Chapter 10: Internal Struggle
The last Uchiha quickly signed, and spit out a stream of fire. Without the final, vocal seal, the Fireball Jutsu was not at full power, but was still enough to blow away the shuriken and send a mass of flames at Naruto. The blond shinobi countered by summoning a Rasengan, deflecting the attack away from both himself and Hinata. And in return for his kindness, Hinata charged him. He recognized her stance of the Eight Trigrams Holy Cyclone, the improved version of the Heavenly Spin that she had devised during their training. The Holy Cyclone could neutralize the Rasengan almost every time, and in many cases, survive the encounter. It was also larger and more damaging than the Heavenly Spin. But Naruto had a theory he had yet to test.
"Rasengan," he exclaimed, creating a second sphere in left fist. As the deep purple energy dome sprang forth from Hinata, he thrust both of his spiraling spheres forward. Though the phrase 'harmonic dissonance" may have been way over Naruto's head, he understand the principal at a very basic level. The two globes both shuddered when they struck Hinata's barrier, but ultimately won out. The Holy Cyclone tore apart like paper, and the unsuspecting blood slave was knocked to her knees. Naruto did not press his advantage, instead keeping one Rasengan trained on each opponent.
"Hinata, please stop," Naruto begged, "I don't want to fight you."
Sasuke aimed a punch at Naruto's head, but Naruto swung up his left hand and the twice traitor had the hold his attack to avoid losing his hand.
"Hinata, I know you are stronger than this. You don't want to hurt me," he pleaded with her. In the middle of lifting her leg for a kick, she paused, and replaced her foot. A look of confusion flitted across her face. Then her visage emptied again, and she crafted her own Rasengan to counter his.
'She's still in there,' Naruto thought, 'just like how Neji reacted when Doraku said Hinata is stronger.'
"You know that won't work," he told he gently, "My Rasengan is still stronger than yours, and you are still limited to one at a time. I think you are trying not to hurt me."
He reinforced the sphere in his right hand, and brushed his Rasengan to hers, destroying it. Sasuke jabbed with the Chidori, but like the previous night, his movements were off. Naruto wondered if it was a side effect of the blood control, or if his rival was injured. He elbowed the Sound Ninja's ribs, forcing him back, while the Leaf Ninja continued to focus on the Kunoichi.
Doraku again ordered them to kill Naruto, this time with a harsh edge. Thought he could hear Sasuke and Hinata's thoughts such as they were, and see via the Kariname Jutsu, he could not hear Naruto, and thus could not determine what jutsu the boy was using to disable Hinata. As the demon had suspected, the Genin was loath to harm the girl. Obviously, he knew another way to disable the Byakugan user, and the vampire wanted to know what technique it was.
Hinata slowed again, her lips trembling. Always proactive, Naruto pushed his advantage.
"These last few months have been the best of my life," he informed her honestly, "Training with you, getting to know you, growing closer to you."
She gulped and took a step away. She activated Tsunade's attack, and lightning surrounded her hands. Naruto sent a clone to keep Sasuke busy, and continued to talk to Hinata while carefully avoiding her strikes.
"You know me better than anyone else. And I won't lose you," Naruto dropped the Rasengan, and knocked her hands away. He knew he was gambling with his life, even as he stepped in close and put his arms around her.
"I trust you, Hinata," he whispered into her ear, as he hugged her tightly. He waited for her to touch him, disabling his nervous system.
Doraku swore elegantly. Naruto had managed to knock out Hinata. After all, if she were dead she would just become one of his zombies. And without the Byakugan user, he could not see what was happening.
"Sasuke, quit playing," he demanded angrily, "Kill Naruto as quickly as possible."
"Naruto," Hinata suddenly shouted in a worried voice. He dove forward reflexively, shielding her as Sasuke's barrage of tiny fireballs swept the room. He was struck, receiving a number of moderate burns on his back, but the tough young man ignored the pain as he leaped again, carrying Hinata free from the barrage.
"I knew you could do it," he told her as he turned to face Sasuke again. Despite his injuries, Naruto was grinning from ear to ear.
"Naruto, what happened? The last thing I remember, that fiend was biting my neck."
"You and Sasuke were trying to kill me. But you managed to break free, with a little coaxing. Which reminds me…"
He grabbed his radio, even as he dodged another attack from the still enslaved Sasuke. He flicked the frequency dial while Hinata stepped forward to knock aside two thrown kunai.
"Lee," he called their other ally.
"I am rather busy, Naruto," Lee grunted.
"Perfect," Naruto enthused, "I got Hinata back, with a little emotional prodding."
"Really," Rock Lee grinned as he circled away from Neji and Sakura, "Thank you for the tip."
