The Pale Moon's Love
A/N:
Chapter VIV:
PREVIOUSLY:
"Uchiha…Madara Uchiha!" Itachi yelled, releasing the pent-up breath. Then he slumped forward…unconscious due to the overwhelming pain from resisting the Truth serum so vigorously.
Ibiki glanced at Tsunade, puzzled. Tsunade, however, was pale…trembling. "Madame Hokage? Who…? What does it mean?" Ibiki asked her.
Tsunade looked at him, and answered with a trembling voice. "It means…that Konoha's oldest enemy is alive and well…" She whispered. "And he will not rest until Konoha is nothing but ashes in the wind."
CONTINUATION:
Hinata Hyuuga was a patient young woman. She had been told that she could probably give patient Shino a run for his money, but she doubted it. Regardless, she was one of the kinder, more gentle and patient souls that many of her friends had known. Kiba had seen her and Shino wait motionless, completely still and patient, for hours on end in order to achieve mission objectives. He had been the one eager to go, and rush. That was besides the point. The point was, he didn't understand how Hinata was doing it. It was well past midnight, and Hinata was still at Naruto's side. Naruto was still in a coma…and Tsunade had not shown up as of yet.
Hinata never spoke unless she was addressed, and even then, she kept her eyes on Naruto. Kiba felt a slight stab of jealousy. He had long ago wished Hinata would like him instead…but he knew that was foolish. She had eyes for no one but Naruto. Kiba sighed, and resumed his pacing. He cast a glance at the clock on the wall opposite of Naruto's bed…and sighed again. '1:30 am.' He thought.
"Kiba…either you sit and stop pacing, or I knock you unconscious." A voice said. Kiba snapped his head to Neji, who was nice and clean and sitting in a chair next to Hinata. Neji had shown up at 8:00, wondering why Hinata hadn't come home yet. However, when he saw Naruto's still comatose form, he understood and sat next to her. Kiba growled out, "Whatever."
He stomped to his chair, and plopped down, huffing. He had left earlier to tell Akamaru to go home because he would be here all night…but that was the only break he got. He decided he needed another one. He stood. "I'm going to get some air. If you guys valued your sanity…I would suggest taking one." He said, and then walked out of the room. He immediately realized the wisdom in his choice, as he passed a beautiful nurse. He grinned the grin that he had been using for the past few years, one that he had practiced many times in the mirror, that he used to attract a girl. It was a 'heart-stopper' many girls had said. "Hey you…I think I've got an injury that needs to be taken care of." He said, grinning. The nurse turned to him, and blushed. Her face matched the color of her hair, and he grinned. Yup. Break time.
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Neji shook his head. "I have to admit, I didn't think that he'd stay this long. He earned a bit of my respect, finally." He said to Hinata. A small smile played on her lips, and she averted her eyes from Naruto for the first time of the day.
"Kiba-kun is very impatient. I'm proud he lasted this long." She said, and then turned back to Naruto.
"Neji, you don't have to be here. I'm sure Tenten is wondering where you are." Hinata murmured. Neji shrugged.
"Tenten needed sleep. She wanted to come, but she just got home from a mission. I made her go home and lay down. She said she'll visit when she wakes up." Neji replied. He cast a glance at the clock. "She'll probably come before the Tsunade-sama, anyways." Neji added.
"Is…Kiri…?" Hinata asked hesitantly, and Neji understood.
"Yes. She's now a Konoha Shinobi. I escorted her to her new housing unit, and she is ordered to stay there for the night. Don't worry…I don't think she'll visit until dawn." Neji reassured her. He gave her a contemplative glance.
"How are you going to deal with this?" He asked, and she gave him a confused look.
"Deal with what?" She asked.
"Deal with Kiri. I know you aren't blind, and that you can see exactly what Naruto means to her. How will you deal with her?" Neji clarified. Hinata pursed her lips.
