Apologize
A.N - Wow...i'm kind of scared to read reviews now. Ok peoples, NO MORE FILLER CHAPTERS!! (Well, of course they'll be the occasional one here and there) I just had to get up to this point, and that required fillers, ok? (But of course, you'd know this wasn't a filler chapter if you read the A.N's like I tell you) So! Hope you enjoy!
Also, I did more pictures, just have to color them. (I have Photoshop now!)
And I can't please everybody, so expect flaws.
RunDiamondRun doesn't own Naruto...you'd think they'd realize by now it's all fan based.
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READ THE GOD DAMN BOLD PRINT PEOPLE DAMNIT!! I've been asking and no-one seems to!
The two ninjas entered the hideout, unseen, and unheard. The blonde boy followed the woman in front of him, his feet clanging against the currently dirt floor.
The corridors went on and on and on, like a never ending maze. You'd most definitely get lost if you didn't know the way, which was why Naruto was glad he had someone with him who did.
After what seemed to be an eternity, they reached an old dusty door. Kaoru opened it, locking it behind her as she stepped inside, her nephew in tow.
"Where is everyone?"
Naruto spoke quietly himself, not really expecting an answer.
"Most probably out on missions. We are low on Akatsuki members now you know."
The female in front of him, turning her head around slightly, gazing to the boy for a second, before turning back.
Kaoru thought about who was left currently, leaving what she was thinking about before - her findings in the small town they'd recently left, about her demon.
"Itachi-san...Kisame-kun...Zetsu-san...Konan-chan...Tobi-san...Leader-sama..."
She said, mumbling to herself, only Naruto's ears faintly hearing. It was a habit of her to say someone's name with a suffix.
It was a shock to her - and everyone else - when Tobi came back alive from the explosive expert's suicide. No-one knew how, it still - and most probably forever being - a mystery. Naruto began seeing more doors, all wood, dusted with whatever was floating in the air.
"Those contain weapons, randoms and what not."
They passed the main room, where a TV and few couches were located, a rug infront of the seating objects. The kitchen was connected to it with a door-less entry, the place where they would sit and eat also connected with a door-less entry way.
Then came another corridor, a few doors being placed here and there. They continued going down the path, once going across a turn, which they didn't go down. Naruto wondered what they were for.
"This is where we sleep."
Kaoru told her nephew, giving his curiosity an answer to his silent question. After a little more walking, they reached another door, which was in slightly better condition than the previous ones. Kaoru knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
A voice called to her.
"Kaoru, Leader-sama."
"Enter."
He said, monotonically, his voice heard through the wall. Kaoru opened the door, where Naruto came face to face with the leader of Akatsuki. A woman was sitting near him, her eyelids lifting slightly to get a better view at the boy in front of her.
"The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki...?"
She thought questingly. The leader of the organization put his chin on his hands, staring at Naruto. Naruto stared back, and the lips of the man moved as he talked, to the woman standing next to him.
"Kaoru, it's been a while...3 months?"
She nodded, bowing.
"I apologize, Leader-sama."
He said nothing, as her head rose again.
"I'm guessing there's a reason you've brought him here, completely conscious, unbound?"
He asked to the woman. She nodded, stepped slightly ahead of whom the man was talking about.
"Naruto-chan wishes to ask you of something."
His gaze, as did that of the other woman averted to Naruto. Kaoru stepped back, allowing him to be more in the view of them. Naruto gulped, his nervousness growing with every passing second. He thought about how strong this guy was...he was the frickin' leader of Akatsuki!! He gulped once more, beginning to speak.
"Well, I am asking for permission to join your organization."
He said, getting right to the point. The leader was somewhat surprised with his forwardness, but, still held his gaze.
"What makes me think that you really want to join Akatsuki. You could be a spy...or are you trying to avoid death?"
He spoke monotonically. Naruto's eyebrows descended, indicating he may of been slightly annoyed, or angry, afterwards shaking his head.
"No sir...I really do want to join Akatsuki."
"For what purpose?"
He asked, still not convinced the Jinchuuriki would come on own free will.
"...I wish to...get rid of Konoha."
Naruto spoke once again, still being straight to the point. The pierced man closed his eyes, before opening them again, his grey orbs staring at Naruto.
"I don't believe that. You wouldn't want to destroy Konoha. Why should I believe you?"
