Hinata's time began to run out: She could only hold her breath for so long. She clenched onto Gaara, shaking him.
Gaara! Gaara, please, wake up!!!
Hinata stared sadly at his unconscious form, his dark eyes tight shut.
…The same eyes of the person that saved you so many times…The person everyone cast down for being a demon, yet showed the most affection when you needed it most…
Hinata thought for a second: It was risky, but she had to try. She focused her mind on Gaara, focusing, trying to tap into his mind, her breath still slowly running out.
…Demon…Can you hear me…?
She was replied with silence.
…Please…I--If you can hear me…You have to save Gaara…He is your master…You have to save him!!!
Suddenly, Hinata was shrouded in darkness. She opened her eyes, and raised her hands. Hinata could breathe: She wasn't underwater anymore! Suddenly, she looked down: Gaara was gone! She was just surrounded by darkness, and then a voice sounded out from the abyss:
…Why have you called upon me, girl…?
Hinata realized where she was: She was in the cage of the Shukaku, somewhere deep inside Gaara. She looked around, and then replied:
…Gaara is in trouble…He's sinking to the bottom of the ocean: He's drowning! Can't you use your power to save him?!
…I can't do that.
Hinata stared out into the darkness, agitated.
WHY?!?!
…Sand has no use under the surface of the water…It will just erode away. I can do nothing to save Gaara or myself.
Hinata slammed down on the pitch-black ground below her, sending a sudden poof of sand around her hand.
…PLEASE! Gaara is your master, you horrible monster! You have to do something--AGH!!!!
Suddenly, a massive, clawed arm shot out from the shadows, snatching up Hinata in its animal-like grasp. The head and neck of the Shukaku shot out from the darkness, glaring at her.
DON'T IMPUNE MY HONOR, YOU WRETCHED GIRL! I CAN'T DO ANYTHING!!!
The Shukaku threw Hinata aside, slamming her into the invisible surface. She rolled to the side, stopping herself with her hands. Hinata pushed herself to her feet, and spat a small amount of blood arrogantly to the side.
The Shukaku glared at her with bright, yellow eyes.
…Get out.
The next thing Hinata knew, she was back in her body, holding Gaara close to her as they sank into the watery abyss. Hinata looked up at the surface, and tried to swim: She had no energy after the mind attack. She looked down at Gaara's pale face, and then stared up at the light from the surface as the darkness consumed her.
"…I'm…Sorry…"
……………………………….
Naruto gasped: The bubbles had stopped. He shot up his demon eyes back at Kisame.
"…You bastard…"
Sakura stared down at the water in horror. She turned on her heels, ready to plunge into the cold water after her friends. An arm shot out at her, grasping her arm, holding her above the surface. She looked up to meet Sasuke's eyes.
"…They're gone."
Sakura stared disbelievingly, and then turned to the Akatsuki who stood, smiling.
"Heh…I guess you never knew the true meaning of sacrifice…" Kisame sneered. "In life, there are choices to be made…And people must be sacrificed in the process."
Sakura glared angrily at him, her fists clenched with fury. She turned and ran at the Akatsuki, drawing out a kunai from a pouch.
"You monster--I'll kill you!!"
Sakura launched the kunai-equipped hand at Kisame, only to be blocked by his massive sword. Sakura smiled, and thrust her free fist across Kisame's face, sending him stumbling back. The pink-haired kunoichi stared at him, her face infuriated, tears forming in her eyes.
"You killed my two best friends…You killed their future…Now, I'll kill you!!!"
Sakura turned to the two ninja behind her.
"Naruto…Sasuke…Back me up!"
They both stared at her for a second, surprised by her sudden valor: They both nodded.
Sakura took two kunai into her hands and launched full force at the Akatsuki, who got his sword at the ready. Kisame raised his blade into the air, and then slammed it into the water, sending the water thrusting forward at the kunoichi. Sakura jumped into the air, letting the wave pass under her, and launched the kunai at the shark ninja. He crossed his sword in front of his body, the kunai bouncing off of it and into the water. Kisame pointed his sword at the pink-haired kunoichi.
"…You…You and your friends…You're all fools. As long as I have Samehada, I can't be defeated."
Kisame raised his sword and, swinging it like a bat, sent a jet of water streaming at the girl. Sakura put up her arms in a defensive position, waiting for the impact.
"Sakura, look out!!"