"I…can't do anything with her. She loves Naruto-kun…she loves him a lot. She loves him so much, that she's willing to stay by his side and protect him even if he doesn't love her back. I don't know how to deal with her... Naruto-kun will have to." She replied. "Though…" She whispered out, "I'm afraid that if she stays by his side as she plans to…he'll eventually choose her over me."
Neji was about to say something, when Hinata continued. "Look at her. Did you see her? She's so…so beautiful. Her eyes, her skin…everything about her is so beautiful. How can I hope to hold on to him, if she's always going to be there?" She whispered.
Neji cast his cousin a pitying glance. "You'll have to trust Naruto…" He said, and she nodded.
"I do…" Hinata murmured. Neji gave her a kindly smile.
"I know you do. But I don't think you'll have to worry, Hinata. I doubt Naruto would have chosen you over Kiri if he didn't love you enough." Neji said. Hinata blushed.
"I still can't believe it." She whispered. He knew what she was talking about, and smiled softly.
"It took him long enough, though." Neji laughed softly, and Hinata giggled.
"I'm glad he finally noticed. I…I don't think I've ever been so happy as when I was when he told me." She whispered. "I felt almost as if I died…" She smiled softly down at Naruto.
Neji nodded, and looked away. "I don't think I've honestly ever seen him so happy. Not when he won our fight at the Chunin exams and held up his promise to you, not when he came back, not when he won a free days' worth of Ramen at Ichiraku…" Neji laughed at that memory. It had been a drawing in the newspaper that Neji had spotted and handed to Naruto. Naruto turned in his name, and won a free days' worth of meals from Ichiraku. Naruto had been hilarious when he found out he won.
Hinata giggled. She remembered the event as well. It had been right before he left for his training trip. He had been crying, he was so happy. But, she knew for a fact that the happiness they had felt earlier was a different, and much stronger, happiness. "I hope so." She replied to Neji.
He inclined his head, but then stiffened. "Someone's approaching." He said. Hinata looked over at him, confused, and saw his Byakugan activate. It deactivated, and he nodded. "It's just a nurse." He said, as a nurse entered the room. She was a slightly older nurse, with graying brown hair, and a kindly smile. But, she looked tired and worn. She smiled as she entered, holding a clipboard of papers, and a syringe.
"Oh, I didn't know he had visitors." The nurse said, smiling. Hinata and Neji smiled. "It's time for me to inject nutrients into his IV. His body might be able to keep itself running…but it needs food or it'll eat away at itself." She explained as she neared Naruto's bed. She reached out to the IV that was hooked into his arm, and Hinata made way for her. The nurse set down the clipboard on Naruto's bed, next to his leg, and injected the syringe into the IV line. She pushed the liquid in, and it dripped down into the line and down towards Naruto's vein.
Neji cried out, "Stop!" He bolted to his feet and jerked the syringe out of the Nurse's hand, and out of the line. He glared at her, and the amount of killer intent coming off him made the nurse stumble back against a panel of instruments.
"Neji? What's wrong?" Hinata asked, getting to her feet and questioning her cousin.
"The sheet. You aren't here to administer his sedative…" Neji growled. Off to the side, the sound of running feet reached their ears.
Neji glared at the nurse, who trembled underneath his gaze, and Hinata looked to the door. Sakura ran in, panting, her eyes wide. She took in the scene, and her knees trembled. "I was looking for my board, and I was questioning the staff…" She panted. "I was going to inject Naruto at 2…" She slowly entered the room, her eyes darting from Naruto to his monitors.
Hinata felt nauseous. She turned to look at the older nurse, confused. "What's going on?" Hinata asked.
Neji tossed the syringe to Sakura. "She put some of this in the line." He said. Sakura examined the syringe, and then paled. "She said they were nutrients…but I'm doubting it. I saw the clipboard, and it said scheduled injection was to be administered by you at two o'clock." Neji explained, and glared the nurse even more. She shook in fear.
"What did you put in here, and how much of it?" Sakura demanded, stepping close. Hinata turned to Naruto, her eyes wide. He seemed as peaceful as ever…as if he were sleeping.
