not letting him travel an inch further from the love she held so dearly.
I...just this once, when it matters the most...can't I...can't I just ...if only this once...
The young woman took a deep breath and swallowed hesitantly, fearful of the words that might soon come to pass.
A delicate hand reached out and came to rest upon his shoulder, pulling him to a gentle stop. Naruto turned back to face her, a look of pain and desperation firmly etched upon his features.
"J-Jiraiya-sama showed me your notebook, Naruto-kun. I...saw what you wrote about me..."
The young man regarded her curiously before a single azure eye grew wide in fear. His sudden mortified expression was balanced out by a hesitant smile ushering forth both life and hope.
"I...I just wanted you to know that...s-sometimes, when I'm alone...I like to look up at the sky..."
She hastily gathered her hands in her lap, trying not to fidget. Naruto adopted a look of blank uncertainty. It was all Hinata could do not to tap her fingers together as she began to scrutinize the grass between her knees.
"My f-favorite color is blue, Naruto-kun...just like a bright sunny day, and...when I look up, I like to think I'm looking into your eyes, because..."
She swallowed again, trying desperately to force back the lump in her throat.
"Y-You see, N-Naruto...it...its b-because..."
Twin shimmering pearl-esque orbs slowly turned towards the youth. A single hand glided in the most ungainly fashion across a veritable chasm, bridging the gap between them by coming to rest upon his chakra-imbued cheek. For several long moments, all the world came to a standstill before the shining grandeur of a heart overflowing with simple yet profound emotions.
"Its because every time I look towards the sky, I'm reminded just how wonderful you truly are...how lucky I am to have you in my life, and...what a beautiful feeling I get when I think that you would even consider having someone like me as your friend..."
A pregnant pause hovered delicately between the cute kunoichi and somber shinobi.
Naruto was rendered speechless, able to do little more than stare openly at the elegance of a sunrise captured in but one girl's visage. With hardly a whimper, large rolling tears began to slide down whisker-marked cheeks.
"H-Hinata, I...-"
A contorted expression of agony ripped across his previously docile features as the young man let out a sudden yelp of pain. He rolled onto his side opposite her position, clutching desperately at his belly.
Within seconds, blood-red chakra completed its absolute domination of his person.
Hinata regarded his thrashing form with a bleeding heart as she hastily scrambled to her feet. Pale lavender eyes took in the sight of her first love as he slid beneath the veil of an all-consuming demonic aura.
As his wild golden locks swayed harshly in the red-tinged breeze, the young girl took but one step forward before an ethereal crimson tail erupted from Naruto's backside. She hardly had time to register such an odd occurrence before the chakra-formed appendage sliced through the air and straight across her face.
Hinata stumbled backwards with a muffled cry of pain, surprised and confused at the unforeseen blow. She wiped a delicate hand across her jaw and was startled to find a line of blood trickling down her cheek.
Naruto began to rise amidst a fiery torrent of tangible rage, all the while keeping his chin tucked to his chest in the most peculiar fashion. The Byakugan heiress glanced down at her bloodied hand, then out towards the boy before her.
"N-Naruto-kun...?"
As his head rose up, a feral grin gave way to blood-red eyes, devoid of even the slightest hint of sadness or remorse. Glistening fangs caught the last fleeting strands of an imminent sunset passing below the horizon.
"No, child. I'm afraid the kit won't be coming out to play any time soon..."
Two floors up at the infamous Uchiha Estate!
A certain onyx-eyed someone was just deciding whether or not to renew his subscription to 'Emo Monthly' when a small black disk shattered the nearby window and wedged itself into a ceiling tile. The young ninja dropped to the floor while fumbling for his kunai pouch.
Sasuke, once again, was ever so slightly surprised.
"Holy shite-monkeys! What the crap was that!?"
He slowly inched his way to the edge of a raised balcony and peered downward.
If at any point in his life Sasuke decided gouging his eyes out with a rusty spatula was a wise and noble decision, now would have been that time.
Two stories below stood Uchiha Itachi, fully decked out in Renaissance regalia, holding a disembodied head in a single outstretched hand. The young Sharingan-user issued forth a choked gasp.
That rat bastard! Damn his knowledge of my forbidden love for Shakespearean lore!
The missing-nin assumed a face-splitting grin as he hoisted the aforementioned item high into the air.
"What shuriken through yonder window breaks?"
Now, the real question wasn't how Itachi learned to speak with a dignified Thespian accent, but rather why his decapitated accessory was spouting off curses faster than Tayuya at a 'We Love Jiroubou!' fan club convention.
"Goddammit! Fuck you, Itachi! This shit isn't even supposed to be happening until after the time skip!"
The red-eyed missing-nin cast a fierce glower at his silver-haired counterpart. Sasuke's left eyebrow gave a rather violent twitch.
"Hidan! I thought we had an agreement! You help me get Sasuke back and I'll make sure no one leaves you alone with Tobi ever again!"
The immortal-nin paled visibly as a few select memories shot to the forefront of his mind's eye. You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.
Unless of course you're an orange swirly mask-wearing jackass who feels the incessant need to touch everything even when the object in question is screaming its head off (no pun intended) while trying to savagely gnaw off your fingertips.
A week's worth of overnight soakings in Listerine and he still couldn't get the taste of 'idiot' out of his mouth...
Hidan promptly clammed up and did his best to act like a skull. Itachi assumed a dignified expression while trying to loosen the spandex riding up his ass. Sasuke jumped to his feet, determined to end this madness once and for all.
The missing-nin began a last ditch effort to win the heart of his cherished sibling.
My precious little brother, I shall finally prove to you my complete and unbridled love!
Itachi held his 'skull' aloft while hastily flipping though a hard cover copy of 'The Unofficial Ninja's Guide to Medieval Monologues and Sappy Soliloquies'. The younger boy gritted his teeth while simultaneously working through a flurry of hand seals.
"To shinobi, or not to shinobi. That is the question!"
Sasuke began to gather as much chakra as he could muster while Itachi hastily searched for a verse to express his limitless affections.
