Haku pulled the presumably dead Zabuza's arm around his neck, and, with a single hand sign, said, "Thank you again for your help. Now, if you'll excuse me."
In a swirl of leaves, him and Zabuza was gone.
Panting, Naruto dashed up to where Haku and Zabuza were just at, feet squishing in the water drenched ground.
"Kasu! Kasu! Kasu! Damn it!" He punched the ground with each word, frustrated and enraged.
"Naruto, it's over. Let it go." Kakashi looked at exactly the same spot where Haku had spirited their opponent just seconds ago. With a shift of his hitai-ite, he covered his Sharigan. He rested his hand on Naruto's shoulder, but he shrugged it off. Standing up, he pointed at Kakashi, emotion and confusion cracking his normal jubilant voice.
"No, Kakashi-sensei! How can a kid who's as young as we are be so merciless, so brutal! What have we been doing so wrong where he can take out someone who was stronger then all of us with so little effort? Why? How? Damn it! Where did he grow up to be so…empty?"
"Naruto-kun," Hinata was there next to him, her hand on his sleeve.
He started to shrug it away, but he didn't have the strength to.
Why did he keep looking up at her eyes…why did they seem like they knew what he was feeling, what he was not explaining in a way to make other's understand, but meant to say. How could they also show so much pain, but also offer so much comfort…How? Why? Why would she be there to offer her time? What did she have to gain by offering such a soft frown of empathy?
The fingers of her free hand curled around his other sleeve, eventually taking both of his hands into hers…like he did when she talked about her mother's passing; sharing in pain like before, wanting to be touched in that very basic connection.
Lowering his head, he felt her own head rest against his in a childish, but endearing touch. She didn't say anything, but just watched him close his eyes and breathe, deeply at first and expelling the air in a rush. After a few times, he opened his eyes and noticed that she still looked concerned.
His smile returned, though it didn't have its normal brilliance.
"Thank you, Hinata-chan. I feel much better."
Her eyes crinkled happily, "If I can, I will always be there for you, Naruto-kun."
"Eh," he tilted his head curiously at her, "You would?"
She looked away, her lip between her teeth. With a dainty shrug of her shoulders, she nodded yes.
Reaching out and taking off a leaf that had fallen and landed on the side of her head, he asked in an unusually soft voice, "Why would you do that, Hinata-chan?"
Misunderstanding the reason he reached out for her, she leaned her head against his hand, tracing his fingers with her own to touch her more, she answered, "B-Because, y-you would be th-there for me, ne?"
Lips parted at the warm comprehension of her wanting to touch him, he blushed. She not only ensured him with just so simple of a gesture, but encouraged him with her large welcoming eyes and soft tinted cheeks. Naruto saw in her what he saw when she was chasing after him about the bun he was eating off the ground...
"You're beautiful, Hinata-chan."
Kakashi loomed over them both, his one visible eye turned up jovially. "If you two can keep your hands to yourselves for a moment, I think we need to see about getting as far away from here as quickly as possible. We're not exactly sure we're safe."
"Eeep!"
"Gah!"
The two young teens flinched away from each other.
"I don't know what you're talking about, sensei!" Naruto blurted, cheeks tinted.
"I'll do my best!" Hinata's automatic response not only came out louder then Naruto's...but also with more conviction then she had intended...and with WAY to much honesty.
When her eyes shot open at the reality of what she said, she noticed, as the world started to get dark around her vision, Sasuke and Sakura were both looked pointedly at her.
They heard her.
PLOP!
"Oi! Hinata!" Naruto scooped her up, but was a little taken aback when he heard her mumble dreamily, "Na-Naruto-kun..."
Kakashi snickered with an all so knowing smile. "Well, this should definitely make an interesting report to the Hokage when we get back. Now then," he turned his attention to Sakura helping Sasuke. His side still seemed tender with the way he winced, one eye closed and teeth gritting. "Do you think you'll be okay to keep walking, Sasuke?"