The nurse stammered, "It's already t-too late. I-I put in enough solution to kill him painlessly…b-but this fool interrupted the dosage. Now he'll be in pain when it hits his bloodstream and he'll die slowly." The nurse said. Hinata panicked.
"No!" She cried, and reached down to yank the IV from his arm. The IV was empty, drained of its fluid already. Naruto's heart rate increased a bit. Hinata turned to Sakura, eyes wide.
"Damnit!" Sakura cried, and gently pushed Hinata aside. "He won't register the pain, because he's in a coma! I'll bet you that the Kyuubi powers are dormant as well, just like his brain, and won't fight back the poison!" She yelled, to no one in particular.
She instantly turned to Neji. "Immobilize her and fetch Shizune. She's at the nurse station on this floor. Go!" She yelled. Neji nodded, and struck the nurse in a spot on her chest. She slumped to the ground, eyes open, and then he disappeared from sight as he Body Flickered away.
"Hinata, I need you to step back." Sakura said, and her hands glowed blue. She pulled the IV from Naruto's arm, and stuck her hand over the hole before it could bleed or close. Hinata stepped away from the bed, feeling helpless. Naruto was being poisoned. His heart monitor beeped, faster than a normal rhythm, and Hinata saw sweat bead his forehead. However, his face remained impassive.
Suddenly, Neji appeared with Shizune. "Hinata, I need you to use your Byakugan. Find where the poison has spread, and make an incision ahead of its path. Hurry!" Sakura cried. Then she turned to Shizune. "Shizune, I need your help. We need to push the poison out of his blood stream. I need you to push your chakra into his blood stream, and push the poison back through its previous route to me. I'll draw it out." Sakura ordered.
Shizune nodded and walked to the other side of the bed, and waited for Hinata. Hinata activated her Byakugan, and stared down at Naruto's form. She looked closer, deeper, and looked at his blood veins on the inside of his body. She could see the arteries blackening as the poison progressed. She nodded, and saw which direction the poison would flow. She reached out a hand to Neji, who instantly placed his Kunai in her hand. She reached forward to Naruto's shoulder, and took a breath. She winced, as she cut deep into his flesh, using the point, and opened the artery that had been poisoned. "There. Hurry." She said, nauseated at the fact she had stabbed Naruto. His blood started to pour from the wound, and she was reminded of when he had arrived. There had been so much blood…
Neji grabbed her shoulders, as Shizune placed her hands over the incision, and pulled her back. Shizune pushed her Chakra into his bloodstream, and started to explain to Hinata what they were doing. Hinata suspected it was to keep everyone calm, including Shizune herself. "This is a simple maneuver, when you don't know what you're dealing with. If it's a fast moving poison, this is the best maneuver. If it's slow, you won't always get all of it, so you have to make an antidote. This maneuver, however, isn't without it's risks. We can damage cell structure, cause damage to blood cells or arteries, if we push too hard. We've got to administer just the right amount at just the right rate." She said, sweat beading her brow. Sakura was pulling her hands slightly away from the hole in Naruto's arm, and it was pulling a purple-looking fluid from Naruto and into the blue ball of Chakra Sakura was molding in her hand.
"If we push too hard, we could cause internal structural damage and kill him. But, we've got the proper flow down…so I'm sure he's fine. It's a lot like regulating your Chakra on the surface of the water, by feeling the flow of the blood and administering enough not to interrupt the flow." Shizune continued. "Sakura has the hardest job. Not only is she pulling the poison from the blood as it passes down the artery, but she's also redirecting the blood in the way it's supposed to go, so it doesn't come out of the hole. Me, all I have to do is push the right amount of Chakra, and keep the blood from escaping this hole. It's rather easy…keeping the blood inside." Shizune said. Sakura was sweating, as was Shizune, and the purple fluid in the ball of Chakra in Sakura's hand was slowly growing.