Flip-flip-flip!
"A kunai by any other name would feel just as pointy!"
The young Sharingan-user slammed both hands together in the Tiger seal.
"Katon!-"
Realizing his predicament for what it was, the missing-nin quickly arrived at one of the most emotionally driven quandaries pondered by man since the dawn of time immortal.
Flip-flip-flip...flip!
"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a-"
"Big Ass Fireball no jutsu!"
Suffice it to say, the sheer, umm, explositivity of the explosion sent Hidan on a one way trip somewhere over the rainbow.
"Fuck! Looks like Team Akatsuki is blasting off agaaaaaiiiiinnnnnn...(twinkle!).
Itachi, on the other hand, was left amidst a smoldering pile of sixteenth century lace and ridiculous poofy sleeves. The red-eyed nin shook the soot from his clothing while coughing out a puff of smoke in comedic anime fashion. Sasuke leapt from the balcony and landed right before his cloak-adorned elder brother.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?"
Itachi nearly imploded from joy at the arrival of his beloved sibling.
"Oh, Sasuke! Now that you're here nothing could possibly go wrong! We shall once again become the loving family we were always meant to-"
The young man cut him off with a vicious hand gesture.
"No! I mean what the hell is wrong with you?! You've been stabbed in the face, had your crotch blown off, somehow managed to survive contracting rabies and I just incinerated your sorry ass with a fireball!"
The missing-nin regarded the boy before him with an emphatic nod.
"I would happily suffer through all of it again for eternity if only that I might once more revel in the heartfelt bonds of brotherly love!"
Sasuke grabbed his head in frustration, trying desperately to sort through the horrible memories that were beginning to surface.
"You're like an f'ing terminator!" (Ripped straight from 'The Oddest Birthday'. Go read it!)
"And I'll be back whenever you need me oh sweet and precious brother of mine!"
Sasuke shot an accusatory finger at the clan-murdering demon.
"You killed everyone! Why are you even doing this? I have nothing left because of you!"
Itachi took on a heartfelt look of solemn regret.
"Thats not true, Sasuke. You still have me..."
The young man instantly whipped out a kunai and held it in a death grip. Itachi continued to regard his younger sibling with a gentle expression.
"Sasuke, please. I know we haven't always gotten along so well in the past, but I want you to know that I'm here for you."
The missing-nin cast the young man a disarming grin.
"Give me the chance to become that part of your life which you need so desperately right now."
Such words momentarily sent the young man reeling.
"What the hell would you possibly know about what I need!?This is all your fault! Everything is your fault!"
"I know, Sasuke. Thats why I want so much to make things right again..."
The Uchiha prodigy lunged forward, teeth bared, bracing the kunai tight against Itachi's throat.
"You can make things right again by dying at my hand!"
The missing-nin nodded somberly, greatly surprising the boy before him by moving closer still, pressing his neck flush against the edge of the blade.
"If thats what will truly make you happy, Sasuke, then...go ahead. Finish me off."
Sasuke's eyebrow gave another violent twitch.
"What are-...is this a trick? I've trained my whole life to kill you! I won't be fooled by-"
A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around the young man in a loving hug. Sasuke let out a cry of surprise, refusing to relinquish his hold on the weapon for even an instant.
"G-Get away from me! What are you doing?"
"Mother and father would never have wanted us to fight..."
The boy's grip began to tremble, creating a localized menagerie of cuts and slices all along the exposed flesh pressed firmly to his kunai.
"Leave them out of this! Let me go!"
Itachi's grasp tightened further as he lowered his head, in effect drawing the blade lightly across his throat. Rivulets of crimson began to snake their way across white-hot knuckles only to rain down upon a deathly pale cheek.
"No, Sasuke. I'll never let go...never. Not as long as you need me to hold on..." (The third and final reference to another one of my stories. Mission Complete!)
The Uchiha prodigy grew rigid, hardly aware that the kunai had at some point slipped from his grasp and clattered harmlessly to the ground. Blood began to mix with tears...his own tears...when had he begun to cry...?
"You...you bastard...I have no one...no one who cares..."
Itachi offered a faint smile, taking the time to ruffle the boy's hair in sympathy.
"That's not true, Sasuke. You have Uzumaki Naruto...you have that nice pink-haired girl...and you have me."
The young man snapped his eyes shut in an instant. All the anger and fear, fear he had not even been aware of, began to dissipate amidst one shuddering heartfelt sob. A hardened fist thumped the cloud-marked cloak before him, hardly able to dredge up all the hatred that had consumed his life for what seemed an eternity.
"I always hated you...hated you for being better than me...hated you for being father's favorite..."
The missing-nin issued forth a short laugh, ignoring his sibling's hushed sniffle of protest.
"You know what, Sasuke? That might be true, but...you were always my favorite..."
Itachi drew his brother into a crushing bear hug, allowing the young man to keep his thoughts to himself as a pair of lead-weight shoulders slowly and silently began to bob up and down.
No time for a witty remark! What's Hinata gonna do now?
An unreadable expression washed across the young Hyuuga's features. Fear and loathing? Worry and regret? Who cares! He was almost free!
A possessed grin engulfed the boy's dire countenance.
"Such a pleasure to see you again, my dear. I hope you weren't frightened too badly when last we met."
Insipid laughter filled the countryside as the young Hyuuga took on a mildly perplexed expression. Such cryptic clues became all too clear as her stoic persona was broken by words spoken in a hushed whisper.
"T-Thats right...when I finally caught up with Naruto, he collapsed, and..."
'Right from the middle of Naruto's belly, two feral eyes materialized into a terrifying fox's head. Before she could even process the meaning of such a thing, the savage form proceeded to leap right out from the boy's stomach and snap at her face...'
Pale lavender eyes once more began to focus on the figure before her. Hinata's features hardened as new meaning blossomed from old memories.
"That was you..."
The fox-boy nodded, a great sigh escaping his black-lined lips.
"It would have been so much easier if one of my Genjutsu's had simply eliminated you and been done with it. Alas..."
