Author's Notes: Sorry about the late update. I joined a writing competition a few weeks ago and I just finished it yesterday. And I kinda had a writer's block so… Sasuke is seriously OOC. Oh and…please don't kill me. I'm not good in the fighting scene so…yeah. Gomen…

Chapter Nine

Otsutuki Toneri's Palace, Present day…

The four shinobi had successfully invaded Toneri's palace, fighting of an army of puppet at their wake. As soon as they stepped on the courtyard, they split up. Sai and Sakura went to rescue Hanabi, while Sasuke and Shikamaru went after Hinata.

Sasuke ran ahead. He doesn't even care if Shikamaru is following him or not. His mind if focused on one thing only: Hinata.

He wasn't even sure how he arrived at the alter but he did. He was running then the next he was at in some sort of church with Hinata and that bastard standing on the alter, they were about to kiss. They were wearing black wedding ceremonial clothing.

Toneri snapped his head towards the intruders. "How dare you interrupt our wedding?" his voice booming in the church.

Sasuke ignored him, looking straight at Hinata. She stood beside Toneri. Her eyes were half-lidded and cloudy, as if she looking at something beyond them. She hadn't given a slightest acknowledgement when he had practically burst into the church.

"What the fuck did you do to her?" Sasuke demanded.

The white haired man sighed dramatically before answering. "If she hadn't disobeyed me," he said, "she wouldn't have been stuck in this situation." He paused and stroked her cheek with his finger.

Sasuke started to move towards them but someone had clasped his shoulder. He glanced over his shoulder. Crimson red eyes meet with bored dark brown eyes. "Get your hand of me," he gritted his teeth.

The lazy nin removed his hand. "You ought to be careful," he said, nodding towards the approaching puppets. He had not realised they were summoned. He cursed under his breath.

Toneri placed his hand on the wall and pressed it. He glanced over his shoulder and tugged the brainwashed Hinata to the basement under the church. He have to finish what he had started.

"Go on," Nara said, his hand performing a set of hand seals. "I'll hold them off."

Sasuke inclined his head ever so slightly and moved towards the basement hidden under the church. There was no way that he'll leave Hinata here with that man. Crimson eyes scanned the room; there they were standing in front of the huge misty mirror. A grimace appeared on Toneri's face, not even bothering to hide his distaste.

.: SasuHina :.

Michiko couldn't move, not even a single twitch of a finger. She wanted to move but she couldn't. Even though trapped in this painting she could see the battle going on outside. It was as if she was seating at the front seat. It was a curse she was willing to bear by her people. She was chosen for a reason.

She could see Hinata embracing the tired Sasuke. The painter lowered the eyeless Hyuuga unto the ground – the medical nin immediately hovered her hand over the bindings. The leader however was looking at something beyond the opened door.

It took her a minute why.

"UCHIHA!"

The group turned their attention to the broken man. A single spear supporting his weight from one his puppets.

His Kekkei Genkai was activated; he stood up and held out his katana towards her crazed cousin. "Get to safety," he muttered to the group over his shoulder. Hinata tried to protest but a single nudge from the painter made her follow the others to safety.

"You'll all be dead by my feet!" Toneri shouted as thousands on his puppets appear everywhere.

The four Kohona shinobi stood around the blind girl, protecting her from the puppets. Not far from them, the lone Uchiha braced the impact of the spear with his katana.

Then the Oracle shut her mind from the sight. She could no longer see the fight. She doesn't want to…

.: SasuHina :.

An audible groan slipped through his lips.

"You're quite strong for a human," Toneri sneered.

Sasuke chuckled quietly. "Didn't you know?" he asked shifting his weight to one leg while the other, he kicked Toneri's stomach. The pale man stumbled back a few steps, anger flashing in his eyes. "I'm not technically human."

He cried out an enraged scream before launching himself towards the Uchiha. The sound of steel clashing together boomed through out the courtyard. It's been long since he felt this alive.

Sasuke pulled back into a defensive stance and pulled out a few shurikens from his pouch before flicking it towards his opponent. It only made Toneri angrier. Being angry just made his stance sloppier. He sheathed his katana and performed a rapid hand seals, a simple one in fact. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."

Toneri avoided the jutsu and ran towards him. There wasn't enough time for Sasuke to pull out his katana by the time he did that, he'll be dead on his feet. No… that's not a pleasant sight. He blocked the incoming spear with Susanoo.

Sasuke reached behind his shoulder and pulled the katana. Toneri recoiled and went for the offensive. Their moments went faster, his katana and Toneri's spear blurring with speed. By the stroke of bad luck, Sasuke left a small opening with caused his to be thrown back and landed in his back. He lifted himself from the ground and saw Toneri posed in front of him, ready to plunge the spear through him.