Lee cracked his quarterstaff gently against Sakura's extended wrist, and started talking.
"I am surprised, and a little disappointed," he told her, "is this the same Sakura that defeated Ino's Mind Transfer Jutsu? The girl who tried to jump in between the Rasengan and the Chidori?"
Sakura tried to grab his weapon, but he rotated it away, knowing with her enhanced strength she could take it away if he gave her the slightest chance. Neji brushed passed her, and struck quickly with his Gentle Fist. Lee avoided the strike, blocked the next two with his staff, and dodged the fourth. But the Jonin's fifth attack landed, tearing Lee's left bicep. The martial artist nearing dropped his weapon, but gritted his teeth against the pain to retain his grip. Lee jabbed Neji in the solar plexus, pushing him back and knocking the breath out of him.
"What happened to being useful to your team?" he prodded, "How will you be of any use, if you are a slave of our enemy?"
Her next blow was more awkward than her previous strikes, and Lee knew Naruto was correct.
"Again," the vampire growled. Now Lee was constantly talking, and Sakura was faltering. But Lee had no Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, so he was not using a power against the Kunoichi. Could he really be disrupting her just by speaking? That should not be possible, his control was absolute.
"Or are you thinking that this is your chance to be close to Sasuke?" Lee swept Neji's legs as he jabbed at Sakura's emotions, "Because it isn't. Sasuke won't even know you are there. And you saw how that perverted monster looked at you. Sasuke won't be the one you will be close to."
The girl shuddered and froze.
"And what about Naruto? The one who did not betray you, your team, or our village, and who never tried to kill you. Are you just going to abandon him, or worse try to kill him?"
"No, I…" the girl dropped to her knees, clutching her head.
'One last push,' the Taijutsu master thought, "Well, then I guess Ino wins."
"What?" Sakura was on her feet, livid, "No way I'm losing to Ino-pi…"
"Huh?" she stopped, confused, "Lee, what's going on?"
Neji surged forward and knocked the staff from Lee's hands. He grabbed Lee's vest, and turned the bushy browed Chunin over his shoulder, throwing Lee into the wall. But Lee was able to twist around in the air, placing his feet against the wall. Rock Lee pushed off the stone, and body slammed Neji.
"The monster ordered the four of you to kill Naruto and me."
"Naruto?"
"Yes, the demon could not control him either. Naruto was able to break Hinata free by playing to her emotions, and I was able to do the same for you."
Neji hoisted Lee off his chest, and Lee landed near Sakura.
"I hope we can do the same for Neji and Sasuke."
"Inconceivable!" Doraku exclaimed. Sakura was no longer under his control. He could clearly see her up and moving through Neji's Kariname Jutsu, but could no longer sense her or control her. He could still taste her blood, and access her Jutsu, but she was free. The same might be true for Hinata. This should not be possible. There were only two ways to remove a human from a Blood-Taster's control. Maybe he had not taken enough blood. Or Naruto or Lee's blood might have interfered.
"Sasuke, Neji kill your target and bring back Sakura and Hinata," he considered stopping his remaining servants, but decided to let it continue for now. He had to learn how, why this was happening.
"It's not working," Naruto slid back after blocking Sasuke's kick. He had been plying Sasuke with supplications of teamwork and friendship. But the rogue ninja had never shown even the slightest sign of emotion.
"Naruto," Lee's voice came over the radio, "I woke up Sakura. She woke up when I suggested she had lost out to Ino."
"That's it! Thanks Lee."
"You are welcome?" the martial artist sounded confused
"What is it, Naruto?" Hinata asked.
"Sasuke isn't really a human. He's just a human shaped jackass…"
"You take that back, Naruto!" Sakura's voice emerged from the communicator. He ignored her.
"Of course appealing to his better nature won't work," Naruto continued, "He doesn't understand kindness or loyalty. We gotta make him mad."
"Alright, save your batteries," Sakura resumed her role as leader, "But keep in contact if anything happens."
"So, are we going to try to wake Neji up?" Sakura asked, trying to sweep the Jonin's legs. Neji leapt over her foot, aiming his own kick at her head. Lee caught his ankle and pushed him away.
"I do not see why we should," Lee answered. Making sure Neji could not see him, he winked at Sakura. She managed to halt the surprised look on her face, and nodded.
"He left the village without permission, and joined with an enemy," Lee continued, "that would seem to make him a traitor. And we have already reclaimed the main family scion, why do we require a branch family member."
Neji focused his attacks on Lee. If Sakura drew to close, he would aim a quick strike, to attempt to disable her. But otherwise, he doggedly pursued his teammate. Lee continually dodged, moving backwards through the tunnel, staying just out of reach of the Gentle Fist.