Pointed fangs pulled back in a smile. Red chakra pulled and stretched along the boy's frame, seeming to thrive beneath its newfound freedom. Hinata could only watch as Naruto succumbed to a sea of burning energy, bubbling and reforming to create the image of an erect fox. As the spectral image began to coalesce, a fleeting glimpse of blond hair was all she saw before his entire likeness was overshadowed by ruby deceit.
"It would seem that I must address this matter myself."
Such words immediately sent the young woman into a shaky fighting stance, all the while praying that her fear would not be too apparent.
"I...I won't let you escape! Everyone is counting on me, I can't-...I won't let them down!"
The fox craned his neck to the side, regarding her through a single crimson orb. A second tail sprouted from the first, crisscrossing and kicking up dust wherever it landed.
"Escape? No, child. You have been a thorn in my side far too long as it is. I'll finish you here and now."
The possessed boy slammed both hands together in an open-palm seal, allowing both combatants to observe one another through a window-like opening crafted by blood-red claws. Hinata braced herself, trying to recall where she had come across that particular hand sign before.
"Prepare yourself, girl! I'll destroy you from the inside out!"
Pale lavender eyes widened in shock as stark recognition suddenly dawned upon her.
"T-Thats a Yamanaka technique! How could you-"
An angry bark of a laugh quieted her in an instant.
"Do not presume to underestimate the power that stands before you, brat! Unraveling the petty secrets of men poses no difficulty for a demon of my caliber."
The young woman gulped uneasily at the cold words, racking her brains for anything that might help in such a situation. Luckily, just such a tidbit of knowledge had been entrusted to her not so long ago.
I-I remember from the Chuunin exams! Shino-kun said Ino-san used that jutsu on Sakura-san, but the target had to be immobile for it to work! If I can just dodge and-
From beneath the ground, twin spiraling red tails sprouted forth and wrapped about the girl's legs, denying any hope of escape. Hinata's gaze shot upward just in time to witness a knowing smile overtake the fierce features of the creature before her.
"You're finished, whelp! Mind-Body Transfer no jutsu!"
An all-consuming darkness overcame the young woman in an instant, reducing her entire world to nothing more than a startled scream originating from her own throat.
-
Moments later, the Kyuubi's spirit found itself situated before a free-standing door deep within the young girl's mindscape. 'Hinata's Room' was prominently displayed upon the stout frame in elegant gold-leaf letters. Serrated fangs pulled back in a grin as he reached for the doorknob.
"You'll pardon me, child, but I shall take great pleasure in making sure this hurts as much as possible..."
Without further adieu, the fox demon threw open the small portal and stepped inside...only to have his jaw drop in momentary shock.
Naruto plushies of all shapes and sizes decorated every available inch of what could only be described as a toddler's room. An orange and blue bedspread, spiky blond wallpaper border, a Naruto skin rug on the floor and the apparent use of a gigantic bowl of ramen as an ottoman were only some of the sights to see in the House That Stalking Built. There was even a tubby Naruto in the corner acting the part of a beanbag chair.
(Still, nothing would ever compare to the time Gaara decided to entertain all the village children by commissioning a life-size replica of the Clue! manor and cramming it full with famous celebrities. Who killed Mr. Boddy, you might ask? Turns out it was Chuck Norris, with the roundhouse kick, in the face.)
A red-lined eyelid twitched with unparalleled vigor.
"Umm, may I help you...?"
The fox spirit whirled about only to come face to face with a small feminine form.
Bright red eyes regarded the familiar figure before him...or at least her line-art.
"What the-...why are you just a black and white outline?"
The chalk-like girl cast him a warm grin as she tipped her transparent head to the side.
"'Cause thats how all the Inners are drawn, silly!"
That was met with a befuddled expression as her observer crinkled his snout in disgust.
"You look like cheap photography!"
The vulpine creature spun about once more, intent on finishing what he had started.
"No matter. Your existence holds little worth to me. Once I'm finished here, you shall join the fate of this sniveling girl as well as that damned Uzumaki boy."
A dark grin slid across the Kyuubi's features as he prepared to utterly destroy the delicate psyche of Konoha's last and greatest hope.
Good thing he didn't notice the rock-hard fist heading straight for his kidneys.
Ka-PunchedInTheSpine!
The fox spirit hurtled forward only to land face first in the plushie crotch of yet another gigantic stuffed Naruto. The fact that said object seemingly had two squeakers and a roll of dimes sewn into the material was another matter entirely.
A crimson frown made itself known as the Kyuubi dragged himself out of all the plush Naruto goodness. He was greeted by a savage scowl highlighted by a smoking fist held high in contempt.
"Thats what you get for threatening my bishie, bitch!"
The demon fox took on an agitated smirk as he throughly observed the diminutive figure standing before him.
"Child, do enjoy these precious moments of life...for they shall be your last!"
Instantly, a red streak dashed across the room, teeth bared, intent on ripping out the throat of the feminine outline situated in the doorway. The fact that everything suddenly grew to epic proportions was completely overshadowed by the sparkling pair of eyes beaming down at him as he was scooped up in a devastating bear hug.
"Aren't you just the cutest! Don't worry, I know you didn't mean those cruel things about Naruto-kun. I forgive you!"
Quite distraught at this new turn of events, the Kyuubi thrashed and flailed only to be squeezed into submission by an overzealous kunoichi. A quick twist and turn soon found him once more situated on solid footing. Upon glancing to the left, any further explanation the demon could possibly need was unceremoniously reflected back at him in all its terrible glory.
From off to the side, a grinning Naruto vanity mirror revealed the image of a tiny fox with the most adorable pink button nose. Little rounded paws slapped bright orange cheeks as his super-deformed body began to tremble in absolute (yet adorable, mind you) rage.
"What have you done to me!"
He was met with a quiet look of puzzlement.
"Hmm? Oh, that! -giggle- I turned you into a chibi!"
"You did what now!?"
"A chibi! You know, the outrageously cute counterparts to an otherwise dull existence!"
A frazzled look engulfed the features of the demon before her.