He said, the other woman moving to the door, preventing their escape, incase they were only here because Konoha told them.
"Leader-sama, Naruto-chan has-"
"Don't speak Kaoru. I'm starting to not truly trust you currently..."
Kaoru blinked, bowing and apologizing.
"Sir, I've been missing from Konoha for 3 months...did you know why Itachi couldn't find me? I was in Suginami (sorry if the name keeps changing...I keep forgetting) because I was training with Kaoru!"
There was a tense silence.
"He does make a good point."
The orange haired man thought to himself, realizing that Itachi had no sights of Naruto for the last 3 months. He'd heard about how Naruto had brought Sasuke back to the village, so, it was kind of shocking he wasn't there with him.
He waited for him to continue convincing him.
"And i've been training so I can get stronger to take Konoha out! Just let me join damnit!"
"Don't raise your voice to him Naruto-chan!"
Kaoru spoke warningly to her nephew.
"No no...let him speak."
The man signaled, surprising both women within the room.
"Yes but...Jinchuuriki...you do know what this organization wants...what our goal is..."
"And if you help me destroy Konoha i'll give the Kyuubi to you when i'm done!!"
He shouted almost pleadingly to the leader. Once again, both women were surprised, and gave only slight indication. This also surprised the other man in the room. Naruto realized he couldn't get what he wanted by shouting, especially when he was trying to negotiate with Pein.
"...Gomenasai sir, I didn't mean to shout."
He gave no response, while Naruto bowed, finishing his apologize.
"...He's starting to act slightly better..."
Thought the leader's partner. The tension thickened, but went down again as Pein spoke.
"Wait outside."
Both were shocked, but nodded, walking outside the room.
Sakura's POV
The kunoichi had finished setting up the traps around their camp, and was sitting down infront of the fire Sasuke had created, he and Kiba being off somewhere else. She wrapped a blanket around her, sighing mentally to herself.
"Kiba said that he'd been through here..."
She said, looking up at the black night sky.
"Why do I feel so...so..."
Sakura had been feeling perplexed about how she had been feeling lately.
Sasuke had seemed to be angry and annoyed about Naruto. Whenever she'd brought up the subject - which was alot of the time - he'd always get an angry look over his eyes, and seemed to start fuming, and then start making an angry comment or a few, where Sakura would most of the time just drop the subject.
Sasuke seemed to be very determined to get Naruto. Whether it be to bring him back, or to see why he left, Sakura couldn't tell. It was even him who had thought of getting Kiba to come along with them to find Naruto. He was worried about his friend, so he'd definitely come along, no questions asked.
...Well, there were a few.
Sakura, on the other hand, took it on a more tender subject. It had shocked her about how she was feeling, she didn't think she'd care, for Naruto was more of just 'the side friend'. At first, at the very start, of course, she'd give for anything for him to be off the team. After a little more, she started to grow a little more used to him, but still wouldn't mind if he'd left the squad.
He was annoying. Why wouldn't she want him off?
There were those moments where she didn't mind him, of course. But...she didn't really feel like he mattered as much as Sasuke. Why would he? But still, she felt slightly...she got an uneasy feeling in her stomach whenever someone talked about Naruto.
She let out a little cry of frustration.
"I don't know what to think!"
She said out loud to herself, not thinking Sasuke of Kiba would hear her, which they didn't. She put her hands onto her head, stressing out about how she felt.
"I'm so confused!"
She thought in her head, the Inner Sakura making a statement.
"Damn it!! Why is that idiot Naruto having such an effect on me?!"
She fell back onto the grass, very confused, stressed, and hell overwhelmed. Then, her eyes shot open, and her body shot up, realizing something.
With Lee, Neji, Hinata, Ichigo, Masamaru and Yasuna
"Wow...this is so cool!"
Yasuna exclaimed, leaping from tree to tree behind the higher ranked shinobi.
"I know. To be able to go on a mission like this already! That's really amazing!"
Masamaru said in somewhat response.
"Hell yeah! I just said that dummy!"
Yasuna said, slightly teasing Masamaru. Ichigo was the one at the back, nothing had come from the boy ever since he'd started the mission.
"Just keep on going guys. We'll be setting up camp soon."
Lee notified his students. They all nodded.
"That...would be nice..."