"I'll be...okay with...just a little help." Sasuke looked over at Sakura, and didn't see some kind of explosive fan girl reaction, but only that she wanted to help him. She looked truly concerned, but could not suppress a slight blush at him allowing her to help him.
Naruto had Hinata positioned on his back with his hands behind her legs and her arms around his shoulders. Her cheek pressed against his in an odd, squished expression. "Yosh, I'm ready, sensei."
"Good, now, how far is it till we reach your home, Tazuna-san?" He shift his pack to a more comfortable position.
Tazuna adjusted his hat and took a quick survey around, "I'd say about five, five and a half miles from here."
"Hmm, good. Well, then, lets get start-"
Kakashi went to take a step, but quickly fell face forward into the ground, moaning.
"Kaka-sensei!" Sakura called out, removing Sasuke's arm from around her neck, she rushed over to him.
Naruto was there too, kneeling with Hinata still on his back. "Sensei, what happened?"
Kakashi grunted, "Well...this...isn't embarrassing...at...all...like the...time...Anko...arrived...with only...a trench coat...to my...room."
"What happened, sensei?" Sasuke, still holding his side, winced when he knelt down.
"Chakra...exhaustion. I can't...use the Sharigan that...long. When I do...uuuuh..."
Kakashi fainted.
"What do we do?" Sakura looked at everyone, not exactly sure of their situation.
"We could make camp here," Naruto suggested, looking at the water and the thick brush on either side.
"That would be a bad idea," Tazuna shook his head. "We are very close to my village and Gato's men come out at night looking for trouble and easy prey. The only place you'll be safe is inside my house."
"We're not easy prey," Naruto grumbled defiantly.
"Dobe, most of us are injured and our sensei is out for the count for who knows how long." Sasuke announced with another wince.
"Can you carry him, Tazuna-san?" Sakura suggested.
He shook his head. "Maybe for a block or more, but not for five miles."
A clomp of hooves got their attention. Coming up the road, a chestnut gelding with a robed figure approached carefully.
"Greetings," the rider called out in with a melodic female voice. "I couldn't help but notice you seem to need some assistance."
Everyone turned to their new arrival, remembering what Hinata had said about a weird person on a horse on fire.
While the horse was not on fire and the girl riding it did have bandages over her eyes, she did not seem at all that hostile...but definitely weird.
"How can you tell? Your eyes are covered." Sakura was quick to point out.
The girl reached up and removed her cowl from her head, letting her long purple and pink variated hair get caught in the wind. Pushing her fingers under the bandages with her eyes closed, she tucked it high over her head and tied it snug just at her brow like a head band, keeping her hair out of her face.
When she opened her eyes, everyone who was conscious, noticed that one eye was a dark violet and the other was blue...and they lacked pupils like Hinata's.
"I can't see very far, but I am not hindered by the bandages. Some people think my appearance is ...unsettling, so I wear this for their comfort, not mine."
There was something oddly entrancing about the girl they were staring at now, something knowingly dangerous, but inviting...It was that feeling one got when looking at a very active lightening storm, enthralled by it's electric beauty, but only to be startled into reality of how unsafe it is when a tree gets torn asunder by a lightening strike.
She reached her hand out to Tazuna, who walked up, and helped her off the medium sized gelding. "Thank you, sir."
Without permission, she had her fingers of her right hand pressed tight and palm out, and approached Kakashi. She was about to do something when Naruto's hand snapped over hers with a loud slap.
"Just what do you think you're going to do to my sensei," He growled, thick fingers pulling her hand away with a little bit of pain to enforce his question. Hinata was still on his back, out like a light.
"Ow," she turned her eyes to him, her temper held as tight as the grip on her arm. "What a strong grip you have. It will be a shame for you to loose it when your arm falls off at the elbow."