"Looks like the Great Uchiha has fallen," he smirked, "again."

His katana was thrown a few meters away from him. Not even with his speed he could reach it in time. He breathed slowly and he closed his eyes.

Sasuke had escaped death countless times already – apparently he can't escape it now.

He waited until the spear went through him but it didn't. But hee could smell something metallic. He knew this smell. He practically bathe in it for years, especially during his time with Orochimaru. It was a path he had chose years ago. He could feel the blood on his shirt. His hands went to his stomach but he couldn't feel any pain.

Confused, Sasuke lift his gaze up and met with a pair of wide pale lavender eyes.

Behind her, Toneri had removed his hand from the spear. Toneri took a few steps back and stared at his hands. "What h-have I done?" he moaned.

Hinata fell forward and Sasuke caught her before she could fall. He lowered her to the ground gently, trying not to make the wound bigger. Blood staining the dark dress.

He kneeled beside her. "Don't move," he ordered.

The kunoichi faced him and smiled. She lifted her hand to his cheek, brushing away the hot tears. "You shouldn't cry," she laughed weakly. "It doesn't suit you."

Suddenly he felt like the little boy who lost his family once again. "Don't go," he pleaded, clutching her hand that was laid on his cheek. "Please, I can't lose you."

"Once the Hyuuga heiress reaches… an age of maturity, a man from the moon would claim her as part of the deal once set by one of her ancestors. It was none that suffer more than the Uchiha. To set balance the scale of the world, one must die for the other to live," Hinata recited. She coughed violently, a trail of blood running down from her lips. "I'm finally ful…fulfilling my purpose. Don't you see… Sasuke-kun, I'm saving you. If I die, you'll get to live…"

"You idiot!" he shouted. "I am the one whose suppose to save you! You're not supposed to take the fucking spear for me. Don't you value your life?"

Hinata merely smiled. "Aishiteru, Sasuke-kun," she breathed out before her eyelids close and her hand slipped from his grasp.

Sasuke breathed out slowly through his mouth and stood up. He turned around and walked towards the shell-shocked man. The Mangekyou Sharingan activated. He meet Toneri's gaze. "P-please kill me," he begged. "I can't live with myself like this."

Sasuke pulled out a kunai, crimson red eyes showing no emotion.

"Please…"

He pointed the kunai towards the broken man and flicked it to the ground. Toneri's eyes widen in surprise. "Death would be too kind for you," Sasuke said. "You'll live knowing the sins you've collected over the years. It'll torture you for the rest of your existence. And that is the perfect punishment for you."

In the living room, the Oracle laid on the ground, breathing heavily. She stood up slowly, ignoring her muscles protesting at every move she made. She had a duty to fulfill.

Konohagakure, Present day…

"Itachi," the Oracle bowed, addressing him last.

The older Uchiha inclined his head slightly. "I thank you for your kind tip earlier."

Michiko smiled sadly before turning her attention back to the Hokage. Her face was serious, now harbouring no emotion. "I apologize on the behalf of my cousin," she said. She waved her hand and a few people appeared behind her.

Itachi realized that those people were the ones sent out to stop the moon from crashing the Earth. Two unconscious bodies: one with a faint chakra pulse but still alive and the other – he couldn't even sense any chakra radiating from the second body. The leader – Itachi assumed – walked towards the Hokage, looking drained.

"Mission was a successes," the leader reported. "But with a casualty."

"Do it again," he heard a familiar voice ordering. "Save her."

Itachi turned his attention towards the newcomers. The pink-haired kunoichi dropped her hands to her lap and she closed her eyes, facing away from the person in front of her. "I-I can't she's gone. There's nothing I can do."

"That's because you're not trying hard enough," the former avenger said venomously.

Before the kunoichi could say any further, Itachi clasped his shoulder. One look on his brother, he knew. He knew the feeling. Itachi had felt this way before when he was forced to kill his girlfriend. He took one look at the girl. So this is the Hyuuga heiress.

Sasuke turned around and faced his brother. His crimson eyes staring into Itachi's coal black eyes. "Aniki…" he started, his eyes turning back to its original colour.

"That's enough, little brother," Itachi said quietly. "There is nothing you can do to bring her back. Let's get you home."

The younger Uchiha nodded at his words and carried the girl bridal-style towards her family. Sasuke transferred the girl from his arms to the relative's waiting arms and walked away heading towards the Uchiha compound.

It was none that suffer more than the Uchiha.

Author's End Notes: Ahhh! IT'S SO CLICHÉ! I'm sorry if it was a bit rushed. *smiles sheepishly*