I'm sorry if chapter eight is short. I was planning on adding some more scenes but I decided that I could just put it on this chapter.
To readers who doesn't like the story. You could just skip it and look for another one that could be worth your while.
-flashbacks are written in italics with the "(f)" mark on the beginning and the end.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
-o-o-o-
Chapter Nine
Hinata opened her eyes.
"Oh good. You're now awake dear." A woman's voice and it made the kunoichi's head turn. What she saw surprised her. It was an old woman, wrinkled by years and bent double by weak bones. The elderly was holding on to a walking stick while the other was holding a small clay bowl. "Are you hungry? I made soup."
An old woman?
Hinata looked around, and realized that she was inside a room. She was on the bed, and a desk was placed beside her—where half filled bowls and half empty glasses were placed. There was one window, located at the foot of the bed which was shut closed.
"W-where am I?" She asked, stunned and bewildered at the same time. The last thing she remembered was being strangled by a strong grip and she was screaming her lungs out under the strong rain.
The elderly smiled at her, reassurance on her face. "You are inside my humble home. It was raining outside and you were trapped inside the forest with your husband. I don't know what exactly happened but you were unconscious when your man brought you here."
Hinata blanched. "H-husband?"
The old woman nodded. "Yes dear. My house is located nearest to the forest so he decided to ask for help…the storm is very strong and you both needed shelter." Taking a step towards her, the woman smiled. "My…such a lovely couple…you are so beautiful and you're husband is very, very handsome. I am sure that your children are going to be very beautiful too."
It took a few seconds for Hinata to take everything in. Looking down under the covers that wraps her from foot to waist, her eyes widened when she was not wearing her clothes anymore…but someone else. It was an old tattered dress, which was too short for her. If not for the sheets, her thighs would be very visible right now.
"Oh, Gomenasai for the clothes…it's mine. I'm very short compared to your height." The woman explained. "It's all that I could offer dear, my clothes won't fit you…uhm, especially in the chest area."
Hinata blinked.
The woman smiled. "I've never possessed such a curvy figure even when I was young."
Hinata looked around again, not even trying to bother what the old woman was saying. All he knew was that she needed to get away from here. She really has a bad feeling about who her assumed "husband" was.
"Baa-chan." The heiress gestured at the woman. "Your house…is located nearest to the forest? But this is a town right?"
The woman nodded. "A small town… terriritory of a daimyo."
"Can you help me—"
"You're awake." Another voice piped in and it made Hinata's heart leap like crazy. She froze on the bed and her eyes flickered to where the owner was standing. She knew that voice…that was the last thing she heard before he strangled her to unconsciousness.
It was Itachi.
"Can you give us a moment Baa-san? I need to talk to my wife." Itachi asked the elderly who smiled at him and scurried out of the room, carrying the used dishes on a large tray. Giving them a final toothy smile, she closed the wooden door with a soft thump.
Hinata was not surprised. Who else would pretend to be related to her in order to trick the nice old lady into sharing her house with complete strangers? Of course…the one who abducted her in the first place.
Hinata eyed the Akatsuki with anger, remembering the way he strangled her neck with that frightful look on his sharingan eyes. He was not wearing his Akatsuki cloak, but a black shirt and black pants. His hair was untied, making him look a little different because his raven hair was covering his eyes. Hinata guessed that it was some kind of disguise.
His forehead protector was also missing and she wondered if he threw it away or kept it somewhere along with his Akatsuki cloak.
Speaking of clothing, she wondered where her own clothes are.
Without a word, Itachi took silent steps towards the bed. It did not escaped Hinata's keen eyes that one of his arms was dangling on his side like a paralyzed limb, making the heiress weary if Itachi was mad at her because of what she did to him.
Is he going to punish her now?
"You d-deserve that." Hinata suddenly bursts out, not wanting to feel his intense gaze on her again. Involuntarily, her hands groped the sheets on top of her. She badly needed something to hold on to, and at the moment, the borrowed sheets are the only thing that she can grip with full force.
"I do." The voice was calm, cool and collected—the very opposite of her own. "But I think by now...You should know that our Shinobi world doesn't usually work in fair terms."
"I think it's the people living in it that makes the world unfair Itachi-san…not the world." Hinata answered, not really impressed at how he acts like someone who understands her. "And I need to correct something about what that woman told me earlier…I am not your w-wife."
A smirk passed on Itachi's lips. "The world is unfair Hyuga-san…and right now, you have no choice but to submit to what I would ask you to do."
"I'm not your wife." Hinata was indignant, the very idea frightens her. "And I am not going to act like one."
"Ah." Itachi nodded. "But let me remind you, if you are thinking about trying to alert this town that you are with an Akatsuki—or even just one person—I cannot promise you that it won't bring them harm." Looking down on the girl with an evil glint on his eyes, he decided to add some more salt on the wound, making it sting. "Do you want that on your conscience, heiress?"