Naruto jumped in front of her, tilted his head back, and when he put his face forward, a supersonic roar emitted from his throat, sending the water stream cascading in different directions. Naruto got down on his clawed hands, running like an animal across the water at the Akatsuki, Sasuke following close behind. Kisame armed himself once again, waiting for the impact of the ninja against the Samehada. Naruto lunged at the Akatsuki, his teeth bared, when Kisame swung his sword at him.
THUNK.
Sasuke and Sakura both stared.
Kisame stared at the ninja, whose fangs had caught the Samehada in its mouth. Naruto's canines bored deep into the scaly blade, his red eyes mad with fury. Kisame smiled as the sword began to glow with the aura of chakra.
"You might want to let go…The Samehada is stealing your chakra as we speak…"
Naruto winced, removing his fangs from the sword and jumping back. Kisame examined the Samehada as the two deep puncture wounds refilled themselves. He turned to the three ninja and smiled evilly.
"Is it just me…Or is this fight going a little slow…?"
(I CAN'T THINK!!! WRITER'S BLOCK!!! ARGH!!! OO)
……………………………….
The Hyuuga woke with a start.
W--What the…?!
She bolted upright, hacking up water. Hinata looked around: She was in the forest again, near the cliff to the sea. Hinata looked down at her soaking clothes, and then to the trail of wet sand leading away from her.
GAARA!!!
Hinata stood up, running along the trail of sand, until she came to a figure no more than a damp heap on the ground. Hinata gasped, her eyes wide.
…No…
The raven-haired girl ran to the Sand ninja's side, rolling him onto his back. The red-haired Sand ninja resembled a human made of damp sand, unable to move. Hinata had seen this before when Gaara was attacked by the ninja from the Takumi village (Episode 218, bitches!!! X.x).
…I have to act fast…
Quickly, Hinata drew her chakra to her hands.
…I-I've never done this before, but I have to try…
The Hyuuga placed her glowing hands over Gaara's chest, focusing hard at her efforts to heal him. Her eyes were tight shut, her focus straight at the boy before her.
…Come on…Work…
Suddenly, she heard a gasp of air come from the figure before her. Hinata sighed with relief, then moved her hands up to Gaara's face. His aquamarine eyes opened slowly, staring up at the Hyuuga.
"…Hinata…?"
Hinata smiled, her white eyes welling up with tears of happiness.
"I--It's going to be okay, Gaara…I'm here…"
Gaara nodded slowly, and closed his eyes again. Hinata smiled: It made her happy to finally see him rest…
Then she heard it:
AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
Hinata turned, wide-eyed, to the cliff. The shout had been from Naruto: And it was a cry of anguish. She turned to Gaara: Could she leave him there to help? Hinata bent over, placing a soft kiss on Gaara's cheek.
"I'll be back…"
……………………………….
The Samehada lay in pieces on the surface of the water.
Kisame was curled up on the surface of the water, his face a mixture of pain and shock.
Naruto lay unconscious nearby, his two canine teeth shattered, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth.
Sasuke walked across the water to the fallen Akatsuki, a kunai knife in hand. Kisame shot his shark-like eyes up at the Uchiha.
"H--How?! How could this happen?!"
Sasuke smirked, his fist tightening on the kunai.
"You said the fight was going to slow…Naruto just ended it…Along with your life…"
And with that, there was a flash of metal, a scream, and a splatter of blood along the surface of the water.
Sasuke turned to Sakura, his hand covered with the shark's blood.
(NOTE: THEY'RE COMING OUT WITH A VEGGIETALES: PIRATES WHO DON'T DO ANYTHING MOVIE!!!!!!! WAII!!!!!!! )
"…Can you heal Naruto?"
Sakura looked down at the ninja on the ground.
"Of course, Sasuke…Let's get him up to--!"
"Sakura! Sasuke!"
The two ninja turned to see the Hyuuga running toward them, her clothes soaked.
"HINATA!" Sakura shouted, running to her friend.
Hinata stopped as Sakura ran up to her.
"Hinata, what happened?! Where's Gaara?"
Hinata smiled softly.
"He's up on the cliff…I'm not exactly sure what happened…I just woke up over there…"
Sasuke nodded.
"Maybe the demon in him saved the both of you."
Hinata smiled.
…Thank you…
A dark voice echoed through her mind.
Shut up.
