Chapter 7
The swarm inside me buzzed and rioted in confusion. They calmed when I sent small pulses of chakra into their bodies, for they had been terrified that their master was dying.
For an honest moment I thought I was already gone. But then a warm hand in mind woke me up. I saw Hannah, alive and well, and somehow I was able to rest peacefully.
When I awoke again I saw the Hokage's back as he conversed quietly with Sakura. I tried to sit up but my body was still numb and broken. I grunted and it caught their attention, "Shino," Sakura's voice was quiet as she approached me.
I coughed, "I'm alive."
Naruto nodded and came around to the other side. They both sat in a chair at the same time. I leaned my head back, feeling a wave of relief wash through me. I thought that the last time I had woken up would be the last time I'd ever breathe again.
I couldn't move quite yet. Those Kamizuru did a number on me. Sakura gently touched my hand and I turned towards her, "How are you feeling? Do you remember anything?"
I blinked, "The last thing I can remember is Hannah's face as she was hit in the head and knocked out. I remember being so furious… and then nothing. There are little flashes of the trees but other than that…"
I coughed again and Sakura handed me a glass of water. I sipped at it gratefully.
Naruto wrung his hands together, "We found you tied to a tree. Upside down. Surrounded by Kamizuru. They looked about ready to rip open your body and crush all your insects."
I shivered and pursed my lips, "I know they hate the Aburame's, but what could have caused them to behave so violently? Usually we only have a spat every once and a while but this… its news to me. Anyway, how long have I been out?"
"Three days. Including the time it took to heal you properly."
I shook my head but immediately regretted the decision. A headache bloomed at the back of my neck and shot through my head. I groaned.
Despite the pain and the lack of motivation to move I still sat up, "Where's Hannah?" the last I had seen her felt more like a dream than anything. I wanted to make sure she was alright.
Sakura looked at Naruto who looked at me and bit his lip. The look on his face told me that something was wrong, "Well…" she started slowly.
I panicked, and the swarm began to worry as well. They swirled like a fresh storm and I tried to calm them but with my rising hysteria all they felt was the excitement, "Well what?" I barked out. My voice was louder than it needed to be and I awkwardly leaned away, "Sorry, but what's wrong with Hannah? Is she okay?"
"We think so. She um, after you talked to her she went home for a change of clothes and well… she never came back. Kakashi-sensei was the last to see her and when she didn't come back he went over to her house to investigate and well… he found some unbearable things."
I felt a pang of fear run through me. Was she dead? Had someone killed her? That couldn't be the case, not after he had finally been given the chance to be with her, "What? What?"
Naruto drew in a deep breath and held it. I couldn't understand why he was being so difficult couldn't he just tell me – "She was kidnapped."
My mind spun. I blinked, "What? By who? Why…"
"What happened was she volunteered to go after you, except she supposedly met someone who saved her from a trap. This guy told her she was the Princess of Crown village and he tried to take her then, but she managed to escape by teleporting back to Konoha. She told Tsunade about it right away. Well, we ended up finding you and bringing you home. Hannah was happy and horrified at the same time. Tsunade kept her under house arrest with the ANBU but the guy that she met in the woods must have found her because when we went to check up on her we found a bloodied mask along with several day-old bodies in her closet. She was nowhere in sight and in her entryway there looked to have been a massive struggle."
I blinked several times. I just couldn't wrap my head around it, Hannah? Kidnapped? How had they even gotten through the gates? Let alone past the ANBU watching her house.
"When was she taken?" I tried to sound level headed but voice came out sounding like, "When… taken, time?"
Naruto sighed, "We think it was right after she left the hospital, after you talked to her. So about two days ago."
I bit my lip. What now then? I started to move, to see if I could walk again, but Sakura stopped me with one hand. She glared angrily at me, "And where do you think you're going?"
"I need to find her," Sakura forced me back down.
"Not in this condition. You need to stay put, your body hasn't had time to fully heal yet."
"But" –
She shook her finger at me, "No buts. We've already sent out a search team for her, so don't worry."
My eyebrows knit together in irritation. It doesn't matter who's searching for her, or even how many. I want to find her for myself, I want to make sure she's alive and well, I couldn't do that from a bed.
I rubbed a hand down my face and realized I didn't have my glasses on. I ignored the sudden uncomfortable feeling and turned the attention back to the task at hand. I sighed and shifted in the bed, "Quite frankly I don't care. I need to save her. I don't care who you've sent or how many. You said it yourself they slaughtered our own black ops."
Sakura's angry gaze didn't waver, "All the more for you to stay here so you don't get killed."