The heiress shook her head in defeat, eyes almost teary at the dilemma she was in. "How can you say the word conscience when you have none, Itachi-san?"
To Hinata's surprise, the Uchiha seated himself next to her on the bed. "All people have one…though mine disappeared years ago." Pulling one of her shaking hands, Itachi placed it on his paralyzed arm. "Now, fix the chakra points that you have altered…wife."
-o-o-o-
Sakura stared silently at the man who was leaning on the cave wall, just a short distance from her. It was heavily raining and by luck, they found a small cave to take shelter in. A small fire was burning between them—casting shadows around the place and making both of their faces hard to see.
"Too bad the rain stopped us from getting to our destination in time." Sakura was the first to speak, eyes darting at the Uchiha wearily. Sakura can feel Sasuke's bad mood and she wanted to lift his spirits up, though she wasn't really sure where to start. "I suspect that there's a storm coming…the wind's too strong."
The answer she received was a curt nod and Sakura bit her lip to prevent her frustration from rising up. The moment they set foot outside of Konoha's gates, all the answers that Sasuke was giving her were short words and curt gestures—not to mention that he was looking like he might want to kill anyone on his path—his jaw was clenched shut and his eyes were dangerously narrowed.
The guy was literally oozing with killer intent.
Sasuke took a deep breath to calm his boiling rage. All the way, he was worried about Hinata and it drives him crazy not knowing if she was alright. His brother was a ruthless killer, and Sasuke knew that Itachi could easily end Hinata's life just like the way he ended their parent's lives.
Damn the bloody rain…
Sasuke knew that the Akatsuki wants the Byakugan, it all just makes sense. They already have one sharingan user within them and one rinnegan bearer, now if you add another one of the three great kekkei genkai's, the power that they could achieve would be so overwhelming that they won't be just a threat to the other Shinobi villages but throughout the whole world.
To make the long story short, they have to gauge Hinata's eyes out.
But Sasuke knew he prefers a blind Hinata than no Hinata at all. He knew it was a selfish whim, for a Hyuga would rather be strip of all their riches and pride, than to lose the one thing that they treasure the most—and that was their Byakugan.
With a grunt, Sasuke raised himself up, making Sakura looked up in surprise. "We need to get going."
The Haruno frowned. "It's raining hard…it won't be safe for both of us Sasuke…"
"Then stay here. Just follow my trail when the rain stops." The Anbu placed his mask on his face, one hand adjusting the katana that was attached on his gray vest from behind. Looking back at his teammate, he pointed at the fire. "Be sure to put that out. You don't want anyone to see the flames when you're alone in here."
Sasuke left the shelter and warmth of the cave and into the strong rain and wind outside.
Sakura hurriedly grabbed her pack and followed the Uchiha, puzzled and a little angry at the way he acts like he was more on a one-man mission than a paired one. "Sasuke-kun! What the hell is wrong with you?" Sakura almost yelled, the rain was drowning her voice and she needed to strain her vocal chords a bit to make the words loud enough for him to hear. "It's a storm!"
Sasuke stopped on his track. "I need to finish this mission Sakura…"
"I? This mission is supposed to be us…not I…us."
The Anbu looked at her behind the mask. "I need to finish the mission fast…I have to—"
"So you could catch up to Hina-chan?" Sakura was now yelling, not because of the rain—but because she was angry. "You're not the only one who cares for her you know…I do too, but we are on a mission. A mission, I remind you, that was given to us by our Hokage. "The Haruno clenched her fist. "I trust lady Tsunade, she never acts without reason…and Kakashi-sensei is the captain of Hinata's retrieval squad, you should know better that to—"
"I have a question for you Sakura…" Sasuke's voice stopped her speech curtly. "If you are the one who's been kidnapped by a bunch of missing S-class nins…do you think any squad or any reason could stop Naruto from coming after you?"
Sakura failed to speak, her body frozen as the rain was pouring down on them and drenching them from head to toe. Looking at Sasuke, her eyes suddenly dropped on the wet forest floor. "But we all know that Naruto…Naruto is always a hotshot. H-he always acts without thinking first…but you Sasuke, you are different. You are the level headed one here, you should be rational—"
"It's because Naruto loves you, Sakura." Sasuke shook his head. "I know you knew that. No use making up reasons."
Sakura bit her lip and began to breathe heavily. The truth that she was really trying hard to avoid was now slapping her straight in the face. "And you would go because you love Hinata? Is that you're reason too Sasuke?"
-o-
Kisame flexed his muscled neck as he brandished his freaky-looking sword. The weapon was dripping with blood, matching the same red stains on Kisame's face and arms, though it was starting to be washed off by the strong rain. Behind the shark-looking Akatsuki, Deidara's giant clay bird landed with a loud thud and its rider jumped into the ground.
Deidara grinned evilly as he took in the scenario around them. "My…Art can surely be found in many things."