"He's right," Sasuke said, kunai appearing in his hand as well as Sakura's. "We just survived a very exhausting battle. You show up right afterwords is somewhat suspicious. Would you mind telling us who you are as well as what you planned on doing to our sensei?"
She nodded, but still kept her eyes locked coolly at Naruto. "My name is Shade Caro and I am a scientist that is researching different forms of spiritual energy. I happen to come from a country far away from here, called Qualin'Tor. It's well outside of your Shinobi Nations. Before I was stopped, I was just going to do a quick diagnostic on your Master."
They all looked at her with suspicious eyes. It was Sakura who stood up and challenged her. "I've never heard of Qualin'Tor."
"If she says she's never heard of Qualin'Tor, then there is a problem with your story." Sasuke muttered, gripping the kunai with both hands.
"Why is that?" Shade asked lightly.
"Because Sakura knows everything." Naruto answered, but not exactly in a way that was complimentary.
She shot him a silencing scowl.
Shade turned her gaze to Naruto, her eyes started glowing with growing frustration. "If I wanted to harm him, I could have done so and there would have been nothing any of you could have done to stop me."
Snap! Snap! Snap! SNAP!
The tree behind her had limbs as thick as their legs ripped off the trunk by some unknown cause, spinning in the air with splinters and leaves falling all around it...With the fourth SNAP, the tree's trunk torqued itself at it's thickest middle, coming to a leaf and limb cushioning rest on its side deeper into the forest.
"Let. Go. Of. My. Hand." She hissed at Naruto.
He did, but not so much because he feared her. She had made a point and he believed that she was indeed telling the truth. Whatever power she held, she would definitely be able to hurt them and there would have been precious little any of them could have done to stop her.
"Amazing," Sasuke breathed, eyes showing a good bit of awe.
Sakura just stood rooted, unsure how to react to such raw power. She had never witnessed anything like that. Shade didn't use any hand signs or muttered any words.
"Since it seems my help is not needed here, I'll be on my way." She huffed, tossing her hair out of her face. Marching up to her horse, she gripped the mane to get back on and leave them to their fate.
"Matte, Nee-chan," Naruto called out warily.
She turned her head, her frown deepening. "What did you call me?"
"It means 'sister'," Tanzuna answered.
She blinked at Naruto, her lips tightening.
"Gomen, Shade Nee-chan...you're right. We're all just a little on edge and, well, we were told a group of weird people were hanging around before the fight. As you can see, we do have a lot of injured and we do need help. I'm just...protective of my friends...and my sensei." He looked down apologetically. "If you can help us, I would be very thankful. Please."
He bowed his head, careful as to not wake Hinata while doing so.
Shade took her time considering this, but eventually relented. "Alright, I'll help since you apologized and asked so nicely."
She focused purple energy to her hand, then started touching places along Kakashi's head, neck, and then torso as she did a quick scan over him. "He's got a few bruised organs, bones that are close to fracturing at the fibers along his lower rib cage, and his heart rate is thready. His skin is clammy and cool, and his lips are turning slightly blue, as are his fingernails. He's extremely dehydrated and in shock. We need to get him to someplace warm and quick."
Shade roughly took Kakashi's pack off his shoulders, and without reservation, she unzipped his vest, and then started to undo his belt.
"Whoa! Whoa! Wait a minute! What the hell do you-" Sakura roared, scandalized as such blatant unladylike actions.
"If you know everything," Shade snapped, unzipping Kakashi's pants just to loosen them, and then moved to taking off his sandals, "You'd know that his blood circulation is being hindered, thus the clammy skin, blue lips, and shallow breathing. I'm removing any restrictions, as you can plainly see. Now," She removed her cloak and covered him with it, showing the plain burgundy robe with satchel she had on underneath. "Since I don't know my way around here, I need to know who does."
Tazuna raised his hand. "I do."
"Have you ever ridden a horse?"
"When I was younger, yes. But, that was a good ten years-"
"You'll have to remember quickly. You're rushing him home. When you get there-" Shade was counting off a list of things he needed to do, including giving him some smelling salts to try and get some fluids in him.