Hinata let her Byakugan deactivate, as Neji held her tightly against him. "Relax." Neji whispered, as he felt her shaking. He knew she was afraid…he was too. Naruto's heart monitor was beeping fast now, and Shizune frowned.
"Sakura…" She said, and Sakura growled, "I know." They continued their process quietly, and the purple blob grew in Sakura's blue chakra orb.
Then, they both sighed. Sakura pulled her hands away from the hole, and it sealed itself, and held up the blue orb of chakra that held the sickly purple liquid. "Once it touched his bloodstream, it had a chemical reaction, changing it from a clear liquid…to this." Sakura explained to Neji, who glanced between the clear liquid filled syringe to the blob of purple. Shizune handed Sakura a basin, and Sakura held it under the blue chakra orb. She dissolved the Chakra…and the poison splashed into the basin.
"We should have put a guard here with specific orders not to let anyone but us through." Sakura said, looking at the older nurse with disgust. "I forget how many people still don't like Naruto. He started to be looked at as a hero after the whole Sand invasion…but the whole thing with losing Sasuke knocked him down a peg. Now he has more people against him, than for him." She said, and set the basin down on a side-table next to Naruto's bed.
"I should have caught it quicker." Neji murmured, frowning. Naruto's heart rate was going back to normal, back to the slow steady rhythm that was natural for it. Sakura shook her head.
"I'm glad you caught it when you did, Neji. I doubt I would have noticed if I didn't work here." Sakura admitted. "Now…we need to tell Tsunade about the attempt on Naruto's life. She needs to figure out a punishment for her." Sakura said, jerking her head towards the paralyzed older nurse. Neji nodded.
"I can go get," Neji started to say, when Tsunade walked in. She looked weary beyond belief, and she looked almost dead on her feet.
"There's no need to get me. I'm here, finally." Tsunade said, drawing herself up to her full height. "What's happened?" Tsunade asked, taking in the scene.
"She tried to kill Naruto by injecting a solution into him. Neji stopped her halfway, realizing she wasn't trying to put nutrients into him, and we had to remove the poison." Shizune said, indicating the paralyzed nurse. "What's happened, Tsunade-sama? What's wrong?" She asked.
"Itachi is officially a Leaf Ninja, though he will need to be watched, even though I granted him asylum. He revealed a traitor in our midst…and we attempted to capture him. He fled, killing three Anbu in the process. We have Anbu chasing him, attempting to capture him. But, I don't believe they'll catch him. He's too wily for that." Tsunade sighed. She ran a hand over her forehead, and winced.
Tsunade walked over to the nurse who was crumpled on the ground, eyes open and breathing. "Neji, please return her movement." Tsunade requested. Neji nodded, and walked over. He knelt in front of the nurse, jabbed a point on her neck, and the nurse gasped. She blinked, as Neji straightened and stepped back.
"Do you understand what you just tried to do?" Tsunade asked, her voice quiet. The nurse was shaking as she looked up at Tsunade, fear evident on her face. But, a bitter look crossed her face as she spoke.
"I tried to avenge my family. I'm not sorry for what I tried to do." The woman said, casting a spiteful glance at the comatose Naruto.
Tsunade growled, "Well you will be." Then, she raised her right hand and made a signal. An Anbu appeared, inclining his head.
"Yes, Hokage-sama?" The Anbu asked. He was wearing a white cloak, and a dog mask. He was a Captain.
"Take this…filth out of my sight. Take her to the police station for civilians…and have her jailed." She ordered. The Captain nodded, and advanced on the poor woman.
"No." She whispered, but then…she was gone. The Captain had grabbed her and Body Flickered away.
Tsunade sighed. "Now…to deal with this." She stepped to Naruto's side, and looked tenderly down at the young man. 'He looks so much like his father.' She thought fondly. She and Minato had met a few times, and she had been fond of Jiraiya's student. He was kind, funny, but he could be dead serious at just the right times. He was an amazing man…and Tsunade shook her head. It was time to focus.
