Amaranthine
by layniebleargh
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Chapter 13: Goodbye… Forever?
No news about the mission reached Konoha until a month later. A group of ANBU spotted the shinobis and kunoichis in various areas, some much further than others. There was blood everywhere. Along with Akatsuki bodies were Chouji and Shino, who were later autopsied to die from blood loss and punctured lungs, with several broken bones. However, there was a cliché: two Akatsuki bodies were missing. No one knew who were missing, since the faces and bodies were barely recognizable. Also, only Sakura was in stable condition by the time the teams reached Konoha. Obviously, the village turned into an uproar at the outcome of the mission. There was something fishy.
Tenten grasped Neji's hand in hers as she begged, with pleading eyes. Neji is not yet in good condition, in no shape to fight.
"Please… Neji. Do not leave me… again…"
"I'll come back."
"You'll come back? Don't you know how much you made me worried? Covered in blood from head to toe, as pale as snow… is that the way you come back?"
"Tenten…"
"I can't afford to lose you… we're just married and… I don't want our child to grow up without a father…"
"There is war, Tenten. You know it. That bastard – the one we assassinated, the one who kidnapped Gaara – he found a way to leak some news to Sound. And although we saved Gaara, the Sand is very fragile with its Kazekage lying on a hospital bed. Tenten, Sound's gonna attack Sand sooner or later. Then, it will advance here. I want to protect you, I want to protect our child."
"Neji…"
Neji knew Tenten understood that he just can't be absent in war. He is one of Konoha's elite shinobis and not just one but two villages need him. Helpless, Tenten let go of her firm grasp.
"Come home, Neji. I'll always wait for you."
Neji did not reply. Leaning, he gave his wife one last kiss and a tight embrace before joining his squad under the shade of a large tree. As tears threatened to fall, Tenten finally tore her eyes away from her husband as she set for home… alone.
From the corner of my eye, I watched my wife walk home miserably. I really want to be with her, to spend some quality time and for once be a good husband, but I can't. The war calls for me, and I know my squad relies on the oh-so-powerful Neji Hyuuga. In times like this, I wish to be an ordinary person, so I can be with my wife every minute. But then, it was I who chose this path. I want to help.
The afternoon sun is already setting by the time we exit the gates. We had to wait for nightfall, when ambushes and attacks will be less noticeable. Also, our squad is at advantage during this time: our ultra sensitive senses can detect the enemy kilometers away, perhaps even miles.
I sensed Shikamaru and Kiba flinch behind me a little as we passed the same path as the previous mission. I can't blame them, their teammates, our comrades, died of that assassination mission, of that bloodbath.
The night seemed to last longer than I thought. It seemed hours before we found an enemy camp, although from estimation it should only be an hour from departure. With our figures covered by bushes and wild grass, I, Shikamaru, Kiba, Sakura, and Sai made a point to go over the plan once more. Just to be careful.
With a fierce determination in our eyes, our breathing silent and calm despite the fast beating of our hearts, we moved swiftly from our area, attacking the camp from various points. This may be war, but we made a pact to go home safe and in one piece. No one deserves to die.
Awhile later we are already moving to the next camp, and the next, then the next… the full moon, in its brilliant light, seemed to turn red in our eyes. From the moment we began the mission when we were hesitant to take lives so quick, now we are ruthless killing machines. Stab… pierce… cut… slice… detonate… blood…
"Hey, Neji. How many have you killed?" Shikamaru asked on our ninth camp to wipe out. I can't believe the Nara boy can kill so mercilessly, it looked like he was merely flicking ants off his shoulder.
"Thirty eight."
"Ha. I've killed forty two." I frowned as he seemed even quite proud of the number.
"There are three camps to go and a main base. Plus, we have to double-check on Suna. Don't be so cocky yet."
"Hey, Neji."
"What?"
"Stay alive."
I smirked as Shikamaru said that. Stay alive huh? How many wounds can we take before we collapse? How much chakra can we use? How far can we go? I wonder if we'll survive at all – Sai already has a major arm wound, Sakura is draining out of chakra, Kiba seems tired already – only Shikamaru and I are well enough to last the whole mission.
I stared at him, his red eyes piercing through the darkness. He is alive; I thought I killed him. Shivers ran through my spine, and I knew it will be my last battle till death – the moment I encountered this man, I knew I won't be coming home anymore.
"You're Hyuuga."
"Indeed I am, Itatchi… Uchiha-san."
"I am expecting you. As usual, you did not let me down."
"Hey… How about a battle, till death? It is war you know… a convenient time to die. I cannot believe you managed to set a war between villages."
"Not without the help of my student. He is quite useful… no wonder Orochimaru wanted him."
"Ha. You planned all this along?"
"I decided you will be able to give me the most meaningful death. A prodigy… much like my little brother."
"Come to think of it, where is he?"
"He confronted me awhile ago… his whereabouts, I won't tell. Survive this fight and find out for yourself."
"…"
"Shall we begin then?"
I attacked first. It is a battle I never dreamed of… it is painful, yet satisfying. It is a fulfillment to me… to fight one on one with a fellow prodigy, with an S-class missing nin… it is an honor… I know he feels the same, I know he does…
"…Hyuuga, may I have the honor to know the name of such a great fighter?..."
"…I am… Neji…"
"…I apologize for putting an end to your life… you have dreams… you have a family… unlike me…"
"…you have a brother…"
"…a very foolish brother…"
"…hey, Itatchi…"
"…what?"
"…why?"
Itatchi smiled, the first true smile in years. He is dying in the hands of a comrade. The comrade, is dying in his'…
"I had everything… Neji-san. A good family, a proud father, a caring mother, a little brother who looked up to me… I have the talent, the skill… I have power, I have glory… I have everything…"
"…"
"That is why, I thought… I can end this life anytime… yet, I am choosy. I want to die… in the hands of someone worthy."
"Your brother is not worthy enough?"
"He is."
"Yet-?"
"He gained worth under a person I loath. If I die in foolish little brother's arms, then I would not have everything. I want my life perfect… till the end. When I saw you, I knew I would get my wish."
"Then it's goodbye?"
"Goodbye, Neji Hyuuga-san. If I can have another wish, I would like to be a brother to you."
"That would be disgusting, Itatchi."
The shinobis laughed. Soon, the sound died…
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What was I thinking?
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Joking with Itatchi until my last breath…
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I am…
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…not a good husband to you…
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…Tenten…
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…I am sorry…