"But when did-...how could-...damn you child! Change me back this instant!"
The young girl tapped a finger against her bottom lip in silent contemplation.
"Hmm...nah! This is my world mister foxy fox, and I still wanna have some more fun before you go!"
To say the least, that response was not well received by her furry counterpart. A single chubby paw rose from his side in an instant, quite intent on ending this madness in one bloody fell swoop.
"Do not trifle with me, human! I shall tear you apart limb from limb!"
Eager to make good on his promise, the fox demon squeezed the small padding on his paw so as to unsheathe a lethal display of razor sharp claws...only to be presented with a bottle opener, a pair of tweezers, one corkscrew, a magnifying glass and a toothpick.
Such an untimely event was met with a dignified assessment harboring the utmost levels of intellect and civility.
"What...the crap."
The stencil-lined girl succumbed to a fit of giggles as she gave him a delicate pat on the head.
"Now you're a Swiss Army Chibi! Tee-hee! I think I'm gonna call you Shippo!"
That was answered by a look of both shock and revulsion.
"Who's-... oh,the hell you will! I hate that damn anime! Stupid DragonBallZ for girls..."
Unperturbed by the continued resistance of the stout figure before her, Inner Hinata issued forth a motherly 'tsk' as she cracked her knuckles in an ominous fashion.
"Now now, like I said before, this is my world. And in my world..."
A seductive glint began to smolder in the young woman's eyes.
"I can do whatever I want..."
Two hands clamped down on a pair of furry shoulders as Hinata's alter-ego eyed the fox hungrily.
"Since you're sealed in Naruto, and we're both deep inside my mind...that means Naruto is deep inside me too!"
The demonic figure promptly sweat-dropped. Well that didn't sound right...
"I, uhh, hardly think our current predicament accurately depicts the precise logic you seem to have-"
"Which means the only sensible thing to do is consummate our eternal love!"
"Yes, yes of course, but...wait, wha-!?"
"Let's make a baby!"
Before the demon could even hope to respond, he was unceremoniously vaulted into the air and onto the bed beside them. Inner Hinata wasted no time pinning him to the mattress with a sultry wink and giggle. Her victim-to-be issued forth a squawk of terror as she pulled out a set of jumper cables and a bamboo cane from beneath the covers.
"Good lord, woman! You need serious help!"
"-Giggle- Nah, I'll be just fine! Besides, thats what the barbed wire and sedatives are for..."
"What?!"
"Nothing! Tee-hee!"
Without further adieu, the young girl proceeded to unleash years of pervertedness in what could only be described as a cacophony of grunts, bellows, several metric tons of WD-40 and the apparent use of a step-by-step guide on how to skin a boar with nothing but your teeth. (Kinky!)
To say the least, the Kyuubi was having the time of his life.
Epic -slash- unholy pwnage!
"That's not-ahh!-supposed to-urf!-go there! Where would you even- Gah! No! Anything but...oh, heh heh. A little bit lower and to the-sweet merciful crap on a stick IT BURNS!!"
Approximately forty-five seconds later, a shell-shocked bundle of red-orange fluff was left to quiver violently all by his lonesome. Inner Hinata was nowhere to be found.
Focusing on nothing more than the sudden urge to get the hell out of there, the fox demon sat bolt upright and decided to make a break for it. Alas, it just so happened that a small business card fluttered down from above and landed right in the Kyuubi's lap. After a moment, he picked it up.
'Congratulations! You have just been thoroughly assaulted and/or molested by Inner Hinata! Your complimentary bondage set should arrive in the mail within three to five business days. Please see reverse side for additional information.'
Not quite sure what to make of that, the small card found itself shakily turned over atop a stubby paw.
'Your next appointment has been scheduled for: Half-past ramen.'
A furry eyebrow lazily rose in contemplation of that last line. Turning his head, the Kyuubi spied a Mickey Mouse-style Naruto clock adorning the wall beside him. Set directly in the center, two orange-clad arms pointed to a six and a cup-o-ramen respectively. (Guess what the seconds hand was!)
The demon glanced down at the card, then back to the clock.
"B-But...its half-past ramen right now..."
Which immediately led to him being interrupted by a giggle just behind his left shoulder. The fox spun about in a panic, his eyes bulging wide at the sight of the young girl now donning a welder's mask and blow torch.
"Tee-hee! Did I forget to mention we're offering a two-for-one special today? My bad!"
Inner Hinata began to whistle a merry tune as she adjusted the item's gas-intake pressure. Her scruffy little compatriot immediately slammed both paws together in unmitigated horror.
"Oh emm gee RELEASE!"
-
Within moments, the Kyuubi was restored to his host body, panting wildly. A diminutive girl slumped to the ground before him, leaning heavily against a nearby tree. As she woozily regained her footing, the fox cast a maddened finger towards her simple form.
"You're a bad person!"
Hinata cast him a quizzical look of purity mixed with virtue. Her accuser gave a stark shudder.
A swell of red chakra bubbled with intensity as the Kyuubi quickly regained his composure.
"Enough of this foolishness!"
Along with the sudden outburst came a third tail sprouting from the first. Each red-lined appendage scuffed and slapped the earth, hungry for the blood of one who would mock such overwhelming power.
"You dare stand against me, child? A human too weak to overcome even the most basic of adversaries? What chance do you have against Kyuubi no Kitsune, the demon who would lay waste to mountains with but a single gesture!"
The demonic figure began to stalk forward, his tails thrashing and stabbing the undergrowth as he carved a path through the foliage. Hinata took an awkward step back, both legs suddenly weak before the terrible visage of a creature possessing near infinite chakra. Naruto's limp body trudged along as well, guided and molded by dark energy consuming his entire form.
"Where did you attain this false hope, human? What idiocy has invaded your mind so as to think you can win? How could a piece of trash even consider surviving the onslaught of a beast responsible for the genocide of hundreds?"