Ichigo mumbled, no-one even hearing him. It remained quiet for around 5 more minutes, until Neji noticed something. He jumped closer to both Hinata and Lee.
"Guys, I just thought I let you know, that this is where I saw him..."
Both of them gave off a short hitch of breath.
"N-Naruto-kun was seen...here?"
Hinata spoke, shocked that her love was seen around this area. He nodded.
"Neji-kun, Hinata-chan, I suggest you activate your Byakugan, just to see if anything is around here."
Lee said to both of them. They both nodded. Apparently, Yasuna heard that last bit.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! Let me see! Let me see! I wanna see the Byakugan being activated!"
Yasuna alerted them, trying to jump faster to catch up to them. Both Hyuuga's turned around, staring at the girl. They slowed down, so that eventually she was in between them both.
"Please please please please let me see!!"
She begged, trying to make her eyes wider so to enhance the chance of being let in on the Kekkai Genkai activation. Hinata blinked, before smiling.
"Sure. I'll show you."
"You will?! Awesome!!"
She exclaimed. Neji was a little annoyed by the loudness of this girl, but he nodded.
"I will too."
She gasped, looking at him now.
"Really? Cool!! I would hug you both, but, it's kinda hard to right now...so you can just show me, okay?"
Hinata nodded, alot more noticeably than Neji. They both closed their eyes for a second, before opening them again, the Kekkai Genkai activating.
"Byakugan!"
Neji automatically started scanning the area for any signs or traces of Naruto.
"That was way cool! I knew the Byakugan was cooler!! All the Sharingan does is activate! You get cool additions! Like the veins and stuff! That's awesome!"
She said, smiling largely. Hinata blinked, blushing and smiling towards her.
"Thanks!"
Neji and Lee both looked towards the girl.
"...She's know her Doujutsu."
Neji thought to himself. Hinata then looked around also, along with him. Both looked, and both found nothing. At first, both didn't feel much disappointment...but eventually, one got to be very annoyed and frustrated, the other, very upset with herself.
"Maybe we should take a break soon."
Masamaru suggested, after noticing both of their states.
"Yes. Good idea Masamaru."
Lee praised to his student. He smiled to himself, happy he did something right. After slight more travel, they all stopped.
"Quick 5 minute break."
Lee notified everyone. Everyone nodded, except for Ichigo who just stood there. Yasuna yawned, stretching, the effect of night taking a slight hold o the girl.
"Good time for rest...good time..."
Sitting down on a rock, she put her hands behind her head. Everyone sat down, each doing something they had needed to do, such as examine weapons, fix outfit, things like that.
The shy one in the group studied what the others where doing, and noticed he wasn't doing anything like that.
"Maybe...maybe I should check around the area or something..."
He walked away slightly from the group, none of them noticing the silent shinobi walked off. He moved a few branches, trying to find something. He was moving stuff, when he walked through something. It was ninja string (or what is it called? Damnit, hell I don't know...grumble grumble...).
"What, what was that?"
The boy whimpered in his tiny voice. He turned around, scared, only but to run into another wire. He became more shocked and scared than he already was, only for those both to be increased when 5 kunai's rushed at him. He yelped, trying to scramble out of the way of the rushing ninja weapons. 2 hit him in the leg, the yelp increasing in volume, as he ran back to his team and the Hyuuga's. The surprised sensei ran to his aid, alongside his 2 teammates.
"Ichigo! What happened?"
Lee looked at his student's two legs, one of them containing 2 kunai.
"I...I..."
Was all he was able to say.
"Are you ok? Do they hurt much?"
Masamaru said, taking a closer to both of the kunai. Yasuna started rubbing his back, trying to comfort him.
"It's ok! It's ok! It's not much. Just a few kunai, nothing that these guys can't fix! Right Lee-sensei?"
He looked towards her, then at both the Hyuuga's. Hinata walked over to the poor kid, tending to his wounds, while Neji activated the Byakugan, taking a look at the surrounding area, almost instantly realizing that it was a trap, most definitely set by ninja, either who were already in the area, or, they had seen them and set it.
"Where are they..."
He noticed more and more traps that had been set closer into the area. His Byakugan noticed them, and he deactivated them. It took him a bit of effort, but he did. After he realized that no ninja had come out to attack, him or the group (judging by no screams), it must of come to ninja already being in the area. So, before he made contact with them, he went back to the group, Ichigo now have been taken care of.
