Chapter 10? Sounds right. I thought it was supposed to be spring here. So why is it so cold? Brrrr. I'm wrapped up in a blanket here! Anyway, here goes. Where it'll go, no one knows.
Chapter 10
The next day Naruto and Hinata continued to read through the materials Ranma and his students had put together. The acolyte apprentices had finished making a nice copy of the previous day's note and offered to do the same with today's notes. By dinner time they had finished the rest of the materials, something which made Naruto really happy. They gave their notes to Ranma's students and turned in early so as they were planning on leaving the next day. Ranma's students promised to have their notes done by then.
Taruho woke them both again the next day and they packed quickly, Naruto making sure to hide the dirty novels Jiraiya had given him from the monks, as he was sure they would disapprove of them. And after breakfast, they set out and got on the road. "Naruto, no shortcuts. We're following the directions." Hinata made sure to say this after saying goodbye to the monks who had taken care of them for the past two days.
"Sure thing Hinata. No shortcuts." Naruto grinned idiotically as he answered his fiance.
--
They made it back to Konoha quickly. No one challenged them trying to stop them from getting to Konoha. They entered the gates of Konoha and reported in to the hokage. Shizune let them in and Hinata handed Tsunade the nice copy of the notes. "Did you encounter any problems during the mission?" Tsunade asked as she skimmed them.
"None, Tsunade-baa-chan." Tsunade was tempted to punch Naruto through a wall as she once again heard his nickname for her.
"Good. Good work on this mission. You're dismissed." Naruto and Hinata bowed respectfully and left.
"Hinata, I'll walk you home." Hinata took his hand and walked at his speed. He left her at the gates, where she was met by her father.
"I see your mission went well. Your wedding kimono is almost ready. But the seamstress would like to take some final measurements before she finally finishes it. Soon we need to meet up Naruto and his family as to plan the details of the wedding." Hinata's heart suddenly jumped.
"I understand. Perhaps soon we should invite them over for some tea." Hiashi agreed with plan his daughter had come up with.
--
Horyuu had been in the shinobi prison for over two years now. Everyday she did as she was told. Her spirit and mind were not here. They were in the insane asylum with her master, Shinku Tebanasu. He hadn't changed at all. He was still mentally gone and under strict supervision, his chakra cut off. At first she had had a horrible time here. But she had adjusted. Listening to the rumors of Konoha that drifted to the prison helped her slowly regain herself.
One evening, while in line for dinner, she heard a rumor that made her angry. She listened to the two inmates conversation. "Yeah, it's true. The kyuubi brat is going to get married soon. To Hinata Hyuga. The kyuubi brat's half-sister tried to kill the fiance because of some prophecy apparently."
"Wasn't her name Kana or something?" The first inmate nodded. "I heard Kana's under supervision of two ANBU for it. They're both fine though. The kyuubi took the hit meant for the Hyuga girl."
Horyuu Hanone grew angry. What right did the kyuubi have to be happy while she wasted away here in the shinobi prison and her master going even crazier in the insane asylum? "Move along!" The cook yelled at Horyuu, making her snap out of her day dream.
"Shut up already. I'm moving." Horyuu snapped as she took her food and moved along and sat down at her usual table, still seething. She had to get out of here. Horyuu had to correct this injustice. And she would. The call went up for the prisoners to get back to work. Horyuu went along with the other prisoners and didn't cause any problems that night as they were escorted to their cells for the night. Horyuu pretended to sleep. Around midnight she got up and hid in the shadows of her door after making it look like she was still asleep on her bed.
ANBU patrolled the corridors at night, occasionally rapping on the cell door bars. That night when a lone ANBU passed by close to her cell door, she tripped him. Right before he called out or hit the ground, she reached out through the bars and caught his head with one hand while moving the other hand over his mouth. "Shh." She knocked the man unconscious and found the keys to her cell. Unlocking the door quietly, she sneaked out, grabbing the ANBU's shinobi gear.
"Hey, take us with you." Some of the prisoners tried to get her to let them out. "Come on. Don't you have a heart?"
"Sorry. I'm on a mission. I don't need dead weight." The prisoners grew angry.
"PRISONER ESCAPE!!" They yelled at the top of their lungs. As expected, the ANBU members in the are came running in order to investigate the disturbance. They saw her out of her cell and their unconscious comrade on the floor. One hit the alarm causing a loud siren to sound through out the prison complex. The rest gave chase.
"Crap!" Horyuu ran, bare feet slapping the concrete floor noisily. She skidded around the corner, seeing only a glass window ahead of her, the rest of the hallway being a dead end. Horyuu steeled herself for the inevitable crash. She was on the second floor. Without sparing any room in her mind for doubt, she jumped through the window, barely fitting through. She rolled into the fall, ending up on her feet.
ANBU swarmed out of the building as the spotlights turned on. Many of the prisoners were doing their best to see who was trying to escape through their tiny windows. ANBU caught up and surrounded her. She simply knocked them unconscious and moved on. With a burst of speed thanks to taijutsu, she managed to make it outside before the gates slammed shut. She was free. Now to get on with her mission.
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I'm sorry if you think this chapter is a bit short. But I'm taking my driving permit test this Saturday and leaving this Tuesday for Louisiana. I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again. It won't be on my usual regular basis. I'll update when I can though. But I'll have very little computer time down there. So please be patient. I wanted to finish this story first but I know that won't be possible.