With each sentence came a new sense of overwhelming dread. Could she really do this? Kyuubi no Kitsune, the Nine-Tailed Fox...what was she thinking? Maybe there was still time to free Jiraiya...maybe there was another way that didn't involve fighting, a jutsu that could end this from a distance...maybe someone would come along and save the village again, just like what happened so many years ago. Maybe-
All at once, the Byakugan heiress brought her thoughts to a standstill, bowing her head low as two small hands rose to grip the front of her jacket.
Maybe I'm just a coward...
A terrible roar permeated her brain, engulfing the surrounding forest in dire laughter.
"Was that all it took, human? A few simple words to send your entire world crashing down?"
The Kyuubi paused where he stood, regarding the girl from a few yards away. His features pulled back in a playful smirk.
"Tell me, whelp, do you truly believe you can defeat me in order to save yourself?"
Hinata tightened her hold on the fabric beneath her fingertips.
"Defeat you...t-to save myself...?"
A terrible silence slowly descended upon the two individuals. Rivulets of crimson lapped at the features of the free-standing boy in direct contrast to the tears now slipping down the young woman's cheeks.
"D-Do I think I can win...to save my own life?"
Purple bangs danced across a tentative frown. Her response was but a whisper violated by the cool evening breeze.
"No...I don't."
Piercing white fangs sneered at her slender form, eager to consume the remnants of a soul wallowing in self-doubt and misery. Before the creature could make it's move, Hinata's hands dropped to her sides, halting the fox's ambitions as two brazen fists highlighted a jaw clenched in foreboding determination.
"But I can do it for everyone else."
The young woman's eyes rose to meet her oppressor, tears coursing down her cheeks as she addressed the beast with a look of steel.
"Everyone is counting on me...I know I've always been a burden, but...Shino-kun, Kiba-kun and...N-Naruto-kun..."
She gazed towards the orange-clad figure hidden behind a veil of evil tidings. Fear and loathing, worry and regret, all these things passed into nothingness at the thought that her friends, her family, her hopes for the future and everything else demanded that she be strong now.
No more hiding...
"I can't do this for myself...I know that. But to save the people I care about, to save the person I..."
Two pearl-esque orbs snapped back to the demonic features drinking in the world. A fierce scowl unbecoming of such a delicate flower overshadowed all that stood before her.
No more second guesses...
"I-I won't lose to you! Not when everyone needs me! Not when Naruto needs me! Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I...I will not let you hurt the people who matter the most!"
With each new breath came a burst of adrenaline, prompting the young woman to assume the Jyuuken stance. Hinata began to focus her chakra while likewise reaching into a belt pouch and leg holster.
No more running away...
"I made a promise...I swore I would do my best...I won't go back on my word; not now...not ever."
No more.
The young woman brought both hands forward, intent on finishing this once and for all.
"Byakugan!"
White-washed eyes blazed with intensity. The blade of a freshly drawn kunai reflected the red-orange glow of both her adversary and the setting sun. Resting gently in the palm of her other hand, a small pellet rolled about in an unassuming manner.
Harboring a rather amused look, her opponent nonchalantly coiled a tail about the trunk of a nearby tree. With but a single twist, the ancient wood snapped and split, leaving a broken carcass to rot in the underbrush. Hinata forced back the lump in her throat as her persecutor flashed a knowing smile.
"I...I'm not afraid of you!"
The demonic figure released a hoarse laugh. Ripples of power began to course all along his assumed being.
"Oh, child..."
Razor-sharp fangs pulled back in a grin.
"You should be."
Without further adieu, the young woman gritted her teeth, offered a quick prayer...and charged.
Ah, but enough of this boring stuff. I wonder how the Uchiha brothers are doin'!
Situated on the same outcropping of rocks from before, Itachi glanced over to his younger sibling. Sasuke was right at his side, both knees tucked squarely beneath his chin. The older man took on a reassuring expression as he clapped his hands in delight.
"Have you ever thought it might be time you got yourself a girlfriend?"
Such an unexpected comment stirred the boy from his brooding.
"What?"
"A girlfriend! You know, someone to help drain off that excess emo you're always caring around. It really doesn't suit you."
Sasuke shifted a bit to side, absently tugging at his high-neck collar while frowning profusely.
"But...I like wallowing in my own self-induced misery..."
"See? Thats what I'm talking about!"
Silence.
Itachi took on a knowing smile while patting his sibling on the shoulder.
"Sasuke, listen to your older brother. Being emo means you keep a fervent vigilance of not caring about anything. Your entire life is dedicated to passionately ignoring all thats around you! You're a total non-conformist who conforms entirely with other non-conformists."
Itachi leaned back on his rock while losing himself in the moment. Sasuke quirked an eyebrow.
"But thats not you, Sasuke! You worked hard to become the top ninja in your class! You care about the future and follow your dreams! You'll never know how proud I am of that unyielding determination when it comes to killing me...the world would be a better place if more young people had your type of murderous conviction dominating their lives."
The young Sharingan-user cast his brother an odd look.
"That, uhh...thats probably a bad thing, actually..."
"So is you being emo. Now lets talk girls!"
Sasuke twitched slightly at the sudden twist in conversation.
"Umm..."
His counterpart took on a deadly serious expression.
"You do like girls, right? Repopulating the Uchiha Clan kind of requires a certain willingness to-"
"I like girls."
The red-eyed nin blinked at the interruption. Sasuke fidgeted in his seat while trying to conceal a light redness overcoming his features.
"I like girls, ok? Thats not the problem..."
"There's a problem?"
The young ninja growled irritably.
"No. Well, sort of, but...not really, I mean...kind of..."
Itachi took a moment to stroke his baby-ass smooth chin.
"Hmm...I see. Is this about you not being able to...? 'Cause there are plenty of prescription drugs out there and-"
An onyx eye twitched in agitation.
"I don't...need...drugs..."
"Now now, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I went to the male clinic with Kisame once, and let me tell you, things are so much more complicated when you have two of them. Did you even know sharks have two? Man, I'll never forget that first winter when he wrote both our names in the snow at the same time. Gave me nightmares for weeks..."
Sasuke gave a cold shudder.