Around the two missing nins, were dead shinobis from Kirikagure. The small unit was on their way back to the misty lands when they have the bad luck of encountering the two powerful Akatsuki members. The ground where the dead Shinobi unit lays was now a red puddle—a mix of rainwater and precious lifeblood.
Kisame kicked one dead kiri nin lying face first on the wet ground and was missing an arm. There was a large gash on the middle of his vest and blood was oozing out of the deep laceration. "Itachi said we need to clear his path so that no other disturbances could waste his time. I think we need to do one more perimeter round after the storm." Kneeling, he took the dead nin's forehead protector and pulled out his kunai pouch. Using a kunai, he scratched the small metal plate where the Kirigakure insignia was engraved, making a straight line. "There…that should warn them not to mess with the Akatsuki."
Deidara was not listening, but was staring interestedly at Kisame's gills located at the sides of his neck and arm. The sleeve of his coat has been torn because of combat, so one of his muscled arms is bare."It's moving!"
"It does that when it's wet." Kisame explained almost defensively. "Now stop staring of you don't want me to cut you to pieces shithead."
-o-o-o-
Hinata stared.
Itachi waited.
"What made you think that I'm going to heal it?" Hinata asked, her chin tilting upwards. She can't explain exactly why, but despite how mentally strained she was right now, she was glad to see that the great Uchiha Itachi needed a weakling like her in order for him to heal.
"I can bargain the whereabouts of your clothes." Itachi stated which sounded almost like an afterthought. "I can assume that you don't want to be seen around by the men, Akatsuki or locals alike dressed like that."
Hinata stared at the man in disbelief. How did he know her dress was not "appropriate"? She never lowered the sheets for even just a second when he entered the room. She has been gripping it like dear life the whole time.
"How did you know?" She absent mindedly asked as she clutched the sheets tighter around her. Hinata knew this was not the right time to think about her 'modesty' –for something worse might still be coming her way— but as a Hyuga heiress, she was trained since she was a child that dignity for one's self should be reserved. "Are you the one who changed m-my clothes Itachi-san?"
"I did."
"P-pervert." The heiress blurted out, now trying to lean away from him as far as the edge of the bed could get her.
No, he was not different from the other dirty minded Akatsuki members…not at all.
Itachi smirked, remembering that scene from last night. "I have one eye closed the whole time…If that would help you feel better."
The man was making fun of her, Hinata was sure. It was like he was bantering with her, and for a second, Hinata wondered if she was seeing the human version of Itachi again—the part of him that usually appears sometimes—if he was not being the silent monster he usually was.
"Now heal me." Itachi pulled her hand again. "Believe me, I won't ask for the third time."
Hinata blink. She heard those words before…
(f) "Now heal me…believe me, I won't ask for the third time."
Hinata looked at Sasuke incredulously. The Anbu literally dragged her with him into a vacant training ground and demanded some kind of medical care for his bruised face. Sure she has healed him once with her homemade salve of herbs—but she was not some kind of medic that he could always come to when he's wounded or bruised.
Besides, she still have her a class of naughty chunins to look after today.
"Sasuke-kun, I am not a medic…Ano, Y-you should go to Sakura-chan or Ino-chan. They are really good at medical care and—"
"I don't care. I want you to heal me."
That made the heiress stop and her cheeks began to heat up. Looking down to avoid his gaze, she began to fidget. "But…I have a clas—"
"I'm sure you won't mind healing Naruto if he is on my place, am I right?"
The statement made Hinata jumped back as she shook her head no. "A-ano…Sasuke-kun, I mean—Sakura-chan is the expert on this kinds of things…I just want your bruises to be healed perfectly."
Sasuke smirked. "Hinata, If I want Sakura to heal me, I would have come to her. But I'm here with you aren't I?" (f)
Hinata sighed in defeat, knowing that any false move on her part could not only endanger her life but also the innocent woman who owns the house—add to that the whole town—Akatsuki was very popular on raging small towns and never leaving even a single soul alive.
Hinata doesn't want that.
Letting her hand hover over Itachi's arm, she let her chakra build into it and began to fix his broken chakra points. Unconsciously, the heiress marveled at the unbelievable power that she could feel in his chakra. Even just the small chakra signature that was radiating from the Uchiha was making her hand burn.
Uchiha Itachi was undeniably powerful…she has no chance against him.
She has no chance, she has to accept that. She was the weakling, he was the genius…but that doesn't mean that she has to let her guard down and just let them do as they please.
She has people she cared for to protect, people that are important to her—Hinata knew that it was enough to keep her going…
It was enough to give her strength.
-o-o-o-
A little busy so my update was a little late…it's almost semestral break in our school so I really have a lot of schoolwork to cover. Lol…I'm a walking zombie right now (lack of sleep and too much bloody schoolwork), though I will try to make it up to you guys this weekend.
Please review. I would love to hear from you guys. ;)
-crazygurl12