"Neji-kun! What did you find?"
Lee automatically asked him.
"There's some ninja in the area...their traps weren't very high-rank ones - took a while to de-activate them - but there was alot."
"We should check it out! Let's not let them get away with hurting Ichigo! Let's go Masamaru!"
Before either could retaliate against her, she grabbed Masamaru, and ran off to where Neji had gone before.
"Yasuna! Masamaru! Get back here!"
Lee called to both his students, but neither came back. Lee jumped off after them, Neji sighing before going off in tow. Hinata put Ichigo on her back like a piggyback.
"Let's go Masamaru! Hurry up!"
"I'm coming i'm coming!!"
He shouted off behind him. Neji and Lee ran closely behind them, no need for jumping.
"Damn kids...lucky I didn't become a sensei. I was never really good with kids."
Neji muttered more under his breath than anything. Masamaru and Yasuna ran through into a clearing.
"Hey! You guys! Get back here!"
Lee and Neji both ran through more branches and bushes, running into the same clearing that Yasuna and Masamaru did. And there they saw neither of them expected to see.
"...Lee-san?!"
Came the voice of Sakura. Both Lee and Neji stood speechless, surprised that they both encountered her on their trip to Amegakure.
"...I'm guessing you know her aswell, Lee-sensei."
She looked towards the girl and boy standing in front of her. She blinked, noticing the "sensei" ending.
"Lee-san...you're a sensei?"
He blinked, confused with what was happening, for to him, it seemed to make no sense at all. Just bumping into her like that, and her voice in a tone that seemed to speak like nothing had happened. His thick, furry eyebrows furrowed more, as Kiba and Sasuke came from wherever they were previously.
"Hey! Lee! Neji!"
Kiba called out, rushing over to them, while Sasuke casually stood where he was, only making tiny steps towards what seemed to be a log near Sakura. Neji stood there motionless, as the brown haired shinobi came towards him.
"I didn't expect to find you guys here! What you doing here, huh?"
He spoke in usual tone, and it was there that Yasuna remembered why she had come running into the clearing in the first place.
"Because! Your traps hurt Ichigo!"
Spoke the loud voice of the young kunoichi. Masamaru nodded, following what she had said. Just as Kiba was about to ask who Ichigo was, he and Hinata came out from the trees and bushes, the pink haired shinobi who was Ichigo, on her back.
The small boy hadn't been able to walk without stumbling, so it was necessary for him to be carried like that. The eyes of the woman carrying the boy widened with mixed emotions. The 1 person she'd oh-so desperately wanted to find, and the 2 she currently oh-so hated more than anything.
Almost anybody who understood the situation completely instantly felt the tension increase, like a thick blanket had been draped over the crowd.
"...Hinata..you're...you're here?"
Sakura spoke, the slight hint of worry in her voice. She had recently become the tiny bit scared of her. Not in fear that she might break out a Hyuuga technique on her, but more of what her words - and Lee's also - might do to her emotional being.
What ever what was being said about her former blonde teammate, seem to cause a feeling of hurt, sadness, regret - something - to swell inside her. Like a ball had just been dropped there, refusing to roll away.
This was the feeling of guilt. One feeling Sakura wouldn't of expect to of come to her, for something Naruto related.
"...It sure seems that way, right Sakura?"
Came the dull response from her. Sakura's eyebrows furrowed, telling everyone of her worry. Sasuke really didn't wish to be dealing with this right now, so he wanted to get out of there. He more just wanted to keep looking for Naruto.
Find the traitor's ass.
"...I don't know why everyone is so tense here, but right now, we just want an apology for your traps pinky."
Sakura blinked, not actually realizing that the insult was for her. Neji knew of the feud between the 4, so he took Yasuna and Masamaru away from the area, along with Ichigo, getting them away from them if anything bad were to erupt. It was like waiting for something bad to happen, which you knew was going to happen.
"If you don't mind, you're in our territory, so can you leave."
Sasuke spoke to the two others, rather making a statement than a question. Lee rose his eyebrow.
"We came here...by accident."
Kiba's look told of his confusion, for even he noticed he noticed something was wrong with the people standing in front of him.
"Hey, is there something I should know about?"