"I...I think I'd rather talk about girls some more..."
That of course was met with a bright-eyed look of victory.
"Excellent! Now let me see, what about that cute little teammate of yours? What was her name again? Saucepan? Salmonella? Scurvy?"
"Sakura."
"Right, thats the one. So how about her? She seems nice enough."
The young shinobi gave a halfhearted shrug.
"Sakura's...ok, I guess. Annoying, but...nice. When she keeps her mouth shut."
A delicate glow dabbed at the young man's cheeks, made even more apparent by the faint traces of sunlight dipping below the horizon. The missing-nin took on a tell-tale smile.
"You like her, don't you! Ah, the sweet nostalgic embrace of young love!"
Itachi leaned in to give his little brother a great big hug, prompting Sasuke to tense up and growl.
"It's not...I didn't mean it, ok! I know she likes me, but...she's so...every time I look at her, it just...it brings back memories..."
"Good memories?"
"...No."
The Mangekyo Sharingan-user cast the boy a contemplative look.
"You know...if somethings on your mind, you can tell me. I want to be there for you, Sasuke, any way that I can. Would you let me be that special person right now?"
The young shinobi frowned once more, turning his head off to the side.
"It...its embarrassing..."
"Now don't worry about that...you can tell me anything! And if you're still concerned about the repopulating issue, I know this great Swedish pharmacist that can-"
He was cut off by an ardent hand gesture.
"Would you stop with the damn medication! Thats not it, ok? It's all because I'm afraid of-"
Sasuke clamped his jaw shut in an instant. Itachi swiveled in his seat so as to meet a pair of onyx eyes head on. (Apply directly to the forehead! Err, sorry...)
"What are you afraid of, little brother? Commitment? Marital issues? Finding designer bras mixed in with your unmentionables? Stupid Konan..."
He was answered by a muted whisper.
-Mumble mumble-
"Hmm...?"
A grievous sigh overcame the small heartfelt gathering.
"I said I...I'm..."
"Go on Sasuke, let it out. Big brother Itachi is right here for you."
The young man exhaled sharply while slumping forward in total defeat.
"...I'm afraid of pink things."
That was of course met with a calm and collected response harboring all the pristine elements that comprise what it is to be a loving and faithful elder brother.
Itachi's jaw promptly detached and dropped to his knees.
"Huzzawhaaaa...?"
Sasuke took on a renewed shade of crimson as he tried to retreat into his collar.
"Don't you remember the day mom and dad took us to the carnival?"
The older man composed himself immediately, taking the time to brush a bit of saliva from his pants.
"The carnival...? Oh, yes! Yes of course! You were only six and- oh my."
Itachi cast a reminiscent glance up towards the heavens.
"Thats right...I do remember! They needed fourteen S-ranked fire suppression jutsus and the jaws of life to get you out of that cement mixer! It was the third worst cotton candy-related incident in all of Konoha's history..."
Several strands of raven hair wafted aimlessly across a too-pale cheek.
"Every time I look at her, all I can think of is the horror and agony from that day...I've tried to get over it, but nothing helps...the best I could do was start eating tomatoes all the time and tell myself they were dark pink...I still can't even look at a piece of filleted salmon without crying a little..."
Itachi took on a solemn look heralding the onset of a brand new era.
"My precious little brother, I shall make it my duty to help you overcome these insidious fears! Are you with me, Sasuke? We shall conquer this pink-clad demon with the power of togetherness!"
The young shinobi regarded his brother with a wide-eyed look of disbelief.
"R-Really? After all I've put you through, you would still do that for me...?"
A wrinkle-marked countenance gave an emphatic nod.
"Of course my dear sibling! Its the least I can do to reestablish the tattered bonds that forever bind us as family! We shall unite and overcome said trials and tribulations under the guidance of fraternal love!"
Such a powerful sentiment instantly prompted the young man's features to well up with tears. A fierce pair of watery anime eyes gazed upward towards the older ninja. He was answered by an emotionally driven visage sporting all the elements of barely contained joy and jubilation.
Right at that moment, a massive wave broke over the rocks before them, catching the light in prismatic sprays of color as each figure promptly burst into a theatrical display of tears.
"Sasuke!"
"Itachi-nii-san!"
"Sasuke!"
"Itachi-nii-san!"
Both young men immediately gravitated into a heartfelt embrace noticeably reminiscent of another pair of youthful individuals.
Well, minus the eyebrows.
Sasuke sank a bit deeper into the cloak-adorned arms of his elder brother, secure in the knowledge that for the first time in what seemed an eternity, everything would finally turn out A-ok and that there was absolutely no chance whatsoever his fragile semblance of peace would come crashing down around him before the end of the next chapter.
Nope, not a chance. Good times!
Right, ok, whatever. Rainbows and gumdrops for everyone. BACK TO THE FIGHT!
Hinata took but one step forward before hurling the tiny pellet to the ground. Instantly, she leapt off to the side as a huge gout of smoke enveloped the surrounding area. Her adversary remained where he stood, a devilish grin overtaking his features.
"Do you truly believe a smoke bomb will help you defeat me, human? How amusing..."
A red-tipped snout pierced the dense cloud about him, sniffing the area for signs of life.
"Come out come out wherever you are, child. I'll even promise to make it...quick."
Before he could goad the young woman any further, a slight whisper in the breeze was all the warning needed to avoid a kunai aimed straight for his abdomen. The fox-boy deftly side-stepped the projectile, grinning maliciously as a satisfying thunk emanated from a nearby tree.
The Kyuubi looked out into the pseudo-fog hungrily, eager for the chance to end this paltry charade. Just as he did so, three distinct shadows made themselves known some distance before him. A pair of black-lined lips pulled back in a snarl.
"A clone jutsu...such a waste."
Immediately, the demon fox began to gather chakra from all parts of his body. With the sudden increase in power came the arrival of a fourth tail ripped free from its brothers. As one, each crimson appendage spread out to its full glory under the direction of a sudden surge in energy.
"Allow me to put an end to your foolishness, brat. I have no intention of wasting any more time on the likes of you."