With a group effort, Tazuna and Kakashi were hoisted onto the horse, much to the geldings displeasure. It seemed to give Shade one look that curiously looked hostile, but took off with a quick trot, Tazuna holding Hatake Kakashi, and leaving a trail of swear words that were best left unmentioned.
The Leaf gennin took in their new guest warily. She in turn did not seem all that bothered by it. Standing tall, eyes reflecting a strong sense of pride and self, she said quietly, "Well then, since it's obvious my help has been received, there is no longer a need for me. I'll walk by myself from here on out."
She turned her head away from them, hair rippling with her steps.
"Matte, Shade, nee-chan...we're sorry, we just have never seen anyone so...well...cool," Naruto caught up to her, Hinata bouncing off his shoulder with his steps. Nuzzling her head comfortably against his shoulder, she unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck, murmuring sleepily, "Naruto-kun...you smell nice."
Shade turned to him, curious as to how he was going to respond to the girl on his back.
"Ano...that's Hinata-chan. I'm Naruto." he offered her a slight bow. "That's teme-Sasuke, and she's Sakura."
"Sasuke will do," he grouched, eye twitching at Naruto's less then formal introduction.
Sakura slipped her hands behind her back, giving Shade a cheery smile. "It's nice to meet you,"
Shade placed her hand over her heart, closed her eyes, and bowed her head slightly. "It is my pleasure to meet you as well."
Everyone started to walk down the path Tazuna had rushed off to, his figure becoming more and more distant as he clambered closer to his village.
No one said anything for a while, just the sound of their footsteps eventually making pace to the person next to them.
"How did you do that back there?" Sasuke asked, his arm finding its way back over Sakura's shoulder.
"I could ask you the same thing. How did you spout fire," she jerked her chin to Naruto," he create living copies of himself, your master read another person's mind, create water that came to life, Naruto transform into each one of you, and how did you all know where I was. I was well hidden."
Each gennin turned to the other, unsure whether or not to answer.
"So you saw everything, hmm?" Sakura inquired curiously.
"I saw enough to know I'm not the only one who's not normal." Shade answered evasively.
"I think we should wait till our sensei is awake before we answer," Sasuke decided cautiously.
Shade quirked one eyebrow at them, mentioning suggestively, "Come now, this isn't a game of you show me yours and I'll show you mine. There's no need to be shy."
Sakura fell over her feet, taking Sasuke with her.
"Gah!"
Naruto tilted his head at them, then at her, clueless to the meaning of the 'game.' "Huh?"
Shade covered her mouth with her fingers, giggling behind them. Maintaining an air of innocence, she continued to walk forward on her own, sashaying her hips as her attempt to restrain her giggles continued to grown into a mirthful laugh.
"Sakura," Sasuke growled, putting a hand to his bleeding nose,"watch it!"
"Gomen, Sasuke-kun...I...tripped." She was already digging into her pouch, looking for gauze.
"Hn," he grumped, rubbing his nose. They fell behind, but Naruto quickened his pace, eventually catching up to Shade.
"What did you mean by that back there?" Naruto inquired wide eyed and clueless.
Shade turned around till she was in front of him, walking backwards. She wasn't really looking at him, but at the girl he carried so willingly on his back. Hinata, though unconscious, seemed alright with the world. Her fingers curled in his jacket, her cheek rested on his left shoulder, and every now and then she murmured off," Naruto-kun..."
Her eyes lit with mischief when she realized the only person who was paying her any attention at the time was Naruto. Everyone else was occupied one way or the other.
"Oh, I'm sure if you ask your girlfriend, she might know. If you have any doubts, tell me. I'll be more then happy to teach you anything."
Naruto wasn't sure, but the way she said that word and punctuated it with a slow, suggestive lick of her candy pink lips brought a warmth to his cheeks that he was not exactly familiar with. Also, the way she suggested that Hinata was his girlfriend made him blush.