"I'm a ninja Sakura, and so are you. We die young, and I would rather die searching for the person I fell in love with then be bedridden until I hear news of her death."
Sakura's eyes widened and she shared a look with Naruto. She looked away and I saw that her eyes had misted over. I started to get out of the bed and when she didn't stop me I headed for the door. My hips popped and my knee wobbled and I could feel the weight of my body pushing at the still somewhat fresh wounds, but I could walk and that's all that mattered.
I looked down at myself and noticed I was in one of those hospital gowns. I ran a hand through my hair and looked back at my friends, "I'll be okay."
Standing felt wonderful. Stretching my legs was a nice feeling but I wasn't quite able to run yet. Instead I took a nice stroll towards my house and when I arrived I redressed and was relieved to have everything back in place.
I began packing for the immediate journey when someone knocked on my door. I answered and Naruto stood there with an uncomfortable look in his eye.
"Shino…" he started.
I cut him off, "Whatever you say won't change my mind."
Quickly he shook his head, "That's not what I meant. I uh… well you should know that Crown village is almost impossible to find. We thought for the longest time that we knew its exact location but apparently they've moved. It's hidden extraordinarily well and even the best trackers aren't too sure of its location."
This new info didn't faze me, "I'll manage."
Naruto's eyes widened, "Are you sure? This is the first time I've seen you without a plan."
I felt an irritated twitch under my eye, "I do have a plan. It just needs a little refining it all. Now, if you'll excuse me I must be on my way."
I pushed passed him but as I walked I thought about his words. He was right, for the first time in all my life I didn't have a solid plan. I didn't even know what to expect and from whom. I may as well just be walking into a death trap.
But as the gates came into view all I knew for sure was that I needed to save her. I didn't care if she was afraid of insects, she admitted her feelings and these days a little happiness is all anyone could ask.
Two more days had passed without word from the search team.
I was starting to worry, before I was concerned, but that has long since turned to fear. Deep down I truly believed that Hannah was still alive, but the first thoughts that always came to me were images of her dead body sprawled out on the ground.
I hadn't slept since I woke up, instead I've been playing my next route. I was in the middle of Earth Country and I didn't have the slightest clue as to where Crown village was.
It was early morning and the moon and the sun were both out when there was a rustle in the bushes. I turned towards them and something blue took shape. Hannah's nin-ken Kari appeared and approached me with awkward limp and sat across from me.
"Shino," her voice was rough. Usually she was a gentle pup but today she seemed different.
"Kari? What are you doing here, where's Hannah?"
She scratched her ear, "Hannah is alright. There are… a few things you must know. I understand you are headed to Crown village, and before you ask yes she is there and alive. I woke up yesterday and am fine."
I raised an eyebrow, "What you mean you woke up?"
"They… the council of our village reset Hannah's mind. A reset is very powerful and it completely erased anything she had learned over the past few years, and since I'm a part of her the reset carried over to me. However because I wasn't psychically present the most it managed to do was give me back my old memories of Crown village. Shino… I've learned so much these past few years and looking back its… horrifying. The village it's…"
Kari's voice trailed off and she spun around before lying down. I looked at the soft embers of the dying fire and threw on a log just to fill the silence.
"Are you okay? I noticed you were limping."
She coughed, "I'm fine. A total reset seizes the body and mind and I had been in the middle of running back to Konoha to warn everybody for the second time. The first time Hinode knocked me out once they caught me and managed to take Hannah. That bastard… I can't believe she had ever loved him."
"Loved? Who are you talking about?"
Kari sighed and curled her tail around her legs, "In the village we're a bit out dated. We still live by the Queen or King's rule, and well, the King or Queen has a predetermined mate. Hinode was supposed to marry Hannah but then she ran away and long story short here we are today, looking for her."
The swarm shuddered before growing irritated and trying to push their way out of me. The few that were out and doing recon buzzed around in anger and I did my best to calm them.
"What are you doing here now then," I repositioned my legs and my neck cracked. I was mostly healed but it would still take some time to fully recover.
"I came to find you. You and I both know how Hannah really feels about you now. I'm here to help. I'll take you to the village, but you must promise to do exactly as I say otherwise things will go downhill very quickly."
I readjusted my glasses and rolled my shoulders, "Very well. When do we leave?"
"As soon as possible. You have quite a ways to travel and I'm sensing Hannah will be up very soon. I've watched the village for a time and they are preparing her coronation. Shino, please you need to stop them at whatever the cost."
A breeze pushed back my hair and I blinked. Kari stared at me with wide eyes and an owl hooted in the distance. I stood and brushed off my pants, "Well then. What are we waiting for?"
Kari barked, and hopped into the trees.