Along with the words came a violent pulse of chakra, driving back and dissipating the smoke in one fell swoop. Drawn from the safety of the obscuring mist, three identical young women all regarded the demon with a stark look of surprise. Before any further action could be taken, the Kyuubi lashed out two tails at a time, decimating the two doppelgangers on either side of the central figure. A pair of shattered logs quickly found their rightful places on the ground.
Twin lavender eyes grew wide in fear as all four tails snaked back and enveloped Hinata's body in a strangle-hold. The Byakugan heiress brought both hands to her throat, trying valiantly to stave off such lethal intent.
"Your end is at hand, child. Have you anything to say before I snap your pathetic little neck?"
After several futile moments of struggling, Hinata lowered her head while the red-orange glow of burning chakra outlined an emotionless expression set firmly upon her countenance.
"I...I don't care, I won't give up...I've learned so much, from Naruto-kun...and Shino-kun..."
A hesitant breath escaped the young woman's throat.
"I've learned so much, and...I can't let them down..."
Several wayward tears fell from her cheeks, sizzling and burning on the noose wrapped tightly about her neck.
"B-But...the thing I remember most clearly...is what Shino-kun taught me back at the Chuunin exams..."
Slowly, very slowly, the young woman raised her head from the fiery cushion set below her jaw. The demon narrowed a wary eye at such an unhealthy lack of fear and trepidation.
"Y-You see, Shino-kun always said that...while an ace in the hole is good..."
Hinata took on a thin smile, much to the confusion of her assailant. Both hands came together in a very familiar cross-like seal.
"Two aces are better."
In an instant, the young girl disappeared in a puff of smoke. The Kyuubi recoiled in surprise.
"A shadow clone? Then where did..."
The fox-boy's jaw went rigid as he half-turned to regard the kunai behind him. At once, a sudden poof of smoke revealed the figure of a young woman clinging easily to the tree's side, a fierce look of determination dominating her Byakugan-induced features.
Both combatants took but a split second to reassess their individual situations. Hinata kicked off at once, pressing hard against the bark and catapulting towards the source of so much malice and strife. The Kyuubi awkwardly spun about, raking the air before him in a desperate attempt to fend off her blindside attack.
The young woman reached her destination in a tuck and roll, passing under the wide arc aimed solely for her head. A sharp pain tore through her right arm, but not before she managed to position herself deep inside the demon's defenses.
Within the young girl's mind, she placed them both at the heart of an emerald signet heralding the onset of one of Konoha's greatest and deadliest jutsus. Her voice was icy calm.
"Eight Trigrams Seal..."
The Kyuubi glanced down from his off balance position, a wide-eyed look of shock dominating his features. Hinata focused all the chakra she could into the palms of her hands. A quick glance upward brought with it the comatose expression of a boy trapped behind walls of insufferable rage and hatred.
Naruto...forgive me.
A pair of fingers slammed into the boy's midsection, spearing him with chakra delivered directly to the restraining jutsu set upon his belly.
"Two hands!"
The demon gave a violent shudder. Jiraiya-sama had been right; reinforcing the seal did prove effective in disrupting the demon's chakra flow.
"Four hands! Eight hands!"
A terrible ripple of crimson radiated out from the center of impact, breaking and reforming at various parts across Naruto's body.
"Sixteen hands!"
The Kyuubi bellowed in hate or agony, Hinata could not be sure which. A sudden wave of pain coursed through her right arm, causing the young woman to grit her teeth before redoubling her efforts in a final barrage of heavy blows.
"Twenty-Eight Hands of Hakke!"
With the completion of her half-formed jutsu, the Kyuubi stumbled backward and toppled to the ground, several remnant wisps of red licking fervently at the air before finally extinguishing. All that was left was a bruised and beaten boy sprawled out in the cool evening air.
He let out a groan.
Hinata was at his side in an instant, already having fished through her pockets for the all-important sealing jutsu prepared by the Toad Hermit himself.
"N-Naruto-kun...?"
The young man groaned once more before straining to open his eyes. A cream-colored jacket took up his entire field of vision.
"H...Hinata...chan...?"
Hinata tried her best to quell the lump rising in her throat. He was ok...she hadn't hurt him...he was going to be ok...
"H-Hinata-chan...you...you're hurt...you shouldn't..."
The young woman did her best to offer him a weak grin, ignoring both the pain and blood now seeping through the sleeve of her torn jacket.
"N-Naruto-kun, it...its ok now. See? I've got a seal from Jiraiya-sama...if I put it on your forehead, everything will be all better."
Naruto cast her a woozy expression.
"But...the Kyuubi...how did you...?"
The young woman glanced off to the side.
"I...I disrupted his flow of chakra...I didn't do much, I...I'm just glad you're ok..."
She was met with a bleary-eyed look of gratitude.
"Thanks...Hinata. You're...the best...heh..."
The young woman took on a deep blush while working up the courage to inch closer and affix the seal, finally putting an end to this madness. Alas, both figures were taken completely by surprise when Naruto's right arm snapped up by its own accord, snatching Hinata's outstretched hand in a death grip.
Naruto took on a look of horror as a bright red pulse erupted from his entire body at once. The full manifestation of a fox's head overtook the boy's childlike features in an instant, placing Hinata mere inches from the dark temperament of an enraged demon-made-flesh.
"How dare you strike at me you insolent little brat!"
The young girl shrieked in terror, almost dropping the prepared note still clenched in her hand. In one fluid motion, the Kyuubi flung her aside only to land full force against the trunk of a tree several meters away. She let out a muffled cry of pain before gathering her senses enough to stuff the note back into a pocket.
Without warning, four treacherous tails lashed out and pinned her to the bark from a distance, drawing her prostrate against the wooden pillar. An aggravated laugh pierced her very soul with its coarseness.
"Congratulations, child. It seems I may have underestimated you. To have learned such an advanced jutsu through nothing more than simple observation...commendable."
The demonic figure traced a single digit along his belly.