"Hinata-chan's not my girlfriend...I mean...I don't think...is she?"
Shade's eyes lidded almost closed, her breathing deepened just enough to exhale a sultry sigh. Lips parted, she stopped, making Naruto bump right into her...he had no reason to realize it before, but the fabric of her robe did precious little to hide the softness of her nicely developed breasts pressing against his jumpsuit top.
Their faces so close to each other. Whatever thoughts he had of Hinata at that moment were quickly derailed by Shade's intoxicating presence.
"Shade, nee-chan..."
He couldn't move.
Her scent sucked his will from him, making whatever he was thinking or wanted fly out of his mind. He briefly remembered Hinata saying something about how he smelled nice and the smile that seemed automatic after words. Was this what she meant? Was this how she felt when she inhaled his scent? Was it suppose to be this debilitating, this alluring...Was he suppose to be this helpless, and thankful for it? He felt like every sense he had as a ninja, as a boy growing into a man was on fire and there was nothing he could do to tamper it down.
Shade caught Naruto's eyes linger on her teeth dragging across the top of her moist bottom lip.
This will be so easy, she thought.
"Do you want to kiss me, My Lord Naruto?" Her eyes look from one spot of his face to another; his eyes, his chin, his lips.
"Ahh..." No comprehensible sound came out of his mouth. She caught that guilty look in his blue eyes without trying.
"You're very handsome young man, my Lord Naruto." she whispered loud enough for him to hear, leaning impossibly closer. Nose to nose she looked him dead in the eye with her mismatched hypnotic gaze. "If you ever want to kiss me, you don't have to ask." She brushed her lips across his, feeling his quivering pant just under her neck,"If you want to touch me, I'll let you." She arched her back, slowly massaging her breasts against him, "If you want me for any reason, I'll be there...for...you..."
Naruto's skin warmed so much, Hinata started to shift uncomfortably. She made a small noise of compliant, eventually opening her eyes.
"Nee-chan?" Naruto's voice broke uncomfortably, fearfully.
"All you have to do," she brushed the back of her fingers across his cheek,"...is say, I need you, Shade," she closed her eyes, noticing his eyes involuntarily close as well. Their lips both parted,"...I need you..."
Naruto was jerked back with a strangled "Urk!"
Hinata not only jumped back, but pulled Naruto away from Shade with all her might...this included nearly choking him with his own collar.
"You!" Hinata's Byakugan flared to life, veins popping out of the side of her face menacingly. Her hands were positioned readily to take the girl down.
Shade's hands that were once cupping Naruto's face clenched tightly, as if annoyed at her plan being diverted, but calmed visibly. She returned Hinata's furious stare with a mild one of her own.
"I don't believe we've been formally introduced." Shade intoned coolly.
"Matte, Hinata-chan." Naruto was pulling at his collar, trying to loosen it a bit. After a few coughs, he spat to the side and got between Shade and his friend.
"Naruto-kun, that's the girl I saw that was hiding with Hunter nin, and the horse that was on fire! She's also got that weird energy that I was tell you about! She's dangerous!"
Shade chuckled, biting the tip of her finger with amusement. "Oh, I do like her. She knows what she's talking about. Hinata-chan, is it?"
"Hinata-chan, it's okay," Naruto had his hands up, trying to placate her.
Hinata would not stand for it, though. She gripped Naruto's jacket around his middle and pulled him closer towards Sakura and Sasuke.
Shade rested one hand on her cocked hip, the other with a knuckle just over her smiling lips.
"What did we miss, Hinata?" Sakura asked curiously. She was patting a handkerchief over Sasuke's nose when she heard Hinata's outburst. Sakura never saw the Hyuga girl look so defensive.
"She's dangerous and she almost...well...kissed...I mean..." She buried her mouth against the back of Naruto's shoulder.