He felt out of the loop. Even though he knew about Naruto, he guessed that...there was something more to it.
"Well now you can leave."
Sasuke said, turning away from Lee and Hinata. He continued speaking.
"We have no need for you guys, and you should just go. You're obviously busy with your team, so hurry up and leave."
Lee's teeth clenched, frustrated with what Sasuke had said. Sakura didn't like to see Lee or Sasuke mad, so she decided to say something.
"Ah, un, Lee-san. I mean, you're team must be busy on a mission, right? So, you should probably get on with it, ne?"
Lee let out a short gasp, though it was more of just a noise, before staring at Sakura, almost in a glare like way. She submitted to the glare, starting to become slightly scared of Lee.
"Um...yeah, you should, you guys should just go. I mean, no need to stay right? I mean, you have a mission as Sasuke-kun said, so, I mean, you have no need to stay, right?"
It remained silent after that for a few seconds, Hinata staring straight at Sakura.
Naruto's POV
"...This...is..."
Footsteps of one lone shinobi echoed throughout the hideout.
"...the first step..."
He was told to go to a room.
"...to my goal!"
When he reached the room, he noticed it still full of a former member's belongings. He looked around, seeing what was in the room. Then, he noticed something.
"The room...it's...full of clay..."
It was no lie. Clay everywhere. Clay over lamps, in between books, even some old dry clay stuck up on the ceiling. Naruto folded his arms, closed his eyes, trying to think of who's room this could be.
...
His eyes opened wide, and he banged his fist onto his hand.
"Deidara!"
He remembered something about an Akatsuki member who used clay. Apparently, she (yes, everyone thinks Deidara is a girl...was the one who kidnapped Gaara.
"To think...i'm taking that bastard's room...oh well. Gaara's alive, and that's sort of in the past...I guess I should clean this place up."
The only thing giving light to the room, was the hallway light, for the door was open. Footsteps were there, but fell into unhearing ears. As was mumbling.
When the person reached the door, they stood there, just surprised to see someone there. Not before they notified them of their presence.
"Hey! What are you doing in my room?! Hm?!"
The blonde turned around, shocked to hear someone say that. He turned around, only to meet another blonde. Both eyes widened, as they came face to face.
Ichigo's POV
"What do you think Lee-sensei is doing with those guys?"
Masamaru spoke, looking up lazily at the sky. Yasuna shrugged.
"Who knows?...But hey, that was one of those 'Uchiha' people, right? What was his name...Sazuki...Sas-uke...Sas...uke! Sasuke! That's right! Uchiha Sasuke. He's the one with the Sharingan, right?"
Neji nodded, answering the girl's question. It sounded weird to him when someone said Lee "sensei". There was nothing wrong with it, it just sounded weird to him. Standing behind a tree, was the pink-haired shinobi.
"...I wonder what Lee-sensei and Hyuuga-san are doing...they weren't very...friendly to those people...at least, I don't think so..."
Came the quiet mumble. Like the Hyuuga to whom he was referring, he was a master of stealth. He quietly sneaked away, wanting to see what was happening with the others. He made no sound what so ever, hearing sounds going on. Like being stealthy, he also got very curious at times. When he got there, he hid in a few bushes lined around the clearing. What he saw scared what ever content he had left away, his eyes widening.
His sensei was fighting the Uchiha, and the Hyuuga with the Haruno. His sensei went to sweep at Sasuke, but the sword he was carrying stuck out infront of his leg, the blade facing toward Lee. Right before Lee hit the blade, he put both hands on the ground, lifting both his legs up, right next to each other. Then he went to use both legs to kick him the chest. He did get there, but instead, his feet came in contact with a forearm.
He grabbed a foot with his hand, and Lee used that opportunity to try and get Sasuke. He moved his leg, so as to try and swing Sasuke to the ground. Before that happened, Sasuke let go of Lee's leg, landing on his hands, and flipping onto his legs.
The Hyuuga girl was acting more on blind rage rather than common sense. She continued to lunge at her with Juuken strikes, trying to get a good hit so she could start the Hakke Rokuju Yonshou. Sakura just kept on dodging them, still - even after all this time - shocked to see Hinata acting like this.
"She's...she's so different from before..."
She thought.
"Come on Sakura! Fight me!"