"You're right. We don't need Neji, anyway," Sakura agreed, "The demon said Hinata is stronger."
"Interesting," Lee considered, "The monster would have no reason to lie. Neji also told me that he was not sure he could have persevered in my situation."
"Then why are we still hanging around?" Sakura asked.
"Indeed, why stay?" Neji's dulcet tones probed.
"Neji!" they both shouted.
"So, you finally found your way out, huh, Sasuke?" Naruto's tone was conspiratorial and condescending. Sasuke's response was a hard right to Naruto's face; but the Genin recovered without pause.
"It's not like you ever really had a chance against Itachi," he derided, "The greatest son of the Uchiha clan. Every time you've confronted him, you've been beneath his notice. And you picked Orochimaru to teach you to defeat him. Jiraiya told me, Orochimaru tried to possess Itachi and failed. Or did the old snake keep that to himself?"
Sasuke growled and launched another barrage at his former teammate's head and chest.
"Enough. Sasuke come back now."
The vampire decided he was not going to lose his last, and strongest slave.
"I think it is time for me to become involved," Doraku said to himself.
"Neji, are you okay?" Sakura observed him with a physician's eye.
"I'm fine."
"What do you remember?" Lee prompted.
"When I arrived in this town for the tournament, I realized something was wrong. As I started to investigate, Sasuke Uchiha suddenly attacked me. But he was… off. There is no other word for it. He did not speak, even to invoke his jutsu. And his movements were awkward. In the battle I broke, or at least cracked, his right tibia. After that, Sasuke retreated and a number of puppet corpses attacked me."
"Just call them zombies," Sakura suggested, "It's easier."
"They were not strong, but they were resilient and numerous."
"We observed that as well," Lee nodded in agreement.
"When it became obvious I was to be captured, not killed, I pretended to be knocked unconscious, to try and learn what was going on here."
"Would you mind teaching that concept to Naruto?" Sakura asked, drawing a slight grin from the normally taciturn Jonin.
"I watched carefully as they carried me through these caves, for any hint of what awaited. After a short walk, they placed me in a chair in a lavish dining room. The blood demon questioned Sasuke, who told the monster of me in short, clipped sentences. When he had learned what wanted, he bit me. After that, I woke up to find myself being insulted by my comrades."
"I apologize," Lee looked contrite, "It was necessary to generate an emotional response to free you from the demon's control."
"Wait," Sakura stepped closer, "If you were awake while they brought you to that dining room, does that mean you remember the way out."
"Of course," Neji smirked superiorly.
"Great," she grabbed Lee's radio, and triggered it.
"Naruto, we woke Neji. He knows the way out. Once you and Hinata wake up Sasuke, or knock him out, meet us back at the dining room."
There was no answer over the radio.
"Naruto? Are you hearing this?"
When nothing but static came through, she looked back at the older ninja.
"We better get back."
"I shouldn't be surprised," Naruto kept talking. Sasuke's attacks had ceased, he was now trying to escape, but the two Leaf Ninja cut him off at every turn.
"I mean, it took those Sound Ninja a whole five minutes to convince you to betray the village your clan once honorably defended. And now you've found another new master."
Suddenly, the defector abandoned in opening by Hinata, to spit another stream of fire at Naruto.
"This must be a dream for you. You don't have to fight Itachi, but you don't have to feel guilty for giving up. And best of all, you don't have to feel the pain of your parent's murder."
"CHIDORI," Kakashi's former student roared, his hand surrounded by lightning. Hatred filled his eyes, and, but for a slight limp, his charge was crisp and certain. Naruto deftly evaded the first slash, and the second punch; but Sasuke caught him with a normal backhand strike of his left hand.
"Looks like you finally shook it off," Naruto chuckled, returning Sasuke's angry stare. Hinata started to step forward, but Naruto shook his head.
"I finally get to kill you, Naruto," Sasuke stated.
"Give it your best shot!"
"Naruto, we woke Neji," Sakura's voice suddenly erupted from the radio, giving both men pause, "He knows the way out. Once you and Hinata wake up Sasuke, or knock him out, meet us back at the dining room."
Naruto turned off the radio and continued to glare at Sasuke.
"So, what's it gonna be?" Naruto asked, "Fight me until that demon shows up, or deny him his prize and escape? I don't know how he caught you before, but you probably would stand a better chance of getting revenge with some allies."
Though his visage did not change, Uchiha's stance softened slightly. Then, finally, he dropped his arms.
"Fine," he snapped, "We have a truce until we escape this maze. Let's find the others."