Sasuke and Sakura instantly realized what was wrong and why she was so protective. Naruto, on the other hand, blinked over his shoulder at her as if she just said ramen was about to fall out of the sky.
"She did?" He blinked questionably.
"Yes...well...I...stopped...didn't you see?" Hinata made a small noise against his back, unsure how she could explain her current hostile position for Shade.
"Did you?" Naruto turned to Shade, which she offered a coy shrug.
"Yes," She replied with conviction, not at all afraid of her actions. She smoothed her sleeves, then her robe at her shapely hips. Even Sakura had to nudge Sasuke from staring so blatantly. With a challenging smile, Shade gestured a delicate hand to Hinata, "I didn't do anything wrong, did I? Cross onto claimed territory?"
Hinata bit her lip, but said nothing.
"Where I come from, it is considered a very strong compliment to tell someone they're attractive. It's also a pure lack of courage to not tell that someone, or show them, that you are interested." Shade placed both hands on her hips, eyes challenging Hinata. "Would it be safe to assume that the reason you don't wish me to show Naruto this is because you have such feelings for him as well?"
Hinata blushed demurely, looking off to Sakura and Sasuke for help.
They were still lost in the dark about everything, only that Hinata did not trust her.
"Hinata-chan?" Naruto's voice vibrated through his jumpsuit top, looking at her expectantly, hopefully.
She glanced at him, and for all she was worth knew he was waiting for some kind of answer. She needed more time, more courage, more security to tell him, to let him know...she just wasn't ready. She couldn't...
Hinata shook her head, not even enough to move a lock of hair that fell over her eyes.
And there it was...that defeated look in his eyes like she hurt him, wounded him...crushed him...
"I-I'm...we ar-are just...friends." Hinata was able to get out past her lips, with barely a whisper.
Shade had not missed both of their tormented expressions.
"Well then," She slid next to Naruto, rubbing her shoulder against his with a pretty smile,"would you mind keeping me company? I would really enjoy it."
"Sure, Shade nee-chan," Naruto looked over at Hinata one more time, seeing her tap her fingers and dig her toe into the ground unhappily.
When he looked back at Shade, a fake big smile was on his face and he started off down to Tazuna's house.
"So you said you study spirit energy?" Naruto started the conversation amicably, keeping step with Shade as they lead Sakura, Sasuke, and Hinata following dejectedly just a few paces behind. Everything in his posture and voice seem to erase the uncomfortable moment with its change.
"Yes, it's the source of power from the country I come from." Shade began, lifting her palm and evoking a small purple sphere of her power. "It's called mana."
"How does it work?" Sasuke asked next to Sakura's side.
"Will you tell me a little bit about chakra?" She raised a purple eyebrow at the Uchiha.
"I think it's safe if we told you some of the basic things about it." Sakura relented.
"Then I will tell you a little about mana," Shade accepted with a nod.
"Lets just wait till we get to the house first. I'm sure Kaka-sensei would like to hear it as well."
Shade nodded, hands behind her back primly. She looked up at the stars and smiled, talking about how some were constellations and the stories of how they came to be.
"Where I'm from, we study their position. It is well known that they have an affect on all the celestial bodies in space..." she started lecturing, getting everyone's attention and relieving the mood of the atmosphere.
In the very slow journey to Tazuna's house, they soon found that Shade was not as openly hostile as Hinata has presumed her to be...at least, not yet. With every step they took, Hinata couldn't stop the self depreciating mantra that ached sickeningly in her heart, in her mind, in her soul...
I am pathetic...I lost him...I had the chance right in front of me...as plain as day and he was even expecting it...I couldn't do it and I hurt him...why couldn't I just say it...why was I so scared...why?....baka...baka, baka, baka...Naruto-kun...please forgive me...
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For all the hate mail that I'm anticipating, all I have to say is there is a WHOLE lot more to this story so I'm not ending it with this chapter! By the way, let me know how you REALLY feel...give it to me. I not scared, are you?
Your Mistress.