"Still, a poor attempt. You don't even compare to members of your own lineage, how would you possibly muster the strength to defeat an opponent several thousand times stronger than anything you've ever faced before?"
A sharp bark of laughter passed by razor-sharp teeth.
"No matter, for its time I ended this little game. I must now turn my attention to more...pressing matters."
The possessed figure began to focus chakra in the palm of his hand, condensing it into a spiraling sphere. As the orb solidified, tendrils of crimson lifted it into the air amidst the likeness of a giant chakra-formed claw.
"Goodbye, human. May you seek comfort in the knowledge that you provided me some form of entertainment before I grew weary of your continued existence."
Without further comment, the Kyuubi lashed out towards the girl before him.
"Corrupt Rasengan!"
Hinata squirmed as best she could, unable to tear her eyes from what promised to be a quick and merciless death. Just as the lethal display of chakra approached its mark, a violent spasm shook the blood-red appendage, causing it to arc wildly into another nearby tree. The young woman was horrified to see the spinning object bore right into and through nearly two feet of solid wood.
She could feel the blood drain from her face as she was released from her bindings, the red-lined claw and sphere fading into nothingness before her.
"Still not enough control...this body is too weak..."
Collapsing to the ground, Hinata released the Byakugan and could do little more than stare at the creature before her. She was greeted by a contemplative look far more reserved than the murderous rage she had witnessed only seconds before. The demon took a single step forward, then stopped...and smiled.
"Look at our shadows."
Still dazed from her recent ordeal, the young woman numbly complied. All she could see was darkness.
"There...there aren't any shadows..."
Something about that fact hummed in the back of her mind, but she couldn't quite place it.
"Precisely. The time of reckoning has finally arrived, child. With the sunset shall come the dawning of a new era ruled by darkness. This land shall crumble beneath the might of Kyuubi no Kitsune, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!"
The Kyuubi relaxed his form, allowing crimson chakra to draw in closer to his twisted likeness.
"There is no hope left to hold on to, human. The next time we meet, you shall bow before your new master."
Hinata took on a look of terrible remorse as a few select words bubbled up from the confines of her memories.
"The truth is, if you don't destroy Naruto in the next couple of hours, everyone in the village will be dead by nightfall."
Was this it? Had she failed? Wasn't there anything left she could do, anything to save the people she cared so much about?
"Fare thee well, child. Enjoy these last minutes of life, for everything shall soon end where it all began..."
And with that, the fox-boy leapt up into the trees and was gone. Hinata was left all alone, smothered beneath her own self-doubts and inadequacies.
I...I failed? But, then everyone will...all because of me...
An expressionless void overcame the young woman's features for the longest time. Hinata expelled a mute breath into the night, offering a silent reminder that she was still alive, that she could still fight.
I...I can't let that happen. I can't keep fighting for everyone else, either. I can't keep relying on other people's strength...
The young woman delicately pulled out the sealing note with one hand, Naruto's headband with the other. She cast a reminiscent glance towards both objects, reflecting on their meaning and what they truly meant.
Blond spiky hair, goofy grins, those cute whisker marks...
A hesitant whisper pierced the air around her.
"I...I want him back..."
Her friends and family; Shino-kun, Kiba-kun, Akamaru-kun...
Hinata's breath came out a bit stronger.
"I want them back too, I..."
Everything she had hoped and prayed for, everyone she owned so much to, every dream she had yet to fulfill...
The young woman clenched a fist, propping herself up against the side of a tree.
"I want it all back..."
The Byakugan heiress hastily pulled out a jar of ointment and began to dress her wounds. She made her way towards the village as fast as she could, settled on the knowledge that she could still make a difference if the will to succeed was there.
A deep scowl beset the young girl's features, marking a heartfelt promise both to herself and everyone precious to her that this would not be just another day, that she would stand up and place her life on the line, that she would finally give more than her best, that she would give everything she had and more.
Hinata pressed through the massive wooden gates under the cover of night, intent on proving that the Will of Fire beat just as fervently in her breast as any other shinobi in Konoha.
I want it all back, everything, and I'm willing to fight for it to my last breath. I can't fight just for Naruto, not this time. I need to do it for myself...
The young woman reactivated her Byakugan and scanned the surrounding area. Faint traces of an immense chakra network still permeated the air.
I'm fighting for everyone now...I have to be strong...stronger than I've ever been, stronger than I ever thought possible...
Hinata reached down and unfastened her headband from around her neck. With a fluid grace befitting her form, she retied it about her forehead.
No turning back...no second thoughts! I'll win if I just believe in myself! I know I can do this, and I'll do it as a shinobi of Konoha!
With those final thoughts to steel her resolve, Hyuuga Hinata raced along the moonlit path, heading straight for what could only be described as an inconclusive destiny.
Long enough for ya:P
Allow me to address three little things that I'm sure at least some people will pick up on and possibly have a problem with:
1. Inner Hinata isn't canon!
True, but sticking to canon rules hasn't been much of a guideline thus far, so why stop at the inclusion of a (technically) brand new character?
2. Kyuubi knows jutsus? What the crap!
This one's simple: You explain to me why an all-powerful demon harboring the cumulative intellect and knowledge gathered over the span of hundreds of years can't reverse-engineer a simple jedi mind trick and I'll give you a cookie. An evil cookie.
3. Hinata knows the Shadow Clone technique. Thats going too far.
Yeah, you're probably right on that one. However, I got the image of the fight scene stuck in my head before I necessarily went through the logistics of it, and the only way to have Hinata 'throw herself' was with a shadow clone.
Besides, who else besides Sakura and Sasuke has anywhere near the first-hand experience of observing Naruto pretty much day and night? Hinata is a smart girl, I wouldn't put such a thing past her. Also, I limited it to one shadow clone, which I thought was reasonable.
Based on the above-mentioned facts, this might be the first thing I've written that might actually warrant flames! Awesome! XD
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Stay tuned for our next episode entitled, 'The Epic Chapter of Epicness'. Based on the events so far, its sure to be quite...epic, I suppose. -shrugs-