She yelled at her. Sakura at that point, decided she was right, and she would fight her. She dodged one more, before she gathered chakra both her fists, using one of them to attack a Juuken coming towards her. Hinata dodged that attack, but all the same, Sakura used the next fist to attack, punching Hinata in the gut. She skidded back, coming to a halt, one of her eyes shut.
Sakura had set up a trap previously, throwing a kunai towards a string that held it in place. It was set to release 12 kunai, and Hinata was in perfect position for that. The kunai came rushing towards her, Hinata twisting her head, wondering for a second what she could do.
"How can I get rid of them?"
Right before they hit her, she let out a gasp, realizing what she could do. She quickly activated a Hyuuga move.
"Hakkesho Kaiten!"
All of the kunai bounced off the spinning wall of chakra. Nobody here was fighting to their fullest, and Kiba could notice that. He had gotten out of the way the minute the fight started. But he was none the less shocked to see Hinata fighting so well.
"She's gotten...so good."
He thought to himself. He turned his head, his mouth opening slightly, noticing the member of Lee's team kneeling there, watching on the fight like he was. He nodded to Akamaru, who nodded back, knowing what he meant, even if nothing was said between the two, and both headed over there.
"Hey, how you doing."
He said, not really expecting a reply, so he asked it in a more statement tone. Ichigo turned his head to the newcomer, blinking in surprise, before turning back to the fight. The Uchiha preformed seals, which showed he was going to do a fire technique. The speed of which he executed the seals shocked Lee.
"He's faster than I thought! Amazing!"
He thought to himself, though his face was only of slight surprise.
"Katon, Goukakyuu no jutsu!"
He preformed a big blast of fire, rushing towards Lee. He had no time to get out of the way, so Hinata thought to do something. She ran infront of Lee, getting there quicker than the fire, performing a move she had done previously.
"Hakkesho Kaiten!"
The fire went around the move, and missed Lee. Lee was far away enough from the Hakkesho Kaiten, so it did not hurt him. All 4 stood there, passing glances to each other. Sakura made the first move, standing up.
"I know what I can do."
"Alright! Let's show these bitches what i'm made of!"
Sakura rose her leg, quickly lowering it at fast speed, causing the contact with the ground to be very damaging. The line traveled towards Hinata and Lee. Both jumped out of the way. Lee landed on a tree limb, while Hinata's feet came in contact with another limb, but she jumped quickly off it, a kunai pulled, rushing at Sakura. Sakura saw this, gathering her chakra quickly once again, and this time hitting her square in the face. She smirked, happy she hit her.
"I got her."
She thought. But she quickly noticed that it was the fake as she turned around, the one she had hit poofing away into nothing. Hinata had a Juuken strike out, while Sakura quickly held her fist back,
"Get away from me!! You crazy retard!"
She made her fist go forward. Hinata's Juuken strike hit her heart, while Sakura's punch got her square in the forehead. Each had a different reaction. Lee gasped, Ichigo's eyes widened - if that was even possible, Kiba cringed, for one, his partner was hurt, and the fact she had just been called a crazy retard, letting out a cry for his teammate, while Sasuke just stared at her.
Sakura was still standing, but panting and cringing. Them, something hit inside of her, and she fell to the ground, clutching her heart.
"Her 'Juuken strike'...must of had a big effect on my heart...yes...she's damaged a vital spot..."
She quickly analyzed in her head, coughing up a small amount of blood. Hinata looked up at Sakura, slowly getting to her knees. She had a throbbing headache, and that punch had been reinforced with chakra, so she knew she was going to pass out soon. She moved quietly on her knees towards Sakura.
"...You...bitch..."
She mumbled, but loud enough so Sakura heard.
"...Hinata-chan..."
Lee thought to himself. She kept on inching forward.
"You...you have no idea...what I want to do to you...you...you think that..."
She had to stop, her headache getting to her. She panted before continuing again, shooting a glare that shadowed Sasuke's.
"Do you think I have no reason to do this?!"
She yelled angrily at her, her teeth clenched, her free hand clenched also. She was finally going to tell her straight, no stuttering.
"Do you honestly think that?! Huh? Huh?! I'm doing this because it's your fault! You're an ungrateful bitch who didn't deserve any of it!!"
Hinata could almost feel the tears threatening to come up from underneath her, but they were held back. By what she was referring to - didn't deserve any of it - was the affection that Naruto gave Sakura. She didn't understand it.