"Could everyone please step back? I'd like some room, and I need to focus." Tsunade asked. Hinata nodded, and Neji took a step back with her. They were further than anyone else. Sakura went to their side, as did Shizune. Tsunade reached up to Naruto's temples, and placed the first two fingers of each hand on the sides of his head. She closed her eyes, and started to manipulate her Chakra.
Shizune whispered quietly to the Hyuuga's, and Sakura, an explanation of what Tsunade was doing. "She's pulsating Chakra in tiny, sporadic bursts in certain sections of Naruto's brain. This Chakra, seeing as Chakra is a life-force, will help to re-awaken the brain." Tsunade moved her hands to Naruto's forehead. "She's slowly activating each part of his brain, not forcefully mind you. If she were to force it, brain damage would occur. She shoots Chakra through the skin and bone and into the brain, and waits until she feels a little bit of feedback from her Chakra bursts, telling her that the synapses are firing and the section of the brain is working once more."
Hinata looked at Sakura, who smiled back at her confidently. Then, she looked over her shoulder at Neji, who had one hand on her right shoulder. He was watching with interest…with hope. He glanced down at her, and gave her a small smile. "Don't worry." He murmured.
Hinata did her best to do as he said, and not to worry…but even though Tsunade was the greatest healer in all of the Ninja Villages, she did worry. Would Naruto be the same, would he be the same energetic and slightly annoying boy she'd always known?
Suddenly, Kiba came back in the room. "Whoah." He said. "Looks like I got here just in time." He said, and nodded at Sakura and Shizune. He walked over to Hinata's side, squeezing in between her and Sakura.
"So she's waking him up?" He asked. Hinata nodded, as Tsunade continued her process. Kiba fidgeted. "What's she doing?" He whispered. Hinata almost giggled. Kiba just couldn't stay still or quiet when something was happening.
Hinata whispered what Shizune had told them, and Kiba nodded dutifully…as if he actually understood everything she said. She knew for a fact he couldn't. He just wasn't that bright sometimes…a little like Naruto.
Suddenly, Tsunade sighed. "There." She stepped back, and ran a hand over her forehead. "All the segments of his brain are activated back to their full potential. He should be coming around soon." She said, and Hinata bit her lip.
"Do you think…?" She started to ask, but trailed off. Neji knew what was on her mind, as always.
"Do you think Naruto will have any brain damage?" Neji asked Tsunade. Tsunade pursed her lips, and then a playful smile appeared on her face.
"You mean will he be any more idiotic than he already is? No. He's fine…trust me." Tsunade laughed.
"You're so mean, baa-chan." A raspy voice groaned.
A vein throbbed on Tsunade's forehead. "I just brought you back, and you're calling me mean, Gaki?" She asked, turning to the newly-awakened Naruto. He was slowly sitting up, and his eyes were still closed. He looked so tired that he wasn't able to open his eyes.
Hinata bit her lip, as the sudden urge to cry came over her. He was okay! He was alive, and he didn't suffer any adverse side-effects to his being in a coma! Suddenly, Naruto sniffed the air. He sniffed again, his eyes were still closed, and he frowned. "What smells like wet dog?"
Kiba immediately exploded. "What? I sit through the most boring vigil in the history of the earth, and the first thing you say about me is I smell like wet dog!?" He roared, and sprang at Naruto. Before he could land on Naruto, Tsunade grabbed him by the scruff of his tunic, and yanked him out from the air. He fell onto the hard tile floor of the hospital with a yelp of pain.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes, and his eyes were blurry. He winced. "Man…those lights are bright." He murmured. He threw aside the covers that were over him, and shook his head. "I hate how bright hospital lights are when you first wake up." Naruto continued to grumble.