"You were always hurting him, calling him an idiot, stupid, and always insulting him!! Why did you do it, huh?! Sure, maybe he's loud and stubborn, but...but he's not an idiot!! You couldn't just appreciate him more could you?! What was he to you?! Did you just use him?!"
Sakura furrowed her eyebrows.
"...Who...who are you talking about...?"
She said, scared that Hinata might kill her for asking that. Hinata couldn't believe she had just asked that. And she called Naruto stupid?
"NARUTO-KUN YOU IDIOT!! WHO ELSE DID YOU THINK I WAS TALKING ABOUT, HUH?! YOU CALLED NARUTO-KUN STUPID?! TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF!!"
She began panting, but mostly from all the yelling she was doing.
"HE LOVED YOU, AND WHAT DID YOU DO?! YOU JUST KEPT ON HURTING HIM!! HE GAVE YOU SO MUCH AFFECTION AND LOVE.."
Her tears started welling up at this point. They flung from her eyes when she snapped them shut.
"AND YOU DIDN'T APRECIATE ANY OF IT!! I swear, i'm going to find Naruto-kun before you guys!! You guys never appreciated Naruto-kun, not EVER!!
She turned her head to Sasuke, who was also looking at Hinata that moment.
"And don't think i'm not talking about you either!! You never appreciated him!! And he did so much for you!! You never admitted you guys had been friends...and...and he loved you! He loved you like a brother!! He cared so much about you! You and Sakura!! And guys never said that you cared for Naruto-kun!! Not like...not like..."
She wanted to continue, but her injury had caused her to faint. Kiba blinked, going out to rush to his teammate, but Lee beat him, putting Hinata on his back, giving them one final look.
With that, he disappeared, jumping off with the female. Kiba looked to the boy next to him, before nudging him.
"Hey...you...you better go...back to your team."
Ichigo looked up at him, his eyes seemed to be filled with worry. He nodded, before rushing back towards his team. Akamaru didn't follow Kiba, as he walked out towards the two he was traveling with. Sakura was healing her injury, her eyes appearing glazed over. She didn't look all that well in Kiba's eyes. He knelt down next to her.
"Are...are you ok?"
It took her a long time to respond, but when she did, she merely turned towards Kiba, her eyes seeming to hold less emotion than Sasuke's.
"...She's...she's right..."
She said, almost like she was in a trance. She turned her head back towards the ground infront of her.
"...She's...right..."
Her own tears welled into her eyes, as they fell onto her hands.
"I...I never did appreciate him..."
She thought, her mind going through a series of times she had punched Naruto, knocked him on the head, overall abused him, whether it be verbally or physically.
"...Was I...was I really like that?"
She couldn't help but mumble to herself, her tears flowing freely now.
"Naruto...Naruto...kun...i'm...i'm sorry...!"
Tsunade's POV
The Hokage - no longer going to be in that position in a month - stood outside her office, the view of Konoha in her eyes.
"I wonder who the council will give the job of Hokage too..."
They - meaning the Danzo and the 2 advisors, and those 3 alone - were currently thinking about possible choices for the next Hokage.
"...Please...please let Naruto come back soon..."
The woman was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Shizune, who was carrying TonTon at the moment, walked out to the only remaining Sannin.
"Tsunade-sama..."
She didn't talk, nor look to Shizune, as she came up and stood next to her master. Both stood there in silence, thinking about Naruto. Their thoughts were interrupted, when a voice came out and startled them.
"Tsunade."
Both turned around, to see the elders standing there.
"We think we've come to a reasonable possibility for the next Hokage."
Shizune's eyes widened, and TonTon wasn't too happy about that. Even the pig wanted Naruto to come back.
"...So? Who did you decide?"
The female elder stepped forward.
"We've discussed it, and we think that.."
She turned around, the other 2 nodding at her, and she nodded back. She turned around back to Tsunade.
"...We think that, Uchiha Sasuke would be the best choice for our next Hokage."
--
A.N - I tried to make this as non-filler chapter as I possibly could. Hope you like it. I know, you probably would of expected more after 2 weeks of no updating...but I haven't the time. So yeah.
Um, reviews would be nice, as long as they're nice reviews.
Ran through with spellcheck. U.S ENGLISH.