Then, he froze. His eyes were locked straight ahead, on Hinata. His heart leapt up into his throat. He had been so…confused. The first thing he remembered when he came around was Itachi killing Hinata, and it was the reason he had refused to open his eyes. He had been battling back tears. He had thought it was real…it had been so real. His lip trembled, and he whispered, "Hinata…"
Hinata stepped forward, her heart racing. She could read into his expression. Disbelief, surprise, relief…and joy. "You're okay…" He whispered, and he closed his eyes. "You're okay…you're alive." He murmured, and balled up his fists and bent his head down and put his eyes against his fists.
"She's alive. Why wouldn't she be?" Kiba asked, picking himself up off the floor and dusting himself off.
Neji spoke softly, just loud enough for everyone to hear him. "When Itachi used the Mangekyou Sharingan, the Tsukiyomi, he showed Naruto an image of him killing Hinata. Apparently, he stopped and went on to images of killing Naruto, but the damage was enough. Naruto must have remembered the scene, and thought it really happened."
Tsunade walked up to Naruto, and pulled him into a hug. "It's okay. She's fine…she's been waiting for you, and she's been at your side the whole time you've been comatose." She murmured. Hinata felt her heart almost break. He had thought she had died?
Naruto looked up, and he locked his eyes on Hinata. "I'm glad you're okay…Hinata-chan." He said, and Hinata gave him a soft smile. She would make him feel better. She would replace that horrible memory with a new one…a marvelous one. She stepped to the left side of his bed, so she didn't crowd Tsunade.
Hinata flushed slightly from anxiousness, and smiled at him. His blue eyes shone with his sincerity, and she saw him looking puzzled slightly. "I'm glad you're okay, Naruto-kun. You had me worried." She whispered. He looked suddenly guilty.
"I'm sorry." He apologized, and Hinata shook her head.
"You don't need to apologize." She reassured him. Then, she leaned close to him. Her face flushed a light red as she leaned in close to him, and his eyes widened. Her heart pounded in her ears, and it sped up incredibly fast. Naruto's heart monitor betrayed his racing heart as well, and then she did it.
Her lips touched his, as she closed her eyes, and the warmth of his lips sent a tingle through her body. It was a close-mouthed, chaste kiss…but still her first kiss. She pulled back, and opened her eyes. Her head was spinning, and she used her grip on his bed to keep herself standing. She saw Naruto open his eyes as well, and he blinked slowly.
"Wow." He whispered, and Hinata allowed herself to smiled. That's exactly how she felt.
Sakura and Shizune giggled, and Kiba coughed and looked away. Tsunade smiled and Neji smirked, while Hinata blushed a deep red. "About time." Neji laughed softly.
Naruto turned and glared at the Hyuuga. "Well, the first time I didn't get to, because of you." He snapped, and Neji grinned.
"Would you have rather been killed by Hiashi?" Neji asked, obviously amused.
Naruto shrugged. "It definitely would have been worth the kiss." He grinned mischievously and looked at Hinata.
"I-I d-definitely would agree." Hinata stammered, and Naruto swung his legs off the side of the bed and stood…now directly next to Hinata. He faced her, and Hinata faced him…and he hugged her. She stiffened in surprise, but at the warm contact of their bodies melding together, and his firm grasp on her…she relaxed. He nuzzled his face slightly into her neck, and she felt him take a deep breath in through his nose.
He whispered three words, three words that would forever represent heaven on earth for her. "I love you."
Hinata smiled, and knew exactly what would happen next. So, she whispered back, "I love you, too. I always have." Then, she fainted in his arms.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
SOMEWHERE IN RAIN COUNTRY
In a large cavern, hidden and guarded well by barriers, it was almost pitch black. The only spot that wasn't, was in the middle, where a large circle on the floor was illuminated by a small lamp stand full of fire. It cast the middle of the circle into light, and the fringes of the circle were just barely illuminated. There were black holes on the edge of the circle, making it look like a Sharingan with too many tomoes.
Two figures strode from the shadows and into the light, one walking to a circle and the other walking next to the fiery lamp stand. His auburn hair shone slightly in the light, as the figure stopped beside the lamp. The blue-haired female, who wore a flower on top of her hair, stopped on one black circle.
The man next to the lamp stand could not be seen very clearly, due to the Akatsuki robe he wore, and then the shadows cast down on his face from his hair blocking the fire's light above his head. The female hid the bottom half of her face in the robe collar, but her blue eyes and soft blue skin were all that could be seen of her.
The man raised his right hand into half of the sign of the Ram, and closed his eyes. He spoke one word, and his deep voice echoed throughout the heavily shadowed area. "Assemble."
The man lowered his hand and opened his eyes, to reveal grey pupils with several rings in them. All around him, on the black circles, shapes hummed into existence. The man in the center spoke as he acknowledged them, as if he were calling Role Call. His deep voice was calm, but rang with authority as he spoke their names.
"Sasori. Deidara." He acknowledged these two first as their shapes appeared. They each inclined their head to their leader, and stood still as he continued.
"Kakuzu, Hidan." He said, as they hummed into existence. The poorly formed shapes bowed, and then waited for him to continue.
"Zetsu…" The Leader acknowledged, as the large shape appeared. It bowed, and made a strange cackling noise, but then remained silent like the others.
"Itachi and Kisame…" Leader said, but their forms did not appear. He frowned, and waited for a moment. When they failed to appear, he closed his eyes.
"It appears Itachi and Kisame are otherwise occupied." Leader said.
"Pein." The woman with the blue hair said, and Pein turned his head so his eyes met hers. She didn't flinch from his gaze, but met it boldly. Her soft voice seemed so contrary to the dark, oppressive atmosphere. "You should use that technique to see if they're alive…or if they've fallen." She suggested.
"Thank you, Konan." Pein said, and nodded. "Very well." He bowed his head, and went through a few hand seals. A strange red glow emanated from his body, but then, it cut off just as soon as it happened. "I see." He muttered.
"What is it, Leader-sama?" Deidara asked, his lone eyes looking expectantly at Pein.
Pein locked gazes with Deidara, and spoke slowly. "It appears that…Itachi and Kisame are no longer alive." Pein said. His deep voice was without emotion, but it had a staggering effect on the rest of them.
"What?" Sasori growled.
"How can that be possible? Itachi and Kisame were our strongest duo!" Deidara yelled.
"Not as strong as me." Hidan cackled, while Kakuzu stayed silent.
"I would not believe it…except their rings are on their bodies, but are not registering any life signs." Pein said. "They are both dead, whether by the hands of the Nine-tails Jinchuriki or by the hands of other ninja…we do not know. I will do my best to find the truth of this matter…" Pein said.
"Hah, Kisame told me his Jinchuriki was a little kid, one whose power was worthless. There is no way the nine-tails Jinchuriki could have killed them!" Hidan crowed.
"Silence." Pein said softly, but the response was immediate. There was no sound, save for the crackling of the fire in the lamp.
"I will find out whether or not Itachi and Kisame are indeed dead…and that's the end of that matter. We need to move to another topic." Pein said. Everyone nodded, and then Pein glared around. "It's time to move fast. We need to find all Jinchuriki…soon. Find your Jinchuriki quickly, capture them, and we will imprison them. I will not tolerate any mistakes or failures…is that clear?" Pein asked.
Everyone answered at the same time. "Yes, Leader-sama."
Pein nodded, and then raised his right hand. "Now go. Report back every few days…and I will call a meeting once I've found out the fates of Itachi and Kisame." He said, and everyone bowed. Then…the shimmering shapes of the five Akatsuki blurred away, while Pein and Konan remained. Pein wordlessly extended his right hand, and Konan walked to his side instantly. She laced the fingers of her left hand with the fingers of his right hand, and they wordlessly walked away. It was clear enough, without words, that they needed to find the truth behind Kisame and Itachi's fate.
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I know, I know, I know! It's a SHORT chappy! I'm sorry! Geeze. Lol. Please, just relax. The next chapter will be good! (I hope.)
Now…I command that you review this chapter! *raises plastic wand that makes magical sound effects* NOW GO! ;)
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